Image by Getty / FuturismDevelopmentsRemember that huge panic around black spatulas? It turns out that the whole thing may have just been a crock of crap.A study published in October contended that kitchenware made of black plastics, and especially utensils like spatulas, contained alarmingly high amounts of toxic flame retardants due to the recycled materials they were sourced from.It almost immediately caused a major scare, and articles published everywhere from The New York Times to CNN recommended throwing these ubiquitous plastic items out in favor of safer alternatives.But after some scientists questioned the research, the editors of the journal that the study was published in, Chemosphere, issued a correction over the weekend clarifying that the toxic levels indicated by the work were, in a nutshell, wrong; a simple math error was behind the startling, but now seemingly debunked, claim.The work, conducted by researchers at the advocacy group Toxic-Free Future, examined over two hundred black plastic household products, roughly half of which were utensils, to see if they contained brominated flame retardants that are commonly used in electronics.Such chemicals, and in particular a variety known as BDE-209, have been linked with a number of worrying health outcomes, such as endocrine disruption, damage to the reproductive systems, and even cancer. Because the provenance of recycled materials can be tricky to determine, the researchers' suspicion was that plastics containing the flame retardants were negligently being reused where they could pose the most harm: in the very stuff we cook our food with.Their hunch was somewhat vindicated. Nine kitchen utensils were found to contain possibly worrying levels of flame retardants.Some hilariously bungled arithmetic, however, led them to vastly overstate the degree of risk. The authors estimated that regularly using one of these contaminated kitchen utensils could result in an intake of 34,700 nanograms of BDE-209 per day. For reference, the Environmental Protection Agency says that it's safe to intake 7,000 nanograms of the chemical per kilogram of body weight.By applying this figure to a hypothetical adult weight of 60 kilograms, you would get a daily limit of 420,000 nanograms per day, which is well over ten times the estimated exposure levels to the flame retardant. But evidently, someone forgot to punch in a zero somewhere, and the researchers mistakenly reported this as 42,000 nanograms. What initially appeared to be hitting the ceiling of what was deemed safe turned out to barely approach that limit.But in response, the authors of the paper say that while their math may have been off, their conclusions weren't."However, it is important to note that this does not impact our results," study lead author Megan Liu, science and policy manager at Toxic-Free Future, told the National Post. "The levels of flame retardants that we found in black plastic household items are still of high concern, and our recommendations remain the same."And perhaps Liu and her team are correct. It may be the dose that makes the poison, but why take the risk with a dose at all?It's certainly possible that we're being exposed to these flame retardants from other sources besides kitchenware, accumulating to dangerous levels in our bodies over time. So if you're worried, there's no harm in ditching these black spatulas that do appear to contain the chemicals. But the alarmist response, it's safe to say, was overblown.More on chemicals: Scientists Identify Strange Chemical in Drinking Water Across the USShare This Article

"Bunkers are, in fact, not a tool to survive a nuclear war."Truth BombAs more and more rich people rush to buy and build bomb shelters, experts suggest they're little more than a psychological defense mechanism for wealthy people who want to feel a shred of control in an unpredictable world.As theAssociated Press reports, the bunker business was worth $137 million last year and is slated to grow to$175 million by the end of the decade, per analysis from BlueWeave Consulting.According to experts who spoke to the outlet, however, these shelters do more to address atomic anxieties than nuclear realities.After all, you're eventually going to need to crawl out of your bunker and face the horrific situation back on the surface."Bunkers are, in fact, not a tool to survive a nuclear war, but a tool to allow a population to psychologically endure the possibility of a nuclear war," explained Alicia Sanders-Zakre of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.Radiation after a nuclear bomb detonation, as Sanders Zakre described it, is a "uniquely horrific aspect of nuclear weapons." Even those who survive the fallout, which involves radioactive particles raining down on the area surrounding the blast, will be unable to escape its long-lasting, intergenerational health effects like those seen in Chernobylafter its reactor meltdown nearly 40 years ago.And that's without getting into starvation, thirst, and the breakdown of social order."Ultimately," she said, "the only solution to protect populations from nuclear war is to eliminate nuclear weapons."Shelter SkelterDespite the promises made by companies catering to so-called "doomsday preppers," nonproliferation expert Sam Lair told the APthat such efforts are likely futile."Even if a nuclear exchange is perhaps more survivable than many people think, I think the aftermath will be uglier than many people think as well," Lair, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said. "The fundamental wrenching that it would do to our way of life would be profound."As Lair pointed out, politicians used to urge the citizenry to build their own bomb shelters half a century ago. Now, the "political costs incurred by causing people to think about shelters again is not worth it" though that sort of concern clearly doesn't extend to the big business of bunkers.While doomsday prepping is now as American as apple pie, the revival of bunker culture isn't limited to our shores: over in Switzerland, where each resident is guaranteed a spot in a bomb shelter in the case of nuclear war, the government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to update its vast array of Cold War-era bunkers.More on nuclear anxiety: US Military Alarmed by Russian Nuclear Weapon Platform in OrbitShare This Article

