- Help
- Google+
A convincing majority of Americans remain “afraid” to ride in self-driving vehicles, according to a survey released today by AAA.
A January survey of 1,095 people found that 61 percent do not trust self-driving vehicles (that survey question didn’t differentiate between semi-autonomous cars, like some Tesla models, and fully autonomous cars, like Waymo robotaxis). Conversely, 13 percent trust self-driving vehicles and 26 percent are unsure of their safety.
SEE ALSO: Robot, take the wheel: What you need to know about autonomous vehicles rolling out across the U.S.While the percentage of those who remain scared of self-driving vehicles dropped from last year’s findings, which was 66 percent, 2025’s results represent a 7 percent increase in those frightened of using the technology from when AAA’s first self-driving survey was conducted in 2021.
AAA also queried its panel specifically on robotaxis, finding that 74 percent knew that self-driving rideshare cars were available in certain cities, yet 53 percent said they would not ride in one. While Millennial and Generation X drivers were more receptive to robotaxis than Baby Boomers, majorities of the younger generations still said they wouldn’t ride in such a vehicle.
The development of self-driving vehicles was not a priority for respondents; more people wanted investments in vehicle safety systems rather than expanding access to autonomous vehicles. According to AAA’s survey, the public’s interest in self-driving vehicles has decreased from 18 percent in 2022 to 13 percent this year.
SEE ALSO: Smooth, silent, strange: What it's really like to hail a robotaxi"Most drivers want automakers to focus on advanced safety technology," Greg Brannon, the automotive engineering director at AAA, said in a statement. "Though opinions on fully self-driving cars vary widely, its evident that today's drivers value features that enhance their safety."
While drivers remain skeptical of autonomous vehicles, many expressed a desire for self-driving technology like automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assistance. In its announcement on the survey results, AAA reiterated its call for less confusing naming of the aforementioned autonomous technology.
TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1min.AI for £31.66 (reg. £185.24) at the Mashable Shop and enjoy writing tools, image editing, AI assistants, and more in one powerful platform.
Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI: Lifetime Subscription £31.66 at the Mashable ShopSometimes you just need one tool that does it all. Enter 1min.AI, your one-stop shop for everything from writing and editing to image processing and audio transcription.
Forget juggling a dozen apps — with lifetime access to 1Min.AI for just £31.66 (reg. £185.24), you get all the AI functionality you need under one roof.
With 1min.AI, professionals, students, and creatives can access a range of AI-powered features designed to simplify workflows. Need a blog post? The writing assistant can whip one up in seconds. Stuck with repetitive design edits? Use the background remover, text-to-speech converter, or even upscale images to high-resolution. And for social media managers, generating comments or drafting posts has never been easier.
This subscription also provides unparalleled versatility with:
Chat support from AI models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini Pro
Comprehensive tools for creating and refining content
Audio and video editing capabilities, including transcription and translation
Earn free credits daily, leave reviews for even more perks, or invite friends to stack up on rewards.
Whether you're managing SEO tasks, editing photos, or creating multilingual content, 1min.AI lets you ditch subscriptions and focus on results. Say goodbye to tool overload and hello to efficiency.
Simplify your content creation with a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI — grab it for £31.66 (reg. £185.24).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. South Africa in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been absolutely electric so far, with India and New Zealand making a big impression in Group A. The other group is still taking shape, but Australia and South Africa both made strong starts with victories over England and Afghanistan respectively.
Now Australia and South Africa face each other in a huge matchup. If you want to watch Australia vs. South Africa in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Australia vs. South Africa?Australia vs. South Africa in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 25. This ODI takes place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
How to watch Australia vs. South Africa for freeThe following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:
Australia — Prime Video (free with 30-day trial)
India — Disney+ Hotstar
New Zealand — Sky TV NZ
UK — Sky Sports
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Pakistan
Live stream Australia vs. South Africa for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Australia vs. South Africa (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for live sport?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Australia vs. South Africa in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 25 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: Expressing excitement
Green: Foreign words for high quantities of something
Blue: Shaped like a box
Purple: Sounds like money
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Enthusiasm
Green: "Many" in Different Languages
Blue: Rectangular Prisms
Purple: Rhyme with U.S. Coins
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 #625 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayEnthusiasm: GUSTO, PASSION, RELISH, ZEST
"Many" in Different Languages: BEAUCOUP, MOLTO, MUCHO, MULTI
Rectangular Prisms: BRICK, FISH TANK, MICROWAVE, SHOEBOX
Rhyme with U.S. Coins: JENNY, LIME, MORTAR, PICKLE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 25Are 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.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 25 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 25, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Used after a wash cycle.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter R appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
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...
