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Scientists have discovered that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way buzzes with activity, shooting out a nonstop stream of flares into space. 

A new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a variety of light coming from the black hole Sagittarius A* — or rather its accretion disk, the ring of rapidly spinning material that surrounds it. 

While some flares are reminiscent of the ephemeral flickers of a candle, lasting just seconds, others are gigantic eruptions, blasting out a half-dozen incredibly bright jets on a daily basis.

These new findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters this week, could help astrophysicists better understand black holes and how they interact with the gas and dust around them. They also may provide new insight into the evolution of the Milky Way.

"We saw constantly changing, bubbling brightness," said Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, the Northwestern University astronomer who led the study, in a statement. "And then boom! A big burst of brightness suddenly popped up. Then, it calmed down again. We couldn’t find a pattern in this activity. It appears to be random."

SEE ALSO: He found a Milky Way black hole 50 years ago, and finally got to see it The first image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, released to the public in May 2022. Credit: Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration

Scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which runs Webb and the Hubble Space Telescope, are calling this the longest, most-detailed research of Sagittarius A*, pronounced "A-star," to date. The study is based on 48 hours of observation time in eight to 10-hour durations over the course of a year. 

Black holes were little more than a theory 50 years ago — a kooky mathematical solution to a physics problem — and even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed. 

Today, not only are supermassive black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth. Supermassive black holes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, are thought to lurk at the center of virtually all large galaxies.

What we know is this: Falling into a black hole is certain death. Any cosmic stuff that wanders too close reaches a point of no return. But scientists have observed something weird at the edge of black holes' accretion disks, similar to the swirl of water around a bathtub drain. A tiny amount of that stuff can suddenly get rerouted. When that happens, high-energy particles can get flung outward as a pair of jets, blasting in opposite directions, though astronomers haven't quite figured out how they work.

The video above shows some of the Webb telescope data from April 7, 2024, covering 9.5 hours of observation, with a big flare appearing toward the end.

Yusef-Zadeh and team are trying to help get to the bottom of that. They've likened the new observations to solar flares, but capable of shining across 26,000 light-years of space. Webb saw brightness changes over short timescales, meaning they are coming from the black hole’s inner disk, not far outside its so-called event horizon, that previously mentioned point of no return.

Yusef-Zadeh speculates the biggest and brightest flares are like magnetic reconnection events, a process in which two magnetic fields crash and release accelerated particles, traveling near the speed of light. The shortest bursts may derive from minor disturbances in the accretion disk, similar to solar flares which occur when the sun's magnetic field jumbles, compresses, and erupts.

"Of course, the processes are more dramatic because the environment around a black hole is much more energetic and much more extreme," he said. "But the Sun’s surface also bubbles with activity."

The next step will be to observe Sagittarius A* for a longer, uninterrupted period of time to see if the flares repeat or are indeed random.

From time to time, the U.S. military shows glimpses of its X-37B spaceplane, which can travel to space for years at a time.

We just got another glimpse. The U.S. Space Force — which took the reins from the Air Force's expansive military operations in space in 2019 — has released a view the robotic craft took from Earth's orbit. You can see a portion of the X-37B and an outstretched panel above a view of a partially shadowed Earth.

"An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in [highly elliptical orbit] in 2024," the Space Force posted on X. "The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel."

SEE ALSO: A dramatic total lunar eclipse is coming. You don't want to miss it.

This is the seventh mission of the X-37B, which orbits 150 to 500 miles above Earth to explore reusable space vehicle technologies and conduct long-term space experiments. The plane was originally built by Boeing for NASA, but the project transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2004. At nearly 30 feet long, it's one-fourth the size of NASA's retired Space Shuttle.

An image of Earth captured by the U.S. Space Force's X-37B spaceplane. Credit: U.S. Space Force Tweet may have been deleted

The X-37B's "aerobraking" maneuver mentioned above involves using close passes by Earth's atmosphere to produce drag, ultimately allowing it to switch orbits without burning too much of its finite fuel.

"This novel and efficient series of maneuvers demonstrates the Space Force's commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space," former secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall explained in 2024.

But the spaceplane, which most recently launched in Dec. 2023, isn't coming back home just yet. The mission is "now continuing its test and experimentation objectives," the Space Force said. After that, the craft will plummet through our planet's atmosphere and land on a runway — an event the U.S. military has released images of in the past.

The military clearly wants to promote the X-37B's successes — without revealing too much about its outer space exploits.

An unassuming loophole might be giving the U.S. government and its private contractors free rein to withhold evidence of unidentified craft traveling well above our skies — in outer space.  

That's the argument made by former Capitol Hill policy advisor and attorney Dillon Guthrie, published this January in the Harvard National Security Journal, a publication run by Harvard Law School. Guthrie spent three years as a legislative assistant to Senator John Kerry covering national security issues and later worked directly for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He describes this UFO loophole as a kind of "definitional gap."

"Congress has redefined what were formerly called 'unidentified flying objects' [UFOs] to first 'unidentified aerial phenomena' [UAP in 2021], and then the following year to 'unidentified anomalous phenomena' [also UAP]," Guthrie told Mashable.

