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Cards Against Humanity — yes, the raunchy, word-based party game — has launched a legal battle against Elon Musk and SpaceX.
CAH, known for its well-meaning publicity stunt, has sued the space company over allegedly using a plot of land in Texas belonging to the game company. In 2017 it fundraised a bunch of money to purchase a plot of land on the Texas-Mexico border, making it impossible for then-President Donald Trump to complete his long-promised border wall.
"Donald Trump is a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans. He is so afraid that he wants to build a $20 billion wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing," the company wrote at the time. "So we’ve purchased a plot of vacant land on the border and retained a law firm specializing in eminent domain to make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built."
Years later that same plot of land is at the center of the company's dispute with Musk and SpaceX. CAH alleged in a lawsuit that SpaceX, which has facilities nearby, has been using the land without permission and leaving materials strewn about.
Wrote the game company in a statement:
"We have terrible news. Seven years ago, 150,000 people paid us $15 to protect a pristine parcel of land on the US-Mexico border from racist billionaire Donald Trump's very stupid wall.
Unfortunately, an even richer, more racist billionaire—Elon Musk—snuck up on us from behind and completely fucked that land with gravel, tractors, and space garbage."
The company promised it would "equally split the lawsuit's net proceeds among all 150,000 of our original subscribers, up to $100 each." It included images of the land, allegedly showing SpaceX materials everywhere.
Wrote CAH:
"How did this happen? Elon Musk’s SpaceX was building some space thing nearby, and he figured he could just dump his shit all over our gorgeous plot of land without asking. After we caught him, SpaceX gave us a 12-hour ultimatum to accept a lowball offer for less than half our land’s value. We said, 'Go fuck yourself, Elon Musk. We’ll see you in court.'"
You can find the company's state and more info, quite funnily, at www.ElonOwesYou100Dollars.com.
The James Webb Space Telescope will soon begin a massive study of rocky worlds outside the solar system, specifically to discover if planets orbiting closely to small cool stars could have air.
Scientists plan to start with LTT 1445 Ac and GJ 3929 b, and though those exoplanets might not be household names, they are tantalizing subjects, relatively near Earth in space. Each was discovered two years ago using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite while conducting a survey of thousands of stars.
LTT 1445 Ac is roughly the size of Earth and about 22 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. The planet orbits the star LTT 1445 A, part of a trio of red dwarf stars. GJ 3929 b is slightly larger and heavier than Earth, located about 52 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis.
These two worlds are just the initial targets of a campaign that will take a closer look at a dozen nearby-ish planets over the next two years. The program, first reported by Mashable, will budget about 500 hours for observation with the Webb telescope, along with about 250 orbits of ultraviolet observations with the Hubble Space Telescope to help characterize the host stars' activity.
SEE ALSO: Scientists haven't found a rocky exoplanet with air. But now they have a plan. In addition to Webb, the new survey will include about 250 orbits of ultraviolet observations by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: Adrian Mann / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images illustrationJennifer Lotz, who oversees Webb and Hubble's operations at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, initiated the survey using the director's discretionary time, the same way revolutionary science campaigns like the Hubble deep field images came to fruition.
Most astronomers agree that detecting atmospheres is crucial in the search for habitable worlds. NASA has playfully called Earth's own atmosphere its "security blanket": Without it, the type of life flourishing here wouldn't exist. This cocoon holds oxygen in the air and filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, all while keeping our world warm. Furthermore, it creates pressure that allows liquid water to pool on the surface.
An artist imagines LTT 1445 Ac, an exoplanet about 22 light-years from Earth in a triple red dwarf star system. Credit: NASA / ESA / Leah Hustak illustrationRed dwarf stars, sometimes referred to as M-type stars, are the most common stars within the Milky Way, yet nobody knows whether planets orbiting them can hold onto atmospheres, said Néstor Espinoza, an astronomer heading the program's implementation.
There's a key difference between the first two survey targets and Earth: Both are so close to their stars, their years are only about three Earth-days long. That may not be a problem, given that their host stars aren't as hot as the sun, but could an atmosphere survive the constant barrage of this stellar radiation?
"This is one of those high-risk, high-reward programs," Espinoza told Mashable. "Imagine that for all of the targets, we detect atmospheres. Then you answer the question, 'Yes, atmospheres are very common around these stars. That means maybe life can emerge.' On the other hand, if you found out that none of them have atmospheres, that would be pretty sad, but also pretty interesting. It would mean that our planetary system is actually really, really special."
Apple Watch Series 10 come with new speakers that support music and podcasts for the first time. To dispel any confusion, its predecessor had speakers, too, but only for beeps, tones, and taking calls from loved ones and friends.
The new-generation Apple Watch Series 10, however, can actually play music. The recently dropped smartwatch comes with new sleep apnea monitoring, larger sizes, a thinner chassis, faster charging, brighter, more visible viewing angles, a new titanium casing that echoes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro lines, and stunning new colors — but it's the new music-playing speakers that piqued my interest the most.
Why?
Because when I heard "music-playing Apple Watch," I immediately thought, "OMG, I can take it into the shower with me and blast my favorite tunes!"
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYes, I'm one of "those people" who brings their phone into the bathroom — and jams out to their favorite Apple Music playlists while standing under the cascading waters of their shower. Sue me! And I know I'm not the only one who does it.
The best solution for music-loving shower takers is waterproof bluetooth speakers — like these JBL speakers from Amazon. But the question is, could the Apple Watch Series 10 serve as an alternative? I put it to the test.
Apple Watch Series 10: How does it fare in the shower?I set up the Apple Watch Series 10 and eagerly tapped on the Apple Music app.
Apple Watch Series 10 Credit: Rentalhunters/Shutterstock.comI played a radio station curated just for me and it launched a classical music tune called "Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major" by Yeol Eum Son. Since the Apple Watch Series 10 is so small and compact, I expected a tinny, metallic sound.
To my surprise, the song sounded richer, smoother, and more lush than I thought it'd be. I don't know how I could expect any different. If there's anything Apple gets right, it's nailing warm, full-bodied, balanced audio, whether it's on a MacBook, a pair of AirPods, the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Keep in mind, however, that I tested this in a quiet room, so my expectations were still high going into this quick experiment.
Before hopping the shower, I decided to switch gears and play some Frank Ocean. (Before using your Apple Watch Series 10, I suggest curating a shower playlist so that you can easily play your favorite song right from your wrist.)
I played "Thinking Bout You," swayed to the chill tune, and turned on the faucet to start the shower. I stepped in, but noticed one tiny little problem: the water droplets hitting the shower floor were overpowering Frank Ocean's crooning.
Even when I tried to turn the digital crown to increase the volume to the max, I could barely hear the song while showering. Bummer!
The Watch Series 10's speakers aren't tinny, but they are definitely quiet. So if you had plans of purchasing the Apple Watch Series 10 for shower parties (and yes, you can wet it because it's swimproof), you need to temper your expectations.
It can handle a wide variety of environments, but one that involves loud splashes of water simply isn't one of them.
