IT General

The new Predator film is so close, we can almost taste it, and while we’re all excited about its arrival, there’s been very little information about what to expect. The deets have been closely guarded and purposely kept secret for a huge reason. Other than a simple plot synopsis, all we’ve known is who is starring in the lead role—until now. For the first time ever in the franchise, you’ll be asked to sympathize with these mandible-mouthed beasts.

Are you looking for the easiest way to launch a file server for either internal or external access? Copyparty is what you’ve been looking for. With the ability to launch with zero configuration, Copyparty gets you a file server up and running in seconds.

If you've ever changed the keyboard on your Android phone, you probably went with one from Google, Microsoft, or Samsung. But there are many lesser-known keyboards that attempt to reinvent the whole typing experience on a smartphone. Are they actually usable? I tested some of the oddest to find out.

Windows is the de facto operating system, which means there are a lot of VPN options available for you. But not all of these options are great, or even safe. These VPNs are safe and effective—and one will be perfect for you.

Diane Keaton’s recent passing was a great loss. Young or old, she had a warm presence in the many comedies and romances she starred in over the years. From the coziest of comfort pictures to the most revered award-winning films, Keaton left behind a massive filmography, working with some of the top talents in acting and directing.

Among all the living directors we have today, Yorgos Lanthimos is definitely one of the weirdest. His films never feel conventional, always embracing the absurd, surreal, and often dizzying aspects of how bizarre humanity can get. He’s also made plenty of Oscar-winning films, making it impossible to ignore his odd pictures.

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems on the Internet. In fact, more than 43 percent of all websites run on WordPress. This makes the latest attack on WordPress sites by a new threat actor all the more concerning.

According to a new report from the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), a new threat actor codenamed UNC5142 has been successfully hacking into WordPress sites and using a brand new technique to spread malware across the web. UNC5142, according to the report, would find vulnerable WordPress websites often using flawed WordPress themes, plugins, or databases.

SEE ALSO: Notorious hacker group doxxes ICE and FBI officials in new leak, report says

The targeted WordPress sites would be infected with a CLEARSHORT, multi-stage JavaScript downloader that distributes the malware. The threat group would then deploy a new technique dubbed "EtherHiding," which is enabled by CLEARSHORT.

Google describes EtherHiding as "a technique used to obscure malicious code or data by placing it on a public blockchain, such as the BNB Smart Chain." This use of blockchain to spread malicious code is unique and makes stopping the spread of malware all the more difficult.

The smart contract containing the code on the blockchain would then call up a CLEARSHORT landing page, often hosted on a Cloudflare dev page, that utilizes a ClickFix social engineering tactic. This tactic tricks the website visitor into running malicious commands on their computer via the Windows Run dialog or Mac's Terminal app.

UNC5142's attacks are often financially motivated, according to Google. GTIG says it has been tracking UNC5142 since 2023. However, Google reports that UNC5142 suddenly stopped all activity in July 2025.

This could mean that this new threat actor group, which has been successfully carrying out its malware campaigns, just decided to call it quits. Or it could mean that the threat actor has altered its techniques, successfully obscuring its latest actions, and is still hacking into vulnerable websites today.

Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric vehicles (EVs) have come and gone in the U.S. Many struggled due to low demand, bad marketing, high prices, or weak execution in design and production.

We’ve officially hit the midway point of the month, but that doesn’t mean the content release schedules are slowing down. This week, we’re taking a deep-dive into true crime with the premiere of documentaries and adaptations, and we’ll also explore new seasons of Loot and The Diplomat. There’s even a Roald Dahl animated film, a must-see Martin Scorsese documentary cinephiles will love, and a legacy sequel film to an iconic 1997 slasher franchise.

This week, Android Auto dropped old phone support, LineageOS 23 is here, and Google added “Recovery Contacts” to Gmail. Plus, check out the suspicious OnePlus update and Samsung's XR Headset reveal.

