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Today β€” 23 January 2025News

A man couldn't find a tiny home he loved, so he built one. Now almost anyone can buy one of his sleek ADUs from $59,000.

23 January 2025 at 08:37
The exterior of the original MyCabin structures in Latvia.
The exterior of the original MyCabin structures in Latvia.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

  • MyCabin started building prefab homes for European customers from a base in Latvia in 2020.Β 
  • Illinois-based PrefabPads licensed MyCabin's minimalist designs, making them available in the US.
  • Take a look inside some of the units, which cost as little as $59,000 and can run up to $175,000.

MyCabin, a Latvia-based startup, began building and selling minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired tiny homes to European customers in 2020.

MyCabin founder Girts Draugs initially built a collection of tiny abodes for himself after he couldn't find a vacation home that lived up to his vision. He then began selling and distributing his designs in Europe and the US.

In 2022, the company licensed its designs for structures also called accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to Illinois-based firmΒ PrefabPads, which launched MyCabin US. The tiny home builder offers four unit options, ranging from a 132-square-foot sauna to a 682-square-foot home with two bedrooms and one bathroom.

Prices range from $59,000 to $175,000, but customization and upgrades can increase overall costs.

Clients pay for the ADU plans but are individually responsible for obtaining permits and hiring contractors for groundwork and installation. MyCabin US builds each unit at its factory in Waukegan, Illinois, outside Chicago, and then delivers it fully constructed to the customer.

As of January 2024, MyCabin US has delivered about 43 tiny homes to customers in Connecticut, New York, Maine, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

For many Americans,Β tiny homes are a sustainable, budget-friendlyΒ housing alternative or a way toΒ generate extra income. As demand grows, many states have passed zoning laws to permit their construction, with some even offering incentives to encourage development.

"First and foremost, land is expensive, andΒ mortgage ratesΒ are terrible, so people are trying to expand their property instead of moving to bigger footprints," Anisha Seltenright, chief marketing officer of MyCabin US, told Business Insider. She said new regulations in states likeΒ California and Colorado that make building ADUsΒ easier have helped the company expand.

Take a look inside the factory where MyCabin US builds its homes as well as five of its tiny home options.

PrefabPads builds the MyCabin units β€” from the initial framing down to the smallest fixtures and finishes β€” in its Illinois factory.
A mycabin model under construction.
A shot of PrefabPads' factory in Chicago.

Courtesy of MyCabin and PrefabPads

Each tiny home is fully finished at the factory, with plumbing, electrical systems, appliances, and interior and exterior lighting installed.

The company can produce seven to 20 homes at a time in its factory, according to its website.

The architecture of each unit is intentionally modern and minimalist.
3 MyCabin US tiny homes covered in snow.
MyCabin US tiny homes.

Courtesy of PrefabPads

The units have many large windows designed to bring "the outdoors indoors," Peter Seltenright, the cofounder of PrefabPads, told BI.
The exterior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
An exterior shot of one of windows on a MyCabin unit in PrefabPads' Chicago factory.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The homes' siding is treated in the factory to extract sugars and moisture.
Work on the mycabin
Work on one of the MyCabin units in the PrefabPads factory.

Courtesy of MyCabin and PrefabPads

This process makes the homes more resistant to bugs and rot. Afterward, the walls are stained a sleek, dark color.

Whoever ordered the cabin names it β€” in this case, Heron β€” and PrefabPads creates a custom sign.
the exterior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The exterior of one of the MyCabin units in PrefabPads' Chicago factory.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The company wraps the homes and puts them on trucks to transport them to their final destinations.
A mycabin model under construction.
The framing of a MyCabin home in PrefabPads' Chicago factory.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

This is the Milla unit, a cozy studio.
MyCabin US Mila tiny home.
The Milla tiny home.

