IT General

Acer isn't being subtle about the fact that its latest ultraportable Swift laptop is a MacBook Air competitor.

The Taiwanese tech company unveiled the Swift Air 16 at IFA 2025 in Berlin on Wednesday, billing it as an "ultralight Copilot+ PC for modern mobile professionals." (Yep, they put the A-word right in its name.) The 16-inch Windows laptop features AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, an optional AMOLED 120Hz display, and an impressively feathery form factor for a laptop of its size.

U.S. shoppers won't be able to get their hands on the Swift Air 16 right away. Acer is launching it in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa this November, starting at €999 (or about $1,165), but hasn't confirmed its North American pricing or availability just yet.

The lighter configuration of the Acer Swift Air 16 is over half a pound lighter than the 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air. Credit: Acer

Weighing as little as 2.18 pounds (depending on the configuration), the Swift Air 16 is as light as the Snapdragon X-powered Asus Zenbook A14, which has a smaller 14-inch display. The Zenbook A14 has been the lightest Copilot+ PC on the market since it debuted at CES 2025 in January. (The 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro 11 released in May is even lighter at 1.5 pounds, but only on a technicality: It doesn't come with a built-in keyboard.)

For comparison's sake, the 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air weighs 2.7 pounds, while the 15-inch model weighs 3.3 pounds.

The Acer Swift 16 AI may be much lighter than Apple's MacBook Air, but it's not quite as thin. Credit: Acer

Asus flirted with the MacBook Air comparisons by choosing the "A14" moniker, which sort of looks like the word "AIR," but Acer is going full send with the Swift Air 16.

That said, Apple probably isn't sweating too hard. While the Zenbook A14 was able to match MacBooks' all-day stamina, lasting nearly 22 hours in our battery life benchmark, the Swift Air 16 is only rated for up to 13 hours of video playback per charge.

The Acer Swift Air 16 comes in four finishes (left to right): Steel gray, fresh blue, light silver, and white. Credit: Acer

Here's what the rest of its spec sheet looks like:

• AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 to 7 350 processor

• Integrated AMD Radeon 820M to 860M graphics

• 60Hz IPS or 120Hz AMOLED display options

• Up to 32GB of RAM

• Up to 1TB of SSD storage

• 2MP webcam with privacy shutter

• Two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack

• WiFi 6E

• A magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis in four color options (light silver, fresh blue, steel gray, and white)

The Swift Air 16 weighs 2.18 pounds and measures 0.63 inches thin with its IPS display. Bumping that up to AMOLED makes it a quarter of a pound heavier and two-tenths of an inch thicker.

Just a day after JBL announced its new ultra-portable speaker, the JBL Grip, come another two new speakers from the brand. The audio maker just launched the Boombox 4 and the PartyBox 720 — the latter the largest speaker yet from JBL.

JBL Boombox 4 The previous generation — the JBL Boombox 3 Credit: JBL The 2025 model — the JBL Boombox 4 Credit: JBL

The JBL Boombox 4 is an update to its predecessor, the Boombox 3. It's designed to be portable with the top handle, but it's a hefty speaker. The new model comes in at 13 pounds, two pounds lighter than the Boombox 3. It's a master of bass with two different Boost Bass settings: Deep Bass adds a rich bass performance while Punchy Bass is for lively, upbeat tunes.

In the redesign of its Boombox, JBL added two new woofers to the speaker. It offers 28 hours of playback and an IPX68 waterproof rating. The Boombox 4 also comes with AI Sound Boost to deliver a louder sound with less distortion. JBL's Auracast also allows you to sync the Boombox with another speaker, like the new PartyBox 720. Preorders for the Boombox 4 start now and will be available on Sept. 28.

JBL PartyBox 720 The PartyBox 720 has an IPX4 rating so an overzealous cannon ball won't bring down the mood. Credit: JBL

JBL's PartyBox 720 is the largest battery-powered speaker from the brand, making it a step up from the JBL PartyBox 520. It stands 37 inches tall and weighs a whopping 68 pounds, so while it is portable thanks to its handle and wheels, it's going to be a heavy lift.

It's a party speaker fit for true entertainers looking to blast music for a crowd. It has the convenience of being wireless, able to play wherever you need, without being tied down by the need for an outlet. With 15 hours of playback, it can keep the party going from dusk to dawn. Two nine-inch woofers deliver powerful sound and bass. Like the Boombox 4, it also uses AI Sound Boost and Auracast.

