IT General

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.

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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

Thanksgiving dinner.

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

FEAST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Sanctuary.

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

ALTAR

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

A photo filter.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 2, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SEPIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A crevice.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CLEFT

Final Hurdle hint

A leaf.

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

FROND

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

It's the day after the Full Moon, and it still looks almost 100% in the sky. With this in mind, be sure to look up and try and catch a glimpse of some features on the surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, May 2, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 100% of the moon will be still be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mare Crisium and Vaporum, and the Tycho Crater. With binoculars, you'll see the Posidonus Crater, Archimedes Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 14 and 17 landing spots, as well as the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to circle Earth once, going through eight distinct phases in the process. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves in its orbit. The shifting light creates the changing shapes we know as full, half, and crescent Moons. Altogether, there are eight main lunar phases.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you read the morning paper.

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.

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 2, 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: Sixth Sense

• Green: Performed in a theatre

• Blue: Governmental agencies

• Purple: Read all about it!

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Clairvoyant

• Green: Staged performances

• Blue: U.S. cabinet departments

• Purple: Starting with newspaper names

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 #1056 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Clairvoyant: EXTRASENSORY, MENTAL, PSYCHIC, TELEPATHIC

• Staged performances: BALLET, MUSICAL, OPERA, PLAY

• U.S. cabinet departments: EDUCATION, INTERIOR, STATE, TREASURY

• Starting with newspaper names: GLOBETROTTER, HERALDRY, POST-IT, TIMES TABLES

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 May 2, 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 love to bust a move.

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 May 2, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All the right moves

The words are related to movement.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe dancing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Line Dance.

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NYT Strands word list for May 2

• Pony

• Scuff

• Kick

• Shuffle

• Line Dance

• Wizard

• Sailor

• Coaster

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 never show up empty-handed.

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 May 2, 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 May 2, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To take along.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter PB

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...

BRING

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.

Nissan's plans to shift away from EVs in the U.S. will have consequences for its manufacturing in the country. The Japanese automaker has confirmed that it's dropping plans to make electric cars at its Canton, Mississippi plant.

The QX60 was Infiniti’s first three-row crossover, although when it was launched in 2012, it was called the JX35. Its current name, QX60, dates back to the 2014 model year and Infiniti’s then-updated naming structure for its vehicles. Since that time, the QX60 has become one of Infiniti’s best-selling models, appealing to families who need utility but want a more refined and premium cabin.

May 2026 on Paramount+ is shaping up to be stacked around big franchise expansions, fan-favorite returns, season and series finales, and a steady mix of reality, drama, and library additions. It’s also delivering a number of comfort-watch hits alongside a few headline premieres.

Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Book 6 Ultra laptop has the premium build, processor and graphics muscle required by creative pros. Can it replace a MacBook Pro?

Sideloading is a hot topic in the mobile sphere, and Google recently made a huge change for how it works on Android. I think it’s a fantastic change, and I wish Google would have added the 24 hour delay for sideloading unverified apps years ago, but I’m glad they’ve finally done it.

Unlike its rival Apple, Samsung products run on various operating systems, such as Android, ChromeOS, Windows, and Tizen. While this is great if you prefer flexibility, it also means that users rarely get a consistent and cohesive experience across their devices. But this could be changing with a new product that's reportedly in the works.

Update, May 1, 6:45 p.m.: the New York Times is reporting Spirit Airlines may cease operations at 3 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 2.

Low-cost airline carrier Spirit is running on fumes right now, potentially ceasing operations this weekend as rising fuel costs have brought it to the brink of closure.

News reports from last month indicated that the federal government might bail out the Florida-based airline for over $500 million and a 90 percent stake in the company. The airline is facing its second bankruptcy in two years, CNBC reports.

That deal with the federal government did not materialize, but President Trump told reporters on Friday that, "I guess we're looking at [bailing Spirit out]. If we can do it, we'll do it. No institutions been able to do it. I'd like to save the jobs, but we'll have an announcement sometime today. We gave them a final proposal."

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CBS News' Kris Van Cleave reports that only two of the Spirit's three major creditors have signed on to the government's aid package, and its bondholders have not signed off on the deal.

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Spirit, which has more than 10,000 employees, hasn't announced any updates on its website or X feed, but it is responding to posts on the social media site.

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If the airline shuts down, people who have booked flights will likely get refunded by their credit card companies, CBS News reported. Those flying when and if the airline is grounded would likely have to book their connecting flights on another airline. Spirit competitors may offer "rescue fares" to those flyers, possibly allowing them to reach their destination at a discounted price. If Spirit shuts down, the airline's frequent flyer miles will likely be worthless.

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Spirit is often the butt of jokes for its bare-bones (though inexpensive) service — they charge for all carry-on luggage and do not offer free water or snacks.

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Do you remember Friendster?

The early-2000s social networking platform has now returned roughly 24 years later with a whole new gimmick: Users can only connect with real-life friends.

The founder of the new Friendster, Mike Carson, is promoting the relaunched social media platform as being free of any ads and algorithms. But, that's not all that's missing either.

Friend currently exists as an iOS app. And once a user downloads the app and sets up their account, they'll see completely blank space. Friendster doesn't show users any posts. In fact, there are no suggestions about who to follow at all.

The new Friendster is built for users to strictly follow people they know in real-life. And the platform makes sure it's being used that way too. In order to follow someone on Friendster, the two users need to physically tap each other's phones while the app is open. This is the only way to connect with someone on the platform.

SEE ALSO: It's time for MySpace to make a comeback What happened to Friendster

Before even MySpace took off, there was Friendster. 

Friendster was officially launched in March 2002 by its founder Jonathan Abrams and is largely considered to be the first major online social networking platform. However, shortly after its launch, other social networks like MySpace quickly took off and Friendster was unable to maintain a foothold with American users.

The platform did find a significant user base in Asia and was eventually sold to a Malaysian company, before Friendster pivoted to become a social gaming website in 2011. Eventually, however, Friendster was completely shut down in 2015.

Carson, the new owner, said he noticed that the Friendster.com domain was once again resolving to a website filled with pop-up ads in 2023. Carson reached out to the new owner of the domain and found out that they had won Friendster.com at an expired domain auction one year earlier for just $7,456. Carson eventually struck a deal with the domain owner, purchasing Friendster.com for $20,000 in Bitcoin along with another domain Carson owned that generated $9,000 per year.

In a blog post discussing his journey acquiring the Friendster domain, Carson said he has plans to enable a Friends of Friends feature, that will allow users to connect solely online if they are already connected to another friend that one of the users have actually met. 

In addition, Carson would like to roll out a Fading Connection feature which nudges users when they haven't been in the same room with one of their Friendster connections for more than a year.

"Not a punishment — a gentle nudge that real friendships are kept alive in person, not online," Carson explains.

After downloading the app, I must point out that all the nothingness makes it feel daunting to use the app. However, the new Friendster seems like a very interesting idea – if it can take off. The real challenge seems to be getting users on there to begin with, because they too will see an app with empty space until they start making real-life connections.

A cozy, long weekend is here, which means it's the perfect time to dive into our watch lists for the day and night. Netflix has many new releases to explore as May rolls in, but if you're looking for something a bit more classic, nostalgic, or acclaimed, we have you covered.

The turn of the millennium was a good time to be into tech. Devices we use every day, like digital cameras, portable media players, and early handheld computers, were becoming mainstream, yet they all ran into a bottleneck with storage costs. Floppy disks held too little data, and the new solid-state flash memory was expensive, costing hundreds of dollars for only a few megabytes. This gap let established companies try to innovate, and one firm tried to use its history with removable media to launch a tiny, affordable format meant to act as the first reusable, digital roll of film. This was clever engineering that ultimately could not save a product line already collapsing under the weight of its tarnished brand history, and then market pressures finished the job.

When it comes to content, there's little I love more than a good, gritty crime drama. From their dark, cynical, often realistic portrayals of criminal underworlds, violence, and justice systems to their heavily flawed, obsessed, anti-hero protagonists and intense, gritty tones, it all sucks us in, and it’s why we can’t look away. These types of criminal shows have carved out a powerful space in television by refusing to glamorize the worlds they depict and being willing to confront uncomfortable truths.

The Toyota GR Corolla has quickly become one of the benchmarks for affordable performance, offering serious capability and all-wheel-drive grip in a compact package. But that reputation comes at a cost, with pricing that pushes it beyond what many budget-conscious enthusiasts are willing to spend. And once you look past the hype, it’s not the only car delivering that level of excitement.

California police will finally have the authority to issue tickets for robotaxis running afoul of the law. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will enact a law on July 1st, 2026 that allows citations for driverless cars.

Looking for a good documentary to watch this weekend (or whenever)? Don't be wooed by Netflix's big red logo—they don't have the market cornered on docs. In fact, HBO Max has one of the most prestigious libraries of excellent and award-winning documentaries of any streaming service, and they're all there for the taking.

Are you ready to try out some fun new homelab projects this weekend? Well, today I’m showing you how to save some cash by deploying actually useful services in your homelab, like social media automation, invoicing software, and a Linktree replacement you’ll actually like.