Courtesy of PrefabPads

The Milla has a joint living room, kitchen, and bathroom. It has 270 square feet of living space and 78 square feet of loft space. The initial deposit is $4,000, and the total cost is about $98,500.

This is the interior of a finished Milla home before it was trucked to a client's home in Connecticut.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The furniture in this Milla model was eventually removed before it was transported to Connecticut.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

Inside the Milla's front door is a living room with an open kitchen. A ladder leads to a loft space, where there is a sleeping area.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The interior of the Milla model.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The lofted sleeping area is four feet tall and fits a mattress.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The interior of the Milla model.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

A view down to the living room from the lofted bedroom.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The interior of the Milla model.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

This is how another customer designed their Milla living room.
The Mila tiny home living room.
A Milla living room.

Courtesy of PrefabPads

Milla's kitchen has black quartz countertops, frameless matte black cabinets, and a stainless steel sink. There is also an induction stovetop.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The kitchen of the Milla model.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The bathroom also has matte black fixtures, which nicely contrast the white walls and lighter-colored floors.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The interior of a Milla MyCabin unit.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The Milla Long is a one-bedroom version of the regular Milla, which is classified as a studio.
Mila Long bedroom.
A bedroom in the Milla Long unit.

Courtesy of PrefabPads.

It is 528 square feet, and includes a bedroom, loft, full kitchen, living room, and bathroom.

The Milla Long is a very popular unit, said PrefabPads cofounder Anisha Seltenright.
A Mila Long living room.
A Milla Long living room.

Courtesy of PrefabPads

It costs around $149,500 and requires a deposit between $4,500 and $5,500. The company said on its website that it can be built and shipped in two months

The Milla Long's bathroom is sleek and spacious.
A bathroom in the Mila Long.
A bathroom in the Milla Long

Courtesy of PrefabPads

This is a kitchen in a customer's installed Milla Long tiny home.
A kitchen in a Mila Long tiny home.
A customer's Milla Long kitchen.

Courtesy of PrefabPads

The Milla XL is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom version of the other two Milla designs.
A rendering of one of the MyCabin tiny homes available in the US.
A rendering of one of the MyCabin tiny homes available in the US.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

This 682-square-foot tiny home requires an initial deposit of $5,500 and costs about $175,000.

The Galia home at the far right of this rendering is a tiny home-turned-sauna.
A rendering of a collection of MyCabin units
A rendering of the entire MyCabin Set: the Milla, the Kalmus and the Galia.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The private at-home spa is waterproof, featuring a tile floor and vapor barrier film. It requires an initial deposit of $2,500 and is priced at $37,500.

Anisha Seltenright said the Galia has become more popular with homeowners as wellness culture shapes home design.

"The Galia has a lot of interest," she said. "People love the idea of using it as an option for an Airbnb-style property."

The Kalmus is also a one-bedroom unit.
The exterior of the original MyCabin structures in Latvia.
An exterior shot of the Kalmus model.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The 245-square-foot tiny home β€” which can serve as a guest house or office β€” features a dining area and a loft that can be used for sleeping or storage. A bathroom is optional for the Kalmus unit.

The initial deposit for the Kalmus is $3,000 without a bathroom, but $3,500 with one. The final price β€” excluding upgrades β€”Β  is about $59,000 without a bathroom or $67,000 with one.

Two customers have bought the Kalmus and put it in their backyards to use as an office, said Peter Seltenright.
A rendering of an interior of a MyCabin
Inside one of the MyCabin tiny homes.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

This Kalmus model was shipped to Connecticut to be installed as a backyard office there.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The interior of the Kalmus model.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

The initial deposit for the Kalmus is $3,000 without a bathroom but $3,500 with one. The final price – excluding upgrades β€”Β  is about $59,000 without a bathroom or $67,000 with one.

