Category Archives: Blog

There’s a canyon on Mars that makes the Grand Canyon look small.

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently released rich images of two great chasms, or trenches, in this great canyon system, called Valles Marineris. The ESA’s Mars Express orbiter snapped the shots from above.

• On left is the over 520-mile-long (840-kilometer) Ius Chasma

• On right is the 500-mile-long (805-kilometer) Tithonium Chasma

These great chasms, which reach up to some 4.3 miles deep, are just a section of Valles Marineris. (For reference, the Grand Canyon reaches just over a mile down.) “As the largest canyon system in the Solar System, it would span the distance from the northern tip of Norway to the southern tip of Sicily,” the ESA said in a statement.

Two great trenches in Mars’ Valles Marineris, Ius Chasma and Tithonium Chasma.
Credit: ESA / DLR / FU Berlin CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

A map showing the section of Valles Marineris imaged by the Mars Express orbiter.
Credit: NASA / MGS / MOLA Science Team

These great chasms are thought to have formed by the ancient activity of tectonic plates moving apart, the ESA explains. (Today on geologically-active Earth, tectonic plates are currently moving apart at places like the mid-Atlantic Ridge.)

Although Mars isn’t nearly as geologically active today, it’s not nearly dead. Sizable quakes still shake the Martian land, perhaps triggered by magma, or molten rock, welling up and stressing the surface. The NASA probe InSight has recorded over 1,300 quakes on Mars (as of early May 2022).

“Mars remains active, just not as active as Earth,” Mark Panning, a planetary scientist and NASA’s InSight lander project manager, told Mashable.

UPDATE: Jul. 20, 2022, 4:15 p.m. EDT We’ve updated this post with the best deals from across the Apple universe.

• BEST MAC DEAL: The 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is a powerhouse laptop built for creatives — $2,299 $2,499 at Amazon (save $200)

• BEST IPAD DEAL: The 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) is back down to just 99 cents away from the lowest price we’ve ever seen it at — $399.99 $599 at Best Buy (save $200)

• BEST IPHONE DEAL: The iPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon is a mini phone with plenty of storage space and a battery life worth bragging about — $0 with an eligible trade-in on select 5G unlimited plans $699.99 (save up to $700)

• BEST APPLE WATCH DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) gives you the best bang for your buck— $339.99 $399 at Amazon (save $59.01)

• BEST ACCESSORIES DEAL: The AirPods Max are the stylish and functional over-the-ear headphones that most Apple users are sure to love — $449 $549 at Amazon (save $100)

You could really kill some time trying to dissect the iron grasp Apple has on the general population, but when it comes down to it, its products look good, work well, and stay cutting-edge — of course people like them. Whether your favorite day of the year is its annual September reveal event or you just want a solid computer no matter the brand, Apple’s got you covered. Sure, it is a little notorious for its higher prices, but we’ve rounded up the best deals on iPads, AirPods, and more to help you out. Check them out below.

Mac and MacBook deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s official review of the 2021 MacBook Pro.

This is not an everyday laptop, so it doesn’t come at an everyday price. But for people who want to multitask while editing photos or videos, room-filling speakers, a battery life that’s built to last, and the workflow that only a 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display can provide, the latest MacBook Pro is the way to go.

More Mac and MacBook deals

2021 MacBook Pro

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 at Amazon (save $200)

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 at Best Buy (save $200)

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,249 $2,499 at Amazon (save $250)

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,249 $2,499 at Best Buy (save $250)

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,449 $2,699 at Amazon (save $250)

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,449 $2,699 at Best Buy (save $250)

2020 MacBook Pro, 13-inch

• MacBook Pro (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 at Best Buy (save $200)

2020 MacBook Air

• MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,249.99 at Best Buy (save $150)

More Macs

• 2020 Mac Mini (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849 $899 at Amazon (save $50)

• 2020 21.5-inch iMac (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $1,099 at Amazon (save $250)

Refurbished Macs and MacBooks

• Refurbished 2017 13-inch MacBook Air (Intel Core i5, 128GB) — $287.96 at Walmart

• Pre-owned 2015 13-inch MacBook Air (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $429.99 $484.99 at Best Buy (save $55)

iPad deals

Why we like it

The 2020 iPad Air is $200 off again, just 99 cents away from the lowest price we’ve ever seen it. True, it doesn’t have the M1 chip of its newer counterpart, but its A14 Bionic chip can still handle photo editing and games without a problem. Plus, with the iPadOS 16 update, we doubt you’ll be able to tell this iPad is two years old.

