The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, March 9, below:Apple AirPods 4 for $99.99Apple AirPods 4 Wireless EarbudsAmazon has the Apple AirPods 4 on sale for $99.99 today. These earbuds feature Spatial Audio, up to five hours of listening time per charge, and so much more. Apple AirPods 5 likely won't be out for a good bit, so now is the perfect time to pick up a pair of new AirPods if your old ones are giving out.Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury for $39.99Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers FurySuper Mario 3D World is one of the Wii U's most fun games, with the enhanced Nintendo Switch release also packing in Bowser's Fury, an action-packed new take on 3D Mario. There are 82 different courses to master, which you can do with up to three friends together. At $39.99, this is a great deal on one of the best Mario games on Nintendo Switch.Apple AirPods Pro for $169.99Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-CApple's best earbuds are on sale today. Amazon is offering the second generation Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds for only $169.99 shipped, a savings of 32% and the best AirPods deal so far this year. That's the same price currently as the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, which is usually $70 cheaper. Between the two, the AirPods Pro is still the superior earbuds because it offers better sound quality and noise cancelation.Super Mario Bros. Wonder for $41.88Super Mario Wonder (Digital)Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first original Mario game from Nintendo since Odyssey. This is a side-scrolling platformer that takes place in a brand new world (Flower Kingdom). You have acess to new power ups, new enemies, and new gameplay mechanics all wrapped up in a visually gorgeous game with tons of personality. Check out our IGN Super Mario Wonder review and you'll see why it's so great.Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy Starter KitOut June 13Starter Kit$19.99 at AmazonMagic: The Gathering is one of the biggest card games in the world, and it's set to collaborate with the beloved Final Fantasy series this June. This collaboration has been incredibly popular online, which has led to almost every booster pack being sold out at the moment. Luckily, you can still pre-order the Starter Kit today. This is the perfect entry point for new players, as this set includes two ready-to-play 60-card decks and much more. NieR Replicant - 10+1 Years 4xLP Vinyl for $74.40NieR Replicant - 10+1 Years 4xLP Vinyl Box SetThis NieR Replicant box set includes 4 LPs with music from the game. Included are the Nier, Kain, Emil, and Devola & Popola LPs, which were all released separately. The cover of the box set was illustrated by Shirow Miwa, who has contributed designs to titles like Fate/Grand Order. Additionally, an original paper stand is included in the box set.Super Mario Odyssey for $39.99Super Mario Odyssey - Nintendo SwitchSuper Mario Odyssey is still one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. From the stunning Kingdoms to the numerous new gameplay elements, this is a game any Switch owner should have in their collection. Odyssey is best known for its Capture mechanic, which allows Mario to use Cappy and take over different enemies and objects in the environment. This game doesn't go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this week!Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $37.99Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - PlayStation 5Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $37.99 at Woot right now. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it's absolutely a must-play game. A 40+ hour main story awaits, with over 35 side quests available after you clear the story. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for $19.97Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - PlayStation 5Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is on sale this weekend for $19.97 at Walmart. As the second chapter of Cal's story, Survivor opens up with massive new planets to explore, in addition to dozens of additions and tweaks to the combat system. If you've yet to play this second game from Respawn's Star Wars Jedi series, there has never been a better time.Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for $24.99Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Standard Edition - Nintendo SwitchShin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Standard Edition - PlayStation 5Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is back at its all-time low price this weekend! Vengeance is an enhanced version of the former Nintendo Switch exclusive SMT V, launched in 2019. The biggest feature available in this upgraded re-release is the all new Canon of Vengeance route, which is essentially 40 hours of new story content. At $24.99, this is a steal for what many considered one of the best RPGs of 2024.Apple Watch Series 10 for $299Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm)Amazon is offering an Apple Watch Series 10 42mm model for only $299 and the bigger 46mm model for $329. This is even lower than the best deal during Black Friday. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for you. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the newest generation mainstream model. Improvements over the Apple Watch Series 9 include a bigger OLED Retina display, a new S10 processor (that isn't faster but it's thinner, which allows the watch itself to have a slimmer profile), and a slightly larger base model size (42mm vs. 41mm).Mario vs. Donkey Kong for $29.99Mario Vs. Donkey Kong - Nintendo SwitchMario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of the Game Boy Advance game bringing the classic up to date with new visuals for Nintendo Switch. This is the lowest we've seen this one yet, so don't miss your chance to score and pick this game up at a discount.

