Category Archives: Blog

Do want to watch people fall in love? Maybe you need to see folks fall off of stuff? Or maybe you wish to witness adorable toddlers run errands and forget about your problems? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re in the right place!

Finding quality reality TV can prove difficult for cable cutters, since much of it still airs live. Luckily, Netflix has a huge selection of reality programs ripe for the time-wasting.

From The Casketeers to Rhythm + Flow, here are the 20 most binge-worthy reality shows now streaming on Netflix — ranked by just how much we think they’ll consume your life.

Note: All cooking shows (yes, including The Great British Baking Show) have been excluded on the basis that if we had included any of them, they would have to make up at least 10 entries. You can check out our favorite Netflix cooking shows here. We’re also not listing any docuseries, because that isn’t “reality TV.”

Now, with all those caveats out of the way, here are the 20 most addictive reality shows on Netflix.

20. The Big Flower Fight

You ever want to zone out and look at a bunch of nice flowers? The Big Flower Fight is the show for you. Ten florists/garden artists compete in a series of whimsical trials that test their ability to make something beautiful into something even more beautiful, which is just as calming and aesthetically satisfying as it sounds. —Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Big Flower Fight is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo says it best in a Season 1 episode of Tidying Up: “I love mess.” More precisely, she loves creating order out of that mess. Watching Kondo arrive in the houses of some extremely disorganized people and generate harmony from their piles of junk is not only psychologically pleasing — it might even inspire viewers to make some changes in their own lives. —A.F.

How to watch: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Say I Do

The term “surprise wedding” sounds like a complete nightmare, but Say I Do makes the idea of proposing, planning, and springing a wedding on one’s significant other in less than a week seem like the peak of romance. Part of the show’s charm comes from its uplifting message — that true love deserves to be celebrated in all forms — and the rest comes from its amazing three-man panel of experts who create marriage magic for the adorable couples. Grab a pack of tissues and watch the love unfold. —A.F.

How to watch: Say I Do is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Old Enough

The perfect antidote for any of life’s troubles is watching small toddlers run errands in Old Enough. This Japanese reality series sends young children, aged 2 to 5, out into the world to help their parents by performing simple tasks, like running to the store to buy groceries. It’s a simple premise with high emotional stakes. Seriously, you’ll get so invested in these youngsters’ journeys that you’ll cry whenever they return successfully. Reality TV has reached ultimate cuteness. Nothing else compares. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Old Enough is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Ultimate Beastmaster

A zanier take on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Ultimate Beastmaster pits international athletes against one of the hardest obstacle courses ever constructed. Then, they face each other.

In every episode, the competitor with the highest score is named “The Beast.” Then, at the season’s end, nine Beasts compete on a new course to become [insert intense techno music] THE BEASTMASTER. With commentary featuring tons of spectacular hosts from across the globe, Ultimate Beastmaster is essentially the Olympics of reality TV — if the Olympics were pretty dumb. —A.F.

How to watch: Ultimate Beastmaster is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Next in Fashion

Next in Fashion takes the fashion-focused competition popularized by Project Runway and throws the curveballs out the window, allowing designers to focus on creating their best outfits possible without anything to hold them back. The designers themselves all have strong backgrounds, although they aren’t quite household names. And they’re competing to win $250,000 and a retail deal.

Hosts Tan France and Alexa Chung bring a fun dose of humor to this series which highlights inclusive fashion. With just one, 10-episode season, Next in Fashion is an easy binge for a lazy weekend. —A.F.

How to watch: Next in Fashion is now streaming on Netflix.

14. The Circle

A social media competition that starts boring and ends batshit, The Circle is an acquired taste.

Split into twelve episodes, this blend of Fox Reality’s Solitary and MTV’s Catfish tasks contestants with winning over strangers through a platform called The Circle. They can play as themselves or play as someone else, all that matters is gaining influence and inching closer to that $100,000 prize. —A.F.

How to watch: The Circle is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Dating Around

Netflix’s first original dating show may be packaged in romantic cinematography, but make no mistake: Dating Around can get just as dramatic as ABC’s The Bachelor.