As Americans have been learning a lot lately in the age of Elon Musk's DOGE, the devil is in the details when it comes to the nation's large and complex federal bureaucracies. And an antiquated, mid-century sci-fi concept like "unidentified flying objects" packed a lot of assumptions into one short acronym. That's a reality lawmakers determined would hinder good faith efforts to seriously investigate more credible cases of UAP reported by U.S. military personnel in recent years.

Did the Navy pilots who witnessed the now notorious 2015 "GoFast" UFO, for example, really see something that was aerodynamically "flying"? Or was it just floating, like a balloon? Was it or any other strange airborne sighting truly a hard physical "object"? Or were these cases all something more amorphous and temporary, like the plasmified air of ball lightning? 

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

As a term, UAP has offered a more broad and empirically conservative bucket for some of these still as-yet-unexplained events, categorizing them in a way that is not just more palatable to scientists and government officials; it has also made it harder for secretive U.S. defense and intelligence agencies to dodge the new annual reporting requirements now mandated by Congress, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Or, that's the idea, in theory. 

A careful study of the NDAA's most recent definition for UAP, as Guthrie noted in his new article, indicates that "data of any unidentified, spaceborne-only objects may be exempt."

"Under that current statutory definition, there are three kinds of unidentified anomalous phenomena," Guthrie told Mashable. "The first are airborne objects, or phenomena, that are not immediately identifiable. The second are submerged objects [or phenomena] that are not immediately identifiable — so, these would be unidentified objects in the 'sea domain,' or underwater."

"And then there's this third category of UAP, which are 'transmedium objects,'" he continued, "those that are observed to transition between, on the one hand, space and the atmosphere, and, on the other hand, between the atmosphere and bodies of water."

"Just under that strict reading of the definition," Guthrie said, "there is no spaceborne-only UAP." 

NASA's UAP independent study team during a public meeting on May 31, 2023 at the space agency's headquarters. Credit: NASA / Joel Kowsky

Any U.S. intelligence agency or branch of the military, in other words, that tracked a spacecraft circling (but respecting) Earth's border would be free to legally withhold that incredible hard data from Congress. And dozens of very recent cases like this may very well exist: Last November, the Defense Department's official UAP investigators with its All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) disclosed that no less than 49 of last year's 757 cases in their annual unclassified report involved strange sightings of UAP in outer space. 

AARO's 2024 report emphasized, however, that "none of the space domain reports originated from space-based sensors or assets; rather, all of these reports originated from military or commercial pilots or ground observers." But, Chris Mellon — formerly a minority staff director for the Senate Intelligence Committee and a deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Intelligence under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush — believes that this lack of sensor data is likely "a failure of reporting."

"Why is it that none of America's unparalleled space surveillance systems captured and reported what these pilots observed?" Mellon asked in an essay for the technology news website The Debrief this month. 

"Did these systems actually fail to capture any data, or is this another case," the former Pentagon official continued, "in which the information is simply not being shared with AARO or Congress? If the pilots and ground observers were mistaken, cross referencing with these systems could help confirm that as well."

A Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System site located on Diego Garcia island in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Credit: U.S. Space Force Tweet may have been deleted

Mellon, a longtime advocate for transparency on UAP, recounted his own past government service experience supervising one of these systems, the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) stations now managed by the U.S. Space Force. First established in the 1980s to effectively spy on spy satellites and other foreign orbital platforms, GEODSS can track objects as small as a basketball sailing 20,000 miles or more above Earth's surface.

"Many years ago, I asked a colleague visiting the Maui GEODSS site to inquire if the system had recorded anything 'unusual' in the night skies lately," Mellon recalled. "Sure enough, just a month or so earlier, the system recorded what appeared to be 4–5 bright objects traveling parallel to the horizon." 

GEODSS personnel reportedly were baffled. These gleaming objects appeared to be at once too slow and consistent in their trajectory to be meteors but too fast, hot and high up in space to be any known aircraft. 

"Site personnel had no idea what the objects were and, in those days, had no incentive to acknowledge or report the data," according to Mellon. "That incident occurred in the 1990s, when the GEODSS system was far less capable than it is today."

And, as Guthrie told Mashable, the full suite of America's space monitoring, missile defense and early warning platforms could easily be recording critical, perhaps world-changing evidence about UAP — which could reveal if it's another nation's advanced spacecraft, something mundane, or something truly unknown. Data from these systems — including the Space Fence, NORAD's Solid-State Phased Array Radars (SSPAR), the Space-Based Infrared Monitoring System (SBIRS), and others — could also be kept under wraps based on just this one technicality. 

"If there are no requirements to report on spaceborne-only UAP," Guthrie said, "then there are no requirements by elements of the defense and intelligence communities to report on those objects using these especially sensitive space collection sensors."

"Our ballistic missile defense people were very concerned."

