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 Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025:

AcrossEthically sourced, as some eggs

• The answer is Cagefree.

Residents of Tehran

• The answer is Iranians.

Air sign?

• The answer is Sky Write.

___ Faire (medieval-themed festival, informally)

• The answer is Ren.

Athlete from Cleveland or the University of Virginia

• The answer is Cavalier.

Kind of bathing suit

• The answer is One piece.

Musical whizzes

• The answer is Maestros.

DownSinus-treating doctor, for short

• The answer is ENT.

Opposite of WNW

• The answer is ESE.

_mon URL ending

• The answer is Com.

De Armas who starred in 2025's "Ballerina"

• The answer is Ana.

Shape of flying geese

• The answer is Vee.

Prefix with friendly

• The answer is Eco.

Restaurant booking, informally

• The answer is Res.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 1, 2025

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 November 1, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Paris Masters for free on France.tv. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We've been desperately lacking matchups between the best tennis players in the world. The 2025 Grand Slams provided so many epic battles between the top stars. We became spoiled, expecting the games to simply keep coming.

Unfortunately, the schedule does become a little quieter after the U.S. Open. That has been tough to take, but all is not lost because the 2025 Paris Masters is bringing together the biggest names in the men's game. Carlos Alcaraz has already been knocked out, so all eyes will be on Jannik Sinner as he battles it out at La Défense Arena.

If you want to watch the 2025 Paris Masters for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Paris Masters?

The Paris Masters is an annual indoor tennis tournament for male professional players held in Nanterre, France. It is usually the last tournament on the calendar before the season-ending ATP Finals.

The defending champion is Alexander Zverev.

When is the 2025 Paris Masters?

The 2025 Paris Masters is the 53rd edition of this ATP Masters 1000 event. This year's tournament takes place from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2.

How to watch the 2025 Paris Masters for free

The 2025 Paris Masters are available to live stream for free on France.tv.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Paris Masters by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit France.tv

5. Watch the 2025 Paris Masters for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can live stream the 2025 Paris Masters before recovering your investment. This is a sneaky trick, but it works.

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

What is the best VPN for France.tv?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on France.tv, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including France

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

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• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the 2025 Paris Masters for free with ExpressVPN.

The Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen) is a mixed bag. It offers solid highs and lows when you’re directly in front of it, but loses clarity off-axis and distorts past 50% volume. While durable, portable, and supported by useful app customizations, it feels at least $50 overpriced.

TL;DR: Learning a new language seems to be on everyone’s bucket list, and Babbel’s latest offer might make it easier to scratch it off. For a limited time, you can grab lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages for $134.99 (reg. $299) using code LEARN, but the deal ends Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $134.99
$299 Save $164.01   Get Deal

Babbel has built a reputation for short, structured lessons that help you learn at your own pace. Developed by more than 100 language experts, the platform uses real-life dialogue and spaced repetition to help words stick. Studies from Yale University and Michigan State University have shown that Babbel’s approach leads to measurable progress in as little as 15 hours of learning.

With a lifetime plan, you’ll unlock 10,000+ hours of content across 14 languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Turkish, and Swedish. Each lesson takes about 10 to 15 minutes and focuses on practical situations from chatting with locals at a café to giving a presentation at work. You can track your progress, test your pronunciation with speech recognition tools, and even download lessons for offline use when WiFi isn’t available.

SEE ALSO: Go beyond vocabulary — build real language fluency with Babbel

This deal’s biggest draw is its flexibility. You’re not committing to one language or a recurring subscription, just a one-time payment that lets you jump between all 14 languages whenever you want. It’s especially appealing for travelers, expats, and professionals who want to build communication skills without the high cost of in-person classes or monthly apps.

If you’ve ever wanted to speak another language (or several), this is one of the best prices you’ll see for this lifetime plan. Use code LEARN at checkout before Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST to get Babbel Lifetime (All Languages) for $134.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Make the AI-generated images of your dreams with this lifetime subscription to Imagiyo AI Image Generator, on sale now for $49 (reg. $495).

