Early adopters of sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror were once able to rattle off their list of favorite episodes with ease. Back in the show’s Channel 4 days in the U.K., there were only six installments (“The National Anthem,” “15 Million Merits,” “The Entire History of You,” “Be Right Back,” “White Bear,” and “The Waldo Moment”) so it wasn’t too challenging to gather them all up in one’s brain and spit them out in a preferred order. Since 2016, however, Netflix has stepped in to start mass producing new episodes of Black Mirror as fast as creator Charlie Brooker can write them. The episode number (now at 34 with season 7) has become a bit more unwieldy so making sense of where they all rank is a taller order. Thankfully, it’s a a challenge we’re happy to take on. What follows is our official list of every Black Mirror episode from worst to best. You will disagree with it because how could you not? Just be sure to let us know how foolish we are in the comments. 34. Shut Up and Dance Season 3 Episode 3 The third installment of season 3 does indeed present a worthwhile original concept, as most episodes of Black Mirror do. Hackers contact teenage boy Kenny (Alex Lawther) and instruct him to perform an increasingly complicated series of chores or they’ll release an incriminating video taken from his webcam. He teams up with Hector (Jerome Flynn, who has been sent on a similar mission from the same hackers). Unfortunately, “Shut Up and Dance” is simply too ugly for its own good. While the episode is able to tap into modern anxieties about loss of privacy and autonomy well, it introduces a depressing third act twist that unwittingly argues we’re all terrible animals who don’t deserve our stupid privacy anyway. 33. The Entire History of You Season 1 Episode 3 “The Entire History of You” was a popular choice for fan favorite following the show’s tiny three-episode first season. The concept of being able to literally watch one’s own memories Dumbledore’s Pensieve-style was definitely appealing. The episode struck such a chord that Robert Downey Jr. even optioned it to make a still as of yet unproduced movie. Problem is: “The Entire History of You” has aged incredibly poorly. The initial concept remains appealing – so much so that the mind projection “nubbin” has recurred several times – but the story wrapped around it is just awful. Lead character Liam (Toby Kebbell) is such a monstrous prick that it negates any salient point the episode may try to make. It’s hard to be taken in by the episode’s fascinating technology when it’s presented within the most standard and boring infidelity plot imaginable.  32. The Waldo Moment Season 2 Episode 3 “The Waldo Moment” is a popular choice for worst Black Mirror episode ever and it’s not hard to see why. Central “character” Waldo is just absolutely unfunny and insufferable. The plot introduces tortured comedic genius Charlie Brooker…I mean Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby), whose animated bear-like creation Waldo embarks upon a satirical run for office. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! In a more modern context when we’ve seen creatures far worse than cartoon characters elected to office, “The Waldo Moment” isn’t quite as ridiculous. The notion of co-opting sarcastic revolutions from frustrated voters is pretty right on. Still, Waldo is just the fucking worst. He’s like how Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a show that wanted to depict a comedic variety show but was completely unable to write believable sketches. 31. Men Against Fire Season 3 Episode 5 “Men Against Fire” is actually pretty solid. Its biggest issue, however, is that it’s nearly impossible not to guess its big twist very early on in the episode. Once the episode gets that inevitability out of the way, a lot falls into place and “Men Against Fire’s” central message is effective and disturbing. Still the ease in which the narrative trickery is worked out holds it back – as does its clear lack of a necessary budget. It’s a story and a concept that just needed some more time and money to marinate. 30. Crocodile Season 4 Episode 3 “Crocodile” is one of Black Mirror‘s best-looking episodes. Director John Hillcoat (The Road) makes the absolute best of the setting’s still, disquieting Icelandic landscapes. And that interesting concept of accessing memories comes up again – only this time in a more primitive form. The technology being developed and primarily used by insurance investigators is entirely logical and intelligent on the show’s part. The plot that Brooker creates around it is again just too bleak. It’s not clear what the episode is trying to say other than that the truly monstrous walk among us – which is a lazy theme for a show this good. 29. Hated in the Nation Season 3 Episode 6 At this point in the list, we enter into a series of episodes that are flawed but still mostly enjoyable. “Hated in the Nation” has two big factors working against it: it is both season 3’s longest and last episode, carrying an added level of import that it just doesn’t earn. There’s too much going on here with the show combining a modern social media terrorism plot with….robot bees? It’s all a bit much and at times flat out silly. It’s still a fun episode that combines moments of sharp humor and real intensity. It’s also one of the few Black Mirror episodes to tackle social media and does so in a pretty smart way. 28. Mazey Day Season 6 Episode 4 “Mazey Day” feels like it should be a more consequential Black Mirror episode than it ends up being. This season 6 installment about a troubled actress and the paparazzi who want to make their riches off of her goes in an ultimately unprecedented direction for the anthology. While that direction is pretty clever, and the episode’s breezy running time is inoffensive, Mazey Day can’t really elevate itself beyond those two slight adjectives. You’ll have some fun here but for the most part this Zazie Beetz-starring installment isn’t Black Mirror at its best. 27. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Bandersnatch is a bit of an odd duck in the Black Mirror oeuvre. Released late in 2018 as a standalone, Bandersnatch is Netflix’s first ever “choose-your-own-adventure” showcase for adults. The story follows young programmer Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead) as he attempts to create a videogame based on the works of his favorite author. Sadly that author went crazy and killed his family, and as the choices for Stefan began to develop, it becomes clear that the viewer may be guiding him to a similar fate. Bandersnatch works surprisingly well as a pure Black Mirrorepisode, devoid of the narrative tricks. Stefan and Colin Ritman (Will Poulter) are both strong characters and the episode’s warped version of 1984 comes across quite nicely. It’s those darn choices though that get in the way of the things. In a way that’s fitting, as Bandersnatch might be about how choice is an illusion anyway. 