- Help
- Google+
SAVE UP TO 50%: Ninja kitchen appliances are on sale at Amazon for up to 50% off, including air fryers, blenders, indoor grills, coffee makers, and more.
Ninja deals at Amazon Best blender + food processor deal Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System $99.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best air fryer deal Ninja DZ550 Air Fryer (10-quart with thermometer) $129.99 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal Best indoor grill deal Ninja GR101 Sizzle Smokeless Indoor Grill and Griddle $79.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get DealHoliday cooking and baking projects are about to take center stage. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, you might already be busy with menu planning. Instead of getting buried in kitchen tasks this year, enlist the help of some highly functional kitchen appliances.
Ninja makes some of the most versatile and helpful kitchen countertop appliances. From coffee makers to air fryers, investing in some of these is sure to make holiday cooking and baking easier and more streamlined. Plus, some Ninja appliances are up to 50% off at Amazon. Here are some of our favorites:
Best blender + food processor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System $99.99 at AmazonA blender is one of the most versatile kitchen appliances around, and the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System packs in the features. Serving as a full-size blender, a food processor, and an individual smoothie maker, the Ninja is certainly worthy of some countertop space.
While it usually costs $199.99, it's currently on sale at Amazon for just $99.99, which means you'll save a massive $100 and pay only 50% of the list price to score this versatile blender.
The 1500 watt base is ready to take on any blending project you can image. The full-size 72-ounce blender pitcher is ideal for making smoothies for the family, getting soups to the perfect texture, or blending up a batch of frozen cocktails.
The 64-ounce processor bowl is ideal for chopping and mixing your kitchen projects like homemade salsa or cookie dough.
The Ninja also comes with two 16-ounce individual to-go cups with lids, which is perfect for taking your morning smoothie out the door on busy days.
Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja DZ550 Air Fryer (10-quart with thermometer) $129.99 at AmazonAn air fryer can save you tons of time and effort in the kitchen. The Ninja DZ550 Air Fryer has six food prep functions in a large 10-quart size that also comes with an included thermometer. This model has two air frying baskets, each measuring 5 quarts, so you can easily cook chicken in one basket while crisping up veggies in the other. The air fryer has a temperature range of 105 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Ninja DZ550 Air Fryer usually sells for $249.99, but it's on sale today at Amazon for just $129.99, which shaves 48% off the list price.
Best indoor grill deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja GR101 Sizzle Smokeless Indoor Grill and Griddle $79.99 at AmazonChilly weather has set in until spring, but that doesn't mean you have to give up your grilling game. The Ninja GR101 Sizzle Smokeless Indoor Grill and Griddle allows you to keep enjoying all your summer barbecue favorites, but indoors and on a smokeless grill that can reach up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
The 14-inch interchangeable grill and griddle means you can sear steaks, grill salmon, veggies, burgers, and even make Sunday morning pancakes. The mesh lid is designed to prevent both smoke and oil splatters. The non-stick grill and griddle plates are easy to clean, and you can wash the mesh lid in the dishwasher.
The Ninja GR101 Sizzle Smokeless Indoor Grill and Griddle is currently 43% off at Amazon, costing just $79.99 instead of the normal price of $139.99.
More Ninja deals at Amazon:Ninja MC1101 Foodi Everyday Possible Cooker Pro — $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)
Ninja SS151 TWISTi Blender Duo — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)
Ninja Flip Toaster Oven and Air Fryer — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)
Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker — $139.99 $169.99 (save $30)
Ninja DG551 Foodi Smart XL — $159.99 $279.99 (save $120)
Months after switching up its ethos of "women making the first move," Bumble announces changes to its Opening Moves feature.
Since its inception in 2014, Bumble has been known as the dating app that only lets women message first (in heterosexual matches). But in the age of dating app fatigue — including hearing from women about the exhaustion of sending that first message — the app created a way for men to technically make the first move. Opening Moves are prompts only women can place for men to respond to (again, for heterosexual users), and Bumble introduced them back in the spring.
SEE ALSO: Tired of casual dates? Try the best dating apps for serious relationships in 2024Today, Bumble launches an expansion on the Opening Moves feature. Now, users can add up to three prompts for matches to choose which to reply to. Bumble users can now select a photo as an Opening Move, as well.
The app has received positive feedback since the launch of Opening Moves, a spokesperson told Mashable. Users appreciate the opportunity to have more ways to kick off the conversation and showcase more of their personality upfront, which makes it easier to break the ice.
Bumble's spokesperson said these updates are a direct result of user feedback. Chat initiation has increased by around 26 percent since the initial rollout of Opening Moves, with an around 77 percent increase in quality conversations globally. Bumble considers "quality conversation" to be one where both people engage with interest in progressing the chat, resulting in higher cadence and length of messages being sent, according to the spokesperson.
"By giving our members more creative, personalized ways to start conversations, we're seeing connections spark faster and more often," said Bumble's principal product lead Amanda McAlister in the announcement. "As dating continues to evolve, so do we, and these features allow members to match based on truly shared interests and start conversations that feel more authentic from the start."
These are the top Opening Moves thus far in the U.S., according to Bumble:
What's your dream vacation destination?
What's your ideal first date?
Date night in or date night out?
What's the last thing that made you smile?
What's something I wouldn't know from your profile?
In addition to these changes, Bumble also added the ability to filter matches by chosen interests displayed on their profile — and over 30 new interests to choose from, like memes, houseplants, and mocktails. Ninety percent of Bumble users have at least two interest badges in their profile, and 60 percent have five, the most one can set, according to internal data.
As some people lean away from dating apps, dating apps seem to be encouraging more "quality" conversations (as with Hinge's new cap on unanswered messages). For now, it appears that Bumble is doing the same.
SAVE $36.01: As of Oct. 31, get the Apple Pencil Pro for just $92.99 at Amazon. That's a 28% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple Pencil Pro $92.99 at AmazonThe Apple Pencil has been a fantastic addition to the repertoire of iPad accessories since its debut. Earlier this year, Apple introduced the new and improved Apple Pencil Pro, with a slew of improvements that make it a great option for iPad owners. Perfect for doodling, taking notes, or writing, it's a must-have accessory if you own one of Apple's flagship tablets, and it's on sale today if you haven't already committed.
