IT General

After several harrowing encounters with "snow sharks" and "Jerk-O-Lanterns," Stranger Things: Tales From '85 ended with a decisive victory over the monsters of the Upside Down — or so the Hawkins party thinks. That's because Tales From '85 leaves the door open for more tales, which would still take place before the start of Stranger Things Season 3.

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things: Tales from '85' review: This baffling prequel won't cure the Season 5 hatred

From a possible Season 2 to the truth about the monsters and the fate of Nikki (Odessa A'zion), here's what you need to know about the ending of Stranger Things: Tales From '85.

Who created the Queen in Stranger Things: Tales From '85? Credit: Netflix

Tales From '85's monstrous foes aren't like Stranger Things' Demogorgons or the Mind Flayer. They're constantly evolving, and it's all because of human experiments.

Dustin (voiced by Braxton Quinney) initially suspects substitute science teacher Anna Baxter (voiced by Janeane Garofalo) of creating the monsters, including the Queen who controls them. The evidence adds up: She's a science teacher obsessed with evolution, and she's working on cutting-edge research that can reanimate dead plant life. Plus, the view of the radio tower from her house matches up with the image that the monsters' human victims remembered seeing after being swallowed.

SEE ALSO: Gaten Matarazzo hoped 'Stranger Things' fans would be conflicted about Dustin in Season 5

However, Anna was just a red herring. The culprit is actually her partner Daniel Fischer (voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips). Before he was a store clerk beefing with Dustin over change, he was a scientist at Hawkins lab. While he didn't have high-level clearance, he did get his hands on a dead vine from the Upside Down. He brought it back to life using green goo similar to what Anna used in her experiments, and from there it evolved into the deadly monsters the Hawkins party faced off against. He thought he'd made a viable, controllable sample with the flower-like "Queen." But turns out, her roots were growing deep below Hawkins, extending her and her offspring's influence. When Dustin shows Dan the truth, the Queen transforms into a massive, almost unstoppable beast who tries to open a gate back to the Upside Down and return to her place of origin.

I say "almost" because Eleven (voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt) manages to stop the Queen by telekinetically slamming the gate on her, chopping her in half. Not before the beast can eat Dan, though.

That's the end of that saga, right? Wrong.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 sets up a Season 2. Credit: Netflix

The final scene of Tales From '85 reveals that we may not have seen the last of this new breed of Upside Down beastie. Right before the credits roll, we see the corpse of the Queen lying prone in the Upside Down. While she's dead, something within her isn't: A small blue flower bursts from her skin, letting out a screech from its Demogorgon-like petal mouth. Funnily enough, the entire scene is set to Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again," which also scores a haunting Stranger Things Season 3 sequence involving the Mind Flayer's growing army of human hosts.

SEE ALSO: 'Half Man' review: Is Richard Gadd's new series as good as 'Baby Reindeer'?

Could this new flower be linked to Dan's life source, since he was swallowed by the Queen and might still be in her corpse? Or is it just another stage in these creatures' evolution? Either way, it's clear that these monsters are sticking around a while longer. However, given that they're not a threat in Stranger Things Season 3, or any future seasons, for that matter, you can guess that they'll die out eventually. Tales From '85 leaves the "how" of that open for the future. (Maybe Vecna does some weed whacking?)

What happens to Nikki in Stranger Things: Tales From '85? Credit: Netflix

Speaking of characters who never come up in the rest of Stranger Things, let's talk about Nikki. She's the latest addition to the Hawkins party, which also comes to be known as the Hawkins Investigation Club in Tales From '85. (Again, not something that comes up in the flagship series.)

Since Nikki isn't involved in later seasons of Stranger Things, it's clear she's out of the picture by Season 3. However, Tales From '85 keeps her firmly in the picture in its finale. While Nikki and her mother Anna were originally going to move away from Hawkins, they end up staying and moving into a new house, one without any spooky secret laboratories. (That we know of, anyway.) Nikki joins in on the group Dungeons & Dragons game, and everything seems hunky-dory.

Of course, that's sure to come crashing down in any future seasons of Tales From '85, as Nikki has to exit eventually. Maybe she and Anna will end up moving away. Or maybe she'll join Barb, Bob, Alexei, and Eddie in the ranks of beloved Stranger Things characters who were killed off. For now, though, she's embracing her role in the group after years of being too afraid to make any long-lasting connections.

Will there be a Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Season 2?

As of now, Netflix has not yet renewed Stranger Things: Tales From '85 for a second season.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is now streaming on Netflix.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 might be the most bizarre step Stranger Things could have taken.

Take the release date, for starters. Tales From '85 airs just four months after the Stranger Things series finale. That gives fans barely any breathing room between the end of the flagship series and the beginning of this animated spin-off, proof of Netflix's ambitious, nonstop designs to turn one of its most original shows into a massive franchise. (It's already got a stage play, books, and games to its name.)

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things' fans are furious about the finale. Here's why.

There's just one big wrinkle in that plan: Stranger Things' final season was so controversial, it left distraught fans theorizing about a secret surprise episode and accusing the Duffer Brothers of writing Season 5 with ChatGPT. The outrage is still too fresh for another TV trip to Hawkins, Indiana, to go the way Netflix hoped.

That trip back to Hawkins doesn't actually move the story of Stranger Things forward. Instead, Tales From '85 returns to the past, sandwiching itself between Seasons 2 and 3 and raising tons of questions about the series. Namely, why?

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is a bewildering trip to the past. Credit: Netflix

Tales From '85 is set during the winter of 1985, many months before the Hawkins kids ever set foot in Starcourt Mall. It's winter break, and Mike (voiced by Luca Diaz), Eleven (voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt), Dustin (voiced by Braxton Quinney), Lucas (voiced by Elisha Williams), Will (voiced by Ben Plessala), and Max (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) are excited to enjoy the snow, the Hawkins winter festival, and of course, some Dungeons & Dragons.

