Author Archives: Carol Edwards

Blast off.

The most powerful space telescope ever built has successfully launched off the planet. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — which will peer into the deep cosmos at the first galaxies and stars — is now en route to its observing position, 1 million miles from Earth.

The prized astronomical instrument launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 7:20 a.m. ET on Dec. 25. Launching from the equator, where Earth’s spin is the fastest, gives heavy payloads an extra kick into space.

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It all unfolded without a hitch after numerous delays, including a last-minute weather-related hiccup that disrupted a Dec. 24 launch just a couple days prior. While cloudy skies obscured the visuals a bit as the Ariane 5 rocket soared into the sky, the host of NASA’s live stream said the launch “was as flawless as you can imagine.”

About 28 minutes after the launch, cheers erupted in NASA’s mission control center as the JWST completed its final separation from the rockets that brought it to orbit. Just minutes after that, the telescope powered on as NASA’s team on the ground took control.

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The telescope will pass the moon in a few days, and then begin to unfurl its tennis court-sized sunshield. The giant shade will block heat and light (emanating the sun, Earth, and moon) from interfering with JWST’s deep-space observations. The unfurling is a critical part of the operation, though a profoundly ambitious one involving the release of over 100 pins, extended booms, and other moving parts. In addition to the sunshield, the telescope’s large, hexagonal mirrors must properly fold into place, too. In sum, after leaving Earth, JWST will “begin the most complex sequence of deployments ever attempted in a single space mission,” explained NASA.

If everything works as planned, JWST — a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency — will start its cosmic science operations in around 160 days.

Astronomers have grand designs for the over $10 billion telescope:

• Looking into the deep past: JWST’s giant mirror, at over 21 feet in diameter (over 2.5 times as wide as Hubble’s), will capture bounties of light, allowing it to see the farthest, faintest light in the cosmos. In an ever-expanding universe, this means looking back in time at light that’s too far off for other telescopes to see. The immensely distant light from the first stars and galaxies is over 13.5 billion years old. “We’re looking back in time,” Christine Chen, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, an organization that will run JWST, told Mashable.

• Seeing the unseeable: Giant swathes of the universe are obscured by thick clouds of dust and gas, sometimes the cosmic leftovers of exploded stars. JWST, however, is specialized in viewing light (infrared light our eyes and normal telescopes can’t see) that slips through these obscuring clouds. In doing so, JWST will reveal stars and objects currently hidden beyond the dust. “It lifts the veil,” Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable.

• Wild exoplanets: During JWST’s first year of operation, scientists will use a quarter of its time (that’s a lot!) to view planets in other solar systems, called “exoplanets.” The telescope’s specialized instruments will analyze what their atmospheres are composed of, and perhaps find similar environments to Earth.

An engineer elevated above the James Webb Space Telescope. Its side mirrors are folded in.
Credit: NASA / Chris Gunn

Now that JWST has made it into space, after years of delays, NASA and observers are wishing it a successful deployment in the coming month. Unprecedented views of the universe, and unprecedented science, are riding on it.

“Everyone’s crossing their fingers,” Jason Steffen, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who researches exoplanets, told Mashable.

With additional reporting by Adam Rosenberg.

In retrospect, it seems inevitable that William Shakespeare’s Macbeth would get a Coen Bros’ adaptation. The centuries’ old drama centers on an anti-hero well-suited to their repertoire of charismatic scoundrels: a seemingly good man is put in a curious spot and so behaves very, very badly to attain his desire. Along the way, there will be strong women, quirky characters, deception, murder, and plenty of style. But The Tragedy of Macbeth is distinctly different than its predecessors, and not just because it’s Joel Coen helming without his brother for the first time. Here, there’s something slippery and more surreal, which makes the pull of Macbeth’s descent feel doomed yet weirdly rapturous. 

Adapted and directed by Joel Coen, The Tragedy of Macbeth trims the lengthy stage production into a lean and mean movie of just one hour and forty-five minutes. Its center of gravity is two powerful performances: Denzel Washington as a steely Macbeth and Frances McDormand as his wickedly practical wife, Lady Macbeth (reprising a role she played five years back in a  Berkeley Repertory Theatre production). These accomplished performers swiftly manifest not just a compelling chemistry, but also an easy intimacy that speaks to the Macbeths’ decades of deep marital bonds. So, when Macbeth comes home with witches’ predictions and an unexpected promotion, his lady swiftly slides into scheming. A plot to kill the king and snatch his crown is formed easier than deciding on dinner plans.

