This article contains spoilers for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.By the end of the final episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker has saved the day. Hes rescued his friend Nico Minoru, stopped a gang war between the 110th Street Gang and the Scorpions, and even prevented an interdimensional invasion of Venom symbiotes.But the most shocking moment doesnt involve Peter at all. With Peter safe and sound at home, Aunt May goes on an errandan errand that leads her to the local prison. There, she checks in on an inmate curious about Peter. The episode lets us think for a minute that its about to reveal its take on Uncle Ben Parker, whose fate has been hinted at but not fully revealed in the series. But instead, we see Richard Parker, Peters father.The reveal should make longtime comic book fans roll their eyes and sigh. For as many things as Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has done right, its hard to believe that this show will be able to make Richard Parker interesting when no one, in any medium, has ever been able to pull it off.Not-So-Amazing MysteriesWhen we first meet Peter Parker in 1962s Amazing Fantasy #15, neither the character nor the narrator even mention his parents. He simply lives with his Uncle Ben and Aunt Mayno more explanation needed.That changed with 1968s Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5, written by Stan Lee and penciled by his brother Larry Lieber. At Long Last the Parents of Peter Parker! declares the cover, a cool Jim Steranko-style design that promises more than the actual issue delivers. Amazing Spider-Man #5 begins with Peter helping Aunt May move a safe, which he accidentally damages with his super-strength. From the damaged box comes a newspaper clipping announcing the death of Richard and Mary Parker in a plane crash in Algeria. Worse, the newspaper describes the couple as traitors to America.Upset by the news, Peter dons his Spidey costume and investigates. With the help of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man travels to Algeria, where he discovers that his father served in an international criminal organization operated by Captain Americas arch-enemy, the Red Skull. Spidey refuses to believe it and continues to push further, interrogating someone familiar with the operation. Through this contact, Peter learns the truthhis father was an American agent working deep undercover in the Red Skulls organization. Although most of the evidence gets destroyed in an explosion, Peter gets enough to clear his fathers name and returns to the States.Like most stories in early annuals, its easy to dismiss the secret agent reveal. And for decades, thats exactly what writers did.Secret Agents ParkerThat changed with Amazing Spider-Man #365 from 1992, written by David Michelinie and Jerry Bingham, which revealed that Richard and Mary were still alive, having been held in a Soviet prison since their apparent death. Of course, since this is Spider-Man in the 1990s, the story ended with the duo turning out to be clones, but the two years of storylines confirmed what many already suspected: Richard and Mary made for a poor fit in Peters universe.Through backstory, we learn that Richard and Mary were James Bond-style spies, going on globetrotting adventures on behalf of SHIELD. The duo faced off against some of Marvels biggest bad guys, including the Red Skull and Baron Zemo, and set up a lineage that included their daughter Theresa Parker, now an agent of SHIELD.By themselves, these spy stories are fine. The Marvel Universe is full of such derring-do. But they dont make sense next to Spider-Man, at least not in his lineage. Peter Parker works best as a regular, unassuming guy. Super-smart, sure, but otherwise unremarkable. Thats what makes it so special when he chooses to use his great power for good. Making his parents secret agents undoes that banality a bit, transforming him into a scion of heroes.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Fortunately, writers have rarely returned to the secret agent well for Richard and Mary, preferring to show them as regular people in flashbacks (which does include the disastrous sex romp Trouble, written by Mark Millar and starring teenaged Richard and Mary with Ben and May as supporting characters, but lets not talk about that).The sole exception to this rule was The Amazing Spider-Man movies. Desperate to create a shared universe to rival the MCU, Sony overstuffed the two films with teases, including a Sinister Six nod and Felicity Jones as Felicia Harding aka the Black Cat. Both movies also starred Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz as Richard and Mary, here portrayed as scientists whose experiments in arachnids led not just to the radioactive spider that gave Peter his powers, but also a range of medical benefits. A jealous Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper) has the duo killed, but their work lives on in the many OsCorp experiments.Once again, The Amazing Spider-Man movies commit the key error with Richard and Mary. They make Peter into part of a vast super conspiracy, someone fated to power instead of having the power thrust upon him. And, just like in the comics, Richard and Mary have fallen away from the movies, not even meriting a mention when Andrew Garfield reprised his take on Peter for Spider-Man: No Way Home.Straying from the Friendly NeighborhoodSo far, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has veered away from established Marvel canon in good ways. Giving Pete new pals Nico and Lonnie helped shake up the status quo, and his relationship with Norman provided a necessary corrective to the emphasis on Tony Stark in the life of MCU Peter.We dont know enough about the series version of Richard Parker to say if the show will follow down the same misbegotten path as the comics. He might just be a regular guy with a prison sentence, not some SHIELD agent deep undercover. But if history is any indication, the Richard Parker reveal means a whole host of secrets for Peter Parker, and potentially dull stories for fans in season 2.Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season one is streaming now on Disney+.

