The author stopped planning playdates for her 8-year-old. Courtesy of the author My son calls his classmates himself to arrange playdates and activities. I encourage independence while still guiding social awareness and etiquette. His confidence has strengthened both his friendships and our community ties. My now 8-year-old son consistently uses our landline to call his friends and classmates and ask for playdates. He has been initiating these telephone calls since he was 6 years old. He doesn't wait for me to text their parents first. Oftentimes, I am so busy that I rarely find the time to even do that. He takes the class list, finds the phone number, decides who he wants to invite, and makes the call himself. My son grabs the friends list, finds who he wants to call, calls, and asks for a playdate. Then I step in to confirm the logistics with the parents. He has no hesitation speaking with anyone, whether it's their mom, dad, grandparent, or a friend. Watching him do this in real time has made me realize how rare everyday social independence has become for children. Parents do so much for kids right now So much of childhood is now managed by adults. Parents text parents. Parents make the plans. Parents get the birthday reminders, buy the gifts, and manage every social detail from start to finish. We say we want independent kids, but many of us are still operating as their assistants, schedulers, and intermediaries. The author's son started calling his classmates when he was 6. Courtesy of the author My son, Ben, is a self-starter. He is mature in ways people sometimes dismiss because of his age. He chooses his own outfits, hangs up his clothes, helps with the laundry, and empties the dishwasher. He likes responsibility. At home, we leave plenty of room for reading, creativity, and board games. We keep internet exposure very limited. We are outside a lot more. He spends time catching fireflies with his friends, running around, and doing carefree activities that don't need an overstimulating screen to feel meaningful. I ask my child hard questions I am very hands-on with him, mostly through conversation. I ask him hard questions. I push him to think, then think some more. I do not want him to take everything at face value. I let him lead in some ways, even in small things like choosing parts of dinner or helping shape social plans, but not in everything. I am firm when he misbehaves. If I hear he was not on his best behavior at someone else's house, I take action and address it immediately. When he initiates playdates with other children, it becomes my responsibility to also strengthen the connection with the parents. I want them to know that the other parents can talk to me openly. For this to work, it has to be open communication, not just between the children, but between the families. In some ways, I am acting like my son's personal secretary. From time to time, Ben's friends call my phone, and I change my tone almost instantly, from speaking like an adult to speaking with a child who is politely asking for Ben, or trying to figure out a playdate, or wanting to get together for tennis or practice. It is so sweet. These children are trying. They are learning to initiate contact rather than waiting for adults to do it for them. Ben has expanded that instinct beyond playdates. He arranges practice times with his jiu-jitsu buddies. He helps set up tennis games with his fellow young players. In the transcript, I also pointed out that he has picked up practical skills through all of this: learning phone numbers (and understanding area codes), dialing them, memorizing them, even understanding the basics of group calls. The class list includes names, phone numbers, and email addresses of parents. Independence also creates its own challenges Ben gets this burst of energy early in the morning, and with that, immediately wants to call his friends. I have had to teach him phone etiquette because not everyone expects a call at 7 a.m. Not every missed call needs to be followed by four more in a two-hour span. There is social confidence, and then there is social awareness. He needs both. Ben loves making handwritten birthday cards at home from construction paper. It allows him the freedom to be creative. He wraps his friends' presents too. And when we shop for them, I will sometimes give him a debit card with a set budget and let him choose. Courtesy of the author The first birthday card I really remember was for his best friend, Mark. His mother texted me to tell me Ben had tucked the card into Mark's desk that morning before school. It was not only a sweet gesture but also self-directed. He thought of his friend and seized the opportunity to surprise him without adult support. I also think parents underestimate how much children's social lives affect our own. Ben has helped me grow my friendship circle, too. Through his friendships, I have deepened relationships with other parents. What starts as one playdate or one conversation after an activity can turn into something much more meaningful. Over time, these relationships can begin to feel like extended families — not formal, not forced, but real. There is more overlap, more trust, more openness, and more shared life. On a practical level, that has helped me professionally too. Stronger community ties have a way of expanding everything. But more importantly, it has made our lives feel richer and less isolated. There is more social time. More time outside. More natural connection. More spontaneity. More people who know one another, look out for one another, and communicate honestly. He is still very much a child Too often, parenting swings between overmanagement and total passivity. I am seeking something in the middle: I want to give both my son and my daughter the ability to act while allowing them the space to think and reflect. One day, these same habits will become adult skills such as taking initiative, building trust, reaching out first, respecting boundaries, and understanding that independence and community are not at opposite ends. They are the pillars for strengthening each other. Read the original article on Business Insider

A collection of science tools and experiments to expand the scale and precision of scientific exploration.

Families are turning to multigenerational living. Ali Lapetina, Lucy Lu, Adrianna Newell and Jeremy Garretson for BI When my parents and I immigrated from Liberia to the US in the 1990s, our first home was my grandmother's two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her house became a refuge as my parents found their footing in a new country. Living with her gave them childcare help and the breathing room to find work, save money, and eventually move into a place of their own. In turn, she benefited from their companionship. In many cultures around the world, multigenerational households — in which grandparents, parents, and grandchildren live under one roof — are a way of life. Though American culture has long prized independence and individualism, many families in the US are now embracing this way of living. June Boyd, for example, is 90. After a series of health scares in her family, Boyd's Toldelo, Ohio, home now includes 13 people — her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, ranging in age from 3 to 69. Together, they care for the young children and split the home's $700 monthly rent. @media (min-width: 768px) { .vertical-image-wrapper { display: flex; justify-content: center; } .vertical-image-wrapper .vertical-image { width: min(calc(80vh * var(--img-w) / var(--img-h)), 100%); min-width: 0; } } "In our case, there are no downsides to multigenerational living. The main thing is that it reduces the cost of living, given how high prices are." Whatever the setup, many families like Boyd's are finding that living together and pooling resources is the best way to cope with an economy that has made raising children, caring for aging parents, and affording a home more difficult. American family structures are changing If you grew up on cable TV, you probably know the trope of the perfect middle-class, nuclear family living in a large house with a white picket fence. It's the classic setup: a married mom and dad, and, if the kids are lucky, maybe a dog or two — the kind of household seen in 1980s sitcoms like "Family Ties" and "Growing Pains." This essay is part of The New American Home, a series that examines multigenerational houses. Read more: I became a single mom and needed to rent a house in one of the most expensive zip codes in the US. My parents moved in to help. We bought a $630,000 house and moved my mom into the basement apartment. It's helped us care for her and build wealth. My mom sold her house and paid $200,000 to build an addition onto mine. She now lives with me, my husband, and my teens. I'm the 90-year-old matriarch of a 4-generation household. I sleep on the couch, and my family shares the other 6 bedrooms. That script no longer holds for many families. It is easy to see why. Over the years, inflation in the US has made everyday necessities like groceries, gas, and electricity more expensive. At the same time, wages have not kept pace with rising childcare and housing costs. A higher cost of living also means that, for many older Americans, retirement savings are falling short. window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}); Natasha Pilkauskas, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, added that the growing share of children born to unmarried parents, who don't live in the same household, is also helping drive growth in multigenerational living. "A lot of it is driven by changes in family structure," Pilkauskas told Business Insider. "You do see that there are much higher rates of multigenerational households among divorced families than among married families." window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}); When Vanessa Gordon's 13-year marriage ended in 2024, the mother of two had to leave her marital home and look for a new place to live in East Hampton. Gordon found a rental within her budget, but setbacks like a broken car made daily tasks difficult. To ease the burden, her parents moved into a secondary bedroom in her home and now pitch in with childcare. Vanessa Gordon lives with her parents part-time in East Hampton, New York, along with her two kids. Jeremy Garretson for BI "Multigenerational living isn't necessarily a step backward," Gordon, 37, told Business Insider. "Support systems can be strategic." Still, Pilkauskas said multigenerational living often isn't a household's first choice, and that for many families, the traditional nuclear family model remains the ideal. "I still think people would desire the 'Leave It to Beaver' lifestyle," she said. "I think that this is coming from necessity, more than preference." Younger generations are now able to buy homes thanks to their parents In 2015, Juli Ford bought a home in the Boston area with a basement apartment, so her widowed mother could move in with her and her family. Ford's mother contributed to the down payment on the $630,000 home and has, over the years, pitched in for utilities and other household expenses. The arrangement has helped Ford afford the purchase of two other properties. But one of the greatest benefits has been living closely with her mother, now 82, as she ages. "I cannot imagine how much harder it would be to be a daughter of an aging mom if we weren't in the same house," Ford, 57, told Business Insider. Ford's decision to move in with her mom is a choice many households are making in today's real estate market. @media (min-width: 768px) { .vertical-image-wrapper { display: flex; justify-content: center; } .vertical-image-wrapper .vertical-image { width: min(calc(80vh * var(--img-w) / var(--img-h)), 100%); min-width: 0; } } Data from The National Association of Realtors' 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report shows that between July 2023 and June 2024, 17% of all home buyers purchased a multigenerational home. That's an increase from 14% the previous year. Tali Berzak, a New York-based Compass agent, told Business Insider that in the Brooklyn brownstone neighborhoods where she works, including Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Crown Heights, and Clinton Hill, it is common to see multiple generations of a family living in the same home or on the same block. "What we're seeing more now are situations in which parents are helping their adult children buy a home. The parents may live in one of the units, while the adult children occupy one or two of the others," she said. She recently worked on a three-family property where a father used one unit as his secondary apartment in the city, and his two children lived in the others. Homebuilders are designing for multigenerational living Jené Luciani-Sena's mother paid $200,000 to build a separate, but attached apartment onto her daughter's home. The 900-square-foot apartment has its own bedroom, bathroom, and living room. "The kids love having 'Nema' around all the time; Mom joins us for meals," Luciani-Sena, a mother of four, told Business Insider. "I love having an extra person to help with housework, such as grocery shopping and the occasional laundry, and shuttling kids to and from various events and practices." Luciani-Sena said the apartment also increased the property's value by about $75,000. The author loves having her mother live under the same roof. Adrianna Newell for BI Houston-based Newmark is one homebuilder that designs and builds houses for multigenerational families. The company offers one- and two-story floor plans for 40 to 100-plus-foot lots, with homes ranging from about $350,000 to $3.2 million, including closing costs. Rodney Mican, Newmark's director of product development, told Business Insider that buyers in multigenerational households often ask for features such as larger bedrooms, oversize bathrooms and showers, and second kitchens. The floor plan for Newmark's Umbria. The home is priced from about $473,990 to $553,990, including closing costs. Courtesy of Newmark Newmark's Umbria floor plan, for example, offers a "dual home" option. Similar to Luciani-Sena's mothers' apartment, it's a separate living space within the home that has its own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room. Berzak said her multigenerational buyers are especially drawn to homes with separate apartments because they offer both togetherness and privacy. They also work well for grandparents helping with childcare. "People are looking at childcare in a different way," she said. "Instead of bringing a nanny or someone who isn't part of your family into your home, having a parent live within the home feels more connected." Mican said homes like the Umbria resonate because they are built around that very sentiment. "Human nature has not changed for millennia; families will always take care of their loved ones if they can." Read the original article on Business Insider

