The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Picture a bizarre training exercise: A group of runners starts jogging around a circular track, with each runner maintaining a unique, constant pace. Will every runner end up “lonely,” or relatively far from everyone else, at least once, no matter their speeds? Mathematicians conjecture that…
Alexis Goldstein had just dropped her toddler off at day care and was on her way back into the office when she ran into a group of people she had never seen before attempting to access equipment that appeared to be from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). What ensued was a yearlong fight to…
Baseball CapsThis is, without a doubt, the non-dishware item that people have confessed to washing in their dishwasher the most. Several readers said they usually place the cap in a hat-washing cage to hold its shape before putting it in the dishwasher, and let it air-dry afterward. “It gets rid of sweat stains and keeps…
Last week, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released 20,000 documents from the estate of registered sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. They included thousands of emails sent between Epstein and high-profile people like Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, political strategist Steve Bannon, journalist Michael Wolff, and former US treasury secretary Larry Summers,…
Using heat pumps can be one of the most efficient ways to cool and heat your home. Compared with other heating and cooling devices, they are eco-friendly and could save you money. In cooling mode, they work like air conditioners, extracting heat from the air inside and releasing it outside. In heating mode, they do…
Another more complex solution would be to invest in a mesh router system. These are specialized routers that are typically sold in packs of two or three and work together to spread WiFi more evenly around your home. But unlike with extenders, there’s not nearly the speed hit. Of course, a mesh router system costs…
The takeaway is clear: While online shopping offers convenience, it remains a buyer‑beware environment, especially when it comes to baby products. Consumer Reports recommends several steps parents can take to protect their families: Understand who you’re buying from. It’s not always easy to tell who is selling a given product—and that’s part of the broader…
Then there was a chance for a hearing, and I got the call, and yeah, it was a really nice moment. I mean, to be honest, I was instantaneously incredibly nervous. Yeah, no, of course. I’d never done it before. One of the observations that I have made many times around congressional testimony of this…
With all of that being said, it’s worth keeping a cool head. There’s no reason to panic-shop for the most expensive laptop you can afford when a more thoughtful, needs-based purchase can save you money. “Maybe consumers don’t need a system that expensive,” Bouchard says. “Maybe they need something that’s just good enough to do…
Quart Bag (40 fluid ounces)Price paid: $19.99Where to buy: Stasher Stand-Up Mini Bag (28 fluid ounces)Price paid: $17.99Where to buy: Stasher, Amazon, Crate and Barrel It seems like you can’t stroll through a store these days without stumbling into a Stasher. These tastefully tinted bags are everywhere, from Amazon and Whole Foods to Target and…
