A team of chemists, led by Bartosz A. Grzybowski from the Korea Institute for Basic Science and the Polish Academy of Sciences, has embarked on an unprecedented initiative, utilizing blockchain technology to simulate over 4 billion chemical reactions crucial for unraveling the mysteries of early Earth’s origins. This groundbreaking approach repurposes cryptocurrency mining processes to tackle intricate scientific inquiries, showcasing the versatility of blockchain beyond its financial applications.

The researchers set out to explore the potential emergence of primitive forms of metabolism without relying on enzymes. To accomplish this, they carefully selected primordial molecules like water, methane, and ammonia, and established rules for potential reactions.

Chemists Harness The Power Of Blockchain

Converting this data into a computer-understandable language, the team leveraged blockchain technology to perform calculations within a massive reaction network named the Network of Early Life (NOEL). The computations were distributed globally using the Golem platform, rewarding participating computers with cryptocurrency for their computational contributions.

Starting with over 11 billion reactions, the NOEL network was eventually refined to nearly 5 billion plausible reactions. Within this extensive network, the researchers identified echoes of familiar metabolic pathways and observed the synthesis of 128 simple biotic molecules, shedding new light on early prebiotic chemistry.

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Remarkably, only a fraction of the examined reactions exhibited “self-replicating” behavior, challenging previous hypotheses that suggested self-replication as a central mechanism in the emergence of life. Beyond its scientific implications, this research highlights the potential for democratizing scientific investigations.

Grzybowski emphasized how this approach makes science more accessible to smaller universities and institutions globally, especially those in the developing world. Utilizing platforms like Golem, large-scale calculations become more cost-effective and inclusive, revolutionizing scientific computations.

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Cryptocurrency’s Role In Advancing Science

Looking forward, Grzybowski envisions a future where cryptocurrencies contribute to global science. He hopes that blockchain technology can redefine the perceived value of cryptocurrencies, encouraging society to embrace them as tools for discovering new biological laws and groundbreaking drugs.

“I hope people in computer science can figure out how we can tokenize cryptocurrencies in a way that benefits global science,” Grzybowski said.

This pioneering study represents a significant step toward bridging the worlds of blockchain technology and scientific exploration. By employing blockchain to simulate chemical reactions relevant to the origins of life, the researchers have not only enhanced our understanding of early prebiotic chemistry but also opened doors to novel approaches in scientific research.

With the potential for broader accessibility and cost-effectiveness, this innovative application of blockchain technology has the capacity to reshape the landscape of both fields, propelling scientific progress into exciting new realms.

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Chris Dixon, Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto founder and general partner, joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss his new book ‘Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet.’ The crypto evangelist examined some of the ideas in the book, including the role of blockchain technology in the future of the internet and a possible path for Artificial Intelligence (AI) content regulations.

Blockchain Technology Is The Future of The Internet

In the interview, Dixon reviewed some of the ideas proposed in his book. When asked about the utility of blockchain technology, the entrepreneur affirms his belief that, despite its importance, the financial side of it has been “overplayed” in the overall discussion. While payments, DeFi, and Bitcoin are important applications, blockchain technology has much more to offer, as he views it.

 Blockchains as an expansive technology. It’s a new way to build internet services. Those can be games, they can be social networks, they can be financial services.

Regarding adoption, Dixon sees the recent spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a positive signal for the crypto industry. He considers any crypto acceptance by traditional investors to be “a good thing” after years of crypto being seen as “controversial.”

Following the spot ETF approval discussions, he believes that more acceptance of ETFs and other financial instruments using digital assets will increase because blockchain technology “is inevitable, it’s the future of the internet.”

Should The Government Regulate AI Technology?

During the interview, Dixon highlighted his enthusiasm for AI technology, “I’m very excited about AI. Our firm invests in a lot of AI. It’s a very powerful new technology.” However, he acknowledged the need for clear regulations regarding the technology’s use as it has been involved in many controversies in recent years.

Lately, concerns about the use of AI technology have increased after a wave of AI-generated deepfakes has flooded the internet. This month, crypto users were alerted of AI-generated scam videos using MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor’s image to promote Bitcoin-related scams.

