What is Lens Protocol, and how does it work?

Social media could look much different in the next few years, with web3 projects like Lens Protocol leading the way.

In this guide, Paradigm’s @sshshln shares all you need to know about Lens Protocol, a decentralized social graph that simplifies building Web3 social platforms.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/what-is-lens-protocol-and-how-does-it-work

Dear Human nodes and friends,

Wave II will commence on October 12th, 2022 at 14:00 UTC

In order to be prepared for Wave II, we would like to share the guide with you in advance. If you are poised to participate in Wave II, please check out the guide linked below.

Guide - https://gitbook.humanode.io/humanode-public-sale-details/public-sale-guide/welcome-to-the-guide

📢 Submissions to Wave II Whitelist will Close Tomorrow October 11th at 20:00 UTC! 📢

As we have 2 days to go before Wave II, the submission for whitelisting will close soon. Those who aren't whitelisted yet, can reserve their spot before 20:00 UTC tomorrow (Tuesday, 11th October).

For submissions to Wave II, check this link: https://link.humanode.io/public-sale-whitelist/wave-2-broader-community

Important - Please don’t forget to go through the KYC on Tokensoft to avoid any inconveniences.

If you haven’t yet, click this link: https://app.tokensoft.io/account

As mentioned before - ETH, USDC and USDT will be available as methods for purchase.

Thank you and have a great rest of the day!

P.S Also check the list of restricted countries and sorry if you find yourself in there.

BT/ Trio of Apple patent filings describe biometrics innovations for various devices

Biometrics biweekly vol. 49, 26th September — 10th October

TL;DR
—Apple has had a trio of patent applications published that describe biometrics applications on a variety of iDevices
—Microsoft’s Horvitz says it will take more than code to deal with the deepfake threat
—NIST IREX 10 scores show the speed and accuracy of Innovatrics’ new iris biometric algorithm
—BixeLab takes the award for biometrics services to the international market
—Cerence develops Knight Rider-style voice biometric interactions for cars
—Clearview was granted patent for building a biometric training dataset by USPTO
—Precise Biometrics extends YOUNiQ contracts in Sweden, unveils Algo division plans
—The final demo of EU’s D4FLY spots ID fraud
—Tascent’s multimodal biometrics contracted for Palau border, Australian prisons
—Speechmatics, Yoti selected for Tech Nation’s Future Fifty accelerator program
—Marston Holdings certified for UK Digital Identity framework by BSI
—Vietnam govt-owned VNPT’s face biometric algorithm debuts in NIST FRVT
—Local NHS unit contract for DBS checks with face biometrics and liveness detection opens
—Precise Biometrics extends YOUNiQ contracts in Sweden, unveils Algo division plans
—Yoti partners with Talent Clouds on DBS checks with a digital ID, receives UK certification
—Dutch Police refine rapid forensic biometrics approach after early testing
—Trust Stamp launches privacy-centric biometric solution for government customers
—Optus hack spurs interest in digital identity within Australian government, banks
—Korea expands airport check-ins with palm vein biometrics, enrollment to bank branches
—Paravision launches biometric search engine and tips expanded focus at Converge
—CyberLink integrates face biometrics in the CAC payment system
—Behavioral analytics from NeuroID integrated by TransUnion to stop fraud and false positives
—Decentralized digital ID suite Oliu launched by ATB Ventures for Canadian enterprises
—Daon adds multi-flight travel capabilities to the digital ID app VeriFLY
—Humanode Public Sale Wave II will commence on October 12
—Gates Foundation commits $200M to digital ID and other public infrastructure
—Data security rules needed for Nepalese digital ID, Nigeria’s World Bank funding
—Kenya to comply with regional bloc directive on biometric passports from the end November
—Ugandan officials emphasize inclusive digital ID plan to enroll 17M unregistered citizens
—Philippines officials want to fight driver’s license fraud with facial recognition
—Twenty20 adds facial recognition capabilities to gunshot detection security solution
—Oosto offers advice on facial recognition implementations for stadium security
—Researchers pitch model law for facial recognition to the Australian government
—Texas university launches lab to investigate AI bias with support from Pangiam
—Private medical record photos spotted in the biometrics training dataset
—Biometric industry events. And more!

#BT #Biometrics https://medium.com/paradigm-research/bt-trio-of-apple-patent-filings-describe-biometrics-innovations-for-various-devices-f9bc228456cd

GT/ Solvent study solves solar cell durability puzzle

Energy & green technology biweekly vol.34, 23d September — 12th October

TL;DR
—The manufacture of high-efficiency solar cells with layers of 2D and 3D perovskites may be simplified by solvents that allow solution deposition of one layer without destroying the other.
—Due to their very high efficiency in transporting electric charges from light, perovskites are known as the next generation material for solar panels and LED displays. A team have now invented a brand-new application of perovskites as optical fibers.
—Electricity-generating rooftop solar cells not only save on planet-warming carbon emissions, they also save a significant amount of water. Water consumption is tightly bound to energy use, because without water we cannot mine, drill, frack, or cool thermoelectric and nuclear plants. A given household may save on average 16,200 gallons of water per year by installing rooftop solar.
—A new study documents how a durable plastic can be perpetually broken down and remade, without sacrificing its desired physical properties.
—An underutilized natural resource could be just what the airline industry needs to curb carbon emissions. Researchers report success in using lignin as a path toward a drop-in 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Lignin makes up the rigid parts of the cell walls of plants. Other parts of plants are used for biofuels, but lignin has been largely overlooked because of the difficulties in breaking it down chemically and converting it into useful products.
—Even small objects, such as dust and leaves, can block sunlight from reaching solar cells, and understanding how the loss of incoming radiation affects power output is essential for optimizing photovoltaic technology. Researchers explore how different shade conditions impact performance of single solar cells and two-cell systems connected in series and parallel. They found that the decrease in output current of a single cell or two cells connected in parallel was nearly identical to the ratio of shade to sunlight. However, for two cells running in series, there was excess power loss.
—A team of scientists has developed a system that uses carbon dioxide, CO2, to produce biodegradable plastics, or bioplastics, that could replace the nondegradable plastics used today. The research addresses two challenges: the accumulation of nondegradable plastics and the remediation of greenhouse gas emissions.
—Researchers have taken a water treatment technology and adapted it for another environmentally important function — selectively separating rare earth elements and transition metals. This chemical process significantly reduces both the energy and product consumption involved with rare earth element recovery.
—The carrier concentration and conductivity in p-type monovalent copper semiconductors can be significantly enhanced by adding alkali metal impurities. Doping with isovalent and larger-sized alkali metal ions effectively increased the free charge carrier concentration, and the mechanism was unraveled by their theoretical calculations. Their carrier doping technology enables high carrier concentration and high mobility p-type thin films to be prepared from the solution process, with photovoltaic device applications.
—With electric vehicles sales soaring worldwide, potential buyers are not just weighing up the price tag, but also the logistics and expense of charging the planet-friendly cars. A new study shows households with solar panels and batteries will be the big winners.
—And more!