But the Upside Down has other plans, as a strange new wave of creatures descends on Hawkins. A "snow shark" burrows through snowdrifts, its relentless motion reminiscent of the Graboids from Tremors. "Jerk-O-Lanterns" plague the pumpkin patch that proved pivotal to Season 2.

Encounters with these beasts range from frightening to full-on fun, thanks to dynamic, vivid animation from Flying Bark Productions. The painterly style is reminiscent of Netflix's smash hit Arcane, and while that series certainly isn't the first to pioneer that look, there is a sense that Netflix is trying to recreate that same magic in what could be a blockbuster new animated series.

SEE ALSO: Gaten Matarazzo hoped 'Stranger Things' fans would be conflicted about Dustin in Season 5

However, as inventive as each creature or fight gets, there's a larger issue hanging over Tales From '85. None of this has any bearing on future seasons of Stranger Things itself. In Season 3 and beyond, no one brings up the perilous winter of '85, or discusses how the strategies they used while solving this mystery could help them in their current investigations. Dustin even makes a full-on push to start a Hawkins Investigators' Club, something that would definitely come up in later seasons were Tales From '85 more than an afterthought.

Plus, not to be too much of a stickler for canon, but Eleven is pushing her psychic abilities here to almost Season 5 levels of superhero-dom, all without breaking a sweat. (Nosebleeds are still included, of course.) That comes down to the magic of animation, which allows Tales From '85 to go wild with its portrayal of Eleven's powers. As epic as it is, it's also divorced from the reality of the main series. For something that's meant to fit into Stranger Things, Tales From '85 winds up feeling woefully disjointed. Nowhere is that clearer than when it introduces a new key character whom we know has to disappear from Hawkins before Season 3.

Nikki is the heart of Stranger Things: Tales From '85... and its biggest problem. Credit: Netflix

That new character is Nikki Baxter (voiced by Odessa A'zion). A brawny punk accustomed to moving towns with her scientist mother Anna (Janeane Garofalo), Nikki's not used to putting down roots. But when she gets caught up in a snow shark attack and witnesses Eleven's powers firsthand, she's welcomed into the Hawkins party and quickly becomes fast friends with them.

Despite her intimidating appearance, Nikki proves to have a heart of gold (as well as a keen ability for tinkering that makes her indispensable to the party's investigation). While she often serves as the friend group therapist, mediating arguments with ease, she also bonds with Will over their outsider status, encouraging him to embrace what makes him different. Tales From '85 overtly ties Will's "difference" to his supernatural troubles in Seasons 1 and 2, although given his coming out as gay in Season 5, Nikki's advice takes on new meaning here. Does Tales From '85 act further on that subtext, or do anything in its power to reflect more meaningfully onto the show's next seasons? No.

In rewinding us to the time period between Seasons 2 and 3, Tales From '85 traps its characters in an odd arrested development. We know where their character arcs lead them, but here, we've taken several leaps back in their journeys. That none of the original actors lend their voices to the series doesn't help either. While the voice cast does a solid job, even nailing several of their live-action counterparts' mannerisms, there's no denying how important the original cast was in establishing these characters. Without them, the Tales From '85 versions of the Hawkins party wind up as uncanny simulacra of the real thing.

That's why Nikki is so important to Tales From '85. As an original character, she's a breath of fresh air in an ensemble we've spent a decade with. It's exciting to shake up the Hawkins party with a new face, even if her worries about moving away or not fitting in are fairly cliché.

Given that Nikki doesn't appear or even get mentioned in future Stranger Things seasons, audiences will know she eventually exits the narrative. Does she continue Stranger Things' proud tradition of introducing a beloved side character only to kill them off? (See: Barb, Bob, Alexei, and Eddie.) Does she move away as she's always feared? Does she get wiped from everyone's memories somehow?

I tried to banish these questions from my mind as I watched Tales From '85, hoping to meet the show more on its level. But when its level is awkwardly shoehorning itself into a broader show in order to keep a franchise chugging, how can I not be thinking of how it will all eventually connect, and why this exists in the first place?

Of course, we already know why it exists: franchising. More than that, though, it's an attempt to stir up easy nostalgia for earlier Stranger Things seasons, which fans might be more willing to digest following their reaction to Season 5. But a franchise needs more than nostalgia to survive, and it's clear from Tales From '85 that Stranger Things still needs to learn that lesson.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is now streaming on Netflix.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on April 23. The Cozy Mystery Book Blast, hosted by Cozy Mystery Book Club, isoffering cozy mystery books for free.

This has been such a huge month for Stuff Your Kindle Day. We've already been blessed by a number of free giveaways, and we're not done yet.

The Cozy Mystery Book Blast, hosted by Cozy Mystery Book Club, is offering participants the chance to download 150+ ebooks without spending anything. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, so take this as your sign up to stock up ahead of the summer reading season.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Cozy Mystery Book Blast takes place on April 23. This free giveaway only lasts 24 hours, so you will need to act fast to download everything you want to read. Clear your schedule, make a list of priorities, and add to your TBR list with this limited-time promotion.

Which ebooks are free?

The Cozy Mystery Book Blast has a helpful hub page with everything on offer organized by sub-genre:

• Contemporary Cozies

• Historical Cozies

• Paranormal Cozies

You can find these free ebooks from the Kindle Store and other popular retailers. There really is something for everyone in this latest book blast.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so don't hold back.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
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These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

We're almost at the First Quarter which means the Moon is almost half illuminated. Each night it gets a little brighter, and this will keep happening until the Full Moon when the reverse will then occur and each night it will appear less.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, April 23, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 41% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

If you're looking at the Moon with just your naked eye, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Mares Serenitatis, Tranquillitatis, and Fecunditatis. If you have binoculars, the Mare Nectaris and Endymion and Posidonius Craters should also come into view, appearing from halfway up the Moon to near the top. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it passes through eight stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward us, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its path, producing the familiar cycle of full, half, and crescent shapes. These variations are referred to as lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Be sure to read the fine print about Beaches: A New Musical, now on Broadway. This is not an adaptation of the beloved 1988 movie, in which Barbara Hershey played advocate and lawyer Hillary Whitney, and Bette Midler brought bawdy brilliance to singer C.C. Bloom. The Broadway stage musical Beaches is instead based on the movie's inspiration: Iris Rainer Dart's 1985 novel about the highs and lows of the friendship of outgoing actress Cee Cee Bloom and sheepish preppy Bertie White. 

