Author: TECH

Social Security recipients will have to wait until October to know how much more they will receive in the new year.But the latest predictions give recipients an indication of the likely change.READ MORE: Social Security’s August payment schedule: Why some people won’t get a check next monthBased on current forecasts from nonpartisan advocacy group The Senior Citizens League, Social Security’s Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA, for 2027 will be 3.8%. That amount would be the largest increase since 2022, when COLA went up 8.7% amid post-COVID inflation. Since then, COLA has been 3.2%, 2.5% and 2.8% for 2023, 2024…

In July 2026, a team of students from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands unveiled what is believed to be the world’s first solar-powered ambulance.It’s called the Stella Juva.The team, comprised of nearly two dozen student engineers and designers, has a dream of making medical care accessible to people in the most remote regions of the world — while also using sustainable power to do so.Courtesy of Solar Team Eindhoven“We were inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which strive to make good healthcare accessible to everyone,” 21-year-old team manager Mathijs van Gerven, said in a statement. “Stella Juva…

Fast growth can hide product risks until customers get hurt, especially when safety comes late in development. A software bug can be patched, but a chair, charger, or smart device can cause a burn, fall, cut, or crash. For founders moving from a prototype to mass sales, the cases handled by Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers in Boston show why launch goals should not push testing, warnings, and foreseeable risks aside. A product claim can involve the design, how a unit was made, user instructions, or several firms in the supply chain. Why Minimum Viable Should Never Mean Minimally Safe A…

The average retiree’s Social Security benefits have lost roughly 13.7% of their buying power since 2010, according to an analysis by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). Why? Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) aren’t keeping up with inflation, even though that’s exactly what they’re supposed to do. There’s a simple explanation for this reality: Social Security uses a flawed inflation metric for calculating the annual COLA. But so far in 2026, this flaw hasn’t hurt retirees much. Image source: Getty Images. The flaw and the fix The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates the annual COLA using the Consumer Price Index for…

Most people who receive Social Security retirement benefits will see their monthly payments in August 2026 as usual — with checks and direct deposits distributed according to the Social Security Administration’s standard schedule.Here’s more on payments, including the August payment for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, which will not see a payment issued within the month of August since the monthly payment was instead issued on July 31. While SSI and Social Security are separate programs, about half of SSI recipients also receive Social Security, which is why the distinction matters.Social Security payment dates for August 2026The Social Security Administration published the 2026 schedule…

Despite decades of investment in mental health services and suicide prevention campaigns, young Australian men – particularly those living in rural and regional communities – continue to die by …

60 years ago today, Frank Herbert’s epic science-fiction novel Dune was published. Set in the distant future amidst a feudal interstellar society in which various noble houses control planetary fiefdoms, it tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose family accepts the stewardship of the planet Arrakis. While the planet is an inhospitable and sparsely populated desert wasteland, it is the only source of melange, or “spice”, a drug that extends life and enhances mental abilities. Dune is a landmark in science fiction; a Hugo Award winner that has sold 20 million copies in dozens of languages. And was recently made into two…

The modern workday unfolds largely indoors. Long hours spent commuting, sitting in meetings, and staring at screens can make time outdoors feel like a luxury. Finding time for nature in an already packed workday can feel impossible, especially if you think nature only “counts” when it involves hiking boots and camping gear.But a growing body of research suggests that nature’s benefits don’t require an exotic vacation getaway or weekend adventure. Even brief, routine interactions with green space can reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall well-being.I spent the spring of 2026 teaching and studying urban landscapes in Denmark, a country…

It’s not what you say to everyone else that determines your life. It’s what you whisper to yourself that has the greatest power and influence. The best lessons we learn in life are the lessons we learn over and over again. The human mind needs lots of reminders — lots of practice — to operate effectively. For example, deep down we know it’s OK to… Say “no” Speak up Tell the truth Believe differently Change our mind Prioritize our needs Learn from our mistakes Embrace our imperfections Forgive and seek forgiveness Begin again, stronger than before Yet, we often do…

When you find another business operating under the same name, you often see it as an operational risk. Having the same name can confuse your customers, dilute your marketing investments, and reduce your revenue. You need to understand U.S. trademark law to resolve the issue. Another business using the same name does not necessarily constitute a legal violation. You need to evaluate your legal standing and market position to determine whether it constitutes an infringement and how you should respond. Analyze the Likelihood of Confusion The law simply looks at whether an ordinary consumer would mistakenly believe the two businesses…