This photo is of Wu Lin’an (on the left) giving stock investment advice to members of the public in a “street stock salon” in central Shanghai, China, earlier this year. Reuters described Wu's investment strategy this way: "Wu, seeing himself as a senior player in stock investment, believes and advises others that the Chinese Communist Party will save the stock market and make people rich." 

The "street stock salon" has been taking place for at least a decade, on the weekends. Some people go there to promote their stock analysis software, Reuters says. The number of Chinese with margin trading accounts — in which investors are extended huge amounts of credit to bet with — has exploded so far that a street market for stock advice, and leveraged bets on equities, feels normal in China now.

But what if the Chinese government isn't able to just step in and save the market? What if the growth of Chinese debt has a surprise in store for investors? A number of analysts this year began discussing the state of Asia's debt, and China's debt in particular. While they don't think a crash is imminent, they are still pretty concerned.

China is only becoming more indebted, even as its economy slows down. By 2014, China's total debt reached $28 trillion, according to McKinsey & Co. That is roughly half the world's entire debt.

Here we show what's happened to Chinese debt and why people are starting to worry about it.

Asian debt has rocketed since the crisis, while the US has paid down its debts, as a percentage of GDP.

In Singapore and Hong Kong, non-financial private sector debt is 200% of GDP, according to UBS.

None of this would be a problem if Asia's economies were growing faster than its debt. But as this chart of GDP projections shows, Asia is slowing.

"Candy Crush" is the addictive smartphone game made by King, the Swedish game developer that was acquired for a giant $5.6 billion (£3.7 billion) by Activision Blizzard in November.

The distinctive and simple look of "Candy Crush" and other games by King is a big part of the game's success — you can instantly tell when someone in public is playing the game.

It turns out that Candy Crush fans are able to buy edible sweets just like the ones they play with in the game. We went along to Spun Candy in London to find out how they're made.

In case you've never played "Candy Crush," here's what the desktop version looks like. You match candies to win.

"Candy Crush" developer King worked with Spun Candy to design real-life versions of the sweets in the game. Here's what the early designs looked like.

We're going to follow the process of making the jelly bean candy design. First of all, transparent candy is heated up, and then it's dyed to make it white and red.

December's weather has been pretty much apocalyptic in some parts of the world. Huge parts of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and the UK have been heavily hit by floods.

Add to this the devastating, unseasonal tornadoes in Texas, and the crazily high temperatures of the US East Coast and in continental Europe.

Man-made climate change is starting to take its toll, and the world will soon officially have warmed up by 1 degree Celsius since 1900, causing massive changes to our planet. 

There's also the rise of Islamic State, and increasing tensions between Russia and Turkey after the latter shot down a Russian military plane in November. All in all, the world is in a bit of trouble.

Humanity has already survived a financial crisis, and warnings of the Mayan Apocalypse in the past decade, but if 2016 is the year the world does finally start to collapse, we think you should know where to head to survive.

We have selected places that we expect will remain fortresses of stability, safety, and prosperity no matter what the world throws at them.

SEE ALSO: 2015 will mark a 'symbolic and significant milestone' for Earth in the worst way possible

Iceland

Iceland is by far the most isolated country in Europe, located hundreds of miles from any other land, making it tricky for any potential invaders to get to.

The country is also awash with useful resources for staying alive. It is powered almost entirely by geothermal energy from the country's many active volcanoes, and its coastal waters have some of the best and most abundant seafood anywhere in the world. So in the event of having to hole out on the island for a long time, you can rely on being warm and well fed.

Iceland also survived a near total collapse of its banking system during the financial crisis, so you know its citizens are pretty resilient, essential if the end of the world does come.

Tristan da Cunha

This island chain in the south Atlantic is actually the world's most remote inhabited archipelago, more than 2,000 kilometers from the nearest land. The population is just over 300, so we're sure they're looking for new residents. It's known for excellent fishing — the perfect career if times were to get really bad.

