IT General

Clone Robotics just brought the very essence of your worst nightmares to life in gleaming, astonishing, graphic detail.

The Polish startup posted a video on X of Protoclone, a faceless, anatomically accurate synthetic human hanging from strings in the ceiling.

"Protoclone, the world's first bipedal, musculoskeletal android," Clone Robotics introduced in the video that has now been seen by more than 33 million people on the platform. It has over "200 degrees of freedom, over 1,000 Myofibers, and 500 sensors." It has synthetic organ systems. You can "stab it with a fork and it will bleed out."

Tweet may have been deleted

The video shows the robot twitching, and there's ominous music playing in the background. It is like they specifically created the video to look like a scene in a horror film — and that's pretty much the take the internet responded with.

SEE ALSO: Meta is diving into AI-powered humanoid robots Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

No matter your personal thoughts about the evolution of robotics — be them problematic, life-altering, boring, terrifying, or an exploration of the new frontier — it is clear that this specific video perhaps wasn't intended to lull us into a sense of calm.

UPDATE: Feb. 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with iPhone 16e preorder links now that retailers' and carriers' listings are live.

Everywhere you can preorder the Apple iPhone 16e: The Apple Store Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $630 with a trade-in) Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $540 with a trade-in) Pre-Order Here AT&T Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $200 with a new phone line and an eligible wireless plan) Pre-Order Here T-Mobile Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $630 when you switch on most plans or up to $500 with a trade-in) Pre-Order Here Verizon Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $419.99 with a new line and any plan) Pre-Order Here

Apple announced the iPhone 16e Wednesday, its first budget smartphone in three years — and its first-ever smartphone with an in-house cellular modem. Priced at $599 to start, or $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16, it's now available for preorder ahead of its formal launch on Friday, Feb. 28.

Customers can get $40 to $630 in credit toward an iPhone 16e by trading in an older phone at the Apple Store, and up to $540 with a trade-in at Best Buy. If you go through an eligible third-party carrier instead, you can save $200 to $630 (via monthly bill credits) with a new line, an eligible wireless plan, and/or a trade-in at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 16e is the new affordable Apple phone

The iPhone 16e features the iPhone 16 series' A18 chip, but replaces their Qualcomm modem chips with the all-new Apple C1. In a press release, Apple deemed it "the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity" while bringing support for Apple Intelligence.

The C1 is also supposedly a factor in the device's "extraordinary" battery life of up to 26 hours of video playback per charge. That puts it on par with the iPhone 16 Plus, which is rated at 27 hours of video playback; it beats the standard iPhone 16 by five hours and 2022's iPhone SE (Apple's last budget handset) by 11 hours. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder noted, this will probably be a "big selling point" for potential upgraders.

The 6.1-inch iPhone 16e is the same size as the iPhone 16 and sports the same Super Retina XDR OLED display, though it's slightly dimmer and has a slightly lower resolution. Apple went with a notch at the very top of it instead of a Dynamic Island, and there's an Action Button on the side of the phone. On the back, you'll find a single "2-in-1" 48MP camera with a 2x Telephoto lens; there's no ultrawide lens. It supports Face ID, satellite connectivity, and wireless charging (but no MagSafe).

The iPhone 16e is made from aluminum with a glass back, and it's available in matte black and white finishes with 128GB to 512GB of storage. The 256GB model costs $699, while the 512GB variant is $899 (the same price as an iPhone 16 Plus, mind you).

You might think you know Osgood Perkins, but The Monkey is about to prove you wrong. 

The horror helmer has built a reputation for atmospheric spookiness and psychological tension with twisted thrillers like Longlegs, The Blackcoat's Daughter, and I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House. Yet his adaptation of a Stephen King short story is anything but ambiguous. From its first gnarly scene of deadly violence, its premise and threat is crystal clear: This cursed vintage toy — a mechanized monkey banging a drum — kills without mercy anytime his crank is turned. 

