Peacock feathers are greatly admired for their bright iridescent colors, but it turns out they can also emit laser light when dyed multiple times, according to a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports. Per the authors, it’s the first example of a biolaser cavity within the animal kingdom. As previously reported, the bright iridescent…
But there has been negative news about gas ranges. Outside studies and CR’s own testing have found that cooking on a gas stove may produce byproducts that are bad for the environment and can pose risks to the respiratory health of certain vulnerable people. While research is ongoing, one thing is clear: Ventilation is critical…
“Taking proper care of your skin becomes even more important as you age,” says Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. “And that may mean changing some of your skin-care products and habits.” For instance, you should forgo long, hot showers and baths; both can…
In my own apartment, I often feel a breeze coming in through the leaky windows. I can’t install new windows because I’m renting, and even if I could, I wouldn’t know the first thing about them. I’m not a DIYer—or even very good at assembling furniture—so when I look for solutions to these types of…
Insurify looked at cars from the 2004 through 2024 model years. It sampled premiums for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with clean driving records and credit scores of 600 or higher, and quoted policies with bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident, property damage limits between $10,000 and…
To determine the size generator you need, make a list of the appliances you want to power and add up their wattages. And here’s a tip: If you’re considering a portable generator, don’t spring for one that produces a lot more power than you’ll be using. “There’s no need to go larger unless you want…
2. A Tight-Fitting Mattress Any bassinet that you buy should come with a snug-fitting mattress. When the mattress is centered in the bassinet, you should see no gaps between the edge of the mattress and the bassinet walls any larger than one-half inch, or about a finger-width. “A mattress that doesn’t fit tightly may shift…
Main theme: In this podcast episode, we give our driving impressions of the redesigned 2025 GMC Terrain, which follows the new Chevrolet Equinox that went on sale in 2024. This compact SUV gets several significant upgrades, including a significant suite of advanced safety and driver assistance systems as standard equipment, including highway-speed automatic emergency braking,…
Other Alexa (or Alexa Compatible) Speakers Amazon Echo Pop for $40: The Echo Pop is a perfectly fine little speaker, and the cutest one in Amazon’s lineup. Does it have great sound? No. It’s fine enough for background tunes or if you’re limited to a dorm room, but you’ll get much better sound for a…
Buying bath towels can be surprisingly confusing if you want to know exactly what you’re paying for. There’s a fair amount of terminology; understanding these terms can help you see past the marketing hype and make a more sound purchase. MaterialsYou’ll find bath towels made either with 100 percent cotton, or a mixture of cotton…
