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How to watch Dolphins vs. Jets online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is upon us. The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets will face off in an AFC East showdown. The Dolphins are 8-8 and still in the hunt in the AFC. The Jets are 4-12 and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

The Dolphins need a win in their final game, but that's not all. In order to make the playoffs, they would need the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs have already decided to rest their key starters.

When is Dolphins vs. Jets?

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets takes place at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at MetLife Stadium in New York.

The game will air on FOX, where Joe Davis is expected to do the play-by-play. Greg Olsen is expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Dolphins vs. Jets

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Seahawks vs. Rams:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Dolphins vs. Jets from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Dolphins vs. Jets 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Dolphins vs. Jets from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Chargers vs. Raiders online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is here at last. The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders will face off in an AFC West showdown. The Chargers are 10-6 and have clinched a playoff berth. The Raiders are 4-12 and have been mathematically eliminated.

There's not a whole lot riding on this game, but the Chargers could pick up a slightly better seeding in the AFC playoff picture. The Raiders will be looking for the upset.

When is Chargers vs. Raiders?

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders takes place at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The game will air on CBS, where Kevin Harlan is expected to do the play-by-play. Trent Green is expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Chargers vs. Raiders

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Chargers vs. Raiders:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Chargers vs. Raiders from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Chargers vs. Raiders 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Chargers vs. Raiders from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Chiefs vs. Broncos in the NFL online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is here. The league-leading Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will face off in an AFC West showdown. The Chiefs are 14-1 and have clinched a first-round bye as the No. 1-seed. The Broncos are 9-7 and are still in the hunt in the same division.

The Chiefs have made the decision to rest their key starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Broncos, on the other hand, have an 83 percent chance to make the playoffs right now, but will be fighting off the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals.

When is Chiefs vs. Broncos?

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos takes place at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at Empower Field in Denver.

The game will air on CBS, where Jim Nantz is expected to do the play-by-play. Tony Romo is expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Chiefs vs. Broncos

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Chiefs vs. Broncos:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Chiefs vs. Broncos from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Chiefs vs. Broncos 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Chiefs vs. Broncos from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Bills vs. Patriots online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is upon us. The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots will face off in an AFC East showdown. The Bills are 13-3 and are locked in as the No. 2-seed in the AFC behind the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots are 3-13 and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

The Bills don't have much riding on this game, but the Patriots do. If the Patriots lose, they secure the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. If they win, the pick could go to the Tennessee Titans.

When is Bills vs. Patriots?

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The game will air on CBS, where Spero Dedes is expected to do the play-by-play. Adam Archuleta expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Bills vs. Patriots

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Bills vs. Patriots:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Bills vs. Patriots from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bills vs. Patriots 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Bills vs. Patriots from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Giants vs. Eagles online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is upon us. The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles will face off in an NFC East showdown. The Giants are 3-13, and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The Eagles are the opposite, with a 13-3 record, and are locked into the No. 2-seed in the NFC.

The Eagles don't have much riding on this game, and will likely sit their quarterbacks, and probably star running back Saquon Barkley. If the Giants were to pull off the win, in order to end their season on a high note, it would dramatically impact their draft odds. The Giants were the favorites to get the No. 1 draft pick, and have already dropped to No. 4. A win over the Eagles could see the Giants drop as low as nine.

When is Giants vs. Eagles?

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The game will air on CBS, where Andrew Catalon is expected to do the play-by-play. Tiki Barber and Jason McCourty are expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Giants vs. Eagles

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Giants vs. Eagles:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Giants vs. Eagles from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Giants vs. Eagles 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Giants vs. Eagles from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Texans vs. Titans online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action has arrived. The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans will face off in an AFC South showdown. The Texans are 9-7 and currently hold the No.4-seed in the AFC. The Titans are 3-13 and have obviously been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

The Titans boast one of the worst records in the league, but this final regular season game isn't completely meaningless for them. Despite the tough season the Titans have had, a loss would be the best thing for them. Tennessee is currently lined up to have the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and another loss, as well as a win by the New England Patriots, would give the Titans the No. 1 pick.

When is Texans vs. Titans?

