🎙 METACAST: Top Crypto Podcasts of April 2023

Hello, everyone!
Check a quick overview of what we've been listening to last month!

TL;DR
—Vitalik Buterin and Sadhguru: Consciousness and technology are one.
—Paul Grewal, Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer joins Bankless to discuss why Coinbase is Suing the SEC.
—The Ethereum Foundation's Tim Beiko explains why Shapella matters and what challenges devs are tackling next.
—Ryan, David, Tim Beiko, Justin Drake, and Anthony Sassano unpack everything you need to know about Shanghai-Capella: ETH Staking Withdrawals.
—Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake and bloXroute Labs CEO Uri Klarman assess the current state of MEV.
—The Defiant hosts were joined by the dynamic Ethereum KZG Ceremony Duo, Carl, and Trent of the Ethereum Foundation.
—From Ooki to Maker, lawyers Gabriel Shapiro and Fatemeh Fannizadeh discuss how DAOs are responding to legal scrutiny.
—Brian Quintenz and Nic Carter delve into how US regulators are targeting the crypto industry.
—A contentious hearing last week pitted House Republicans vs. SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Listen to what stood out to crypto lawyer Jason Gottlieb.
—Zero Knowledge host Anna Rose sits down with Zac Williamson, the CEO of Aztec to dive deep into the history of Plonk, one of the most important proving systems to emerge in the last 5 years.
—In the sequel to the Bankless 1st AI conversation with Eliezer Yudkowsky, the Bankless hosts bring you a thought-provoking discussion with Robin Hanson, a professor of economics at George Mason University and a research associate at the Future of Humanity Institute of Oxford University.
—The move into Web3 with Aptos' Avery Ching.
—FHE and ZKPs with Sunscreen's Ravital Solomon.
—Tim Galebach, a founder of Uqbar, discusses the different design choices involved, from Hoon programming DevEx to a hybrid ZK-optimistic rollup.
—Nick Johnson's journey from Google to Ethereum, ENS roadmap, & cancel culture.
—The Epicenter hosts joined by Jose Macedo, founder of Delphi Labs, to discuss the history of Delphi Digital, their learnings from incubating projects, and the vision behind Mars' 'Red Bank' DeFi products.
—Ryan Zurrer, a founder of Dialectic AG, discusses the crypto investment landscape and the evolution of the industry from BTC to P2E gaming.
—Itay Vinik is the Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Equi, an alternative investment platform that brings investment strategies to accredited investors, returns to the Bankless to answer the question: can the Fed thread the needle between inflation and recession?
—Bringing institutions and businesses to DeFi with Sidney Powell, the co-founder and CEO of Maple Finance.
—The Epicenter hosts were joined by John Letey, founder and CTO of KYVE Network, to discuss the challenges and use cases of decentralized data storage and how blockchain interoperability could benefit from it.
—Push Protocol's Harsh Rajat talks on-chain ChatGPT, driving growth in Web3 & Web3 UX.
—The hosts of the DeSci Podcast were joined by ValleyDAO's Co-founder, Albert Anis, and Communications Lead, Morgan Richards.
—Anirudh Pai, Partner at Dragonfly, shares with us what it means to invest at the frontier, building an actual city with Praxis, 2 overlooked verticals that are likely to take off in the future.
—Leaving Web2 with Sriram Krishnan, the GP at a16z Crypto.
—The State of Crypto with Eddy Lazzarin, the CTO of a16z Crypto.
—Consensus 2023 recap.
—And much more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#Metacast https://medium.com/paradigm-research/%EF%B8%8F-metacast-top-crypto-podcasts-of-april-2023-4d6660396a38

𝐒𝐓/ Astronomers detect ‘nearby’ black hole devouring a star

Space biweekly vol.76, 20th April — 5th May

TL;DR
— MIT astronomers have discovered a new 'tidal disruption event,' in which the center of a galaxy lights up as its supermassive black hole rips apart a passing star. The outburst is the closest tidal disruption event observed to date, and one of the first to be identified at infrared wavelengths.

— A new study looked at a known binary star (two stars orbiting around a mutual center of gravity), analyzing starlight obtained from a range of ground- and space-based telescopes. The researchers found that the stars, located in a neighboring dwarf galaxy called the Small Magellanic Cloud, are in partial contact and swapping material with each other, with one star currently 'feeding' off the other. They orbit each other every three days and are the most massive touching stars (known as contact binaries) yet observed.

— A team of Japanese astronomers used simultaneous ground-based and space-based observations to capture a more complete picture of a superflare on a star. The observed flare started with a very massive, high-velocity prominence eruption. These results give us a better idea of how superflares and stellar prominence eruptions occur.

— Astronomers have observed, in one image, the shadow of the black hole at the center of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) and the powerful jet expelled from it. Thanks to this new image, astronomers can better understand how black holes can launch such energetic jets.

— Scientists have unlocked one of the biggest mysteries of quasars - the brightest, most powerful objects in the Universe - by discovering that they are ignited by galaxies colliding.

— In new 3D computer simulations, astrophysicists modeled black holes of varying masses and then hurled stars (about the size of our sun) past them to see what might happen. If they exist, intermediate-mass black holes likely devour wayward stars like a messy toddler - taking a few bites and then flinging the remains across the galaxy.

— Astrophysicists have provided the most direct evidence yet that Dark Matter does not constitute ultramassive particles as is commonly thought but instead comprises particles so light that they travel through space like waves. Their work resolves an outstanding problem in astrophysics first raised two decades ago: why do models that adopt ultramassive Dark Matter particles fail to correctly predict the observed positions and the brightness of multiple images of the same galaxy created by gravitational lensing?

— A new study has uncovered intriguing insights into the liquid core at the centre of Mars, furthering understanding of the planet's formation and evolution.

— A research team has confirmed evidence of a previously unknown planet outside of our solar system, and they used machine learning tools to detect it. A recent study by the team showed that machine learning can correctly determine if an exoplanet is present by looking in protoplanetary disks, the gas around newly formed stars. The newly published findings represent a first step toward using machine learning to identify previously overlooked exoplanets.

