Technologies
NASA’s Hubble Captures Breathtaking Image of Intergalactic Bridge
An ethereal connection between two distant galaxies looks like it belongs in an episode of Star Trek.

Between black holes devouring smallish stars and vacant space surrounding busy, bursting nebulas, caverns of darkness in our universe are often relieved by glimmers of light. Such poetic juxtaposition is starkly apparent in one of NASA’s latest Hubble Space Telescope images.
Last week, the agency released an ethereal view of galactic triplet Arp 248, also known as Wild’s Triplet for both the discoverer and the utterly extravagant nature of the spectacle itself. Behold.
In this impeccable photo, two of three galaxies can be seen in the foreground of space’s void, bleeding into each other like they’re made of over-hydrated watercolor paint and forming what I can only describe as an intergalactic bridge. A third, unconnected realm stands in the far ground, enshrouded by deceptively tiny sparkles that represent a cosmic lifetime of even more galaxies scattered across the universe.
What’s especially mind-numbing about this image is that from Hubble’s vantage point — in Earth’s orbit, some 200 million light-years away — the three galaxies are compact enough to fit on our computer screens.
In reality, these worlds are many (many) light-years wide, holding an incomprehensible amount of doppelgangers to our sun, exoplanets like our solar system’s eight, and moons akin to our glowing lunar companion.
They are miniature universes in themselves, existing on a scale simply unfathomable to the human mind yet available for us to download as desktop wallpapers.
It is, in fact, because of those hefty contents that the two massive spirals at the centerpiece of this image are linked by a luminous bridge in the first place. Both harness immensely strong gravitational forces and are therefore pulling on each other like they’re playing a gentle tug of war, accidentally creating what’s known as a tidal tail, or an elongated stream of stars and iridescent interstellar dust.
Tidal tails are usually the product of galaxies treading very close to one another while on a path toward merging into one huge galaxy. We’ve seen the breathtaking phenomena several times already — tidal tails are responsible for some adorable galaxy systems names, too.
«The Mice,» or NGC 4676, boasts merging galaxies about 300 million light-years away from Earth, and «The Tadpole,» or UGC 10214, contains a large galaxy in the process of shredding a smaller galaxy, another event type that resulted in an awesome tidal tail.
Even our Milky Way galaxy is currently on a collision course with Andromeda, meaning they may eventually generate some sort of intergalactic bridge too — but don’t worry.
The emptiness between stars and planets within galaxies is far greater than you might think.
When galaxies merge, it’s quite likely only a few actual collisions happen. Think about two large crowds entering a stadium, merging into one massive crowd. Most of the time, individuals wouldn’t literally bump into each other. They just settle near each other. Now imagine the same situation, except with about a light-year of space between every person.
Fasincatingly, the title «Arp» in Arp 248 comes from the surname of late astronomer Halton Arp, who, along with astronomer Barry Madore, created the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies in 1966.
«Each collection contains a menagerie of spectacularly peculiar galaxies, including interacting galaxies such as Arp 248, as well as one- or three-armed spiral galaxies, galaxies with shell-like structures, and a variety of other space oddities,» NASA said of the atlas.
It’s a vast work filled with yet more examples of our wonderfully contrasted universe, an expanse built from the mind of a poet and condensed with the skill of a machine.
Technologies
Bag JBL’s Tune 720BT Wireless Headphones With a 76-Hour Battery for Just $70
Amazon is selling four different colors of these excellent headphones with a 22% discount — but only if you’re quick.
A pair of wireless headphones can make all the difference, whether you’re commuting or locking in at work. Being able to listen to your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks anywhere, anytime is worth its weight in gold — but you don’t have to spend that kind of money to do so.
Right now, Amazon is selling the popular JBL Tune 720BT wireless headphones for just $70. That’s a $20 discount, and you don’t even have to enter any codes or clip any coupons to get it.