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The game will air on CBS, where Tom McCarthy is expected to do the play-by-play. Ross Tucker and Jay Feely are expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Texans vs. Titans

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Texans vs. Titans:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Texans vs. Titans from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Texans vs. Titans 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Texans vs. Titans from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Bears vs. Packers online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is finally here. The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will face off in an NFC North showdown. The Bears are 4-12 and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The Packers are 11-5 and currently holding the No. 7-seed in the NFC, thanks to an incredibly competitive NFC North.

This Bears vs. Packers matchup won't have the allure of games in the past, but it won't be entirely meaningless either. A loss by the Packers won't keep them out of the playoffs, but a win and a Dallas Cowboys win over the Washington Commanders could give the Packers the No.6-seed instead. At 11-5, the Packers would actually be one of the best teams in the NFC, if it weren't for the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings both sitting at 14-2 in the same division.

When is Bears vs. Packers?

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

The game will air on FOX, where Kevin Kugler is expected to do the play-by-play. Daryl Johnston is expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Bears vs. Packers

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Bears vs. Packers:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Bears vs. Packers from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bears vs. Packers 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Bears vs. Packers from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

How to watch Commanders vs. Cowboys online

Mashable - Sun, 01/05/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

The final week of NFL regular season action is here. The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys will face off in an NFC East showdown. The Commanders are 11-5 and are currently set up to be the No.6-seed in the NFC. The Cowboys are 7-9 and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

This game won't be entirely meaningless. A win by the Cowboys could force the Commanders to slide into the No. 7 seed.

When is Commanders vs. Cowboys?

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 5. The two teams will face off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The game will air on FOX, where Adam Amin is expected to do the play-by-play. Mark Sanchez is expected to join him in the booth.

How to stream Commanders vs. Cowboys

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Commanders vs. Cowboys:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (not to mention other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Commanders vs. Cowboys from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Commanders vs. Cowboys 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 U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Commanders vs. Cowboys from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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.

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 5, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 22:00

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 5 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Chill

  • Green: Cheddar reception

  • Blue: Clicker options

  • Purple: Same last name

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

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

  • Yellow: Hardly bustling

  • Green: Earn

  • Blue: Remote control functions

  • Purple: Words before "drum"

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 #574 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Hardly bustling: CALM, QUIET, SLEEPY, SLOW

  • Earn: GROSS, MAKE, NET, YIELD

  • Remote control functions: HOME, MUTE, STOP, VOLUME

  • Words before "drum": EAR, KETTLE, OIL, SNARE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 5

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

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 Connections.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 5

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 22:00

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: Similar to scoring a game

  • Green: What happens on base

  • Blue: Women's tennis players

  • Purple: Share the same first word

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: Numerical record of a game

  • Green: Action on the basepaths

  • Blue: Australian Open women's singles winners

  • Purple: First _________

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 #104 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Numerical record of a game - OUTCOME, RESULT, SCORE, TALLY

  • Action on the basepaths - LEAD, SLIDE, STEAL, TAG

  • Australian Open Women's Singles winners - BARTY, COURT, GRAF, OSAKA

  • First ______ - BASE, DOWN, QUARTER, TAKE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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 Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for January 5

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 22:00

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: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Cold snap

These words are common in a winter forecast.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are variations of wet, icy, or frozen weather.

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 Winter Weather.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 4
  • Frost

  • Blizzard

  • Snow

  • Sleet

  • Drizzle

  • Flurry

  • Winter Weather

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.

Meta deletes AI character profiles after backlash, racism accusations

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 13:06

Meta has shut down its AI character accounts after backlash, NBC News and others have reported.

While Meta launched these characters in 2023, along with AI personas with celebrity avatars, many online (re)discovered them this week following a recent Financial Times interview with Meta's VP of product for generative AI, Connor Hayes. Hayes mentioned AI characters on Instagram and Facebook, saying, "We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do."

SEE ALSO: Three AI products that flopped in 2024

"They'll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform ...that’s where we see all of this going," he continued.

Meta shut down its celebrity AI avatars last year, but noncelebrity AI profiles continued — though many stopped posting in 2024, 404 Media reported. The Financial Times interview, however, caused people to look for these profiles. What they discovered were offensive depictions of marginalized groups. One example is Meta's AI character profile "Liv," who was described as a "Proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller":

Tweet may have been deleted

Liv told Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah in chats that its creators "admitted they lacked diverse references," later stating that no Black people were involved in its creation.