DRYER.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 25Reporting 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're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 25 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Life is like a box of chocolatesThese words are often a surprise.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe words are the inside of a chocolate.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Fillings.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 25Truffle
Almonds
Toffee
Caramel
Nougat
Liqueur
Fillings
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.
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a request for information from members of the public whose ability to post or be seen on tech platforms has been limited by said platforms — aka, those who are shadowbanned.
Shadowbanning may refer to different things, but usually, it refers to a user's posts or account having limited visibility. This can range from someone's posts not being included in followers' feeds or an app's "Explore" page to someone's account not showing up in Search.
SEE ALSO: Why pro-Palestinian content is at the center of the TikTok banSocial media platforms typically deny that shadowbanning exists, but it's a well-documented occurrence. Now, the FTC, the independent agency that investigates unfair business practices, has called it tech censorship and asked people experiencing it to submit a comment. They also encouraged users who have been banned or demonetized from platforms to submit comments, too.
Platform governance researcher at Northumbria University's Center for Digital Citizens, Dr. Carolina Are, believes it's important for shadowbanned members of the public to submit their comments.
"Users are experts of their own experience, and particularly marginalized users that are targeted by censorship could provide responses and examples anonymously," said Are, who has commented about shadowbanning to Mashable previously.
Are believes it's also important that researchers who have data and proof of how shadowbanning largely affects marginalized communities take part in submitting a comment. Are herself has been shadowbanned before, and has written papers about the subject.
She continued that the timing for the request is interesting "given that the government itself has been censoring quite a lot of things." She referred to the Trump administration erasing language about trans and queer people from government websites and deleting pages about LGBTQ and reproductive rights, as well as calling for the removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion language in the sciences.
SEE ALSO: Is Instagram shadowbanning LGBTQ and sex ed accounts?Are wondered if this call-out is intended for conservatives who claim to be shadowbanned from major platforms. When Elon Musk took over X, then Twitter, some prominent right-wingers claimed the platform shadowbanned them, for example.
The most likely targets for shadowbanning aren't Republicans, according to Are; it's LGBTQ people, sex workers, those who discuss sex on their accounts (like sex educators), and other marginalized content creators.
Recently, creators who post about Palestine online have said they've been shadowbanned as well. The TikTok ban has been linked to pro-Palestine content.
The effectiveness of this new public comment initiative is debatable, though, said Are. She pointed to consultations about the Online Safety Act in the UK when experts said the law threatened privacy. The act passed anyway.
"But I think it's quite important to answer these consultations because then it creates a backlog of evidence, or…precedent that can then be cited in research [that] can be used as an argument to break up platform power," Are said.
She said the questions the FTC posed were interesting, such as about how one's income was impacted and whether these actions were made possible due to a lack of competition for major social media platforms.
FTC chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in the agency's announcement, "Tech firms should not be bullying their users…This inquiry will help the FTC better understand how these firms may have violated the law by silencing and intimidating Americans for speaking their minds."
Members of the public can submit a comment until May 21. You can also file a private report by going to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and clicking "Report Now."
$1.5 billion.
That's the amount of money that has just been stolen by hackers from one of the world's biggest crypto exchanges.
On Friday, Ben Zhou, cofounder and CEO of the crypto exchange Bybit, shared that hackers had gained control of Bybit's ETH (Ethereum) wallet and transferred all of its holdings to an unknown crypto wallet address.
Tweet may have been deletedAccording to Bybit's holdings, that amounts to $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency that was stolen from Bybit and its customers, making this the largest ever cryptocurrency theft. However, as Molly White of Web3IsGoingGreat points out, the hacker can't exactly cash out $1.5 billion in Ethereum, because an amount that high would crash the value of ETH.
Still, valued at $1.5 billion, the Bybit heist would make up more than half of the total amount of crypto stolen in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis last year. The Chainalysis report found that $2.2 billion was stolen off of crypto platforms in 2024.
While Zhou seems to hope that the crypto lost in the heist will be recovered, he promised Bybit would cover the losses and let customers know they would receive a refund of any lost holdings.
Tweet may have been deleted"Bybit is solvent even if this hack loss is not recovered, all of clients assets are 1 to 1 backed, we can cover the loss," Zhou posted on X.