Organic ArchitectureScientists Suggest Harvesting Blood From Mars Colonists to Construct Future CitybyVictor TangermannOne crew member collecting blood for 72 weeks could be enough to "construct a small habitat for another crew member."Dec 21, 10:30 AM ESTGetty ImagesOne crew member collecting blood for 72 weeks could be enough to "construct a small habitat for another crew member."Blood DriveFuture space travelers will have to get creative to build structures on the surface of Mars. Sending all the necessary construction materials across over 140 million miles of space wouldn't just be a gargantuan undertaking, but it would be prohibitively expensive as well.Instead, scientists have long proposed making use of the existing Martian soil to construct permanent structures.In a paper accepted for publication in the journal Acta Astronautica, a team of researchers from Kharazmi University in Tehran, Iran, investigated eleven different types of Martian concrete or cement "based on available resources and technologies."And one of them stands out, to say the least: AstroCrete, a previously proposed substrate made from Martian regolith mixed with the bodily fluids the literal blood, sweat, and tears of future Mars inhabitants.Construction IVThe idea of using blood to reinforce mortar dates back to the ancient Romans."Although it is a bit strange, blood can be utilized to create strong concrete or bricks for onsite construction on Mars," the researchers wrote in the paper. "After the arrival of the first Martian inhabitants and their placement in primary structures, which can include inflatable structures, the combination of tears, blood, and sweat from the inhabitants, along with Martian regolith, can be used to produce a concrete known as AstroCrete."The unusual material was first proposed by researchers at the University of Manchester in 2021."Scientists have been trying to develop viable technologies to produce concrete-like materials on the surface of Mars, but we never stopped to think that the answer might be inside us all along," said Aled Roberts, from the University of Manchester, ina statement at the time.A special protein in human blood called human serum albumin (HAS) serves as a "vivo binder" to create a form of concrete. Meanwhile, urea, a nitrogenous product extracted from urine, could make the material even stronger.According to the Iranian team of scientists, a single crew member could produce sufficient HAS to "construct a small habitat for another crew member" in just 72 weeks.Best of all, the University of Manchester scientists claim that AstroCrete could be 3D printed in place, making construction even simpler.Apart from relying on the blood, sweat, and tears of astronauts, the Iranian scientists also proposed combing the Martian landscape for calcium carbonate to create a lime mortar. Alternatively, the abundant sulfur deposits on the planet's surface could also be used to craft "sulfur concrete," a corrosion-resistant material that "can be used in salty and acid environments."More on AstroCrete: Scientists Suggest Mixing "Astronaut Blood" With Mars Dust to Create Horrific SheltersShare This Article

Federal officials have spent years establishing and improving presidential transition processes, including making key resources available to incoming presidents and their teams. For example, as Donald Trump prepares to return the White House, he and his transition operation have been offered official government communications accounts including .gov email addresses to conduct official business.Politico reported, however, that the Republican president-elect and his team are overseeing a fully privatized operation, which is relying on private servers, laptops and cell phones instead of government-issued devices.Federal officials say theyre worried about sharing documents via email with Donald Trumps transition team because the incoming officials are eschewing government devices, email addresses and cybersecurity support, raising fears that they could potentially expose sensitive government data. The private emails have agency employees considering insisting on in-person meetings and document exchanges that they otherwise would have conducted electronically, according to two federal officials granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation. Their anxiety is particularly high in light of recent hacking attempts from China and Iran that targeted Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and other top officials.The Trump transition confirmed its use of private emails, with spokesperson Brian Hughes telling Politico that all transition business is conducted on a transition-managed email server. The outlet reported:We have implemented plans to communicate information securely as necessary, [Hughes] added, but declined to say what those plans entail. In a statement in late November, transition co-chair Susie Wiles similarly cited unspecified security and information protections the team has in place, arguing that they replace the need for additional government and bureaucratic oversight.Michael Daniel, a former White House cyber coordinator who now leads the nonprofit online security organization Cyber Threat Alliance, told Politico, I can assure you that the transition teams are targets for foreign intelligence collection. There are a lot of countries out there that want to know: What are the policy plans for the incoming administration?You probably know what Im going to write next. Im going to write it anyway.Younger readers might not fully appreciate the degree to which the 2016 presidential election focused on former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons email protocols. Voters were told in no uncertain terms that this was one of the defining political issues of our time.As Election Day 2016 approached, and the United States faced the prospect of having a television personality elected to the nations highest office, email was the one thing voters heard most about the more capable and more qualified candidate.The fact that Clinton did not rely entirely on her state.gov address, the electorate was told, was evidence of her recklessness. She put the United States at risk, the argument went, by mishandling classified materials. For some, it might even have been literally criminal culminating in Lock her up chants at Trump rallies.During the presidential campaign, then-House Speaker Paul Ryan went so far as to formally request that Clinton be denied intelligence briefings insisting that her email practices were proof that she mishandled classified information and therefore couldnt be trusted.When various observers including me said this was an outrageously foolish controversy, we received pushback from those who argued with great sincerity that this deserved to be an issue that dictated the outcome of one of the most important national elections in modern history.Clinton, of course, narrowly lost to Trump, who was later credibly accused by federal prosecutors of improperly taking classified materials to his glorified country club in Florida, before relying on the kind of private email servers that sparked anti-Clinton hysteria eight years ago.My point is not that Republicans have flip-flopped on the issue. Rather, the Trump-related developments serve as an example of insincerity.Its not that Trump and his party have changed their minds about the importance of email security and the hazards associated with eschewing official government accounts. The truth is simpler: They never actually cared about Clintons tech practices in the first place.It was simply a convenient line of attack, which has since outlived its usefulness.This post updates our related earlier coverage.