As of Oct. 31, you can get the Apple Pencil Pro for $92.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 28% and $36.01 off its normal price of $129. It's compatible with iPad Pro and iPad Air models ranging from the 13-inch iPad Pro M4 model to the 11-inch M2 iPad Air.
It's well worth the upgrade, even if you already grabbed an Apple Pencil when it first debuted. This version has several meaningful improvements over its predecessor, including a variety of different brush or pen tool settings. Rotate the pencil to change your options, even in the middle of writing or drawing. You can even squeeze the pencil to use different tools or change modes while in use.
This version of the Apple Pencil is a much more precise tool overall, with haptic feedback that gives you the feeling that you're actually writing on paper for a more enjoyable writing or drawing session. When you're ready, you can recharge it by attaching it to the side of your iPad.
At this price, it's worth grabbing for your own tablet or for gift-giving over the holidays, so get it while it's hot.
Apple's Mac Week has kicked off with huge announcements of the brands most powerful computers yet. The M4 chip, which we first experienced in the iPad Pro, is now coming to the iMac, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro. But that list excludes one very important device — the MacBook Air. While the Air doesn't appear to be getting the M4 chip this time around, it's getting another crucial update.
The MacBook Airs have long been criticized for their starting memory of just 8GB RAM. The laptops have powerful processing with both M2 and M3 chip options available, however, the puny 8GB RAM starting point has never made the Air a great laptop for creatives. Apple has apparently been listening to the internet's gripes because it finally upped the MacBook Air's starting memory.
Now, all MacBook Air models start with 16GB of RAM, or as Apple calls it, Unified Memory. The MacBook Air is available witth the M2 and M3 chips, and both versions come in 13-inch models, but the M3 Air is also available in a 15-inch size. Despite the upgrade, the MacBook Air remains Apple's most affordable entry level option, starting at $999. All models now come with 16GB of memory, and are available for purchase at both The Apple Store and Best Buy.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $999.00 at Best BuyTL;DR: Live stream Houston Texans vs. New York Jets for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
It's time once again for Thursday Night Football. And it could be a huge night for the Houston Texans as they visit the New York Jets.
Houston have a two-game lead atop AFC South following a season sweep against the Indianapolis Colts last week. That puts them 6-2 for the season so far. Some pundits have criticised the Texans' offence, but the stats speak for themselves.
On paper it looks like a surefire win against the New York Jets, who have lost five in a row. It might not be a case of if Houston beats New York but by how much.
If you want to watch Houston Texans vs. New York Jets for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Texans vs. Jets?Houston Texans vs. New York Jets takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. This fixture will be played at the MetLife Stadium.
How to watch Texans vs. Jets for freeHouston Texans vs. New York Jets is is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Houston Texans vs. New York Jets (plus more Thursday Night Football fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to access the U.S. version of Amazon Prime.
Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)
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 the U.S.
Watch Houston Texans vs. New York Jets for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
The best VPNs for streaming aren't free, but top VPN services usually offer free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By signing up for these deals, you'll be able to access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending any cash whatsoever. It's a short-term solution, but this gives you enough time to watch Houston Texans vs. New York Jets (plus other select NFL fixtures) before recovering any initial investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently available for $99.95. Within this limited time deal you'll get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Texans vs. Jets for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
SAVE $60: As of Oct. 31, the Apple Watch SE is discounted to $189 at Amazon. That's a discount of 24% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, 44mm) $189.00 at AmazonSmartwatches come in a wide range of price points, depending on what kind of features you're looking for. This is especially true of Apple Watches, which have a range of options to consider. If you're looking for something that has all of the basics without the high price tag, Amazon has got a deal for you.
The 2nd Gen Apple Watch SE is currently on sale for $189, $60 off its list price of $249. The SE line is Apple's most affordable, but bringing this model's price down below the $200 mark makes it even more worthy of consideration.
SEE ALSO: Oura Ring 4 review: It's got this edge over Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy RingThis smartwatch has a variety of health and safety features, including a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, and fall and crash detection. It also features a swim-proof design with 50-meter water resistance. It's a perfect companion for someone with a fairly active lifestyle who isn't looking for all of the bells and whistles of the Apple Watch Ultra. And if you're still curious which model is the right fit for you, we also did a comparison of the Apple Watch Series 9 and the SE that's worth checking out to see how the two models differ.
Apple deals like this one don't come around very often, so if you've been wanting to dip into the smartwatch pond the 2nd Gen Apple Watch SE is a great starting point, especially at this price at Amazon. And if you want to see what other deals are out there, you're in luck with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up soon. These sale events are some of the best times of year to score items like these at a discount, so make sure to keep it on your radar.
What a week, huh? Apple just had three straight days of announcements: First we got the new, colorful iMac, then the most powerful Mac mini ever, followed by the grand finale: the new MacBook Pro devices with Apple's new M4 Pro and M4 Max chips inside.
All of these new machines sound great. Apple's M4 chips are among the best — if not the best — PC chips you can buy when you account for power drain and performance. And yet, I've never been less compelled to upgrade.
SEE ALSO: Here's where you can preorder Apple's new MacBook Pros with M4 chipsI don't even have a very recent laptop. My main workhorse is a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip inside, and my wife works on a 13.3-inch M1 MacBook Pro. Neither of us ever feel the need for a more powerful machine, simply because the M1 and M1 Max chips, respectively, are already incredibly powerful.
I got the M1 Max MacBook Pro on a whim. Last year, it was discounted so hard at a local retailer that I actually both emailed and called to make sure that the discount was real. I thought it had something to do with the fact that M1 Max is a pricy, pro-grade machine, and that very few buyers were actually willing to dish out the full asking price for something they don't need.
It's true: I don't really have a use for 10 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores. I'm not a video graphics professional that runs complex projects in something like Blender. But the discount was there, and I got the M1 Max laptop because it cost less than the asking price of the M1 Pro just a few months earlier.