The living roomthat sacred space where Netflix binges unfold and heated Monopoly matches reach their dramatic conclusionsdeserves nothing less than the perfect color story. But standing in front of that towering wall of paint swatches can feel like trying to choose your favorite child (if your children were thousands of subtly different shades of beige).Fear not. The only rule is that there are no rules. Want to paint your living room the color of aged Bordeaux? Brilliant. Dreaming of a ceiling that mirrors the spring sky? Why not. Consider this your official permission slip to think beyond greige and embrace the full spectrum of possibilities.Whether you're drawn to the classic sophistication of neutrals or ready to dive headfirst into 2025's emerging stars (those sumptuous browns and bold burgundies), your perfect shade awaits. Below, weve rounded up our favorite designer-approved living room paint colorsso that you can graduate from paint paralysis to color connoisseur.1Oyster WhiteWilliam Jess LairdWhen natural light is the main character, a warm white paint color like Sherwin Williams' Oyster White becomes the perfect supporting actor. In this sun-drenched space designed by General Assembly, the walls seem to capture Key Wests famous golden hour. Is it possible to bottle sunshine?2Wasabi GreenAlex LukeyGrass green brings the outside in while keeping all the good partsthe freshness, the vitality, the connection to naturewithout the pollen count.In this colorful Toronto home, designer Colette van den Thillart covered the walls in Wasabi by Para Paints.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Harbor Haze BlueKelly MarshallIn the living room of a prewar duplex apartment in Harlem that was renovated by Rayman Boozer of the firm Apartment 48, the walls are painted in Harbor Haze by Benjamin Moore. Bright enough to lift your spirits, and soft enough to let you relax.4Pearly WhiteWilliam AbranowiczELLE DECOR A-List Titan Robert Couturier painted many of the walls of this New York apartment in subtle variations of white. With the floors, made from Versailles parquet, this created a highly detailed but neutral background for their lush furnishings, and it is divine. For a similar look, opt for Sherwin Williams Pearly White.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Jack Pine TealThomas LoofThe color palette of this Chicago pre-war apartment was inspired by the Irish coastline: jewel-like shades of aqua, teal, jade, and celadon. Here, the walls are painted in Benjamin Moores Jack Pine with a wall covering by de Gournay. Who can feel sad with walls like this?6Classic GoldPascal ChevallierSome might call gold paint dramatic, but we prefer to think of it as optimisticit's like your walls are always dressed for the party, even if that party is just you curled up with a good book. Luxurious gold hues fill designer Linda Pintos Paris home, and it is oh-so-elegant. To match this glittering look, try Behrs Classic Gold.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Blue MuscariFrancesco LagneseThis is anything but your grandmothers powder room blue. Here, designer Tom Scheerer used Benjamin Moores Blue Muscari to transform this classic Upper East Side space into something that feels both timeless and totally today.8Walnut BrownKelly MarshallForget what youve heard about brown being boring. In this Beth Diana Smith-designed living room, the walls are painted in Walnut by Benjamin Moore, bringing a sophisticated depth that we just adore.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Sunny YellowFrank FrancesIn Martin Cooper and Karen Suen-Coopers 1790s upstate New York farmhouse, yellow walls transform their living room into a perpetual sunny day. To achieve it, the homeowners opted for Benjamin Moores Dalila.10Misty Blue CeilingHaris KenjarThis Los Angeles home, designed by Ashley Lavonne Walker, knows a secret: the best way to raise the roof is to make it disappear altogether. Thanks to a cleverly painted light blue ceiling, the room seems to float upward. To match this dreamy space, we love Benjamin Moores Misty Blue.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Peach Blossom PinkStacy Zarin GoldbergWhen you want to give your space some subtle glam, peachy pink delivers. In architect Carmel Greers Washington, D.C., family home, the space is doused in Benjamin Moores Peach Blossom.12Paradise GreenWilliam WaldronWho needs beachy neutrals when you can have a slice of lime paradise? When it comes to going bold, author Holly Peterson threw the rulebook out the window of her Hamptons living room. Want to follow in her foot steps? Benjamin Moores Paradise Green will liven your space right up.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Bluebelle Laure JolietColor is the main character in this weekend retreat in Yucca Valley, California, designed byAnother Humans Leah Ring, and we are loving the vibrant delicateness of this living room. For a dreamy sky-blue like the one seen here, try Bluebelle by Benjamin Moore.14Portofino PinkKelly MarshallIn the Ros room," designer Tiffany Howell of the L.A. firm NightPalm Studio opted for a soft blush: Portofino by Portola Paints. Its the perfect blend of romance, sophistication, and calm.