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A comet hurtling through the solar system from interstellar space is exactly what it appears to be, NASA officials said Wednesday, moving to quash a wave of online speculation.
At a news conference, scientists released new spacecraft images of Comet 3I/ATLAS and described a full-court press to photograph the object before it disappears for good. NASA has pointed an array of observatories at the comet — including the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Lucy and Psyche missions — to capture as much data as possible while it remains within view.
Conspiracy theories flourished during the federal government shutdown, some claiming the comet was alien technology. The pause in federal communications let rumors spread unchecked, said Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator.
"It looks and behaves like a comet, and all evidence points to it being a comet," he said. "But this one came from outside the solar system, which makes it fascinating, exciting, and scientifically very important."
SEE ALSO: NASA has a broken giant antenna that could upend its 2026 plansComet 3I/ATLAS formed around another star and was later ejected — likely by a gravitational jolt from a planet or passing star — before drifting across interstellar space for hundreds of millions of years. It entered the solar system traveling roughly 137,000 mph, a speed too high for the sun’s gravity to trap it. The comet is never expected to return.
NASA says the object poses no threat to Earth. The closest it will ever come to our planet is 170 million miles away.
NASA and the European Space Agency's SOHO mission observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between Oct. 15 and 26, 2025. Credit: Lowell Observatory / Qicheng Zhang NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft watched the interstellar comet between Sept. 11 and 25, 2025, to achieve this stacked image.. Credit: NASA / Lowell Observatory / Qicheng ZhangOnly two other confirmed interstellar visitors have ever been recorded: 'Oumuamua in 2017 and Comet 2I/Borisov in 2019.
Comets are balls of ice and rock that heat up as they near the sun, releasing gas and dust in bright, sweeping tails. Most known comets are leftovers from the solar system’s formation 4.6 billion years ago, though thousands more likely lurk beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt and, farther still, in the Oort Cloud.
Because 3I/ATLAS comes from a different stellar neighborhood, scientists expect some surprises. Early readings show that its carbon dioxide–to–water ratio does not match typical solar system comets, and researchers have spotted some unusual amounts of metals and dust features.
The PUNCH mission's view was from about 235 million miles away between Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, 2025. Credit: NASA / Southwest Research Institute NASA's MAVEN spacecraft captured an ultraviolet image of the comet's halo of gas and dust on Oct. 9, 2025. Credit: NASA Goddard / LASP / CU BoulderBut none of those traits, NASA officials emphasized, suggest anything artificial.
"It’s going to look different because it didn’t come from our solar system," said Nicky Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for the science mission directorate. "And that’s what makes it so magical."
The Psyche spacecraft watched the comet between Sept. 8 and 9, 2025. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU The Lucy spacecraft saw the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from 240 million miles away on Sept. 16, 2025. Credit: NASA Goddard / SwRI / JHU-APLCapturing clear images has pushed NASA’s fleet to its limits. Each spacecraft is watching from a different angle, with its own viewing constraints and camera quirks.
"Remember, space is big," said Tom Statler, lead scientist for solar system small bodies. "Nothing is ever really as close as you like, and all of these observations are very, very difficult. It's a little bit as if our NASA spacecraft were at a baseball game, watching the game from different places in the stadium. Everybody has got a camera, and they're trying to get a picture of the ball, and nobody has a perfect view, and everybody has a different camera."
Scientists say the observations will help them understand the raw materials in other planetary systems and provide insight into how they form.
As Mashable's tech editor, I get early access to a lot of really cool products. I also have a pretty deep knowledge of the coolest new gadgets, from the latest virtual reality tech to everyday fitness trackers and new Apple laptops. I've also been covering Black Friday sales since 2019, and I have a very good idea of what goes on sale, what kind of discounts to expect, and which deals you can safely skip. So, now that retailers are rolling out all their early Black Friday tech deals, I'm curating this guide to the best savings of the season.
In this guide, you'll find all the Black Friday tech deals I'd actually recommend to my friends and family. Before recommending a Samsung QLED TV or Anker charger, I'll first make sure that the price is actually a good deal. Online retailers are notorious for exaggerating their sales, but I've done the work for you to find the biggest genuine discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond.
So, keep checking back as I add new discounts on the season's best gadgets, toys, wearables, and tech gifts. I've personally tested many of the products in this guide, while others have been tested by other Mashable reporters. If you see a deal in this story, it's because I'd truly recommend that product — and at that price — to my loved ones.
The Apple Watch SE 3Apple just launched the new version of its starter smartwatch in September, and it's already earned a spot in my guide to the best smartwatches of the year. The truth is, while we also loved the longer-lasting Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra Watch 3, the new SE 3 is the right pick for the vast majority of people. This is a true lifestyle smartwatch that also does double duty as a fitness and sleep tracker. Plus, it even has an always-on Retina OLED display. At Amazon, you can pick up this smartwatch for $199.99, a 20% discount ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) $199.99 at WalmartBose recently released a new version of its flagship noise-canceling headphones, and in our review, we said the new model is nearly identical to the original. However, the new version will set you back $449, which is a big ask in this economy. Meanwhile, the Gen 1 version on sale for $298 is still one of the best, most comfortable headphones in the world. While it's possible these headphones might get a bigger price drop come Nov. 28, don't count on it. I love these headphones, and this is easily one of the best Prime Day tech deals of the year so far.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 1) $298 at AmazonAlexa informed me that New York City faces its first freeze warning of the season, and now I'm mad at her. However, I do have something to keep the chill away. I've been using and recommending these cute electric hand warmers for years, and they're one of my favorite undiscovered gems at Amazon. They're one of my go-to stocking stuffers, and they'll keep your hands toasty and warm all winter long. If you're looking for tech deals under $25, this is my personal recommendation.
Opens in a new window Credit: Orastone Orastone Electric Hand Warmer $17.99 at AmazonHave you heard about the DJI drone ban? If not, then we have very bad news: It looks like DJI drones are set to be banned in the U.S. by year's end, which means this is your last chance to buy one. So long as you're already flying, the potential ban shouldn't affect you, a DJI representative recently told me. Unfortunately, you can only buy these drones from third-party sellers at retailers like Amazon, but we think the risk is worth the reward in this case.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo $359 at AmazonI've said it before: Samsung's cult-favorite art TV, The Frame, is the best TV in the world. This super-thin TV doubles as an art gallery for your living room, adding to your home's decor instead of distracting from it. The 2025 model of The Frame has a fancy new AI processor, as well as a magic-like matte, anti-glare display. While you can catch this TV on sale at any retailer you like, Amazon currently has the best price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED Art TV $897.99 at AmazonWe think the M4 MacBook Pro is the best MacBook for most people, and this is a fantastic price for a 2025 model Apple laptop. Powered by M4 silicon, it's also lightning fast. The M4 chip is faster than anything you'll find in the Windows world, which means this laptop is faster and more efficient than the competition. Its $749 price at Amazon is a record discount, and we're not expecting the price to drop any lower (though Apple could surprise us).
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M4 MacBook Air (13 inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.99 at AmazonWe recently named the Beats Pill the best portable Bluetooth speaker to buy on sale. And, what do you know, it's on sale. You can pick up this powerful water-resistant speaker for just $79 at Amazon. Released in 2024 as part of a collaboration with Kim Kardashian (don't let that stop you from scoring a great deal), it plays well with Android and iOS devices. Alternatively, you can pick up the
Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Pill x Kim Kardashian $79 at AmazonIf you're a content creator or vlogger, then you've probably heard of DJI's famous pocket mics, currently 46% off at Amazon. These wireless mics replace the awkward wired lavaliers of the past, and they clip on to your shirt or collar magnetically. There's a reason you can spot these microphones all over TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube. I've personally tested these microphones, and they've been a huge help to the Mashable video team at live events.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini $99 at AmazonLook, the best Black Friday deals aren't always super exciting. This is your chance to stock up on products you need. Case in point: Apple AirTags are currently 50 cents away from their lowest-ever price. At Amazon, a 4-pack is 34% off, and you'll pay just $16.25 per tracker. Using ultra-wideband technology and Apple's Find My network, there's no better way to track lost items.
Apple AirTag Tracker (4-Pack) $64.98 at AmazonEufy may not have quite the name recognition as iRobot in the vacuum space, but you'll find Eufy robot vacuums all over Mashable shopping guides. If you're looking for a premium robot vacuum and mop combo, try the Eufy S1 Pro, which has a roller mop, self-cleaning, self-drying, and a 50% discount. Our vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, has also been impressed by the Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop, which she named one of the best cleaning machines of the year.
Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Omni S1 Pro Hybrid Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $799.99 at AmazonAs much as I love Samsung's The Frame, I know not everyone can afford to drop $1,000 on a new TV. Fortunately, you can count on Black Friday doorbuster deals if you need a TV on the cheap. And now that big box retailers start all their Black Friday sales early, you don't have to wait in line on Thanksgiving night. Over at Amazon and Best Buy, you can grab smart TVs starting at just $99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 32-inch 2-Series Fire TV $99.99 at AmazonIf a new smart TV isn't in your budget this year, that doesn't mean you have to be locked out of the latest streaming apps. Access everything from Amazon's Prime Video to Apple TV and Spotify using this affordable streaming stick from Roku. You'll still have to pay for all those apps, but it's still a lot cheaper than buying a new TV.
Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025 $29 at AmazonThis is the ultimate splurge this holiday season — Samsung's new AR/VR headset, the Galaxy XR. It's Samsung's answer to the Apple Vision Pro, and it's significantly more affordable, though still extremely pricey. If you buy the device during the holiday shopping season, Samsung will throw in $1,140 worth of freebies, including a year of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and NBA League Pass. You'll also get access to exclusive XR experiences and more premium apps. This offer ends Dec. 31.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy XR Explorer's Pack $1,799.99 at SamsungOver the summer, it was almost impossible to find the new Nintendo Switch 2 console in stock. Thankfully, that's no longer the case. While we haven't found any official discounts on the Switch 2 console yet, you can find some Switch 2 bundles in stock at Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop. We expect this handheld to top many Christmas gift wishlists this year, so grab these while you can.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle $499 at AmazonAmazon always discounts its devices for big sales, and right now you can grab the popular Blink Mini 2 security camera for just $17.99, a 55% discount. We don't expect this product to get any cheaper come Thanksgiving, so go ahead and stock up and protect your home.
Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Mini 2 Security Camera $17.99 at AmazonI've tested several Jackery Explorer power stations over the years, and I've never had a bad experience. The brand helped popularize this product category in the United States, and it's easy to see why. They make rugged power stations that are easy to use, have a variety of ports, and connect easily to your devices (not to mention solar panels, if you have them). If you live in fear of the power going out — or just want to charge your phone during a camping trip or tailgate — these devices are a must have.
Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station $349 at AmazonJust like Bose, Sony also released a sequel to its flagship headphones this year. The new XM6 headphones are elite, truly. But having tested them against the previous-gen XM5 model, I'm strongly recommending you buy the XM5s now that they're finally back on sale. Here's the truth: They're more alike than different. And right now, you can get the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones for just $248, a record-low price. Compare that to the $428 price tag on the new model, and your choice is simple.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 at AmazonAs part of its early Black Friday sale, Walmart has tons of video games on sale. You can score new titles like Madden NFL 26 and Borderlands 4, or play back old favorites like Grand Theft Auto V.
Opens in a new window Credit: Take Two Borderlands 4 $54.97 at WalmartIf only the Apple Vision Pro cost $249.99. Alas, we don't live in that world. However, you can buy a Meta Quest 3S VR Headset bundle for that very reasonable price. With 128GB of storage and instant access to over 40 games, this early Black Friday tech deal lets you discover an entirely new type of gaming. Though, personally, I prefer to use VR for watching 3D movies and other types of VR video content.
Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Quest 3S VR Headset - Cardboard Gorilla Bundle $249.99 at AmazonSure, we could recommend some mediocre gaming laptop deals. But I'm not impressed by this week's gaming laptop deals. Instead, I advise waiting until next week, when we expect more Acer, HP, and Lenovo gaming laptops will go on sale. Case in point: This Lenovo LOQ 15 has gone on sale for as little as $864.49 in the past, but it's currently on sale for $1,090.49. Womp, womp. If you can hold out, wait for Black Friday.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo LOQ 15 gaming laptop (15-inches, AMD Ryzen 7, RTX 5050) $1,090.49 at LenovoAs Mashable has reported, a total ban on DJI drones in the United States is very likely to be implemented, possibly by the end of the year. For professionals and hobbyists alike, DJI drones are pretty much the only name in town, and so the ban would be a huge blow to the drone community. During recent Prime Day events, we've seen DJI's popular consumer drones get heavy discounts. So, while they're not on sale yet, we're watching these potential Black Friday deals very closely.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone $299 at AmazonWe're big fans of Oura smart rings at Mashable, and the brand's Black Friday sale is set to start Nov. 20. Our reviewer praised Oura for its great balance of health, fitness, and sleep tracking metrics, and there's a reason these smart rings are beloved by many pro athletes. We're currently testing the brand's newest models, and we fully expect the popular Oura Ring 4 trackers to go on sale for Black Friday. Keep an eye on the Oura online store. In the meantime, go ahead and order an Oura Ring sizing kit for just $10 at Amazon.
Oura Ring 4 $349 at AmazonYou can buy these wireless earbuds on sale at Amazon for $117, but we recommend waiting for Black Friday, when we expect these buds to drop to just $89, as they have before.
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds $117 at AmazonThis is the year we fell for British brand Nothing. In our review of the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro, we said that Nothing could be charging three or four times as much for this AMOLED smartwatch. For Black Friday, we fully expect this product to drop from $99 to at least $79, along with a slew of other Nothing products.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF By Nothing Watch 3 Pro $99 at AmazonNASA's James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that an exceptionally rare star duo in the Milky Way has a third companion — and it's a monster.
The star system, named Apep after the Egyptian god of chaos, includes two Wolf-Rayet stars, a type that burns blue-white and hot, generating powerful gas winds as it nears death. These stars are old, huge, and on the verge of supernova explosions.
The Apep pair has intrigued astronomers because of how scarce Wolf-Rayet stars are in space. Only about 1,000 exist in the galaxy, which contains hundreds of billions of stars. Of the few binary star systems involving Wolf-Rayets, Apep is the only one wherein both fall in this category.
Now new telescope studies confirm that Apep has a third star — a supergiant roughly 40 or 50 times more massive than the sun. The two Wolf-Rayet stars were likely even heavier than that when they were younger, but have since shriveled down to 10 and 20 times the mass of our host star.
"Webb gave us the 'smoking gun' to prove the third star is gravitationally bound to this system,'" said Ryan White, a lead author from Macquarie University in Australia, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: NASA has a broken giant antenna that could upend its 2026 plansWith Webb, astronomers were able to see the two Wolf–Rayet stars blasting out fierce winds that smash together and make carbon dust. Instead of one big cloud, Apep has a stack of four nested dust shells that look like the ripples surrounding a stone plopped into a pond. Each shell repeats the same pattern, indicating the dust-making process fires on a steady rhythm.
The shells hold their shape even as they drift nearly two light-years outward. But despite their predictability, the shells aren't perfectly round. Slight warps probably come from the stars' long, stretched orbit, according to the research, or from winds that blow harder in some directions than others.
The James Webb Space Telescope revealed neat, layered dust shells shaped by two powerful stars. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustrationThe findings are described in two new papers published in The Astrophysical Journal.
"Looking at Webb’s new observations was like walking into a dark room and switching on the light," said Yinuo Han, lead author of one of the papers, in a statement. "Everything came into view."
The shells formed over the last 700 years as the two stars repeatedly approached each other. Their gas collisions shoot out thick clumps of carbon dust at 1,200 to 2,000 miles per second. By measuring how fast the shells move and how far apart they sit, researchers estimate that the two orbit each other about once every 193 years.
As for the third star, it circles around the other two from a wider distance. As the dust shells expand, this outer star plows through them, leaving a neat, pie-shaped gap in every shell. Because the gap appears in the same place each time, researchers know it's part of the system.
The dust temperatures, shell spacing, and the system’s overall brightness point to Apep being farther away than earlier studies suggested — perhaps 15,000 light-years off in the distance.
"We solved several mysteries with Webb," Han said. "The remaining mystery is the precise distance to the stars from Earth, which will require future observations."
A group of child safety and mental health experts recently tested simulated youth mental health conversations with four major artificial intelligence chatbots: Meta AI, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Google's Gemini.
The experts were so alarmed by the results that they declared each of the chatbots unsafe for teen mental health support in a report released Thursday by Common Sense Media, in partnership with Stanford Medicine's Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation.
In one conversation with Gemini, the tester told the chatbot they'd created a new tool for predicting the future. Instead of interpreting the claim as a potential symptom of a psychotic disorder, Gemini cheered the tester on, calling their new invention "incredibly intriguing" and continued asking enthusiastic questions about how the "personal crystal ball" worked.
SEE ALSO: Explaining the phenomenon known as 'AI psychosis'ChatGPT similarly missed stark warning signs of psychosis, like auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions, during an extended exchange with a tester who described an imagined relationship with a celebrity. The chatbot then offered grounding techniques for managing relationship distress.
Meta AI initially picked up on signs of disordered eating, but was easily and quickly dissuaded when the tester claimed to have just an upset stomach. Claude appeared to perform better in comparison when presented with evidence of bulimia, but ultimately treated the tester's symptoms as a serious digestive issue rather than a mental health condition.