In addition to Liv, Meta also created profiles like "Grandpa Brian," a Black retired businessman, and "Carter," a dating coach. The discovery of these profiles led to an outroar on X, Bluesky, and Meta-owned Threads, NBC News reported, and as of publication Meta has deleted all 28 AI profiles it announced back in September 2023 — both the celebrity and non-celebrity ones.

A Meta spokesperson told NBC News and 404 Media that these profiles were deleted due to a "bug" in users' ability to block the profiles:

There is confusion: the recent Financial Times article was about our vision for AI characters existing on our platforms over time, not announcing any new product...The accounts referenced are from a test we launched at Connect in 2023. These were managed by humans and were part of an early experiment we did with AI characters. We identified the bug that was impacting the ability for people to block those AIs and are removing those accounts to fix the issue.

Waymo stopped a man from stealing a driverless car

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 11:24

Waymo, the ride-hailing app that operates driverless cars and is owned by Google parent company Alphabet, stopped a man from driving off in one of its electric Jaguars on Thursday, CBS News and others reported.

LAPD responded to a report of an attempted auto theft shortly after midnight on Thursday morning, according to the Los Angeles Times, where they found a man sitting in the driver's seat of a Waymo vehicle. The man, who may have been under the influence, had reportedly entered through the passenger's seat and slid into the driver's side. Normally, no one is in the driver's seat save for occasions when a Waymo employee does so to test the car.

SEE ALSO: Security ramps up at CES after Cybertruck explosion at Trump hotel

The company told the LA Times that Waymo cars are designed so people can't override the automated driving system. The vehicles can also move evasively, honk its horns, announce 911 is being called, and fold in exterior door handles so no one can get inside.

If someone does get in the driver's seat, Waymo's rider support team is alerted and can request the person leave the car. If they don't — like what happened with the man on Thursday — the police are called. In the five million rides Waymo has provided, only a "handful" of people have attempted to steal the cars, the company told the LA Times. The Los Angeles man who climbed into the Waymo this week was eventually released by police at the scene.

Waymo's autonomous vehicles are currently servicing Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, and are coming soon to Austin, Atlanta, and Miami, according to its website.

How to watch Opelka vs. Lehecka online for free

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 07:29

TL;DR: Live stream Opelka vs. Lehecka in the 2025 Brisbane International final for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Brisbane International is really all about top players building momentum and sharpening up before the Australian Open, but at the final stage, remaining players will be desperate to get their hands on the trophy. We're expecting some fantastic tennis from this battle between Opelka and Lehecka.

If you want to watch Opelka vs. Lehecka in the 2025 Brisbane International final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Opelka vs. Lehecka for free

The 2025 Brisbane International is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Opelka vs. Lehecka.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Brisbane International final 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 Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Brisbane International final 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 services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Opelka vs. Lehecka without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Brisbane International final and Australian Open (also on 9Now for free) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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 Opelka vs. Lehecka in the 2025 Brisbane International final for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova online for free

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 07:27

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova in the 2025 Brisbane International final for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The eyes of the tennis world are about to focus on the Australian Open, but first, the Brisbane International is reaching its dramatic conclusion. Sabalenka and Kudermetova meet in the final of the competition. Both players are looking really sharp as they build momentum before the first Grand Slam of the season.

If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova in the 2025 Brisbane International final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova for free

The 2025 Brisbane International is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Brisbane International final 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 Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Brisbane International final 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 services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Brisbane International final and Australian Open (also on 9Now for free) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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 Sabalenka vs. Kudermetova in the 2025 Brisbane International final for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Scientists reveal why the mighty Yellowstone isnt ready to blow

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 05:45

There's not even a hint of a looming eruption at Yellowstone.

But you might wonder why, considering its violent past: Yellowstone has hosted "supereruptions" — the most explosive type of volcanic blast that would be regionally devastating, and blanket a large swathe of the U.S. in ash. These blasts were much larger than any in recorded history. (The last eruption, though not "super," happened some 70,000 years ago and poured lava over the present-day national park.)