The Monkey abandons subtlety and seriousness in favor of gonzo and gory displays of ultra-violent death. Perkins' vibe has always been a bit throwback, pulling influence from gothic ghost stories or the grisly tension of '90s thrillers like Silence of the Lambs. This holds true with The Monkey, but his influences here are far less highbrow, as this King adaptation — which King himself called "batshit insane" — has more in common with the madcap mayhem of Tales From The Crypt. 

The result is a movie that feels refreshingly new for Perkins, yet is knowingly familiar with this gleefully ghoulish and grubby brand of horror. Reveling in kills that are senseless, aggressive, and increasingly imaginative and nightmarish, The Monkey is not just a stomach-churning treat for horror fans. It also feels like a challenge, as if the monkey — be it his unblinking gaze or the truly outrageous gore he unfurls — dares you to look away. 

What is The Monkey about?  Credit: NEON

Like King's short story, The Monkey centers on a put-upon dad named Hal (Theo James), who teams up with his young son to defeat the evil toy that has been wreaking havoc since his own childhood. However, Perkins' screenplay works in a lot more death scenes, a custody battle subplot, and a seething twin. In his version, Hal and Bill (also played by James) were just boys when the monkey found them, a hidden gift from their absent father. A morbid experiment leads them to realize the power of the thing: Turning its crank spurs an unpredictable and outlandish accidental death to occur. So, they bury it deep, where it can never hurt another soul. Years later, Hal and Bill are estranged, when the former realizes — through a splashy slaughter scene — that the monkey is back. 

With Bill having become a mysterious recluse, it's up to Hal and his son Petey (Colin O'Brien) to stop the menacing monkey for good. Along the way, they'll have to deal with Petey's overreaching and obnoxiously chipper stepfather (Elijah Wood), a young tough with more ammo than sense, and a string of accidental deaths that are jaw-droppingly gruesome. 

The Monkey gets off to a pitch-perfect start, thanks to Adam Scott.  Credit: NEON

The Severance star is no stranger to horror-comedy, having appeared in movies like The Omen parody Little Evil, the gem of a Christmas slasher Krampus, and the over-the-top creature feature Piranha 3D. Yet it's Scott's broader range, which includes chipper sitcoms like Parks and Recreations and raw indie dramas like The Vicious Kind — that make him such a savagely smart choice for The Monkey. He opens the film dressed as a pilot whose uniform is flecked with blood. Immediately, his distress is urgent and contagious. Charging into a pawn shop, he presents the eponymous toy. ("Don't call it a toy," he warns the unimpressed shopkeeper.) But his attempt to offload the gift intended for his twin boys goes horridly awry. 

The kill that follows plays as a calling card for Perkins to take on bigger, more commercial horror projects. It's not just that the violence is uniquely horrific, or the razor-sharp humor cutting through the scene, or even the masterful timing of this cut (props to editors Graham Fortin and Greg Ng), which teases out the tension of what hell might rain down when the monkey's hand beats that damned drum. It's all of this in conjunction with Scott's performance. All at once, Scott is able to come across as an average guy, but also as a man who has seen some really unreal shit. So the fear in his eyes, the tension around his mouth, the quake of his body is a perfect setup even before we see the Rube Goldberg machine-like method to The Monkey's first on-screen murder. With one short and sick opening scene (and a blowtorch), Perkins sets up his audience for what to expect: rip-roaring fun, splashed with blood and gallows humor. And then he delivers, again and again. 

The Monkey is sicko shit.  Credit: NEON

And I mean that as a compliment. Where plenty of horror filmmakers can unleash gore or deliver kills that are radically ruthless, few can do it with the panache and wit that Perkins shows here. Yes, on one level, he's offering the base thrill of seeing heinous violence in the safe space of a fictional story. But beyond that, there's a cutting humor that urges the audience to recognize our own absurdity of casually ignoring our mortality, when death is dumb, relentless, and coming for us all. 

Perkins weaves this theme in through Hal and Bill's mom, Lois (Tatiana Maslany), who urges her boys to face death without fear. "Everybody dies," she says coolly after a funeral, then dances defiantly, still in her mourning attire. She tries to teach her sons the power of rebellious joy, or laughing in the face of death. And that's what The Monkey is all about. 