Soundbars are pretty much a must-have for a lot of home entertainment systems these days. They give you a huge upgrade from the often wimpy, built-in speakers in modern TVs. For most people, the soundbar journey is super simple: plug it in, and bam, you've got instantly better sound. But tucked away beneath the sleek surface of these audio gadgets is a treasure trove of advanced features and functions that usually just go unnoticed, or people totally misunderstand them.

Imagine if you could still see the time, your last text, or keep reading your book when your phone’s battery died. What if your phone had a second, always-on screen just for that? The YotaPhone was that weird phone.

Configuring a text editor is not everyone's idea of fun. But you're here, and you're probably looking for a new project. Doom makes the Emacs on-ramp much easier, and for the tinkerer, Emacs has endless potential. I have four reasons why Doom Emacs should be your next project.

I think The Simpsons is one of the best shows ever made, animated or otherwise. The adventures of the Springfield residents never cease to make me laugh, and I'm often streaming random episodes on Disney+ because it's so convenient, even though I own all the DVD box sets.

The Mophie Powerstation Wireless 5K Slim with Stand power bank looks sleek and simple. Surprisingly, it still packs a few nice features, making it a must-have battery backup, as long as you can stomach its high price.

I was once a harsh critic of people who worked out with their AirPods. Not only did it look awkward, but the buds themselves provided no on-ear stability, making them more of a liability than an asset. Then the AirPods Pro came out…and I still thought the same thing. That was, until I actually exercised with them. 

Apple’s noise-cancelling buds quickly became a workout favorite. Then the AirPods Pro 2 dropped and turned into my go-to buds for a long stretch (up to eight months), thanks to their dynamic sound, noteworthy ANC, and secure fit via in-ear design with silicone tips. The combination of flawless voice activation and lightweight wearability with sweat/water resistance (IPX4) also made them favorable for exercising.

Now that the AirPods Pro 3 have launched with advanced health features and a new ergonomic design, it would seem a safe bet that I would make them my next gym partner. But don’t jump to that conclusion just yet. 

Are the AirPods Pro 3 my newest go-to workout earbuds? Keep reading to find out. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

I’ve been digging the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for the past six months, and I consider them the best earbuds for working out overall. Not everything hits its mark (ANC is disappointing). Still, the Powerbeats Pro 2 meet the criteria that matter most in the sub-category: audio quality, battery life, and serviceability. 

Since the AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 share identical features and specs, I expected nothing but greatness from Apple’s buds during workouts. This turned out to be mostly true. Some issues were present, and they could be deal-breakers, depending on your needs.

Here are my thoughts on using the AirPods Pro 3 for working out.

Apple’s most optimized fitness buds ever

Let’s get to the AirPods Pro 3’s killer feature: heart rate monitoring. It is more effective than any other pair of earbuds with HRM, including the Powerbeats Pro 2. The optical sensors near the tip shine an infrared light that pulses 256 times a second to examine blood flow in your ears. Apple also enhanced its algorithms to capture data as accurately as possible. 

I compared the readings between my AirPods Pro 3 (via Fitness app) and Fitbit Charge 6, which has optical sensors to measure blood flow on the wrist, and was surprised by how close the results were. Even the HRM sensors on a treadmill tracked BPM (beats per minute) close to the AirPods Pro 3. 

My AirPods Pro and Fitbit Charge 6 showed similar heart rate readings. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

HRM isn’t the only thing that makes the AirPods Pro 3 ideal for workouts. IP57 dust and water resistance protect the buds and charging case from excessive moisture damage. The touch sensors on the stems allow you to easily adjust volume with swipe gestures. “Hey Siri” voice activation places functionality at the tip of your tongue; it was so convenient to answer calls and swap out playlists without using my hands.

Apple’s listening modes give the AirPods Pro 3 a huge advantage over other sports buds. Transparency mode raises ambient awareness at an incredibly high level. I could hear pedestrians and vehicles loudly and clearly when running outside. Adaptive Audio automatically adjusts to your surroundings by blending ANC and Transparency modes for optimal listening. Personalized Volume does the same and learns from your listening habits to adjust volume settings over time. Lastly, Conversation Awareness lowers media volume and enhances the voices in front of you.