Opens in a new window Credit: Imagiyo Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan) $49
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Got a great idea for an Instagram account? Love making fun creations for your friends? When it comes to making images with AI, the possibilities are truly endless — if you’re using the right tools. Imagiyo is just that — an AI-powered image generator that lets you create any image that comes to mind (even NSFW ones).

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Imagiyo AI Image Generator’s standard plan can be yours for just $49 (reg. $495).

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender sealed product and single cards

Not an artist? No problem with Imagiyo AI Image Generator. You don’t need mastery of artificial intelligence or impressive design skills to put this technology to work. Just type in a prompt and watch your idea come to life with Imagiyo. There are no watermarks or ads, so you’re only limited by your imagination.

With Imagiyo, you can create stunning images for whatever reason you choose — both commercial and personal — and you’ll end up with high-quality, ready-to-print files you can post on social media, use as a brand logo, or give as a gift. Multiple Image Generation sizes are also supported, as available with Modelslab LLMs.

While most AI-powered image generators have restrictions, Imagiyo gives you full creative freedom. You can even create NSFW images if you’d like, just make sure your privacy settings are set to private for that content. This lifetime subscription to the standard plan means you’ll be able to make 500 images a month, and two images per request, forever.

Start creating amazing art with this lifetime subscription to Imagiyo AI Image Generator, now just $49 (reg. $495).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Online dating as a gay man is a rite of passage, from the Craigslist m4m era to today's endless scroll. But for all the high rewards, even the best dating apps come with a unique set of challenges for gay men: ghosting, catfishing, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. It's a lot to take in when you're just trying to find a genuine connection.

Yet, despite the BS, the best gay dating apps are still one of the main ways to meet new people, especially if you're gay or bisexual. Pew Research found that about one in four LGBTQ+ adults met their partner online, a much higher rate than for straight people.

Of course, we can't talk about gay dating without talking about Grindr. It's still the undisputed king of gay dating apps, even if the user experience has been suffering of late. The free version of Grindr is now stuffed full of ads, leaving many guys longing for an alternative. Plus, because of its well-deserved reputation as one of the top hookup apps, it's not always the best option for making a love connection.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the No. 1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app — but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either."

SEE ALSO: You can now view Grindr's original (and uncensored) content right in the app

The good news is that the gay dating app landscape is bigger than Grindr. Mainstream apps like Hinge and OkCupid have made huge strides in inclusivity, while niche apps like Scruff and Feeld cater to specific communities, kinks, and desires. The key is figuring out which one is actually worth your time. So, here's our authoritative guide to the best dating apps for gay men in 2025.

Recent additions to this dating app guide include:

• Feeld: As of October 2025, we've added Feeld to this guide as our top pick for "Best for Kink and Threesomes."

• Hinge: As of October 2025, we've added Hinge as another alternative to Archer, as it's also great for finding serious relationships. We've selected it as the best gay dating app for younger guys as well, due to its popularity with Gen Z.

Which gay dating apps didn't make the cut?

You'll notice a few well-known apps are missing from our main list. Here's why they didn't make our "best of" guide.

• Raya: We know, Raya is the "celebrity dating app," but we're not recommending it. Why? Because, as our own Chance Townsend discovered, its exclusivity is "a bit overhyped." After shelling out $25 per month, he found the vibe "so Tinder-esque," and the user pool wasn't A-list celebs but "consultants, aspiring actors, medical professionals, recruiters, and even students." The consensus: Raya is basically "an expensive Tinder with a better PR team." Save your money.

• Recon: Recon has a reputation as the app for the kink community, but we've opted to leave it off the list. User reviews on Reddit are brutal. One thread described the app as "really buggy" and "not much activity on there anymore." Users in that thread complained that the app is a "waste of time," full of flakes, "catfish," and "fake doms wanting you to be their slave or boy." Other users noted that "a lot of kink/fetish guys have moved on to Instagram, Twitter/X, [or] OnlyFans" or that mainstream apps like Scruff are now "more open and welcoming spaces" for the community.

