• The Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released its 2017 Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
• The list includes a "Clean 15"— which are the top 15 "clean" types of fruits and veggies that were found to contain the least amount of pesticides.
• Avocados are the cleanest type of produce to buy, with fewer than 1% of pesticides detected in samples.
• Other mostly pesticide-free foods include sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, papayas, and onions.

In a dream world, we'd all be able to afford buying exclusively organic fruits and veggies; but the truth is that organic produce often comes with a more expensive price tag.

But there's no reason to shell out extra cash on organic produce if the type of fruits and veggies you're eating already contain a negligible amount of harmful pesticides.

The EWG just released its 2018 Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce, listing the 15 "cleanest" fruit and vegetables found to contain the least pesticides. In order to create the list, the EWG looked at over 10,000 samples that the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration took from popular fruits and vegetables. 

Check out the 15 cleanest produce types below.

15. Broccoli.

Just one in 10 broccoli samples contained more than one pesticide residue, while 70% of broccoli samples had no detectable pesticide residues at all.

14. Cauliflower.

Around half of all conventionally grown cauliflower samples contained no detectable pesticide residues, and no single cauliflower sample contained more than three detectable pesticide residues.

13. Cantaloupes.

Around 10% of cantaloupe samples were found to contain more than one pesticide residue.

1. Remember that every day after a breakup gets better.

"When my first boyfriend and I broke up (he dumped me), my heart was shattered. I remember my history teacher at the time gave me the best advice about breakups, and I've carried it with me since. He told me: 'Every day after a break up, it gets a little bit easier, it hurts a little less, and you feel a little more like yourself.'

"It helps to hear that and know that you can keep going, even when your entire world has been turned upside down."— Jen, 23

2. Love isn't the only thing you need to keep a relationship strong.

"I learned that no matter how much you love someone, or how much they love you, if the love doesn't fulfill most of what you, or they need, want, and expect, it just isn't going to work."— Phea1Mike via Reddit

3. It's best to learn from your own experience.

"As a woman you always hear messages about 'playing hard to get' and general sex-negative advice about not 'rushing' into sex. But, any solid advice I bring with me today into relationships are lessons I learned for myself through trial and error. Most of those lessons are about maintaining a sense of independence in a relationship, prioritizing communication, and knowing what you deserve."— Katie, 25

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.

As one of the biggest sportswear companies in existence, Adidas has consistently and successfully been able to blur the lines between sport and fashion like no one else. 

While sneakers and apparel are the brand's most notable products, watches are quickly being added to that list.

Watches from sportswear companies are typically designed with rubber straps and simple digital interfaces made well enough to withstand a little abuse, tell the time, and record a lap time. But the Adidas Originals Watch Collection bucks that trend with stylish designs you can wear away from the gym or track. 

By blending styling cues from the brand's rich heritage with modern aesthetics, each timepiece has a look that unique from any other sports watch — and with prices ranging from $75-$190, the entire collection is super affordable. 

If you're looking for a stylish watch that's both sporty and modern, the Adidas Originals Watch Collection has a great selection.

Shop all watches on Adidas now.

Check out some of our favorite picks, below:

ARCHIVE _M1 36 mm Watch

$130, available in four colors

Drawing inspiration from Adidas' heritage designs of the 1970s, the ARCHIVE _M1 features a square case and simple digital display. The silver version further connects to the brand's history by using blue and red button — two colors that were staples in early Adidas styling.

CYPHER_M1 42 mm Watch

$190, available in two colors

Taking on the look of a vintage field watch, the CYPHER_M1 features a bold 42 mm case and an off-center crown. The metallic gold colorway is contrasted by black accents on the dial.

PROCESS_L1 38 mm Watch

$100, available in five colors

The Adidas Originals PROCESS_L1 is a clean and simple watch that you can wear every day. Its 38 mm case is complemented by a rich genuine leather strap and a minimalistic dial.

• Old cell phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronics can clutter up your space. 
• But whatever you do, don't throw them away.
• There are many ways to make use of your old devices, from selling them for extra cash to converting them into home security systems.

Here are 14 surprising ways you can make use of that old cell phone, iPad, or other unused electronic device.

1. Not your grandma's alarm clock

Make your old phone a permanent bedside companion with an app that can help you fall asleep or ease you into to your day. Try CARROT Alarm, a fun twist on a alarm clock with witty dialogue, songs, and an innovative wake-up system. Or download Pzizz to help guide you into a deep sleep and then gently wake you up in the morning. Since there's no need to schlep that extra phone around all day, leave it bedside to recharge. Check out these impressive iPhone hacks you never knew you needed.

2. A simple home security camera

Use that built-in camera and a Wi-Fi connection to turn your old phone, tablet, or laptop into a security system. Download an app like Presence or, as Popular Science suggests, "set up a separate Skype account on an old laptop, then set the program to automatically accept incoming video calls. This will allow you to call home from the office or the commute and check in on your pets whenever you like—with no complicated software to set up and no price to pay."

3. Baby monitor on call

Old phones or tablets can make a great baby monitor especially when traveling and you want to check in. Try an app like Dormi. Once connected to Wi-Fi, the app will alert your current cell phone if the little guy starts making noise. You can even soothe your babe remotely by talking back to them. Here are some cell phone accessories that will make your life way easier.

• Hollywood scandals are a dime a dozen, especially with the rise of social media.
• Whether they cheated or were cheated on, these celebrities will forever be associated with infidelity.
• Some couples learned from the experience and their relationship grew stronger.
• Others called it off.

Quite a few entertainment scandals are based on speculation and secondhand information, so when a celebrity confirms an aspect of their relationship, it's always a big deal. And it's an even bigger deal if it involves cheating.