Apple Watch Series 10: What can I use the music-playing speakers for?We already established that the Apple Watch Series 10 isn't ideal for dance sessions in the shower, but the question is, what can you use it for? I've compiled a list here:
A quiet, relaxing bath
Walking on a treadmill
Dancing in front of a mirror
Listening to podcasts in a quiet room
Sleeping with music that lulls you into a slumber
Doing chores in a low-noise home
Floor exercises
You get the picture here.
As long as there isn't any loud noise in your environment, the Watch Series 10 music-playing speakers are pretty good.
For anything else, jogging alongside a clamorous street, for example, or a boisterous room with kids, the smartwatch's quiet tunes won't stand a chance.
The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 and it hit store shelves on Sept. 20.
Opens in a new window Credit: Rentalhunters/Shutterstock.com Apple Watch Series 10 $399.99 at AmazonWe're small.
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft, barreling through our solar system, recently used Earth's gravity to slingshot to Venus. The spacecraft, now millions of miles away, has looked back home. We're floating in an unconscionably vast black ether.
"These two little marbles we call our cosmic home were photographed by Juice from over 5 million km [3.1 million miles], as the spacecraft waved us goodbye while heading towards Venus," the European Space Agency recently posted online.
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.That's Earth on the right, and the moon, about four times smaller, on the left. Even from such a distance, you can make out our planet's dominant clouds.
Earth (on right) and the moon as seen from over 3.1 million miles (over 5 million kilometers) away. Credit: ESA Tweet may have been deletedMission planners recently sent the craft by Earth and the moon to exploit our gravity as it zips through space. It will fly by Venus and then Earth twice more, picking up speed as it escapes to the distant, icy solar system. Juice's destination is the Jupiter region, where it will make 35 flybys of three of the gas giant's icy moons.
"This ambitious mission will characterize these moons with a powerful suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments to discover more about these compelling destinations as potential habitats for past or present life," ESA said.
One of the spacecraft's targets, Ganymede, is the largest moon in our solar system — it's even bigger than the planet Mercury. Crucially, Ganymede is stretched and compressed by the nearby massive Jupiter, a process that generates heat (This happens on the ocean moon Europa, too.) "This heat could drive some tectonic activity and provide one of the necessary conditions for life to emerge: a source of energy," ESA explained.
Juice will continue to slingshot by planets in its endeavor to reach deep space. It'll arrive at Jupiter in 2031, but expect more planetary views on the journey there.
This summer NASA's two car-sized labs exploring Mars each discovered rocks that neither mission had seen before, revealing a more diverse history for the planet than previously thought.
Three major findings happened within the span of seven weeks. The Curiosity rover, which has been climbing a mountain of layered rock, literally stumbled upon pure sulfur, its wheels crushing the material to expose a bed of yellow crystals. It turns out there was a whole beach-like field of these rocks about 55 yards wide.
In an entirely different region — a dried river channel — its twin, Perseverance, found a rock that scientists say has the most promising signs of ancient Martian life yet, though the sample would need to be shipped back to Earth for confirmation. This groundbreaking detection came shortly after Perseverance spotted a rare anorthosite boulder, which scientists believe could be a chunk of Mars' original crust.
Despite the two rovers being more than 2,000 miles apart on the Red Planet, their human stewards work within the same building in California. The teams are now sharing a renewed frenzy, scientists told Mashable: After two decades of traversing Mars with various robots, this pair of rovers — controlled from millions of miles away in space — is still uncovering new things to blow their socks off.
"We'd be running around the hallways all excited about the rocks we found, but then their operations team would say, 'Oh, but we found really cool rocks, too,'" Abigail Fraeman, deputy project scientist on the Curiosity mission, said. "It was just a really joyous summer for us all to be able to celebrate the successes of these missions and to continue to think forward to what we're going to see."
SEE ALSO: NASA's plan to return Martian rocks is in trouble. Could these 7 companies help?The exceptional summer discoveries have only mounted pressure on the U.S. space agency to solve the problems facing its proposed Mars Sample Return mission, an expensive and technologically complex plan to fly bits of rock, dust, and even air collected by Perseverance back to Earth.
The mission has been in limbo since a review found it would cost upward of $11 billion and take nearly two decades to achieve. NASA has since engaged the greater aerospace industry for input on how to wrangle in spending and development. Seven companies have suggested a variety of ideas, which Mashable has reported, including repurposing Artemis moon landers and rethinking the last leg of the journey. NASA hasn't yet announced its path forward.
Casey Dreier, senior space policy adviser for The Planetary Society, said he hopes the recent accomplishments on Mars will galvanize the political support to bring samples home.
"It's kind of a reminder that no one is going to care if it costs $6 billion or $11 billion if we discover evidence of life beyond Earth for the first time in human history," he told Mashable.
Curiosity and Perseverance, NASA's twin rovers on Mars, found rocks this summer that are revealing the Red Planet as more geologically complex than once thought. Credit: NASA / JPL-CaltechIn almost any imaginable case, a rock sample would have to be brought back to Earth to conclude whether they had evidence of ancient Martians, said Katie Stack Morgan, a deputy project scientist for Perseverance. Based on what scientists know about the planet's history, it's unlikely that life, if there were any, evolved into multicellular organisms. Therefore, the rovers probably won't ever see something as obvious as a fossilized body part.
But life at the microbial scale does have the ability to leave a mark, albeit something more like a chemical residue than a literal footprint.
"If microbes were present on Mars, their signature left behind in the rock is probably more subtle," Stack Morgan said.
The Curiosity rover stumbled upon pure sulfur, its wheels crushing the material to expose a bed of yellow crystals. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS Curiosity's discovery of elemental sulfurFrom the get-go, Curiosity has more limitations than Perseverance for finding evidence of life because it wasn't designed for that purpose. Instead, its instruments are tailored to detecting ingredients that life on Earth requires.
But it's still capable of making significant discoveries on the Red Planet. Finding pure sulfur on May 30, for instance, was a surprise that could have exciting implications. In Gale Crater, where the rover has been exploring, Curiosity is surrounded by plenty of sulfates — that is, rocks that contain sulfur combined with other materials.
"It's kind of a reminder that no one is going to care if it costs $6 billion or $11 billion if we discover evidence of life beyond Earth for the first time in human history." After inadvertently crushing Convict Lake, a rock containing pure sulfur, Curiosity found others like it, such as this one dubbed Snow Lake. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSSBut unadulterated sulfur is special. When it is made naturally on Earth, the element is usually associated with superheated volcanic gasses and hot springs. Another way it can form is through interactions with bacteria, though Fraeman emphasizes that what Curiosity found could have formed through a non-biological process.
Still, Fraeman, who got the honor of naming the crushed yellow crystals Convict Lake after a landmark in the Sierra Nevada mountains, said the discovery is a brainteaser for scientists because those rocks don't seem like they should be there.
"We don't think we're anywhere near a volcano where the rover is, so that is a puzzling feature to find in this particular location," she said.
The Perseverance rover found an exceptional boulder on Mars, thought to be an anorthosite. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU Perseverance's discovery of an anorthosite boulderJust three days earlier on May 27, Perseverance found a light speckled boulder about 18 inches wide and 14 inches tall in Jezero Crater. The rover team named it Atoko Point after a landmark in the Grand Canyon.
Though such anorthosite rocks are on the moon and in mountain ranges on Earth, they're generally considered rare in the solar system. True Martian examples have eluded researchers up until now, including within our inventory of Red Planet meteorites.