• Planet Romeo (now Romeo): Planet Romeo (which took over the old Guys4Men, or g4m, site ) is another legacy app we didn't include. While it was once a go-to for finding meaningful relationships, particularly in India and parts of Europe, it's now mostly seen as an app from a bygone era. Reddit threads on the topic are full of nostalgia for the "age of Planet Romeo" and the "slow communication" of the early 2000s. It's just not a primary app for most guys in 2025.

Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: Specs and price Comparing the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Since the Scribe and Libra come from different brands, it's no surprise that they have such different looks. The Scribe is a lot larger than the Libra and comes with more storage. But the Kobo has color displays. Here's a comprehensive rundown of all the specs for each device.

Dimensions

• Kindle Scribe: 7.7-inch x 9-inch x 0.22-inch with 10.2-inch display

• Kobo Libra Color: 5.69-inch x 6.34-inch x 0.33-inch with 7-inch display

Storage

• Kindle Scribe: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB

• Kobo Libra Colour: 32GB

Resolution

• Kindle Scribe: 300ppi in black and white

• Kobo Libra Colour: 300ppi in black and white and 150ppi in color

Waterproof rating

• Kindle Scribe: None

• Kobo Libra Colour: IPX8

Adjustable front and warm light

• Kindle Scribe: Yes

• Kobo Libra Color: Yes

Stylus included?

• Kindle Scribe: Yes

• Kobo Libra Color: No, stylus sold separately for $69.99

Price

• Kindle Scribe: Starts at $399.99

• Kobo Libra Colour: $229.99

Looking over all of the specs on the Kindle Scribe versus the Kobo Libra Colour, the Kindle Scribe has the upper hand in terms of size. It features a significantly larger 10.2-inch display, making it ideal for those seeking an e-reader that resembles a notebook. However, the Kobo Libra offers much more than that. Yes, it has a smaller 7-inch display, but it features page-turning buttons (a nice bonus) and a color display for those who want to annotate and highlight in specific colors.

Both devices have an adjustable front light, a warm light, and 300ppi resolution when used in black and white. Where the Kobo Libra Colour excels is with its waterproof rating. The Kobo Libra Colour has an IPX8 rating, allowing it to be fully submerged in water, while the Kindle Scribe has no waterproof rating; that alone makes the Libra a winner in our book.

But the price differences also separate the two devices. The Kindle Scribe starts at $399.99 for a 16GB model. At the very least, it does come with a stylus. However, the Kobo Libra is far more affordable. The 32GB model costs $229.99, but unfortunately doesn't include the stylus. If you add it on for $69.99, it's still cheaper than the cheapest Kindle Scribe.

Winner: Kobo Libra Colour

Shop Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour Kindle Scribe $399.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kobo Libra Colour $229.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: Battery life

Having tested numerous e-readers, I've learned one universal truth: Kindles are king when it comes to battery life. No other e-reader can compete with the battery life. Amazon claims the Kindle Scribe has 12 weeks of battery life, while the Kobo Libra Colour has between five and six weeks of battery life.

Anecdotally, I've found this to be true, needing to frequently charge the Kobo Libra Colour, whereas I can go months without charging the Kindle Scribe.

Winner: Kindle Scribe

Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: User experience The Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour have similar user interfaces, but the ergonomics of the Kobo make it better for long-term use. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Generally, the user experience on the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour is relatively similar. Each has a main library and a separate notebook section. Our assessment of the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour is identical to the one we had in our review of the Kindle Paperwhite versus Kobo Clara Colour — except the Kindle Scribe runs slower than most other Kindle e-readers, meaning the Kobo Libra is just as speedy.

Kobo has the ultimate OverDrive integration built into all of its devices, meaning any e-book you borrow from your library will auto-populate on your Kobo. To access library e-books on your Kindle, you'll need to take a few extra steps. First, you'll need to use the Libby app to browse books and then send them to your Kindle library. A feature that sets the Kindle apart is its Goodreads integration, which enables you to link your account to your Kindle.

Where the devices differ most significantly is in the reading experience. The Kindle Scribe is a large e-reader, making it uncomfortable to hold for extended periods. The Kobo Libra Colour, on the other hand, is the picture of perfect ergonomics. It features a pronounced edge with two page-turning buttons, making it comfortable to hold and easy to turn the page.

