Technology

SCORE ONE-WAY FLIGHTS FROM $49: Southwest's Spring Sale features select one-way flights starting at just $49, with travel valid from late March to early June. You'll want to book ASAP, though, as your last chance to score these flight deals is March 6 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Southwest Southwest Spring Sale Book flights for as low as $49 Get Deal

Just last week, Southwest Airlines ran a sale that dropped flight prices by up to 30%. If you missed out, don't fret. Another flight sale has arrived just a week later.

The Southwest Spring Sale runs through March 6 and features flights from as low as $49 one-way, with travel dates from late March to early June. Continental U.S. travel is valid between March 24 and June 11, while international travel (as well as Puerto Rico and continental U.S. to and from Hawaii) is valid between April 20 and May 21. As with any major travel sale, there is some fine print: Blackout dates may apply around Easter and Memorial Day, and the sale requires a 21-day advance purchase. Otherwise, with a little flexibility, you can book that much-needed vacation or weekender without spending a fortune.

SEE ALSO: The JetBlue Big Spring Sale has sale flights for just $49 each way

Certain seats and markets are limited, and this rate may apply to nonstop or connecting flights. For instance, I can fly from Nashville to Chicago or Atlanta for $49 or New York, Washington, DC, or Sarasota for $89. Check out the Southwest low fare calendar for an idea of what flights are available in your region.

One of our favorite sites for cheap flights, Southwest regularly holds sales with ultra-low fares. As long as you're willing to adapt your parameters to fit the Spring Sale mold, your next vacation could actually be affordable — something we don't take lightly in this economy.

On Monday, First Lady Melania Trump expressed her support for the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which targets deepfakes.

Deepfakes are AI-generated videos and images. Many created are nonconsensual explicit images using someone's likeness. Last year, for example, explicit deepfakes of Taylor Swift went viral on X, but it's not just celebrities who are in danger of being deepfaked. Everyday people (typically women) are, too, and being a victim of deepfakes can be detrimental to someone's mental health.

SEE ALSO: Apple's child safety changes put more of the onus on app developers What is the TAKE IT DOWN Act?

As Mashable's Meera Navlakha wrote in 2024, some U.S. states have already taken action against deepfakes, though regulations vary by location. Last month, though, the Senate passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill that would make it a federal crime to knowingly publish or threaten to publish explicit imagery without someone's consent, including AI-generated images, the Associated Press reported. TAKE IT DOWN is sponsored by members of both parties, including Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Social media platforms would also have 48 hours to remove such content and prevent duplicates from being posted. The Federal Trade Commission could sue non-compliant platforms, according to Axios.

In a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill on Monday, Melania Trump said, "Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm."

Despite the danger of deepfakes, many free speech organizations have concerns about the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

Why is the TAKE IT DOWN Act controversial?

Organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation sent a letter to the Senate before the vote to express their reservations about the bill.

The letter argues that the goal of TAKE IT DOWN is laudable, but the current text would result in the takedown of consensual explicit images (aka porn) or even content like journalism or political speech.

"In its current form, the bill creates a notice and takedown (NTD) mechanism that would result in the removal of not just nonconsensual intimate imagery [NDII] but also speech that is neither illegal nor actually NDII," the letter states. "This mechanism is likely unconstitutional and will undoubtedly have a censorious impact on users' free expression."

Other concerns are that TAKE IT DOWN Act would incentivize automatic filters, which could inaccurately flag legal content, and could pose a danger to end-to-end encryption (no one can read a message except the people sending and receiving it). Platforms may not be able to comply with the bill if they cannot see messages that potentially violate it, and the fear is that platforms would abandon encryption.

The organizations call for the act to be modified to account for these issues. Despite this, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill soon.

SAVE $320: The Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum is on sale at Amazon for $329.99, down from the usual price of $649.99. That's a 49% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum $329.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $320.00 Get Deal

Vacuuming is something that's always on the to-do list. Even if you vacuum today, it's bound to need a refresh within the next week. If you'd prefer to only think about vacuuming once every two months, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of March 4, the Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum is on sale for $329.99, marked down from the standard price of $649.99. That's a 49% discount that takes $320 off the list price.

SEE ALSO: The roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum is on sale for $700 off. Yes, really.

With spring and summer weather ahead, the schedule gets more packed, leaving even less time for household chores. On top of that, spring pollen loves to float in from open windows and settle on the floor and furniture, which can be bothersome for those who deal with seasonal allergies.

