< Back Best smart wearables of 2023 Sean Michaels 22 Mar 2023 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Previous Next

< Back ‘Raygun: The Musical’ pulled after controversial breakdancer calls in lawyers A musical inspired by viral Olympic breakdancer Raygun was shut down hours before it was due to open on Saturday, after lawyers representing the athlete threatened legal action, the show’s creator said on social media . Steph Broadbridge, an Australian comedian who wrote and intended to star in “Raygun: The Musical,” said in a video posted on Instagram that the breakdancer’s “lawyers got in touch with the venue and threatened legal action.” Comedian Steph Broadbridge wrote and intended to star in the show. Marc Grimwade/WireImage/Getty Images In its debut performance at Sydney venue Kinselas, the parody musical intended to retell the story of Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, widely known as Raygun, whose performance at the Paris Olympics spawned countless memes on social media as well as a backlash against her and the sport itself. Ad Feedback The 37-year-old dancer’s routine consisted of moves including a kangaroo hop, a backward roll and various contortions with her body while lying or crawling on the floor. She did not register a single point across her Olympic battles against breakers from the United States, France and Lithuania in August, losing 18-0 in all three rounds. “They were worried I was damaging her brand, which I would never do,” said Broadbridge, adding: “They were very concerned that people would think that Rachael Gunn was affiliated with the musical. “I want to assure everyone that she will not be part of the show. She’s very welcome to come; I would love for her to see it.” Related article Raygun apologizes to breakdance community for backlash to her Paris Olympic performance Broadbridge said that anyone who had bought a ticket would be refunded their 10 Australian dollars ($6.45). The proceeds from the event were originally intended to be donated to the Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre – a charity that supports women and children affected by homelessness, domestic violence and systemic disadvantage. She added that Gunn’s lawyers trademarked the musical’s poster, which featured a silhouette of the breakdancer’s famous kangaroo hop and said she couldn’t perform that dance as Gunn “owns” it. “That one did puzzle me – I mean, that’s an Olympic-level dance. How would I possibly be able to do that without any formal breakdancing training?” Broadbridge said. The musical was advertised as including songs like “You May Be a B-girl But You’ll Always Be an A-girl To Me,” “I’m Breaking Down,” and “I Would Have Won But I Pulled a Muscle,” according to its Eventbrite listing. That listing now says the show is called “Breaking: The Musical.” CNN has contacted Gunn’s management team at the agency Born Bred for comment. In a statement to CNN affiliate 7news, the agency said that “Gunn’s management and legal team is committed to protecting her intellectual property and ensuring that her brand remains strong and respected.” “While we have immense respect for the credible work and effort that has gone into the development of the show, we must take necessary steps to safeguard Rachael’s creative rights and the integrity of her work,” it said. “This action is not intended to diminish the contributions of others, but rather to ensure her brand is properly represented and protected in all future endeavours.” After the furor, Broadbridge apologized to Gunn for “any negativity” she had received as a result of the musical and told The Project that this was “supposed to be me trying to make you feel like the icon I believe that you can be in Australia.” Previous Next

< Back Amazon warehouse workers on strike amid holiday rush The e-commerce giant said work stoppages at seven facilities have not impacted operations. Unionized Amazon workers in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco and Skokie, Illinois, went on strike Thursday, and more at other facilities are prepared to join them, the Teamsters union announced. The union, which says it represent thousands of drivers and warehouse workers across 10 facilities, said it is striking because of Amazon’s refusal to recognize and bargain with chapters of its union. It also cited low wages, union-busting and dangerous working conditions as catalysts for the labor actionTeamsters locals have set up picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers so that other Amazon warehouse workers and drivers can join in. Even those without collective bargaining agreements have the legal right to also join picket lines and withhold their labor, the union said in a press release. The union has no planned end date for the strike, per a union spokesperson. “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it.” Amazon said it hasn’t felt any impact to its operations. The company dismissed the strike as a public relations ploy that for the most part doesn’t include actual Amazon workers, and alleged that the Teamsters’ conduct this week and for the past year has been unlawful. “What you see here are almost entirely outsiders — not Amazon employees or partners — and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in an emailed statement. “The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous. We appreciate all our team’s great work to serve their customers and communities, and are continuing to focus on getting customers their holiday orders.” A Teamsters representative pushed back against the notion that non-workers are involved in the strike. “This is more of Amazon spreading a false narrative. Workers