cm0002

Even fast-casual dining may be too much of a financial burden for younger generations.

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said young diners between the ages of 25 and 35 are cutting back on dining at the Mexican-inspired fast-casual chain. But these millennial and Gen Z customers are not snubbing Chipotle for other fast food spots; they’ve stopped dining out as frequently altogether.

“This group is facing several headwinds, including unemployment, increased student loan repayment, and slower real wage growth,” Boatwright told investors at the company’s earnings presentation on Wednesday. “We’re not losing them to the competition. We’re losing them to grocery and food at home.”

The Gen Z stare is a phrase coined by social media users to describe a "blank stare that members of younger generations give in situations where a verbal response would be more common".[2] Kalhan Rosenblatt of NBC News says, "[w]hile there are several definitions for the stare, the most common meaning is a vacant expression a Gen Zer gives in response to a question. The stare occurs in classrooms, restaurants, at work and more settings."[1] The term "Gen Z stare" garnered widespread coverage in the mainstream media in July 2025.[a] The concept of the "Gen Z stare" was first explored in research conducted by Kaiden Jones.[11]

Chemists from the University of Warwick and Monash University have discovered a powerful new antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, found as an intermediate compound in the production of methylenomycin A[^1]. This molecule shows remarkable potency against drug-resistant bacteria, demonstrating over 100 times greater activity against Gram-positive pathogens compared to methylenomycin A[^2].

The compound proves particularly effective against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), with no observed resistance development in Enterococcus faecium under conditions where vancomycin resistance typically emerges[^1].

"Methylenomycin A was originally discovered 50 years ago and while it has been synthesized several times, no-one appears to have tested the synthetic intermediates for antimicrobial activity!" said Professor Greg Challis[^2]. The team identified the compound by deleting specific genes in Streptomyces coelicolor, a well-studied soil bacterium[^1].

The researchers have developed a scalable synthetic route for producing pre-methylenomycin C lactone, positioning it for further development as a potential treatment against antimicrobial-resistant infections[^1].

[^1]: Medical Dialogues - Scientists discover hidden antibiotic 100 times stronger against superbugs

[^2]: University of Warwick - New antibiotic for drug-resistant bacteria found hiding in plain sight

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-human-on-a-bicycle-is-among-the-most-efficient-forms-of-travel-in-the/