Inspired by techniques used in Asia, a Serbian couple, Dragan and Slavica Markovic, decided to change their careers and create pencils from old newspapers. New Pen makes its eco-pencils from graphite, recycled unsold and old newspapers, and edible, locally sourced, corn starch glue. Graphite is the only raw material the company procures abroad. “Manual labor dominates in our manufacturing process,” explains Slavica. “We start by cutting newspapers into equally sized strips and then we unfold the strips and hand-paste the graphite core into them,” she adds while demonstrating the process. In order for New Pen to be financially sustainable, Markovics had to build, with the help of a local engineer, a trio of simple machines that partially automate their production process. Quality control and boxing of pencils are also done manually. “We inspect every single graphite and colored pencil manually, to make sure that they are of the same length and nicely sharpened,” explains Slavica. Dragan says he had “a good fortune” to meet early on an executive of the Berlin-based Pelikan Group, one of the world’s leading providers of school and stationery material, who recognized the appeal of New Pen’s environment-friendly pencils and introduced them to German wholesalers. New Pen currently sells only a fraction, or around 5 percent, of its pencils in Serbia, while the remaining 95 percent are sold to wholesalers, primarily in Germany, but also Austria, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. The company currently employs eight people and plans further expansion after it won last year financial and technical backing from a European Union project supporting the green transformation in Serbia. “Our company has several missions,” Dragan Markovic says. “The first is to make environmentally friendly products, and second to educate young people.” For that purpose, the company uses the boxes in which it packs its pencils as a calling card. Written in English and French, on the back of each box, buyers can read that “(our pencils) are fully recyclable, that no new trees were cut to make them, that our manufacturing process is energy efficient, and that they are healthy,” he adds. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A new insect has been discovered in a Northern Territory national park in Australia. The new variety of ghost wasp was found by two young wildlife photographers next to a swimming hole. “So, the subtropics, all the savannas up here, are just amazing. It's one of the most extensive and intact ecosystems, actually, in the entire world,” says Nick Volpe, Naturalist and wildlife photographer. ”Most people assume that we already know everything about the biodiversity in the natural world around us, but it couldn't be further from the truth,” says Lucyna Kania, Naturalist and wildlife photographer. What they found is a variety of the Gasteruption genus of wasps, more commonly called “ghost wasps” because they hover in a zigzag pattern. To give it a name, Volpe and Kania consulted local Jawoyn traditional owners. “It's called the Mam-Burrumurl wasp,” says Kania. In the local language, ‘mam’ means ‘ghost’ and ‘Burrumurl’ means ‘wasp.’ To learn more about this new type of wasp, Kania and Volpe sent samples to one of the main native Australian wasp experts. “As soon as I saw it, I knew it was something undescribed, something new. It's really distinctive compared to the rest of the Australian species, and it just blew my mind as soon as I saw it,” says Dr. Ben Parslow from the South Australian Museum. To survive and reproduce, the ghost wasp parasitizes a native bee’s nest by laying its eggs in it. Parslow says the discovery of the new wasp will help in trying to explain these unique host relationships. “It helps us begin to understand how these groups can occur together, but also how they've evolved.” “It's good to have species out there on the ledger so that we know what has been affected, what are we losing, so we can value it and make better decisions going forward,” says Kania. Now, Kania and Volpe are sharing the knowledge gathered from their new discovery with others like these school students. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Moving in a dense cloud, like a flock of birds in flight, 100 drones maneuver through the night sky in an open field just outside Hungary’s capital. It’s the result of more than a decade of research and experimentation that scientists believe could change the future of unmanned flight. The behavior of the swarm, made up of autonomous drones that make their own decisions without pre-programming or centralized control, is guided by research conducted by Hungarian scientists at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest on the collective movements of creatures from the natural world. “We don’t scale up our systems from designing one single drone and then having multiple ones,” says Gábor Vásárhelyi, a senior researcher at the university. “But we start this whole thing with the mindset of collective motion and collective behavior.” In recent years, drones have become a common sight in the sky: Companies like Amazon and FedEx have launched drone delivery services, hobbyists use them for aerial photography, and groups of more than 1,000 drones have been programmed to deliver large-scale light shows. But the scientists at ELTE’s Department of Biological Physics have developed new models based on the behavior of animals to allow a large number of drones to travel autonomously and react in real-time to their environment and each other as they execute individual routes and tasks. “This is the level of what we call decentralization or decentralized systems. After the drones are told what to do, we can switch off the ground control station, we can burn it, or whatever, throw it away,” says Vásárhelyi. “The drones will be able to do what they have to do just by communicating to each other.” Using data the researchers gathered by monitoring the flight of pigeons, the movements of wild horses on the Great Hungarian Plain, and other animal behavior, they developed an algorithm that allows the drones to make onboard, autonomous decisions and safely mitigate conflicts to avoid collisions. Digital models in three dimensions have convinced the researchers that the algorithm can successfully support 5,000 drones flying together autonomously. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

