Entertainment
All The Deep Space Nine Easter Eggs In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
The latest episode of Starfleet Academy had one of its 32nd-century cadets researching a legendary 24th-century figure: Benjamin Sisko, the captain of Deep Space Nine. While the show’s broad humor threatened to drag things down, this episode succeeded as a love letter to Sisko and the man who played him, Avery Brooks. On a larger level, the episode also works as a tribute to Deep Space Nine, the best Star Trek show ever made.
Accordingly, the show threw out DS9 references with almost as much speed and ferocity as Sisko’s fastball. With everything going on (from bar fights to farting fish to literal glitter vomit), it’s easy to miss these cool callbacks. But we’ve got you covered: just keep reading to discover all of the Deep Space Nine Easter eggs you may have missed in this week’s episode of Starfleet Academy!
Baseball, Mitt, And Hat
At one point in her investigation, SAM enters the Sisko Museum, filled with notable artifacts from his life. One of the first things we see is a baseball and a baseball glove, included in the museum because Sisko was such a fan of this outdated American sport. Presumably, the ball in the museum is the same one that was originally given to Sisko by an alien recreation of Buck Bokai, a fictional baseball hero.
Sisko kept that same ball in his office on Deep Space Nine, and he frequently played with it during tense situations like an old-school fidget. At one point, he and his crew engaged in a disastrous baseball game against one of his old Starfleet Academy rivals, a Vulcan whose superior strength meant he was always destined to win. Still, Sisko’s squad came to enjoy the camaraderie of simply playing baseball together, and the museum also houses the hat he wore when leading his team, The Niners.
Typewriter And Glasses
One of the more surprising inclusions in Starfleet Academy’s Sisko Museum is a typewriter; this is a nod to “Far Beyond the Stars,” in which Sisko experiences visions of living as a sci-fi writer named Benny Russell in 1950s America. The episode portrayed Russell as a Black writer held back by the racism of his time period, but this doesn’t keep him from writing a story about a fictional space station, Deep Space Nine. The episode tells a powerful story about race and racism while provocatively suggesting that the entire show Star Trek fans have been watching might all be in the head of a forgotten ‘50s writer.
It’s interesting to see the typewriter (and Benny’s glasses) in the Sisko Museum, especially since it never seemed like the captain filed an official report about what Starfleet would have likely considered a mental break. But he may have confided about Benny to Dax, who was also present when another delusion nearly kept him from opening the Orb of the Emissary. Considering this episode’s revelation that the Dax symbiont is alive and well and teaching at the academy, the presence of the typewriter makes a lot more sense.
Anslem
In the most recent Starfleet Academy episode, the latest incarnation of Dax hands SAM Anslem, a book written by Jake Sisko. After opening the book, she interacts with what might be an intelligent hologram of the younger Sisko, or maybe he (being technically part-Prophet) simply transcended time and space. But what makes this book so special in the first place, and why was SAM so surprised to discover Jake finished it?
In the Deep Space Nine episode “The Muse,” young Jake comes under the influence of Onaya, an alien creature who feeds off creative energy; basically, she kills people, but only after unlocking their full potential. Under her influence, Jake begins Anslem, his first novel, but he doesn’t finish it because his father drives away Onaya. Deep Space Nine never revealed if Jake had finished Anslem in the main timeline, but Starfleet Academy confirmed that he secretly completed the book but decided against publishing it.
Orb Of The Emissary
When he was first stationed on Deep Space Nine, Benjamin Sisko was very skeptical about the Bajoran religion, but that all changed when their godlike Prophets (which he called wormhole aliens) selected him to become Space Jesus. After that, Sisko quickly learned about all the Bajoran beliefs, including the idea that the Prophets sent down special orbs to help guide and communicate with their chosen people. One of those was called the Orb of the Emissary and, in timey-wimey fashion, it held the Prophet that possessed Sisko’s mother and ensured that he was conceived.
When Sisko finds the orb and releases the Prophet, the powerful alien is able to cast out the evil pah-wraith inside the wormhole; this restores hope to the Bajoran people and makes the wormhole functional again. So, what we see in the Sisko Museum in Starfleet Academy isn’t just any orb. It’s the one that is tied to both the beginning of the Sisko and, ultimately, the end of the Dominion War, making it one of the coolest artifacts in the entire galaxy.
