Girls won all five top prizes in national STEM contest for middle schoolers
Fourteen-year-old Alaina Gassler had noticed her mother struggling with blind spots while driving their family’s car. Though not even old enough to drive herself, the Pennsylvania middle schooler designed a system that uses a webcam to display obstacles blocking a driver’s line of sight to make driving safer. Last week, that design project earned Gassler…
Fourteen-year-old Alaina Gassler had noticed her mother struggling with blind spots while driving their family’s car. Though not even old enough to drive herself, the Pennsylvania middle schooler designed a system that uses a webcam to display obstacles blocking a driver’s line of sight to make driving safer.
Last week, that design project earned Gassler the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize, the top award in the 2019 Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) competition.
“Congratulations to Alaina, whose project has the potential to decrease the number of automobile accidents by reducing blind spots,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. “With so many challenges in our world, Alaina and her fellow Broadcom MASTERS finalists make me optimistic. I am proud to lead an organization that is inspiring so many young people, especially girls, to continue to innovate.”
Indeed, Gassler wasn’t the only girl to shine in the national contest. All five top awards were won by 14-year-old girls, with projects ranging from trapping invasive species to improving water filtration systems to designing bricks that could be used to build on Mars.
The five winners were chosen from 30 finalists selected from 2,348 applicants in 47 states by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers and educators. This year, 60% of the finalists were female—a first for the competition. That’s an encouraging sign for the STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field, in which women are still underrepresented.
“Congratulations to all our amazing finalists!” said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. “It is exciting to see so many young women scientists and engineers – 60% – in the competition this year. I believe that this bodes well for achieving greater gender equity in future STEM careers.”
While the results of this competition are promising, research shows that it’s not necessarily initial interest and involvement in STEM that’s the problem—it’s that women tend to slip out of the STEM career pipeline somewhere along the way. Nonetheless, a solid foundation in STEM and early achievements and accolades may encourage more girls to stick with their science and engineering pursuits.
The Samueli Foundation Prize: $25,000 Alaina Gassler, Improving Automobile Safety by Removing Blindspots
Lemelson Award for Invention: $10,000 Rachel Bergey, Spotted Lanternflies: Stick’em or Trick’em
Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: $10,000 Sidor Clare, Bound and Bricked
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement: $10,000 Alexis MacAvoy, Designing Efficient, Low-Cost, Eco-Friendly Activated Carbon for Removal of Heavy Metals from Water
STEM Talent Award, sponsored by DoD STEM: $10,000 Lauren Ejiaga, Ozone Depletion: How it Affects Us
What an inspiring lineup of young women working to make our lives better through science and technology. Though women still have an uphill climb to achieve gender parity in STEM fields, the future is looking bright in these kids’ hands.
In March 2023, after months of preparation and paperwork, Anita Omary arrived in the United States from her native Afghanistan to build a better life. Once she arrived in Connecticut, however, the experience was anything but easy.
“When I first arrived, everything felt so strange—the weather, the environment, the people,” Omary recalled. Omary had not only left behind her extended family and friends in Afghanistan, she left her career managing child protective cases and supporting refugee communities behind as well. Even more challenging, Anita was five months pregnant at the time, and because her husband was unable to obtain a travel visa, she found herself having to navigate a new language, a different culture, and an unfamiliar country entirely on her own.
“I went through a period of deep disappointment and depression, where I wasn’t able to do much for myself,” Omary said.
Then something incredible happened: Omary met a woman who would become her close friend, offering support that would change her experience as a refugee—and ultimately the trajectory of her entire life.
Understanding the journey
Like Anita Omary, tens of thousands of people come to the United States each year seeking safety from war, political violence, religious persecution, and other threats. Yet escaping danger, unfortunately, is only the first challenge. Once here, immigrant and refugee families must deal with the loss of displacement, while at the same time facing language barriers, adapting to a new culture, and sometimes even facing social stigma and anti-immigrant biases.
Welcoming immigrant and refugee neighbors strengthens the nation and benefits everyone—and according to Anita Omary, small, simple acts of human kindness can make the greatest difference in helping them feel safe, valued, and truly at home.
A warm welcome
Dee and Omary's son, Osman
Anita Omary was receiving prenatal checkups at a woman’s health center in West Haven when she met Dee, a nurse.
“She immediately recognized that I was new, and that I was struggling,” Omary said. “From that moment on, she became my support system.”
Dee started checking in on Omary throughout her pregnancy, both inside the clinic and out.
“She would call me and ask am I okay, am I eating, am I healthy,” Omary said. “She helped me with things I didn’t even realize I needed, like getting an air conditioner for my small, hot room.”
Soon, Dee was helping Omary apply for jobs and taking her on driving lessons every weekend. With her help, Omary landed a job, passed her road test on the first attempt, and even enrolled at the University of New Haven to pursue her master’s degree. Dee and Omary became like family. After Omary’s son, Osman, was born, Dee spent five days in the hospital at her side, bringing her halal food and brushing her hair in the same way Omary’s mother used to. When Omary’s postpartum pain became too great for her to lift Osman’s car seat, Dee accompanied her to his doctor’s appointments and carried the baby for her.
“Her support truly changed my life,” Omary said. “Her motivation, compassion, and support gave me hope. It gave me a sense of stability and confidence. I didn’t feel alone, because of her.”
More than that, the experience gave Omary a new resolve to help other people.
“That experience has deeply shaped the way I give back,” she said. “I want to be that source of encouragement and support for others that my friend was for me.”
