Categories: Tech

The Obtain April 14 2022: Kenya’s cellular playing downside and earthquake algorithms

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That is as we speak’s version of The Download, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.

How cellular cash supercharged Kenya’s sports activities betting habit

Cellular cash has largely been vastly helpful for Kenyans. But it surely has additionally turbo-charged the nation’s sports activities betting sector.

Because the center of the final decade, consultants and public figures throughout the African continent have been sounding the alarm over the rising reputation of sports activities betting. The apply has produced tales of riches, nevertheless it has additionally damaged households, consumed school tuitions, and even pushed some to suicide.

Nowhere, although, is the craze as acute as it’s in Kenya, the nation usually dubbed Africa’s “Silicon Savannah” for its standing as a regional tech powerhouse. However whereas Kenya’s cellular cash revolution has performed a well-documented position in encouraging financial savings and democratizing entry to finance, as we speak, it’s simpler than ever for these in fragile financial circumstances to squander every part. Read the full story.

—Jonathan W. Rosen

A deep-learning algorithm might detect earthquakes by filtering out metropolis noise

Cities are loud locations. Visitors, trains, and equipment generate lots of noise. Whereas it’s a mere inconvenience a lot of the time, it could turn out to be a lethal downside in the case of detecting earthquakes. That’s as a result of it’s tough to discern an approaching earthquake amid all the same old vibrations in bustling cities.

Researchers from Stanford have discovered a solution to get a clearer sign. They’ve created an algorithm educated on tens of hundreds of samples of seismic noise in cities. They declare it might enhance the detection capability of earthquake monitoring networks in cities. Locations like South America, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Indonesia, and Japan might particularly stand to profit. Read the full story.

—Rhiannon Williams

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.

1 TikTok has created a pro-war echo chamber in Russia
Whereas anti-war hashtags and content material has disappeared. (WSJ $)
+ Ukraine’s intelligence providers are doxxing Russian troopers. (Wired $)
+ Russians are hiding bombs and landmines throughout Ukraine. (NYT $)
+ The state of Russia’s vehicles suggests its troops are struggling. (CNN)

2 Hundreds of thousands are grieving family members misplaced to covid
And their mourning is made even harder by the general public’s need to “return to regular.” (The Atlantic $)
+ Two omicron subvariants are sweeping throughout New York state. (NYT $)
+ Pfizer’s booster shot is efficient in youngsters aged between 5 and 11. (NYT $)
+ Robotic canine are patrolling Shanghai to make sure residents keep on with its lockdown. (FT $)

three Plastic batteries are cheaper and longer-lasting than lithium-ion
So it is sensible they may retailer renewable power on the grid. (TR)

four Elon Musk has provided to purchase 100% of Twitter
He says if his provide is refused, he’s going to rethink his place as a shareholder. (FT $)
+ It’s been a rollercoaster week for each Musk and the platform. (The Verge)
+ However he’s nonetheless being sued over claims he was too sluggish to reveal his shares in Twitter. (Sky News $)

5 How the joke conspiracy idea Birds Aren’t Actual took flight
Precise conspiracy theorists appear to actually battle to identify satire. (The Guardian)
+ A Capitol Hill rioter has blamed Trump for ordering him to storm Congress. (NYT $)

6 Mark Zuckerberg desires you to see the metaverse by way of his AR glasses
He thinks they’ll go on sale in 2024, however even that sounds wildly optimistic. (The Verge)

7 A journey influencer wrongly claimed to be the primary girl to go to each nation
She was, nonetheless, the primary to boast about it on social media. (WP $)

eight Endangered animals are nonetheless being trafficked by way of Fb
That’s regardless of Meta’s promise to crack down on the apply years in the past. (The Guardian)

9 At what age ought to we discuss to youngsters about crypto?
What a query. What a time to be alive. (Vox)
+ The man who purchased an NFT of Jack Dorsey’s first tweet for $2.9 million is struggling to promote it for something aside from a large loss. (Coindesk)
+ Wikipedia has voted in opposition to receiving cryptocurrency donations. (Ars Technica)
+ Soccer golf equipment and crypto are usually not combine. (FT $)

10 Merchandising machines might exist till the tip of time
They’re largely unloved, but relied upon by thousands and thousands of us daily around the globe. (The Guardian)
+ No, please, not an NFT merchandising machine. (Axios)

Quote of the day

“I couldn’t dwell with myself if I didn’t come. I needed to. I couldn’t sleep.”

—An American man tells The Guardian about his choice to journey to Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion.

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre instances. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ A captivating take a look at what may very well be the world’s oldest dessert, although it received’t be to everybody’s tastes.
+ No matter you do, be careful for these feisty geese.
+ This Smiths x Flo Rida mashup is living in my head rent-free.
+ In case you hate searching for denims as a lot as I do, this information is a must-read.
+ Wait, what—mushrooms speak to each other!?
+ This marine mammal livestream is therapeutic my soul.+ Could your weekend be as chilled as this capybara living its best life with some duck buddies.