The Scoville scale, which measures the heat of peppers based on the concentration of capsaicin – the primary active component in spicy chillies, was developed by American chemist Wilbur Scoville in 1912. For comparison, the average jalapeno pepper scores between 3,000 and 8,000 Scoville units.

“Chilli X” is cultivated by Ed Currie, founder of the “Puckerbutt Pepper Company” in South Carolina, who also bred the former record-holder, the “Carolina Reaper”.

“Ed has been cultivating ‘Chilli X’ on his farm for over a decade, crossbreeding it with some of his spiciest peppers to increase its capsaicin content,” the Guinness World Records announced on their website.

Photo: instagram/puckerbuttpeppercompany

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This event signified the debut North American auction of items from the esteemed banking family’s French lineage. Baron James Mayer de Rothschild, his spouse Betty, and their offspring Alphonse, who lived during the 19th century, primarily amassed these artefacts. They have since remained in the family’s possession.

Prominent within this collection was art from past masters, particularly a 17th-century masterpiece by Gerrit Dou titled “Young Woman Holding a Rabbit with a Lad at the Window”, which garnered over £5 million.

A notable ancient piece was a sardonyx bearing the likeness of Roman Emperor Claudius from the 1st century AD, which sold for nearly £85,000. Interestingly, this gem appeared at a Christie’s auction in 1899, fetching 3,750 pounds (roughly £365,000 in today’s currency), shortly before its acquisition by the Rothschilds.

“Such artefacts have remained hidden from public view since the 1800s. Unless acquainted with this Rothschild branch, one wouldn’t have glimpsed them. Such items aren’t typical in New York; one would expect such auctions in Europe,” remarked Jonathan Rendell from Christie’s.

Items like Italian Renaissance pottery, exquisite furniture, silverware, tapestries, and jewellery, epitomising the Rothschild’s refined taste, were also on offer.

“Such pieces would’ve stirred quite a frenzy in the market a century or a century and a half ago. We seldom see such items up for sale nowadays,” added Rendell.

Regarding the family’s decision to auction these treasures, Christie’s speculates it might pertain to streamlining or a generational perspective shift.

“Living as 19th-century Rothschilds isn’t common… Not even for the Rothschilds,” concluded Rendell.

Photo: Courtesy of Christie’s

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The EU’s total output amounted to 84 million tonnes of packaging waste, of which 40.3% were paper and cardboard. Plastics accounted for 19.0%, glass 18.5%, wood 17.1%, and metal 4.9%.

Throughout 2021, each EU resident, on average, generated 35.9 kilograms of plastic packaging waste. Out of this, 14.2 kilograms were recycled. Compared to 2020, both the production and recycling of plastic packaging witnessed a rise: production increased by 1.4 kg per capita (+4.0%), and recycling surged by +1.2 kilograms per person (+9.5%).

From 2011 to 2021, the quantity of plastic packaging waste per inhabitant grew by 26.7% (+7.6 kg/per person). Over the same span, the recycled volume of plastic packaging waste rose by 38.1% (+3.9 kg/per person).

Following stricter regulations implemented in 2020 to ensure member states reported their recycling figures accurately, the recycling rate shifted from 41.1% in 2019 to 37.6% in 2020. In 2021, the recycling rate trended upwards again, reaching 39.7%.

In 2021, Slovenia (50.0%), Belgium (49.2%), and the Netherlands (48.9%) recycled around half or just under half of their plastic packaging waste. Conversely, Malta (20.5%), France (23.1%), and Sweden (23.8%) recycled less than a quarter of their plastic packaging waste.

Packaging waste, generated in households, trade sectors, industries, or other areas, poses one of the world’s most significant waste challenges. It is hard to decompose and can pollute the environment for many years. This includes plastic bags, plastic and glass bottles, cardboard boxes, styrofoam food containers, foils, and adhesive tapes.

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The ECB announced that starting 1st November, it would initiate a two-year preparation phase for the digital euro. This phase will involve finalising regulations, selecting its private sector partners, and undertaking tests and experiments.

“After the two-year period, we will decide on advancing to the next phase of readiness, paving the way for a potential future issuance and rollout of the digital euro,” stated the ECB.

While this decision is but a small step in a multi-year initiative, it places the ECB ahead of other Group of Seven (G7) central banks and might set a precedent for others to follow.