Guam

This is one for American patriots, who can take refuge in this far-flung outpost of America. Guam is situated in the Pacific, and it is home to a massive American military presence, perfect for keeping people safe in the event that Russian-Turkish relations go downhill and we find ourselves in the middle of World War III.

Guam isn't exactly home to a booming economy, however, with most of its income coming from tourists and the US government.

Many of the world's most famous brands have a military heritage.

Some brands proudly display their backgrounds in their logos, websites and marketing, while others would rather consign their early beginnings to the history books.

Either way, a surprising amount of brands started off by supplying products to the armed forces or discovered the products that made them famous during times of conflict.

The original Jeeps went into production in 1941, purpose-built for the military. Willys MB Jeeps became the most commonly-used 4-wheel drive vehicles of the US army during World War II.

Mars invented the recipe for M&Ms during the Spanish Civil War, when Forrest Mars Sr. saw soldiers eating pieces of chocolate covered in a candy coating, which prevented them from melting in the sun. He was on his visit behind the lines with a member of the Rowntree family, which went on to make Smarties — a candy very similar to M&Ms — sold outside of the US.

Vodafone began its life in the 1980s as a subsidiary of Racal Electronics, the UK’s largest military radio technology producer at the time. Racal was also once the third-largest British electronics company. Here's Vodafone's first mobile phone, the Mobira Transportable, which weighed 11 pounds.

Financial technology, or fintech, is a boom industry right now, with investment flooding into companies reinventing the way we do payments, lending, investing, and more.

Valuations in the sector are also sky-rocketing as more money floods in. Many companies are now reaching the fabled "unicorn" status — the term in the tech industry for companies worth $1 billion (£640 million) or more.

Earlier this year conference organiser Finovate pulled together a list of all the fintech unicorns in the world that have sprung up since 2000, the last big tech boom.

We've pulled info on each of the companies, stripped out ones that have been acquired or lost value, and updated the values and money raised.

24. Mozido, a mobile payment and wallet provider

Value: $1 billion (£640 million).

What it does: White-label mobile payment, shopping, and marketing products. Lets small businesses send out offers to customers and collect loyalty points. 

Why its hot: The company is targeting emerging markets like Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Africa where a generation of consumers are skipping banking and moving straight to mobile money. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is an investor through his early-stage fund TomorrowVentures.

HQ: New York.

Founded: 2005.

Raised: $307.2 million (£196.2 million).

23. TransferWise, an international money transfer service

Value: $1 billion (£640 million).

What it does: Online international money transfer with cheaper fees than banks.

Why it's hot: The company has transferred £3 billion ($4.7 billion) since launch and is now doing £500 million ($783 million) a month. Sir Richard Branson and Silicon Valley VC fund Andreessen Horowitz are both investors.

HQ: London.

Founded: 2010.

Raised: $90.4 million (£57.7 million).

22. Jimubox, a Chinese peer-to-peer loan provider

Value: $1 billion (£640 million).

What it does: Online peer-to-peer loans for small businesses and consumers.

Why it's hot: The company is part of a wave of so-called "internet finance" companies that have sprung up across China in the last few years and is experiencing explosive growth.

HQ: Beijing.

Founded: 2013.

Raised: $131.2 million (£83.7 million).

2015 was an exciting and storied year in film, from the release of critically-acclaimed movies like AI-exploration thriller "Ex Machina" to "Spotlight," the ensemble drama chronicling The Boston Globe's Pulitzer-prize winning coverage of the Catholic Church, to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens'"record-breaking box-office debut.

But this year's poised to be even better with a thrilling lineup of reboots, sequels, and buzzed-about debut series hitting the box office.

From Pixar's "Finding Dory," the long-awaited follow-up to "Finding Nemo," to J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut, "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them," here's what's coming up in 2016.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 10 best movies of 2015

SEE ALSO: The 50 most successful movies of 2015

"Kung Fu Panda 3"

Release date: January 29

It's been four years since the release "Kung Fu Panda 2" but the third installment of the DreamWorks franchise is rearing to go with the same all-star cast including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and newcomer Academy-Award winner J.K. Simmons. 