Through his alarmingly graphic depictions of death, bloody yet hilarious, Perkins urges us to follow Lois' lead. We don't laugh because these characters on-screen — many existing without names or personalities, only to be slain — are a buffet of Face of Death-style carnage. We laugh in the shock and absurdity that one moment, we're here, minding our own business, tending our lawns, going for a swim or out for a hibachi dinner, and the next, we're dead meat. Not even Perkins (who cameos) is safe from death's sick sense of humor. And that's the weirdly liberating pleasure of The Monkey. 

All in all, it’s a vicious and hysterical spectacle of blood and brain matter that’ll make you laugh, gasp, gag, and even think.

The Monkey opens in theaters Feb. 21.

Questlove's Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) asks the question "Is there a burden on Black Genius?" The film's producer Joseph Patel gives us a deep look into the film, Sly Stone's legacy, and the burden that comes with success for Black artists.

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 21, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) is on sale at Amazon for $199. That's 20% off its list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) $199.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Smartwatches aren't just for very active individuals. If you want something a bit more simple that can just keep up with your day-to-day activities, there are plenty of options to choose from. For Apple users, the Apple Watch SE is a great pick that covers all of the basics. It's currently on sale at Amazon as well, so you can add it to your Apple ecosystem at a cheaper price.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is currently marked down to $199 at Amazon. This is 20% off its list price of $249, allowing you to keep $50, which is a very nice discount. This smartwatch boasts plenty of features that make it well worth that price tag, too.

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wrist

Alongside a variety of fitness features that can help you stay on top of your goals and track your activity for the day, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) also includes a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. Not to mention, you can also answer calls and send texts from the watch.

In our comparison of Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE 2, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon notes that, "If you're more fitness-focused, and you don't mind the thicker bezels and lack of always-on display, the Watch SE is a solid choice."

Don't miss out on 20% off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) at Amazon.

This isn't the only Apple deal worth jumping on right now, though. At Best Buy you can save on the iPad Pro right now as well and the Apple Studio Display has also gotten a very nice discount at Amazon.

SAVE OVER $350: As of Feb. 21, the LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV is on sale for $499.99 at Walmart. You’re saving $350 off the regular price of $849.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV $499.99 at Walmart
$849.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

The LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV is an absolute steal right now at $499.99 (down from $849.99) from Walmart. That's a $350 discount and a no-brainer for what you get in terms of picture quality and smart features. I've always been a fan of LG's picture quality.

With QNED Contrast technology, this TV delivers sharp, colorful images with deep contrast — even in bright rooms. Binge-watching your favorite series or gaming? Colors pop on this bad boy; you don't have to deal with washed-out visuals.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

One of the standout features for me is the α8 AI Processor. It uses artificial intelligence to analyze the picture and sound, adjusting it to ensure you get the best viewing experience every time. The sound is clear and immersive, and the picture is crisp, with vibrant detail across all content. Plus, with the 120Hz refresh rate, everything from sports to fast-action movies looks buttery smooth. I love how this TV keeps up with fast-paced scenes, making every moment feel sharp and fluid.

The webOS 24 is another reason this TV is such a great deal. It's easy to navigate and connects you to all your favorite streaming apps. Plus, with LG Channels, you can access over 300 free channels. You'll be covered for years to come with up to five years of software updates, keeping your TV up-to-date with the latest features and improvements. Into streaming, gaming, or just watching live TV? This TV has you covered. I really appreciate that it'll keep improving over time.

For a TV with such stunning picture quality, top-tier processing power, and a solid smart platform, this LG 55-inch QNED Smart TV at Walmart is definitely worth considering. It's a huge upgrade at a price that's hard to beat.

SAVE OVER $500: The Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV is $828.15 at Walmart, saving you $569.84 from its original price of $1,397.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV $828.12 at Walmart
$1,397.99 Save $569.87 Get Deal

I’ve been hunting for a great TV deal, and the Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV at $828.15 (down from $1,397.99) at Walmart has everything I’ve been looking for. The color quality is jaw-dropping thanks to Quantum Dot technology, and the Quantum HDR feature makes everything pop with deep blacks and outstanding contrast. Whether you're watching movies or gaming, this TV offers vivid details and stunning visuals that truly elevate the experience.