It features two XLR ports for a microphone, guitar, or even DJ equipment. As evidenced by our experience with the PartyBox 520, we think JBL's speakers make for great karaoke machines when paired with a mic. The JBL PartyBox 720 is available for preorder now and will be on shelves Sept. 21.

While tech brands like SteelSeries already offer a wide range of gaming headphones that feel premium, you could make the argument that the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the first instance of a truly high-end, luxury gaming headset. 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is designed to serve as a do-it-all solution for console, PC, and everyday listening — offering a combination of high-fidelity audio, flexible connectivity, and thoughtful convenience. Its price is still rather high, even when discounted. That said, the experience is well and truly worth the cost — especially if you want the absolute best level of gaming audio you can get on any platform at home and beyond.

High-end design and comfort

The Nova Pro Wireless is the type of model that doesn’t scream “gaming headset” at first glance. If anything, its sleek profile, retractable microphone, and matte finish makes it feel more like a premium pair of travel headphones compared to models from other brands that focus on flashy RGB. 

Credit: Mashable/SteelSeries

As someone who normally opts for black, the white model wowed me with a clean, understated elegance that would suit working remotely in a coffee shop just as well as connecting to a PS5 at home. And if you like customisation, the Nova Pro Wireless is designed to swap its headband and twin speaker plates with those of alternative colours from Nova Booster packs. The standard silver and white looks classy, but the mint colour is my new favourite — refreshing the white headset with an extra hint of personality yet still bringing a compatible, elegant aesthetic to my setup.

As for comfort, the way that the flexible steel headband evenly distributes weight offsets some of the small inconvenience I’ve had with slightly cheaper, yet still great, headsets. When wearing the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, for example, I’d need to quickly remove it for some small relief after about four hours. 

Credit: Mashable/SteelSeries

With the Nova Pro Wireless, I felt none of this fatigue whatsoever. So I could keep playing Gears of War Reloaded for as long as I wanted without any additional stress.

Brilliant audio performance and connectivity

The Nova Pro Wireless wouldn’t be a luxury gaming headset without being able to generate first-rate audio for gaming and other media, and it thankfully does that in spades. Like with the aforementioned Arctis Nova 7X and other models in the SteelSeries arsenal — such as the Arctis GameBuds — the Nova Pro Wireless comes in two models that either work with everything but Xbox (PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, PC, etc), and everything including Xbox. 

SEE ALSO: 'NBA 2K26' early access has tipped off: Release date, editions, and VC guide

This is due to the alternative wireless protocols under the technological hood that require a dedicated connection method to connect to Xbox consoles like the Series X and S. Where this differs in the Nova Pro Wireless’ case is the included OLED Base Station, working as a USB-connected 2.4GHz control hub for the headset — letting you switch between the dedicated Xbox USB-C connection and the other USB for devices like the PS5 and Switch 2.

With the Nova Pro Wireless, SteelSeries bundles in two USB-C cables so you can plug in both to jump from one to the other on the fly.

Credit: Mashable/SteelSeries

As for how the sound performs, the Hi-Res drivers not only provide a fuller, richer, and more detailed sound compared to most gaming headsets, but can be tweaked to your liking as well. The Base Station already comes with a range of dedicated EQ presets, including a bass boost and the ability to hear footsteps in an FPS like Fortnite, but you can also create custom presets on Sonar within the SteelSeries GG app. 

Although it feels like an inconvenience that you can’t create custom presets within the Base Station, with SteelSeries’ Arctis mobile app, it’s still incredibly handy for PC or console gamers who don’t mind a bit of back and forth. 

SEE ALSO: 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Mirror Edition' comes to PS5 and Xbox Series X: Release date and price info

Console players have specific audio support of their own as the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is compatible with both Microsoft Spatial Sound for Xbox or Tempest 3D Audio for PS5. No matter which system you’re playing on, the spatial imaging feels mighty enough to accurately pinpoint foes in Call of Duty, take in the beautiful soundscapes of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, enjoy the thrill of engine revs in Forza Motorsport 5, or simply revel in the wacky music of Mario Kart World when connected to the USB port on your docked Nintendo Switch 2. 

The only caveat with a feature like the Base Station is that the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, at its best, isn’t really a portable headset to take on the go if you constantly want to use the 2.4GHz connection. On the other hand, the Bluetooth compatibility works great with handheld devices like the Switch 2 and smartphones.