26. Arkangel Season 4 Episode 2 Like its season 4 companion “Crocodile,” “Arkangel” is another episode that looks flat out beautiful. Jodie Foster is clearly in her element as a director, creating a richly realized portrait of a near-future small-town America. Not only that but she creates a touching portrayal of mothers and daughters. So much of “Arkangel’s” runtime is staggeringly poignant, with a mother doing truly destructive things to her daughter all in the name of love. Rarely has an episode of Black Mirror fallen apart so precipitously in its third act, however. 25. Smithereens Season 5 Episode 2 “Smithereens” follows Chris (Andrew Scott) a rideshare driver who spends most of his days outside of social networking app company Smithereen, waiting to pick an executive up. When Chris finally gets his wish (or thinks he does) he springs his hostage plan into action with one singular goal in mind: talk to the Smithereen CEO (Topher Grace) on his phone. “Smithereens” is perfectly fine, but unremarkable. It joins other episodes like “Shut Up and Dance” and “The Entire History of You” that help establish dark sci-fi bona fides of the show in the public consciousness but aren’t the most compelling statements Black Mirror has to offer. 24. Black Museum Season 4 Episode 6 Considering that Black Mirror itself is an anthology, maybe it’s no surprise that it’s able to handle anthologies within a single episode pretty well. “Black Museum” is the “finale” of season 4, and it’s an easter egg bonanza for Black Mirror fans wrapped around a pretty compelling story. An unnamed woman (played by Black Panther‘s Letitia Wright) pulls into a desert U.S. rest stop where she enters a creepy museum curated by the bombastic Rolo Haynes (Douglas Hodge). Rolo takes his visitor on a tour of the museum, telling stories about how he came to acquire its many technological curiosities. “Black Museum” is in some respects just as dark as the brutal “Crocodile,” but it comes along with a winking Twilight Zone black humor that makes it all the more palatable and engaging. 23. Common People Season 7 Episode 1 Season 7 opener “Common People” isn’t the best episode of Black Mirror, nor is it the worst, but it might just be the most Black Mirror episode of Black Mirror yet. Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd star as Mike and Amanda, a working class American couple just looking to get by. That goal becomes even more challenging when Amanda falls into a tumor-induced coma, only to be resurrected by the tech firm Rivermind. There’s no catch here! The good folks at Rivermind bring Amanda’s brain back online for free. All it costs to keep it that way is $300 a month via the subscription model. Wait, did we say $300? It’s actually closer to $1300 now, you know with the upgrading of the cell towers and all. Also, can we interest you in Rivermind Luxe? It’s the only way to remove ads. Blessed with a creative concept and saddled with a typical ending, Common People is as close to a “replacement level” episode of Black Mirror as you’re likely to find. 22. Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too Season 5 Episode 3 Each successive season of Black Mirror feels like it works harder and harder to subvert viewers’ expectations in logical yet thrilling ways. The show has indulged in Star Trek-like adventure in “U.S.S. Callister,” post-apocalyptic horror in “Metalhead,” and basically straight up romance in “San Juinpero.” Season 5’s “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” might be the series’ most striking tonal departures yet. If not for the occasional F-bomb, this is basically a madcap childrens’ movie. “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” follows sisters Rachel and Jack, who are struggling to fit in at school and come to terms with their mom’s death. Ashley O (played by Miley Cyrus naturally) is a pop star who finds herself under the thumb of her evil aunt. When Ashley O’s aunt makes a truly wild and destructive power play, Rachel, Jack, and a robot named Ashley Too seek to defeat her. Many a lesson is learned along the way. “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” doesn’t have the depth of many other Black Mirror episodes and takes far too long to get really rolling. Still, it’s hard not to fall for the charms of this strangely wholesome installment. 21. Playtest Season 3 Episode 2 There’s quite a bit of time-padding in “Playtest.” Despite a reasonable running time of 57 minutes, the first act feels like it’s nine hours long. Once that hurdle is cleared, however, no episode of Black Mirror is able to more succinctly accomplish what it sets out to accomplish. In “Playtest’s” case, that’s to be the first flat out techno horror movie episode of Black Mirror. It’s hard to imagine the episode succeeding in this goal more effectively. “Playtest” is far scarier than one could reasonably expect. The episode’s success is tempered yet again by having more endings than The Return of the King but the meaty middle portion is enough to place “Playtest” firmly in Black Mirror‘s middle class. 20. Loch Henry Season 6 Episode 2 Black Mirror does true crime in “Loch Henry” and it does so quite well! The episode picks up with young filmmakers Davis (Samuel Blenkin) and Pia (Myha’la) returning to Davis’s native Scotland to film a Herzog-ian documentary about a guy who defends endangered bird eggs. When Pia stumbles upon the story of a grueling double murder that Davis’s cop father investigated, she rightfully decides that’s their angle instead. Loch Henry works as both an engaging crime saga and a criticism of our own seedy fascination with pop culture murder. The twist is fairly easy to guess but the absolute human devastation it eventually reaps certainly makes up for that. In an increasingly bleak series, Loch Henry might just offer up one of Black Mirror‘s bleakest-ever endings. 