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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 October 13 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 13 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Time to get cozyThese words look great with pumpkin spice lattes.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWarm autumn clothes and accessories.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Fallfashion.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 13Scarf
Cardigan
Flannel
Fallfashion
Sweater
Fleece
Vest
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.
This year's harsh string of layoffs continues with Boeing being the latest company to announce cuts to its workforce.
The airplane manufacturing company will lay off 10 percent of its workforce — roughly 17,000 jobs. Job cuts will include executives, middle management, and employees.
SEE ALSO: NASA thinks it found a moon light-years away spewing gasThe decision was announced to employees in a message from President and CEO Kelly Ortberg who took over just two months ago. He wrote that in order to restore the company "tough decisions" and "structural changes" needed to be made to "stay competitive." Ortberg also announced Boeing will delay the release of its new plane the 777X to 2026 and will stop building the 767 Freighter after fulfilling orders.
According to the Associated Press, Boeing has lost $25 billion since the start of 2019.
Perhaps coincidentally, the layoffs have happened as some 33,000 union machinists have gone on strike — bringing Boeing's airplane production of some of its best-selling planes to a halt. The company, however, continues to build 787s at a non-union plant. The strike is a huge hit to Boeing's earnings as it receives money for the planes when they are delivered to customers. The striking workers seek an increase in wages that matches the increase in cost of living.
Thus, Boeing's disatourous year continues. In January, it came under fire after Alaska Airlines had to ground 737 Max 9 planes after the door plug blew off midair. Then in July, Boeing pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to defraud the government after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. The company also lost millions of dollars due to the issues with Starliner — notably stranding two astronauts on the ISS until Feb. 2025.
Do the voices in the "in da clerb, we all fam" soundbite circulating on TikTok sound vaguely familiar? Do they perhaps bring you back to a time of bandage dresses and mustache prints before weed was legal in New York City? That's because they are the voices of Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer on their hit show Broad City.
SEE ALSO: Charli XCX's 'Brat and it's completely different but also still brat' is here and hype lives onBroad City's last episode may have aired in 2019, but if TikTok is any indication Jacobson and Glazer's absurdist, stoner humor still resonates. In the clip that now soundtracks over 70,000 videos, Abbi asks, "Do you know them?" and Ilana responds, "No, but in da clerb, we all fam." Abbi doesn't understand and Ilana repeats it before saying, "In da club, we are all family, are you racist?"
Everyone from Charli XCX and Troye Sivan to Sabrina Carpenter has lip-synched to the video, often with a caption detailing a misunderstanding or situation where "we all fam." For example, Charli XCX and Sivan's video reads, "re: the twinks in the crowd at Sweat" about their joint tour. Carpenter's said, "My 30-year-old fans trying to talk to my 12-year-old fans."
The sound wasn't uploaded to TikTok with the visual of Abbi and Ilana making its origin hard to pin down for many. But the scene has been beloved among Broad City fans. A YouTube video of it posted 8 years ago has over 80,000 views. The comments section is riddled with years-old messages like, "This still makes me laugh out loud" and "I think about this scene a lot."
Some fans are frustrated with the dialogue being seen as TikTok slang. One X user wrote, "They're calling these Broad City lines 'Tiktok speak' in the quotes guys this is a nightmare. My culture is not a costume. Halloween is coming up, be conscious, listen and learn."
Tweet may have been deletedThe trend became further decontextualized when it morphed into a meme on X. Users are captioning a wide variety of photos of groups of people with, "in da clerb, we all fam." Films like Bottoms and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies have gotten the "in da clerb, we all fam" treatment as well as shows like Succession and The Sex Lives of College Girls. The phrase is also being used to caption symbols of fandom. One clever post references Chappell Roan's reading, "in the pink pony clerb, we all fam."
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedSo, for now, "in da clerb, we all fam" is the turn of phrase du jour — until a new soundbite is pulled out of obscurity and forced into our cultural consciousness.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableOctober Prime Day: Here's the latest news on the deals
Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, October 12, 2024:
AcrossHad sore musclesThe answer is Ached.
The answer is Strudel.
The answer is Alabama.
The answer is Law.
The answer is Mot.
The answer is End Date.
The answer is Stammer.
The answer is Adzes.
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The answer is Atlanta.
The answer is Crawdad.
The answer is Hub.
