What makes silver more valuable to us than other minerals? Silver is valued for its beauty, rarity, and durability, making it both useful and precious. Historically, its monetary value has been recognized for thousands of years. The 'Lydian Lion,' minted in modern-day Turkey around 2,700 years ago, is thought to be the oldest coin, made from an alloy of gold and silver. The Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations imported silver from ancient Armenia, boosting trade in the Mediterranean. After these civilizations declined, classical Greece rose, and the silver mines of Laurium near Athens financed their naval fleet. The Romans later adopted silver as a main currency. Silver connected East and West through trade, especially in the Middle Ages when Europeans traded silver for Chinese goods like gunpowder, tea, ceramics, and silk. The Spanish discovered silver mines in Mexico and Peru, trading South American silver for Chinese silk. This trade facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas, playing a role in advancing collective learning and global civilization.

Since 1946, the tsunami warning system has provided warnings of potential tsunami danger in the pacific basin by monitoring earthquake activity and the passage of tsunami waves at tide gauges. However, neither seismometers nor coastal tide gauges provide data that allow accurate prediction of the impact of a tsunami at a particular coastal location. Monitoring earthquakes gives a good estimate of the potential for tsunami generation, based on earthquake size and location. but this gives no direct information about the tsunami itself. Tide gauges along coasts provide direct measurements of the tsunami, but local factors such as the depth and shape of ocean floor as well as the shape of the coastline can influence the impact of a tsunami. That makes it difficult to use information from one location to make predictions about a tsunami's impact in another. Partly because of these data limitations, warning systems have often issued false alarms. in these cases, the tsunami that arrived was too weak to cause damage.

What are examples of economic fairness? While it may seem that economics is only filled with rational and self-interested actors, this is not the case! In the event of a natural disaster, it would be advantageous for businesses to raise the price of their goods. Why? During a natural disaster, people are more desperate and willing to pay any price for a good they deem as necessary. Therefore, businesses would make a profit from the increased prices since they have people who will purchase the products. However, this is not the "right" thing to do. Oftentimes, businesses do not engage in this practice since it would not be fair to take advantage of people who are living destitute lives. However price-gouging customers would be the rational and self-interested but not fair thing to do in this example. Think of the last time you were in a parking lot. Did you notice that the spots closest to the store were reserved for people with disabilities? This is yet another example of fairness in economics. The right thing to do is to give people who are disabled the opportunity to be closest to the location they need to get to. Therefore, we all agree that disabled parking spaces should continue to be commonplace in parking lots. However, if fairness was never considered, then all parking spaces would be available to anyone.

The advent of CRISPR gene editing has revived the debate over genetically modifying future generations. This technology allows for precise alterations in DNA, leading to discussions on whether it should be used to engineer traits in unborn children, whose modified genes would be inherited by all their descendants. While gene therapy for treating diseases is widely supported, human germline modification has been legally banned in many countries due to its risks and ethical concerns. The primary issues include unintended mutations, long-term health effects, and the potential for worsening social inequalities. Moreover, germline editing does not address existing medical needs but rather aims to influence future genetic outcomes, raising profound social and ethical questions. Alternatives like pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) offer safer ways to avoid genetic diseases without altering human germlines. Permitting germline gene editing could lead to its misuse for enhancement purposes, creating a market-based eugenics and increasing discrimination. Given these risks, society should carefully consider the implications and resist opening this Pandora's box.

Humans have used plants for medicine since prehistoric times. They are still used traditional medicine. scientists have now found that chimpanzees also seek out plants to heal themselves. Researchers in the UK conducted a study of chimpanzee behaviour in the Budongo Central Forest in Uganda. The researchers tracked a male chimp with an injured hand looking for a fern. The fern may have reduced the swelling in the ape's hand. Another chimpanzee with an infection ate the bark of a cat-thorn tree. This may have helped to reduce the animal's sickness. The researchers say there is a strong correlation between the chimpanzees' ailments and the healing properties in the plants. The researchers tested plants that chimpasnzees didn't normally eat. They found that 88 percent of the plants contained anti-bacterial properties, while 33 percent were anti-inflammatory. A researcher said: "Pharmacological results suggest that Budongo chimpanzees consume several species with potent medicinal properties." She said the investigations into the primates' may pave the way for a greater use of natural remedies in our lives.

As fireworks lose their appeal due to their harmful impacts on people, animals, and the environment, drone shows are emerging as a popular alternative for celebratory displays. Fireworks disturb wildlife, trigger PTSD, which is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, and pose significant safety risks, including injuries and wildfires. These issues are exacerbated by climate change, making traditional fireworks increasingly problematic. Drone shows offer a less polluting option, as they avoid the heavy metals and air pollutants associated with fireworks. Moreover, drones are reusable, enhancing their sustainability. However, drones are not without drawbacks. They contribute to light pollution, and their production still involves pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Wildlife can also be disturbed by drones in their habitats. Despite these concerns, the shift towards drone reflects a growing awareness of environmental and safety issues. However, this trend might be short-lived due to potential legislation banning drones over national security concerns. While the future of drone shows remains uncertain, their rise signifies a significant shift in how we celebrate major events.

Microwave heating often prevents foods from developing a golden-brown crust due to retained surface moisture. However, a 2020 study highlights the benefits of microwaving, including shorter processing times, lower heating temperatures, and reduced power levels, which help preserve nutrients. Research suggests that microwaving and baking are better at preserving vegetable antioxidants compared to pressure cooking and boiling. For instance, vitamins A and C remain intact in microwaved foods, and microwaving raw trout can even increase vitamin K levels. Additionally, a study published in the journal Food Science and Nutrition found that microwave ovens consume less energy and water than other common cooking appliances. Contrary to popular rumors, the International Microwave Power Institute confirms that there is no evidence that countries like Japan and Russia banned microwave ovens due to radiation concerns. These rumors, which gained traction on social media, have been debunked. Despite the microwave-free lifestyle movement's popularity, microwaving remains a safe and efficient cooking method that preserves nutrients and conserves resources.