President Joe Biden became emotional as he honored acclaimed filmmakers, singers, writers, and others who have made their mark on American culture, awarding the prestigious National Medals of Arts and National Humanities Medals to 39 recipients. Filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, and Ken Burns and singers Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah were among 20 recipients of National Medals of Arts, while the 19 recipients of National Humanities Medals included playwright-screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and historian Jon Meacham. Three of the medals were awarded posthumously: The late singer Selena Quintanilla and artist Ruth Asawa are arts medal winners and the late chef-author Anthony Bourdain was among the humanities medal winners. “Above all, you are the masters of your craft that have made us a better America with all of you have done,” Biden said at the White House ceremony. Biden grew emotional as he recounted that Dr. Martin Luther King, as a ten-year-old boy, listened on the radio to Marian Anderson sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 after she had been denied from performing at Constitution Hall. Decades later, when King delivered his famous speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Biden recounted that Anderson was there to sing again. “She sang, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” Biden said. “My fellow Americans, today we honor that legacy.” Biden also told the winners that the moment was a “very consequential time in the arts and humanities in America” because “extreme forces are banning books, trying to erase history, spreading misinformation.” The arts medals are given “to individuals or groups who are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.” Other humanities winners included former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo, actor-literacy advocate LeVar Burton, cartoonist Roz Chast, and philanthropists Wallis Annenberg and Darren Walker. The humanities medals honor “an individual or organization whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the human experience, broadened citizens’ engagement with history or literature, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to cultural resources.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The rising number of injuries to top soccer players came at a cost of nearly $800 million to teams across Europe’s leading leagues last season, according to a report. At a time when there are growing concerns about the number of games players are being asked to play, the Men’s European Football Injury Index found there were 4,123 injuries in the top divisions of England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France in the 2023-24 campaign. The cost of the injuries was based on the reported salaries of the players concerned and the amount of time they were sidelined for. The report highlighted a greater strain on clubs as a result of the newly expanded Club World Cup, which will be staged in America next year. The number of injuries has risen year-on-year since the index was first published in 2021 and the latest report said, “It would be fair to expect a continuation of this upwards trajectory.” “The squad depth of clubs will continue to be tested, particularly with the impending introduction of the new FIFA Men’s Club World Cup in 2025.” The index is produced by sports insurance firm Howden. Its publication comes a day after a players’ union and European leagues filed a formal complaint to the European Union against world governing body FIFA. The 32-team Club World Cup—up from seven—has faced consistent pushback over concerns about player welfare since its new extended format was announced last year. The football index has tracked a rise in injuries even before the expanded Club World Cup and Champions League. It said there had been 14,292—excluding COVID-19—in the top five European leagues dating back to the 2020-21 season. That came at a cost of $2.5 billion based on the reported salaries. Last season alone, the figure was $798 million. On average there was an injury every 92 minutes of football involving teams across those leagues. The report said there was a “concerning trend” surrounding players under the age of 21, who were sustaining an increase of severe injuries. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

New GoFundMe tools make it easier to circulate causes across online platforms in a push to cater to younger generations. The crowdfunding site hopes to meet digital natives in the online spaces where they frequently advocate, streamlining the donation experience to encourage more charity and connecting traditional nonprofits with a demographic that prefers direct contributions over institutional giving. Among the features rolling out this fall are fundraising widgets for video game streamers, personalized profiles to highlight users’ philanthropic interests, and an integrated button on Instagram to donate. The products reflect the for-profit company’s internal recognition that Gen Z’s habits make social media an untapped source to drive charitable contributions. Gen Z respondents ages 18-26 are much more likely than older people to regularly share causes or fundraisers on their accounts, according to a survey led this summer by GoFundMe. Half reported doing so at least once a week and 