THE BUGS STUDENT NEWS
Embedded Files
MYTHBUSTERS VOL. 1
MYTHBUSTERS VOL. 1
By Peter Sklyzonkshansylvasosla (this is NOT written by Ry Greer)
Many of us have heard the proverbial phrase, ‘A watched pot never boils.’ But is this actually true? The answer is considerably less complex than it sounds.
The answer is: Yes, a watched pot does boil
At the lab, we took over 1 test and the results were somewhat fascinating. When I was making mac and cheese, I watched the pot for 7 minutes and the pot DID boil. When I first found this out, I was baffled.
“Woah,” I said.
Just to make sure my results were correct, I tested one more time. Yet again, I was amazed. The pot boiled. There was one difference; the pot boiled in only 6 minutes.
“Woah.” I said.
To this day I still can't believe this.
5 Quick and Easy Tips for Succeeding in School
Written by Sadie Krebs, Current 8th Grader
Do you ever find school so overwhelming, long, sometimes even hard or disorganized? Well if you do, this article is for you. These tips will include a range of topics from staying organized to working harder to just making school more fun!
Tip 1: Use your planner!!
OK, I know how unappealing this may sound, but it really will help. This might not work for everyone, but from my experience, using your planner will help you stay organized. If you can consistently check what you have due, it becomes really helpful for staying ahead and on top of your work.
Tip 2: Note Taking!
This tip has especially been useful to me in 8th grade Biology, but it has continued to be throughout my classes at BUGS. Whenever you are watching a video or reading an article, grab a piece of looseleaf, or a page in your notebook, and take notes on the important ideas and concepts of what you're learning about. I also tend to find visual representations or specific examples extra helpful when you're looking back at your notes.
Tip 3: Do what you find fun.
At BUGS you're able to have lunch clubs, and, in the future, high schools and colleges will give you more choice about what you do in your day. For me, finding clubs I am interested in gives me something to look forward to in my day, which can be helpful if I have been doing a lot of work and I need a break. Talk to your teachers or administrators about clubs you and your friends could join do to change up your day.
Tip 4: Ask for HELP!!
Whenever you are unsure what to do, or you don’t understand, ask your teachers for help! They are there to support you, so take advantage of that!
Tip 5: Collaboration!
This can be received in a lot of different ways. Whether it is listening to your classmates and their ideas, or having other people look over your work and give you honest feedback, working with others is a great tool to have. Do whatever works for you when it comes to working with others, but remember, it can always help to have an extra pair of hands (and an extra brain!).
Thanks for reading, stay tuned for more fun and easy tips!
Have any tips you want me to add? Email sadie.krebs@bugsbrooklyn.org with any tips you want to share!
CAN AI SOLVE A CAPTCHA?
By Barak Zinger
WHAT IS CAPTCHA?
CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) is a test to determine if a user is human or a bot, used to protect websites from spam and abuse. It works by presenting a challenge that is easy for humans but difficult for automated software to solve, such as distorted text, image recognition, or a simple checkbox that analyzes user behavior. These tests are crucial for securing online forms, preventing fraudulent transactions, and ensuring the accuracy of online polls by blocking malicious bot activity.
How it works
Challenge-response test: A CAPTCHA presents a test to the user that computers struggle to solve, such as recognizing distorted characters or selecting specific images.
Response verification: The user's response is sent back to the website, where advanced algorithms verify if the response is likely human-generated.
Bot blocking: If the response is identified as being from a bot, the user is denied access to the website or service.
Common types of CAPTCHA
Text-based CAPTCHA: Users must read and type distorted or warped letters and numbers that are difficult for bots to recognize.
Image-based CAPTCHA: Users are asked to select a series of images that match a specific object, like all the images containing traffic lights.
Checkbox CAPTCHA: A simpler version, like Google's reCAPTCHA v2, often uses a checkbox that analyzes your interactions with the page (like mouse movements) to determine if you are a human without requiring a specific action.
Audio CAPTCHA: An alternative for visually impaired users that presents distorted audio clips that they must decipher and transcribe.
Why Use CAPTCHA?
Preventing spam: Blocks bots from posting spam comments or fake reviews on forums and websites.
Securing forms: Ensures that only humans can submit forms for registrations, logins, and contact information.
Protecting e-commerce: Helps prevent fraudulent transactions and fake account creation.
Safeguarding polls: Prevents bots from skewing the results of online surveys and polls.
HOW hard is it?
As mentioned, a captcha is used to determine if a user is a human or a bot, so it isn’t hard for humans (find examples of CAPTCHA captcha.net) CAPTCHAs aren't hard for humans because they leverage our natural ability to recognize patterns, context, and objects (like cars or distorted text) that are easy for human brains but historically difficult for computers, using tasks that require general knowledge or visual common sense.
However, as AI advances, CAPTCHAs become more complex, focusing on subtle human behaviors (mouse movements, browsing history) rather than just puzzles, because bots are now able to adept at solveing image grids, making older CAPTCHAs surprisingly easy for them.
But now, for the question we have all been waiting for…
CAN AI SOLVE IT?
(drum roll…….)
YES, AI can solve CAPTCHAs, with modern AI systems achieving near-perfect success rates on many common tests by using advanced computer vision.
Citations:
“What is CHAPTCHA” + “How it Works” - IBM
“Common types of CHAPTCHA - fortinet
“Why Use CHAPTCHA?” - IBM
“How Hard is it?” - Microsoft Learn
Page updated
Report abuse