The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. When Todd Sacktor was about to turn 3, his 4-year-old sister died of leukemia. “An empty bedroom next to mine. A swing set with two seats instead of one,” he said, recalling the lingering traces of her presence in the house. “There was this missing…
On November 16, 2021, Matthew Ziburis sat in his car in a residential neighborhood in the Bay Area stalking an “enemy,” as he put it. A veteran of both the US Army and Marine Corps, Ziburis had previously served in Iraq. But on this mission, he was working at the behest of China’s government. The…
Other Portable Power Stations We Tested Ampace Andes 600 Pro for $449: This compact power station weighs 19 pounds and has an easy-carry handle on top. It stores 584 Wh of power and can be fully charged in an hour (30 dB sleep mode). It can deliver 600 watts (1,800 W surge), and has lots…
Since your mattress also plays a role in supporting the rest of your body, it has to complement your pillow. For example, Schneider says that a firmer mattress will likely require a more supportive, higher-loft pillow, whereas a softer mattress will require a lower-loft pillow. As a mattress tester, I agree. When it comes to…
Pop-up beach tents are designed for those who lack the time, patience, or confidence to build one. Companies market them as easy to assemble and disassemble in mere seconds. Spoiler alert: They’re all lying. To help you choose the best beach canopy for your needs, we evaluated four best-selling beach tents so that you don’t…
I lugged around a Dyson upright vacuum for over a decade, refusing to pay the price to upgrade after a family member gave little college me her old Dyson vacuum. I finally switched over to Dyson’s newer stick vacuums earlier this year, and I didn’t realize how much I was missing. (Truly, it was out…
Whole bean or ground? Preground coffee is convenient and tends to brew a consistent-tasting cup. But buying whole beans and grinding them right before brewing will intensify the coffee’s flavor and aroma, says Scott Rao, a coffee consultant and author of “The Professional Barista’s Handbook.” That’s because you’re limiting its exposure to air. This is…
OpenAI’s August launch of its GPT-5 large language model was somewhat of a disaster. There were glitches during the livestream, with the model generating charts with obviously inaccurate numbers. In a Reddit AMA with OpenAI employees, users complained that the new model wasn’t friendly, and called for the company to restore the previous version. Most…
Over several years, consumer advocacy groups criticized Ring’s RFA program, with many asking CR and other product review outlets to stop recommending Ring products. (CR’s evaluations are based on its own independent product testing, and we did not change our ratings.) In 2021, the company completed a two-year audit of its Neighbors network with the New…
There’s a reason the first successful smart specs look like they’re from the 1950s. That extra thickness isn’t just retro flair, it’s hiding a processor and a battery. But that technical constraint creates a creative opportunity: In the right frame, smart tech can disappear. And transforming functional, medical-grade eyewear—like prescription glasses—into stylish, mass-market fashion accessories…
