Feed aggregator

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has captured the tech world's attention in a way we haven't seen since ChatGPT and now, Donald Trump's got something to say about it, too.

"The release of DeepSeek, AI from a Chinese company should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win," said the president, addressing House Republicans in Miami on Monday.

The comments come after a red day in the U.S. stock market, in which Nvidia shed more than $500 billion in market cap on fears that DeepSeek's optimized approach to AI will reduced demand for Nvidia hardware.

DeepSeek R1 is the latest LLM from Chinese AI company DeepSeek. It wins over competitors, including OpenAI's most powerful models, in benchmarks, while requiring less computing power for training. It's cheaper to use than OpenAI's models, and it's open-source, making it easy for any tech company to use, repurpose, and modify as they see feet. Read our detailed overview of DeepSeek R1 on Mashable.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek could dethrone OpenAI's ChatGPT. Here's why

While there are still a lot of unknowns about DeepSeek R1 and the company that built it, numerous U.S. tech leaders praised its efficiency and the fact that it's open-source. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Microsoft's Satya Nadella called DeepSeek R1 "super impressive," while investor Marc Andreessen called DeepSeek "one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs" he'd ever seen.

UPDATE: Jan. 28, 2025, 3:02 p.m. CET OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also chimed in with his opinion on DeepSeek early on Tuesday. "deepseek's r1 is an impressive model, particularly around what they're able to deliver for the price. we will obviously deliver much better models and also it's legit invigorating to have a new competitor! we will pull up some releases," he wrote on X.

The impact that DeepSeek had on the U.S. stock market immediately raised question on how the Trump administration will handle the news, including the possibility of outright banning it in the U.S.

Tweet may have been deleted

So far, however, it appears that Trump is seeing it as healthy competition rather than a threat to U.S. companies.

The Super Bowl LIX matchup is set and it's one that should feel familiar: The Kansas City Chiefs will face-off with the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a rematch of the Super Bowl from two years ago.

The Chiefs won that first matchup, 38-35, and this go-round they'll be looking to win their third Super Bowl in a row — a feat accomplished by no other NFL team. The Eagles, of course, will be looking for redemption.

We've got all the details ahead of the big game.

When to watch

Sure, you might be excited for the game — but you're going to have to wait a while to watch it. The Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9 in New Orleans. It's set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET. Once it gets going, a typical broadcast of the big game lasts somewhere around four hours.

What about the halftime show?

It is a very highly anticipated halftime show this year, to say the last. Kendrick Lamar is slated to perform, fresh off a yearlong beef with Drake. It's already confirmed that SZA will perform alongside Lamar and it has been rumored that others could show up as well.

Tweet may have been deleted

Typically speaking, the halftime show will begin about 90 minutes after kickoff — but that is far from guaranteed. Football games don't last a uniform amount of time.

Do we know the best Super Bowl commercials yet?

We don't know every commercial that'll air during the big game, but a number of commercials have debuted or been teased already.

Budweiser has dropped its usual clydesdale commercial.

Uber Eats has teased an ad with Martha Stewart and Charli XCX.

Stella Artois has teased an ad with David Beckham.

Adam Brody has been part of a teaser for Pringles.

And a couple of personal favorites, Detroiters Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson, are slated to appear in a Totino's ad.

There will obviously be developments and news to come — but for now all we can do is wait for the game.

In If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, Rose Byrne’s face becomes the close-up canvas for a wildly unsettling comedy-drama. Written and directed by Mary Bronstein — her first feature in 17 years following Yeast— the film follows Byrne as Linda, a mother hanging on by a thread during what appears to be a prolonged nervous spiral. Mirroring her experience, it’s a deeply anxiety-inducing work, whose high-strung energy is owed to a daring audio-visual approach that ought not to be sustainable, but ends up hair-raising and hilarious in the long run. The result, in a word, is excellent.

Through their deft command of drama, Byrne and Bronstein make a formidable pair, as they present the slow demolition of one the most alluringly unpleasant protagonists in modern cinema (alongside Marianne Jean-Baptiste's Pansy in Mike Leigh’s recent Hard Truths).

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

The film is as illuminating as it is upsetting, presenting new cinematic dimensions to facets of motherhood rarely touched upon in Hollywood (prior to Nightbitch last year, the most prominent example was arguably Tully back in 2018). At a glance, If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You is Uncut Gems for postpartum depression (it was notably produced by Josh Safdie and longtime Safdie brothers writer/editor Ronald Bronstein). However, its narrative and aesthetic language is entirely its own, from its occasional hypnotic flourishes, to its distressing psychological portrait of a mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown, told almost entirely in close up.

What is If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You about?

You can trace the film’s fantastic dramatic setup across its first four scenes — three of which are therapy sessions of different kinds. Normally, it isn’t worth breaking down a festival release so numerically, but If I Had Legs is so dramatically fine-tuned that each moment feels like an escalation. It begins on a tight close-up of Byrne’s Linda, and stays there for longer than is comfortable. In fact, it gets increasingly claustrophobic, as an off-screen doctor (Bronstein herself) discusses Linda’s care options for her preschool-aged daughter (Delaney Quinn), who eats partially through a feeding tube in her stomach, which Linda insists is unnecessary.

