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In between tips and how-tos, we also often do "explainers," where we break down complicated topics into simple language. Our goal is to help you understand how these difficult topics work, and show you what you can do with the knowledge. Here are our best from the past year.
Some of the topics we tackled this year include whether or not Beats By Dre headphones are worth their price tag, why you make bad decisions when you're in love, the basics of color theory, and how predictive keyboards work:
Are Beats By Dre Headphones Any Good?
Dear Lifehacker,
I'm in the market for a new pair of headphones, and I've been eyeballing the Beats By Dre Studios. I like a lot of bass in my music, but some people tell me they suck and are overpriced. Are they actually horrible, or are these people just snobby audiophiles who like to hate on popular headphones? Will I notice a difference?
Why Is My Internet Suddenly So Slow?
Dear Lifehacker,
I have a fast internet connection, but it doesn't always earn the title. Sometimes I get half the speed I pay for during certain times of the day. Other times my upstream connection barely works. I've done all the usual modem resetting tech support always requires but I still have the problem. Any ideas?
What Does the Shape and Color of My Poop Mean?
Dear Lifehacker,
Like most people, I've pooped a lot in my lifetime. Usually things follow a fairly predictable pattern, but now and then I've seen unusual colors and shapes. I don't feel bad or have any discomfort, but I'm concerned these changes might mean something. How can I figure out when I should be concerned about the shape and color of my poop?
Why You Make Bad Decisions When You're Attracted to Someone
Dating new people is fun and exciting. It's also likely to cause even the most rational, level-headed people to make really dumb decisions. Don't worry, though. Your brain is supposed to do that. Sort of.
What the "Heartbleed" Security Bug Means For You
Security researchers have discovered a serious vulnerability in OpenSSL, the cryptographic software library that protects many web sites on the internet. Here's what that means for you, the average user.
What Research Tells Us About the Most Successful Relationships
There's no single "formula" to a perfect relationship. However, we've studied an awful lot about what successful couples do. Everyone's relationships are a bit different, but we can take away a lot from what we know works.
Why There's So Much Confusion Over Health and Nutrition
If you believed the internet, you'd think there's huge debate over whether eggs, coffee, or salt are good or bad for you. In reality, there's significant agreement on diet and health issues among experts, but the general public is conflicted. So why are we so confused when experts agree? Let's clear the air.
Are Glass Screen Protectors Better Than Plastic Ones?
Dear Lifehacker,
I scratched the screen of my last phone and I want to avoid that on my new one. I'm not a fan of plastic screen guards, but I have been hearing a lot about glass screen protectors. Are they better than plastic?
Is It Bad If I Crack My Knuckles or Other Joints?
Dear Lifehacker,
Every now and then I crack my knuckles and sometimes my other joints creak and pop too. I'm not even that old, really! Should I be concerned? Are my noisy joints bad?
Learn the Basics of Color Theory to Know What Looks Good
Colors are important to making things look good, whether it's the clothes you wear or the presentation you give at work. But not everyone instinctively knows that orange and blue is a perfect combination. If you can't trust your own judgement, understand and rely on the basics of color theory to always pick the right colors.
What's the Difference Between All These Types of Massages?
Dear Lifehacker,
I really need a massage, but I'm confused by the dozens of different types to choose from. What's the difference between, like, a Swedish massage, a deep tissue massage, or a Shiatsu massage? How do I know which one to pick?
What Is 4K and Should I Buy a 4K Display Right Now?
Dear Lifehacker,
4K TVs hit the market last year and lots of companies are in the process of releasing budget-conscious 4K monitors. I like the idea of higher resolution, so is this something I can benefit from or should I just stick with the monitor I've got?
This Is Your Brain on Sugar
According to some US health experts, eating too much sugar can be as bad for you as smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol. This video from TED Ed explains just what sugar does to your brain and body—and why it's so addictive.
Why We're Hooked On Social Networks
Births, job losses, divorces, raises, vacations, successes, photos, drawings, articles, failures, and music: Social networks are places we share our stories. Sometimes those stories are personal, sometimes they're informative, other times they're just stupid. Let's take a look at why we feel compelled to do it.
How Hot Is Too Hot for Your Computer to Run
You probably know that heat is bad for your computer, and you might even know how to monitor its temperatures. But how hot is too hot? Linus from Techquickie explains in this video
How Predictive Keyboards Work (and How You Can Train Yours Better)
Almost all of us have a predictive keyboard on our smartphone, which suggests upcoming words for super-fast typing. Even so, they're not perfect, and sometimes turn up hilarious results. Luckily, it's not hard to train your keyboard to understand you, once you know how it works.
Why We're So Full Of Ourselves: In Defense of Narcissistic Qualities
There's a huge difference between being a "narcissist" and being self-centered, although you wouldn't know it by how often it's used as an insult. Even so, being a little self-centered isn't just a good thing, it's necessary for our mental health. Sure, there's a line, but let's talk about where that line is, and how you can turn that inward gaze out to the world a little bit.
Lots of Health Apps Are Selling Your Data. Here's Why
Recently, a slew of reports have popped up showing how fitness apps are logging and selling off your data to ad companies, city planners, and others. By their nature, these apps have a lot of sensitive personal data about you that you might not want out in the world. Let's take a look at what's going on.
What Is "Big Data," and Who's Collecting It?
Dear Lifehacker,
I've been hearing more and more about "big data." What is it, and is it something I should be worried about? Is this another way companies harvest my data and sell it?
Are Bugs Like Shellshock and Heartbleed Really Serious, or Just Hype?
Dear Lifehacker,
So Shellshock is the newest vulnerability that may "break the internet." The last time they said that, it was about Heartbleed. Do I really need to be worried about all these bugs and vulnerabilities, or is this stuff tech companies need to care about? Can someone actually use these against me?
There you have it. Hopefully you feel a little more educated about the myriad of topics we covered this year, but if you're thirsty for more knowledge, be sure to check out our most popular explainers of 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010.
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