Various Caribbean nations and Nigeria have already launched digital currencies, with China and Sweden among those who have embarked on pilot schemes.

However, institutions like the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, and the Bank of Canada have exhibited more caution towards such ventures.

Research suggests that central banks representing a fifth of the global population are likely to release their digital currencies within the next three years.

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According to these figures, Europe’s underground gas storage facilities are presently at a 97.89% capacity, marking an 8.54 percentage point increase from the average of the past five years for this period. This equates to a storage volume of 107.75 billion cubic metres of gas.

European nations managed to fill their facilities to the planned 90% level by mid-August in preparation for the upcoming heating season. This surpassed expectations set by the European Commission, which had projected reaching this level by November.

The previous record, a fill rate of 97.84%, was set on 28th October 2019.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) had previously indicated that Europe could potentially fill its gas storages nearly to 100%. However, even such high reserves might lead to market instability in the event of a harsh winter combined with a complete halt in gas deliveries from Russia.

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Yearly waste, exceeding nine billion kilograms, incorporates items such as toys, cables, e-cigarettes, tools, electric toothbrushes, razors, headphones, and other household appliances. These items contain essential metals like lithium, gold, silver, and copper, as noted in the report. 

However, these materials are heading to waste as they are not being recycled, reports the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

While Europe boasts an e-waste recycling rate of 55%, the global average plunges to around 17%. Furthermore, the percentage drops to nearly zero in parts of South America, Asia, and Africa, often due to the absence of waste collection centres, highlight experts at the Forum for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

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“It’s projected that by 2024, the population of individuals over 65 in Europe will surpass those under 15. This trend symbolises a new era of social, economic, and health challenges,” stated a communique from the WHO’s European branch, which covers 53 countries, including some in Central Asia.

Additionally, estimates by the “Our World in Data” institute suggest that this phenomenon, currently unfolding in Europe, will manifest globally around 2064.

To mitigate the impact of an ageing population, the WHO urges governments to implement measures aimed at enabling older individuals to maintain and enhance their physical and mental health, independence, social well-being, and overall quality of life.

Among the recommendations are a balanced diet and a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity weekly.

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Consequently, beer is likely to become more expensive in the future, compelling producers to adjust their brewing methods.

Scientists predict that hop yields in European regions where they are cultivated will decrease by 4-18% by 2050 if farmers don’t adapt to the warmer and drier climate. Furthermore, the alpha acid content in hops, responsible for the distinctive taste and aroma of beer, will decline by 20-31%. 

“Those who enjoy beer will certainly feel the impact of climate change, be it in the cost or the quality. According to our findings, it’s inevitable,” stated Miroslav Trnka, a scientist from the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and co-author of the study published in Nature Communications.

Beer, the third most popular drink globally after water and tea, is typically flavoured with aromatic hops. These hops are primarily grown in mid-latitude regions sensitive to changes in light, temperature, and water.

In their research, scientists compared the average annual yield of aromatic hops between 1971-1994 and 1995-2018, uncovering a significant drop in production ranging from 0.13-0.27 tons per hectare. The most substantial decline in annual hop yield was observed in Celje, Slovenia, at 19.4%. Meanwhile, Germany, the world’s second-largest hop producer, saw average yields decrease by 19.1%.

Central Europe has a rich beer-making history spanning thousands of years and is integral to its culture. The Czech Republic, for instance, boasts the highest beer consumption globally, as noted in a report by Japanese beer manufacturer Kirin. In Germany, where beer production has been governed by the Purity Law for over 500 years, Oktoberfest annually welcomes millions of global visitors.

However, the study also revealed that the alpha acid content in hops, providing beer with its distinct aroma, has decreased in all beer-producing regions. This drop in hop production will be most felt in Slovenia, Portugal, and Spain.

While the climate threat to hops is significant, it isn’t the most prominent factor influencing beer prices. High energy costs, propelled by the escalating gas prices due to wars, have so far played a more substantial role for brewers.

“The cost of hops in beer isn’t even as much as the cap on the bottle,” concludes the report.

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The Swedish capital’s authorities will introduce an eco-zone spanning 20 blocks of the inner city, encompassing upscale shopping streets and some of Sweden’s priciest properties.

The Green Party, part of Stockholm’s ruling coalition of left-leaning and environmentally-focused parties, hopes this move will expedite the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric cars.