What really sold me on this TV is the Quantum Processor Lite that enhances everything I watch. It works in real-time to upscale content to 4K, so even if I'm watching something not in 4K, it still looks crisp and clear. Add in Motion Xcelerator, and the TV ensures smooth, blur-free motion during fast-paced action scenes. This is a total game-changer, especially when watching sports or playing games where every frame counts.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

The Object Tracking Sound Lite feature also caught my attention. It creates a 3D surround sound experience that syncs with whatever’s happening on screen. So, when there’s a car chase or a big explosion, the sound moves with it, immersing me even more in the action. I’m all about that cinematic feeling at home, and the Q-Symphony 3.0 feature lets you pair the TV with a Samsung soundbar to take the audio experience up a notch. The sound and visuals work together perfectly.

This TV isn’t just about picture and sound — it’s also designed with gamers in mind. The Samsung Gaming Hub allows you to stream games directly to your TV, no console required, just a fast internet connection. The AirSlim Design keeps the TV ultra-thin and sleek, blending seamlessly into any room. Plus, with the SolarCell Remote, I never have to worry about constantly replacing batteries, since it’s solar-powered. It's just another smart feature that makes this TV feel ahead of its time.

If you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment setup, this Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV deal at Walmart is too good to pass up. With $569 off, the picture quality, sound, and smart features you get here are unbeatable for the price. Trust me, this is the TV you’ll want to show off.

SAVE OVER $20: The Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $69.99 at Best Buy, saving you $29.01 off the regular price of $99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 4-Pack $69.99 at Best Buy
$99.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal

I've been using Apple AirTags for a while now, and I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to know I can find all of my important stuff with a tap of my iPhone. If you misplace things like I do, you'll appreciate how simple and effective these little devices are.

And right now, Best Buy has a four-pack of Apple AirTags on sale for $69.99, saving you $29 off the regular price of $99. This is such a good deal, especially since I've gotten so much use out of mine. You can tag your keys, bag, or anything else you tend to misplace, and the Find My app takes care of the rest.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

The setup is super easy. Just pop the AirTag out of the box, tap it on your iPhone or iPad, and it's connected. I was able to set up all four AirTags in no time, and they've already saved me a lot of frustration. The Precision Finding feature is one of the best parts, especially if you have an iPhone 11 or newer. It uses Ultra-Wideband technology, and if your AirTag is nearby, it leads you right to it. It's like a little personal tracker that helps you find things fast, so I no longer have to waste time searching for my keys.

I can put it into Lost Mode right through the Find My app if I ever lose something. I get notified whenever the item is found by another device in the Find My network, which is huge. It's like having hundreds of millions of Apple devices out there helping you track your stuff. I've also used the built-in speaker on the AirTag to help me find my keys when they're buried in my bag. Just press a button in the app, and the AirTag will play a sound until you locate it. It's incredibly convenient.

These AirTags are small but tough, with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which means they can handle some rough conditions. I'm not worried about it getting damaged while I'm out. And the best part? The battery lasts over a year, and when it's time for a new one, you can replace it yourself. There's no need for recharging; just pop in a new battery, and you're good to go.

This is a must-have accessory for someone who always forgets where they put their wallet, phone, or keys. The four-pack at $69.99 is an amazing deal that will give you peace of mind. Whether it's your keys, luggage, or anything else, you'll be able to find it in seconds with the AirTags. I honestly don't know how I managed without them before. This deal is perfect if you're ready to stop wasting time looking for your stuff. You can get it now at Best Buy and make sure nothing goes missing again.

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 21, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale at Amazon for $199. That's 20% off their list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $199.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're an Apple user, the AirPods Pro 2 are an excellent investment. Offering great sound quality and noise-cancelation, these earbuds are a perfect pairing for those who frequently listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. I'm a very big fan and think they're worth every cent.