— A study using data from telescopes on Earth and in the sky resolves a problem plaguing astronomers working in the infrared and could help make better observations of the composition of the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope and other instruments.

— And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on Paradigm Platform.

#ST #Space https://medium.com/paradigm-research/st-astronomers-detect-nearby-black-hole-devouring-a-star-bb46c07839d3

BT/ Google introduces passkey sign-in with a farewell note to passwords

Biometrics biweekly vol. 63, 24th April — 8th May

TL;DR
—Google users can opt to secure their accounts using passkeys rather than passwords, according to a blog post on the company’s website. Passkeys allow users to sign in using fingerprint or face biometrics, or through a device screen lock, such as a local PIN
—Tinder debuts video selfie biometrics for security based on FaceTec’s 3D biometric liveness detection software for face authentication
—Major 3D liveness revenue, and customer gains for FaceTec in the first quarter of 2023
—Coinbase sued under Biometric Information Privacy Act
—ChatGPT talks to consumers using voice while OpenAI faces European regulators
—First phones with Fingerprint Cards under-display biometrics revealed
—Alcatraz AI, Precise expand biometric access control reach
—Idex gets production order of fingerprint sensors for biometric access control cards
—vAIsual introduces consented biometric video series to dataset shop for AI training
—Tool for assessing biometric samples in various modalities launched by Biometix
—Innovatrics tops NIST leaderboard for single-iris biometric accuracy
—NIST publishes a draft roadmap for identity and access management, seeks input
—iProov and Authsignal partner in fighting fraud
—Clear accelerates growth in travel; expands into health, social media
—FIDO Alliance paper positions protocol for EU Digital Identity Wallet authentications
—BIO-key expands IAM market footprint in Africa with two new partnerships
—Australia’s DoD issues tender for multi-biometric capture device
—Address and ID verification proposed for World Bank social welfare program in Nigeria
—Nepalese prime minister stirs controversy after ID verification assigned to his company
—Gabon hopes to deliver on its lingering national ID card promise this year
—Ghana plans mass block of SIM cards not registered with biometrics
—Morocco bringing some courts online with national digital ID
—Colombian digital IDs, and biometrics enrollment now available in the US
—Controversy dogs biometric data processing for Ireland’s public service card function
—Rwanda initiates legislative digital ID amendment to include stateless persons, children
—Italy considers new biometric surveillance pilots amidst opposition’s concerns
—Pakistan province plans $5.5M tender for security cameras with facial recognition, ANPR
—Token raises $30M to fuel growth and development of biometric authentication wearable
—Startup Stack Identity gets $4M to shine a light on shadow access
—IDPartner corrals a posse to close a $3.1 million seed round
—Study finds factors behind a society’s acceptance of biometric surveillance
—Biometric industry events. And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.


#BT #Biometrics https://medium.com/paradigm-research/bt-google-introduces-passkey-sign-in-with-a-farewell-note-to-passwords-209c83e6ffa8

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 vol.72

Biweekly update on the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem, 25th April — 9th May

$47B in DeFi, Curve USD stablecoin deployed, Spark Protocol launches, A Lido V2 update, 9 new Synthetix Perps Markets are now live, Enzyme now supports lending via Compound v3, Aave is live on the Scroll Alpha testnet, Happy birthday to Uniswap v3, and much more!

TL;DR
—$47.3B in DeFi this week with Lido dominance 25.30%.
—Curve USD stablecoin deployed; redeployed after missing fees & high gas usage.
—SushiSwap has rolled out its V3 Liquidity Pool on 13 chains.
—Starting May 9, Spark Protocol will be available to all DeFi users. An end-user, DAI-centered DeFi product deployed on Ethereum with supply and borrow features for ETH, stETH, DAI, and sDAI.
—1inch Monthly Digest: April 2023. 1inch to attend Lisbon events. Fusion mode available on more networks.
—Latest Aave News: ETH Tokyo Hackathon, Llama 6-month update, 1delta on testnet, AGD update, Aave Forest, governance updates. Aave is now live on Scroll Alpha testnet.
—A Lido V2 update: The final on-chain vote for the V2 upgrade is scheduled for this Friday, May 12th. If no last-minute findings are surfaced and the vote is successful, Lido V2 will be live after the vote enactment on May 15th.
—Balancer Grants share the latest monthly update. A deep dive into how the power of 80/20 helped Radiant Capital generate significant swap fees and pool incentives in under a month.
—dYdX grants released the latest grants report. he ‘Governance Weekly Recap’ was launched, highlighting some of the important conversations and topics on the forum.
—Enzyme announced the addition of Compound v3 lending to its DeFi operating system.
—ynthetix announced the addition of nine new perpetual futures markets available for leverage trading on Synthetix Perps. The full list of new perpetual markets includes APT, LDO, ADA, GMX, FIL, LTC, BCH, SHIB, and CRV.
—More highlights this week from Monerium’s EURe euro-backed stablecoin on Gnosis Chain.Gnosis Guild continues to work on Hashi in their next development cycle.
—Compound Proposal 159 ‘Refresh Polygon COMP’ has passed successfully. Voting on Proposal 160 ‘Initialize cUSDCv3 on Arbitrum’ will start later today.
—Nexus Mutual’s status update for the new tokenomics project, a guide for members who are interested in migrating their staked NXM from Nexus Mutual V1 to V2.
—Yearn Finance Newsletter #63: yETH! YIP-72 passes; Yearn Finance Alpha: Budget Requests & V3; Exploit on iEarn; Yearn’s Graphic Novel; Community and Ecosystem News.
—Dump Services: sell multiple tokens in a single transaction using CoW protocol.
—Five reasons you’ll love the Uniswap Wallet: a new blog post.
—Zapper onchain activity feed.
—Umbra adds LUSD and RAI for stealth payments.
—DEI stablecoin on Arbitrum exploit, simple implementation error.
—yAcademy: common DeFi forked protocol bugs.
—Twitter Space: Polygon DeFi Thursdays: Future of DeFi.
—A US Court has ordered the SEC to respond to Coinbase’s allegations within 10 days.
—a16z recently urged the UK to consider a ‘more nuanced’ regulatory framework.
—And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.