#GT #Greentech https://medium.com/paradigm-research/gt-solvent-study-solves-solar-cell-durability-puzzle-c2815c7bb28e

𝗡𝗦/ Biosensor detects brain tumors with less than a drop of blood
Neuroscience biweekly vol. 68, 28th September — 12th October

TL;DR
—Despite significant advances, mortality from brain tumors remains high with five-year survival rates of 36%, according to the National Cancer Institute. More accurate diagnoses might improve the situation, but tissue biopsies are invasive and can miss important information about a tumor’s make-up. Imaging-based methods, meanwhile, do not offer sufficient sensitivity and resolution. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a biosensor that could help physicians precisely diagnose brain cancer from a minute blood sample.
—Since their discovery over 100 years ago, neurons in the brain’s olfactory bulb, called tufted cells, have been difficult to study. By leveraging new technology, neuroscientists were able to precisely dissect the neural activity of these tufted cells for the first time. They discovered the tufted cells were better at recognizing smells than mitral cells, their neighboring neurons in the olfactory bulb. Their findings offer new explanations for how the brain processes sensory information.
—By using stem cells to grow miniature brain-like organs in the lab, scientists have opened a new avenue for studies of neurological development, disease, and therapies that can’t be conducted in living people. But not all mini-brain organoids are created equal and getting them to precisely mimic the human brain tissues they’re modeling has been a persistent challenge.
—People with high blood pressure levels face a faster erosion of their ability to think, make decisions and remember information than those with normal blood pressure levels, a new study finds.
—Higher levels of a key inflammatory marker were related to older breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive problems, researchers found in one of the first long-term efforts to examine the potential link between chronic inflammation and cognition in older breast cancer survivors.
—Neurons in an area of the brain responsible for memory were significantly larger in SuperAgers compared to cognitively average peers, individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and even individuals 20 to 30 years younger than SuperAgers — who are aged 80 years and older, reports a new study. The study of was the first to show that these individuals carry a unique biological signature that comprises larger and healthier neurons in the entorhinal cortex that are relatively void of tau tangles.
—You may not realize it, but each time you recall a memory — like your first time riding a bike or walking into your high school prom — your brain changes the memory ever so slightly. It’s almost like adding a filter, with details being filled in and information being updated or lost with each recall. —In a new paper, a team of BU neuroscientists maps out the key molecular and genetic differences between positive and negative memories, finding that the two are actually strikingly distinct on multiple levels. It turns out that emotional memories, like positive or negative memory, are physically distinct from other types of brain cells — and distinct from each other.
—‘Junk’ DNA could unlock new treatments for neurological disorders as scientists discover its breaks and repairs affect our protection against neurological disease.
—A new study has found a link between metabolism and dementia-related brain measures, providing valuable insights into the disease.
—And more!

#NS #Neuroscience https://medium.com/paradigm-research/ns-biosensor-detects-brain-tumors-with-less-than-a-drop-of-blood-306365b4a295

QT/ Full control of a six-qubit quantum processor in silicon

Quantum news biweekly vol.37, 26th September — 13th October

TL;DR
—Researchers have engineered a record number of six, silicon-based, spin qubits in a fully interoperable array. Importantly, the qubits can be operated with a low error-rate that is achieved with a new chip design, an automated calibration procedure, and new methods for qubit initialization and readout. These advances will contribute to a scalable quantum computer based on silicon.
—Engineers have substantially extended the time that their quantum computing processors can hold information by more than 100 times compared to previous results.
Researchers trained a machine learning tool to capture the physics of electrons moving on a lattice using far fewer equations than would typically be required, all without sacrificing accuracy.
—Physicists have found an answer to the longstanding physics question: How do interparticle interactions affect dynamical localization?
—Researchers in quantum technology have succeeded in developing a technique to control quantum states of light in a three-dimensional cavity. In addition to creating previously known states, the researchers are the first ever to demonstrate the long-sought cubic phase state. The breakthrough is an important step towards efficient error correction in quantum computers.
—Deep-water wave groups are known to be unstable and become rogue. Such unstable wave groups propagate independently regardless of interference. Results seem to support the concept of an unperturbed nonlinear water wave group focusing in the presence of counter-propagating waves, suggesting wave states are directional.
—Researchers have implemented a ground-breaking algorithm for reconstructing particles at the Large Hadron Collider. The project is part of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment — one of seven installed experiments which uses detectors to analyze the particles produced by collisions in the accelerator.
—Physicists are using small wheeled robots to better understand these indirect mechanical interactions, how they play a role in active matter, and how we can control them.
—Researchers have found that the surface electronic structure of samarium hexaboride originating from the topology of the bulk electronic structure can be controlled by changing the surface condition. Their findings could lead to new technologies for higher speed electronics.
—Researchers have found that molecular qubits are much more stable in an asymmetric environment, expanding the possible applications of such qubits, especially as biological quantum sensors.
—And more!

