Plastic Bottles to Dyes: Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that under the right conditions, battery acid and sunlight can be used to turn plastic waste into anilines—a group of compounds which are essential in manufacturing dyes, medicines, and other plastics.
Potato Feast: Researchers have found that Indigenous people from the Andes have more copies of a particular gene (called AMY1) which helps with digesting starch. The Andeans were the first population to domesticate the potato, which can comprise 60–80% starch.
Big Red Ruby: An 11,000 carat (2.2 kg) ruby has recently been unearthed in Myanmar. Although not the heaviest ruby of all time, its attractive purplish-red colour and clarity are unique for its size. Following a proper assessment, it is expected to be one of the most valuable rubies ever found.