The answer is Edamame.
The answer is Demotes.
The answer is Sales.
The answer is Later.
The answer is DMZ.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
Scientists have never actually seen a moon orbiting a planet other than the ones in this solar system. An exomoon, a companion to an exoplanet, likely would be too tiny and far away for telescopes to resolve.
But a new NASA study may have found a clue that one is orbiting a planet some 635 light-years from Earth. The inference comes from a vast sodium cloud spotted in space. Whatever is causing it produces about 220,000 pounds of sodium per second.
The research suggests a rocky moon circling exoplanet WASP-49 b, a Saturn-sized gas giant discovered in 2017, is the source. That could mean the distant world is accompanied by a moon like Jupiter's Io — a highly volcanic place, blasting out its own massive cloud of gasses 1,000 times wider than Jupiter.
"The evidence is very compelling that something other than the planet and star are producing this cloud," said Rosaly Lopes, a planetary geologist who co-authored the study, in a statement. "Detecting an exomoon would be quite extraordinary, and because of Io, we know that a volcanic exomoon is possible."
SEE ALSO: Webb telescope finds first clear evidence of a 'steam world' An exomoon could be the source of a bewildering sodium cloud found around an exoplanet. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustrationThis is not the first time astronomers have suspected an exomoon was lurking in their data. There have been exomoon candidates discovered in the past, though confirming their existence is much more difficult. Scientists such as Apurva Oza, once a postdoctoral researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, are interested in finding unconventional ways to detect them for what they could represent: Moons throughout the galaxy could also potentially offer habitable conditions for life, even if their host planets don't.
That's why Oza wanted to return to studying WASP-49 b to further investigate the source of its bewildering cloud. Researchers used a ground-based telescope to observe the silhouettes of the cloud and the exoplanet as they passed in front of the host star.
At one point, they noticed that the cloud was moving faster than WASP-49 b and away from Earth. If the cloud were coming from the exoplanet, they figured they would have seen it moving toward Earth. The observation led them to conclude that the cloud was coming from a separate source, according to the paper recently published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Exoplanet WASP-49 b could have an exomoon similar to Jupiter's Io, a highly volcanic world pumping gasses into space. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustration"We think this is a really critical piece of evidence," said Oza, a staff scientist at Caltech and the lead author, in a statement. "The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells us it should be going if it were part of the planet’s atmosphere."
The team's research provided other clues that an exomoon was making the cloud. Both the planet and the star are mostly made of the lightest elements, hydrogen and helium, with hardly any sodium. Seemingly neither has enough to be responsible for the cloud. Scientists also used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile to see that the cloud hovers high above the exoplanet's atmosphere — just like the cloud Io envelops around Jupiter.
Next the team developed computer models to see if an exomoon could be the cloud's catalyst. Their simulations found that a moon with a snug eight-hour orbit around the planet could explain the cloud's motion — the way it seemed to sometimes drift in front of the planet and how it didn't appear to be tied to any particular region of the alien world.
Jupiter's moon Io, seen in multiple views above, is the most volcanically active world in our solar system. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSSScientists can't say anything definitive about the exomoon because it's just a candidate. But here's what astronomers know about Io, the third-largest Jovian moon out of 95. Io is the most volcanic world in the solar system. Astronomers believe hundreds of volcanoes spew fountains that reach dozens of miles high.
Jupiter's gravity squeezes Io's core as the moon moves closer, then slackens as it moves farther away. This swelling and contracting causes Io's interior to heat up, triggering tidal volcanism.
Scientists will need to continue observing this cloud to confirm its behavior, so the team is likely a long way from knowing with certainty if they have proof of an exomoon. Still, the results are thrilling for Oza, who believes looking for gas clouds — perhaps an order of magnitude larger than their source — could be an indirect method of finding habitable moons in other star systems.
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft is in for a wild ride.
The launch of this mission to explore the ocean world Europa — a Jupiter moon that harbors an ocean perhaps twice the volume of all Earth's seas — was interrupted by the imposing Hurricane Milton, but its 1.8-billion-mile journey is imminent. The craft will make nearly 50 close flybys of Europa's cracked, icy shell, using a number of high-resolution cameras, a ground-penetrating radar, and even a device that will literally sample particles of Europa that have been ejected into space by tiny meteorites.
