Ethereum has a scalability problem; as we all know, gas fees can get very expensive, reaching into the hundreds of dollars once the network is overrun with transactions. Here is where Polygon (MATIC) steps in, allowing users to access Ethereum DApps without having to deal with high gas fees and slow speeds. This post will look at why Polygon (MATIC) is a promising cryptocurrency that should be considered by any serious investor. If you decide to invest in Polygon (MATIC), I recommend using a cash-based exchange platform like or that allows you to easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies for cash. CEX (Worldwide and USA users) Bitpanda (Europe only) What is Polygon (MATIC)? Polygon (MATIC) is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. It also functions as a platform for building and connecting Ethereum compatible blockchains networks. Polygon started out in 2019 as "Matic Network," with its main aim being to scale Ethereum. In 2021 the protocol was rebranded to "Polygon," and its vision expanded to include building and connecting Ethereum compatible blockchains. Polygon reduces transaction fees on the Ethereum network while also increasing the speed of transactions drastically. The protocol enables instant transactions which cost a fraction of a penny ($0.002). Polygon's scalability focus is what makes it very attractive for decentralized applications that run on the Ethereum blockchain. Uniswap, for example, announced that they had deployed on December 22nd, 2021. Uniswap V3 on Polygon How Does Polygon (MATIC) Work? Polygon (MATIC) uses a variety of technologies to create a fast and highly scalable Layer 2 blockchain network: Users validate transactions by staking their MATIC. Users can run a full node as a "validator" or they can delegate their MATIC to a trusted validator. Proof-of-Stake System - The protocol which enables Polygon and Ethereum based blockchains to connect with each other while inheriting Ethereum's security. Polygon Protocol - Transaction networks that run alongside the Ethereum blockchain, bundling transactions together before confirming them and returning the data back to the mainchain. Commit Chains - One-click system for deploying Ethereum compatible blockchains using the Polygon Framework - Polygon SDK. Polygon's cryptocurrency MATIC is used for the following purposes: MATIC is used for transaction fees and paid out as staking rewards to validators. Fees - Users can stake MATIC to validate transactions or delegate MATIC to validators. Staking - Polygon plans to enable staking for projects in the Polygon ecosystem in the future. Ecosystem Staking - Polygon (MATIC) Popularity In Decentralized Finance (Defi) Defi has emerged as a popular utility for the Polygon network due to its very low fees and instant finality. This can bring a lot of adoption to Polygon, as according to Defi is now an industry worth over $100 Billion. Bloomberg, Combine this with Polygon's ease of use, speed, and affordability, and you have a potential market leader in the making. To use Defi apps on Polygon, users need to bridge their Ethereum assets to the Polygon network. If you want details on how to do this, I recommend reading this Polygon (MATIC) investment analysis. Popular DeFi apps on the Polygon network include: - Popular DEX on Polygon QuickSwap - Platform to lend, borrow and earn interest on assets Aave - Liquidity Pools and Stablecoin trading. Curve Finance - Yield farming optimizer and auto-compounder Adamant Finance - Yield farming optimizer and auto-compounder AutoFarm - Yield farming optimizer and auto-compounder Beefy Finance - DEX with Liquidity Pools to earn interest 1inch - DEX with Liquidity Pools SushiSwap - DEX with Liquidity Pools DFYN As mentioned earlier in this post, Uniswap V3 has also been deployed on Polygon. This will bring a large number DeFi users to the Polygon ecosystem from Ethereum, where they can take advantage of the drastically lower fees. Polygon (MATIC) Are Building a ZK-Rollup Solution Polygon announced on their that they acquired the Zero-Knowledge startup for $400m. The Mir team is joining Polygon and using their technology to build their new project - a highly scalable, Ethereum compatible ZK-Rollup. official blog Mir Polygon Zero, In my last post about we saw how powerful narratives can be for making profits as an investor. ZK-Rollup cryptocurrencies, ZK-Rollups are gearing up to be the next big narrative in the cryptocurrency space, and Polygon looks like a great choice for investors in this narrative, and here's why: Mir, the company acquired by Polygon, developed the worlds ZK scaling technology. fastest scaling Polygon has merged with an open-source ZK-Rollup. Hermez Network, Polygon has announced a ZK-friendly Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Hermez zkEVM, Polygon announced an upcoming a STARK-based, Ethereum-compatible rollup. Polygon Miden, Polygon is working on a privacy-focused rollup. Polygon Nightfall, Polygon (MATIC) has already positioned itself as a viable scaling solution for Ethereum; adding ZK-Rollups to their arsenal will further increase scalability capacities. This, in turn, will attract more users to the protocol and increase MATIC's value. Polygon (MATIC) and Reddit Co-Founder Launch a $300M Fund On December 17th, 2021, announced that they had partnered with Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian to launch a $200 million dollar fund to invest in social media, gaming, and Web 3.0 projects. Polygon Polygon will team with Alexis Ohanian’s venture firm, Seven Seven Six, to launch the fund. The venture firm's portfolio already includes Sky Mavis, the creators of Axie Infinity. As well as being a co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian co-founded Initialized Capital in 2010 and was a seed investor in projects including Coinbase, Patreon, Instacart, and more. Seven Seven Six will invest in gaming, social media, and Web 3.0 projects that are being built on Polygon. Having these platforms built on Polygon will massively increase its adoption, especially if one of those projects goes on to become very successful. How to Invest in Polygon (MATIC) If you decide to invest in Polygon (MATIC), I recommend using a cash-based exchange platform like or that allows you to easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies for cash. CEX (Worldwide and USA users) Bitpanda (Europe only) If you plan to hold your MATIC for the long term, I recommend getting yourself a too. Ledger Hardware Wallet Final Thoughts Polygon (MATIC) is a good investment choice for any serious investor, the protocol has established itself as a leading Layer 2 scaling solution and is continuously innovating and making new acquisitions. I hope you enjoyed this story; feel free to check out the useful resources below Good exchange to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon (MATIC), Polkadot (DOT), Binance Coin (BNB), and more from anywhere in the world with cash. CEX Exchange — Available worldwide, including the USA If you live in Europe, one of the best exchanges to buy cryptocurrencies with cash, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC), and many more. BitPanda — Only available in Europe - Secure, buy and grow your crypto assets with the world's most popular hardware wallet. Ledger Wallets Buy a Ledger wallet here. - Great exchange where users can trade over 750 different cryptocurrencies, including new, low market cap cryptocurrencies. Kucoin Available worldwide, INCLUDING the USA. - Exchange where users can trade over 500 different cryptocurrencies. Binance Available worldwide apart from the US You can also keep up with me on and if you need a content writer for your website, publication, project or campaign, contact me on cryptonitewrites@gmail.com. Twitter