We're expanding our tools to help you understand how content was created and edited across the web.

Princeton University was ranked as the best college in the US in 2026 by US News & World Report. Guillermo Olaizola/Shutterstock Higher-education options in the US can vary from state to state. US News & World Report ranks colleges and universities across the US every year. Princeton, MIT, and Harvard were ranked as the top three schools in 2026. At a time when AI is reshaping classrooms and raising questions about the future of work, some young people are questioning the value of pursuing higher education at all. While some founders encourage promising students to go into ambitious startups and forgo traditional education, high-earning tech execs continue to champion the value of a college degree, even if it's for completely different reasons. For families, choosing a school can be one of the biggest financial and personal decisions teenagers make right out of high school, shaping their access to alumni networks, research, and internship opportunities. For some students, moving away for a stronger academic program or better long-term earnings potential is worth the cost. For others, the sticker shock of tuition costs in out-of-state schools makes in-state options much more appealing. The good news is that quality education is available across the US, whether it's in the big cities or charming college towns. Every year, US News & World Report ranks schools across the US, from large public institutions to private research universities, and compares their offerings to students across categories, like different academic disciplines and overall value. Rather than providing a definitive college list, it ranks institutions by type. For this story, Business Insider consulted the publication's 2026 Best National Universities ranking, which evaluated 434 schools using up to 17 measures of academic quality, drawing on data reported by schools and third-party sources. The ranking looked at data like graduation and retention rates, graduates' debt loads and earnings, faculty and financial resources, and admissions selectivity, among others. The list, while broad, doesn't include liberal arts colleges focused on undergraduate education, like Amherst College or Pomona College, or regional universities with limited doctoral programs. College rankings have faced criticism over the years. Critics of US News & World Report's lists have said they can put pressure on schools to perform well in certain categories to boost their perceived prestige, and its ranking methodology has been questioned by skeptics who emphasize the importance of non-quantifiable factors — which may not be well represented in the publication's method — in determining how good a school is. US News has defended its rankings as a useful resource for students and families. "Our rankings don't capture every nuance," US News & World Report executive chairman and CEO Eric Gertler wrote in a 2023 Wall Street Journal op-ed after a coalition of law and medical schools decided to boycott the list by not submitting their data. "Academic institutions aren't monolithic or static; comparing them across a common data set can be challenging," Gertler continued. "But we reject our critics' paternalistic view that students are somehow incapable of discerning for themselves from this information which school is the best fit." The rankings have also been at the center of legal controversies. In one case, the former dean of Temple University's business school was convicted of fraud after prosecutors said false and manipulated data was submitted to the publication to boost the school's online MBA ranking. Still, its rankings remain one barometer for school standards and can indicate particular strengths at institutions across the country. We identified the highest-ranking school in each state on the 2026 list. See which university topped the list in your state. ALABAMA: Auburn University in Auburn Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock National rank: #102 (tie) Score (out of 100): 64 Set in a small college town in eastern Alabama, Auburn University has a major SEC sports culture and local entertainment scene. In US News & World Report's rankings, the school tied for 49th among top public schools and ranked in the top 50 for first-year experiences, innovation, and nursing. ALASKA: University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks Gary Whitton/Shutterstock National rank: #395-434 (The school ranked at the bottom of the list of 434 schools, but wasn't given a specific rank). Score (out of 100): Bottom 25% The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a remote, outdoors-heavy college experience shaped by Arctic research, Alaska Native and Indigenous programs, and access to wilderness. The school ranked 161st for undergraduate engineering and placed 213th-225th among top public schools in US News & World Report's rankings. ARIZONA: Arizona State University in Tempe Marcus E Jones/Shutterstock National rank: #117 (tie) Score (out of 100): 62 Set in the Phoenix metro area, Arizona State University offers a large urban campus experience and a major sports scene. The school ranked first for innovation and second for supply chain management/logistics. It also landed in the top 20 for undergraduate teaching, co-ops/internships, analytics, management information systems, and production/operations management. ARKANSAS: University of Arkansas in Fayetteville Natalia Bratslavsky/Shutterstock National rank: #183 (tie) Score (out of 100): 53 Located on a hilltop in Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas offers a classic Northwest Arkansas college-town experience with outdoorsy student life and a big SEC sports culture. The school ranked 11th in supply chain management/logistics, 74th in nursing, and 96th in undergraduate engineering. It also tied for 100th among top public schools. CALIFORNIA: Stanford University in Stanford CravenA/Shutterstock National rank: #4 (tie) Score (out of 100): 95 Ranked fourth in the US, tied with Yale University, Stanford University is the best school in California, per the US News & World Report ranking. Located near the heart of Silicon Valley, the school offers a Bay Area campus experience with startup energy, outdoor access, and a significant sports culture, with students competing in 36 varsity sports and 43 club sports. In US News & World Report's rankings, the school came first in the nation for economics and second for undergraduate engineering and computer science. It also ranked within the top ten nationwide for best value, undergraduate research, innovation, psychology, and several engineering and computer science specialties. COLORADO: Colorado School of Mines in Golden Framalicious/Shutterstock National rank: #80 (tie) Score (out of 100): 68 Located west of Denver and in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado School of Mines has an outdoorsy, STEM-heavy campus culture with 200+ student organizations. The school tied for 40th among the top public schools in the US News & World Report ranking and ranked fourth nationwide in petroleum engineering. It also ranked in the top 50 for undergraduate engineering, undergraduate teaching, and best colleges for veterans. CONNECTICUT: Yale University in New Haven f11photo/Shutterstock National rank: #4 (tie) Score (out of 100): 95 Tied for fourth place nationwide, Yale University offers students an Ivy League experience built around its 14 residential colleges, with students also plugged into the city's local restaurants, arts, and culture. The school ranked third for best value in the US News & World Report Ranking, and placed second in economics, fifth in psychology, and sixth in undergraduate research, as well as ranking within the top 10 for undergraduate teaching, learning communities, senior capstone, and writing in the disciplines. DELAWARE: University of Delaware in Newark meganmge/Shutterstock National rank: #88 (tie) Score (out of 100): 66 The University of Delaware offers a small-college-town campus with access to larger metro areas and a long tradition of athletics, including club sports, intramurals, and fitness activities. The school ranked 43rd among top public schools and was ranked fourth-best in the US for chemical engineering. FLORIDA: University of Florida in Gainesville Bryan Pollard/Shutterstock National rank: #30 (tie) Score (out of 100): 82 Set in the swampy town of Gainesville, the University of Florida offers a large college-town experience with a major sports culture and an active student-life scene. The school tied for seventh among top public schools and ranked in the top 10 for biological/agricultural engineering, real estate, accounting, and marketing. It also landed in the top 15 for best colleges for veterans and innovation. GEORGIA: Emory University in Atlanta Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock National rank: #24 (tie) Score (out of 100): 86 Located in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighborhood, Emory offers a city-campus experience, with arts, restaurants, and career opportunities nearby. The school tied for second place nationwide in nursing and landed in the top 30 for best value, undergraduate teaching, and innovation. HAWAII: University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu Eric Broder Van Dyke/Shutterstock National rank: #169 (tie) Score (out of 100): 55 Set in Honolulu, the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers an urban island campus experience, with access to beaches, hiking, and a wide range of cultural and recreational student activities. The school ranked 92nd among top public schools, 118th in nursing, and 150th in undergraduate engineering. IDAHO: University of Idaho in Moscow Bryan Pascual/Shutterstock National rank: #183 (tie) Score (out of 100): 53 Set in a small town in