Some couples credit cheating with making their relationships better than ever, while others immediately broke things off. 

Keep reading to see the 21 celebrities who have admitted to — or been caught — cheating.

Tristan Thompson was allegedly caught cheating on camera while his pregnant girlfriend Khloe Kardashian was preparing to give birth.

On Tuesday, April 11, photos of Thompson appearing to cheat on his nine-months-pregnant girlfriend Khloe Kardashian surfaced — and immediately things went from bad to worse. TMZ then revealed video footage from October that shows Thompson allegedly kissing two other women at a club.

Click here to get an in-depth timeline of the cheating allegations against Thompson.

Kevin Hart admitted to cheating on his pregnant wife.

The story of Kevin Hart's infidelity is confusing, to say the least.

He first denied any cheating in July, then posted a video on Instagram apologizing with the caption "Sending so many apologies to my wife & kids. I gotta do better and I will. I'm not perfect and have never claimed to be ...I love you all."

It was revealed later that Hart was in the center of an alleged extortion attempt. Someone allegedly was in possession of a video of Hart and a woman engaging in sexual activity, and was trying to expose Hart and receive money. During an interview with "The Breakfast Club," Hart admitted to his cheating.

Kris Jenner had an affair during her marriage to Robert Kardashian.

Kris Jenner admitted to having an affair with friend Todd Waterman (written about with the false name Ryan in her 2011 memoir"Kris Jenner ... And All Things Kardashian." Waterman later admitted he was Ryan in an interview.

Jenner later stated that her only regret in life was divorcing Kardashian.

With the simplicity and convenience of keeping up to date on the biggest stories in the world through two earbuds, podcasts are becoming an increasingly popular medium for people to get their news.

Given the high interest level of the public into knowing everything that is going on with President Donald Trump's administration, news organizations that cover politics have plunged head-first into the audio space.

Here are 10 must-listen political podcasts to add to your list:

SEE ALSO: 13 documentaries on Netflix that will make you smarter about politics

DON'T MISS: 4 movies on Netflix that will help you understand American politics

"The Daily"

The political podcast setting the pace these days is "The Daily" from The New York Times.

After hosting its campaign podcast "The Run-Up" before the 2016 presidential election, political reporter-turned-audio man Michael Barbaro is the voice and managing editor behind the premier podcast.

For about 20 minutes every weekday, Barbaro dives deep into one or two stories and interviews Times reporters about the news stories making headlines around the world. This is the podcast to subscribe to if you're looking for a deep-dive on the biggest story of the day.

"Up First"

"The Daily" is not the only early morning podcast making waves; NPR's "Up First" has claimed its place in the ears of morning commuters and others going about their day.

Dubbed as "the news you need to start your day", "Up First" covers the biggest stories in politics and news for about 10 minutes every morning.

Hosted by NPR's "Morning Edition" team of Rachel Martin, David Greene, and Steve Inskeep, "Up First" brings on NPR reporters to discuss three or four of the biggest stories of the day.

While "The Daily" looks to do a deep-dive on one or two stories in longer segments, "Up First" is perfect for the individual looking to know several of the biggest news stories of the day in a shorter time frame.

"Political Gabfest"

Arguably the most popular political podcast is the most informal one: Slate's "Political Gabfest."

Hosted by Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, iTunes listeners once voted it "Favorite Political Podcast". The trio, which has been together on the podcast since 2005, discusses the biggest political stories and news on a weekly basis for about an hour in a way that other podcasts do not.

Much of the conversation is reportedly off the cuff and unscripted, thus showing the chemistry that the three have with each other. This is the podcast for people looking for good political discussions in a light-hearted, free-flowing manner.

• "Vintage" names have a tendency to come back into fashion at some point, but there are some that just don't deserve to be revived. 
• These names were given to at least five babies born in 1918, but are not used at all today. 
• From Walburga to Gunhild, these are the most outrageous baby names that have gone extinct. 

A well-known rule of baby naming says that it takes about 100 years for a name to come back into fashion. That’s why we recently wrote a list of century-old names that are ready for a revival.

But not every vintage name deserves to be revived. We don’t predict the return of Hyman, for instance. Or Normal. Or Butler. Or Rube. Or Walburga. All these names were in use in 1918, given to at least five babies born that year, but are not used at all today.

They’re not alone. Nameberry analyzed Social Security data to discover over 5000 names that were given to babies a century ago but have now gone extinct.

Some of these names were obscure ethnic names, like Tsuyako and Mieczyslaw, that have faded from view as immigration patterns have shifted. Others are unusual variant spellings of names that have declined in popularity, like Ulysses and Lauraine. A few are usable, or even elegant.

But a lot of them are just plain funny to us now. We combed through the list to find the most hilarious of these extinct names from 1918 — and couldn’t whittle it down to fewer than 200. Here they are, in all their LOL-worthy glory, along with the number of sad children given each name in 1918:

Damned by Faint Praise

• Constant: 20 boys
• Bland: 14 boys 
• Pleasant: 12 boys
• Normal: 10 boys
• Carless: 7 boys
• Square: 6 boys
• Vanilla: 6 girls

Terms of Endearment

• Buddie: 33 boys
• Budd: 23 boys
• Girlie: 14 girls
• Sweetie: 9 girls
• Milady 8 girls
• Doll: 6 girls
• Bunny: 6 girls
• Chick: 6 boys
• Miladie: 5 girls

Ruined By Pop Culture

• Hedwig: 159 girls
• Garfield: 119 boys
• Alf: 32 boys
• Lassie: 29 girls
• Gilmore: 25 boys
• Rosebud: 22 girls
• Simpson: 22 boys
• Holmes: 20 boys
• Bilbo: 11 boys
• Cinderella: 7 girls

Some celebrities have rocked certain hair colors for years that it's hard to remember what their natural color is. 

