Technology

NASA has launched its latest mission to study Mars, with a little push from Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin.

Hitching a ride on a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, NASA's pair of Escapade (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecrafts were launched at at 3:55 p.m. ET Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Built by Rocket Lab, the spacecrafts are part of NASA’s first mission led by the University of California, Berkeley. In a frankly adorable post on X, Rocket Lab posted an image of the twins (named Blue and Gold for the school colours of UC Berkeley), confirming ground communications with both spacecrafts — NASA said contact was established by 10:35 p.m. ET.

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Blue Origin CEO Bezos also posted clips on X showing the spacecrafts in orbit, separating from the New Glenn rocket, with Earth far below.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: NASA quietly sends two spacecraft to Mars — and they're going a new way

According to NASA, the spacecraft will be deployed to study how Mars' environment is impacted by the sun and solar winds, and provide crucial data for preparing human exploration of the red planet.

"Congratulations to Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, UC Berkeley, and all our partners on the successful launch of ESCAPADE. This heliophysics mission will help reveal how Mars became a desert planet, and how solar eruptions affect the Martian surface," said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy in a statement.

Mashable science reporter Elisha Sauers describes more details of the Escapade mission, what it could achieve, and how much it cost, writing:

Escapade could set a precedent for how NASA and the commercial space industry approach interplanetary missions in the future. From soup to nuts, Escapade had a budget of $80 million, under NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program. Rocket Lab built the twin probes in just 3.5 years for $57 million, a relatively cheap price compared to the billions the agency would normally spend. Those costly missions are a product of legacy aerospace contracts based on the cost-plus-fixed-fee model, which allowed the builders to run over budget without picking up the tab.

If you want to watch the New Glenn rocket take NASA's Escapades into the sky, you can watch Blue Origin's stream below (the launch sits around the one hour, 40-minute mark):

For a much more detailed analysis of the Escapade mission, Mashable's got you covered. And if you're looking for a way to mark the occasion, there's really only one song:

Netflix's In Your Dreams introduces audiences to a brand-new lovable animal sidekick: Baloney Tony (voiced by Craig Robinson).

A stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony is the beloved toy of young chaos agent Elliot (voiced by Elias Janssen). Like most stuffed animals after a few years of cuddles and playtime, he's certainly seen better days. He's missing an eye, his neck is floppy, and Elliot loves nothing more than to stuff his pouch full of baloney.

SEE ALSO: 'In Your Dreams' review: Kids fight to save their parents' marriage in thoughtful animated adventure

Elliot's sister Stevie (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) despises Baloney Tony and the rancid meat inside him, so long before In Your Dreams even begins, she hides him under the family fridge. However, when Stevie and Elliot embark on a quest in their dreams, they're reunited with Baloney Tony. In the dream world, he can walk, he can talk, and he can fart lasers. What more could you want from a sidekick?

In a Say More interview with Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards, In Your Dreams director Alex Woo revealed that he drew inspiration for Baloney Tony from his childhood.

"My aunt bought [my brother and I] these two teddy bears that were Santa-related, so they're called Santa Bears. My brother, he had a bloody nose one day, and he got some bloodstains on his Santa Bear near the tail, and so we ended up calling it 'Butthole Bear,'" Woo recalled. "Obviously, it was his stuffed animal, and so he loved it despite how gross it was. That was the inspiration for Baloney Tony, this idea that our stuffed animals, even though they can be gross and disgusting, they're still ours. There's something about our connection to them that, despite them having rancid meat odors, they bring us warmth and familiarity and they make us feel like we're at home."

From there, Woo taught us how to actually draw Baloney Tony, describing his design as being inspired by cheap stuffed animals you can get at state fairs or in arcade claw machines. You can draw along with Woo above to master the art of Baloney Tony.

To hear more about In Your Dreams, check out Woo's full Say More interview on YouTube, where Woo teaches us how to draw even more characters from the film.

In Your Dreams is now streaming on Netflix.

Disney+ will allow its users to create and consume AI-generated content on the platform. This is according to Disney CEO Bob Iger, speaking on the company's fourth quarter earnings call.