The now well-known 2004 USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" UFO incident, made famous by The New York Times in 2017 and testified to under oath in Congress, included the monitoring of similar objects in space, according to veteran Navy radar operator Kevin Day. Then a senior chief petty officer supervising radar efforts onboard the USS Princeton, a guided-missile cruiser with the Nimitz carrier strike group, Day told Mashable that crew tasked with looking out for ICBM warheads saw these unexplained tracks moving up at 80,000 feet.

"Our ballistic missile defense people were very concerned," Day told Mashable.

Greater engagement with these kinds of potential UAP risks does not appear to be on the way from some of the United States’ best unclassified collection tools — the worldwide network of astronomical observatories and satellites managed by NASA. Despite much fanfare around NASA’s announcement of a dedicated director of UAP research in 2023, the position has been left quietly vacant since September 2024, according to a recent statement from the space agency’s press office.

Guthrie chalks the crux of this problem up to "an absence of overarching political oversight."

"There have been so many agencies that have been alleged to have been or currently be involved in the UAP matter," he explained. "It's all too easy for any of these agencies to pass the buck."

Tweet may have been deleted

Guthrie hopes lawmakers will take-up the advice offered by former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo, who told Congress last November that it should "create a single point-of-contact responsible for a whole-of-government approach to the UAP issue." 

"Currently, the White House, CIA, NASA, the Pentagon, Department of Energy, and others play a role, but no one seems to be in charge," Elizondo added, "leading to unchecked power and corruption."

Beyond redefining the strict legal definition of what UAP means, or even creating a new acronym that would bring "clarity to this issue," Guthrie argues that this more centralized, whole-of-government approach could also help close-up these kinds of loopholes.

"Breaking down those stovepipes," as Guthrie put it, "and along with those stovepipes the ability of a particular agency to just say, 'Oh, we don't feel the need to further act on this matter.'"

Hours after Coinbase said the S.E.C. was dropping a lawsuit against it, another major cryptocurrency exchange reported a potentially record-setting theft.

The fight to ban TikTok is far from over.

It started in 2019, when U.S. legislators first started banning TikTok from government devices, but it reached a fever pitch in 2024 when then-President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that would ban TikTok unless it divested from its parent company, ByteDance. This all happened because of a fear that TikTok poses a national security threat since its parent company is based out of China and subject to Chinese intelligence laws which could theoretically force ByteDance to give its data to the Chinese Communist Party, a U.S. adversary. 

The ban eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, with First Amendment Rights activists swarming to oppose the ban, since Americans have a First Amendment right to receive information from abroad, including propaganda. The Court eventually ruled to uphold the TikTok ban in a unanimous decision. And the ban did go into effect (for about 12 hours). That is, until now-President Donald Trump said he would extend the period of time before the law goes into effect. Now, the app is running and back on App Stores — at least, until Trump's extension runs out on April 5.

TikTok says it likely won't sell, but the only way to stop a U.S. ban now is for another company to step up and buy it. Most of the details about these talks aren't public, and we won't know for sure who's at the helm of the short-form video app until the deal is signed, but that doesn't stop rumors from flying. For instance, for a while we all thought Elon Musk, the CEO of X, SpaceX, and Tesla, was going to buy TikTok, but that was before he came out and said he didn't have any plans. Here's who might actually be in the talks to buy TikTok:

Oracle

Last month, it was reported that the software company Oracle, along with a group of other outside investors, would be taking control of the app. According to NPR, who got the exclusive on the deal, it was being negotiated by Trump's White House and would allow ByteDance to retain a minority stake in the company; Oracle would oversee the app's algorithm, data collection, and software updates. Trump later denied he was working on a deal with Oracle, Reuters reported, but maintained that he was working with "very substantial people" about a deal. Trump even said he would "like Larry [Ellison] to buy it," referring to Oracle chairman.

MrBeast

YouTube and TikTok star Jimmy Donaldson, who you probably know as MrBeast, is apparently looking to buy TikTok along with a group of investors.

“Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned,” he posted on X in January. Albeit spelling TikTok incorrectly, his lawyers confirmed to CNN that he was serious.

Project Liberty and Kevin O'Leary

Canadian investor and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary said he would "love to work with Trump" on a deal to buy TikTok, according to CNBC. He also joined in on a bid along with Project Liberty Founder Frank McCourt on "The People’s Bid for TikTok," which offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash.

Steven Mnuchin

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC in March 2023 that he started an investor group to buy the app but didn't give any details. He helped Trump broker a deal in 2020 that would have Oracle and Walmart take a large stake in TikTok but obviously that didn't pan out.

Perplexity AI and the U.S. Government

The U.S.-based search engine Perplexity AI put in an offer to create a new U.S. holding company called "NewCo" and then to merge with TikTok, Reuters reported. The holding company would mean the U.S. government would get up to half of the new company in future, which could lead to some pretty serious First Amendment concerns.

Microsoft

According to Reuters, Microsoft is also in talks to buy TikTok. The details aren't public.

Bobby Kotick

As IGN reported in March 2024, the former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly wanted to buy TikTok. The details aren't public and it's unclear if that reported interest has turned into anything solid.

Rumble

The Twitch rival is also thought to be interested in buying TikTok, and even put in an offer in March 2024.

