A list of curious facts
One: Did you know Paul Rusebagina—made famous by the Oscar-winning movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’—is now facing charges as a terrorist in his home country? Der Spiegel has this astonishing story.
Two: Ok, this is more alarming than curious… According to environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Shanna Swan, sperm counts in the West have dropped 60% since 1973. And that problem will soon become a global crisis—with sperm counts approaching zero in 2045. The reason: hormone-disrupting chemicals found in everything from plastic containers to soaps and electronics. The Guardian has more on the findings of her new book.
Three: This is humanity’s first ‘computer’—a 2,000-year-old Greek device called the Antikythera Mechanism. It predicted the movement of the five known planets, moon phases and solar and lunar eclipses. Now, scientists may have figured out just how it works. Smithsonian has more on that breakthrough. Below is a computer-generated model of the device.
Four: A Japanese AI-driven system—developed to distinguish different kinds of pastries—can now detect cancer cells. The reason: cancer cells bear a striking resemblance to bread. New Yorker has a long read on this amazing breakthrough.
Five: Are you Alonely? Yup, you read that right. That’s the new word for the opposite of ‘lonely’—when you crave time to yourself and just don’t get it. Also: What mothers everywhere feel a great deal of the time. Vice explains.
Six: Did you know that airlifting rhinos upside down—like below—is actually very safe and keeps them alive—and is better than transporting them on stretchers? CNN has an excellent story that explains why.
