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Gone are the days of clip-on pedometers. Now, it's all about tech wearables that maximize your physical potential with round-the-clock vitals monitoring — but I'm not talking about an Apple Watch or Fitbit. The next evolution of fitness trackers is here, and it's the smart ring.

Smart rings monitor your health in a tiny, inconspicuous package. At first glance, they look like any other piece of jewelry, a simple gold or silver ring. But with tiny sensors, these rings track biometrics through your finger. Yes, they'll track your step count and calories burned, but more advanced technology allows them to track sleep and stress levels, all detected through heart rate and variability.

If you're looking to upgrade your fitness tracker and want to make the leap to a smart ring, we've vetted the most popular models on the market through weeks of testing to find the best smart ring.

Why should you buy a smart ring? So you think you want a smart ring? Here's what you need to know about the latest tech wearable. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Smart rings are not just another fitness tracker. Yes, they do track your activity, steps, and calories burned. However, they're really meant to offer a more holistic view of your health so you can gain deeper insights into your sleep habits, cardiovascular health, and more.

You're a good candidate for a smart ring if you hate the look of a smartwatch or fitness tracker with LED screens, which are categorically not cool. Smart rings are posed as a discreet option, looking like a regular piece of jewelry. However, to be frank, they don't blend in that well. In my weeks of testing, while wearing the rings during hangouts, someone would inevitably ask me, "What's that?"

Since a smart ring doesn't have a screen, you have to pull out your phone and open an app whenever you want to track activity. That's certainly not the end of the world, but if you convert from a smartwatch, you'll miss the convenience of tapping your wrist. That being said, I actually find a smart ring most useful when paired with a smartwatch. I ran all my testing while simultaneously wearing an Apple Watch, and I appreciated the smart rings that were compatible with my watch so I could receive push notifications.

What's the best smart ring?

The smart ring market is ever-growing, with new models debuting each year. Samsung just launched a smart ring in 2024, and while Apple doesn't have a smart ring on the market yet, we're sure it will be here in a matter of time. But smart rings are synonymous with the Oura Ring, a leader in the field. After spending weeks with the device, testing its hype, and comparing it to other devices, we can confidently say it is the best ring.

It offers the most expansive biometric tracking, monitoring your health around the clock. It focuses on daily and long-term health goals more holistically than other rings.

However, the Oura Ring has downsides, like a monthly subscription fee. If you're not down for a monthly fee, we tested some other viable smart ring options.

Please stop killing Pedro Pascal. I've had enough.

Look, even if you played the game and knew Joel's death was coming, The Last of Us's brutal exit for this character was harder to watch because it was Pascal. It's not just because the scene was intense. It's because it also gives Pascal fans PTSD-style flashbacks to all the other times Pedro Pascal has been killed onscreen.

Game of Thrones. Drive-Away Dolls. Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Gladiator II. The list goes on, if you go deeper into his filmography. And it all started with Joss Whedon, whose whole thing is, "Don't get too attached, I'll kill your favorite character." Somehow, even though Pascal just had a bit part on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Whedon was like, "THIS GUY!" Dead.

SEE ALSO: 'Drive-Away Dolls' cast on working with Pedro Pascal's 'head'

And it's not just that Pedro Pascal dies onscreen. His eyes get pressed into his pretty head. That head gets cut off. He gets pummeled to a pulp made effectively horrendous looking with just horrific prosthetics — that'll probably win an Emmy for Outstanding Makeup. Props to The Last of Us team. And sometimes he's literally thrown into a meat grinder.

It's just enough. Give us some time for him to smile, give Daddy vibes and warm charisma — and don't kill him. I'm looking at you, Disney! Because you got The Mandalorian Season 2, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the relaunch of the Avengers and more Star Wars stuff. Pascal will have plenty of opportunities to die nobly for a valiant cause. I just need you not to do it. Just give us a breather.

To the Pedro Pascal fans out there who just want a movie where he gets to be cute and charming and not die, we've got The Materialists coming up! It's a rom-com starring Pascal, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Evans. From Past Lives writer/director Celine Song, it has a love triangle — and look at that cast! We love to see it! And Pascal probably won't die! Right? Right?!

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, May 3, 2025:

AcrossGreiner of "Shark Tank"

• The answer is Lori.

Not making a sound

• The answer is Silent.

Super-stoked

• The answer is Psyched.

Convenience hidden in "get that money"

• The answer is ATM.

Indivisible

• The answer is One.

Eighth planet from the sun

• The answer is Neptune.

Sipped on slowly, say

• The answer is Nursed.

Mystic with a vision

• The answer is Seer.

DownAppropriate anagram of 5-Across

• The answer is Listen.

Mount where Zeus and Hera reigned

• The answer is Olympus.

___ league (amateur sports organization)

• The answer is Rec.

Using staff, rather than outside contractors

• The answer is In House.

Extend across

• The answer is Span.

$10 bill, informally

• The answer is Tenner.

Homeowner's document

• The answer is Deed.

III, in Italy

• The answer is Tre.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Shokz has crept up the wireless audio ranks to become a trendsetter in the sporty earbuds category. Releases like the OpenFit 2 and OpenFit Air were complementary pieces to the brand’s excellent bone-conduction headphones. Now, it’s taking a page out of Anker’s and Bose’s playbooks by transitioning into the clip-on earbuds game with the recently launched OpenDots One. 

These awesome-looking earpieces are built for outdoor runners who want to enjoy music with the full openness of their environment. The OpenDots One clearly find inspiration from the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, adopting the same earring cuff-like appearance. However, Shokz' version is more durable, lasts longer, and gives Bose’s buds a run for their money in the audio department. 

With the good also comes the bad. As expected, the open-ear design lets in a lot of ambient noise, so you won’t hear music completely. The feature set is small, and the touch controls are spotty too.

The drawbacks might be dealbreakers for casual consumers, but for exercisers, who the OpenDots One are marketed toward, these are runner-friendly buds that finish the marathon in convincing fashion.

Scroll down to see why Shokz is a worthy contender for the best workout earbuds.

These aren't your typical earbuds. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Shokz OpenDots One open earbuds specs and setup

The OpenDots One’s spec sheet isn’t decked out like some of the market’s top-tier sports buds (e.g., Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, Jabra Elite 8 Active), but it’s noteworthy. See below: 

• Dual Speaker Driver Unit: 11.8mm

• Frequency Response: 100 to 20,000 kHz

• Dolby Audio support 

• Customizable EQ via Shokz app

• IP54 water resistance (buds only) 

• Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint technology

• 10 hours of battery life / 40 hours with wireless charging case

• 10-minute quick charge equals 2 hours of listening

• Colors: black and gray

Connecting the buds is standard procedure. Hold down the pairing button on the back of the case with the lid open, and you’ll enable pairing mode. Once the LED flickers, select the product from the Available Devices list in your Bluetooth settings. My unit paired instantly with my MacBook Pro. Multipoint pairing lets me connect to my iPhone 15 and OnePlus 11 smartphones at the same time.

Downloading the Shokz app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play grants access to all special features. It’s a small amount compared to other challengers. However, what’s given is serviceable.

A flashy, familiar, and functionally transparent design

Even though the OpenDots One look exactly like the Ultra Open Buds, they have a more innovative design. There are touch panels on the battery barrels, as well as the soft silicone grip that keeps the buds secure for intense training. I’ve worn them when performing lateral exercises (e.g., jumping jacks, side lunges), and there was no slippage. I don’t recommend them for leisure because they pinch your ears. This can hurt after about three hours of wear, depending on your pain threshold. 

The open-ear design is what’s most important. It is clutch for increasing ambient awareness, no matter where you are. Runners can keep tabs on traffic when jogging. I was well aware of cars and emergency vehicles when crossing streets. Bicyclists, chatty pedestrians, and construction sites were also transparent at high levels. 