The author has a heavy hand in this stage adaptation, writing both the book — with the help of playwright Thom Thomas — and the lyrics, while Mike Stoller, who once co-wrote songs for Elvis, composed the music. This makes for a stage show that is shockingly disconnected from Garry Marshall's cinematic tearjerker, as the plot is starkly different, especially for Bertie/Hillary. However, directors Lonny Price and Matt Cowart fight hard to bring the Beaches that movie-goers loved to the stage in some capacity. And leading lady Jessica Vosk does her damndest to bring a Midler-level moxie to every scene and song. 

It's just a shame that Dart's book and lyrics are less the wind beneath her wings and more an anchor sinking the whole production. 

Beaches on Broadway ditches most of the movie's songs.  Samantha Schwartz, Bailey Ryon, Jessica Vosk, Kelli Barrett, Emma Ogea, and Zeya Grace as Cee Cee and Bertie in "Beaches: A New Musical." Credit: Marc J. Franklin

Only "Wind Beneath My Wings," which won the Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, makes the playlist for the stage musical Beaches. In the movie, Midler also sang moving covers of "Under the Boardwalk," "The Glory of Love," and "Baby Mine." None of these makes the stage. And bad news for fans of Midler's playful performance of "Otto Titsling," the comical story of the uncredited inventor of the brassiere; that daffy track doesn't make it to Broadway either. Worse news: This last omission sharply reflects how Dart leaned hard away from the movie's most fun and campy bits. 

Beaches — in both versions — begins with a grown-up Cee Cee (Vosk) rehearsing a song for a big show, when a mysterious phone call causes her to race away. Then, the story flashes back to decades before, when Cee Cee was a fiery little girl (Samantha Schwartz) who befriended a shy, posh little Bertie (Zeya Grace) on a beach in New Jersey. The two became pen pals, supporting each other through fights with their overbearing mothers and frustrations with boys and then men. For a stint in their 20s, they'd live together in a cramped but beloved apartment as Cee Cee tried to make it as an actress, and Bertie helped out at the theater — mostly to avoid her mother and Michael, the boring man she was expected to marry. 

Both women will marry soon enough. But while Cee Cee's career takes off, Bertie (unlike her movie counterpart, Hillary) fails to realize her dream of becoming a lawyer. However, she does still have a daughter that she adores. A big misunderstanding will keep the two friends estranged for years, but they'll ultimately reconnect over Bertie's pregnancy, and then again when she gets fatally ill.

Despite all the highs and lows of their relationships, the songs that Dart and Stoller write all feel achingly one-note. "You Believe in Me," "Wish I Could Be Like You," and "My Best" all share the sentiment that these two are so different yet love each other more than anyone else. Even "God Bless Girlfriends" — sung by their annoyed husbands — echoes this. And none of these numbers has the emotional wallop or the visual language of "Wind Beneath My Wings." Instead, they all feel like mediocre AI-generated imitations of that great song. 

Beaches on Broadway presents confounding characters.  Brent Thiessen (left) and Ben Jacoby (right) as husbands John and Michael in "Beaches: A New Musical." Credit: Marc J. Franklin

Seeing Beaches the movie made me curious about Beaches the musical, but Beaches the musical does not make me curious about Beaches the book. The songs are frustratingly forgettable, but moreover, the story feels vexingly dated and thin. 

In Mary Agnes Donoghue's script for the movie, Hillary's ambitions as a lawyer made her equal to C.C. in ambition. In Dart's Broadway show, it's hard to understand who Bertie is, as the author/playwright leaves gaping holes in her story. Bertie has dreams of becoming an attorney, but when they go nowhere, it's unclear what she's done instead. Likewise confusing is, who is Aunt Neetie? Bertie's daughter Nina brings her up repeatedly, qualifying her as her "real" aunt as a means to show disdain for Cee Cee. And while both "aunts" seem in contention for raising Nina after Bertie dies, because Neetie isn't on stage, she's a distracting obstacle with no grounding. What we do know is Bertie says she has no sister. So maybe Neetie is her sister-in-law? But after their divorce, Michael has no relationship with his daughter Nina. So, what's the likelihood Aunt Neetie is Michael's sister? It's a perplexing plot hole that becomes more grievous in the show's final act.

Dart also ignores Bertie's privilege with a song called "Normal," where Bertie taunts Cee Cee that the brassy star could never have a "normal" life. But all her examples are about being wealthy, like having servants on hand. And these are all things the affluent Bertie has had access to since birth. Her husband, Michael (Ben Jacoby), gives no further insight into who she is, as he's a thinly sketched creep in a suit coat. By contrast, Cee Cee's husband John (Brent Thiessen) is a creep in an open denim shirt. They come off as the same guy in different fonts. 

Now, you might wonder if that's intentional to bolster the queer undertones that existed in the movie. Queer audiences have long speculated whether or not these women were actually in love with each other. Well, a lyric in "The Brand New Me" might have you think so, as Bertie sings about realizing she's in love with a girl. But it's a misdirect; she means the brand-new her. Then, the women share a double wedding on stage, where both are giddily dressed as brides. Here, the six actresses who play Bertie and Cee Cee as children, teens, and adults frolic together, while the grooms are a bland accessory. (Like an unconvincing beard?) 