northern Idaho, the University of Idaho offers an outdoorsy campus lifestyle with trails, recreation, and 16 NCAA Division I sports teams. The school tied for the 100th place among top public schools and ranked 62nd for best value nationwide. ILLINOIS: University of Chicago in Chicago Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock National rank: #6 Score (out of 100): 94 Set in Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side, the University of Chicago offers an urban campus experience with prestigious academics and easy access to one of the country's biggest cities. In US News & World Report's rankings, the school was named the best college for veterans, placed second in economics, and ranked eighth for best value. It also ranked in the top 50 for data analytics/science, undergraduate research, innovation, and undergraduate teaching. INDIANA: University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame University of College/Shutterstock National rank: #20 (tie) Score (out of 100): 87 Located near South Bend, Indiana, the University of Notre Dame offers a residential campus experience with more than 500 clubs and organizations and one of the country's best-known game-day cultures. The school tied for fourth place in service learning and ranked 10th for both undergraduate teaching and accounting. It also landed in the top 25 for best value, study abroad, and first-year experiences. IOWA: University of Iowa in Iowa City Joseph Hendrickson/Shutterstock National rank: #102 (tie) Score (out of 100): 64 The University of Iowa offers a Big Ten college-town experience with game days, school pride, and a strong campus community. The school tied for 49th among the top public schools and ranked in the top 10 for nursing and insurance (a business program) in US News & World Report's rankings. KANSAS: University of Kansas in Lawrence Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock National rank: #143 (tie) Score (out of 100): 58 The University of Kansas offers a classic college-town experience, with a strong sports culture and easy access to Kansas City. The school ranked 74th among top public schools, 40th for nursing, and 86th for undergraduate engineering. It also ranked 99th for economics and in the best colleges for veterans ranking. KENTUCKY: University of Kentucky in Lexington Nancy Guthrie graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1959. Alexey Stiop/Shutterstock National rank: #143 (tie) Score (out of 100): 58 Located in Lexington, the University of Kentucky offers a large-campus experience in Kentucky's horse country with a strong basketball tradition. US News & World Report ranked it 74th among top public schools, and it placed within the top 100 in nursing, undergraduate engineering, economics, and best colleges for veterans. LOUISIANA: Tulane University in New Orleans Cavan-Images/Shutterstock National rank: #69 (tie) Score (out of 100): 71 Set in New Orleans, Tulane offers an urban campus experience shaped by the city's lively music and food scenes, festivals, and service culture. The school ranked fourth in service learning, and placed within the top 100 in undergraduate teaching, undergraduate engineering, economics, and best value. MAINE: University of Maine in Orono Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images National rank: #257 (tie) Score (out of 100): 45 The University of Maine offers a rural New England campus experience with access to forests, trails, and outdoor recreation. Its athletics scene includes intercollegiate, club, and intramural sports. The school tied for 145th among top public schools, 161st for undergraduate engineering, and 135th for nursing in US News & World Report's rankings. MARYLAND: Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Jon Bilous/Shutterstock National rank: #7 (tie) Score (out of 100): 93 Johns Hopkins offers students an urban campus experience centered on research and medicine, with access to Baltimore's neighborhoods, museums, restaurants, and waterfront areas. The school was ranked by US News & World Report as the best school in the country for biomedical engineering, and it placed in the top 10 for undergraduate research, innovation, and biocomputing/bioinformatics/biotechnology. It also ranked 12th for best value and 13th for undergraduate engineering. MASSACHUSETTS: Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge Marcio Jose Bastos Silva/Shutterstock National rank: #2 Score (out of 100): 98 MIT offers an intensely STEM-focused urban campus experience with access to labs, startups, museums, and the wider Boston college scene. The school ranked nationally as the best for undergraduate engineering, computer science, undergraduate research, artificial intelligence, computer systems, theory, business programs, production/operations management, quantitative analysis, and several engineering specialties. It also ranked second nationally, second for innovation, and fourth for best value, per US News & World Report. MICHIGAN: University of Michigan—Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor Agnieszka Gaul/Shutterstock National rank: #20 (tie) Score (out of 100): 87 The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, offers a lively Big Ten college-town experience with a huge sports culture with more than 50 national championships across 12 sports. The school ranked third among public schools and ranked in the top 10 for undergraduate engineering, business programs, nursing, learning communities, and best colleges for veterans. It also ranked as the best school for management and marketing nationwide. MINNESOTA: University of Minnesota—Twin Cities in Minneapolis Ken Wolter/Shutterstock National rank: #59 (tie) Score (out of 100): 73 Set in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University of Minnesota offers athletics, school-spirit traditions, and access to Twin Cities internships, arts, restaurants, and nightlife. The school ranked 26th among top public schools, ranked within the top 10 for nursing and management information systems, ranked 12th for chemical engineering and quantitative analysis, and ranked 28th in undergraduate engineering. MISSISSIPPI: University of Mississippi in University Feng Cheng/Shutterstock National rank: #169 (tie) Score (out of 100): 55 The University of Mississippi offers a classic SEC college-town experience, with a major sports scene and a famous game-day culture. The school tied for 92nd place among top public schools, and ranked in the top 150 for nursing, undergraduate engineering, and best colleges for veterans. MISSOURI: Washington University in St. Louis Kit Leong/Shutterstock National rank: #20 (tie) Score (out of 100): 87 Washington University in St. Louis offers a city-adjacent campus experience with access to parks, museums, restaurants, and internships. The school ranked 11th for best value, 10th for quantitative analysis, 27th for economics, and 42nd for undergraduate engineering in US News & World Report's rankings. It also tied for 58th place for first-year experiences. MONTANA: Montana State University in Bozeman EQRoy/Shutterstock National rank: #318 (tie) Score (out of 100): 40 Ranked 318th nationwide, Montana State University offers an outdoors-heavy college experience, with skiing, hiking, biking, and mountain access minutes from campus. The school tied for 74th place in nursing, 161st for undergraduate engineering, and 170th among top public schools. NEBRASKA: Creighton University in Omaha Ken Wolter/Shutterstock National rank: #117 (tie) Score (out of 100): 62 Set in Omaha, Creighton, a private Jesuit university, offers a mid-sized city campus experience, with access to downtown restaurants, internships, entertainment, and campus athletics. The school ranked within the top 50 schools for nursing, first-year experiences, undergraduate teaching, and undergraduate research/creative projects. NEVADA: University of Nevada—Reno in Reno f.christian/Shutterstock National rank: #192 (tie) Score (out of 100): 52 Located near the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe, the University of Nevada—Reno offers a city-campus experience with easy access to skiing, hiking, nightlife, and outdoor recreation on its 290-acre campus. The school tied for 104th among top public schools, 150th for undergraduate engineering, and 186th for nursing. It also ranked 138th for the best colleges for veterans. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Dartmouth College in Hanover TW Farlow Media/Shutterstock National rank: #13 (tie) Score (out of 100): 90 Dartmouth offers an outdoorsy, prestigious Ivy League experience near the White Mountains. US News & World Report ranked the school third nationwide for undergraduate teaching and placed it in the top 15 for best value and study abroad. NEW JERSEY: Princeton University in Princeton Photo Spirit/Shutterstock National rank: #1 Score (out of 100): 100 Located between New York City and Philadelphia, Princeton offers an Ivy League college-town experience built around rigorous academics, residential colleges, and campus traditions. According to US News & World Report, the school is the best school in the country and also placed first for best value, and senior capstone. It ranked second for economics and psychology, and third for undergraduate teaching. It also ranked in the top 15 for engineering, computer science, writing, research, first-year experiences, veterans, and learning communities. NEW MEXICO: New Mexico State University in Las Cruces Ken Wolter/Shutterstock National rank: #222 (tie) Score (out of 100): 48 New Mexico State University offers a desert-campus experience in southern New Mexico, with mountain views and outdoor recreation. The school tied for 87th place in social mobility, ranked 122nd among top public schools, 135th in undergraduate engineering, and 160th in nursing. NEW YORK: Cornell University in Ithaca TW Farlow