Millions of you have turned to each month in 2024 to see the latest scientific breakthroughs and technological debacles and everything in between. Using a secret formula of readership statistics, social activity, and curatorial instinct, we have collected 22 (why not!) stories spanning everything from DIY home tips to (so-called) gates of hell to (real) transparent mice. Peruse our most popular headlines of 2024 below and click through to read the stories. We love answering our readers’ questions in our series When posed with a question of what to do with Earth’s ever-mounting piles of e-waste, plastic, recalled microwaves, bedbug-ridden couches, beached tankers, what have you... One of our readers had the idea of shooting it all into the sun. contributor Harri Weber and consulted experts to see if it was viable in one of our most read stories of the year. Short answer: No. But why? The answer is... practical. (If you’re feeling inspired, you can always submit your burning questions using . Nothing is too outrageous for us to tackle, clearly.) If you were on the internet at all during the first two years of the pandemic, you may have seen a very floating around. It insisted that while we were sequestered to our homes by well-meaning health authorities, the lack of human activity in the outside world had resulted in a sort of ecological Renaissance. Turns out that that wasn’t actually true. contributor Lauren Leffer behind the viral (but fake) phenomena. And no, dolphins weren’t swimming in the Venice canals. Sorry. The Mastervoice Butler in a Box was the original home voice assistant, first introduced way back in 1983, costing more than $4,000 a pop in today’s money. Our intrepid video team set out to find it and reactivate it more than forty years later. It was a journey! Watch us What happens if you ingest collagen? A market will tell you that its benefits are plentiful, especially if you’re trying to revitalize your skin’s youthful glow. Contributor Hannah Seo digs into the claims on a granular... nay, molecular level. For more on collagen drinks, dermatology advice, and the wild world of under-regulated supplements, You know you can recycle, upcycle, and repair your old sunglasses instead of contributing to piles of garbage (which, we repeat, you just launch into the sun) and wasting money? Of the we’ve published this year, something about sunglasses piqued your interest. 😎 It may sound like stuff of science fiction, but, with the help of physics and chemistry, scientists have turned the bellies of live lab mice nearly transparent, allowing for an unobstracted view of the pumping and throbbing innards within. Oh, also they used a dye commonly found in your most orange snacks. Wild! You can and , if you don’t believe us. Usually, orcas hang and hunt in pods, but this solitary creature with a taste for blood all by itself. Our resident expert all things under the sea Laura Baisas observed this gnarly display of nature. We love a good heist... and airplanes! Staff writer Andrew Paul spotted earlier this year. All that effort and creativity, but the alleged smugglers did not get away with it this time. This was the first documented case of in an extremely rare case of . In a lab experiment, a type of marine algae and a bacterium had combined into one living organism. Scientists predict that this event could not have happened in the last billion years... that we know of! There are named after a biblical destination of eternal damnation. But appears to be growing. Uh-oh. In yet we explore RCA’s ill-fated attempt at making the home media system Selectavision 400 happen. It was a disaster for the company. Of course, we had to get one of these and try to make it work. The struggle was real. Did you know that there’s a sweet spot of optimal battery power for your Android phone? Shocking, we know, but it’s not 100%. contributor and tech hacks extraordinaire David Nield Whether or not you can handle it psychologically is up to you. Did you know ? Neither did we until inspired DIY’er Debbie Wolfe outline this and many more uses for this supposed waste product. For more home tips from Debbie, check out her , , and . Humans grow and change. It’s part our nature. Not this guy. has been found to have the slowest rate of molecular evolution among all jawed vertebrates, with its genome changes much more slowly than other vertebrates walking and swimming around the globe. That might explain the “old soul” look in Gar’s eyes. Kristin Shaw, our contributor for all things auto, dug into the history of Ski-Doo, the only snowmobile quiet enough to be allowed at Yellowstone National Park. If you’re interested in rules, regulations, and snowmobile design, We were told to squish as many of these brightly-patterned bugs as we could, but has it made a difference? In this very through feature from Lauren Leffer, we not only answer your burning question but break down exactly how invasive species get designated and dealt with. the scientific mysteries of ecological imbalance. Meanwhile, keep squishing. We’ll let the scientists speak for this one: “Watching an invasive apex predator swallow a full-sized deer in front of you is something that you will never forget.” Yikes! and try, try to unsee it. These that apply to both Windows and macOS will not only keep your computer running smoothly, they will help you declutter your life. Try them out and find out for yourself. Ever touched the soft flesh bags dangling from your ear and wondered, what are these even for? (Besides wearing earrings, of course.) on vestigial organs and offered some very convincing theories on the evolutionary mystery of earlobes in this feature. Ever wondered how electronic drums and cymbals work? What do they sound