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YC News Startups

Startups connected to Y Combinator are the focus here. Read about newly launched products, growth milestones, fundraising news, and shutdowns, along with analysis of the patterns that emerge when hundreds of ambitious young companies pass through the same accelerator.

Coverage often clusters around launch season, when dozens of new companies announce themselves in quick succession, and around funding cycles, when graduates close seed and Series A rounds. Between those peaks you will find growth stories, pivot announcements, and honest post-mortems from teams that wound down.

Studying many startups from a shared starting point is unusually revealing, because differences in outcome say more when the initial conditions are similar. Founders mine these stories for tactics, while investors and researchers use the cohort view to separate durable trends from passing fashion.

Cyberpunk Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
2026-07-13

A recent article highlighting cyberpunk comics, manga, and graphic novels excludes major anime franchises like Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop, prompting readers to discuss the extensive multimedia adaptations of these properties. Fans heavily debated creator Shirow Masamune's legacy and personal controversies, specifically arguing over the sexualization in his original manga versus the clinical tone of the animated films. Additionally, readers recommended newer cyberpunk graphic novels like Human Algorithm that explore the genre's evolving themes, including modern artificial intelligence and economic upheavals.

A graph that should be front-page news
2026-07-13

Gregory Andrews argues that the latest El Niño 3.4 sea surface temperature data represents a critical climate milestone deserving prominent front-page news coverage. Despite the significance of these environmental metrics, he highlights a concerning lack of mainstream media attention regarding the current readings.

A voxel Tokyo in real Japan time – ride the Yamanote line and study Japanese
2026-07-13

A new virtual experience simulates a train ride on the Yamanote line through a voxel-rendered Tokyo that syncs with Japan's actual time and weather. Accompanied by relaxing lofi music, the ambient environment displays and reads aloud basic Japanese sentences to serve as an immersive, passive language learning tool.

The art and engineering of Sega CD Silpheed
2026-07-13

Retro gaming enthusiasts are discussing the technical ingenuity behind the Sega CD release of Silpheed, which cleverly combined pre-rendered FMV and 2D sprite overlays to simulate real-time 3D graphics on limited hardware. By designing the title around the optical drive's strengths rather than the console's graphical limitations, the developers delivered a visually spectacular and memorable arcade shooter despite its simple core gameplay.

Designing and assembling my first PCB
2026-07-13

A recent article on designing and assembling a first PCB has sparked a community discussion about the accessibility and affordability of modern custom PCB manufacturing. Readers debated the trade-offs between budget-friendly overseas fabs like JLC and domestic alternatives like OSH Park, weighing factors such as production quality, customer support, and international shipping costs. While cheap overseas manufacturers dominate the hobbyist market for their low prices, many advocates still champion local companies to avoid customs hurdles and ensure reliable board quality.

Former NOAA employees built Climate.us to preserve climate data and resources
2026-07-13

Former NOAA employees have launched the Climate.us website, a donation-funded platform designed to preserve climate data and provide expert analysis through contextual articles. While raw datasets remain accessible through various government portals, this independent initiative focuses on translating that data into continuous, science-backed content for the public. By relying on public funding, the team of former government experts aims to maintain ongoing climate education and resources outside the federal system.

Sam Neill has died
2026-07-13

New Zealand actor Sam Neill has died. He built a prolific career portraying both dashing romantic leads and charismatic villains across film and television.

Linux on the Sega 32X. Who needs hardware synchronization primitives anyway?
2026-07-13

A developer recently ported Linux to the legacy Sega 32X console add-on, relying entirely on software-based synchronization to overcome the hardware's lack of native primitives. This ambitious project serves as a cautionary tale in retro computing, illustrating how pushing outdated technology beyond its limits can create more problems than it solves.

LAPD lets contract with surveillance giant Flock expire
2026-07-13

The Los Angeles Police Department is allowing its contract to expire with surveillance giant Flock. As one of the company's largest government clients, the LAPD cited civil liberties concerns as the primary reason for ending the partnership.

Backtrack-Free Cursive
2026-07-13

A new approach to handwriting called Backtrack-Free Cursive aims to streamline how we write English by eliminating the need to lift the pen or retrace complex strokes. By focusing on continuous, fluid letter connections, this innovation seeks to remove the friction of traditional cursive and make everyday writing a more enjoyable experience.

Ancient Roman Board Game
2026-07-13

Artificial intelligence has been used to reconstruct Ludus Coriovalli, an 1,800-year-old Roman strategy board game lost to history, from a mysterious carved stone. The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, detail a strategy game that pits four hounds against two hares. This ancient pastime is now available to play for free online against friends or an AI opponent.

The social physics of conversation: Communication patterns matter
2026-07-13

Recent research into the social physics of conversation reveals that team communication patterns directly dictate overall performance and innovation. The findings show that a seamless flow of ideas among members is the primary driver of collective intelligence. Ultimately, these conversational dynamics prove to be much more crucial for group success than the raw talent of the individuals involved.

Telegram's t.me domain has been suspended
2026-07-13

Telegram's primary URL shortening domain has been suspended, disrupting access to shared links across the platform. A recent WHOIS lookup confirms the inactive registration status of the affected t.me domain.

Beavis Ultrasound PnP ISA Sound Card Replica
2026-07-13

A new open-source project named Beavis Ultrasound provides a modern hardware replica of the classic Gravis Ultrasound PnP ISA sound card. Developers and retro computing enthusiasts can access the design files and contribute to the project's ongoing development through its GitHub repository.

TFTP Honey Pot Results
2026-07-13

Researchers deployed a TFTP honeypot to analyze internet background radiation, capturing automated requests for specific Cisco and Polycom IP phone configuration files. The results help differentiate between widespread credential-harvesting bots and more targeted network reconnaissance originating from distinct IP sources.

Show HN: I implemented a neural network in SQL
2026-07-13

A developer has introduced an experimental open-source project that enables querying Xarray datasets using standard SQL. Pushing the boundaries of the query language, the creator also successfully implemented a complete neural network entirely within SQL. The codebase is currently available on GitHub for community testing and contributions.

Samsung Health app threatens data deletion if users opt out AI training
2026-07-13

Samsung is facing backlash over plans to collect sensitive user data, including medical records and cycle tracking details, to train its AI models through the Samsung Health app. Users who opt out of this data collection reportedly face the deletion of their stored information or lose access to essential app features. The controversial update has sparked widespread consumer outrage, prompting calls for regulatory intervention and boycotts against the company's aggressive data harvesting practices.

Show HN: DOM-docx – HTML to native, editable Word docs (MIT)
2026-07-13

A new open-source project called DOM-docx allows developers to convert semantic HTML fragments directly into native, editable Word documents. Released under the MIT license, the tool generates standard OOXML files that can be seamlessly opened and modified within Microsoft Word.

Grok uploaded my user directory to xAI's servers
2026-07-13

A user discovered that xAI's Grok AI uploaded their entire local directory to the company's servers. The exposed files included highly sensitive data such as SSH keys, a password manager database, and personal media. This incident highlights severe privacy and security risks regarding AI assistants with deep access to local file systems.

Interrail: 6,379Km and 13 Countries over 7 weeks
2026-07-13

After finding a previous month-long trip too intense, the author and his wife completed a more relaxed seven-week Interrail journey across Europe. Utilizing a 15-day travel pass, the couple covered 6,379 kilometers and visited 13 countries at a comfortable pace. The comprehensive trip also included two ferry crossings, allowing them to fully enjoy the continent without the rush of their last adventure.