IT General

TikTok's newest goal-setting trend borrows from an old retail trick: the loyalty punch card. But instead of free coffee, these handmade cards offer users a small, tangible sense of accomplishment.

The appeal may be less about self-improvement and more about the ritual. For millennials and Gen Z —generations raised on sticker charts, gold stars, and achievement tracking — the punch card offers a familiar feedback loop. Creating the card, decorating it, and punching each hole delivers a hit of accomplishment that can feel meaningful even before the goal is fully realized.

Media theorists might recognize this as a form of interpassivity, in which the gesture of progress stands in for the thing itself: by turning goals into punchable milestones, users externalize motivation, letting the card do some of the work, while the satisfaction of the punch becomes its own reward.

"Making punch cards is such a fun way to make goals feel like a game," creator @caro.fields wrote in the caption of her TikTok. In a follow-up video, she added, "They're a whimsical way to make your goals feel more approachable." Creators like her highlight one of the trend's biggest draws: the act of designing, crafting, and punching the card can feel just as satisfying, and sometimes more immediate, than completing the goal itself.

These punch cards run on a kind of retail psychology. They don't just offer the promise of a future reward, but proof that you're getting closer to your goal. The difference is that instead of earning a free drink, users are tracking micro-goals that feel manageable in a chaotic day — five workouts, ten walks, seven days of journaling, a month of language practice broken into punchable steps.

But discipline isn't the only appeal. In an era of burnout, these cards function more like comfort objects than productivity systems. It's a tiny routine that makes effort feel tangible and maybe even fun.

And like many productivity trends on TikTok, punch cards often double as aesthetic objects. Unlike apps, no cards look the same. The careful lettering, color coding, and reward sections are as much part of the appeal as the goals themselves, blurring the line between tools meant to be used and objects designed to be seen.

The punch-card trend also reflects a broader shift toward analog tools in online spaces. From paper planners and bullet journals to analog bags and "dumbphone" experiments, TikTok has increasingly embraced tactile, offline objects as a response to digital overload — and often turning them back into content in the process.

The cards may not guarantee follow-through, but they do offer something immediate: a quick punch, a moment of satisfaction, and the feeling that progress, however small, has been made.

On the moon's extreme western rim, straddling the border with the lunar far side, a landmark nearly 600 miles wide almost completely escapes Earth's view. 

A colossal asteroid-like invader once ripped through the lunar crust, flinging out rings of mountains and scooping out a giant bowl, later flooded and backfilled with dark lava. The bullseye still stands today, scars memorializing that long-ago catastrophe. 

From space orbiter cameras, Mare Orientale, which means "Eastern Sea" in Latin, reads clearly as a fossil of violence, geometry, and time. But despite the lunar feature's vastness, its location has forced it to remain one of humanity's white whales. 

"Orientale has never been seen by human eyes," said Reid Wiseman, commander of NASA's Artemis II. 

On the upcoming historic mission, the first to send people into deep space in 50 years, astronauts Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will loop around the moon in the Orion capsule. Depending on final tests and weather conditions, NASA could launch the spaceship as early as Feb. 6. As the crew swing past the far side — the lunar hemisphere that never faces Earth — the astronauts may see landscapes no one has ever seen before in sunlight.

With Apollo 8 astronauts taking the first glimpse of the far side in 1968, Artemis II won't be the first mission to have this vantage point. But this time, the launch period, flight path, and lighting conditions of the lunar terrain could let the crew study parts of the moon humans have never seen directly, revealing subtle surface details that stayed hidden in earlier missions.

SEE ALSO: NASA’s Artemis 2 astronauts could head to the moon in a matter of weeks The far side of the moon

The far-side hemisphere was once dubbed "the dark side" because people had never seen it. The misnomer has led many to incorrectly assume the far side is shrouded in darkness, a confusion that persists even today. In reality, the hemisphere receives just as much light as the near side. 

People only ever see the near side because of one truly astronomical coincidence. It takes about a month for the moon, some 250,000 miles away, to orbit Earth. For the moon to make one full spin on its axis, it takes roughly the same amount of time. Until October 1959, when the Soviet space program swung the robotic Luna 3 probe around the moon and snapped some grainy pictures, no one had any idea what the other side was like. 

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Apollo crews only had brief views of the far side as they looped around the moon. Their launches were timed so that the near side, where they landed and explored, would be bathed in sunlight. But that usually meant when the near-side was well-lit, the far side was in shadow or only had a thin crescent illuminated. 

