If you're <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-infect-earth-deadly-martian-pathogens">worried about NASA's plan</a> to bring Mars rocks back to Earth to study them, you probably don't need to be.
In interviews <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/mars-perseverance-sample-return-mission-search-for-life-20220630.html">with The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>, scientists maintained that there's very little risk involved in bringing samples from Mars back home.
As Rutgers' Nathan Yee, a former NASA official who teaches astrobiology, reminded the Inquirer, Mars rocks have already fallen to Earth in the form of meteorites "without any adverse effects to our biosphere."
Yee noted that because Mars' current atmosphere is very inhospitable to life as we know it — not to mention that it lacks a magnetic field to deflect solar radiation, and is therefore bombarded constantly with harsh rays — it would be hard enough for life to survive on the red planet, much less make it alive to Earth.
"There has to be a long, long time of evolution for microbes to learn how to interact and attach onto animal cells, enter animal cells, and use the machinery of an animal cell to replicate," he told the newspaper. "That’s a very complex choreographed dance."
NASA itself has repeatedly reiterated that the Mars Sample Return Mission, which it's undertaking in tandem with the European Space Agency, <a href="https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/1306/">is safe</a> and that there is a "low likelihood of risk" given Mars' arid, UV-blasted climate.
Nevertheless, at least one ex-government official is hellbent on highlighting what he considers the safety concerns of the mission.
"We won’t know if it’s sterile or not," retired Federal Aviation Administration and Mars aficionado Thomas Dehel told the Inquirer of the samples. "We should know if we bring something back to Earth whether it’s sterile or not, to do some sort of crude test up front to see if there’s any kind of biological life."
Dehel, who <a href="https://www.1planet3.com/">runs a blog criticizing NASA</a> and some news outlets for purportedly "covering up" Mars sample safety concerns, posited that a good way to figure out whether the rock samples contain lethal or dangerous pathogens would be to test them remotely on the International Space Station.
NASA, however, shot down that concept because, as the agency told the newspaper, the ISS doesn't have equipment sensitive enough to glean all necessary info from the Martian rock samples.
While Rutgers' Yee is not himself concerned about some sort of deadly pathogen from Mars running rampant from space rocks brought to Earth, he is curious to see what NASA will do if, as he told the Inquirer, the samples turn up "remnants of past life."
On our end, we'll definitely be watching closely, popcorn at hand.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/mars-perseverance-sample-return-mission-search-for-life-20220630.html">NASA says its plan to bring Mars samples back to Earth is safe, but some people are worried</a> [The Philadelphia Inquirer]
More on the Mars rock blues: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-infect-earth-deadly-martian-pathogens">Scientists Worried NASA Will Infect Earth With Deadly Martian Pathogens</a>

Mars Rock Blues

Noted!

Mars Rock Samples Probably Won't Infect Earth With Deadly Martian Plague, Scientist Says

The latest dystopian nightmare AI just dropped — and it's raising a lot of questions that are absolutely NOT answered by its social media announcement.
As <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-ai-can-check-loyalty-of-party-members-92d97hgwv">The Times of London reports</a>, China's Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center announced the development of a program featuring "artificial intelligence empowering party-building" last week in a post on Weibo, the country's second-largest social media platform.
In the lead-up to the Chinese Communist Party's July 1 anniversary, the Heifei Center said in the since-deleted post's text, which was <a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/polygraph-loyalty-07042022131133.html">transcribed and translated by Radio Free Asia</a>, that its new program would assuage the "problem" of "guaranteeing the quality of party-member activities."
Translation: this artificial intelligence, though many details remain hazy, can purportedly determine party member loyalty.
"This equipment is a kind of smart ideology, using AI technology to extract and integrate facial expressions, EEG readings and skin conductivity," RFA's translation of the initial Weibo post reads, "making it possible to ascertain the levels of concentration, recognition and mastery of ideological and political education so as to better understand its effectiveness."
According to the Times, the equipment was tested by reading brain waves and analyzing facial scans while subjects read articles about the CCP, which then translated to a loyalty "score." And yeah, that's quite sketchy-sounding.
If this story sets off alarm bells, it does so for good reason — the concept of a mind-reading political AI device that tests one's loyalty to party and country sounds more like something out of "1984" than 2022.
Of course, China doesn't have a monopoly on ominous AI.
From the <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/three-key-problems-with-the-governments-use-of-a-flawed-facial-recognition-service#:~:text=Law%20enforcement%20uses%20of%20one,dragnet%20to%20access%20government%20services.">many problems with police use of facial recognition</a> software to a new algorithm that can reportedly "predict" future crimes <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-04/researchers-use-ai-to-predict-crime-biased-policing">developed by the University of Chicago</a> to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/e24c93b8-85e6-4002-afdd-dd650a274f16">often-discriminatory AIs</a> used to determine whether or not someone is eligible for a loan, AI is already creeping into many people's lives in invasive and totalitarian ways.
And yes, the development of an AI that uses biometrics to supposedly judge how loyal someone is to a party or nation does indeed seem like a great tool for political repression — and there's no reason to believe, in spite of our <a href="https://thedebrief.org/the-artificial-intelligence-arms-race-where-are-we-now/">Defense Department's pinky-swear promise not to use AI unethically</a>, that if and when the Chinese perfect this tech, we Americans won't be buying it for ourselves and our allies.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-ai-can-check-loyalty-of-party-members-92d97hgwv">Chinese AI ‘can check loyalty of party members’</a> [The Times of London]
More on government AI: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/robot-battle-tank-blowing-up-cars">Alarming Footage Shows Robot Battle Tank Blowing Up Cars</a>

