Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral Reopened
It’s been a tumultuous yr in French politics, however there was a minimum of some excellent news on the finish of 2024: After being badly broken by a hearth 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. Repair works are persevering with on the outside of the constructing. Read extra on the Guardian.
The US Homicide Rate Continued to Decline
In 2020, homicides in US cities rose on common by 30 %—the biggest recorded spike in American historical past. They remained excessive for a number of years, earlier than starting to fall, and are actually projected to return to pre-2020 ranges for the primary time. Data means that male unemployment and college closures, notably in low-income neighborhoods, on account of the pandemic have been the important thing drivers of the rise in violence. Read extra on Brookings.
One of the World’s Rarest Cats Is No Longer Endangered
The Iberian lynx, one the rarest species of cat on this planet, is not categorised as endangered. There are actually regarded as greater than 2,000 of those wild cats unfold throughout Spain and Portugal—up from simply 62 mature cats again in 2001. Read extra on the BBC.
EVs Are Lasting Longer Than Predicted
Rather than having a shorter lifespan than inside combustion engines, as everybody thought, EV batteries may very well last more. Warranties usually cowl EV batteries for eight years, however they appear like they may final for as much as 20. But proper now it’s arduous to make sure—there are only a few EVs on the highway which are even a decade outdated. Read extra on WIRED.
These Guys Hacked AirPods to Give Their Grandmas Hearing Aids
When Apple launched a software program replace that enabled its AirPods Pro 2 earbuds to behave as listening to aids, Rithwik Jayasimha rushed out to get some for his grandma—solely to comprehend location restrictions meant the function didn’t work in India. Most individuals would simply admit defeat, however Jayasimha grabbed two mates, some foil, and a microwave, and set to work constructing a do-it-yourself system to do away with the geolocation restrictions. Read extra on WIRED.
A Baby Pygmy Hippo Conquered the Internet
In July, a worldwide sensation was born. Since being revealed to the general public on July 25 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng (which interprets as “Bouncy Pork”) has turn into probably the most recognizable faces of the web. Sure, she’s cute. But what’s propelled her to stardom is her sassy character: sitting in her mother’s meals bowl, biting her zookeeper, charging round her enclosure, and screaming. In 2024, plenty of individuals might relate. Read extra at The New York Times.