Sal Khan is probably best known for launching Khan Academy, the free online learning platform that covers everything from art to history to computer programming.

But Khan is also leading the charge on another learning revolution: flexible learning spaces.

Originally founded as an all-ages school in 2014 in Mountain View, California, Khan debuted for the 2017-2018 school year the brand new Khan Lab School for high school students. Designed and built by the architecture firm Kurani, the school blends traditional classroom learning with student-led projects.

The approach takes a hard left turn from regular schooling, and it could pave the way for schools of the future. Here's what it's like.

SEE ALSO: 32-year-old investor with ties to Elon Musk wants to upend America with a crazy utopian plan for the future

Kurani's founder, Danish Kurani, told Business Insider that Khan Lab School is meant to combine experimentation and education in a joint school and laboratory.

"We've added many specialty spaces so faculty can test different courses and experiences," Kurani said. These spaces include large interior windows that let everyone to see the experiments taking place, in addition to breakout rooms, commons, and a cafe to give people fixed meeting spaces.

"And just like a lab where scientists are expected to share the results of their testing," Kurani added, "the school is equipped with displays for student and faculty work."

In the library, for instance, students can duck into nooks for some privacy while they read.

Part of the flexible learning approach means giving kids the chance to be by themselves. Collaboration is important, but if they're surrounded by their peers many students could eventually feel overwhelmed.

"Even with limited space," Kurani said, "there's plenty of distinct micro-environments that offer students a mix of tools and settings to work in."

Students can also convene in spaces meant to encourage socialization and brainstorming. A growing body of research finds this kind of dynamism improves kids' performance.

Recently, a study of 36,000 students found "personalized learning" boosted standardized test scores in math and reading compared to traditional education. Personalized learning involves teachers taking on more of a coaching role, while students guide their instruction, typically with the aid of technology.

Khan Lab School embraces personalized learning in both its design and philosophy. Students are grouped not by age, but by skill level in various domains.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• Instant cameras have improved significantly since the old days when everyone had huge Polaroid cameras. The best instant camera you can buy is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 with its fun retro look, affordable price tag, and built-in selfie mirror.

When instant print cameras initially appeared in the 1950s, there was a feeling of wonder surrounding them. The ability to shoot a photo, have the camera eject a blank print, and then eventually see the photo appear on the paper after a short time rarely failed to amaze. At the time, you usually had to wait several days to receive prints after sending film off to be developed, so the instant print was simply magical.

Of course, several decades later, the allure of instant prints isn’t quite the same, but that doesn't mean instant cameras are long dead. Many people like instant cameras because they're a fun supplement to digital photography. Sure, you can shoot a photo with your phone and instantly share it with an unlimited number of people, but there’s just something about being able to hold that photographic print in your hand immediately after shooting it. It's something you cannot do with digital photography.

So maybe it isn’t all that surprising that instant print photography is making a bit of a comeback. If you want an instant camera to bring print photography back into your life, you're in luck. Several companies now make great digital cameras with fun, funky, retro designs.

We've picked the best instant cameras you can buy to supplement your smartphone and digital camera. Read on to see which of our picks is best for you. We've also included a brief history of instant photography and some of the pros and cons of the medium to help you make your choice.

Although the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is our top instant camera pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Polaroid PIC-300, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic, the Polaroid Snap Touch, and the Lomography Lomo’Instant Wide.

The best instant camera overall

Why you'll love it: The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 comes in many fun, funky colors and it even has a selfie mirror so you can look your best in every photo you take.

If the primary reason you’d like to try instant cameras is because they’re fun to use and adorable, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 delivers, as we showed earlier this year. This little camera is available in five bright colors and boasts many enjoyable features.

Polaroid may be the most well-known name in instant photography, but Fujifilm has carved its own niche in this market with a series of successful instant cameras. The Mini 9 is the latest model in the family. It prints small photos measuring about 2.4 by 1.8 inches using Mini film.

We aren't the only ones who love this fun instant camera. In its review, PC Mag says the Instax Mini 9 is enjoyable to use and the new selfie mirror is a great addition. Nerd Techy says this model is very easy to use right out of the box. This camera does offer primarily automatic shooting features, although you can adjust the brightness setting.

One Amazon reviewer loves the way this instant camera brought people together at an engagement party, creating a way to break the ice. Overall, most buyers deeply enjoy the instant camera for its cute looks and small prints.

However, the Instax Mini 9 certainly isn’t a perfect instant print camera. The image quality leaves a bit to be desired, as Camera Labs discusses in its review, but it’s still a nice camera to use, and we doubt you were expecting museum quality prints from this small camera.

However, some Amazon reviewers say the enjoyment of shooting with the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 wasn’t enough to overcome the image quality problems. If you're concerned about image quality, check out our other picks below.

Pros: Low priced model, bright body colors, easy to use camera even for beginners, camera creates a fun atmosphere, includes a selfie mirror, Mini film style for this camera is easy to find, trustworthy camera brand

Cons: Image quality leaves a bit to be desired, very limited number of manual control features

Buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera on Amazon for $56.99 and up (price varies by color)

The best instant camera for ease of use

Why you'll love it: If you just want a basic instant print camera that requires little to no input from you, the Polaroid PIC-300 keeps things simple and fun with automatic settings.

