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Power Company Hid Unlawful Crypto Mining Scheme Associated with Possible Outages

# Russia’s Crackdown on Illegal Crypto Mines: Power Supplier Drawn into Controversial Scandal

In an unexpected turn in Russia’s ongoing attempts to regulate cryptocurrency mining, officials in Siberia have discovered an unlawful crypto mining operation on state land rented by a local power supplier. This finding not only emphasizes the difficulties in controlling unauthorized mining but also raises concerns about the involvement of utility companies in facilitating such operations.

## The Siberian Crypto Mining Surge

Siberia has historically been a prime location for cryptocurrency mining due to its distinct advantages. The region’s frigid climate aids in cooling mining rigs, while its plentiful and cheap electricity makes mining ventures economically viable. These elements have lured both sanctioned and illicit crypto miners, establishing Siberia as a global mining center.

However, the swift expansion of mining activities has incurred a toll. Local residents in Siberia increasingly blame crypto miners for power shortages and grid disruptions, especially during the severe winter months when consistent electricity is vital for heating and survival. The pressure on the power grid has prompted the Russian government to take measures against unauthorized mining activities.

## The Power Supplier Controversy

In a recent event, the Irkutsk Region Prosecutor-General’s Office imposed a fine exceeding 330,000 rubles (around $3,000) on a local power supplier for leasing state land designated for public utilities to an unlawful crypto mining operation. The announcement, made through a social media post, indicated that the utility company may also face an administrative case regarding its actions.

While the identity of the power supplier has not been revealed, the incident has illuminated the degree to which illegal mining activities have permeated legitimate infrastructure. The finding of an unauthorized mine on state-controlled land operated by a utility company highlights the intricacies involved in tackling this issue.

## Russia’s Complex Stance on Crypto Mining

Russia’s position on cryptocurrency mining is nuanced. On one side, the nation has embraced crypto mining as a profitable industry. In 2023, Russia emerged as the world’s second-largest Bitcoin miner, generating over $3 billion in Bitcoin and approximately $550 million in tax income. The government has even sanctioned crypto mining and approved its application in international trade, establishing itself as a significant participant in the global crypto landscape.

Conversely, illegal mining operations subvert these initiatives by dodging taxes and destabilizing the power grid. To confront these challenges, Russia intends to impose a six-year prohibition on crypto mining across ten regions starting in 2025. Seasonal limitations will also be enforced to restrict mining activities during the coldest winter months in regions like Irkutsk, where energy demands peak.

## The Crackdown on Unauthorized Mining

Despite these strategies, illegal crypto mining continues to thrive in Siberia. Authorities have intensified enforcement efforts, confiscating hundreds of mining rigs in Irkutsk last year. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that illegal mining represented nearly 1.5% of the nation’s overall electricity consumption—a statistic that keeps climbing. He connected blackouts to unregulated mining practices, stressing the need for stricter controls.

In certain instances, illegal miners have taken drastic measures to evade detection, with reports of operations literally relocating underground. The identification of an illegal mine on state land overseen by a power supplier adds an additional layer of complexity to the crackdown, indicating that some utility firms may be complicit in facilitating these activities.

## Consequences and Obstacles

The involvement of a power supplier in leasing land for an illegal mining operation raises important issues regarding supervision and accountability. It also underscores the difficulties of balancing the economic advantages of crypto mining with the necessity of safeguarding public infrastructure and resources.

As Russia intensifies its crackdown on illicit mining, the government confronts the twin challenge of enforcing regulations while ensuring that legitimate mining operations can prosper. The situation in Irkutsk serves as a sobering reminder of the imperative for robust monitoring and enforcement systems to avert similar incidents in the future.

## Conclusion

Russia’s initiatives to regulate cryptocurrency mining reflect the industry’s increasing influence and the challenges it presents to conventional infrastructure. While the government’s efforts to clamp down on illegal mining represent progress, the role of a power supplier in enabling unauthorized activities highlights the necessity for more vigilance and accountability.

As the global crypto environment evolves, Russia’s methodology for managing the industry is likely to become a reference point for other countries facing comparable challenges. For now, the emphasis remains on ensuring that the advantages of crypto mining do not come at the expense of public well-being and infrastructure reliability.