Jessica Vosk and Beaches directors try to bring the camp and Midler flare.  Jessica Vosk stars as Cee Cee Bloom in "Beaches: A New Musical." Credit: Marc J. Franklin

This is a thankless show for the cast. The songs are awful. And all of the adult actors, aside from leads Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett, are tasked to play multiple thin roles, including teen Cee Cee (Bailey Ryon), teen Bertie (Emma Ogea), Cee Cee's mom (Sarah Bockel), and nuns, TV studio techs, nurses, and people waiting for a plane. It can actually be confusing when all of a sudden the actor who plays Cee Cee's husband is in a scene as a different character, with no attempt at disguise beyond a suit jacket. But props to Zurin Villanueva, who is given a smattering of bit parts, and manages to be dazzling and funny in every one. Here's hoping she'll get a role worth of her charisma soon.

As for Barrett, she commits completely to Bertie's agonies and ecstasies as Dart's script has her character turn on the head of a pin, from furious to benevolent. It's not her fault that it doesn't work. It's the unconvincing lyrics, made-up cliches possibly snatched from Hallmark cards. Barrett is at her best in the dialogue scenes, where she can play with Vosk, whose vivacity lifts everyone around her. 

Vosk gives her all to every underwhelming song. And while I can't remember a single lyric from the new Broadway numbers, I can remember the way my heart soared as she hit a high note with a broad smile. She's a stunner who understands why the audience has come. She's working hard to give us Midler-like oomph. And that is echoed by her teeny counterpart, Samantha Schwartz, who is a dynamic pint-sized showgirl with charisma and chutzpah to spare. 

Zeya Grace (left) and Samantha Schwartz (right) as Little Bertie and Little Cee Cee in "Beaches: A New Musical." Credit: Marc J. Franklin

Vosk sinks her teeth into Cee Cee's zeal, jealousy, and earnestness. Directors Price and Cowart support her by bringing in Midler allusions, like a scene where the staging suggests Cee Cee is performing at a bathhouse, as Midler used to, or a double-bunned red wig that recalls Midler's look in Hocus Pocus. Likewise, some costume choices — including the little girls' outfits — recall the movie directly, gladly playing on the audience's nostalgia. You can feel in these choices the attempt to please an audience of women who connected to Hillary and C.C.'s tumultuous story and to the queer audiences who love Midler's brassy bravura. But these flourishes,  while charming, cannot wrestle Beaches from the banality of Dart's writing. 

Plus, the rest of the staging is a mess. Rather than physical set pieces, a collection of columns affixed with projectors blares suggestions of a setting, like street signs or graphics, which do not evoke mood or location effectively. The front of the stage is a sandy beach dune, with fronds poking up for the girls to play on. Then, in the final act, when they are on a beach, the backdrop is painted. After so much projection, in this final moment, where the beauty of the beach itself could help anchor the heavy emotions about to flow, they went with a backdrop that looks like a motel room painting.

More thoughtless, though, was the blocking. A platform on the stage creates a second stage, which is used as a beach house veranda, a TV studio set, and a variety of other theater stages for Cee Cee to strut upon. This was multipurposeful and smart. However, the blocking often has the actresses sitting or lying down on this stage. In my orchestra seats, there were times I could not see who was singing without moving my head to crane around the person in front of me. I'm short, admittedly. But at the intermission, I switched seats with my guest, and he, who is not short, still had issues, despite the person in front of us not being exceptionally tall! Maybe this is a show better suited for the cheap seats?

All in all, Beaches is a profound disappointment. Vosk gives her all to racy jokes, high notes, and an iconically bold heroine. The supporting cast is asked to sing, dance, and play a bevy of small parts and thinly written characters. The directors try to weave in elements from the movie and Midler's broader impact to appeal to fans of her and the film. But in the end, this show is doomed by Dart's underwhelming writing.

Beaches is now on Broadway, and will begin national tours this fall.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be a lot easier if you're a football fan. And if you're not, then good luck!

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Draft day

• Green: First half

• Blue: A player in very high demand

• Purple: Famous firsts

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Draft Pick Information

• Green: Can Precede "Draft"

• Blue: Associated with Fernando Mendoza

• Purple: Non-QBs Picked First in NFL Draft

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #577 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Draft Pick Information — ALMA MATER, PICK, POSITION, ROUND

• Can Precede "Draft" — FANTASY, MOCK, NFL, SUPPLEMENTAL

• Associated With Fernando Mendoza — CAL, HEISMAN, INDIANA, QB

• Non-QBs Picked First in NFL Draft — FISHER, LONG, MARYLAND, PACE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 23, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 23, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 23 Pips

Equal (3): Every domino half in this purple space must have 3 pips. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this red space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): The domino half in this yellow space must have more than 3 pips. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 23 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this red space must have 3 pips. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; and 5-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): The domino half in this light blue space must have more than 3 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): The domino half in this yellow space must have more than 4 pips. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this green space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 23 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this purple space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this red space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 1 pip. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (4): The domino half in this dark blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): The domino half in this green space must have more than 2 pips. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): The domino half in this purple space must have more than 3 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Does Not Equal: Every domino half in this red space must have a different number of pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (5): The domino half in this light blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 4 pips. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): The domino half in this ark blue space must have more than 3 pips. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (17): Everything in this green space must add up to 17. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically; and 3-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 3 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): The domino half in this red space must have less than 3 pips. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're into astronomy.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 23, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: The edge

• Green: Make-believe

• Blue: Solar system

• Purple: Rock groups

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Border

• Green: Kinds of fiction

• Blue: Words in a planetary mnemonic

• Purple: Starting with four-letter '80s bands

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1047 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Border: FLANK, NEIGHBOR, SKIRT, TOUCH

• Kinds of fiction: HISTORICAL, LITERARY, PULP, SCIENCE

• Words in a planetary mnemonic: EDUCATED, MOTHER, MY, VERY

• Starting with four-letter '80s bands: ASIAGO, DEVOTE, TOTORO, WHAMMY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 23, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a history buff.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 23, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Provinces of the pantheon

The words are related to history.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ancient Roman values.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Domain.

