Lifehacker

Are you a little nervous about getting back out there? Do you have some lingering pandemic-induced anxiety keeping you from socializing again? Fear not, because this week we’re learning how we can start to gradually reintegrate into society with help from therapist Chamin Ajjan, Founder and Clinical Director of Chamin…Read more...

With so many celestial events lately, it might seem strange that the next space phenomenon to witness won’t be a natural occurrence, but launched into the cosmos by people. Just a few days after the alignment of the moon and mars, NASA is launching Northrop Grumman’s Minotaur 1 rocket from the space agency’s Wallops…Read more...

Little kids love to pour liquids from one container into another—but they’re not great at it. That’s because precise pouring is not a skill one can learn by watching another person do it; they have to practice it themselves to learn how to control the flow.Read more...

Everything on the internet was wild last week. There were wild pants, wild boxing matches, and criminals who act wild on YouTube, so let’s dive in. Oh, and Loki is alive again.

Summer is the time for cocktails and dinner parties, and now that we can host more gatherings again, putting your home bar in order is essential. If you’re like me, your home bar has been a vital resource during the pandemic, and the odds are good it has gotten a bit unwieldy during your 15-month social hiatus. Now…Read more...

It’d be pretty convenient if any portable air conditioning unit could slot right into your window and immediately cool down your home, but the size of the room in question is the most important aspect of your search for satisfying air conditioning. You don’t want to situate a smaller unit in front of a large,…Read more...

Most people aren’t intentionally toxic. Rather, the way we were raised, the relationships we have, or our own temperament can allow bad habits to slip into the way we parent in a way that can negatively impact our longterm relationships with our kids. That’s one of the (many) struggles that comes with this role—we…Read more...

Considering that nearly a third of borrowers cancel their credit cards because of annual fees, it makes sense to consider whether you’re getting enough value for the cost of owning a premium card. One overlooked way of maximizing that value is to understand any statement credits offered before you sign up for a new…Read more...

As more people are getting vaccinated and COVID-19 rates are declining, those who have been avoiding social situations for either pandemic or personal reasons (or both) may find themselves in situation where they’re supposed to socialize. This includes both starting and having a conversation.Read more...

As temperatures across the country continue to rise—along with the humidity and our electricity bills—our air conditioners are getting a workout. But if your home has central air, there are a few things you can do to get the most out of your unit, according to Dave Radziej from the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling…Read more...

At first glance, grilling might seem simple: Cooking food over fire? Humans have been doing that for ages. But as anyone who has ever eaten extremely dry grilled chicken or an overcooked steak knows, it also takes some skill. If that’s not a skill you currently have, you may be interested in a summer job that’ll pay…Read more...

When shopping for electronics, outerwear, watches, or building materials, you’ve probably noticed that some products are labeled “waterproof” while others are “water resistant.” While both offer better protection from water than other items, the two terms don’t mean the same thing.Read more...

People who live somewhere with ample outdoor space may have the room to spread out and make an in-ground garden—instead of being limited to planters like city-dwellers—but gardening in containers comes with some benefits of its own. In fact, if you pick the right ones (and the right plants) it can make your garden and…Read more...

Today is National Get Outdoors Day, and while we typically don’t need to be reminded to go outside, after more than a year stuck inside during a global pandemic, it’s easy to forget that’s an option. If you’re looking for a fun (and relaxing) way to spend time outdoors and have some unused vacation days, you may be…Read more...

Android 12 Beta 2 rolled out this week for all beta participants, adding a batch of new features and settings for testers to play around with. While the Android 12 beta is still only available for Pixel devices, don’t let the FOMO get to you; Android 12 is still several months away from a stable release, and this most…Read more...

Squats are one of the very best exercises for your legs, and nearly everybody who lifts heavy weights regularly does some form of squat. But perhaps you’ve heard that squats are bad for your knees, or that you need to do squats in a certain specific way to avoid injury. Let’s break down the specifics so you’ll know…Read more...

