Highlights of the week of May 6-12
Фото: Corinne Cumming для EBU
One of the biggest and brightest events of the week was the semi-final and final of Eurovision, where Luxembourg returned after a 30-year absence. But beyond that, the world has much to talk about.
30 years of waiting and 13th place
It is fair to say that Luxembourg's success was closely followed by many countries. One of the most titled participants decided to return to the competition after several decades of silence.
The excitement was of course huge, especially after TALI's successful performance in the semi-finals, which guaranteed their participation in the spectacular Gala Concert on May 11th. However, not everything went smoothly and although the song was quite dynamic and entertaining, the triumphant return did not happen.
In general, this edition of Eurovision turned out to be quite provocative because of several conflicts that broke out right backstage. One of them was an altercation between one of the favorites, Dutch performer Joost Klein, and the contest's film crew. As a result, the country was disqualified just before the grand final.
Of course, TALI was not involved in any scandal, but it still received low scores from the jury and the audience: the total score was barely above one hundred. At the same time, the winner, Switzerland, and the runner-up, Croatia, had 591 and 547 points respectively.
The solar storm has reached Earth
On May 10, one of the most powerful solar flares in recent years occurred on the Sun. The last time such a release of energy was observed was in 2003. Back then, electromagnetic radiation knocked out transformers in South Africa and power grids in Sweden. The current magnetic storm may also affect the operation of radio networks, communication and navigation equipment, and electrical devices of varying complexity.
Of course, there are also positive aspects. Thanks to the power of the storm, many of the world's inhabitants will be able to see the aurora borealis even in regions where it is normally almost impossible to see it. If the weather is clear enough today, it will be possible to observe this astronomical phenomenon again.
The study and capture of solar storms is a very important aspect of today's technological society, as such particle emissions have a powerful effect not only on electronics, but also on the planet's atmosphere. Read more about this in our interview.
Germans become more caring fathers
The Cologne Institute for the German Economy conducted a rather unusual study and came to the conclusion reflected in the headline. Men in German families are spending more time on childcare and housework.
The country is tending toward a more equal distribution of housework, which could lead to women returning to work sooner. Experts say this is a necessary step because the boomer generation, the largest in the last century, will soon be retiring, and the economy will need to be supported by the efforts of all residents.
At the same time, this is only possible if there are more kindergartens in Germany. Yes, men now spend almost twice as much time with their children as they did 10 years ago. But this time is only available outside of work. Only women on maternity leave can afford to spend all their time with their children during the day, which does not fit in with the concept of early retirement.
Anyway, the trend is in favor of families, and a solution for kindergartens will probably be found.