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Introduction Since Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, blockchains have continued to gain popularity. released the Bitcoin whitepaper People have applied blockchain technology to other areas, besides payments, thanks to its decentralised and secure nature. is what Ethereum founder, Vitalik Buterin, calls a component of the " ." Scalability blockchain trilemma Buterin's thesis explains that no blockchain network can equally provide decentralisation, security, and scalability. They must sacrifice certain elements to achieve near-optimal functionality. Bitcoin and Ethereum trade off scalability for security and decentralisation for scalability. That explains why a major blockchain network like Bitcoin can around 7 transactions per second. For context, Visa's payments system can process up to 24,000 transactions per second. process If blockchain technology must attract more users, it must solve the scalability problem. Several solutions have appeared in recent years, including the now-popular “layer 2” protocols. In this deep dive, I explain what layer 2 blockchain means, how it works, and why it’s important for blockchain adoption. Let's dive in! Layer 2 Blockchain Explained Layer 2 is a secondary protocol designed to operate atop another blockchain network. Layer 2 is named in this way because it’s designed to operate separately from Layer 1, the base layer in a blockchain. So—what's the big deal about layer 2 blockchain? Layer 2 protocols act as an auxiliary framework for processing transactions, which reduces the base layer's workload. That increases the transaction speed of a blockchain network (throughput) and enhances the system's ability to handle more users. Ever wondered why blockchain transactions take so long? The answer lies in the blockchain's structure. Unlike centralised systems, like PayPal or Visa, blockchain transactions must pass through several stages—acceptance, mining, distribution, and validation—before getting approved. In the status quo, layer 1—the base layer of the blockchain—must handle all the activities involved in validating each transaction. Inevitably, processing speed will fall, affecting scalability and user experience. Layer 2 is designed to operate atop the existing base layer and relieve the main chain of specific tasks. In this case, the base layer may only be responsible for specific functions like security and control. I should point out that layer 2 blockchain must still report to the base layer. This ensures that transactions are still appropriately validated, keeping the security of the blockchain network intact. What are Examples of Layer 2 Blockchain Solutions? Layer 2 protocols operate independently of the main chain in a blockchain. That’s where they get their “off-chain” description from. In the following In the following paragraphs, I explore the different layer 2 blockchain solutions currently in use: Nested Blockchains A nested blockchain is one operating atop another blockchain. The main chain has a parent-child relationship with secondary blockchain chains in this case. It assigns tasks and control overall parameters, but auxiliary chains execute transactions. A helpful analogy here is a company hierarchy. Instead of tasking one person with an enormous task, the manager spreads the job across the team. Then team members must return the task to the manager for approval. Nested blockchains work the same way: multiple chains receive tasks from the main chain, which they report to the latter upon completion. An example of a nested blockchain is Ethereum's OMG Plasma Network. State Channels State channels facilitate direct communication between participants on a blockchain network. Users can conduct transactions off the main chain, removing the need for a middleman. That means less time spent waiting for miners and faster transaction processing rates. State channels don't need transactions validated by layer-1 nodes. Instead, the resource is sealed-off through a smart contract mechanism. When a transaction is complete, a final state of the channel is recorded on the base layer. It is also important to note that state channels keep details of transactions private between parties. However, the final transaction is added to the public ledger for recordkeeping purposes. Examples of state channels include Bitcoin’s Lightning Network and Ethereum's Raiden Network. The Lightning Network allows users to handle multiple microtransactions within a limited timeframe. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s Raiden Network lets participants on the blockchain run smart contracts through their channels. Sidechains A sidechain is a smaller chain linked to the main chain via a “channel” or “bridge”. If the main chain is a forest, sidechains are the trees. Sidechains are primarily designed to process large batch transactions. A sidechain has its consensus system, relieving the main chain of some of the work in validating transactions. In this arrangement, the main handles overall security, dispute resolution, and maintenance of records. Sidechains vs. State Channels Sidechains differ from state channels due to the following reasons: They record transactions on the public ledger. An attack on a sidechain cannot affect the main chain or other sidechains. Sidechains require more effort to develop Bitcoin’s Liquid Network is an excellent example of a sidechain. Rollups Rollups are layer 2 protocols that run computations off the main chain. However, rollups will transfer a record of transactions at periodic intervals to the main chain for recordkeeping purposes. Rollups execute data transactions without relying on the base layer, increasing throughput and decreasing gas fees. Transaction data is posted on the main layer, which guarantees the security of rollups. Optimistic Rollups Optimistic rollups are called this way because they assume all transactions to be valid by default. However, there's usually a seven-day waiting period for optimistic rollups to validate a transaction—enough time for dispute resolution if there's a challenge. Zero-Knowledge Rollups Zero-knowledge rollups perform computations off-chain before submitting proof of validity to the main chain. A zero-knowledge rollup could hold funds in a smart contract on the base layer. Proof is submitted, transaction is confirmed, and the funds released. Why is Layer 2 Blockchain Important? Layer 2 solutions solve the predominant issues keeping developers from scaling apps built on the blockchain network. Here are four benefits layer 2 protocols offer the blockchain ecosystem: Better Security Layer 1 blockchain solutions rewrite the base layer protocol to improve scale. This could involve increasing block capacity or boosting the speed at which new blocks are validated. Although a decent solution, tampering with the blockchain’s main architecture may compromise network security. With a layer 2 blockchain, the base layer is left as is, with no changes to the underlying protocol. Instead, layer 2 solutions build on and complement the active base layer. Higher Transaction Speed With layer 2 protocols, transactions can be performed off-chain, reducing workload and increasing speed and scalability. Freed from mundane tasks, the main chain can focus on providing security and decentralisation. On the other hand, layer 2 can be optimised for faster computations and greater throughput. Better Scalability Scale is the biggest for using layer 2 blockchain. These off-chain solutions increase the transaction-per-second rate, otherwise called the "throughput" of blockchain networks. raison d'etre This means good news for scalability and ensures that each user gets a rich experience, regardless of the load on the network. In fact, experts predict layer 2 solutions will enable blockchain networks to process hundreds, if not thousands, of transactions per second. Lower Transaction Fees Blockchain relies on middlemen, i.e., miners, to validate transactions. Typically, miners solve cryptographic algorithms to validate transactions—an activity that requires heavy computing power. But, as more users join the blockchain network, transactions will increase, clogging up the system. Miners have limited computing power, so they often select transactions with higher fees. Unsurprisingly, this has caused transaction fees, aka "gas fees," to . skyrocket Layer 2 blockchain promises to decrease the computing power required to process transactions. This will allow miners to handle more transactions while users can pay lower fees, a win-win solution for everyone. Wrapping Up Currently, the layer 2 solution represents blockchain's best chance of displacing traditional centralised systems. With increased processing power, lower transaction fees, and richer user experience, blockchain technology may gain rapid acceptance. More importantly, layer 2 protocols will accelerate the integration of blockchain into global commerce. We'd be able to build blockchain networks that can be used in multiple industries and scale to accept more users Previously published here.