Right from the word go, Linda’s judgement as a mother is in question. However, it’s hard to keep casting aspersions on the character (or at least, to keep them at the forefront of one’s mind) when Byrne delivers such a captivatingly troubled, melancholy, exhausted performance — and from which Bronstein refuses to avert the camera's gaze. However, when Linda leaves the appointment — a moment that might usually portend a calming interlude — the camera remains fixed on her at an uncomfortable proximity, as her daughter remains beyond the frame, asking repetitive questions, as children do. When they arrive home, there's still no peace for Linda, with her ongoing domestic cacophony crowned with the chaotic collapse of her bedroom ceiling, forcing her to relocate everyone to a cheap motel.

Featured Video For You Amy Adams on how she transformed into a dog in 'Nightbitch'

Linda's second session, held with her amusingly stone-faced therapist (Conan O’Brien) the next day, clues us into some of her self-destructive tendencies. However, her third and most surprising session is the most revealing. She walks right out of her therapist's office and down the hall to her own; she's also a therapist, setting up cycles of advice and therapy-speak that she either gives, or is given, but never adheres to herself. She has the right language, and the right emotional tools in theory, to thrive, but between a traveling husband who berates her over the phone, a doctor who thinks she’s a bad mother, and a daughter who she loves but who needs constant care, she doesn’t have a moment to implement these changes or methods for self-care. 

This desperation is something Bronstein deftly aestheticizes, in ways that feel both prolonged and hyper-active, making Linda’s anguish downright difficult to watch. The movie confronts a woman’s unspoken uncertainties of motherhood in ways that are sometimes repulsive, but deftly-navigated, with tremendous empathy for the movie’s irascible subject.

If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You is an audio-visual gut punch

In a strange but considered flourish, we almost never see Linda’s daughter throughout the film, even though she exists off-screen. Anyone who enters Linda’s orbit onscreen becomes the immediate object of her ire and fed-up tirades: her doctor, her therapist, a nagging hospital parking attendant, and even the motel's kindly superintendent James (a rare screen role for A$AP Rocky). Some of Linda's rants are even laced with subtle racial animus; this is hardly an angel to whom Bronstein is trying to endear us.

By not seeing her young daughter quite as completely as these other characters (even the ones she despises), and by speaking to her dismissively, Linda creates a coping mechanism of sorts — a disconnected, passive façade that prevents her from placing her vulnerable child in the same category as these other irritants. She enacts motherhood — as the fulfilment of a social contract — on autopilot, conversing with her kid with the same repetitiveness with which she changes her mechanical feeding bag overnight (a process accompanied by drone-like beeping that weighs Linda down).

It's hard to shake the sense that not fully engaging with motherhood might not just be a need for Linda, or a survival mechanism, but a secret want she represses. In society’s eyes, the worst thing a mother can do is fail at the Sisyphean trials of parenthood. Perhaps this is something Linda has internalized. It certainly goes hand-in-hand with the guilt she does fully express, over her child’s physical condition and sickness, which only adds to her reasons for not meeting her daughter’s gaze.

SEE ALSO: How 6 generations of iPhone captured 20 years of motherhood in 'Motherboard'

However, actually observing other people around her doesn’t mean Linda fully connects with them either. At one point, when she picks up a baby that isn’t hers, the infant’s close up is accompanied by shrill and piercing sound design (by Filipe Messeder) that lasts an eternity. Everyone is, to some degree, an annoying abstraction to her, whether by intent, or by the mere happenstance of her state of mind. This also applies to one of her unstable patients, Caroline (Danielle Macdonald), a new mother who seems on the verge of psychosis, and yet lucidly expresses the same feelings of postpartum doubt with which Linda has been living for so long — but refuses to see (or accept).

As Linda visits her apartment each night to check on the hole in her ceiling, it takes on unexpected physical properties that yield strange visions. This turns the literal and symbolic chasm into something practically metaphysical. Maybe it’s caused by Linda’s lack of sleep, or maybe it’s something deep within her subconscious lashing against the walls of her mind. Either way, the resultant drama is thrilling, hilarious, and upsetting all at once, and it’s largely owed to Byrne’s fearless, fully-embodied commitment to the part.

Rose Byrne delivers a monumental performance

Bronstein knows exactly how to capture Byrne’s nervous energy. The constant close ups keep the character on-edge, as though her motherhood (and her womanhood) were being interrogated, à la Carl Theodor Dreyer’s close up-heavy silent classic The Passion of Joan of Arc.

Just when the camera starts to pull back from Linda’s close ups, promising the briefest of respite, it becomes just as stressful in other ways, with Byrne’s fidgety body language conveying a burgeoning unease. Before long, relentless tight shots become a more desirable alternative, as if the best that we — and that Linda — could hope for is a moment of familiar discomfort, rather than a novel one with unexpected results. 

Where Byrne begins her journey is the kind of fragile emotional place most great screen performances have to carefully build toward. But in If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, the precipice of total breakdown is the character’s baseline. Touch her and she might shatter — while cutting you in the process.

Things never stop getting worse for Linda, and Byrne’s depiction only grows more frayed. The character’s difficulties build in completely absurd ways, resulting in moments that are as jaw-droppingly funny as they are physically cringe-worthy. It’s the kind of film that’ll make you squirm in your seat while laughing till you almost break a rib. But it’ll also make you want to call your mom, owing to the depths of agony Byrne reaches into, playing a woman who speaks over everyone, and yet, wants desperately to be heard. 