Instead of dealing with a dirty floor, the Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum is here to save the day. With its included charging base, the robot vacuum can collect and store up to 60 days worth of debris. Boiled down, that means you can set the robot on a cleaning schedule and only need to carve out time once every two months to empty the base.

This model uses Shark's Matrix Clean Navigation, which cleans in a matrix pattern, rather than a quick once-over. Plus, the HEPA filtration system is great for grabbing pollen and other allergens that settle onto floors and carpets.

In the Shark app, you'll be able to set a schedule, create no-go zones, and monitor the vacuum's battery level. At full charge, the robot can clean for up to 120 minutes before it'll need to head back to the base to recharge.

If your to-do list could do with some relief, today's sale price on the Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum is a great way to remove the vacuuming chore. At nearly half off, you'll score a powerful robot vacuum that'll assist with keeping your home free of spring pollen this coming season.

We're knee-deep in the era of "AI everything." As a result, most new devices boast some kind of AI functionality. But the new 11th Gen iPad is an odd exception. It's the only current-gen Apple device that lacks Apple Intelligence—an unexpected shortcoming that's notable from a cultural standpoint, but largely inconsequential for the average customer.

Google has announced the latest Android features and Pixel Feature Drop. From scam detection in Messages to new and improved live location sharing, some goodies are coming to an Android device near you.

For over twenty years, The Sims has been a household name, making billions of dollars and becoming part of popular culture. However, there is a chance it could be even bigger. By allowing players to build upon the world, EA could open up a whole new way for people to engage with the game and generate revenue.

It's easy to poke fun at the melodramatic covers of '80s hits that end almost every episode of Paradise. (I'll never forget its weirdly sad take on Starship's "We Built This City.") But there's no denying that the closer for both the Season 1 premiere and finale — Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise" — is thematically right on the money.

The song urges listeners to think twice about the homeless people they pretend to ignore on the streets. That same ignorance of those far less fortunate is the fundamental basis for Paradise, which sees billionaires living in the idyllic underground city of Paradise while the survivors of a devastating apocalypse struggle above them.

SEE ALSO: 'Paradise's big twist is exactly why you need to watch it: Review

Those themes tend to get lost in the weeds during Paradise's middle stretch, as most episodes primarily focus on Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) trying to solve President Cal Bradford's (James Marsden) murder, then leading an uprising against Paradise head Sam "Sinatra" Redmond (Julianne Nicholson). However, these themes come roaring back in Season 1's devastating flashback episode "The Day," which shows us firsthand how Paradise's rich and powerful escaped doomsday and left the rest of the world to die.

Paradise's Season 1 finale, titled "The Man Who Kept the Secrets," keeps that thematic train chugging, emphasizing again and again the monstrosity of the Paradise project. But it wouldn't be Paradise without a few more jaw-dropping reveals. Let's break down the finale, starting with the most important question of all:

Who killed Cal Bradford in Paradise? James Marsden in "Paradise." Credit: Disney / Brian Roedel

In the end, it was the librarian, in Cal's bedroom, with a rotary drill bit.

That's right: Cal's murderer was none other than Paradise librarian Trent (Ian Merrigan), who we've met very briefly in prior library scenes. Yet "The Man Who Kept the Secrets" reveals that we've actually met Trent before. He was the man who attempted to shoot Cal on the White House lawn all the way back in episode 1.

Who is Trent, and why did he want to kill Cal? Ian Merrigan in "Paradise." Credit: Disney / Brian Roedel

Before Trent kicked off his career as a librarian and presidential murderer, he worked as a supervisor on the construction of Paradise. (The cover story for the large-scale construction was that they were building a recycling facility.)

During the building process, Trent found traces of arsenopyrite residue at the work site. The substance would sicken and kill any workers who came in contact with it, but it would dissipate by the time Paradise residents moved in. The fact that no resident would be harmed is all architect Anders (Erik Svedberg-Zelman) needs to push construction along, and Trent is removed from the project because of his knowledge.

SEE ALSO: 'Paradise's apocalypse episode is absolutely unforgettable

Trent knew that the recycling facility cover story was bogus, so he tried to tell the world about the construction in Colorado and the human toll it was taking. Nobody listened, which was why he resorted to trying to shoot Cal.

How did Trent end up in Paradise?

After his assassination attempt on Cal, Trent wound up in a prison in Colorado, not far from Paradise. It's fate! During the chaos of the initial stages of the apocalypse, he managed to escape and steal a guard's uniform. He then met Eli and Margaret Davis, a couple heading to Paradise. Trent deceived then killed them, disguising himself as librarian Eli in the process. He also recruited a young woman to pose as Margaret. You may recognize her as waitress Maggie (Michelle Meredith), who's always singing the praises of Paradise's cheese fries.