A custom fit with compromised comfort

These are the most fit-friendly AirPods ever. The wider sound port occupies the concha and molds perfectly to your ear. Apple’s silicone tips form a tight seal when properly adjusted, and they have decent sweat absorption to minimize slippage.

These are designed to be the best-fitting AirPods yet. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

At first, I was petrified of breaking these buds on the treadmill, especially after seeing their iFixit repairability score of an abysmal 0/10. Nonetheless, I calmed down the more I exercised with them. The AirPods Pro 3 never fell out during runs or heavy lateral exercises (e.g., side-to-side lunges).

Unfortunately, the updated design affects comfort. Since the sound port sticks out more, it presses up against the canal and concha. My ears felt fatigued after three hours of wear. Anyone with a high pain threshold should get about five hours of use before experiencing discomfort. 

Energy-fueled sound

Audio on the AirPods Pro 3 is livelier than their predecessor. Apple updated its acoustic architecture to bring deeper bass response and extra clarity to your ears. The low end is better controlled and more impactful. It’s exactly what you want from a fitness standpoint. In addition, the adaptive EQ does an outstanding job of fine-tuning sound in real time.

Personalized Spatial Audio might be the most underrated fitness feature. I used it several times when watching exercise videos and enjoyed the extra layer of realism it delivered. Instructors sounded prominent over ambient noise and instrumentals; this gave personal trainer vibes. Spatial audio is more suited for Apple Music and creates an immersive soundscape for Dolby Atmos tracks. Drums and synths were robust, while treble remained warm and crisp. 

Android users look elsewhere

I previously tested the AirPods Pro 3 as an Android user, and things didn’t go so smoothly. They are not optimized for use with Google’s mobile operating system. Beats headphones and earbuds are, but the AirPods Pro 3 run on the H2 processor instead of Beats’ proprietary chipset, which is designed to work seamlessly with iOS/macOS and Android. 

That being the case, Android users lose out on all the AirPods Pro 3’s biggest features, including HRM, spatial audio, and voice assistance. 

Bottom Line

The AirPods Pro 3 are excellent workout buds that produce series-leading performance across all verticals. More testing is required to determine whether they’re a better fitness companion than the Powerbeats Pro 2. What I will tell you is that the AirPods Pro 3’s superior heart rate monitoring, along with the addition of Apple’s latest listening modes, has them in a front-runner spot right now.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 $249 at Amazon
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Vacuums haven't exactly been the picture of "buy it for life" since they stopped making 'em like the Electrolux canister clunker that my grandma used in the '70s — and that my mom still uses to this day for certain situations.

So, why don't vacuums last as long anymore? Their designs and capabilities are ever-evolving, but the materials used to make them aren't keeping up with the innovation, it seems. To be fair, product quality diminishing over time isn't strictly a vacuum thing — blame the larger manufacturing shift to less durable materials, which are quicker and cheaper to churn out (i.e., crappy plastic). Likewise, the theory of planned obsolescence that we associate with our smartphones can be applied to vacuums, too, especially cordless stick vacuums and robot vacuums.

All this made me wonder: How long should a vacuum last in 2025?

SEE ALSO: The best way to make your Dyson stick vacuum last? Clean it regularly. How long do corded vacuums last?

The average lifespan of a corded vacuum is generally between eight and 10 years. (For context, Dyson's limited warranty covers corded vacuums for five years.) However, maintenance and normal wear and tear are all factors in longevity. If you slam your vacuum into walls while cleaning or let gunk cake up its internal parts for a year, then yeah, it probably won't be at peak performance for long.

