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If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ve probably encountered Druski — whether you meant to or not.

Real name Drew Desbordes, the 31-year-old comedian and entertainer seems to be everywhere at once. Super Bowl commercial? Check. Promoting Timothée Chalamet’s latest movie? Check. Commentating on The Voice? Sure, why not!

Druski first broke through online with sketch comedy and absurd characters that spread rapidly across social media. You might’ve seen him transformed into an overly enthusiastic white NASCAR fan in overalls, or playing a wildly money-hungry mega-pastor. The specifics almost don't matter — the point is that his characters are instantly recognizable and endlessly shareable.

In the years since, Druski has turned internet virality into undeniable mainstream stardom. The internet remains the engine of his brand: His YouTube channel has over 5 million subscribers, thanks to series such as Coulda Been Records and Coulda Been Love, and his clips on TikTok, where he has more than 13 million followers, routinely rack up millions of views.

A year ago, it might have been possible to exist online without knowing who Druski was.

Now, that would be almost impossible.

Delaney Rowe isn’t a terrible actor in real life; she just plays one on social media.

This Idaho-raised content creator found internet fame during lockdown, skewering clichés of film and TV (from "the absolutely insufferable female lead of an indie movie" to "the terminally ill character in every movie with a wry sense of humor and ironic zest for life"), and highlighting the laziness of less obvious tropes ("the found footage of the wife who dies in the beginning of a holiday movie").

Rowe’s 4 million followers on Instagram and TikTok have made her a Fashion Week and red carpet favorite, working with publishers such as Nylon, Marie Claire, and Elle, and drawing major advertisers, including Gucci. Rowe's authenticity comes out even in her paid partnerships, which feel seamless, self-aware, and hilarious. One highlight is a Venmo-sponsored post entitled, “What I spend in a day as a niche micro internet celebrity.” Plus, she's writing her first book of comedy essays.

However, Rowe always keeps her primary platforms in mind.

"I think that TikTok is performing, but it's also writing," Rowe told Mashable a few years ago. "I write all of these videos. And so I just think that it's helped not so much my actual prose, but it's helped to enrich my creativity as a whole. It just makes my life feel full of creative opportunities.

"I can film a video or I can stop and then go write, or I can go audition for something," Rowe said. "And that's the ultimate blessing of this job. It's a day that is rich in creativity. It's helped me take my writing less seriously."

Rowe joked that her writing was "really pretentious" in years past.

"And now it's really weird and much more representative of what goes on inside my head," she said. "That's definitely due to being on TikTok."

With its short clips and bottomless well of content, YouTube feels tailor-made for kids’ programming. But for every Blippi and Ms. Rachel, there are creators offering little more than bottle-flipping or AI-generated slop. Thankfully, Danny Go! is more aligned with the former.

Co-created by and starring North Carolina dad Daniel Coleman, the Danny Go! channel features professionally produced videos that encourage kids to interact with what they’re seeing through song and dance. Most videos feature the exuberant title character and his friends — including Coleman’s wife, Mindy, as Mindy Mango — as they move their bodies and encourage their young viewers to do the same.

Geared toward kids aged 3 to 7, Danny Go! deftly highlights subjects this age group finds irresistible, including cars, trains, animals, pirates, Halloween, and lava floors. Danny and friends also slip in some simple lessons on math, science, and vocabulary.

Since launching in 2019, Danny Go! has amassed over 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, extending its reach through books, toys, and live shows that have the air of a baby rave. In 2026, the show expanded to Netflix.

The latest Danny Go! tour was canceled earlier this year as the Colemans grieve the death of their older son, 14-year-old Isaac, in May 2026 following a devastating cancer diagnosis.

In announcing the cancellation of their tour, Danny Go! made sure to tell their audience, "We love what we do & it's an honor to be a part of you and your kids' lives! Thank you so much for watching our show."

The public has grown accustomed to stars being minted from YouTube and social media, but Peloton trainer Cody Rigsby may be the first celebrity to be launched by exercise equipment.

The trained dancer, 38, spent several years working as a fitness instructor for Peloton, which produces internet-enabled treadmills and stationary bikes, allowing for live classes like the ones Rigsby hosts. It was during the early 2020s when he found himself labeled the “King of Quarantine” during the COVID-19 pandemic. His high-energy classes prominently feature his personal observations and propulsive dance music, often powered by pop divas such as Britney Spears.

