With modern cars, there’s more to go wrong because you have more systems and technology than previous generations. On the other hand, they’re generally better built because many features are implemented efficiently, such as abilities added via software rather than new mechanical components. Even the metals are more rust-resistant than they were in the past,…
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 parents and caregivers avoid using spray sunscreens on them unless no other product is available. And if you have to use a spray, spray the product…
I mention refrigerator icemakers potentially not working for a reason. When I walked into my new house a couple of weeks after officially purchasing it, I noticed a muted sloshing. The kitchen floor appeared even more reflective than the glossy white tiles should have been. My sister, who drove me from New York to my…
3. Warm air is leaking in. Check the seals around your window AC to make sure hot air isn’t getting in and cold air isn’t seeping out. Reseal around your unit with weather stripping if necessary. “Most new window units come with insulation panels to place over the plastic adjustable side panels,” says Chris Regan,…
The team members went through a process of incrementally determining what elements and molecules the bacterial strain could grow on. They already knew it could use oxygen, so they tested other combinations in the lab. When oxygen was absent, RSW1 could process hydrogen gas and elemental sulfur—chemicals it would find spewing from a volcanic vent—and…
It’s to everyone’s benefit that body wash offerings, and my own discernment, have improved in recent years. I employed this enhanced sense of judgment in our recent evaluation of 19 body washes, alongside my colleagues Justin Krajeski, Ginger Cowles, and Mary Beth Quirk. We evaluated body washes that our partner, MadeSafe, determined to be some…
All of the major laptop manufacturers have gaming sub-brands these days. Just to name a few, Lenovo has Legion, HP has Omen and Victus, Asus has ROG, Acer has Predator and Nitro, and Dell has Alienware. These are a good place to start, especially if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly. Asus has the most…
In fact, the most expensive ranges are not always the best buy, according to our tests. “We often find that price is no indicator of performance,” says Kenneth Sutton, who leads CR’s range testing. “We have some in the mix for $1,000 that perform better than models costing $5,000.” And that applies to those pro-style…
Consumer Reports evaluates lower-priced mattresses the same way we test any mattress: by putting them through our exhaustive lab tests, as well as asking thousands of CR members about how well their mattresses have served them. Put together, this information provides a good sense of what a mattress offers for a variety of body sizes…
I recently vacationed in Italy. As one does these days, I ran my itinerary past GPT-5 for sightseeing suggestions and restaurant recommendations. The bot reported that the top choice for dinner near our hotel in Rome was a short walk down Via Margutta. It turned out to be one of the best meals I can…
