After more than a decade on Mars, NASA’s Curiosity rover is quite used to traversing the Red Planet in solitude.
But last week, on its 3,724th Martian day rumbling over Mount Sharp, it encountered another foreign visitor, something that also traveled an extraordinary distance through space before winding up in the dusty barren desert: a one-foot-wide meteorite.
NASA is calling the space rock Cacao, one of a handful of meteorites the plucky robot has discovered since it arrived on Mars in 2012. Using its Mast Camera, Curiosity snapped a photo showing its new find on Jan. 27, with its own Johnny-5-like shadow creating a frame. The selfie [see below] has ragged edges because it is actually composed of six images stitched together.
“There’s no way to date these,” NASA said through its anthropomorphized Curiosity account on Twitter. “But it could have been here millions of years!”
SEE ALSO:
An enormous Martian cloud returns every spring. Scientists found out why.
Curiosity’s shadow casts a frame around the newly discovered meteorite on Mars. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS
On Earth, scientists estimate about 48.5 tons of billions-of-years-old meteor material rain down from space daily, much of which vaporizes in the atmosphere or falls into the ocean, which covers over 70 percent of the planet. More than 60,000 meteorites have been discovered on our planet. The vast majority comes from asteroids, but precious few originated on Mars or the moon, according to NASA. At least 175 identified here hail from the Red Planet.
“It could have been here millions of years!”
Curiosity, a car-size rover, and its predecessors have found meteorites before, and The Meteoritical Society is starting to keep a database of their finds. The international organization has given formal name recognition to 15 such specimens since 2005.
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It’s not clear which planet, moon, or asteroid Cacao expatriated, but mission scientists say it’s an iron-nickel meteorite. This class of space rock isn’t rare among those found on Earth, but it is less common than stony meteorites. Other meteorites that rovers have discovered on their expeditions have had similar iron compositions.
Scientists speculate iron meteorites may be resistant to erosion on the Red Planet. That could explain why this big space rock appears to be sitting on flat ground rather than in a hole.
“There likely was a BIG crater in the ancient past,” Curiosity tweeted. “Over time, erosion and other forces flatten the area around it, carving away everything but the hardest material.”
Elon Musk lost his claim as having the most powerful space-worthy rocket when NASA blasted its own mega rocket to the moon in November.
But the SpaceX founder could win back the title with his company’s next big project. Starship, SpaceX’s skyscraping rocket and spacecraft, will launch on its first mission soon. During the test flight, the colossal booster will separate about three minutes after liftoff and land in the Gulf of Mexico, according to federal filings. The ship will fly in space around Earth at an altitude of over 150 miles, then splash down off the Hawaiian coast.
This will be a crucial demonstration of hardware NASA is depending on to get humans back on the moon in the next few years. And, if successful, it’ll mean Musk is one small step closer to realizing his personal dream of building a city on Mars.
The billionaire business magnate has oversold timelines in the past, but here’s what we know so far.
SEE ALSO:
How a NASA nuclear rocket engine could unleash the solar system
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What is the SpaceX Starship?
Starship is a super-heavy-lift rocket and spacecraft, built to carry immense cargo and numerous astronauts into deep space.
The 400-foot-tall stainless steel tower looms over NASA’s rocket, the Space Launch System. It would take about five billboards stacked on top of the latter to measure up to Musk’s space vehicle. SpaceX estimates its rocket also has about twice as much thrust.
The rocket is made of stainless steel, a material Musk is particularly fond of due to its relatively low price. Unlike NASA’s mega moon rocket, which flies on super-chilled liquid hydrogen and oxygen, this beast is fueled with 10 million pounds of liquid methane and oxygen. The new fuel can be stored at more manageable temperatures than liquid hydrogen, meaning it doesn’t need as much insulation and is less prone to leaks, a problem that often stymies NASA launches.
SpaceX’s Starship is made of stainless steel and runs on liquid methane. Credit: SpaceX
Starship is intended to evolve into a fully reusable launch and landing system, designed for trips to the moon, Mars, and other destinations. Its reusability is “the holy grail of space,” Musk said at a company event in South Texas last February, because it will make spaceflight more affordable to the average person.
“It’s a very hard thing to do,” he said. “It’s only barely possible with the physics of Earth.”
“It’s only barely possible with the physics of Earth.”
NASA tapped SpaceX to develop a human landing system version of Starship. Credit: SpaceX
How will NASA use Starship?
NASA plans to use Starships to land astronauts on the moon during Artemis III and IV, two upcoming missions which could come as early as 2025 and 2027, respectively.
The space agency has tapped SpaceX to develop a human landing system version of Starship with a $4 billion contract. As part of the deal, the company will need to demonstrate an uncrewed test flight to the moon beforehand.
During Artemis III, Starship will transfer astronauts from NASA’s Orion spacecraft to the lunar south pole and back. But in the fourth mission, Starship is expected to dock at a moon-orbiting space station, the yet-to-be-built Gateway, and ferry astronauts back and forth to the moon.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson told reporters in December that SpaceX appears to be on schedule with the contract and intends to do an uncrewed moon landing toward the end of this year. That mission would be followed by another landing with astronauts in late 2024.
“Slips are always possible because it’s a brand new system,” Nelson said. “But they have been quite impressive with what they have done with other systems.”
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When is Starship’s first space launch?
SpaceX is indeed close to launching Starship, despite the fact that the company has not formally announced a date.