Gwen Stefani dyes her hair weekly to keep it platinum and Mandy Moore hasn't gone back to her natural blonde in years.

Here are 29 celebrities and their natural hair color.  

Emma Stone is known for her red hair, but the actress sometimes goes back to her natural blonde.

She's known for transforming her hair often, but the actress told Refinery29 that red is her favorite.

"My hair grows out blonde, but my coloring is similar to that of a redhead," she said. "So... I really like having red hair. I'm a natural blonde, but I really like the red."

Kristen Stewart is no stranger to changing her hair — from shaving it off to dyeing it different colors — but though she often rocks brown locks, she's a natural dirty blonde.

Of all her styles, her latest buzz cut is for a role in her next movie. 

Scarlett Johansson is known for her blonde hair, but she's naturally a bit darker brown.

Johansson has shown off a number of looks over the years, but has most recently rocked short hair. 

When she first cut her hair short back in 2014, she told Refinery29, "I think I just got tired of wearing a ponytail all the time. I [was] always stuffing it under a wig, so I just cut it off. Everybody kept saying, 'Don't cut your hair! You might hate it!' But, then I thought, 'Why am I letting other people tell me what to do?'"

Trendiest, most hipster-friendly cities in the world are mostly American, according to a new ranking — but they call got beaten to the top spot by a city in England.

The ranking, known as the , The International Hipster Index,  comes from relocation company MoveHub. It compared 446 cities based on the prevalence of hipster touchstones including vegan eateries, coffee shops, tattoo studios, vintage boutiques and record stores.

Based on this, each city was given a Hipster Index score out of 10.

Scroll down to see the 22 most hipster cities in the world, ranked by their MoveHub score in ascending order.

Cities with populations under 150,000 were not included in the study.

SEE ALSO: The 29 coolest small US cities to visit in 2018

SEE ALSO: The 32 most fun, friendly, and affordable cities in the world

22. New Orleans, Louisiana, US — 6.14.

There are 86 coffee shops per 100,000 residents in New Orleans — so it's a great place for remote working.

21. Oakland, California, US — 6.17.

Oakland has plenty of vintage stores — 173, to be exact — so it's a fashion lover's dream.

20. Richmond, Virginia, US — 6.18.

The capital of Virginia may be one of the oldest major US cities, but it's remained pretty modern — and has plenty of tattoo parlours.

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:

• Liquid eyeliner ranks high on the list of “scary beauty products,” mostly because of how finicky it can be. But the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner is positively foolproof, which is why it’s our top pick in the liquid liner category.

There is a funny joke that tends to circulate among those who are more than a little beauty-obsessed: The moment we’re running late is the moment we attempt a complicated eye look with liquid eyeliner. It’s funny because liquid eyeliner can be a total pain in the butt, which is the major reason why most makeup novices shy away from it.

But not all liquid eyeliners are as scary as they’re made out to be. In fact, liquid eyeliners have advanced by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Gone are the days of flimsy paintbrush-like applicators and runny pigments. Now, the majority of liners come with marker-like tips, making it much easier to create clean, crisp lines. The formulations are much sturdier, which means no runny black tears à la Lauren Conrad on "The Hills."

All that said, there are a few tricks you want to keep in mind when it comes to working with liquids. The most important? Don’t try to make one, clean line in one swipe — it’s pretty much impossible. Instead, apply your line in short strokes, and go slowly. This is a marathon — not a sprint.

Another tip? If you’re applying a cat-eye with liquid eyeliner, apply to each eye in tandem, not one at a time. So draw the flick on each eye to make sure they’re even, and then fill in each line over the lid. That way, it’s easier to fix if things get messed up.

But all of these tips are totally bunk if you don’t have the right liner in your makeup bag. So which one reigns supreme? Read on for our top picks in every category. And remember these two things: Practice makes perfect, and don’t attempt liquid liner if you’re in a rush. Trust us.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner is our top pick and why you'll also love the Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner, the Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick, the Surratt Beauty Auto-Graphique Eyeliner, and the Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Liner.

SEE ALSO: The best eyelash curlers you can buy

The best liquid eyeliner overall

Why you'll love it: With its waterproof formula and sturdy applicator, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner lives up to its name. 

Ask any beauty pro what makes an amazing liquid liner, and you’ll likely hear the same qualifications pop up time and time again. It has to dry quickly and stay put. It has to have a sturdy, yet flexible applicator. And it has to fit comfortably in your hand so that you’re able to work it as easily as you would a pencil.

If you then asked those same beauty pros which liner checked the most of those boxes, you’d likely hear Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner more than once. That’s because it stacks up in basically every category that a liquid liner should hit. It’s like the Target of liquid liners — It’s got everything you need.

Stila’s formula is waterproof, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t glide on like heaven. The marker-like applicator is stiff enough to offer the user maximum control but flexible enough to deliver a swoop of pigment with just the slightest bit of pressure. This stuff sets in seconds, too, which means it won’t budge if you decide to curl your lashes ahead of your mascara application. And that strong hold stays all day — just like its name suggests.

A hold so strong doesn’t come without its setbacks, though. Its quick dry time means that you have to work quickly to clean up any wobbly lines. Wait too long, and you’ll have to pull out your Bioderma to fix any mucked up spots. Once the end of the day rolls around, expect to use some heavy-duty eye makeup remover to wipe this sucker off. Pro tip: Cold-pressed coconut oil is clutch for breaking down tough liner like this.

But Stila’s holding power is what makes it a winner. This liner has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars over at Sephora. One buyer says that they’ve been using this liner for years, and has no reason to try another. If the reviews are any indication, people who buy Stila never look for another liquid liner again. So consider your own search over. This one’s a winner.