Regardless, news of the hack rattled customers who started to withdraw their crypto holdings from the platform. According to GovInfoSecurity, a peak of $5.3 billion was withdrawn from the platform on Saturday night.
Bybit says it holds $20 billion in crypto assets.
In a post on Sunday, Bybit CEO Zhou said that the company has already closed the gap created by the heist from "loans, whale deposits, and ETH purchases."
It remains to be seen whether the stolen $1.5 billion in crypto will be recovered. Bybit has launched a bounty program that will reward 10 percent or as much as $140 million for the return of the stolen funds.
"Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is calling on the brightest minds in cyber security and crypto analytics to join the global hunt for the perpetrators of crypto’s largest heist in history," the company said in a statement.
If there were an award for taking a series of grim clips from a grim show and making them seem absolutely joyous, then the trailer for Andor season 2 — coming to Disney+ on April 22 — would be a lock to win this year.
As fans of season 1 know, Andor can be many things (prison break drama, political intrigue, pulse-pounding spy thriller), but light and fluffy it ain't. According to creator and showrunner Tony Gilroy, Andor is really a Charles Dickens-like tale: an orphan tries to escape his circumstances, finding friends and foes who expose the dark heart of a cruel era.
That orphan is of course Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), one of the rebel spies who (spoiler alert for a 9 year old movie) dies after transmitting the Death Star plans to the Rebel Alliance in Rogue One. Gilroy is clear about the fact that the show finishes where the movie starts.
So we already how Season 2 will end: with Cassian perfectly willing to kill a colleague who would slow down his escape, and perfectly ready to die fighting the Empire.
SEE ALSO: 'We're making four Star Wars films': The 'Andor' master planCassian's fate — indeed, the fate of all the rebel figures we see in this trailer, including future rebel leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) — is to be haunted by all the suffering in service of that cause. (That's precisely the point of Mon Mothma's most famous line, the first time we met the character, in Return of the Jedi.)
You can see it here in their worried faces, Cassian's brief smile and fun 1950's-style disguise notwithstanding.
You can certainly see it in the hardened gaze of Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), also returning in season 2. Saw, as we know from Rogue One, Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, is the most morally-compromised rebel in the galaxy — so much so that Mothma and her shadowy contact Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) shun his methods.
SEE ALSO: 'Andor': more, more! Burning questions for Season 2 of the best Star Wars.Rael, also seen looking sad in the trailer, already summed up where all his fellow rebels are heading in Andor season 2. "I've given up all chance at inner peace," Rael said in season 1's most critically-acclaimed performance. "I made my mind a sunless place, I share my dreams with ghosts, I wake up every day to an equation I wrote 15 years ago from which there's only one conclusion: I'm damned for what I do."
What is that trailer music trying to say?At first blush, then, it may seem out of sync that a 2004 rock anthem by Steve Earle, "The Revolution Starts Now," plays over these images. The music draws our attention to the colorful party Mon Mothma is attending, the latest in a series of elite gatherings for the Senator, rather than her anguished look.
Meanwhile, the editing makes it seem like Cassian and his hooded colleague are detonating a bomb in a building behind them with the coolness of action movie heroes, not the hardened mask of reluctant rebels.
Still, Earle's lyrics speak to another powerful story thread in Andor. The song implores listeners to make a stand, to "rise above your fear and tear the walls around you down" no matter where you are. That recalls the Season 1 speech by Kino Loy (Andy Serkis), who overcame his fear and helped his fellow prisoners to escape by working together.
It also fits with the "fight the Empire" speech delivered by Cassian's adopted mother Maarva (Fiona Shaw) via posthumous hologram in the season 1 finale. According to the director, Gilroy's original line for Maarva was "fuck the Empire" — evidently a much more rock-and-roll statement than Disney+ would allow.
SEE ALSO: How 'Andor' fulfills George Lucas' plan for 'Star Wars'The Season 2 trailer contains another, potentially more troubling song lyric, however. It's delivered by Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn, returning to the franchise for the first time since Rogue One). "What a swell party this is," we hear Krennic say, over an image of him gazing lovingly at his pet project, the Death Star.
That's clearly taken from the Cole Porter song "Well Did You Evah," most famously performed by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra in the 1956 movie High Society. The song is a satire of two drunk, gossiping party guests, who treat even the potential destruction of Earth lightly, and repeatedly return to the scene around them with the same line: What a swell party this is!
You might expect that Krennic says this line at the same shindig where we see Mon Mothma. It would fit Coruscant's political elite, the people we've already seen wilfully ignoring the rise of the Empire all around them, with a wink at the audience.
