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Windows 11 does most of what I need it to do, but I've never been completely happy with some of its interface decisions. The taskbar feels too big and prominent, the Start menu shows me things I don't want, and I've grown tired of Windows putting familiar controls behind extra clicks.

SAVE $70: As of Aug. 25, the Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp is down to $79.99 at Amazon. That's 47% off its $149.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp $79.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $70.00   Get Deal

The Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp is down to its best-ever price: $79.99 at Amazon. That's a 47% discount, saving you $70.

What makes this lamp stand out is the way it splits the light into zones you can control separately. The head tilts and rotates (330° side to side, 60° up and down), so you can bounce light off the ceiling for a soft glow across the whole room, or aim it more directly for task lighting.

For mood-lighting, there are 77 preset scenes to choose from, so you're not stuck manually picking colors every time you want something different. There are also six modes built specifically for syncing with music, making it a solid pick if you want your lighting to react to whatever you're playing at a party or during a movie night.

SEE ALSO: New Apple HomePods with AI are coming. Everything we know.

It works with every smart home setup since it's Matter-certified, meaning it integrates with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit without extra gear. You can also link it up with other Govee lights, up to five of them within about 100 feet, so they can all sync colors and effects together across a room.

Setup is simple, too. The wires run through the poles, so you're just snapping pieces together, no tools needed. And the base is weighted, so it won't tip over even if you've got it sitting on carpet.

Get the Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp now for $79.99 at Amazon.

SAVE $50: As of Aug. 25, the Ninja Fireside360 Fire Pit & Heater is down to $404.99 with the on-page coupon at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Fireside360 $404.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $95   Get Deal

The Ninja Fireside360 Fire Pit and Heater is down to its best-ever price: $404.99 at Amazon, thanks to an on-page coupon.

The fire pit delivers up to 80,000 BTUs of heat and offers three ways to use it — flame, heat, or both at once — while keeping smoke out of your eyes thanks to its smokeless design. Because it runs on propane instead of wood, there's no ash to clean up afterward and no smoke getting in your eyes or clinging to your clothes. It's built to be safe on grass, stone, or wood decking, so you don't have to stress about where you set it up.

Starting the Fireside360 is just a dial: turn it to ignite, adjust the flame height or heat level, and shut it off when you're done — instant on, instant off.

It's also built to handle sitting outside in all four seasons, and it comes with everything you need to get going out of the box: ceramic rocks for an authentic look, a quick start guide, and a battery, so there's no last-minute run to the store before your first fire.

Grab the Ninja Fireside360 for $404.99 at Amazon by selecting the on-page coupon.

The billions of music enjoyers around the world are flush with streaming options thanks to platforms like Apple Music, YouTube Music, and the green monarch that rules above them all: Spotify. The streaming giant used to be my app of choice for all my music needs, too, but I happily abandoned Spotify years ago in favor of Tidal, another strong contender in the space.

TL;DR: Cadence just launched limited-edition Cosmo Capsules — a sparkling pink take on its refillable storage system — in small ($15), medium ($24), and large ($38) sizes, starting Aug. 25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cadence Cadence Cosmo Capsules   Shop Now

Cadence just gave its cult-favorite Capsule System a cocktail-inspired makeover.

Starting Aug. 25, the brand is launching limited-edition Cosmo Capsules — a sparkling pink colorway inspired by the Cosmopolitan cocktail and, as Cadence puts it, the people who made the drink a symbol of confidence, independence, and having a little fun. The capsules are available now in small ($15), medium ($24), and large ($38) sizes at Cadence online.

Credit: Cadence

If you're new to Cadence's Capsule System, it's a set of refillable containers for your everyday stuff — shampoo, skincare, pills, jewelry, whatever you need to keep organized. Each capsule snaps together magnetically in a hexagon shape, so you can build your own little grid at home or pack it up for travel. You can also add labeled magnetic tiles so you always know what's in each one.