Amazon currently has the AirPods Pro 2 marked down to $199 from their $249 list price, saving you $50 overall. While not as low as they were during the Presidents' Day sale event, this is still a great discount to take advantage of if you're looking for high-quality earbuds at a decent price.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones for flying make air travel suck a little less

These earbuds have earned a place in our roundups of the best earbuds to buy in 2025 and the best headphones of 2025. In the latter, we said that, "For portability, active noise cancellation, and balanced sound, your search ends with the AirPods Pro."

I really love these earbuds. They're not only great for listening to my favorite music, but I frequently use the noise-canceling features while working to stay focused. And for when I'm out and about, I've loved using the Transparency mode that lets me stay a bit more aware of what's going on around me.

This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on 20% off the AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon.

Looking to save on even more Apple devices? You can also score a discount on the Apple Studio Display at Amazon right now and the iPad Pro is on sale at the moment at Best Buy.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Feb. 21, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are on sale for $148 at Amazon. This is 26% off their list price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT WEAR Headphones $148.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal

If you've been on the hunt for new headphones, look no further than Amazon. The retailer has had some great deals lately, even after the Presidents' Day sale event. One of our favorite deals we've spotted is on the Sony ULT WEAR headphones, which we consider to be the best picks for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. If you've been looking for an audio boost, these are definitely worth a look.

The Sony ULT WEAR headphones have had a 26% discount at Amazon, dropping them from their list price of $199.99 to $148. This allows you to pocket over $50, which is a very nice deal. They're currently marked as a limited-time deal, so if they've caught your eye you'll want to act fast to get them at this price.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025

As mentioned before, we consider these headphones to be the best for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. This is because, "In addition to the equalizer in the app, the headphones have a dedicated ULT button that lets you bump up the bass on demand. The 40-millimeter driver keeps it sounding clear and not crispy, making these headphones a worthy competitor to the WH-1000XM5s, our top pick for the best-sounding noise-cancelling headphones."

Our review even had high praise for them, with Mashable's Miller Kern saying, "The Sony ULT Wear headphones prioritize bass and provide punchy sound without sacrificing quality at a relatively affordable price."

With a comfortable design, noice-canceling features, and excellent sound quality, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are worth every cent. Don't miss out on this limited-time deal at Amazon.

There are a couple more headphone deals worth checking out right now alongside these. Also on sale at Amazon are the Sennheiser Accentum headphones, which have dropped to their lowest-ever price, and the Sonos Ace headphones are discounted there as well.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for February 21 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's The Mini crossword answers for February 21, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A segment of garlic.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CLOVE.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 21

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.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 21 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: Fixing issues

• Green: Gather crops

• Blue: Features in editing program

• Purple: Items used with a dominant hand

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Way of Solving a Problem

• Green: Collect, As from an Orchard

• Blue: Photoshop Tools

• Purple: Objects That May be Right-or-Left-Handed

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 #621 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Way of Solving a Problem: ANSWER, FIX, REMEDY, SOLUTION

• Collect, As from an Orchard: GATHER, HARVEST, PICK, REAP

• Photoshop Tools: ERASER, EYEDROPPER, LASSO, MAGIC WAND

• Objects That May be Right-or-Left-Handed: BASEBALL GLOVE, CAN OPENER, GOLF CLUB, GUITAR

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 February 21

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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

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: Given to the winner

• Green: LA ______

• Blue: Cast a line

• Purple: Same second word

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Award

• Green: A Los Angeles athlete

• Blue: Fishing baits and lures

• Purple: ________ crew

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 #151 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Award - MEDAL, CUP, PLAQUE, TROPHY

• A Los Angeles athlete - CLIPPER, KING, RAM, SPARK

• Fishing baits and lures - PLUG, SPINNER, SPOON, WORM

• ________ crew - BREW, COLUMBUS, GROUNDS, OFFICIATING

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.

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 February 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "To infinity and beyond"

These words are animated characters.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are characters who star alongside the astronaut famous for this saying.

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 Toy Story.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 21

• Slinky

• Woody

• Wheezy

• Alien

• Bullseye

• Buzz

• Twitch

• Toy Story

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.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, February 21, 2025:

AcrossElevator alternative

• The answer is Steps.