The open-ear design allows you to hear your surroundings. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Some of the best sound I’ve heard on open earbuds

Shokz isn’t known for its sound quality, but the OpenDots One leave quite the impression. The 11.8mm drivers deliver crisp and lively sound to keep runners fueled on long runs. It’s great having audio personalization via EQ with preprogrammed presets. Each of these represents its audio categories fairly well. There’s also the ability to create your own sound profile by manually adjusting frequencies in the EQ setting, something audiophiles will appreciate. 

SEE ALSO: 10 best podcasts to listen to while running

The electric guitar strums on Hozier’s “Too Sweet” had fantastic reverberation that stimulated a second wind during my 5K run. Enabling the Dolby Audio mode enhanced definition and unveiled the track’s fine production layering; the steady snares and tinny tambourines were pronounced. Upbeat bangers like Mya’s “Best of Me, Part 2” gave me the head-bopping bass I desired, highlighted by punchy drums that blended well with the delicate piano keys. The balanced midrange boosted the singer’s soft, low-note vocals.

The buds are made to let in noise. Therefore, don’t expect to hear every detail when listening in rowdy environments. You can hear audiobooks, music, and videos clearly. It just requires being in a silent setting and playing music at high volume. These are not like typical wireless earbuds. Open-ear buds project audio to the ear, whereas wireless earbuds send audio directly into the ear canal.

Comparing the OpenDots One to other open earbuds

I put the OpenDots One up against the most popular sports buds and open buds: the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. Audio, fit, and transparency were the three hallmarks I prioritized when comparing models. 

The Powerbeats Pro 2 produce superior sound output, thanks to their robust audio specs (e.g., dual-layer drivers, Personalized Spatial Audio) and an in-ear design that passively blocks out ambient noise. The Ultra Open Earbuds have 12mm drivers that provide crisp, full-bodied sound, plus hi-res streaming (aptX Adaptive) over Bluetooth. As for the OpenDots One, they sound better than most bone conduction headphones and open earbuds. 

Beats’ signature ear hook design creates the most secure fit of any sports buds out there. Bose’s and Shokz’ clip-on designs are dependable for stability and take up less ear real estate. 

Ambient listening is equally great on the OpenDots One and QuietComfort Ultra. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have a strong transparency mode that makes ambient sounds and conversations sound louder and more natural, but their active noise cancellation is disappointing.

Plenty of battery life

The OpenDots One generate up to 10 hours of playtime, with the wireless charging case holding an additional 30 hours. This is longer than the Ultra Open Earbuds (7.5 hours/27 hours) and on par with many of Anker’s current open-ear entries. A 10-minute charge can net you two hours of continuous playback. Those numbers held up during testing. 

Over the course of a week, I ran with the OpenDots One for six hours and used them specifically for calls. This left me with 30 percent juice. I used the buds moderately (est. four hours) a week later and they had to be recharged every three days. The case didn’t need to be recharged until the third week of use. 

Uniqueness presents compromises

As much as I love the ingenuity behind Shokz’ control scheme, it isn’t convenient or reliable. The silicone grip only accepts double taps (play/pause/call management), and the touch pads only register the two-finger pinch or long-hold gesture. There are no single- or triple-tap gestures available, which would have expanded operation. On top of that, whatever function is assigned to the touch pads (e.g., voice assistant, volume, previous/next track) will be assigned to both buds. 

The on-ear controls are nothing to write home about. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The Shokz app is low on upscaled features. Dolby Audio, multipoint technology, and the Find My Buds mode are nice to have, but you get more from other competitors. The Ultra Open Earbuds boast a hi-res codec and universal spatial audio, while several of Anker’s open earbuds have proprietary 3D audio modes.

Digital assistance works well on iOS/macOS devices, but the feature struggles on Android devices. Google Assistant is effective. It’s Google Gemini that demonstrates poor speech recognition. Most voice commands are either misinterpreted or don’t execute properly.

Lastly, the open-ear design isn’t for everyone. These buds only suit you if you’re some who wants to hear your surroundings during workouts or recreation. The OpenDots One excel at this and dish out impactful sonics at high volume to reduce a decent amount of ambient noise. They don’t completely neutralize external sounds like the best noise-cancelling headphones.

Are the Shokz OpenDots One open earbuds worth it?

Yes, but only if you’re an avid outdoor runner or a fitness fanatic who isn’t bothered by the common fracas at your local gym. The OpenDots One dish out satisfying sound that increases stamina when running low on energy, and the addition of Dolby Audio gives music a bit more thump. Battery life is sufficient for about a week of use, depending how long you exercise. The stylish design also stabilizes fit when sprinting at fast speeds.

Those looking for a pair of everyday buds to enjoy their favorite playlists should look elsewhere because the OpenDots One’s open-ear design doesn’t allow for full audio consumption. The lack of special features isn’t appealing either; most standard sports buds come with an ambient listening mode and extra perks (e.g., ANC, shortcut widget, spatial audio).

The Shokz OpenDots One are priced at $199.99 and can be purchased on Shokz’s website, as well as popular online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

Shokz OpenDots One $199.95 at Amazon
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Thunderbolts* comes by its unexpected tenderness honestly. In the latest installment of Marvel's never-ending superhero saga, the disaffected but charming Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) feels adrift, unfulfilled, and bored.

As her adoptive father Alexei "Red Guardian" Shostakov (David Harbour) observes, the light inside her has gone dim. What started as ennui now looks more like stifling depression.

Remarkably, Yelena's numbness gives way to an openness, a kind of calm curiosity, that becomes Thunderbolts* grounding force as the film explores what more than one character calls "the void."

SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' review: Florence Pugh can't rescue this flop from the MCU's worst impulses

This emptiness is what follows both a lifetime of disappointments as well as specific traumas that haunt Yelena, her ragtag crew of anti-heroes (aka the Thunderbolts), and even the film's villain. There are visual and verbal references to unforgivable betrayals, mental illness, domestic violence, parental neglect and death, and suicidal ideation.

Against the backdrop of these traumatic experiences, Thunderbolts* mounts an ambitious attempt to leave the viewer with a simple — perhaps simplistic — message: The void is survivable with human connection.

This is applaudable, especially for a could-be blockbuster, expected to match or rival the MCU's past box office performances. But there are also fundamental flaws in the execution.

To tell this story of redemption, Thunderbolts* turns Bob (Lewis Pullman), a civilian with a long history of psychic suffering, into the Big Bad known as The Void. As The Void, Bob's suicidal thoughts are weaponized against the entirety of New York City. From on high, he flattens unsuspecting victims into black shadows, presumably to relieve them of their own pain.

There's a general understanding amongst mental health experts that portraying people with mental illness as murderous helps no one. In real life, outside of Marvel's sprawling IP empire, people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence, not the other way around.

Importantly, Bob is not a willing participant in his transformation from an ordinary but desperate guy into Sentry, a superhero of immense powers, including flying and being able to toss Yelena and her fellow assassins across the room like rag dolls.

Instead, Bob participated in medical testing, courtesy of the morally rudderless CIA director Valentina (Val) Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). But he was promised a better, stronger self, not a starring role in the wholesale destruction of countless people's lives. (Note to Marvel: Maybe now would be a good time to cool it with the storylines about medical research misconduct and conspiracies.)

The story, co-written by The Bear's Joanna Calo, largely treats Bob with compassion, which isn't surprising given the way the FX show about a tortured chef sensitively handles topics like anxiety and suicide. Bob is given a complex, if somewhat cliché, backstory of growing up in a household surrounded by mental illness (his mother) and domestic violence (his father). But he also has delusions of grandeur, along with emotional highs and lows, and episodes when he blacks out.

When Val tries to play a nurturing but manipulative mother to Bob, it sets off a chain of events that turns him not into should-be-heroic Sentry, but the villainous Void. It's hard to know it then, but the scene is built on the idea that sons of abusive men will become abusers themselves, under certain circumstances.