When you’re looking to keep things simple with instant print cameras, the Polaroid PIC-300 delivers better than any other model. It doesn’t give you an opportunity to make significant changes to the camera’s settings before recording the image, but the plus side of having an automatic instant print camera is that it’s easy to operate.

The Polaroid PIC-300 instant camera has seen its price drop quite a bit in the past several months, which makes it a more desirable option than it may have been originally. It’s available in four different colors and creates prints with an image coverage size of about 2.4 by 1.8 inches. An Amazon customer acknowledged the tiny size of the photos, but said they still were a lot of fun to create.

CNET appreciates the single dial on the top of the camera that allows you to match the camera’s settings to the lighting conditions in the photo you want to shoot. This feature is similar to what you’d find with scene modes on a digital camera, but there are only four options.

Unfortunately, according to several Amazon customers, the image quality found in the PIC-300 instant prints is poor with no opportunity to change the settings to achieve a better exposure. Even the flash operates automatically, meaning some scenes end up overexposed.

The Leftover Culture Review review says the Polaroid PIC-300 works a bit like the simple disposable film cameras that were popular a decade or so ago, because of its basic design.

Pros: Reasonable price point, fully automatic features that are very easy to use, multiple body color options, fun to use and shoot with, prices have dropped recently to become more competitive

Cons: Overexposure problems are relatively common, some manual controls would’ve helped with inconsistent image quality

Buy the Polaroid PIC-300 Instant Film Camera on Amazon for $68.99

The best classic looking instant camera

Why you'll love it: The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic has some interesting shooting modes that make it fun to use, and its retro look is very cool.

No new instant cameras look like the vintage Polaroid cameras from the 1960s and 1970s, but the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic comes closest.

Rather than the curved lines on the camera body or the bright colors that you’ll find with some new instant cameras, the Instax Mini 90 has a rectangular look with black or brown body colors and silver trim. 

The Instax Mini 90 contains several different exposure modes, including a double exposure that results in some very interesting images, according to the Popular Photography review. However, you are limited to an image print size of 2.4 by 1.8 inches with the Mini film.

The Mini 90 Neo Classic is a slightly older instant camera, but it still carries plenty of desirable features that make it a fun party camera with its creativity and versatility, according to The Phoblographer review.

One Amazon reviewer loves the vintage look of the instant prints that the Instax Mini 90 creates. As long as you use the camera in the right way and stick to subjects with which you’ll have success, the Mini 90 Neo Classic works well.

Pros: Fun shooting modes and a double exposure mode, retro camera body look is cool, makes use of common Mini instant film, prints have a vintage look, fun camera to use at parties and other events

Cons: Ergonomics for shooting photos are poor, price is a little high, image quality isn’t great

Buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera on Amazon for $112.46

Nicole Kidman is not afraid of taking fashion risks.

And while most of the time she can pull it off, there are some looks that don't always work.

The 50-year-old has been acting for about 34 years and her style has changed quite a bit over time. 

See 41 of Kidman's most intriguing looks. 

Kidman's natural curls were more of a staple in her early years, as were blazers and button-down shirts.

She straightened her hair and wore a huge headband with a trench-like dress to the "To Die For" premiere with then-husband Tom Cruise.

She wore a slip dress with a pink shawl to the 1997 AFI Awards.

The INSIDER Summary:

• The "Rich Kids of Instagram" show off their wealth in cities across the world.
• The "Rich Kids of Munich" account on Instagram chronicles the luxury travels and lavish lifestyles of wealthy Bavarian offspring.

It's definitely good to be a "Rich Kid of Munich." Just ask the pet tiger.

"Rich Kids" are all over Instagram — and the world. In Hong Kong, Vietnam, Switzerland, Dubai, and Russia, young people with money to burn share photos of their luxurious lives that are aggregated into envy-inducing accounts.

Here's how Munich's rich kids spend their fortunes.

The Rich Kids of Munich don't stay in one place for long.

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They may call Munich home, but it seems they're always jetsetting around the world.

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With a helicopter ride thrown in every now and then for good measure.

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• While it’s unfortunately not true that Benjamin Franklin once said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” it’s certainly a sentiment that most of us would agree with. If you’d like to brew a cold one yourself, our top recommendation for home brewing kits is the Northern Brewer Homebrew Starter Kit.

While it’s true that there is a nearly endless choice of craft beers these days — along with the ol’ standbys on the supermarket shelf — it’s a fact that there is something supremely satisfying about brewing up your own beer. Admittedly, you might not end up with results quite as tasty as those from the pros, but that’s not really the point.

It’s the joy of taking on an endeavor that’s part science experiment, part art, part a whole lot of patience (be aware that the entire process takes at least a month). The best part is, of course, ending up with a refreshing glass of beer straight from your very own home brewery when all's said and done. 

Like many hobbies, home brewing requires a fair amount of equipment before you can get started and that equipment — or at least a portion of it — is what beer-making starter kits come with in the box. With the majority of kits, you’ll need to add a few extra pieces yourself, but a kit is still a very convenient, and generally cost-efficient, way to gather up supplies.

