Lifehacker

There are very few things that look cooler on Instagram than doing a heavy lift with massive chains hanging off your barbell. But those chains aren’t just for looks (if you’re using them right, that is.) Here’s what you need to know about using chains in the gym.

Fall is upon us, which means that apple season—arguably the best season of them all—is just around the corner. As you make your plans for what to do with All Those Apples, it’s good to stop for a moment and consider an important component: the peel.

This week we’re learning how to strengthen our longterm relationships and marriages with help from psychologist Eli Finkel. Eli is a professor at Northwestern University and director of Northwestern’s Relationships and Motivation Lab. He’s also the author of the bestselling book The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the…Read more...

The lobster is a fascinating animal, with an equally fascinating culinary history. Like most foods that have a reputation for being decadent and pricey, it’s impossible to talk about lobster without talking about class and capitalism.Read more...

If you’re like me, leaving the house is consistently a last-minute, out-of-breath dash as you desperately try to avoid being late to wherever you’re going. As such, things like keys, bags, even MacBooks are often forgotten, remembered only when it’s too late. If that’s true for you, you’ll want to take advantage of…Read more...

The first trailer for the long-in-coming fourth Matrix film dropped last week, and it’s looking good—but were I trying to explain the premise of The Matrix Resurrections based only on that new footage, I’d probably wind up more or less describing The Matrix (the 1999 original, that is). Is this thing really a…Read more...

As we get older, staying active becomes harder. But while the pervasive belief is that aging means a steep decline in athletic performance, losing strength and fitness isn’t nearly as inevitable as we once thought. As research is finding out, maintaining a high level of fitness for decades is possible, although it…Read more...

There’s a reason some youth sports coaches proactively tell parents that “no coaching, just cheering” will be allowed from the sidelines. We’ve all seen—or ahem, been—those overzealous parents yelling instructions across the field. That’s because watching your child play sports can be a fraught experience, especially…Read more...

Every time you take a picture with your iPhone, the exact location where it was taken is saved along with the photo. This feature is called geotagging, and it’s useful because your iPhone lets you search for photos by location. It’s less useful when you want to share photos without sharing everything about where they…Read more...

There’s a hidden Apple Watch feature that could change the way you log your exercise. It’s called “Segments,” and it allows you to neatly categorize different stages of your workouts. If you’re doing multiple types of routines, you’d normally log each of them as a new workout on the Apple Watch, but Segments allows…Read more...

Infectious diseases have always been an issue, of course, but since the coronavirus pandemic first hit America in early 2020, public concern over viruses and illnesses is at a high. Lately, there’s been some chatter about something called Nipah virus.

The Reminders app on the iPhone is a simple, unassuming app for managing your to-do list, but once you start using it, you’ll realize just how powerful it is by being so well integrated into the OS. (It works especially well with Siri, for example). Reminders is more than enough for most users (there’s no need for a…Read more...

Making a customer complaint is enough of a hassle on its own, but it’s made worse with all the barriers that companies can put in your way—like automated chatbots, unhelpful customer reps, or simply not having a phone number you can actually call. But even in the most frustrating of circumstances, we have some tips on…Read more...

The iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max all have their own minor differences, but they share one major feature: Dolby Vision HDR. This format gives the videos you shoot on your iPhone 12 a fantastic dynamic range, and it looks truly great on the right display. Up until now, however, there haven’t been many…Read more...

Like any Italian-American with a trained affinity for tomatoes, Labor Day doesn’t just signal the end of summer. Much more dire: It’s the last call for summer tomatoes. Those ripe, tangy-sweet heirlooms that call to you at farmers markets and grocery stores will soon be a thing of the past. If you have a food-focused…Read more...

Flooding can do some major damage to a car, even if it’s not immediately visible (once it has been cleaned). Unfortunately, this means that some vehicles that are irreparably harmed may be shipped off and sold in other parts of the country—specifically, places less prone to flooding where buyers may not be aware of…Read more...

