2026-07-31

9 things everyone does in summer without knowing why

Fireworks, the summer road trip, backyard barbecues — traditions so familiar nobody questions them, and origin stories stranger than expected [...]

2026-07-31

20 ways streaming services decide what to recommend to you

A closer look at how streaming services decide what to recommend, covering watch history, hidden microgenres, thumbnail tests and the algorithms behind your queue [...]

2026-07-31

This hilarious robot collapse reminds me that robot development is nowhere near where it needs to be, but a huge breakthrough from DeepMind could change all that

Two recent robot demonstrations — one a huge fail and the other an inspiring breakthrough — remind us how far robots capable of living and working among us are from reality. [...]

2026-07-31

6 factors that decide whether a hot day feels brutal or just warm

Geography, wind patterns, nearby bodies of water, vegetation — the specific factors that determine whether 90 degrees feels tolerable or miserable [...]

2026-07-31

The 10 best shoulder season destinations in the U.S.

From coastal towns to mountain escapes, these U.S. destinations are at their best during the quieter shoulder season. [...]

2026-07-31

Google Pulls Earth’s AI Image Tool a Day After Launch

Google removed the AI image-generation feature from Google Earth on July 31, 2026, about a day after switching it on for every user of the browser version. The company said it is "rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails." The feature had shipped on July 30, 2026. Bryan Horowitz, a product manager on Google Earth, described it in the lau [...]

2026-07-31

The 10 best beaches in the U.S.

From Pacific Northwest tide pools to Hawaiian surf breaks and mid-Atlantic beaches where wild ponies roam, the best beaches in the US [...]

2026-07-31

6 things beach house listings don't tell you upfront

Actual beach access, real distance from the water, storm and flood history — the details that determine whether a beach house lives up to its listing [...]

2026-07-31

9 things in a rental listing that quietly signal a bad deal

Vague utility language, suspiciously low deposits, "flexible" move-in dates — the listing details that signal hidden costs before you've even toured the unit [...]