#Quantum #QT https://medium.com/paradigm-research/qt-full-control-of-a-six-qubit-quantum-processor-in-silicon-9ddf8d26992e?postPublishedType=initial

ST/ Milky Way's graveyard of dead stars found

Space biweekly vol.62, 28th September - 15th October

TL;DR
—The first map of the ‘galactic underworld’ — a chart of the corpses of once massive suns that have since collapsed into black holes and neutron stars — has revealed a graveyard that stretches three times the height of the Milky Way, and that almost a third of the objects have been flung out from the galaxy altogether.
—Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers have identified the most distant globular clusters ever discovered. These dense groups of millions of stars may be relics that contain the first and oldest stars in the universe. The early analysis of Webb’s First Deep Field image depicts some of the universe’s earliest galaxies.
—A research team has found asteroid impacts on the Moon millions of years ago coincided precisely with some of the largest meteorite impacts on Earth, such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.
—Astronomers may have discovered the ancient chemical remains of the first stars to light up the Universe. Using an innovative analysis of a distant quasar observed by the 8.1-meter Gemini North telescope on Hawai’i, the scientists found an unusual ratio of elements that, they argue, could only come from the debris produced by the all-consuming explosion of a 300-solar-mass first-generation star.
—An international team of researchers has revealed new evidence for the possible existence of liquid water beneath the south polar ice cap of Mars.
—Astronomers believe bright reflections beneath the surface of Mars’ South Pole are not necessarily evidence of liquid water, but instead geological layers.
—Discovered in 1912, cosmic rays have been studied extensively and our current understanding of them is compiled into what is called the Standard Model. Recently, this understanding has been challenged by the detection of unexpected spectral structures in the cosmic ray proton energy spectrum. Now, scientists take this further with high-statistics and low-uncertainty measurement of these protons over a broader energy range using the CALorimetric Electron Telescope, confirming the presence of such structures.
—Astronomers have assembled the largest-ever compilation of high-precision galaxy distances, called Cosmicflows-4.
—In December 2020, a small landing capsule brought rock particles from the asteroid Ryugu to Earth — material from the beginnings of our solar system. The Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 had collected the samples. Geoscientists have now discovered areas with a massive accumulation of rare earths and unexpected structures.
—Earlier this year a machine learning algorithm identified up to 5,000 potential gravitational lenses that could transform our ability to chart the evolution of galaxies since the Big Bang. Now, astronomers have assessed 77 of the lenses using the Keck Observatory in Hawai’i and Very Large Telescope in Chile. The team confirmed that 68 out of the 77 are strong gravitational lenses spanning vast cosmic distances.
—Upcoming industry events. And more!

#ST #Space
https://medium.com/paradigm-research/st-milky-ways-graveyard-of-dead-stars-found-cfd3c6800b25

Hello human nodes and friends!

Only 2 days left before Wave III goes live!

Just a reminder to check that you are whitelisted and have completed KYC on Tokensoft: https://public-sale-kyc-checker.humanode.io/

If there’s an issue you can reach out to Sillis or Fiona.

Also, if you are new to the community and want to know more about Humanode, check out these links:

1- https://gitbook.humanode.io/humanode-public-sale-details/public-sale-details/humanode-token-hmnd-supply-distribution
2- https://republic.com/blog/crypto/what-is-humanode-an-overview-of-the-human-powered-blockchain

Have a great week everybody, Thanks! 🥂

Humanode Wave III public offering commences October 18th, 2022 with subsequent mainnet deployment.

Wave I and Wave II for validators and community members have been finalized. On October 18th, 2022 at 14:00 UTC Humanode will open its doors to the public and be available for participation through Tokensoft.

Wave III will be open until November 8th, 14:00 UTC.

With mainnet deployment set for November 15th, 2022, Humanode is going to be the first network to deploy a crypto-biometric-based Sybil resistance instead of PoS and PoW bringing the proper distribution of validation power to web3. 1 human = 1 node = 1 vote and all nodes are equal.

Note that only those who get a spot on the whitelist and go through the KYC on Tokensoft will be able to participate in this wave.

Link: https://link.humanode.io/public-sale-whitelist/wave-3

RT/ New walking robot design could revolutionize how we build things in space

Robotics biweekly vol.60, 3rd October — 17th October

TL;DR
—Researchers have designed a state-of-the-art walking robot that could revolutionize large construction projects in space. They tested the feasibility of the robot for the in-space assembly of a 25m Large Aperture Space Telescope. They present their findings in Frontiers in Robotics and AI. A scaled-down prototype of the robot also showed promise for large construction applications on Earth.
—Robotics and wearable devices might soon get a little smarter with the addition of a stretchy, wearable synaptic transistor. The device works like neurons in the brain to send signals to some cells and inhibit others in order to enhance and weaken the devices’ memories.
—A new system of algorithms enables four-legged robots to walk and run on challenging terrain while avoiding both static and moving obstacles. The work brings researchers a step closer to building robots that can perform search and rescue missions or collect information in places that are too dangerous or difficult for humans.
—The unassuming Pacific mole crab, Emerita analoga, is about to make some waves. UC Berkeley researchers have debuted a unique robot inspired by this burrowing crustacean that may someday help evaluate the soil of agricultural sites, collect marine data and study soil and rock conditions at construction sites.
—Physicists are using small-wheeled robots to understand these indirect mechanical interactions better, how they play a role in active matter, and how we can control them.
—For years, the Stanford Biomechatronics Laboratory has captured imaginations with their exoskeleton emulators — lab-based robotic devices that help wearers walk and run faster, with less effort. Now, these researchers will turn heads out in the “wild” with their first untethered exoskeleton, featured in a paper published in Nature.
—Researchers at Kyoto University and Nagoya University in Japan have recently devised a new, automatic approach for designing robots that could simultaneously improve their shape, structure, movements, and controller components. This approach, presented in a paper published in Artificial Life and Robotics, draws inspiration from the evolution of vertebrates, the broad category of animals that possess a backbone or spinal column, which includes mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fishes.
—Imagine being able to morph your legs into flippers before you jump in the water. Yale researchers have created a robot that accomplishes this feat through a process they dubbed “adaptive morphogenesis.” The project is described in the October edition of Nature and is featured on the issue’s cover.
—Researchers at the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow have recently developed a new navigation system that could improve the ability of mobile robots to move on rough surfaces while also avoiding different types of obstacles. This system, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, could help to facilitate the deployment of robots in more complex and cluttered environments with uneven terrains.
—Working alongside robots may contribute to job burnout and workplace incivility. Still, self-affirmation techniques could help alleviate fears about being replaced by these machines, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
—Check out robotics upcoming events. And more!

