Latest news with #engineer
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Retirement Doesn't Always Go As Planned—Here's 4 Ways To Pivot
Plans change. Your retirement date doesn't always arrive when—or how—you expect it. Retirement planning is built on numbers—not just dollars, but dates. When will I retire? At what age can I afford to stop working? Increasingly, longevity risk isn't just about outliving your money. It's also about the risk that the year you planned to retire might not be yours to decide. When I was a young analyst, I worked alongside a senior engineer who embodied every engineer cliché: black glasses, short-sleeve dress shirt with a tie that was too short, and a pocket protector filled with mechanical pencils. He radiated the calm of someone who had everything calculated and figured out. Above his desk, pinned to a bulletin board, was a scrap of graph paper with a number scribbled on it: 11896. After a few weeks, my curiosity got the better of me; I finally asked him what it meant. Looking over his glasses at the graph paper, he said, 'That,' he said with a grin, 'is my retirement date.' Fresh out of grad school, I couldn't imagine retirement, let alone planning for it more than a decade away. But he had it all mapped out—visualized and posted like a mission launch. There's something admirable about that kind of certainty. That kind of certainty makes spreadsheets hum, financial planners smile, and it is a fixed objective that can be quantified with precision. Millions of people have a version of it: a date circled, an age bookmarked, or a vague plan to 'retire at 65.' But for all the timelines, charts, and calculators we throw at retirement, reality often has other plans for our plan. Over the years, I've learned something that every future retiree, adult child, advisor, or employer should remember: Retirement doesn't always arrive when—or how—you expect it. We've been taught to view retirement as a milestone you arrive at right on schedule. A cultural clock chimes at 65, and off you go to travel, golf, or take up pickleball. But in reality, retirement looks a lot more like air travel—subject to delays, getting bumped, reroutes, bad weather, and last-minute changes. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), nearly half (47.5%) of retirees exit the workforce sooner than planned—a figure that's held remarkably steady for over 15 years. Why? Retirement, it turns out, isn't a clean exit. It's messy, often emotional, and frequently out of your control. Early retirement sounds like a dream come true—until it isn't. Someone who retires at 59 instead of 65 loses six prime years of earning, saving, and compounding. They may be forced to tap assets early, turning a 30-year financial plan into a 40-year cash flow puzzle. But beyond the numbers lies something deeper: the emotional transition from 'I am' to 'I was.' Friday at 4:59 PM, you're a mechanic, a teacher, a lawyer, a CEO. At 5:01 PM, you're retired. And that shift—so simple in language—can shake the core of identity. Too many retirees go from professional purpose to passive drift. One report indicates that 28% of retirees experience depression, often fueled by a loss of structure, social interaction, and relevance. On the flip side, some delay retirement for good reasons: financial necessity, meaning, or social connection. According to Gallup, the average expected retirement age has risen from 60 in 1995 to 66 today. But the actual retirement age still hovers around 62, suggesting that plans and reality remain out of sync. For many, staying in the workforce is the new safety net. However, that strategy comes with its own risks, including health surprises, employer buyouts, family caregiving, or burnout. Not every 'I'll work a few more years' plan ends on your terms. The smartest strategy? Ditch the illusion of precision. Embrace adaptability. Here are four pivots that can make retirement planning more resilient: My engineer friend with '11896' taped to the wall had a plan. But as most of us have learned, life introduces variables that our spreadsheets don't anticipate. That's why modern retirement planning must go beyond projections and drawdowns. It has to account for uncertainty, longer life, changing identities, and the need for flexibility and resilience. Whether you retire earlier, later, or somewhere in between, one truth remains: The plan will change. The question is: Will you be ready for the retirement that shows up?
