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Amber is a window into the past. Entomologist George Poinar Jr. peered into a 30 million-year-old piece of Dominican amber and spotted something rare: an extinct fossilized cockroach, complete with sperm cells. In a statement on Monday, Oregon State University called it “the first fossilized roach sperm” ever discovered. So yay?

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Amber is what you get when sticky tree resin hardens and fossilizes over time. It’s famous for preserving unlucky flora and fauna that wandered into its path. Amber gives us remarkable glimpses into life long ago, from exquisite flowers to bizarre bugs. Poinar has an extensive resume of amber discoveries and continues to turn out fascinating finds.

The fossilized cockroach is about three-tenths of an inch (7 millimeters) long. “It has long spines, used for defense, on its legs, especially the hind legs,” said Poinar. “Also of interest is the sperm bundle containing spermatozoa with dark acrosomes, structures covering the head of the sperm, since fossil sperm are rare.” The sperm cells were found at the tip of the roach’s abdomen.

Poinar published a description of the roach in the journal Biologia this month.

Just in case you think cockroach sperm might be the strangest thing ever found in amber, I refer you to this E.T.-looking insect. And this bird with freaky long toes. And these mold pigs. Amber is the gift that keeps on giving.

Poinar named the roach species Supella dominicana. Curiously, its closest modern relatives are found in Asia and Africa, far away from the Dominican Republic. This presents a bit of a mystery. Said Poinar, “So what caused these cockroaches to become extinct when it is so difficult to get rid of them today?” That’s an open question.

Cockroaches don’t have the greatest reputation among humans. They’re unwelcome house guests associated with filth and the spread of germs. Don’t expect experts to crack this amber open to attempt to retrieve those sperm cells. This roach is history. Said Poinar, “Many might say that the best place for a cockroach is entombed in amber.”

Just like your in-game gear, the mouse, keyboard and other equipment you use for gaming can end up being the difference between victory and defeat. And if your setup is in need of an upgrade, then now’s a great time to do some shopping. Woot currently has a selection of both new and refurbished Razer gaming gear that you can pick up at a discount, including keyboards, headsets, streaming cameras and more. These deals are available through Dec. 14, but Woot often has a limited supply, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Razer makes some of our favorite gaming gear on the market, and right now you have a chance to pick some up at a bargain. The Cynosa V2 is a membrane keyboard with fully programmable macros and customizable RGB backlighting, and was named one of our favorite gaming keyboards under $100 for 2022. And right now, you can snag a refurbished model for just $25, which saves you $60 compared to the original list price.

If you do a lot of online gaming, then a proper headset is crucial for chatting and strategizing with your teammates. We named the Razer BlackShark V2 the most comfortable wired PC headset under $100, and right now you can pick the a refurbished model of the upgraded BlackShark V2 X for just $40, which saves you $20 compared to the original list price. It’s equipped with 50mm drivers, passive noise-cancellation capabilities, support for 7.1 surround sound and is compatible with Xbox, PlayStation and PC systems.

And if you’ve got aspirations of being a big-time game streamer, you’ll need some proper equipment to help you get started. This streaming starter kit comes with a Razer Kiyo X full HD streaming webcam with built-in auto-focus and a Razer Seiren USB microphone with a 14mm condenser capsule and a precise supercardioid pickup pattern so you’ve got everything you need to start you channel. This kit is in new condition, and is on sale for just $65, which saves you $60 compared to the usual price. You can also pick up both pieces separately for $40 or less in case you only need one or the other.

You can play games with friends and co-workers via Zoom like poker, bingo, trivia, card games, Boggle and Heads Up during meetings.

With businesses continuing to navigate hybrid workplaces, the addition of Zoom Apps, including games, has offered a new way to nurture company culture and connect people directly within Zoom’s platform.

The in-app gaming comes as part of Zoom Apps, which allows third-party apps to be embedded in Zoom Meetings.

How to play games on Zoom

Here’s how to get these games on Zoom and play them:

1. Download or upgrade the latest version of Zoom for Mac or PC.

2. Log in to Zoom.

3. Install Zoom Apps.

4. Find a game in the Zoom App Marketplace. Install the game.

5. Start a Zoom meeting as normal.

6. Click the Zoom Apps tab at the bottom of the meeting window to launch the game.

7. Once the host has configured any game options and set up the game, players will be taken to a room to play.

For more, check out tips and tricks to make your video calls run smoother and what information others may be able to see from your Zoom video chats.