at Amazon facilities across the country are on strike right now, ” Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz said.Amazon didn’t address questions about how discussions with its workers are proceeding, except to say that, in general, while workers are free to join a union, the company values engaging directly with workers without an intermediary. Amazon also listed ways it has recently improved working conditions and pay at its warehouses and for its contract drivers, including increasing its starting wages and providing free Prime memberships. At this point, nearly 10,000 Amazon workers have joined the Teamsters, “fighting for higher wages, better benefits, and safer conditions at work,” per the union’s release. In a statement, Gabriel Irizarry, a driver for Amazon in Skokie, refuted Amazon’s contention that its pay is already in line with what unions are demanding. “They talk a big game about taking care of their workers, but when it comes down to it, Amazon does not respect us and our right to negotiate for better working conditions and wages,” Irizarry said. “We can’t even afford to pay our bills.” Thursday’s action comes about two years after the Teamsters established a division dedicated to mobilizing Amazon workers. Earlier this year, the Amazon Labor Union voted to join the labor giant. That group had been an independent organization, which in 2022 beat the odds when it successfully organized at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island. The strike also is occurring just days after the U.S. Senate released a report alleging that Amazon’s warehouses create a “uniquely dangerous” work environment. Amazon has said that report “features selective, outdated information that lacks context and isn’t grounded in reality.” Previous Next

< Back Gjert Ingebrigtsen, father and former coach of Olympic champion Jakob, to stand trial over physical and mental abuse charges Jhon Williamson The father of decorated Norwegian distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen will stand trial next year after being charged with physical and mental abuse of his son, Norwegian public prosecutors told Times Foresight. Gjert Ingebrigtsen coached three of his seven children – Henrik, Filip and two-time Olympic gold medalist Jakob – until February 2022, with the brothers first alleging in October last year that their father had used physical violence and threats towards them. “I can confirm that Gjert Ingebrigtsen on November 29th was indicted by our office for physical and mental abuse of his son Jakob Ingebrigtsen,” public prosecutor Birgitte Budal Løvlund told CNN. “The case has been forwarded to the district court of Sør-Rogaland for planning. The prosecution has requested that at least 30 days be set aside for the legal proceedings that are expected to take place during 2025, preferably the first half of the year. This, however, is up to the court to decide.” Løvlund also said that Ingebrigtsen was indicted for the physical and mental abuse of another member of his family, a charge which will be part of the same trial. The 58-year-old Ingebrigtsen has denied any allegations of violence. Previous Next

< Back U.S. Opens Investigation Into Spain's Reported Port Denials of Cargo Ships Carrying Arms to Israel Previous Next WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has opened an investigation into whether NATO ally Spain has been denying port entry to cargo vessels reportedly transporting U.S. weapons to Israel. The Federal Maritime Commission, an independent body charged with monitoring and evaluating conditions that may affect shipping and U.S. international trade, said it had opened the probe after receiving information that Spain had refused to allow at least three cargo vessels into its ports. “The commission is concerned that this apparent policy of denying entry to certain vessels will create conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade,” it said Thursday in a notice published in the Federal Register. If the investigation determines that Spain has interfered with such commerce, the commission could levy millions of dollars in fines, up to $2.3 million per voyage, it said. The notice said the commission had been informed on Nov. 19 that Spain was denying port entry to ships, including those enrolled in the U.S.-run Maritime Security Program, which is supposed to afford vessels and their owners protection against “restrictive and discriminatory” licensing because their services are often used by the U.S. military. Two of the three incidents noted by the commission involved vessels run by the Danish shipping giant Maersk in November. The other occurred in May. Spanish authorities did not immediately comment on the November incidents. But in May, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the foreign ministry had denied a request to dock by the Danish-flagged ship Marianne Danica, saying it “was carrying weapons to Israel.” A day later, on May 17, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spain’s state broadcaster RTVE that this was the first ship carrying arms to Israel that had been denied entry. “We are not going to contribute to any more arms reaching the Middle East,” he said. “The Middle East needs peace. That is why that this first denial of authorization will start a policy for any boat carrying arms to Israel that wants to dock at a Spanish port.” The refusal to allow the Marianne Danica to dock at the Mediterranean port of Cartegena came just days before Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized a Palestinian state on May 28. Spain stopped its own defense companies from shipping arms to Israel in October 2023.

