Cool FindsTreasure Trove of 800 Exceptional Iron Age Artifacts Discovered in EnglandThe collection, which dates to the first century C.E., includes items ranging from elaborately decorated horse harnesses to ornate cauldrons Researchers spent three months excavating the site. Durham UniversityElaborately decorated horse harnesses, ceremonial spears, ornate cauldrons, bridle bits and hundreds of other 2,000-year-old artifacts have been unearthed in England.Experts say the hoard is one of the largest and most significant Iron Age finds in all of the United Kingdomand it has the potential to reshape historians understanding of wealth, travel, status and trade among Britains tribes during that period.The discovery wasannounced Tuesday by Historic England, Durham University and the British Museum.It has been a once-in-a-lifetime find for everyone involved, says Keith Emerick, an inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, the British government agency that funded the excavations, to theGuardians Mark Brown. A copper alloy harness fitting found in the cache Durham UniversityA metal detectorist named Peter Heads stumbled upon the hoard in December 2021. He was using the device to scan the ground in a field near Melsonby, a village in North Yorkshire in northeast England.When Heads started digging, he realized hed discovered something importantand he decided to get in touch withTom Moore, an archaeologist at Durham University.When Moore arrived at the site, he also immediately realized the significance of the find. He approached Historic England and secured 120,000 (roughly $155,000) to excavate the area. That work took place in 2022, and researchers have been analyzing the more than 800 items in the cache ever since.The artifacts likely date back to the period when the Roman emperorClaudius was invading Britain. Experts think the items belonged to theBrigantes, a tribe that controlled much of northern England during the Iron Age.Researchers found at least 14 horse harnesses, which were likely used to pull ancient chariots or wagons. The harnesses were decorated with colorful glass and Mediterranean coral, which suggests their owner was a wealthy, high-status individual with connections throughout Europe and the Roman world. Many items had corroded together into a tangled mass over the years. Durham UniversityThey also unearthed iron tires and other vehicle parts, as well as a cauldron that was likely used as a wine mixing bowl. The cache includes the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons in Iron Age Britain, which raises new questions.Were going to have to spend years thinking, what did these vehicles look like, where did they come from? Moore tells the Guardian.Over time, some of the artifacts had corroded together to form a tangled mass, which researchers had to carefully extract. They suspect these items may have been placed in a bag together.Many of the artifacts had been burned or deliberately broken, which adds to the theory that they belonged to an elite person. They may have been included in a funerary pyre, though researchers didnt find any human remains.This is symbolicit is not just throwing something away, Moore tells the LondonTimes Jack Blackburn. It is something were familiar with from the Iron Age where people ritually destroyed things. What weve got here is it on a grand scale.Help Us Save The Melsonby HoardWatch on The discovery of such obvious symbols of wealth and power is significant for another reason: It complicates the long-held assumption that northern England was poorer than the southern part of the country during the Iron Age.They challenge our way of thinking and show the north is definitely not a backwater in the Iron Age, Moore tells the Guardian. It is just as interconnected, powerful and wealthy as Iron Age communities in the south.Together, the artifacts are worth 254,000 (about $330,000). The Yorkshire Museum is launchingfundraising efforts to keep the items in England. In the meantime, some of them will be displayed at the museum starting this week.By acquiring the hoard, we will be able to make it accessible to everyone, says Andrew Woods, senior curator at the museum, toBBC News Jessica Bradley. Working in partnership with others, we can learn more about this fascinating period, why the hoard was buried, how the objects may have been used, as well as the identity of their owners.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Ancient Civilizations, Ancient Rome, Archaeology, Artifacts, British History, Cool Finds, England, European History, History, Roman Empire

Saturn's iconic rings are not always clearly visible from Earth. NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science InstituteOn Sunday afternoon, Saturns iconic rings vanished from our skies.Dont worrythe planets rings are still intact. But from Earths vantage point, a temporary phenomenon called a ring plane crossing is causing them to appear nearly invisible to our eyes.Saturn completes an orbit around the sun every 29.4 years. Because the planet rotates on an axis of 26.7 degrees, our view of its rings changes depending on where the Earth and Saturn are in their orbits. Sometimes, we have a great view of the rings broad surface. In this case, were seeing just their narrow edgeand they reflect so little light that its as though they arent there.They literally almost disappear, says Sean Walker, an associate editor at Sky & Telescope, to Denise Chow at NBC News. Normally you see the rings around Saturn, but when you have an edge-on view, it looks like a hair-thin line of light just cutting across.Need a visual guide? The best way to illustrate this is to get your sheet