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Ultimate FishermanThe most underrated game of 2024 reminds me of Animal Crossing, but it's all about fishing - and nothing elseFish, gamble, and parkour. What more could you want?Image credit: lamedeveloper Article by Kelsey Raynor Guides Writer Published on Dec. 21, 2024 When your game(s) of the year largely consist of psychological horror and back-to-back, brutal boss fights as mine did youll almost definitely need something mindlessly relaxing to kick back with. Sure enough, as I wrapped up my time wandering around the streets of Silent Hill 2, an adorable, unsuspecting game began doing the rounds on social media: Webfishing.Webfishing is simple. You fish. Thats it. After hours of deciphering Silent Hill 2s ending conditions, fishing is all I wanted to do.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Sure, Webfishing does have a little more to it than just fishing. Theres a chat function, and ultimately, the idea is that you make friends or hang with your existing friends and chat while waiting for a fish to bite. Theres cosmetics, upgrades, and even gambling, but not the predatory type; Webfishing, fortunately, doesnt require you to spend a penny beyond the 4.29 that the game actually costs.Sure enough, myself and a close friend got to work catching fish and quickly spent most of our profits on scratchcards. Our newfound profits, which werent really profits at all, were quickly spent on cosmetics and better bait. Better bait means bigger fish, and the fish in Webfishing get really bigAnd what happens when you catch those big fish? More often than not, youll find other folk who all look like Animal Crossing characters, by the way cheering for you in chat. Ive had some of my nicest, most innocent of online interactions all year in Webfishing. Cast off! | Image credit: lamedeveloperAn incredibly simple premise with, for the most part, a lovely playerbase and community. In one random lobby that I joined, hoping to quietly fish while watching YouTube, I joined a group of people fishing from a toilet. One of the many things you can do in Webfishing that I didnt know existed at the time. Another player brought out a guitar and began taking requests from others, while we all continued to fish from the same, small toilet.On another occasion, myself and my friend decided to spend our Saturday evening having some in-game (and real!) beers while playing Webfishing and catching up on each others lives. Our server quickly went from just the two of us to multiple pixelated cats and dogs gathering on the pier to chat about anything and everything, get drunk on in-game wine, and of course, fish.There were a few casualties to the wine, but all in all, logging into a game to fish with your friend and then finding yourself chatting to a whole array of like-minded, LGBTQIA+ people while doing so isnt something I necessarily expected from Webfishing when I first installed it. I was pleasantly surprised, and its what keeps me coming back. That, and fishing, of course. Theres a real kick from catching a fish so big that it clips through the map. Though, not so much of a kick from then spending all of your profits from it on scratchcards, and losing most of them. That's bait. | Image credit: lamedeveloperWebfishing is bizarre and surreal at the best of times, especially when you witness your friend parkour from one side of the map to the other meowing frantically the entire time, because thats a thing you can do but theres something just so lovely about it all. Webfishing is a small corner of the internet where when hackers arent trying to ruin the fun you can truly switch off and relax for a while. Fish, gamble, parkour. Push people into the ocean. Get wine drunk on the pier. Webfishing is an underrated gem and a rare place of respite for gamers who need a break from it all.

