IT General

After a bruising attempt in May, SpaceX will push new engine fixes, a revised flip maneuver, and fresh heat-shield experiments on its 13th test flight of Starship.

This time, engineers want the rocket booster to separate cleanly from the ship in the air, swing around the right way, fire its engines again, and splash down gently in the Gulf of Mexico. They've changed how engines light and tweaked the landing sequence, which plops the ship into the Indian Ocean. The modifications follow the 12th flight's botched flip and several engine restarting failures.

Starship also has a new job: carrying 20 real satellites as opposed to dummies. The payload includes Starlink V3 internet satellites, some of which are wired with cameras and sensors to monitor the rocket's heat shield during its fall back to Earth. 

The launch, which could occur Thursday, July 16, is the latest step in SpaceX's long campaign to turn the most powerful rocket ever built from a spectacular one‑off into a reusable workhorse — one that can haul heavy cargo into space, survive the fiery plunge home, support NASA's moon landings, and eventually execute Elon Musk's Mars ambitions.

"The thing that separates us from a lot of other companies is that we test fast and we test often, and that includes launches," said Tim Southerton, director of Starship launch engineering, in SpaceX's latest mini documentary. "We want to make sure the vehicle's all ready to go. We want to make sure the ground's all ready to go, but we also don't want to be caught in analysis paralysis."

SEE ALSO: Astronomers find a needle in a haystack 18,000 light-years away

SpaceX says it will stream the South Texas launch on its website and X, the social media platform owned by Musk. The broadcast is expected to start about 30 minutes before liftoff, which could happen as early as 5:45 p.m. CT.

As always with Starship, the schedule is more of a moving target than a promise. Weather, high winds, boats drifting into the safety zone, or a finicky valve could pause the countdown. 

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But once it gets off the ground, Starship will try to behave more like a future deep‑space ship. It will deploy its satellites, then attempt to restart a single engine while coasting, a skill SpaceX says it will need for future missions that change course or head to the moon. 

The satellites themselves are not meant to last. They will follow Starship's short arc through space and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes after they separate.

While waiting for ignition, viewers can watch SpaceX's short documentary, called "Critical Path," below. The film follows engineers and pad crews through the final days before the previous flight, which included aborted countdowns, an arm that refused to retract, and even a massive tower chain that snapped and had to be replaced in roughly 1.5 days. 

During the film, Musk appears in the firing room, peering at consoles over shoulders, but speaks little. Justin Styer, the company's senior Starship launch director, says the founder is "actually" good at quickly absorbing information and understanding the stakes. 

"I personally have never felt any pressure from Elon of like, 'It doesn't matter, hell or high water, we're flying this rocket.' Like, absolutely not. That's not his style," Styer said. "And, like I said, the critical path to Mars is not blowing up rockets."

If you want to see Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey the way he intends it to be seen, you're going to want to see it in IMAX. But if you're looking at that price tag and the amount of sold-out sessions, there are a few things to know.

Based on Homer's epic poem, Nolan's new star-studded fantasy adventure is two hours and 52 minutes' worth of otherworldly oceanic struggle, strange mythical monsters, and brutal battles, as Odysseus (Matt Damon), king of Ithaca, tries to get his men home after the Trojan War.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' sails into rave reviews and online backlash

Here's what to know before forking out for big screen tickets.

The Odyssey is the first movie entirely filmed on IMAX 1570 cameras. Matt Damon and Zendaya filming "The Odyssey." Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

It's a first. The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely on IMAX 1570 cameras, the highest resolution film in the game. Nolan has long loved this format, shooting sequences on these colossal cameras for Oppenheimer, Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. But The Odyssey is completely shot on 1570s, which means Nolan and director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema set sail through a laborious shoot.

IMAX 1570 cameras are behemoths, weighing up to 270 kilograms, needing at least five people to lift around the set onto dollies, and they constantly have to be changed — according to the Guardian, The Odyssey film reels had to be reloaded every three minutes on set. And with all that mechanical engineering, they're also loud, which means filming actors' dialogue up close can be tricky.