Evil corporation on Apple TV+'s Severance

• The answer is Lumon.

Ring-shaped coral reef

• The answer is Atoll.

Aura of confidence

• The answer is Mojo.

___ Lanka

• The answer is Sri.

DownSeverely criticizes

• The answer is Slam.

One-on-one academic coach

• The answer is Tutor.

A head of our time?

• The answer is Emoji.

Preppy shirt

• The answer is Polo.

Show with a recently aired 50th anniversary special

• The answer is SNL.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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.

FREE SLURPEE: On Feb. 21, get a free small Slurpee at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores. Check participating locations here.

Opens in a new window Credit: 7-Eleven 7-Eleven: Free Slurpee on Feb. 21 Learn More

We're not going to tell you how to spend your day. We're sure you've got big plans, and there's absolutely no way that you could adjust your schedule for a freebie. There's no way, right?

All we'll say is that, every Friday in February, customers can visit participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores to get their hands on a small Slurpee for free. There's no pressure from us to do anything with this information, but we should add that you should check participating locations before you cancel all your plans and set off in search of this beloved beverage.

SEE ALSO: Domino’s is releasing a pepperoni perfume for Valentine’s Day. Here's how to get yours for free.

Each customer can get only one free small Slurpee each, and this free giveaway is only valid supplies last. But those are the only catches. This is one of those rare moments when customers can genuinely get something for nothing.

Stop what you're doing and grab your free Slurpee on Feb. 21.

SAVE $60: As of Feb. 21, this Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle is on sale for $479.97 at Amazon. That's a saving of 11% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $479.97 at Amazon
$539.97 Save $60.00 Get Deal

The Kindle Scribe is the latest product to take book lovers by storm. Released in 2024, this new Kindle model combines reading and note-taking in one handy device. And if you're one of many who have been eyeing this product, Amazon has a great deal on an essentials bundle that you won't want to miss.

As of Feb. 21, you can save $60 on this Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle, now just $479.97.

SEE ALSO: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is live. How to get free books during this enchanting event.

This deal comes with the Premium Pen so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. Unlike the basic pen, this model comes with an eraser at the top so you can quickly remove mistakes just by flipping the pen. It is also battery-free and works through a special power source embedded in the Kindle Scribe, so there is no need to charge it.

It also comes with a 9W power adapter and a plant-based leather folio to store it away. According to Amazon, the plant-based leather is made from 76% renewable bio-materials (non-GMO corn, and viscose fiber from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources) and 24% polyurethane.

This deal is specific to the 64GB model, but you can choose between tungsten and metallic jade.

Besides its note-taking abilities, the Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display, glare and ink-free. Like the original Kindle model, it's perfect for sitting outside in the sun or in harsh lighting. And if you're someone who reads on the go a lot, the Scribe has the best battery life of any model, promising to last months on a single charge.

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

In October, 24-year-old Cait Camelia posted screenshots of her Hinge dating app bio on X. She chose cute, casual, and sexy photos of herself, par the course of a standout bio, but the prompts read, "The way to win me over is to get me a creative marketing job" and, "I want someone who can get me a creative marketing job." She included one corporate stock photo, a close-up of a handshake between two men in suits captioned, "This could be us." 

She's not looking for a partner — she's looking for a job.

SEE ALSO: Can AI save dating apps?

The job market is dismal for many, with job growth as of January 2025 falling short of analysts' expectations. Despite unemployment being slightly down from the latter half of last year (four percent as of January 2025, down from 4.2 percent in September 2024), it's become the norm for people to apply for hundreds of jobs for months on end. And, it isn't unheard of for people to land a job or make life-changing money from going viral, which is what Camelia sought. 

"A lot of people thought that I expected to land a serious job from Hinge, but my intention was always to post it on social media," Camelia, a graphic designer who wants to work in a different field, said. "I figured that it would do well, and at the very least, get some visibility for my work." 

Fresh out of a relationship that started on Hinge, she's not ready to return to the app for dating, so she turned to it for more eyes on her skill set. (Hinge didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment.)