The Cosmo Capsules keep everything people already love about the system. They're TSA-compliant, so airport security won't give you any trouble, and they've got a patented seal that keeps them leakproof no matter what's inside. They can survive a rough drop in your luggage, and when they need a wash, just toss them on the top rack of your dishwasher.

SEE ALSO: Cadence's 'World Cup' travel pods show team spirit without being cringe — on sale now

They're also BPA-free and leach-free, and made with 20% ocean-bound plastic and 30% reprocessed scrap material, so there's some sustainability built into the sparkly pink finish. Since they magnetize on all six sides, you can stack them, line them up side by side, or arrange them however works best for your space.

Cosmo purist or not, this limited-edition pink drop is a cute one to snag before it's gone.

TL;DR: Starbucks' iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) officially returns on Tuesday, Aug. 25, along with an expanded lineup of new drinks like the Iced Banana Bread Latte and Chaider.

If you've been in any department store lately, you've probably noticed pumpkins, faux leaves, and Halloween decorations are already stocked on the shelves.

Now, Starbucks is joining the madness. The coffee giant just announced that it's bringing its iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) back to the menu on Aug. 25, along with an expanded lineup of brand-new seasonal drinks. (I could honestly go the rest of my life without tasting another pumpkin spice anything, but to each their own.) Of course, if you can't wait until late August, the pumpkin creamers are already in grocery aisles at Target and other retailers.

SEE ALSO: Starbucks is bringing back the Unicorn Frappuccino (but only for one weekend)

Here's what you can expect to see on Starbucks' 2026 fall menu:

• Pumpkin faves: You can get the PSL hot, iced, or blended, or order one of Starbucks' other pumpkin-inspired drinks like the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, or the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. New additions to its pumpkin lineup include the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and the Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha.

• Pecan is back: Returning favorites include the Pecan Cortado, Iced Pecan Crunch Latte, and the Pecan Crunch Latte.

• Banana bread is making a cameo: Starbucks is introducing the Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai to its menu.

• Chaider is the new cider: The Chaider is a cider-inspired twist on chai. It's supposed to taste like autumn in a cup.

• Food and sweet treats: The food menu will also include a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket, Hedgehog Cake Pop, and, of course, the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin.

According to new data compiled by Yelp, PSL season has kicked off earlier than ever this year. Apparently, internet searches for "pumpkin spice latte" and "pumpkin latte" increased by 301 percent and 256 percent, respectively, in July. July! (I credit all the Gilmore girlies and my sister for these stats.)

This is ridiculous. I wrote about this in 2016 — premature pumpkin spicing should be a crime. But now we've got silly little "pre" holidays like "Summerween" and "Augtober." Call me old-fashioned, but I cannot stand it when marketing teams try to rush my seasons through. I like to enjoy each season as the universe intended: late August is for squeezing out the last drops of summer, not sweating into a wool sweater while sipping liquid nutmeg.

PowerToys 0.101 is officially here, and it brings the most meaningful set of new additions to the toolkit in a while. The utility suite has received incremental improvements and stability fixes since the April 2026 update. With the newest update, six tools across PowerToys get notable changes spanning window management, display control, clipboard AI, and more.

As part of Gamescom 2026, ASUS has finally announced the release date, pricing, and preorder availability for the special edition ROG XBOX Ally X20 gaming handheld, and there's some good news alongside the expected pain point. Yes, the ultimate handheld celebrating 20 years of Republic of Gamers and 25 years of XBOX is just as expensive as we knew it would be, but ASUS is no longer forcing us to pay even more for bundled AR glasses many people won't want.

Ikea has embraced smart home tech—so much so that it is becoming one of the more interesting tech companies. I've bought quite a few IKEA gadgets over the past year, and now that I have firsthand experience, let me tell you which ones I would buy again.

Asus revealed pricing for the standalone version of its ROG Xbox Ally X20 today at Gamescom, Europe's biggest video game expo. The special-edition OLED gaming handheld will cost $1,299.99, or $300 more than last year's original Xbox Ally X.