Whether or not she deserves this particular hell is the kind of moral judgement the film practically never allows you to consider. The plot leaps forward with reckless abandon, just as mounting absurdities reach fever pitch, but the movie never breaks away from Byrne’s gradual self-immolation. Her conception of Linda — as a person doing her best, driven to short-tempered cruelty and selfishness by her circumstances — is too multidimensional, and too lifelike, to ever truly be disliked. 

Just like Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths, there isn’t a single moment during which the torment driving Byrne’s character to lash out isn’t visible behind her eyes, begging to be recognized. It’s a plea made all the more urgent by the fact that If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You feels in a constant state of hair-raising climax. And so, it grabs you by the collar and pulls you along for its harrowing plunge, forcing you to witness — and to understand — the worst yet most deeply human impulses a mother can have.

If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You was reviewed out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

A new A.I. model, released by a scrappy Chinese upstart, has rocked Silicon Valley and upended several fundamental assumptions about A.I. progress.

A new A.I. model, released by a scrappy Chinese upstart, has rocked Silicon Valley and upended several fundamental assumptions about A.I. progress.

Planes that fly faster than the speed of sound create thunderous supersonic booms.

But with NASA's X-59 plane, that could change.

The space agency plans for the aircraft's first flight in 2025, an endeavor that seeks to turn the booms to "barely audible" thumps and make supersonic flight possible over land. Over a half-century ago, the U.S. banned commercial planes from flying at supersonic speeds over the nation, but NASA's Quiet SuperSonic Technology mission, or QueSST, seeks to change that.

"Kudos to NASA for working on this. For trying to find a real solution," Bob van der Linden, an aviation expert and supervisory curator at the Aeronautics Department of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, told Mashable when NASA revealed the sleek plane last year.

SEE ALSO: How Oppenheimer built an atomic bomb before the Nazis

Though the economic case and demand for future supersonic flights remains uncertain — flying at such high speeds burns bounties of fuel and drives higher ticket prices — it would revolutionize flight. A passenger could speed from Los Angeles to New York City in just two and a half hours. (Seats on the 1,300 mph Concorde plane, retired in 2003, were too expensive for most passengers, at some five times the cost of flying on a 747, which is largely why the plane commercially failed. It also couldn't legally fly over land, which limited the Concorde's routes.)

NASA awarded the aerospace company Lockheed Martin, which also makes U.S. fighter jets, a $247.5 million contract to build the X-59 craft, and as the images below show, the plane is in its final testing stages before taking flight over the California desert. Lockheed posted the image below on Jan. 24, showing burning gases shooting out the back of the engine. NASA noted in December that it was now running afterburner engine tests, which gives an aircraft the thrust it needs to reach supersonic speeds of over some 767 mph.

The X-59 aircraft will zoom at 925 mph some 55,000 feet above several U.S. communities to gauge the 100-foot-long experimental craft's ability to quell the unsettling supersonic booms.

Tweet may have been deleted Afterburner tests on the X-59 plane performed at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. Credit: Lockheed Martin Corporation / Garry Tice How to tame a sonic boom

To quell the booms an aircraft makes when breaking the sound barrier, engineers employed a number of design innovations on the X-59:

• Overall Shape: The X-59's sleek, elongated structure, with a particularly long nose, is designed to "spread out" the shockwaves made when the craft collides with atmospheric molecules. If it works, the plane won't send out violent shockwaves. "Instead, all people will hear is a quiet 'sonic thump' — if they hear anything at all," NASA explained.

• Engine: The plane's single, powerful engine is on top of the craft, where the rumble won't be directed toward Earth's surface.

• Cockpit / Windscreen: The X-59 is extremely skinny, so narrow that the cockpit, located over halfway back on the plane, has a constricted view of what lies ahead. There's not a forward-facing window. Fortunately, there's a solution: NASA's eXternal Vision System (XVS) provides a high-definition display of the world beyond. "A 4K-monitor serves as the central 'window' allowing the pilot to safely see traffic in their flight path," NASA said.

• Wings: Engineers built the aircraft with "swept back" wings, a design meant to reduce drag.

After the first test flights in 2025, Lockheed Martin will transfer the plane to NASA. Then, after acoustic testing over California's Edwards Air Force Base and Armstrong Flight Research Center, NASA will fly the X-plane over select U.S. cities in 2026 and 2027.

Stay tuned. The X-59 might fly above you.

TL;DR: The Ninja Dragon Phantom dual-camera smart drone is only $90 while supplies last (55% off) — less than 50 are left in stock.

Forget the stress of work, tax season, and other adult things for a minute. What does your inner child want today? We have a guess since you’re here: a drone that can take pictures. 

Now that you have adult money, your parents can’t stop you. Except you’ll hardly need to set aside much cash when this affordable drone is only $90 (reg. $199.99). Why are they 55% off? Because we want you to pick up a new hobby this year that excites you. But we’re selling out of these quick, so order yours ASAP.

The drone’s best features

This is a beginner-friendly drone, not one of those thousand-dollar models with a steep learning curve. Control it using the remote, pair it with your smartphone to draw flight paths with your finger, or get in front of one of the cameras to make gesture controls.

As you get used to flying, you’ll appreciate that the remote control has automatic takeoff and landing, so you don’t need to take Tom Cruise’s Top Gun flight classes. The drone also has obstacle avoidance, so you can worry less about hitting trees, walls, people, and other things that get in your way.

Ready to take some pictures? Good — the drone has two cameras, one on the front and one on the bottom. Capture aerial drone shots of nature, sporting events, or an artsy overview of your home.