#Robotics https://medium.com/paradigm-research/rt-new-walking-robot-design-could-revolutionize-how-we-build-things-in-space-e5b52f2b79af

Biweekly update on @Humanode vol.34

5th October — 19th October

Mainnet on November 15th, Public sale Wave III сommences, The new Humanode launcher shipped, Regular dev updates are here, Humanode Torch introduced, and more!

TL;DR
Hello to all human nodes! Following our lovely tradition, we are here to provide you with a recap of Humanode’s news and updates for the past two weeks!
First and foremost, the Humanode team announced the date of the mainnet! It is set for November 15th, 2022. With the launch, Humanode is going to be the first network to deploy a crypto-biometric-based Sybil resistance instead of PoS and PoW bringing the proper distribution of validation power to web3. 1 human = 1 node = 1 vote and all nodes are equal. By design, all human nodes will be equal in terms of validation power. In the beginning, the amount of validators is going to be capped at 1000. If you’ve paid close attention to the HMND token distribution you might have noticed that 2% is reserved for mainnet validators. This is a special fund that will bootstrap the functioning of the first 100 human node validators that are going to join. Regardless of the saturation of the network, it will cover the cost of running the nodes for several years to come. There will be no pre-onboarding period. The mainnet will be deployed at a particular time and the human nodes will be able to onboard themselves as they did to any other testnet. Besides the mainnet, the team is also going to launch a canary network, a testnet for the mainnet, and a testnet for the canary network to give tools to build some really creative stuff.
The great news is, the Humanode public sale Wave III is now up and running. It will be open until November 8th, 14:00 UTC, or until all tokens are sold out. All of you who have successfully completed the KYC on Tokensoft are able to participate in the event. So don’t hesitate and join!
During these weeks, Humanode teams worked tirelessly making significant progress with current tasks. The progress was minutely shared in their regular development update. The new Humanode Launcher version shipped, it includes corrected node keys detection logic for the dashboard. Check for updates in the launcher to get this version.
As for the network development, the team backported the telemetry fix to TestNet4, enabled Telemetry at grandpa, and assigned fixed pallet IDs. Considering the Humanode Web App, they added auto-generation typings, updated dependencies, and tagged state integration. Moreover, the Humanode team has been working on the Humanode Web Socket Tunnel. They fixed the connection handling at the client and CI permissions, updated dependencies, added metrics to the server, and improved tunnel route parsing.
Moreover, the team introduced Humanode Torch. For the next few weeks, they will be passing the torch around and inviting you to share your thoughts about Humanode. The team may randomly ask the community a question, such as the recent questions “Why Humanode?” and “What do you like about Humanode?”. The team will select an answer or two per day to be shared with the community. They may randomly pass the torch to somebody in the community too, so if the torch is passed to you, grab the opportunity to speak out and inspire the global Humanode community!
That’s all for today. Join Wave III and stay tuned! More exciting news to come!

#Humanode https://medium.com/paradigm-research/humanode-mainnet-on-november-15th-public-sale-wave-iii-сommences-the-new-humanode-launcher-89d3e36f9da4

GN/ Revealing the genome of the common ancestor of all mammals

Genetics biweekly vol.39, 5th October — 20th October

TL;DR
—An international team has reconstructed the genome organization of the earliest common ancestor of all mammals. The reconstructed ancestral genome could help in understanding the evolution of mammals and in conservation of modern animals. The earliest mammal ancestor likely looked like the fossil animal ‘Morganucodon’ which lived about 200 million years ago.
—Scientists have delved into the mysteries of how cells weather stress. Using bacterial cells, the researchers discovered that a damage-repairing enzyme, called ClpX, can not only mutate to fix multiple cellular issues but can respond to changing levels of cellular energy to help keep a cell healthy.
—Researchers have developed a new approach to engineering natural killer (NK) cells with a second chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to act as a logic gate, requiring two signals to eliminate a target cell. In preclinical studies, these next-generation CAR NK cells improved tumor specificity and enhanced anti-tumor activity by overcoming a process that contributes to NK cell dysfunction and tumor relapse.
—Scientists have managed to track down one of the ‘mystery genes’ — the gene that ensures that the final form of the protein actin is created, a main component of our cell skeleton.
—A new study focused on the immune system’s Th17 cells suggests that the shape and function of their mitochondria (the powerhouse of cells) is important in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
—The ideal crop plant is tasty and high-yielding while also being resistant to diseases and pests. But if the relevant genes are far apart on a chromosome, some of these positive traits can be lost during breeding. To ensure that positive traits can be passed on together, researchers have used CRISPR/Cas molecular scissors to invert and thus genetically deactivate nine-tenths of a chromosome. The traits coded for on this part of the chromosome become ‘invisible’ for genetic exchange and can thus be passed on unchanged.
—Scientists have pinpointed a protein in lysosomes that is involved in recycling a crucial fatty component of cell membranes to keep cells healthy.
—Virologist and immunologist are reporting on ten years of research on how a carp virus has been using a protein domain called Zalpha ) to inhibit the defense mechanisms of the host cell.
—Climate change and habitat destruction may have already caused the loss of more than one-tenth of the world’s terrestrial genetic diversity, according to new research. This means that it may already be too late to meet the United Nations’ proposed target, announced last year, of protecting 90 percent of genetic diversity for every species by 2030, and that we have to act fast to prevent further losses.
—Changing the epigenetic marks on chromosomes leads to altered gene expression in offspring and in grandoffspring, demonstrating ‘transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.’ Without altering the genetic code in the DNA, epigenetic modifications can change how genes are expressed, affecting an organism’s health and development. The once radical idea that such changes in gene expression can be inherited now has a growing body of evidence behind it, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood.
—And more!