You’ll need the following items to brew beer at home:

• A large stockpot, typically 5 gallons in size, but can be smaller if you're brewing less beer
• A large plastic fermenter bucket (often referred to as a carboy), usually 5 gallons in size with an airlock that allows excess CO2 to escape during fermentation and a stopper to secure the airlock
• A large plastic bottling bucket with a spigot at the bottom
• A metal spoon that's long enough to reach the bottom of your stockpot
• A racking cane and tubing to create a siphon for transferring your beer out of the fermenter and into the bottling bucket
• A no-rinse sanitizer, which is used to clean your equipment before brewing
• A waterproof thermometer like a candy thermometer
• A hydrometer if you are brewing from grain instead of from an extract
• A bottle cleaning brush, filler, and capper
• Bottles and bottle caps, which you’ll normally need to supply these yourself

Finally, you need beer ingredients: This is where the fun really starts. While you can visit a local brew shop and browse a vast assortment of ingredients, most beginners prefer to start with a kit. Ingredient kits typically contain the grain, sugar extracts, hops, flavorings, and yeast needed for beer production. You can find ingredient kits for a wide range of beer varieties, including many IPAs, but be aware that you’ll need to restock for each batch of brew.

With all that in mind, we sorted through the many homebrew kits out there to find you five of the best for the newbie on the brewing scene. Read on to see which of our top picks are best for your needs.

Although the Northern Brewer Brew Share Enjoy Homebrew Starter Kit is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Starter Kit, the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Craft Beer Making Kit, the Mr. Root Beer Home Brewing Kit, and the Northern Brewer Deluxe Home Brewing Starter Kit.

The best home brew beer kit overall

Why you'll love it: The Northern Brewer’s Brew Share Enjoy Homebrew Starter Kit comes with practically everything you need to brew five gallons of Block Party Amber Ale.

If you’re eager to get up and brewing, the Brew Share Enjoy kit from Northern Brewer has everything you need (including a 5-gallon stainless kettle) to brew up five gallons of delicious Block Party Amber Ale. This rosy beer has a hint of floral and herbal flavor on top of the hops. All you’ll need to add are the bottles and the water.

The best thing about this kit is that it truly has everything you need to brew beer at home. In addition to the 5-gallon stainless steel kettle, it comes with an auto-siphon instead of the more-difficult-to-use racking cane. The kit also includes very clear easy-to-follow instructions that are laminated. Beer brewing can be a messy business, so believe us — You’ll appreciate the lamination when it’s time to wipe those instructions clean.

The ingredients kit that accompanies the equipment includes the hops, yeast, pre-milled malted steeping grains, liquid malt extract, priming sugar, sanitizer, and a muslin bag for the steeping grains. Note that as is typical with homebrew kits, the beer ingredients are sufficient to brew one 5-gallon batch of beer. You’ll need to buy another ingredient kit, or assemble your own ingredients, for your next batch. Northern Brewer offers many such ingredient kits, however, including a variety of IPAs, stouts, and lagers.

The Wirecutter chose this kit as its number-one choice for beginners’ homebrew kits, and it's very popular on Amazon, where it has more than 100 reviews and an average of 4.7 stars. Says one satisfied customer, “This is a great basic starter home brewing kit. I brewed the Block Party Amber Ale that came with the kit, and it surpassed my expectations... delicious!”

Includes: Block Party Amber Ale recipe kit, 6.5 gallon fermentor w/ lid & Bubbler airlock, Bottling Bucket w/Spigot assembly, Fermenter's Favorites Bottle filler, 5 Gallon Stainless Brew Kettle, 21” Stainless Spoon Auto Siphon, 5 ft. Siphon Tubing & Siphon Tube Holder, Cleaner/Sanitizer - Fermenter's Favorites Oxygen Wash, Bottle Brush, Royal Crown Bottle Capper & Caps (60ct.)

Pros: Comes with just about everything you need, including a stainless kettle and stirring spoon, the components are good quality

Cons: None to speak of unless you aren’t a fan of the amber ale

Buy the Northern Brewer Brew Enjoy Share Starter Kit on Amazon for $109.99 (originally $159.99)

The best small-batch home brew beer kit

Why you'll love it: With the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Starter Kit, you'll brew smaller batches of beer in a space-saving system.

Brewing a full-size batch of beer takes up quite a bit of room. Not only do you need a 5-gallon cook pot, but you also need equally sized fermenting and bottling buckets, plus space to store the many bottles and other required equipment. Luckily, some brewers are taking this plight to heart, and creating homebrew kits that turn out smaller batches of beer — in this case, one gallon.

Brooklyn Brew Shop’s Everyday IPA Starter Kit has nearly everything you need to brew up that gallon of oh-so-good IPA. You’ll just need to add the stockpot, strainer, funnel, and bottles. When it’s time to replenish, you’ll appreciate the company's very wide range of beer ingredient kits, including Grapefruit Honey Ale, Chocolate Maple Porter, Chestnut Brown Ale, Pumpkin Beer, and many other tasty brews.

Along with the equipment, you’ll get the recipe kit for the Everyday IPA, which includes actual grains, not extracts. That gives you full-bodied, tasty beer that you’ll be proud to offer your friends. If you’re willing to part with any of your hard-earned bottles, that is.

Reviewed highly recommends Brooklyn Brew Shop, saying, “Brooklyn Brew Shop distinguishes itself from the other brew kits by selling all-grain kits. For beginners looking for a small-batch kit, this is our top recommendation.”