The 2.4GHz connection and Bluetooth work simultaneously. So you can listen to ACDC on Spotify through your phone whilst playing Battlefield 6 on PS5, if you like.

Solid noise control, fit for everyday use 

That same premium audio from the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is made even better with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. Using a hybrid microphone array, the headset reduces background distractions like keyboard clatter or household chatter. 

I found that the noise-cancelling doesn’t shut out as much outside noise compared to my favourite Sony XM4s, at least when I’m out and about, but it’s good enough to create a more immersive bubble when gaming or binging series like Wednesday at home. 

Credit: Mashable/SteelSeries

I found the Transparency Mode is equally useful, letting you hear your surroundings without removing the headset — making it ideal for when I was watching Demon Slayer when cooking.

Clean microphone performance

As a gamer who doesn’t go multiplayer too often, SteelSeries’ extractable ClearCast Gen 2 microphone ended up being another major bonus thanks to its AI-powered noise reduction. When getting into a group chat with my friends during a Star Wars Battlefront 2 marathon, they not only said that my voice quality sounded way crisper than when I’ve used the microphone on my Razor Kiyo streaming webcam, but they couldn’t hear the background noise of the extractor fan either. 

Credit: Mashable/SteelSeries

The Arctis Nova Pro’s ability to adjust the volumes between the chat and games we were playing came in clutch as well. With some minor tweaking required, the handiness of the base station and high-quality audio of the mic mean that only a bit of trial and error is needed to get the balance right compared to other headsets.

Swapple battery system — the star of the show

The crown jewel of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset is its hot-swappable battery system. 

Included with the headset are two batteries: one to keep inside the headset itself, and one you can actually charge within the base station. You can keep playing on one battery — lasting around 20 hours each — and then exchanging with the base station without needing to turn the headset off. 

Credit: Mashable/SteelSeries

While there have been a plethora of wireless gaming headsets from various brands that boast practically indefinite battery lives, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless remains the first where you could technically keep playing forever — whilst sounding fantastic with versatile connectivity and comfort.

Where to buy the Nova Pro Wireless?

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset is available to buy at popular retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

Opens in a new window Credit: SteelSerie SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless $309.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $70 Shop Now

Whether you're tired of price hikes, trying to scale back your streaming service subscriptions, or just straight up don't watch a ton of Netflix anymore, there comes a time when you might want to part ways with the streaming giant and cancel your account. Luckily, you've come to the right place.

Below, you'll find a step-by-step guide on how to cancel your Netflix account from your desktop computer or from your phone, as well as advice on how to delete your account entirely after the cancellation.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock and watch U.S. Netflix How to cancel your Netflix account on desktop Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Laptop or computer
• Netflix account

Step 1: Log in to your Netflix account.

You can do this through Netflix's website.

Step 2: Click on your profile icon, then click it again in the top right corner of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 3: Select "Account" from the drop-down menu that appears.

Doing this will bring you to your account page.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 4: Click "Manage Membership."

You can also click "Membership" on the menu to the right. Both options will lead to the same place.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 5: Scroll to the bottom and click "Cancel Membership."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 6: Click the plus sign next to "Cancel." Then, click "Finish Cancellation."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Your account will be canceled at the end of the current billing period, and permanently deleted 24 months after cancellation.

If you choose to restart your account within 24 months after cancellation, you will still be able to access your old profile, viewing history, recommendations, ratings, account details, gameplay history, and game saves.

However, if you want to delete your account immediately, contact privacy@netflix.com from the email address used for your Netflix account.

How to cancel your Netflix account on your phone

You cannot delete your Netflix account directly in the app, but you can delete it from your phone's browser.

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• Netflix account

Step 1: Open the Netflix app and log into your account.

Step 2: Click on your profile icon.

It's in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 3: Click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the screen.

This will take you to your account page.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 4: Select "Account" from the menu that comes up.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 5: Scroll down and click "Cancel Membership."

It's after your billing details.

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

Step 6: Click the plus sign next to "Cancel." Then, click "Finish Cancellation."

Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards / Netflix

As with canceling on desktop, your account will be canceled at the end of the current billing period, and your information will be automatically deleted 24 months after the account has been canceled.

If you choose to restart your account within 24 months after cancellation, you will still be able to access your old profile and viewing preferences.

However, if you want to delete your account immediately, contact privacy@netflix.com from the email address used for your Netflix account.

