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TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Open Championship for free on R&A TV. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We don't know what you've got planned for the next few days, but we suggest you cancel all your appointments.

Clear your schedule, turn off your phone, and get comfortable, because the 2025 Open Championship has got you covered. The best players in the world are set to compete over four days at the Royal Portrush Golf Club. The likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Jon Rahm will be expected to compete for the top prize this year.

If you want to watch the 2025 Open Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Open Championship?

The Open Championship (also known as the The Open or the British Open) is the oldest golf tournament in the world. The Open is one of the four men's major golf championships, alongside the Masters, PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open. The Open is the fourth and final major golf tournament of the year.

The defending champion is Xander Schauffele.

When is the 2025 Open Championship?

The 2025 Open Championship is the 153rd edition of the event. This year's tournament takes place on July 17–20 at the Royal Portrush Golf Club (Northern Ireland).

How to watch the 2025 Open Championship for free

The 2025 Open Championship is available to live stream for free on R&A TV.

Fans can follow their favourite players and watch every shot through the Featured Group coverage (one group in the morning and one in the afternoon). Alternatively, two of the most famous holes at Royal Portrush will be featured on R&A TV's dedicated Par-3 Channel — watch all the action from the sixth and 16th holes throughout the tournament.

Not able to access these free live streams in your location? You may need to use a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location., meaning you can unblock free live streams on R&A TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Open Championship by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit R&A TV

5. Live stream the 2025 Open Championship for free from anywhere in the world

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

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 2025 Open Championship before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best 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 golf?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A 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 only $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Open Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 20 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Shore thing!

The words are clothing-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are things worn in water.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Beach Attire.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 20

• Bikini

• Trunks

• Beach Attire

• Sarong

• Wrap

• Sandals

• Swimsuit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 20 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Dance along

• Green: Done to a cigarette

• Blue: Ways to prepare a drink

• Purple: The second half is the same

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Move to the music

• Green: Inhalation

• Blue: Martini specifications

• Purple: ___Word

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #770 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Move to the music: BOP, BOUNCE, GROOVE, SWAY

• Inhalation: DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, PULL

• Martini specifications: DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, TWIST

• ___Word: BUZZ, CROSS, LOAN, PASS

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 20

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for July 20 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 20, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Empty.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BLANK.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 20

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

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

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

Ring, the Amazon-owned home surveillance company, is partnering with taser-maker Axon to once again help law enforcement request footage from users’ doorbell cameras.

The move reverses Ring’s 2024 decision to kill its "Request for Assistance" feature, which let police ask users for video via the Neighbors app. At the time, Ring framed the change as a shift toward becoming a more community-focused brand, one less reliant on law enforcement integrations. That ethos now appears to be on pause.

SEE ALSO: 14 reasons not to get a Ring camera

The about-face coincides with the return of Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, who rejoined Amazon in April. Under his renewed leadership, Ring is doubling down on AI and rekindling its relationship with law enforcement. As first reported by Business Insider, the new partnership with Axon will allow police to request video from Ring users via Axon’s evidence management system. Ring is also reportedly exploring an option that would let users consent to live streaming their doorbell feeds directly to law enforcement.

In a public statement, Siminoff called the Axon partnership a way to "foster a vital connection between our neighbors and public safety agencies," positioning it as a tool for safer neighborhoods.

The Axon deal is just one part of Siminoff’s broader return strategy. He now oversees not just Ring, but also Amazon’s Blink camera line, its Key in-home delivery system, and the Sidewalk wireless mesh network. Since his return, Siminoff has pushed a hyper-AI agenda, including internal mandates to "do more with less" by using AI to streamline operations. Per Insider, even promotions now require proof of AI-driven impact on efficiency or customer experience.

Internally, the shift has raised eyebrows. Current Ring employees told Insider they’re unsure how the collected footage will be used — and raised flags about privacy and data concerns that have long haunted the brand.

In 2023, Amazon reached a $5.8 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission for spying on Ring and Alexa users, though the company denied any wrongdoing.

Apple's UI refresh, iOS 26, is almost here. To mark the recently passed World Emoji Day on July 16, the Unicode Consortium has approved a fresh batch of emojis for the update.

For context, the Unicode Consortium is a nonprofit that maintains the Unicode Standard, a universal character encoding system that ensures text and emoji appear consistently across all platforms and devices. In other words, it's not Apple or Google that decides which emoji make the cut, but the Consortium itself. This time around, eight new emoji have been selected for Unicode 17.0.

The new additions are:

• Apple Core

• Ballet Dancers

• Distorted Face

• Fight Cloud

• Hairy Creature

• Orca

• Trombone

• Treasure Chest

Credit: Unicode Consortium / Emojipedia

Before you get too excited, these likely won’t appear in the initial rollout of iOS 26. Apple typically takes its time designing its own custom versions of new emojis, and those designs usually arrive a few updates down the line. For example, Unicode 16.0 was finalized on September 10, 2024 — just a week before iOS 18 launched. But that emoji set didn’t show up on iPhones until the release of iOS 18.4 in March of this year.

So while iOS 26 is coming soon, expect the new emoji to follow a few months later.

TL;DR: Online safety for the whole family is easy with this lifetime AdGuard Family Plan, now just $15.97 (reg. $169) with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02 with code FAMPLAN Get Deal

The internet isn’t just cluttered with ads; there are also trackers and other hidden threats. AdGuard keeps you safe online by blocking intrusive ads, stopping trackers, and safeguarding your privacy across all your devices.

Right now, you can grab lifetime protection for the whole crew with the AdGuard Family Plan. Cover up to nine devices for only $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN now through April 27.

Enjoy a safer and smoother browsing experience

The internet should be fun, not frustrating. AdGuard tackles the most annoying parts of online life, like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads, so that you can enjoy your time browsing, streaming, and scrolling again.

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also protects your privacy. Your information will stay safe from trackers and activity analyzers, and you'll be shielded from malware and phishing websites that you or your family members could fall victim to. 

Moms and dads will love AdGuard's parental control feature, which keeps your kids safe from inappropriate content online.

This Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices with AdGuard, so you can make sure everyone's devices stay safe. And it works with Android and iOS operating systems alike, so it can be used on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Netflix isn’t pretending to play coy about AI anymore. The streaming giant confirmed during its latest earnings call that it leaned on generative AI to create visual effects for The Eternaut, an Argentine post-apocalyptic drama.

SEE ALSO: Trump Administration set to announce executive order targeting "woke AI" chatbots, report says

According to reporting from Engadget, co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that the creators of The Eternaut wanted a collapsing building sequence to anchor a key moment in the story. Instead of outsourcing the shot to a traditional VFX house, they turned to generative AI tools.

"Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed," Sarandos said. "In fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with... traditional VFX tools and workflows."

This doesn't appear to be a one-off either. Reports suggest that AI-generated ads will start appearing mid-stream in 2026 for Netflix's ad-tier subscribers. But The Eternaut marks a milestone. According to Sarandos, it contains "the very first Gen AI final footage to appear on screen in a Netflix original series or film."

Predictably, not everyone is applauding. Hollywood’s creative community remains uneasy — and increasingly vocal — about generative AI in production. Films like The Brutalist and Late Night with the Devil faced backlash for even light AI involvement. The issue is already on the radar of SAG-AFTRA, and it’s poised to become a flashpoint in future industry negotiations.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, July 19, 2025:

AcrossSee-through

• The answer is Clear.

"Anybody home?"

• The answer is Hello.

Winged horse of Greek myth

• The answer is Pegasus.

Salamander known for its regenerative abilities (and adorable appearance)

• The answer is Axolotl.

Texting format, for short

• The answer is SMS.

Birthplace of bossa nova

• The answer is Rio.

Even score

• The answer is Tie.

Insect seen in Dalí's "The Persistence of Memory"

• The answer is Ant.

Directory abbr.

• The answer is Ext.

Metroid console, for short

• The answer is NES.

DownParty snack made with cereal and pretzels

• The answer is Chex Mix.

Gift with many interlocking pieces

• The answer is Lego Set.

Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea

• The answer is Elal.

Election loser

• The answer is Also ran.

Stand-up comic's act

• The answer is Routine.

Command that uses the "V" key

• The answer is Paste.

Pulling their arms might win you money

• The answer is Slots.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

Have you ever had a kid run up to you, tug on your shirt, and say, "Watch this — hey, hey, watch this!"?

I recently had that experience during a play session with my nieces and nephews, and for once, I didn't have to smile and nod my way through a very thorough explanation of Captain Underpants or Roblox. No, what my adorable niece showed me that day would forever change the course of my life.

Mario. Kart. Legos. That. Shoot. Turtle. Shells.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart Yoshi Bike $14.99 at Amazon
Get Deal

As Mashable's tech editor, I'm tasked with covering the latest gadgets and gear, but sometimes products slip through the cracks, and it takes an adorable 6-year-old to open your eyes. These Mario Kart Legos aren't new by any means, but they're new to me, and I can't stop playing with them.

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Legos. My prized possession was a Wild West jailhouse set. When you inserted a dynamite-shaped brick into the cell door, a spring blew it off its hinges. It was awesome, and a similar kind of wizardry is at play here.

These kits are small and simple enough that you can build them quickly with young kids, who will appreciate the turtle shell-firing mechanism as much as I did.

Not only do these Legos make excellent gifts, but you can also pick them up at Amazon starting at just $12.99 (the Yoshi Bike set is pretty much permanently on sale for that price).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart Donkey Kong Bike $29.49 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $5.50 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart Standard Kit $18.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $1 Get Deal

Creator-approved DJI mics at Amazon Low in stock DJI Mic Mini bundle (2 transmitters, 1 receiver, charging case) $169 Get Deal Still in stock DJI Mic Mini (1 transmitter, 1 receiver) $89 Shop Now Best single-mic option DJI Mic 2 (Transmitter only) $99 Get Deal Backup option DJI Mic 2 (1 transmitter, 1 receiver) $219 Shop Now

If you've been on TikTok lately, you've probably spotted the DJI Mic Mini or the DJI Mic 2. If you haven't noticed them, go ahead and do some scrolling before returning here. You saw it, right? All of Chit's co-workers use one, as does the "Do it lady" man himself. And if it's good enough for Chit, it's good enough for us.

DJI (literally) launched onto the creator scene with epic drones. These days, DJI is a creator-approved brand that makes not just drones but super-portable cameras too, like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. And now thanks to the TikTok creators and YouTubers we spend hours watching each week, DJI is synonymous with wireless microphones.

In fact, these wireless mics are now so popular that it's hard to find them in stock. As of this writing, the popular DJI Mic Mini bundle, which comes with two microphones, a receiver, a charging case, and wind muffs, is sold out at Best Buy, DJI, B&H Photo & Video, and other retailers. With a retail price of $169, it's low in stock at Amazon, and only from third-party sellers.

Why are the DJI Mics so popular?

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth recently tested the DJI Mic Mini bundle while testing the company's pocket gimbal camera and smartphone gimbal, and he had a good experience. "It's just easy. If you've ever been on video and had to wrangle with an annoying lavalier mic cord under your shirt, you know why a wireless option is so appealing. And the audio is good enough for professional purposes. Just plug the receiver into your iPhone, and you're good to go. I wouldn't use it for a full-on TV production, but for social creators and YouTubers, it's very handy."

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

As we said, the DJI Mic Mini is absolutely everywhere — except in stock at Amazon or DJI. Of course the top-selling creator mic would sell out often. It seems as if Amazon is having a hard time keeping up with the demands of creators lately. But if you're lucky, you can find a few models in stock at Amazon, either sold as single mics or bundles. And if you're really desperate for a DJI Mic 2, one is included when you snag the Osmo Pocket 3 bundle at Amazon, FYI.

Here's where to find the DJI Mic Mini and other DJI wireless microphones in stock. In addition to the options below, you can try your luck at each of these retailers:

• DJI

• Best Buy

• B&H Photo & Video

• Amazon

• Walmart

DJI Mic Mini bundle Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJi Mic Mini bundle $169 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

It's what all the cool kids are using, and the DJI Mic Mini bundle comes with everything you need to join them. The bundle includes two microphone transmitters, one receiver, a charging case, four windscreens, two clip magnets, a carrying pouch, and a few extras like cables and adapters. In total, the $169 retail price is a great option when you need to record crystal-clear audio.

Each DJI Mic Mini weighs just 10 grams, so it's lightweight and won't tug on your clothes. Plus, each mic can get up to 48 hours of battery life with the charging case, so you won't have to worry about a dead mic while you're in the flow of creating.

DJI Mic Mini Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini $89 at DJI
Shop Now Why we like it

While the popular bundle is hard to find in stock, DJI does have the regular Mic Mini in stock. This option comes with the essentials you need to get started: a transmitter and receiver. So while you can't mic up an entire webshow cast, you can start recording audio for yourself.

