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How to watch Marquette vs. Colorado basketball without cable
The Marquette and Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday, March 24. The game is scheduled to start at 11:10 a.m. CT/10:10 a.m. MT.
No. 2 seed Marquette enters the matchup 25-9 overall. Most recently, Marquette defeated Western Kentucky 87-69 on Friday in the tournament’s first round. Kameron Jones scored 28 points to lead Marquette in the win.
No. 10-seeded Colorado comes into the contest 26-10 overall. On Friday, the CU Buffs beat Florida 102-100 in the opening round of the tournament. KJ Simpson led Colorado with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists.
SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracketShaka Smart is the Marquette men’s basketball head coach. Tad Boyle is the Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball head coach.
Marquette vs. CU Buffs basketball game time and networkThe Marquette vs. Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 11:10 a.m. CT/10:10 a.m. MT on Sunday, March 24. CBS broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Kevin Harland (play-by-play), Dan Bonner (analyst), Stan Van Gundy (analyst), and Andy Katz (reporter).
Whatever team wins this game advances to the Sweet 16 in Dallas on Friday, March 29.
If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms such as Paramount+ and FuboTV offer alternatives for enjoying the game.
Best streaming services for the Colorado vs. Marquette basketball gameSo you’re eager to witness the Colorado Buffaloes vs. Marquette men’s basketball game. Here are your best streaming options.
Most affordable: Paramount+ Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get DealIf you want to watch the CU Buffs vs. Marquette men’s basketball game via CBS, Paramount+ offers a solution.
New subscribers to Paramount+ get a seven-day free trial. Then for the Paramount+ plan that includes live streaming CBS, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, which is $11.99/month. If you choose the annual plan, it is $119.99 for a year, saving about $1.99/month.
For students, Paramount+ will give you a 25% discount.
Most channels: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan $59.99$79.99 Save $20.00 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for first month Get Deal
With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with the ability to simultaneously stream on 10 devices. College sports fans who want access to CBS for matchups such as the Marquette vs. Colorado men’s basketball game will want the FuboTV Pro tier, which is $59.99 for the first month and then has a rate of $79.99 per month.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.
How to watch Alabama vs. Grand Canyon basketball without cable
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Grand Canyon men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington, on Sunday, March 24. The game is scheduled to start at 6:10 p.m. CT/5:10 p.m. MT.
No. 4 seed Alabama enters the matchup 22-11 overall. Most recently, Alabama beat the College of Charleston 109-96 on Friday in the tournament’s first round. Mark Sears led Alabama with 30 points and five assists in the win.
No. 12-seeded Grand Canyon enters the contest 29-4 overall. On Friday, GCU defeated No. 5 seed St. Mary’s 75-66 in the opening round of the tournament. Tyon Grant-Foster led Grand Canyon with 22 points and seven rebounds in the victory.
SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracketNate Oats is the Alabama men’s basketball head coach. Bryce Drew is the Grand Canyon men’s basketball head coach.
Alabama vs. Grand Canyon basketball game time, networkThe Alabama vs. Grand Canyon men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TBS at 6:10 p.m. CT/5:10 p.m. MT on Sunday, March 24. TBS broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Robbie Hummel (analyst), and Lauren Shehadi (reporter).
Whatever team wins this game advances to play on Thursday, March 28 in Los Angeles.
If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming services like Sling TV and Max blend high-quality broadcasting with the flexibility of internet streaming.
Best streaming services for the GCU vs. Alabama basketball gameSeveral streaming services offer ways to watch the Grand Canyon vs. Alabama men’s basketball game. Each one is ready to bring the court to your couch. Here are your options.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal
If you want to watch the Alabama vs. Grand Canyon game on TBS via Sling TV, you’ll need either the Orange Plan or the Blue Plan. Both the Orange and Blue plans start at $15 for the first month and then increase to $40 per month subsequently, and they both also come with 50 hours of free DVR storage.
TBS is one of 26 channels included on both the Orange and Blue plans. There are six channels exclusive to the Orange Plan, including ESPN and ESPN2. There are 14 channels exclusive to the Blue Plan, and those include FS1, NFL Network, and TruTV. Another difference between the Orange and Blue plans is that you can only stream on one device with the Orange Plan, and the Blue Plan allows streaming on three devices at once.
In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TNT, and TruTV.
Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With AdsWatch Now
This March, Max is making its grand entrance into men’s college basketball streaming. With three distinct streaming tiers, Max adds the B/R Sports Add-On to each package for free. The B/R Sports Add-On gives you access to live sports on TBS, TNT and TruTV.
The cheapest package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99.
The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99.
Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99.
How to watch San Diego State vs. Yale basketball without cable
The San Diego State Aztecs and Yale men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington, on Sunday, March 24. The game is scheduled to start at 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT.
No. 5 seed San Diego State enters the matchup 25-10 overall. Most recently, SDSU beat UAB 69-65 on Friday in the tournament’s first round. Jaedon LeDee led San Diego State with 32 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
No. 13-seeded Yale comes into the contest 23-9 overall. On Friday, Yale defeated Auburn 78-76 in the opening round of the tournament. John Poulakidas led Yale with 28 points in the win.
SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracketBrian Dutcher is the San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball head coach. James Jones is the Yale men’s basketball head coach.
San Diego State vs. Yale basketball game time and networkThe San Diego State Aztecs vs. Yale men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TBS at 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 24. TBS broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Robbie Hummel (analyst), and Lauren Shehadi (reporter).
Whatever team wins this game advances to play on Thursday, March 28 in Boston.
If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms like Sling TV and Max offer a viewing experience that caters to the demand for convenience and quality in sports broadcasting.
Best streaming services for the Yale vs. SDSU basketball gameSo you’re eager to witness the Yale vs. San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball game, here are your best streaming options.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal
If you want to watch just the SDSU Aztecs vs. Yale game on TBS via Sling TV, you’ll need either the Orange Plan or the Blue Plan. Both the Orange and Blue plans start at $15 for the first month and then increase to $40 per month subsequently, and they both also come with 50 hours of free DVR storage.
TBS is one of 26 channels included on both the Orange and Blue plans. There are six channels exclusive to the Orange Plan, including ESPN and ESPN2. There are 14 channels exclusive to the Blue Plan, and those include FS1, NFL Network, and TruTV. Another difference between the Orange and Blue plans is that you can only stream on one device with the Orange Plan, and the Blue Plan allows streaming on three devices at once.
In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TNT, and TruTV.
Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With AdsWatch Now
Max offers you a tiered approach to subscription services, each level includes the B/R Sports Add-On at no additional cost. College basketball fans can access comprehensive coverage, mirroring the depth and intensity of the tournament itself. The B/R Sports Add-On gives you access to live sports on TBS, TNT and TruTV.
There are three Max tiers. The cheapest package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99.
The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99.
Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99.
How to watch Houston vs. Texas A&M basketball without cable
The Houston Cougars and Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at FedEx Forum in Memphis on Sunday, March 24. The game is scheduled to start at 8:40 p.m. ET/7:40 p.m. CT.
The No. 9-seeded Texas A&M Aggies enter the contest 21-14 overall. Most recently, the TAMU Aggies beat Nebraska 98-83 on Friday in the tournament’s first round. Wade Taylor IV led Texas A&M with 25 points and five assists.
No. 1 seed Houston comes into the matchup 31-4 overall. On Friday, Houston defeated Longwood 86-46 in the opening round of the tournament. LJ Cryer and Damian Dunn each scored 17 points to lead the Houston Cougars to victory.
SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracketBuzz Williams is the Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball head coach. Kelvin Sampson is the University of Houston Cougars men’s basketball head coach.
UH Cougars vs. Texas A&M basketball game time, networkThe University of Houston Cougars vs. Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TNT at 8:40 p.m. ET/7:40 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 24. TNT broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), and Jon Rothstein (analyst).
Whatever team wins this game advances to play on Friday, March 29 in Dallas.
If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms like Sling TV and Max offer fans flexibility and accessibility that aligns with modern sports viewership.
Best streaming services for the Texas A&M vs. Houston basketball gameIf you've cut the cord, fear not because Sunday’s clash between the Texas A&M Aggies and Houston Cougars men’s basketball teams isn't out of your reach. There are several streaming platforms ready to give you access to the game. Here are your top options.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal
If you want to watch just the UH Cougars vs. TAMU Aggies game on TNT via Sling TV, you’ll need either the Orange Plan or the Blue Plan. Both the Orange and Blue plans start at $15 for the first month and then increase to $40 per month subsequently, and they both also come with 50 hours of free DVR storage.
TNT is one of 26 channels included on both the Orange and Blue plans. There are six channels exclusive to the Orange Plan, including ESPN and ESPN2. There are 14 channels exclusive to the Blue Plan, and those include FS1, NFL Network, and TruTV. Another difference between the Orange and Blue plans is that you can only stream on one device with the Orange Plan, and the Blue Plan allows streaming on three devices at once.
In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TBS, and TruTV.
Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With AdsWatch Now
This March, Max is making its grand entrance into men’s college basketball streaming. With three distinct streaming tiers, Max adds the B/R Sports Add-On to each package for free. The B/R Sports Add-On gives you access to live sports on TBS, TNT and TruTV.
The cheapest package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99.
The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99.
Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99.
How to watch Baylor vs. Clemson basketball without cable
The Baylor and Clemson men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at FedEx Forum in Memphis on Sunday, March 24. The game is scheduled to start at 6:10 p.m. ET/5:10 p.m. CT.
No. 3 seed Baylor enters the matchup 24-10 overall. Most recently, Baylor defeated Colgate 92-67 on Friday in the first round of the tournament. Jalen Bridges led Baylor with 23 points and five rebounds vs. Colgate.
No. 6-seeded Clemson comes into the contest 22-11 overall. On Friday, Clemson beat New Mexico 77-56 in the tournament’s opening round. Chase Hunter scored 21 points with six assists to lead Clemson to the win.
SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracketScott Drew is the Baylor men’s basketball head coach. Brad Brownell is the Clemson men’s basketball head coach.
Baylor vs. Clemson basketball game time and networkThe Baylor vs. Clemson men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TNT at 6:10 p.m. ET/5:10 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 24. TNT broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), and Jon Rothstein (analyst).
Whatever team wins this game advances to play on Thursday, March 28 in Los Angeles.
In the evolving world of sports broadcasting, the emergence of live-streaming platforms like Sling TV and Max represents a new option from traditional TV subscriptions that meets the expectations of the modern fan.
Best streaming services for the Clemson vs. Baylor basketball gameAs Clemson takes on the Baylor men’s basketball team, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have cable. Explore the best options to catch every moment of this electrifying showdown via streaming.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal
If you want to watch just the Baylor vs. Clemson game on TNT via Sling TV, you’ll need either the Orange Plan or the Blue Plan. Both the Orange and Blue plans start at $15 for the first month and then increase to $40 per month subsequently, and they both also come with 50 hours of free DVR storage.
TNT is one of 26 channels included on both the Orange and Blue plans. There are six channels exclusive to the Orange Plan, including ESPN and ESPN2. There are 14 channels exclusive to the Blue Plan, and those include FS1, NFL Network, and TruTV. Another difference between the Orange and Blue plans is that you can only stream on one device with the Orange Plan, and the Blue Plan allows streaming on three devices at once.
In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TBS, and TruTV.
Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With AdsWatch Now
Max offers you a tiered approach to subscription services, each level includes the B/R Sports Add-On at no additional cost. College basketball fans can access comprehensive coverage, mirroring the depth and intensity of the tournament itself. The B/R Sports Add-On gives you access to live sports on TBS, TNT and TruTV.
There are three Max tiers. The cheapest package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99.
The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99.
Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99.
How to watch UConn vs. Northwestern basketball without cable
The UConn and Northwestern men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Sunday, March 24. The game time is scheduled to be 7:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. CT.
No. 9-seeded Northwestern comes into the contest 22-11 overall. Most recently, Northwestern beat Florida Atlantic 77-65 in overtime on Friday in the first round of the tournament. Ryan Langborg led Northwestern with 27 points and four rebounds vs. FAU.
No. 1 seed UConn enters the matchup 32-3 overall. On Friday, UConn defeated Stetson 91-52 in the tournament’s opening round. Donovan Clingan led UConn with 19 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracketDan Hurley is the UConn men’s basketball head coach. Chris Collins is the Northwestern men’s basketball head coach.
UConn vs. Northwestern basketball game time, networkThe UConn vs. Northwestern men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TruTV at 7:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 24. TruTV broadcasters are scheduled to be Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), and Tracy Wolfson (reporter).
Whatever team wins advances to play on Thursday, March 28 in Boston.
Cable and satellite TV are no longer necessary for enjoying live sports. Consider live streaming options to watch Sunday’s game via services like Sling TV and Max.
Best streaming services for the Northwestern vs. UConn basketball gameWatching college basketball requires a streaming service if you don’t have cable or satellite TV. For the Northwestern vs. UConn men’s basketball game on Sunday, here are your top streaming options.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal
If you’re looking to watch TruTV then Sling TV’s Blue Plan could be your ticket. With a special $15 rate for the first month before rising to $40/month, this plan includes 40 channels, 50 hours of free DVR storage, and the ability to stream on three different devices simultaneously.
In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TBS, and TNT.
Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With AdsWatch Now
Max is getting into March's men’s college basketball with the inclusion of the B/R Sports Add-On. You can see every jump shot, block, and upset across TruTV, TBS and TNT with no extra fees attached.
There are three tiers, and the most inexpensive package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99.
The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99.
Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99.
Users get a taste of Google's AI search results, unprompted
More Google users might be getting an unprompted taste of Google's AI-assisted Search capabilities, with the company quietly expanding its Search Generative Experience (SGE) to non-test users.
SGE appears as a colorfully-hued text pop-up directly under Google's Search bar, currently denoted by a generative AI warning at the top. The SGE results are queued up by the content of the question itself, not the user's request, offering what is essentially a summary of Google's results as well as simplified answers. In a basic sense, it turns the Google Search bar into a prompt form for a Google-trawling chatbot.
Months after its announcement, versions of the feature will be appearing for select Googlers without the need for a user's opt-in, and will only pop-up for a "subset of queries, on a small percentage of search traffic in the US," according to Search Engine Land.
It's a test for what Google's future could hold.
SEE ALSO: Vulnerability found in Apple's Silicon M-series chips – and it can't be patchedThe company told Search Engine Land that the AI-assisted results are testing the AI's responses to "more complex" queries or "questions where it may be helpful to get information from a range of web pages." Examples provided include "How do I get marks off painted walls?"
The company's been on a Search revamp over the last year, including other AI-powered offerings, new Chrome features, and a pledge to remove "low quality" spam content from results pages.
Google announced its foray into AI-powered Search in May 2023, describing it as an "AI-powered snapshot of key information to consider, with links to dig deeper." Mashable tests of the then Google Labs-only feature showed mixed results, with reporter Cecily Mauran writing that the tool complicates Google's results pages, competes with existing helpful features, and that "the experience of getting an AI result in this way is a little off-putting when you aren't expecting it."
As the tech giant explained, new tests specifically want to get that feedback directly from searchers who have not opted into SGE, a crowdsourcing effort determined to see if less AI-enthused users actually find the technology helpful.
NASA finds doomed asteroid that exploded in Mars atmosphere
Mars is a desolate, irradiated, lifeless, windswept land. But it's also the site of dramatic activity, as space rocks pummel the Martian surface.
Asteroids or chunks of comets often scar Mars' desert, in part because the Red Planet orbits near our solar system's asteroid belt, a region teeming with millions of asteroids. And when they do collide with Mars, the Martian atmosphere is just one percent the density of Earth's, meaning these space rocks are less likely to heat up and disintegrate.
Yet NASA recently found evidence of an object that did indeed break apart in the Martian atmosphere after heating up — it fragmented but didn't fully disintegrate. The agency's spacecraft in orbit, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, spotted a new cluster of impacts next to a larger crater.
"As the impactor was falling towards Mars, the friction with the atmosphere led to the body fragmenting into smaller pieces shortly before striking the surface creating this notable pattern," Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry, a planetary scientist and member of the spacecraft's camera team, wrote online. The blog is amusingly titled "Mars Atmosphere Fights Back!"
SEE ALSO: NASA rover finds damaged helicopter in the middle of Mars desertThe image below was snapped by the spacecraft's high-resolution camera (called HiRISE, or High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment), which from hundreds of miles above Mars can see things as little as a kitchen table.
This Martian view, taken from about 165 miles (265 kilometers) above, is about 0.6 miles, or 1 km, across. The larger impact is on bottom left; the main scattering of smaller impacts is just to the right.
A scattering of impact sites recently captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UArizona Tweet may have been deletedUnlike Earth, Mars doesn't hide its impact strikes. Earth is a world with intense geologic activity, shifting tectonic plates, and erupting volcanoes that can cover up or wash away impact sites. Mars isn't nearly geologically dead — marsquakes frequently occur there — but it's not nearly as active as Earth.
Although the new impacts shown above are relatively small, Mars is blanketed in sizable craters. NASA estimates there are over a quarter-million impact craters about the size of Arizona's famous Barringer Crater, which is some 4,000 feet across. And there are over 43,000 Martian craters larger than three miles wide.
Mars, however, wasn't always a dry, crater-blanketed desert with a thin atmosphere. The Red Planet once teemed with water, and vigorous rivers once fed expansive lakes. Planetary scientists suspect these watery places could have potentially harbored primitive Martian life — though no such evidence has yet been found.
The amazing total solar eclipse is incredible luck. Here's why.
During a total solar eclipse, the moon lines up in front of the sun so perfectly, it would put most posts from Reddit's r/perfectfit community to shame.
The perfection of the alignment is a big part of an eclipse's beauty. But why is it so perfect?