With the body, the face, and the personality, Rigsby became a standout Peloton star. He earned the fandom of celebrities and world leaders, including former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

At the height of the pandemic, in 2021, Rigsby competed on Dancing with the Stars and placed third. Rigsby has maintained his momentum since then, racking up 1.7 million-plus followers on TikTok and Instagram, and becoming a brand ambassador for companies as disparate as Kashi and Taco Bell.

Not enough Rigsby for you? He also shares his dishy thoughts on dating and pop culture on his podcast Tactful Pettiness, with co-host Andrew Chappelle.

Rigsby is more than pettiness and power workouts, though; he appeared as a special guest at this year’s NHL United Pride Cup in Canada. Come to think of it, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov would absolutely love Cody Rigsby (secretly).

Charles Christopher White Jr., 31, better known as MoistCr1TiKaL or simply Charlie, has been a staple of the internet community for decades. Establishing his penguinz0 YouTube page during the platform's early days in 2007, he now has 17.9 million subscribers — and with 5.8 million on Twitch and 2.8 million on Instagram, MoistCr1TiKaL reaches an audience of over 26 million.

MoistCr1TiKaL took home Content Creator of the Year at The Game Awards in 2025, beating wildly popular streamers including Kai Cenat, Caedrel, and The Burnt Peanut. He livestreamed the whole event, including his understated reaction. He even later published a 10-minute video about the ceremony without mentioning his own win.

However, MoistCr1TiKaL's influence in gaming doesn't stop at streaming; the creator also founded and co-owns Moist Esports with American YouTuber Ludwig Ahgren. In 2025, the pair took over North American esports organization Shopify Rebellion in a major merger. Plus, White's voice acting talents have seen him land roles in AdHoc Studio's 2025 to 2026 superhero workplace comedy Dispatch with Aaron Paul, 2026 cat army game Mewgenics, and Netflix's 2026 anime Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai.

Case Dylan Baker, 27, better known as CaseOh, is one of the most influential gaming streamers on the planet. With 10 million followers on YouTube, 9.3 million on TikTok, and 8.3 million on Twitch, the Arkansas-based content creator has built colossal influence since joining all three platforms in 2022 — and if you've ever seen him livestream a horror game, you know why.

2025 was a major year for CaseOh. It saw him take Gamer of the Year and Best Variety Streamer at The Streamer Awards, beating big names like 2024 winner Jynxzi, ohnePixel, TheBurntPeanut, and summit1g. He made wholesome viral cameos in Kai Cenat's award-winning Mafiathon 3 explosion and donated $100,000 to MrBeast’s Team Water charity campaign. However, despite his success, CaseOh's style remains steadfast and authentic, still often streaming from his Arkansas trailer. And his fans love him for it, regularly creating CaseOh mods.

Carter "PC" Smith may be one of the most prolific content creators we’ve scrolled onto this year. Known for his product reviews, hot takes, and goofy explorations into the world of computers, cars, AI, and all-around tech, Smith has posted four times a day — every day — for the last six years. That’s a lot of content, even for a chronically online 20-year-old.

"The secret to content creation is that you’re not creating any content — you’re just capturing," the creator said during a recent video on TikTok, where he’s amassed an audience of some 6.3 million followers. (On Instagram, his following is a bit lower, at 830,000, while his YouTube audience has surpassed 2 million.)

"I am not an engineer, I’m not a product designer, and I do not have a degree in anything that would say, 'I know what I’m talking about,'" Smith said in a TikTok video from 2023. "But what I do have is an unwavering passion for the technology that’s pushing our world forward — and sometimes backward."

That passion is apparent across all his channels. Smith’s animated and energetic presence is an instant scroll-stopper.

After growing up in Michigan, Smith relocated to Los Angeles at 18 to get closer to the tech world he's so eager to explore. Whether he’s reviewing a new product or sharing an unpopular opinion about something as mundane as the Apple polishing cloth, he knows how to hold your attention.

Smith said it best himself in a 2024 TikTok video: "Tech content is a lot of things. It’s obviously technical, it’s nuanced, it’s complex. But it doesn’t have to be boring."

For a comedian who continually reminds his audiences that he's not actually online, Caleb Hearon is pretty online.