Amazon

In 2024, Forbes reported — with the assistance of a former TikTok employee — that Amazon was also in talks to buy the app. The details here aren't public.

The U.S. government's sovereign wealth fund

Trump has suggested that a sovereign wealth fund in the U.S. could buy TikTok, the BBC reported. This could lead to some First Amendment concerns with regard to what kind of content is policed on the app. Content moderation is one thing on a private social media app, but would hold a whole host of issues when the moderators are a government organization.

There are a number of compelling reasons to catch the looming March 13-14 total lunar eclipse, which will be visible in the entire lower 48 states and greater Americas.

Perhaps the best one is that no two such eclipses are the same. That means, weather permitting, you'll witness something unique.

Total lunar eclipses occur when the sun, Earth, and moon are in alignment, allowing Earth to cast a shadow on the moon and block most sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. But our planet's atmosphere still allows red wavelengths of light to squeeze through, illuminating the moon in reddish, rusty, orangish, or crimson colors. Crucially, both the fickle conditions in Earth's atmosphere, and how deeply the moon passes through Earth's shadow, impact how light is ultimately projected onto the moon. This means different, and even unexpected, light shows.

"It's part of the thrill," Bennett Maruca, an astronomer at the University of Delaware who has witnessed a number of total lunar eclipses, told Mashable. "You don't know exactly what you're going to get."

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Totality — meaning when the moon is totally within Earth's shadow — will begin at 11:26 p.m. PDT on March 13, 2025 / 2:26 a.m. EDT on March 14 / 06:26 UTC, lasting for 65 minutes. And the reddening progresses over hours, as the moon gradually moves into the Earth's shadow. (Technically, the eclipse starts with slight dimming on March 13 at 8:57 p.m. PDT / 11:57 p.m. EDT / 03:57 UTC). So, weather permitting, you'll have ample opportunity to see these bloody colors in action.

During a total lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and moon are in alignment. Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio A map showing how the Americas will have the opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025. Credit: NASA

The first major factor at play in the amount of light and coloration illuminated on the moon is what's transpiring in our atmosphere, as sunlight must pass through our skies.

"Dust and clouds can affect the ultimate color of the moon during this event, which means that each total lunar eclipse ends up being somewhat unique and ultimately 'reflective' of the state of our own planet's weather," Eric Edelman, the planetarium director at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium, told Mashable.

For example, if there's lots of dust in the atmosphere — such as expansive dust clouds from the Sahara desert — you'll generally get a redder eclipsed moon, Edelman noted. Storms play a role in impacting how the penetrating light hits the moon, too. And volcanic eruptions — which can blast prodigious amounts of ash and gas high into the atmosphere — can dim lunar eclipses, as volcanic particles impede light that would otherwise get refracted towards the moon.

"It can be quite surprising."

The other significant player in the moon's illumination is how far the moon travels into Earth's shadow (called the "umbra," and visualized in the short NASA video below). When passing closer to the shadow's center, the moon is illuminated with the darkest colors — to deep browns and even purples. When passing nearer to the shadow's edge, the moon is illuminated with rusty, orange colors. The coming March 2025 eclipse, then, may be more on the rusty spectrum.

But the moon won't be all the same color. Our expansive natural satellite, some 2,159 miles across, will be illuminated by different parts of Earth's shadow, meaning it will display some of those darker colors, as well as the lighter rusty colors. "That's one of the cool things about this eclipse," noted Maruca. "You see the color gradient."

Witnessing totality will mean a late night, or early morning, for many of us. But Maruca emphasizes it's worth it. It'll be a one-of-a-kind space light show. And you don't know exactly what you're going to get.

"It can be quite surprising," Maruca said.

TL;DR: We have fewer than 50 refurbished MacBook Airs left in stock at $230 (reg. $999).

A MacBook for $230 might sound too good to be true if you haven’t heard of refurbished laptops. But this model, restored to like-new condition and backed by a 90-day warranty, is an excellent choice for anyone on a budget but still craving Apple quality.

Check out this laptop’s specs:

• Run Microsoft Office, browse the web, and multitask with an Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM

• Enjoy a 13.3-inch display with Intel HD Graphics 6000 when you’re working or streaming movies in bed

• Download programs or store files with a 128GB SSD

• Work all day without having to find an outlet with the laptop’s 12-hour battery life

Don’t miss this refurbished MacBook Air deal — they’re selling out fast at $230 (reg. $999). No coupon is needed to get this price.

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TL;DR: Enjoy wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in streaming services with the PlayAIBox Wireless Adapter, on sale now for $84.97 (reg. $129) while supplies last.

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While hands-free convenience for your maps and music is amazing, this adapter also lets you download apps directly from Google Play, store media on external SD cards, and even mirror your phone screen for an enhanced experience.

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Keep your digital world at your fingertips without the clutter of cables. Stay connected, stay entertained, and drive confidently with this game-changing wireless adapter.

The PlayAIBox Wireless Adapter is on sale for $84.97 (regularly priced at $129) while this offer still lasts. Inventory is limited.