Anorthosites are primarily made of feldspar, a mineral linked to lava flows. Some scientists think the rock may have formed in magma below ground and was later blasted to the surface by a giant impact. Others think it could have formed somewhere else on the planet and was carried to its location by a gushing ancient river.
This discovery could bolster the idea that Mars' early crust was more complex than once thought — and perhaps similar to Earth's original crust. Understanding the ancient Martian surface also could help unlock secrets about the evolution of Earth and how life emerged here.
NASA provides an annotated close-up look at the Cheyava Falls rock, which scientists say is the most compelling case study so far that ancient microbial life may have emerged on Mars. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech Perseverance's discovery of a potential biosignatureRegardless of the rovers' extraordinary finds in the early part of the summer, they were vastly eclipsed by a veiny, leopard-spotted rock found in mid-July. Though NASA stopped short of claiming Perseverance had found evidence of past Martian life, the rover's instruments detected organics within the rock that are, at the least, building blocks for life in this world.
Dubbed Cheyava Falls, the arrowhead-shaped rock, measuring about three feet by two feet, also bears signs of water having run through it and a potential source of nutrients: The rock's spots were caused by a type of chemical reaction that can yield different minerals. On Earth, microbes can feed off those chemical reactions and sometimes even cause them to occur.
Though Cheyava Falls' splotches could have formed in non-biological ways, they are usually linked to subsurface microbes from long ago when they are found on Earth.
Perseverance scientists say they've exhausted what they can learn about the rock with the instruments on the rover. Back home, researchers could use advanced tools to search for complex organic molecules, DNA, cell structures, and beyond to determine whether it indeed contains evidence of past Martian life.
But without a sample return mission, scientists say it's unlikely they'll get beyond where they are today in their understanding of the Red Planet's past habitability: At one point, it had conditions for life to emerge. So did it?
"It's like we know all the ingredients to make the cookies are out on the table," Fraeman said, "And the question is do we actually have the cookies baked?"
A NASA probe, the length of a basketball court, is headed to the tantalizing world Europa.
Planetary scientists are confident this moon of Jupiter harbors a deep ocean. A looming question is whether it hosts the ingredients and conditions to support life. With around 50 close flybys of the planet, the sizable craft — the largest probe NASA has ever built for a planetary science mission — intends to find Europa's answer.
"It's perhaps one of the best places beyond Earth to look for life in our solar system," Cynthia Phillips, a NASA planetary geologist and project staff scientist for the space agency's Europa Clipper mission, told Mashable.
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.The mission's launch opportunity window opens soon, on Oct. 10, where it will blast off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If NASA finds that Europa is a habitable world, a second Europa mission will return, this time landing there to see if it's inhabited.
A graphic comparing the size of the Europa Clipper spacecraft to a basketball court. Credit: NASA Why the Europa Clipper spacecraft is so bigEuropa Clipper, over 100 feet (30.5 meters) long, is big because it needs to generate solar power in deep space. And the Jupiter region only receives three to four percent of the sunlight that Earth receives. Hence the long wings, or arrays.
"You just need these giant solar arrays in order to power all your instruments," Phillips explained. "We're talking about a huge expanse of solar arrays."
Capturing loads of the distant sunlight will create some 700 watts of electricity, which is "about what a small microwave oven or a coffee maker needs to operate," NASA explains. But the craft also carries batteries to help power a host of moon-sleuthing instruments.
"I'm really excited about this payload that we're bringing to Europa," Phillips said.
"I'm really excited about this payload that we're bringing to Europa."An ice-penetrating radar will look beneath the moon's icy, cracked crust. It will see how this icy subsurface is composed, and possibly, possibly, detect where the ice meets the ocean. (Europa's ice shell is likely some 10 to 15 miles, or 15 to 25 kilometers, thick.) This radar could detect about half a mile deep, or it could be much more — that depends on how fractured the ice is and the purity of the ice (a fractured subsurface, for example, means the radar signal will bounce around more, as opposed to penetrating down). There's potential, however, that the radar will infiltrate a whopping 19 miles (30 kilometers) down.
One of Europa Clipper's wings extended at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA The Europa Clipper's SUrface Dust Analyzer, or SUDA, which will scoop up particles blasted into space around the moon. Credit: NASA / CU Boulder / Glenn AsakawaIn addition to a suite of specialized cameras, Europa Clipper also carries an instrument called the SUrface Dust Analyzer, or SUDA, that will literally sample particles of Europa that have been ejected into space by tiny meteorites. "Micrometeorites constantly blast fragments of Europa’s surface into space," NASA explains. "The ejecta are individually small, but scientists estimate that half a ton (about 500 kilograms) of Europa’s surface material floats above the moon at all times."
One of the most exciting opportunities of the mission — though far from guaranteed — is the craft potentially flying through a water-ice plume blasted out from Europa's surface. This would allow the instruments exquisite insight into Europa's interior.
"We would love to fly through a plume," Curt Niebur, Europa Clipper's program scientist, said at a press conference leading up to the mission's launch.
"We would love to fly through a plume."Plumes or not, mission scientists believe that some 50 close flybys of the surface will provide ample observations to prove whether or not Europa could harbor life. Sure, it almost certainly has water. But all life needs energy: Does this ocean world provide an energy source? And does it harbor the basic chemical ingredients, like carbon, to form the building blocks of life as we know it?
And, if all those conditions are satisfied, is there evidence the ocean has been around for billions of years, providing a stable environment for life to evolve and sustain itself in Europa's dark sea?
Why scientists think Europa has an oceanThe Europa Clipper mission is an expensive science endeavor, costing some $5 billion. But NASA is confident this Jovian moon harbors an intriguing sea perhaps twice the volume of all Earth's seas.
Why?
"It's a great detective story," Phillips said.
"It's a great detective story."In 1979, the Voyager 2 spacecraft captured the first detailed views of Europa, showing a surface dominated by crisscrossing cracks. And many of these lines were reddish, suggesting that something below the surface welled up to fill them. Planetary scientists also knew that as Europa swings by the gravitationally powerful gas giant Jupiter, its interior gets stretched and pulled, a process that produces heat on a world. This tugging could have provided heat on Europa for billions of years.
"This made Europa really, really interesting," Phillips noted.
An artist's conception of the ocean, and geothermal energy sources, that could exist beneath Europa's thick ice crust. Credit: NASA Europa's surface as captured by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. Credit: NASAThen, in the 1990s, NASA's Galileo mission captured legendary views of Europa's chaotic, ridged surface — suggesting there was water near the top. What's more, the spacecraft detected a strong magnetic signal from the moon. Saltwater, a really good magnetic conductor, could have provided this signal.
"Galileo showed Europa was even more interesting than suspected," Phillip said.
"It's a great detective story."The evidence only mounted. On multiple occasions, the Hubble Space Telescope spotted evidence that plumes of water erupted 125 miles (200 kilometers) above Europa's surface. It all added up. "There is very likely a subsurface ocean on Europa," Phillips said.
And if it's remained somewhat stable for many eons, it could harbor conditions suitable for life to develop. We won't know, until we get there in 2030.
