First Minecraft: Java Edition 1.17 Snapshot!

Recently, the developers released the first test version of Minecraft: Bedrock Ediiton "Caves & Cliffs", and yesterday the first snapshot of Minecraft: Java Edition 1.17 under the number 20w45a came out!

New Features:

• Added bundles
• Added candles
• Added lava cauldrons
• Added amethysts
• Added lightning rods
• Added spyglass
• Added tinted glass
• Shulkers hit by another shulker's projectile can now spawn a new shulker

AMETHYST

Amethyst geodes now generate in caves, containing new blocks used for crafting new items.

BUNDLES

• Bundles allow you to store various resources in them.
• A bundle can hold different items, but no more than one stack:
  • 64 blocks of dirt.
  • 32 blocks of dirt + 32 stone.
  • 32 blocks of dirt + 8 ender pearls.
  • One block of each color of wool, concrete, carpet, and terracotta (64 blocks total).
  • Or one diamond helmet.
• Use the right mouse button to place an item in the bundle.

CANDLES

• There are 16 color variants of candles +1 colorless.
• Up to four candles can be placed on one block.
• Candles can be placed underwater, but they cannot be lit.

CAULDRONS

• Cauldrons can now be filled with lava!
• A lava cauldron emits a redstone signal.

COPPER

Copper Blocks

• Copper blocks are crafted from nine copper ingots.
• Copper ingots can be used to craft cut copper blocks, cut copper stairs, and cut copper slabs.
• Honeycombs are used to craft waxed copper blocks.

Copper Ore

• Copper ore, like any other ore, can be found throughout the world (copper ore generation is not final and may change).
• Copper ore can be smelted into copper ingots.

Lightning Rod

• A lightning rod is crafted from three copper ingots.
• A lightning rod will help protect your builds!
• A lightning rod protects an area of 4x16 blocks around it from lightning strikes.
• Lightning rods emit a redstone signal when struck by lightning.

Oxidation Process

• Copper oxidizes over time.
• There are four stages of copper oxidation: copper, slightly oxidized copper, semi-oxidized copper, and oxidized copper.
• Each stage of copper block oxidation takes 50-82 in-game days (in loaded chunks).
• Waxed copper blocks do not oxidize.
• Use wax to stop the oxidation of copper!

To wax copper, use honeycombs and the copper block itself in a crafting table.

SPYGLASS

• A spyglass allows you to view distant objects.
• A spyglass is crafted from two copper ingots and one amethyst shard.

TINTED GLASS

• Tinted glass does not let light through.
• Tinted glass is crafted from regular glass and four amethyst shards.
• Unlike regular glass, tinted glass does not break when the block is broken.

MINECARTS

• All rails can now be placed underwater.
• Flowing water no longer destroys rails.
• Minecarts can now travel underwater, but their speed is reduced.

Also, some technical changes have been made and 42 bugs have been fixed.