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May we humbly suggest our lush, 256 page infographic books, as potential gifts?

All three, published by Harper Collins, are 256 pages of mind-bending facts and enlightening visuals. If there’s someone in your life who loves numbers and visuals and facts as much as we do, these might be perfect offerings.

The best current deals we could find

Amazon UK
» 68% off our Beautiful News book. Just £8!
» 44% off Information is Beautiful & Beautiful News double-pack

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» Beautiful News book – half price
» Knowledge is Beautiful – 10% off
» The OG Visual Miscellaneum – 30% off

Around the World
» Find deals for Information is Beautiful, Knowledge is Beautiful, Beautiful News

Non-English Language Editions
» FYI Beautiful News is now published in French, German and Dutch languages!
» Our other books have been published across 16 different languages

Ok! That’s it.

The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.

But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.

And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.

Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for December 17 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Tuesday, December 17, 2024:

AcrossAmerican appetizer

• The answer is Fry.

Ancient Greek marketplaces

• The answer is Agorae.

Town in Arizona

• The answer is Marana.

American entree

• The answer is Burger.

Breastplates (Var.)

• The answer is Egises.

Thing, in legalese

• The answer is Res.

DownKills, in video gaming

• The answer is Frags.

Hindu queen

• The answer is Ranee.

Age measurement

• The answer is Years.

Fossilized tree resin

• The answer is Amber.

Shotgun caliber

• The answer is Gauge.

Queen Elizabeth root

• The answer is Orris.

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

About 20 years ago, scientists used the powerful Hubble telescope to look at the oldest-known exoplanet in space. 

How this gas giant, about 2.5 times the mass of Jupiter, could have come to be less than 1 billion years after the Big Bang befuddled them. This world, about 5,600 light-years away in the summer constellation Scorpius, is more than twice the age of Earth. Its mere existence conflicts with the commonly accepted ideas about how the universe evolved. 

But a new study using observations by the infrared-sensing James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, is revealing insights into how planet formation was possible long, long ago, even around the primitive stars of the early universe. 

"Current models predict that with so few heavier elements, the disks (of planet-building material) around stars have a short lifetime, so short in fact that planets cannot grow big," said Elena Sabbi, one of the Webb researchers based at the National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab in Arizona, in a statement. "But Hubble did see those planets, so what if the models were not correct and disks could live longer?" 

SEE ALSO: What most people think they know about the Big Bang is wrong Researchers used star cluster NGC 346 within the Small Magellanic Cloud as a surrogate for the early universe's environment to study planetary disks around stars. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / O. C. Jones / G. De Marchi / M. Meixner

The Webb team set out to study early planetary disks by homing in on the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way. Planetary disks are the clouds of gas and dust surrounding young stars that can eventually coalesce to form baby worlds. 

Within that galaxy is a hectic star-forming cluster, dubbed NGC 346. Because the cluster lacks a lot of heavier elements — it only has about 10 percent of the heavier elements that make up the sun — scientists used it as a stand-in for the early universe's conditions. 

Researchers surveyed 10 stars in the cluster and discovered that, even at old ages, they still maintained substantial disks. Previous thinking was that these primitive stars would have lost their lightweight disks pretty quickly, after just two or three million years. The team's findings were published Monday in The Astrophysical Journal.

"We see that these stars are indeed surrounded by disks and are still in the process of gobbling material, even at the relatively old age of 20 or 30 million years," said Guido De Marchi, the study leader based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. "This also implies that planets have more time to form and grow around these stars."

The cores of stars are considered element factories: They make carbon, for instance, the same chemical on which humans and much of life on Earth are based. Then, through supernova explosions, they spread these heavier elements, like calcium found in bones and iron in blood, across interstellar space. This dispersal seeds new generations of stars and planets.

Given that most of the chemicals in the universe are thought to have come from exploded stars, scientists have rationalized that the firstborn must have been composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, the primitive material that emerged from the Big Bang. Over time, as stars died and scattered heavier elements, subsequent generations of stars formed with more diverse ingredients.

The team studying early planetary disks suggests there could be different ways for planet-forming disks to remain intact in the early universe's environment. One explanation is that because the stars lack heavier elements in their disks, it takes longer for the stars to blow them away with radiation pressure. Another possibility is the disks might have started out much larger, requiring more time for stars to scatter them, even if the radiation pressure is working in the expected way. 

