travel size good girl

Travel Size Products that Are Worth the Money (and Those that Are Not)

TOILETRIES , Toiletries

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I have to be 100% honest with you. While certain travel size products are convenient others are a waste of money. Find out which items are essential and which you can save money on!

Travel Size Products that are Worth the Money (and Not)

As you can see in this article , there are several alternatives to packing a full size blow dryer. Before you decide to pack your own blow dryer I’d suggest to check with your accommodation to see if they provide them for guests.

If they don’t, stick to a travel size blow dryer and make sure it’s foldable! These gadgets are definitely a packing luxury so try to save space when you can and get the most compact version possible.  This foldable style is recommended by one of TFG’s previous guest writers in this article on dealing with high maintenance hair styles .

Straightener

This is one item where I’m going to have to vote full size. I have yet to encounter a travel-size flat iron strong enough to straighten tough curls. (Even regular size irons are a challenge for mine!)

Other female travelers I’ve spoken to tend to agree. They feel that they’re one inch irons don’t take up too much room and the benefits far outweigh the cons. I have to agree with them. While you can find blow dryers in many accommodation options flat irons are a rarity.

A hairbrush is similar to a blow dryer where it can be a weird cumbersome shape preventing you from making the most use of your suitcase space. Avoid the drama and buy a travel size hairbrush.

If you prefer top of the line products, many do offer travel versions as well including rolling brushes. For girls with low maintenance easy hair styles , a basic comb like this may work for you.

Having a foldable toothbrush is definitely useful for shorter trips however, for longer term, I prefer to use something more durable. Avoid those thick toothbrush containers and to save space just buy the attachment to protect the head from germs.

If you use an electronic brush definitely look into portable solutions. such as Interplak Rechargeable Power Toothbrush  by Conair. As a bonus, they come in several cute colors and prints! The last thing you want to do is drag around a giant toothbrush and charger especially on long trips. Some places may not even have plugs in the bathrooms. Battery operated travel size gets two thumbs up from me.

When it comes to toiletries, travel size products are hardly ever worth the investment. However, you cannot put a price on the convenience these little items offer you.

• For weekend trips, skip travel size and look for sample sizes. Try to decanter products into smaller reusable containers whenever possible.
• For one-two week trips , use a combination of travel-size and decantered products depending on the item and how much of it you use.
• For long trips , stick to travel size and buy along the way. Carrying full size products adds to much weight and for a few extra dollars a month you can keep minimal products in your bag at all times.

Whatever you do, just please never pack a full size bottle of shampoo, conditioner, or anything! The exception to this might be sunblock if you plan to travel an extended period of time. It tends to be very expensive abroad.

What travel size products do you recommend? Please comment below!

For more toiletry tips, please read:

• The Beauty Junkie’s Guide to Packing A Minimalist Travel Makeup Kit
• Packing List for RTW Trip: 5 Steps to Choosing Toiletries
• 14 Point Checklist: What Travel Beauty Products to Pack (and Leave Behind)
• 5 Must Have Beauty Products for Travel (and Why I Won’t Leave Home Without Them)

Hope you liked this post on travel size products that are worth the money. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

10 comments.

I was looking for a hair dryer for my mother and landed here. After that I searched for hair dryers and ended up with the babyliss one! My mother was not disappointed!

That’s awesome Diana! Glad you liked it 🙂

Hi! Thank you for the wonderful tips! Fyi the link to your favorite deodorant doesn’t work^ Please continue creating this amazing content!

Thank you Julieta!

I love the hairdryer you posted. It is my go to travel hairdryer! Love it!

I have found that the travel Chi works pretty well.

Glad you like it Lorri 🙂

I am loving all your tips – I even just purchased your ebook and read it all in one sitting!! For the shampoo and conditioner, bars are good options – they take up little room and last very long!

Hi Erica, thank you! I’m happy you’re enjoying the blog and the ebook too 🙂 Yay!

Solid shampoo is Lush’s gift to those of us that want to pack light!

A very popular choice!

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The Best Travel Clothes for Women Inspired by Celebrities Like Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift

Starting at just $12

Versatile Travel Dresses

Flowy pants and maxi skirts, travel tops and breezy blouses.

• Other Travel Clothes You’re Forgetting
• How to Pack

Why Trust PEOPLE?

People / Getty / Gwyneth Paltrow / Instagram

As a travel writer, my suitcase is nearly always half-packed. Long flights demand comfort, but new sights and cities demand style . To complicate matters, I’m a maximalist, so traditional travel advice to cram a small capsule wardrobe into a backpack never quite appeals to me, even if I have to fight the luggage scale when checking in for my flight.

Packing properly for any trip can be daunting, whether you’re throwing together a duffel for a girls’ weekend or filling a checked bag  for a multi-month jaunt all over Europe. Still, my adventures across multiple countries, climates, and time zones taught me to reach for certain staples — like comfortable walking shoes and a reliable crossbody purse — time and time again. While nailing down my perfect travel wardrobe, I turned to on-the-go celebrities like Taylor Swift and Emily Blunt for inspiration. 

A packing list comprised of versatile dresses, flowy pants, maxi skirts, and breezy shirts can go a long way — literally. Read on for the best celeb-inspired travel clothes for women to pack for your upcoming trips, as determined by shopper insights, professional style writers, celebrity research, and more.