To fix this, The Odyssey production team tasked IMAX with developing a special 65-millimetre camera called the "Keighley," which is equipped with camera-muffling housing called a "blimp." You can see it in action below:

All this is to say that you should watch The Odyssey in IMAX to fully appreciate the sheer technological feat.

IMAX tickets to The Odyssey are expensive and hard to get. Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland in "The Odyssey." Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

Now, getting tickets is another thing.

First things first, IMAX tickets are not cheap. Ranging between $18 and $33 in the U.S. depending on the cinema, they're obviously more expensive than a regular session.

Secondly, IMAX tickets have flown out of the U.S. box office for The Odyssey, with most opening sessions sold out or close to it. Cinemas are even adding 1 a.m. screenings in some cities to meet demand. The Odyssey is predicted to earn an opening $85 million to $100 million domestic at the box office, per Variety, with global numbers sending the figure to $200 million. So, good luck.

This is the image you'll see for many of "The Odyssey" first week IMAX sessions. Credit: Fandango / Mashable screenshot.

In London, the film broke the BFI IMAX record with $1 million in ticket sales in 24 hours, and the cinema's been sold out for weeks.

I was lucky to see The Odyssey at the press screening at BFI IMAX in London, and it was nothing short of immersive. In any IMAX venue, make sure you get a seat in the middle or higher in the auditorium for a better eye level, as the screen can feel warped and engulfing the further down you sit. As for the seats on the sides, they're not great.

The Odyssey is epic in every way in IMAX. Watching the Sack of Troy on a massive screen is brutal. Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures

But if you're looking for one major reason to justify the ticket price and perhaps a wait to see The Odyssey in IMAX, consider the scale of the whole thing. Chaotic battle scenes in Troy, furiously edited by Jennifer Lame and shot up close by van Hoytema, feel unrelenting and first-hand. The key moments in Odysseus' journey, such as his terrifying meeting with cyclops Polyphemus (Bill Irwin), feel extraordinary and all-encompassing, with the dark maw of the creature's cave overwhelming the audience as much as it does Odysseus' men.

Another reason is sound. The Odyssey re-recording mixers Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O'Connell, supervising sound editor Craig Henighan, production sound mixer Willie D. Burton, the superb foley team, and composer Ludwig Göransson throw an armada of audio at you over the film's nearly three-hour runtime. You're going to want to hear every creak of the ship, every visceral sword attack, every slurp of stew, every booming drum and harmonious horn turned up to 11 in that IMAX theatre. If you have sensitive hearing, bring your earplugs.

In summary, it's worth it, if you can get a seat.

The Odyssey hits theaters July 17, including IMAX.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 is on sale for $42.97 (reg. $219), a lifetime license with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $42.97
$219 Save $176.03   Get Deal

At some point, “buying” software turned into “renting” it, and most of us just went along with it. Every app wants a monthly cut now, even the ones you’ve had installed since college. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 is one of the holdouts. Its lifetime license is on sale for $42.97 (regularly $219), and it works on Mac or Windows.

Office doesn’t really need an introduction at this point. Most people were opening Word docs and building Excel spreadsheets long before “cloud-based” and “browser app” entered the vocabulary. This deal lets you install the full suite on one device and use it indefinitely, at home or at work, without a monthly charge, an annual price bump, or a renewal email showing up right when you forgot to cancel.

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The license covers the apps people actually open every day: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That’s the full desktop version of each, not a trimmed-down web app, which matters once you’re deep into a long document, a spreadsheet with more tabs than you’d like to admit, or a deck due in an hour.

Purchase it and your license key and download link show up right away, so there’s no waiting around before you can start using it. Microsoft also backs it with lifetime customer support if installation or setup gives you trouble.

Rather than adding one more line item to your monthly subscriptions, this is a single purchase for software you’ll likely still be using years from now.