Corded vacuums generally last longer than cordless vacuums because they're not dependent on as many electrical components. With no waning battery to worry about, corded vacuums get full power streamlined from an outlet for every single use. Their inherently larger physical build also allows for a larger filter that can withstand more dust buildup before clogging, and often, a larger cleaning head that allows larger debris to pass through and avoid blockages.

SEE ALSO: Will the laser-equipped Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai solve Dyson's robot vacuum problem?

Do corded vacuums look as cute as a sleek cordless stick vacuum? No, but "buy it for life" shoppers on Reddit can't be asked to care about chicness if they're replacing their vacuum every few years. Rather, users are sold on heavy duty upright and canister vacuum cleaners — brands like Miele, Sebo, and Numatic are recommended a lot. My colleague Samantha Mangino went on this exact quest and settled on the Miele Classic C1 Turbo after seeing countless Reddit users clock it as the best vacuum cleaner that'll last.

Unfortunately, some vacuum brands aren't as invested in corded vacuums anymore. Dyson hasn't made a new corded vacuum since 2018, when it officially announced that the focus would be on cordless technology going forward.

How long do cordless vacuums last?

The average lifespan for a cordless vacuum is generally between two and five years. For context, Dyson's limited warranty on cordless vacuums is good for two years, while Shark's limited warranty covers between one and two years (depending on the model you have). I'm well into year three with my Dyson V12 Detect Slim and haven't experienced a single functional blip yet.

Dyson aims for at least five years, a far cry from the Electrolux canister vacuums of old. And that's Dyson — a brand famed for its engineering.

Dyson vacuums are actually tested for durability and longevity before they even hit the market. "Every Dyson vacuum goes through the equivalent of five years (and sometimes even longer) abusive and real-life representative testing before being brought to market," Brian Hu, Head of Electronics at Dyson, told Mashable. "This includes being pushed and pulled over 1000km of flooring, running the motors inside the machines for over 20,000 hours as well as hitting, slapping, and throwing vacuum cleaners down the stairs. If a machine breaks in this process, we take it back to the labs and re-engineer the vacuum until it doesn’t break."

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both

But in general, rechargeable cordless vacuums typically don't last as long as corded vacuums because, well, they have to be charged all the time. Battery degradation is a real thing that stems from relentless plugging in and unplugging, as well as the fact that they're the sole power source for the motor. Motor or battery burnout isn't a matter of if, but when.

Many newer cordless stick vacuums also have extra technological features like screens, smart sensors, or lasers, if you're Dyson. Those create far more opportunities for crapping out, and you just can't expect the same level of durability that you would from a husky corded vacuum that relies on none of that stuff.

There are ways to preserve the life of your cordless stick vacuum, though. To keep the motor and brushroll in tip-top shape for as long as possible, ensure that you're inspecting cleaning heads and attachments for stuck debris or gunk buildup on a regular basis. While you're in there, take a second to rinse out the filter — a clogged filter is the most common cause of loss of suction. A word to the wise: Let that filter dry completely and then some before clicking it back into the vacuum. Wet filters can cause electrical damage to vacuum, as one Reddit user learned from their Dyson.

How long do robot vacuums last?

The average lifespan of a robot vacuum is estimated to be between three and six years. For context, iRobot's limited warranty and Roborock's limited warranty last for only one year.

Robot vacuums suffer the same fate as cordless vacuums in that they're battery-powered. They charge on their docks 24/7 when they're not in use, and some people believe keeping the vacuum constantly charged to 100 percent battery is detrimental to the battery's health. Others are confident that any relatively new device with a lithium-ion battery has built-in protection against overcharging. Either way, robot vacuum batteries will probably get worse over time, just like any other battery.

As the most automated type of vacuum, robotic vacuum cleaners are also internally decked out with far more technological programs than an upright vacuum: smart mapping done via lasers or cameras, AI-powered small obstacle avoidance, self-docking, and self-cleaning mechanisms — if any of these stop working, the robot vacuum would become borderline unusable. App-connected robot vacuums (most of them nowadays) often perform software updates over WiFi, but there's a chance that simply making the system more laggy after a few years.