By comparison, Artemis II will have a high likelihood of seeing 60 percent of the far side that human eyes have never seen. That matters, mission leaders said, because despite having plenty of robotic spacecraft images of the far side, nothing beats firsthand observations. 

After all, having people there, not just machines, is the point.

Artemis II astronauts Jeremy Hansen, left, Christina Koch, center, and Jenni Gibbons, a backup crewmate, get hands-on geology training on a field trip to Iceland. Credit: Canadian Space Agency

"Most people think that the moon is only gray," said Jacob Bleacher, NASA's chief exploration scientist, "but the human eye can pick out a tremendous amount of detail." 

Three full hours of observations

NASA plans to make the most of that opportunity. Even though they won't put boots down on the moon, the Artemis II astronauts have received geology and science training so they know what to look for as the moon fills Orion’s windows.

During the flight, they hope to spend three full hours completely devoted to observations. Their eyes will scan the far-side terrain, studying variations in the grayscale. Those subtle nuances of how bright or dark patches of the surface appear can hint at different rock types and ages. 

Artemis II astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover, right, practice photography of lunar targets during a training exercise. Credit: NASA / James Blair

NASA expects the crew to move between looking with their own eyes, taking pictures with cameras, and talking through what they see with flight controllers in Houston. They will carry checklists from science teams on where to look, but they'll also have the freedom to explore as they please.

"The moon will look about like holding a basketball at arm's reach," Bleacher said, "so they'll be able to see a good bit of the moon, if not all of it."

Future Artemis landing sites

Scientists believe a lot could be gained from studying the far side. The near side has large dark patches, called maria, that together resemble the "man in the moon" face. When lava filled in the ancient craters, it erased other craters that recorded some of the moon's geological history. But on the far side, fewer of these dark splotches exist, suggesting that it has a more pristine record of cosmic collisions. 

During the NASA and Soviet space race, no one ever landed on this unseen side, even robotically, because of how challenging it is. The moon itself blocks communication between flight controllers on Earth and spacecraft on the other side. But in 2018, China put a communication relay satellite in space about 40,000 miles beyond the moon to allow the exchange of signals. That same year, China succeeded in becoming the first nation to put an uncrewed lander on the far side. 

Not only could the Artemis II observations enlighten scientists about solar system history, but the crew could help pick landing sites for future missions and pinpoint compelling science targets. They may just turn our familiar gray saucer into something new again. 

"We hope it's not 'the dark side,'" Koch said, referring to its old, misleading nickname. "We hope it's the lit far side." 

I'm an iPhone user, but not a ride-or-die iPhone user. When I tested the Motorola Razr Ultra for Mashable last year, it reminded me how much I like some Android features. And with the Samsung Galaxy S26 phones rumored to be coming in late February with One UI 8.5, I'm exactly the kind of person Samsung needs to woo.

Unlike a lot of iPhone users I know, I really would consider ditching my iPhone for an Android handset — if the price (and feature-set) were right.

Samsung phones tend to leak like a faucet ahead of their official launch, and that's exactly what's happening right now. We've already broken down everything we know about the Galaxy S26 line and the next Galaxy Unpacked launch event. Given what we know, these are the rumored S26 features that could convince me to defect from Apple to Android.

Privacy Display

As I wrote yesterday, Privacy Display has all but been confirmed. As you can see in an old video from Samsung leaker Ice Universe, the Privacy Display hides the content on your screen from the people around you. Normally, you have to buy a separate privacy protection screen to achieve this effect.

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As someone who often uses his phone on a crowded subway, this is the kind of innovative feature that appeals to me. And like AI and foldables, Samsung has once again beaten Apple to the punch.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

All S26 phones released in the United States are expected to come with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. And it's supposed to offer noticeable upgrades to battery life, on-device AI computing, graphics, and overall performance. Apple is still king in the laptop world thanks to its M-series silicon, but early tests show that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 really is the "world's fastest mobile system on chip," as Qualcomm has promised.

Free access to Google Gemini

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched with an attractive offer: six free months of Google AI One Pro, normally $19.99 per month. That includes expanded access to the latest Gemini tools and cloud storage. I expect Samsung to put forward a similar launch offer for the S26 (as Pixel phones did, with 12 months of access for free).