That love of Paradise's deep-fried potato dish, which is slathered in cashew cheese, winds up being a red flag for Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi). Due to resident records, she knows that the real Maggie has a nut allergy and would never touch these particular cheese fries. Therefore, this Maggie must be a fake.

Trent and Maggie sneaking into Paradise is consistent with Sinatra's big reveal from the end of "The Day." She told Xavier that the DNA tied to Cal's murder didn't match any DNA within Paradise, meaning the killer came from outside. But the killer didn't sneak in after Paradise was up and running. He'd just been hiding in plain sight.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Point' review: Mindy Kaling's latest combines 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession,' and basketball

In the present, Trent reveals to Xavier that his time in Paradise made him complacent. He accepted that he belonged there and could make a brand new start. Yet all that went up in flames when Cal came to the library to make a mixtape. Renewed in his desire to get justice for his long-dead co-workers, Trent dressed up in one of the construction worker suits on display in the library, took a large rotary drill bit from the same display, and killed Cal once and for all.

That the workers who built Paradise come up so late in the season may first seem like oversight, with the finale's first few minutes coming out of left field and marking a shift in momentum from the propulsive action of "The Day." But that late introduction is the point: No one in Paradise truly acknowledges the people who made their safe haven possible. (A sanitized library exhibit doesn't count.) They certainly don't acknowledge the construction workers' deaths. And that's part of the horror of Paradise: It's the only stronghold in an apocalyptic future, yet it was designed to withhold the status quo.

As Trent says in his final speech to Xavier and Agent Robinson (Krys Marshall): "They had the chance to start over down here. Build a better world. Instead they chose more of the same. Loaded houses for the privileged few. Guns. Made this place a prison. It's the American fucking dream."

What was Cal's plan with his cigarette?

"The Man Who Kept the Secrets" doesn't just reveal Cal's killer. It also highlights what he was trying to communicate to his son Jeremy (Charlie Evans), starting with the meaning of the six-number code he wrote on one of his cigarettes.

The code was not a plane's serial number, as a foreshadowing close-up on a plane tail in episode 2 would have had us believe. Instead, it was a Dewey Decimal number.

Xavier heads to the Paradise library and tracks down the corresponding section. (Cal's mixtape for Jeremy also points him to the library.) There, he finds James Spada's book Peter Lawford: The Man Who Kept the Secrets, about actor Peter Lawford and his ties to the Kennedy family. Fitting, given the Bradfords' status as an influential dynasty themselves.

Hidden inside The Man Who Kept the Secrets are Cal's notes about the classified information on his tablet. These include how to open the external doors to Paradise and the details about the survivors on the surface. See, there's some useful information in the Paradise library! (Along with one murderer.)

Still, that's a risky plan, Cal. What if someone had really wanted to read The Man Who Kept the Secrets?

How does Paradise end for Xavier, Sinatra, and more? Julianne Nicholson in "Paradise." Credit: Disney / Brian Roedel

In addition to the case of Cal's murder and the cigarette code, Paradise wraps up some other major loose ends. While Agent Jane Robinson (Nicole Brydon Bloom) could have harmed Xavier's daughter Presley (Aliyah Mastin) on Sinatra's orders, she doesn't. Instead, she shoots Sinatra in the throat. The gunshot isn't fatal: Jane wants to keep Sinatra alive and under her thumb.

Meanwhile, Xavier still doesn't know Jane killed Agent Billy Pace (Jon Beavers), or that she was Sinatra's lackey. That spells trouble for next season, especially since Jane is a wild card whose only goal in life seems to be playing Wii games. (She's succeeded... for now.)

But the biggest development going into Paradise Season 2 is the fact that Xavier is flying out of the mountain, using Cal's notes as a guide as he searches for his wife and other survivors. That leaves us with several juicy possibilities to explore next season. What does the world look like outside Paradise? How will survivors react to the knowledge of a safe underground city? And is there truly a chance for a new beginning in this post-apocalyptic world, or is civilization doomed to repeat itself just as Paradise did?

Paradise Season 1 is now streaming on Hulu, with the Season 1 finale airing March 4.

Epic Games has announced significant updates to its approach to handling cheaters in Fortnite. The company is introducing a system designed to balance game integrity with opportunities for player rehabilitation.