The "death knell" of an entire world.Since they were first detected over four decades ago, unusually powerful x-ray emissions originating from the site of a dying star called the Helix Nebula have proved an enigma to astronomers.Now, we may finally have an explanation for what they are and it's pretty grisly. As detailed in a new study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, a team of researchers make the case that the emissions are the last gasp of a planet being devoured by the star, a type of stellar remnant known as a white dwarf."We think this X-ray signal could be from planetary debris pulled onto the white dwarf, as the death knell from a planet that was destroyed by the white dwarf in the Helix Nebula," study lead author Sandino Estrada-Dorado of the National Autonomous University of Mexico said in a statement. "We might have finally found the cause of a mystery that's lasted over 40 years."White dwarfs like this one, WD 2226-210, form after a star similar in mass to our Sun exhausts all its fuel. Gradually, they begin to shed their outer layers, leaving behind a small but burning hot core. The energy radiated by the core ionizes the lingering gases expelled by the star, and over time forms a vast glowing cloud. This is known as a planetary nebula, which describes the Helix Nebula.As luminous as these regions may be, the white dwarfs at their center are extremely dim, making them difficult to observe. Previous observations of WD 2226-210, which is approximately 650 light years from Earth, revealed the presence of a Neptune-sized planet in an extremely tight orbit around the white dwarf, completing a full revolution in less than three Earth days.Analyzing the data collected by powerful x-ray telescopes including NASA's Chandra observatory, the astronomers found evidence that there was once a Jupiter-sized planet at an even closer orbit this tale's murder victim. The giveaway was that amidst the x-ray emissions, which the astronomers found remained relatively constant between 1992 and 2002, there was a subtle blip occurring roughly every three hours, a near unmistakable sign of something orbiting the star in this case, ludicrously close.Tragically, the doomed world may have originally been significantly farther away, before being nudged into lethal proximity through gravitational interactions with other planets in the star system. Once there, it was only a matter of time before it got eviscerated by the white dwarf's gravity.As to what's actually causing the x-ray "death knell"? What we're witnessing may be more akin to the still-sizzling corpse of a planet burned at the stake."The mysterious signal we've been seeing could be caused by the debris from the shattered planet falling onto the white dwarf's surface, and being heated to glow in x-rays," co-author Martin Guerrero of the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Spain said in a statement. "If confirmed, this would be the first case of a planet seen to be destroyed by the central star in a planetary nebula."More on astronomy: James Webb Spots Mysterious Object Crossing Space Between StarsShare This Article

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The CEO of Colossal, a startup that aims to use genetic editing techniques to bring back extinct species, including the wooly mammoth, assured audiences at SXSW that the company has no plans to create a real-life Jurassic Park lest there was any doubt. Modern conservation isnt working [] and were gonna need a de-extinction toolkit, Colossal CEO Ben Lamm said during an onstage interview Sunday in Austin, responding to questions from actor and board member Joe Manganiello. I think that we have a moral obligation and an ethical obligation to pursue technologies [that] undo some of the things that we [as a species] have done.Colossal is working to bring back the dodo bird and thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, well as the wooly mammoth, Lamm added. But the de-extinction of dinosaurs wouldnt be possible due to the lack of usable sources of dinosaur DNA. Dallas-based Colossal, founded in 2023 by Lamm and George Church, has stated that it wants to have woolly mammoth hybrid calves by 2028, which it hopes to reintroduce to the Arctic tundra habitat. The company is also leading a research project to release Tasmanian tiger joeys back to their original Tasmanian and broader Australian habitat after a period of captivity.That vision has resonated with investors. Colossal has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital, and its currently valued at $10.2 billion.Colossal has spun out two companies focused on specific applications, including a third that hasnt yet been announced. Lamm also said he thinks theres billions of dollars to be made from the re-wilding of species and carbon sequestration.One of Colossals recent high-profile projects is the gene-edited woolly mouse, a mouse species with mutations inspired by woolly mammoths. The mice, which exhibit long, shaggy, tawny-toned fur, were developed using a mix of mammoth-like and known mouse hair-growth mutations.Some experts have expressed skepticism of the new species, arguing that the experiment was more about mouse genetics than a breakthrough in de-extinction. Lamm, however, said the project validated Colossals work on wooly mammoth research.It showed us that, initially, our edits that we were making for the mammoth are the right edits, Lamm said. Colossal Biosciences woolly mouseImage Credits:Colossal