The mission will gather copious amounts of information, enough to discern whether or not Europa harbors conditions that could host life beneath its ice shell.
"It's perhaps one of the best places beyond Earth to look for life in our solar system," Cynthia Phillips, a NASA planetary geologist and project staff scientist for the space agency's Europa Clipper mission, told Mashable.
The repeated reconnaissance will require the craft to make perfectly timed loops around Jupiter as it intersects Europa's orbit, which NASA shows in the animation below.
SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.Here's what you're watching (a short ad plays first):
- Center orange dot: Jupiter
- Blue dot: Europa
- Gray, red, and yellow dots: Respectively Jupiter's other three large moons — Io, Ganymede, and Callisto
- Magenta: That's Europa Clipper "lopping in and out," NASA explained.
There's also a timestamp on the top right showing the mission's planned flight between April and July 2032.
"The relative intensity of Jupiter's radiation bands is illustrated in this diagram," NASA explains, with darker reds depicting more radiation. Both Europa and Europa Clipper's orbits are depicted in the graphic. Credit: NASAThis looping trajectory is also designed to limit the spacecraft's exposure to extreme radiation. "The charged particle environment at Europa's location is immense," Phillips said.
That's because Jupiter, a gas giant planet 317 times more massive than Earth, generates a massive magnetic field shooting out between 600,000 to 2 million miles (1 to 3 million kilometers) toward the sun. It's created by the planet's liquid metal core, which spins and creates electrical currents (moving electric charges make magnetic fields). Crucially, this magnetic field grabs and then accelerates particles from the relentless solar wind — a stream of rapidly traveling charged particles emitted by the sun — which creates potent radiation belts around Jupiter, as depicted above.
"You get out of there."(Decades ago, during the Voyager mission, NASA's engineers were worried about the craft passing by Jupiter. A person hypothetically riding aboard Voyager as it passed Jupiter would have gotten hit with a radiation dose 1,000 times the lethal level.)
Not all of Europa Clipper's electronics and software can be housed in a metal vault, so looping by the moon for relatively brief periods will limit impacts from charged particles, which can damage computer chips and electronics. During each orbit around Jupiter, the craft will spend under a day in an irradiated zone before swooping out. It won't return for between two to three weeks.
"You get out of there," Phillips said.
Tweet may have been deletedAfter journeying through the solar system, the craft is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030, and soon after begin its orbital dance through the Jovian system. If it appears habitable, NASA plans to return to Europa and land a robot on the icy crust. Such an endeavor would drill into the ice, looking to see if the moon is inhabited.
Everyone's favorite bio-exorcist made his triumphant return to the theater last month with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The sequel took the box office by storm, which comes as little surprise given that it's nearly four decades in the making. The film once again sees Tim Burton back in the director's chair and stars Michael Keaton as the titular character, alongside Winona Ryder's Lydia Deetz and Catherine O'Hara's Delia Deetz. Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Arthur Conti have also joined in the fun.
Though it just hit theaters in September, Warner Bros. did us all a solid and made the hit sequel available to watch at home. We're still unsure when it will make its streaming debut, but you can now purchase or rent the film on VOD as of Oct. 8. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Beetlejuice 2 from the comfort of your couch.
What is Beetlejuice 2 about?After the unexpected death of patriarch Charles, the Beetlejuice sequel follows the Deetz family as they head back to Winter River. Lydia's (Ryder) rebellious teenage daughter Astrid (Ortega), who doesn't believe in ghosts, discovers the model of the town Adam Maitland made in the first film and haphazardly opens up the portal to the afterlife. Obviously, that's when we're reunited with Beetlejuice (Keaton) himself and all kinds of chaos ensues.
Take a sneak peek at the spooky sequel in the official trailer below:
Is the Beetlejuice sequel worth watching?Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hit theaters in early Sept. and continues to dominate the box office, surpassing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Warner Bros.'s all-time box office list and becoming Burton's second-highest grossing film ever. Of course, the numbers only matter if the content can back them up. And according to reviews, it certainly does.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Beetlejuice 2 has a 77 percent critic rating and an 80 percent audience rating. As Mashable's own film editor, Kristy Puchko, wrote in her review, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is pure Burton, passionate, untethered, and indulgent. Fans of the original movie will have plenty of reason to cheer, and even more to cackle."
