Banana sold for $6.24 million

A banana taped to a wall was sold at Sotheby's auction for $6.24 million. The buyer is Chinese crypto-entrepreneur and art collector Justin Sun. Immediately after the purchase, he plans to eat the banana "as part of this unique artistic experience, paying tribute to its place both in art history and in popular culture".

Enthusiasts Fund Butter Bot Production

Enthusiasts have raised money for the production of the Butter Bot from 'Rick and Morty'. In the series, it served butter, but in reality, it has become an interactive device with AI. The robot recognizes faces and objects, executes commands, and can be controlled with a remote. The design closely replicates the original character. The Butter Bot also helps in learning the basics of programming and robotics. It can be operated through a simple interface or programmed in Python.

Japanese Nail Technician Naomi Arimoto Recycles Ocean Plastic for Fake Nails

Japanese nail technician Naomi Arimoto creates fake nails from plastic collected on the ocean shore. This idea came to her after participating in public beach cleaning projects. Annually, 20 million tons of plastic waste enter the environment, so the woman tries to make her contribution by fighting ocean pollution with microplastics and drawing public attention to this issue.

Lone Joker Dolphin Found in the Baltic Sea

A lone joker dolphin has been found in the Baltic Sea: it laughs and talks to itself. Scientists were surprised as dolphins usually live in pods, but this one (named Delli) settled alone. Moreover, it made too many sounds as if it was communicating with someone. Later, scientists realized it is autistic and makes loud noises from emotional bursts - it talks to itself to keep from going mad.

Tiger Shark Swallows iPhone and Coughs it Back Up

A tiger shark swallowed an iPhone with the camera on, capturing a view of its innards, and then coughed the device back up. The smartphone was in a waterproof case, the owner is a diver who conducts underwater tours. The shark is named Jitterbug and swam up for feeding.

Cannabis Beverages Released in America

Social beverages made from cannabis were released in America. The ingredients include cannabis, nootropics, and cordyceps. It is reported that Herbal Oasis helps achieve calm and clarity. There are a total of 4 flavors - tropical, lemon, mango, and berry.

Robot Sculptor Created in Italy

A robot sculptor has been created in Italy. Robotor 1L is a 4-meter robotic arm that carefully cuts marble 24/7. The machine can create a masterpiece in a couple of days - it would take a living master years.

Video Games Help Build Careers

Scientists tracked data from 23 working gamers for 20 years and here's what they found: Thanks to gaming, people acquire important character traits such as problem-solving skills, teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence, which can manifest in the workplace; gamers also tend to be more patient, persistent, and enthusiastic. Experts believe that moderate engagement with video games can contribute to personal and professional growth.

Houses in Italy for 1 Dollar

In Italy, houses are being given away for 1 dollar - this is how the authorities want to revive a village in Sardinia. The houses are located close to the sea, with excellent climate, and as a bonus, delicious cuisine. Currently, no one lives in the village - it's perfect for introverts. Applications are currently only accepted from Americans, but soon the opportunity will be available to everyone.

AI to Determine Location by Microorganisms Invented in Sweden

In Sweden, AI has been invented that can determine a person's location by the microorganisms they have encountered. Essentially, microorganisms are 'microbial fingerprints' since they are unique to each region. Scientists studied the genomes of microbes from urban areas in 53 cities worldwide, soil samples from various countries, and the marine microbiome of water bodies. As a result, AI successfully determined the location in 92% of samples. While accuracy varies in different cities, in the future, the technology might help track sources of infectious diseases or even investigate criminal cases.

Toyota to Revive the Sprinter Trueno/AE86

Toyota is set to revive the Sprinter Trueno/AE86 car. The design has been slightly refreshed, and under the hood is now a modern engine from the GR Yaris. The reason for the revival is simple - fans still find the model so popular that in China, body copies are being mass-produced.

Louis Vuitton Store Transformed into Giant Suitcase Pyramid

The flagship Louis Vuitton store in New York has been transformed into a pyramid of gigantic suitcases. It's also interesting to note that this is just a temporary structure, concealing the building that is closed for renovations. The work could take several years, so the store has been relocated to a shopping mall around the corner in the meantime.

SpaceX Successfully Completes Sixth Starship Test Flight

Tonight, SpaceX successfully carried out the sixth test flight of Starship, landing the vessel in the Indian Ocean. The tests were conducted on a similar plan to last month's, but without the 'claw' tower. Instead, one of the engines was activated in space, and the atmospheric entry was executed at a sharper angle. However, the tests planned for March 2025 are expected to be more interesting – they aim to refuel the spacecraft in orbit.

The Shooting Alarm Clock

A guy made an alarm clock that shoots you if you don't get up. The genius placed nine toy blasters around the bed and connected them to the alarm clock. When it goes off, all the blasters start shooting at the sleeper with incredible speed to wake them up.

Jaguar Reveals New Logo

The British car brand Jaguar has unveiled a 'complete overhaul' of its brand identity based on the founder William Lyons' principle of 'Don't copy'. All elements, including the new color palette, font, and the logo featuring the letters 'j' and 'r' merged in a circle, will appear in the upcoming concept and subsequently in the production cars, which will now be fully electric.

Nike Unveils 3D-Printed Air Max 1000

Nike has unveiled the Air Max 1000 sneakers, made with a 3D printer. This is an updated design of the original Air Max 1 model, released in 1987. The only non-printed part is the air cushion in the heel. All other elements of the shoe are made from a single flexible material. The price is still unknown.

Hundreds of Hamsters Delay Flight in Portugal

Over a hundred hamsters have 'taken over' a plane in Portugal, preventing it from taking off for a week. An Airbus operated by TAP airline was on a flight from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada, and apart from passengers, it also carried ferrets, several birds, and 132 hamsters for a local pet store. Upon arrival at the airport, handlers discovered that the rodents had managed to escape from their cages in the cargo hold and scattered. They have been capturing them since last Tuesday - and few remain at large.

Tesla has the highest fatal accident rate - study

A study shows that Tesla has the highest fatal accident rate, with research conducted on vehicles from 2018-2022 and all accidents counted from 2017 to 2022. Tesla tops the list with 5.6 fatal accidents per billion miles driven, followed by KIA with 5.5 and Buick closing the top three with 4.8. Among individual models, the Hyundai Venue ranks first with 13.9 fatal accidents per billion. The Tesla Model Y is sixth, with 10.6 per billion.

Whoop Rewards Good Sleep

The American fitness tracker manufacturer Whoop pays its employees extra for getting good sleep. Upon hiring, each employee is given a company-branded wristband, and those whose sleep quality is 85% or higher receive a $100 bonus monthly. According to the company head, the initiative is aimed at maintaining the employees' physical and psychological state to keep them alert and productive.

Dog Rescues Lost Tourist in Peruvian Mountains

In Peru, a dog rescued a lost tourist in the mountains. The Briton reported that he got lost at an altitude of 4,000 meters, and suddenly "a dog emerged from the mist" and showed him the way.