More iPad deals

iPad

• 2021 iPad (WiFi, 64GB) — $309 $329 at Amazon (save $20)

• 2021 iPad (WiFi, 64GB) — $309 $329 at Walmart (save $20)

• 2021 iPad (WiFi, 256GB) — $429 $479 at Amazon (save $50)

• 2021 iPad (WiFi, 256GB) — $429 $479 at Walmart (save $50)

iPad Mini

• 2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) — $399.99 $499.99 at Best Buy (save $100)

• 2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) — $409 $499 at Walmart (save $90)

• 2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 256GB) — $549 $649 at Walmart (save $100)

iPad Air

• 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $469 $599 at Walmart (save $130)

• 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $399.99 $599 at Best Buy (save $200)

• 2022 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $559 $599 at Amazon (save $40)

• 2022 iPad Air (WiFi, 256GB) — $679 $749 at Amazon (save $100)

iPad Pro

• 2021 11″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB) — $749 $799 at Amazon (save $50)

• 2021 11″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) — $849 $899 at Amazon (save $50)

iPhone deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s official review of the iPhone 13 Mini.

Like most phone deals on this list, having a decent trade-in is essential to scoring the most bang for your buck. So why the iPhone 13 Mini? Well, you likely won’t need a brand new phone to get the price tag as close to $0 as possible, you’re not trading-in for an outdated model, and you get at least 128GB of storage, nice battery life, and cinematic mode without the huge price tag. You can also grab this deal at AT&T.

More iPhone deals

• iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at AT&T — $315 on an installment and unlimited plan with no trade-in required (save $315)

• iPhone 12 (64GB) at AT&T — $364 on an installment and unlimited plan with no trade-in required (save up to $364.99)

• iPhone 13 Mini (128GB) at AT&T — $0 with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan $699.99 (save up to $700)

• iPhone 13 (128GB) at AT&T — $199.99 with an installment plan and eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan $799.99 (save up to $700)

• iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) at AT&T — $299.99 with an installment plan and eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan $999.99 (save up to $700)

• iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — $299.99 with an eligible trade-in on select 5G unlimited plans $599.99 (save up to $300)

• iPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — $0 with an eligible trade-in on select 5G unlimited plans $699.99 (save up to $700)

• iPhone 13 (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with an eligible trade-in on select 5G unlimited plans $799.99 (save up to $800)

• iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) at Verizon — $199.99 with an eligible trade-in on select 5G unlimited plans $999.99 (save up to $800)

Apple Watch deals

Why we like it

The Series 7 may not be at the historic lows we saw over Prime Day, but $340 isn’t a bad deal. This latest smartwatch, with its blood oxygen and ECG sensors, support for bike workouts, and ample screen space, is by far the best Apple has to offer.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 7

• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) — $339.99 $399 at Amazon (save $59.01)

• Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) — $369.99 $429 at Amazon (save $59.01)

SE

• Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) — $229 $279 at Amazon (save $50 with coupon automatically applied at checkout)

• Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $259.99 $309 at Amazon (save $49.01 with coupon automatically applied at checkout)

Series 3

• Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm, GPS) — $149 $199 at Walmart (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm, GPS) — $179 $229 at Walmart (save $50)

Refurbished

• Refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS + Cellular) — $233 $299 at Amazon (save $66)

• Renewed Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm, GPS) — $203 $415 at Amazon (save $212)

Apple accessories deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s official review of the AirPods Max.

Are the only over-the-ear AirPods ridiculously expensive? Yes. But do they offer excellent audio quality, active noise cancellation, and 20 hours of battery life in a stylish package? Also yes. As of July 20, you can grab a pair in Sky Blue for $100 off, though all the other colors are also $70 off.