Email phishing scams are in no way new, but with people living so much of their lives online during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are increased opportunities for it to happen. In fact, 2020 saw a 25% increase in the number of phishing sites compared to 2019.Read more...

Though Swedish furniture and home decor retailer IKEA is often associated with affordable, self-assembled pieces that don’t last very long, that’s not true across the (particle) board. While you don’t purchase IKEA products to serve as heirlooms to be passed down through the generations, it’s entirely feasible to get…Read more...

When people think about astronomy—even amateur, backyard astronomy—the first piece of equipment that probably comes to mind is a telescope. And that makes sense, given that they’re what we see the pros using in observatories, and have become pop culture shorthand for a person (usually a child or young adult) who is…Read more...

The process of selling your home is, well...a process. There’s paperwork galore, along with multiple showings, visits, and inspections. One of these steps is the home appraisal, which is the last chance for the seller to take action to ensure that their home gets the highest valuation possible.Read more...

The first time you launder a new item of clothing, you may go in with the best intentions—ensuring that you lay it flat to dry, or wash it at a particular temperature. That is, if you can decipher the care label.Read more...

VPNs keep your internet activity hidden, but if someone knows what they’re looking for, they can tell when you’re using one. That might sound alarming, but as long as you’re using a reliable VPN and it’s working properly, there probably isn’t anything to worry about. First, let’s explain how someone could tell you’re …Read more...

There’s no need to overthink hydration for a short jog, but if you’re running long distances, you’ll need to hydrate before the workout is over. (The American Council on Exercise recommends 7-10 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes, although that may be overkill if you’re not sweating a lot.) So where do you get all…Read more...

For many of us, our approach to nutrition includes counting carbohydrates, whether it’s following a keto or low-carb diet or aiming for a specific proportion of macros each day. We also tend to sort foods into “good carbs” and “bad carbs” based on criteria like whether they’re quick-digesting carbs or whether they…Read more...

Almost nine years into this parenting thing, I’m convinced that fully half of the job is learning from—and forgiving yourself for—all the mistakes you will inevitably make. Recently a thread on Reddit posed the question: “Parents...what are mistakes that you feel that you made that others could learn from before it is…Read more...

Seeking to attract and retain talent in a tight labor market, Amazon announced yesterday that they’ll cover 100% of the tuition costs for its frontline employees. And Amazon is not alone—other major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Starbucks, are increasingly offering free education perks as a way to stand…Read more...

Apple recently announced its next hardware showcase is planned for Tuesday, September 14, so we could be just a few days away from finally seeing the rumored iPhone 13 and other upcoming Apple products for the first time.

Whether you just watched the first episode of FX’s Impeachment: American Crime Story or noticed a smattering of headlines about subject and producer Monica Lewinsky, you might have a few questions about who she really is, besides “that woman” former president Bill Clinton falsely swore he never had sexual relations…Read more...

As my accidental nomadism in New York continues, this week finds me staying in a hotel in Chinatown, right in front of the Manhattan bridge. The hotel has definitely seen better days but, then again, so have I. Besides, the view is great, replete with a high cushioned seat for sitting and reading, or staring out the…Read more...

There’s a lot going on in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, from small features like Background Sounds to banner features like FaceTime SharePlay. But the one feature that’s going to have a huge impact on your day-to-day life is Live Text.Read more...

Safari gets a huge visual overhaul in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15—Apple has quite literally moved things around (the search bar is now at the bottom of the screen, for starters). And with new features like tab groups, the Private Browsing Mode got kind of lost in the mix with the removal of the prominent “Private” button. …Read more...

When you start having mental health problems, no one tells you they might take years to resolve. It’s understandable—mental health professionals are often trying to help you get through the day, finish school, keep going to work, or deal with a variety of other struggles. Over the years, every time I went through a…Read more...

In the grand scheme of things, dating someone of a different height isn’t that big of a deal. And if you’re notably short or tall, you’ve probably been there, done that. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re starting a relationship with someone who is much taller—or shorter—than you.Read more...

