The world changes so much every day, but we hardly notice it in the rhythm of everyday life.
Time seems to pass very quickly. As we get older and become more familiar with the world, our brains also process moments a lot slower than when we were younger. Time is always changing things in so many ways right in front of you that it’s hard to notice. In the last few years alone, the world has undergone so many dramatic changes that you will be surprised when you look at these comparisons:
1. The glaciers in the Swiss Alps were covered with blankets
The beautiful Swiss Alps have always been a source of artistic inspiration for their picturesque surroundings. However, this place has not been so majestic lately as the earth is experiencing more and more heat waves and warmer climates. The Swiss government decided to preserve the remaining mountains by covering and blocking the sunlight with giant polyester tarps.
2. The Dead Sea is slowly being affected by salt
The Dead Sea is a majestic saltwater lake in the Mediterranean, where the water is so alkaline that people and creatures will float on the water. However, its “magic” can literally die when the seawater continuously evaporates at a high rate of 0.91 meters per year, causing more and more salt to appear in the sea.
3. Owls have recently changed their colors to adapt to warmer climates
The tawny owl is a type of wild owl that is common in cold regions. They are born with a gray or light brown coat with dark markings. Recently, scientists have observed that tawny owls have developed darker feathers in response to warmer winters. The tawny owls have increased in population, while the gray ones are decreasing.
4. Southeast Asia’s beaches are getting cleaner
Southeast Asia is a region known for its beautiful tropical landscape and especially for its beautiful beaches. But also because so many people come to travel, many places are polluted and overrun with waste.
Recently, however, the beaches have been cleared of plastic waste. At the same time, the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic also reduced the number of people coming to tourism and the coast was significantly less polluted.
5. Many places no longer sell large fries
Many French fries enthusiasts were disappointed that many food service providers had to adjust menus and portion sizes, causing the sale of large portions of fries to stop. This is a result of the ongoing global potato crisis. For example, fast food giant McDonald’s has removed the option for large fries from its menus in some countries and only offers one size of fries.
6. Clouds are getting thinner by the day
Clouds provide shade to reduce the heat of the sun. These natural umbrellas fade faster as the atmosphere warms. The clouds’ white coating effect could change quickly and warm the Earth even more, researchers say.
7. The Yangtze River is in drought
The Yangtze River, one of the largest rivers in China and the longest in Asia, has supplied 400 million Chinese people with water over the years. However, it has rapidly drained mutated water over the past 3 months and is clearly depleted. Studies confirm that this is a record drought for the river.
8. Maldives is about to build a floating city to save itself
As many people know, the resort paradise of Maldives is at risk of disappearing completely within a few decades due to sea level rise. The Maldivian government decided to tackle the problem itself and started building an environmentally and climate-friendly floating city to defy the laws of nature.
9. The Taj Mahal is almost completely covered in fog
The Taj Mahal is an iconic tourist destination in India. Lately there has been a thick fog over this place, making it almost impossible to see from a distance. The pollution also caused the white marble of the palace to turn yellow.
10. Many people have more than one pet at home
Pet adoption is increasing in households around the world. The percentage of households owning dogs and cats in the US has increased significantly from 67% in 2019 to 70% in 2022.
11. Pandas are back from extinction
Although they pop up on our internet almost every day for their cuteness, giant pandas were declared endangered by wildlife experts nearly 30 years ago. However, thanks to the constant efforts of panda conservationists, these furry friends have been removed from the high-risk list of extinction.
12. More and more people have low vision
By 2021, a total of 2.2 billion people around the world would be visually impaired. This is a big difference from the 2020 data, when statistics show that only 1.1 billion people have vision problems. Experts point out that lifestyle changes in the modern, technology-driven lifestyle force us to strain our eyes, leading to faster and stronger vision loss.
Source: Bright Side