19. Bête Noire Season 7 Episode 2 Oftentimes it’s the simplest of human emotions that lead to the most incisive Black Mirrors. Case in point is “Bête Noire,” the second episode of the show’s seventh season. Things are going well enough for food researcher Maria (Siena Kelly) until an old face from her past stops by work. Soon enough Verity (Rosy McEwen) is brining the concept of gaslighting to new sci-fi heights. At the center of it all is the bête noire, or black beast, herself: jealousy. Turns out you can travel a whole multiverse of possibilities and never get over your childhood pain. 18. Beyond the Sea Season 6 Episode 3 It’s hard to find the right spot for “Beyond the Sea” on this list. Technically-speaking, it’s one of Black Mirror‘s most impressive episodes. Beautifully-shot by director John Crowley and capably acted by leads Josh Hartnett, Aaron Paul, and Kate Mara, this brings the show’s sci-fi concept back to the 1960s space age where it fits quite well. But then there’s that ending. Is the hard turn that Beyond the Sea takes in the end coldly logical or the result of Charlie Brooker hitting the “we’re at 80 minutes and must self-destruct” button? Opinions vary at Den of Geek and we suspect they might vary out there as well. 17. Plaything Season 7 Episode 4 While “USS Callister: Into Infinity” was touted as Black Mirror‘s first-ever direct sequel, it is actually sneakily beat to the punch two episodes previously with “Plaything.” Bandersnatch‘s Will Poulter returns as video game developer Colin Ritman in this short and sweet ode to mankind’s love for fuzzy little guys. The fuzzy little guys in this equation are Thronglets, digital critters created by Ritman but not in any way under his control. All the Thronglets want is to be given the chance to create their own Throng and Cameron (Peter Capaldi) is going to help them out. Despite featuring one of Black Mirror‘s many trademark bleak endings, there’s something endearing about Plaything. Maybe it’s the Thronglets themselves or the open question of who’s really the “plaything” here but this installment is firmly enjoyable. Season 4 Episode 5 “Metalhead” is beautiful in its simplicity. It’s among the shortest, most direct, and most exciting episodes of Black Mirror. Brooker presents us with a simple black and white story of survival. Black and white literally and black and white figuratively: man (in this case woman) vs. machine. Maxine Peake is phenomenal as our protagonist in a Walking Dead-style future in which humanity is pursued by terrifying packs of robotic “dogs.” “Metalhead” never gives us straightforward answers (though those robots do seem to like to gather around Amazon-like fulfillment centers) but what it does give us is a careful, straightforward examination of the human spirit’s drive to survive. 15. Hang the DJ Season 4 Episode 4 Frank (Joe Cole) and Amy (Georgina Campbell) meet through a dating service app that dictates the entire direction of your dating life. “The System” takes users from relationship to relationship, gathering information to find the user’s one true love. Problem is: Frank and Amy believe they’ve already found it and yet The System isn’t ready to let them quit just yet. “Hang the DJ” is the rare episode of Black Mirror (or anything else for that matter) that features a twist that both elevates and reinforces the original premise. It’s a wonderful, clever, and emotional love story. 14. Hotel Reverie Season 7 Episode 3 “Hotel Reverie” is what you get when you combine a timely tech topic with some resonant emotional storytelling. That is to say: a great Black Mirror episode. Issa Rae stars as famous actress Brandy Friday, who jumps at the opportunity to play the male lead in a remake of her favorite black and white film, Hotel Reverie. Of course, like many Black Mirror characters in season 7, she doesn’t quite read the instruction manual. Even before things go inevitably, terribly wrong, Hotel Reverie’s premise of inserting modern day actors into classic films is queasy enough. In addition to capably exploring that topic (in a post-SGA strike landscape no less), this episode makes room for a compelling, offbeat love story that transcends time, space, and celluloid. 13. White Bear Season 2 Episode 2 “White Bear” may rely a bit too much on its third-act twist but damn, what a twist it is. Folks who have never seen Black Mirror may be under the mistaken impression that the show thrives on “tricking” its audience. That’s obviously not always the case. But it is in “White Bear” and the results are incredible. Black Mirror is able to manipulate us into believing it’s a much simpler, maybe even derivative show with the first two-thirds of “White Bear.” That last third, however, presents a fundamental truth about the all-consuming human desire for vengeance that’s as uncomfortable as anything the show has produced thus far. 12. The National Anthem Season 1 Episode 1 Black Mirror‘s first episode is among its most polarizing. It’s incredible that this is what Brooker chose to lead off with. Granted, he couldn’t have known what the franchise would eventually become, but the story of an English Prime Minister blackmailed into copulating with a pig on national television remains as bold and darkly funny as ever. The prime minster in question is the uninspiring Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear). After a domestic terrorist kidnaps a beloved princess, Callow has a chance to be the hero…by doing the unthinkable. Even all these years later, “The National Anthem” serves as a fitting, and bizarrely prescient, introduction to this TV institution. 11. Joan Is Awful Season 6 Episode 1 The cultural conversation surrounding Black Mirror in its latter seasons always seems to comes down to the question: “do we even need this show anymore? Reality has basically become an episode of Black Mirror.” Brooker himself has copped to occasionally feeling hamstrung by the world’s increasingly dystopian tendencies. But then you get an episode like season 6 opener “Joan Is Awful” and realize why this project has plenty left in the tank. Joan Is Awful uses the Black Mirrorification of our reality to its advantage. This disturbingly plausible hour finds the titular Joan (Annie Murphy) discovering that Netflix Streamberry has finally put all that data it collected on her to good use and just made a TV show about her life. It’s a perfectly Black Mirror concept that episode writer Brooker knows just what to do. And thanks to the star power of Murphy and Salma Hayek Pinault, it’s all marvelously entertaining with an unexpectedly empowering conclusion. 10. White Christmas “White Christmas” is the first and superior of Black Mirror‘s two anthology episodes. Jon Hamm stars as Matt Trent, a proprietor of a home-helper technology, dating expert, and all-around creep. “White Christmas” follows Trent through three seemingly unrelated stories before they cross in fascinating and terrifying ways. White Christmas is just terrifying, good science fiction and in many ways the technological concepts presented in it have resonated throughout future seasons of the show. 9. Striking Vipers Season 5 Episode 1 Even before the “turn” in “Striking Vipers,” this is still a beautiful and bittersweet episode of television. Anthony Mackie, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Beharie brilliantly capture the anarchic sense of freedom and joy of youth and then just as capably capture the nostalgic sadness of adulthood. At first glance, this is an episode about growing old, growing apart, and not being able to reconcile your new self and your old self. Then the twist hits. Suddenly “Striking Vipers” explodes into a whole host of philosophical, emotional, and sexual questions that the episode invites you to ponder. Through a silly little Mortal Kombat style videogame, Black Mirror makes the audience reconsider their own relationships and values. Just like all the truly great Black