How the things around you actually work
Plain-English breakdowns of the hardware, networks and software people use every day, plus buying context that outlasts the news cycle.
2 articles in this section.
Technology
A plain-English explanation of radio bands, channels, interference and router placement, plus the troubleshooting order that fixes most home Wi-Fi complaints.
By Owen Brackett · June 2, 2026 · 10 min read
Technology
How lithium-ion batteries age, why charge cycles and heat matter more than charging habits, and which settings genuinely extend the useful life of a phone.
By Priya Raman · March 18, 2026 · 8 min read
One email each Thursday with the guides we published that week and the corrections we made to older ones. No sponsored placements in the newsletter body.
