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Star Trek’s Biggest Mystery Was Answered By One Forgotten Episode

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

One of the coolest things about Star Trek is that this franchise has had plenty of world-building from the very beginning. Some concepts, such as faster-than-light travel, are grounded in real-world scientific theories, but the writers and producers had to figure out how those scientific ideas would advance within the next few centuries. For example, how would these future explorers classify the different worlds they have discovered? The Original Series gave us a partial answer, revealing that Earth-like worlds are referred to as M-class planets.

This designation was still used in The Next Generation by Captain Picard and his crew, and the term was repeated in spinoffs like Deep Space Nine and Voyager. However, after decades of hearing this term, fans began to ask the obvious questions: what does “M-class” even mean? Where does the term come from, and when did Starfleet begin using it? Eventually, these mysteries were answered by “Strange New World,” a forgotten episode from the much-maligned spinoff Star Trek: Enterprise.

A Not-So-Strange New World

In the Enterprise episode “Strange New World,” the crew has only recently begun their trek through the stars. They encounter a planet with an Earth-like atmosphere and decide to check it out. When a nasty storm approaches, some of the crew (including Tucker and Mayweather) suggest taking shelter in a cave. But things go from bad to worse when they start seeing creepy creatures inside the cave and become paranoid that T’Pol is hiding things from them. In a weird twist, it turns out there were no hostile aliens on the planet: just some wacky pollen that made everyone hallucinate. We get a relatively happy ending, and everyone gets an antidote and lives to trek another day.

So, what does this weird tale of trippy space pollen have to do with Star Trek history? It’s actually the very first episode in the franchise to spell out that the “M” in “Class M” stands for “Minshara Class.” Where did this exotic name come from, though? The Vulcans, of course. “Strange New World” reveals that “Minshara-Class” was the term used for Earth-like planets by Vulcan explorers who (at the time) gathered info from probes rather than planetary scans. Captain Archer’s Enterprise became the first Starfleet vessel to adopt the terminology, which became standard fleetwide within three years.

Setting A New Starfleet Standard

Thanks to Archer’s early adventures in episodes like “Strange New World,” Starfleet had a handy way to classify Earth-like planets. This was important because, according to the Original Series episode “Balance of Terror,” there are likely around three million such planets in the Milky Way galaxy. While Enterprise helped fans learn what M-class actually means, we are still left with a few questions. For example, the Next Generation established that there were four levels of M-class planets. While this is likely used to differentiate different planetary environments (like the arid Vulcan, the rainy Ferenginar, and the downright tropical Risa), this has never been confirmed by the franchise.

Enterprise is a much better show than fans think, and it’s definitely worth watching for these deep dives into franchise lore. Thanks to this show, we know just how much early Starfleet was indebted to the Vulcans, adopting those aliens’ planetary classification schema and using it for centuries. Honestly, that was probably a better choice than letting a space cowboy like Kirk pick the planetary designations. If Star Trek (2009) is any indicator, he’d probably call them “BB-class planets,” and we’d have to wait four decades to learn that the “BB” stands for “Beastie Boys.” Then again, who knows more than Kirk about how to fight for your right to (landing) party?

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Entertainment

The best Memorial Day tech deals you can shop this weekend — save on headphones, laptops, and more

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Replacing a busted laptop or losing your favorite earbuds is painful enough without having to pay full retail price to replace them. Memorial Day is historically a great weekend to score discounts on big-ticket electronics (and mattresses!), but finding a real deal among all the manufactured holiday markdowns can be confusing, and a little insulting. (Looking at you, inflated list prices!)

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The best deals this week, according to Mashable’s team of shopping experts

To help you find the biggest discounts, I sifted through the sales to round up the best tech deals happening this weekend. I prioritized Mashable’s favorite tech — so you get genuinely good, vetted gear, not just whatever inventory retailers are trying to clear out of their warehouses.

Best Memorial Day headphone deal

$169
at Amazon

$199
Save $30

 

Why we like it

Read our full review of the Nothing Headphone (a).

