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There are all manner of video game-themed models contributed by a community of dedicated fans, but there are also occasions when the studios responsible for those games get in on the action too. Inspired by a recent Factorio release, this week we’ll take a look at some official 3D printing models for popular video games.

I've always liked the idea of a projector, and I've used them plenty of times at work over the years, but the tradeoffs were never worth the increased picture size for me until recently. First I was tempted by a new generation of portable LED projector, but now laser projectors are becoming affordable on a paltry writer's income, and I'm mighty tempted.

The first Google Pixel was released 10 years ago on October 20, 2016, with one mission: to raise the bar for Android through Google's own hardware and software. It replaced the Nexus line and ushered in an era in which Google was, to a degree, competing with its own phone and tablet partners.

Time is the enemy of old tech. Fortunately, cheap modern tools like the ESP32 can breathe new life into retro computing hardware, either by enhancing old functionality or replacing components that are difficult to get working today.

There's nothing quite like getting an error message on your Windows PC, only to discover that you can't always copy the text to find out what went wrong. I used to resort to typing the message into a search engine until my sister showed me a keyboard shortcut I've used for troubleshooting ever since.

By now, you've probably heard that enabling an EXPO (AMD) or XMP (Intel) profile in your motherboard's BIOS can improve RAM performance. These predefined overclocking profiles are tested by the memory manufacturer and should work in most systems without issue.

AI coding subscriptions have become expensive, and many developers want a cheaper way in. OpenCode Go promises capable coding agents for a fraction of the usual cost. Here is what it is, how it compares with Claude Code, and who should consider switching. Spoiler alert: it's not better, but it might be better for you anyway.

As much as I would love to say I've fully converted to physical media, most of my music listening still happens on my phone. But I really enjoy sitting in my den and listening to my turntable and cassette deck. Combining those two experiences was easier than I thought.

Starbucks is teaming up with Disney for a 20-piece Starbucks x Winnie the Pooh collection celebrating 100 years of the Hundred Acre Wood. The limited-edition lineup drops on Oct. 20, delivering honey-drip cold cups, ceramic beehive mugs, and plush Bearista keychains.

It's an incredibly cute collection that is bound to cause a stir, but there's a catch. We hate to break it to you like this, but the collection is exclusive to the Asia-Pacific region.

Credit: Starbucks / Disney What’s in the Starbucks x Winnie the Pooh collection?

The 20-piece range mixes aesthetic drinkware with lifestyle accessories:

• Hunny Pot Tumblers and Cold Cups: Cold cups with honey-drip lids, golden-yellow straw toppers, and Pooh illustrations.

• Ceramic Beehive Mug: A textured, beehive-shaped ceramic mug featuring Pooh stuck in a honey pot entry.

• Bearista Costume Keychains and Phone Straps: Collectible Starbucks Bearistas dressed in plush costumes of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger.

• Packable Tote Bag: A reusable Hundred Acre Wood tote that folds into its own matching pouch.

Credit: Starbucks / Disney

We want everything, but here's where it gets complicated.

How to buy this collection?

If you live in North America or Europe, you won't find these on local Starbucks shelves.

On launch day (Oct. 20), the collection will be available at participating Starbucks coffeehouses in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Unfortunately for collectors elsewhere, the secondary market is going to be your best bet.

Exporters will begin listing inventory from Oct. 20, but you should expect a significant markup over retail prices on high-demand pieces like the ceramic beehive mug and plush Bearista straps. Head over to eBay and good luck.

If you desperately want official Disney x Starbucks drinkware without paying reseller markups, the Disney Store regularly stocks collaboration tumblers that ship directly to U.S. and UK addresses. In fact, we've spotted a cute Winnie the Pooh tumbler going for $27.99.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) and Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) are available to preorder now on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) $694.88 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) $685.98 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

If you thought Pokémon TCG collectors were already losing their minds over 30th Celebration Booster Bundles and Elite Trainer Boxes, Amazon just opened preorders for the crown jewel of the anniversary expansion: the 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections.

Both high-end boxes are currently available for preorder at Amazon for under $700 ahead of their official Nov. 6 release date.

As the ultimate flagship products for the 30th Celebration set, both Ultra-Premium Collections come packed with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, one Classic Collection booster pack, custom metal coins, deck boxes, card sleeves, and damage-counter dice. Of course, the real driver behind the hype comes from the exclusive promo cards:

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon): Includes the exclusive Espeon ex promo card with a Daytime Pikachu ex promo card and an Espeon playmat.

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon): Includes the exclusive Umbreon ex promo card with a Futuristic-rarity Pikachu ex promo card and an Umbreon playmat.

The big question when buying trading cards on Amazon is whether or not you're actually getting value for money. Amazon is a reliable pick for finding readily available stock, but you often pay above market price.

TCGplayer's market price for the Day Box is currently $560.87 so there's a decent markup from Amazon here. The market price for the Night Box is $659.98, so the convenience of Amazon actually makes sense in this case.

As the leaves start to turn and the days draw shorter, now is a great time to curl up on the sofa with horror films and hot drinks. But entertainment and liquid sugar can only get you so far; to really relax into fall, you also need the right ambiance.

The best stocking stuffers should surprise and delight, but too often, we miss the mark. Think: tacky socks, bulk chocolate candy from the clearance aisle, and ChapStick. Most of these last-minute gift ideas are just begging to be tossed in a junk drawer or the donation pile, never to see the light of day again. Granted, it's a fate they probably deserve.