In the latter scenario, the disks could take 10 times longer to disappear, Sabbi said. 

"This has implications for how you form a planet, and the type of system architecture that you can have in these different environments," she said.

SAVE OVER $75: As of Dec. 17, the PS5 Fortnite Cobalt Star bundle is on sale for $424. This is $75.99 off its original price of $499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PS5 'Fortnite Cobalt Star' Bundle $424.00 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $75.99 Get Deal

Cyber Monday may be behind us, but some of the best gaming deals from the sale event are still going strong at various retailers. PlayStation's Fortnite Cobalt Star bundle is among these deals, and you can even get it to your doorstep before Christmas if you're hoping to pick it up as a gift.

The PS5 Fortnite Cobalt Star bundle is currently on sale for $424. Its original price was $499.99, so this saves you $75.99 overall. Amazon also has a note above the 'Add to Cart' button saying it'll arrive seven days before Christmas, so you'll have plenty of time to get it all wrapped up. Considering what you get in the bundle, it's absolutely worth the price tag as well.

SEE ALSO: Looking for a solid gaming TV deal? The LG B4 55-inch OLED TV is $400 off.

Alongside a sleek PS5 Slim disc edition console, which comes with a 1TB SSD and a DualSense controller, this bundle also comes with numerous bonuses for Fortnite fans. Here's the full list of items that come with this bundle:

• Cobalt Snowfoot Outfit (with LEGO Style)

• Sapphire Star Back Bling

• Indigo Inverter Pickaxe 

• Weathered Snow Stripes Wrap 

• Cobalt Crash Drums 

• Krackle Boost (Gold Painted Style)

• Discotheque Wheels (Gold Painted Style)

• Stella Trail (Gold Painted Style)

• 1,000 V-Bucks

The PS5 (disc edition) Fortnite Cobalt Star bundle likely won't stick around for long, so grab it while you can at Amazon.

This isn't the only PlayStation deal still live right now, either. The standard PS5 Slim disc edition console is still on sale as is the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain bundle. And if you want to see some more gift ideas you can get quickly before the holidays, check out our roundup of Amazon deals that'll arrive by tomorrow.

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 Tuesday, December 17, 2024:

AcrossPig's place

• The answer is Sty.

Lesson from Aesop's stories

• The answer is Moral.

The squiggly lines over garbage cans, in cartoons

• The answer is Odors.

Unit of weight that's also a unit of currency

• The answer is Pound.

"___ not a big deal"

• The answer is Its.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 17, 2024 Down"Same here"

• The answer is SoDoI.

Fish aptly "swimming through" this puzzle's circled letters

• The answer is Trout.

Knitting project purchases

• The answer is Yarns.

Cleaning item in a bucket

• The answer is Mop.

"Acid"

• The answer is LSD.

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

Over the weekend a glorious clip of Stephen Colbert dancing with Oprah to Beyoncé's "CUFF IT" went viral on Instagram, after it was shared by the legendary talk show host herself.

"I broke the internet dancing with Oprah at Gayle King's birthday party. Not only did I bust a move, I might have torn a hamstring," says Colbert in the Late Show clip above, referring to the video.

"It was a lovely night. Evie and I were honoured to have been invited, and when everyone was out on the dance floor, Evie said, 'Look, no-one's dancing with Oprah. Go ask Oprah to dance.' So I got up and I did, and Oprah posted it straight to her Insta. Sources are saying this holiday season, I'm Oprah's favorite thing," Colbert says.

"I thought about twirling Oprah, but I immediately realised, you don't twirl Oprah. You twirl for Oprah. Or as she called it, my 'triple piroutte.' Evie has a slightly different name for that move, it's the 'Stephen, please stop.'"

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

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

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

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

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

A less-common way of saying revived.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for December 17 Hurdle Word 1 answer

REDUX

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A type of space discussed by Taylor Swift.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 17 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BLANK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Not married.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 17, 2024 Hurdle Word 3 answer

UNWED

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Payment recipient.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PAYEE

Final Hurdle hint

Repeat.

