Highlights of the week 11-17 November

Humanity is in its sixth epoch of extinction

Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist and conservationist, continues her mission at the age of 90, travelling the world lecturing on environmental protection. Her latest campaign includes a collaboration with Ecosia, a non-profit technology company that has helped plant nearly two million trees in Uganda in five years. The main goal of this initiative is to restore the habitat of 5,000 Ugandan chimpanzees and to fight climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

Goodall warns that humanity is in the sixth great extinction and the window of opportunity to combat climate change is rapidly closing. She notes that forest destruction, fossil fuel use and industrial farming are not only destroying biodiversity but also threatening climate stability. Her words are borne out by climate change: in Tanzania, the rainy seasons used to come on schedule, but now they are shifting, disrupting the ecosystem and animal behaviour.

Over the course of her career, Jane faced disapproval for her methodology: she observed chimpanzees as individuals, giving names and establishing close relationships. But it was this approach that led to the discovery that chimpanzees make tools, fight wars over territory and have strong family ties. One of the most moving moments of her work is her interaction with a chimpanzee named David Greybeard, who first made contact with her through gestures that preceded human speech.

Goodall calls for stricter environmental legislation and believes that humanity can right its wrongs for the sake of future generations.

Villa Vie offers a four-year cruise around the world

Villa Vie Residences, a cruise company known for its unique approach to extended sea voyages, has announced a four-year "Skip Forward" cruise that will visit 425 ports in 140 countries. Prices start at $40,000 per year and cabins for the entire itinerary cost from $256,000 for a single passenger and $320,000 for two people.

For those who aren't ready for four years at sea, alternatives include the one-year Escape from Reality cruise, the two-year Mid-Term Selection itinerary and the three-year Everywhere but Home voyage. These options allow you to explore the world in a more convenient time frame, while maintaining your U.S. citizenship.

Onboard meals (alcohol at dinner only), WiFi, medical services, weekly housekeeping and fortnightly laundry are included at no extra cost. Passengers can rent a stateroom from 35 days or purchase a stateroom permanently (from $140,000). Luxury ocean view staterooms cost from $350,000.

The cruise was the result of the failure of another project that promised a three-year cruise for $30,000 a year that ended up being a scam. Villa Vie's manager, Mikael Petterson, had previously worked for Life at Sea Cruises but left the company because of doubts about its performance.

China restricts students' overnight cycling trips for food

Authorities in China's Henan province have launched a crackdown on a popular social media trend in which thousands of students rent bicycles and go on night rides for the famous guantanbao soup bun in the city of Kaifeng. To reduce the number of participants, police have closed the cycle lanes between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng cities.

The trend started in June 2024 when four girls from Zhengzhou set off on a spontaneous journey for food. Since then, the movement has gone mainstream, with local media reporting that up to 200,000 young people have rented bikes, which start at £1.51 per month, to make the 37-mile trip.

The action was dubbed "Night Riding Army" and photos show cyclists blocking part of a highway in central China. The students said the rides became more than just a search for food, symbolising the unity and passion of young people.

Due to complaints from Kaifeng residents about chaos caused by improperly parked bicycles and blocked passageways near landmarks, local authorities have temporarily closed bicycle lanes. Rental companies including Hellobike, DiDi Bike and Mobike have imposed restrictions, blocking bicycles from leaving the designated areas.