Camelia knew it would garner a substantial amount of negative attention from men, which would, in turn, push it further on the algorithm. (She experienced this when she shared her graduation photos in a dress and heels, and it went viral in 2021. An incel comedian had a lot to say about what she was wearing when she graduated early with two majors.)

Although she muted the X thread as soon as it gained traction, she read some of the comments. "I saw some people be like, 'Oh, you're wasting people's time being on this app,'" she said. "I think a lot of men waste a lot of women's time being on the app without intention. So, I don't feel guilty." 

One might think Camelia should try LinkedIn, a site meant for professional networking. Although Camelia found success searching for a job there in the past, particularly by finding the hiring manager or founder's profile on the platform and reaching out directly, she said she doesn't think the platform has innovated much since she graduated in 2021. "It's not a great thing, especially because the job field feels very competitive right now, and it's really hard to find jobs where it doesn't seem like they just throw your resumé into a stack of hundreds."

At their core, both LinkedIn and dating apps aim to connect people, but they seem to have fallen behind as how we do that evolves. 

Job searchers and daters run into the same challenges

A recent survey from MyPerfectResume found that 81 percent of recruiters admit to posting a fake or already-filled job online. Employers do this to maintain a presence and to keep tabs on available talent. 

Knowing this is the norm can be discouraging. "Even during the application process, I'm telling myself, 'This is pointless. You're wasting your time, and can better use your time to try to find work you actually want,'" Dylan*, a 29-year-old in Brooklyn who works in hospitality, said. 

Unfortunately, it's become commonplace to put yourself out there and receive no response. Fortune even reported that LinkedIn's "Open To Work" tag could hurt job seekers more than it helps because they look "overeager."

Some dating apps, like Hinge, Bumble, or Feeld, allow users to see who liked them before matching. There could be hundreds to sift through, and others have an infinite swipe. "My basic feeling is that the vast increase in the number of options we have in all parts of our lives — not just dating and job seeking — has actually changed the way we approach making choices," JD Giovanni, a 33-year-old who was laid off from his magazine job earlier last year, said. 

This can look like always looking for the next best thing or presenting what psychologist Barry Schwartz refers to as decision paralysis, where people make decisions based on what's easiest to evaluate rather than most important to them. 

First impressions undoubtedly carry a lot of weight, but crafting custom cover letters and first messages on a dating app can feel like a colossal waste of time. "If I post a role for something generic, like an account executive job, it could end up with 300 applications in a day," Braxton Brown III, a senior recruiter at Prove, said. It's just not possible to efficiently read all of them and respond at that rate. 

When job candidates do finally land an interview, and when daters connect with someone, both groups share a very common experience: ghosting. A small study from 2021 stated that 85 percent of dating app users have been ghosted. 

"In the age of LinkedIn, you can trace the companies you apply to and the people you speak with," Max Coyne, a 36-year-old in New York who's been on the job hunt since July, said. After being ghosted, he checked the company's job listing. "I found that the role I was interviewing for was moved from remote in Brooklyn to remote in Ohio for $30k less salary after they reposted the job the same week they dropped off." In another interview process, he saw the would-be supervisor got an internal promotion and presumably moved into it without reaching out. 

Seemingly, employers and daters do not know what they want. "Often, hiring managers have a really hard job defining what they actually need in the role," Brown said. "I think a lot of people on the dating side also have a really hard time defining what they want in a person or what they want in a relationship." He said both groups seem to conflate "nice to haves" with critical needs.  

"People get the 'ick' for something that should not at all be a deal breaker, and they might be missing out on someone that meets 98 percent of their other qualifications. That is such a parallel that I see in my job every day," he said. "If a hiring manager sees that this person didn't go to this school or that school, they might be totally uninterested." 

The viral call for men who are 6'5" with blue eyes, work in finance, and have a trust fund illustrates some people's superficial wants in dating, but Brown said employers tend to get caught up in details of a resumé that mean nothing to the role. They typically end up with an employee who can't fulfill the responsibilities of the job. 