Right now, you can pick up Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac or Windows for $42.97 (reg. $219) before the offer ends July 19.

TL;DR: A Costco Gold Star Membership costs $65 a year. New members who enroll in auto-renewal can receive a $50 Digital Costco Shop Card* after sign-up.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + a $50 Digital Costco Shop Card $65
  Get Deal

A Costco Gold Star Membership can help households manage everyday costs, particularly on groceries and gasoline. Members shop at more than 500 warehouses across the U.S., along with Costco.com, and gain access to Kirkland Signature™ products alongside brand-name products across grocery, home, and technology categories.

Credit: Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + a $50 Digital Costco Shop Card

New Gold Star Members who enroll in auto renewal can receive a $50 Digital Costco Shop Card* after sign-up. A Costco Gold Star Membership costs $65 a year.

A Costco Gold Star Membership includes:

• Shopping at Costco warehouses and Costco.com

• Kirkland Signature™ products across grocery, home, and other categories

• Member pricing at the Costco Gas Station

• Access to Costco Optical and Costco Pharmacy

• One free Affiliate Card for an individual age 18 or older living at your address

This promotion may be available to new members, or to members whose accounts (Primary and Affiliate) have been expired for at least 18 months. It is not valid for renewal or upgrade of an existing membership. Members must provide a valid email address at sign-up and enroll in auto renewal to receive the Digital Costco Shop Card*, which is emailed within two weeks after enrollment.

Join as a new Gold Star Member and enroll in auto renewal to receive a $50 Digital Costco Shop Card.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

13. The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, Season 4

A staple of Netflix's vast dating show catalogue, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On returns this week to wreak more havoc on couples who are definitely ready to make lifelong commitments to one another. Each couple has one person who wants to get married and another who has cold feet. Instead of encouraging healthy communication to get to the bottom of this conflict, the show has another idea: Get the couples to explore potential "married" lives with other members of the cast. As always, brace yourself for maximum drama, minimum confidence in the current dating scene. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey

How to watch: The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On Season 4 is now on Netflix.

12. The Real Wolf of Wall Street

In 2013, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio turned the 2007 memoir of stockbroker turned convicted fraud Jordan Belfort into the hilarious The Wolf of Wall Street. Now, this new documentary on Paramount+ explores what Scorsese got right, and where the real story was stranger than fiction.

Through archival interviews, never-before-seen footage, thousands of internal FBI documents, and new interviews with Belfort's circle — including his ex-wife, Nadine Caridi — The Real Wolf of Wall Street explores the bizarre story of great fortune, great misfortune, fucking around, and finding out. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Real Wolf of Wall Street is now streaming on Paramount+.

11. Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro

Any Dancing with the Stars fan will tell you that the show is as much about its professional dancers as the stars they're paired with. Now, the pros take the solo spotlight in new spin-off Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, an elimination series about finding the next pro to add to the main show's troupe. Hosted by Dancing with the Stars Season 34 winner Robert Irwin and judged by Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas, The Next Pro is sure to satisfy Dancing with the Stars fans' desire for glitzy ballroom in the wait for Season 35. — B.E.

Starring: Robert Irwin, Mark Ballas, and Shirley Ballas

How to watch: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro began airing on Disney+ on July 14.

10. Scott Peterson: The New Evidence

When Laci Peterson went missing in December of 2002, national news locked onto the story. She was young, pregnant, and gone. Her husband, Scott Peterson, was soon a person of interest, especially once his extramarital affair was revealed. In 2004, he was convicted of first-degree murder for Laci's death, and second-degree murder for the death of their unborn child. So, what's left to understand about this story? Well, what if Scott Peterson is innocent?

In 2024, the L.A. Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal advocacy group, began petitioning for DNA testing in the Peterson case. Could this change our understanding of what happened to Laci? Could it change Scott's fate? A&E is airing this four-hour, two-part documentary, Scott Peterson: The New Evidence, to explore these questions. — K.P.