Contestants — diverse in age, race, and sexuality but universally unlucky in love — head out for a night in New York City. Each participant then goes on one date, identical to all other contestants’ (all eat at the same restaurant, go to the same bar, etc.), and focuses on sparking a connection with the episode’s eligible bachelor or bachelorette. There are intimate conversations, surprising accusations, and lots of awkward pauses. You’ll fall in love. —A.F.

How to watch: Dating Around is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Floor is Lava

Floor Is Lava is stupid fun — emphasis on stupid. Netflix puts a Legend of the Temple spin on Wipe Out in this show, which pits teams against themed obstacle courses. The twist? The obstacles are submerged in lava (aka orange water). Once you fall in, you’re out. Is it high art? Absolutely not. Is it a fun watch if you need to kill some time? You bet your butt it is. — B.E.

How to watch: Floor Is Lava is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Amazing Interiors

Seemingly based on the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover,” Netflix’s Amazing Interiors visits unassuming buildings that hide spectacular secrets. From a house that doubles as an aquarium to a steampunk wonderland, the locations featured in this show are as breathtaking as they are memorable. Each episode runs a little under a half hour, the perfect background noise or pre-bed show to bring into your home.

As a bonus, check out Interior Design Masters, a British competition series that tasks ten artists with reimagining commercial spaces like restaurants, model homes, and storefronts. The winner walks away with a high-profile commercial contract to redesign a bar at a London hotel. —A.F.

How to watch: Amazing Interiors is now streaming on Netflix.

10. The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On

The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On is trashy reality TV of the highest order. Each of the show’s six main couples is facing the same dilemma: one partner wants to get married, and the other has doubts. Now, with the help of Love is Blind‘s Nick and Vanessa Lachey, these 12 people will test their commitments to each other… by breaking up and choosing new partners. Honestly, it’s a train wreck disguised as an experiment to find your true love. But you know what they say about train wrecks: You can’t look away. And you certainly can’t look away from the mess that is The Ultimatum. — B.E.

How to watch: The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Last Chance U

For young, talented football players hoping to make it to Division I or the NFL but who found themselves in a bit of trouble, a handful of junior colleges in the United States offer them a last chance to turn their lives around and put them on a path to success. Last Chance U focuses on a few different junior college football programs, primarily East Mississippi Community College, and the players who have found themselves there.

Each season focuses on a year of a school’s program and gives us an in-depth look at these kids who either couldn’t get into DI school or were kicked out for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s because of their grades, other times it’s issues with the law. It’s an intimate look at some of the least privileged youth in America getting an opportunity to make it to the top.—A.F.

How to watch: Last Chance U is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Blown Away

In the back-breaking world of glass arts, the stakes couldn’t be higher. One wrong move and an award-winning masterpiece can become worthless shards. For the competitors in Blown Away, the pressure is on to nail weekly challenges and progress closer to the coveted title of “Best in Glass.” There’s screaming, there’s crying, and there’s a whole bunch of people casually saying “glory hole,” all next to a 2,000-degree furnace. —A.F.

How to watch: Blown Away is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Fastest Car

Man, f*ck the rich. In this Netflix auto-racing series, owners of luxury supercars go up against “sleeper cars” (older models improved by skilled gear heads) in a quarter-mile race for a chance at the season championship.

It’s high speed and high intrigue, as viewers guess which racer will reign supreme. Trust me when I say, even if you’re not “into” racing, nothing beats a 1992 Honda Civic stomping a Lamborghini. —A.F.

How to watch: Fastest Car is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Rhythm + Flow

Netflix’s first original music competition show is basically American Idol, but waaay more badass.

Celebrity judges T.I., Chance the Rapper, and Cardi B (with help from guests including Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, and Ty Dolla $ign) scout the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago in hopes of discovering raw talent in the world of hip hop. The criticism is excellent, albeit occasionally vicious, and the good performances are really, really good.

Buckle up, pick a favorite, and see who wins the $250,000 grand prize. —A.F.