Tweet may have been deletedAnd let's face it, even the less powerful, M1 MacBook Pro is more than enough to handle my everyday tasks.
If you read Apple's promo materials, you may have noticed that the company no longer compares its latest products with the last generation, but the one before that. In the case of M4, the company actually skipped two generations back, comparing the chip with the M1 (Apple says the M4 Max is up to 2.2x faster than the M1 Max, for example). But you get those results if you push that chip really hard. If you have 20 Chrome tabs open, a few social media apps running, and a game of Hearthstone running in the background...well, it may be faster on paper, but I don't really see how as my current laptop handles everything near-instantly.
I am some kind of computer professional, and I am also a huge computer nerd, and for these reasons alone, yes, I'd like to have the latest, most powerful MacBook Pro. But honestly, this desire has never been more subdued, as I just know that I literally would not be able to tell the difference between my three-year old laptop and the new one.
It's hard to blame Apple for making chips so good that you don't have a reason to upgrade every year or even every three years. But it does make you wonder whether there are other things the company could do to make these new computers a bit more desirable. The Space Black color only goes so far, and you could get the last generation in that color (albeit only with the 16-inch model). Thunderbolt 5, a slightly better battery life, and improved display are nice features, but are they nice enough to replace your old MacBook with a new one for a couple thousand dollars? The main selling point for these new MacBooks is the chip, and if that doesn't convince potential buyers, these other improvements inside won't cut it.
Perhaps more colors are the way, or perhaps a design change is in order. Maybe the company needs to do something radical, such as introduce the oft-rumored, but never-really-close-to-production foldable, all-screen MacBook. In any case, I need a better reason to want these new laptops than just the chip, because the chip has been way ahead of me for a while now.
SAVE $100: As of Oct. 31, the 13-inch 512GB WiFi Apple iPad Pro is on sale for $1,399 at Best Buy, down $100 from its $1,499 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 13-inch iPad Pro M4 $1,399.00 at Best BuyApple's brand-new iPad Pro was revealed earlier this year, packing the powerful M4 chip, a thinner, lighter design, and an OLED display. With specs like that, it's no wonder it comes with a hefty price tag. However, we're already starting to see some nice discounts on a few different models, including at Best Buy.
Right now you can score a 13-inch 512GB WiFi model for $1,399, $100 off its list price of $1,499. That's not the only good thing about this deal, though. Best Buy is also offering some free bonuses with your purchase in the form of Apple TV+ for three months, Apple Fitness+ for three months, Apple Arcade for up to four months, and Apple Music for up to three months. That's a plethora of Apple goodies with your purchase, but the iPad itself is certainly worth it on its own, too.
SEE ALSO: How to enable Apple Intelligence on your MacBookWe had high praise for the iPad Pro in our review. Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon said that the new iPad "has mind-blowing endurance on a single charge. On top of that, the new iPad Pro is as svelte as a haute couture model." The M4 chip works wonders in this tablet, with Gedeon saying "the M4 MacBooks are going to be killer laptops if the M4 iPad Pro is anything to go by."
Don't miss out on this excellent iPad Pro deal at Best Buy. If the cost of this tablet is still too much though, don't worry, there are still plenty of great discounts on other iPads to check out. And with Black Friday on the horizon, there will be even more to look through during the sale event.
SAVE $30: As of Oct. 31, the JBL Tune 770NC noise-canceling headphones are on sale for $99.95 at Amazon, down $30 from their $129.95 list price. That's a 23% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune 770NC Over-Ear Headphones $99.95 at AmazonGood deals on high-quality headphones only come up every so often. Especially when they have features like noise cancelation, it can be tricky to track down decent models for under $100. Thankfully, Amazon is offering a great limited-time deal on the JBL Tune 770NC wireless noise-canceling headphones.
These headphones are currently available for $99.95, $30 off their list price of $129.95. This also marks their lowest price yet according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, making it a great time to pick them up for cheap.
SEE ALSO: We've tested a lot of headphones — these are the 6 best of 2024The JBL Tune 770NC headphones offer Adaptive Noise Canceling, an absolute game-changing feature if you want to be fully absorbed in music, podcasts, audiobooks, or whatever else you choose to listen to. And for when you don't want to be completely tuned out, it also has Ambient Aware and TalkThru features to enhance the sounds around you. Not to mention, you'll also get a sleek, comfortable design and a whopping 70 hours of battery life.
With Black Friday coming up soon, there are likely to be even more headphone deals to check out, so if you miss out on this one you'll have even more opportunities for discounts. Some retailers, like Best Buy and Walmart, are even kicking off their sales early, so you can get a head start on the sale.
There are a whole host of tempting and terrifying horror movies out there. So many, in fact, that it can be difficult to know where to start.
But if you like your scares with a side of repression, bad weather, and occasional self-deprecation, then you could do a lot worse than beginning in Britain.
SEE ALSO: 34 bloody excellent Australian horror movies that'll mess you up (and where to watch them)For the following list of best British horror films we've grouped together the old and the new, the weird and the terrifying, in no particular order — from cult classics like Threads and The Wicker Man to the more recent scares of Saint Maud and His House. Cushions at the ready...
His House (2020) Credit: Aidan Monaghan/NETFLIXThe best types of horror films are more than just a trickbox of scares. Some are character studies, others explore deeper themes or grapple complex social issues, and a few manage to move you in more ways than just a raising of the pulse. Writer-director Remi Weekes' debut His House does all of the above at once.
Following asylum seekers Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) as they arrive in the UK from South Sudan only to be thrust into an unforgiving world of bureaucracy and racism, His House melds drama with a claustrophobic haunted house mystery. Noises echo in the walls, and Bol's fear and paranoia grows along with ours. But it's only as the movie progresses, and Jo Willems' creative cinematography starts hinting at what took place in the past, that the true horror of His House is revealed.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
How to watch: His House is now streaming on Netflix.