How to watch: Scott Peterson: The New Evidence premieres July 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and July 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on A&E.

9. The East Palace

If you're looking for something that's a little bit Alchemy of Souls, a little bit The Witcher, and a lot historical K-drama with a potential enemies-to-lovers situation, The East Palace is for you. Directed by Choi Jung-kyu, this South Korean fantasy horror series sees Twenty-Five Twenty-One's Nam Joo-hyuk as Gu-cheon, a reluctant spirit hunter who is dragged to the royal palace to sort out its ghosts, becoming a feng shui master. Here, he's helped by court lady Saeng-gang (Our Blues' Roh Yoon-seo), who has a few secrets of her own. There's plenty of ghost-busting, ritual, and flirty banter afoot, with some genuinely scary sequences. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo

How to watch: The East Palace debuts on July 17 on Netflix.

8. They Fight

Want some hard-hitting drama? Hulu's got you, thanks to the sports drama They Fight.

Moonlight's André Holland stars as a formerly incarcerated man named Walt Manigan, who seeks his second chance by coaching a motley crew of boys in boxing. Their goal is the National Championship. But along the way, Manigan will try to find other victories, like reconnecting to his family and rediscovering himself. — K.P.

Starring: André Holland, Wendell Pierce, Samira Wiley, Anthony B. Jenkins, Toussaint Francois Battiste, and Mykelti Williamson

How to watch: They Fight premieres on Hulu on July 17.

7. Ride or Die

Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham team up for action-comedy Ride or Die, in which they play longtime BFFs Debbie (Spencer) and Judith (Waddingham). After spending so many years as friends, you'd think they'd know everything about one another, right? Wrong. To Debbie's surprise, Judith is an international assassin. And after a hit goes wrong, she's on the run, with Debbie in tow. Can their bond survive this massive reveal, not to mention the trained killers hunting them down? Either way, get ready to watch Waddingham's Judith kick butt and see Spencer's Debbie learn to embrace her inner badass. — B.E.

Starring: Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, and Bill Nighy

How to watch: Ride or Die is now streaming on Prime Video.

6. The Hawk

If I had a nickel every time a streaming service put out a comedy about a washed-up golfer trying to regain his former glory, I'd have two nickels. The first example of these golf-coms is Apple TV's 2025 Owen Wilson-led Stick, and the latest is Netflix's Will Ferrell-fronted The Hawk. Ferrell plays Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins, a former top-ranked golfer whose career has since gone down the drain. But as his son Lance (Jimmy Tatro) rises in the PGA rankings, Lonnie takes one last swing at the tour and at winning a career grand slam.

The Hawk goes big and broad, with its ensemble cast — which also includes Molly Shannon and Fortune Feimster — making the most of its gross-out, slapstick comedy. But the show tends to be too mean for its own good, and its attempts at redemption, when they come, mostly fall flat. — B.E.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Chris Parnell, Katelyn Tarver, Gabriel Hogan, Luke Wilson, and Aida Osman

How to watch: The Hawk is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Lucky

Anya Taylor-Joy embraces her inner con woman in Apple TV's new limited series Lucky. Based on the novel by Marissa Stapley, the show introduces Lucky Armstrong (Taylor-Joy), a young woman who's just pulled off a $10 million heist with her husband, Cary (Drew Starkey). But when the heist goes awry and Lucky is left holding the (very empty) bag, she'll have to scramble to outrun the FBI and the dangerous mob bosses on her tail.

Lucky's many escape plans and cons are thrilling to take in, but the rest of the show's broader criminal conspiracy lacks the same spark. As I wrote in my review, "[Lucky's] conclusions and twists along the way are fairly predictable, but it offers up some slick summer fun in the meantime. When you're done, though, Lucky's impact is like that of a good con man: gone before you even know it." — B.E.

