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The Times found an active trade in Nvidia chips in China despite U.S. national security restrictions, as well as unreported incidents of how the technology had been used to further defense research.

The U.S. is trying to stop China from getting Nvidia microchips to advance its military. The private sector is fighting back.

TL;DR: Get The 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle for only £11.69 — a 96% discount only available through Aug. 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dan Dresnok The 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle £11.69 at the Mashable Shop
£374.83 Save £363.14 Get Deal

Playing guitar might look easy, but learning it can be a challenge. Trying to struggle through it on your own is a great way to turn a little mistake into a bad habit. Instead, try professional online guitar lessons from musician Dan Dresnok. This bundle of online guitar lessons might strike a chord while it's priced at just £11.69. 

Enjoy 77 hours of guitar training available for life 

This guitar bundle starts at the beginning, so don’t worry if you’re still learning the basics. There are courses for everything from finger placement to ear training, but if you’re still brand-new, you may want to hop into Guitar Lessons for the Curious Guitarist. This 30-hour intro shows you how to name notes, find chords, play solos, and strum to different patterns. It even has 10 guided guitar play-along videos to practice with.

Once you have the basics down, you can try the advanced course: Guitar Jam Method. That’s where you practice combining chords, your rhythm, and a lot more. 

When you’re ready to play some real music, this bundle has courses to show you the basics of blues, jazz, and other genres. There’s even a course just for children’s songs.

It might take some time to master the guitar, but don’t fret. All course materials are available for life. You decide how long you’re going to practice, whether you just want to strum along a few minutes a day or cram until you can really jam. 

Guitar lessons you can access online 

Don’t put off learning to play guitar because you can’t find a good teacher. These online guitar lessons give you everything you need to master this instrument — except the guitar itself, of course.

Get this guitar lessons training bundle while it’s on sale for £11.69 (reg. £374.83). 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're expecting Paris 2024 to deliver some great athletics, with superhumans from all around the world competing for the chance of a gold medal. The finals are fast approaching, including the Men's 400m. It's set to be an incredibly entertaining race, and definitely one you'll want to watch.

If you want to watch the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, keep on reading because we have all the information you need.

When is the 400m final at Paris 2024?

The men's 400m final at Paris 2024 takes place at 3:20 p.m. ET on Aug. 7. The event is hosted by the Stade de France.

How to watch the 400m final at Paris 2024 for free

The men's 400m final at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream men's 400m final at Paris 2024 (plus all the events that follow) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 4's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 2 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Beneath.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LOWER.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 4

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In glove

The hint for the theme is that the words are a handful.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are related to parts of the hand.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is OnHand.

NYT Strands word list for August 4

• Cuticle

• Nail

• Middle

• Pointer

• Palm

• Ring

• Thumb

• OnHand

• Pinky

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 August 4's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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 August 4 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Nicknames for kids

• Green: Wanna go out

• Blue: Doubled-up letters

• Purple: The sea

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: Kiddo

• Green: Up for It

• Blue: Beginning with Double Letters

• Purple: Nicknames for the Sea, with "The"

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 #420 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kiddo: BUDDY, CHAMP, SPORT, TIGER

• Up for It: AMENABLE, DOWN, GAME, WILLING

• Beginning with Double Letters: AARDVARK, EERIE, LLAMA, OOZE

• Nicknames for the Sea, with "The": BLUE, BRINY, DEEP, DRINK

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

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

The head of Samsung apparently agrees with the online criticisms regarding the company's "Apple clones."

According to a new report from Korean news outlet Ajunews, Samsung's executive chairman Lee Jae-yong was unhappy with Samsung's mobile division, Samsung MX (Mobile eXperience), due to reactions on social media and in tech news outlets regarding the designs of Samsung's newest products.

Samsung's chairman reportedly demanded the division "reeexamine its plans" following online criticism that the designs of the company's newest devices look like Apple copies.

“The chairman (Lee) himself stepped in after the controversy over Apple's design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month," an insider reportedly told the outlet. "The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”

The report goes on to say that unspecific actions were taken against the head of Samsung MX as well as other employees in the company's mobile division.

SEE ALSO: I wore the Samsung Galaxy Ring for 7 days — and it upstaged my Apple Watch Series 9 Samsung's 'Apple clones'

Samsung was hit with a wave of criticism last month following its big annual Galaxy Unpacked event. Alongside its newest smartphones, the consumer electronics giant also announced two new products: the Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch and its new line of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 series.