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Random forest is one of the most popular algorithms for multiple machine learning tasks. This story looks into random forest regression in R, focusing on understanding the output and variable importance. If you prefer Python code, . here you go Decision Trees and Random Forest When decision trees came to the scene in , they were better than classic multiple regression. One of the reasons is that decision trees are easy on the eyes. People without a degree in statistics could easily interpret the results in the form of branches. 1984 Additionally, decision trees help you avoid the synergy effects of interdependent predictors in multiple regression. Synergy (interaction/moderation) effect is when one predictor depends on another predictor. is a nice example from a business context. Here On the other hand, regression trees are not very stable - a slight change in the training set could mean a great change in the structure of the whole tree. Simply put, they are not very accurate. But what if you combine multiple trees? Randomly created decision trees make up a , a type of based on , .i.e. . First, you create various decision trees on bootstrapped versions of your dataset, i.e. random sampling with replacement (see the image below). Next, you aggregate (e.g. average) the individual predictions over the decision trees into the final random forest prediction. random forest ensemble modeling bootstrap aggregating bagging Notice that we skipped some observations, namely Istanbul, Paris and Barcelona. These observations, i.e. rows, are called and used for prediction error estimation. out-of-bag Random Forest Regression in R Based on CRAN’s , 63 R libraries mention random forest. I recommend you go over the options as they range from bayesian-based random forest to clinical and omics specific libraries. You could potentially find random forest regression that fits your use-case better than the original version. Still, I wouldn’t use it if you can’t find the details of how exactly it improves on Breiman’s and Cutler’s implementation. If you have no idea, it’s safer to go with the original - . list of packages randomForest Code-wise, it’s pretty simple, so I will stick to the example from the documentation using . 1974 Motor Trend data ### Import libraries
library(randomForest)
library(ggplot2)

set.seed(4543)
data(mtcars)
rf.fit <- randomForest(mpg ~ ., data=mtcars, ntree=1000,
                       keep.forest=FALSE, importance=TRUE) I will specifically focus on understanding the performance and . So after we run the piece of code above, we can check out the results by simply running . variable importance rf.fit > rf.fit

Call:
 randomForest(formula = mpg ~ ., data = mtcars, ntree = 1000, 
              keep.forest = FALSE, importance = TRUE) 

               Type of random forest: regression
                     Number of trees: 1000
No. of variables tried at each split: 3

          Mean of squared residuals: 5.587022
                    % Var explained: 84.12 Notice that the function ran random forest regression, and we didn’t need to specify that. It will perform nonlinear multiple regression as long as the target variable is numeric (in this example, it is Miles per Gallon - ). But, if it makes you feel better, you can add mpg type= “regression”. The mean of squared residuals and % variance explained indicate how well the model fits the data. Residuals are a difference between prediction and the actual value. In our example, 5.6 means that we were wrong by 5.6 miles/gallon on average. If you want to have a deep understanding of how this is calculated per decision tree, watch . this video You can experiment with, i.e. increase or decrease, the number of trees ( ) or the number of variables tried at each split ( ) and see whether the residuals or % variance change. ntree mtry If you also want to understand what the model has learnt, make sure that you do as in the code above. importance = TRUE Random forest regression in R provides two outputs: decrease in mean square error (MSE) and node purity. Prediction error described as MSE is based on permuting out-of-bag sections of the data per individual tree and predictor, and the errors are then averaged. In the regression context, Node purity is the total decrease in residual sum of squares when splitting on a variable averaged over all trees (i.e. how well a predictor decreases variance). MSE is a more reliable measure of variable importance. If the two importance metrics show different results, listen to MSE. If all of your predictors are numerical, then it shouldn’t be too much of an issue - read more . here The built-in will visualize the results, but we can do better. Here, we combine both importance measures into one plot emphasizing MSE results. varImpPlot() ### Visualize variable importance ----------------------------------------------

# Get variable importance from the model fit
ImpData <- as.data.frame(importance(rf.fit))
ImpData$Var.Names <- row.names(ImpData)

ggplot(ImpData, aes(x=Var.Names, y=`%IncMSE`)) +
  geom_segment( aes(x=Var.Names, xend=Var.Names, y=0, yend=`%IncMSE`), color="skyblue") +
  geom_point(aes(size = IncNodePurity), color="blue", alpha=0.6) +
  theme_light() +
  coord_flip() +
  theme(
    legend.position="bottom",
    panel.grid.major.y = element_blank(),
    panel.border = element_blank(),
    axis.ticks.y = element_blank()
  ) Conclusion In terms of assessment, it always comes down to some theory or logic behind the data. Do the top predictors make sense? If not, investigate why. “Rome was not built in one day, nor was any reliable model.” ( ) Good & Hardin, 2012 Modeling is an iterative process. You can get a better idea about the predictive error of your random forest regression when you save some data for performance testing only. You might also want to try out . other methods

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Welcome to ’s Writing Prompts! Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HackerNoon HERE. While this template is automatic, our interest in the answers below is genuine and our human editors (and some cyborg wannabes) will review it before publishing. P.S. Feel free to add a featured image of choice. What is your current position? [Add your answers here] How long have you been working in tech? What is your educational background? (It’s perfectly okay if you don’t have a formal one) Have you ever had a mentor? If yes, we’d like to know more about it. What was the best piece of advice you got over the course of your career? How relevant was self-learning to where you are today? Knowing what you do now, where do you think one should start learning if they want to work in your position one day? What is the work-related achievement you’re the most proud of? What do you think is the biggest myth about starting a career in tech? On a less serious note: What do you listen to while working? Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us more about your career path. Any words of wisdom for aspiring techies? Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is , just start writing! Interested in what others had to say in their answers? Click . Interested in reading the content from all of our writing prompts? Click . HERE HERE HERE

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If you too would like to start contributing to Hacker Noon, you can do so . here If you also want to publish your thoughts about the metaverse, answer the template here. The metaverse is quite possibly the future of the internet. To help our readers learn more about it, we've started this metaverse interview series. These are the questions we've compiled to ask experts in blockchain, DAOs, NFTs, and game development, within the HackerNoon community. The series is intended for tech professionals to contribute their insights about the current state and the future of the metaverse. HackerNoon Prompt: So let’s start! First, tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests. [Add your answer here] Please sum up what the metaverse is in 1 to two paragraphs. [Add your answer here] Are you currently, directly or indirectly, working on building a metaverse? [Add your answer here] In your opinion, is the metaverse inevitable, or is it just another passing trending tech topic that'll lose hype? [Add your answer here] Why is the metaverse such a revolutionary concept? [Add your answer here] What can people build in the metaverse that we can't build on the Internet, or in virtual reality today? What limitations of our current technology does the metaverse free us from? [Add your answer here] How are the metaverse and blockchain related? Can we build a metaverse without blockchain technology? [Add your answer here] How quickly do you think the metaverse will be developed? How much can we expect metaverse tech to grow in the next 5 - 10 years? [Add your answer here] What is your hope for the metaverse? Do you have any worries or does the concept pose any threats? [Add your answer here] Thanks for your time! Any final words? [Add your answer here] [Note to writer: submitting this form doesn't guarantee publication. This will be reviewed by our editors like every other story on HackerNoon. The longer your answers the better. The more thought-out your responses, the higher the chances of publication. It also wouldn't hurt to add a cool lead image, and a catchy title!]