The floors are made of luxury vinyl that doesn't scratch and is waterproof, Peter Seltenright said.
The interior of a MyCabin Unit that was just installed in Connecticut
The interior of a MyCabin unit.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

MyCabin also sells a $175,000 three-piece set, which includes the Milla, the Kalmus, and the Galia.
The exterior of the original MyCabin structures in Latvia.
The exterior of the three original MyCabin structures in Latvia.

Courtesy of MyCabin and Prefab Pads

Read the original article on Business Insider

Diddy sues a man who he says lied in news interviews about having 'freak off' videos

23 January 2025 at 08:33
Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Sean "Diddy" Combs has filed a defamation lawsuit against a grand jury witness.

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

  • Sean Combs has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against a man he says lied in news interviews.
  • The lawsuit names Courtney Burgess, his lawyer, and the company that owns NewsNation as defendants.
  • Burgess has alleged in interviews that he has videos involving Combs that show sexual assault.

Sean "Diddy" Combs has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against a man who said he testified before a New York grand jury as part of the federal criminal sex trafficking case against the hip-hop music mogul.

That man, Courtney Burgess, has said in news interviews and on podcasts that he was in possession of several videos involving Combs that show the sexual assault of celebrities and apparent minors.

Combs' lawsuit β€” which names Burgess, his lawyer, and the media company that owns the network NewsNation as defendants β€” says that Burgess lied in a bid to raise his public profile and destroy Combs' reputation.

The lawsuit says Burgess and his Florida-based attorney, Ariel Mitchell, have engaged in a "willful scheme to fabricate and broadcast outrageous lies concerning Mr. Combs and then to leverage those falsehoods to gain social media fame, enrich themselves, and strip Mr. Combs of his reputation, livelihood, and right to a fair trial."

The pair has for months fueled "a media frenzy, fabricating outlandish claims and stirring up baseless speculation about Mr. Combs, vying to outdo each other in a shameless competition to draw attention to themselves, with no regard for the truth," Combs alleges in the lawsuit which was filed Wednesday night in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Burgess, Mitchell, and NewsNation owner Nexstar Media Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Business Insider.

Combs' attorney Erica Wolff said in a statement that her high-profile client β€” who has been locked up pretrial at a federal Brooklyn jail since his September 2024 arrest and indictment β€” "is taking a stand against the malicious falsehoods that have been fabricated and amplified by individuals seeking to profit at his expense."

The defendants' "falsehoods have poisoned public perception and contaminated the jury pool," Wolff said, adding, "This complaint should serve as a warning that such intentional falsehoods, which undermine Mr. Combs's right to a fair trial, will no longer be tolerated."

Combs' lawsuit says that the recordings Burgess says he saw do not exist.

"Burgess repeated this false claim many times to anyone who would listen, including reporters for major news outlets (including NewsNation, which recklessly repeated and amplified his lies as if they were true)," Combs said in the lawsuit.

Combs alleges in the lawsuit that NewsNation did not conduct any investigation before broadcasting the allegations "though it easily could have done so."

Burgess, Mitchell, and NewsNation, the lawsuit alleges, "have caused profound reputational and economic injury and severe prejudice to Mr. Combs."

Combs' lawsuit says that Burgess has never met Combs or had any relationship with anyone in his family, yet Burgess has said that Combs' late ex and mother of four of his children, Kim Porter, gave him a copy of her alleged memoir and videos showing the alleged sexual assault of intoxicated celebrities and minors.

"Those close to Ms. Porter, including her children and her roommate for over twenty years, had never heard of Mr. Burgess before he made this utterly implausible and completely false claim," says the lawsuit.

Combs says the claims made by Burgess prompted investigators to issue a subpoena for him to testify before a grand jury that convened in Manhattan in October.

"In this pitiful spectacle, all pretense of objectivity has been abandoned, as a global audience feasts at the all-you-can-eat buffet of wild lies and conspiracy theories," the lawsuit says.

At the center of the indictment against Combs are accusations he orchestrated "freak offs," which prosecutors describe in court papers as "elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded."

