Basic financial literacy remains rather elusive in our culture. Between social taboos about discussing money and the lack of formal education about finance, most of us just make do with what our parents taught us — and for many people, that’s not enough.

Here are 10 basic personal finance questions you’ve been too embarrassed to ask anyone, but that remain immortalized in your browser history.

SEE ALSO: 5 'good' credit habits that are actually terrible

What’s a credit score?

A credit score is a numeric rating determined by three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The most commonly used credit score is from FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation). This rating, which can vary by bureau, is defined by how much debt you have, whether you pay your bills on time, how many credit cards you have, and any unpaid bills, among other factors.

Your credit score (which can range from 300 to 850) affects most financial decisions: Buying a car, buying or renting a home, getting loans, and opening new lines of credit require credit score reviews by the people or companies who can grant you any of those grown-up things. (For example, if you have a poor credit score, a landlord may be less inclined to rent to you.)

Treat your credit score like a newborn that needs constant attention and care, and shield it from the ugly world of negligent debts. You can check your credit score in addition to your credit report, which you should do at least once a year to make sure it’s accurate and reflects credit cards or debts you actually have (and that no one else is using your name — and your credit — to buy random cars). You can check your score for free online whenever you want.

Bottom line: Your credit score impacts basically your entire adult financial life — so it’s important to know what it is.

What is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is a company-backed retirement account that takes a percentage of your paycheck (you decide how much) and puts it aside for your retirement. This money usually gets invested on your behalf in a variety of stocks and bonds so that your money can create more money.

You choose your investments, either directly or by picking a mix that reflects how much risk you’re comfortable with. The money that goes into your 401(k) is taken from your paycheck before taxes, reducing your taxable income.

Why not just sock away all your money into a personal savings account, you ask? Because if that money is just sitting in an account for 20-plus years without being invested, your earnings actually lose value over time. The reason? Inflation (mostly).

The hypothetical $20,000 you put away in 2015 will not be worth $20,000 in 2045 if it’s been in a traditional savings account, thanks to inflation and account maintenance fees. Having a 401(k) ensures that the value of your money grows by keeping it in the market, which generally outpaces inflation in the long term.

Companies vary with their 401(k) packages, but many of them offer “matching,” meaning that they will match your contribution up to a certain percent. It’s simply free money (!) for your account.

Bottom line: If your company has a 401(k), you should probably take it. Ask HR to put you in touch with the retirement accounts advisor to discuss what type of investment package is best for you.

What is an IRA?

IRA is an acronym for Individual Retirement Account — a place to put money away for retirement that will be then invested for you. IRAs can be used in combination with a 401(k) or as an alternative to one if your company doesn’t offer a 401(k).

Much like a 401(k), the money is invested across various stock/bond packages that you choose, so that it can grow over time. IRAs do have contribution limits, though: The most you can put into an IRA is $5,500 a year (e.g., $458 a month), or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older.

There are two main types of IRAs:

• Traditional IRAs: The money you put into a traditional IRA is tax deferred, meaning you pay the taxes on it when you withdraw it. Unlike a Roth IRA, it doesn’t matter how much money you make — you can always make contributions (up to the maximum allowed).

• Roth IRAs: You can contribute to a Roth IRA only if you earn less than $131,000 a year if you’re single, head of household, or married and filing separately. For married couples filing taxes together, you must jointly earn less than $193,000 a year. Contributions aren’t tax deductible, but any money you withdraw is always tax free.

See this handy chart for more details on the differences between the two.

Bottom line: If you don’t have a 401(k), then yes, you absolutely need an IRA if you want to save for retirement.

The evidence of a warming planet is all around us.

One place that makes this startlingly clear is California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, where the current snowpack is at the lowest it has been for 500 years, according to a study published online Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The shrinking snow levels, linked to the state's devastating drought, will likely take a toll on the water supplies of farms and cities, reduce the amount of hydroelectric power available, and make wildfires more likely, according to the study's researchers.

Here are some photos that reveal the extent of the problem in stark but stunning beauty.

CHECK OUT: Remarkable before-and-after photos make it undeniably clear we're ruining our planet

NOW READ: Armed with a GoPro and selfie stick, Obama gives us a glimpse of how Alaska’s glaciers are under threat

California is in the midst of a record drought that started in 2012, causing authorities to restrict water use across the state for the first time. The drought's severity is especially clear in the Sierra Nevada (pictured here), where the snowpack April 1 was just 5% of its historical average.

