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Alien: Earth continues an Alien tradition with its surprise synthetic reveal

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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?

Adrian Edmondson in "Alien: Earth."

Adrian Edmondson 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?

Adrian Edmondson in "Alien: Earth."

Adrian Edmondson in "Alien: Earth."
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.

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How to watch Switzerland vs. Germany online for free

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Leon Goretzka of Germany celebrates

TL;DR: Live stream Switzerland vs. Germany in a 2026 International Friendly for free on RTS. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


There are a number of really interesting International Friendlies taking place this week, including Switzerland vs. Germany.

This is a great opportunity for these sides to test out new formations, experiment with new players, and generally build some positive momentum before this summer's World Cup. We expect a competitive contest between two experienced sides, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Florian Wirtz expected to feature.

If you want to watch Switzerland vs. Germany in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Switzerland vs. Germany?

Switzerland vs. Germany kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET on March 27. This fixture takes place at the St. Jakob Park.

How to watch Switzerland vs. Germany for free

Switzerland vs. Germany is available to live stream for free on RTS.

RTS is geo-restricted to Switzerland, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Switzerland, meaning you can access free live streams on RTS from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free 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 Switzerland

  4. Visit RTS

  5. Stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free from anywhere in the world


ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Switzerland vs. Germany without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to 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 RTS?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Switzerland

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free with ExpressVPN.

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Hurry: The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds just hit a record-low price for Amazons Big Spring Sale

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Nothing ear earbuds against a colorful background.

SAVE 46%: As of March 27, you can get the Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds for $58.99, down from $109, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or a $50.01 price cut.


If you want a pair of earbuds that stand out from the crowd without emptying your wallet, the Nothing Ear (a) should definitely be on your radar. For the Big Spring Sale, they've dropped to just $58.99, which is $50 off their usual $109 list price.

Mashable's Tech Reporter, Alex Perry, recently rounded up the reviews for these buds, and the consensus is that they deliver way more than their price tag suggests. They offer an open-midrange sound and clarity that outperform those of standard, more expensive AirPods, and they have active noise cancellation strong enough to drown out loud household distractions. Plus, you'll get around five hours of battery life even with every single battery-draining feature turned on at once, like ANC and multipoint pairing.

As always, I checked the fine print, and there are a couple of things you should know. Perry noted that the biggest critique across the board is that the charging case lacks Qi wireless charging and relies strictly on USB-C. But skipping wireless charging is a fair trade-off for a case that's as small and pocketable as Apple's AirPods. Also, according to the Amazon listing, the voice-enabled ChatGPT feature will only work on a Nothing series phone. Still, grabbing earbuds with this level of sound quality for under $60 is a total steal.

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How to watch Austria vs. Ghana online for free

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Antoine Semenyo of Ghana poses

TL;DR: Live stream Austria vs. Ghana in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ORF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


There are an incredible number of top International Friendlies taking place this week. We're being spoilt with Brazil vs. France, Colombia vs. Croatia, and a string of other high-profile contests. Austria vs. Ghana is not the biggest game on the schedule, but we're still making time to watch this interesting matchup.

If you want to watch Austria vs. Ghana in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Austria vs. Ghana?

Austria vs. Ghana kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on March 27. This fixture takes place at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.

How to watch Austria vs. Ghana for free

Austria vs. Ghana is available to live stream for free on ORF.

ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access free live streams on ORF from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Austria vs. Ghana for free 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 Austria

  4. Visit ORF

  5. Stream Austria vs. Ghana for free from anywhere in the world


ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Austria vs. Ghana without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to 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 ORF?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Austria vs. Ghana for free with ExpressVPN.

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