"This is a voyage into the unknown," said Nicola Fox, who heads NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
If you have strong preferences for your workout gear — and strong feelings on Hoka versus Brooks (I'm not getting in the middle of that debate) — then finding the right pair of workout headphones is extra challenging.
The best headphones for working out need to withstand movement, sweat, and the elements. Plus, you don't want something you're constantly fussing with; your headphones should help you stay focused during your exercises.
Mashable reviewers have tested many pairs of headphones and wireless earbuds, and we can tell you which products stay put during a workout, and which buds will go tumbling onto the sidewalk as soon as you break into a run. To make sure we're recommending the right products, I tested five pairs of audio products during my daily workouts, ultimately choosing four.
How to pick headphones for working outThe right headphones for you depend significantly on the kinds of workouts you like to do and where you like to do them. If you like to run outdoors, you need headphones that keep you safe in busy areas with reliable noise transparency. If you're pumping iron at the gym, you might prefer sports earbuds that block out the world with active noise cancellation so you can really lock in for your reps.
For this guide, I looked for two universal specs in all of the headphones I tested. First, workout headphones need to be wireless, giving you a full range of movement. You don't want to get tied up on the stairclimber.
Second, workout headphones need to be sweat- or water-resistant. This one is obvious. When you're working out, you're getting sweaty, and you want headphones that won't freak out at the first sign of moisture. Your gym earbuds don't have to be fully waterproof, but this will be helpful for outdoor athletes.
Why are there no over-the-ear headphones on this list?When we review headphones at Mashable, we look at all types, from over-the-ear headphones to earbuds, but you won't find any over-the-ear products here. The reason for this is simple: these headphones aren't good for working out. While we usually love them for their comfort and audio quality, their heft gets in the way when you're moving.
Plus, over-the-ear headphones and sweat are a terrible combination. Sweat gets under the ear pads, trapping moisture and leading to the headphones' fabric or leather disintegrating over time. Not to mention, they'll get smelly fast. But don't worry; if you don't like earbuds, you still have options.
So, whether you're hitting the gym or the pavement, here are the best earbuds and headphones for working out.
One of our most anticipated movies out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival was Nightbitch. The reasons were many. For one, it's the latest from Marielle Heller, the helmer of such critically heralded adaptations as the coming-of-age dramedy The Diary of a Teenage Girl, the moving Mr. Rogers biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and the Academy Award–nominated and absolutely hilarious biographical comedy Can You Ever Forgive Me? Two, Nightbitch is led by Amy Adams, the six-time Oscar–nominated star of dramas like The Master and Doubt, as well as comedies like American Hustle and Vice. Three, based on the Rachel Yoder novel, this project promised to give Adams a role she could really sink her teeth into.
As hinted by the title and the film's first trailer, Nightbitch is about a middle-aged woman who feels stifled by her identity as stay-at-home mom. The ruthless routine of caring for her young son and playing supporting partner to her bacon-bringing husband has her on the brink of breakdown. But then, she sniffs out a newfound freedom as she begins to transform into a dog once the baby's put to bed. There are shades of Jennifer Kent's The Babadook in the premise, so the potential of this maternal dramedy seemed extraordinary.
Heller's established blend of sharp humor and deep empathy combined with Adams' ability to play everything from heart-wrenching drama to gut-busting broad comedy seems a perfect pairing to this material. But unfortunately, the most shocking thing in Nightbitch is how unshocking it ultimately is.
Nightbitch howls for the frustrated mothers.Heller's adapted screenplay gets off to a solid start with a grocery trip that introduces both the mundane and thankless duties of this unnamed mother (Adams, who is referred to as Mother in the credits) and the undercurrent of intellectual frustration boiling beneath her pleasant smile. When a former colleague in chic business attire asks how she likes "getting to be at home" with the baby all day, this pale and frazzled mother launches into a rant of her unrealized ambitions, her fear that mommy brain is killing her creativity as an artist, and her concern that there's no going back. But then the film leaps back a few moments, effectively creating a temporal record scratch that takes us back to the end of the question. This time, Mother answers with what she's supposed to say: "Yeah. I love it."
That she loves her son (also unnamed, and played by twins Arleigh and Emmett Snowden) is a given. He's adorable, yes, even when he's drinking out of the toilet or throwing paint all over her kitchen walls. What plagues her is the endless cycle of breakfast, diapers, bedtime, and mommy-and-me storytime at the library. There, she might find community among the other mothers, but she resists the warm invitations from these cheerful moms (The Afterparty's Zoë Chao, Happiest Season's Mary Holland, and Archana Rajan). Perhaps because to accept their friendship would be to surrender to this confining mom space?
Her resentment builds against her husband (Speak No Evil's Scoot McNairy), who is the embodiment of weaponized incompetence and emotional idiocy. Then she begins to grow fur. Heller expertly weaves in elements of body horror grotesquely mimicking to comedic effect the physical transformation of a body throughout early motherhood. A particularly impactful scene involves Mother probing at a lump on her tailbone, which oozes a thick, milky pus, then long hair, and finally, an undeniable tail. The audience at the TIFF world premiere audibly gagged and groaned as Adams pulled fur and pus from her lower back! Both here and later — when Mother discovers she's grown four new nipples down her torso — Heller's heroine is not repulsed but empowered by her ability to transform. It's a thrilling beginning to a tale of finding your inner animal. But frustrating, Nighbitch fails to go fully feral.
Nightbitch lacks bite.Mother finds fresh empowerment in her unusual behavior, like nighttime runs with runaway dogs, a carnal hunger for meat, outbursts at her stereotypically smug child-free friends, and an urge to strike back violently at her awful husband, who dares to chirp the deeply unhelpful advice, "Happiness is a choice!" There's an engaging build-up as she begins to move away from fantasizing about emotional outbursts and begins to act them out. But despite a bit of bloodlust in the form of small animal kills, there's no real sense of threat to the film.
This brings me back to Jennifer Kent's brilliant maternal horror movie The Babadook, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. While the films are tonally different, they have a lot in common. Both follow a woman trying desperately to play by the rules of being a "good mother," but finding the sacrifice of self demanded for this role absolutely suffocating.
Both have young sons, who they love but also resent. Both have murderous eyes toward the family pet, and both fear they are being taken over by some mysterious primal force. But Nightbitch won't embrace the darkness like The Babadook dared to. Heller's Mother might be bitchy, but she'll never go so far that she'll scare the audience. Admittedly, The Babadook is a nightmare of motherhood, where Nightbitch is meant to be a fantasy of liberation. So, there's understandable cause for Heller not to go as hard as Kent did. Still, without probing deeply to a point of true peril, which would require Mother destroying the things she loves, the low point in Nightbitch just doesn't hit as hard as it could. As the film turns to climb back to a happy ending, the change feels frustratingly mild instead of transgressive or revolutionary.
There are moments where Nightbitch seems on the verge of tearing down the ideals of "good motherhood" from its damning pedestal and ripping the concept to pieces, freeing Adams' Mother for good. Most of these come through the narration, presumably much of it pulled directly from Yoder's prose. The story illustrates the constraints of the role of mother, where sacrifice is taken so much for granted that moms don't even have a socially sanctioned space to complain about the hardships they endure. While Adams' harried (and hairy) heroine begins to discover some of these constraints are self-imposed, the film refuses to explore what it would mean to dismantle the expectations of others. Without what that could look like, the critique feels incomplete, suggesting some solid me-time is all that's needed to achieve a balance, ignoring the greater societal pressures put upon mothers specifically.