Extending the welcome
Omary and Dee at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Vision Awards ceremony at the University of New Haven.
Omary is now flourishing. She currently works as a career development specialist as she continues her Master’s degree. She also, as a member of the Refugee Storytellers Collective, helps advocate for refugee and immigrant families by connecting them with resources—and teaches local communities how to best welcome newcomers.
“Welcoming new families today has many challenges,” Omary said. “One major barrier is access to English classes. Many newcomers, especially those who have just arrived, often put their names on long wait lists and for months there are no available spots.” For women with children, the lack of available childcare makes attending English classes, or working outside the home, especially difficult.
Omary stresses that sometimes small, everyday acts of kindness can make the biggest difference to immigrant and refugee families.
“Welcome is not about big gestures, but about small, consistent acts of care that remind you that you belong,” Omary said. Receiving a compliment on her dress or her son from a stranger in the grocery store was incredibly uplifting during her early days as a newcomer, and Omary remembers how even the smallest gestures of kindness gave her hope that she could thrive and build a new life here.
“I built my new life, but I didn’t do it alone,” Omary said. “Community and kindness were my greatest strengths.”
Are you in? Click here to join the Refugee Advocacy Lab and sign the #WeWillWelcome pledge and complete one small act of welcome in your community. Together, with small, meaningful steps, we can build communities where everyone feels safe.
This article is part of Upworthy’s “The Threads Between U.S.” series that highlights what we have in common thanks to the generous support from the Levi Strauss Foundation, whose grantmaking is committed to creating a culture of belonging.
In an interview with the BBC, host Kate Colin offered an example of words that have disappeared in English when she opened a segment for the broadcasting network with this greeting: “Good morrow! I beseech thee, whence comest thou?” (Translation: “Good morning. Where do you come from?”)
Colin noted that this phrase was “Old English” used hundreds of years ago, and a great example of “disappearing words.” Colin’s co-host Jackie Dalton added, “Yes, English is a language which is evolving all the time. So this mean there are new words continuously appearing, and older words are disappearing.”
In English, words are here today and will likely be gone tomorrow. Language lovers on Reddit shared their favorite old-fashioned words that have gone nearly “extinct” in English today (and many they wish would make a comeback).
26 disappearing words
“Overmorrow. It means ‘the day after tomorrow’.” – TheGloveMan
“I remember the word ‘grody’ from the 90s. It meant gross or yucky.” – Glittering_Age_5591
“Comely (meaning beautiful) and homely (meaning ugly).” – oddwithoutend, Suspicious_Art9118
“Rolodex. There was something great about those. My own was a desk model with a lockable closing cover. Something about the tangibleness, the physicality and the control. Having the different kinds of cards and card covers, hearing them click when you spun it. I was sad to let it go.” – Matsunosuperfan, BASerx8
“Bitchin’ (meaning excellent).” – fox3actual
“Yellow pages.” – Matsunosuperfan
“Forsooth.” – fingermagnets459
Merriam-Webster notes that the definition of forsooth is “in truth : indeed —often used to imply contempt or doubt; now usually used to evoke archaic speech.” It comes from Middle English and dates back to the 12th century.
“Lunting: walking while smoking a pipe.” – RainbowWarrior73
Wouldn’t it be a dilly idea to bring back these 1900s slang words!? Which one fractured you the most 😅 Let us know in the comments and catch up on episodes of Otherwords with @Dr. Erica Brozovsky on the Stoired YouTube channel! #slang#english#language#linguistics#history#vintage @PBS
“Only a ‘square’ would remember things like that.” – EighthGreen
“‘Cattywampus’ also sometimes known as ‘catawampus’. A cool word that you don’t hear much anymore.” – Dead_Is_Better
“I use finagle and my high school students think I’m so weird. I’m 47. This word is normal.” – MLAheading
“Frippery, at least in American English (think it’s used in France for thrift shops?)” – KobayashiWaifu
Merriam-Webster notes that the definition of frippery is “finery, also an elegant or showy garment; something showy, frivolous, or nonessential.” Its origins are Old French and date back as far as 1568.
“Handsome (when describing a woman).” – Odd-Scheme6535, Popular-Solution7697
“I love the word ‘scrimshaw.’ I don’t hear it enough.” – nocatleftbehind420
“Maybe not extinct but it’s meaning completely obliterated: nonplussed.” – LeFreeke
“Oblige. Rarely hear it except in old westerns.” – ReadySetGO0
“Druthers.” – Embarrassed_Wrap8421
“Bogart. Monopolizing something that’s meant to be shared.” – CoderJoe1
“Bumbershoot.” – kelariy
Merriam-Websternotes that “bumbershoot” is an American nickname for an umbrella that was first used in 1856.
“Ne’er-do-well. From the early 20th century, basically some who never-does -well, implying a slacker or underachiever. Although people never said it even when I was growing up, I still think it’s a cool word.” – fabgwenn
“Whippersnapper – a young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident. I’ve heard people on TV say it, (maybe Dennis the Menace, or some other 50s show). I heard a 90 year old woman say it IRL and I laughed so hard.” – JazzFan1998
“Xeroxing a document.” – C-ute-Thulu
“Blatherskite.” – Biff_Bufflington
Merriam-Webster notes that the definition of “blatherskite” is “a person who blathers [talks foolishly at length] a lot; nonsense.” Its first known use dates back to 1650.