Yelena epitomizes the gentle understanding that Thunderbolts* extends to Bob. When The Void unleashes hell on earth, Yelena steps into his black void —  not to end her own emptiness once and for all — but to find Bob and bring him back.

Fighting her way through a series of "interconnected shame rooms" in which she must confront her own horrific acts, she discovers Bob hiding in what appears to be his childhood attic. The scenes that follow could easily be a Marvel dramatization of a number of public service announcements geared toward reaching out to someone who needs help. "Be the friend who listens," implores the suicide-prevention campaign Seize the Awkward.

Yelena is indeed the friend who listens. When that isn't strong enough to ward off The Void, she and the other Thunderbolts find themselves with Bob, trapped in a simulation of the room where the medical experiments took place. The Void's blackened frame harangues Bob as a failure. It's clear, then, that Bob is at the mercy of his own inner critic, on anti-hero steroids.

This is arguably the film's most powerful scene as Bob tries to take control by pummeling The Void into nothingness. Yet the violence only accelerates everyone's doom. The all-consuming void can only be vanquished when Yelena and the Thunderbolts pull Bob off and surround him in a steady embrace. Another way to think about this is silencing one's inner critic with compassion, a counter-intuitive strategy that experts routinely endorse.

One would be well within their rights to view this scene cynically — a pat portrayal of friendship as an antidote to mental illness. It's certainly critical to feel less alone, but loneliness is one among many risk factors for feeling suicidal. Audiences may also watch Bob's or Yelena's stories unfold and see themselves as newly capable — and deserving — of human connection. That's a very good thing.

Still, the weaponization of Bob's mental illness can't be waved a way. Nor is it possible to justify the tail-end of his narrative arc, in which he recalls not a single thing that happened to him — including his own triumph over the proverbial demons that animated him as The Void. He returns to being Bob, but deprived of the details that would truly give his life the purpose and meaning he's long sought.

Perhaps there's more in store for Bob in a forthcoming film, but abandoning him in a state of not-knowing feels cheap. Ultimately Bob becomes little more than a cipher, or a useful but disposable cog in Marvel's billion-dollar filmmaking machine.

Strangely, the final minutes of Thunderbolts* surrender what the film fought so hard for: the sense that a meaningful life is possible, even when it feels against the odds.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Near the center of the Milky Way are enormous filaments of radio energy that sometimes look like bones, and one in particular has astronomers playing orthopaedists. 

If the new picture at the top of this story reminds you of an X-ray, well, that's because it is. Scientists used a space telescope to examine a conspicuous fracture along the bone's 230 light-year length. The images from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, coupled with data from the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa and the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array, have revealed what likely caused it to crack. 

The assailant, seen right at the point of the break, could be a fast-spinning neutron star, known as a pulsar. Scientists think that, as the object whizzed through the galaxy at breakneck speed, it slammed through the bone and just kept on going. The collision apparently distorted the bone's magnetic field and warped its radio signal.

SEE ALSO: Scientists discover a rebellious star family defying the cosmic order NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory helped scientists study The Snake, a filament of radio energy near the Milky Way's galactic center. Credit: NASA / CXC / J. Vaughan illustration

The discovery not only offers a diagnosis for how the filament fractured but highlights that a single star can rattle the galaxy, even long after its own death. The findings described by NASA this week were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Researchers have named the filament G359-dot-something-something-something, but friends and fun astronomers just call it "The Snake." Why, you might ask? Because G359.13142-0.20005 just doesn't roll off the tongue. 

The glowing streak threads through the congested downtown of the Milky Way. Dozens of other such filaments appear in radio waves around the galactic center, lit up by particles spiraling through parallel magnetic fields. The Snake is one of the longest and brightest of its kind.

But why these structures exist — and what makes some longer and more luminous than others — remains a mystery. 

An annotated version of a composite image of The Snake shows a close-up view of the fracture and the object that likely created it. Credit: NASA / CXC / Northwestern University / F. Yusef-Zadeh et al / NRF / SARAO / MeerKat / SAO / N. Wolk

As for the assailant, it's trying to make a quick getaway. Neutron stars form when massive stars explode into supernovas, leaving behind a crushed stellar core, perhaps just 10 miles wide. But a pulsar beams radiation as it revolves like a lighthouse beacon. 

The new images also suggest extra X-rays may be coming from the area around the pulsar. Particles like electrons and positrons — tiny pieces of matter and antimatter — that sped up during the crash may have caused them. 

After a supernova, remnant neutron stars often get an intense kickback from the blast. Scientists estimate this pulsar could be flying at a dizzying 1 million to 2 million mph. 

TL;DR: Ditch messy notebooks and let AI take over your note-taking with a lifetime My Notes AI Pro Plan for just $39.99 (reg. $299).

Still scribbling notes like it’s the 90s? It’s 2025, and we can now let AI handle the heavy lifting. My Notes AI Pro can serve as your personal note-taking assistant for life with this lifetime subscription to their Pro Plan, now just $39.99 (reg. $299).

Bring your note-taking into the 21st century

Your brain has enough to juggle. Let AI help you stay on track with My Notes AI. From video calls to in-person meetings, this app transcribes and summarizes everything so you can stay present without missing a detail. It works for Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams meetings, and you can even upload an audio file afterward. 

Stop trying to decipher your chicken scratch thanks to this powerful tool. It takes notes, turns transcriptions into helpful summaries, and even breaks them down into specific action items, so you can save time and effort.

If you need to share notes with a classmate or colleague, exporting transcriptions is just a few clicks away. And you can use My Notes AI’s organization tools to sort notes by topic, date, or project for quick, easy access.

My Notes AI may utilize intimidating AI technology, but the actual app is easy to use, featuring an intuitive interface that you can take advantage of on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. And once you're a pro, you can go on to unlock premium features like unlimited transcription, meeting recordings, instant AI summaries, and even more organizational tools. 

Let My Notes AI tackle all your note-taking needs from now on for $39.99 (reg. $299) with this lifetime subscription.

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TL;DR: Give your workflow a visual upgrade with Microsoft Visio, now just $14.97 for a lifetime license for Windows (reg. $249).

Skip the spreadsheets and bring your ideas to life with Microsoft Visio. Whether you're mapping out a new project or making your reports more eye-catching, this tool helps you create clean, professional visuals in no time. Get a lifetime license for Windows now for just $14.97.

Tell a story with your data

Data doesn't always have the best reputation for being captivating. But that’s where data storytelling comes in — a way to bring meaning to data with both narration and visuals. Visio is your all-in-one diagramming tool for just that, helping you bring ideas to life. From flowcharts to floor plans, it allows you to organize, design, and present complex information in a way that’s easy to understand, with no artistic skills required.

With access to over 250,000 shapes and templates, Visio gives you a head start on just about any project — from org charts to network diagrams. Plus, it works easily with Excel and Exchange, so you can automatically pull in data and skip manual input.

If you're feeling creative and want to put your own stamp on things, Visio lets you personalize your diagrams. You can even sketch out ideas or add notes with a finger or stylus on touch-enabled devices, 

Need to brainstorm? Visio’s got you covered with templates for fishbone diagrams, SWOT analysis, and classic flowcharts to help you work through ideas and solve problems creatively. It's a one-stop shop for visualizing concepts and data. 

This lifetime license for Windows requires a Microsoft 365 or Microsoft SharePoint subscription to get started, and is only available to new users. 

Secure your lifetime license to Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for just $14.97 (reg. $249).

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TL;DR: Get through your to-be-read pile with help from Headway, on sale for $59.99 now. 

There's a reason that TBR pile keeps building: reading takes time. A lot of it. And you don't always have hours and hours to sit down with a book, even if you want to. Plus, there's no guarantee you'll even like the book once you get through it. 

If you want to make personal growth and learning a little easier to schedule, try Headway Premium. This intuitive mobile app makes learning fun again, and a lifetime subscription just went on sale. Instead of paying $299, it's now only $59.99. 