Mirror episodes this is a love story. But who loves who, how do they love them, what does that love mean, and where do we all go from here? 8. USS Callister: Into Infinity Season 7 Episode 6 When it comes to Black Mirror episodes, fans and critics sometimes get hung up in trying to Figure Out What It All Means. What’s the technology here? What’s the message? What’s the parable? Sometimes, however, Charlie Brooker and company opt to craft an episode with the mission of “what if we just make something that rips?” Enter: “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” the follow-up to season 4’s “USS Callister” and the Black Mirror franchise’s first-ever direct sequel. While this Cristin Milioti-led installment contains some timely commentary about the nature of digital identities and mankind’s heart of darkness, it’s seemingly just an excuse for the show to revisit a cast and concept that everyone had a ton of fun exploring the first time. Lo’ and behold, it’s a ton of fun the second time around too. 7. Nosedive Season 3 Episode 1 Bryce Dallas Howard stars as Lacie Pound, a woman living in a near future that is even more obsessed with social media and status than we are. Lacie decides she wants to get into a hip new neighborhood but to do so she must maintain a 4.0 score on the dominant social media app. The effort to do so sends her into a … well, a nosedive. A fun aspect of Black Mirror is being able to recognize certain plot points and themes in real life. Ok, so it’s not always fun. Usually it’s terrifying. For “Nosedive,” though it’s somehow both. Despite its too close for comfort premise, the episode is a lot of fun and it will forever change the way you view your Uber rating. 6. Demon 79 Season 6 Episode 5 “Demon 79” represents the Black Mirror‘s attempt to do something completely new. In fact, this was initially written by Brooker (alongside co-writer Bisha K. Ali) to be an installment of an entirely separate companion show called Red Mirror. As such, it is an unabashedly fantasy horror experience complete with a literal demon and a grim prophecy of the world’s end. And it all works! Anjana Vasan and Paapa Essiedu both shine as the human-demon duo who are tasked with killing three people to avoid the apocalypse. Despite its non-Black Mirror origins, Demon 79 has every spiritual element of the original show in place: it’s violent, it’s political, it’s angry, it’s funny, and it’s clever. It’s a hell of a fun watch that operates as a much-needed reset and fresh beginning for the franchise overall. 5. Eulogy Season 7 Episode 5 If you’re bringing one of planet Earth’s best actors aboard for an episode of your silly sci-fi anthology show, you’d better know what to do with him. Thankfully, Black Mirror not only knows what to do with Paul Giamatti, it gives him an incredibly meaty role in “Eulogy.” The technology of Eulogy is simple and certainly not what you’d call dystopian. Giamatti’s Phillip is granted a nubbin and an AI assistant to guide him through some old photos and prompted to remember some material for his old flame’s eulogy. What the episode lacks in flash, however, it makes up for his heart. This is a touching, bittersweet installment that stands out as one of Black Mirror‘s best. 4. 15 Million Merits Season 1 Episode 2 “15 Million Merits” is all over the place. It satirizes talent shows like The Voice and American Idol. It satirizes the app culture that’s invading our phones and computers. It satirizes the weight loss industry. It’s a lot, and it’s hard to fully categorize. Instead of all these elements detracting from the story at hand, they enhance it. “15 Million Merits” is genius dystopian fiction. It’s Brooker’s sense of humor placed neatly over Orwell’s 1984. It’s only the second episode of the entire series and it’s as auspicious a beginning as possible. 3. USS Callister Season 4 Episode 1 “Wait, this was supposed to be the fun Star Trek parody” a viewer might think to themselves as they watch Captain Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) use God-like powers to remove the mouth of his crewmate Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti) so she can neither breathe nor scream. Well, “USS Callister” is Black Mirror‘s “fun” Star Trek parody. It’s also a compelling examination of bad men and the damage they do. “USS Callister” is one of the most complete and exciting stories the show has told yet. We know TV types get testy when episodes are compared to movies, but “USS Callister” really is just a fantastic movie. Brooker has a stronger sense of story and wonder here than ever before, and “USS Callister” marks an exciting new direction for the show altogether. 2. San Junipero Season 3 Episode 4 The success of “San Junipero” seemed to catch Brooker and Netflix by surprise. Black Mirror was always a bleak, sometimes ugly little show that had fun doing its Twilight Zone schtick in the shadows. And then season 3 debuted on Netflix and nestled within it – in the unassuming position of the fourth episode – was a romantic masterpiece. A show that was sometimes about things that go viral suddenly had a “thing that went viral.” San Junipero won the show its first Emmy and took up more server space of discussion on the internet than any other episode. It’s all more than well earned. San Junipero is near perfect. It’s the story of the love between two people, Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis), who are only able to meet because of technology. For once technology brings people together on Black Mirror instead of tearing them apart. 1. Be Right Back Season 2 Episode 1 “Be Right Back” is Black Mirror‘s smallest episode – its quietest, its most intimate. Domhnall Gleeson and Hayley Atwell (before they were the Domhnall Gleeson and the Hayley Atwell) star as married couple Ash and Martha. They are happily, comfortably in love, even if Ash does have a bit of a problem pulling himself away from his phone. One night, Ash heads out for a drive on a snowy road and the unthinkable happens. Martha is faced with a lifetime on her own until one of her friends puts an idea in her head. There does exist the technology now where a company can recreate the personality of a lost loved one through all of their social media posts and online presence. So Martha goes through with it and tries to fall in love again with a facsimile of Ash. As we all know, however, technology can get pretty close to human but can it get all the way there? “Be Right Back” is beautiful and sad because it’s human. It’s imperfect. And it gets to a truth about all technology. Life is a race to experience love against the clock of death. So much of our technology and our innovation is about extending that clock, enhancing our capacity to love or in the rarest of instances: defeating death. Death, life, love, grief, technology, and time all come together for a bittersweet little parable in “Be Right Back.” It’s Black Mirror‘s best episode.