of paper, and hold it horizontallyparallel to the groundat eye level, astrophysicist Jonti Horner wrote in an article for the Conversation in 2023. Now, move the paper down towards the ground a few inches. What do you see? The upper side of the paper comes into view. Move the paper back up, through your eye line, to hold it above you and you can see the underside of the paper. But as it passes through eye level, the paper will all but disappear. The Hubble Space Telescope captured these two distinct views of Saturn, with a ring plane crossing depicted on the right. Reta Beebe (New Mexico State University), D. Gilmore, L. Bergeron (STScI), NASA/ESA, Amanda S. Bosh (Lowell Observatory), Andrew S. Rivkin (Univ. of Arizona/LPL), the HST High Speed Photometer Instrument Team (R.C. Bless, PI), and NASA/ESAWhen this happens in the solar system, giving Earth the narrowest glimpse of the rings, its known as a ring plane crossing. The phenomenon also offers skywatchers and scientists an opportunity to get a better view of Saturns moons. Many of Saturns moons were actually discovered during ring plane crossings, including its largest, Titan.When we have these ring plane crossings, the light that normally reflects off Saturns rings is no longer glaring back toward Earth, adds Walker to NBC News. That means you can detect a lot more of the smaller moons.Right now, Saturn is near the sun from our perspective, making it tough for astronomers to see it at all. But in September, the planet will reach oppositionan alignment opposite the sun that offers the best time for viewing. The rings will gradually come back into full view, though theyre expected to appear narrow for another short period in November.Ring plane crossings with Saturn happen every 13 to 15 years, so youll have a chance at seeing another one in 2038. At that time, the planet will be much more visible during the phenomenon.After each of these crossings, Saturns disappeared rings will come back. But in millions of years, its rings will be gone forever. The chunks of rock and ice that make up the rings are being pulled into the planet by its gravityscientists call this ring rain.Saturn's Rings Are DisappearingWatch on We estimate that this ring rain drains an amount of water products that could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool from Saturns rings in half an hour, said James ODonoghue, a planetary scientist previously at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, in a 2018 statement.In 2023, researchers estimated Saturns rings have somewhere between 15 million to 400 million years leftbefore they disappear for goodand a second study found they might be much younger than astronomers thought.Considering the planets vast age of roughly four billion years, were quite lucky to see a ring in the first place, Sascha Kempf, aphysicistat the University of Colorado Boulder who led the second study, told Science News Nikk Ogasa at the time.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Astronomers, Astronomy, NASA, Outer Space, Planets, Saturn, Sky Watching Guide, Solar System, Sun

The 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) drew nearly 30,000 registered attendees to San Francisco last week, about the same as last year.Read More

Members of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee met Wednesday to discuss whats typically a highly bipartisan topic: protecting kids online. But in a far-from-typical political climate, the mood was tense and confrontational.Republican lawmakers are eager to revive a handful of bipartisan bills like the Kids Online Safety Act, which House Republican leadership blocked at the finish line last year. Many Democrats on the panel support these proposals, calling them an urgent response to a social crisis. But theyre raising a new question: as the Trump administration ignores congressional statutes and Supreme Court precedent to gut the federal government, will there be anyone left to enforce these laws?Last week, President Donald Trump abruptly and under current law, illegally attempted to fire the two sitting Democratic commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. The move left two Republicans on the commission, with one more expected to soon be confirmed. Like many agencies across the federal government, the FTC has seen recent staff cuts, though in far smaller numbers than many of the most prominent targets of the right. Even in the minority party, Slaughter and Bedoya warn that their removals will thwart transparency and accountability for any decisions made in their absence, and theyre planning to sue to return to their work. Without dissenting voices in the room, Slaughter and Bedoya have warned, theres no one to push back and illustrate what alternative paths the FTC could have taken, or provide important context to the agencys decisions. Im going to be even more worried about actions taken to withdraw settlements, modify settlements, [and] votes taken to not sue a company, Bedoya told reporters outside the hearing room. If theres an action brought up to the commission, and the commissioners say no, that never becomes public.We had in place what was needed to protect our children, ranking member of the commerce subcommittee Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said in her opening remarks. And thats why I am absolutely furious right now that there has been this effort to fire the two members of the FTC. The Democratic minority invited Slaughter to testify alongside witnesses invited by Republicans, including representatives from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), and Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) the latter, as one Democrat pointed out, contributed to Project 2025. Bedoya, though not formally invited, sat behind his colleague in the hearing room. This hearing is about children. Its not about whats going on here in Washington, DCRepublicans painted the FTC firings as a distraction. This hearing is about children. Its not about whats going on here in Washington, DC, said full committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY). When reporters outside the hearing room asked about the attempted firings, subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) said hes focused on the hearing today. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) apologized to parents in the audience for the things that are being taken away from this conversation not being focused on protecting children, but instead on someones job at the FTC. Houchin complained that a reporter had stopped her in the hallway to ask about the agency. Shame on the media if the only thing they cover from today is the FTC, because children are dying, she said.But Democrats argued that laws are useless without effective enforcement, which they believe is under threat. The FTC would be primarily in charge of enforcing two major bills that passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee last year: KOSA and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) We can talk about the importance of passing new legislation here in this hearing, said KOSA co-sponsor Kathy Castor (D-FL). But she questioned how they could regain trust in Republicans if you take the cops off the beat, you give the Big Tech CEOs a front row seat to the inauguration, [and] you block the KOSA and COPPA that was hammered out over years of work in this committee?The questions about rule of law and who will enforce it extend far beyond the FTC. In empowering Elon Musks pet project, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump has deputized the richest man in the world to slash the federal workforce, and seek to shut down agencies created by congressional statute. Trump has asserted power over what are supposed to be independent agencies, including the FTC, and loyalists hes appointed to run them have so far welcomed him to do so. Many experts say we already are or soon could be in a constitutional crisis, as Trump appears willing to flout everything from a law seeking to ban TikTok to court orders.Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), ranking member of the full committee, even pointed out that Republicans were the reason KOSA didnt pass last year. Lets not kid the people here to suggest that these bills are going to become law, he said. The bottom line is we passed KOSA and we passed COPPA out of this committee last session and the House Republican leadership refused to bring these laws to the floor. And you know why? Theyre in the pocket of Big Tech. And Big Tech does not care at all about kids.KOSA and COPPA 2.0 both garnered criticism that, as written, they could infringe on speech and privacy. But this criticism could extend to virtually any child safety law.Slaughter echoed Democrats sentiment to reporters after the hearing. You cant meaningfully address kids online safety in bills that would empower the FTC to enforce kids online safety, if you dont talk about whether the FTC is a functional body consistent with the design of Congress, she said.See More:

Nothings Ear (a) stand out with their bright yellow colorway, but theyre also available in black and white.From the AirPods Pro to the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, Amazons Big Spring Sale has ushered in a number of surprisingly good deals on wireless earbuds. Neither of the aforementioned picks is probably the best option if youre working with a tight budget, though, fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives. Right now for example, the already inexpensive Nothing Ear (a) are on sale at Amazon starting at $77.50 (around $23 off), which is a new all-time low.Nothings entry-level earbuds deliver solid value for the price, which is why they remain our favorite pair of earbuds for under $100. They combine decent active noise cancellation with enjoyable sound, which you can further fine-tune using Nothings mobile app. The water-resistant buds also come with three sizes of swappable silicone tips, which allow for a more secure and comfortable fit (should you find the right size).Whats more, the ANC earbuds offer multipoint Bluetooth pairing, Fast Pair (for Android), and a low-latency gaming mode the latter of which is relatively rare at this price point. They also sport ChatGPT integration, so if you own a Nothing phone, you can ask the AI tool questions on the go using your voice. Or, you know, not.Read our Nothing Ear (a) hands-on impressions.

Amazon quietly restocked a bunch of Pokmon TCG bundles just days ago and stock is already running low. These Scarlet & Violet sets have been MIA for weeks, and now theyre back at retail prices. I already added a couple to my cart, Surging Sparks Booster Bundle, Shrouded Fable ETB and Paldean Fates Booster Bundle. Trainers need to snap these up quick. If theyre gone by the time you get there, thats on you.PlayStation Slim Disc Edition (Import) for $367.94ImportSony PlayStation 5 Disc Edition ConsoleLooking for the least expensive PlayStation 5 console you can your hands on? As part of its US Anniversary Sale, AliExpress is offering an imported Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition gaming console for $367.94 shipped after $80 off coupon code "MAYUE008". This is a brand new and retail boxed product that is stocked in a US warehouse and qualifies for local delivery, which