Mashable’s Lead Shopping Reporter is fresh off reviewing Nothing’s new mid-range headphones, which she rated a 4.3/5. She thinks they’re better than the flagship Nothing Headphone (1) because they offer the same app experience, comparable noise cancellation, and a comfier fit at a lower price. Moreover, they last for up to 135 hours on a single charge (!) without ANC, and their retro design is fun. Amazon has them on sale for a record-low price ahead of Memorial Day, saving you 15%.

More Memorial Day headphone deals

Earbud deals

Best Memorial Day speaker deal


Sony SRS-XB100 Wireless Bluetooth Portable Lightweight Super-Compact Travel Speaker, Durable IP67 Waterproof & Dustproof Shower Speaker, 16 Hour Battery, Versatile Strap, & Hands-free Calling, Black

$43
at Amazon

$64.99
Save $21.99

 

Why we like it

Read our full guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.

If you’re looking for a portable speaker that you can just grab and throw in your bag, I couldn’t recommend the Sony SRS-XB100 enough. I’ve had this exact one for years and it goes everywhere with me — I take it to the beach, hang it in the outside shower at my parents’ OBX house, and set it up when I’m hanging with friends on the balcony. It has serious sound for how small it is, and right now you can get it for $43 (down from $64.99). That’s a total steal for a speaker this good.

Want to pay even less? You can get a “renewed” Sony SRS-XB100 for $39.99.

More Memorial Day speaker deals

Best Memorial Day laptop deal


Apple MacBook Air M5 13.6" Laptop (16GB/512GB, Sky Blue)

$899.99
at Amazon

$1,099
Save $199.01

 

Why we like it

Read our full review of the M5 Apple MacBook Air.

The MacBook Neo is only $10 off on Amazon right now, but the brand-new 13-inch MacBook Air is $100 off there — you can get the base model for just $949. This is the lowest price we’ve seen it go for since April 6. In our review, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Werth said the new MacBook Air “takes everything good about the MacBook Air and adds the faster M5 chip.”

More Memorial Day laptop deals

Best Memorial Day TV deal


50" Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K HDR10+ Smart TV (2025 Model)

$309.99
at Amazon

$399.99
Save $90

 

Why we like it

Right now, you can get last year’s Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series with Fire TV for $309.99. (If you’re a new Xbox GamePass customer, you’ll also get a month of the subscription service for free.) That’s a 23% discount and not too shabby of a deal for a 2025 TV.

More Memorial Day TV deals

Best Memorial Day smartwatch deal

$69
at Amazon

$99
Save $30

 

Why we like it

Read our full review of the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro.

The Mashable Choice Award-winning CMF Watch 3 Pro features great health, fitness, and sleep tracking tools, and it lasts forever — it’s rated at up to 13 days per charge with average use. It’s not as sleek as other wearables, but it’s an impeccable value at its $99 MSRP: “Please, no one tell Nothing they should be charging a lot more for this watch,” writes Mashable Contributor and reviewer Lauren Allain. Right now, it’s yours for 30% off.

More Memorial Day smartwatch deals

Best Memorial Day smart home deal

$14.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $25

Enter code SELCT4K at checkout.

Why we like it

Amazon’s budget 4K streaming stick has been going on sale regularly since its launch last fall, but it’s never been this cheap before. (Be sure to enter the coupon code SELECT4K at checkout.) At 63% off, it’s very difficult to see it getting any cheaper come Prime Day.

More Memorial Day streaming stick deals

Home security deals

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Entertainment

Finally start learning Spanish, Italian, and French with this exclusive Babbel deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Babbel through this exclusive StackSocial offer for $159 with promo code LEARN before the deal ends June 2.

$159

$646.20
Save $487.20

 

Maybe it’s for travel, maybe it’s for work, or maybe you’re just tired of staring blankly at subtitles — whatever the motivation, this Babbel deal makes it easier to finally commit to learning a new language. StackSocial is currently offering lifetime access to every Babbel language course for a one-time payment of $159 (reg. $299) with code LEARN, giving you permanent access without monthly subscription fees hanging over your head.