Can We Not

OK, this is pretty messed up. 

China Says It's Developing an AI to Detect Party Loyalty

Sometimes, you don’t realize that you need a tech upgrade until someone points it out — like, why are you still using the one charger you got five years ago to charge all of your Apple products? From  chargers to speakers, we’ve got you covered with must-have tech that is definitely worth the upgrade. 
<h2>3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe 15W</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckv9yabjz005l1rpc4pwi5yqq" data-bonsai-variant-id="WIZ009ttBK"></div>
Key Selling Point:  Get rid of wires once and for all with this charging station. 
If you find yourself fumbling to find space for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and Airpods on your nightstand, it might be time to upgrade your charging station to the 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe 15W, which provides a place to charge all of your devices in one convenient location — no extra wires necessary. This wireless charger comes in black or white, and you can sleep easy knowing that your devices won’t stop charging in the middle of the night — phone-safe magnets keep everything securely attached to the charging stand. 
<h2>Car Vent Mount Pro With MagSafe</h2>
&nbsp;
<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckv9yaeq500601som6r7qdvig" data-bonsai-variant-id="WIC002btGR"></div>
Key Selling Point: Seamlessly mount your phone and drive off for a hands-free commute.
Any driver can tell you that one of the most crucial accessories in your car is a phone mount. Hands-free access to GPS, music, or calls is essential for safely navigating the roads — but what good is a mount if you’re having to constantly fiddle with it to keep your phone attached, or needing to pull over to change the orientation? By simply placing your phone against the Car Vent Mount PRO, your phone is secured with phone-safe magnets. With a quick twist, you can swap between portrait and landscape modes one-handed, thanks to the mount’s clever ball joint design. The compact accessory also allows you to loop your phone charger around the back, keeping your cable tidy and within reach. You’ll never have to worry about fumbling to keep the mount secured either, as the vent clip keeps everything in place.
<h2>UltraGlass Treated Screen Protector for iPhone 13</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckv9ya8rl005p1somcvkna8p7" data-bonsai-variant-id="OVA078zz"></div>
Key Selling Point: German-engineered glass that reduces wear and tear and prevents deep cracks. 
This screen protector is nothing like those flimsy pieces of plastic you get with your phone case — its scratch-resistant surface is two times stronger than tempered glass, making it one of the strongest screen protectors out there. It’s made out of UltraGlass, a chemically strengthened material that increases durability and protects against scratches from everyday objects like keys and coins. If you do drop your phone, the UltraGlass prevents surface cracks from penetrating deeper layers of your phone. While some screen protectors weaken your phone touchscreen capabilities, the UltraGlass Treated Screen Protector for iPhone 13 is cut thinly so that it’s highly sensitive to any pressure applied to it — and it’s been engineered with an anti-fingerprint coating so your screen doesn’t get smudged while you’re scrolling through TikTok. 
<h2>HiFi Smart Speaker and Wireless Charger</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckv9ya4pv004p1sq32dgg3qha" data-bonsai-variant-id="G1S0002tt-BLK"></div>
Key Selling Point: This voice-enabled speaker comes with an added feature: a wireless charging station. 
With the HiFi Smart Speaker and Wireless Charger, listening to music feels like you’re in the studio with the artist. Despite the speaker’s small size, you’ll be able to hear the deep bass of every song with Devialet’s signature Push-Push vibration-canceling dual-woofer configuration. This speaker is also voice-enabled, so you can tell it to play your favorite playlist from the kitchen so that it’s all set to go before you reach your bedroom (or wherever else it's set up). If you want to bring it outside or to a different room, it’s small enough to easily transport and set up in a different area of your house. Once the music starts playing, you can set your phone on the speaker for a quick wireless charge while you listen to your favorite workout playlist or true-crime podcast. 
<h2>Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckv9ya949005p1snd6afadngy" data-bonsai-variant-id="WSP090"></div>
Key Selling Point: With voice control and schedule-setting capabilities, this is not your garden-variety outdoor outlet. 
Who knew plugs could be so high-tech? The Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug will make you wonder how you ever lived without a smart plug in your home. It’s easy set-up means you can get started on customizing your outdoor lighting immediately. Just download the app, plug in the device and connect to WiFi  to start controlling your lights via the Wemo app. You can do this from any room in your house, and if you are outside, you can even use voice control to turn your lights on and off. It’s durable and waterproof so, unlike a normal plug, you won’t have to worry about it when it rains. You can create schedules using the app as well, so when it’s sunny outside, you can sit in your outdoor space and garden until nighttime, watching the lights turn on by themselves once the sun sets. 
<h2>Final Thoughts </h2>
Whether you’re  trying to declutter your nightstand or get your garden ready for the summer, there are tons of ways to upgrade your tech. Take a long look at current headphones and see if it might be time to finally retire the same wired headphones you’ve been using for the last three years for a newer model. Or maybe it’s time to stop just putting your phone in an empty cup whenever you need a speaker, and get one that provides better audio quality while charging your phone. 
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

