Technology

NASA's Juno spacecraft recently swooped by the most powerful volcano in our solar system, on the most volcanic world known to exist.

The space agency captured detailed views of the over 127-mile (200-kilometer) wide volcano, which has created an expansive lava lake. It's a volcano on Jupiter's moon Io, called Loki Patera. "It's absolutely stunning, stunning imagery," Ashley Davies, a planetary scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory who researches Io, told Mashable earlier this year. Now, the agency has used the imagery to create an animation of what this extreme volcanic environment looks like from the Jovian moon.

It's both a hellish and majestic space scene. At the end of the short clip, you can see how the dominant gas giant Jupiter looms in the distance.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

"There is amazing detail showing these crazy islands embedded in the middle of a potentially magma lake rimmed with hot lava," Scott Bolton, the Juno mission's principal investigator, said in a statement. "The specular reflection our instruments recorded of the lake suggests parts of Io’s surface are as smooth as glass, reminiscent of volcanically created obsidian glass on Earth." (The lava field is likely covered with a smooth or glassy crust.)

Close-up views of Loki Patera, the horseshoe-shaped feature on the left in both images. The image on right, taken on Feb. 3, 2024, shows a lot of surface reflectance, likely from a smooth or glassy lava field. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Björn Jónsson CC NC SA

Io is blanketed in hundreds of erupting volcanoes because it's relentlessly locked in a tug-of-war between nearby objects, including the colossal Jupiter.

"Not only is the biggest planet in the solar system forever pulling at it gravitationally, but so are Io’s Galilean siblings — Europa and the biggest moon in the solar system, Ganymede," NASA explained in a statement. "The result is that Io is continuously stretched and squeezed, actions linked to the creation of the lava seen erupting from its many volcanoes."

It's a wild solar system out there. We're learning a lot — and will soon learn a lot more.

NASA has already spotted a diversity of rocky, Earth-like worlds in the cosmos. But unlike our verdant planet, many of these worlds may flourish with purple life — if life exists out there, that is.

It's easy to imagine organisms elsewhere resembling the colors of trees, algae, grasses, and beyond that dominate our Earthly reality. This green life soaks up certain light waves from the sun to fuel energy-creating photosynthesis, and the green-pigmented compound chlorophyll helps drive this profoundly successful process. New research from astrobiologists and microbiologists, however, suggests life elsewhere may likely make energy with different types of light from the sun, and use compounds with purple pigments rather than green.

It's not a far-fetched idea. After all, some microbes on Earth are purple. It's just that on Earth, in our now oxygen-rich environment, green life (using "oxygenic photosynthesis") has prevailed in most ecosystems.

"But that doesn't have to be the case on other planets," Lígia Fonseca Coelho, a microbiologist at Cornell University's Carl Sagan Institute who led the research, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

The research was recently released in the peer-reviewed science journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. A major goal was to show how space observatories could — and should — look for the telltale signs of purple life when observing distant planets beyond the sun, called exoplanets. Extremely powerful, forthcoming telescopes, such as the Extremely Large Telescope in the lofty Chilean mountains and the Habitable Worlds Observatory (which would orbit in space), will look into the atmospheres of such far-off worlds and determine their composition and habitability.

"Stop just looking at the green. Look at the purple as well."

The scientists plucked over 20 purple-colored bacteria from different ecosystems, such as lakes and marshes in Massachusetts and New York, measuring their vibrant pigments and how they give off light. Then, they simulated the "light signatures" — the unique color and chemical fingerprints that would be visible in an alien planet's reflected light — and found these purple bacteria would generate vivid, identifiable signatures.

"Stop just looking at the green. Look at the purple as well," Coelho emphasized. "We could miss a sign of life because of our bias."

Lígia Fonseca Coelho holding a sample filled with purple-pigmented bacteria. Credit: Ryan Young / Cornell University A NASA conception of an Earth-like exoplanet. Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Purple life might not simply exist. It might even be common.

The most abundant stars in our Milky Way galaxy are small red stars, called red dwarf stars. (The closest star to Earth is a red dwarf called Proxima Centauri.) They're just a fraction of the sun's size, and are the coolest stars in temperature. Accordingly, most of the light a red dwarf gives off is lower-energy (in infrared or red lightwaves), so any nearby organisms will likely need to use this infrared light (which is invisible to our eyes) to power their cells. "If life exists on the planet, it will use that [infrared] energy instead," Coelho explained. Crucially, on Earth, purplish bacteria thrive in these lower-energy environments.

On a planet where green microbes and organisms couldn't survive, or aren't best suited to survive, purple-pigmented alien life could outcompete them, and come to dominate.

"It might be that Earth was purple."

It's even possible that such purple bacteria once flourished on an early Earth. After all, our planet has only had oxygen for about half of its 4.5-billion-year lifespan. There was a time before green, oxygen-emitting, photosynthesizing plants blanketed the world. Different bacteria, surviving on different chemical processes, may have thrived.

"It might be that Earth was purple," Coelho said.

Folks, it's happening.

NASA announced its unprecedented Dragonfly mission — which will fly a car-sized craft with eight spinning rotors around Saturn's moon Titan — is confirmed for flight. The mission, in advanced stages of its design and fabrication, has an approved budget, ride (a heavy-lift rocket), and launch date in 2028.

"Dragonfly is a spectacular science mission with broad community interest, and we are excited to take the next steps on this mission," Nicky Fox, who heads the space agency's Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement. "Exploring Titan will push the boundaries of what we can do with rotorcraft outside of Earth."

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Titan, located some 880 million miles beyond Earth, is a fascinating world. Larger than our moon, it's the only moon in our solar system that harbors a thick atmosphere and bodies of surface liquid — though the sprawling seas on Titan are composed of liquid methane, not water. Meanwhile, Titan's icy dunes are teeming with the organic ingredients needed for life (as we know it) to develop. That's where Dragonfly will repeatedly land, take off, and explore over some three to five years.

It's a realm of great scientific intrigue because the pristine surface hosts the ancient, "prebiotic" conditions that could have provided the brew for life to eventually form in our solar system. It's like a primordial Earth.

"This really is the only place in the solar system that has this kind of chemistry," Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the principal investigator of the mission, told Mashable in 2023.

This image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows the sun reflecting off Titan's northern methane seas. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Univ. Arizona / Univ. Idaho A conception of Dragonfly zooming above Titan's dunes. Credit: NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / Steve Gribben

What's more, while the nuclear-powered spacecraft identifies what organic molecules are on Titan, and how they formed, the mission can also address whether it's a habitable world (meaning whether it could host living organisms) and look for potential signatures of life.

The deep space mission, like many such endeavors, saw ballooning costs that resulted in budget problems and delays. The now $3.35-billion spaceflight (total including operations) was beset by "additional costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain increases, and the results of an in-depth design iteration," NASA explained.

But now the cosmic deal is sealed. After a six-year journey, the Saturn-bound craft is expected to land on Titan in a decade, in 2034. With the moon's low-gravity and thick atmosphere — which make it easy to generate lift — the buzzing craft will take flight to disparate locations on this frigid world.

Any day now, people will look up and see a distant star exploding. 

Though Earthlings will be able to observe this celestial event as if it just happened, the cataclysmic blast occurred some 3,000 years ago, perhaps in the time of Solomon, the king who built the first temple in Jerusalem. Through the Iron Age, medieval times, and the Industrial Revolution, the explosion's light hurtled through space, only to reach this planet's doorstep now. 

The beacon beaming from the darkness will come from T Coronae Borealis, a star system where a dead white dwarf star will flash in a spectacular nova, according to NASA. Astronomers are calling it one of the stargazing highlights of the year. 

This particular star remnant is intriguing because it experiences periodic outbursts. Experts have determined it detonates about every 80 years. That means there are people alive who could have witnessed its last eruption in 1946. But hardly any adults today will live to see the next one. 

Here's everything you need to know about this extraordinary event. 

SEE ALSO: Spectacular Webb telescope image shows a stellar death like never before Tweet may have been deleted What is a nova?

A so-called "nova" is a type of stellar explosion — not to be confused with a supernova, the obliteration of an enormous star before it collapses into a black hole or neutron star. 

For a nova, you need a white dwarf, the shriveled corpse of a dead medium-size star. If a white dwarf can steal stellar material from a nearby living star, hydrogen will heap onto the white dwarf's surface, raising its temperature and eventually igniting like a bomb. 

The nova doesn't destroy the white dwarf — rather, the explosion causes it to spew elements like carbon and iron back into space. 

Normally, white dwarfs are too dim to see with the naked eye, but the flash created by this runaway nuclear reaction is so immense, the dead star should brighten exponentially. The phenomenon earned the name nova, which means "new" in Latin, because it looks as though a new star suddenly appeared in the sky, only to recede into the darkness days later. 

T Coronae Borealis is composed of a white dwarf co-orbiting a red giant star. The white dwarf goes nova cyclically, about every 80 years. Credit: NASA Goddard illustration What is T Coronae Borealis?  

T Coronae Borealis is a nova from a binary star system about 3,000 light-years away in our own Milky Way galaxy. It is created by a small, Earth-size white dwarf co-orbiting a red giant star — that is, a sun-like star in its senior years, running out of nuclear fuel. 

Red giants bloat between 100 to 1,000 times their original size as they near death. As the red giant sloughs its outer layers, the white dwarf collects the matter. The sun, central to our solar system, is predicted to become a red giant in 5 billion years or so. 