Dresses give you plenty of bang for your buck when it comes to traveling. For one, they tend to be flexible compared to other clothing items: You can dress them up or down more effectively to target a specific dress code. Chic maxi dresses reigned supreme last summer, and Meghan Markle recently elevated  that trend in a silky high-neck maxi dress — stylish enough for a formal engagement but breezy enough for an afternoon in the sun.

Dresses of varying lengths also tend to be more conducive to layering. While summer may be “sundress season,” and we see celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow reaching for transitional midi styles in spring, the right travel dress can be an effective staple in your winter wardrobe, too. You can keep the style in your cold-weather repertoire by winterizing the look like Emily Ratajkowski . Opt for a darker colorway, chunky boots, and maybe a sweater. 

Shop any of these styles starting at just $30

The Drop Women’s Britt Tiered Maxi Tent Dress

This tiered maxi dress has an array of 1,900+ perfect five-star ratings on Amazon for its airiness — and rave reviews from multiple PEOPLE writers . It’s such a classic silhouette for all occasions, and it has the most coveted design detail on dresses: pockets. Shoppers do note that there’s little stretch, so consider your bust size when ordering. 

Sizes: XXS–5X | Materials: 100% Tencel Lyocell | Colors: 18

Editors Say

“I bought this maxi dress from The Drop when it was on sale, and I’m going to buy two more at full price — that’s how much I love it. In fact, I have to force myself not to wear it multiple times a week. It’s comfortable, lightweight, and flattering for my short, curvy body. It even has pockets and adjustable straps that can be crossed in the back. The best part, though? I don’t have to wear a bra!” — Kayla Kitts , shopping editor

Linen Roll Tab Dollman Midi Dress

Chico's

An ankle-skimming midi always comes in handy, and a linen fabric is an excellent choice for temperature regulation: cooling in warmer climates yet cozy in cooler ones. This relaxed, button-down frock comes in whimsical watermelon and khaki hues. It even has adjustable, oversized sleeves for added comfort.

Sizes: XS–XL | Materials: 100% linen | Colors: 2

Skinny Strap Seamless Mini Slip

Free People

Free People excels in lightweight, flattering, multi-use dresses. Most pieces in their slip category — like this itty-bitty seamless LBD — can be worn as an undergarment, dress, or top. (Just tuck it in!) Each slip truly compresses down to nothing, making it the ultimate space-saving garment.

Sizes: XS–XL | Materials: 92% nylon, 8% spandex | Colors: 3

Roxy Golden Dawn Dress

Everybody needs a comfortable floral sundress to throw on in warmer climates, especially after a sunburn. Whether you frequent the beach in your travels or just want something soft that wears in well over time, this Roxy pick is built for comfort.

Available Sizes: M, L | Materials: Viscose | Colors: 1

Tencel Jersey Tank Maxi Dress

This Quince pick has a soft, comfy stretch ideal for long days on your feet, and is even made of biodegradable fabric. With six colorways and a  lightweight and sleeveless silhouette, this dress almost guarantees plenty of use.

Sizes: XS–XL | Materials: Tencel, spandex | Colors: 6

People / Getty

The right flowy pants can make the ultimate base layer, whether you’re on a nine-hour flight or dressing to the nines. Loose, roomier pants have been all the rage this year, with celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence , Zendaya , and Emily Blunt all sporting various wide-leg styles.

Similarly, breezy white maxi skirts are majorly on trend right now (and always), stylist Liz Teich told PEOPLE. Just look at Katie Holmes stepping out in NYC. She exemplifies how airy styles can be  great for warmer weather, but still look polished. Plus, the lighter fabrics are literally lighter in your bag, so why not throw in another?

Tronjori High Waist Casual Wide Leg Palazzo Pants

This Amazon pick embodies the quintessential palazzo pant we’ve all bookmarked on Pinterest. The wide leg and high waist are timeless, and the pair comes in a whopping 31 different colorways, plus tall and petite variations.

Sizes: XS–XXL, short and long options | Materials: Polyester | Colors: 31

Hermoza Rachel Skirt Dress

While this one’s more of a splurge, its multifunctionality makes it a worthy all-in-one piece for any vacation. As a frequent traveler and Hawai’i resident, I was absolutely flabbergasted (and fascinated) when I found out this floral maxi skirt/dress hybrid is made of durable swimsuit material.  

Pair it with the matching swimsuit top for a striking two-piece set by the beach, wear it as a vibrant maxi dress to dinner, or style the skirt alone with a gauzy button-down and sandals for a jaunt through town. Of course, I love how convenient it is to wash and dry for travels, too.

Sizes: XS–L | Materials: Polyester, elastane | Colors: 1

Nashalyly Chiffon High-Waisted Pleated Skirt

This shopper-favorite maxi skirt has over 5,000 five-star ratings from Amazon customers, who note that you’ll want to size up for the best fit. Reviewers appreciate the skirt’s easy movement, comfortable elastic waist, and how many outfits they can build with it.

Sizes: S–3XL | Materials: Chiffon | Colors: 44

Daily Practice by Anthropologie Parachute Pants

Anthropologie

These pants are my personal go-to. I wear them to work in, to work out in, and to casual gatherings and nights out with friends. Most crucially, I wear them every single time I pass through an airport. They’re incredibly comfortable, lightweight (I tend to overheat on travel days), and adaptable, with plenty of pockets for easy ID and passport access. I’ve bought them in multiple colors, from neutrals to bolds.

