Entertainment
The Dark Science History Series That Ties Elon Musk's Rocketry To The Occult
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
The only thing stranger than science fiction is science fact. Dark Matters: Twisted But True, a short-lived documentary series hosted by genre legend John Noble, took this to the extreme in 2011.
Every episode documented the real history behind strange scientific experiments and breakthroughs, from the origins of lobotomies to brain transplant experiments, and even how the origins of the rocket were tied to the Occult. After catching a few episodes, you’ll think that science fiction doesn’t go far enough.
The Occult And Cheating Death Are Only Part Of The Series
Dark Matters: Twisted But True stuck to a formula, an introduction by Noble, historical images, and reenactments combined to tell a twisted story, and then the final wrap-up that was, typically, tragic or horrifying and often, both. The Season 3 finale tells the story of John Parsons and the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), which developed the first rocket engine. In an effort to boost his research, Parsons started taking the teachings of Aleister Crowley very seriously, converting to Thelema and using sex-magic rituals to empower his experiments. It worked until he pushed too far, losing his standing in the academic community, his marriage, and all of his money.
The first episode included a segment on the Philadelphia Experiment, the alleged disappearance of the USS Eldridge, which has served as the basis for movies and even Stranger Things. It’s a tame story compared to another Season 2 episode focused on Dr. Robert Cornish, a researcher in the 1930’s convinced the dead could come back to life, though his human experiments never worked. The lengths men and women of science went to prove a theory or to push the boundaries of human knowledge sound ripped from the pages of a dime-store novel, but they’re true.
John Noble’s gravitas adds to each segment of Dark Matters: Twisted But True; no matter how ridiculous the experiment is or how insane the researcher has become, his soothing yet oddly unsettling tones elevate each reenactment. Once you start watching, you’ll keep going through the entire series in one night. There’s something oddly hypnotizing about the dark science tales you don’t hear about in school.
On The Verge Of Being Lost Forever
With the rise of true crime docuseries in the last decade, it’s clear that there’s a massive audience out there for real stories that aren’t afraid to show how bizarre early science could get. New standards and closely monitored research make it unlikely that there’s anyone out there experimenting with brain transplants or trying to bring back the dead, but for centuries, science was the wild west. There’s no telling how many bizarre stories are out there.
Dark Matters: Twisted But True aired 19 episodes between 2011 and 2012, and currently, only Season 3 is available for digital purchase. It’s a shame that the series is close to becoming lost media, and more of a shame that there have been no new episodes in the last 14 years. Dark Matters: Extra Twisted, a series of remixed episodes with more scenes, more information, and “deeper insights,” was briefly aired on the Science Channel as well, but it has since vanished into the digital aether. If you can find it, the series is a fun binge despite the disturbing content. If nothing else, John Noble’s portrayal of Fringe’s mad scientist Walter Bishop makes a lot more sense when you realize the long, sordid history of insane researchers who’ve shaped our understanding of the universe.
Entertainment
The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is over $10 off at Amazon
TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box has dropped to $99.45 at Amazon — about $10 off its usual $109.99 list price.
Credit: The Pokémon Company
$99.45
at Amazon
$109.99
Save $10.54
Elite Trainer Boxes tied to newer Pokémon TCG expansions don’t often fall in price, but Amazon has cut a decent amount off one of 2025’s most popular ETBs. As of Feb. 17, the Mega Lucario version of the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is now down to $99.45 on Amazon, cutting its usual $109.99 list price.
For this lower price, you’ll get the same type of content Pokémon fans can expect from other ETBs:
Mashable Trend Report
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Nine Mega Evolution booster packs
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Full-art foil promo card featuring Riolu
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65 card sleeves
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40 Energy cards
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Six damage counter dice
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Collector’s storage box with dividers (to help keep everything organized)
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Mega Evolution pricing lately, you’ll already know how rare it is to see these boxes dip below the $100 mark. For months, fluctuating stock levels and inflated reseller listings have kept prices higher than many collectors would like. Thankfully, things are starting to shift again as newer supply settles and discounts begin appearing more frequently on Amazon.
Mashable Deals
While prices across trading card marketplaces can vary depending on demand, Amazon remains one of the easier places to pick up Mega Evolution products that are readily available without overly breaking the bank. Dedicated trading card platform TCGplayer is completely out of stock for this version of the Mega Evolution ETB right now, so Amazon is the place to buy.
For more Pokémon TCG deals at Amazon, Ascended Heroes Tech Sticker Collections are still available for around $45. You can also pick up the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Evolution 3-Pack Blister for only $34.99.
Topics
Pokemon
Trading Cards
Entertainment
How to watch South Africa vs. UAE in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free
TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. UAE in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 T20 World Cup continues as South Africa take on UAE. The South Africans are unbeaten so far, including a win over New Zealand. They’ve not been perfect — they required a Super Over to beat Afghanistan. The United Arab Emirates are on the hunt for a second win of the group stage, but nobody is expecting them to get anything from this game.
If you want to watch South Africa vs. UAE in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is South Africa vs. UAE?
South Africa vs. UAE in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 12:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 18. This game takes place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
How to watch South Africa vs. UAE for free
South Africa vs. UAE in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
Mashable Top Stories
This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream South Africa vs. UAE in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
-
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
-
Visit ICC.TV
-
Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup (plus the Winter Olympics) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast connection speeds
-
Up to 10 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).
Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
How to watch Pakistan vs. Namibia in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Pakistan vs. Namibia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Next up in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Pakistan face off against Namibia. Pakistan are two for three in the group stage so far, losing just one game to Group A leaders India. A win over Namibia would guarantee their spot in the next stage. Their chances are good — Namibia are yet to win a game. But does that mean Namibia have got something to prove and snatch a win before exiting the tournament?
If you want to watch Pakistan vs. Namibia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Pakistan vs. Namibia?
Pakistan vs. Namibia in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 18. This game takes place at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
How to watch Pakistan vs. Namibia for free
Pakistan vs. Namibia in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
Mashable Top Stories
This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Pakistan vs. Namibia in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
-
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
-
Visit ICC.TV
-
Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup (plus the Winter Olympics) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast connection speeds
-
Up to 10 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).
Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is over $10 off at Amazon
How to watch South Africa vs. UAE in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free