California gets 80% of its precipitation during winter, and the Sierra Nevada snowpack plays a vital role, providing 30% of the state's water supply.

In the new study, scientists pieced together the April 1 snowpack conditions over the entire 400-mile Sierra Nevada range for the past 500 years. They chose April because that's when snow in the Sierra starts to melt due to increased rain and higher temperatures.

NOW WATCH: Science says that parents of successful kids have these 7 things in common

Kroger is dominating the grocery industry.

The retailer has enjoyed 47 quarters of same-store sales growth.

Kroger has opened a new concept store near its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. The location — the company's second largest ever — includes everything from gourmet food to clothing to housewares.

Wal-Mart and Target are struggling to revamp their grocery businesses, making Kroger's new store a big potential threat.

Kroger is also expected to surpass Whole Foods Market within two years and become the nation's top seller of organic and natural food, according to a recent report by JPMorgan Chase.

A tipster sent us photos of the new Kroger.

Kroger's new location includes a growler bar with craft beer. The bar is situated near a deli and prepared-foods section.

There's also a wine bar where people can test wine and socialize, similar to ones found at Whole Foods. Kroger is perceived as a better value than the organic grocer, according to analysts at JPMorgan.

The new bars complement Kroger's extensive food selection. The brand sells prepared, packaged, and fresh foods.

NOW WATCH: Millennials are telling a big lie about McDonald's

New York City is a magical place in the fall.

There are crisp days perfect for walks in the park, hot apple cider from local farmers markets, and football.

Plenty of events and festivals, from the New York City Marathon to the Wine & Food Festival, also take place.

Autumn officially starts Sept. 22, so get ready for the new season with our ultimate guide on what every New Yorker should do this fall.

SEE ALSO: 25 of the best free things to do this fall in London

FOLLOW US: BI Travel is on Twitter!

Feel the music of one of the many new shows opening on Broadway this fall. There's Fiddler on the Roof, The Color Purple, and Spring Awakening, among others. Buy tickets now during Broadway Week (Sept. 7-20) and score two-for-one tickets.

Click here for a schedule of upcoming shows >

Gorge yourself on sausages with peppers and cannoli at the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, which runs Sept. 10-20.

For a map and event schedule, click here >

Pick apples at one of the gorgeous orchards in upstate New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey, where you can wander the grounds picking bushels of your own fruit.

Some good options near New York City include Applewood Orchards & Winery, Barton Orchards, Dr. Davies Farm, and Greig Farm.

For more suggestions, click here >

We miss Kate Upton.

The famous supermodel used to be the spokesperson for "Game of War" before it was announced Mariah Carey was taking over in June.

This writer is not a fan of "Game of War." In fact, a few months ago I wrote at length about how ridiculously convoluted the actual game was to play. It's also not fun, not intuitive, and seems like sort of a big racket to get your hard-earned cash.

But it's still one of the top grossing games in the app store, with perhaps the most ubiquitous ad campaign. And you're going to be seeing a lot of this, we're sure, in the near future. Mariah Carey's first trailer for the game is out and it's really weird.

It begins with a dragon's deadly ascent.

via TMZ

These guys are scared. That dragon is scary.

via TMZ

In a desperate search for help, they pull out their phones, and call for reinforcements. This is clearly advertising the options the game has to team up with others online.

via TMZ

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San Francisco is notorious for its jaw-dropping real estate prices.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment stands at $3,460 a month.

But it's not just housing expenses that will eat away at your paycheck. In general, the total cost of living in San Francisco is 62.6% higher than the US average.

If you're thinking about heading out west to startup-nation, consider these eye-opening facts about the cost of living:

SEE ALSO: 15 facts about New York City that will make you think twice about whether you can afford to live there

The estimated cost of annual necessities for a single person is $43,581 — or $3,632 a month, making it the most expensive city for single people to settle down in.

Annual necessities in the San Francisco metro area include housing, food, transportation, healthcare, other necessities, and taxes. They do not include savings or discretionary spending.

Source: Economic Policy Institute's 2015 Family Budget Calculator

For a family of four, expect to pay about $91,785 a year for necessities — that's $7,649 per month.

