All articles tagged with #generations
On the 25th anniversary, USA TODAY gathers stories from Americans across generations—Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and the Silent and Greatest Generations—about where they were on Sept. 11 and how the attacks reshaped their lives and the nation: personal moments of fear, loss, and resilience; shifts in work, travel, and security; and a lasting call to unity and civic engagement amid rising uncertainty and later social tensions.
A culture-nostalgia piece ranks each Pontiac Firebird generation by stock top speed using verified instrumented tests. The 1st generation tops out at 115 mph, the 2nd at 132 mph, the 3rd at 162 mph (with caveats about unverified extreme builds), and the 4th at 163 mph—the fastest in stock form. The article stresses these are factory-stock numbers, notes how close the generations look on paper, and mentions a few non-stock claims that aren’t used in the ranking.
A 170-year-old family business, the Laird Norton Company, remains active through deliberate succession and broad family involvement: Jill Gardner, who married into the family, serves as family president and helps oversee governance with a board of both family and non-family directors, while programs like a family journal, annual summits, internships, and a “next gen” initiative engage relatives across generations to sustain the legacy.
A mouse study in Frontiers in Nutrition shows artificial (sucralose) and natural (stevia) non-nutritive sweeteners can alter the gut microbiome and gene expression related to inflammation and metabolism, with effects passing to a second generation: sucralose impaired glucose tolerance in male offspring in generation 1, and by generation 2, fasting glucose rose in male sucralose descendants and female stevia descendants, while both sweeteners lowered short-chain fatty acids and increased microbial diversity. The researchers caution that results in mice may not translate to humans and call for moderation and further study.
A recent study suggests that dementia risk has declined across generations based on data from high-income countries, but these findings should be viewed with caution due to limitations such as the focus on high-income nations, potential diagnostic inaccuracies, and the exclusion of dementia subtypes. Despite the apparent decline, global dementia cases are expected to rise due to aging populations and increased longevity, especially in lower-income countries where healthcare and awareness are limited.
A Bankrate survey reveals that one in three Americans have more credit card debt than savings in 2023 and 2024, with Generation X having the highest average credit card debt of $8,134. The average American household owes $7,951 in credit card debt, and credit card balances increased by about $50 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Despite a strong job market, Americans are struggling to keep up with credit card payments, with credit card and auto loan delinquencies rising above pre-pandemic levels, signaling increased financial stress, especially among younger and lower-income households.
A 26-year-old comedian on TikTok asked "older people" how they coped before the internet, sparking a discussion about life before instant access to information. Users shared their experiences of relying on dictionaries, encyclopedias, experts, and paper maps. Some mentioned accepting not knowing as a good thing, while others highlighted the convenience of modern technology. The comedian, Sarah Adelman, was fascinated by the responses and found that urban myths were more pervasive without easy fact-checking. TikTok is increasingly becoming a platform for intergenerational conversations and comparisons.
A TikTok video by a woman born in 1997 asking older people how they functioned before the internet has gone viral, sparking nostalgia and humorous responses from millennials and Gen X-ers. The video asks how people looked up information, remembered actor names, and navigated without Google Maps. Older users shared their experiences, reminiscing about using paper maps, getting lost, and relying on memory. While some found it inconvenient, others appreciated the problem-solving skills it developed. The video has sparked a connection between generations and a sense of nostalgia for a time before the internet ruled everything.
Zillennials, a micro-generation born between the early 1990s and early 2000s, are on the cusp of Gen Z and millennials and have faced unique challenges such as growing up with technology but not being digital natives. They are interested in social issues and have learned about the effects of climate change from a young age. While some reject generational labels, zillennials often feel they don't fit in with either Gen Z or millennials, but their position in the middle can make them more aware of both generations before and after their own. They hope to band together with other generations to build a better future.
A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Prudential found that 42% of Americans who don't plan to retire believe they will never have enough savings to do so. The survey also revealed that 37% of Gen Xers don't plan to retire within the next 10 years, and 26% of respondents admit that they never started planning for retirement. Additionally, 71% of respondents feel they are behind on certain life goals they thought they'd reach by now, including retirement savings. The survey shows that many Americans need help when it comes to reaching their retirement and other financial goals.
Carwow conducted a drag race featuring each generation of the BMW M3 to see how the improvements in figures translated onto the tarmac. The race included the E30, E36, E46, E92, and the latest G80. The latest G80 BMW M3 was the heaviest car among the group, weighing 3,814 lbs (1,730 kg), but had the most powerful engine, producing 503 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque in the Competition guise. The video atop the article shows which generation was the fastest in a quarter-mile contest.
A ranking of every generation of Porsche 911 has been compiled, with the 997 taking the top spot. The long hood cars were ranked towards the bottom due to their difficult handling, while the 991 was criticised for its electrically assisted steering. The 996 was defended for being lighter, more powerful and more rigid than the 993, despite its reliability issues. The 964 was praised for being the first modern 911, while the 997 was described as getting everything right.