Because of the global memory shortage, Samsung is rumored to be dropping its usual launch offer, which lets you get double the storage at no extra cost. An improved AI subscription offer would make sense, and I'm hopeful we get a similar or better offer this time. Samsung already features a lot of built-in Gemini AI features, and Apple is clearly losing the AI arms race.

Scam Detection

So far, Google's excellent Scam Detection feature has been exclusive to Pixel Phones, but per Android Authority, that could change with the S26 phones. This AI tool automatically alerts you're talking to a scammer. Unlike the iPhone, it doesn't just flag sketchy phone numbers. It proactively alerts you when the phone detects red flags.

Next-gen Gorilla Glass

Leaker Ice Universe also reports that the S26 line will have a new form of Gorilla Glass that will make screen protectors obsolete. The appeal for a feature like this is obvious, I think.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Better cameras and image processing

It seems we're unlikely to get significantly improved cameras with the S26 line. However, a few changes are rumored, such as a larger aperture on the main camera (which could improve low-light photography) and a new sensor for the 3x telephoto lens. It's also possible that the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip will offer image processing benefits.

By all accounts, the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra are very evenly matched in photography. If Samsung can prove it has gained a significant edge over the iPhone, I would consider switching.

Right now, the latest iPhones have two advantages: It's easier to shoot 4K, HDR video, and they have a better selfie camera. As a tech journalist who takes a lot of photos and videos on a daily basis, that's important to me. Samsung Galaxy phones do offer 8K video, but I think that's more of a gimmick rather than a practical feature. Samsung should stop chasing the shiny new thing (8K video) and focus on matching the iPhone's capabilities here.

A Liquid Glass-like look

I'm not a Liquid Glass hater like a lot of my peers in the tech world. I actually think the new design language looks very attractive. And Samsung seems poised to copy this aesthetic in One UI 8.5, as I've reported previously.

Tranlucent elements already exist in One UI 8. Credit: Samsung This preview of One UI 8.5 looks very similar to Liquid Glass and iOS 26. Credit: Samsung / Good Lock

While I'd prefer for Samsung to move in a bolder, new direction with its physical phone design and UI (I miss the square corners), as iOS and Android systems come closer together, the switch becomes easier.

What could really make me switch? The Galaxy TriFold Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

We don't know whether we'll get a U.S. release date for the Galaxy TriFold at the next Unpacked event, but I'm crossing my fingers. I got to play around with this device at CES 2026, and I can't stop thinking about it.

TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Muchova in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The pick of the fourth round games in the 2026 Australian Open might be Gauff vs. Muchova. This battle between the third and 19th seed is particularly difficult to predict, but that's normal for the latter stages of any Grand Slam. A spot in the quarter finals is up for grabs, so expect both players to rise to the occasion.

If you want to watch Gauff vs. Muchova in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Gauff vs. Muchova for free

Gauff vs. Muchova in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Gauff vs. Muchova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes 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 Gauff vs. Muchova in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Zverev vs. Cerundolo in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The fourth round of the 2026 Australian Open includes some fascinating matchups, but Zverev vs. Cerundolo might be the best of the bunch. It's the third seed against the 18th, and it's a really difficult to call. Zverez is probably favorite, and he'll be looking to make it through to another Australian Open final this year. The big question is whether he can actually win a Grand Slam this season.

If you want to watch Zverev vs. Cerundolo in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Zverev vs. Cerundolo for free

Zverev vs. Cerundolo in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Zverev vs. Cerundolo without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes 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 Zverev vs. Cerundolo in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Alcaraz vs. Paul in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The fourth round of the 2026 Australian Open is here with a number of intriguing matchups. Alcaraz vs. Paul is one of the standout matchups taking place this weekend. Top seed Alcaraz has never won this tournament. Could this be the year that he makes it past the quarter final for the first time?

If you want to watch Alcaraz vs. Paul in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Alcaraz vs. Paul for free

Alcaraz vs. Paul in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Alcaraz vs. Paul without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes 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 Alcaraz vs. Paul in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Replace Windows 10 with Windows 11 Pro on sale now for $10 (reg. $199).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

If you’re still using Windows 10, your computer is vulnerable. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 back in 2025, but it’s finally a whole lot cheaper to upgrade. Instead of paying $199, you can now get Windows 11 Pro on sale for only $9.97, but this offer won’t be around for much longer.