#GN #Genetics https://medium.com/paradigm-research/gn-revealing-the-genome-of-the-common-ancestor-of-all-mammals-5cb7268bbfa7

NT/ Researchers use light to control magnetic fields at the nanoscale

Nanotechnology & nanomaterials biweekly vol.33, 7th October — 21st October

TL;DR
—Researchers from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) have discovered how to use nanoscale, low-power laser beams to precisely control magnetism within a 2D semiconductor. Their approach, described online in the journal Science Advances, has implications for both studying the emergence of the correlated phase as well as designing new optoelectronic and spintronic devices.
—A team of physicists has created a new way to self-assemble particles — an advance that offers new promise for building complex and innovative materials at the microscopic level.
—Scientists have gotten bacteria to spontaneously take up fluorescent carbon nanotubes for the first time. The breakthrough unlocks new biotechnology applications for prokaryotes, such as near-infrared bacteria tracking and ‘living photovoltaics’ — devices that generate energy using light-harvesting bacteria.
—Research into the synthesis of new materials could lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly items such as solar panels and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Scientists have developed a colloidal synthesis method for alkaline earth chalcogenides. This method allows them to control the size of the nanocrystals in the material and study the surface chemistry of the nanocrystals.
—Researchers at LSU, in collaboration with Zuse Institute in Berlin, Germany, have developed an ultraviolet metasurface that discriminates between left- and right-handed amino acids with attomolar sensitivity.
—The world’s whitest paint — seen in this year’s edition of Guinness World Records and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” — keeps surfaces so cool that it could reduce the need for air conditioning. Now the Purdue University researchers who created the paint have developed a new formulation that is thinner and lighter — ideal for radiating heat away from cars, trains and airplanes.
—In a new study, scientists explore a basic building block used in the fabrication of many DNA nanoforms. Known as a Holliday junction, this nexus of two segments of double-stranded DNA has been used to form elaborate, self-assembling crystal lattices at the nanometer scale, (or roughly 1/75,000th the width of a human hair).
—A method to draw data in an area smaller than 10 nanometers has been proposed in a recent study published in Physical Review Letters.
—What happens when we breathe in nanoparticles emitted by, for example, a laser printer? Could these nanoparticles damage the respiratory tract or perhaps even other organs? To answer these questions, Fraunhofer researchers are developing the “NanoCube” exposure device. The Nanocube’s integrated multi-organ chip set up in the laboratory of the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) and by its spin-off organization “TissUse” detects interaction between nanoparticles and lung cells, the uptake of nanoparticles into the bloodstream and possible effects on the liver.
—A research team has developed a new type of polymer aerogel materials with vast applicational values for diverse functional devices.
—And more!

#NT #Nanotechnology #Nanomaterials
https://medium.com/paradigm-research/nt-researchers-use-light-to-control-magnetic-fields-at-the-nanoscale-e153eb766a81

BT/ Apple biometrics developments: iris in VR headset; heart rate, blood oxygen in glass laptops

Biometrics biweekly vol. 50, 10th October - 24th October

TL;DR
—Apple's upcoming mixed reality headset will contain iris recognition cameras and movement trackers that will enable easy login and payments for users of the hardware that is expected to debut in 2023
—A new patent application covered by Patently Apple describes future laptops with glass surfaces
—Google has launched biometric passkeys to replace passwords with FIDO-based credentials on mobile devices running Android and Chrome
—Microsoft, Amazon granted summary judgment in biometric data privacy lawsuits
—Mastercard introduces a crypto trading platform with biometrics for banks. Moreover, Mastercard digital identity network plans detailed at Authenticate 2022
—LG is developing a platform with voice biometrics to communicate with digital twins
—NIST forensics body lauds Ideal Innovations' voluntary face biometrics standards adoption
—Instagram use of Yoti facial age verification spreads to India, Brazil
—FaceCheck launches API to bring face biometrics web searches to developers
—DIACC launches certified trustmark program for Canadian digital ID services
—Thales continues biometric card R&D in France, approved by Mastercard for quantum security
—Canadian digital identity council seeks feedback on infrastructure criteria
—Intigriti pentest service supports certifications as biometrics providers approved
—ITU-T to recommend OSIA specifications for national digital identity systems
—Zwipe forms an aviation partnership to supply biometric cards for access control
—Iris biometrics deployed by PayEye for retail payments, GalvanEyes for financial services
—A distribution deal with payments provider to supply BioCatch behavioral biometrics in ANZ
—AuthID combines cloud biometrics and FIDO2 for Human Factor Authentication
—FaceTec biometrics revenue nearly doubles YoY, the usage grows even more
—Pricing plans for SMB biometric onboarding, and compliance services launched by ComplyCube
—Local NHS unit contract for DBS checks with face biometrics and liveness detection opens
—ID R&D claims first place in the global voice biometrics competition for 'in the wild' samples
—Humanode's public sale is here. Mainnet on November 15th
—IronVest raises $23M for a decentralized biometric password manager
—DoorBird acquisition expands Assa Abloy smart home portfolio as new standard published
—India renews push for a national civil registry, Aadhaar enrollment for kids soon nationwide
—Japan to integrate health insurance cards into My Number digital ID in digitization push
—NADRA cracks down on suspect IDs, collects biometrics from relatives
—Philippines distributes 16M biometric ID cards, downloadable version coming soon
—Cameroon election agency wants huge ID card backlog cleared ahead of polls
—ITU-T to recommend OSIA specifications for national digital identity systems
—UAE governments support biometrics expansion for online services, age verification
—EU Parliament meeting shows facial recognition still at the center of AI Act
—San Francisco, Cancún now direct travelers through face biometrics checks
—Yole report predicts an $11B consumer biometrics market by 2027 with a boost from new sensors
—Privacy protection system for biometrics developed to better ICRC humanitarian aid
—Researchers progress further on iris biometric liveness detection with multi-class networks. A three-class serial model for presentation attack detection to protect iris biometric systems shows benefits over the two-class approach that was proven effective in international competition
—Sound method for measuring biometric bias important, tricky, and in progress
—Biometric industry events. And more!