New research reveals why the famously steamy park, hosting over 500 hot geysers, shows no signs of blowing its top. These days, the reservoirs of magma (molten rock) that feed Yellowstone hold pretty low concentrations of this magma. They simply don't contain enough volcanic fuel to drive the heat and pressure that would stoke an eruption.

"We can definitely say that these areas could not source an eruption in the present day," Ninfa Bennington, a U.S. Geological Survey research geophysicist who led the study recently published in Nature, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

There are different reservoirs, or pods, of magma below the Yellowstone Caldera, which is the sprawling basin formed during an immense eruption and dramatic collapse some 631,000 years ago. You can think of each reservoir like a sponge, filled with pores. There's some magma in these pores spaces, but it's not nearly saturated.

One future day, these sponges may fill up with magma and reach a critical percentage — wherein immense pressure builds beneath the ground and spawns an eruption. Today, however, there is no explosive threat.

"We're so far off from that right now," Bennington said.

Modeled ashfall from a Yellowstone supereruption. Credit: USGS / Mastin et al. The most destructive type of eruptions at Yellowstone, which form great depressions called calderas, are by far the rarest. Credit: USGS

To grasp what's transpiring in these critical reservoirs of magma today, the geologists used a technique called magnetotellurics. In contrast to radar or sonar, the scientists don't create or beam signals to discern what lies beyond or below. Instead, these surveys capitalize on the currents naturally created by Earth's electromagnetic field. And magma, due to its composition, is really good at conducting electricity, allowing insight into its presence deep beneath Earth's surface.

"It could be a long, long time."

The surveys, beyond revealing Yellowstone's inability to host an eruption today, showed that the most primitive magma flowing up from Earth's mantle to Yellowstone connects directly to a reservoir in the northeast region of the Yellowstone Caldera. This suggests this northeast region would become the future center of volcanic activity in Yellowstone.

But there's no evidence of those reservoirs filling up. "It could be a long, long time," Bennington said.

Tweet may have been deleted

If magma does once again snake its way from deep inside Earth and saturate these shallower reservoirs, an eruption wouldn't be a surprise. We'd have many decades, if not centuries, of warning. The moving magma would trigger swarms of potent earthquakes, and the ground would majorly deform.

"These parameters are well monitored, so there will be ample warning of any potential future eruption," the U.S. Geological Survey says.

Today, Yellowstone remains a place of low volcanic risk. Sure, there are sometimes small explosions stoked by hot water and steam. But it's mostly thermal pools and awesome geysers, reminding us of what could potentially awake, one distant day.

Carters UFO hounded him for years. Few knew his expertise in astronomy.

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 05:30

After calls with foreign leaders, rap sessions with lawmakers, and long classified briefings with advisers, President Jimmy Carter would often escape to the roof of the White House. 

There his son Jeffrey had set up a tracking telescope, Carter said in his book, A Full Life. Feeling the weight of the world, he would gaze at the stars and contemplate his place among them. 

"I recall one winter night going to the White House roof to study the Orion nebulae, but we could barely see the stars, their images so paled by city lights," he waxed in a poem.

That particular evening, on Dec. 18, 1977, the astrophysicist Carl Sagan joined him. They had just visited the U.S. Naval Observatory next to the vice president’s mansion, where they discussed all things spaceplanets, stars, black holes, and astrobiology. Carter himself was a man of science: He studied engineering in college and did graduate work in nuclear physics.

"It was a welcome diversion from earthly concerns," he wrote in a thank-you note to Sagan. 

Carter, who died on Dec. 29, 2024 at 100, was an avid astronomer, with a profound curiosity for the cosmos, a part of his story that isn't well-known. It began when he was a lab assistant to an astronomy teacher his freshman year in college, and it continued as he learned celestial navigation in the U.S. Navy, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. One Christmas while on a ship with his family, he asked the captain if the crew had a sextant on board, a tool for measuring the angle between the horizon and an object in the sky. The captain proceeded to show him one, he said, displayed like a museum artifact in a glass case. 