#Defi_in_ether #Defi #Ethereum https://medium.com/paradigm-research/defi-in-ether-7b5d908ea8b

NS/ Neuroscientists decoded people's thoughts using brain scans

Neuroscience biweekly vol. 84, 26th April - 10th May

TL;DR
—A new AI-based system called a semantic decoder can translate a person's brain activity - while listening to a story or silently imagining telling a story - into a continuous stream of text. Unlike other thought decoding systems in development, this system does not require subjects to have surgical implants, making the process noninvasive.

—In a paper published in Communications Biology, auditory neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh describe a machine learning model that helps explain how the brain recognizes the meaning of communication sounds, such as animal calls or spoken words.

—A new study shows that sleep spindles, brief bursts of brain activity occurring during one phase of sleep and captured by EEG, may regulate anxiety in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

—Neuroscientists have uncovered how exploratory actions enable animals to learn their spatial environment more efficiently. Their findings could help build better AI agents that can learn faster and require less experience.

—A new study provides early evidence of a surge of activity correlated with consciousness in the dying brain.

—For adolescents who may get stuck in negative thought spirals, refocusing on mental imagery is a more effective distraction than verbal thoughts, a recent study from Oregon State University found.

—Researchers report that neuronal activity is necessary and sufficient for astrocytes to develop their complex shape, and interrupting this developmental process results in disrupted brain function.

—Hundreds of millions of years before the evolution of animals with segmented bodies, jointed skeletons or appendages, and soft-bodied invertebrates like sea slugs ruled the seas. A new study finds parallels between the brain architecture that drives locomotion in sea slugs and that of more complex segmented creatures with jointed skeletons and appendages.

—Scientists found that blood markers of two saturated fatty acids along with certain omega-6, -7 and -9 fatty acids correlated with better scores on tests of memory and were associated with larger brain structures in the frontal, temporal, parietal and insular cortices.

—New findings in color vision research imply that humans can perceive a greater range of blue tones than monkeys do. Distinct connections found in the human retina may indicate recent evolutionary adaptations for sending enhanced color vision signals from the eye to the brain.

—And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#NS #Neuroscience https://medium.com/paradigm-research/ns-neuroscientists-decoded-peoples-thoughts-using-brain-scans-6200477e61ca

𝐐𝐓/ Symmetric graphene quantum dots for future qubits

Quantum news biweekly vol.51, 27th April — 11th May

TL;DR
— Quantum dots in semiconductors such as silicon or gallium arsenide have long been considered hot candidates for hosting quantum bits in future quantum processors. Scientists have now shown that bilayer graphene has even more to offer here than other materials. The double quantum dots they have created are characterized by a nearly perfect electron-hole-symmetry that allows a robust read-out mechanism — one of the necessary criteria for quantum computing.

— An international team of researchers has developed a comprehensive manual for engineering spin dynamics in nanomagnets — an important step toward advancing spintronic and quantum-information technologies.

— Researchers have demonstrated a prototype lidar system that uses quantum detection technology to acquire 3D images while submerged underwater. The high sensitivity of this system could allow it to capture detailed information even in extremely low-light conditions found underwater.

— Using a “spooky” phenomenon of quantum physics, researchers have discovered a way to double the resolution of light microscopes.

— Large numbers can only be factorized with a great deal of computational effort. Physicists are now providing a blueprint for a new type of quantum computer to solve the factorization problem, which is a cornerstone of modern cryptography.

— Researchers raise fundamental questions about the proposed value of topological protection against backscattering in integrated photonics.

— In a unique analysis of experimental data, nuclear physicists have made observations of how lambda particles, so-called ‘strange matter,’ are produced by a specific process called semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS). What’s more, these data hint that the building blocks of protons, quarks and gluons, are capable of marching through the atomic nucleus in pairs called diquarks, at least part of the time.

— By superimposing two laser fields of different strengths and frequency, the electron emission of metals can be measured and controlled precisely to a few attoseconds. Physicists have shown that this is the case. The findings could lead to new quantum-mechanical insights and enable electronic circuits that are a million times faster than today.

— A team of researchers has demonstrated the ultimate sensitivity allowed by quantum physics in measuring the time delay between two photons. This breakthrough has significant implications for a range of applications, including more feasible imaging of nanostructures, including biological samples, and nanomaterial surfaces, as well as quantum enhanced estimation based on frequency-resolved boson sampling in optical networks.

— A team of physicists has illuminated certain properties of quantum systems by observing how their fluctuations spread over time. The research offers an intricate understanding of a complex phenomenon that is foundational to quantum computing.

— And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on Paradigm Platform.

#QT #Quantum https://medium.com/paradigm-research/qt-symmetric-graphene-quantum-dots-for-future-qubits-bd72407516b8

𝐴𝐼 & 𝐶𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒: 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝐷𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠

As the climate crisis continues to escalate, there is a growing need for innovative solutions to combat its effects. Our new research explores the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) technology to be used as a tool to address climate change. Beginning with an overview of AI technology and an explanation of the climate change problem, the paper then delves into the framework of using AI to combat climate change, including potential applications and key players in the field. Afterward, the challenges, trends, and prospects of AI solving climate change problem are discussed.