Considering that your phone also contains your calendar, email, cloud storage, GPS and much more, getting caught with a dead battery can throw a serious wrench in your daily routine. That means it’s worth investing in some handy charging accessories to make sure you’re always juiced up and ready for the day. That’s why Amazon’s current sale offering up to 50% off Anker charging accessories is well-timed. Pick up cables, battery packs, power strips and even some solar power stations from one of our favorite mobile accessory vendors while they’re available at a discount. There’s no set expiration for this sale, so there’s no telling how long these deals will be available. Get your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

It’s never a bad idea to have a few extra charging cables on hand, and right now you can stock up while they’re on sale. Apple users can snag this two-pack of USB-C to Lightning cable 6-foot nylon charging cords for $20, $12 off the usual price, while Android users can grab two 3.3-foot USB-C to USB-C cables for $13, saving you $7.

Of course, you don’t always have access to an outlet while you’re out and about, so it’s also a good idea to have a portable battery pack. This slim Anker 622 MagGo battery has a 5,000mAh capacity, a foldable kickstand and a built-in magnet to hold your phone in place. Right now you can pick it up for $42, which saves you $28.

Read more: Best MagSafe and Magnetic Wireless Chargers for Apple iPhone 13

And if you’re heading off the grid and want to make sure you’ve got a way to charge up your phone, lights, or any other devices or small appliances, you may want to snag one of these portable power stations while they’re on sale. The Anker 555 PowerHouse has a substantial 1024Wh capacity, which is enough to recharge your phone over 60 times, your laptop over a dozen times or power a portable fridge for up to 17 hours. You can pick up just the power station, which can be recharged via standard AC outlet, for $750, which is $250 off the usual price. Or you can bundle it with two 100W solar panels for truly off-grid power for $1,200, which saves you $400.

From students to professionals, Microsoft Office has long been hailed as a one-stop shop for everyone. The Professional Plus edition comes with a variety of tools for handling data, documents, presentations and more at a professional level, as well as all the standard software needed for tackling day-to-day computing needs.

You can ditch the subscription (with recurring charges) and snag a perpetual license for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher and Access for just $30 instead. That’s back at the lowest-ever price we’ve seen, and a whopping 91% off the usual price of $349. However, this deal expires in just a few days, so be sure to get your order in soon.

The offer, from StackSocial, applies to both the Windows and Mac version of the software.

Now, you can always opt to use the free online version of Microsoft Office (which has far fewer features). But compared to the online Microsoft 365 subscription suite that costs $10 per month or $100 per year, this downloadable version is a phenomenal bargain.

While the price almost seems too good to be true, we tried it ourselves, and it worked like a charm. (The two big caveats: You get a single key for a single computer, and there’s no Microsoft OneDrive Cloud Storage included.) In fact, Stack has been offering a version of this deal since the beginning of 2022. But this lowest-ever price won’t last, so take the plunge while you can.

The first time Outer Wilds made me say “holy shit” out loud was unforgettable.

I’d gotten into my spaceship for the first time. Still confused, still unsure. What’s happening here? What is this video game about? How does this all work? Where am I supposed to be going?

Still, I followed the prompts. I approached my spaceship — a rickety wooden shack of a thing. I pushed some buttons, and soon I was afloat, soaring effortlessly into the darkness of space. Still confused. Still unsure. What the hell is going on here? I don’t get this at all.

Then, in the distance, a planet. A vivid green dot splotched in the void. “I’ll head there I guess,” I said to myself, more out of confusion than anything else.

Struggling against the controls of the ship, I headed toward the green planet, eventually hurtling into its dense green atmosphere at top speed. “I can’t see shit,” I whispered, but then I emerged from the fog.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I only had a split second before I splashed headfirst into the ocean, but I saw it. This was a water planet, toylike in size. But that didn’t startle me — it was the whirlwinds. Six of them at least, competing with one another in an otherworldly storm on the waves. As I floated back to the surface, water streaming down the windows, my eyes turned into saucers.

The wind whipped as the competing whirlwinds galloped across the surface, so powerful they launched entire islands into the atmosphere — literally into space — before they crashed back onto the planet. I’d never seen anything like this in a video game. I’d never seen anything like this before, period. But this was Outer Wilds. In Outer Wilds, the blisteringly imaginative becomes normalized.

“Holy shit.“

Outer Wilds is a video game about exploring space, but it’s also a mystery to unravel. Following in the footsteps of the Nomai, an alien race that perished thousands of years ago, Outer Wilds is a game that has you playing space detective, investigating the ruins of an extinct civilization in an attempt to find exactly what the hell happened? The twist: Outer Wilds is centered on a Groundhog Day-esque time loop. You have precisely 22 minutes to investigate before the sun implodes, taking your entire solar system with it. All that remains: The knowledge you acquired during those precious few minutes.