Shoppers can also purchase the Xbox Ally X20 as part of a $2,499.99 AR glasses bundle. Asus was initially only planning on selling the Xbox Ally X20 in this bundle form, but changed its mind over the summer.

Preorders for the standalone and bundled Xbox Ally X20 are now live at Best Buy and on Asus' website, with a launch date for both set for Oct. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 $1,299.99 at Best Buy
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 Bundle $2,499.99 at Best Buy
  Pre-order Here Xbox Ally X20 specs: What's new and improved

Asus took the wraps off of the Xbox Ally X20 in June in honor of the 20th anniversary of ROG ("Republic of Gamers"), its PC gaming brand. It upgrades the $999.99 Xbox Ally X handheld with a slightly bigger, much brighter 7.4-inch OLED screen and a see-through black chassis that shows off some gold internal hardware.

Pair the ROG Xbox Ally X20 with AR glasses for a massive playing screen. Credit: Asus

Asus has reworked the Xbox Ally X20's thermal system to support that new screen. As the company noted in its June announcement, "OLED panels are more sensitive to heat than traditional LCD displays."

Additionally, the Xbox Ally X20 has flatter face buttons, rubberized handgrips, premium TMR (tunneling magnetoresistance) joysticks, and a "transforming" D-pad that can switch between four- and eight-way controls.

Left: The front of the ROG Xbox Ally X20. Credit: Asus Right: The back of the ROG Xbox Ally X20. Credit: Asus

The new handheld runs on the same chip as the standard Ally X version, and it's equipped with the same amount of memory and SSD storage (24GB and 1TB, respectively). Like its predecessor, it also supports Windows 11's Auto Super Resolution AI upscaling tech. The feature is currently available in preview to members of the Xbox Insider Program, which is free to join.

What comes in the Xbox Ally X20 bundle? Buy the ROG Xbox Ally X20 on its own or bundle it with accessories. Credit: Asus

The splurgy Xbox Ally X20 bundle includes a pair of Asus' impressive ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses, which produce a colorful 240Hz virtual screen. (They retail for $849 on their own.) They plug right into the handheld via USB-C port. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth got to try them at CES earlier this year and said they "made me feel like I'm living in the future."

Asus also throws in an adapter and two matching custom cases for the Xbox Ally X20. One is a dbrand Killswitch case with a build-in kickstand; the other is a rugged Pelican Protector Case that can hold the handheld and any accessories you might use with it.

Ninja created a whole new type of blender with its BlendBoss, a single-serve blender that blends directly into a tumbler cup. But now it's bringing the tumbler design to its kitchen systems. Meet the CrushBoss, a new Ninja kitchen system that combines a traditional pitcher blender, single-serve blender, and food processor in one. But rather than the traditional single-serve cups, you get a 26-ounce tumbler. AKA, one less dish to clean after your morning smoothie.

The CrushBoss kitchen system from Ninja comes with three different attachments. Credit: Ninja / Mashable

The CrushBoss comes with Ninja's Detect technology. So rather than the classic settings of a blender or food processor, it auto-detects how long and how much power is needed, taking a little bit of guesswork out of the kitchen. The whole system comes with a 72 oz. pitcher, an 8-cup food processor, and a 26-ounce tumbler.

The food processor is going to do more than puree or chop. In addition to its dough mixing attachments, it now offers precision dicing and slicing, cutting multiple vegetables in less than a minute.

Ahead of the CrushBoss's launch, we got to give Ninja's new kitchen system a try to see if it's worth its $319 price tag.

Ninja CrushBoss first impressions Putting the CrushBoss to the test by making a refreshing smoothie. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

I got to give the Ninja CrushBoss a whirl before its launch, trying out its chopping and blending skills.