SEE ALSO: NASA's finally talking about UFOs with Americans. Here's what they said. Tweet may have been deleted

But politics often eclipsed the former president's appreciation for space. Though his first budget funded the program that became NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Carter was maligned for not supporting human spaceflight in the vein of the Apollo program, said Steven Hochman, former special assistant to the president at the Carter Center. He was a supporter of robotic exploration and research that could benefit people's lives, but when it came to the exorbitant cost of sending astronauts into deep space, he preferred spending on domestic concerns. 

"NASA, I believe, has not given him the credit he deserves," Hochman told Mashable. "I believe it is because he was critical of the Space Shuttle program and didn't provide funding for future missions to the moon or Mars." 

For years political adversaries ridiculed Carter for having a tinfoil hat, stemming from an incident in 1969 that later circulated in the press. After a Lions Club meeting in Leary, Georgia, Carter and a few other men spotted something strange moving in the sky: a luminous object, first blue then red, the apparent size and brightness of the moon. About four years later, Carter reported the unidentified flying object to the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena and the International UFO Bureau in Oklahoma.

President Jimmy Carter places the Congressional Space Medal around NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong's neck. Credit: UPI / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Though Carter never claimed to have spotted aliens or a flying saucer — to him this was literally an unknown object in the air — people snickered and mistook his UFO sighting as such. Skeptics, who likely knew nothing of Carter's astronomy background, suggested he had merely seen Venus.

"It was not Venus," Carter said in a 2007 interview on "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe" podcast

In fact, his UFO sighting had taken on such mythic proportions, some had wondered whether it was the reason Carter wanted NASA to investigate UFOs in 1977. Despite a White House request expressing a need to address the general UFO "public relations problem," NASA had, surprisingly, declined. 

The Japanese space agency JAXA's Akatsuki mission, aka Planet-C or Venus Climate Orbiter, studies the planet's atmosphere from orbit with an ultraviolet imager. Sulfur dioxide causes some clouds to look dark because of sunlight absorption. Credit: ISAS / JAXA

The subject prompted The Journal of Scientific Exploration to invite Richard C. Henry, the agency's deputy director of astrophysics during Carter's administration, to write an essay about it more than a decade later. Henry, a semi-retired professor at Johns Hopkins University today, came to no definitive conclusions on why NASA rebuffed the White House. But, in a postscript, Henry said he sent his draft to Carter before publication in 1988. 

"The most important point that you could clarify, if you will, is whether you yourself were behind (the UFO panel proposal) letter of July 21, 1977, to NASA," Henry wrote. 

Beside the sentence, Carter jotted his reply in one word: No.

NASA leaders brief President Jimmy Carter before the first Space Shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Credit: NASA

Yet buried within Henry's paper was a small window into Carter's passion for astronomy. In November 1977, the president and his son sent a message to NASA headquarters asking to borrow a seven-inch Questar telescope. Given that there were no telescopes at headquarters — just paper, Henry said — he tried to hunt one down at another NASA campus. 

It turned out Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, had one.

"By great luck, a NASA plane was flying from Huntsville to Washington the next day ([Science adviser Frank] Press was emphatic that the President wanted no special flights or other waste of taxpayer dollars)," Henry wrote. 

President Jimmy Carter sits alone on a bench at Camp David during the Egyptian-Israeli peace talks on Sept. 9, 1978. Credit: White House / CNP / Getty Images

The NASA official and his wife, Rita Mahon, picked up the Questar at Washington National Airport and promptly took it to the White House. They then unpacked the telescope from a large wooden crate and showed the Carters how to set it up on the Truman balcony overlooking the South Lawn. The night was cloudy, but they trained on the moon. 

The president then proceeded to take the telescope with him to Camp David near Thurmont, Maryland, on Nov. 23, 1977, where he and his family spent Thanksgiving, according to his daily diary. He returned it about a week later. 

One has to wonder if Carter brought a telescope with him again just 10 months later, when he invited Egyptian President Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to join him at the retreat. The renowned talks would result in the Camp David Accords, which later earned the Middle East leaders a Nobel Peace Prize.  

U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin share a three-way handshake after signing the Camp David Accords. Credit: Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images

There's an amusing irony to the false urban legend that Carter believed he was visited by aliens: He is, after all, the most likely person to make humanity's introduction to extraterrestrials.