“Frogfish Reveals the Development of Its Distinct Head-Mounted ‘Fishing Rod'”

### The Intriguing Realm of Frogfish: Adaptive Evolution and Neural Expertise

The ocean boasts some of the most peculiar and enchanting creatures on the planet, with the frogfish emerging as an exceptional example of camouflage and predation. Sporting a bullfrog-esque visage, webbed pectoral fins that resemble feet, and a mouth capable of seizing prey almost instantaneously, the frogfish exemplifies the marvels of evolutionary creativity. What distinguishes this member of the anglerfish family is its remarkable hunting technique: a natural “fishing lure” that imitates prey movements. Recent studies have unveiled the neural underpinnings of this behavior, illuminating how specialized neurons evolved to grant the frogfish its extraordinary predatory advantage.

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### **Introducing the Frogfish: The Ambush Specialist**

Frogfish belong to the anglerfish family, Antennariidae, and are located in tropical and subtropical maritime environments across the world. These ambush hunters excel at merging into their surroundings, frequently disguising themselves amid rocks, coral, or debris from the sea floor. Their most striking characteristic is the illicium—an altered dorsal fin that functions like a fishing rod. At the end of the illicium lies the esca, a fleshy protrusion that mimics a worm or small crustacean. By skillfully moving the esca, frogfish entice unsuspecting prey into range, where they can use their immense, extendable mouths to swallow their targets in the blink of an eye.

While the role of the illicium has long been recognized, the neural mechanics governing its motion had remained elusive—until now.

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### **The Neural Foundations of Frogfish “Fishing”**

A research team led by biologist Naoyuki Yamamoto from Nagoya University recently explored how frogfish regulate the movements of their illicium. Their results, published in the *Journal of Comparative Neurology*, indicate that a specialized set of motor neurons has evolved to facilitate precise manipulation of the illicium by the frogfish.

Employing neural tracers, the scientists mapped the nervous system of the striated frogfish, also known as the hairy frogfish due to its hair-like skin protrusions that enhance its camouflage. They found that the illicium’s muscles are controlled by motor neurons situated in the dorsolateral region of the ventral horn—a section of the spinal cord. These neurons are part of the occipital nerve, generally linked to sensations in the head and neck.

What differentiates these “fishing” motor neurons is their placement. In most bony fish (teleosts), motor neurons governing fins are found in the ventrolateral region of the ventral horn. The frogfish, on the other hand, possesses a distinct group of motor neurons solely dedicated to the illicium, indicating a significant level of specialization.

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### **Evolutionary Perspectives: The Origin of the Frogfish’s Lure**

To comprehend the evolutionary background of the frogfish’s illicium, the researchers compared its motor neurons to those of the white-spotted pygmy filefish, a related species. Unlike the frogfish, the filefish does not possess a functional fishing lure, and its first dorsal fin primarily serves a defensive purpose to ward off predators. Notably, the motor neurons controlling the filefish’s first dorsal fin are located in the same area as those handling the frogfish’s other dorsal fins, which remain largely inactive.

This comparison implies that the frogfish’s illicium might have evolved from a dorsal fin that initially fulfilled a different role. Over time, the motor neurons managing this fin became compartmentalized from those governing other fin motor functions, forming a specialized cluster capable of executing the precise movements needed for “fishing.”

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### **Outstanding Questions and Future Investigations**

While the study yields significant insights into the neural adaptations present in frogfish, several queries linger unresolved. For instance, how does the frogfish’s brain orchestrate the illicium movements when hunting? The researchers propose that particular brain regions send directives to the fishing motor neurons, although the specific pathways and mechanisms are still undetermined.

Furthermore, the evolutionary forces that instigated the functional and locational transition of these motor neurons remain speculative. Did the emergence of the illicium provide such a substantial survival benefit that it catalyzed the rapid specialization of neural structures? Additional studies on other anglerfish species and their motor neuron arrangements might illuminate these questions.

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### **The Frogfish: An Exemplary Case of Evolutionary Ingenuity**

The frogfish’s illicium exemplifies the potency of evolutionary adaptation. By repurposing a dorsal fin and developing a specialized neural network to manage it, the frogfish has established itself as one of the ocean’s most adept ambush hunters. Its capacity to imitate prey and strike with exceptional speed underscores the intricate relationship between anatomy, behavior, and neural regulation.

