Rocket Car for Sale in the USA

A car that accelerates to nearly 1000 km/h will be put up for sale in the USA. In 2025, the Spirit of America Sonic I rocket car, which in 1965 accelerated to 965 kilometers per hour, will go under the hammer. The car is equipped with a GE J79 turbojet engine with an afterburner and has a 10-meter long body resembling an airplane fuselage.

China Releases 'Apple Vision Pro Killer'

China has released the 'Apple Vision Pro Killer'. The company XReal has unveiled the most advanced AR glasses in the world - the XReal One. They are four times faster than the Apple device, produce a cinema-like image, provide better sound thanks to the Bose audio system, and look like ordinary glasses.

Japanese Workers Now Have 4-Day Workweek

170,000 civil servants in Tokyo will have a 3-day weekend. Parents are the luckiest: Each workday will be reduced by 2 hours for them. This way, the government hopes to reduce the burnout rate among workers.

Revolutionary Coating Invented in China

A revolutionary coating has been invented in China that works like chameleon skin. Thanks to 'self-adaptive photochromism,' the material rapidly changes its color and blends with the background in a minute. It could be used for camouflaging military equipment and soldiers.

Romantic Proposal in the Sky

A romantic man from Poland proposed to his girlfriend using the flight path of the helicopter they were riding in. He arranged with the pilot beforehand to trace circles in the sky spelling out 'Marry me.' At the end of the flight, he asked his lady to check their route on Flightradar, ultimately receiving a heartfelt 'Yes.'

Mercedes Develops 'Solar' Power Paint to Charge Electric Cars

Mercedes is developing a 'solar' energy paint that can charge electric cars. The special coating contains photovoltaic modules like those in solar panels, but as thin as a human hair. It is promised that the technology will allow for up to 20,000 km of 'free' mileage annually, although there is no release date yet.

Excel World Championship Concludes in Las Vegas

The annual Excel World Championship has concluded in Las Vegas - the winner received a cool belt and $5000. The purpose of the tournament is for participants to complete various tasks, such as data analysis and structuring, using spreadsheets within a limited time. This year, the first place was taken by financial analyst Michael Jarman from Canada.

Apple to unveil foldable iPhone by 2026

The insider source MacRumors reported that Apple will introduce a foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. The first 'Apple clamshell' could have a size from 7.9 to 8.3 inches and will resemble the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.

Chinese Robo-Cop on Patrol

The Chinese robo-cop is already actively patrolling the streets alongside local law enforcement officers. Compared to the recently introduced prototype, the bot differs by its black color scheme and presence of flashing lights. Whether the net thrower was retained and if it has managed to catch anyone yet is unknown.

Tom Yum Recognized as UNESCO Intangible Heritage

Tom Yum has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list. This was announced by Thailand’s Minister of Culture, Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson. According to her, the soup reflects the lifestyle of the Thai people, particularly their love for nature and good physical and psychological health. It also acts as a "soft power" in spreading the culture of the country.

Oldest Bird in the World Finds New Partner

The oldest bird in the world has found a new partner and laid an egg. The female dark-backed albatross named Wisdom, considered the oldest wild bird in the world, managed to find a new partner after her previous one disappeared in 2021 and laid her first egg in four years. Ornithologists assess the chances of the egg hatching as high. Throughout her life, Wisdom has laid 50-60 eggs and successfully raised about 30 chicks.

Robot Vacuum Escapes Home During Earthquake in California

In California, a robot vacuum 'escaped' from home during an earthquake. It disconnected from its base, went out onto the street, and couldn't find its way back. Someone filmed the vacuum as it drove down the road.

Mercedes Unveils the '2024 Popemobile'

Mercedes unveiled the '2024 Popemobile' - featuring a swivel seat in the trunk and a pristine white interior. The company has been custom-making cars for the Vatican for 94 years, but this is the first electric one, with a powertrain configured for maximum comfort at ultra-low speeds.

India and Europe Launch Satellites for Artificial Solar Eclipse

India and Europe have jointly launched satellites to create an artificial solar eclipse. One of the devices will block the Sun, while the other will conduct previously inaccessible observations, allowing scientists to better study the solar corona and more. They will spend five years in orbit, after which they will burn up in the atmosphere. The cost of the mission is €200 million.

Spotify Releases Year-End Music Report

Spotify has released its year-end music report. The most popular artist was Taylor Swift, followed by The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Drake, and Billie Eilish. The most streamed song was 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter, the most popular album was 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology' by Taylor Swift, and the 'viral' song of the year was 'Die With a Smile' by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. Additionally, users now have access to personalized year-end Wrapped 2024 reports, which this year can be listened to in a podcast format with AI-driven hosts.

Japan Launches Space Energy Collection System

Japan is launching a space energy collection system. They plan to deploy solar panels in orbit and send the harvested energy to Earth. Orbital panels will operate ten times more efficiently than those on the ground. The company Japan Space Systems has already begun experiments to test the system.

China Stops the 'Sea of Death'

China has stopped the 'Sea of Death', as the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is known. China successfully completed a project to create a green protective belt around the desert. This project, which lasted almost 40 years, aimed to combat desertification and prevent sandstorms that pose a serious threat to the ecology and infrastructure of the region. The Chinese created a green belt 3045 km long made of tamarisk, saxaul, cistanche, and other plants.

Light Beams Instead of Hands

In London, a wall clock with light beams instead of hands has been invented. The Hubble Traveller design is inspired by the Hubble Space Telescope and its battery lasts for a week. The gadget can simply be stuck on the wall - resulting in a huge frameless dial.

Elton John Reveals Loss of Vision

Elton John has revealed that he lost his vision due to a severe eye infection he contracted this summer. The artist made the announcement about his ailment on stage after the premiere of the musical 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Elton John stated that he couldn't see anything but enjoyed what he heard. Prior to this, he had postponed the release of his new album due to the illness.

World's longest driverless metro launched in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, the world's longest driverless metro has been launched - it consists of 85 stations and six lines, covering 176 km of the country's capital Riyadh. The system will operate 183 fully driverless trains with carriages from Germany's Siemens, Canada's Bombardier, and France's Alstom, and the project cost amounted to $35 billion.