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Student killed days before graduation, grieving mother accepts PhD
A moment of celebration turned into one of profound grief when engineer Nadia Ayman Nasif tragically passed away in a car accident just days before she was due to receive her PhD from the University of Sharjah. Her mother, Engineer Farah Abdulrahim Al Hasani, accepted the degree on Nadia's behalf during the graduation ceremony, surrounded by an audience that stood in solemn tribute. Applause echoed through the hall, mingled with tears and prayers, as her name was called with the honorific "may God have mercy on her". The ceremony was a bittersweet culmination of a dream Nadia had worked tirelessly to achieve. According to a report by Emarat Al Youm, Nadia had promised her mother that she would one day hand her the doctoral certificate herself. Although her life was cut short, her family fulfilled her final wish by accepting the degree in her memory. Her mother shared how she entered the hall alone, the same hall they had shared from Nadia's undergraduate days, feeling her daughter's presence with every step. "She was with me," she said, recalling the overwhelming emotion as she climbed the stage to accept the award. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Nadia's father, Ayman Walid Nasif, expressed his pride and heartbreak. "It was a moment filled with unbearable pain and indescribable pride," he said, admitting he couldn't bring himself to walk the stage. Instead, he watched his wife accept the weight of the family's sorrow and pride. Nadia's sister, journalist Shahd Nasif, described her as "the backbone of the family", adding that Nadia had mentored her from a young age and even taught her in elementary school. Her brother, Engineer Mohammed Nasif recalled Nadia's anticipation of the ceremony. "She made it feel like Eid in our home," he said. "When her name was called, and the audience rose in prayer and applause, the moment became one I will never forget." He added, "Her recognition didn't end with her passing. It extended beyond, as she truly deserved." Nadia leaves behind a three-year-old son, whose future will carry the echoes of her voice and the legacy of her ambition. Known for her academic excellence and remarkable perseverance, she completed her bachelor's, master's, and PhD in structural engineering at the University of Sharjah over 12 years, all with honors. Her doctoral research focused on fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) concrete systems and integrating artificial intelligence for structural safety monitoring. Despite being early in her academic career, Nadia published 12 peer-reviewed research papers, eight of which were ranked in the top Q1 journals globally. Her research citation impact stood at 1.74 — 74 per cent above the global average in her field. She had recently been accepted for a postdoctoral research opportunity at the University of Dubai, where she planned to lead innovative projects in AI-driven structural monitoring, a vision she was deeply passionate about but never got the chance to see realised. Nadia's passing is a loss to her family and the academic and engineering communities. However, her story continues to inspire, reminding students and professionals alike that ambition leaves an enduring legacy despite life's harshest trials.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Dark urges driving Charles Lindbergh's secret double life finally exposed... and how the peculiar obsession lives on
Few have embodied the glamour of progress and modernity quite like the brilliant Charles Lindbergh. Aviator, engineer, environmentalist, scientist, explorer, military adviser and much else besides, Lindbergh had a genius for being at the leading edge of technological development.
Sustainability Times
08-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Alien Math Code Cracked by Chinese Genius': These Shocking Equations Rewrite Everything We Thought We Knew About Language and Logic
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Zhou Zhongpeng , a Chinese engineer, made significant progress in understanding the complex Inter-universal Teichmüller Theory . , a Chinese engineer, made significant progress in understanding the complex . 📚 Known as the 'alien's language' , this theory was introduced by Shinichi Mochizuki in 2012 to prove the ABC conjecture in number theory. , this theory was introduced by Shinichi Mochizuki in 2012 to prove the ABC conjecture in number theory. 🔍 Zhou's work could transform fields like cryptography and quantum computing , offering new insights into complex mathematical problems. and , offering new insights into complex mathematical problems. 