Credit: Apple TV+

From the film’s first frames, Coen leans into slippery surrealness, which urges audiences to follow the emotional flow of the film rather than search for reason. Influenced by German Expressionism, Coen’s settings are stark and cold, places of towering stone walls, vast emptiness, sand, and fog. They feel like the settings of a dream, hazy yet just distinct enough for the dreamer to presume a location. Mood is most important. With everything cast in mid-tone grays of black-and-white photography, the mood is foreboding. 

Onto this “stage,” scuttles a strange creature, who gurgles and croaks the familiar incantations of the three Weïrd Sisters. Kathryn Hunter pulls triple duty, shouldering all these roles (and one more later), then turning their performance into an intensely physical one. Her witch is a contortionist, whose toes snatch like fingers, whose limbs bend in impossible arcs, and who can then stand tall and bold as she prophesizes glory and doom. She is such a striking figure that it’s easy to see why Macbeth would be beguiled by her predictions, perhaps even if they didn’t so heartily feed his ego. 

Credit: Apple TV+

Other performances likewise have the feel of theater, not in being over the top, but in being fearlessly sharp. In a brief but engaging scene, Moses Ingram plays a lady, who tries to make sense of this cruel world before her young son. Her tone, heart-strong yet haunted, is so steadily intense, that there’s some sense even the cheap seats would get their money’s worth on her watch. Meanwhile, Alex Hassell plays a duplicitous strategist, whose poses, preening, and textured costume altogether read as a slithering snake made man. And scene-stealer Stephen Root pops up to play the fool and throw in a playful pratfall. 

These touches — along with immersive visions of whispers and rising tides  — blur the line between theater and film presentation, urging the audience to a suspension of disbelief that’s close to the former. “You know this story,” Joel seems to shrug with his speed and surrealness, “So let’s have some fun with it.” 

Director of photography Bruno Delbonnel masterfully paints with shadow to bring drama and depth. Stark shadows paint silhouettes that scream of a point of no return – there is no gray here, only black and white. But in less high contrast scenes, the sharp focus of his camera captures not only every expression but also cracked lips, coarse beards, crusted cloth. The hardness of the world and how it wears on man is made evident in many close-ups. But more than this, so is the age of its central lovers. 

Credit: Apple TV+

There’s often a misconception that ambition is a game for the young. If that were true, we wouldn’t repeatedly be picking between 70-somethings for the presidency. Here, the age of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is clear as the wrinkles on their faces, and the grey hairs speckled throughout his thick beard. While other ladies have children doting on them and bopping about their homes, Lady Macbeth’s house is as quiet as the grave. As will become a bitter refrain later, they have no children to carry on their legacy. All they have is this moment. With Shakespeare’s iconic speeches, Washington and McDormand give graceful gravitas to the ravenous appetite of the lovers’ shared ambition. But with this gorgeously shot film, every line on their brows and cheeks underlines the urgency of their quest. Tomorrow is less and less certain. Now is the time for the taking, come hell or haunted dreams of damned spots of blood that won’t come out.

All told, The Tragedy of Macbeth is a sophisticatedly lean yet rich rendition of the Shakespeare classic. Joel Coen mixes a snarling mood with a sensational cast, who brings the words to life with performances nuanced and unnerving. The artistry in costume, production design, and cinematography is deceptively reserved. Yet they urge us to look closer at the tiny details writ large on the screen. Behold how every fold and so-called flaw gives context and oomph to this tale of a good man turned murdering monster. Behold The Tragedy of Macbeth. 

The Tragedy of Macbeth opens in select theaters on Dec. 25 and comes to Apple TV+ on Jan. 14.

TL;DR: As of Dec. 25, take 59% off a Zyllion Shiatsu Foot Massager with Heat and get it for $101.99 instead of $250 with the code MERRY15.

Anyone can benefit from some TLC for their feet. Whether you just go for strolls around the neighborhood or spend all day standing and moving around, chances are your feet are severely ignored. But if you have the right device — and the right discount  — all of that can change faster than you can say, “My feet hurt.” And now for a limited time, when you enter code MERRY15 at checkout, you can save nearly 60% on this at-home Shiatsu foot massager so you’ll never have to deal with foot pain again.

The Zyllion Shiatsu foot massager is the ultimate treat yourself gift. The best part is that it stays relatively out of the way and only weighs 11 pounds, so you can easily transport it from room to room. It offers three distinct massage modes that work to provide real relief fast to tired feet and ankles. The massage modes offer three different strength levels as well, so you can choose a custom massage for the needs you’re facing in the moment.