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Chartreuse Ceiling Giulio GhirardiIn this Parisian den, designer Pierre Yovanovitch worked with Atelier Meriguet-Carrere to develop custom paint colors for the space, like the chartreuse on the ceilingthough Benjamin Moore's Chartreuse also does the trick. Leave it to the French to brilliantly turn conventional wisdom on its headliterally.16Dual Toned NeutralsGross & Daley PhotoIn this storied Connecticut farmhouse, interior designer Glenn Gissler tackled a number of glaring cosmetic issues that included correcting a lot of wrong paint colors. Corrected, indeed!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Azure Tide OmbrFlix Dol MaillotWe imagined walking into our jewel box, each gem blown up to an architectural scale, the homeowner of this Paris apartment told ELLE DECOR. That is exactly what we got, starting with this stunning blue ombr living room. To recreate the look, try out Sherwin Williams Azure Tide against a creamy white.18PurpliciousFabien CharuauIn the living room of Srila Chatterjee and Mahesh Mathais Mumbai apartment, a rich purple steals the show, transforming their century-old space into a jewel box that we simply cant get enough of. For a similar vibe, we love Purplicious by Benjamin Moore.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Rectory RedEthan HerringtonColor-drenching? Absolutely. A daring amount of red? Please do. The lounge area of this madcap, maximalist jewel box of a home in New York City is doused in Farrow & Balls Rectory Red paint, and it is utterly enchanting.20Waynesboro TaupeBjrn WallanderTaupe is practical, versatile, and surprisingly sophisticated. This tiny studio apartment shows how the right neutral can be a power player, making walls recede while still maintaining character. Here, Robert Rowe chose Benjamin Moores Waynesboro Taupe.Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Another new iPhone can only mean one thing: new Apple wallpapers! Fortunately, you dont need to go out and buy the new iPhone 16e if you just want to try Apples latest wallpaper.The new iPhone 16e replaces the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 in the lineup. It also introduces a new device-specific wallpaper. While youll only get the dynamic version on the actual hardware, you can download the still shot below to sport the new look on any smartphone:Download the full-resolution image above or save it from this webpage.The new wallpaper closely resembles the style of Apple CEO Tim Cooks teaser post about todays launch.For more Apple wallpapers, see these stories:Learn everything you need to know about the new iPhone 16e here.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, Threads, and Bluesky, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

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In an unnerving press conference last Tuesday, Elon Musk assured skeptical reporters that his DOGE government cost-cutting efforts had nothing to do with his private business interests."All of our actions are fully public," Musk stammered as his four-year-old son tore up the Oval Office carpet. "So if you see anything, you say like, wait a second, hey Elon, that [seems like], there's a conflict there, it's not like people are going to be shy about saying that.""If there's a conflict, he won't be involved,"Trump claimed this week.In reality, though, it's clear that Musk is shamelessly firing government workers who'd been trying to hold his many companies to account.Just yesterday, for instance, Reuters reported that several Food and Drug Administration workers fired thanks to DOGE had been investigating Musk's Neuralink, a company developing "brain-computer interfaces" for use in human beings (the laid-off FDA workers are part of a broader wave of DOGE cuts which sent upward of 20 medical device inspectors to the breadline,cutting down on critical staff and increasing the workload for those who remain.)The Neuralink-FDA debacle is only the latest conflict of interest tied to Musk's newfound power in the government. The world's richest man has previously been called out for meddling in South African law as Starlink negotiates deals in the country, gutting the FAA to the benefit of SpaceX, and slashing the consumer protection agency in charge of regulating X-formerly-Twitter.And Musk isn't the only one getting his hands dirty.DOGE's recent wave of cuts come after Donald Trump removed 17 inspectors general from their posts, going so far as to send agents to haul the long-tenured USDA inspector general out of her office. Like the FDA, that office was responsible for investigating Neuralink's animal testingafter it was found that the company had killed about 1,500 animals since 2018.Another inspector general for the USAID was heading an investigation into Musk's Starlink partnership with the Ukrainian government at the time DOGE advised Trump to freeze the agency.