How to watch: Rhythm + Flow is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Death by Magic

Magician Drummond Money-Coutts (aka “DMC”) takes his job very seriously. An escape artist with decades of experience, DMC knows all too well how stunts and tricks can go wrong. In his Netflix series Death by Magic, the daredevil illusionist takes on feats with a proven track record of killing those who attempt them. The result is a fist-clenching, teeth-grinding fiasco as utterly nerve-racking as it is impressive.

Not interested in watching a dude almost die? You can also check out former Cupcake Wars host Justin Willman’s show Magic for Humans, also on Netflix. —A.F.

How to watch: Death by Magic is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Love Is Blind

Love Is Blind combines the best of Dating in the Dark, Bachelor in Paradise, and Married at First Sight with just a sprinkle of Trading Spaces and Say Yes to the Dress.

As hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey explain, the matchmaking experiment begins with a pool of contestants getting to know each other via “pods,” adjoining rooms where they can talk to their hearts’ content but never see who they’re dating. If they agree to get engaged, the participants are allowed to meet face-to-face — where both their personalities and appearances can shine. Then, mayhem ensues. Weddings are planned, hearts are broken, and dental hygiene is discussed. Swoon. —A.F.

How to watch: Love Is Blind is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Casketeers

A reality show centering on husband and wife Francis and Kaiora Tipene, The Casketeers records the challenges and rewards that come with owning a small business — in this case, a funeral home.

Turns out, Tipene Funerals, located in New Zealand, is a hotbed for drama, antics, and spectacular combinations of the two. Surprisingly lively and respectful of the deceased people featured, The Casketeers is a reality universe that will suck you in for the long haul. —A.F.

How to watch: The Casketeers is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Bling Empire

Billed as the reality show version of Crazy Rich Asians, Bling Empire delivers on the glitz and glamor of its wealthy subjects by offering a peek into their opulent lives. Pool parties, trips to Europe, shopping sprees, and closets to die for are typical rich people reality show standards. Yet Bling Empire’s charming cast keeps this show a cut above the rest. —A.F.

How to watch: Bling Empire is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Awake: The Million Dollar Game

So, a whole bunch of people count quarters for 24 hours. Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of quarters. No paper, no pen, no breaks, no naps. Then, the competition begins.

In Awake: The Million Dollar Game, these sleep-deprived contestants must take part in Minute to Win It-style challenges designed to exploit their exhaustion. (As an example, in Episode 1, participants are tasked with chugging frozen drinks because sleep deprivation makes you more sensitive to temperature.) There are a dozen caveats round to round, made ten times more spectacular by just how tired everyone. Logic goes out the window. Coordination is a no-show, and emotional stability is mixed.

Just…watch this. Episodes are 40 minutes. It’ll change your life. You’re welcome.—A.F.

How to watch: Awake: The Million Dollar Game is now streaming on Netflix.

It’s Sunday, folks, and you know what that means? It’s time to wind down with the latest Wordle. But if the solution is proving tricky, we’re here to lend a hand.

The answer to the July 17 Wordle, puzzle #393, can be found at the end of this article, or you can simply read on for a few tips, gentle hints, and strategies to help you every day.

Where did Wordle come from?

Wordle‘s sudden explosion at the end of 2021 led to a round of press focused on its creator. Former Reddit engineer Josh Wardle actually came up with the game in 2021 as a private exercise for him and his word game-loving partner. It eventually became a staple of their family WhatsApp messaging, and that’s when Wardle started to suspect he might have something special enough to merit a wider release.

Thousands of people around the globe now play this game each day, and fans have even created alternatives to Wordle inspired by the original format. This includes music identification game Heardle, Hollywood nerd faves Actorle and Framed, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Not the day you’re after? You’ll find the Wordle answer for July 16 here.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

We have some ideas to help you pick the perfect first move. Such tips include choosing a word with at least two different vowels in it, plus a few common consonants such as S, T, R, or N. Also, even if you’re attached to your mathematically sound starter, once it’s been the answer on any given day it won’t be the answer again for a few years — so if you happen to get the elusive 1/6 result, celebrate by swapping out your starting five.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

While you could once play the entire archive of past puzzles, the archive was taken down at the request of the New York Times, according to the site’s creator.

Is Wordle getting harder?

