AirPods that never need charging? These researchers just found a way to use your body as a charger

These 24 chef-approved kitchen gifts will improve the life of any home cook or baker

Whether the person you’re shopping for is a pro pasta maker or an amateur bread baker, these gifts can help sharpen their skills and improve their space. For its annual gift guide, Fast Company asked business leaders who know the home—and some of our staff members—for space-specific recommendations.

Published: 2024-11-26 12:00:00

This free time-zone conversion tool blows other clock apps out of the water

This minimal, frills-free website will make your life instantly easier. You’d think by this point in our lives, we’d have the whole time-zone-conversion thing figured out. It isn’t all that complicated, right?!And yet—well, trying to keep such calculations straight often feels like performing advanced algebra. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve tried to convert something from my own local time into another time and ended up screwing it up somehow (and I’m only moderately pea-brained, thankyouverymuch).

Published: 2024-11-26 11:00:00

In rural North Carolina, dozens of water systems were knocked out by Hurricane Helene. Recovery could take years

The flooding that devastated western North Carolina knocked out water systems, and some small towns still don’t have water. The most exciting part of the day at Spruce Pine Montessori School is when the truck arrives to empty the porta-johns. At that point in the afternoon, the kids abandon their toy dinosaurs and monkey bars, throw up their hands, and yell in excitement as they run to watch the truck do its work. It’s lucky that they find something to be so joyful about, Principal Jennifer Rambo said on a recent sunny afternoon, because things have been a mess for the past seven weeks.

Published: 2024-11-26 11:00:00

That emotional new Volvo commercial isn’t ‘pro-family.’ It’s just advertising

Brands have always tapped into the emotional currents of raising a family. And Volvo’s new ad is no different. A young woman approaches her distracted partner. He asks her if something’s wrong. She hesitates. Then reveals the positive pregnancy test. They quietly embrace, incredibly happy at the news. 

Published: 2024-11-26 11:00:00

10 ways AI can make farmers’ jobs easier

AI can deliver agriculture workers improved efficiency across the board. For those who work the earth, AI can be an invaluable tool for making that work more efficient, sustainable and productive. AI helps farmers use the same tools they have been using for centuries, but with improved efficiency and focus. Here are 10 tips for farmers looking to use the new wave of AI-assisted farming.

Published: 2024-11-26 11:00:00

Schwan’s, the iconic American food delivery service, shut down. How much was its new name to blame?

In 2022, Schwan’s rebranded as Yelloh. Two years later, the company shuttered its business. In a fast-changing world, brands may see the chance to update their logos, visual identities, and even names as a shortcut to keep up with the times. But take a rebrand too far and you could lose everything. That’s especially true for long-running brands, which stand to lose valuable brand equity if they jettison too many assets.

Published: 2024-11-26 10:45:00

You need a Black Friday game plan. Here are 5 ways to ensure you buy exactly what you need

Black Friday returns are an environmental catastrophe. Consider this your guide to shopping more consciously. Across the country, as soon as people are done eating their turkey this week, they’ll be gearing up for that other big tradition: Black Friday.

Published: 2024-11-26 10:30:00

Influencer houses are dead. Welcome to the production studio era

A slew of creators are buying up plots of studio land to film and edit their content. Influencers today look a lot more like Hollywood executives than ragtag social media users. And they’re buying up the real estate to prove it.

Published: 2024-11-26 10:30:00

If it’s really about the economy, can Dollar General fulfill its ‘food first’ mission?

Food insecurity is a complex issue. Dollar General aims to tackle both affordability and access. Dollar General was a brand generating some media buzz at the end of last year, but not for the reasons the company had hoped. After an appearance on Glenn Greenwald’s Rumble show, Tucker Carlson ranted about his distaste for dollar stores.

Published: 2024-11-26 10:30:00

13 gift ideas to help breathe new life into anyone’s living room

Whether you’re shopping for a binge-watcher or a board game fanatic, these gifts will make the recipient loath to leave their couch. For its annual gift guide, Fast Company asked business leaders who know the home—and some of our staff members—for space-specific recommendations.