< Back Swiatek was 'scared' of reaction after doping ban 27 Dec 2024 Iga Swiatek looks into the distance during a match Iga Swiatek was "scared" of a hostile reaction to her doping ban and says she does not expect an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) after serving a one-month suspension. Five-time major winner Swiatek, 23, tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in August, when she was world number one. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the test result was caused by contamination and Swiatek's short suspension ended on 4 December. Men's world number one Jannik Sinner did not receive a ban after failing two tests in March and Wada has appealed against that decision - but Swiatek said she does not see "any reason" for a similar outcome in her case. On the possibility of a Wada appeal, Swiatek said: "I was suspended for a long time and I lost [world] number one because of that. I also know how the procedure worked and I gave every possible evidence. "There is not much, honestly, to do more. So I'm not expecting an appeal, but I have no influence on what's going to happen." The ITIA accepted that Swiatek's positive test was caused by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medication melatonin, manufactured and sold in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep issues. Swiatek's level of fault was found to be at the lowest end of the range for 'no significant fault or negligence'. The Pole missed three tournaments - the Korea Open, China Open and Wuhan Open - during her suspension. She was also forced to forfeit her prize money from the Cincinnati Open, the tournament that directly followed the test. Speaking at a news conference before the season-opening United Cup in Australia, the four-time French Open winner addressed the media and public's reaction to her suspension for the first time. Swiatek said: "I think their response has been more positive than I thought. "I think most people are understanding and the ones who read the documents and are aware of how the system works know that I had no fault and I had no influence on what was going on. "Overall the reaction, in Poland basically because this is mostly what I read, has been pretty supportive. I really, really appreciate that, because even when I missed the China swing and nobody knew why, it wasn't so easy. "I was scared that most people were going to turn their back on me. But I felt the support and it's great. Obviously there are going to be some negative comments and you're not going to avoid that. I just have to accept that and I don't really care about those, honestly."Italian Sinner still faces the threat of a possible suspension following his positive test for the anabolic steroid clostebol after Wada launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). Swiatek and Sinner will start among the favourites for the year's first Grand Slam, with the Australian Open beginning in Melbourne on 12 January. While Sinner won the men's title in January, Swiatek has never gone beyond the semi-finals at Melbourne Park and lost to Linda Noskova in the third round of the 2024 tournament. Previous Next

< Back Mapping the nanoscale architecture of functional materials Source: Paul Scherrer Institute A new X-ray technique reveals the 3D orientation of ordered material structures at the nanoscale, allowing new insights into material functionality Researchers have pioneered a new technique at the Swiss Light Source SLS called X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography, which probes the orientation of a material's building blocks at the nanoscale in three-dimensions. First applied to study a polycrystalline catalyst, the technique allows the visualisation of crystal grains, grain boundaries and defects -- key factors determining catalyst performance. Beyond catalysis, the technique allows previously inaccessible insights into the structure of diverse functional materials, including those used in information technology, energy storage and biomedical applications. The researchers present their method in Nature . Zoom in to the micro or nanostructure of functional materials, both natural and humanmade, and you'll find they consist of thousands upon thousands of coherent domains or grains -- distinct regions where molecules and atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern.Such local ordering is inextricably linked to the material properties. The size, orientation, and distribution of grains can make the difference between a sturdy brick or a crumbling stone; it determines the ductility of metal, the efficiency of electron transfer in a semiconductor, or the thermal conductivity of ceramics. It is also an important feature of biological materials: collagen fibres, for example, are formed from a network of fibrils and their organisation determines the biomechanical performance of connective tissue. These domains are often tiny: tens of nanometres in size. And it is their arrangement in three-dimensions over extended volumes that is property-determining. Yet until now, techniques to probe the organisation of materials at the nanoscale have largely been confined to two-dimensions or are destructive in nature. Now, using X-rays generated by the Swiss Light Source SLS, a collaborative team of researchers from Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, ETH Zurich, the University of Oxford and the Max Plank Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids have succeeded in creating an imaging technique to access this information in three-dimensions. "We not only look inside, but with nanoscale resolution" Their technique is known