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

AGAIN

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 December 17 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: Courage, boldness, or bravery

• Green: Types of pathways

• Blue: Ways to use paper

• Purple: Surfaces on which Tennis is played

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: Intrepidity

• Green: Road

• Blue: Kinds of Paper

• Purple: Kinds of Tennis Courts

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 #555 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Intrepidity: GRIT, HEART, NERVE, PLUCK

• Road: ARTERY, AVENUE, DRAG, DRIVE

• Kinds of Paper: CONSTRUCTION, GRAPH, TISSUE, WAX

• Kinds of Tennis Courts: CARPET, CLAY, GRASS, HARD

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 December 17

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's 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 December 17 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 December 17 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Bad-tempered expression.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SCOWL.

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 December 16

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.

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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 17 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: It's lit!

These words are types.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words describe literary genres.

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 FictionGenre.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 17

• Crime

• Fantasy

• Romance

• FictionGenre

• Western

• Historical

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: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 December 17 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Redo

• Green: Famous in the ring

• Blue: Basketball coaches (not-pro)

• Purple: Partial football team names

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

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

• Yellow: Second chance

• Green: Famous boxers

• Blue: Men's college basketball coaches

• Purple: First names...or the starts of NFL team names

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 Sports Edition #85 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Second chance - DO-OVER, MULLIGAN, REPECHAGE, RETRY

• Famous boxers - ALI, FOREMAN, LEWIS, LISTON

• Men's college basketball coaches - DREW, FEW, OATS, SELF

• First names...or the starts of NFL team names - BEN, BILL, DOLPH, PAT

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.

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

FREE $100 GIFT CARD: As of Dec. 17, the 65-inch LG C4 OLED TV is on sale for $1,499.99, $300 off its list price of $1,799.99. As a bonus, Best Buy is also offering a free $100 gift card with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch Class C4 Series OLED evo 4K TV + Free $100 Gift Card $1,499.99 at Best Buy
$1,799.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are still quite a few worthy deals to explore at various retailers. Best Buy is offering a particularly nice holiday treat right now for shoppers on the lookout for a new TV. Not only can you save on one of the best TVs available at the moment, the LG C4 OLED, but you'll also get a bonus gift card with your purchase.

Best Buy has the 65-inch LG C4 OLED marked down from its list price of $1,799.99 to $1,499.99, which is a great deal for a TV like this. What makes it even better, though, is you can get a free $100 Best Buy gift card with your purchase of this TV. And who doesn't love free money?

SEE ALSO: Looking for a solid gaming TV deal? The LG B4 55-inch OLED TV is $400 off.

This TV is worth every cent, too. Thanks to its OLED display, you'll see a vibrant picture with excellent contrasts that are further enhanced by crisp 4K resolution. Not to mention, this TV is packed with exciting features like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Filmmaker Mode that make it the ultimate screen for movie nights.

And with a free $100 gift card, you can put that towards numerous different items at Best Buy. Especially with the holidays coming up, you could even use it to get some last-minute gifts, and Best Buy is full of great options at the moment.

This deal won't stick around for long, so get a free $100 gift card with purchase of a discounted 65-inch LG C4 OLED TV whilst it's live.

Looking to save even more ahead of the holidays? Thankfully, there are still plenty of great offers available after Cyber Monday. Best Buy's last-minute savings event has plenty of exciting deals right now, but outside of the retailer, you can also save on a selection of gaming laptops across different stores and Amazon Echo devices are also still enjoying some very nice discounts at the moment.

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 17, Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller is on sale for $129.99 at Best Buy, saving you $50 off its usual $179.99 price. With pro-level customization, up to 40 hours of battery life, and precision controls, it’s the ultimate upgrade for Xbox and PC gamers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Elite Series 2 $129.99 at Best Buy
$179.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Grinding through ranked matches and skill trees with the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller feels impressive as it adapts to you. Now available for $129.99 at Best Buy — a solid $50 discount from its regular $179.99 price — it’s the perfect opportunity to treat your hands to something special.

So, what makes the Elite Series 2 controller worth it? The controller comes with six interchangeable thumbsticks, four paddles, and two swappable D-pads, so you can fine-tune your setup for precision aiming, quick-fire combos, or whatever fits your play style. Plus, with adjustable thumbstick tension and shorter hair-trigger locks, every movement feels snappier and more responsive — perfect for competitive shooters or high-speed racers.

SEE ALSO: How 'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' adapts two pages of Tolkien lore into a whole movie

You can save up to three custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly using a simple button press. Whether you need one profile for sniping in Call of Duty, another for drifting in Forza Horizon 5, or something for RPG adventures, the Elite Series 2 has you covered. And don’t forget the Xbox Accessories app, where you can fine-tune button mapping to create the exact layout you need.