“I don’t seem to hear penultimate much anymore.” – TakeMetoLallybroch
“I’m quite fond of the word slubberdegullion, meaning ‘dirty scoundrel’. I use it frequently when I talk to my senior, who is a rather clean upstanding citizen. We laugh and then he tells me to get back to work.” – r-pics-sux
Railroad tracks run all across America. It’s nearly impossible to drive through a town, no matter how small, without coming across a set of railroad tracks. But have you ever looked down and wondered why every railroad track you see has the same rocks surrounding the tracks?
There’s never a variation of colors, shapes, or sizes. You never see railroad tracks surrounded by pebbles or sitting atop the bare ground. If the tracks aren’t encased in between metal and asphalt so cars can drive over them, they’re surrounded by these rocks. Turns out, there’s a very specific reason for this that even a quick Internet search may not explain without you having to peruse multiple sources.
Popping this question into a search engine will yield the result that the rocks are used for the expanding track, which is true. But there’s so much more. These stones aren’t just across America, they’re under railroad tracks in any country that operates the fast-moving cargo and people haulers. The YouTube channel Simple Things – Surprising Histories shares some of the many reasons train tracks are surrounded by those grey rocks in one of their recent episodes.
“A loaded train is incredibly heavy. We’re talking about millions of pounds of steel and cargo. If you place that much weight directly onto the ground, the intense pressure would crush the soil. The tracks would sink, buckle, and the eventual train would derail,” the video explains before revealing that the stones are actually called “track ballast.”
As the host moves along, they share that the entire thing is in layers, working together to allow the train to move smoothly along the tracks without sinking into the dirt. The very top layer is the metal track, followed by the horizontal beams, evenly spaced, called “sleepers.” Those sleepers sit on top of the ballast, otherwise known as grey rocks, which act as a cushion for the weight of the train.
“It takes the immense concentrated weight of the train and spreads it out over a wide area. It dissipates the pressure so the ground underneath doesn’t get crushed,” they say. “But here is the fascinating part. The tracks are not fixed to the ground. If you look closely, you’ll see the tracks are floating on the stones. They aren’t bolted into the earth deep below. They rely on friction and the sheer weight of the ballast to stay in place. This flexibility allows the track to slightly absorb the vibration of a roaring train rather than snapping under the tension.”
The type of rocks used to make ballast is also important to keep the train running smoothly. Jagged, rough rocks won’t slide away from each other from the vibration of a moving train like smooth rocks would. According to Strasburg Railroad, ballast stones are a combination of crushed stones, rocks, and gravel used to prevent vegetation from sprouting and drain water from the tracks. The type of stones that traditionally make up a ballast are limestone, granite, basalt, and quartzite, which help disperse the high heat generated by a heavy, fast-moving train.
Who knew those stones were doing so much heavy lifting? Holding down the railroad track, absorbing the heat created, keeping weeds from growing, and allowing the track to expand to keep the train from sinking into the ground. Viewers were fascinated.
“I had no idea that the tracks aren’t actually bolted into the ground. Amazingly interesting,” one person says.
“I had no clue why I clicked on this video, but glad I did!!! Great info about something I never even considered. Thank you for sharing!!!” writes another.
“Grew up with tracks in my backyard. I grew up throwing these ballast stones. I could bullseye a target at a good distance. Never once considered their importance. Thanks!!” someone else chimes in.
Sounds impossible, right? Well, yes. For starters, it means Bradley earned $234,479 in 2025. While his financial transparency is admirable, that level of income simply isn’t a reality for most Americans. In 2025, the average individual income was $53,010, placing Bradley in roughly the top 4% of American earners. When you have the luxury of knowing there’s money in the bank, living life to the extreme gets a whole lot easier.
Bradley’s methods might sound extreme, but there’s something worth paying attention to here. Through sheer discipline and a willingness to live differently than most people, he managed to save more than $200,000 in a single year. His approach won’t work for everyone, and honestly, it probably shouldn’t. Still, it proves an important point: you have more control over your money than you think.
Here’s how Bradley did it, and the specific habits that helped him save nearly 90% of his income.
The moment that changed everything
Bradley’s story didn’t begin with an impressive income. It started in a place many of us know well: deep financial stress. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he earned a prestigious degree and diploma, but he also inherited $130,000 in student loan debt. Out of the Institute, his first job paid $12 an hour.
“My student loan payment was almost half of my monthly income, and I had two choices: I could accept defeat and let this be my life forever, or I could make my situation better,” he told People.
He chose the latter. Entering what he describes as “survival mode,” Bradley stripped his life down to its barest essentials. There were no financial mentors or wealthy parents to bail him out. Instead, he decided that financial freedom was more valuable than his current comforts.
Years later, that survival mode has evolved into a lifestyle choice. In 2025, despite earning $234,000 from various income streams, he spent just $33,100 to live.
For context, the average American household spends about $6,545 per month, which comes out to approximately $78,535 per year. Of course, that figure reflects household income. If there are two earning adults in a household, that breaks down to about $3,272 per person each month, or $39,268 per year. That’s still higher than Bradley’s annual spending of $33,100, or about $2,758 per month. And if you could save even $500 a month, wouldn’t you?
(For transparency, we’re using half of the average household income to approximate individual income in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
Step 1: A disciplined approach to groceries
Food is one of the biggest budget busters for families and individuals alike, with Americans spending about 13.7% of their total expenses on food and alcohol. For individuals, that’s $5,406 per year, or $451 per month.
In total, Bradley spent just $2,940 on food in 2025.
Broken down, that’s about $245 a month, or roughly $60 a week. How the heck does he manage that? A dinner at a nice restaurant can easily cost more than that per person.