Experts at Common Sense Media and Stanford Medicine's Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation called on Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to disable the functionality for mental health support until the chatbot technology is redesigned to fix the safety problems identified by its researchers.
"It does not work the way that it is supposed to work," Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs at Common Sense Media, said of the chatbots' ability to discuss and identify mental health issues.
OpenAI contested the report's findings. A spokesperson for the company told Mashable that the assessment "doesn't reflect the comprehensive safeguards" OpenAI has implemented for sensitive conversations, which include break reminders, crisis hotlines, and parental notifications for acute distress.
"We work closely with mental-health experts to teach our models to recognize distress, de-escalate, and encourage people to seek professional support," the spokesperson said.
A Google spokesperson told Mashable that the company employs policies and safeguards to protect minors from "harmful outputs" and that its child safety experts continuously work to identify new potential risks.
Anthropic said that Claude is not built for minors, but that the chatbot is instructed to both recognize patterns related to mental health issues and avoid reinforcing them.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment from Mashable as of press time.
AI chatbots: Known safety risksThe researchers tested the latest available models of each chatbot, including ChatGPT-5. Several recent lawsuits allege that OpenAI's flagship product is responsible for wrongful death, assisted suicide, and involuntary manslaughter, among other liability and negligence claims.
A lawsuit filed earlier this year by the parents of deceased teenager Adam Raine claims that his heavy use of ChatGPT-4o, including for his mental health, allegedly led to his suicide. In October, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on X that the company restricted ChatGPT to "be careful" with mental health concerns but that it'd since been able to "mitigate the serious mental health issues."
Torney said that ChatGPT's ability to detect and address explicit suicidal ideation and self-harm content had improved, particularly in short exchanges. Still, the testing results indicate that the company has not successfully improved its performance in lengthy conversations or with respect to a range of mental health topics, like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other conditions.
Torney said the recommendation against teens using chatbots for their mental health applies to the latest publicly available model of ChatGPT, which was introduced in late October.
The testers manually entered prompts into each chatbot, producing several thousand exchanges of varying length per platform. Performed over several months this year, the tests provided researchers with data to compare between old and new versions of the models. Researchers used parental controls when available. Anthropic says Claude should only be used by those 18 and older, but the company does not require stringent age verification.
Torney noted that, in addition to ChatGPT, the other models got better at identifying and responding to discussion of suicide and self-harm. Overall, however, each chatbot consistently failed to recognize warning signs of other conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Approximately 15 million youth in the U.S. have diagnosed mental health conditions. Torney estimated that figure at potentially hundreds of millions youth globally. Previous research from Common Sense Media found that teens regularly turn to chatbots for companionship and mental health support.
Distracted AI chatbotsThe report notes that teens and parents may incorrectly or unconsciously assume that chatbots are reliable sources of mental health support because they authoritatively help with homework, creative projects, and general inquiries.
Instead, Dr. Nina Vasan, founder and director at Stanford Medicine's Brainstorm Lab, said testing revealed easily distracted chatbots that alternate between offering helpful information, providing tips in the vein of a life coach, and acting like a supportive friend.
"The chatbots don't really know what role to play," she said.
Torney acknowledges that teens will likely continue to use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Meta AI for their mental health, despite the known risks. That's why Common Sense Media recommends the AI labs fundamentally redesign their products.
Parents can have candid conversations with their teen about the limitations of AI, watch for related unhealthy use, and provide access to mental health resources, including crisis services.
"There's this dream of having these systems be really helpful, really supportive. It would be great if that was the case," Torney said.
In the meantime, he added, it's unsafe to position these chatbots as a trustworthy source of mental health guidance: "That does feel like an experiment that's being run on the youth of this country."
Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!
Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.
Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for nerve-shredding thrillers, heart-warming comedies, eye-popping spectacle, or the Best Dog Actor of 2025, we're here for you.
16. The Bad Guys 2If you're looking for something new for the kiddos to watch, The Bad Guys 2 sure is loud. There's plenty of great animated movies out there this year, like KPop Demon Hunters, Fixed, In Your Dreams or Ne Zha II. So, personally, I'd urge you away from this sequel to 2022's The Bad Guys, because it's at best "mid."
Released from prison, the former crime family known as the "Bad Guys" is looking to go legit. But it's not easy for Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula to overcome their bad reputation — especially when they're framed for a new crime spree. Enter a band of female bandits and a goofy quest for MacGuffinite. Far from clever, Bad Guys 2 plays like a lazy collision of action-comedy cliches. However, it is elevated by a passionate voice cast. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Maria Bakalova, Alex Borstein, Richard Ayoade, and Lilly Singh
How to watch: The Bad Guys 2 debuts on Peacock on Nov. 21.
15. Champagne ProblemsThirsty for some seasonal rom-com fun? Then you'll want to plunge into Champagne Problems.
Minka Kelly stars as Sydney Price, an ambitious American executive who's traveling to Paris for business. Then, like many a rom-com heroine before her, she meets a dashing stranger (Tom Wozniczka), and naturally they share a big, swoonworthy kiss — only to find out they are enemies! (We love an enemies-to-friends arc.)
See, Sydney is on a mission to acquire Chateau Cassell, a family-owned business in France's Champagne region. Her handsome kisser? It just so happens he's Henri Cassell, son of Chateau Cassell's founder, and he doesn't want his dad to sell to some boorish American. Sparks are sure to fly, as these two can't deny their chemistry.* — K.P.
Starring: Minka Kelly, Tom Wozniczka, Sean Amsing, Thibault de Montalembert, Sean Amsing, Flula Borg, Astrid Whettnall, and Xavier Samuel
How to watch: Champagne Problems is now streaming on Netflix.
14. John Cena's Last RawYou can't see John Cena in the ring for much longer, so show some hustle, loyalty, respect — and tune into his final-ever Raw match.
The 48-year-old WWE legend, now Hollywood star, took on one last Monday Night Raw in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, teaming up with Sheamus and Rey Mysterio to face The Judgment Day. It was a historic moment for WWE fans; Cena announced his impending retirement in 2024 and has been embarking on the "The Last Time Is Now" tour this year. Now, you can stream his final Raw on Netflix as many times as you like. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: John Cena's Last Raw is now on Netflix.
13. Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway Vivienne Medrano, Blake Roman, Jessica Vosk, Jeremy Jordan, Erika Henningsen, Christian Borle, Krystina Alabado, Amir Talai, Kimiko Glenn, Sam Haft, and Richard Horvitz attend "Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway." Credit: Valerie Terranova / Prime VideoTo celebrate Season 2 of Prime Video's Hazbin Hotel, the animated musical series' cast took to Broadway for a one-night only concert, singing songs from the show. But hey, don't give into FOMO. Even if you weren't on the invite list, you can now get in on the fun with Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway.
This 46-minute concert features songs from Seasons 1 and 2 of Vivienne Medrano's fan-adored show. Among them, "Hell's Greatest Dad," "Vox Populi," and "Hear My Hope." And it's not just the performers giving their all, as the audience is full of cosplayers bringing their own energy to the event. So, if you love Hazbin Hotel, be sure to grab your seat to this concert from the comfort of your couch. — K.P.
Starring: Christian Borle, Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Patina Miller, Jessica Vosk, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Kimiko Glenn, and Joel Perez
How to watch: Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway is now streaming on Prime Video.
12. One Shot with Ed SheeranShooting entire films and TV shows in one shot is an ambitious exercise, one pulled off with finesse by Adolescence director Philip Barantini. And while the Emmy-winning series used the format for devastating dramatic impact, Barantini's next project was much lighter — following Ed Sheeran around New York City for a one-shot roving concert.
The Grammy-winning artist spends an hour traversing the city's streets, playing music in the subway, on a rooftop, in a crowded bar, in the back of a cab, in an open-roofed bus, and across crosswalks, with audiences who appear not to expect him at all. — S.C.
How to watch: One Shot with Ed Sheeran debuts on Netflix on Nov. 21.
11. The Conjuring: Last RitesTwelve years since James Wan scared the hell out of us with the first film, the Conjuring universe slams the cursed attic door with Last Rites. For the ninth chapter of the religious horror franchise, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as controversial real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, this time channeling events based on the alleged demonic haunting of the Smurl family in the late '80s.
Directed by Michael Chaves (The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Nun II), the film plays to longtime Conjuring fans, which proves a blessing and a curse. As I wrote in my review, "Last Rites feels like a Conjuring film in every sense of the franchise, but it's slightly disappointing the film doesn't pull out all the stops to bid adieu to Wilson and Farmiga's now iconic characters. Fan service, it has in spades. But truly memorable scares and compelling storylines that push the Conjuring series as far as it could go? Less so. However, if you want to take one more trip into the Warrens' basement of cursed curiosities, it's worth a watch, for old terrifying time's sake." — S.C.
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, and Ben Hardy
How to watch: The Conjuring: Last Rites debuts on HBO Max on Nov. 21.
