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It’s that time of year again — the holidays are on the horizon. What better way to celebrate with your casual lover, new fling, or long-term partner than with a spicy advent calendar?

With Lovehoney’s history of appealing advent calendars in the sex toy shopping aisle, this year's edition is full of sexy goodies that make the perfect gift for couples to get even closer. Whether you’re looking to explore new fantasies together, reach new sexual heights, or add a steamy addition, ‘tis the season.

Here are three reasons why this hot advent calendar is the best of its kind from the sex toy brand so far, and one that's sure to bring many surprises to the bedroom.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Womanizer Couple's Sex Toy Advent Calendar $199.00 at Lovehoney
$530.77 Save $331.77 A sexy, sensual surprise behind every door (24 days) Shop Now 1. A sizzling countdown

Many couples find that using vibrators or other sex toys leads to improved communication and a more open, honest dialogue. Plus, incorporating toys can help keep experiences fresh and exciting. If you're looking for a starting point, Lovehoney's advent calendar could be a great way to explore new options with daily surprises.

2. Naughty and nice surprises Credit: Lovehoney

Whether you’re a sex toy aficionado or you and your partner are just dipping your toes in, Lovehoney has something for everyone. For folks who may be interested in exploring what sensory play feels like or those wanting to try their hands at beginner-friendly bondage, opening your calendar each day will only add to the endless possibilities of your fantasies, date nights, and celebrations. 

3. Get a playful variety pack

You and your honey save over 60% on Womanizer toys like the Womanizer Liberty 2, (available for $99) a clitoral stimulator toy with special Pleasure Air technology that can be used together or solo. For a steamy couples session, the calendar also comes with the We-Vibe Sync Lite (available for $89), an app-controlled and hands-free toy perfect for sharing every moment of pleasure. 

The calendar, valued at over $530, is priced at $199 and includes free shipping within six business days and a choice of one of three free gifts, offering significant value for the cost. With kink-friendly toys like feathers, paddles, massage tools for sensual touch, and easy-to-use restraints made for beginners, this calendar is perfect for couples across the gender spectrum. 

Looking for fresh ways to heighten you or your partner's pleasure? Check out Lovehoney's Advice page for expert tips on everything from selecting the perfect sex toy to adding a thrilling touch of bondage to your relationship.

UP TO 40% OFF: Get up to 40% off camping essentials, hiking apparel, and more, now through Labor Day weekend.

Our top picks: Best tent deal The North Face Wawona 4 Tent $239.99 at REI (save $160.01) Get Deal Best sleeping pad deal MegaMat 10 Sleeping Pad $143.89 at REI (save $96.06) Get Deal Best duffle deal The North Face Base Camp Voyager $116.19 at REI (save $38.81) Get Deal

Summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of time to get out, touch the grass, and enjoy nature. Whether you’re into camping, hiking, cycling, or just want to get away from your desk for a bit, REI’s Labor Day Sale has a little something for everyone.

SEE ALSO: The best camping hammocks for your next outdoor excursion

From now until Labor Day, you can get up to 40% off a wide range of outdoor gear and apparel, plus up to 50% off clearance items. If you're a member, you can score an additional 20% off one REI Outlet item, using the code SAVEOUTLET. Shop brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Marmot, and Kelty for discounted tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and more.

Here are our top picks to help you round out your summer or get a head start on your fall adventures:

Best tent deal Opens in a new window Credit: The North Face Our pick: The North Face Wawona 4 Tent $239.99 at REI
$400.00 Save $160.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The North Face Wawona 4 Tent features double-wall construction and a large vestibule (for additional seating or storage), so you’ll feel safe and secure even if it’s raining. This tent can comfortably sleep four people, has ceiling pockets to hold headlamps and other essentials, and the color-coded poles make it easy to set up, even for first-timers.

Best sleeping pad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Exped Our pick: MegaMat 10 Sleeping Pad (regular) $143.89 at REI
$239.95 Save $96.06 Get Deal Why we like it

Sleeping on the hard ground (sleeping bag or not) isn’t exactly the most luxurious experience, but the MegaMat 10 Sleeping Pad from Exped is a self-inflating mat that provides up to four inches of plush comfort. It comes with a mini pump for quick inflation and a repair kit just in case you need it.

Best duffle deal Opens in a new window Credit: The North Face Our pick: The North Face Base Camp Voyager $116.19 at REI
$155.00 Save $38.81 Get Deal Why we like it

Even if you’re just going on a day hike, having a durable, roomy duffle to toss your gear in can make the trip a lot easier. The North Face Base Camp Voyager is lightweight, water-resistant, and has tons of pockets to keep everything organized. It has an internal secure-zip pocket for important items, like your passport or wallet, and the adjustable divider gives you the option to separate your gear or use the entire capacity as one large compartment.

The US Open is underway and everyone is living their Challengers dream (watching tennis and yelling "Come on!").

Dating app Grindr is getting in on the action, offering a new "grunt" notification that goes off when users tap on a potential match.

SEE ALSO: From Grindr to Scruff: The best dating apps for gay, bi, and queer men

"From short shorts, to fuzzy balls flying in faces, the sport has been a space the gay community loves to play in, yet they haven't had the chance to play out publicly," Grindr said in an email to Mashable, referring to former professional player Brian Vahaly, who only came out after retiring from tennis. "That's changing and culture's catching on with recent phenomenons like the premiere of Challengers." 

"The grunt noise is a humorous celebration of the often sexually charged sport," Grindr continued.

