Talent24h

A 180-degree turn: old cell phones are back in the spotlight thanks to two young inventors who turned them into a product worth its weight in gold

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Collection of old cell phones including flip phones, sliders, and early smartphones arranged on a surface

Old handsets gathering dust may crunch data instead of wasting space, thanks to an ingenious modular frame dreamed up by two University of Tartu students. Each year manufacturers ship over 1.2 billion new phones, and millions of functional devices slide straight into junk drawers. Engineering whizzes Huber Flores and Zhigang Yin offer a smarter ending: snap several phones … Read more

Confirmed: UNFI abandons agreement with Key Food, leading to more than 700 layoffs

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Workers outside UNFI facility holding union signs protesting layoffs linked to Key Food contract termination

United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) will close its North Whitehall Township distribution center this summer, a move that triggers a cascade of layoffs affecting hundreds of Pennsylvania workers. The Rhode‑Island‑based wholesaler has filed a federal WARN notice confirming the 4255 E. Independence Drive facility will wind down between Aug. 12 and Oct. 18, with 717 employees — including 172 truck … Read more

Confirmed: the popular US chain of home goods stores is closing 26 stores as part of bankruptcy plan—check your state

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At Home retail store exterior with logo before confirmed bankruptcy closures in 2025

Chapter 11 will slash $2 billion in debt and inject $200 million in fresh cash, but 26 locations will vanish by September. Plano‑based At Home, once branded Garden Ridge Pottery, confirmed the filing Monday after missing a May 15 interest payment. The popular décor warehouse still runs more than 200 stores, yet executives say shrinking the least‑profitable sites is … Read more

Skip the heater or AC – the household gadget you must unplug before bedtime to avoid a bigger bill

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Multiple phone and tablet chargers plugged into a power strip on a wooden table

Smartphone and tablet chargers may look harmless, yet energy experts warn they can silently double a home’s overnight electricity costs and even spark safety hazards. Leaving one tiny charger connected around the clock seems trivial, right? Unfortunately, that humble plug is often the hidden culprit behind soaring utility statements, costing the average U.S. household up … Read more

Goodbye to full benefits at age 65: Social Security sets a new retirement age starting in 2026

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Scissors cutting Social Security card over a pile of money, symbolizing benefit reductions and retirement age changes

Millions of future retirees will find that hitting the magic birthday for 100 percent benefits is shifting again, and the clock is already ticking. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed a new full‑retirement benchmark that starts on January 1, 2026. Anyone born in 1960 or later must now wait a little longer to claim their benefit in full—bad news … Read more

Data deficit endangers 2.5 % Social Security increase, according to congressional advocates

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Stacks of coins spelling "INFLATION" in front of Social Security card and U.S. currency.

Will your next COLA really cover climbing costs? Advocates say a modest 2.5 percent boost is on the horizon, but cracks in the data‑collection system could trim that raise before it ever reaches your wallet. Millions of retirees count on the annual cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) to keep pace with rising prices. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) … Read more

SSI confirms $967 July payment hitting accounts Tuesday, July 1: these are the people who will receive it

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Social Security cards with July 1, 2025 calendar circled for upcoming SSI payment

Millions of low‑income Americans can look forward to a timely boost next month: the Social Security Administration (SSA) has locked in Tuesday, July 1 as pay‑day for the July Supplemental Security Income (SSI) installment, worth up to $967 for single filers. The extra cash matters because SSI is the safety net reserved for people with very limited … Read more

A man buys a used coat at a thrift store and can’t believe what he finds in the pocket: cheap can be a good deal

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Rows of secondhand clothing in a thrift store with racks and bins labeled by price per pound

One lucky bargain hunter uncovered a luxury timepiece during an ordinary browse, reminding thrifters that true treasure can appear when—and where—you least expect it. A quick stop at a local secondhand shop turned into the score of a lifetime when a Reddit user slipped on a pre‑owned coat, reached into the lining, and brushed against … Read more

A story that emerges from the mud: Hidden relics rise to the surface of Lure Lake, revealing treasures from the 1920s

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Map of Lake Lure, North Carolina highlighting water routes and surrounding terrain

Century‑old relics emerge as North Carolina community dredges its storied lake. A routine cleanup turned time‑machine this week when crews lowering Lake Lure for post‑hurricane repairs exposed a rust‑caked Model T truck and a 32‑foot wooden boat nicknamed “Pooh Bear,” both believed lost since the 1920s. Who stands to gain from the surprise? History buffs, local officials and—perhaps—thousands … Read more

Goodbye to walls and guards: Florida’s Attorney General proposes this prison and a wall surrounded by dangerous animals

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Alligator in swamp and Burmese python on grass, used to illustrate Florida's proposed reptile-guarded detention center

The Everglades site would house up to 1,000 migrants and lean on the 287(g) program to let local deputies act like ICE agents. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is floating a plan that sounds straight out of a thriller: convert a remote 100‑square‑kilometer training ground in the Everglades into an immigration lock‑up surrounded by alligators and … Read more

Confirmed: these are the US states that will receive up to $1,756 from SNAP-plus $2,002 Social Security checks land in four days

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Grocery store aisle with SNAP shopping bag and cash, representing $1,756 in food benefits and Social Security payments

Millions of households have already seen their June benefits, but some Floridians and Texans still have a week to go. Here’s who should mark the calendar — and why a mid‑week Social Security deposit and a fresh $2,000 child tax credit could stretch family budgets even further. The clock is ticking. Eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance … Read more

Why Spanish could soon surpass English in American households: Experts predict dominance by 2050

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Map of the U.S. with American and Spanish flags overlayed and a sign reading "Do you speak Spanish?" pinned in the center

Demographers say a Spanish‑speaking plurality could arrive by mid‑century, reshaping daily life from classrooms to campaign trails. The possibility that Spanish will outnumber English within a generation is no longer dismissed as science fiction. Linguists and census analysts see Hispanic population growth, bilingual households, and media demand converging so quickly that the nation’s linguistic balance … Read more

An unexpected animal leaves scientists stunned: it is the size of a fingernail and has 14 pairs of eyes

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Scenic view of a rocky California beach with turquoise waters and palm trees on a sunny day

Tiny hydrozoan found off California sports four bulbs with seven eyes each, challenging long‑held evolutionary theories. Marine biologists at the University of California thought they were studying Tripedalia cystophora—until, in September 2021, an uninvited guest drifted into the tank. The newcomer, Bougainvillia cf. muscus, proved unforgettable: its 28 light‑sensing eyes set a new bar for strangeness and scientific intrigue. … Read more

NOAA and NWS sounds alarm: widespread heat wave could smash June records and endanger vulnerable communities nationwide

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Man pours water over his head beside a thermometer reading nearly 100 °F during NOAA and NWS-warned U.S. heat wave.

Chicago, New York and dozens of other cities brace for triple‑digit feels‑like readings. An unusually strong dome of heat is sliding east across the United States, and federal forecasters say it could lock the Midwest and Northeast into 90 °F‑plus afternoons and steamy nights through early next week. Tens of millions will face dangerous conditions, with … Read more

Goodbye to thieves: this country surprises with a homemade system to prevent theft while you’re on vacation

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Masked burglar breaking into home through door with crowbar during vacation season

Budget‑friendly “crinkle alarm” gains popularity as vacation season begins. Imagine locking up for a long‑awaited getaway only to picture strangers slipping through your front door. That anxious scenario is fueling a quirky security trend in France: wrapping the doorknob in ordinary aluminum foil. Supporters say it costs pennies yet makes would‑be burglars think twice. Police … Read more

Goodbye paperwork: NHTSA rule simplification allows automakers to put 2,500 robotaxis on the road each year

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Waymo autonomous vehicle near Golden Gate Bridge with NHTSA logo representing new federal approval rules

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has unveiled a streamlined approval pathway that lets automakers deploy up to 2,500 robotaxis annually with far less paperwork—a move that could finally pry open a market stalled by years of regulatory gridlock. For millions of would‑be riders and the companies betting billions on driverless tech, the decision … Read more

The United States is preparing for the largest mass exodus: 72 million people will take to the roads and skies, making July 4th the busiest day in 20 years

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Statue of Liberty with fireworks, airplane, and highway symbolizing record-breaking July 4th 2025 travel in the U.S.

More than 72 million Americans are expected to hit the road, skies, and rails during the 2025 Independence Day week, capping the busiest holiday travel period since records began in 2000. The American Automobile Association (AAA) forecasts that 72.2 million travelers will journey at least 50 miles between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 7. That total is 1.7 million higher than last … Read more

It’s official: Tesla’s robotaxi experience in Austin — cheap, driverless, and a little daring

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Futuristic Tesla robotaxi with gullwing doors parked in Austin in front of flower shop

A handful of fully driverless Model Y SUVs are now roaming South Congress, giving invited riders a glimpse of Elon Musk’s long‑promised robotaxi future for the cost of a fancy coffee. Tesla rolled out the pilot on June 22, limiting service to about a dozen vehicles, each with a safety monitor in the front seat and a geofenced five‑mile … Read more

Not everyone needs Real ID to fly: here’s who’s cleared under TSA rules

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TSA officer holds a notice warning travelers about non-compliant Real ID at a U.S. airport security checkpoint

New federal rules tighten identification at airport security, but certain card‑holders and minors still have a free pass. Starting May 7, 2025, anyone boarding a domestic flight in the United States must show an ID that meets the Real ID Act. Yet the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirms that several groups can travel with other government credentials … Read more

A fortune in gold is discovered hidden behind the walls of a house: its value reaches almost $3.5 million at auction

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Four rare French gold coins recovered from a hidden wall stash, valued at nearly $3.5 million after a Paris auction.

An unassuming village collector’s wall stash turns into one of Europe’s most surprising numismatic windfalls. In a twist worthy of a treasure‑hunt novel, more than 1,000 historic gold coins sealed inside a farmhouse wall in southwestern France have just sold for about €3.48 million ($3.5 million). The windfall caps the quiet life of Paul Narce, a modest retiree whose passion … Read more