DJI Mic 2 transmitter Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 2 $99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

Can you talk to the camera for six hours? Because that's how long the DJI Mic 2 will keep going on a single charge. With intelligent noise-cancelling, this DJI mic is perfect if you only need one transmitter. Of course, DJI tossed in all the extras like a windscreen, magnetic clip, and carrying case. The transmitter also comes with 8GB of internal storage, which works out to about 14 hours of uncompressed audio.

If you prefer the black DJI Mic 2, please note that it's sold from a third-party seller on Amazon. This seller has a 100% positive rating, but always be cautious when buying from third parties. The Pearl White colorway option is sold by Amazon.

DJI Mic 2 bundle Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 2 (1 TX + 1 RX) $219 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

If you'd like to get the DJI Mic 2 wireless microphone with some accoutrements, then opt for this transmitter plus receiver bundle, which is available at Amazon (and sold directly by Amazon). We wouldn't be surprised if this too goes out of stock, so shop accordingly.

I sweat, and I sweat a lot. All summer long, I carry around a bandana, which isn't just the most underrated men's fashion accessory, but a great way to dab away sweat like a southern gentleman drinking sweat tea on a porch. If you're trying to cool off, there's another way to beat the heat this summer: personal fans.

Mashable previously named portable fans the product of the summer. They were all over the Vidcon conference floor, and I'm still seeing handheld portable fans all over the streets and subways of New York City, and I know I'm not alone.

So, to help my fellow excessive sweaters (I see you), I asked Mashable's team of shopping experts for their personal fan recommendations. When you need help making a purchase, you can always count on the Mashable hive mind. (And if you're worried about your carbon footprint when using portable fans to cool off, we have thoughts on this as well.)

The best option for little ones Opens in a new window Credit: Ventifinal Ventifinal Portable Stroller Mini Fan $9.99 at Amazon
$13.99 Save $4 Get Deal Why we like it

It's rough being a kid, and it's even harder to go through life when overheated. A Mashable parent and shopping editor personally uses the Ventifinal Portable Stroller Mini Fan to keep the kiddos cool(er). It's affordable and super functional, easily wrapping around a stroller, a crib, or in the car. Plus, the base can detach, so it'll sit upright at home. The Ventifinal fan has three speed settings and comes in black, blue, and pink. Expect to get about three hours of use on a full charge.

Best compact portable fan Opens in a new window Credit: Gaiatop Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan $7.99 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $2 Get Deal Why we like it

Measuring under six inches in height and 2.5 inches in width, the Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan is the ultimate tiny companion for getting a nice breeze. It's perhaps the single most popular fan among Amazon shoppers. At this size, it's also lightweight and comes with both a lanyard for strapping to your bag and a base for using the fan on your desk or nightstand. This Gaiatop fan has three speeds and recharges in under three hours.

Best portable fan for versatility Opens in a new window Credit: Jisulife Jisulife Handheld Fan $16.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $3 Get Deal Why we like it

A fan, a power bank, and a flashlight is what you're in store for with the Jisulife Handheld Fan, which was recommended by creator Naomi Hearts in Mashable's In My Bag feature. Not only does this assist with keeping cool, you can recharge your phone on the included power bank or search for that Lego brick that just bounced under the couch with the flashlight.

In terms of cooling, you get three fan speeds on the Jisulife and thanks to the power bank, you can get up to 37 hours of life before you'll need to recharge. It also comes in over a half a dozen colorways (and looks like a bear) to find your perfect summer accessory.

Best minimalist fan Opens in a new window Credit: Muji Muji Rechargeable Compact Handheld Fan $19.90 at Muji
Get Deal Why we like it

Muji is a terrific go-to option if you only accept top-quality pens, stationary, and wardrobe essentials, and the brand's minimalist design also carries over to the Muji Rechargeable Compact Handheld Fan. One of our reporters personally uses this fan to cope with UK heatwaves, and as we all know, our friends across the pond don't even have the benefit of air conditioning. You'll have control over four speed settings and get between two and 12 hours of use with each charge. Recharging takes about 3.5 hours via the USB cable. The head is foldable up to 120 degrees and can angle upward, making this the perfect desktop accessory this summer.

Best tabletop fan to use at home Opens in a new window Credit: Iris Woozoo Iris Woozoo 3-speed Oscillating Fan $39.97 at Walmart
$45.99 Save $6.02 Get Deal Why we like it

This is a recommendation from Mashable's tech editor, and it's also a cult-favorite among college students for its small size and dorm-cooling abilities. If you're searching for a powerful fan that's lightweight enough to travel with you from room to room at home, Walmart has your solution. The Iris Woozoo 3-speed Oscillating Fan is a free-standing fan that operates on one of three speeds with oscillation options. With 90 degrees of vertical tilt, you'll be able to get the stream of chilled air wherever you want it, and all of this is controllable on the included remote. Plus, there's an auto-off timer and natural breeze setting, both of which are ideal if you're using the fan come bedtime.

Best K-Pop-approved portable fan Opens in a new window Credit: Line Friends Line Friends minini Portable Handheld Fan $15 at Line Friends
Get Deal Why we like it

Keep cool with the company of Brown the bear or Jessica the cat, two of the most adorable Line Friends around. These South Korean icons have captured hearts all over the world, and now they're adorned on the Line Friends minini Portable Handheld Fan. This is a must-have for walking around town this summer, but it's absolutely essential if your summer vacation has you jetting off to a remote (but hot) location. The lightweight design and included wrist strap make these cuties especially travel-friendly.

Best portable misting fan Opens in a new window Credit: HandFan HandFan Portable Misting Fan $18.99 at Amazon
$23.99 Save $5 Get Deal Why we like it

When we were at Vidcon, a battery-powered hand fan was among the items recommended by icon Jools Lebron. Specifically, she says she depends on a fan that can last at least six hours per charge. This rechargeable, battery-operated fan also adds a misting effect, providing extra cooling power on a hot day.

Bonus pick: A bladeless home fan Opens in a new window Credit: Dreo Dreo Tower Fan for Bedrooms $71.99
$79.99 Save $8 Get Deal Why we like it

In our guide to the best bladeless fans, a Dreo tower fan nabbed the top spot. This particular bladeless tower fan is on sale at Amazon, making it a smart pickup for the summer heat. If you're tired of sweating in your own home, use this fan to quickly cool down your space without taking up as much room as a bulky box fan. Look for a 10% coupon to save on this oscillating home fan.

There are plenty of times in life when thinner isn't necessarily better, but in the case of tablet-style foldable phones, slimming down is definitely for the best.