Since so much of our modern work communication relies on our inboxes, it’s incumbent upon everyone to learn how to communicate effectively through email. This is true even if you’re a chemical engineer who doesn’t know a preposition from a door handle.

If you find an unexpected letter in your mailbox this week, purportedly from the IRS and offering you thousands of dollars in cash for a child tax credit, don’t panic—it’s not a scam. In fact, you’ll want to hold onto these letters as receipts for the very-real refundable tax credit that passed as part of President…Read more...

Animals and insects are drawn to places that are warm and will keep them hidden. Unfortunately, your car ticks both of those boxes, which means at some point you may face the unwelcome discovery that some critters have taken up residence in your ride.

Stability issues are uncommon on the Nintendo Switch, but the recent 12.0.3 firmware is one of the rare instances where an update is causing a widespread bug on the console. Many users report getting error code 2123-1502 when they attempt to download or update games from the eShop, preventing them from downloading any…Read more...

The first time I stood on a skateboard, I was in high school. I was transferred from an all-Black school in Detroit to a predominately White one, and learning to navigate a new cultural landscape—hacky sack, field hockey, acoustic guitars—led me to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and, later, a group of kids playing…Read more...

You may already have started celebrating Pride month as a family, whether by talking to your kids about what it means to identify as LGBTQ, seeking out local events, or leaning in on the rainbow crafts and baked goods. But if your child identifies as LGBTQ, you may be wondering what else you can or should be doing to…Read more...

If you’re like me, you relentlessly charge your devices even if doing so might be hurting the battery over the long-term. “This is the way,” I think to myself as I look over at the AirPods Pro charging case that I’ve left plugged in for the last three weeks.

Concerns about germs have shaped the last year and a half of our lives thanks to one germ in particular: the virus that causes COVID-19. But the billions of other bacteria, viruses, and microbes that surround us haven’t exactly ceased to exist. What do we really need to be afraid of? And how can we protect ourselves…Read more...

The 2016 episode of Adam Ruins Everything, “Adam Ruins Hollywood,” makes a bold but accurate claim: “Movie ratings are totally pointless.”

Sometimes, when an emotionally manipulative person seeks to cause drama, you might want to offer a response commensurate with their behavior. Except, you should really consider doing the opposite: Namely, acting like there’s nothing you can offer in terms of engagement, and remain as placid as a lake on a wind-free…Read more...

For some, the lawn is like a living welcome mat, inviting people into their home. They may be ill-suited to the climate in many areas (and an ecological disaster), but there’s no denying lawns have a certain visual appeal—and grass is pretty fun to roll around in.

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Prix Fixed, Lifehacker’s menu-planning advice column.Read more...

Amtrak has been rolling out some good deals all year, but this might be the best one yet: The railroad service is bringing back the USA Rail Pass for $299, which is 40% off their usual price—making it a cheaper alternative to travel by plane or car. Here’s what you need to know.Read more...

One of 2019’s best video games, Control, is free for PC on the Epic Game Store launcher this week—and it’s not the only one.

In the age of misinformation and disinformation, we’re (hopefully) all getting a little better about fact-checking—or at least, about not automatically believing every last thing we read or hear on the internet. But there are some fundamental truths we were taught as kids that, it turns out, were never true. Or they…Read more...

I run most mornings, usually making the same boring loop of the neighborhood each time. But today, I found myself at a nearby park, scrutinizing a map, strategizing the best way to capture the most tiles for my team. I was playing a game called Stride, and I could see it becoming addictive.Read more...

There’s a notion being sold and perpetuated, as our jobs have become increasingly entangled with our personal identities: The idea is that work isn’t so much a means to an end (of paying bills, putting food on the table, and financing our lives), but rather a way to live out our passions and realize our dreams for…Read more...

Apple TV users should update the HBOMax app right now to fix some—but not all—of the bugs introduced in last week’s version update.