Media/Shutterstock National rank: #12 Score (out of 100): 91 Set in New York's Finger Lakes region, Cornell offers an Ivy League college-town experience on a scenic campus known for gorges, waterfalls, and access to outdoor recreation about four hours away from New York City. The school ranked second among schools for veterans and ranked in the top 10 for computer science, business programs, undergraduate engineering, writing in the disciplines, and co-ops/internships. It also landed in the top 15 for economics, finance, quantitative analysis, several engineering specialties, and multiple computer science specialties. NORTH CAROLINA: Duke University in Durham Harrison Klein/Shutterstock National rank: #7 (tie) Score (out of 100): 93 Duke University offers students a residential campus experience with access to restaurants, arts, startups, and opportunities in North Carolina's Research Triangle. US News & World Report ranked the school first in nursing, second in writing in the disciplines, and third in service learning and biomedical engineering. It also ranked in the top 10 for undergraduate research and undergraduate teaching, and in the top 20 for engineering, economics, study abroad, first-year experiences, senior capstone, co-ops/internships, innovation, and best value. NORTH DAKOTA: North Dakota State University in Fargo Ken Wolter/Shutterstock National rank: #232 (tie) Score (out of 100): 47 North Dakota State University offers a land-grant campus experience in North Dakota's largest city, with student organizations, arts, athletics, housing, and dining shaping campus life. The school tied for 129th among top public schools, and it placed 160th for nursing, 161st for undergraduate engineering, and 216th for economics. OHIO: The Ohio State University in Columbus Agnieszka Gaul/Shutterstock National rank: #41 (tie) Score (out of 100): 78 Set in Ohio's state capital of Columbus, The Ohio State University offers a big-city Big Ten campus experience with one of the country's most prominent college sports cultures, especially around Buckeyes football. The school ranked fourth in nursing, fifth in supply chain management/logistics, and 15th among top public schools. OKLAHOMA: The University of Oklahoma in Norman Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock National rank: #110 (tie) Score (out of 100): 63 The University of Oklahoma offers a classic college-town experience with a large SEC athletics scene. In US News & World Report's rankings, the school tied for 54th among top public schools and ranked within the top 100 for undergraduate engineering and as one of the best colleges for veterans. It also ranked fourth nationwide in petroleum engineering. OREGON: University of Oregon in Eugene Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock National rank: #110 (tie) Score (out of 100): 63 The University of Oregon offers students a Pacific Northwest college-town experience with a major sports culture and access to trails, rivers, and outdoor recreation. The school ranked 54th among top public schools, 66th in economics, and 73rd among the best colleges for veterans. PENNSYLVANIA: University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia f11photo/Shutterstock National rank: #7 (tie) Score (out of 100): 93 Set in Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania offers an urban Ivy League campus experience with access to restaurants, museums, internships, and city nightlife. The school tied for first place in business programs and placed first in finance, as well as second in nursing, management, marketing, quantitative analysis, and real estate. It also placed eighth in economics, ranked 13th for best value, and 21st for undergraduate engineering. RHODE ISLAND: Brown University in Providence EQRoy/Shutterstock National rank: #13 (tie) Score (out of 100): 90 Brown University offers students an urban Ivy League experience, with access to restaurants, arts, and city life. The school ranked as the best school for writing in the disciplines, second-best for undergraduate teaching, third-best in the ranking of colleges for veterans, and fourth-best for senior capstone. It also ranked fifth for first-year experiences and eighth for service learning. SOUTH CAROLINA: Clemson University in Clemson Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock National rank: #75 (tie) Score (out of 100): 69 Located in a small college town in upstate South Carolina, Clemson University offers a spirited campus experience in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 2.5 hours from Atlanta and Charlotte. In US News & World Report's rankings, the school tied for 36th place among top public schools, 15th for co-ops/internships, 28th for innovation, 39th for first-year experiences, 40th for nursing, and 50th for undergraduate engineering. It also tied for 45th for the best colleges for veterans. SOUTH DAKOTA: South Dakota State University in Brookings Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock National rank: #257 (tie) Score (out of 100): 45 Set in the city of Brookings, South Dakota State University is the state's largest university, with student traditions like Hobo Day and an active sports scene. The school tied 145th place among top public schools. TENNESSEE: Vanderbilt University in Nashville Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock National rank: #17 (tie) Score (out of 100): 88 Located in the heart of Nashville, Vanderbilt University offers an urban campus experience on a 340-acre arboretum campus about 1.5 miles from downtown, with access to the city's music, restaurants, internships, and nightlife, as well as a strong SEC sports culture. The school ranked seventh for best value, fifth for learning communities, 11th for undergraduate teaching, and 15th for both first-year experiences and innovation. TEXAS: Rice University in Houston TheFantasyPilot/Shutterstock National rank: #17 (tie) Score (out of 100): 88 Set on a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice offers an urban college experience shaped by its residential college system, where students live, dine, socialize, and join intramural teams through small campus communities. US News & World Report ranked the school fifth nationwide for best value, eighth for undergraduate teaching, and ninth for biomedical engineering, and ranked it in the top 15 for entrepreneurship, undergraduate research, and innovation. UTAH: Brigham Young University in Provo Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock National rank: #110 (tie) Score (out of 100): 63 Located at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Brigham Young University offers a large private-university campus experience shaped by students' faith, outdoor access, and a major athletics culture. The school ranked third nationwide for accounting, 17th for best value, and in the top 100 for economics, nursing, and undergraduate engineering. VERMONT: University of Vermont in Burlington Bob LoCicero/Shutterstock National rank: #132 (tie) Score (out of 100): 60 The University of Vermont offers a scenic college-city experience with access to skiing, hiking, biking, and downtown restaurants and music. Athletics, recreation, and fitness are also a visible part of student life. The school tied for 68th place among top public schools, 59th for nursing, and 91st for best colleges for veterans. VIRGINIA: University of Virginia in Charlottesville Felix Lipov/Shutterstock National rank: #26 (tie) Score (out of 100): 85 The University of Virginia offers a historic college-town experience with an active student life and a strong sports culture. The school tied for fourth place among top public schools, and ranked eighth for best colleges for veterans, ninth for management, 12th for finance, and 13th for nursing. WASHINGTON: University of Washington in Seattle Michael Gordon/Shutterstock National rank: #42 (tie) Score (out of 100): 77 Located in the heart of Seattle, the University of Washington offers a big-city campus experience with access to tech, healthcare, arts, restaurants, and outdoor recreation. The school ranked 16th among top public schools, 9th in computer science, 8th in nursing, and 21st in undergraduate engineering. It also ranked third nationwide in biocomputing/bioinformatics/biotechnology and seventh in artificial intelligence. WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia University in Morgantown Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock National rank: #222 (tie) Score (out of 100): 48 Tied for 122nd place in the top public schools nationwide, West Virginia University offers a spirited college-town experience with athletics, outdoor recreation, and easy access to hiking, biking, climbing, and other Appalachian Mountain activities. The school tied for 135th in undergraduate engineering and nursing, and 158th in economics, per US News & World Report's rankings. WISCONSIN: University of Wisconsin—Madison in Madison Koeppen Photo/Shutterstock National rank: #36 (tie) Score (out of 100): 80 Set in Wisconsin's capital, the University of Wisconsin—Madison offers a big-campus Big Ten experience with lakefront access, a strong sports culture, and city life around State Street, the Capitol, restaurants, and music venues. The school ranked 12th among the best public schools in the US and ranked first for real estate, third for insurance, and eighth for nursing. It also ranked 14th for undergraduate engineering, 18th for economics, and 19th for best colleges for veterans. WYOMING: University of Wyoming in Laramie Ken Wolter/Shutterstock National rank: #222 (tie) Score (out of 100): 48 The University of Wyoming offers a college-town experience with access to the mountains, outdoor recreation, and strong athletics. The school ranked 122nd among top public schools, 160th in nursing, and 176th in undergraduate engineering. Read the original article on Business Insider