Failing to match

Dating apps as a subscription service is a flawed business model. Users want to be on them temporarily until they find someone (or multiple partners). On its face, making users pay for "better" matches is the quick route to lose them, especially among younger demographics widely reporting dating app fatigue. But given that major dating apps are part of a public conglomerate, their incentive is to increase shareholder value.

LinkedIn's Premium claims to offer four times more profile views and 14 times more connections — it's quantity over quality. While those leveraging the platform for thought leadership and content creation may benefit from it, those looking for jobs are left to bleed $29.99 a month (or more) to blindly trust an algorithm to expose their profiles to more matches, especially given how long unemployment lasts for so many people. 

A LinkedIn spokesperson didn't address this in a statement to Mashable but said romantic advances and harassment of any form violate its rules.

SEE ALSO: The Relationship Experience dating trend: like a situationship but so much worse

Plus, artificial intelligence has picked up greatly in both spaces. On the dating front, people can use AI to create a bio, message someone first, and flirt back. Realistically, it could just be two AIs talking to each other at this point.  

And, you can barely escape it off the apps. Apple introduced Apple Intelligence to read emails and even summarize texts, both commonly used in dating. (Picture this: you'll be able to read incoming break-up texts more efficiently or those rejection letters that pop up in your Gmail seven months later.)

In the job market, employers are using AI to screen resumés and make hiring decisions. As you'd expect, job seekers are writing resumés and cover letters with ChatGPT. The rise of AI in both the job market and dating may dull the skill sets required for both, from establishing wants and needs and communicating to negotiating and discernment. 

It's clear the platforms are favoring shiny, new-ish innovation versus listening to their users and catering to their needs, but that would require looking at the larger sociological shifts rendering both the old ways irrelevant and their new plans inadequate. 

In this harsh job market, Camelia is leveraging every platform she can. That is why she took to X with her mock dating app bio job application. She ended up hearing from a couple of women who attempted the same. One is a graphic designer who filled her bio with her artwork and landed freelance work, as did Camelia. Although she has yet to get a full-time job, she's been commissioned for freelance work and leads from a bunch of startup CEOs and independent content creators. She's also in the interview process with a major record label weeks later, all according to the plan. 

* Name changed to preserve privacy.

Alaska, largely unspoiled wilderness, looks like something out of The Lord of the Rings.

Researchers with the Alaska Volcano Observatory — which monitors the state's dynamic volcanoes — recently flew over Mount Spurr, a steep-sided volcano that has shown signs of unrest as quakes shake the mountain. The agency posted a video of its February swoop above towering Mount Spurr, showing vigorous plumes of vapor coming from the summit's fumaroles, or vents.

"Enjoy this spectacular video of the summit crater of Mt. Spurr, taken by AVO staff during fieldwork Feb 7," AVO posted on X, formerly Twitter. "The lake, which formed [in] summer 2024, is mostly covered in ice w/ some turquoise water visible. The fumaroles (steam/gas vents) are the source of the white vapor plumes."

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

As the plane approaches Spurr, you can spy the extensive snow-blanketed mountains in this geologically vibrant part of the world, an area on Earth's "Ring of Fire," where some of the colossal tectonic plates of our planet's crust meet and stoke volcanism. Then, you can look down into the cavernous, streaming summit crater.

Tweet may have been deleted

An eruption, however, is far from certain. Previous Mount Spurr eruptions have been accompanied by more quaking activity, ground deformation, and beyond as magma (molten rock) oozed up closer to the surface and amassed great pressure beneath the volcano.

Earth's "Ring of Fire," a region home to expansive volcanic arcs and ocean trenches. Credit: USGS

"Therefore, it is very likely that if an eruption were to occur it would be preceded by additional signals that would allow advance warning," the Alaska Volcano Observatory — an association of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys — explained on its website.

Mount Spurr, located about 80 miles from Anchorage, Alaska, is currently labeled at an "Advisory" level, just one notch above "Normal," and below "Watch" and "Warning." A significant eruption could blow a considerable amount of ash into the atmosphere, impacting and altering air travel in transpacific commercial routes; it's dangerous for jet engines to ingest volcanic ash, which is actually comprised of tiny volcanic rock.