Walter "Will" Golay, a graduate student at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told Mashable that not all novas are recurrent, but T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB for short, is on an intriguing cycle. 

"Since the mass transfer (from the companion star) is roughly constant over many years, basically what that means is it's going to build up, build up, build up, explode, blow all that mass off, and then it's going to start all over again," he said. 

A nova explosion does not completely destroy a white dwarf star. Credit: NASA Goddard graphic When will it go nova?

Astronomers believe T CrB is on the verge of going nova. They predict it will happen sometime between now and September 2024. The last nova happened in February 1946. 

"The way we know that it's going to happen soon is right before the last explosion in 1946, the system dimmed quite a bit, and that just happened," said Golay, who is planning to study the event with the Submillimeter Array telescopes in Hawaii. "Once it was observed that it dimmed, people got on alert."

"Once it was observed that it dimmed, people got on alert." Researchers are gearing up to observe the nova with telescopes. Credit: NASA Goddard

NASA and other institutions intend to post updates on the sighting, including from the NASA Universe account on X, formerly Twitter.

After hitting peak brightness, the nova will continue to shine for another handful of nights. Then, for about a week, people will be able to catch a glimpse of it with the help of binoculars. 

Where will the nova be in the sky?

The nova outburst will appear in Corona Borealis, a small semicircular constellation flanked by Bootes and Hercules in the northern sky. If you weren't a scout, you can download an interactive star chart app on your phone to get your bearings. 

The free NASA app, for example, has a basic sky view under its "featured" tab that uses location data to pinpoint major stars. The nova will be somewhere in the region between the mapped Vega and Arcturus stars. Golay's favorite app to find sources is called Star Walk, which may have in-app charges. 

When it happens, it will not flash or flicker, but simply look like a new star where there wasn't one before. The magnitude of the explosion is expected to be such that this ephemeral point of light will become brighter than Polaris, aka the North Star. 

The nova will be somewhere in the region between the Vega and Arcturus stars. Credit: NASA

Usually, people who live in rural areas have the stargazing advantage. But in this case, a little city light pollution may help narrow the field, filtering out everything but the very brightest objects: The nova should be among the standouts. 

It's a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, and scientists are eager to learn from it. 

"Let's say half of all stars are binary stars. That means that half of all exoplanets have binary stars. It's important in the search for other habitable worlds that we understand how their host stars are behaving," Golay said. "Obviously, you don't want to live on an exoplanet around the star that explodes every 80 years."

How do you distill the essence of a show as complex and sprawling as Shōgun into a title sequence that lasts about 90 seconds? If you're Elastic, the design studio behind opening sequences for shows like The Last of Us and House of the Dragon, you turn to inspiration from 1600s Japan.

SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' review: 2024's first great TV epic is here

Designer Nadia Tzuo, the creative director of Shōgun's title sequence, revealed to Mashable that initial directions for the credits focused on design elements and art styles from that era of Japanese history, such as paintings or architectural details. However, the idea that most immediately caught the team's attention was that of Japanese dry gardens, made up of sand and gravel.

"Initially, that direction was called 'the walled garden,' which described Japan very well at the time," Tzuo told Mashable. "It was like its own world in a way, since it closed borders to foreign contact and wasn't easy to reach."

With that concept in mind, Japan — and the entire conflict of Shōgun — becomes a world made miniature in the title sequence. The sun rises over a peaceful dry garden, where the rocks represent land and the gravel between them represents oceans. From there, we see John Blackthorne's (Cosmo Jarvis) ship sailing into view; battles between the forces of Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira) follow soon after. Yet given the garden's smaller scale and the viewer's distance from it, there's still a sense of observational remove. For Tzuo, this remove is intentional, corresponding with how one should experience a dry garden in real life.

"The garden is meant to be watched from a far distance. Not too far, but you're not supposed to be in it. It's providing a third-person point of view," Tzuo explained. "This observational point of view matches the feeling of the whole concept of the show, because Blackthorne is an outsider. He's observing all the things happening, and he can't do much about it."

SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun's writers love all the Blackthorne and Yabushige memes

Even though we're somewhat removed from the garden itself, it's hard to miss the detail at work in these opening titles. The gravel itself took quite a bit of time to perfect, as Tzuo and her team had to ensure it didn't look powdery and had the correct weight. They also researched the architecture and layout of Osaka Castle, as well as the designs of the many ships present in the sequence. They also received digital 3D models from Shōgun's production team so the imagery could remain consistent throughout. One especially fun detail is the inclusion of the show's model for the fishing village Ajiro, which you can spot on the mossy base of one of the dry garden's rocks.

Elsewhere, you can catch key symbols from the show raked in the garden's gravel. Mariko's cross get blown away as war engulfs the garden, an image that's especially heartbreaking given her fate in episode 9. Toranaga's three-flower crest features prominently as well. The crest itself corresponds to that of the real-life Tokugawa clan and shogunate, whose founder Tokugawa Ieyasu inspired Shōgun author James Clavell when creating the character of Toranaga.

Thanks to the presence of the crest, the figure of the shogun looms large throughout the opening credits, but nowhere more so than in their final moments. After the credits take a turn from peaceful towards all-out war, we watch a mountain under siege crumble — a nod to the pivotal episode 5 earthquake, Tzuo noted — to unveil a massive mask bearing Toranaga's crest. Not only are we witnessing the rise of the shogun, but we're also seeing the arc of the show play out over the course of the credits.

"The shogun is born through war and destruction," Tzuo said. "That's what it always has been, and that's something we wanted to bring into the title."

Shōgun is now streaming on Hulu, with the finale premiering April 23.

TL;DR: Stream Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA playoffs for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA playoffs are finally here. Most of the top teams and players have been cruising for months, but there's no time for that kind of behavior anymore. It's time to get serious, because a lot of the first-round matchups are absolutely incredible. We can't pick a favorite, but the battle between the 76ers and Knicks is surely going to be one of the best.

If you want to watch Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers?

Game 1 of the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers series starts at 6 p.m. ET on April 20. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.

How to watch Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free

Fans can live stream Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA playoffs for free on Ran.de.

Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, 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 Germany, meaning you can access this streaming service from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 Germany

4. Connect to Ran.de

5. Watch Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on sites like Ran.de, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

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• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

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• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Game 1 of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Through April 21, pay only $59.97 (reg. $99) for the Nix Mini 2 color-matching sensor.

Ever experienced putting together an outfit in your head, only to realize that it actually looks horrible once you take the pieces out of your closet and try it on? The same thing happens when you're doing a DIY home project like painting your walls. Just because it looks good on Pinterest or some magazine doesn't mean it would work IRL.

If you want precision for your projects, a tool like the Nix Mini 2 can come in handy. It's essentially a sensor that can scan virtually any surface and identify its brand-name paint and sRGB HEX, CMYK, and LAB color code equivalents with impressive accuracy. Through April 21, you can score one on sale for only $59.97, just in time for your spring projects.

The Nix Mini 2 comes equipped with a high-resolution color sensor for precise processing and automatic error detection. This just means that when you use it to scan a surface, it's designed to yield accurate results 99% of the time, ensuring that what you see is what you get. It's equipped with highly calibrated LED and its own light source for consistent, precise scans, and it can even block out ambient light, allowing for perfect measurements under any light condition. It works with just about anything, too, including painted walls, vinyl, leather, plastic, and more.

Since Nix Mini 2 boasts a compact design, you can slip it into your purse, and whip it out whenever you need to scan a color, or just when inspiration strikes. You can also take advantage of the accompanying app to integrate it with software like Photoshop. With the app, you can organize your scans, create collections, and share them with friends and colleagues.

Never guess (or second guess) a color again. Through April 21, you can score the Nix Mini 2 color-matching sensor on sale for only $59.97, no coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nix Sensor Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor $59.97 at the Mashable Shop
$99.00 Save $39.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 21, you can score a pair of the Mymanu CLIK S translation earbuds for only $89.97 (reg. $157), no coupon needed.

Experiencing a language barrier can easily send anyone into a tailspin. Few things are more overwhelming and anxiety-inducing than being in a place where you can barely understand anyone, let alone decipher signages just to get around. Google Translate can only get you so far, but if you want a reliable tool for real-time translation, the Mymanu CLIK S can get the job done.

The Mymanu CLIK S are earphones that are engineered for instant speech-to-text and text-to-speech translation. A pair normally retails for $157, but through April 21, you can cop them on sale for $89.97, no coupon needed.

These wireless earbuds allow you to communicate with over two billion people, thanks to its support for more than 37 languages, including English, Cantonese, Arabic, Italian, French, and Korean. They work in tandem with the MyJuno app, MyManu's proprietary translation app, so conversations are also visually displayed on your smartphone in the language of your choice, making communication a breeze.

While these earbuds are primarily marketed as translation devices, they also function as traditional earphones in that they deliver crystal-clear HD sound for streaming your favorite music and podcasts, answering calls, reading texts and notifications, and more. They come with various-sized memory foam ear tips to ensure a secure and comfortable fit, and the built-in battery lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, which can be extendable to 30 with the included charging case.

Consider yourself a gym rat? These earbuds claim to be water-resistant, making them safe from sweat and moisture, too. They also pair with virtually any device, including iOS and Android gadgets, allowing you to dole out commands to either Siri or Google with a push of a button.