Shortly into January, the company stacked the jumbo rocket at its launch pad on Texas’ Gulf Coast, then loaded it with fuel for a so-called “wet dress rehearsal.” SpaceX said the test, a key practice run for any new rocket, was successful.
Next the team said it would disassemble Starship for a test fire of the rocket booster’s 33 Raptor engines, according to recent updates from SpaceX on Twitter.
“Slips are always possible because it’s a brand new system. But they have been quite impressive with what they have done with other systems.”
But in order for Starship to actually reach ignition, the Federal Aviation Administration must license the launch, which won’t be done until “SpaceX meets all licensing, safety and other regulatory requirements,” according to an agency statement given to Mashable in January when asked for the status. The review is ongoing, a spokesman said.
SpaceX will launch Starship for the first time from its spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. Credit: JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
Where will Starship launch?
Perhaps surprisingly, Starship won’t lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where most space fans are accustomed to watching historically significant launches.
Instead, it will take off from Boca Chica, Texas, at SpaceX’s own spaceport. Eventually, the company will launch the rocket from a site under construction in the outer perimeter of the famous Florida pad that shot Apollo 11 to the moon.
“Their plan is that they’re going to do a few test flights there,” in South Texas, Nelson said. “Once they have the confidence, they will bring the missions to the Cape.”
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How likely is Starship to succeed?
SpaceX has launched partial prototypes of Starship to practice landing, and several exploded or crashed in the process. One succeeded in returning unscathed, however, in May 2021, after flying about six miles up in the sky.
Musk, who doesn’t parse words when it comes to the realities of spaceflight, once said Starship’s test in space wasn’t likely to succeed on the first try.
“There’s a lot of risk associated with this first launch, so I would not say that it is likely to be successful.”
“There’s a lot of risk associated with this first launch, so I would not say that it is likely to be successful,” he said during a video conference with a National Academies panel in 2021. “But I think we will make a lot of progress.”
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What is SpaceX’s plan for Mars?
The SpaceX founder’s ultimate vision is to use a fleet of Starships to send 1 million humans to Mars by 2050.
To be clear, Musk doesn’t just want to establish a place for people to visit but a self-sustaining city. He imagines that, with a bit of warming, humans could restore a thick atmosphere and oceans on Mars, making it a more hospitable environment, even able to grow crops.
“There’s a fundamental juncture in the history of really any civilization on a single planet, which is, do you get to the second planet, or do you not?” Musk told the National Academies in 2021. “I propose we do, and I think we should as soon as possible.”
SpaceX test fired a Starship prototype spacecraft on the ground in December. Credit: SpaceX
“There’s a fundamental juncture in the history of really any civilization on a single planet, which is, do you get to the second planet, or do you not?”
The spacecraft would be spacious enough for 100 passengers, along with their luggage, plus the materials to build homes, businesses, rocket fuel stations, and iron foundries.
The journey getting there would be long, Musk said, but the Starship would have entertainment, such as zero-gravity games, movies, lectures, and a restaurant.
“It can’t feel cramped or boring,” he said at the International Astronautical Congress in 2016, in Guadalajara, Mexico. “It’ll be really fun to go. You’ll have a great time.”
TL;DR: Aspiring jet setters can now score Frontier’s GoWild! all-you-can-fly summer pass for $399. Read on for all of the chaotic caveats and fine print.
Frontier is letting passengers fly as much as they want all summer for a flat rate that matches the average cost of a single round-trip domestic flight.
The recently-announced GoWild! all-you-can-fly summer pass is the shorter version of Frontier’s already-existing annual pass. Rather than $1,299 for unlimited flights throughout the entire year, the one-time $399 purchase of a summer pass (plus one cent in fees for each trip) unlocks unlimited flights to both domestic and international Frontier destinations between May 2 and September 30. Frontier serves more than 100 airports across the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, with new locations frequently being introduced to the lineup.
Before you ask, yes, we have the same question: Is Frontier for real right now?
On paper, it sounds like an amazing deal. Many of us have begrudgingly coughed up a similar amount for a single roundtrip flight at least once. That was probably an extra-common experience during the unprecedented airfare spikes in 2022. Bankrate’s assessment of last year’s Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average price of a “good deal” roundtrip domestic flight was $398 — up $100 from 2021. There’s no question that an ultra-accessible summer pass could be a serious vacation hack at a time when everything, travel-related or not, is more expensive.
But you’d still be right to be skeptical. Frontier’s reputation for arbitrary baggage fees and sketchy customer service — plus the general drama of canceled flights by all airlines that has plagued travel for a while now — makes the premise of unlimited flights sound too good to be true.
If you’re planning on traveling a lot this summer, the GoWild! pass just might save you some money. Credit: Frontier Airlines
Frontier’s new summer pass is legit, but not without its caveats
The first piece of fine print to consider is the lack of wiggle room the pass affords planning-wise. GoWild! only covers domestic flights booked *checks notes* the day before and international flights booked 10 days or less before. No booking past 24 hours means no booking roundtrip. Instead, you’d technically have to book your flight back on the last day of your trip, and 1. Hope that Frontier has a flight home that works for your schedule and hotel or rental check-out times or 2. Be down to pay for a non-Frontier flight. (Connected itineraries are included granted there are still seats available.)
Not all airports participate, either. For instance, Frontier does not serve LAX. The “unlimited” calendar is also subject to blackout periods, including Memorial Day itself and the Friday before, the Fourth of July and surrounding days, and other random dates that could throw a wrench into plans.