To Adams' credit, she's committed to playing Mother with an intense authenticity. Throughout the film, her character's hair is dull, her face unpolished by standard movie make-up, her body bigger than model-sizing would allow. She looks a lot like the mothers you might see any given day at the playground. And that makes her delight in her secret hidden tail and bonus nipples uniquely thrilling, punctuated by Adams' beguiling glee at these discoveries. There is much more to her than meets the eye.
Yet Adams balances this absurdity with earnest monologues about the incredible power of a body that can create life. And at times, this is electrifying. But all of this peculiarity and growing power sets up a promise of something extraordinary that is not delivered on. This mother never gets truly angry, so despite her canine quirks, she feels contained to a chipper maternal narrative. In the end, Nightbitch feels unfinished.
Nightbitch was reviewed out its World Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Searchlight Pictures is set to release the movie in theaters Dec. 6.
At this year's Made on YouTube event on Sept. 18, creators like Michelle Khare received exciting news: They will soon be able to organize their videos into seasons and episodes, much like traditional television shows.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan invited Khare on stage for a Q&A to discuss the announcement. Khare is the creator of Challenge Accepted, a high-stakes digital series in which the 32-year-old takes on challenges ranging from working as a 911 dispatcher to training as a ballerina. Her videos, known for their premium quality, run between 15 and 24 minutes and consistently attract millions of views. With nearly 5 million subscribers, Khare has built a dedicated audience.
SEE ALSO: YouTube announces new AI tools for its creators: Veo, Communities, auto-dubbing, and moreThis announcement comes as YouTube continues to dominate as the most popular streaming service on U.S. televisions, with 150 million people watching YouTube on TV screens monthly. The platform's success is driven by its hands-off approach, trusting creators like Khare to craft content that resonates with audiences. Earlier this year, Mohan urged Emmy voters to recognize YouTube creators, though popular shows like Hot Ones, Chicken Shop Date, and Good Mythical Morning were overlooked for nominations. This latest update solidifies YouTube's growing role in the television landscape.
Following the announcement, Khare spoke with Mashable about the new feature, what it means for Challenge Accepted, and how her creative process fuels YouTube's evolving TV strategy.
Mashable: Have you ever thought about Challenge Accepted in terms of episodes and seasons prior to this announcement?Michelle Khare: Our team always tries our best to think about things in terms of seasons and episodes. We think about, "What's the tone of this show? What's the release cadence? What's our format?" Previously, we organized things by season in playlists. Now through the new structure of the television app, we can formally organize things in terms of genre, episode, season, series. It just elevates our content even further.
What's your reaction to the update?As creators, we can only focus on the content we create and we put it on the platform. It's really cool that the platform is evolving so that it positions our content as premium. I imagine it has the same feeling as when someone's in a movie and they see the poster in Times Square. As someone who loves premium television content, seeing our stuff in that limelight was really cool. It affirms what we're already doing with Challenge Accepted and it makes me even more excited to lean into that episodic format.
I imagine it gives you more control of how a viewer interacts with your content.When you watch your favorite premium show, sometimes you'll watch one episode and realize you have 12 more episodes you can finish right after. I hope that [the update] will encourage people to watch more of Challenge Accepted when they stumble upon a standalone episode. They may realize, "Oh my gosh, I can watch more of this show, and it's all organized here for me." It takes a lot of the thinking and digging work out of the equation for the viewer.
Do you think the new format will make it easier to attract new viewers?Right now to discover new content, you open the home pages to tons of videos, or the sidebar, when you're watching one video, you see a bunch of suggested. Now, you're not only introduced to one episode or a new creator but the world of this creator.
When did you start making your videos for television? What was the process like of shifting over to that level of production?I'm gonna be honest, it wasn't a conscious choice of wanting to be seen on television. Our team is a mixture of people from both traditional and digital backgrounds. We have people who have worked on feature films, Oscar-nominated stuff, and Saturday Night Live. Our output now feels premium, which is a wonderful thing to hear. But genuinely, it's just been about, "How can we make the best 30 minutes possible out of this story?"
Our team leans into [television] because they are from traditional television. But that said, creating for YouTube is a different animal because we're creating with the audience in mind. We're creating with the mindset of respecting the viewers' time, listening to their suggestions, and being aware that their time can be spent anywhere, and that it's on us to make a story that commands and interests their attention for long periods of time.
How do you choose a challenge?Many of our initial episodes were born out of a whiteboard brainstorm of "What are Michelle's biggest fears?" and "What are the unique situations to put me in to confront them head-on?" We use that as a building block to use the challenges as a way to overcome fears, because it creates conflict and creates story. For example, I want to be a firefighter, but I'm not brave enough. Or I want to be a pageant queen, but I don't know if I'm graceful. We started using those one sentence formats to kind of inspire the different things we do.
That's so interesting, I wondered how you created so many challenges with a similar level of intensity.Conflict creates story. Story creates growth. Watching other people grow are the stories that we're most interested in, whether they're scripted or unscripted. That's really the angle we were coming back from.
Are there any jobs you tried where you thought, "Maybe I should have pursued this instead of being a creator?"I love being a creator, and I'm not just saying that because we're at Made on YouTube 2024. I really, really love it. Being a professional jack of all trades is my ideal profession. Behind the scenes, I love running our studio, our production company, and our team and growing into [being a] CEO and leader. It's such a privilege to be an entrepreneur in this space. I hope to be doing it for a really, really long time.
Do you have a golden rule for for content creation?Because our episodes are intense and in-depth, we have a pretty thorough vetting process before we greenlight an episode. We think about how we feel it will perform. Is it something our audience has been requesting? Are we, as a team, excited by it? That's often the question I find us asking the most. Analytics and getting feedback from the audience is wonderful, but we don't move forward unless our team's heart is in it. That comes from a practical perspective because if we greenlight a project we're going to be working on it for the next several weeks or months, sometimes even up to a year.
Challenge Accepted is a show about pursuing novel life experiences, and I once heard that people who have more novel life experiences feel like their lives are longer. I think about that a lot. It's such a privilege to be able to think critically about where our time is spent and how much joy is created in the day-to-day. Ironically, that has led to the passion that our audience sees in each individual episode.
Is there a challenge you wouldn't accept?We're really fortunate that we're in this position where we're continuing to push the envelope. We're very inspired by a lot of other creators around us. I'm excited to play in new worlds. What I love is that if you asked me a year ago what the next 20 episodes of Challenge Accepted are going to look like, I probably could have told you the next five. But fast forward a year, and there are things that we've released this year that I would have never even conceptualized a year ago.
What I love about the internet is that you can create quickly versus the traditional Hollywood system, where we would have greenlit several episodes a year ago, shoot them whatever, they don't come out for another entire year. A person can grow a lot in a year. So I love being able to create and release as it is relevant, impactful, meaningful, and heartfelt to us in each moment.