Break language barriers with the Mymanu CLIK S earbuds. They normally retail for $157, but you can get them on sale for $89.97 through April 21.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: MyManu Mymanu CLIK S: Award-Winning Translation Earbuds $89.97 at the Mashable Shop
$157.00 Save $67.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 22, get a Microsoft Visio 2021 lifetime license for Windows on sale for $19.97 (save $230).

While we all love the classic suite of Microsoft Office apps — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and their siblings — you might be missing out on other tools if you’ve never expanded your Microsoft repertoire. We’d like to introduce you to Visio, an app that helps you build diagrams and flowcharts more efficiently than the tools above. Through April 22, you can get a lifetime license for Windows on sale for $19.97 (reg. $249.99). 

The missing piece in your Microsoft toolkit

Microsoft Visio aims to help you visualize your ideas, processes, reporting structures, or anything else you want to bring to life. Start with premade templates, starter diagrams, or stencils made for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, or brainstorming maps. Or, freestyle your own creations from scratch.

Then, browse over 250,000 shapes to customize the look and feel of your projects. Visio is a lot more intuitive than trying to create similar flowcharts on tools like PowerPoint or Word.

Visio also lets you link diagrams to live internal and external data sources, helping you share insights with team members, draw additional insights, and stay organized. You can even upload an Excel, Exchange, or Microsoft Entra ID file and have Visio automatically generate an org chart. That’s just one advantage of expanding your Microsoft toolkit.

Another unique feature is being able to use your stylus or finger on touch-enabled devices to draw or annotate your projects. The possibilities of what you could create with Visio start right here, right now with this limited-time offer.

Secure your Microsoft Visio 2021 lifetime license for Windows while it’s on sale for $19.97 (reg. $249.99) until April 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this low price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows $19.97 at the Mashable Shop
$249.99 Save $230.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 21, let Matt's Flights Premium Plan get you access to the best airfare prices. A lifetime subscription is just $79.97, saving you hundreds.

Finding great deals on travel essentials is thrilling for some. But many of us don't like the act of continually searching multiple airline sites, plugging in the info, and looking for deals. If you don't have the time or patience to do such a thing, this offer on a lifetime subscription to Matt's Flights Premium Plan is on sale for just $79.97. However, this price only lasts through April 21.

After you redeem your code, sign up for Matt's Flights, and you'll be alerted nearly instantly to reduced-rate flights and mistake fares in your region and location. That means you can focus on work, the family, or that passion project while Matt and his team do the work for you.

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With customer support available 24/7 and five times more flight deals sent to you than free members, members are reported to save up to 90% on domestic and international flights. The Premium Plan allows unlimited custom search requests and 3+ deals per week.

Save money on flights, so you can splurge on that fancy restaurant or souvenir once you get to your destination. 

A lifetime subscription to Matt's Flights Premium Plan is available for just $79.97 when you order by April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Matt's Flights Matt's Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) - Save up to 90% on Domestic & International flights $79.97 at the Mashable Shop
$1,800.00 Save $1,720.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 21, save $439 on this grade-B refurbished 9.7-inch iPad Pro with a black plastic case and tempered glass screen protector and get it for just $159.97 (reg. $599).

We really have to give it to the iPad — it’s innovative, versatile, and looks pretty great in your hands, all while commanding a premium price. Well, that was until we discovered refurbished devices. This refurbished 9.7-inch iPad Pro that comes with a black case and glass screen protector is on sale for $159.97 (reg. $599) for a limited time.

Save 73% on this refurbished iPad bundle

Buying refurbished devices is similar to purchasing a used car. While they aren’t fresh off the dealer’s lot, they could still offer years and years of powerful performance at a much lower price.

Each retailer has their own grading standards, and we don’t sell any refurbished devices that haven’t undergone thorough inspection, testing, and cleaning. This 9.7-inch iPad Pro was given a grade “B” refurbished rating based on its light to normal signs of cosmetic wear and minimum 70 percent battery health.

Here’s what else this iPad has:

• 9.7-inch Retina display with 2048x1536 resolution. Stream, read, or take notes in vivid detail.

• 10-hour battery life. Enjoy freedom from cords on commutes and when traveling.

• Apple A9X processor and 2GB of RAM. That’s what makes this iPad a ‘Pro’ model.

• 32GB of storage. Add your favorite apps and store photos and videos.

• 12MP rear iSight and 5MP FaceTime cameras. Take photos and join video chats with friends and family.

• Pre-installed tempered glass screen protector and a black snap-on case. Protect your purchase from potential drops.

Score an affordable iPad

Grab your 9.7-inch iPad Pro with a black case and glass screen protector while they’re on sale for $159.97 (reg. $599) until April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro 9.7" A1673 32GB WiFi Silver Bundle (Refurbished) $159.97 at the Mashable Shop
$599.00 Save $439.03 Get Deal

The ground is moving.

It's a creeping movement, but a momentous one. Some 200 million years ago, a single, extraordinary supercontinent called Pangea dominated Earth. Ultimately, landmasses ruptured and pulled apart, creating the world we see today. Yet the continents never ceased drifting. And in some 250 million years' time, computer simulations suggest that a supercontinent may again prevail.

"It might end up looking a lot like Pangea did when the dinosaurs were roaming around," Hannah Davies, a geologist at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences who researches future continental change, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

While it's certain the continents have migrated and continue to migrate — owing to a preponderance of evidence from rocks, fossils, the fit and shape of our continents, and beyond — it's still uncertain how, exactly, such massive geological change will play out in the distant future. Yet visualizations made possible with modern computing have given scientists an improved view of our planet's geologic future. As we learn more about the behavior of Earth's tectonic plates (upon which continents move) and how our planet evolved in the past, these models will become better refined, Davies emphasized. (Other types of earth science modeling, like climate modeling, have proven remarkably accurate.)

"I have no doubt that we'll see another supercontinent," Damian Nance, a distinguished professor emeritus of geology from Ohio University, told Mashable. "I have a lot of questions about when that might happen and what that might look like. The jury is still out."

"I have no doubt that we'll see another supercontinent."

There are currently around four leading candidate ideas for the next, distant supercontinent. The animation below, created using software that constructs and visualizes geologic activity on Earth, shows a supercontinent, dubbed "Aurica," forming near Earth's equator. The Pacific Ocean closes, and eventually the Atlantic does too. (Some online platforms might not display the video below; if so, here's a YouTube version.)

In another supercontinent scenario called "Amasia," today's continents drift northward, except for Antarctica, and amass around the North Pole. Under a different geologic regime called "Novopangea," wherein the continents largely continue moving as they are today, the Atlantic Ocean continues to spread apart, but the sprawling Pacific closes. A fourth leading supercontinent candidate is the tropical "Pangea Ultima," wherein continents form around an Atlantic that stops spreading apart. Last year, a group of scientists used a supercomputer to model the climate on a supercontinent like Pangea Ultima, and found it would host inhospitable surface environs (owing to a surge in volcanism, heat in the tropics, and lack of marine cooling in the sweltering interior). Without evolving, many species likely couldn't survive on much of the scorching surface.

A simulation of the supercontinent "Novopangea." Credit: Hannah Davies Tweet may have been deleted

Millions of years ago, Pangea's vast equatorial interior was also likely a dry, arid landscape, and hosted expansive deserts. "The interior of a supercontinent would be pretty horrific," Nance noted. This almost certainly posed challenges and evolutionary pressures for ancient life; yet even so, those harsh conditions saw huge biological successes: Some life that began developing on Pangea would later come to dominate Earth. "You can think of Pangea as being both the cradle of dinosaurs and mammals," Nance marveled.

The next supercontinent — be it Aurica, Amasia, Novopangea, or Pangea Ultima — probably won't be Earth's last. The continents glide over Earth's heated mantle, a thick region of semi-solid rock, which convects (somewhat like hot wax circulating in a lava lamp) and moves the continents above. "The driving force is mantle circulation," Nance explained. Geologists don't expect this process to stop for a long, long time. In fact, the continents are likely in a slow-motion supercontinent cycle — with massive landmasses repeatedly converging, breaking apart, and converging once again.

"We could end up with six or seven supercontinent cycles throughout Earth's history," Davies explained, noting the planet may have already had four or five supercontinents. 

The potential future supercontinent "Amasia." Credit: Hannah Davies

Nance suspects geologists are getting tantalizingly close to solving some of the big uncertainties, which lie hundreds to thousands of miles below in the mantle, that will drive the future direction of the continents. For example, continents tend to move away from areas where hot rock is welling up in the mantle — similar to how a potato in boiling soup will move away from the hottest boil. Crucially, knowing how these deep geologic phenomena behave won't simply help predict the next supercontinent. "Ultimately, it's enormously important," Nance emphasized. "It tells us how Earth works."

A question that looms large is, when the continents next collide into a great mass, surrounded by an even greater sea, who will be around to witness it? Human civilizations, born with the rise of agriculture, have only existed for some 12,000 years. It's difficult to envision the next decade, if not the next century.

"We could end up with six or seven supercontinent cycles throughout Earth's history."

Might humans be around to inhabit a supercontinent in some 200 or 250 million years? "That would be a grand old age for a species," Nance marveled. It would mean existing for much longer than the dinosaurs, which went extinct after 165 million years. Yet after deflecting a number of giant, menacing asteroids and avoiding self-annihilation, it's possible. But species evolve.

"The sheer timeframes involved boggles the mind a little bit," Davies mused. "There's definitely a chance we'll be around in 250 million years, but we'll be quite different."