Learning can be a hobby

Headway turns best-selling nonfiction books into fifteen-minute summaries you can read or listen to. You get the key takeaways without committing to hundreds of pages. Whether you're focused on productivity, personal growth, business strategy, or wellness, there’s a constantly expanding library of titles to explore.

The app helps you stay motivated by recommending content based on your goals and tracking your progress. There are even game-like achievements to keep things fun. With over 1,500 summaries available and more added every month, you’ll never run out of topics to dive into.

You can use Headway at home, during your commute, while exercising, or whenever you have a few minutes to spare. Each summary is professionally narrated and available offline, so it’s easy to learn on the go without burning through data.

This deal includes lifetime access, which means you pay once and never worry about a subscription fee again. If you're looking for a low-pressure, high-impact way to stay sharp, Headway Premium makes it easy to turn free moments into learning opportunities.

June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a Headway Premium Lifetime Subscription on sale for $59.99. 

No coupon needed. 

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TL;DR: Treat yourself to this bundle of endless entertainment — an Apple iPad and a pair of Beats Flex headphones — all for $139.99 (reg. $299).

Craving some downtime? This bundle is the perfect excuse to indulge. Get lost in your favorite apps on the Apple iPad, then tune into every beat with the Beats Flex headphones — all for the low price of $139.99 (less than each of these items would cost on their own). 

Tune in and tune out with this iPad and Beats bundle

This bundle of fun kicks off with an Apple iPad 6. Enjoy endless entertainment on the 9.7-inch display, and do it all thanks to the Apple A10 chip, which lets you bounce between multiple apps while enjoying top performance. 

Capture memories with the 8MP rear camera, then video chat about it all with family and friends thanks to the FaceTime camera. 128GB of storage lets you save files and download apps with ample space. 

You'll be hearing everything in premium, crystal-clear audio with your Beats Flex headphones. They feature a flex-form cable for all-day comfort and four ear tip options to ensure the perfect fit. And you won't have to worry about tangled cords thanks to a magnetic design. 

These Beats Flex headphones are designed to pair seamlessly with your iPad. They're equipped with an Apple W1 chip, so they seamlessly integrate with any Apple products. They also offer an impressive 12 hours of playtime on a full charge, thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Curious how you're scoring this great deal? The iPad is Grade A refurbished, which means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with virtually no sign of prior use. The headphones are a renewed, open-box return, so they have been tested, cleaned, and repackaged in their original packaging. 

Secure this Apple iPad and Beats Flex headphones bundle for just $139.99 (reg. $299) for a limited time. 

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It's funny to look back on the MCU and realize these tales of epic heroism began with a spoiled nepo baby taking down his wicked-hearted business partner. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come a long, long way from Obadiah Stane and his iron-mongering ways. Over 36 movies and counting, the baddies have gotten badder and badder — in great ways.

To toast the unveiling of Thunderbolts*, let's look back at all the villains who got us here.

How do Valentina and Void stack up to the likes of Loki, Thanos, and Killmonger? Find out with our thorough ranking of MCU villains, beginning with the least gnarly and ending with the biggest of bads.

50. Malekith (Thor: The Dark World) Credit: screenshot / Marvel

Literally, who?* — Angie Han, former Deputy Entertainment Editor

49. Samuel Sterns (Captain America: Brave New World)

Back in The Incredible Hulk, Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) was an ally to the titular superhero. But in Captain America: Brave New World, it's revealed that a bit of Bruce Banner's gamma-radiated blood transformed this once mild-mannered scientist into a supervillain with a scary, big brain and a face only a mother could love. Sure, his mind control powers and ability to calculate the future are creepy. But with the appearance of a rotten asparagus, Sterns just doesn't have much impact as a cinematic villain. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

48. Dormammu (Doctor Strange)

I still don't entirely understand what Dormammu is, and I don't care. And if you're about to launch into an explanation based on the comics, my point is that the movie doesn't do a good job of explaining what he is or why I should care.* — A.H.

47. Ivan Vanko (Iron Man 2)

With his gold teeth, thick Russian accent, and pet cockatoo, Vanko is basically a latter-day Johnny Depp character — and as with most latter-day Johnny Depp characters, there doesn't seem to be anything like an actual person underneath all those tiresome affectations.* — A.H.

46. The Dweller-in-Darkness (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

The Dweller-in-Darkness is the CGI manifestation of studio executives flipping through the screenplay of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and realizing that there’s nothing in there that would make a cool Lego set. It’s not on the very bottom of the list because all it wants to do is eat snacks (relatable), and everyone after this entry is in Marvel’s clown car of really bad villain ideas. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

SEE ALSO: All Marvel Cinematic Universe movies ranked worst to best 45. Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3)

The reveal that the Mandarin was really a role being played by Ben Kingsley's Trevor Slattery was a jaw-dropper, but the truth about who was really pulling the strings was far more disappointing. Not even Killian's embittered-nerd backstory can make him a compelling foil to Tony Stark.* — A.H.

44. Ronan the Accuser (Guardians of the Galaxy) Credit: Marvel Studios / Kobal / Shutterstock

Ronan gets more laughs than most of the other villains on this list, which could push him up a couple slots. But that's mostly because he's just in a funnier movie than most of the other villains on this list, not because he himself is all that funny. So he moves back down toward the bottom.* — A.H.

43. Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)

Justin Hammer is essentially another Tony Stark, only inferior in every possible way. Which shouldn't be that interesting, except that Sam Rockwell makes him kind of an odious oddball. It's fun to watch him try to take down Stark, and even more satisfying to watch him fail again and again.* — A.H.

42. Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)

There's the germ of something interesting in Emil Blonsky, an aging soldier who agrees to undergo a painful experimental procedure in order to achieve Hulk-like power. Unfortunately, The Incredible Hulk never gets there, and by the end has reduced him to a mindless CGI monster.* — A.H.

41. Ayesha (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)

Ayesha is essentially just a superiority complex dipped in gold, but so much of the fun of her character comes from seeing her haughty grandeur rub up against the goofy, grimy world of the Guardians. Here's hoping she'll get more to do once Adam emerges.* — A.H.

40. Dar-Benn (The Marvels)  Credit: Marvel Studios

She’s got a cool warhammer (the universal weapon), some powerful jewelry (quantum band), and some tooth bling for extra flair. But this revenge-fueled wannabe savior of the Kree just feels like a retread of lesser cosmic villains who’ve come before, like Malekith and Ronan. Angry, conquering, blah. Uncluttered by egregious prosthetic makeup, Zawe Ashton’s performance isn’t swallowed up like those of her predecessors. Still, there’s not much there there. — K.P.

39. Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel) Credit: Chuck Zlotnick

Carol Danvers' fragile masculine captor isn't particularly interesting, but not for the first time Marvel gets by on some inspired casting — and in this case, a few well-placed twists. When Carol is about to blast him to Kree-Kingdom-Come during their final showdown, Yon-Rogg encourages her to strike him, to defeat him. It's so hubristic and patronizing (what's the Kree word for "mansplain?") that Carol decides she'd rather just dip. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

SEE ALSO: Why I love, love, love 'Captain Marvel' and everything it stands for 38. Obadiah Stane (Iron Man)

Obadiah Stane fits so many of the MCU villain tropes we've become familiar with: He's a greedy businessman and a false father figure, and he's vastly less interesting than the superhero he's out to get. What makes him first among equals is that he was literally the first, setting the mold for years to come.* — A.H.

37. Goliath and Ghost (Ant-Man and the Wasp)

Sharing a spot on the list because they share so many villainous goals, the foes of Ant-Man and the Wasp are pretty textbook. Goliath, aka Bill Foster, has beef with Hank Pym (a man who specializes in beef) and wants revenge, while Ghost, aka Ava, just wants to stop phasing and not die. They team up to harness the energy of the Quantum Realm, which interferes with Hank and Hope's plan to rescue Janet, but by the end of the movie everyone realizes what a viewer probably caught early on: There's a version of this plan where everyone wins. — P.K.