That’s my big takeaway after several days playing with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the latest flagship foldable from the Korean tech giant. It combines what I always liked best about this style of foldable (namely the incredible versatility of its display modes) with an almost unbelievably sleek form factor that makes it the best Samsung foldable yet.

Yes, it starts at $1,999, making it the textbook definition of a premium or luxury product. And beyond that, its battery life didn’t wow me during my testing, and what counts for new software features here mostly just bring the Fold line up to speed with previous Galaxy phones’ AI features. But there’s so much else to like about the Fold 7 that if you have $2,000 lying around and any part of it sounds appealing to you, it’s well worth your consideration. Plus, if you pre-order from Amazon, you can get a $300 gift card to soften the financial blow.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Price and specs Just looks like a normal phone from this angle. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As I already covered, this phone is going to cost you two grand to start. Perhaps the specs sheet will do a good job of explaining why:

• 8-inch AMOLED inner display with 2184x1968 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 6.5-inch AMOLED cover display with 2520x1080p resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset

• 12/16GB RAM

• 256/512GB/1TB memory

• 4,400mAh battery

In plain English, that means you’ve got two very large, high-quality displays to go along with one of the higher-end mobile chipsets on the market right now. Even with a relatively small battery size (more on this later), this is a powerful device and the price reflects that.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Design and displays Even when folded, it's tiny. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is pretty incremental in a lot of ways, but its physical design is probably the biggest area where Samsung made real changes this year. I’ll get to why in a second, but first, let me say the color choices this year are dull: Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, and Jet-black. Blegh. My pink iPhone 16 may not be as powerful a device, but it’s got way more pizzazz, I’ll tell you that much.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that Samsung made the Galaxy Z Fold 7 significantly thinner and lighter than any foldable I’ve ever used. It’s in keeping with the recent Galaxy S25 Edge, a phone that offered thinness and little else as a primary selling point. (Ultra-thin phones are also a major theme in the mobile world this year.) Its 215g weight is perfectly agreeable in the hands for a device with two big displays; it’s actually lighter than the S25 Ultra, which notably only has one display on it.

With a thickness of just 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, the Z Fold 7 really needs to be seen and held to be believed. I’ve reviewed a handful of these tablet-style foldables over the years, and none of them have ever felt as good in the hands as this one does. I’m still a bit skeptical overall of the long-term viability of high-end foldables compared to regular smartphones (they really need to start costing less than $2,000), but from a pure usability standpoint, the Z Fold 7 is just tremendous.

Look at that little guy. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Both displays are also perfectly solid, as you’d expect from the spec sheet. The 8-inch inner display is still wonderful for watching videos on the go, while the 6.5-inch outer display works very well as a regular phone when you don’t feel like unfolding the unit. I also didn’t really notice the crease at all while using the phone in its unfolded state. It’s hard to believe, but foldable makers have more or less figured out that part.

If I have one complaint in this department, it’s that there’s a noticeably thick bezel around the outer display. It doesn’t really affect usability, but it immediately stood out to me the first time I used the Z Fold 7. It just looks a little awkward, that’s all. Not a deal-breaker, by any means, but worth pointing out.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Performance Nothing to worry about, performance-wise. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Let’s get the hard data out of the way first: Using the GeekBench 6 benchmarking software, the Z Fold 7 recorded a multi-core score of 9,600. That’s actually a little less than the 10,049 I registered on S25 Ultra earlier this year, but still a very high score overall. I’m not convinced the difference of 449 points actually matters in any meaningful way here.

Put simply, this phone works very well when you try to do pretty much anything on it. Apps load quickly, having a bunch of them open at once doesn’t noticeably slow it down, and I didn’t notice any egregious examples of the phone being uncomfortably warm to the touch after periods of use. Performance is not an issue here.

I will say, though, that this isn’t a banner year for new software ideas from Samsung’s foldable team. As far as I can tell, the Z Fold 7 just takes the AI features that were present in the S25 phones earlier this year and lightly adapts them to the bigger display. That does mean you have a much better way to edit photos than you would on a normal smartphone (complete with split-screen side-by-side editing), but the actual editing features don’t feel particularly new or novel here.

The other main advantage of the foldable form factor with regards to AI stuff is that you can drag and drop your creations from one app to another using split-screen view, which is nice. Other than that, there just isn’t a lot to play with here that wasn’t already around in one form or another before. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Cameras Your three rear lenses. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

To its credit, Samsung delivered a fairly beefy camera upgrade this year. The main selling point is the new 200MP main shooter on the back, which is a big jump from 50MP a year ago. Here are the full camera specs:

• 200MP wide rear lens

• 12MP ultra-wide rear lens

• 10MP telephoto rear lens with 3x optical zoom

• 10MP selfie cameras on both the exterior and interior displays

To keep it simple, the Z Fold 7 takes nice photos. The new 200MP main lens produces very pretty, clear, and vibrant shots.

Brooklyn looks good through the Z Fold 7's lenses. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

You can also get down with some nice macro photography. I recommend taking advantage of this while flowers are still in bloom.

Pretty. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Nighttime photography is fine, too. One could argue that it makes images look a little artificial, but our backyard is nearly impossible to photograph at night, but the Z Fold 7 did a pretty good job of capturing it.

Left: No nighttime mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Right: Nighttime mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

The Z Fold 7 is capable of up to 30x digital zoom. The results aren’t great, to be honest, but they rarely are in my experience on phones like this. You can get zoomed-in images that are technically clear and visible, but you can tell that the software is filling in some blanks to get there if you look closely enough.

Left: No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Right: 30x zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Still, it’s not a disappointing camera system by any means. Portrait mode is always there for your social media shots, too. In all, I dig it.

Looking good, my man. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Battery life

The only thing I found truly disappointing about the Z Fold 7? The battery life.

At first glance, the 4,400mAh cell size didn’t stand out to me because that’s pretty normal for smartphones, and there are other factors at play, like power efficiency, that make the size of the cell not a great indicator of total battery life. Still, maybe I should’ve been more wary. In performing Mashable's standard battery testing (which involved playing a video in HD on the inner display at 50 percent brightness until the phone died), I got about 20 hours of life out of the Z Fold 7. Obviously, normal use that doesn’t involve a full day of video playback will probably squeeze some more juice out of it. It’s not a uselessly small battery by any means, but for a $2,000 phone, you’d like to have some more life on a single charge.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 worth it?

Battery quibbles aside, this is a really good foldable phone. I think if you can make the price work for you (via trade-in or otherwise) and you think the form factor would benefit you in any way, you might have found your next phone.

Galaxy Z Fold 7 is my favorite Samsung foldable yet almost entirely on the back of its extreme thinness and solid performance. Its software features aren’t really anything to write home about, but we live in the age of diminishing returns, so that’s to be expected at this point. It wins in enough other areas that this could be a nice everyday device for years to come, assuming there aren’t any long-term technical problems that wouldn’t show up in a launch window review.

Where to buy the new Galaxy Z Fold 7

Both Amazon and Samsung have pre-order offers available, as of this writing. The phone will officially ship on July 25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, 512GB, Unlocked + $300 Amazon Gift Card $1,999.99 at Amazon
$2,419.99 Save $420.00 Shop at Amazon Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, 512GB, Unlocked $1,999.99 at Samsung
$2,119.99 Save $120.00 Shop at Samsung Get Deal

Anker looked at a can of soda and said, “Yeah, we can make a mini projector that’s the same size.” With its compact size, weight of about two pounds, and impressive display quality, the 1080p Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector has earned a permanent place in my travel bag. That is, once I take it down from using it as my everyday TV. Not only does the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser offer a projection of up to 120 inches, but it also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker with damn fine sound quality.

What’s to love about the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

Anker has become one of the more reliable brands if you’re in search of affordable tech that doesn’t completely suck. The Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds are Mashable’s choice for the best budget earbuds, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 are the best sleep earbuds we tested, and the Anker 735 Nano charger is one of Mashable's tech editor’s secret weapons. So when we started testing the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector, we were not at all surprised to be wowed.

If you’re interested in a super portable mini projector that impresses with image and sound quality, while also doubling as a Bluetooth speaker, you’ve landed on the right review. Anker succeeded in creating a travel-friendly projector that weighs a bit over two pounds and displays via a laser light source to give us 300 ANSI Lumens of brightness in 1080p HD resolution. 

Nothing beats an outdoor movie night. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

When testing the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector, I used it inside and outside with an Elite Screens Yard Master Plus. I also used it at my in-laws' house on a window shade, on a slightly textured wall at an Airbnb, and on a completely white, smooth wall in another. Of course, the Elite Screens was the best option, but the other makeshift screens worked just fine, and I think you’d still be in for a great outdoor movie night if you used a white sheet.

For those interested, here are some noteworthy details of the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector:

Specs:

• Size: 6.7 inches tall x 3.3 inches diameter

• Weight: 2.1 pounds

• Rated brightness: 300 ANSI lumens

• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080

• Engine type: DLP

• Inputs and interface: HDMI, USB-C

• Battery life: 2.5 hours movie playback mode; 10 hours Bluetooth speaker mode (52Wh battery)

• Warranty: 1 year

Autofocus starts the show

After you’ve powered the Capsule 3 Laser on, it takes off on an automatic journey to find the best focus and keystone. For those unfamiliar with projector function, keystone correction ensures your screen is a standard rectangular shape. It corrects for distortions that are likely to happen if the projector is misaligned from your projection surface, like if it’s not set in the center or it’s tilting slightly toward the ceiling. Before you’ve gone into the Google TV menu, the Anker Nebula takes off on its own show to get the focus on keystone correct.

A small but mighty beast of a projector. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

To be honest, it’s something I never tire of watching. There’s an undeniable gratification that comes from the projector finding the perfect focus. But if you’re less smitten with this show, go ahead and leave the room to grab the popcorn. This process can take a few seconds. The Nebula doesn’t need assistance or intervention to get this right about 99 percent of the time. Should it mess up this process, or the projector needs to be moved mid-show, there’s a front-and-center button on the included remote that’ll redo the process. I’ve never needed to initiate a third attempt at perfect focus in my testing.

A soda can with ridiculous image quality

There’s no use in buying a projector if you’re going to be unhappy with the image quality, and that’s really the number one reason why we love the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser. Given it’s the size of a can of cola, the image it can project is seriously impressive. Its native resolution is 1920 x 1080. It's capable of projecting a display of up to 120 inches, which is a great way to impress your friends during a backyard movie night. 

A bit larger than a can of soda. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable A nod to the remote

The Nebula Anker Capsule 3 Laser comes with its own sleek remote control. It has your standard buttons like power, volume controls, mute, and quick access to YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video. There’s also a single button to send the projector into auto focus and keystone mode. Like the projector itself, the remote’s compact and pretty much unnoticeable in weight when you pack it into your weekend bag.

The remote, however, really shines (literally) in its ability to illuminate when it senses a slight bump or touch. That means you won’t have to memorize the buttons' locations because they light up in a dark room. 

Crank the tunes

Just like the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser impressed in image quality, the sound from the built-in speaker is solid. The inclusion of an 8W Dolby Digital speaker in the mini projector makes this a one-man show, and you won’t need to connect to your home’s stereo system or bring along a Bluetooth speaker. But it also has a 3.5mm stereo output should you wish to physically connect to an external sound system.

In addition to providing the soundtrack for your movies and shows, the Capsule 3 Laser can function as a Bluetooth speaker, without a display. This makes it a great device to pack along for camping or a weekend away since it’s a two-for-one, serving as both a projector and speaker.

A trip across the Pacific with the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

Product testing has no borders, so I packed the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector with me to Japan because why not? Since it only weighs two pounds and has a compact shape, it was pretty easy to add to my backpack. I studied the Airbnb photos and knew I would have the perfect white wall to finally watch Shogun during my trip. I also just had to rewatch some episodes of the incredible Tokyo Vice (shame on HBO for canceling this series) because when in Rome. On nights when I was too tired to keep walking the neighborhoods in Tokyo, using the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser was a dream.

Get in bitches, we're going to Japan. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I pack light — as in my one carry-on backpack comes in at under 20 pounds, including all of my tech and my laptop. Committing to packing an extra two pounds was actually kind of a big deal for me, but I didn’t regret it for an instant. Traveling with the projector with built-in Google TV meant I was still logged into my personal accounts on all streaming platforms. I didn’t have to log in on the Airbnb TV and then set a reminder to myself to log out before I checked out. It was all there and loaded up. I also utilized the projector as a Bluetooth speaker every morning while getting ready for the day. Plus, the Capsule 3’s USB-C charging means I didn’t have to pack a separate adapter or cable. I used my phone/laptop charger, the Anker 737 GaNPrime charger.

A must-have for outdoor movie nights or living the apartment life

This portability makes me think the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser could be awesome if you live in a compact apartment and don’t feel like getting a traditional TV. Those can be a pain to move with not to mention a concern for taking damage. You also don’t need to deal with putting holes in the wall that would be necessary if you went the mounted TV route.