The answer is simple. Bradley sticks to a strict routine, cooking all of his meals at home and eating the same simple meals every day. By eliminating variety, he reduces food waste and impulse spending. He knows exactly what he needs, buys only that, and eats every simple bite.
Isn’t he a culinary school graduate? Yes. While his diet might seem dull to most, Bradley views it differently. For him, food is fuel, and money saved tastes better than any fancy restaurant meal. In fact, he avoids dining out altogether, calling it “expensive and stupid” if you’re trying to save money as aggressively as he does.
Step 2: Car costs are kept to a bare minimum
Anyone who drives knows how quickly car expenses can pile up, from monthly payments and insurance to registration fees and the occasional ticket. Bradley sidesteps most of that by driving an older car he’s already paid off and maintaining it carefully. In 2025, his total car-related costs, including oil changes, registration, and a taillight repair, came to just $264.
Insurance is a necessary evil, and Bradley paid $1,014 for the year, or about $85 a month. He notes that he saves money by choosing six-month bundles instead of paying monthly premiums. He also spent roughly $780 on gas. For comparison, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the average individual spends about $2,148 on gas each year, or roughly $179 a month. Of course, that figure can vary widely depending on where you live.
In total, Bradley spent $2,058 on car-related costs. By driving a paid-off vehicle and using it only when necessary, he’s able to keep his transportation expenses low.
Step 3: Traveling the world on a dime?
You might think someone who banks 90% of their income spends weekends in a dark room, eating beans straight from a can. But Bradley actually traveled quite a bit in 2025, taking five trips in total, including a week in London.
The shocker? He spent $1,854 across all five trips.
Pause. Reality check. In 2025, Bradley was also a certified social media superstar, a frugal influencer with 1.5 million followers on TikTok. Without a detailed breakdown of flights, accommodations, and daily expenses, it’s hard to tell what was frugal traveling and what was a paid opportunity, like the speaking event he gave (where he was paid but booked the flight and accommodations out-of-pocket).
Bradley’s travel advice is harder to scale than his grocery budget, but the principles still hold up. Book flights early or late, whenever the algorithm blinks. Travel in the off-season. Pack snacks. Stay in hostels, or at least skip the hotel minibar. It’s not revolutionary, but it works.
It’s a nice reminder that living within your means doesn’t have to limit your lifestyle.
Step 4: Extreme utility savings
Here’s where Bradley loses most people. To keep his annual electric bill under $600, about $49 a month, he lives like someone prepping for the end times, just without the stockpile of canned beans.
He unplugs everything when it’s not in use—yes, even the refrigerator if he’s leaving town for a while, contents and all. He washes his hair in the sink to avoid heating a full shower’s worth of water. And he refuses to turn on the heat in winter or the air conditioning in summer.
“I think it’s amazing,” he said. “Basically, I live in the dark.”
While this extreme “survival mode” isn’t realistic for everyone, especially considering that Bradley lives alone, it underscores his dedication to achieving financial stability, even at the cost of his own physical comfort.
Other expenses
Let’s fill out the rest of Bradley’s expenses:
Gym: His lowest annual expense was his gym membership, which cost just $120 for the year, or $10 a month, because he “refuses to pay more.“
Haircuts: Six throughout the year, totaling $130, or about $22 per cut.
Internet: $552 per year, or $46 a month.
Home inspection: “And I almost bought a house this year!” he shared. That home inspection cost him $695.
Friends, fun, and dates: $567 per year, or about $47.25 a month, roughly $12 a week.
Gift giving: A wonderful place to spend extra money. $1,080 for the year. Bradley shares that he bought his mom Coldplay tickets, paid for his sister to get her nails done, and replaced the fireplace doors in his mom’s home for Christmas.
Donations: “I started donating earlier this year to work on my relationship with money,” he said. His donations totaled $1,248 for the year.
Taxes: “I owed $8,219 in taxes for the 2024 season.”
Rent: Like most Americans, rent was Bradley’s largest expense, totaling $9,800 for the year, or about $816 per month. That’s a true achievement, considering he lives in New York City.
Bradley’s remarkable work ethic and commitment to his lifestyle may be his strongest attributes. Remember that top 4% income bracket? Bradley isn’t just saving. He’s hustling, too. Hemanages 10 diverse income streams, including content creation, brand partnerships, financial coaching, and more.
Despite his significant income, he avoids “lifestyle creep” by refusing to upgrade his apartment unnecessarily, buy a new car, or dine at luxury restaurants.
A breakdown of Bradley's annual expenses. Photo credit: Bing
A quick analysis of Bradley’s 2025 finances shows that his exceptionally high savings rate, roughly 86% of his income, reflects strong financial discipline and cost-effective management.
Rent, his biggest fixed expense, remains well below what he could afford, whether by careful design or by choosing to live somewhere most people wouldn’t. The home inspection fee also suggests he’s eyeing real estate and searching for smart investments.
The numbers tell the story plainly. Bradley keeps his fixed costs low, spends money only on what truly matters to him, and saves the rest. There’s no fancy apartment, no new car, and no creep toward a more expensive lifestyle just because he can afford it. It’s discipline, yes, but it’s also strategy, the kind that builds wealth rather than merely earning it.
It’s not deprivation. It’s freedom.
It would be easy to dismiss Bradley’s lifestyle, with its cold apartment and repetitive meals, as miserable. But Bradley genuinely believes the sacrifices are worth it, and he lights up when discussing his bank account.
“For me, ‘treating myself’ means watching my bank account grow,” he said.