The Appointment (1982)Prophetic nightmares, a swooning score, and the uncanny feeling that if Twin Peaks had been relocated to middle class Berkshire, it might start like this…
Originally planned as part of a (promptly abandoned) series of TV films, this uniquely weird slice of anxiety from 1981 was to be director Lindsey Vickers’ first and only feature. Despite brief festival success and a few regional TV broadcasts, The Appointment slipped into mythic obscurity for 40 years. Rediscovered like a cursed tape from the vaults of repression, it follows Edward Woodward (flammable lead of iconic British folk horror The Wicker Man, also in this list) as a father who misses his precociously doting daughter’s violin recital in favour of a business appointment. And that’s about it.
And yet, every scene in the ominously dreamy film trembles with unease. The film’s previous disappearance, like the disappearance that stalks its narrative, acts like a hard-to-decipher warning for something unseen. Without overt shock or graphic gore, it trembles with the same haunted logic and trauma of certain public safety broadcasts: mundane familiarity and the cautionary tale teetering over the clipped, polite abyss of English fear. — David Spittle, Writer
How to watch: The Appointment is available to stream on BFI Player via Prime Video in the UK and on Roku in the U.S.
The Descent (2005) Credit: Celador / Pathe / Kobal / ShutterstockExperiencing Neil Marshall's spelunking nightmare The Descent in the cinema was truly a singular experience, especially if you had no idea you were in for a nasty little thriller about six female friends who reunite one year after a tragedy to explore an underground cave system together — as you do — only for it all to go terribly horribly wrong — as it does! The theater walls themselves seemed to close in on you as the film grew tighter, more constricted, and claustrophobic, and that was even before any of those creepy crawlers showed up.
Even at home, the film still plays like gangbusters. Just wrap a blanket over your head and turn off all the lights, and you will feel like you’re right there in the Bava-esque underground alongside former besties Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) and Juno (Natalie Mendoza), third-wheel Beth (Alex Reid), sisters Rebecca (Saskia Mulder) and Sam (MyAnna Buring) — and who could forget the smidge-too-enthusiastic Holly (Nora-Jane Noone)? — as the walls close in and the blackness starts blinking, then biting, back.* — Jason Adams, Writer
How to watch: The Descent is available to rent/buy from Sky Store in the UK and is streaming on Max in the U.S..
Shaun of the Dead (2004) Credit: Big Talk/Wt 2/Kobal/ShutterstockEdgar Wright may be a fairly well known Hollywood director these days, but two decades ago his big feature break came in the form of this horror comedy classic. Shaun of the Dead follows Shaun (Simon Pegg, who co-wrote the film with Wright) and Ed (Nick Frost), two friends making a last stand against the zombie apocalypse in their local London pub, The Winchester. The first instalment of the Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz/The World's End) is an endlessly quotable mish-mash of sweary violence, memorable one-shots and Wright's trademark British underdog humour. — S.H.
How to watch: Shaun of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix in the UK and is available to rent/buy on Prime Video in the U.S.
Host (2020)A near full-length Covid pandemic horror movie that takes place entirely via video chat, Rob Savage's Host follows a group of friends taking part in a Zoom seance that goes horribly wrong.
"Noting that Host is “almost” full length is not to designate it as a short, but to acknowledge how much story gets packed into a run time of under an hour," wrote Alexis Nedd in her Mashable review. "The movie uses every single minute to set up its characters, foreshadowing, and twists while still leaving time for screamingly violent horror goodness. Savage is no stranger to tight scripting, having drawn critical acclaim for his previous horror shorts Dawn of the Deaf (2016) and Salt (2017), but Host stands out as remarkable for getting a full film’s worth of plot within the external time constraint of a non-subscription Zoom call." — S.H.
How to watch: Host is now streaming on Shudder.
Dead of Night (1945) Credit: Glasshouse Images/ShutterstockMisleadingly renowned for their comedies (realistically only a tenth of the studio’s productions), Ealing Studios conjured one of the greatest anthology horrors of all time: Dead of Night (1945). With distinct "tales around the fireside" vibes, this is a prime choice for anyone seeking a cosy autumnal classic.
An architect (Mervyn Jones who, in 1963, starred in The Old Dark House and Day of the Triffids) is called out to an old cottage where he loses no time in telling the owner, and his assembled guests, that he has seen them all before in a recurring dream. Each of the guests, after a hubbub of natter, begins to tell of their own encounters with, or coveted stories of, the supernatural.
With stories that range from the endearingly daft (a haunted golf course) to the genuinely chilling (mirror world murders and maniacal ventriloquists), Dead of Night spins a ruddy delightful smorgasbord of ghostly treats with the verve of truly classic British cinema. The highlight has to be Michael Redgrave and his terrifying dummy, Hugo: an incredibly acted forerunner to all things "creepy doll", from Magic (1979) and Dead Silence (2007) to Goosebumps and Child’s Play (1988). — D.S.
How to watch: Dead of Night is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Kanopy in the U.S.
The Wicker Man (1973) Credit: Studio Canal/ShutterstockNo, not the 2006 remake with Nicholas Cage. Robin Hardy's 1973 folk horror walked so the likes of Midsommar could run, following police officer Sergeant Neil Howie (The Appointment's Edward Woodward) as he investigates a disappearance on a remote Scottish island. The problem? The island is an absolutely textbook case of everybody-here-is-in-on-something, with strange rituals and bizarre encounters plunging Howie deeper into an entirely justifiable sense of unease. Splicing a haunting folk score with a truly horrifying final sequence that'll burn itself into your memory, The Wicker Man is British horror viewing at its most essential. — S.H.
How to watch: The Wicker Man is streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Prime Video in the U.S..
Saint Maud (2019) Credit: A24The unnervingly sinister directorial debut from Rose Glass, Saint Maud will get under your skin, and we really mean that. This truly frightening, erotic, psychological horror is led by the terrifyingly talented Morfydd Clark, who brings a dark and disturbing level of care to her role as deeply pious hospice nurse Maud.
A masterpiece of maddeningly precise sound editing and lighting — Glass wields chiaroscuro and close framing with the same level of suffocating, sensual control as its protagonist — Saint Maud is unrelentingly threatening as Maud takes her role as her patient's "saviour" to horrifying lengths. We're already living in a constant state of unease this year, and Glass's brilliant film, with Adam Janota Bzowski's haunting score, will plunge you deeper into it.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: Saint Maud is now available to rent/buy on Prime Video in the UK and is streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.
