One of the buzziest books in America right now is Abundance, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompsons bestseller on why our failure to build enough homes has contributed to soaring costs and needless political strife. And one of the most provocative movements in politics these days is pronatalism a coalition sounding the alarm on people not having enough babies. Pronatalists are gaining power in the White House (Trump recently dubbed himself the fertilization president) and the movement just wrapped up its second annual US convention in Austin, Texas. As housing supply and birth rates have become twin focal points in Americas policy conversation, a growing number of wonks are drawing connections between these two, arguing that expanding housing supply wouldnt just ease affordability it could also help boost fertility. The Institute for Family Studies a think tank which launched its own pronatalism division last summer recently published a report making this case, revealing how housing costs have become crushing for young adults. The median home now costs nine years of a young persons income, up from five years in 1969. Homeownership rates for Americans under 35 have collapsed from 50 percent to around 30 percent since 1980.Many of these young adults arent even living in their own rentals. The National Association of Home Builders found that in 2023, 19.2 percent of young adults (or 8.5 million people) lived with their parents, compared to less than 12 percent of young adults in 2000. As Robert Dietz, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders, noted last month at a conference in Washington, DC, the surge of young adults living with parents represents a failure to launch that directly impacts marriage and fertility rates.Dietzs conclusions are supported by IFS. Living with ones parents has a huge negative effect on fertility according to the think tank, meaning that as more young adults delay moving into their own homes, they also delay or forgo having children. In fact, IFS researchers find that no other factor not undesired singleness, preference for leisure, schooling, child care costs, or student debt limited ones childbearing goals more than housing costs. As a 32-year-old woman getting married in two months and still renting this all strikes a chord. Much of my reporting focuses on ways to expand the desperately needed housing supply, and I am compelled by the argument that making it easier for people to live independently would, in turn, make it easier for them to form and sustain romantic relationships.But banking too much on housing misses deeper shifts in our social fabric. Housing affordability matters enormously, but exists within a cultural landscape where attitudes toward family formation and parenthood are fundamentally changing. Fewer young adults are prioritizing committed partnerships as a life goal, with many explicitly choosing to remain single.Perhaps most significant are the widening economic, political, and cultural divides between young men and women. Between 2012 and 2023, young women became dramatically more liberal while young men drifted rightward. By 2023, over 50 percent of young women identified as liberal, up from 32 percent 11 years earlier. As women have pursued more education and focused more seriously on careers, mens earning power has declined. Meanwhile, the rising cost of living continues to reshape everyones economic future.The 2024 election revealed that among voters under 30, the gender gap between women and men who supported Kamala Harris was twice as large as in other age groups. This isnt just about voting habits; 68 percent of Harris voters believed society should dedicate more resources to helping girls, while only 35 percent of Trump voters shared that view.Disagreements over issues like whether women should have access to abortion and birth control are just far more fundamental than quibbles around zoning and sluggish permitting processes. A majority of young Democrats now say they wouldnt date someone with opposing political views with women far more likely than men to draw this line. Moreover, in the backdrop of all this is a society that has grown increasingly hostile to parents and kids. Ive written about millennial mom dread and the increasingly grim ways motherhood is depicted in America, and last week pop star Chappell Roan lit up the internet after declaring that all her friends with kids are in hell. The latest cover of the New Yorker depicts a mother hauling a baby and stroller alone down into a subway station, symbolizing the lack of accessibility and support for parents in much of society. These portrayals often overshadow the profound fulfillment many parents still find in raising children, creating a distorted picture of family life that discourages young adults from seeing parenthood as viable.Can housing policy help address these deeper problems? The IFS report makes a number of sensible recommendations: loosening zoning codes, allowing accessory dwelling units, reducing minimum lot sizes. More affordable family-friendly housing would certainly help.But we should be clear-eyed about the limits of policy interventions. A bigger home for raising children looks a lot less attractive if the surrounding community still remains hostile, and our public spaces and cultural institutions increasingly treat children as unwelcome intrusions. A recent Pew survey found 69 percent of adults say its rarely or never acceptable to bring a child into a place thats typically for adults like a bar or upscale restaurant, and complaints about kids on planes abound. Journalist Stephanie Murray has written thoughtfully about the ways in which people feel comfortable making proclamations about disliking kids. The uncomfortable truth is that we dont yet know if voluntary policy measures like more affordable housing, safer streets for pedestrians, better stroller accessibility, paid leave, and subsidized child care will be enough to reverse declining birth rates. I feel comfortable taking the bet that they would definitely help and are intrinsically worth pursuing even if not but they cant address the deeper question of whether young men and women want to build lives together in the first place.See More:

Sakurai is working on a new project, but its identity is being kept under wraps (YouTube)Masahiro Sakurai is looking forward to todays Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, but hes downplayed the chances of his next game making an appearance.Its unlikely anything from todays Nintendo Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2 will leak ahead of time, so fans can only speculate about what games will be announced during the proceedings.As such, its easy to assume that any developer who acknowledges the showcase on social media is secretly teasing their game will make an appearance.In the case of Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai, however, hes got ahead of the curb and told his followers that hes as in the dark about Nintendos plans as everyone else is.Earlier this morning on X, Sakurai shared Nintendos announcement about the Switch 2 showcases runtime, expressing surprise at how long it will be.Immediately sensing at how the internet would react to his comments, he followed up with an explicit statement that he doesnt know what will be shown, reminding everyone that he doesnt actually work at Nintendo (his company, Sora, isnt a Nintendo subsidiary).I know people are going to suspect no matter what I say, but I do not know the contents of the announcement (besides, I dont belong to Nintendo), wrote Sakurai (as translated by Automaton), adding that hes still looking forward to the showcase.Sakurai is justified in his assumptions. When he shared Nintendos announcement for last weeks Nintendo Direct all about games for the original Switch, people believed he was subtly teasing something Smash Bros. related or a remaster of Kid Icarus: Uprising.Obviously, neither of those wound up happening and there wasnt even any mention of Sakurais next project, which hes been working on since 2022 and many are hoping is the next Smash Bros. game.More TrendingWhatever it is, its presumably in development for the Switch 2 but, if Sakurais comments are to be taken at face value, it may not make an appearance at todays showcase either.What Nintendo Switch 2 games will be shown at todays showcase?Its safe to assume the new Mario Kart that was teased in the Switch 2 reveal will make an appearance at the Nintendo Direct. The brief footage shown raised a lot of questions, including whether it will launch alongside the console, so Nintendo will hopefully have answers later today.Aside from that, common theories include a new 3D Mario platformer and a Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The latters only confirmed for the original Switch, but its suspected to also launch for Switch 2, especially after Nintendo accidentally confirmed the existence of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games.The showcase should also confirm whatever new features the Switch 2 will have. Nintendo has used its Nintendo Today! app to tease the controllers new C button; something thats been the subject of fan theories and rumours for months regarding its functionality. Not much longer till the Switch 2s secrets are unveiled (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Key parts of the Social Security website have proven inaccessible over the past week, and the agency now says that it is probing the cause of the service disruptions. The problems come not long after the agency compelled retirees to seek help more exclusively online, as it attempts to downsize its phone operations. Last week, the Washington Post reported that the agencys website had crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. Now, the agency has responded, claiming thats not quite the case. There have been a couple of recent incidents impacting My Social Security and we are actively investigating the root cause, SSA spokeswoman Nicole Tiggemann told the Associated Press. Tiggemann claimed that the website was still operational during the incidents but that some people may have experienced a problem signing in to their personal My Social Security account. The reported problems took place not long after the agency encouraged retirees to reach out for help online and announced the nixing of phone-based identity verification. After much backlash, the agency partially retracted the announced policy change for those retirees applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income. However, the plan still seems to be to drastically scale down the agencys phone services, which could have a major impact on Americans access to benefits. Newsweek recently reported that the people who would be hit hardest by the changes are Trumps own voters. The agency has been on the defensive in recent weeks, as ongoing backlash to its announced policy changes (and the involvement of Elon Musks DOGE in those changes) have spurred an outpouring of confusion and anger. Critics believe that DOGE may be intentionally attempting to sabotage the agency in an effort to justify its closure. Meanwhile, Musk has continued to publicly disparage Social Security, spreading lies about the amount of fraud impacting the program. At a political event in Wisconsin this week (where the billionaire is attempting to buy the Supreme Court election), Musk claimed: One interesting statistic was that 40 percent of the calls into Social Security were fraudulent, meaning that it was someone trying to get a Social Security payment that was going to a senior instead to go to a fraud ring, a claim that the New York Times has noted has no basis in reality and may in fact be a misunderstanding (or a purposeful skewing) of a different statistic.The SSA recently disputed the news that it would be closing field offices across the country, despite the fact that DOGE has very publicly listed dozens of SSA field offices on a website dedicated to federal lease terminations. Recent reports in the media that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is permanently closing local field offices are false. Since January 1, 2025, the agency has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office, the agency said last week. From time to time, SSA must temporarily close a local field office for reasons such as weather, damage, or facilities issues, and it reopens when the issues are resolved, it continued. The agency has announced the permanent closure of one hearing office, in White Plains, NY. The announced closure of the White Plains office is actually quite a big deal, as it is one of the largest in New York state, and is the only one in the county of Westchester (which has a population of approximately a million people). SSA identified for the General Services Administration underutilized office space to ensure the government is spending taxpayer money as prudently as possible. The agency provided GSA a list of sites for termination, the statement continues, seeming to admit thatcontrary to what it just saidit is planning on closing numerous SSA offices. Most of these are small hearing rooms with no assigned employees. Since most hearings are held virtually, SSA no longer needs these underutilized rooms.Social security activists have said that the changes ushered in under DOGEs watch will lead to deaths, and former federal officials have been highly critical of the governments new approach to the nearly 100-year-old program. The agencys former commissioner, Martin OMalley, has claimed that the changes instituted could lead to large-scale service disruptions as soon as June.

The old adage that says good, fast, and cheap you can only have two was clearly written before the INIU Portable Charger hit the market. This super-slim portable charger packs a huge 10,000mAh punch (good), its twice as fast as 2.1A chargers (fast), and right now at Amazon its at its lowest price point in years at just $16 (cheap).If you have never heard of INIU, they come with plenty of bona fides. They have over 38 million global users, and Amazons sold over 10,000 of these portable chargers just in the past month. Over 73,000 Amazon reviewers have given the INIU portable charger an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.See at AmazonThin Is InWhen INIU says their charger is portable, theyre serious. Its only a half-inch thick, and at 5.2 by 2.7 inches and a feathery 7 ounces, its pocket-sized power for your device whenever you need it roughly the size of an iPhone 13 Mini. It has two USB-A ports in addition to its USB-C port, which can be used as an input to recharge the INIU portable charger or as an output to juice up your device.What kind of device youre carrying is basically a moot point, because the INIU portable charger is as close to universally compatible as possible. iPhones and iPads, Samsung and Google smartphones and tablets, and wireless earbuds like the AirPods Pro and Galaxy Buds can all be connected to the INIU portable charger for a fast-charging top-off.That fast charge comes from the 3A technology and INIUs AutoFit feature which identifies your device and meets its ideal fast-charging speed. Thats how the INIU portable charger juices up devices at twice the speed of the more-common 2.1A portable charging devices it can take an iPhone from zero to 78% in just one hour, which is an incredible performance for a portable charger thats this thin and this inexpensive.Take It On the GoThe INIU portable charger is airline-approved, earning a permanent spot in your carry-on. Since it can power up 3 devices at once, its perfect for hotel stays or weekend trips, and it even has a built-in flashlight for an added bit of convenience. With enough power to charge an iPhone 15 up to 1.8 times or a pair of AirPods Pro 18 times, its clearly designed to be your go-to travel charger.With all of the formidable power the INIU portable charger packs into a half-inch-thick package, not to mention the ability to use all 3 of its outlet ports at the same time, were frankly a little stunned by the $16 price tag its currently sporting at Amazon. It is a limited-time deal, though, so dont let it pass you by.See at Amazon

Less or More? The Psychological Influence of Minimalist and Maximalist SpacesPresented by:Save this picture!Beta Cinema / Module K. Do SyBetween silence and chaos, we shape our world. Every space we inhabit tells a story, evokes emotions, and influences our thoughts. Minimalism, with its lightness and purpose, invites serenity. Maximalism, exuberant and vibrant, celebrates personality in every detail. But how do these philosophies affect our minds? Understanding their psychological impact can be key to creating environments that enhance well-being and bring harmony to life.The relationship between minimalism, maximalism, and mental states has been reflected throughout history. Trends in these styles shift with the spirit of each era, mirroring how society navigates its challenges. Just like in fashion, where the post-pandemic period saw a strong shift toward maximalism, architecture followed suit. After months of confinement and social isolation, exuberance became a form of expression, symbolizing freedom from lockdown. Interior spaces embraced warmer tones, vibrant elements, and meaningful objects, turning homes into sanctuaries filled with significance and a deeper connection to the world.Save this picture!Historically, maximalist styles tend to gain popularity after periods of significant hardship, such as major wars or global pandemics, symbolizing the energy needed for renewal. However, as with previous cycles, this post-pandemic exuberance has given way to an opposite movement: the rise of sophisticated minimalism, often referred to as "quiet luxury." This trend reflects changing consumer behavior, emphasizing sustainable materials and the appreciation of essentials. In interior design, it translates to prioritizing key functional pieces, reducing excess, and repurposing materials. This restrained and intentional approach is closely tied to ideas of longevity, security, and stability, aligning with contemporary challenges such as climate change. Related Article Is Minimalism Dead? Save this picture!In this interplay of trends, architecturethough less fleeting than fashionabsorbs and manifests these shifting ideas, particularly in residential interior design. While reflecting global challenges, both minimalism and maximalism serve as tools to shape atmospheres and evoke emotions based on individual perceptions. These styles not only mirror states of mind but also actively influence emotions and well-being.Minimalist Spaces: The Power of SimplicityMinimalism is characterized by clean lines, organized spaces, and a restrained color palette. It emphasizes function over form and prioritizes essential elements, often eliminating visual distractions. The psychological benefits of minimalist spaces include: Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Clutter-free environments help lower cognitive overload and enhance mental clarity. Studies show that excessive visual stimuli can contribute to stress, whereas simplicity fosters a sense of calm and order. Improved Focus and Productivity: With fewer distractions, minimalist spaces can boost concentration and efficiency, making them ideal for work and study areas. Encourages Mindfulness: Minimalist design promotes intentionality in surroundings and possessions, fostering greater appreciation for what truly matters. Aesthetic and Emotional Balance: Neutral tones and open spaces in minimalism create a tranquil, balanced environment that reinforces well-being. Olaria House / NJ+ Arquitetos AssociadosSave this picture!Espace 20 one / Debaixo do Bloco ArquiteturaSave this picture!NORM House / Alain Carle ArchitecteSave this picture!PP Apartment / Nildo JosSave this picture!Light House / Studio Guilherme TorresSave this picture!Maximalist Spaces: The Beauty of AbundanceMaximalism, on the other hand, thrives on rich colors, diverse patterns, and an eclectic mix of decor. It embraces complexity and individuality, encouraging self-expression through bold and layered aesthetics. The psychological effects of maximalist spaces include:Inspiration and Creativity: The dynamic and stimulating nature of maximalist environments can enhance creativity and innovation, making this style popular in workplaces focused on artistic or creative tasks.Emotional Warmth and Personal Identity: Personalized decor, sentimental items, and vibrant designs foster a sense of belonging and comfort, reinforcing positive emotions.Energizing Atmosphere: The boldness of maximalism can invigorate the senses, making spaces feel lively and engaging.Encourages Storytelling and Connection: Maximalist interiors often display artifacts, books, and collected art that reflect personal history and experiences, fostering social interaction and deeper connections.Dreamscape Apartment / Red5studioSave this picture!Beta Cinema / Module KSave this picture!House In a Haberdashery / OOIIO ArquitecturaSave this picture!FoodX Poznan Restaurant / mode:lina architekciSave this picture!Esquire Office / Studio BipolarSave this picture!Finding the Right BalanceWhile minimalist and maximalist approaches each offer unique psychological benefits, the ideal space ultimately reflects personal preference and lifestyle. Some individuals find peace in a minimalist retreat, while others thrive in the vibrancy of a maximalist haven. A hybrid approach, sometimes called "intentional maximalism" or "soft minimalism," combines elements of both styles to create spaces that are both functional and expressive. This blend has even been used to describe the work of Mexican architect Luis Barragn, who created clean, simple architectural forms while incorporating vibrant colors inspired by Mexican culture.Ultimately, understanding the psychological impact of design choices allows individuals to cultivate environments that support their emotional and mental well-being. Whether embracing simplicity or abundance, the key is to create a space that resonates with one's personality and needs.Save this picture!This article is part of an ArchDaily series exploring interior architecture features based on our own project database. Each month, we highlight how architects and designers worldwide are incorporating new elements, characteristics, and signatures into interior spaces. As always, at ArchDaily, we greatly value our readers' contributions. If you believe we should cover specific ideas, feel free to send us your suggestions.This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Atmosphere in Architecture and Perception of Space, proudly presented by Vitrocsa, the original minimalist windows since 1992.Vitrocsa created the original minimalist window systems, offering frameless solutions with the narrowest sightline barriers in the world. For over 30 years, we have pursued innovation and Swiss-made excellence to transform ambitious architectural visions into reality, enhancing atmospheres through light, transparency, and design.Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorCamilla GhisleniAuthorCite: Ghisleni, Camilla. "Less or More? The Psychological Influence of Minimalist and Maximalist Spaces" [Menos ou Mais? A Influncia Psicolgica dos Espaos Minimalistas e Maximalistas] 02 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. (Trans. Simes, Diogo) Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028585/less-or-more-the-psychological-influence-of-minimalist-and-maximalist-spaces&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Multi-Childcare Crche / Dominique Coulon & associsSave this picture! Eugeni PonsArchitects: Dominique Coulon & associsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:705 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Eugeni PonsManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Investwood, JUNG, Bega, Duravit, iGuzzini, Artemide, Knauf, PRB, Porcher, Regent, Sotexpro More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. This structure resembles a giant sculpture placed in the town. Its layout is made up of abstract spaces. The building has pink and orange elevations for the neighbouring dwellings to admire. With its austere lines, the edifice fits into its urban environment harmoniously. The colourful base that underpins the building is crowned with a series of white geometric spaces. Their bright silhouettes stand out against the blue sky. They contain double-height spaces that punctuate the ground floor.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The building shell extends beside the courts and gardens of this centre that supports young children in their development and parents in their role as the children's main educators. These courts and gardens are open-air cocoons, protected from the wind and roads. They offer children a pleasant environment worthy of their high level of energy.Save this picture!Thanks to our dynamic color palette that makes use of natural light and proportions, we have created a user-friendly learning facility where children and staff alike can thrive. The building stands at the entrance to the town. With its natural backdrop of maples, cherry trees and Japanese spiraea, this childcare centre gives an impression of gentleness that evokes early childhood.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Its main entrance is positioned at the plot's corner. A generous forecourt welcomes the public and invites meet-ups beneath a majestic horse-chestnut tree. On this side, the glazed portions are bigger. They reveal the interior. The entrance takes you into the main hallway, which surprises you with its spaciousness and pervading orange tone. It stretches up, over a double height and in a vermilion hue, to a cylindrical skylight with sky-blue circles. This gives the architectural project a strong form-based dimension and suggests well-being, placing colour and its qualities at the centre of daily life here.Save this picture!This hallway is the beating heart of the crche. It is a playful space that connects to all the sections of the architectural programme, so we were able to forego corridors. This space is the symbolic spot where you entrust your child to the centre and where we can imagine small group performances taking place, or a Christmas tree installed and which could even become an extra room for development. The activity spaces are widely glazed and south-facing. Those for toddlers and older children lie next to each other. The skylight, also south-facing, brings in an abundance of golden natural light. With this design, the spaces can be naturally aerated and cooled down during hot periods.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:2 rue Saint-Jacques, 68110 Illzach, FranceLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on April 02, 2025Cite: "Multi-Childcare Crche / Dominique Coulon & associs" 02 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028605/multi-childcare-creche-dominique-coulon-and-associes&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

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NewsHealth & MedicineSkin cells emit slow electric pulses after injuryThe electrical waves may help injured cells neighbors prepare to heal wounds Wounded skin cells, like the keratinocytes shown in this colored scanning electron micrograph, send out bursts of electricity, a new study finds. The signal may act as a beacon calling neighboring cells to heal the injury.Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library/Getty ImagesBy Tina Hesman Saey6 seconds agoWounded skin cells scream with slow-motion electric pulses.Such electric spikes are a surprise because only nerve cells were thought to communicate this way. These signals move at a snails pace compared to nerve impulses and can be detected at least 500 micrometers away about the distance of 40 cells researchers report in the March 25 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The pulsing electrical waves may help injured cells neighbors prepare to heal wounds. Sign up for our newsletterWe summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.