$150k: Price of the ultimate dog for the discerning (and perhaps paranoid) pet owner. Montana-based company Svalinn trains these German shepherd, Dutch shepherd, and Belgian Malinois mixes on its ranch for two to three years to be the perfect guard dog — fierce protectors, but as loyal and loving as you’d expect any other dog to be. They’re also rare: Svalinn sells up to 20 per year and only ~350 exist.
10k+: Number of crystals that will adorn the US women’s gymnastics team’s leotards at the Paris Olympics. GK Elite, the company behind the outfits, has long embellished outfits with crystals, which design director Jeanne Diaz says can “accentuate” gymnasts’ routines. If this year’s leotards were sold in stores, they’d cost ~$5k, but a replica version using spangles instead of crystals will be available for $90.
523 miles: How far Joby Aviation’s vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTOL) flew during its test flight. The hydrogen-powered air taxi could provide an eco-friendly alternative to private jets, but not overnight — hurdles include the fact that it’s expensive to produce hydrogen power, and that ~95% of hydrogen produced in the US uses CO2-emitting natural gas. “Green hydrogen” is rare today but could become more prevalent thanks to a $7B initiative from the US government.
$18,118: Hidden costs the average US homeowner pays annually, up 26% since 2020, per Bankrate. This includes property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and utilities. They’re up because, well, everything is: from the price of energy and labor, to the frequency of natural disasters and thus insurance premiums. The state with the highest average hidden costs per year is Hawaii at ~$29k.
