IT General

In an era dominated by SUVs and crossovers, it’s easy to assume that sedans are a thing of the past, but the sales figures for the Toyota Camry tell a very different story. Even as buyers flock to taller, truck-based vehicles, this enduring Japanese sedan continues to find its footing in the American market, proving there’s still strong demand for traditional four-door cars.

Smart home technology is meant to save you time and effort, and it can definitely do so when used well. However, it's all too easy to fall into habits that can end up wasting time rather than saving it.

I'm a fan of the open-source philosophy, and given the price of Microsoft 365, the push for desktop alternatives to Microsoft Excel is louder than ever. Yet, I can't make the leap. While these local apps look the part, they lack the deep architectural features that make modern data analysis possible on my PC.

Still on the fence about purchasing Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) package? You'll have to decide quickly, as FSD will soon become available only through a subscription.

CEO Elon Musk announced the news via X on Wednesday. "Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter," he tweeted.

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This gives Tesla owners a month to make a decision on buying FSD outright and own it forever.

SEE ALSO: Tesla launches Model Y with seven seats in the U.S., but not the one you want

The FSD package is currently an option for some Tesla vehicles; if you're buying a Model 3, a Model Y, or the All-Wheel Drive variant of Cybertruck, it will cost you an additional $8,000. With other models, including all variants of the Model S and the Model Y, as well as the Cyberbeast version of the Cybertruck, it's included in the price.

Currently listed as Full Self-Driving (Supervised), the FSD is a set of driving assistance features that will make your car able to "drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention," according to Tesla. The company notes, however, that the "currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous," and that some features are "dependent on development and regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions."

Featured Video For You I took a ride in a robotaxi: How close are we to a driverless future?

In other words, and despite Musk's promises that FSD will turn your Tesla into a self-driving car, this hasn't happened yet. The situation is even worse in Europe, where most FSD features aren't available due to regulatory hurdles, though the company has recently begun testing FSD in some European countries, including Germany.

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Musk has long claimed that FSD will make your Tesla a money-maker, as it will become fully autonomous and you will be able to have it ferry other passengers when you're not using it. He also blew past his own deadlines for this happening many times in the past, leaving owners of older Tesla vehicles, which don't have the latest HW4 hardware, in limbo – despite promises that their cars will be able to support fully autonomous driving.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026:

AcrossAbruptly stop texting

• The answer is Ghost.

Shaving kit item

• The answer is Razor.

2024 film role for which Mikey Madison won Best Actress

• The answer is Anora.

The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this

• The answer is Money.

Shape of a round chart

• The answer is Pie.

DownDad's dad, informally

• The answer is Gramp.

Capital of Vietnam

• The answer is Hanoi.

___ layer, part of Earth's atmosphere

• The answer is Ozone.

How you might wake up after sleeping funny

• The answer is Sore.

Cafeteria food carrier

• The answer is Tray.

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

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

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

Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have mapped where dust collects around a nearby supermassive black hole — and found that almost all of it sits in a compact ring feeding the object.

The study focuses on the Circinus galaxy, about 13 million light-years away in space. Webb’s sharp imaging made out relatively small parts of the center of the galaxy, allowing researchers to distinguish material falling in from the dust getting pushed out.

This ring, called a "torus," acts like both a fuel line and a gatekeeper: It funnels material toward the black hole while shaping how energy escapes into the surrounding galaxy. 

The discovery overturns decades of assumptions. Astronomers previously thought streams of hot matter, or outflows, produced the galaxy’s brightest infrared light. But Webb’s new observations, published in the journal Nature, reveal that roughly 87 percent of the glowing dust is concentrated in the dense disk feeding the black hole, while less than 1 percent comes out, essentially as exhaust. 

"Since the '90s, it has not been possible to explain excess infrared emissions that come from hot dust at the cores of active galaxies, meaning the models only take into account either the torus or the outflows, but cannot explain that excess," said Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez, based at the University of South Carolina and lead author of the study, in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Who is the sick astronaut on the ISS? What we know.

Black holes are some of the strangest objects in the universe. Their gravity is so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape. It wasn't that long ago that astronomers debated whether they even existed. Now black holes are firmly established science — and we can see them, sort of. 