If something goes wrong, don’t count on live customer service
All airlines come with their fair share of cancellation or delay woes. While lower-cost airlines like Frontier and Spirit face the brunt of inconvenience-related airline memes, Frontier actually canceled fewer flights than Southwest, American, and United between the summer of 2021 and 2022. It was also one of the airlines with the least mishandled baggage issues.
If something does go awry during your Frontier journey, however, good luck with a timely resolution. Back in November 2022, Frontier decided that a live customer service phone line wasn’t that important. Customers with concerns can either try the ever-helpful live chat tool online or talk to an employee at the airport.
Frontier’s baggage policy has…baggage
Unless you can pack everything you’ll need in a bag that fits under the seat in front of you, you’ll be paying more than “$0.01 in airfare plus applicable taxes” per flight.
While most airlines only make you pay for checked luggage and allow a personal item and a carry-on item for free, Frontier charges for the carry-on. (So does Spirit.)
The policy is stingy yet tolerable if you don’t fly that often. But for the amount of flying that you’ll likely be squeezing in to make the GoWild! pass worth the money, you could end up spending an extra few hundred bucks on top of the $399 over the course of the summer.
Budgeting for a carry-on bag is also more of a rough estimate than a confirmed calculation with Frontier. This is because the airline changes what it charges for non-personal items depending on your flight date, time, distance, etc. A carry-on could cost as low as $30 if you add it at the time of booking, though that number can reach between $50 and $90. It depends on how Frontier’s Bag Price Checker is feeling that day.
Social media is full of Frontier passengers complaining that they were charged for a carry-on that they swear is personal item-sized. While dimension restrictions are listed online and sample compartments to measure your bags should be present at your gate, many people have been hit with surprise fees right before getting on the plane.
Is the GoWild! summer pass worth it?
If you were already planning to do quite a bit of jet-setting this summer or would be on the move if it were more affordable, $399 for all or most of your plane tickets is hard to pass up. The pass is also a no-brainer if you were already researching a big dream destination trip and know that your flight would have been more than $399 anyway.
But you’ll have to be OK with flying by the seat of your pants. Plane pun very intended.
Whether the (lack of) advanced booking notice is enough cushion depends on your specific plans — and your stress levels. For flights within the U.S., not being able to book more than 24 hours in advance means booking a roundtrip flight is off the table — so you’ll need to factor in the possibility of not having solid return plans when you leave. That may not cause as much of a scramble if you’re visiting someone with a flexible schedule. But if you’re dealing with a rental with strict checkout times or a hardcore cancelation policy, a backup plan with backup funds is necessary.
The fine print, annoying baggage fees, and general planning chaos don’t take away from the props Frontier deserves for making travel this accessible — especially during inflation. The GoWild! pass could present serious exploring opportunities for people who weren’t frequent travelers before, or could be someone’s key to traveling abroad for the very first time. Now, get on that passport application.
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Credit: Frontier Airlines
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Every January, the illustrious Sundance Film Festival is where the new year of cinema starts. Oscar buzz begins here. Indie offerings score critical acclaim and enviable distribution deals. Curious productions step into the spotlight, and stars stretch their wings in roles bold and beguiling. It’s a place of risk and reward, and we took all of the former so you can get all of the latter.
At Sundance 2023, body horror roared, soft sci-fi awed, and biopics got downright glittery. Erotic thrillers went wild, and coming-of-age tales genre-mashed with abandon. From the gut-churning dramas to the gut-busting rom-coms, here are our faves out of the fest — and how you can watch them.
Infinity Pool
Credit: NEON
Writer/director Brandon Cronenberg teams with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgård and Pearl‘s Mia Goth for a twisted vacation tale that makes White Lotus look like Under The Tuscan Sun. Set in the fictional island of La Tolqa, Infinity Pool pushes the envelope on eat-the-rich schadenfreude by following one rich man’s descent into dangerous decadence. Wild sex, hallucinogenic drugs, graphic violence, and skin-crawling body horror come into play. And as I raved in my Sundance review, “Infinity Pool will make you squirm, but without the release of a climactic punchline. Instead, this satire of wealth and privilege will leave you stranded in its putrid muck, but perhaps smiling at the sheer gall of its horror.”
How to watch: Infinity Pool is now in theaters, courtesy of NEON.
Landscape With Invisible Hand
Credit: MGM
This coming-of-age drama has a soft sci-fi edge, centering on an American teen (Asante Blackk) who is growing up on an Earth that’s been non-violently conquered by a smug alien race dubbed the Vuvv. What this means for our harried hero is constantly having to make decisions about his values in the face of extraterrestrial influence and all-too-human greed. Writer/director Cory Finley adapts M.T. Anderson’s novel with a steady infusion of spacey spectacle, a wry sense of humor, and an excellent cast, which boasts Kylie Rogers, Tiffany Haddish, William Jackson Harper, and Josh Hamilton. The result is a film I declared in my Sundance review to be “fantastic, fun, and thrillingly fucked up.”
How to watch:Landscape With Invisible Hand will be released through MGM.
Birth/Rebirth
Credit: Shudder
If you’re seeking something unnerving and yet grimly funny, you’ll treasure writer/director Laura Moss’s new spin on Frankenstein. Marin Ireland and Judy Reyes star as a pair of mothers caring for a resurrected child, no matter what the cost. Amid grisly body horror and increasingly gruesome actions, Birth/Rebirthhas a defiant thread of dark comedy. As I shared in our review, “It’s the kind of dark humor that will make some cringe and others feel like they’ve just gotten an injection of adrenaline.” Can you handle it?