What advice do you have for someone just starting and looking for financial stability as a creator?There's a reason so many people want to be content creators. I'm not going to lie: It rocks. But it's a very slow process that begins with creating content and learning your voice while you have another job. You're doing it in your free time to the point where you can't wait for the weekend because you get to work on this other thing. From there, you develop your voice and consistency. You can fail in a safe environment. Then, you can grow to the point where that becomes your full-time thing. But you have to feel really solid about your content before it becomes your whole world.
How do you combat creative burnout? Obviously, you have a team that supports you.The people I look up to the most are very busy. I love moving at a fast pace. But the best parts of the job are also stepping away from the content and doing things that have nothing to do with making YouTube videos. You have to be a real person to tell real stories. You have to live life to have a story to tell. That time away from filming and producing and the office is so important to know what's really going on.
TL;DR: Windows 10 Pro is only $19.97 (reg. $199), but not for much longer.
It’s time to update your operating system.
If you're after software that can boost productivity and introduce advanced features, Windows 10 Pro is a solid choice. You can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for life for only $19.97 (reg. $199). No need for a coupon—just a quick purchase. With this deal, you'll get updates included and the ability to install it on up to two devices. Plus, you'll gain access to refined cybersecurity protocols, seamless Microsoft 365 integration, and easier logins and password management.
Why consider Windows 10 Pro now?While it's true that Windows 11 Pro is the latest OS from Microsoft, Windows 10 Pro still has its advantages. Whether you're using an older machine or apps that haven’t been fully optimized for Windows 11, 10 Pro remains reliable and affordable—without sacrificing quality. Plus, it's a great low-cost option if you're looking for an upgrade but don't want to shell out for the latest.
Concerned about security? Windows 10 Pro comes equipped with firewall and network protection to help safeguard your data, which is especially useful for remote workers dealing with sensitive information. You can also take advantage of Remote Desktop Services, which allows you to access your PC from anywhere. That means you’ll never be without those crucial files, no matter where you are.
Don't wait—get Windows 10 Pro for just $19.97.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 10 Pro $19.97TL;DR: Get a 1TB dual-USB flash drive that delivers fast transfer speeds and device compatibility with USB-C and USB-A connectors on sale for just $74.97 through September 29.
Opens in a new window Credit: UGR Tech Dual USB-C + USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive (1TB) $74.97When you’ve got tons of files to manage — whether for work, school, or personal projects — a basic flash drive might not cut it. Enter a 1TB dual-USB storage drive that’s designed to handle hefty file transfers while being incredibly user-friendly. With both USB-C and USB-A connectors, it’s perfect for switching between devices like Android phones, Macs, and PCs without needing any extra gear. And thanks to USB 3.2 tech, it’s seriously fast, so you can spend less time waiting and more time working.
Priced at $74.97 through September 29, this storage drive does more than just hold files — it’s built to make your life easier. With its high-speed transfer capabilities, it’s great for moving big video files, data sets, or tons of lecture notes in a snap.
Its dual compatibility with USB-C and USB-A means you can plug it into almost any device without needing extra adapters. It’s a breeze for students working on group projects or anyone who frequently switches between different tech setups. Plus, backing up your work is a no-brainer — you’ve got 1TB of space, which is enough to store up to 200,000 files, keeping your documents safe and sound.
Compact, fast, waterproof, and incredibly simple to use, this flash drive is a no-brainer for students, professionals, or anyone who needs reliable storage.
Grab this Dual USB-C and USB-A 1TB High-Speed Flash Drive on sale for $74.97 (reg. $109) through September 29.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Through September 29, get Curiosity Stream and watch documentaries for life for just $159.97 — a one-time payment for a world of knowledge.
Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $159.97Looking for something new to watch that’s more enriching than the usual bingeworthy shows? Curiosity Stream offers a platform filled with engaging, educational content that goes beyond typical streaming services.
Whether you're passionate about history, science, or exploring unique topics, this service gives you access to an extensive collection of documentaries and docuseries. And the best part? You can get lifetime access for only $159.97 until September 29.
If you’re a documentary lover, there’s no need to settle for the limited selection on mainstream platforms. Curiosity Stream gives you access to a broader range of thought-provoking documentaries and docuseries, from true crime and history to deep-sea explorations and beyond. It even boasts Emmy-winning content.
The platform’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. You can filter by topic or collection, or even search by narrator, including well-known names like Sir David Attenborough and Morgan Freeman.
New content is added regularly so, with a lifetime subscription, you won’t be stuck watching the same shows over and over. You’ll have access to an ever-growing library of fascinating documentaries and educational content that you can stream on multiple devices — online or offline.
Don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy a lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream Standard Plan for a one-time payment of $159.97 through September 29.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Upgrade your auto with an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless adapter for $79.97 (reg. $129).
Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart PlayAIBox Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Wireless Adapter with Streaming Service Support $79.97Some of those little quality-of-life improvements in new vehicles really make a difference. Even just being able to wirelessly connect your phone is a huge improvement, but you don't actually need a new car for that.
If you're thinking about upgrading your car's tech but aren't quite ready to commit to a new vehicle, the PlayAIBox is the perfect solution. This compact device can transform your driving experience, turning your car into a smart, entertainment-filled hub. From wireless CarPlay and Android Auto to streaming your favorite shows, it's everything you need to make your ride feel next-gen — and it's on sale for just $79.97 (reg. $129).
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto for your carWith the PlayAIBox, you can finally go wireless. Just plug it in, pair your phone, and you’re ready to hit the road. Whether you're listening to your favorite playlist or navigating with Google Maps, everything becomes smoother and more intuitive, no cables required.
But that's just the start. The PlayAIBox also brings streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+ straight to your car's display. Waiting in the parking lot? No problem—catch up on your favorite shows or keep the kids entertained during long drives. Plus, with Google Play Store integration, you can expand your app options and add even more functionality to your car.
Powered by the Allwinner A133 chip, the PlayAIBox ensures smooth video playback and seamless app navigation. It even supports screen mirroring and external storage, making it versatile for all your content needs.
Compatible with a wide range of car models and smartphones, the PlayAIBox is an easy and affordable way to bring cutting-edge technology to your drive. Upgrade your car with the PlayAIBox Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless adapter with streaming support for just $79.97.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Declutter with an 8-in-1 docking stand for only $49.97 (reg. $69).
Just like many tech manufacturers have stopped including charging bricks with new devices, you might have noticed that the latest gadgets are also ditching ports. This leaves many of us juggling dongles, adapters, and cords.
For those who prefer a clutter-free desk, the ergonomic 8-in-1 tablet docking stand is a great solution, now on sale for $49.97 for a limited time. It eliminates the need for multiple adapters, and with your tablet secured in the stand, you can go hands-free and even use it as a laptop.
Hardware specificationsThis docking stand comes fully loaded with essential ports, including a PD/100W port, an HDMI 2.0 port, an SD/microSD slot, a 3.5mm audio jack, and three USB 3.0 ports. The PD/100W port delivers fast charging for high-power devices, while the HDMI port lets you connect your tablet to larger displays. The SD and microSD card slots provide instant access to memory cards, the 3.5mm jack connects wired earphones or speakers, and the USB 3.0 ports support a range of accessories, such as external drives, keyboards, and mice.
