While he gains power in the incoming Trump administration, Elon Musk is using his influence elsewhere, endorsing a far-right party in Germany.

We already know sexism is bad for womens paychecks, as women are paid 84% of what men are paid on average. We also know its historically been bad for womens mental health. But now, were learning that it could be harmful in ways we hadnt even realized.A new study found women born in the most sexist U.S. states experience faster memory decline later in life, compared to women born in the least sexist U.S. states, according to a researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.The study measured sexism over six decades, from 1900 to 1960. Each states level of structural sexism was calculated based on male-to-female ratios in the labor force, the number of females in state legislatures, poverty rates, and other factors like inequality in resources and power that stem from social policies and societal norms. The state with the highest structural sexism was Mississippi in 1910, and the lowest was Connecticut in 1940, study leader Justina Avila-Rieger told Fast Company.For women born in those two example cases, the difference between their cognitive decline after age 65 was a staggering 9 years, or nearly a decade.The findings are particularly important because women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimers disease in the U.S. Nearly two-thirds of Americans currently living with Alzheimers are women, and women also make up some 60% of Alzheimers caregivers, partly due to the fact that women live longer than men, and the risk of developing dementia increases with age.The study, Early Life Exposure to Structural Sexism and Late-Life Memory Trajectories Among Black and White Women and Men in the U.S., was published Wednesday online in Alzheimers & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimers Association. It looked at relationships between structural sexism and memory performance among 21,000 people in theWashington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Projectand theHealth and Retirement Study, and found the connection was highest among Black women.The research adds to a growing body of studies looking at the relationship between structural sexism and womens health. Previous studies found women who endured greater structural sexism in adulthood had higher rates of mortality, increased risk of chronic health conditions, and less accessible and affordable healthcare.

American farmers, small business owners and wildfire survivors are among those who will suffer if Congress cannot agree on a new spending bill after President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan that included more than $100 billion in disaster aid.A mayor in Hawaii is watching closely to see what happens because a potential allocation of $1.6 billion in funding is on the line. Its critical to ongoing disaster recovery efforts from the 2023 Maui fire, which proved to be the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.I think what funding does is provides people with hope so they can plan for their future, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen told The Associated Press Thursday. And the longer we go without funding, the longer people wallow and wonder, is there a chance? Is there a path? Do I cut my losses? Do I leave?While money from the Federal Emergency Management Administration has provided temporary relief, the disaster recovery funding was intended for long-term needs such as housing assistance and rebuilding infrastructure, he said. The historic town of Lahaina is still struggling after the August 2023 fire killed at least 102 people and leveled thousands of homes, leaving behind an estimated $5.5 billion in damage.The money is also urgently needed after Hurricanes Helene and Milton slammed the southeastern United States one after the other this fall. Helene alone was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005, killing at least 221 people. Nearly half were in North Carolina where flooding and winds caused an estimated $60 billion in damage.Im tracking this bill like a hawk right now, to be honest, Asheville Tea Co. founder and CEO Jessie Dean said. I think a lot of us are.Flooding from Helene in September washed away the companys building along with all of its equipment and inventory. Her small business employs 11 people directly and also works with small farmers in the area to supply the herbs for its teas.On Thursday, Republicans released a new version of the bill to keep the government operating and to restore the disaster aid with Trumps support. But it was rejected by the House of Representatives. The next steps are uncertain.I realize there are other distractions that are going on, but I would just bring everybody back to their commitment to help disaster survivors, said Bissen, Mauis mayor. And thats really all this is. We have a proven and established, legitimate disaster that took place. And we are coming up on 16 months, which no other disasters ever had to wait that long for.In Asheville, Dean is extremely grateful for support the business has received from customers and nonprofits that is helping it stay afloat right now, but more is needed. So far she has received no money from the U.S. Small Business Administration after applying for a disaster relief loan. Neither have any of the other business owners she knows.In day to day life right now, Im talking to friends every day who are struggling with the decision around whether or not to continue to run their business, whether or not they can, she said.Many farmers are in the same boat, since about $21 billion of the disaster aid in the earlier version of the bill was assistance for them.Without federal disaster money right now, or without some assistance, people like me will not be farming much longer, Georgia pecan farmer Scott Hudson said. He farms 2,600 acres (1,050 hectares) of pecans across five counties in southeastern Georgia that were hammered by Hurricane Helene.We lost thousands of trees that will be decades before they are back to where they were the night before the storm, he said. And we lost upwards to 70% of the crop in certain counties.Some of his fellow farmers fared even worse.Whether youre a Democrat or Republican, the farmers need this money, he said. American ag needs this money not to be profitable, to just stay in business.People like retired engineer Thomas Ellzey are also counting on disaster aid. He has been living in a mud-filled house in Fairview, North Carolina, for almost three months. Although he pre-qualified for a low-interest loan from the SBA that helps homeowners rebuild, officials have told him the agency does not have the money and is waiting on Congress to act.Ellzey is 71 years old and said he budgeted carefully for his retirement, trying to prepare for every possible emergency that could come up once he stopped working. But he couldnt have predicted a hurricane, he said.Everything I owned was paid for, including my cars, the house, the land. I had no bills, he said. Going back in debt is kind of rough at my age.The earlier version of the spending bill included included funding for low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits and homeowners trying to rebuild after a disaster; money for rebuilding damaged roads and highways; and funds for helping communities recover through block grants administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The block grant money is one of the key funds for homeowners who dont have insurance or enough insurance recover from disasters.Although hurricanes Helene and Milton are the most recent large natural disasters to hit the U.S., a lot of the money was intended more generally for relief from any major disaster in recent years, including droughts and wildfires.Stan Gimont is senior adviser for community recovery at Hagerty Consulting who used to run the community development block grant program at HUD. He noted that the country is still paying for disasters that happened while it simultaneously prepares for events that will happen in the future.The Maui fire is a clear example.It took a year to clean that up and to get it to a point where they have removed all the debris, all the toxic materials and the burned up cars, whatever was in those houses, Gimont said. So even though that event occurred in the past, the bills for that are going to come due in the future.Travis Loller, Leah Willingham, and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated PressRebecca Santana and Gary Robertson and Brittany Peterson contributed to this report.

Tesla is issuing a major recall on nearly 700,000 vehicles, including its 2024 Cybertruck.In a report Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said three Tesla models are affected by the issue: certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles.The pressure monitoring system warning light on the vehicles might fail to warn drivers about low tire pressure. On affected vehicles, upon detection of a malfunction with the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), the TPMS malfunction telltale does not persist between drive cycles where the vehicle is off or asleep between the drive cycles, the recall report said.At a 2023 event at the Tesla headquarters in Austin, CEO Elon Musk praised the strength of the Cybertruck. The apocalypse can come along any moment, and here at Tesla we have the best in apocalypse technology, the tech mogul said. But the latest recall is the seventh this year for Cybertruck. Eight more recalls have affected other Tesla vehicles, bringing the 2024 total for the company to 15.In February, two million vehicles were recalled due to the their safety warning signals appearing in too small a font size. Five months later, the company recalled 1.8 million vehicles after it received reports of unintended hood opening events. And just last month, it issued a recall on 2,400 vehicles over a drive-inverter issue that the company said may cause a loss of drive power to the wheels.In December of last year, Tesla issued another major recall, too, over a serious auto-pilot issue that the NHTSA suspected led to multiple crashessome which caused deaths. At the time, it recalled 2,031,220 vehicles, all of which had the defect. The official recall report explained that if Autopilot was engaged the driver is still responsible for the vehicles movement with their hands on the steering wheel at all times, remaining attentive to surrounding road conditions, and intervening (e.g., steer, brake, accelerate, or apply the stalk) as needed to maintain safe operation.Prior to the string of recalls, Tesla was plagued by Cybertruck design and quality issues, which caused the release date for the vehicle to be pushed back by two years. Adrian Clarke, a professional car designer previously told Fast Company that the issues were predictable. As soon as we saw [the Cybertruck], everyone I know in the industry started laughing. We just thought there is no way theyre gonna be able to get that into production.In regard to the latest recall, the automaker is providing a free software update to owners to address the issue and said notification letters will be sent to drivers by Feb. 15, 2025.

New Orleans architecture studio Trahan Architects has completed a performance pavilion made of weathering steel that is anchored by two ground points, making the structure appear lighter than it is. The Performance Pavilion is located in the centre of a large lawn at Luther George Park in Springdale, Arkansas, designed in partnership with landscape studio Spackman Mossop Michaels. The structure will act as an event venue and a shade canopy for the public.Trahan Architects has completed a steel pavilion in ArkansasThe twisting pavilion stretches 150 feet (46 metres) in span, soaring over a small wedge-shaped stage and an adjoining pathway that cuts through the centre of the park.The front of the pavilion opens up towards one greenspace and is slightly downturned towards the opposite, bending down closer towards a raised embankment.The structure appears "weightless"The design choice provides a more open half-shelf that will host performances for up to 3,000 people, while simultaneously creating a more intimate space for movie nights or other events for 50-100 visitors."This innovative dual-sided arrangement is achieved by integrating all of the performance power and theatrical rigging into the shell allowing for a myriad of flexible uses," said Trahan Architects.It opens in an archway towards one side while creating a more intimate space on the otherAmsterdam studio CIG Architects constructed the pavilion from hand-bent, one-centimetre-thick weathering steel panels using "ship-building techniques" according to the team.On the underside of the pavilion, thin "rule lines" with integrated lighting stripes define the panel joints.Read: Trahan Architects designs USA pavilion with suspended cube for Expo 2025 OsakaThe sections come together to form a swooping volume, which is rooted next to the stage, wings over the path and lands on the other side, touching the ground at a small point.Another section flies outwards diagonally from this second anchor.Its steel is meant to patina over time"Together, the two surfaces achieve an impressive 150-foot span with only two connections to the ground making the structure appear weightless," said the team.The pavilion's steel cladding was chosen as it will weather over time.It was designed to host a variety of events"The raw steel will patina with time to reveal the nuances of the environmental conditions amplified by the torquing geometry taking on a rich and earthy finish," said the team.Trahan Architects recently released their designs of a suspended cube for the USA pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka and completed arestoration the New Orleans Superdome ahead of its hosting the 2025 NFL Super Bowl.The photos are by Tim HursleyProject credits:Project team: Trey Trahan, Leigh Breslau, Kevin Thomas, Robbie Eleazer, Brian Richter, Jonathan Fidalgo, Jarri Hasnain, Sarah Cancienne, Ryan BarnetteCollaborators: Spackman Mossop Michaels, Spectrum Design Consultants,Threshold Acoustics,Schuler Shook,Olsson, CIG Architecture,Eleven VisualisationThe post Trahan Architects creates "weightless" hand-bent steel pavilion in Arkansas appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen Awards China has announced the Designers of the Year winners, which include Line+ Studio, Yatofu and Min Chen, at a ceremony in Shanghai.The Designers of the Year awards recognise emerging and established talent whose innovative work has had a notable impact on the industry across architecture, interiors and design.Line+ Studio and Min Chen among winnersLine+ Studio took home the architect of the year award with HCCH Studio named emerging architect of the year.Interior designer of the year was awarded to W Design run by Bin Wu, and international studio Yatofu was crowned emerging interior designer of the year.Min Chen won designer of the year with Shanghai-based studio MMR Studio named emerging designer of the year.View the winning studios on the Dezeen Awards China website or read below:Woven Passage to Cloudy Peaks by Line+ studio. Image courtesy of Line+ studioArchitect of the year: Line+ StudioLine+ studio was founded by Fanhao Meng and Peidong Zhu in 2017. From the construction of urban space to the revitalization of rural China, Line+ responds to and interprets diverse connotations of contemporary culture, while consciously balance the economic efficiency of each project.The studio's recent projects include Woven Gateway and Sky Ring and Yunhai Forest Service Station."This prolific studio has consistently demonstrated a great balance of design creativity and quality control," said the architecture judges. "The sensitivity towards local culture is evident through the materiality in each project."Read more about Line+ Studio Renovation of Shanghai Relay Factory by HCCH Studio. Photo by Qingyan ZhuEmerging architect of the year: HCCH StudioHCCH was founded by Hao Chen and Chenchen Hu in 2018. The multi-disciplinary practice is active across architecture, interiors, and public art. HCCH engages projects that serve public functions, and aims to increase social value and environmental benefits in each project through innovative and experimental approaches.One of their most recent projects is a shell-like brick pavilion in Longyou County and the Twisting Tower and Spiral Station, part of the Shanghai Lingang Ecological Restoration Project."This young and small studio approaches each project with a unique care for the cultural and environmental context of the site, the subtle architectural intervention always puts the community it serves at heart," said the judges.Read more about HCCH Studio Riverside Mansion by W. Design. Photo by Ting WangInterior designer of the year: W DesignW Design was founded by Wu Bin. Known for its modern orientalism aesthetics and design language, W Design's work explores the relationship between man and nature, using art to enhance the interior experience as one of its key signatures.Recent projects designed by W Design include CR Sanya Haitang Bay in Sanya and Deqin Meri Poodom Hotel in Meili, China."W Design uses well considered material to create cohesive design that respects the architecture. Simple and effective details support the overall concept,"interior judge Yabu Pushelberg commented.Read more about W Design Aitashop Beijing by Yatofu. Photo by Wen StudioEmerging interior designer of the year: YatofuYatofu was founded by Angela Lindahl and Yihan Xiang in 2017 in Helsinki. Their innate sensitivity to cultural nuances allows them to bravely challenge boundaries while celebrating diversity, with a focus on evoking emotional responses.The studio recently completed a furniture showroom in Hangzhou and a teahouse in downtown Helsinki."The multi-cultural background of the studio infuses a unique character into their work natural materials and playful use of colour create tactile and comforting interiors, from home to retail, " said the judges.Read more about Yatofu A Piece Of Wood by Chen Min. Image courtesy of Chen Min OfficeDesigner of the year: Chen Min OfficeMin Chen's production ranges from object design to creative direction. He has dedicated his work to promoting Chinese design by identifying the best bonding point of tradition and modernization, east and west, without simplifying it as an aesthetic style.Recent projects by Chen include neooold gallery and a bench made of bamboo."A prominent advocate of Chinese design on the global stage, Chen not only continuously produces work that challenges the traditional definition of Chinese design, but also actively supports young Chinese design talents with innovative ideas through his curation of Neooold exhibition," said the judges.Read more about Chen Min Office Hulu Home by MMR Studio. Photo by Tianxuan ZhuEmerging designer of the year: MMR StudioMMR Studio was founded by Zhongyu Zhang in 2021 in Shanghai. Its work incorporates cultural traces from urban transformation into the materials and the textures it uses to evoke emotional response, while respecting craftsmanship.Recent projects include the Hulu Series joined by a bamboo weaving process and Hana Wine Cabinet which explore the material possibilities of North American maple."Zhongyu Zhang from MMR studio keenly captures the details of her life and her hometown of Inner Mongolia, where she grew up, and translates them into creative works with a systematic approach," said judge Mario Tsai.Read more about MMR Studio Dezeen Awards China 2024 in partnership with BentleyDezeen Awards China is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across China. The second edition of the annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley's architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world.The post Dezeen Awards China 2024 Designers of the Year winners announced appeared first on Dezeen.

Muuun Hotel is the latest building to feature in Dezeen and Kia'svideo series highlighting contemporary South Korean architecture.Dezeen teamed up with the Korean car brand to create a video reel showcasing the hotel alongside Kia's EV3 car model.Dezeen video profiles hanok-inspired Muuun HotelDesigned by local architecture studios Nomal and Onjium Housing Studio, the Muuun hotel draws from traditional Korean hanok housing, which is characterised by the use of wood and natural elements.Nomal and Onjium Housing Studio wanted to re-interpret the hanok vernacular by blending contemporary and historic elements.The interiors combine Korean and Western elements. Photography by Choi Yong JoonThe hotel is made up of two buildings on one site, which are arranged in an L-shaped formation. An open courtyard connects the two volumes.Each suite makes use of openings to let in natural light and to give residents views over a private garden.Muuun Hotel is located in Gyeongu, a coastal city in the south of the country, with the materials used picked to reference the surrounding environment.Traditional paper sliding doors were updated with hemp cloth, intending to reference the mist of the nearby Samreung forest, while clay plaster and bean oil linoleum were used for the flooring throughout.Dark wood and a muted colour palette dominate, with rooms featuring a mix of traditional low-slung Korean furniture, alongside Western-style design pieces.The EV3 follows on from Kia's previous models the EV6 and EV9Dezeen's collaborative video series with Kia situates the Kia Design Team's electric car models alongside examples of contemporary South Korean architecture.Dezeen paired Muuun Hotel with Kia's EV3, an all-electric compact SUV, which features in the video alongside the building.The Kia EV3 sports a minimal compact appearance at its front and rear, with headlights that emerge from vertical slits and linear tail lights.The Kia EV3 is an all-electric compact SUV which sports a minimal appearance at its front and rearThe minimal design extends into the car's interior, which prioritises cabin space, whilst keeping an agile overall silhouette to the vehicle. The car's 19 inch wheels are patterned with geometric patterns and graphics.In the first instalment of the series, Dezeen profiled the Sayuwon arboretum and architecture park in Daegu, South Korea.Partnership contentThis video series was produced by Dezeen in partnership with Kia. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Dezeen video profiles hanok-inspired Muuun Hotel in partnership with Kia appeared first on Dezeen.

Multi-tool designs have become a common sight in many EDC kits, offering a range of tools for almost every occasion. While these might be fine for those quick and unplanned tasks, dedicated tools for specific jobs still have the advantage of offering the best experience as far as that purpose goes. When youre at home or at your workshop, for example, a proper screwdriver is probably a better option than a tiny one that fits in your pocket.That said, theres also a variety of designs available for screwdrivers, ranging from the manual type to electric tools. But while the latter tend to offer more power and convenience, people still tend to reach for a classic design because theyre instantly available without having to worry about cords or batteries. This concept for an electric screwdriver tries to address that remaining flaw by introducing a design thats ergonomic, versatile, and ultimately more reliable.Designer: Simone RizziThe convenience of electric screwdrivers comes from the fact that you dont have to strain your hand while twisting the tool. But like flashlights and other battery-powered devices we keep in drawers and toolboxes, we tend to forget to check their state until its too late. The stress of discovering a drained electric screwdriver right when you desperately need it is why people surprisingly still prefer the conventional and manual type of screwdriver.Delta is a concept design for an electric screwdriver that fixes that problem with a very simple solution. The screwdriver comes with a dock for its home that acts not only as storage for driver bits but also as a charging base, not unlike the charging cases of wireless earbuds today. With that design, you can always be sure that the screwdriver will be ready for action the moment you pick it up, and theres also a very visible indicator of just how much battery it has left.The design of the screwdriver and its base is also unlike your typical electric screwdriver, paying close attention to aesthetics and ergonomics. Rather than a straight stick or a gun-like shape, the Delta has a slightly bent form that makes it easier and more comfortable to grasp, increasing confidence and pleasure in the use of the tool. Familiarity makes you more likely to immediately reach for this screwdriver rather than second guessing if its the right tool or not.The triangular shape of the charging base isnt by accident either. It provides stability whether its lying on its side or standing on one end, while also making it easy to pick up and carry the duo wherever its needed. The location of the driver bits offers easy and immediate access without worrying about them falling off in transit. The Delta concept doesnt radically change the formula for an electric screwdriver, but through the combination of small improvements, it creates a design that is not only more usable but more reliable as well.The post Stress-free electric screwdriver concept offers reliability in an elegant design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oropouche virus has posed little threat outside South America in the past, but land-use change, the climate crisis, and international travel all appear to be spreading this insect-borne disease to new places.

A day after Google announced its first model capable of reasoning over problems, OpenAI has upped the stakes with an improved version of its own.