If you’ve ever gathered around a campfire, you might have noticed the smoke seems to follow you no matter where you are. No, it’s not your bad luck — there’s actually a scientific reason behind it.
Buying guide: How to choose an Amazon Echo for your home
© Kkvate | Dreamstime.com
The holidays are just around the bend. Are you ready? Finding the best gifts takes time, energy, and research, which is why we’re here to remind you to get the ball rolling early.
You’re not alone if you’re considering an Amazon Echo device for yourself or a loved one. When it comes to your next smart speaker, you’ve got plenty of models to consider. Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers tends to rise to the top above all else. Tap or click for clever ways to use your Echo and Alexa.
Keep reading to find out which Echo is right for you or someone in your life.
Amazon Echo (4th generation)
It’s chic. It’s hip. It’s adorable. Yes, the latest Echo device would make the perfect holiday gift. It tops our list because it’s universally loved. It’s also currently available at a steep discount.
The Echo 4th generation will transform your home into the entertainment oasis of your dreams. This generation received many upgrades, including advanced integration with your entire smart home set-up.
Smart plugs, smart locks, smart lightbulbs, and your home theater are most certainly included in these newfound capabilities. Its powerful speakers make chores, work, and playtime a breeze, leaving your hands free to take care of the rest.
[content-egg-block template=custom/k3_list next=1]
RELATED: Ditch the soundbar and use your Echo as a home theater speaker
Who it’s for
Ordinary people looking to listen to music while in the shower or would like a no-display Echo in their bedrooms so they can ask it what time it is at 3 a.m.
Anybody hoping to add more smart features and devices to their smart home deserves this incredible device. If you want Alexa and all of her talents, the 4th-gen Echo might be the one for you or the person on your gift list.
You can buy hearing aids over the counter - Should you?
Photo © Zay Nyi Nyi | Dreamstime.com
Life just got a little bit easier for people with hearing loss. Previously, you had to rely on a licensed physician to get hearing aids, which involved medical or audiological examinations. However, a new rule enables you to buy over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids as easily as a nasal spray or reading glasses.
40% off sale! The home security system you can set up yourself in 30 minutes
Think of the words “home security” and what comes to mind? An installation crew, pushy salespeople, an expensive monthly bill and, of course, shelling out a ton of money to get the whole thing set up.
Good news: It doesn’t have to be that way. With our sponsor, SimpliSafe, you can protect your entire home, around the clock, without busting your budget or even pulling out a drill. Install it all yourself in minutes, then it just works. And the best part is, right now, Kim’s listeners can get a SimpliSafe system for a whopping 40%. This deal won’t last long. Tap or click here to shop!
Get 40% off home security tech, like video doorbells, outdoor cameras and window sensors
Credit: SimpliSafe.com
Now is the best time to protect your home with tech. Thanks to a home security sale from our sponsor SimpliSafe, you can get steep discounts on everything you need to stay secure. Grab motion sensors, security cameras, burglary alarms and more.
How do oysters make pearls?
Pearls are iridescent spheres made of the same materials as an oyster’s shell. So, why are they so much more beautiful than the shell itself? It all comes down to the life cycle of an oyster.
How humans solved the greatest riddle of navigation
When you look at a globe, you see horizontal and vertical lines crisscrossing the entire sphere. Those are latitude and longitude lines and they have helped us explore the Earth over the last 500 years. In this video, you’ll learn how to find your own latitude and longitude at home without using Google. Cool!
Why is the Vatican's giant telescope located in Arizona?
Here’s a fun fact for your next holiday get together: The Catholic church is a leading force in space exploration. How? The church funds a massive space telescope in the middle of the Arizona desert. Researchers have used it to make countless discoveries and better understand the universe. But why is it in Arizona?
Historic weapons that were complete failures
War has been a constant throughout human history. In some cases, war led to ingenious innovation — and other times, it led to abject failure. In this video, go back in time to see weapons once lauded as the next game-changers. In reality, they were never used in combat or failed once deployed.
Why the US Army's camouflage was a big mistake
Camouflage has been part of military strategy for millennia. It allows soldiers to hide in plain sight and attack without being seen. But a little over 20 years ago, the U.S. changed its military camouflage and everyone realized pretty quickly that it was a big mistake.
Spider eyes are more powerful than you think
Spiders are some of the smallest invertebrates on Earth, but these tiny creatures have a remarkable skill. They can see better than most animals 10 times their size. The trick is that their eyes are tiny little telescopes that allow them to focus on things in extraordinary detail. Some scientists even claim spiders can see the details of the moon. The real question is, why do they need to be able to do this?
What causes sleepwalking?
Most of us know someone or are someone who occasionally gets up in the middle of the night while they are sleeping and walks around the house or does something strange. This is called sleepwalking, and around 4% of US adults have reported this happening to them. But why does this happen, and what can we do to prevent it?
Can you build a skyscraper out of wood?
The modern skyscraper is one of the most extraordinary feats of human engineering. These cloud piercers have been built with steel since the beginning of the 20th century, but now some creative builders are starting to think outside the box. What if you made one completely out of wood? Is it possible? The answer is yes, and they are already being built.
Why cruise ships virtually never sink
During the heyday of sea travel, it was fairly common for ships to be lost at sea. Ships were vulnerable to the elements, and there are certainly a lot of dangers on the open water: A freak wave, a massive storm or even an iceberg. Now we have enormous cruise ships and it’s extremely rare to hear of one sinking. What makes these floating cities so unsinkable?
Warn the kids in your family: Sex predators are stalking this site
The internet is scary and filled with dangers everywhere. Even adults can fall victim to scams or mistakenly infect their devices with malware. Think about how much worse things are for children. There are ways to see who they’re talking to and what they’re looking at, but they can’t catch everything.
What does the world's largest machine do?
When you think of large machines, you probably picture a massive tractor or maybe an enormous science experiment. Think bigger — much, much bigger. How about the size of the entire United States? The world’s largest machine is actually the U.S. power grid and how it became one giant machine is an amazing story.
What is the smallest thing in the universe?
The universe is massive, filled with hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars 100 times larger than the sun. But what if we looked down instead of looking up? There are entire worlds all around us that we can’t see. The smaller we get, the crazier these worlds are. How small can we get, and what does the world look like from that perspective?
What exactly is terminal velocity?
We have all heard the old tale that if you throw a penny off the Empire State Building, it will drop so fast that it could kill someone on the street below. Is that true? Some people put it to the test. Check out what happens when pennies are dropped onto someone from a helicopter way up high.
The shocking complexity of concert tours
Who doesn’t love a good concert? The blaring music, the beautiful lights and the singing crowd. But the process of getting the band set up, the stage ready and the venue prepared is incredibly complicated. Dozens of man hours go into getting a show ready. If a band is big enough, they have a well-oiled machine to get it done.
The surprising way microchips are made
Almost every tech gadget we use in our daily lives has some sort of microchip inside it. TVs, thermostats and even toasters rely on microchips to work efficiently. Microchips are made using sand, but how do we go from a pile of grains to a tiny little computer? The answer? With a ton of work.