But it would also breach one of the ground rules of the franchise as laid down by George Lucas. Star Wars, historically, doesn't wink at the audience. There may be a lot of fun to be had in it, but the galaxy far, far away takes itself very seriously when it comes to making itself immersive and believable.
SEE ALSO: That time 'Rogue One' almost brought its villain back from the deadYou may find reminders of Earth culture in the distant future (remember, this is all happening "a long time ago"), but they are all deliberately mashed up with each other, creating something that feels new and alien.
The cantina band in A New Hope may be playing something that sounds like swing music, but they're also weird insectoid aliens using unusual instruments. (Actual Earth musicians were thrown into the much-reviled Star Wars Holiday Special, proving the point.)
So Krennic directly quoting Cole Porter? This ain't it, chief. We've never heard the word "swell" in a Star Wars story for the same reason we've never heard "groovy": it's too clearly connected to a time and place on Earth.
We can only hope that Tony Gilroy is doing the same here as he did when he stepped in to reshoot Rogue One: cutting a controversial trailer that contains moments never seen in the final cut.
Because hey, even Charles Dickens needed to add some layers of fluff and fun so the public could swallow his grimmest stories.
"Long Live the Real King."
That was the text displayed on an apparently AI-generated video featuring Donald Trump groveling and kissing Elon Musk's feet that played on a loop at the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters on Monday.
Tweet may have been deletedA clip of the AI video playing on a TV set in the HUD cafeteria in Washington, D.C., was posted by Vox reporter Rachel Cohen, who received the video from a source.
The video was displayed on the same day that Elon Musk gave as a deadline for federal workers to send an email detailing five things they did last week or lose their job. Internet users have been sharing fake emails that have allegedly been sent to the government's Office of Personnel Management email address in order to troll Musk.
The AI-generated video played at HUD appears to be another apparent act of protest from those who disagree with Trump and Musk's dismantling of federal agencies.
According to Forbes, HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett said that the video was “another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources” and “appropriate action” would be taken.
Scientists have used orbiters and rovers to find dried streams, lakes, and gullies on Mars that hint at its watery past, but their cavalry of robots has struggled to prove the Red Planet ever had an actual ocean.
A new study that leverages data from China's now-defunct rover provides some of the strongest evidence so far of a long gone vast body of water — one that wasn't just a temporary lake formed of melted ice, but a much larger sea. The findings lay bare what seems to be an ancient shoreline for an ocean that would have covered about one-third of the planet’s surface.
The new paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests Earth's space neighbor had a warm and wet period that lasted for perhaps tens of millions of years.
Such an Earth-like environment would seemingly increase the odds that life could have existed there. Though no one knows whether Mars was ever inhabited, the presence of an ocean means this location was at least habitable, said Benjamin Cardinas, a sediment geologist at Penn State and one of the coauthors.
"Scientists who study the origin of life really do think that one of the main places that it might have started is along beaches not so different from what we think we saw here" on Mars, Cardinas told Mashable. "You've got shallow water, you've got air, you've got lands, and it's these interfaces where scientists who study this thing think that life probably cropped up on Earth in the first place."
SEE ALSO: NASA asked for cheaper ways to get Mars samples. It had one all along. The new data comes from the Zhurong rover, part of China's Tianwen-1 mission, which landed on Mars in May 2021. Credit: Chinese National Space AdministrationThe new data comes from the Zhurong rover, part of China's Tianwen-1 mission, which landed on Mars in May 2021. The six-wheeled rover was sent to investigate Utopia Planitia, a region far from NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. It's the same rubbly plain where the U.S. Viking 2 lander touched down in 1976.
Collaborations between Chinese and U.S. researchers can be difficult to achieve, due to the Wolf Amendment established in 2011. The federal law prevents NASA from working with China because of concerns that the space program could exploit U.S. technology to enhance its weapons. But some U.S. scientists contributed to the study without receiving any federal government funding. China, for its part, made the rover data public, a requirement of publishing the research.
Based on satellite images, scientists had previously hypothesized that Utopia Planitia, an area in Mars' northern hemisphere, once held water. But the idea remained debatable because they had lacked the underground evidence to substantiate it until now. The features that resembled coasts sat at different elevations, making it hard to determine whether water created them or something else, such as burbling lava, wind-blown sand dunes, or ancient rivers.