Winner: Kobo Libra Colour

Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: Writing experience

The Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour are really a showdown of the e-reader with writing capabilities, so which is better?

The Kindle Scribe's size is its downfall when it comes to reading; however, it's a massive boon for writing. The 10.2-inch display is the same size as a spiral-bound notebook. It provides ample space for taking notes, scribbling, and drawing. Plus, you can send your notes to your email to view them on a computer.

Kobo has similar capabilities. When you start a new notebook, you can select its type. One type is basic, allowing you to draw and write as you'd expect. In contrast, another notebook type converts your handwriting into text as you go, making it extremely convenient for digitizing notes.

While the Scribe has the large screen size, the writing capabilities are the same on both e-readers. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For stylus options, each device has its own native option. The Kindle Scribe comes with the "premium pen" that is built into the e-reader and magnetically attaches to the side, so you don't lose track of it. It includes a button for adjusting the settings, while the end of the stylus erases.

The Kobo Libra Colour doesn't come with a stylus, but an option is available. Kobo has the Stylus 2, which costs $69.99 and must be purchased separately from the Kobo Libra. Like the Scribe's premium pen, it can erase and has a button for adjusting its writing options.

Each device writes smoothly, the anti-glare screen providing a paper-like feel. The experience is remarkably similar on both devices, the most significant difference being the Kindle Scribe's larger screen.

Both the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour have Google Drive integrations, making note storage and upload even easier.

Where both devices suffer is on the issue of ghosting, which is when previous display pages appear to linger under the new page. Usually, this is quickly fixed by refreshing the page on both devices.

Winner: Tie

Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: Do you need color?

The Kobo Libra Colour has a significant advantage over the Kindle Scribe: color. As of October 2025, the Kindle Scribe doesn't have color yet. At a Sept. 30, 2025, event, Amazon announced that the Kindle Colorsoft is coming; however, no release date has been provided.

This means that at the moment, only the Kobo Libra Colour has color writing and annotation capabilities. For e-readers, we usually think that color is unnecessary, but with writing and annotating, it's a major advantage. It allows you to illustrate in color, while also keeping your notes color-coded. So, for right now, the Kobo Libra Colour's colour display makes it the better device.

Winner: Kobo Libra Colour

It started with a homework assignment: A University of Texas astronomy class run jointly by its Austin and San Antonio campuses has led to students making a discovery that has landed in the pages of a scientific journal. 

Researchers have believed that Segue 1, a puny galaxy orbiting the Milky Way just 75,000 light-years away, was packed with dark matter, a substance in space that doesn't shine or interact with light. Some scientists have recommended it as a key place in the local universe to study this mysterious material.

But a new study indicates that the dim dwarf galaxy gets most of its mass from a previously unknown supermassive black hole, which is also invisible, not dark matter. The black hole is estimated to weigh upward of 450,000 suns. Nathaniel Lujan, a graduate student in San Antonio, used advanced computer modeling techniques he learned in his Galactic and Gravitational Dynamics course to help discover this cosmic giant lurking in Segue 1's shadows. 

The finding raises the possibility that gigantic black holes are more ubiquitous than previously thought — even existing in the tiniest of galaxies — and that astronomers' understanding of what holds together dwarf galaxies may not be all that it once seemed. 

"It's amazing," said Lujan during a presentation at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, "because Segue 1 is a galaxy we can hardly see, but I'm suggesting that it hosts a half-million solar-mass supermassive black hole in its center."

SEE ALSO: Scientists uncover crucial role Jupiter played in Earth's development

Segue 1, first spotted in 2006 with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope in New Mexico, has too few stars to have the gravity needed to hold itself together in space. Previously, scientists have speculated that a dark matter halo — essentially a ball of the invisible material surrounding the galaxy — must be keeping it from scattering. 

The students began exploring Segue 1 as homework, said Karl Gebhardt, a UT Austin astronomy professor who taught the class with UT San Antonio's assistant professor Richard Anantua. He wanted to show them how to run computer simulations to infer what can't be seen.