Sizes: XXS–3X plus petite sizing | Materials: Nylon | Colors: 9

Getty Images

Even if you’re wearing the same pair of jeans day in, day out for the duration of your ten-day stint to Australia, Greece, or wherever you’re traveling, the right top can make a similar foundation feel like an entirely different look. First, you’ll want a collection of sleek, basic tanks and tops for ultimate versatility. Or perhaps a nautical, striped button down, ideally summoning visions of boat days and beachside barbecues. (Oh, and easy sun protection.) As Jessica Alba proves with white jeans and coordinating sneakers, the look is seasonal and sophisticated .

And is there anything better than wearing a delicate eyelet blouse on a hot summer day? A breezy blouse can serve as a dressy swimsuit cover-up at the beach. It can also keep your wardrobe work-friendly while on a Zoom meeting across time zones, or give a romantic vibe during date night. 

Wear it loose like Taylor Swift out for a summer walk, or tucked in like Jennifer Aniston at dinner in Paris. Either way, a casual blouse might just be a better companion on your vacation than your plus one.

Wild Fable Cap Sleeve Ruched Side Seam T-Shirt

This pullover top can be styled in a variety of ways, making it a must-have on any trip with limited packing space. The subtle side ruching and cap sleeve add some feminine detail that dress it up for more elevated occasions, but it’s definitely casual enough to rock on a daily basis. As another PEOPLE writer noted , the cap sleeve is an ideal middle ground between a tank and short sleeve — which might be why Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift are so fond of the style.

Sizes: XXS–4X | Materials: Recycled polyester, spandex | Colors: 4

H&M Top with Eyelet Embroidery Sleeves

A simple eyelet short-sleeve top can serve you on many occasions, whether jetting off on a day trip or trekking to your regular weekend brunch spot. At only $20, this adorable H&M puff-sleeve is just frothy enough to add a little je ne sais quoi , but has a  French simplicity at its core.

Sizes: XS–XXL | Materials: 100% cotton | Colors: 3

Gap Modern Mock Neck

Deal alert.

This Gap tank is up to 60 percent off in a range of neutral and stripe patterns for a limited time.

There’s never a bad time to stock up on flattering basics like this Gap tank. Available in regular, tall, and petite sizes, this Meghan Markle -esque mock-neck top has a straight silhouette and slim fit, and truly goes with everything .

Sizes: XXS–XXL, in regular, tall, and petite | Materials: 58% cotton, 39% modal, 3% spandex | Colors: 5

AE Perfect Button-Up Shirt

American Eagle

Right now, this American Eagle button-up is 60 percent off in all colors.

Okay, we’ll admit it: We never quite got over the coastal grandmother trend. And why should we? The whole point is that it’s timeless, classic, and elegant whether you’re going all-in on a preppy look or simply throwing on a striped button-down as a cover-up after the beach. This soft, effortless shirt has a slightly oversized fit for extra comfort.

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Materials: 100% cotton | Colors: 8

The Other Travel Clothes You’re Forgetting

Tops? Check. Flowy pants and skirts? Check. Dresses that you can wear out or treat as a cover-up? Practically the daily uniform. Still, there are a few other staples you’ll want to make sure you have on hand, too. It’s an oft-repeated cliché, but layering truly is key.

Levi’s Womens 501 Original Jean Shorts

These Levi’s shorts are currently 40 percent off at Amazon. 

Jean shorts are essential for casual days strolling through a city or impromptu meetups with friends. Throw them on over a sleek swimsuit or break them out in transitional weather. And this isn’t the only Levi’s denim we’re fond of — two of its most popular jeans hold space in our team’s closets, too.

Sizes: 23–39 | Materials: Denim | Colors: 44

AE Long Weekend Crewneck Sweater

This American Eagle Crewneck Sweater is 60 percent off for a limited time.

A layerable neutral sweater is another travel must-have, especially in that frigid airplane air conditioning. Similarly, for those long stretches away from home, an oversized sweater can also be a cuddly comfort for when you’re missing your own bed.

Sizes: XXS–L | Materials: Cotton | Colors: 1

How to Pack the Best Travel Clothes

When building your travel wardrobe, you’ll want to consider factors like trip duration, climate, and more. Do you want year-round items or would you rather commit to rotating your staples seasonally? Will you have access to laundry? (If not, you’ll want to opt for fabrics that wick away odor and sweat so you can get multiple wears out of each item.) Are there sights or situations that have etiquette requirements and dress codes requiring a certain amount of coverage? 

Some personal guidance as a travel expert: Many packing guides might swear by a neutral, minimalist capsule wardrobe for ultimate frequency of wear, but you shouldn’t be afraid to go maximalist either. If you pick comfortable, durable pieces, you’ll still get more use from those “singular” funky outfits than you expect — and your camera roll will thank you for choosing the pieces you actually love most. Similarly, accessories like bold jewelry or belts generally take up very little luggage real estate but go a long way in elevating any look. Might as well add some pizzazz to your Pisa pic, right?

And don’t forget the packing cubes and travel organizers to get the most space out of your carry-on suitcase , either.