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Drew Starkey, Clifton Collins Jr., and William Fichtner

How to watch: The first two episodes of Lucky are now streaming on Apple TV.

4. Obsession

Audiences went feral for writer/director Curry Barker's ultra-creepy Obsession. The film turns rom-com expectations on its head by presenting a lovelorn protagonist named Bear (Michael Johnston), who might seem like a nice guy but is actually the movie's villain.

Obsessed with his friend Nikki (a riveting Inde Navarrette), he makes a wish that she'll not only notice him, but will love him more than anyone else. In the way of the mythic monkey's paw, this wish goes horribly wrong, transforming Bear's dream girl into a nightmare. Obsession is thoroughly chilling, especially thanks to Navarrette's harrowing performance. But Barker's exploration of sexual politics ultimately feels juvenile because of a flubbed final act. As I explained more in-depth in my review, "This makes the finale of Obsession unnerving — not so much for what it shows, but for the empathy it ultimately lacks."* — K.P.

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter

How to watch: Obsession streams exclusively on Peacock starting July 17.

3. Marc by Sofia

American director Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Priscilla, The Bling Ring) offers her first non-fiction film with Marc by Sofia. Here, she employs her close personal relationship with American fashion designer Marc Jacobs to explore his work in the lead up to his 2024 runway show.

The film becomes about fashion, Jacobs' life, and the friendship of two artists who inspire each other. — K.P.

How to watch: Marc by Sofia is now streaming on HBO Max.

2. Normal

English filmmaker Ben Wheatley has previously thrilled action fans with the shoot-'em-up Free Fire. And now, he's bringing that energy into a satire about a "normal" American town, where everyone has guns — and has them aimed at the interim sheriff, played by Bob Odenkirk.

Sure, the folks of Normal, Minnesota, seem friendly. But beneath their smiles lies a dark conspiracy. And while they welcome newcomer Ulysses as the face of law in their town, they won't stand for him sticking his nose where it's not wanted.*

In my review out of SXSW, I cheered, "Wheatley delivers an action comedy that is wildly entertaining, hilariously twisted, and ultimately shockingly feel-good." —K.P.

Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Peter Shinkoda, and Jess McLeod

How to watch: Normal is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

Best of streaming this week: Heartstopper Forever

Prepare to happy-cry, friends. Three years since Season 1 hit Netflix, followed by two sublime seasons, Heartstopper ends with a movie to send the Paris Crew into the future. A joyous exploration of queer identity and teen romance, Alice Oseman's graphic novels have provided wondrous material for Netflix's sweet LGBTQ+ series, and now, it's time for high school to make way for whatever comes next.

In the most grown-up chapter of Heartstopper yet, Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) prepare to go long distance as university looms. They've been through so much together; surely this can work? But they're not the only ones making big decisions, with their friends all figuring out how to move into adulthood too. Prepare for Oseman's signature animated leaves to swirl into frame and too many recognisable moments from your own adolescence rendered onscreen. Here's to Heartstopper, your week's must-watch and a triumph of a teen series for years. — S.C.

Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Tobie Donovan, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Rhea Norwood, and Jenny Walser

How to watch: Heartstopper Forever debuts on Netflix on July 17.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

SAVE $25: As of July 16, Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: SHOKZ Shokz OpenRun Pro $99.95 at Amazon
$124.95 Save $25   Get Deal

If it's time to upgrade your running headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones have just dropped to their best-ever price at Amazon. They've dipped below $100 for the first time. This deal is for all color options, so you can choose from black, beige, blue, or pink.

These headphones use something called bone conduction technology. This means the headphones deliver vibrations through your cheekbones straight to the inner ear, opposed to directly through your ear. Your ears stay open, and you can listen to music or podcasts and still hear what’s happening around you.

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And it's not just this technology that makes them a great choice for runners; their design also means they stay in place even during tough workouts. This is thanks to the lightweight titanium wraparound frame that provides a secure, comfortable fit that just won't budge.