Black holes are invisible, but scientists are able to photograph them by capturing the glowing gas around them and the shadow their gravity casts on that light. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Ralf Crawford illustration

Because Segue 1 was known to have a lot of dark matter, the class used it for the exercise. The professors broke the students up into three groups: one to focus on dark matter, another to include a hypothetical black hole, and another to look at the amount of stars. The goal was to find which scenario provided the best match to the actual behavior of the stars in the system.

First they had to eliminate from their dataset the stars on the outskirts of the galaxy pulled by the Milky Way. The purpose was to isolate the stars that were more clearly under Segue 1's gravitational effects. Then, the students studied the speed and direction of the remaining stars. 

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

They found that the stars toward the center were traveling in quick, tight orbits, a clue they were circling a black hole. The models that included the black hole were by far the best fit for Segue 1's actual star movements.

"I did not expect that," Gebhardt told Mashable. "I said, 'OK, well, we got to write this up.'" 

The results recently appeared in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, with several of the students from the spring 2024 class credited as coauthors. 

Black holes are mysterious regions in space where gravity is so strong that nothing — not even light — can escape. Just decades ago, their existence was uncertain, but in 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first image of one in the Messier 87 galaxy, about 53 million light-years away. Instead of a surface, black holes have something called an "event horizon" — a point beyond which anything that crosses is lost forever. Scientists are only able to photograph black holes by capturing the glowing gas swirling around them and the shadow their gravity casts on that light.

The extra surprise for the class was just how massive the central black hole seems to be. Their models reveal it could be about 10 times greater than all of the stars in the dwarf galaxy. In most cases, the stars of a galaxy outweigh the black hole. 

"This could be because Segue 1 is actually kind of lying to us," Lujan said. "It could have started as a much larger galaxy, and due to its close interactions with the Milky Way, the Milky Way has siphoned off gas and stunted star formation in the galaxy."

For his doctoral thesis, Lujan plans to use advanced computers and artificial intelligence to run more simulations on other dwarf galaxies previously believed to be dominated by dark matter. 

A research team has proposed that the little red dots found in the early universe might be giant spheres of gas wrapped around black holes, dubbed "black hole stars." Credit: T. Müller / A. de Graaff / Max Planck Institute for Astronomy illustration

Another possible explanation for Segue 1 is that it might be similar to a new type of galaxy discovered by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Scientists are referring to these objects found in the early universe as "little red dots." They appear to have developed with enormous black holes and few stars. One research team has proposed that they might be giant spheres of gas wrapped around black holes, dubbing them "black hole stars." 

The study is an important reminder that new things can be learned just by looking at old data in a different way, Gebhardt said.

"What gets me really excited is that these galaxies that we're finding here like Segue 1 may be analogs to the early universe, where the black holes are really massive," he said. "And so, irregardless of whether we've thought hard enough about how to build these things, nature has found a way."

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

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

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

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

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

Came to light.

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

AROSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Fresher.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

NEWER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To fall into place.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CLICK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A hair stroke.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SERIF

Final Hurdle hint

Completely.

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

QUITE

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

We're getting closer and closer to the Full Moon, which means there's plenty to see on the moon's surface tonight. Keep reading to find out exactly what you can see.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Nov. 1, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. There will be 79% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Even without any equipment, there’s plenty to spot tonight, including the Mare Crisium, Mare Imbrium, and the Copernicus Crater. With a pair of binoculars, you can make out the Archimedes Crater, the Alps Mountains, and the Mare Nectaris. Telescope owners can go even further, spotting the Rima Ariadaeus, the Linne Crater, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the moon moves through its phases as it completes a 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The phases we see are caused by the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. From Earth, the moon can appear full, partly lit, or seem to disappear entirely, but it’s always the same side facing us. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, depending on where it is in orbit. This pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

The eight main moon phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With so many components to buy and so much money involved, it is normal to worry about which components to put in your new PC. Here are five things I always consider, and five mistakes you should avoid, when building a new PC.