Battery life won’t let you down either. This lousy boy offers up to 40 hours of gameplay on a single charge, with a USB-C cable and charging dock included for easy recharging. Whether playing on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or PC, you can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or Xbox Wireless or plug it in directly with the USB-C cable for zero latency.

To top it all off, the Elite Series 2 is designed for durability. The wrap-around rubberized grip keeps it comfy during marathon sessions. At the same time, its refined components are built to last — because nothing’s worse than a controller giving up a mid-boss fight.

Inside the box, you’re getting more than just the controller. The full package includes:

• Six thumbsticks: standard (2), classic (2), tall (1), vast dome (1)

• Four paddles: medium (2), mini (2)

• Two D-pads: standard and faceted

• Thumbstick adjustment tool

• Charging dock and USB-C cable

• Carrying case for keeping everything organized

At $129.99, the Xbox Elite Series 2 is one of the best deals for a pro-level controller with this much customization and performance. This is the controller to beat if you take your gaming seriously (or want to feel like a pro while button-mashing).

It dwells miles down, nearly freezing in perpetual darkness, equipped with numerous appendages to capture prey.

Deep Sea biologists found a new animal some 26,000 feet (7,902 meters) underwater in the ocean's "hadal zone," named for the Greek god of the underworld, Hades. These researchers lowered baited traps into the Atacama Trench off of Chile, and brought up four individuals of a species now called Dulcibella camanchaca.

"Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named after 'darkness' in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates," Johanna Weston, a hadal ecologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who coauthored the discovery, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Scientists witness stunning, unprecedented carnage in the ocean

In the hadal zone, the deepest ocean realm, many critters depend on food sinking down from the more productive waters above. But Dulcibella camanchaca isn't a scavenger. The four-centimeter (1.5-inch) crustacean (an arthropod with a hard shell like a crab) captures smaller hadal crustaceans.

"This finding underlines the importance of continued deep-ocean exploration, particularly in Chile’s front yard," Carolina González, a researcher at the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía who analyzed the species' DNA, said. "More discoveries are expected as we continue to study the Atacama Trench."

The research has been published in the science journal Systematics and Biodiversity.

The location of the Dulcibella camanchaca discovery in the Atacama Trench. Credit: Johanna Weston / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution An illustration of the predatory Dulcibella camanchaca and its "raptorial appendages." Credit: Johanna Weston / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Even in the deepest ocean, predators can flourish, such as a snailfish spotted at 27,349 feet (8,336 meters) down — the deepest fish ever observed. They are flabby, jelly-like fish that binge eat when they spot hadal prey, such as crustaceans.

Ocean research organizations are now vigilantly documenting and mapping the deep sea. Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there. The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. For example, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

TL;DR: The Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set combines razor-sharp blades, ergonomic design, and professional-grade quality for $119.97 (reg. $429).

The new year is the perfect time for new habits — and delicious, healthy meals start with the right tools. The Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set is a beautifully crafted collection that empowers home cooks and pros alike to slice, dice, and chop with precision.

For just $119.97 (regularly $429), this set offers premium Japanese craftsmanship without the sky-high price tag, and it even comes in an easy-to-gift box. Each knife in the set is forged from high-carbon stainless steel, offering an ideal combination of durability, sharpness, and balance.

Unlike typical Western knives with 25° edges, Seido knives are designed with a sharper 15° edge, delivering incredibly smooth cuts. Whether you're slicing through crusty bread with the serrated bread knife, finely chopping herbs with the santoku, or carving roasts with the slicing knife, these tools are designed to make cooking easier.

With knives like the 8" chef’s knife for all-purpose slicing and the 7" cleaver for tackling tougher cuts of meat, every kitchen task can be easier to manage. The ergonomic handles provide a comfortable grip, while the acute blade angles make even the most delicate cuts precise.

Not only are these knives razor-sharp, but they’re also a work of art. Crafted by Japanese blacksmiths with over 100 years of combined experience, each knife features a beautiful Damascus-etched finish that adds elegance to your kitchen. And with a lifetime of sharp performance, these knives will remain a trusted partner in your culinary adventures.

Don't miss the Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set while it's on sale for just $119.97 (reg. $429).