#BT #Biometrics https://medium.com/paradigm-research/bt-apple-biometrics-developments-iris-in-vr-headset-heart-rate-blood-oxygen-in-glass-laptops-ffd62d507f6a?postPublishedType=initial

𝗚𝗧/ Battery tech breakthrough paves way for mass adoption of affordable electric car

Energy & Green technology biweekly vol.35, 11th October — 25th October

TL;DR
— A breakthrough in electric vehicle battery design has enabled a 10-minute charge time for a typical EV battery. This is a record-breaking combination of a shorter charge time and more energy acquired for longer travel range.
— Scientists have developed a low-cost device that can harness energy from wind as gentle as a light breeze and store it as electricity.
— Engineers have achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.50% in a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell built with a special textured anti-reflective coating (ARC) polymeric film.
— Discarded electronic devices, such as cell phones, are a fast-growing source of waste. One way to mitigate the problem could be to use components that are made with renewable resources and that are easy to dispose of responsibly. Now, researchers have created a prototype circuit board that is made of a sheet paper with fully integrated electrical components, and that can be burned or left to degrade.
— Researchers have taken a key step toward greatly expanding the range of plastics that can be recycled.
— A new study suggests that while mechanical devices do remove plastics and other items of litter from marinas and harbors, the quantities of litter removed can be comparatively low and they can also trap marine organisms.
— Researchers have devised a method to determine the impact of climate change on the supply and variability of local renewable energy. An increase in unusual weather patterns related to climate change means the demand for power and the availability of solar, hydro and wind energy can all become more variable.
— In order to produce green hydrogen, water can be split up via electrocatalysis, powered by renewable sources such as sun or wind. A review article shows how modern X-ray sources such as BESSY II can advance the development of suitable electrocatalysts. In particular, X-ray absorption spectroscopy can be used to determine the active states of catalytically active materials for the oxygen evolution reaction. This is an important contribution to developing efficient catalysts from inexpensive and widely available elements.
— Researchers built a battery-free, wireless underwater camera, powered by sound waves, that can take high-quality, color images, even in dark environments. It transmits image data through the open water to a receiver that reconstructs the color image.
— A new nanophotonic material has broken records for high-temperature stability, potentially ushering in more efficient electricity production and opening a variety of new possibilities in the control and conversion of thermal radiation.
— And more!

#GT #Greentech https://medium.com/paradigm-research/gt-battery-tech-breakthrough-paves-way-for-mass-adoption-of-affordable-electric-car-aa5b2256897c

DeFi in Ether vol.62

Biweekly update on the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem, 11th October — 25th October

$52 in DeFi, Ren integrates Moonbeam, Aave’s GHO development update is out, Enzyme introduces delegated voting, SushiSwap is weighing a new DAO structure, Balancer and Certora launch security accelerator, Nexus Mutual partners with Sherlock, A refreshed mStable identity, 0x Phuture case study, and more!

TL;DR
—$52B in DeFi this week, currently at ~ $52.03B, with Maker dominance 14.92%.
—Yearn is revamping YFI tokenomics with a novel implementation of the veToken model.
—Did you know Uniswap embedded a Swap Widget into the refreshed web app? Find out where and so much more — like where the team gets the price data and how they updated Uniswap app with zero downtime.
—Latest Aave News: Spotlight on Picnic, GHO Development Update, Q3 Financial Reports and the Largest Vote in Aave History Goes Through.
—SushiSwap is weighing a new DAO structure that uses non-transferable shares.
—Compound Proposals 130 ‘Adjust cCOMP and cUNI Parameters’, 129 ‘Risk Parameter Changes for FEI: Part 2’ have passed successfully.
—dYdX now provide its users a tool to purchase USDC using a variety of payment methods including credit card, bank transfer, and other convenient local payment methods.
—Enzyme now allows vault managers that hold governance tokens to delegate the voting power of those tokens to any wallet address. Initially, this feature supports Uniswap Foundation, Compound finance, Aave.
—Phuture, a decentralized protocol that gives users passive exposure to crypto, utilizes 0x API to power all of its on-chain index funds and improve returns for users.
—1inch partners with Oktagon MMA: The partnership signifies another step into the MMA terrain in a move to bridge DeFi and exciting competitive sports.
—QiDAO will support the Kyber Network Crystal (KNC) token as collateral. Lido Finance officially launches onto Layer 2 solutions with wstETH Farms on KyberSwap Elastic.
—Balancer and Certora Launch Security Accelerator.
—Ren now supports direct bridging to and from Moonbeam for every asset that Ren supports, such as $BTC, $ETH and $USDC.
—Loopring Quarterly Update (Q3/2022) is out.
—The Synthetix Aspidiske Release — Liquidation of SNX Escrow took place.
—Brave adds 19 new DApps to its Wallet Partner program.
—CFTC is concerned about vertically integrated CEXes.
—Twitter working on a crypto wallet functionality.
—MakerDAO community approves proposal to custody $1.6B in USDC with Coinbase.
—And more!

#Defi_in_Ether #Ethereum https://medium.com/paradigm-research/defi-in-ether-52-in-defi-ren-integrates-moonbeam-aaves-gho-development-update-is-out-enzyme-93ee764f1fb6

𝐐𝐓/ Our brains use quantum computation

Quantum news biweekly vol.38, 13th October — 26th October

TL;DR
— A team of scientists believe our brains could use quantum computation, after adapting an idea developed to prove the existence of quantum gravity to explore the human brain and its workings. The brain functions measured were also correlated to short-term memory performance and conscious awareness, suggesting quantum processes are also part of cognitive and conscious brain functions. Quantum brain processes could explain why we can still outperform supercomputers when it comes to unforeseen circumstances, decision making, or learning something new, while the discovery may also shed light on consciousness, the workings of which remain scientifically difficult to understand and explain.
— An improvement to a Nobel Prize-winning technology called a frequency comb enables it to measure light pulse arrival times with greater sensitivity than was previously possible — potentially improving measurements of distance along with applications such as precision timing and atmospheric sensing.
— Researchers identified possible solutions to some of the limitations of qubits for quantum computing. They looked at two different hybrid quantum systems: an electron-superconducting circuit and an electron-ion coupled system. Both systems were able to control the temperature and the movement of the electron.
— A new precision measurement of the proton’s electric polarizability has confirmed an unexplained bump in the data. The proton’s electric polarizability shows how susceptible the proton is to deformation, or stretching, in an electric field. Like size or charge, the electric polarizability is a fundamental property of proton structure. The data bump was widely thought to be a fluke when seen in earlier measurements, so this new, more precise measurement confirms the presence of the anomaly and signals that an unknown facet of the strong force may be at work.
— Researchers have engineered a quantum box for polaritons in a 2D material, achieving large polariton densities and a partially ‘coherent’ quantum state. New insights from the novel technique could allow researchers to access striking ‘collective’ quantum phenomena in this material family, and enable ultra-energy efficient and high-performance future technologies. Laying a ‘small’ 2D material on top of a ‘large’ layer allowed the researchers to trap and investigate polaritons, comparing them with freely moving polaritons.
— Research team discovers switchable electronic chirality in an achiral Kagome superconductor.
— Using existing experimental and computational resources, a multi-institutional team has developed an effective method for measuring high-dimensional qudits encoded in quantum frequency combs, which are a type of photon source, on a single optical chip.
— The key to maximizing traditional or quantum computing speeds lies in our ability to understand how electrons behave in solids, and researchers have now captured electron movement in attoseconds — the fastest speed yet.
— Scientists have used ultrashort laser pulses to make the atoms of molecules vibrate and have gained a precise understanding of the dynamics of energy transfer that take place in the process.
— A newly-discovered material structured like a honeycomb can transform from an electrical insulator, like rubber, into an electrical conductor, like metal, in a matter of seconds. Now, researchers think they can explain why.
— And more!

