Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
It’s been a turbulent year in French politics, but there was at least some good news at the end of 2024: After being severely damaged by a rooftop fire in 2019, Notre Dame reopened in December after five years of repairs and renovation work. The cathedral boasts a recent altar and a dazzling ivory interior. Renovation works are ongoing outside the building. Read more at Guardian.
The U.S. homicide rate continues to decline
In 2020, homicides in American cities increased by an average of 30 percent, the largest recorded raise in American history. They remained high for several years before failing and are now expected to return to pre-2020 levels for the first time. The data suggests that male unemployment and school closures, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, as a result of pandemic, were the main factors causing the raise in violence. Read more at Brookings.
One of the rarest cats in the world is no longer endangered
The Iberian lynx, one of the rarest cat species in the world, is no longer classified as endangered. There are now thought to be over 2,000 of these wild cats in Spain and Portugal – up from just 62 mature cats in 2001. Read more about it BBC.
Electric vehicles last longer than expected
Instead of having a shorter lifespan than internal combustion engines, as everyone thought, electric vehicle batteries can actually last longer. Warranties typically cover eight years for electric vehicle batteries, but it looks like they can last up to 20 years. But it’s strenuous to be sure at the moment – there are very few electric vehicles on the road that are even ten years senior. Read more at WIRED.
These guys hacked AirPods to give their grandmothers hearing aids
When Apple released a software update that enabled AirPods Pro 2 headphones to function as hearing aids, Rithwik Jayasimha rushed to buy the headphones for his grandmother and realized that location restrictions meant the feature didn’t work in India. Most people would simply admit defeat, but Jayasimha grabbed two friends, some foil and a microwave and started building a home-made device that would eliminate geolocation restrictions. Read more at WIRED.
A baby pygmy hippopotamus has taken the Internet by storm
In July, a global sensation was born. Since being publicly revealed on July 25 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng (which translates as “jumping pork”) has become one of the most recognizable faces on the Internet. Sure, she’s cute. But what catapulted her to fame was her sassy personality: sitting in her mother’s food bowl, biting her caregiver, running around her catwalk and screaming. In 2024, many people could relate to this. Read more on The New York Times.