Plus, the battery life will keep you going for hours on your longest runs. You can expect up to 10 hours of battery life on one charge, and when you're short on time, a quick five-minute charge gives you an extra 1.5 hours of listening time.

Get this headphones deal at Amazon now.

Senator Lindsey Graham's death felt sudden, so it's not surprising that a lot of people had questions about it — and President Donald Trump provided some confusing answers.

In the Late Night clip above, Seth Meyers reacts to Trump telling Newsmax anchor Greg Kelly, "We've had great doctors, and they talked about, you know, a certain part of his body literally blew up."

"I'd argue they weren't great doctors if they were using language like 'literally blew up,'" says Meyers. "If a surgeon came out to the waiting room and said, 'There's no easy way to say this, your father exploded,' you would ask to speak to someone else. 'Literally blew up.' Was the doctor Wile E. Coyote? He graduated from the American College of Medical Examiners, you probably know it as ACME. Why can't the president just be normal and have some decorum in a situation like this?"

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

It's been 10 years since Stranger Things premiered on July 15, 2016, immersing viewers in '80s nostalgia and encouraging a resurgence of interest in both Dungeons & Dragons and Kate Bush. To mark the occasion, Netflix has released a 26-minute video of the cast looking back at their experience making the series — and for many of them, growing up across its five seasons.

Taking turns sitting under the iconic alphabet wall from Stranger Things' first season, the YouTube video features a slew of cast members going through behind-the-scenes Polaroid photos and reminiscing. These include Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Cara Buono, Noah Schnapp, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, and Jamie Campbell Bower.

The actors share a few stories and a lot of praise for their castmates (as well as Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers), generally just spreading good vibes all around.

The Moon is starting to reappear on its right side (this will be the left side if you're in the Southern Hemisphere). This means we're in the Waxing Crescent portion of the lunar cycle.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, July 16, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with just 5% of its surface visible.

Even with visual aids, this is too small a surface area illuminated for us to be able to make out any surface features on the Moon.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon completes one full cycle around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight different phases along the way, NASA explains. Although the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes as it travels around Earth. This changing angle of illumination is what makes the Moon appear to transform throughout the month, from a thin crescent to a half-lit Moon and eventually a fully illuminated Full Moon, before starting the cycle again.

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch Indiana sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Indiana

• Green: Big dogs

• Blue: Horse riding

• Purple: Famous domes

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Indiana Teams

• Green: Bulldogs

• Blue: Equestrian Equipment

• Purple: ___Dome

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 #661 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Indiana Teams: COLTS, FEVER, HOOSIERS, PACERS

• Bulldogs: BUTLER, GONZAGA, MISSISSIPPI STATE, YALE

• Equestrian Equipment: BIT, REINS, SADDLE, STIRRUPS

• ___Dome: ASTRO, FARGO, GEORGIA, SUPER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 16, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 16, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 16 Pips

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

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 16 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 16 Pips

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; 0-0, 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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're precise.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 16, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Beauty regimen

• Green: Dark colors

• Blue: Exact

• Purple: A speck

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Skincare products

• Green: Shades of black

• Blue: Associated with precision

• Purple: Starting with tiny marks

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 #1131 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Skincare products: CLAY MASK, EYE CREAM, PEEL, TONER

• Shades of black: CHARCOAL, INK, JET, PITCH

• Associated with precision: BULLSEYE, CLOCKWORK, LASER, NEEDLE

• Starting with tiny marks: DOT MATRIX, PERIOD PIECE, POINT BREAK, SPOT REMOVER

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 16, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you don't have a good sense of direction.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 16, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "Rerouting..."

The words are related to directions.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a detour.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Change Course.

NYT Strands word list for July 16

• Zigzag

• Deviate

• Change Course

• Veer

• Pivot

• Tack

• Swerve

• Turn

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're into landscapes.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 16, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 16, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A steep hill.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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...

BUTTE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A throat infection.