(A federal judge recently refused to reinstate eight inspectors general on a procedural basis)And maybe the biggest issue is just the vibes: the clear message to remaining investigators is that Musk ultimately holds their livelihoods in his hands, even as they're responsible for regulating his business activities. "It's intimidating to the FDA professionals who are overseeing Neuralink's trial," former FDA official Victor Krauthtamer told Reuters.This is all on top of an already flimsy approach to Neuralink oversight. Last year during the Biden administration, lawmakers balked after the FDA declined to inspect a Neuralink device despite approving its use in humans, an indication that Silicon Valley's "work fast, break things" mantra was already seeping into the inspection process.Amidst ongoing legal turmoil related to DOGE, the Trump administration asserted this week that Musk was not, in fact, in charge of DOGE in a frantic and confusing move clearly meant to throw litigators off the scent."You could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant," Trump told reporters as he obscured Musk's legal title. "You could call him whatever you want."Considering Musk's numerous conflicts of interest, the White House is right to be walking on eggshells especially given that his companies have racked up a combined $20 billion in US government handouts.So while we wait for anyone to hold Musk accountable, it's apparently open season on staffers holding the last line of defense against the whims of the Silicon Valley billionaire's dystopian fantasies.Share This Article

A Polish man named Adam Borucki made an unusual discovery in his backyard after waking up one day: the purported remains of a second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.As the UK tabloid The Daily Mail reports, Borucki reported the "large object about [five by three feet] in size" to the local police."We are investigating how the object ended up in this location, but the important thing is that no one was harmed," police spokesman Andrzej Borowiak told the tabloid.It seems likely that the object once belonged to a Falcon 9 rocket that made an "uncontrolled reentry" over Poland early Wednesday morning, according to the Polish Space Agency.The incident serves as yet another reminder of the very real risks involved in having rockets uncontrollably drop back down to Earth. We've already seen several instances of SpaceX debris raining down over populated areas, from two separate Australian farms to the British islands of Turks and Caicos, which were recently littered with the exploded remains of SpaceX's prototype Starship rocket.As the Polish Press Agency reports, an "unidentified object resembling a tank" was also discovered by employees of a company near the Polish city of Poznan. It's unclear, however, if the object is related to the one Borucki discovered in his backyard."We are securing the scene... explaining the circumstances of how this object ended up on the premises of the company," Poznan police officer Lukasz Paterski told the Polish Press Agency. "We know that parts from a Falcon rocket had flown over Poland, but whether this is part of it, we are not able to confirm at the moment."While officials have yet to confirm whether the object once belonged to the orbital rocket, space tracker extraordinaire and Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told Futurism in an email that the recovered tank is the "right size and shape for the [composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV)] tanks used on the Falcon 9 upper stage.""Similar tanks have survived Falcon 9 stage 2 reentries in the past, showing similar damage (delamination)," he added. "And Poznan is right on the reentry path so it all hangs together. "Case in point, a similar-looking COPV tank was recovered from a farm in central Washington in 2021 after a second stage burned up over Oregon and Washington."I am convinced this is genuine and is a fragment of the stage reentry," McDowell told Futurism.The rocket originally launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on February 1, delivering the latest batch of SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellites into orbit.Burning leftovers of the rocket lit up the night sky over not just Poland, but the neighboring Germany and Ukraine as well. Footage on social media shows a massive streak of heated-up rocket parts above Berlin.Unlike the first-stage booster of SpaceX's Falcon 9, which is designed to return to Earth in one piece to be reused, its second stage is intended to fall back towards Earth after delivering the rocket's payload in orbit, where it burns up in the atmosphere.However, parts of the second stage can survive the blistering journey, dropping out of the sky over a predetermined path which, in some instances, can fall on populated areas.More on SpaceX debris: Island Littered With Debris After Elon Musks Starship Explodes OverheadShare This Article