A kitchen system is my ideal blender set-up as it's essentially multiple kitchen appliances in one, which, as a small space dweller, makes all the difference. Not to mention, you can easily spend $319 on a quality blender, personal blender, or food processor, so to get all three in one is major added value.

The prompt before you attach a vessel to the CrushBoss. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

I first tried out the food processor on the CrushBoss to make a batch of pesto. The machine automatically detects which vessel is placed on the motor base, meaning you don't need to manually change any of the settings. I started using the smart sensing feature, but giving up control isn't always a good thing, especially when you're making something that requires ingredients to be added at different times. However, using the controls was a breeze with the responsive touchscreen.

Choose between Smooth Sense or custom settings when running the CrushBoss. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

My only complaint when using the manual settings is that you have to scroll through the different options rather than seeing them all laid out. Other than that, though, it helped me make a divine summer pesto.

Finally, I got around to using the star of the show — the 26-ounce blender that Ninja is making a signature part of their blenders. While it looks totally ridiculous when flipped upside down and blending, it makes a great smoothie.

Ninja is really onto something with the tumbler design. There's nothing worse than making too much smoothie for your cup. So filling up the tumbler with exactly the right amount of ingredients makes sure nothing goes to waste.

Using the Smooth Sense take, I let the blender decide how long and how much power to use on my smoothie. I was surprise how long it ran for, certainly longer than I would have run it for. No complaints here though, as it turned out a perfectly creamy smoothie.

The Smooth Sense setting turned out a seriously creamy smoothie — no weird chunks in sight. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Included with the CrushBoss is a tumbler lid and straw, and although I just enjoyed the smoothie at my desk, it would have been great if I were headed out on my morning commute.

The best part of the CrushBoss is that all of the components are dishwasher safe, so I didn't have to spend time delicately cleaning the blade attachments.

The Ninja CrushBoss makes a great first impression, with noticeably powerful performance and strong overall value.

SAVE $140: As of Aug. 25, the Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses are down to $548.98 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount off their $689 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Viture Viture Beast XR glasses $548.98 at Amazon
$689 Save $140.02   Get Deal

The Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses are down to their best-ever price of $548.98 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount off their $689 list price, saving you $140.02.

The glasses pack a 174-inch virtual display powered by Sony Micro-OLED panels, 1200p resolution, 1250-nit peak brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate, all wrapped into a pair of AR/XR glasses you can plug into your iPhone, Android, Mac, or PC.

Everything is built into the hardware, and you can pin the screen in place, resize it, or spread it out into an ultra-wide setup. A sensor keeps the image locked in place even if you move your head, so it doesn't drift. There's also a dimming feature with nine levels, so you can go from a fully see-through look to a total blackout for movie-watching, and it'll auto-adjust based on how bright the room is.

SEE ALSO: How to process grief — in interactive virtual reality

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Werth recommends these glasses to gamers: "I've tested a lot of smart glasses, and the Beast Viture are easily the best ones for gaming. They have the best touch controls of all of the glasses I've tested, and they let you disappear into a game no matter where you are. If you like to game on the go with a handheld, these glasses can drastically improve the experience by giving you a huge display, which is also great for watching movies on planes."

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Werth repping the Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses. Credit: Viture

Sound comes from Harman, so you're getting real bass and clarity instead of the thin, hollow audio a lot of glasses like this get stuck with. And there's also a feature that converts regular 2D video and games into 3D on the fly.

Grab the Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses for their best-ever price at Amazon.

Vehicles used to be finished the day they left the assembly line. Whatever the powertrain output, whatever the infotainment system menus, and whatever extra options and packages there were, they all stayed the same for as long as the buyer owned that vehicle. If they traded it in or sold it later, the second owner had all the same "fixed" features.

Bluetooth is a great technology, especially if your expectations are low. However, anyone who has switched from using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to ones with proprietary USB receivers knows that the ease of use and improved performance are very much worth it.