"Deadpool"

Release date: February 12

Ryan Reynolds trades in his DC Comics Green Lantern suit for Marvel's Deadpool who, after being subjected to an experiment that leaves him with incredible healing powers, hunts down the man who almost destroyed his life.

"Zoolander 2"

Release date: February 12

It's been nearly 15 years since we first met Derek Zoolander and Hansel, but the models are back for another round of "Steel Blue." Joining the roster of comedy stars for the sequel are Penelope Cruz and former SNL cast members Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen.

Obviously, college is more than just football games and dorm parties — it's also a lot of work. But some students are working harder than others.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, analyzed its data to find the colleges where students work the hardest.

To come up with this ranking, Niche looked at the academic rigor and student workload at traditional four-year schools in the US.

It took the academic grade for each school based on the quality of the professors, academic achievements of incoming students, graduation rates, and student reviews of their academic experience. Niche also calculated a composite score of users' responses to questions pertaining to study habits, class attendance, homework, office hours and study sessions, and overall workload. Each factor was given equal weight and combined into Niche's final score out of 100.

Visit Niche for more college rankings, and read on to see the top 50 schools where students hit the books the hardest.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best business schools in the world

DON'T MISS: The best public high school in every state

50. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

Niche score: 90

From day one, UVA students put in tremendous effort.

"You'll be working your [butt] off, but you should be learning, too," one freshman said.

A sophomore agreed: "The professors for the most part are extremely approachable, libraries are a great and beautiful option for studying, and classes are extremely difficult but worthwhile if you put the necessary time into them."

Visit Niche for more information on the University of Virginia.

49. Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Niche score: 90.1

"The workload is difficult, but there are exceptional professors who make it worthwhile," one sophomore reported.

Students also point out that time-management skills are key to handling the workload.

"Emory is definitely not an easy school in terms of academics, but what you get out of your education is very rewarding," one freshman said. "As long as you manage your time well, you should be able to manage your workload while keeping up with your social life."

Visit Niche for more information on Emory University.

48. Colgate University

Hamilton, New York

Niche score: 90.3

"My classes are heavy in reading and writing and I have a rather large workload," one freshman noted.

But there are upsides.

"Teachers are great and always there to help you, and my biggest class is 30 people," they added.

Visit Niche for more information on Colgate University.

Here's something that might make your skin crawl: Your skin is covered with trillions of itty bitty microbes.

But these microbes aren't all bad. In fact, most of them do more good than harm.

To learn more about what affects the bacteria in your body, otherwise known as your microbiome, Business Insider ventured to a recent exhibit on the microbiome at the American Museum of Natural History.

Here are 11 factors that influence the bacteria living in and on you:

NEXT: The bacteria in your belly can determine what diet will work best for you

CHECK OUT: A tiny percentage of the population needs only 4 hours of sleep per night

How you're born.

Babies born by c-section and those born vaginally are exposed to different bacteria that can affect their lives, Susan Perkins, one of the curators of the AMNH exhibittold Business Insider.

How you're fed in those first few months can also affect the bacteria in your body, since breastfeeding introduces certain bacteria while formula introduces others.

Your workout regimen.

When considering whether to hit the gym, be sure to factor your microbiome into your decision. A 2014 study of Ireland's national rugby team found that the athletes had higher diversity of bacteria in their gut compared to a control group. The preliminary results were encouraging enough to suggest that getting exercise can be beneficial for increasing the good bacteria that lives in our digestive systems.

Your drinking habits.

For a recent study, scientists isolated 11 strains of bacteria from wine, including one called Lactobacillus, the same kind that's found in yogurt. These bacteria, found in many fermented foods, are called "probiotics," and may help good bacteria flourish while blocking the overproduction of bad bacteria.

Of course, adding a couple glasses of wine to your diet likely won't make a big difference: Many of wine's helpful bacteria get wiped out during the sulfation process, when preservatives are added to the drink.