as X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography, or XL-DOT for short. XL-DOT uses polarised X-rays from the Swiss Light Source SLS, to probe how materials absorb X-rays differently depending on the orientation of structural domains inside. By changing the polarisation of the X-rays, while rotating the sample to capture images from different angles, the technique creates a three-dimensional map revealing the internal organisation of the material. The team applied their method to a chunk of vanadium pentoxide catalyst about one micron in diameter, used in the production of sulfuric acid. Here, they could identify minute details in the catalyst`s structure including crystalline grains, boundaries where grains meet, and changes in the crystal orientation. They also identified topological defects in the catalyst. Such features directly affect the activity and stability of catalysts, so knowledge of this structure is crucial in optimising performance.Importantly, the method achieves high spatial resolution. Because X-rays have a short wavelength, the method can resolve structures just tens of nanometres in size, aligning with the sizes of features such as the crystalline grains. "Linear dichroism has been used to measure anisotropies in materials for many years, but this is the first time it has been extended to 3D. We not only look inside, but with nanoscale resolution," says Valerio Scagnoli, Senior Scientist in the Mesoscopic Systems, a joint group between PSI and ETH Zurich. "This means that we now have access to information that was not previously visible, and we can achieve this in small but representative samples, several micrometres in size." Leading the way with coherent X-rays Although the researchers first had the idea for XL-DOT in 2019, it would take another five years to put it into practice. Together with complex experimental requirements, a major hurdle was extracting the three-dimensional map of crystal orientations from terabytes of raw data. This mathematical puzzle was overcome with the development of a dedicated reconstruction algorithm by Andreas Apseros, first author of the study, during his doctoral studies at PSI, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The researchers believe that their success in developing XL-DOT is in part thanks to the long-term commitment to developing expertise with coherent X-rays at PSI, which led to unprecedented control and instrument stability at the coherent Small Angle X-ray Scattering (cSAXS) beamline: critical for the delicate measurements.This is an area that is set to leap forwards after the SLS 2.0 upgrade: "Coherence is where we're really set to gain with the upgrade," says Apseros. "We're looking at very weak signals, so with more coherent photons, we'll have more signal and can either go to more difficult materials or higher spatial resolution." A way into the microstructure of diverse materials Given the non-destructive nature of XL-DOT, the researchers foresee operando investigations of systems such as batteries as well as catalysts. "Catalyst bodies and cathode particles in batteries are typically between ten and fifty micrometres in size, so this is a reasonable next step," says Johannes Ihli, formerly of cSAXS and currently at the University of Oxford, who led the study. Yet the new technique is not just useful for catalysts, the researchers emphasise. It is useful for all types of materials that exhibit ordered microstructures, whether biological tissues or advanced materials for information technology or energy storage. Indeed, for the research team, the scientific motivation lies with probing the three-dimensional magnetic organisation of materials. An example is the orientation of magnetic moments within antiferromagnetic materials. Here, the magnetic moments are aligned in alternating directions when going from atom to atom. Such materials maintain no net magnetisation when measured at a distance, yet they do possess local order in the magnetic structure, a fact that is appealing for technological applications such as faster and more efficient data processing. "Our method is one of the only ways to probe this orientation," says Claire Donnelly, group leader Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids in Dresden who, since carrying out her doctoral work in the Mesoscopic Systems group has maintained a strong collaboration with the team at PSI. It was during this doctoral work that Donnelly together with the same team at PSI published in Nature a method to carry out magnetic tomography using circularly polarised X-rays (in contrast to XL-DOT, which uses linearly polarised X-rays). This has since been implemented in synchrotrons around the world. With the groundwork for XL-DOT laid, the team hope that it will, in a similar way to its circularly polarised sibling, become a widely used technique at synchrotrons. Given the much wider range of samples that XL-DOT is relevant to and the importance of structural ordering to material performance, the impact of this latest method may be expected to be even greater. "Now that we've overcome many of the challenges, other beamlines can implement the technique. And we can help them to do it," adds Donnelly. Previous Next