Felix Navidad.It might not feel like Nintendo itself has been particularly busy this year, but goodness, there's still been an awful lot of new games in 2024. Some great ones, even!Since we're now fast approaching the end of the year, it seems only right that the lovely chaps on our video team share their personal top five games of 2024. Now, it's important to note that these might not all be titles that released in 2024; they're just ones that the guys happened to have played over the last 12 months.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, were looking at OpenAIs last and biggest announcement from its 12 Days of OpenAI event; Apples potential entrance into the foldable market; and why Databricks is choosing to wait to go public. Lets get into it.P.S. Were off for the holidays! Week in Review will be back in your inbox in the new year.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the successors to its o1 reasoning model family: o3 and o3-mini. While the models are not widely available yet, safety researchers can sign up for a preview. The reveal marks the end of the companys 12 Days of OpenAI event, which saw announcements for real-time vision capabilities, ChatGPT Search, and even a Santa voice for ChatGPT. You can catch up on everything you missed here.The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses got a big upgrade this week. Members of Metas early-access program can now download firmware v11, which adds live AI. The feature lets wearers continuously converse with Meta AI to reference things they discussed earlier in the conversation and it works with real-time video. Live translation between English and Spanish, French, or Italian, as well as functionality with Shazam are also included in v11.UnitedHealths Optum left an AI chatbot, used by employees to ask questions about claims, exposed to the internet and anyone could access it with a web browser. While the chatbot did not appear to contain or produce sensitive personal or protected health information, its inadvertent exposure comes at a time when its parent company faces scrutiny for its use of AI tools and algorithms to allegedly override doctors medical decisions and deny patient claims.If youd like to receive the Week in Review newsletter in your inbox every Saturday, sign up here!NewsImage Credits:OuraOura nabs $200M: The smart ring maker closed a $200 million Series D funding round, bringing the companys valuation to $5.2 billion. Oura says the cash will help the company expand its product offerings and further invest in product, science, AI, and more. Read moreYou can now call ChatGPT from a landline: In an effort to make ChatGPT accessible to as many people as possible, OpenAI announced a 1-800 number to call the chatbot even from a landline or a flip phone. Users can call 1-800-CHATGPT, and the AI assistant will respond through the phone. Read moreTesla tries to boost Model S sales: After abandoning its free Supercharging for life offer in 2018, Tesla is bringing it back for some Tesla Model S cars at the end of the year. But its important to note that Tesla also just increased the price for the Model S by $5,000. Read moreGoogle wants to take on Sora: Google DeepMind announced Veo 2, a next-gen video-generating AI. Veo 2 can create two-minute-plus clips in resolutions up to 4k. Thats 4x the resolution and over 6x the duration that OpenAIs Sora can achieve. Read moreApple eyes the foldable market: Apple is aiming to launch two foldable devices in the next few years, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Another report from Bloomberg, however, claims the companys focus is on a giant, foldable iPad. Read moreBob Lee verdict: A San Francisco jury found Nima Momeni guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal 2023 stabbing of Bob Lee, the Cash App creator and former CTO of Block. The jurors decided Lees murder was not premeditated and found Momeni not guilty of first-degree murder. Read morePerplexity acquires Carbon: Perplexity acquired Carbon, a small startup specializing in connecting AI systems to external data sources. The company says Perplexity will soon be able to search through your files and work messages in Notion, Google Docs, or Slack sometime in early 2025. Read moreTemu is still on top: Temu was once again the most downloaded free app in the U.S., according to Apples list of top apps and games across the App Store. The shopping app moved into the No. 1 slot last year, stealing the position from TikTok. Read moreGitHub launches free version of Copilot: GitHub now has a free version of its popular Copilot code completion/AI pair programming tool. Until now, developers had to pay a monthly fee, with only verified students, teachers, and open source maintainers getting free access. Read moreGoogle releases its own reasoning model: Google has released Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, what it calls its new reasoning AI model. Its currently in the experimental stages, and from our brief testing, theres certainly room for improvement. Read moreAnalysisImage Credits:David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty ImagesTo IPO or not to IPO: Databricks just closed one of the largest funding rounds ever, raising a staggering $10 billion. Naturally, technology investors were quick to ask what this means for the companys highly anticipated IPO. In an interview at Axios AI Summit, CEO Ali Ghodsi said its dumb to IPO this year and is instead waiting until at least 2025. Databricks is using this Series J to let early employees cash out and continue growing. While 2024 was uncertain in many ways, the IPOs of ServiceTitan, Reddit, and other companies have largely been successful. But, as Maxwell Zeff writes, why risk it when you can just raise as much money as Databricks? Read more