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TL;DR: Ditch the AI clutter and get one tool that does it all — the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan is available for a one-time payment of $99.99 (reg. $540).

Managing multiple subscriptions for all your creative and professional needs? That’s more juggling than anyone needs — and it’s pricey, too.

Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI on sale for $99.99 — it's a single platform packed with the tools you’d normally need a bunch of apps to accomplish. From content writing and image editing to data analysis, 1minAI has you covered — all in one convenient spot.

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Simplify your creative process and boost efficiency with 1minAI’s Business Plan lifetime subscription — all for $99.99, with no monthly fees.

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TL;DR: The NanoPhone packs essential smartphone features into a tiny, portable design for 50% off at $99.97 until March 30 (reg. $199).

Sick of lugging around a phone that’s practically the size of a tablet? If you’re someone who values portability without sacrificing functionality, then the NanoPhone could be exactly what you need. This little powerhouse — on sale for $99.97 — includes the smartphone features you need into a device so compact, it could practically disappear in your pocket.

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TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at $34.97 through February 23.

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending $7 monthly (or $70 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for $34.97 until February 23.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

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The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows ends soon, so get your download for $34.97 until February 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $34.97
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Public and private alarm has spiked since Elon Musk officially began executing the so-called Department of Government Efficiency's agenda by gaining access to sensitive databases, dismantling federal agencies, and unceremoniously firing workers by the thousands.

But now there is another reason to worry about DOGE: Scammers are capitalizing on increased interest in its actions in order to defraud people of cryptocurrency, according to the online protection company McAfee, which researches and monitors digital scams.

Specifically, the scammers are taking advantage of confusion about Musk's DOGE initiative and dogecoin, a cryptocurrency founded in 2013 that Musk has also publicly spoken about. Indeed, Musk apparently derived DOGE's name from the doge meme.

Musk is such a fan of the meme, which features a breed of dog known as a shiba inu, that he once replaced X's famous bird with a picture of the doge icon for a limited time. He also recently posted without comment on X, the social platform that he owns, a cartoon rendering of the shiba inu holding an American flag surrounded by the phrase "Department of Government Efficiency."

Tweet may have been deleted

The scams that McAfee spotted have largely featured Musk or DOGE in some capacity. Some also include a similar logo. The most prominent schemes invite victims to send dogecoin to a private wallet, with the promise that they'll receive more dogecoin in return.

But DOGE has nothing to do with dogecoin. And victims certainly won't receive free dogecoin in return for their contribution.

"The fact that people don't really understand that they're two very different things just adds a lot of confusion," McAfee chief technology officer Steve Grobman told Mashable.

Grobman said it was unclear why victims might believe that they'd profit off giving their dogecoin away. He speculated that Musk's status as the richest person in the world might be persuasive to victims who are hopeful that he'd part with dogecoin simply because he can.

Additionally, Groban said that scammers can be convincing when they promise guaranteed returns or high profits, and they frequently use the likeness of trusted public figures to promote fake coins or crypto investments.

It's worth noting that big events that involve Musk, like SpaceX launches, tend to attract scammers and command consumers' attention, while cryptocurrency is generally rife with fraud and insider trading.

But on Thursday Musk himself, as well as President Donald Trump, gave people reason to believe that DOGE might be sending money back to American taxpayers in the form of dividend checks, courtesy of the alleged savings DOGE has yielded. Musk floated the idea of a "DOGE Dividend," which would reimburse taxpayers, courtesy of the alleged savings from DOGE's cost-cutting measures and savings; Trump originally suggested a $5,000 refund.

DOGE has claimed an estimated $55 billion in savings so far, but experts say its calculations don't add up. Nevertheless, the prospect of a dividend may give scammers an even bigger opportunity to pounce on unsuspecting victims than they have now.

One scheme McAfee spotted cloned the official DOGE website but added a button to "Claim $DOGE bonus." Victims who provide between 10,000 $DOGE, (roughly $2,500) and 1,000,000 $DOGE (about $250,000) will supposedly receive between 30,000 $DOGE (around $7,500) and 3,000,000 $DOGE (about $750,000).

Grobman said that the scams leveraged classic techniques for deceiving victims, like creating a sense of urgency and portraying the exchange as a limited opportunity to make money.

He recommended strategies for identifying such schemes, like not engaging with an unknown entity in any financial exchange; never sending your cryptocurrency to an unverified wallet; using means of payment that have fraud protection, like a credit card; and carefully studying websites and email addresses for signs that they are legitimate, such as a .gov address.

He also warned against visiting websites that might capture your email or platform credentials. Some crypto scams are designed to harvest victims' personal information or steal the contents of their crypto wallet. In general, Grobman said that if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.

Still, the hype around crypto is becoming widespread. In addition to Musk's own embrace of crypto, the public may also be more receptive to exploring the currency given that Trump launched a memecoin of his own just days before his January 20 inauguration.

The Trump family and its partners made over $100 million from $TRUMP and that's just from the trading fees alone, according to an analysis performed by the New York Times. While a few outliers appeared to get rich, more than 810,000 crypto wallets have lost a combined $2 billion so far, according to the Times. Still, some observers may see a scam that seems affiliated with DOGE and think their bet is worth the risk.