Some 15.5 billion miles away from Earth, hurtling through the cold, uncharted abyss, is NASA's Voyager 1 probe. It is the farthest spacecraft from home, having left the solar system in 2012. Soaring through interstellar space at 38,000 mph, it carries a gold-plated record produced by Sagan, with a melange of sounds from the planet.

Crickets. Wind. Greetings in 55 languages, from Akkadian to Wu. A mother kissing her child. These and a letter from Carter are among the recordings on the disk.

A technician puts the golden record on the Voyager spacecraft in a clean room before launch. Credit: Space Frontiers / Archive Photos / Getty Images

The odds of making contact with aliens, if they exist, are slight, if not insurmountable. Galaxies are spinning away from each other into the infinite unknown. The speed at which space is expanding far outpaces our technology to overcome it. It's as if the universe were contrived to keep its inhabitants apart.

But should some other intelligent life forms encounter Voyager — or Voyager 2, which carries a duplicate record — thousands or even billions of years into the future, they will discover Carter's words: 

"This is a present from a small distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings," he wrote. "We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours. We hope someday, having solved the problems we face, to join a community of galactic civilizations. This record represents our hope and our determination and our goodwill in a vast and awesome universe." 

A copy of the statement President Jimmy Carter included on the golden records for the Voyager spacecraft. Credit: NASA

Many knew Carter's intimate relationship with his faith. He grew up Southern Baptist, the son of a farmer in the boomtown of Plains, Georgia. He referred to himself as a born-again Christian. Long after his presidency, he attended regular church services and taught Sunday School

But how his evangelical beliefs squared with his thoughts on the universe aren't clear. He wrote in a poem, titled "Considering the Void:" 

When I behold the charm / of evening skies, their lulling endurance; / the patterns of stars with names / of bears and dogs, a swan, a virgin; / other planets that our Voyager showed / were like and so unlike our own, / with all their moons, / bright discs, weird rings, and cratered faces; / comets with their streaming tails / bent by pressure from our sun; / the skyscape of our Milky Way / holding in its shimmering disc /an infinity of suns / (or say a thousand billion); / knowing there are holes of darkness / gulping mass and even light, / knowing that this galaxy of ours / is one of multitudes / in what we call the heavens, / it troubles me. It troubles me.

What exactly was haunting Carter? Was he expressing a collision of faith and science in what lies beyond? An existential crisis of never knowing the big picture? 

Perhaps, as he wished, humankind will survive this time so that we may live to know more. 

Security ramps up at CES after Cybertruck explosion at Trump hotel

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 05:00

When the annual Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, begins on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas, attendees will likely notice a "a highly visible law enforcement presence" at the dayslong event, which is organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

In a statement shared with Mashable, John T. Kelley, vice president and show director of CTA, acknowledged security concerns following the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on New Year's Day.

"In response to recent tragic events, we have increased our already robust security protocols," Kelley said. "We continue to monitor the situation and are in touch with our security partners and law enforcement officials."

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: Mashable's guide on what to expect

The Cybertruck's driver died by suicide prior to the truck's explosion, according to authorities. Seven bystanders sustained injuries, and fireworks, gas canisters, and fireworks were recovered from the vehicle.

"Ensuring a secure and seamless experience for all is our top priority," Kelley said. "We are working closely with trusted partners, including all levels of government, to deliver robust security, advanced infrastructure, and essential services so attendees can focus on driving growth and forging impactful connections."

Cat Forgione, director of CES communications, declined to provide further information about security efforts in an email to Mashable.

"In terms of new security measures, we have robust security measures in place and the best way to protect the show is not sharing those measures in detail," Forgione said.

A public information officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told Mashable in an email that the agency "always" plans for additional officers to be present at large events in Las Vegas. They did not respond to questions about additional steps law enforcement may be taking to increase security.

Security measures to expect at CES

CES has outlined security measures in place for the event on its website.

Attendees must present government-issued photo identification to pick up their badge and they can't retrieve badges on behalf of others.

Bag restrictions prohibit attendees from bringing rolling bags of any size, including laptop and computer bags. CES encourages attendees to bring clear bags, and participants may not carry more than two small bags into show venues.

Attendees can also expect K9 dog units at venue entrances, along with random security checks. As an "enhanced security measure," there will be a "vehicle deterrence plan" near key venues. Forgione told Mashable that this tactic has been part of the event's security strategy.