AI vs. ML AI refers to developing computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. AI's inception coincided with the emergence of computers in the 1940s, and the first scholarly paper on neural networks, which form the basis of contemporary AI, was released in 1943. ML, on the other hand, is a subset of AI that focuses on the development of algorithms and statistical models that enable computers to perform tasks without being explicitly programmed but learned. The field of machine learning was founded by computer scientist Alan Turing in the 1950s. The Turing Test, proposed by him, assessed artificial intelligence by calculating its ability to mimic human behavior to the point where observers cannot distinguish between human and machine responses. Despite numerous attempts to develop an AI that passes the Turing Test, none has succeeded. However, Ray Kurzweil predicted that in 2029, we will pass the Turing test. Digital Transformation Digital transformation is more than just a buzzword. It’s a strategic imperative for organizations aiming to thrive in this century. At its core, digital transformation is about leveraging digital technologies to enhance or replace existing processes, systems, and improve customer experiences. It's a holistic approach that encompasses not only technology adoption but also cultural and operational shifts within an organization. AI in Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence serves as the anchor in the digital transformation journey. Its ability to analyze vast datasets, derive meaningful insights, and automate complex tasks has elevated it to a key enabler of innovation. AI applications, such as machine learning and natural language processing, empower businesses to make data-driven decisions, automate routine processes, and enhance customer experiences. Data as the Fuel for AI The success of AI in digital transformation hinges on the quality and quantity of data available. As organizations accumulate data at an unprecedented rate, AI algorithms become more sophisticated, enabling deeper insights and predictive capabilities. Therefore, data becomes AI's lifeblood, fueling its ability to learn, adapt, and provide valuable outcomes. Enhancing Customer Experiences One of the most significant impacts of AI in digital transformation is its role in enhancing customer experiences. Through AI-powered chatbots, personalized recommendations, automated onboarding, and predictive analytics, businesses can offer tailored solutions, streamline interactions, and build stronger, more meaningful connections with their customers, and reduce churn. Automation with Generative AI Generative AI tools are leaving a notable impact across diverse industries, utilizing the capabilities of this technology to accomplish distinctive objectives, such as language translation, content creation, software development and testing, design and art, gaming, analyzing market trends and predicting stock movement, analyzing medical images and predicting patient outcomes. Top Generative AI Tools ChatGPT-4 by OpenAI Gemini by Google DeepMind GitHub Copilot by GitHub & OpenAI Claude by Anthropic LLaMA 2 by Meta Innovative Companies with AI-powered Testing Tools Tricentis Applitools AskUI mabl Testaify AI-driven automation is a game-changer for operational efficiency and effectiveness. The following tasks in assuring software quality can be delegated to AI systems, freeing up human resources to focus on more strategic, creative, and complex endeavors. Use generative AI to: Automatically generate test cases based on specifications, requirements, or historical data. This can help in rapidly creating diverse test scenarios, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Assist testers in exploratory testing by suggesting new test cases or generating variations of existing test cases using generative models. Generate realistic synthetic test data to ensure that your tests cover a wide range of scenarios, including edge cases and outliers. Leverage generative models to analyze code changes and predict potential defects before actual testing. This can help in prioritizing testing efforts and identifying high-risk areas. Develop adaptive self-healing test scripts that can evolve based on changes in the application's UI or functionality. Simulate real-world conditions, such as network fluctuations, device variations, sizes, or user interactions, to ensure your tests are robust and cover different scenarios. Utilize generative models to analyze code changes and automatically prioritize test cases based on the areas of the code that are most likely to be affected. Automatically document test cases, scenarios, and results reducing the manual effort required in test documentation. Employ generative models to assist in the triage process by automatically categorizing and prioritizing reported issues based on historical data, area of application, and the severity of the reported problems. Challenges and Considerations However, the integration of AI and digital transformation is not without its challenges. Ethical concerns, data privacy issues, and the need for skilled professionals capable of navigating this evolving landscape are just a few hurdles organizations must overcome. Striking the right balance between innovation and responsible AI usage is crucial. Looking Ahead As AI continues to evolve, its role in digital transformation will become even more pronounced. From autonomous systems to AI-driven decision-making, the future promises a seamless integration of AI technologies into the fabric of business operations. The Future is Now The synergy between AI and digital transformation represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of technology and business. Organizations that harness the power of AI strategically, aligning it with digital transformation goals, are poised to not only survive but thrive in the digital era. The journey towards a digitally transformed future is not a destination but an ongoing process of continuous learning, with AI as a steadfast companion in this exciting evolution.