The notification is literally a male grunt, much different than the trilling sound Grindr users are used to. Users on Reddit don't seem very enthusiastic about the change, with several threads on the r/grindr subreddit stating they disabled the sound, called it nonsense, and said they plain hate it.

If you, however, want to pretend the canonically bi Patrick from Challengers is serving whenever you tap a potential match, here's how:

How to enable the Grindr grunt sound

• Go to your profile photo.

• Tap Settings at the bottom left of the screen.

• Under Notifications, toggle Sound on.

Ugh!

This Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Apple Watch SE comparison should answer all the questions you have about the Apple popular smartwatches.

I've always been a smartwatch skeptic. Whether it's the Google Pixel Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch, or the Apple Watch, they all seemed superfluous for anyone who has a phone. When people tried to persuade me to join the smartwatch squad, they always brought up fitness as a use case, which has never been a priority for me — until now.

After hearing my doctor tell me that my blood pressure is too high, I decided to take exercise more seriously. What really drew me to consider an Apple Watch, however, is that I want to make sure I'm hitting — and maintaining — a target heart rate while running on the treadmill, ensuring effective calorie burning.

One of the best ways to track heart rate is to use an Apple Watch. But I've been faced with a dilemma. Should I get the SE (second generation) or splurge a little more for the Watch Series 9? I decided to get both to determine their differences.

Note: Apple is reportedly unveiling the Apple Watch Series 10 on Sept. 9. For more information about all the credible leaks about the next-gen wearable, check out our Apple Watch 10 rumor hub.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: What are the differences? Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: price and specs

I got the cheapest model for both variants. This means I spent $249 for the Apple Watch SE (second generation), which I purchased from Apple's official website.

Apple Watch SE Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The model I have comes with the following specs:

• 40mm case size

• Silver finish

• Aluminum chassis

• GPS (no cellular)

• Ocean Blue solo loop

Some features require you to shell out a little more. For example, a stainless steel chassis is an extra $50. A larger case size (i.e., 44mm) is an extra $30. If you want GPS and cellular support, that will set you back $50.

The Apple Watch Series 9 costs $399 on Apple's official website (again, this is the cheapest you can get in this model).

Apple Watch Series 9 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Here's my configuration:

• 41mm case size

• (Product) Red finish

• Aluminum chassis

• GPS (no cellular)

• Product (Red) sport band

As with the Watch Series 9, you can spend an extra $50 to get a stainless-steel chassis. If you want cellular support, that will set you back another $100.

With the Watch SE being the cheaper of the two, it's the obvious winner in this round.

Winner: Apple Watch SE

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Apple Watch SE 2 $169.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Apple Watch Series 9 $279.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Display

The first thing I noticed about the Watch SE is that it has thicker bezels, which reduces its screen real estate — and the display is minimal to begin with.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE side-by-side. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Watch Series 9's bezels are a lot less obstructive, but either way, I still found display navigation to be fine on both screens. Thicker bezels, in my opinion, aren't a big deal.

It's also worth nothing that the resolution is different for the watches:

Watch Series 9 (41mm) - 430 x 352 pixels

Watch SE (40mm) - 394 x 324 pixels

Looking at them side by side, the Watch Series 9 definitely delivers a sharper, clearer visuals. But if I were looking at the Watch SE independently, I would think that the display quality is sufficient enough.

Now, let's talk brightness:

Watch Series 9 (41mm) - up to 2,000 nits

Watch SE (40mm) - up to 1,000 nits

The Watch Series 9 is supposedly brighter than Series 9, delivering a max of 2,000 nits over the SE's 1,000-nit screen. However, while comparing both watches in the sun, I could see both of them just fine, even with the rays shining bright on them like a spotlight.

Apple Watch SE (left) and Apple Watch Series 9 (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can tell the Watch SE is slightly dimmer, but the difference is negligible to the naked eye.

The main difference between the two screens, however, is the always-on display. I thought I wouldn't care about the Watch SE not having an always-on display (AOD). (For the uninitiated, AOD means that the screen is always feeding you visual information.)

However, I found myself getting frustrated that I had to keep either touching the Watch SE's screen or flick my wrist toward myself to check the time. Meanwhile, the Watch Series 9, well, stays on. As you can see in the photo below, the Watch SE's screen is completely dark, but the Series 9's display is still "active" (though it is dimmed).

Apple Watch SE (left) and Apple Watch Series 9 (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Also, from a fashion standpoint, an always-on display looks more attractive.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Design

I decided to go with two color choices to determine whether I'd prefer the more sophisticated, subtle design of the Watch SE — or the conspicuous, striking presence of the Watch Series 9.

Apple Watch SE displaying sleep data Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

To my surprise, I prefer the Watch Series 9's gorgeous (Product)Red look. I feared that it would be too red — like the eyesore of a hue that drapes the blindingly orange Rabbit R1. However, the Product (Red) has the perfect balance of vividness and elegeance. It's such an eye-catching ruby red.

Apple Watch Series 9 displaying Indoor Run app Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I went with the Silver finish for the Watch SE along with the Ocean Blue solo loop — and I regret it. Oddly, the solo loop collects dirt easily. And unlike the sports band that's featured on the Watch Series 9, the solo loop requires custom sizing. Mine is a size 3, which fits OK, but it could stand to be a smidge tighter.

Apple Watch SE with solo loop Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The sports band has an adjustable strap, allowing me to make it as tight or loose as I need it to be. The solo loop, on the other hand, is just a stretchy bracelet band. I also don't expect it to have good durability. As you take it off and on over time, I foresee it getting too stretched out.