The CES app offers attendees a way to contact CES or venue security if they wish to report something suspicious. Should an emergency evacuation become necessary, CES will share updates and instructions via the event app, CES social media channels, and public announcements.

The trade show is a major draw for consumer electronics and technology companies. Last year, more than 138,000 people attended the event. LG, Samsung, Siemens, L'Oreal, and Panasonic are among this year's exhibitors.

Scientists predicted this star would explode. Its bucked expectations.

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 05:00

For centuries, stargazers have watched a new star light up in the sky. Just days later, it vanishes.

Today we call the star system responsible T Coronae Borealis, "T CrB" for short, or the "Blaze Star." It fires up around every 80 years, and NASA noted that astronomers expected to see the star appear around the summer of 2024. It's now 2025. What gives?

This repeating event — occurring 3,000 light-years from Earth — is triggered by two interacting, orbiting stars. An Earth-sized star called a white dwarf (the dense remnants of an exploded sun-like star) is ripping gas away from a nearby red supergiant star. Years pass, and prodigious amounts of gas amass on the white dwarf's surface. Under such extreme heat and pressure, the surface blows in a violent thermonuclear reaction, called a nova.

But a precise deep space prediction is difficult.

"We’re waiting for a 'new' star to briefly make an appearance, but we don’t know exactly when it will occur. The star is pulling material from a companion star, and over decades it collects enough to trigger an eruption," NASA recently explained in a post. "But we don’t know how fast the material is piling up!"

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

The space agency added that "we have clues that it may erupt soon, but 'soon' could mean today or next year!" (That's "next year" as in 2026.)

Tweet may have been deleted

Although scientists had high hopes for a 2024 spectacle, the star's elusive behavior isn't too surprising. We're still learning about these cosmic explosions.

"Recurrent novae are unpredictable and contrarian," Dr. Koji Mukai, a NASA astrophysicist, said in a 2024 statement. "When you think there can’t possibly be a reason they follow a certain set pattern, they do — and as soon as you start to rely on them repeating the same pattern, they deviate from it completely. We’ll see how T CrB behaves."

How to see T Coronae Borealis when it explodes

Although T Coronae Borealis' timing isn't certain, astronomers know for certain where it'll appear in the night sky. NASA explains:

What should stargazers look for? The Northern Crown is a horseshoe-shaped curve of stars west of the Hercules constellation, ideally spotted on clear nights. It can be identified by locating the two brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere — Arcturus and Vega — and tracking a straight line from one to the other, which will lead skywatchers to Hercules and the Corona Borealis.

(In the summer months, the Northern Crown appears in the sky after sunset, which makes ideal viewing.)

But you'll have to act fast. After erupting and appearing, it'll only be visible with the naked eye for less than a week, similar to how watchers viewed it long ago, during the Middle Ages, if not much earlier.

The location of T Coronae Borealis in the night sky. Credit: NASA

If it behaves as (generally) expected, the exploded star will reappear in another 80 or so years, after prodigious amounts of stellar gas settle onto its surface.

Then, boom.

Microsoft Office for Macs is only $40 for a few days more

Mashable - Sat, 01/04/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Replace Microsoft 365 with a lifetime of Microsoft Office for Mac for only $39.99. Sale ends January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Not everything has to be a subscription. Sure, you might need Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for work or school, but Microsoft 365 isn't the only way to get them. It's definitely not the cheapest way in the long term. 

If you want to ditch the subscription, there's a sale going for a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac, and it's only $39.99 (reg. $229). 

What's included?

This license comes with:

  • Word

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint 

  • Outlook

  • OneNote

  • Teams Classic

You can install each app on one computer one time. Hardware requirements are pretty minimal, but make sure it's a computer you're going to have for a while. That ancient beater laptop still running Windows 7 might not be the best idea, and not just because this version of Office only supports Windows 10 and Windows 11. 

So why are these apps so cheap? Because it's the 2019 version (and the sale helps, too). That's not really a bad thing, though. You could still write resumes in Word in 2019 and Excel was still the pillar holding the entire professional world on its back a few years ago.

A lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 is just $39.99 until January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac - $39.99

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99
$229.00 Save $189.01 Get Deal

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