Read our full review of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
How to watch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at home Credit: Warner Bros.Thankfully, Warner Bros. didn't make us wait too long. Just a little over a month after the Beetlejuice sequel made its theatrical debut, it became available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can either purchase the film for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. If you'd rather stream the movie instead, scroll on to learn more.
As of Oct. 8, you can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:
Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
YouTube — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Note: Renting a film gives you 30 days to watch and just 48 hours to finish once you begin.
Is Beetlejuice 2 streaming?There's no official streaming date yet for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but as a Warner Bros. film, we know it will eventually make its streaming debut on Max alongside the OG film from 1988.
If you want to be prepared for when the film does eventually land on the streamer, you can sign up for a Max subscription ahead of time. Plus, you can catch back up with the ghost with the most and watch the original movie while you wait. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best Max streaming deals below.
Best Max streaming deal for most people: Save 16% on Max with ads annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (with ads) yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Watch NowIf you don't mind a few ads here and there, Max subscriptions start at just $9.99 per month. You can wait and sign up for a single month of streaming once the Beetlejuice sequel is released, then cancel before you're charged for another. Or, you could stick around for the long haul and save some money. An annual plan with ads will run you $99.99 per year, which breaks down to just $8.33 per month. That's 16% in savings compared to the monthly plan. The only downside is that you have to splurge on a full year upfront.
Best Max deal with no ads: Save 16% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (No Ads) annual subscription $169.99 per year (save 16%) Watch NowIf ads are a deal breaker for you, there are two tiers to choose from: Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate Ad-Free. The basic ad-free tier costs $16.99 per month, while the Max Ultimate tier costs $20.99 per month. We recommend choosing a yearly plan instead, however, as you'll save about 16%. It'll only cost you $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month) for Max Ad-Free or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month) for Max Ultimate.
Note: Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier takes things a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.
Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Watch NowIf ever there was a reason to sign up for Cricket Wireless, here it is: Cricket customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan get Max with ads for free. That's a $99.99 per year value for zero dollars. If you're on the $60 per month plan, just head over to the Max app (or navigate to Max.com), choose Cricket as your provider, and enter your credentials to login. Then you're free to watch whatever you want, whenever you want — including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice once it's released. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more. If you're wanting to watch the sequel for free, this is currently your only option.
Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads monthly for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get DealCollege students can score 50% off the ad-supported monthly subscription to Max for 12 months, dropping the price down to just $4.99 per month. You'll just have to verify your student status with UNiDAYS, which will give you a unique discount code, then head back over to Max and redeem your code to stream for half price.
Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get DealIt's not the cheapest option for watching Beetlejuice 2, but you can get the most bang for your buck in the long run with this new bundle deal — especially if you already subscribe to Hulu or Disney+. The latest bundle gives viewers access to Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads for only $16.99 (reg. $25.97) per month or ad-free for $29.99 (reg. $48.97) per month, which is up to 38% in savings.
Blitz is what you get when you combine Oscar–winning writer/director Steve McQueen (Shame, 12 Years A Slave), the works of Charles Dickens, and the third act of Atonement. And while each of these parts may sound promising by themselves, the final combination proves frustratingly uneven.
SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fallThere's no doubt that McQueen's World War II epic is among the most well-crafted films of the year, boasting some genuinely pulse-pounding sequences and lavish set pieces. But too often, this story of a mother and son weathering the Blitz in London falls into clichés that smother any elements setting it apart from other films portraying this era.
What's Blitz about? Credit: Apple TV+Blitz drops us into London in 1940, where air raid sirens sound nightly to warn citizens of incoming German bombers. A shortage of bomb shelters leaves throngs of Londoners stranded in the streets, calling for the government to open up the Underground stations. Amidst all this chaos, parents evacuate their children to the countryside in order to keep them safe.
One such parent is single mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun), who's held off as long as possible on sending her son George (newcomer Elliott Heffernan) away. When she finally relents, George is less than understanding. "I hate you," he tells her, before boarding the train out of London without a proper goodbye.
SEE ALSO: 'Disclaimer' review: Cate Blanchett and Alfonso Cuarón's thriller series will shatter youDevastated, Rita tries to go about life as usual (or as usual as life can be during wartime), working in a munitions factory and volunteering at a shelter. Little does she know that George jumped off his train to the country and is fighting his way back home to her.