If you fancy playing Black Ops 6 as a walking bullet hose, you'll fit right in on the newest multiplayer map.As Season 2 Reloaded adds new maps, modes, events and guns to the latest Call of Duty game, the standout addition is the new strike map Bullet. Two teams of six will fight across (and on top of) a moving bullet train in various core multiplayer game modes.Developer Treyarch is well-known for its three-lane map design, but Bullet is adopting a new, experimental one-lane design, maximizing chaos by forcing players to fight face-to-face as they take encounters from one train car to another.Whether or not Bullet's implementation is successful remains to be seen, but it could change how Treyarch approaches strike map design in future updates.Bullet is the first real Call of Duty 'hallway map' The minimap layout for the new map is literally a straight line. Activision Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Since launch, the Black Ops 6 map pool has been a mixed bag. Massive maps like Red Card, Rewind and Lowtown encourage slow play, with lots of downtime leading to matches running out the clock more often than not. The lack of action on these bigger maps feels antithetical to the arcade-y Call of Duty ethos.On the other hand, strike maps like Warhead, Pit, Stakeout and the latest iteration of Nuketown turn into meat grinders as omni-movement traversal sends players careening down three tight lanes. Many of these maps (except for the wide-open Gala) have become fan favorites, as the constant adrenaline of picking fights within seconds takes the sting out of a respawn.Treyarch has identified this trend and added more moshpit maps and playlists to the game. Stakeout 24/7 and Nuketown 24/7 playlists are often available on weekends and during special events, allowing players to play a variety of game modes on the fast-paced maps. Additionally, Racket, Lifeline and Heirloom have been added throughout seasons one and two, adding more map diversity to moshpit playlists. This bullet train is pretty swanky, so all of the amenities will serve as some natural cover. ActivisionThis spurred many fans to jokethat the game was on track to include a "hallway map," where players would trade gunfire down a single lane. The new Bullet minimap doesn't look much different from the mockup.Of course, the train will feature different cars with fixtures to take cover behind, leading to what will hopefully be more dynamic gameplay. Sneaky flanks aren't out of the question either, as more confident players can battle it out on the train's roof as they push into the enemy team.In a game full of risk-averse, engagement-driven design decisions, Bullet is a small breath of fresh air. Treyarch's iconic three-lane philosophy has churned out some of the most iconic Call of Duty maps since Black Ops 2 -- but it's been 13 years, and it's worth trying something new.Whether or not Bullet is a hit, I'm glad they're willing to take this baby step to buck a mostly tired formula.More new maps, modes, events and weapons are coming to Black Ops 6 and Warzone These heroes in a half shell are positively terrifying. ActivisionThe long-awaited hallway map isn't the only thing arriving to Black Ops 6 in Season 2 Reloaded. There are also freakishly realistic-looking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Yes, a TMNT crossover event is coming to Black Ops 6 Season 2 on Thursday, Feb. 27, as well as a multiplayer moshpit mode that includes Ninja Turtles-themed scorestreaks, a Zombies Cranked mode with special power-ups, an event pass with new operator skins and a slate of new weapons. All event content will remain accessible until Thursday, March 13.Players can earn a new secondary, the D1.3 Sector sawblade launcher, and a host of melee weapons, including a skateboard, katanas, bo staff, nunchaku and sai. You'll be able to earn these weapons from the Armory if you miss them during the TMNT event.Multiplayer load-outs will become even more kitted out with a belt-fed firing mode attachment for all LMGs, the new Hunter's Instinct perk that marks the nearest enemy after elimination, and the Flyswatter wildcard that lets players carry a launcher in their dedicated melee weapon slot.Warzone players will gain access to the new stealthy Low Profile perk, letting them move more quickly while crouched or prone and removing death markers from eliminated enemies. Zombies players will be able to access the Directed mode for The Tomb map, meaning the early rewards for easter egg completion are about to disappear.When is Warzone Season 2 Reloaded's release date and time in Black Ops 6?The brand new season will launch new Warzone battle royale and Black Ops 6 content simultaneously when it releases Thursday, Feb. 20. Here's when you'll be able to play the new seasonal content in your time zone:Eastern Standard Time: Feb. 20, 2025 at noon.Central Standard Time: Feb. 20, 2025 at 11 a.m.Mountain Time: Feb. 20, 2025 at 10 a.m.Pacific Time: Feb. 20, 2025 at 9 a.m.As is the norm with Call of Duty HQ updates, PC players will be able to preload the update ahead of time, while console players will only have access to the newest patch several hours before it hits the live servers.As soon as the update releases, you'll be able to jump into the action and fight your way down the brand-new Black Ops bullet train.