like? What do they feel like? This hands-on breakdown from Stan Horaczek . This one was close to Andrew’s heart, and we’re glad our readers shared the interest. At the intersection of luck and technology, meet the kid that finally “beat” this game, , and learn more about the history of Tetris kill screens, mods, and “hypertapping.” Laura spotted this ultra-rare specimen on and interviewed the scientists that received it as a donation. Then, stay tuned for more amazing animals, groundbreaking inventions, and handy tips in 2025.CARSON, Calif. — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. MLS' most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing decade, even finishing 26th in the 29-team league last year. But the Galaxy turned everything around this season with a high-scoring new lineup that finished second in the Western Conference and then streaked through the playoffs with a whopping 18 goals in five games to win another crown. Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable charge through the playoffs ended one win shy of its first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win MLS' playoff tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons. He was the MVP of the 2022 MLS Cup Final for the Galaxy's crosstown rival, Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the Western Conference final. Puig watched the game in a suit, but his teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their fans during the celebration. Paintsil put the Galaxy ahead in the ninth minute when he ran onto that sublime pass from Brugman and pounded home his 14th MLS goal — including four in the playoffs — in the Ghanaian forward's outstanding first season. Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home the 21st goal of his outstanding year as the Galaxy's striker. Nealis got New York on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when he volleyed home a ball that got loose in LA's penalty area after a corner. The Galaxy's usually shaky defense gave up another handful of good chances before reaching halftime with a tenuous lead. The second half was lively, but scoreless. Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Gabriel Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose again in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. The Galaxy bench rushed onto the field and prematurely celebrated a victory in the seventh minute of injury time, only to be herded back off for another 30 seconds of play. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of traveling Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club's breakthrough on MLS' biggest stage. The Galaxy's Greg Vanney became the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two clubs. The former Galaxy player also won it all with Toronto in 2017. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández rebuilt itself this season with lesser-known young talents from around the world. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and the Ghanaian Paintsil out of Belgium, and the duo combined with incumbent Serbian striker Joveljic to form a potent attack that could outscore almost any MLS opponent. But the Galaxy also relied heavily on Puig, their Catalan catalyst and one of MLS' best players. Puig stayed in last week's game after injuring his knee, and he even delivered the decisive pass to Joveljic for the game's only goal.WASHINGTON — Mayor Richard J. Daley played a key role in the 1976 election of President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100. During the Democratic primary season, Daley was instrumental in landing the nomination for Carter. The Georgia governor would go on to win the 1976 presidential contest, though in November, he didn’t carry Illinois. “His political ties here were pretty strong,” William Daley, the son of the late mayor, told the Sun-Times. The powerful Chicago mayor took a chance on Carter, running in 1976 as an outsider. When Carter “started to win all the primaries,” showing his potential to clinch the nomination, William Daley said his father blocked a “movement by the so-called old-liners, institutional Democrats” who were trying to stop Carter and entice former Vice President Hubert Humphrey into the primary. “And my dad ... said, ‘No, nobody should challenge him. He’s winning with the voters, and he should be the nominee of the party,’” he said. WTTW’s John Callaway interviewed Carter in 2006 about his memories of coming to Chicago, Daley and the 1976 primary. “I came here as an unknown governor from Georgia,” Carter said, and went to see Daley “just to pay my respects, and he took a liking to me for some reason.” Carter said he would “spend some time with him on each visit. That was when I had maybe three or four percent in the polls; nobody thought I was gonna win.” Carter said, “Mayor Daley told me that if I carried Ohio” he would deliver Illinois votes for him. “So the night that I carried Ohio, the phone rang, Mayor Daley was on the phone, he said you’ve got 273 votes in the Democratic convention that you didn’t have a few moments ago.” After Carter won the nomination, Daley pushed to turn out Chicago votes for him in November general election. That included doing Carter a favor. A traditional get-out-the-vote giant torchlight parade was typically held the Saturday before the fall election, but in 1976, Daley moved it up, to Sept. 9. That idea was to give Carter a national boost with a tour de force in Chicago. The parade kicked off at Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue, and the marchers wound their way to Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., the turnout a testimony to Daley’s powerful Democratic machine. Carter waved to the crowds