It’s gratitude, plain and simple. When temptation hits, say in mid-July, when the apartment feels like a brick oven and the A/C unit sits there taunting him, he thinks back to what it felt like to be underwater. The sleepless nights. The pit in his stomach every time a bill arrived. The way debt made him feel small. Compared to that, a bowl of oatmeal tastes just fine.
Creating your own version of financial peace
Bradley knows his approach isn’t for everyone. He’s single, hyper-focused, and willing to live like a monk if it means hitting his financial goals. If he had a partner or kids, he admitted he’d dial it back. After all, no one wants to explain to their spouse why the refrigerator is unplugged again.
The takeaway here isn’t about living in the dark or eating the same meal every day. It’s about knowing exactly where your money goes. Bradley can pull up his spending down to the dollar because he tracks it. Most of us couldn’t do that even if someone offered us a hundred bucks on the spot. We swipe, we tap, we subscribe, and we assume it’ll all work out. It usually doesn’t.
Start by questioning the expenses you’ve normalized. That gym membership you haven’t used since February. The streaming service you forgot you had until the charge hit. The new car when your current one runs fine. Pick one category—groceries, transportation, housing, whatever bleeds the most—and get serious about it. Not miserable. Just deliberate.
You don’t need to save 86% of your income or completely transform your life. But doesn’t saving 10% or 20% of your earnings, and actually knowing where your money is going, sound nice?
America is the land of immigrants. It’s something that the country has boasted since the first boats arrived on Ellis Island more than 130 years ago. In school, kids are taught that, due to the diverse immigrant communities, the country is a salad bowl or melting pot of cultures. Like a salad where every added ingredient maintains its original colors, flavors, and shapes, to make something delicious when consumed together, immigrants do the same for America.
Telling their family’s American origin story is a point of pride for many, but since the country is just shy of 250 years old, the majority of Americans have been on the land for generations. Their family’s immigration story is one from the distant past, which means the average American has no idea how the immigration process works in modern times. Immigration attorney Kathleen Martinez teamed up with immigration consultant Alejandro Martinez to show exactly how immigration works in America today.
The process seems to be entirely convoluted with a lot of unnecessary hurdles and vague instructions that shock the conscience of viewers. After being asked by Alejandro what it means to “do it legally,” Kathleen stands in front of a whiteboard with multiple squiggly lines and phrases to represent different steps in the process.
“When other people tell immigrants to ‘do it legally,’ what they’re referring to is how they enter the country. So let’s talk about entering legally,” Kathleen says. “So let’s say that you entered on a visa, right? Let’s say that your visa is not expired, so that means that you’re still in legal status. You’re good. You’re still legal, right? So let’s say you’re going to adjust status to a green card through an employer, well, it depends. Are you with an employer who will actually petition for you a green card, then possibly you did the entire thing legally.”
Visa application essentials: form, pen, and travel preparation. Photo credit: Canva
That’s about as simple a process as you can get, if you’re lucky, but most people immigrating through a work visa do not fall into that category. Kathleen explains that the next option is a work visa that enters into a lottery system, which is common for H1B visas given out on a limited basis by the government. Being entered into the lottery system to transition from a work visa to a green card means getting a green card is left up to chance.
If your number is pulled, congratulations! No, you don’t get a green card. You get to move to the next step, called the Visa Bulletin. “When you’re in the Visa Bulletin, depending on what country you’re from, it could take you up to 25 years to get your green card. So yeah, you did the entire thing legally. You won. You got the lottery, but oh no, you have to wait another 25 years and be undocumented in the United States in order to get your green card,” Kathleen explains.
That confusing bit was only one way to become a permanent resident in the United States; there’s more. The immigration attorney then shares how the process works if you’re working in America on a temporary work visa. “You’re on a temporary visa, meaning that you were supposed to return, or it expired. Now you’re on the expired status pile. You are not here, no longer doing it legally, although you did enter legally, which is so weird. So now you need to look at other options because if you’re on expired status, you’re no longer going through an employer.”
If someone’s temporary work visa expires, and they can’t afford to go back to their home country, or they don’t want to due to building a life in America, options become even more confusing. According to Kathleen, the options are limited. If the immigrant is married to a U.S. citizen, their spouse can petition the government for a green card. The same is true if their child is a U.S. citizen over the age of 21, or if they’re the child of a U.S. citizen and they themselves are under 21 years of age.
Job interview conversation with a candidate and employer at a desk. Photo credit: Canva
If an immigrant doesn’t fit into one of those three categories, another relative, like a sibling, can petition for them, but that will put them into the Visa Bulletin. Keep in mind, this entire time, this hypothetical immigrant is still undocumented, though they originally entered legally. If they don’t have any family members to petition for them, they can try the humanitarian route through T Visas or U Visas, which would allow them to enter the lottery. The immigration attorney still was not done explaining the long, difficult process.
People were unprepared for how ridiculously confusing the entire immigration process is. One person writes, “It’s Shoots & Ladders, with only Shoots and no Ladders.”
Another laments, “There’s no sane reason it should be this complicated if all I had to do was to be born here.”
“It’s soo wild how many hoops you gotta jump with our immigration system. Even for my mom when she applied for citizenship, and I’m talking like about 50 years or so ago, it wasn’t as bad, from what she tells me, it has definitely changed a lot over the years,” someone else shares.
This person’s mind was blown, “Bro, I thought I knew. I had NO idea.”
One person points out, “And then there’s DACA, people who were brought here as kids. There’s no pathway for them.”