How to watch:Birth/Rebirth will be released by IFC Midnight.
Eileen
Credit: Sundance Institute
Seeking something sexy with smack-you-in-the-face camp appeal? Then keep an eye out for Eileen. William Oldroyd’s sultry and savage adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh’s debut novel focuses on a mousy secretary in 1960s Boston whose dreary life turns upside down once she meets a sexy blonde bombshell with a hidden agenda. A besotted Thomasin McKenzie stars opposite Anne Hathaway in femme fatale mode, bringing sapphic seduction and bold performances — with some added oomph from Birth/Rebirth’s Marin Ireland! Just when you think you know where this moody movie is going, in comes a whiz-bang revelation that pitches the plot — and the audience — into a dizzying spin. And it’s absolutely exhilarating. As I concluded in my spoiler-free review, “Here’s to the captivating and uncompromising Eileen!”
How to watch: Eileen‘s release plans are TBD.
Talk to Me
Credit: Sundance Film Festival
An Australian horror movie from Youtubers-turned-filmmakers RackaRacka (aka Danny and Michael Philippou), Talk to Mecenters on a spooky party game. It all begins with a ceramic hand, a lit candle, and the invitation to the dead to possess the body of the living. Naturally, thrill-seeking teens revel in the mayhem — lusty, dark, and strange — that ghosts crashing can bring to their cozy homes. But when Mia (Sophie Wilde) can’t disconnect from seeing these lurking specters, she’s pushed into a frightening quest that could mean life or death.
How to watch: Talk to Me was acquired out of Sundance by A24. Release plans are TBD.
Cassandro
Credit: Sundance Institute
Forget the tearful drama and stodgy sternness of prestige biopics. Writer/director Roger Ross Williams and leading man Gael García Bernal bring verve, joy, and scads of sequins to the life story of Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler who found fame as his exotico alter ego Cassandro! His is a tale of adversity, but also one of resilience, community, and love. Bernal shines as the luchador who strutted boldly in leopard print leotards. And his radiance is bolstered by a supporting cast that includes A League of Their Own‘s Roberta Colindrez, Raúl Castillo, Perla De La Rosa, and Bad Bunny. You want a feel-good movie with the thrill of victory? Brace yourself for Cassandro.
How to watch: Cassandro will be released by Amazon Studios.
Polite Society
Credit: Sundance Institute
Nida Manzoor first thrilled us with her sensational comedy series We Are Lady Parts, which explores the highs and lows of an all-female Muslim punk band. Now, ahead of a much-anticipated Season 2, this witty writer/director brings us Polite Society, a martial arts comedy about Ria Khan (Bridgerton‘s Priya Kansara), a British-Pakistani girl who dreams of being a famous, butt-kicking stunt woman. Until then, her love of theatrics and spin kicks finds an outlet in her quest to prevent the arranged marriage of her beloved older sister Lena (The Umbrella Academy‘s Ritu Arya). As showcased in the film’s tantalizing trailer, high school hysterics get amped up by Ria’s runaway imagination, resulting in comical disguises, hair-brained heists, outrageous battle scenes, and Ms. Marvel‘s Nimra Bucha as a boss-level baddie. Simply put, Polite Society is a blast.
How to watch: Polite Society opens in theaters in the U.S. and U.K. on April 28.
Judy Blume Forever
Credit: Sundance Institute
For untold generations of adolescents, children’s book author Judy Blume was a trusted friend. While other grown-ups might sneer or clam up when confronted with a kid’s questions about sex or puberty, Blume’s books — like Deenie, Forever…, and Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret. — opened the door to discussions of menstruation, masturbation, young love, and lust. In this celebratory documentary, directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok interview a slew of writers and stars who’ve been influenced by Blume, including Molly Ringwald, Samantha Bee, Lena Dunham, Alex Gino, and Anna Konkle. But best of all, they give audiences access to Blume, herself, who shares not only her stories, but also personal photos, and a delightfully candid glimpse of her life and legacy. Her reflections on romance and finding her identity are reason enough to relish this movie. But as an author who’s battled book bans for decades, her political insights are not only fascinating but frighteningly relevant, which the doc makes starkly clear.
How to watch: Judy Blume Forever‘s release plans are TBD.
The Pod Generation
Credit: Sundance Institute
Among my personal favorites at Sundance 2023 is writer/director Sophie Barthes’s soft sci-fi comedy about parenthood. Barthes first thrilled me with her twisted comedy-thriller Cold Souls, which starred Paul Giamatti as himself, more specifically a version of himself so burdened by the weight of his soul that he puts it into experimental storage outside his body. Barthes’s latest has a similarly alluring yet alarming premise, set in a future where pregnancy has been outsourced to robotic pods. Imagine if Apple and its sleek white minimalism aesthetic got into the artificial womb business, and you’ve got a sense of what’s in store here. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Game of Thrones‘ Emilia Clarke co-star as flustered parents-to-be in this mind-bending romp with a snarling wit.
How to watch: Pod Generation‘s release plans are TBD.
Rye Lane
Credit: Sundance Film Institute
Among the most winsome movies of Sundance 2023 is this South London-set romantic comedy. Directed by Raine Allen Miller, Rye Lane stars David Jonsson (Industry) and Vivian Oparah (Class) as heartbroken twenty-somethings who fatefully cross paths and might just tumble into new love. A humbling beginning with a bathroom meet-not-so-cute swiftly spins into a happenstance first date full of fun, banter, surprises, and a wee bit of breaking and entering. (Hey, breakups get messy.) Painted in saturated colors, paced like a dance party, and brought to life by a kinetic ensemble cast, Rye Lane is a pure pleasure to watch. But it’s Jonsson and Oparah, with their killer comedic timing and off-the-charts chemistry, that make this movie soar.