Pros: Waterproof, easy to apply, dries down easily

Cons: Can be difficult to remove at the end of the day

Buy Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner for $22

The best liquid eyeliner for newbies

Why you'll love it: Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner's innovative applicator bends to fit the contour of your eye, making your perfect cat-eye easier to achieve than ever.

There’s a big issue with all eyeliners — not just liquid ones. They’re a little awkward to apply. Since our eyes are curved, and liners tend to come in straight tubes, it can feel a bit like you’re auditioning for the circus every time you try to apply. It takes a lot of practice to get the angle just right, and that can be daunting for those who are just dipping their toes in the liquid liner pool.

Enter: Lancôme Grandiôse Liquid Liner. This two-in-one applicator can be used both straight or at a 35-degree angle. That tiny little bend allows you to keep your wrist straight as you apply — something that's much easier for those just starting their liquid liner journey.

But the bend isn’t just good for newbies. It’s amazing for those who are looking for their liner to come as close to their lash line as possible. The 35-degree bend allows for precise application, which is something that even the most skilled liner lovers sometimes struggle with.

Don’t believe us? Stephanie Saltzman over at Fashionista gave this bendable liner a glowing review. “My usually kind of wobbly line was a lot more uniform and hugged my lash line a little more tightly,” she writes. She was also sold on the formula, which she describes as lasting for a “solid 13 hours.” That’s nothing to turn your nose up at.

The only downside to this bendable wonder? The price point. While beginners will love its bendy brush, they may be turned off by its higher price tag. But trust us — Lancôme’s liner is an investment worth making.

Pros: Bendable brush makes it perfect for beginners, or those looking for a more precise line

Cons: Liner newbies may not want to invest in a $32 liner

Buy Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner for $32

The best liquid eyeliner for pros

Why you'll love it: If you’ve already mastered the perfect cat-eye, and are looking to up your game in a major way, then Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick is the tube you want to reach for. 

One of the downfalls of the standard liquid liner that a lot of new beauty devotees gravitate to? The tip tends to be short and stiff. While this is a godsend for those with shaky hands (the more controlled applicator means you’ll have an easier time drawing with it), it can be a little limiting for those looking to get a little more artistic with their liner looks. In these cases, it’s helpful to reach for a liner like Charlotte Tilbury’s The Feline Flick, which has a longer, more tapered tip.

Charlotte’s cult-favorite liner was created with a special calligraphy brush. It’s slightly more flexible than other liner tips. That makes experienced users will have a bit more control over the lines they create. It also means that the lines created are slightly smoother and thinner. The tip was also created specifically for cat-eyes, making that feline flick that much easier to achieve.

But it’s not just the tip that makes this liner a winner. Charlotte Tilbury’s The Feline Flick features an ergonomic rubber handle. It sits comfortably between your fingers, which means more control for you. That makes the transition from newbie-friendly liner to something a bit more advanced that much easier.

The only issue we see with Charlotte’s gorgeous liner is how quickly it dries. Now, that may seem like a positive, but this formula almost dries too quickly. That means the margin for error is super small, and big mistakes take makeup remover to rectify.

All that said, this is the liner to reach for if your go-to look is a cat-eye. Charlotte has the look down to a science, and The Feline Flick will help you get it, too.

Pros: Perfect for eyeliner pros who adore a cat-eye

Cons: Dries quickly, so mistakes are hard to clean up

Buy Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick for $30

On its eight seasons, "The Walking Dead" has had some big gets from Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the show's latest villain to a surprise appearance from Jayne Atkinson on a recent episode. The AMC drama is also known for casting many actors from "The Wire," because it's a favorite of creator Robert Kirkman.

But a lot of actors who have appeared in the zombie apocalypse have gone on to larger projects and movies. Some have even landed their own TV shows.

Keep reading to see which "Walking Dead" stars received their big break on the AMC show.

Steven Yeun had a minor appearance on "The Big Bang Theory" before he landed the role as pizza delivery boy Glenn in the zombie apocalypse.

Glenn saved Rick Grimes from a certain death and became one his core allies for six seasons until he was brutally killed off the show.

Since then, Yeun has taken his talents to Netflix, voicing characters in movies and animated shows.

Yeun voices characters on Netflix's "Voltron,""Trollhunters," and "Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters." You can also catch him in the movie "Okja" and last year's thriller, "Mayhem."

Chandler Riggs grew up on the show over the course of eight seasons.

Carl went from the curious kid who refused to stay indoors during the zombie apocalypse to a selfless leader whose last words will hopefully help in ending the war.

• The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, killing over 1,500 people.

• Ever since, conspiracy theories have bounced around regarding the nature of the maritime disaster.

• Some of the allegations are pretty out there — like the idea that an ancient Egyptian curse doomed the ocean liner.

The Titanic remains one of the most famous disasters in history.

On its maiden voyage to New York city, the ocean liner hit an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland, resulting in severe damage to its hull. The Titanic slipped beneath the dark waves of the North Atlantic in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. Over 1,500 people lost their lives, and the luxury passenger ship became an emblem of disaster.

The sinking of the Titanic prompted a media frenzy, an overhaul of maritime safety practices, and plenty of fictional depictions of what happened on that cold April night over a hundred years ago.

Given the level of public interest and scrutiny, it's not surprising that a handful of conspiracy theories have cropped up about the ship's fate. Some are almost entirely fictional — like the idea that a cursed mummy was onboard the ship. Others allege that the tragedy was a result of insurance fraud, or an attempt by JP Morgan to rid himself of some powerful rivals.

Here are five conspiracy theories about the sinking of the Titanic:

SEE ALSO: http://www.businessinsider.com/titanic-film-residuals-2018-1

DON'T MISS: It might not have been an iceberg that sunk the Titanic after all

The Titanic was marked by a controversial secret message

One conspiracy theory about the Titanic has been floating around for years.

