Lifeboat Foundation

Cryptocurrencies have become a major topic of interest in the United States, in part due to the extreme volatility of the flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Bitcoin rose from a modest value (under $1,000) to more than $15,000 in the span of a year, and now hovers between $6,000 and $12,000, with wild fluctuations throughout the days and weeks. It’s a potentially lucrative investment, but also a risky one—especially considering how new the concept of cryptocurrencies really is.

In addition to buying and selling cryptocurrencies, consumers are more actively involving themselves in crypto mining, the process of creating new digital currency. But the culture surrounding crypto mining is changing, and it may never be the same again.

Before you can understand how crypto mining is changing, you have to understand how it started, and what it is today. To hold its value, cryptocurrency needs to exist in a finite amount, and just like printing money, it needs an initial distribution. The system also relies on a network of peers (i.e., hundreds to thousands of computers) to audit each transaction on the network; in other words, the community of computers has to agree that a transaction is legitimate before it’s finalized as a “block” and added to the blockchain.

Continue reading “The culture of crypto mining is changing: here’s how” »

A new technique has raised the success rate of quantum memory storage from 30 to 70 percent. This leap in quantum computing could propel us closer to a future that connects us through ultra-secure quantum networks.

Check out this week’s episode of Singularity Hub’s video series, Tech-x-planations, to learn more about what a quantum computer really is.

There may soon be more quantum programming languages than there are quantum computers.

Quantum computing will transform our computing capabilities.

Intel partners with Microsoft, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

Intel has partnered with four major PC makers to bring 5G technology to laptops by the end of next year.

The chip giant is working with Microsoft, HP, Dell, and Lenovo to bring 5G connectivity to PCs with Intel’s XMM 8000 series modems.

Continue reading “Laptops with 5G connectivity coming next year” »

Engineers have created a DNA-based chemical oscillator, opening the door to molecular computing.

• By Rachel Nuwer on February 21, 2018

How do IBM scientists keep qubits colder than outer space?

IBM quantum physicists Dr. Stefan Filipp and Dr. Andreas Fuhrer (pictured) will be discussing quantum computing live from the IBM Zurich Research Lab, and will demonstrate how they keep qubits so cold, explain why, and take your questions.

Join us on Friday, Feb. 23 at 16:00 Paris time / 10:00 am EST.

Continue reading “IBM Research Photo” »

Oganesson (Og) is the heaviest chemical element in the periodic table, but its properties have proved difficult to measure since it was first synthesised in 2002.

Now an advanced computer simulation has filled in some of the gaps, and it turns out the element is even weirder than many expected.

At the atomic level, oganesson behaves remarkably differently to lighter elements in several key ways – and that could provide some fundamental insights into the basics of how these superheavy elements work.

Continue reading “We Just Measured The World’s Heaviest Atom, And It’s Even Weirder Than Expected” »