Can't get enough of true crime? With HBO and Investigation Discovery having joined forces as Max, one streaming subscription gives you access to a wealth of documentaries that explore curious cases, horrendous homicides, outrageous criminals, and much, much more.

But let's get real: Not all true crime is created equal. With so many options, how do you know which true crime doc is your next must-see? We've scoured the lot to select the best true crime documentaries on Max.

In the mix are grim recountings of serial killer sprees, thought-provoking investigations into polarizing charges, empathetic explorations into the lives of victims, and even some surprisingly whimsical tales of true crime. Each one offers a chance to dive into a rabbit hole of armchair psychology, amateur sleuthing, and nonfiction nightmares.

Here are the 28 most gripping true crime projects, both TV series and films, now streaming on Max.

1. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Credit: HBO

In 2015, filmmaker Andrew Jarecki's true crime miniseries not only drew national attention to the multiple allegations of murder against New York real estate tycoon Robert Durst, but also helped bring him down. Over the first six episodes, Jarecki interviewed police and lawyers involved in three investigations against Durst, as well as the friends and family of his alleged victims. From this emerged a disturbing — yet strangely amusing — portrait of a man of extreme wealth and power who might well be a serial killer. But the most damning revelations came from Durst himself, who tried to win sympathy by recounting a troubled childhood, but ultimately burped up a confession on a hot mic.

Nearly 10 years later, Jarecki and his team returned with new six episodes for The Jinx: Part 2. Picking up at Chapter 7, the sequel series follows Durst's 2015 arrest for the 2000 murder of his best friend, Susan Berman. From there, interviews with the LA prosecutors office, Durst's defense team, and even his once impenetrable circle of friends bring shocking new insights to 1982 the missing persons case of his first wife Kathleen McCormack. The result is a binge-watch as riveting as it is bone-chilling. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst is now streaming on Max.

2. Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn Credit: Courtesy of HBO

The murder of Yusuf Hawkins was a hate crime, no question. But in Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn, director Muta'Ali entertains the other theories that were considered in the 1989 shooting death of the Black 16-year-old just enough for you to understand the power of the white narrative Hawkins' family was up against when seeking justice.

Thoughtful and well-paced, the 2020 documentary goes beyond the tragic facts of this death to steadily reveal the surrounding culture of racism in New York City during the late '80s and early '90s that made so many like it possible. It's a heartbreaking true crime entry, but a crucial one. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn is now streaming on Max.

3. The Lady and the Dale Credit: HBO

Max has a library of sensational true crime offerings, yet this 2021 miniseries is uniquely fascinating. Directors Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker unfurl the times and trials of Elizabeth Carmichael, who was not only a nationally recognized automobile executive and infamous con artist, but also a wife, mother, and transgender trailblazer.

For decades, her story has been framed by those who despise her, resulting in a narrative rife with speculation and transphobia. In this challenging and boldly funny four-episode documentary miniseries, Carmichael's story is reclaimed by balancing the perspective of her haters with in-depth interviews with those who knew her best. Including animated photography, a playful soundtrack, and a cheeky sense of adventure, The Lady and The Dale aims not only to showcase the complexity of the late Carmichael, but also to capture her spirit. All this makes for a watch that is surprising, thrilling, and unforgettable.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Lady and the Dale is streaming on Max.

4. Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York Credit: HBO

If you cringe at true crime docs that regard serial killers as criminal masterminds, you'll appreciate Last Call. Based on Elon Green's 2021 true crime book, Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York, this four-episode series focuses on the victims of a murderer who targeted gay men in 1990s New York City. Creators Anthony Caronna and Howard Gertler put these lost men front and center, not only interviewing their surviving family and friends to bring to life vivid portraits of who they were, but also naming an episode after each of them.

The show also explores how homophobia in the media and the NYPD worked to the killer's advantage, as even now the police interviewed fail to connect the dots on their own blindspots and biases. In her rave review of the show, Mashable entertainment reporter Belen Edwards wrote, "Last Call finds deeper meaning and purpose in exploring how violence against queer people fostered these killings — and crucially, foregrounds the activists who fought hard to bring the truth to light," adding that "Last Call is true crime done right." — K.P.

How to watch: Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York is now streaming on Max.

5. Mind Over Murder Credit: HBO Max

The story of the Beatrice Six is so full of twists, turns, and uncomfortable truths that it can be difficult to know who to believe. It all began in 1985, when beloved grandmother Helen Wilson was murdered in her home. Six suspects would be collected by local police. Five would give confessions. But decades later, when DNA evidence can't prove a single one of them was in Wilson's home, the case and the community are thrown into spin.

Documentarian Nanfu Wang (One Child Nation) speaks with members of the Beatrice Six, the police force that targeted them, and the surviving family members of Helen Wilson to investigate how this case was horrendously mishandled and its impact 35 years later. Moreover, the six-part miniseries follows a local theater production that uses transcripts from every step of the case to try to make sense of this hometown horror. The result is a documentary miniseries that is rivetingly dedicated not only to the truth but also to reclaiming the humanity of all of the victims of this horrendous miscarriage of justice. — K.P.

How to watch: Mind Over Murder is now streaming on Max.

SEE ALSO: 'Mind Over Murder' is the must-see true crime series 6. Class Action Park Credit: HBO Max

Welcome to Action Park! This New Jersey amusement and water park, built by former Wall Street tycoon Gene Mulvihill, was home to attractions such as Cannonball Loop and the Alpine Slide. It was also severely mismanaged and the cause of many injuries and deaths. Class Action Park reveals just how insane the story behind Action Park was, from the park’s madcap rides to Mulvihill’s shady tactics for keeping his venture afloat.

Through a mixture of fun animation and interviews with comedians who attended Action Park as children, Class Action Park keeps things light and humorous. However, it still exercises proper seriousness and restraint when discussing the park’s fatalities. Overall Class Action Park is a wild documentary about a truly wild place. You’ll come for the descriptions of the insane rides and stay for the nuanced exploration of nostalgia and childhood in the 1980s.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Class Action Park is now streaming on Max.

7. Last Stop Larrimah Credit: HBO Max

The titular town of Last Stop Larrimah seems a setting ripe for situation comedy. It's a place with no cell phone reception, no police station, one pub, and a pet crocodile. Deep in the Australian Outback, this former bustling outpost has steadily declined into a deeply eccentric community of just 11 people, colorful characters whose lives are bursting with furious feuds, gruesome gossip, and seemingly preposterous accusations. And that was before one of them went missing. 

Documentarian Thomas Tancred treads deep into the snarled stories of Larrimah's residents, past and present, to untangle the mystery of what happened to Patrick "Paddy" Moriarty, an Irish pot-stirrer who was last seen on Dec. 16, 2017. The true crime documentary Last Stop Larrimah dives not only into the facts of the case but also the wild theories, all the better to reflect the personalities and problems of this captivating and chaotic little town. And it does it all within a movie that's under two hours long.* — K.P.

How to watch: Last Stop Larrimah is now streaming on Max.

8. Chowchilla

If you think you've heard every stranger-than-fiction true crime tale, I recommend Chowchilla. Named for the town where it occurred, the 2023 documentary takes audiences back to 1976, when an audacious band of kidnappers abducted an entire school bus of children — 26 in total — as well as their bus driver. For days, these kids were buried alive, uncertain if they'd ever see their parents or the sun again. They survived, and several share their story with documentarian Paul Solet. But that's not all.

Through reenactments and interviews, Solet exposes a story that somehow was swiftly swept over ahead of Stranger Danger hysteria. In addition, he explores how the childhood trauma of these survivors impacted the study of child psychology. Plus, Chowchilla celebrates a young hero who deserved his flowers decades before. — K.P.

How to watch: Chowchilla is now streaming on Max.

9. Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop Credit: HBO

Documentarian and true crime heavy hitter Erin Lee Carr — whose engrossing works appear multiple times on this list — follows the strange case of former NYPD officer Gilberto Valle.

In 2012, Valle was arrested for conspiring to kidnap, rape, kill, and cannibalize women after his wife discovered hundreds of internet chat messages describing the acts in his search history. The apparent fetish seemed to go beyond hypothetical imagery, with Valle improperly accessing the National Crime Information Center database through his NYPD credentials and drawing up comprehensive abduction plans for women he actually knew.

The documentary navigates the sticky legal area deftly, posing fascinating questions about what Valle's case means for the future of crime in the digital age. — A.F.

How to watch: Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop is now streaming on Max.

10. They Called Him Mostly Harmless

It all began with a yellow tent found in the Florida wilderness. Inside were the remains of a hiker, whose cause of death was confounding. To discover his identity, police turned to the hiking community, who in turn used internet crowdsourcing to uncover his name — well, a nickname: Mostly Harmless.

Director Patricia E. Gillespie explores not only this unusual missing persons case but also the communities that pop up on hiking trails and in chatrooms. Scouring Mostly Harmless's path across the U.S. as well as his bizarre lack of imprint online, amateur sleuths sought to give solace to a family who might not even realize their loved one had gone missing. Along the way, Gillespie gets the perspective of those who crossed the dead man's path and those who thought they knew him through the online discourse. When the answers come, they're not what anyone expected. And that leaves the audience to sort out their own preconceptions and the paradoxes that can lie within any stranger. — K.P.

How to watch: They Called Him Mostly Harmless is now streaming on Max.

11. Beware the Slenderman

If you’re a regular true crime fan, chances are you already know everything there is to know about the so-called "Slenderman stabbing." But uh, if you don't? Buckle way, way up.

