Every year, companies and space agencies launch hundreds of rockets into spaceand that number is set to grow dramatically with ambitious missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. But these dreams hinge on one critical challenge: propulsionthe methods used to push rockets and spacecraft forward.
To make interplanetary travel faster, safer, and more efficient, scientists need breakthroughs in propulsion technology. Artificial intelligence is one type of technology that has begun to provide some of these necessary breakthroughs.
Were a team of engineers and graduate students who are studying how AI in general, and a subset of AI called machine learning in particular, can transform spacecraft propulsion. From optimizing nuclear thermal engines to managing complex plasma confinement in fusion systems, AI is reshaping propulsion design and operations. It is quickly becoming an indispensable partner in humankinds journey to the stars.
Machine learning and reinforcement learning
Machine learning is a branch of AI that identifies patterns in data that it has not explicitly been trained on. It is a vast field with its own branches, with a lot of applications. Each branch emulates intelligence in different ways: by recognizing patterns, parsing and generating language, or learning from experience. This last subset in particular, commonly known as reinforcement learning, teaches machines to perform their tasks by rating their performance, enabling them to continuously improve through experience.
As a simple example, imagine a chess player. The player does not calculate every move but rather recognizes patterns from playing a thousand matches. Reinforcement learning creates similar intuitive expertise in machines and systems, but at a computational speed and scale impossible for humans. It learns through experiences and iterations by observing its environment. These observations allow the machine to correctly interpret each outcome and deploy the best strategies for the system to reach its goal.
Reinforcement learning can improve human understanding of deeply complex systemsthose that challenge the limits of human intuition. It can help determine the most efficient trajectory for a spacecraft heading anywhere in space, and it does so by optimizing the propulsion necessary to send the craft there. It can also potentially design better propulsion systems, from selecting the best materials to coming up with configurations that transfer heat between parts in the engine more efficiently.
In reinforcement learning, you can train an AI model to complete tasks that are too complex for humans to complete themselves.
Reinforcement learning for propulsion systems
In regard to space propulsion, reinforcement learning generally falls into two categories: those that assist during the design phasewhen engineers define mission needs and system capabilitiesand those that support real-time operation once the spacecraft is in flight.
Among the most exotic and promising propulsion concepts is nuclear propulsion, which harnesses the same forces that power atomic bombs and fuel the Sun: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
Fission works by splitting heavy atoms such as uranium or plutonium to release energya principle used in most terrestrial nuclear reactors. Fusion, on the other hand, merges lighter atoms such as hydrogen to produce even more energy, though it requires far more extreme conditions to initiate.
Fission is a more mature technology that has been tested in some space propulsion prototypes. It has even been used in space in the form of radioisotope thermoelectric generators, like those that powered the Voyager probes. But fusion remains a tantalizing frontier.
Nuclear thermal propulsion could one day take spacecraft to Mars and beyond at a lower cost than that of simply burning fuel. It would get a craft there faster than electric propulsion, which uses a heated gas made of charged particles called plasma.
Unlike these systems, nuclear propulsion relies on heat generated from atomic reactions. That heat is transferred to a propellant, typically hydrogen, which expands and exits through a nozzle to produce thrust and shoot the craft forward.
So how can reinforcement learning help engineers develop and operate these powerful technologies? Lets begin with design.
Reinforcement learnings role in design
Early nuclear thermal propulsion designs from the 1960s, such as those in NASAs NERVA program, used solid uranium fuel molded into prism-shaped blocks. Since then, engineers have explored alternative configurationsfrom beds of ceramic pebbles to grooved rings with intricate channels.
Why has there been so much experimentation? Because the more efficiently a reactor can transfer heat from the fuel to the hydrogen, the more thrust it generates.
This area is where reinforcement learning has proved to be essential. Optimizing the geometry and heat flow between fuel and propellant is a complex problem, invlving countless variablesfrom the material properties to the amount of hydrogen that flows across the reactor at any given moment. Reinforcement learning can analyze these design variations and identify configurations that maximize heat transfer. Imagine it as a smart thermostat but for a rocket engineone you definitely dont want to stand too close to, given the extreme temperatures involved.
Reinforcement learning and fusion technology
Reinforcement learning also plays a key role in developing nuclear fusion technology. Large-scale experiments such as the JT-60SA tokamak in Japan are pushing the boundaries of fusion energy, but their massive size makes them impractical for spaceflight. Thats why researchers are exploring compact designs such as polywells. These exotic devices look like hollow cubes, about a few inches across, and they confine plasma in magnetic fields to create the conditions necessary for fusion.