means it ships free and arrives within about 1-2 weeks.Deals For Today: Pokmon TCG - Surging Sparks Still In Stock and Cheap Power Banks+Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Surging Sparks Booster Bundle$45.02 at AmazonPokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Paldean Fates Booster Bundle$69.94 at AmazonThe World of Dragonlance BundlePokmon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer BoxSee itGamera - Attack of Legion - Action Figure$560.00 at IGN StoreINIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAhAnker Power Bank (PowerCore 10K) Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with MicrophoneSony SRS-XB100 Wireless Bluetooth Portable Lightweight Super-Compact Travel SpeakerSony INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headphones With Mic, PS5 HeadphonesSony ULT Field 1 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth SpeakerSony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones with Alexa Built-inSony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead HeadphonesSony BRAVIA Theater U Wireless Wearable TV Speaker with BluetoothSony WH-1000XM5Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8Sony SRS-XP700 X-Series Wireless Karaoke Party-SpeakerSony 65-Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 7Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA 3 LED Smart TVSony 65 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 9 Smart Google TVSmart LED Display Case Smarter Kit (4 Pack)Kingdom hearts Integrum MasterpieceFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth - Exclusive Amazon EditionSAMSUNG 49" Odyssey QD-OLED (G93SC) Series Curved Gaming MonitorSamsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4' 64GB WiFi Android Tabletroborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum & Sonic MopAmazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB)Beats Studio Pro - Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling HeadphonesHumble Heroines Bundle 2025God of War - 20th Anniversary Retrospective Hardcover Deluxe Edition - Book$199.99 at IGN StoreI also spotted a couple of power banks on sale from INIU and Anker. If youve ever watched your phone die mid-flight or mid-text, you know why Im excited. These things are cheap, fast, and less annoying than asking strangers for a charger at an airport. Do with that information what you will. Oh, and while were on the topic of things I absolutely dont need but definitely want: the Gamera: Attack of Legion action figure is up for preorder at the IGN Store for a cool $560, and Humble Bundle just dropped a massive Dragonlance book bundle that practically dares you to add 25+ fantasy novels to your backlog for the price of lunch.Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Surging Sparks Booster BundlePokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Surging Sparks Booster Bundle$45.02 at AmazonI want this bundle purely for the thrill of cracking six packs in a row and pretending Im building a deck for Worlds. The Surging Sparks expansion is still new enough to feel fresh, and at $45.02, its a decent value compared to scalper prices that make you question your financial decisions. If you just want to dip into the latest set without going full collector mode, this is it.Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Paldean Fates Booster BundlePokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Paldean Fates Booster Bundle$69.94 at AmazonShiny Pokmon are back, and apparently so is my addiction to them. The Paldean Fates bundle gives you six chances to pull something sparkly, and while $69.94 isnt exactly pocket change, I think the potential dopamine hit is worth the gamble. Its in stock, it ships fast, and Ive made worse choices at 2 a.m. on eBay.The World of Dragonlance BundleThe World of Dragonlance Bundle26 item bundle, pay more for donations to charity "Room to Read".Im not saying this is the nerdiest thing you can buy today, but its definitely on the leaderboard. Humble Bundle just dropped a massive Dragonlance collection; 25+ books for about the cost of lunch. If youve ever wanted to get lost in magical twin drama, cursed artifacts, or the politics of dwarves (because who hasnt), this is your sign. Plus, part of your purchase supports Room to Read, so now your TBR pile can come with good karma.Pokmon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer BoxPokmon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer BoxSee itIn my opinion, this is the one to grab if you're all-in on the set. Nine booster packs, a Pecharunt promo, themed sleeves, dice, and an actually-useful storage box? For $54.96? Ive spent more on less at Taco Bell. Plus, it's still Prime eligible, which means you dont have to sell your soul for free shipping. Win-win.Gamera - Attack of Legion - Action FigureGamera - Attack of Legion - Action FigurePreorder. Release Date: October 2025$560.00 at IGN StoreThis is what happens when you give kaiju collectors exactly what they want: a 9.5-inch figure of LEGION from Gamera 2, complete with flying parts, glowing bits, and articulation that would make Spider-Man jealous. Sure, its $560, but Ive seen statues half as cool go for double that. If youre the kind of person who rearranges shelf space for something before buying it, I totally get it.INIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAhINIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAhThis thing charges your phone like its got something to prove. At $26.98, it gives you a full weeks worth of backup power and a built-in flashlight just in case you drop your phone and your dignity under your car seat. I want it purely