More Apple accessories deals

• AirPods (third gen) — $159.99 $179 at Amazon (save $19.01)

• AirPods Pro — $179.99 $249 at Amazon (save $69.02)

• AirPods Pro — $179.99 $249 at Walmart (save $69.01)

• AirPods Max— $449 $549 at Amazon (save $100)

• Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones — $129.95 $199.95 at Amazon (save $70)

• 2021 Apple TV 4K (32GB) — $129.99 $179 at Amazon (save $49.01)

• Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earphones — $199.95 $249.95 at Amazon (save $50)

• Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $209.51 $349.95 at Amazon (save $140.44)

Explore related content:

• 8 monitors to take your MacBook Pro to the next level

• MacBooks aren’t the only great laptops — and this list proves it

• Best headphones for iPhone owners: Think outside the (AirPods) box

While some industries are still sussing out their opinions on NFTs, the video game community is making it clear: NFTs stand for “No F’n Thanks” in their industry.

The latest company to take a stand against non-fungible tokens: Mojang Studios, the developer of the massively popular video game, Minecraft.

In a statement put out today on the official Minecraft website, titled simply “Minecraft and NFTs,” the company made it crystal clear that it would not permit any sort of blockchain or NFT integration with its game.

Mojang Studios and Minecraft laid out a few reasons as to why they are against NFTs. For one, they made it clear that fake scarcity plays a major part in it. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are basically digital assets stored on a blockchain. A unique token is minted and connected to a media file in order to declare ownership of that piece which has turned NFTs into speculative assets. 

The statement makes clear that Minecraft is not against monetizing, and uses the example of users charging for access to a Minecraft server as an approved use case. However, because NFTs would change the gameplay dynamics and give players with monetary means an upperhand in-game, the developer is opposed to the technology.

“To ensure that Minecraft players have a safe and inclusive experience, blockchain technologies are not permitted to be integrated inside our Minecraft client and server applications nor may they be utilized to create NFTs associated with any in-game content, including worlds, skins, persona items, or other mods,” declares the statement.

The developer also brought up concerns about the trustworthiness of third-parties who mint Minecraft-related NFTs, and their tendencies to abandon projects, and fraudulently inflate prices on the NFT aftermarkets.

“No blockchain for block game,” as Molly White of the website Web3 is Going Great succinctly put it. The website tracks the various scams, frauds, and drama going on in the Web3 world, which includes cryptocurrencies and NFT projects.

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As White points out, the value of existing (and unauthorized) Minecraft NFT projects tanked on the news of Mojang Studios’ statement. NFT Worlds, which also has a token associated with it, saw the value of both the token and its NFT floor prices crater by more than 70 percent.

Minecraft’s Mojang Studios is far from the first video game company to run far away from NFTs. Gamers have made it clear that they hate the idea of buying NFTs on top of the video games they already purchase. And their anti-NFT opinions have forced the industry to follow. Just earlier this month, Sony announced a loyalty program called Playstation Stars which will reward players with digital collectibles. The company stressed that these digital collectibles were not NFTs.

“It’s definitely not NFTs. Definitely not. You can’t trade them or sell them. It is not leveraging any blockchain technologies and definitely not NFTs,” said Grace Chen, Sony VP of network advertising, loyalty, and licensed merchandise, in an interview with The Washington Post.

Mojang Studios did end its statement by saying that they would monitor how blockchain technology evolves for any possible future use cases, leaving the door somewhat open based on currently non-existent possibilities. But, at least for the foreseeable future, chalk up another win for gamers who absolutely hate NFTs.

UPDATE: Jul. 20, 2022, 3:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest 4K and 8K TV deals.

• The Samsung 85-inch Q900A QLED TV is a huge Neo QLED masterpiece that’s super affordable compared to its competition — $2,299.99 $4,999.99 (save $2,700)

• The LG 65-inch NanoCell 90 4K TV has double the pixels of a 4K TV and utilizes smaller-than-usual LEDs for more precise contrast — $896.99 $1,399.99 (save $503)

• This Amazon 75-inch Omni Series 4K TV deal scores Prime members almost 50% off, bringing this perfect mid-sized TV under $300 — $749.99 $1,099.99 (save $350)

Large 4K TVs no longer have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. These high-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions are actually affordable for regular consumers. And to make them even more budget-friendly, we’ve gathered up the best deals on 4K and QLED TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more.