Your drone’s pictures and videos won’t even look shaky with a built-in image stabilization system that enhances clarity and stability in flight. You’ll want to share everything on Facebook or TikTok (while you still can, anyway).

Order your dual-camera drone for $90 (reg. $199.99) before we’re sold out. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Dragon Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO Dual Camera Smart Drone $89.99
$199.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Take $40 off a PDF Expert Premium Plan 1-year subscription for iOS while codes last — inventory is running low.

Think about the last time someone emailed you a PDF to sign or fill out, and all you had on hand was your iPhone. You probably looked into an invisible camera like you were on an episode of The Office since you couldn’t do anything with it. But we live in the digital age where having a PDF editing app is practically essential.

You don’t have to overpay for an app like Adobe Acrobat, though. An equally effective alternative is PDF Expert for iOS. They offer a 1-year subscription for $39.99, compared to Adobe, which costs upwards of $19.99 monthly to unlock premium features. 

Essential tools in your back pocket

Next time someone emails you a PDF, you’ll have a full mobile PDF editor that does basically anything you need:

• Edit text, insert images, and add links

• Fill out forms and sign contracts

• Annotate documents with highlights and comments

• Convert file formats

• Recognize text with OCR capabilities

PDF Expert also has an AI-powered chat feature. Imagine your boss sends you a 50-page document, and they want you to summarize it in the next team meeting. Instead of having to read the whole thing, PDF Expert can give you an AI summary.

Or, maybe you’d prefer a list of main points, keywords, or the ability to have a conversation with the PDF. That’s useful if you don’t understand something included because you can ask questions about the material and get instant answers.

You can get a 1-year subscription to this AI-powered PDF editor for $39.99 (reg. $79.99). You won’t find a better price anywhere else.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle Limited PDF Expert Premium Plan $39.99
$79.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Your iPhone or Android can connect wirelessly to your car with the PlayAIBox, on sale now for $89.99 (reg. $129). 

Time to lose the aux cable. If your car can't wirelessly connect to your phone, use PlayAIBox to bridge the gap. These wireless car adapters work with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and they're on sale for $89.99, down from $129. 

How does it work?

These adaptors work for cars that are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but can't connect wirelessly. You can use it in 98% of car models made from 2016 on, so unless your vehicle is a certified classic, it probably works. 

Installation is simple. Just plug it into your car with either of the USB cables that come in the box, then pair your phone. The first pairing may take around 30 seconds, but that's the case with most Bluetooth devices. Every connection after should be automatic and much faster. 

Once your PlayAIBox is installed, you can use your phone's navigation, play music, or even stream shows for your passenger. Road trips just got a whole lot better. 

Like to take your lunch break in your car? Pull up YouTube or a game on Android Auto and relax hands-free. 

Even if your phone doesn't have a connection, you may be able to watch movies and listen to music. Load your PlayAIBox up with an SD Card full of your favorites. It supports external storage up to 128GB. 

There's still time to get a PlayAIBox on sale for $89.99, but there aren't many left. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart PlayAIBox Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Wireless Adapter with Streaming Service Support $89.99
$129.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: This Anti-Theft Bike Tracker looks like a bike bell, works like an AirTag, and is only $19.99 (reg. $29). 

A good lock can help protect your bike, but what happens if it's not enough? AirTags are recognizable and pretty bulky, so there aren't many places to hide them. Instead, hide your tracker in plain sight. 

This Anti-Theft Bike Bell works just like an AirTag that doubles as a functioning bicycle bell. So you can track your ride if it gets lost or tell pedestrians to get out of the bike lane. Bonus: it's actually cheaper than an AirTag if you get it while it's on sale for $19.99 (reg. $29). 

A hidden tracker just for bikes

If you've ever used an AirTag, you know how to use this new tracker. It integrates with Apple’s Find My app, so you can track your bike on a map wherever it goes. And when you get close, just press a button to make your bell ring. 

This tracker may be pretty high-tech, but it's no slouch. The waterproof seal keeps your tracker safe from the elements, so you can ride in the rain without worry. Just make sure to wear a helmet. 

No need to detach your bell after every ride. The battery can last up to a full year on a single charge. And don't worry about someone just taking it off your handlebars. It attaches securely with an Allen wrench. 

Don't let your bike go for a ride without you. 

Get an Anti-Theft Bike Bell Tracker while it's on sale for $19.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Centralspot Anti-Theft Bike Bell with Tracker - Works with Apple Find My $19.99
$29.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Sex in cinema is back, baby. 2024 has been a banging year at the movies thanks to steamy fare like Rose Glass's neo-noir thriller Love Lies Bleeding, Luca Guadagnino's love-triangle drama Challengers, Sean Baker's sex-worker-centered comedy Anora, and last, but certainly not least, Halina Reijn's May-December drama Babygirl.

Written and directed by Bodies Bodies Bodies helmer Reijn, Babygirl has earned dynamic buzz out of its Venice Film Festival premiere, from which Nicole Kidman was awarded the Volpi Cup for her riveting performance as the female lead. As she has in daring productions like Eyes Wide Shut, The Paperboy, and Big Little Lies, Kidman rejects her polished persona as a megawatt star (and AMC advocate), embracing a messy journey of sex and danger.

Featured Video For You SEE ALSO: The 25 best movies of 2024, and where to watch them

Yet Babygirl stands out among these other sexy films and series by keeping the playfulness of fucking fiercely at the center of its willfully problematic romance. In that, even the seediest sequence has a bit of sweetness ground in. 