Windows 11 Pro gives you a more modern interface and tools that actually help with multitasking. Snap layouts and virtual desktops make it easier to keep work, school, and personal windows organized instead of buried in one crowded taskbar. The start menu, search, and quick settings panel are cleaner, so basic tasks feel less clunky than they did on older versions.

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Security gets a noticeable upgrade, too. Windows 11 Pro supports TPM 2.0, BitLocker device encryption, Windows Hello biometric login, and Smart App Control to help block suspicious apps. That matters more now that Windows 10 is out of support and new threats will not be patched for older systems.

If you use your PC for gaming or creative work, Windows 11 Pro supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and newer drivers that can help modern hardware perform at its best. You also get built-in tools like Microsoft Teams and the Copilot assistant, which can help with quick answers, basic writing, or summarizing pages.

This license is a one-time purchase for a single PC, with lifetime access and updates for Windows 11 Pro itself. As long as your hardware meets the system requirements, this is one of the cheapest ways to move off Windows 10 and keep your main computer secure.

Right now, it’s only $9.97 to get Windows 11 Pro, but this offer expires Feb. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

There's a smart simplicity to the title Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant. Out the gate, you know the premise of this body-horror comedy: A woman gets pregnant by an alien and needs her mom's help. And you've got a sense of the movie's cheeky sensibility. But can this indie offering out of New Zealand meet the expectations audiences might have for such a wild title? Because if you're going to promise a weird-ass movie, you better deliver weird-ass. (Looking at you, Anaconda.) And I'm pleased to report that Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant does just that. 

All hail THUNDERLIPS, the Kiwi writing/directing duo who have made the leap from kooky commercials, candy-colored music videos, and wild short films to a feature that is one of the strangest films I've seen in at least the last decade, if not ever. Like, if you love the Daniels' Swiss Army Man, I predict your odd heart will adore the goofiness, gloppiness, and overall WTF of Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant. 

If you like big swing cinema, you won't want to miss this one. And there’s more to it than being utterly bonkers. 

Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant delivers on its promise and goes far beyond. 

Credited as THUNDERLIPS, Sean Wallace and Jordan Mark Windsor have crafted an absolutely deranged story that's hilarious, heartfelt, and unapologetically gross. 

Hannah Lynch stars as Mary, a twentysomething underachiever who still lives with her mum (Yvette Parsons) Cynthia, who is tirelessly — even gratingly — supportive. So, when Mum hears that a young man with a deformed penis has moved into their apartment complex, she suggests Mary seek him out. After all, Mum suggests, Mary's internet search history — which includes tentacle-porn anime — suggests she might be into that! 

Before you can say "get out of my room," Mary meets Boo (Arlo Green) in the community laundry. Some awkward conversation leads to clumsy mutual masturbation, not only revealing Boo’s gossiped-about genitalia — which looks kind of like a clam with tentacles and testicles — but also ends in a fateful ejaculation that sizzles through Mary's clothes and — you guessed it — gets her pregnant. 

Mary's understandably peeved about this predicament. Thankfully, her mum is happy to help her get post-coital contraceptives. But simple human medicines won't stop this sperm. Boo's mom, Ann (Jackie van Beek), will explain: He's part alien because she was impregnated decades before during an abduction. So, his seed isn't of this world. And it's causing Mary all kinds of hilarious and horrifying problems, like a hyper-accelerated pregnancy. 

Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant is uniquely and unabashedly hilarious. 

As shown in laugh-out-loud comedies like What We Do in the Shadows and The Breaker Upperers (both of which also feature van Beek), New Zealand comedy at its best is an intoxicating blend of dry humor and absurd premises. Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant has such a stellar sense of humor, which perfectly suits its setting. One moment, we're watching a pretty typical dust-up between a surly twentysomething daughter and her chipper mum; the next we're seeing another mum gently chastising her half-alien son for masturbating, because his blue/electric ejaculate makes the lights in the building flicker. Let's not annoy our new neighbors, sweetie! 

THUNDERLIPS fills their fucked-up and funny film with such comical contrasts. Mary is ornery, snarling at everyone from her mum to her otherworldly baby daddy, and a small army of doctors who treat them both like science experiments as they seek help. Boo is the absolute opposite: wide-eyed, passive, and mumbling. (Though he says he has an OnlyFans account, where he's more of an exhibitionist. But he doesn't show his face.) 