If you’ve been finding Wordle too easy, there is a Hard Mode you can enable to give yourself more of a challenge. But unless you activate this mode, we can assure you that Wordle isn’t getting harder. 

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

The whole point of Wordle is that everyone’s solving the same puzzle, with the same answer, no matter where you are in the world. However, occasionally the puzzle game will accept two different correct solutions on the same day. This aberration is due to changes the New York Times began making after it acquired Wordle earlier this year, excising words form Wardle’s original list that the team considers obscure or potentially offensive.

To make sure you’re always getting the same puzzle as everyone else, refresh your browser before you play — don’t worry, the site will keep your streak.

A subtle hint for the Wordle answer on July 17

It’s a bit…odd. But in a good way?

Wordle today is a 5-letter word that starts with…

…the letter W!

Does today’s Wordle word have a double letter?

Not today, folks.

Wordle today: What’s the answer?

Ready?

We’re going to actually tell you today’s word now.

It’s…

Wacky.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Amidst internal conflict regarding the status of cryptocurrency in the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a new bill Friday, “prohibiting the use of digital assets, such as cryptocurrency and NFTs, to pay for goods and services.”

The new law, Protocol reports, also requires crypto exchanges and providers to refuse transactions in which digital payment can be interpreted as a replacement for monetary exchanges. However, there is language in the final clause of the law that makes exceptions for certain payments.

What this law means for crypto holders in Russia is simple: you can still purchase cryptocurrency, but no vendor in the country will take your bitcoin in exchange for, say, groceries. Past speculation suggests that the country is cracking down on businesses that would potentially use cryptocurrency as a way to skirt sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. According to a New York Times article from February 23, shortly after the invasion began, crypto was likely being used “to bypass the control points that governments rely on — mainly transfers of money by banks — to block deal execution,” as sanctions began to take hold.

Crypto in Russia is already a contentious topic as many factions within the government debate whether to regulate or ban crypto. Protocol reported back in January on the government’s disagreement over what to do with cryptocurrency. The Central Bank of Russia called for a crypto ban, however, the Ministry of Finance opposed that stance, saying instead that the current regulation is sufficient and necessary to allow crypto technology to develop.

What the future holds for cryptocurrency in Russia is unclear as it stands, but for now, the new law will take effect on July 25.

Kristen got a divorce a while ago, and, among a litany of reasons behind the split, was one that stood out to her. She wanted to have sex with her husband more than he wanted to have sex with her, and it left her feeling “unattractive” and “undesirable.”

They went to couples therapy. Kristen, who asked to be identified only by her first name, tried buying new lingerie. She tried losing weight, went to see a therapist one-on-one, and invested in more sex toys. But her husband didn’t do anything on his end besides berate her for the outdated and false idea that women should simply not want sex as much as men do. Eventually, the relationship folded. They got divorced.

The dilemma Kristen and her now-ex husband faced wasn’t simply that their partnership was plagued by mismatched libidos. Instead, the lack of empathetic communication left one person feeling unattractive, unworthy, and unwanted. When you feel unwanted in a relationship, and that feeling is consistent and uncommunicated, it can be etched into your brain, forged tightly with the relationship itself. “Etch” derives from the Old High German azzon — to be eaten — which is precisely what that unwanted feeling can do to a relationship. It can eat it up whole if you let it.

It can be tough to want to have sex more often than your partner does, or vice versa. But having gaps in sex drive is common, and it ebbs and flows between partners. A 2017 study found that around 34 percent of women and 15 percent of men report having no interest in sex at all — so it’s not surprising that folks might land in relationships in which one person has a higher sex drive. 

Why aren’t I horny?

The first question you might want to ask yourself if you find yourself in a position in which you and your partner have a horniness mismatch is how important sex is to you in a relationship. Janielle Bryan, a sex educator and professor, told Mashable that it’s possible that two people might just not be sexually compatible, and that’s ok. Sex discrepancy might be a reason you don’t want to be with someone. 

Consider investigating the root of the cause of that discrepancy if you’re feeling a lack of desire for your partner. It could be stress, or medications, or something else entirely. For instance, for one Arizona woman, who asked to be anonymous, her lack of sexual interest in her partner was derived not from her lack of interest in him specifically, but from her lack of interest in men altogether. 