First, it's important to note that the Titanic was constructed in the city of Belfast by the shipbuilding firm Harland and Wolff.

The conspiracy theory is that Catholic workers reacted in horror when the new ship's hull number — 3909 04 — was unveiled.

The reason? If you flip 3909 04 upside down, it kind of looks like "NO POPE." As far as the theory goes, the Catholic workers saw this as blasphemy, and worried that harm would come to the ship.

But there are a number of big problems with this conspiracy theory, which Snopes has also debunked.

To start, Harland and Wollff assigned the Titanic a yard number of 401. The 3909 04 number is completely made up.

What's more, there would have been no Catholic workers on hand to warn their Protestant colleagues of the problematic hull number.

In 1886, Protestant Harland and Wolff employees launched a large-scale attack on their Catholic coworkers, according to the book "The Invention of the White Race." The result was an exodus of Catholic workers from the shipbuilder, which was Belfast's largest employer at the time.

In "Irish Blood, English Heart, Ulster Fry: Return Journeys to Ireland," Annie Caulfield writes that, "by the twentieth century, Harland and Wolff had a reputation for only employing Protestants."

The Titanic was doomed due to a mummy's curse

Did an ancient mummy seal the Titanic's fate?

No. Human error and a lifeboat shortage brought about the maritime catastrophe.

Still, the idea that an ancient curse sunk the ship is one of the more fanciful conspiracy theories that cropped up in the wake of the disaster.

According to the legend, an ancient, mummified princess left a trail of death and devastation across England in the early 1900s after being excavated and removed from Egypt.

Once the beleaguered community of British art collectors and museum professionals had enough of the haunted mummy, an American archaeologist swooped in to purchase it. Ignoring his colleagues' warnings, he headed back to New York with his new acquisition.

But the unfortunate scholar and the mummy never made to the States. Because, lo and behold, the name of the ship that they sailed off on was the HMS Titanic!

The tale is popular, but also completely fictional. Snopes debunked the story, noting that, even disregarding the tale's fantastical elements, there was no mummy onboard the ship.

That hasn't stopped the British Museum's so-called "unlucky mummy" from getting blamed for the ship's sinking, though.

The ship was attacked by a U-boat

The Titanic is known as one of the biggest peacetime maritime disasters in history. The tragedy missed the onset of the First World War by two years.

But some still speculate that a German U-boat was really behind the ship's sinking.

If such a theory panned out, that'd make the Titanic's sinking a precursor to that of the Lusitania. In 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the British ocean liner off the coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people.

While the theory lacks an abundance of evidence, it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility.

A number of Titanic survivors reported to have noticed "an unidentified vessel approximately five to six miles away" from the sinking ship, which reportedly lingered until 2 a.m., according to Dr. Franklin Ruehl's piece in The Huffington Post. Ruehl speculated that the craft was possibly "a submarine that had surfaced to assess the damage it had caused, after which time it skulked off," and also cited survivor testimony about a number of explosions that seemed to go off deep with the ship.

"The sub may have deliberately targeted the luxury liner or possibly accidentally collided with it," Ruehl wrote.

In 2017, the game to play was "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"— a sweeping epic that set a standard for the entire year.

In 2018, that game is the new "God of War"— an incredible, similarly epic journey that I just spent two weeks playing more or less non-stop. 

It's hard to overstate how impressive "God of War" is. It is the high water mark of 2018 thus far — the game by which all others will be measured. Whether you've played games in the series before or not is unimportant. Even if you've outright disliked previous "God of War" games, there's something here for you. 

Simply put: If you own a PlayStation 4 (and over 70 million of you do!), "God of War" is a must-own, must-play game. 

A quick briefer on the "God of War" series:

The "God of War" series goes way back to the PlayStation 2.

Players controlled Kratos, the God of War himself, as he struggled with the Greek pantheon. His struggle was often told through fighting off hordes of monsters (based in Greek mythology), often in small arenas — you enter an area, the exits are sealed, and you must fight your way through groups of enemies until they're all dead and you can progress.

The games focused on stylish, third-person, action-adventure gameplay. There was some light puzzle solving, and the occasional cutscene involving Kratos getting super mad at how the Gods had played him once again, and some pretty massive boss fights where you literally climbed up giants (and sometimes became giant yourself). It was fun, if a bit overdramatic and silly at times.

The last game in the previous series was "God of War: Ascension" back in 2013 on the PlayStation 3. 

The new game — simply named "God of War," like the original — is a reboot.

On paper, the "God of War" reboot is very similar to the original series: It's a third-person, action-adventure game that's focused on stylish combat. 

But in reality, there are some huge changes right off the bat. For one, Kratos now has a son that he's taking care of (seen above). His name is Atreus (uh-tray-us), and he's with you for the entire journey. 

And the journey, rather than a tale of revenge, is one of grief: Kratos' wife / Atreus' mother has died, and her last request was to have her ashes released at the tallest peak in the land. It's a subtle re-focus that, unbelievably, turns Kratos into a complex, interesting character for the first time ever.

How he handles grieving while teaching his son valuable lessons — all while dealing with the tremendous psychological baggage from his previous life as a Greek god — is what elevates "God of War" from an impressive, gorgeous action game to a memorable, meaningful game. All other games could take a page (or fifty) from the subtlety of dialog and voice acting and storytelling in the new "God of War."

Kratos conveys more emotion with the occasional gruff affirmation than most game characters do with hours of exposition.

The first thing I was struck by is how incredibly gorgeous it is. Outside of racing games, "God of War" is likely the best looking game on the PlayStation 4.

