Although fans of A Song of Ice and Fire might still be hankering for the long-delayed next book in the series, bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author George R.R. Martin has instead added a different item to his long list of publications: a peer-reviewed physics paper just published in the American Journal of Physics that he coauthored. The…
Honorable Mentions Courtesy of Amazon bkr Spiked Big Bottle 1L for $62: Glass water bottles remain the cleanest, nontoxic, and greenest choice. Bkr’s signature silicone protects the glass from shattering but also adds an edgy, grippy texture. It won’t dent or clang against surfaces, and if you drop it in a crowded room, it lands…
CR’s tests focus on ease of use, construction quality (including design, noise and feel, and durability), ergonomics (how well the machine accommodates different users), exercise range, and user safety. For exercise range, we assess whether a machine is suitable for a variety of fitness levels. Our tests factor in the range of treadmill speeds, the…
Ideally, the composite decking you choose will look good, and remain solid and safe for many years. Consumer Reports’ performance tests evaluate these factors. We use specialized instruments to test each decking sample for resistance to flexing. That ensures that boards won’t bow or bend if you’re entertaining a crowd or if you park a…
If you’re using a low-grade fuel in a car that requires a higher-grade, such as 91 or a premium fuel, you’re doing yourself a disservice, and you could be causing damage to your car’s engine because that fuel is detonating too early in the cylinder. So is there ever a situation where you should be…
All TVs now come with a menu of picture modes with names such as “vivid,” “natural,” “sports,” and “cinema.” When you select one, the brightness, contrast, and sharpness are adjusted to preset values. Our advice: Don’t choose “sports” mode for watching sports—or anything else. That could artificially boost brightness, contrast, and colors, and turn on…
Use a shop approved by AAA. Members of AAA can choose from a list of approved repair facilities, which are required to have certified technicians. Furthermore, AAA offers a 10 percent discount on labor (capped at $75 in some areas). Use CR’s Car Repair Assistant. Whether you’re getting your car repaired or just keeping up…
When you’re shopping for ground beef, you’ll see packages labeled with the ratio of lean to fat in the meat—80/20 or 90/10, for instance. Typically, ground beef with 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat makes the juiciest burgers; a four-ounce patty has 306 calories and 8 grams of saturated fat. Using 90 percent lean/10…
Currently, passkeys are available only on select websites, apps, and services. Keeping track of where you can use them can be challenging, too. For example, if you use a passkey to log in to an app on your phone, you’ll still need a password on your laptop if you want to use a browser that…
The photography fanatics over at Moment are having what they call a warehouse sale right now. There are some good deals on camera gear, Moment’s signature mobile lenses, bags, slings, organizers, and more. We’ve sifted through the deals to find the best prices on all the WIRED-tested gear on sale. Have a look! Don’t miss…