In these alleged drug-fueled sex sessions, prosecutors say Combs "used force, threats of force, and coercion" to get female victims to engage in sex acts with male commercial sex workers.

Combs' attorneys have argued in court papers that the video evidence prosecutors have of the so-called "freak offs" will vindicate the "I'll Be Missing You" rapper at trial.

Combs has vehemently denied the federal charges against him, as well as all accusations of sexual abuse made in a flood of civil lawsuits against him.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The CEO of Texas' only cruise port explains how floating resorts saved it from bankruptcy

23 January 2025 at 08:18
Royal Caribbean's Galveston cruise terminal and an Oasis Class cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean's more than 161,330-square-foot Galveston cruise terminal can accommodate its largest ships.

Royal Caribbean International

  • The Port of Galveston, Texas' only cruise port, expects to accommodate 419 cruise ships in 2025.
  • The port had previously exclusively handled cargo and almost filed for bankruptcy in the 1990s.
  • Its CEO explains how the influx of cruises spurred an economic turnaround.

In the 1990s, the 200-year-old Port of Galveston almost filed for bankruptcy.

It expects to earn $84 million in 2025, a 6.4% increase from the previous year.

It's an incredible turnaround. And the port's director and CEO says it's all thanks to cruises, which began to spike in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic

The Texas port spent $53 million expanding Carnival's cruise terminal in 2023, a year after Royal Caribbean opened a $125 million terminal. A fourth new, $156 million terminal is set to open for Norwegian and MSC's ship in November.

Galveston expects to accommodate 419 cruises in 2025, a more than 25% increase from three years prior β€” making it the fourth busiest cruise port in America.

3 cruise ships docked at the port of Galveston
Galveston has three cruise terminals, with a fourth expected to open in November.

Galveston Wharves courtesy photo. By Robert John Mihovil.

"There was a time we didn't have enough money to make payroll," the CEO, Rodger Rees, told Business Insider. "Luckily, the money came in, but they were that tight at times."

Prior to the turn of the century, Galveston had exclusively been a cargo port. By the 1990s, its decades-old (in some cases, century-old) infrastructure had been in dire need of repair β€” with money that cargo alone wasn't generating.

"The port really didn't have anything going on 25, 30 years ago," Rees said. "It was like a ghost town out there."

That is until it began pursuing vacation-at-sea companies, which subsequently spurred a much-needed economic windfall.

"I've been selling Galveston to MSC for five years at least," Rees said. "Becoming a cruise port turned this port around."

cargo ship doked in port of galveston
The Port of Galveston is currently demolishing its antiquated grain facility to make space for more modern cargo.

Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

In the shadows of the cruising limelight, the port still continues to receive cargo (primarily vehicles and parts for New Mexico's coming wind farm, set to become the largest in the US).

However, crucial infrastructure still needs a makeover. For example, the slips have become too small for today's larger cargo ships and were damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

To address this, the port is now using money from its flourishing cruise business β€” which accounts for 65% of its revenue β€” to finance its cargo-related renovations, set to be completed in early 2026.

It's a $100 million project, about $60 million of which is coming from its cruise revenue.

"Our best year that I've been here, we made $10 million in cargo business and $50 million in cruises," Rees said. "The cargo business has to really grow in order to keep up with the growth of the cruise business."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Elizabeth Warren tells Elon Musk she's 'happy' to work with him on DOGE's goals to slash government waste. She has 30 recommendations.

23 January 2025 at 08:17
Elon Musk and Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she's willing to work with Elon Musk's DOGE to cut spending.

Marc Piasecki/Getty Images, Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Elon Musk she will work with DOGE to slash wasteful federal spending.
  • Her recommendations to cut spending included reducing the defense budget and fraud in federal programs.
  • There's growing bipartisan support to work with DOGE on achieving its spending cut goals.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she's "happy" to work with her sometimes sparring partner, Elon Musk, to cut wasteful federal spending.