Then there's their mums. As sniping as Mary is, her mother is endlessly cheery, with Ann being dryly shut-down in contrast. Altogether they make for a chaotic collective as they maneuver through modern medicine trying to stop this pregnancy, which is speeding along in hours instead of months. And just as THUNDERLIPS won't shy away from showing off the alien junk in Boo's boxers, they won't balk at exploring the mind-breaking weirdness of pregnancy. 

Mary is plagued by strange rashes, projectile vomiting, and her boobs growing abruptly and intensely. Standard stuff, right? Wrong. We're not talking Knocked Up or Neighbors-styled pregnancy jokes. THUNDERLIPS pushes it further, with a clear Aliens influence, but with bold splashes of color that keep the body horror from gestating into nightmares. And that all culminates into a totally bonkers ending with a setting that pushes the pregnancy weirdness to a whole new level. 

Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant is gross and deeply human. 

Mary is a bitch. But watching her be bossed about by her well-meaning mom, impregnated by the bozo next door, and then poked and prodded by doctors with curiosity but little caring, it's easy to see why. She's having to advocate for herself in a world where too many people assume women not only want to be mothers but just should be. 

At no point does Mary want this baby, so her pursuit of an abortion is the main thrust of the plot. Everyone around her speaks with either a comically flat effect or in a jaunty tone, making it clear she feels surrounded by fools. "Why must you make this all so humiliating?” she understandably bellows at a doctor. 

Lynch is incredible in every moment of righteous rage. THUNDERLIPS rejects the Hollywood pressure to create a heroine who is feminine, gorgeous, kind, or even talented. Like Muriel's Wedding, Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant centers on a loser who is compelling without being inspiring. Lynch brings brilliant verve into this role, colliding with her daffier co-stars while grounding this unhinged tale of accidental alien pregnancy through gritted teeth and a hard stare. Every time she tells someone she's "alien pregnant" it's funny, because of how frank — and frankly pissed-off — she is. Mary may be accused of being mean, but she's rightfully furious at the world around her that would bully her into the role of mother. 

THUNDERLIPS shows a keen sensitivity to this maternity pressure without getting sentimental. By making her pregnancy so extra(terrestrial), they bolster her feeling that the world has gone mad around her. The final act, which involves several female perspectives on pregnancy and parenthood, finally creates a safe space for Mary. And the conclusion is well-earned yet shocking in its subversion. 

On its surface, Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant plays like an outrageous midnight movie, rich in wild jokes, gross-out gags, and racy sci-fi spectacle. But beneath that, THUNDERLIPS has built a compelling mother-daughter tale that empathetically probes the choice to be child-free. So, if you see this for the unapologetically unhinged comedy, you won’t be disappointed. But you might walk away with some refreshing representation and weirdly prepared food for thought as well. 

Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant was reviewed out of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Recent TV news: TCL and Sony are going halvesies now

Sony has long been revered as one of the best TV brands, and its Bravia TVs have been no stranger to lists of the best TVs across the internet. But Sony as a TV brand is about to look a lot different. As of January 2026, TCL is in charge of Sony's home entertainment business, which spans TVs and home audio. The "Bravia" family of TVs isn't going anywhere, at least as far as branding and picture processing — but TCL will be behind much of the manufacturing and pricing. Sony TVs often toe the line of being so premium that they're too expensive for the average person to consider. But paired with TCL's budget-friendly expertise, they could make a wicked pairing come 2027.

SEE ALSO: 4 coolest TVs at CES 2026 are from Samsung, LG, and TCL and feature wildly different tech New TVs announced at CES 2026

CES 2026 introduced a number of new TVs from the top TV brands, ranging from new and improved OLED and QLED models to first shots at RGB TVs. Upcoming 2026 models include the LG W6 Wallpaper OLED, Samsung Micro RGB, Hisense UR9 RGB, and Amazon Ember Artline QLED. This guide will be updated accordingly as each model officially becomes available for public purchase (and as long as their sizing options include 65 inches). Most CES-announced TVs are typically out by April of that year.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you remember your childhood games.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Wallop

• Green: Collectible

• Blue: Defunct

• Purple: Toss this

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Hit

• Green: Sports Memorabilia

• Blue: Former NHL Teams, In Singular Form

• Purple: Ends in a Synonym For Throw

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #488 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Hit - DECK, PUNCH, SLUG, STRIKE

• Sports Memorabilia - AUTOGRAPH, JERSEY, POSTER, TRADING CARD

• Former NHL Teams, In Singular Form - COYOTE, NORDIQUE, THRASHER, WHALER

• Ends in a Synonym For Throw - BLOB, SHUFFLING, SURPASS, WOODCHUCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 24, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 24, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 24 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 24 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this orange space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this green space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 24 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (21): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

TL;DR: Live stream Kalinskaya vs. Swiatek in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third round of the 2026 Australian Open includes some huge games between top stars, including Kalinskaya vs. Swiatek.