SEE ALSO: How to choose a robot vacuum in 2025: Don't buy one before considering these features

But it's important to remember that far fewer people have even owned their robot vacuum for as long as others have owned any type of upright vacuum — so anecdotally, we just have less evidence showing how long most robot vacuums last. This is especially true for the super high-end robot vacs that just came to the scene within the past two years. They're either going to last longer than old robot vacuums because they have more advanced parts, or they're going to die sooner than a basic, cheap robot vacuum would because they're exerting so much more power. Only time will tell.

As always, routine maintenance of your robot vacuum can help it to work for longer. Keep the wheels and brush rolls spinning properly by flipping the vac over to cut out any wrapped hair and replace the filter as often as the brand recommends. Though self-emptying robot vacuums deal with their own dustbins on a daily scale, you should still take a second to manually wipe out the dust bin ports. On the subject of docks, robot vacuum and mop combos that self-wash and dry their own mopping pads require de-gunking of the tray where the mopping pads live — it gets really gross after a few weeks. Letting that area get soggy and mildew-y could wreak some real havoc on the whole mopping mechanism in the long run.

To sum up my research, modern cleaning machines, particularly cordless stick vacuums and robot vacuums, do seem to die more quickly than their corded ancestors. In general, paying more for a premium product will usually result in a longer lifespan, as will regular cleaning and maintenance. (Yes, you can and should clean your vacuum.)

Apple's iPhone 17 has finally caught up with the Pro models in almost every way that users will notice. It has a camera that's almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Battery life is excellent. The display is so much smoother and nicer than before, thanks to Apple's 120Hz ProMotion tech.

It's the iPhone that makes the most sense for most people.

So, why am I not excited?

Despite all these important upgrades, Apple is still giving us a tough choice between the iPhone 17 and the new iPhone Air, which is downright sexy, an adjective rarely used to describe handsets. Yes, the Air has shorter battery life and lacks an ultra-wide camera, but it's nicer, cooler, and thinner, while the iPhone 17 looks pretty much the same as last year's iPhone 16.

Apple iPhone 17: Price and specs Two cameras! Take that, iPhone Air! Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple's base iPhone sometimes feels like a lot of compromises, which were necessary to avoid cannibalizing the sales of the more expensive Pro phones.

This year, it's the opposite: It feels like Apple decided to give the iPhone 17 most of the goodies that are important to most people. Besides the telephoto camera, the rest of the iPhone 17 Pro's exclusives are fairly exotic, such as a vapor chamber cooling system and RAW video support. In that sense, it's easily the most compelling standard iPhone in years.

Here are the key specs for the iPhone 17:

• Display: 6.3-inch, Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Design: Aluminum frame with Ceramic Shield on front

• Rear cameras: 48-megapixel dual rear camera array with wide and ultra-wide lenses

• Front camera: 18-megapixel selfie camera with Center Stage

• Processor: Apple A19 chip with a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine

• Storage: 256GB or 512GB

• Battery life: Up to 30 hours of video playback

• Software: iOS 26

Apple iPhone 17: Design and display The display is almost as good as the one on the Pro models. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

This review will mention the iPhone Air too many times, as it's impossible to give a verdict on the $799 iPhone 17 without at least considering the iPhone Air. Yes, the iPhone Air costs two hundred bucks more than the iPhone 17, but it's still way closer to it than the iPhone 17 Pro, which costs $400 more.

Starting with the design, there's almost nothing to say about the iPhone 17, as it looks the same as the iPhone 16. That means it has an aluminum frame, a 6.3-inch OLED display with a Dynamic Island up top, two cameras on the back, a standard array of buttons (including the fairly new Camera Control button) on the sides, and a USB-C port on the bottom. The choice of colors is between black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white; Apple sent me a review unit in plain old white.