This is another very popular homebrew starter kit on Amazon, where the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Starter Kit has more than 250 reviews and an average of 4 stars. Buyers enjoyed the fun of home brewing and were by-and-large very pleased with the kit and the resulting beer, which has a citrusy top note that perfectly balances the bitterness of the hops.

Includes: Everyday IPA making mix (grain, hops and yeast), 1-gallon reusable glass fermenter, glass spirit-filled thermometer, vinyl tubing, racking cane & tip, chambered airlock, Brooklyn Brew Shop cleanser, and screw-cap stopper

Not included: Strainer, funnel, pot, and bottles

Pros: Includes real grain, not extract, doesn’t require a lot of space, many ingredient kit refills to choose from

Cons: You’ll need to come up with a few pieces of equipment yourself

Buy the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Starter Kit on Amazon for $39.95

Buy the Monster Brew Home Brewing Supp Amber Beer Bottles (24 Pack), 12 oz on Amazon for $21.51

Buy the Learn To Brew Beer Bottle Caps 144 count on Amazon for $5.85

Buy the Learn To Brew 5 Gallon Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Lid on Amazon for $25.40

Buy the  Learn To Brew Plastic Funnel with Strainer 8" on Amazon for $10

Buy the LiveFresh Premium Quality Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainer Sieve Colander on Amazon for $12.97

The best home brew beer kit for beginners

Why you'll love it: If you prefer to dabble in home brewing as a hobby before getting serious, you’ll love the simplicity of the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Craft Beer Making Kit.

If you’re looking for the easiest introduction to home brewing, you can’t go wrong with Mr. Beer’s Premium Gold Craft Making Kit. Like all of the many Mr. Beer starter kits, this comes with everything you need — even the bottles. Of course, the bottles are reusable plastic, as are their caps, and you’ll get a plastic, 2-gallon jug that serves to mix, ferment, and bottle your beer. There's no need for separate fermenting and bottling buckets, or the various equipment required to move beer between them.

Admittedly, if you are a beer purist, this might not be your cup of brew, but if you just want to have some fun, brew some decent-tasting beer, and make it all as easy as possible, this is a terrific and inexpensive way to do it.

The Gold Craft Beer Making Kit comes with the ingredients for two batches of beer: one a classic American light, and the other an Oktoberfest lager. There’s no complicated mixing or measuring with Mr. Beer: The ingredients are already measured, mixed, and extracted to make it easy for you.

Thrillist and 52 Brews praise just how easy Mr. Beer's kits are to use at home. The Mr. Beer Premium Gold Craft Beer Making Kit is the number-one homebrew starter kit on Amazon, with more than 825 reviews and an average of 3.8 stars. Buyers, of course, praise the ease of the process, but more importantly, most are pleased with the taste of the finished product. Mr. Beer offers a variety of ingredient refills, so you can try something new each time you brew.

Includes: A reusable Little Brown Keg fermenter, two brewing extracts to brew 2 batches (4 gallons/32 pints) of beer, 11 25 oz. shatterproof reusable bottles, pre-measured carbonation drops, No-Rinse Cleanser, instructions

Pros: Includes everything you need to brew a 2-gallon batch of beer, very easy to use, two ingredient kits included

Cons: Some buyers complained that the fermenting jug leaked

Buy Mr. Beer Gold Craft Beer Making Kit on Amazon for $49.99

The supercar universe is packed these days with new models of every shape and size from around the world.

But for many, there's no substitute for the raw power and emotion of a living, breathing Ferrari. Since the company launched its road car business in 1947, its reputation has grown from that of a respected racing team to a creator of automotive legends. 

In fact, the company has managed to maintain a waiting list for many of its models without engaging in any form of traditional advertising. 

Over the years, Ferrari has been responsible for a long line of fast, powerful, and evocative sports cars and supercars. Anyone who has ever encountered a Ferrari has his or her personal favorite. 

As we wish the Prancing Stallion a very happy 70th birthday, we take a look back at some of the company's greatest hits.

Here's Business Insider' list of the 11 best Ferraris in the world in no particular order. 

SEE ALSO: How Ferrari went from a race-car company to a multi-billion-dollar luxury brand

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1. 166 Inter: Built from 1948 to 1950, the Ferrari 166 Inter was based on the company's successful 166 race cars. The model was Ferrari's first international sales success.

The 166 was powered by a 2.0-liter, 90-horsepower V12 engine.

2. 250 TR Testarossa: The 1957 250 TR was one of the first Ferraris to carry the iconic Testarossa badge. Testarossa, or "red head," is a reference to the car's red-painted engine head covers.

When it comes to buying a car, consumers continue to say that bigger is better.

SUVs and trucks continued to outsell smaller sedans in September.

But not all SUVs are created equal. We decided to round up all the ones on the market with the most advanced features.

Scroll down for a closer look:

SEE ALSO: Here's how the newest technology is changing how we watch the Olympics

1. The Volvo XC90 is a roomy and luxurious SUV, but it also has several high-tech features. For example, there are four hidden cameras to provide 360-degree views when driving and parking.

The center display shows the cameras' views to assist with parking. The driver can select whether to view from the front or rear cameras using the touch-controlled display.