In this haunting documentary from director Irene Taylor Brodsky, we revisit the 2014 attempted murder of 12-year-old Payton Leutner. The attack was carried out by two other 12-year-old girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, who told Wisconsin authorities they attacked their friend in an effort to impress the online character Slenderman. The film offers a chilling glimpse into the sometimes warped interactions between adolescent minds and the internet that's imperfect to say the least, but a unique watch. Some of these interviews really stick with you. — A.F.

How to watch: Beware the Slenderman is now streaming on Max.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best documentaries streaming on HBO Max to learn something new 12. The Case Against Adnan Syed Credit: Courtesy of HBO Max

Directed by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg, The Case Against Adnan Syed can be understood and appreciated as a standalone project. But for most viewers, the four-part docuseries serves as a companion piece to the watershed Serial podcast, which brought the murder of Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee to international attention in 2014.

The series explores the media fervor brought on by the podcast's popularity, as well as recounting the story from investigation through the 2016 post-conviction relief hearing of Adnan Syed, the man convicted of the murder. For the latest developments on the case, you can also stream Adnan Syed: Overturned. While The Case Against Adnan Syed may not change your mind, it offers new insights and evidence worth your (and possibly the court's) attention. — A.F.

How to watch: The Case Against Adnan Syed is now streaming on Max.

13. Mommy Dead and Dearest

Another project from director Erin Lee Carr, Mommy Dead and Dearest details the bizarre murder of Dee Dee Blanchard. The 2017 film tells the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a 19-year-old victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, who after a lifetime of abuse conspired to murder her mother in 2015.

Sure, some viewers will recognize the case from its serialized dramatization in Hulu's soap opera-like The Act. However, Carr's telling offers a more nuanced look. It's a flummoxing conundrum of justice that sees mother and daughter trade places as victim and attacker, and raises serious questions about the criminal justice system's ability to hand down levelheaded verdicts in morally complicated cases. With Gypsy recently released from prison, this documentary has a fresh relevance. — A.F. & K.P

How to watch: Mommy Dead and Dearest is now streaming on Max.

14. Who Killed Garrett Phillips?

The 2011 death of Garrett Phillips was the first of a string of tragedies. Not only did a New York family lose their 12-year-old son in a senseless act of violence, but the subsequent investigation left a Black man suffering greatly under a legal system ravaged by racial bias.

Another true crime film from director Liz Garbus (There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane), Who Killed Garrett Phillips? relentlessly seeks justice on both fronts. Asking the right questions at just the right times, Garbus produces a compelling narrative that is at once an indictment of police failings and a rallying cry for identifying the real killer. — A.F.

How to watch: Who Killed Garrett Phillips? is now streaming on Max.

15. Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children

Director Sam Pollard tackles one of the most troubling crime trends in American history in Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children. Between 1979 and 1981, at least 30 Black children were abducted and murdered. But prosecutors' decision to assign all of those deaths to the convicted serial killer Wayne Williams disturbed many who doubted his involvement in every case.

Over five episodes, Pollard tracks the story from the beginning of the killings to the reopening of the investigation in 2019. It's a comprehensive look at the insidious racism that has plagued Atlanta policing for decades, and it only grows in importance. The tragedy of these cases, however, is that the decision to prematurely close them in the '80s may mean they're unsolvable now. — A.F.

How to watch: Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children is now streaming on Max.

16. I Love You, Now Die Credit: Courtesy of HBO

Another riveting true crime project from Erin Lee Carr, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth vs. Michelle Carter is a two-part look at one of the most senseless crimes of the modern age. On July 13, 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy died by suicide in a Kmart parking lot in Massachusetts. His girlfriend, 19-year-old Michelle Carter, not only knew of her boyfriend's plan to die by carbon monoxide poisoning, but also actively encouraged him to go through with it in a series of bewildering text messages that would later land her in court on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

The series follows Carter's efforts to prove her innocence, posing fascinating questions about what crimes can be committed online. This one is tough viewing, both for its heart-wrenching depiction of Roy's mental health crisis and for the helplessness one feels in knowing Roy could have been saved if Carter had interceded. But if you've watched The Girl From Plainville, the docu-drama series inspired by these true crime events, then I Love You, Now Die might well be a must-see.— A.F.

How to watch: I Love You, Now Die is now streaming on Max.

17. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley

Enter the absolutely unreal delusion of disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley. Academy Award winner Alex Gibney walks viewers through Holmes garnering the support of numerous high-profile investors and even seeing the company's entirely fake technology — a blood-testing device called "Edison" — begin a pseudo rollout in actual pharmacies. (In Nov. 2022, Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.)

Repurposing some incredible footage of Holmes intended for use in a Theranos advertising campaign, Gibney renders a stunning portrait of a con artist. The result is a mesmerizing watch that will make you question how easy you'd be to fool when faced with one of the most notorious liars of the 21st century. — A.F.

How to watch: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley is now streaming on Max.

18. Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall Credit: HBO Max

The story of Denmark's notorious "submarine" case is rife with sensational elements, including snuff films, a heinous murder, an eccentric entrepreneur, and his personal submarine. However, documentarian Erin Lee Carr ushers her audience past the tabloid fodder, cutting through the misogynistic headlines to rediscover Kim Wall, an intrepid reporter who lost her life while on an assignment that should have been breezy, not deadly.

This two-part limited series speaks with Wall's friends and colleagues, resurrecting her story and revealing her legacy. Meanwhile, a no-nonsense submarine expert and a conflicted biographer detail how the alibi of accused killer Peter Madsen fell apart, uncovering the horrifying depths of his ruthless ambition. More than a tale of tragedy, Undercurrent explores the humanity in journalism and the horrors of toxic masculinity. — K.P.

How to watch: Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall is now streaming on Max.

SEE ALSO: It was tough, but we found the 20 best movies on HBO Max 19. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills Credit: HBO

This 1996 documentary from HBO was the first of many to question the verdict reached in the infamous case of Arkansas' West Memphis Three. And while there's plenty you'll want to research about the case after seeing the movie — seriously, you've got 25 years of legal developments that aren't accounted for here — it remains one of the most well-regarded perspectives on the disturbing crime available, not to mention an utterly transfixing viewing experience.

On May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys were found dead and mutilated in a wooded area known as Robin Hood Hills. Local teenagers Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin were soon identified as prime suspects in the crime, but their connections to the murders were flimsy. Directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's Paradise Lost is an essential true crime watch that always strikes a nerve. — A.F.

How to watch: Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills is now streaming on Max.

20. Behind Closed Doors

The double homicide of 13-year-old Aarushi Talwar and her family's servant 45-year-old Hemraj Banjade remains a world-shaking event for the people of Noida, India.

In Behind Closed Doors, documentarian P.A. Carter takes viewers into the heart of the media storm that erupted when the two were found dead in 2008. Over two parts, Carter interviews those closest to the case about everything from the small details needed to nab the killer to the broader societal issues that made this particular investigation so tumultuous. It's a particularly intriguing true crime entry, considering it allows for a broader discussion of how justice is or isn't carried out internationally in a genre typically dominated by Western audiences. — A.F.

How to watch: Behind Closed Doors is now streaming on Max.

21. I'll Be Gone in the Dark Credit: HBO Max

One of the best portraits of a true crime writer to date, director Liz Garbus's I'll Be Gone in the Dark serves as both a look into the terrifying Golden State Killer (also known as the "Original Night Stalker" and "East Area Rapist") and the woman who would stop at nothing to identify him.

Michelle McNamara, who died suddenly in 2016, leaving behind a daughter and her husband, Patton Oswalt, dedicated years of her life to finding the man responsible for a string of murders, rapes, and burglaries across California between 1973 and 1986, despite not knowing anyone directly impacted by his crimes. A book chronicling her work, also titled I'll Be Gone in the Dark, was released posthumously. The docuseries serves as a sort of companion piece — filled with loving remembrances and overwhelming admiration for McNamara.

As far as true crime "fans" go, McNamara was the best of us. Her unrelenting passion for justice leaps from the page and screen even now, and will serve as an inspiration always. — A.F.

How to watch: I'll Be Gone in the Dark is now streaming on Max.

22. McMillions Credit: Courtesy of HBO

For more than a decade starting in 1989, a veritable army of crooks and stooges bilked McDonald's out of $24 million-worth of winnings from its annual McDonald's Monopoly sweepstakes. It was such a sprawling scheme that HBO turned it into a documentary miniseries directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte. Across six episodes, the fascinating and frequently hilarious doc introduces us to colorful characters on both sides of the law as it digs into the particulars of the criminal enterprise and how it eventually fell apart.

By the time it's all over, you'll know the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the historic McDonald's Monopoly fraud case. But you'll also be left with plenty of questions about what McMillions' most memorable character, FBI Agent Doug Matthews, isn't telling us. — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: McMillions is now streaming on Max.

23. Deadly Women

Deeply in guilty pleasure terrain, Deadly Women is a documentary series that covers several stories of female murderers in each episode. These vicious vignettes are tied together by themes like greed, lovers turned enemies, or moms who murder. An advantage to this format is that if you can only handle a small dose of true crime tragedy, it's easy to hit pause before the next story begins.