FROM THE DEPT. OF THINGS TO BUY

Switch out your old gear.

Tech Accessories That Are Worth the Upgrade

Brushing your teeth, swiping on some deodorant, and showering are all essential daily hygiene habits, but our favorite products’ <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/beauty-personal-care-industry-plastic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">packaging is often made of plastic</a> and can be difficult to reuse or repurpose. We know you’re probably up to your ears in infographics, ads, and friends telling you that switching to sustainable products is important — but they’re right. Swapping out your current toothbrush or deodorant doesn’t have to be a chore, and the new products you pick up might actually be easier to continue replacing. Here are some of our favorites.
<h2>Boie Fine Toothbrush</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckvtuzu0p003v1rvm8qgdh2lb" data-bonsai-variant-id="30552281481286"></div>
Key Selling Point: This toothbrush is affordable and 100 percent recyclable. 
This minimalist toothbrush from Boie uses a silicone-like material for its bristles for a more comfortable brushing experience. The replaceable head makes the toothbrush last longer, and the BPA- and latex-free material make it safer. It’s also available in six colors — black, blue, pink, red, green, and yellow. Best of all, it’s fully recyclable, so you can feel good when the time comes to order a replacement. 
<h2>Alpyn Beauty PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckn7ke17o00041r0z88mmfzoi"></div>
Key Selling Point: This vegan moisturizer includes hyaluronic acid, squalane, and bakuchiol to hydrate and clear your skin. 
The lightweight formula from Alpyn Beauty hydrates your skin while leaving a matte finish to keep you from looking too shiny. It uses hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate, while bakuchiol smooths out your skin. We like that the packaging and glass jar are recyclable (though you need to remove the label first), and it’s fragrance-free.
<h2>Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash</h2>
&nbsp;
<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckkh0misw1del1caq2yc91mfr" data-bonsai-variant-id="37350105857"></div>
Key Selling Point: This soap smells good and is good for the planet. 
The Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash is vegan and made of all-organic ingredients. It’s certified organic by <a href="https://tilth.org/certification/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oregon Tilth</a>, and the fresh scent is inspired by NorCal Redwoods. The bottles are made of 100 percent recycled PET bottles, and you can refill your soap at <a href="https://bathingculture.com/pages/refills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retail stores near you</a>.
<h2>Eir Pitted Deodorant</h2>
&nbsp;
<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckljow64j000v115k8umxhwx5" data-bonsai-variant-id="42613208902"></div>
Key Selling Point: This deodorant works well on sensitive skin, and it has plastic-free packaging. 
Natural deodorants get a bad rep for, well, not deodorizing very well. The Eir Pitted Deodorant, though, uses arrowroot, baking soda, and fir needle essential oil to ward off odors, and the coconut oil and shea butter make it comfortable even for the most sensitive users. The plastic-free packaging and stick itself are also completely compostable.
<h2>Superzero Protein + Green Tea Shampoo Bar Bundle </h2>
&nbsp;
<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckp6xrf3s00eg1r246v1m82zt" data-bonsai-variant-id="39925085372614"></div>
Key Selling Point: The packaging on this plant-based shampoo is plastic-free. 
Superzero’s long-lasting shampoo bar is great for folks with normal, oily, or fine hair. It uses green tea leaf oil, juniper berry oil, and avocado oil to hydrate and strengthen your hair, and it’s also safe for those who use dye. The packaging is also plastic-free and cuts down on carbon emissions.
<h2>Jack Henry Beard Oil</h2>
&nbsp;
<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckrch3z3g00021rs9c9wlhz06" data-bonsai-variant-id="13366248931443"></div>
Key Selling Point: It’s a lightweight formula made with organic ingredients you can feel good about. 
Jack Henry’s Beard Oil uses jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and bergamot oil to moisturize and nourish hair. Users report it doesn’t leave hair too shiny. Plus, ingredients are sourced from the United States, South Africa, and France.
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
Everyone’s body is different, so not all sustainable products will work for you. But going green (or at least being as eco-friendly as possible) doesn’t need to be too difficult. While compromising on ingredients can sometimes be harmful for your skin, you can still look for products with recyclable packaging or refillable bottles to help cut down on unnecessary waste.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.
&nbsp;