Apple just revealed an updated iPad Air with an M3 chip. It still starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, but there’s not much of a reason for most people to upgrade.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of March 4: OUR TOP PICK Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, 256GB, WiFi) $849 (save $150 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST SOUNDBAR DEAL Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus $199.99 (save $50) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor $99 (save $50) Get Deal BEST KIDS DEAL Amazon Echo Dot Kids (5th gen) $44.99 (save $15) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $29.99 (save $20) Get Deal

As we wait for the best big Amazon shopping event on the calendar, there are still plenty of opportunities to save on top products. Even on a random Tuesday in March, we've found huge discounts on brands like Apple, ASUS, and Amazon itself. We already did the hard part — all you have to do is add them to your cart.

Here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on March 4. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check out our picks from yesterday. Many of those are still live, including a Google Pixel 9 at its best price ever.

Our top pick: Apple M4 iPad Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, 256GB, WiFi) $849.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $150.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

The 2024 iPad Pro was the first Apple product to carry the M4 chip — and it blew us away. It's only 0.21 inches thick and weighs less than a pound, meaning it's the sleekest and lightest version to date. Plus, it's more powerful than most PCs and even many MacBooks on the market. That's why it's our top iPad pick for professionals. As Mashable's reviewer writes, "The iPad Pro has mind-blowing endurance on a single charge. On top of that, the new iPad Pro is as svelte as a haute couture model." Typically $999, you can grab the 11-inch model with 256GB and WiFi on sale for $849 at Amazon as of March 4 using the on-page coupon. That matches its best price ever from Black Friday.

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Pro.

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Amazon's newest addition to its soundbar lineup, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus makes upgrading your home theater experience a breeze. It features a built-in subwoofer (unlike the basic Fire TV Soundbar), offers Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS TruVolume support, and packs three full-range speakers, two woofers, and three tweeters to pump out sound in every direction. If you're looking for a simple, yet powerful all-in-one sound system, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is a solid pick. And if you already own a Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, you can even use the same remote to control the soundbar. Usually $249.99, it's on sale for $199.99 at Amazon as of March 4. That's 20% in savings.

Amazon Echo Dot Kids (5th gen) Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot Kids $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

The fifth-generation Echo Dot Kids is identical to the latest-model Echo Dot, except it adds parental controls to keep things kid-friendly. For example, it filters out explicit content, only allows calls to specific contacts, and gives PG responses to questions — making it our favorite Echo device for kids. It comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+ as well, which is a digital subscription that gives kids access to interactive games, educational Alexa skills, kid-friendly audiobooks, bedtime stories, homework help, and more. It's only $44.99 as of March 4 — that's 25% off its usual cost at Amazon.

ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor with kickstand $99.00 at Amazon
$149.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

No need to be confined to a measly laptop screen when you're working on the go. The ASUS ZenScreen allows you to bring an extra 15.6 inches of screen real estate with you wherever in a slim 10.5mm package. It plugs into your laptop's USB-C port, so you don't need to worry about charging it, and extends your workspace instantly. It even packs a built-in kickstand to make propping it up on any surface a breeze. Usually $149, you can slash $50 or 34% off as of March 4 at Amazon. That knocks it down to just $99, its lowest price on record.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Currently only $5 more than the basic Fire TV Stick HD, the 4K model is better in every way. As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K offers cinematic 4K Ultra HD, as well as support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and WiFi 6. It's powered by a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, which makes for faster app starts and more fluid navigation. And as a bonus, it also lets you play Xbox games now without a console. Regularly $49.99, it's down to just $29.99 at Amazon as of March 4. Save 40% for a limited time.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

SAVE $200: The Best Buy Drop of the Day for March 4 is the KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl Lift stand mixer for $199.99. That's more than 50% off its usual $449.99 when you buy it through the Best Buy app.

Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl Lift stand mixer $199.99 at Best Buy
$449.99 Save $250.00 via the Best Buy app Get Deal

Spring is inherently a motivational time for anyone who just can't do winter, arguably making it a better time than New Year's to start and stick to a new hobby.

If you're eyeing anything cooking related as your 2025 hobby, a KitchenAid mixer should definitely be in the mix. Best Buy's Drop of the day for March 4 just happens to be a Black Friday-worthy mixer deal: Get the $449.99 KitchenAid 5.5-quart bowl-lift stand mixer for $199.99. That's more than 50% off its usual $449.99 when you buy it through the Best Buy app. For reference, you'll be getting one of the most premium KitchenAid mixers for less than the Black Friday pricing of several smaller capacity mid-tier Artisan mixers.

SEE ALSO: Testing the Ninja Slushi by making a frozen version of every drink I can think of

To unlock this steal, all you have to do is check out in the "Drops" tab of the Best Buy mobile app. Drops only last for one day, but may be gone sooner than the official end of the day if inventory sells out — which it often does.

This particular KitchenAid has a bowl-lift design, which is sturdier and more ideal for large or thick batches than the less expensive tilt-head design. That durability also allows the bowl-lift models to harness double the power of the tilt-head ones, plus more flexibility when choosing a speed setting. If dough-intensive recipes like bagels or cinnamon rolls are high on your "to make from scratch" list, the bowl-lift is the way to go.

Past the mixer and stainless steel bowl, a dough hook, flat beater, and wire beater are also included with your purchase. There are a ton of attachments for KitchenAids, so consider putting your savings toward one of those. Think homemade pasta.

Scientists working to revive the woolly mammoth have accidentally created the cutest mice in the world. Introducing: the Colossal Woolly Mouse. I need at least 10 of these toasted marshmallows in my pocket right now.

Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences announced today that it has created almost 100 living cotton balls by genetically engineering mice to display cold adaptation traits similar to those in woolly mammoths. Such traits include fur which has been significantly altered in colour, texture, and thickness, as evidenced from the prodigious amount of fluff on these squeaky powder puffs.

SEE ALSO: These animals went extinct in 2023

Yet as cute as these critters are, the Colossal Woolly Mouse's aggressive adorableness wasn't the end goal. These mice are just the latest development in Colossal's quest to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth. Crucially, the biotechnology company isn't resurrecting a woolly mammoth from a preserved woolly mammoth cell. Instead, Colossal intends to alter genes from the closely related Asian elephant to create a representative, or proxy, species.

How Colossal created the cutest mice to ever exist Credit: Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences

To create the woolly mice, Colossal began by analysing 121 mammoth and elephant genomes, including those for Asian and African elephants. Comparing the genomes, the scientists identified the core mammoth genes which they believed were responsible for cold-adaptation traits such as fat metabolism and fur.

Colossal then refined this list to just 10 genes related to fur and metabolising fat which were also compatible with mice, and used gene editing to modify seven of them in the rodents.

"Since there is more than 200 million years of genetic divergents from woolly mammoths to mice, we decided to look for similar pathways and edits in similar genes to ensure that the edits we were going to make in our our woolly mice would be compatible with life while driving the core genotype to phenotype relationships we were looking for," Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, told Mashable.

Fat little fuzzballs The Colossal Woolly Mouse and a normal mouse, next to the Colossal logo. Credit: Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences

The woolly mouse's fluffy fur isn't the only alteration Colossal made. Genes associated with body weight and fat metabolism have also been edited in the mice to better mirror that in mammoths. These changes aren't as immediately observable as the satisfyingly spherical mice's fuzzy coats. Colossal's chief science officer Dr. Beth Shapiro told Mashable that they expect to have more information on the impact on the mice before the end of the year.

"We believe that these changes will impact fat metabolism in response to cold climates," said Shapiro. "These are experiments that will take some time, because we have to have age matched controls that we can feed different diets and explore behavioural responses to different temperatures."

Shapiro reports that all of the woolly mice are "happy and thriving," Colossal advising that the rotund clouds with feet are currently being cared for in a humane, secure facility. Lamm further noted that Colossal's gene editing hasn't had any unforeseen consequences on the mice thus far, "except for extreme cuteness which we did not intend for." 

Credit: Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences

This reported clean bill of health extends to the woolly mice's reproductive systems, which Colossal says are fully intact and theoretically capable of creating even more of the fuzzballs. Even so, Colossal can't just allow these palm-sized pom poms to be fruitful and multiply — or at least not yet. The company is currently seeking approval to do so.

“[W]e have submitted to our external ethics panel a request for an amendment to our approved protocol so that we can allow them to breed, which will enable us to do the behavioural experiments to assess the impact of our edits in response to cold," said Lamm.

Even if Colossal does get approval, it's unlikely that any of us will ever have one of these tiny tribbles as a ridiculously cute pet. There's nothing stopping us from dreaming, though.

The mammoth task of de-extinction A diagram indicating that the creation of the Colossal Woolly Mouse involved editing genes related to a rough coat, curly hair, and lipid metabolism. Credit: Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences

Genetically engineering miniature sheep for fairies wasn't Colossal Bioscience's main agenda. As adorable as the woolly mouse is, its creation is just a step in Colossal's larger goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth. 

Billing itself as "the world’s first and only de-extinction company," Colossal is working to modify existing animals to better resemble their extinct relatives, rather than attempt to clone long-gone species. In the case of the woolly mammoth, Colossal hopes to alter an Asian elephant's genome, as it is the pachyderm's closest living relative. 