However, the celebratory Galaxy Unpacked event quickly turned negative online as smartphone reviewers, tech commentators, and even Samsung fans noted the uninspired Apple-like designs of the smartwatch and earbuds.

"Today was a huge L for Samsung," said Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs, a popular tech review channel on YouTube. "Watch Ultra is the most shameless copy of an Apple product in ages — and it’s hideous."

Tweet may have been deleted

"To see Samsung just release a bunch of Apple clones is disheartening," Apple Insider's Andrew O'Hara said following the event. "It’s boring and a massive fail compared to where Samsung used to be."

According to the Ajunews report, these criticisms were even heard among reporters who attended a media briefing held at the company's flagship Samsung Store in Seoul. Reporters that attended "constantly talked about Samsung's new devices looking exactly the same as Apple's" according to the report.

Recently published reviews of Samsung's newest products also can't help but mention the Apple-like design.

"Samsung built an Apple Watch Ultra of its own" reads the headline of Bloomberg's review. 

The Verge went with "If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em" for its own Galaxy Watch Ultra review, while noting how "disappointing" it was to see Samsung copy Apple in this way.

It's very likely that the next iteration of Samsung's Galaxy Ultra  smartwatch and wireless earbuds will look very different from the Apple clones that are out now. But, until then, Samsung is stuck with hearing the accusations that they copied one of their biggest competitors.

The start of August hasn't been great for Jimmy Donaldson a.k.a., MrBeast, as several participants from his upcoming Amazon MGM studios game show Beast Games, have accused the YouTube star of unsafe, borderline negligent filming conditions.

In a striking report from The New York Times, several contestants spoke with the outlet about the severe mismanagement of the show's production. These allegations include statements about the lack of food provided, inadequate medical care, and physical injuries contestants suffered competing in tasks for the show.

SEE ALSO: YouTube's war on ad blockers continues, now making ads truly unskippable

The first round of filming of the reality show took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas where close to 2,000 participants gathered to compete for a grand prize of $5 million. Contestants ate, slept, and generally lived in the stadium during filming and had to give up their food, clothes, and — oddly — medication to staff.

Meals were described as tiny, with staff serving cold oatmeal, raw veggies, and a hard-boiled egg to participants. The only other type of food contestants were given was MrBeast-branded Feastable chocolate bars. Medicine that was handed over to staff was hard to get back promptly, with one participant claiming to have gone days without needed insulin. When another contestant told staff they needed to eat with their medication, they claimed that staff members were dismissive and reluctantly gave them "half a banana."

Several of the complaints given to the New York Times included sleep deprivation due to having to film at night, and having to sleep on the turf of the sun-soaked Las Vegas stadium during the day. Women who competed during the event also alleged sexism that caused some not to get underwear while menstruating because menstruation was said to be "not a medical emergency."

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about MrBeast's Prime Video game show

It was made clear during the report that anonymous contestants felt that the production team was not adequately prepared for the number of participants included in the event. In fact, from the start, several felt misled as many were told the initial number of contestants would be near 1,000. But according to an introductory video by Donaldson, the YouTube star claimed to have always intended to have 2,000 and then cut it down to half for the actual show.

"The MrBeast promotional video shoot, which included over 2,000 participants, was unfortunately complicated by the CrowdStrike incident, extreme weather, and other unexpected logistical and communications issues, which we are currently reviewing," said a MrBeast representative to the New York Times. "But we are grateful that virtually all of those invited to Toronto for our next production have enthusiastically accepted our invitation."

Mashable reached out to representatives for MrBeast and will update if we hear back.

Generative AI is in a bit of a hype bubble in the tech industry right now. As such, new and potentially interesting AI tools are regularly popping up, inviting everyday users to try out the latest new AI software.

However, just because AI is big right now, doesn't mean every AI tool that users come across is legitimate. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Bad actors regularly look to take advantage of whatever is popular at the moment. And the current AI trend makes potential AI consumers particularly vulnerable to hackers and scammers. 

SEE ALSO: Android users, beware! Text message stealing malware is targeting smartphones to gain access to users' data

Case in point, a new report from Trend Micro has found that bad actors are utilizing a tried and true method of weaponizing Facebook ads to lure AI users into downloading malware disguised as AI photo editing tools.