[Writing Prompt] What is the Metaverse? : Interview Questions List

This interview is part of the !  You may answer them #Decentralized-Internet writing contest here. Thank you for joining us! Please tell us about yourself. Let's discuss centralized internet first. What is your opinion on the centralized internet? What are its pros/cons? What does decentralization mean to you? How decentralization changes the internet? What is the best thing about decentralized internet? Are you currently directly or indirectly working on the decentralized internet use case? We would love to know more about it. What are the biggest challenges in the way of the decentralized web? Do you have any apprehension or fear related to the decentralization of the internet? How do you see the future of the decentralized internet? Thank you for your time! Any closing thoughts/advice for the readers? For those who are reading about it for the first time, HackerNoon has built a partnership with Everscale (Formely Free Ton) - a decentralized, community-powered blockchain movement for free internet! You can see all here. #Decentralized-Internet stories

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Find relevant information about the Noonies . Learn how to vote Have someone in mind you want to nominate? Learn how to do that here here. here. If you have been nominated, you can answer the below interview by clicking here (after you have signed into your HackerNoon account). Hey Hackers! I’m [NAME] and I’m the [TITLE @ COMPANY]. First of all, a huge thank you to the HackerNoon community and staff for nominating [me/us] for a 2021 Noonies award! [I’ve/We’ve been] nominated in the following categories please do check out these award pages and vote: [NAME OF AWARD]: [URL TO AWARD PAGE] [NAME OF AWARD]: [URL TO AWARD PAGE] As a someone in the [your niche] industry, I believe that the most exciting technology of the present is [TECH] because [REASON]. Learn more about my thoughts and opinions on [TECH] and my journey in the tech industry via the interview below. 1. What do you do and why do you do it? (tell us your story) [Please answer in 3 - 5 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 2. Tell us more about the things you create / write / manage / build! [Please answer in 3 - 5 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 3. How did you end up on your current career path? Do you like it? [Please answer in 2 - 3 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 4. What tech are you most excited or passionate about right now and why? [Please answer in 3 - 5 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 5. What tech are you most worried about right now and why? [Please answer in 3 - 5 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 6. If we gave you 10 million dollars to invest in something today, what would you invest in and why? [Please answer in 3 - 5 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 7. What are you currently learning? [Please answer in 2 - 3 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever given someone? [Please answer in 2 - 3 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 9. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? [Please answer in 2 - 3 sentences. Longer, more thought-out answers make for a more interesting interview…and you want to be interesting, don’t you?] AT LEAST 10. Please give us the links to all your relevant social media profiles so we can use them to promote this interview! (Twitter and LinkedIn would be a huge plus) [please paste the URLs] 11. Would you also be interested in joining us on the HackerNoon podcast? If so, what would you like to chat about? [give us 2-3 topics you’re comfortable riffing about] About HackerNoon’s 2021 Noonie Awards The annual Noonie Awards celebrate the best and brightest of the tech industry, bringing together all who are making the Internet and the world of tech what it is today. Please be sure to , nominate, and vote for the people and companies who you think are making the biggest impact on the tech industry today. check out our award categories The 2021 Noonies are sponsored by: , , and . Thank you so much to these sponsors who are helping us celebrate the accomplishments of all our nominees. bybit Dottech Domains Avast

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[Writing Prompt] How to be a Better Data Scientist; Interview Questions List 

In the season of love and giving, all we can think about is to make ourselves cozy and comfortable while watching a good movie. So the HackerNoon team granted this holiday wish and gave us their best choices of movies for this time of the year. This Slogging thread by Sara Pinto, Daniel Guzman, Mónica Freitas, Jack Boreham, Limarc Ambalina, Blake Cram and Lori McNeill occurred in slogging's official #random channel, and has been edited for readability. Sara Pinto Dec 1, 2021, 6:18 PM Now that we are officially in the holiday season, what is your favorite movie for this time of the year? 🕯🎄 Daniel Guzman Dec 1, 2021, 8:54 PM I love Jingle All The Way! Haha it makes me cry even harder every time I watch it. Mónica Freitas Dec 2, 2021, 11:47 AM Sara Pinto I'll be binging the Harry Potter saga! It just fits with the time's whole mood. That and any Disney Movies. What do you usually watch? Sara Pinto Dec 2, 2021, 12:46 PM Daniel Guzman I'm not familiar with that one, what is it all about?  I might have to put it on my list Daniel Guzman Dec 2, 2021, 12:47 PM Sara Pinto it's about a father that looks for the desired toy for his kid. It's a Christmas classic haha 💚 1 Sara Pinto Dec 2, 2021, 12:53 PM Mónica Freitas Ah yes, I could never say no to a cozy night with the HP marathon! For me, it's usually the Grinch. His whining about not liking Christmas just screams "holidays!!!!" haha 💚 1 Sara Pinto Dec 2, 2021, 12:54 PM Daniel Guzman With Schwarzenegger?! Oh now I really have to see it!! Jack Boreham Dec 2, 2021, 2:52 PM Sara Pinto, I absolutely love Narnia. Also Fred Clause that's my go-to. I used to watch these every year as a kid (not so much now😜) ❤ 1 🔥 1 💚 1 Jack Boreham Dec 2, 2021, 2:53 PM Daniel Guzman Dec 2, 2021, 3:21 PM Jack Boreham Narnia is dope! I cry a lot at the end of the second movie; you know, when Alan said that thing about Susan and Peter :pleading_face: Did you know that those books were inspired -somehow- in the Bible? Limarc Ambalina Dec 2, 2021, 5:11 PM Elf hands down Limarc Ambalina Dec 2, 2021, 5:11 PM 🔥 1 Blake Cram Dec 2, 2021, 7:45 PM I love Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. It's the Christmas movie that I try to watch consistently every year. It's chaotic and hilarious every time. Blake Cram Dec 2, 2021, 7:47 PM I also like binging sagas like Harry Potter, I'm not sure why but those always feel so much better during the holidays. Growing up we would typically rotate years marathoning HP, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars. Lori McNeill Dec 2, 2021, 9:16 PM Charlie Brown Christmas!!! I am forever in love with the Peanuts gang. Mónica Freitas Dec 3, 2021, 11:47 AM Sara Pinto Oh, the Grinch! It goes in the same line as "The Mask" for me. Both have that homey feeling. 💚 2 Sara Pinto Dec 3, 2021, 3:08 PM Jack Boreham This message gave me nostalgia. I think this is your queue to rewatch them haha. The first Narnia movie usually passes on Portuguese TV and feels so good to see it Sara Pinto Dec 3, 2021, 3:11 PM Limarc Ambalina I've only seen Elf recently, like last year, and I have to say that I completely understand the hype! it almost made me want to try the weird food he made 😂 Sara Pinto Dec 3, 2021, 3:20 PM Blake Cram I haven't heard of the first one in a while! But I get the sagas marathons. It's something that I've seen passing on tv all my life around this time of the year. It feels like it's part of the season. Which saga did you prefer? Sara Pinto Dec 3, 2021, 3:28 PM Lori McNeill I remember seeing loose episodes of Charlie Brown that only made my love for cartoons even bigger. I'll definitely have to watch that movie this year! Do you watch it every Christimas? Jack Boreham Dec 6, 2021, 11:05 AM Sara Pinto Narnia is like fictional Christmas. Everything you want from a winter wonderland. Plus azlam is so cool.😂 🔥 2 Sara Pinto Dec 6, 2021, 4:29 PM Jack Boreham We hardly have a white Christmas in Portugal, so Narnia does sound like a dream! Mónica Freitas Dec 7, 2021, 12:42 PM Sara Pinto Jack Boreham I'm playing the devil's advocate here, but thank god there's not white Christmas in my hometown. It's nasty enough with all the rain and wind 😂☔🌬 😂 2

Disney

Slack

2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Climate Change

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Climate Change

What is your Favorite Holiday Movie?