Controlling magnetic fields within a polywell is no small feat. The magnetic fields must be strong enough to keep hydrogen atoms bouncing around until they fusea process that demands immense energy to start but can become self-sustaining once underway. Overcoming this challenge is necessary for scaling this technology for nuclear thermal propulsion.
Reinforcement learning and energy generation
However, reinforcement learnings role doesnt end with design. It can help manage fuel consumptiona critical task for missions that must adapt on the fly. In todays space industry, theres growing interest in spacecraft that can serve different roles depending on the missions needs and how they adapt to priority changes through time.
Military applications, for instance, must respond rapidly to shifting geopolitical scenarios. An example of a technology adapted to fast changes is Lockheed Martins LM400 satellite, which has varied capabilities such as missile warning or remote sensing.
But this flexibility introduces uncertainty. How much fuel will a mission require? And when will it need it? Reinforcement learning can help with these calculations.
From bicycles to rockets, learning through experiencewhether human or machineis shaping the future of space exploration. As scientists push the boundaries of propulsion and intelligence, AI is playing a growing role in space travel. It may help scientists explore within and beyond our solar system and open the gates for new discoveries.
Marcos Fernandez Tous is an assistant professor of space studies at the University of North Dakota.
Preeti Nair is a master’s student in aerospace sciences at the University of North Dakota.
Sai Susmitha Guddanti is a Ph.D. student in aerospace sciences at the University of North Dakota.
Sreejith Vidhyadharan Nair is a research assistant professor of aviation at the University of North Dakota.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The day after Thanksgiving is a holiday in itself for retailers.
Historically, Black Friday has been a time when shoppers wake up early and head to stores for the best deals of the year. More recently, though, more and more consumers have been opting out of the mad rush in stores and turning to online deals, many of which started a week ago and now extend all weekend long till Cyber Monday, December 1.
For those who like to be there when doors open, this is for you. Here’s everything you need to know.
What time do Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, and Walmart open?
Many major big-box retailers open their doors nice and early for Black Friday, starting with Kohl’s and JCPenney, which open at 5 a.m.; followed by Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart at 6 a.m.; and T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Petco, and PetSmart at 7 a.m. Costco opens at 9 a.m., according to USA Today.
Are there any stores closed on Black Friday?
REI stores are closed not only on Thanksgiving but also on Black Friday.
Are banks closed on Black Friday?
Most banks are open on Black Friday, as it is not a federal holiday. However, check your local branch, as hours may vary.
What about the U.S. stock market?
The NYSE and Nasdaq Stock Market are open on Black Friday, but only for a half day of trading, ending at 1 p.m. ET.
Isn’t there a Black Friday boycott?
Yes, there are two boycotts: Mass Blackout and We Aint Buying It. The first boycott protests billionaires and the Trump administrations policies, and urges you not to participate in this years extended Black Friday sales, already underway, that run through Tuesday, December 2.
The “We Aint Buying It boycott urges consumers not to buy anything from three companies: Target (for its rollback on DEI), Home Depot (for working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has been arresting, detaining, and deporting immigrants), and Amazon (for allegedly funding the Trump administration to secure corporate tax cuts).
AI is rapidly changing the world around us, from the way we engage online to how we work. But while the technology is able to complete an astonishing number of tasks, humans are far from obsolete.
A new report from McKinsey is shining light on why humans are still essential. According to the report, roughly 57% of work hours can be automated. Meanwhile, 70% of the skills employers look for can be used for both automated work and nonautomated work. This means over the next five years, humans will have to adjust their work habits to make room for automation.
McKinsey designed an index to assess how automation will impact each skill used in the workplace today. According to the index, skills like digital and information processing, accounting, and coding are the most likely to be impacted by AI.
Jobs requiring physical activity will see less of an impact, accounting for 35% of U.S. work hours. While robots have made huge strides in their ability to complete physical tasks, they cannot rival the “fine motor skills, dexterity, and situational awareness” of humans, the report says.
Skills that rely on emotional awareness and personal connectionsuch as coaching, assisting, caring, or negotiatingwill see the least amount of impact. The report explains that “even under a full adoption” of AI, emotional skills will remain relevant in many roles.