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NYT Strands word list for April 23

• Thunder

• Harvest

• Wisdom

• Domain

• Love

• Marriage

• Underworld

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're on Twitter.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 23, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 23, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A bird's sound.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

TWEET

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

To be human is to love a good life hack. I like the part of Google's definition that refers to a life hack as a technique to "reduce chaos," because that's precisely how I find myself chronicling the mental benefits of keeping my household as low-waste as possible.

That psychological boost doesn't solely stem from feeling good about helping the environment — being more eco-friendly at home is one of the only habits that consistently helps me feel less overwhelmed about life. Like many other adults, my mood, emotional state, and ability to sleep have become heavily intertwined with the length of my to-do list. Living more low-waste minimizes the number of household tasks I need to worry about, making me feel a little more put together.

SEE ALSO: How to recycle Amazon packaging (yes, all of it)

So yes, while I find deep comfort in minimizing my plastic and food waste footprint for the planet's sake, I also find comfort in less trash to take out, fewer nasty smells, and less clutter overall. Those are all tangible results of the easy, eco-friendly changes that actively de-stress my daily routine. If the internet's traditional stress and anxiety hacks haven't worked for you, let me explain how creating less waste has helped me to protect my peace.

The psychology of a clean, de-cluttered space, but applied to trash

I firmly believe that my household's trash production and my anxiety level are positively correlated. The physical chaos of an overflowing bag, the tedious walk to the trash room, the wastefulness of it all — it's overwhelming. So I've implemented a few easy routine changes over the years that have seriously limited my garbage output by a long shot, and that control has done wonders to keep me sane when I'm spiraling.

You've probably heard of the connection between physical clutter and mental clutter. Maybe you read an article (or watched a TikTok) about it or found out that you are, in fact, more productive when your desk is tidy. Though most references to this connection are talking about your mind's subconscious reaction to visible clutter, my mind definitely counts concealed trash as clutter, despite the trash can living behind a cabinet door.

The mere thought of gallons of gross, sticky, smelly trash piling up in my kitchen feels just as disorderly and dirty as crusty dishes stacked in the sink.

Imagine how rarely you'd have to take out the trash if you weren't throwing food away

My Mill food recycling bin has put the biggest dent in the amount of waste my apartment makes, and I can't imagine living without it. It's basically the size of a traditional step-on kitchen trash can, and even has the presser foot.

Instead of putting plate scrapings, food prep scraps, or old leftovers directly into the trash, just about any food can be dumped into the Mill instead. Every night, before any of the meat or dairy or soggy spinach would start to stink up the place, Mill dehydrates and churns food into a soil-like consistency, which I then mail back to Mill to be repurposed into chicken feed.

Mill's massive filter traps nasty smells way better than any expensive scented bag could. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable That's around 246 pounds of food per year — think of how many garbage bags we've saved. Credit: Screenshot / Mill

Without food in the equation, my three-person household barely goes through one garbage bag per week. Trash duty is needed so infrequently that no one dreads it, especially because it's not that gross of a chore, either — no food means no mystery juice dripping from the bag onto your sock.

Pre-Mill, I was first introduced to the concept of compacting home food waste through Lomi. Most of those electric countertop composters aren't actually creating real "compost," but they're still drying and grinding your food scraps to a fraction of their original size. The result is a small bucket of "dirt" that won't reek if it then sits in your trash for a few days, and won't release as much methane at the landfill. Any of these countertop gadgets is a game-changer if you don't have a garbage disposal.

Plastic waste has been another leading source of the permanent pit in my stomach since 2018, when I learned that most plastic doesn't actually get recycled.

SEE ALSO: Texas resident used Apple AirTags to track her recycling. It ended up in the middle of nowhere.

All of the empty cleaning bottles and laundry detergent jugs that hogged so much space in my bin were basically destined to rot for 500 years. Awesome! For the majority of us who don't have curbside recycling, taking the recycling out involves extra walking or driving. For me, it's a dreaded elevator ride down to my apartment's sketchy basement — so I'm always trying to strategically stretch my recycling bin's life before I have to go down there again. The switch from plastic to paper packaging that can be folded or flattened creates more room to shove stuff in.

A low-waste lifestyle requires less chaotic storage at home

Pretty much my entire cleaning routine has been low-waste-ified, which plays just as big of a role in the organization of storage spaces as it does in downsizing my trash. And organization at home plays a critical role in my daily stress level.

There aren't a million plastic spray bottles clanking around in the cabinet under my sink. Multi-surface cleaning spray refills come in the form of a small Blueland tablet dissolved in the same glass bottle. My dissolvable laundry detergent strips come in a thin cardboard envelope, which is much easier to tuck away than a huge, crusty jug of laundry detergent. Stretchy dishwasher-safe silicone lids have fully replaced plastic wrap, and Swedish dishcloths (reusable paper towels that can go in the dishwasher) have freed my closet from a never-ending tower of paper towel rolls.

Laundry sheets, dishwasher pods, and carton of dish soap are easy to store in an apartment with limited space. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Don't let me catch you using a Ziploc bag as Tupperware after this. Credit: Stasher

My parents have also had a positive downsizing experience on their lower-waste journey. My dad hasn't had to step around an industrial case of bottled water in the garage since they simply switched to a nice faucet filter. My mom took my robot vacuum and mop advice and got to free up precious shelf space that had previously been home to boxes of Swiffer WetJet refill pads. Seriously, don't underestimate the calming power of structure within your home's storage setup.

The low-waste route shrinks my recurring shopping list

I don't think enough people realize that switching to lower-waste home habits would mean that they won't have to restock so many household supplies all the time. There's serious freedom in severing your reliance on disposable items, plus shorter (cheaper) grocery store lists.