But that's a shame, because unpacking your stocking should be the perfect start to the happiest day of the year. So, we consulted our deep bench of shopping reporters, deal hunters, and product reviewers to find out what stocking stuffers they want to wake up to on Christmas morning.

We've gathered our favorite tiny-but-impressive gift ideas that can work for everyone on your holiday shopping list. So, whether you're searching for stocking stuffer ideas under $25 or something fancier that will catch them by surprise, we have more than 60 unique gifts to inspire you.

Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $31.99/month for 1 year Shop Now Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 3-day free trial, then $199.99/year (save $39.89) Shop Now BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 5-day free trial, then $63.99/month for 1 month (save $25) Get Deal Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $99.99/month Shop Now Best for affordability Sling Orange & Blue $60.99/month Shop Now BEST for INTRODUCTORY OFFER YouTube TV 5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 5 months (save $110) Shop Now

The Wisconsin Badgers are looking to score a major win over the UCLA Bruins in Week 7. Wisconsin are 4-1 overall at 2-0 in conference play, but they still haven't made the rankings. A win over No. 12 UCLA could change that.

UCLA will prove tough competition in this Big Ten showdown. The Bruins are 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference games, and want to climb beyond that No. 12 spot in the rankings. With both Wisconsin and UCLA on winning streaks, this promises to be an exciting clash.

If you want to watch Wisconsin vs. UCLA for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Wisconsin vs. UCLA?

Wisconsin vs. UCLA takes place at 7.30 p.m. ET on Oct. 17. This game takes place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Wisconsin vs. UCLA is broadcast on NBC.

How to watch college football in 2026

Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.

ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $31.99/month for 1 year Shop Now

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX

ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $31.99 per month, but for an extra $4 per month you can secure a plan that also includes Disney+ and Hulu.

Fox One (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99/year Shop Now

Channels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network

Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $38.89 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a three-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.

FuboTV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW

FuboTV offers more than 250 live TV channels and lets you watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a five-day free trial period. 

Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters with a trial before you make any commitment.

Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $99.99/month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW

Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $99.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). Plus, the first month will only cost $49.99.

The included ESPN+ access provides bonus coverage of even more college football games, in addition to live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.

Sling (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $60.99/month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network

Sling is a comprehensive sports streaming service that offers a wide range of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue package gives you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, plus ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.

YouTube TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.

How to watch Wisconsin vs. UCLA from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wisconsin vs. UCLA from anywhere in the world 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

5. Watch Wisconsin vs. UCLA from anywhere in the world

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including the U.S.

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

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

The best smartwatches make it easy to monitor your health, track your workout progress, and check your notifications on the go. Top brands like Apple, Garmin, Google, and Samsung have all launched new smartwatches in recent months, so whether you're team Apple or team Android, you have excellent choices for your wrist. Now that we've researched the biggest releases, tested a handful of them ourselves, and drawn upon the expertise of our Ziff Davis colleagues at CNET and PCMag to fill in the gaps, we're ready to name the best smartwatches of 2026. Spoiler: You really can't go wrong with any of the latest flagship models.

The best smartwatches at a glance: Best smartwatch for most iPhone users Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best budget smartwatch for iPhone users Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219.00 at Walmart Shop Now Best Android smartwatch Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best budget Android smartwatch Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $79.00 at Amazon Shop Now Best Samsung smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (40mm, Bluetooth) $379.99 at Amazon Shop Now The smartwatch market is crowded, and that's good news Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In just the past few months, Samsung, Apple, Garmin, and Google have all rolled out new smartwatches. Later this month, Google will also debut the brand-new Fitbit Edge with a bright display and advanced fitness features. (The Venn diagram of the best smartwatches and the best fitness trackers is basically a perfect circle.) The competition intensifies when you factor in other wearables like smart rings and sleep trackers.

Price-wise, most of our favorite smartwatches cost somewhere between $250 and $400, though they're often on sale for much less. However, you don't have to spend very much to get a kick-ass smartwatch. In fact, we have an excellent option for folks with budgets capped at $100.

So, which watches deserve a spot on your wrist? (Say that five times fast.) Here's our definitive guide to the best smartwatches for 2026 shoppers.

The best smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 12 Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you're an iPhone user, we think you'll be very happy with Apple's latest smartwatch, the Series 12. Mashable's Stan Schroeder is in the process of testing it right now, and he said that while it may look similar to last year's model — other than some new ceramic case options — "it does bring a number of big improvements inside."

The Series 12 has a new S11 chip that adds support for Audio Intelligence tools. Moreover, it boasts "an entirely new electrical and optical heart sensor," and offers more battery life during workouts (plus faster charging), Schroeder said. He added, "The star of the show is the heart sensor array, which allows for far more frequent measurements and opens the door for new apps such as Readiness and an overhauled Vitals app."

It's worth pointing out that the Apple Watch Series 12's chip and sensors are the exact same ones you'll find inside the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4, which costs twice as much. The Ultra 4 is awesome in its own right, especially if you prioritize battery life and durability, but this means you don't need to splash out on Apple's most expensive smartwatch to use its most advanced features. The mid-tier option has never been a smarter buy or a more worthwhile upgrade from an older model.

Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Walmart The best budget smartwatch for iPhone users: Apple Watch SE 3 Credit: Apple

Apple hasn't updated its cheapest wearable for 2026, but we're not complaining. Last year's Apple Watch SE 3 is still an outstanding budget pick with all the necessary features you're probably looking for in a smartwatch, like a gorgeous always-on OLED display, heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, gesture controls, and a water-resistant design. (For all intents and purposes, it's a last-gen Series 11 with a shorter battery life and no blood oxygen monitoring.) The new Series 12 is the "better" iOS-friendly smartwatch overall, but it's obviously much pricier and might be considered overkill if you're not especially health-conscious.