On Thursday, Warren sent a letter to Musk β€” who is leading President Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE β€” detailing 30 recommendations to reduce government spending, including taking aim at the Department of Defense budget, fraud in Medicare programs, and education funding for for-profit schools.

Musk and his former DOGE co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy originally proposed slashing $2 trillion in federal spending, but Musk later walked back that goal and said during an interview in early January that DOGE has "got a good shot" of reaching $1 trillion in cuts.

While Warren said that she disagrees with some of Musk's initial proposals to cut spending, like reducing veterans' benefits, she said that she agrees with Musk that there is too much wasteful federal spending.

"If you are serious about working together in good faith to cut government spending β€” in a way that does not harm the middle class β€” I have proposals for your consideration," Warren said.

One of Warren's recommendations included cutting spending at the Department of Defense, which makes up 14% of total government spending, per year-to-date Treasury data. It's an idea that's already gained bipartisan support β€” Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna called out contractors overcharging the department in a December opinion piece and said he would work with DOGE, while GOP Sen. Joni Ernst also expressed her support for cutting defense spending in a November letter.

Musk has also previously been critical of defense spending and said it's "not sustainable" during a November speech.

One of Warren's other recommendations was to crack down on fraud in healthcare programs. Some policy experts previously told BI that rooting out fraud in programs like Medicare could be an area for a quick DOGE win, as Musk can leverage his Silicon Valley tech experience to help root out fraudulent and improper payments in federal programs.

Warren's letter to Musk comes amid their long-running public disputes, and her recommendations contain many of her signature positions that Musk and some GOP lawmakers are unlikely to support. They include eliminating charter school funding, restricting federal grants to for-profit universities, and closing tax loopholes for the wealthy. Warren previously singled out Musk as one of many billionaires who should pay more in taxes.

Musk and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Other recommendations for DOGE cuts

Trump officially established DOGE as an office within the White House in a Monday executive order. DOGE's mission in the order is narrower than originally proposed β€” it would focus on modernizing IT systems β€” and it's unclear how exactly the agency will initiate spending cuts.

Still, economic experts and policymakers have continued to outline areas Musk should target. William Gale, a senior fellow at the progressive Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, wrote in a Wednesday opinion piece that DOGE should scrutinize tax expenditures, which can take the form of tax credits and deductions, and "they can go on for years with no public attention or review," Gale wrote.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers also have ideas. Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz previously told BI that he wants to target reorganizing the Department of Homeland Security to allow FEMA and the Secret Service to report directly to the president, simplifying the chain of command.

"If this is where that conversation is going to happen, I'm happy to be at the table," Moskowitz said. "And if they want to do stupid stuff, I'll call it out, and I'll vote against it."

Ernst's November spending cut recommendations also included eliminating vacant federal buildings, auditing the Internal Revenue Service, and reducing fraud in SNAP benefits.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The CEO of Texas' only cruise port explains how floating resorts saved it from bankruptcy

23 January 2025 at 08:16
Royal Caribbean's Galveston cruise terminal and an Oasis Class cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean's more than 161,330-square-foot Galveston cruise terminal can accommodate its largest ships.

Royal Caribbean International

  • The Port of Galveston, Texas' only cruise port, expects to accommodate 419 cruise ships in 2025.
  • The port had previously exclusively handled cargo and almost filed for bankruptcy in the 1990s.
  • Its CEO explains how the influx of cruises spurred an economic turnaround.

In the 1990s, the 200-year-old Port of Galveston almost filed for bankruptcy.

It expects to earn $84 million in 2025, a 6.4% increase from the previous year.

It's an incredible turnaround. And the port's director and CEO says it's all thanks to cruises, which began to spike in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic

The Texas port spent $53 million expanding Carnival's cruise terminal in 2023, a year after Royal Caribbean opened a $125 million terminal. A fourth new, $156 million terminal is set to open for Norwegian and MSC's ship in November.