But if you want to be with your partner, mismatched libido doesn’t have to be cause for a split, or even cause for alarm. There are plenty of asexual people in relationships with folks who aren’t asexual, and still have romantic, fulfilling relationships.

Talk it out

There are plenty of reasons why your sex drive might change over time, from medications to stress to emotional turmoil outside of your relationships. That’s why Bryan suggests that when you notice a discrepancy in sex drives with your partner, talk about it. 

“Oftentimes, even though it’s happening to us and it feels very personal, it’s not about us,” Bryan told Mashable. “Check in with your partner and see what’s going on in their lives.” Bryan says when we feel unwanted because of a discrepancy in sex drives with our partner, it can feel like that is the only thing going on in our relationship, or our lives. But looking at what’s going on around that discrepancy can help find a solution.

Sex drives live on a spectrum, and communication is necessary in making space for your own and your partner’s desires to evolve over time. Allowing for this space — to talk about how past experiences have impacted your sex drive, and how current situations outside of your relationship are impacting your libido — are helpful in building trust and love with a partner.

Bryan also explains that sex in the honeymoon phase of a relationship is likely going to be different from sex three years later. In the beginning of a relationship, your sex drives might match up perfectly, as time goes on, one party might want to have sex less often. Noticing that change can be “shocking, especially if you realize you’re on different ends of the spectrum” after the honeymoon period ends.

“It could [drop from] having sex multiple times a week to maybe every other week,” Bryan said, which is why she encourages open communication, and to lead those conversations with empathy. “They might not even realize [the discrepancy] because, to them, this is their normal sex level.”

How to approach next steps

After communicating how much sex you’d like to have, and listening to your partners’ expectations and desires, it’s important to follow up that conversation with action. Maybe you try mutual masturbation, Bryan recommends, or going to couples therapy, or, and Bryan says this may “sound corny,” but try scheduling sex.

“If we know that sex is always going to be there, [you might think] ‘Why do I need to rush? Why do I need to make it a priority when I have other priorities on my plate?'” Bryan said. You might feel like your job or kids take precedence over having sex with your partner. “We often delay pleasure in this country. In order to enjoy ourselves, we think we need to get what is important off of our plates.”

Scheduling sex can make all parties involved feel excited for the night to come, too. And you can both properly prepare for it — by clearing their other priorities, making the night more purposeful, and removing distractions.

Separately, check in with your actual wants and needs. Byron points out that we often aren’t in need of sex specifically, but we might be touch starved or in need of more romance with your partner. Meg McMahon, a 20-something gamer, told Mashable that she relieves stress with sexual interactions, while stress has the opposite effect on her partner. So, instead, they “work on using the other’s love languages to make sure we both feel romanced and appreciated with or without sex,” she said.

“This has made possible sexual interactions less tense and more likely,” McMahon said. “The gap still exists, but the acknowledgement of the difference has helped both of us.”

Differing sex drives doesn’t mean you aren’t meant to be with someone. Sex drives and desires can change over time, and this is a common part of dating. Therapists and sex educators across the board recommend keeping an open line of communication about sex in your relationship. 

Amazon admitted its Ring security cameras have sent recordings to police without the knowledge or consent of the people who own the cameras.

Responding to an inquiry from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Amazon said in a letter dated July 1 that it has handed over private recordings to police 11 times in 2022. The company said it was complying with an “emergency request.”

“In each instance, Ring made a good-faith determination that there was an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to a person requiring disclosure of information without delay,” the company said in its statement to Markey.

There have long been concerns about Ring cameras and how Amazon coordinates with law enforcement. In 2020 Mashable’s Jess Joho wrote about Ring being “a cop,” with more than 1,189 local police and fire departments joining Ring’s Neighbors Portal program that year alone. In the response to Markey, Amazon reported there were now 2,161 law enforcement agencies on its Neighbors Public Safety Service, which allows law enforcement to request footage from Ring users. So even in non-emergency cases, there is a decent chance cops will be able to get footage from Amazon.