from a convertible, where he sat between Daley and Sen. Adlai Stevenson III, coming to the city after stumping that day in Peoria, Springfield and Evergreen Park. As the presidential nominee, Carter returned to Chicago on Oct. 11, with wife, Rosalynn, and daughter Amy, marching next to Daley at the Columbus Day Parade on State Street. But it was not enough. Though Democratic presidential candidates have won Illinois in every election since 1992, back in 1976, Illinois was still a swing state. Despite losing nationally, Ford and his running mate, Sen. Bob Dole, took Illinois, with 50.1% of the vote to 48.1% for Carter and his vice presidential pick, Walter Mondale. That December, Carter returned to Chicago while president-elect to attend Daley’s funeral at the Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church. “He came to my dad’s funeral in December of ’76, and a month later, he was inaugurated and invited the four of us — my three brothers and I — to come to the inauguration,” William Daley said. “And it was really nice of him” reaching out to a family still in mourning. “But we went. He gave us great seats, and it was really nice of him.” Carter’s 1980 campaign: Byrne’s knifing Chicago is also the place where Carter, running for a second term, was double-crossed by Mayor Jane Byrne, in one of the most famous knifings in modern Chicago political history. Carter was in Chicago for a fundraiser at McCormick Place. Sen. Ted Kennedy was poised to challenge Carter in the Democratic primary. At the fundraiser, Byrne told the crowd that she would endorse Carter if the election were held that night, a message she also sent privately. Except the election was not held that night. Within weeks, Byrne did a U-turn, endorsing Kennedy. As the Sun-Times’ Basil Talbott reported at the time, “the mayor denied she was changing her mind about Carter, although on two recent occasions she said she would back him for reelection. “I told the president I could support him, until I thought he could not win,” Byrne said. Byrne didn’t have enough juice to defeat Carter, who was running in the March 1980 Illinois primary with the backing of the Daley clan. In the Illinois primary, Carter, with 65% bested Kennedy, at 30%. Byrne went on in the general election campaign to appear with Carter, the 39th president, at a Daley Center rally on Oct. 6, 1980. While Carter won Illinois in 1976, he lost the state in 1980. In November, Republican Ronald Reagan, born in Tampico, Ill., beat Carter 49.6% to 41.7% Reagan won the general election, becoming the 40th president. Carter visited Chicago in his post presidential years. He came for speeches, panels and to promote one of his signature initiatives, Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for low-income people. He also came to see his grandchildren. His son Jack lived in Evanston for a time, moving to the area in 1981. According to records in the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Jack Carter worked at the Chicago Board of Trade, Citibank and Tabor Commodities, a subsidiary of Archer-Daniels-Midland, now known as ADM. Chicago fundraiser hosted by future Commerce secretary When Carter, then governor of Georgia, was running for president the first time, he came to Chicago for a fundraiser. One of the event sponsors was Philip Klutznick, a real estate developer, prominent Democrat and international Jewish leader. Klutznick couldn’t attend the event, so he asked his daughter, Bettylu Saltzman, to stand in for him. “And I was introduced in a rather inartful way to Gov. Carter,” Saltzman told the Sun-Times. She was referred to only as “Phil Klutznick’s daughter,” as if she were not a person with her own identity. Carter picked up on the slight. “And Gov. Carter, in a way so that other people could hear it said, ‘I bet you have a name,’” said Saltzman, recalling how his compassionate reply reflected the enduring decency Carter became known for. Klutznick would go on to serve as Carter’s commerce secretary from Jan. 9, 1980, to Jan. 19, 1981, with his daughter, Bettylu Saltzman, a major Democratic activist, instrumental in the later rise of Barack Obama. At Klutznick’s swearing-in — his oath was administered by Abner Mikva, the former Chicago congressman who was then an appeals court judge — Carter made a joke about Klutznick’s rag-to-riches story with a reference to Chicago’s Water Tower Place. Klutznick developed the mixed-use skyscraper, and he lived on the 72nd floor. Carter said, “He knows business from top to bottom, or I should say bottom to top. He was born in a room above his family’s store. He now lives in a penthouse — above the headquarters for a giant business complex.”The Independent View: How a bill gets passed, part 2
The latest from in their foray into Apple Intelligence is with iOS 18.2, but lately, it has been getting a bad rep because of its 'underwhelming' features according to users, but there are already massive advancements available for all. One of the top advancements on iOS 18.2 is the so-called 'Natural Language' that is available for users to take advantage of when they search using AI. This latest feature is one of the most nifty things available on Apple Intelligence's list of capabilities, including its massive integration of ChatGPT with OpenAI, Genmoji, Siri advancements, and more. ? The most recent iOS 18.2 RC (release candidate) that was initially experienced by beta users was the version that gave the world this so-called "Natural Language," and Apple meant for it to help users simplify their search. According to , users may take advantage of using 'natural language,' a.k.a. how a person normally speaks, when searching for something on Cupertino's streaming apps. This is available via