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Give AI-generated text a human touch with this life-saver of an app

Mashable - 3 hours 31 min ago

TL;DR: Upgrade your AI content and pass AI checkers with a lifetime subscription to Undetectable Humaniser AI, available now for a one-time payment of £32.22 (reg. £2,320.52).

Opens in a new window Credit: Evaris Media Undetectable AI: Lifetime Subscription £29.81 at the Mashable Shop
£805.16 Save £775.35 Get Deal

Creating content with AI is a game-changer, but let’s be honest — it doesn’t always hit the mark when it comes to sounding natural. Whether you’re a blogger, marketer, or uni student, you’ve probably found yourself tweaking AI-generated text to make it sound more human, more you. It’s a time-consuming process, and not everyone has the time or patience to craft every word to their liking.

Plus, with AI checkers becoming more common, making your work sound more human is essential. So, what's the solution?

For a limited time, you can get lifetime access to the Undetectable Humaniser AI content app, available at the Mashable Shop for £32.22 (reg. £2,320.52).

This tool revises your content to be engaging, relatable, and authentic. With a few clicks, you can transform AI-generated text into something that reads like it was crafted by a skilled writer. It takes the raw output of your AI tools and gives it that human touch, saving you time and improving the overall quality.

Whether you’re working on a blog post, marketing campaign, school assignment, or social media caption, Undetectable AI polishes your text, making it more persuasive and impactful.

Elevate your writing, connect with your audience, and make AI-generated content truly your own with a lifetime subscription to Undetectable AI on sale for £32.22 (reg. £2,320.52) at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to watch Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs online for free in the UK

Mashable - 3 hours 31 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Could the Kansas City Chiefs become the first team to ever win three straight? There's only one way to find out.

The Big Game is finally here, and it's going to be amazing. The Philadelphia Eagles are facing off against the Chiefs this weekend, fresh from smashing the Washington Commanders 55-23 to win the NFC championship. Everything is set up for something special in New Orleans.

Looking for the best way to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free in the UK? We have all the information you need.

When is Chiefs vs. Eagles?

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles starts at 11:30 p.m. GMT on Feb. 9. This fixture takes place at the Caesars Superdome.

How to watch Chiefs vs. Eagles for free

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in the UK. This process bypasses geo-restrictions to unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £80.75 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. Sign up for these deals to access free live streams of the NFL, and it won't cost you anything in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it's possible to live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

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

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for a limited time, saving you 49% on list price. As part of this deal, you also get three bonus months of coverage plus a whole year of unlimited data backup via the cloud and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Scotland vs. Ireland online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 31 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Scotland vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Scotland and Ireland started their 2025 Six Nations campaigns with victories, but those 100% records are at risk when the two sides come together at Murrayfield Stadium this weekend. It's going to be an absolute battle between two strong teams.

If you want to watch Scotland vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Scotland vs. Ireland?

Scotland vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 3 p.m. GMT on Feb. 9. This fixture takes place at Murrayfield Stadium.

How to watch Scotland vs. Ireland for free

Scotland vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Access a free live stream of Scotland vs. Ireland by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Scotland vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Scotland vs. Ireland without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream 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 Scotland vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 9, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 22:00

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 8 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Enormous in size

  • Green: Common kitchen items

  • Blue: A way to refer to a person

  • Purple: Famous futuristic stories

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: Massive

  • Green: Used When Serving Soup

  • Blue: Somebody

  • Purple: Sci-Fi Franchises

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 #607 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Massive: GIANT, JUMBO, MONSTER, SUPER

  • Used When Serving Soup: BOWL, LADLE, POT, SPOON

  • Somebody: CHARACTER, INDIVIDUAL, PARTY, PERSON

  • Sci-Fi Franchises: FALIEN, AVATAR, DUNE, TRON

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 9

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.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 9, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 22:00

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 today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: 8NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 9 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.

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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

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 February 9, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An earned extra amount of money.

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 B.

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...

