Tech
Alien: Earth continues an Alien tradition with its surprise synthetic reveal
One of the most impactful moments of the original Alien is the reveal that the Nostromo's science officer Ash (Ian Holm) isn't human. Instead, he's a synthetic, or android, programmed to carry out Weyland-Yutani's alien-gathering wishes, even at the expense of the Nostromo's human crew.
The Ash reveal completely recontextualizes what we've known about him and Weyland-Yutani up to that point, opening up the world of Alien to new kinds of technology. It also kickstarts a mini franchise tradition: that of the surprise synthetic.
That surprise synthetic returns in Alien: Resurrection, the fourth film in the franchise. Partway through, Resurrection reveals that Annalee Call (Winona Ryder), engineering assistant on the Betty, is actually an Auton, a second-generation synthetic. Now, FX's Alien: Earth gets in on the fun, revealing a surprise synthetic of its own in its Season 1 finale.
Who is the surprise synthetic in Alien: Earth?
Credit: Kurt Iswarienko / FX
The surprise synthetic in Alien: Earth is none other than Atom Eins (Adrian Edmondson), Boy Kavalier's (Samuel Blenkin) right-hand man.
The truth comes out in the finale showdown between Atom, hybrid Wendy (Sydney Chandler), and her brother Hermit (Alex Lawther). Atom ditches his buttoned-up corporate persona — literally, as he shrugs off his suit jacket — and takes on the role of enforcer. He battles Wendy and Hermit with superhuman strength, only halting his attack when Wendy commands him to stop, which freezes him in place.
Turns out, Atom's mechanical. Being mechanical, he's connected to Neverland's grid, just like the security cameras and doors that Wendy has been controlling all season long. That means she can manipulate him just as he can manipulate other parts of Neverland tech.
But Atom isn't just any Prodigy synthetic. Instead, Alien: Earth's finale reveals, he's the first synth that Boy Kavalier ever built.
Earlier in the episode, Boy Kavalier lays out his tragic backstory. He had an abusive father who, jealous of his boy genius son, threatened to kill him. So at six years old, Boy Kavalier built his first-ever synthetic — a "distinguished" grown man — and used him to kill his father.
As Boy Kavalier tells this story, Alien: Earth cuts to a scene of Atom awaiting Hermit in his room, ready to unleash T. Ocellus on him. The implication is clear: Atom, himself a "distinguished" man, is the first synth Boy Kavalier ever built. And just like how he killed his own father, Boy Kavalier's still using Atom to do his dirty work.
How did Alien: Earth hint at Atom being a synthetic?
Credit: Patrick Brown / FX
Even before Alien: Earth revealed that Atom was synthetic, the series hinted at it a few times. In episode 4, while he and Boy Kavalier are observing the T. Ocellus-infested sheep, Boy Kavalier tosses a ball against the lab's glass enclosure. Atom catches it with superhuman reflexes, similarly to how Wendy caught a ball Boy Kavalier hurled at her all the way back in episode 1.
Episode 4 also features a key visual clue, lining Atom's face up next to three synthetic faces hanging on a lab wall. The brief moment positions Atom as being linked to these disparate synth parts, suggesting that he, too, was once disparate parts hanging in a lab. By the finale's end, the linear imagery takes on a new meaning, as the episode confirms that Atom was the first in a long line of Prodigy synthetics.
Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.
Tech
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
During Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show, millions of viewers experienced the performance together — cheering in living rooms, filming on their phones, and reacting in real time. But for those of Latin American descent, hearing their home countries named out loud during Benito's grand finale made the moment especially meaningful.
In his closing act, Bad Bunny transformed the stage into a celebration of the Americas. Dancers carried flags from countries across North, Central, and South America, while a massive screen behind him flashed messages like "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." He capped the roll call of nations with a declaration that "together, we are America," framing the finale as a moment of shared identity and joy.
For those watching at home, the emotion didn't end when the music stopped. Viewers immediately took to social media to document their reactions, sharing clips of their friends and families cheering, hugging, and erupting with pride when their countries were named — turning a televised performance into a collective celebration.
Together, these clips formed a digital mosaic of diaspora, stitched from small, intimate moments across phone screens and time zones. Each video captured the same feeling: that for a few minutes, home — wherever it was — didn't feel so far away.
Tech
Best last-minute deals on Valentines Day flowers so far — you have way more options than plain roses
The Bouqs Co.
1-800-Flowers
Urban Stems
Unless your recipient has explicitly expressed their disdain for receiving flowers (we all know at least one hater), you really can't go wrong with surprising someone with fresh blooms for Valentine's Day. Not when there are so many opportunities to pick out a truly unique bouquet that fits his or her tastes: Most of the best flower delivery services are offering great last-minute Valentine's Day deals on flower deliveries, saving you 25% to 50% on a gift for the upcoming romantic weekend.
1-800-Flowers is your go-to spot for a classic bouquet of roses on a budget, while The Bouqs Co. and Urban Stems have elevated takes on traditional arrangements that aren't like anything you'd walk past in the grocery store. A majority of bouquets on sale can be delivered by Saturday, Feb. 14 (check the earliest possible delivery date for each). Either way, you're bound to find some pretty stems that scream "them" — so while the timing itself is rushed, the flowers they receive don't have to feel like an afterthought.
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SAVE $30: As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99.
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Mashable's shopping team has spent quite a bit of time with Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers and we're big fans. We love the Hyperboom and Epicboom, but the itty bitty Wonderboom is one of our absolute favorites. If you're in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker, we highly recommend this tiny powerhouse — especially when it's on sale.
As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is down to just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99 and just 10 bucks shy of its best-ever price from Black Friday.
Our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, the Wonderboom 4 fits in the palm of your hand but offers surprisingly balanced and powerful sound. As Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard noted in our roundup, "the sound profile is well-rounded and can get loud."
It can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, handles drops from up to five feet like a champ, and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We do wish it offered a companion app to customize the sound profile, but for a ultra-portable no-frills speaker, it's an excellent value.
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
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