36. Kaecilius (Doctor Strange) Credit: Film Frame / Marvel

Now we're really getting down to the dregs. Kaecilius is yet another MCU antagonist who lusts after some abstract notion of power. However, he wins a couple points for that flawless eye look and hilarious who's-on-first routine. — A.H.

35. Arishem the Judge (Eternals)

The Eternals' Celestial space-robot daddy is one of the most powerful beings on this list, but fails to make a proportionate impression because he is in fact a CGI space robot with no face. Arishem is the reason the Eternals even exist. He makes villains of them and their Deviant foes by basically using everyone as chess pieces — if a game of chess ended with the Earth being destroyed to create a cosmic superbeing. Arishem isn't evil in the way of someone like Thanos; Celestials operate on ancient universal laws, while Thanos acted out of hubris — but what they all have in common is the view that most mortal life is unremarkable and therefore unessential. Hopefully Sersi, Kingo, and Phastos can convince him otherwise. — P.K.

SEE ALSO: Your 'Eternals' crushes, ranked 34. General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (The Incredible Hulk)

General Ross (William Hurt) doesn't get the big showdown with Hulk (that dubious honor goes to Abomination), but for the first two-thirds of the movie, he's a rather chilling portrayal of a man so obsessed with revenge that he's blind to the fact that he's become a monster in his own right. — A.H.

33. President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Captain America: Brave New World) Credit: Marvel Studios

The General blinded by revenge in The Incredible Hulk returns in a kinder, softer incarnation in Captain America: Brave New World. Actually, as President Ross (now played by Harrison Ford), he barely registers as a villain in this one; he's busy trying to make amends for his fiery past both with the Avengers and his daughter Betty (Liv Tyler). But he's making our list because when he goes Red Hulk, the smash spectacle is pretty terrific, even if the climax of this Cap-versus-Hulk showdown is a bore. — K.P.

32. Adam Warlock (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) Credit: Jessica Miglio

Don't get me wrong, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) is a ton of fun. This golden battle mage swoops into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 early on and basically pounds them into the dirt. After that, though, we see he's more of a childlike himbo than a supervillain. For the rest of the movie, he mostly screams "Mother!" (which, fair, when you're talking about Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha) and hangs out with furry cutie Blurp. Good news, though: By the end of the film, he's become a new Guardian of the Galaxy, so we're in for more non-villainous Adam down the line. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

31. Valentina (Thunderbolts*) Credit: Chuck Zlotnick / Marvel 2025

Since she first strode onto the scene in Black Widow's post-credit scene, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has been suave and vaguely scary. But in Thunderbolts* she shows what a master manipulator she truly is. Sure, her plans to eliminate her collection of troublesome mercenaries went up like a Bob in the night. But Valentina came out on top, pulling a Tony Stark move with a flashy press conference that made her narrative the narrative. Still, she doesn't have superpowers or offer any physical threat. She's Samuel Sterns lite (with a far better sense of style). — K.P.

30. Dreykov (Black Widow)

While far from the most charismatic or memorable villain on this list, Dreykov is pretty damn sinister when you think about what he's done. He kidnapped orphans to turn them into soldiers, and he made a point to pick children with uteruses so he could forcibly sterilize them. He turned his own daughter into a barely-sentient killing machine and seemed pleased as punch — incidentally, Natasha (and the rest of us) really want to punch him. Eff this guy. — P.K.

29. Yellowjacket (Ant-Man)

He's essentially Obadiah Stane Redux, minus the shock of realizing that, holy shit, it's Jeff Bridges under that chrome dome. Yellowjacket was just one too many wounded male egos plotting against the MCU's heroes, which perhaps mercifully led to the new era that followed. Sorry, Corey Stoll. We love you, just not this role for you.* — A.H.

28. M.O.D.O.K. (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)

Darren Cross/Yellowjacket gets an upgrade after being banished to the Quantum Realm, where he is remade by Kang the Conqueror (more on him later) to be a Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing. M.O.D.O.K. is mostly a gag villain thanks to his teeny little arms and legs and frankly massive head — apologies should be in order for nightmarishly stretching Corey Stoll's face like this. But M.O.D.O.K also has some of the funniest lines in an otherwise meh movie, and Stoll is clearly having a blast. At least he died an Avenger, right? Right? — B.E.

27. Trevor/The Mandarin (Iron Man 3)

To this day, the reveal of the Mandarin's true identity is one of the most shocking twists that the MCU has ever pulled off — and Ben Kingsley plays both sides beautifully. He's chilling as the Mandarin but delightfully daft as Trevor, the party-bro actor who has no idea what's really going on.* — A.H.

26. Seth Voelker / Sidewinder (Captain America: Brave New World)

Props to Giancarlo Esposito, an actor who brings a delicious sense of menace to every role, whether he's playing a mild-mannered kingpin (Breaking Bad), a duplicitous gangster (Abigail), or a MCU mercenary. In Captain America: Brave New World, Sidewinder is a merc who will stop at nothing to make his money, be it taking nuns hostage or ambushing the eponymous superhero with a grenade. While this movie underwhelms, Esposito made sure his small part hit hard, not only playing a convincing badass but also bringing an edge of enjoyment to every gnarly mission. —K.P.

25. Void (Thunderbolts*)

Upon his arrival as a shadow on the New York City skyline, Void seems a next-level threat. The literal dark side of Bob (aka Sentry), he's able to blink people out of existence with the raising of his hand, leaving only a stain of jet-black shadow where they stood. Actually, Void is pitching his victims into "shame rooms," where they're forced to confront their traumatic pasts and bad choices. The embodiment of depression, he might have been a truly chilling villain in the MCU. But here, he's basically defeated by a group hug. — K.P.

24. Taskmaster (Black Widow)

Taskmaster is Black Widow’s main antagonist for most of the movie, and while they don’t do much beyond showing up and kicking ass, that ass-kicking is some of the best in the MCU. Tasky’s fight scenes are a highlight reel of every Avenger’s coolest moves, and half the fun of watching Black Widow is seeing how Natasha would actually fare if she squared up against Captain America, Bucky (again), Black Panther, and herself. Also, points awarded for having a cool third act reveal. Best wishes to you, Taskmaster. — A.N.

23. Alexander Pierce (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

Like Vulture and Zemo, Alexander Pierce is a relatively understated villain. But he's got gravitas, because he's played by Robert Freakin' Redford, and he raises some genuinely complicated questions about security versus freedom. Well, at least until it's revealed that he's been a Hydra agent all along, and therefore unambiguously evil. Oh, well.* — A.H.

22. Red Skull (Captain America: The First Avenger)

Red Skull is a really good representation of another annoying MCU villain trend: squandered promise. He's played by Hugo Weaving and based on a popular comic book character, so he seems like he should be amazing. But onscreen, he comes across as just another generic nemesis.* — A.H.

21. Ulysses Klaue (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther)

Ulysses Klaue is a villain who died before he really got to live. Mostly in the sense that it would've been wild to see Andy Serkis' take on the comics, but Klaue served his purpose in the MCU's ongoing story. It's Klaue who smuggled vibranium out of Wakanda, a singular act that directly leads to Killmonger's plot to establish Wakanda as a fearsome ruling superpower. Without that vibranium, where would Ultron's consciousness end up after he escaped Tony's computer system? It's impossible to know what the MCU would look like without Klaue's impact, and that's what makes him one of the saga's essential villains. — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter & Weekend Editor

20. Ego (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)

Talk about villains grounded in painful reality. Kurt Russell is perfect as Ego, the personification of every dashing deadbeat who's ever refused to let minor details like "a child" stand in the way of his grand ambitions. It's just that his grand ambitions involve remaking the entire galaxy.* — A.H.