The Return Of Jake Sisko
Jake Sisko shows up in this episode of Starfleet Academy as an adult. He’s only a hologram, but an interactive one, so he talks SAM. Reprising the role is Cirroc Lofton, who also played Jake on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
The Return Of Dax
As mentioned previously, the Dax symbiote shows up on Starfleet Academy, in a new host called Illa Dax (played by Tawny Newsome). This Dax isn’t a Trill; she’s a Cardassian-Trill hybrid.
Entertainment
This robotic pool vacuum is basically a Roomba that can swim, and it’s $449 off today
SAVE 35%: As of May 6, you can get the Beatbot AquaSense 2 for $849 at Amazon, down from $1,298. That’s a 35% discount or $449 savings.
$849
at Amazon
$1,298
Save $449
I don’t have a pool (well, not a personal one, anyway; I live in an apartment complex), but I do have a robot vacuum, and I know the joy of watching a little machine clean my floors while I do other things. If you apply that same logic to pool maintenance (which I imagine is a lot more annoying than keeping your floors clean), then investing in a robo pool cleaner makes a lot of sense.
Mashable Trend Report
And, right now, you can get one of Amazon’s top-rated models for a fraction of the price. As of May 6, you can get the Beatbot AquaSense 2 for $849 at Amazon, down from $1,298. That’s a 35% discount or $449 savings. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen this model go for. The only problem? Amazon marked this as a “limited-time deal,” and the countdown clock shows it ends in about 16 hours.
This thing works just like an indoor robot vacuum; it maps out its cleaning path and then uses an onboard 4-core CPU and 16 sensors to navigate using an S-path for the pool floor and an N-path to scrub the walls and waterline. It also has a “Double-Pass Scrubbing” feature for the waterline, so it’ll get the grimiest spots twice per pass. Bonus: When it’s done cleaning (or when the battery runs low), it automatically parks itself at the surface of the water so you don’t have to go diving to retrieve it.
Entertainment
Grandma Anne’s Secret Jell-O
I love making food that people appreciate — the kind of meal that makes the whole table go quiet at the first bite. But you know what I kind of love more? Making food that makes the whole table shriek like kids chasing the ice-cream truck.
So, when I happened upon a “secret Jell-O” recipe in chef Hillary Sterling’s new cookbook, Ammazza! — titled for the Roman slang term, which roughly translates to “wowee!” — I knew I had to share.
“This was the defining treat of my childhood,” explains Hillary. Growing up, her Grandma Anne always kept a bowl of Jell-O in the fridge. “She added halved grapes, and they’d hover in the middle while it ‘jellified.’ It tasted so cool, refreshing, and delicious.” As adults, Hillary and her sister tried to replicate it, but never managed to get the taste just right. That’s when their grandpa clued them in to Grandma Anne’s secret ingredient: sweet liqueur. “Turns out, our favorite childhood dessert was one part Grandma, one part frat party.”
Hillary’s own adaptation is a little more cocktail-party than frat, but just as festive: a ruby-red confection, studded with plums and served in a champagne coupe. Plus, it’s incredibly simple, with less than 10 minutes of active cooking time. And while I’ll give Grandma Anne the benefit of the doubt, and say she probably wasn’t trying to inebriate her grandchildren, this recipe has almost a shot’s worth of brandy per serving (wowee, indeed!). So, let’s maybe keep it at the grown-ups table.
Grandma Anne’s Secret Jell-O
from Ammazza! by Hillary Sterling
Serves 4
1/2 cup (115 g) prunes*
3/4 cup (180 ml) brandy
1 85-gram package cherry gelatin
*It’s true, prunes are dried plums. Here, they’re essentially rehydrated in the cooking process.
In a small pot, combine the prunes and 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the brandy. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat low, and cook until the prunes absorb all the liquid (about 5 minutes). Set aside. In a separate small saucepan, bring 1 cup (240 ml) of water to a boil. Place the gelatin in a heatproof bowl, then pour the hot water over it, whisking until fully dissolved (about 2 minutes). Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup (60 ml) of brandy and 1 cup (240 ml) of cold water.
Divide half of the gelatin mixture evenly among four glasses, filling them about halfway. (“This is the time to break out your heirloom wine glasses or champagne coupes,” says Hillary. “Style and presentation meant everything to my grandmother.”) Arrange the glasses on a small sheet pan for stability. Refrigerate, uncovered, until just set (about 1 hour).
