Mashable

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Forward.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

FORTH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Charming.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 14, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SUAVE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Homey.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 14, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COMFY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A mark.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 14 Hurdle Word 4 answer

NOTCH

Final Hurdle hint

Tied up.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

BOUND

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

As we get closer to the New Moon, there'll be less to see on the surface of the moon each night. For now, however, there's still enough lit up that we can spot a few features. Keep reading to find out what you can see.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Dec. 14, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 25% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Tonight, without any visual aids, you'll be able to see Kepler Crater and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, and the Mare Humorum. With a telescope, Reiner Gamma, Schiller Crater, and Gassendi Crater will also become visible.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.

What are moon phases?

NASA says the Moon goes through a cycle of about 29.5 days, and during that time we see its different phases. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the sunlight hitting it changes as it orbits Earth. That’s what makes it look full, half-lit, or sometimes completely hidden. The cycle has eight main phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

TL;DR: Bring anything to life with this lifetime subscription to Imagiyo AI Image Generator’s Standard Plan, now only $34.97 (reg. $495) through Dec. 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Imagiyo Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan) $34.97
$495 Save $460.03   Get Deal

From wild fantasies to depictions of daily life, Imagiyo AI Image Generator is ready to make all of your artistic dreams come true. If you can think it up, Imagiyo can create it, and you don’t even have to sharpen your pencil.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Imagiyo AI Image Generator’s Standard Plan is just $34.97 (reg. $495) through Dec. 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Whether you’re familiar with creating AI-generated images or this still feels like science fiction, Imagiyo AI Image Generator makes the process simple with a user-friendly interface. Just type in a prompt and sit back and relax while this powerful platform gets to work.

No matter what you ask Imagiyo to design, the results will be high-quality and ready to print, thanks to the power of FLUX AI. You can request a specific size if needed, and you won’t ever have to deal with watermarks or ads.

The designs you create are totally yours and can be used for commercial purposes, like on social media or as a brand logo (as long as there are no copyright issues). You can also use them for personal use, like a totally customized gift for a loved one.

Unlike most AI image generators, Imagiyo doesn’t give you any restrictions. You have total creative freedom and can even design a NSFW image if you’d like. If you do, just set the privacy settings for that image to private.

This lifetime subscription to the Imagiyo AI Image Generator Standard Plan lets you create 500 images per month, with up to two images per request, for life.

Act fast to get this lifetime subscription to Imagiyo AI Image Generator’s Standard Plan, now just $34.97 (reg. $495) through Dec. 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $600: As of December 13th, Amazon has this DJI Power 2000 portable power station for $699; that's 46% off $1,299.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $600   Get Deal

DJI is well known for its microphones and drones, but they also specialize in portable power stations. This particular power station isn't your temporary, charge-a-few-phones battery.

The solar-compatible DJI Power 2000 portable power station is designed to handle 99% of everyday appliances and devices. Think: power tools, RV basics, projectors, and more. This portable power station is ideal for off-grid living, RV (or regular) camping, and other projects, such as projector-requiring outdoor performances or small business vending.

At 21kg (47.4 lbs), this station is hefty. For what it lacks in lightness, it makes up for in power and speed. The portable power station can recharge up to 80% in 55 minutes. It’s also designed with safety in mind, including a water-resistant and flame-retardant design that makes the station usable in wet, muddy, and rugged conditions. It’s also an ideal backup tool for power outages with 10ms UPS switchover (in the event of an outage), it can run select important devices.

This DJI Power 2000 portable power station is the whole package when it comes to a backup power source and portable battery. 

SAVE $100: As of December 13th, this LG 34-inch ultragear curved gaming monitor is $299, down 25% from its list price of $399 on Amazon. 

Opens in a new window Credit: LG 34-inch curved gaming monitor LG 34G600A-B 34-inch Ultragear Curved Gaming Monitor $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal

This weekend on Amazon has this LG 34-inch Ultragear curved gaming monitor on sale for 25% off. The monitor comes packed with features that make it an amazing gift for a gamer in your life or yourself (you know, you deserve a little treat, too). The curve of the monitor and picture clarifying features allows gamers to be totally immersed within their game of choice. The monitor also has an adjustable height, swivel, and tilt for nailing the perfect angle. 

This monitor is an excellent option for gaming, but it can also level up any work from home setup, as well. The curved monitor is designed to have fast, crystal clear picture with a 160hz frame rate, 1ms motion blur reduction and a built-in stereo speaker. The monitor also has “dynamic action sync” which minimizes input lag as much as possible so you can catch every move and shot when it counts.

Reviewers on Amazon praise the monitor for being excellent for gaming and general use. They also praise the picture quality, value for the money, and overall quality.

There are, tragically, seven months standing between audiences and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. But if you can't wait that long to get your dose of Nolan, you're in luck: You can catch the first six minutes of the historical epic in theaters this month.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' Season 3 gets first look in HBO Max's 2026 trailer

The prologue is showing ahead of the IMAX 70mm re-releases of two of this year's biggest awards contenders: Ryan Coogler's Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. These re-releases, which began Friday, will run for a week.

Only 10 theaters in the world — eight in the United States, one in Canada, and one in the United Kingdom — show films in IMAX 70mm, which, according to Variety, is Nolan's preferred format for the film. That makes sense, given that The Odyssey will be the first blockbuster shot only on IMAX film cameras.

However, you'll still have a chance to see The Odyssey's prologue even if you don't live near a theater with IMAX 70mm capabilities. Starting Dec. 19, The Odyssey's prologue will play in front of all IMAX screenings of James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash, not just those in 70mm.

The non-IMAX Avatar: Fire and Ash screenings will be showing a full-length trailer for The Odyssey, but not the entire prologue.

What's in the prologue for The Odyssey?

If you can't make it to any of these screenings but still want to know what goes down in The Odyssey's prologue, we've got you covered. According to outlets like Variety and World of Reel, the prologue recreates the end of the Trojan war, when the Greek forces snuck into the city of Troy inside a massive wooden horse disguised as a peace offering. The architect of that scheme? None other than Odysseus (Matt Damon).

Nolan invites viewers into Odysseus and his soldiers' tense wait inside the Trojan Horse. Then, once they leave the horse, Nolan unleashes a full-scale battle, complete with Damon shooting his enemies with a bow and arrow.

The sequence is framed as a story passed from Sparta's King Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) to Odysseus' son Telemachus (Tom Holland). Other members of The Odyssey's star-studded cast include Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Mia Goth, although none show up in the prologue. But you know what does appear? An animatronic cyclops. From promises of Nolan battles to practical monster effects, July can't come soon enough.

The Odyssey hits theater July 18.

Do dating apps still work in 2025?

We get it, though. Dating as a man in 2025 is tough. It's not just the pressure to make or the fear of rejection if you do — it's the endless swiping through fake profiles, scammers, AI-generated thirst traps, bots posing as potential matches, relentless Instagram models trying to lure you into their OnlyFans scam, and matches with impossibly high expectations (yes, the "6-6-6 rule" is a real thing).

But despite the challenges, dating apps do work. A 2025 SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus survey found that nearly 39 percent of all U.S. adults have used a dating app at some point. The numbers are even higher for young people and the LGBTQ+ community.

SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to know

While the experience isn't always perfect, plenty of guys find success. According to an older, 2023 Pew Research survey, 53 percent of people who've used a dating app said they had a positive experience, with 14 percent rating it as "very positive." And there's more good news — 57 percent of guys reported positive experiences and results compared to 48 percent of women.

The best dating apps for guys who know what they want

This guide is your cheat sheet for the best dating apps for men in 2025. We've done the research and found the apps that are actually worth your time. Whether you're looking for something casual or something serious, we have a dating app to recommend.

Pro tip: Don't be afraid to experiment. Try out a few different apps and see what works for you. And most importantly, don't get discouraged! Sometimes, the occasional bad date or disappointing flirtation is just the price you pay to meet the match of a lifetime.

SAVE $220: As of December 13th, the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum is $329 at Amazon, down 40% from its list price of $549.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum $549.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal

This weekend, Roborock is offering the Q10 S5+ robot vacuum at 40% off. This model is one of the lowest-cost vacuum-and-mop combo robot vacuums on the market. Roborock boasts 70 days of hands-free cleaning with its large dust bag situated neatly in its fairly small, self-emptying dock station. 

This dual mop and vacuum robot cleaner comes equipped with many features, including Smart Carpet Care, which detects carpet and automatically lifts mopping modules to protect your carpet.

"This Roborock robot vacuum is ideal for those who don't want to spend much more than $500, but who also don't want to settle for the most basic cleaning possible," says senior shopping reporter Leah Stoddart, in her roundup of the best robot vacuums for every budget and floor. "This 2025 entry-level model is the rare cheap robot vacuum and mop combo with legitimate pressurized scrubbing — a nice upgrade for hardwood floors or entryways with high foot (or paw) traffic."

Stoddart praised the model for its quiet presence, cost, high suction for its price, pet waste detection, sonic mopping, and LiDAR smart mapping. Some downsides to this model, according to Stoddart, include that its mopping pad soils quickly and that the physical robot isn't super petite. There are certainly many pluses compared to the minimal flaws of the product. If you're looking for a budget-friendly robot vacuum with higher-end features, this might be the model for you. 

Google has purged dozens of AI-generated videos from YouTube that involved characters from Disney properties, according to Variety.

SEE ALSO: Even 1,001 Disney deals may not save OpenAI

The move follows a cease-and-desist letter Disney sent to Google on Wednesday, the evening before Disney announced a $1 billion deal with OpenAI.

The letter, according to Variety, accused Google of infringing on Disney IP from Star Wars and the MCU to animated films like Frozen, Moana, Lilo & Stitch, and more. Several of the videos Disney flagged were created with Veo, Google's AI tool. Disney also cited a trend of creating AI "action figures" as infringement, including images of AI-generated figurines of Deadpool, Elsa, Homer Simpson, and Darth Vader in their letter.

As reported by Variety, links to videos cited in the cease-and-desist letter were still working on Thursday. However, by Friday, they redirect to a message that reads, "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Disney."

In a Thursday statement to press, a Google spokesperson affirmed that they would cooperate with Disney on the issue, saying, "We have a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship with Disney, and will continue to engage with them. More generally, we use public data from the open web to build our AI and have built additional innovative copyright controls like Google-extended and Content ID for YouTube, which give sites and copyright holders control over their content."

The cease-and-desist is not the only action Disney has taken against generative AI. In June, it filed a joint lawsuit with Universal against Midjourney, calling the AI image platform a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."

However, if you thought that suit was evidence of Disney taking a broad stand against AI slop, you'd be sorely mistaken. Disney's agreement with OpenAI indicates the opposite: The House of Mouse is embracing AI in a big way.

According to OpenAI's post announcing the deal, Disney is making a $1 billion equity investment in the company, becoming a "major customer" and gaining access to its tools.

The three-year licensing agreement will allow users to make Sora videos featuring Disney characters. OpenAI's announcement reveals that a selection of these "fan-inspired Sora short form videos [will be made] available to stream on Disney+."

That's right, soon you'll be able to enjoy AI slop platformed alongside work by human artists. But according to Disney CEO Bob Iger, the deal "does not in any way represent a threat to the creators at all."

It seems that Disney will permit AI slop of its characters, but only if the slop comes from OpenAI.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

TL;DR: Live stream Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup for free on FIFA+. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're approaching the dramatic conclusion of the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Pyramids FC face off against Flamengo for a spot in the final. There the winner will battle it out with Paris Saint-Germain for the title. How is this any different to the Club World Cup? Don't ask too many questions.

If you want to watch Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC?

Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 13. This fixture takes place at the Ahmed Ben Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan.

How to watch Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC for free

Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup is available to live stream for free on FIFA+.

If this FIFA+ live stream is not available in your location, you can use a VPN to access for free. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams on FIFA+ from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC 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 a location with access

4. Visit FIFA+

5. Stream Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time this game and the final before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for FIFA+?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on FIFA+, 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Flamengo vs. Pyramids FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the NBA for free with a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. Live stream the NBA for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA is a unique sport. There's nothing else in which incredibly tall athletes can be made to look absolutely tiny by aliens who can dunk without leaving the ground. And almost all of these shockingly tall athletes display a skillset that mere mortals can't even fathom.

The NBA could make a legitimate argument that it hosts the very best athletes in the world. Sure, the NFL might disagree. And rugby definitely attracts some special specimens. But the NBA has a bunch of seven footers dunking on each other. That's tough to beat.

If you are interested in watching the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the NBA?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America made up of 30 teams (29 from the United States and one from Canada). The defending champions are the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When is the NBA?

The 2025–26 NBA season is the 80th edition of the competition. The regular season runs from Oct. 21 to April 12. The play-in tournament is scheduled to be played on April 14-17, followed by the playoffs on the next day, and concluding with the NBA Finals from June 4 to June 21.

The in-season NBA Cup will take place from Oct. 31 to Dec. 16.

How to watch the NBA for free

The NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime in the UK.

86 regular-season games, the Emirates Cup Championship, the play-in tournament, one third of first and second round games of the Playoffs, a Conference Finals series, and the NBA Finals are available to Prime members in the UK. The full schedule can be found here.

These free live streams are geo-restricted to the UK, 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, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live 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

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) Get Deal

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

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

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

You might not know this but The Muppet Christmas Carol, one of the most beloved Muppet movies, almost didn’t happen at all; or that they originally filmed one of the muppets in a vat of oil, almost bankrupting the production; or that the The Henson Company was THIS close to multiple casting choices that could have ruined the film. There are multiple ways A Muppet Christmas Carol almost lost it’s magic. And we’re going to fill you in on all that Muppety Christmasy tea, as well as, why The Muppet Christmas Carol was able to avoid all those missteps and become the greatest version of A Christmas Carol ever made.

What is the best laptop of 2025?

As always, the answer depends on your answer to an age-old question: Windows or Apple?

As of December 2025, I think the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4) is the best MacBook for most people. It's a sleek-as-ever notebook featuring impressive performance, open-lid support for two external displays, a great 12MP Center Stage camera, and an extremely reasonable starting price of $1,199 (making it $100 cheaper than its M3 predecessor).

The best Windows laptop we've tested is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a sophisticated and snappy Copilot+ PC boasting a stellar battery life of nearly 23 hours. Note that Microsoft makes an Intel version that may appeal to users wary of Windows on ARM for app compatibility reasons, but it's a business-oriented model with a significant markup.

Shark's debut skincare device, the Shark CryoGlow face mask, which I absolutely love, came out a year later than most of the other top red light masks. We eventually found out that Shark was merely biding its time to perfect the CryoGlow with features no other LED masks can claim. While the wait was well worth it that time, Shark is two steps ahead of the rest of the at-home beauty industry with its second skincare device release: The Shark FacialPro Glow was released on Oct. 17, and I was excited to unbox it and yap about my early thoughts.

After spending about 45 days with the beauty tool, I'm ready to share a bit more.

What even is the Shark FacialPro Glow?

Shark officially describes the FacialPro Glow as a "complete at-home hydro-powered facial system." I honestly think that description is misleadingly vague — it makes the FacialPro Glow sound like just another facial steamer or something, and it's not that at all. The FacialPro Glow's type of at-home facials is so much more dynamic.

The FacialPro Glow comes with the serums that are steps of the exfoliation routine. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The FacialPro Glow, Depuffi, and power hub come in a travel case. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The FacialPro Glow system consists of two swappable facial heads that get powered up by the included handheld battery pack.

The official FacialPro Glow attachment has a water tank and conducts legitimate deep cleansing through hydro-powered extractions of oil or dirt built up in your pores. Four nozzles are included to customize suction based on your skin type and sensitivity, and whether you need to exfoliate your cheeks or the T-zone that day.

The second included attachment is actually the Shark Depuffi, which resembles a stainless steel gua sha and offers instant hot or cold contrast therapy — the first at-home device to ever do so. (See, I told you Shark was ahead of its time this time.) The heated setting is ideal for lymphatic drainage and a circulation boost, and Shark recommends using this setting to loosen the gunk in your skin ahead of extraction. The cooling setting is great for soothing your skin post-extractions, as well as general sculpting and de-puffing. Both temperatures are adjustable and hit their desired temperature in literal seconds, just like the InstaChill under-eye pads on the CryoGlow mask.

The Depuffi's heated setting can also be used on the neck and shoulders. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Swapping attachments just involves clicking and un-clicking from the power hub. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Right away, I could tell that morning sculpting on the cool setting is going to be one of those things that I go to bed thinking about. It feels like a metal spoon taken out of the freezer to fight under-eye bags, but if it were also giving you a light sculpting face massage at the same time. As a gua sha, the curved design is perfect for sculpting your cheekbones and jawline.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's three new beauty releases dupe the Dyson Airwrap and Supersonic, plus the Shark FlexStyle

The Depuffi is set to be released as a standalone purchase sometime in 2026. I must say, I appreciate SharkNinja's dedication to adding a random "i" onto the end of its products when possible — the Ninja Slushi and the Shark Glossi welcome you.

Also included are two serums: An AHA + BHA exfoliating gel called Derm Detox and a BHA hydrator with hyaluronic acid called Hydro Infuse. I read that you're supposed to apply Derm Detox and let it sit for three minutes before actually using any suction. Apparently, this gives it time to sink down into your skin to dissolve dead skin cells and soften that stubborn sebum buildup.

How does the FacialPro Glow work?

Upon opening the FacialPro Glow, I was intimidated. It felt like there were a lot of pieces and way more steps than the CryoGlow routine I'm used to: put mask on and take mask off. Luckily, Shark seemed to anticipate that there might be a learning curve, so there were stickers with labels, arrows, and directions all over everything. For extractions, all you really have to do is fill the water tank with water, choose your nozzle and intensity with the plus sign button, then let 'er rip.

I also found Shark Beauty's YouTube tutorial with esthetician Sofie Pavitt to be super helpful. This is where I learned how to evenly drag the FacialProw Glow across my face. The nozzles have a suction cup-like edge, and pressing the nozzle on your skin creates a seal that you can feel. Then, you just glide the device upwards at an angle across your cheeks, jaw, forehead, and such, each little swipe ending with a kiss sound to let the air out.

You're supposed to hold your skin taut during extractions, but I was taking a selfie. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The next morning, I used the chill setting to do some sculpting — and wake me up. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Suction intensity can be adjusted, but even the most powerful one doesn't hurt or anything. It's just... very targeted suction. You're simply the inside of a fish tank, and the FacialPro Glow is one of those sucker mouth fish that suction cup to glass. However, I'd probably recommend easing into it even if you think there's a super-clogged area that needs a good scrub. I think I went after the sebaceous filaments near the corners of my nose a little too hard, leaving the area a bit red and irritated.

The FacialPro Glow stops buzzing after three minutes, so you know when to move on. The final step involves going back and doing everything you just did, but with the Hydro Infuse serum in the tank this time. This locks in hydration by pushing hyaluronic acid and a firming peptide complex far deeper into your skin than patting with fingers could permeate.

My FacialPro Glow results after 24 hours

Within minutes of using this beauty tool for the first time, there's a lot of physical proof that this thing is really cleansing your skin. There's definitely more instant gratification here than with the CryoGlow mask's "see best results in eight weeks" situation.

There are actually two tanks to monitor: the one that you fill up with water or serum, and a larger dirty water tank that holds everything that the nozzle drained from your skin. My water from my first go was slightly cloudy with a few little specks floating around. According to the gunk decoding chart on the back of the box, that means the device removed excess oil and dead surface skin cells. The resulting liquid may be gross at first, but truthfully, I'd be pissed if it wasn't — it just means the hydro-abrasion is actually doing something. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but the sebaceous filaments on my nose that once resembled blackheads looked lighter when I was up close and personal in the mirror.

SEE ALSO: Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody mask: My skin wasn't shy about which mask it preferred

I'd dare to say that the Shark FacialPro Glow literally felt like it was pumping life back into my skin. It felt so soft and plump after just a single extraction session at night and a single de-puffing session the next morning, and even that feels like a testament to its effectiveness.

My FacialPro Glow results after 1.5 months: I love the glow, but I have to use it sparingly

I used the FacialPro Glow for the first time near Halloween. Now, mid-December, I've been trial and error-ing to find the right balance of de-clogging and over-exfoliation.

Here's the sitch: My T-zone is the most oily, clog-prone part of my face, but parts of that T-Zone are also the most sensitive (around my nostrils and around my mouth). Basically, the skin that could really use at-home extractions the most is also the skin that gets red and irritated the most. Of course. So, I've found that even just once-a-week use of the FacialPro Glow is too much for me sometimes.

If you have sensitive skin or use Tretinoin, use your discretion

While the ultimate goal of spa-level hydration sounds innocent enough, the FacialPro Glow still utilizes both a chemical exfoliant (AHA and BHA in the Detox serum) and physical exfoliation of sorts from the suction — and my finicky skin barrier just can't handle that very often. Even the gentle nozzles go too hard sometimes. This isn't the device's fault, but something to consider if you know your skin gets angry easily. To prevent further irritation, be sure to disinfect the nozzles with hypochlorous acid before and after each use. The last thing you want to do is drag bacteria across your whole face.

I also use Tretinoin almost every day, which I know isn't technically exfoliation, but it's still a powerful active ingredient that's triggering quick cell turnover. If you also use a retinoid or high-grade retinol, be extra careful that you're not FacialPro Glow-ing too often.

SEE ALSO: The 2025 guide to recycling electronics, beauty empties, and clothing

That said, I stand by my initial claim that the Shark FacialPro Glow works incredibly well on sebaceous filaments. The parts of my nose and chin that aren't sensitive — my actual nose bridge and tip, and the direct middle of my chin — are still pretty clear of the prominent black dots that felt permanent before I got the FacialPro Glow. Though I don't reach for the FacialPro Glow every single week, my skin definitely feels softer each time I do use it. Not for nothing, the DePuffi's cool setting is a little treat I look forward to daily.

At the risk of sounding ridiculously lazy, I sometimes just don't feel like using the FacialPro Glow. I swear it takes longer than the 10 minutes that Shark advertises, so don't expect it to be a quick skincare step in the morning. Between swapping out nozzles for different parts of your face and going over everything a second time to infuse the hydration serum, it has kind of fallen into the category of daunting tasks that my squirrel brain keeps putting off.

Is the Shark FacialPro Glow worth it?

You can just tell when your skin feels like it's suffocating from grime. If regular cleansing and exfoliating don't feel like they're going deep enough — and if getting an in-office extracting facial is too expensive to keep up with — I think the Shark FacialPro Glow could be a worthwhile purchase. The average professional Hydrafacial costs between $150 and $300, so paying $399.99 once for the opportunity to give yourself a similar facial at home whenever feels justifiable.

I don't think the FacialPro Glow can necessarily suck out an active pimple, but it's an amazing tool for mitigating oily buildup, sloughing off dry skin, and thoroughly washing off makeup. I've named it as one of the best gifts for teenage girls for this reason. Plus, it's hard to argue with the FacialPro Glow's effectiveness on sebaceous filaments that no serums or red light therapy can unearth.

But you should think twice about buying the Shark FacialPro Glow if you have extremely sensitive skin. I'm not saying this device is a net negative for that skin type, but you may be using it less often than you feel like you should be using a $400 device. However, I do think literally anyone would get daily use out of the DePuffi attachment's heat and cooling settings. It's seriously such a nice little source of pampering to pull you out of zombie mode or warm up your face before skincare. Shark is releasing the DePuffi on its own in early 2026.

In terms of preventing acne, I think my skin responds better to the bacteria-killing blue light of my Shark CryoGlow face mask. An LED mask obviously can't physically extract sebaceous filaments, so you really just have to weigh which skin concern is more... concerning to you.

Where to buy the Shark FacialPro Glow Amazon Shark FacialPro Glow $399.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shark Shark FacialPro Glow $399.99 at Shark Shop Now Sephora Shark FacialPro Glow $399.99 at Sephora Shop Now

UPDATE: Dec. 13, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EST Since first publishing this review on Oct. 31, 2025, I've added a more long-term review to my first impressions. I've now been using the FacialPro Glow for one and a half months.

If you’re lucky enough to live with someone who has the same temperature preferences as you do, you might consider keeping that partnership alive for a lifetime. Many of us suffer through living with others who have wildly different temperature preferences. It’s a battle for control of the thermostat year-round. Shark is out to ease the stress of temperature wars.

SEE ALSO: Review: The Windmill AC lets me come home to a cool apartment

The SharkNinja brand makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances, air purifiers, and vacuums. The Ninja Slushi has given us frozen margs on demand, while the Shark PowerDetect with Clean and Empty System is a Mashable favorite for vacuuming up stubborn pet hair. But now we’ve stumbled onto the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat Bladeless Tower Fan and Heater, and this is worthy of a top-tier SharkNinja award. Aside from the long name, I’ve been impressed with nearly every feature while testing it out.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat $249.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $150   See It at Amazon A one-and-done situation, with a kid-friendly design

One of the strongest selling points about the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat is that it’ll serve as extra warmth in the winter and a cooling breeze come summer. Both of these functions are housed in the slim and sleek design. That means you won’t have to unpack and then pack away the space heater and find where that dusty box fan went when the seasons change. 

As its name suggests, the TurboBlade is a fan and heater in one device. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I found the slim profile of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat to be awesome for both storage and carrying from room to room. Because of this, I think it could be a perfect year-round addition to a small apartment, dorm room, or bedroom. Plus, the bladeless design makes it more child-friendly, although keep in mind the exterior can get hot.

A satisfying pivot

The arms of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat move in two different ways. First, both arms can tilt together to fully vertical, horizontal, or anywhere in between. Then, each arm has a separate airflow adjustment, allowing you to position the airflow directly where you’d like it to go in fan mode. In heating mode, the air comes out of only the center vent, but you can still choose vertical or horizontal. 

The airflow rotation on both arms is excellent for dual users. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

In both heat and cool mode, the TurboBlade can oscillate up to 180 degrees, which is really great if you’re sitting on the couch trying to heat or cool more than just yourself. You can also set smaller oscillation rotations, like my preferred 45 degrees.

SEE ALSO: The Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 air purifier does it all: Heating, cooling, and purifying The versatility of the TurboBlade Cool + Heat

I tested out the TurboBlade Cool + Heat during a chilly fall in the Pacific Northwest, which meant I stuck mostly to the heater function’s three modes. Thermo IQ allows you to select your desired temperature between 60 and 90 degrees, and the heater will take it from there. The comfort mode is designed for all-day use at a sustained temperature, and the focus setting is perfect if you come home from work wanting nothing more than to sit on the couch with warm air pointed in your direction.

I used the cooling fan during two scenarios: while sleeping and while working out. I hate a hot room when working out, but it’s not worth turning down the central heating for my 30-minute rowing session since that would cool the entire house. Instead, I carried the TurboBlade Cool + Heat with me, positioned it in front of the rower, and took off on my workout in cooling bliss. Plus, the wind made my stationary rowing machine feel a lot more like I was actually out on the water and not stuck working out inside, thanks to December rain.

The simple heat/fan dial easily switches between the two modes. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

In an Instagram Reel, Shark showed a person using the cool fan setting of the TurboBlade while cooking in a hot kitchen. I’m really bummed I didn’t think of this because I was a sweaty mess in the kitchen on Thanksgiving while trying to cook, bake, and sauté while wearing a wool sweater. The TurboBlade would have made that a lot more comfortable.

Another instance that made me love the TurboBlade Heat + Cool was when I was sleeping. Shark advertises that the fan function can create an “air blanket” thanks to the design. With the arms in the horizontal position, the fan can sit at the foot of the bed and blow blissfully cool air to both sides of the bed. There are 10 speeds to choose from with the fan mode.

I already thought the pivot on each arm was a great feature, but this is where I really loved it. I’m a hot sleeper, so a fan is a must. But I’m also a light sleeper, and if I position a fan directly onto me, that airflow will cause wispy hair to tickle my face, and that’s an infuriating situation. So the ability to have a cool breeze over the bed, positioned exactly so that it missed my face and hair, is pure beauty. While using it at night, I was also impressed by how quiet the fan is, even at the highest speed.

Can you love a remote control? Because this one is good.

The remote control that comes with the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat has probably ruined most remotes for me from here on out. For one, the remote magnetically attaches to the main body of the fan. And it’s not some half-assed magnet — this is a powerful magnet that really wants to nest itself back home, and I appreciate that. It also has a shocking operation range. I was able to turn the heater on in the morning while I was still in bed in the other room. Since both my partner and I sleep hot, we turn the heat off entirely at night. It's common for me to be chilling (literally) in a 58-degree office when I log on for work at 6 a.m. Walking into a pre-heated room thanks to the Shark TurboBlade was a level of spoiled I didn’t know I could swing.

A satisfying home for the excellent remote control. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

If you don’t love the remote, the display and control face on the fan itself is also useful. In another thoughtful design touch, you can alter the brightness of the display between four levels. That’s awesome if you’re an annoyingly light sleeper like me and don’t want the display on at all.

Not the best for large rooms

In my testing, I found the heating and fan on the TurboBlade Cool + Heat to be pretty darn effective. The ability to heat rapidly was slightly less efficient than my beloved Vornado AVH10 space heater, but that thing is a beast of a heater that I adore. I wouldn’t count on the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat to warm a large room with an open floor plan, but I found it great for heating a bedroom or office, and I think it would be ideal in a small studio apartment.

Is the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat worth the price?

If you want a portable fan and space heater that doesn’t look aesthetically unpleasing, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat is a great option. It’s extra ideal for small spaces since you can get use out of it year-round, instead of finding a seasonal storage area. It’s also a nice solution for someone in your family who’s always uncomfortable with whatever temperature the majority can agree on — and it would be great to let family or friends use it in a guest room if you’re hosting. 

I’m always inclined to break down price into a cost-benefit ratio, so here we go: Use the SharkTurbo blade for every day in a single year, and you’re at about $1 per day if the tower fan is sitting at full price, plus whatever your local energy cost is, of course.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat Bladeless Tower Fan $249.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $150   Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat Bladeless Tower Fan $299.99 at Shark
$399.99 Save $100   Shop Now

Yes, Legos are for adults, and yes, buying Legos is a valid way to spend adult money.

The plastic brick brand is constantly releasing new sets, and for collectors and casual hobbyists alike, this past year has been a great time to be a Lego fan. As of Dec. 2025, Lego's expanded its lineup to include iconic fixtures from Star Trek and The Goonies, as well as some creative decor in the form of their aquarium and fortune firecracker sets.

SEE ALSO: Lego has dropped the Icons Stranger Things: The Creel House to celebrate the show's final season

I spent my time combing through all of the best new Legos to pick out the best of the best, from the affordable options to larger investments. You can find them below, along with more of the best releases from earlier in the year, including the Lego Game Boy and a new Star Wars set that's officially the largest Star Wars Lego model of all time.

Best new Lego sets as of Dec. 2025Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope A tripod telescope is one of three available builds in this one set. Credit: Lego

What's just as cool as space? The fact that this 278-piece set can be built into three different configurations, including an adjustable telescope on a tripod, an adjustable microscope, or a UFO. It's the perfect set for the space enthusiast in your life, young or old, and best of all, it's just $34.99. Preorders ship out on January 1, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope $34.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Fortune Firecracker Legos that serve as wall decor are elite. Credit: Lego

Lunar New Year isn't until February, but you can get prepared by pre-ordering this Lego Fortune Firecracker. The eight firecrackers "crackle" when they're moved, and the entire set can be mounted on the wall. The center can also be opened to reveal one of two scenes of your choice — a firework display or God of Fortune celebration scene. Preorders will ship out on January 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Fortune Firecracker $89.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Lego

In classic Lego style, this replica brings you more than meets the eye. The 2,842-piece set functions as a 14.5-inch brick version of the iconic World Cup trophy, but unlike the real deal, the top can also be opened to reveal a World Cup scene. The actual World Cup isn't until July of next year, but preorders for this set ship out on March 1, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy $199.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Ideas The Goonies The Goonies Legos 'R' Good Enough. Credit: Lego

The Goonies turned a whopping 40 years old this year — what better way to celebrate than building this nearly 3,000 piece set, featuring the iconic Inferno pirate ship housing vignettes from the film? And unlike the full-scale ship built for the movie, it won't be devastating if you want to scrap this one and build it all over again. At the time of writing, this set is on backorder, but should be ready to ship out (no pun intended) 60 days from purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas The Goonies $329.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Your living room: The Final Frontier. Credit: Lego

The crew of the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise may be used to more exciting voyages than the one to your office shelves or living room sideboard, but the Star Trek fans will probably appreciate being greeted by the display every single day.

SEE ALSO: How 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' ruled the internet

This Next Generation-themed 3,600-piece set comes with nine minifigures, a detachable command saucer, secondary hull, warp nacelles with distinctive red and blue detailing, an opening shuttlebay, 2 mini shuttlepods, and an angled display stand with a schematic and ship statistics. Also currently on backorder, it will ship out 60 days after purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D $399.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium All the aquarium essentials are in this set, including a treasure chest. Credit: Lego

This set may be a whopping 4,154 pieces, but after the initial build, it'll be way less work to maintain a real aquarium. Plus, it even comes with knobs and levers so you can "move" the sea life inside, from a striped brickfish to sea anemones and, of course, a sunken treasure chest. This backordered set will ship out 60 days after purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium $479.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Best Lego sets coming soon

The following sets aren't available to preorder, but will be available come January 2026.

Lego sets available for purchase January 2026 Coming January 1 Lego Wild Animals: Color Hummingbird $29.99 Learn More Coming January 1 Lego Minecraft The Fox $39.99 Learn More Coming January 1 Lego Bugs Bunny $39.99 Learn More Coming January 1 Lego Botanicals Peace Lily $49.99 Learn More Coming January 1 Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket $59.99 Learn More Coming January 1 Lego Art Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape $139.99 Learn More Coming January 3 Lego Icons Shopping Street $249.99 Learn More Coming January 3 Lego Icons Stranger Things: The Creel House $299.99 Learn More Best new Lego sets as of Oct. 2025Lego Time Machine from Back to the Future Credit: Lego

It's relatively common to see Lego sets from popular IPs, but less so to see them at an under-$50 price point. This quaint 357-piece set is the perfect coffee table addition for Back to the Future fans. It's on preorder until its ship date of Jan. 1, 2026 (not 1955). This isn't the first time Marty McFly's DeLorean has been brickified, but this more-affordable set is part of the Lego Speed Champions line.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Time Machine from 'Back to the Future' $27.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure Why not get into the holiday spirit before the end of October? Credit: Lego

Not to pit sets against each other, but I wasn't wowed by the $330 Christmas Tree (and neither were reviewers on Lego's site so far). This oversized Santa minifig is a much more palatable $54.99, has the positive reviews to back it up, and stands at a nice 10.5-inches tall, making it a great addition for any holiday setup.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure $54.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker Not pictured: the seasonally-appropriate snowy landscape of Hoth. Credit: Lego

Star Wars fans have another huge (literally) release lower down on this list, but for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit while honoring their love of Star Wars lucked out with this Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker. It's just a bit smaller than the now-retired 1,267-piece AT-AT Lego originally released, but at 697 pieces and 7.5-inches tall, it's still plenty to ring in the holidays with.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Super Mario Game Boy The ultimate dose of nostalgia. Credit: Lego

I don't know if there's a combination of words more nostalgic than Lego Super Mario Game Boy. This set was announced for preorder in July, and as of Oct. 1, is finally available. As a small catch, it is on backorder for up to 60 days, so if you're looking to gift it to the gamer in your life this holiday season, I'd grab it sooner rather than later. The set comes with a customizable display and game paks, but if you want to play actual games on this Lego replica, you'll have to go the same path as this modder.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario Game Boy $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Ideas Mineral Collection For any Botanicals fans looking for something a little different, one of Lego Ideas newest releases has got you covered. Credit: Lego

They're (Lego) minerals, Marie. One of the latest releases from the Ideas line is an 880-piece set that allows you to create a nice display of Lego golden pyrite, purple amethyst, reddish-pink rhodochrosite, blue fluorite, watermelon tourmaline and tangerine quartz.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas Mineral Collection $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Batman Logo This easy to display Batman set celebrates 20 years of Lego Batman. Credit: Lego

It may be hard to come by your own personal bat signal if you don't live in Gotham, but Lego made it easy with this Batman Logo set. The 678-piece set celebrates 20 years of Lego Batman, hence the golden Batman and anniversary coin. Also included is the display stand, supports for wall-mounting the piece, and a code to unlock a character in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight. As of now, it's only available for preorder, and will ship on March 1, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Batman' Logo $79.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Wicked Emerald City & Kiamo Ko Castle One short day, in the Lego Emerald City. Credit: Lego

We're closing in on the release to the Wicked sequel. If you're looking to kill some time before the film's release, this relatively small (but adorable) 860-piece set will do the trick.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Wicked' Emerald City & Kiamo Ko Castle $79.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory The snozzberries do in fact taste like snozzberries. Credit: Lego

Come with me, and you'll be, in a world of 2,205 plastic bricks that make up the iconic scenes from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. This set comes with nine minifigures (you'll never guess who five of them are), along with depictions of the chocolate waterfall and Wonkatania boat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory $219.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship And yes, it does come equipped with a row of cannons. Credit: Lego

The enduring power of Pirates of the Caribbean's popularity can be found in two facts about this Lego set. One, it's part of the Icons series, meaning it joins the ranks of other iconic IPs. Two, it's on backorder for the next 60 days, so if you're wanting to get an impressive display piece sooner rather than later, I recommend adding it to your cart ASAP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship $379.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars Death Star This 9,023-piece set might rival the build time of the actual Death Star. Credit: Lego

Step aside, $850 Lego Millennium Falcon. The Lego Death Star hits a $999.99 price point, making it the most expensive Lego from the brand. While its price point has raised some eyebrows, this is one of the top ten biggest sets Lego's ever made, and the biggest Lego Star Wars set to date, clocking in at a whopping 9,023 pieces, including 36 minifigures and two droid figures.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Star Wars' Death Star $999.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Best new Lego sets as of Aug. 2025Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck The farmer figurine nails the balance of fear and excitement known by every Halloween fan. Credit: Lego

The correct day to start celebrating Halloween season is Sept. 1, but as someone who absolutely loves Halloween, I will allow Aug. 1. This quaint Jack-O'-Lantern set (with a pumpkin you can open!) nails the vibe for adorable Halloween bookshelf decor for under $20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck $14.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Arcade Machine The perfect desk accessory. Credit: Lego

What is the point of being a gamer if not collecting adorable accessories through which to channel your passion? I guess actually playing games, but when your eyes need a break from your screen, building this mini arcade machine could do. The 468-piece set opens up to a mini gaming room for the included minifigure.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Arcade Machine $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Halloween Wreath Credit: Lego

Between the bats, spiders, pumpkins, and ghosts, the only Halloween heavy hitter missing on this wreath is a skeleton (though it does feature bones). While this wouldn't be the best outdoor option, Lego's Halloween Wreath comes with a string for easy hanging in your home, making it a great option for getting in the spooky spirit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Halloween Wreath $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego 'Mario Kart' Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit Switch 2 owners aren't the only ones who get to enjoy new Mario Kart content. Credit: Lego

Don't quite have the funds to get your hands on the new Mario Kart game just yet? This set requires no Switch 2 to enjoy, featuring Koopa Troopa, Toadette, the Tanooki Kart and Cat Cruiser, and of course, a piranha plant you can attach to either kart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Mario Kart Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit $49.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Look at the serenity of these tiny Lego trees! Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals fans: we did it. We finally got a set of bonsai trees that don't have any flowers or leaves actually made up of tiny pink frogs. (No shade to the frog fans, it's just a little unnerving for some of us!).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees $64.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Hibiscus A perfect addition for a Lego Botanical garden. Credit: Lego

If there's a Lego Botanicals flower set that isn't gorgeous, I've yet to come across it, and the Hibiscus set is certainly no exception. The 660-piece life-size flower set comes with posable petals in a pretty lilac shade, making it an excellent accent piece.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Hibiscus $69.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Credit: Lego

The Arlong Park arc of One Piece is what some fans consider the real hook — no small feat considering the original anime is over 1,000 episodes long (and still ongoing). Luffy's rubber powers get a fun feature in the arm-lengthening pieces, and a tap to the top of the pagoda causes it to explode in a nod to the show's unforgettable fight scenes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'One Piece' Battle at Arlong Park $79.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Nike Dunk x Lego Who knew a Lego sneaker would look this good? Credit: Lego

There's a Lego collab for everyone, including Nike and basketball fans. This 1,180 set comes with a couple of tricks up its sleeve (or down its shoe?), in the form of a storage compartment in the sneaker (where you can drop the minifig or extra shoe lace colors to swap later) and the ability to spin the basketball. That's a slam dunk of a fun set.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Nike Dunk x Lego $99.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars Wicket the Ewok What's more stunning decor, the Botanicals Hibiscus or Wicket the Ewok? Credit: Lego

Ewoks are the most adorable creature in the Star Wars universe, argue with the wall. While I think Lego could've made real magic with a life size Ewok set, this 1,010 piece that stands around nine inches tall is pretty adorable, too. And true to canon, he comes equipped with a spear and a little treat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Star Wars' Wicket the Ewok $129.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp Display some of Spider-Man's most iconic heroes and villains in your living room. Credit: Lego

This Spider-Man set packs in the heavy hitters from the beloved series: Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, and Venom — just to name a few of the minifigures found among the 808 pieces that make up this set. The city model features Miles Morales' apartment, the Oscorp building, and Venom's apartment, giving you plenty of opportunities for staging the perfect Spider-Man scene.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp $139.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C From afar, this set almost doesn't look like Legos. Credit: Lego

Early buyers of the Shelby Cobra 427 S/C set are impressed: the attention to detail paid to the design makes the car look great from afar and up close. The working steering wheel is a nice touch, alongside Caroll Shelly's signature on the glovebox.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C $159.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker A room isn't complete without a good statement piece. Credit: Lego

If you missed out on the Lego AT-AT set before it was discontinued (and fair — it was $849.99), this AT-ST set is much more reasonably priced at $199.99, and it doesn't require quite as much shelf space, making it overall a much more practical option. And it's still just as iconic to the Star Wars universe.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle From the Alps to your living room. Credit: Lego

Lego's architecture line depicts some of the most famous structures from around the globe, from Notre Dame in Paris to the Himeji Castle in Japan. For this latest release, Lego brings us to the impressive Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It requires you build through 3,455 pieces, but it looks like the view is well worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle $279.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego One Piece The Baratie Floating Restaurant Display this set on a repurposed trunk and you've got yourself a vibe. Credit: Lego

That's right — we have two iconic One Piece scenes on our list. With 3,402 pieces for building this set, you'll create the floating restaurant with detailed rooms where you can place 10 included characters and wanted posters.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'One Piece' The Baratie Floating Restaurant $329.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

A NASA spacecraft is making a close approach to the sun, repeating its record-breaking distance of 3.8 million miles from the solar surface. 

Parker Solar Probe reached "perihelion," the nearest point to the sun in its orbit, on Saturday, Dec. 13. This event is the spacecraft's latest flyby to study the corona, the outermost atmosphere of the sun. 

Parker also matched its record speed of 430,000 mph — fast enough to get from New York to Tokyo in less than a minute, according to the space agency. During this flyby, the probe will collect data on solar wind, flares, and coronal mass ejections — the mysterious solar activity that causes space weather. The spacecraft's four science instruments will measure solar particles and magnetic fields. 

The encounter comes one year after the historic flyby last December that saw Parker become the closest human-made object to the star. The findings and images from that event were published in two Astrophysical Journal Letters papers this week. 

"Eventually, with more and more passes by the sun, Parker Solar Probe will help us be able to continue building the big picture of the sun's magnetic fields and how they can affect us," said Nour Rawafi, Parker's project scientist, in a statement. "And as the sun transitions from solar maximum toward minimum, the scenes we'll witness may be even more dramatic."

SEE ALSO: 'Ice giant' planets Uranus and Neptune might not be full of ice after all

Parker’s mission, which launched in 2018, was to gain insight on how the sun and corona work. It "touched" the sun for the first time in 2021, traveling into a region where the temperature is 2 million degrees Fahrenheit. 

Right now, space weather isn't well understood, and forecasting blasts of solar material that could disrupt power grids, telecommunications, and GPS systems remains challenging. Fortunately, the atmosphere and magnetic field shield earthlings against the most harmful health impacts of radiation during solar storms. 

But these events can have repercussions for technology on which people have come to depend. 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.

Coronal mass ejections and flares both involve enormous solar explosions and sometimes happen together. Through telescopes, the flares appear as bright light and the ejections look like fans of gas flying into space. The difference between the two phenomenons can be compared to Civil War-era artillery, NASA explains: 

"The flare is like the muzzle flash, which can be seen anywhere in the vicinity. The (coronal mass ejection) is like the cannonball, propelled forward in a single, preferential direction … only affecting a targeted area." 

The hot plasma from the ejection usually takes up to three days to reach the planet, traveling over 1 million mph. A geomagnetic storm can happen when charged particles from that plasma interact with Earth's magnetic field. 

The data also helped scientists create the first detailed maps of the corona's boundary, the Alfvén surface, where solar material breaks free and becomes solar wind. Credit: CfA / Melissa Weiss illustration

Parker's observations revealed that some magnetic material launched during a coronal mass ejection last December actually fell back to the sun instead of escaping. This recycling seems to reshape the magnetic environment and even influence the direction of later solar eruptions. 

The data also helped scientists create the first detailed maps of the corona's boundary, known as the Alfvén surface, where solar material breaks free and becomes solar wind. The spacecraft's measurements show that this zone grows larger and more jagged as the sun's activity ramps up. 

"The insights we gain from these images are an important part of understanding and predicting how space weather moves through the solar system, especially for mission planning that ensures the safety of our Artemis astronauts traveling beyond the protective shield of our atmosphere," said Joe Westlake, NASA's heliophysics division director, in a statement.

NASA is reviewing next steps for the spacecraft in 2026 and beyond.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It feels like we're inundated with tennis tournaments over the summer months, and then nothing. After the US Open, tennis fans have a painful wait for the next Grand Slam. Well that wait is almost over. The 2026 Australian Open looms on the horizon, promising epic contests between the best players in the world.

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

What is the Australian Open?

The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. It's the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year, followed by the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

The current singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys.

When is the 2026 Australian Open?

The 2026 Australian Open is the 114th edition of the tournament. This year's event will take place from Jan. 12 to Feb. 1.

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open for free

The 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

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

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95.

Live stream the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 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 final awaits for the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, but two doesn't go into one. The Thunder have looked unbeatable at times this season, but the Spurs possess the talent to give the champions some problems. Will Wemby play? It might be too risky to return so soon, but this huge game might tempt the Spurs organization to throw their star back into the mix.

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

When is Thunder vs. Spurs?

Thunder vs. Spurs in the NBA Cup starts at 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 13. This game takes place at the T-Mobile Arena.

How to watch Thunder vs. Spurs for free

Thunder vs. Spurs 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 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 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 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.

TL;DR: Live stream Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks 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.

We're fast approaching the business end of the NBA Cup. Only four teams remain in contention for the top prize, with the Orlando Magic facing the New York Knicks in the first semi final. The NBA Cup doesn't yet carry the significance of the playoffs, but at this late stage, expect teams to throw everything at it.

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

When is Magic vs. Knicks?

Magic vs. Knicks in the NBA Cup starts at 5:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 13. This game takes place at the T-Mobile Arena.

How to watch Magic vs. Knicks for free

Magic vs. Knicks 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 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 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 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.