Annual necessities in the San Francisco metro area for a four-person family — two adults and two children — include costs for housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, other necessities, and taxes. They do not include savings or discretionary spending.

Source: Economic Policy Institute's 2015 Family Budget Calculator

The median home price in the San Francisco metro area is a steep $841,600.

Compare that to the median home price in the US: $188,900.

Source: National Association of Realtors via Business Insider

Ever since the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting– which surprised markets by striking a hawkish tone – one question has gripped investors perhaps more than any other: when will the Fed start tightening monetary policy, and what will happen when it does?

Deutsche Bank Chief U.S. Equity Strategist David Bianco says, "Don't fear interest rate normalization."

That's the title of one of his recent research notes, which takes a deep dive into what happened to markets each of the 15 times the Fed has embarked on policy tightening since 1965.

December 1965 - December 1966

Story: Bianco writes, "The 1965 tightening followed many previous hikes that were largely a post-war renormalization of rates. But the curve inverted in Dec. 1965 and yet hikes continued through Nov. 1966 on low unemployment – hawkish policy. Stocks fell into a bear market in 1966 even without recession and then the Fed started easing in Dec. 1966 and the market rallied."

Beginning Fed funds rate: 4.10 percent

Peak Fed funds rate: 5.76 percent

Source: Deutsche Bank

December 1965 - December 1966

1-month change in S&P 500 from start of tightening: 0.9 percent

12-month change in S&P 500 from start of tightening: -12.2 percent

Change in 10-year Treasury yield over entire tightening: 0.54 percentage points

Source: Deutsche Bank

August 1967 - September 1969

Story: The Federal Reserve began lowering rates in December 1966 over fears that the long-running economic expansion in the U.S. was about to turn. It continued to cut rates through July of 1968, when the economy began heating up again. Stocks traded sideways through March 1968, when they staged a rally through the rest of the year before falling in 1969.

Beginning Fed funds rate: 3.79 percent

Peak Fed funds rate: 9.19 percent

Source: Deutsche Bank, Allan Meltzer

Nothing suggests the height of human achievement and economic prowess quite like a skyscraper.

The newly completed 2,073-foot-tall Shanghai Tower is officially the second-tallest building in the world (behind Dubai's Burj Khalifa) and the tallest in China.

And taller skyscrapers are planned, such as China's Sky City and Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Tower.

But as "cool" as all of these buildings are, glitzy construction booms have historically coincided with the beginnings of economic downturns, according to Barclays' "Skyscraper Index." (For all you economics wonks out there, basically, skyscrapers can be considered a sentiment indicator.)

Using Barclays' index, we pulled together 10 skyscrapers whose constructions overlapped with financial crises.

Equitable Life Building (1873)

The Long Depression, 1873–1878

The Long Depression, a pervasive US economic recession with bank failures, coincided with the construction of the Equitable Life Building in New York City in 1873.

The 142-foot building was the world's first skyscraper. (You could stack 14 of these on top of one another, and they still wouldn't be taller than China's new Shanghai Tower.) 

Source: Barclays

Auditorium (1889) and New York World (1890)

British banking crisis, 1890

Chicago's 269-foot-tall Auditorium, completed in 1889, and New York's 309-foot-tall New York World, completed in 1890, coincided with the British banking crisis of 1890 and a world recession.

Source: Barclays

Masonic Temple, Manhattan Life Building, and Milwaukee City Hall (1893)

US panic marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding, 1893

Chicago's 302-foot-tall Masonic Temple, the 348-foot-tall Manhattan Life Building, and the 353-foot-tall Milwaukee City Hall coincided with the US panic of 1893 marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding.

It also overlapped with a string of bank failures and a run on gold.

Source: Barclays

There is no consensus among economists regarding when the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.

Some believe it'll happen on Thursday when the Fed concludes its next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Some believe it'll happen in October. Other believe it'll happen in December. And then there's the very few who think we'll have to wait until 2016 to see a move.

One thing is clear: no one has a very high conviction or a particularly convincing case for their call.

The Fed brought its benchmark fed funds rate target to 0.00%-0.25% in December 2008 in its effort to stimulate growth and inflation in the wake of the global financial crisis.

The question now is if the economy is ready for higher rates.