Grace Smith is a fashion and travel writer who, as a frequent hotel reviewer, spends as much time as possible floating through various destinations. Long flights (and the resulting OOTDs) are very much her forte. She extensively combed through shopper reviews, expert commentary, and celebrity insights for the top travel clothing items. Looking at the most popular brands and keeping her own globe-trotting experience in mind, Grace curated this list of the best travel clothes for women to pack for all of your 2024 destinations.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Girl, 9, shot in London restaurant drive-by was having dinner with her family

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A nine-year-old girl who was having dinner with her family is in critical condition after being shot in a Hackney Turkish restaurant yesterday evening.

Three other men, aged 26, 37 and 42, remain in hospital for treatment, with one facing life-changing injuries after being shot in Evin Restaurant on the busy high street in Dalston, Hackney .

Police were called at about 9.20pm to Kingsland High Street after reports of multiple gunshots fired.

The little girl who was shot is not thought to have known the other men injured in the shooting.

Now, two crime scenes have been put in place, after the motorbike thought to be used in the shooting was found abandoned on nearby Colvestone Crescent and was confirmed to have been stolen.

Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Met Police said: ‘Our thoughts are with her family and they are being supported by specialist officers.’

Khadiga, who has lived in Dalston since she was four-years-old, heard shots just as she was about to have dinner at her aunt’s house.

The suspected shooter, allegedly a man on a motorbike, stuffed the gun into a bag before taking off, she told Metro.co.uk .

She said: ‘After the fifth shot, I opened the window and saw him shooting. He had a white helmet on with a white motorbike, and was wearing gloves. He drove off quickly. I saw the girl, she was put inside the ambulance.’

Latest London news

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To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub .

Khadiga described Dalston as ‘chaotic,’ but she said she has never seen ‘a drive-by shooting before.’

‘It was hell, hell for everyone affected, especially in this area. It was really dramatic. Everyone is affected by it. When one of us is affected, we all are.’ she added.

Gunshots can be heard fired on CCT footage obtained by The Sun before the sound of a motorbike speeding away.

An eyewitness, who was at the Evin restaurant at the time, told Hackney Gazette the high street was ‘busier than usual’ before shots were fired.

He said: ‘There was a big group having dinner in the rear. I couldn’t get my usual table so got one close to the front window.

‘The big group paid up and left and shortly afterwards that’s when the loud bangs – which were obviously gunshots – happened.’

Everyone dived onto the floor and under the tables in the ‘chaos’ after the incident, the eyewitness said.

He said that he used his coat to stop the bleeding at a leg wound after seeing someone was injured, before emergency services arrived ten minutes later.

A coffee shop worker nearby, who wished to remain anonymous for fear the incident was gang-related, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Most of the shops were shut down at the time it happened.’

The coffee shop worker said something needs to be done fast about ‘what’s happening in London.’

Jay, who lives nearby the restaurant, said he heard five shots being fired around 9.10pm and he ‘ran up the street’ to see what had happened.

He told Metro.co.uk he saw ‘a guy on the floor outside Evin’ before the street was cordoned off in just 10 minutes.

An eyewitness across the road told him ‘a guy on a bike showed up and then went off.’

Officers, including specialist firearms officers, attended along with the London Ambulance Service and an air ambulance trauma team in a car.

Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries at the scene and they were rushed to a hospital in east London.

No arrests have been made yet, but police have appealed for any witnesses with information to come forward.

With the investigation at an early stage, police were ‘keeping an open mind’ over the motive of the attack, Ch Supt Conway said.

He asked those on Kingsland High Street at the time of the attack with information or footage to share it with the force.

The owner of nearby Dalston Jazz Bar said terrified bystanders fled the scene ‘screaming’ as gunshots rang out.

He told The Sun : ‘They shut everywhere down. It was a guy on a motorbike doing the shooting.

‘Police saw a helmet and started crowding around it because they thought it might be his.’

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said that ‘Londoners will be shocked’ by the incident.

He added: ‘Our thoughts go to all those affected.

‘Fast moving enquiries are under way and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us.’

Ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers and tactical response unit attended along with a trauma team from the London Air Ambulance, a spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said.

‘We treated three adults and one child at the scene before taking them all to a major trauma centre,’ they said.

Anyone with information that can help police should call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A section of Kingsland Road A10 remained closed on Thursday morning between Abbot Street and Shacklewell Lane.

The entire junction has been shut down while they investigate, an officer told Metro.co.uk, but is expected to reopen by Friday.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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NASA space telescope finds Earth-size exoplanet that's 'not a bad place' to hunt for life

Gliese 12 b is tantalizingly close and moderately warm, situated just 40 light-years away around a red dwarf star.

Scientists using a NASA space telescope have discovered a tantalizing world. It's about the size of Earth, sits remarkably close to our solar system, and could be comfortable for life as we know it.

The extrasolar planet, or " exoplanet ," named Gliese 12 b, orbits a small and cool  red dwarf star  located just around 40 light-years from  Earth  in the constellation  Pisces . The exoplanet — which the team found with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) — is estimated to have a width around 1.1 times that of Earth, making it similar to our planet as well as Venus, which is often called our world's solar system "twin."

Gliese 12 b orbits its star, Gliese 12, so closely that its year lasts just 12.8 Earth days. However, because the red dwarf Gliese 12 is just around a quarter of the size of the sun, it is also much cooler than our star. This means that, even though Gliese 12 b is at a distance from its red dwarf parent equivalent to just 7% of the distance between the sun and Earth, it still is in its planetary system's habitable zone. Also known as the " Goldilocks Zone ," the habitable zone is the region around a star that is neither too hot nor too cold for planets to host liquid water, a vital ingredient for life as we know it. Though, importantly, the two teams behind the discovery of Gliese 12 b can't yet say for sure if it has an atmosphere. It therefore remains unclear if the world could be habitable, but the researchers have some cautious optimism.

