Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Sold for $69,000 at Auction

A copy of the book 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' was sold at an auction for $69,000. This was a first edition copy from 1997, and the seller bought it 26 years ago for just $12.

Elon Musk to Open His Own University in Texas

Elon Musk will open his own university in Texas. Initially, the institution will function as an elementary and middle school with a focus on natural sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and then a top-level university will be established based on it. Musk has already invested $100 million in the project and plans to enroll only 50 students in the first stage.

NASA's Attempts to Resolve Communication Issues with Voyager-1

Voyager-1, the farthest man-made object in space, has almost ceased to deliver messages. NASA is trying to solve the problem, but chances are slim. Launched in 1977, the probe is currently 24 billion km away from Earth: the signal takes nearly two days to reach it and return, greatly hindering the engineers' work.

China's iSpace Successfully Tests Reusable Rocket Prototype

Reusable rockets will soon not only be available to Elon Musk, as private Chinese company iSpace is already actively testing its own counterpart. During the tests, the prototype reached a height of 343 meters and safely landed back on the platform. If everything goes according to plan, they will start using them from 2025.

Introducing Willcook: The World's First Portable Microwave

The world's first portable microwave, Willcook, has been unveiled. It looks like a bag, but it can heat up its contents to 80 degrees in just 5 minutes. It also features a cooling mode - the creators even mention that it can be used to carry cold beer.

Willy Wonka's House Now Available for Rent in New York and Los Angeles

Willy Wonka's house is now available for rent in New York and Los Angeles. Rooms can be rented for one night starting from December 13 as part of an exclusive collaboration between Warner Bros. and Booking. Inside, there are stocks of candy, chocolate, cotton candy, a bed shaped like a chocolate bar, and giant rainbow lollipops. As a gift, guests will receive tickets to the premiere of 'Wonka'.

Testing of a Remote-controlled Cargo Plane in California

In California, they are testing a Cessna Caravan cargo plane that is controlled from a computer on the ground. The plane takes off, taxis, and lands on its own, while a human only gives commands and monitors the parameters to take control if necessary. Now they want to certify the technology for unmanned cargo delivery, but it may take several years.

Astronomers Discover the Oldest Black Hole in the Universe

Astronomers have discovered the oldest black hole in the universe, which is 13.2 billion years old. It formed 470 million years after the Big Bang. The mass of the black hole is approximately a million times larger than that of the Sun. It was detected using the James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory in the GN-z11 galaxy. Scientists note that this discovery completely changes our understanding of the formation of supermassive black holes. It was previously believed that they are formed over time from several such objects.

Dogs Could Live Longer: Breakthrough Anti-Aging Drug for Canines Set to Be Approved in the US

Dogs can potentially live longer as a drug to slow down their aging process is being prepared for approval in the US. The medication LOY-001 targets the IGF-1 hormone, which accelerates the aging process. Notably, the hormone has the most impact on large dog breeds. Veterinarians are already hailing the drug as a breakthrough and innovation, eagerly awaiting its approval.

KISS concludes farewell world tour and enters the digital reality

KISS has completed their farewell world tour and will continue to exist in the digital reality. The avatars of the band members were created by Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by George Lucas, while all the financing and production was handled by Pophouse Entertainment.

Protests in France

French farmers have resorted to a unique form of protest against tax hikes and fees by bombarding government buildings with manure. The epicenter of these demonstrations is the city administration of Rennes.

Caviar made a chocolate iPhone

And by chocolate, we mean it is made of actual chocolate, not just a color description. The model, iPhone 15 Pro Max, is covered in edible 23-carat gold. Inside, the phone is filled with exquisite cocoa beans mixed with almond cookies, promising a delightful lingering taste for 30 seconds.

China's Deepest Laboratory: Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe

The deepest laboratory on Earth has started its operations in China. Hidden 2.4 kilometers beneath the Jinping mountain range, this groundbreaking facility experiences minimal cosmic particle interference, allowing for unique and groundbreaking physics experiments, as well as the search for dark matter.

Ancient Byzantine Coin with Image of Jesus Christ Found in Norway

In Norway, an ancient Byzantine coin with an image of Jesus Christ has been discovered. It was minted between 977 and 1025 AD and is remarkably well-preserved. The coin features a depiction of Jesus Christ and the inscription: Jesus Christ, King of Kings. On the other side, there are engravings of the emperor brothers Basil II and Constantine VIII.

IMDb Reveals the Most Popular Movies and TV Shows of 2023

IMDb has unveiled the most popular movies and TV shows of 2023, based on viewer ratings and online discussions. Pedro Pascal emerged as the most popular actor of 2023, thanks to his leading roles in 'Us' and 'The Mandalorian'. The top movies were 'Oppenheimer' (8.4/10), 'Barbie' (7.0/10), and 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Part 3' (7.9/10). Among the TV shows, 'Us' (8.8/10), 'Ahsoka' (7.6/10), and 'The Inheritors' (8.9/10) generated the most discussions and viewership.

Taylor Swift's The Eras World Tour

Taylor Swift's The Eras World Tour has entered the Guinness World Records as the most profitable tour. The tour has collected over 1 billion dollars, surpassing the previous record set by Elton John, who earned 939 million. It has also become the most successful among female performers, gathering twice as much as Beyonce's two concert tours. It is worth reminding that Taylor Swift's fans distinguished themselves at the concert in Seattle, where they caused a record-breaking seismic activity comparable to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

Billionaire expands family

The heir to the Hermes empire wants to adopt his 51-year-old gardener in order to pass on an inheritance worth $11 billion. Nicolas Puchu, who is already 80 years old, is a lonely grandfather with no wife or children, but he has a massive fortune that will soon be transferred to his gardener from a modest Moroccan family. He will become his legal son, receive $11.4 billion, and join the list of the richest people in Switzerland.

Pantone Color Institute selects Peach Fuzz as the main color of 2024

The Pantone Color Institute has chosen Peach Fuzz, a shade of soft orange, as the main color of 2024. According to the institute, this color symbolizes inner tranquility, a profound need for community, unity, and social connections. The color of 2023 was vibrant magenta (Viva Magenta), and in 2022 it was blue with a purple-red undertone (Very Peri).

Dog-Salesperson Found in Japan

In Japan, a store with a dog-salesperson has been discovered. Shu, a Shiba Inu from Sapporo, manages the shop selling food and clothing. Customers take products, leave money, and pet the employee.

Speeding cyclists in Belgium to face fines starting from 2024

Belgium will start imposing fines on cyclists for exceeding the speed limit. In the Belgian region of Flanders, cyclists will be fined for speeding over 30 km/h. The changes in legislation will take effect in 2024. Cameras will be installed to capture violations on the streets. It remains unclear how the offenders will be identified, as cyclists are not required to display license plates.