Blitz toggles between Rita's day-to-day life and George's journey through London, with the occasional flashback to their family life or to Rita's time with George's Grenadian father Marcus (C.J. Beckford). These parallel stories play out in fragmented chapters, with neither mode of storytelling quite gelling with the other. Rita remains relatively static in London, allowing McQueen to hit on some standard WWII film tropes like a BBC broadcast to boost morale or a night out singing in the face of adversity.
George, on the other hand, experiences a true Dickensian odyssey. He'll cross paths with a number of characters ranging from kindly Nigerian night watchman Ife (Benjamin Clementine) to a group of street thieves led by the almost comically evil Albert (Stephen Graham) and Beryl (Kathy Burke), who force George to join up in what might be the film's most Oliver Twist-inspired section. But with so much going on in Rita and George's worlds, Blitz barely finds time to let its most interesting elements breathe.
Blitz's George shows WWII-era London through a perspective not often seen in film. Credit: Apple TV+Most of these elements come from our time with George, as we experience the Blitz from his childish perspective. The barrage of bombs obviously presents a mortal danger to him, but there are other obstacles for a nine-year-old around every corner that an adult may not bat an eye at. In one of the film's funniest scenes, for example, George does his best to take in a very complicated set of bus directions — a sweet detail that emphasizes just how very small he is in the scale of this conflict.
George's relationship to race also makes for one of Blitz's most poignant throughlines. Half-Grenadian, and the only Black child on the train out of London, George experiences racism from everyone, from his fellow evacuees to shopkeepers who shoo him away. These instances puncture the idea of British unity in the face of the Blitz, a reminder that the motivational wartime slogan to "keep calm and carry on" also extends to the carrying-on of ugly behaviors.
SEE ALSO: 'The Apprentice' review: Donald Trump biopic's secret weapon is Roy CohnYet George finds camaraderie in his journey as well, as Clementine's Ife gently prompts George to reconsider his ideas of Blackness. The two meet in the Empire Arcade, a covered walkway lined with racist caricatures of Black men and women. It's evident George buys into these depictions somewhat: He laughs at Ife's Yoruba name and tells him that he doesn't think of himself as Black. But the time Ife and George spend together clearly makes an impact on him, making for one of Blitz's most quietly affecting sections. Given how World War II films predominantly center white perspectives, George's journey of self-discovery is not only a moving examination of identity but a necessary addition to the genre.
Blitz is beautiful, but often relies on clichés. Credit: Apple TV+It's a shame, then, that George's story and the holes it punches in the mythology surrounding the Blitz are often overshadowed by clichés that uphold that very mythology. Among these are multiple rousing bomb shelter speeches. Even Ife gets in on the action, with a monologue about how racism and division within one shelter is no different than what the Germans want — an on-the-nose sentiment that somewhat undercuts the film's prior handling of the subject. But as McQueen leans into genre staples like these speeches, or Rita running after George's train as it departs, or a harrowing underground flooding sequence (hello, Atonement PTSD), perhaps that embrace of the Blitz mythology is the point. Even if that stoic Blitz spirit really did exist, was there room in it for those white UK citizens considered "other"?
As McQueen grapples with this question, he also brings the Blitz to stunning life with tried-and-true tricks frequently seen in WWII movies. The bombed streets of London blaze with orange flames, while German aircraft loom overhead in the pitch-black night. Long one-take shots make sure we duck and weave through the action alongside George, positioning us firmly in his point of view as he's overwhelmed with the chaos. Booming sound design featuring air raid sirens and the deep rumble of bombs evokes chills.
Yet among all that fairly familiar imagery are some distinctive sequences that make you wish McQueen had taken more risks with Blitz. The opening focuses on an out-of-control firehose thrashing around on a burning street, a promise of chaos to come. The blur of the oceans beneath the German planes melds into a field of black-and-white daisies. A standout long take guides us through a joyous night at a dance hall, only to cut to its bombed-out remains moments later. If Blitz's story sometimes falters, at least these moments are riveting to experience.
The same goes for many of Blitz's performances. Ronan imbues Rita with both magnificent warmth and deep worry for her son, and Heffernan shines in his breakout role, bringing a still thoughtfulness to even the most harrowing scenes. Graham and Burke are delightfully fun as thieving villains, and Clementine grounds his scenes with George in a firm, quiet kindness. However, some members of the ensemble feel unfortunately underused: Harris Dickinson (Babygirl) gets very little to do as pining fireman Jack, and Leigh Gill's (Joker: Folie à Deux) shelter marshall Mickey is instantly magnetic, yet mostly presented as an avatar of Blitz heroics.