In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first image of a black hole, located 53 million light-years away in the Messier 87 galaxy. It captured the glowing debris surrounding it, which makes the dark center — the black hole itself — visible by contrast. 

A black hole flares when gas, dust, or even a star ventures too close. Gravity tears the material apart, and as it spirals in, it heats up and emits a bright light before disappearing.

To separate the disk of Circinus' black hole from its exhaust, astronomers used Webb’s Aperture Masking Interferometer on its Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph. That's a long name for a tool that turns Webb into a mini telescope array, combining light through a mask of seven small openings to produce interference patterns. These patterns are then used to reconstruct sharp images of tiny, previously hidden features.

"By using an advanced imaging mode of the camera, we can effectively double its resolution over a smaller area of the sky," said co-author Joel Sanchez-Bermudez, a National University of Mexico astrophysicist, in a statement. "This allows us to see images twice as sharp." 

The team’s findings mark the first time scientists have used a space infrared interferometer for a target outside the Milky Way. Researchers say this technique can now be applied to other black holes, helping to determine whether Circinus has the exception or the rule when it comes to its black hole's behavior. 

"We need a statistical sample of black holes, perhaps a dozen or two dozen, to understand how mass in their accretion disks and their outflows relate to their power," Lopez-Rodriguez said.

TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from MIT are available to take for free on edX.

This feels like a poorly kept secret at this stage, but in case you weren't already aware, there's a massive bank of free online courses sitting on edX. And we're not talking about any old online courses. We're talking about online courses from some of the biggest educational institutions in the world, including MIT.

MIT is hosting free lessons on useful topics like AI, Python programming, investing, and so much more. There's a lot on offer, so we've got you started with a hand-picked selection of the best free online courses from MIT. These are the best free online courses from MIT this month:

• Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis

• Circuits and Electronics 2: Amplification, Speed, and Delay

• Circuits and Electronics 3: Applications

• Derivatives Markets: Advanced Modeling and Strategies

• Financial Accounting

• Foundations of Modern Finance

• Foundations of Modern Finance II

• Fundamentals of Statistics

• Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python

• Management in Engineering: Strategy and Leadership

• Mathematical Methods for Quantitative Finance

• Probability: The Science of Uncertainty and Data

• Supply Chain Analytics

• Supply Chain Dynamics

• Supply Chain Fundamentals

• Supply Chain Technology and Systems

These free courses do not come with a shareable certificate of completion or graded assignments/exams, but that's the only catch. You can start learning at a pace that suits you, so there's nothing stopping you from getting started.

Find the best free online courses from MIT on edX.

TL;DR: Scan anything, anywhere with a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now only $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$199.90 Save $159.91   Get Deal

We may not always have access to a bulky scanner, but our smartphone or tablet is likely close at hand. iScanner App transforms your iPhone or iPad into a portable scanner that can digitize documents anywhere, and right now you can lock in a lifetime subscription for just $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

It’s surprising how often we need to scan things in 2026. If you’re looking for a more convenient way to scan things for work, school, or personal reasons, the iScanner App is ready to help. It lets you digitize physical documents from anywhere, transforming your iPhone or iPad into a scanning device.

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Need to submit your signature? Looking to save a handwritten note? Do it in seconds with iScanner. Just point your device’s camera at whatever you would like to scan. The app’s AI-powered features handle the rest — it detects and adjusts the document’s borders to give you a top-quality scan without distortions.

After scanning, edit in the app using color-correction and noise-removal tools. You can then save it as a PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT. PDF files can also be edited with the iScanner App, which offers tools to sign, add text, or auto-fill documents. There are also scanning modes for text translation, object counting, measurements, and more.

If letting you scan and edit PDFs wasn’t enough, iScanner App also works as a document manager that organizes your scans into handy folders. Use the convenient drag-and-drop feature to sort them, and lock folders and files with a PIN for privacy.

Secure your own lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give yourself a whole new set of tools with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC, now just $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $99.97
$249.99 Save $150.02   Get Deal

If you need to get motivated in 2026, sometimes all it takes is a new set of tools. That’s what the Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC lifetime license offers, giving your computer five essential apps to help you tackle both personal and professional tasks. Right now, you can get them all for only $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

If you didn’t find a new computer under the tree this Christmas, you can gift yourself the next best thing with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business license. It works on both Mac and PC, so anyone can use it. It outfits your device with a suite of five helpful apps geared toward helping you tackle all the tasks that come your way in 2026 and beyond.

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Curious what’s included with this version? It starts with the classics — Word to help you draft a document, Excel to handle all your spreadsheet needs, and PowerPoint to ensure you make a lasting impression with your presentations. You’ll also have access to Outlook, which keeps your communications organized, and OneNote, which digitizes your note-taking process.

This 2024 version includes new features like presentation recording with voice narration and video in PowerPoint, AI-powered writing suggestions in Word, enhanced data analysis and visualization tools in Excel, and an updated accessibility checker in Outlook.

This lifetime license gives you permanent access to these five game-changing apps, with no subscription fees. You can also work offline, as your purchase lets you download the apps directly to your device.

Give yourself a productivity boost with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC for only $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

With A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, HBO continues to build out its roster of Game of Thrones spin-offs. But as its slate of Westeros-set series grows more crowded, so, too, does the Westerosi timeline.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' trailer promises epic Westerosi jousting action

So, how does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fit into the history of Westeros? Let's break it down, from the basic timeline to the exact dates for all you history hounds out there.

When does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms take place?

In the simplest terms, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place in between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. As a bridge between the two series, it offers up a new onscreen perspective of Westeros. The other shows see the Seven Kingdoms at war for the Iron Throne. Here, though, the Targaryens rule during a time of relative peace.

It's during this peace that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the Dunk and Egg novellas by George R.R. Martin, unfolds. Season 1 adapts the novella The Hedge Knight, which tells the tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his new squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they venture to the tourney at Ashford Meadow to earn coin and glory.

SEE ALSO: 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms': 5 things we learned at the New York Comic Con panel Good to know, but what are the exact dates for each Westeros show?

To get more granular with it, HBO's current selection of Game of Thrones spin-offs span a little under two centuries.

House of the Dragon is first up in chronological order. It details the war for succession between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), which became known as the Dance of the Dragons. That civil war lasted from 129 to 131 AC (after Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of Westeros).

Next up in the timeline is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The novella The Hedge Knight takes place in 209 AC, so 78 years after the end of the Dance of the Dragons. A lot has happened in Westeros since then, but the most crucial thing to know is that there are officially no more dragons. The last Targaryen dragon died in 153 AC, and with its loss, the ruling family's revered, almost god-like status as dragon riders has faded.

Last but not least is the show that started it all: Game of Thrones, which begins in 298 AC. That means A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place a little under a century before Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) begins her quest to take back the Iron Throne.

Despite the many decades between A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Game of Thrones, their stories may share some overlapping characters. Prince Aemon Targaryen (Peter Vaughan), the Wall's Maester in Game of Thrones, is serving at the Citadel in Oldtown during the events of the Dunk and Egg novellas. And Brynden Rivers, also known the Three-Eyed Raven, makes an appearance in the third Dunk and Egg novella, The Mystery Knight.

These overlaps likely won't come up in Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but they are helpful when putting together the puzzle pieces of the wide world of Westeros.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

TL;DR: A wide range of AI courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

The world of AI is constantly developing. If you're feeling the need to keep pace with this ever-changing landscape, there are a number of online courses you can take. You can learn all about chatbots, AI agents, and machine learning with Udemy. And better yet, a number of the best online courses are totally free.

There's a lot to consider on Udemy. We recommend taking some time to properly check out all the options, but to get you started, we've lined up a selection of standout courses on AI:

• A Gentle Introduction to Generative AI

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI for Beginners: Learn The Basics of ChatGPT

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• AI for Students: Boost Learning & Research with Gen AI

• AI Fundamentals: From Basics to Generative AI

• AI in Agriculture: Practical Introductory Course

• AI Literacy Essentials: Working Responsibly with AI

• Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: Cursor, the AI-First IDE

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• How Smart People Use AI to Think, Lead, and Grow

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Master Generative AI for Developer Productivity With Pieces

• Prompt Engineering Mastery

• Training AI with Human Data, Explained for Annotators

• Worldbuilding AI Futures

These free online courses don't include certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content. That means there's nothing stopping you from enrolling righy away.

Find the best free AI courses on Udemy.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is setting course for the Sea of Monsters, and just like in Season 1, there are bound to be a few adaptation changes ahead.

SEE ALSO: 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 2 review: Rough waters ahead for 'Sea of Monsters' adaptation

Whether it's adding new characters or tweaking major book events entirely, some of these changes from Rick Riordan's original books fall flat, while others enrich the world of the show. Here are all the biggest changes between Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 and The Sea of Monsters. We'll be updating every week, so be sure to come back for more adaptation breakdowns.

Episode 1: Grover meets new characters, like Alison Simms. Aryan Simhadri in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Season 2 kicks off with Percy having a nightmare about Grover in danger, just like The Sea of Monsters does. However, there are some key differences: Grover isn't in Florida, meaning we don't get him running into St. Augustine Bridal Boutique. (Don't worry, though, the show doesn't abandon the wedding dress storyline.) Instead, he's in the jungle, where he meets a crew of demigods like Alison Simms (Beatrice Kitsos). They're new characters who have allied themselves with Luke (Charlie Bushnell) and Kronos, meaning Percy and his crew will have even more rogue demigods to contend with.

Episode 1: Basically everything about Tyson is different. Daniel Diemer in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 introduces Tyson (Daniel Diemer), Percy's Cyclops half-brother. In the books, he is unhoused, and while he attends Meriwether College Prep with Percy, no one gives him any extra support outside of school. That changes in the series, as Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) meets him while volunteering at a shelter, takes him in, and gets him into Meriwether. That means she and Percy already know he's a Cyclops, as opposed to in the book, where the Mist disguises his true nature to Percy.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

SEE ALSO: Watch Phineas and Ferb recap 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 1

I'm always happy to see Sally get to showcase her kindness and empathy, and I'm intrigued by whether she's aware of Tyson also being Poseidon's (Toby Stephens) son. Based on her telling Percy that they might have more in common than they think — hence the "two sides of the same coin" talk — it seems like she's got a pretty good idea, giving her more investment in Percy and Tyson's relationship.

Another big change with Tyson is how he speaks. In The Sea of Monsters, he has a more childlike speech pattern, as Cyclops age more slowly than humans. Here, though, he sounds like any of the other characters. Perhaps this was a case of the book dialogue simply not translating well to screen, for fear of infantilizing or stereotyping Tyson. Still, it seems like book Tyson's loyalty and enthusiasm carry over into show Tyson.

Episode 1: The Laistrygonian giant dodgeball scene gets a big change.

The Sea of Monsters opens with a monster attack in the form of a deadly gym class. Laistrygonian giants posing as visitors from Detroit sneak into Meriwether and wreak havoc during a dodgeball game, hurling fireballs at Percy, Tyson, and their classmates. Percy Jackson and the Olympians moves this fight scene from Meriwether to Camp Half-Blood, with the Laistrygonians ambushing Percy, Tyson, and Annabeth on their way to camp. In moving the scene, the attack winds up replacing the book's Colchis Bull fight.

SEE ALSO: 7 magic school series to buy young readers that aren't 'Harry Potter'

While there's still a fiery dodgeball element to the Laistrygonian sequence, it misses a lot of the charm from the book's version. Gone are the Laistrygonians' weak disguises, along with the name tags reading Joe Bob, Skull Eater, and Marrow Sucker. These disguises, along with the high school setting of the scene, are a huge part of the appeal of Riordan's series in the first place: seeing Greek mythology transposed into our day-to-day world. I understand wanting to fold two monster attacks into one due to time and budget constraints, but there's still a lot lost when you rip away one of the defining elements of the book series.

Episode 1: Chiron is fired for different reasons.

Rounding out the biggest changes from episode 1 is Chiron's (Glynn Turman) firing from Camp Half-Blood. In the show, he's fired because he's the son of Kronos, which makes the Greek gods wary about his allegiances. The book takes it a step farther: In The Sea of Monsters, Chiron's connection to Kronos makes him a prime suspect in the poisoning of Thalia's (Tamara Smart) tree. He's already fired by the time Luke poisons the tree in the show, though. Percy sees Luke attack the tree in person, furthering the animosity between the two.

Episode 2: Whoa, there's a lot of drama between Percy and Annabeth. Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Percabeth shippers, buckle up, because this episode delivers so much angst. Chiron reveals the Great Prophecy to Annabeth before telling her that she can't let Percy go on any quests. Cue Annabeth planning to sabotage Percy in the chariot race should it come down to the two of them. Later, she suggests she go on Clarisse's (Dior Goodjohn) quest for the Golden Fleece without Percy. All of this is new, and it's stressful, adding more distrust between the pair.

Despite all the new twists in how the quest comes together, the end result is the same: Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson set out for the Sea of Monsters. However, Percy and Annabeth are more at odds than ever before, setting a more adversarial tone for the quest ahead.

Episode 3: Percy Jackson and the Olympians shows off a different side of Clarisse. Dior Goodjohn in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 makes a few tweaks to Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson's encounter with Luke aboard the Princess Andromeda, getting new characters like Alison involved, and even having Tyson set off a bomb in totally badass fashion.

The biggest change in the episode, though, is that we get more of Clarisse's perspective as she sets out on her quest. We witness firsthand her trip to the Oracle, along with her father, Ares (Adam Copeland), gifting her a ship and a zombie crew. Unlike in the book, these are losing soldiers from a vast variety of wars, as opposed to simply Confederate soldiers. For a number of reasons... Good call, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

But Ares' gift is a double-edged sword. He immediately undermines her field experience to the soldiers and threatens Clarisse should she fail. Dad of the Year, he is not. That scene fuels Clarisse's insecurities heading into her mission, which only get worse as the soldiers repeatedly ignore her.

By the episode's end, though, she's won them over by promising them a place in Elysium once they die. Is this a check she can actually cash? I'm not sure yet. However, her rousing speech is proof of her burgeoning leadership skills. Plus, seeing Clarisse actually struggle with the beginning of her quest is something we don't get much of in The Sea of Monsters, beyond a tense conversation Percy overhears between her and Ares. That's one of the benefits of a TV adaptation that isn't a book narrated in first person: We get to take in other perspectives. As a result, Clarisse gets more layers this episode, and Goodjohn gets to truly shine as a more prominent member of Percy Jackson and the Olympians' ensemble.

Episode 4: Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives us flashbacks to Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia's journey to Camp Half-Blood. Tamara Smart in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Following in the footsteps of episode 3's focus on Clarisse, episode 4 continues Percy Jackson and the Olympians' trend of showcasing new, non-Percy perspectives. This time, we get that in the form of flashbacks to Annabeth's time traveling with Luke and Thalia (Tamara Smart), daughter of Zeus (Courtney B. Vance), to Camp Half-Blood. A dangerous encounter between young Annabeth and a band of Cyclopes prompts Thalia's decision to find sanctuary at Camp Half-Blood, as opposed to continuing to live life on the road. In Annabeth's mind, this was the fatal decision that led to Thalia's death on the edges of camp. If she hadn't been captured by the Cyclopes in the first place, then Thalia would still be alive.

The actual Cyclopes encounter plays out differently in the show than in the books, which saw 7-year-old Annabeth saving a trapped Luke, Thalia, and Grover from a Brooklyn-based Cyclops' house of horrors. That fateful meeting led to Annabeth's deep hatred of all Cyclopes. However, in the show, Annabeth's ire is directed less at the Cyclopes, and more at herself for getting captured in the first place and slowing Thalia and Luke down. It's a poignant shift, one that emphasizes her survivor's guilt. It also gives us our first look at Smart in action as Thalia, getting us ready for Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 3 adaptation of The Titan's Curse.

Episode 4: The Scylla and Charybdis fight gives Clarisse a moral crisis.

Just like in the books, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, and Clarisse face off with Scylla and Charybdis in order to enter the Sea of Monsters. But the show adds in a trolley problem-esque twist, courtesy of Annabeth's battle strategy. To get past Scylla, all Clarisse needs to do is sacrifice six of her men, one for each tentacle. Should she knowingly send these soldiers to their doom in order for guaranteed success? Or should she try her original plan of getting past Charybdis?

In the end, Clarisse follows Annabeth's plan. Yet the guilt of sacrificing her crew members overwhelms her, and she joins them on deck. Once again, the added depth to Clarisse works wonders here. It's great to see that as she's stepped up in terms of importance, the show has stepped up just as much in terms of letting audience members into her inner world.

Episode 5: Percy Jackson and the Olympians mashes up Circe and the Sirens. Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians mashes up two key encounters from The Sea of Monsters, those with sorceress Circe (Rosemarie DeWitt) and the Sirens. Here, instead of immediately turning Percy into a guinea pig the way she does in the books, Circe tries to keep Percy and Annabeth at her island resort with the promise that she can train them — and the other many demigods staying on her island — to get past the Sirens. Of course, she's lying and merely trying to keep people around to avoid the loneliness she's experienced for centuries.

The end result of the Circe encounter is the same: She turns Percy into a guinea pig, Annabeth saves him, and the two leave the island. But along the way, we get a new perspective on a legendary antagonist of Greek mythology, as well as some fascinating discussion of Percy and Annabeth's fatal flaws. As far as adaptation changes go, I'm not mad at it — especially since we still get to see Percy in guinea pig form.

Episode 5: That encounter with the Sirens looks way different.

Percy and Annabeth's meeting with the Sirens looks nowhere near how it looks in The Sea of Monsters. In the book, Percy plugs his ears with wax and ties Annabeth to the mast, as she wants to hear what the Sirens have to sing. In the show, after some drama about ear wax, Percy winds up on the mast, but Annabeth still falls under the Sirens' spell. 

Annabeth's vision differs between page and screen. In the book, she sees herself having a picnic with her father and Luke in a New York that she's designed. The show features a vision of Grover needing her to solve conflict between Luke and Percy, which then gives way to another vision of Annabeth slaying the Sirens and impressing her mother, Athena (Andra Day). 

As for Percy's vision? All he says he saw was Annabeth, which grounded him and led him to save her. But if his ears weren't blocked, and the Sirens' songs show you your greatest desire, and all he saw was Annabeth… Then that means for Percabeth fans, this sequence was a treat.

Episode 5: Clarisse and Grover team up against Polyphemus.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians introduces the unlikely team-up of Clarisse and Grover, who try to work together to escape Polyphemus' (Aleks Paunovic) cave. While their partnership isn't something we get to see in the books due to Percy's first-person narration, it's fun to witness in the show. The real switch-up here, though, is the reveal that thanks to his sense of smell, Polyphemus has known who Grover is the whole time. Plus, he's been using him as bait to lure Percy Jackson to his island. That's new territory for the show to tread, so what's Polyphemus' endgame?

Episode 6: Luke crashes the Golden Fleece party.

Several elements of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, episode 6 differ from The Sea of Monsters, from Polyphemus planting a decoy Golden Fleece to Hippocampus Rainbow's late introduction. But the biggest difference is undoubtedly Luke's arrival on Polyphemus' island. While he never shows up there in the book, his appearance there in episode 6 creates one of the show's most fascinating moral dilemmas.

In their skirmish with Polyphemus, Annabeth and Percy get separated. He winds up trapped in Polyphemus' cave with Clarisse and Grover, while Annabeth gets injured just outside it. Luke discovers her there and realizes she's dying. The only thing that can save her is the Golden Fleece inside the cave. Percy realizes that if he gives it to Luke, he'll save Annabeth but doom the quest to save Camp Half-Blood. Even knowing that, he does it anyway.

The whole sequence is a show-only creation, but it's a strong payoff to the discussion of Percy's fatal flaw from episode 5: He cares so deeply for his friends that he will always put them first, no matter the cost. What consequences will Percy's choice have as the show heads into episode 7?

Episode 7: The entire Annabeth rescue mission is new. Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 7 follows a similar shape to the climax of The Sea of Monsters: Percy fights Luke onboard the Princess Andromeda, and Clarisse, true to the prophecy, flies back to Camp Half-Blood alone with the Golden Fleece. However, the actual events leading up to these broader arcs are wildly different. For one, there's the added element of Percy needing to rescue Annabeth. Plus, Clarisse is actually around for the fight, whereas in the book, Percy sends her to the airport with the Fleece before crossing paths with Luke again.

All these shifts allow for a greater emphasis on ties that bind our group of demigods together, especially the newfound respect and friendship between Percy and Clarisse. As sweet as these changes wind up being, part of me does miss the chaos of Chiron and his Party Pony relatives crashing the boat and saving the day, even if creating a centaur stampede would have been in no way practical from a VFX and budget standpoint. You know what makes up for that, though? Seeing Sally Jackson come back to give Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson a ride back to Camp Half-Blood. Any time she brings out her exasperated demigod mom energy is a good time.

Episode 7: Annabeth realizes the Golden Fleece can save Thalia.

The Sea of Monsters ends with the twist that the Golden Fleece didn't just restore the protective barrier around Camp Half-Blood — it also brought Thalia back to life. However, in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Annabeth gets a vision that the Fleece could accomplish this, adding even greater personal stakes to getting the Fleece back to Thalia's tree as soon as possible.

Fascinatingly, it turns out that Kronos has kept the possibility of Thalia's revival from Luke. But The Sea of Monsters implies that Luke knew the Fleece could bring Thalia back. After all, Kronos wanted her alive again so he could have another child of the Big Three gods with a chance of fulfilling the Great Prophecy. The show's version of Kronos not telling Luke this crucial fact suggests that he doesn't fully trust him, sowing some seeds of discord between Luke and the Titan he's pledged himself to.

Episode 7: Kronos orders a battle at Camp Half-Blood.

Speaking of Kronos, he plays a bigger role in episode 7 because the Golden Fleece speeds up his return from Tartarus (at least, before a very sassy Percy snatches it off his casket). That role includes pushing Luke to fully attack Camp Half-Blood as a new test of loyalty, hinting at a finale battle that isn't in The Sea of Monsters at all. How will this new climax play out in episode 8?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+, with a new episode every week.

TL;DR: Watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There is quite simply no tournament like the Africa Cup of Nations. It's an electric combination of heated rivalries, colorful fans, and flair that is sometimes lacking from elite competitions. We know that the eyes of the footballing world are already fixed on the 2026 World Cup, but this incredible tournament should whet the appetite of fans before the main event next summer.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mane, Bryan Mbuemo, and Victor Osimhen have been battling it out in Morocco. Now we're approaching the dramatic conclusion of this tournament.

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If you're interested in watching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Africa Cup of Nations?

The Africa Cup of Nations (or AFCON) is the main biennial international men's association football competition in Africa. 24 teams are drawn into six groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout rounds.

The defending champion is Ivory Coast. Egypt is the most successful nation in the tournament's history, winning seven times and securing three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

When is the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations?

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is the 35th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from Dec. 21 to Jan. 18 in Morocco.

How to watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Connect to Channel 4

5. Watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch AFCON without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE OVER $300: As of Jan. 14, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is on sale for $1,087.86 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,087.86 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $332.13   Get Deal

Looking for a new smartphone? How about one that made our list of the best smartphones in 2025? The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great option for most people, described by our reviewer as having an "excellent all-around performance." And even better yet, as of Jan. 14, it's on sale for its best-ever price.

With a discount of over $300 ($332.13 to be specific), the price is now down to $1,087.86. This deal is specific to the titanium gray model, but for a little more you can also get the titanium whitesilver, titanium silverblue, and titanium black models.

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And this phone really is stacked with helpful features, including Now Brief that gives you the information you need before you even know you need it. The camera is also impressive, benefiting from AI features like the Audio Eraser which minimizes unwanted background noise in videos. It also has advanced portrait features that preserve natural skin tones and textures for professional-looking photos.

It also comes with Samsung's most powerful processor yet, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, so you'll be getting a super smooth and fast performing phone. And the Smart Switch feature makes setting up your new phone nice and easy. With minimal effort from you it will transfer all your photos, apps, contacts, messages, and more.

Pick up deal on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra now.

Stranger Things fans are accusing the Duffer Brothers of using generative AI to write the show's fifth and final season. The speculation arose after viewers believed they spotted AI chatbot ChatGPT open on the creators' laptops in behind-the-scenes documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.

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

The Stranger Things finale brought the series to an end late last month, wrapping up the popular retro sci-fi show after almost a decade. Unfortunately, the show's conclusion left many viewers dissatisfied, taking to social media to complain that the grand finale felt anticlimactic and unrewarding.

Some fans thought they'd found an explanation for their disappointment when One Last Adventure premiered Monday on Netflix. Covering the production and filming of Stranger Things' final season, the documentary featured footage of the Duffer Brothers working on its scripts. This included shots of their laptop screens as they worked on scripts, which displayed multiple tabs open in their internet browsers (apparently Stranger Things was written in Google Docs).

While most websites displayed seemed relatively innocuous, one particular shot showed several blurry tabs potentially featuring round monochrome icons. Said tabs are too out of focus to be positively identified, and could easily belong to any number of different websites. Even so, Stranger Things fans quickly began speculating that they may have been ChatGPT icons. 

The theory was further fuelled by the documentary's revelation that Stranger Things' fifth season hadn't been completely written when production began. While far from a smoking gun, fans considered this a potential indication that generative AI was used to hasten scriptwriting along.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Responding to fans' speculation, One Last Adventure's director Martina Radwan cast doubt on whether the blurry tabs were actually ChatGPT, and stated that she hadn't seen Stranger Things' writers use generative AI in ways she'd consider unethical. However, she also expressed the belief that it shouldn't matter if the Duffer Brothers did use ChatGPT, as it's fine for creatives to utilise generative AI as a tool.

"Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, 'We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.' But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have [ChatGPT] open, to just do quick research?" Radwan said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. 

"[N]obody has actually proved that it was open. That's like having your iPhone next to your computer while you’re writing a story. We just use these tools… while multitasking. So there's a lot going on all the time, every time."

Despite Radwan's assertions, not everyone agrees. Fans have acknowledged that there is no clear evidence that ChatGPT was used to write Stranger Things' scripts, and that the Duffer Brothers could easily have been using the AI chatbot for other matters (if they were even using it at all). Even so, many also object to the use of generative AI to research, outline, brainstorm, or plan scripts. As such, potentially having ChatGPT open in the same browser being used to write Stranger Things has left viewers suspicious.

"Wasn't Season 5 filming delayed because of the WGA strike? That would be pretty ironic, considering that regulating AI is just one of the things the WGA is fighting for," wrote reddit user u/Swordman86.

"I cannot for the life of me understand this sudden and enthusiastic desire by people to insert AI into nearly every part of their work and life," u/ Kreol1q1q posted. "Jesus if you are a writer, don’t you take pride in the work you do? Why would you let a moronic glorified chatbot into the thing you are skilled at, and valued for."

"Even if there were no AI tabs open, the writing for S5 was so bad that in my head-canon they almost exclusively used AI off-screen anyways," said u/pat_the_catdad.

Mashable has reached out to Netflix for comment.

Geely Holding Group isn't exactly a household name in the American automotive market. You're forgiven if you've never heard of it before reading this, as you're far from alone. However, Geely is the Chinese automotive giant behind some brands you probably have heard of, such as Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus.

TL;DR: Live stream Nigeria vs. Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Nigeria will not be competing in this summer's World Cup, which is a real shame for fans. They're stacked with talent, including attacking stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. With their squad, they should be qualifying for the biggest tournaments. But alas, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is all they've got right now.

Nigeria face off against hosts Morocco in the second semi-final matchup. It's an absolutely huge fixture between two star-studded teams.

If you want to watch Nigeria vs. Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nigeria vs. Morocco?

Nigeria vs. Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 14. This fixture takes place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

How to watch Nigeria vs. Morocco for free

Nigeria vs. Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

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Live stream Nigeria vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Nigeria vs. Morocco for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Nigeria vs. Morocco (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Nigeria vs. Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A long knife.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SWORD

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A coincidence.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FLUKE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Took a gulp.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DRANK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Slimy.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GRIMY

Final Hurdle hint

A klepto.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

THIEF

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

TL;DR: Live stream Senegal vs. Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been everything we wanted it to be. We've seen some incredible fixtures, magical individual performances, and passionate stadiums, and we're not done yet. Senegal take on Egypt in the first semi-final matchup. All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah as he looks to lead his side into another final.

That's not going to be an easy task. Senegal have scored 11 goals in the five games they've played so far. They're stacked with talent, including Salah's old teammate Sadio Mané. This is going to be an evenly-matched contest between two talented and motivated squads.

If you want to watch Senegal vs. Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Senegal vs. Egypt?

Senegal vs. Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Jan. 14. This fixture takes place at the Tangier Grand Stadium.

How to watch Senegal vs. Egypt for free

Senegal vs. Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Live stream Senegal vs. Egypt for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Senegal vs. Egypt for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Senegal vs. Egypt (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Senegal vs. Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 January 14, 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 January 13, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 14 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 13 Pips

Number (13): Everything in this space must add up to 13. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 13 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (15): Everything in this purple space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-1, 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.