🔑 Despite his achievements, Zhou views his contributions as minor innovations, emphasizing the collaborative nature of scientific discovery. In the realm of mathematics, few theories have sparked as much intrigue and bewilderment as the Inter-universal Teichmüller Theory (IUT). Introduced by Shinichi Mochizuki in 2012, this theory, often referred to as the 'alien's language,' has puzzled the global mathematical community. Despite the vast number of mathematicians worldwide, only a handful have managed to grasp its complex concepts. However, a new chapter in the story of IUT unfolds as a young Chinese engineer, Zhou Zhongpeng, makes groundbreaking strides in understanding this enigmatic theory. The Origin of the Alien's Language The IUT was introduced as a proof of the ABC conjecture, a pivotal unsolved problem in number theory. The ABC conjecture posits a surprising relationship between the addition and multiplication of whole numbers. If validated, it could simplify or render redundant numerous challenging theorems, including Fermat's Last Theorem and the Mordell conjecture. However, the intricacy of Mochizuki's approach to proving this conjecture was unprecedented. Spanning over 2,000 pages, IUT was laden with novel symbols and concepts, rendering it incomprehensible to many. This complexity led to its nickname, the 'alien's language,' as likened by mathematics expert Kato Fumimot. He described it as akin to an alien addressing Earthlings in an extraterrestrial tongue—repetition would achieve little without mutual understanding. Today, only about 20 experts worldwide have delved into the depths of this theory. 'The Oldest Algebra Problem Solved': Australian Mathematician Cracks Ancient Mystery That Baffled Minds for Over 4,000 Years Deciphering the Theory: Zhou's Breakthrough Zhou Zhongpeng, a former doctoral student and current tech worker, has emerged as a key figure in the exploration of IUT. Although his academic path diverged from pure mathematics, his passion for number theory endured. Zhou's journey began during his PhD program, though he found himself navigating graph theory instead. Determined to pursue his true interest, Zhou studied IUT during his sparse free time while maintaining a demanding job at Huawei. Over several months, he composed a comprehensive paper elucidating refinements and potential applications of the theory. His work caught the attention of Ivan Fesenko, a leading IUT expert, who promptly invited Zhou to collaborate at Westlake University. Under Fesenko's guidance, Zhou's research has contributed to proving the generalized Fermat's Last Theorem, a feat previously deemed insurmountable. 'NASA Sounds the Alarm': Massive Planetary Anomaly Detected Spreading Worldwide, Traced to Unknown Forces Beneath Earth's Crust The Potential Impact of Zhou's Work Zhou's insights into IUT could revolutionize various fields beyond number theory. If the theory withstands scrutiny, its implications could stretch into cryptography, quantum computing, and physics. By offering a more intuitive understanding of complex problems, it holds the promise of transforming the way mathematics is perceived and applied. Despite his monumental progress, Zhou acknowledges that his work is merely a step toward a comprehensive decoding of IUT. 'Those papers are based on the research of predecessors; my work has only made some minor innovations and explorations,' Zhou remarked on social media. His humility underscores the collaborative nature of mathematical discovery and the continuous quest for knowledge. 'U.S. Military Caught Off Guard': China's New Turbine Blade Delivers Brutal Jet Power and Unstoppable Endurance The Future of the Alien's Language While Zhou's achievements have illuminated new pathways in understanding IUT, the full potential of this mathematical enigma remains untapped. Scholars and researchers continue to probe its depths, seeking further breakthroughs and applications. The journey of deciphering the 'alien's language' is far from over, and the mathematical community eagerly anticipates the revelations yet to come. As we ponder the vast landscape of mathematics, we are reminded of the profound mysteries that await discovery. Will the insights gained from IUT lead to a paradigm shift in mathematical thought, or will they pave the way for unforeseen innovations in technology and science? The future holds the answers, and it beckons us to explore with curiosity and determination. Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (28)
Malay Mail
07-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Middle East-based engineer loses RM1.5m in online investment scheme, discovers scam only after failed withdrawal attempt
BUKIT MERTAJAM, June 7 — An engineer working in the Middle East lost over RM1.5 million to an online investment scam recently. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad sad the victim, 40, lodged a report with the Central Seberang Perai district police headquarters commercial crimes investigation division yesterday. 'In November last year the man got to know a woman through the phone and had a relationship before the woman invited him to join an investment scheme called GoldenCrimson that offered handsome returns. 'The man was interested to invest and was given a customer service number and a website link to register, and he invested RM90,510 and received returns of RM108,611,' he said in a statement tonight. The man grew confident in the scheme and made 103 transactions to 31 different accounts totalling RM1,532,563 from Dec 2 to March 8, and realised he was scammed when he failed to withdraw RM4,131,671 through the app but was asked instead to provide additional capital to be able to withdraw his profits. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. — Bernama