Discussion | Link

From hiking trails to the downtown area, there's a lot to love about Phoenix. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I took a weeklong trip to Phoenix for the first time in 2022. During the week, I worked and spent my nights and weekends exploring the city and natural areas. I loved the food, scenery, and architecture in and around Phoenix, and I can't wait to go back. I traveled to Phoenix for the people, but I'll be back for the place. In February 2022, I left my home in New York City to spend a week in Arizona's capital. I was there to visit loved ones, and I was surprised to find that I'd plan a trip to the Southwestern city even if I didn't know anyone. The warm weather in Phoenix was so refreshing compared to the cold winter back home in New York. Joey Hadden/Business Insider During February in New York, I always miss the warmth of the sun. So my week in Phoenix was a pleasant break from the bitter cold. While it snowed back home, I was experiencing 70-degree days and 50-degree nights in Arizona. While I was in Phoenix, it seemed like every drive was scenic. A snapshot from a car in Phoenix. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Thanks to the mountains in the distance, there was always a nice view when driving in Phoenix. There are no mountains in my city, so I marveled at these landscapes every day while I was there.  Some of the tallest nearby mountains include Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Two Bit Peak, and Mummy Mountain. Even from the most urban parts of Phoenix, you can see mountains in the distance. Viewing them amid downtown buildings and traffic gave the city a strong sense of place that I don't experience in the northeast. I was in awe of otherworldly landscapes that were just a day trip away. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I took a day trip to Sedona while visiting Phoenix, and the peaceful hiking trails and epic views of the Red Rocks made it worth the two-hour drive. Next time, I want to visit the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon, too.  I was fascinated by the diversity of plant life in Phoenix. Joey Hadden/Business Insider From palm trees to succulents, I noticed that Phoenix was full of plant variety in neighborhoods, on busy streets, and in natural areas. There are many more kinds of plants native to Arizona than in other US states because of the region's varied climates and altitudes, according to the Arizona Native Plant Society, which estimates about 4,000 native plant species in the state. For that reason, I'm especially interested in visiting the Desert Botanical Garden during my next trip. In downtown Phoenix, I wasn't expecting to find an eclectic mix of historical and modern architectural styles. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Art Deco, Spanish Colonial, Victorian, Pueblo Revival, Art Moderne, French Provincial — these are just a handful of architectural styles I saw while strolling the streets of Phoenix. The eclectic mix comes from Phoenix's rich history of various influences, according to Historic Phoenix Districts. I love photographing various architectural styles, so walking around downtown Phoenix was really inspiring. Next time, I want to explore the architecture outside the downtown area to see more Victorian and Pueblo Revival architecture in residential areas. I never knew Phoenix was covered in street art, and I was pleasantly surprised by all the colorful murals painted over building facades. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Walking through downtown Phoenix, I felt like I was in an immersive art museum. There seemed to be a mural around every corner with varying styles and color palettes. I wasn't expecting to find so many good restaurants in Phoenix, but the city has some delectable eats. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I had some of the best guacamole I've ever had, with heaps of pomegranate seeds mixed in, from Barrio Cafe in Phoenix.  Another great spot, Snooze, is a breakfast eatery with locations across the US, except the northeast. I've been to other Snooze locations in Austin, and the Phoenix location was just as delicious. After watching the sun go down in Phoenix, I understand why people say sunsets are better in Arizona. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Many of my friends who have lived in the state have told me that sunsets are better in Arizona. After spending a week in Phoenix, I agree. There's something epic about watching the sunset over a mountain range, and in Arizona, the view felt especially inspiring with so many saturated colors.  I watched the sunset nearly every day in Phoenix, and I'm sure I will next time, too.  Read the original article on Business Insider

Most LLM evaluation systems rely on vague scoring and human judgment disguised as metrics. I built a lightweight evaluation layer in pure Python that turns LLM outputs into reproducible decisions by separating attribution, specificity, and relevance—so hallucinations are caught before they reach production. The post LLM Evals Are Based on Vibes — I Built the Missing Layer That Decides What Ships appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Discussion | Link

After decades of body slams, John Cena is doing more yoga and taking more rest days. Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images John Cena said his pro wrestling career taught him how to adapt to any challenge, even aging. At 49, he's prioritizing rest days and mobility so he can still do a heavy squat when he's 85. He said his one regret from his WWE career was not seeking help sooner, especially for his health. John Cena is one of the most decorated athletes in WWE history, with a career spanning more than two decades. After retiring from the ring late last year, the 49-year-old is now looking ahead to the next chapter of life by prioritizing longevity. "The goal is to be physically active until they put me in the dirt," he told Business Insider. "I would like to be active enough in all capacities, spiritually, mentally, and physically, where I can enjoy the whole ride for as long as I can." Cena spoke with Business Insider in an interview tied to his partnership with Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, the makers of a medication called XDEMVY, which he used after a recent health scare. The former pro wrestler said he was struggling with itchy, red eyes and vision problems before being diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, a condition related to eye mites. The treatment is part of his overall approach to better caring for his body and mind for the long haul. Cena shared his top strategies for long-term health and the biggest longevity lessons he learned from his WWE career. "I'm into doing things correct, protecting my health and body," he said. "I want to be able to bury a squat when I'm 85." From heavy lifting to longevity training Cena said that as a pro wrestler, his persona was built around being as strong as possible. He trained accordingly, often lifting big weights at the expense of straining his back or knees. "Resistance training is heavy, hard, dull, repetitive. It's trench warfare," he said. That kind of challenge has always been Cena's comfort zone, he said. The real struggle for him was the transition from chasing PRs in the weight room to future-proofing his body. "It's a little bit more cardiovascular health, a whole lot more mobility, and a whole lot of knowing when to pump the brakes," he said. Cena, shown here in a 2025 match, retired from the ring at the end of last year after more than two decades in pro wrestling. Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images For instance, Cena said he used to hate stretching, but learned to love how it made him feel afterward. "Mobility and warming up, cooling down, all those things may seem tedious and docile until you find your why," he said. "After 45 minutes of static stretching, I feel excellent. I stand tall, I walk smooth. For a second, I feel 20. All the BS to get there is for that one second. So that's the win." Cena still lifts weights and hopes to keep doing so for decades. He said he particularly loves squat exercises — front squats, back squats, and overhead squats — because they build strength and muscle while improving balance and stability as he ages. "If done correctly, it's a great full range of motion movement that moves a lot of joints and a lot of muscle and activates most everything," Cena said. "For me, it's a mobility as well as strength and performance benchmark." Learning to take a rest day With a career spanning decades from the WWE to acting, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy, Cena said he's learned the importance of adapting through tough situations. "The consistent schedule of physical performance after physical performance after physical performance in a different location every night, you can't really get any stasis. It allows for a great amount of independence and malleability. You can kind of put me anywhere, and I'll figure out how to get myself comfortable," he said. The tradeoff is that after a 30-hour stint of travel, media interviews, and other work, he has to carve out time for recovery. Cena said he typically loves going to the gym to unwind, so it's a red flag if he shows up to work out and isn't feeling it, as he did recently after a particularly hectic schedule. "That is essentially your body's dashboard with every warning light on. Do not drive the car," he said. "I turned right around and went to sleep." The one regret from his WWE career Cena said he wouldn't change a thing about the past few decades, since even the biggest challenges in his life became learning experiences. The one thing he'd do differently, however, is ask for help sooner, particularly regarding health conditions like hair loss and skin cancer. "It's only in recent years I've been brave enough to ask for help, especially in concern to my health, and it's worked wonders," he said. Cena has been open about being diagnosed with skin cancer twice after years of not wearing sunscreen while living and training in sunny Florida. He's also been candid about a hair transplant that he wished he had gotten sooner. "There was just that acceptance of like, 'This is never going to change,'" he said. "Unless you ask for help, you're right, there's nothing you can do. It doesn't have to be like that." Cena said his most recent health scare was vision problems, which turned out to be eye mites. Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc Most recently, he was concerned about red, itchy eyes and vision problems he thought were related to too much screen time or aging. He was diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, inflammation caused by an overgrowth of eye mites. He said he'd never have guessed the condition or managed it on his own, underscoring the importance of seeking expert advice. "I think it's very important to know that you're not indestructible, you're not alone, and you're not perfect. And anytime you have an ailment, asking for help is not a weakness, that's a strength," Cena said. Read the original article on Business Insider

