Austria is bracing for a turbulent winter weekend as a shift in weather patterns brings milder—but significantly wetter—conditions across the country. After days of biting cold driven by strong easterly winds, a southern airflow is now pushing moist air into the Alps. According to the Austrian Severe Weather Center (UWZ), several low‑pressure systems will trigger widespread snowfall, rain, and in some regions dangerous freezing rain. The highest risk of icy surfaces is expected from Friday night into early Sunday. Persistent Risk of Ice Meteorologists warn that freezing drizzle remains a…
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New Road Rules Confirmed: What European Drivers Need to Know for 2026
The Austrian automobile club ÖAMTC has released a detailed overview of the major changes to tolls and vignettes across Europe coming into effect in 2026. Whether travelling for holidays or crossing borders in transit, motorists will face several updates that could affect both planning and costs. A Patchwork of Systems — and New Changes Ahead Europe continues to operate with a mix of toll models: According to ÖAMTC travel expert Yvette Polasek, staying informed is essential: travellers should “know the applicable systems and check in advance whether any registration is…
Read MoreDoorbell Scam Alert: Kepler University Hospital Warns of New Fraud Scheme
Linz, Austria – One of the country’s largest medical institutions, the Kepler University Hospital in Linz, has issued an urgent public warning about a new wave of fraud attempts involving fake donation collectors and impostors posing as medical staff. Police are urging residents to remain vigilant. Scammers Ringing Doorbells for Fake Donations According to the hospital, individuals have recently been going door to door, distributing leaflets and requesting donations under the pretense of supporting the Kepler University Hospital or specific departments such as the Children’s Heart Center. Hospital officials stress…
Read MoreIcy Nights, Grey Days: Sunshine in Short Supply Across Austria
Austria is heading into a turbulent stretch of winter weather, marked by persistent fog, thick cloud cover, and an increasing mix of rain and snow as the weekend approaches. Meteorologists warn that the coming days will bring not only bitterly cold nights but also a heightened risk of icy roads, especially on Saturday. Friday: Fog Dominates, Bitter Cold at Dawn On Friday, dense fog remains a defining feature along the Danube and across the northeastern and southeastern regions, with Lower Austria particularly affected. Elsewhere, passing clouds alternate with occasional sunny…
Read MoreATM Safety: Why Pressing This Button After Withdrawing Cash Still Matters
Vienna – Withdrawing cash from an ATM remains part of everyday life for many people in Austria, even as digital payments continue to grow. One button on the machine, however, is often overlooked: the red “Cancel” key. Most customers only use it when they accidentally start the wrong transaction. Yet this button once played a far more important role – and in certain situations, it still does. A Look Back: What the “Cancel” Button Was Originally For In the early generations of ATMs, a session stayed active until the customer…
Read MoreMinus 10 Degrees – Extreme Cold Now Has Serious Consequences
In Linz, temperatures dropped to an icy minus 10 degrees in recent days, as shown on a car’s temperature display. Many insects don’t stand a chance in such conditions. The extreme cold of recent weeks is now having its first effects on nature: some insect species are likely to be heavily reduced. For years, the Asian tiger mosquito has been spreading in Austria—helped by mild winters. But this year, the extreme cold is expected to significantly slow its advance. “Winter mortality in this species is clearly higher this year than…
Read MoreHousing in Vienna Set to Become Even More Expensive in 2026
Vienna’s housing market is heading into another challenging year, with experts warning that rents will continue to rise significantly in 2026. According to a new market assessment released on Tuesday by the real estate consultancy EHL Immobilien, a sharp decline in construction activity combined with persistently high demand is driving prices upward—most notably in districts outside the Gürtel. Construction Slump Deepens Supply Shortage EHL describes the current situation as marked by a “dramatic shortage of supply.” For the first time in nearly a decade, the number of newly completed apartments…
Read MoreBreathing Plastic: New Research Reveals the Hidden Cloud of Microplastics Indoors
For years, scientists have warned that microplastics contaminate oceans, soil, and even the food chain. Now, new research suggests that the air we breathe—especially indoors—may be an even more significant source of exposure than previously imagined. According to a study published in PLOS One by a team led by Nadiia Yakovenko of the University of Toulouse, humans inhale tens of thousands of microscopic plastic particles every single day. The numbers are startling. An average adult may breathe in around 68,000 microplastic particles daily, while children—who inhale less air overall—still take…
Read MoreWhy Do Vitamins Have Letters for Names?
For most of human history, people understood—intuitively and through experience—that food could heal, strengthen, or harm. Long before anyone spoke of “nutrients,” communities knew that certain foods restored energy, prevented illness, or helped children grow. Yet the scientific explanation behind these effects remained a mystery until surprisingly recently. The story of why vitamins carry letters rather than poetic names is, in many ways, the story of modern nutrition itself. When Food Became Chemistry By the late 19th century, scientists had already identified proteins, fats, and carbohydrates as the major building…
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