Technically, the iPhone 17 is ever so slightly inferior when compared to the Pro and Air models. For example, it's the only one that doesn't have a Ceramic Shield on the back. But the most important part, the display, is very similar across all three. The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display that's very bright and also satisfyingly smooth thanks to Apple's ProMotion tech. The inclusion of ProMotion also gave the iPhone 17 some tricks previously reserved for Pro models, such as Always On display and StandBy mode, which is something I (curiously) missed the most on the iPhone 16e.

Apple iPhone 17: Performance and AI Two cameras and a dedicated Camera Control button on the side. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I can't really tell the difference between any of the new iPhones when it comes to performance. They're all blazing fast, period.

Again, the chips that power them aren't quite the same; the iPhone 17 gets the A19 chip, while the Pro and Air get the A19 Pro, the main difference being 5 vs. 6 GPU cores. Apple doesn't say how much RAM these phones have, but we know from teardowns that the iPhone 17 only has 8GB of RAM vs. 12GB on the other new models. None of the differences are noticeable in daily use.

Perhaps more importantly, all three phones now start at 256GB of storage; the iPhone 17 can also be had with double that amount, but the extra storage will cost you $200 more.

As for AI, which Apple endearingly calls "Apple Intelligence," you get a few nifty features such as AI image recognition, smart note rewriting, and simple image generation. Frankly, Apple's take on AI is severely lacking where it matters most, which is when you use Siri. Sure, Siri can now relay your questions to ChatGPT, but on her own, she's just not capable of holding a decent conversation, which is hard to believe.

Apple iPhone 17: Cameras How does it stack against the other phones in the lineup? Pretty well. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I've taken a deeper look at how all of Apple's new iPhone cameras compare, and you can see for yourself the results of my iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro Max camera tests.

Suffice to say that the iPhone 17 has a camera that's almost as good as the one on the Pro models in most scenarios. It also wins versus iPhone Air as it has an ultra-wide camera, which also enables macro photography. It does lack a dedicated telephoto camera, which is a pretty big deal.

SEE ALSO: Camera shootout: I compared iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro Max photos side-by-side Apple iPhone 17: Battery life

Apple's battery life figures for its iPhone lineup can be deceiving. The company rates iPhone 17 as being capable of up to 30 hours video playback, compared to up to 33 hours on the iPhone 17 Pro, and up to 27 hours on the iPhone Air. But the iPhone 16 was only rated for up to 22 hours, meaning that all three new devices are significantly better than Apple's base phone from 2024.

It's easy to get used to more battery life, and I'm sure people will compare the iPhone 17 against the new benchmarks, not old. But still: Apple has vastly improved battery life on all of its phones. The iPhone 17 may not be a two-day phone like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it should definitely last you a full day or even day and a half.

Is the Apple iPhone 17 worth it? Aluminum frame, but no Ceramic Shield on the back. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Absolutely. The iPhone 17 is the most sensible choice for most users. I actually think it compares better with the iPhone 17 Pro, as it offers all of the key features - great camera, beautiful display, 256GB of storage, fast performance, and long battery life — for less money.

The question, however, is whether you'll go for the regular-looking iPhone when you can get the sexier and thinner iPhone Air? My advice: Check them both out in person, then decide. You won't make a mistake either way.

Apple iPhone 17 $829.99 at T-Mobile
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Astronomers say the water that fills Earth's oceans — and the stuff you use to brew your morning cup of coffee or tea — may be older than the sun itself. 

A team of researchers used a giant Chilean telescope, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, to make an unprecedented detection of a rare form of so-called "heavy water" in a young star system about 1,300 light-years away in space. It is the first direct evidence of water remaining intact through an interstellar journey, from molecular clouds to the materials that form planets.

The system, V883 Orionis, revealed that the water in its surrounding planet-forming disk dates back long before the star, surviving the violence of the star's own birth. 

This discovery suggests that much of the water in our own solar system could have come from billions-of-years-old ices, the researchers said. 

