Human Labor Cheaper Than AI in Most Cases

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States conducted a study and found out that replacing 5 bakers who check the quality of products with AI would cost $165,000, while its maintenance would cost $122,000 per year. At the same time, 5 employees earn about $240,000 per year and perform many other duties for the same salary.

Winston Churchill's Dentures Up for Auction

In England, one of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill's dentures has been put up for auction. This is one of his two dentures and is believed to have been worn by him when he delivered his famous speeches during World War II. The prostheses were made by dentist Wilfred Fish, who attached the artificial upper teeth to a gold plate. Churchill always carried two sets of dentures with him, as he could break one when he was angry. It is believed that the second denture is buried together with the politician. The auction will take place on February 6th. The initial price of the lot is £8,000.

Scientists have found out that dogs enjoy watching television

They conducted a survey among over 1200 pet owners, who filled out questionnaires and answered 41 questions. It was discovered that most dogs were active while watching videos, approaching the screen and barking. They were particularly attracted to content featuring other animals, especially other dogs. The research also showed that age, breed, and vision of the dogs influenced their reaction to the displayed videos. Herding and sporting breeds exhibited the strongest interest.

Unusual Hotel in Huzhou Lets Guests Live Next to Giraffes

In the city of Huzhou, China, there is an extraordinary hotel where guests live right next to giraffes. These animals are not afraid of people at all and even peek into the dining room, hoping to share some goodies with them. One night at the hotel costs ¥999.

Size Matters: Longevity and Health in Dogs

Small dogs live longer than large ones. A study has shown that large breeds are more prone to cancer, bone diseases, and stomach problems. However, scientists have reassured owners of big dogs: lifespan does not depend 100% on size or breed. Every dog is unique.

Win $10,000 and a Smartphone-Free Month!

Siggi's Dairy, the yogurt manufacturer from Iceland, has promised to pay $10,000 to anyone who will give up their smartphone for a month. The company will select 10 participants from those who apply on their website, based on motivational essays. The chosen participants will receive $10,000, a safe for their smartphone, a replacement phone with a prepaid SIM card, and a three-month supply of yogurt. At the end of the month, participants will have to write another essay about how they spent their freed up time. The winner will be the one who writes the most inspiring text.

Japan Successfully Lands Spacecraft on the Moon, Becomes Fifth Country to Achieve This

Japan recently successfully landed a spacecraft on the Moon, making it the fifth country to achieve this feat. However, it did not come without difficulties: the solar panels of the module did not work, possibly due to being at the wrong angle. They are currently trying to solve the problem. In the 20th century, only the USSR and the USA successfully landed on the satellite, while in this century, China and India have also accomplished it. Now, Japan has joined them.

The unusual role of Christmas trees

In Stockholm, they have decided to sink Christmas trees for the well-being of fish. These trees are adorned with stones and submerged in local water bodies to create suitable breeding grounds for fish. In spring, a profusion of microorganisms will appear around the trees at the bottom, serving as food for fry, thus increasing their survival rate. The National Association of Sport Fishing, Sportfiskarna, is dedicated to restoring the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea through this initiative.

House for a symbolic price

The city of Legrad in northern Croatia is offering abandoned houses for sale at 13 euro cents in an effort to prevent population decline. Currently, the population stands at around 2000, half of what it was 70 years ago. The city's mayor has set requirements for future Legrad residents: under 45 years old, married, no criminal records, and not owning any other property. Extra consideration will be given to couples with children and individuals with in-demand professions in the city. Croatian citizenship is not required.

January-born People Receive Fewer Gifts, Study Finds

People born in January receive an average of $1400 less in gifts throughout their lives compared to others. This is due to their friends and family trying to limit expenses after the holiday season. These findings were revealed by the British financial platform Money.

Chocolate constructor

A local confectionery in Japan has released a chocolate construction kit. The kit includes a 2-square meter castle made entirely of chocolate, which will be delivered in 16 boxes. It is recommended to assemble the set together with friends or family and to resist the temptation of eating the chocolate pieces while building. The price is $188.

Experiment on implementing a four-day workweek

An experiment on implementing a four-day workweek will be conducted in the Dominican Republic. It will begin on February 1 and last for six months. It is reported that the experiment aims to explore potential benefits for both employees and participating companies. The employees will work fewer hours for only three months, while the rest of the time will be spent on data analysis.

Pre-order for a Life-sized Silicone Bust of Neytiri from Avatar Opens in Japan

Pre-orders have opened in Japan for a life-sized silicone bust of Neytiri from the movie Avatar, priced at $8946. The figure is made of silicone, and the dots on her face are made to glow under ultraviolet light. The bust stands at a height of 117.3 cm and also comes with a crown and a stand with plants. Neytiri will be available for purchase in December 2024, shortly before the release of the new Avatar installment.

Hello Street Cat: Feeding and Watching Street Cats in China

China has launched the Hello Street Cat service, through which you can donate food for street cats and then watch them live. A portion of food is added immediately after someone's donation, and anyone can install such a booth near their house by simply submitting an application. Although the authors primarily aimed to feed stray cats, their neighbors, such as ducks, raccoons, and even hedgehogs, often come to enjoy a treat as well.

Chinese Inventor Creates Earthquake Bunker Bed

A skilled inventor from China has built an earthquake bunker bed. As soon as the sensors detect seismic activity, the person inside falls into the bunker where they have emergency supplies, including food, water, an oxygen tank, and a projector that can be powered by a hand generator. To simplify the search for rescuers, a loud sound signal is activated by pressing a button.

Stolen Picasso and Chagall Paintings Found in Belgium

Belgian police have arrested a man who was keeping stolen paintings by Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall in the basement of his house. The paintings are estimated to be worth $900,000.

Hertz to Remove 20,000 Electric Cars from Rental Fleet due to Costly Repairs

One of the largest car rental services, Hertz, will get rid of 20,000 electric cars - a third of its fleet - and replace them with gasoline models. The main reason is the high cost of post-accident repairs. The repositioning is estimated at $245 million, but the ongoing maintenance of these vehicles (mostly Tesla) would be even more expensive. In the future, Hertz will continue to reduce the proportion of electric cars, although it recently planned to buy 350,000 cars from Tesla, GM, and Polestar.

Japanese Government Launches App for Genuine Relationships

The Japanese government is set to launch an application for genuine relationships. The service team will check annual income, request documents to verify identity, and, attention, examine marital status and the presence of children. The coolest feature is the strict selection of photos. It will not be possible to add photoshopped selfies to the page; instead, only passport photos can be used.

The Potential Emergence of the First Trillionaire

In the next decade, the world may witness the rise of its first trillionaire, according to Oxfam International, an organization combating poverty. It is projected that this individual's fortune will surpass $1,000,000,000,000. However, this growth in extreme wealth will also lead to an increase in inequality between the super-rich and the majority of the population. In recent years, the top five billionaires have doubled their wealth, while nearly five billion people have become poorer.

Four-year-old girl sets record in Everest ascent

Four-year-old Zara Shifra has become the youngest person to reach the base camp of Mount Everest at an altitude of 5,300 meters above sea level. Zara, a citizen of the Czech Republic and Canada, lives in Malaysia with her parents and seven-year-old brother. She has been trained since infancy and last year she walked through the jungles for over 2,200 kilometers. She never swims in warm water and sometimes adds ice to it. According to her parents, thanks to careful acclimatization, her blood oxygen saturation never dropped below 90%.