The Thorne–Hawking–Preskill bet was a famous wager made in 1997 between three prominent physicists: Kip Thorne, Stephen Hawking, and John Preskill. The bet revolved around the nature of black holes and the information paradox, which questions whether information that falls into a black hole is lost forever or can be recovered. In essence, the bet was about whether information that falls into a black hole is truly irretrievable.

CRAM is a compressed file format used to store genomic data, particularly sequencing data generated by technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS). It is designed to provide efficient storage and transfer of large amounts of biological data, especially in the context of DNA sequencing. ### Key Features of CRAM: 1. **Compression**: CRAM employs various compression techniques to reduce the size of genomic data compared to other formats like SAM (Sequence Alignment Map) and BAM (Binary Alignment Map).

Spaghettification is a term used in astrophysics to describe the process by which objects are stretched and elongated due to extreme gravitational forces, particularly in the vicinity of a black hole. This phenomenon occurs because of the strong gravitational gradient present in such regions, meaning that the gravitational pull on an object (or a person) is significantly stronger at one end than at the other, especially as one gets closer to the black hole.

Vladimir Batagelj is a noted Slovenian statistician and mathematician, particularly recognized for his work in the fields of graph theory and network analysis. He has contributed to the development of various mathematical methods and techniques, and he is also known for his involvement in software development for social network analysis. Batagelj is associated with the University of Ljubljana and has published numerous research papers in his areas of expertise.

"A Mathematician's Apology" is a book written by the British mathematician G.H. Hardy, published in 1940. The work is a reflection on the aesthetics and philosophy of mathematics, as well as Hardy's thoughts on the nature of mathematical proof and creativity. In the book, Hardy famously defends pure mathematics, emphasizing its beauty and intellectual rigor, while contrasting it with applied mathematics, which he viewed as less elegant.

The Vaidya metric is a solution to the Einstein field equations in general relativity that describes the spacetime geometry around a radiating body. It is particularly useful for modeling scenarios where a star or another massive object is losing mass due to radiation, which can occur during supernovae, for example. The Vaidya solution is an extension of the Schwarzschild solution, which describes the gravitational field outside a non-radiating, spherically symmetric massive body.

Exile generally refers to the state of being barred from one's native country or place of residence, often for political or punitive reasons. It can involve the forced removal of individuals from their homeland or a voluntary choice to live away from their country due to various circumstances, such as conflict, persecution, or personal choice. Exile has been a significant concept throughout history, affecting individuals, groups, and communities.

The Hollywood Blacklist refers to a period in the late 1940s and 1950s when the film industry in the United States ostracized individuals, particularly screenwriters, directors, and actors, due to their alleged associations with communism or leftist political beliefs.

"People excluded from countries" can refer to various groups or individuals who are not permitted to enter or reside in a particular nation for a range of reasons. Here are a few common interpretations of this phrase: 1. **Immigrants and Refugees**: Individuals fleeing their home countries due to persecution, conflict, or economic hardship may face exclusion if they do not meet the requirements for asylum or immigration in another country.

"Christmas tree" files refer to a specific way of organizing and displaying information in certain types of files, particularly in programming or configuration contexts. The term is often used to describe files that have a hierarchical structure resembling the shape of a Christmas tree, where there are multiple branches or levels of categories. The most common application of this term relates to source code repositories or configuration files in software development.

Beall's List is a controversial resource that compiles a list of "predatory" open access journals and publishers. Originally created by Jeffrey Beall, a librarian and scholar, the list was intended to help researchers identify journals that may not adhere to acceptable academic publishing standards. The term "predatory" refers to journals that exploit the author-pays model without providing proper editorial services, peer review, or other scholarly norms.

"Blacklisted by History" is a book written by M. Stanton Evans, published in 2007. The book primarily focuses on the history and legacy of the anti-communist figure Whittaker Chambers and the infamous Alger Hiss case, which was a significant political scandal in the United States during the early Cold War period.

Cabell's Predatory Reports is a resource developed by Cabell Publishing, designed to help researchers, academics, and institutions identify and avoid predatory journals and publishers. Predatory journals typically engage in questionable practices, such as charging authors high fees without providing editorial or publishing services that are up to the standards of reputable academic publishing. Cabell's Predatory Reports offers a curated database that assesses the legitimacy of various journals based on criteria like peer review processes, editorial board transparency, and publication ethics.

Deplatforming refers to the act of removing or banning an individual, group, or organization from a platform, typically in the context of social media, online forums, or other digital spaces. This action is often taken by platform providers in response to behavior or content that is deemed to violate their terms of service, community guidelines, or laws.

The Eight Mile-Wyoming area refers to a neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, particularly around the intersection of Eight Mile Road and Wyoming Avenue. This area is known for its historical significance, cultural diversity, and challenges related to urban development and socioeconomic issues. Eight Mile Road serves as a notable boundary between the city of Detroit and its northern suburbs and has been a cultural reference point in discussions about race and economic conditions in the region.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist refers to a list of countries that are deemed to have significant deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) measures. The FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 to develop policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

"International Sponsors of War" is not a widely recognized term or specific organization as of my last knowledge update in October 2023. However, it could refer to entities or nations that financially or materially support conflicts or war efforts in other countries. This support could come in various forms, including military aid, weapons supplies, financial assistance, or logistical support.

Biographies and autobiographies of mathematicians offer insights into the lives, thoughts, and contributions of influential figures in the field of mathematics. These works can vary widely in style and content, but generally, they share several key features: ### Biographies of Mathematicians 1. **Factual Accounts**: Biographies tend to focus on the life events, achievements, and historical context surrounding a mathematician.

Open Problems in Mathematics refer to mathematical questions or conjectures that have not yet been resolved or proven. These problems often represent significant challenges within various fields of mathematics, and their solutions can lead to new insights, theories, or advancements in the discipline. Some open problems have been around for decades or even centuries, and they can involve a wide range of topics, including number theory, geometry, topology, algebra, and more.

The list of banned video games varies by country and can change over time due to evolving laws, social standards, and cultural sensitivities. Here are several notable examples of countries and some of the games that have been banned: ### United States - **Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas** - Controversies over violence and sexual content led to significant scrutiny. - **Manhunt 2** - Banned due to extreme violence and graphic content.