The car also comes with an autonomous emergency braking system and semiautonomous features that allow it to accelerate, decelerate, stop, and steer itself at speeds below 30 mph.

The National Rifle Association represents less than a fifth of all American gun owners, yet it remains one of the most powerful gun rights lobbies in the United States.

For decades, the NRA has successfully blocked federal action — including government-funded gun violence research and a proposed assault weapons ban— that it believes threatens gun owners' second amendment rights.

The NRA spends millions influencing Congress and the White House to advance its agenda. And its monetary prowess is still growing.

The group has already spent more money lobbying for expanded gun rights through the first two quarters of this year as it did in all of 2016.

The NRA was founded in 1871, but didn't begin to seriously influence policy until about a century later. Following the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the NRA became much more politically active, establishing a Political Action Committee aimed at supporting gun-rights politicians over those advocating for gun control.

In 1977, it significantly grew and began to align with conservative members of Congress to push for more relaxed gun regulations, harnessing the grassroots power of its members across the country.

Today, the gun control debate is fraught with divisiveness and partisanship, especially after mass shootings like the one in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead. Many gun control advocates blame the NRA's aggressive lobbying tactics and dramatic rhetoric for driving Americans' opinions on the issue apart, but the group says its mission is to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

While there are some gun-related issues on which a majority of Americans agree, the NRA's influence remains a contentious and dominant aspect of the ongoing gun debate. Here's how powerful the group really is:

SEE ALSO: How Americans really feel about gun control

DON'T MISS: NRA breaks silence following Las Vegas shooting, says it may support regulating bump stocks

While the cigarette, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries spend far more, the NRA spends nearly 10 times as much as the biggest gun control lobbying group in the country.

The NRA is especially active during presidential campaigns, contributing millions to candidates that support expanded gun rights and targeting those who threaten to control or regulate guns. In the 2016 election, the group threw its support behind President Donald Trump, and against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

The NRA also contributes tens of thousands of dollars to Congressional candidates and members of both parties, though the lion's share goes to the GOP. The top 81 members of Congress with the most career NRA contributions are all Republicans.

What author Richard Happer loves most about abandoned places is that they're everywhere you look — if you look hard enough.

"There are so many of them, right on the doorstep of our everyday worlds," Happer told Tech Insider in 2016. "Hidden beneath our cities, unnoticed on high mountainsides. The more exploring you do, the more abandoned places that you find."

Happer published a book, "Abandoned Places: 60 Stories of Places Where Time Stopped," that celebrates these eerie sites around the world. He shared some of the images with us.

SEE ALSO: This remote Alaskan village could disappear under water within 10 years — here's what life is like there

Richard Happer's book "Abandoned Places" explores deserted sites on Antarctica, islands in the middle of the Pacific, and even a Six Flags in New Orleans.

For the purposes of his book, Happer defined "abandoned" as places devoid of human residents, though some are visited by tourists and have new structures nearby.

A nuclear power plant explosion at Chernobyl in 1986 coated this northern Ukraine city in radioactive material. Nature claimed it after the residents fled for safety.

Source: Harper Collins

Rental properties give you, the investor, the power to determine your profits.

Let's be clear: Buying a home doesn't always give you the biggest return on your money.

From 1890 to 2012 the inflation-adjusted return on a house was 0.17%— a fraction of the 6.27% return for investments in the stock market over the same time period.

But there is a way to earn similar, or even greater, investment returns in real estate: owning a rental property.

In this case, you're getting paid to own something, rather than paying to own it. The mortgage is often covered by rental income, and if you play your cards right you'll profit after covering insurance, taxes, and maintenance costs.

That's different from expecting a big return when it comes time to sell a home you've been living in long-term. Owning a rental property is also different than buying a fixer upper you hope to sell for a profit, which isn't always the cash cow it's chalked up to be.

But like anything in real estate — whether you're buying or renting — it's all about location. HomeUnion, an online residential real estate investment management firm, recently released a list of the top markets for single-family rentals based on how they're expected to perform through 2017.

To compile the ranking, HomeUnion analyzed 30 rental markets to determine which have the best local economies, the highest annual investment returns after operating costs (including insurance, taxes, and maintenance), and the strongest real estate market conditions considering rent increases, rent-to-income ratios, turnover times, and supply of new construction.

Below are the 13 best places to buy a rental property right now. Based on the median investment home price, we've also included the average mortgage payment, assuming a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 20% down payment and a 5% interest rate.

SEE ALSO: HGTV's 'Fixer Upper' makes house flipping seem like a good investment — but there's a catch

DON'T MISS: A 27-year-old realtor who owns 8 rental properties reveals her best tip for becoming a real estate investor

13. Baltimore

Median investment home price: $145,000

Mortgage payment: $623

Median rent: $1,431

Annual return after operating costs: 6.7%

12. Nashville

Median investment home price: $166,300

Mortgage payment: $714

Median rent: $1,437

Annual return after operating costs: 5.4%

11. Chicago

Median investment home price: $235,000

Mortgage payment: $1,009

Median rent: $1,798

Annual return after operating costs: 5.2%

You might look at pictures of Samsung's insanely wide CHG90 monitor and think: "Who on earth needs a monitor this wide?"

