Mercury rising: Scientists have declared that 2019 was the second-warmest year on record. In a database of more than 3,500 cities compiled by AccuWeather, about 83% saw average temperatures higher than normal last year. The New York Times has created an interactive chart where you can see how different cities fared when it came to 2019’s climate, which shows that Baton Rouge was 1.2 degrees hotter than average last year. See the chart here.
Leased: New startup companies like Feather and Fernish aim to rent furniture to millennials who don’t want to commit to big purchases or move heavy furniture and are willing to pay for the convenience, The Washington Post reports. The advent of furniture rental companies is part of a wave of rental culture that includes Rent the Runway, focused on women’s designer clothing, and even Netflix and Spotify, which let you stream from a huge catalog rather than buy TV show episodes, movies or songs. Read the full story.
Next tech: Amazon.com Inc. wants to make your hand able to serve as your credit card, The Wall Street Journal reports, by creating checkout terminals to be placed in stores that allow shoppers to link their card’s payment information to their hands. The company plans to pitch the terminals to coffee shops, fast-food restaurants and other merchants that do lots of repeat business with their customers. Read the full story.