Host of the hit podcast So True with Caleb Hearon, launched in 2024, Hearon says his online presence (save Instagram) is run by his team. Still, he's all over our timelines and FYP, with comedy born online and delivery that smacks of a person who grew up with Wi-Fi.

The 31-year-old, Missouri-raised comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster made our inaugural Mashable 101 list in 2025 as a rising star. Hearon started performing stand-up comedy in Chicago after graduating from college. Then, during the pandemic, his character skits and funny videos began going viral on social media. In 2020, Hearon began writing for Netflix's Human Resources, and since then, he's acted in a number of hit shows and movies, including Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Jurassic World: Dominion.

By 2026, he’s fully arrived. With razor-sharp wit and relatable humor about life and pop culture, Hearon's live shows sell out theaters, his HBO special Model Comedian was a hit, he appears in The Devil Wears Prada 2, and he wrote, starred in, and recently wrapped the 2026 film Trash Mountain, featuring Zooey Deschanel.

With 2 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram and now with his own merch, Hearon's humor has an ease to it; his quick wit feels effortless — and he's best riffing with others. It'll be interesting to see how high this former rising star ascends.

Brooke Eby has built a deeply engaged following by documenting her life with ALS with humor, honesty, and a distinct point of view. Based in the Washington, DC area, Eby shares updates about her diagnosis and daily life with a tone that balances levity with reality.

Across TikTok and Instagram, she's amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, drawn to her willingness to speak openly about disability, healthcare, and identity. Her posts often mix candid reflections with humor, creating a space that feels both personal and communal.

Eby's platform has continued to grow as conversations around chronic illness and accessibility have gained more visibility online. Her content resonates not just with those directly affected by similar diagnoses, but with a broader audience seeking more honest depictions of life with illness.

That openness has turned her account into more than a personal diary. In the comments, followers share their own experiences, transforming her page into a space for connection and support.

Eby’s presence reflects a broader shift in how people use social media — not just for entertainment, but for understanding.

Fashion creator Brooke Barry is building more than a following — she's building a brand.

Based in Nashville, Barry has grown an audience of over 3 million on TikTok and more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, where her content blends outfit inspiration, styling videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her work as a designer. Her posts often move between polished fashion content and process-driven storytelling, giving viewers a look at how pieces come together from concept to final look.

That dual identity of both creator and designer has become central to this twentysomething's rise. Through her label, she shares custom pieces, fittings, and original designs, positioning herself within a growing group of influencers who are translating social media attention into tangible fashion careers.

In 2025 to 26, Barry’s presence has continued to expand as fashion content thrives across platforms like TikTok, where short-form videos have reshaped how trends are created and consumed. Her work sits at the intersection of those shifts, combining the immediacy of TikTok with the longer tradition of fashion design.

Her content is aspirational but accessible, often grounded in everyday styling and wearable looks rather than runway spectacle. That balance has helped her connect with a younger audience navigating personal style in real time.

As more creators move into product and brand-building, Barry represents a clear evolution of the influencer model — one where visibility is just the starting point, not the end goal.

Brittany Broski has done what few viral creators manage: She turned a meme into a lasting media career. Best known for her 2019 "Kombucha Girl" video, the 29-year-old has since evolved into one of the internet's most recognizable personalities, with more than 7 million followers on TikTok and millions more across YouTube and Instagram.

Over the past year, Broski has continued to expand her reach beyond short-form content, cementing herself as a hybrid entertainer and cultural commentator. Her YouTube channel has become a hub for long-form videos that oscillate between chaotic humor and surprisingly academic deep dives — covering everything from medieval history to pop music fandoms. That range has helped her stand out in a crowded creator landscape increasingly dominated by niche specialization.

This past year, Broski further solidified her position as a mainstream figure through high-profile interviews, brand partnerships, and continued success with her podcast and video series. Her ability to move between formats — TikTok, YouTube, live appearances — reflects a broader shift in creator culture, where adaptability is key to longevity.

What sets Broski apart is her voice. Her content is theatrical, self-aware, and deeply rooted in internet language, yet grounded in genuine curiosity. She doesn't just participate in online culture — she analyzes it in real time.

For millions of followers, Broski represents the next phase of creator evolution: Not just viral, but enduring.