The untapped potential of these cast members speaks to Blitz's largest problem: It feels like it's trying to be too many movies at once. The film crams so much into its two-hour runtime — from munitions factory tensions to precocious runaway children to the barest hints of romance — that by the time it reaches its sweet, yet slightly perfunctory-feeling ending, you'll feel as if you've dipped your toes in several beautifully rendered perspectives of the Blitz, yet fully inhabited very few.
Blitz was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival. It hits theaters Nov. 1, then premieres on Apple TV+ Nov. 22.
Mars' irradiated surface is a godforsaken place.
And yet there may be shallow pools of water near the Martian surface, a place 1,000 times drier than the driest desert on Earth. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter — a satellite that's been orbiting Mars for nearly two decades — spotted white material lining dry gullies on Mars. The space agency, which recently released the image below, suspects it's dusty water ice that could heat up and form pools, similar to processes on our planet.
"Scientists believe dust particles within this ice act similarly to dust that falls onto glaciers on Earth, warming up in sunlight and causing subsurface pockets of meltwater to form," NASA explained.
"These pockets of water on our planet are often teeming with simple life, including algae, fungi, and cyanobacteria," the agency added. "Scientists believe similar shallow pools of water could exist on Mars, and may also be excellent places to search for life on the Red Planet today."
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.Such glacial dust on Earthly glaciers creates phenomena called "cryoconite holes," which can cover glaciers by the hundreds or more. One is depicted in the second image below.
Although the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter wields a giant camera that can "see features as small as a kitchen table" from its orbit 155 to 196 miles above the surface in space, it can't detect any potential shallow pools. But the image clearly shows the white patches on the Mars gullies in an area called Terra Sirenum. (The blue seen at the gullies' bottom is coarse sand, a color not visible with the human eye but viewed here in infrared light wavelengths.)
The areas of white show pockets of dusty water ice on the edges of Martian gullies, NASA says. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Arizona A cryoconite hole on the Isunnguata Sermia glacier in Greenland. Credit: Sean Gallup / Getty ImagesThere are many gullies on Mars today, but they're not created by any flowing water. Rather, planetary scientists suspect that carbon dioxide frost seasonally transitions from a solid to a gas (a process called sublimation), and provides "lubrication" for Martian soil and rocks to move downhill. Blocks of ice might even sled down the sides of Martian craters or other terrain.
Mars, which has lost most of its insulating atmosphere, can't support much liquid water on its surface anymore — but there could be bounties of water deep underground.
Planetary scientists recently used unprecedented data collected by the space agency's InSight lander, which recorded geologic activity on Mars for four years, to reveal that water may exist many miles down in the Martian crust. The research, which invites further investigation, may explain where bounties of the Red Planet's water went as the world dried up, and suggests that Mars may host hospitable environs for life.
"We identified the Martian equivalent of deep groundwater on Earth," Michael Manga, a planetary scientist at UC Berkeley who coauthored the new research, told Mashable.
For now, NASA's car-sized rovers explore the past remains of Martian lakes and rivers for past habitability and potential evidence of Martian life — if it ever existed, that is.
TL;DR: Secure lifetime access to this bundle of Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro for just $52.97 through October 27.
Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $52.97Tired of constant software subscription renewals and unexpected service interruptions? With this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro Bundle, you can finally eliminate two of those headaches.
Get lifetime access to both essential software tools — Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro — for $52.97 (reg. $438). This is the perfect pairing for anyone looking for long-term cost savings and complete ownership of their productivity software.
With Microsoft Office 2021, you’ll have all the tools you need for productivity, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more — all available offline, with no subscription fees. This suite provides everything from document creation to data analysis, making it perfect for professionals, students, and home users.
But here’s where things get even better: Windows 11 Pro comes with Copilot, an AI assistant that helps you streamline tasks, improve productivity, and make your workflow smarter. Copilot is integrated right into the Windows experience, helping you automate tasks, organize your workspace, and get more done without lifting a finger. With advanced security features like BitLocker encryption and seamless multitasking, Windows 11 Pro ensures you have a secure, efficient system.