Babygirl genderswaps a common May-December dynamic.  Director Halina Reijn and Nicole Kidman. Credit: A24

At first blush, Babygirl's premise sounds almost tediously familiar: A high-powered CEO's family and job are threatened, thanks to a torrid affair with a lusty young intern.

Except Reijn genderswaps these roles, so the mighty CEO isn't a snarling Michael Douglas type; she's played by a crisp, cool Kidman. And rather than a curvy nymph swanning into their new workplace in a snug pencil skirt, Triangle of Sadness' Harris Dickinson strolls in with a blazer and a bored expression. And just like that, the expectations of this erotic tale are thrown off-kilter. 

Romy Mathis (Kidman) seems to have it all: a posh Hamptons home; a luxury Manhattan apartment; a handsome, doting husband (Antonio Banderas); two lovely teen daughters, Isabel (Esther McGregor) and Nora (Vaughan Reilly); and a high-power job, where she's not only respected but also a role model for women in male-dominated fields. However, deep down Romy desires to be disrespected, debased, and made to beg. It's a wish so dark she can't even share it with her longtime partner. So when this beautiful and blasé hunk talks to her as casually as he might a barista, she's uncomfortably aroused. And he knows it. 

Samuel (Harris) is a new take on the problematic Lolita trope: a young person (typically a girl, often a minor) who is portrayed as sexually precocious and self-aware way beyond their years. Early on, he can sense that what Romy is missing in her life is a place where she can play at being submissive. Tough but tender, Samuel is ready to be her dominant, expecting her to grovel on a dirty hotel room floor or drink a tall glass of milk just because he said so. Romy's desire is one often associated with male execs, especially in BDSM circles. The genderswapping of this May-December dom-sub relationship (the opposite of, say, Steven Shainberg's office-set BDSM rom-com The Secretary), makes for a thrillingly transgressive narrative.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to understanding Dom/sub dynamics

Romy and Samuel's relationship is undeniably hot, thanks to the intense chemistry between Kidman and Harris. Yet it's an onscreen romance that might well make its audience squirm, because of the power dynamics, the age difference, the non-conforming gender roles, and the kinky sex. This relationship is deeply fucked up even before Romy suggests their safe word be "Jacob" — the name of her husband. And all of this works toward a lusty and liberating message that sex should be about aching emotional honesty and fun discoveries. 

Babygirl revels in sexual experimentation and consent.  Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

BDSM gets a bad rap in the media, often because it's mischaracterized as abusive or bullying. Reijn and her cast embrace a version of Dom/sub sex where consent is not just essential but also exciting. In a husky voice, Samuel tells Romy to do certain things. She might blush or refuse him, and he'll urge her tell him why. It's not pressuring, it's communication. And notably, it's the kind of dialogue — awkward and exhilarating — that she can't manage with her sweet husband. 

Far from the "zipless fucks" dreamed of by Erica Jong or idealized in erotic thrillers of the '90s, Babygirl uses these moments of clumsy conversation and fumbling foreplay not only to ground sexual fantasy in a more realistic setting, but also, because there's a freedom in seeing the process here. We see the pair's chosen cheap hotel room as a sexual sandbox, where both feel liberated as playmates. The power dynamic is in effect, but pleasure is the goal both seek to find together. And perhaps because it's Kidman in the lead, Babygirl urges its audience to take themselves less seriously in the bedroom, and be a bit like Romy and Samuel. 

Nicole Kidman delivers a hot-blooded and vulnerable performance that could make her an Oscars frontrunner.  Antonio Banderas and Nicole Kidman in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

Some will likely balk at or criticize Kidman for taking such a sexually raw role. (She faced similar critiques over The Paperboy.) As Romy, Kidman is given a level of power few women in the world will ever have. And so there’s a knowing discomfort in watching her surrender that power to some reverent dude in a necktie. As the stakes of this drama heighten through the possibility of Romy losing her job or her husband or the respect of her assistant (Talk to Me's Sophie Wilde) and daughters, there are plenty of reasons to judge this relationship. Yet within those scenes, Kidman lets loose a version of this character who is so radiantly human, so beautifully flawed, full of yearning and shame, that she is comprehendible. Even as we know she’s making "bad choices," we might be relieved to watch someone dare to do that. By living vicariously through Babygirl's dizzying highs and gut-churning lows, you might feel inspired to embrace the truth of yourself, as Romy does over the course of this movie. 

Kidman thoughtfully knocks herself off of the high pedestal of glamour girl movie stardom to give us this gift. While the scenes of sexual discovery can feel downright juvenile with their laughter and awkward conversations around consent and kink, Babygirl has a profound maturity in its psychological understanding and empathy for unconventional desires. 

As to the Oscars, Kidman’s win in Venice suggests she’s in good standing this award season. Sexual liberation and unapologetic nudity certainly didn’t hurt Emma Stone last year in the best actress race; she won for Poor Things. However, Kidman's age might prove a challenge. Even as there is a rise in May-December romances featuring an older woman and younger man (including Kidman's summer release A Family Affair), there can be a backlash against older women lusting for a younger man, as we’ve seen in the mixed reception of The Idea of You, a rom-com about a middle-aged single mom hooking up with a 20-something boyband member.