41% said social media content compelled them to research or support a cause. The moves also signal the continuation of GoFundMe’s attempts to better serve nonprofit partners in addition to everyday organizers. Nonprofits can nurture donor relationships further by identifying data on contributors who give through Instagram, according to a company spokesperson. The company also built out user profiles. Starting November 13, individuals and organizations can personalize their own accounts with more details about their giving. If LinkedIn is the site where users highlight their professional side, GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said he wants GoFundMe Profiles to be the site where people show “this is me as a person that does good in the world.” “We hope that over time that becomes the place on the internet that you express your altruistic side of your identity," he said. Youth-facing organizations must follow young people to the platforms where they find community, according to Fast Forward Executive Director Shannon Farley. “Social media is where young people and young donors live,” Farley said. “If you’re not going to the places where people are every day, you’re missing out on a whole group of people who could be backing your cause.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The Indian government plans a new law to punish those making hoax bomb threats against flights, which disrupt the schedules of airlines and cause massive inconvenience to thousands of passengers. In less than two weeks, more than 120 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said that the government is planning to introduce legislation that would put offenders on a no-fly list and amend the 1982 Civil Aviation Act so that they can be arrested and investigated without a court order. IndiGo, a private Indian airline, said nine of its flights destined for Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and some flights from Turkey had received such hoax calls. The flights were diverted to the nearest airports for security checks. "We worked closely with the relevant authorities and followed standard operating procedures,” the airline said in a statement. The hoaxers have largely gone untraced so far. The Mumbai police said they detained a 17-year-old boy from eastern Chhattisgarh state for allegedly posting bomb threat messages on the social media of various airlines. Police officer Maneesh Kalwaniya said the boy's motive was to implicate another person involved in a business dispute with him. The Press Trust of India said 30 domestic and international flights operated by Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India, received bomb threats in just one night. "Even though bomb threats are hoaxes, things cannot be taken non-seriously,” Rammohan said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Hotel Yugoslavia was once the top place to stay for celebrities and dignitaries visiting Belgrade. Now, it’s fallen into disrepair, but a plan to replace it with a modern hotel is causing controversy. The hotel in the Serbian capital was a favorite gathering place for local officials and world leaders, but has fallen into disrepair since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Built in the 1960s, the modernist structure has lost its former luster. Its facade is marred by crumbling concrete and graffiti. Inside, debris covers once-pristine floors. Faded velvet sofas, torn mattresses, and broken windows are all that remain of the luxury that once characterized the establishment in its prime. As Belgrade experiences rapid growth, marked by new high-rise developments, the hotel’s fate has sparked controversy. Some view it as a relic worth preserving. Others see opportunities for redevelopment. Opened in 1969, Hotel Yugoslavia was a five-star destination. It featured one of the world’s largest chandeliers, made of 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 5,000 bulbs. The hotel hosted international celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth II, US Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, and astronaut Neil Armstrong. Private investors have now announced plans for its demolition and redevelopment. The new project will feature two 150-meter (500-foot) towers. These will include a luxury hotel, offices, and private apartments, according to the investors. Zivorad Vasic, a spokesman for the investors, explained the need for complete demolition. “There are a couple of reasons for it, and that’s very important,” he says. “One is during the bombing in 1999, quite a lot of parts of the hotel were destroyed. Second, the hospitality industry completely and tremendously changed.” Architect and tour guide Matija Zlatanovic says plans for the new hotel are “controversial.” Residents living near the planned construction site aren’t happy either and some are joining weekly protests. “Hotel Yugoslavia represents a huge part of our history,” says protester Svetlana Gojun. “Half the world came to this hotel, from actors, musicians, politicians, writers. Everyone is tied to this hotel. The whole world knows about that hotel. And now we will allow something like that to disappear?” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Schools in Mexico have six months to implement a government-sponsored ban on junk food or face heavy fines, officials said, as authorities confront what they call the worst childhood obesity problem in the world. The rules, published on Sept. 30, target products that have become staples for two or three generations of Mexican school kids: sugary fruit drinks, chips, artificial pork rinds, and soy-encased, salty peanuts with chili. School administrators who violate the order will face fines equivalent to between $545 and $5,450, which could double for a second offense. That could amount to nearly a year's wages for some. Mexico's children have the highest consumption of junk food in Latin America and many get 40% of their total caloric intake from it, according to the U.N. children's agency, which has called child obesity there an emergency. Authorities say about one-third of Mexico's children are overweight or obese. Previous attempts to implement laws against junk food have met with little success. A survey of over 10,000 schools carried out between 2023 and 2024 found that junk food was available in 98% of them, with sugary drinks in 95% and soft drinks in 79%. Ads for junk food were found in 25% of schools. New President Claudia Sheinbaum said that schools will have to offer water fountains and alternative snacks, like bean tacos. "It is much better to eat a bean taco than a bag of potato chips," Sheinbaum said. "It is much better to drink hibiscus flower water than soda." However, the vast majority of Mexico's 255,000 schools do not have free drinking water available to students. According to a report in 2020, the effort to install drinking fountains succeeded in about 10,900 of the country's schools, or about 4%. Many schools are in areas so poor or remote that they struggle to maintain acceptable bathrooms, internet connection or electricity. Mexico instituted front-of-package warning labels for foods between 2010 and 2020 to advise consumers about high levels of salt, added sugar, excess calories and saturated fats. Some snack foods carry all four warning labels. But under the new rules, schools will have to phase out any product containing even a single warning label from their snack stands. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The last confirmed sighting of a dodo was in the 17th century. But at the Cambridge Museum of Zoology, it is speaking again. These are the skeletal remains of a bird that was extinct by the 1680s—and is one of the first animals humans realized they had driven to extinction. But now it is chatting away, answering anything and everything in a natural conversation. Using AI technology, visitors to the museum can talk to the dodo using their smart devices. It responds to pleasantries, it can explain how it was driven to extinction when sailors arrived at its Mauritius home, and even considers ethical questions like whether it would like to be cloned back into existence by scientists. Jack Ashby, assistant director of the Museum of Zoology Cambridge, thinks AI provides a new way for visitors to interact with its exhibits. He says, “Museums generally choose what to tell people, but in this way they can ask whatever they like and that's really, really valuable, I think. They can have an actual conversation with an animal, with a specimen, and I think brings it to life in a really different way than a normal museum exhibit might.” There are 12 other animal specimens featured in the project, each with its own unique voice. Jack Ashby says, “When I started working with the Nature Perspectives platform, I was just asking factual questions. But because the animal’s personality comes across really quickly, you end up having an actual conversation where you’re asking more about feelings, you’re asking anything fun. You could ask how its day was or what it had for breakfast. You can have a proper conversation. And I think that it’s a different way of engaging. And it's much more real, I think, than most information we get in museums.” The AI technology is provided by Nature Perspectives, an international tech-education company founded by Cambridge graduates who studied together on a Master’s of Conservation Leadership program. The technology is being trialed for a month, and the museum will then analyze the response and the types of conversations it generates. The Nature Perspectives AI experiment runs from 15 October until 15 November 2024. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A movement of cultural expression with origins in Mexican American and Chicano communities, lowriding is a way for a person to show their pride, family, and culture. Lowriding is the customization of a vehicle from the tires to the sound system with vivid designs and colors. Unlike hot rods or muscle cars, which have been modified to have big tires and go fast, in the lowrider community, with little resources, they modified the cars to go “low and slow.” For Luis Martinez, competing in lowriding bike and car competitions is about more than glory and bragging rights. His participation in lowrider clubs in the Chicago area has been like one big family and a source of mutual support. “It just starts with the metal,” said Martinez, who got his introduction to lowrider culture when his mother took him to a flea market. He had his first bike when he was 12. “To me, it’s about expressing my art and what I can do with my own hands,” Martinez told The Associated Press as he polished at his home in Mishawaka, Indiana. Lauren Pacheco, the co-founder and co-curator of the Slow and Low Chicago Low Rider Festival, described lowriding as a global multibillion-dollar phenomenon of self-expression and innovation. “The lowriding movement is really a cultural expression,” Pacheco said. “It’s a marvel of mechanical innovation. It is the beautiful artistry in the creative practice of muralism, storytelling, and upholstery.” It’s a legacy that Sonia Gomez wants for her 8-year-old son, Daniel Marquez. His late father, Alberto Marquez, had been a member of the Chicago area lowrider club. Too young to drive the car left to him by his father, Daniel has a lowriding bike that is more of a memorial to his dad. The family will do an ofrenda, a display often associated with Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebrations, when local lowriding festivals are held. As part of the ofrenda, Daniel will take an image he has with his father on a lowriding bike and place it next to his actual bike, which he named “Wishing on a Star.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.