Here's a cartographic tour through the year’s biggest stories.

SEE ALSO: Japan's low birthrate is causing a vacant-property crisis

1) All the ways to Cuba

It was December 2014 when President Barack Obama announced the U.S. would restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba, ending more than half a century of economic embargo and political stalemate between the two countries. As a result, throughout 2015 new non-stop flights to Cuba from U.S. cities suddenly appeared, while cruise-ship itineraries quickly tacked on days at the Havana port. The map above, by Cuba Standard reporter Armando Portela, shows the ferry routes proposed by entrepreneurial Floridians who snapped up licenses to serve Cuba before officials could even say “go.”

2) Nepal’s devastating earthquake

RAW Embed

 In April, Kathmandu was near the epicenter of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Nepal’s deadliest ever. More than 8,500 people perished in the resulting devastation, with more than half a million structures (including centuries-old monuments) demolishedin the city and surrounding villages. This map, by the digital cartography firm Esri, compares satellite imagery of the city before and after the earthquake, revealing the extent of the devastation.Like many South Asian cities, Kathmandu has been rapidly urbanizing without strong enforcement of building codes and safety regulations. Experts warn that if cities in developing countries don’t address these types of issues, staggering earthquake death tolls like Nepal’s could become the norm.

3) The spread of ISIS

RAW Embed

The self-proclaimed Islamic State expanded the territory under its control in 2015, continuing to take over key cities and oil-rich lands in Iraq and Syria. From its growing, tightly governed base—mapped by the Independent in June—ISIS orchestrated or inspired more than 50 terrorist attacks in at least a dozen countries this year alone.

When the Dow Jones Industrial Average was created in 1896, it had about a dozen industrial stocks.

Apple's addition to the current list of 30 American conglomerates back in March 2015 shows just how far the index has come.

Apple took the place of AT&T, which was popularly known as American Telephone & Telegraph when it originally joined the Dow in October 1916.

This index has seen a lot of turnover in its history. And only one of the original 12 members continues to hold a spot in it.

SEE ALSO: What Wall Street is predicting for the stock market in 2016

American Cotton Oil

What it did: It formed as a trust after several mill owners in Texas and Arkansas combined syndicates to regulate the price of seeds. It became a corporation in 1889 after the trust was dissolved through a lawsuit.

Where it is now: It evolved into a company that's now part of Unilever. The original company was dropped from the Dow in 1901.

Sources: Scripophily, Wikipedia

American Sugar Company

What it did: It was the largest American company in the sugar refining business in the early 20th century, with investments in the Caribbean. It was established in 1891 with $50 million in capital. 

Where it is now: It has since been acquired by American Sugar Refining, whose products include Domino Sugar. It was dropped from the Dow in 1930.

Source: Wikipedia

American Tobacco Company

What it did: The American Tobacco Company acquired over 200 competitors to become the dominant player in the industry. It was founded in 1890.

Where it is now: The Supreme Court ordered it to dissolve following an anti-trust lawsuit. It splintered into many smaller companies and renamed itself Fortune Brands. It was dropped from the Dow in 1985.

Source: Wikipedia

You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but that doesn't stop us from judging one another by our looks.

There's a lot a person will assume about you based on your physical appearance — from how trustworthy you are to whether you're an extrovert. Your appearance can also reveal things about your health, such as your likelihood of developing certain diseases. 

Here are just a few of the things your body can reveal about you.

SEE ALSO: 9 things doctors can tell about your health just by looking at your eyes

CHECK OUT: Plastic surgery doesn't make your face more attractive, science says

People can (accurately) judge your personality from a photo.

They say first appearances can be deceptive. But people can tell a surprising amount about your personality from a photograph, one study found.

The study involved showing people photos of 123 undergrads at the University of Texas at Austin in two poses: One where they were told to face the camera with a neutral expression, and one in which they could pose however they wanted.