BONUS.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 9

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

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 Wordle.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 9

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 22:00

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

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

  • Yellow: Ways to get on the board in football

  • Green: Popular food items when watching a game

  • Blue: Ways a receiver might run

  • Purple: Positions in football

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: Scoring plays

  • Green: Big game snacks

  • Blue: Receiver routes

  • Purple: __________back

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 #139 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Scoring plays - EXTRA POINT, FIELD GOAL, SAFETY, TOUCHDOWN

  • Big game snacks - CHIPS, NACHOS, PIZZA, WINGS

  • Receiver routes - CURL, FLY, HOOK, SLANT

  • _______ back - CORNER, FULL, QUARTER, TAIL

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

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

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

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

NYT Strands hints, answers for February 9

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 22:00

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 9 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We are the champions!

These words are related to football's biggest day.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are buzzwords for Super Bowl Sunday.

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 Super Bowl.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 9
  • Party

  • Tackles

  • Trophy

  • Touchdowns

  • Commercials

  • SuperBowl

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

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

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

Football Manager 25 canceled not long before it was supposed to come out

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 14:16

American football is on everyone's minds right now thanks to the impending Super Bowl, but fascinating things are afoot in the world of association football, too.

According to a statement released by game developer Sports Interactive, Football Manager 25 will not be released in March, like it was supposed to be. It's not being delayed, either, as it was already delayed from November 2024 to March. Instead, it's being canceled entirely, with development efforts being refocused on the next edition of the annual soccer management simulation.

SEE ALSO: Google faked a Gemini AI answer in its Super Bowl commercial

While Football Manager may not have the same name recognition in the U.S. as something like Madden, it's a very popular series for hardcore fans of soccer, focused more on roster management and scouting than in-game skill. It's also been released continuously under that name near the end of every calendar year since 2004; Football Manager 25 being delayed into March was already anomalous by series standards.

As Polygon pointed out, this will be the first year without a Football Manager since the series started. It's incredibly unusual for popular, annually released sports games to get canceled, but Sports Interactive was doing a lot of work to Football Manager 25 that made it understandably hard to finish on time. The interface and visuals were set for an overhaul, and women's soccer was to be included for the first time.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until the next release to see any of that stuff.

Google faked a Gemini AI answer in its Super Bowl commercial

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 12:34

As we sit around waiting for Super Bowl LIX to start, a Google commercial set to run during the big game has come under fire again.

In a Super Bowl commercial theoretically designed to extoll the virtues of its Gemini AI chatbot, Google actually faked the AI part, according to The Verge. The ad, in which a business called Wisconsin Cheese Mart uses Gemini to come up with a product description for gouda, shows a paragraph-long block of text about gouda that was actually lifted directly from Wisconsin Cheese Mart's website, as seen on the Wayback Machine going back at least as far as 2020:

"Gouda is a Dutch cheese named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. It is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of the world's cheese consumption. Smoked Gouda is a variant of this famous cheese, smoked in brick ovens over flaming hickory chip embers. This sweet curd is similar to Edam except that it contains more milk fat, which gives it a creamier texture and causes it to become more buttery with age. Sensational with beer, this cows milk cheese has an edible, smokey brown rind and a creamy, yellow interior."

SEE ALSO: Google Search 'AI Mode' has started internal testing, report says

In case you were wondering, Gemini came into existence three entire years after that block of text was written, and it is copied and pasted verbatim into the commercial as if Gemini wrote it. This starts to look even worse for Gemini when you consider that the same commercial had to be quietly edited because one part that Gemini did include on its own, a stat about gouda being the most widely consumed cheese in the world, turned out to be fake.

So, in other words, the piece of Gemini text that's true was actually written by a human several years ago, and the only part of it that Gemini contributed itself was a falsehood. There has to be a better way to advertise generative AI than this.

PlayStation Network started the weekend with an outage

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 09:56

PlayStation console owners who wanted to play online games got a rude start to the weekend.

Users started reporting widespread PlayStation Network outages in the early evening on Friday, per Down Detector (a service owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of Mashable).

These things typically don't last for an especially long time, which made it all the more interesting that the outage, at least for some, persisted into Saturday morning. PlayStation's official server status page says their services are experiencing issues as of Saturday morning, and at the same time, my PS5 won't load my online friends list.

SEE ALSO: Review: Technics AZ100 Earbuds easily beat the likes of Sony and Bose

This can present all sorts of problems. Obviously, if PSN isn't working, you can't play (or can't easily play, anyway) online games, but it can also potentially block users from playing digitally purchased games. I haven't personally had that problem yet, but it can happen.

Hopefully, Sony fixes this so people who don't care about football can enjoy their weekends.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for February 8, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 09:01

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 Friday, February 8, 2025:

AcrossBeer foam
  • The answer is Head.

Dance that it takes "two" to do
  • The answer is Tango.

Annoying thing to forget on a trip
  • The answer is Charger.

Color associated with Barbie
  • The answer is Hot pink.

"For all ___ and purposes …"
  • The answer is Intents.

Maryland governor Wes
  • The answer is Moore.

Cons' counterparts
  • The answer is Pros.

DownOldest monthly magazine in the U.S., launched in 1850
  • The answer is Harpers.

Front car of a train
  • The answer is Engine.

Athlete's representative
  • The answer is Agent.

Nerds
  • The answer is Dorks.

Body image?
  • The answer is Tattoos.

Bonobo relative
  • The answer is Chimp.

Pay tribute to
  • The answer is Honor.

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.

Scientists seek to tempt aliens out of hiding with chemical in blood

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:30

Astrobiologists in Germany are developing a new testing device that could help tease dormant alien microbes into revealing themselves — and its key ingredient is a common amino acid that’s found in abundance inside human blood.

"L-serine, this particular amino acid that we used, [...] we can build it in our bodies, ourselves," researcher Max Riekeles, who is helping to develop the alien-hunting device, told Mashable.

The compound is also prevalent across Earth’s oceans and even down near the dark and otherworldly ecosystems that surround deep sea hydrothermal vents, where life evolved far away from anywhere it could feed itself via photosynthesis. NASA investigators too have found L-serine and similar “proteinogenic” amino acids — which are vital to many organisms’ ability to synthesize their own proteins — buried within meteorites. These and other discoveries have left scientists wondering if any off-world amino acids might have once helped life evolve elsewhere out in the cosmos.

"It could be a simple way to look for life on future Mars missions," according to Riekeles, who trained as an aerospace engineer at the Technical University of Berlin, where he now works on extraterrestrial biosignature research. 

“But, it’s always, of course, the basic question: 'Was there ever life there?'"

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

Riekeles and his team’s device benefits from a phenomena called "chemotaxis," the mechanism whereby microbes, including many species of bacteria as well as another whole domain of microscopic organisms called archaea, migrate in response to nearby chemicals.  

Years of research has shown that many tiny organisms have a strong preference for "moving up the L-serine gradient" towards higher L-serine concentrations. This fact led Riekeles and his colleagues to develop their test kit with two chambers divided by a thin, semi-porous membrane: The first chamber would take in a sample from another world, while the second video-monitored chamber would hold a tantalizing concentration of L-serine in water.

“But, it’s always, of course, the basic question: 'Was there ever life there?'"

Granted, the idea of studying single-celled organisms just by watching them move around goes all the way back to the earliest days of microbiology, when Antonie van Leeuwenhoek submitted the first paper on these little beings to London’s Royal Society in 1676. 

"Advances in hardware and software the last few years really bring up the really old fashioned way of doing experiments with visual observations," Riekeles said, "especially when you combine it with big data, machine learning and so on."

A graphic of Mars' Valles Marineris, where robotic missions could seek out potential microbes in briny environments. Credit: NASA / JPL / Arizona State University

For their latest experiments, recently published in the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Riekeles and his co-researchers focused on three "extremophile" species capable of surviving and thriving in some of Earth’s harshest conditions. Each candidate was selected to approximate the kinds of tiny alien lifeforms that might really live on an inhospitable outer space world — like Mars’ cosmic ray-blasted, desert surface or Jupiter’s icy, watery moons: Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

"The bacteria Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis, P. halo, it survives in really cold temperatures, for example," Riekeles told Mashable, "and it’s also tolerant of salty environments."

"And the salty environment, when it comes to Mars, is interesting because there are presumed to be a lot of salts on the Martian surface," he added.

In addition to the microbe P. halo, which was harvested from the oceans off Antarctica and can grow happily at below-freezing temperatures as low as 27.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.5 degrees Celsius), the team also tested the bacterial spore Bacillus subtilis and archaeon Haloferax volcanii. A form of gut bacteria found across animal species, B. subtilis develops a protective shell capable of enduring temperatures up to 212 F (100 C). And H. volcanii, found in the Dead Sea and other heavily salted areas, can withstand aggressive radiation exposures, drawing frequent comparisons between it and hypothetical Martian microbes.