“Today’s air quality in Stockholm results in infants facing respiratory issues and the elderly suffering premature deaths. This is utterly unacceptable,” commented the Green Party.

This ‘Class Three’ eco-zone will predominantly cater to fully electric cars, although plug-in hybrid vehicles will be permitted for larger vans. Exceptions are in place for emergency and police vehicles, as well as cars driven or occupied by disabled individuals.

The Green Party hints at potential expansions of this eco-zone after its initial roll-out.

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Currently, 28,420 such multi-millionaires exist, marking a 12% growth from last year, as per a report by wealth consultancy, Henley & Partners.

Low interest rates have bolstered asset values, enhancing everything from real estate to stocks’ worth. The tech sector, predominantly in the USA, has further amplified these numbers, seeing global billionaires rise from fewer than 500 in 2003 to over 2,600 today, based on Forbes data.

Post the 2008 financial crisis, diminished money value coupled with worldwide fiscal fluctuations have contributed to this ascent. “The value of money has declined, leading to more individuals surpassing the £100 million mark,” commented Henley & Partners.

The US remains the hub of super-wealth with 38% of the total, led by New York (775 individuals), San Francisco (692), and Los Angeles (504). London ranks fourth with 388 multi-millionaires, trailed by Asian cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Predictions suggest a slowing growth of the super-rich, but still an increase to an estimated 39,000 by 2033. Notably, while the term ‘billionaire’ grabs headlines, those worth over £100 million provide a truer reflection of global wealth trends.

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Representing European nations in the Council will be Albania, Bulgaria, France, and the Netherlands. Russia had been contending with Albania and Bulgaria for two seats reserved for Central and Eastern European nations.

The @UN General Assembly has elected 15 members of the Human Rights Council (@UN_HRC) for the term 2024-2026:

Albania
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burundi
China
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Dominican Republic
France
Ghana
Indonesia
Japan
Kuwait
Malawi
Netherlands pic.twitter.com/qM170esodD

— United Nations Human Rights Council | #HRC54 (@UN_HRC) October 10, 2023

Other members of the Council include Brazil, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, and Malawi.

On 7th April 2022, the UN General Assembly backed the decision to exclude Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. Of the voting nations, 93 supported the resolution, 24 opposed, and 58 abstained.

Photo: dam.media.un.org

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Prada brings expertise in materials and manufacturing to the project. One astronaut remarked to the BBC that Prada was up to the task due to their extensive design experience.

“Prada boasts considerable knowledge in various composite fabrics and might actually make technical contributions to the outer layers of the new space suit,” opined Professor Jeffrey Hoffman, a veteran of five missions and four spacewalks.

Earlier this year, Axiom unveiled a space suit which is slated for use in the upcoming Artemis 3 mission. Weighing 55 kilograms, the suit was reportedly better suited for female astronauts.

The Artemis 3 mission will follow Artemis 2 and involves a capsule journey around the Moon, scheduled for late next year or early 2025.

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The consortium has secured a £425 million contract with EuroHPC, a high-performance computing company representing a joint venture between the European Union, various European nations, and private firms, with a mission to advance supercomputing in Europe.

“JUPITER will boast a computational capacity three times that of the current leading European supercomputer and will occupy an area roughly equivalent to four tennis courts,” stated representatives from Partec and Atos.

The post £425M JUPITER: Europe’s Top Supercomputer in Making appeared first on CorD Magazine.

The discovery, made within the royal tomb of Um el Kab, revealed sealed wine vessels, seemingly untouched for millennia, and remarkably preserved grape seeds, announced the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. 

The archaeological site, located in the ancient city of Abydos, is home to several royal tombs from the early dynastic period, spanning approximately four centuries from the dawn of the 3rd millennium BC.

“This discovery of sealed and intact wine vessels in Abydos, along with the remarkably preserved grape seeds, has the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the earliest production, consumption, and trade of wine in the ancient Mediterranean and North Africa,” shared the archaeological team, comprising experts from Egypt, Germany, and Austria.

Unearthings of wine vessels from this era in Egypt are scarce, particularly when involving sealed and uncontaminated containers. A thorough analysis of the vessels and their remnants could divulge pivotal insights into the viticulture practices of the time and the early cultivation and domestication of grapevines.

Further analysis of the residues found within the jars may also shed light on the chemical composition of the vintage wine, revealing its flavour profile and any additives that might have been used.

Photo: Facebook/Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

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