CNET's wearable expert Vanessa Hand Orellana tested the SE 3 and deemed it a great option "for anyone new to the Apple Watch world or upgrading from a much older model (think Series 6 or earlier)." It would also make a good starter device for a kid, she noted, letting parents "hold off on a full-fledged smartphone while maintaining a direct line of communication with their child."

The extra-nice thing about the SE 3 is it's much easier to find on sale than Apple's newest smartwatches, since it's technically an "older" model. It's regularly marked down to $219 these days, and on Black Friday, we expect it to dip under $200.

Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $219 at Walmart
$249 Save $30   Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy The best Android smartwatch for most people: Google Pixel Watch 5 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Former Mashable senior reporter and marathon runner Christianna Silva gave the Google Pixel Watch 4 a 4.4/5 rating last year, calling it "a true runner's watch." They loved its immersive display, clear audio, repairable design, custom workouts, and "solid" battery life. It used to be our favorite Android smartwatch — until Google released the Pixel Watch 5 this summer. It justifies a $50 price bump with a faster processor, double the storage, improved GPS route tracking, faster charging, and better sleep tracking, including a new breathing emergency detection feature. It can also now monitor blood pressure and insulin resistance trends.

Those who are already using Google's Gemini AI assistant on their Android phones will appreciate its integration into the Pixel Watch 5, which is pretty extensive. Gemini "acts as a proactive companion" within the device, "surfacing your flight details on the way to the airport or suggesting a phone number while you text about dinner plans," writes PCMag's Andrew Gebhart. Plus, certain Gemini features now work offline.

All things considered, we think the Pixel Watch 5 is the best Android smartwatch for most people — though if you manage to find its predecessor in stock for way cheaper, it's still a stellar choice.

Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Google Store The best budget Android smartwatch: Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Mashable readers went a bit gaga for this budget smartwatch when it was announced last July — and after testing it out for ourselves, we get it. Mashable contributor and reviewer Lauren Allain gave it a 4.6/5 rating (earning it a Mashable Choice Award), writing that it "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." If you're looking for the best smartwatch under $100, nothing else comes close. (It's priced at $99, but often available for $79 these days.)

The British brand Nothing is known for its unique designs, which somehow look both retro and futuristic at the same time. CMF is the company's budget line, but the Watch 3 Pro doesn't perform like most cheap smartwatches. For starters, it offers direct ChatGPT integration, which even the Apple Watch can't do. Samsung and Google are eager to make you use their own AI tools, but if you prefer ChatGPT, then you'll love this watch.

Other spec highlights include blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, precise heart-rate monitoring and location tracking, and an extra-long battery life. For a smartwatch this cheap, that's an impressive roster of features. (Remember: The cheapest Apple Watch still lacks blood oxygen monitoring.) Allain said it best when she wrote that the CMF Watch 3 Pro "feels like a pricing mistake."

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $79 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Nothing The best smartwatch for Samsung fans: Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is another great Android wearable packed with Gemini-powered features. While we prefer the Pixel Watch 5 a bit more, mainly because its battery life is much better, this is a sensible purchase for those who are already in the Samsung ecosystem. Its feature set includes a new Heart Health score, a Fitness Index score, a Daily Cardio Load metric, and a tool that monitors your vitals overnight. (Aptly, it's called Vitals.)

On the aesthetic side, Samsung retained "squircle" design of the older Galaxy Watch 8 — which really isn't as ugly as some people say, in our opinion. CNET's Katie Collins said it has a "relatively subtle look, which is useful for an accessory you’re just as likely to be wearing to the gym as into the office." She also found it quite comfortable to wear all day, even in the larger 44mm size. "I can’t imagine ever feeling the need to take this one off, except when it needs recharging," she wrote.

The Galaxy Watch 9 also marks a price hike over its predecessor, but only a small one ($30). The older Galaxy Watch 8 remains a good alternative if you find it at a steep discount.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (40mm, Bluetooth) $379.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Samsung

How we chose these earbuds

Let's be clear: Just because these earbuds are affordable, that doesn't mean they skimp on features.

Mashable audio experts have tested all of the most popular wireless headphones and earbuds (not to mention some wired options). And the very best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds typically cost $250 to $300 — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 retail for $249 (but often go on sale for $179), and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) come in at $299.

Fortunately, you don't need to spend $300 to get a great pair of wireless earbuds; in fact, you don't even need to spend $100. The best cheap wireless earbuds under $100 include some great options from JBL, Nothing, Anker Soundcore, and Beats. And if you're willing to spend a little more, the newest Apple AirPods 5 sound great and include new AI features such as live translation.

When reviewing earbuds for this guide, we looked for features such as easy connectivity, rich and balanced sound, active noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit. And among all the earbuds we've tested, which is an extensive list, these are the best budget earbuds for 2026.

What's considered budget? 

Budget is a relative term. We know the Apple AirPods 5 ($129 to $149) and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($149.99 on sale) aren't budget earbuds for everyone, but there are plenty of good options under the $100, $50, and even $25 mark.

Our top pick is the Anker Soundcore P42i, which have a list price of $64.99, and have the noise cancellation of a much more expensive pair of earbuds. Going the budget route might mean making compromises, but not sacrifices. For under $100, you can still get active noise cancellation and self-charging cases. 