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February 18, 20254 min readCity Killer Asteroids Earth Impact Risk Rises to Highest Ever RecordedAsteroid 2024 YR4 has a 3.1 percent chance of hitting Earth, astronomers saybut theres no need to panic yetBy Lee Billings edited by Dean VisserThe asteroid 2024 YR4 probably wont come nearly as close to Earth anytime soon as the space rock in this artists illustration. But astronomers cant yet rule out a potentially catastrophic encounter projected for December 2032. Alejandro Miranda/Alamy Stock PhotoA city killersized asteroid called 2024 YR4, which had been discovered swooping uncomfortably near Earth last December, now has an estimated 3.1 percent chance of striking our planet during another close encounter in late 2032, space scientists announced on Tuesday. The escalation makes this sizable space rock the most threatening ever forecasted to impact Earth, although the prospect for catastrophe remains relatively slim: the chance for a direct hit is now one in 32.This is the highest impact probability we have seen for an asteroid of this size or larger, says Davide Farnocchia, an impact hazard expert at the Center for Near Earth Object Studies at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). But Farnocchia notes that 2024 YR4s superlative status is unlikely to last. The impact probability might change by the time you write this up, he says.First spotted by a specialized asteroid-alert telescope in Chile on December 27 last year, 2024 YR4 didnt enter the limelight until a month later, when preliminary assessments of its orbit showed the 40- to 100-meter-wide object had a greater than 1 percent chance of colliding with our world on December 22, 2032. The risk corridor stretches from the eastern Pacific Ocean to South Asia, cutting across vast, people-free stretches of sea and desertbut also massive population centers, including Bogot, Colombia, Lagos, Nigeria, and Mumbai, India. Theres even a vanishingly small chance that the incoming space rock could strike the moon.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.If there is a collision with Earth, whether the asteroid breaks apart in our planets skies or punches a crater into the surface, the immediate effects could resemble a detonating hydrogen bomb, unleashing enough localized devastation to destroy any unlucky metropolis in the way.Its no wonder, then, that the subsequent intermittent upticks to 2024 YR4s impact odds have concerned astronomersas well as the increasingly befuddled public. How could scientists be so uncertain about this space rocks set course around the sun? Why dont they seem very worried about the rising odds that it will hit us? And whats taking them so long to discern the true danger (if there is any)?The simple answer is that pinning down an objects orbit gets easier the longer you look at it, and astronomers havent yet had enough time and opportunity to do that for 2024 YR4. The asteroid is now zooming away from us and has already become too faint in Earths skies for most telescopes to see. But it is still being regularly monitored by multiple large observatories. A team of astronomers will use the keen infrared eyes of NASAs James Webb Space Telescope to further constrain estimates of the asteroids size and trajectory in early Marchand again in early May, just before it dwindles from view (until its orbit brings it close to Earth again in 2028).The relative scarcity of data points lies behind the fluctuating risk assessment, which, until yesterday, had pegged the asteroids probability of impact at 2.6 percent. This boost came from two effects, Farnocchia says: Februarys full moon prevented precise observations for about a week, followed by an influx of fresh data from two facilities (the Magdalena Ridge Observatory in New Mexico and the Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, part of Spains Canary Islands, both of which renewed their tracking on February 15). Independent number crunching on all those data occurs at three separate facilities worldwide: NASAs Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at JPL, which is in California, plus the European Space Agencys (ESAs) Near-Earth Objects Coordination Center and the Near Earth Objects Dynamics Site (run by the private company SpaceDyS), which are both in Italy. So far, all three centers have reached the same general conclusions, showing a low but steadily increasing chance of impact.Still, for now I would not be worried, says Detlef Koschny, a planetary scientist at the Technical University of Munich, who, on behalf of ESA, chairs the United Nationsaffiliated Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG)an organization tasked with coordinating global responses to asteroid threats. As the uncertainty reduces, the probability for it to cross our planet actually increasesuntil the uncertainty area doesnt cross our planet at all. Imagine 2024 YR4 as a bullet fired down a shooting range and Earth as the bulls-eye on a paper target. An initial projection might forecast the bullet hitting anywhere on the paper, but as the projectile flies downrange, a better estimate predicts that it will hit somewhere in the targets center. The bulls-eye (Earth) will occupy a larger area of this smaller region, and its calculated chance of being struck will rise, even if the bullet (asteroid) is actually off target.This is what happened with Apophis, the previous record-setting potentially hazardous asteroid. After its discovery in 2004, forecasters projected a possible collision with Earth in 2029. Over a few months the probability peaked at 2.7 percent, only to plummet to 0 percent after sufficient further observations. In all likelihood, within months 2024 YR4s rising impact probability will prove to be a similar false alarm (which is perhaps why astronomers so far have stubbornly refused to bestow it with a catchier name). In the meantime, you can call it what you likeand safely ignore ebbs and flows of its odds for catastrophe.The orbit of 2024 YR4 is already certain enough that nobody really reacts to the day-to-day changes, says Timothy Spahr, an astronomer who manages the International Asteroid Warning Network. Yes, the probability [of impact] can change, but in order to really drill down beyond a few percent, well need to increase the observational arc another 30-plus days. The process can seem a little tedious, he admits. But by the time the asteroid fades to black later this year, astronomers should know much more about how worried everyone should be.If 2024 YR4s forecast is still ominous by then, let alone by its next approach in 2028, preventive measures for 2032 may be in order. These could range from evacuating areas in the risk corridor to launching high-stakes space missions to nudge the asteroid off its collision courseor even to blast it to bits. But given that continued observations are likely to rule out the possible impact, Farnocchia concludes, its still premature to talk seriously about deflecting 2024 YR4for now anyway.Additional reporting by Meghan Bartels.

