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This blockchain-themed maths puzzle can earn you a share of $100,000

Aug02
by on August 2, 2019 at 7:13 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


There’s a (supposed) problem with blockchain: it’s too resource-intensive, so Amazon Web Services (AWS) has backed a $100,000 maths competition to “forever change” the technology. Given 1024-bit input x, compute the verifiable delay function ‘h=x^(2^t) mod N’ as fast as possible. t=2^30 N=12406669568412474139879892740481443274469842712573568412813185506497689533 7309138910015071214657674309443149407457493434579063840841220334555160125016 3310409336906745695712173376302391915172057213101976083872398463643608502208 9677296497856968322944926681990341411705803010652807392863301711868982662559 4484331 If it helps, the puzzle above relates specifically to Verifiable Delay Functions (VDFs), which AWS describes as “low-level building blocks” for cryptography. Once properly developed, ADFs are thought to be able to remove some of the trust problems associated with Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains, particularly when working with pseudorandom numbers (which are neither trustless or…

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Twitch is okay with breastfeeding — but many viewers aren’t, and that’s a problem

Aug02
by on August 2, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Social Media


A Twitch streamer apparently started a revolution when she began breastfeeding her child on stream. When a clip of her doing so was deleted, she protested to Twitch. Site support eventually revealed the issue was that no one had, up to now, actually set policy on breastfeeding — but they did decree that it’s allowed. The streamer, HeatheredEffect (real name: Heather Kent), was chatting live with a friend on Twitch and feeding her adorable child at the same time — she told Buzzfeed News the only time that particular friend was available was during her daughter’s lunch time. She also said she…

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Dogecoin’s 60% growth over Q2 proves it should be taken seriously – here’s what happened

Aug02
by on August 2, 2019 at 1:44 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Dogecoin has been in development since 2013. Its original creators, Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, wanted to create a cryptocurrency that wasn’t as stuffy or boring as Bitcoin. They wanted to create a digital coin that was fun, in the hope that it would appeal to a much broader audience than conventional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Anyone that’s been involved in cryptocurrency for more than a few months will almost certainly have heard of Dogecoin. And if you’ve ever been on the internet, you’ll probably recognize the Shiba Inu “doge” that acts as the Dogecoin mascot.  Sure, Dogecoin might play on…

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How to make Twitter’s new design suck less

Aug02
by on August 2, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Basics


Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. It’s been less than a month since Twitter refreshed its design, promising to make the platform faster, more intuitive, and easier to personalize. Unfortunately, people absolutely hate it. But don’t ditch it just yet: we’ve got some tips to help you make the new design more welcoming and easy on the eyes. “The new Twitter is too big” Some of my colleagues have been complaining the new design makes tweets, uh, too big. The good thing…

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