Sofia Palacios lives in her parents' garage. Sofia Palacios Sofia Palacios and her family moved into a new home in January. She decided to turn the garage into her bedroom so her grandparents could stay in the main house. Palacios uses one part of the garage as her bedroom and the other half as an art studio and study. When Sofia Palacios wants to spend time in her backyard, all she has to do is step outside her bedroom door. Palacios, 22, lives in her family's detached garage, so the yard is only ever a few steps away. Although it might not be the most conventional sleeping spot on her parents' property, Palacios told Business Insider she loves her garage apartment. It keeps her close to her family and frees up space inside the house for her grandparents. Sofia Palacios loves living with her family. Sofia Palacios Palacios is a student, real-estate agent, and content creator based in San Diego. As she told Business Insider, her family is the center of her world. Palacios and her two sisters are close to their parents and make time for them whenever they can. "Anytime we go out with friends, we just kind of get going on how much we love my parents," Palacios said. "They're the best." In fact, all three sisters still live with their parents, preferring to stay close to them rather than live independently. "It's a safe place to come home to," Palacios said of her parents' home. "My parents are never overbearing. They're never intrusive. They've always just allowed us to come and talk to them whenever we're ready, and they take an interest in our lives without being judgmental of what we're going to tell them." Their parents also don't charge them rent, as they're happy to have their daughters living at home. When her family moved into a new home in January, Palacios was concerned about the bedrooms. Sofia Palacios Palacios' parents had been renting a home in San Diego when the perfect house for their family went up for sale a few blocks away. The house had four bedrooms, so Palacios, her parents, and her sisters could each theoretically have their own. However, Palacios' grandparents visit often, and if each daughter had her own room, there wouldn't be a dedicated space for them to stay. "We really wanted them to be able to come and visit and stay with us as much as possible," Palacios said. Then, Palacios thought of an unconventional solution: she could make the detached garage her bedroom, freeing up a room in the house for her grandparents. The large garage could be converted into a bedroom. Sofia Palacios Palacios thought that if she moved into the garage, the fourth bedroom in the main house could be a dedicated guest space. The garage already had a fan and electricity installed, so it wasn't a stretch to turn it into a bedroom. She also often stored her art supplies in her family's garages, so it seemed like a natural fit. "With the garage, the deal was if I could fit all of my art stuff in there and all of my bedroom stuff in there, then I could have it," Palacios said. She found a way to make the space work, so Palacios moved into the garage when her family made the house their home in January 2026. The garage isn't attached to the house, so Palacios has her own space. Sofia Palacios The garage door faces an entrance to the house that leads to the laundry room. The garage has a sink, but no bathroom or kitchen. Palacios has to walk to the main house to use the restroom, shower, or make food, which she said is only "annoying" after the sun sets. She has to unlock her door, step across the dark alley, unlock the door to the main house, go to the bathroom, and then do it all in reverse. During the day, Palacios leaves the door open, and she comes and goes through the main house as she would if her room weren't a stand-alone garage. "We eat dinner together probably every night," Palacios said. "My sisters barge into my room. I think the only one that knocks is my dad." Palacios set up her bedroom in one half of the garage. Sofia Palacios The garage was a blank canvas when Palacios moved into the small space, giving her the freedom to arrange it however it worked best for her. She decided to put her bed next to the doorway (convenient for late-night bathroom runs), and it's against the garage door that leads to the street. Her nightstand is tucked in the corner, and a dresser sits across from the bed. White cabinetry stores the rest of her clothes directly across from the doorway. Rugs warm up the space, while a chair facing the bed helps the bedroom feel separate from the rest of the garage. Palacios has the other half of the garage open as a studio space. Sofia Palacios The garage actually has two large doors, one of which is a glass-paned door leading to the patio. It fills the space with natural light, making the area around it ideal for Palacios' artwork. She stores the majority of her art supplies in the built-in cabinetry lining the walls, using the corner opposite to paint or work on her pottery. And although there isn't a kitchen space, Palacios did create room for an espresso maker and a mini-fridge, which she said has been helpful. "My sisters and I love the gym, so we always fight over the proteins that we buy," she said. Having her own mini-fridge ensured she could keep some of her items private. She also has a multipurpose desk. Sofia Palacios Palacios set up her desk in the garage right under the only window in the room. She stores her school materials in the bottom cabinet, and her makeup supplies are in the top drawer. A mirror with a cover rests atop it, so the desk doesn't feel like only a vanity when it's not in use. The garage has a fan but no central AC or heat, but Palacios has a small heater she uses for winter. She plans to get an AC unit for the summer. Although Palacios doesn't have a bathroom in the garage, she does have a sink. Sofia Palacios Palacios told Business Insider that having a sink in the garage apartment comes in handy. She uses it to wash her face and brush her teeth. She installed open shelving near the sink for her products, and she also has a drawer dedicated to her toiletries. Prints hanging on the wall bring some personality to the corner. Direct access to the patio is a big benefit of the garage. Sofia Palacios A wall surrounds the yard, so Palacios felt like she had plenty of privacy. However, she hung up curtains at her grandfather's behest, though they had to hang from the outside so they wouldn't get in the way of the garage door's opening mechanism. Palacios loves that the glass door leads to the backyard, as it feels like an extension of the yard when it's open. "My sisters tan out there sometimes because that's where we get the most sun," she said. "I'll have the door open and be working, and they'll be tanning and talking to me." "It was so annoying in the winter because crickets would constantly slip through the bottom," she added. "I actually didn't fully figure out a fix. I had to get used to sleeping with them through the night." The garage works well for Palacios. Sofia Palacios "I love it," Palacios said. "I was just really excited to have an open layout. I've obviously had rooms before, but to have almost an open loft studio type of thing is such a cool experience." She told Business Insider she couldn't get that kind of space living in her own home. "San Diego is very expensive," she said. "Even studios here can be a bit more pricey, and I would always want to stay with my family for as long as I could." Aside from having to trek to the bathroom at night and dust collecting in the space, Palacios said she has no complaints about the garage. Plus, her grandparents are visiting more often, and for longer stints, so she feels like the decision has paid off. "Having the peace of mind that they can come and stay here and have their little space, it motivates them to actually come," she said. "I think it's motivating them more and more to stay longer and longer, which was the goal." Read the original article on Business Insider

The author's (right) husband (left) used a unique strategy to get a job. Courtesy of Camilla Richardson My husband was unemployed for 10 months and couldn't find a job; his résumé was lost in piles. He came up with a plan to show up at an office he was interested in, unannounced, with doughnuts. I was skeptical of his plan as a former recruiter, but it got him the job. My partner was laid off in January of last year. Hundreds of applications later, he'd only landed two interviews with no job offers. We had managed to stay optimistic during the job search, using the time to travel and see family, but our positive attitudes began to wear thin as January turned into September. As a tech professional, he found it difficult to find work in the field as AI surges and companies grapple with the uncertainty it brings. Even with my help as a previous recruiter, he was ghosted by most companies. I reviewed and tweaked his résumé multiple times, edited his cover letters, gave him tips on finding leads on LinkedIn, and we even practiced mock interviews. At one point, I listened in on a remote second-round interview to make sure I didn't have any additional pointers. He was doing great, but when he didn't land that position either, our worry grew. Desperate, he stepped outside his comfort zone and began applying to non-tech companies. But with no experience in other fields, that effort was also fruitless. He wasn't even getting a call back. That's when he came up with a unique plan. Nothing was working, so he decided to try something old-school One day, after seeing an open role that was locally posted online, he decided to try an old-school tactic by visiting in person after submitting his online application. When he told me, I worried about how they'd react to an unexpected drop-in. But he's a social person, and being at home so much was tough on him. If nothing else, putting in an appearance at their headquarters would let him be social in the middle of what would have been a workday, instead of searching through postings at home for the thousandth time. I had serious doubts that showing up unannounced would work, but we were approaching the 10th month of his job search, and he looked excited about an opportunity. That had become rare. I wished him luck and held my breath when he left that morning. He showed up with doughnuts Now, my husband is a pastry lover, and on the way to their office, he stopped for a box of doughnuts to bring as a nice gesture. The move drew attention during his visit and jump-started conversations with staff. He came home hopeful but nervous, telling me about who he had met and how the sweets had gone over better than expected. And it was true: his visit pulled him to the top of the applicant pool, and he finally received a call from HR later that day. The woman mentioned the doughnuts and how the staff had appreciated the treat. A few interviews with them finally turned into a job offer. When he first told me he planned to show up at their office with a box of sweets, I didn't think the visit would do much. Truthfully, dropping his résumé in person for that level of role seemed outdated to my recruiter's mind. I worried they would find his actions antiquated. I was wrong. His visit earned him the chance to land a job he wouldn't have been considered for otherwise. Six months later, he's been offered a raise and recently had a great review. We still joke that doughnuts are responsible for his employment, even though they were just a symbol of his tenacity in this hard job market. Making things personal opened the door to his new role Unemployment isn't for the faint-hearted. It chips away at your confidence and finances while escalating life's stressors. I feel for anyone currently on the hunt when I look back at those 10 months of uncertainty. What I love about the story is that showing up with a box of doughnuts is a very "him" thing to do, and it was when he let his personality shine that he finally got recognized as a person instead of just another applicant in their email inbox. As a former HR professional, the job market and hiring process can feel brutal and impersonal on both sides. He forced it to be personal, and that's when things clicked. Read the original article on Business Insider

Eleanor Olcott / Financial Times: Developers say Chinese AI labs lead US rivals in video generation, as ByteDance and Kuaishou train models on vast short-form video libraries from their own apps  —  Chinese artificial intelligence groups have moved ahead of US rivals in video generation, a key battleground in generative AI …