The Power (2021) Credit: ShudderFollowing a nurse starting at a London hospital in the 1970s, Corinna Faith's The Power uses its historical backdrop — in particular the nightly planned blackouts resulting from a war between trade unions and the UK government — to claustrophobic and unnerving effect.
"Faith pushes us to confront this with shaky, lamplit journeys down black corridors, and lingering shots of dark cupboards, constantly building tension that ramps up as Val's now-dreaded nightshift begins," I wrote in my Mashable review. "The nightly blackouts that form the film's backdrop mean that the majority of patients are relocated at the end of the day, with only a couple of hospital wards remaining operational. The rest of the building is plunged into oppressive darkness. It's the perfect setup for building a creeping sense of dread, in other words, and Faith does this with a deft hand. There are plenty of jump scares, too, but these never feel gratuitous — like all the best scary films, The Power's horror is used to draw out the movie's main themes, rather than wielding them for mere shock value." — S.H.
How to watch: The Power is now streaming on Shudder.
Threads (1984)Infamously grim and enduringly potent, Barry Hines' Threads depicts the devastating fall out of a nuclear war with unsparing realism. Set in the grey and smoking ruins of Sheffield, it begins by recalling the social realist grit of a Ken Loach drama — Hines in fact (also a novelist) wrote the book that became Ken Loach’s film Kes (1969) and collaborated with him in its adaptation – and yet by the end of Threads, its gruelling futility drags it into a far heavier, and far too real, vision of horror.
It’s hard to believe it ever aired on TV in the first place, but these televisual roots go further back – having been partially inspired by another BBC film that, deemed too horrifying, was pulled from its provisional screening at the last minute: Peter Watkins' The War Game.
The brutal and spiralling logic of Threads matches the upsetting intensity of a Michael Haneke film (like a global version of The Seventh Continent) which, when presented with the attributes of documentary realism, underlines its heavy truth: its horror is the horror of a tragic reality that has happened, and can happen again.
Combine with Raymond Briggs’ When the Wind Blows (1986) to really snuff out the hope in your heart. — D.S.
How to watch: Threads is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Shudder in the U.S.
28 Days Later (2002) Credit: Peter Mountain/Dna/20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockBoyle and Garland revitalized the zombie genre with 2002's 28 Days Later, a film that throws us headfirst into a brutal world that's just 28 days into the apocalypse.
The apocalyptic culprits here are humans infected with the "rage virus," which turns its victims into mindlessly violent — and scarily speedy — attackers. (Though not the first film to feature fast zombies, 28 Days Later is certainly the movie that popularized them.) While the nameless Infected hordes provide many terrifying scares and some effective body horror, especially in the film's "turning" scenes, it's 28 Days Later's human drama that invokes the most fear.
From the moment bike courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) wanders across a deserted Westminster Bridge, we're forced to consider how we'd react in the face of the apocalypse. Some of the survivors Jim encounters offer him kindness, while others, like army officers in the film's stomach-churning third act, have far more sinister, self-serving plans for the future. Blurring the lines between human and monster, and boasting some of the zombie genre's most iconic imagery, there's no doubt 28 Days Later is among Garland's best work.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: 28 Days Later streams on Apple TV+ but is currently unavailable.
Kill List (2011) Credit: Rook/Warp X/Kobal/ShutterstockCrime meets folk horror in Ben Wheatley's gritty cult classic Kill List, a story about two former soldiers who've turned to contract killing to make ends meet. Jay (Neil Maskell) and Gal (Michael Smiley) receive the titular list from a shadowy figure who wants three people dead, and what follows is a twisty journey in which the two men quickly realise all isn't as it seems. This is one of those films that keeps you guessing right up until the end, splicing dark realism with a creepy side of witchcraft. — S.H.
How to watch: Kill List is now streaming on Prime Video in the UK and on Shudder in the U.S.
Attack the Block (2011) Credit: Big Talk Productions/Kobal/ShutterstockFeaturing John Boyega's feature-length film debut and co-starring future Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker, Attack the Block is one of the most creative and fun monster movies of the decade.
Written and directed by Joe Cornish (also his feature-length film debut), this British sci-fi comedy horror sees a group of teenagers, led by Boyega, who must defend their council estate from some incredibly pissed-off aliens — or rather, "big alien gorilla wolf motherfuckers" — all on Guy Fawkes Night. It’s gruesome and hilarious, and produced by the studio behind Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.* — S.C.
How to watch: Attack the Block is now streaming on Prime Video in the UK and on Max in the U.S.
The Other Side of the Underneath (1972)Not a horror film by design, in fact nowhere near any kind of genre, Jane Arden’s 1978 radical feminist interrogation of mental illness becomes a truly horrifying form of feral catharsis, anguished therapy, and psychosexual derangement.
Adapting her own experimental play, A New Communion for Freaks, Prophets and Witches (1971), Arden’s painfully unsettling drama also acts as a provocative intervention in documentary. Much of the group therapy portrayed was collectively undergone by the cast, and often under the influence of psychedelic drugs and alcohol. The result, though less result and more labyrinthine record of a process, is a raw, nightmarish, and boldly incoherent howl of rage and resistance.
Defiantly counterculture, bridging aspects of the anti-psychiatry movement, feminism, avant-garde art, psychedelia, and insanity, Arden’s unique work is as intellectually uncompromising as it is conceptually and visually fractured. In short, this is not a film to recommend lightly.
If you want to be shaken, challenged, and confronted by a fiercely — even dangerously — volatile form of filmmaking, take a leap into the Other Side. — D.S.
How to watch: The Other Side of the Underneath is now streaming on Shudder.
Possum (2018)Puppets have long been popular horror fodder, but the spider-like creation in Possum is its own unique breed of nightmare. Writer/director Matthew Holness' film is part psychological horror and part kitchen sink misery, following disgraced puppeteer Philip (Sean Harris) back to his childhood home to confront his past experiences — and the recent disappearance of a teenage boy. This one is disturbing for all manner of reasons, from the hideous and recurring puppet to the repressed memories that bleed from Philip's past into his strange present. — S.H.