Galveston expects to accommodate 419 cruises in 2025, a more than 25% increase from three years prior β€” making it the fourth busiest cruise port in America.

3 cruise ships docked at the port of Galveston
Galveston has three cruise terminals, with a fourth expected to open in November.

Galveston Wharves courtesy photo. By Robert John Mihovil.

"There was a time we didn't have enough money to make payroll," the CEO, Rodger Rees, told Business Insider. "Luckily, the money came in, but they were that tight at times."

Prior to the turn of the century, Galveston had exclusively been a cargo port. By the 1990s, its decades-old (in some cases, century-old) infrastructure had been in dire need of repair β€” with money that cargo alone wasn't generating.

"The port really didn't have anything going on 25, 30 years ago," Rees said. "It was like a ghost town out there."

That is until it began pursuing vacation-at-sea companies, which subsequently spurred a much-needed economic windfall.

"I've been selling Galveston to MSC for five years at least," Rees said. "Becoming a cruise port turned this port around."

cargo ship doked in port of galveston
The Port of Galveston is currently demolishing its antiquated grain facility to make space for more modern cargo.

Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

In the shadows of the cruising limelight, the port still continues to receive cargo (primarily vehicles and parts for New Mexico's coming wind farm, set to become the largest in the US).

However, crucial infrastructure still needs a makeover. For example, the slips have become too small for today's larger cargo ships and were damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

To address this, the port is now using money from its flourishing cruise business β€” which accounts for 65% of its revenue β€” to finance its cargo-related renovations, set to be completed in early 2026.

It's a $100 million project, about $60 million of which is coming from its cruise revenue.

"Our best year that I've been here, we made $10 million in cargo business and $50 million in cruises," Rees said. "The cargo business has to really grow in order to keep up with the growth of the cruise business."

Read the original article on Business Insider

I spent $50 to sleep in a capsule pod at a Tokyo airport. It wasn't restful, but it was worth it for the convenience.

23 January 2025 at 08:15
Insider's author spent a night at the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan.
Business Insider's reporter spent a night at the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

  • I ended a trip to Tokyo with an experience on my Japan bucket list β€” a night in a capsule hotel.
  • For $50, I slept at the Nine Hours Narita Airport, a pod hotel inside the airport.Β 
  • The sleep wasn't great, but I thought it was convenient for travelers with early flights.Β 

In April 2023, I spent 12 days wandering around Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. As the days passed, I wanted to end my trip with a few experiences that were high on my travel bucket list.

I made sure to spend my morning slurping shio ramen and my afternoon exploring Shinjuku City, a popular Tokyo neighborhood known for its skyscrapers and stores.

For my last night, I wanted to stay in a capsule hotel.

Capsule hotels, often called pod hotels, originated in Japan.Β I've stayed in a capsule hotel in Australia and think it's best described as a cross between a hotel and a hostel β€” you don't have much space, but you do get a bit of privacy.

Since the concept originated in Japan, I wanted to end my trip with the quintessential experience. I booked a night at the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita International Airport, where I was flying out the next day to go home. Here's what it was like.

Around 9 p.m. on the last night of my trip, I hopped on a train in Shinjuku heading to Narita International Airport and arrived a little over an hour later.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, "I spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal."
Signs point to the hotel at the Narita international Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I navigated to the hotel located in terminal two and checked in for the night.
The entrance to the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita International Airport.
The entrance to the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita International Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Before getting the keys, I was told the rules: I was not allowed to eat in my pod, but I could drink. Travelers were instructed to be quiet and return their towels to a bin at the end of their stay.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The check-in desk at the capsule hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

My capsule cost $49 for the night, but travelers can also book a pod for just a few hours to nap and shower.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Two rows of capsules at the Nine Hours Hotel at the Narita International Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Once the rules were covered, I was handed a key marked 11. This was the number on both my locker and bed.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Each pod had two nooks to store belongings.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