Malware hiding as AI software

Mashable has previously reported on how online criminals utilize hacked Facebook pages in order to scam victims. 

Scammers have used these Facebook ads to advertise products that they never send to buyers. Hackers have rebranded stolen Facebook pages to look like official accounts from companies like Google and even Facebook parent company Meta itself in order to trick users into downloading malware.

Bad actors are now updating this strategy and posing as AI image-editing tools to spread malware.

SEE ALSO: [Update: Meta responds] Scammers are using Meta's copyright takedown tool against influencers

According to the Trend Micro report, scammers are tricking page owners into handing over their login credentials through basic phishing campaigns. Once the scammers have access to an already established account, they rebrand the Facebook Page as an AI photo editing tool. In the case analyzed by Trend Micro, the scammers posed as Evoto, a real AI photo editing tool.

After rebranding the stolen pages as Evoto, the scammers then began running paid Facebook ads through those pages, sending users to a fake website where users could supposedly download the AI photo editing tool. Of course, the target isn't downloading AI software. In this case, the unaware victim is downloading endpoint management software which gives the attacker remote access to their device. From there, the hacker can steal the user's login credentials as well as other sensitive data.

Social media users should proceed with caution when it comes to any unknown downloadable software being promoted via advertisements on a platform. They could very well be malware in disguise.

Game Informer magazine, the gaming magazine with a publishing history spanning more than three decades, has evidently been shut down by its parent company, the brick-and-mortar video game chain and meme stock GameStop.

"After 33 thrilling years of bringing you the latest news, reviews, and insights from the ever-evolving world of gaming, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Game Informer," reads a statement posted on Game Informer's website and X account on Friday.

Tweet may have been deleted

"While our presses may stop, the passion for gaming that we've cultivated together will continue to live on," the statement continued.

SEE ALSO: 'Dumb Money' review: GameStop comedy tries and fails to be 'The Social Network'

However, along with the end of the longest running U.S. gaming print magazine, another aspect of Game Informer that won't live on is the video game publication's entire digital archive. The GameInformer.com domain name now forwards to a landing page which only displays the shut down announcement. All of the Game Informer website's internal links now also forward to the same page meaning previously published news articles, reviews, and other content can no longer be viewed.

Lost digital archives are becoming much too common

According to ex-Game Informer content director Kyle Hilliard, the magazine was more than halfway done with its next issue when it received the news that its parent company was shutting it down.

Tweet may have been deleted

"Game Informer has been closed down by GameStop and the entire, incredibly talented staff (including myself) have all been laid off," Hilliard posted on X on Friday.

The sudden decision to kill off the gaming magazine, which GameStop acquired in 2000, clearly caught Game Informer's employees off guard. As a result, employees likely did not have a chance to archive their own work before the company took the content on its website offline.

Unfortunately, the shutdown and removal of online archives is becoming all too common in the digital media industry as a whole, resulting in content being lost to time. Most recently, Paramount decided to take down the MTV News website along with its digital archives more than a year after the news organization shut down. Reporters as well as fans of the organization lamented the loss of years of interviews and other MTV news-related content. And while the Internet Archive likely has a good amount of Game Informer's content archived, Internet Archive documents are typically incomplete snapshots of the originals, with altered formatting and missing elements.

GameStop has struggled in recent years to keep up with the change within the video game industry from physical to digital media. While the meme stock craze in 2021 helped keep it afloat, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen recently called for "extreme frugality" as its troubles continue.

Mashable reached out to GameStop for confirmation that the archive is gone, and to ask if there were plans to make it available at any point. We will update if we hear back.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 3 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 3

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, August 3, 2024:

AcrossWith 1-Down, 2024 album in which Beyoncé is "reinventing American music in her own image," per Rolling Stone

• The answer is Cowboy.

Sewer entrance

• The answer is Manhole.

Brand that coined color names like Purple Pizzazz and Jazzberry Jam

• The answer is Crayola.

Lawyer: Abbr.

• The answer is ATT.

Baby fox or skunk

• The answer is Kit.

Dwellings made from animal hides

• The answer is Teepees.

Pours down

• The answer is Pours Down.

Size between small and large: Abbr.

• The answer is Med.

DownSee 1-Across

• The answer is Carter.