because it has an LED readout that makes me feel like Im operating a mission control panel instead of just charging my AirPods.Anker Power Bank (PowerCore 10K)Anker Power Bank (PowerCore 10K)I think this is the best deal of the day, and not just because its $17.99. Its slim, light, and can survive a drop better than my will to stay off social media. Anker knows what its doing, and this charger just works. No random overheating, no mystery ports, just plug it in and keep scrolling through whatever app is currently ruining your sleep schedule.Hulu + Live TV Free Trial3-Day Free TrialHulu + Live TV (Free Trial)Includes Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)See it at HuluHulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial that allows you to take the live TV streaming service for a spin. This is one of the overall best streaming free trials because it gets you a bundle of services. It is quite a bit shorter than the standard Hulu free trial of 30 days, but it's a great way to test it out over the weekend.Samsung 49" Odyssey QD-OLED (G93SC) Series Curved Gaming MonitorSAMSUNG 49" Odyssey QD-OLED (G93SC) Series Curved Gaming MonitorWith a 240Hz refresh rate, Dual QHD resolution, and 0.03ms response time, this 49-inch ultrawide OLED is built for high-performance PC gaming. The 1800R curve and HDR True Black 400 make it incredibly immersive, while FreeSync Premium Pro helps keep gameplay smooth and responsive.Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4' 64GB WiFi Android TabletSamsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4' 64GB WiFi Android TabletThis Android tablet comes with an S Pen included, a 10.4-inch display, and Samsung DeX for multitasking. At under $200, its a solid pick for casual gamers, students, or anyone who wants a lightweight, entertainment-ready tablet with productivity perks.Humble Heroines Bundle 2025Humble Heroines Bundle 2025Includes 7 gamesCelebrate Women's History Month with a killer bundle featuring female-led games. Titles include Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Control: Ultimate Edition, Darksiders III, Beyond: Two Souls, and more. Its a $160+ value for just $12, or pay extra to give more to publishers, Humble, and charity.roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum & Sonic Moproborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum & Sonic MopWith a whopping 10,000Pa of suction, self-refilling, self-emptying, sonic mopping, and even hot-air mop drying, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra takes hands-off cleaning to the next level. It's packed with AI features and even supports pet tracking and video calls.Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB)Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB)Brand new Kindle for Amazon Spring SaleAmazons newest Kindle adds color to the mix with a 7" Colorsoft display. It still lasts up to 8 weeks on a single charge and now supports wireless charging and full-color highlights. It's ideal for reading graphic novels, cookbooks, or anything where visuals matter.Beats Studio Pro - Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling HeadphonesBeats Studio Pro - Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling HeadphonesEnjoy spatial audio, active noise canceling, and up to 40 hours of battery life. These over-ear headphones are compatible with both iOS and Android, and support lossless audio over USB-C. A strong option for commuters, creators, and music lovers.Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16" RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $2513Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16" Intel Core i9-14900HX RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop with 32GB RAM, 2TB SSDThis Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gaming laptop drops to $2,513 at AliExpress after $100 off coupon code "IFPRZAZ" is applied. The Legion Pro 7 is Lenovo's top-of-the-line gaming laptop and we rarely see discounts for this model. This particular configuration features a powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and RTX 4080 GPU for comfortable high-fps gaming on the 16" display's native 2560x1600 resolution.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Exclusive Amazon EditionFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth - Exclusive Amazon Edition$32.99 for this masterpiece? I genuinely laughed. I paid full price, and I dont even get the exclusive Cloud and Sephiroth controller skin. If youve ever wanted to explore Midgars post-industrial wastelands with emotionally repressed sword boys with a price lower than Black Friday's, here you go.Sony WH-1000XM5Sony WH-1000XM5I think these might actually cancel the noise in my soul. The sound is incredible, the fit is dreamy, and the battery life is better than my phones. Honestly, $249.99 for peace and quiet? Cheaper than therapy.Smart LED Display Case Smarter Kit (4 Pack)Smart LED Display Case Smarter Kit (4 Pack)If youve ever looked at your shelf of figures, sneakers, or LEGO builds and thought, This could be more dramatic, I highly recommend these cases. I want my collectibles to feel as important as they think they are. Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with Microphone Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with MicrophoneAt $38, these are the definition of just throw them in the cart. I use them for work, walks, and pretending Im on a call to avoid conversations. Plus, 50 hours of battery life? Thats just showing off.Kingdom hearts Integrum MasterpieceKingdom hearts Integrum Masterpiece$59.99 to cry over Disney characters and complicated lore? Yes, please. I think this collection should come with a warning and a box of tissues. Its that much of a journey.B100 Bluetooth SpeakerSony SRS-XB100 Wireless Bluetooth Portable Lightweight Super-Compact Travel SpeakerThis speaker is tiny, but its loud enough to offend your upstairs neighbors and cute enough that they wont stay mad. It survived my shower playlist and a weekend camping trip without flinching.INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headphones With Mic, PS5 HeadphonesSony INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headphones With Mic, PS5 HeadphonesCrisp comms, no lag, and a mic that doesnt make me sound like a robot underwater. I want to pretend Im a competitive esports player, and this headset lets me live the fantasy.Sony ULT Field 1 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth SpeakerSony ULT Field 1 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth SpeakerThis speaker is basically the action hero of the portable audio world. Its waterproof, rustproof, and probably judge-proof. I tossed it in my bag, it bounced around all day, and still blasted bass like nothing happened.Sony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones with Alexa Built-inSony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones with Alexa Built-inBass so strong it could cause an existential crisis. These are like strapping a subwoofer to your ears, but in a comfy, eco-friendly kind of way. I think I saw my dog flinch the first time I hit the ULT button.Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead HeadphonesSony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead HeadphonesXM4s are the previous-gen MVPs. Theyve still got top-tier ANC and that dreamy comfort that makes you forget you're wearing them. At $179.99, Im thinking of buying a backup pair for future me.Sony BRAVIA Theater U Wireless Wearable TV Speaker with BluetoothSony BRAVIA Theater U Wireless Wearable TV Speaker with BluetoothA wearable speaker sounds ridiculous... until you try it. I felt like a sci-fi character watching a movie with surround sound on my shoulders. Honestly, I want to wear this to Zoom calls just for the audio flex.Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8My living room sounds like a private screening room now. I think this soundbar made my couch comfier just by association. Movies, games and music are all better with this beast.Sony SRS-XP700 X-Series Wireless Karaoke Party-SpeakerSony SRS-XP700 X-Series Wireless Karaoke Party-SpeakerI didnt need a party speaker, but I bought this anyway. Complete with lights, bass and karaoke ports, its basically a party in a box. I want to say I got it for the sound, but really, its the lights.Sony 65-Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 7Sony 65-Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 7This TV made me realize Ive been watching in peasant resolution my whole life. Mini LED, PlayStation 5 optimization, and colors so vivid I nearly apologized to my last TV for talking trash about it.Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA 3 LED Smart TVSony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA 3 LED Smart TVI want to live in this TV. Its 85 inches of 4K glory, and somehow still cheaper than a vacation. Probably because you wont need one after this, seeing as your living room becomes the destination.Sony 65 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 9 Smart Google TVSony 65 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 9 Smart Google TVThis ones for the people who want it all: QLED, anti-reflection, studio-calibrated modes, and picture quality so good I paused a show just to stare at a lamp. I think my eyes are spoiled now.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Despite five hours of streamed casting announcements, there are still several characters and actors fans are surprised wont be in Avengers: Doomsday. (Read the full Avengers: Doomsday cast roster.) Some we knew about such as Elizabeth Olsens Scarlet Witch and Benedict Cumberbatchs Doctor Strange but the following omissions are notable given the cosmic cross-over nature of whats shaping up to be an Avengers, X-Men and Fantastic Four cinematic extravaganza.The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for DoomsdayMissing AvengersNo Spider-Man (not that anyone can remember who Peter Parker is now, mind you), no Hulk, no Hawkeye, no Nick Fury, no Rhodey (the real one we found out about in Secret Invasion). Not even Pepper Potts or Happy Hogan to tag along for old times sake. And while Captain Carter was reportedly in the mix at one point, Hayley Atwell wasnt among those announced today.X-Men X-CeptionsNo Hugh Jackman/Wolverine, no Halle Berry/Storm, no Famke Janssen/Jean Grey, no Anna Paquin/Rogue, no Ryan Reynolds/Deadpool. Ditto Colossus, Iceman, or any of the First Class incarnations of the X-Men. Oh, and no New Mutants either (remember them???).Asgard, Where Art Thou?While Chris Hemsworths Thor was the first announced cast member of this particular Avengers lineup, none of his fellow Asgardians whom he split from at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder seem to be involved save for the Loki Variant. So no Valkyrie, Korg, Miek or Lady Sif. Maybe his adopted daughter Love will show up though? And well see if Zeus or Hercules ever do catch up with Thor despite what was teased in the Love and Thunder post-credits scene.Guardians of the GalaxyStar-Lords return has been previously teased at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, so his inclusion in the Avengers ranks for Doomsday seemed likely. But alas neither Star-Lord nor any of the new Guardians lineup introduced in Vol. 3 Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam, Phyla, and Blurp are part of this movie.Who Will Be the New Avengers in the MCU?The MarvelsCaptain Marvels importance in Endgame would have suggested that, as one of the most powerful Avengers, she would be in Doomsday. But with The Marvels tanking at the box office, none of those characters Ms. Marvel, Spectrum, Binary, or even Nick Fury were announced for Doomsday. This is all the more curious as we know Binary ended up in the X-Men universe with Kelsey Grammers Beast, who will be in the movie. In fact, theres a noticeable lack of female cast members overall in Avengers: DoomsdayMissing the MagicWhile Benedict Cumberbatch did say his Doctor Strange will be in Secret Wars but not Doomsday, its weird that such a cosmic event wouldnt see the MCUs reigning Sorcerer Supreme, Wong, show up. (We can assume Doc Strange and Charlize Therons Clea are off galavanting on some other plane as the events of Doomsday play out.) No Scarlet Witch or Agatha Harkness either.Disney Plus MinusTheres a decided lack of Disney+ show characters in Avengers: Doomsday. So no Daredevil, Punisher, Vision, Sylvie, Moon Knight, Echo, She-Hulk, Werewolf by Night, Agent Mobius or the TVA.Quantumania Fallout?Given the dismal box office and critical results of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it shouldnt be too surprising that Marvel is putting those characters, with the exception of Paul Rudds Scott Lang, on the sidelines for this installment. So no Hank Pym or Janet Van Dyne. And Evangeline Lilly previously announced that she was stepping away from acting so that might be another key reason why Wasp is sitting this one out.Eternals Are Not ForeverNot a one. Not even Harry Styles as Eros! This is probably not surprising since the film disappointed at the box office, but given the movies cliffhanger ending with Arishem and the fact that Captain America: Brave New World addressed the giant dead Celestial in the ocean, maybe well see Sersi, Kingo, Sprite (or not since she was made human in the end), Phastos, Makkari, Druig, and Thena show up in Avengers: Secret Wars instead.The Young AvengersThe MCU has been teasing a Young Avengers lineup for a few years now Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, America Chavez, Skaar, Eli Bradley, possibly Iron Lad and TChallas son but not one of them is in Doomsday.Blade Didnt Make the CutThis shouldnt be surprising since they still havent shot the Blade movie with Mahershala Ali despite teasing him in Eternals. And while Channing Tatums Gambit (somehow) managed to survive to fight in Doomsday, Wesley Snipes Blade perished in Deadpool & Wolverine.There are a gazillion characters in the MCU but the aforementioned were the ones whose absence from the ranks of Avengers: Doomsday we found most noteworthy. Sound off in the comments about which omissions surprised or bummed you out the most.

BLUETTI has long been an innovator in portable energy storage, and has long been committed to clean and sustainable energy. Its focus on compact, durable, and affordable power solutions has made BLUETTI a market leader. With BLUETTIs spring sale, you can get up to 54% off of products across their lineup, including an all time low on its Elite 200 V2 portable power station.You can also use our exclusive discount code, 9TO5MAC5OFF, to save an additional 5% on all purchases made through the official BLUETTI store and Amazon. These products are great for van life, road trips, camping, and more.Elite 200 V2 Portable Power StationElite 200 V2 offers a 2kWh automotive-grade LFP battery. This battery, thanks to its cutting-edge LiFePO4 technology and smart battery management system, will last up to 6000 cycles. Thats 12 times the industry standard, so you can rest easy with this power station. BLUETTI promises an up-to 17 year lifespan.It packs 2kWh into a very compact form factor, around the same size as other 1kWh power stations. It can also output up to 2600W, which allows you to power tons of appliances on the go. This includes microwaves, refrigerators, routers, and more.Plus, it offers up to 3900W of output through power lifting, allowing you to power even higher wattage accessories, such as hot plates and hair dryers. It also runs as quiet as a whisper while running, at just 16dB. Thats quieter than leaves rustling, and over twice as quiet as sitting in a library.You can also recharge the Elite 200 V2 to 80% in an hour if you tap into AC charging and its 1000W solar panel.For just $899, you can pick up this incredible power station. This is the lowest price BLUETTI has ever offered, 47% off now on both BLUETTIs store and on Amazon.Remember, you can save an additional 5% on the Elite 200 V2 and BLUETTIs entire solar generator lineup, with our special discount code 9TO5MAC5OFF.BLUETTI Charger 1 Alternator ChargerBLUETTI Charger 1 is known for being widely compatible. It works with all BLUETTI power stations, as well as 95% of other brands on the market.With this alternator, you can take advantage of the kinetic output of a moving vehicle, allowing for a much faster charge than a cars cigarette lighter. With the Charger 1, you can pull up to 560W of power, whichll provide a 6x faster charge than a cigarette lighter. It also has active cooling for sustained peak performance.The Charger 1 is also equipped with a number of safety features, to ensure your vehicle battery and power station stay safe from short circuits, undervoltage, and overheating. It also intelligently powers itself on and off, ensuring that it doesnt drain your cars battery.BLUETTI also offers an app for easy control and setup, and it comes with a 2-year