How to watch: Ryle Lane will come to Hulu March 31.
The James Webb Space Telescope is profoundly powerful.
A newly-released galactic image from the European Space Agency shows a deep view of the cosmos that other telescopes can’t see. The universe’s most ancient galaxies are so far away that their light has literally stretched out into wavelengths that aren’t visible to our eyes. But “Webb’s speciality,” NASA emphasizes, is to view these longer, infrared wavelengths of light.
When Webb views such far-off places in space, the instrument is looking back in time billions of years. This image shows what those galaxies looked like when the light left, long ago.
Here’s what else you’re seeing in the image below:
In the foreground, near the bottom, is a glorious example of a spiral galaxy, called LEDA 2046648. At around 1 billion light years away, it’s much closer than the distant galaxies beyond. Our Milky Way is a spiral galaxy, too.
Everything else in this image is a galaxy, except for the six-pointed objects, which are much closer stars. (Bright points of light in a telescope like Webb can cause something called “diffraction spikes.”) “A crowded field of galaxies throngs this Picture of the Month from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, along with bright stars crowned with Webb’s signature six-pointed diffraction spikes,” the European Space Agency (ESA) explained.
Many of the distant galaxies look reddish or orangish. As the universe expands and these celestial objects move farther away, their light has stretched. “Webb’s keen infrared vision helps the telescope peer back in time, as the light from these distant galaxies is redshifted towards infrared wavelengths,” the ESA said.
SEE ALSO:
Many of the Webb telescope’s greatest discoveries won’t come from any amazing pictures
A deep view of the cosmos. LEDA 2046648 is the large galaxy at the bottom. Credit: ESA Webb / NASA / CSA / A. Martel
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The Webb telescope is a scientific collaboration between NASA, the ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency. In this image, astronomers were actually capturing views of galaxies and stars to calibrate the telescope’s sensitive instruments. The greater research goal is to compare unprecedented views of the first, earliest galaxies with galaxies closer to us, in the Milky Way. Astronomers want to understand how galaxies, like our own, grew and evolved.
Many of these galaxies contain hundreds of billions of stars, and many, many more planets. That adds up to an incomprehensible number of strange new worlds, perhaps places we can’t even imagine. Though some, we can.
The Last of Us‘sthird installment “Long Long Time” is an absolutely incredible episode of television, delivering a tender love story between apocalypse survivors Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). Not only did “Long Long Time” provide a touching, hopeful look at the end of the world, it also expanded on an implied queer relationship from the game that ended tragically.
Unfortunately, a number of viewers did not enjoy “Long Long Time” and are making their ire known through “review bombing.” Review bombing is when a large number of people leave negative online reviews on a product over a concentrated period of time. In the case of film and TV shows, review bombing primarily takes place on aggregator sites like Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and Metacritic. Since Rotten Tomatoes does not allow user reviews for individual episodes, the review bombing for “Long Long Time” is happening on IMDb and Metacritic.
SEE ALSO:
‘The Last of Us’ changed Bill and Frank’s story, here’s why
At the time of writing, “Long Long Time” has a 4.7 user score on Metacritic (user scores are out of 10). Out of 1102 ratings, 578 are negative. On IMDb, “Long Long Time” holds a 7.9 rating out of 10. 121,111 IMDb users left ratings on this episode, and while just over half gave the episode a perfect score, a little over a quarter gave the episode a one out of 10. The first two episode both hold a score of 8.6 on Metacritic and 9.2 on IMDb.
So what is it about “Long Long Time” that has mobilized review bombers? The answer is disappointingly all too predictable: homophobia. It’s no coincidence that an episode centering a gay romance has become the target of online trolls, and the user reviews confirm this. Reviews complain that the episode pushes “the LGBTQ agenda” or “inclusive propaganda.” Others complain that the episode deviates too far from the game, even though the changes to Bill and Frank’s story are fully in keeping with the thematic spirit of The Last of Us and are backed wholeheartedly by Neil Druckmann, creator of the game and co-creator of the series. (Bill and Frank are also gay in the game.)
Review bombing tends to be triggered by racism, sexism, and homophobia. For example, in 2022, Prime Video briefly paused reviews to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in order to protect the show from trolls. Much of the online vitriol was directed at the show’s cast members of color. Even The Last of Us franchise is no stranger to review bombing. In 2020, review bombers targeted the The Last of Us Part IIbecause of an early in-game death and the game’s centering of LGBTQ characters. (So, brace yourselves for Season 2.)
As upsetting as the rhetoric behind the review bombing of “Long Long Time” is, it doesn’t have that large of an impact on the show’s rating itself. The Last of Us still holds a 7.7 user score on Metacritic, and an even more impressive 9.3 on IMDb. Critics (myself included) showered “Long Long Time” and The Last of Us with acclaim. On the ratings side of things, 6.4 million viewers watched “Long Long Time” when it aired on Sunday night — a 12 percent increase from viewership the week prior. And since viewership continues throughout the week, that number is sure to increase. Despite the best efforts of trolls, The Last of Us is doing more than fine.
