By NEIL DOWNING, The Providence Journal

For the first time in the 74 years that the Social Security program has been paying benefits, new applicants will not have the option to receive their benefits by check.

Benefits will have to be deposited directly into one's bank or credit-union account, or loaded onto a special prepaid debit card.

Changes lie ahead in taxes and benefits for workers, savers, retirees and others. Here's a summary:-- Tax Hike: About 11 million workers nationwide will pay more in Social Security taxes next year. This little-noticed tax hike will affect you if you earn $102,000 or more. Here's why:

Every time the stock market plunges, you hear about a "flight to quality" -- about big institutional investors seeking refuge in U.S. Treasury securities. So you might think that investing in Treasury securities is only for the big guy.

Imagine wearing a shirt with fibers containing a special material that, when set into motion, generates electricity.Thus, a simple stroll down the street might generate enough power to run, say, a portable music player.This is one of many possible results from the study of tiny particles -- "nano" particles.