SAVE OVER $150: As of Nov. 14, the Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage Three-Piece Set is on sale for $239.99 at Amazon. This is $160 off its usual price of $399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsonite Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage (3-Piece Set) $239.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $160   Get Deal

The holidays are coming up fast, and if you have travel plans in place, a good luggage set can help you make the journey with all of your gifts in tow. If you're looking for some new suitcases for holiday travel, a stunning early Black Friday deal has dropped on a premium three-piece set of Samsonite luggage.

The Samsonite Omni 2 hardside expandable luggage three-piece set has dropped to $239.99 at Amazon. This is 40% off its list price of $399.99, which allows you to keep $160 in your pocket. This set is incredibly close to its lowest-ever price of $229.58, so why wait to grab them? This deal is one worth picking up ahead of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

This Samsonite luggage set comes with three sizes of suitcase — a 20-inch carry on, a medium suitcase, and a large option — so you can have a variety on-hand, whether you're going away for a long trip or just a quick weekend away. And with 360 degree spinner wheels, you can cruise easily to your next destination. They also have a durable build and even come with a 10-year warranty, which is nice peace of mind with an investment like this.

Feel prepared for holiday travels with some solid new suitcases. Save big on the Samsonite Omni 2 hardside expandable luggage three-piece set at Amazon. Curious what else Amazon is offering ahead of Black Friday? Check out our breakdown of early Black Friday deals at Amazon.

These days, it's hard to imagine a world without internet access. We spend so much of our work and personal lives online that having a constant internet connection has become second nature. When something stops you from accessing the internet, such as your ISP going down, it can feel like a real shock. If this happens to you, there are a few ways to get online until your internet connection comes back.

TL;DR: Live stream New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA Cup is still in its early stages, but the New York Knicks are already in the position of needing a win. Next they face the Miami Heat, a team that looks renewed and resurgent this season with a new style. Did anyone ever truly doubt Erik Spoelstra?

If you want to watch Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Knicks vs. Heat?

Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup starts at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 14. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.

How to watch Knicks vs. Heat for free

Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

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 clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

FREE AUDIOBOOKS: Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2025 is live on Nov. 14-15. Download free audiobooks for 48 hours only, with no limit on the number of downloads.

We're always waxing lyrical about Stuff Your Kindle Day. These special events provide awesome opportunities for bookworms to stock up on new reads without spending anything. You don't get much for free these days, so we feel duty bound to make a lot of noise when these giveaways go live.

And the same goes for Stuff Your Earbuds Day. This event doesn't come around nearly as often as Stuff Your Kindle Day, but that just makes it more special. The audio equivalent to Stuff Your Kindle Day lets participants score free audiobooks over a limited period of time. And better yet, everything that you download is yours to keep forever.

Want to make the most of Stuff Your Earbuds Day? We've lined up all the information you need.

What is Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Stuff Your Earbuds Day is an annual event hosted by Romance Audiobookworms. During this event, audiobook listeners can score literally hundreds of free audiobooks from romance authors across a wide range of genres. The free audiobooks are live for 48 hours, with no limit on the number of downloads.

When is Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2024?

The 2025 Stuff Your Earbuds Day takes place on Nov. 14-15. Need a reminder? You can sign up for the Indie Audiobook Deals newsletter to be notified when new audiobook sales and freebies drop.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Much like Stuff Your Kindle Day, anyone can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day. Simply find your favorite audiobook and download it on your preferred platform. It's that simple.

The best Stuff Your Earbuds Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $84.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $44.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple deals are looking extremely healthy ahead of Black Friday. Apple AirPods 4 are already down to a record-low price at Amazon. These popular earbuds earned a coveted Mashable Choice Award — need we say more?

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're evasive.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 14, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Low-key elusive

The words are related to visibility.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe faintness.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Barely There.

NYT Strands word list for November 14

• Nebulous

• Faint

• Barely There

• Understated

• Subtle

• Tenuous

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love bold colors.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Bright-colored.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LURID

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 14, 2025

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love stunts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To assess

• Green: AM or FM

• Blue: Film types

• Purple: Classic films

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Evaluate

• Green: Radio tuning options

• Blue: Action film subgenres

• Purple: Classic '90s action films

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #888 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Evaluate: GRADE, JUDGE, RATE, REVIEW

• Radio tuning options: BAND, CHANNEL, FREQUENCY, STATION

• Action film subgenres: BUDDY, DISASTER, MARTIAL ARTS, SUPERHERO

• Classic '90s action films: ARMAGEDDON, HARD BOILED, HEAT, SPEED

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 14, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 9. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this orange space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this green space must add to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

The SwitchBot Hub 3 is the newest and most versatile hub from SwitchBot, one that also cosplays as a humidity sensor, thermometer, and universal remote. It's great at some of these things, but there's plenty of functionality I would have preferred to see left off entirely.

MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 14, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is $79.95 at Amazon, which is market value compared to TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box $79.95 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.04   Get Deal

Looking for your Mega Evolution fix? Phantasmal Flames drops today, but I'm still chasing that Mega Lucario SIR goodness, and Amazon has just made it that little bit easier to do so. Right now, Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Boxes are at market value compared to TCGplayer.

In the X and Y era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution mechanics were ridiculous. Every EX card from the time was a basic Pokémon, so no need for evolution, just Mega Evolution and Spirit Link cards to help you play them sooner. It kind of broke the TCG for many, with strategy and deckbuilding coming down to who could afford the best Mega Evolution beatdown cards.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

With the exception of Pokémon like Absol who would have a basic ex card anyway, Mega Evolution this time around requires the comon and uncommon evolution lines to play Mega Evolved Pokémon, skipping the standard ex stage and straight into Mega Evolution. It flows very well, bringing in hard hitting moves without turning gameplay into a one-sided argument.

Promo Illustration Rare Alakazam features in the Gardevoir variant, with the Mega Lucario ETB featuring a Promo Illustration Rare Riolu alongside themed card sleeves, dice, card dividers, eight booster packs, and a tidy box to store your bulk cards in.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

We're seeing Mega Evolution finding a new floor value-wise when it comes to single cards, which is in part thanks to the availability of the set. If you're chasing the heavy hitters of the new era of Pokémon TCG, you'll likely save money just buying the card you want over opening infinite booster packs. Here's the top five Mega Evolution case cards including where to buy and up-to-date market values:

1. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $488
   Market price: $496.44
   Most recent sale: $495

2. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $365
   Market price: $408.31
   Most recent sale: $350

3. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $224.85
   Market price: $222.45
   Most recent sale: $222.95

4. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $245
   Market price: $220.31
   Most recent sale: $205

5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $185.15
   Market price: $166.71
   Most recent sale: $135

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 14, the 2024 Mac mini is on sale for $499 at Amazon. This is $100 off its list price of $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2024 Mac mini M4 $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100   Get Deal

Early Black Friday deals have arrived — if you've been looking to invest in new tech, now is a great time to do it. So many popular items have already gone on sale ahead of the event's official start date at the end of the month, including plenty of Apple products.

The 2024 Mac mini M4 is currently marked down to below $500 at Amazon. The 2024 Mac mini is listed for $499 at Amazon, to be exact. This is $100 off its usual price of $599, which is an excellent deal to consider ahead of Black Friday. Packed with an M4 chip, this tiny but mighty device is more than worth the investment for Apple users.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

The M4 chip in the 2024 Mac mini provides speedy performance so you can zip through work and personal projects. This model also comes with 16GB of Unified Memory and a 256GB SSD. On top of that, it features a variety of connections — including Thunderbolt, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB-C ports, and a headphone jack — all in a wonderfully compact footprint that can fit neatly beside a monitor. At only five by five inches, its sleek design can be tucked away so it doesn't stand out too much on your desk.

No need to wait for Black Friday. Score $100 off the 2024 Mac mini at Amazon today.

There are plenty of Apple deals to explore right now ahead of Black Friday. Scroll through our roundup of the 30+ best early Black Friday Apple deals to see what else is available. We even have a breakdown of the best early Black Friday deals from Amazon.

Though open earbuds share the common feature of sitting on the exterior of the ear, they come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are more geared toward working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick thanks to their sound quality and many colorways, but they're far from your only option (or the most affordable, at $299).

SEE ALSO: We've found the 9 best headphones of 2025 after extensive testing

Below, we've compiled some of the best open earbud models available in 2025. For each of our picks below, one of the best times of year to grab a good deal is during Black Friday. As sales start to ramp up, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are $100 off, and the Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2 earbuds are down to $77.99 for Amazon Prime members.

Note: This guide is a work in progress, so we'll possibly be shifting (or expanding) our recommendations as we continue to test pairs.