Switch out your toiletries for more eco-friendly options.

Sustainable Personal Care Items to Add to Your Medicine Cabinet

It may come as a shock now, but during the salad days of Barack Obama's first term, lots of people in the US government believed that we could get back to the Moon without the help of billionaires.
That's how we ended up with the Space Launch System, an <a href="https://futurism.com/nasas-sls-broken-again">enormous and staggeringly expensive</a> rocket that's poised to return human beings to the Moon for the first time since the early 1970s as part of NASA's Artemis missions.
The project isn't without its critics, though, especially as SpaceX prepares to test its interplanetary Starship, a reusable rocket that outclasses the SLS in many respects. In her new book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Gravity-Quest-Transform-Launch-ebook/dp/B09HZH2SWB">Escaping Gravity</a>," former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver dishes on the controversial project — as well as the book's themes of <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/lori-garver-nasa-slurs">sexism in the industry</a>, her relationship with old coworkers, and much more.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Futurism: What do you think people often get wrong about NASA or about working at NASA?
Lori Garver: I think people presume that NASA has more of a change between administrations. This is a really common criticism, "oh, you're just off on one thing and the reason we haven't made progress is because a new president came in and changed it."
As I say in the book, new presidents come in. And of course, in a democracy, NASA's getting government funding. Some of the people within NASA do, surprisingly, not feel like they're part of the administration. They're used to lobbying those members of Congress who have traditionally supported their programs, though that's not actually an ethical thing for government employees to do.
Presidents, when they come in with their transitions, typically are just looking to see the status of everything. And programs that they uncover, that are doing well and are on track and on budget — they never were gonna change those.
So, the elephant in the room is NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and you really pulled no punches —
That's not true, I pulled plenty of punches! [Laughs] There's nothing personal in there.
Have you gotten any backlash?
I have not. I was recently at a very broadly attended, I think there were 1500 of us, industry space NASA event. We go to a baseball game every year and get a block of tickets, and we call it space ball. So I went, knowing this is the first once since the book came out.
Senior NASA people were there, but Senator Nelson was not — he tested positive for COVID the day before. The number three NASA person was there, who I know. I talked to many NASA people. And the overwhelming reaction was very positive to the book. I got so many women saying "this is really meaningful to me," and many in the Space Force and the military side of space saying, "this is really important, because this is happening on our side, too."
It was unbelievable. I am well aware that there were lots of people there that didn't come up to me, who would have had something negative to say.
I was going into it just recognizing that this is controversial, but I think that's the point. These are policy discussions that we need to have. And the people who are still supporting the Space Launch System, the things that Senator Nelson put in place a dozen years ago — they're not bad people. They were just given programs that are not sustainable to work on. And I know they're proud of the progress and they want to see it launch successfully.
You mentioned the SLS here and in your book as something that's not sustainable. Candidly, do you think it presents a serious opportunity for space exploration, or is it just too expensive, and by the time it gets off the ground, it will be obsolete?
Sadly, I think it is the latter. I think it is just not sustainable.
The opportunity it would have provided, if it had been, as advertised, launched by 2017 and for less than half the price it is now, would have been different. Again, I wasn't very confident that would happen. But even if you believe the people who were selling us that program did believe they could match it and have the recurring launch costs be $500 million — that is entirely different than than what we have today.
So even though I didn't want it to go forward, it had some potential. They added, what, seven years and over $10 billion dollars — $20 billion if you add Orion — just makes it so untenable that I don't think the public is going to find it to be something that is equal, much less beyond, what we did 50 years ago.
