Discussions, summarized

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• Hacker News1Offline card payments should be possible no later than 1 July 2026The Swedish central bank (Riksbank) and payment market representatives have agreed to enable offline card payments for essential goods like food, medicine and fuel by July 1, 2026. This aims to strengthen Sweden's payment preparedness against digital system disruptions.Offline card payment technology:Discussion covers how offline card payments work technically, from EMV chip standards and trust-based systems on planes to historical credit card imprinters. Users explain that cards can cryptographically sign transactions and store risk counters to decide offline approval.Swedish cashless culture and security concerns:Swedes rarely use cash, viewing it as potentially criminal or suspicious. This digitization creates vulnerabilities during cyberattacks, prompting government recommendations for cash reserves and now offline payment capabilities for essential goods.Privacy and government control concerns:Users express concern about government-approved lists of purchasable items and the loss of financial privacy. Some see cash as essential for freedom, while others worry about cascading system failures when digital payment infrastructure becomes mandatory.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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