Finally, divide the steeped prunes evenly among the glasses, gently placing them on top of the set layer. Top each glass with the remaining gelatin — the fruit will “float” as it sets. Cover and refrigerate until firm but still jiggly (about 1 hour more). Serve, and enjoy!
Thank you so much, Hillary! And congratulations on your beautiful cookbook.
P.S. More fun party recipes, including a chaotic pavlova and a pasta cake.
(Photos by Kelly Puleio. Excerpted with permission from Ammazza!, on sale now from Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Copyright © 2026 by Hillary Sterling)
Entertainment
The Bradley Cooper Horror Movie That Will Break Your Brain
By Sean Thiessen
| Published
What do you get when you cross Bradley Cooper with a Clive Barker horror story? The answer: 2008’s gory cult classic The Midnight Meat Train. Though a slashed theatrical release buried the film, this disturbing bloodbath has finally been unearthed on Tubi.
Riding The Rails Has Never Been More Dangerous
Bradley Cooper leads The Midnight Meat Train as Leon Kaufman, a photographer keen on capturing the grit of city life. After his portfolio is rejected by a high-profile gallery owner for being too safe, Leon ventures out in search of danger. Spoiler alert: he finds it.
Leon captures a brutal act of violence on a subway and becomes obsessed with tracking down a serial killer who has been enacting carnage on the late-night train for years. Leon spirals down a tunnel of mystery that slowly unravels a conspiracy that goes all the way to the bottom. He struggles to gain the support of the police and even his own girlfriend, portrayed by actress Leslie Bibb. The Midnight Meat Train speeds toward a sinister conclusion that is a must-see for horror fans.
This Bradley Cooper film is unlike any other. The Midnight Meat Train was adapted from Barker’s short story by Pet Sematary (2019) screenwriter Jeff Buhler and directed by Japanese filmmaker Ryûhei Kitamura. The result is a dark, tense, and revolting horror mystery, complete with the hyper-stylized sensibilities of 2008.
The film was originally set as the feature directorial debut of Patrick Tatopoulos, a special effects wizard and production designer who cut his teeth on movies like Independence Day, I, Robot, and Underworld. It was scheduled to shoot in New York City in 2005.
Tatopoulos was replaced by Kitamura and, in an effort to cut costs, Bradley Cooper and the rest of the gang shot The Midnight Meat Train in the Los Angeles metro system. Production finally began in the spring of 2007.
Lionsgate distributed the film but only opened the movie in the secondary theatrical market, limiting the release to about 100 screens. It was then quickly released on DVD, much to the filmmakers’ dismay. Clive Barker openly criticized Lionsgate’s Joe Drake for burying other films in order to venerate The Strangers, for which Drake was a producer.
Critics twho saw The Midnight Meat Train generally liked it, praising the acting from Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Vinnie Jones, and the rest of the cast. The film carries a 70 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes on the consensus that it delivers the thrills, scares, and gore its target audience seeks.
Bradley Cooper’s Career Took Off After Midnight Meat Train
Bradley Cooper jumped from Midnight Meat Train into the following year’s breakout hit The Hangover. That film launched Cooper from a solid supporting actor to a bankable leading man. The Hangover spawned a lucrative trilogy of comedies that provided a steady stream for Cooper as he expanded to dramatic horizons.
Cooper has since led an exciting and successful career as an actor, director, and producer. His performance in 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook earned the actor his first Oscar nomination, which he followed up with nominations for his work in American Hustle, American Sniper, and A Star is Born. As a producer, his films Joker, A Star is Born, American Sniper, and Nightmare Alley were nominated for Best Picture.
Bradley Cooper’s horror background with Midnight Meat Train paired with the gnarly sensibilities of director James Gunn to bring about Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. The character may be Cooper’s most iconic, but it is easy to forget that such a high-profile actor lurks beneath the CGI surface of the lovable a-hole.
The evolution of Cooper’s career is a fascinating one, and The Midnight Meat Train is an important piece of the puzzle. It stands out among his list of comedies, dramas, and action films, and the film’s troubled release leaves it begging for rediscovery.
Now, nearly 20 years after its release, fans of Bradley Cooper can head on over to Tubi and ride The Midnight Meat Train all the way to the end of the bloody line.
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