We do include a model closer to $200, which we get isn't exactly everyone's idea of budget-friendly. The Apple AirPods 5 with ANC is that model. Compared to premium options, the fifth-gen AirPods offer an awfully similar experience for significantly cheaper and allow folks who want to stay in the Apple ecosystem without having to jump to the Pros.

Earbuds we're currently testing 

Three other pairs of earbuds that are currently in consideration for this list are the CMF Buds 2, JBL Vibe Beam 2, and Sony WF-C510. We're currently testing these earbuds and will update this guide once complete.

Other models we've tested 

The models on this list are pulled from our extensive testing here at Mashable. One of our previous top picks on this list was the Apple AirPods 4; however, the AirPods 5 have replaced them, making them more expensive, and they also lack great Android compatibility. 

Another pair we considered for this list were the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds with sound by Bose. We tested these buds, and while they're pretty good for $100, they have a bad case design and just aren't that comfortable compared to other models on this list — plus, the $100 introductory price went up to $129.99.

On a summer morning on Mars, NASA's Curiosity rover woke in its usual crater, opened its shutter, and snapped a sprawling view carpeted in blues and grays. 

The panorama subverts the usual perception of the Red Planet, a reputation that dates to ancient civilizations. Romans called it Mars, the god of war, because its color reminded them of blood. Egyptians called it Her Desher — "the red one." Even people today associate Mars with rust: dry, desolate, and caked with iron minerals that oxidize red.   

Curiosity captured this scene on Aug. 11, around 8:30 a.m. local time with its Mastcam instrument. A pale custard sky hangs above slate-colored terrain.

What makes the image strange is what the U.S. space agency didn't do. The team almost always adjusts the colors in Mars photos before releasing them. This time, it skipped that step and kept the dim morning light as the camera recorded it. In a news release, NASA called it "an artistic choice." 

Which brings up a surprisingly complex question. No human has ever stood on Mars, so what would the planet actually look like to someone who did? The answer depends on several factors: the weaker sunlight to its farther distance, the dust suspended in the air, the minerals on the ground, the camera's sensor, the editing software, and, not to be underestimated, the eye of the beholder.

SEE ALSO: Astronomers spot something positively enormous behind the Milky Way

When mission teams tweak the photos, scientists say the goal is to make the rocks look as they would in sunlight on Earth. Martian dust tints everything the sun touches, so removing its influence shows the rocks' intrinsic colors. 

In photography, that correction is called white balancing. The phone in your pocket already does it, shifting every picture so the scene looks lit by ordinary daylight. 

"The surface of Mars is covered with pink-red dust that disguises the surface geology," Mike Malin, principal investigator for Curiosity's Mastcam instrument, told Mashable. "That dust is also suspended in the atmosphere, and sunlight passes through it to illuminate the surface. If you have ever been near a forest fire or something like that, the coloring of the sunlight is not unlike the coloring of the sky on Mars most of the time."

The uncropped Martian panorama has six Curiosity images stitched together. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Correcting for that haze gives geologists a stable reference point, whether it's a dusty or clear day, said Mark Lemmon, a co-investigator on the Perseverance rover's Mastcam-Z, who wasn't involved in processing this particular image. It also lets scientists compare the terrain to Mars-like places on Earth where they have done much of their fieldwork. Without it, everything takes on the same dusty cast, and the color differences that reveal detail fade away. When a global dust storm engulfed the planet in 2018, the uncorrected view turned "virtually monochrome," he said.

So is the editing tricking us? In a sense, yes. But the unedited image can't claim to show the real Mars, either. True color, meaning what a person would actually see, is hard to pin down. The planet orbits about 1 1/2 times farther from the sun than Earth, so it gets less than half as much sunlight, Malin said. A visitor standing beside Curiosity that morning probably would peer into a murky landscape and see distant cliffs of light tan. The shadows would reveal little color or detail.

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But the visitor's own eyes would complicate things further because they don't hold a fixed setting. Given time, a person's brain would start doing what software does.

"If you spend time in a very colored environment, the brain starts to white balance the scene," Lemmon told Mashable. "So there is also something human in the white balancing." 

Scientists hope NASA's Curiosity rover reaches the base of the yardangs sometime in 2027. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech infographic

Is the camera tricking us, then? Mostly not. Lemmon traces the blue to the ground itself. Rocks scoured clean of dust and patches of wind-driven sand look gray to blue-gray, and against the surrounding reds, oranges, and yellows, they tend to look especially blue, he said. 

But the camera can deepen the effect, Malin said. A quarter of the sensor's light-detecting elements are designed to catch blue light, yet Martian sunlight carries very little of it. When the team calibrates the camera to compensate for that weak signal, the boost can overshoot and give gray rocks and dark shadows an extra blue tint. Even a well-calibrated camera records Mars in its dust-tinted light. Images that stop at calibration come out looking orange, he said, as the Viking landers' did in the 1970s. 

For research, both scientists say they prefer the corrected view. Neither could recall a case where the raw image actually revealed something the balanced one hid. But Malin cautioned that it's possible to go too far. Some people process images with harsh contrast that turns the colors "garish," and that can distract other scientists trying to interpret the rocks.

Inspecting rocks is what Curiosity has done since 2014, slowly climbing Mount Sharp, a three-mile-high mountain in Gale Crater stacked in layers, each one recording a different chapter of Martian history. Those layers tell of a world that once held lakes and streams, then dried out billions of years ago and left salty minerals behind. In August, the rover passed one kilometer — about 0.6 miles — of elevation gain, the highest any rover has climbed on Mars. 