You said a number of times that it the SLS was "sold" to NASA. Can  you speak a little bit to that? Who was doing the selling and do you think they were aware it that was unrealistic?
At one point, Brewster Shaw, a Boeing executive and former astronaut, stood in my office — I don't name him in the book, but people have asked — and he told me that Boeing could do SLS for $6 billion in five years. And I laughed, and he did not think was funny.
He had a bad back at the time, so he was standing, and I was standing also, otherwise he'd be lording over me. And I said, "you cannot believe that. I don't think you believe that." And you have to know Brewster, he's a very serious, always serious person. And he just really wouldn't budge.
NASA looked at that $6 billion figure and said well, we think maybe $8 billion, let's give it a cushion. And then the Hill gave it a push and made it $10 billion. This thing is now, what, $22 billion or something?
So did Shaw know? That's a good question. Someone ought to ask him.
At the time I left NASA in 2013, I said "I think SLS is going to slip a year or two." NASA came back and said, "she's wrong, it's not slipping." And the head of SLS for Boeing said "it's ahead of schedule, across the board." They were still saying then that it would launch in 2017.
So were they lying? Did they think they could really do that?
Do you think that the future of spaceflight lies with private companies like SpaceX or Blue Origin, if not with SLS?
Well, spaceflight is a broad term. Space launch, that was what my focus was — because lowering the cost to orbit had been the goal for so long, and we had not accomplished this goal. I knew that the government's incentives, the way we were doing things, wasn't going to lower costs, innovate, or expand markets.
I try not to be too critical, even of the spaceflight industry, because they owe value to their shareholders, and they had these contracts, they wanted to keep them. But that's why it's the government's responsibility to step up and establish policies that do incentivize the right behavior.
So spaceflight per se, going to the Moon, going to Mars — I'm not sure about the broader market and when those costs will come down. NASA is obviously in a hybrid system now where they're contracting in some ways, in a fixed price situation, where I don't think this would be too successful if we didn't have the billionaires willing to invest some money, because they happen to have visions that align with these programs.
I think the rest of the industry is trying to figure out how they can make that system work in their world. And I'm frankly not sure how to exactly do that. But the spaceflight industry, and lots of what NASA does, is in my view not ripe for commercialization.
Switching gears, I want to ask something you may have been asked a bunch of times before: do you think NASA is a sexist institution?
No, I do not. I think historically, we have been, and I think we can do more to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.
I think inherently there are now just so many more female leaders. I even believe government in general has done a much better job maybe than the private sector. Part of the reason is, you know, because we've had these laws, but you also have to have the intention.
We have to ask every space person this, but: do you believe in extraterrestrial life or have you seen evidence of it?
Personally, I think it's harder to imagine that we are the only life in the universe, so that certainly puts me in the category of believing there is extraterrestrial life. What that consists of, how far it has evolved, is certainly unknown to me.
NASA has programs more focused on things like finding microbial life or the conditions that could suit the kind of life we know about. I was always in favor of this Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program as a very small dollar amount. The search for extraterrestrial intelligent life is something that I think the public — who pays for NASA — has an interest in. These programs are not expensive, because we aren't physically, you know, sending humans to do that.
I think there are only a couple of things that can really take us the next step on this planet. You know, we went to space, and when we look back, a big theme of my book is that we learned we're in this together. The way to really hammer that home is to learn there are others, other life forms, out there that undoubtedly would not look like us. Sorry, Gene Roddenberry.
We do have more in common than we have differences, and I think we would do well to know that and to recognize that.
More on NASA: <a href="https://futurism.com/scathing-report-nasa-behind-moon-landing">Scathing Report Admits NASA Is Years Behind Moon Landing Schedule</a>

And Beyond

"I think it is just not sustainable."

How NASA Got Price Gouged on the SLS, According to Its Former Second-in-Command

Get the speed you need to enjoy lag-free gaming. 