“As my ongoing investigation into Amazon illustrates, it has become increasingly difficult for the public to move, assemble, and converse in public without being tracked and recorded,” Markey said in a statement. “We cannot accept this as inevitable in our country. Increasing law enforcement reliance on private surveillance creates a crisis of accountability, and I am particularly concerned that biometric surveillance could become central to the growing web of surveillance systems that Amazon and other powerful tech companies are responsible for.”

In the letter to Markey, Amazon would not commit to never using voice recognition tech and would also not commit to stopping the practice of automatically recording audio when it takes video footage. Ring, for its part, said it doesn’t just hand over data haphazardly.

“It’s simply untrue that Ring gives anyone unfettered access to customer data or video, as we have repeatedly made clear to our customers and others,” the company told CNN.

The Season 3 finale of The Boys provided us with a lot of gasp-worthy moments, from Black Noir’s (apparent) death to Starlight officially joining The Boys. But its greatest gift to the internet has to be a 7 second-long clip of Homelander (Antony Starr) from the season’s very last scene.

In the scene, Homelander introduces a crowd of supporters to his supe son Ryan (Cameron Crovetti). A protestor chucks a can at Homelander and hits Ryan square in the face. In retaliation, Homelander lasers the protestor’s head off, revealing his true capacity for violence.

Instead of turning against him after witnessing him commit murder, Homelander’s fans cheer him on. That’s when we get the reaction meme of the season: discordant violins play as we slowly zoom in on Homelander. He slowly smiles and chuckles, processing the situation, then lets out a strangely casual, “Alright!”

In context, the scene is chilling: Homelander is an evil fascist who’s realized that even murder isn’t too far for his supporters. Showrunner Eric Kripke has explicitly stated that Homelander is an analogue for Donald Trump, something that right-wing fans of the political superhero satire had a hard time processing this season. However, Twitter had a field day with the Homelander clip even without the show context, often using it as a reaction to someone realizing they won’t face consequences.

Christopher Nolan takes Oppenheimer filming to new extremes

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Say what you want about the MCU, people are still watching

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Wanda stans will always have her back

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Unlimited power

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The combination of Starr’s pitch-perfect facial expressions, his line delivery, and the unsettling music make this the perfect mix of specific and relatable. The original video, the Christopher Nolan reference posted by @callouswayne, has already been viewed over 20 million times.

However, this isn’t the only Homelander meme to come out of The Boys Season 3. Also making the rounds is a video of Homelander walking around in distress, which has over 9 million views.

For when your social battery is depleted

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All that hard work… unnoticed

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One for the Succession stans

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Giving us quality memes is truly the least Homelander can do after being the actual worst throughout The Boys, but we’re thankful for them just the same. Hopefully, Season 4 brings us more killer Homelander reactions — and also his downfall.

Let’s say you’re not the person in your social group who can point out the astrophysical errors in the opening shot of the movie Contact. But let’s also say you are someone who can easily spot the Big Dipper on a moonless night. In that case, you’re in the sweet spot to be wondering to yourself, “Hey um, what was the deal with that comet people were talking about the other day? Can I still see that?”

C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS), sometimes called the K2 “megacomet,” came closest to Earth on Thursday, July 14, at a distance of about 168 million miles, about 1.8 times the distance between Earth and the sun. Stargazers with telescopes have been tracking it for a while and watching its tail grow as it got closer, and now Earth is waving goodbye to the comet as it leaves. But if you’re reading this and it’s still summer, the now-receding comet is currently moving in a direction that will take it closer to the sun, and there’s a good chance you can still get a look at it if you own, or can borrow, a telescope.

What is C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS)? 

The comet seems to have originated in the Oort cloud, a likely collection of ice and rocks way out past the last of the planets at the edge of our solar system. The chunks are too faint to see — even with the James Webb telescope — which is why we can only surmise that the Oort cloud is there at all (It’s a pretty educated guess though, so no need to become an Oort cloud truther).

The sun’s gravity occasionally coaxes one of these chunks out of its comfort zone in the Oort cloud and into our general neighborhood, and then it’s showtime. When the sun’s rays cause comets to release gases, that’s how they get their telltale glow, and occasionally become visible to the naked eye — though C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) is not looking like it will be one of these cosmic attention-hogs any time in the near future.