Still, it bears repeating that the existence of queer people in media and in the real world does not reflect some insidious agenda or propaganda. Newsflash: LGBTQ people exist, and they have the right to exist in film and TV as well. One-star reviews won’t change that.
The Last of Us is now streaming on HBO Max. New episodes air every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
Looking for deals on TVs, phones, tablets, and more? Here are the best ones as of Feb. 2:
BEST SMARTPHONE DEAL: The Google Pixel 6 Pro (128GB) is one of the tech giant’s best phones, and its price has dropped twice in the past two weeks to hit a new all-time low — $549.95 $899 (Save $349.05)
BEST TV DEAL: The Sony 65-inch OLED 4K Ultra HDR TV is bundled with a two-year extended premium protection plan and comes with a range of features that will hit all the right notes at your home’s upcoming NFL finale screening — $2,498 $4,089.98 (Save $1,591.98)
BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL: The Garmin Venu Sq Smartwatch is back to its lowest price — $119.99 $199.99 (Save $80)
February is here, and with its arrival comes a string of deals that will leave you running from your couch to your laptop in a flash. If you’re ready to renew those fitness commitments or finally purchase that TV you’ve had your eyes on for a while, today is the day to take a step or two closer to your shopping goals.
Best smartphone deal
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Credit: Google
Our pick: Google Pixel 6 Pro (128GB) (opens in a new tab)
$549.95 at Amazon (save $349.05)
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Why we like it
The Google Pixel 6 Pro hit the bullseye with its splendid cameras, high durability, and powerful chipset. The 128GB model is now down to $549.95 ($349.05 off the MSRP) — the newest all-time low price for this smartphone. If that wasn’t enough, Mashable reviewer Joseph Volpe has commended the handset for its day-long battery life, security features to keep your privacy in check, and powerful array of cameras that are a superior upgrade to the sensors found in previous Pixel phones. If you’re looking for a phone camera that will take memorable photos ahead of your big date this February, grab this deal while it lasts.
Our pick: Sony 65-inch OLED 4K Ultra HDR TV (opens in a new tab)
$2,498 at Walmart (save $1,591.98)
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Why we like it
A TV purchase is a years-long investment, and if you’re paying top dollar for a premium product, then you need a premium warranty plan to go along with it. Luckily, the Sony 65-inch OLED 4K Ultra HDR TV is bundled with a two-year premium extended protection plan that takes care of any electrical or mechanical device issues during the validity period.
Thanks to features such as the XR OLED Contrast Pro, XR Color, and XR Triluminos Pro, you get realistic images, sharply defined colors onscreen, and better contrast between black and brighter colors. With the quick setup guide, a tabletop stand, remote control with voice functionality, and batteries, you have everything you need right from the get-go.
More TV deals
LG 65-inch B2 OLED TV — $1,296.99 $2,299.99 (Save $1,003)
Samsung 85-inch QN90B QLED TV — $2,697.99 $4,999.99 (Save $2,302)
onn. 50-inch LED Roku Smart TV — $198 $238 (Save $40)
VIZIO 50-inch 4K LED Smart TV — $298 $358 (Save $60)
Sony 65-inch HDR Ultra Smart TV — $2,498 $4,089.98 (Save $1,591.98)
Sony 85-inch BRAVIA HDR Full Array LED — $1,998 $2,999.99 (Save $1,001.99)
onn. 32-inch LED Roku Smart TV — $98 $144 (Save $46)
VIZIO 65-inch V-series TV — $448 $528 (Save $80)
onn. 70-inch QLED Roku Smart TV — $528 $648 (Save $120)
Samsung 85-inch Q80B 4K Smart TV — $1,997.99 $3,299.99 (Save $1,302) (check on honey)
onn. 43-inch 4K Roku Smart TV — $198 $243.26 (Save $45.26)
TCL 55-inch QLED Roku Smart TV — $369.99 $499.99 (Save $130.99)
It’s the first week of February. Whether you’ve just kickstarted your fitness journey or you’re still keeping pace with your 2023 resolutions, you’re probably looking for a fitness tracker that can help you track your progress. In case you were unable to snag the Garmin Venu Sq smartwatch at a discount in early January, the good news is that it is back to its all-time low pricing of $119.99 at Best Buy and Target. The six-day battery life will get you through an entire week of workouts. The bright display and optional Always-On mode keep you up-to-date with stats like heart rate, sleep patterns, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels. With smart notifications for text, call, and social media alerts, as well as support for contactless payments, you won’t need to constantly whip out your smartphone.
UPDATE: Feb. 2, 2023, 3:00 p.m. EST This story has been updated with the latest 4K and 8K TV deals. Check out our favorites below:
BEST 55-INCH TV DEAL: The Hisense 55-inch U6GR ULED 4K TV offers the vibrancy of mini LEDs and impressive black uniformity at a super digestible price point — $369.99 $599.99 (save $230)
BEST 65-INCH TV DEAL: The Samsung 65-inch QN800B 8K QLED TV is Samsung’s more affordable 8K offering and is great for watching sports in bright rooms — $2,599.99$3,499.99 (save $900)
BEST 75-INCH TV DEAL: The LG 75-inch 83 Series QNED TV combines mini LED backlighting and NanoCell tech for juicy color and more precise contrast — $1,499.99$2,499.99 (save $1,000)
Upgrading to a 4K TV — even a QLED or OLED — no longer has to be an intimidating financial setback. High-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions have become increasingly affordable for regular consumers, made even more budget-friendly by frequent sales from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon. Here are our top picks, just in time for watching the biggest game of the football season.