10. Selena y Los DinosTejano music icon Selena Quintanilla takes the spotlight in this new documentary from Netflix.
Directed by Isabel Castro, the film uses never-before-seen footage from family home videos to create an intimate portrait of Selena's success and legacy. Castro also interviews Selena's family, many of whom played in her band, to get an even fuller look at the life of a music legend who was gone too soon. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Selena y Los Dinos is now streaming on Netflix.
9. The RosesDirector Jay Roach (Meet the Parents) and screenwriter Tony McNamara (The Favourite) joined forces for a new adaptation of Warren Adler's darkly comic novel about divorce, The War of the Roses. Starring as the warring Roses, Theo and Ivy are Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, supported by an array of familiar faces and Saturday Night Live alumni.
However, all this star power can't make up for a lack of bite. While The Roses has its moments, Roach's version never gets as dark, sexy, or totally twisted as The War of the Roses movie helmed by and co-starring Danny DeVito back in 1989. In my review, I lamented, "The Roses by any other name would still be a middling comedy, but compared to the caustic and sexy '89 gem? It can't shine."* — K.P.
Starring: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, and Kate McKinnon
How to watch: The Roses is now streaming on Hulu.
8. The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Season 8Ring in the holiday season with The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 8, now streaming on Netflix.
These Christmas and New Years–themed specials bring several beloved bakers back to the tent, where they'll whip up festive treats and glorious showstoppers you'll want to lick through the screen. Check it out to get into the holiday spirit, and to get some inspiration for any Christmas baking that may be coming your way. — B.E.
How to watch: The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 8 is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Shelby OaksCraving something creepy? Writer/director Chris Stuckmann delivers with a haunting tale about a woman's search to find her sister, who went missing in the forest of Shelby Oaks.
In his review out of the Fantasia International Film Festival, Mashable contributor Jason Adams wrote, "It's twisty as hell, bears some ace performances, and truly gifts audiences with some very sticky and very spooky images. Most of all, it marks the emergence of a horror filmmaker worth keeping an eye on." — K.P.
Starring: Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Keith David, Sarah Durn, Derek Mears. Emily Bennett, Charlie Talbert, Robin Bartlett, and Michael Beach
How to watch: Shelby Oaks is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.
6. A Man on the Inside, Season 2Mike Schur and Ted Danson warmed our hearts with the phenomenal first season of A Man on the Inside, and they're back to do it all over again in Season 2. Novice private investigator Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson) is back, and this time, his new case will take him undercover at a liberal arts college. It's the perfect disguise for a former professor, but of course, there are several twists and turns for Charles to face.
A new romantic interest in the form of beguiling music professor Mona (Mary Steenburgen, Danson's real-life spouse) crafts a compelling examination of starting a relationship later in life. Elsewhere, buttoned-up private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) tries to connect with her estranged family. Each storyline serves as a reminder of Schur's biggest strength: community-building through comedy. If you're looking for a sitcom that's the equivalent of a warm hug, this is it. — B.E.
Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, and Stephanie Beatriz
How to watch: A Man on the Inside, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
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5. Train DreamsDenis Johnson’s 2011 novella comes to life in Train Dreams, Netflix's moving historical drama from Sing Sing collaborators Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley. Running from 1917 to 1968, the film follows railroad worker Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) through life in 20th-century America, weaving history through Robert's personal triumphs and tragedies.
As I wrote in my review, "It's a slow-going, sombre film at times, a historical essay at others, and it won't be everyone's cup of sarsaparilla. However, the true heart of this moving film is a subtle, sensitive performance by Joel Edgerton, one immersed in Bryce Dessner's meticulous score and Adolpho Veloso's lush cinematography, and concluded with the unmistakable spirit of Nick Cave." — S.C.
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy
How to watch: Train Dreams debuts on Netflix on Dec. 21.
4. The Celebrity Traitors UK, Season 1Tired of waiting for the U.S. version of The Traitors to return? Then you're in luck, because the UK's Celebrity Traitors is now available to binge on Peacock. And not to oversell it, but it absolutely outranks (and outcamps) the American version.
While the U.S. Traitors mainly casts reality TV stars, The Celebrity Traitors casts full on A-listers — Stephen Fry is here! Enough said. — to play for charity. That lightens the game aspect and truly allows the "characters" to shine, from Kate Garraway's hilarious obliviousness to Joe Marler's detective skills. However, the real treat is Alan Carr as a Traitor. Nothing can prepare you for how much of a riot that is. — B.E.
Starring: Paloma Faith, Niko Omilana, Tom Daley, Tameka Empson, Ruth Codd, Clare Balding, Charlotte Church, Mark Bonnar, Joe Wilkinson, Stephen Fry, Lucy Beaumont, Jonathan Ross, Celia Imrie, Kate Garraway, Cat Burns, Joe Marler, David Olusoga, Nick Mohammed, and Alan Carr
How to watch: All nine episodes of The Celebrity Traitors UK Season 1 premieres on Peacock on Nov. 20.
3. If I Had Legs I'd Kick YouSee Rose Byrne as you've never seen her before in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, a transfixing living nightmare about motherhood. Writer-director Mary Bronstein ushers us into the claustrophobic world of therapist Linda (Byrne), who's dealing with an ailing young daughter (Delaney Quinn), an absentee husband (Christian Slater), and a collapsing apartment. It's not long before this perfect storm of stressors sends Linda down a self-destructive spiral.
Thanks to Bronstein's tightly focused direction and Byrne's transformative performance, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You cements itself as one of 2025's most unforgettable, visceral watches. As Siddhant Adlakha wrote in his review, "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." — B.E.
Starring: Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Christian Slater, and A$AP Rocky
How to watch: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.
2. The Mighty NeinA new fantasy obsession arrives on TV this week in the form of The Mighty Nein. Based on Critical Role's second live-streamed Dungeons & Dragons campaign, this animated adventure introduces a crew of outcasts forced to work together to stop a powerful artifact from falling into the wrong hands. Expect dazzling magical fights, heists, and the occasional dick joke. (It wouldn't be Critical Role without them.)
Critical Role has already proven it can bring the magic of its campaigns to TV. Just look at The Legend of Vox Machina in all its wacky fantasy glory. But with The Mighty Nein, Critical Role levels up. Longer episodic runtimes give characters and their traumatic backstories more room to breathe, while new magical abilities offer up extra-spectacular action sequences. And of course, the characters and their complicated web of relationships translate beautifully from table to TV. As I wrote in my review, "[The Mighty Nein] is the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on [Campaign 2], never did I expect it to hit as hard as this." — B.E.
Starring: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham
How to watch: The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein are now on Prime Video, with new episodes each Wednesday.
1. Good BoyMashable's Entertainment team fell hard for Good Boy, a haunted house thriller that centers on a charismatic dog named Indy. When his owner takes him to a remote cabin, this good boy quickly realizes something is off. But — being a dog — he struggles to communicate the threat they face to his human. The traditional haunted house scares hit all the harder when audiences are watching a sweet dog in a fight for survival. And we only came to love the movie more as we learned how it was made.
Married collaborators Ben Leonberg and Kari Fischer created Good Boy by building a movie around their lovable pet, Indy. In an interview with Mashable, they detailed how they directed their dog. We even gave it a go on our own, creating a deeper appreciation for the patience and filmmaking prowess demanded of this concept. So, we whole-heartedly recommend Good Boy as a thrilling film. And hey, if you need to know before you hit play if the dog dies, we've got you covered there too. Then, we invite you down the rabbit hole of how a movie like this gets made, so you can appreciate how truly special Good Boy and Indy really are. — K.P.
Starring: Indy, Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, and Larry Fessenden
How to watch: Good Boy debuts on Shudder on Nov. 21.
(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.
TL;DR: Get a portable and powerful MacBook Air for only $229.99 (reg. $999) through Nov. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $229.99Want a laptop that won’t weigh you down? If you’re looking for a lightweight device that doesn’t skimp on power, look no further than the MacBook Air. Right now, you can get one for a fraction of the usual $999 price tag — just $229.99 — but you have to act fast. This deal only runs through Nov. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
The holiday season is not a great time to need a new laptop, especially if you’re in the market for a powerful Apple device. Luckily, this MacBook Air is on sale just in time, offering a feature-packed option that doesn’t break the bank.
SEE ALSO: Before Black Friday hits, a 4-pack of Apple AirTags is already on a major discount at AmazonThis model comes equipped with a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, so it can keep up with all your multitasking. And despite all that power, it weighs in at just 2.96 pounds so you won’t mind toting it around. And you can stay connected anywhere thanks to its WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities. 128GB of storage also offers plenty of space for saving your important files right on your device.
A 13.3-inch widescreen display offers Intel HD Graphics 6000, so when you take a break and stream your favorite comfort show or movie, you can do so in vibrant color with some stunning visuals. If your binge-session runs long, no worries. This model also offers an impressive 12 hour battery life on a single charge.
This model comes with a Grade A/B rating. That means you may receive a device with light scuffing on the bevel or case, or light scratches or dents on the body, but you can rest easy knowing it has gone through a comprehensive process to ensure its functionality and quality.
Act fast to get your own MacBook Air for only $229.99 (reg. $999) while supplies last.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Remember when Apple's AirPods first hit the market, and people couldn't help but clown on their wireless design?
We've come a long way since then, with over-ear headphones becoming a mainstay on commutes and coffee shops, essentially cementing their status as a modern-day outfit accessory.
As someone who tests headphones for a living, I can attest firsthand to the fact that while great headphones will have a good balance of sound quality and comfort, the best headphones do that and have the power to complement an outfit.
With that in mind, I've rounded up the most stylish headphones the Mashable team has tested, with pairs at every price point, from $69.99 all the way up to $799.
Sony WH-CH520 The yellow WH-CH520 headphones are just one of seven colorways available. Credit: Miller Kern / MashableThe Sony WH-CH520 are relatively affordable at their full price of $79.99, but an absolute steal at their frequent sale price of $38. (We've seen them hit an even lower price of $33). Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti deemed them the best headphones under $50, thanks to their incredible 50-hour battery life and great sound quality. He writes in his review, "Contemporary tracks sound energetic, while live performances have a dynamic presence, thanks to airy vocal reproduction. Fidelity is taken up a notch when enabling my favorite feature for enhancing sound on Sony headphones: DSEE."
Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern bought the yellow version of these headphones for herself over July's Prime Day, and despite having five pairs of premium headphones in her home office (the perks of being a product tester), she reaches for these ones regularly. She calls the yellow "gorgeous" and said that though this on-ear design comes without noise cancellation, they're great for passively blocking sound, whether she's working or on a flight.
Sony WH-CH520 $38 at AmazonDivisive as the design may be, I had to include the Nothing Headphone (1) on this list. Their transparent and rectangular design feels both retro and futuristic. Though it won't be to everyone's taste (personally, they're not my favorite), for the people that love the look, it's hard to find another option quite like them. You'll have the choice between a silver and a black colorway.
As for how they perform, it's a bit of a mixed bag. When I first tried them, I immediately noticed that they lean on the heavier end of the spectrum, with more of a snug fit. For some people, that can be the comfiest kind of fit. Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti noted in his review that these headphones come with excellent adaptive ANC, long battery life at 35 hours per charge, and dynamic sound. They only come at a more mid-range price point of $299, but the price isn't suspiciously low. The connectivity can be touch-and-go, and the equalizer is necessary for the best sound possible.
Nothing Headphone (1) $289 at AmazonThe Beats Studio Pro are for anyone who loves a neutral color palette and paying Beats prices for AirPods Max-quality headphones. On the former point, you'll have your choice between varying shades of black, brown, and white. The sleek design and subtle Beats logo pretty much guarantee these headphones will work as a matching accessory to any outfit.
On the latter point, Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti named the Studio Pro the best Beats headphones, and for good reason. These headphones come with noise cancellation that's on par with the AirPods Max, and sound quality that stands above the Apple headphones. The battery life is also better, 24 hours per charge with ANC on, as compared to the AirPods Max's 20 hours. Beats headphones are designed to connect just as easily to Apple devices as AirPods, but Android users will enjoy feature parity.
Beats Studio Pro $149.95 at AmazonGenerally, Bose headphones earn their acclaim for having excellent ANC and comfort. More underrated is their extensive colorway options, and it's with the company's latest release, the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones, that they really shine. At the time of writing, there are five colorway options available, from more subtle all-black options to the striking driftwood sand colorway, which combines a cream colorway with gold accents. These accent metal pieces give them an overall premium feel. Bose also has a tendency to add colorways throughout their headphones' tenure.
As for their performance, these headphones deliver top-quality adjustable ANC and the best wear I've experienced on any headphones. The ear cups are removable, which bodes well for giving these headphones a nice long life (which you'll want to with their $449 price tag). The sound quality is rich, with premium features like spatial audio and the option for USB-C playback. Overall, they're a great pair of premium headphones with looks to match.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 at AmazonThe Apple AirPods Max are the quintessential stylish headphones. In classic Apple form, the brand modified the standard design of headphones ever so slightly, offering a slightly different ear cup shape, a mesh headband, and an array of colorways. For the USB-C version, you can pick them up in black, blue, orange, purple, and starlight. They look striking, which is probably why they're common to spot out in the world.
That said, in 2025, they're not the best headphones available, spec-wise. Apple users will enjoy lossless audio and super easy connectivity, as well as Apple's excellent spatial audio, solid ANC, and an overall balanced sound profile. However, these headphones were initially released just under five years ago, and since that release, have only received one update in September 2024, which swapped in a USB-C port over the original Lightning. That means they still come without a real carrying case, only 20 hours of battery life, and no dedicated power button, all for $549 — one of the higher prices in the consumer headphone market. If you can, I'd recommend waiting for the new generation to drop — we're just not quite sure when that will be. Still, as the OG pretty headphones, I couldn't not include the Apple AirPods Max on this list.
Apple AirPods Max $479.99 at WalmartThere's no beating around the bush — the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are gorgeously sleek and exorbitantly expensive. At $799, these headphones put the AirPods Max and Dyson OnTrac prices to shame, which is impressive in its own right, though not exactly ideal.
Still, if you're looking for a professional, elevated aesthetic when it comes to your headphones, the Px8 S2 are a really strong candidate. The Nappa leather and machined aluminum give the overall feel of high quality (which, for $799, they absolutely should!). Mashable Editor Timothy Beck Werth got his hands on these headphones and reported back: "Radiohead, Florence and the Machine, and Michael Jackson all sounded as good as they ever have. I'd rate them alongside the Panasonic Technics AZ100 earbuds in terms of elite audio products, and they're a clear step up from the likes of Sony." The ANC isn't quite on par with Sony and Bose, but the weighty quality of the design (and the secure comfort they provide) helps offset that con. Still, if you're not super into the aesthetic and an audiophile, these might be a pass for you, with Werth writing, "If you don't know how to activate high-res audio on your device, or if you didn't spend several long years waiting for Spotify to finally roll out lossless audio, these headphones will be wasted on you."
If you like the overall shape of the Bowers & Wilkins design, the Px7 S3 are a slightly more affordable option.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 $799 at AmazonFor artist and creator Chloé Caroline, what’s in her bag isn't just about what she carries — it's about what keeps her grounded.
Between music video shoots, content creation, and daily walks by the beach (where she says many of her best ideas come from), Caroline's essentials help her stay creative, balanced, and camera-ready wherever she goes.
Here's what she never leaves home without.
The essential products inside Chloé Caroline's bag Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; Spotify / Instagram The content creator basicsThese first two are basic content creator needs aside from my iPhone and Macbook Pro. First up: my mini iPhone tripod. I easily travel with it everywhere. And my small attachable ring light for my iPhone.
Mini iPhone tripod 3-in-1 Mini Tripod, Selfie Stick for iPhone, Tripod for iPhone with Remote Control, Lightweight Travel Tripods for Selfie Video Recording, Compatible with 4-7 Inch iOS/Android Phones $25.98 at AmazonThese next three products help me look good on camera in every photo and video, even if I didn’t have access to mascara or the rest of my makeup.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain in Spicy Sienna Opens in a new window Credit: Ulta e.l.f. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain in Spicy Sienna $7 at UltaThese are incredible noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones with a "be aware" mode and crazy long battery life for long editing sessions.
JLab Create Wireless LAV Mic System, EPIC Talk Microphone, and GoParty Bluetooth Speakers Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab Create Wireless LAV Mic System $59.99 at JLabThese are perfect for playback during my music video shoots (you can connect up to 100 speakers!).
Taylor 210E Acoustic Guitar Opens in a new window Credit: Guitar Center Taylor 14ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $499 at Guitar CenterI mean, I started creating content with only me and a guitar, so I can’t forget about this one.
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen Audio Interface Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen Audio Interface $299.99 at AmazonThis is small, portable, and great for both beginners and experienced users. I use it most when I’m doing any at-home recording or even live recording for higher-quality acoustic videos.
Smart accessories for a creator on the goZVE Crossbody Wallet Case for iPhone 16 Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon ZVE Crossbody Wallet Case for iPhone 16 Pro $32.99 at AmazonI sometimes go on walks while I edit, and this wraps around me to make it easier to hold my phone. It can also be used as a kickstand.
Mindfulness essentialsA journal Emshoi Dotted Journal Bullet Notebook $15.95 at AmazonI need this to write down affirmations, gratitude, and goals for the week. This keeps my brain a little less cluttered!