Instant noodles and sistema bowlbyu/Snyppy inPerfectfit Why do the sun and moon line up so perfectly?
This won't take long to explain because there's a simple answer: they have almost the exact same angular diameter — a measure in cosmology for determining the size of objects in the sky. If you're into math, you can calculate angular diameter using a mathematical formula similar to the one used in geometry for calculating circular chord length.
You can also estimate angular diameter by stretching your arm all the way out in front of you and holding up one finger. The sun (to be measured only when you're wearing your eclipse glasses) has an angular diameter of approximately half of your fingertip, meaning 0.5 degrees. The moon's angular diameter varies a little more than the sun's but it's still always approximately half a fingertip, or 0.5 degrees — same as the sun.
SEE ALSO: What's the 'best' place to see the solar eclipse? Experts explain.There's yet another, possibly simpler way of describing this, University of Arizona astronomer Chris Impey told Mashable. "The gist of the coincidence is that the sun is 400 times larger than the moon, and 400 times further away," Impey said.
The path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA Science Visualization Studio Is there a non-scientific explanation for the eclipse coincidence?The technical answer is the only answer. There is no reason or deeper significance. It's a coincidence. It's a very fortuitous coincidence since the sight of total solar eclipses can be life-altering, and such eclipses have been necessary for some of the most important discoveries in history — such as the famous 1919 Eddington experiment that validated Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. But they're nonetheless just coincidences, and from an astronomical bean-counter's standpoint there's not much else to say about them.
But that doesn't mean there's nothing more to say about the insane good luck that allows us to witness them.
"We can certainly say that in the solar system, it's unique and there's nothing even close to it," Impey said. For instance, Mars' potato-shaped moon Phobos produces rather clumsy solar eclipses, including in 2024, and NASA's Perseverance rover photographed it. The site of a lumpy, oblong shadow transforming the sun temporarily into a Muppet's eye is undeniably cool, but Earth's eclipses are elite by comparison.
Venus "eclipsing" the sun, but really just transiting it. Credit: SDO / NASA "We can certainly say that in the solar system, it's unique and there's nothing even close to it."Other objects, like satellites and planes, pass in front of the sun all the time. For that matter, if you want to be annoying about it, you can create a one-person "eclipse" any time you want by putting on a hat. But very rarely are we Earthlings lucky enough to see heavenly bodies other than the moon eclipse the sun. It does happen, however, like when Venus and Mercury transit the sun, a breathtaking and rare event in which a planet is briefly visible as a tiny dot silhouetted against our star. But transits only serve to underscore the mind-blowing harmony of the sun and moon's convergence during eclipse totality.
Are there total eclipses elsewhere in the universe?"Probably somewhere out there, there are eclipses," said Impey. "Planet-planet eclipses? Probably. A planet-moon eclipse like ours could happen too, but we have zero information to go on there," he continued. The odds of a planet having a sun and moon with the same basic shape and the same angular diameter visible from a solid viewing surface isn't something that can easily be calculated — there are just too many moving parts involved, and astronomers have not yet definitively discovered any exomoons, so we have to rely on the measurements within our own solar system — a very tiny dataset.
But there are ways of illustrating the coincidence that don't require us to quantify how rare it is.
"Probably somewhere out there, there are eclipses."The diameter of the sun is about 865,370 miles, compared to the moon's 2,159.1 miles. That's a big differential: the number of miles three very dependable cars will drive before they stop working entirely, versus the number of miles someone can drive in three days.
An amateur astronomer posting on the Nasaspaceflight.com web forum once crunched the numbers and analogized the sizes of the sun and moon to a yoga ball and a lentil. Now picture a grape called "Earth" floating in space. From the surface of this grape, looking out into the void, there'll come a time when the aforementioned galactic yoga ball will be perfectly covered up by this one single solitary space lentil.
And that's more or less what happens during every total solar eclipse.
Does the eclipse coincidence unlock a larger secret about what makes Earth unique?Short answer: probably not.
Earth is overflowing with rare phenomena compared to other planets. It's pretty wild, after all, that Earth happens to have a pleasant amount of gravity, a livable climate, liquid water, a magnetic field to protect us from solar radiation, and all the other things that make life possible. But that's not a coincidence. It's just an observation of the necessary conditions for life, from the standpoint of an alive being, currently here to enjoy them.
So are the sun and moon's angular diameters another one of these precursors to a livable planet? We do, after all, need our sun at right about its current orbital distance, or we likely wouldn't have the temperatures we need to survive, but in some other reality, a cooler, closer sun, or a hotter, more distant sun could probably provide the conditions we need. That's why astronomers looking for exoplanets beyond our solar system in the "Goldilocks Zone" of habitability are often attracted to planets that orbit much closer to their stars than we do ours.
And as for the moon, while it's true that its tidal effects are crucial to the lives of, say, mollusks, and the moon's light is pretty important for, um, dung beetles (yes, really), it's doubtful the moon's mere existence in our orbit — let alone its angular diameter — is a necessary precursor for life on Earth. Granted, an entirely moonless Earth is a drastically different counterfactual world, and to suppose that humans might not have evolved in such a reality is far from an outlandish hypothesis. But even if we grant that a moon is necessary for all life, habitability almost certainly has nothing to do with our moon's specific angular diameter.
A total solar eclipse viewed in 2017. Credit: NASA / GopalswamyIn fact, while there is at least one such hypothesis out there about the moon being crucial to the original formation of DNA from Scottish molecular biologist Richard Lathe, this moon-centric Genesis story relies on conditions that are no longer present on Earth anyway. Impey cautions that moon-centric explanations of life "are not compelling arguments," but they are illustrative, and are worth dwelling on briefly, so please stay with me.
As all mollusks know, the moon's gravity "pulls up" on bodies of water here on Earth, creating our tides. Lathe theorizes that the DNA molecules that eventually evolved into us humans originally formed in the violent churning of turbulent seas in which the tides were constantly in dramatic, hour-by-hour flux. That's because the moon was much closer to Earth back in those primordial days, and its gravity would have routinely created vertigo-inducing tsunami-like tides as it orbited. In fact, the moon at one time would have been a vast disc that dominated the sky like one of the UFOs from the movie Independence Day. That means a total solar eclipse back then would have lasted hours and hours, and would have looked like an enormous moon utterly engulfing the puny sun.
Not just a coincidence of geometry, but also of timeRegardless of whether or not we technically "need" the moon, the fact that the moon's presence in our sky was once gargantuan leads us to the melancholy fact that the current state of these celestial objects — as with the states of all celestial objects — is transitory. The moon's angular diameter was once immense because it was closer to us. It was, and still is, moving away from us at a rate of about an inch per year. Its angular diameter will shrink down further and further, and it'll become smaller and smaller in the sky.
In other words, the astonishing aesthetic unity of a total solar eclipse on Earth isn't just a cosmic coincidence; it's a temporary cosmic coincidence, and you happen to be around to witness and comprehend its unlikelihood — to the extent that anyone can comprehend such a thing.
If the Lathe hypothesis is right, and an enormous lunar disc in the sky was necessary for the start of life on Earth, perhaps the moon at approximately its current size in the sky is a necessary precondition for such a stable ecosystem that we can develop agriculture, math, and eventually the astronomical know-how required to grasp the sheer immensity of our good fortune when we see an eclipse.
There's a total solar eclipse somewhere on Earth every year or two, but seeing one is tricky — you have to anticipate the event, and possibly travel to a locale inside the narrow path of totality. As Impey explains, this only underscores the historical coincidence that makes eclipse-viewing a potential hobby. "Until the modern age of travel, an average person would be unlikely to ever see an eclipse in their lifetime in the place they live, or a place they could get to easily," he said.
"Until the modern age of travel, an average person would be unlikely to ever see an eclipse in their lifetime in the place they live, or a place they could get to easily."In a 1980 Rolling Stone interview, the legendary astronomer Carl Sagan brushed off the idea that humanity can ever fully understand the cosmos. "We are bathing in mystery and confusion on many subjects, and I think that will always be our destiny," Sagan said, and added that our universe, "will always be much richer than our ability to understand it."
Perfectly straddling the line between the richness of our universe and our ability to understand it is the phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. Since humans are the only known arbiters of beauty, a solar eclipse right here on Earth might be the most beautiful cosmic coincidence that can — or will — ever be observed anywhere, at any time, in the entire universe. Can scientists explain and quantify the phenomena that give rise to this coincidence? Absolutely. Can they tell you how beautiful that coincidence is and how lucky you are to be here for it? Nope.
You just have to witness that for yourself.
'A Nice Indian Boy' review: East-meets-West with a twist in an instant rom-com classic
An incisive expression of family and culture that neither apologizes nor over-explains itself, Roshan Sethi's A Nice Indian Boy is a riotous, moving queer romantic comedy with a wildly unique premise. While it resembles many modern third-culture stories — specifically, tales of disconnect between first-generation South Asians in the West and their immigrant parents — it widens its scope in surprising ways that reflect and refract both personal and cinematic identity.