Apple Watch Series 9 sports band Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Other than that, the Watch Series 9 and SE have the same squircle design, with a digital crown and side button on the right.

Simply because of its larger watch face, Series 9 is the winner here.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Texting and calling

I tested texting and calling with both the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch SE.

Texting with the Apple Series 9 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

When it comes to texting, the Apple Watch Series 9 features a QWERTY keyboard. I thought it'd be an awkward mess trying to text on the Apple Watch Series 9 with one finger, but it wasn't half bad if you have a little bit of patience in you.

The Watch SE has something different. You can still text, but there is no keyboard available. Instead, you'll get a field that lets you scribble the letter or word you want to write — and it will transform it into digital text.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

To be fair, neither the Watch Series 9 nor the Watch SE are ideal for texting, but the most useful feature for messaging — a perk that both devices have — is Dictation. I found that Dictation, a utility that transforms your speech into text, is the best for texting on the Series 9 and SE.

There are prepared replies readily available, too, like "Thanks" and "OK."

After calling a friend with the Watch Series 9 and Watch SE, I blind-tested him and asked him to pick which smartwatch sounded better. Surprisingly, he said I sounded better on the Watch SE. I couldn't tell a marked difference between the two in terms of sound quality.

Due to its superior texting features, the Watch Series 9 wins this round.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE 2: Double Tap

Don't buy the Apple Watch Series 9 because of its Double Tap feature. The Watch SE supports the Double Tap, too.

Double Tap with the Apple Watch Series 9 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

With the Apple Watch Series 9, you simply need to make sure it's turned on in Settings — and you can use Double Tap to accept and end calls, turn off alarms, play and pause songs, and more. However, with the Watch SE, you can only use Double Tap when prompted. For example, a blue-outlined prompt that says "End call" will appear on the Watch SE, allowing you to hang up.

It's worth noting, though, that the Watch Series 9's Double Tap feature lets you do more with it. For example, you can use Double Tap to trigger the shutter button on the Camera app or scroll through your Widget stacks (things you can't do with the Watch SE's Double Tap).

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Siri

Apple boasted that the Watch Series 9 lets you tap into Siri for your health data. One time, I asked, "Siri, how many hours did I sleep last night?" In response, it said, "5 hours and 51 minutes."

Siri on the Apple Watch SE Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In response to "How many calories did I burn today?", it said, "You burned 285 calories today."

If I were to ask Siri the same questions on the Watch SE, Siri wouldn't respond with a direct answer. It would, instead, show me the app that would provide me the right answer.

Apple claims that the Watch Series 9's S9 chip yields a faster on-device Siri, allowing you to have zippier access to your health data.

The only disappointment I'd add for both devices is that Siri directed me to the iPhone app when I asked for ovulation estimates.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Health tracking

If you want a watch with the best health-tracking features, get the Watch Series 9. Here are the sensors and trackers you'll get with it:

• Temperature sensing (not on Watch SE)

• Cycle tracking (available on Watch SE, but doesn't provide ovulation estimates)

• Irregular rhythm notifications (available on Watch SE)

• High or low heart rate notifications (available on Watch SE)

• ECG testing (not on Watch SE)

On the Watch SE, you will not find the ECG app, a tracker that analyzes your heart's electrical pulses. However, you will find it on the Apple Watch Series 9. It prompts you to hold your finger on the digital crown for 30 seconds. You'll then get a reading that tells you your beats per minute (bpm) — and whether your heartbeat is "sinus," "AFib," "low heart rate," "high heart rate," or "inconclusive."

ECG on Apple Watch Series 9 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Its worth noting that its AFib detection is the first digital-health tech to qualify for the FDA's MDDT program. In other words, an official authority in the medical device space has green-lighted the Apple Watch for testing atrial fibrillation. Sweet!

As for ovulation tracking, again, you'd be better off with the Watch Series 9. Ovulation tracking relies on taking temperature readings while you sleep every five seconds overnight. And, well, the Watch SE doesn't have a temperature sensor.

However, whether I was on the SE or Series 9, I could still log my menstrual cycle, allowing me to check when my next estimated cycle will arrive.

Apple Watch Series 9 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Speaking of the temperature sensor, on the Watch Series 9, you can get temperature readings of your skin by going to Settings > Health > Health Data > Body Measurements > Wrist Temperature. Not sure why I need to know that my right wrist is 96 degrees Fahrenheit, but er, it's there in case anyone asks, I guess.

Interestingly, I also noticed that both watches test for environmental noise using the mics. Before turning off a whistling teapot, I got an alert from the Apple Watch Series 9 that the decibels in my surroundings are too high.

Apple Watch Series 9's loud environment alert Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Oddly, I didn't get that alert on my Watch SE, though it has a noise detector feature, too.

Note: The Apple Watch Series 9 no longer supports the blood-oxygen monitor for U.S. consumers.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Fitness tracking

I haven't spotted much of a difference between the Watch Series 9 and SE when it comes to fitness tracking.

Apple Watch Series 9 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If you want something that tracks your steps and lets you close your rings at the end of the day, the Watch SE will do just fine.

While wearing the watches to run on the treadmill everyday, I set both devices to tell me when I've hit my target beats per minute (i.e., 146 to 156 bpm) while running. (I did this by fiddling with the "Indoor Run" preferences under the "Workout" app.) My experience with both have been seamless.

If you're a swimmer or a diver, however, you may want to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2 instead; it supports high-speed water sports and recreational diving.

Winner: Draw

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Battery life

I thought that the Apple Watch Series 9's battery life would be significantly better than the Watch SE, but the differences in their power efficiency are minimal.