The stand is adjustable too, with up to 70 degrees of tilt, and the tablet holder can rotate up to 180 degrees, allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle and avoid tech neck. Made from sturdy aluminum alloy, it’s built to last. When not in use, it folds up for easy storage or transport.
Declutter your workspace with this 8-in-1 tablet docking stand, available for just $49.97 for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: UGR Tech 8-in-1 Laptop & Tablet Docking Stand $49.97The 2024 college football season is officially in session.
This NCAA Division 1 football season marks the start of a new era — the traditional regional conferences and rivalries just got a major shake-up. The PAC-12 conference was dismantled last summer, which led to some conference scrambling. Starting this year — deep breath — USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington are part of the Big Ten alongside Ohio State, Penn State, and other top teams; Stanford and Cal have joined the ACC; and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah have joined the Big 12 with TCU, UCF, and Texas Tech as potential new rivals. (Just two schools are left in the PAC-12, which is already set to change again next season.
It's also the first year with more than four playoff teams. In other words, college football is about to have a strange and exciting year.
If you want to tune into the 2024-2025 NCAA football season, we've got you covered. Keep scrolling to learn how to watch college football without cable in 2024, which channels you're going to need, and the best ways to get them.
Can I watch college football games without cable?Yes, you can watch college football without cable, but unless you sign up for a live TV service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you'll need a patchwork of streaming apps. The 2024 college football season will be broadcast across an array of local channels, specialty sports networks, and even a couple streaming services. If you don't have cable, you still have plenty of options to tune into games, but deciding which works best for you is tricky.
A live TV streaming service or cable replacement will give you the most comprehensive channel selection but will also cost you the most money. However, the good news is that you can cancel at any time, unlike cable. A single streaming service like Paramount Plus or ESPN+ will give you access to a slim number of games but will cost you less than 10 bucks per month. (TL;DR: you get what you pay for.)
What channels are college football games on?Before you decide on which live TV service or streaming app you need to watch NCAA college football games, you need to know which networks your team(s) plays on. Check the conference list below to see which channels and streamers will air games for each conference in 2024. Not sure which conference your team is in? Check out the list over at ESPN.com.
American Athletic Conference (AAC) — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — ABC, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, The CW
Big 12 — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, Fox, Fox Sports 1
Big Ten — Big Ten Network, CBS, Fox, Fox Sports 1, NBC, Peacock
Conference USA — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+
FBS independents — CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN+, NBC, Peacock
Mid-American Conference (MAC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+
Mountain West Conference (MW) — CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, Fox Sports 1, truTV
Pac-12 Conference — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, Fox, Fox Sports 1, Pac-12 Network, The CW
Southeastern Conference (SEC) — ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, SEC Network, SEC+
Sun Belt Conference — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+
As noted above, the best streaming service for college football depends on your team and budget. The best streaming apps for live sports run the gamut of pricing — from eight bucks per month to a whopping $100 per month. The best live TV streaming services include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling. Sling is the most affordable of the bunch, but gives you access to a more limited live channel selection, while YouTube TV, Hulu, and Fubo offer hundreds of channels but cost a bit more. You can also watch limited live games on Peacock, Paramount+, and ESPN+ — some of which will exclusively host games this season.
It's just as, if not more, confusing as watching NFL games this season.
To help with your decision, we've rounded up the best streaming deals for college football fans. You can also check out the complete broadcast schedule on the NCAA website.
The best live TV streaming deals for NCAAF 2024Best live TV streaming deal: Sling Season Pass Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Season Pass: Sling Orange, Blue, and Sports Extra $199 for 4 months (save $92) Get DealChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
By prepaying for four months of Sling Orange, Blue, and Sports Extra in the Sling Season Pass, you can save $92. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, while the Sports Extra package unlocks access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more. It'll cost you $199 for four months of Sling Season Pass, which is significantly cheaper than any other live TV streaming service. Just be sure to check your local market to ensure you'll have access to the channels you need.
Best YouTube TV deal: $64.99/month for your first 4 months Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV Free 10-day trial, then $64.99/month for first 4 months (save $32) Get DealChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
The best value for a live TV streaming service, YouTube TV gives you access to over 100 live channels. Those include most of the ones you need to watch college football games live — NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, as well as specialty networks like Fox Sports 1, and SEC Network. For a limited time, YouTube TV is offering new users a discount on their first four months of service. Plus, you can kick things off with a 10-day free trial. The base plan usually costs $72.99 per month, but you'll pay just $64.99 per month (save $32) for your first four months.
Best bang for your buck: Get Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ together Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV (with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+) Free 3-day trial, then $76.99 per month Get DealChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
While other live TV streamers might cost a little less, Hulu's live TV service definitely offers the most bang for your buck. You'll pay $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial) and get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). For comparison, YouTube TV is typically $72.99 per month and only includes the live channels. With ESPN+, you'll unlock access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more.
Best live TV streaming deal for sports junkies: Take $30 off your first month of Fubo Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV Fubo Free 7-day trial, then $30 off your first month Get DealChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
Fubo isn't our first choice for a live TV streaming service, but we do like that it takes sports seriously. With a Pro subscription (the most affordable tier), you'll get access to most college football broadcasts for $79.99 per month. But hardcore fans will probably want to upgrade to the Elite plan for $99.99/month, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network as well. Either way, you can test the waters for seven days before you pay and, for a limited time, take $30 off your first month.
Best for CBS games only: Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ / Showtime Paramount+ with Showtime $119.99 per year (save 17%) Get DealChannels: CBS
If your team is in the Big Ten or plays on CBS and you're only a casual college football fan, a subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime is probably the best option. Paramount+ with Showtime allows you to tune into live CBS broadcasts of Big Ten games, including the Week 4 showdown between new conference rivals USC and Michigan, plus the 2024 Big Ten championship game in December. It's regularly $12.99 per month, but you can save 17% by paying for a year upfront. That knocks the monthly cost down to just $9.99.
Best for NBC and Peacock games: Peacock Premium yearly subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $79.99 per year (save 17%) Get DealChannels: NBC, Peacock
Similar to Paramount+, Peacock offers simulcasts of games airing on NBC throughout the 2024 season. Plus, Peacock offers exclusive broadcasts as well. It's already pretty affordable at $7.99 per month, but you can save about 17% by paying for a year upfront. That knocks the monthly price down to $6.67, or $79.99 per year.
More Peacock deals:
Best for ESPN+ games: Save 15% on an ESPN+ Annual Plan Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN+ ESPN+ Annual Plan $109.99 per year (save 15%) Get DealChannels: ESPN+, plus some games on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC
Opt into ESPN+ for an entire year and pay $109.99 instead of $131.88. That saves you 15% overall and gives you access to hundreds of college football games across 20 different conferences this season. ESPN+ will also be the exclusive home to 16 SEC games, over 10 ACC games, and over 20 Big 12 games. It's also worth noting that as of Oct. 17, the price per month will rise to $11.99 and the price per year will jump to $119.99. In other words, it saves you $10 to sign up for an annual plan before then.
For just $4 more per month, you can also add ESPN+ to a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.
Imposing bears teem in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. But few dare enter its Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
In 1912, a volcano was born here. It erupted for nearly three days. Its ominous ash clouds left the town of Kodiak, 100 miles away, in profound darkness, nearly obscuring lanterns held at arms' length. The valley itself was suffocated by a gargantuan load of up to nearly 700 feet of grainy volcanic ash. That ash remains there today. The once verdant land was transformed into a desolate moonscape. For years, potent columns of steam rose from the hot rocky ash, the "smokes" that lent the region its name.