Currently about 75% of the demand for AI skills falls into one of three categories: computer or mathematical jobs (44%), management roles (19%), and business and financial operations (7%). However, the report goes on to highlight “nearly all occupations have at least one highly disrupted skilldefined as being in the top quartile of change by 2030, and that a third of occupations will see more than 10% of their skills highly changed.”
While many jobs will change, new jobs will also be created where working alongside AI will become essential. In fact, the report says, demand for workers who understand AI is growing faster than any other skill set.
“Workers will spend less time preparing documents and doing basic research, for example, and more time framing questions and interpreting results,” the report says. “Employers may increasingly prize skills that add value to AI.”
Making space for AI in the workplace is key. The tech could unlock around $2.9 trillion in economic value in the U.S. if companies can utilize employees to work together with automation, the report projects. Either way, while humans are still necessary for most jobs, AI will inevitably continue to change how humans workno matter their role.
Just a handful of years ago, the idea of one person creating a company worth over a billion dollars seemed like a pipe dream. Thanks to rapid advancements in AI, the possibility of a solopreneur unicorn is less a matter of “if and more a matter of when.
Earlier this year, OpenAI founder Sam Altman told Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian that his group chat of tech CEO friends have a betting pool for when the world will see a one-person billion-dollar company. Ten months later, some experts suggest that the company could be founded in 2026, if it hasn’t been already, due to rapid advancements in agentic AI.
The ability of a person to scale themselves, to automate their lives, has just become amazing, says Kyle Jensen, the director of entrepreneurship programs, associate dean and professor in the practice of entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management. If you’re very skilled with those tools, you can have the productivity of 10 people.
Jensen adds that solopreneurship has historically been more akin to mom-and-pop-style small business ownership, with practitioners selling goods and services through the internet.
While many solopreneurs still fit that mold, he sees another kind of solopreneur emerging; one that better resembles a high-growth startup, using new tools in lieu of hiring.
There have been a handful of companies that had private market valuations in excess of a billion dollars with very small teamsWhatsApp is a very famous example, he says. What is the probability that you’ll see a solo-entrepreneur who’s like, some engineer from Google, who decided she doesn’t want to do that anymoreand she’s going to do her AI startup from home, and become the first unicorn? I think its a pretty decent probability.
Unicorns are shrinking
The first one-person company to surpass a billion dollars may not be all that far off. In recent years some one-person businesses have achieved smaller, yet still eye-popping valuations. At the same time the record for smallest unicorn company keeps getting broken.
Earlier this year, for example, solopreneur Maor Sholomo sold his AI app-building platform Base44 to website builder Wix for $80 million, just six months after launch.
Instagram had only 13 employees when it was sold to Facebook for a billion dollars in 2012. One of those cofounders, Mike Krieger, went on to found Anthropic in 2021, which was recently valued at $350 billion. Speaking with Fast Company earlier this year, Krieger suggested the one-person unicorn is closer than you think.
It feels like every month were getting closer and closer, says Anthropics Head of Startup Sales, Jamie Neuwirth. Companies that we’re working with, for example, at Y Combinator who are very smallusually two or three peoplethey’re getting to market faster, and that opportunity for them to become a unicorn is very real.
A virtual cofounder
In the recent past, solopreneurs were able to automate certain operations, but it often required a high degree of technical know-how and many hours of building custom tools.
Now, Neuwirth says AI tools like Anthropics AI assistant Claude can serve as a collaborator, taking on more advanced and critical tasks, without requiring founders to have a deep technical background.
I think of AIand Claude in particularas everything from this virtual collaborator to a kind of the chief of staff, but the way I think about it when it comes to solopreneurs is more of your virtual cofounder, he says. You can have a less technical background, and there’s still a lot that can be achieved with these tools.
Where to look for solo unicorns
In recent months, AI companies like Base 44, Anthropic, and Swedish vibe coding app Loveablewhich lets users build apps and websites by describing it in plain languagehave dominated the headlines with eye-popping valuations, but Neuwirth says the first one-person unicorn wont necessarily emerge from the AI field.
Thats because those very solutions are allowing small teams and individuals to build, test, prototype, and ultimately sell technical solutions without deep technical skills.
As the model capabilities get a lot better, I think we’re going to see it come from different industries, he says. To me, it goes back to, where is the need immediate, and the market really big?
One sector Neuwirth believes is ripe for a first solo-unicorn is healthcare, where he says there are lots of legacy practices and processes, and a massive, global market eager for innovation.