Apple Watch Series 9 text conversation Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

One day, to test both devices' battery life, I charged the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE to 100 percent at 4:30 p.m. The Apple Watch SE tapped out the next day at 8:10 p.m. while the Watch Series 9 lasted a little longer by an hour and some change.

Apple Watch SE - 1 day and 3 hours and 30 minutes

Apple Watch Series 9 - 1 day and 4 hours and 36 minutes

The usage profile included using Siri to ask questions throughout the day (e.g., weather, math calculations, asking for health data), setting timers for workouts, tracking my heart rate during jogs, sleep monitoring, texting friends, controlling Apple Music, glancing at emails, and more.

Photos app on the Apple Watch SE Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's worth noting, though, that Apple Watch Series 9 supports fast charging; the Apple Watch SE does not. This means that, on the Watch Series 9, the battery can go from 0 percent to 80 percent in 45 minutes, according to Apple.

You can use a USB-C Apple charging brick like this one from Amazon to get the fast-charging job done.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: Which one should you buy?

Apple Watch Series 9 is better at tracking your health. If you're seeking a device that can give you ovulation estimates, deliver ECG readings, keep tabs on your skin temperature (if you care about that sort of thing), and lets you access most of that data via Siri, get the Series 9.

Apple Watch Series 9 with Snoopy watchface Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If you're more fitness-focused, and you don't mind the thicker bezels and lack of always-on display, the Watch SE is a solid choice.

You, like me, may assume that the Watch Series 9 has better battery life because it's pricier, but in my experience, both held up pretty well in terms of power efficiency (though the Series 9 edged out the Watch SE by an hour or so).

The only thing I'd warn against is getting the solo loop band for your Apple Watch. It seems to get loose after some time — and it's not very durable. Instead, get the sports band, allowing you to adjust the Apple Watch to your wrist as you like it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Apple Watch SE 2 $169.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Apple Watch Series 9 $279.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal

Watch the trailer for "Sonic the Hedgehog 3", with a first look at Keanu Reeves' Shadow.

If you've scrolled through TikTok recently, you might have noticed that it's not just viral dances, get-ready-with-mes and story-time videos on your For You Page right now. In fact, I rarely scroll through eight or nine TikToks before I come across a live video where I'm being directly sold to. "Caroline! 11 items! I'm gonna have a great time packing up this order," is the first thing I hear when I open the app today, coming across a livestream of a woman standing in front of a cupboard stacked full of make-up products. She's streaming on behalf of the make-up brand Made By Mitchell and talking directly to someone who is commenting on the livestream and making purchases. "Seeing as you've ordered two of the mystery boxes, I'm going to throw you an extra lip gloss in. Don't tell anyone," the streamer continues, talking in a familiar tone to her customer on a live stream that over 200 people are watching.

It's an ostensibly retro sales technique, almost identical to what you probably remember of '90s shopping channel QVC, watching an older relative dial in to buy a discounted kettle or a plant pot. And although live shopping is just taking off in the UK, it's hardly a niche corner of the internet. In China, in 2023 alone, an estimated $500 billion in goods were sold via livestream on apps, according to the New York Times. And now plenty of businesses in the UK and the U.S. are turning to this sales format via TikTok Shop, the video-sharing app's ecommerce leg, which is rapidly expanding since it launched in November 2022. According to research, 44 percent of social media users have made a purchase directly through TikTok.

In fact, some businesses are making hundreds of thousands – even millions – of pounds via live shopping, according to figures shared by TikTok. On their most successful day, Made By Mitchell made $1 million dollars on TikTok, thanks to a 12 hour stream that almost 600,000 viewers tuned into and one product being sold every second, a representative from TikTok Shop told Mashable. Launching in 2020, most of the business' growth has taken place on TikTok and they recently launched in high-street store Boots. 

Why your FYP is full of teleshopping

So what is it about live shopping that appeals right now? "We have a group of people who watch our live videos every single day. There's an element of people thinking, 'I just want to be involved with what you're doing right this second'," says Josh Reais, Live Sales Host at luxury second-hand fashion company Luxe Collective. 

A big part of live selling on apps like TikTok Shop is the novelty of good old-fashioned bargaining. On Josh’s  daily live streams, viewers will haggle with Reais in the comments, trying to get him to knock £25 off a vintage Louis Vuitton purse. Hosts like Reais tend to use traditional sales techniques and slogans, broadcasting themselves for hours at a time and offering flash sales throughout the stream. All of Luxe Collective's products are second-hand, which means they offer a more sustainable outlet for their customers' consumerist tendencies. But this buy-now-buy-quick attitude feels a little at odds with what we know about how Gen-Z (the biggest age demographic on TikTok in 2024) want to shop, as they're not only often dubbed the most sustainable generation, but as some of the most practical spenders too, with 43 percent cutting back on non-essential spending and 51 percent  choosing to prioritise their finances as a result of rising prices, according to a 2024 report carried out by market research agency Mintel.

SEE ALSO: Want to buy that viral TikTok Shop product? Think twice.

"We've never had a shopping experience like this — imagine going into Selfridges and having 400 people standing behind you, cheering you on," Reais says, although he adds that he isn't worried about people making irresponsible buying decisions, from both a financial and environmental perspective. "People in the comments will give advice, telling the potential buyer that they own an item and it's worth it or, on the other hand, that maybe they should wait and make the decision at a later date," he explains.

The future of shopping?