Related: Young 'cotton candy' exoplanet the size of Jupiter may be shrinking into a super-Earth

"The majorly interesting thing is that this is a planet that's really nearby; in fact, it's one of the closest transiting planets to Earth," University College of London scientist Larissa Palethorpe, who co-led the research with University of Southern Queensland astrophysicist Shishir Dholakia, told Space.com. "It's either in the habitable zone of its star or it is right on the edge of it — so, it could be habitable."

If Earth and Venus had a child

Scientists spotted Gliese 12 b as it crossed, or " transited," the face of its parent red dwarf star . These transits cause tiny dips in light that TESS is adept at spotting. Palethorpe added that, when the team went into this project, they didn't know what the orbital period or the size of the planet would be for sure. 

"To find it to be such a similar size to Earth was kind of a lovely surprise," she continued. "So that was a really nice thing to be able to nail down, but I think especially knowing that, in terms of habitability, it could lie between Earth and Venus, is really exciting."

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Gliese 12 b receives around 85% of the radiation that Venus gets from the sun, but is thought to have a much cooler surface temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius) compared to Venus' surface temperature of 867 degrees Fahrenheit (464 degrees Celsius).

Though Earth and Venus are both in the sun's habitable zone , one can support life and has a favorable atmosphere, while the other is an inhospitable hellscape with temperatures hot enough to melt lead. Studying Gliese 12 b could help us understand why this is the case.

"Gliese 12 b could teach us a lot about how our own solar system has developed as well," Palethorpe added.

The team will now investigate whether Gliese has an atmosphere — but early indications are that, if it does, that atmosphere would be relatively thin. Perhaps surprisingly, however, the lack of a thick atmosphere is good news for the planet's habitability prospects.

"We know some planets have very thick atmospheres of hydrogen that cover the entire planet. This very thick gas layer is actually bad news for habitability," Palethorpe's fellow UCL researcher, Vincent Van Eylen, told Space.com. "Usually, these planets are two or three times the size of Earth. Gliese 12 b is the actual size of Earth, so it probably doesn't have this very thick atmosphere. 

"It could either have no atmosphere , which would not be great for habitability, or it would have this sort of thin atmosphere, kind of like the Earth's."

Still, even if Gliese 12 b does not have an atmosphere, it could still be an important test subject for advancing our search for life elsewhere in the Milky Way. That's because, as a red dwarf, the star it orbits happens to be the most common form of star in our galaxy — yet one we know relatively little about when it comes to red dwarf planetary systems.

Life around red dwarfs 

In the Milky Way, red dwarfs comprise the largest family of stars that are still fusing hydrogen to helium in their cores, a process that defines the so-called " main sequence " lifetime of a star. It is estimated that 60% to 70% of the stars in our galaxy are red dwarfs like Gliese 12, and of the 30 stars closest to Earth, at least 20 are red dwarfs.

"It's interesting to know about planets around the small stars, what they might be like, and whether such planets could have life," Van Eylen added.

Officially known as K-type or M-type stars, red dwarfs have between 7.5% and 50% of the mass of the sun. This low mass, relative to the sun, means such stars burn at a lower temperature, reaching only 6,380 degrees Fahrenheit (3,500 degrees Celsius) compared to the 9,900 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius) temperature of our star. For instance, Gliese 12 has a surface temperature around 60% that of the sun.

This lower temperature means that dimly shining red dwarfs can exist as main sequence stars for much longer than moderately massive stars like the sun can. Though the sun is expected to live for around 10 billion years, red dwarfs are predicted to have lifetimes tens, or even hundreds, of times this period. Sometimes, that figure can extend to trillions of years. What this means is life would have more time to develop on planets orbiting red dwarfs than it would on planets around larger main-sequence stars.

But, it isn't all good news for the prospects of life on red-dwarf-orbiting exoplanets. 

Though they are cooler than the sun in their stellar adulthood, red dwarfs are believed to be much wilder than our star. This class of star is believed to be highly magnetically active, blasting out frequent and powerful flares of high-energy light in the form of X-rays . These X-rays can violently strip the atmosphere of a planet close to a red dwarf.

Additionally, recent research has suggested that even red dwarfs that remain placid for many years can suddenly erupt with superflares 100 to 1,000 times more powerful than the sun's solar flares . These eruptions are more common in the youth of this stellar class and are also capable of stripping atmospheres and boiling away liquid water, even in habitable zones.

At the moment, though, both teams involved in the discovery of Gliese 12 b think the red dwarf in orbit is relatively calm, which could be good news for the exoplanet's chance of possessing an atmosphere.

Red dwarf exoplanets are good TESS targets

The fact that red dwarfs are cooler than stars like the sun and thus their habitable zones are closer to the stars actually makes detecting exoplanets around them a little easier for TESS and its transit method of planet-hunting.

"We have biases towards detecting planets that are close to their host stars essentially, just because they transit more often. When we find planets orbiting red dwarfs because they're smaller stars, the dimming of the transit is bigger," Palethorpe said. "Because red dwarfs are slightly cooler, the habitable zone lies closer to the star than it would for our kind of sun, which means we're more likely to detect planets in the habitable zone with TESS."