Tweet may have been deleted

Potential victims of DOGE-related scams may also be intrigued by efforts that seem to link their participation with a broader effort to contribute to and achieve so-called government efficiency, like the DOGE website clone.

Musk's DOGE has already posted an open call on X for the general public to send the entity any tips for reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. With consumers invested in a game show-like search for government spending that they find fraudulent, some may feel like a "reward" promised by these scam websites could be a real offer.

Grobman said scammers operate much like legitimate businesses by testing certain strategies, amplifying what works and ditching what doesn't.

"We see some testing going on right now," Grobamn said, referring to the scams invoking DOGE. "If they get good returns from these tests, they'll double down on them."

It's a simple truth: Where there’s a Dyson product, there’s a dupe, and that holds especially true for Dyson beauty products.

The brand entered the beauty sphere in 2016 when it released the now-iconic Supersonic, a hair dryer with an innovative design that maximized airflow and minimized hair damage. Eight years later, it remains the most highly-praised hair dryer on the market, making it clear that Dyson's beauty tech bet was more than a success. While it’s an impressive product, it also retails for $429 — a price that you don't need to pay for an exceptional at-home hair dry.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300: The Shark FlexStyle is no longer your only option What makes the Dyson Supersonic special? 

The Supersonic first made waves because, in typical Dyson fashion, it brought an upgraded, futuristic design to an everyday product.

Dyson is known for this aesthetic, but the sleek look also has a function. The ring-shaped head ditches the vented and coiled model of the traditional hair dryer and houses the tiny V9 motor in the handle. The combination of the V9 motor and the Air Multiplier technology makes for a dryer that clocks in at only 1.8 pounds yet still delivers a powerful airflow that’s notably quieter than the roar of a traditional dryer. That extra strong airflow also makes this dryer less reliant on heat and keeps hair damage to a minimum.

SEE ALSO: All the best skincare tech that we tested and loved, and some that we didn’t

To further minimize damage, the Supersonic also measures the air temperature up to 20 times per second and uses a built-in ionizer to minimize static and give hair a sleek finish, which brings us to a quick ionizer science lesson.

Ionizers are pretty common in higher-end air dryers. Why? They blow negative ions at wet hair to reduce static electricity by sealing the hair cuticle and taking down the power of that positive ionic charge (aka what's causing that annoying frizz). As negative ions make contact with hair, they're also dispersing the positive ions of water, therefore cutting down on your drying time and reducing damage in the process.

Basically, it's one of the reasons the Dyson Supersonic provides such quick and excellent results and why hair dryers with ionizers cost more money — they do more than simply dry hair.

SEE ALSO: Best vacuum cleaners 2025, from cordless stick vacuums to robot vacuums

Magnetic attachments designed to easily snap onto the blow dryer round out the futuristic feel of the Supersonic, with five included — a styling concentrator, a flyaway attachment, a diffuser, a gentle air attachment, and a wide tooth comb. It's a nice array of included nozzles, even for high-end dryers, which might typically include three to four attachments at the most.

Why is the Dyson Supersonic so expensive?

At $429, the Supersonic is definitely an investment. However, you're paying for a high-end motor that's built to last, multiple heat settings to protect hair, an innovative design, and of course, the ionic tech. Other dryers from popular hot tool brands like T3, ghd, and Harry Josh boast some similar features and run you anywhere from $150 to $350, but none quite capture the magic of the Supersonic.

SEE ALSO: Honest review of Ruggable: Are the washable rugs worth the price?

When I tested the Supersonic, I found that it had a luxe feel that stands out from other hair dryers. But don't forget: the Dyson Supersonic is now almost 10 years old.

Last year Dyson did release the updated Supersonic Nural (more info in the FAQ section below), but it's not a drastically different product, with the main upgrade coming in the form of smart features, including improved temperature regulation and attachment detection. I will be testing the Nural and the other smart hair dryers like it that have hit the market for this guide, but for the time being, the dupe selections below reflect comparisons to the original Dyson Supersonic.

Even with the first Supersonic being an older model, there is something to be said about it standing the test of time. On the other hand, Dyson competitors have had plenty of time to develop alternatives, all at a fraction of the price.

What is the best dupe for the Dyson Supersonic?

There are a lot of luxury blow dryers and dupes that look like Dyson but skimp on quality. A good rule of thumb: Avoid the $40 Amazon knockoffs that copy Dyson's signature fuchsia and nickel design. I promise they won't perform the same, and you'll be lucky if they last six months.

Instead, I tested a bunch of hair dryers, some that look similar to the Supersonic, and some that look nothing like it. I wanted to find the best hair dryers that replicate the Supersonic experience: That is to say, they give a hair dry that feels quick, easy, and at least a little luxurious.

Below, you'll find my deep dive into the five best Dyson Supersonic dupes.

TL;DR: Learning fits any schedule with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, and it's only £37.96 (reg. £237.28) through 2 March when you use the discount code LEVELUP20. 