Samsung TV deals

Why we love it

A massive TV that was once $5,000 is barely over $2,500 for a limited time. The “Neo” part represents an upgrade to Samsung’s QLED technology, which is made up of thousands of sand-sized LED particles that light themselves. Now, the bright and colorful quantum dot display is even more vivid with even more precise brightness.

More Samsung TVs on sale

• Samsung 32-inch The Frame QLED TV — $459.99 $599.99 (save $140)

• Samsung 43-inch The Sero Rotating QLED TV — $1,099.99 $1,999.99 (save $900)

• Samsung 55-inch Q60A Series QLED TV — $699.99 $849.99 (save $150)

• Samsung 55-inch Q80A Series QLED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• Samsung 65-inch TU8300 Curved 4K TV — $647.99 $799.99 (save $152)

• Samsung 65-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,599.99 $1,999.99 (save $400)

• Samsung 65-inch QN900A 8K TV — $2,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $2,000)

• Samsung 75-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $1,699.99 $2,299.99 (save $600)

• Samsung 85-inch Q60B Series QLED TV — $1,897.99 $2,297.99 (save $400)

• Samsung 85-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $2,299.99 $3,299.99 (save $1,000)

• Samsung 85-inch QN85B Neo QLED TV — $2,299.99 $3,299.99 (save $1,000)

• Samsung 85-inch The Frame QLED TV — $3,499.99 $4,299.99 (save $800)

• Samsung 85-inch Q900A Neo QLED TV — $4,999.99 $8,999.99 (save $4,000)

LG TV deals

Why we love it

In 2021, LG dropped a mid-range line of 4K TVs featuring its NanoCell technology, which amps up color depth and contrast using an extra light filter of nanoparticles. In 2022, that line is becoming more affordable. The 90 Series features full-array local dimming.

More LG TVs on sale

• LG 50-inch UQ7570 Series 4K TV — $376.99 $459.99 (save $83)

• LG 55-inch NanoCell 80 4K TV — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)

• LG 55-inch B1 Series QLED TV — $996.99 $1,699.99 (save $703)

• LG 65-inch C1 Series OLED TV — $1,596.99 $2,499.99 (save $903)

• LG 65-inch B2 Series OLED TV — $1,799.99 $2,299.99 (save $500)

• LG 70-inch NanoCell 75 Series 4K TV — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)

• LG 77-inch G1 Gallery Series QLED TV — $2,999.99 $3,799.99 (save $700)

• LG 83-inch C1 Series OLED TV — $3,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $1,000)

Sony TV deals

Why we love it

One of Sony’s high-end OLED TVs from 2021 seems to see a bigger price drop as the weeks go on — probably because the 2022 lineup entered the chat. This isn’t your average OLED, either: Instead of relying on AI to optimize brightness, the Cognitive Processor XR chip customizes adjustments to things like skin tone or background light, depending on the angle from which a scene is filmed.

More Sony TVs on sale

• Sony 50-inch X80K 4K TV — $599.99 $749.99 (save $150)

• Sony 55-inch X80K 4K TV — $649.99 $799.99 (save $150)

• Sony 55-inch X90K 4K TV — $1,099.99 $1,399.99 (save $300)

• Sony 65-inch X80K 4K TV — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• Sony 65-inch X95J 4K TV — $1,299.99 $1,799.99 (save $500)

• Sony 65-inch A90J OLED TV — $2,799.99 $3,299.99 (save $500)

• Sony 75-inch XR Z9J 8K TV — $3,999.99 $5,499.99 (save $1,500)

• Sony 85-inch X80K 4K TV — $1,799.99 $2,299.99 (save $500)

Other TV deals from TCL, Vizio, and more

Why we love it

After years of exclusively outsourcing the Fire TV platform to brands like Insignia and Toshiba, Amazon finally debuted its very own smart TV in fall 2021. The beloved Omni series is well-reviewed for crisp performance and ease of use.