TV deals are categorized by brand, then listed in order of size (smallest to largest) and price (lowest to highest).
Samsung TV deals
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Credit: Samsung
Our pick: Samsung 75-inch Q70A QLED TV (opens in a new tab)
$1,299.99 at Samsung (save $1,000)
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Why we love it
Get immersed in the big game on a supersized Samsung QLED, now $200 below its price from Cyber Monday. The 2021 Q70A Series isn’t Samsung’s cheapest or most expensive QLED, but it checks all the right boxes for watching sports and gaming: direct backlighting with local dimming, crisp HDR, and bright quantum dot color even in sunlit rooms.
More Samsung TVs on sale
Samsung 55-inch Q70A QLED TV — $899.99$1,099.99 (save $200)
Samsung 55-inch S95B OLED TV — $1,449.99$2,199.99 (save $750)
Samsung 65-inch TU8300 Curved 4K TV — $647.99$799.99 (save $152)
Samsung 65-inch Q85B QLED TV — $1,599.99$1,799.99 (save $200 plus get a free $200 Best Buy gift card)
Samsung 65-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,599.99$1,999.99 (save $1,400)
Samsung 65-inch Q90B QLED TV — $1,699.99$2,599.99 (save $900)
Samsung 65-inch S95B OLED TV — $1,799.99$2,999.99 (save $1,200)
Samsung 65-inch QN800B 8K QLED TV — $2,599.99$3,499.99 (save $900)
Samsung 65-inch QN900B 8K QLED TV — $3,799.99$4,999.99 (save $1,200)
Samsung 75-inch 7 Series 4K TV — $679.99$799.99 (save $120)
Samsung 75-inch QN85B Neo QLED TV — $1,799.99$2,399.99 (save $600)
Samsung 75-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,999.99$2,999.99 (save $1,000)
Samsung 75-inch QN90B Neo QLED TV — $2,299.99$2,999.99 (save $700)
Samsung 75-inch QN800B 8K QLED TV — $2,999.99$4,699.99 (save $1,700)
Samsung 85-inch Q70A QLED TV — $1,799.99$3,299.99 (save $1,500)
Samsung 85-inch Q80B QLED TV — $1,999.99$3,299.99 (save $1,300)
Samsung 85-inch The Frame QLED TV — $3,299.99$4,299.99 (save $1,000)
Samsung 85-inch QN900B 8K QLED TV — $4,999.99$8,499.99 (save $3,500)
SEE ALSO:
The best 4K TVs: For gamers, movie watchers, and everyone else
LG TV deals
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Credit: LG
Our pick: LG 75-inch 83 Series QNED TV (opens in a new tab)
$1,499.99 at Best Buy (save $1,000)
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Why we love it
One $1,000 discount still sticking around from Best Buy’s holiday sale brings a massive LG QNED TV below $1,500. QNED is a mashup of LG’s NanoCell technology and quantum dots (which amp up color depth using an extra light filter of nanoparticles) and the backlighting of mini LEDs (for more precise contrast through extra dimming zones, which will be helpful for keeping track of the football).
More LG TVs on sale
LG 42-inch C2 OLED TV — $899.99$1,299.99 (save $400)
LG 50-inch NanoCell 75UQA 4K TV — $429.99 $549.99 (save$120)
LG 55-inch UQ7070 4K TV — $358$448 (save $90)
LG 55-inch B2 OLED TV — $999.99$1,299.99 (save $300)
LG 55-inch C2 OLED TV — $1,299.99$1,599.99 (save $300)
LG 65-inch 83 Series QNED TV — $999.99$1,699.99 (save $700)
LG 65-inch B2 OLED TV — $1,299.99$1,899.99 (save $600)
LG 65-inch G2 Gallery OLED TV — $1,999.99$2,799.99 (save $800)
LG 70-inch UQ7590PUB 4K TV — $596.99$729.99 (save $133)
LG 70-inch NanoCell 75UQA 4K TV — $649.99 $899.99 (save$250)
LG 77-inch A2 OLED TV — $1,799.99$2,799.99 (save $1,000)
LG 77-inch B2 OLED TV — $1,999.99$2,899.99 (save $900)
LG 77-inch C2 OLED TV — $2,499.99$3,299.99 (save $800)
LG 77-inch G2 Gallery OLED TV — $3,599.99$3,799.99 (save $200)
LG 83-inch C2 OLED TV — $3,999.99$5,299.99 (save $1,300)
LG 86-inch 80 QNED TV — $1,999.99$2,199.99 (save $200)
LG 86-inch 85 QNED TV — $2,399.99$2,999.99 (save $600)
LG 83-inch G2 Gallery OLED TV — $4,799.99$6,499.99 (save $1,700)
Sony TV deals
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Credit: Sony
Our pick: Sony 65-inch A95K OLED TV (opens in a new tab)
$2,999.99 at Best Buy (save $1,000)
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Why we love it
Sony debuted a handful of groundbreaking products at CES 2023. TVs weren’t one of them. But the absence of a new line isn’t stopping retailers from following the unspoken January rule of heavily discounting last year’s models. Arguably one of the internet’s favorite TVs right now, the A95K provides a dynamic watching experience through the Bravia QD-OLED panel, which combines the precise viewing angles of OLED and the color-boosting quantum dot layer of QLED.