#QT #Quantum https://medium.com/paradigm-research/qt-our-brains-use-quantum-computation-66747c669577

NS/ Our brains use quantum computation
Neuroscience biweekly vol. 69, 12th October — 26th October

TL;DR
—A team of scientists believes our brains could use quantum computation, after adapting an idea developed to prove the existence of quantum gravity to explore the human brain and its workings. The brain functions measured were also correlated to short-term memory performance and conscious awareness, suggesting quantum processes are also part of cognitive and conscious brain functions. Quantum brain processes could explain why we can still outperform supercomputers when it comes to unforeseen circumstances, decision-making, or learning something new, while the discovery may also shed light on consciousness, the workings of which remain scientifically difficult to understand and explain.
—Alzheimer’s disease (AD), characterized by an accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in brain tissue, is a leading cause of dementia. Researchers now show that an oxytocin derivative with modifications to enhance brain perfusion can reverse cognitive impairment in mice.
—Scientists at Scripps Research have developed a new tool to monitor brain plasticity — the way our brains remodel and physically adapt as we learn and experience things, from watching a movie to learning a new song or language. Their approach, which measures the proteins produced by individual types of brain cells, has the potential to both answer basic questions about how the brain works, and shed light on numerous brain diseases in which plasticity goes awry.
—Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a long-sought gene-encoded protein that enables the brain to communicate a broad range of signals across gaps between neurons, known as synapses.
—Neurons that sense pain protects the gut from inflammation and associated tissue damage by regulating the microbial community living in the intestines, according to a study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.
—A new study that links the location of brain injury to levels of depression in patients following the injury has identified two distinct brain networks; one associated with increased depression symptoms and one associated with decreased depression symptoms. The large-scale study expands on previous findings and suggests that these brain networks might be potential targets for neuromodulation therapies to treat depression.
—A team led by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has developed a powerful computational tool for understanding brain health and disease, providing an enhanced way of characterizing the activity of the brain during sleep.
—Scientists have successfully placed a bioinspired steerable catheter into the brain of an animal.
—Medical researchers have identified a new type of microglia associated with stroke in the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injured brain.
—A study by researchers at the University of Notre Dame is painting a clearer picture of our tendency to hit the snooze button — and if you delayed getting out of bed this morning, you’re certainly not alone. The study, published in the journal SLEEP, found that 57 percent of the participants were habitual snoozers. While scientists and medical professionals have long advised against it, the act of snoozing — how often and why we do it — remains virtually unstudied.
—And more!

#NS #Neuroscience https://medium.com/paradigm-research/ns-our-brains-use-quantum-computation-a0344ca0390c

𝐒𝐓/ Magma on Mars likely

Space biweekly vol.63, 14th October — 28th October

TL;DR
— Until now, Mars has been generally considered a geologically dead planet. An international team of researchers now reports that seismic signals indicate vulcanism still plays an active role in shaping the Martian surface.
— A recently released set of topography maps provides new evidence for an ancient northern ocean on Mars. The maps offer the strongest case yet that the planet once experienced sea-level rise consistent with an extended warm and wet climate, not the harsh, frozen landscape that exists today.
— VLA observations revealed that cosmic rays can play an important role in driving winds that rob galaxies of the gas needed to form new stars. This mechanism may be an important factor in galactic evolution, particularly at earlier times in the history of the universe.
— An international team of astrophysicists has made a puzzling discovery while analyzing certain star clusters. The finding challenges Newton’s laws of gravity, the researchers write in their publication. Instead, the observations are consistent with the predictions of an alternative theory of gravity. However, this is controversial among experts.
— As part of NASA’s Artemis program to establish a long-term presence on the moon, it aims to build an Artemis base camp that includes a modern lunar cabin, rover and mobile home. This fixed habitat could potentially be constructed with bricks made of lunar regolith and saltwater, thanks to a recent discovery.
— An Earth-like planet orbiting an M dwarf — the most common type of star in the universe — appears to have no atmosphere at all. This discovery could cause a major shift in the search for life on other planets.
— Using the James Webb Space Telescope to look back in time at the early universe, astronomers discovered a surprise: a cluster of galaxies merging together around a rare red quasar within a massive black hole. The findings offer an unprecedented opportunity to observe how billions of years ago galaxies coalesced into the modern universe.
— Astronomers have found a way to determine an asteroid’s interior structure based on how its spin changes during a close encounter with Earth. The tool may improve the aim of future asteroid-targeting missions.
— Scientists have compiled 41 solar occultation observations of Saturn’s rings from the Cassini mission. The compilation will inform future investigations of the particle size distribution and composition of Saturn’s rings, key elements to understanding their formation and evolution.
— Researchers have developed a new way to use femtosecond laser pulses to fabricate the high-precision ultrathin mirrors required for high-performance x-ray telescopes. The technique could help improve the space-based x-ray telescopes used to capture high-energy cosmic events involved in forming new stars and supermassive black holes.
— Upcoming industry events. And more!

#ST #Space https://medium.com/paradigm-research/st-magma-on-mars-likely-60e0ba59434f

🎙 METACAST: Top Crypto Podcasts of October 2022

Here is a quick overview of what we’ve been listening to last month!