The team will have to turn to other instruments than TESS to investigate this planet further. They will also switch to a different method of exoplanet detection to better define the characteristics of Gliese 12 b. One is called the " radial velocity method ," which utilizes the tiny wobbles planets cause in the motion of their stars as they gravitationally tug on those stars. 

"I think next really is to nail down the mass of the planet. We are already actively doing that as part of the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher for the Northern hemisphere (Harps North) team, which is a radial velocity telescope," Palethorpe said. "Then we've also got another proposal accepted with the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere ( ESPRESSO ), which is another radial velocity telescope. And so, hopefully, from kind of the radial velocity observations, we will do this."

Palethorpe and Van Eylen also hope to be granted time with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to further investigate the planet's atmosphere. This is possible because as Gliese 12 b transits the face of its star, light passing through its atmosphere will carry the characteristic fingerprints of elements in the atmosphere. 

This process is called " transmission spectroscopy ," and Gliese 12 b is only one of a handful of temperate Earth-like worlds that are close enough to be examined in this way.

The JWST is currently conducting a similar investigation for the seven Earth-like planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system , located around 40 light-years away. These planets resemble Gliese 12 b in that not only are many of them in the habitable zone of their star, but that star is also a small and cool red dwarf.

"I think with the JWST, we will get at least some clues about the atmosphere of this planet, which would be, I think, the most, the next most exciting thing to do, now that it's been discovered," Van Eylen said.

—  Cotton candy exoplanet is 2nd lightest planet ever found

—  Earth-size planet discovered around cool red dwarf star shares its name with a biscuit

—  Star blows giant exoplanet's atmosphere away, leaving massive tail in its wake

When it comes to the possibility of Gliese 12 b hosting life, the two scientists are extremely cautious. After all, it is early days for both our understanding of this world and methods that would be capable of detecting signs of life in an exoplanet atmosphere , even one so relatively close as Gliese 12 b.

"I think Gliese 12 b will teach us a lot about life, but we can't say anything for certain. I think it's very exciting, and we should definitely look forward to more research coming out about Gliese 12 b," Palethorpe concluded. "It's not a bad place to start on a hunt for life."

The two teams' research was published on Thursday (May 23) in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.

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• rod "Though, importantly, the two teams behind the discovery of Gliese 12 b can't yet say for sure if it has an atmosphere. It therefore remains unclear if the world could be habitable, but the researchers have some cautious optimism." Okay, approaching Gliese 12 b with caution here :) There was plenty of hope for K2-18 b but apparently faded now for finding evidence of biological life on that exoplanet, https://forums.space.com/threads/exoplanets-surface-may-be-covered-in-oceans-james-webb-space-telescope-finds.63084/ Reply

rod said: There was plenty of hope for K2-18 b but apparently faded now for finding evidence of biological life on that exoplanet, https://forums.space.com/threads/exoplanets-surface-may-be-covered-in-oceans-james-webb-space-telescope-finds.63084/

The inference of DMS is less robust and requires further validation. “Upcoming Webb observations should be able to confirm if DMS is indeed present in the atmosphere of K2-18 b at significant levels,” explained Madhusudhan.

• rod Something I note near the end of the space.com report on Gliese 12 b. "..."I think Gliese 12 b will teach us a lot about life, but we can't say anything for certain. I think it's very exciting, and we should definitely look forward to more research coming out about Gliese 12 b," Palethorpe concluded. "It's not a bad place to start on a hunt for life." The two teams' research was published on Thursday (May 23) in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and The Astrophysical Journal Letters" The exoplanet sites are updated now with the data and properties. Example, https://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gliese_12_b--9035/ https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/overview/Gliese%2012%20b#planet_Gliese-12-b_collapsible My note, Gliese 12 b is said to be 7 billion years old, far older than our Sun. Non-living matter evolving into life on this exoplanet, followed by nearly 7 billion years of evolution, perhaps today ET lives there and phones home from other locations in the galaxy too :) Reply
• equusmtn I just want to say I think science writers, and people in general, throw around the term "habitable" too liberally. Habitable by whom? If you mean "life could exist there" that's one thing, but people's minds quickly jump to the idea that habitable means "humans could live there." Although its radius is similar to Earth's, Gliese 12 b is 3.87 earth masses according to NASA's website. Even if it had a comfy temperature and a nice 02-N2 atmosphere, unless I'm seriously mistaken, the gravity would quickly kill a human. It just bugs me to read articles describing exoplanets several times as masive as Earth as "habitable." Please say "potentially life-supporting" or another more accurate term instead. Reply
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5 Best Budget Projectors, Tested and Reviewed

Top-notch movie nights on the big screen, but for less.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Best Overall Budget Projector

Anker nebula capsule max.

Best Value Budget Projector

Vankyo leisure 3.

Best Budget Projector for Home

Epson epiqvision flex co-w01.

Best Budget Projector for Bedroom

Xgimi mogo 2.

Best Budget Portable Projector

Kodak luma 350.

The test engineers and tech pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all types of home entertainment equipment, from the best outdoor projectors to soundbars , TV brands and much more. When selecting the best budget projectors, we reviewed at least 10 projectors in the past year alone for key factors like ease of setup and operation, portability, image quality and extra features like battery life and media interface. Below you’ll find the best budget projectors of 2024 to bring movies to life without the hassle of a heavy, expensive TV.