Moody reenactments give audiences a look at what might have happened to these victims and their killers. Along the way, experts in criminal profiling and psychology weigh in, speaking to the facts, the speculations, and the gnarly mental states that led to murder. To be frank, the whole show functions on a ghoulish misogyny that is hellbent on deeming most of its subjects as bad since birth. But beneath the condemnations of the interview subjects and the smirking delivering of the unseen narrator, you can pick out clues to systemic evils that don't make these women innocent, but suggest more depth than this devotedly trash true crime show aims for. — K.P

How to watch: Deadly Women Season 1-14 are now streaming on Max.

24. Fear Thy Neighbor

If you're frustrated by a noisy or nosy neighbor, this show might be a balm...or throw you into panic. Relying on reenactments and interviews with survivors, each episode of Fear Thy Neighbor welcomes audiences into a new neighborhood, where the residents might once have been friendly but have turned into fearsome foes. Disagreements over home maintenance, gardening, and children at play escalate into heated arguments, and often gunplay and homicide.

What makes this true crime show uniquely intriguing is that each episode tries to tell both sides, without giving away how things end. So, as viewers watch survivors — and witnesses — give conflicting accounts, they are encouraged to not only figure out whose side they're on but also to look for clues to what ultimately happened, who might have walked away, and whether someone's absence on camera means they're in prison or in the grave. — K.P.

How to watch: Fear Thy Neighbor Season 1-8 are now streaming on Max.

25. See No Evil

We live in an age of surveillance. Gas stations, schools, apartment buildings, and many more locations have cameras always on the lookout. And while that's apt to make us all feel a bit paranoid about being watched, See No Evil shows an upside.

Each episode begins with a murder mystery, then traces the investigation, which — in these cases — always includes crucial evidence caught on tape. Sometimes it's the last moments of a victim walking down a dark street. Sometimes it's the flash of a speeding car at a curious hour. Sometimes it's elevator footage that reveals what horrors went on behind closed doors. If you like true crime docs that offer answers, you'll appreciate the vision of See No Evil. — K.P.

How to watch: See No Evil Seasons 1-8 are now streaming on Max.

26. The Cheshire Murders Credit: HBO

Directed and produced by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, The Cheshire Murders chronicles a horrific home invasion that devastated a small town in Connecticut. In the early hours of July 23, 2007, two men entered a suburban residence and began a campaign of terror against a family of four that left only father Dr. William Petit alive. It's a truly disturbing account, which includes graphic descriptions of child rape and torture.

This project is sometimes regarded as being staunchly in favor of the death penalty, featuring damning interviews with the attackers' families actually recommending the two convicted men be sentenced to death. However, it also offers a disturbing look at the alarming lack of transparency from police regarding the perpetrators' arrests and trials. — A.F.

How to watch: The Cheshire Murders is now streaming on Max.

27. Your Worst Nightmare

Who needs sleep? If you're craving true crime stories that'll keep you up at night, you can't do better than the aptly named Your Worst Nightmare.

Each hour-long episode focuses on a story that is truly chilling, from abductions to murders to situations that are literally horror movie inspirations. Told through a mix of reenactments and talking-head interviews with law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, friends and family members of the victims, and even survivors, Your Worst Nightmare sets the stage for real-life horror and does not let up. This one is not for the faint of heart. — K.P.

How to watch: Your Worst Nightmare Season 1-6 are now streaming on Max.

28. There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane

On July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler traveled 1.7 miles in the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway in upstate New York. When her minivan collided head-on with an SUV, she, her daughter, three of her nieces, and all of the passengers in the other vehicle died.

In director Liz Garbus's There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane, Schuler's family members, witnesses, and investigators attempt to make sense of the bizarre decisions Schuler made that day. Her blood alcohol content was reportedly .19% at the time of the collision, but Schuler had no history of alcoholism and had appeared sober to witnesses shortly beforehand. Garbus prioritizes deep and complex analysis over a tidy narrative in her take on the case. It's a sympathetic but truthful account that will leave you with plenty to chew over. — A.F.

How to watch: There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane is now streaming on Max.

UPDATE: Apr. 18, 2024, 2:57 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry description comes from a previous Mashable streaming list.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Watch Now

The gap between the best Chromebooks and our favorite cheap laptops is more of a crevice than a canyon. For users with simple workloads, especially those who rely heavily on the Google Workspace suite, a competent Chromebook can provide just what you need at a very reasonable price.

SEE ALSO: Chromebook vs. laptop: What are the differences?

When it comes to choosing the very best Chromebook for your specific budget and use case(s), most shoppers won't be forced to make a terribly difficult or dicey decision: Google has introduced a new "Chromebook Plus" label to identify models with guaranteed performance standards and added software support. It's also extended the lifespan of recent models (those released in 2021 or after) by offering a full decade of automatic updates. Still, it helps to have a nudge in the right direction if you don't have your eye on a specific model yet.

With that in mind, we've overhauled this guide to the best Chromebooks for 2024 with new standards and freshly hands-on tested picks. We'll continue to revisit it in the coming months with additional recommendations and new Chromebook reviews, so expect it to further evolve in the near future. (Next in our pipeline is the $399 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34.)

Hey there, pal! If you're currently melting into your couch cushions and/or becoming one with your mattress, just scrolling for something cool to watch before you come down, then wow, you are in the right place.

You want a recommendation? We love giving recommendations. What a totally awesome and fortuitous situation we all are in right now.

Netflix has a ton of shows and movies perfect for watching when you're chilling out and getting high. Soothing, colorful, trippy, profound — you name the vibe, and the streaming service has something for you. To get you started, we've combed through some of our favorite titles to enjoy while vegging out. In our list, you'll also find descriptions of the mood they're perfect for.

Have an awesome time, buddy. You deserve a list of the best things to watch on Netflix while high.

30. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Credit: Aardman / Netflix

It took Aardman Animation a hot second to cook up Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, but don't let that stop you. This sequel to 2000's Chicken Run (which is still the highest-grossing stop-motion movie ever made!) is nearly as much of a blast as the original. And that's really no surprise given Aardman's portfolio of delightfully animated films, including modern classics like Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep.

True, the plot here is ultimately a bit of a rehash of the first movie, although there are some fun Squid Game shout-outs and the like. But what really makes Nugget essential stoner viewing is its stop-motion animation — the textural gorgeousness of every frame, every piece of putty that these artists' fingers have sprung to such vivid life. It's a technicolor circus of delicious chicken mania. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is now streaming on Netflix.

29. Pretend It's a City Credit: Netflix

Depending on what kind of high it is you're rocking, you may just want to get lost in conversation or listen as someone else regales you with tall tales. We've all been there! Well, lucky for you, author and iconic New York City personality Fran Lebowitz has made getting lost in conversation her career, and this seven-part docu-series directed by Martin Scorsese himself captures that freewheeling and funny conversation brilliantly. 

A rambling portrait of Lebowitz's life and the city she's loved slash contended with for several decades, she and Marty (who often appears on-screen chatting directly with her) have a warm and hilarious rapport, and he draws out all her best material. Add the fact that Scorsese spends half the doc cackling so hard at Fran's jokes that he seems to have imbibed a little himself, and it's high times in the Big Apple indeed. — J.A.

How to watch: Pretend It's a City is now streaming on Netflix.

28. Elvis

Baz Luhrmann movies are whirlwinds of color and sound and visual chaos that often feel a bit like staring into a singing kaleidoscope. And his 2022 biopic of one Mr. Elvis Aaron Presley (starring an Oscar-nominated Austin Butler) is a perfect fit for Baz's over-the-top rhinestone sensibilities. 

Charting the legend's story from its humble backwater Mississippi beginnings to its spectacular Vegas grand finale, Elvis is a roller coaster of sensations and sounds and gaudy excess, just the way the King would've wanted. And if all else fails, zone out trying to figure out just whatever the hell it is that Tom Hanks is doing. — J.A.

How to watch: Elvis is now streaming on Netflix.

27. Malignant

In between making Aquaman movies, writer/director James Wan took a little detour back to his home genre of horror to churn out this explosion of absolute WTF-ery. A throwback to the '80s and early '90s era of outrageous trash horror that seemed to throw every gag (in every sense of the word) at the screen to see what stuck, this 2021 movie follows a woman named Madison (Annabelle Wallis) who finds herself and all of the people around her being hunted by a psychotic long-haired killer. One with a fetish for leather dusters, and a big golden knife. 

SEE ALSO: 'Malignant' is a campy yet creepy cult classic in the making

And from there, it'd be criminal to reveal Malignant's many wild twists and batshit turns. Right around the scene with the prison cell, even the most sober among us will begin to feel stoned out of their gourd, so hilariously ridiculous is this movie — all in the best possible ways, of course. — J.A.

How to watch: Malignant is now streaming on Netflix.

26. Meg 2: The Trench Credit: Warner Bros.

It's doubtful you'll feel lost here if you missed the first Meg, which saw a wetsuit-wearing Jason Statham battling the gigantic prehistoric shark called a Megalodon. But if you did, here's a catch-up: Jason Statham battled a gigantic prehistoric shark called a Megalodon. The end. And, spoiler alert, in Meg 2, he does it again! 

This time around, there's a beach resort called Fun Island (yes, really) that's in danger from the roving aquatic beasties — beasties which now also include a gigantic octopus, for some reason. That reason? Because a gigantic octopus is fucking rad, that's why. 

Dumb as a wetsuit full of rocks, the Meg movies are popcorn nonsense, and they know it. The sequel might show few signs of having been directed by the talented British weirdo Ben Wheatley (High-Rise, Kill List), but it's a Meg movie through and through. And that's plenty. — J.A.