warranty. It also comes with DC input cables out of the box, so you wont need to buy them separately.You can pick up the Alternator Charger 1 from BLUETTIs store for just $249. Plus, save 5% with code 9TO5MAC5OFF.Smaller power stationsIf you dont quite need the 2kWh battery that the Elite 200 V2 offers, BLUETTI also has you covered with more compact and more lightweight offerings. Its AC70 and AC180 offerings pack a good chunk of power at a much lower price tag.BLUETTIs AC70 offers 768Wh of capacity. It can output up to 1000W standard, or 2000W in power lifting mode. This can power a refrigerator for nearly 8 hours, or recharge your smartphone up to 24 times. It offers 7 outlets, and can be recharged up to 80% in just 45 minutes. You can buy the AC70 on BLUETTIs store for $359.For even more power, AC180 kicks everything up by a notch, offering up to 1800W of output, or 2700W in power lifting mode. It also packs 1152Wh of capacity, and offers 11 varying output ports. With this capacity, you can power a light for 103 hours, a fan for 26 hours, or recharge your laptop 17 times. The AC180 can be purchased at BLUETTIs store for $449.Make sure you use our exclusive discount code, 9TO5MAC5OFF, to save 5% on any of your BLUETTI purchases. You can also follow BLUETTI on Facebook and X/Twitter for updates.There are a number of other BLUETTI products on discount during this spring sale. You can check out all of BLUETTIs spring offerings on its official website and its Amazon store. You can save up to 54%!Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In iOS 18.4, Apple added a new ambient music feature to Control Center. It does exactly what it sounds like, and provides a variety of options to play some ambient background music with the tap of a button. Its a great start, and Id love to see Apple expand this feature in the future.iOS 18.4 is currently in beta, but Apple just released the RC earlier this week so itll likely release to the public in the very near future.How it worksApple provides four different options for Ambient Music in Control Center: Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing.Each toggle plays a unique playlist for that theme, though you can also customize which playlist you get when you press the toggle. Apple provides four options for each theme, but you can also add your own.Once youre playing some nice ambient music from one of these toggles, theres a hidden Ambient Music app that you can access from your Dynamic Island or Control Center. With this app, you can see whats playing at a glance, skip the song, and AirPlay to a speaker or other device.Improvements Id like to seeWhile this is a great start, and I love using it as is the Ambient Music feature could undoubtedly get better.For one, its only available on iPhone and iPad. Apples new Ambient Music feature isnt available on the Mac quite yet. macOS does offer an accessibility feature called Background Sounds, though it isnt nearly as robust as Ambient Music in iOS and iPadOS 18.4.On top of that, I think itd be great if this were available as a standalone app. Theres already a hidden app that runs when youre using Ambient Music from Control Center, and itd be immensely helpful if there were a dedicated app that you could access from your Home Screen. This would also allow for a more seamless experience than fiddling with a number of Control Center toggles, and itd be easier to switch between all of the provided playlists. If Apple Music Classical can be a dedicated app, I dont think itd be too much of a stretch for this to also be a standalone app.Overall, this feature was still a pleasant surprise in iOS 18.4. Im very happy with it, and really Id just like to see it expand to the Mac where Id use it a lot more. A dedicated app would just be a cherry on top.You can subscribe to Apple Music if you havent already for $10.99/month, and access Apples continuously growing music experience.My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

By the time Marvel concluded its hours-long YouTube presentation of the full cast ofAvengers: Doomsday it had revealed 27 different names. One Robert Downey Jr. had already been announced back at Comic-Con in 2024. Some, like Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Mackie, were all but forgone conclusions; you arguably couldnt make anotherAvengers sequel without them.But then there were some other names maybe a third of the full roster revealed online and on social media today that were genuine out-of-left-field surprises. A lot of them were members of the Fox X-Men franchise, which is technically defunctfollowing Disneys acquisition of the 20th Century Fox studio. Maybe it wasnt thatshocking that Patrick Stewartwould appear in Doomsday, given that he already made one cameo in the MCU in 2022s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. On the other hand, the names announced todayincluded at least one actor who hadnt appeared in an X-Men movie in over20years! A child who was bornthe year this person last played a Marvel superhero can legally consume alcohol now. That is wild.Here are thenine biggest surprises in the cast list forAvengers: Doomsday.Of course, there are some surprising omissions from the cast as well. (Where is Tom Holland? Spider-Man doesnt get to fight Doctor Doom? Doesno one but me recallThe Amazing Spider-Man#5???) But thats a subject for another day.The Most Surprising Members of the Avengers: Doomsday CastWe did not expect to see these stars returning for Marvels Avengers: Doomsday.READ MORE: The Fox X-Men Are Officially Coming to the MCUThe Full Cast of Avengers: DoomsdayHere is every actor announced for the next massive Marvel crossover movie.