It was the biggest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
"I'm in awe of how large that event was," Patrick Whelley, a NASA geologist, told Mashable. "What a drastic change in landscape."
This year, Whelley co-led an expedition into the valley with a team of scientists. They investigated how this land reflects similar environments on other planets, like Mars, and the harsh, seemingly unlikely, places that might harbor life on other worlds.
SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASASuch a journey isn't for the meek.
"Wind blows abrasive ash that irritates the eyes and lungs. Your food, no matter how carefully prepared, always seems to be gritty," Mike Fitz, a former Katmai ranger who often ventured into the valley, told Mashable. "Pumice and ash always threaten to get into your footwear where it can abrade your skin raw."
Exploration of the valley has a price. But it comes with unmatched rewards.
"The land is wild and raw and fascinating.""On a calm day, the silence is immense," Fitz, now a naturalist for the wildlife livestreamers explore.org, said. "I've experienced natural quiet so great on calm days at Novarupta [the volcano that erupted in 1912] that the sound of a zipper on a jacket or tent seems like an intrusion."
"The land is wild and raw and fascinating," he said.
Novarupta doesn't look like a classic mountainous volcano. Since 1912, it has existed as a cooled dome of lava 1,235 feet (380 meters) wide and 211 feet (65 meters) high. Credit: National Park Service Looking for life as we don't know itAmid the heated 1960s Space Race, NASA sent astronauts to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. They encountered wasted land, blanketed in volcanic rock, somewhat like the moon. (Indeed, upon later stepping foot on the surface of the moon, Buzz Aldrin marveled: "Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation." ) In the valley, the future moon explorers collected geologic samples, and learned how to convey their finds to scientists.
Over half a century later, in June, NASA geochemist Heather Graham entered this remote Alaskan realm to scour the environment for the types of life that may exist on worlds beyond ours — planets and moons. Except Graham isn't searching for familiar signs of life, like strands of genetic material. Rather, Graham seeks the chemical activities that could support life — particularly life elsewhere that might create energy and thrive in ways different from organisms on Earth.
"We're really thinking about life as we don't know it," Graham told Mashable.
"We're really thinking about life as we don't know it."That's why Graham, and NASA's Goddard Instrument Field Team, or GIFT, endeavor to such places. They're remote, largely untrammeled, and are the closest environments approaching something extraterrestrial on our planet.
"Look out your window," said Graham. "There's literally life everywhere. The whole point of me going to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is it's so hard to get away from life."
Indeed, from its cataclysmic inception, the valley seemed a harsh, untamed, unearthly realm. "This Valley appeared to be on another planet that was in the process of formation," wrote Robert F. Griggs, a scientist who discovered and documented the steaming Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on a National Geographic Society expedition in 1916. (While we were not granted permission to show Griggs' historic images here, they are available to see on Katmai National Park and Preserve's website and this Park Service publication.)
"This Valley appeared to be on another planet that was in the process of formation."When Novarupta blew in 1912, it pressed the restart button in the valley. Even water vaporized. So it's a rare place to sleuth for effects that life could have had on this new environment. Could such microbes have left clues that they harnessed energy using these fresh geologic ingredients, brewed deep inside Earth?
To find out, Graham, as shown below, inspected now-quiet fumaroles — vents where hot volcanic gasses are emitted. Graham assessed these features to see if any materials are different (and potentially altered) from the fresh rock blown out of the volcano. She looked for the presence of accumulated microorganisms, collected samples, and sent them to a microbiologist to see who it is. (We'll have to wait to find out; the results are pending.)
Ultimately, the search for these hints of life inform astrobiologists like Graham — who investigate the possible origins and existence of life beyond Earth — about how we should look for life on other worlds.
On the recent trip to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Heather Graham looks for evidence of past microbes that potentially lived around a fumarole. Credit: NASA / Caela Barry NASA astronauts in the 1960s investigating volcanic rocks in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Credit: NASAAfter all, all life needs an energy source. If something dwells in the oceans of Enceladus, a Saturnian moon that shoots plumes from a subsurface ocean into space, it might exploit chemicals in ways far different than most life on Earth. Or in ways we can't yet imagine.
"The possibility space for life is much greater than our sliver of biology," Graham said.
A journey into the desolate valleyOften, NASA's Goddard Instrument Field Team can drive relatively close to field sites. But in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, there are no roads.
A lifted school bus, capable of driving through rivers, ferried them to the foot of the valley. But then the scientists were on foot. "It's an intimidating landscape," Whelley, the NASA geologist who co-led the trip, said.
A party of 12 hiked some 16 miles to get near Novarupta, which required fording wild, at times unpredictable rivers, including the River Lethe, an ash-filled waterway. "Drowning in them is statistically the most dangerous thing about the Valley," Fitz, a former Katmai ranger, noted. (Writer's note: I have forded this river multiple times; half the time, amid a vigorous and high current, we were forced to turn back; Alaska doesn't play games.) Electric fences, to discourage the rare valley bear, encircled their tents. And anyone sleeping there at night is surrounded, literally, by volcanoes, some steaming. On such an eight day trip, the scientists had survival roles to play — like water collection.
But the payoff was conducting science in a place where Earth's surface has been remade.
Members of NASA's Goddard Instrument Field Team hiking out of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The expansive layering of volcanic rock, emitted by Novarupta in 1912, is the tan and light pinkish region to the right. Credit: NASA / Caela Barry The ash-covered Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, with the Novarupta lava dome labeled at center-right. Credit: USGS California Volcano Observatory (CalVO)The untrammeled valley can reveal what's transpired on other worlds. Places on Mars, for example, may have experienced similarly sized or larger volcanic eruptions, which blanketed mighty Martian glaciers in rocky ash, Whelley said. Scientists brought a ground-penetrating radar and other instruments to the valley to see how Novarupta's blast hid some large glaciers — and to demonstrate how similar events may have transpired on Mars. Another team investigated how clays could form following such a volcanic eruption — which could explain how such soils developed on Mars. We can't go to Mars today; but we can at least approximate desolate and extreme Martian environs.
"We need to find these places to do our work," Whelley explained. "They haven't been developed yet."
NASA's field team has explored volcanic landscapes in Iceland, lava tubes in Hawaii, remnants of an ancient supervolcano in California, and beyond.
Scientist Emileigh Shoemaker uses a ground-penetrating radar to investigate a glacier preserved beneath a thick layer of volcanic ash. Credit: NASA / Andrew Johnson Tweet may have been deletedBut time is running short in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. A new world, composed of fresh rock, minerals, and chemicals, won't stay virgin forever. The willows are creeping in. Now that the ground isn't steaming, even some bears traverse the valley's edge.
This June, flowers popped up near Graham's tent.
"We're always in a race against life and time," she said.
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 MashableBy 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: Here's the answer hints for September 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I've got the music in me!These words are great places to rock out.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers are all related to music venues.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is ConcertVenue.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 21Stadium
Festival
Theater
Arena
ConcertVenue
Nightclub
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.
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