“Can you do one simply explaining how HARD it is to get a tourist visa? My sister and I have dreamed of visiting NYC since we were kids. We’re almost 30 now, and the tourist visa process takes about two years just to get interviewed about every possible private-life detail, get all our paperwork, phones, texts, and bodies examined, tons of pesos required, and the turnover rate is SO HIGH. I promise we would NEVER stay in the US,” someone else shares.
If you’re fortunate enough to live long enough to stop working and enjoy your golden years in retirement, you may start to wonder where you want to spend them. When you’re no longer tied to a place by a job or family obligations, and you’re looking for the best bang for your buck along with the amenities you want and need, it’s natural to begin searching for the best places to retire.
Many people’s first thought when it comes to retirement is “south,” which is why some of the places on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of “Best Places to Retire in the U.S.” may come as a surprise. While the rankings are dominated by Florida and Texas, those two states account for only a little over half of the Top 20. Many of the remaining cities, including the No. 1 spot, are located in the northern part of the country, in places that are decidedly not warm come wintertime.
The list was compiled using criteria such as quality of life, overall value, tax rates, senior population/migration trends, and health care quality. Let’s go through the Top 10:
If you’ve never heard of Midland, that’s probably because it has a population of less than 43,000 people. However, the median home price is just north of $200,000 and rent isn’t even $800, so your retirement dollar would go pretty far there. The small city sits at the confluence of two rivers and is also the home of Dow Chemical. Do with that information what you will.
2. Weirton, West Virginia
We’re going even smaller for No. 2. Weirton has less than 19,000 people and a median home value of just over $124,000, making it uber affordable. Rent will set you back around $550. And it’s only about a 40-minute drive to Pittsburgh, so if you get bored, you can always hit the bigger city.
3. Homosassa Springs, Florida
Ever heard of this one? It has a population of about 15,000 (they’re really pushing the small-town retirement angle here) and a median home value of around $219,000. Located in western Florida between Tampa and the Panhandle, the town is home to a state wildlife park, and is undoubtedly warmer than the first two places on the list.
4. The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a bit bigger, crossing into six-figure population territory at just over 116,000 residents. We also see a jump in home prices in this suburb of Houston, though, with a median price of $474,000 and average rent a bit over $1,400. The city’s website refers to it as a “destination whose culture and offerings rival the nation’s largest and most vibrant cities,” so that sounds promising.
5. Spring, Texas
With a population of around 68,000, Spring is close to, but more affordable than, The Woodlands, with a median home price of about $251,000. Rent isn’t much lower, though, at just over $1,300. Definitely look into buying a house instead of renting if this is where you choose to spend your retirement.
Moving west, Rio Rancho is a northern suburb of Albuquerque. It’s home to about 108,000 people, and the median home value is about $310,000. Rent runs about $1,200. If that classic Southwest feel is your thing, this is where to go.
7. Spring Hill, Florida
Lost of springs on this list, eh? If you’re looking for a 100,000+ population without a significantly higher cost of living, Spring Hill gives you the best bang for your bigger-city buck. (Not that 100,000 is a big city by most standards, but it’s not a small town either.) The median home price is just over $300,000, and rent comes in a little above $1,100.
8. Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona is the least expensive place to live among the Top 10, with a median home price under $115,000. (Did anyone know there were still places with home prices like that anymore?) The city has a population of about 43,000, and median rent sits around $660. Not too shabby, price-wise. Not sure what people do in Altoona, but it’s probably affordable.
Palm Coast just sounds like a place to retire, doesn’t it? Located on Florida’s east coast, north of Daytona Beach, Palm Coast has a median home price close to $380,000 and rent approaching $1,500. It’s not the most affordable spot in the Top 10, but hey, palm trees, right?
10. Lynchburg, Virginia
Named for Quaker John Lynch and founded in 1757, Lynchburg is the oldest city in the top places to retire, so if history is your thing, this would be a good option. With about 80,000 residents, it’s neither a small town nor a large city, and with a median home price under $224,000 and rent just over $900, it’s affordable, too.
Here’s how the rest of the Top 20 rounds out:
11. Bismarck, North Dakota
12. Victoria, Texas
13. Palm Harbor, Florida
14. Rochester Hills, Michigan
15. Troy, Michigan
16. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
17. Pearland, Texas
18. Naples, Florida
19. Pensacola, Florida
20. Conroe, Texas
Again, lots of Florida and Texas, but a surprising showing from Michigan and the Dakotas, too.
What should people consider when they’re looking for a place to retire?
U.S. News & World Report used its own criteria to compile this list, but what should the average person look for when thinking about where they might want to retire? Kiplinger‘s “A New Guide to Choosing Where to Retire” shares five considerations to keep in mind:
1. Local tax rates
States tax retirement income differently, and property taxes vary widely from place to place. Because retirees need to stretch their retirement funds carefully, taxes are an important factor to look into and understand before settling somewhere.
2. Health care
As we age, our health care needs often change and increase. Additionally, health insurance for retirees may have local limitations, so it’s important to make sure your plan lines up well with wherever you end up. The quality of doctors and specialists, along with access to medical facilities, are also big considerations.
3. Lifestyle suitability
Are you active and adventurous? Do you want easy access to cultural experiences and the arts? Do you desire peace and quiet? Is sunshine and warmth important to you? Do you want to garden year-round? Do you plan to travel and want to live near a major airport? All you have is time when you’re retired, so thinking through how you’ll want to spend it is key.
What kind of environment do you want to be in when you retire? Photo credit: Canva
4. Climate risks
In the 21st century, the way climate change affects different regions is a major consideration. Places prone to natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and hurricanes may be less appealing as those events become more frequent and intense.