Plus, this deal is available on all four colors, but you’ll need to act fast. This is a limited-time offer, which means that I can’t vouch for how long it’ll last. I suggest ordering sooner rather than later.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
The JBL Tune 720BT headphones can run for up to 76 hours before you need to reach for the charger. When you do, a short 5-minute charge will have you up and running for around three hours.
JBL’s Pure Bass feature is present, so you can expect strong audio, while Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity means you won’t have to deal with messy cables or a spotty connection.
Other features include support for making hands-free calls, as well as the option to customize the audio using the free JBL Headphones app.
Why this deal matters
A great pair of headphones can make it easier to deal with the morning commute to work, among other things. Can you put a price on that? Probably, but why not make that price smaller? This deal does that, and you can even choose from some lovely colors, too.
Technologies
Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Ultra 3 and SE 3: Which Watch Fits You Best?
This year’s revamped lineup caters to anyone looking to buy an Apple Watch, but picking the right one is all in the details. Let’s dive in.
This year, Apple has made it tougher to choose an Apple Watch model. Do you go for the stalwart Apple Watch Series 11 that continues the design and features of its predecessor, or go big with the Apple Watch Ultra 3? Or, new this year is a surprisingly capable Apple Watch SE that might be just what you need.
Let’s get into the details.
Pricing the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3
The 2025 Apple Watch line spans a wide price range, starting as low as $249 for the Apple Watch SE 3 and going as high as $1,299 for a titanium Apple Watch Series 11 with an Hermès band. Like most fashion accessories, you can choose from different case sizes, materials, cellular connectivity options and bands to find the right fit — and price — for your watch.
The Apple Watch Series 11 offers the widest price range, with two case sizes, two body materials, optional cellular connectivity and premium Hermès models. The Apple Watch SE 3 is only available in aluminum and has the earlier, slightly smaller case sizes. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes only in titanium, with a single 49mm size and cellular included by default.
Read more: Find the best deals on the Series 11 and Ultra 3.
Here’s how they break down:
| Apple Watch Series 11 | GPS | GPS plus cellular |
|---|---|---|
| 42mm aluminum | $399 | $499 |
| 46mm aluminum | $429 | $529 |
| 42mm titanium | $699 | |
| 46mm titanium | $749 | |
| Hermès 42mm titanium | $1,249 | |
| Hermès 46mm titanium | $1,299 | |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | ||
| 42mm aluminum | $249 | $299 |
| 46mm aluminum | $279 | $329 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | ||
| 49mm titanium | $799 | |
| Hermès 49mm titanium | $1,399 |
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 physical designs
The core rounded-rectangle design of the Apple Watch has seen incremental changes since its first iterations. The Series 11 shares the slimmer 9.7mm height profile of the Series 10, with 42mm and 46mm diagonal sizes. Weight is light across the board, from 29.7 to 43.1 grams depending on size and case material. Aluminum models come in space gray, jet black, rose gold or silver, while titanium versions are offered in natural, slate or gold finishes.
The Apple Watch SE 3 is slightly thicker (10.7mm) and slightly smaller, with 40mm and 44mm sizes. Its design most closely harkens back to earlier Apple Watch models. It weighs 26.4 grams or 33 grams, depending on the case size. And as the no-frills option, the SE 3 comes in either midnight (black) or starlight (silver).
The Ultra 3 is the most significant departure from the original design, with 14.4mm thickness, 49mm diagonal size and a more solid weight of 61.6 grams. Its titanium body comes in either natural or black — unless you opt for the Hermès edition, which is only offered in natural.
CNET lead writer Vanessa Hand Orellana described the Ultra 3 in her review as being «like the luxury Land Rover you see in safari brochures: It’s adventure-ready on the outside, with all the modern conveniences on the inside.» The body is also 3D-printed using 100% recycled titanium, but you’d never know it; there are none of the telltale layering indications found on most 3D-printed items.
Each watch has Apple’s Digital Crown and a side button. The Ultra 3 also includes a programmable Action button, which can, for example, start a workout with a single press.