If you’re wondering what Shiatsu means, it’s basically just a fancy word for a rolling and pressure-only massage. Instead of hiring a private masseuse, the pre-sets on this massager are automatically adjusted to the Shiatsu style. All you have to do is place your feet inside and feel immediate relief. With the added benefits of heat function and air compression, this foot massager could be the only one you’ll ever need to buy.

Normally the Zyllion Shiatsu heated foot massager retails for $250, since it has an adjustable strength level and heat and air compression modes. But for a limited time, when you enter code MERRY15 at checkout, you can shave an extra 15% off the sale price. That means you’ll take home this Shiatsu massager for just $101.99.

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Adagio Triple-Barrel Waver is just $59.49 at the Mashable Shop with code MERRY15 as of Dec. 24.

What’s better than the perfect holiday party? Having the perfect beach waves at the holiday party, even though it’s December. With this triple-barrel waver, you barely have to put in any work at all to get the perfect mermaid waves of your dreams. And for a limited time, you can enjoy some major Christmas savings.

The Adagio Triple-Barrel Waver is typically $269, but you can enter code MERRY15 at checkout and score it for only $59.49.

What makes this barrel curler so great is how easy it is to use. You can create everything from S-style curls to tousled beach waves that’ll make you look like you were surfing all day long in the middle of winter. This waver uses infrared technology to penetrate hair at a gentle temperature, so you don’t have to worry about heat damage from using it every day. It even minimizes moisture loss by trapping the heat quickly into the hair at a lower frequency. Since the barrels are ceramic and tourmaline-infused, your hair will have an extra shot of smoothness and shine. Even better, it works to keep frizz, static, and flyaways at bay.

You can easily adjust and choose the precise heat setting for you with the digital heat control that’s easy to read at the top of the handle. Because there are three ceramic barrels on this device, you’ll be able to create natural and beautiful waves in a matter of seconds.

The Adagio Triple-Barrel Waver is typically $269 and currently on sale for $69.99, but with the coupon code MERRY15, you can slash an extra 15% off and get perfect waves all year long for just $59.49.

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: As of Dec. 25, take 32% off an AeroPilates® Precision Series Reformer, normally priced at $679, and get it for just $461.54 with the code MERRY15.

If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that truly overhauls your workout routine, check out the AeroPilates Precision Series Reformer, a powerful machine that burns fat, tones and strengthens muscles, and increases flexibility in one fell swoop. It’s over $200 off and about to be your new favorite fitness device.

Never done pilates before? You’re in for a treat. Pilates is famously known for increasing core strength, but it also helps tone your muscles, enhance your flexibility, improve your posture, and ease your aches and pains from sitting at a desk all day.

The Reformer 535 packs four levels of spring resistance. You can use any eight combinations of the two light resistance springs (indicated by the yellow band) or two heavy resistance springs (indicated by the blue band). The wide, adjustable padded foot bar is comfortable for basic pilates exercises, but when you’re ready to ramp things up, you can switch it out for the patented cardio rebounder. This makes for a more fun, faster-paced cardio routine that burns calories without a ton of strain on your joints, hips, or spine. 

See it in action:

If you’re not good at designing workouts on your own, the Reformer 535 also includes free online access to two different AeroPilates video packages. These can give you guided introductory workouts with the padded foot bar and cardio rebounder.

It’s regularly $679, but when you use the code MERRY15 at checkout, you can grab this pilates machine on sale for $461.54 for a limited time.

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Aroma Mist Diffuser from Jaison’s Essentials is just $15.29 at the Mashable Shop with the code MERRY15 as of Dec. 25.

Dry, stuffy winter air doesn’t just make your skin feel like leather. It can also cause a range of health issues — but adding a little moisture to the air around you can work wonders. One way to do that is with a diffuser or humidifier — and this adorable one from Jaison’s Essentials is on sale for a limited time. Plus, it adds a little style to your space.

The Aroma Mist Diffuser is typically $27, but if you enter the code MERRY15 at checkout, you can snag it on sale for just $15.29.

Though it’s small, standing at just about four inches tall, it can add just the right amount of moisture to the air around you. Using ultrasonic technology, this diffuser gently shoots a smooth stream of mist into the air to soften dry and chapped skin and help you breathe a little easier in the winter. Its range reaches a space up to 64 square feet, making it ideal for your bedside table, your desk, or even the coffee table where you sit to watch TV. With its whisper-quiet operation, it won’t interrupt your sleep, work, or streaming.