BiosciencesLamm touched on AI during the interview, saying that he believes that the combination of access to computing, AI, and synthetic biology will be the most dangerous set of technologies the world has seen. But he also painted an idealistic picture of the future, predicting that synthetic biology advances in particular will lead to cures for cancer, means of removing plastics from the oceans, and the widespread availability of clean water. We will have true dominion over life, where we can eradicate species that are invasive or we can bring back lost species, Lamm said, and I think well also have the ability to engineer plants not just for food consumption, but you will be able to engineer plants with different types of proteins.Lamm also said that he anticipates humanity will achieve longevity escape velocity in the next 20 years, adding years to the average human life expectancy and making immortality a theoretical possibility.Beyond human longevity, Lamm said de-extinction may require a Manhattan Project-scale project to back up endangered species specifically in bio vaults to create stem and egg cells. Lamm said hes talked to a country that seems excited about it without naming any names.On the subject of public sector work, Lamm mentioned that Colossal meets quarterly with U.S. government agencies and that the government has invested in Colossal, presumably via grants.

Forget iPhones or Nintendo Switches, children in parts of the Philippines rely on a completely ... [+] different source of entertainment. Hint: It involves a venomous animal.gettyIf you were to attend school on the island of Mindanaothe second largest island in the Philippinesyou might notice that some of the boys have matchboxes in their pockets. Inside the matchboxes, you wouldnt find matches, however. Youd find derby spiderswhich is a generic name used to describe various species of spiders used in the animal blood sport of spider wrestling.Spider wrestling, as it is traditionally practiced in the Philippines, involves putting two female spiders at opposing edges of a narrow stick (one that resembles a long chopstick). The spiders race towards each other, meeting in the middle of the stick, and engage in combat until one spider emerges victoriouseither by knocking the spider off of the stick, injuring the spider or wrapping it in a cocoon of spider silk.The most common type of spider used in Mindanaoan spider wrestling, according to one research paper, is Neoscona vigilans, whose common name is the brown-legged spider or tiger-tiger.Neoscona vigilans is an orb-weaving spider that inhabits areas such as agricultural fields, gardens and forested environments. The species is nocturnal, hunting its prey during twilight and typically consuming it by morning. Orb-weaving spiders are known for crafting intricate and highly organized webs to hunt prey. The structure of its web varies throughout the year, with changes in its angle, height above the ground, line density and magnetic orientation, all influenced by seasonal shifts. Despite these variations, the spider maintains the core symmetrical pattern of the web.The school children who capture these spiders arent concerned with the spiders web-building abilities, however. They instead seek out orb weavers who seem most aggressive.How do they identify the spiders that will win in battle? One rule of thumb has to do with where the spider resides when captured. According to prevailing wisdom, spiders captured on or near electric power lines are particularly aggressive. But its hard to find these spiders. Most spiders are captured in trees and grasslands.Then theres the matter of training a spider, once captured, to have success in battle. To this end, spider owners have developed all types of rituals. Some try to beef their spider up on milk and honey before the battle. Others use dextrose, plum fruit, coconut milk and even duck egg soup. Still others prefer to purposely starve their spider before a fight in the hope that it will make the spider more aggressive.Moreover, spider gamers agree that training a spider before it battles is a necessary step to give the spider the best odds of winning. Heres how researchers have described this process:They need exercise in the form of fighting with another spider. During the training, the spider will be placed on a stick with a dead spider at the other end. The spider will eat the dead spider, however, before it will be done eating the dead spider, it should be taken from the stick. This will provoke the spider to bite because it was not yet done eating. Again, the spider is put out to walk on the stick and it will catch the dead spider. So, when the spider is put in a box, opening the box is a signal that it is already feeding time. Thus, for the trained spider, the time of the game is also feeding time.Finally, the fight begins. Groups of people huddle around the spider and place bets on which spider they think will win the fight. Fights may last as little as 30 seconds with aggressive spiders and as long as five minutes if the spiders are more tame. Once a winner is declared, the spiders are checked and treated for any injuries they may have sustained during the fight. Sometimes, injured spiders are released back into their natural habitat to mend themselves and then collected by the owner a few days later.Are you an animal lover who loves your pet and would never dream of breeding them for battle? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.

