Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris reopens
It's been a tumultuous year in French politics, but at least there's some good news at the end of 2024: After being heavily damaged by a fire to its roof in 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral has opened the doors reopened in December after five years of repairs. and renovation works. The church boasts a new altar and a vibrant ivory interior. Repair work is continuing on the exterior of the building. Read more on Guardian.
The murder rate in America continues to decline
In 2020, the number of murders in US cities increased by an average of 30% — the largest spike on record in US history. They remained high for several years before starting to decline and are now predicted to return to pre-2020 levels for the first time. The data shows male unemployment and school closures, especially in low-income neighborhoods, the pandemic has been a major cause of the increase in violence. Read more on Brookings.
One of the rarest cat species in the world is no longer in danger of extinction
The Iberian lynx, one of the rarest cats in the world, is no longer classified as endangered. There are now thought to be more than 2,000 of these feral cats spread across Spain and Portugal — up from just 62 adult cats in 2001. Read more about BBC.
Electric vehicles are lasting longer than expected
Instead of having a shorter lifespan than internal combustion engines as people think, electric vehicle batteries can actually last longer. Warranties typically cover EV batteries for eight years, but it appears they could last up to 20 years. But it's hard to be sure right now — there are very few electric vehicles on the road that are even a decade old. Read more on STRINGED.
These guys hacked AirPods to give hearing aids to their grandmothers
When Apple released a software update that allowed the AirPods Pro 2 headphones to function as hearing aids, Rithwik Jayasimha rushed to buy some for his grandmother – only to realize that location restrictions meant is that this feature does not work in India. Most people would just admit defeat, but Jayasimha grabbed two friends, some aluminum foil and a microwave, and set about building a homemade device to remove positional restrictions. geographical position. Read more on STRINGED.
A baby pygmy hippo has conquered the Internet
In July, a global sensation was born. Since his public debut on July 25 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng (roughly translated as “Bouncing Pork”) has become one of the most recognizable faces on the Internet. Sure, she's cute. But what made her a star was her sassy personality: sitting in her mother's food bowl, biting the zookeeper, running around the cage and screaming. In 2024, a lot of people can relate. Read more at The New York Times.