I couldn't get a job after graduation, so now I'm going back to school in a different field. Ryan Walsh When I was in college, I did everything I could to set myself up for success after graduation. After applying to over 100 entry-level jobs, however, I struggled to land a full-time paid gig. Now, I've decided to pivot to a different career path and go back to school for my master's. When I graduated with a degree in journalism three years ago, I'd hoped to have a full-time, salaried job in my field by now. Instead, most of my days are a hectic blend of part-time and unpaid roles. I often find myself running to my retail job in the morning, catching the train in the afternoon to pick up the kids I nanny for, coming home for a quick dinner, and then wrapping up the day with a few hours at my unpaid, remote internship. It's not exactly how I envisioned spending my 20s in New York, but here we are. In college, I did everything I could to prepare myself for the 'real world' I thought all my accomplishments in college would make it easier for me to land my first full-time role. Ryan Walsh During my time as an undergraduate student in San Diego, I asked pretty much anyone I could about how to be successful after graduation. Following advice from professors and industry professionals, I did everything "right." I made the dean's list every semester, served on the board of a student organization, held multiple jobs, won an award for my thesis project, and even graduated summa cum laude. At the time, I thought these accomplishments would make it easier for me to land my first full-time role. However, when it came time to start applying to full-time jobs, the only offers I got were for unpaid internships. I felt like a failure — like I had worked too hard in college just to end up in unpaid or minimum-wage jobs, scrambling to make rent every month. Plus, seeing my friends and LinkedIn connections land full-time jobs and grad school acceptance letters only added fuel to the fire. I felt alone. So, after two years of struggling in San Diego, I decided to take a risk and move to New York City to continue my job search. Unfortunately, though, I still wasn't having any luck. But as I began networking more and sharing my experience with others my age, I realized this was happening to many other people, too. It wasn't just me who was struggling — I had graduated into a difficult job market, one marked by fewer entry-level positions, hiring freezes, and uncertainty surrounding new technology like AI. Now, I've decided to pivot to a new career path — and return to school After spending a few years working multiple jobs in New York City, I'm going back to school. Ryan Walsh After years of throwing my hat in the ring for over 100 entry-level positions — and working multiple jobs to avoid gaps on my résumé — I finally stopped beating myself up. Instead, I leaned into other things that make me happy, like pottery classes, yoga, and volunteer work. In fact, the more involved I became with local and national nonprofits, the more I discovered my passion for working within these spaces. Now, I'm particularly interested in women's health issues and have decided to pivot to a career in public policy. However, I know that having a master's degree in this field could make me a more competitive candidate. So, even though I poured my heart and soul into undergrad experiences that would help me stand out in a competitive job market, I've decided to take a risk and go back to school again — this time, abroad. Luckily, I was accepted to a prestigious school in France with a scholarship that will cover a significant portion of my tuition. Of course, there's no guarantee I'll easily get a job after completing my master's program, and the thought of returning to school is intimidating. However, I'm eager to continue networking and learn more about a career path I'm excited about. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author is trying to incorporate things she loved about her life in country Victoria into her life on the Gold Coast. Courtesy of Melissa Noble My family of five moved from a small town to a bigger city to live with my parents. I'm trying to bring the slower, more intentional ways of living to our lives here. I'm focusing on building a sense of community and making sure we still spend time outside. I grew up on the Gold Coast, Australia's sixth-largest city. In my 20s, my partner and I lived in Canada, then England. When we returned to Australia, we spent eight years in Melbourne, then the last four years in Bright in country Victoria, so that we could be close to his family. Bright was a small town of fewer than 3,000 people, and I fell in love with the lifestyle and people pretty quickly. I couldn't get over how genuinely nice they were. It felt like the community really had each other's backs, and I soon found myself slowing down and relaxing into country life. However, after four years in Bright, my family of five moved to the Gold Coast to be closer to my aging parents in January. It was a tough decision, and the hardest part was leaving behind our friends and family, but I didn't want to have regrets down the track. Since moving back to the city, I've found myself trying to bring a few of those slower, more intentional ways of living into our lives here. The author and her family of five moved in with her parents at the beginning of the year. Courtesy of Melissa Noble I'm building my community Bright might be small, but it has an enormous heart. The people there are some of the warmest and most generous I've ever met. It's the kind of place that feels like a warm bowl of soup on a cold day, a hug when you're feeling blue. Since my family moved in with my parents, I've tried to carry that same community spirit with me. I've been cooking meals for friends, offering to babysit when someone's stretched, or simply checking in with a message if I sense someone might be having a tough time. The other day, I even texted a new neighbor to ask if we could borrow a couple of eggs. It felt like such a small, old-fashioned thing to do, but it broke the ice. A few days later, I invited her daughter over to play and sent her home with some of our eggs. Then, for my birthday, the neighbor made me candied almonds and left them on our doorstep. That initial simple gesture helped us connect on a deeper level and establish a sense of community. I'm still enjoying simple fun Living in regional Victoria, there was plenty to do outdoors, but a lot of the time, you had to make your own fun. Our best family adventures were often the simplest, like packing a picnic and heading to a swimming hole, picking fresh fruit at a local berry farm, or hiking through the mountains. Now that we're back in the city, though there's more to do here, I'm so grateful for the mindset I gained in a smaller town. I rarely feel bored, because even on quiet days or rainy afternoons, I can think of countless ways to make time together feel special. The author and her family recently moved back to the Gold Coast. Courtesy of Melissa Noble I try to connect with nature One of the things I loved most about country life was the connection to nature. I slowed down and began to appreciate the simple things. The shift in seasons, the depth of color in a rainbow, the scent of pine in the morning air, the energizing feel of icy mountain water. It's not always as easy to find that connection to nature in the city, but I make a point of seeking it out. Sometimes we'll drive out to the Gold Coast hinterland for a hike, or head to the beach for a quick swim before school. Floating in the Pacific Ocean at sunrise is a simple reminder that staying connected to nature doesn't depend on where you live; you just have to make space for it. There are aspects of city life that I'm really enjoying, like having access to amenities and a wide variety of sporting clubs for my kids. But sometimes I do miss the slower pace of country life and the people. On harder days, I make even more effort to slow down and build a sense of community. Sometimes that means reading on the veranda in the sunshine and giving myself permission to say 'no' to activities without guilt. Other times, it looks like wandering through the local farmers' markets or lingering at the local coffee shop and getting to know the owner. Those simple moments sustain me and remind me of the best parts of country life. Read the original article on Business Insider

Plus: Google's vibe coded widgets, the companies who are ditching AI features, a genuinely useful bookmark tool you can use.

Researchers are testing CAR T cell therapy as a way to reset the immune system.

Jim Thompson is the billionaire founder and chairman of Crown Worldwide. Edward Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Images Billionaire Jim Thompson founded Crown Worldwide and built it into a logistics titan. His daughter, Jennifer Harvey, rose to become CEO of Crown in 2023. Thompson told Business Insider about Harvey, and how he balanced being a founder and a father. Jim Thompson became a billionaire by building Crown Worldwide from scratch into a global logistics giant. His daughter, Jennifer Harvey, was appointed CEO in 2023. Read our interview with her here. Thompson recently told Business Insider how he balanced the demands of building a business and raising his children, how he felt about keeping the company in his family, and whether he hopes his grandkids will join Crown one day. The founder said that in Crown's early days, he spent much of his time traveling or with his management team and customers. But he made it home most weekends, bonding with his young daughter over boating, water sports, and other activities. Thompson felt he was "always able to be a big part of Jenny's life as she was growing," and he was there to "help her develop her values." He said that he never expected Crown to become so successful, so it was only about 30 years ago that he began to think seriously about whether his children might take the reins of the family business from him. Yet he also wanted his kids to have fulfilling careers, he added. "It would have been a bit of a disappointment if Jennifer chose not to join the family business, but I would be more unhappy if she chose to join the company just to please me and not because she felt she wanted the challenge," he said. Thompson said he "placed Jennifer's happiness above the need for her to be my successor." He added that he felt fortunate she did ultimately take on that responsibility, and he's found that to be "very fulfilling." He knew that Harvey becoming CEO of the company he founded would raise questions of nepotism and doubts over whether she was qualified for the role, he said. Harvey was "well aware" that taking charge of Crown "would be a challenge" for those reasons, Thompson said. But she "dealt with this in a very mature way," he continued, and the other executives came to see she was the right person for the job. Father and advisor Thompson also spoke about their differing personalities. He described Harvey as "much more of a people person" than he is, with a "talent" for reading people. He also hailed her as an "excellent communicator" with a "natural ability to motivate and get the most out of her managers." As for mentoring Harvey, Thompson said he's "very much in the background" but he's happy to offer advice if she wants it. "I do not look over her shoulder or comment on all her decisions," he said. Thompson said he doesn't struggle to separate the roles of father and advisor. "She's strong, very independent, and a good leader, but also a loving daughter," he said. Thompson said he's tried to pass on two key lessons to Harvey. The first is that "integrity is invaluable," and it's "paramount" for a CEO to make sure their company earns the respect of employees, customers, and competitors. The second is how crucial it is to be a "company with a heart," and encourage all employees to be charitable to those less fortunate. Thompson said that as a private company, Crown is able to do this in a "very effective and personal manner," and giving back has become "embedded in our culture." As for the question of whether any more of his descendants will run Crown, he said that will be up to them. Read the original article on Business Insider