I'll bet a lot of people said the same thing when square 4:3 TVs and monitors were still the standard, back in the early 2000s, and "widescreen" 16:9 TVs and monitors hadn't yet become mainstream. Now, 16:9 widescreen is the standard monitor aspect ratio.

But why stop at 16:9? Well, the industry didn't stop there — in 2015, it started producing "ultrawide" 21:9 monitors, which offered more screen real estate for work and gave PC gamers that extra layer of immersion.

It's now 2017, and Samsung thinks you need even more screen, so it made the "super-ultrawide" CHG90 monitor, which has an aspect ratio of 32:9. That's two 16:9 widescreen monitors in one.

The question is not why Samsung made this outrageously wide monitor, but — especially for gamers — what is it like to use?

SEE ALSO: Samsung just unveiled the widest computer monitor you can buy — here's how it looks in person

Samsung's CHG90 is incredibly wide.

The monitor you've been using is probably the most common type, with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Samsung's CHG90 has a 32:9 aspect ratio, which means it's incredibly wide — essentially two 16:9 monitors in one.

It's a 1080p monitor, which means it's not as sharp as 1440p quad-HD or 4K ultra-HD one. That said, you'd still need some pretty serious hardware to run video games on this monitor. That's because its resolution is 3840x1080, which isn't too far off 4K resolution (3840x2160).

Even for basic productivity, like using a web browser and watching videos, you'd still need a relatively recent and decently powerful computer.

It's amazing for playing video games.

There are two ways the CHG90 monitor enhances videos games:

1. It fills up more of your peripheral vision with its sheer width and curve, and it immerses you more than any other monitor into your game.

2. You can actively use the extra screen real estate to your advantage to see objects or enemies you wouldn't see on a regular 16:9 monitor unless you moved your mouse. Because you can see more, you don't have to move your mouse as much, which is helpful during gaming.

Leading your eyes to each edge of the CHG90 monitor takes some getting used to — I've never had to move my eyes so far to reach either side of a monitor before! To put that into perspective, I own an ultrawide monitor with a 21:9 aspect ratio.

It also has some under-the-hood features that make it great for gaming.

The CHG90 supports AMD's Freesync 2 technology, which makes for ultrasmooth gameplay. It basically allows the graphics card in your computer to communicate with the monitor so they can synchronize each frame.

The technology, however, isn't compatible with graphics cards from the other PC-graphics hardware giant, Nvidia, which is arguably the more popular of the two.

Nvidia has its own technology to make gameplay ultrasmooth: G-Sync. While Nvidia cards may be more popular, G-Sync technology usually adds a few hundred dollars to a monitor's price tag; AMD's Freesync usually doesn't add anything.

Still, regardless of the card you use, the CHG90 monitor has an incredibly fast one-millisecond response time, which reduces motion blur on the screen and helps keep the picture sharp, especially with fast-paced games.

The CHG90 also features Samsung's Quantum Dot technology, which makes for gorgeous colors, brightness, and contrast. Add HDR into the mix, and the picture is fantastic. A quick note about HDR: Games can use HDR only if they support it, and the gaming world has been oddly slow to adopt it.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Having a well-rounded selection of footwear is one of the most important parts to being a fashionable professional. 

There are five types of dress shoes every man should own, but the number of options become endless when taking into consideration suede shoes.

While most guys stick to leather, a pair of suede dress shoes can add some much needed variety to your footwear rotation.

Whether you're interested in oxfords, wingtips, Chelsea boots, chukkas, or loafers, you can find a nice suede pair that will catch people's attention. 

No matter what your budget is, make sure your next dress shoe purchase uses premium suede. To make that easier, we rounded up our favorite choices from brands like Wolf & Shepherd, Cole Haan, and more.

Check out the 10 best suede dress shoes for men, below:

SEE ALSO: These are 12 of the best peacoats guys can wear this fall and winter

The Rail Hudson Wingtip

The Rail Hudson takes a classic wingtip design and wraps it in a grey suede. A contrasting brown Goodyear welt sole completes the design.

The Rail Hudson Wingtip, $99.95

Cole Haan 2.ZERØGRAND Plain Toe Oxford

I recently reviewed a pair of Cole Haan 2.ZERØGRANDs, and they're some of the best dress shoes you can buy. This pair in particular features a simple plain toe design and comes in a Bourbon suede colorway. It features dynamic energy foam insoles, so the comfort is comparable to sneakers.

Now through October 11, save 30% by simply using the promo code "FALLEVENT" at checkout.

Cole Haan 2.ZERØGRAND Plain Toe Oxford, $210 (Originally $300)

Wolf & Shepherd Striker Chukka

With "dress to perform" as the brand's motto, the Wolf & Shepherd Striker Chukka does exactly that. From the outside, the waterproof suede upper in a Chocolate colorway and a sleek sloping toe box make this pair look like a standard high-quality dress shoe, but the inside is what really separates it from others.

The inside boasts a memory foam-padded tongue, ankle collars, and insoles, making them the most comfortable dress shoes I've ever worn. If you're looking for comfort in your professional style, then you have to own these.

Wolf & Shepherd Striker Chukka, $335

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania has the best undergraduate business program in America, according to the US New News & World Report.

Wharton boasts some impressive former students, from billionaire investor Warren Buffett to President Donald Trump.

The results are based solely on surveys from deans and senior faculty members at peer institutions. Survey respondents were asked to rate the quality of business programs with which they’re familiar on a scale of one (marginal) to five (distinguished).

Take a look below to see the top 10 business programs for undergraduates in the nation.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most innovative colleges in America

7. University of Virginia (McIntire)

Charlottesville, Virginia

Tuition and Fees: $46,975 (out-of-state), $16,146 (in-state)  

Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,331  

7. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Tuition and Fees: $34,588 (out-of-state), $9,005 (in-state) 

Undergraduate Enrollment: 18,523 

7. Cornell University (Dyson)

Ithaca, New York

Tuition and Fees: $52,853 

Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,566 

The INSIDER Summary:

• The annual list of The World's 50 Best Bars was just released for 2017.
• The ranking is determined by votes from more than 500 drinking experts around the globe.
• The US, UK, and Singapore dominated this year's list.
• The American Bar in London's Savoy Hotel was named the best bar in the world.

Some bars are known for their views, while others are known for their drinks — like the following ones on the annual list of The World's 50 Best Bars, which was just released for 2017.

The ranking is determined by votes from more than 500 drinking experts around the globe and serves as "an international guide to the world's top bars and drinking destinations."

This year's list included bars in 19 different countries. The US dominated with a total of 13 bars that made it into the top 50, whereas the UK came in second with eight bars on the list. Singapore came in third with six bars.

From hotel bars to hidden speakeasies, here are 50 watering holes worth traveling for.

50. Imperial Craft, Tel Aviv, Israel

Imperial Craft was also named the best bar in the Middle East and Africa.

Click here to learn more about Imperial Craft >

49. Lobster Bar and Grill, Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong

Click here to learn more about Lobster Bar >

48. Tommy's, San Francisco, California

Click here to learn more about Tommy's >

Last week was a rough one for our bets, going just 2-5 against the spread in our seven weekly picks. The losing week brings us to 18-17 on the season, so while we're still a little up, there's work to be done to get back to our winning ways.

Thankfully, this Saturday offers plenty of underdog action that could serve bettors well in a pinch. Michigan State visits Michigan in the biggest rivalry game on the board, and we'll see if Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia can continue their dominace across the south.

Without further ado, here are our best bets against the spread for this weekend in college football. All lines come courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.

Vanderbilt (+17.5) over Georgia

Vanderbilt failed to cover for us last week, falling just a bit short of the number against Florida. But they're a strong team, and facing a Georgia team that's coming off of two huge wins and might be feeling good about themselves a bit too much. Look for Vandy to keep this one within ten.

Texas A&M (+26.5) over Alabama

Even after failing to cover last weekend I am still forever an honorary Aggie fan, at least for the rest of the season. And although it seems Alabama has turned on the afterburners with the start of SEC play, A&M has too strong of an offense not to score, and you only need a few touchdowns to make +26.5 a tough line for any team to cover.

Purdue (-4) over Minnesota

Purdue is a high-octane offense going up against a Minnesota defense that couldn't stop a third string quarterback at Maryland last week. This line opened at even and was bet so heavily it's all the way up to four. Even with the adjusted spread, we're still backing the Boilermakers.

Celebrities are sharing their awkward stages for a good cause.

During an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Nick Kroll urged fellow actors to post photos from their younger years to show that teens shouldn't feel uncomfortable with going through puberty. Those awkward teen years are the basis of Kroll's new Netflix show, "Big Mouth." 

Colbert shared a hilarious photo and announced that for every celebrity who shared a photo of their pubescent years with the hashtag "puberme," he would donate money to Puerto Rico and hurricane relief efforts. Kroll then added that he would match Colbert's donation. 

On Thursday, Colbert announced that the successful campaign raised $1 million for disaster relief, but not all of the money came from the photos.

The photos raised $233,000, provided by the AmeriCone Dream Fund and the cast and crew of the Netflix series "Big Mouth" gave $100,000. Then Colbert announced that Les Moonves and CBS matched that to bring the total up to $666,000. Thanks to additional non-celebrity participants in the campaign, the AmeriCone Dream Fund gave an additional $266,000, which was then joined by Kroll giving an additional $67,000.

This left the total at $999,000, but then Lin-Manuel Miranda came out and showed a hilarious video from when he was 13 that resulted in the final $1,000 donation.

See some of the awkward photos celebrities are using to help with relief efforts below: 

SEE ALSO: 'Real Housewives' star Bethenny Frankel sent 4 private planes to Puerto Rico for hurricane relief

Stephen Colbert

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/913254257582800896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Nick Kroll asked me to post a pic of my awkward stage, but I never had one. So here's me lookin' cool as hell! #PuberMe#PuertoRicoReliefpic.twitter.com/UC9a7XtjZa

Nick Kroll

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/913257738053890048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Thank you Stephen. In return, here's me trying to look like a tough guy because I hadn't yet hit #puberme. #PuertoRicoReliefpic.twitter.com/WAzZ6kk6qb

Reese Witherspoon

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Width: 658px

This week, Sam Smith collaborated with Timbaland on a new single, Canadian rapper Belly teamed with Pusha T on a track, and Kelela released her debut album. 

Here are the 5 best songs from the past week that you can stream right now:

SEE ALSO: The 5 best songs you can stream from last week — Beyonce, Chance the Rapper, and more

Sam Smith — "Pray"

English singer Sam Smith turns a minimalist Timbaland beat into a full-fledged, choir-accompanied gospel track on his latest single, "Pray," from his upcoming album, "The Thrill of It All." 

Andrew Bird — "Lazuli Bunting"

Violinist and singer-songwriter Andrew Bird released an instrumental album this week. "Lazuli Bunting," an intricate highlight track, features his signature violin plucking and layering of strings. 

Kelela — "Waitin"

Alt-R&B singer Kelela reflects on a turbulent fling on the immaculately produced "Waitin," a standout song from her debut studio album, "Take Me Apart." 

The INSIDER Summary:

• Eating candy is one of the best parts of Halloween. 
• With a new Halloween season, comes new Halloween goodies to try. 
• Here are 13 new Halloween candies that people are going crazy for this year.

Of all the traditions that represent Halloween, eating candy is one of the most iconic. At no other time of year are we encouraged to collect as much free candy as possible (from strangers no less) and then eat it all.

M&Ms, Reese’s, and Hershey’s are three tried and true candy companies that bring to mind the nostalgia of childhood trick-or-treating. But in recent years, these brands and their newer competitors haven’t simply settled for their original products — they’re innovating. This season, a whole batch of new Halloween candy hit the market. Here are the 13 best new Halloween candies coming to stores near you.

Pumpkin Pie Kit Kats

Kit Kat doesn't want you to have to wait for Thanksgiving to get your pumpkin pie fix. This year, you can enjoy the same crunchy wafers with a creamy, pumpkin-y filling. 

Milka Mint Oreo Chocolate Bars

The Swiss confectioner Milka packed all the flavor of a mint Oreo into a chocolate bar this season. Since these bars are individually wrapped (unlike a traditional box of Oreos), it might even encourage some portion control. 

Reese's Peanut Butter Bats

When Reese's introduced Christmas tree-shaped peanut butter cups for the holiday season, they exploded across social media, but actually for failing to look very much like a tree. Reese's new bat-shaped peanut butter cups appear to face a similar dilemma, but at least they've got the same great taste as the originals. 

With a full slate ahead on Sunday, Week 5 presents plenty of opportunities for excitement, especially for daily fantasy players looking to make a quick buck on DraftKings, FanDuel, or wherever you choose to play.

When forming your daily fantasy lineup, it's always important to look for value plays in the mid- to lower-tier price ranges. Everyone wants to load their teams with studs sure to light up the box score, but it's finding the undervalued players that allows you to max out your budget on the likes of Antonio Brown and Aaron Rodgers this week.

Below we've picked some of our best value plays for daily fantasy players. Consider them when trying to find a few extra dollars to upgrade elsewhere in your lineup.

QB: Blake Bortles, $4,800

While Jaguars fans have been waiting for Blake Bortles to turn into an elite passer for years, fantasy players know that he's an absolute stud when it comes to padding stats in garbage time when Jacksonville is already hopeless of winning the game on the field. Going up against the Steelers on Sunday, Bortles should have plenty of time to get pass happy after the outcome has been decided.

RB: Frank Gore, $4,400

Did you know that Frank Gore is 8th on the all-time rushing list? He's rushed for more yards in his career than Marshall Faulk and Jim Brown, and has a good chance to pass Jerome Bettis this season. Anyway, this week the Colts are playing the Niners at home and Gore was one of the brights spots of the Colts' Sunday night game against the Seahawks.

RB: LeGarrette Blount, $4,200

LeGarrette Blount showed off a bit of beast mode for the Eagles on Sunday, barreling through the Chargers defense. While the Cardinals present a solid run defense, expect Philadelphia to get a lead and then seal the game with their running backs. Nothing would get the home crowd hyped like another running performance like last week.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Dressing for a corporate work environment almost always calls for formal attire.

Most men might opt for a full suit every day, but wearing the same suits all the time can quickly become repetitive.

Fortunately, there are ways to remedy boring outfits. Just like shirts and ties, having a good number of separate dress pants can add the variety you need — eliminating the struggle of having to piece together a decent outfit for work in the morning. 

Instead of wearing pants that are part of a full suit, buying separate dress pants is one of the best ways to improve your wardrobe and save money. Some of the best pairs can be purchased for $150 or less. Certain pairs can even be had for less than $50!

Brands like Bonobos, J.Crew, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, and more all make affordable dress pants that you'll love to wear in the office.

Whether you're looking wool trousers to combat colder fall weather, stretchy cotton chinos, or corduroys suitable for the office, you'll find them here.

Check out 15 of the best dress pants under $150, below: 

If you're in need of other workplace apparel, check out 12 new job essentials every guy needs in his closet.

SEE ALSO: These are 12 of the best peacoats guys can wear this fall and winter

Bonobos Weekday Warrior Dress Pants

Bonobos Weekday Warrior Dress Pants, $98

Nordstrom Men's Shop Flat Front Wool Trousers

Nordstrom Men's Shop Flat Front Wool Trousers, $99.50

Nordstrom Men's Shop Classic Smartcare Relaxed Fit Pants

Nordstrom Men's Shop Classic Smartcare Relaxed Fit Pants, $59.50