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £37.96
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Sometimes, you can sit down with a book everyone else liked and still get absolutely nothing out of it. It doesn't matter if you're a speed-reader, that's still a lot of lost time, and life gets busy. 

If you want a faster way of getting to the meat of a good book, check out Headway. Headway is a mobile app that summarises a ton of nonfiction bestsellers into quick, actionable insights. You can use these either as a lesson in their own regard or as a way to see which books are actually worth reading in full, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for £37.96 (reg. £237.28).

Just head to the Mashable Shop and use the discount code LEVELUP20 to take advantage of this special pricing.

There's finally time to learn

Headway gives you access to a huge collection of titles, and its library is growing all the time. There are already over 1,500 books, with 30-50 more added every month. Headway even gives you an incentive to keep learning and growing by gamifying the whole process. See how many days you can keep your streak going. There are even achievements for the completionists. 

The insights you get from Headway summaries are a quick way to learn the key lessons from a book. It's not quite the same experience as reading the full text, but nothing's stopping you from going back and diving in once you know a book is worth the time. 

Headway tailors recommendations to your unique interests, so every summary aligns with your aspirations. Whether you prefer reading or listening, professionally narrated audio versions let you learn on the go. 

Join over 15 million other users and find time to learn. 

Use the discount code LEVELUP20 to get a Headway Premium Lifetime Subscription through 2 March. 

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StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Watch 2025 F1 live streams for free anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This season of F1 is set to be a classic. There are so many interesting storylines to keep tabs on.

Can Max Verstappen defend his title? Can McLaren continue their form from the end of last season? Are Mercedes going to dominate again? Will Ferrari make the leap and compete at the top of the standings? There are so many big questions going into the 2025 season, but what fans really want to see is Lewis Hamilton driving a Ferrari. That's going to be fascinating to see.

If you are interested in watching F1 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2025 MotoGP World Championship online for free

Max Verstappen is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2024.

When is F1 in 2025?

The 2025 F1 season is the 76th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 16

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 23

3. Japanese Grand Prix — April 6

4. Bahrain Grand Prix — April 13

5. Saudi Arabian Grand Prix — April 20

6. Miami Grand Prix — May 4

7. Emilia Romagna Grand Prix — May 18

8. Monaco Grand Prix — May 25

9. Spanish Grand Prix — June 1

10. Canadian Grand Prix — June 15

11. Austrian Grand Prix — June 29

12. British Grand Prix — July 6

13. Belgian Grand Prix — July 27

14. Hungarian Grand Prix — Aug. 3

15. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 31

16. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 7

17. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 21

18. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 5

19. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 19

20. Mexico City Grand Prix — Oct. 26

21. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 9

22. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 22

23. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 30

24. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 7

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar will each host a sprint race this season.

How to watch F1 for free

The good news is that it is possible to live stream F1 for free in 2025. The following platforms are offering free coverage of this season:

• Australia — 10Play (Australian Grand Prix)

• Austria — ORF (14 races) or ServusTV (11 races)

• Belgium — RTBF (every race)

• Canada — CTV (Canadian Grand Prix)

• Italy — TV8 (Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix)

If you're abroad during a race weekend, you can consider using a VPN to unlock your favorite free streaming platform. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream F1 in 2025 from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of F1

4. Connect to free streaming service

5. Watch F1 2025 from anywhere in the world

Please be aware that Formula 1 take the view that the use of a VPN to watch content from another territory may be a breach of the relevant broadcasters’ terms of service and may constitute copyright infringement. It is your responsibility to ensure that your use of a VPN is legal and Mashable does not encourage any illegal use of a VPN.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select races for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the best service for live streaming F1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch F1 in 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third weekend of the 2025 Six Nations showcases some really interesting matchups, but England vs. Scotland is probably the biggest game this round. England are looking to maintain the momentum they gained from an impressive victory over France last round, whereas Scotland will be hoping to bounce back after losing to Ireland.

If you want to watch England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England vs. Scotland?

England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 4:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22. This fixture takes place at Twickenham Stadium.

How to watch England vs. Scotland for free

England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream England vs. Scotland from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream England vs. Scotland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. Scotland without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Things couldn't really be going worse for Wales in the 2025 Six Nations, and next they face high-flying Ireland. This could get rough for the home side, but there's always the possibility of a shock result in this competition.

If you want to watch Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wales vs. Ireland?

Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 2:15 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22. This fixture takes place at the Principality Stadium.

How to watch Wales vs. Ireland for free

Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Wales vs. Ireland by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wales vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Wales vs. Ireland without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The likes of Pakistan and India have started their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaigns, with high expectations for these talented teams. And the same goes for Australia and England. Both of these teams will be expected to progress into the knockout stage of the tournament, but they can't both win this opening match.

If you want to watch Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. England?

Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 22. This ODI takes place at the Gaddafi Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. England for free

The following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

• Australia — Prime Video (free with 30-day trial)

• India — Disney+ Hotstar

• New Zealand — Sky TV NZ

• Pakistan — Tamasha (free) and PTV (free)

• UK — Sky Sports

• USA — Willow and Sling TV

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Pakistan

4. Visit Tamasha or PTV

5. Live stream Australia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Australia vs. England (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Brushes, paints pots, and easels are a thing of the past. Technology has not only digitised the art world but expanded it too. Indeed, technology has made art far more accessible, as well as becoming a go-to option for professionals.

Technology allows graphic designers and illustrators to simulate a variety of mediums by using such tools as a tablet, a stylus, a touch-sensitive pad, and creative software like Adobe Fresco. That flexibility, in addition to a quick turnaround and the end product, makes digital art appealing from a commercial perspective.

Of course, the tablets, styluses, and pads can cost quite a bit. And it's all a bit confusing if you don't know your art-based tech jargon. As far as we're concerned, the best place to start is a drawing tablet. And we can help paint a clear picture on how to choose one.

Should you use a drawing tablet?

A good tablet — plus your software and pen — will affect how well you're able to translate your drawing skills to the screen, or, if you're a total beginner, the control you have over your artistic process. Meanwhile, different software — such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop — will offer different mediums and editing options.

What kinds of drawing tablets are there?

Most drawing tablets can be placed into the below categories:

• Graphics tablet — The simplest of the bunch, essentially a touch-sensitive pad with a pen that you can plug into your computer so you have more control over your cursor (and therefore your digital pen) while drawing. The movement of your stylus on the pad will be reflected on your computer screen.

• Pen display — Probably what most people think of in terms of drawing tablets, these panels will let you see the tracks of your stylus or pen as you go. Instead of having to plug into a computer, these are standalone tablets able to produce art themselves.

• Tablet computer — iPads and their ilk are powerful minicomputers for which drawing is just one of many other functions. Often their use for art will require purchase of a pen or accessory of some sort for better control, and the creative software of your choice.

Keep these categories in mind when shopping around for a new tablet.

Can beginners use a drawing tablet?

Artists of any skill level can use a tablet. But do take your skill level into account before buying. If you're not entirely comfortable drawing without looking at your hand moving across the paper, for instance, you might find a graphics tablet a bit difficult to use, since you'll have to watch the monitor while drawing with your hand. In that case, a pen display or iPad might suit you better.

What's the best type of display for a drawing tablet?

A tablet's display is critical to performance. If you're trying to create photorealistic works of art, a high resolution is worth the price. But if you just want to practice your drawing skills on a more casual basis, a run-of-the-mill tablet with lower resolution is more cost-effective. The thickness of a display will affect parallax — the shifting of a line or object based on a person's perspective, caused by the distance (however small) between pen and interface, separated by the display. Minimising parallax will help keep perspective consistent.

How sensitive are drawing tablets?

They can be different sensitivities, but once again consider what works best for you. Some might prefer a super touch-sensitive screen that will pick up on every feather-light brush of the pen, while others will want a less responsive tablet that they can press harder on to keep a line steadier, or prevent accidental marks.

The feel of a tablet is also crucial. Obviously, it won't feel the same as drawing on paper, but the material and make of the tablet can determine how much give, friction, and glide it has. A tablet's tactile aspect is very important to consider, especially if you're someone who is very particular about your setup.

How big are drawing tablets?

Size and heft is one of the most important aspects to keep in mind — whether you want a tiny, portable thing to carry everywhere with you for sketching or a heavy-duty unit equipped with loads of extra features that will stay on your desk. The size of a tablet typically corresponds to the dimensions of its active area (i.e. the part of the tablet you can actually draw on), so in addition to portability, have a think about the size and detail of the work you intend to do. It's never fun to run out of drawing space.

What is tracking speed?

This means the lag time between stroke of your pen and the corresponding line showing up on screen. The higher the tracking speed (measured in PPS — points per second), the less the lag, and the more instant the result. And while lag is annoying at the best of times — even just in things like loading our email inboxes — it can make finer work like drawing simply impossible.

How do you choose a stylus?

A tablet sometimes comes with a stylus. If not you'll need to buy one separately. Either way, be sure to choose a stylus with a grip you like and features you need. Plus, styluses have their own distinct types: Battery-powered (thicker, needs extra batteries), rechargeable (slimmer, less reliable), and the newest EMR (wireless charging from tablet itself).

What is the best tablet for drawing?

It's always a good idea to try before you buy with a product like this. The feel of it is extremely important. We can't help with that, of course, but we can offer some options to at least get you started and help you figure out the best drawing tablet for you.

These are the best drawing tablets in 2025.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Newbie

• Green: Ways to keep a player from reaching base

• Blue: Basketball stars in Beantown

• Purple: Schools whose location shares a theme

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Inexperienced

• Green: Types of outs in baseball

• Blue: Boston Celtics stars

• Purple: Colleges in state capitals

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #152 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Inexperienced - FRESH, GREEN, RAW, WISCONSIN

• Types of outs in baseball - FLY, FORCE, STRIKE, TAG

• Boston Celtics stars - BROWN, HOLIDAY, TATUM, WHITE

• Colleges in state capitals - NAVY, TEXAS, VANDERBILT, WISCONSIN

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