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The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is reopened
It has been a tumultuous year in French politics, but there was at least one good news at the end of 2024: after being badly damaged by a fire in its roof in 2019, Notre Dame reopened its doors the following December to five years of repair. and renovation works. The cathedral boasts a new altar and a dazzling ivory interior. Repair work continues on the exterior of the building. Read more about the guardian.
The US homicide rate has continued to decline
In 2020, homicides in American cities increased by an average of 30 percent – the largest spike recorded in American history. They remained high for several years before starting to fall, and are now projected to return to pre-2020 levels for the first time. The data suggested that male unemployment and school closings, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, due to the pandemic were key drivers of the increase in violence. Read more about it Brookings.
One of the rarest cats in the world is no longer in danger
The Iberian lynx, one of the rarest cat species in the world, is no longer classified as endangered. It is now thought that there are more than 2,000 of these wild cats spread across Spain and Portugal, up from just 62 mature cats in 2001. Read more about the BBC.
EVs are lasting longer than expected
Instead of having a shorter lifespan than internal combustion engines, as everyone thinks, EV batteries can actually last longer. The warranty typically covers EV batteries for eight years, but it looks like they could last up to 20. But right now it’s hard to be sure – there are very few EVs on the road that are even a decade old. Read more about it WIRED.
These guys hacked AirPods to give their grandparents hearing aids
When Apple released a software update that allowed its AirPods Pro 2 earphones to function as hearing aids, Rithwik Jayasimha rushed to get something for his grandmother – only to realize that location restrictions meant that the feature was not working in India. Most people would have just admitted defeat, but Jayasimha grabbed two friends, some foil and a microwave oven, and set to work building a device at home to remove geolocation restrictions. Read more about it WIRED.
A pygmy hippo conquered the Internet
In July a global sensation was born. Since he was revealed to the public on July 25 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng (which translates as “Bouncy Pork”) has become one of the most recognizable faces on the internet. Of course she is cute. But what propelled her to stardom is her sassy personality: sitting in her mother’s food bowl, biting her zookeeper, charging around her enclosure, and screaming. In 2024, many people will be able to relate. Read more about The New York Times.