Then, strangers were asked to judge them on certain aspects of their personality. No matter what position they took, viewers were surprisingly accurate: While people were better at judging someone's extroversion, self-esteem, religiosity, agreeableness, and conscientiousness when they were spontaneous, they could also judge the first three traits when they were posed.

People judge your physical strength based on your facial bone structure.

Scientists recently did a study where they showed people photos of 10 different people with five different facial expressions, and asked them to rate how friendly, trustworthy, or strong the person in the photo appeared.

Not surprisingly, viewers tended to rank people with a happy expression as more friendly and trustworthy than those with angry expressions. But when it came to traits like physical strength, broad faces were seen as stronger.

Women are attracted to "manly" men during certain times of their cycle.

A woman's romantic preferences can vary over the course of her menstrual cycle, some research suggests. A 2010 study of 66 heterosexual couples found that women whose partners had less masculine faces said they were more attracted to other men when they were ovulating. By contrast, women with masculine-faced partners felt less likely to stray.

But that's not the whole story, though: Other studies suggest that women who are on the pill prefer men with less manly faces.

Do you crack under pressure? Crumble when you're stressed? If so, you'd be better off pursuing a career in science or education than you would in healthcare or law enforcement.

Using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database full of detailed information on jobs, we found the 29 professions you should avoid if you really don't like stress.

O*NET assigns a "stress tolerance" score (0-100) — which measures how frequently workers must accept criticism and deal effectively with high stress on the job — for each of the almost 900 jobs in its database. A lower rating signals less stress; a higher rating signals more.

Here are jobs that earned a stress tolerance rating of 94 or higher. If you're the type of person who thrives under pressure or can stay cool, calm, and collected in high-stress situations, these jobs may be perfect for you.

If you're the crack-or-crumble type, you may want to avoid them.

SEE ALSO: 24 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress

DON'T MISS: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

1. Urologists

Stress tolerance: 100

Average annual salary (2014): $189,760*

*Urologists are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Other Physicians and Surgeons."

2. Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers

Stress tolerance: 99

Average annual salary (2014): $39,410

3. Anesthesiologist assistants

Stress tolerance: 98

Average annual salary (2014): $97,280*

*Anesthesiologist assistants are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Physician Assistants."

There are few cars in the world more iconic than the Porsche 911. Over the years, the rear-engined sports car has gotten bigger, faster, and more technologically advanced. But its spirited driving dynamics and on-track capabilities have continued to make it a favorite among enthusiasts worldwide. 

However, you often hear the complaint that all current 911s pretty much look same. And if you ask critics such as ex-"Top Gear" host and longtime newspaper columnist Jeremy Clarkson, he'll tell you that all Porsche 911s since the model's debut in 1963 look identical.

The truth is, most of the various versions of the current generation of 911s do look similar, but they can all be identified by numerous subtle but important differences.

Like Taco Bell in the fast-food industry, what Porsche has managed to do so successfully is create multiple iterations of the 911 by mixing and matching the same ingredients, and packaging them in lots of different ways. And if you've ever driven a 911, you'll probably agree with me in saying ... there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Porsche is in the middle of transitioning the 911 lineup from the current generation — the 991 — to the next generation model known as the 991-2.  The 991-2 features an updated chassis, upgraded aerodynamics and a new twin-turbocharged, flat-six-cylinder engine. Thus far, all the cars have been upgraded to 991-2 spec, with the exception of cars carrying the GTS and GT3 designation. 

The transition is expected to be completed sometime next year.

So here it is — the most current lineup of Porsche's 911 Taco Bell menu.

SEE ALSO: You won't believe what this $500,000 armored Mercedes-Maybach limo can do when it's attacked

Carrera: The Carrera is the "base" 911, if there is such as thing. The 991-2 Carrera powered by a 3.0-liter, 370-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, flat six ...

... and the Cabriolet is the convertible version of the Carrera.

The Carrera 4 Coupe is a Carrera Coupe with all-wheel drive ...

Stephen Carbone is known by hardcore fans of "The Bachelor" franchise as "Reality Steve."