But what makes the K2 comet unique is that while other comets appear, again and again, this seems to be this comet’s first trip into our inner solar system. That unusual status seems to have made its gassy halo extra huge and bright since it would mean high concentrations of gas to be expelled.

Does that mean this comet is headed toward Earth? 

Our research indicates that internet users who are searching for info about this comet are also checking to see if it’s going to kill us all — possibly because they recently watched a Leonardo DiCaprio movie on that topic. The short answer to that query is: Relax. A collision between this comet and Earth is not even a remote possibility. Yes, it was discovered by the ace comet spotters at the Hawaii-based Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS), back in 2017, and that outpost is one of Earth’s watchful sentries, making sure no deadly “near-Earth objects” take us by surprise. But this was never flagged as a potential hazard. Besides, as I said before: it’s now getting further from us, not closer.

So how do I see this comet?

If you’re new at this it might take some trial and error. You’ll be very lucky if you manage to peep the comet on your first night with your new telescope.

Start on any night when you can see the stars, and get used to finding the constellation Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. When you find it, the comet is going to be a tiny speck in this constellation. You can rehearse this at your computer using the interactive sky chart on Skyandtelescope.org. With the help of an even more detailed star chart, you should be able to find the star cluster IC 4665 within Ophiuchus. Look for a cluster that kinda, sorta, if you squint, looks like it spells the word “Hi,” and that’s IC 4665.

You’ll want the sky to be as dark as possible on the night you spot C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS), so look just before moonrise — which you can figure out by looking at a chart of moon information for your region, or wait until the new moon. This might make the timing tricky, so figure out what works for you.

From our vantage point on Earth, C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) is a moving target within Ophiuchus, traveling across or near IC 4665, and moving a little less than the diameter of the full moon each night. Spotting it will involve aiming your ‘scope at the right stellar neighborhood, and then looking up, down, and all around. If you have a strong telescope, you might be able to see the tail, while the comet viewed through a weaker telescope will look more like a glowing fuzzball.

Or, since comets are unpredictable, there’s always the possibility that as it increases its proximity to the sun from now until December, some unknown chemical reaction on the comet itself will cause it to spontaneously brighten, making it even more visible. It could even become so bright that it can suddenly be seen without a telescope, as happened with the comet Holmes in 2007. Most sources, however, say you have until the end of the summer to spot it. So good luck out there this summer, and be sure to wear mosquito repellant.

Scientists found a mysterious radio signal in space that bursts out in a heartbeat-like pattern and before you ask, no, it’s not aliens. At least that’s what they’re telling us.

Using the CHIME (Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment) radio telescope, astronomers noticed a strange FRB, or radio burst, from a far-off galaxy billions of light-years from Earth. The signal lasted up to three seconds, which is exceptionally long for an FRB. The team also detected “bursts of radio waves that repeat every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a beating heart,” according to a press release from MIT.

“It was unusual,” said Daniele Michilli, a postdoctoral researcher at MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, in the press release. “Not only was it very long, lasting about three seconds, but there were periodic peaks that were remarkably precise, emitting every fraction of a second — boom, boom, boom — like a heartbeat. This is the first time the signal itself is periodic.”

But again, not aliens reaching out to us. Apparently. The signal, scientists think, is probably coming from a type of neutron star.

“There are not many things in the universe that emit strictly periodic signals,” said Michilli, part of the team that discovered the FRB, to MIT. “Examples that we know of in our own galaxy are radio pulsars and magnetars, which rotate and produce a beamed emission similar to a lighthouse. And we think this new signal could be a magnetar or pulsar on steroids.”

Boo. Just once could it please be aliens? But as Miriam Kramer once wrote at Mashable, “It’s not aliens. It’s never aliens. Stop saying it’s aliens.”

New images from the James Webb Space Telescope prove the humongous observatory in deep space isn’t just capable of seeing cosmic objects extremely far from home.

NASA released Webb’s first pictures taken in the solar system on Thursday, including Jupiter and zipping asteroids.