We thumbed though the notes and compiled the predictions from 17 Wall Street firms. Below you'll find their calls and snippets from their research. We'll find out who is right and wrong on Thursday afternoon.

SEE ALSO: 28 charts that show how America changed since the Fed gave us 0% rates

First of all, here's a look at the Fed's near-0% rate, which will soon come to an end.

UBS

Projected timing of rate hike: SEPTEMBER

On the timing: "September has three advantages. 1) It offers a compromise between hawks and doves, getting one rate hike "out of the way" without committing the Fed to more. 2) It provides optionality for those who anticipate that more than one hike this year would likely be appropriate (10 FOMC members, or the majority of the committee, as of June. Though likely there are now a few less). 3) It avoids any risks resulting from policy changes around year-end, when bank funding issues tend to become more complex," said economists Drew Matus, Samuel Coffin, and Maury Harris.

Reasons for call: "We continue to believe that, once the Fed moves, economic conditions could improve, prompting further moves by the Fed. At the same time, we believe that the fact that both unemployment and inflation tend to lag economic activity and to move in trend-
like fashion helps to explain why past Fed rate hike cycles have evolved as they have in the past."

BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH

Projected timing of rate hike: SEPTEMBER

On the timing: "The Fed doesn’t want to hike in the midst of a correction and exacerbate a selloff. At the same time, Fed officials know the dangers of being beholden to the markets. Thus, in our view, the FOMC will need to see signs of a significant disruption in financial markets to preclude a hike — which remains a risk. Conversely, a relative sense of calm should allow liftoff in September," said economist Michael Hanson.

Reasons for call: "Some market participants wonder whether the Fed is stuck in a catch-22: any indication it may hike generates an adverse market reaction that precludes an actual hike. They cite the recent jump in the VIX, which briefly put it more than two standard deviations above its long-run average level (Chart 3). But Fed officials have been warning for some time that they expect some greater volatility as markets come to grips with liftoff. Thus a modest sell-off alone is unlikely to stop the Fed."

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Larry Ellison reportedly just made another huge real estate investment.

The former Oracle CEO, whose net worth has been estimated to be as much as $47.2 billion, just paid $71.6 million for the Epiphany Hotel in Palo Alto. 

Property records uncovered by the Silicon Valley Business Journal indicate that Ellison made the purchase through a limited liability company associated with his personal investment arm, Lawrence Investments. The steep purchase price could even be a record for Santa Clara County. 

Located in what was once an apartment tower known as Casa Olga, the Epiphany was opened by Joie de Vivre Hotels in 2014. 

The 86-room hotel was designed with the area's tech pedigree in mind. A light display in the lobby, for example, moves along with any data set you enter, and there's a gallery of binary code art on another wall.

This isn't Ellison's first foray into the luxury market — in 2012, he paid a reported $500 million to own most of the Hawaiian island of Lanai. He owns two Four Seasons hotels in addition to a smaller, more traditional lodge on the island. 

SEE ALSO: The incredible real estate portfolio of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison

A large painting of a tree adorns the outside of the Epiphany in Palo Alto.

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Inside, you'll find a display of Edison light bulbs hanging from the ceiling.

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Project Edison, which was designed by a group of engineers from the IDEO Digital Shop, features a set of 100 light bulbs that can light up or move up and down according to any data stream you choose.

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According to a 2015 survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, less than half of Americans keep close track of their spending, and nearly 30% aren't saving for retirement.

Clearly, there's room for improvement.

On the heels of our #BIBetter program, #BIBetterMoney is a 14-day self-improvement plan designed for the busy professional, featuring a simple task a day for two weeks to help you take control of your money.

We recommend participating with at least one other person, so you have more fun and keep each other in check. You can start on any Monday and should complete actions on their specified day when possible.

The following slides go through the days and the thought behind them in detail, and you can also reference our infographic calendar.

MONDAY, DAY 1: Get your 90-day number.

Let's dive right in.

In his book "Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women & Money,""Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary recommends that before you take any steps to improve the way you manage your money, you get what he calls your 90-day number: A sum of every dollar you've spent and earned in the past three months.

"It's going to be a positive or negative number," he writes, "because money is black or white. There is no gray. You either have it or you don't."

You'll do this in two steps: First, add up your income, and next, add up your expenses. 