Reality Steve has become the go-to blogger of the dating shows, and public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of the shows' producers and network ABC, who have sued him twice.

Why? Reality Steve has been spoiling "The Bachelor" and its spin-offs for the past four years with amazing accuracy. He's become so infamous, The New York Times' Jon Caramanica just wrote a long profile about how he's turned his intel into a full-time, revenue generating business without having any other real employees.

Not only does Carbone often name who has been chosen by ABC's bachelor or bachelorette months in advance, he has mapped out entire seasons of the show.

“I can’t believe I get this much information, every season. I still think it’s weird that I get it,” Carbone, 40, told the New York Times in an article published today all about his life as Reality Steve.

Carbone told the newspaper that he makes a "comfortable" six-figure income from his site, RealitySteve.com, presumably from ad sales. The site actually covers the entire reality TV genre, not just "The Bachelor" franchise.

Here are some insights into how Stephen "Reality Steve" Carbone does it:

SEE ALSO: Meet ABC's 26-year-old new bachelor star Ben Higgins

MORE: ABC reportedly bans gay dancing on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Aside from hiring a webmaster to maintain the website, the majority of the work falls to him. The New York Times detailed Carbone's career, which started from a newsletter and then turned into the website in 2003.

He didn't make any money until after receiving his first "Bachelor" tip that season 13 bachelor Jason Mesnick had broken up with Melissa Rycroft and reunited with his second-choice gal, Molly Malaney. After that, Carbone became a "Bachelor" expert.

His spoilers are a combination of his own online research of "Bachelor" sightings and information along with tips from his many sources. "Bachelor" producers have sued Carbone twice. In 2011, he was sued for contacting eliminated cast members and offering to pay for information. The second time, soon after the first in 2012, he was sued after spoiling the next season. Both lawsuits were settled, with Carbone promising not to contact cast members or people who work on the show.

Spoiling isn't an exact science for him.

Carbone's information is usually pretty accurate, but he rushes to make things right when he's wrong. On the last season of "The Bachelorette," for example, Kaitlyn Bristowe posted a video of herself with the winner, Shawn Booth, to Snapchat before the finale aired. He had been told she ended up alone, so he was forced to quickly update the site.

Spoiling isn't actually Reality Steve's bread and butter.

Though it may have put him on the map, Carbone doesn't get most of his audience now from divulging scoops ahead of time. Web traffic to RealitySteve.com is 80-90 percent lower while he's tracking the "The Bachelor's" production, before it airs," Carbone tells The New York Times. His big numbers arrive while the season is actually on TV. Even still, the amount of Bachelor fans who actually want to read spoilers seems small with only a few hundred thousand people typically reading big scoops, despite 8 million people tuning into the show.

The next season arrives on Monday, January 4, to ABC.

No, don't get up.

From your couch, you can replenish your household supply of paper towels, watch all of Narcos, research the problem with microbeads, and order sunglasses for a weekend down South this February.

You can also save some money.

Below, find nine ways to set yourself up to save more money without visiting the bank, grocery store, or even the mailbox.

SEE ALSO: 7 signs you're doing something right with your money

Download a budgeting and spending app.

Most of them are free!

A budgeting and spending app links to your cards and bank accounts to automatically import and categorize your income and expenses. 

The app can help you save money in two ways:

• It can help you stick to your budget (assuming you have one) by tracking your expenses in each category and alerting you when you exceed your planned spending.

• It can make you more cognizant of how much you're spending, which can influence how much you spend going forward. If you know that second cocktail or new phone case will show up tomorrow, and you know you're $10 away from reaching the limit of your "fun" spending, will you still buy it?

Popular options include Mint (iOS, Android), LearnVest (iOS), You Need a Budget (iOS, Android), and Personal Capital (iOS, Android). 

Open sub-savings accounts.

If you're saving money (hooray!) there's probably a reason: an emergency fund, a trip abroad, a wedding, a house ...