Like gymnasts and relay racers, at the Olympics

• The answer is On a team.

"How come?"

• The answer is Why.

One of a pair on a shelf

• The answer is Book end.

Simple skateboard tricks

• The answer is Ollies.

Poet William Butler ___

• The answer is Yeats.

Exam for a future doc

• The answer is MCAT.

Eight slices of pizza, typically

• The answer is Pie.

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

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

TL;DR: Hurry and get the 2-in-1 keychain wireless charger for your Apple Watch and other devices while it's $16.97 through August 4 and stay powered up wherever you go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shenzhen Centralspot Innovation 2-in-1 Keychain Wireless Charger for Apple Watch w/ Additional USB-C Charging Port $16.97 at The Mashable Shop
$25.99 Save $9.02 Get Deal

Ever had your Apple Watch die right when you needed it most? Meet the 2-in-1 keychain wireless charger, the tiny gadget you can keep on you so you're never caught powerless again. Compact and incredibly handy, this charger fits right on your keyring, ready to keep your watch and other gadgets juiced up wherever your adventures take you.

Get the 2-in-1 keychain wireless charger for your Apple Watch and other devices on sale for just $16.97 (reg. $25.99) through August 4 and stay powered up wherever you go.

This sleek black keychain is more than just a stylish accessory. It doubles as a wireless charger for any generation Apple Watch and an emergency power bank for other devices with a USB-C port, making it perfect for those on the go. Whether you're running errands, traveling, or just out and about, you can keep your devices charged without the hassle of carrying bulky cables and adapters.

Simply place your device on the charger for a quick power boost, or use the USB port for wired charging when necessary.

Imagine the freedom of never having to worry about a dead battery again. With this keychain charger, you're always prepared. Its modern design and practical functionality make it a must-have gadget for tech enthusiasts and busy professionals alike.

Until August 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the 2-in-1 keychain wireless charger for your Apple Watch for just $16.97 (reg. $25).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Prep your summer meals with help from a Seido 8-piece Japanese Knife Set, on sale for $109.97 (reg. $429) until August 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: Seido Knives Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set w Gift Box $109.97 at The Mashable Shop
$429.00 Save $319.03 Get Deal

Throwing a backyard bash this summer? Whip up all your party favorites with help from a Japanese knife set designed to cut through meats, fruits, veggies, and more with ease.

Take advantage of a major discount on an eight-piece Seido set with a gift box going for $109.97 (reg. $429) through August 4.

The Seido Japanese Master Chef Knife Set includes eight expertly crafted pieces designed for precision and versatility in the kitchen. With high-carbon stainless steel blades, each knife ensures sharpness and durability, making them capable of handling a variety of foods. Ergonomically designed handles provide a comfortable grip, reducing hand fatigue during prolonged use.

Most Western-style knives typically feature edge angles of around 25 degrees, which provides a durable but relatively thicker cutting edge. In contrast, Seido Japanese knives are crafted with a more acute 15-degree edge angle. This sharper angle results in a noticeably finer cutting face, allowing for precision slicing and cleaner cuts. The acute angle enhances the knife's ability to effortlessly glide through ingredients, making tasks such as chopping vegetables, filleting fish, and slicing meat much easier and more efficient. This design choice reflects traditional Japanese knife-making techniques, emphasizing sharpness and precision.

What's in this knife set?

• 8-inch chef's knife

• 7-inch Santoku knife

• 8-inch bread knife

• 5-inch utility knife

• 3.5-inch paring knife

• Kitchen shears

• Honing rod

• Stylish wooden block for organized storage

Meticulously balanced, each knife offers optimal control and performance. This makes the set an ideal gift for culinary enthusiasts and professional chefs alike, especially with its elegant gift box — which also works as a way to store them.

Act fast before this deal on a Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set and gift box for $109.97 ends on August 4.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pack light for your next trip with a 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad — a folding charging station with three wireless charging pads — on sale for $26.97 (reg. $69.99). 

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad $26.97 at The Mashable Shop
$69.99 Save $43.02 Get Deal

One dead battery in an airport is stressful. Two dead batteries is an emergency. Three is an event. Don't worry, you don't actually need to duke it out for three separate outlets to recharge. Just pop the three-in-one Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad out of your pocket and plug it in for quick and easy charging for three devices. 