Apples flagship range of iPhones is coming this fall and a new report claims that one model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, has a thicker body than the iPhone 16 Pro Max it will replace. Which could mean room for a bigger battery, its claimedsomething that hasnt been suggested before and is, of course, very good news.Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 ProSOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe leak comes from a source with a solid reputation, Ice Universe. In a post on X, they claim that the next Pro Max will be 8.725mm thick, instead of the 8.25mm thickness of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Thats just under 0.5mm bigger. I know, tiny, right? Except that could be slim enough to be unnoticeable in the hand, but thick enough to handle a bigger cell inside. Which could be a major upgrade.The leak says that in other ways the measurements of the iPhone 17 Pro Max are identical to the current Pro Maxwhich is unsurprising, given that the current look only debuted a few months ago, and Apple rarely changes a design significantly on an annual basis.That said, its possible the camera panel could change, if other reports are to be believed, and that the rear of the phone could be part-aluminum instead of almost all glass all over as it is now. Which could constitute a bigger design change.In a separate post on Weibo, Ice Universe says, The iPhone 17 Pro Max looks so strong, and the increase in the thickness of the body means that the battery must have increased.This is conjecture at this stage as there are other reasons Apple could adjust one dimension of an existing iPhone, but its definitely hopeful.Mind you, the battery life on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is outstanding, and my daily usage almost never sees me end the day with less than 30% more left in the tank.That said, nobody ever said, My phones great, but the battery just lasts too long, did they?Since the same leaker also suggested that the expected super-slim iPhone, supposedly called iPhone 17 Air, will only measure 5.5mm from front to back but otherwise match the Pro Maxs dimensions, we can guess that the Air wont match the Pro Maxs battery life, surely?

20th Century Studios / 20th Century StudiosLater this year, Avatar: Fire and Ash will continue the saga that writer and director James Cameron began in 2009 with Avatar. But according to Cameron, the third film in the franchise was an unexpected chapter in his initial plan for three sequels. Instead, Cameron ended up splitting Avatar: The Way of Water into two different movies, in part because too much was happening in a single script.In a nutshell, we had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie 2, Cameron told Empire. The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we werent drilling down enough on character. So I said, Guys, weve got to split it.'Recommended VideosTo help him craft the story of the movies, Cameron put together a writers room that included Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Shane Salerno. During the Empire piece, Silver also weighed in on the benefits of expanding Fire and Ash into its own movie.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe characters needed to breathe, noted Silver. These movies are a lot more than just propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle. I mean, these are real characters.These characters are amalgams of us, our childhoods, our role as parents, the mistakes we made, and probably to some extent continue to make as parents, added Cameron. I mean, Jake is a hard-ass [bleep]. Hes very hard on his kids. Well, thats me.Cameron also stated that Fire and Ash will actually be a little bit longer than [The Way of Water], which ran 3 hours and 12 minutes in 2022. Production designer Ben Procter recently teased that Fire and Ash will have a battle for the ages between the Navi and the human invaders on a much larger scale than the battle at the end of The Way of Water.Avatar: Fire and Ash will be released in theaters on December 15.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsRush Hour (1998)Power Rangers (2017)Sicario (2015)This March, the Russo Brothers return with their latest film, The Electric State. The sci-fi spectacle stars Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle, a young woman who ventures to the American West with her robot to find her missing brother. Along the way, Michelle links with the smuggler Keats (Chris Pratt), who helps her navigate the retro-futuristic country.The Electric Stateis one of the top action movies hitting the streamer this month. The action page on Netflix is one of the most loaded sections on the streamer. Below, youll find three action movies to fire in your queue. Our picks include a buddy comedy, a crime thriller, and a nostalgic live-action superhero adventure.Recommended VideosWe also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.RelatedRush Hour (1998)New Line CinemaJackie Chans martial arts prowess, combined with Chris Tuckers comedic expertise, became a winning combination in Rush