Plastics that support modern life are inexpensive, strong, and versatile, but are difficult to dispose of and have a serious impact when released into the environment. Polyethylene, in particular, is the most widely produced plastic in the world, with more than 100 million tons distributed annually. Since it can take decades to decompose—and along the…
Our analysis shows that with negotiation and after current rebates, savvy buyers could drive away with a new car for less than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, as indicated. Other trims on the vehicles listed may also present good deals. Although incentives eventually expire, they’re often renewed. And even an expired deal can point you…
As a home cook, I spent most of my life using dull, cheap knives. It wasn’t until I started testing chef’s knives earlier this year that I realized how important it is to invest a little bit in the tool you’ll most likely be using every day for years (or even decades if you keep…
Compare Our Top 10 Hair Straighteners Other Straighteners We Tried Photograph: Kat Merck Paul Mitchell Neuro Style+ for $150: The latest in Paul Mitchell’s lineup of otherwise standout hair straighteners, this ceramic iron with Paul Mitchell’s new NeutraHeat temperature-regulating technology goes up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and has dual voltage for travel. However, the body…
Compare Our Picks Others Tested Photograph: Simon Hill Hoover HF4 Hydro for £199: For UK folks in flats or small houses with a mix of carpet and hard floor, this cordless, space-saving vacuum and mop from Hoover could be a smart pick. You get a standard cordless stick vac with around half an hour of…
The REI Fourth of July sale is a great time to get a deal on hiking, camping, and backpacking essentials. This year, there are also great competing July Fourth sale deals from Backcountry and Public Lands. We test camping and hiking gear all year round here at WIRED, and these REI deals are on gear…
An image from the study illustrating how plastic bottles reach Latin American Pacific coasts. Illustration: Garcés-Ordóñez et al. (2025) (CC BY 4.0) The scientists found that, like other marine debris, the bottles and caps they retrieved were sometimes colonized by immobile organisms called epibionts, which live on the surface of other organisms or materials. The…
VistaPrint specializes in custom physical and digital marketing products for small businesses, like brochures and promotional products, along with personal products like invitations, t-shirts, business cards, or even posters to meet any print and online personalization needs you may have. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to shop for these…
Compare Our Picks Others We Tested Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro Airthings Renew for $300: I wasn’t expecting to like the unassuming minimalist Renew from Airthings as much as I did. Its gray box design is so understated, quiet, and powerful that it was easy to plug it in and forget about it. The Renew is…
Built-in refrigerators are designed to blend in. They sit completely flush with kitchen cabinets and, while they’re available with the ever-popular stainless steel finish, they allow you to install custom paneling to match your cabinetry. Taken together, those two traits provide a chameleon effect that may fool unsuspecting visitors. Freestanding refrigerators are just that: They…