More TVs from TCL, Vizio, and more on sale

• Toshiba 43-inch V35 Series 4K Fire TV — $189.99 $289.99 (save $100)

• Amazon 43-inch Omni Series 4K Fire TV — $279.99 $369.99 (save $90)

• Hisense 50-inch A6 Series 4K TV — $289.99 $499.99 (save $210)

• TCL 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV — $339.99 $599.99 (save $260)

• Toshiba 65-inch C350 Series 4K TV — $429.99 $569.99 (save $170)

• Amazon 65-inch Omni Series 4K Fire TV – $499.99 $829.99 (save $330)

• Hisense 65-inch U6G ULED TV — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• TCL 65-inch 5 Series QLED TV — $599.99 $699.99 (save $100)

• Insignia 70-inch F30 Series 4K TV — $469.99 $649.99 (save $180)

• Toshiba 75-inch MM50 4K TV — $729.99 $1,399.99 (save $670)

NASA is shooting for the moon in terms of ambitious scheduling.

Its associate administrator for exploration systems development, Jim Free, said in a conference call on July 20 that NASA was ready to announce some possible launch dates for the Artemis 1 mission: “We have placeholders on the range for August 29, September 2, and September 5,” Free said, offering a precise description of his work schedule, if not a crystal clear picture of when we can all expect a launch.

This mission has been a long time coming, and it’s worth the uncertainty. In many ways, Artemis 1 marks the start of a new era for NASA: the first mission for its new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket series, and one that will send a crewless Orion spacecraft around the moon as a critical test for an upcoming actual-human-carrying lunar mission. Yes, human feet on the moon, that thing our species hasn’t accomplished since 1972? It’s happening again (in around four years).

So far in 2022, the looming Artemis 1 launch has been beset by delays. The critical rehearsal for fueling the rocket and counting down the launch was hampered by faulty valves and leaks. Now, after what NASA described as a successful countdown rehearsal in late June, the agency is confident that it’s ready to launch its new megarocket. “We have completed the rehearsal phase, and everything we’ve learned will help improve our ability to lift off during the target launch window,” Tom Whitmeyer, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for common exploration systems,” said in a statement. “The team is now ready to take the next step and prepare for launch.”

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If all goes according to plan, NASA will have a two-hour window at 8:33 AM Eastern on August 29 to launch Artemis 1. The Orion spacecraft will orbit the moon and then return 42 days later on October 10, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. If that date doesn’t work out, eventual splashdowns can be expected on October 11, or October 17.

If you do the math, you’ll notice that second splashdown date would make for a shorter mission by about three days, but recall that when traveling through space, everything is always moving, especially the appointment dates on your calendar.

Yes, a tiny rock particle hit the Webb telescope. No, the mission isn’t nearly doomed.

You may have read misleading headlines emphasizing that the James Webb Space Telescope — the most powerful such observatory ever built — has incurred some permanent damage. That’s a cherry-picked bit from a new 55-page report describing the instrument’s excellent scientific performance over the past six months, as engineers prepped and tested its unprecedented cosmic-viewing abilities.

The Webb telescope, overall, is in great shape. Here’s what you should know about the condition of the observatory that will revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos.

What did scientists conclude about the Webb telescope’s condition?

NASA and its collaborative partners, the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency, concluded that Webb — even after a speeding micrometeroid (a small often dust-sized rock particle) hit and caused a “significant uncorrectable change” to one of the telescope’s 18 gold-coated hexagonal mirrors — is “fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built.”

Crucially, they expect Webb to exceed expectations. “Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected,” Webb’s scientists wrote.

“The science performance of JWST is better than expected.”

Why is Webb expected to overachieve? Its mirrors are cleaner than required to meet its lofty scientific objectives. Its guidance system, which locks onto and tracks targets, is better than required. And its overall performance at clearly viewing objects is better than requirements.

And if that wasn’t enough good news, Webb’s scientists have concluded it has enough finite fuel aboard to help power the mission for 20 years. (The telescope used less propellant than planned in order to arrive at its outpost some 1 million miles from Earth.) Originally, NASA hoped the instrument would last five years, and the agency was initially pleased to learn it would operate with adequate propellant for over 10 years.

With the Webb telescope at peak performance, astronomers plan to:

• Peer at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. “We’re going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed,” Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable last year.

• Look at the cosmos in infrared light, which allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn’t as often collide with and get scattered by these densely-packed particles. Ultimately, Webb’s infrared eyesight can penetrate places the legendary Hubble Space Telescope can’t.

• Peer into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment, called spectrometers, that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb will look at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we’ll find?

How bad is the damage to Webb?

As you’ve read above, the telescope overall is in great shape.

During the six months scientists prepared the $10 billion telescope for its much anticipated science operations, researchers detected six impacts from micrometeroids. Indeed, they expected about one hit every month. “Inevitably, any spacecraft will encounter micrometeoroids,” the report noted. Of the six hits, five had negligible effects.

But the impact that occurred between May 22 and 24 was strong enough to cause, as noted above, a “significant uncorrectable change” in one of Webb’s 18 hexagonal mirror segments (segment C3). Fortunately, the observatory’s mirror — which collects faint light from the extremely distant cosmos — is quite big at over 21-feet across. This means most of the telescope isn’t impacted.

The image on the right shows a light area (bottom right of the mirror) where a micrometeroid hit the Webb telescope, ultimately changing the mirror’s surface.
Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA

“However, the effect was small at the full telescope level because only a small portion of the telescope area was affected,” Webb’s scientists wrote.

What’s more, after the strike, Webb engineers worked to make slight adjustments to the mirror’s alignment, which limited any small imaging errors. (Such errors are to be expected as the telescope drifts a bit in space.) “Webb’s capability to sense and adjust mirror positions enables partial correction for the result of impacts,” NASA previously noted. “By adjusting the position of the affected segment, engineers can cancel out a portion of the distortion.”

What risks do future impacts to the telescope pose?

Only time will tell if this impact was rare, or if it might be more common than Webb scientists estimated.

“It is not yet clear whether the May 2022 hit to segment C3 was a rare event (i.e. an unlucky early strike by a high kinetic energy micrometeoroid that statistically might occur only once in several years), or whether the telescope may be more susceptible to damage by micrometeoroids than pre-launch modeling predicted,” the report concluded.

If it turns out Webb is at a higher risk for damage, NASA and its Webb partners can consider minimizing how much time the telescope peers in directions where there are more micrometeroids flying through space, or point the telescope away during certain meteor showers.

For now, however, the telescope is primed to succeed.

“With revolutionary capabilities, JWST has begun the first of many years of scientific discovery,” the report concluded.

UPDATE: Jul. 20, 2022, 1:40 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and more.

We’ve compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of July 8:

• BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Shark EZ RV900 is a no-frills, efficient daily cleaner — $178 $299 (save $121)

• BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The Shark IQ RV1002AE cleans competently, self-empties, and offers zone cleaning — $299.99 $549.99 (save $250)

• BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock E4 can sweep and scrub your hardwood and tile for under $300 — $269.99 $379.99 (save $90)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can’t have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200

Why we like it

Shark’s EZ vacuum isn’t decked out with features, but is an efficient daily cleaner for less than $200. It cleans in neat rows, doubling up on dirty areas that need more work.

More robot vacuums under $200

• ionvac Smart Clean 2000 — $95 $179.88 (save $84.88)

• Eufy Robovac 30 — $139.99 $249.99 (save $110)

• Eufy 30C Max – $169.99 $259.90 (save $89.91)

• Neato Robotics D6 — $199.99 $499.99 (save $300)

Robot vacuums under $500

Why we like it

Shark’s largest self-emptying dock can hold 45 days of dust bin refuse before you’ll need to deal with it.  The vacuum itself maps out your home, then follows that map with methodical row-by-row sweeping. In the Shark app, you can select specific rooms to clean.

More robot vacuums under $500

• Shark AI AV2001 — $255.20 $429.99 (save $174.79)

• iRobot Roomba i3 Evo — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Shark AI AV2501S — $389.95 $549.99 (save $160.04)

• Dreametech L10 Pro — $369.99 $489.99 (save $120)

• Roborock Q5+ — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• iRobot Roomba i4+ — $529 $649.99 (save $120.99)

• Shark IQ RV1001AE XL — $399.99 $599.99 (save $200)

Robot vacuums under $800

Why we like it

Amazon’s 34% discount on Samsung’s Jet Bot+ is a gem of a find compared to the full price listed on Samsung’s own website. The Jet Bot+ uses LiDAR to map your home and cleans by identifying the type of surface and amount of dust it’s dealing with. The compact Clean Station holds up to a month’s worth of debris.

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops

Why we like it:

Roborock’s baseline vac also comes in a hybrid version. It brings precise, wide-spanning wet and dry coverage to your floors, using motion tracking to create an effective route and track where it has already gone. It can clean for up to 200 minutes before returning to charge.