Iga Swiatek is obviously the favorite here, but she hasn't performed particularly well in this tournament over the course of her illustrious career. Anna Kalinskaya made the quarter finals of this tournament back in 2024, so she'll go into this game believing that she can progress.

If you want to watch Kalinskaya vs. Swiatek in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Kalinskaya vs. Swiatek for free

Kalinskaya vs. Swiatek in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

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

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Kalinskaya vs. Swiatek without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

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TL;DR: Live stream Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third round of the 2026 Australian Open showcases some really interesting matchups and storylines, including Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic. Of course, all eyes will be on the Serbian legend. Can he wind back the clock and go all the way again? Or is this the last time Melbourne will see Novak?

If you want to watch Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic for free

Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes 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 Van De Sandschlup vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

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 hint

Alcohol.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

ETHYL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

On top.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ABOVE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Dangerous.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RISKY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To contradict.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BELIE

Final Hurdle hint

A horseback competition.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

JOUST

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're fashionable.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 24, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Fighter necessities

• Green: Final showdown

• Blue: Shirt features

• Purple: White and fluffy

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Gear for a boxer

• Green: Championship

• Blue: Kinds of necklines

• Purple: Snow ___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #958 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Gear for a boxer: GLOVES, MOUTHGUARD, ROBE, SHORTS

• Championship: AWARD, CROWN, CUP, TITLE

• Kinds of necklines: BOAT, CREW, HALTER, SCOOP

• Snow ___: CONE, GLOBE, LEOPARD, PEA

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 24, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an art connoisseur.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 24, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 24, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A work of art

The words are related to art.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe iconic artworks.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Famous Painting.

NYT Strands word list for January 24

• Famous Painting

• Night

• Starry

• Lilies

• Party

• Water

• Boating

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love beach diving.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 24, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 24, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An edge.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter F appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CLIFF

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 24, 2026

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Wordle.

It's day six of the lunar cycle, and the Moon is well in our view now. There's plenty to spot on its surface, so what can you see when you look up?

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Jan. 24, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 32% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Don't have any visual aids? Not a problem. Without, you'll still be able to see the Crisum, Serenitatis and Fecunditatis mares. If you have binoculars you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater and the Posidonius Crater. If you have a telescope, you can also see the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon’s phases are part of a repeating lunar cycle that lasts roughly 29 and a half days, according to NASA. This is the length of time it takes the Moon to orbit Earth once. During this time, the Moon moves through eight separate stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward Earth, how much of it we see lit up changes as its position shifts around the planet. This changing angle of sunlight is what causes the Moon to look fully illuminated, partly lit, or nearly invisible at different times. The eight phases in the lunar cycle are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

SAVE $350: As of Jan. 23, get the Bluetti AC180 Portable Power Station for $449, down from its usual price of $799. That's a discount of 44% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti AC180 Portable Power Station $449 at Amazon
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A portable power station could be one of the most important purchases you ever make, especially if you find yourself staring down a huge winter storm (like this weekend!). If being prepared for situations where you lose electricity is important to you, you might want to seize this opportunity for being ready for the next time a disaster strikes.

As of Jan. 23, get the Bluetti AC180 Portable Power Station for $449, down from its usual price of $799. That's $350 off and a discount of 44%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Get the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station for nearly half price

This powerhouse packs a 1152Wh LiFePO4 battery to help you charge up all your stuff. It itself can be juiced back up to full capacity in just an hour as well, so you won't be caught waiting too long to use it again when needed. It has an 1800W output and a massive 11 outlets to use as well, so you don't have to swap out items and wait for them to charge. Use the optional solar charge controller and get up to 500W as well when needed.

All of that makes this portable power station a good option for going off-grid, or just powering everything you need if you happen to lose power in, say, a huge winter storm. It's a good idea to have on hand even if you don't need it too, though. So it's a good idea to get it while it's hot, so to speak, and lock yours in before it's gone.

Although they entered the mainstream about 20 years ago, electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for a long time.