FP Explainers
Cheat Code: How are people getting around Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown?
Netflix in May rolled out its crackdown on the password-sharing in several major markets. But some in the United States and the United Kingdom have, for the moment, figured out workarounds
Having sex with dead people not punishable in India: Why do people commit necrophilia, which countries criminalise it?
Necrophilia is an act where the perpetrator gets sexual pleasure by having sex with a dead body. The Karnataka High Court has recommended that the Centre make it an offence, referring to laws in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa
Adolf Hitler’s pencil to go under the hammer: All about this ‘gift’ from his partner, Eva Braun
A pencil that is said to have belonged to Adolf Hitler will be sold by an auction house in Belfast next week. This has been condemned by the European Jewish Association, which has called for removing the items of the Nazi dictator from the auction
What’s HMPV, the ‘most important virus you've never heard of’?
Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is an illness that affects the upper respiratory system, causing similar COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, and fever. While it can affect people of all ages, the risk is higher for children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems
US debt ceiling deal: What's in it and why is the country not out of trouble yet?
The US House overwhelmingly passed the package which slightly cuts government spending and suspends the debt ceiling until 2025. The Republicans are far more upset than the Democrats with some members already bringing up removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Senate will now vote on it later this week
Our Planet in Peril: How Earth's health is declining in seven of eight major parameters
According to a ground-breaking study, human activity has placed our world in danger. It is not just a warming planet that is losing its natural areas, but also the health of those who live here is a concern
Explained: Why is China drilling its deepest-ever hole into Earth’s crust?
China has started drilling over a 10,000-metre (10 km) hole into the Earth’s crust for exploring the unknown territory of the planet. Heavy equipment, weighing 2,000-tonne, will dig the country’s possibly deepest-ever borehole in the Tarim Basin in the Xinjiang region
China blames India over journalists’ visa spat: What's the row about?
India and China are at loggerheads again, this time over visas for journalists. The foreign ministry in Beijing has accused New Delhi of ‘unfair treatment’ by denying visa renewals to scribes and ejecting all of them; China has done a tit for tat
Who is Naresh Tikait, the farmer leader drumming up support for wrestlers’ protest?
He convinced the wrestlers not to immerse their medals in the Ganga. Today, he will hold a mega meet of khap leaders to discuss the protest. Naresh Tikait, the chief of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), and older brother of Rakesh Tikait, is all set to fight for India’s wrestlers
Are baby boys chattier than girls?
According to a scientific paper released on Wednesday, baby boys are found to be more vocal in their first year than girls. But girls catch up and overtake them by the age of two
Why Nepal is not relocating the Everest base camp despite growing climate change threat
Sherpas, the backbone of the mountaineering industry, are opposed to Nepal's plans to relocate the Everest base camp elsewhere. Community leaders said that in addition to the proposal being impractical, the government has failed to come up with a viable alternative
Ahmednagar to be renamed in honour of Ahilyabai Holkar: Who was the Maratha queen?
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has announced that the city of Ahmednagar will now be renamed Ahilyanagar after the Maratha warrior Ahilyabai Holkar. The Malwa queen was known to be a great ruler and a learned politician. Her contributions to women's empowerment and education are unforgettable
Explained: The Danish prime minister’s speech written by AI
The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, used ChatGPT to help write a part of her speech in parliament. She wanted to highlight both the groundbreaking aspects and the potential risks of artificial intelligence
Bed-rotting is all about self-care. What does it mean?
The wellness trend is becoming more popular among Gen Z and millennials. The new TikTok trend known as 'bed rotting' means spending prolonged amounts of time in bed. The key is to savour more than simply a restful night's sleep in the plush comfort of your blankets and pillows
Weird Science: How researchers generated electricity out of thin air
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that nearly any material can be turned into a device that can harvest electricity from humidity in the air. The discovery has been dubbed the 'generic Air-gen effect'
Prince Harry and Meghan ‘divorce’ rumours: Which British royals have called it quits before?
Rumours of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle mulling a separation refuse to die down. Divorce is not uncommon in the British royal family, with several couples choosing to go their own ways than live unhappily ever after
The Power of AI: Why Nvidia became the first chipmaking company to enter $1 trillion club
Nvidia, a company known for making graphics processing units favoured by hardcore gamers, is benefitting from the hype surrounding Artificial Intelligence on Wall Street. Its GPUs have become a go-to for researchers looking to train and run such programmes
Al Pacino at 83, Robert De Niro, at 79, become fathers: Do dads' age affect their children?
Al Pacino is reportedly expecting his fourth child. In April, his 79-year-old co-star Robert De Niro welcomed a baby. As more and more older celebrities embrace fatherhood later in life, what impact does a dad's age have on his offspring?
North Korea’s military satellite launch ends in failure: What we know
North Korea's attempt to launch its first military reconnaissance satellite ended in failure Wednesday, with the rocket and its payload crashing into waters west of South Korea
Explained: Who are the Ravidassias in California pushing for legislation against caste discrimination?
Ravidassia, a small religious community, is working hard to make California the first state in the United States to outlaw caste discrimination. The members of this group are followers of Ravidas – an Indian guru – who preached caste and class equality