Every image in this review was captured on my personal PlayStation 4 Pro from a retail version of "God of War."

It really looks this good:

Between the level of detail in everything, the incredibly impressive shadow work, and the fact that the game runs smoothly 99% of the time, "God of War" is a technical triumph. 

Games rarely look this good, and they rarely run as smoothly as "God of War" does when they are this attractive. It's clear that Sony is pushing the PlayStation 4 to its limits with "God of War"— my PlayStation 4 Pro's fans were screaming the entire time I played the game. 

Good news: It was worth it, as there are countless moments while playing "God of War" where I stopped to take in the incredible world that Sony's Santa Monica Studio built. 

The US appears on the verge of striking the Syrian government after it allegedly carried out a gas attack in a suburb of Damascus over the weekend. 

Russia has vowed to shoot down any US missile strike and repeatedly warned that any such strike on Syria could escalate hostilities.

"Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria," President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday. "Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'"

Russia's most advanced air defense system in Syria is the S-400, a very capable missile-defense system somewhat comparable to the US's MIM-104 Patriot, according to CSIS.

The photos below are of S-400 systems getting unloaded and set up at Russia's Hmeimim Air Base in Syria in 2015.

Here's what the US could face if Trump decides to strike:

SEE ALSO: This is the Patriot missile defense system that just 'failed catastrophically' in Saudi Arabia

The S-400 Triumf, which NATO calls the SA-21 Growler, is a fourth-generation long-range missile-defense system that Russia began developing in 1993.

It's the successor to the S-200 and S-300 air-defense systems and became operational in 2007. 

Source: CSIS

It's capable of taking out aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles in the terminal phase.

Source: CSIS

However, it does not have hit-to-kill ballistic-missile-defense technology, which means it can't physically collide with incoming warheads.

Source: CSIS

• The Stelvio is Alfa Romeo's first crack at an SUV since returning to the US market.
• Luxury SUVs are a mission-critical segment for the Italian brand.
• We enjoyed the Alfa Romeo's styling and driving dynamics, but it fell short on infotainment and interior quality.

Alfa Romeo exited the US market back in the mid-1990s, and if you had told me prior to the financial crisis that the legendary Italian brand would be back, I'd have scoffed.

By the bailout and bankruptcy of Chrysler in 2009 set the stage for an unlikely return, as Fiat — Alfa's owner — acquired Chrysler and formed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. CEO Sergio Marchionne was keen to restore Alfa in the lucrative US luxury market. So first we got the offbeat 4C sports car, followed by the marvelous Giulia sedan.

Now the most unlikely Alfa of all has arrived, the Stelvio SUV. Luxury SUVs are a big segment in ute-mad America, with pretty much every major brand supporting a lineup. Alfa had to get in on the action.

The Stelvio landed in 2017, and we got our hands on a $53,000 Sport-trim example (the base model is $42,000). The car was mega-sharp, with its quintessentially Italian styling. A Range Rover this definitely isn't. But what was it like to live with?

Photos by Hollis Johnson.

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Our Stelvio tester arrived in a Rosso Red paint job with an all-black interior.

The Alfa front end is utterly distinctive. You can't mistake it for anything else, with that dashing shield grille, those saber-like headlights, and the gorgeous Alfa badge. As front fascias go, it's amazing.

The Rosso Red exterior was luminous. We seen Alfas in black and we've seen them in red. And red is better.

Of course, because the design is so Alfa, it's bound to be polarizing.

The obvious question is whether you want your rugged SUV to look like something that's dressed for men's fashion week in Milan. From my perspective, SUVs have exuded rough-and-tumble cred for so long that the arrival of panache with the Stelvio and the Maserati Levante is a good thing.

The Stelvio is symmetrical and sleek.

To be honest, apart from the glorious color, we weren't 100% convinced by the Stelvio's beauty. 

The rest of the world didn't share our skepticism. There was no shortage of admiring glances, rapt stares, thumbs up, and questions from total strangers for the week that we spent driving the SUV around New York and New Jersey.

Hollywood has long been in the business of pursuing sequels to successful movies, and the results have often been disastrous in the eyes of film critics. 

From bad sequels to classic movies like "Jaws" and "Caddyshack," to some even more terrible follow-ups to films that were already panned, the sequels on this list are all historically awful.

We compiled this list by referencing an extensive, crowd-sourced Ranker community list of the all-time "worst sequels." We then chose the worst films and ranked them by their critical scores on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes (we used audience scores to break any ties).

Here are the 45 worst movie sequels of all time, ranked from bad to worst, according to critics:

SEE ALSO: The 44 worst movies made by iconic directors — from Spielberg to Scorsese

45. "Home Alone 3" (1997)

Critic score: 30%

Audience score: 27%

Sequel to:"Home Alone" (1990)

What critics said:"Twice the bad guys, half the laughs."— USA Today

44. "Dumb and Dumber To" (2014)

Critic score: 29%

Audience score: 35%

Sequel to:"Dumb and Dumber" (1994)

What critics said:"I wish I could put as little thought into writing about 'Dumb and Dumber To' as the Farrelly brothers did in making it."— Time

43. "The Final Destination" (2009)

Critic score: 28%

Audience score: 35%

Sequel to:"Final Destination" (2000)

What critics said:"Since not even 3-D can put your eyes out, our only hope is that this time, the title is a promise and not a tease."— The New York Times

• Wawa is giving away free coffee to celebrate Wawa Day 2018. 
• The convenience-store chain with a cult following is celebrating its 54th anniversary. 
• We recently visited Wawa to see if it measures up to the hype. 

Any Pennsylvanian knows the magnetic allure of Wawa.

