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The biggest minimum wage jump was in Nebraska, where voters decided to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. In 2023, Nebraska's minimum wage will be $10.50 an hour and will increase by $1.50 until 2026, [NPR reports](https://www.npr.org/2023/01/04/1146695193/minimum-wage-increases-2023).

**23 states, plus DC**

How many US states increased their minimum wage starting Jan. 1?

Yes, even your bloodstream. 3M, which manufactures Scotchgard, cleaning supplies, medical products, and other goods, has been a [major global PFA polluter for years now](https://grist.org/accountability/3m-pfas-stop-legal-battles/). This ban on PFAs comes decades after 3M knew about the chemicals' adverse health effects, Grist reports.

**All of the above**

Manufacturing company 3M will stop using PFAs in its products by 2025. PFAs, also known as "forever chemicals," don't break down in the environment, can cause deadly long-term health risks, and have been found in which of the following?

The EU ruled that Meta's terms of service essentially forced users to allow their data to be used on personal advertising, which is against the union's data collection laws. Meta has [three months to reroute its policies](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/technology/meta-facebook-eu-gdpr.html) and comply with the ruling, according to the New York Times.

**For violating the union's data privacy laws**

Why did the EU just fine Meta $414 million?

Look, I studied English too, so I'll break this down simply: Tissue samples are collected from the patient and vaporized. Cancerous tissue emits different levels of smoke than health tissue when vaporized, which is [how the presence of cancer is detected](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/23/5892). The iKnife's [diagnostic accuracy](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/03/knife-that-smells-tumours-can-detect-womb-cancer-within-seconds-iknife) is roughly 89%, the Guardian reports.

**Electrical currents detect the presence of cancerous tissue**

In a huge medical breakthrough, the surgical "iKnife" has been proven to reliably detect womb cancer. How does it work?

Microsoft owns ZeniMax Media, whose 300-person company just voted to unionize, according to the New York Times. This is [Microsoft's first-ever union group](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/business/video-game-workers-microsoft-union.html) — and one of the first organized labor efforts to succeed in Big Tech.

**Microsoft**

Video game workers just pulled off an unprecedented union victory at what major US tech company?

Yes, this cat is wealthier than you will ever be! According to Billboard, [Olivia's net worth](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-cat-olivia-benson-worth-97-million-1235193860/) was determined by her revenue from Instagram, a personal merch line, and starring in several Swift music videos. Meow.

**$97 million**

Olivia Benson — Taylor Swift's cat, not the _Law & Order_ character — is one of the wealthiest cats in the world, according to a new report. How much is this cat worth?

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