Income number - expenses number = 90-day number

If it's positive, you're starting off on the right foot. If it's negative, we have some work to do. And if it's hovering around zero, you're playing a dangerous game.

TUESDAY, DAY 2: Choose a system to track your spending.

You made a big effort yesterday, so today, we'll keep it quick: All you have to do is choose and implement a system to keep track of your income and expenses in the future, so the next time you want your 90-day number it will be available in a matter of minutes.

While you're welcome to break out a notebook and pen, you'll probably find it easier to take advantage of technology. Two of the most popular options are:

Mint, a website and app that you can connect to your credit cards and bank accounts. It automatically pulls in data from any connected account to log every expense and paycheck, so you can see the full picture of your finances in just a few clicks.

A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, which requires more manual input but allows you to manipulate the data in myriad ways. If you're already a big Excel user, you might be more comfortable with this format, although you will need to take a minute or two every morning — or a few minutes once a week — to update it.

WEDNESDAY, DAY 3: Add up your debt.

All debt isn't equal, but it does have the same bottom line: You owe money to someone else, and they're charging you for the loan. The money you pay them is money you can't use elsewhere. Generally, experts divide debt into two categories:

• Good debt, which has relatively low interest rates and which pays for something immeasurably valuable or accruing value. For example, mortgage and student loan debt. Paying off good debt is less urgent than paying off bad.
• Bad debt, which has relatively high interest rates and pays for a depreciating asset, like credit card debt or a car loan. You'll want to pay this debt as soon as possible, because it gets more expensive by the day.

One of the hardest things for many people to do with debt is simply to face exactly how much they owe — so we'll get that out of the way today.

Log into your accounts and get the balance for any debt you've been avoiding or has been weighing on you (take note of the minimum monthly payment while you're there). Add it all up, and face the number: This is money to be repaid, and tomorrow, we'll start figuring out how.

Former Apple executive Michael Barnick spent millions building his dream house.

He started designing the contemporary home with a bevy of automated features in 2005, according to The Wall Street Journal.

But by the time it was completed — just a few weeks ago — he no longer needed the 10,000-square-foot mansion, as his kids are all grown up.

Located in Santa Barbara, California, the home is listed for $35 million, but Barnick told the Journal he only spent $30 million on it. Suzanne Perkins of Suzanne Perkins Realty has the listing.

Though he didn't live in the home, Barnick definitely made use of it. The design process taught him so much about home automation that he went on to found Quantum Integration, a company that installs smart home systems.

Keep scrolling for an inside-out tour.

SEE ALSO: Live like a Russian billionaire in this over-the-top Long Island mansion, which just hit the market for $100 million

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

On a sleepy Santa Barbara street, 4305 Marina Drive sits high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Southwestern landscaping and reflecting pools welcome you into the home.

Inside, the house is light and airy — with fantastic water views.

It's packed to the rafters with gadgets and goodies. Lights, speakers, televisions, climate, window shades, gas fireplaces, and even door locks can be controlled remotely via a tablet or smartphone.

NOW WATCH: The most expensive and extravagant vacations in the world

Tesla may soon be getting some serious competition.

On Monday, Porsche revealed a new all-electric sports concept car at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt that has a range of 250 miles with just a 15 minute charge.

While Porsche's Concept Mission E is just a concept now, Porsche said that it aims to begin production in the next five years. 

Besides the car's fast charging time, it also has some other impressive technologies built in including a holographic dashboard and an eye-tracking system. 

Here’s a look at some of the coolest features the company revealed about its Concept Mission E during their press event at the show.

With two motors, the all-wheel-drive Mission E packs the equivalent of 600 horsepower.

The car is completely powered by advanced lithium-ion battery technology. The underbody battery of the car extends the full-length of the car so that the weight is distributed equally.

Inductive charging tech enables for the car to be charged in a unique way. To charge the vehicle, a user simply drivers over a charging base plate in a garage and automatically the battery begins repower.

NOW WATCH: These new iPhone features will change the way you use your phone

It's hard to get by when you don't have a job and the cost of living keeps rising.

This is the maxim behind economist Arthur Okun's "Misery Index," which adds together a country's unemployment and inflation rates. The higher the number, the more "miserable" your country.

There has been criticism of the index. Extensive studies have shown that unemployment influences happiness (or, rather, unhappiness) significantly more than inflation.

