Mini-Garden in the Shape of a 'Space Egg' Shown at CES

At CES, a mini-garden in the shape of a 'space egg' was showcased. Plantaform uses 'fogponics' watering technology, devised by NASA engineers for gardening aboard starships. The system grows greens on its own and cleans itself after the harvest.

Solar Panel Coat Invented in the USA

In the USA, a coat made of solar panels was invented. Anker uses perovskite solar cells and is equipped with a USB output for phone charging. LED strips make it look like clothing from the characters in 'Blade Runner'.

Swiss Invent Burnout Detector

In Switzerland, a burnout detector for employees has been invented. You need to hold cortiSense in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, and it will measure the cortisol level, which indicates the employee's stress level.

BMW Turns Windshields into Screens

The automaker has introduced the Panoramic iDrive system, which turns the windshield into an interactive display. Information about the car's condition, speed, traffic jams, weather, and custom widgets is projected onto the glass.

Inflatable Farms for Deserts Developed in Jordan

Inflatable farms for deserts have been invented in Jordan. The AirFarm modules are 75% lighter than traditional container farms and can be set up in just 12 hours. The resulting garden uses aeroponics to grow vegetables with minimal resources, making the project ideal for arid regions.

CES 2025 Introduces the 'Death Tablet'

At CES 2025, the 'Death Tablet' was introduced. It's an iPad Pro that comes with a smart ring capable of recognizing the owner's demise. Once the tablet realizes it has become 'orphaned', it will erase all data and browser history, post a farewell message on social networks, and then play the song 'Never Gonna Give You Up'.

2024 Sets Record as Hottest Year

2024 has indeed become the hottest year on record, much like the entire last decade. Compared to pre-industrial levels, the average global temperature for the year increased by 1.6 °C for the first time, with the peak occurring on July 22, when the average daily value worldwide reached 17.16 °C.

New York introduces congestion charge

New York is the first city in the USA to introduce a charge for driving on the most congested streets. The measure is intended to encourage motorists to switch to public transport and bicycles. Currently, the rule only applies to Manhattan, and the cost depends on the time of day and type of vehicle: car drivers must pay $9 during peak hours, while trucks and buses must pay $14.4.

E Ink Introduces New Art Display Technology

The creators of E Ink technology, in collaboration with PocketBook and Sharp, have released 'paintings' that can display any canvas. The large photo frame needs to be charged only once a year, and images can be changed at any time through a smartphone app. Depending on the size, it costs $599-1700.

Fry Grabbers at Japanese McDonald's

Japanese McDonald's now offers fry grabbers so you don't get your hands dirty. You can get one by purchasing a 'happy pack', which also includes a lamp in the shape of a Big Mac, a branded wallet, and a coupon for your next order.

Asus Unveils World's First Router with Neuroprocessor for Ad Blocking

Asus has unveiled the world's first router equipped with a neuroprocessor for ad blocking. The ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI features a special AI chip that effectively detects banners, etc., and also enhances signal stability and reduces ping times in games. Additionally, it comes with Wi-Fi 7 offering speeds of up to 19 Gbps and a range of around 280 m². It will be priced at $800.

Bird Buddy Unveils Camera for Insect Observation

The startup Bird Buddy, which produces 'smart' bird feeders for bird watching, has showcased a camera for capturing butterflies, bees, and other insects. The built-in AI is capable of recognizing insect species, counting their number, recording statistics, and predicting when pollinated flowers will bloom.

23 People Trapped in British Tavern by Snow after New Year

In the UK, 23 people became stranded in a tavern for the entire holiday after celebrating the New Year because it was snowed in. The holidays went smoothly: there were bedrooms, food supplies for a month, and plenty of beer. The catch is that the Tan Hill Inn is known for how often it gets snowed in, so one can go there specifically for isolation.

Los Angeles on Fire for Second Day

Los Angeles is ablaze for the second day - in the "City of Angels," large-scale fires have spread from the forests to residential areas and nearby cities. The fire covers an area of 1,200 hectares - forests, exclusive neighborhoods, and cottages are burning. The most affected are the star-favored Pacific Palisades district and the legendary city of Malibu.

Swiss Man Sleeps While Swimming

Swiss Noam Yaron shared that he learned to sleep while floating during his attempt to swim from Calvi to Monaco in three days, without leaving the water. He says he simply switches off part of his brain. Dolphins, for instance, do this by shutting down one hemisphere of their brain and closing the opposite eye. Using this technique, Yaron swam 103 kilometers in 2 days and 2 nights, but due to jellyfish, hypothermia, and counter-currents, he withdrew from the race. He will repeat the swim this year.

First AI-assisted Terror Attack in the USA

The first terror attack in the USA was carried out with the help of AI. Matthew Levelsberger used ChatGPT to plan the bombing of a Cybertruck at the Trump Hotel in Vegas. The chatbot advised on how to assemble and activate a bomb.

Flying Bicycle Unveiled at CES 2025

At the tech exhibition CES 2025, a flying bicycle was unveiled. The electric Rictor Skyrider X1 can ascend to a height of 200 m, fly for up to 40 minutes, and autonomously calculate the optimal route. The price is only $60,000, which is significantly cheaper than other flying machines.

Mr. Beast surpasses 341 million subscribers

Blogger Jimmy Donaldson, known by the pseudonym Mr. Beast, reached over 341 million 671 thousand subscribers on YouTube as of January 5, 2025. And the number keeps growing. This is more than the population of the United States. According to official census data, there are 341 million 156 thousand people registered in the USA. Jimmy Donaldson started his YouTube channel on February 20, 2012, and the total number of views now exceeds 69 billion. Recently, the blogger reported that an entire city was built specifically for his new project, which cost him 14 million dollars.

30-year-old Miniature Donkey Perry Dies in the US

In the US, the 30-year-old miniature donkey Perry, who served as the model for the Donkey in 'Shrek', has died. He was euthanized due to illness. Perry suffered from laminitis, a hoof disease that caused him agonizing pain. For a month, he just stood on three legs and held one up due to the pain. No treatment could help him.

Robottaxi Stops Car Thief in the USA

A Los Angeles resident attempted to steal a driverless Jaguar I-PACE, but the car locked the unfortunate man inside and handed him over to the cops.