Climate change and pandemics

A relationship has been found between climate change and the emergence of new pandemics that spread from animals to humans. As the Earth's climate continues to get warmer, experts believe that wildlife will be forced to move to regions with more people, drastically increasing the risk of a viral surge and could lead to the next pandemic. For now, experts suggest paying more attention to wildlife disease surveillance and real-time research into environmental changes.

Fight against brutes

China's largest social network Weibo plans to show the location of rude and arrogant Internet users causing controversy. According to the announcement, Weibo thus plans to establish a healthy atmosphere on the service without unnecessary kinks. After all, when the address of the person who inflicts it is visible under the insult, it is possible that he will change his mind about being rude.

In England, the world's first vertiport was launched

The world's first vertiport for flying taxis and drones has been launched in the English city of Coventry. The complex as a whole is similar to a regular airport with a lounge area, gates and a take-off area. The vertiport has been named Air One and will soon become the base for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.

Cloud seeding.

Saudi Arabia has launched a cloud seeding project over three areas to boost rainfall. The country has begun the first phase of a cloud seeding operation using chemicals. To do this, small particles of silver iodide are injected into existing clouds, around which drops of water then collect. Colliding with each other, the drops increase in size - and this, in turn, increases the likelihood of rain. With its help, the country expects to increase the amount of annual precipitation by 10-20%.

Unusual liquid alloy

The liquid alloy made it possible to integrate wireless charging into clothing. Japanese engineers have learned how to create clothes with built-in wireless charging based on liquid alloy tubes. It can be used to charge a smartphone and other gadgets, or to power wearable sensors.

Unmanned vehicles

WeRide will test unmanned street sweepers on Chinese roads. The Chinese company WeRide will start testing dozens of autonomous sweepers without a steering wheel and pedals on the roads of Guangzhou in May. They will drive around the city on their own, sweeping and washing the asphalt.

The world's largest bottle of whiskey

Edinburgh's Lyon & Turnbull will auction a 373-litre bottle of whiskey on May 25th. Intrepid is a 179 cm high bottle filled with 32-year-old whiskey from the Macallan distillery in 2021 and confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world. The price, by the way, can also break the world record if more than $1.9 million is offered per bottle.

Thong history

Thongs owe their birth to the "lecherous" US show business of the 1930s. In particular, the decree of New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, which forbade dancers in entertainment venues to dance naked.

In any incomprehensible situation, inflate a condom!

While cruising in the Caribbean, a slightly tipsy woman fell off the deck at night. She was saved from death by a box of condoms, from which the woman inflated a kind of life buoy. Thus, she stayed on the water for 3 days until she was found by a rescue ship.

New in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

A man has been cured of Parkinson's for the first time with a brain implant. Englishman Tony Howells was able to get rid of movement disorders caused by Parkinson's disease with the help of an implanted neuroimplant. This development deeply stimulates the affected areas of the brain through electrical impulses. Previously, the patient was able to walk no more than 200 meters, but a year after the operation, he can move up to four kilometers, play golf and quickly perform daily tasks. At the moment, the device needs to maintain performance with a fairly large battery, which is located in the chest area and is connected by wires under the skin to an implant in the brain. In the future, experts plan to refine it and create a more compact battery that will be located directly in the skull.

China launched a rocket into space from a balloon.

Last Sunday, the rocket was lifted into the upper atmosphere for the first time in a large helium balloon from Lenghu in northwest China's Qinghai province. On command from the Earth, the rocket, while gaining a given height, was launched from the ball. Launching launch vehicles not from the Earth, but from the atmosphere saves fuel and reduces cost. The greatest savings can be achieved by launching a rocket from a balloon.

An extraordinary show

Flying whales and dolphins appeared at a rock concert in New York. The Phish group accompanied their performance with an amazing show. The inhabitants of the ocean literally “floated” above the audience, created using a bunch of controlled drones and huge balloons.

An increase in the number of natural disasters

By 2030, the number of natural disasters occurring per year will increase by 40% - from 400 to 560. This is stated in the report of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. According to the report, there will be three times more extreme heat waves than at the start of the 2000s. The number of droughts will increase by a third. The UN considers it likely that people will also face new pandemics and food short

New working hours

Microsoft has come to the conclusion that the current 9-hour work day, 5 days a week is obsolete. The corporation manages 100,000 employees worldwide. And after studying the analysis of their activity during the lockdown, I came to the conclusion that the peak of employee productivity comes from 6 to 8 pm, and in the morning you won’t get anything from them at all. Now, the corporation will begin to develop new schemes of the working day more suitable for reality.

Ultra thin speaker

Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created an ultra-thin speaker - it is as thin as a sheet of paper. When scaled up, it can be produced in rolls to paste over car and aircraft interiors, room walls and any other surface.

The most unusual action in honor of the condom

The beginning of 2011 for Buenos Aires was marked by an original event - the longest condom in the world was put on a 67-meter obelisk erected in memory of the city's history. Such an action was carried out during the World AIDS Day. The goal of the city authorities was to draw the attention of residents to the problem of condom use.

Pizza with marijuana

In America, they may be allowed to sell pizza with marijuana. New York State is considering a request from pizza owners to sell cannabis-infused pizza. The owners expect sky-high profits if they are allowed to add such pizza to the menu.

DNA in a meteorite

The Japanese found elements of DNA in a meteorite. Hokkaido University said that in the Murchison meteorite that fell in the last century, detailed analysis found three elements that are the building blocks for DNA. Therefore, it is possible that meteorites played a key role in the emergence of life on Earth.

Cat therapy

Cat therapy (feline therapy) is one of the zootherapy methods: prevention and treatment of diseases through direct contact and communication with a cat. It is actively practiced for the treatment of mental disorders. For example, autism in children, depression or bipolar disorder. The presence of a cat in the house relieves stress and fights chronic fatigue, and a soothing purr, akin to meditation or the sounds of nature, helps to fall into a deep sleep and even relieve physical pain. Scientists have proven that the effect of cat purring on the human body is similar to the effect of ultrasound treatment. It activates regenerative functions. When a cat purrs, its wounds and fractures heal faster. A similar effect can be seen in humans.

The largest banknote

The largest denomination banknote in history was issued in Zimbabwe during a period of hyperinflation. One bill had a denomination of 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars.