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Hello again, and welcome back to Fast Company’s Plugged In. More than 15 months ago, I wrote about Surf, a discovery engine for the social web from Flipboard—itself an earlier twist on the same concept dating to the early days of the iPad.…

Americans don’t need a press release to know that inflation is rising. Gasoline is above $4 per gallon amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the release of key price data on May 28 underscores why…

Memorial Day is behind us, which means the summer travel season has officially arrived. Over the next three months, millions of Americans will take their annual vacations, both domestically and internationally.…

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Zillow economists just published their updated 12-month forecast, projecting that U.S.…

When I was about 8 years old, in response to the ubiquitous question of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I responded, “I want to be happy!” The adults chuckled and my inquisitor did not ask any follow-up questions.…

These days, music is everywhere. You can call up practically any recorded song at any moment with a quick flick of your favorite fingie and nary an extra cent spent.…

The rarity of events and celebrations such as milestone birthdays and cosmic happenings makes them special. The phrase “once in a blue moon” exists because it is not an everyday occurrence.…

Decision time is near for millions of federal student loan borrowers who will need to pick a new repayment plan starting July 1. Due to the Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025, repayment plans for student loans will look different, requiring…

This article is republished with permission from Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology. The U.S.…

With gas prices soaring, Americans looking to save at the pump are flocking to Costco in droves. In its latest quarterly earnings report, the budget-friendly retailer described a “record-breaking” volume of sales in its gasoline business.…

In the first quarter of 2026, investors deployed $300 billion into 6,000 startups, up 150% from previous years. Only a single-digit sliver of that capital is directed toward AI applications focused on solving social and environmental challenges.…

As founder, chair, and CEO of the Exceptional Women Alliance, I am privileged to engage with extraordinary female leaders across industries. This month, I spoke with Britt Ide about one of the most overlooked—and essential—leadership skills: building…

President Trump’s attack on mail-in voting is roping in the U.S. Postal Service. Under a new proposal introduced on Friday, the USPS would force states to hand over the names and addresses of residents who vote by mail.…

Researchers suggest that the average attention span has plummeted over the past two decades, from about 2.5 minutes to just 47 seconds in 2012.…

There is a moment on a trout river, when the light softens, the water goes still and everything you know about casting, currents, and choosing the right fly comes together in a single act of skill.…

Only weeks after announcing a slew of new offerings at its annual Go-Get event in New York, Uber Technologies is throwing more onto the pile ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.…

From Ukraine to the Middle East, Shield AI’s autonomous drones are deployed on the front lines. Brandon Tseng, cofounder and president of the San Diego-based company, is in the vanguard of this defense-tech explosion and the fierce debate over the use of…

When Anna, a 32-year-old IT professional, started her first job, it wasn’t long before she found herself facing a bad case of job creep. “They said, ‘Hey, can you do this other thing too for a little bit?…

When supervising colleagues, you often need to guide their behavior and help them to improve their skills. That means noticing the mistakes people are making and giving them good feedback that will influence their behavior in the future.…

When Babylist’s founder and CEO, Natalie Gordon, was growing up, she wasn’t always excited about opening her Christmas and birthday presents. Every year, members of her family—especially her grandmother—would contribute money to her college fund.…