Best Gaming Routers of 2022

Far too many home cooks are more obsessed with hardware than they are about software. What good is a $700 knife if your ingredients are sub-par? Half the battle of making your meals taste good has to do with how you flavor everything from skinless chicken breasts to chopped dinosaur kale. I’m willing to bet that the spices and seasonings in your pantry haven’t been replaced since the tail end of the Obama administration. Plus, there are likely some untapped flavor profiles you haven’t even considered adding to your repertoire. Here are five secret ingredients that will breathe new life into whatever’s for dinner. 
<h2>Renewal Mill x Occo Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownie Kit</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="cl2w8fu9h040h01r47mnce4qh" data-bonsai-variant-id="42273118879893"></div>
Key Selling Point: New twist on a classic treat.
One of the easiest ways to improve a classic brownie recipe is to not try and reinvent the wheel.  Instead, tap into subtle but surprising flavors. Chocolate is an art form in Mexico, where artisans still mill cacao beans by hand over centuries-old lava rock. Spice experts Occo have curated five spices to add to a bag of Renewal Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. Once baked, these brownies will have a warm, satisfying finish, with a crackly churro crust to boot. Let's see a box of Betty Crocker pull that off.
<h2>Moonflowers Saffron Threads, 10 Grams</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckv0zvego00g21rq61p1c1i0o" data-bonsai-variant-id="40088497520789"></div>
Key Selling Point: An affordable splurge on the world’s most coveted spice. 
What does luxury taste like? Oysters, caviar, and wild truffles have their fans, but pound for pound, saffron is one of the priciest foods on the planet. Luckily, a little goes a long way and gives everything from rice pilaf to ice cream base a summery yellow hue and unique floral fragrance and taste. While lesser brands cut the real stuff with fillers and colors, Moonflowers doesn’t settle for anything less than deep red threads in its hand-picked offerings. If you’ve never tried saffron, dip your toes with Moonflowers, which packages its threads almost like jewelry.
<h2>Brightland Cellars: The Luminous Capsule</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="cku35roeh00301rmp6c655iva" data-bonsai-variant-id="39461946785855"></div>
Key Selling Point: Three summery ingredients that work great alone, and amazing together.
Brightland Cellars curates the best extra virgin olive oils, fruity vinegar, and floral-forward honey, and its “Luminous Capsule” is crafted to perfect for anyone looking to up their flavor game. It includes Awake, a robust extra virgin olive oil that’s perfect for grilling meat, sauteeing veggies, or just using it as a dip for warm bread. It pairs well with Parasol, a raw champagne vinegar with a refreshing brightness that will make you forget about crummy old balsamic. The package is topped off with a jar of California Orange Blossom Honey, which packs both floral intensity and a citrusy punch. Use these ingredients separately, or combine them and add a smack of summer to dinnertime year-round.
<h2>Sriracha Spice Blend Set</h2>
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<div data-bonsai-product-id="ckurdx5yj07p21roqdi4lg20m" data-bonsai-variant-id="53416"></div>
Key Selling Point: Powdered version of your favorite hot sauce that’s made to sprinkle on everything. 
Your favorite hot sauce with the rooster on the bottle tastes good on everything from eggs to ramen, but cooking with it can occasionally throw off a recipe. This spice blend by Uncommon Goods comprises six different Sriracha flavor profiles including Black Truffle, Candied Bacon, Honey Garlic, Miso Teriyaki, Thai Lime, and Smoked Maple. Each of these will pack that familiar and satisfying nostril-searing spice that’s great for adding to sauteed veggies, marinades, or just sprinkling over popcorn or air-fried potato wedges. Switching out your pepper mill for one of these six spice blends is an easy way to turn the flavor quotient up to 11.
<h2>Bachan's Original Japanese BBQ Sauce, 17 ounces</h2>
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Key Selling Point: Powdered version of your favorite hot sauce that’s made to sprinkle on everything. 
There’s no cuisine on earth that has umami down pat better than Japanese, and this barbecue sauce is the fifth flavor distilled into a delicious sauce. Bachan’s Original Japanese BBQ sauce will be familiar if you’ve enjoyed an omakase sushi platter or bento box lunch. What’s Bachan’s good on? Pretty much everything. Its versatility makes it play well with hot dogs, burgers, grilled meat, and even homemade California rolls. But considering the savory complexity in this bottle, it’s also great adding straight to your favorite recipes in place of BBQ sauce or ketchup. Plus, check out that kawaii octopus on the bottle—how can you not want to score a bottle? 
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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