Hour. When a Chinese diplomats young daughter is kidnapped in Los Angeles, Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) flies in from Hong Kong to work the case. The FBI fears Lee will interfere in their investigation, so they assign LAPD Detective James Carter (Tucker) to babysit.At first, Lee and Carter are like oil and water they dont mix. Over time, the two realize they are the only ones who can solve the case. Therefore, theyre better off working together.Rush Houris great because the two stars play so well off each other. Chan holds his own in comedy, while Tucker is a believable action hero. Now, all we need is a Rush Hour 4.Stream Rush Houron Netflix.Lionsgate FilmsKids from the 1990s will appreciate visiting their childhood superheroes in Power Rangers. This live-action version is an origin story that shows how the teens got their powers. In the town of Angel Grove, five high school students Jason Scott (Dacre Montgomery), Billy Cranston (RJ Cyler), Kimberly Hart (Naomi Scott), Trini Kwan (Becky G), and Zack Taylor (Ludi Lin) take Power Coins from an old gold mine.The quintet eventually realizes these coins give them superhuman powers. Searching for answers, the teens return to the mind and meet Alpha 5 (Bill Hader) and Zordon (Bryan Cranston), who inform them that they must band together to save the world. Its morphing time.Stream Power Rangerson Netflix.LionsgateIs anyone surprised that Denis Villeneuve helmed one of the best crime thrillers of the last decade? Written byYellowstonesTaylor Sheridan, SicarioThe mission is to capture one of the Sonora cartels top lieutenants hiding in the United States so he can reveal the location of his boss. The further into the mission she goes, the more Kate learns the real motives of Graver and Gillick, which are not exactly legal. While there are several cant-miss scenes, the border scene will give you chills (and a heart attack).Stream Sicarioon Netflix.Editors Recommendations

2025-03-09T20:40:02Z Read in app The author moved to Thailand when her son was 1 year old. Courtesy of the author This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? When my son was 1, we moved from San Francisco to Thailand. People in Thailand welcomed us with open arms and helped me when needed.We moved back to the US when he was 5 and experienced culture shock. When my son was 1, I moved from the tumultuous San Francisco Bay Area to the rolling hills of Northeastern Thailand. When I stepped off the plane, I could tell my parenting experience would be different.Once on the ground, we hopped into a courtesy van that would take us on another hourslong journey to Loei Province, our final destination in rural Northeastern Thailand. As we stopped to fuel up at one of the many 7-Elevens dotting the highway, I ducked into the store to buy some essentials.Unfortunately, my screaming baby had other plans. He kicked and arched his back as I tried to pay the cashier, only to be suddenly whisked away and soothed by a middle-age Thai woman (and perfect stranger) while I fished through my pockets for the unfamiliar Thai currency.I'd soon learn this was the norm in Thailand: I never got dirty looks when my son was tearful or noisy, only an endless stream of adoring aunties ready to help the moment they were needed even before they were asked.I was a helicopter mom in the USAs a former helicopter mom, this was new for me. Parenting in the San Francisco Bay area had been a notably solo venture, especially as a young mom whose friends weren't very interested in kids, let alone starting families.When we settled into our new home in Loei with a small community of expats, I learned the extent of the Thai people's friendliness and camaraderie. I enlisted the help of a nanny named Ot, who insisted we call her Auntie with the familiar PaPa Ot became a true auntie to my son and, frankly, like a second mother to me. With several kids of her own and much more experience than I had, she showed me how to soothe my baby's mosquito bites and remove the relentless cradle cap that cropped up repeatedly in the sweltering humidity.People took care of usShe showed my son how to eat in the traditional Thai fashion, grabbing and molding sticky rice into a tiny bowl with his fingers to scoop up a morsel of meat or vegetables. She also taught us both how to speak Thai, though my son was always ahead of me. On weekends, she'd invite us to the local river to swim, another opportunity to meet the Thai villagers and learn about their way of life. She even showed me the wall where she'd printed his photo after months of helping to care for my son and hung it as if he were a part of the family.Then, there was Jung Niem, the groundskeeper who tended the gardens in our little expat community. He'd invite my truck-obsessed son to sit in the front seat of his work truck with him and paw at the steering wheel, never too busy or distracted to take the time. The office manager, Pi Pat, would routinely grab my kiddo and plop him on her lap, laughing as he banged on the keyboard and terrorized the tiny office.When we moved to Bangkok, the welcome continued. Our high-rise