Kidman is helped, however, by being surrounded by strong performances. Harris is finely tuned at the cross-section of lusty fantasy and irksome reality, playing a character who maintains a sultry mystique, justified by his place in Romy’s conflicted perspective. Banderas warmly portrays a loving partner/father, edging the fun of the affair with the pain of his inevitable discovery of it. Wilde withers as a keen assistant. McGregor brings a free-spirited Gen Z sense of sexual liberation as Romy’s queer daughter with a love triangle of her own, while Reilly succinctly captures the sweet innocence of a child that might well be shattered by the cracking of her mother’s all-mighty facade. 

Altogether, the cast makes Babygirl a stunner, landing silly moments as well as sexy ones. Emotionally naked, unapologetically provocative, and defiantly playful, Reijn's film joyfully explores the complicated ties that bind. Amid stiff competition, she delivers one of the sexiest, most thrilling films of the year. 

Babygirl is now on VOD and digital platforms.

UPDATE: Jan. 27, 2025, 4:31 p.m. EST "Babygirl" was reviewed out of its North American premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in this article, originally published Oct. 1, 2024. It has been updated to include current viewing information.

The German word "schadenfreude" basically means "deriving pleasure from someone else's pain," and that has to be part of the magic behind First We Feast's uber popular YouTube show Hot Ones. Since 2015, host Sean Evans has put celebs in the literal hot seat, challenging them to eat increasingly spicy wings and answer probing questions meticulously crafted by his research team.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best Chicken Shop Date episodes to binge

After more than 300 episodes, 25 seasons, and 1 billion views, guests ranging from Olivia Rodrigo and Matt Damon to Malcolm Gladwell and Joel Embiid have taken on the hot wing gauntlet. And while many have failed (DJ Khaled only made it to three wings, proving that all he does is quit), others have triumphed like champs.

We gathered some of the most memorable episodes to watch back-to-back, notable for their animated reactions, memorable conversations, or legendary performances.

In no particular order, here are the greatest Hot Ones episodes to binge.

1. Pedro Pascal

"I really actually got to the point that I thought that this might not happen." These are the words of a struggling Pedro Pascal as he grapples with Da Bomb. Like the rest of the interview though, the Gladiator II star manages to joke and laugh his way through the pain, making a Hot Ones episode that is easily one of the show's most delightful.

2. Shaq

Shaquille O'Neal brings his own milk, apologizes to the entire state of Kansas, and desperately asks for "ice cube chapstick" to soothe his burning lips. But can he finish all 10 wings without tapping out?

3. Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence is not just a lovely guest, but an iconic one. Her horrified expression and nonsensical blabbering ("What do you mean? What do you mean?") as Evans picks up and shakes the final bottle of hot sauce became one of the most popular memes of 2023.

4. Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien brings his own doctor along to the Hot Ones studio, declares "I don't think there's a wing on this table that I cannot devour like it's cool whip cream on an August afternoon," and inevitably succumbs to spice-induced delusion.

5. Ariana Grande

There's an almost eerie calm in this one, with Ariana Grande proving herself to be a hall of fame Hot Ones contender by barely even raising an eyebrow at Da Bomb. Impressive.

6. Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd opts for vegan cauliflower wings and utters the words that launched a thousand memes: "Hey, look at us." In an incredible display of mental and physical fortitude, he also completes the 10-wing gauntlet without a single sip of water or milk.

7. Lorde

Watch as Lorde waxes poetic about the virtues of the perfect onion ring and wipes the floor with every single Hot Ones celeb who preceded her by eating all 10 wings without so much as breaking a sweat.

8. Sabrina Carpenter

"I'm a snotty girl, by the way." Sabrina Carpenter lays all her cards on the table as the wings get spicier, and for the most part she takes them in her stride — at least right up until she gets to Da' Bomb, and the suffering starts in earnest. The most memorable question the Short n' Sweet singer asks Sean as she desperately tries to ward off the pain? "Has anyone ever sued you?" Still, she makes it through in the end.

9. Idris Elba

Idris Elba shows up a bit cocky ("I'm pretty confident, I fear no one," he assures Evans), but the wings soon put him in his place. It's all smooth sailing until he tries Da' Bomb and is overcome by a dry cough and confusion.

10. Tom Holland

Bubbly Brit Tom Holland muscles his way through a difficult meal to conquer the wings of death, all while charming Evans with stories from the set and his failed audition for Star Wars.

11. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman

This one featuring the Deadpool & Wolverine co-stars descends into glorious mayhem around the halfway point, when Hugh Jackman suddenly can't stop himself from giggling, sweating and crying at the same time.

12. Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown saunters through seven wings like a champ, but everything breaks down in the fourteenth minute when she flips Da' Bomb the bird and starts talking a mile a minute.

13. Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish gets so heated she shoves handfuls of ice cubes into her mouth.

14. Desus and Mero

Comedy duo Desus and Mero wipe literal nose sweat away as they stare down the wings of death.

15. Lil Yachty

In his first-ever experience with hot wings, the rapper delivers some of the best reactions the show has ever seen. 🔥

16. Gordon Ramsay

Karma is spicy for chef Gordon Ramsay, who pops open a bottle of Pepto-Bismol mid-challenge.

17. Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie truly struggles to take on the wings of death ("I think I might die," she says at one point) but makes it through thanks to special cameos from her Birds of Prey costars.

18. Pete Davidson

Pete Davidson fights his way to an impressive finish while asking Evans through tears, "Am I the worst!?" No worries, Pete, DJ Khaled was definitely the worst.

19. Post Malone

Posty returns to the show and provides cartoon-level reactions, from a Wile E. Coyote scream to a respectable repertoire of dance moves.

UPDATE: Jan. 27, 2025, 3:02 p.m. UTC This story was originally published on April 21, 2024 by Elizabeth de Luna and has been updated by Sam Haysom with more of the best 'Hot Ones' episodes you should binge, ones that were released after the initial publish date.

SAVE $440: As of Jan. 28, iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum is available at Best Buy for $359, a massive $440 discount off its regular $799 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7+ $359.00 at Best Buy
$799.00 Save $440.00 Get Deal

No one loves vacuuming, and with the iRobot Roomba j7+, you’ll never have to think about it again. Right now, it’s down to $359 in Best Buy’s 48-hour flash sale, saving you a jaw-dropping $440. This is a game-changing deal for a robot vacuum that not only cleans but empties itself.

The Roomba j7+ takes cleaning to the next level with 10x the power-lifting suction compared to the Roomba 600 series, making it perfect for tackling stubborn messes. Got pets? It’s a lifesaver. iRobot guarantees its P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise, fantastic), meaning the j7+ can identify and avoid pet waste. If it fails, they’ll replace it for free.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Say goodbye to pre-cleaning rituals. With PrecisionVision Navigation, this vacuum can dodge obstacles like cables, shoes, and even socks. Set it loose, and it’ll navigate your home like a pro. With Imprint Smart Mapping, you can customize its cleaning schedule by room and time, store multiple floor plans, and create “Keep Out Zones” for areas you’d rather skip.

One of the best features is the self-emptying base. The Roomba j7+ empties itself into an enclosed dirt disposal bag, meaning you don’t have to deal with the dust for months. It even knows when to clean without bothering you, starting its rounds when you leave the house and wrapping up before you return.

From rugs to hardwood, the Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes adjust automatically to different floor types, so every surface gets the attention it deserves. It’s also equipped with Cliff Detect, which prevents it from falling down the stairs, and advanced sensors that glide under furniture with ease.

At $359, this deal is a no-brainer for anyone tired of dragging out the old vacuum. With features like voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant and personalized cleaning suggestions, the Roomba j7+ doesn’t just clean your home — it changes how you think about cleaning altogether. But hurry — this deal disappears after today, and so should your old vacuum.

SAVE $560: As of Jan. 28, the Alienware m16 16-inch gaming laptop is on sale for $2,239.99 at Best Buy, a massive $560 discount off its regular price of $2,799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware m16 16-inch gaming laptop $2,239.99 at Best Buy
$2,799.99 Save $560.00 Get Deal

Here’s the deal: Best Buy’s clearance sale is offering a monster gaming laptop at a price that’s hard to ignore. Alienware m16, armed with the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, is down to $2,239.99 from $2,799.99. That’s $560 in savings for one of the most stacked rigs on the market.

The m16’s 16-inch QHD+ display isn’t just big. It’s loaded. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, it’s designed to handle fast-paced games with buttery-smooth visuals. Dolby Vision support means you get cinematic color and contrast, from hectic moments in DooM to exploring in Skyrim. Add Dolby Atmos audio to the mix, and you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the action.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Performance-wise, the 12-core Ryzen 9 7845HX CPU and 16GB of DDR5 RAM are built for serious multitasking and intense gaming sessions. Pair that with the RTX 4080 GPU, featuring 12GB of GDDR6 video memory, and this machine isn’t just ready for modern games. It’s prepared to dominate them on ultra settings. Thanks to the 1TB NVMe SSD, you’ll have plenty of space for your growing game library and near-instant load times.

Alienware didn’t skimp on cooling, either. The Cryo-tech cooling system combines a vapor chamber, quad fans, seven heat pipes, and Alienware’s proprietary Element 31 thermal material to keep temperatures in check, even during demanding sessions. The redesigned chassis and Legend 3 aesthetics make this machine look as premium as it performs.

This is a complete package for gamers who want top-tier specs, and at this clearance price, it’s a solid investment. This is your green light if you’ve been holding out for a major upgrade. Just don’t wait too long. Clearance deals don’t last, and someone else might claim this beast while you’re still deciding.

SAVE $170: As of Jan. 28, the Insignia 75-inch F50 4K UHD Smart Fire TV is on sale for $429.99 at Best Buy, saving you $170 off its regular $599.99 price during the 48-hour flash sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 75-inch F50 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $429.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

When was the last time you upgraded your TV? Because this Insignia F50 Series 75-inch 4K Fire TV deal at Best Buy is calling your name. Right now, it's slashed down to $429.99 from its usual $599.99, and trust me, that's a lot of screen for not a lot of money. At this size, everything from Sunday football games to your favorite Netflix dramas feels like a front-row experience. Plus, it's got 4K Ultra HD resolution, so those stunning visuals will leave you wondering why you waited so long to ditch your old TV.

This deal is even sweeter because it's a complete entertainment hub. With Fire TV built-in, you can immediately stream everything from Prime Video to Disney+. The Alexa voice remote also comes in handy. You can ask her to launch apps, find a specific movie, or even change inputs without lifting more than a finger. And if you're an Apple fan, it supports AirPlay, so sharing photos or videos from your phone is a breeze.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Now let's talk sound. The DTS Studio Sound technology might not replace your home theater system. Still, for built-in speakers, it delivers some surprisingly immersive audio. And if you've got a soundbar, the TV's HDMI ARC and eARC support make hooking it up hassle-free.

On the tech side, you're getting features that make this more than just a budget TV. The HDR10 support ensures colors pop with vibrant contrast. At the same time, the LED-backlit LCD panel offers sharp clarity for those Netflix binges or gaming marathons. Plus, it has three HDMI ports, so no one's unplugging the PS5 to watch cable.

At just $429.99, this Insignia 75-inch F50 Fire TV is a rare find, especially during Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale. If you're serious about leveling up your home theater without draining your bank account, this deal is one you'll regret passing up.

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

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

• Yellow: Lingo Serena Williams would use

• Green: Football team abbreviations

• Blue: Points awarded on a single play in NFL

• Purple: Two

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

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

• Yellow: Tennis lingo

• Green: NFL teams on scoreboards

• Blue: Possible points on a football play

• Purple: No. 2

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #127 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Tennis lingo - ACE, FAULT, LET, WINNER

• NFL teams on scoreboards - NOR, PIT, SEA, TEN

• Possible points on a football play - ONE, SIX, THREE, TWO

• No. 2 - JETER, PLACE, RUNNER-UP, SILVER MEDAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, January 28, 2025:

AcrossMagic accessory for Gandalf the Grey

• The answer is Staff.

Item often cut with a pocket-sized guillotine cutter

• The answer is Cigar.

Fill with awe

• The answer is Amaze.

Flood stopper

• The answer is Levee.

Word repeated in "Any ___ is good ___"

• The answer is Press.

DownTop of the head

• The answer is Scalp.

Track meet official

• The answer is Timer.

Plant used to make tequila

• The answer is Agave.

Flusters

• The answer is Fazes.

Saves from jail in Capture the Flag, say

• The answer is Frees.

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

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

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

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

One of President Donald Trump's first actions after last week's inauguration was to sign an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as well as Denali to Mount McKinley. Now Google has announced it will follow Trump's directive, changing how these landmarks are labelled in Google Maps.

While Trump's order alters the U.S. government's official position regarding the Gulf of Mexico and Denali's names, it does not specifically direct companies to follow suit. Even so, Google confirmed that its Maps app will be renaming the Gulf of Mexico and Denali in an X post on Monday.

"We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps," Google wrote (with at least a few of those questions coming from Mashable). "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources."

SEE ALSO: Google and Apple Maps still list Gulf of Mexico, not America, per Trump's order Tweet may have been deleted

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the U.S. government's official source for geographic features' names, maintaining records and standardising information across the country. As of Monday, the GNIS has not yet been updated to reflect Trump's executive order, and still lists the sea and mountain in question as the Gulf of Mexico and Denali respectively.

However, Trump's directive included a 30-day deadline for the name changes to be completed and all references to the Gulf of Mexico removed. Google has thus stated that it will wait until the GNIS amends its records before switching over to the new Trump-mandated names.

"When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America," wrote Google.

I never ever under any circumstances install chrome plugins, but I will install one that makes it display Gulf of Mexico instead of Gulf of America on Google maps.

— MC Frontalot (@mc.frontalot.com) January 28, 2025 at 11:56 AM

The tech giant also confirmed that Google Map's name changes won't only be visible to U.S. users. Rather, the "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley" labels will be visible to everyone who uses Google Maps regardless of the country they're in. This is due to Google's "longstanding practice" of handling labelling inconsistencies by deferring to a landmark's official name in the country where it's located. 

"When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name," said Google. "Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too."

As such, we can reasonably expect Google Maps to change its label for Denali to Mount McKinley across the globe in the near future, as the mountain is located entirely within U.S. borders.

In contrast, the U.S. does not own the Gulf of Mexico/America, which is also bordered by Mexico and Cuba. It therefore appears likely that while U.S. Google Maps users will see the gulf completely renamed to "Gulf of America," international users may see the new name alongside its internationally recognised label "Gulf of Mexico."

Mashable has reached out to Google for comment.

Participants at this year’s Joint Mathematics Meetings explored everything from the role of A.I. to the hyperbolic design of a patchwork denim skirt.

TL;DR: Get a PDF Expert Premium lifetime subscription for £64.21 (reg. £112.38) and manage your PDFs with seamless editing, organising, and annotation tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle Limited PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) £64.21 at the Mashable Shop
£112.38 Save £48.17 Get Deal

PDFs are great until you need to edit one — then they can feel like an unsolvable puzzle. With PDF Expert Premium, you’ll never have to wrestle with your files again. This powerful £64.21 (reg. £112.38) tool puts you in full control of your PDFs, making edits, annotations, and organisation simple.

PDF Expert is built for flexibility and ease of use. If you want to tweak text, images, or links, it’s as simple as clicking and typing. You can highlight, comment, and mark up your PDFs with intuitive tools that let you collaborate seamlessly.

But it doesn’t stop at edits. PDF Expert also makes organising large batches of documents effortless. Merge multiple PDFs into one, split files, or rearrange pages to your liking. Plus, its handy search function ensures you’ll never waste time hunting for key information again.

For those focused on security, PDF Expert has you covered. Lock your documents with passwords and control access to sensitive information. Whether you’re handling contracts, assignments, or personal files, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your data is protected.

Great for students, professionals, or anyone who deals with PDFs regularly, you can say goodbye to clunky workarounds and hello to streamlined productivity.

With a one-time payment of £64.2 — a 42% discount — you get lifetime access to PDF Expert Premium's complete suite of features.

StackSocial prices subject to change.