The convenience-store chain has recruited an army of steadfast shoppers; however, many Americans don't know much about Wawa, as its locations are limited to six states on the East Coast. On Thursday, it's giving away free, unlimited coffee to celebrate its 54th year in business.

Recently, we ventured into Wawa country to get an idea of what the fuss is all about at the convenience chain and its rival, Sheetz.

We came away with a new understanding of Wawa and its fiercely loyal fans.  

Here's how Wawa won us over:

SEE ALSO: Applebee's, TGI Fridays, and Chili's are trying to claw their way out of a restaurant death trap

Our quest started off in the parking lot of a Wawa in south Phillipsburg, New Jersey, off Route 22. The gas pumps were plentiful and bustling with activity, but we were more interested in what waited within.

Wawa, with more than 720 locations in six states on the East Coast, is renowned for its high-quality, inexpensive food. The vibe is clean and professional, yet unassuming. Muted yellows and browns are the key colors, leading to a relaxed but often bland visual landscape.

It takes a few minutes to even comprehend the array of food options available at Wawa. The well-stocked prepackaged section is ambitious and diverse in scope. Even packaged food appears fresh — not as though it has been abandoned on the shelf for untold lengths.

ESPN released its first direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, ESPN+, on Thursday.

The service is now available for $4.99 per month or an annual fee of $49.99.

ESPN+ has been conceived as an add-on to ESPN's current cable coverage, so its service lacks access to any of the content on ESPN's core channels, including ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN Classic.

ESPN said in a release that ESPN+ includes "thousands" of live games from a wide variety of sports, as well as a library of original shows, films, and other on-demand content. The service also features limited ads on its app, with the exception of traditional ad breaks on live sports broadcasts. 

ESPN+ is available now through an update to the ESPN app, which the company's president James Pitaro has described as "completely re-imagined" and "increasingly personalized."

As part of Pitaro's emphasis on original content, the service also launched with a new "30 for 30" documentary, "The Last Days of Knight," about the career of the controversial Indiana men's college basketball coach Bob Knight.

Here's a rundown of all the live sporting events that ESPN+ includes: 

SEE ALSO: ESPN is making more money than ever off of subscribers despite its dwindling subscriber base

MLB — "More than 180 games"

ESPN said the service will feature an MLB game "each day, seven days per week" throughout the season, including every MLB team. 

NHL — "More than 180 games"

ESPN said the service will include "a daily NHL game" starting with the 2018-2019 NHL season.

Boxing — "Year-round schedule"

ESPN+ will feature "exclusive main event fights," including the match between Amir Khan vs. Phil Lo Greco on April 21, as well as "an unmatched library of legendary fights." 

• Wawa just rolled out a secret menu that includes a birthday cake smoothie. 
• Customers discovered the menu through a hack on Wawa's ordering tablets. 

Wawa has quietly rolled out a secret menu. 

The menu can be accessed on Wawa's ordering tablets — but only if customers know where to look. 

Here's how to find it:

SEE ALSO: Wawa is giving away free, unlimited coffee — here's how to get some

On Wawa's ordering tablets, click the flying goose on the bottom left corner of the screen.

This screen will appear, as the secret menu is about to be revealed. Click "enter here!"

Right now, the secret menu offers only a couple of items: a birthday cake smoothie and a birthday cake milkshake.

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:

• Although a mattress topper isn’t a must-have for your bed, it’s one of the easiest ways to up your sleep quality and comfort. We researched dozens of mattress toppers and determined that the DreamFoam Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topper is the one likeliest to send you off to dreamland with a smile on your face.

A mattress topper has the power to take your night’s sleep from, “If only I had another hour,” to “Wow, I feel refreshed and ready to rock!” Along with a layer of additional comfort, the right mattress topper also adds extra support, relief from pressure on your joints and spine, a new lease on life for an aging mattress, and customization of a mattress that is too firm or too soft for your liking.

While the terms “mattress topper” and “mattress pad” are often used interchangeably, they are actually slightly different. A mattress topper is purely for comfort, while a mattress protector is a thin covering that protects the mattress from fluids, dust mites, allergens, and other bed grungies. A mattress pad is somewhere between the two. It helps protect your mattress and also adds some comfort to the bed, but generally is not as thick or as dense as a mattress topper.

Because there are so many mattress toppers on the market, we’ve made buying one easier for you. We visited the top consumer websites, researched sleep and bedding sites, and listened to what actual mattress topper buyers had to say before narrowing down your choices to the five mattress toppers we feel are the best.

Updated on 04/12/2018 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and added links to related buying guides for bedding.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the DreamFoam Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topper is our top pick and why you might also like the Super Snooze Baffled Featherbed Set, the Lambswool Mattress Pad from Overstock, the Pinzon Overfilled Microplush Mattress Topper, and the Sleep Innovations Dual Layer Mattress Topper Set.

SEE ALSO: The best pillows you can buy for your bed

The best mattress topper overall

Why you'll love it: You’ll sleep like a baby on the DreamFoam Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topper, thanks to its excellent support, soft comfort, and great price.

Memory foam was originally developed by NASA to protect astronauts from the rigors of re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. You’re not hitting G-forces when you hit the hay, but you’ll still benefit from the cushioning and support memory foam offers. It’s an especially good choice if you have a hard time sleeping due to aches and pains in your hips, back, or upper body.

The DreamFoam Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topperis a two-inch-thick pad of gel-infused memory foam. The gel, which gives the mattress topper a tie-dyed appearance, helps prevent your body heat from building up in the memory foam. It's a welcome innovation, considering that “sleeping hot” is the number one complaint about memory foam bed products in general.

This isn’t the densest memory foam on the market, but it’s not super-soft, either. It’s just right. It hits the sweet spot of just enough support to keep your spine, body, and pressure points comfortable, without too much of the “sinking in” feeling that can be a problem with overly soft memory foam.