< Back Biden Administration’s Launch of Section 301 Trade Investigation Related to China’s Targeting of the Semiconductor Industry for Dominance Semiconductor Industry Association 27 Dec 2024 WASHINGTON SIA President and CEO John Neuffer regarding the Biden administration’s decision to launch a Section 301 trade investigation “China is a major player in the global semiconductor industry, and Beijing is working to develop an ‘independent and controllable’ semiconductor industry in China through both supply-side and demand-side measures. Recent calls in China to limit procurement of U.S. chips and related claims that American chips are ‘no longer safe or reliable’ are particularly troubling. “Given the prevalence of semiconductors throughout our economy – from everyday consumer electronics and cars to military systems and AI data centers – we urge the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to proceed deliberately and to work closely with industry throughout the process. Leaders in Washington should also pursue a proactive and affirmative agenda that builds our domestic fabrication and packaging capacity, strengthens our research and design ecosystem, and creates new demand for Made-in-America chips at home and overseas. “For America to remain the world’s economic and technological leader, we must lead in semiconductor technology and build resilient supply chains for critical upstream materials used in chip production. We look forward to working with the incoming Trump administration and the new Congress to preserve America’s semiconductor supply chain resilience and ensure the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem is the global leader for many years to come.” Previous Next

< Back How technology can help curb attention disorders Sarah Jones 19 Mar 2023 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Previous Next

< Back Bitcoin surges past $100k for first time 2 Dec 2024 The price of Bitcoin has for the first time broken past the $100,000 mark, hitting a new record high. The value of the world's biggest cryptocurrency has been boosted by hopes US President-elect Donald Trump will adopt crypto-friendly policies. The milestone was reached hours after Trump said he would nominate former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commissioner Paul Atkins to run the Wall Street regulator. Mr Atkins is seen as being far more pro-cryptocurrency than the current head of the SEC, Gary Gensler. The $100,000 milestone prompted celebrations from cryptocurrency fans around the world. Bitcoin's wildly fluctuating value has always attracted interest, with its backers reacting with delight when it has passed previous price thresholds - and defiance during its slumps . But this particular landmark has been especially keenly anticipated. For weeks charts, memes and predictions have swirled around social media about when the price would hit the figure thought to be one of the holy grails of the crypto world. Millions of viewers even tuned in to online watch parties as the price hovered close to $100k. The value of a single bitcoin is one of the barometers of optimism in the cryptocurrency industry which is now estimated to be worth $3.3tn, according to analysis firm Coin Market Cap. Trump's election victory last month was the catalyst for the latest surge. The president-elect has vowed to make the US "the crypto capital of the planet" - a remarkable turnaround given as recently as 2021 he was calling Bitcoin a "scam." Also remarkable is just how Bitcoin's price has rocketed. A valuation of $100k represents a 40% increase on election day in the U.S. and more than double the price it started the year at. But there's lots more to Bitcoin than the dizzying changes in its value. From its enigmatic inventor to the bringing down of the so-called Crypto King, it's a story with many twists and turns, which has seen the making - and losing - of huge fortunes. So here's the BBC's list of the seven wildest moments - so far - in Bitcoin's tumultuous history. 1. The mysterious creator of Bitcoin Despite its enormous profile, no-one actually knows for sure who invented Bitcoin. The idea for it was posted on internet forums in 2008 by someone calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto. They explained how a peer-to-peer digital cash system could work to enable people to send virtual coins over the internet, just as easily as sending an email. Satoshi created a complex computer system that would process transactions and create new coins using a huge network of self-appointed volunteers around the world who used special software and powerful computers. But he - or they - never revealed their identity, and the world has never worked it out. In 2014, Japanese-American man Dorian Nakamoto was pursued by reporters who thought he was the elusive Bitcoin creator, but it proved to be a false lead caused by some mistranslated information. Australian computer scientist Craig Wright said it was him in 2016 - but after years of legal battles, a High Court judge concluded he was not Satoshi. Earlier this year, a Canadian Bitcoin expert called Peter Todd strongly denied being Satoshi , while in London this month a British man, Stephen Mollah, claimed he was - but no-one believed him . 2. Making history... with pizza Bitcoin now underpins a two trillion-dollar cryptocurrency industry - but the first recorded transaction using it was the purchase of pizza. On 22 May 2010, Lazlo Hanyecz, offered $41 worth of Bitcoin on a crypto forum in return for two pizzas. A 19-year-old student obliged and the day went down in history for fans of the currency as #BitcoinPizza day. A source of memes for those in crypto community, it also showcased the power of Bitcoin - an internet money that could genuinely buy items online. Criminals must have been watching too, because within a year the first darknet marketplace was launched selling drugs and other illegal goods in exchange for Bitcoin. The deal looks pretty bad for Lazlo now too. If he had held onto those coins they would now be worth hundreds of millions of dollars! 3. Becoming legal tender In September 2021, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, central America, made Bitcoin legal tender. Hairdressers, supermarkets and other shops had to accept Bitcoin by law, alongside its main currency, the US dollar. Many Bitcoin enthusiasts and reporters visited the area, briefly boosting tourism to the country. While President Bukele hoped the move would increase investment in his country and cut costs for citizens exchanging money, it did not become as popular as he hoped. He is still hoping it will take off but for now the US dollar still remains king in the country. As well as the huge amount of public money President Bukele spent on trying to make people embrace Bitcoin he also, controversially, bought more than 6,000 bitcoins over the past few years. The president spent at least $120m buying up bitcoins at various prices in the hope of making a profit for his cash-strapped country. It started to look good for him in December 2023 when, for the first time, his stash skyrocketed in value. A website built by Dutch software engineer Elias Zerrouq is tracking the country's Bitcoin holdings and currently estimates that the coins have risen 98% in value. 4. Kazakhstan's crypto boom and bust In 2021, Kazakhstan became a hotspot for Bitcoin mining - the process of crunching through the complex calculations that underpin crypto transactions. These days it takes warehouses full of the latest computers running all day and all night, but the reward is brand new bitcoins for those companies that take part. Warehouses of computers require lots of power - and many businesses moved to Kazakhstan where electricity was abundant thanks to huge coal reserves. At first the government welcomed them with open arms as they brought investment. But too many miners arrived and put huge strain on the electricity grid, putting the country at risk of blackouts. Within a year, Kazakhstan's Bitcoin mining industry went from boom to bust as the government imposed restrictions and increased taxes to curb the growth. Around the world it is estimated that the Bitcoin network uses as much electricity as a small country, raising concerns about its environmental impact. 5. Bitcoins in the rubbish dump Imagine having a crypto wallet worth more than $100m (£78m) - and then accidentally throwing away a hard drive containing the login details. That's what James Howells, from south Wales, says happened to him The very nature of crypto means that recovery is not as easy as resetting your password. With no banks involved - there is no customer support helpline. Previous Next

Bitcoin is Just the Beginning: The Valuable Potential of Blockchain Technology While many have solely thought of Bitcoin when the term “cryptocurrency” is referenced, today it is the system they are built on that is disrupting many entities in the financial industry and beyond. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency are programmed on a system called blockchain. This system facilitates a peer-to-peer transaction network that operates directly between users without an intermediary. And even though Bitcoin and other types of cryptocurrency are a Soft Trend—one whose future is open to influence—the existence of the blockchain and the concept of cryptocurrency is definitely a Hard Trend. It is here to stay with abundant applications. The rapidly evolving technology of blockchain holds enormous promise for game-changing disruption across any number of industries and fields; it just takes some understanding to figure out how you and your organization can use my Anticipatory Organization Model to leverage this disruptive Hard Trend to your advantage. Blockchain Broken Down For those who may be unfamiliar with the term, the blockchain is made up of a system of decentralized transaction records called blocks used to create a transaction without any input from any sort of controlling entity. Banks and financial institutions are the most known examples of said controlling entities, especially given the common application of blockchain in the financial world. Currently, most people store their savings in a bank account at a bank, and said bank makes money by charging overdraft fees if need be and interest on loans. The blockchain effectively eliminates the need for the bank in this example by using peer-to-peer connectivity for a secure, direct connection between all involved parties. Many wonder just how secure peer-to-peer transactions could be, as I’m sure many are remembering the peer-to-peer networks of music sharing in the very early 2000s and the warnings of how it could make your computer susceptible to hacking. However, the blockchain is far more secure in that it utilizes cryptography to keep exchanges secure and a decentralized database of transactions, known as a “digital ledger,” that everyone on the network can see. Essentially, if someone tries to tamper with a ledger entry, the rest of the network will disagree on the integrity of that particular transaction and will not incorporate it into the larger blockchain. In and of itself, that’s a genuinely revolutionary form of security. Multiple Uses of Blockchain I have spoken at length about blockchain technology and how disruptive it can be in the financial industry; however, other applications of blockchain technology are ready and waiting to be leveraged by the right Anticipatory Organization or entrepreneur. Most are stuck in the current paradigm of cryptocurrency and even the future potential of digital currency implemented by the Federal Reserve. This is likely because, in their minds, a physical, tangible thing that blockchain facilitates is currency exchange, which they are already used to in some capacity with their banking apps or even Venmo. However, here are some new applications of blockchain technology that can and will significantly disrupt the associated industries: Communication – In early 2020, the world’s first blockchain-powered smartphone was debuted by a company called Pundi X. The beauty of this device is that all of the apps and services involved are decentralized on the blockchain, allowing users to switch to “blockchain mode” to control their own data usage. Food – During CES 2020, the IBM Food Trust was introduced by IBM to the food industry. This system was built to facilitate authentic records in the food supply chain, allowing companies to accurately trace the specific origin of ingredients. Imagine how this can scale to help those with very specific dietary needs and maybe even help identify areas where cross-contamination of allergens potentially occur. Healthcare – Whether it has to do with processing insurance or admitting patients to a hospital, blockchain technology can greatly improve antiquated processes in the healthcare industry. HIPAA laws are strict, so decentralizing data that only the patient and doctor can access is tremendously secure. Personal Identification – This goes hand in hand with voting and even paying taxes. If we have our height, weight, Social Security number, voter ID, or any other information on a decentralized network, imagine how easily we can authenticate who an individual is in any case and, likewise, prevent identity theft more quickly. This may even expedite the long process of legal immigration. Our Digital Footprint Given the fact that up until this point, the most notable use of blockchain technology has been in the financial industry with cryptocurrency and now digital currency specific to a country, one must use an Anticipatory mindset when considering other valuable applications of the software. Essentially, blockchain technology creates a virtually unhackable ledger of transactions; an undisturbed digital footprint in place for accountability. The debut of the Internet was similar to the Wild West; right away, parents and educators pleaded with children and young adults to “not believe everything they read on the Internet,” as it could so easily be altered and fabricated. The blockchain is what the Internet should be, and applied to the antiquated and dangerously unreliable systems of yesterday corrects much of society for the better. Understanding this simple concept, we can keep our disruptive opportunity antennas up while we look into how blockchain can positively disrupt a multitude of industries beyond the four previously mentioned. The blockchain is a definite Hard Trend; it is here to stay and will continue to disrupt. The question is, how will you or your organization leverage this profound Hard Trend while it is still in its infancy stage and either pre-solve any problems it will cause your industry or determine how it can fix problems your industry faces.