Here’s a glimpse at how it works:

As a bonus, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oils into the water tank and enjoy the soothing, relaxing aroma while your air humidifies. A pleasant scent is always a great way to boost your mood, help you sleep deeper, or even improve your productivity. 

Snag the Aroma Mist Diffuser on sale for just $15.29 with the code MERRY15. That’s a savings of over 40%.

Prices subject to change.

As of Dec. 25, get the Ninja Dragon Dual 4K Wide Angle 3D Flip Quadcopter for $84.15 instead of $160 with the code MERRY15 — that’s a discount of 50%.

Ever wonder what’s at the top of your roof or what the birds see when they fly over your neighborhood? Instead of daydreaming about it, you can actually live it with this aerial drone that lets you get first-person views of anything and everything in real-time. Enjoy some Christmas week savings when you use the code MERRY15 at checkout and score the Ninja Dragon Dual 4K Wide Angle Quadcopter for 50% off.

It’s usually $169, but with the Christmas discount, you can snag this powerful drone for only $84.15. It’s equipped with two wide-angle cameras that take crystal clear shots in HD quality. Once you snap a photo, the details are four times that of 1080 pixels, so you’ll see every highlight, shadow, sunrise, and more. But the coolest part about the camera on this drone is that the dual 4K front optical camera is actually switchable. That means you can take images and video straight ahead, or flip the camera underneath the quadcopter to get real-time bird’s-eye views.

Photos will be stable, thanks to the optical flow positioning that provides a more stable flight. You can use palm and gesture control to get the aircraft to go up or down or begin recording videos, just like a wizard. Then, with the one-key automatic return button, you’ll be able to call your drone back to you in a flash.

Check it out:

Snap crystal-clear photos and HD videos in real-time while you pilot your own drone. The Ninja Dragon Dual 4K Wide Angle Quadcopter retails for $169, but you can use the Christmas discount code MERRY15 at checkout and snag it on sale for just $84.15.

Prices subject to change.

The professional network LinkedIn allows its users to see who viewed their profile so they can find out which people or companies are taking notice.

When you see a notification that someone has viewed your profile — on LinkedIn or otherwise — it’s only natural to want to know who. But how do you do that, exactly? It just takes a couple clicks through the site. Then, you’ll be able to see who’s noticing you, to an extent.

If you use the free version of LinkedIn, the site will only show you a small group of profile viewers. If you pay for a LinkedIn Premium plan, you can unlock the rest.

You should also know that you can’t access your profile views if you’re in private mode. Be sure to check your “visibility” in your privacy settings before following these steps.

1. On your LinkedIn timeline, find the menu under your profile name to the left

2. Select “Who viewed your profile”

“Who viewed your profile”
Credit: linkedin

3. The next page will show you the people who have viewed your profile in the past week, along with some metrics

Profile views on LinkedIn free version
Credit: linkedin

4. To see the rest of your profile viewers, you’ll have to pay for a LinkedIn Premium plan.

You do get a 1-month free trial, though. To find a plan, select “Try Free for 1 month” at the bottom of your profile viewers page.

5. If you want to just see all plans, select “See all plans”

Check whichever options you want and LinkedIn will recommend a plan for you
Credit: linkedin

6. LinkedIn will show you the various plans available to you. Somebody actively looking to grow their network and find a job might want the “Career” plan, for example

LinkedIn Premium plans
Credit: linkedin

7. Sign up for the plan you want, and then repeat steps 1 to 3 above to see everybody who viewed your profile

Nothing sets a festive vibe for a holiday get together like a good playlist. Unfortunately, Christmas music can sometimes feel — how should we put this — grating after six weeks of repetition? 

There’s only so many times you can hear Dean Martin deliver an unctuous “silver bells” without getting the willies. And, excuse me, just because it’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year doesn’t mean all of us have suddenly become Michael Bublé fans. 

Let’s be real, Mariah Carey has been carrying the load for far too long. And yes, every year, some big budget pop star or other — usually Ariana Grande — comes out with a sugar-coated tune about Santa Claus. But, if you’re frankly sick of the classics after weeks of hearing them on repeat at CVS, or if your musical diet in months other than December isn’t exclusively old timey or aggressively pop-y, where to turn?

People, you have options. Here are playlists and albums — selected with the bias of an aged-millennial — to play at your holiday gatherings. Hopefully, they’ll have you hitting the eggnog in a GOOD way.