Zhurong did not survive the Martian winter as planned in December 2022. But it had traveled about one mile on the Red Planet over the course of a year before going kaput.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of China's Zhurong rover on the surface of the Red Planet that showed it didn't "wake up" from its planned winter hibernation in 2022. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UArizonaIn that time, the rover collected a lot of data, including some from a special instrument called ground-penetrating radar. The tool works by sending radio waves underground to measure the signals that bounce back. This helps scientists identify and plot different layers of rock and soil beneath the surface.
The data revealed distinctive slopes of underground material, just like how waves build up sediment along Earth's coasts. These ancient beaches extended for about 4,300 feet — nearly a mile — and were buried 30 to 115 feet below the surface.
"To accumulate more than a kilometer of beach deposits on Earth takes a long time — hundreds of thousands of years to millions of years," Michael Manga, a UC Berkeley geoscientist and coauthor, told Mashable. "So if we say that the processes that operate on Earth also operated on Mars, at roughly the same kind of rates, it means the ocean was there for a decent amount of time."
From the new data, scientists can infer a larger water cycle for Mars. In order for beaches to creep nearly a mile into a body of water, there would need to be tides, standing water, and rivers feeding sediment into the ocean over a long period.
A topographical view of Utopia Planitia with the hypothesized ancient ocean, colored with varying shades of blue based on the depth of the water. The star indicates the Zhurong rover's location. Credit: Robert Citron illustrationManga, who has long-believed in the ocean hypothesis, found the Zhurong data deeply satisfying.
"Just the fact that you can go to Mars with a rover and move over the surface and look underground is kind of mind-boggling to me," he said. "But then to see something that has structure and that's coherent — and by that I mean similar over such a broad scale — was really super exciting."
The Perseverance rover has also detected sloping underground layers at its landing site in Jezero Crater, a former lakebed, but those could have been created by water or magma. A key difference between the two rovers' radar data is that the Jezero material had what's called "high permittivity" — holding more electrical charge. This could indicate the presence of volcanic rock. The material at Utopia Planitia, on the other hand, had "low permittivity" and is likely composed of a sand and pebble mixture, similar to what's found along many of Earth's shorelines.
That Zhurong and Perseverance had different findings is a reminder that environments can vary a lot globally. Perseverance is about 3,000 miles away from Zhurong, farther than the distance between New York and LA. A few months ago, research on carbon-rich minerals at Gale Crater, where Curiosity roams about 2,000 miles from Zhurong, found that the region would have been icy and salty — quite hostile for life to emerge, at least above ground.
China's Zhurong rover takes a picture with its navigation camera, showing its antenna and solar panels, after it landed on Mars on May 15, 2021. Credit: CNS / CNSA / AFP / Getty Images"It's not necessarily surprising to me that you can look at different parts of Mars, and you'll find that the story is more complicated," Cardinas said. "Regions of Mars may have been fairly different at different times."
While the new research helps to confirm Mars had a surface ocean in its past, it also prompts new questions — namely, where did all of that water go? Did it freeze beneath the surface, collect into ice sheets at the poles, or escape into space? The answer could help scientists understand how planets evolve and whether such a change could occur on Earth.
Researchers may also want to further consider how gravity factors into beach formations, Manga said. Mars' gravity is 62 percent less than Earth's, and scientists don't yet know whether that could fundamentally alter how beaches work. That gap in knowledge could mean the team misinterpreted the shoreline features. But of all the possible explanations, the collaborators feel confident a stable and vast ocean is likely the best fit.
"It would be interesting if it turns out that Mars did have large oceans and never created life," Manga said. "That would say something about how difficult life is to initiate."
The new iOS 18.4 developer beta was released, and with it came many new features.
Apple's latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18.4, adds AI capabilities and more news features. Here's a quick breakdown of what to expect. The developer beta was released last week and will become fully available to the public in April.
More Apple Intelligence optionsApple noted that iOS 18.4 would add numerous languages for Apple Intelligence, "including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) — as well as localized English for Singapore and India."
SEE ALSO: What is Apple Intelligence?With the operating system update, users in the European Union will also get access to Apple Intelligence, which had been delayed as the tech company worked to ensure it complied with local laws.
Priority notificationsApple promised Apple Intelligence would continue to add capabilities as time passes. With the 18.4 developer beta, Apple finally rolled out priority notifications, as 9to5Mac noted. This is something we expected to get this year, and it's exactly what it sounds like: AI pushes important notifications to the top and less important stuff to the bottom.
SEE ALSO: New iOS 18 features we expect in 2025 News+ FoodiOS 18.4 is a big update for the culinary inclined. It has a new, food-focused news feature. However, you must subscribe to Apple News+.
