Britons Demand Compensation for COVID Vaccine Complications

About 14,000 UK residents have approached the Kingdom's authorities demanding compensation for harm caused by the coronavirus vaccine. In total, 175 people managed to secure compensation, receiving £120,000 each. In 97% of cases, the AstraZeneca vaccine was the cause of disability. This vaccine caused strokes, heart attacks, and spinal cord inflammations, for example. Recall that in May 2024, AstraZeneca began withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine sales authorization. According to the media, this may be related to legal battles with individuals affected by rare side effects.

Man in Spain Assembles Largest Collection of Nokia Phones

In Spain, a man has assembled the largest collection of Nokia phones and entered the Guinness Book of Records. Vens Palau Fernandez became enthusiastic about this idea in 2008 and accumulated 3615 models over 16 years. He even has unpublished prototypes and super rare phones like the Nokia Star Wars.

Man buys Kevin Spacey's beach house at auction, but he refuses to move out

The actor's house was put up for sale due to tax evasion as Spacey had no money because of harassment scandals. The buyer paid $3.2 million and now cannot evict the actor. He demands another 6 months to vacate the property.

California Scientists Implant Neurochip to Convert Thoughts to Speech

Scientists from the University of California have implanted a neurochip in paralyzed Casey Harrell that converts his thoughts into speech with a record accuracy of 97.5%. The neural network was trained on recordings of Harrell's voice made when he could still speak, so his 'thoughts' sound very similar to his real voice. The system reads brain signals exactly at the moment of an attempt to speak and does not voice the stream of thoughts.

British Island in the Pacific Offers Residency and Pays for Relocation

It is literally a paradise for sociophobes and remote workers. Only 38 people live there and the authorities are doing everything to increase the population. The island has several buildings and services, including a church, a tennis court, and a museum.

Dutchman Anton Notenboom Sets World Record

Dutchman Anton Notenboom has set a world record by walking 3450 kilometers barefoot in 175 days. His goal is to raise awareness about men's mental health issues, which particularly concern him as a veteran of the Afghanistan war. He plans to walk another 1700 kilometers and reach Times Square.

WHO Declares Monkeypox an International Public Health Emergency

The WHO has declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. The organization made a similar statement in 2022. WHO hopes that the renewed announcement will help accelerate research and lead to measures to contain the virus at the international level. According to the head of the organization, the epidemic has spread not only to the DR Congo but also to neighboring countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Perfume with Mayonnaise Scent Released in the USA

Sauce manufacturer Hellmann’s introduced the mayonnaise-inspired fragrance Will Levis No. 8, combining notes of tangy lemon, coffee, musk, and vanilla, along with a “mayonnaise accord.” The perfume's ambassador became Tennessee Titans football player Will Levis. Last year, the athlete filmed a video in which he added Hellman’s mayonnaise to his coffee. The video went viral on social networks, and the sauce manufacturer rewarded the football player with a lifetime supply of mayonnaise.

Water Found on Mars

A whole ocean of liquid water lies beneath the surface of Mars. Scientists analyzed 1319 marsquakes and concluded that water in liquid form is located at a depth of 10-20 kilometers. Preliminary estimates suggest it would be enough to completely cover the 'red' planet with a 2 km deep ocean.

The Largest Food Market in the World in Mexico City

Mexico City is home to the largest food market in the world - it operates 24/7 and is one and a half times the size of Monaco. The daily turnover of Central de Abasto exceeds 30,000 tons of food, which accounts for 75% of all the food consumed in Mexico City, and the number of shoppers can reach 300,000 people per day. Recently, the market has also become the largest rooftop solar power plant: 32,000 panels generate up to 25 GWh of energy per year, which is enough for 10,000 homes.

Electrify Introduces New Charging Station Rules

The American network Electrify will stop charging electric cars to 100% and will introduce an additional fee for those who do not leave promptly. As part of an experiment, the 10 busiest charging stations in California will shut off after reaching 85%. And if the driver does not remove the car within 10 minutes, 40 cents per minute will be charged. It is said that this way, they will deal with those whose electric cars stand for a long time after charging and prevent others from charging.

European Wizz Air starts selling flight passes

European Wizz Air has started selling flight passes for €599 a year, allowing you to fly almost anywhere. However, there are some caveats: for example, you can only buy a ticket if there are less than 72 hours left before departure, and you still need to pay an additional €10 for any destination.

SpaceX to Send Humans to Polar Orbits for the First Time

SpaceX will send humans to polar orbits for the first time in history - to the northern and southern hemispheres, which are not visible from the ISS. The crew will include businessman Chang Weng, a pilot, and a couple of scientists - all of whom will fly to space for the first time in their lives. One of the mission's goals is to study 'Steves' - an atmospheric phenomenon discovered in 2017 that resembles a long strip of light in the sky. The ship will have a glass dome for observations. The launch is planned by the end of the year, and the flight will last about 5 days.

IT Specialists Have Diminished Emotional Intelligence

This was discovered in a study. IT specialists are not empathetic and have difficulty managing their emotions. This is because they spend too much time alone with code and technology.

Harvard Scientists Propose New Theory of Life's Origin on Earth

Lightning is the reason. Lightning strikes initiated chemical reactions that created the first molecules of life. In the lab, it was demonstrated how lightning can convert carbon dioxide and nitrogen into simple organic molecules - these are the building blocks for DNA and proteins, which make up all life.

Hippo Bath Attendant

A dream job has opened up in Berlin: Hippo Bath Attendant. A female pygmy hippopotamus has given birth at the local zoo, and they are now looking for a patient employee who will teach the little ones how to swim.

This is interesting

46% of men would not go on a date with a girl with enlarged lips. This became known from a survey. 23% of boys would not consider a girl with a tattoo as a wife or mother of their children.

Artificial Lake and Ski Resort in Saudi Arabian Desert

In the middle of the desert in Saudi Arabia, an artificial lake and ski resort are being created. The complex is being built 50 km from the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, where winter temperatures drop below zero and are otherwise 10°C cooler than other areas. Luxury homes, a hotel, and restaurants will be built next to the reservoir, and ski slopes will be equipped in the mountains. The work is expected to be completed by 2026, and in 2029 the Winter Asian Games will even be held there.

Artificial Lake and Ski Resort Being Built in Saudi Arabia

In the middle of the desert in Saudi Arabia, an artificial lake and ski resort are being created. The complex is being built 50 km from the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, where the temperature in winter drops below zero, and at other times is 10°C cooler than in other areas. Luxurious homes, a hotel, and restaurants will be constructed near the water body, and skiing trails will be set up in the mountains. The work is promised to be completed by 2026, and in 2029, the Asian Winter Games will even be held there.

Driving Schools in China Use Smart Cars Instead of Instructors

In China, there are driving schools where smart cars are used instead of instructors. The display inside the car indicates what needs to be done, and the autopilot takes over if necessary. However, instructors are not completely dispensable. They remotely monitor several training cars on the site and also accompany students into the city.