Still, few would argue that both unemployment and inflation are bad when they are very high.

In light of that, Business Insider compiled a list of the 18 most miserable countries based on 2014 data available at the CIA World Factbook. Some countries struggle with both high unemployment and inflation, while others have one rate asymmetrically higher than the other.

Some countries are absent from the list because data was either unavailable or outdated.

18. Tunisia

Misery-index score: 20.1

CPI inflation: 4.9%

Unemployment: 15.2%

Tunisia was once called a "success story in Africa and the Middle East, but [today] it faces an array of challenges following the 2011 revolution," according to the CIA Factbook. The government's biggest challenges include reassuring businesses and investors and bringing budget and current-account deficits under control.

Source: CIA Factbook

17. Jamaica

Misery-index score: 20.7%

CPI inflation: 7.1%

Unemployment: 13.6%

Jamaica's economy relies heavily on the services sector, including tourism. Unfortunately, the country suffers from high crime and corruption and a high unemployment — which leads to more crime.

The government is battling a two-headed hydra: On the one hand, it needs to achieve fiscal discipline to maintain debt payments, but on the other hand it wants to confront the serious crime problem.

Source: CIA Factbook

16. Croatia

Misery-index score: 20.8%

CPI inflation: -0.2%

Unemployment: 21%

Croatia is one of the better-off former Yugoslav republics, but the country was hammered by sudden slowdown in 2008 with the financial crisis and never fully recovered. Major long-term problems include uneven regional development, a challenging investment climate, and a "stubbornly" high unemployment rate.

Source: CIA Factbook

Rachel and James left their life and jobs behind in San Diego almost three years ago to give life on the road a try.

They soon fell in love with the lifestyle and decided to make their Volkswagen bus — Sunshine — their permanent home.

The couple carries everything they own in the van; they have nothing in storage, and they like it that way.

"I think that there's an extreme freedom in having nothing to lose," Rachel said in an interview published on the "When the Road is Home" project by Daniel Volland and Ben Schuyler.

They document their journey on their Instagram account (@idletheorybus) and on their website.

Their photos might just inspire you to hop in the car and take a road trip of your own.

SEE ALSO: 33 gorgeous photos from the massively popular Instagrammer who follows his wife around the world

FOLLOW US: BI Travel is on Twitter!

James and Rachel have been on the road in Sunshine, their '76 Volkswagen bus for almost three years. They started their journey back in November of 2012.

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The couple are high school sweethearts. They met sophomore year in English class.

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They've been together for 10 years.

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Audi’s tackling the electric car market in a big way.

At its Tuesday press event at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, the Volkswagen subsidiary finally revealed a ton of details about its all-electric concept car, the e-tron quattro, and it looks like Tesla could be getting some serious competition.

With its long range, fast-charging technology and piloted driving features, Audi looks poised to jump into the electric car space in a big way. The Audi e-tron quattro, which will go into production in 2018, “illustrates the future of mobility,” said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, a member of the Audi Board of Management for Technical Development, during the press event.

“It has everything offers everything that our customers expect from an Audi, that is sportiness, emotion, safety, comfort, convenience, user friendly connectivity, and of course piloted functions and it has to do all of this efficiently with absolutely zero emissions.”

While Audi revealed some details about the car last month, the company offered a thorough rundown on the car on Tuesday. Here’s a look at some of its key features.   

With its 95 kWh battery, the e-tron quattro has an impressive range of 310 miles on a single charge. Tesla’s Model X SUV has a range of 240 miles on a single charge.

The car has a Combined Charging System (CCS), meaning it can be charged with a DC or AC electrical current. It can fully charge with a DC current outputting 150 kW in just about 50 minutes.

Audi’s new car is also equipped with induction charging technology, so it can be charged wirelessly over a charging plate.

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Books suck. No question about it, almost everyone who writes a book is a crappy writer. 

And this is a good thing. 

It's because the writer spent his life getting GOOD at what he was writing about. He didn't spend his life being good at writing. 

He didn't spend his life typing. He ran a country. Or built a robot. Or discovered DNA or walked between the twin towers. 

He or She DID something. Something that changed lives. Something that went from his or her head out into the real world. 

But that's OK. There are a few good books out there. 