As is the case with low-rise jeans, combat boots, and bucket hats in the world of fashion, there are plenty of once-celebrated interior design trends that have finally left the building. One such trend that designers are happy to see disappear? Accent walls. California-based interior designer Kristen Peña even went so far as to say, “I wish everyone would read the memo that one wall of color is not the way to go. Be bold and be brave!” So, what’s the hot new design element that’s seeing accent walls out?We asked six experts for their thoughts on the matter and, to our surprise, they had different answers, but they all focused on the same place: the ceiling, an area of the room that often goes unnoticed because, generally speaking, people tend to look forward, not up—until now. The ceiling is quickly becoming the new place to incorporate some visual interest, and these designers are breaking down exactly how to do it. Related StoriesVisually IllusiveRyann FordAs is the case with plenty of interior designers, Austin, Texas-based Sara Malek Barney doesn’t skip the ceiling when she’s designing a room—any room. “I consider it the fifth wall, and when it is treated with equal regard to the vertical walls of a room, it can elevate the space and create a sense of balance over all,” she explains. “In a room with high ceilings, bringing the height of the room down a bit to make it less visually overwhelming is a good idea. I like to do this by adding a wallpaper with gentle colors and a unique pattern to both the ceiling and a few feet of the walls beneath it.” What’s more, having some fun with the ceiling is just another expression of personal style. “I love incorporating color, even if it’s super subtle,” the designer adds.Color-DrenchingChristopher Stark Design enthusiasts are hardly strangers to the idea of color-drenching, but some professionals are more keen on it than others. One such designer is San Francisco, California-based Kristen Peña, who is quite fearless when it comes to color-drenching, as shown here. “I like to understand the psychology behind a client ask. To me, an accent wall is about the desire for visual interest, but just by dipping your toe in,” she explains. “Our job, as designers, is to portray confidence in spaces, so I always encourage a client to jump in with both feet and drench the whole room—even the ceiling! Lime paint, wallpaper, plaster… just go for it!”Related StoryColor-BlockingThomas KuohWhile some prefer to swath the walls in an easy, soft neutral that doesn’t draw much attention, others like to go big with not one but two bright hues that are painted in a way that complements one another. “Accent ceilings are the only accent ‘walls’ that our team specifies on projects. They have unique visual weight, add unexpected mood, and are a powerful tool in defining spaces within a larger array of rooms in the home,” says San Francisco, California-based Emilie Munroe, the designer behind this color-blocked room. If you want to try color-blocking, go for two shades that oppose (read: complement) each other on the color wheel.Related StoryWallpaperRead McKendreeIf you’re committing to dressing up the ceiling in a luxurious wallpaper, don’t do something boring that no one will notice. Go with a pattern that commands some love. “I prefer a wallpapered ceiling over a wallpapered accent wall any day. Whereas wallpapering accent walls can look like you ran out of money to complete the room, an accent ceiling looks complete and purposeful,” explains West Hartford, Connecticut-based Jeanne Barber, who designed the room shown here. “It also helps draw the eye up to an area that is so often ignored and creates interest and height in any room,” she adds.Dark and MoodyEric LuceroDenver-based Miranda Cullen, founder and principal at Inside Stories, is known for her bold and dramatic interiors that exude utter sophistication, so it should come as no surprise that her preferred palette leans dark rather than bright, as seen in this dining room. “Go bold with black for a moody, modern vibe, or keep it classic with silvers, golds, or warm tones that bounce light around the room,” she advises. “The beauty of metal is how it interacts with light—natural or artificial—creating a dynamic look that changes throughout the day.” In order to draw the eye upward, Cullen says that incorporating a metallic element is always a good idea. “While wallpaper and paint are still great options (and can even be used alongside metal for layered interest), nothing catches the eye—or the light—quite like a metallic ceiling. It’s unexpected, elevated, and just the right amount of extra.”Related StoryWraparound Erin KestenbergIf your home isn’t fitted with unique architectural elements, you can create them yourself. “One of the coolest new design tricks we’re seeing is faking architectural details with paint and wallpaper—the effect is anything but fake!” insists Fairfield, Connecticut-based Diane Rath, who employed that technique in the room above. “Wraparound wallpaper treatments call attention to ceiling height changes, making the architecture feel intentional and sculptural. Painted lines that mimic wainscoting or paneling add a timeless, grounded feel—even in contemporary spaces. It’s bold, creative, and far easier than a full renovation. Proof that smart design can be both stylish and simple.”Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

We’ve seen many good examples of how AI can help people make their lives easier, and AI agents play an important role in this, as they can complete many tasks on behalf of the user. Last month, the popular web browser Opera announced its AI-based Browser Operator, and now we’ve seen it live in action. Opera’s Browser Operator can browse the web for you With Opera’s Browser Operator, users can count on AI to do things that go beyond searching the web. For instance, you can ask the browser to buy something you need or to send a web link to someone. Thanks to AI agents, the browser can interact with webpage elements and control the browsing experience for you. While Browser Operator was announced as a concept, 9to5Mac was invited by Opera to see an exclusive preview of the new feature. In the demo, Opera’s director of marketing technologies Henrik Lexow instructed the browser to buy flowers and deliver them to a specific hotel. The browser successfully completed the task by searching for flowers on Google, accessing a recommended online store, selecting a bouquet, and placing the order. More impressively, Opera’s Browser Operator filled out the order forms, including the shipping address, without any user interaction. Although the feature is still in development and not yet available in public beta, it’s impressive to see the progress Opera has made since unveiling the first concept. Of course, some users might have privacy concerns when it comes to a feature like this, but Opera emphasizes that Browser Operator is built with privacy in mind. That’s because Browser Operator runs locally on the web browser, rather than relying on uploading screenshots or video capture to process webpage content. According to Opera, Browser Operator uses the “DOM tree and browser layout data to get context,” which allows it to perform actions without taking control of the entire computer. The company expects to launch Browser Operator as part of its AI Feature Drop program in the near future. You can watch