Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral Reopened
It’s been a tumultuous yr in French politics, however there was once no less than some excellent information on the finish of 2024: After being badly broken by means of a fireplace in its roof-space in 2019, Notre Dame reopened its doorways in December after 5 years of restore and renovation works. The cathedral boasts a brand new altar and a stunning ivory-colored inside. Restore works are proceeding at the external of the construction. Learn extra at the Father or mother.
The USA Murder Fee Persevered to Decline
In 2020, homicides in US towns rose on reasonable by means of 30 %—the most important recorded spike in American historical past. They remained top for a number of years, sooner than starting to fall, and at the moment are projected to go back to pre-2020 ranges for the primary time. Knowledge means that male unemployment and faculty closures, specifically in low-income neighborhoods, on account of the pandemic have been the important thing drivers of the upward thrust in violence. Learn extra on Brookings.
Some of the Global’s Rarest Cats Is No Longer Endangered
The Iberian lynx, one the rarest species of cat on this planet, is now not labeled as endangered. There at the moment are regarded as greater than 2,000 of those wild cats unfold throughout Spain and Portugal—up from simply 62 mature cats again in 2001. Learn extra at the BBC.
EVs Are Lasting Longer Than Predicted
Slightly than having a shorter lifespan than interior combustion engines, as everybody idea, EV batteries would possibly if truth be told last more. Warranties in most cases duvet EV batteries for 8 years, however they seem like they could closing for as much as 20. However at this time it’s arduous to make sure—there are only a few EVs at the street which are even a decade previous. Learn extra on WIRED.
Those Guys Hacked AirPods to Give Their Grandmas Listening to Aids
When Apple launched a device replace that enabled its AirPods Professional 2 earbuds to behave as listening to aids, Rithwik Jayasimha rushed out to get some for his grandma—best to comprehend location restrictions intended the function didn’t paintings in India. Most of the people would simply admit defeat, however Jayasimha grabbed two pals, some foil, and a microwave, and started working construction a selfmade instrument to do away with the geolocation restrictions. Learn extra on WIRED.
A Child Pygmy Hippo Conquered the Web
In July, an international sensation was once born. Since being published to the general public on July 25 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng (which interprets as “Bouncy Beef”) has transform probably the most recognizable faces of the web. Certain, she’s lovely. However what’s propelled her to stardom is her sassy persona: sitting in her mother’s meals bowl, biting her zookeeper, charging round her enclosure, and screaming. In 2024, a lot of people may just relate. Learn extra at The New York Occasions.