From there, I headed to the women's capsule. The hotel was divided by gender, with two rooms of capsules.
The entrance to the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita International Airport.
The entrance to the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita International Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Since the pods are small, travelers store their belongings in lockers. They were spacious enough for my items.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Two rows of lockers filled a room at the Nine Hours Hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I grabbed a pair of slippers, which were in a complimentary bag of toiletries for overnight guests. The bag also contained two towels, a toothbrush, earplugs, and a nightgown.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
A bag of amenities, which included towels and a nightgown.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

With my luggage locked away, I headed into the next room, which was the bathroom. Eight toilets lined one wall.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Rows of toilets and sinks.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The next two rooms were home to a total of nine showers.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The showers at the Nine Hours Hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Everything appeared remarkably clean, and as I explored the hotel, I was shocked by its size. The rows of lockers felt as if they went on and on, as did the bathrooms.
A row of sinks in the capsule hotel.
A row of sinks in the capsule hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

In other hostels I'd stayed at, rooms had four, eight, or 12 people, and this felt like a lot. I'm a light sleeper, so strangers snoring and leaving at different times have meant poor nights of sleep in the past.
A row of capsule beds at The Capsule Hotel in Sydney, Australia.
A capsule hotel with 12 pods in Sydney.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I didn't consider the number of pods in the hotel, and I didn't spot that information on its website. But the number of lockers hinted that quite a few people would be sharing the same space.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Guests dropped off their used towels in the bin.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

My fears were soon confirmed. Near the showers, I saw a door leading to the capsules that said, "Sleeping Pods 001 - 058."
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
A door leads to the pods.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Any hope of sleep vanished, and I took a deep breath and stepped inside the pod room. The fluorescent lights of the rest of the hotel disappeared, and I felt like I was stepping into the set for a utopian movie.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Fifty-eight beds filled the women's section of the capsule hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The pods were illuminated in the darkness. Each capsule had a pull-down curtain for privacy, but with travelers still trickling in, most of the pods were open when I arrived.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Each pod had a pillow and blanket.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I walked the length of the room to bed 11 and found my pod.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The numbers for the pods painted on the floor.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Inside my pod was a folded comforter and pillow.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The view of one pod.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I crawled in and was surprised by how spacious the room felt. I assumed I would feel claustrophobic, but I had plenty of room to stretch out my legs and sit up straight.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The reporter inside her pod at the Nine Hours Hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The mattress was firm, and the pillow was firmer.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Each pod had a pillow.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

A small panel was stationed at the head of the bed. Here, I could control the pod's lights and access a power outlet. The hotel also provided a button for music, but I didn't have headphones to try it out.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The control panel inside the pod.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

There were also two small storage nooks, though they could not hold much more than my AirPods or the locker key.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Each pod had two nooks to store belongings.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Besides that, the room was bare.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
A view of the pod at the Nine Hours Hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

At 11:30 p.m., I was ready for bed and pulled down the curtain at the entrance of the pod.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Each pod had a curtain for privacy.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The curtain allowed for privacy, which I was thankful for, but it wasn't thick enough to dampen the sounds of other travelers entering the room.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The pods illuminated in the dark.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

From what I could see, most pods were occupied. I dozed off to the sounds of a nearby pod mate snoring. Overall, it was surprisingly quiet, considering over 50 other people were sharing the room.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
A view of four empty pods.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Unfortunately, the silence didn't last long. At 3 a.m., I woke to strangers' alarms, pod curtains being opened, and people getting up to catch flights.
A screenshot of alarms the author has set for skiing.
A screenshot of alarms.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I was in no rush to wake up. My flight wasn't until the afternoon, and I hoped to sleep in. I dozed in and out of sleep for the next five hours as people crawled out from their pods and headed to their airport gates.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Three pods at the capsule hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Overall, I didn't have a great night of rest, but I usually don't before flights. Instead of deep sleep, I typically stir all night, fearing I'll miss an alarm.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The reporter is in her complimentary nightgown.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Even if I was in a traditional hotel, I don't think I would've gotten much more sleep. I climbed out of the capsule at 8:30 a.m. and was surprised to find that every other bed in the room was empty.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
Rows of pods at the capsule hotel.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Even though checkout wasn't until 10 a.m., everyone else had already left, and the cleaning staff was already stripping sheets and preparing for a new set of guests.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The interior of the capsule.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

