IT General

"I make tech into culture," reads Ian Bellinger's TikTok and Instagram bios. It's a claim that's hard to refute after seeing just how far-reaching the Atlanta-based techfluencer's posts go. His feed is filled with trendy gadget reviews, sleek cars, and carefully edited videos meant to grab your attention.

Bellinger, also known as @tussalty, knows that technology culture is about more than gadgets, which is why you won't just find him hyping up new tech on your TikTok FYP. You can also catch him vlogging his multiple home renovations to his YouTube followers, sharing aesthetic lifestyle posts on Threads and Instagram, and streaming to Twitch. His fans care just as much about his reviews of exoskeleton legs and overpowered phones as they do about his pets and their raw diet — something you rarely see in the fast-paced world of tech news.

He may be a digital Renaissance man, but technology TikTok is still Bellinger's bread and butter, and he has a fast-growing audience of 1.5 million followers.

In a TikTok with over 1.6 million views, an ecstatic bespectacled woman poses for a hopecore edit with some white high-cut briefs, her last clean pair of underwear. The top comment under the clip reads, "I was weirded out but then I realised it was grace."

That would be Grace Reiter (@reitergrace), and indeed, no one commits to an odd bit as hard as her. The 25-year-old New York comedian, podcaster, and actress is one of the gutsily goofy personalities of the short-form video era.

Reiter's comedy is a specific flavor of shock-absurdism, often by way of physical stunts, body humor, and candid confessions accompanied by a jarringly icy stare. She's shameless in a good way, which feels special on an internet where many strive to present their most sanitized, inoffensive selves.

"Honestly, it comes from a place of connection or reassurance," Reiter tells Mashable of her comedy. "Like, 'Is this OK? … Do you guys think like this?' And usually the answer is, yeah, I think like that. And yeah, I do that gross thing too."

"Grace videos" have practically become their own genre on TikTok, where Reiter has over 3.9 million followers. Another 1.3 million fans keep up with her across YouTube and Instagram.

Reiter grew up watching a lot of YouTube videos, particularly parody songs. She was intrigued that all of the YouTubers she watched were self-made, she says: "Just people making shit 'cause they can."

In that same spirit, Reiter made a Hunger Games parody with friends last year. It's racked up over 11 million views to date, and she's teased a Twilight version.

Also in 2025, Reiter nabbed roles in Tim Robinson's hit HBO series The Chair Company and an off-Broadway parody of The Parent Trap called Ginger Twinsies. The latter is her proudest recent accomplishment, she says, because "I used to believe I had stage fright."

What's next for Reiter? "Five more parody movies. Maybe some real ones sprinkled in there. Become a pop star. Ride a horse. Going to Disney World with my sister …. Be on Dancing with the Stars. Wear a mocap suit for a video game. Read more books. Lose my virginity. Just the normal stuff," she says. Stay tuned.

You might know Gigi Bello better as Eloise’s mom. No, she’s not a mommy vlogger — Eloise is her sourdough starter’s name. Bello is 28 and based in New York, where she works her day job as a senior tax analyst. On any given day, you’re likely to find Bello cramming chili crisp and green onions into unwieldy dough or slapping the hell out of homemade butter. And you’ll definitely catch her throwing a pinch of flaky sea salt over her shoulder into the no-man’s-land behind her oven and on top of her cabinets.

Bello's signature is enjoyable chaos. She has a devoted following of 3.3 million on TikTok, where people have begged to see said cabinet tops and talk about Eloise as if she really were Bello’s daughter. Comfort content lives, and Bello is one of its master chefs. "I just take things day by day and kind of roll with whatever I’m into at the moment," Bello tells Mashable of her future plans. "I don’t plan much — it’s more about what I’m interested in or passionate about right then that I decide to share. Probably has a lot to do with my ADHD too, but I’m working on it. I really want to get more creative, whether it’s with Eloise or other fun projects. There’s so many hobbies I haven’t even tried yet, and I’m excited to mess around, learn new things, and fail a bit — because nothing’s perfect, and honestly, that’s the fun part."

One of the internet's go-to tech influencers, Frank McShan has become synonymous with unpacking (and understanding) the latest in consumer devices.

The 25-year-old, Massachusetts-raised content creator joined TikTok in 2019, posting iPhone tricks and general tech 101 videos, and saw massive momentum over a few short years. Now, he has 2.2 million TikTok followers, who follow him for first looks at major tech releases, especially new gadgets from Apple and competitors like Samsung. McShan has also interviewed Apple CEO Tim Cook and run paid partnerships with tech giants like Adobe and Spotify. McShan has also written for MacRumors since 2020.

Luke Magnus Nicolson, more popularly known as Francis Bourgeois, is a trainspotter. But to millions on TikTok, he's the trainspotter. Popularly dubbed "the Train Guy," the engineering student and content creator went viral in 2021 for mounting a GoPro to his forehead when observing trains, capturing his gleeful reactions through a comically distorted fisheye lens.

Such shots have since become a staple of his videos, in which he shares both facts and enthusiasm about trains. Though trainspotting is a relatively niche hobby, Francis' infectious joy and unbridled passion for locomotives have earned him a strong following. The English creator has accumulated 3.3 million followers on TikTok, 2.6 million on Instagram, and 196,000 subscribers on YouTube. When he bought his own train in 2025, the TikTok announcement video saw 12 million views alone.