apartment complex was like a little village, with two restaurants, a dry cleaner, a 7-Eleven, and two massage shops on the ground floor. Mothers and kids were always outside, ready to play, and we didn't need to perfect the language to make friends.When we moved back to the US I experienced culture shockThe true culture shock set in when we moved back to the US when my son was five. I had forgotten how insular people could be, even parents with kids who ostensibly needed me as much as I needed them. Between competing schedules and priorities, pinning down a playdate was akin to coordinating a rocket launch.In Thailand, I finally learned how to relax and accept the help I needed as a young, inexperienced mother. The Thai people welcomed me and my son with open arms, no questions asked: community was a given, not a luxury. On returning to my country of origin, it struck me what poverty of community we often face in our individualist culture, especially in a frenetic metropolis like the Bay Area.Thailand taught me what a powerful gift it is to receive community support as a parent, giving new meaning to the oft-used but seldom-lived adage, "It takes a village."

2025-03-09T20:35:07Z Read in app NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in space since June 2024. NASA This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams held a press conference last week.Wilmore said politics hasn't influenced the timeline for when he and Williams will return to Earth.Elon Musk said the astronauts were left at the International Space Station for "political reasons."NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore said politics aren't the reason he and pilot Suni Williams are still in space nearlyThe two launched onBoeing's Starliner shipon June 5, 2024, planning to stay on the International Space Station for a week or so. It's been over 275 days since then.Ahead of their anticipated return in late March, Wilmore and Williams hosted a press conference from the International Space Station last week, answering questions about their mission, return, and how politics plays a role.Although Wilmore and Williams are about 250 miles from Earth, comments made by President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk have thrust them into the political spotlight.In January, Trump said Wilmore and Williams were "virtually abandoned by the Biden Administration" in a post on Truth Social. Elon Musk and President Donald Trump blamed the astronauts extended stay on the ISS on the Biden administration. Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS Musk, the face of DOGE, said the two astronauts were left in space for "political reasons" during a joint interview with Trump on Fox News in February.The billionaire reiterated this claim during a spat on X with European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, saying he offered to bring Williams and Wilmore home on a SpaceX ship, but the Biden administration declined.During the press conference, a reporter asked if Wilmore and Williams felt politics had influenced their timeline to return to Earth."From my standpoint, politics is not playing into this at all," Wilmore said during last week's press conference, adding, "We came up prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short. That's what we do in human space flight. That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that."When asked how it felt to be at the center of a political story following Trump and Musk's comments, Wilmore said politics are "part of life" and that he and his fellow crewmates aboard the ISS Williams and Nick Hague support the US and its leaders.The astronauts have been in space since June 2024In June, the two astronauts traveled to space aboard Boeing's Starliner ship to conduct its first crewed flight, which was meant to prove Boeing could be used for routine human space travel.However, five of Starliner's reaction control system thrusters malfunctioned as it flew to the ISS. The spacecraft's helium system was also leaking.NASA and Boeing, unsure of how the thrusters would perform on the flight back to Earth, conducted weeks of tests and reviews. Ultimately, NASA did not feel confident in Boeing's spacecraft and tapped Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring Wilmore and Williams home.Although the pair were expected back on Earth in February, a delay with SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship means they aren't expected to return until late March.NASA plans to launch a new crew, dubbed Crew 10, into space on March 12. If all goes according to plan, after Crew 10 arrives at the ISS, Crew-9 including Wilmore and Williams will hand over operations to the new crew."Following the handover, NASA and SpaceX will prepare to return to Earth NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard Crew-9 pending weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida," NASA said on its website.Representatives for NASA, SpaceX, Musk, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment made outside regular business hours. A representative for Boeing referred BI to NASA.