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds allow you to get as close as you possibly can to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds which sit in your ear canal (as the name states), open earbuds sit just outside your ears. Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of the world around you. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with the general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping them in place, and keeping you alert, while you're working out.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't generally come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our upgrade pick, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, even have a spatial audio feature that worked surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) while be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel light, it's something to be aware of.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. Up next, we'll be trying out budget pairs of open earbuds under $100, as well as more pairs from Shokz.

In addition to the earbuds that made our final guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Nov. 14, the 85-inch Hisense Canvas TV is on sale for $1,947.99 at Amazon. That's over $100 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-Inch Canvas TV $1,947.99 at Amazon
$2,049.99 Save $102.00   Get Deal

Black Friday deals are growing in number, and the latest discount on the Hisense 85-inch Canvas TV is something that deserves your attention. As of Nov. 14, you can save $102 on this impressive TV, a deal that brings it down to its lowest-ever price.

There's lots going for this TV, but its real selling point is its ability to turn your screen into famous works of art. When not in use, transform your screen into something that enhances your surroundings. The hi-matte display makes each picture look like the real thing. You can even change the color of the frame thanks to its magnetic connection. Choose from teak, white, or walnut. Whatever suits your aesthetic or your mood.

SEE ALSO: The 100-inch Hisense Class QD6 QLED 4K TV is sitting at a new record-low price before Black Friday

The TV offers 4K QLED with Quantum Dot technology, so everything you watch is sharp and clear. And if you're a gamer, this TV’s 144Hz Game Mode Pro is built to keep things smooth and responsive. It supports a variable refresh rate from 48Hz to 144Hz, along with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Auto Low Latency Mode, and low-latency motion processing to cut down on screen tearing and input lag. It also benefits from a new Game Bar to change your settings right from the TV remote.

Get this TV deal at Amazon ahead of Black Friday.

Astronomers have captured the first clear evidence of a giant eruption of charged gas from a distant star, marking a turning point in the study of space weather.

The outburst came from a red dwarf star about 130 light-years away in space. It was identified as a coronal mass ejection, or CME, the kind of explosive event many people just witnessed coming from the sun in the form of psychedelic auroras. Those curtains of colors in the sky are the result of huge clouds of magnetized plasma whooshing toward the planet and interacting with gases in Earth's air. 

Scientists have long wondered whether other stars produce the same kinds of explosions. Many exoplanets orbit extremely close to their small, violent hosts. That proximity places them in the firing line of stellar eruptions that could strip away their atmospheres. If these stars have frequent and powerful blasts, it's unlikely the nearby worlds could support life. 

Detecting a CME beyond the sun ends decades of speculation about whether other stars unleash similar eruptions. Prior to this observation, researchers had only found clues, like sudden dimming or shifts in a star’s light. But an international team was able to make the discovery by detecting a two-minute burst of radio waves racing away from the star. 

"This kind of radio signal just wouldn’t exist unless material had completely left the star’s bubble of powerful magnetism," Joe Callingham of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy said in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: NASA has a broken giant antenna that could upend its 2026 plans

The finding, published in Nature this week, used data from two major European observatories: the Low Frequency Array, a continent-wide network of radio telescopes, and the XMM-Newton space observatory operated by the European Space Agency. 

Coronal mass ejection effects

As a CME travels, it produces a shock wave that blasts out radio waves sliding from high to low frequencies over time. The team identified this distinct pattern in the signal from the red dwarf, known as StKM 1-1262, confirming that the eruption had broken free of the star’s magnetic field and escaped into interstellar space.

"This eruption would be devastating for a planet around such a star," said Callingham, first author of the paper.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

On Earth, the atmosphere and magnetic field shield creatures against the most harmful health impacts of solar radiation during solar storms. But these events can knock out satellites and power grids. A solar flare in March 1989, for example, caused all of Quebec, Canada, to experience a 12-hour power outage. It also jammed radio signals for Radio Free Europe.

The red dwarf's blast was extreme even by solar standards. The ejected material was moving at about 5.37 million mph, a speed recorded in only a tiny fraction of the sun’s CMEs. Such force would be enough to strip the atmosphere from any planet orbiting close to the star, leaving its surface exposed to radiation and transforming it into a bald rock, according to the research.