1. Let public radio be your guide

NPR and local public radio stations have the job of entertaining the culturally discerning masses, which is an even harder task on Christmas Eve and Christmas. The national outlet and local stations have playlists meant to get you in the spirit with unconventional tunes. Check out NPR’s Christmas edition of its weekly Viking’s Choice playlist. DJ Lars Gotrich warns listeners to “Expect the unexpected as holiday classics — your Gene Autrys and Darlene Loves — play alongside saccharine, silly, somber, saucy, and stunning originals and covers by artists across drone, indie rock, reggae, punk, R&B, hip-hop, pop, metal and whatever else makes for a jingle bell time. Let’s make the yuletide weird, y’all.” 

I have to personally recommend my local NPR station, KCRW, for its holiday playlist. DJ Travis Holcomb hosted a Christmas edition of his show “Freaks Only,” which saw holiday songs from the likes of Bootsy Collins, Big Freedia, Norm MacDonald (RIP) and DMX (also RIP 😢). DMX’s “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” is the perfect Christmas song, after all.

2. A robot with good taste picked these

Pro-tip: If you search Spotify or Apple Music (whichever is your streaming platform of choice) for Christmas music + your favorite genre, the recommendation algorithms will hook you up! Personally, I’ll be spinning Spotify’s “Indie Christmas” playlist, which has covers and holiday-ish originals from artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Sufjan Stevens, The Shins, Andrew Bird, and more. Am I ready to get in my feelings with Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal”? You bet your pajama-covered butt I am! 

3. Go full manic pixie dreamgirl

A Very She & Him Christmas was the twee Christmas album to crown them all when it originally came out in 2011. This week, the duo — comprised of indie darlings Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward — re-issued the album with a tenth anniversary edition. Zooey D gets a lot of hate but her honeyed voice is beautiful and the nostalgic takes on classics set the vibe without being too conventional.

4. Go off the rails

There are some extremely strange Christmas albums out there, people. Want a somewhat spooky, psychedelic-punk inspired soundtrack? Try the 2013 compilation album featuring Iggy Pop, Psychic Ills, and other weirdos called Psych-Out Christmas. Hankering for disco remixes of Christmas classics? Mirror Image’s Disco Noël has you covered. Or you could always hand over the reins to the king of camp, John Waters, and put on his compilation album A John Waters Christmas for something that’s both delightful and horrifying. Head to Flood Magazine for more freaktastic selections.

5. So you want to give in…

Maybe you do just want to hear Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande after all to get that warm and fuzzy feeling. If so, may we suggest… movie soundtracks! The Love, Actually soundtrack will deliver the Mariah classic, but it also has a lot of other songs on there that aren’t exactly Christmas songs, but we’ve come to associate with the holiday spirit just because Love, Actually’s vibe is so strong. Take the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”: It is not, in fact, a Christmas song! But Love, Actually basically turned it into one. So google soundtrack + your favorite holiday rom com, and let the good feelings flow.

TikTok is the home of viral cooking hacks and dance videos — but it’s also the latest social media company with a content moderation problem.

Candie Frazier, who works as a contracted content moderator, filed a class action lawsuit in federal court on Thursday against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, for psychological trauma. Frazier alleges she developed anxiety, depression, and PTSD as a result of the highly regimented 12-hour shifts in which she would watch a stream of videos containing “animal cruelty, torture, suicides, child abuse, murder, beheadings, and other graphic content.” Troubling videos also discussed conspiracy theories, holocaust denial, political misinformation, and other destabilizing content.

TikTok knew the risks of subjecting contractors to this type of work, and did not follow the industry standard protocols meant to protect content moderators’ mental health, the lawsuit claims. Going further, it notes TikTok was part of a coalition that created best practices for safeguarding employees who have to filter out child sexual abuse imagery. However, TikTok hasn’t implemented many of those guidelines, which include limiting how much time moderators are exposed to troubling videos, checking workers’ mental health histories, and providing mental health check-ins, the lawsuit alleges.

TikTok has not responded to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

Frazier is calling upon TikTok and ByteDance to pay for a “medical monitoring program to facilitate the ongoing screening, diagnosis, and adequate treatment” of Frazier and anyone else who joins the class action lawsuit, if it’s allowed to move forward.

TikTok moderators are required to watch multiple 25-second clips of videos simultaneously and in rapid succession. TikTok uses a computer program to make sure moderators stay on task during their 12-hour shifts, the lawsuit claims. Moderators may get their pay dinged if they don’t keep to the tight schedule (which comes with two 15-minute break and an hour-long lunch) amid the continuous flow of toxic content.

Content moderators suffering from psychological trauma is a well-known issue. In 2020, Facebook settled a similar class action lawsuit filed by its own contracted content moderators who suffered PTSD for $52 million.