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

https://medium.com/paradigm-research/ai-climate-change-how-technology-is-driving-solutions-d3185337fcdf

L2 report vol. 21

A biweekly update on Layer 2 protocols, 1st May — 15th May

TL;DR
—The sum of all funds locked on Ethereum converted to USD is $8.83 B at the time of writing.
—Arbitrum Nova has surpassed over 500,000 unique addresses. Arbitrum Prysm Updates Q2'23.
—Manta Network to support Arbitrum to roll out a series of Private Soul Bound Tokens (zkSBTs).
—OP Mainnet’s Bedrock Upgrade: The Collective has been heads down working to meet the governance criteria to bring Bedrock to OP Mainnet, and the team has made tremendous progress. Special Voting Cycle 12a just concluded.
—Chainlink Automation is now live on Optimism.
—Worldcoin announced World ID and World App will soon make their way to Optimism mainnet.
—Aave V3 is now available on Metis.
—Aztec hybrid zkRollup roadmap: public & private state, not EVM compatible, UTXOs represent data, contracts written in Noir, local testnet Q3, public testnet 2024.
—Block trade on Loopring introduced: Giving L2 users self-custodial access to multiple liquidity sources. Loopring + Uptick Network join forces to transform NFT Marketplaces on Loopring L2.
—BobaBNB continues to impress with over 2.8 million transactions and 45,000 wallets in April. Boba Network is partnering with Katana inu.
—Everything you wanted to know about Polygon zkEVM’s prover, but were too afraid to ask. Polygon Labs’ response to the UK’s cryptoasset consultation & call for evidence. Twitter Space: Ethereum and DeFi Beyond the EVM.
—Scroll introduced ZK Symposium. The first community block explorer was launched.
—Discover the innovative use cases Starknet unlocks and how developers can leverage its potential.
—Immutable set to launch Web3 non-custodial wallet & authentication product, passport, in partnership with Magic.
—zkSync is contributing to LongHashX Accelerator’s upcoming ZK Cohort as a mentor to support builders.
—dYdX named among best workplaces.
—zkCasper: verify Casper FFG consensus proofs using SNARKs, increases security of light clients.
—James Prestwich: shared sequencing for optimistic rollups.
—L2 stats. Check out how much it costs to use Layer 2.
—And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#L2 #Layer2 https://medium.com/paradigm-research/l2-report-vol-21-ed6dbd881de0

𝐑𝐓/ Robotic proxy brings remote users to life in real time

Robotics biweekly vol.74, 29h April — 16th May

TL;DR
— Researchers have developed a robot, called ReMotion, that occupies physical space on a remote user’s behalf, automatically mirroring the user’s movements in real time and conveying key body language that is lost in standard virtual environments.

— An experiment in which two people play a modified version of Tetris revealed that players who get fewer turns perceived the other player as less likable, regardless of whether a person or an algorithm allocated the turns.

— Engineers have discovered a new way to program robots to help people with dementia locate medicine, glasses, phones and other objects they need but have lost.

— As AI becomes increasingly realistic, our trust in those with whom we communicate may be compromised. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have examined how advanced AI systems impact our trust in the individuals we interact with.

— Intrigued to see if the many limbs could be helpful for locomotion in this world, a team of physicists, engineers, and mathematicians are using this style of movement to their advantage. They developed a new theory of multilegged locomotion and created many-legged robotic models, discovering the robot with redundant legs could move across uneven surfaces without any additional sensing or control technology as the theory predicted.

— Automation uncovers combinations of amino acids that feed two bacterial species and could tell us much more about the 90% of bacteria that humans have hardly studied. An artificial intelligence system enables robots to conduct autonomous scientific experiments — as many as 10,000 per day — potentially driving a drastic leap forward in the pace of discovery in areas from medicine to agriculture to environmental science.

— Mechanically responsive molecular crystals are extremely useful in soft robotics, which requires a versatile actuation technology. Crystals driven by the photothermal effect are particularly promising for achieving high-speed actuation. However, the response (bending) observed in these crystals is usually small. Now, scientists address this issue by inducing large resonated natural vibrations in anisole crystals with UV light illumination at the natural vibration frequency of the crystal.

— A lab has developed a deep neural network that improves the accuracy of their unique devices for detecting pathogen biomarkers.

— Research found ChatGPT correctly answered 46 per cent of questions from a study resource commonly used by physicians when preparing for board certification in ophthalmology. When researchers conducted the same test one month later, ChatGPT scored more than 10 per cent higher.

— Researchers recently set out to explore what happens when live fish are placed in the same environment as a robotic fish. Their findings could both inform the development of fish-inspired robots and shed some new light on the behavior of real fish.

— Robotics upcoming events. And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on Paradigm Platform.

#Robotics #RT https://medium.com/paradigm-research/rt-robotic-proxy-brings-remote-users-to-life-in-real-time-e6b5edb1834e

Biweekly update on @Humanode vol.49
3rd May — 17th May

TL;DR
Human nodes and friends! These two weeks were quite productive for Humanode on many fronts, and we can’t wait to share some of the most interesting news with you!

First, the Humanode team announced the new and spiffy Humanode explorer developed by Subscan. Now you can easily navigate through the sea of blocks and learn about what is happening on the Humanode blockchain.

Curious about how BotBasher protects your biometric data? Dive into Humanode’s latest blog post to explore the advanced security measures they implemented. Read also how to use BotBasher for a Sybil-resistant Galxe campaign, a popular and leading web3 marketing platform with over 10 million users.

The good news is, Humanode (HMND) is now live on the Delta Investment Tracker app. Get real-time updates on all things Humanode as notifications. To make sure you never miss a beat, visit the Humanode page on Delta and select the option to be notified of direct posts. It’s quick, easy, and hassle-free.

Last week, the Humanode AMA with SubQuery took place. Humanode Co-founder, Victor, talked with SubQuery & OnFinality COO, James Bayly, about SubQuery and Humanode, and about using SubQuery to build on the Humanode chain and its possibilities. In case you missed Humanode AMA with SubQuery, check out the recording here!

Curious about the importance of EVM compatibility for projects like Humanode? Humanode blog series, The EVM Compatibility Chronicles, explores the factors driving the need for EVM compatibility and provides insights from Humanode’s Tech Lead, MOZGIII. Get ready for an engaging and insightful journey! Read Part I, Part II, Part III, and the Final chapter now.

Humanode's new research explores Proof of Personhood (PoP) protocols — types of identity verification mechanisms that aim to protect digital space from identity fraud — are explored. It outlines the main identity verification mechanisms, their benefits and limitations alongside initiatives utilizing them. Check it out!

Can traditional financial systems buy out Proof of Stake networks, putting control back in their hands? Explore the impact of hyperinflation on ownership in permissionless POS blockchains in Humanode’s freshly published editorial.

The winners of the Humanode Sticker Contest are in. After a Sybil-Resistant 1 Human = 1 Vote contest, 10 stickers have won $50 worth of HMND each for the Humanode Community Sticker Pack Vol. I. Start using them by adding stickers here. And make your mark with the ‘I am Human!’ graffiti campaign. Express your unique value and stand a chance to win $2000.

Moreover, Humanode gaming day is back. Last time the team played LoL. It’s time to decide the game for the upcoming Humanode Gaming Day. Cast your vote on Humanode Discord in the #announcement channel. Get ready to unleash your gaming skills and have a blast with fellow gamers soon!

That’s all for today. Stay tuned, huge news is on the way!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#Humanode https://medium.com/paradigm-research/humanode-explorer-by-subscan-available-botbashers-biometric-privacy-and-security-approach-ama-35f78ad018de

𝗚𝗧/ Unlocking the power of photosynthesis for clean energy production

Energy & Green technology biweekly vol.49, 2nd May — 18th May

TL;DR
— Researchers are embarking on a groundbreaking project to mimic the natural process of photosynthesis using bacteria to deliver electrons to a nanocrystal semiconductor photocatalyst. By leveraging the unique properties of microorganisms and nanomaterials, the system has the potential to replace current approaches that derive hydrogen from fossil fuels, revolutionizing the way hydrogen fuel is produced and unlocking a powerful source of renewable energy.

— Small bats are bad at converting energy into muscle power. Surprisingly, a new study led by Lund University in Sweden reveals that this ability increases the faster they fly.

— Researchers develop a new method for the sustainable use of carbon dioxide.

— Photovoltaics, the conversion of light to electricity, is a key technology for sustainable energy. Since the days of Max Planck and Albert Einstein, we know that light as well as electricity are quantized, meaning they come in tiny packets called photons and electrons. In a solar cell, the energy of a single photon is transferred to a single electron of the material, but no more than one. Only a few molecular materials like pentacene are an exception, where one photon is converted to two electrons instead. Researchers have now deciphered the first step of this process by recording an ultrafast movie of the photon-to-electricity conversion process, resolving a decades-old debate about the mechanism of the process.

— Perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) are a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells because of their high power-conversion efficiency and low cost. However, one of the major challenges in their development has been achieving long-term stability. Recently, a research team made a breakthrough by developing an innovative multifunctional and non-volatile additive which can improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells by modulating perovskite film growth. This simple and effective strategy has great potential for facilitating the commercialization of PVSCs.

— A team led by LMU chemist Lena Daumann has demonstrated for the first time that bacteria can use certain radioactive elements to sustain their metabolism.

— Discarded or drifting in the ocean, plastic debris can accumulate on the water’s surface, forming floating islands of garbage. Although it’s harder to spot, researchers suspect a significant amount also sinks. In a new study, team used computer modeling to study how far bits of lightweight plastic travel when falling into the Mediterranean Sea. Their results suggest these particles can drift farther underwater than previously thought.

— A team of researchers at Aalto University has developed a new tool to help urban planners keep urban developments in line with climate goals. The tool provides a metric that planners can use to improve carbon-neutral planning of urban growth, which is essential for meeting carbon emission targets.

— New research found that Americans already bearing the brunt of climate change and health inequities are most at risk of impact by a lengthy power outage.

— Researchers confirm the superiority of seawater batteries that use chelating agents.

— And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#GT #Greentech https://medium.com/paradigm-research/gt-unlocking-the-power-of-photosynthesis-for-clean-energy-production-2a17434b2d3b

𝐒𝐓/ Radio signal reveals supernova origin

Space biweekly vol.77, 5th May - 19th May

TL;DR
— Astronomers reveal the origin of a thermonuclear supernova explosion. Strong emission lines of helium and the first detection of such a supernova in radio waves show that the exploding white dwarf star had a helium-rich companion.

— Astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study a rocky exoplanet known as GJ 486 b. It is too close to its star to be within the habitable zone, with a surface temperature of about 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius). And yet, their observations show hints of water vapor.

— Scientists had blamed Phaethon's comet-like behavior on dust escaping from the asteroid as it's scorched by the Sun. However, a new study using two NASA solar observatories reveals that Phaethon's tail is not dusty at all but is actually made of sodium gas.

— For the first time, a protocluster of seven galaxies has been confirmed at a distance that astronomers refer to as redshift 7.9, or a mere 650 million years after the big bang. Based on the data collected, astronomers calculated the nascent cluster's future development, finding that it will likely grow in size and mass to resemble the Coma Cluster, a monster of the modern universe.

— It looks like a black hole and bends light like a black hole, but it could actually be a new type of star. Though the mysterious object is a hypothetical mathematical construction, new simulations by Johns Hopkins researchers suggest there could be other celestial bodies in space hiding from even the best telescopes on Earth.

— An interdisciplinary team has developed an algorithm that immediately checks its own calculations of merging black holes' properties and corrects its result if necessary - inexpensively and rapidly. The machine learning method provides very accurate information about the observed gravitational waves and will be ready for use when the global network of gravitational-wave detectors starts its next observing run.

— A new study looked at a known binary star, analyzing starlight obtained from a range of ground- and space-based telescopes. The researchers found that the stars, located in a neighboring dwarf galaxy called the Small Magellanic Cloud, are in partial contact and swapping material with each other, with one star currently 'feeding' off the other. They orbit each other every three days and are the most massive touching stars (known as contact binaries) yet observed.

— New research suggests future Martian botanists may be able to grow gene-edited rice on Mars.

— Astronomers have discovered an Earth-size exoplanet, or world beyond our solar system, that may be carpeted with volcanoes. Called LP 791–18 d, the planet could undergo volcanic outbursts as often as Jupiter's moon Io, the most volcanically active body in our solar system.

— Astronomers have described the first radiation belt observed outside our solar system, using a coordinated array of 39 radio dishes from Hawaii to Germany to obtain high-resolution images. The images of persistent, intense radio emissions from an ultracool dwarf reveal the presence of a cloud of high-energy electrons trapped in the object's powerful magnetic field, forming a double-lobed structure analogous to radio images of Jupiter's radiation belts.

— And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on Paradigm Platform.

#ST #Space https://medium.com/paradigm-research/st-radio-signal-reveals-supernova-origin-6fe8024c3bdc

BT/ Apple iPhones, iPads will soon be able to speak in your voice

Biometrics biweekly vol. 64, 8th May — 22nd May

TL;DR
—Personal Voice is one of a handful of new assistive features that will arrive on Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers “later this year,” the company said
—WhatsApp adds a new feature to lock private chats with biometrics
—Mastercard launches open banking API to tackle fraud and ease onboarding
—Crypto wallet firms integrate biometrics, zero-knowledge credentials for ID management
—Neurotechnology launches biometric identity management system
—OpenID recommends steps for governments to protect the privacy of digital IDs
—Contactless provider Neurodactyl’s fingerprint recognition shows strong accuracy in the NIST test
—Oura acquires Proxy, bringing digital ID applications to biometric smart ring
—SOTI certifies Credence ID’s ECO authentication device for enterprise device management
—Passkeys support coming to 1Password in June, BitWarden soon
—Voiceprint BIPA case filed against Cerence. Plaintiffs include a minor riding in a car
—HID Global’s multispectral fingerprint scanners score perfect Level 2 PAD assessment
—Trua spun out to launch verified digital IDs for consumer applications
—Worldcoin nears $100M funding round amid security concerns
—Tech5 provides contactless biometrics, an issuance platform for student digital IDs in DRC
—Kenya aims for ID issuance within three weeks, same-day birth registration
—RecFaces face biometrics added to Dubai’s iSpace smart offices for access control
—Veridium to provide authentication software to MTRX
—TouchByte was bought by Salto for face biometrics integration with Cognitec
—Keyless eyes global expansion after new partnerships with Experian, Synpulse
—Palm and face biometric payments see more rollouts, plus a lawsuit in New York
—Malaysian digital ID software maker Innov8tif finds a second buyer in a year
—Mitek adds Dark Web intelligence to check and identity fraud protection tools
—Idex reveals integration with STM, a Turkey deal, new enrollment method
—Visa, Mastercard roll out a secure, seamless payment system for South Africa
—ECB calls for digital ID, authentication experts to develop rules for digital euro
—Italy advances, budgets for integration of digital IDs
—Clearview has a regulatory friend in Austria but a cold shoulder for France
—EU committee passes AI bill on for plenary vote; tightens rules for biometric use
—Nigeria wants to begin producing biometric passport booklets at home
—India launches Aadhaar operator training campaign to reduce errors
—Jamaica digital ID to enhance social inclusion of vulnerable persons
—Digital driver’s license getting closer in the Philippines
—Albania updates biometric voting machines, process to thwart manipulation
—UK’s first vote with photo ID requirement in the books; people turned away
—UNICEF to support birth registration for 1M Nigerian children in 2023
—G20 members urged to strengthen collaboration to develop scalable digital public goods
—Social media will soon require ID verification in Vietnam
—Czech banks to offer online account reactivation with iProov biometrics
—ThreatFabric gets $12.5M to expand behavioral biometrics, analytics and global reach
—Researchers have demonstrated that they can capture human genetic data, including medical and ancestry information, from tiny fragments of DNA from the environment using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques
—The electrical field created by fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics for print capture kills the virus that causes COVID-19, a University of Missouri laboratory has confirmed
—Biometric industry events. And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#Biometrics #BT https://medium.com/paradigm-research/bt-apple-iphones-ipads-will-soon-be-able-to-speak-in-your-voice-176d426bcda2

DeFi in Ether vol.73

Biweekly update on the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem, 9th May - 23rd May

$47B in DeFi, Lido v2 live, MakerDAO's first steps to Endgame update, Compound v3 live on Arbitrum, Concentrated liquidity is now live on Balancer, Gnosis Chain's Chiado testnet will hardfork on 24 May, KyberSwap Elastic relaunches 24 May, 1inch celebrated its 4th anniversary, and much more!