At only 27 years old, Bretman Rock has already lived several internet lives. Rock first found viral fame as a teenager through makeup tutorials and contour videos, later launching a beauty line, acting in the web series Escape the Night, and starring in the MTV reality series Following: Bretman Rock. In 2021, Rock made history as the first openly gay man to appear on a digital cover of Playboy.

These days, Rock's content feels quieter and more grounded than in years past. From their home in Hawaii, Rock hosts the podcast Da Baddest Radio, often alongside sister Princess Mae or cousin Miss K. The show, which can bounce from America’s Next Top Model to the chaos of everyday family life, feels less like a celebrity podcast and more like catching up over coffee with friends.

Rock also remains one of the internet's biggest personalities, with more than 19 million followers on Instagram and millions more across TikTok and YouTube. Their feed showcases the beauty of Hawaii, their deep love of animals (including their dogs and many, many chickens), and a distinctive sense of androgynous style that has made Rock a fashion and beauty icon for an entire generation of internet users.

What makes Rock especially compelling in 2026 is that they no longer seem interested in chasing virality for its own sake. Instead, their content reflects a different kind of aspiration. There are many influencers selling an idea of happiness, but Rock appears to truly be living it.

Dungeons & Dragons has been around for over 50 years, but it finally minted a star this century with Brennan Lee Mulligan. The 38-year-old comedian has carved a fascinating niche for himself as the world’s preeminent Game Master, moderating the tabletop role-playing game for Dropout’s D&D-focused Dimension 20 series.

Mulligan may be a celebrity in the RPG world — he also hosts the role-playing vodcast Worlds Beyond Number and served as the most recent Game Master for the D&D web series Critical Role — but his talents are known outside the role-playing world, too.

Trained at the comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and currently one of Dropout’s biggest stars, Mulligan is adept at comedy that’s inclusive and approachable — as seen on Game Changer and its spinoff Make Some Noise. As the author of the acclaimed webcomic Strong Female Protagonist, Mulligan brought to life a young do-gooder grappling with her legacy. After the series wrapped, Mulligan skewered viral trends and corporate greed in the sketch "Tide CEO," which won a Webby Award and has been viewed nearly 10 million times.

Mulligan’s varied interests are showcased on his social channels, with over 1.2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined, so even if orcs and fairies aren’t your thing, you’ll still scroll away laughing.

Berlin Edmond Jr., aka Berleezy, is one of the most influential YouTubers out there. It's been 10 years since Berleezy broke through with his beloved Exposed YouTube series, roasting Nickelodeon cartoons, and his online empire continues to grow.

The 33-year-old content creator has amassed over 7 million followers — the proud Eezy Gang community — across his channels: 5.3 million YouTube subscribers across three channels (@berleezy, @berlinedmond, and @eezyTV), as well as 1 million Instagram followers, and is building an audience on Twitch and TikTok.

2026 has already been a major year for Berleezy, winning Outstanding Digital Content Creator for Gaming/Tech at the 57th NAACP Image Awards, nominated alongside YouTuber CoryxKenshin and Black Girl Gamers founder Jay-Ann Lopez.

Watching Berleezy livestreaming horror games like the Resident Evil or The Walking Dead franchises is an Experience, a combination of gaming expertise, yapping, and straight-up screaming. His talent in the gaming space has led him to transition into voice acting. You can hear him in the episodic horror game Fears to Fathom.

In fact, collaboration is strong with Berleezy, co-hosting podcast The Speakeezy with joeiaco and PeeGTV (and leaning into Patreon with it), releasing several collections of Eezy Gang merch over the last few years, and staging multiple live Eezy Ball events.

You probably know bbno$'s music, even if you're not entirely sure how to pronounce his name. (It's shorthand for "baby no money.") The beat drop on "Edamame" is instantly recognizable to anyone with an internet connection, and "Lalala" has long since crossed from viral moment to cultural fixture.

Born Alexander Leon Gumuchian, the 30-year-old makes winking, self-aware rap that feels engineered for the algorithm without sounding cynical. His songs are playful, bass-heavy, and hook-forward, the kind that soundtrack millions of TikTok videos without losing their personality. It’s no surprise he’s collaborated closely with Yung Gravy. Together, they’ve helped define a lane of internet-native hip-hop that thrives on humor and repetition. In many ways, bbno$ is one of the architects of the TikTok-ready earworm.