Red dwarf star systems and habitability Astronomers don't know whether rocky worlds orbiting close to red dwarf stars can hold onto their atmospheres. Credit: NASA / ESA / G. Bacon / J. de Wit illustration

Red dwarfs like StKM 1-1262 are smaller and dimmer than the sun but much more magnetically active. They make up most of the stars in the Milky Way and host the largest number of known planets roughly the size of Earth. Because their habitable zones — regions in space where the temperature is just right for liquid water to pool on surfaces — lie much closer to the stars, these planets are likely subjected to far more frequent stellar storms.

"It seems intense space weather may be even more extreme around smaller stars — the primary hosts of potentially habitable exoplanets," said Henrik Eklund, a European Space Agency research fellow based in the Netherlands, in a statement. 

Scientists leading a high-priority observing program with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope are trying to answer the question of whether rocky planets circling these stars, also called M-dwarfs, can hold onto their atmospheres. 

The campaign, first reported by Mashable in 2024, will use Webb to look for signs of carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas, using a novel method for studying atmospheres, called the secondary eclipse technique. Meanwhile, the Hubble Space Telescope will focus on the stars themselves, studying their ultraviolet radiation output. 

"If you found out that none of them have atmospheres, that would be pretty sad," Néstor Espinoza, an astronomer leading the program, told Mashable, "but also pretty interesting. It would mean that our planetary system is actually really, really special."

Future observatories will build on this discovery to identify more stellar eruptions and map how they influence the environments of planets throughout the galaxy.

TL;DR: Save $159 on Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, and never worry about Microsoft 365 renewals or fees again.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $59.97
$219 Save $159.03   Get Deal

Why keep paying monthly for Microsoft 365 when you can own the same apps outright? Microsoft Office 2021 provides you with lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, all for a one-time fee. Through Nov. 16, you only have to pay $59.97 instead of the usual $219 price.

You can rest assured that this isn’t some watered-down online-only version. It’s the full desktop suite — which means you can work offline, organize your life, manage your business, or tackle schoolwork with all the tools you already know and love.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best tablets of 2025: I compared iPads, the Microsoft Surface Pro, and Amazon Fire

Need to build spreadsheets that auto-calculate your vacation days? Done. Want to make a PowerPoint that actually wows your coworkers? Easy. Would you prefer to write your next great novel in Word while offline in a cozy café? Go for it.

Whether you’re a solopreneur juggling invoices and pitches, a parent managing school reports and schedules, or just someone who likes their digital life neat and organized, the lifetime version of Office gives you the flexibility to handle it all.

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Since this license is tied to your Microsoft Account (not your device), you can reinstall it if you upgrade your Mac down the road. It’s a pretty rare combo: future-proof, fuss-free, and forever yours.

Download Microsoft Office for Mac while it’s on sale for $59.97 until Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This is your chance to own or gift a 2023 MacBook Air 15-inch M2 for $769.99 (reg. $1,299) — a near-mint powerhouse with premium performance, stunning visuals, and all-day battery life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2023 15-Inch (Refurbished) $769.99
$1,299 Save $529.01   Get Deal

Looking for the holiday gift that’s sleek, smart, and seriously powerful? You might’ve just found it here.

The Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) with the M2 chip is down to just $769.99 (reg. $1,299) — a rare find for anyone who’s been waiting for the right moment to upgrade (or to finally join Team Mac).

SEE ALSO: The 9 best early Black Friday MacBook deals to shop before the main event

This 15-inch model blends everything Apple’s known for — speed, design, and simplicity — into one ultra-thin frame that’s as easy on the eyes as it is to carry.

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And yes, it’s refurbished — but don’t let that word fool you. This unit comes in Grade A condition, meaning it looks and performs like new. For under $800, you’re getting one of Apple’s most beloved laptops at a price that makes sense for gifting or upgrading.

Because when it comes to tech gifts, nothing says “I nailed it” like a MacBook that’s 40% off. Get this near-mint MacBook Air with M2 chip while it’s only $769.99 (reg. $1,299) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I fell in love with Arco from its very first frames.

In these opening moments, a flock of birds soars towards a cluster of towers jutting into the clouds, each holding up platforms covered in greenery and wind turbines. The image is utopian, yet there's a slightly foreboding to it. What led humanity to move to the sky? What lies below the clouds? The answer, unsurprisingly, is ecological disaster of our own making.