Photoshop and Illustrator are the graphic-design workhorses of the artistic world, but they're also rather expensive—they cost at least 20 dollars a month, and often times more. However, that doesn't mean you have to pay up to dabble with graphic design. There are some great free options.

The Task Manager is an integral part of the Windows operating system. It is used to manage your startup apps, check what is hogging system resources, and perhaps most commonly, end programs that are malfunctioning. But what happens when even Task Manager malfunctions?

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 31, get the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Segway Ninebot eKickScooter $229.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $50   Get Deal

Remember Razer scooters back in the day? For those of you old enough to have experienced dial-up, they were fun and colorful must-haves for kids of the 2000s, and you were really someone if you had one on the playground. Nowadays, we're all about the electric scooter, and Segway is more than the goofy people mover we remember thinking would revolutionize the world. They make scooters too, and there's one in particular your kids will absolutely love to get around on that you can save big on now.

As of Oct. 31, get the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 18%.

SEE ALSO: The best electric scooters to buy

This electric scooter is for kids up to 132 lbs (or small adults, if you want to ride), with an adjustable handlebar so you can change it for each rider. It goes up to 12.4 mph, with 9.3 miles per charge in 4 hours. It's activated with a 3mph kick-push as a safety feature, but once it's going, its 50W motor can get up to speed fast, making this more of an option for older kids.

It has three riding modes to choose from that adapt to different terrain: Standard, Sport, and Power-assisting, each of which caters to different use cases, with Standard being for younger riders who need to go a bit slower and Sport for more experienced scooter enthusiasts. Power-assisting gives cruise control as you glide with electric assists.

It's also got some fun extras like a Bluetooth speaker, lights that sync with music, and a voice assistant for some added pizazz. It all adds up to a fun gift for the kids that can even help them get from point A to point B, like their buddy's house down the street or just to the empty lot to do some tricks.

Whether you're giving it now or saving it for the holidays, this is a great early gift, one the kids will love — at an excellent price.

TL;DR: Freshen up your Mac with some of Microsoft’s greatest tools in this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, now just $59.97 (reg. $219).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $59.97
$219 Save $159.03   Get Deal

Just because you have a Mac doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the best the PC world has to offer. Take Microsoft Office, for instance. These software staples have been around for decades, and now you can use them to your advantage on your Apple device with this Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license.

Right now, you can get this suite of six Microsoft apps for Mac for a lifetime for only $59.97 (reg. $219).

SEE ALSO: Make your year-end workload easier with this $20 Microsoft Office license

Even if you’ve been a devoted Apple user for years, you’re probably familiar with the Microsoft Office tools. You may have used them as a kid in your family’s home office on that clunky old desktop computer, or they may have been your go-to tools in college when you needed to finish a paper or whip up a presentation.

Reintroduce yourself to these gems with the Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license. You’ll have access to old classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as newer additions like Teams and OneNote.

A lifetime license ensures you have permanent access to these apps — no expensive subscription fees required. You’ll actually be able to download them directly to your Mac, allowing you to work offline without worrying about cloud connectivity issues.

Make sure your Mac is running macOS 13 or later, with at least 4GB of RAM and 10GB of available storage.

Give your Mac a productivity boost with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale now for $59.97 (MSRP $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Never run out of entertaining content with this lifetime subscription to BitMar Streaming Content Finder, on sale now for $19.99 (reg. $150).

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $19.99
$150 Save $130.01   Get Deal

Ready to cut the cord? Whether you’re breaking up with cable or the dozens of streaming services that cost you a fortune month after month, BitMar Streaming Content Finder offers an affordable solution for entertainment at home. This handy tool helps you find movies, shows, music, and more, and right now you can score a lifetime subscription for just $19.99 (reg. $150).

How much are you paying each month for streaming and cable? It probably adds up to quite a lot, and you still have to search for your own content. BitMar Streaming Content Finder does things differently. You pay just once to unlock a lifetime of entertainment with this AI-powered tool that finds free content from all over the world.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 31, 2025)

With BitMar Streaming Content Finder, you have access to an easy-to-use Bing-powered search engine that searches the globe for the best free content. From YouTube videos to music channels, it’s all completely ad-free, and only routes you to secure websites. You can also use your lifetime subscription on up to 5 devices — from smartphones and laptops to tablets and smart TVs.