The community that live shopping events create is seemingly at the heart of the success of platforms like TikTok Shop, something that is immediately clear to me when I arrive at a in-person event hosted by TikTok and Luxe Collective and see a group of 15 women excitedly chatting around a table, as though they've known each other for years. "Let me guess because I think I've nailed some of you," one woman says as she approaches the table, pointing at some of the people who are sitting down and shouting out names. I quickly realise that these women have all met in person less than half an hour ago, but are acquainted on a daily basis in the comments section of Luxe Collective's live shopping events. The reason these women all get on so well is because they have a shared interest, one that they feel very strongly about. In their case, it's luxury fashion, but live shopping platforms provide spaces for enthusiasts with varied interests.

Another platform that is becoming increasingly popular for live shopping is Whatnot, a large livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe. General Manager at Whatnot, Daniel Fisher, says that many of their users see themselves as collectors, rather than shoppers: "Our focus is helping buyers and sellers discover things that they're passionate about, be it collectible cards, trainers, fashion, vintage."

SEE ALSO: 60+ best back-to-school deals for students on a budget

With high street shopping becoming continuously less popular and most people making most of their purchases from fast fashion websites or big online retailers like Amazon (65 percent of UK shoppers agree that shopping online is more convenient than in-store), live shopping appears to offer a middle ground between the two, so its appeal is hardly surprising. "There's been this anonymity to ecommerce for decades and live shopping has completely changed that because you're able to interact with the sellers and other buyers," Fisher says. "It's a combination of ecommerce and that in-person shopping element which I think people probably miss."

Plus, live shopping offers something in-person shopping generally doesn't: hundreds of people who are just as interested in the thing you're about to purchase as you are. "It is a win buying something that big: buying it is a huge momentous occasion and being able to celebrate that with 400 people is amazing," Reais says, speaking about the people who tune into Luxe Collective's streams.

And what's crucial is sales hosts like Reais aren't just salespeople, but performers. And these streams aren't just shopping experiences, but forms of entertainment. "Our consumers spend about 80 minutes a day watching live streams on Whatnot," Fisher says. Compare that to Netflix subscribers, who spend an average of 192 minutes watching TV series and movies on a platform, it's clear that a lot of people see live shopping as an alternative form of entertainment to TV or other social media sites, rather than just a means to an end. "In China, the new generation of influencers are actually set live stream sellers," Fisher says.

So with the celebrities of the future set to be teleshoppers, it's difficult to decide whether live shopping feels more nostalgic or dystopian. Either way, platforms like TikTok Shop and Whatnot set to grow exponentially, so don't be surprised if in the near future you find yourself lost in the comments of a livestream, haggling down the price of a toaster, just for the thrill of it.

Apple's iPad mini hasn't been updated since 2021, but there are signs that a new one is coming.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has noticed that "many" Apple stores are low on stock of the iPad mini in several configurations. The device, he says, is internally considered "constrained."

SEE ALSO: What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more

This could mean that Apple is looking to launch a new iPad mini soon, though Gurman did not offer any clues as to whether that may happen at the upcoming iPhone launch event, scheduled for Sept. 9.

Tweet may have been deleted

This is not the first time we heard about a new iPad mini being in the works. In July, reports said that Apple is planning to launch a new iPad mini in 2024, and there were clues that the device would come with Apple's A17 chip. This should make the iPad mini capable of running Apple Intelligence, and Gurman said he "wouldn't be surprised to see it updated for AI."

SEE ALSO: The 9th Generation iPad just hit its new record low price

The iPad mini was last updated in October 2021, with a completely new design, including a larger display, narrower bezels, a Touch ID button built into the power button, and Apple's A15 Bionic processor. It's an excellent device and my favorite iPad ever, but it could use an update, especially in the chip department.

A prestigious college fraternity sits at the core of "The Line", but as you'll see in the trailer, it's no fun and games.

With Season 2 imminent, Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 1 recap brings you up to speed.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, August 27, 2024:

AcrossPoint of transition between two zodiac signs

• The answer is cusp.

Declare legally void

• The answer is annul.

Providence, ___ Island

• The answer is Rhode.

August zodiac sign

• The answer is Virgo.

Olympic fencing sword

• The answer is epee.

DownSlice up, as a turkey

• The answer is carve.

Not "with it"

• The answer is unhip.

Be a noisy bedmate

• The answer is snore.

Cutely pokeable bit of belly flab

• The answer is pudge.

August zodiac sign

• The answer is Leo.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Elon Musk’s plan to open Tesla’s charging network is proceeding slowly. Nobody is entirely sure why, or when that might change.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 27 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 27 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Pixar fare

These words are a delicious combination.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to ingredients for a Pixar movie namesake dish.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Ratatouille.

NYT Strands word list for August 27

• Peppers

• Onions

• Ratatouille

• Tomatoes

• Zucchini

• Eggplant

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

The Alienware m16 r2 is very demure and very cutesy. It doesn't need to have all the glitz and glam, equipped with a flashy design, to be a gaming laptop.

Compared to its predecessor, the Alienware m16 r2 is designed to be more subdued and less "gamery." (No, that's not a word, but I'm sure you understand what I mean.)

It also doesn't have balls-to-the-walls performance numbers, but it still delivers impressive benchmark figures on our tests, particularly for a mid-level gaming laptop.

There are some aspects about the m16 r2 that I don't quite love, like brightness and audio, for example. But overall, this gaming rig isn't half bad. Read on to find out whether we're placing the m16 r2 on our best gaming laptops list.