TL;DR
—$47.1B in DeFi this week with Lido dominance 25.36%.
—Ethereum suffered finalization issues for 25 minutes.
—MakerDAO has unveiled an AI-fueled roadmap that will lead to a new blockchain.
—Lido v2 is live: Withdrawals; no service should have more than 22% of stake (Lido has ~33%) + staking router (allows permissionless onboarding of node operators).
—Uniswap's trading volume has outpaced Coinbase for the fourth consecutive month. Uniswap weighed a proposal to enrich token holders and switch on liquidity pool fees.
—1inch celebrated its 4th anniversary. Proposal [1IP 27] Allocate 1M $USDC stables in the treasury to the lending pool on Aave V3 is live.
—Latest Aave News: New grantees, ETHGlobal Lisbon & rAAVE.
—Concentrated liquidity is now live on Balancer. Built by Gyroscope and in collaboration with Lido, combine your $MATIC LSTs into a CL pool supercharged with 7x efficiency that requires no rebalancing. Binance Earn is entering the Balancer ecosystem through a dual LST$WBETH / $wstETH pool.
—Compound v3 is live on Arbitrum. You can now use ARB, GMX, WETH, and WBTC as collateral to borrow USDC on Arbitrum. Compound Proposal 160 'Initialize cUSDCv3 on Arbitrum' and Proposal 161 'Risk Parameter Updates for Polygon Compound v3 USDC (5/9/23)' have passed successfully
—dYdX v4 technical architecture overview.
—Gnosis Chain's Chiado testnet will hardfork on 24 May 2023 at 12:12:00 UTC, Epoch: 244224. Gnosis Chain's VIP program has increased the number of countries with validators by 20% to 77 since last month.
—Kyber Elastic relaunch on 24 May brings a rich bounty in LM rewards. With Elastic's relaunch, 4 chain portals will be opened at its most opportune moments: Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and Avalanche. KyberSwap April Product Update is out.
—Block trade on Loopring introduced: Giving L2 users self-custodial access to multiple liquidity sources. Loopring + Uptick Network join forces to transform NFT Marketplaces on Loopring L2.
—0x, Polygon Labs, and AWS invite you to participate in the "Decreasing Frictions in DeFi" hackathon that launches June 2.
—Synthetix has introduced an update to Synthetix Perps to enhance the perps keeper system, making it more decentralized and resilient in response to gas price spikes. T
—The latest issue of Nexus Mutial's the Hedge is out: Governance forum overhaul project, Discord notifications bot update, upcoming governance discussions about cover wording, active governance discussions.
—The US House financial committee has given Gensler an ultimatum to respond to inquiries.
—Visa experiments with ERC4337 account abstraction on Goerli testnet.
—DeFiReturns v2 launches with actual returns, with or without rewards, for ~10 major DeFi protocols.
—Ledger's planned KYC'd account recovery leads to a furious blowback during which they admit that a malicious firmware update can steal your crypto despite prior assurances that it couldn't.
—ETHGlobal Lisbon hackathon finalists.
—And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#Defi_in_Ether #Ethereum https://medium.com/paradigm-research/defi-in-ether-47b-in-defi-lido-v2-live-makerdaos-first-steps-to-endgame-update-compound-v3-fe2fca585d30

NS/ Our thoughts alter our tactile perception

Neuroscience biweekly vol. 85, 10th May — 24th May

TL;DR
—If we sincerely believe that our index finger is five times bigger than it really is, our sense of touch improves. Researchers demonstrated that this is the case in an experiment in which the participants were put under professional hypnosis. When the participants signaled that they understood the opposite hypnotic suggestion that their index finger was five times smaller than it actually was, their sense of touch deteriorated accordingly. The study shows that our tactile perception is affected and can be altered by our mental processes.

—Pain is good. It’s the body’s way to keep an animal from harming itself or repeating a dangerous mistake. But sometimes the debilitating sensation can get in the way. So evolution has devised ways to tamp that response down under certain circumstances. Researchers identified the pathway in fruit flies that reduces the sensation of pain from heat. Remarkably, just a single neuron on each side of the animal’s brain controls the response. What’s more, the molecule responsible for suppressing this sensation in adult flies has the opposite role in fly larvae.

—Could changing your diet play a role in slowing or even preventing the development of dementia? We’re one step closer to finding out, thanks to a new UNLV study that bolsters the long-suspected link between gut health and Alzheimer’s disease.

—Researchers at UCLA Health and Harvard have identified 10 pesticides that significantly damaged neurons implicated in the development of Parkinson’s disease, providing new clues about environmental toxins’ role in the disease.

—Artificial intelligence could be a useful tool in mental health treatment, according to the results of a new pilot study led by University of Illinois Chicago researchers.

—Researchers have discovered new insights into how the human brain makes perceptual judgments of the external world. The study explored the computational mechanisms used by the human brain to perceive the size of objects in the world around us.

—While it has been long understood that limiting the amount of food eaten can promote healthy aging in a wide range of animals, including humans, a new study has revealed that the feeling of hunger itself may be enough to slow aging.

—Deep sleep, also known as non-REM slow-wave sleep, can act as a ‘cognitive reserve factor’ that may increase resilience against a protein in the brain called beta-amyloid that is linked to memory loss caused by dementia.

—Watching the clock while trying to fall asleep exacerbates insomnia and the use of sleep aids, according to research from Indiana University professors — and a small change could help people sleep better.

—After a stroke, physical activity can be pivotal to successful recovery. People who spend four hours a week exercising after their stroke achieve better functional recovery within six months than those who do not, a new study shows.

Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#NS #Neuroscience https://medium.com/paradigm-research/ns-our-thoughts-alter-our-tactile-perception-f79218766f1a

𝐐𝐓/ Uncovering universal physics in the dynamics of a quantum system

Quantum news biweekly vol.52, 11th May - 25th May

TL;DR
— New experiments using one-dimensional gases of ultra-cold atoms reveal a universality in how quantum systems composed of many particles change over time following a large influx of energy that throws the system out of equilibrium.

— The connection between quantum physics and the theory of relativity is extremely hard to study. But now, scientists have set up a model system, which can help: Quantum particles can be tuned in such a way that the results can be translated into information about other systems, which are much harder to observe. This kind of 'quantum simulator' works very well and can lead to new insights about the nature of relativity and quantum physics.

— Researchers have identified novel van der Waals (vdW) magnets using cutting-edge tools in artificial intelligence. In particular, the team identified transition metal halide vdW materials with large magnetic moments that are predicted to be chemically stable using semi-supervised learning. These two-dimensional (2D) vdW magnets have potential applications in data storage, spintronics, and even quantum computing.

— Physicists have discovered stacked pancakes of 'liquid' magnetism that may account for the strange electronic behavior of some layered helical magnets.

— Adapting a detector developed for space X-ray observation, researchers have successfully verify strong-field quantum electrodynamics with exotic atoms.

— In the study, a team of researchers describe what they believe to be the first measurement showing direct interaction between electrons spinning in a 2D material and photons coming from microwave radiation.