The clock strikes 4 p.m., and the monotony of your office is beginning to hit. Yoursmartphone, that trusty sidekick you rely on to stay organized and productive, is gasping for life at a perilous 15% battery. Panic? That's not your style. You recall your secret weapon: A power bank. With one swift move, you reach into your bag, pull out your trusty power bank, and hook it up to your device -- turning the tide and keeping your productivity on point.A good power bank is a game changer in the modern tech arsenal. New portable chargers can fuel everything from tiny earbuds all the way up to a high-end Apple MacBook Pro. Yet, the journey to find a top-notch, dependable power bank amidst the multitude of subpar knock-offs can be treacherous. Fear not, for I am here to be your guide, navigating you through the tech wilderness to uncover the perfect power bank that stands tall in quality, safety, and reliability.What is the best power bank right now?I've rigorously tested hundreds -- yes, literally hundreds -- of power banks in recent years, putting me in the perfect position to identify which ones truly deserve your hard-earned money.My pick for the best power bank overall goes to the Anker Nano 10,000 mAh for its portability, quality construction, and the fact that it has USB-C and USB-A ports, which means it caters to both old and new devices, and it has a super handy built-in USB-C cable. While it's my favorite, there are plenty of other options with different price points, features, and brands in mind. For example, if you're looking for a power bank with sheer power, the Cuktech P-series 25,000 mAh can give you several recharges of a smartphone or close to a full recharge of a MacBook Pro. Read on for all of my picks for the best power banks you can buy right now. Sort by All Number of USB ports Max port output Travel friendliness Features Max output The best power banks of 2024 Show less View now at Amazon While MagSafe power banks are now all the rage, if you need to charge anything else, you still need to remember a cable. The Anker Nano has a built-in USB-C cable and two USB ports -- one USB-C and one USB-A.The built-in USB-C cable is a decent length at 0.6ft (19cm) and can be used for both charging the power bank and charging other devices. The cable fits through a metal loop on the power bank, keeping it out of the way when not in use and allowing it to be used as a lanyard loop when you're not charging anything.Review: Anker Nano 10,000 mAhThis simple but highly effective feature makes the power bank easy to carry around, especially when your hands are full with other gadgetry.Online reviews for this power bank are very positive, praising its lightweight, compact design.Anker Nano 10,000 mAh tech specs:Capacity: 10,000mAh|Ports: 1 x USB-C cable, 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A|Max output: 30W Number of USB ports 7 Max port output 7 Travel friendliness 9 Features 7 Max output 7 Pros Small, lightweight, and portable Built-in USB-C cable USB-C and USB-A ports Cons No wireless charging Anker Nano 10,000 mAh Best power bank overall 3.7 / 5 Score While MagSafe power banks are now all the rage, if you need to charge anything else, you still need to remember a cable. The Anker Nano has a built-in USB-C cable and two USB ports -- one USB-C and one USB-A.The built-in USB-C cable is a decent length at 0.6ft (19cm) and can be used for both charging the power bank and charging other devices. The cable fits through a metal loop on the power bank, keeping it out of the way when not in use and allowing it to be used as a lanyard loop when you're not charging anything.Review: Anker Nano 10,000 mAhThis simple but highly effective feature makes the power bank easy to carry around, especially when your hands are full with other gadgetry.Online reviews for this power bank are very positive, praising its lightweight, compact design.Anker Nano 10,000 mAh tech specs:Capacity: 10,000mAh|Ports: 1 x USB-C cable, 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A|Max output: 30W Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon This power bank is what I'd consider as chunky. It's a fair-sized brick weighing in at a pound. Inside are batteries that hold 20,000mAh (72Wh) of power, enough for a few charges of a modern smartphone and more than one charge of a laptop -- while still being within the limit for airline travel.The batteries are rated for 1,000 recharge cycles, and the unit can hold its power for up to 200 days, which is relatively long.Review: Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh 130WAt the end of the power bank, there are three ports with a combined output of 130W. Two USB-C ports, one of which can charge the unit in as little as two hours, and a USB-A port for legacy devices.But the real trick up the sleeve of this power bank is the TFT display. This shows a multitude of information, including battery capacity, inputs and outputs, whether trickle charge is enabled, and real-time voltage, current, and power curve.The online reviews for this power bank are very strong, with owners praising its power output, reliability, and dependability.Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh, 130Wtech specs:Capacity: 20,000mAh|Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A|Max output: 130W Number of USB ports 8 Max port output 7 Travel friendliness 2 Features 6 Max output 8 Pros High power capacity Enough output power to run a laptop Easy to read OLED display Trickle charge mode Cons Chunky and heavy Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh 130W Best power bank for large power capacities 3.1 / 5 Score This power bank is what I'd consider as chunky. It's a fair-sized brick weighing in at a pound. Inside are batteries that hold 20,000mAh (72Wh) of power, enough for a few charges of a modern smartphone and more than one charge of a laptop -- while still being within the limit for airline travel.The batteries are rated for 1,000 recharge cycles, and the unit can hold its power for up to 200 days, which is relatively long.Review: Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh 130WAt the end of the power bank, there are three ports with a combined output of 130W. Two USB-C ports, one of which can charge the unit in as little as two hours, and a USB-A port for legacy devices.But the real trick up the sleeve of this power bank is the TFT display. This shows a multitude of information, including battery capacity, inputs and outputs, whether trickle charge is enabled, and real-time voltage, current, and power curve.The online reviews for this power bank are very strong, with owners praising its power output, reliability, and dependability.Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh, 130Wtech specs:Capacity: 20,000mAh|Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A|Max output: 130W Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon This is one of the smallest power banks that you can buy, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it's basic. Here, not only do you get 5,000mAh of battery capacity, but you also get a wireless charging pad and a USB-C port that can be used both for charging the power bank and other devices.This bank also supports MagSafe wireless charging for an additional layer of convenience since iPhone owners don't need to carry a cable around with them. Finally, there's a trickle charge mode that allows the bank to charge low-power devices such as headphones or smartwatches without the power bank automatically switching off, so you can keep listening to tunes and audiobooks for longer.This power bank makes a great, stylish, and practical gift -- I've sent them out to folks for the holidays, and I also keep a few handy to hand out to people who don't have a power bank of their own.Reviews are very positive for this power bank, and owners are pleased with its size and performance. I noticed some reports of overheating, but I've not experienced that and speculate that the owner might have a thick case on their smartphone.Tech specs: Capacity: 5,000mAh|Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x wireless charging pad|Max output: 15W Number of USB ports 6 Max port output 6 Travel friendliness 7 Features 5 Max output 5 Pros Small Magnetic, wireless pad for iPhones Trickle charge mode for low-power devices Cons Not enough power to fully recharge a big smartphone Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Power Bank Best small power bank 2.9 / 5 Score This is one of the smallest power banks that you can buy, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it's basic. Here, not only do you get 5,000mAh of battery capacity, but you also get a wireless charging pad and a USB-C port that can be used both for charging the power bank and other devices.This bank also supports MagSafe wireless charging for an additional layer of convenience since iPhone owners don't need to carry a cable around with them. Finally, there's a trickle charge mode that allows the bank to charge low-power devices such as headphones or smartwatches without the power bank automatically switching off, so you can keep listening to tunes and audiobooks for longer.This power bank makes a great, stylish, and practical gift -- I've sent them out to folks for the holidays, and I also keep a few handy to hand out to people who don't have a power bank of their own.Reviews are very positive for this power bank, and owners are pleased with its size and performance. I noticed some reports of overheating, but I've not experienced that and speculate that the owner might have a thick case on their smartphone.Tech specs: Capacity: 5,000mAh|Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x wireless charging pad|Max output: 15W Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Newegg It's hard to come across a power bank that impresses me anymore. Most are mundane plastic enclosures with a few ports. However, the Cuktech P-series 25,000mAh power bank is a game-changer. With its stylish design and advanced technology, it pushes the envelope of what a power bank can achieve.After using it on a week-long trip away from home, I was amazed by its durability. Everything about the P-series power bank feels premium and stylish; from the packaging to the design. There's even a futuristic pulsing blue light on the front while the power bank is in use that looks very sci-fi.I must admit that my inner geek loves the TFT display on this power bank. It displays important -- at least to me! -- information such as battery level, power, voltage, and current. A tap of the button brings up a graphical display of the input and output wattages.Online reviews highlight the power of this unit, along with the usefulness of the display, and the cool, futuristic styling goes down well with geeky owners!Cuktech P-series tech specs: Capacity: 25,000mAh|Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A|Max output: 210W Pros High capacity Readable display Massive 210W max output Trickle charging Cons Not pocket size Not lightweight It's hard to come across a power bank that impresses me anymore. Most are mundane plastic enclosures with a few ports. However, the Cuktech P-series 25,000mAh power bank is a game-changer. With its stylish design and advanced technology, it pushes the envelope of what a power bank can achieve.After using it on a week-long trip away from home, I was amazed by its durability. Everything about the P-series power bank feels premium and stylish; from the packaging to the design. There's even a futuristic pulsing blue light on the front while the power bank is in use that looks very sci-fi.I must admit that my inner geek loves the TFT display on this power bank. It displays important -- at least to me! -- information such as battery level, power, voltage, and current. A tap of the button brings up a graphical display of the input and output wattages.Online reviews highlight the power of this unit, along with the usefulness of the display, and the cool, futuristic styling goes down well with geeky owners!Cuktech P-series tech specs: Capacity: 25,000mAh|Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A|Max output: 210W Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon Whenever I encounter a power bank that's rated for water and dust resistance, it immediately captures my interest. This kind of resilience in a power bank is not only impressive but also incredibly practical for anyone leading an active outdoor lifestyle.The Nitecore NB10000 Gen III offers just that, a carbon fiber-clad power bank that has it all -- it's ultralight, ultra-thin, and waterproof to IP68. I've thoroughly tested the dust