Taking inspiration from a romantic Bollywood classic, the film follows a gay Indian American doctor whose parents are nominally accepting, but who want him to find "a nice Indian boy." Long story short: He does! The immediate wrinkle, however, is that this nice Indian boy is none other than Jonathan Groff — yes, Hamilton's original King George — playing a white man raised by Indian parents.
On one hand, A Nice Indian Boy is the tale of a typical Indian American family, with typical Indian American problems — a generational disconnect, gendered double standards, and a culture of awkward silence around sexuality — but on the other hand, its evolution into grand romantic saga is anything but typical. It's also a story of cross-cultural adoption that dovetails into not only a hilariously awkward meet-the-parents comedy, but also a film about freeing oneself from emotional and generational baggage, in a way that yields tears of joy and laughter.
What is A Nice Indian Boy about?Dr. Naveen Gavaskar (Deadpool's Karan Soni) is the kind of realistic queer protagonist seldom seen in Hollywood: an introverted gay man who'd rather be at home than at the club — or in the case of the movie's opening scene, at his sister's colorful wedding reception. As the guests dance to thumping tunes, and the camera tilts and spins to capture them, Naveen sits still, fending off over-enthusiastic family members whose words of marital encouragement sound more like a dire warning: "You're next!"
What Naveen's nosy aunties and uncles don't know, and what his parents begrudgingly accept, is that his wedding won't quite look like a Hindi movie, since he happens to be into guys.
Six years go by — notably, the amount of time between Sethi coming out and the film's premiere — and Naveen's life away from his parents is somewhat content, even though it involves lonely nights of leaving exes and crushes some uncomfortably awkward voice messages. He has absolutely no game, despite the efforts of his outgoing gay colleague Paul (Peter S. Kim) to bring him out of his shell. But the gods eventually smile on him when he comes across an attractive white photographer, Jay Kurundkar (Groff), at his local mandir (or temple) while praying to a statue of Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom and good luck.
Two things immediately stand out about Jay: his tranquil charm, and his authentic pronunciation of "Ganesh" — with an extended "e" as in "lace," rather than the protracted "e" of words like "less," to which most Westerners default. Naveen is immediately flustered by Jay's confident stares, but agrees to accompany him on a date to his favorite movie, which, to the good doctor's surprise, turns out to be Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (or DDLJ), the iconic 1995 Bollywood romance about two star-crossed Indian Londoners, whose musical centerpiece features superstar Shah Rukh Khan serenading actress Kajol in a field of yellow mustard flowers.
SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'The Romantics': A nostalgic and impassioned tribute to Hindi cinemaBut instead of being bowled over by this gesture, Naveen finds himself unable to fully embrace the film or Jay's off-key crooning of its famous track, "Tujhe Dekha To" (yes, Groff sings it himself, with barely a syllable out of place). Sincerity and vulnerability remain obstacles to Naveen, even after he and Jay start dating. This proves mildly problematic when meeting each other's friends, but it's downright disastrous when the question of Jay meeting Naveen's parents arises, given how little he's told them about his white, freelance photographer boyfriend who vapes and waxes poetic about Hindi cinema.
The results are as side-splitting as they are disheartening, because the one lesson A Nice Indian Boy takes from DDLJ is that Indian romantic films are family dramas too. However, what initially seems hopeless ends up an exciting challenge, because Jay has also internalized this lesson. And, like Shah Rukh Khan's brash Raj Malhotra, he'll stop at nothing to win over the parents of the person he loves.
A Nice Indian Boy is also a family drama.The film, written by Eric Randall, is based on the play by Madhuri Shekar, and it has the structure of a five-act play, with each section broken up by significant time jumps. This ends up serving a dual purpose. On one hand, this shifts the typical feel-good rom-com climax to the middle of the story, away from its usual place in most three-act Hollywood screenplays, where it serves as a resolution. In the process, A Nice Indian Boy allows for the realities of long-term romance and wedding planning to creep in through the corners of the frame, beyond the broad declarations of love.
On the other hand, it also allows each member of Naveen's family to have their own dedicated section of the movie, during which they become a primary character. Like Naveen, his sister Arundhathi (Sunita Mani) harbors a grudge against their parents for the choices she did and didn't have while growing up, including in matters of love, and she sees their increased leeway with Naveen as a matter of grave injustice. Meanwhile, their outspoken mother Megha (Zarna Garg) tries to smooth things over with both children, but since she's just as hot-headed as her daughter, it's easier said than done. In terms of temperament, Naveen takes after his father Archit (Harish Patel), though his silent acceptance of Naveen's sexuality — while avoiding eye contact at all cost — hurts more than outright disapproval. Like his son, Archit has a problem with expressing himself honestly.
However, Megha and Archit's genuine attempts to bridge the gap between themselves and Naveen also leads to some uproarious overcompensation, between the topics they bring up in Jay's presence without any filter whatsoever, to their sincere attempts to educate themselves by binging raunchy reality shows on OutTV and bringing them up in conversation. It's incredibly funny and incredibly sweet, but none of these superficial gestures — no matter how well-meaning — are a substitute for the real emotional work the Gavaskar family needs.
The film doesn't let Naveen off the hook either, whether it comes to his avoidance of intimacy or the walls he keeps up between him and his family members. Those walls only start to come down after some rigorous and difficult dramatic moments, which Sethi directs with incredible command.
A Nice Indian Boy is brilliantly directed.The film's premise resembles a number of third-culture films and shows featuring South Asians in the West, like The Big Sick, Ms. Marvel, and Blinded by the Light. These stories of artistically driven first-gen kids and their immigrant parents who "just don't understand" have settled into a rote rhythm in recent years. A fellow SXSW selection, the lukewarm The Queen of My Dreams, is a key example: a similarly Bollywood-inspired tale of a queer Pakistani Canadian who nominally reconciles with her conservative mother. It's rarely a good sign when you can map out the beats of a story based on its cultural premise, but A Nice Indian Boy finds numerous visual and thematic ways to buck that trend.
SEE ALSO: Bollywood's dad, Anupam Kher, on the unique warmth of 'The Big Sick'It stands out, first and foremost, through its bustling visual energy, which not only captures the chaos and excitement constantly unfolding around Naveen — at weddings, family meetings, or parties hosted by Jay's outgoing friends — but also serves to magnify his glum stillness as the camera pushes in and pulls out prominently during both comedy beats and charged emotional moments. The film's comedy and drama stem from the same place: the tension of expectations, whether it involves Naveen wrestling with his prescribed role as an Indian man in the West; the implications of his queerness, according to his parents; or how Jay will fit into the Gavaskars' family dynamic.
What Jay yearns for, as a perpetual outsider who found love in an Indian household once before, is just as vital to the movie as Naveen's search for emotional authenticity. And when the film begins drawing more overtly from Bollywood iconography, it weaves together its grandiose romance from both their perspectives. To Jay, Hindi cinema is the ultimate expression of love and acceptance. To Naveen, it's a cheesy façade. The truth, it turns out, may lie somewhere in between, with Sethi presenting the story's key turning points as stylistic handshakes between formal grandeur and naturalistic, self-aware comedy, without compromising either character’s point of view. The movie's sweeping declarations are as bold and unapologetic as they are goofy and silly, so they end up running the emotional gamut.
Rarely has a rom-com been this simultaneously hysterical and touching, though despite its boisterous tone, its biggest strength may very well be its silent moments. The father-son pairing of Naveen and Archit tend to find solace in silence, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon. So, in order to draw them out of their comfort zones, A Nice Indian Boy becomes a film about gestures both big and small. Its most heartrending moments arrive in the form of these two men — separated by generational disconnect, but bound by common cultural expectations — adapting to other people's modes of expression in the small ways they're able to. Over the course of the film, they learn to speak other people's love languages, leading to rousing, overwhelming moments (some of them in delightful musical form).
SEE ALSO: The 11 best Hindi movies streaming on Amazon PrimeIn a just world, A Nice Indian Boy would find instant distribution and be hailed alongside Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding as a realistic family portrait whose jagged edges aren't just riveting, but revelatory. It's as sweet and funny as they come, and the kind of crowd-pleaser destined to leave your heart feeling full.
A Nice Indian Boy was reviewed out of its World Premiere at SXSW 2024.
This Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible touchscreen display is $79 with free shipping
TL;DR: Through March 31, save 43% on this Apple CarPlay and Android Auto touchscreen display and get free shipping.
A refreshing trend these days is people embracing their older cars, rather than getting a new ride with hefty monthly payments. And there's a practical upgrade that makes your car feel a lot more like the newer models.
This 7-inch touchscreen display works with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone mirroring, and it’s currently on sale for $78.97 with free shipping through March 31.
Quick, damage-free setup in nearly any vehicleJust about any model vehicle with a working cigarette lighter power supply is supported. The setup is simple too:
Choose from a suction cup or sticky bracket mount and attach it to a smooth surface, like your dashboard. We recommend the first option if you’re concerned about the latter leaving residue.
Plug the power cord into your car’s cigarette lighter.