This week, the kids are stealing things from school, giving away outrageous sums of money, and nerding out over the reboot of The Matrix.

Students were already going through a mental health crisis before the coronavirus turned their world upside down. But when the pandemic forced everyone to isolate themselves, it only exacerbated the problem.

So, you forgot your iPhone’s password. It happens to the best of us. And you can guess all you want, but after too many attempts the system begins to lock you out. At first, it’s in short bursts, but after too many wrong guesses, your iPhone is locked for good. It might not be pretty, but here’s how to get yourself…Read more...

My concept of food going “bad” is simple: If it doesn’t smell weird, feel stickier than it should, or have mold growing on it, it’s probably fine! But some foods, like flour or dried beans, are a little trickier. Dried beans will never go so “bad” that they’ll cause great physical distress—though they can make you…Read more...

It’s that time of year again, when we buy a small GDP’s worth of school supplies, prepare our kids’ backpacks, wave them off at the bus stop, and breathe a sigh of relief that school is back in session. And then, as we work in blissful silence, watch in horror as the school WhatsApp chat notifications roll in.Read more...

A French press is a valuable addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen. I’ve had my stainless steel press for over a decade now—and it is still going strong, despite constant abuse—always ready for that moment when I need an intense cup of coffee you can only get by using a French press. However, that’s not all it can do.…Read more...

The Matrix, with its trippy, action-heavy explorations of the nature of reality (and heavy doses of trans allegory), brought mind-bending science fiction to the masses. It was, in many ways, the perfect blending of brain and brawn: a thoughtful movie, open to a wide variety of interpretations, that also happened to…Read more...

Even though there are tons of different types of protein powders out there, I’ve always preferred plain ol’ unflavored whey. Its creamy flavor and texture make it great not just for shakes but for other dairy-themed meals like yogurt parfaits. But another great protein powder has finally won me over, and it’s a weird…Read more...

According to recent reports from Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and Business Insider, there’s a new trend in remote work: Simultaneously (and secretly) holding down two full-time, salaried jobs—and enjoying all the perks that come with two salaries. If you work from home at a job that requires significantly less…Read more...

We’ve all had days when we’ve talked ourselves into either skipping or changing a planned workout. Sometimes, it’s because we are sick, exhausted, excessively sore, or we’ve had something more pressing come up. On other days, we just don’t feel like exerting the effort. On the days when you are considering changing…Read more...

“Going shopping” used to refer to putting on outside clothes, leaving the house, and searching for the items you need in retail stores. But now, shopping is less of an event and more something you might do on your phone when you’re bored. And while online shopping is definitely more convenient than traipsing around to…Read more...

The most challenging aspect of this job is knowing what “most people” already know. Thinking about food and cooking nearly all of the time means I have lost perspective on what’s “common knowledge,” and what would be beneficial to share with the public. In these moments of uncertainty, I turn to my fellow Lifehacker…Read more...

If you listen to a lot of music, you might like to share your tastes with all your friends by posting those tunes to your Instagram stories. Unfortunately, that method might appear closed off lately due to a bug—when you go to share a song from Apple Music, the Instagram option doesn’t show up. Luckily, there’s a…Read more...

Any parent with a child whose hair is moderately-to-aggressively tangly will know the struggle that smoothing out that follicular majesty entails. Even the sweetest child can turn into a stomping, hysterical demon hurling the meanest words they know when that brush touches their flowing tresses. It doesn’t have to be …Read more...

After some experimentation with fitness in virtual reality, I ultimately came to the conclusion that it’s good at certain things and not others. In this video, you can watch me slashing and punching imaginary things while I figure it all out.Read more...

You likely use Google multiple times a day, from searching for restaurants nearby, to looking up answers to everyday questions. And usually, Google is pretty good at giving you what you want, even if you didn’t type in the right phrase. But when it comes to using Google for research purposes, especially for work,…Read more...

You should never leave money on the table that’s rightfully yours, but in the case of unclaimed property—funds or assets owed to you by companies or financial institutions—you may not even know what you’re missing.