Quince is one of those direct-to-consumer brands that feels everywhere all at once (thanks to countless social ad campaigns and podcast nods over the years), but if youre unfamiliar, were here to report that the hype is very real. The San Francisco retailer has cornered the affordable luxury market with its high-quality, low-cost assortment of goods, making the kind of Mongolian cashmere crewneck sweaters and cozy quilts that you can layer on while you marathon a Netflix showwithout spending a fortune in the process.Though theyre more closely associated with fashion apparel, Quinces home category is not to be missed, from bed sheets to duvet covers. Our editors regularly keep their sleep collections in rotation, especially the quilted blankets and plush duvet inserts during winter months. The entire collection ranges from bath towels to loungewear, though, so you have plenty of comfortable options to add to cart.We also appreciate that the retailer focuses on sustainability by using grade-A materials such as organic cotton, mulberry silk, and Tencel, plus maintains fair production practices. As for how we tested each item? We brought these Quince pieces home, used them, and washed them (following manufacturer instructions, of course) to note any pilling or wear-and-tear over time. And if our personal Goldilocks picks are not juuust right for your bedroom and bathroom, know that the brand has a 365-day return policy for a full refund or exchange. Without further ado, our favorite Quince home essentials.Our Top Picks for the Best Quince Products:Best Bed Sheets: Quince Bamboo Sheets, $130Best Bed Cover: Quince Linen Duvet Cover, $160Best Bed Accessory: Quince Cashmere Throw Blanket, $140Best Bath Towels: Quince Turkish Classic Bath Towel Bundle, $80Best Loungewear: Quince Washable Silk Pajama Button-Up Top, $60Browse by Category:For consistency, all prices listed reflect queen sizes, but different sizes are available for purchase from the brand.Sheet SetsQuince sheets are one of our favorite editor-approved items, from warm, lived-in linen to silky, cooling bamboo.Nashia BakerNashia BakerQuince Bamboo Sheet SetThese silky sheets marry great design with a luxurious handfeel. Breathable bedding is a must for my sleep setup, and Ive been pleasantly surprised by how well I sleep through the night with the Quince bamboo sheet set, says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. It feels smooth and cool to the touch but still comfortable enough to bundle up with during the winter months. Baker appreciates darker hues such as Charcoal and Nightfall as well as warmer colorways including bronzy Clay and Terracotta. Another perk? The viscose linens mirror the look of silk and satin sheets.Quince Classic Organic Percale Sheet SetIf youre in search of sheets that strike the perfect balance between crisp and soft, Quinces percale set is for you. Ive tried many percale styles over the years, and I find that this one skews a bit softer than most, which Im totally happy about, says AD PRO senior editor Mel Studach. I also appreciate that when I make my bed every morning, the sheets maintain their structure sans unsightly wrinkles. Made of 100% cotton, they are just as breathable as they are smooth in texture for a comfortable nights sleep. This style also comes in Oxford stripe and gingham patterns, not just solid colors.Quince European Linen Sheet SetAnother perk of owning Quinces sheets? The vast variety of earth tones fit any bedroom aesthetic. Contributor Erika Owen has the brands linen sheet set in sage, which she says is deliciously subtle and seems to match with everything. Not to mention, these sheets have a slightly wrinkled appearance to give your bedding a natural, lived-in look.Bed CoversNo matter the season, Quince has you covered. Keep scrolling for our favorite duvet covers, quilts, and coverlets that will keep you comfortable and complement your bedrooms design.Julia HarrisonJulia HarrisonQuince European Linen Duvet CoverSeveral of our editors own a Quince linen duvet cover because these staples are lavish but not in a stuffy, high-brow way. Contributor Elise Portale notes that the European flax linen is soft and comfy to snuggle with at night. Plus, she says it can take a lot of wear without looking run-down over several seasons of use.Quince Organic Airy Gauze Box Quilt SetThis editor-favorite blanket is just what you need for a cozy, elevated bed cover in the winter months. The cotton outer layer is incredibly soft to the touch and the warm Terracotta hue makes my bed look super inviting, says commerce editor Audrey Lee. A more subdued palette includes delicate mauve Fig and soothing Fog Grey.Quince