SEE ALSO: Best 55-inch and under TVs for your bedroom, the kids' room, or your apartment

Of course, a shining point of a portable projector is the ability to take it outside for an epic backyard movie night. The built-in battery can last for up to 2.5 hours, which means you’ll make it through at least one film or two animated Disney hits (go tropical with a double feature of Moana and Lilo and Stitch). Keep in mind you’ll need a projector screen of some sort to make this movie night happen.

This is not the projector for daytime soaps

If your main viewing times occur during bright hours in the afternoon and you don’t have room-darkening curtains, the Nebula Anker 3 Laser is probably not the right match. The 300 ANSI lumens are impressive, especially given the projector’s tiny size and affordable price, but it’s not the greatest in bright conditions. You’ll lose details of the image to the point of losing the plot. 

The Anker Nebula’s lumens are really designed for dark viewing either at night or in a room that can achieve relative darkness.

It takes a smidge of patience to get going

While I’m personally wonderstruck by the automatic focus and keystone process, getting the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser to the stage of being ready to play your chosen show or movie takes a bit of patience. The focus process, paired with the fairly slow initial loading of Google TV, means you can forget the snacks, go get them, and come back to a projector that’s just become ready for your selection. I didn’t find this a deal breaker in any sense, but it does perhaps indicate low RAM for Google TV to run at a zippy speed.

You’ll want to accessorize (sold separately)

The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser comes with the projector itself, a USB-C charging cable, an adapter, and the lovable remote, but no stand. It does, however, have a standard threaded mount on the bottom so you can purchase a stand or mount separately. Of course, the projector works just fine without a base, but it’s a worthwhile upgrade to have. Plus, the small size of the projector can actually be a negative in terms of avoiding knocking it over.

I travel with the compact Nebula Projector Foldable Stand, which does the job. At home, I much prefer the adjustable Nebula three-foot floor stand that keeps cords tucked away. When car camping or using the projector in the backyard, the Nebula Capsule Power Bank Tripod is awesome since it’s a portable size and offers an extra two hours of battery life. But since the power bank tripod weighs as much as the projector itself, I wouldn’t recommend this option for travel.

You’ll likely also want some form of carrying case. Since the Nebula Capsule is roughly the size of a can of soda, I may have used a neoprene wine koozie in a pinch on one trip.

If you want accessories like a stand or tripod, you can save some money by bundling them together when buying from Anker’s website.

Laser vs. non-laser

Anker makes a non-laser version of the Nebula Capsule 3, which is simply called the Nebula Capsule 3 mini projector. It’s less expensive, slightly smaller and lighter, but you lose the image quality that comes from a laser projector. It’s still ready to offer you a terrific movie night, and it’s travel-friendly, but it’s just slightly less pretty when it comes to the display. It’s also slightly dimmer, coming in at 200 lumens instead of the 300 lumens on the laser version. Again, this isn’t the right projector if you'll be watching during the day or in a bright room.

The Nebula Capsule 3 mini projector (left) compared to the size of the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector (right). Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The standard Capsule 3, however, comes with one benefit I prefer significantly over the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser. The standard Nebula Capsule 3 has a USB-A port in addition to the USB-C and HDMI. The Laser version omits the USB-A port. Since both versions of the projector charge via the one USB-C port, you cannot use this port to view media. You’ll need a dongle if you hope to both charge the projector and use the USB-C port for a media library with the Capsule Laser 3. That’s not a huge deal, and you can grab an Anker USB-C hub to remedy this port situation for under $25 at Amazon.

Is the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser worth it?

At full price, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser costs $749.99 at the time of this review, but it goes on sale often at Amazon for about $600. For that price, the Capsule 3 Laser offers an incredible value for a portable projector that comes with impressive image quality in 1080p resolution. There’s also the added benefit that it can serve as a portable Bluetooth speaker. If you’re taking this on a camping trip, to a weekend cabin getaway, or on vacation, that eliminates the need to pack a separate speaker. The Google TV addition also means you won’t have to log into your accounts on the TV at the Airbnb. It also charges via USB-C, which is something you’re probably already packing, so you won’t need to pack an extra cable or adapter. 

With the built-in battery, you can watch at least one movie on the projector before you need to find a power source. But if you’re using it as a Bluetooth speaker, you can get up to eight hours of listening time before a recharge.

Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser mini projector $579.98 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $170.01 See It

The North Pole is the fastest-warming area of our planet. Yet, we know so little about the local ecosystems, the way they interact with the climate, and how global warming is impacting them. The French Tara Ocean Foundation wants to change that by deploying a spaceship-shaped station in the Central Arctic. The goal is to study the North Pole's ecosystem to document and better understand its relationship to the climate, and how the rising temperatures may change this vulnerable area.

Astronomers have taken a close look at one of the youngest known exoplanets and found it's on the receiving end of relentless brutality. 

This giant baby world, TOI 1227b, is about the size of Jupiter but much lighter — more like a puffed-up version of Neptune, about 330 light-years from Earth. But the distant planet likely won't stay that size for long, because the star that birthed it is blasting it with X-rays, causing it to puff up and blow away. 

The punishing radiation appears to be causing the planet to shed its atmosphere at a rate of at least 1 trillion grams per second, according to a new study involving NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. That's like a full Earth disappearing into space every two centuries. 

The findings, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal, offer a rare window into what planets look like in their infancy — and how they evolve amid the violence perpetrated by their stars. This planet's atmosphere simply can't withstand that kind of beating, said Attila Varga, a doctoral student at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.  

"It’s almost unfathomable to imagine what is happening to this planet," said Varga, who led the research, in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: Scientists just expanded the search for rocky alien worlds with air NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory studied the radiation from a red dwarf star bombarding a young exoplanet. Credit: NASA / CXC / J. Vaughan illustration

The number of confirmed exoplanets — planets that don't orbit the sun — has tipped 5,900, according to NASA, with thousands of additional candidates under review. 

Red dwarf stars, sometimes referred to as M-type stars, are the most common stars within the Milky Way, yet nobody knows whether planets orbiting them can hold onto atmospheres. TOI 1227b, just 8 million years old, is one such world orbiting this kind of star. 

Most astronomers agree that detecting atmospheres is crucial in the search for habitable worlds. NASA has playfully called Earth's own atmosphere its "security blanket": Without it, the type of life flourishing here wouldn't exist. This cocoon holds oxygen in the air and filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, all while keeping our world warm. Furthermore, it creates pressure that allows liquid water to pool on the surface.

The James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, is embarking on a massive study of rocky worlds outside the solar system, specifically to learn whether worlds orbiting near cool red dwarf stars could have air. The campaign, first reported by Mashable, will zero in on a dozen nearby-ish exoplanets. 

The new observations of TOI 1227b have revealed that its star is essentially boiling off the baby planet's atmosphere. It's so close to its star — closer than Mercury is to the sun — that it’s exposed to nonstop radiation. Based on simulations, the researchers estimate the planet could lose more than 10 percent of its total mass over the next billion years. 

That’s equivalent to two Earths’ worth of material, gone with the stellar wind, whittling it down to perhaps a super-Earth. This process might help explain why astronomers have noticed a noticeable lack of midsize planets, between 1.5 and two times Earth’s size. It’s possible that some planets in this range lost their atmospheres due to radiation.

"A crucial part of understanding planets outside our solar system is to account for high-energy radiation like X-rays that they’re receiving,” said co-author Joel Kastner in a statement. "We think this planet is puffed up, or inflated, in large part as a result of the ongoing assault of X-rays from the star."

For TOI 1227 b, the future looks bleak. The planet is likely too hot and battered to ever host life. And as the abuse from its star continues, this world is ever more likely to shrivel into a barren rock. Future Webb telescope studies may shed light on what exactly TOI 1227b’s air is made of before it's decimated.

If you're someone who uses a wide variety of devices in your daily life, it's important to keep your batteries charged up (ideally, without a dozen different cords and devices). The last thing you want is to go on a trip and have your phone, Nintendo Switch, or tablet die on the first day. That's where power banks and chargers come in handy. These little devices are always useful to have on-hand, and if you've been looking for a reliable brand to invest in, we're big fans of Anker here at Mashable.

Anker makes our list of the best portable chargers and power banks in 2025. It's also a brand that frequently sees discounts throughout the year, especially during major sale events like Amazon Prime Day — but Anker's price points are still worth a look even without a deal.

We gathered eight of our favorite Anker charging accessories to make your charger choice easier. These picks are sourced from a variety of individuals across Mashable's team, including our tech reporters, so you can find the best pick for any situation.

Anker Prime USB-C Charger Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime 67W USB C Charger $34.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $25 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're on the hunt for a plug-in charger to keep on-hand for your devices, look no further than the Anker GaN Prime charger. Boasting a maximum output of 67W, this wall charger features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, so you can charge up three devices at once, whether that be your phone, tablet, or laptop. And thanks to its compact design, you can throw it in pretty much any size bag or backpack to keep with you while you're on the go.

Anker 735 Charger Nano II Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker USB C Charger (Nano II 65W) $25.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $14.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Anker 735 Charger Nano II received big praise from Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth, who said that this wall charger is "indispensable." Similar to the Prime, it comes with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, but features 65W output instead. Again, its compact size is a helpful feature that makes traveling with it simple and easy.

Anker Nano Power Bank Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Power Bank $49.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

If you want something more immediate than a charger you need to plug into a wall outlet, a power bank is another helpful item to have on hand. The 10,000mAh, 30W Anker Nano comes with a built-in USB-C cable alongside one USB-C and one USB-A port that can charge items like your phone, laptop, or tablet.

It also features bidirectional charging, which means the power bank can charge your devices while receiving power at the same time. According to the store page, it offers 30W fast charging both ways. On top of that, It even features a display that can help you keep track of how much your device has charged.

Anker Zolo Power Bank Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Zolo Power Bank $25.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

This power bank features a built-in USB-C cable, one USB-C, and one USB-A port, and comes in at a slightly lower price than the Nano, if you're not looking to drop a ton of cash. The 10,000mAh, 30W Anker Zolo is a colorful and compact device that also offers bidirectional charging of up to 30W output and 20W input. It also features a digital display to help you keep an eye on your device's charging status.

Anker PowerCore 10K Power Bank Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker PowerCore 10K Power Bank $19.99 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $6 Get Deal Why we like it

This power bank offers an even slimmer design than the previously mentioned picks, but still boasts plenty of power. The Anker PowerCore 10K power bank features one USB-A and one USB-C port. It also supports two-way USB-C charging, so you can recharge just as easily as you charge up. It's also a tough little power bank that's been certified by a 3.2-foot drop test, according to the Anker store page.

Anker 737 Power Bank Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker 737 Power Bank $94.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $15 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a big power boost, the Anker 737 power bank is here to help. This 24,000mAh, 140W charger can recharge an iPhone 16 Pro four times, or provide a single full charge and change for a 2024 13-inch iPad Pro, according to Anker, making it a powerful little device to have on-hand. It features two USB-C and one USB-A port so you can charge up multiple devices at once and even meets boarding standards, so you can take it on all of your travel adventures this year.

At the moment, you can even score a discount on the Anker 737 by clipping the $15 coupon on the store page.

Anker PowerCore 5,000mAh Portable Charger Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker PowerCore 5,000mAh Portable Charger $25.99 at Amazon
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We consider the Anker PowerCore 5,000mAh portable charger to be the best pocket-size portable charger in our roundup of the best portable chargers and power banks in 2025. So, if you're looking for something even smaller than the previously mentioned power banks, this is worth a look. It comes with one USB-A output port and a micro USB port to keep you charged up if you need a quick power boost in the day.

Anker MagGo Power Bank Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker MagGo Power Bank $71.99 at Amazon
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This is another power bank that ranks on our list of the best portable chargers and power banks in 2025. We consider the 10,000mAh, 15W Anker MagGo to be the best for MagSafe charging. It's Qi2 certified, providing your iPhone with a quick and efficient charge without the need for cables. It even features a smart display so you can keep an eye on your device's progress.

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David Dastmalchian is no stranger to playing serial killers, from Kyle Slade in Syfy's 12 Monkeys series to real-life murderer Albert DeSalvo in Boston Strangler. But according to Dastmalchian, his new role in Showtime's Dexter: Resurrection "is the most fun I've ever gotten to have portraying a serial killer."

In an episode of Mashable's Say More interview series, Dastmalchian teased what Dexter: Resurrection viewers could expect from his murderous character, Gareth.

SEE ALSO: David Dastmalchian reveals which Muppet he identifies with the most

"His serial killer moniker is 'the Gemini Killer,'" Dastmalchian explained. "I don't know if you're a zodiac person or if you're into astrology, but Gemini is all about duality, and [Gareth] murders people in a very specific way — sometimes multiple people in a specific way, and it's rather gruesome and it's rather horrific."