Outer Wilds is a mystery that reveals itself in a traditional video game manner — through audio logs, written notes and so on — but the execution is so inspired you barely notice the tropes. Through its inventive locales and subtle puzzles, Outer Wilds consistently inspires a level of awe unlike any video game I’ve ever played.

Outer Wilds has you traveling back and forth to a handful of different planets, each more bizarre than the last. Each is laden with strange advanced technology left behind by the Nomai. A clue found on one planet might lead you to a new locale in a planet you visited previously. Slowly you worm yourself deeper into these dazzling environments, and into a deeper understanding of the mystery you’re trying to solve. There’s no shooting, no complex platforming. In Outer Wilds the currency is knowledge, knowledge players use to figure out their next step and, consequently, solve this strange mystery on a meta level. The result: a constant, revelatory joy, a series of “holy shit” moments that make Outer Wilds unforgettable.

Outer Wilds is constantly evoking awe. There’s Giant’s Deep, the aforementioned planet with its competing hurricanes, but there’s also Brittle Hollow, a world collapsing before your eyes. Descending deep beneath the surface you watch as entire sections of the planet are swallowed by a black hole vibrating at its center. One false step and you yourself could fall through it.

And what happens when you fall through a black hole in Outer Wilds? Well, it would be rude to spoil the surprise. But it’s as mind-bending as you might expect.

Outer Wilds is punctuated by its holy shit moments. A quantum moon that disappears when you stop looking at it. Technology that allows you to warp instantaneously between two far-flung points. Twin planets connected by a pillar of sand that flows endlessly back and forth, dramatically reshaping both planets like a complex hourglass.

But unlike the cool, clinical sci-fi of, say, Interstellar or Arrival, Outer Wilds is a homely, almost acoustic invention: a small-scale snow globe of a universe, precisely imagined and executed. As if it expanded wholesale from the collapsing atoms in Bon Iver’s beard. That’s part of its charm. Its most outlandish moments inspire awe because they’re grounded in a world that’s familiar to us, almost anachronistic.

You sail into space in a craft made of wood, wearing a spacesuit that looks like it was built in the 19th century. Your home planet is a hipster’s dream, like a shrunken vision of the Canadian wilderness or a Grizzly Bear music video. Outer Wilds’ unique cast of characters swing on hammocks on alien planets and play the banjo at campfires as the universe collapses around them.

It all leads to this overwhelming feeling: You’re trapped in a universe where your traditional ideas don’t make sense. Where gigantic sci-fi ideas of space travel feel just beyond your primitive brain. All you can do is stare — in awe — as the sun implodes in a brilliant blue flash, your time loop complete. Before you awake once more with a gasp, ready to explore the strange universe of Outer Wilds all over again with fresh eyes.

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory may have achieved a remarkable new high point for fusion reactions, generating more energy than was pumped in during a recent experiment, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The publication suggests scientists “with knowledge of preliminary results from a recent experiment” have discussed the result and analysis is ongoing. A major announcement is scheduled to take place at LLNL on Tuesday, Dec. 13. It’s expected to be livestreamed by the Department of Energy at approximately 7 a.m. PT.

The National Ignition Facility operates an “inertial confinement fusion” experiment which sees almost 200 lasers fired directly at a tiny capsule of hydrogen. According to Nathan Garland, a physicist at Griffith University in Australia, the lasers create a plasma around the capsule which eventually starts an implosion — it’s these conditions which allow for fusion reactions to take place.

Fusion is the reaction that powers our sun and it works by smashing two heavy atoms together. This requires extreme pressure and extreme heat but trying to recreate the conditions in a lab is “super difficult,” noted Garland.

The energy released by fusing the two atoms together is massive and, importantly, releases no carbon. Unlike fission — splitting atoms — used in nuclear power plants, fusion also leaves behind no radioactive waste and there’s no risk of meltdown, either. In short, if we could harness fusion power, it would revolutionize energy, allowing us to generate clean power without pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

If the FT report and chatter on social media is correct, scientists at LLNL could have achieved “fusion energy gain” which is denoted by the letter Q. In a fusion experiment, if Q > 1, then we’re on our way to a bona fide energy breakthrough, one that scientists have long been dreaming of reaching. “It is a big deal for sure, if true,” Garland said.

But, as with all science, it’s good to be cautious and not overhype results yet to be fully analyzed. We have been here before, after all. In 2013, reports swirled the NIF had achieved this exact feat. It wasn’t the case.

In more recent times, though, NIF has taken big strides toward achieving the goal. In August 2021, researchers reported they had, for a brief moment, re-created the power of the sun in a self-sustaining reaction. That’s a good pedigree and one that makes us here at CNET Science feel a little more confident in the rumors.