So, why keep paying for something over and over again when you can own it for life?
This lifetime Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle is the ultimate deal for anyone who wants efficient software without the hassle, on sale for $52.97 until October 27.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Why deal with bulky smartphones? For $99.97 (reg. $199) until October 27, the NanoPhone gives you essential features in a tiny, portable design.
If you’re over the trend of smartphones the size of tablets, the Nanophone is here to bring you back to basics. This miniaturized phone ditches the unnecessary bulk while still packing in some pretty impressive features, and it's on sale for 50% off at $99.97.
At a fraction of the size of today’s oversized phones, the NanoPhone is perfect for anyone who just wants a simple, functional device. But don’t be fooled by its size — this little gadget still lets you make calls, send texts, and even listen to your favorite tunes with its FM radio and MP3 player. It’s got Bluetooth connectivity, too, so you can pair it with your wireless earbuds and keep things wireless.
Need a break from the constant stream of notifications? The NanoPhone keeps you connected to the important stuff without being a constant distraction. It’s like having a throwback to simpler times — but with just enough modern tech to keep you in the loop.
The Nanophone is so compact you can toss it in your pocket, bag, or even the smallest of purses without a second thought. It’s ideal for travel, outdoor adventures, or just anyone who’s tired of lugging around a massive phone everywhere they go.
Through October 27, the NanoPhone Miniaturized Smartphone for $99.97 is a great alternative to all the bulky phones out there today.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab NanoPhone - A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $99.97TL;DR: For $599.99, grab this refurbished iPad Pro 4th-Gen and get top-tier performance for less.
Massive 12.9-inch screen that’s perfect for watching shows, working on projects, or scrolling through social feeds.
Powered by the A12Z Bionic chip, giving you the speed to breeze through demanding tasks like video editing or gaming
128GB of storage with plenty of room for apps, files, photos, and more
WiFi-ready to help you stay connected and get things done no matter where you are
Given an "A" refurbished rating due to minimal to no scuffing — works like new
Compatible with Apple Pencil (sold separately), perfect for artists, note-takers, and doodlers alike
If you’ve been dreaming of getting your hands on a powerful iPad but don’t want to pay the full price, this refurbished 2020 Apple iPad Pro 12.9" is on sale for $599.99 (reg. $1,299).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro 12.9" 4th Gen (2020) 128GB Wi-Fi Space Gray (Refurbished) $599.99TL;DR: Through Oct. 27, upgrade your car with a 9-inch wireless display that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone mirroring for $94.97 (reg. $179.99).
Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 9-inch Wireless Car Display $94.97Is your car’s infotainment system stuck in the past?
It's time to upgrade your ride with the 9-inch wireless car display on sale for $94.97 (reg. $179) — because no one deserves to be fiddling with outdated tech while driving.
This sleek screen is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone mirroring, letting you go hands-free and keeping your eyes on the road where they belong. And for all you tech enthusiasts, this device is a dream. It integrates seamlessly with your smartphone, offering hands-free convenience and a smoother, safer drive. It even boosts your car's entertainment game by letting you access apps, navigation, and more without taking your hands off the wheel.
From maps to music, this display brings all your favorite apps to your car with just a tap or voice command. That means no more squinting at your phone screen or fumbling with cords. It’s the ultimate safety upgrade — reducing distractions and helping you focus on the road ahead. Need a playlist for that road trip? Access your music and stream videos (only when parked) directly from the display.
Give your car the upgrade it deserves — and ditch the dashboard clutter for good with this 9-inch wireless car display featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto compatibility, and phone mirroring for $94.97 through Oct. 27.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Lock in lifetime access to 1minAI’s creative tools for just $39.99 — no subscriptions, just AI-powered productivity with monthly credits included.
Tired of juggling multiple AI tools for different tasks? With the 1minAI Pro Plan Lifetime Subscription, you get access to a wide range of AI-powered tools, all in one place, without ever needing to pay another monthly fee. From writing assistance to image editing and even audio/video manipulation, 1minAI makes creativity and productivity a breeze.
AI models work behind the scenes to help you streamline creative projects — whether you’re drafting articles, fine-tuning visuals, or handling complex document editing. And while AI can speed up these tasks, human oversight is still key, especially for final tweaks and accuracy. You stay in control, with AI making your workload lighter.
1minAI’s Pro Plan also offers PDF manipulation tools, letting you edit, merge, or split PDFs with ease — perfect for organizing documents. The platform also supports audio and video editing, making it a versatile tool for content creators who want to streamline their workflow. With automatic updates and access to new features as they’re released, 1minAI ensures you’re always using the latest and most advanced AI tools available.
This lifetime deal is a steal compared to the ongoing costs of other AI services. Plus, the Pro plan comes with free monthly credits, so you can maximize your usage without paying more. Whether you're an entrepreneur, content creator, or freelancer, this all-in-one AI assistant saves you time and hassle.
Why keep paying for separate services when this lifetime subscription to 1minAI offers everything you need in one bundle? Get it on sale for $39.99 for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99The California Golden Bears and Pittsburgh Panthers football teams are scheduled to meet at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Oct. 12. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT.
SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable California vs. Pittsburgh football kickoff time and networkThe California vs. Pittsburgh football game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT start on ESPN on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Best streaming services for California vs. Pittsburgh football gameIf you want to watch college football and you don't have cable or satellite TV, then you'll need to use a streaming service. We've listed some of the best options ahead of Saturday's California vs. Pittsburgh game on ESPN.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get DealGetting Sling TV for the California vs. Pittsburgh football game is an option. You’ll need the Orange Plan, which comes at $30 for the first month and $40 for subsequent months.
Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get DealFuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the ESPN broadcast. If you’re in luck, then you can get ESPN with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription rate of $79.99 per month.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
The Stanford Cardinals and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football teams are scheduled to meet at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT.
SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Stanford vs. Notre Dame football kickoff time, online live streamThe Stanford vs. Notre Dame college football game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 12. The game will be available to stream exclusively on NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
Exclusive streaming: Peacock Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium Get DealWith Peacock, you have the choice of two subscription options: the Premium plan at $7.99 per month and the Premium Plus plan at $13.99 per month. Premium Plus allows you to watch ad-free, but there’s a catch — it doesn’t apply to live sports. However, on the plus side, Premium Plus gives you 24/7 access to your local NBC channel, which the base plan does not offer.
For those looking to commit, Peacock also offers an annual option that gives you two months free. Pay upfront, and it’s $79.99 for Premium and $139.99 for Premium Plus.
College students have their own deal, getting the Premium plan for just $1.99 per month. More details are available at PeacockTV.com/students.
The Penn State Nittany Lions and USC Trojans football teams are scheduled to go head-to-head at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in LA, California, for a Big Ten Conference contest on Friday, Oct. 4. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT.
SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Penn State vs. USC football kickoff time and networkThe Penn State vs. USC football game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT start on CBS on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Best streaming services for Penn State vs. USC football gameIf you don't have cable or satellite TV, you'll need to choose a streaming service to watch college football. Here is the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Penn State vs. USC football game on CBS.
Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get DealFuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can also try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period, so you don't need to commit any cash right away.
You'll need to check if your zip code includes the CBS broadcast first. To do this, just visit the FuboTV website. If you’re in luck, then you can get CBS with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription rate of $79.99 per month.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
The Clemson Tigers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons football teams are next to face off. This match takes place at the Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 12. The game is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
Clemson, ranked No. 10 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 4-1 overall and 3-10 in the ACC. Most recently, Clemson defeated FSU 29-13. Wake Forest comes into the contest 2-3 overall, 1-1 in conference.
SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Clemson vs. Wake Forest football kickoff time and networkClemson vs. Wake Forest football game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT start on ESPN on Friday, Oct. 4.
Without cable or satellite TV, some options to watch the Clemson vs. Wake Forest football game via online live stream include FuboTV and Sling.
Best streaming services for Clemson vs. Wake Forest football gameTo watch college football games, you need to choose a streaming service if you don't have cable or satellite TV. Here are the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Clemson vs. Wake Forest football game on ESPN.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get DealGetting Sling TV for the Clemson vs. Wake Forest football game is a great option.You’ll need the Orange Plan, which comes at $15 for the first month and $40 for subsequent months.
Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get DealFor a single-game watch, check out FuboTV. It offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can also try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period, so you can see if it's worth it before parting with your cash.
Just head to the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the ESPN broadcast. If you’re in luck, then you can get ESPN with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription rate of $79.99 per month.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
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