Replacement paper towels or Ziploc bags aren't permanent fixtures on the grocery list now that we've stopped relying on the disposable versions of either. When you don't burn through multiple garbage bags on a weekly basis, you rarely experience the rage of realizing you're out of fresh bags. Yes, some low-waste swaps do cost a little more up front, but their reusability pays for itself within a few months.

I'm a maximalist when decorating, but a minimalist when holding onto junk

The mental weight of stuff is real. Not "stuff" in a maximalist chic decor way, but "stuff" as in all the crap that's living in your home and your mind rent-free. You don't know what to do with it, so you just keep it (and then feel its dark presence hovering every time you're in that room). That overstimulating stress loop made it impossible for me to fully relax at home for quite some time. But after being in low-waste mode in my kitchen for a few years, the pipeline to all-over home decluttering came naturally.

Suddenly, I was inspired to clean out the drawers, shelves, and under-bed bins that had accumulated anxiety-inducing levels of junk — and then sit down and research how to sustainably get rid of that junk. It turns out that there are comically easy ways to recycle broken phone chargers, dried-out pens, dead batteries, old glasses, and so many other random knick-knacks that I held on to just because I'd feel just as anxious about sending them to a dumpster.

For unwanted items with a little more value, like clothes or old AirPods or decor that isn't my taste anymore, online resale apps have become core to mitigating my messy home restlessness. You'd be shocked at the range of niche items that shoppers are willing to take off your hands. If there was any level of sentimental attachment, I can breathe a little easier knowing the item is getting a second life instead of collecting dust on an overflowing Goodwill shelf.

SEE ALSO: The Suri recyclable electric toothbrush is my favorite eco-friendly self-care swap

I've realized that maintaining an uncluttered space isn't a challenge when you have clear-cut methods to properly discard unwanted stuff. I now have a pretty solid idea of what can be recycled where, even the really-hard-to-recycle stuff, and what might sell on eBay.

If I'm not sure, my reflex is now to research what to do with it instead of cramming it into a procrasti-clutter drawer. Similarly, I've been able to keep up with a weekly fridge clean-out schedule because I can casually throw anything in my Mill bin. I no longer put expired stuff back in just because it'll stink in the trash, and old leftovers are no longer piling up to the point that no new groceries can fit.

Now that my brain is rewired to take the path of least waste in most situations, I've gotten really good at acquiring less stuff in the first place. If I'm on the fence about a purchase, the first question I ask myself is, "Will this be a pain in the ass to deal with a year from now?" Am I really going to be excited about this item for longer than a few months? Is it high-quality enough to last for a long time? Can I find it secondhand on Depop? While I'll never deny the importance of getting yourself a little treat just because, intentional shopping is such an underrated method of stabilizing a swirling mind.

Kia is finally ready to reveal full details of its Vision Meta Turismo concept car after a brief glimpse in December. It's clear the sports car is built to preview the brand's long-term approach to performance EVs, including more to do while you're not moving at all.

It might feel like a curveball to compare a Toyota to the likes of BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Usually, these brands exist in different worlds. However, the 2026 Toyota Crown Signia is not a typical SUV. It replaces the traditional (and dare we say boring) mainstream feel with a luxurious cabin, a quiet ride, and a standard feature list that rivals the best from legacy European brands.

TL:DR: Visual Studio 2026 combines AI-powered coding, cross-platform tools, and real-time collaboration — now just $42.97 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $42.97
$499.99 Save $457.02   Get Deal

Modern development doesn’t have to feel like a grind, especially when your tools are built to keep up with how you actually work. Visual Studio Professional 2026 is Microsoft’s latest take on a full-featured IDE, now with deeper AI integration and performance upgrades that actually make a difference when you’re working on real-life projects.

Built as a 64-bit environment, Microsoft’s latest handles large codebases and complex solutions more comfortably, which is especially useful if you’re juggling multiple services or working across teams.

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But the real shift here is how much easier it is to stay in flow. AI-assisted coding tools like IntelliCode help predict and complete lines of code, while built-in refactoring suggestions reduce repetitive work and help catch issues earlier.

Cross-platform development is also front and center. You can build mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, create modern web interfaces using Blazor, and test across environments including Windows, Linux, and containers — all from the same place.

Hot reload features let you see changes instantly, reducing back-and-forth during development.

Collaboration feels more natural, too. With Live Share, teammates can jump into your session to edit, debug, or review code in real time.

This version of Visual Studio makes it easier to access a professional-grade toolset without overthinking the investment.

Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $42.97 (reg. $499.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Tesla has reported its earnings for the first quarter of 2026. The automaker is reporting $22.4 billion in total revenue, a 16 percent year-over-year increase, and $0.41 earnings per share (non-GAAP).

Google's landing page for an Earth Day-related search brings up some relatable frequently asked questions: What should we do on Earth Day? If you'd like to do more than go outside and post a pretty tree on your Instagram story for Earth Day this year, consider making some eco-friendly swaps at home.

A quick look at the best Earth Day 2026 deals Best kitchen deal Reencle Prime Electric Composter $429.00 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best cleaning deal Blueland Laundry Detergent Tablets (60 count) $23.99 at Amazon (save $6) Get Deal Best tech deal Pela biodegradable compostable phone cases buy one, get one free Get Deal Best entertainment deal "Planet Earth II" (4K UHD) $34.65 at Amazon (save $25.34) Get Deal

Like Prime Day, Earth Day sales are a great opportunity to stock up on home products that you already use every day — these versions just create way less waste. Swap plastic cleaning spray bottles for dissolvable cleaning tablets, swap tree-destroying toilet paper for bamboo toilet paper, or splurge on a countertop composter to shrink your household's food waste. We'll be keeping track of the best Earth Day deals through the end of Earth Week:

SEE ALSO: How to actually recycle electronics, beauty empties, toys, and more tricky items in 2026 Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Reel Reel Bamboo Toilet Paper save 30% with code EARTHLOVE30 Get Deal Why we like it

I've tried a lot of sustainable swaps for my home in the past five years, and Reel's bamboo toilet paper is easily one that's been repurchased the most. Not only is it three-ply and super soft — to the point where multiple guests in my apartment have inquired about the brand — but no trees were harmed in the making of this TP. Bamboo is considered the fastest-growing plant on earth, and making toilet paper out of it requires significantly less water and energy than your typical tree toilet paper. When it feels like there's news about new cuts to national parks and forests on a daily basis, I'll take my bamboo toilet paper usage as a W.