Unlike no-name apps that promise fluency without substance, Babbel takes a human approach and was developed by over 100 expert linguists and backed by researchers from Yale University. It’s designed to help you actually speak a new language with confidence — whether you’re prepping for a trip abroad, connecting with family, or hoping to boost your career.

Mashable Deals

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You’ll get access to 14 languages and 10,000+ hours of high-quality content. Lessons are short and made to fit into even packed schedules — just 10 to 15 minutes — and available on desktop or mobile, with progress synced across devices. You can even download lessons to practice offline, whether that’s on a flight or in a Wi-Fi dead zone on the subway.

How Babbel can help you become fluent:

  • Real conversations: Lessons focus on practical topics like dining, shopping, transportation, and more.

  • Speech recognition: Built-in tools help you perfect pronunciation and avoid awkward slip-ups.

  • Personalized learning: Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, you’ll find lessons that match your level.

  • Expert design: A proven method that emphasizes conversational skills over rote memorization.

And with lifetime access, you’re free to hone in on one language or explore all 14 — on your schedule, forever.

Pick up a lifetime Babbel Language Learning access for $159 (reg. $299) with this limited-time exclusive offer from StackSocial using code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Entertainment

60+ of the best Memorial Day deals: We found TVs, mattresses, headphones, and more on sale

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The best Memorial Day 2026 deals at a glance:

ninja slushi

Toshiba 65-inch C350 LED 4K Fire TV

black bose headphones

Best home deal


Ruggable

save up to 25% sitewide

Coral Ruggable rug with blue floral design

The unofficial start to summer is almost here, but you don’t have to wait until Memorial Day itself on May 25 to find those Memorial Day deals.

There are already deals live at Amazon, where you’ll find savings of up to 40%. There are also plenty of savings from other online shopping destinations, with deals on products such as mattresses, TVs, furniture, and outdoor patio items. Plenty of brands are getting in on early MDW action — you can grab the Dyson Airwrap i.d. for $150 off and the Bose QuietComfort headphones for $120 off.

We’ll be updating all the best Memorial Day deals throughout the weekend, so be sure to keep checking back on this page for the biggest and best savings.

Best Memorial Day Amazon deals


ninja slushi

$259
at Amazon

$349.99
Save $90.99

 

Why we like it

What says start of the summer better than slushies on demand? When Mashable’s Leah Stodart reviewed the Ninja Slushi, she pointed out the merits of the Slushi over a regular blender: no ice is required, and it keeps drinks frozen while in its cooling cylinder. From cola slushies to frosé, this might just be the ultimate summer drink machine. It has some downsides (sugar-free beverages are a no-go), but if you’re a frozen drink enthusiast, this deal is worth a closer look.

More Amazon deals

Best Memorial Day TV deals

$264.99
at Best Buy

$529.99
Save $265

 

Why we like it

Best Buy and Amazon have been racing to match prices on this Fire TV. Best Buy was initially $75 cheaper than Amazon, so Amazon dropped its sale price to keep pace. But that’s only a piece of the picture demonstrating just how good this deal is. Our resident TV expert, Leah Stodart, pointed out that this $264.99 price point is so good that it’s less than the sale price of the 43-inch version of Amazon’s most basic Ember 4K Fire TV. In other words, if you’re looking to score a solid deal on a smart TV this Memorial Day, this could be the one for you.

More TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TVs

55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

70-inch TVs and up

Best Memorial Day mattress deals

  • Avocado: Get up to 20% off organic mattresses, bed toppers, and bedding.