Alienware m16 r2 price and specs

The Alienware m16 r2 I tested for this review is $1,899 at Best Buy and comes with the following specs:

• Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU

• 16GB of RAM

• 1TB of SDD storage

• 2560 x 1600-pixel display with a 240Hz refresh rate

If you want more storage, you can grab the 2TB configuration via Amazon for $1,949.99 as of this writing. But in my opinion, 1TB should be sufficient if you're fine with uninstalling games once you're done with 'em.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Alienware m16 r2 $1,899.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal Alienware m16 R2 design

The Alienware m16 r2 is the successor to the Alienware m16 r1. Design wise, the Alienware m16 r2 no longer has a weird-looking, LED-lit thermal shelf that protrudes behind the hinge.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Dell says it discovered a way to reduce the cooling system inside the Alienware m16 r2 to completely remove the eyesore — er, I mean "thermal shelf" — that jutted beyond the laptop.

I've always preferred a minimalist design. I've never cared for gaming laptops that look like a flashy disco party. In fact, the Alienware m16 r2 is designed for killjoys like myself — gamers who want a subdued gaming experience without all the glitz and flash.

However, no matter how much Dell may have tried to subdue the "gaminess" of the m16 r2, it still very much looks like a gaming laptop — as if it was ripped out of an autobot from Transformers or a futuristic spaceship control panel. On the lid, you'll find Alienware's logo that features the head of an extraterrestrial. On the bottom right, you'll find a gigantic "16" in techno-inspired, cybernetic text.

The anodized aluminum chassis is draped in a colorway that Dell calls "Dark Metallic Moon."

If you, like myself, are not down to party with your gaming laptop, you can turn off the RGB lighting on the two alien heads (on the lid and deck), as well as the keyboard and touchpad border, via the Alienware Command Center app.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

You may be wondering, "Is the Alienware m16 r2 portable?" I would say it's more portable than its predecessor, but I'm not someone who believes that a 16-inch, six-pound laptop with 0.79-inch thickness can be portable. It will definitely add quite a bit of weight to your luggage if you're traveling with it. And commuting with it won't be pleasant either, but to be fair, not many gaming laptops are truly portable (save for maybe the MSI Cyborg 14).

You'll find honeycomb-style vents above the keyboard as well as some intake vents on the underside. Oh, and there are some vent exhausts on the sides, too.

The sturdy, well-built chassis fends off fingerprints well, but it does collect grease.

Alienware m16 R2 display

The Alienware m16 r2 comes with a 16-inch, 2,560 x 1,600-pixel display with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

It supports Nvidia G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync. This means you should get smooth gameplay with G-SYNC and Freesync, which ensure that the frames are seamless, so you don't have to worry about screen tearing and stuttering.

My only wish is that Dell offered a configuration with a miniLED or OLED panel for better contrast, improved color accuracy, and more power efficiency.

Otherwise, the Alienware m16 R2 display is fine, whether I gamed on it, or played Netflix or YouTube on it. While watching Netflix's The Union on the m16 r2, a bellhop's rich, ruby-red-and-gold uniform caught my eye. In one scene, I could see the tiny vellus hairs appearing on Halle Berry's skin.

I played Cyberpunk 2077 on the Alienware m16 R2, and while I was impressed with the contrast and vivid colors, I wished that the m16 r2 300-nit screen was brighter in some dark scenes.

By the way, the m16 r2's display screen folds all the way back 180 degrees. Not really sure why I'd need this, though. (I guess if you have a rambunctious child who loves testing displays' flexible capabilities, this might be useful to prevent breakage.)

Alienware m16 R2 ports

The Alienware m16 r2 has I/O options all over the shop: the sides and the back.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the left:

• RJ-45 Ethernet jack

• Headset jack

On the back:

• USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4)

• USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2)

• HDMI 2.1

On the right:

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

• microSD card reader

• Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1)

• Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1)

For me personally, because my power source is to my left, I wished the DC-in port was also on the left side. But it's a minor gripe that doesn't affect my overall assessment of the Alienware m16 r2 (especially since everyone's desk setup is different).

Alienware m16 R2 audio

The m16 r2's audio system, which feature side-firing speakers that you can find on the edges of the laptop, is so-so.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the plus side, they get pretty darn loud. However, after launching the "Today's Hits" playlist from the Apple Music app, tunes on the m16 r2 sounded too hollow, tinny, and flat for my tastes. This is definitely not a laptop for a music producer by any means.

Alienware m16 R2 keyboard and trackpad

As a keyboard snob, the m16 r2 keyboard island-style keyboard with 1.8mm of key travel is satisfying. It's super clicky with that springy "bounce back" feel once you hit the actuation point.

Alienware m16 r2 keyboard Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The black, squircle keys, which feature white letters and symbols, are large and spacious. The keyboard supports one-zone and per-key lighting. There are also plenty of shortcuts. For example, you can turn on "quiet mode" by hitting the Fn and F2 keys. But if you want to turn on "performance mode," you can hit the Fn and F1 keys.

The touchpad is fine, too. It's smaller than I'd expect for a 16-inch laptop, but it still has ample space. It also responds quite well to my Windows 11 touchpad gestures, including pinch-to-zoom and dual-finger scrolling.

Alienware m16 R2 performance and benchmarks

To reiterate, the m16 r2 has 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, a 1TB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. (You can't get any better than a 4070.)

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Let's talk about the GPU for a bit. The m16 R2 supports Nvidia's Advanced Optimus feature, which means the system can automatically switch between the m16 r2's integrated graphics (which would be the not-really-for-gaming Intel Iris Xe graphics) and the discrete GPU (i.e., Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU), depending on your task.