Window air conditioners are typically used in apartment buildings and older homes without central air. Most people install it in their window, plug it in, and forget it, but at some point that “filter reset” button comes on and you find yourself scratching your head on how to replace it.Read more...

Let me introduce you to your good friend, sweat. Ignore the gross feel and the potential for B.O. for the moment, and think about what it does for you: When your body gets too hot, threatening to raise your core temperature over what’s healthy, little glands in your skin squeeze drops of moisture onto its surface. As…Read more...

I don’t know how up-to-date you are on the latest and greatest popsicle news, but Outshine is now making mango frozen fruit bars that are seasoned with Tajin. That is correct: The best mass-produced grocery store popsicle just got even better, because it now comes dipped in a delightful mixture of chili powder, salt,…Read more...

We want to bring life into our homes, but many of us without green thumbs have found our plants quickly turning brown. So Lucrecer Braxton (aka @soulsistaplants) is here to share her five favorite plants, and how to take care of them.Read more...

Whether you’re in what’s known as an ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationship or just going on a bunch of Tinder dates without nailing anything down, there are a few ways to make sure you’re being as safe as possible, without being an asshole.Read more...

You love your dog, and your dog loves you, but your dog also loves filth, possibly as much as they love you. Your canine friend probably has a penchant for burying their snout in fresh turds, or maybe they find heaps of garbage an inviting place to roll around.

We don’t want to believe that our adolescent children will abuse any addictive substances, but we also know that it’s increasingly likely they will as they get older. By 12th grade, about two-thirds of students will have tried alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; nearly half of all…Read more...

You know that putting money aside is a good idea, but counterintuitive though it might seem, putting it all in the same place can make your budgeting more complicated than it needs to be. To keep things straight, why not sign up for multiple savings accounts and divide your savings for specific purposes?

Not only are sunflowers beautiful summer plants, they’re also resilient ones that love direct sun and hot days. Plus, their large heads produce seeds that are healthy and snackable, making sunflowers a decorative and edible plant for your seasonal garden. Here’s how to grow happy and healthy sunflowers, and how to…Read more...

A couple of evenings ago, I went berry picking on Sauvie Island with a few friends. After tasting several of the many varieties available, I settled on Hoods, because the season is short and I am only human. (Once you have experienced the candy-sweet flesh of a Hood strawberry, it’s hard to go back to huge, watery…Read more...

When I wrote about what it means to be immunocompromised in early March of this year, I was itching to get vaccinated. People are immunocompromised for a variety of reasons—genetics, age, metabolic diseases like diabetes, and immune-suppressing medications taken for conditions including autoimmune diseases, organ…Read more...

While it’s easy to say “don’t spend too much” after the pandemic, the truth is that just under half of all Americans are going to treat themselves with travel or shopping, even if that means going into debt to do it, according to a recent creditcards.com report. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to contain…Read more...

Whether it’s from too many items of sentimental value or you just haven’t thrown things out in a while, decluttering can be hard. When a kitchen gets cluttered, though, it can be even worse than a crowded closet or garage because it starts to affect the functionality of a space you use multiple times a day.Read more...

Old-school bagged vacuum cleaners are pretty rare these days. This makes some amount of sense: If you can order a brand-new, lightweight canister vacuum off Amazon for less than $200, why bother with a heavier, noisier relic of a machine that requires replacement bags?Read more...

Knowing how to defend yourself is a nice feeling. If, god forbid, someone with bad intentions were to cross your path, you could, theoretically, handle the situation better than if you hadn’t taken those classes. But the concept of “self-defense” is a broad church that encompasses many schools of thought—some of which…Read more...

Deadlifts are one of the biggest lifts you’re likely to ever do in the gym, because your butt and back and legs contain some of the strongest muscles in the human body. With their powers combined, you can move a lot of iron. But there’s a weak link, for many of us: Our grip.Read more...