the video below to see a preview of how the feature works: Gadgets I recommend: Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As billionaire Elon Musk continues to ravage the government's budget with the help of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, sources inside the White House are increasingly getting fed up with his antics.As Rolling Stone reported today, some senior State Department officials have come to call him "Crazy Uncle Elon," a nod towards his grating persona. But the story contained another alarming revelation: the depth of Musk's antipathy toward the people's whose lives he's been turning upside down.The effects of the budget cuts he's overseen so far have been devastating, to say the least. Tens of thousands of federal employees have been fired. Lifesaving aid and research are being canceled, and the nation's Social Security system is hanging on by a thread.Just last week, the Social Security Administration wrongfully informed some recipients of Supplemental Security Income, financial assistance for disabled Americans and low-income senior citizens, that they were no longer receiving benefits, causing chaos.But to Musk, the massive amount of hurt he's inflicting on all those people has come as a source of amusement. According to Rolling Stone, the billionaire has been reacting with laugh-crying emojis to reports of federal staffers' lives being upended.The reporting highlights the richest man in the world's active disdain for federal employees. Case in point, earlier this year, Musk retweeted a post that blamed the atrocities committed by Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong on public sector workers.Workers who haven't yet been caught up in the sweeping layoffs will have to contend with a very different working environment and a new level of workplace scrutiny. Earlier this week, news emerged that DOGE was using AI to monitor federal workers for anti-Trump sentiment.Musk also blasted out an email in February, requiring all federal employees to report what "they got done last week.""Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation," Musk wrote in the email.A day later, several federal agencies told employees not to respond to the demand, sowing even more confusion.Employees have also had to deal with Musk's army of teenage and early-2o-something operatives who have threatened officials and grilled Pentagon employees about guarded information, per Rolling Stone.In short, Musk's gutting of the federal government isn't just falling far short of saving $1 trillion, as he'd previously promised. It's also being led by a billionaire who is reportedly getting a kick out of making federal employees' lives as miserable as possible.How long the cruel farce will keep going remains unclear. According to the president,  Musk will be leaving his post in the upcoming months, a move that'll likely come as a big sigh of relief for countless federal workers.Share This Article

Picking the best movie for every single letter of the alphabet: Contrary to the song, it’s not quite as easy as 1-2-3.After all, some letters are a lot more popular than others. Just take the letter G. You’ve got The Godfather, of course. (And The Godfather Part II, for that matter.) There’s Ghostbusters, that’s a total ’80s classic. Few recent movies are better than Get Out. And arguably the most powerful film in the history of motion pictures starts with the letter G: Gymkata. How do you pick just one? And that’s just one letter! On the other end of the spectrum, there ain’t a whole lot of movies that start with the letter “U.” So this gets very tricky.That didn’t stop us from trying, of course. Here are ScreenCrush’s picks for the best movie that starts with every letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. Obviously “The” and similar articles do not count for our alphabetical purposes. What kind of monster alphabetizes The Boss Baby under the letter T? Not me! Show that Boss Baby the respect he so rightfully deserves.It should go without saying that this is entirely subjective and utterly meaningless. But that doesn’t mean it’s also not a fun exercise. Try it for yourself, but be warned: It’s really hard to pick just one G movie. The Great Dictator! There’s another one. Why do so many amazing films star with the letter G? It’s weird.The ABCs of Movies: The Best Movie For Each Letter of the AlphabetThe 26 best films that start with each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z.Get our free mobile appREAD MORE: Once-Beloved Universal Rides That No Longer ExistThe Worst Movie Every Year Since 1970Here are decades worth of crummy movies — the worst movie released every single year from 1970 to today.

The International Energy Agency states in a new report that AI could eventually reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, possibly by much more than the boom in energy-guzzling data center development pushes them up. The finding echoes a point that prominent figures in the AI sector have made as well to justify, at least implicitly, the gigawatts’ worth of electricity demand that new data centers are placing on regional grid systems across the world. Notably, in an essay last year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote that AI will deliver “astounding triumphs,” such as “fixing the climate,” while offering the world “nearly-limitless intelligence and abundant energy.” There are reasonable arguments to suggest that AI tools may eventually help reduce emissions, as the IEA report underscores. But what we know for sure is that they’re driving up energy demand and emissions today—especially in the regional pockets where data centers are clustering.  So far, these facilities, which generally run around the clock, are substantially powered through natural-gas turbines, which produce significant levels of planet-warming emissions. Electricity demands are rising so fast that developers are proposing to build new gas plants and convert retired coal plants to supply the buzzy industry. The other thing we know is that there are better, cleaner ways of powering these facilities already, including geothermal plants, nuclear reactors, hydroelectric power, and wind or solar projects coupled with significant amounts of battery storage. The trade-off is that these facilities may cost more to build or operate, or take longer to get up and running. There’s something familiar about the suggestion that it’s okay to build data centers that run on fossil fuels today because AI tools will help the world drive down emissions eventually. It recalls the purported promise of carbon credits: that it’s fine for a company to carry on polluting at its headquarters or plants, so long as it’s also funding, say, the planting of trees that will suck up a commensurate level of carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, we’ve seen again and again that such programs often overstate any climate benefits, doing little to alter the balance of what’s going into or coming out of the atmosphere.   But in the case of what we might call “AI offsets,” the potential to overstate the gains may be greater, because the promised benefits wouldn’t meaningfully accrue for years or decades. Plus, there’s no market or regulatory mechanism to hold the industry accountable if it ends up building huge data centers that drive up emissions but never delivers on these climate claims.  