  • Amerisleep: Get up to $1,000 off all mattresses and 40% off bundles

  • Bear: Get 35% off sitewide, plus $275 worth of free accessories

  • Casper: Get up to 30% off select mattresses and 35% off bundles

  • Purple: Get up to $900 off a mattress and a base

  • Helix: Get 25% off sitewide with code MEMDAY25

  • Leesa: Get 30% off select mattresses

  • Mattress Firm: Get up to 60% off select mattresses with queens starting at $189.99

  • Nectar: Get up to 50% off select mattresses and 66% off bundles

  • Saatva: Save up to $650 on mattresses, including the Saatva Classic and Memory Foam Hybrid mattresses

  • Serta: Save up to $600 on select mattress and adjustable base sets

  • Sleep Number: Save up to $1,200 on ClimateCool and ComfortNext mattresses, BOGO free Ultimate Shape Pillows, and BOGO 50% off sheets

  • Tempur-Pedic: Save 40% on the Tempur-Cloud Mattress or up to $500 on adjustable mattress sets, plus free gifts

Best Memorial Day home deals

  • Brooklinen: Refresh your bedding for summer with 25% off sitewide

  • Buffy: Save up to 25% sitewide

  • Caraway Home: Save up to 30% on cookware and bakeware

  • Cozy Earth: Save 20% sitewide or 25% when you buy three or more items

  • Crate & Barrel: Save up to 60% on rugs, 35% on kitchen brands, and 30% on furniture

  • Cuisinart: Save 15% on $99.95+, 20% on $149.95+, and 25% on $249.95+

  • Home Depot: Save up to 40% on select appliances, 20% on select patio furniture, and up to $175 off on select tools now through May 27

  • Joybird: Take up to 45% off on bestselling furniture and up to 35% off sitewide through May 25

  • Kohl’s: Save up to 50% sitewide on clothes, kitchen appliances, bedding, patio furniture, and more

  • Lovesac: Save 40% sitewide through May 31

  • Lowe’s: Save on appliances, grills, patio furniture, gardening supplies, and more through June 3

  • Mellow Sleep: Get $20 off $100, $50 off $200, or $100 off $300

  • Nest New York: Save 25% sitewide with code 25OFF

  • Parachute: Save 25% sitewide plus 30% on bundles

  • Ruggable: Save up to 25% sitewide

  • Rugs Direct: Save up to 80% sitewide on brands like Safavieh, Chris Loves Julia, Loloi, Rifle Paper Co., and Rugs USA

  • SharkNinja: Save up to 30% on Ninja kitchen appliances and Shark vacuums, hair tools, and fans

  • Target: Target’s Hello Summer Sale brings deals on summer favorites, including up to 20% off kids’ outdoor toys and up to 45% off patio furniture and garden essentials

  • Wayfair: Save up to 70% sitewide

Best Memorial Day tech deals

  • Best Buy: Save on TVs, Apple products, laptops, monitors, Sony cameras, Bluetooth speakers, and more

  • BJ’s Wholesale Club: Get up to 50% off TVs and electronics, 25% off mattresses, and 15% off home and kitchen

  • HP: Save up to 72% on OmniBook laptops, Omen gaming PCs, All-in-One desktops, and more

  • Lenovo: Save up to 30% on ThinkPad, Yoga, ThinkBook, IdeaPad, and Legion laptops

  • LG: Save up to 44% on TVs, 40% on monitors, and up to 58% on appliances

  • Tile: Save up to 40% on trackers

  • TP-Link: Save up to $220 on select products, including the Tapo C460 (4-Pack) + H500, plus get an additional 10% off sitewide with code USA10

Best Memorial Day beauty deals

  • Dyson: Save up to $150 on the Dyson Airwrap i.d., Airstrait, and Supersonic Nural

  • FabFitFun: Save 40% on your first box, plus get a free Vacation bonus box ($250 value) with an annual membership signup

  • L’ange: Save up to 44% on select tools with code MEMORIAL, plus an extra 15% off your entire order with code EXTRA15

Best Memorial Day outdoor deals

  • Bote: Save 15% sitewide

  • Columbia: Save up to 40% on “almost everything”

  • Dick’s Sporting Goods: Save up to 50% on bikes, kayaks, tents, grills, and golf gear, save up to to 40% on Nike and adidas

  • Huffy: Save 25% on select bikes

  • HOVERAir: Save up to 47%

  • Rumpl: Save 25% sitewide

  • Solo Stove: Save 15% on select fire pits and pizza ovens

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