When CR tests helmets for impact protection, we drop them onto a flat anvil at 14 miles per hour from four different angles and measure the energy that’s transferred through the helmet. Helmet style won’t change the results. But other factors, such as a helmet’s shape, may provide an additional safety benefit. “The best thing…
Active (aka “powered”) speakers do not require a separate amplifier or receiver. Instead, they have amplification (which is what makes the sound loud enough to play through speakers) built in. These amps are often customized for their specific drivers and cabinetry, which can deliver performance benefits. Modern powered speakers also have other perks, like fully…
To address this, YouTube did not expedite the dispute process, which still allows up to 30 days for rights holders to respond. Instead, it expedited the appeals process, which happens after a rights holder rejects a disputed claim and arguably is the moment when the YouTuber’s account is most in danger of being terminated. “Now,…
Skip sprays for kids. Children are more likely to squirm when they’re being sprayed, so the spray could inadvertently go toward their face and be inhaled. CR recommends that caregivers avoid using spray sunscreens on kids unless no other product is available. And if you have to use a spray, spray the product into your…
Although they are not all that common in the grand scheme of things and have decreased by 60 percent since 1980, vehicle fires are still a very real possibility. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 16 percent of fire deaths in 2022 (the most recent year for which data was available) were caused…
While safety is essential, our performance testing ensures that a generator will work as promised when you need it most. To do that, our expert engineers load up every model we assess with a variety of essentials you might want to power during an outage, like a space heater, refrigerator, or window air conditioner. (Check…
Animal Well also comes at a turbulent time for the game industry. Outfits like Gastrow’s and developers like Basso are getting hit hard. Every month this year has included new headline-making layoffs at big game companies, while smaller studios without the name recognition have faded away quietly or gone on some kind of “hiatus.” Even…
Summer might mean pool days and wet hair—but also vacations and nights out at beach bars. For those times, you want hair tools that work quickly for effortless styles that defy humidity. Some of our favorites, including Dyson’s pricey Airstrait and Airwrap, are currently on sale. Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just…
The lists below highlight the vehicles by category that got the best fuel economy in Consumer Reports’ latest tests. Rather than display every tested vehicle here, we have selected miles-per-gallon cutoffs that are relative to each category. For example, a vehicle that gets 21 mpg wouldn’t be a standout among wagons, but it would be…
Once you decide a hand mixer can be your go-to for baking to-do’s, take note of its features. Some are more important than others. Attachments: Hand mixers typically come with wire beaters, and some also include whisk or dough hook attachments. Whisks have even thinner wires than the standard wire beaters and are designed to…