Looks aside, all three Apple Watch models are built for durability. The SE 3 is water resistant to 50 meters, so you don’t need to baby it — whether you’re showering, swimming or just living through a rainy Pacific Northwest day.
The Series 11 is also rated for water resistance to 50 meters, while the Ultra 3 doubles that with a 100-meter rating. They’re both also certified as IP6X dust resistant, which is better than the SE.
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 displays
The Series 11 and Ultra 3 both use an LPTO 3 OLED display, which has the advantages of staying always on, giving you a wide viewing angle, so you don’t need to look at it head-on to see the time. It can also get very bright: 2,000 nits of peak brightness for the Series 11 and 3,000 nits (the same as the iPhone 17 Pro) for the Ultra 3.
The energy-efficient screen can refresh its display at just one nit of brightness once every second when in its passive state, so you can always see the second hand or indicator (depending on the watch face).
The display is protected by sapphire crystal on the titanium Series 11 and the Ultra 3. According to Apple, the aluminum Series 11 uses Ion-X glass, which is twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10.
In past generations, the SE was stuck with the lowest-quality screen, but not this time. The SE 3 gets an always-on LTPO OLED display that reaches up to 2,000 nits of brightness and dims to just 2 nits when inactive. But it doesn’t refresh as often as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, so the seconds indicator only appears when the screen is active. It’s still a big «quality of life» bump from prior SE watches, which don’t have an always-on display mode.
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 battery life
One surprise with the new Apple Watch lineup is improved battery life in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, plus a fast-charge option on the SE 3 that makes it easy to top up for a night’s sleep after a full day.
Apple claims up to 24 hours of use on a battery charge for the Series 11, up from the Series 10’s 18 hours. It also claims up to 38 hours in Low Power mode, a notch above the 36 hours of the Series 10. That fast-charging option can bring the battery level up to 80% in 30 minutes, but putting the watch on its charger for just 15 minutes can boost it for up to eight hours.
Hand Orellana writes in her Series 11 review, «The six-hour battery bump on the Series 11 may not sound like much on paper, but it’s given me some welcome breathing room to figure out a better charging strategy.»
The SE 3 still delivers up to 18 hours of use, or 32 hours in Low Power mode. It also supports fast charging — up to 80% in 45 minutes, or about eight hours of use from a quick 15-minute top-up.
If you want the most time between charges, the Ultra 3 remains the Apple Watch to get. It can last for up to 42 hours, per Apple, or up to 72 hours in Low Power mode. Fast charging its larger battery takes it to 80% in about 45 minutes, and 15 minutes on the cable will give you roughly 12 hours of power.
Some of these gains come from Apple factoring in a night’s sleep, but credit also goes to the more power-efficient LTPO 3 screen in the Series 11 and Ultra 3.
It’s one thing to reference Apple’s claims, but what about battery life in practice? In Hand Orellana’s review of each model, she recorded even better battery life than Apple’s estimates. Keep in mind your daily usage will affect results, but here’s what she found:
| Apple Watch | Apple’s estimate | CNET review |
|---|---|---|
| Series 11 | 24 hours | 27-32 hours |
| Ultra 3 | 42 hours | 45-49 hours |
| SE 3 | 18 hours | 20-25 hours |
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 health features
The Apple Watch SE line has always sacrificed some hardware and features to remain the least expensive option, and the SE 3 continues that tradition — but not to the same extent. It lacks an electrical heart sensor found in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, so it can’t take heart readings using the ECG app to look for signs of atrial fibrillation (Afib).
According to Apple, the SE 3 uses a second-generation optical heart sensor that tracks heart rate during exercise, sleep and potential emergencies — though, like all Apple Watches, it can’t detect heart attacks or measure blood oxygen. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 upgrade to third-generation optical heart sensors.
The SE 3 is also missing a water temperature sensor and depth gauge, making the Series 11 and Ultra 3 better options if you spend a lot of time in water and want to track swim workouts or shallow dives more reliably.