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Opens in a new window Credit: Seido Seido™ Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set w Gift Box $119.97
$429.00 Save $309.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: For $79.99, grab the PDF Expert Premium lifetime plan for someone this holiday and help them tackle PDFs on their Mac.

Struggling with PDF documents? PDF Expert is here to save the day. You could alleviate your PDF woes — or someone else's — with powerful editing and management features that make handling PDFs a breeze. Until December 22, get lifetime access to a PDF Expert Premium plan on sale for $79.99 (reg. $139).

One of the highlights is its powerful editing tool. With PDF Expert, you can easily edit text, images, and links within your PDFs. No more dealing with uneditable files — simply click and type to make changes. This feature is perfect for correcting typos, updating documents, or customizing forms without needing to recreate the entire file from scratch.

Another key feature is the annotation tool. PDF Expert allows you to highlight text, add notes, and draw shapes directly on your PDFs. Whether you're reviewing a contract, marking up a report, or collaborating on a project, these annotation tools make it simple to communicate your thoughts and feedback clearly.

PDF Expert also excels in merging and organizing PDF files. You or anyone else on your gift list can combine multiple PDFs into one, rearrange pages, or extract specific sections with just a few clicks. This functionality is great for students, professionals, or anyone who needs to keep their documents neat and accessible.

With this one-time purchase, users will get unlimited access to these features and more, without any recurring fees. 

'Tis the season to work with PDFs without worry. Grab this lifetime subscription to PDF Expert Premium as a last-minute holiday gift for yourself or someone else for $79.99 while supplies last. This offer expires December 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle Limited PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) $79.99
$139.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: AI Magicx is your AI multitool for generating all kinds of content, and it's only $69.99 for a lifetime subscription with code FESTIVE30. 

Running a small business or side hustle means wearing many hats: marketer, designer, writer, and sometimes all three at once. That's a lot of hats for one head. Maybe it's time to tip your hat to an AI tool that can multitask just as well (or even better). 

AI Magicx is a full AI toolkit with models for generating text and images, analyzing documents, and even bots that can engage with customers. Best part: this isn't another monthly expense. You can get AI Magicx for life on sale for $69.99 (it's usually $972). 

Hats off to AI Magicx

AI Magicx gives you access to a full suite of AI tools that can help streamline your work day, whether you're designing, writing, or engaging with your audience. From generating custom logos to crafting articles and stories, AI Magicx might become your new favorite productivity multitool.

If you’re looking for visuals, the Magicx Art Generator is your go-to. With a simple description, it can turn your words into vibrant visuals. Whether you need a picture for a social media post, an email campaign, or your website, this tool makes it easy to create eye-catching images with no artistic expertise required.

For content creation, the AI Article Generator helps you effortlessly generate well-researched, high-quality blog posts, product descriptions, and other content. The AI Story Generator takes things a step further by allowing you to develop captivating stories from your ideas. 

But that's not the only language it can help with. This AI toolset also has support for coding. You might not need to be a tech pro to customize your website.

The AI Chatbots included with AI Magicx are helpful for any growing business. These smart bots can engage with visitors on your website, answer questions, and provide assistance, all while saving you time. 

Limited-time offer

Use code FESTIVE30 by January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a lifetime subscription to AI Magicx for $69.99. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: AI Magicx AI Magicx: Lifetime Subscription (Rune Plan) $69.99
$972.00 Save $902.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: The 9" Wireless Car Display adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to any vehicle for just $94.97 (reg. $179).

Who says you need a brand-new car to enjoy cutting-edge features? The 9" Wireless Car Display is here to revolutionize your driving experience for just $94.97 (regularly $179). Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this sleek touchscreen gives you access to your favorite apps, music, and navigation tools — without ever touching your phone. It’s the ultimate upgrade for anyone needing modern tech in their older vehicle.

With its vibrant 1024x600 FHD screen, you can adjust the brightness to suit your needs, enjoy a broader viewing experience, and connect seamlessly to your smartphone using Bluetooth, AUX, or FM transmission. Whether you’re syncing real-time GPS, playing music, or mirroring your phone’s screen for YouTube, this display transforms your car into a smarter, more efficient machine.

Factory-installed infotainment systems can cost thousands of dollars. This display gives you most of the same functionality — hands-free voice control via Siri or Google Assistant, access to maps and apps, and even compatibility with a reversing camera — at a fraction of the price. Plus, its easy DIY installation means no expensive trips to the mechanic. Just plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter, and you’re good to go.