and water resistance of this power bank, and it impressively shrugs off both elements.Review: Klarus K5It has a maximum output of 22.5W and can charge two devices simultaneously or charge one while the pack is being charged. The capacity is enough to charge one and a half to two modern smartphones, and the pack can be fully recharged in about two and a half hours.What sets this power bank apart from the competition is its size and weight. At 0.42 inches and 5.29oz, this is the power bank you want to have with you if you're going to be carrying it for days on end. Its lightness was quite shocking the first few times I picked it up. It also excels in cold conditions -- I tested the NB10000 Gen III in cold conditions -- I threw it into a freezer at -18C/0F overnight -- and found that while the output was reduced, I could still get a respectable 8,000mAh from a fully charged pack.Nitecore NB10000 Gen III tech specs: Capacity: 10,000mAh|Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, |Max output: 22.5W Pros Thin and lightweight IP68 water for dust and water-resistance Built-in trickle charge feature Cons No covers for the USB ports allow dirt and water to collect No larger option Whenever I encounter a power bank that's rated for water and dust resistance, it immediately captures my interest. This kind of resilience in a power bank is not only impressive but also incredibly practical for anyone leading an active outdoor lifestyle.The Nitecore NB10000 Gen III offers just that, a carbon fiber-clad power bank that has it all -- it's ultralight, ultra-thin, and waterproof to IP68. I've thoroughly tested the dust and water resistance of this power bank, and it impressively shrugs off both elements.Review: Klarus K5It has a maximum output of 22.5W and can charge two devices simultaneously or charge one while the pack is being charged. The capacity is enough to charge one and a half to two modern smartphones, and the pack can be fully recharged in about two and a half hours.What sets this power bank apart from the competition is its size and weight. At 0.42 inches and 5.29oz, this is the power bank you want to have with you if you're going to be carrying it for days on end. Its lightness was quite shocking the first few times I picked it up. It also excels in cold conditions -- I tested the NB10000 Gen III in cold conditions -- I threw it into a freezer at -18C/0F overnight -- and found that while the output was reduced, I could still get a respectable 8,000mAh from a fully charged pack.Nitecore NB10000 Gen III tech specs: Capacity: 10,000mAh|Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, |Max output: 22.5W Read More Show Expert Take Show less Top portable chargers compared Which is the best power bank really depends on what you want from a power bank -- for some, portability is the main feature, for others it might be having the maximum possible output power. For others, it might be how many ports it has.Power bankPricePortsMax outputAnker Nano 10,000mAh$301 x USB-C cable, 1x USB-C, 1 x USB-A 30W Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh $992 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A 130W Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Power Bank $30 1 x USB-C, 1 x wireless 15W Cuktech P-series 25,000mAh $602 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A 210W Nitecore NB10000 Gen III $651 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A 22.5W Show more Which is the right power bank for you? As always, it depends on your needs and what you're looking for. Some people want giant power banks for multi-day adventures, others want something small to get them out of an emergency. Some want something stylish and sleek, while others want total geekery and get something that's more like a charging computer than a simple power bank. Choose thispower bankIf you wantAnker Nano 10,000mAh The best power bank overall. It's portable, well built, and offers both USB-C and USB-A ports, and that built-in USB-C cable is perfect for those who always forget to pack a cable! Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh The best power bank for its large battery capacity and power, and a display that is clear and readable. One of my all-time favorites and is available for $70. Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Power Bank A tiny power bank that packs a big punch. You can have this attached to your iPhone and forget that it's there. Cuktech P-series 25,000mAh A big, powerful power bank with a great futuristic look. It features a really detailed display that will appeal to those who want to know everything that's going on, and the 210W max power output can keep up with anything.Nitecore NB10000 Gen III A sleek, stylish, and lightweight power bank that's also dust and water-resistant. This is perfect for use when camping, hiking, or working outdoors. Show more Factors to consider when choosing a power bank A variety of factors impact the quality and usability of power banks. Here are some things to take into consideration before buying one:Battery size: Power banks range from giving you a single charge to several charges, and may increase in size and price accordingly. I think of anything below 7,500 mAh as a small power bank that perfect for topping up a smartphone, 7,500 to 20,000 mAh as a medium power bank good for a few recharges, and maybe an emergency top-up of a laptop, and 20,000 and above as a big power bank better suited to those wanting to charge laptops and such or who are going to be away from a power outlet for a few days.Portability: Some people want giant power banks for multi-day adventures, while others want something small they can hold in their pocket for daily charging or emergencies.Design: Some want something stylish and sleek, while others want total geekery and get something that's more like a charging computer than a simple power bank.Weight: Big power banks can really pull on your pocket or bag, so choose wisely if you intend to carry it around with you.Ports: Do you want one or two or more ports? Do you need USB-A or will USB-C be fine? These are points to consider before making a purchase.Passthrough: Do you want to be able to charge the power bank while it is charging other devices? I find this a handy feature when traveling because I can use the power bank as a charger for multiple devices so I only need a small wall charger. Show more How we test power banks I test and review a lot of power banks, and this allows me to filter through hundreds of units to find the best of the best. On top of that, I use power banks a lot when traveling or going off-grid for hiking and camping. This allows me to get real-world, hands-on experience of the product for extended periods of time. Finally, every product that I use, test, or review is thoroughly safety tested to make sure that you'll be buying a reliable, safe product.Here are the key factors I consider when testing power banks:Capacity: I've seen plenty of companies make exaggerated claims about their power bank's capacity. I charge and discharge each power bank several times to test the rated capacity to make sure that this corresponds with the capacity stated on the box.Power output: A lot of cheaper power banks might be able to hit the rated power output for short periods, but this can take a dive under heavy load or when the power bank gets warm. I test every power bank under heavy load to make sure that it can output the maximum stated output power for extended periods.Safety: If the power bank overheats in use or when charging, it doesn't make this list. Plain and simple.Robustness: How does the power bank stand up to regular use? Does the shell resist scratches and knocks? Are the ports high quality and durable? If it's going to make this list, it must be tough enough to put up with heavy use. Show more FAQs on power banks Is there a limit of the size of power bank I can take on an airline? There is, but fear not, because it's actually quite a generous limit.FAA rules (and this rule is mirrored by most aviation authorities) allow you to take a power bank with a capacity up to 100Wh or 27,000mAh without declaring it. Beyond this, you must check with the airline and declare the power bank. Show more Can you simultaneously use and charge a power bank? Most modern power banks have a feature called pass-through charging that allows you to charge it and use it to charge other devices simultaneously. This is a handy feature if you have limited number of power outlets and what to charge multiple devices -- for example, when traveling. Show more How long do power banks last? Lithium-ion batteries -- the batteries found in most power banks -- are good for about 800 recharge cycles. This means if you used a power bank daily, and each day you ran it empty before recharging it for the next day, you'd get more than two years of life.In reality, people easily get 5 years from a power bank, and normally, it's technology moving forward and making the power bank obsolete that kills it, not usage. Show more How long does charging time vary across power capacity levels? The bigger the power bank's capacity, the longer it will normally take to charge. However, this depends on a lot of factors -- from whether it charges using USB-A or USB-C, to the power output of the charger doing the charging. Show more Other power banks to considerHere are a couple of alternative power banks to consider -- all from reputable manufacturers and all offering safe, reliable charging. Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Cyberpunk 2077CDPRFortnite is the home of a million crossovers, most recently of which has included Mariah Carey, of all people. But now the game is treading into territory I am very well familiar with, releasing skins from my favorite game of all time, Cyberpunk 2077. Think Im crazy for saying that? Go and play it in its final form now. Youll get it.We now know who and what from Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to Fortnite, and while I think there should have been double the amount of skins, I am not surprised with who has been picked. Heres what we know, and this stuff will hit the shop on Monday, December 23, via dataminers:V Skin (1,500 V-Bucks)Johnny Silverhand Skin (1,500 V-Bucks)Johnnys Katana (800 V-Bucks), Wrap (500) and EmoteVs Mantis Blades (800 V-Bucks), Quadra Vehicle (1,800 V-Bucks)FortniteEpicA few things to note here. First, we do not know whether this V is going to be one specific gender, or maybe both. However, Fortnite just posted an official teaser for the collab that only features female V. I would argue she is the better choice in the game itself, but as is the nature of games, she had a much lower % pick rate than male V. It seems like the obvious option here is to have both of them, but theres no word on that, or if it could be buy-one-get-one as an alternate style. Fortnite has not really dealt with the created character issue from video game crossovers much. Regardless, they are certainly sure to look like the default versions used to promote the game.Johnny showing up as the second skin is no surprise. This will be the second skin to feature Keanu Reeves likeness in the game, the first being John Wick (and before that, Fortnite had its own bootleg John Wick), This is another thing that doesnt happen often, and the only example I can think of is a double Zendaya feature for Chani from Dune and Mary Jane from Spider-Man.MORE FOR YOUFinally, Mantis Blades as a mining tool? Oh, absolutely yes. That is instantly going to be one of the coolest tools in the game, right up there with Wolverine claws, Id argue. I am guessing these are not exclusively for V, but I do wonder if they will have some sort of special pop out animation or something. Probably not, but either way, very cool.Sometimes with big crossovers Epic circles back to release more skins, and I would kill for Judy and Panam skins to join these as the other two most iconic characters from this game. But alas, we only have the leads right now.I am sure visuals of the skins will leak pretty soon, and I will be picking these up immediately. I dont think Johnny would appreciate being sold as a microtransaction in Fortnite, however. V wouldnt care so long as she got paid.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.