The IEA report outlines instances where industries are already using AI in ways that could help drive down emissions, including detecting methane leaks in oil and gas infrastructure, making power plants and manufacturing facilities more efficient, and reducing energy consumption in buildings. AI has also shown early promise in materials discovery, helping to speed up the development of novel battery electrolytes. Some hope the technology could deliver advances in solar materials, nuclear power, or other clean energy technologies and improve climate science, extreme weather forecasting, and disaster response, as other studies have noted.  Even without any “breakthrough discoveries,” the IEA estimates, widespread adoption of AI applications could cut emissions by 1.4 billion tons in 2035. Those reductions, “if realized,” would be as much as triple the emissions from data centers by that time, under the IEA’s most optimistic development scenario. But that’s a very big “if.” It requires placing a lot of faith in technical advances, wide-scale deployments, and payoffs from changes in practices over the next 10 years. And there’s a big gap between how AI could be used and how it will be used, a difference that will depend a lot on economic and regulatory incentives. Under the Trump administration, there’s little reason to believe that US companies, at least, will face much government pressure to use these tools specifically to drive down emissions. Absent the necessary policy carrots or sticks, it’s arguably more likely that the oil and gas industry will deploy AI to discover new fossil-fuel deposits than to pinpoint methane leaks. To be clear, the IEA’s figures are a scenario, not a prediction. The authors readily acknowledged that there’s huge uncertainty on this issue, stating: “It is vital to note that there is currently no momentum that could ensure the widespread adoption of these AI applications. Therefore, their aggregate impact, even in 2035, could be marginal if the necessary enabling conditions are not created.” In other words, we certainly can’t count on AI to drive down emissions more than it drives them up, especially within the time frame now demanded by the dangers of climate change.  As a reminder, it’s already 2025. Rising emissions have now pushed the planet perilously close to fully tipping past 1.5 ˚C of warming, the risks from heatwaves, droughts, sea-level rise and wildfires are climbing—and global climate pollution is still going up.  We are barreling toward midcentury, just 25 years shy of when climate models show that every industry in every nation needs to get pretty close to net-zero emissions to prevent warming from surging past 2 ˚C over preindustrial levels. And yet any new natural-gas plants built today, for data centers or any other purpose, could easily still be running 40 years from now. Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. So even if the AI industry does eventually provide ways of cutting more emissions than it produces in a given year, those future reductions won’t cancel out the emissions the sector will pump out along the way—or the warming they produce. It’s a trade-off we don’t need to make if AI companies, utilities, and regional regulators make wiser choices about how to power the data centers they’re building and running today. Some tech and power companies are taking steps in this direction, by spurring the development of solar farms near their facilities, helping to get nuclear plants back online, or signing contracts to get new geothermal plants built.  But such efforts should become more the rule than the exception. We no longer have the time or carbon budget to keep cranking up emissions on the promise that we’ll take care of them later.

Make this Mother's Day one to remember for the new mom in your life.

April 10, 20252 min readData Centers Will Use Twice as Much Energy by 2030—Driven by AIData centers accounted for about 1.5 percent of global electricity consumption in 2024, an amount expected to double by 2030 because of AI useBy Sophia Chen & Nature magazine A photo taken on December 23, 2023, shows Tencent's largest big data center and cloud computing base in East China, which is situated in the Jiangning Development Zone in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThe electricity consumption of data centres is projected to more than double by 2030, according to a report from the International Energy Agency published today. The primary culprit? Artificial Intelligence (AI).The report covers the current energy footprint for data centres and forecasts their future needs, which could help governments, companies, and local communities to plan infrastructure and AI deployment.IEA’s models project that data centres will use 945 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2030, roughly equivalent to the current annual electricity consumption of Japan. By comparison, data centres consumed 415 TWh in 2024, roughly 1.5% of the world’s total electricity consumption (see ‘Global electricity growth’).On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Nature; Source: IEA (CC BY 4.0)The projections largely focus on data centres, which also run computing tasks other than AI. Although the agency estimated the proportion of servers in data centres devoted to AI. They found that servers for AI accounted for 24% of server electricity demand and 15% of total data centre energy demand in 2024.Alex de Vries, a researcher at VU Amsterdam and the founder of Digiconomist, who was not involved with the report, thinks this is an underestimate. The report “is a bit vague when it comes to AI specifically,” he says.Even with these uncertainties, “we should be mindful about how much energy is ultimately being consumed by all these data centers,” says de Vries. “Regardless of the exact number, we're talking several percentage of our global electricity consumption.”More power neededThe IEA report finds that the US, Europe, and China are collectively responsible for 85% of data centres’ current energy consumption. Of the predicted growth in consumption, developing economies will account for around 5% by 2030, while advanced economies will account for more than 20% (see ‘Data-centre energy growth’).Nature; Source: IEA (CC BY 4.0)Countries are building power plants and upgrading electricity grids to meet the forecasted energy demand for data centres. But the IEA estimates that 20% of planned centres could face delays being connected to the grid.The authors write that the projections come with uncertainty, partly because it is unclear to what extent people will use AI applications in the future. Data centres also collect and report their energy use in a limited way.The uptick in data centre electricity use “could be a serious risk for our ability to achieve our climate goals,” says de Vries. Although two-thirds of planned electricity capacity is set to come from renewable sources, the IEA reports that new gas-fired plants in the US will drive an expansion in natural gas-fired capacity as well. “We're going to increase our reliance, or at least extend, our reliance on fossil fuels,” adds de Vries.Electricity consumption and its projected growth are not uniform globally. Companies tend to build data centres in concentrated clusters, the IEA report describes, which could strain local grid systems.This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on April 10, 2025.