The cliffs on the panorama's horizon are Curiosity's next major target. Scientists call them yardangs — ridges the wind carves over long stretches of time that form in sedimentary rock of a specific grain size, Malin said. They stretch about 10 miles across the mountain's northwest flank, and they puzzle the mission team. 

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter views dark patches between yardang ridges. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UArizona

"The yardang layer looks out of place," said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a statement, adding that its color is distinct from its surroundings, and the layer almost looks plastered on. One possibility is that ancient volcanoes blanketed the area in ash, but there are other hypotheses.

Color processing does somewhat shape how scientists read a feature like this, Lemmon said, and mostly for the better. But the yardang layer's prominence doesn't depend on editing. 

"The yardang unit stands out in images from orbit, too," he told Mashable.

Scientists hope Curiosity will reach the base of the yardangs sometime in 2027, and the rover's robotic arm can then gather close-up evidence of what they are.

In the meantime, the panorama gives the public rare insight into whether the Red Planet lives up to its name. People tend to picture Mars redder than it is, Lemmon said: "It is frequently much more butterscotch."

TL;DR: Target’s exclusive Owala holiday collection drops on Oct. 18. Eight new colorways are available to purchase this weekend.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala x Target   Shop Now

If your emotional support water bottle is due for a festive refresh, set an alarm on your phone right now: the first of several Owala holiday drops is officially hitting Target on Oct. 18. These will inevitably sell out quickly, so be warned.

The Target-exclusive collection spans eight colorways for the standard FreeSip 24oz and the contoured FreeSip Sway 30oz:

FreeSip 24oz

• Cozy Does It: A soft cream base paired with warm, knit-inspired accents.

• Bear Hug: Earthy brown tones with a teddy-bear plush aesthetic.

• Toile Be Home: Elegant cream toile print featuring delicate blue floral patterns.

• Take a Bow: Festive pastel pink wrapped with a subtle ribbon motif.

It doesn't get cosier than Cozy Does It. Credit: Owala FreeSip Sway 30oz

• Poinsettia: Metallic shimmer burgundy-red designed for the holiday table.

• Wintergreen: Deep pine green with a matte, frosted finish.

• Rose Quartz: Soft translucent pink hue with metallic undertones.

• Lightly Toasted: Warm golden-oat colorway with a matte finish.

Wintergreen gives off strong pine vibes. Credit: Owala

Limited-edition Owala drops at Target tend to disappear from shelves within hours. Just ask anyone desperately trying to hunt down Owala’s exclusive Pokémon bottles. We don't think this drop will have Pokémon-levels of interest, because nothing really does. But if you're interested, we recommend getting your affairs in order for Oct. 18. You might still need to act fast.

TL;DR: Get a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for $27.97 (reg. $219.99) and skip the yearly Microsoft 365 bill.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $27.97
$219.99 Save $192.02   Get Deal

Microsoft pushes almost everyone toward Microsoft 365, and the Personal plan now costs $99.99 a year. A lot of people don’t realize they can still buy Office outright. A Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license is on sale for $27.97 (reg. $219.99), and you pay for it once.

You get the full Professional suite, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access, plus Publisher and the free version of Teams. Access is the database app that Office Home editions leave out, so this version suits anyone who tracks clients, inventory, or invoices. Microsoft ends support for Publisher in October 2026.

Your license installs on one PC running Windows 10 or 11, for home or work. It ties to that computer instead of a Microsoft account, and a Microsoft-verified partner sells it. Because this is Office 2021 and not Microsoft 365, there are no monthly or annual fees.

Your redemption code arrives via email immediately after purchase, and you have 7 days to redeem it. This version doesn’t run in Parallels or other virtual machines, so install it directly on a Windows PC.

Stop paying every year for the apps you already use. Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $27.97 (reg. $219.99) through Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Mean Girls was more than a teen movie. When it hit in 2004, it was a comedy that defined a generation.

Screenwriter/comedian Tina Fey found inspiration for the film in Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wannabes, a self-help book that explored how female friendships among girls could turn toxic. So, Mean Girls became more than a hilarious movie with lines we can't stop quoting; it became a parable about how to be a better friend and build a healthier clique.

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Mean Girls starred '00s It Girl Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron, a naive new girl from Africa who's bewildered by the etiquette of American high school. Lucky for her, she's swiftly welcomed into the popular girl clique known as the Plastics, where Regina George (Rachel McAdams) rules with an iron fist and French manicure. But Cady has a secret that she's keeping from Regina and her henchgirls, Gretchen Wieners (Lacey Chabert) and Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried). Aligned with misfits Janice Ian (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), this new girl is looking to bring the queen bee down by acting as an inside man. That is, if she can resist the lure of being popular.

But if you've rewatched this movie so many times you can recite it from memory, you go, Glen Coco! I mean, then maybe it's time to try something new? Want a comedy about female friendships surviving hilarious highs and wild lows? Want a teen movie that hits no matter your age? Want a film that will give you new vocal stims? We've got you covered.

Heathers

Before there were the Plastics, there were the Heathers. Set at Westerburg High School in Sherwood, Ohio, this 1989 dark comedy follows the unraveling of a clique of preppy, popular girls named Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty), Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk), and Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder).

But when Veronica hooks up with bad boy J.D. (Christian Slater), she not only becomes increasingly fed up with her shallow and cruel besties, but she also begins to plot how to get revenge. One murder leads to more, and before long, Veronica needs to take some serious self-evaluation before her hot-and-heavy romance with J.D. blows up in her face.

This one is definitely darker than Mean Girls, and it's rated R because of it. But it's definitely influential in terms of female-friendship comedies. Plus, it has an unexpected fraternal connection, as Heathers was written by Daniel Waters, and Mean Girls was directed by his brother Mark Waters.

Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Penelope Milford

How to Watch: Heathers is now playing for free on Tubi.

Mean Girls (2024)

Another thing that Mean Girls and Heathers have in common is that each was adapted into a stage musical. In 2024, Reneé Rapp, who briefly played the role of Regina George on Broadway, reprised the role in the movie adaptation of the musical.

Members of the original film's cast make appearances, including Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, in roles as high school educators. But critics (myself included) noted that this music-driven reboot dulled the original's wit. As I wrote in my review, "It seems this team was trying to wed Mean Girls with High School Musical, bleeding out the bits that might have been too jolting for parents so that kids could expand the demographic. It's a strange call since both movies are PG-13. But there's no denying this Mean Girls is playing it safe. And that's not fetch."

Starring: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, Christopher Briney, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika Vandanapu, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Tina Fey, and Tim Meadows

How to watch: Mean Girls is now streaming on Pluto TV.

Clueless

Not all popular girls are mean! In writer/director Amy Heckerling's hit comedy from 1995, a new girl in school is swept up into a world of house parties, designer fashion, and deeply clueless L.A. socialites. But as it's based on Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless offers a clique that really is trying to do their best by others.

Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) is a bright and eager student at her Beverly Hills high school. And with her no-nonsense bestie Dionne Davenport (Stacey Dash) by her side, Cher thinks she can tackle any challenge, from fending off her annoying ex-step brother Josh (Paul Rudd), playing matchmaker to improve her grades, or giving new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover to turn her into a total Betty. And what does she get for all her efforts? An insult so scorching it still has us saying, "Way harsh, Tai."

A true landmark in female friendship comedies, Clueless is funny, vibrant, and cool.

Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Dan Hedaya, Jeremy Sisto, Breckin Meyer, Twink Caplan, Donald Faison, Wallace Shawn, and Elisa Donovan

How to watch: Clueless is now streaming on Paramount+.

The Edge of Seventeen

Named after the Stevie Nicks song, The Edge of Seventeen is a sidesplitting comedy about a 17-year-old girl having a comically rough time. Rocked by the death of her father four years before, Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld) is a socially awkward misfit who struggles to connect to her image-conscious mom (Kyra Sedgwick) and her popular brother, Darian (Blake Jenner). Plus, she's flailing at getting her crush to notice her. The one person she can depend on is her bestie Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) — that is, until she catches Krista in bed with Darian.

Feeling betrayed, Nadine has an unhinged (and very funny) crash out, which involves turning to her sardonic teacher (Woody Harrelson) for help. Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, The Edge of Seventeen is a wonderful movie that masterfully captures the agony and outrageousness of being a teen girl who's trying to make sense of life, loss, and the real meaning of friendship.

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Blake Jenner, Woody Harrelson, and Haley Lu Richardson

How to watch: The Edge of Seventeen is now streaming on Prime Video.

Booksmart

Olivia Wilde made her directorial debut with this critically praised coming-of-age comedy about two try-hard high school seniors who are desperate to shake up their reputation before graduation. See, Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) are besties, who love each other — and overachieving. But once they learn that their hard-partying classmates also got into great colleges, they fear they're underachievers on the social front. So, time to cram four years of sex, drugs, and shenanigans into one night.

Booksmart plays like Superbad for those of us who fear we relate to Liz Lemon too much. The screenplay from Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman is chock-full of jokes that go from raunchy and witty to brilliantly stupid. And a cast overflowing with terrific comedic talent assures that there's never a dull moment. But some of the cringe comedy here may have you covering your eyes.

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Billie Lourd, Skyler Gisondo, and Molly Gordon

How to watch: Booksmart is now streaming on Lionsgate+.

Easy A

Another clever book adaptation, Easy A is a modern re-imagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter. Emma Stone stars as Olive Penderghast, a whip-smart 17-year-old girl who becomes the subject of much slut shaming when a prudish classmate starts rumors about her sex life. Rather than denying the claims, Olive leans in, wearing bustiers to school with a red "A" plastered on them, and accepting gift cards in exchange for letting boys lie about hooking up with her.

Written by Bert V. Royal and directed by Will Gluck, Easy A harkens back to the teen sex comedies of the '80s with less problematic sexual politics. Stone is sensational in the lead role of a wise-cracking rebel. Penn Badgley pops up as a love interest in a woodchuck costume. And Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci play parents who are beautiful, funny, and cool in a way that's almost infuriating, because we want to go to there! Hilarious and heartwarming, Easy A is a great choice for a cozy night in.

Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Aly Michalka, and Stanley Tucci

How to watch: Easy A is now streaming on Paramount+.

Juno

In 2007, this comedy from screenwriter Diablo Cody became a sensation for its unique vision of teen angst and teen pregnancy. Elliot Page stars as Juno MacGuff, a quirky teen girl whose life is thrown into spin she realizes she's carrying a baby after a hook-up with her crush, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). Thanks to encouragement from her best friend, Leah (Olivia Thirlby), she cooks up a plan to find some good grown-ups to adopt the kid. But prospective parents Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) aren't as picture-perfect as they seem.