Tim Cortinovis, speaker and author of The Single-Handed Unicorn, meanwhile, believes the first one-person billion-dollar company will offer an easy interface to a complicated process, or a simple solution to a universal problem.
If you are able to put in a very easy interface between agents and the tasks at hand in, let’s say, a heavy machinery industry or the energy sector, I think this will solve a massive problem, he says. My advice is, dont try to create the first single-handed unicorn, but try to solve a huge problem. You wont win the game by thinking about winning.
The first solo unicorn may have already been born
Though it may take that solopreneur founder several years to reach a 10-figure valuation, Cortinovis says 2025 will go down as the year that the necessary tools to accomplish such a feat became available.
In other words, it is possible that the first individual who will accomplish that feat has already begun building their business.
In 2025 we reached the capacities of AI agents to accomplish these complicated tasks and orchestration, Cortinovis says, explaining that this year AI broke out of the chatbot box and is now able to work with other tools and apps to complete more complicated tasks, like build apps and websites, manage a marketing campaign, or handle more complicated customer service inquiries. Maybe we will see the first results at the end of ’26 or at the beginning of ’27 and then maybe two years later well get the first real single-handed unicorn on the market with that valuation.
Whenever that one-person company does emerge, Cortinovis says the implications would extend well beyond the individual founder.
I think it opens up the path for more people [to pursue entrepreneurship] because it proves you don#8217;t need an extensive team, you don’t need to start hiring massively to start an enterprise, he says.
It symbolizes a new wave of founders. Even if youre not going after a massive valuation, it will make them more willing to found an enterprise, because it shows how much easier it is with the technology.
For the past 99 years at Macys annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, spectators have craned their necks to watch giant balloons and larger-than-life floats pass through the streets of New York City. But a word to the wise this year: Dont forget to look down. You might just catch a glimpse of the tiniest float in the parades history.
The floatwhich is 49 times smaller than the average displaycomes courtesy of Goldfish, which is returning to the parade for the first time in more than a decade. The floats design features a wintery snowscape covered with frolicking Goldfish crackers towed by an equally tiny Ram truck. According to Brendan Kennedy, director of creative production at Macys Studios, the float measures less than 8 inches tall and 14 inches long. Throughout the parade, it will be circling Herald Square, just outside Macys department store.
[Photo: Goldfish]
Kennedy, who stepped into his role at the helm of the parade in April 2024, says hes been spending quite a bit of time digging through the events history for its upcoming centennial anniversary. In all that research, hes never come across another float quite like this one.
I don’t think this has ever come close to happening, Kennedy says.
[Photo: Goldfish]
Inside Goldfishs return to the parade
Every year, Kennedy says the team at Macys is working around 18 months ahead of time to prepare for the next Thanksgiving parade: ensuring the event will have enough street space, selecting brand partners, and ironing out the production schedule. The floats themselves take anywhere from three to six months to fully plan and design. When Goldfish reached out to Macys with the idea to build what the company is calling the Littlest Float in early September, Kennedy says the team was already in the home stretch of building this years six new floats.
Despite the quick turnaround, he knew they had to make it happen. I got a call from our partnership team, and they said Goldfish has this idea, what do you think? Kennedy says. I was like, Absolutely. I’m in.
Designing a new float always starts with nailing down a solid story, Kennedy says. In this case, the Goldfish and Macys teams pulled inspiration from Snow Day, a Goldfish ad originally released in 2015 that shows a crew of three hat-wearing Goldfish crackers sledding, playing hockey, building snowmen, and warming up by the fire. The floats mock-up included a team of Goldfish enjoying wintery activities in a snowy landscape, topped off by a Goldfish-shaped mound of snow.
The last time Goldfish was in the parade was back in 2012, when the brand debuted a somewhat meta float of Goldfish crackers putting on their own parade. “After more than a decade, returning with the Littlest Float allowed us to show up in a way that feels both true to the brand and meaningful to fans, says Mike Fanelli, the brand’s senior director of marketing.
[Photo: Goldfish]
Bringing the tiniest Thanksgiving float ever to life
Bringing the design to life was an entirely new challenge for the Macys team. Typically, Kennedy explains, theyre contending with the massive scale of the floats, which need to be simultaneously spectacular but also street-safe and foldable in order to pack up for transport. Designing a tiny float invited its own host of unique considerations: namely, how to make the wintery scene durable at such a small size.