Apple Music and Apple TV, and Apple said in its release notes that users may now describe or reiterate what they are searching for on these platforms without the need to be more specific on their queries. "Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you're looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more," said Apple. While it is not exactly directly related to Apple Intelligence, it is a feature that is known to be one of the biggest advantages of AI-powered experiences over regular search bars or AI assistants on smartphones. While specifying a query will help users narrow down their search more, using natural language in finding music or video content would be a great place to start, especially if one is unfamiliar with the title, artist, or genre. On the other hand, natural language search is also available on the newly revamped Siri, and users may command the chatbot to find songs or videos based on what they want to see or find, with the AI assistant fulfilling their requests. However, there is a small caveat for iOS 18.2's natural language capabilities as it can only understand user input in English for now, but the company said that it is planning to bring more language support to accommodate more future experiences via this technology. December gave the world an improved experience on Apple Intelligence when it was update for all eligible devices, ushering in the start of Cupertino's massive AI focuses. One of the top features available here is the ChatGPT integration which is only made available now, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence for the Capture Button. That being said, it is not yet the end for Apple's many upgrades for its proprietary AI as the company is looking to complete its full rollout of the first batch of Apple Intelligence features until iOS 18.4 or later. However, Apple recently faced massive criticism for its AI developments as many found it overwhelming despite it already featuring its native writing tools apart from ChatGPT, but Cupertino is only starting with what it has to offer users.Canada has a Nobel Prize for artificial intelligence. But our AI red tape will strangle us
Will Riley's 19 points in the 2nd half leads No. 25 Illinois past Maryland Eastern Shore 87-40
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua On Tuesday, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son in Beijing. Noting that next year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Han said the two sides should follow the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, maintain strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, consolidate the foundation of public opinion, strengthen multilateral coordination and promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, bringing more benefits to the two peoples. Bui Thanh Son said that developing long-term friendly relations with China is the consistent proposition, objective requirement, strategic choice and top priority of Vietnam's diplomacy. Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation with China, and jointly promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future with strategic significance, he added. Also on Tuesday, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Bui Thanh Son co-chaired the 16th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in Beijing. Wang said that in December last year, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, made a historic visit to Vietnam, and in August this year, To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Vietnamese president, successfully visited China, as the top leaders of the two parties and countries reached an important consensus on advancing the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future. Over the past year, various departments and localities of both countries have actively implemented this consensus, promoting fruitful results in China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation. This not only benefits the two parties, the two countries, and their peoples, but also adds stability and certainty to a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, Wang said. Wang and Bui Thanh Son also attended the commemorating event for the 25th anniversary of the demarcation of the land boundary between China and Vietnam and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the three legal documents. Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute at Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times that meetings between senior officials from China and Vietnam are constructive to accelerate the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance political mutual trust and improve the quality of cooperation in fields like infrastructure, trade and investment. Given the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, Gu noted that the stable China-Vietnam relationship is of great significance to regional peace and eliminating external interference. Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that interaction between the two countries will serve as a link between the past and the future, laying the groundwork for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties in 2025. The experience of China and Vietnam in settling their land border issue through peaceful negotiations has proved that the two countries have the wisdom and ability to manage their differences, which adds confidence that maritime differences can be resolved, especially as Malaysia, chair of ASEAN in 2025, has expressed hope that the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) can be finalized, Xu said. Although China and Vietnam are facing an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, the pragmatic cooperation between two sides is unlikely to be affected despite differences, Xu said. China and Vietnam have had frequent and positive interactions in various fields recently. On December 4, two fleets from the Chinese and Vietnamese navies concluded a two-day joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf, which was of great significance to deepening the mutual trust and cooperation between the two militaries, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Bui Thanh Son on Monday visited Zhongguancun, which is known as China's "Silcom Valley" in northwestern Beijing as a hub for fostering cutting-edge and high-tech enterprises, according to Vietnam Government News. China-Vietnam relations are sustainable and continuous, and the latest interactions between senior official from both sides will lay a more solid foundation for the continuous development of bilateral relations in the future, Xu said.Clippers hit the road looking to win, regardless of who’s on the court
Even with technology taking over much of our day-to-day lives, board games still offer quality entertainment that can’t be beaten. Of course, the popular board games of today are a far cry from the games your parents grew up playing. Board games are perfect for encouraging your family to work together or for bringing your group of friends around the table for an evening. If you’d like to start up a weekly game night, let this helpful list of the most popular board games be your guide. Utter Nonsense Ages 8+ This game will have every player rolling in stitches with each ridiculous phrase that’s uttered. Combine crazy accents and hilarious phrases to impress the Nonsense Judge and win the round. The player with the highest number of wins ultimately wins the game, but the true fun of this card game is listening to your fellow players trying to say some of the most entertaining phrases of all time. This game is perfect for game nights or parties. Speak Out Ages 8+ This hilarious game is perfect if you have teenagers or are hosting a party with all adults. To play, you insert a mouthpiece that alters the sound of your speech, making every word sound silly. Set the timer and read one of the phrases on the cards and try to help your teammate guess what you’re saying. Speak Out easily provides hours of fun that even grandparents will love. Escape Room in a Box Ages 13+ What’s the next best thing to trying to break out of a room? Escape Room in a Box, of course. This thrilling, immersive game involves solving 2D and 3D puzzles in order to prevent a mad scientist from turning you and your friends or family into werewolves. Work together to escape your fate and use Amazon Alexa to enhance the experience. Codenames Ages 14+ This fun strategy game is perfect for anyone with teenagers. Form two teams and select a spymaster on each team. Using clues, spymasters try to help their teammates find all 25 of the agents they’re in contact with, hopefully without selecting the other team’s agents or running into the deadly assassin. This innovative game offers a challenging and rewarding time working together. Harry Potter Clue Ages 9+ Excite your kids on game night with this modern twist on a classic. Play as six recognizable Hogwarts characters — Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Ginny or Neville — to solve the mystery behind a fellow student’s disappearance. It’s up to you to figure out who attacked the student, what bewitching spell they used and where it occurred. Watch out for the Dark Mark, moving staircases and secret passages as you travel along in this magical family game. Pandemic Ages 8+ If you’ve ever wanted to save humanity from a deadly outbreak, you’ll love spending an hour playing Pandemic. You and your teammates must fight to contain four deadly diseases threatening the human race. Players must learn to work with their teammates to control outbreak hotspots and treat diseases. Win the game by curing all diseases without wiping out humanity first. Catan Ages 10+ This tactical 60-minute game will push your imagination to its limits as you embark on a journey across Catan. Acquire crucial resources as you travel, build roads, buildings, and cities, and be wary of the ruthless robber and other players halting you on your own road. Through careful trading and clever decisions, you can lead your travelers to victory in this role-playing game of limitless possibilities. Play again and again. Every game is different. Ticket to Ride Ages 8+ Train lovers will enjoy this innovative board game which has won numerous awards. This cross-country train adventure game mimics the concept of traveling around the world in 80 days. Collect train cars and claim railways across the country. Players earn the most points by establishing long train routes and connecting distant cities. Each game takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes to complete, and every adventure is different. 5 Second Rule Ages 10+ This quick-paced game gives each player five seconds to name items on a certain topic. Although the topics are objectively easy —“Name 3 Mountains,” “Name 3 Types of Hats” or “Name 3 Super Heroes,” the pressure of the time crunch is likely to put you on edge. Race the clock and remain composed to win this game. You can even make up your own topics if you prefer. Half the fun is just hearing what other people blurt out, whether it’s relevant to the topic or not. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Ford F-150 Raptor R Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Cadillac Escalade-V Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 Lucid Air Sapphire What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds. Michael Cantu, The Associated Press