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Winter Olympics Open in Milan Amid Global Challenges
Milan, Italy, is currently hosting the Winter Olympics, while globally, various challenges are impacting different sectors and populations. The Olympic Village, a sprawl of modular buildings and high-rise apartments adorned with national flags, welcomed athletes, journalists, and volunteers, according to NPR's Rachel Treisman, who was granted a preview.
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Ukraine, residents are facing brutal conditions due to ongoing wartime blackouts. Joanna Kakissis of NPR reported that the fourth winter of Russia's war has been the most difficult, with attacks on the energy grid leaving many reliant on candles for light and heat when emergency power sources fail. "February ... is sobbing," the Ukrainian poet wrote, hinting at the loss and hardship endured.
In the United States, a French tennis coach's experience highlights tightened border rules under the Trump administration. According to NPR, the individual was detained, shackled, and expelled, contributing to a drop in European tourists visiting the U.S. in the past year, with many citing the volatile political climate as a deterrent. "There was a sharp drop in the number of European tourists visiting the U.S. last year compared to 2024. Many said the volatile political climate was the reason," NPR reported.
The mining industry is also seeing innovation. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Eagle Mine, the only active nickel mine in the US, is testing a new process to extract nickel from lower-quality ore. Allonnia, a startup, developed a fermentation-derived broth that is mixed with concentrated ore to capture and remove impurities. Kent Sorenson, Allonnia's chief technology officer, stated that this approach could help companies continue operating sites with declining ore quality.
In a different field, museums are incorporating the "scent of eternity" into Egyptian exhibits. In 2023, scientists identified the compounds in balms used to mummify the organs of an ancient Egyptian noblewoman. Barbara Huber, of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology and the University of Tübingen, partnered with a perfumer to recreate the scent. Huber has now collaborated with museum curators to integrate the scent into exhibits, aiming to transform visitors' understanding of embalming.
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