19. Kang the Conqueror (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) Credit: Jay Maidment / Marvel

Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) is one of Marvel Comics' biggest villains, and he's been hyped up as the big bad of Phases 5 and 6 of the MCU. So why was he such a letdown? Maybe it's the fact that his introductory movie simply isn't very good, or maybe it's that his power set isn't defined well beyond "shooting blue beams" and "blathering on and on about how he can see time." Or maybe it's that you need to have watched Loki to have even the slightest understanding of who he is. Whatever the reason, he's just not popping yet — and that's a gargantuan problem. At least Majors seems to be having fun, I guess. — B.E.

18. Winter Soldier (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) Credit: Zade Rosenthal / Marvel Studios

Bucky is only a true villain in Winter Soldier, and then just because he's been brainwashed by Hydra. Maybe that's a shame, because it turns out he's pretty good at being bad. He's all ruthless efficiency and controlled intensity, but his real secret weapon as a supervillain is his tragic backstory.* — A.H.

17. Ultron (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

A sort of sentient robot son to Tony Stark, Ultron sounds cooler in theory than he is in execution. But he is voiced by James Spader in mustache-twirling villain mode, and he's the kind of unapologetic drama queen who insists on having his own throne. That's not nothing.* — A.H.

16. Hela (Thor: Ragnarok)

Odin’s firstborn and the goddess of death, Hela is a formidable foe for Thor. She breaks Mjolnir! She kills the Warriors Three with her knife-y powers! She’s played by Cate Blanchett! Even though Hela is sidelined for much of Thor: Ragnarok, Blanchett imbues her with delightfully chilling villainy. Also, her outfit is among the best villain looks in the MCU — talk about being dressed to kill. — B.E.

15. Gorr the God Butcher (Thor: Love and Thunder)

Say what you will about Thor: Love and Thunder, there's no denying that Christian Bale makes for an amazing villain. Drape that man in a sinister cloak, put the Necrosword in his hand, and give him a tragic backstory, and you're looking at MCU villain gold. Gorr's grief-fueled quest to kill all gods in the universe is Love and Thunder's most compelling storyline. While the film doesn't examine it quite as much as I wish it would, it still gives us Gorr being the world's most terrifying babysitter. Absolutely immaculate villain vibes. — B.E.

14. Mysterio (Spider-Man: Far From Home)

On paper, Mysterio looks like a pedestrian amalgam of Vulture, Justin Hammer, and Aldrich Killian — but the formula doesn't account for Jake Gyllenhaal chewing the absolute heck out of this role. In Mysterio, Gyllenhaal finds layers of sincerity (with Peter), egomania (with his team), and outright unhinged madness that is nothing short of delightful to behold. How did Tony Stark ever overlook this guy? — P.K.

13. The Grandmaster (Thor: Ragnarok) Credit: Marvel Studios

Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) may not be Thor: Ragnarok's main villain, but the hedonistic leader of Sakaar more than steals the show. Everything from his sparkly blue makeup to his funky piano jam sessions oozes funky, offbeat charisma — even when he’s forcing unwilling fighters to battle his champion to the death. Arguably the most fun Marvel villain, thanks in no small part to Goldblum doing what he does best, Grandmaster is just a blast to watch. — B.E.

12. Helmut Zemo (Captain America: Civil War)

In contrast to the colorful, power-mad personalities we've come to expect from comic book movies, Zemo is a quiet, unassuming man driven by grief. Best of all, the guy's kind of got a point when he notes that the Avengers are responsible for a lot of collateral damage.* — A.H.

11. The High Evolutionary (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Hoo boy, this guy is evil. In his quest to develop the perfect utopian species — so, space eugenics? — The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) tortures and mutilates sweet, innocent animals like Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper). Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does not pull its punches when depicting the horror of The High Evolutionary's experiments, a choice that brings the MCU to its darkest places yet while solidifying just how horrendous its villain is. The High Evolutionary gets bonus points on this villain ranking for his frightening face mask and Iwuji's capital "D" Dramatic performance, which brings high Shakespearean theatrics to The High Evolutionary. Truly an irredeemable monster of a villain. — B.E.

10. Mr. Paradox (Deadpool & Wolverine) Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

Some Marvel villains have been given mystical armies, unnerving prosthetic makeovers, and/or elaborate backstories sparked from petty grievances. Mr. Paradox doesn't need any of that to be a terrific villain. Sure, at first glance, he just seems like a British suit with a smug attitude. But props to Succession's Matthew Macfadyen, who's made being a power-hungry weasel into an art. Paradox's plan is one of timeline annihilation, coldly killing off millions of beings because he thinks the timelines are tidier that way. That's deeply evil and unhinged. But what makes Paradox marvelous is Macfadyen's delivery. Whether he's providing a dense exposition dump, dressing down Deadpool for relying on the "Worst Wolverine," or squawking for help when his master plan goes kabluey, the theatrical energy and snarling self-satisfaction makes for a foe that's an absolute hoot to hate. — K.P.

9. Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

Vulture is a basically normal dude grappling with the fact that he lives in a superpowered world — but unlike our heroes, Adrian Toomes isn't inspired by example to become one of the good guys. He channels that rage into a successful black-market enterprise selling alien weaponry, but what's fascinating about Adrian is there's much more to him than supervillainy. He doesn't seem to be playing a role in the way that, say, Obadiah Stane was only pretending to be Tony's friend so he could stab him in the back later. Adrian really is a family man, and he really is an illegal arms dealer. He contains multitudes, and Homecoming doesn't shy away from it.* — A.H.

8. Namor (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

With his winged ankles, green hot pants, and strength to rival the Hulk's, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Namor (Tenoch Huerta) bursts onto the scene with a tremendous amount of flair. But Namor is so much more than his appearance. A backstory involving his Yucatec-Mayan people fleeing from European colonizers sets the stage for his compelling motivations: wanting to keep his people and their home of Talokan safe. Like Black Panther's Killmonger, his reasoning makes sense and initially positions him more as an antihero. Also like Killmonger, his violent methods quickly plunge him into villainy, making for a layered Marvel antagonist who is also a blast to watch. — B.E.

7. Cassandra Nova (Deadpool & Wolverine) Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL.

She's the evil twin of X-Men leader Charles Xavier, which means Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) shares his skills for telepathy and telekinesis. But you know, without all those pesky moral codes weighing her down. Content to rule over the temporal wastelands, Cassandra developed a creepy crew of X-men villains while building a fort in the rotted-out suit of a lost Giant Man. But once she meets Deadpool and Logan, her ambition grows from dystopian tyrant to eradicator of all existence. And if that goal alone isn't enough to commend her as a top-tier MCU villain, consider how her superpower involves stretching her fingers deep into her victims' brains. Watching Paradox's eyes wiggle as she treats his skull like a bowling ball is one of the creepiest things the MCU has offered yet. — K.P.

6. Wanda Maximoff (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) Credit: Jay Maidment

We can discuss at length how Wanda Maximoff deserved better throughout her time in the MCU, but we can also give her major props for being an exceptional villain in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Elizabeth Olsen is clearly having the time of her life as the film's big bad, channeling horror film legends like Samara from The Ring and Carrie White from Carrie. She also annihilates years' worth of fan service in the film's most diabolical sequence. On top of all that, Wanda's villainy comes after several movies and an entire TV show's worth of character development. So, our attachment makes her turn to the dark side both engrossing and painful to watch. Hats off to Olsen for a killer performance, and here's hoping Wanda is having a better time somewhere else in the multiverse. — B.E.

5. Green Goblin (Spider-Man: No Way Home)

No Way Home may have brought back every notable Spider-Man villain since 2002 (sorry, Hobgoblin), but Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin is a magnificent standout as he urges them all to go rogue. This character once laid the groundwork for the misguided-scientist-who-turns-into-a-bad-experiment that every Spidey villain followed until Vulture, and his performance is as unhinged and spectacular as it was 20 years ago. Sliding back into Goblin’s armor, madness, and signature cackle, Dafoe reminds us that he all but invented the modern comic book movie villain, that everyone else here is in the house that Goblin built. It’s a hell of a legacy to leave behind in the first place, and even mightier to live up to it yourself. — P.K.