One way to become more efficient in Excel is to learn keyboard shortcuts. The problem is that there are so many that trying to remember them all is pretty much impossible. That's why I narrow my shortcuts down to a select few that really help with my workflow—and Ctrl+Enter is one of those. You might already know that this shortcut lets you commit a value or formula without moving to the next cell, but it has some even more useful tricks up its sleeve.

Not every 3D printing problem ends in a failed print or a mess of spaghetti. In order to catch problems early, you should keep an eye out for warning signs that things are wrong. Doing so can prevent greater problems down the line, and even result in better quality prints.

The full lineup of free phones at T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 Free with a new line and port-in on Experience More or Experience Beyond — no trade-in needed. Get Deal Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan — no trade-in needed. Get Deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Free when you trade in an eligible device on an Experience Beyond plan. Get Deal Google Pixel 11 Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan — no trade-in needed. Get Deal Google Pixel 11 Pro Free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan. Get Deal Motorola Razr Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan — no trade-in needed. Get Deal Motorola Razr+ Free when you activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan — no trade-in needed. Get Deal

Getting a new phone usually means paying for it, one way or another. But right now, T-Mobile is handing out some of the biggest names in the mobile game — the iPhone 17, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11, Razr, and more — for free. Tax and a $35 connection fee still apply at signup.

And you don't necessarily need a trade-in to get there — most of these deals just require a new line, or a new line plus porting in your number from another carrier.

The catch is that "free" means the cost is paid off through monthly bill credits over 24 to 36 months. As long as you stick around for the whole term, you'll never pay for the device itself. Switch carriers or downgrade early, and the remaining balance becomes due right away.

Our favorite free phone deal at T-Mobile Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free with a new line and port-in on an Experience Beyond plan — no trade-in required. Up to 36 monthly bill credits cover the full cost, plus tax and a $35 device connection charge apply at signup. Get Deal Why we like it

What makes the iPhone 17 Pro deal stand out is how many paths there are to finding real value:

• New line + port-in on Experience Beyond: Free, no trade-in needed, no strings beyond the plan itself

• New line + port-in on Experience Beyond w/ 55+, Military, or First Responder Savings: Up to $900 off, no trade-in needed — built for people already on a discounted plan tier

• New line + port-in on Experience More or Experience Beyond: Up to $830 off, no trade-in needed — the pick if you're not on a savings plan but still want a big chunk covered

• New line + port-in on Experience Beyond or Experience More w/ 55+, Military, First Responder, or Student Perks Savings: Up to $630 off, no trade-in needed

• Switching carriers with a port-in and new line on Experience Beyond: An extra $100 back via prepaid Mastercard (allow eight weeks after submission), stackable on top of your device discount

Bottom line: whatever your current T-Mobile setup looks like, there's almost certainly a version of this deal that gets you to $0 or close enough.

It's rare to see this many flagship phones from so many different brands — Apple, Samsung, Google, and Motorola — all free on the same carrier at the same time. If any of these phones have been on your radar, this is about as good a moment as you're likely to get to make the jump for free.

Picking up new skills can be tricky, and the Linux command line is so powerful, there’s always something more to learn. Fortunately, you can have a bit of fun while you do it.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is on sale for $43.80 at Amazon, down from its list price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite/The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle $43.80 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $16.19   Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG deals keep on coming at Amazon, which means you can keep bolstering that collection at knockdown prices. One deal that's caught our eye is on the Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle, which is available at Amazon for a little over the market price, according to TCGPlayer.

As of Aug. 25, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is on sale for $43.80 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount, saving you $16.19 in total. And you’ll get free delivery as soon as Aug. 30 at the time of writing.

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With six booster packs in each box, this is a super deal — 60 cards and a price of just $7.30 per booster pack. That's a great offer for anyone looking to add to their collection with up-to-date expansion cards. Featured cards from the Chaos Rising expansion include Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dregalge ex.

Don't miss your chance to save over $16 on the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle — available at Amazon now for just $43.80.