But reducing him to virality undersells the point. bbno$ has shown himself to be a thoughtful, even principled artist beneath the punchlines. In 2025, as AI-generated art flooded the internet and many creators rushed to experiment with it, he publicly pushed back.

"When people spend their whole life getting good at something, it kind of sucks when you can click a button and make something that's more impactful," he told Mashable. "So I just wanted to give back to the community that's shown me so much love."

With nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, bbno$ has built a massive platform, one that amplifies both his music and his values. He has already mastered the art of the viral hit. The more compelling question now is how he'll evolve that influence beyond the feed — and what the next phase of his sound might look like.

Anania is the epitome of queer joy. She wears many hats as an actor, singer, comedian, and content creator. Keyed into culture, her TikTok has 2.4 million followers, and she's always ready to lend her pop culture or political commentary. When she treats us to a video of her performing, you’ll be brought to your knees with the rich depth of her voice. Is there anything she can’t do?

It’s hard not to be charmed by Anania. In the depths of 2020, while stuck inside and isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anania was joyful, comic relief on the For You Page. Her videos, where she talks to camera while walking the streets of Boston, became instant hits. At the time, she was studying for a BFA in Musical Theatre at Emerson College, and since then, Anania has gained millions of followers and worked her way to the Broadway stage.

Originally from Iowa and now based in Brooklyn, NY, at the age of 25, Anania hosts Gaydar, a production of Mutual Media, where she interviews celebrities and creators, asking the hard-hitting questions to determine whether they’re straight, gay, or a homophobe. On the show, she’s spoken to fellow queer icons Chappell Roan, Bob the Drag Queen, and Renée Rapp. She says, "There’s something so cosmically just about seeing more transgender and queer people in media. We ain’t going anywhere and everyone that has a problem with that…eat your heart out."

In 2026, she's reached her biggest achievement to date. You can catch her on Broadway, where she’ll be understudying for Magenta and Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

TL;DR: Live stream Svitolina vs. Kostyuk in the 2026 French Open for free on France TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 French Open serves up all the quarter final action starting today. The women's action is particularly interesting, with a number of stars aiming to advance further than they ever have before at the prestigious tournament.

Next up is a battle between two Ukrainian stars, Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk, who are both contending for their first Roland-Garros semi-final.

No. 7 seed Svitolina is no stranger to a Grand Slam semi-final, having reached the semis at every other Grand Slam event — including this year's Australian Open, which should give the 31-year-old some momentum.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Kostyuk, the No. 15 seed, caused one of the big upsets of the tournament when she eliminated No. 3 Iga Swiatek in straight sets. All of which makes this a must-watch quarter final showdown.

If you want to watch Svitolina vs. Kostyuk in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Svitolina vs. Kostyuk for free

Svitolina vs. Kostyuk in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on France TV.

France TV is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Connect to France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Svitolina vs. Kostyuk in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Andreeva vs. Cirstea in the 2026 French Open for free on France TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's been a hugely eventful 2026 French Open, and we're still only just at the first game of the quarter finals — No. 8 seed Mira Andreeva facing No. 18 Sorana Cirstea.

The punishing heat and a string of shock early exits have levelled the playing field. In the women's action, tops seeds Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Coca Gauff were all eliminated, which gives either Andreeva or Cirstea a golden opportunity to capitalize.

Nineteen-year-old Russian Andreeva has only reached one Grand Slam semi-final before — at the 2024 French Open — while Romanian veteran Cirstea would be playing in a semi-final for the first time if she wins today. The biggest challenge awaits, however, with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka still very much in the tournament.

If you want to watch Andreeva vs. Cirstea in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Andreeva vs. Cirstea for free

Andreeva vs. Cirstea in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on France TV.

France TV is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Connect to France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Andreeva vs. Cirstea in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Astronomers have spent decades listening for radio signals from hot giant planets in space, suspecting these alien worlds would have strong magnetic fields like Jupiter to produce them.

Mostly, the scientists heard nothing. 

Some theories have predicted distant exoplanets to have monster magnetic fields hundreds of times stronger than Earth's, so their absence has been baffling. But new findings suggest maybe the silence itself is the clue. Maybe those planets don't have enormous magnetic fields after all. 

For the first time, scientists have inferred the strength of magnetic fields around exoplanets, and they did so in a wholly unexpected way. The results may help astronomers better understand how smaller, potentially habitable worlds make and keep their own magnetic fields.

"This breakthrough opens a completely new window on exoplanet research," said Julia Seidel, an astronomer at the Laboratoire Lagrange in France and lead author of the work, in a statement. "It's the first time we can compare the magnetic environments of other worlds — a key step toward ultimately understanding which planets can stay alive, keep their water, and perhaps even, one day, host life as we know it." 

SEE ALSO: Scientists caught stars eating their young planets because of this clue

The study, published in Nature Astronomy, didn't start out as a quest to measure alien magnetic fields. The scientists were actually looking at wind behavior and how it differs across hot planets. 

The team measured wind speeds in the planets' atmospheres by studying how their iron content absorbed starlight: Faster winds shift the light more, while slower winds shift it less.  

Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile and the National Science Foundation's Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, the researchers homed in on seven ultra-hot gas giant planets that orbit so close to their stars that temperatures soar above 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. 

All of the planets in the sample group had a side much hotter than the other because one hemisphere always faces its star. 

The temperature difference between the sides creates a climate completely different from Earth's, along with extremely powerful winds. The speeds they found ranged from about 4,500 to 15,500 mph. For comparison, the fastest winds known on Jupiter top off around 1,000 mph.

When the research team looked at how the speeds varied with planet temperature, they saw a counterintuitive trend: the hotter the planet, the slower the wind. 

"All things being equal, hot planets have more energy to accelerate the winds," said Vivien Parmentier, a coauthor and professor at Laboratoire Lagrange, in a statement.

The team used data from an instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile, along with the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, for their measurements. Credit: J.L. Dauvergne / G. Hüdepohl / ESO

The simplest explanation for that unexpected result is that global magnetic fields increasingly put on the brakes in those atmospheres. Given that magnetism resists the flow of the gas, it allows the researchers to then infer the strength of the magnetic field in each of the seven planets. 

The team estimated that these magnetic fields are probably in the same ballpark as those found around gas giants in our own solar system — not, as some have thought, tens to hundreds of times stronger than Jupiter's. This means the mysterious lack of radio signals coming from hot exoplanets may simply fit with weaker magnetic fields. 

Though no one is looking for life on ultra-hot gas giants, the study of their magnetic fields may help scientists understand how smaller rocky planets make and sustain their own magnetism. Magnetic fields matter because they, along with atmospheres, act as shields against harmful radiation from host stars. 

Not only is the magnetic environment likely affecting wind speeds for these distant planets, but it could also enhance their light shows. On Earth, our magnetic field guides solar particles toward the North and South poles, slamming them into gases in the air to produce luminous auroras. 

"I like to imagine that some of these worlds have a sky filled … with vast curtains of colorful light," said coauthor Bibiana Prinoth, based at ESO in Germany, in a statement, "dancing across a planet that's half in perpetual day and half in endless night."

VidCon, the world's largest annual celebration of digital culture and its creators, is scheduled to take place this summer in Anaheim, California.

Founded by YouTubers John Green and Hank Green, the event draws together creators, fans, brands, and the creator industry. Last year, featured creators included Anthony Padilla, Dr. Sandra Lee (also known as Dr. Pimple Popper), Tyler Oakley, and more, as the event coincided with YouTube's 20th anniversary.

SEE ALSO: Markiplier, Michelle Phan, and more join VidCon's Hall of Fame

This year’s lineup isn’t looking too shabby, either. Fans can expect dozens of both new and familiar creators, including aimsey, Alberta Tech, GloZell, Jeremiah Brown, Nathan Kessel, Rosanna Pansino, and SSSniperWolf, amongst other top video creators across YouTube and other social media platforms.

The event will be held from Thursday, June 25, to Saturday, June 27, at the Anaheim Convention Center, with interested parties able to purchase tickets for a single day or all three days, at four different ticket tiers.

Registration begins on Wednesday, June 24, while the first event, GorillaCon, kicks off at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The rest of the schedule is jam-packed with meet-and-greets, mentorship sessions, informative talks, and interactive events, including a pickleball tournament.

Here's how to purchase tickets.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.