The company aims to deliver its first woolly mammoth calf by the end of 2028, with Lamm stating that they're on track to have embryos ready in 2026 for a 22-month gestation period. Using mice allows Colossal to test its hypothesis and see the results of their experiments much more quickly, as the average gestation period of a mouse is around three weeks.

"The mouse is validation that our de-extinction pipeline — from genomic analysis, to mapping ancient DNA variants to physical traits, to engineering those genetic edits into an animal and observing the predicted changes — is successful," said Shapiro. 

Lamm notes that while Colossal is working on multiple parts of its woolly mammoth project in parallel, it's now mostly in the gene editing phase, having already successfully edited 25 genes in their Asian elephant cells.

"We currently expect to alter around 85 genes in the Asian elephant to de-extinct the core genes and cold-tolerant phenotypes but will know a better exact answer as we get closer to the completion of the project," said Lamm.

Skepticism about bringing back the woolly mammoth Two portrait images. On the left is a Colossal Woolly Mouse and a normal mouse being held in someone's gloved hands. On the right is a Colossal Woolly Mouse on someone's gloved hand. Credit: Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences

Despite his and Shapiro's enthusiasm, there has been significant doubt amongst the scientific community regarding whether Colossal's ambition to revive extinct species is realistic or beneficial. Ethical concerns have also been raised, including fears that genetic editing could have an unintended detrimental impact on the health of the resultant animals. In 2015, Shapiro herself told NPR that gene editing tools would be better used to save current species than attempt to revive extinct ones, and that she "[didn't] want to see mammoths come back." 

Now a decade later, Shapiro appears to have changed her view, and hopes the apparent success of Colossal's woolly mouse project assuages at least some other people's concerns as well.

"[W]e only chose genes to edit that we already knew were compatible with healthy mice based on previous work and research," said Shapiro. "We carefully assessed the efficiency of our editing process and whether there were unintended edits before using cells to make living mice. And we’re doing everything we can to understand the potential impacts of our edits before we move to working with elephants."

Addressing her past statements, Shapiro told Mashable, "I still stand by that it is not possible to clone a mammoth but it is now possible to engineer one. But what I now see is that no one working on de-extinction has that as their goal. Instead, the goal is to develop tools that will bring back functional proxies of these species so that they can be placed back into the wild and restore lost ecological interactions. Think of the benefits to the Yellowstone ecosystem when gray wolves were returned — the same will be true in Tasmania with the return of the thylacine.

"And not only will we get to re-fill these ecological roles, but the tools that we develop along the way will have immediate application to helping species that are not yet extinct avoid that ultimate fate."

Featured Video For You Colorized footage from 1933 shows the very last Tasmanian tiger in all its stripy glory

Though she acknowledged that "there are always concerns about technologies that are new or not fully understood," Shapiro believes that it's also risky to shun these tools, or refuse to assess they can be used to protect endangered species.

"[I]t is clear that we need to be thinking of new ways to combat the extinction crisis underway today," said Shapiro. "As we work toward the goal of a woolly mammoth, we will discover tools that are immediately useful to protect other species from becoming extinct… We can predict the outcome if we continue along the current path, and that is not an outcome that I want to see."

Why is reviving the woolly mammoth important? Credit: Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences

Though reviving the woolly mammoth is a mammoth task, Lamm and Shapiro claim that success would have a wider beneficial impact beyond just creating a close-representative of an extinct species. Lamm asserts that Colossal's work to de-extinct the woolly mammoth has already garnered increased attention and funding for the biodiversity crisis, and that all the technology the company creates is provided to its conservation partners. 

Shapiro further noted that woolly mammoths aerated soil, spread seeds, and removed snow, invigorating tundra ecosystems and increasing biodiversity. Even so, this is an incredibly distant benefit that currently seems unlikely to materialise before climate change threatens or destroys such habitats. It will be many years before Colossal is able to create and breed enough woolly mammoths to make such an impact, assuming this goal is ever achieved at all.

Instead, the greatest potential benefit to reviving the woolly mammoth is likely to be the inspiring impact such an accomplishment would have.

"The mammoth de-extinction project also provides a kind of moonshot goal that inspires people to come together and solve the hard problems that we need to solve in order to save other large megafauna (and smaller animals!) from becoming extinct," said Shapiro. "It’s also an optimistic story about biodiversity loss, at a time when we really need optimism."

We're still far from seeing the first genetically modified woolly mammoth calf take its first steps, and reasonable concerns remain about the endeavour. Yet regardless of your views on Colossal's woolly mammoth project, the need for more positivity and hope in the world is a sentiment most people can agree with.

UPDATE: Mar. 5, 2025, 10:19 a.m. UTC Amended story with Dr. Beth Shapiro's response on past statements.

BOOK FLIGHTS FOR AS LOW AS $49 EACH WAY: The JetBlue Big Spring Sale has flights for as low as $49 each way, with travel dates between March 18 and June 11. Keep in mind some blackout dates apply. The sale ends on March 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Opens in a new window Credit: JetBlue JetBlue Big Spring Sale flights as low as $49 each way Get Deal

Pack your bags because we're just weeks away from spring break and summer travel. Head to a tropical beach, go see the sights of the city, or finally make it back home thanks to these great sale prices from JetBlue.

Until March 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET, book with JetBlue's Big Spring Sale to score flights for as low as $49 each way.

Browse the extensive JetBlue route map to find your ideal destination and set off for less this spring and summer. But keep in mind this deal comes with some fine print that's worth mentioning. To score the lowest fares possible, you'll want to avoid flying on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. JetBlue also has a blackout period from April 10 to April 29. Aside from that, you're free to move about the country.

SEE ALSO: Take up to 40% off on bicycles at REI and prep for summer rides

Some of the best deals included in this sale are $49 flights from New York (JFK) to Pam Beach (PBI), and $59 flights from Boston (BOS) to Tampa (TPA). If you live in Portland (PDX), you can snag one-way flights to Boston (BOS) for just $89 and those in San Francisco (SFO) can head to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) for just $94 each way.

Since the price of basically everything has been rising lately, this sale is a great chance to take a vacation or a long weekend away without spending a fortune. Since these deals extend into June, you can even head off on an early summer adventure for just under $100 roundtrip. But you'll want to book quickly since the JetBlue Big Spring Sale ends on Thursday.

SAVE UP TO 40%: As of March 4, all sizes of the Samsung Frame TV are on sale with savings up to 40% off at Samsung.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung The Frame TV Save up to 40% on Frame TVs Get Deal

The Samsung Frame TV is all about elegance, built as much with still images in mind as traditional television or films, the Samsung Frame TV brings a picture frame aesthetic to a high-end contemporary TV. But don't fear, the Frame has everything you'd expect from a regular TV as well.

As of March 4, the Samsung Frame TV is on sale for up to 40% off during Samsung's Spring Sale event. Samsung has posted different sale prices for different sizes, with the best savings on the 55-inch version, which is on sale for $899.99, or $600 off. If you've been thinking about investing, this might be the last opportunity to score a sale price this good for months.

SEE ALSO: Samsung has phone concepts that bend, stretch and fold in every possible way

The Frame is so popular that it sparked copycat designs all across the market, but the original is still remarkably elegant. The TV's Art Mode is designed to cycle through fine art collections like the MOMA's, or display your own library of imagery. With a matte screen, the TV creates a more life-like illusion. Pantone validated, it has high color accuracy and a 4K image with upscaling.

Sub out the bezels to create the right aesthetic for your home. Numerous bezel tones are available. These snap on and off magnetically. Designed to pair with Samsung's Q-series sound bar, the Frame TV will play in tandem, creating remarkable sonic depth.

Hung flush against your wall, this TV is more than a home theater, it's a visual library display.

SAVE $50: As of March 4, get the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus for $199.99, down from its usual price of $249.99. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're the type of person who enjoys hanging out at home, checking out your favorite movies and TV shows, you've got to make sure you have good sound with it all. Booming explosions, bright and crisp music, and clear dialogue can make for a much more theatrical experience even if you're watching a talk show. An easy way to achieve all that is through a soundbar. And you can get one today for a great price at Amazon.

As of March 4, get the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus for $199.99, down from its usual price of $249.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 20%.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is an easy to install soundbar that comes with built-in subwoofer and 3.1-channel, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. It offers crystal clear audio with a dedicated center dialogue channel so you can stop reaching for the remote when anyone speaks, as well as 3D sound with Dolby Atmos so you really feel like you're part of the action. Plus, it has optimized audio with Movie, Music, Sports, and Night modes you can choose from depending on what you're watching.

You can connect it to your Fire TV and use the same remote for a seamless experience and tweak your audio settings further with the Fire TV app. All you need to do is use one HDMI cable to connect to your HDMI eARC/ARC port and you're good to go, no additional speakers or setup required. You can just have a quick soundbar pop up in your living room, with better sound awaiting. Easy and quick. And you can get some cash off the soundbar today too, so might as well grab it while it's still available.

