You saw it here firstThere are many contenders for “world’s greatest invention.” The wheel. The printing press. The steam engine.According to a new book, however, that title should go to the mechanised sawmill invented by Dutchman Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/dec/08/can-you-solve-it-the-forgotten-dutch-invention-that-created-the-modern-world">Continue reading...</a>

يدعي كتاب جديد أن المنشار الآلي، الذي اخترعه الهولندي كورنيليس كورنيليسزون في عام 1593، يستحق لقب أعظم اختراع في العالم، متجاوزًا غيره من الاختراعات التاريخية مثل العجلة ومحرك البخار.

Un nuevo libro sostiene que el aserradero mecanizado, inventado por el holandés Cornelis Corneliszoon en 1593, merece el título de la mayor invención del mundo, superando a otros contendientes históricos como la rueda y la máquina de vapor.

Un nouveau livre affirme que le scierie mécanisée, inventée par le Néerlandais Cornelis Corneliszoon en 1593, mérite le titre de la plus grande invention du monde, surpassant d'autres prétendants historiques tels que la roue et la machine à vapeur.

A new book claims that the mechanised sawmill, invented by Dutchman Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593, deserves the title of the world's greatest invention, surpassing other historical contenders such as the wheel and the steam engine.

Can you solve it? The forgotten Dutch invention that created the modern world

There are apparently breakthroughs on the way for those with sleep disorders – which sent me down a rabbit hole of research...I met a guy in pharmaceuticals who told me about a bunch of cool breakthroughs in sleep meds: mainly, we may be on the brink of a new Wegovy, but in this case it’s a drug to cure narcolepsy. I suggested the two things are not quite the same, given that obesity is a global epidemic and narcolepsy is fairly rare. He countered that the way the drug works might also have applications for insomnia; similar to the Post-it note having been invented by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-it_note">someone trying to create the world’s strongest glue</a>.Anyway, in the course of this, I discovered the test for type 1 narcolepsy, which is that you’re put in a room with zero stimulation – nothing to read, no one to chat to, perfect silence, perfect temperature – and timed on how long it takes you to fall asleep. If it’s under eight minutes, you’re narcoleptic. But the average, for a person with no complaints in that area at all, is 22 minutes. I was completely incredulous. This is a grip on consciousness more or less the same as a house cat. Bored? Go to sleep. Even a dog will have a quick look for something to eat first. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/09/could-a-drug-for-narcolepsy-change-the-world">Continue reading...</a>

تشير التطورات الأخيرة في مجال الأدوية إلى احتمال حدوث اختراق في أدوية النوم، وخاصة دواء جديد يهدف إلى علاج النعاس، والذي قد يكون له أيضًا آثار على الأرق. تم تسليط الضوء على هذا التطور من قبل زوي ويليامز، التي أشارت إلى طريقة الاختبار الفريدة للنعاس من النوع الأول التي تتضمن بيئة خاضعة للرقابة لقياس وقت بدء النوم.

Avances recientes en farmacéutica sugieren un posible avance en los medicamentos para el sueño, especialmente un nuevo fármaco destinado a tratar la narcolepsia, que también podría tener implicaciones para el insomnio. Este desarrollo fue destacado por Zoe Williams, quien mencionó el método de prueba único para la narcolepsia tipo 1 que implica un entorno controlado para medir el tiempo de inicio del sueño.

Des avancées récentes dans le domaine pharmaceutique suggèrent une percée potentielle dans les médicaments pour le sommeil, en particulier un nouveau médicament visant à traiter la narcolepsie, qui pourrait également avoir des implications pour l'insomnie. Ce développement a été souligné par Zoe Williams, qui a noté la méthode de test unique pour la narcolepsie de type 1 impliquant un environnement contrôlé pour mesurer le temps d'endormissement.

Recent advancements in pharmaceuticals suggest a potential breakthrough in sleep medications, particularly a new drug aimed at treating narcolepsy, which could also have implications for insomnia. This development was highlighted by Zoe Williams, who noted the unique testing method for type 1 narcolepsy involving a controlled environment to measure sleep onset time.

Could a drug for narcolepsy change the world? | Zoe Williams

Observers in dark locations away from street lighting can expect to see more than 100 meteors an hourThe Perseid meteor shower in August often catches the headlines because of the warmer conditions associated with watching the display, but to many astronomers the Geminids put on the better show.The Geminids have been active since 4 December and they reach their climax this week with the peak of the shower taking place on the night of 13-14 December. The chart shows the view looking south-east from London at midnight as 13 December becomes 14 December. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/dec/08/starwatch-brave-the-cold-and-the-enjoy-the-geminids-meteor-shower">Continue reading...</a>

من المتوقع أن تصل زخات شهب الجمنيد، التي بدأت في 4 ديسمبر، إلى ذروتها في ليلة 13-14 ديسمبر، مما يوفر للمراقبين في المواقع المظلمة فرصة لرؤية أكثر من 100 شهاب في الساعة. يُعتبر هذا الحدث السنوي من قبل العديد من علماء الفلك من بين أفضل زخات الشهب، متفوقًا على الزخات الأكثر شهرة مثل البرسيد في ما يتعلق بالرؤية وتكرار الشهب.

La lluvia de meteoros de las Gemínidas, que comenzó el 4 de diciembre, alcanzará su punto máximo en la noche del 13 al 14 de diciembre, ofreciendo a los observadores en lugares oscuros la oportunidad de ver más de 100 meteoros por hora. Este evento anual es considerado por muchos astrónomos como uno de los mejores, superando a las más conocidas Perseidas en términos de visibilidad y frecuencia de meteoros.

La pluie de météores des Géminides, qui a commencé le 4 décembre, devrait atteindre son pic dans la nuit du 13 au 14 décembre, offrant aux observateurs dans des lieux sombres la possibilité de voir plus de 100 météores par heure. Cet événement annuel est souvent considéré par les astronomes comme l'une des meilleures pluies de météores, surpassant les plus connus Perséides en termes de visibilité et de fréquence des météores.

The Geminid meteor shower, which began on December 4, is expected to peak on the night of December 13-14, offering observers in dark locations the chance to see over 100 meteors per hour. This annual event is often regarded by astronomers as one of the best meteor showers, surpassing the more widely known Perseids in terms of visibility and frequency of meteors.

Can you solve it? The forgotten Dutch invention that created the modern world

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