Pack light for your next trip with a convenient 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad — a folding charging station with three wireless charging pads — on sale for $26.97 (reg. $69.99). 

Fold it up, charge your stuff on the go

Folded up, this wireless charger is about the size of a wallet. Unfolded, it's about nine inches long, and you can also snap it into a pyramid to work as a charging phone stand. 

This charging pad is compatible with a range of smartphones, headphones, and watches. It delivers a maximum power of 15W for phones, 5W for earbuds, and 2.5W for compatible smartwatches like the Apple Watch.

The phone charger can connect magnetically to iPhone models 12, 13, 14, and later, but the charger itself works all the way back through the iPhone 11 series. Apple Watches from the Series 2 on can power up on the watch charger, but this charging station doesn't support Samsung watches. Use the earbud charger for your AirPods or any other Qi-enabled device like Samsung Galaxy phones. 

Pack light and charge fast

Low batteries don't have to be part of your travel plans anymore. Get the 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad on sale for $26.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It doesn't have the name recognition of Halley's Comet, but this enormous snowball zipping through space has fascinated at least one astronomer night after summer night for its shape-shifting tail. 

Dan Bartlett, an astrophotographer based in east-central California, caught Comet Olbers zigzagging across the night sky this week. But each time he looks up through binoculars or his camera, the comet takes a different form.

"This is the first time we've been able to witness this creature's behavior with modern day technology," Bartlett told Mashable. "And what a creature this comet has been." 

Comet experts say while the sharp kink in Olbers' tail may look strange to the average eye, the cause of its jagged appearance is a well-understood phenomenon. 

SEE ALSO: Astronaut snaps strange iridescent clouds at the edge of space

Comets are enormous balls of ice, dust, and rock that formed in the outer solar system, left over from the early days of planet formation about 4.6 billion years ago, according to NASA. Their ice starts to disintegrate as they get closer to the sun, converting instantly from a solid to a gas, skipping over the liquid phase. That process creates their signature tails, millions-of-miles-long trails of debris.

Hundreds of years ago, people considered comets bad omens. Today, scientists know these icy bodies as time capsules of the ancient solar system. Some astronomers believe comets brought water and organic compounds — aka the building blocks of life — to early Earth.

Along with their trails of dust, comets also drag plasma, sometimes bluish in color, across the sky. The plasma tail, which looks a bit like Harry Potter's lightning bolt scar in Bartlett's photo, is composed of ionized gas molecules. These charged particles are easily influenced by changes in the sun's activity, said Henry Hsieh, a Planetary Science Institute researcher. 

Comet Olbers' plasma tail takes a different form every night, says astrophotographer Dan Bartlett, who captured this image on July 4, 2024. Credit: Dan Bartlett

He compares the solar wind to a river constantly flowing away from the sun. 

"The ion tail is basically caught up in that river," Hsieh told Mashable. "You see a straight tail most of the time, but then every so often, you'll have this bit of a hiccup in the sun — these coronal mass ejection events — where it'll just kind of send a particularly large or denser bunch of material outward."

Coronal mass ejections, or plasma spewed from the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, involve enormous solar explosions. Through a solar telescope, the ejection looks like a fan of gas flying into space. NASA likens these ejections to cannonballs hurtling in a single direction, only affecting a targeted area. 

"If this hits the comet, then it will cause a disruption to this nice flowing river," Hsieh said, "like a rock suddenly came loose, and the flow of the river suddenly got a little bit faster, but momentarily."

Comet Olbers appears to have a zigzagging plasma tail on July 29, 2024. Credit: Dan Bartlett

Right now the sun is near the height of its activity in the 11-year solar cycle, so its magnetic field is more chaotic. As the comet experiences these changes traveling through the inner solar system, the tail keeps trying to realign, resulting in these kinks and bends, said Tony Farnham, an astronomer at the University of Maryland.

"There are even occasions when the comet passes through a region where the magnetic field completely changes direction (called a sector boundary)," Farnham wrote in an email, "and the plasma tail will 'disconnect' from the comet, to be followed by the formation of a new tail over the next few days."  

The comet, officially dubbed 13P / Olbers, is named after German astronomer Heinrich Olbers, who first observed it in 1815. The comet was last seen from Earth in 1956.