Jennifer Harvey is the CEO of Crown Worldwide and the daughter of its billionaire founder, Jim Thompson. Crown Worldwide When family dynamics meet business empires, sparks can fly. Jennifer Harvey is the CEO of Crown Worldwide, a company founded by her billionaire father. She spoke about the family business, her relationship with her dad, and her hopes for her own kids. From "Succession" to "Yellowstone," families with business empires are a rich source of drama and conflict with huge financial stakes. Jennifer Harvey is the CEO of Crown Worldwide, a logistics company with more than 3,000 employees and operations in 45 countries. She's also the daughter of Crown's billionaire founder, Jim Thompson. Harvey recently spoke to Business Insider about the rewards and challenges of taking over the family business, how she navigates her relationship with her father, and whether she wants her own children to continue the dynasty. Heir to the Crown Thompson founded Crown in Japan in 1965 to support US military families relocating there. Read our interview with him here. Harvey recalled her father's startup being a constant presence in her childhood. "Crown was definitely part of the family," she said, adding that her parents would often take her to the office, and she knew the employees. Harvey said the reality for many children whose parents are building a business is "you have to share them with that all-consuming exercise." But she said her father did a "really good job of making sure he knew what was going on in our lives, even if he was phoning us from abroad." Harvey moved from Japan to Hong Kong around age 10. After she graduated from high school, she relocated to New York to attend Columbia University, where she majored in East Asian Studies with an economics concentration, and learned Japanese. Her first job after college was at an investment bank, but she found the culture of working all hours "brutal" and realized it wouldn't make her happy in the long run. She remembered that before leaving for college, she'd had dinner with her father at a "little tonkatsu restaurant." Thompson had told her there's "no pressure," but "if you ever want to work for the company, we'd love to have you." Disillusioned by her banking gig, Harvey thought to herself: "Maybe now is the time to give it a shot." She had "mixed feelings" about asking her dad for a job, so she told him to "send me wherever you want," and he promptly dispatched her to Japan. Some years later, she moved to Singapore, where she met her husband and had three children. They relocated to New York after he was offered a big promotion there, and have lived there ever since. Harvey had been working at Crown for more than 30 years when the CEO who succeeded her father retired. She was chosen to be the company's next chief and took the role in August 2023. Honoring a legacy Over the years, Crown has evolved from primarily relocating employees and military personnel, to becoming a specialized logistics business. It now provides everything from information management and workspace fit-outs to healthcare logistics and fine art and wine storage. Harvey said she's adapted to changing market needs while staying true to the values and culture that define her father's company. She said that she wants to "leverage what he did that worked," and doesn't "want to break anything." Crown's industry has become more international and interconnected, so she's had to "really promote an enterprise mindset" and encourage her managers to "think globally," she said. Otherwise, a strong performance in one country could be offset by a weak performance in another. Harvey hailed Thompson's ability to spot unmet needs in the market that Crown could service, and said she wants to keep that "entrepreneurial mindset." She gave the example of the sprawling property portfolio that her father assembled for Crown. It helps the company meet "all sorts of storage needs" across the world, and remains "one of the most valuable" parts of the business, she said. Harvey also highlighted her father's "magical way with employees." She learned from him the importance of ensuring workers feel seen and appreciated. On a trip to Crown's Dubai office last fall, the company's warehouse workers told her they remembered Thompson visiting more than a decade earlier. The fact that he took the time to meet and take pictures with them had a "lasting impact," she said. Harvey also discussed their contrasting management styles. While her dad was more likely to "delegate a tough conversation," she's "much more willing to lean right into it," she said, adding that neither approach is superior. She focuses on doing the "best job" she can rather than judging herself against her father, she said, as that "seems like a recipe for a nervous breakdown." "I try not to compare myself to him because he's such a special guy in our industry," she said. "He's a legend." She likened her mindset to that of a marathon runner, who might just give up if they dwelled too much on the monumental task ahead of them. They're "probably better off" focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, she added. Harvey praised Thompson for always being "very, very supportive," and available when there's "something hard that I really want to talk to him about." She said the "hardest part" of their relationship is separating the business from the personal. She actively works to draw a line, for example, by not talking shop during a weekend call. "I try to balance it because him being my father is much more important to me than anything else," she said. Harvey also mused on what makes her job meaningful and purposeful, joking that the thought process was a "little bit millennial of me." "There's something about working for a business that he built that does give me this other dimension of reward," Harvey said. It feels like she's helping him and adding value to "something he spent his lifetime building," she added. Instead of working for some faceless corporation, "I'm doing it for family, and that matters to me," she said. The next generation Growing up with a founder as a father, Harvey witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be to juggle work and family. "It may have had an impact on my decisions as a parent," she said. With her three children, she wanted to "make sure they felt that their parents were giving them time — not because I didn't get that, but I think I was hyper aware of it." Harvey said she's followed her father's lead in not pressuring her children, now in their 20s, to join the family business. "I really appreciated that there wasn't this expectation just put in front of me at a young age," she said. Her children know the option is there, but she's encouraging them to pursue their own paths first, "and then we'll see," she said. Harvey said she doesn't mind whether they join Crown or not, as a family can maintain ties to a business without running it. "It's not always the best answer just because they've got a certain surname," she said. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author's son, 14, loves traveling. Courtesy of Kristina Wright My son, 14, loves traveling, and has shown me that he can handle it. He has a list of places he wants to go, and talks about studying abroad. I have a hard time thinking about letting go, but I'll support what he wants to do. When my youngest son was little, I called him my "koala baby." He wanted to be carried on my hip at all times and would tuck his head into my neck to hide whenever he was in an unfamiliar environment. It's almost impossible to reconcile that little boy with the one who now talks about traveling the world. He'll be 15 in a few months, and he already has a long list of places he wants to visit. College is something he's actively looking forward to, and one of his main criteria is a school that has a strong study abroad program. He recently mentioned he might want to be an exchange student next year. I smiled and nodded, because of course it's a terrific opportunity. But internally, I felt that familiar lowkey dread that seems to pop up with every new step toward independence. He's been building toward this version of himself for a while now. The summer after he completed sixth grade, he spent a week in Washington, DC, at a student leadership conference. It was the first time he was away from home without my husband and me, and though he was very excited about it, I could also tell he was nervous. We bought trip insurance, just in case he decided to back out at the last minute. He didn't. With every trip, he grows a little more Last summer, he went even further on a school trip to England. I struggled more with that decision than I expected, even though I trusted the chaperones and knew the friends he was traveling with. Of course, he did great. He navigated airports, kept track of his luggage, rolled with the unexpected, and came home with stories and experiences entirely his own. He's been building confidence with each new adventure, and it's a joy to watch, even while I hesitate to let go. It's not that I don't trust him. He's grown into an incredibly responsible teenager, and I trust his judgment and his ability to figure things out. He's already more well-traveled at 14 than I was at 40, and he moves through new environments with a level of confidence I didn't have at his age. There's something deeply reassuring about that — and something a little humbling, too. Somewhere along the way, my koala baby has learned how to take care of himself. I still struggle to let him go A week in Washington, DC, or even 10 days in England wouldn't make me blink now. But a month — or longer — as an exchange student, living with people we've never met, in a place that isn't home? That feels like an entirely different leap. One that I'm not ready for. I can hear my worry in the questions I ask him, even when I try to keep them casual. What if something goes wrong? What if you get homesick? What if it isn't what you expected? He answers confidently, like he's echoing the reassurance I've given him his whole life. I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing. It'll be fun. And I believe him. He's shown me that he's ready for the world, again and again, in ways both big and small. He's learned how to plan, how to pack, how to adapt when things don't go exactly as expected. He knows how to dress for the weather, navigate a new city, use a credit card, and ask for help when he needs it. He's figured out how to be okay without me right there beside him. He'll be OK — and so will I I don't know yet if he'll commit to an exchange program in high school or if he'll wait until college to study abroad. Either way, I'll have to figure out how to be OK with it because there's no good reason to discourage him. As much as I feel that pull to hold on, I also feel — strongly — that I can't hold him back. Not in what he wants to do, and not in who he's becoming. That's what we hope for when we're raising them, even if we don't always think about what it will feel like when it actually happens. So when the time comes, I'll do what I've done every time before. I'll make packing suggestions, even if he doesn't really need me to, and ask all of the questions to reassure myself that he's prepared. Then I'll watch him leave, feeling that familiar mix of pride and worry, and remind myself that both things can exist at once. He's ready to see the world. And I'm learning, one trip at a time, how to let him. Read the original article on Business Insider