Here's a small but notable detail that might have passed you by amid the chaos of information that's spiralled out of last week's Switch 2 reveal: the souped-up Switch 2 Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild won't include any of its paid DLC. Read more

Calling all coastal grandmothers, aunts, and any other family members who appreciate cool tones and vibes: The best coastal bedding is easy, breezy, and beautiful. The coastal aesthetic is extensive and versatile, and you can find inspiration in classic and contemporary homes alike. The core materials are tied to nature and work together to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a Nancy Meyers film. For instance, Christine Markatos Lowe, founder of Christine Markatos Design, previously shared with AD that she turns to pieces with raffia, jute, sisal, and seagrass to design a coastal bedroom. Within the bedding category, other signature styles might feature scalloped edges, blue and white colorways, neutral tropical prints, and fabrics like washed linen and crisp percale.“Coastal interiors have soft tones with relaxed and comfortable materials executed with strong lines and intention without feeling too loose or undefined,” Sarah Solis, a Malibu-based interior designer, founder and principal of Sarah Solis Design Studio, told AD. That said, we should issue an important disclaimer: You won’t find any starfish or seashell patterns or bright aqua or teal bedding on this list.With Markatos Lowe’s and Solis’s thoughts in mind, we turned to our editors’ favorite tried-and-true retailers for the best coastal bedding sets and individually sold items. From Serena & Lily staples to bestsellers and new arrivals on Amazon, there are various price points to choose from as well.Our Top Picks for the Best Coastal Bedding:East Coast-Inspired Sheets: Serena & Lily Nantucket Stripe Linen Sheet Set, $428A Breezy Duvet Cover Set: BESTOUCH Duvet Cover Set, $80 $65The Simple Sheet Set: Sijo LuxeWeave Linen Sheet Set, $295 $251A Cozy Quilt: Brooklinen Washed European Linen Quilt, $379 $322For Playful Pillows: Serena & Lily Scallop Sateen Sham, $98To streamline everything, all prices shown reflect queen-size picks.Serena & Lily Nantucket Stripe Linen Sheet SetFirst things first: Which coast are we representing? Whichever one you think is best, the premier destination for all sorts of coastal bedding is Serena & Lily. And whether you’re based back East or simply admire the aesthetic, this Nantucket-inspired linen sheet set is relaxed, with a touch of whimsy courtesy of the ruffled edges. It also has thermoregulating powers, so it feels as breezy and breathable as it looks.BESTOUCH Duvet CoverThis under-$100 three-piece set comes recommended by a whopping 2,800 five-star reviewers and counting, with people raving about the high-quality look and feel. The cornflower blue is a particular favorite, providing an aesthetically pleasing softness suitable for a home in a small coastal town or the French countryside.Sijo Home Organic French Linen LuxeWeave Sheet Set“When it comes to bedding at Sijo, the result is incredibly soft, smooth, and hypoallergenic,” AD PRO senior editor Mel Studach shares in her review. The brand’s 100% natural French linen bedding lives up to this hype, and the stone-washed finish makes for a lived-in, luxurious experience. Pick among a variety of coastal blues, or there’s even a pinstripe colorway.Brooklinen Washed European Linen QuiltIf you’re not necessarily in the market for a complete bedding refresh, try out textural bedspreads or quilts to place over your favorite bed sheets. A standout from Brooklinen, this quilt received a seal of approval from contributor Rebecca Grambone. “If you happen to be on the lookout for your favorite ‘coastal grandma’ button-down linen top in the quilt form, the Brooklinen Linen Quilt in White Diamond is for you,” she says in her review. For versatility that’ll work with practically any coastal decor, we’re partial to the Oxford Stripe in Storm Chambray or Oat Chambray. Plus, you’ll score a 27% off sale price when you purchase a three-piece quilt set with one quilt and two pillow shams.Serena & Lily Scallop Sateen ShamCoastal linens and scalloped edges are like peanut butter and jelly. This particular sham from Serena & Lily is available in all white, or you can select one with navy, sky (pale blue), or pink sand (light pink) piping. If you want more scalloping beyond pillow shams, the bedding collection comprises a duvet cover, sheet set, and pillowcases. King, euro, and standard shams are up for grabs, but inserts are sold separately.Quince Classic Organic Percale Gingham Deluxe Bedding BundleQuince has quickly become a staple for bedding that won’t break the bank, and this percale gingham set belongs in a beach house. With your purchase, you’ll get a duvet cover, fitted sheet, flat sheet, shams, and two pillowcases for a full/queen.Tommy Bahama Comforter SetFor something a little more on the nose, this comforter set is fit for a luxury resort in Hawaii. Taking notes from Tommy Bahama’s coastal clothing, this comforter set has a neutral green and white color palette printed on breathable 100% cotton fabric. Each set comes with a comforter and two standard shams that’ll serve as coordinating decorative pillows.West Elm Trailing Fern Matelasse Duvet Cover & ShamsA calming comfort is guaranteed with this textural cotton duvet set. Woven with a botanical pattern, it’s a subtle nod to the coastal aesthetic without fully leaning into the trend. For the perfect mixed media blend, layer it with the brand’s European flax linen sheets and bed skirt.Buffy Linen Duvet CoverYou’ve likely heard about Buffy’s iconic Cloud comforter, but their duvet covers deserve more praise—after all, our editors did name it the best coastal-inspired duvet cover. “Now more than ever, I bury myself into my duvet,” contributor Andrea Lewis shares in a review. “I also enjoy the minimal and earthy aesthetic. For those looking to step up your sleep game, Buffy's Linen Duvet Cover is a must-have.”Pottery Barn Cloud BlanketThough flax or chambray are our top picks, the relaxed look of this best-selling blanket makes any colorway well-suited for any coastal bedroom. It’s just one part of the Cloud bedding collection, which also features items such as a duvet cover and quilted shams.