The Wirecutter also chose the DreamFoam Topper as its top pick because it was comfortable and didn't make testers overheat. The site also commented on the topper’s excellent motion isolating abilities, meaning that you won’t be as bothered by your partner’s tossing and turning.

Amazon shoppers also like the DreamFoam Topper. In fact, it’s one of the best-selling mattress toppers on the site, with more than 2,100 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars. Over and over, buyers praise the topper’s ability to soothe sore joints, its not-too-firm, not-too-soft level of support, and its cool-sleep properties. Amazon customers also appreciate the lack of lingering chemical smell with the DreamFoam Topper, which is important to note because odor can be a problem with some memory foam products.

The topper is made in the US, and has CertiPUR-US certification, meaning it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals such as ozone depleters, heavy metals, formaldehyde, lead, or phthalates.

Pros: Great price, excellent support, not too hot, an extensive range of sizes

Cons: None to speak of, although a few buyers complained the topper was too soft

Buy the DreamFoam Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper on Amazon for $52.99 (Twin), $56.95 (Full), $67.99 (Queen), $85.01 (King), $84.99 (California King)

The best featherbed mattress topper

Why you'll love it: You’ll feel like you’re sleeping in the clouds with the dreamy-soft Super Snooze Baffled Featherbed Set.

The Super Snooze Baffled Featherbed Set is a lofty five inches thick and has baffles to help keep the feathers in place with no clumping or shifting. It’s a thickly stuffed, heavy featherbed, so you’ll sink in a bit more than you would with a lighter topper. The 100 percent cotton, 230-thread count shell is tightly woven, so a stray feather quill won’t poke you, and the featherbed comes with an additional cover to protect it from body oils, moisture, and allergens.

Despite the name, a featherbed is not a bed. It’s a mattress topper stuffed with feathers from ducks or geese. The downy filling gives the featherbed a billowy, cloud-like feel, but also means that you aren’t going to get the firm support or cushioning for sore joints that memory foam provides.

Most people who love featherbeds simply enjoy the supreme softness, which can provide welcome relief from a mattress that is too firm. A featherbed is also a great choice for people who tend to sleep hot, as the topper is comfortably warm in the winter, yet remains cool in the summer. Keep in mind, however, that if you have feather allergies, this isn’t the topper for you.

Customers on Overstock really like this featherbed: It has more than 2,500 reviews and an average rating of 4.4 stars. “Sleeping on a cloud” is a frequent comment, along with praise for the topper’s snuggly feel. Says one happy buyer, “My bed is now so soft and comfy. I love going to sleep at night.” Sleep-product review website Sleep Like the Dead agrees, finding that 88 percent of owners are pleased with this featherbed.

Many owners do complain, however, of the need to fluff the featherbed daily — or at least a few times per week — to keep the loft. This is a common issue with all featherbeds, however, not just this one. Some customers also mentioned the sound of feathers shifting inside the topper, and still others felt the topper wasn’t as thick or supportive as they had hoped for.  

Pros: Reasonable price, thickly stuffed with feathers, well baffled

Cons: Must be fluffed frequently, you’ll need extra-deep sheets to fit over the featherbed

Buy the Super Snooze Baffled Featherbed Set on Amazon for $108.99 (Twin), $152.98 (Queen), $167.59 (California King)

Buy the Super Snooze Baffled Featherbed Set on Amazon for $164.53 (King)

The best wool mattress topper

Why you'll love it: No more lying awake counting sheep when you’re cozied up on this soft and comfortable Lambswool Mattress Pad.

Fleece mattress pads are not the easiest type to find, but for those who sleep hot, they are worth the search. Natural fleece is surprisingly cool to sleep on, as it has excellent breathability and doesn’t hang onto your body heat the way memory foam or similar materials do. It’s cozy, plush, and soft as well. But if lots of support is a must, this isn’t the right type of mattress topper for you. While a wool topper offers more support than a featherbed, it’s less supportive than memory foam.  

Overstock’s Lambswool Mattress Pad is a very thick, soft, and high-quality mattress topper, with an inch-thick layer of oh-so-cozy wool atop a polyester backing. A poly/cotton skirt wraps securely around the sides of your mattress to keep the pad in place. The wool is thick enough to cradle you comfortably, but you won’t experience the “sinking in” sensation you’d feel with foam or feathers. Instead, you’ll have just enough light support for a good night’s sleep, and a welcome addition of comfort to a mattress that’s past its best days. The wool is safe for machine washing, as an additional bonus.

I owned and enjoyed this mattress pad for several years before finally switching to memory foam due to arthritic pain. The lambswool topper was indeed much cooler than traditional memory foam, and it added a very nice layer of comfort to my bed. On the downside, and this is echoed in many buyer’s comments on Overstock, the wool flattened out under my body weight, and required a quick finger-fluff to restore the loft each time I changed the sheets.

Sleep Like the Dead rates this mattress topper highly, with 91 percent of buyers pleased with their purchase. And on Overstock.com, the topper has nearly 300 reviews and an average of 4.6 stars. Customers praise the topper’s durability, temperature regulation, softness, and coziness. Says one satisfied customer, “Love, love, love this purchase. Soft, comfortable, and warm, just as the description says. Best night’s sleep I've had in a long time.”

Pros: Not as hot as other types of mattress topper, cozy, durable, is easy to cover with a fitted sheet

Cons: Requires periodic fluffing, slight wool odor initially, expensive

Buy the Twin Lambswool Mattress Pad on Overstock for $115.64

Buy the Full Lambswool Mattress Pad on Overstock for $155.24

Buy the Queen Lambswool Mattress Pad on Overstock for $143.99

Buy the King Lambswool Mattress Pad on Overstock for $188.54