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 blinding ivory-colored inside. Restore works are persevering with on the outside of the constructing. Learn extra on the Guardian.
The US Murder Price Continued to Decline
In 2020, homicides in US cities rose on common by 30 p.c—the most important 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. Information means that male unemployment and faculty closures, significantly in low-income neighborhoods, because of the pandemic had been the important thing drivers of the rise in violence. Learn extra on Brookings.
One of many World’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 are actually considered greater than 2,000 of those wild cats unfold throughout Spain and Portugal—up from simply 62 mature cats again in 2001. Learn extra on the BBC.
EVs Are Lasting Longer Than Predicted
Moderately than having a shorter lifespan than inner 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 could final for as much as 20. However proper now it’s laborious to make sure—there are only a few EVs on the highway which are even a decade previous. Learn extra on WIRED.
These Guys Hacked AirPods to Give Their Grandmas Listening to Aids
When Apple launched a software program replace that enabled its AirPods Professional 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 characteristic 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 gadget to eliminate the geolocation restrictions. Learn extra on WIRED.
A Child Pygmy Hippo Conquered the Web
In July, a world 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 one of the vital recognizable faces of the web. Positive, she’s cute. However 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, numerous folks may relate. Learn extra at The New York Instances.