More Sony TVs on sale
Sony 43-inch X80K TV — $449.99$549.99 (save $100)
Sony 55-inch X80K TV — $579.99$699.99 (save $120)
Sony 55-inch X85K TV — $699.99$849.99 (save $150)
Sony 55-inch X90K 4K TV — $899.99$1,199.99 (save $300)
Sony 55-inch A90J OLED TV — $1,798$2,999.99 (save $1,201.99)
Sony 65-inch X75K TV — $579.99$699.99 (save $120)
Sony 65-inch X80K TV — $699.99$899.99 (save $200)
Sony 65-inch X85K TV — $799.99$1,099.99 (save $300)
Sony 65-inch X90K TV — $999.99$1,299.99 (save $300)
Sony 65-inch X95K TV — $1,799.99$2,299.99 (save $500)
Sony 75-inch X85K TV — $1,199.99$1,499.99 (save $300)
Sony 75-inch X95K TV — $2,499.99$3,299.99 (save $800)
Sony 75-inch Z9 8K TV — $2,999.99$3,999.99 (save $1,000)
Sony 85-inch X95K Mini LED TV — $3,999.99$5,499.99 (save $1,500)
Other TV deals from TCL, Vizio, and more
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Credit: Hisense
Our pick: Hisense 55-inch U6GR ULED 4K TV (opens in a new tab)
$369.99 at Best Buy (save $230)
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Why we love it
Hisense’s ULED line is an unexpectedly intimidating competitor to Samsung’s QLED TVs and LG’s mini LED TVs — especially with this price tag. The U6GR ranks below the super-popular U8H, but is still a really solid choice for most streaming and gaming. Its black uniformity is great for dark rooms, its peak brightness and reflection handling make small details legible in bright rooms, and colors are vibrant thanks to local dimming.
More TVs from TCL, Vizio, and more on sale
Vizio 50-inch V-Series 4K TV — $298$358 (save $60)
Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $319.99$469.99 (save $150)
Hisense 50-inch U6H 4K TV — $339.99$599.99 (save $260)
Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $399.99$519.99 (save $150)
Vizio 65-inch V Series 4K TV — $448$629.99 (save $80)
Hisense 65-inch U6GR ULED TV — $499.99$799.99 (save $300)
Amazon 65-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $599.99$759.99 (save $160)
Hisense 65-inch U6GR ULED TV — $899.99$1,399.99 (save $500)
Hisense 75-inch U6H ULED TV — $699.99$999.99 (save $300)
TCL 75-inch 5-Series QLED TV — $699.99$1,099.99 (save $400)
Hisense 85-inch U7H ULED TV — $1,499.99$2,499.99 (save $1,000)
Ready the spicy tots and thunder sticks. Game Day is Feb. 12 and, if you’re like us, you’re thrilled to don the jersey and spend the day noshing, screaming at the TV, and high-fiving with your pals. Hosting a big Game Day party at your place this year? No sweat. These rad party favors from Walmart will score serious points from your home team.
Say goodbye to some of your favorite Twitter apps, automated accounts, tools, and services. Twitter will now force everyone who makes the creative things that make the platform fun and enjoyable to pay up or go away.
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In the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday, Twitter’s official account for developers, @TwitterDev, announced that the company will no longer provide a free access tier to its API. Instead, there will soon be a paid subscription to Twitter’s basic API tier. And how soon will this happen? Next week. Feb. 9.
SEE ALSO:
Elon Musk locked his Twitter account and went private. Here’s why.
An API is a software interface that allows two applications to communicate with each other, and this particular one allows developers to access Twitter’s data and services through official channels. In turn, many developers have been able to create an array of both free and paid products that enhance the Twitter experience. Requiring payment will certainly kill many of the free services and accounts.
The response has already been heavily criticized by users across the board. Some developers have already announced their intention to end their Twitter projects.
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For example, the creator of the Possum Every Hour Twitter account, which auto-tweets out a photo of a possum every hour, posted that the account will stop tweeting next week when the free API tier ends. The account has more than half a million Twitter followers.
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The decision to remove any free access to its API shows just how much Twitter is flailing to make money. The company has lost roughly 50 percent of its advertisers, which are its main revenue source, after Musk took over and started implementing his vision of the Twitter platform. In order to make up for losses in revenue, Musk rolled out new paid products such as its $8 Twitter Blue premium plan. The ability to buy a verified badge with Twitter Blue turned off even more brands from the platform. And, thus far, Twitter hasn’t even been able to convert an abysmal 0.1 percent of its monthly active users into paying subscribers.
Removal of the free API tier is a questionable path to greater revenue, because it could stifle creativity from developers who aren’t looking to monetize their projects. These creators often create services that promote and encourage more usage of Twitter. Small indie developers who are just starting out will be able to implement their ideas on platforms that still provide free API access, such as Facebook or YouTube.
It’s important to note that Twitter already has a paid tier of service for its API. This existing premium tier, which lifts access limits implemented on the basic tier, serves those social media companies that make revenue from offering Twitter data.
And what about the scammers and spam bots? Won’t this decision kill them off? Not likely.
Access to Twitter’s API required a user to apply and be approved for an official developer account. Thus, Twitter was able to monitor its usage and suss out bad actors. For this reason, many scammers and spammers who utilize automation never used the API in the first place, instead operating with workarounds such as web scrapers.
Elon Musk already killed off third-party Twitter clients like Twitterific and Tweetbot earlier this month. Just this week, users have complained about Musk’s recent algorithm changes making their feeds unusable. Now, he’s coming for everything else. He’s given developers no details regarding the cost of keeping their projects and services alive. And, oh yeah, don’t forget, those developers have just one week to figure it all out.
