Romy News - 22 March 2024

Hello there! It’s Friday, the day when the weekend is just around the corner and our brains are buzzing with plans for fun and adventure. But before diving into two days of games and excitement, I have some incredible stories to tell you. Can you believe that there’s a man who can play chess just by using his thoughts, without even touching the pieces? And then, I’ll tell you about a giant and gorgeous church, the Sagrada Familia, which is still under construction after more than 100 years! And lastly, we’ll discover how a man named Orson Welles pulled off a prank so well that many people believed it. Let’s go!

Let’s start with a topic that seems to come from the future. Just imagine: being able to control a computer just with your thoughts. That sounds like a superpower, doesn’t it? Well, thanks to Neuralink, a company led by Elon Musk, this dream is becoming a reality. Recently, they showed how a man, Noland Arbaugh, who can’t move below his shoulders, managed to play chess online just by thinking about his moves!

Noland had an accident that left him paralyzed, but with a small device implanted in his brain by Neuralink, he can now move a cursor on a computer and even type on a keyboard without lifting a finger. He says the surgery to implant the device was very simple and he feels great, with no issues in thinking or concentrating.

But it’s not magic, it’s science! The Neuralink device reads the signals from Noland’s brain and translates them into actions on the computer. It’s like translating a foreign language into French so you can understand. Of course, Noland and the scientists at Neuralink are still learning how to improve this technology. They face challenges, but that’s normal because it’s something very new.

Even though an expert says it’s not yet a revolution, it’s already a big step forward for people like Noland. He can once again do things he loves and thought were impossible after his accident. If you had a superpower like controlling things with your thoughts, what would you like to do?

Now, let’s answer a question from the CM1 CM2 class in Beuzannes: Why isn’t the Sagrada Familia finished? The Sagrada Familia is one of the most extraordinary churches in the world.

This giant basilica project started in 1882 in Barcelona, over 141 years ago, and a very creative man, Antoni Gaudí, envisioned it. Since then, the construction has been progressing slowly, giving Barcelona its most incredible monument.

The project reached a new milestone in late September 2023: four towers were completed. But hold on tight, Gaudí wanted eighteen towers! There’s still work to be done! 172m: that’s the height at which the tower of Jesus Christ is supposed to culminate when completed. Making it the tallest building in Barcelona! The Sagrada Familia will then be the world’s tallest church! You better not be afraid of heights!

So, why is it taking so long? Well, there have been many unforeseen events, like the Spanish Civil War that halted everything, and more recently, the coronavirus that caused delays in the work and scared away visitors - along with the money needed for construction. The Sagrada Familia is now expected to be completed in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death. I can’t wait to see its final version!

This saga teaches us that you need to be very patient and determined to accomplish grand things like the Sagrada Familia. And once finished, imagine how splendid it will be!

By the way, if you could add something unique to the Sagrada Familia, what would you add? Talk about it with your parents or in class, and why not, even draw what it would be like!

And to wrap up our episode today, let’s talk about a somewhat special event. Have you ever heard a story so well told that you thought it was true? Well, in 1938, a man named Orson Welles pulled off a radio prank that scared an entire country. With his show “The War of the Worlds,” he made people believe in an alien invasion!

One Halloween evening, listeners were peacefully enjoying music when suddenly, a news bulletin interrupted the broadcast. Orson Welles had decided to tell the story of a Martian invasion in the United States with sounds and news that were very, very frightening.

Many people listening actually believed that Martians were invading Earth! They called the police, the newspapers, and even tried to flee. Orson Welles and his team were astonished; they just wanted to tell an exciting story.

This prank showed how powerful the media can be and how it can influence people. Orson Welles became famous for his unique storytelling style, and this radio broadcast remains in history as an important example of what the media can make people believe.

“The War of the Worlds” was a very special moment for radio, and it reminds us that it’s important to distinguish between what is real and what is just a story.

For the curious: why do you think people got scared while listening to “The War of the Worlds”?

And there you have it, our episode for today is coming to an end, and I hope you’ve learned lots of amazing things. Isn’t it fascinating to see how technology can help people with disabilities, how a church can be built over centuries, and how a simple radio story caused such a stir? Each story teaches us something about perseverance, creativity, and how sometimes, our imagination can blend with reality.

So, if you have great ideas or questions, or if you just want to share what you think, feel free to find me on Instagram. I’m really curious to know what’s on your mind! In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you on Monday for more adventures with ‘Romy News’. Bye!