Comet Olbers is now returning to the so-called Oort Cloud, thought to be a sphere of icy bodies on the outer edge of the solar system. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustration

Comet Olbers' closest approach to the sun was on June 30, but it's now on its way back toward the so-called Oort Cloud on the outer edge of the solar system. Though the weirdly distorted tail is probably just the result of a lively comet reacting to the sun's wild behavior, little is known about this particular visitor to rule out something else inherently unusual about it. 

This is essentially the first opportunity in contemporary times that astronomers have had to study the comet up close and during peak activity, Hsieh said. Astronomers will know more in the coming months as they complete their analyses.

"All comets are kind of like different beasts," he said. "They're all special, and that's what makes them fun to study."

Folks, have you thanked the moon lately?

The large, cratered orb — weighing in at some 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds — serves us greatly. Its potent gravity stabilizes Earth's wobble, so we don't spin chaotically over time (like on Mars), an unpleasant reality that would ignite climate chaos.

Yet beyond ensuring our planet is livable, creating tides, and appearing as a magnificent celestial object, scientists have proposed a novel idea for the moon: As wild species are increasingly threatened by a quintuple whammy of habitat destruction, exploitation, invasive species takeovers, pollution, and relentless climate change, they want to capitalize on extremely frigid lunar environs to naturally cryopreserve animal cells — a difficult thing to artificially sustain on our world.

"Such a biorepository would safeguard biodiversity and act as a hedge against its loss occurring because of natural disasters, climate change, overpopulation, resource depletion, wars, socioeconomic threats, and other causes on Earth," the researchers, which include Mary Hagedorn, a senior research scientist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, wrote in the journal BioScience.

"Our goal is to cryopreserve most animal species on Earth," they added.

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

There are indeed some well-managed cryogenic vaults holding tissue samples — such as the Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection at the American Museum of Natural History. "Nevertheless, all these biorepositories require intensive human management, electrical power, and an ongoing supply of liquid nitrogen, which makes them susceptible to unpredictable natural and geopolitical disasters," the researchers note. "Today, many frozen collections are stored in urban centers, making them even more susceptible to destabilization threats."

"Our goal is to cryopreserve most animal species on Earth."

The moon, however, provides a solution. In the lunar south pole — where NASA intends to establish a permanent presence — there are permanently shadowed regions that stay at or below -196 degrees Celsius (-320 degrees Fahrenheit), the temperatures needed to completely stop cellular and molecular activity. The biodiversity vault would require neither power nor constant oversight.

The 13 proposed landing sites for NASA's Artemis III mission in the lunar south pole. Each area is some 9.3 by 9.3 miles in size. Credit: NASA Storing life on the moon

On Earth, there's a biorepository for seeds in Norway's Arctic Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It naturally stays at some - 18 C (about 0 F). But such an endeavor on the moon, while able to naturally preserve animal cells, comes with a host of hurdles.

To achieve such a lunar vault, cryopreserved cells will first be tested in space. For example, they would collect a species like the starry goby, a species important in coral reef habitats, take samples from their fins, and store them in a biorepository on Earth. The cells and packaging would be tested in space-like environs before actually launching up to a space station. Then the samples will return to Earth "for analysis of viability and changes to DNA."

But before truly journeying to a lunar vault, the researchers note these issues must be addressed:

- Packaging: They'll need to develop "robust packaging" capable of withstanding extreme space environs.

- Radiation: The moon's surface has a significantly higher level of background radiation than Earth — and like Mars is susceptible to solar storms. Introducing "antioxidant cocktails" to protect cells during the freezing process can help, as would building physical barriers (thick layers of moon regolith, walls of water, etc.).

- Temperature: Once on the lunar surface, transporting samples to the cryogenic vault will require rovers capable of maintaining cryogenic temperatures. That's because, in daylight, exposed parts of the moon can reach some 100 C (212 F).

- Competition for resources: The vault would exist in the south pole's permanently shadowed regions, which is home to invaluable stores of lunar ice (necessary for survival and likely the creation of rocket fuel). It may not be easy to utilize these areas for a repository, as such highly sought regions (that are also valued by different nations) "may be highly restricted and managed," the researchers said.

- Microgravity: In space, tissue samples may change when exposed to near weightlessness, and this effect on cryopreserved cells needs more study.