Our pros were blown away by the clear HD picture quality this small, sleek projector was able to produce in low-light settings.

Unlike more expensive models, it's so compact that it fits into most backpacks or travel accessories so you can bring it with you on your next adventure to project movies and shows on the go. We love that it features four hours of rechargeable battery life, making it a top choice for outdoor movie nights, camping trips or streaming anywhere in your home.

Our pros were impressed by the loud and crisp audio quality of the Capusle Max’s built-in speakers, which are so powerful that the device can double as a standalone Bluetooth speaker. In our tests, we found the set up and operation of the projector to be seamless, and the media interface powered by Android extremely intuitive to navigate.

With the Nebula Connect app streaming is made even easier; all you have to do is use your phone as a remote and decide which Netflix series to binge next. Though we do wish USB-C charging was supported, we appreciate that the included charger is compact and portable.

This small, compact projector from Vankyo is a great option for streaming videos, watching shows or gaming. It’s not only affordable, but it's easy to connect your phone to stream or you can use a streaming stick like a Roku via one of the multiple ports. While we haven’t tested it in the Lab, we like that the screen size can be projected up to 176 inches, though our pros warn that resolution won't be as high-quality as other projectors.

Generally, we like Epson projectors for their great value and solid performance . Though you won’t get a 4K cinema experience, we were impressed by this projector’s picture quality as well as the screen’s brightness, meaning you should be able to get a clear picture even with some ambient light (though if you want even more brightness, consider this Epson projector with 3,600 lumens). Our pros also appreciate that the screen can project up to 300 inches, making it one of the largest potential screen sizes on this list.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aren’t supported so you won’t be greeted by a media interface featuring streaming apps, but it’s perfect for projecting presentations at the office, Zoom calls and streaming TV shows via your laptop or devices like Roku, Apple TV and more, which you can connect through the projector’s HDMI port. We also like that it comes equipped with a built-in speaker for when you need audio, though our pros found that the sound quality could be more robust.

If you’re looking for superior picture quality and optimal brightness for the price, look no further than the latest XGIMI MoGo 2.

In testing, we found videos streamed via the XGIMI to be some of the most detailed and sharp on this list. The sound quality was just as impressive with built-in speakers that filled the room, and set up was a breeze. Because the projector runs on Android TV, you can expect an easy-to-navigate interface when you’re ready to start streaming. "It's a fantastic device — compact, stylish, great image quality and great sound," said one tester.

Another feature we were fond of was the projector’s auto keystone correction, which did an excellent job at readjusting the image to avoid any obstacles and appear rectangular on the screen no matter how many times we moved it.

Though slightly larger than some of the mini projectors on this list, the XGIMI is an excellent choice for smaller rooms like your bedroom as it’s compact enough to fit comfortably on a nightstand but does unfortunately require a power source. If you do, however, want to use the projector in your backyard or outside your camping tent but there’s no outlet in sight, you can still power it up via USB-C as long as you have a power station or portable battery pack handy.

We love this budget projector, a Family Travel Awards winner, for its compact size and ability to run off a rechargeable battery, making it extremely convenient and easy to throw in a purse to share slideshows, presentations and more from anywhere you go.

Unlike other budget projectors of this size, you can connect certain iOS, Android or Windows 10 devices wirelessly to project content via DLNA or Miracast. Best of all, it's powered by Android so the media interface makes it easy to stream straight from your favorite apps.

We found the Kodak app extremely intuitive to use and navigate, and we like that it enables you to use your phone instead of a remote. Though you’ll have to make some sacrifices when it comes to picture quality, this projector’s bells and whistles like built-in speakers and exceptional portability make it worthwhile.

How we chose the best budget projectors

For this story, the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Media & Tech Lab evaluated a variety of budget projectors for key criteria such as ease of set up, use and streaming, as well as portability, size, image quality, sound quality, brightness, contrast and connectivity. We also considered key features such as battery life and whether projectors support auto keystone correction.

We reviewed each projector's overall value and omitted any projectors over $500. Our Lab pros were able to test the majority of the models that ended up on our list, and we based any additional recommendations on our years of experience testing consumer electronics, previous categorical tests of home and outdoor projectors and similar models or brands that have performed well in previous Lab tests.

What to look for when shopping for a budget projector

When shopping for a budget projector, it’s important to set expectations and understand that you won’t be able to achieve the same results as with a more expensive 4K projector or even most mid-range flat-screen TVs.

However, there are important factors to keep an eye out for when selecting the best cheap projector for your home:

✔️ Portability: One of the key features to consider when it comes to cheap projectors is how portable they are. Do you want a projector that's small enough to throw in a backpack or one that's super lightweight so you can move it around from room to room or easily bring outdoors for a movie night? If opting for a portable projector, you should consider one with a rechargeable battery so you can use it without an outlet. A built-in projector stand is also a nice bonus to help adjust the angle of projection and eliminate the need for a tripod.

✔️ Brightness: A projector’s brightness or the amount of light it can produce is measured in lumens, which is important since there will likely always be some ambient light in the space you're in. While some brands list a projector’s brightness in lumens, others reference ANSI lumens. When possible, we recommend finding a budget projector with at least 1,500 lumens or 500 ANSI lumens to ensure you'll get a clear picture, though our pros warn that you might have to make sacrifices for size and portability. Higher lumens mean higher brightness, which is considered better for picture quality.