A spokesperson for LLNL told CNET “our analysis is still ongoing, so we’re unable to provide details or confirmation at this time” and provided a link to the media advisory — which, in all caps, suggests a “MAJOR SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH.”

The result won’t mean that we suddenly have an endless supply of energy. It’s likely the reaction that took place at NIF lasted for just a fraction of a second or even less. But this is the first step in a journey toward fusion energy as a viable, serious technology to power our world. It provides a proof of concept that fusion experiments like this can reach Q > 1.

So while we’re always cautious to throw around the word “breakthrough” when reporting on cutting-edge science — especially in the realm of fusion energy — it does feel like it might be justified here. We’ll have to wait and see.

Google is a part of all our lives. All you need to do is take a look at Google Maps. It’s how we get directions, explore city landmarks in 3D, read and leave restaurant reviews, find public transport arrival times and so much more.

But there’s one feature within Google Maps that can quickly become a real privacy issue.

If you’ve ever used Street View, you know that you can enter any address into Google Maps and look at a recent image of what’s there, whether it’s a business or a residence. And while it’s useful for knowing what a building looks like when you’re getting directions there, it makes it easier for stalkers or criminals to plan their way inside of your home.

They’ve got a free ticket to examine your home online, look for any cameras and find a possible window to pry in through. Anyone can do this in person, but Google Maps makes it easier because you can spy on someone’s home from the comfort of your phone or computer.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to blur your home on Google Maps and help prevent others from seeing too many details of where you live. Here’s how to do it.

For more, here are seven essential Google Maps tips for the holidays and how Google Maps can help you figure out dinner.

How to blur your home on Google Maps

You’ll need to do this on your computer, as the blurring feature isn’t available in the Google Maps application on iOS or Android, and while it is accessible through the web browser on your mobile device, it’s rather difficult to use, so use a trusted web browser on your Mac or PC instead.

At maps.google.com, enter your home address in the search bar at the top-right, hit return, then click the photo of your home that appears.

Next, you’ll see the Street View of your location. Click Report a Problem at the bottom-right. The text is super tiny, but it’s there.

Now, it’s up to you to choose what you want Google to blur. Using your mouse, adjust the view of the image so that your home and anything else you want to blur is all contained within the red and black box. Use your cursor to move around and the plus and minus buttons to zoom in and out, respectively.

Once you’re finished adjusting the image, choose what you’re requesting to blur underneath:

• A face
• My home
• My car/license plate
• A different object

You’ll be asked to give a bit more detail as to what exactly you want blurred, in case the image is busy with several cars, people and other objects.

Also, be completely sure that what you select is exactly what you want blurred. Google mentions that once you blur something on Street View, it’s blurred permanently.

Finally, enter your email (this is required), verify the captcha (if needed) and click Submit.

You should then receive an email from Google that says it’ll review your report and get back to you once the request is either denied or approved. You may receive more emails from Google asking for more information regarding your request. Google doesn’t offer any information on how long your request will take to process, so just keep an eye out for any further emails.

For more, here’s how Google Maps can help you avoid crowded public transit.

A piece of the past has returned to haunt a Florida beach after a curious object made of wood and metal emerged in the aftermath of Hurricane Nicole last month. Initial speculation suggested the find might be part of an old pier or perhaps a shipwreck. Now researchers say it’s likely the remains of a cargo ship from the 1800s.

The debris attracted attention when beachgoers spotted it on Daytona Beach Shores. A team from the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) investigated the remnants this week. “It would have likely sailed within sight of the coast and used lighthouses for navigation, though it was probably big enough to cross the Atlantic as well,” said LAMP archaeologist Chuck Meide in a Facebook statement on Tuesday.

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The ship was partially reburied in the sand by the time the LAMP team arrived, but reports had estimated the wreckage to be at least 80 feet (24 meters) long.

The Florida Public Archaeology Network, a state-supported program focused on studying and protecting the state’s archaeological resources, also commented on the shipwreck on Facebook, emphasizing that historic finds like this shouldn’t be seen as invitations to dig for further treasures, potentially disturbing important cultural heritage sites.

Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd echoed that sentiment in the LAMP statement, saying, “Please take only pictures and leave only footprints so as to preserve the integrity of archaeological sites for future generations of Floridians.”

Strong storms like Hurricane Nicole can scour beaches and uncover previously hidden pieces of history. Just as easily, the ocean and movement of sand can reclaim them. That seems to be what’s happening with the Daytona Beach Shores ship.

Its brief moment in the sun gave researchers a peek into Florida’s maritime past. “In these cases,” Byrd said, “our collective human story is brought to the forefront.”