Kennedys team addressed that concern by building a custom base, which is hidden by a lining of orange fringe around the float. Its an aluminum structure, made in the shape of a Goldfish cracker, that was hand-cut in-house. Kennedy describes it as essentially a thick skateboard. Most important for the floats longevity, its wheels are omnidirectional, meaning it wont easily be tripped up on uneven surfaces.
[The wheels] kind of look like a Ping-Pong ball inside of a metal scoop, Kennedy says. They’re used in robotics a lot of the time. We found that these worked best because of their omnidirectional ability. A traditional float bed just has to roll straight and then turn, and it’s just these big old tires. But for this, it could basically go in any direction at any point.
[Photo: Goldfish]
On top of the aluminum base, the part of the Littlest Float thats actually visible is a 3D-printed landscape thats been sanded down and hand-painted to achieve a detailed look up close. As a finishing touch, the whole contraption is pulled by a tiny Ram truck with workable blinkers and side mirrors, manufactured by a company called Primal RC that makes an officially licensed miniature of the vehicle. Kennedy says this element was important for continuity, since Ram is a sponsor of the parade, and its trucks will be pulling all the standard-size floats.
To get the right shot of the diminutive float, the Macys team worked with NBC, the parades broadcast partner, to set up a dedicated steady rig camera that sits just 6 inches off the ground. On the day of the event, a team of actorspurposefully selected to be above-average height in order to play up the conceitwill follow the Littlest Float around the square and keep an eye on it.
I think it’s really fun and silly, and it’s such a good way of showing how the Macy’s Studios team can come together and reinvent what it means to parade, Kennedy says. It’s clowns, and performances, and magicto make everybody look up, see some balloons, forget about their day or week or year, and just have some fun. We really just like coming up with new ways to do that for all the folks on the street and at home.
Thanksgiving is a beautiful day filled with family, loved ones, and good food. All that merriment takes copious amounts of labor and planning ahead.
It is almost inevitable that something will fall between the cracks and a last-minute store run will be necessary. But is that even possible?
Heres a quick breakdown of what is open and closed on Thanksgiving 2025 to help you out in a pinch should you have a missing cranberry sauce crisis.
But first lets take a look at everyday services:
Is Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
Yes, Thanksgiving is a federal holiday celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. This makes November 27 the big day in 2025. Federal workers get a day off to observe the holiday.
Will mail be delivered on Thanksgiving?
No, there will be no letter or bills delivered on Thanksgiving. The only exception is Priority Mail Express. The United States Postal Service (USPS) will keep post offices closed, but some self-service kiosks will still be open.
UPS will also be closed and not delivering on turkey day. The only exception is UPS Express Critical service.
Similarly, FedEx locations will be closed. The only deliveries being made on Thanksgiving day are FedEx Custom Critical.
Are banks open on Thanksgiving?
No, banks are not open on Thanksgiving day. If you need some cash, though, ATMs outside of locations are generally open. Online banking is also an option.
Is the stock market trading on Thanksgiving?
No. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq exchange will be closed for business. No opening bells will ring out.
What stores are open on Thanksgiving?
Its time to get into the cranberry sauce of it all. The following stores are open.
Grocery stores
Whole Foods: Open with limited hours. Hours vary by location
Sprouts: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
H Mart: Hours vary by location.
Kroger: Some stores open with limited hours and a 5 p.m. closing time. Some pharmacies will be closed.
Meijer: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Save A Lot: Hours vary by location
Retailers
Starbucks: Hours vary by location
Dollar General: Hours vary by location
Family Dollar: Hours vary by location
Bass Pro Shops: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Big Lots: Most open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. but hours vary by location.
Cabelas: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What stores are closed on Thanksgiving?
Do not try your luck at the following stores, as they will all be closed:
Trader Joes
Publix
Costco
Walmart
My kid is sick. Are any 24-hour pharmacies open?
Many regular Walgreens stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, but its another story for their 24-pharmacy locations. Most of these will be open for business and emergency medicine runs.
CVS, meanwhile, is open but with limited holiday hours.
If you need medication, be sure to check your local store hours before making a trip.
Thanksgiving is a beautiful day filled with family, loved ones, and good food. All that merriment takes copious amounts of labor and planning ahead.
It is almost inevitable that something will fall between the cracks and a last-minute store run will be necessary. But is that even possible?
Heres a quick breakdown of what is open and closed on Thanksgiving 2025 to help you out in a pinch should you have a missing cranberry sauce crisis.
But first lets take a look at everyday services:
Is Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
Yes, Thanksgiving is a federal holiday celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. This makes November 27 the big day in 2025. Federal workers get a day off to observe the holiday.
Will mail be delivered on Thanksgiving?
No, there will be no letter or bills delivered on Thanksgiving. The only exception is Priority Mail Express. The United States Postal Service (USPS) will keep post offices closed, but some self-service kiosks will still be open.
UPS will also be closed and not delivering on turkey day. The only exception is UPS Express Critical service.
Similarly, FedEx locations will be closed. The only deliveries being made on Thanksgiving day are FedEx Custom Critical.
Are banks open on Thanksgiving?
No, banks are not open on Thanksgiving day. If you need some cash, though, ATMs outside of locations are generally open. Online banking is also an option.
Is the stock market trading on Thanksgiving?
No. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq exchange will be closed for business. No opening bells will ring out.
What stores are open on Thanksgiving?
Its time to get into the cranberry sauce of it all. The following stores are open.
Grocery stores
Whole Foods: Open with limited hours. Hours vary by location
Sprouts: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
H Mart: Hours vary by location.
Kroger: Some stores open with limited hours and a 5 p.m. closing time. Some pharmacies will be closed.
Meijer: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Save A Lot: Hours vary by location
Retailers
Starbucks: Hours vary by location
Dollar General: Hours vary by location
Family Dollar: Hours vary by location
Bass Pro Shops: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Big Lots: Most open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. but hours vary by location.
Cabelas: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What stores are closed on Thanksgiving?
Do not try your luck at the following stores, as they will all be closed:
Trader Joes
Publix
Costco
Walmart
My kid is sick. Are any 24-hour pharmacies open?
Many regular Walgreens stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, but its another story for their 24-pharmacy locations. Most of these will be open for business and emergency medicine runs.
CVS, meanwhile, is open but with limited holiday hours.
If you need medication, be sure to check your local store hours before making a trip.
This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps.
We sleep with our phones. Were tied to these devices for work, at homeeven on vacation.
43% of Americans feel addicted
I was intrigued when writer Daniel Parris offered to share tips and tools he relies on to weaken the distracting pull of his phone.
Daniel is a data scientist and data journalist who writes Stat Significant, a weekly newsletter with more than 23,000 readers. Its a lively read, with data-centric essays about movies, music, TV, and more.
Between his consulting projects, pop culture data analyses, and weekly writing, Daniel juggles a lot. He relies on a curated toolkit to minimize distraction. In this guest post, he shares his favorite new tools for managing time and sharpening focus.
A return to focus
Daniel Explains: A year ago, I read Cal Newport’s Deep Work. It led me to rethink time management and reassess the distractions affecting my focus.
Like most people, my smartphone makes daily life easierI text, get directions, send memes, and answer emails. In return for that convenience, my device quietly siphons away hours of free time.
Since I first got an iPhone, I’ve found more and more of my time sliding toward social media and other escapist apps. Millions of others face similar challenges.
Inspired by Deep Work, I wanted to see if I could retain the best aspects of modern tech without surrendering more time than necessary.
Through trial and error, I’ve found a set of tools that help curb aimless tech use. I’m far from perfect, but these approaches have given me a foundation to build on.
Blank spacessimplify your home screen
If youd like to cut back on aimlessly scrolling through apps in search of a distractionBlank Spaces is worth a try. The app replaces your home screen with a minimalist launcher that displays essential tools in a simplified layout.
You can still access all your apps through your phone’s search bar, but the interface eliminates habitual app tapping. Choosing five to eight essential apps may sound limiting, but you’ll gradually realize how little you actually need from your phone.
Price: Free for 7 days, then $4/month; $18/year; $24/lifetime
Brickblock distracting apps
Brick is a small near-field communication (NFC) puck that pairs with an app. Its been the biggest breakthrough in how I use my phone. It lets me retain the fundamental utility of a smartphone (Google Maps, Yelp, Spotify) while blocking the apps that steal my time, including social media.
You select the apps or websites you want to block, then tap your phone against the Brick to enter Brick Mode. It blocks distractions and notifications from your disabled apps, and everything else stays. To re-enable access to your restricted apps, you have to physically tap your Brick again.