Most of us who enjoy games find ourselves in search of which triple-A title to play next. But which ones qualify as overrated, and which ones deserve all the glory? Even though it all comes down to our personal taste, in this slogging thread, you can find the diverse opinions of our gaming channel community and our ideas of an overrated video game. This Slogging thread by Sara Pinto, Mónica Freitas, Jack Boreham and Limarc Ambalina occurred in slogging's official #gaming channel, and has been edited for readability. Sara Pinto Dec 10, 2021, 5:10 PM What are the most overrated games out there? Mónica Freitas Dec 13, 2021, 5:35 PM Not to start a beef here, but this article cites a few: Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft) L.A. Noire (Rockstar) Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar) The Sims 3 Call of Duty: World At War LittleBigPlanet Bioshock Infinite Halo 3: ODST Dragon Age: Origins God of War What do you guys think? https://www.goliath.com/gaming/the-10-most-overrated-video-games-of-all-time/ Sara Pinto Dec 15, 2021, 3:57 PM Mónica Freitas Wow, bold of them to cite The Sims 3, I'm going to call their manager 😂 But I'm actually surprised that they didn't mention League of Legends. I never got the hype of it. Which of that list would you be interested to test it for yourself? Sara Pinto Dec 15, 2021, 3:57 PM Limarc Ambalina Jack Boreham Khamisi Hamisi Daniel Guzman Allyson Blinkhorn What do you think? Mónica Freitas Dec 15, 2021, 7:20 PM Sara Pinto I think you should! 😂 😂 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 15, 2021, 7:22 PM Sara Pinto well, from the synopsis, I'd give God of War and Dragon Age a chance. One has to do with Greek mythology and the other with fantasy. Not sure if this appeals to you, but it does sound like something I'd like to try. Sara Pinto Dec 16, 2021, 12:51 PM Mónica Freitas Yes, I was thinking of God of War as well. I've played a little, and wouldn't say it's overrated, but I'm not the expert 😂 Jack Boreham Dec 16, 2021, 2:08 PM The Last of Us..... Limarc Ambalina come at me 😁😂 Jack Boreham Dec 16, 2021, 2:09 PM Mónica Freitas God of war is great, well the last game is good Jack Boreham Dec 16, 2021, 2:10 PM I agree with a lot on this list, but God of War and Halo 3ODST don't deserve to be there Mónica Freitas Dec 16, 2021, 8:25 PM Sara Pinto did you like it? Mónica Freitas Dec 16, 2021, 8:25 PM Jack Boreham so you're telling me to forget everything but the last game... Mónica Freitas Dec 16, 2021, 8:26 PM Sara Pinto Jack Boreham Does this mean, we're going to make a list of our own? Sara Pinto Dec 20, 2021, 1:16 PM Jack Boreham Haha why would you say it's overrated? I don't want any bickering here, it's a safe space, guys hahah Sara Pinto Dec 20, 2021, 1:21 PM Mónica Freitas Yes, if you are into greek mythology, I think you will enjoy this game. Also, in the last one, they inserted nordic mythology as well, which I thought was really interesting Sara Pinto Dec 20, 2021, 1:22 PM Mónica Freitas If you're forgetting some of the names on the list, you should forget The Sims 3 as well...:smiling_face_with_tear: Mónica Freitas Dec 20, 2021, 5:22 PM Sara Pinto  Uuuh, that's fun! Maybe I'll spend my Christmas day playing it. Mónica Freitas Dec 20, 2021, 5:23 PM Sara Pinto I'll take your petition! 😂 🙌 1 Sara Pinto Dec 21, 2021, 12:58 PM Mónica Freitas You have to give us a review after, so we can settle if it's actually overrated or not haha Jack Boreham Dec 21, 2021, 2:14 PM Mónica Freitas, I think they all are Overrated apart from God of war and halo, Jack Boreham Dec 21, 2021, 2:16 PM Sara Pinto, I don't like zombie settings. They give me the creeps. Plus, I think the stories are not as good as they say. It's one of these games that have reached God tier due to the prestige of the studio 😁 Mónica Freitas Dec 21, 2021, 4:47 PM Sara Pinto Deal!!! Mónica Freitas Dec 21, 2021, 4:49 PM Jack Boreham Sara will kick you out for not mentioning Sims 😂 😂 1 Limarc Ambalina Dec 23, 2021, 1:08 PM THE LAST OF US IS NOT OVERRATED...it's just that I talk about it too much lol. 😂 1 Limarc Ambalina Dec 23, 2021, 1:09 PM But I'll start a beef and actually say the Grand Theft Auto Games...I've never been able to get into them. I don't get the appeal. Sara Pinto Dec 23, 2021, 2:16 PM Jack Boreham I see what you mean, there are some games that we just don't click with Sara Pinto Dec 23, 2021, 2:20 PM Limarc Ambalina I think I've to partially agree. I've played, and I don't mind, but I don't really get it haha. Maybe in part is because I'm not the best at it  😂

PlayStation

What are the Most Overrated Games Out There?