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

• Dreamtech D9 — $239.99 $299.99 (save $60)

• iHome AutoVac Eclipse Pro — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• Yeedi Vac Station — $349.99 $549.99 (save $200)

• Shark RV2001WD AI VacMop — $389.99 $479.99 (save $90)

• Ecovacs N8 Pro+ — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)

• Roborock S7+ (renewed) — $759.99 $949.98 (save $189.99)

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having “first day clean” floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robovac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

• Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

• Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

• Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

• Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

• Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

• Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

• App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.

The latest trailer for HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon has major Succession vibes, and not just because characters keep throwing the word “succession” around.

While the trailer is full of battles, court intrigue, and dragons (including a dragon wearing armor!), it’s the talk of succession that takes center stage. King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) sits upon the Iron Throne, and he’s preparing to name his heir. Options include his brother Daemon (Matt Smith), who already considers the title his, and his first-born daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), who would be the first woman to ever rule the Seven Kingdoms. Viserys’s wife Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) is also at play here, as her child would be Viserys’s heir. Out of all these contenders, who will be named next to rule Waystar/Royco — sorry, I mean Westeros? We’ll have to wait until August to find out.

House of the Dragon premieres Aug. 21 on HBO and HBO Max.

In the first image NASA released from the Webb telescope, some galaxies look like strings of stretched taffy. That’s because the universe itself has altered our view of the deep cosmos.

Astronomers recently pointed the colossal James Webb Space Telescope at a cluster of galaxies dubbed SMACS 0723. The combined mass of these galaxies warps space, like a bowling ball sitting on a mattress.

This warped space essentially creates a “lens” that we look through. So the light from the galaxies behind this galactic cluster is distorted. It’s an occurrence called “gravitational lensing.”

At long last, Discord voice chat has a home on consoles.

The popular messaging and community platform that’s widely used by PC gamers for its exceptionally well-implemented voice chat, streaming, and social features is now starting to roll out for select Xbox users. For now, it’s limited to members of the Xbox Insiders program who receive an invite, but access is set to grow “in the coming weeks,” says Xbox.

While the main Discord app offers an array of features, this Xbox announcement is primarily about the voice chat. Players will be able to use Discord Voice on Xbox to pop into chat channels and group calls right on their console. The process to get all of that up and running is a bit convoluted — that might explain why it’s a limited rollout — but it’s simple enough.

To get started, you’ll need a Discord account and an Insiders invite to use it on Xbox. First, you link your Discord and Xbox accounts by firing up your console (Xbox One and Xbox Series hardware only) and heading to the “Parties & Chats” menu. If you have access, you should see a “Try Discord Voice on Xbox” menu option listed there. Selecting that opens up a QR code that you’ll need to scan to start the linking process.

You can also manage this in Discord on PC or mobile by heading to the app’s settings menu and opening up the “Connections” tab. To link up with Microsoft, just click the Xbox logo near the top of the page and follow the prompts. Note that to access Discord Voice, you’ll still need to do this connection process if you’ve previously connected your Xbox and Discord accounts.

Once that’s done, you’re ready to join chats (after a few more steps, sorry). Discord is very tied to mobile starting out, so you’ll need both the Discord and Xbox apps installed on iOS or both the Discord beta and Xbox apps installed on Android. You use the Discord app to join chats (which bumps you to the Xbox app) and manage basic voice features like Mute and Deafen.

These kinds of minor inconveniences are part of the fun and exciting adventure you sign up for when you’re helping to test out unreleased software. Discord invites aren’t going out to all Xbox Insiders accounts yet, but if you want in eventually, joining Microsoft’s early access program is as easy as installing the app.

The fact of Discord’s arrival on any console is a big moment on its own, and it’s something of a coup for Microsoft. Sony announced a Discord partnership of its own in March 2021. While account linking has been up and running for some time, the all-important rollout of voice chat support has yet to materialize on PlayStation. The Xbox release could mean it’s happening sooner than anyone thinks, though.

UPDATE: Jul. 20, 2022, 4:56 p.m. EDT Added clarification from Discord and Microsoft on how mobile apps are incorporated into the setup and chat management process.