"Our detection indisputably demonstrates that the water seen in this planet-forming disk must be older than the central star and formed at the earliest stages of star and planet formation," said Margot Leemker, lead author of the research at the University of Milan, in a statement. "This presents a major breakthrough in understanding … how this water made its way to our solar system, and possibly Earth, through similar processes."

SEE ALSO: An Earth scientist solved a Mars mystery about what dug these weird ditches

If water is hardy enough to survive every stage of star and planet development, then the ingredients for life aren't just created by stars but can be inherited from the cold stretches of space between them. The implications could connect water — and, by extension, the potential for life — across the cosmos. The new study appears in the journal Nature Astronomy. 

The key to the team's findings rests on the detection of a rare form of "heavy water," known as doubly deuterated water, which contains two atoms of deuterium, a heavier version of hydrogen. Scientists measured how much of the molecule exists in V883 Orionis' disk compared to normal water and singly deuterated water. If the water were destroyed and later reformed in the disk, its doubly deuterated water levels would be low, according to the study. 

But the disk contains a high amount of it, similar to the levels seen in extremely young developing stars and even in comets from our own solar system. That's a compelling sign that the ice in this disk is inherited rather than new.

In other words, the same molecules of water that froze onto dust in an ancient interstellar cloud are still present in the disk that will one day form planets. The researchers believe this could link the chemistry of distant deep space to the familiar water on Earth, perhaps through icy bodies delivering water to planets.

While some scientists believe primitive Earth vented gases 4.5 billion years ago that eventually created an atmosphere allowing rain to fall and pool into oceans, many think the large bodies of water formed because comets and icy rocks brought water to it through collisions — or some combination of the two.

"Until now, we weren’t sure if most of the water in comets and planets formed fresh in young disks like V883 Ori, or [originated] from ancient interstellar clouds," said John Tobin, a co-author from the National Science Foundation, in a statement. 

The study may also help explain how origins-of-life ingredients behave in these environments. In the V883 Orionis disk, those chemicals seem like they've been tainted by heat or radiation. The water, on the other hand, appears pristine. This contrast might shed light on why water is such a good carrier of life's raw materials, remaining stable, even in hostile conditions that would destroy other molecules.

Every time a TV show dramatizes a grisly true crime story, it faces a dilemma. Is it possible to retell a tragedy without exploiting the victims and their families? Not only that, but can you recreate these deaths without sensationalizing, or even glorifying, the killer responsible?

These questions have created a genre that's at war with itself, one that's aware of both its ethical dubiousness and the fact that viewers will gobble it up to sate their true crime fascination. This October has offered up two shows that take extremely different approaches to solving this quandary: Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Peacock's Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.

SEE ALSO: Who was Ed Gein? The new Netflix 'Monster' was the inspiration for 'Psycho' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

The former continues the formula that Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan established in other installments of their Monster anthology series: a mix of salacious reenactments and ham-fisted commentary about America's fascination with true crime. The latter, though, takes a much more careful tack to the question of true crime media as inherently exploitative, forgoing onscreen murders entirely in favor of a victim-centric approach.

Devil in Disguise and The Ed Gein Story differ when it comes to onscreen violence. Michael Chernus in "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy." Credit: Brooke Palmer / Peacock

The Ed Gein Story offers exactly what viewers have come to expect from a Murphy and Brennan true crime project, which is to say that it does not shy away from onscreen violence. Bloody chainsaw massacres and hammer torture are among the atrocities on display, but they're far from the only ones. The Ed Gein Story also adds more unsavory details, including a scene of Gein (Charlie Hunnam) engaging in necrophilia. (Although there was real-life speculation that Gein was a necrophiliac, Gein himself denied these charges.) The result is a parade of graphic atrocities conjured up for cheap shock value, upsetting and exhausting in equal measure.

While the violence in The Ed Gein Story is as in-your-face as can be, Devil in Disguise avoids showing any of Gacy's murders in the first place. Gacy (Michael Chernus) will occasionally describe his actions, but the actual images of his crimes loom offscreen. The effect is twofold: On the one hand, the show is respecting Gacy's victims by not recreating their deaths. On the other, the implied violence leaves audiences to imagine what befell Gacy's victims, and the effect is more chilling than any onscreen rehashing of victims' trauma.