5. Sense of community
Who you spend time with matters, and having a sense of community can make a big difference in how your days feel. In retirement, having a community can also help you have a more regular schedule as you set up routine times to get together with others, volunteer, or otherwise be socially active.
Whether you’re close to it or just thinking ahead, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to where you retire.
Americans have unique body language and gestures that set them apart from other countries and cultures. These American quirks—such as pointing and eating while walking—are easily picked up by non-Americans who are quickly able to identify us.
Besides a certain demeanor, other American indicators include clothing choices like backwards baseball caps and wearing sunglasses on one’s head.
According to Jonna Mendez, the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) former Chief of Disguise, there is one specific posture that has been deemed a dead giveaway of an American identity. It’s called the “American Lean.”
Only Americans Do This #travel#funfacts#culture#USA#bodylanguage The “American lean” is a cultural quirk where people from the U.S. instinctively lean on walls, railings, doorframes, or furniture when standing in public. It’s casual, relaxed, and often signals comfort in occupying space… but where did it come from?
In a 2019 interview with NPR, Mendez and former Director of the CIA, Gina Haspel, explained more about how American body language differs from European body language.
“They wear their wedding rings on different fingers. They eat differently than we do. They don’t shuttle that fork back and forth,” she explained.
Haspel also commented on Mendez’s description of the “American Lean,” adding, “They think that we are slouchy, a little sloppy. And they think that they can almost see that in our demeanor on the street because they stand up straight. They don’t lean on things.”
Mendez expanded on American appearance and body language during an “Ask Me Anything” interview on Reddit.
“More broadly, generalizing (and it is always a little dangerous to generalize) Americans are seen as a bit more casual in their dress on the street than other nationalities. Casual might be too soft a word. Sloppy? Nobody else seems to be wearing sweatpants and shirts on the streets,” she explained. “We are also thought to be loud, for instance you can identify the group of Americans in front of the tourist office by the noise that they make. We are not disparaged everywhere, but we do tend to stand out.”
Why Americans do the “American Lean”
On Reddit, curious Americans tried to explain their leaning habits. Many offered their opinions:
“Idk why it’s an American thing, but I’m American and I lean on things because I feel uncomfortable and awkward all the time and having a third point of grounding (2 feet + shoulder/back) is more comfortable.” – a_sternum
“American and I’ve gotta lean on everything because every job I worked was aggressively against us sitting in case the customers saw us comfortable [I guess]? There’s a weird notion that sitting equals lazy.” – pickleruler67
“Not allowed to sit at work so we tend to lean against things. The phrase ‘time to lean, time to clean’ is also very prevalent. We’re not okay btw.” – W3R3Hamster
“idk but apparently it’s enough of a thing that my school advised us to not do it while studying abroad so as not to make ourselves targets as tourists/foreigners/Americans .” – uhhwhatamidoing
“1) Americans are less formal in most situations, good posture is less emphasized. 2) It’s cool.. think James Dean or fashion models. 3) Laziness.” – No-Oil-1669
Others explained how different cultures “rest” in different positions.
“Drive down the street in South Korea and you see folks squatting instead of leaning,” one shared. Another added, “The Slavic squat is an alternative.”
One of the hardest parts of speaking in front of a group is managing the nerves that often accompany public speaking. No matter how much you want to appear cool, calm, and collected,nervousness can hit even experienced speakers, and when it does, it’s hard to figure out how to handle it. It’s especially disconcerting when your voice shakes, because that’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to project confidence.
Instinctively, we may try techniques to calm our bodies, such as meditation or deep breathing. But there’s a counterintuitive hack that public speaking expert Vinh Giang shared with a woman who asked how to keep her voice from shaking when she gets too nervous.
“If your voice shakes, what must be shaking?” Giang asked in the YouTube video. “Your body, right? Why do you shake? Because you’re nervous. But the main physiological reason why we shake is because of excess adrenaline, because the body’s preparing for fight or flight.”
The fight-or-flight response is the body’s way of revving up with energy, which triggers a surge of adrenaline. But because we’re not actually going to fight or flee, we don’t know what to do with that adrenaline. Giang pointed out that this is why speakers tend to pace onstage, trying to burn off the excess energy.
“Instead of getting on stage, having a shaky voice, and pacing, get rid of the adrenaline backstage,” he said. “Go for a really brisk walk for 3 to 5 minutes. Wim Hof breathing. Twenty star jumps. Five pushups.”
Giang said this forces you to take deep breaths, and you’ll soon find that the adrenaline has left your body.
It makes sense when you think about it. Adrenaline needs to go somewhere, so doing a few minutes of brisk body movements gives it a place to be processed.
Star jumps can help you move adrenaline out of your body. Photo credit: Canva
Commenters on Giang’s video said they’ve tried this method and that it works:
“I used to do this before going on stage as a solo pianist. Looked funny at times doing star jumps in my dress and heels or a wall push in the same, but it worked!!”
“I usually have like really bad anxiety before speaking in front of people. I’m talking about hyperventilating, vomiting, and all. For my latest presentation, I remembered this video. I tried shaking my hands aggressively for maybe 1 – 2 minutes, and I kid you not, it works wonders. No nauseousness, lightheadedness, and all that. Thank you so so much for this.”
“This is the best piece of advice that I have ever come across… Ever since I saw this video a few months ago I have never been jittery during a performance since THANK YOU!!”
There are ways to stop the shakes without exercise, too. Photo credit: Canva
What if you aren’t able to exercise just before speaking?