It made sense. The pod seemed convenient for people with early flights who didn't want to make an hourslong journey to the airport in the morning.
The interior of one of the trains that goes to the Narita International Airport.
The interior of one of the trains that goes to the Narita International Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

When it was time for me to leave, I checked out of the hotel and headed to my terminal, which was a short walk and bus ride away.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The exterior of a building at the Narita International Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Getting to my was gate stress-free. I typically spend the day of my flight fearing some sort of mishap would prevent me from getting to the airport on time, but all my anxieties disappeared since I was already at the airport.
Travelers stand inside the Narita International Airport.
Travelers stand inside the Narita International Airport.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

While it wasn't the best night of sleep, it was awfully convenient and affordable. If I had an early morning flight in Japan, I'd be sure to book the capsule hotel again.
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel at the Narita Airport in Japan, Monica Humphries, β€œI spent $60 for a capsule stay in Tokyo’s airport to be steps away from my terminal.”
The reporter outside the hotel's entrance.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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People with ADHD are more likely to die early, according to a new study

23 January 2025 at 08:03
A woman looking stressed as she does homework

Rocky89/Getty Images

  • A new study found that people with ADHD likely have a shorter life expectancy.
  • Men died about seven years earlier and women died nine years sooner than their peers.
  • ADHD is linked to more impulsive or disorganized behavior, leading to worse health outcomes.

A new study of more than 9 million British adults found that people with ADHD died earlier than their peers without the disorder.

On average, men with ADHD died about seven years earlier while women died nine years sooner than their cohorts without ADHD, according to the research.

Published by the British Journal of Psychiatry, the study looked at data on 30,000 people diagnosed with ADHD, and compared it to data from around 300,000 people without β€” all around the same age and general health status.

While the study didn't explore the causes of death, the researchers say ADHD symptoms like impulsivity, hyperactivity, and forgetfulness can lead to "modifiable risk factors."

ADHD is a neurological disorder that can be linked to other health issues, like substance abuse, or other disorders, like autism.

"To me, the best analog is diabetes," Dr. Russell Barkley, the lead author of a 2019 study on ADHD and shorter estimated life expectancy, told the New York Times. "This is a disorder that you've got to manage, like high blood pressure, like cholesterol and diabetes. You've got to treat this for life."

ADHD can heighten impulsive behavior

The study is observational, which means it does not definitively show a causal relationship between ADHD and early death. It also leaves unanswered questions about what could be driving a connection.

Previous studies found a link between ADHD and risky behaviors like substance abuse. In a press release, Philip Asherson, a professor of molecular psychiatry at King's College London, said that adults with ADHD are more likely to engage in unhealthy habits like smoking or binge eating.

Over time, this can lead to health risks. "We know that ADHD is associated with higher rates of smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer among other health problems," he said.

Early intervention can help

The British study noted that many people are undiagnosed in the UK.

Given that less than 1% of the study's participants were diagnosed with ADHD, it's "also striking in showing how few people with ADHD get a diagnosis," Oliver Howes, a professor of molecular psychiatry at King's College London, who was not involved in the research, said in a statement to reporters.

The study researchers said that "unmet support and treatment needs" could be one of the causes of earlier death in people with ADHD.

Getting a diagnosis can help a person with ADHD find ways to manage their symptoms, be it from medication or adjustments in how they work or stay organized.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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