NASA Initiates Development of Standard Lunar Time

Since the Moon has less gravity than Earth, atomic clocks placed on its surface would run ahead by 58.7 microseconds per day compared to Earth clocks. Currently, such a difference could be critically important for communication and other systems. The new standard will be based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Earth. A preliminary plan is expected to be prepared by 2026.

Scientists name the place with the cleanest air on Earth

Scientists have named the Southern Ocean as the place with the cleanest air on Earth. The air above it has a low level of aerosols - suspended solid particles or liquid droplets in the air. This is influenced by several factors, including the growth of tiny plant-like organisms called phytoplankton. They are a source of airborne sulfate particles. The Southern Ocean has also been identified as the cloudiest place on Earth. Additionally, short-lived sporadic showers are often observed here, which can also affect air quality.

Elon Musk's Plan to Send a Million People to Mars

Elon Musk plans to send about a million people to Mars on Starship-3 rockets. According to Musk, the base for future space missions at SpaceX is already being established. One of the key achievements in this plan is the reuse of rocket parts. Conquering Mars will require not just a hundred rockets. Musk's company is currently working on the Starship rockets. It is planned that in 2025, Starship will take off and land on Earth. However, the Martian mission will involve the Starship-3 rockets, not the current prototype. As for colonization, Musk believes that about a million people need to be sent to Mars for success. But before that, Musk's company plans to build a base on the Moon.

British runner completes 16,000-kilometer journey across Africa

Ross Cook became the first person to run across the entire Africa. The 16,000-kilometer route took him 352 days. He documented his run on social media and also organized a charity fundraiser, raising a total of $750,000. Along the way, the British runner was attempted to be robbed in Angola at gunpoint and was briefly held hostage in Congo.

Open AI has announced the release of a new neural network capable of generating any voice within 15 seconds

According to the company, Voice Engine will break language barriers, enabling content creators and companies to communicate with their audience in different languages using their own voice. Additionally, this tool will be crucial for those who have lost their voice due to various reasons or are facing speech difficulties. The neural network is currently not available for widespread use due to the company's concerns, as they engage in dialogues with politicians and various official bodies.

China introduces the first cat toilet with flush system

China has invented the first cat toilet with a flush system. The smart Petgugu Global litter box connects to the sewer and frees the owner from daily cleaning.

Lexus Honors Beyoncé Cowboy Carter with Radiator-Inspired Seat Belt Buckle

Lexus has released a seat belt buckle in honor of the release of Beyoncé Cowboy Carter's new album. The design is inspired by the Lexus radiator grille. The buckle is also adorned with 32 diamonds, symbolizing the singer's 32 Grammy Awards.

Record-breaking Rise in Robusta Coffee Prices Causes Fears of Supply Shortage

The price of a ton of Robusta coffee has reached a 15-year high. Currently, a ton of beans costs $3838 - a level not seen since the 2008 crisis. Sellers are concerned about a potential shortage in supplies, which is predicted due to a water shortage in Vietnam, one of the main coffee exporters.

Jeff Bezos Begins Construction of $42 Million Giant Clocks

If you are rich, you buy a Rolex for $42 thousand. But if you are the richest person in the world, you build your own clocks for $42 million. This is the project being realized by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon with a fortune of $120 billion. These gigantic clocks, which he believes will outlast human civilization, are currently being assembled. Recently, the billionaire announced that the construction of the unique device, which took 12 years to develop the necessary technologies, has finally begun. The first mechanism, standing at a height of 150 meters, has been installed deep inside the hollowed-out caves of a Texas mountain.

Botswana Plans to Gift Germany 20,000 Elephants

Botswana wants to give Germany 20,000 elephants. There are currently 130,000 elephants in the African country, thanks to successful initiatives to conserve the species. However, their population has become too large, leading to attacks on humans, destruction of crops, and damage to villages. To deal with the elephant overpopulation, Botswana is distributing them to neighboring countries and encouraging controlled hunting. In response, Germany has decided to ban the import of hunting trophies as a protest against the cruel treatment of elephants. Botswana did not appreciate this and stated that they would gift Germany 20,000 elephants.

Invasion of Trillions of Cicadas Expected in the United States

American scientists have calculated that the United States is facing an invasion of hundreds of trillions of cicadas. This year, the 13-year and 17-year life cycles of two large populations will coincide. Scientists are bewildered by the mystery of the synchronous birth of cicadas. These winged insects are capable of spending years forming underground, only to reveal themselves to the world at once. It is expected that there will be a million insects per acre.

Using Bricks Before Pedestrian Crosswalks in Canada

In Canada, you can take a brick before a pedestrian crosswalk to ensure that cars stop and let you pass. This method is helpful at unregulated crossings without traffic lights. In reality, the bricks are made of polystyrene foam. Just don't tell the drivers!

Debris from ISS falls on Florida house, causing extensive damage

Debris from the International Space Station (ISS) fell on a house in Florida, puncturing its roof and two floors. The pallet containing used batteries was discarded from the station back in 2021 with the expectation that it would completely burn up in the atmosphere, but a roughly 1-kilogram fragment survived. The fragment has now been retrieved by NASA. If the examination confirms that it indeed belongs to them, the homeowner will be able to claim damages from the federal government.

Amazon closes its Just Walk Out technology stores

The feature of the stores was that visitors could simply take everything they needed and walk away - a special algorithm analyzed purchases and deducted the necessary amount from the card. It turned out that behind the AI curtain, there were actually a thousand Indians who were conducting the purchases.

The Future of Japanese Surnames: All Becoming Sato by 2531

An academic conducted a study and found that by 2531, everyone in Japan will have the surname Sato. This is because the Japanese government has legislatively mandated that all married couples take one surname together. Currently, 1.5% of the population has the surname Sato, and this number is growing each year. If the marriage law remains in effect, the surname will gradually spread to all Japanese citizens, according to the calculations of the academic.

Quadcopter Learns to Charge from Power Lines

Engineers from Denmark have developed a quadcopter capable of recharging from power lines. The drone, weighing 4.3 kilograms, automatically detects power lines, flies underneath them, and attaches itself using a grip that contains a detachable core transformer. It converts the energy from the power line into energy to recharge the drone's battery. Equipped with this charging system, the drone will be able to autonomously perform tasks over long distances in the future, including inspecting the condition of power grids.

Giant Robotic Arm Builds Two-Story Home

A giant robotic arm has successfully printed a two-story house. The impressive 3D printer from ICON can construct two-story buildings faster than its competitors using concrete. The development has already been utilized to build an eight-meter home in Austin, Texas. The cost of 3D-printed buildings will be approximately $83 per square meter for wall systems or $266 per square meter including foundation and roof. ICON claims that Phoenix could save around $25,000 in the construction of a traditional American home.

Lucky Phone Number Sold for $870 Thousand in Dubai

A 'lucky' phone number 058-7777777 has been sold in Dubai for $870 thousand. It is unlikely to be used for personal purposes, but it is perfect for business. Despite the impressive price, it is far from the record of a sale back in 2015 when a Dubai phone number 052-2222222 was sold for $2.2 million.

Monkey Gangs Take Over Thai City

The Thai city of Lopburi has been taken over by gangs of monkeys. 3500 individuals have split into two groups. They are fighting each other for territory and stealing from tourists. The police have formed a special unit to combat the monkeys.

The fastest video camera

Canadian scientists have developed the fastest camera capable of capturing 156.3 trillion frames per second. This groundbreaking technology enables the camera to record phenomena lasting for femtoseconds. To comprehend the scale, there are approximately as many femtoseconds in one second as there are regular seconds in 32 million years.