Connect to your car’s stereo wirelessly via FM radio or manually with the included 3.5mm AUX cord. Alternatively, you can use the display’s built-in speaker.
Pair your iPhone or Android with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
That’s it. We told you it was easy.
Once your display is set up, you’re ready to rock and roll (literally) using your phone's apps, like navigation, media controls, and more on a larger touchscreen. Of course, your smartphone’s voice controls are usable too — Siri or Google Assistant — for hands-free calling, texting, or directions, without your hands ever leaving the wheel.
You can also mirror your phone screen for video or movie playback at rest stops or for passengers on road trips. Just be sure you always keep your attention on the road at all times, despite how sweet this display is.
Get this 7-inch touchscreen car display while it’s only $78.97 (reg. $139.99) with free shipping until March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed to grab this lowest price yet.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 7" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Compatibility and Phone Mirroring $78.97 at the Mashable Shop$139.99 Save $61.02 Get Deal
Learn to build your own websites and apps with this $40 bundle
TL;DR: Through March 24, learn how to code in JavaScript, Python, HTML5, CSS3, and more with this 10-course bundle that’s 72% off.
You don’t have to be an expert programmer to create your own websites, apps, and games. You also don’t have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars on online boot camps when this learn-to-code bundle is only $39.99 (reg. $147). Through ten courses, you can learn the most popular programming languages and other tools that can help make your technological dreams a reality.
Crack the code to coding your own websites, apps, and moreBefore we get into everything this learning bundle could teach you, note that you can take these courses in any order you wish and at your own pace because you'll get unlimited lifetime access. You could also feel free to skip anything that doesn’t align with your interests.
Let’s talk about what’s inside:
Create mobile apps with Flutter and Dart.
Mine data with Python and manipulate it with R to use within your projects.
Use Django with Python for web-framework tools like online contact forms or file uploads.
Classify images with deep learning and Keras.
Each course has real-world project examples that you can follow along with in order to grasp new concepts and put them to use right away. These tools and practices can help to get you on your way to understanding not just how to build web pages, but also add interactive elements, databases, collection tools, and so much more.
You could learn to create a website for your blog, an e-commerce store for your brand, a health and fitness mobile app to sell, or even an image-recognition web app to save you time at work, all with these courses taught by industry experts like Mammoth Interactive and Joseph Delgadillo.
Bring your projects to life with this learn-to-code online learning bundle for $39.99 (reg. $147).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mammoth Interactive The 2024 Premium Coding & Web Development Bundle $39.99 at the Mashable Shop$147.00 Save $107.01 Get Deal
Upgrade your PC to Windows 10 Pro for $30
TL;DR: Through March 24, you can save $169 when upgrading your PC to Windows 10 Pro for added features and security protections.
This might be a hot take, but we don’t think newer — as in the latest devices or software — always means better. As an example, everyone’s talking about Windows 11, even though those of us who enjoy the classic interfaces or are still using an older PC don’t want it or can’t get it. But, if you still want an upgrade, Windows 10 Pro is an option. It has more security integrations, smoother performance, and better multitasking than the Home (free) version, and it’s currently on sale for $29.97 (reg. $199) through March 24.
How is this upgrade hundreds less than retail? A trusted Microsoft partner negotiated this low price. Plus, each code can upgrade two compatible devices.
Not the latest OS, but it might be the bestNo matter which operating system your PC currently has, Windows 10 Pro offers several upgrades. Those still on Windows 7 or 8 (we won’t judge) will get a design makeover, while those with Windows 10 Home will simply get access to exclusive features.
There are actually so many that we had to make a list:
Firewall and network protection that acts as a safety net from viruses, malware, and ransomware
Remote desktop access, allowing you to control your PC and access its files from any remote device
Hyper-V to run virtual machines
Group Policy for remote workers to define specific rules for users or devices
Azure Active Directory that allows you to log into your accounts across Windows 10, Microsoft 365 (not included), and other services with a single password
Cortana voice assistant for managing tasks or searching your system
Not sure if your PC can handle the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro? Let’s figure it out together. Some requirements are it having a minimum: 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of free space (32-bit), or 2GB of RAM and 32GB of space (64-bit).
Get the most advanced version of a classic Microsoft OS with Windows 10 Pro on sale for $29.97 (reg. $199) until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: SmartTrainingLab Microsoft Windows 10 Pro $29.97 at the Mashable Shop$199.00 Save $169.03 Get Deal
Microsoft Office and financial guidance from a pro are only $50 together
TL;DR: Through March 24, this bundle with Microsoft Office for Windows and finance courses from Chris Haroun lets you study financial literacy from the same bundle that gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for life, all for $50.
The professionals of yesteryear may have sported bowler hats and sweet duds, but the big thing now is to make sure you're well-trained and well-equipped with reliable software. Get a bit of both when you get this bundle with a Lifetime License to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Finance Courses from Chris Haroun. This whole bundle is on sale for only $50 and could be the next step in your career.
Financial literacy and work-from-home appsThe Microsoft Office Lifetime License gives you access to nine apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version only), OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Skype for Business. These connect directly to your Microsoft account, which also handles small updates for security.
Make sure to note the differences between this and Microsoft 365. These apps are a little older, but they also don't have any subscription fees. You can only install them on one computer, but once they're installed, you have them as long as you have that computer.
For students, that means you could use the same apps in high school that you graduate college with. For professionals, it means your home or work computer doesn't have a monthly fee you have to pay for productivity.
Hop into An Entire MBA in 1 Course if you want to learn from a venture capitalist how to create financial models, understand investment banking, see an introduction to market analysis, and find out how to analyze company financials. Even if you aren't going into finance as a career, this course could help you research potential employers and learn more about your own potential investments.
Gear up and study up like a professionalWhether you're at the start of your career or looking for a second wind, this productivity and finance bundle could give you the tools and the know-how to work towards your goals.
Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Windows, plus finance courses from Chris Haroun for $50.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nerdused Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + A Free Entire MBA in 1 Course $49.99 at the Mashable Shop$419.99 Save $370.00 Get Deal
Score a near-mint refurb Chromebook for $99.97
TL;DR: Through March 24, if you need a lightweight, low-cost computer, this refurbished Lenovo Chromebook is in near-mint condition and can flip into tablet mode. Normally $475, you can get this refurbished device for only $99.97.
This refurbished Lenovo Chromebook 2-in-1 laptop has an ultra-wide 11.6-inch touchscreen display that comes with an anti-glare finish. This lightweight little computer may look like you just grabbed it off the shelf, but it's priced like a refurb. That's because it has a grade "A" rating, meaning it'll arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to zero marks on the case, but it's still available for a pretty major discount. For a limited time, you can get this Lenovo Chromebook for only $99.97 until March 24.
Looks new but with a refurb priceThis Chromebook refurb could be a convenient device for a college student or a professional who likes to take a little work home. The wider screen means you have a little more room to work with, and 4GB RAM means you may be able to run most productivity apps like Google Workspace. Plus, it has 32GB local storage, which gives you room for a few apps or locally saved files.
WiFi and Bluetooth keep you online and connected to peripherals like a mouse or speakers, but the trackpad and built-in speakers are there, too. If you want to stream a movie or just flip through your socials, you can also flip your Chromebook into tablet mode. The battery may last up to 10 hours on a single charge, so you have plenty of time to catch up on work or work through your watch list.
Save on a near-mint ChromebookWhether you're looking for a lightweight computer to take to class or a simple, low-cost laptop to finish up some weekend work, this Chromebook is a great option for a super low price.
For a limited time, get a near-mint Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook 300e for $99.97 until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook 300e 2nd Gen 11.6" 4GB RAM 32GB SSD - Black (Refurbished) $99.97 at the Mashable Shop$475.99 Save $376.02 Get Deal
Scientists find clear proof that a supervolcano won't wipe humans out
Thankfully, it's rare for supervolcanoes to erupt — the last one exploded 26,500 years ago.
Yet even when such a potent geologic event happens again (there's no sign of any supervolcanoes like Yellowstone stirring, and we'd have at least many years of volcanic notice), different lines of evidence suggest global catastrophe wouldn't ensue. Humanity wouldn't be imperiled, though you'd certainly want to avoid being anywhere near the blast.
Recent NASA research concluded that a super-eruption, which erupts over 240 cubic miles (1,000 cubic kilometers) of magma and injects sun-blocking gases into the atmosphere, would have a temporary and moderate cooling effect on Earth — not a deep, cold volcanic winter that would devastate the global food chain. And now, a new study shows that after an especially powerful supervolcano eruption some 74,000 years ago (the largest in the last 2 million years), foraging humans in modern-day Ethiopia survived.
SEE ALSO: Scientists discover unknown prehistoric world — on EarthA group of scientists ventured to a pre-historic site along Ethiopia's Shinfa River, a place teeming with ancient arrowheads, mammal bones, fish remains, and evidence of past fires. Crucially, tiny shards of volcanic glass are sprinkled around the site, which chemically-match output from the Toba volcano, which erupted in modern-day Sumatra, Indonesia, 74,000 years ago.