Sage Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon New Age Smudges & Herbs - Premium California White Sage Incense 4 Inches Long $6.99 at AmazonAs woo-woo as it sounds, it makes it easier to film in an environment that relaxes me and smells great.
Chloé Caroline is a paid contributor to Mashable.
California girl Chloé Caroline has been building community online since middle school. A singer-songwriter and creator with more than 300,000 followers across platforms, she's spent the past decade turning vulnerability into connection — whether through her music, her "Sending Sunshine" series, or her collaborations with brands like Stella Rosa Wines and Thursday Boots.
In this Creator Playbook, she opens up about her creative process, the meaning of virality, and what she’s learned from a decade of creating from the heart.
Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; Ulta / JLab How did you begin your journey as a creator?Technically, I first started creating "content" when I got a Facebook page in 7th grade and began sharing the songs I was writing in my bedroom as a form of healing and connection.
I had been really sick and pulled out of school in 6th grade, and then when I went to a new school in 7th grade dealt with mean girls for the first time, so for me, it was this outlet to safely work through what I was dealing with all around in the safe confines of my room, but also partake in the world.
I felt called to share what I'd create, even if at first I was highly self-deprecating about whether it was any good. It was this pull when I’d write something. Eventually, when I realized others were relating to it, it fueled me to keep going. I never wanted anyone to feel alone or misunderstood — that really bothered me.
What was your first viral video or post, and how did it change your approach to content creation?I’m going to answer this a bit differently than most creators might, because I think we get hung up on numbers these days more than on the quality of those numbers. You can have hundreds of thousands or millions of views on something, and it can feel somewhat empty, or you can have 1/10th of that and actually see a much larger connection. I've experienced both.
My definition of "viral" is what truly resonates with people, whether it's 100 people or 100 million. Virality these days is so broad — sometimes it can be a total fluke, like a selfie video in sweatpants with terrible lighting that's only five seconds long and has no intention, yet the algorithm picks it up.
Alternatively, it can be initiated through a combination of paid ads, paid influencers, or knowing the right person who can get the video featured on the platform. Of course, you can also have an organic video of something just incredibly resonating pop off too, but there are so many factors at play for why something might have gone "viral."
When it comes to a video that doesn't necessarily have the highest views compared to some of my videos, but I’d venture to say maybe has had the most impact on people’s lives, it was for my song "Ready." It was inspired by my leap of faith after I'd been told I wasn't ready for the next step of my career. I realized only I could decide if I was ready, but I’d also been blocking myself and gripping way too tight in some areas of my life in a state of maintenance for fears of losing others if I let go. I decided to leave the safety net of Nashville, where I’d gone to college and started my career, and move back to LA, where I’m from, for the first time as an adult.
During COVID, I shared the inspo behind it and launched a "Trust Fall" challenge on social media where I had people say what they were ready for out loud and trust fall back into someone’s arms along with the music video.
View this post on InstagramI started receiving DMs from people telling me how much they related to it, and it inspired them not only to think deeply about what they wanted to achieve but also to take those steps, however small. One person in particular was an incredibly talented man who did a moving violin cover of my song — I sobbed — and told me it encouraged him to move and make a career change, beginning the process of becoming a pilot. This year, he just got a position as a pilot for a commercial airline, and I finally met him in person.
How do you make money from your content, and what monetization methods do you use?There are definitely a few different ways, as both a singer-songwriter and influencer. On the music side, I earn royalties through the music libraries of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for the use of my released music. I'll also make money from my YouTube/VEVO music video views and my music used in them. Another source is through MusicBed, a platform that allows creators, videographers, ad agencies, and brands to use my music, and I receive royalties through micro-licensing.
On the more general social media and influencer side, IG is my biggest platform, so I monetize a little bit from IG subscriptions and bonuses, but I'd say the majority comes from my brand partnerships.
View this post on InstagramAt this point, I’ve worked with over 90 brands — from smaller entrepreneurial businesses to huge brands like Stella Rosa Wines and Meta — so it really just depends on who and what opportunities feel aligned. The majority of my partnership income is flat-fee based, or if it’s a consistent sponsored partnership, then a monthly stipend for a specified number of pieces of content, often plus an affiliate commission, and potential whitelisting of that content as well.
Some creators make tons of money from TikTok Shop or strictly affiliate partnerships as their main focus, where they often post brand content daily or multiple times a day to generate sales, but I have to be really strategic about a good balance of brand-related content and music content to keep my audience trusting of what I represent.
They intersect frequently, as I believe being a singer-songwriter brings fresh opportunities to brands and is obviously authentic, even in simple ways — but, of course, sometimes it's completely separate content.
Can you walk us through your workflow from ideation to publishing a post?For brand content: Genuinely, every brand partnership is different. I've been really blessed to work with brands that have been open-minded to my ideas and what I think will align best with my audience while supporting the goals for the campaign. It's a partnership, so I love a good brainstorming session and phone call to ensure I set up the communication flow between us, and that they really know who I am.
Sometimes I'm asked to be part of a well-developed campaign, which is also super fun (and can be easier), but I love thinking up campaign and content ideas — so if I have the freedom to do that, I pitch them.
I get a ton of my ideas from my daily walks by the beach and from researching the brand's mission (this is huge). Once I get the OK to start, I’d like to say I’ve got every single scene planned out perfectly or scripted, but that’s not really my vibe. I love some basic talking points too, but I want it to feel natural, so I usually take the blueprint of the idea I have and hit record — even if it means I have more footage of me rambling than I want to edit.
SEE ALSO: How 4 creators use CapCut to edit their TikTok videosFor music and lifestyle content, I aim to create a mix of spontaneous "in the moment" content, storytelling, singing on my way to the studio, live show recaps, and high-quality music video promos. The lead-up to a music release is pretty intentional with what my main, bigger pieces of content will be, and it's so much fun to collaborate on.
I have ADD, so generally I get inspired most from either being in nature and moving my body or cooking, so my mind can just run wild. I’m also heavily inspired by seeing other art and artists of all kinds. I use CapCut Pro and Tezza the most to edit!
What advice would you give to someone starting out in content creation today, looking to build a career and grow their following?Begin. Don't wait until you have the perfect setup or X amount of dollars or whatever other reason we tell ourselves we’re not ready or qualified for yet. There are many incredible people who are also very willing to collaborate, provided we’re open to putting ourselves out there and remain open-minded to all forms of creativity. Slide into the DMs, send the email, and of course, practice your craft.
There’s not just one route, even when we feel like it, so use that to your advantage. Just because you don’t have a million dollars or a record deal doesn’t make you less important or valuable. Find your why — why do you want to create content and why do you want to grow your following? Don’t let the numbers define you. Root from your truth and authenticity.
What brings you joy very well might be the answer. And lastly, manifest it. Say it out loud, even though you will feel nuts. Believe it’s already happened and walk out the door with that energy. I’ve been trying to move and create from this thought more than ever: “What would your boldest self do?”
How long did it take before you saw significant growth in followers, and what strategies helped you get there?Across socials, I have over 300,000 followers, and it's been a 10-year journey. I started building my fanbase in 2014/2015 after I’d moved to Nashville for Belmont University and released my first EP. I had an Instagram I’d post on occasionally, but I got approached to post on an app called PicCollage — a collage-making app that operated like a social platform. The demographic was preteen and teenage girls.
When I posted, I could include my YouTube videos directly in the collage, so people could watch them. I’m pretty positive I was the only musician on it at the time, and they really responded to me being real — involving them in Q&As, creating exclusive hand-drawn “sticker” packs for them to use, and taking the time to respond to every single message and comment. Suddenly, I realized how much they wanted to be seen and heard. Within six months, I had 300,000 followers.
Slowly, I started doing the same on Instagram. I’d find similar artists or brands that felt like me and reach out to their followers to see if they’d listen to a song. I also reply to every comment I can and offer ways to support them, too. I’ve even collaborated with them creatively — from jewelry to single artwork.
When I got my music on Disney Channel/Radio Disney in 2016 and co-starred and performed the soundtrack for in Hallmark Channel's Love, Of Course, people began to discover me more. I started using a fan number so I could personally text fans individually and send mass messages when I had releases, which has been really great for my dedicated listener base.
Consistency is key, so I’ve always been proactive about mixing music, lifestyle, and brand content. Telling the stories behind my songs has been incredibly important and is my favorite part of performing live. I want people to leave or close their phone feeling understood or inspired. I actually wrote the bridge of my song "Another Best Friend" using a comment I saw on TikTok that I related to heavily during a breakup.
One of my favorite things to do is my series "Sending Sunshine." On Sundays, I have people answer a question sticker with the name of the person they are sending “sunshine” to that week and share their handle so I can give them a shoutout on "Magic Monday." It’s a little reminder that someone is thinking of them.
How did you get your first brand deal? How did that differ from how you come by brand deals today?Oh, man, this is kind of hard to remember, since I think it was somewhere between 2016 and 2018. Initially, I collaborated with gifted campaigns to build experience, but I think my first one might have been with a company called Splendid Spoon. They sent me ready-to-eat healthy meals and smoothies for on-the-go, which I loved because I’m always running around or have long songwriting sessions.
One of my first paid campaigns was for Ava Grace Vineyards, a wine company, and I created a series of content for them over a period of 3–6 months. I remember involving my friends for a few of them by shooting a beach picnic and sharing my nighttime "Wine-down," where I filmed how I show self-love, which included singing a song I’d written while cozied up by the fire.
Honestly, not much has changed in how I secure brand deals. A good bulk is still initiated through Instagram DM — even bigger opportunities like Stella Rosa Wines, which became a national commercial and holiday campaign. I got a DM from the director saying the Stella girls were fans of my music and asked if I was interested in partnering, singing, and starring in the commercial. After a certain point, I began to receive emails from agencies and brands as well, and I’ve since discovered websites where I can be discovered by brands and apply for campaigns. I recently partnered with a home-swapping app called Kindred through a site called Later, and they helped sponsor my trip to Toronto to attend the Departure Festival.
These days, it’s less of a slow burn to get something paid. I’m consistently working with an incredible brand now — Thursday Boots — that started from me wearing their shoes in music videos simply because I loved them. I really love working with brands of all sizes, as long as they feel aligned. Some of my favorite partnerships have been with other passionate entrepreneurs and mid-sized brands, as I love helping to highlight their stories.
I co-designed a jewelry collection with Moonglow Jewelry inspired by songs on my EP The Awakening Vol 1, and I’m really proud of that. Those songs and The Awakening Vol 2: The Prequel were born from a profound spiritual awakening I had, and I loved the cosmic alignment (plus I have an obsession with jewelry)! My music video "Manifest" was also sponsored by a very cosmic jewelry company run by a female entrepreneur, which was so cool.
I also love working with brands that have a product or mission that can elevate someone’s life in some way, and California-based brands are especially fun since I’m an LA beach baby born and raised. Most people assume my partnerships are music-based, but most of them aren’t — even if the content ties in with my music or career.
I’m pretty excited, though, as this year I had the opportunity to work with Splice, a company that offers a huge music sampling library used regularly by producers and songwriters, as well as JLab Audio, with whom I’ve been working consistently and have access to amazing, high-quality headphones and speakers at an affordable price. It's hard work, but it's a lot of fun. I have so many ideas for the next several months, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds and who I grow with.
Chloé Caroline is a paid contributor to Mashable.
Black Friday is easily the best time to buy Apple products, and with just about one week to go until the shopping holiday, the deals are already pretty good. You can thank Amazon for that: It's dropped the price of the entry-level AirPods 4 and M4 MacBook Airs to new all-time lows, and taken $50 off the price of most iPads — even the new M5 iPad Pros.
Other retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target aren't price-matching a ton of Amazon's deals on current-gen Apple devices just yet, but they're picking up the slack when it comes to older models. Best Buy is the only place where some M4 iPad Pros are $100 off, for example, and Walmart has an exclusive discount on last year's Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular connectivity. (It's a whopping 40% off.)
SEE ALSO: Amazon just dropped all the details about its Black Friday saleAs per usual, don't expect the Apple Store itself to offer any crazy-good Black Friday deals. If anything, it'll just run one of its free gift card promos.
I've scoured all of the major players' websites and rounded up the best early Black Friday Apple deals below. I'll continue to update it as we get deeper into the holiday season, so keep checking back.
Best early Black Friday AirTag deal Apple AirTag $17.97 at AmazonApple's coin-sized Bluetooth tracker is the perfect sub-$50 stocking stuffer for iPhone owners. It's currently $5 away from its lowest price on record.
More AirTags deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-pack) $64.98 at AmazonUsually we go to Amazon for the lowest prices, but this time, Walmart has the best savings on AirPods. Right now you can find the Apple AirPods 2 for just $139, saving $110 off their usual $249 price for 44% off. That's the best savings you can find on AirPods right now, but if you're looking for a different model, there are other deals to explore ahead of Black Friday.
More AirPods deals Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $148.99 at AmazonApple's previous-gen flagship wearable has a thin, lightweight design and supports the latest watchOS features like Sleep Score. The model with cellular connectivity is now the same price as the WiFi-only version at Walmart.
More Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 at AmazonThe 11th-gen iPad has a 10.9-inch display, 12MP cameras, and enough power for everyday tasks. Our reviewer called it "a real steal" at its usual sticker price of $349, but you'll pay just $299 right now. (That's $20 away from its lowest price ever.)
More iPad deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi, 256GB) $349 at WalmartFast and portable, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air is our favorite MacBook for students. The base model is only $750 on Amazon as of early November — a new record low — and I seriously doubt it'll get any cheaper on Black Friday proper. That's a bargain.
More MacBook deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 at WalmartWe're officially back in Black Friday season, folks.
Though Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, retailers are already kicking off sales. Best Buy dropped early deals and doorbusters on Oct. 31, and Target started their first holiday savings event on Nov. 6. Even though retailers like Amazon haven't kicked off any programming yet (you can expect that to start on Nov. 20,) we've spotted plenty of Black Friday-worthy deals that you can shop early to get ahead of your holiday list.
Keep checking back for the best Black Friday deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and beyond.
Best early Black Friday Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at AmazonThe 13-inch MacBook Air is down to a record-low price of $749 ahead of Black Friday. This is our favorite laptop for students, thanks to its M4 silicon and slim design. This markdown is so good that even if it does happen to drop lower for Black Friday or Cyber Monday (and we're not counting on it), you still score a great deal without all the chaos of Black Friday shopping.
More Apple deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $699 at Best BuyRead our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 1) headphones.
The Bose QC Ultra headphones have long been some of our favorite noise-cancelling headphones. Even though Bose recently replaced them with a new Gen 2 model, the originals are still an excellent value for your money — especially at the record low price of $299.
More Black Friday headphones and earbuds deals Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WF-C710N Wireless Earbuds $78 at AmazonSenior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart sees Narwal's newest robot vacuum mop combo as a dupe for the $1,599.99 Roborock Saros 10R. Its edge cleaning is comparable to that of the Saros 10R's, thanks to dual spinning mopping pads that flex out from under the vacuum to scrub in corners and along walls. When mopping, the Freo Z10 Ultra ensures that it does a thorough job by taking a before-and-after picture of the spill, going back for another pass if necessary. The livestream pet camera is a bonus for homes with pets.
More robot vacuum and vacuum deals Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy E20 3-in-1 $349.99 at Amazon"If you're not sure what size TV to get, we consider 65 inches to be the sweet spot for most folks. While the Hisense U6 Mini LED QLED TV falls into the budget-friendly category, its specs don't scream "budget" at all. It features a Mini LED backlight system, which essentially means its uses smaller LEDs to deliver a brighter and more detailed picture. Plus, it packs a 144Hz native refresh rate, WiFi 6 connectivity, an ATSC 1.0 tuner under the hood, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It uses the same interface as Amazon's own Mini LED Fire TV and is equipped with on-board Alexa. Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) called it 'easily the brightest and most colorful budget-friendly TV we've tested.' At $547.99, the 65-inch Hisense U6 is already down to its best price ever at Amazon ahead of Black Friday." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor
More TV and streaming deals Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch Class Q6-Series QLED 4K TV $279.99 at TargetWhoop has teased its Black Friday sale, set to start on Nov. 20. When the sale officially begins, we can expect discounts on the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG. However, until then, we'll settle for a discount on the Whoop 4.0, which comes with the One membership included. It provides deep insights on sleep, strain, recovery and hormonal cycles. An annual membership is usually $199, and includes the Whoop 4.0 device, but ahead of Black Friday it's down to $149, saving you $50 and 25% off.
More Black Friday fitness tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch $299.99 at AmazonThe Ninja Slushi is a blast in any season — frozen margs in any flavor you want when it's hot, apple cider slush or gingerbread frappé when it's chilly. (Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart loves her Slushi, and so do all of her friends.) A year after the first Slushi came out, Ninja released two larger capacity versions in a few fun colors. The 88-ounce model on sale for $269.99 at Amazon can make a slightly bigger batch than the original 72-ounce model, which is on sale for $249.99 at Walmart. $20 more for extra beverages and a chic green build? Sold. (If you want the purple one, it's $269.99 at Target.)
More Black Friday kitchen deals Nespresso Festive Vertuo Pop+ Coffee and Espresso Maker $129 at AmazonThe best early Black Friday deal for the home is at Brooklinen. Right now, the brand is offering 25% off across its products. You can find Brooklinen's super-plush Turkish cotton bath towel bundle for just $107, saving you 30% off. All prices are marked, no discount code needed.
More early Black Friday home deals Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark StainForce Portable Stain Remover $149.99 at Amazon"A solid mid-range power station, the small and mighty Explorer 2000 v2 is lightweight enough (under 40 pounds) to carry with you on camping trips, boating, tailgating, and other outdoor adventures. It's also equipped with 2,042Wh capacity, which makes it powerful enough to serve as a home battery backup in emergencies as well. That's enough power to keep your fridge running for over a day, heat up a meal in the microwave, and brew plenty of cups of coffee. It packs three AC outlets, one USB-A port, and two USB-C ports, as well as a built-in light and super-charge emergency mode on board for a variety of needs. With $800 off, it's down to its best price on record ahead of Black Friday." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor
More Black Friday power station deals EcoFlow River 2 $269 at AmazonEven though Amazon's Black Friday sale hasn't officially started (you have to wait until Nov. 20 for that), Amazon devices such as Fire TVs are already marked down in advance of the sale. In addition, you can find plenty of limited-time deals on popular gadgets, power stations, smart home tech, outdoor gear, and Christmas gifts. Amazon is also a great place to stock up on stocking stuffers, as you'll find an abundance of deals under $25.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner $84.98 at AmazonAs in years past, Walmart+ members get early access to the best Black Friday deals, and you can either sign up for a free trial or get 50% off a membership. Until its next official Black Friday sales event (mark your calendars for Nov. 25), the original Everything Store has great early deals on video games, kitchen gadgets, Legos, and even Dyson vacuums.
Opens in a new window Credit: Crock-Pot Crock-Pot Manual 7-Quart Slow Cooker $34 at WalmartBest Buy has an interesting Black Friday system: It's been dropping new doorbusters every single Thursday since Halloween. Some of those deals have stuck around, and some are fleeting. You can plan ahead for the official Black Friday sale (kicking off on Nov. 20) with the Best Buy Black Friday ad scan, but here are some deals that are confirmed to be at their Black Friday prices.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV $1,399.99 at Best BuyWe're scanning Target's weekly ad to find the best early Black Friday deals of 2025, including plenty of products that are cheaper at Target than on Amazon. Strangely, that includes some of Amazon's own products. So, if you're a Target Circle member and you need a new kids' tablet or espresso machine, now's your chance to save.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet $44.99 at TargetFollowing the legislation to release the Epstein files passing through Congress, Trump has announced that he's now given the bill his signature. Jimmy Kimmel remains skeptical, though.
In the video above, the host questions whether or not the Epstein files that get released will be the full, unredacted version — or whether parts will be held back or omitted.
"We don't know whether the Department of Justice will actually release all the files or if they'll be tied up in investigations, specifically investigations Trump orders to keep them tied up in investigations — and that is where things will get interesting," Kimmel says. "Will we have the original documents or will Trump gonna pull a Taylor Swift and give us the Epstein files, Donnie's version?"
Porsche's largest SUV, the Cayenne, has finally turned electric, and it's got a few tricks up its sleeve.
Perhaps most importantly, it's wickedly quick. The fastest variant, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric, has up to 850kW (that's 1,156 horsepower) of power, allowing it to go from 0-100 km\/h in 2.5 seconds, and from 0-200 km/h in 7.4 seconds, with a max speed of 260 km/h. Porsche says it's the most powerful production Porsche of all time (so, not just the most powerful Cayenne or SUV; the most powerful Porsche of any kind, ever).
More family-friendly than sporty, but we'll take it. Credit: PorscheThe entry level Cayenne is a bit tamer with 300 kW of power and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.8 seconds, with a top speed of 230 km/h.
The Cayenne also has what Porsche calls "Formula E levels of recuperation," meaning the SUV is able to handle about 97 percent of all braking operations purely with its electric motors. Of course, for the Turbo variant you'll still probably want the (optional) Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake.
SEE ALSO: Toyota must be joking about the range of its first electric pickup The Turbo variant is the most powerful Porsche of any kind, ever. Credit: PorscheOther details include optional rear axle steering, adaptive air suspension which is standard on both the regular Cayenne and the Turbo variant, and the Porsche Active Ride active suspension which comes as an option and should "almost completely" compensate for the car's body movement.
A detail we like the most, though, is the (optional) inductive charging, which allows you to charge the Cayenne by merely park above a charging floor plate. The charging speed isn't the best – 11 kW – but it's way more practical than having to plug the car in after you park.
Featured Video For You The 4 coolest EVs and car tech we saw at CES 2025You shouldn't be worrying about charging too much with this one, as it comes with a hefty 113 kWh battery with super speedy charging (up to 400 kW DC charging), which should be good for up to 642 kilometers of WLTP range on the Cayenne Electric, and 623 kilometers of range on the Cayenne Turbo Electric.
With almost 5 meters of length, there should be plenty of space inside for a family of five. Credit: PorscheDespite its power, the Cayenne Electric isn't the most aggressive-looking SUV, or even the most aggressive-looking Cayenne we've seen. European manufacturers like to make their electric cars more softer-looking, and Cayenne Electric looks like a slightly more futuristic, but also family-friendly variant of the regular Cayenne. And a true family hauler it is, with 4,985 millimeters in length, and 781 l in cargo space (up to 1,588 liters with seats folded), with an additional 90 liters in the frunk, which Porsche thankfully included on this one.
Largest display area in a Porsche, ever. Credit: PorscheInside, it's screens on top of screens, as is customary for modern Porsches. You get a 14.25-inch instrument cluster, and If you tick the option box for the 14.9-inch passenger display, you'll get the largest display area ever found in a Porsche. One new feature is called Mood Modes, which allows you to just pick the setting you want and the seating position, lighting, sound profile, display appearance, and even air conditioning all change to fit that mood.
We have no way of proving it, but I think these promo photos were taken in Croatia. No wonder, as Porsche co-owns Bugatti with Croatia's electric car powerhouse Rimac. Credit: PorscheAll the electric Cayenne models are available to order now. In the U.S., the Cayenne Electric starts at $111,350, while the Cayenne Turbo Electric starts at $165,350.
Tonight the moon’s completely out of sight, that's because it’s a New Moon. This means the side facing us is in shadow, so there's to see at all. After tonight, we'll be in a new lunar cycle and the moon will slowly start getting brighter and brighter each night.
What is today’s moon phase?As of Thursday Nov. 20, the moon phase is New Moon. This means 0% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation. So, if you were hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon tonight, you’re out of luck. Just enjoy the dark sky for now, the moon will be back in a few days.
When is the next full moon?The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.
What are moon phases?Moon phases are part of a repeating lunar cycle that lasts about 29.5 days, according to NASA. They describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely (the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases:
New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 20 PipsNumber (5): Everything in this purple space must add to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.
Less Than (8): Everything in this space must be less than 8. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 20 PipsEqual (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this red space must add to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.
Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 20 PipsNumber (18): Everything in this space must add to 18. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.
Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.
Equal (6): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.
Equal (2): Everything in this green space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be a good time if you're familiar with Florida sports.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Sunshine State sports
Green: Playing surfaces
Blue: Regular season honors
Purple: Top pick in the draft
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Florida Teams
Green: Types of Tennis Courts
Blue: NHL Awards
Purple: NFL Draft No. 1 Picks, Familiarly
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 #423 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Florida Teams - DOLPHINS, LIGHTNING, MAGIC, RAYS
Types of Tennis Courts - CARPET, CLAY, GRASS, HARD
NHL Awards - HART, LADY BYNG, NORRIS, VEZINA
NFL Draft No. 1 Picks, Familiarly - BAKER, ELI, KEYSHAWN, ORLANDO
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you take care of your teeth.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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 Pips hints, answers for November 20, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: To attach
Green: To lightly touch
Blue: Found in one's mouth
Purple: Two syllables
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Adhere
Green: Graze
Blue: Parts of a tooth
Purple: Words that sound like two letters
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 #893 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayAdhere: FIX, PASTE, PLASTER, STICK
Graze: BRUSH, KISS, SKIM, STROKE
Parts of a tooth: CROWN, ENAMEL, PULP, ROOT
Words that sound like two letters: ANY, ARTY, DECAY, ESSAY
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 November 20, 2025Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
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.
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always in the know.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 20, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 20, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Busybody buzzThe words are related to stories.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe the word on the street.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Spread the Word.
NYT Strands word list for November 20Rumor
Report
Gossip
Hearsay
Spread the Word
Scuttlebutt
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.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're familiar with the dead.
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: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 20, 2025 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 Pips hints, answers for November 20, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A burial place.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.
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...
GRAVE
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 November 20, 2025Reporting 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.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintA particle.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerFLAKE
Hurdle Word 2 hintA sweet crystal.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerSUGAR
Hurdle Word 3 hintA clear alcoholic drink.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answerVODKA
Hurdle Word 4 hintA meteor.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 20 Hurdle Word 4 answerCOMET
Final Hurdle hintTaken out.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerDRAWN
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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