In a press release, Apple wrote: "Apple News+ subscribers will have access to Apple News+ Food, a new section that will feature tens of thousands of recipes — as well as stories about restaurants, healthy eating, kitchen essentials, and more — from the world’s top food publishers, including Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats."
Credit: AppleApple News editors will curate the section. If you are curious, an Apple News+ subscription will cost you $12.99 per month.
Ambient musicIf you're a light sleeper or need background noise to get work done, Apple has a new feature for you with iOS 18.4. The ambient music feature can be added to your control center and play sounds for "Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing," Macrumors noted.
Lots of other minor changesAs the folks at 9to5Mac and Macrumors have noted, there are also several small shifts in design that come with the new beta version of Apple's new iOS. For instance, CarPlay has, for some folks, begun to show three rows of app icons. There are new widgets in the Podcast app, a list view for photos, and a new icon for clicking on Genmoji.
As with any iOS update, there are small changes in many places — and plenty of time to play around with it before it drops for the public in April.
Revolution is in full-swing in the trailer for Andor Season 2.
SEE ALSO: That 'Andor' post-credits scene means more than you thinkFittingly set to Steve Earle's song "The Revolution Starts Now," the trailer for the acclaimed Star Wars show's final season teases Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his many allies' efforts to take down the Galactic Empire. Explosions and intense piloting missions are on the menu, while Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona), Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) are all in the fray.
SEE ALSO: 'Andor': more, more! Burning questions for Season 2 of the best Star Wars.As Andor draws ever-closer to the events of Rogue One, the show will introduce characters from the film. Forest Whitaker returns as resistance fighter Saw Gerrera, Ben Mendelsohn is back as the villainous Orson Krennic, and Alan Tudyk once again lends his voice to droid K-2SO. Also present? The Death Star, which showed up briefly in Season 1 but will surely play an even bigger part in the lead-up to Rogue One.
SAVE $28: As of Feb. 24, new users can sign up for a year of Calm Premium for only $41.99. That's 40% off the usual cost of annual subscriptions.
Opens in a new window Credit: Calm Calm Premium annual subscription $41.99No matter which way you slice it, the world is pretty chaotic. That's why it's so essential to protect your peace with self-care, meditation, and solid rest. If you need some help with any of those three, a Calm subscription can be a game changer. And this week, it's 40% cheaper than usual.
Typically, an annual subscription to Calm's Premium tier is $69.99. However, new users can sign up for only $41.99 as of Feb. 24. That breaks down to only $3.50 per month.
Calm puts mental health at the forefront, with research-based tools designed to help you sleep better, manage stress, and ultimately live a happier and healthier life. Some of those tools include gratitude check-ins, guided meditations, sleep stories, exclusive music for focus, sleep, and relaxation, and even masterclasses to help you develop your own toolbox to handle stress and anxiety. There's over 50,000 minutes of content altogether and a Premium subscription gives you unlimited access to all of it. Even if you manage to go through every last minute of content, there's more added every week to keep you engaged.
It's never a bad idea to build your mental fitness. By signing up for a Calm Premium subscription while its 40% off, no matter what unfolds this year, at least your inner world will be, well, calm.
TL;DR: Through 30 March, a lifetime subscription to AdGuard's Family Plan is on sale for A$25 (reg. A$266) when you use the code GUARD20 at the Mashable Shop.
Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard Software AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription A$25.00Online safety has never been more important, especially when it comes to protecting our families. As children spend more time online for both education and entertainment, the need for a reliable solution to safeguard them from the pitfalls of the web has become paramount.
AdGuard is a powerful tool designed to provide peace of mind for parents while offering a seamless browsing experience for the entire family. A lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan covers up to nine devices and is on sale for just A$25 (reg. A$266). That's 90% off.
With its advanced ad-blocking module, AdGuard eliminates the constant barrage of annoying banners, intrusive pop-ups, and disruptive video ads that clutter your browsing experience. But AdGuard goes beyond just blocking ads; it also shields your family from harmful malware and phishing websites, acting as a fortress for your digital life.
For parents, AdGuard’s parental control feature is a game-changer. It allows you to restrict access to inappropriate and adult content so your children can explore the internet in a safe and secure environment. Whether they are doing schoolwork or watching videos, you can rest easier knowing that they're protected from the dangers lurking online.
AdGuard works across all your devices, from smartphones to tablets, covering both Android and iOS operating systems. And this lifetime subscription includes continuous updates and new features.