The mighty eruption, thousands of miles away, did appear to alter the environment in this region of Africa, as the site (called Shinfa-Metema 1), shows evidence of prolonged dry seasons after the volcanic blast. But as water holes dried up, early humans adapted. The researchers argue that these people didn't simply survive, but their need to seek out new water for hunting and fishing opportunities could have helped propel one of the human movements, or dispersals, out of Africa.
"As people depleted food in and around a given dry season waterhole, they were likely forced to move to new waterholes," John Kappelman, an anthropologist and earth scientist at The University of Texas at Austin who led the research, said in a statement. "Seasonal rivers thus functioned as 'pumps' that siphoned populations out along the channels from one waterhole to another, potentially driving the most recent out-of-Africa dispersal."
The research was published in the science journal Nature.
A visualization showing the scale of different volcanic eruptions. The largest orange circle shows the Toba super-eruption from 74,000 years ago. Credit: USGS The Shinfa-Metema 1 site where humans survived 74,000 years ago following the eruption of the Toba volcano. Credit: The University of Texas at AustinSome 74,000 years ago, these people were able to adapt to fish when necessary, or use expertly carved projectile points to hunt antelope and other critters with bows and arrows. Post-eruption, the natural environment certainly posed challenges, but didn't nearly collapse.
According to the separate research from NASA, a super-eruption would indeed blast an enormous amount of sun-reflecting sulfur-dioxide droplets into Earth's atmosphere, but these many droplets would then amass together. Crucially, the larger particles are less efficient at reflecting sunlight compared to smaller particles — because there's less surface area for sunlight to reflect off of. What's more, the sulfur particles also trap heat radiating off Earth — similar to the greenhouse gases currently driving climate change. So while some solar radiation is being blocked, radiation emanating from our planet is also being absorbed, which causes a temporary warming effect.
Consequently, a prolonged and freezing volcanic winter wouldn't ensue. The mounting evidence shows it's unlikely that volcanoes would wipe out humanity.
"We can be confident of this because there have been two massive explosions while humans were present on Earth, and both of these were actually larger than Yellowstone's most recent cataclysmic eruption," the U.S. Geologic Survey explained. "These eruptions were from Toba, Indonesia, about 74,000 years ago and from Taupo, New Zealand, about 26,500 years ago."
Here's when to buy a laptop, whether you need the latest specs or a great deal
A laptop doesn't make a great impulse buy, like pack of gum in the checkout line or a weird thingamajig you saw in a TikTok livestream.
Of course, if the computer you depend on for work, school, or entertainment randomly decides to kick the bucket, the best time to replace it is immediately (after recycling or repurposing it). But most people can — and should — strategize before investing in a new machine they hope to use for years to come.
First, decide what's most important to you: a laptop with minty-fresh specs, or a laptop that costs less than usual? From there, we can point you toward several key times to buy based on our historical knowledge of past laptop launches and deals.
If you want the latest specsFor future-proofers and shoppers with cash to spare, splurging on the laptop of the moment can be more more appealing than buying an older model at a discount.
Best time to buy: At launchThe Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a tech industry trade show that happens every year in January, is basically ground zero for next-generations laptops. Major manufacturers like ASUS, Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, MSI, and Razer treat their booths as runways for new computers with the latest Intel and AMD processor chips, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards, and/or cutting-edge features. (Think 3D displays, weird lid attachments, and touchpads with built-in media controls.) And while some of these showcase laptops are just prototypes, many are fully fleshed-out devices, and a batch of them are available for pre-order or purchase shortly after the event wraps. The rest typically hit the market around April.
The dual-screen ASUS Zenbook Duo made a splash at CES 2024. Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThere are two lone alpha wolves who don't make appearances at CES, one being Apple, which is known to take a couple different approaches to new laptop launches. Apple usually hosts formal keynote events to mark an upgrade, which the public can watch via livestream. Sometimes, it just drops an unceremonious press release. That said, the company is pretty consistent about updating its MacBook Pro and Air lines annually or biannually. While its exact launch schedule is pretty arbitrary, you can usually count on seeing new models in the spring (March or April), at its yearly Worldwide Developers Conference in June, or in late fall (October or November).
Microsoft also opts out of CES in favor of holding its own Surface laptop launch events, which almost always happen every September. They're livestreamed as well.
If you want a good dealAny opportunity to save money is ultimately a win, but certain times of the year feature more (and steeper) laptop discounts that can justify a postponed purchase for those in search of a stellar value.
Best time to buy: On or around Black FridayThe fourth Friday in November isn't treated with the same sort of reverence it once was: Ever since Amazon started hosting Prime savings events in the fall, prompting other retailers to jumpstart their own year-end sales, "Black Friday" has become an informal season that lasts from early October into late November. Still, it remains the best time of year to grab a laptop on sale at a steal — and it's not just because stores like to take advantage of holiday shopping.
Laptops get extra cheap around Black Friday (to the tune of 20 to 50 percent off) because it syncs up with when retailers and manufacturers are trying to offload their inventories ahead of next-gen refreshes at CES. For laptops that debuted at the beginning of the year, which are about to age out of their "current-gen" moniker, this often translates to year-round lows that knock hundreds of dollars off their normal sticker prices. Older laptops that are at least one generation removed, meanwhile, can plummet to the lowest prices of their entire lifespan as they're priced to move. (We've encountered some ancient Chromebooks on sale for less than $100 on Black Fridays past.)
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 was $200 off a month after launch as part of Amazon's 2023 Black Friday sale. Credit: MicrosoftWhile Apple and Microsoft don't operate on the same product cycles as everyone else, they both still have a relatively strong presence on Black Friday at third-party retailers. Amazon and Best Buy are really good about putting older MacBooks and Surface laptops on sale at rock-bottom prices while also offering some initial deals on newer models that have only just launched. On Black Friday 2023, for example, they took $200 off the Surface Laptop Go 3 and $150 off the M3 MacBook Pro, respectively; both laptops had debuted a month prior.
Apple and Microsoft technically host their own Black Friday sales, too, but they usually aren't much to write home about. The famously stingy Apple Store only doles out free gift cards with the purchase of older MacBooks, and the Microsoft Store's prices are often trounced by its third-party peers.
SEE ALSO: The best time of year to buy a Mac, whether you want a MacBook or iMacThe real debate concerning Black Friday laptop deals revolves around whether consumers should shop early or hold off on buying until Black Friday proper, in case prices get even cheaper, and the answer boils down to whether you're eyeing specific models or specs. Retailers still reserve some deals for the actual holiday (always the Friday after Thanksgiving) even if their sales are weeks or months long, so it can be worth waiting to see which laptops get featured in that primetime slot. The trouble is that we rarely know what those featured laptops are ahead of time — and by the time they're live, the model you really wanted may be backordered or back to full price.
If you're married to a certain spec sheet and don't just want a good deal, period, we generally recommend buying a laptop as soon as it gets added to a Black Friday sale's roster. In the off-chance its deal improves, you can always tap the retailer's holiday price-match guarantee and/or extended return policy as fallback plans.
Second best time to buy: During back-to-school seasonWhether it's a multitasking MacBook for a college freshman or a basic Chromebook for a fifth-grader, a laptop is a given on most school supply shopping lists. As such, laptop prices dependably tank in the summer to tempt students, their parents, and teachers preparing for the upcoming semester — typically from mid-June to early September.
The back-to-school season is so major for laptop purchases that it's the only time outside of Black Friday when the Apple Store runs one of its "sales," throwing in free gift cards with MacBook purchases from early June through early October. That's in addition to its usual education pricing, which saves students, parents, and faculty $100 on select MacBooks and iMacs year-round.
Apple runs one of its rare gift card promos during the back-to-school season; the other happens during Black Friday. Credit: AppleIt's worth mentioning that Amazon's flagship Prime Day sale falls smack-dab in the middle of back-to-school season in mid-July, and it's one of the only times when shoppers can source a slew of legitimately good laptop deals there besides Black Friday. (More on that later.) For instance, Prime Day 2023 featured a special invite-only deal that dropped the price of an Acer Swift X by over 40%.
Crucially, Prime Day can also be lucrative for laptop shoppers because it goads other retailers into running competing sales, which often match or beat Amazon's. (Best Buy's Prime Day counterprogramming tends to be Amazon's toughest rival, especially when it comes to higher-end laptops like MacBooks and gaming laptops.) Prices aren't quite as low as they are on Black Friday, but it's still enough to make Prime Day worth marking on your calendar.
Third best time to buy: Over holiday weekendsRetailers are partial to offering deals on big-ticket tech purchases like laptops over federal holiday weekends, the big ones being Presidents' Day weekend (in mid-February), Memorial Day weekend (in late May), the Fourth of July, and Labor Day (in early September, coinciding with the end of back-to-school season). You won't find extreme discounts like you do in the thick of back-to-school season or Black Friday, but they're above-average for the "off season."
