Inching Closer to Possible Contact with Extraterrestrials

We are just steps away from possible contact with aliens. Currently, the James Webb telescope is exploring the planet K2-18b, which scientists believe could harbor life. The main reason for this hypothesis is the discovery of a gas in the planet's atmosphere that is typically emitted only by living organisms under normal conditions. The telescope's mission is to search for the beings that produce this gas. By the way, K2-18b is situated 120 light-years away from Earth.

plastic pollution at the ocean bottom is hundreds of times worse than on the surface

A new study has revealed that there is up to 11 million tons of plastic at the bottom of the ocean, hundreds of times more than on the surface. Scientists utilized existing scientific data from underwater research to build two predictive models and assess the amount and distribution of plastic on the ocean floor. It turns out that around 46% of the predicted plastic mass underwater is found at depths less than 200 meters. The rest of the waste is located at depths ranging from 200 to 11,000 meters.

Scientists warn of threat to global chocolate supplies

Scientists have warned of a threat to global chocolate supplies. The threat comes from mealybugs, which cause losses of up to 50% of cocoa bean yields in Ghana. The mealybugs, against which pesticides are ineffective, eat the leaves, buds, and flowers of cocoa trees, and a virus causes swollen shoot disease in cocoa. Farmers are trying to combat it with vaccines. However, vaccines are expensive, especially for low-wage farmers, and vaccinated trees yield less cocoa, exacerbating the devastating consequences of the virus.

Meta AI for Ray-Ban: The Future of Smart Glasses

Meta AI for Ray-Ban. They can instantly translate text into any language, take photos and videos. It also features voice assistant for easy control. It can answer questions, play music, and much more. This is a fully-fledged device of the future: stylish, compact, and lightweight. No wires or bulky headsets. The glasses are priced at just $299.

Snif brand releases perfumes with pizza and cola scents

The Snif brand has launched perfumes with the aromas of pizza and cola. The first perfume reminds of a hot cheesy pizza with hints of tomato sauce, basil, and toasted bun, while the second one features the icy creamy soda with notes of cinnamon and lemon. The price for a 30 ml bottle is $119. The first batch is already available for sale from April 29th.

Pedophile Banned from Using AI

The court has prohibited a pedophile from using AI after the British man generated over 1000 indecent photographs of children. He is now even forbidden from accessing websites with access to similar neural networks. This is an important case as such restrictions have never been made before.

Milan Considers Banning Late-Night Ice Cream, Pizza, and Street Food

Milan is considering a ban on ice cream, pizza, and street food after midnight in order to prevent noisy groups of people from disturbing locals' sleep. Since it is difficult to control this issue, authorities have decided to simply eliminate the reasons for being outside after dark. They plan to prohibit street food vendors from operating from mid-May to November, mainly due to tourists.

Scientists acknowledge consciousness in a wide range of animals

Scientists have acknowledged the presence of consciousness in a significant number of animals. A group of 39 biologists and philosophers from different countries have signed a declaration that suggests the existence of consciousness in a broader range of living beings than previously recognized. They claim that there is compelling scientific evidence of conscious experience in birds and mammals. It may even extend to all vertebrates, including reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The declaration states that this possibility also applies to many invertebrates such as insects, crabs, lobsters, squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish.

Savings on airline passes

A man has saved more than $2 million on flights by purchasing a lifetime airline pass in 1990. The pass, which cost $290,000 at the time, allowed the investor to fly first class for over 20 million miles and visit approximately 100 countries around the world over the course of 34 years. In just 2019 alone, the man accumulated mileage equivalent to six trips to the Moon.

Blogger learns how to stop self-driving cars with a T-shirt

A blogger has discovered a simple way to stop self-driving cars equipped with autopilot systems. By wearing a T-shirt with the word STOP printed on it, the computer vision system of Waymo cannot differentiate between a real stop sign and the T-shirt. The cars only bypassed the guy in the dark as they were unable to recognize the symbol.

Seiko Brand Reveals Post-Apocalyptic Timepieces

Seiko Brand has unveiled a prototype of watches for the post-apocalypse. Time will be determined in the same way as our ancestors did thousands of years ago - by the shadow of the sun. There is a level for precise measurement, a rotating bezel to be used anywhere in the world, and a stem whose shadow helps determine the time, which is only pulled out of the case when needed.

USA to Conduct Space War Rehearsal

The United States Space Force has signed contracts with private companies Rocket Lab and True Anomaly to build two devices for practicing a realistic scenario of a threat in orbit.

Samsung makes executives experience the role of ordinary employees

Samsung has made its executives experience the role of ordinary employees. The company is implementing a six-day workweek for bosses in all departments. Now they will need to come to the office on Saturdays or Sundays, while regular employees continue with a five-day workweek. The company is doing this against the backdrop of its worst financial year in a decade.

Wine for giving up your smartphone

Al Condominio restaurant in Verona has launched an unusual campaign. The establishment positions itself as people-oriented. In order for guests to fully enjoy their communication with each other and delicious food, they are offered a bottle of wine in exchange for giving up smartphones during meals. Guests are asked to place their phones in special lockers. If the phone stays in the locker until the end of the meal, guests are rewarded with a complimentary bottle of local Valpolicella wine, which Ernest Hemingway described as soulful, like embracing a friend. The initiative has already received positive feedback from guests, especially among young people.

Italian Gessi presents a mixer with a built-in coffee maker

Italian Gessi has presented a mixer with a built-in coffee maker. The temperature and water volume for brewing are adjustable using a disc with a display, and the coffee itself is poured from a separate tap with a capsule compartment.

Controlling insects using special devices

In Singapore, trials were conducted for special devices that are attached to the back and allow for mass control of insects. The technology directs swarms of cockroaches with electric impulses, forcing them to work together. They are planned to be used for search operations, for example, under rubble. Scientists have also managed to create similar backpacks for crabs.

China Creates Diamond from Red Peonies

For the first time in the world, scientists from Henan province in China have manufactured a diamond from red peonies. They extracted biogenic carbon from the flowers and transformed it into a precious gemstone.

Sony Releases Necklace Speaker

Sony has released a necklace speaker called Bravia Theater U, which can be worn around the neck and allows users to watch movies at high volume without worrying about waking up sleeping family members.

Scientists from Switzerland invent eco-alternative to pesticides: worm gel

Scientists from Switzerland have come up with an eco-alternative to pesticides - a gel with worms. They place nematodes in a safe hydrogel, which kill insect pests, and apply it to plants. The new invention has already shown promising results in Rwanda.

Elon Musk offers to retrieve Mars rock samples collected by Perseverance rover

Elon Musk has volunteered to retrieve rock samples from Mars that have been collected by the Perseverance rover for several years. Initially, NASA wanted to bring the samples back to Earth themselves by building special rockets, but the plan proved to be too complex and expensive. According to Musk, the Starship rockets are ideal for this task and will be able to fly to retrieve the samples within five years.