You’re paying for the platform, not the content, which is why BitMar is so much more affordable than your usual streamer. If you’re worried about how the creators and owners are paid, know that everything complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, so they can monetize via the free traffic BitMar brings them.

Save and stream until your heart’s content with this lifetime subscription to BitMar Streaming Content Finder, on sale now for $19.99 (reg. $150).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Tired of ads? Protect yourself and your loved ones from tempting ads, malware, and unsafe content with a lifetime subscription to AdGuard Family Plan, just $18.99 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $18.99
$169.99 Save $151   Get Deal

As technology finds innovative ways to integrate itself into our daily lives, escaping the presence of ads can feel near-impossible. Even more so, when you have a house full of family members.

Fortunately, AdGuard offers an affordable way to keep you and your loved ones safe from tempting ads, suspicious malware, and unsafe content. With this deal, you can score a lifetime subscription to AdGuard’s Family Plan for just $18.99 (reg. $169.99) for a limited time with code FAMPLAN.

SEE ALSO: Should you pay for a VPN?

AdGuard is an advanced ad blocker app with seamless web browsing capabilities thanks to its three core features. For starters, its ad-blocking abilities eliminate endless scrolling remains uninterrupted and packed with the content you actually want to see. 

This includes blocking ads on your favorite platforms like YouTube. AdGuard blocks advertisement banners and mid-video interruptions. 

Simultaneously, the platform hides your data from trackers and activity analyzers, keeping your digital environment secure. So, the next time you’re talking about a specific brand of cookies, you won’t have to worry about whether your phone is listening in or not when you see a cookie ad later on.

If you’re a parent, you can restrict access to inappropriate and adult content, ensuring a safe online experience for your kids of any age.

With this lifetime subscription, enjoy the added benefit of malware protection. AdGuards acts as a shield against harmful malware and phishing websites, keeping your data secure and your devices virus-free.

The best part of this best-selling deal is that you can use AdGuard across nine different devices. Whether you’re team Android or Apple or using a laptop, this service keeps all of your tech secure without the extra hassle.

So, while you can, score a lifetime subscription to AdGuard’s Family Plan for just $18.99 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best deals to watch 'Freakier Friday' at a glance: Best non-streaming option Buy or rent 'Freakier Friday' on Prime Video $24.99 to rent, $29.99 to buy Learn More Best Disney+ deal Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $189.99 per year (save $37.89 per year) Get Deal Best bundle deal Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu and Disney+ with ads) $12.99 per month (save $10.99 per month) Get Deal Best for Verizon customers Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal Best way to get Disney+ for free Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $18.99 per month) Get Deal

Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are so back. After taking theaters by storm over the summer, Freakier Friday is officially blessing the small screen this season.

In the sequel to their beloved 2003 body-swap comedy Freaky Friday, another mystical body-swap spell is afoot. And this time, it's double the madness, with Sophia Hammons and Julia Butters joining the cast. Directed by Nisha Ganatra, Freakier Friday sees the mother-daughter heroines we know and love (Curtis' Dr. Tess Coleman and Lohan's Anna Coleman) swap bodies with a pair of bickering teens, which results in the ultimate generational clash and comedic chaos.

If you missed it in theaters or cannot wait to watch it again, you'll be thrilled to know the sequel is now available to watch at home. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Freakier Friday about?

Set over two decades after Freaky Friday, Freakier Friday follows a grown-up Anna Coleman (Lohan), a 36-year-old single mom to Harper (Butters), working as a manager to insecure pop idol Ella (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). She's engaged to chef Eric (Manny Jacinto), who has a daughter of his own, Lily (Hammons). Harper and Lily are high school nemeses and will do whatever they can to break up their parents. The wedding is fast approaching, and the ladies — which includes Dr. Tess Coleman (Curtis), a therapist/podcaster/author and grandparent to Harper — are at their wits' end with one another. That's where a whimsical fortune teller/life coach/barista played by Vanessa Bayer comes in to perform the magical body-swap spell.

