Elon Musk to Transport Passengers in Half an Hour

Elon Musk will transport passengers from the USA to Europe in half an hour. SpaceX plans to use the Starship rocket for human transport worldwide at a speed of 27,000 km/h: at such velocity, a flight from New York to Shanghai will take only 39 minutes. Musk warned that ticket prices will be high - possibly in the thousands of dollars.

China Launches World's Largest Offshore Solar Power Plant

China has launched the world's largest offshore solar power plant with a capacity of 1 GW. The energy giant off the coast of Dongying city will provide light to 2.7 million Chinese households. This monumental project will reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Linkin Park Releases New Album

Linkin Park has released their first album since the death of Chester Bennington in 2017. It is called From Zero and refers to the band's original name (Xero), as well as hinting at a new era for the group with vocalist Emily Armstrong, the former frontwoman of Dead Sara. The album contains a total of 10 tracks with a total duration of 30 minutes.

MIT Students Create Talking Teapot

MIT students have created a talking teapot that can brighten a lonely evening with a conversation and even generate images on the cup's built-in display. The gadget maintains the optimal temperature for tea and serves it automatically, while hiding a smart speaker with ChatGPT inside. If used with a friend or partner, it will inquire about their day and relay it to you. Currently, it is a prototype, but they say they are ready to discuss production with interested partners.

AI Wishes a Human Death for the First Time

A guy was doing his homework with the Gemini chatbot, when it suddenly went berserk and insulted him, calling him a 'stain in the universe.' After that, the malicious neural network asked the user to commit suicide.

Xpeng Unveils Drone-Carrier Minivan

Chinese company Xpeng has finally unveiled its drone-carrier minivan and boasted that it has already received over 2000 pre-orders. The vehicle features a hybrid engine with a range of up to 1000 km, and its trunk houses a two-seat copter that can be prepared for flight in just 5 minutes. It is promised that the batteries will last for 5-6 'not too long flights'. If everything goes according to plan, sales will begin by 2026. Price - from 2 million yuan.

Lightfoot Unveils Solar-Powered Scooter

American startup Lightfoot has unveiled an electric scooter with built-in solar panels - they claim in good weather it will add 5 km of range every hour. The scooter can reach speeds of up to 32 km/h and travels about 60 km on a full charge. The frame is made of aerospace aluminum and inside there's a compartment for items 'the size of a suitcase'. Sales will start in 2025, with a price of $5000.

Cook-off: Human vs. Robot

Culinary blogger Nik DiGiovanni competed in cooking a steak with the humanoid robot NEO. The robot independently prepared a medium-rare filet mignon, but occasionally turned to Nik for help with chopping ingredients, as its programming prohibits the use of a knife.

Chinese Startup Copies SpaceX's Mechazilla Robot Arm

In October, SpaceX showcased the operation of Mechazilla - a giant robotic arm that catches the Starship spacecraft. By November, China had already completely copied it: the local startup COSMOLEAP built a working prototype of the tower.

Japanese Political Leader's Radical Proposal Sparks Controversy

The leader of Japan's conservative party, Naoki Hyakuta, proposed removing the uterus of all women after 30 years. This is necessary to increase the birth rate. Additionally, the politician suggested banning girls from attending university after 18 years and marrying after 25 years. In his opinion, this is the only way to save Japan from extinction. Naoki Hyakuta's statements sparked a strong reaction in society. The politician was called a misogynist and radical, and he soon apologized for his words.

Guinea Pigs as a Delicacy in a New York Restaurant

In a restaurant in New York, fried guinea pigs are eaten. It is considered a delicacy: Potential pets are skewered, grilled, and served whole. Visitors flock to try the Ecuadorian delicacy, and almost everyone is delighted. If you set aside all emotions, guinea pigs are low in fat and high in protein, and they are also easy to raise.

New World Record by German Slackliners

Germans Friedi Kühne and Lukas Irmler set a new world record by walking on a rope between two hot air balloons at an altitude of 2500 meters.

Microplastics Affect Cloud Formation

Scientists in a new study have discovered that microplastic particles in the atmosphere can act as nuclei for ice formation, thereby influencing climate change. This finding could explain changes in cloud structure and precipitation intensity, as the presence of more microplastic particles creates more tiny droplets. Microplastics may also affect the clouds' ability to reflect or retain heat, which is critical for the climate, while exposure to light and other factors influences the ability to form ice.

A Unique Koi Carp in the UK

In the UK, there lives a unique koi carp named Bob, whose pattern on the face resembles a human face. According to the fish's owner, he acquired it three years ago, and at that time, the spots on the scales were not distinctive, so he didn't even suspect that Bob would later become a real celebrity.

Robot in the USA can always win at Rock, Paper, Scissors

In the USA, a robot has been built that can beat anyone at Rock, Paper, Scissors. The clever machine always knows the opponent's gesture because it analyzes hand movements 100 times per second. If you manage to defeat the robot, you will be paid $10,000.

Viral Post of Plant Growing from Hand

A post went viral on social network X about a guy who discovered a small plant growing from the skin on his arm. The photo garnered over 15 million views in a day, but many consider it fake. The author claims to be a botanist and constantly works with plants, suggesting that a seed accidentally got into a cut on his hand and somehow sprouted.

Louis Vuitton Reissues Signature Folding Trunk

Louis Vuitton has reissued its signature folding trunk, which it originally sold in the late 1860s. According to the description, it is a “practical accessory” that can be used as a guest bed or sofa, as well as taken on trips. The price ranges from 160,000 to 220,000 euros, depending on the materials.

LG revolutionizes flexible displays

LG has revolutionized flexible screens. The Koreans have introduced a stretchable display that bends in any direction and stretches by 50%. The resolution remains at 100 ppi, and the color rendering includes the full RGB set.

Brabus Unveils Its First Motorhome

The famous atelier Brabus has unveiled its first motorhome - the huge Big Boy based on the diesel Mercedes-Benz Actros. Noteworthy: 12 meters in length and over 30 m² of living space, expandable walls, three sleeping places, a kitchen with appliances, including a wine cabinet, as well as satellite internet and a bathroom with a toilet and shower. The price starts at €1.26 million.

Fake Boulder Discovered on Mount Wutong

A giant boulder that tourists photographed with on the summit of Mount Wutong in Shenzhen was revealed to be fake. For many years, the boulder attracted crowds of visitors, but now it has been discovered to be artificial - one of the walls collapsed and the area has been closed for repairs. By the way, this is not the first 'revelation' of attractions in China this year: in June, it became known that the country's highest waterfall is supported by a stream from a pipe.