—Devcon 2022 videos are out.
—Vitalik Buterin joins the Bankless hosts covering the context and magnitude of Devcon, Vitalik’s conference lifestyle, and a new era for Ethereum in a post-merge world.
—‘Ethereum — State of Affairs After the Merge’ with Vitalik Buterin on Epicenter.
—The Bankless hosts are speaking with Justin Drake about his talk at Devcon — the only conversation about ETH is the asset. What are the next steps for Ether? The value of the asset correlates directly to the health of the network, and maybe it’s time to start talking about ETH more as a community.
—In the latest of Around the Block, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong hosts Anthony Pompliano. The two discuss how they’re thinking about Bitcoin amid current market conditions, their long-term predictions for Ethereum one month after the merge, the issue of censorship in tech, and more.
—Eric Wall, a crypto blogger and investor, and Udi Wertheimer, a recovering Bitcoin maxi, discuss everything about Bitcoin Maximalism, whether BTC can survive, and whether Ethereum constitutes a threat to Bitcoin.
—Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of FTX, discusses his views on crypto regulation, macroeconomics, and the role of FTX in a decentralized industry.
—Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, discusses the charges against him, gives a message to Terra victims, answers allegations about potential fraud and non-transparent business practices, and much more.
—Anna of Zero Knowledge and Martin Köppelmann, Co-Founder of Gnosis discuss the OFAC sanctions against Tornado Cash and the impact this has had on builders in the community.
—Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Coin Center, comes to talk about the SEC probe into Yuga Labs, how to determine whether something is a security, and Coin Center’s lawsuit against the US Treasury over the sanctions on Tornado Cash.
—Zaki Manian discusses everything about Cosmos, the new white paper, and how to improve MEV capture for ATOM holders.
—Nicolas Julia shares Sorare’s exciting new launch, how Sorare grew to reach millions of users, what’s next for Sorare, and so much more.
—Arbitrum acquires Prysmatic. Hear all about the deal and what it means for both teams, the future of Ethereum, and the space writ larg
—Anna and Kobi Gurkan of Zero Knowledge speak with Dmitry Khovratovich, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, Dusk Network, and ABDK Consulting and JP Aumasson, CSO at Tauru.
—Yield Guild Game’s Co-Founder Gabby Dizon shares with us 2 new ways Web 3 guilds are evolving, 3 ways to make Web 3 games “fun”, a framework for investing in games, 2 games Gabby is excited for.
—Ali Yahya of a16z on Defiant podcast.
—Sei Network: the new L1 to take over DeFi with Jayendra Jog.
—Web3 Social with Stani Kulechov.
—Democracy with Decentralized Identity with Paula Berman.
—Why video NFTs will be the future of content with Dayo Adeosun at Glass Protocol.
—What’s it take to be a crypto journalist? with Coindesk’s Eli Tan and Casey Craig.
—And much more!

#METACAST https://medium.com/paradigm-research/%EF%B8%8F-metacast-top-crypto-podcasts-of-october-2022-5356047f5efc

𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 vol. 103

17th October — 31th October

UK has a new name for stablecoins and a new bill to regulate crypto, US regulator touts ‘aggressively’ policing crypto in new report, Hong Kong reportedly wants to legalize crypto trading, Japan’s International Payments System will test plastic cards for CBDC, South Africa classifies crypto assets as financial products, and more!

TL;DR
— CFTC touts ‘aggressively’ policing crypto in new report. Furthermore, CFTC commissioner compares crypto contagion risk to 2008 financial crisis
— Developers excluded from broker label in new US DCCPA bill draft
— SEC, CFTC probing bankrupt crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital. While Crypto lobbyist group Blockchain Association asks court for permission to support Ripple against SEC case
— US currency comptroller to up its game with new Office of Financial Technology in 2023
— IRS introduces broader ‘Digital Assets’ category ahead of 2022 tax year
— US lawmakers question regulators over ‘revolving door’ with crypto industry
— Europe moves toward regulatory action on crypto’s environmental impact, energy use. Furthermore, EU Commissioner urges lawmakers to hurry up with crypto regulations. UK Law Commission to review international laws on crypto to consider legal reforms
— The UK has a new name for stablecoins and a new bill to regulate crypto. Amendment to UK financial services bill provides regulation for crypto activities
— UK crypto-focused parliament group calls on new PM Sunak to clarify crypto policies. UK police council reports there are officers in every unit trained for crypto enforcement
— Hong Kong reportedly wants to legalize crypto trading. Hong Kong government reconsiders stance on virtual asset ETFs, tokenised securities, and retail investors
— Chinese agents used Bitcoin transactions through Wasabi to allegedly bribe US government employee
— Japan’s International Payments System will test plastic cards for CBDC. Japanese regulators loosen crypto laws and make it easier to list coins
— Vietnam’s prime minister calls for crypto regulation
— Singapore’s MAS proposes banning cryptocurrency credits
— South Korean regulator goes after crypto whales to ensure AML compliance
— Argentina dismantles illegal crypto mining operation, arrests 40
— South Africa declares crypto to be a financial product subject to financial services law
— Aussie federal budget reaffirms BTC won’t be treated as foreign currency
— El Salvador, Lugano sign agreement to help spread bitcoin adoption and education
— Crypto investment firm Q9 gets provisional approval to operate in Dubai
— Uzbekistan’s police get ‘how to seize crypto’ training from UN security org
— Russian users are welcomed by crypto exchanges in Kazakhstan
— Binance still serving non-sanctioned Russians while seeking clarity on EU crypto regulations. Binance wins registration as crypto asset service provider in Cyprus
— Interpol reportedly creates dedicated unit to fight crypto crimes
— SushiSwap to create three DAOs in Panama and Cayman in business restructuring
— Pan-African crypto exchange Yellow Card wins virtual asset license
— Vitalik Buterin ‘kinda happy’ with ETF delays, backs maturity over attention
— And more!

#Regulation https://medium.com/paradigm-research/crypto-regulation-news-uk-has-a-new-name-for-stablecoins-and-a-new-bill-to-regulate-crypto-us-7088e8372c66