SEE ALSO: Neon's 'Arco' trailer is the prettiest thing you'll watch today

That tension between beauty and hard truths fuels the entirety of Arco, as French director Ugo Bienvenu pairs a charming tale of friendship with a sobering look at the realities of climate change. It's a glorious sci-fi journey, one told through the most remarkable animation you'll see this year.

What's Arco about?

The people who live on the platforms from Arco's opening scene are able to time travel. They fly to the past with the help of colorful cloaks and light-refracting crystals, bringing rainstorms and rainbows as they go.

Kids under the age of 12 are not allowed to use this technology, which doesn't sit right with 10-year-old Arco (voiced by Juliano Valdi in the English-language dub). So what does this aspiring adventurer do? He steals his sister's cloak and jets off to 2075, only to find himself stuck there. Thankfully, he has a newfound friend in Iris (voiced by Romy Fay), who is determined to help him get back to his own time.

Arco is another formidable animated film about climate change. Credit: Courtesy of NEON

While Arco's future is an idyllic one, fueled by renewable energy and a deep connection to nature, Iris' version is far more troubling — and hits closer to home.

Iris lives in a suburb that would seem right at home in our current moment, apart from a few changes. Her robot caretaker Mikki (voiced by Natalie Portman and Mark Ruffalo), as well as her town's hordes of robot laborers, speaks to significant technological advancements. So, too, do the holograms her workaholic parents (also voiced by Portman and Ruffalo) use to communicate while they're away at work.

But the most telling difference between our present and Iris' future is that of the protective bubbles that pop up around people's houses during ever-frequent destructive weather events. The threat of severe storms looms over the town, while kids talk casually about their families preparing for disaster in the face of encroaching wildfires. Clearly, this is a society that lives with the impacts of climate change, yet makes no large-scale attempts to mitigate its effects for future generations. (Sound familiar?)

SEE ALSO: 'The Wild Robot' and 'Flow' are quietly revolutionary climate change movies

Arco knows that climate change — and humans' acceleration of it — is what led his ancestors to make their way above the clouds. Through his eyes, everyday elements of Iris' world become accelerants of oncoming ecological collapse, such as the town's cars, or the excess of grocery stores, as opposed to his family's homegrown approach.

Bienvenu is never too heavy-handed in his messaging around climate change. Still, each of these world-building details combine to build a growing background sense of dread, one that only makes Iris and Arco's friendship all the sweeter by comparison. They offer up hope in a rapidly deteriorating world.

Arco's treatment of climate change recalls two of 2024's most outstanding films, Flow and The Wild Robot. Like Arco, each present worlds impacted by ecological calamities. However, these are not grand, sweeping stories of saving the world, but rather stories of the innocents — like Flow and The Wild Robot's animals, or Arco's young Iris and Arco — who have no choice but to endure these storms. In addition to Flow and The Wild Robot, Arco is further proof of animation's ability to communicate the realities of climate change to younger and older audiences alike.

Arco is a downright stunner.

And what animation is on display in Arco! A comic book artist himself, Bienvenu translates his 2D illustrative style to the big screen. The effect is glorious, reminiscent of the fantastical works of Jean Giraud (aka Mœbius) and the films of Studio Ghibli.

In addition to the rainbows and solarpunk sky towers of Arco's future, Bienvenu finds wonder in the 2075 timeline. The forests of Iris' town are lush wonderlands, while her school provides unexpected opportunities for escapism. Each classroom can transform into a variety of environments, from galaxies to underwater landscapes, offering Bienvenu and his team opportunities to flex their animation muscles and take Iris and Arco's adventure to new heights.

Another highlight of the animation is the mysterious trio of men (voiced by Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, and Flea) who are tracking Arco down. They each rock colorful suits, bowl cuts, and rainbow glasses, and their bumbling attempts to find Arco are among the funniest and most visually distinct moments of the film.

In a mainstream animation landscape dominated by 3D-animated films, Arco's visuals are a testament to the enduring power of 2D work, as well as French filmmakers' commitment to the medium. If you love animation, run, don’t walk — or better yet, fly by rainbow — to catch it.

Arco is now in theaters.