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

STREP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

How butter is made.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHURN

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Perfect.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

IDEAL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Wildlife

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FAUNA

Final Hurdle hint

Inactive.

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

INERT

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

Close to a year after the enactment of the UK's age assurance law, the Online Safety Act, Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has released a report on its progress.

The Online Safety Act requires robust age checks for sites that have content "restricted to adults," which extends from pornography to non-explicit content like the r/stopsmoking subreddit.

UK age verification, one year later

Ofcom has found that these age checks are now being deployed on an "unprecedented scale" across various sectors: porn, social media, dating, and gaming. Between July 2025, when the law went into effect, and Jan. 2026, the proportion of children "being asked to prove their age who encountered highly effective age checks" increased from 25 to 43 percent.

SEE ALSO: EU plans to restrict social media for kids under 13

Between July and Dec. last year, 69 million age checks were completed across a sample of 32 services, which Ofcom says is a 23-fold increase on the previous six months.

According to Ofcom's Children's Passive Online Monitoring study, eight percent of children aged 8 to 14 who participated visited porn providers. Half of them only reached sites with age checks in place. The majority, 87 percent, of these porn site visits were for under 30 seconds, and 65 percent were for less than 10 seconds.

Shortcomings of the Online Safety Act

Ofcom also found that all of the UK's top 10 porn sites, and 64 out of the top 100 most popular porn sites in the country, have installed age assurance as of last month, and 10 have geo-blocked UK users. Despite this, though, Ofcom stated that "too many porn sites still don’t have age checks in place." It's opened 23 investigations into providers of 88 adult services.

Another result of the report is that children are finding porn sites without age checks via search. A third (33 percent) of Google Search results on the first page were porn sites without age checks or geo-blocking, while this was the case for 54 percent of first-page Bing results.

Ofcom stated that Google and Bing are working with it "to tackle the discoverability of porn sites without age checks via their services," though the Online Safety Act doesn't require search providers to use age assurance to prevent minors from viewing porn.

The report also stated that over 10 percent of 15 to 17-year-olds accessed three popular dating apps in Dec. 2025, despite age checks, so these services need to ensure their age checks are effective.

Finally, the report also casts doubt on age-inference methods, which estimate a user's age from their behavior.

"Our message to social media companies is clear: those which use age inference models to comply with their child protection duties should switch to other methods listed in our guidance as highly effective without delay," Ofcom stated in a press release shared with Mashable. 

This will become increasingly relevant as the UK bans social media for children under 16. The UK government is planning to use similar age-assurance methods as the Online Safety Act. A recent study on Australia's social media ban found it ineffective, partly because age estimations don't require younger users to undergo additional checks.

Ofcom states it will deliver an assessment of what "highly effective age checks" will look like to determine someone is over 16 to Parliament by the end of Oct. It will also publish a report on app-store-level age verification by Jan. 2027.

In addition to the broad social media ban for under-16s, the UK also just announced a social media curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17.

Every Android phone brand likes to do its own thing when it comes to the launcher and overall look of its phones. Some (like Xiaomi) opt to make their phones look and feel more like Apple's iOS, but Samsung has been putting years and years into the development of its One UI.

If you were on TikTok in the early 2020s, you're probably deeply familiar with the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker. It went super viral as creators made content about their iced coffee concoctions, sodas, and even water recipes.

But for most people, the price and size of the Opal ice maker made it an impractical purchase. At a press event with GE Profile in New York City, André Zdanow, executive director of Small Appliances, FirstBuild, and CoCreate at GE Appliances, told me that the most common suggestion his team hears from customers is to make a smaller version of the Opal. So, they listened.

As of July 14, the brand has launched the GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker. It's 30 percent smaller than the Opal Ultra ice maker, shaving off two inches from both the height and the width, making it easier to store on a countertop.

"The Opal Mini lineup delivers the same craveable nugget ice customers know and love — now in a more compact design, with meaningful performance improvements, easier maintenance, and new finishes," Zdanow said in a press release.

Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker price and specs

There are three versions of the new ice maker: the Opal Mini ($279 to $299), Opal Mini Pro ($379), and Opal Mini Pro+ ($399).

The Opal Mini features a top-fill water reservoir, ditching the side tank design for a smaller footprint. However, the Mini Pro and Mini Pro+ feature a large-capacity side tank in addition to the top-fill reservoir for fewer refills.

The Mini Pro models include a side tank. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The Opal Mini produces up to 36 pounds of ice per day, and can hold up to two pounds of ice at a time, compared to the Opal Ultra's three pounds. Zdanow said the idea is that two people can fill up a 40-ounce Stanley cup with nugget ice from the machine at the same time. So, you won't have to fight your roommate or partner over who gets a cup full of deliciously cold and crunchy bev in the morning.

While the larger versions are obviously better for hosting large groups, the Mini Pro models bring a new life to the party. They're compatible with GE's SmartHQ app, where you can control a color-changing light in the ice bin. Within the app, you're also able to schedule when you want the ice maker to produce ice.

At launch, the Opal Mini is available in stone grey, charcoal grey, steel grey, and stainless steel finishes. Color expansions are coming this fall, with peony pink, moss green, and moonstone blue options available, likely in October. They're all super cute, and I'm definitely eyeing the moss green one for my kitchen.

The Opal Mini will be available in peony pink, moss green, and moonstone blue color options this fall. Credit: Miller Ken / Mashable Where to buy the GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker

As of July 14, the GE Profile Opal Mini in stone grey ($299) is available on geappliances.com and other retailers as stock becomes available. The Opal Mini in charcoal grey ($279) is available on geappliances.com and exclusively at Walmart. The Opal Mini Pro in steel grey and Mini Pro+ in stainless steel are available on geappliances.com and at select retailers as they receive stock.

GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker (stone grey) $299 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Wayfair Shop Now at GE Appliances GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker (charcoal grey) $279 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at GE Appliances GE Profile Opal Mini Pro Nugget Ice Maker (steel grey) $379 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Wayfair Shop Now at GE Appliances GE Profile Opal Mini Pro+ Nugget Ice Maker (stainless steel) $399 at GE Appliances
  Shop Now at GE Appliances

OpenAI's long-anticipated entry into consumer hardware has arrived, but it's not the Jony Ive collab everyone has been waiting for.

The company has launched Codex Micro, a $230 mechanical keypad developed with peripheral maker Work Louder, sold through OpenAI's "Supply Co." storefront as part of a "Work Louder Co-Lab" collaboration.

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The device is a compact 13-key controller designed to work alongside OpenAI's Codex coding assistant. It features a rotary dial to adjust the AI's "reasoning level," a joystick to trigger coding workflows such as reviewing pull requests or debugging errors, programmable command keys for actions like accepting or rejecting suggestions, and RGB backlighting that changes color to reflect what an active Codex session is doing.

Credit: OpenAI

It ships with 32 interchangeable keycaps, connects via Bluetooth or USB-C, and is compatible with Mac and Windows. Pre-orders list an estimated ship date of July 24.

The launch stands in contrast to OpenAI's other hardware effort: a screenless, "humanlike" AI companion device in development with former Apple designer Jony Ive, whose startup io OpenAI acquired last year. That product, described in recent reporting as capable of tracking a user's surroundings and habits, has yet to reach the market. Previous AI devices, including Humane's AI Pin and the Friend pendant, both struggled to gain traction after launch.

Reaction to Codex Micro has been mixed online, with some on Reddit questioning whether the release was a joke and criticizing its price as steep for a peripheral aimed at a narrow set of developer workflows.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Three-row SUVs have become increasingly expensive, with many popular family haulers now starting well above the $40,000 mark. For shoppers on a tighter budget, finding one with enough seating for the whole family often means making significant compromises or shopping used.