Honorable mention: Buy right after new models are announcedPay attention to new laptop launches even if you don't want the latest tech, as they often trigger quiet sales or price drops on the older models they're replacing. For most laptop brands, this usually means deals start trickling out after the CES dust settles in late January and into February.
Apple's 13-inch M2 Apple MacBook Air debuted at $1,199 in 2022. As of early 2024, it starts at only $999. Credit: Molly Flores / MashableApple and Microsoft refreshes are, again, a little less predictable timing-wise, but they're just as reliable when it comes to previous-gen discounts. You might recall the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air getting a permanent $100 price cut when its 15-inch counterpart debuted, then another $100 chop once the latest M3 version materialized. And the original Surface Laptop Studio went on sale for $500 off the week after its successor was announced.
Not all retailers are created equalShopping for a new laptop is as much a game of "when" as it is "where."
Online, we typically find the most laptop configurations (and the best laptop deals) at Best Buy, followed by Amazon and Walmart. But all three are repeat offenders of two misleading practices: inflating original list prices to make discounts look better than they actually are, and mislabeling specs — e.g., processors are billed as "the latest" when they're actually outdated.
Here's a screenshot of a Best Buy laptop listing (taken on March 18, 2024) that advertises a 12th-generation Intel Core processor from January 2022 as "the latest" CPU. Credit: Screenshot via BestBuy.comAmazon and Walmart are also teeming with laptop listings from sketchy third-party sellers, which shoppers should keep at arm's length whenever possible. Many of these merchants ship counterfeit or knockoff products — not all of them, but enough to raise serious concerns — and they may not operate under the platform's usual return and refund policies.
We'll give the big A and W some credit, though: They usually clean up their acts for Prime Day and Black Friday; we see lots more legitimate laptop listings on both sites during those major sales. Look for "Ships from/Sold by Amazon.com" and "Sold and shipped by Walmart.com" labels below the "Add to cart" buttons on their product pages.
It's important to remember that you can avoid these issues entirely by buying direct. All major laptop manufacturers have their own online storefronts and offer their own discounts year-round. At the very least, these are extremely useful for price checks.
How to tell if you're getting a good laptop dealAvoiding third-party sellers and cross-checking listings between laptop retailers and manufacturers are two of the best ways to ensure you're getting a good value. We also recommend appraising discounts using price-tracking tools like camelcamelcamel and Google's Shopping Insights feature. They can tell you whether a laptop you're considering has ever gone on sale for cheaper, if at all.
Finally, consider bookmarking the Mashable Shopping team's biweekly roundup of the best laptop deals. We personally vet every single offer to verify that they're legitimate. Whether the computer you wind up buying is brand new or just new to you, you should be able to confidently say that your money was well spent.
15 best mini-series on Max
The couch is calling, inviting you in for a good long binge-watch. You crave a story that will sweep you up, characters who will captivate, and a run time that will wash away more hours than your average movie but not an entire weekend. Nothing is better for such a mood than a superb mini-series.
Within just a few episodes, these shows can unfurl rich tales — haunting, historic, heady, or even hilarious. Whether you’re craving gripping thrillers, poignant dramas, royal romance, iconoclastic humor, or wild adventure, we’ve got you covered.
Here are the best mini-series on Max now available to watch:
1. Station Eleven Mackenzie Davis breaks our hearts in "Station Eleven." Credit: Ian Watson / HBO MaxWhether or not you've read Emily St. John Mandel's celebrated novel of the same name, this lavish adaptation proved must-see TV. (Well, not just TV — must-see HBO!) Station Eleven creator/showrunner Patrick Somerville thoughtfully reimagined the setting and some stirring specifics of Mandel's dystopian drama, making for a story familiar yet surprising. In a world ravaged by plague, a scrappy theater troupe called the Traveling Symphony tours settlements to bring the pleasures of Shakespeare to the survivors. But how did humankind come to this place of ruin and revival? Weaving past and present in a ragged but riveting tapestry, this mini-series gave an almost alarmingly optimistic look at the apocalypse. Grounding the sensational storytelling is a critically heralded cast that includes Mackenzie Davis, Matilda Lawler, Himesh Patel, Gael García Bernal, and Danielle Deadwyler.
How to watch: Station Eleven is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: Why 'Station Eleven' was the last great end of the world story 2. Angels in AmericaThis moving 2003 mini-series is adapted from Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning two-part stage play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. Combining fictional characters, historical figures, and ardent symbolism, this ambitious drama was a brazen condemnation of homophobia and America's handling of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Its story follows several gay men, some suffering from AIDS, some suffering from shame, and most suffering from heartbreak — all of whom are played with soul-gripping conviction. Director Mike Nichols brought together an impeccable ensemble, boasting Broadway stars and movie legends like Patrick Wilson, Justin Kirk, Jeffrey Wright, Emma Thompson, Mary-Louise Parker, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep. Their efforts combined led not only to radiant critical praise but also 11 Emmy awards, including acting honors for Wright, Parker, Streep, and Pacino.
How to watch: Angels in America is streaming on Max.
3. Mare of Easttown With a potential Season 2 in the works, we'll see how long "Mare of Easttown" stays a mini-series. Credit: HBO25 years ago, Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) was a star high school athlete with a promising future ahead of her. Nowadays, she’s a bitter, divorced detective whose name is being dragged through the mud over a missing persons case she couldn’t solve. When another local girl vanishes, Mare must push aside personal dramas — and inner demons — to crack the case. This small but gruff blue-collar town outside of Philadelphia is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, so surely someone must know something. Creator Brad Ingelsby brings together a crackling cast that includes Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Guy Pearce, and Evan Peters. Together, they build an enveloping atmosphere of snark and suspicion and a darkly amusing crime drama that had tongues wagging, critics cheering, and jaws dropping. It’s no mystery how Mare of Easttown earned 16 Emmy nominations in 2021.
How to watch: Mare of Easttown is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: OK, all those fake-out scenes in 'Mare of Easttown' were ridiculous 4. Elizabeth IThe daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, Elizabeth I of England was born into royally outrageous drama, which would define her whole life. This heralded 2005 mini-series focuses on the last 24 years of her 45-year reign, beginning as the so-called Virgin Queen approached middle age. Don’t be fooled by her nickname. This 16th-century monarch had a healthy appetite for sex and romance. But to marry — as her advisors pressure — would mean surrendering her throne to some man who would be king. Dame Helen Mirren brings the fire of passion and fury to her vibrant portrayal of Elizabeth. Lending support as her leading men are the dashing Jeremy Irons and the dreamy-eyed Hugh Dancy. Under the helm of Tom Hooper, history comes alive in a sweeping two-part mini-series that won 9 Emmys. This included honors for Irons, Hooper, and Mirren, as well as Best Mini-Series. From its rich production design to its heart-pounding performances and rousing drama, it's easy to see why.
How to watch: Elizabeth I is streaming on Max.
5. Watchmen Regina King doesn't stand for injustice or nonsense in "Watchmen." Credit: Mark Hill / HBOIn this 2019 superhero show, Damon Lindelof boldly re-imagines the iconic comic book series from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Taking place decades after the events in the comics, this Watchmen centers on Sister Night (Regina King), a Tulsa police detective who wears a nun-like costume to fight crime. In this striking guise, she combats the rising power of a white supremacist group known as the Seventh Kavalry. Thankfully, she won’t have to do it alone, as she's got some super friends of her own. Tim Blake Nelson, Jean Smart, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons, and Hong Chau co-star, playing characters complex, outrageous, and absolutely riveting. Weaving mature themes with graphic violence and daring socio-political commentary, this audacious adaptation won critical acclaim, a vociferous fan following, and a whopping 11 Emmy Awards, including one for King.
How to watch: Watchmen is streaming on Max.
6. From the Earth to the MoonBased on Andrew Chaikin's non-fiction book A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts, this stellar mini-series rocketed audiences back to the '60s and '70s to reveal the incredible true stories within NASA's Apollo program. Produced by Tom Hanks, From the Earth to the Moon was beyond ambitious. Over the course of 12 episodes, it told numerous stories, folding in decades of aeronautics history and heroics, as well as providing 30 portrayals of the astronauts who flew — or were ready to fly — on the Apollo missions. On top of that, remarkable special effects were created to make these trips to the stars feel real to a home audience, putting us in the shoes — or space suits — of these legendary explorers. This 1998 event launched as "TV’s Biggest Mini-Series" and soon landed the Primetime Emmy win for Best Mini-Series. So, take a trip back to see what all the buzz was about.
How to watch: From the Earth to the Moon is streaming on Max.
7. The Lady and the Dale "The Lady and the Dale" gives us a look at the softer side of Elizabeth Carmichael's story. Credit: HBOMax has a library of sensational true crime offerings, yet this 2021 mini-series is uniquely fascinating. Directors Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker unfurl the times and trials of Elizabeth Carmichael, who was not only a nationally recognized automobile executive and infamous con artist but also a wife, mother, and transgender trailblazer. For decades, her story has been framed by those who despise her, resulting in a narrative rife with speculation and transphobia. In this challenging and boldly funny four-episode documentary mini-series, Carmichael's story is reclaimed by balancing the perspective of her haters with in-depth interviews with those who knew her best. With animated photography, a playful soundtrack, and a cheeky sense of adventure, The Lady and the Dale aims not only to showcase the complexity of the late Carmichael, but also to capture her spirit. All this makes for a watch that is surprising, thrilling, and unforgettable.
