Category: Feature Stories

The USB-C charging plug will become the standard for smartphones, tablets, and other electrical devices throughout the EU. Which devices does the directive apply to?All new cell phones, tablets, and digital cameras should be able to be charged via the USB-C charging plug. This also applies to loudspeaker boxes, headphones, portable navigation systems, mice, and printers. Starting in spring 2026, all new laptops will have a standardized charging plug. Under the new directive, other conventional plugs, such as the older micro-USB connector and the Lightning connector for iPhones, will no…

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Twinkling lights and festive feasting—but Christmas also has its dark side: an extra meal ends in the bin. And then there’s the gift wrapping. A fine festive roast, Christmas carp, vegetables, fruit—often carted from far away—tasty cheese, fine sausages, sophisticated desserts, and cookies: it’s time for a little more, they say during the holidays. Austria’s households produce 4.5 million tons of waste every year. Despite high prices, food accounts for 16 percent of residual waste. When we surprise our loved ones with a delicious meal, our eyes are often bigger…

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Which countries are top donors, particularly helpful, or heavily involved in voluntary work? The “World Giving Index,” one of the world’s most comprehensive studies on charity and donation behavior, provides the answers. Published by the British Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), the index evaluates 142 countries in three categories: willingness to help strangers, willingness to donate, and volunteering. The data comes from surveys conducted by the US market and opinion research institute Gallup.Indonesia is the most generous country in the worldFor the seventh time in a row, Indonesia tops the index…

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Physical activity is considered the best medicine in many areas, including staying mentally fit for as long as possible. A new study now shows which aspects of intellectual abilities can be influenced by exercise. First, on the treadmill, and then on the questionnaire, 650 people between the ages of 65 and 80 had to prove their physical fitness, after which they were given various tests. The speed with which the participants processed information, short-term memory, visual-spatial perception, and the ability to plan and organize were examined. The study, which has…

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Thanks to the continuing high level of solar activity, there is a good chance of observing spectacular auroras in Austria again in 2025.Super solar storms not ruled outAfter some spectacular auroras in Austria at the end of last year, the chances of observing northern lights here in 2025 are also good. The reason for this is the continuing high level of solar activity, as Christian Möstl, Head of the Austrian Space Weather Office at GeoSphere Austria in Graz, explained to APA. He expects three to five intense solar storms next…

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Two-thirds of Austrians store online, and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Cardboard boxes and shipping produce gigatons of CO2. Online retail continues to grow worldwide. The Covid-19 pandemic has given the sector even more impetus, leading to breathtaking sales records. Large companies such as Amazon and Alibaba have “monopolized” online shopping and raised consumer expectations by offering instant delivery and free returns, says climate expert Martina Igini from the environmental portal earth.org. Online retail is also in the fast lane in Austria. However, many sales flow abroad, explains Rainer…

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A 1,500-year-old stone tablet with the Ten Commandments has been auctioned in New York for 5.04 million dollars (4.81 million euros), far exceeding expectations. When the piece was presented, the auction house Sotheby’s expected proceeds to be between 1 and 2 million dollars. According to the auctioneer, it is the only known complete stone tablet with the bids from this period. The stone was discovered in 1913 during railroad construction in IsraelThe piece of marble, which is around 60 centimetres high and weighs 50 kilograms, is engraved with the commandments…

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Whether you are travelling in Europe or further afield, planning a longer stay abroad, or even wanting to emigrate, one thing is always important: how friendly the people are at your vacation destination or in your destination country. After all, we often fondly remember the helpfulness or surprising invitations from locals.In April of this year, Remitly, a digital provider of financial services, commissioned a study to determine which nations are the friendliest in the world. More than 3,000 people from all over the world took part and answered questions on…

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Happiness income describes the value above which earning more does not make you happier.Money alone does not make you happy, but it does help. An analysis now shows the exact happiness income. Austria is in the upper range. Does money make you happy? And if so, how much? Several studies have been devoted to precisely this question. Based on this, the experts at the online exchange “S Money” have calculated the so-called happiness income for (almost) all countries, including Austria. This value is strictly at the tipping point or saturation…

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