First Case of Local Extinction Due to Sea Level Rise

Scientists have recorded the first case of local species extinction caused by rising sea levels. On the Florida Keys archipelago in the USA, the tree cactus Key Largo has disappeared. It was the only population of the plant in the country. Originally, it consisted of about 150 stems, but by 2021 it had dwindled to six sick fragments. The main causes of the species' disappearance were the intrusion of saltwater, soil depletion, and herbivorous mammals. The situation was exacerbated by Hurricane Irma, which flooded large parts of the island in 2017.

Audi Introduces New Generation of A5

Audi has unveiled the new generation of the A5 - it will continue the A4 series, which will become electric. The family includes a liftback and a station wagon with a 2-liter turbo engine with 150 hp at the base, as well as the enhanced S5 and S5 Avant with a 3.0 V6 engine at 367 hp and a mild hybrid. The interior features three displays plus a heads-up display, a panoramic roof with auto-dimming, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system with twenty speakers. The price starts at €45,200 for the most basic liftback in Germany.

Now You Can Brew Beer Right at Home

Now you can brew beer right at home. iGulu has released a smart brewery that can make cider, mead, beer, and white wine. The recipe is simple: pour in the beer kit, press the button, and enjoy the finished drink. You can control the brewing process through an app. The set with basic ingredients costs $419.

Charming Poodle Xu Laifu Goes Viral in Asia

In Asia, the charming poodle Xu Laifu has gone viral for being able to ride a bicycle as well as a child. The poodle's owner said he taught him to ride a bicycle for about a year. But these aren't all the dog's talents: before that, he learned to skateboard.

Interesting invention

Japanese scientists have created microscopic chariots powered by single-celled algae called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In the future, this development will help explore the micro-world. The driving force behind these fuel-less vehicles will remain the algae, which have a high speed of movement. The only problem is that they are currently uncontrollable.

Japanese Café Releases Special Menu for Deadpool and Wolverine Premiere

A Japanese café has released a special menu for the premiere of Deadpool and Wolverine. The main dishes are red rice with chicken in Deadpool style and yellow curry with vegetables in Wolverine style. The menu also features French toasts, a variety of drinks, and popcorn. The new items will be available from July 17 to August 5, and merchandise related to the film will be raffled among all customers.

SpaceX has developed an antenna for travelers

Starlink Mini fits in a backpack and allows satellite connectivity anywhere. Users are already posting photos of the antenna to demonstrate its size.

Japan Passes Law Requiring Citizens to Laugh Daily

Japan has passed a law requiring citizens to laugh at least once a day. So far, it has only been implemented in the Yamagata Prefecture in hopes of improving people's mental and physical health through the power of laughter. There are also opponents who have stood up for the fundamental human right not to laugh.

Useful application

A boy has created an application that determines your location from a photo. The application uses a neural network trained on data from Google Earth and other maps. It is already available in the App Store, but is still under moderation.

LEGO Targeted by Criminals

It turns out that not only collectors but also criminals are hunting for LEGO. The building sets even rank in the top 10 for thefts in the USA, alongside brand-name sneakers, bags, and Apple gadgets. Just recently, Oregon state police found a gang warehouse containing 4153 stolen sets worth over $200,000.

Genius Develops CatLock Utility to Protect Keyboard from Cats

A genius has developed the CatLock utility, which protects the keyboard from cats. The principle of operation is simple: the program blocks text input after a certain period of inactivity. To unlock the keyboard, one needs to click on the semi-transparent window. Even if a cat walks across the keyboard, nothing will happen.

Five Parrots Isolated for Inappropriate Language

Staff at a British zoo had to isolate five African parrots for inappropriate language, which one parrot somehow taught the others during quarantine.

Three-time World Slackline Champion Falls Short of Record in Italy

Three-time world slackline champion Jaan Roose attempted to set a new record by walking on a 3.6-kilometer slackline over a strait in Italy but fell just before the finish. The slackline was stretched between power line poles in Calabria and Sicily, and he walked on it for three hours, losing his balance about 80 meters before the end. Due to the fall, the record was not counted, although the distance covered exceeded the previous record by almost a kilometer.

First Esports Olympics to be Held in Saudi Arabia in 2025

In 2025, the first esports Olympic Games in history will be held in Saudi Arabia. The exact location and disciplines have not been announced yet, but an agreement with the country has been signed for 12 years, promising to hold competitions regularly.

Only Lotus Evija X Worth $2.3 Million Crashes at the Start in England

The only Lotus Evija X hypercar worth $2.3 million in the world crashed on a track in England right at the start of a race. The driver, they say, is not to blame: preliminarily, a malfunction occurred in the software controlling the operation of the four electric motors (incidentally, with a total power of 2039 hp). How much the repair will cost is still unknown, but the car was lucky as the accident occurred at low speed.

Chile's Atacama Desert, the Driest on Earth, Blooms

In Chile, the driest desert on the planet, the Atacama, has started to bloom. Heavy rains in the driest place on Earth turned it into a colorful carpet. Scientists believe that such blooming of the Atacama Desert is happening for the first time in half a century. This occurs only once every 5-7 years, when there is an excess amount of precipitation. According to meteorologists, more flowers will appear in the coming weeks as the rains could return. Yellow, red, purple, and white flowers have covered the usually lifeless landscapes of the desert, turning it into a vibrant spectacle.

Temperature in New York rises, bridges begin to break

The temperature in New York has risen so much that bridges are starting to break. Due to thermal expansion, drawbridges cannot be closed, so authorities are manually cooling them down by spraying them with water.

Spaniard didn't work for six years, and no one noticed

A Spaniard didn't go to work for six years, and no one noticed. The funniest part is that the fraud was uncovered when they wanted to award him for his years of service. Now he faces a $30,000 fine, but he wants to have it overturned.

China's BYD to Build Billion-Dollar Factory in Turkey

China's BYD will build a billion-dollar factory in Turkey. It will begin operations in 2026 and will produce approximately 150,000 vehicles annually, which will help bypass European and Turkish customs duties. Additionally, BYD plans to open factories in Hungary, Latin American countries, Indonesia, and South Africa. At the end of last month, the company started production in Uzbekistan.

World's First Blue Tree Frog Found in Australia

The world's first blue tree frog has been found in Australia. Scientists consider this rare mutation a part of evolution - the natural camouflage of green toads doesn't always work against Australia's quirky fauna, and the blue coloration deceives predators - they think the frog is poisonous.