As researchers persist in exploring this fascinating subject…

“Editors of Journals Step Down in Opposition to AI Integration, Elevated Publication Charges, and Ethical Issues”

### Editorial Departures at Elsevier’s *Journal of Human Evolution*: An Insight into the Challenges in Academic Publishing

During a dramatic holiday weekend upheaval, all but one member of the editorial board of Elsevier’s *Journal of Human Evolution* (JHE) resigned collectively. Their choice, made with “deep sadness and significant regret,” shines a light on the escalating conflicts within the academic publishing domain. This marks the 20th instance of mass resignations from scientific journals since 2023, as reported by *Retraction Watch*. The departures arise from a mix of high publication fees, worries about editorial autonomy, and the disputed implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in editorial practices.

This event reflects broader discontent within the academic sphere over the changing methodologies of profit-oriented publishers. The departing editors highlighted several modifications made by Elsevier that they perceive as detrimental to the journal’s quality, editorial ethics, and dedication to the academic community.

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### Core Reasons for the Resignation

#### 1. **Editorial Autonomy and Reorganization**
The editorial board raised alarms about Elsevier’s unilateral moves related to the journal’s organization. In 2023, Elsevier mandated that all associate editors renew their contracts each year, a step the board found to compromise their autonomy. Furthermore, the company set in motion a significant reorganization that would cut the number of associate editors by more than fifty percent. This alteration would obligate the remaining editors to tackle a considerably heavier workload, often addressing topics outside their fields of expertise.

The board also took issue with Elsevier’s intention to implement a third-tier editorial board, which they characterized as mainly symbolic and devoid of substantial editorial duties. They contended that these changes weakened the journal’s capacity to uphold its high academic standards.

#### 2. **AI in Editorial Functions**
One of the most disputable points was Elsevier’s adoption of AI in the journal’s production workflow, rolled out in 2023 without prior notice to the editorial board or authors. The resigning editors noted that AI frequently produced errors in style, formatting, and even the content of manuscripts. One particularly problematic case involved the AI altering the formatting of already-accepted papers, leading to a six-month holdup in resolution.

The editors pointed out that AI processing is still in use, necessitating considerable oversight from both authors and editors during the proofreading phase. They argued that this practice not only diminishes the journal’s quality but also breaches transparency and trust. Authors, including anthropologist John Hawks, lamented not being informed about AI’s involvement in the editorial process, indicating that they would have opted to submit their work elsewhere if they had been aware.

#### 3. **High Costs and Accessibility**
The resigning editors also objected to the journal’s author page fees, which are considerably more expensive than those of other Elsevier journals and open-access alternatives like *Scientific Reports*. They contended that these costs are prohibitive for numerous researchers, especially those from underfunded institutions or developing nations. This contradicts the journal’s proclaimed commitment to equality and inclusiveness in academic publishing.

#### 4. **Reduction of Editorial Assistance**
In the past ten years, Elsevier has eliminated crucial support roles, such as copy editors and special issues editors, placing these tasks upon the editorial board. When the board asked for a copy editor, Elsevier reportedly dismissed the necessity, stating that editors should not be concerned with language, grammar, or formatting. This lack of support further burdened the editorial team and undermined the journal’s quality.

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### The Function of AI in Academic Publishing: A Double-Edged Tool

The integration of AI into academic publishing is an increasing trend, yet its execution has evoked mixed feedback. While AI can potentially optimize processes and boost efficiency, its improper use may result in grave errors and ethical dilemmas.

For instance, earlier this year, a peer-reviewed article in *Frontiers* included AI-generated illustrations, one depicting a rat with grotesquely exaggerated genitalia. The paper faced widespread mockery and was ultimately retracted, illustrating the dangers of relying on AI without adequate oversight.

Conversely, AI has been effectively employed for tasks such as detecting manipulated images in scientific literature. For example, the publisher *Science* has recently embraced AI-powered software to identify fraudulent imagery, a decision praised for bolstering the integrity of published research. However, as Ars Science Editor John Timmer noted, even these tools come with constraints and can be evaded by adept fraudsters.

Anthropologist John Hawks recognized the inevitability of AI in scientific publishing but stressed the importance of transparency and responsible application. He criticized Elsevier for employing AI to lessen human oversight while demanding transparency from authors. Hawks proposed that authors should post preprints of their work to ensure that original, unaltered versions remain available to readers.

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### Wider Implications for Academic Publishing

The resignations at JHE signify a component of a larger movement within the academic community aimed at confronting the practices of profit-driven publishers. In recent