Francis has also brought his love of trains to television, presenting Channel 4 series Mission to Space and the celebrity-filled Trainspotting With Francis Bourgeois, as well as Francis Bourgeois and Chris Harris: We Saved a Train on Discovery+. Most prestigiously, he replaced Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as host of motoring series The Grand Tour, alongside YouTube Throttle House hosts Thomas Holland and James Engelsman. He's also caught Gucci's eye, modeling in a collaborative campaign with North Face, and he's published a book, The Trainspotter's Notebook, through Penguin.

Emma Chamberlain first gained a following on YouTube as a vlogger in 2017, posting relatable coming-of-age lifestyle videos. Nearly a decade later, the 24-year-old is now one of the most well-known digital influencers, holding 14.3 million followers on Instagram and 12 million subscribers on YouTube.

Chamberlain is a podcaster, model, and business owner. She hosts a highly rated podcast called anything goes, in which she shares “whatever is on her mind” every week.

She’s also known as a fashion icon, having appeared on covers for Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. She has also been a regular host at the Met Gala since 2021, interviewing celebrities on the red carpet.

Chamberlain does it all and more: In addition to being a household name, she’s also the owner of Chamberlain Coffee, which she launched in 2019. In July 2025, Chamberlain partnered with Pinterest to launch a limited-release flavor called “Sea Salt Toffee Flavored Blend,” marking the first time that Pinterest launched a co-branded product.

Earlier that year, Chamberlain was announced as one of the cast members of the horror film Forbidden Fruits, her acting debut and first role in a feature film. The film is scheduled to be released in the US on March 27, 2026, so we can expect to see her on the big screen soon.

Chamberlain has already had an eventful start to 2026: in February, she modeled for Stuart Weitzman for their spring Vinnie Sculptural collection. She was also on the cover for the February issue of Vogue Czechoslovakia.

While Chamberlain may have her hands full with her podcast, fashion, and acting endeavors, she hasn’t forgotten to leave some room for coffee. This March, she told Jimmy Fallon that she plans on opening the first standalone Chamberlain coffee location in Venice, California, during the spring.

Chamberlain previously opened a grab-and-go style location in Westfield Century City last January, according to KTLA. "This next one, I think, is really the dream," she told Fallon.

We’ll take a sip to that in 2026, Emma!

Influencer Emilie Kiser, 27, first rose to TikTok fame in the early 2020s through relatable parenting and lifestyle videos that made viewers feel like they were hearing from a friend.

In those early days, while her platform was still growing, Kiser posted Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos, makeup and hair tutorials, and daily lifestyle content. Now one of the most recognizable "momfluencers" on the internet, Kiser has 5.1 million followers on TikTok (@emiliekiser) and 2 million followers on Instagram (@emiliekiser).

In 2025, tragedy struck when Kiser's three-year-old son, Trigg, passed away following a pool accident at their home in Arizona. Four months after his tragic death, Kiser broke her silence on social media with a moving tribute to Trigg.

"Loss of this magnitude feels impossible to put into words," she wrote. She thanked her audience for the kind, supportive messages and the outpouring of love for her family. "One of the hardest lessons I carry is that a permanent pool fence could have saved his life, and it's something I will never overlook again. I hope amidst this pain, Trigg's story will help prevent other children and families from suffering the same loss."

In October 2025, Kiser explained that her followers were only seeing a "small sliver" of her life as she is "very much grieving," and stated she would no longer post content featuring her children. “I’m not sharing my kids anymore. Therefore, I’m not sharing Teddy and I’m not sharing Trigg.” She added: “I’m doing my best and I’m showing a very small portion because I’m not ready to share other things. I’m not ready to talk about other things and that is OK.”

Since then, Kiser has used her platform to encourage practical water safety measures for parents, such as installing pool fences, multiple safety barriers between water and children, encouraging swimming lessons for children, and stressing the importance of constant supervision of children. By sharing Trigg's story to bring greater awareness to pool safety, Kiser ensures that his life continues to have an impact.

One of the biggest streamers in the game, Duke Dennis commands a huge, loyal audience online. Alongside AMP collective members Kai Cenat and Fanum, the 32-year-old content creator has built a colossal following — we're talking 7 million YouTube subscribers across three channels (Duke Dennis, Duke Dennis Gaming, and DukeDennis LIVE). He also has 6.9 million TikTok followers, 5.2 million Instagram followers, and 3.4 million Twitch followers, bringing him close to 23 million in audience reach.

Dennis built his career on a foundation of NBA 2K streaming and has expanded his highly popular gaming content to embrace high-profile collaborations, his DeeBlock merch line, and music releases. 2025 was a massive year for Dennis, who appeared in Cenat and iShowSpeed's celebrity-filled Super Bowl LIX Flag Football Game. The year also saw Ice Cube praising Dennis' style in AMP's "Freshman Cypher," the group's freestyle rap performance, during Cenat's award-winning Mafiathon 3 explosion. He also captained during Dream Con 2025, and partook in a large-scale hide-and-seek game that went all wrong. In 2026, Dennis is shaking up his gaming chair setting and leaning into the wild world of travel vlogging.

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

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

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

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

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

Now, that would be almost impossible.

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

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

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

However, Rowe always keeps her primary platforms in mind.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Docker is one of my favorite things about Linux. I like Docker because it's based around open-source containers, efficient for my needs, and most containers are, in my experience, simple to work with.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to watch Svitolina vs. Kostyuk for free

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Connect to France TV

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

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to watch Andreeva vs. Cirstea for free

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Connect to France TV

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

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

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

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

Mostly, the scientists heard nothing. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's how to purchase tickets.

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