Tech

The World’s Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood Is Coming to Texas

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and a development project in Georgetown is no different. In August, construction tech company ICON was putting the finishing touches on the world’s largest 3D-printed neighborhood in the city just north of Austin.
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“It brings a lot of efficiency to the trade market,” senior project manager Conner Jenkins told Reuters. “So, where there were maybe five different crews coming in to build a wall system, we now have one crew and one robot.”
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The community, dubbed Wolf Ranch, comprises 100 homes ranging in price from around $450,000 to $600,000; roughly a quarter have already been sold. It takes about three weeks to print the single-story residences, with a nozzle squeezing out concrete walls designed to withstand extreme weather like tornadoes and maintain cool interior temperatures during hot Texas summers.
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Another benefit of 3D-printed housing is sustainability — research has shown that the building method can reduce waste and carbon emissions. When the Wolf Ranch project was first announced, ICON CEO Jason Ballard called it a “watershed moment in the history of community-scale development.”

Together With Tangle

A Small Thing That Gives People a Bit of Hope

It’s no secret that America is more divided than ever heading into 2025. Here’s some hope: Over 280,000 people read Tangle — an independent and nonpartisan political newsletter recently profiled on This American Life for helping to bridge the gap between politically divided families.
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Each day Tangle unpacks one important news story, examining it from all sides of the political spectrum. In just 10 minutes, readers gain a fact-driven, 360-degree perspective — becoming empowered to form their own opinions. It’s reimagining how politics is covered. In a world where partisanship fuels division, Tangle is turning down the temperature. You can read it for free below.

Tech

TSA Is Piloting Self-Screening Security Lanes to Improve Passenger Experience

Self-checkout lanes at retail stores were first introduced in the 1980s, but, as anyone who’s shopped at a Target or major grocery chain knows, they’ve really taken off in the past two decades. Now, the Transportation Security Administration is adopting the same concept for airport security.
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As of March, passengers with TSA PreCheck departing from Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport were able to participate in a self-screening pilot program. TSA officers still check IDs and perform secondary screenings of flagged luggage, but passengers scan their own bags and themselves with limited additional interaction with agents.
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John Fortune, a program manager with the Department of Homeland Security, said the goal is not to make security lines move faster, but rather to improve the passenger experience. “We would love it if this ultimately speeds things up, but this is not the primary purpose at this point,” he told The Washington Post. “It’s primarily to reduce the officer burden at the checkpoint and make this a more pleasant, passenger-friendly experience.”

Tech

First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Embodies Eco-Conscious Luxury

Superyachts, and the people who own them, tend to get a bad rap. Besides representing excess in a time when many are struggling to make ends meet, the luxurious ships carry a staggering carbon footprint. Enter Project 821: the world’s first superyacht powered by hydrogen.
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Built by Feadship, a Dutch custom superyacht manufacturer, the nearly 390-foot-long vessel departed its Amsterdam shipyard on May 4 after five years of design and construction. “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” Feadship Director Jan-Bart Verkuyl said in a statement, adding: “We have now shown that cryogenic storage of liquified hydrogen in the interior of a superyacht is a viable solution.”
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Hydrogen fuel-cell technology works by transforming hydrogen into electricity, which is then stored in lithium-ion batteries. Unlike diesel, used by most large ships, hydrogen power is entirely combustion- and emissions-free — the only byproducts from the process are water vapor and heat. See more photos of the sustainable ship.​

Tech

Postal Service Debuts New Electric Ride to Workers’ Delight

A special delivery is coming to the streets: Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service debuted its much-anticipated electric vehicles in Athens, Georgia. And so far, it seems the wait has been worth it.
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The new vehicles will replace 30-year-old mail trucks that have a reputation for being noisy, smelly, and gas-guzzling, getting just 9 mpg. They also don’t have many safety features, ample room for drivers to stand, or air conditioning. On the flip side, the updated trucks tick all the boxes, as they’re quieter, more spacious, loaded with modern safety features, and, perhaps most importantly for drivers, equipped with air conditioning.
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“I promise you, it felt like heaven blowing in my face,” postal worker Avis Stonum told the Associated Press. Another driver said a roomier ride helps him avoid back problems from crouching. While the EVs are just in Georgia for now, keep an eye out for them in your neighborhood soon: They’ll be rolled out across the country within the next few years, and they’re definitely hard to miss.

Money: Gold Is a Solid Investment in Uncertain Times

Gold has always been appealing to investors for its stability. It acts as a safety net in your portfolio, holding its value even when the stock market dips. Gold also hedges against inflation, with its value rising as cash buying power decreases. Money’s list of the top-rated gold IRA providers can help you make smart investments, even if you’re a beginner.

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Quote of the Day

“Imagination encircles the world.”

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– ALBERT EINSTEIN