For example, if you're just web browsing or running video playback, the m16 r2 will tap into the Intel Iris Xe graphics. However, when it's time to fire up a triple-A game, it will lean on the RTX 4070 GPU.

I found the swapping to be quite seamless.

This gaming rig also features a MUX switch, which lets you manually turn off the Intel Iris Xe graphics in favor of the 4070 GPU, which is useful if you want to focus on getting the most out of your dedicated graphics.

Performance-wise, the m16 R2 kicked its rivals butt. Take a look at the frames per second I got while running the Cyberpunk 2077 "High" benchmark :

• 98.7 frames per second

• 167.9 frames per second (DLSS on)

Compare that to the HP Victus 16 we reviewed, which sports an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and a RTX 4060 GPU:

• 92 frames per second

• 122.93 frames per second (DLSS on)

On 3DMark's TimeSpy benchmark, which assesses graphical prowess, the m16 r2 churned out a score of 12,224, which beats the HP Victus' 9,328 score.

Alienware m16 R2 battery life

The Alienware m16 r2's battery isn't that great — even if it's just a gaming laptop.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

At just 59 minutes via PCMark 10's gaming battery life test, the Alienware m16 R2 has the second-worst runtime among gaming laptops we've tested. (The 4090-packed Lenovo Legion 9i was the worst at 41 minutes.)

For more battery life, consider the HP Victus 16, which lasted almost 2 hours during a non-stop gaming session. (But you'll have to stomach a bit of a performance hit with its 4060 GPU.)

Alienware m16 R2 webcam

The Alienware m16 r2's 1080p webcam is about as mid as you'd expect it to be.

In a selfie, I found that the colors were slightly off and the photo was quite noisy.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On the plus side, it supports Windows Hello facial recognition, thanks to the IR camera.

Is the Alienware m16 R2 worth it?

The Alienware m16 R2 outputs impressive performance numbers on demanding games, but don't bother unplugging it from an outlet. (Yes, it's a gaming laptop, but even compared to the rigs we've tested, the battery runtime is quite short.)

You should also consider the tinny, hollow audio, the low-brightness display, and lame webcam. I'd say it's worth it, as long as you don't care about the aforementioned flaws.

There's not much you can do about the panel nor the shooter, but at the very least, you can grab yourself some headphones.

Despite its minor flaws, the Alienware m16 r2 is worth a spot on our best gaming laptops list. After all, this is the ultimate RTX 4070 beast of a gaming laptop you can get.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Alienware m16 R2 $1,899.00 at Best Buy
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The Champions League fate of Galatasaray and Young Boys is still unclear. The two sides battled it out last week in a thrilling first-leg matchup, with Young Boys taking a 3-2 advantage back to Turkey. They might be behind, but Galatasaray will be confident of securing a win in front of their passionate support.

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At its core, Only Murders in the Building has always been about storytelling: the personas we build, the alibis a criminal constructs, even the narratives we make up about the neighbors around us we don't really know. The show reflects this love of stories by highlighting different modes of storytelling from season to season. Seasons 1 and 2 took on true crime podcasting, Season 3 took a turn for the theatrical, and Season 4 jets off to Hollywood for a movie-centric whodunnit.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 trailer: Charles, Oliver, and Mabel meet their Hollywood doppelgängers

Only Murders in the Building's focus on film adds a new layer of chaos to Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel's (Selena Gomez) adventures this season. Not only are they investigating the disappearance of Charles' stunt double, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), they're also dealing with a nonstop parade of Hollywood executives and demanding actors, any of whom could be homicidal. But don't let the trio's excursions to Los Angeles fool you — Only Murders in the Building is still firmly rooted in the Arconia, a setting that remains as twisty, intriguing, and fun as the series itself.

Charles, Oliver, and Mabel take Hollywood in Only Murders in the Building Season 4. Zach Galifianakis, Eva Longoria, and Eugene Levy in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney / Eric McCandless

As Season 4 opens, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel receive some potentially life-changing news: Their Only Murders in the Building podcast has been optioned for a movie adaptation, and the studio is fast-tracking the production. So our trio is off to Hollywood, where they'll sign away their life rights to producer Bev Melon (Molly Shannon) and meet the actors playing their movie counterparts. Enter Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria, all playing exaggerated versions of themselves in their quests to embody Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. 

Yet despite all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, something doesn't feel quite right to Charles. Following Oliver's Death Rattle Dazzle opening night party, Sazz has seemingly fallen off the face of the earth. Audiences will remember that she got shot in Charles's kitchen at the end of Season 3, but by the start of Season 4, all traces of her have vanished from his apartment, leaving our podcasters in the dark. As Charles begins to piece together that something bad might have happened to his dear old friend — and that he may have been the intended target — he and his co-hosts return to New York for more sleuthing, with the film production following close behind.

SEE ALSO: Should you sign up for Hulu? Our film critics weigh in.

Once there, Only Murders in the Building Season 4 adds several new twists to what we already know about the Arconia, including introducing a whole crew of suspicious tenants living in the building's West Tower. Played by the likes of Richard Kind, Kumail Nanjiani, and Daphne Rubin-Vega, the "Westies" are an eclectic bunch, with hobbies ranging from ultra-competitive card game nights to overzealous Christmas decor. (But could their interests extend... to murder?) This batch of suspects fits right in with the rest of the Arconia's kooky residents, proving that even after three seasons, Only Murders in the Building still has plenty elements of its titular building to explore.

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is a grand time at the movies.  Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney / Eric McCandless

On top of the Westies, Season 4's film elements keep Only Murders in the Building feeling fresh, just as the Broadway storyline did in Season 3.

Take the addition of Levy, Galifianakis, and Longoria. Their appearance here feels like the logical progression of Only Murders in the Building's tradition of having major guest stars like Sting, Matthew Broderick, and Mel Brooks play themselves. Only instead of being quick cameos, Levy, Galifianakis, and Longoria are in it for the long haul, appearing across multiple episodes and serving as funhouse mirrors through which our characters see themselves.

This new trio of actors also gives Only Murders in the Building several new character pairings to play with. The usually chipper Oliver has a tough time with Galifianakis, who points out his every flaw and dismisses him at every turn. Elsewhere, Levy and Martin prove a bumbling match in comedy heaven, and Longoria brings a healthy dash of Desperate Housewives energy to her scenes with an often-confused Mabel.

Beyond its casting, Only Murders in the Building uses its focus on movies as an opportunity to pay homage to some classics. Each episode takes its name from a movie, including Once Upon a Time in the West and Valley of the Dolls, and often features a callout (some more direct than others) to said film. The result is a winding road through the movies and a love letter to how they get made, spotlighting writers, directors, stunt men, and more.

Exploring films across time also prompts Only Murders in the Building to experiment a bit with its own form, including a documentary-style episode that, while sometimes feeling a bit forced, still shows that the series is ready and willing to take more risks. All it needs is a great story and a desire to tell it, and Season 4 has both in spades.

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 premieres Aug. 27 on Hulu, with a new episode every Tuesday.

TL;DR: Train to be the type of leader you'd want to follow using the 2024 Leadership Essentials Bundle, on sale for $29.99. 

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How to become a better leader at work?

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StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Crafty E-Learning The 2024 Leadership Essentials Bundle $29.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Get a year of MagellanTV for $35.99 through September 3 and stream thousands of documentaries on history, science, and more.

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Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: 1-Year Subscription $35.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Get top-tier sound and comfort with Beats Solo 4 headphones, featuring clear audio, Bluetooth 5.3, and quick charging for just $129.99.

When you really care about sound and comfort, a good pair of headphones is essential. Whether you're diving into your favorite music, catching up on podcasts, or cranking up the tunes for a workout, having high-quality audio can make all the difference.

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Beats headphones for under $150

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Opens in a new window Credit: beats by Dre Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones (Open Box) $129.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: For a limited time, this 3-in-1 Wireless Travel Charger for Apple Watch with USB-C and a 5,000mAh power bank is on sale for just $34.99 (reg. $59).

Whether you’re on a business trip overseas or just out for the day running errands, staying connected means keeping your devices charged and ready to go. To help on that front, this 3-in-1 wireless travel charger is now available for just $34.99 (reg. $59) and is a terrific solution for powering up your essential gadgets. 

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Sometimes, planets go rogue.

Scientists used the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to spot six of these rogue objects, which move through the cosmos untethered from any solar system. They're a little bigger than the gas giant Jupiter, and the discovery suggests these worlds formed similar to the way stars form — rather than how planets are usually created.

Astronomers have waited for years to harness the abilities of the Webb telescope, whose large mirror gathers bounties of distant, faint light, to find such free-floating objects.

"It has been in planning for a decade," Ray Jayawardhana, an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University and senior author of the study, told Mashable.

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

You can see three of these rogue planets below, circled in green. They're located about 1,000 light-years away in our galaxy, inhabiting the nebula NGC1333, an enormous region of dust and gas where stars form.

"It has been in planning for a decade."

Although it's possible they originally formed as planets around a star, the researchers think they're more likely failed stars — but didn't have nearly the mass needed to ignite a stellar engine like our sun. (Stars form when enormous clouds of gas collapse and heat up, ultimately creating the immense pressure and heat needed for star creation.) The lowest-mass object found, about five times the mass of Jupiter, shows evidence of a dusty disk around it, and space dust often spins around a central object amid star formation. What's more, it's hard to imagine a planet getting ejected from its solar system and maintaining such a disk.

"The objects more likely formed how stars formed," Rayawardhana said.

The research has been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal, a peer-reviewed science chronicle.

The green circles show three of the recently observed rogue planets in the nebula NGC1333. Credit: European Space Agency

The rogue objects are similar in mass to other large gaseous planets found beyond our solar system, called exoplanets. If they aren't failed stars, these objects would have needed to get thrown out of their solar system, perhaps by a close gravitational interaction with another planet, or a second star (most solar systems have two or more stars).

The investigation of rogue objects continues. The astronomers have been awarded more competitive time with the Webb telescope to peer at such objects with dusty disks. Could they be "mini-planetary" systems like the many curious moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter? As we know in our own solar system, these planetary systems include intriguing moons, some of which harbor oceans beneath their icy shells.

A bonus sighting: Although not a part of this research endeavor, the Webb image above shows telltale evidence of a newly forming solar system. Look near the bottom right, below the black bar, where you can see two dark cone-like features emanating from a bright central spot. That's Webb, from our perch in the Milky Way galaxy, viewing the dusty disk of the solar system side-on, as we might view the side of a frisbee. The nascent system's dust-filled disk blocks starlight, creating those two dark flares.

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. But it's also peering at intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and likely will for decades to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. As described above, the telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable in 2021.

Already, astronomers have successfully found intriguing chemical reactions on a planet 700 light-years away, and have started looking at one of the most anticipated places in the cosmos: the rocky, Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST solar system.