The 2026 El Niño Is on Track to Be the Strongest on Record

The world could face the strongest El Niño since recordkeeping began, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events and significant, long-term economic impacts globally. A new analysis by Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather paints a worrying picture of the climate phenomenon developing in the Pacific Ocean. Models have consistently forecast that this year’s El…

Read More

Why Soccer Still Defies Statistical Analysis

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…

Read More

Our Favorite Cordless Stick Vacuum Is Marked Down $50

Tired of pet hair and dust in the hard-to-reach spots of your home? Our favorite pick for cordless stick vacuums, the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder, is marked down to just $180 at Amazon. That matches the best price yet for this lightweight and capable stick vacuum, the same discount as Prime Day earlier this year. It…

Read More

Top Tier Gasoline Is Worth the Extra Price, Study Shows

Top Tier gasoline was developed in 2004 to go beyond the minimum standard for detergent additives to better protect increasingly sophisticated engines from carbon buildup and deposits on the intake valves, which can result in a rough idle, acceleration hesitation, knocking/pinging, and reduced fuel economy. Over the past 20 years, engines have become far more precise,…

Read More

Baseus Inspire XC1 Review: Excellent Open Earbuds

Speaking of critical listening, the XC1 work with Sony’s hi-res capable LDAC Bluetooth codec, should you happen to own a compatible Android phone (sorry, iPhone users). Using LDAC can reveal more detail, especially when listening to a source of lossless audio, but for these earbuds, I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze. Using…

Read More

A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home (2026)

Mushroom hunting is cool and fun, but you know what’s not cool and fun? Having slugs or other mushroom hunters discover your secret spot. Or, worst of all, accidentally collecting the wrong kind of mushroom that could make you quite sick—or worse. Ideally, you’d be able to grow your favorite kind of mushrooms safely in…

Read More