How to watch: The Lady and the Dale is streaming on Max.
8. True DetectiveFrom the moment Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson were cast as a duo of detectives on the hunt for an elusive killer, this 2014 show screamed "prestige TV." Shortly after its debut, this neo-noir mini-series had audiences screaming too, hollering in horror of the unnerving visuals, cheering over its immersive cinematography, and yarn-walling over how it might end. Heralded filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga helmed the entire premiere season with aplomb, creating a rich world of Southern-fried intrigue, blood-curdling violence, and mind-bending philosophy. Critics cheered. Audiences tuned in, and the Primetime Emmys presented five awards to this daring drama. Sure, all that success led to writer Nic Pizzolatto spinning new stories for successive seasons, not to mention Issa López's corpsicle-focused spin-off, True Detective: Night Country. But it all began as one damn fine mini-series.
How to watch: True Detective is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about 'True Detective: Night Country' 9. I May Destroy You "I May Destroy You" is the Michaela Coel vehicle of "Chewing Gum" fans' dreams. Credit: HBOEnglish writer/actress/producer Michaela Coel first broke through with her cheeky, sex-centric comedy series Chewing Gum. With this addictive follow-up, her provocative humor oozes to darker corners, exploring the issues of social media influence, anti-Black racism, consent, and rape culture. In I May Destroy You, Coel stars as Arabella Essiedu, a twenty-something writer who relishes a wild night out on the town. But when one such night ends with a blackout, bloody forehead, and troubling flashbacks, Arabella turns to her friends, new lovers, and lots of dubious distractions to cope. Surrounded by a suitably superb cast, which includes Weruche Opia and Paapa Essiedu, Coel delivers an electrifying portrayal of a woman on the verge. Her critically heralded 12-part creation has won two BAFTAs, one for her lead performance, the other for Best Mini-Series, as well as a slew of Emmy nominations.
How to watch: I May Destroy You is streaming on Max.
10. Fionna and Cake Fionna and Cake find new adventure. Credit: MaxFionna and Cake feels like a fever dream for Adventure Time lovers. The new spinoff picks up years after Adventure Time's finale, roundabouts the timing of the spinoff movie Adventure Time: Distant Lands: Obsidian. But its eponymous characters began as in-show fan fiction concocted by the kooky Ice King, in a playful diversion that gender-bent all of the characters of Ooo for fresh fun. So how did Adventure Time showrunner Adam Muto spin these two into a whole new mini-series when Fionna and Cake weren't even canon?*
Finding out is just part of the fun of this inventive mini-series. But be warned: this one will mess you up.
How to watch: Fionna and Cake is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: 'Fionna and Cake' review: 'Adventure Time' spinoff goes so hard it hurts 11. Landscapers Olivia Colman is a woman lost in love and murder in "Landscapers." Credit: Stefania Rosini / HBOIf you want true crime that gets truly trippy, you'll appreciate this British offering from writer Ed Sinclair and director Will Sharpe (yes, that Will Sharpe). It's based on a double homicide case out of Mansfield, England, where despite the brutality of the slayings the motive was love.
Critically acclaimed English actors Olivia Colman and David Thewlis star as murderous married couple Susan and Christopher Edwards. The Edwards only loved one thing as much as each other, and that is Hollywood movies. To give a glimpse inside their minds, Landscapers blurs the lines of fact and fiction, staging fantasy scenes inspired by Westerns, romances, and other larger-than-life movies that promise a happy ending. However, a dark humor bleeds through the whimsy, urging audiences to reflect on what's real, what's imagined, and what "true crime entertainment" even means.
How to watch: Landscapers is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: Max's 'Landscapers' makes theatre out of true crime 12. Mind Over MurderThe true crime story at the center of this documentary mini-series is astonishing on several levels. It begins in 1985, when a beloved grandmother was murdered in her own home, leaving a mess of confounding clues behind. One cop was determined to chase down any suspect who might fit into this puzzling crime, even if he had to force the pieces into place. Decades later, the Beatrice Six were exonerated, but their story doesn't end there. Director Nanfu Wang guides audiences through the case, the accusations, the false confessions, and the aftermath by speaking with members of the Six, the investigator who went from hero to villain, the families of the victims, and a theater troupe trying to make sense of the war waged in conflicting narratives. Over six hour-long episodes, Mind Over Murder not only unfurls a shocking story of horror and homicide, but also one of profound empathy and the healing power of forgiveness.
How to watch: Mind Over Murder is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: 'Mind Over Murder' is the must-see true crime series of 2022 13. The Last of Us Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBOTechnically, The Last of Us won't be a limited series for long. After the smashing success of Season 1, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin's astonishing adaptation of the popular video game was greenlit for Season 2. However, with nine hour-long episodes telling a compelling and self-contained story, The Last of Us definitely scratches that miniseries itch. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star as a pair of survivors thrown together in a post-apocalyptic America, ripped apart by a tenacious fungus that turns man into (essentially) zombies. To save the future of all mankind, mercenary Joel must get snarky teen Ellie across the U.S. to a safe zone. Along the way, they'll not only have to face a variety of vicious creatures, but also humans who bring new meaning to the word evil. This series not only offers hair-raising horror, goofy puns, and a playlist that'll get stuck in your brain; it also delivers some of 2023's most emotionally devastating onscreen moments. Lean into it, and give yourself a good long cry.
How to watch: The Last of Us is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: Yes, 'The Last of Us Part II Remastered' is worth it: 3 convincing reasons why 14. The White LotusLike True Detective and Miracle Workers, this dark comedy series is a bit more anthology than strictly mini. Creator Mike White explores the humor to be found among the ridiculously wealthy at a resort that caters to their every whim. While each season is set in a different picturesque locale (Hawaii! Sicily!), they share a setup of a mysterious death in the first episode. Who will be killed? Who is the killer? As the stories of privileged jerks tangle with the hardships of the workers tending to (and exploiting) their desires, viewers are tempted to play whodunnit, even if the show's not really about that. Come for the murder mystery, the cynical humor, or the star-stuffed cast that includes Jennifer Coolidge, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hollander, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Murray Bartlett, and Connie Britton.
How to watch: The White Lotus is streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs, and more check into 'The White Lotus' Season 3 15. Sharp ObjectsFollowing the success of Gone Girl, which was adapted from Gillian Flynn's best-selling book, HBO spun the author's Southern gothic novel Sharp Objects into a scorching mini-series. Amy Adams stars as Camille Preaker, a crime reporter who is struggling with alcoholism and self-harm when she's called back to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate a horrid homicide. There, she's forced to face her domineering socialite mother (Patricia Clarkson), who is obsessed with appearances. But amid her investigation, she gets the chance to grow closer to her half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen), who has a rebellious spirit and a curious dollhouse. Over the course of eight sweaty episodes, this crime show is anything but procedural, leading audiences not only through the murder case but also the Preaker household's crimes of the heart.
How to watch: Sharp Objects is streaming on Max.
Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Get DealHow to watch Saracens vs. Harlequins online for free
TL;DR: Stream Saracens vs. Harlequins for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Six Nations is always entertaining, but the timing of the competition can leave club rugby fans frustrated. Those dedicated fans have had to remain patient whilst their best players are unavailable for selection, but that's in the past now. Everyone is back in the mix, and the title race is really heating up.
If you want to watch Saracens vs. Harlequins for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Saracens vs. Harlequins?Saracens vs. Harlequins kicks off at 3:05 p.m. GMT on March 23. This fixture takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
How to watch Saracens vs. Harlequins for freeSaracens vs. Harlequins will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 2:30 p.m. on March 23. You can also live stream this fixture for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Unblock ITVX to watch live rugby by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Stream Saracens vs. Harlequins for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Saracens vs. Harlequins before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you should subscribe. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Saracens vs. Harlequins for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Scotland vs. Northern Ireland online for free
TL;DR: Stream Scotland vs. Northern Ireland for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Euro 2024 is looming large on the horizon, with some teams still battling it out for qualification and others, like Scotland, looking to build momentum before the games that really matter. That preparation begins with an international friendly against Northern Ireland.
If you want to watch Scotland vs. Northern Ireland for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Scotland vs. Northern Ireland?Scotland vs. Northern Ireland kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on March 26 at Hampden Park.
How to watch Scotland vs. Northern Ireland for freeScotland vs. Northern Ireland will be broadcast live on BBC Three, with coverage starting from 7:30 p.m. on March 26. You can also live stream this fixture for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Stream Scotland vs. Northern Ireland for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Scotland vs. Northern Ireland before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer to stream sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Scotland vs. Northern Ireland for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