David Dastmalchian in "Dexter: Resurrection." Credit: Zach Dilgard / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Gareth is one of the many new antagonists Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) will face off against in Dexter: Resurrection, a list that also includes characters played by Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman. But according to Dastmalchian, there are a few things that separate Gareth from the serial-killing crowd.

"I'm very proud to say that Gareth is the number one most wanted FBI murderer, and is the first person that's going to have a power — I'll call it a secret power — that will make life very challenging for Dexter Morgan in a way that hasn't happened on the show before," Dastmalchian said.

He continued: "For me, it was this great acting challenge because — it's a bit of a spoiler that I don't want to give away. But when you tune in and you get to the point where you realize what is actually going on with Gareth, I like to think that your mind might be blown."

To hear more about Dastmalchian's work on Dexter: Resurrection, Murderbot, and more — plus, which Muppet he identifies with the most! — check out Mashable's full Say More interview on YouTube.

Dexter: Resurrection is now streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime, with new episodes streaming every Friday.

When documentary filmmaker Sacha Jenkins passed away in May of this year, he left a formidable legacy. 

Jenkins, a multihyphenate who started out as a zine creator and co-founder of Ego Trip magazine, found considerable success in the film space, directing documentaries surveying Black music's landmark figures in Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues, All Up in the Biz, and Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James. 

It's curious then that his final film, Sunday Best, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2023, would be about a white man. 

Sunday Best is a tightly structured and endlessly soulful biographical narrative about variety show host Ed Sullivan, the man whose stage introduced America to the newest and brightest sounds in music, from 1948 through 1971. Looking beyond Sullivan's well-known legacy, Jenkins' film posits Sullivan as a racial revolutionary who supported Black artists like Harry Belafonte, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and more, long before seeing Black faces on the relatively new medium of television was normalized. Without Sullivan, as this poppy and politically simple film claims, our everyday and musical world would be far different today.     

How does Sunday Best dress to impress? Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Beginning on a laudatory note, the first 10 minutes of Sunday Best is filled with testimonials by industry titans on Sullivan's importance. The film's opening credits features celebrities like Ringo Starr, Wanda Sykes, Keegan-Michael Key, Bruce Springsteen, and Ice-T expressing their admiration for the late-night host. The film's talking heads, which include Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, elaborate further on how Sullivan broke many of television's earliest rules, particularly on race. When television first started, claims the documentary, the only Black faces viewers could hope to see was on Amos 'n' Andy. As Gordy shares, when The Ed Sullivan Show premiered on Sunday, June 20, 1948, "Everything changed."

Jenkins tells us how Sullivan altered the entertainment industry in the host's own words. Intertitles explain that for Sunday Best, Jenkins leaned on Respeecher's AI tech to recreate Sullivan's voice to narrate the columns, articles, and letters Sullivan wrote during his life. It has the effect of a kind of melodious uncanny valley, sounding like an impression of Sullivan rather than the man himself.   

Still, after the first 10 minutes, the film performs a nifty musical trick that becomes its calling card. A clip of an 11-year-old Toni Harper singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" on Sullivan's show sets the mood, while Jenkins and editors Billy McMillin and Monique Zavistovski allow the song to play out as Sullivan's voice provides his biographical details. He was born in Harlem in 1901, back when Harlem was inhabited by Jewish and Irish people. His twin brother died when he was two years old. His father taught him to respect people, no matter their background. By combining the show's classic performances — the film combed through the series' 10,000 musical numbers — with Sullivan's recollections, Jenkins kills two birds at once: He keeps the film at its tight 80 minutes in length without shorting on any important information or music. 

The percussive score by Ryan "Bullet" Shields also provides an easeful counterbalance to the barrage of biographical notes. As the music shuffles, we learn that Sullivan played in an integrated baseball league in high school and began his career as a sports writer. In 1929, when NYU football decided to sit their Black player to appease the segregationist policy of their opponent the University of Georgia, Sullivan wrote an article for the New York Evening Graphic denouncing the school's decision. In the 1930s, when Sullivan switched from the sports beat to covering Broadway, he became emcee of the Harvest Moon Ball, which hosted Black vaudeville performers. All of these anecdotes are combined to demonstrate how Sullivan seemed far ahead of the era's other white men. 

Sunday Best is a hit parade.  Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Jenkins spends much of Sunday Best matching the rise of Sullivan's show with the brewing racial tensions concurrently happening. When Sullivan began bringing vaudevillian acts like Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Lena Horne, and Pearl Bailey onto television, he did so knowing advertisers were skittish about losing Southern viewers. By 1952, Georgia Governor Herman Talmadge began demanding that television remain segregated. And though Talmadge never directly commented on Sullivan, the film does position the governor's viewpoint, via a newspaper headline reading "Talmadge Hits TV 'Offense' to South on Race," as being diametrically opposite to the TV host.  

For every moment in history, Jenkins has a hit to accompany it. Through various anecdotes, we learn that Sullivan remained loyal to Harry Belafonte, even when the latter was blacklisted for being a communist. When the film touches upon racial violence in the South, it follows those events, ironically, with Nat King Cole and Tony Martin dueting to "On the Sunny Side of the Street." When it comes time to talk about the March on Washington, the film precedes it with Mahalia Jackson, MLK's favorite singer, performing "Give Me That Old Time Religion."

By the time Jenkins begins leaning into Motown, you get the sense that he wants to draw a direct line from Sullivan to the studio called Hitsville USA. In the film, Smokey Robinson expresses his belief that Motown's music broke down barriers and put people together. Berry Gordy more nakedly expresses how he wanted his artists to crossover into (white) America. 

Sunday Best is historically simplistic. Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

In that regard, the title Sunday Best has a double-edged meaning. The phrase, of course, refers to putting on your finest clothes for church. It's telling, then, that Gordy recalls not putting the Black faces of his artists on early Motown records for fear they would turn off white listeners. That impulse suggests a second desire for his Black artists to present themselves in a nonthreatening manner to appeal to white audiences. 

It's why Sunday Best could easily be read as an integrationist film. The film flatly sees racial progress as linear and as defined by the white acceptance proffered by appearing on Sullivan's show. That isn't to say ending segregation wasn't a monumental feat. But the film never allows for the possibility that craving Sullivan's mainstream audience might in itself be a different kind of erasure — an assimilation that ultimately packaged Black performers as palatable nods toward a white sensibility. 

With that in mind, where Sunday Best struggles as a sociopolitical documentary, it remains memorable due the fascinating way it places Sullivan on the timeline of Black progress — even if that placement is almost too simplistically conceived.    

Sunday Best is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for just $19.97 (reg. $229) through July 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
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