ANSI lumens are proportionally brighter than standard lumens. A key difference between lumens and ANSI lumens is that ANSI lumens are based on an industry-standard whereas others may use different approaches to measure and market lumens. We prefer when lumens are systematically measured, and ANSI lumen measurements provide that standardized approach to compare brightness.

✔️ Resolution : While 4K resolution is always preferred, our experts recommend full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) for budget projectors if you plan on streaming TV shows, movies or videos. If the resolution is lower, your screen's image won't be quite as sharp and defined though this may not be an issue if you're projecting office presentations or don't need as high of image quality. ✔️ Screen size: Our pros recommend looking for a max screen size that is at least 100 inches to ensure you can comfortably watch a movie. While some brands claim you can achieve an even larger screen size, keep in mind that the picture will decrease in quality. ✔️ Connectivity and ports: Check how many ports your cheap projector comes with and ensure that there's one for HDMI, which is one of the easiest ways to connect your laptop or a streaming stick like Roku. Some projectors may even be able to connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to stream from your phone or directly access your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu and more internally. ✔️ Audio: Most cheap projectors come with a built-in speaker, which is a nice feature to have when on-the-go. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you may need to connect another audio source for better sound quality, such as an outdoor speaker . If you want to be able to connect headphones to your projector, look for ones that offer an audio jack.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

GH Institute Writer and Product Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from tech to travel, fitness, home and more. Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH, but she frequently tests home entertainment and audio equipment like the Samsung The Frame TV , outdoor speakers , outdoor TVs and more. Since joining in 2021, she’s reviewed at least 10 of the latest budget projectors to hit the market and works closely with GH test engineers to find the best recommendations.

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

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An automatic refund policy for air travel delays may cause more harm than good

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Sheldon H. Jacobson is a professor in computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research as a data scientist on risk-based security informed the design of the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck. He wrote this column for the Chicago Tribune.

Just in time for summer travel, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced sweeping changes that, on the surface, appear to help air travelers get the upper hand with airlines.

Unfortunately, what the agency has proposed may hurt, not help, travelers at the very time when travelers need airlines to get them to their final destination.

The Department of Transportation issued a fact sheet outlining an extensive list of new requirements that affect what air travelers can expect from airlines the next time their flight is canceled or delayed.

Many of the changes make sense, like automatic refund of fees for checked baggage, in-flight internet connection and preferred seating. The cost to the airline would be processing such refunds, including credit card fees, which will likely lead to higher fees to absorb those costs.

The new policy gets problematic when a flight is canceled or delayed. If the airlines are required to issue a refund to the traveler, and the flyer unwittingly agrees to the refund, then they may be left to rebook their own flights, placing them in a precarious position. For example, this could involve paying a last-minute fare on another airline, rather than a lower advanced purchase fare, ultimately costing the traveler more money.

Airline interline agreements can be used to avoid these situations; they allow an airline to transfer a ticket to another airline. This effectively means that your original airline uses the money you initially spent to buy you a ticket with another airline. The cost to you is nothing, even if your new ticket costs more than the original ticket. Most importantly, traveler interests are protected, and their immediate needs fulfilled — namely, reaching their final destination.

Each situation, however, may need to be managed differently. If the flight cancellation or delay is due to a mechanical problem, then alternative flights would likely be available. If it is weather-related, then all airlines would be affected, with alternative options likely to be very limited or nonexistent. Of course, if such disruptions occur during peak travel periods, such as around the Fourth of July or the late-year holiday season, all such efforts are further complicated, given the limited availability of seats on most flights.

The solution that serves the best interests of travelers is to give them the choice of how they wish to be accommodated when a flight is canceled or delayed. However, many leisure travelers are ill-equipped to make good choices in real time during a flight cancellation or crisis, simply because they lack the necessary experience. That is why the primary objective should be to expeditiously get travelers to their destination, with the burden placed on the airlines to make this happen.

No matter what changes are made, the airline will incorporate any new policies in their contract of carriage, a voluminous discussion of rules and procedures governing every ticket issued. Delta Air Lines offers a 12,000-word “plain language” version, while United Airlines has a 37,000-word version. Few travelers, let alone airline gate agents, have digested its finer details. Such documents provide no practical value for travelers, mostly giving airlines a legal backstop when flights do not go as planned.

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to helping air travelers when their flights are disrupted. Automatic refunds are not the solution. What is needed are more productive conversations between the Department of Transportation and the airlines. What can the airlines reasonably be expected to deliver? How can they deliver such services in the event of flight delays or cancellations, whether they are isolated flights or systemwide outages? How should the cause of such delays or cancellation influence the accommodation?

At the same time, the Department of Transportation must continue to improve the national air system with fully staffed and modernized air traffic control systems. Introducing artificial intelligence will go a long way to better manage increased air traffic volume over limited airport runway capacity and air space.

The department’s one-size-fits-all effort to protect travelers will not work. Giving the airlines the opportunity to spell out what they can offer and providing an environment to reach an amicable compromise will ultimately help travelers get what they need — namely, to reach their destination and be taken care of by airlines when circumstances disrupt their trip.

Travelers deserve no less, and airlines should work to deliver as much.

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