Saylor went on X to inform him that his team had been deleting 80 fake videos using his likeness daily. Similarly, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko’s image and voice were used for fake videos, offering a giveaway through a QR code to thank the community for a “historic day.”

Anatoly Yakovenko’s deepfake Ad promoting the fake giveaway on January 16, 2024. Source: Youtube.com

The entrepreneur sees AI-generated deep fake videos as an increasingly common problem that continues to affect the crypto community and the general public due to the advanced technology behind it, as he explained:

You are also going to see very advanced phishing and very advanced counterfeit people. It’s going to be very hard to tell on the internet what’s real and what isn’t.

He affirms that “blockchains are an important countermeasure” to the AI-generated fake videos problem since blockchains create “an immutable audit trail” that can be used to give a provenance record to content.

“You can have an immutable audit trail saying this video came from CNBC, it came from the New York Times,” Dixon explained.

Dixon believes that this approach should be considered. However, he also thinks it would be challenging to implement “without some sort of government action” and without social networks having “some enforcement so they don’t show fake videos.”

Last week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the US Congress should take legislative action to address fake AI-generated images after sexually explicit AI-generated images of singer Taylor Swift started circulating the X (formerly known as Twitter) platform.

These images amassed 45 million views on the platform and were mass-reported by users. The X team took the AI-generated content down and restricted the search for them on the platform. It remains to be seen if blockchain technology can be implemented to resolve these issues.

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Blockchain technology emerges as a potential robust solution to the persistent issue of counterfeit medicines in the pharmaceutical sector. According to Goldstein Market Intelligence’s forecast, the estimated impact of counterfeit medicines is a staggering $5.3 billion this year. Despite these challenges, industry experts express optimism about the transformative impact of blockchain technology in addressing this pressing concern.

Is Blockchain The Solution To Counter Fake Drugs?

In a recent interview with Sunday PUNCH, Oluseyi Akindeinde, the CEO of Hyperspace Technologies, highlighted the potential of blockchain in safeguarding the pharmaceutical sector. Akindeinde emphasized that blockchain’s ability to serialize pharmaceutical products and assign verifiable security features could significantly hinder the circulation of counterfeit medicines.

To achieve this, Akindeinde proposed integrating encrypted non-fungible token (NFT) tags into pharmaceutical products. These tags create unique identities and offer an additional layer of security. By encrypting the NFTs, only authorized individuals with the correct code can access information such as ownership details and any attached data, ensuring the integrity of digital assets on the blockchain.

The impact of counterfeit medicines extends far beyond financial losses. According to the United Nations, substandard drugs result in a staggering 500,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Shockingly, within that figure, 267,000 deaths are linked to counterfeit antimalarial drugs, while substandard antibiotics for severe pneumonia contribute to 169,271 deaths.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control recently took action against the counterfeit medicine trade, destroying over N500 million worth of fake and expired goods in Abuja. The regulator noted that the destroyed drugs included psychoactive and controlled substances, antibiotics, anti-hypertensives, herbal remedies, and drugs confiscated from unauthorized vendors.

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Smart Contracts: Antidote To Drug Counterfeiting

Akindeinde further explained that blockchain technology offers an immutable solution through the use of smart contracts. Smart contracts are unchangeable lines of code deployed on the chain. Each pharmaceutical product receives a unique identification tag affixed to its packaging within a smart contract, rendering manipulation virtually impossible.

The implications of counterfeit drugs extend beyond the immediate health risks. Legitimate pharmaceutical companies suffer reputational damage, and the entire healthcare system grapples with diminished trust due to the proliferation of fake drugs. Blockchain technology, with its inherent authentication and transparency, has the potential to restore trust and integrity.

Adewale Kayode, the Director and Team Lead at Sirfitech, echoed the sentiment, stating that the technology could provide authentication and transparency across the entire pharmaceutical value chain. From raw materials to manufacturing and distribution, blockchain technology can ensure the verifiability and traceability of pharmaceutical products, instilling confidence in consumers and stakeholders alike.

As the counterfeit medicine industry continues to evolve, the adoption of blockchain technology offers a glimmer of hope. While challenges such as regulatory frameworks and industry collaboration remain, the potential of blockchain to combat counterfeit medicines and protect lives is undeniable. The pharmaceutical sector stands poised to leverage this transformative technology, forging a path towards a safer and more reliable future.

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