4. Loki (Thor, The Avengers)

There's a reason Loki is the rare baddie to stick around for more than one movie (and a whole TV show). He's the only MCU supervillain who's as fully developed as the MCU superheroes — and with his sad tale of familial angst, he's almost as sympathetic. Plus, Tom Hiddleston gives Loki a slippery, smirky charisma that's hard to resist. You listen to one of his faux-Shakespearean monologues and tell me you're not tempted to cross over to the dark side.* — A.H.

3. Wenwu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Leave it to Hong Kong cinema icon Tony Leung to show up 25 movies into the MCU and proceed to wipe the floor with almost every other villain the franchise has come up with. Wenwu is a fascinating villain because he’s a bad guy who isn’t always a bad person, and the real tragedy of Shang-Chi is knowing Wenwu is mourning more than the loss of his wife — he’s mourning the lost possibility of his own redemption. Also, he’s a Marvel villain who keeps another Marvel villain as a human pet. That’s god-tier villainy right there. — A.N.

2. Eric Killmonger (Black Panther)

Hot off the heels of Vulture revolutionizing MCU villainy came Michael B. Jordan's legendary turn in Black Panther. Eric is everything T'Challa isn't: vengeful, embittered, and deeply isolated. His methods might be villainous, but his message is compelling. Growing up in Oakland, far from the promise of Wakanda, he mourns generations of injustice that Black people have experienced around the world, seething with envy at T'Challa and his supposedly charmed life. Killmonger's pain stays with us long after the credits roll on Black Panther, as does his chilling final line. — P.K.

1. Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame) Credit: Marvel Studios

Here we go. The big bad. The biggest bad. In one *snap,* Thanos erased half of the known universe from existence — but it's more than that. The build-up to Thanos pretty much defined the entire pace of the MCU's first truly sprawling story arc, from Iron Man to Endgame. Marvel spent 10 entire years teasing and setting up this massive villain before 2018's Avengers: Infinity War gave him an outwardly significant role to play. It was a hell of a trick, and it wouldn't have worked without the decade of buildup making it clear that a larger, more malevolent puppet-master was always pulling the strings just out of view. There are more exciting villains in the MCU, but Thanos is, as ever, inevitable. — A.R.

*This blurb appeared on a previous list.

UPDATE: May. 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m. EDT Originally published on Sept. 9, 2021, this list has been updated to include the latest MCU releases.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home works for Mac or PC, lasts for life, and is on sale for $159 (reg. $249).

One of the only reasons to stick with Microsoft 365 was that it had the most recent versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The subscription is expensive, but the AI upgrades really save a ton of time. 

Good news: that's not the only way to get updated Microsoft apps. Now, you can get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC as a one-time purchase, and it's marked down to 159 (reg. $249).

Why rent when you can buy?

This license lasts for life with no recurring costs of any kind. It connects directly to your Microsoft account and lets you use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote on a PC or Mac.

Each of these apps have all the recent upgrades. Word now includes real-time co-authoring, which lets multiple users work on the same document simultaneously. You also get to use AI-powered suggestions to help streamline the writing process. 

In Excel, dynamic data handling with new formulas like FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE can be a serious time-saver for anyone working with complex data sets. That means Excel can now handle real-time updates, so your data visualizations and reports stay accurate and current without the need to manually refresh anything.

PowerPoint has received a major upgrade, too. You can record presentations with voice, video, and closed captions. That's a lot easier than manually inserting everything yourself after recording it on another app. 

And don’t forget about OneNote. The updated app is designed for smoother collaboration so you can share notes and work with others way more efficiently.

Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or Windows for $159. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC180 Portable Power Station $449 at Amazon
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The Bluetti AC180 portable power station is on sale for $449 at Amazon. This deal saves you 44% on list price, and marks the record-low price on Amazon according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. If you've been waiting for the right moment to pick up a portable power station, this is your time to shine.

SEE ALSO: Feeling eco-friendly? Save hundreds on a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 with a new battery

The Bluetti AC180 packs a 1152Wh LiFePO4 battery that can be fully charged in just an hour. The AC180 boasts 1800W output and 11 outlets to handle almost anything you plug in, and you can even give it a boost to 2700W for your higher energy needs. You also get a built-in MPPT charge controller for up to 500W of solar input that can fully charge in 2.8-3.3 hours with renewable energy.

Save over $300 on this camping essential from Bluetti.

FREE COMIC BOOKS: Free Comic Book Day takes place on May 3, 2025. Get your hands on Marvel's Fantastic Four/X-Men, The Amazing Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe, the latest Energon Universe special, and much more on Free Comic Book Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Free Comic Book Day Free Comic Book Day 2025 Learn More

May is here, and that can only mean one thing for comic book fans: the return of Free Comic Book Day.

Every year, comic shops all around the world participate in this special event by giving away free books. Fans can get their hands on DC All In: 2025 Special Edition, Marvel's Fantastic Four/X-Men, The Amazing Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe, and so much more during this giveaway. Check out the full line-up of free comic books right here.

SEE ALSO: Building the 'Twilight' Lego set was the therapy session I didn’t know I needed

See something you like? Well you know what to do. Many comic book shops will be participating in this event, but you can make use of this Free Comic Book Day store Locator to find your nearest shop and confirm they'll actually be giving out free comics. And then make plans to attend. Clear your schedule. This is free comic books we're talking about here. This takes priority over whatever else you had planned.

It's important to note that Free Comic Book Day isn't actually free for store owners. They will still need to pay shipping costs for these books, so it might be a good idea to purchase a few comics to go along with your freebie. No pressure, of course. Just an idea.

Make the most of Free Comic Book Day in 2025.

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2025 Madrid Open final for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Madrid Open has delivered some really entertaining tennis over the last couple of weeks, and we've now reached the tournament's dramatic conclusion. Sabalenka takes on Gauff in the final of the women's draw, in what looks like an absolutely incredible match between two fierce competitors. We cannot wait.

If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2025 Madrid Open final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff for free

The 2025 Madrid Open final is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Watch the 2025 Madrid Open final for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Musetti vs. Diallo without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2025 Madrid Open final for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To remove a lid.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

UNCAP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Elegance.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 3, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRACE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The cosmos.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 3, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ETHER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Part of the human upper body.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 3 Hurdle Word 4 answer

TORSO

Final Hurdle hint

Used to block out profanity.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

BLEEP

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The French Open isn't all that far away, so it's time for the best players in the world to take to the clay to sharpen up before the second Grand Slam of the season. The good news for top players is that there is ample opportunity to do just that, with a number of high-profile tournaments taking place at this time of year.

Following on from the Barcelona Open is the Madrid Open, with a number of top players competing in this popular event. For many, this will be a dress rehearsel for the main event at Roland-Garros.

If you want to watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Madrid Open?

The Madrid Open is an annual professional tennis tournament played on clay courts at the Caja Mágica in Madrid. The defending singles champions are Andrey Rublev and Iga Świątek.

When is the 2025 Madrid Open?

The 2025 Madrid Open is the 23rd edition of the event on the ATP Tour and 16th on the WTA Tour. This year's event takes place from April 22 to May 4.

How to watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free

The 2025 Madrid Open are available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2025 Madrid Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

In a world where online dating and casual hookups have become the norm, dating can still feel exhausting. Sometimes, just the thought of putting on proper clothes, coming up with witty conversation starters, and commuting to the actual meetup spot can be tiring.

No matter what kind of encounter you plan, when it comes to dating, there'll always be some sort of physical effort required. The good news? There is a loophole: Sexting.

What is sexting?

Sexting is the art of sending sexually explicit photos or messages to one or more people via text. Thanks to its recent rise in popularity, there are now apps for sexting and new sexting features in apps that are otherwise for dating in person.

What do you need to know about sexting?

Whether you're interested in giving sexting a try or you're a seasoned pro, there are a few things to keep in mind when downloading and using a new dating app to sext. Sure, there are fewer inhibitions when scoring a new sexting partner when compared to finding a long-term lover, but there are rules you should follow in order for all parties to feel at ease. Here are three big ones:

• Mutual respect — Assess the situation and know your audience. Usually, it doesn't take much more than a few pre-sext texts (or pre-sexts) to gauge whether or not someone is interested in doing the cyber-dirty with you. Take the time to figure that out before you lead with something raunchy and uncalled-for. AKA, don't just start throwing dick pics at people left and right if they didn't ask.

• Mutual trust — Be respectful: Privacy is sacred. The internet has the scary ability to make fleeting moments very permanent. If someone asks you to keep something to yourself, do it. While sexting can be light and fun, it also requires a serious level of trust. If you betray that trust, you're ruining it for everybody.

• Privacy — No app can completely protect your privacy for you — that's your job. Though there are apps that have certain features that are designed to protect your identity/content, they don't rule out all scenarios. For example, someone doesn't need to take a screenshot to capture a picture you send. They could easily use another phone or device to snap or record your photos and/or videos. You should always keep this in mind before sending anything that could be compromising, and do your best to make sure you trust the person who's receiving your messages.

Keep these points in mind when engaging in NSFW messaging.

Should you engage in sexting?

Real-life dating is obviously the best way to get to know somebody long-term, especially if you're looking for any kind of serious, in-person relationship. And real sex will always be better than sexting. However, sexting is an alternative that may help you out in ways you didn't even think about.

• Convenience — Whether you plan to wine and dine on your date or just meet to hook up, it always requires some extra effort. For those with super hectic schedules or those who just don't have room in their life (for whatever reason) for a steady in-person relationship, sexting is practically a saving grace. After all, your sex drive doesn't go away just because you're busy. Sexting allows you to take care of your sexual needs without putting yourself out.

• Exploring trust and intimacy — Getting comfortable with another person in close quarters doesn’t always come naturally for everyone — but opting for sexting gives way to a new level of exploration in terms of intimacy and trust. You don’t ever have to meet the person behind the screen if you don’t want to, but being able to practice feeling vulnerable without any strings attached can be a great lesson in being more open.

• Freedom — As is the case with most behind-the-screen activities, with sexting, you can let go of your inhibitions and get comfortable exploring your sexual side. Knowing there's a certain barrier between you and the other person may allow you to experiment with language and ideas that you wouldn't otherwise explore in person.

• Fun — A little honesty, please. A night of sexting is always going to be a lot more fun than endlessly swiping right on a dating app and starting the same conversation over and over. Having the option of opening an app on your phone and engaging in a little virtual foreplay offers instant gratification and (almost) guaranteed pleasure.

• Safety — We've touched on the reasons why sexting might not be completely safe in terms of privacy, but to its credit, sexting offers an element of safety that in-person meetings don't. Sexting allows you to interact with both people you know and total strangers without putting yourself in dangerous or unwanted physical situations. Your experience should always be what you want it to be, and with sexting, if it's not going in the direction you want, it's just a matter of closing an app.

The benefits are clear for all to see, so not give it a try?

What makes an app good for sexting?

You'll want to look for certain features in an app if you're planning on sexting:

• Ease of use — You don’t want to find yourself in a hot and steamy conversation trying to figure out how to attach an image or a voice note. When it comes to sexting, the more user-friendly the platform is, the better. You’ll want something that’s efficient and fast.

• Privacy features — What happens in a sexting app doesn’t always stay in a sexting app; there are no guarantees that your conversations or selfies won’t wind up a screenshot on someone’s phone. That said, certain apps include instant self-destruction features that delete photos and conversations after a certain amount of time.

• Safety — If you’re looking for a night of no-strings-attached fun online, it doesn’t really matter if the person on the other end of your conversation has been verified — but if you do want to ensure you’re not being catfished or chatting with a bot, consider using an app that links social media or verifies users.

• Subscription pricing versus free features — How much are you willing to pay for bells and whistles? There are several free apps out there, but if you're looking for something a little fancier, you can pay a few pounds a month for premium features.

With these features in mind, you should be ready to select an app and start sexting. You've got this.

What is the best app for sexting?

Since sexting, by nature, comes with a lot of factors to consider (consent and privacy, for example), we've picked out the best sexting apps to get you off — to a good start, that is. We've tried to line up something for everyone, so check out these options, and pick your favourite.

These are the best sexting apps in 2025.

Collecting all your favourite snacks and drinks, surrounding yourself with comfortable cushions and blankets, and then spending hours in front of a screen can be a truly therapeutic experience. Unfortunately, there is one big problem with this hobby: There is a limited amount of content out there to keep you entertained.

We're a greedy bunch, and regular streamers can easily get to a point where it feels like there's nothing left to watch. What are you supposed to do then? Don't panic, because there is a simple solution to this frustrating issue.

If you've reached this point of streaming shortage, you should consider investing in a VPN. It will likely unlock a lot of shows and movies on services to which you're already subscribed.

What is a VPN?

VPNs are security tools that provide protection for your information by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). All of your activity is untraceable and secure, because all of your online traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like hackers, viruses, and malware.

SEE ALSO: 30 best movies on Netflix to stream right now

The act of hiding your real IP address is what can trick leading streaming sites into thinking you are based in another country.

Do you need a VPN?

VPNs are used to provide protection for your sensitive information, which is obviously super important. This isn't the only reason VPNs are so popular though, because these tools can be also be used to watch content that is normally blocked in your location.

By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another country, you can watch all your favourite content from that location. For example, you could watch all the extra films and shows on American Netflix that are not usually accessible outside of the U.S. There is so much content out there that can be accessed with the help of a VPN.

Everyone is in need of something that can bypass geo-restrictions to access all of this blocked entertainment, and that something is a VPN. These services are keys to the online world, granting you access to more of the shows and films you love.

How to unblock U.S. Netflix

If you think accessing American Netflix is going to be difficult with a VPN, think again. It's actually a really simple process that absolutely everyone can understand:

1. Sign up to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Visit Netflix to watch movies and shows from the U.S. content library

If you're worried that this whole thing sounds a bit illegal, then maybe we can reassure you. It's currently legal to watch Netflix while using a VPN, although we should point out that Netflix states in its terms of service that it may restrict your account without compensation or notice if you are engaged in "improper" use. We're not entirely sure what that means, but consider yourself warned.

We should make it very clear that you still need to be subscribed to Netflix for this trick to work. A VPN is not going to grant access to the streaming site for free. A VPN provides access to more libraries from around the world, once you're subscribed.

Should you use free VPNs?

There are plenty of free versions and free trials of VPNs, so why would you ever consider paying for a service? As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with VPNs.

There is always a catch with free versions, and it's normally in the form of limited data usage. These plans will be just fine if you're just an occasional user, but if you're going to be streaming or downloading anything, this isn't going to work. Free trials are different as come with everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously they don't tend to last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you generally need to pay up. That being said, services like ProtonVPN offer an impressive set of features for free. However, you might have trouble streaming Netflix with this free version.

What is the best VPN for Netflix?

There are a lot of VPN services out there that can effectively unblock American Netflix, but which is the best? There are plenty of strong options for you to consider, but we wouldn't want you wasting your time checking everything out. To save you time, we've handpicked your best options. Each service has a different set of features that will suit some users better than others, and it's all about finding something that works for you.

ExpressVPN is at the top of this list because it combines essential features with impressive results, but it isn’t the only option available to you. We have lined up all the best VPNs for unblocking Netflix, with something for everyone on this list. We've highlighted the best deals on the likes of Surfshark, PureVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and NordVPN.

These are the best VPNs for Netflix in 2025.