"It’s not only salt tolerant," Riekeles noted. "If you don’t put it into an environment where there is salt, it won’t survive."

A culture of Haloferax volcanii bacteria. Credit: Granitehead1 / Wikimedia Commons

All three microbes in the study moved from the sample chamber into the test chamber with the L-serine at a fast clip. Within an hour, each produced a "cell density" of roughly 200 percent more microbes in the test chambers that contained about 1.5 grams of L-sirene per liter of water. What's more, B. subtilis climbed to 400 percent more bacteria during tests that doubled the concentration of L-serine molecules.

"We tried, also, other substances, like glucose and ribose," Riekeles added, "but L-serine was, for these three organisms, the most potent."

However, Dirk Schulze-Makuch — a professor of planetary habitability at the Technical University in Berlin, who worked with Riekeles on this project — cautioned that challenges still remain before a device like this can touch down on the Martian surface.

"One big problem," Schulze-Makuch wrote for the website Big Think, "is finding a spot that’s accessible to a lander but where liquid water might also exist." 

"The Southern Highlands of Mars would meet these conditions," he said. Another possibility would be low-altitude spots on Mars like the floor of the expansive canyon Valles Marineris or inside caves, where "atmospheric pressures are sufficient to support liquid (salty) water."

How Sam Altman Sidestepped Elon Musk to Win Over Donald Trump

NYT Technology - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:01
After helping President Trump get elected, Elon Musk was poised to dominate the country’s A.I. policies. Then Mr. Altman sneaked into the White House.

Microsoft and Nvidia Take a Quieter Approach to Trump

NYT Technology - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00
Other big technology companies have been boisterous in their courtship of the new administration. But Nvidia and Microsoft have avoided the Washington spotlight.

How to watch Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers online

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Utah Jazz head to Intuit Dome to face the LA Clippers in a Western Conference matchup. The Jazz are 12-37, which puts the team in 14th place. The Clippers are 28-22, which puts the team in sixth place.

The Jazz have lost three of their last five games, but are coming off a win over the Golden State Warriors. The Clippers have also lost three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.

When is Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers?

Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers in the NBA starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

How to watch Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Jazz vs. Clippers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

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

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

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

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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

How to watch Jazz vs. Clippers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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 gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns online

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Denver Nuggets head to Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference matchup. The Nuggets are 32-19, which puts the team in fourth place. The Suns are 25-25, which puts the team in 10th place.

The Nuggets have won four of their last five games, and all of those wins have come consecutively. The Suns have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off three consecutive losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and back-to-back games to the Portland Trail Blazers.

When is Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns?

Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA starts at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Nuggets vs. Suns basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

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

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

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

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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

How to watch Nuggets vs. Suns from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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 gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks online

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Boston Celtics head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are 36-15, which puts the team in second place. The Knicks are 34-17, which puts the team in third place.

The Celtics have won four of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks have also won four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back wins over the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets.

When is Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks?

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

This game will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Celtics vs. Knicks basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

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

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

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

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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

How to watch Celtics vs. Knicks from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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 gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls online

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Golden State Warriors head to United Center to face the Chicago Bulls in a non-conference matchup. The Warriors are 25-25, which puts the team in 11th place in the Western Conference. The Bulls are 22-30, which puts the team in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Warriors have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Utah Jazz. The Bulls have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

When is Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls?

Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA starts at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at United Center in Chicago.

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Warriors vs. Bulls basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

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

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

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

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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

How to watch Warriors vs. Bulls from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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 gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks online

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Houston Rockets head upstate to American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference matchup. The Rockets are 32-18, which puts the team in third place. The Mavs are 26-25, which puts the team eighth place.

The Rockets have lost four of their last five games, and all of those losses have come consecutively. The Mavs have lost three of their last five games, and all of those losses have come consecutively. The team is still seeking its first win since the trade of Luka Doncic.

The Rockets and the Mavs have faced off twice this season. The Rockets have come out on top in both of those matchups.

When is Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks?

Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA starts at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Rockets vs. Mavs basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

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

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

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

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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

How to watch Rockets vs. Mavs from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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 gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

Large asteroids odds of hitting Earth went up. But not why you think.

Mashable - Sat, 02/08/2025 - 05:00

It's certain that recently discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 will swing close to Earth in 2032. The chances of an impact remain low — but with relatively limited observations so far, the odds are in flux.