This year’s standout health feature is the ability to analyze data and check for signs of possible hypertension, or high blood pressure. «It’s not the full on-the-spot blood pressure monitoring Apple fans have long hoped for,» wrote Hand Orellana, «but it’s a major step forward — one that Apple says could help 1 million people get diagnosed with hypertension in the first year alone.»
Like the sleep apnea tracking introduced last year, hypertension notifications are not a screening tool; think of it as a warning system that prompts you to get checked out by your doctor. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 include this ability (sorry, SE 3), and require 30 days of data collection before triggering notifications. The Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2 also get hypertension notifications in WatchOS 26.
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 connectivity
Each of the Apple Watch models supports cellular communications, allowing you to stay connected even when your iPhone is at home. You can order the aluminum Series 11 models and the SE 3 with the cellular option; the titanium Series 11 and the Ultra 3 include it by default.
What’s unique about these watches is their support for both 5G and LTE networks, offering faster speeds and broader compatibility. Plus, they use 5G Reduced Capacity technology, which is more power efficient than the 5G networking in your iPhone.
They also support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n, at 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies), Bluetooth 5.3 and L1 GPS location chips. The Ultra 3 includes dual GPS radios (L1 and L5) for more precise location tracking, especially in challenging environments like dense downtown corridors.
Plus, the Ultra 3 offers satellite connectivity directly from the watch. With a direct view of the sky, it can communicate with overhead satellites for sending and receiving texts, sharing your location and accessing emergency services.
Series 11 vs. Ultra 3, SE 3 processors
One of the biggest surprises in the lineup? The Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 all include the same S10 chip. It’s worth noting that the S10, introduced in last year’s Series 10, isn’t a new processor generation for 2025. But each watch now includes 64 gigabytes of storage, a four-core Neural Engine and a 64-bit dual-core processor.
The only significant difference is that the Apple Watch SE 3 is the only model not to get Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which is used for precise location tracking. You can still use Find My from an iPhone (equipped with UWB) to tell if the SE 3 is with you or if you left it at home. But with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, Find My will point you in the right direction as you get closer to your mislaid watch.
WatchOS 26 on the Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3
Each model is preloaded with WatchOS 26, which has the new Liquid Glass interface (though in most cases, it’s quite subtle). And all models add features like the new Wrist Flick gesture, nightly sleep scores, Workout Buddy, the Notes app and live translation in Messages. The Series 11 and Ultra 3, with their upgraded sensors, also gain hypertension notifications.
Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 specs
| Apple Watch Series 11 | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen) | |
| Design & sizes | Rectangular, 42mm, 46mm | Rectangular, 49mm | Rectangular, 40mm, 44mm |
| Display | 42mm: 446 × 374 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina display (wide-angle) 46mm: 496 × 416 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina display (wide-angle) | 49mm: 514 × 422 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina display (wide-angle, Always-On) | 44mm: 368 × 448 pixels (Always-On Retina LTPO OLED)Apple 40mm: 324 × 394 pixels (Always-On Retina LTPO OLED) |
| Brightness | Between 1 and 2000 nits | Between 1 and 3000 nits | Up to 1000 nits |
| Thickness & weight | 46mm: 9.7mm; 37.8g (aluminum GPS), 36.9g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 43.1g (titanium) 42mm: 9.7mm; 30.3g (aluminum GPS), 29.7g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 34.6g (titanium) | 49mm: 14.4mm; 61.6g (titanium) | 44mm: 10.7mm; 33.0g (aluminum GPS+Cellular) 40mm: 10.7mm; 26.4g (aluminum GPS+Cellular) |
| Material & finish | Aluminum: Jet black, rose gold or silver finish; Titanium: slate, gold or natural finish with sapphire crystal display (titanium) | Titanium, natural or black finish with sapphire crystal display (titanium) | 100% recycled aluminum, midnight and starlight |
| Durability | 2X more scratch resistant glass (aluminum), 5ATM Water + IP6X (dust) | Water resistance 100m; dust IP6X, scuba to 40m, tested to MIL-STD 810H | Cover glass is 4X times more resistant to cracks than the SE 2; made of Ion-X glass. Water resistant up to 50 meters |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours, up to 38 hours Low Power (always-on) + Fast charge: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 min | Up to 42 hours; up to 72 hours Low Power. Fast charge to 80% in 45 min, 100% charge 75 min | All-day, 18-hour battery life. Fast charging with 8 hours of normal use in just 15 minutes on the charger |
| Sensors | ECG, 3rd-gen optical heart sensor, skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass | ECG, 3rd-gen optical heart sensor, skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass | Wrist temperature, Second-generation optical heart sensor |
| Emergency features | Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack | Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack | Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Check In |
| AI & coaching | Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy | Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy | On-device Siri, Workout Buddy |
| Processor | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip |
| RAM/Storage | 64GB (storage) | 64GB (storage) | 64GB (storage) |
| Payments | Apple Pay | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Price (US) | $399-$750 (titanium) | $799 | $249 (starting) |
Technologies
There’s a Growing Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field. What it Means
The weak spot has been known about for over half a century, but it’s now getting bigger.