European Linen QuiltIf you want the design appeal of a quilt and the feel of a comforter, opt for this all-season pick. Former associate commerce editor Megan Wahn said she never wanted to leave the embrace of this quilt, thanks to its lofty polyester fill that made it great to curl up under. Color options range from Dusty Blue to Indigo Blue, Soft Blush to Bordeaux, and plenty of earthy tones in between.Bed AccessoriesAD-favorite bed accessories run the gamut from throw blankets to duvet inserts. Thankfully Quince has the aboveplus, pillowsthat are cozy and versatile for daily use.QuinceLauren ArzbaecherQuince Ribbed Knit Cashmere ThrowBibliophiles are in for a treat. The ribbed knit throw is made of the same Quince Mongolian cashmere as their popular crew sweater and is insanely soft, says commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher, who is regularly bundled up in this blanket for hours while reading a good book.Quince Premium Down Alternative PillowIts hard to go wrong with a plush bed pillow, and digital features editor Katherine McLaughlin notes that Quinces goose down option is second to none when it comes to soft fill. As a side-sleeper, McLaughlin is a fan of the pillows flexibility. I basically fold it in half to add to the density of the pillow, she says. While the down pillow is currently out of stock, the brands down alternative pillow mirrors the same feel and is a great option for those prone to allergies.Quince Premium Down ComforterWhether used as a comforter or duvet insert, this all-season down material comes at a price point that is incredible for such high-quality bedding, says Zo Sessums, senior digital design editor. She has used this Quince duvet insert for over four years and loves it for its warmth and coziness. To remove stains, Sessums recommends rigorous spot cleaning. Another editor-approved tip: Place it outside on a clothesline to air out and fluff up the white down filling.Bath EssentialsDont let your bed have all the fun. Take a peek at our favorite Quince essentials from the bath category.Nashia BakerNashia BakerQuince Turkish Classic Bath Towel BundleSuper soft and absorbent, Quinces classic bath towel bundle has quickly become a favorite for my self-care routine, says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. I can never have enough cozy towels to curl up in after I hop out of the shower, and each one is surprisingly lightweight for how plush the material feels. Unlike your average bath towel that can get soggy after use, this one actually soaks up water without weighing it down. Baker recommends this set to anyone who wants high-end, hotel-quality towels for their home.Quince European Linen Shower CurtainA chic European linen shower curtain doesnt need to have a hefty price tag. Thats one of the reasons this Quince curtain, whose muted tones bring boho-beachy vibes to your bathroom, made our list of the best shower curtains.LoungewearQuince is well-known for its fashion staples, but while the brand has plenty of Italian leather jackets, silk blouses, and the like, dont overlook its loungewear. Since pajama tops are made of the same high-quality materials (Tencel, silk satin, linen) the loungewear can double as streetwear.Audrey LeeQuince 100% Washable Silk Pajama Button Up TopWhile slumbering in this washable silk number is akin to sleeping on satin sheets, this button-up top can get just as much wear out of the house. Commerce editor Audrey Lee says that it has a loose, breathable silhouette thats perfect for summer. This PJ top has a loose silhouette and is extremely breathable, which makes it a great staple in the summer when the last thing you want is fabric clinging to your body at night (or during the day). I own two colorsnavy blue and blackand since theyre collared button ups they help me look more put together on days when I dont give much thought to my outfit, she adds.Quince 100% Washable Silk Beauty Sleep SetThis sleep set includes sleek must-haves to comfortably catch some Zs: a silk eye mask, two scrunchies, and a pillowcase. Its also essential for travelers to take on flights and easy to maintain with its machine-washable materials. Not surprisingly, its a beloved pick in our gift guides.Quince Featherweight Cashmere Ribbed Henley SweaterThis whisper-thin Mongolian cashmere henley is a staple in commerce editor Audrey Lees winter wardrobe. Its versatile enough for lounging around the house or wearing out on-the-go. If I have five minutes to get ready, odds are Im wearing this and jeans, Lee says. The cashmere is thin enough where you might even get away with wearing this beyond the winter months and Im very tempted to get it in every color.