On Jan. 31, the collision impact probability was 1.4 percent. As of Feb. 7, NASA reports it's 2.3 percent, which also means a 97.7 percent chance of missing our humble blue world. But don't be surprised if that number climbs higher: It's normal for the impact odds to increase before falling or disappearing completely.

"It's not surprising the percentage went up," Bruce Betts, an astronomer and the chief scientist at The Planetary Society, an organization promoting space exploration, told Mashable.

"When you see the impact odds go up, it doesn't give you a good feeling," Betts added. "But there's much more likelihood that it's okay."

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 — spotted by a telescope from the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System — has been deemed an object worthy of close monitoring because of its size. " Currently, no other known large asteroids have an impact probability above 1 percent," the space agency explained. It's between 130 to 300 feet wide, enough to be dubbed a "city-killer" asteroid — if it indeed hit a city. (For reference, the asteroid that hit Arizona 50,000 years ago and created the 600-foot-deep "Meteor Crater" was 100 to 170 feet, or 30 to 50 meters, across. "A similar-size impact event today could destroy a city the size of Kansas City," David Kring, an impact cratering expert at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, explained in a NASA blog.)

Telescopes will refine the asteroid's orbit around the solar system over the coming months, until it travels too far away to observe (it will return again in 2028). And this added information may likely, though temporarily, boost its Earth impact odds. That's because the asteroid's risk corridor or area of uncertainty around Earth will shrink as astronomers can better define its orbit. But as long as Earth remains in that estimated hazard area — like a catcher's mitt awaiting a high-speed baseball — its relative odds of getting hit increases as the possible range of uncertainty shrinks.

"Earth is taking up a bigger percentage of that uncertain area," Betts explained. "So the impact percentage goes up."

"This is a real threat. But it's not very common that it happens."

Yet space is vast. And at the same time the area of uncertainty is shrinking, more observations reveal and shift where exactly this zone of uncertainty is. The shrinking area typically moves off of Earth, meaning our planet is no longer in that potential impact area. This happened with the asteroid Apophis — a 1,100-foot-wide behemoth that once had a small chance of impacts in both 2029 and 2036. But more precise telescope observations moved Apophis' range of trajectory off of Earth. The impact probability then plummeted.

"It dropped to zero," Betts said.

"It’s a funny thing about homing in on an asteroid and calculating its path, future position, and probability of impacting Earth – it will often appear risky during initial observations, get riskier, and then suddenly become entirely safe," the European Space Agency noted.

Tweet may have been deleted

In the unlikely scenario that the large asteroid does hit Earth, such an event won't necessarily spell doom. Over 70 percent of the planet is covered in ocean, meaning there's a good chance of a relatively remote impact. And if it were headed to a populated region, you'd have plenty of notice. Space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency, along with organizations like the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), would vigilantly monitor the menacing object. If necessary, NASA would issue its first-ever asteroid warning. People could be evacuated from vulnerable regions.

In the future, with enough foresight, humanity could choose to launch a spacecraft that could impact such an asteroid, and nudge it off its Earth-bound course. NASA has already successfully achieved such an intentional impact during its unprecedented DART mission in 2022. But this was only a test on the non-threatening asteroid Dimorphos; it's not a ready-to-launch technology.

It remains unlikely that Earth and asteroid 2024 YR4 will be at the same place, at the same time, on December 22, 2032. But don't be alarmed if the impact odds go up.

"This is a real threat," said Betts. "But it's not very common that it happens."

The position and predicted orbit of asteroid 2024 YR4 (white dot and oval) as of Jan. 31, 2025. Credit: NASA The risks of an asteroid impact

Here are today's general risks from asteroids or comets both tiny and very large. Importantly, even relatively small rocks can still be threatening, as the surprise 56-foot (17-meter) rock that exploded over Russia and blew out people's windows in 2013 proved.

  • Every single day about 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles fall through Earth's atmosphere and promptly burn up.

  • Every year, on average, an "automobile-sized asteroid" plummets through our sky and explodes, according to NASA.

  • Impacts by objects around 460 feet (140 meters wide) in diameter occur every 10,000 to 20,000 years.

  • A "dinosaur-killing" impact from a rock perhaps a half-mile across or larger happens on 100-million-year timescales.

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