Take advantage of your excitement over your savings goals by setting up sub-savings accounts for each individual goal, instead of storing all of your money in just one. Separating them out both keeps you from dipping into your funds for one goal to finance another, and allows you to name them fun, motivating things like "Two weeks in Provence."

You shouldn't be paying any kind of fee on your savings account, so opening more than one is a matter of a few clicks. Consider using online banks such as Ally, which are able to offer high-yield savings accounts because they don't pay to operate brick-and-mortar locations

Set up auto-deposit to your savings account.

Now that you have your sub-savings accounts — or even if you don't — consider setting up auto-transfers from your checking to your savings accounts every month, so your funds are allocated to your goals just like they would be to any other bills.

This is known as "paying yourself first," and is an expert-recommended strategy to build wealth. It's generally as simple as visiting your bank's website and choosing the amount you want to deposit. Out of sight, out of mind ... until it comes time to head to Provence.

Read more on how to automate your finances.

Most people struggle to keep their New Year's resolutions — it wouldn't require a resolution, after all, if it were easy to do.

Thankfully, there are apps to help you keep on track.

We combed through Apple and Google's list of the best apps of the year, along with Business Insider's own reviews and Tech Insider's App 100, to pull together a list of 14 apps that will help you reach your goals a little faster. 

SEE ALSO: The 11 most beautiful apps of the year

First, start by making a list of your New Year's resolutions on Wunderlist.

Wunderlist is the best to-do tracker out there. Acquired by Microsoft earlier this year, the free app keeps a running list of what you need to do. But each item is more detailed than a simple check box. You can set sub-tasks to check off along the way, like "buy new yoga pants" or "sign up for the gym." There's also a reminder feature so you can make sure you're checking off items as you work towards your goals.

One of the best parts of Wunderlist is being able to invite other people to be collaborate on your list. If your resolution is to travel more, then you can invite someone else on Wunderlist to help you plan a trip. If you want to get more organized, then inviting your significant other to take part in the household to-do list (and set reminders so the tasks get done) is a big boost in the New Year. 

Price: Free

Available on: iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire. It's also available for desktops.

Also make sure you have a great calendar app, like Sunrise, to schedule time for your resolutions. Those pounds won't melt away themselves.

The default calendar app on your phone probably doesn’t cut it. Sunrise, which is also owned by Microsoft, is a more helpful version of a calendar that you didn't even know you needed. It integrates with Facebook, Evernote, Asana, TripIt, Songkick, Wunderlist, and Meetup to help add the little details to your schedule that eventually add up — and would push out the time you've set aside to tackle your goals.

Price: Free
Available on:iOS, Android

To lose weight, try talking to Lark, a virtual personal health coach.

Named one of Apple's top apps of the year, Lark uses a mix of artificial intelligence and human experts to help people lose weight and get fit. The app uses a simple chat interface so it feels like you're texting a personal trainer, but it doesn't rely on you to enter every single calorie or activity you've consumed in the day.

In the background, Lark uses the iPhone sensors to know how much you've been moving or how long you slept. Just tell Lark what you had to eat and it will give you nutrition coaching based on your goals and past eating habits.

Price: Free
Available on:iOS, Android

If you've ever been underwhelmed by the sound of your music while using Spotify on your smartphone, there's a feature in the app that can help that.

Spotify introduced an equalizer feature to both its Android and iOS mobile apps back in 2014, and it lets you customize the way your music sounds.

Depending on your favorite music genre, the default settings for bass, mids, and/or treble might make your music sound flat and lifeless, even if you're using a good pair of headphones.

In fact, good headphones tend to reproduce flatter sound so that you can adjust the bass, mids, and treble levels to your liking.

The setting can be hard to find, so here's where to find the equalizer in Spotify and how to use it:

Tap the Settings icon on the bottom right of Spotify's home menu.

Then tap the Playback option.

Then tap the Equalizer option.

Mazda will show off its RX-Vision concept car at the Tokyo Auto Salon Jan. 15-17, and it looks built for speed.

The sports car comes in a super enticing red color and is equipped with the rotary engine Mazda is known for.

Here's a closer look at the concept car:

When Mazda retired its RX-8, it looked like it retired the rotary engine along with it. But the Mazda RX-Vision concept car debuting at the Tokyo Auto Show will be powered by a rotary engine, according to a Mazda press release.

Mazda succeeded in commercializing the rotary engine in its Cosmo Sport in 1967, pictured below with Mazda president and CEO Masamichi Kogai.

The Mazda rotary engine allowed its race car to win in the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. "Over the years, the rotary engine has come to symbolize Mazda’s creativity and tireless endeavor in the face of difficult challenges," the press release for the RX-Vision reads.

Ben Schlappig is a 25-year-old travel blogger.

And he’s homeless, because he spends most of his time in the sky, flying first class — for free.

He says anybody could get free first-class tickets, if you play it smart.

“It sounds cliché, but I'm living my dream,” Schlappig told Business Insider.

We spoke to Schlappig to hear his story:

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Schlappig is a popular travel blogger. His blog, called “One Mile at a Time,” has over 34,000 Twitter followers and 55,000 Instagram followers.

Traveling is more than a hobby for Schlappig — it’s a near obsession. “Since a young age, all I ever wanted to do was to fly and travel,” he tells us.

That obsession has turned into a real job. He makes a living primarily through his blog and a travel-consulting business he runs. This is his swimsuit.

Actress Emma Watson and Hermione Granger, the "Harry Potter" character she played for a decade, have at least one thing in common: they both love to read.

After starring in the billion-dollar franchise — which she did from age 11 to 21 — Watson attended Brown University and graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's in English literature.

Since graduating, Watson has continued to promote education — and reading — through her role as a UN WomenGoodwill Ambassador, which she took on in 2014, according to UN.org.

But she hasn't given up acting. 

Watson will play the role of another bookworm — this time Belle — in a live action adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast," which is expected to be released in March 2017. She's also currently filming "The Circle," a science-fiction thriller in which she stars alongside Tom Hanks, reports Variety.com.

When she's not acting or giving viral speeches on gender equality, the 25-year-old British actress-turned-activist makes time to read. Here are 17 books she has recommended through Twitter or her many interviews over the years: 

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"Just Kids" by Patti Smith

Watson has mentioned "Just Kids" in at least three separate interviews over the years. 

In 2011 she told Vogue that this book touched her in a special way saying, "I want to live like Patti. I want to write like Patti. The book was so honest and brave. I loved the way she sees the world. I really felt that life was more beautiful after I read it, and I felt more hopeful."

Then, in 2012, Watson told Savoir Flair that "Just Kids" would always be on her bedside table — and in 2013 she told Elle that the book still held a place in her heart. 

Synopsis: "Just Kids" is a personal memoir from American singer-songwriter Patti Smith about her time spent in New York City as a budding artist with her lover, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, during the late 60s and 70s.

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Watson recently interviewed activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, about feminism and the importance of educating women worldwide.

During the interview, Watson asked Malala if she had a favorite book that she had recently read. Her answer: "A Thousand Splendid Suns." Watson responded by saying: "It's a wonderful book. I've also read this book. It's an amazing book."

Synopsis: Hosseini, who also authored "The Kite Runner," delivered another New York Times bestseller with this 2007 novel that takes you on an emotional journey with two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, as they struggle to live in a society under the rule of the Taliban. 

"Love Letters to the Dead" by Ava Dellaira

In March 2014 Watson tweeted out a picture of "Love Letters to the Dead" and wrote, "Dear Ava, I loved your book."

A Twitter user then asked Watson if she'd recommend the book, to which she replied: "highly recommend reading it."

Entertainment Weekly reports that Catherine Hardwicke, director of "Twilight," will begin shooting a movie version of this book next year.

Synopsis: This debut novel from Dellaira is a young adult novel about a 15-year-old girl, Laurel, who opens up about her life through letters to "dead geniuses," like Kurt Cobain, as a way to deal with the death of her sister, May.