Brick may sound like a glorified app blocker. But the added friction makes all the difference. I usually place my Brick somewhere mildly inconvenient, far enough away to remind me I don’t really need to open Instagram right now.
Repeatedly bricking and unbricking my phone usually sparks some healthy introspection. Why am I working this hard just to check my email?
After my first few days, I got used to having my device bricked. Thats since become my phone’s default setting.
Price: $59; students get a 20% discount.
Yondr Boxput phones away
Yondr may be most attractive to families or groups who want to collectively limit phone time. Phone boxes like this one allow you to store devices in a safe-like receptacle for a predetermined period.
The features associated with these contraptions vary. Some prevent your phone from receiving a cell signal. With most of them, you set a timer and cant access your device until after the time has elapsed. Yondr and other tools like it work well for family game nigt or movie marathons.
Price: $249 [Cheaper options include the $40 Mindsight Timed Lock Box – JC]
Light Phoneget a simpler device
When I was in middle school, I had a Motorola Razr. It could do very little beyond calls and texts. It broke constantly, but I loved my silly little Razr phone. For a 13 year old in the early 2000s, it was the best phone you could get. Then I got an iPhone. Overnight my Razr seemed like it was made of Play-Doh.
Flash forward two decades, and a small but growing group of consumers is retreating to dumbphonesdevices with stripped-down functionality. (See a chart illustrating growth in interest)
Some of these devices are extremely dumb. They work only for calling and texting. Others embrace a more intentional kind of minimalism.
The Light Phone offers only essential functions: calling, texting, alarms, and directions. This streamlined design reduces screen time and digital distraction.
It intentionally excludes social media, email, and web browsing, encouraging users to disconnect from their smartphones without going off the grid completely.
Ive long flirted with buying a Light Phone, but have yet to pull the trigger. I have a friend who owns one and swears by it.
In 2025, buying a dumbphone is a radical act. In 2002, you’d have been just like everyone else. It’s amazing how 20 years of technological progress can completely recalibrate how we live.
Price: $699 for version 3 or $299 for version 2.
Time-Block Plannermake time to focus
This physical notebook helps me plan my day in 30-minute increments. Each task gets a defined start and end time. Time blocks are allocated between work, meetings, breaks, and admin taskswith the aim of minimizing idle time, avoiding the mental drag of context switching, and carving out uninterrupted stretches for deep work.
When I first started time-blocking, it felt borderline draconianlike I was robbing my day of spontaneity. Over time, I’ve found it frees me up to focus on doing higher-quality work, instead of constantly thinking about what I should be thinking about.
The scheduler helps me frontload my planning into one intentional session at the start of the day, instead of reconfiguring priorities every hour.
I get that an analog journal isn’t the sexiest recommendation.
Still, I like being able to plan my day without digital distraction, and I appreciate being able to see my schedule without staring at a screen.
Price: $27.90 at Amazon
Daniel was one of DoorDashs first 150 employees and data science hires. After working there for nearly six years, Daniel moved into consulting and data writing. Over the past year, hes taken on some of pop cultures greatest conundrums:
At What Age Do We Stop Looking for New Music?
Which Movies Popularized (or Tarnished) Baby Names?
Which Shows Got Their Finale Right, and Which Didnt?
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Check out Stat Significant to read more of Daniel’s work:
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How Many Episodes Should You Watch Before Quitting a TV Show?
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National home prices rose +0.1% year-over-year between October 2024 and October 2025, according to the Zillow Home Value Index reading published last weeka decelerated rate from the +2.4% year-over-year rate between October 2023 and October 2024.
In the first half of 2025, the number of major metro area housing markets seeing year-over-year declines climbed. That count has since stopped ticking up.
> 31 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 10% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the January 2024 to January 2025 window.
> 42 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 14% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the February 2024 to February 2025 window.
> 60 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 20% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the March 2024 to March 2025 window.
> 80 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 27% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the April 2024 to April 2025 window.
> 96 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 32% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the May 2024 to May 2025 window.
> 110 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 36% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the June 2024 to June 2025 window.
> 105 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 36% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the July 2024 to July 2025 window.
> 109 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 35% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the August 2024 to August 2025 window.
> 105 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 35% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the September 2024 to September 2025 window.
> 105 of the nations 300 largest housing markets (i.e., 35% of markets) had a falling year-over-year reading in the October 2024 to October 2025 window.