How to watch: Meg 2: The Trench is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Unless your mother's a hamster and your father smells of elderberries, you've probably laughed yourself into an eye-watering stupor at this 1975 comedy classic once or twice or thrice thousand times already. No ni's about it! And yet somehow it sustains. Such is the brilliantly dumb lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the Monty Python gang, meaning Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin for good measure. Lampooning self-serious medieval epics with its ridiculous retelling of several mushed-up King Arthur legends, Holy Grail makes room for bloodthirsty bunny rabbits and Spamalot alike. With a herring! — J.A.

How to watch: Monty Python and the Holy Grail is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Cooked with Cannabis

Who among us hasn't lost an afternoon staring at a cooking show, imagining what every dish tastes like? Netflix's Cooked with Cannabis, hosted by "Milkshake" singer-turned-chef Kelis and cannabis cuisine expert Leather Storrs, adds a competitive edge to the art of weed cuisine as three guest chefs compete for a $10,000 prize. It's a little low on stakes at times, but is a generally enjoyable watch with plenty of mouth-watering creations to gaze at. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Cooked with Cannabis is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Burlesque

A good old-fashioned nonsense musical about putting on a show to save the club and, uhh, air rights? The gaudy Burlesque embraces its cheesiness in such an enthusiastic fashion that it's hard not to fall under its ridiculous spell. Starring Christina Aguilera as a small-town waitress who moves to Los Angeles to fulfill her big singing dreams, and starring Cher — Cher!!! — as the owner of a burlesque club who takes the dreamin' lil songbird under her wing, Burlesque (like Cher) knows exactly what it is and exactly why we’re here. And those things are bright colors and absolute silliness. If we just happen to get to watch Cam Gigandet wiggle his cute little butt, too, then so be it. — J.A.

How to watch: Burlesque is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Blown Away Credit: Netflix

If you think glassblowing is mesmeric when you're sober, then hold on to your couch cushions for this title. Blown Away, the surprise hit reality competition series centered on professional glass artists, combines the satisfaction of a How It's Made segment with the fun and format of Top Chef. (Did we mention molten glass kind of looks like food?) It's a killer binge you'll knock out in no time. — A.F.

How to watch: Blown Away Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Netflix.

21. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Credit: Universal Pictures

We've already been playing Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. games while high as a kite for as long as we can remember, so the best compliment we can give the 2023 movie is that it doesn't harsh our buzz in the slightest. There's nothing like the terrifying Dennis Hopper in Koopa drag from the 1993 movie version here — just the simplest of pop colors and sounds, not to mention a kid-friendly story that's so easy to follow you can feel fine getting lost in those pop colors and sounds.

SEE ALSO: 10 times 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' made me want to scream, for better or for worse

Our favorite plumbers (now voiced by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day) find themselves plunged from Brooklyn to the Mushroom Kingdom via a faulty pipe, and they must fight their way back, help Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) save the place, kick some Koopa (Jack Black) butt, yadda yadda yadda. It's all just an excuse to hang our happy nostalgia on, to make us feel like we're sucked into the games we grew up on (or are in the process of growing up on). As such, the movie wasn't just a box office smash; it jumped high and hit that castle flag right where it counts. — J.A.

How to watch: The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Absurd Planet

Nature documentaries are always strong contenders for when you want viewing that's both relaxing and awe-inspiring. But Netflix's Absurd Planet is an especially good choice for when you're high. It blends absurdist comedy with pretty visuals, the occasional cartoon, and mind-blowing facts. (Fair warning, though, this show can be kind of cringe-inducing if you're not high. Prep accordingly.) — A.F.

How to watch: Absurd Planet Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Pineapple Express

Want a stoner comedy that's a rollicking adventure? Then jump onto this 2008 gem from Judd Apatow. Renowned real-life toker Seth Rogen stars as a stoner whose visit to his dopey dealer (James Franco) becomes a life-or-death crisis when he witnesses a murder. Now on the run together —and high out of their minds — they have to depend on each other to survive. Danny McBride, Rosie Perez, and Craig Robinson co-star in this wild ride. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Pineapple Express is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Floor Is Lava Credit: Netflix

Witness strangers yeeting themselves into oblivion with one of Netflix's best reality shows. Floor Is Lava is exactly what it sounds like, turning the beloved living room game into a full-scale obstacle course with a cash prize at the finish line. Great casting, fun set decoration, and the warm presence of host Rutledge Wood make this a fun binge to fall into while relaxing. — A.F.

How to watch: Floor Is Lava: Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.

17. The Mind, Explained

Explore the nooks and crannies of your head's ooey-gooey center (too much?) with The Mind, Explained. In this 10-part docu-series narrated by Emma Stone and Julianne Moore, psychologists, doctors, and other experts discuss the mysteries surrounding our academic and practical understandings of consciousness. From dreams to drugs, this series is a great primer on all sorts of fascinating areas. — A.F.

How to watch: The Mind, Explained is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Paddington

If you've found something more comforting than the sound of Ben Whishaw talking about marmalade, then please, I beg of you — all of humanity begs of you — do share. Because I’m pretty sure the Paddington movies were invented as a psyop to turn us all into grinning mush. To what end I don’t know yet. I don’t actually care. They can do whatever they want to me, as long as I get to keep hearing Ben Whishaw talk about marmalade.

While Paddington 2 is the slightly superior film (having a funnier villain in Hugh Grant), we’ll happily make do with Paul King’s original 2014 live-action animated mash-up. It sees the cuddly rain-slicker-wearing bear of Michael Bond’s stories (voiced by Whishaw) taken in by the Brown family (Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins) after finding himself lost in London, only to then run afoul of an evil museum taxidermist. As one does. That she is played with relish by Nicole Kidman is a bonus. As is the much marmalade loved along the way! — J.A.

How to watch: Paddington is now streaming on Netflix.

15. My Octopus Teacher Credit: Netflix

Dive into one of South Africa's bustling kelp forests with documentarian Craig Foster in the Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher. Following Foster's relationship with a wild octopus he befriended while swimming along the coast, this captivating movie examines humans' connection to and responsibility for nature. — A.F.

How to watch: My Octopus Teacher is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Nailed It! Credit: Netflix

I don't know about you, but competition shows tend to stress me out — even when sober. That's why Nailed It!, now seven seasons strong, has always been more my speed. The baking contestants are brought onto the show specifically because of how outrageously untalented they are, and in the good spirit of camaraderie we're all invited to openly mock their trainwreck concoctions once they’re unceremoniously unveiled. But it’s never mean-spirited. Everybody is in on the joke. And hosts Nicole Byer and the ever-grinning chocolatier Jacques Torres, along with a delicious variety of guest judges, foster an environment of effervescent goofiness, one hot mess at a time. — J.A.

How to watch: Nailed It! Season 1-7 are now streaming on Netflix.

13. Bullet Train

Our critic called this David Leitch action flick the most fun they’d had in a theater in the summer of 2022, and now you can surf the candy-bright thrill ride from the sunken-in comfort of your own sofa. What’s not to love? Especially because you can now fast-forward past the couple of boring patches littered across this two-hour-plus flick, or pause and grab yourself some sugary snacks before the next inevitable whizz-bang action scene arrives. And they keep on arriving.

Starring Brad Pitt as an assassin code-named "Ladybug" who's boarded the titular transpo to snatch a top-secret briefcase before its arrival in Kyoto, Bullet Train offers a nonstop parade of over-the-top characters, each of them here to beat Pitt’s butt but good. Played by familiar faces such as Joey King, Andrew Koji, Bad Bunny, Zazie Beetz, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, and the best-in-show tag-team twins Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry, this movie pops from explosive set piece to explosive set piece. It's like John Wick as performed by Looney Tunes. — J.A.

How to watch: Bullet Train is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Speed Cubers Credit: Netflix

Few things are as charming as watching hobbyists celebrate their unique interests and tremendous talents. In just 40 minutes, Netflix's The Speed Cubers introduces its audience to the mind-blowing world of competitive speed-cubing and finds a compelling, character-driven narrative at its core. Inspirational yet goofy, this short film offers an excellent bit of comfort content. — A.F.

How to watch: The Speed Cubers is now streaming on Netflix.

11. RRR

Kick-dancing off with an Oscar for Best Song for its show-stopping "Naatu Naatu" number, this Telugu historical action epic from director S.S. Rajamouli is three hours of nonstop, big-budget awesomeness that will grab you about the collar from its opening scene and not let go 'til the final credit has rolled. In between, you’ll see a man swing a motorcycle like a baseball bat and a riot of fierce zoo animals weaponized against the enemy army, among many, many such spectacular visions. And it’s all in the name of making best friends-turned-enemies (Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) turn back into best friends again. The things some men will do to avoid intimacy! — J.A.

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Maniac

Patrick Somerville's limited series is without question the most thematically heavy title on this list. So if you want to keep things on the lighter side, make Maniac your last choice. That said, this compelling story of a friendship forged from an interdimensional drug trial is an excellent pick if you're seeking something visually complex and narratively mind-bendy. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone give astounding performances that are both multidimensional and captivating. — A.F.

How to watch: Maniac is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics

Let's be honest: The best time to hear someone talk about being high is when you are also high. Sting, Sarah Silverman, Nick Offerman, A$AP Rocky, and more share their experiences with psychedelics in this bizarre documentary from Donick Cary. Funny and thoughtful, Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics offers equal parts entertainment and insight. As Sting puts it, "I don't think psychedelics are the answer to the world's problems. But they could be a start." — A.F.

How to watch: Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics is now streaming on Netflix.

8. The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience

A celebration of rap, comedy, and the Oakland Athletics, The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience is the surprise short film Lonely Island fans didn't know they needed. Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer, portraying MLB players Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, unceasingly commit to the bit in a 30-minute tribute to the limits of sanity, reason, and acceptability.* — A.F.

How to watch: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Credit: Netflix

Yes, there's a lot of antifa going on in Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, it's true. Set in WWII-era Italy, our favorite puppet-maker Geppetto is suicidally depressed after his son's death in a bombing, so he creates the little wooden boy with the lie-sniffing nose to fill the emptiness in his life. Del Toro's stop-motion masterpiece takes perfect aim at fascist forces, just as he did with the dark fairy tale Pan's Labyrinth back in 2006. Walt Disney's 2D-animated version of this story has been infamous for decades for giving kid's nightmares — the donkeys, the donkeys! — and yet del Toro's movie makes that cartoon seem positively sunny in comparison. 

Sometimes there is nothing more transfixing when you're totally and completely baked than the sight of elaborately hand-crafted magic tricks, and as such, the stop-motion wizardry on display here in this monstrously detailed movie will truly blow your mind. The craftspeople who built this world were at the top of their game; there's not a single nook nor a single cranny where your eye couldn't wander off and get lost inside every single frame of film. The "Monstro the Whale" sequence alone, my God! Your eyes will feast well on this beauty. — J.A.

How to watch: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Midnight Gospel Credit: Netflix

Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward's The Midnight Gospel is one of many stellar adult cartoons to enjoy while high. Tuca and Bertie, Big Mouth, BoJack Horseman, they're all great. Still, The Midnight Gospel goes further, farther, and faster in terms of visual interest, existential themes, and hypnotizing soundscapes. If you haven't watched it yet, buckle up and prepare to be changed. — A.F.

How to watch: The Midnight Gospel is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Delicious in Dungeon Credit: Netflix

If you like fantasy adventures and food, you'll appreciate this offbeat but delectable animated series. Based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryōko Kui, Delicious in Dungeon follows Elven mage Marcille and Halfling thief Chilchuck, who are on a quest to rescue their friend from the belly of a dragon before she is digested! This means traveling deep into a foreboding dungeon, where they will have to not only have to battle monsters, but also find nourishment in their grim environment. Lucky for them, they fatefully cross paths with a cook, who considers monster meat cuisine! Each episode of this anime offers bite-sized comedy and cartoony food porn, so while you watch, have snacks handy. — K.P.

How to watch: Delicious in Dungeon is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Fantastic Fungi 

Showcasing gorgeous time-lapse nature photography of toadstools and their brethren rising and shrinking like the living beings they very much are, Louie Schwartzberg’s 2019 documentary is the ultimate veg-out trip. Over a phantasmagoria of fungi footage (narrated by Brie Larson), environmentalists, scientists, and other experts are interviewed about the medicinal and (you know) extracurricular properties of these little alien creatures that dot our world’s dirt. By its end, this doc will truly convince you there be magic in them there 'shrooms. — J.A.

How to watch: Fantastic Fungi is now streaming on Netflix.

3. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City Credit: Netflix

Watching any comedy special you love is a great option for entertaining yourself while high — and Netflix does have a mountain of options to choose from on that front. (Seriously, here's 27 of the best comedy specials.) That said, John Mulaney's 2018 special, Kid Gorgeous at Radio City, will always hold the #1 spot in our humor-loving hearts. "There's a HORSE. In the HOSPITAL." — A.F.

How to watch: John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City is now streaming on Netflix.

2. A Trip to Infinity

If I’ve learned anything from watching Richard Linklater movies, it’s that some people, whilst stoned, like to wax real deep on real big thoughts and jazz. Well, Jonathan Halperin and Drew Takahashi’s 2022 documentary about the search for the meaning of that really, really, really big number known as infinity (plus one!) is tailor-made to blow such minds. With insights from some of the greatest modern thinkers in mathematics, physics, and philosophy, the film goes even one step further, illustrating their concepts of enormity with trippy animations. It all adds up to one smoky after-hours-at-grad-school haze to groove on, man. — J.A.

How to watch: A Trip to Infinity is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend Credit: Eric Liebowitz / Netflix

If you're up for a more active viewing experience, consider diving into the delightfully weird Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend. This interactive Netflix special adds Daniel Radcliffe to the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt family as Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski, Carol Kane, and Jon Hamm return for another killer Kimmy adventure. — A.F.

How to watch: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2024, 4:33 p.m. EDT This article was updated to reflect the latest streaming options.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poet's Department, her 11th studio album, just dropped — and "Black Dog" is getting people talking about location tracking.

In the melancholic song, Swift revealed that her ex forgot to revoke her access for tracking his location, allowing her to see him walking into a bar called Black Dog.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift, please delete your ex's location

With all of this hoopla about location tracking, you may be wondering how to do it yourself.

How to use your iPhone to track your partner's location

First off, it's important to note that you cannot track anyone's location without their permission. As such, before you can go about tracking anyone's location, the person will receive a prompt to allow you to access their whereabouts.

Here's a quick how-to on how to keep tabs on your loved ones — for safety, of course.

1. Tap on the "Messages" app. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 2. Tap on the friend or loved one you'd like to track.3. Tap on the "+" button. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 4. Hit "Location." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 5. You may get an "Allow 'Messages' to use your location" prompt. Hit "Allow While Using App." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 6. Tap on the blue arrow to send the location request. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If your location request is accepted, you'll get a notification and see a small map that lets you see your loved one's current whereabouts.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can click on it to grab directions or share it with someone else.

Running a marathon has got to be one of the toughest physical challenges in life, and participants are willingly putting themselves through this torture. We can't say we fully understand this desire to suffer, but we're more than happy to watch and encourage those brave runners.

The London Marathon is an annual 26.2 mile footrace through the streets of (you guessed it) London. This popular event was first held in 1981, and represents one of the world’s six major marathons. If you are looking for key information on how to follow this year's London Marathon, you have come to the right place.

When is the London Marathon?

The London Marathon will start on the morning of April 21 in 2024.

Where can you watch the London Marathon in 2024?

You can follow events with ease in the UK, as the London Marathon will be broadcast live on BBC One (and BBC iPlayer). This broadcasting relationship hasn't changed since the first London Marathon. 

How to watch the London Marathon for free

Connecting to BBC iPlayer to watch the London Marathon is straightforward from the UK. Simply visit the site and log in to watch all the action. It's not complicated.

If you attempt to connect to BBC iPlayer from anywhere else in the world, you'll be quickly blocked by the service. The only way to get around this blockade is with a streaming-friendly VPN. You can use a VPN to hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in the UK. This process is quick and easy, and tricks sites like BBC iPlayer into thinking you are based in the UK.

Unblock BBC iPlayer 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream the 2024 London Marathon for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

Something to note is that the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By using these guarantees, you can watch London Marathon live streams without fully committing with your cash.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 London Marathon for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a 12min Premium Plan is on sale for £28.06, saving you 90% on list price.

That old saying, "You learn something new every day," isn’t always true, especially for those of us juggling work, commuting, hobbies, and precious free time. Though, you may still have an itch to learn and grow. The good news is that you can, and it doesn’t have to take up much time if you have 12min.

Just as this app’s name suggests, you can learn something new in as little as 12 minutes with nonfiction books broken down into micro reads or podcasts. Set a goal to discover something new every day for the rest of your life with a lifetime subscription for £28.06.

With 24 categories and more than 2,500 titles, there’s almost surely something that interests you, whether it’s personal finance, business, history, science and technology, self-growth, or biographies. While 12min does feature popular nonfiction titles summarized into bite-sized pieces, you can also explore original content you won’t find anywhere else.

Since 12min lives right on your iPhone or Android, you can turn any gap of free time into a learning opportunity. You can even download content ahead of time for offline access or sync with your Kindle.

12min’s personalised daily recommendations and challenges might keep you motivated and coming back to learn. You can even take a quiz at the end of each summary to check what you’ve learned if you’re into that school-like experience. 

Uniquely, you can also access 12min text and audio summaries in Spanish and Portuguese. Those who are also on a language-learning journey could grow multiple skills at once.

Truly learn something new every day with lifetime access to 12min for £28.06. 

Opens in a new window Credit: 12min 12min Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) £28.06 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The new season of the IPL is in full swing and is already showcasing incredible talent and fierce competition among the teams. The latest fixture sees Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad take to the pitch as some of the best cricket players go head-to-head.

Want to tune in? You can watch Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad for free from anywhere in the world, as we have all the information you need.

When is Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad starts at 3 p.m. BST on April 20. This fixture will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India.

How to watch Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad for free

JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

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

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 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 India

4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

5. WatchDelhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Manchester City vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Manchester City have been fighting it out for the Premier League and Champions League this season, so another match squeezed into their busy schedule is not ideal. But this is an FA Cup semi-final, so it's not just another game. It's a legitimate chance at making another final for a team that continues to impress year after year.

If you want to watch Manchester City vs. Chelsea for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester City vs. Chelsea?

Manchester City vs. Chelsea kicks off at 5:15 p.m. BST on April 20. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Chelsea for free

Manchester City vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final will be broadcast live on BBC One, with free live streaming available on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Manchester City vs. Chelsea for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Manchester City vs. Chelsea before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Manchester City vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final for free with ExpressVPN.