How to watch: Possum is streaming now on Prime Video.
Censor (2021) Credit: MARIA LAX / MAGNET RELEASINGCensor is an unsettling debut from director Prano Bailey-Bond, a twisted ode to horror films and particularly "video nasties" (a term that rose to prominence in the UK in the '80s to describe unregulated horror or exploitation films distributed on VHS tapes that came under scrutiny for their "obscene" content). In Censor, meticulous film censor Enid (Raised by Wolves star Niamh Algar) valiantly shields audiences from gory or "inappropriate" content onscreen. When she's assigned a new disturbing film to review, it triggers memories of a traumatic event from her childhood. Bailey-Bond's lurid, vibrant, and haunting film references everything from Martin Parr's photography to Dario Argento's Suspiria to Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead and Lucio Fulci's The Beyond in a bleak, Thatcher-era Britain.* — S.C.
How to watch: Censor is available to rent/buy on Prime Video in the UK and is streaming on Fubo in the U.S.
Enys Men (2022)Taking inspiration from the televisual BBC Ghost Stories for Christmas, lesser-known folk horror gems like The Shout (1978) and the crash-zoom enthusiasm of '70s cinematography, Enys Men (2022) is a timeless and timely ghost poem for the environment: An environment at once frail and elemental where time unravels in a looping (un)reality of menacing lichen and convulsive memory.
An isolated botanist (Mary Woodvine) carries out her research on an invented island ("Enys Men" is Cornish for "Stone Island"), an outpost at the end of the world, inhabited by the coal-smeared phantoms of a bygone mining community and the cosmic disorientation of a standing stone that refuses to stand still. Although this might sound like the genre pic ‘n mix of a psychotronic madman, it is in fact an elegantly unnerving tone-poem of landscape and loss. Or maybe it is better understood as director Mark Jenkin (of runaway Cornish success Bait) tuning into lost transmissions from another time — a world we have forgotten or try, at our own peril, to forget.
Rightly celebrated for shooting and processing his own films and working against the odds of industry funding, Mark Jenkin brings the corporeal grain and tactility of celluloid back into the soul of cinema. — D.S.
How to watch: Enys Men is now streaming on All4 in the UK and is on Hulu in the U.S.
Starve Acre (2023) Credit: BFIDaniel Kokotajlo's nightmare folk horror – based on Andrew Michael Hurley's novel of the same name – will make you never look at rabbits the same way again. Following a university professor (Matt Smith) and his wife (Morfydd Clark) in the aftermath of their son's tragic death, the movie deals in local legends and the mysterious presence of a figure named Jack Gray — an unseen spirt that haunted their son and seems determined to continue haunting the couple. A truly upsetting meditation on unimaginable grief with some stunning performances and horrifying moments (if you're a bit confused after the ending, we have an explainer on Mashable). — S.H.
How to watch: Starve Acre is now streaming on BFI Player via Prime Video in the UK and is available to rent/buy on Prime Video in the U.S.
The Borderlands (2013)Found footage, when done well, has the capacity to be one of the most unnerving horror subgenres of all. Elliot Goldner's The Borderlands (released in the United States as Final Prayer) is no exception. Following a team employed by the Catholic Church to prove or debunk miracles, the film follows Deacon (Gordon Kennedy) and Gray (Robin Hill) as they investigate a bizarre baptism video at a rural church in the South of England. Things get expectedly creepy, but the turn they take — and the movie's hellish final third — is anything but predictable. — S.H.
How to watch: The Borderlands is now streaming on Shudder in the UK and on Tubi in the U.S.
Last Night in Soho (2021) Credit: Focus FeaturesWriter/director Edgar Wright’s latest outing involves a hopeful fashion student (Thomasin McKenzie), a '60s lounge singer (Anya Taylor-Joy), and – as Mashable’s Alison Foreman writes in her review – an "eerily enchanting time travel voyage."
"The result is a fascinating meditation on externally inflicted self-doubt, which is somehow both profoundly heartbreaking and a bit of a popcorn thriller," she writes. "It's an exquisite change of pace for Wright that feels less like the darker side of the guy behind Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World than the twisted sister of Damien Chazelle's La La Land or Whiplash."* — S.H.
How to watch: Last Night in Soho is available to rent/buy on Prime Video in the UK and is now streaming on Peacock in the U.S.
*This blurb has appeared on a previous Mashable list.
SAVE $45: As of Oct. 31, Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is on sale for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its typical price of $275.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite $229.99 at AmazonInterested in digital art but not ready to splurge on a high-end tablet? Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is your affordable ticket to creativity, available for $229.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you $45 and gets you an S Pen and a vibrant 10.4-inch screen, making it a solid pick for beginners and pros alike.
The Tab S6 Lite’s 2000 x 1200-pixel display shows off colors and details beautifully, so your sketches, doodles, and masterpieces will look sharp. Plus, the included S Pen feels like a pen in your hand, with precise control that makes drawing and note-taking smooth and natural. It’s a tablet designed to go wherever you do, thanks to a sleek, slim metal build that slips easily into any bag. Your digital sketchpad is ready whenever inspiration strikes.
SEE ALSO: Picsart's new SketchAI app is transforming images into digital artBeyond its art-friendly features, this tablet doubles as a portable entertainment hub. Dolby Atmos surround sound is a great companion for streaming movies, playing games, or just vibing to your favorite playlist after a day of creating. The long-lasting battery also gives you up to 14 hours of use, so there’s plenty of time for multitasking, lounging, and scrolling through inspo.
With 64GB of storage (and the option to expand with a microSD card), you’ll have all the space you need for apps, files, and creative projects. Suppose you’re looking for a reliable entry point into digital art or a budget-friendly tablet without skimping on quality. In that case, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a great choice. And if you’re approved for an Amazon Visa, you can instantly knock an additional $50 off.
SAVE $50: As of Oct. 31, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is available for $219.99 at Amazon. That's 19% down from its usual price of $269.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ $219.99 at AmazonNeed a family-friendly tablet that handles streaming, games, and kid-safe apps without missing a beat? Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+ checks all the boxes. It’s on sale for $219.99, a sweet $50 discount on Amazon.
With an 11-inch display, 128GB storage, and quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, this tablet packs a punch, making it perfect for movies, music, and maybe even a little screen time for the kiddos.
SEE ALSO: Ready to upgrade your smartphone? Grab the Samsung Galaxy A15 for less than $200The Galaxy Tab A9+ isn’t just about size; it’s got the tech to back it up. Its upgraded chipset and 8GB of RAM keep things running smoothly, whether multitasking or enjoying a 90Hz refresh rate that makes every swipe seamless. Plus, it’s designed with families in mind. The Samsung Kids app offers a colorful, interactive experience that entertains and educates, so you can hand it off without a second thought.
Samsung also packs in extra versatility: use multiple apps on one screen with Multi Window, quickly share files with Quick Share, or cast videos to your Samsung TV using Smart View. With a slim, durable design, the Galaxy Tab A9+ is easy to carry, making it an ideal sidekick for road trips, flights, or anywhere else family adventures take you.
At $219.99, the Galaxy Tab A9+ is a solid pick if you’re looking for a reliable, family-friendly tablet with impressive sound and plenty of storage. And if you’re really budget-savvy, Amazon’s offering an additional $10 gift card if approved for the Amazon Store Card, so you can save a little extra.
SAVE $250: As of Oct. 31, the Shark AZ3002 Stratos Upright Vacuum is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon, a 50% discount from its usual $499.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AZ3002 Stratos Upright Vacuum $249.99 at AmazonIf pet hair has taken over your home, the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum is here to help. Equipped with a self-cleaning brushroll, ultra-powerful suction, and a built-in odor neutralizer, this vacuum is made for pet parents, allergy sufferers, and anyone tired of chasing dust bunnies around. Right now, it’s available at Amazon for $249.99, saving you a cool $250 on a device that just might bring your floors back to their glory days.
The Shark Stratos AZ3002 is loaded with DuoClean PowerFins, a two-brushroll system that digs into carpets, tackles hard floors, and picks up everything from crumbs to pet hair in one go. Thanks to the self-cleaning brushroll, hair clogs won’t be part of the routine, and the HEPA filter paired with an anti-allergen seal traps 99.9% of dust and allergens. For hard-to-reach spots, the Powered Lift-Away feature lets you pop off the pod for under-furniture cleaning or detach the nozzle to tackle curtains and other high-up places.
SEE ALSO: The new Shark FlexFusion is a multi-styler designed to replace all of your hair styling toolsFor homes with pets, Shark’s Odor Neutralizer Technology traps and minimizes smells inside the vacuum while LED headlights on the nozzle reveal all the pet hair and debris you missed. The dust cup is also easy to empty, so no accidental messes on your way to the trash.
At 50% off, this deal on the Shark Stratos makes it easier than ever to give your space a refresh. And if you’re looking for even more savings, Amazon offers a $50 instant discount if you’re approved for their Visa card, dropping the price to $199.99.
SAVE $210: As of Oct. 31, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's down by 34% from its original $609.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Hot+Cool Purifier $399.99 at AmazonWhen you’re over-cranking the heat in winter, blasting the AC in summer, and buying filters left and right, Dyson’s Hot+Cool HP10 swoops in to save the day. This purifier not only cools you off and heats you up but also tackles airborne irritants year-round. It’s currently on sale at Amazon for 34% off, down to $399.99 from $609.99. Plus, it has an extra filter to keep things fresh without shelling out mid-season.
The HP10’s Air Multiplier technology ensures that every inch of your space enjoys purified air thanks to a powerful HEPA filter designed to trap the usual suspects: dust, pet dander, and allergens. Unlike some fans that whip air around, the Dyson HP10 sends out a smooth, controlled airflow covering up to 73 square feet. If you want to turn a stuffy room into your personal oasis, this fan has your back (and front, thanks to its 350-degree oscillation). For those low-key evenings, pop on night mode to keep things quiet and dim.
SEE ALSO: The Dyson Purifier Cool is a 2-in-1 device made for spring allergy seasonThis purifier is perfect for indecisive weather days. With its sleek remote, you can switch from warm to cool air in seconds, all without app complications or tangled cords. And if the $399.99 upfront price seems steep, Amazon offers an interest-free payment option at $33.33 per month if you’re approved for their Visa.
Other sellers may have it, but they likely won’t offer Prime benefits or that bonus filter, so don’t wait on the Dyson Hot+Cool if you’re after a more comfortable winter (and a less sneezy spring).
SAVE $65: As of Oct. 31, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is down to $74.99 at Amazon. That’s a 46% discount on its original price of $139.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet $74.99 at AmazonAmazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is more than just another gadget; it's designed for the "lounge and chill" lifestyle. With a vibrant 10.1-inch Full HD display, an octa-core processor, and 3GB of RAM, this tablet is ideal for streaming, casual gaming, or knocking out a few chapters of that book you've been putting off. And right now, you can score it for just $74.99, the lowest price we've seen recently.
This Fire HD 10 offers faster performance (up to 25% faster than the previous model). Whether binge-watching, flipping through social media, or reading your favorite book, the experience should be smooth and lag-free.
SEE ALSO: The newest Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is wallet-friendly and made for streamingStorage won't be an issue either. The tablet comes with 32GB of storage but has a slot for a microSD card, allowing you to add up to 1TB of extra space for all your apps, downloads, and photos. The 13-hour battery life also ensures you're set for long sessions without scrambling for a charger.
The tablet is also designed to be family-friendly, with Amazon Kids parental controls. It's built to take a tumble or two, as well. Its strengthened aluminosilicate glass claims to make it 2.7 times more durable than Samsung's Galaxy Tab A8.
Aside from its impressive specs, the Fire HD 10 also has some Alexa magic. Just say, "Alexa, read my last book," or "play the latest episode" of your go-to podcast, and let the tablet handle the rest. It even has sustainability features, like a body made from 12% recycled materials and 98% responsibly sourced packaging, so you're getting eco-conscious tech without the hefty price tag.
