State Farm Is Sending Customers $5 Billion — Are You Getting a Cut?

If you had State Farm auto insurance in 2025, you might have some money coming your way. That's because the company has begun distributing a one-time $5 billion dividend to qualifying auto insurance customers. The payout, announced earlier this year, is the largest dividend in the company's more than 100-year history. The money is going to customers associated with more than 49 million insured vehicles. Payments average about $100 per vehicle, although the amount you actually receive depends on where you live and how much you paid for coverage in 2025. The dividend won't appear as a credit against your insurance bill. It's being issued as a separate cash payment. For customers who qualify, that means the message about unexpected money from your insurance company may actually be legitimate — although it's still wise to use State Farm's official dividend resources rather than clicking unfamiliar payment links.

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World’s First Mushroom-Powered Toilet

Have you ever needed to use the bathroom, only to discover that the only one available was a portable toilet? Suddenly, you decide you can probably wait. That's hardly surprising, as they tend to look bad, smell awful, and produce toxic waste. The good news is that researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada have a solution: the MycoToilet. It's the world’s first mushroom-powered waterless toilet. It uses mycelia (fungi’s root network) to convert human waste into compost. It’s wheelchair-accessible and requires just four maintenance visits a year. The structure consists of wooden panels equipped with a rot-resistant and antimicrobial cedar exterior, a green roof, and a low-power fan for air circulation. A system separates solid waste from liquid waste, and the solids are directed into a compartment lined with mycelium. Inside, microbes turn the solid waste into compost and the fungi absorb the odor. No added water, electricity or chemicals are required. Researchers estimate that the MycoToilet could produce roughly 158 gallons of soil and 528 gallons of liquid fertilizer annually. That would be a win-win, by turning waste into a solution that can reduce the use of potentially harmful chemical fertilizers.

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Foldable eMoped For Getting Around Town

Finnish e-mobility brand Augment's new electric vehicle is designed for people who don't necessarily want to leave their ride outside for reasons of security or convenience. Known as the 360, this sleek little urban runaround e-moped can fold up and easily roll into an elevator, your apartment, or your office, yet zip you around town at 27 mph. Flip open the seat, and you can access the removable battery. The e-moped gives you about 31 miles on a charge, and can be charged via a conventional wall socket in about 4½ hours. If you need a bit more range, you can choose a dual battery pack, that will net you 87 miles of range. The 360 weighs just under 80 pounds, which means it'll be hard to pick up and carry, but the idea is to roll it indoors so you don't need to look for parking outside or worry about thieves trying to run off with it. There's some handy tech built in too: the 360 connects to a mobile app for adjusting riding modes and other settings, and it can be unlocked with an NFC card. Plus, it's got an anti-theft immobilizer mode that locks the rear wheel. The 360 is priced at about $2,175, which is similar to what you would pay for an e-bike built for city streets. It’s currently available to order and will be shipped anywhere in the world for an extra $115. 

 

 

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Dog Sneaks Into Neighbor’s Home To Play With Toddler and His Double Life Is Exhausting

A dog named Drake has apparently developed a particularly close friendship with his neighbor’s toddler. According to the toddler’s mom, the dog sprints across the yard to make his way to their home. The family’s Instagram account features several videos showing Drake spending time with the toddler. It seems that the dog has made visiting his young friend a regular part of his day. His enthusiasm for these visits even prompted the toddler’s mother to joke about his unusual routine. “The neighbor’s dog is exhausted from his double life at our house,” the text on the video reads. The accompanying caption gives an even clearer idea of just how frequently Drake stops by. “Drake really sneaks over here every day just to wear himself out and go home,” the family wrote. “At this point he needs his own room.”

 

 

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