Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral Reopened
It has been a tumultuous year in French politics, but at least there was good news at the end of 2024: After being badly damaged by a roof fire in 2019, Notre Dame reopened its doors in December after five years of renovation. and renovation works. The cathedral has a new altar and a resplendent ivory interior. Renovation works continue outside the building. Read more about the Guardian.
America’s Murder Rate Continues to Fall
By 2020, homicides in US cities are expected to increase by an average of 30 percent—the largest increase on record in American history. They stayed high for several years, before starting to fall, and are now expected to return to pre-2020 levels for the first time. The data suggests that male unemployment and school closures, particularly in low-income areas, due to the epidemic have contributed to the increase in violence. Read more about Brookings.
One of the World’s Rarest Cats is No Longer Endangered
The Iberian lynx, the world’s rarest cat species, is no longer classified as endangered. There are now thought to be more than 2,000 of these wild cats spread across Spain and Portugal—up from 62 mature cats back in 2001. Read more on the BBC.
EVs Last Longer Than Predicted
Rather than having a shorter lifespan than internal combustion engines, as everyone thought, EV batteries can actually last longer. Warranties usually cover EV batteries for eight years, but they look like they can last up to 20. But right now it’s hard to be sure—there are very few EVs on the road that are ten years old. Read more on WIRED.
These Guys Hacked AirPods To Give Their Grandmothers Hearing Aids
When Apple released a software update that allowed its AirPods Pro 2 earbuds to function as hearing aids, Rithwik Jayasimha rushed to buy something for his grandmother—just seeing the geographic restrictions meant the feature didn’t work in India. Most people just admit defeat, but Jayasimha grabbed two friends, some foil, and a microwave, and started working on building a home appliance to remove the limitations of space. Read more on WIRED.
The Baby Hippopotamus Conquered The Internet
In July, a global sensation was born. Since being unveiled to the public on July 25 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng (which translates to “Bouncy Pork”) has become one of the most recognizable faces on the internet. Of course, he is beautiful. But what made him stand out was his shy personality: sitting on his mother’s food bowl, biting his zookeeper, charging around the enclosure, and yelling. By 2024, most people could communicate. Read more at the New York Times.
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