— Researchers have developed a new class of integrated photonic devices - 'leaky-wave metasurfaces' - that convert light initially confined in an optical waveguide to an arbitrary optical pattern in free space. These are the first to demonstrate simultaneous control of all four optical degrees of freedom. Because they're so thin, transparent, and compatible with photonic integrated circuits, they can be used to improve optical displays, LIDAR, optical communications, and quantum optics.

— Quantum dots in semiconductors such as silicon or gallium arsenide have long been considered hot candidates for hosting quantum bits in future quantum processors. Scientists have now shown that bilayer graphene has even more to offer here than other materials. The double quantum dots they have created are characterized by a nearly perfect electron-hole-symmetry that allows a robust read-out mechanism - one of the necessary criteria for quantum computing.

— An international team of researchers has developed a comprehensive manual for engineering spin dynamics in nanomagnets - an important step toward advancing spintronic and quantum-information technologies.

— Large numbers can only be factorized with a great deal of computational effort. Physicists are now providing a blueprint for a new type of quantum computer to solve the factorization problem, which is a cornerstone of modern cryptography.

— And more!

Read the full report on our blog, on Paradigm Platform.

#QT #Quantum https://medium.com/paradigm-research/qt-uncovering-universal-physics-in-the-dynamics-of-a-quantum-system-864f6b2dacb0

What is the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and how does it work?

Although the World Wide Web is a global network, it remains predominantly centralized in terms of data storage. Servers, whether physical or virtual, are housed in large server farms or cloud platforms, typically owned by a single company. Meanwhile, new issues emerge constantly, including transmitting petabyte-sized data sets, managing high-volume real-time media streams, and ensuring file permanence.

To tackle these challenges, the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) has been developed.

Learn how IPFS aims to decentralize the internet, revolutionizing data storage and retrieval across places as disconnected or as far apart as planets in our new article via @Cointelegraph.

https://cointelegraph.com/learn/what-is-the-interplanetary-file-system-ipfs-how-does-it-work

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡: 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑦

Our new research paper delves into the philosophical implications of blockchain technology and attempts to draw parallels between blockchain concepts and ones in the history of thought and modern theories such as posthumanism, transhumanism, accelerationism, critical theory, and speculative realism.

We aim to conceptualize the philosophical core of blockchain, which encompasses cyberpunk, solarpunk, crypto-anarchism, and technolibertarianism among others. Additionally, we identify the thirteen philosophical pillars of blockchain.

We argue that this technology challenges traditional notions of identity and trust while enabling greater autonomy and agency. Furthermore, we suggest that blockchain has the potential to bring about significant societal transformations, including the emergence of new forms of governance and the expansion of human capabilities.

Finally, we consider some of the critiques and challenges facing blockchain and reflect on its potential role in shaping the future of society and philosophy alike. We conclude by emphasizing the need for further research in this area.

Join us on this intellectual expedition👇
https://medium.com/paradigm-research/chain-of-thought-exploring-blockchain-through-the-lens-of-philosophy-5c81198312bd

L2 report vol. 22

A biweekly update on Layer 2 protocols, 15th May - 29th May

TL;DR
—The sum of all funds locked on Ethereum converted to USD is $8.94 B at the time of writing.

—Offchain labs unveiled a complete, working fraud prover for Stylus. Arbitrum Nova has surpassed 600,000 unique addresses.

—Compound III has been deployed to Arbitrum.

—The official date of OP Mainnet’s upgrade to Bedrock has been set: June 6, 2023 at 16:00 UTC. Season 4: The next experiment in community governance.

—Chainlink shared a handful of great use cases of Chainlink Automation on Optimism.

—The MetisDAO Foundation has been launched, marking a significant milestone in Metis' journey toward building a decentralized, efficient, and inclusive blockchain ecosystem.

—Boba Network and Forwa rProtocol have partnered to deliver a framework for scalable, secure, and flexible DeFi environments using user-friendly smart contract templates. Boba Network x Caesars Temple.

—Aztec rollup circuit proving time sped up, Nullifier Tree (used to prevent actions being repeated) reduced from 2^254 leaves to 2^32.

—Loopring’s Block trading is live: CEX liquidity directly from your self custodial wallet on L2.

—Scroll finished circuit support for Shanghai EIPs, which will soon be deployed on the sequencer. They also improved the RLP and TX circuits to support EIP-2718 (envelope transactions).

—Starknet Mainnet is now operating on v0.11.1. The next milestone is v0.11.2. Reading Sierra: Starknet’s secret sauce for Cairo 1.0. The Starknet Summit happening on August 31, 2023, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

—zkSync reached 1.5M+ unique active addresses. In a recent session with Argent zkSync co-founders elaborated on the driving force behind building zkSync Era: Freedom.

—Gelato is live on zksync on mainnet & testnet with both Gelato Relay & 1Balance.

—Immutable co-founder and President, Robbie Ferguson, reports on the state, trends, and industry insights from the current web3 gaming landscape. Explore the 150+ games building on Immutable spanning across multiple genres and styles.

—An overview of the dYdX architecture of V4. A deep dive into the Indexer. Exploring the dYdX operations subDAO’s near future.

—Distributed Sequencer Technology: proposal for progressive decentralization of L2 sequencers using Distributed Validator Technology.

—Layer N zk fraud proofs: hybrid approach only requires a proof to be generated when there is possibility of fraud.

—L2 stats. Check out how much it costs to use Layer 2.

—And more!


Read the full report on our blog, on the Paradigm Platform.

#Layer2 #L2 https://medium.com/paradigm-research/l2-report-vol-22-7ce6102390ae

𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝐴𝑂𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒

Our new research explores the potential of using DAOs to address climate change. Beginning with an overview of the definition and types of DAOs, the report then delves into the framework of using DAOs to combat climate change, including potential capabilities and key DAOs in the field. Afterward, the challenges and prospects of DAOs addressing the climate change problem are discussed.

#DAO https://medium.com/paradigm-research/empowering-collaboration-the-role-of-daos-in-combating-climate-change-2bf99186976