Stems cells frozen in nitrogen at -196 C. Credit: BSIP / UIG via Getty Images

The great decades-long payoff, however, is that, once stored, the samples wouldn't need power, and would have relatively little vulnerability to environmental and societal disruption. The first "class" of preserved animals would likely include endangered or threatened species, pollinators, culturally significant species, and others.

"Protecting Earth's life must be a top priority in the rush on the moon sites for industries and many types of science," the scientists conclude.

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The livestream of Alaska's fat bears is unfiltered. It can be brutal.

On July 27, one of the largest and most dominant bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve's Brooks River attacked a cub, to the dread of web onlookers. The cub looked seriously injured, appeared to slightly improve over a couple of days, but the young animal's current status remains unknown. It's a moment that reveals the bears' natural world in its full, wild spectrum.

"We get to see their moments of joy," Mike Fitz, a former Katmai park ranger and currently a resident naturalist for the bear cam livestreamers explore.org, said in an online live chat. "However, the webcams are live, the footage is uncensored. We also see bears face hardship, hunger, injury, pain, and even death."

SEE ALSO: Yellowstone just had an explosion. What that means for the future.

These bears, living remote lives on the Alaskan Peninsula where visitors arrive aboard small floatplanes, are beamed to the world with the aid of radio transmitters. Katmai's bears have grown internet-famous in the park's annual Fat Bear Week contest, an event celebrating the success of these persevering animals in the harsh wilderness. They must devour salmon throughout the summer to build enough fat stores to outlast the long winter famine, when they hibernate. That's why a fat bear is a healthy bear.

In July, bears congregate in the park's Brooks River to capitalize on these prodigious runs of salmon — bringing the often solitary animals in crowded, close proximity. It's here where the attack occurred.

The well-known mother bear Grazer — who was last year's Fat Bear Week champion — was fishing atop a waterfall with her two spring cubs (meaning they were just born this year). This was a somewhat risky endeavor, because the current is strong. Soon enough, both young bears fell over the falls, and one passed near the large male bear 32, "Chunk," an animal in his prime whose dominance affords him the most productive fishing spots. For reasons unknown, Chunk went after and attacked the cub, as shown in the screenshot below. He clenched the small bear in his jaws.

But the drama didn't end there. Grazer sprinted to defend her cub.

In this screenshot from the livestream, the cub appears to be in Chunk's jaws, while Grazer (on left) aggressively seeks to intimidate Chunk. Credit: NPS / explore.org

Grazer is a particularly aggressive bear, who has previously charged bears that came close to her cubs, and even mauled a bear that attempted to steal a fish. It's this fearless aggression, against a dominant bear hundreds of pounds larger than her, that likely spared the cub fatal injury. Numerous times, Grazer forced Chunk to back off.

"She's courageous — she's defensive."

"She continued to fight back," Naomi Boak, who covers the bears for the Katmai Conservancy, an organization supporting the national park, said during the live chat. "She's courageous — she's defensive."

You can watch the encounter below, from 12:20 to 14:30.

Although the cub appeared severely injured following the attack — bawling, licking its paw, and moving little — the young bear persevered in the aftermath, though rangers haven't seen it in recent days. "Cubs are tough," Fitz told Mashable over email.

"We don't know if the cub will recover or the extent of its injuries, although there is plenty of reason for hope," Fitz added. "It has adapted to its injuries. Rangers have seen it walking on its hind legs in days immediately after the attack. Grazer continues to care for it and her other cub."

"Cubs are tough."

We'll never know why Chunk opportunistically attacked the cub. Prior to the cubs falling, Chunk expressed no interest in Grazer's family; rather, he was focused on capturing 4,500-calorie sockeye salmon. Large males have killed bears on the livestream before. It could simply have been an instinctual reaction. It's possible, as in other cases of bear infanticide, Chunk intended to send a potentially cub-less Grazer back into estrus, a form of sexual selection (though this doesn't add up when considering his previous disinterest in the family group). Chunk might have felt he was competing with Grazer's family for food. Or perhaps it's a reason our species can't understand or imagine.

The Katmai bears will continue fighting for survival on the bear cams. It's a dynamic view into a largely untrammeled realm. It's a world that is at once beautiful and ruthless.

"National parks such as Katmai exist to protect and preserve wild landscapes and ecosystem processes," Fitz said. "This includes the grand spectacles such as bears fishing at Brooks Falls and nature's harsh realities."