CES 2025 Introduces the 'Death Tablet'

At CES 2025, the 'Death Tablet' was introduced. It's an iPad Pro that comes with a smart ring capable of recognizing the owner's demise. Once the tablet realizes it has become 'orphaned', it will erase all data and browser history, post a farewell message on social networks, and then play the song 'Never Gonna Give You Up'.

2024 Sets Record as Hottest Year

2024 has indeed become the hottest year on record, much like the entire last decade. Compared to pre-industrial levels, the average global temperature for the year increased by 1.6 °C for the first time, with the peak occurring on July 22, when the average daily value worldwide reached 17.16 °C.

New York introduces congestion charge

New York is the first city in the USA to introduce a charge for driving on the most congested streets. The measure is intended to encourage motorists to switch to public transport and bicycles. Currently, the rule only applies to Manhattan, and the cost depends on the time of day and type of vehicle: car drivers must pay $9 during peak hours, while trucks and buses must pay $14.4.

E Ink Introduces New Art Display Technology

The creators of E Ink technology, in collaboration with PocketBook and Sharp, have released 'paintings' that can display any canvas. The large photo frame needs to be charged only once a year, and images can be changed at any time through a smartphone app. Depending on the size, it costs $599-1700.

Fry Grabbers at Japanese McDonald's

Japanese McDonald's now offers fry grabbers so you don't get your hands dirty. You can get one by purchasing a 'happy pack', which also includes a lamp in the shape of a Big Mac, a branded wallet, and a coupon for your next order.

Asus Unveils World's First Router with Neuroprocessor for Ad Blocking

Asus has unveiled the world's first router equipped with a neuroprocessor for ad blocking. The ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI features a special AI chip that effectively detects banners, etc., and also enhances signal stability and reduces ping times in games. Additionally, it comes with Wi-Fi 7 offering speeds of up to 19 Gbps and a range of around 280 m². It will be priced at $800.

Bird Buddy Unveils Camera for Insect Observation

The startup Bird Buddy, which produces 'smart' bird feeders for bird watching, has showcased a camera for capturing butterflies, bees, and other insects. The built-in AI is capable of recognizing insect species, counting their number, recording statistics, and predicting when pollinated flowers will bloom.

23 People Trapped in British Tavern by Snow after New Year

In the UK, 23 people became stranded in a tavern for the entire holiday after celebrating the New Year because it was snowed in. The holidays went smoothly: there were bedrooms, food supplies for a month, and plenty of beer. The catch is that the Tan Hill Inn is known for how often it gets snowed in, so one can go there specifically for isolation.

Los Angeles on Fire for Second Day

Los Angeles is ablaze for the second day - in the "City of Angels," large-scale fires have spread from the forests to residential areas and nearby cities. The fire covers an area of 1,200 hectares - forests, exclusive neighborhoods, and cottages are burning. The most affected are the star-favored Pacific Palisades district and the legendary city of Malibu.

Swiss Man Sleeps While Swimming

Swiss Noam Yaron shared that he learned to sleep while floating during his attempt to swim from Calvi to Monaco in three days, without leaving the water. He says he simply switches off part of his brain. Dolphins, for instance, do this by shutting down one hemisphere of their brain and closing the opposite eye. Using this technique, Yaron swam 103 kilometers in 2 days and 2 nights, but due to jellyfish, hypothermia, and counter-currents, he withdrew from the race. He will repeat the swim this year.

First AI-assisted Terror Attack in the USA

The first terror attack in the USA was carried out with the help of AI. Matthew Levelsberger used ChatGPT to plan the bombing of a Cybertruck at the Trump Hotel in Vegas. The chatbot advised on how to assemble and activate a bomb.

Flying Bicycle Unveiled at CES 2025

At the tech exhibition CES 2025, a flying bicycle was unveiled. The electric Rictor Skyrider X1 can ascend to a height of 200 m, fly for up to 40 minutes, and autonomously calculate the optimal route. The price is only $60,000, which is significantly cheaper than other flying machines.

Mr. Beast surpasses 341 million subscribers

Blogger Jimmy Donaldson, known by the pseudonym Mr. Beast, reached over 341 million 671 thousand subscribers on YouTube as of January 5, 2025. And the number keeps growing. This is more than the population of the United States. According to official census data, there are 341 million 156 thousand people registered in the USA. Jimmy Donaldson started his YouTube channel on February 20, 2012, and the total number of views now exceeds 69 billion. Recently, the blogger reported that an entire city was built specifically for his new project, which cost him 14 million dollars.

30-year-old Miniature Donkey Perry Dies in the US

In the US, the 30-year-old miniature donkey Perry, who served as the model for the Donkey in 'Shrek', has died. He was euthanized due to illness. Perry suffered from laminitis, a hoof disease that caused him agonizing pain. For a month, he just stood on three legs and held one up due to the pain. No treatment could help him.

Robottaxi Stops Car Thief in the USA

A Los Angeles resident attempted to steal a driverless Jaguar I-PACE, but the car locked the unfortunate man inside and handed him over to the cops.

China to Subsidize Electronics Purchases

The Chinese government will start subsidizing the purchase of any electronics from Xiaomi, Huawei, and other local brands. The subsidies will primarily aim to reduce the cost of new gadgets through trade-ins of old ones and to stabilize prices. Currently, China's state subsidies strongly cover the local automotive market, which has led the European Union to impose special tariffs on all Chinese electric cars.

Pablo Escobar's Private Jet is Now Available on Airbnb

Pablo Escobar's private jet can now be rented on Airbnb. The hotel is located in Bristol, UK. A Boeing 727 has been transformed into an apartment with a bed and jacuzzi. The plane retains the original kitchen, landing gear, cockpit, and 1980s interior. One night in the plane costs $1055.

China Leads Starlink in Laser Data Transmission

China surpasses Starlink in the field of high-resolution 'space-to-earth' laser data transmission in the 6G standard. China has achieved a technological breakthrough in laser communication between satellite and Earth, setting a data transmission speed record of 100 Gbps - 10 times faster than the previous achievement. Chang Guang Satellite Technology, which owns the largest commercial satellite constellation Jilin-1, conducted tests using a mobile ground station.

Legendary Walter White's House for Sale

The legendary house of Walter White from 'Breaking Bad' has been put on sale for 4 million dollars. Even 12 years after the show concluded, crowds of fans continue to flock to the house regularly: they take photos with it or try to get inside. On average, about 300 people visit the house every day. Now the owners have given up and suggest that the new owners turn the house into a museum.

Giant Alcohol Cloud Found in Space

A giant alcohol cloud is located 10,000 light years away from Earth. It contains 400 quintillion liters of alcohol. To consume such a volume, every person would need to drink 300,000 liters of alcohol daily for a billion years. This cloud was discovered near the constellation Aquila and is 1,000 times the diameter of the Solar System.