While getting your adrenaline out backstage is great, that’s not always an option. Sometimes you might be sitting in a room full of people, waiting for your turn to speak, when the nerves hit.
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman shared that research shows a “double inhale” method can quickly reduce stress without having to move your body around.
The basic technique, known as a “physiological sigh,” involves taking a deep breath through your nose, then inhaling again without letting any air out first, followed by a slow exhale.
Huberman said this method works because it offloads a large amount of carbon dioxide all at once. Carbon dioxide builds up when we’re stressed, causing the tiny air sacs in the lungs to partially collapse. Taking that extra, quick breath when the lungs are already full helps reopen those sacs, allowing the body to release more carbon dioxide than it would with a single deep breath and exhale.
People in the comments on Giang’s video also shared personal tips for those who can’t go for a walk or do pushups before speaking:
“I used to clench my fists under the table with all the strength I got over and over again. Or even my whole lower body. And I learned a breathing technique, where I inhale for 4 seconds, then hold my breath for 4 seconds and then release my breath for 4 seconds or even longer, but it’s crucial that your exhale takes as long or even longer as your inhale. Another trick is from a mental coach. You play the presentation in your head like a movie and every time you get anxious you stop for a moment and just breathe. When you feel at ease again you continue the movie in your head. In the end nourish the vision of yourself after a wonderful presentation and experience all the emotions like pride, happiness, relief, feel them in your body, let them thrive. Do it as often as you want to or need to.”
“I would get up early and go for a run. You’re still getting your blood pumping and releasing endorphins even though it’s a good few hours before your presentation.”
So many options to try in different situations. Check out this article for more expert ideas to stop your voice from shaking when nerves hit, and follow Vinh Giang on YouTube.
Most of us get the hiccups on occasion, and some people have waged battles with persistent bouts of them. While harmless, hiccups are annoying, especially when it feels like they’re never going to stop. There are all kinds of tips people have for getting rid of them, from drinking a glass of water upside down (which has never made sense) to holding your breath (which sometimes works) to having someone startle you (it’s hard to be startled when you know it’s coming).
Stanford University neuroscientist Andrew Huberman explains a science-supported technique to “reliably” stop hiccups in their tracks. It’s a variation on holding your breath, with a couple of simple but important tweaks. Watch:
“It’s a technique that takes advantage of hypercontracting the phrenic nerve over a short period of time,” he explains, “so that it then subsequently relaxes or alleviates the spasming of the phrenic nerve. And that simple method is to inhale three times in a row.”
On the first inhale, you breathe in deeply through your nose. Then, without exhaling any air, you inhale again through the nose (however brief). Then you inhale a third time, which might be just a micro- or millisecond of breath, and hold your breath for about 15 to 20 seconds before exhaling slowly.
People in the comments said they tried it and shared their experiences:
“Amazing how fast this worked. 10/10!”
“It really stopped, I had them for 10 minutes and it worked, thank you!”
“Just finished first chemo treatment. Hiccups have been terrible. This helped me so much. Thank you!”
“This man is saving lives. I had hiccups for hours tried this and it worked right away.”
“It worked!!! I have been hiccuping for the past 30 mins and it’s started to get frustrating for me, then I came across this short and now I’m fine. Thank you.”
HOW TO RELIABLY STOP HICCUPS: Hiccups = phrenic nerve-to-diaphragm spasm. To de-spasm that circuit, inhale maximally (via your nose) 3 times with no exhales in between. Then hold your breath for 15-30 seconds & then slowly exhale (via your mouth). Done.
“Hiccups are repeated spasms of your diaphragm paired with a ‘hic’ sound from your vocal cords closing. Your diaphragm is a thin, dome-shaped muscle that separates your chest from your belly. It moves downward when you breathe in and upward when you breathe out.
Two things happen when you hiccup:
Your diaphragm pulls down suddenly between breaths, making you quickly suck in air.
The glottis (space between your vocal cords) suddenly closes to stop more air from coming in.
These actions make the ‘hic’ sound of a hiccup.”
Hiccups usually go away on their own, but some people experience episodes that last much longer than expected. If they persist for more than two days, it’s time to see a doctor.
As for the physiological cause, something irritates the phrenic nerve or vagus nerve, causing your diaphragm to contract and spasm. A number of factors can cause the irritation that leads to hiccups, and the Cleveland Clinic categorizes them as transient (temporary), persistent, and intractable.
Transient hiccups
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there’s “often no clear cause for a random hiccup or two. But certain triggers might play a role, like:
Eating too much or too fast.
Eating spicy foods or foods that are very hot or cold.
The Cleveland Clinic says “various medical conditions can cause persistent hiccups, including:
Gastrointestinal diseases, like GERD or gastritis.
Conditions affecting your central nervous system, like stroke, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Lung conditions, like pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or pleurisy.
Tumors or lesions, like mediastinal tumors, esophageal cancer, or pancreatic cancer.
Conditions that disrupt your metabolism and related nerve signaling, like uremia or hypocalcemia.
Certain infections, like flu, shingles, and herpes simplex.
Some medications can also cause persistent hiccups. Examples include:
Dopamine agonists.
Benzodiazepines (at low doses).
Some chemotherapy drugs.
Dexamethasone.
Azithromycin.
Persistent hiccups may also happen after certain surgeries or procedures, including those that require general anesthesia.”
Whatever is causing your hiccups, getting them to stop is surely the primary concern. Try Huberman’s three-inhale trick and see if it works as reliably as he suggests.
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