Environment

World's Largest 2nd Gen. Ethanol Plant

In late May, Brazilian President Luis Ignacio da Silva visited São Paulo to open the world’s largest plant for second-generation ethanol production.

The new Bonfim Bioenergy Park will produce 82 million liters of ethanol per year using a method that emits 30% fewer emissions.

Located in Guariba, a major sugarcane cultivation area, the second-generation ethanol, or 'bioethanol,' is made from sugar production waste, known as bagasse.

Raízen, the company behind the Bonfim plant, claims that producing ethanol from this waste cuts emissions by 30% compared to traditional methods.

New technologies enable the extraction of residual sucrose from crushed canes. A hydrolysis process using enzymes separates cellulose fibers, making fermentation easier.

Raízen is constructing nine more second-generation plants, aiming to produce 1.6 billion liters of biofuel per year.

Ethanol is primarily used as an engine fuel and fuel additive. Brazil, the world’s leading ethanol producer, heavily relies on ethanol, with 90% of new gasoline-powered cars sold in Brazil capable of running on hydrous ethanol.

Along with the 30% reduction in emissions from manufacturing bioethanol compared to conventional methods, using bioethanol as fuel can reduce emissions by 50-60%, according to the Argonne National Laboratory.

“Our engineers and researchers have achieved what no other country has: transforming bagasse into high-quality second-generation ethanol,” said President da Silva at the inauguration.

World News

2,000-year-old Gold Jewelry Discovered

Among the many empires and states along the Silk Road’s Central Asian routes, few are as enigmatic as the Kangju.

Recently, an ancient burial ground for Kangju nobility, untouched by looters for over two millennia, was excavated by a university team from Kazakhstan, revealing significant evidence of wealth and prestige.

The Kangju state ruled southern Kazakhstan for nearly 1,000 years, from the 5th century BCE to the 4th century CE. In the rural Karaaspan district of Kazakhstan’s Turkistan region, three tombs were discovered. While two had been looted, the third, still intact, contained golden earrings, a bronze mirror, arrowheads, beads, and other artifacts.

These earrings indicate the kingdom’s wealth, and the mirror suggests extensive social connections.

“Similar mirrors have been found in Tillya Tepe, Afghanistan, a Kushan Empire center, and in Sarmatian kings' burial sites in the Southern Urals,” stated the Kazakh government.

The circular mirror with a central hole was crafted during the Han Dynasty, China’s first modern imperial empire, which established the Silk Road. Connecting Xi’an with Rome, Kangju was an essential stop on this historic trade route.

The crescent-shaped earrings, likely representing the Moon, are made of polychromatic gold with turquoise and rubies. The bottom features bunches of grapes that reflect sunlight in different directions.

These items suggest the tomb belonged to a noblewoman, according to the statement.

Expedition leader Aleksandr Podushkin, an archaeologist at Ozbekali Zhanibekov University, noted that Kangju, a name given by the Chinese, comprised various Central Asian steppe peoples. These included the Sarmatians from the Urals, Caucasus, and Black Sea regions; the Xiongnu from northern China and the Tian Shan mountains; and the Saka, originating from Iran and spreading throughout Central Asia and Siberia. This diversity made Kangju a cosmopolitan center of nomadic cultures.

Entertainment

Sony Pictures Buys Alamo Drafthouse

Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain, the companies announced. Alamo will now operate under a new division called Sony Pictures Experiences, continuing to run all 35 locations across 25 U.S. metro areas.

This acquisition is significant as studios were historically barred from owning theaters due to the 1948 Supreme Court antitrust ruling. The Paramount Consent Decrees were lifted in 2020, opening the door for such deals. Sony follows Netflix and Disney, who also own theaters, but is the first major studio to buy an entire chain.

Founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, Alamo Drafthouse is known for its dine-in service, alcoholic beverages, and curated film programs. The theaters show a mix of new releases and repertory titles, attracting a loyal audience. Despite this, Alamo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2021, closed some locations, and canceled expansion plans but emerged from bankruptcy later that year.

The theatrical market remains uncertain, despite the success of films like "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer." Streaming services continue to pose a challenge to traditional moviegoing.

Alamo founder Tim League expressed excitement about the acquisition, citing Sony’s alignment with Alamo’s vision. Michael Kustermann will stay on as CEO of Alamo and lead the new Sony Pictures Experiences division, reporting to Ravi Ahuja, President and COO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Alamo’s headquarters will remain in Austin.

Sony has had recent box office success with films like "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," "The Garfield Movie," and "Anyone but You," though not all releases, such as "Madame Web," have performed well.

Mind Stretchers

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When Lisa was 6 years old, her sister Lucy was half her age. If Lisa is 40 years old today, how old is Lucy?

Yesterday’s Answer:
The numbers are 567, 568 and 569. Linda Runatz got the correct answer for this one!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

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