It would be an understatement to say that the Earth’s magnetic field is important. It’s one of the reasons we’re able to live on this rock tumbling through space, and it also gives us the gorgeous aurora borealis. So it’s a pretty big deal when it changes — and such a change is occurring right now in the South Atlantic Ocean, where the magnetic field’s weakest point appears to be growing.
The European Space Agency spent 11 years studying the magnetic field via the agency’s Swarm operation. Part of the mission was to measure and observe the South Atlantic Anomaly, a pronounced weak spot in the Earth’s magnetic field that sits over South America. This was originally discovered in 1958 when satellites first started measuring radiation around the Earth, so its existence is nothing new.
However, data from the Swarm mission shows that the weak spot has been rapidly growing, extending its presence across the Atlantic Ocean toward Africa.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Why is the weak spot growing?
Per the ESA, this phenomenon can be best explained by strange behaviors far within the Earth at the boundary where the Earth’s liquid outer core meets the rocky mantle layer. This boundary, referred to as reverse flux patches, is acting funny and causing the magnetic field to weaken in that one spot.
«Normally, we’d expect to see magnetic field lines coming out of the core in the southern hemisphere,» says C.C. Finlay, lead author of the study and professor of geomagnetism at the Technical University of Denmark. «But beneath the South Atlantic Anomaly, we see unexpected areas where the magnetic field, instead of coming out of the core, goes back into the core. Thanks to the Swarm data, we can see one of these areas moving westward over Africa, which contributes to the weakening of the South Atlantic Anomaly in this region.»
In addition to the South Atlantic Anomaly, the Swarm mission also showed that a stronger section of the magnetic field over Canada was also getting weaker, while the one over Siberia was getting stronger.
A danger to satellites everywhere
The weakened zone won’t have a significant impact on humans, as the atmosphere primarily deals with the elements that affect the Earth’s surface. As NASA says, the weakening is still within what scientists consider «normal variation,» so daily life isn’t affected.
However, things in low Earth orbit aren’t so lucky. Per the ESA, satellites and other spacecraft passing through the region will face higher radiation exposure that «can lead to malfunctions or damage to critical hardware, and even blackouts.»
As Finlay notes in the study, space agencies take the SAA into consideration when building modern spacecraft, satellites and other space-worthy technology, so not only are existing satellites at risk of damage, but the expanding weak spot will also affect how future satellites and spacecraft are designed.
The ESA says that the Swarm mission will continue to gather data about the Earth’s magnetic field into the foreseeable future.
«It’s really wonderful to see the big picture of our dynamic Earth thanks to Swarm’s extended timeseries,» says ESA Swarm Mission Manager Anja Stromme. «The satellites are all healthy and providing excellent data, so we can hopefully extend that record beyond 2030, when the solar minimum will allow more unprecedented insights into our planet.»
-
Technologies3 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies3 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies3 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow