IT General

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, May 6, 2026:

AcrossWikipedia or WebMD

• The answer is Site.

Host city of the 2024 Olympics

• The answer is Paris.

Nuclear reactors split them

• The answer is Atoms.

Hit 2021 film shot in the same location as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Martian"

• The answer is Dune.

C.I.A. asset

• The answer is Spy.

DownShowed sudden interest

• The answer is Sat up.

"Ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife," according to Alanis Morissette

• The answer is Irony.

What's displayed at the top of many iPhone lock screens

• The answer is Time.

Pluralizing letter, spelled out

• The answer is Ess.

Football player's protection

• The answer is Pads.

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE $130: As of May 6, the DJI Flip (RC 2) is on sale for $509 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Flip (RC 2) $509 at Amazon
$639 Save $130   Get Deal

The DJI Flip is back on sale at Amazon, and as of May 6, it's down to its best-ever price. And with the ban on future imports of DJI drones, now might be the time to buy. Right now, you'll save $130 with the new price of $509.

This drone is incredibly lightweight, weighing under 249g, meaning it doesn't require FAA registration or Remote ID in the U.S. For peace of mind, it's designed with full-coverage carbon fibre propeller guards. For shooting great content, it benefits from features like subject tracking to keep subjects in focus during filming. It also benefits from a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor to capture images with more light and detail, and it supports 4K/60fps HDR video recording.

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With this DJI drone, you'll get an RC 2 remote controller with a high-bright screen, a battery, and additional essentials. To get going, you'll need to download the DJI Fly app from the official DJI website, as it was recently removed from Google Play.

Get this drone deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $30: As of May 6, get a free $30 Amazon gift card when you buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro $249.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $30   Get Deal

If you need a new pair of earbuds and you love a freebie as much as we do, you need to check out this Amazon deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

As of May 6, if you buy these earbuds, you'll get a free Amazon voucher worth $30. You can choose between black and white earbuds, both including the same gift card offer.

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And if the bonus gift card wasn't enough of a selling point, these earbuds are really incredible. Sound quality is seriously impressive, with each earbud featuring a two-way speaker system with a tweeter and woofer for high and low frequencies. They also have an Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation 2.0 feature. This can adjust sound in real time to your environment.

These earbuds also include touch controls for answering the phone, adjusting the volume, and other functions. There's even hands-free AI features such as voice assistance and live translation when used with compatible devices. And don't worry about them being flimsy, as these are designed for everyday use thanks to their IP57 dust and water rating.

Head to Amazon to score this earbuds and gift card bundle deal.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle available for preorder at $69.99 ahead of its Aug. 14 release. TCGplayer listings are much higher (starting at $117.73).

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle $69.99 at Amazon
Pre-order Here

The Magic: The Gathering trading card game is heading back to Middle-Earth, and this time Bilbo Baggins is getting his own turn at the table. The Hobbit crossover doesn’t launch until Aug. 14, but preorders are already live and Amazon has the most sensible price right now. 

As of May 6, the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle is up for preorder at Amazon for $69.99, which lines up exactly with the official bundle MSRP. It’s also being sold and shipped by Amazon, with Amazon’s preorder price guarantee attached. That means you won't pay more if the price shifts before launch. 

TCGplayer, meanwhile, seems to be preparing for official stock to sell out with higher listing prices. Its lowest listing is currently $117.73 with shipping included, while the listed median is hovering around $117.76. That makes Amazon the obvious first stop if you’re trying to lock in the new set without paying nearly $50 over retail price.

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Inside the box, you’ll get nine Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Boosters, one alt-art traditional foil promo card, four traditional foil full-art seasonal Hobbit lands, 15 traditional foil basic lands, 15 non-foil basic lands, two reference cards, a card-storage box, and an oversized Spindown life counter. 

That means it’s built for a little bit of everything: cracking packs, building out decks, storing cards, and admiring some very Shire-themed lands. The set pulls from Bilbo’s journey from The Shire to the Lonely Mountain, with Gandalf, Dwarves, Trolls, treasure, and Smaug all part of the adventure. 

As for deals from other MTG expansions, you can score the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $20. To further expand your collection, Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is also on sale for around $90. 

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display Box up for preorder at $278.95, down from its typical $344.94 price. Walmart and TCGplayer listings are even cheaper, but this Amazon Chaos Rising Booster Box price is sporting a 19% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Box $278.95 at Amazon
$344.94 Save $65.99   Pre-order Here

The Chaos Rising release date is getting closer, and Amazon is starting to drop more discounts on the upcoming expansion.

As of May 6, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display Box listed for preorder at $278.95 with free shipping, sold by MVP Marketplace. That is 19% off its typical $344.94 price, saving you $65.99 before tax. 

Each Chaos Rising Booster Display Box contains 36 booster packs from the upcoming Mega Evolution expansion. At Amazon’s $278.95 price, that comes out to roughly $7.75 per booster pack before tax. The listing currently shows free delivery for May 27, with the fastest delivery option set for May 23, right after the expansion’s May 22 release date. 

That said, Amazon is still not the cheapest place to buy. Walmart currently has the same Chaos Rising Booster Box listed at $238.99 with free shipping, sold and shipped by T. Gaming. TCGplayer is also under Amazon, with unopened presale listings starting at $239.40 shipped and a current market price of $238.24.

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Chaos Rising includes over 120 cards, more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, more than 25 Trainer cards, and more than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations. The set features Mega Floette ex, Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex.

To get more from the upcoming expansion at a better price, you can also score the Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for just over $130 at Amazon. You can also grab single Chaos Rising booster packs for $12.99 at Amazon. 

An icy world, perhaps just 300 miles wide and far beyond Pluto, may have air, challenging the assumption that small space objects can't hold onto an atmosphere.

This world, known as 2002 XV93, orbits in a distant region sprinkled with leftover rubble from our solar system's early planet-building days. Astronomers often study this ancient detritus, referred to as Trans-Neptunian Objects, by waiting for remnants to pass in front of stars. During rare alignments, researchers can measure how the starlight changes to learn about an object's size and features, such as rings or debris.

What scientists saw instead for this object was startling. On Jan. 10, 2024, the little object eclipsed a faint star — a star so anonymous it doesn't even have a common name. But that event, seen from East Asia, revealed thin air on 2002 XV93.

Typically, if an object has no atmosphere, the background starlight disappears abruptly as the object blocks it. Instead, telescopes recorded a gradual fading out and in of the light at the beginning and end of the event — a sign that an atmosphere had bent or scattered it.

"Our findings suggest that a fraction of distant icy minor planets can exhibit atmospheres," the researchers wrote in a new paper published in Nature Astronomy. 

SEE ALSO: Where NASA's Dragonfly mission is going, 'We don't need roads'

The researchers estimated that an extremely thin atmosphere, with a surface pressure between about 100 and 200 nanobars, surrounds the object. That level is far thinner than Pluto's atmosphere but stronger than anything previously measured around similar small bodies in the outer solar system.

In a post on X, lead author Ko Arimatsu said this is the first detection of an atmosphere for a Trans-Neptunian Object beyond Pluto. It's not known yet what gases are in the world's air, but methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide are the team's best guesses, based on their observations.

The discovery shocked scientists because astronomical models indicate small, distant objects should not be able to maintain an atmosphere — at least not for very long. Under weak gravity, gases tend to escape into space, meaning any atmosphere would likely dissipate within a few hundred to a few thousand years.

That may suggest the researchers caught a temporary atmosphere for the object at just the right time. 

The authors proffer a few scenarios for how 2002 XV93's atmosphere could have formed. One possibility is that a comet or asteroid could have crashed into the world recently, releasing trapped gases. Another possibility is that cold volcanoes could have vented gases instead of lava, or internal heat or chemistry could have pushed gases to the surface. 

If the air fades over time, it likely came from a collision. If it continues or changes in cycles, that may mean internal mechanisms are responsible. The team favors the former explanation over the latter.

Scientists say they'll need to study the object more to solve the mystery. They already have James Webb Space Telescope observations of the target that show no indication of frozen material that could have turned into gas.

TL;DR: AcePDF gives you conversion, editing, OCR, and file management tools in one app for a one-time $23.99 (reg. $99.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker AcePDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $29.99
$99.99 Save $70   Get Deal

PDFs are one of those things many deal with on a regular basis, but rarely with just one tool. One app to convert, another to edit, something else to merge files. It all adds up fast, mentally and financially.

That’s what makes AcePDF Converter & Editor worth a look. For $23.99 (reg. $99.99) through May 10, it bundles pretty much every common PDF task into one place — with a one-time payment instead of another ongoing subscription.

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At the core, it handles conversions both ways. You can turn PDFs into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or images without losing formatting, and go the other direction just as easily. It also supports batch processing, which is a small detail that makes a big difference if you’re working with multiple files.

Editing is just as straightforward. You can merge, split, rotate, and rearrange pages, add annotations, or build forms. There’s even OCR built in, so scanned documents aren’t stuck as images — you can extract and edit the text directly.

Then there are the extras that tend to come in handy more often than expected: compressing large files, pulling images out of PDFs, adding watermarks, or locking documents with passwords.

Instead of piecing together multiple tools, you get a single app that handles the full workflow from start to finish.

If PDFs are part of your regular routine, this is one of those small upgrades that can save you time every week.

Get the AcePDF Converter & Editor for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) through May 10at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Surfshark One+ and Incogni give you a VPN, antivirus, alternative ID, and data monitoring all in one $75 bundle.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark One+ Plan with Incogni: 1-Year VPN, Antivirus, and Personal Data Removal $74.99
$250.20 Save $175.21   Get Deal

Trying to manage your online privacy usually means juggling multiple subscriptions that each only solve one small part of the problem. Surfshark One+ with Incogni takes a different approach by combining a VPN, antivirus, breach alerts, and data removal into one plan. Right now, a one-year plan is even on sale for only $74.99 (reg. $250.20).

Surfshark takes care of your privacy in real time. The VPN encrypts your internet connection across devices, which helps protect your data on public networks and keeps your browsing activity more private. Antivirus protection runs in the background to catch malware, ransomware, and other threats, while Surfshark Alert notifies you if your information shows up in a data breach.

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There is also an Alternative ID tool, which lets you generate a substitute name and email when signing up for sites. That keeps your real information from getting added to more databases. Private search is included too, so you can browse without trackers tied to your activity.

Incogni focuses on something most people don’t deal with directly. Data brokers collect and sell personal information, which can lead to spam, robocalls, and targeted scams. After you authorize it, Incogni contacts hundreds of these brokers on your behalf and requests that your data be removed. It keeps following up over time, and you can track the progress through a dashboard.

Together, these tools cover both sides of the problem. One protects your current activity, and the other works to clean up what is already out there.

The plan works across up to five devices and runs on most major platforms, so you can keep everything under one account instead of managing separate tools.

Right now, it’s only $74.99 to get a one-year SurfShark One+ Plan with Incogni.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

Soundcore's Space 2 are officially available for purchase, following their announcement at Mobile World Congress last month.

The budget headphones retail for $129.99, and are available for purchase at Soundcore's website and Amazon. This is a price increase of $30 over the Space One headphones, which are available for $99.99.

Soundcore Space 2 $129.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore

I was able to spend a couple of weeks testing out the Space 2 headphones ahead of their launch — spoiler alert, they're great. If you're just looking for the basics, here's everything you need to know about the new Soundcore Space 2 headphones. For a more in-depth look, check out my full review.

Soundcore Space 2 specs

The Soundcore Space 2 headphones come packed with plenty of features, including:

• Battery life: 50 hours with ANC on, 70 hours with ANC off

• Quick charge: 5 minutes of charge for four hours of playback

• Listening modes: Noise cancellation, normal, transparency

• Drivers: Double-layer 40mm diaphragm drivers

• Multipoint connection: Yes, up to two devices

• Equalizer: Eight-band custom equalizer, with 22 equalizer presets

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, and LDAC

• Passive playback: Yes

• On-ear controls: Noise cancellation button, multifunction button, power/Bluetooth button, and volume controls

• Colors: Green, white, black

What's new with the Soundcore Space 2 headphones?

Soundcore's Space 2 headphones might be more expensive than their first-generation counterparts, but they also come packed with some upgrades.

For starters, you'll get 10 more hours of battery life with ANC, bringing the Space 2 headphones to a grand total of 50 hours of battery life. Soundcore also included a four-stage noise cancellation, which is essentially just a fancy way of saying these headphones are even better at blocking noise, especially at lower frequencies, like an airplane hum. (Yes, this does make them an enticing option for travel).

The design gets a slight upgrade as well, with a more streamlined ear cup fit than the Space One headphones that lends the headphones an overall more premium look. The Space 2 headphones also feature new colorways.

The Soundcore Space one headphones... Credit: Sam Mangino / Mashable Compared to the Space 2 headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In my testing, it was hard to believe the headphones cost just $129.99 — they easily felt more akin to headphones like the Bose QuietComforts, which cost $359. While their performance doesn't quite match up (which makes sense, they're under half the cost), Soundcore certainly provides a worthwhile budget alternative that makes the gap between budget and mid-range headphones feel even smaller.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love to hit the slots.

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 May 6, 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: Hit the jackpot

• Green: Secured

• Blue: Strike!

• Purple: National emblem

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Found in a casino

• Green: Ways to fasten things

• Blue: Seen in a bowling alley

• Purple: Flag designs

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 #1060 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Found in a casino: CARDS, CHIPS, DICE, SLOT MACHINE

• Ways to fasten things: BUCKLE, BUTTON, LACES, ZIPPER

• Seen in a bowling alley: BOWLING BALL, BOWLING PINS, LANES, SCORECARD

• Flag designs: CIRCLE, HORIZONTAL BISECTION, HORIZONTAL TRISECTION, VERTICAL TRISECTION

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 6, 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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always elevating.

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 6, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get-up-and-go!

The words are related to waking up.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe leveling up.

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 Rise and Shine.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for May 6

• Soar

• Ascend

• Climb

• Rise and Shine

• Shimmer

• Sparkle

• Radiate

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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to compare and contrast.

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 6, 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 6, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To compare.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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 L.

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...

LIKEN

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 today's Wordle.

The Late Show featured a special address on Tuesday, with host Stephen Colbert giving a presidential address to the nation from the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's replica oval office, marvelling at all the fun little details they have around the place — until he's interrupted by the sudden arrival of Obama himself.

"Woah, they even have an exact replica of Barack Obama!" says Colbert. "Though I gotta say, this one is much older than the real one."

After Obama confirms he is in fact the real one, Colbert challenges him to "say something only Barack would say."

"Don't call me Barack," comes the response.

"That's the guy," says Colbert.

The 79th annual Tony Awards nominations have been announced, recognising some of the most outstanding performances of the 2025-2026 Broadway season.

Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys led the pack, snagging an impressive 12 nominations apiece. Both new musicals were adapted from the screen, based on the Apple TV musical comedy series, and the 1987 comedy vampire film, respectively. 

Musical revivals did well too, with Ragtime racking up 11 nominations, while Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show both scored nine. Meanwhile, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman also received nine nominations, making it the most nominated play this year. 

Here is the full list of nominees for the 2026 Tony Awards.

Best Book of a Musical

• The Lost Boys, David Hornsby and Chris Hoch

• Schmigadoon!, Cinco Paul

• Titaníque, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (Music: Caroline Shaw)

• August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Music: Steve Bargonetti)

• The Lost Boys (Music & Lyrics: The Rescues)

• Schmigadoon! (Music & Lyrics: Cinco Paul)

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Music & Lyrics: Jim Barne and Kit Buchan)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

• Will Harrison, Punch

• Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• John Lithgow, Giant

• Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing

• Mark Strong, Oedipus

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

• Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels

• Carrie Coon, Bug

• Susannah Flood, Liberation

• Lesley Manville, Oedipus

• Kelli O'Hara, Fallen Angels

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Nicholas Christopher, Chess

• Luke Evans, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Joshua Henry, Ragtime

• Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!

• Stephanie Hsu, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Caissie Levy, Ragtime

• Marla Mindelle, Titaníque

• Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

• Christopher Abbott, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime

• Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot

• Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw

• Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Richard Thomas, The Balusters

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

• Betsy Aidem, Liberation

• Marylouise Burke, The Balusters

• Aya Cash, Giant

• Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• June Squibb, Marjorie Prime

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys

• André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Bryce Pinkham, Chess

• Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime

• Layton Williams, Titaníque

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys

• Hannah Cruz, Chess

• Rachel Dratch, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!

• Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime

Best Scenic Design of a Play

• Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus

• Takeshi Kata, Bug

• Chloe Lamford, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon

• David Rockwell, Fallen Angels

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

• dots, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys

• Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!

Best Costume Design of a Play

• Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon

• Qween Jean, Liberation

• Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels

• Emilio Sosa, The Balusters

• Paul Tazewell, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Best Costume Design of a Musical

• Linda Cho, Ragtime

• Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!

• Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ryan Park, The Lost Boys

• David I. Reynoso, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Best Lighting Design of a Play

• Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon

• Natasha Chivers, Oedipus

• Stacey Derosier, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Heather Gilbert, Bug

• Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13

• Jack Knowles, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

• Kevin Adams, Chess

• Jane Cox, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!

• Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Lighting Design) and 59 Studio (Projection Design), Ragtime

• Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

Best Sound Design of a Play

• Justin Ellington, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Tom Gibbons, Oedipus

• Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13

• Josh Schmidt, Bug

• Mikaal Sulaiman, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Sound Design of a Musical

• Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Kai Harada, Ragtime

• Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys

• Brian Ronan, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!

Best Direction of a Play

• Nicholas Hytner, Giant

• Robert Icke, Oedipus

• Kenny Leon, The Balusters

• Joe Mantello, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Whitney White, Liberation

Best Direction of a Musical

• Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

• Lear deBessonet, Ragtime

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Choreography

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Ellenore Scott, Ragtime

• Ani Taj, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys

Best Orchestrations

• Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!

• Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez, and Gabriel Mann, The Lost Boys

• Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brian Usifer, Chess

• Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder, and Doug Schadt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Play

• The Balusters

• Giant

• Liberation

• Little Bear Ridge Road

Best Musical

• The Lost Boys

• Schmigadoon!

• Titaníque

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Revival of a Play

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Becky Shaw

• Every Brilliant Thing

• Fallen Angels

• Oedipus

Best Revival of a Musical

• Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ragtime

• Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

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 May 6, 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 May 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 11-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

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: Fight through adversity

• Green: Championship trophies

• Blue: Racecar drivers

• Purple: Get moved

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Survive

• Green: Famous Trophies

• Blue: F1 Drivers

• Purple: Transfer____

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 #590 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Survive: BEAR, ENDURE, WEATHER, WITHSTAND

• Famous Trophies: HEISMAN, LOMBARDI, RYDER, STANLEY

• F1 Drivers: BEARMAN, GASLY, NORRIS, STROLL

• Transfer____: FEE, MARKET, PORTAL, WINDOW

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 today's Connections.

Whenever The Bear introduces a new female character, I pray she doesn't become a love interest for one of the male leads. Not because I hate romance, but because I specifically hate the way The Bear does romance.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' just dropped a surprise episode. Here's how to watch it now.

The clearest offender is Carmy's (Jeremy Allen White) relationship with Claire (Molly Gordon). A childhood friend who re-enters Carmy's life, Claire is less a real human character than she is a walking self-help book for Carmy. She spends almost every moment she's on screen talking about him: her memories of him, his mental health struggles, his relationship with his family. In theory, she has a life apart from Carmy — her defining character trait outside of being his girlfriend is vaguely "nurse" — but in watching The Bear, you wouldn't know it.

Usually a great performer (see: Shiva Baby, Oh, Hi!, and more), Gordon is reduced to two modes here: luminous love interest hanging onto Carmy's every word, or calming therapist. She's not the only Bear character to meet this fate. As The Bear builds Ever staffer Jessica (Sarah Ramos) into a possible match for Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), it replaces her level-headed expertise with empty platitudes designed to ground him. (Season 4 line "honesty is sanity" made me want to drive my head through a wall.) Elsewhere, Richie's ex-wife, Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs), acts as a similar pillar of support.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear's 'Gary' cliffhanger explained: What just happened to Richie?

Their heads constantly askew, their eyes lit up in adoration, their mouths always ready to offer up an eager laugh or some cornball advice, these characters morph into The Bear's single idea of a Woman In Love. Now, The Bear's standalone episode "Gary" offers a new addition to this pantheon: Sherri (Marin Ireland) from Gary, Indiana.

Sherri is a woman whom Richie and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) meet at a bar while on a work trip to Gary. She immediately strikes up a rapport with Mikey, playing a private game of "Fact or Fiction" with him, listening to his complicated woes while nestled together in a bathroom stall, and stealing his beanie and wearing it like a middle schooler trying to get a rise out of a crush. It's a level of blindly supportive compassion we haven't seen since Claire Bear, and Ireland, typically a huge asset to any project, soon becomes trapped in The Bear's love interest archetype. (Someone please ban affectionate head tilts from the set of The Bear, effective immediately.)

While Sherri feels like she was meant to be a moment of bright connection in Mikey's life, maybe even "the one that got away," she really just comes across as an empty vessel for him to pour his trauma into. "What are you looking for, Michael?" she wonders. Later, when he asks permission to do a bump of cocaine, she simply responds, "I want you to be you." It's a series of faux-deep exchanges that even two great performers can't sell. (It doesn't help that Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach wrote the episode.)

That faux-deepness is what sinks The Bear's other romances, too. The show tries to force these deep, cosmic connections, but it forgets that these relationships should be a two-way street. Perhaps that's why many viewers are drawn to shipping Carmy and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). While the showrunners have affirmed that their relationship is platonic — and I personally agree with that choice — what sets this hypothetical pairing apart is that they each have such rich lives, both in their work together and their time apart. That's because The Bear is invested in both of them as characters, rather than just using one as a device to unlock the other. You simply can't say the same of The Bear's other romantic pairings, and the release of "Gary" further proves that romance is the recipe The Bear has yet to master.

"Gary" is now streaming on Hulu. The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.

TL;DR: Lifetime access to 2TB of secure Drime cloud storage is on sale for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Drime Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $112.49
$299 Save $186.51   Get Deal

Cloud storage is one of those things that quickly turns into a monthly bill you forget about. That’s what makes a lifetime option like Drime worth a closer look.

You can currently get 2TB of storage for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99), which means no ongoing fees just to keep your files accessible.

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But this isn’t just a place to dump files and forget about them. Drime leans more toward being a full workspace. You can upload, sync, and access files across devices, but also edit documents, leave comments, and collaborate with others without switching tools. It’s useful if you’re juggling projects, clients, or even just shared folders with family.

Security is a big part of the pitch. Files stored in the encrypted Vault are protected by end-to-end encryption, and everything is hosted in Europe in compliance with GDPR standards. This means your data isn’t floating around unsecured, and you have more control over who sees what.

There are also a lot of small quality-of-life features that make a difference over time — like version history for restoring older files, advanced link sharing with passwords and expiration dates, and even built-in e-signature tools.

It’s a simple way to get more control over your files without adding another monthly expense.

Get lifetime access to 2TB of Drime Cloud Storage for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

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TL;DR: A ChatGPT-powered investing platform that helps you find and manage stocks with clearer signals—lifetime access for a one-time $54.97.

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The AI trade has seemingly had its moment — big runs, big headlines, big expectations. The AI fun is not over by any means. But now that things are settling, the real question is what comes next?

Instead of chasing whatever’s trending, Sterling Stock Picker leans into a more grounded approach: using a ChatGPT-powered assistant (Finley) to help you understand what’s actually happening inside a stock. You can ask questions about companies, sectors, or your own portfolio and get explanations that are tied to real data — not just surface-level summaries.

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It also handles the heavy lifting most people avoid. The platform analyzes financials, growth metrics, and risk, then surfaces signals like whether a stock is worth buying, holding, or avoiding. There’s even a “North Star” system that simplifies that call into something actionable.

If you’re building from scratch, there’s a done-for-you portfolio builder that aligns with your risk tolerance. If you already have positions, it can suggest adjustments based on your portfolio’s performance.

One thing that stands out is how it balances guidance with transparency. You’re not just handed picks — you can see the reasoning behind them, which matters if you’re trying to build a repeatable process.

Have a lifetime way to pressure-test your judgment — especially in a market that’s moving past hype and into something more selective.

Get lifetime access to the ChatGPT-driven Sterling Stock Picker while it’s on sale for a one-time $54.97 payment (reg. $486) through May 10.

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Saddle up, boys and girls, because the Yellowstone universe is expanding once more with a new spin-off that also acts as a direct sequel to the mothership series. It will follow Dutton matriarch Beth (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip (Cole Hauser) as they embark on a new path together on their new ranch outside of Montana.