Countertop composters and food waste condensers

• Dreame Electric Composter — $199.99 $399.99 (save $200)

• Reencle Prime — $429 $499 (save $70)

Eco-friendly storage

• Stasher Silicone Reusable Snack Bag (12 ounce) — $7.79 $9.99 (save $2.20)

• Flip-It! Premium Bottle Emptying Kit (pack of 2) — $15.99 $21.99 (save $2.20)

• Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers (set of 4) — $34.94 $42.99 (save $8.05)

• Stasher Silicone Reusable Snack Bags (3 pack) — $41.50 $51.99 (save $10.49)

Air purifiers and water filters

• Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier (255 sq. ft) — $39.97 $49.99 (save $10.03)

• Culligan Water Filter Dispenser with ZeroWater Technology (23 cup) — $26.24 $35.43 (save $9.19)

• Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier (1,800 sq. ft) — $168.99 $229.99 (save $61)

• Blueair Blue Signature SP3i Air Purifier (498 sq. ft) — $239.97 $299.99 (save $60.03)

• Bluevua Countertop Reverse Osmosis System — $317 $454 (save $137)

• Dreame FurCatcher Air Purifier (3,708 sq. ft) — $424.99 $499.99 (save $75)

Mattresses and bedding

• Cozy Earth — save 15% on bamboo sheet sets

• Avocado Green Mattress — save 15% on organic mattresses

• Buffy — save 20% on recycled PET and lyocell comforters and pillows

• Birch — save 20% on natural mattresses, bases, and bedding

• Saatva — save $300 on organic mattress purchases of $1,000 or more

SEE ALSO: The Mill food recycling bin is the easiest indoor composter alternative, and my all-time favorite appliance Cleaning product deals

• Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets (60 count) —  $16.79 $23.99 (save $7.20)

• Blueland Bathroom Cleaner Dissolvable Refill Tablets (10 pack) —  $20.40 $24 (save $4.60)

• Blueland Oxi Laundry Boost Powder —  $21.59 $26.99 (save $5.40)

• Seventh Generation Dishwasher Packs (45 count, 2 pack) —  $23.18 $29.74 (save $6.56)

• Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Dissolvable Tablets (14 count) —  $23.19 $28.99 (save $5.80)

Outdoor deals

• Earth Pak Waterproof Roll-Top Backpack — $66.99 $85.99 (save $19)

• LifeStraw Personal Water Filter (4 pack) — $44.64 $59.95 (save $15.31)

• Rumpl Backcountry Puffy Blanket — $110.93 $149 (save $38.17)

Pet deals

• World's Best Multi-Cat Clumping Corn Cat Litter (15 pounds) — $19.15 $23.39 (save $4.24)

• Earth Rated Recycled Plastic Dog Poop Bags (240 count) — $31.49 $44.99 (save $13.50)

• Petkit Clump+ Tofu Cat Litter (5.29 pounds, 3 pack) — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

In 2025, content creator Gigi Bello (@okaycoolgigi) took her audience on a journey. She was determined to fix the “landlord special” — a peephole on the door of her New York City apartment that had long been painted shut. The video (and its subsequent follow-ups) went viral, landing the 28-year-old CPA a feature in People and a slew of new followers.

“Content creation kind of happened by accident after a few videos went viral, but I fell in love with it,” Bello says.

Please use these two blurbs in the weeks ahead, thank you!

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Bello's account has otherwise been dedicated to her adventures in sourdough breadmaking and her beloved starter, Eloise. But Bello says the peephole video made her realize that "no matter what I post, if I actually care about it, other people will too."

Bello adds, "Sometimes I feel like I don't want to be stuck making sourdough all the time (so sorry Eloise, I love you), but it made me feel better about posting other things I’m interested in and trusting that people will still care."

When it comes to capturing content, Bello uses a relatively low-tech setup in her apartment kitchen. We caught up with the creator about her favorite gear, her love of sourdough, and what it took to remove all those layers of paint.

Credit: Zooey Liao / Mashable / Gigi Bello / Getty Images / Google Images What are your content creation essentials?

iPhone 17 Pro

Bello uses her iPhone to capture both video and audio. "I need something convenient, since it's basically a one-woman show and I'm filming everything myself in my kitchen, so my phone just does it all," she says.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple / AT&T iPhone 17 Pro $1,099.99 at AT&T
  Shop Now

TikTok 

This is Bello's platform of choice and her editing software all rolled up into one. Bello says she uses TikTok for both the recording and editing of her videos.

"I find that editing in TikTok is just super convenient for me. It makes my life easier than having a bunch of random small clips in my camera roll, because I get to pause and resume recording in the same clip," she says. "And editing in TikTok is so user-friendly that I don't feel the need to use anything else if I don't have to."

Opens in a new window Credit: TikTok TikTok   Learn More

CapCut 

For the times that she needs an editing program with a little more oomph, she turns to CapCut.

"I mainly use CapCut when I have to edit a video for a brand, since it makes me feel 'safer' that my video won't randomly be deleted. (Yes, TikTok has done this to me before)."

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LED portable selfie light

"Sometimes (especially in the winter months) my kitchen doesn't have the greatest lighting, so the portable lights help a ton," Bello says. "I find that having the LED lights directly on me looks a little unnatural, so bouncing it feels more real."

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iPad 

Bello says she uses her iPad for doing research and taking notes.

"I'll use my iPad to search for inspiration for recipes or just go down random rabbit holes when I'm trying to think of ideas," she says.

