One of the advantages of the traditional model of buying hearing aids through an audiologist is that you have an expert helping you. That level of support can make a big difference in how satisfied people feel with their hearing aid. In a 2017 randomized controlled trial, people who got hearing aids through a traditional…
Even if you have air conditioning—like 88 percent of U.S. households, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey—you may still struggle to stay cool on the hottest days. What’s more, increased electricity use can lead to brownouts and outages. Here’s how to prepare your home for a heat wave before…
Main theme: For those who can manage to hold on to their homeowners insurance policies, the price of premiums is crushing budgets. The reasons are many: from the rising price of building materials and construction labor to the growing frequency of extreme weather events. In this episode, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines get an…
Looking for an Apple laptop with a bigger screen? You’re in luck, as the 15-inch MacBook Air with the M4 CPU is currently marked down by $200 on Amazon in a variety of configurations and colors, including the new Sky Blue finish. It’s a great fit for work or play, and only serious power users…
The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Picture a bizarre training exercise: A group of runners starts jogging around a circular track, with each runner maintaining a unique, constant pace. Will every runner end up “lonely,” or relatively far from everyone else, at least once, no matter their speeds? Mathematicians conjecture that…
Compare Our Picks Others Tested Photograph: Molly Higgins Enabot Ebo Air 2 for $199: This model from Enabot is an improved interactive robot toy and camera on wheels from the brand’s lineup. It’s got a 2K HD camera, two-way audio, and a laser toy, and you control the robot’s movements from your phone’s app. It’s…
Take precautions. If you have an antenna, a roof rack, or a bike rack, remove it before entering an automatic car wash. Also turn off the automatic wipers and make sure the windows and roof are closed. If your car has a car wash mode, often a feature in EVs, make sure it’s activated before…
The role of advanced analytics in sports is a contentious subject. To its defenders, data-driven pragmatism is a natural evolutionary step in the way we play and watch games. For detractors, the approach prioritizes results above all else and drains the soul from a pursuit that should be spontaneous and joyful. As someone who is…
A decade ago, kratom advocates fought a surprisingly successful campaign against a proposed Drug Enforcement Administration ban that claimed the obscure Southeast Asian plant posed “an imminent hazard to public safety.” They won bipartisan allies from Bernie Sanders to Rand Paul, and helped create a billion-dollar industry out of kratom, which has pain-relieving effects they…
You’ve gotta be careful buying random laptops on Amazon. There’s a lot of junk masquerading as good deals, especially when you get under $500. Don’t fall for it. Below, you’ll find the best Prime Day laptop deals on devices and accessories we’ve personally reviewed. More than ever, it’s possible to get an affordable computer you…