Scientists have transformed PET plastic into nutritious edible cookies, an innovation that could help address both pollution and hunger in one fell swoop. That is, if people can accept the idea of eating it.

Dubbed "µBites" (pronounced "microbites"), the cookies are made using yeasts that have been programmed to turn plastic into edible protein. Sandhya Jayasekara, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate research assistant, presented the project during the American Chemical Society's Fall 2026 meeting on Monday.

SEE ALSO: Yes, alternative meat can help stop climate change. Here's why.

Commonly used to make disposable water bottles, PET plastic has low impurities, and is composed of approximately 60 percent carbon, 30 percent oxygen, and four percent hydrogen. Meanwhile, protein is formed from amino acids, which consist of a central carbon atom bonded to four other groups.

"We were trying to develop technologies for plastic upcycling to make more valuable products," associate professor Lahiru Jayakody said in a statement. "We thought, why not focus on making food? Because plastic is carbon and food is carbon."

To transform PET plastic into food, researchers went through a 32-step process which included using microorganisms to convert molecules into proteins, vitamins, and even flavourings. Microbes such as fungi and bacteria are already commonly used in the food industry, such as in fermentation, as well as to make molecules like insulin. Specific strains of bacteria have also been found to be capable of breaking down PET plastic. However, breaking down plastic then reforming it into something edible is newer territory. 

“Global food demand is expected to rise 35 to 56 percent by the year 2050, and about 30 percent of the world population will be at risk of hunger in the future," said Jayakody. "The way to address that, I believe, is by using microbes."

How do you make a cookie out of plastic?

Starting with PET plastic and agricultural waste such as corn stalks, the scientists first put the material through an environmentally friendly process called oxidative hydrothermal dissolution. Also developed at Southern Illinois University, this subjects biomass to small amounts of oxygen in water at high pressure and temperature. Doing so breaks down the solid biomass into water-soluble fragments that are a low molecular weight, making them easier for microorganisms to handle.

Once complete, the resulting carbon-rich liquid was fed to several strains of pre-programmed yeasts, which used metabolic processes to turn them into food components such as proteins, fats, and acids. The researchers also developed yeasts that create components which improve the µBites' nutritional value and taste, or even alter its colour. This includes one that uses plant biomass to make vanillin molecules, imparting the cookies with a vanilla smell and flavour, and another that produces beta-carotene to give them a golden colour as well as vitamin A.

The researchers then added fibre, starch, and sweeteners to the thick biomass, put the whole mix in a 3D printer, and printed themselves out some protein-rich µBites cookies. Pop them in a microwave to cook, and bon appétit.

Featured Video For You These foods can help save the planet, if we overcome some prejudice Can you try a plastic cookie yet?

Well, bon appétit in theory. Exactly what the µBites taste like is still unknown. The researchers have yet to sample the cookies themselves, showing remarkable self-restraint as they wait for approval to conduct taste tests (meaning the official go-ahead to test on humans). However, the µBites have reportedly "received high marks on aroma," with most of the team indicating they'd be willing to try out this particular culinary experience in situations where food is scarce.

Further development is underway to make the cookies into a "more attractive, consumer-friendly product" according to Jayasekara, with the intention that they eventually become more than a last resort food option. Even so, it will likely be a while before you see µBites on supermarket shelves. Jayakody hopes the cookies might be ready for public consumption within a few years, and could assist with feeding astronauts, submariners, and others in extreme circumstances.

If µBites are cleared for public consumption, there's also the psychological barrier that potential diners will have to overcome. Though research indicates that the cookies are safe to eat, convincing people of this will likely be difficult considering the well-known dangers of ingesting plastic. The µBites may not be plastic anymore, but their origins will certainly spark some apprehension.

The Southern Illinois University Carbondale team originally developed the µBites technology for the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge. Running from 2021-24, this competition incentivised novel innovations that could help address food needs during space travel as well as in harsh environments on Earth. µBites won a small grant as a Phase 1 winner, before receiving further funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER).