Our latest survey is based on the track record of 30,619 toaster ovens owned by CR members who purchased them new between 2016 and 2024. We examined that data to produce a rating for predicted reliability, which estimates the likelihood that newly purchased toaster ovens from a given brand will develop problems or break within…
When I was finally able to experiment with Auto Browse (for real this time), I took Google’s suggestions of digital chores as my starting point and picked online tasks that could be helpful in my own life. Whenever interacting with generative AI tools, a healthy sense of skepticism—and caution—is critical. Google even includes a disclaimer…
To find out whether you should invest in a dedicated frozen drink machine, we tested three from Ninja, Margaritaville, and GreenPan, and compared them to one of CR’s top-rated blenders, the Vitamix Ascent X2. We made soda slushies, frozen margaritas, chocolate milkshakes, and piña colada mocktails and hosted a taste test in the lab to…
Last month, the Department of Justice released over 3 million documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While the dumps shed light on Epstein’s own social circle and activities, they also provide a rare window into the inner workings of a federal investigation, including how tech companies like Google respond to government requests for…
Data centers have caused the demand for gas-fired power in the US to explode over the past two years, according to new research released Wednesday. More than a third of this new demand, the research found, is explicitly linked to gas projects that will power data centers—the equivalent of energy that would power tens of…
If you think you’re seeing more birds around your neighborhood right now, it’s not a coincidence. Spring is one of the busiest times of the year for bird activity. Not only are migratory birds returning to their nesting sites, but local birds are building nests, looking for mates, defending territories, and hunting for prey that’s…
More recently, Iran has been a regular adversary in cyberspace—and while it hasn’t demonstrated quite the acuity of Russia or China, Iran is “good at finding ways to maximize the impact of their capabilities,” says Jeff Greene, the former executive assistant director of cybersecurity at CISA. Iran, in particular, famously was responsible for a series…
Nail polish removers are available with and without acetone and with a variety of alternative ingredients. Choosing between them involves weighing some pros and cons. The polish you’ll see most often at nail salons is made with acetone, a chemical that can remove polish quickly but also evaporates rapidly and is more drying, has a…
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is in London, standing in front of a room full of journalists, outing himself as a huge fan of Gemini’s Nano Banana. “How could anyone not love Nano Banana? I mean Nano Banana, how good is that? Tell me it’s not true!” He addresses the room. No one responds. “Tell me…
Screens can scratch easily, and even paper towels and tissues contain fibers that can cause damage. “Your best bet is to use a soft, anti-static microfiber cloth—the kind used to clean eyeglasses and camera lenses—and wipe in a circular motion,” says Scott Meadows, who cleans more than 200 TVs a year in his role as…
