Sweden to become world’s first cashless society

WHILE the US is still debating about getting rid of the humble cents, Sweden is rapidly moving towards abolishing currency altogether. Sweden is also the first European country to introduce banknotes in 1661, and has just been working harder to convince its residents that digital payments are a safer alternative to carrying cash.

Over the years, the idea has gained popularity with residents, especially the younger generation is much more comfortable with this technology. Today cash is so shunned that many banks don’t even have ATMs and some have stopped handling cash altogether!

Tickets to ride public buses in most Swedish cities can only be purchased via cellphones. Numerous businesses are also moving toward accepting only digital payments. Kids now get their allowances on cards. In fact, cash is such a taboo that bank customers carrying ‘excessive’ currency, are reported to ensure they are not engaged in suspicious activities.

The officials are confident that in the very near future, they will be able to convince everyone to move to this safe and more cost-effective payment system.

LAST month, re­searchers from Utah’s Bri­g­ham Young Uni­versity revealed the discovery of a new species of a giant pterosaur (winged lizards). The massive reptile is believed to have inhabited Earth over 200 million years ago during the Triassic Period when most of the continents were combined in the giant C-shaped supercontinent known as Pangaea.

The scary monster sported 110 teeth — 80 (including four fangs) on the lower jaw and 30 on the upper one. While the lopsided dentitions were perfectly normal for pterosaurs which were known for the odd arrangement of teeth of all shapes and sizes.

This flying reptile also sported a wingspan that measured 4.5 feet and a large head. Thus, it is believed that while the reptile could take flight, it could not soar over vast areas so probably lived in regions that were populated by trees and other fauna, from where it could easily scoop up insects and small land-dwelling animals.