When it comes to display technology, OLED is often hailed as the king of content consumption. It's easy to see why, as the vibrant colors and contrast ratio alone makes OLED quite appealing. Yet, despite the temptation, I'm still not ready to make the switch, and it's not just because of the price.

Apple just dropped a new iPad Air with an M3 chip, and yes, it has Apple Intelligence.

The M3 iPad Air is twice as fast as the M1 iPad Air, which was released in 2022, according to the announcement. The M3 chip also gives the iPad Air faster graphics performance and the same dynamic caching support that comes in other M3 models, which boosts performance and response time.

SEE ALSO: 'There's something in the air:' Apple's Tim Cook teases new Air product drop this week

The M3 iPad Air comes with iPadOS 18, which supports Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools with ChatGPT integration, type to Siri, Image Playground, and Genmoji creation. Apple Intelligence for iPad also has photo and graphics editing tools like the Clean Up tool in Photos and Image Wand in the Notes app that works with the Apple Pencil.

In addition to the M3 iPad Air, Apple also unveiled a new Magic Keyboard that has a larger trackpad, a new 14-key function row, a USB-C port for charging, and connects to the iPad without Bluetooth with Apple's Smart Connector feature.

SEE ALSO: Best of MWC 2025: The age of ultra-thin phones is upon us

The product drop was teased by Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday with an X post that said "there's something in the air." Many Apple insiders believed the MacBook Air with an M4 chip would be announced before the new iPad Air, although the iPad Air was also predicted to be coming soon. And hey, the week's not over, so we might still see the M4 MacBook Air in a few days.

Apple also updated the iPad 11 with an A16 chip which starts at 128GB of storage, double the amount of the iPad 10's starting storage.

New iPad Air sizes, prices, release date

The new generation of iPad Air comes in 11-inch and 13-inch versions and in metallic blue, pink, yellow, and silver colorways. The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air with WiFi only start at $599 and $799 respectively and come with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB data options. For WiFi plus cellular, the 11-inch and 13-inch bump up to $799 and $949.

SEE ALSO: A new iPad and iPad Air are coming — pre-order now

The new Magic Keyboard starts at $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model.

The updated A16 iPad starts at $349 for WiFi and $499 for WiFi and cellular.

Pre-orders start today, with availability on March 12.

Check out our sibling sites CNET, PCMag, and ZDNET for more analysis.

SAVE $200: As of March 4, Breville Espresso Makers are up to $200 off at Amazon. Shop the Breville Barista Express for 27% off, bringing it down to $549.95. Or get the Breville Barista Touch, which is down to $799.95 for 20% off.

Breville Espresso Machine Deals Best Breville deal Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine $549.95 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal Another great deal Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine $799.95 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal

I won't lie, I've been heavily influenced by the trend of turning your home into a coffee shop. Rather than hosting dinner parties, you'll find hundreds of videos on TikTok of people transforming their home into a coffee shop, baking sweet treats and serving up lattes to friends. If you're also ready to trade in late night hangs for early morning ones, then you probably need to make your first investment: an espresso machine.

Breville is the leader in at-home espresso makers. Their devices are for novices and professionals alike who have one common goal: make a really great cup of coffee at home. And luckily, as of March 4, you can shop Breville Espresso Machines for $200 off. Here are the best deals to shop now.

Best Breville deal Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine $549.95 at Amazon
$749.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Breville Barista Express puts the power of great espresso in your hands. You can control everything, including grind size and volume to get the perfect shot of espresso. It includes a burr grinder and steam wand, so you don't need any extraneous appliances for your latte.

You can find the Breville Barista Express for just $549.95, from its usual price $749.95. That saves you $200 for 27% off.

Breville Barista Touch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine $799.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't want to deal with pressure gages, you just want to hit a button and have a perfect latte, then go for the Barista Touch. It features an easy-to-use touch screen, providing you with plenty of drink settings to swipe through. It also features a built-in grinder and steam wand for the full experience.

While it's not quite as good of a deal as the Breville Barista Express, it's still some great savings. The Barista Touch is down to $799.95 from $999.95. That's 20% savings for $200 off this luxe machine.

TL;DR: Live stream Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League playoff round produced some surprising results, including Club Brugge's victory over Atalanta. The Belgian side stunned the Italians with a 3-1 win away from home, securing a knockout round matchup with Aston Villa.

If you want to watch Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa?

Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on March 4. This fixture takes place at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

How to watch Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa for free

Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, 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 Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa for free 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Apple just updated the base-model iPad for the first time in over two years. While the entire lineup is still somewhat confusing, the cheapest and latest 11th-gen iPad now offers double the storage at the same price point as before, but it's also missing one big feature set.