In decentralization, we trust, and in our community, we believe! This interview is part of the ! For those who are reading about it for the first time, HackerNoon has built a partnership with Everscale (Formely Free Ton) - a decentralized, community-powered blockchain movement for free internet! This is the last month to participate in the contest. You can see all here. #Decentralized-Internet writing contest #Decentralized-Internet stories So without further ado, let’s start the interview. Thank you for joining us! Please tell us about yourself. Hi! I’m Dema, a FinTech Doctor from Cyprus, and I currently live in Dubai. I work for CFI Financial Group – a financial broker offering trading and investment services in the Middle East. Whereas most people differentiate between business and pleasure, for me, my business is my pleasure. I absolutely love what I do, and I’m glad for the opportunity to share my passion with the world. Currently, I work in Fintech – the apex of finance and technology. It is a relatively new industry that encapsulates a diverse set of concepts and skillsets, but one that is on track to change the world. I’m passionate about developing and implementing the tools that can guide society away from persistent scarcity and towards unlimited abundance - via technology. Let's discuss centralized internet first. What is your opinion on the centralized internet? What are its pros/cons? The Internet had to begin with a centralized model to be seen as usable and viable as a proof of concept. Centralization was the beginning, but decentralization is the future. I regard centralized systems as simpler and more user-friendly compared to decentralized since the concept relies on a single point of reconciliation. Furthermore, centralized systems are time-saving because individual servers mean fewer admins and more straightforward management. Also, tracking and collecting data is more accessible given there are fewer interjection points. The main disadvantage of centralized networks is in cases of even slight disruption. In such cases, the entire system can fail because all nodes are bottlenecked in one server. Relying on a single server can be extremely problematic, especially in highly important critical tasks. Given that our various societies are becoming digitally interconnected at a rapid rate, it makes sense that increasingly more digital functions are being considered “critical”. Given this trend, it makes sense for internet-ready functions to become decentralized as much as possible. Such as shift would also boost the rate at which various systems can be upscaled to meet regional and global demands. What does decentralization mean to you? First and foremost, decentralization opens the door to what is now being hailed as “Web 3.0” – a seamless user experience where users are not only browsing the internet in a read-only fashion (Web 1.0), or sharing their data as part of a dynamic architecture (Web 2.0), they will be able to truly own their content and maintain full control over its digital presence. Odyssey is a good example of how the Web 3.0 concept is being applied in practice. It’s a blockchain alternative to YouTube, where video creators can earn library tokens as a reward system for watching videos. Odyssey cannot prevent anyone from posting videos, even offensive ones, because the hosted video is not held on one computer but rather is distributed among thousands of computers as part of a de facto peer-to-peer network. Unlike centralized connectivity, computing power is used to process the distributed control. Decentralizing a network tends to improve the speed and flexibility of how various tasks are processed by distributing processing power to individual users. How decentralization changes the internet? Decentralizing the internet will mean ending the reliance on large centralized organizations that have monopolized not only the internet but other interconnected industries such as banking, software development, and hardware manufacturing. On the other hand, the decentralized approach has created small but highly successful communities that serve as alternatives to the traditional status quo. These grassroots internet-based communities have coalesced organically and are investing their time and energy to provide users with a chance and the capacity to control their data - rather than relying on intermediaries. Decentralization wrestles back control of the internet from the few to the many and then delivers it to the individual. What is the best thing about decentralized internet? The most exciting aspect is the inherent blend of stability and empowerment offered by the system architecture. Once the most critical aspects are decentralized, the likelihood of system failure falls to almost zero – even for notoriously fiddly systems such as payments, cloud access, reconciliations, and real-time system updates. Decentralization essentially means both service providers and users can expect flawless uptime and zero data loss in case of system failure. In the unlikely event of a system failure affecting multiple nodes simultaneously, redundancy measures will ensure downtime is minimized while server recovery could be better automated to avoid the need for human involvement. In other words, a critical system failure that would currently affect an entire organization globally will only affect a handful of terminals at one representative office. Also important is that a decentralized internet helps usher in the development of the next generation of platforms, offering unique tools, services, and products such as “decentralized finance” (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs may seem like a gimmick for the time being, but that’s what they said about Bitcoin in 2008. Eventually, growing demand is likely to push up prices because the supply of NFTs is often limited. To demonstrate what I mean, meet my newly-acquired “Desperate Ape Wife #1274” – she may be a mindless digital avatar with some severely challenging aesthetic issues, but I’m still confident she can show me some appreciation over time. Are you currently directly or indirectly working on the decentralized internet use case? We would love to know more about it. Already, decentralization-focused developers are working on what’s known as “open development” platforms which allow individuals to personally build new tools, products, and services that they can then offer to other people or even sell for a profit in a transparent marketplace. What all this means is that decentralized systems can offer significant opportunities for start-up businesses seeking to grow their audience on the internet – and fast. Good examples would include behemoths like Amazon, a company that grew its capacity and obtained millions of new clients as a result of decentralized systems. Another example is Graphite Docs – a far more intuitive and workable application that can also secure all data, including encryption. The software enables users to access their information at multiple points and allows for greater user switching – a boon for large organizations. It is rather saddening to admit that the governments of the world are becoming increasingly authoritarian when it comes to controlling social media and the internet in general. Decentralized networks offer a means for the people to push back by creating a level playing field that even governments cannot skew. What are the biggest challenges in the way of the decentralized web? One particular challenge is that decentralized systems face the problem of coordination given that every node is isolated, and therefore, it can be problematic to achieve collective tasks, especially at greater distances. Decentralization offers unbounded freedom of operation and limitless scalability, which is great when it comes to freedom of expression. However, there is also the possibility of “excess freedom” leading to adverse effects, given that the fruits of decentralization will also empower malicious users. Decentralized systems can be a panacea to many different problems for many different users, but by the same token (no pun intended), greater empowerment creates greater room for people to bend or break the rules and regulations set by authorities. Therefore, any notions of a decentralized internet will depend on a domain name system, thereby allowing participants to obtain individual IP addresses and hosts. Subversive attacks on independent nodes can pose significant problems – and there will always be the possibility of service outages – but the underlying risk of failure is severely reduced while the capacity for next-gen applications is expanded. Another issue is an oversight. In a centralized system, it is possible to filter and eradicate unwanted messages such as offensive social media posts – something that could be difficult in a decentralized network. Users in a decentralized system will have inherent anonymity and could potentially misuse this boon to conduct malicious activity. Sadly, the proliferation of a decentralized internet will create more opportunities for misuse by bad-faith actors, but the ethical and practical justification is that any abuse will be better tracked and reconciled, thereby leading to a stronger deterrent over time. Do you have any apprehension or fear related to the decentralization of the internet? Although transitioning from centralization to decentralization bears risks, I think they are well worth taking, considering the opportunities created for everyone. However, I am apprehensive of the cost involved with installing and operating decentralized systems worldwide. There is also a suitability consideration for small users. Lacking a superior node to regulate the system could also pose problems when it comes to troubleshooting and ad-hoc repairs. Decentralized networks require more computing knowledge and understanding, which many users may not be capable of acquiring at a local scale. Excess freedom could also create difficult moral dilemmas and will raise the question of who bears responsibility for malicious acts. If a criminal uses a decentralized network to convince financially illiterate people to give away their money or promises outlandish riches that are too good to believe – yet people still believe in them and invest anyway: should the service provider bear responsibility or the end-user? To many, decentralization of the internet is a radical approach that poses as many risks as it does benefits, and neither has been investigated to any great depth. What developers have created so far isn’t being communicated to the public at large or regulators, which eventually leads to knee-jerk reactions and a perception that fintech developers’ ambitions are outpacing the market’s ability to regulate them. It’s a move I completely support. How do you see the future of the decentralized internet? I’m confident that the future of the Internet lies in decentralization. There is a growing demand for dependable privacy, digital data-keeping, and cybersecurity at the individual level – not just corporates. Millions, if not billions of people, are suspicious of Big Data, Big Tech, and Big Government. They don’t want to delegate their data – whether it be top-secret algorithms or family photos – to centralized gatekeepers such as Google and Amazon. The tech giants of today will ultimately lose their grip on the monopoly they’ve created, especially as cybercrime continues to affect larger corporations to a great degree than their smaller siblings. To me, it seems many people prefer to trust fintech companies such as Revolut with their money rather than the traditional big banks. The same applies in the tech sector. People are trusting big tech companies less and less as they see a growing litany of privacy encroachment cases stuffing the courts. On a mass scale, people want more control over their own lives and greater protection of their inherent sovereignty and personal autonomy. Decentralization is a genuine vehicle that delivers power back into the hands of the people and re-empowers individuals to better handle their assets. Thank you for your time! Any closing thoughts/advice for the readers? The debate between centralized and decentralized will not end anytime soon. However, despite the naysayers and the skeptics, the Internet is switching to a more decentralized alternative. Primarily, this is because of the trust issues that have emerged as a result of rampant ‘oligopolization’ in all industry sectors. The overarching question is whether people should have the right to govern themselves and obtain full control over their digital footprint – I, for one, side with personal responsibility in the hands of the individual, rather than collective protections enforced by governments. Given that the needs and wants of every individual can be very different, it’s better to allow everyone to weigh up their own requirements and decide which system works best for them. But will governments allow their citizens to refuse government oversight over their digital activities? This seems like a sticking point and remains the core point of contention among most market participants. The switch to a decentralized system takes away some of the collective safety net provided by authorities and puts the onus on individual users when it comes to responsibility, culpability, and ethical conduct. A decentralized internet creates greater opportunity for misuse, but it also delivers the solutions to deterring, tracking, and convicting malicious actors. If we truly shift the onus of responsibility to the individual, there will be less room for malicious actors to operate (while helping to create a culture of mindfulness). Ultimately, all stakeholders must agree to and then commit to a mechanism that ensures suitable user protections against harmful online activities. However, no solution is perfect, and some degree of malicious activity will, sadly, always take place.

