It’s true… the drive to school is about 15 miles, and even without taking the freeway—just the local roads—they managed it so well. I’m just so grateful. Fortunately, for the second child, it’s now possible to take the written test at home, so we didn’t have to deal with the busy DMV in California. It’s still an official state test, but taking it at your own desk… who would’ve imagined? A proctor watches via webcam, so cheating is impossible, but still, the convenience is amazing.

Once they pass the written test, high school students aged 15.5–18 are required to complete at least six hours of behind-the-wheel practice with DMV-certified instructors. They go over everything in detail—brakes, accelerator, side mirrors—and I feel so relieved that professional guidance is part of the process. It really makes you appreciate how challenging and intimidating it is to operate a big machine like a car. It also reminded me how tough it was when my husband taught me to drive back in our newlywed days. (We argued a lot… haha.)

Just when I thought the hardest part was over, the biggest hurdle was waiting—insurance! I’d heard that all types of insurance, including homeowners, have gone up, but adding a teen driver sent the premium through the roof. For someone under 21 with no driving experience, our insurance shot up 100%—around $800 a month! Yes, that’s real 😵.

This is why many parents don’t immediately buy a car even after their teen gets a license until they’re 21. Luckily, we still have the car our older child used, so the burden isn’t as bad. For families buying a new car, though, this can be a serious financial challenge.

Money aside, it feels like we’ve cleared one more parenting hurdle today, and I can’t help but feel a little proud. Hang in there, all you parents out there!

Merlin Entertainment, the UK-based theme park and attractions company second only to Disney in scale, operates resorts and parks worldwide, including Legoland. The company is now turning its attention to shopping malls with a fresh approach. In Illinois and Minnesota, Merlin plans to open two immersive experience spaces, WONDRA and Super Neon, where visitors can create personalized, cloud-like natural environments through voice interaction or enjoy interactive light shows that “paint with light” using neon and other effects.

What makes these projects remarkable is that Merlin achieved in less than a year what previously took years under traditional development cycles. Beyond the technological achievement, these experiences redefine the mall as more than just a place to shop, transforming it into a destination for interactive, sensory-rich entertainment.

• Liquid Metal + Knit Fabric = A Touch-Responsive Lighting Interface

WINT Design Lab has created a unique lighting system by embedding liquid metal into fabric, combining it with their Soft Interface technology. The surface of the light is made of custom knit textiles, and pressing it with your fingers alters the internal circuitry, changing both brightness and color temperature.

Instead of clicking buttons, users can directly control the intensity and warmth of light with their fingertips. The tactile feedback from manipulating the fabric creates a new, multisensory experience, linking touch and vision. This approach holds exciting potential for applications in car interiors, home design, and many other environments.

Imagine adjusting the brightness of a car’s interior lighting by pressing on the fabric of the A-pillar or door panel. Even in the dark, this could work without any additional light. By personalizing the touch-responsive areas, the interface could offer a truly unique, user-tailored experience. Replacing traditional buttons with fabric touch zones would also allow for more intuitive controls while driving. Ultimately, this approach could elevate the driver experience while keeping the interior design clean and uncluttered.

Moms can glance at a fridge and instantly imagine what meals to make, but college students or those unfamiliar with cooking often struggle to transform ingredients into dishes. MIT students Jacob Payne and Ayah Mahmoud created an AI device that does just that—scanning available ingredients and generating recipes based on mood, skill level, and dietary preferences, printing them instantly.

Simply place leftover ingredients on the pad, and the AI-equipped device scans them, producing a printed recipe receipt from the built-in thermal printer. The design is strikingly classic. Why retro instead of modern or sleek like Smeg? It seems intended to evoke a comforting, maternal nostalgia. The device isn’t just a recipe printer—it offers a tactile, hands-on experience that feels helpful and approachable. It turns abstract, distant AI into a warm, practical kitchen assistant.

Ultimately, Kitchen Cosmo shows more than technological capability—it demonstrates how AI can integrate into daily life in a friendly, human-centered way. Perhaps its design even draws inspiration from 1970s kitchen computers.

In 1965, riding on the success of the Mustang, Ford ventured into the off-road market, giving birth to the Bronco. The 1966 U13 Roadster was a bold statement for its time—no doors, no roof, no rear seats. Its claim as the “world’s first 4WD sports car” wasn’t an exaggeration. The Bronco wasn’t just a machine for rough terrain; it was a tool that let drivers connect directly with nature. Close your eyes, and it could almost be mistaken for a wagon racing down untamed roads in the Wild West.

Over the decades, the Bronco evolved. From the original’s simple lines, it grew larger and tougher, becoming a full-fledged SUV. By the sixth generation in 2020, off-road spirit was packaged with modern safety and comfort—but much of the raw freedom and simple beauty seemed lost.

The Ford Bronco Roadster Concept, unveiled this year at the Pebble Beach Motor Show, seems to be aimed directly at reclaiming that essence.