Check out the official trailer for a first look:

Is the Freaky Friday sequel worth watching?

Freakier Friday was a box office hit over the summer, with a $29 million domestic opening weekend ($153 million global total). It became the top August opening ever for a PG-rated or G-rated film. Not too shabby for a sequel. Of course, a great deal of that is due to the positive word of mouth coming out of the theater. It currently holds a 74 percent critic rating and a whopping 91 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mashable's own reviewer writes, "In the end, Freakier Friday isn’t better than the original. But it is fun, entertaining, and funny. On top of the winning performances of Curtis and Lohan, there’s a meta joy to seeing a real-life wild child return to her roots for a victory lap. That she gets to rock out while doing it is all the better."

Read our full review of Freakier Friday.

How to watch Freakier Friday at home Credit: Disney

The Freaky Friday sequel is officially available to watch at home as of Oct. 7, 2025, on digital and as of Nov. 12 on streaming. See the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Freakier Friday became available to watch at home via video-on-demand on Oct. 7, 2025, two months post-theatrical release. You can now purchase the film for your digital library on apps like Prime Video and Apple TV. A rental option is also available for a few bucks less, but it's more limited. With rentals, you'll have 30 days to watch and just 48 hours once you begin.

You can purchase the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $29.99, rent for $24.99

• Apple TV+ — buy for $29.99, rent for $24.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $29.99, rent for $24.99

• Google Play — buy for $29.99

• YouTube — buy for $29.99

Stream it on Disney+

Freakier Friday will make its streaming debut on Disney+ on Nov. 12, 2025, about three months following its theatrical release. The original Freaky Friday with Lohan and Curtis is also on Disney+, so you can queue up a doubleheader.

Not yet a Disney+ subscriber? Subscriptions now start at $11.99 per month after a recent price hike, but we've rounded up a few of the best ways you can save some money on the streaming service below.

The best Disney+ streaming dealsBest Disney+ deal: save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $189.99/year (save $37.89) Get Deal

Signing up for the annual plan and paying for a year upfront is the best way to save on Disney+ on its own. The yearly plan without ads will cost you $189.99 per year, which breaks down to just $15.83 per month instead of the usual $18.99 per month. That's 17% or a total of $37.89 in savings. When you check out, be sure to select Disney+ Premium, then "annual" to secure the discount for the year. Unfortunately, there is no annual plan available for the cheaper tier with ads.

Best Disney+ bundle deal: save 44% on Hulu and Disney+ Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu and Disney+ with ads) $12.99 per month (save 44%) Get Deal

If you want more bang for your buck, Disney's bundle deals are hard to beat — even with the latest price hike. You can bundle Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads) for just $12.99 per month, which basically gets you Disney+ for $1 per month (44% in savings). You could also go ad-free and get both for $19.99 per month. Want even more for your money? Add HBO Max or ESPN+ into the mix for a three-part bundle that'll cost you $19.99 per month (with ads).

Best Disney+ deal for Verizon Wireless customers: save $9.99/month on the Disney Bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney+ Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal

Verizon Wireless customers can score the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads), for only $10 per month through Verizon myPlan. That saves you $9.99 each month. Just add the bundle to your account through myPlan. Unlimited Ultimate, Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome, and Welcome Unlimited plans are eligible to purchase.

Best way to get Disney+ for free: get the Total Wireless Unlimited+ plan Opens in a new window Credit: Total by Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total Wireless $60 plan (save $18.99 per month) Get Deal

Total Wireless customers on the $60 per month prepaid Unlimited+ plan can enjoy Disney+ Premium for free. No terms or trial periods — just keep your account in good standing and your Disney+ account will remain active. That's an $18.99 per month value tacked onto your phone plan for $0. If you're on the $50 per month plan, you're also eligible for six free months of Disney+. You can extend your trial by upgrading to the $60 per month plan.

AMD holds a special place in people's hearts. That's largely because the company is perceived as being a more "open" and "consumer-friendly" alternative to NVIDIA and Intel.