BOON

2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Fintech

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Fintech

The Future of the Internet Lies in Decentralization: Dr. Zamboglou

Many people are concerned about their weight and therefore try to find ways to lose the excess weight.  However, weight loss is rarely a simple feat.  It is made harder when few doctors even know how to address the topic of weight loss as less than in the U.S. have the proper training to give the best advice. 0.5% of physicians As a result, there is a growing need for a better way to address weight loss that is safe, effective, and professional as several overweight patients do not get the treatment they need due to being judged by their primary care doctors.  Studies done by Johns Hopkins show that overweight patients are more likely to switch doctors often, and researchers believe that unpleasant comments and unwelcomed weight advice play a role.  This causes a probability of at least 85% of these overweight patients to ultimately land in the emergency room compared to normal-weight patients. also do not prescribe weight loss prescriptions to the majority of eligible patients even though there are many safe and effective options available, such as Contrave (which was FDA-approved in 2014) and semaglutide. Many doctors Mental health issues caused by exposure to long term toxic stress can additionally affect people’s health and the ability to lose weight.  Toxic stress which can result from trauma experiences as early as childhood impacts the brain’s ability to function leading to problems with anxiety, impulsivity, mood control, and impaired memory, making it more difficult to maintain motivation and adopt necessary behaviors that will help with weight loss. Obesity leads to a death rate three times greater than that of the overall population. And, people that are overweight tend to move less which slows down the metabolism to the point that losing weight and keeping it off becomes almost impossible. Depression can have a significant effect on weight as well.  Living with depression can make people feel hungrier than they usually do or lose their appetite.  Depression can even lead to food addictions that cause similar physical patterns and behaviors to those that form from substance abuse. With more attention to weight loss tactics now more than ever, a new approach to weight loss is necessary that can help people where they are in their weight loss journey and for the long term.

Founder & President of NowSourcing, a leading infographic design agency

Founder @ NowSourcing. Contributor @ Hackernoon, Advisor @GoogleSmallBiz, Podcaster, infographics

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2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Business

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2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Healthcare

2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Healthtech

2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Law

Founder & President of NowSourcing, a leading content marketing agency

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Healthcare

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Finance

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Law

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Business

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Health

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Healthtech

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Education

Hacking Weight Loss Once And For All [Infographic]

Lead image via Unsplash Ever since its conception in the early 20th century, quantum mechanics has continued to puzzle physicists and scholars about what it all means. Among many interpretations that attempt to explain the weird world of the quantum, the orthodoxy, Copenhagen interpretation (CI), and the Many-worlds interpretation (MWI) are the most controversial ones and the latter is taking prominence among physicists and pop culture lately. Quantum immortality stands as a potential way to find out which is true of the two. In quantum mechanics, particles exist in multiple states - superposition of states - at once before being measured. Measurement of a particle’s state yields a single result. According to CI, the particle randomly collapses to one of those states during measurement. In MWI, all of those possibilities become real, yielding multiple independent and individual results. This translated from the quantum world to the macro where we live in, is the single reality vs multiple realities debate. In a nutshell, the CI vs MWI argument asks this: Did the particle randomly collapse to one of the possible states, or are there multiple realities out there that individually possess all the possibilities? An attempt at answering this question gave life to the idea of Quantum Immortality. Table of Contents The Origin of Quantum Immortality The Quantum Suicide Thought Experiment The Quantum Russian Roulette Follow-up Questions About Quantum Immortality Common Misconceptions About Quantum Immortality The Origin of Quantum Immortality The origin of quantum immortality dates back to 1956 when Hugh Everett published his on the “Theory of Universal Wavefunction,” which postulates the MWI of quantum mechanics. And as it is the case with most interpretations of quantum mechanics, the challenges with Everett's hypothesis came from its untestability. paper Max Tegmark on "How to get empowered, not overpowered, by AI" at TED conference in 2018. Later in 1997, MIT physicist Max Tegmark a paper proposing an experiment to prove the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. The test has received a lot of over the years, but it stands as a fun thought experiment that anyone can conduct, even you, as you are reading this article right now. published scrutiny The Quantum Suicide Thought Experiment To begin, we need to revisit the core ideas of the famous Schrodinger’s cat in a box thought experiment, as the quantum suicide test itself is an extension of that. Illustration of Quantum superposition Instead of observing what happens to the cat, the observer gets inside the box and becomes a test subject themselves. This is the idea of the quantum suicide thought experiment, but how does that settle the ? measurement problem Max Tegmark explains it via a game of Quantum Russian Roulette. To play Quantum Russian Roulette, one essentially needs a quantum gun that acts as a trigger, a machine gun that fires or skips firing based on the trigger, and the test subject who also needs to be the observer. The difference between a typical or classical Russian roulette and the quantum one is the quantum gun that functions on qubits - quantum bits that can be in the superposition of states. The Quantum Russian Roulette Say, the quantum gun triggers the machine gun to skip firing for bit 0 and fires a bullet for bit 1. Since the quantum gun is in a superposition, it randomly triggers the machine gun to skip or fire. And the observer is unaware of the triggering and the firing mechanism - observing the outcome will make it a classical event - making this whole set-up a quantum event. Now imagine that the observer enters the quantum suicide experiment. The brave observer places their head on the barrel and is waiting for the gun to go off, which can either skip or fire shots. In CI, the probability of the observer surviving this test is incredibly low, and therefore should be expected to be dead after the 2nd or 3rd firing if not the very first. This is because there is only one reality in CI and to obtain the possibility of the observer surviving this experiment takes about a million trials, before which you can guarantee with a maximum probability that the observer will be dead. But MWI promises survival with 100% certainty since all possible realities are equally real as the other. When the gun goes off, It’s not that the bullet hits the observer and they continue to live immortally. But the bullet never fires in the first place, at least in one reality of the many worlds. Repeating the experiment multiple times will drastically decrease the chances of survival and thus surviving all of it makes a strong case to safely conclude that the MWI is real. Because all the other interpretations of quantum mechanics simply do not support this possibility. This is quantum immortality in action. Image via Tumblr Follow-up Questions About Quantum Immortality So if quantum immortality is real in this sense, what happens to senescence? According to that either means external torture or advanced tech that allows us to defeat aging, and make use of the quantum suicide experiment separately to achieve immortality. experts Can we ever truly agree with the test result even if it were conducted perfectly in an ideal case? Even if the test is carried out with much caution and efficacy, it's highly likely that only the observer can ever that quantum immortality works, and everyone else will probably conclude that the result is a fluke or that the apparatus is broken. confirm Common Misconceptions About Quantum Immortality 1. One of the common misconceptions of quantum immortality, or MWI is that it is the conscious observer that makes realities happen, resulting in a constant branching of many worlds. This is because we are either a branch of possibility (MWI) - - or we ARE the possibility (CI), and we don’t exist beyond or apart from it. It is simply a matter of interpretations. wrong wavefunction Tegmark himself put this well in his paper: “ What Everett does NOT postulate: At certain magic instances, the world undergoes some sort of metaphysical “split” into two branches that subsequently never interact….According to the MWI, there is, was and always will be only one wavefunction“ 2. Another preconceived notion about quantum immortality is that it also proves the multiverse. On the contrary, many worlds (quantum multiverse) and multiverse are fundamentally two different concepts. Where one is an interpretation of quantum mechanics while the other is simply a distant region in space that is unobservable to us because it is so far away. So the quantum suicide experiment only proves the MWI. Conclusion Quantum immortality is considered a controversial subject even within the scientific community but it sure is an amusing thought experiment to execute. In case if it has left you with more questions than it has answered and a wobbly head induced by existential dread, remember this comforting quote that’s famously attributed to Richard Feynman, “I think it's safe to say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.” Source: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1936/1/012015 Also check out: Can Quantum Healing Cure Cancer? Here’s What Science Has To Say | HackerNoon A Beginners Guide To Quantum Cryptography: From Basics To Blockchain | HackerNoon What is Inside The Quantum Realm? - 6 Important Points to Remember | HackerNoon

Different

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2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Science

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Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Quantum Computing

What is Quantum Immortality And Why It Doesn't Make you Immortal

HackerNoon Reporter: Please tell us briefly about your  background. My name is Ioannis Tsamardinos, and I’m the CEO & co-founder at JADBio. I’m also a professor at the Computer Science Department of the University of Crete. I have over 20 years of service in academia and applied science and over 130 publications in international journals, conferences, and books. My work on AI Planning and temporal reasoning was applied to the NASA Deep Space I software. In my spare time, I’m an enthusiastic dad of two and a spear fisherman. What's your startup called? And in a sentence or two, what does it do? Our startup is called JADBio. JADBio's main activity is developing and commercializing the first Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) tool for molecular biological and biomedical data, called Just Add Data Bio, or JADBio for short. JADBio fully automates the machine learning process allowing life scientists and others to create predictive models without coding. Quite importantly, it performs knowledge discovery by identifying the set of measured quantities that carry all predictive information. In life sciences, it is important to design cost-effective diagnostics, perform precision medicine, identify drug targets, and understand the underlying molecular mechanisms involved regarding the data. Apart from enabling non-coders to run analyses, it can boost the expert analysts' productivity while guaranteeing the statistical validity of results, enabling the replicability of analyses, and ensuring the data and predictive model provenance. Our vision is to make Machine Learning a commodity, available to everyone, and through it, discover new knowledge, therapies, and drugs. What is the origin story? We started out in 2013 by creating Gnosis Data Analysis, a spinoff company from the University of Crete (Greece) that wanted to develop algorithms and machine learning solutions for biomedical data. Through services, we were bootstrapping the development of our product that we named Just Add Data Bio or JADBio for short. JADBio as an AutoML platform was born in 2019  by its founders,  Vincenzo Lagani, Giorgos Borboudakis, Pavlos Charonyktakis, and myself.  We developed a business plan, raised funding, found strategic partners, and focused on R&D for JADBio and its commercialization. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? Our team represents a combination of passion, experience, and expertise. We count 5 PhDs, 2 decades of research, and a roster of smart developers and business people. I love working with smart people and people I can learn from. There is no shortage of strong opinions in our team, so our meetings are never boring 😃 . Why are we the ones to solve the problem? First of all, why not? Innovation is, by definition, unexpected and doesn’t always come from the “usual suspects”, whoever they may happen to be in someone’s mind. Regarding the specific problem we are solving, we started by building the first AutoML system ever back in 2004! It was called Gene Expression Model Selector or GEMS; the term AutoML was not coined up yet. The first commercial system appeared 10 years later! GEMS was ahead of its time, incorporating feature selection and performing a correct estimation of performance for small sample datasets, both of which functionalities are still missing from many commercial systems. Unfortunately, it was too early for the market, and I was still too much of an academic at the time to commercialize it. Finally, I believe we possess a unique advantage in bringing machine learning to life sciences: on the one hand, we have a solid foundation in standard AI, what is often referred to as Good-Old Fashioned AI, statistics, machine learning; on the other, we have 20 years of experience in interdisciplinary research with clinicians and biologists. We know how they think, what they need, and how modern AI and Machine Learning can solve their problems. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? I guess I’d be miserable. Once I would stop being miserable, I would try to find the next best thing to do. I think this is the most exciting time for our field. I love research and scientific innovation. I would like to be part of a project that could have a big impact on the world, that has a vision and ambition. These days, much of the research in AI and Machine Learning takes place in big companies or startups, not necessarily academia. So, I would find such a project and try to be part of it. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your core metrics? We measure success with several quantitative metrics. We measure the sign-ups, registrations, number of performed analyses, number of models downloaded, and numerous other aspects of the usage of our tools. Of course, we also measure revenues, partnerships, and other business development metrics. But, we also try to measure the impact and value provided by JADBio to our clients. This is not always known, of course, since we do not know the data the clients analyze, why, or what the results are. So as a proxy, we use the published scientific papers that are based on results obtained using JADBio; so far, there are more than 37 such scientific papers. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? I get the most excited when I see a scientific paper published by a client or end-user with the use of JADBio. Especially when the authors of the paper are not machine learning experts but life scientists with no prior experience in data science; people, who a year ago may think that this AI mumbo-jumbo is beyond their reach. We see clients performing hundreds of analyses in the span of days or a week or so; analyses that used to require several weeks or months, each by experienced analysts to complete. I find that satisfying and a validation of our efforts and research. Apart from traction with individual users, I get excited with our solution partners. These are third-party software companies with synergistic products. We are making our products interoperable and plan on joined distribution, sales, and marketing. Existing partnerships include Indivumed, QIAGEN, Biolizard, Elucidata, and Ledidi, while more are coming up. The combined offerings of products cover a wider spectrum of user needs. I am very optimistic that when interoperability is achieved, we’ll see a big boost in our joined sales. What technologies are you currently most excited about, and most worried about? And why? Of course, Deep Learning is continuously producing super exciting results. It is all over the news and the scientific literature. However, it mostly considers image, video, and text data. I am excited about technologies that are particularly pertinent to molecular and clinical data; Automated Machine Learning and Causal Discovery. Of course, my opinion is biased because I am involved in research in these fields. Automated Machine Learning has the potential to tremendously boost our productivity in analyzing data. Causal Discovery seeks to go a step beyond standard Machine Learning and predictive modeling and identify causal relations and causal effects. It can answer what-if scenarios, e.g., what I should expect if I perform this treatment or intervention. Questions that are not possible to answer correctly with standard predictive models. The most exciting technologies are the ones to have the most impact and obviously are also the scariest ones. I am particularly worried about deep fakes and living in a world that we cannot believe our eyes as evidence. I am worried about learning so much about people’s behavior that “they” can manipulate us to their advantage. I am worried that the difference between the institutions (companies, governments) with access to data and AI technology will create substantial societal inequalities. We are fast moving towards a utopia or dystopia; the future will tell. What drew you to get published on HackerNoon? What do you like most about our platform? I have known Hackernoon for years and have read tons of content. This platform is a place where you can read exciting and in-depth articles from independent and knowledgeable editors from different fields. What advice would you give to the 21-year-old version of yourself? Don’t waste time. Take action… It's never too early. Don’t waste time with small-minded, limited vision people. Dream big. Don’t sell yourself short. Don’t worry; you’ll make it. Worrying takes away from enjoying the trip. What is something surprising you've learned this year that your contemporaries would benefit from knowing? Well, in 2021, we’ve seen numerous quality scientific publications in life sciences using autoML tools, from biologists, clinicians, and pharmacologists that knew nothing of AI and Machine Learning before they used it. It was really striking what people can do if they are provided with the right tools. What now seems accessible to a few experts could become a commodity in a few years’ time, available to everyone. I truly believe ML will change our future, and obviously, the tools needed for it to be approachable by all will also see huge growth. Vote for JadBio as . the startup of the year, Heraklion

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