Cody won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Juno, and it's easy to see why. Rather than trying to encapsulate how teenagers in the '00s were using slang, she made up her own, building a unique world that invited all weirdos in warmly. From there, a vibrant color scheme, a terrific soundtrack from Kimya Dawson, and a cast exploding with chaotic charisma makes Juno a movie that's timeless fun.

Starring: Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons

How to watch: Juno is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

Unpregnant

Co-written and directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, this underseen buddy comedy offers a road trip like no other. Based on the novel of the same name by Ted Caplan and Jenni Hendriks, Unpregnant stars Haley Lu Richardson as Veronica Clarke, a 17-year-old who seems to have her future at an Ivy League university all lined up — until she finds herself staring down a positive pregnancy test in the girls' bathroom.

Determined to get an abortion without her parents knowing, Veronica needs to travel across state lines. But her boyfriend is not the person she trusts to get her there. Instead, she turns to her former bestie, Bailey Butler (Barbie Ferreira), who is her real ride-or-die. While that sounds like the plot of the 2020 drama Never Rarely Sometimes Always, this bold PG-13 movie is firmly a comedy, turning America's culture war on bodily autonomy of pregnant people into a truly wild ride that's wonderfully funny. And beyond that, Unpregnant is a touching film about learning what it means to be a true friend.

Starring: Haley Lu Richardson, Barbie Ferreira, Alex MacNicoll, Breckin Meyer, Giancarlo Esposito, Sugar Lyn Beard, and Betty Who

How to watch: Unpregnant is streaming on HBO Max.

Bottoms

As a follow-up to her critically heralded cringe comedy Shiva Baby, writer/director Emma Seligman reteamed with writer/actress Rachel Sennott for Bottoms. This 2023 comedy stars Sennott and The Bear's Ayo Edebiri as two "ugly, untalented gays" who are desperate to get their crushes to notice them. So, they start a fight club for girls.

Naturally, these two losers have no idea how to fight. But lucky for them (and us), theirs is a world full of fools. Things get absolutely wild as horny teen antics escalate to arson, brawls, and a climax that is comically violent and utterly bizarre. One warning: Between the graphic violence, bawdy language, and general horniness, this one's rated R. So, keep that in mind before cuing it up for a family movie night.

Starring: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Nicholas Galitzine, Miles Fowler, Dagmara Domińczyk, and Marshawn Lynch

How to watch: Bottoms is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

In our "maxxing" culture of optimization, no aspect of life is safe from attempts to make it as enhanced as possible. This includes our sex lives: We have to want more sex, have more sex, and have better sex. 

And there are always products to help you do just that. In 2026, there are a ton of libido products on the market, especially for women and people with vulvas. Mashable checked with experts which ones are actually worth trying, with the knowledge that there's no end-all, be-all solution.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best hookup apps of 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt What is libido?

"Libido" is difficult to define. In general, though, it's about desire, interest in intimacy and sex, and thoughts about it, OBGYN and co-director of the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Women's Integrated Health, Dr. Melinda Lukens, told Mashable.

Libido is also incredibly personal and changes throughout a woman's lifespan, Lukens said. This is due to relationship changes, outside stressors, trauma, pregnancy and postpartum, as well as perimenopause and menopause.

And there are different types of desire: spontaneous desire and responsive desire, sexpert for sex toy brand LELO, licensed psychologist, and certified sex therapist Dr. Laurie Mintz told Mashable. Spontaneous desire is a male model and youth-oriented model — and it's unfortunately the one we see in the movies when someone is overcome with passion and wants sex immediately. People experiencing spontaneous desire might also feel the beginning stages of arousal, like tingling in the genitals, warmth, and lubrication, Mintz noted.

Responsive desire is wanting sex without feeling those physical feelings, she explains. Sexual activity comes first, then desire comes. And people want to have sex for a variety of reasons. In a 2007 paper titled "Why humans have sex," participants identified 237 individual ones. The top wasn't being horny, but being attracted to the person they had sex with. Next on the list was wanting to experience physical pleasure, and because sex feels good. (Being horny was reason #7.)

Most women — as they get older and/or are in long-term relationships — lose spontaneous desire. Mintz tells those women to have sex to get horny rather than waiting to be horny to have sex.

How to increase libido, really

Both Lukens and Mintz said that desire is multifaceted and that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. The best place to start is a doctor's office.

With patients who come in who want to increase their desire for sex, Lukens first asks a number of questions: What exactly is bothering them? How long has this been going on, and why do they want to fix this now?

Then, she asks about the patient's relationship with their partner and what conversations they're having. She also asks if the patient has been able to orgasm during sex. Lukens utilizes the Female Sexual Function Index, which asks questions about desire, arousal, and satisfaction. She wants a deep history of what's been going on, and that can illuminate which direction to take this. 

She recommends Mintz's book, A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex, to patients. Sometimes, the process of getting desire back also involves a therapist, a sexual health professional, or another mental health professional. 

If a patient tells her she has a safe relationship with her partner, and she's able to enjoy sex and intimacy but needs a little bit more oomph to get things started, Lukens will talk about medication therapy. Her current go-to is testosterone therapy. (More on that below.)

If someone lost their desire because they hate their husband, they probably shouldn't take medication to get it back, Mintz said. But if someone lost their desire because of normative age-related changes, the first course of action would be to teach about responsive desire, scheduling sex, and the like. 

"But there are some women who learn about responsive desire, they use it effectively, but they grieve. They grieve the feeling of being horny, because it's a glorious feeling, right?" Mintz said. "And for those women, I think these medicines can be extremely useful." She used to be against desire meds, but she's since changed her tune. 

So what products do the experts actually recommend?

Libido treatmentsMindfulness

"If I had a woman coming to me with desire issues, my first thing would be the psychological stuff," Mintz said, such as being mindful during sex. 

"Mindfulness, responsive desire, all that," she said. "If she says, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I really miss feeling horny,' I'd send her to a sexual medicine physician for something FDA-approved or testosterone, Addyi, Vyleesi, and I would also tell her about vibrators and marijuana because the evidence is strong there."

Testosterone

Testosterone isn't yet FDA-approved for women, but both Lukens and Mintz mentioned it as an option for post-menopausal women. Like any of these medications, it's not a cure-all. Lukens pointed out that 40 percent of women see improvement over placebo, but she said it's a nice option for someone who's already exhausted other avenues.

Vyleesi

Vyleesi is the brand name for a medication called bremelanotide, an FDA-approved injection for premenopausal women. Patients inject Vyleesi around 45 minutes before sexual activity, and it can't be used more than once in a 24-hour period or 8 times in one month. There's no safety data for pregnant people using Vyleesi, so it's advised to use reliable contraception. 

Lukens doesn't prescribe Vyleesi, but found that the treatment effect was modest in absolute terms. In one study, around 24 percent of bremelanotide patients achieved a more than 1.2-point increase in their desire score versus 18 percent with placebo, as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index. The change in the number of satisfying sexual events wasn't significantly different from placebo, though a post-study analysis showed a higher percentage of these events with the drug, Lukens said. 

Patients with high blood pressure should avoid using Vyleesi. It's also advised to avoid if you're taking naltrexone (used to treat alcohol use disorder and opiate use disorder). Side effects include nausea, transient increase in blood pressure and decrease in heart rate, and hyperpigmentation (patients with darker skin have a higher risk of this).

But, positively, it doesn't interact with alcohol the way Addyi does.

Addyi

Addyi (the drug flibanserin) is a daily oral pill that's also FDA-approved. Lukens said it also has a modest benefit to increase the number of satisfying sexual experiences by around 0.5 per month. Common side effects include dizziness and fatigue. This also has interactions with alcohol that cause low blood pressure, so you shouldn't drink while taking this. 

Cannabis

Mintz pointed out that studies have shown a link between cannabis and higher sexual desire and performance, in small doses. In higher doses, though, it's associated with the opposite (which makes sense — you might fall asleep before anything sexy happens). 

Vibrators

Vibrators aren't just linked to greater sexual satisfaction. Studies have shown that vibrators can also increase sexual desire. So if you've been wanting an excuse to buy a new sex toy, here it is — and Mashable has lots of suggestions on which vibrators to buy.

Erotica

No need to shun your Heated Rivalry fan fiction habit. Erotic literature has also been shown to increase desire and satisfaction compared to a placebo. 

What about libido gummies?

There are many supplements and pills out there that claim to boost libido. Just one example is Lemme Play Gummies, from the Kourtney Kardashian-owned brand Lemme. On its website, it claims these gummies are for "daily intimacy." They have ingredients like ashwagandha, maca root, nitric oxide, and horny goat weed.

Only one of those ingredients, ashwagandha, has clinical trials, said Mintz, who recommends only FDA-approved drugs or products with clinical trials published in scientific journals. Maca root has suggested evidence, and nitric oxide has nothing to do with desire, just blood flow to tissues. Horny goat weed has nothing studied, she said.

"So what do I think of those products? Not much," she said. "They're taking things that have evidence or not, making them go together and saying this is a desire pill. And my thinking is, first of all, we have FDA-approved medicines, and if you want to take something with evidence, then take the one ingredient that has evidence, ashwagandha." But you need to talk to your doctor about whether to take certain ingredients. People with thyroid issues, for instance, shouldn't take ashwagandha. 

Lukens said, "The truth is that so many of these supplements do not have actual evidence behind them. They really aren't held to the same premarket efficacy and safety standards as something that's FDA approved," but companies can market them however they'd like.

"Women deserve to know what evidence is really behind what they're putting in their bodies," she continued.

People might experience a change because they believe a product they're using works — that's the placebo effect. "Our mind and body — everyone says they're connected. They're not connected. They are one," Mintz said. "They're more than connected. They're the same thing."

But the problem with the placebo effect is the cost, Lukens said, monetary and potentially otherwise (such as taking an ingredient that has a negative impact on your body).

Don't believe the social media hype

Lukens has noticed an increase in the last three to five years of women coming to her to talk about their libidos. Historically, she said, women were shamed for being sexual, but now it seems that we're swinging in the opposite direction and women can feel like they're supposed to want more sex.

"I'm glad we're talking more openly about women's sexual health, but I do worry that with…all this talk online, that we're starting to replace one kind of pressure with another," she said.

Research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, Dr. Jaclyn Siegel, told Mashable over email that she believes the push to sell women things to "fix" their "broken" sex drive instead of understanding the circumstances to affect their desire to have sex — such as working multiple jobs, childcare, uneven domestic labor, and pain during sex — is a money grab. 

"Supplements also aren't regulated. I empathize with women who feel broken in some way, but this does not seem like the way," Siegel said. 

Similarly, Lukens said, "Some of these companies online and these social media influencers are really pathologizing libido," she said. Despite what you see on Reels, you won't feel like your 20-year-old self again if you just take one supplement or medication.

But that doesn't mean there's nothing to be done. There are a host of ways, medicinal or not, to try to increase your desire. Taking the pressure off yourself might be the first step.