Earlier this year, an increasing number of housing markets slipped into year-over-year price declines as the supply-demand balance gradually tilted more toward buyers. But in recent months, the list of declining markets has begun to stabilize as inventory growth has stalled.
Home prices are still climbing in many regions where active inventory remains well below pre-pandemic 2019 levels, such as pockets of the Northeast and Midwest. In contrast, some pockets in states like Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Coloradowhere active inventory exceeds pre-pandemic 2019 levelsare seeing modest home price pullbacks.
Many of the housing markets seeing the most softness, where homebuyers have gained the most leverage, are primarily located in Sun Belt regions, particularly the Gulf Coast and Mountain West.
Many of these areas saw major price surges during the Pandemic Housing Boom, with home price growth outpacing local income levels. As pandemic-driven domestic migration slowed and mortgage rates rose, markets like Tampa and Austin faced challenges, relying on local income levels to support frothy home prices.
This softening trend is further compounded by an abundance of new home supply in the Sun Belt. Builders are often willing to lower prices or offer affordability incentives to maintain sales, which also has a cooling effect on the resale market. Some buyers, who would have previously considered existing homes, are now opting for new homes with more favorable homebuilder deals.
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Of course, while 105 of the nations 300 largest metro area housing markets are seeing year-over-year home price declines, another 195 are still seeing year-over-year home price increases.
Where are home prices still up on a year-over-year basis? See the map below.
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A Thanksgiving tradition since 1924, the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade has not quite turned 100 years-old yet. How is this possible you might wonder? Because it was skipped for three years1942, 1943, and 1944during World War II.
Nevertheless, its 99th anniversary is shaping up to be spectacular. Heres everything you need to know about the (mostly) annual event in New York City, including how to tune in.
The Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade by the numbers
It takes many people to pull off the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Some even do the pulling literally.) There will be more than 5,000 volunteers working hard to make magic happen.
This spectacle includes 34 balloons and 28 floats. There are also four “ballonicles,” which are essentially balloons on wheels. Lets not forget the 14 specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, and the one and only Santa Claus.
The parade route begins on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends on 34th Street in Midtown.
Whos performing at the 2025 Macy’s parade?
Theres a little something for everyone this year.
Elphaba Thropp herself, Cynthia Erivo, will kick things off with an opening number performance.
Much to the delight of hip children everywhere, the singing voices of HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters will also have a golden moment to shine.
Broadway fans can look forward to numbers from Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, and Ragtime.
Country fans will look forward to Lainey Wilsons vocal talents, and the Radio City Rockettes will high kick their hearts out.
Thats just the beginning.
There are also performances by Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza, and Teyana Taylor.
Its a jammed-packed event.
What other celebrities are appearing?
Beyond the performances, the parade will be a star-studded event, filled with athletes such as U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin and U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace. Actors Kristoffer Polaha and Nikki DeLoach will also dazzle the parade route. Sean Evans will serve as a special correspondent
What new floats will join the parade?
There are six new floats this year making their way down the parade route.
Science fiction fans look out for Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix. Travel lovers can look forward to The Land of Ice & Wonder by Holland America Line. Parade lovers young and young at heart will be excited for Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by the Lego Group.
Rounding out the new floats are Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt, Friends-giving in Pop City by Pop Mart, and The Counting Sheeps Dream Generator by Serta.
What new balloons will join the 2025 parade?
There are four new additions full of hot air to dazzle onlookers.
Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man will have their time to float, as will Shreks Onion Carriage and Mario.
Additionally, KPop Demon Hunters fans should keep their eyes peeled for Derpy Tiger and Sussie, who will appear in midsized balloon and ballonicle form.
How can I watch or stream the parade live this year?
The parade airs today (Thursday, November 27), which is Thanksgiving. No matter your time zone, the action starts at 8:30 a.m. on NBC.
NBC’s telecast covers those with traditional cable subscriptions and those with an over-the-air antenna with good reception. If you have the latter, you can watch the parade for free.
The event will also be available on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform.
If Peacock is not in your streaming arsenal, you can turn to a live-TV streaming platform that includes NBC in its bundle. Those include:
Hulu + Live TV
YouTube TV
Sling TV
Unfortunately, due to a carriage dispute between NBCUniversal and Fubo, NBC had been removed from that streaming service as of press time. Be sure to check regional differences before you commit to yet another monthly charge.