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What was the magic goop that got all the paint off the peephole?

Bello: CitriStrip! It's a paint and varnish stripping gel that I noticed a lot of restoration people using when trying to scrape old paint off door frames. I probably should've used a mask though; I had a headache for days after using it and accidentally breathing it in.

CitriStrip $16.85 at Amazon
$23.99 Save $7.14   Shop Now at Amazon Safe to say you're in your sourdough era?

Mashable: Talk to us about the journey there and any tools someone might need.

Bello: Honestly, the whole "in my sourdough era" thing makes me cringe (I'm sorry!!!). I've just always been someone who loves carbs. In 2024, I was scrolling and saw a lot of people talking about how hard it was to make sourdough bread; they also mentioned how much better it was for you. I decided [that] if I can successfully make sourdough, then I must be a genius. It was honestly just a test [of] my own capabilities and a way for me to have a hobby at home.

I don't think you need much to get started with making sourdough, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. Maybe the biggest thing you'd need to get started is patience.

What is your favorite loaf pan? 

Bello: My current favorite loaf pan is made by Nordic Ware. It’s super light, unlike a Dutch oven, and my recent loaves have been made using it, and they’ve come out really good.

Nordic Ware Pan $100 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon What do you love about what you do? 

Bello: I love that I'm able to do whatever passion project I want at the moment (Eloise being a big part of that) and share my experience with it, whether it fails or succeeds. My favorite thing is creating something from an idea, even if it seems kind of silly, and being able to make something and show it off is really gratifying.

I feel like I have a bit of a double life — my day job is more analytical and composed, but my natural personality comes out in my videos, where I get to be more creative.

Who is your ideal audience? 

Bello: My ideal audience is people who are just normal about things in the best way. Like, kind, a little nosy, and actually invested. People who enjoy the process, not just the final result, and who are okay with things not being perfect. Also, people who get my humor and aren't taking everything too seriously. I like when it feels more like we're all just hanging out versus me "posting content."

Any noteworthy achievements over the past year?

Bello: Being in People magazine for my peephole was definitely up there and something I never expected. Also, Eloise's second birthday — I can't believe I've been making sourdough for two years; it really puts it into perspective. And going to FoodiCon was something I feel really grateful for. I got to meet so many people I interact with online, and hearing that people went there to see me felt really wholesome, unreal, and a little crazy. I usually film by myself in my kitchen convincing myself none of this is real, so seeing it in real life was really fulfilling.

Does Eloise have anything she'd like to add? 

Eloise: I confess, I shoved Ophelia in the junk drawer.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, meet The Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices, and tell us about your favorite creators today.

UPDATE: Apr. 22, 2026, 3:02 p.m. EDT Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story misidenified the NordicWare pan that Bello uses. This has since been corrected.

Netflix is cleaning house this year and making some sweeping cuts to its library of content. The streaming giant has confirmed numerous shows that are either canceled altogether or are concluding with their final seasons.

If you're primed to fear AI-driven robots replacing human workers at complex physical tasks, consider this your trigger warning.

A robot arm built by Sony, and named Ace, has just been dubbed "the first autonomous system to be competitive with elite human table tennis players." That's a quote from the study splashed across the front page of Nature, the world's most venerable peer-reviewed science journal.

SEE ALSO: A robot runner just beat a half-marathon record

The Ace researchers brought receipts. As you can see in the video above, the eight-jointed robot arm is able to make split-second decisions via an AI that's being fed real-time data from nine cameras. It scored a lot of points and won a few games against some of the world's top ping-pong players at Sony HQ in Tokyo.

But here's the good news buried in all the data. Yes, within the confines of this study, Ace was competitive. That doesn't mean Ace could figure out how to win every time; it's nothing like the half marathon-running robot that simply has to master one speed. And, crucially, the human players started to spot flaws in Ace's ping-pong strategy.

Ace isn't the first ping-pong playing robot. Researchers have long been interested in the sport because of its speed and real-time decision-making, which is a major frontier in robotics. In this respect, Ace marks a milestone for the AI system and for the highly reliable arm.

That arm was able to track a ping pong ball with 10 milliseconds of latency — more than 10 times faster than the human brain can manage.

"Ace’s striking skills are trained entirely in simulation using reinforcement learning, then transferred directly to the real robot," Sony explained in a blog post. "This is analogous to a player who practices endlessly in a virtual training hall and then walks onto a real court without needing to relearn anything."

The human players fight back

But that's just the thing — ping-pong players learn on the go, and they're looking at more than just the ball.

Mayuka Taira, who lost a match to Ace last December, told Sony the robot effectively intimidated her at first. "Because you can't read its reactions, it's impossible to sense what kind of shots it dislikes or struggles with, and that makes it even more difficult to play against," she said.

SEE ALSO: 23 of the best AI courses you can take for free this month

But then Rui Takenaka, who has both lost and won against Ace, went that crucial human step further. Here's what he told the company, emphasis ours:

If I used a serve with complex spin, Ace also returned the ball with complex spin, which made ​it difficult for me. But ⁠when I used a simple serve, what we call a knuckle serve, Ace returned a simpler ball. That made it easier for me to attack on the third shot, and I think that was the key reason why I was able to win.

Got that? Ace, a profoundly smart system, was suckered by a knuckle serve.

"Professional human athletes are very good at adapting to their opponent and finding weaknesses, which is an area that we are working on," Ace project leader Peter Dürr told Reuters.

So we shouldn't exactly hang up our ping pong rackets just yet. But we should certainly be very concerned about the mentions of security applications through the various reports and blogs about Ace.

Because the most lucrative real-world application of speedy systems like this isn't at the Olympics. It's on the battlefield — where being faster than the human eye may mean game over for human soldiers.

Everyone seems to love recaps. Spotify popularized them with Wrapped, and now dozens of apps have their own version. You may not know that Google Maps does, too, and it’s pretty cool to see your travel history every month.