I like reading billion-person books. Books, that if read widely, would change a billion lives. 

I like reading books where I feel my brain have an IQ orgasm. Like, I literally feel my IQ go up while reading the book. 

And, (please let me stick with this metaphor one more sentence), I might have a little brain-child that turns into my own special idea or book after reading a great book. 

Before I give my list, I want to mention there are three kinds of non-fiction books: (and I'm only dealing with non-fiction. Fiction is another category). 

Business card books: 

These are books like "How to be a leader". 

They establish the author as an expert. The author then uses this book to get speaking gigs or coaching or consulting gigs. 

These books usually suck. Don't read one. But nothing wrong with writing one. 

In fact, writing one might be desperately important to your career. 

Books that should be chapters: 

A publisher will see an article somewhere like, "12 ways to become smarter" and say, "that should be a book". 

Then the writer mistakenly says, "ok" and he has to undergo the agony of changing something that was a perfectly good 2000 word article into a 60,000 word book. 

Those books suck. Don't read one. And DEFINITELY don't write one. Unless you want to waste a year of your life. I wasted 2004-2009 doing that. 

Braingasm books:

Here's my top 10 list of braingasm books. Books that will raise your IQ between the time you start and the time you end. 

By the way, there are more than 10 of these books. This is just my TOP 10. Although not really in that order. It's hard for a small mind like mine to order these.

[Note: I KNOW, Jeff, that I have a monthly book club. Don't yell at me!

But this is separate. That's 10 books A MONTH.

This is my top 10 of ALL TIME, although it might change. In fact, I know it's going to change tomorrow. I'm reading a good book right now. 

Sometimes it changes everyday.]. 

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"Mastery" by Robert Greene

This book is like a curated version of 1,000 biographies all under the guise, "how to become a master at what you love." 

"Bold" by Peter Diamondis and Steven Kotler

Basically if you want to know the future, read this. 

Supplement it with "Abundance" by the same two and "Tomorrowland" by Steven Kotler" and even "The Rational Optimist" by Matt Ridley. 

I feel "Abundance" is like a sequel to "The Rational Optimist". So I'm giving you four books with one recommendation. 

"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. 

But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. 

How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? 

And so on.

Medicine is gearing up for some big changes.

From innovations in precision medicine that aim to make treatments customizable to patients to cures for some of the world's deadliest diseases, our treatments are shaping up to look very different in the next decade.

Here are the top 10 drug companies to watch.

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Gilead’s Sovaldi/Harvoni has the potential to cure Hepatitis C.

In December 2013, the FDA approved the first of a new type of Hepatitis C treatments that has a 95% cure rate and works in as little as 12 weeks without any major side effects. Roughly 3 million people in the US currently have Hepatitis C (HCV), a chronic virus that slowly attacks the liver and can cause later-in-life health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Gilead Sciences, the company that makes Sovaldi, has already made more than $10.3 billion for the HCV cure. Other existing cures come with nasty side-effects including causing people to come down with flu-like symptoms. The new cure is made without the ingredient that caused those side effects. Experts estimate these new treatments could drastically reduce the cases of HCV over the next decade.

Up next: Gilead's looking into cures for HIV and Hepatitis B, neither of which yet have complete cures. 

Aprecia Pharmaceuticals just got approval for the first 3D-printed drug.

Earlier this month, the FDA approved the first 3D-printed drug, an epilepsy medication that's used to treat seizures in children and adults. The pill, which goes by the brand-name Spritam, is made by drugmaker Aprecia Pharmaceuticals.

By 3D printing the powdered form of the drug, it's manufactured into a tablet without being compressed, the FDA notes. This allows it to dissolve faster in the body, delivering the medicine quickly and easily — which is especially important for patients who have trouble swallowing. 

Researchers think 3D-printed technology could also be used to make other, more personalized drugs, as well. The possibility of printing your own drugs is still pretty far off, but Aprecia's 3D-printed drug is a huge step forward.

Axovant is betting it all on an Alzheimer’s drug it bought for $5 million.

Axovant's a newbie: While it's only been around for a year, the company, led by 29-year-old former Wall Streeter Vivek Ramaswamy, has put all its eggs in the basket of an Alzheimer's disease drug in that's only one critical clinical trial away from getting approval. Since buying the drug from GSK for $5 million, the company is now valued at $3 billion. 

There are very few drugs available to treat Alzheimer's disease; the average Alzheimer's drug has a 99% chance of failing. Researchers still haven't nailed down the exact cause of the disease, and very few trials of Alzheimer's drugs are taking place at the moment. 

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An alliance of consumer, health, and environmental groups have released a new report showing how the nation's top 25 fast food companies by sales stack up on their policies regarding antibiotic use in their meat.

The results are dismal: The report gave 20 of the 25 companies failing grades for not effectively responding to a "growing public health threat by publicly adopting policies restricting routine antibiotic use" in meat.

Of those that passed, only Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill received an "A" grade. Chick-fil-A received a "B," and McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts received "C's."

These chains beat out the likes of Starbucks, Olive Garden, Taco Bell, and Kentucky Fried Chicken, who were among the many companies assigned big, fat "F's" in the report:

The "Chain Reaction" report and scorecard was assembled and released by the non-profit groups Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Consumers Union, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Keep Antibiotics Working, and Center for Food Safety.

Their report arrives amid growing concern about antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a problem partially fueled by the rampant use of antibiotics in cows, chickens, and other farm animals raised for food. Such concern has sparked the launch of the Obama administration's five-year plan to combat antibiotic resistance, as well as the Food and Drug Administration's new guidelines aiming to restrict antibiotic use in farm animal products, like meat and poultry, that make it to our dinner plates.

After surveying each of the top 25 restaurant chains based on in-person, email, and traditional mail surveys — as well as public statements — the groups assigned grades to each company. They plan to perform this survey annually to measure improvements.

The five chains that passed have demonstrated that they are limiting the use of medically-necessary antibiotics, or that they completely prohibit antibiotic use altogether in the meat production process, according to the report.

The 20 that received failing grades, which represent the majority of the best-selling food chains in the US, haven't showed that they are responding to this growing problem, the report stated.

"Consumers should be as concerned as the foremost infectious disease doctors are — which is very concerned,” David Wallinga, a senior health officer at the environmental nonprofit the National Resources Defense Council, who contributed to the report, told Time.

Antibiotic resistant "superbugs" have become one of the world's most pressing public health concerns. An estimated two million people become infected with drug-resistant bacteria in the US each year. Of those, at least 23,000 die.

Most farm animals on the planet get antibiotics to fatten them up and protect them from illness. About 80% of the antibiotics sold in the US every year are for farm animals. Overuse of antibiotics on farms isn't the only issue, but it's a huge contributor to the growing threat of a post-antibiotic era: when even minor infections won't be easily treatable with the drugs we have today.

Tech Insider contacted each of the companies or franchises included in the report for their responses. Keep scrolling to read the reactions that we've received so far.

Domino's Pizza — "F"

Tim McIntyre, vice president of communications for Domino’s Pizza:

Our suppliers currently meet all USDA requirements and we don't purchase chicken or beef treated with the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics. We rely on farmers and the veterinarians who support them to determine the best way to raise and treat their animals.

Panera Bread — "A"

Sara Burnett, director of wellness and food policy at Panera Bread:

More than a decade ago we started serving chicken raised without antibiotics - ahead of the industry. We're glad to see that others have followed and proud to have extended our commitment to all of the chicken, ham, bacon, sausage and roasted turkey on our salads and sandwiches.

Chipotle — "A"

Chris Arnold, spokesperson for Chipotle:

We have served meat from animals raised without antibiotics for many years and do more of that than any other restaurant company, so naturally we are pleased to enjoy the highest available grade in this study. While others have made some small steps in a similar direction, the study shows there is more work do be done on this issue within the restaurant industry, and we hope others will follow our lead.

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"Destiny: The Taken King," the expansion to last year's popular "Destiny," is out in stores Tuesday.

The game is set far into the future where mankind is all but extinct and alien races have taken over the Earth, moon, and many other places in the galaxy. It's our job to wipe them out. 

Activision sent over a review copy of the game out in stores today.

Tech Insider has coverage of the new expansion pack, which you can view here and here.

Just getting started? Let's open this up and see what's inside. 

We received the PS4 version of the game.

The box comes in a giant sleeve.

If you purchased last year's limited edition box set of "Destiny," you'll notice the front of the cases look pretty similar.

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