The collapse of fintech company Synapse has left nearly $160 million in customer funds frozen, impacting numerous fintechs and millions of consumers. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and failing to sell its assets, Synapse is now urged to liquidate under Chapter 7. The situation has raised concerns about the stability of the banking-as-a-service model and digital banking.
The abrupt shutdown and bankruptcy of financial middleman Synapse has led to the freezing of tens of thousands of U.S. bank accounts, affecting both businesses and consumers. Synapse's collapse has disrupted services for its fintech and bank partners, including Evolve Bank & Trust, causing significant issues for customers. The situation has raised concerns about the fintech business model and its regulatory oversight.
Fintech startup Synapse's bankruptcy has left millions of Americans without access to their funds, as the company's disputes with banking partners led to a technology system shutdown, affecting users of various fintech services. Customers, including a Maryland teacher with nearly $38,000 locked in a crypto app, are pleading for help in a California bankruptcy court, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the banking as a service partnership model and the lack of regulatory oversight. Regulators have yet to intervene, leaving impacted customers in a precarious situation.
New research from Oregon Health & Science University has uncovered the function of a little-understood synapse in the brain that connects neurons to oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), which can differentiate into cells that produce myelin. This discovery could have implications for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and glioma. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, used single-cell imaging in zebrafish to demonstrate the pivotal role of these synapses in myelin production, potentially leading to new methods of regulating OPC function to alter disease progression.
A new study on mice challenges the prevailing theory that the buildup of beta-amyloid clumps in the brain is the primary cause of Alzheimer's disease. Instead, the study suggests that breaks in the connections (synapses) between brain cells may be the critical problem. By manipulating RNA editing processes in mice, researchers prevented the breakdown of synapses and restored memory without removing the protein clumps associated with the disease. This finding provides a new understanding of Alzheimer's and a potential approach to address memory loss in patients. The study highlights the importance of RNA editing in regulating nerve cell connections and offers new possibilities for understanding and treating the disease.
Brain cells, or neurons, send messages through a process involving action potentials, synapses, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides. Action potentials are electrical signals triggered in neurons that travel along their axons. When an action potential reaches the end of an axon, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, where they bind to receptors on the next neuron, potentially generating another action potential. Neuropeptides, on the other hand, take a longer journey around the brain, binding to receptors in distant regions and influencing behavior. Both neurotransmitters and neuropeptides play important roles in neuronal communication and can affect synaptic plasticity and the brain's ability to learn and adapt.
Synapse, a rogue-lite shooter for PSVR2, offers incredible gameplay and impressive mechanics, particularly with its kinesis system. However, the game lacks content, with only two zones and limited levels. The rate of progression is too fast, trivializing the core experience, and the monochrome visuals can become repetitive. While Synapse showcases potential, it feels more like a proof of concept rather than a fully fleshed-out game.
Researchers have developed one of the most comprehensive 3D models of the synapse, the neuron juncture crucial for intercellular communication, offering fresh insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease and schizophrenia. The team used this novel approach to compare healthy mice brains to those with the Huntington’s mutant gene, revealing structural flaws potentially disrupting cellular communication. The researchers believe this technique could significantly advance our understanding of various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Synapse, an action-shooter game developed by nDreams, will be released exclusively on PSVR 2 on July 4. The game takes place on the eve of a global attack orchestrated by a former black ops leader gone rogue, and players must break into his mind to extract crucial intel to stop his plans for mass destruction. The game features a cast including David Hayter and Jennifer Hale, and promises further news in the coming weeks.