SEE ALSO: Glenda Cleveland tried to stop Jeffrey Dahmer. What happened to her and the cops who ignored her

Instead of showcasing Gacy's murders, Devil in Disguise turns the spotlight on his victims, hoping to flesh out knowledge of their lives beyond just their deaths. Most episodes are named after these young men and feature flashbacks leading up to their meeting with Gacy. Episode 2, "Johnny," centers on John Szyc (Levi Shelton), a gay high schooler trying to figure out how to come out to his parents. Episode 5, "Billy and Dale," highlights two Chicago sex workers (Brayden Raqueño and Max Mattern).

There are a variety of stories on display, but for the police investigating these missing persons cases, they paint every victim with the same brush: "troubled." Due to their queerness, their jobs as sex workers, or their prior run-ins with law enforcement, people like John, Billy, and Dale aren't priorities for police, allowing Gacy to get away with murder for years. Devil in Disguise showcases these prejudices with the same unflinching emphasis that other true crime shows may place on murder scenes.

It's worth noting that the first installment of Monster, Dahmer, attempted a somewhat similar approach to Devil in Disguise. It highlighted police prejudice against Dahmer's (Evan Peters) victims, and Netflix even claimed the series would "give the victims a voice." Yet the show did not consult victims' families at any point before, during, or after production, going so far as to recreate court scenes portraying still-living family members of Dahmer's victims without even the courtesy of a heads-up. The online backlash was severe.

Devil in Disguise and The Ed Gein Story have vastly different opinions of their audiences. Charlie Hunnam in "Monster: The Ed Gein Story." Credit: Netflix

As Devil in Disguise hones in on police prejudice, The Ed Gein Story clumsily tries to make a point of its own: that the people watching are the real monsters.

The series examines not just Gein's crimes, but also how they inspired legendary films like Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs. In doing this, The Ed Gein Story hopes to interrogate American audiences' desire for fictional violence, even as they turn away from real-life atrocities.

"You're the one who can't look away," Gein tells viewers in a fourth-wall break, implicating us in his acts.

Yet The Ed Gein Story's indictment of its own viewers falls flat as the show fails to consider its own place in the true crime ecosystem. It's perfectly content to draw connections between Gein and other pieces of media — including a wildly offensive parallel between Gein and Psycho actor Anthony Perkins (Joey Pollari) — but never looks inward at how it, too, is sensationalizing violence for audience consumption. "How dare you keep watching," The Ed Gein Story scolds viewers, all while Murphy and Brennan prepare to churn out a fourth season of Monster. It's eight episodes of sanctimony without self-awareness.

While The Ed Gein Story loathes its audiences for watching its nastiness (even as it serves up its gore on a human skin platter), Devil in Disguise appeals to audience compassion. The show knows that the Gacy name will inevitably draw viewers, which is why it opts to shed new light on Gacy's victims and their families, as opposed to delivering bloody shocks. Each episode ends with a link to a website that delves into how the issues that made Gacy's victims vulnerable persist today, and what the viewer can do to take action. The site, which is in partnership with GLAAD, Covenant House, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and Equimundo, also offers resources like the Trevor Project Crisis Hotline and an anti-LGBTQ+ bill tracker.

Devil in Disguise is by no means a perfect true crime drama. Occasionally, it falls into the Monster trap of sensationalizing Gacy's story, such as a macabre sequence that juxtaposes him picking up young men with him donning his clown makeup. However, that's the only time Devil in Disguise actually shows any of Gacy's clowning, whereas you know a show like Monster would have leaned far harder into the killer clown angle.

That level of excess has defined true crime dramatizations for years now, but Devil in Disguise suggests a different and much-needed new route forward for the genre: restraint.

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is now streaming on Peacock.