Jump on this chance to protect yourself online for life with the AdGuard Family Plan for just A$25 (reg. A$266) at the Mashable Shop. Just be sure to use code GUARD20 through 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
People are afraid of flying right now — but that fear isn't based in much data.
There's been a huge uptick in content about plane crashes over the past few weeks. If you look at Google Trends for searches about aviation accidents and incidents, we're searching for them nearly 50 times more often now than we were at any point since Google started collecting data — including when the infamous lost Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that took over our breaking news banners in 2014.
But, in reality, flying is safer than it ever has been. In fact, the number of reported plane crashes are at an all time low according to data from the National Transportation Safety Board. In January 2025, there were 63 total airplane accidents, the majority of which were on private flights, compared to the 80 recorded in January 2024. Data from International Civil Aviation Organization shows a similar decrease in crashes over time, the BBC reported.
SEE ALSO: Are you scared to fly? The internet is, too. Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedSo why is everyone freaking out online?
The first clear answer is that there was a massive, deadly crash in the beginning of the year that timed up pretty perfectly with the destabilization of government organizations meant to keep air travel safe. While only 10 of the flights in January 2025 were fatal, in comparison to 19 fatal flights in January 2024, according to the NTSB data, one of those flights was a collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter in Washington D.C., in which 67 people died. Another flight was a commercial flight that left multiple people injured and crash landed upside down in Toronto. At the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, made significant cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration including multiple jobs that helped support air safety, the Associated Press reported. Plus, as CNN reported, some of these crashes — including the D.C. collision and the crash in Toronto — involved commercial airliners. Typically, the majority of crashes are smaller, private planes, which tend to be less safe, according to CNN. They also naturally get less attention in the media and result in fewer fatalities.
This left us in a place to be primed for horror — and social media doesn't help that. Marco Chan, a former pilot and senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, told BBC Verify that the increase in air disaster awareness is being fueled because "accidents are getting increasing exposure from social media platforms."
Some videos and posts on X, Instagram, and TikTok about travel dangers are going viral, but not everyone is trying to fear monger.
One travel creator, @bmekween, posted a video pointing out just how inconsistent our flight fears are with the current data. And, she thinks, it might be connected to fear mongering from the current administration.
"I'm truly not trying to be a conspiracy theorist," she said in a video with more than 121,000 likes on Reels. On TikTok, the same video has over a million views and 150,000 likes. "One of the ways that people in power will try to control other people is by convincing them that something different from what they are experiencing is dangerous and creating a fear around that."
Overall, a poll from AP-NORC shows that while people might think air travel is slightly less safe today than they did in January 2024, a majority of the public still thinks plane travel is safe.
Save $50: As of Feb. 24, the M4 Apple Mac mini with 256GB of storage is on sale for $549, down from $599, netting you an 8% discount at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M4 Apple Mac mini (256GB) $549.00 at AmazonIf you want a Mac but don't want to pay $1,000 or more, it's important to remember that MacBooks aren't your only options.
Apple's Mac mini runs the same M4 chip as the MacBook Pro, along with the same 10-core GPU and CPU. It starts at 256GB of storage instead of the Pro's 512GB but that's the most glaring difference spec-wise — except, of course, the price. Compared to the Pro's $1,599, the M4 Mac mini costs just $599, and as of Feb. 24, is on sale for even less at $549. Even in comparison to Apple's other M4 desktop, the iMac, you'll be spending hundreds less on the Mac mini.
These price differences are nothing to balk at, but we do have to note up top that if you need a machine with portability, the Mac mini is a desktop machine that won't work for you. However, if you find yourself working at your desk most of the time anyway, the mini is a way cheaper entry-price than the Pro laptops, leaving plenty of wiggle room for you to buy a monitor, keyboard, and mouse (if you don't already have one) and still be spending hundreds less than you would on the Pro (and the iMac for that matter).
SEE ALSO: M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: What are the differences?Mashable's Matt Binder put it best in his comparison of the two computers: "If you're seeking a stationary setup and a more cost-effective system, the M4 Mac mini is for you."
Alongside the performance specs, the Mac mini comes with eight ports, including: a headphone jack, two USB-C ports, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and an Ethernet port.
SAVE 50% + FREE GIFT: LELO's Valentine's Day sale is ending soon! Get up to 50% off and a free gift with purchase.
Opens in a new window Credit: LELO LELO Valentine's Day Sale Shop NowWe’re well past Valentine’s Day, but LELO is still hosting its annual sale — only for the next 22 hours, though! Whether you’re shopping for a little treat for yourself or looking for the perfect gift for your bestie or SO, you’re gonna want to check out what LELO has to offer.
As of Feb. 24, you can score up to 50% off select LELO toys, plus get a free LELO Relax Body Mat with any purchase of $199 or more (which isn’t hard to do when you’re shopping luxe sex toys).
SEE ALSO: Get off to your favorite playlist with LELO's new sound-activated clitoral vibratorLELO doesn’t skimp on quality, and some of its best-sellers are included in this sale. From the Smart Wand 2 to the Enigma Double Sonic (I have both!) to male masturbators, there’s something for everyone.
Here are a few standout deals we've spotted:
SONA 2 Cruise — $127.20 $159 (save $31.80)
SILA Cruise — $149.25 $199 (save $49.75)
HUGO 2 Remote — $171.75 $229 (save $57.25)
Her Delight Bundle (Sona Cruise, GIGI 2, personal moisturizer, nipple play gel) — $199 $271.90 (save $72.90)
Couple Play Bundle (TIANI 3, TOR 2, HEX Original, personal moisturizer, oral sex balm) — $239 $370 (save $131.80)
SAVE $100: The Nutri Ninja personal and countertop blender is on sale at Amazon for $149.99, down from the usual price of $249.99. That's a 40% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Nutri Ninja personal and countertop blender (BL642) $149.99 at AmazonIf you've never been excited about a blender, you haven't used the right one. While plenty of kitchen appliances need no fancy settings, a blender can offer some really cool functions and Ninja is a fan-favorite brand. If you could use a new blender, check out this sweet deal at Amazon.
As of Feb. 24, the Nutri Ninja personal and countertop blender is on sale at Amazon for $149.99, down from the standard price of $249.99. That's a $100 discount that works out to a 40% discount.
The 1,200 watt motor is ready to tackle your blending projects. That means you'll be whipping up icy slushies, frozen drinks, and smoothies with no effort. Ninja mentions this model is perfect for both drinks and sauces. It's also powerful enough to handle nuts and fibrous vegetables like celery and kale.
SEE ALSO: The Ember Mug 2 is at an even better deal than it was a few weeks agoThis model comes with a full-size blending pitcher that holds 72 ounces, but it also comes with three portable single-serve cups (18, 24, and 32 ounces) with spout lids. All of these pieces are safe to clean in the dishwasher.
The Nutri Ninja uses the brand's Auto-iQ technology which automatically detects the blender's contents and times it perfectly to blend all ingredients which means you won't have to select a time or wait around to make sure everything gets blended.
If you're a fan of making smoothies or plan to become a frozen drink master this summer, jump on this Amazon deal that takes 40% off the price of the Nutri Ninja personal and countertop blender.
GET $62.15 OFF: As of Feb. 24th, the Samsung T7 Portable 1TB SSD is currently on sale at Amazon for $97.84 for a savings of 39% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung T7 Portable 1TB SSD $97.84 at AmazonWhen you're without an SSD, backing up your computer can be one of those tasks like renewing antivirus or paying taxes. It might be easy to put on the backburner, but it ain't safe. But getting a backup drive isn't only about peace of mind, great external SSDs like the Samsung T7 transfer data so quickly that your computer will be able to use it as increased storage for creative projects and gaming.
Right now, nab the Samsung T7 Portable 1TB SSD on sale for $97.84 to save $62.15, or 39%. Open up your laptop with more storage.
SEE ALSO: Which laptops and smartphones are easiest to repair? See the rankings.The Samsung T7 Portable 1TB SSD is designed for fluid file transfers, speed, and portability. Billed as something of a gamer and creator's SSD, it's designed to upload and download massive file sets quickly. It clocks transfer speeds of up to 1,050MB/s.
The SSD transfers files using an included 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C. It also includes a USB-C to USB-A cable.
Built to stay rugged, the T7 SSD is designed to be shock resistant. It can withstand falls up to six feet without suffering damage.
As of Feb. 24th, the Samsung T7 Portable 1TB SSD is available for $97.84 for a savings of 39%, or $62.15 off.
This small SSD is the right size to slip in pocket or store securely in a lockbox. Use it for backing up your computer, write directly onto it while recording videos, or store large games on it and play directly off it. If you're after increased storage or a solid backup drive, this is a good pick.
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...
Boston's most important responders: Bostonians The people of Boston are to be congratulated for being...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
Digital Privacy: A Catch 22 Mobility, convenience, accessibility and real-...
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...