Beyond convenience, this display prioritizes safety. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road while enjoying turn-by-turn navigation or taking calls. Its mirror link function makes it perfect for playing videos during car camping trips or entertaining passengers on long drives. And since it works with any car model, it’s an accessible upgrade for everyone.

Don't miss this 9" Wireless Car Display while it's on sale for just $94.97 (regularly $179) for a limited time.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Rochas Divine Mart 9" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring $94.97
$179.99 Save $85.02 Get Deal

SAVE $400: As of Dec. 17, LG 55-inch B4 OLED 4K UHD Smart TV is available for $999.99 at Best Buy, saving you $400 off its usual price of $1,399.99. It’s the perfect blend of breathtaking visuals, immersive audio, and gaming features that’ll elevate your home entertainment experience.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-inch B4 OLED 4K UHD Smart TV $999.99 at Best Buy
$1,399.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal

Let’s be honest — once you’ve seen an OLED TV in action, there’s no going back. Whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or bingeing your favorite shows, the LG B4 55-inch OLED TV delivers breathtaking picture quality that makes other TVs look... well, flat. And thanks to Best Buy’s deal, you can snag this beauty for $999.99 — a sweet $400 discount from its regular $1,399.99 price.

What makes the LG B4 so impressive? For starters, it’s got 8.3 million self-lit pixels, meaning every scene pops with perfect black levels and vibrant, luminous color — no backlight bleeding or muddy grays here. The OLED display makes it look razor-sharp, from watching shadowy action sequences to colorful animated films. And with Dolby Vision and FILMMAKER MODE support, you’ll experience movies just as the director intended, without any weird motion smoothing or artificial adjustments.

SEE ALSO: How 'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' adapts two pages of Tolkien lore into a whole movie

LG’s α8 AI Processor drives all that visual magic, which automatically enhances picture and sound quality based on what you’re watching. Streamed content, live TV, or gaming — the AI smarts ensure everything looks (and sounds) its best without you lifting a finger. Combine that with Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ve got a genuinely cinematic experience in your living room.

Gamers, you’re in for a treat, too. The LG B4 is stacked with gaming features like NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), which eliminate screen tearing and keep gameplay buttery smooth. Four HDMI 2.1 ports give you the bandwidth to connect all your consoles and devices simultaneously. The LG Game Dashboard and Game Optimizer put everything you need to tweak settings for the perfect play session at your fingertips.

Beyond the stunning visuals and gaming chops, the LG B4 runs on webOS 24, LG’s latest smart TV platform. It’s faster and more intuitive and now comes with Quick Cards for quickly organizing your favorite streaming apps. Want more content? LG Channels offers 300+ free channels, so you can spend less time scrolling and more time watching. And with webOS Re: New, LG guarantees software updates for up to five years — talk about future-proofing your TV.

At $999.99, the LG B4 is the ultimate upgrade for anyone ready to take home entertainment to the next level. OLED TVs at this price don’t come around often, so don’t wait — your eyes (and your console) will thank you.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are an interesting gadget. They started out very low key, with the ability to listen to audio, as well as take photos and videos, but also with most of the "smart" features missing.

But Meta has slowly been adding more features to the mix, and now we've reached a point in which the Ray-Ban Metas truly deserve the "smart" moniker.

On Monday, Meta announced several new features for Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

SEE ALSO: Ray-Ban Meta Glasses can be used to dox strangers via facial recognition, according to Harvard students. Here's how to protect yourself.

One, currently enabled only for members of Meta's Early Access program, is live AI. It enables Meta's AI to see what you see (through the glasses' camera) and chat with you about your surroundings. For example, you could ask the AI what next to add to a cake you're baking, or how to improve your houseplant's health.

Also available to Early Access program members is live translation, which is one of the coolest use cases for a gadget like this. If you're chatting with someone in a foreign language (English, Spanish, French, and Italian are supported) you can have the glasses translate what the other person is saying and feed the translation to the glasses' speakers, or as a transcript on your phone.

Another new feature, available to all users from the U.S. and Canada, is Shazam integration. When there's music playing near you, you can say, "Hey Meta, what is this song?" and Shazam will find out the answer for you. Takes some of the fun out for music nerds like me, but it sounds like a pretty natural and elegant way to use Shazam.

Meta says more software updates (including some surprises) are coming in 2025.