Engineers snapped these shots during earlier tests of the observatory’s instruments. The images demonstrate that Webb can see unprecedented detail, even on super bright and moving things close to Earth, while also picking up fainter objects. This success is owed to the telescope’s guidance sensors, which allow Webb to point, hold, and track with precision.

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NASA officials considered including the nearby targets in the first batch of stunning deep space images but decided instead to take the more conservative approach, Klaus Pontoppidan, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, said during a news conference on Tuesday.

“We didn’t want to have to count on the moving target observations working, with keeping things not too complicated,” he said. “As it actually turns out, we probably could have done it.”

The additional images came just two days after NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency presented the first full-color scientific images from Webb. The event kicked off the beginning of science operations for the $10 billion telescope. Astronomers anticipate Webb will unleash a golden age in our understanding of the universe.

Though the images of Jupiter appear more like the sepia-toned photos of the Wild West than the brilliant jewel tones seen Tuesday, that’s only because they weren’t processed in the same way, according to NASA. Instead, these were produced to emphasize specific features.

Like, Oh, hello, Europa! Nice to see ya there.

One view from the telescope’s near-infrared camera shows clear bands around the gas giant planet, as well as the Great Red Spot, an enduring storm big enough to “swallow the Earth,” according to NASA. To the left of the spot is the shadow of Europa, one of Jupiter’s orbiting moons.

Other moons in these images include Thebe and Metis. All these details were captured with about one-minute exposures, the U.S. space agency said.

Scientists are relieved Webb aced the vision exam. This means it will take pictures of moons and rings not just of Jupiter, but of Saturn and Mars, too. Astronomers also look forward to investigating the vapor plumes spewing out of Europa and Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, places that could harbor oceans.

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But the team also wanted to know how fast an object could move and still be observed by the telescope, which is critical for astronomers who want to study flying space rocks. To test Webb’s limits, engineers attempted to track an asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, 6481 Tenzing. They weren’t disappointed.

“We had a speed limit of 30 [milliarcseconds per second], which is as fast as Mars can get,” said Jane Rigby, a project scientist at NASA. “We actually broke through that. We managed to get a speed limit of 67, so we can track faster targets than we promised.”

Marine researchers had a strange encounter during a recent dive in California’s Monterey Bay. A squid mom hauled a spawling sheet of eggs through the water. 

“During a recent deep-sea dive, MBARI researchers encountered this incredibly rare sight — a deep-sea squid (Bathyteuthis sp.) grasping hundreds of eggs in her arms,” the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) tweeted. Their remote-operated vehicle captured this squid behavior at around 4,500 feet beneath surface.  

Squids are generally thought to lay their eggs, leave them to develop on their own, and then swim away. So carrying hundreds of potential offspring is quite unusual to see. 

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Parental instinct gives the best answer for this behavior, Stephanie Bush, a marine scientist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, told Mashable. “The squid is protecting the eggs against predators,” Bush, who was not part of the dive, said. This squid could have perceived the noisy robotic vehicle as a threat, and promptly fled with the eggs when the vehicle traveled close by.

Since squids live in the deep oceans, we tend to think of them as fairly slow-moving (to conserve energy in nutritionally-limited dark waters, deep sea creatures move slowly). “But if you get too close, they can actually get off pretty quickly,” Bush explained.

“The squid is protecting the eggs against predators.”

There is also a secondary reason for this peculiar behavior, Bush added. Water temperature is crucial for egg development, and the temperature varies at different depths in the oceans. So female squids sometimes carry their eggs to ensure they’re exposed to optimal temperatures.

Marine biologists call this “brooding,” wherein mothers watch over their eggs until they hatch. Only a handful of known squid species carry eggs along with them. Female squids are more likely to show this egg-grasping behavior than males. Also, when there is no place in the open ocean for the eggs to attach and mature, these deep sea creatures hold onto their eggs, Bush mentioned. 

It’s not easy to come across such animal behaviors in the deep sea. The oceans are vast, and creatures aren’t densely packed together, Bush told Mashable. “Animals in oceans are nowhere near as dense as what we’re used to seeing, like from Discovery Channel or National Geographic programs.”