This discount will only stick around for a while. Amazon's Fire HD 10 might be your new favorite companion if you need a budget-friendly tablet for everyday tasks.
The universe is rife with mystery.
Ambitious space missions, like the James Webb Space Telescope and Martian rovers, are helping scientists grasp what's out there: Could any of the rocky, Earth-sized planets in the TRAPPIST solar system host life? How did galaxies teeming with stars and planets, like our Milky Way, come to be? Did hellish Venus once harbor oceans?
Some of these cosmic questions may be answered in the coming years and decades; some will take longer.
Yet these same spacecraft also beam back patterns and images that we sometimes interpret as being familiar: perhaps a face in rock, or a colossal hand in a cosmic cloud. This tendency to see a distinctive image in a foreign (or one might say extraterrestrial) pattern is known as "pareidolia."
"Here at NASA, we often hear from people who think they see something familiar in an image from Mars, or another planet, or somewhere else in the cosmos. And it's true — they do see something familiar, but it's actually because they're experiencing pareidolia," the space agency explains.
SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.What follows are some instances of skulls seeming to appear in space images. Of course, there really aren't colossal skulls zooming through the cosmos, or our solar system. Right?
The Perseus cluster A cluster of galaxies captured by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Credit: Chandra X-ray Observatory ACIS ImageThis haunting image was captured by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, an instrument that detects X-ray emissions (as opposed to something like visible light emissions) from hot areas of the universe.
This skull-like pattern actually shows the core of a group of distant galaxies called the "Perseus cluster." You're essentially looking at the extremely hot gas in and around the supergiant galaxy, Perseus A. Directly at center, between two dark cavities, is a supermassive black hole, a region with such enormous gravity not even light can escape. The twin dark cavities are giant — "each large enough to contain a galaxy half the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy," NASA explains — and likely created by bursts of energized particles released from around the galactic black hole.
The "mouth" of the skull, seen at two o'clock from the image's center, is a smaller galaxy (with some 20 billion stars) that's falling into the more massive Perseus A (yes, galaxies tend to collide).
The skull asteroid (aka the "Halloween asteroid") Asteroid 2015 TB145, which looks similar to a skull, once passed within 302,000 miles of Earth. Credit: National Science Foundation / Arecibo ObservatoryIn the right light, asteroid 2015 TB145 looks awfully creepy.
What's more, astronomers discovered this space rock in October 2015 — and then it made its closest pass to Earth that Halloween.
Asteroid 2015 TB145, measuring some 2,050 to 2,300 feet wide, is awfully dark. It reflects almost no light, just around 5 percent of sunlight. "This means that it is very dark, only slightly more reflective than charcoal," Pablo Santos-Sanz, an astronomer from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, told the Spanish science publication SINC.
Like most asteroids, the "Halloween asteroid" is a relic from our early solar system. It formed some 4.6 billion years ago, but never developed into part of a larger planetary mass, the likes of which created our planets. NASA calls Asteroid 2015 TB145 a "dead comet," meaning it's shed much of the water ice and other "volatiles" around its rocky or metallic core.
It's a "near Earth asteroid," i.e., its orbit brings the rock somewhat close to Earth (but it isn't on track to hit our planet) from time to time. In 2088, for example, the asteroid will come within 20 lunar distances (a lunar distance is the length between Earth and the moon, or some 239,000 miles) from us. And in the right light, it might continue to intrigue, or creep out, the masses.
Skull Nebula The "Skull Nebula," formed from the outgassed layers of a dying star. Credit: ESO / VLTSome 1,600 light-years away lies the "Skull Nebula."
Formally called NGC 246, it's a cosmic object called a planetary nebula, which forms when a medium-sized star like the sun grows old and sheds its outer layers of gas, often in a grandiose cosmic display. An extremely dense core (a white dwarf star) is left in the middle of the clouds.
The Skull Nebula is located in the constellation Cetus, which means "The Whale." "This ethereal remnant of a long dead star, nestled in the belly of The Whale, bears an uneasy resemblance to a skull floating through space," writes the European Southern Observatory (ESO), a collaborative science organization of European nations.
One-eyed space skull? A planetary nebula, created when a star around the mass of the sun sheds its outer layers near the end of its life. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / S.CareyLike clouds in the sky, nebulae take many shapes. What do you see here?
"A grinning one-eyed skull? Actually a complex planetary nebula around a dying star," writes NASA.
This is planetary nebula NGC 5189, created when a star around the mass of the sun sheds its outer layers near the end of its life. Unlike our solar system, astronomers suspect this solar system contained two stars (a "binary system).
Face on Mars A natural feature on Mars that, from an image taken in 1976, looks similar to a face or skull. Credit: NASA / JPL-CaltechThe "face on Mars" is a famous example of pareidolia.
NASA's Viking spacecraft captured a feature on Mars with a face-like pattern in 1976. Yet, "The 'face' does not stand the test of time," writes NASA. Decades later, other spacecraft took higher resolution images of the face, showing that it's simply natural Martian topography.
On far left is an image taken by NASA's Viking spacecraft in 1976. The images at center and right were snapped by the Mars Global Surveyor in 1998. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSSIndeed, you can find instances of pareidolia all over the cosmos. It's not inherently a bad thing — it can be a valuable way to draw interest to a cosmic object.
Tweet may have been deletedThough, sometimes, the resemblance can be a little too close for comfort.
This story has been updated.
The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.
But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.
And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.
Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 31 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Thursday, October 31, 2024:
AcrossFlabbyThe answer is Soft.
The answer is Scale.
The answer is Easel.
The answer is Ariel.
The answer is Test.
The answer is Scare.
The answer is Oasis.
The answer is Fleet.
The answer is Tell.
The answer is Seat.
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.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintSimilar to an onion.
SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 31 Hurdle Word 1 answerCHIVE
Hurdle Word 2 hintEmerged.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 31 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerAROSE
Hurdle Word 3 hintMore this than older things are.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 31 Hurdle Word 3 answerNEWER
Hurdle Word 4 hintYouTubers ask you to do this to subscribe.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 31 Hurdle Word 4 answerCLICK
Final Hurdle hintA font feature that some prefer over sans.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerSERIF
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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...