On a roll with canceling your streaming services? Here's how to cancel Apple TV+.

UPDATE: Sep. 2, 2025, 2:49 p.m. EDT This article was originally published on April 3, 2024, and has been updated to include current information.

TL;DR: Unblock porn sites for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

It might not always seem like it, but the online world is actually full of content restrictions and blockades. And, of course, that goes double for adult content.

Porn comes with a lot of restrictions, but you could make the argument that there's nothing wrong with adults visiting their favorite sites at entirely appropriate moments. When the time is right, you should be able to bypass content restrictions to access sites like Xnxx from any network and location. And fortunately, you can do exactly that with this quick and easy hack.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to unblock Xnxx for free

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process can bypass geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Unblock porn sites like Xnxx by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Xnxx

4. Visit Xnxx

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Xnxx without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when temporarily away from a secure network.

If you want to retain permanent access to everything the online world has to offer, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for porn is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the best service for fast and reliable unblocking of porn sites like Xnxx, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 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 subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee.)

Unblock Xnxx for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $400: As of Sept. 3, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge $699.99 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $400 Get Deal

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge was only released earlier this year, and we've already got a huge discount. Not only that, but it's down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon right now.

Reduced by 36%, the Galaxy S25 Edge is now priced at just $699.99 as of Sept. 3. This deal is specific to the 256GB option and the titanium icyblue, titanium silver, and titanium gray colors.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's curved gaming monitors are up to $700 off at Amazon

This model is Samsung's slimmest and lightest in the S series, so if you're looking for a powerful model that still slips easily into your pocket, this is for you. It might be light, but it's durable thanks to its titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 build. Now, we're not saying you can throw it around, but it should be strong enough to survive some accidental drops.

Camera quality is always super important with a new phone, and the 200MP camera on this model won't disappoint. There's also a wide-angle lens and a 12MP front camera.

The phone also runs on the most powerful Galaxy processor yet, so lagging and slow-running apps are a thing of the past. And to make things even easier for you, the built-in virtual assistant can do just about anything, from finding a restaurant to sending a text. And when you’re searching for a photo, you don’t have to scroll endlessly, just describe it, and your phone finds it for you.

All this for $400 off? Get this great deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $550: As of Sept. 3, the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop is on sale for $2,949.99 at Amazon. That's a 16% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware 18 Area-51 $2,949.99 at Amazon
$3,499.99 Save $550 Get Deal

On the hunt for a new gaming laptop? You'll love this incredible new deal on the Alienware 18 Area-51 at Amazon. As of Sept. 3, this impressive model is not only reduced by a whopping $550, but it's down to its lowest-ever price.

So, what are you getting for that price? Under the hood, you’re getting an RTX 5080 with NVIDIA Max-Q, so visuals come through super sharp. Paired with the Intel Core Ultra HX chips, CPU, GPU, and NPU together, you're getting a smooth, non-laggy performance, perfect for multitasking.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's curved gaming monitors are up to $700 off at Amazon

For cooling, it has a Cryo-Chamber, which props the system up for more airflow and even gives you a peek at the AlienFX fans through Gorilla Glass. That's a cool touch. And what's a gaming laptop without impressive lighting? This model has aurora-inspired patterns that spill across your surroundings.

And if anything breaks down, you're covered with Dell’s one-year onsite service, so they’ll come to you to get it fixed. So what's stopping you from upgrading?

Get this great gaming laptop deal at Amazon.

Pips is the newest game in the New York Times catalogue. Released in August 2025, the new game 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. Like dominoes, the tiles 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 September 3, 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 September 3, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 3 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 3 Pips

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

Equal (1) : Everything in this red space must equal 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Greater than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 3 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for September 3, 2025 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: Different leagues

• Green: Partial roles

• Blue: Same university

• Purple: Same pick

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

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

• Yellow: Levels of competitive sports

• Green: First words of basketball positions

• Blue: Notre Dame alumni in WNBA

• Purple: Players drafted No. 1 in 2025

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 #345 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Levels of competitive sports - COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL, PRO, REC

• First words of basketball positions - POINT, POWER, SHOOTING, SMALL

• Notre Dame alumni in WNBA - CITRON, DIGGINS, MCBRIDE, OGUNBOWALE

• Players drafted No. 1 in 2025 - BUECKERS, FLAGG, SCHAEFER, WARD

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

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

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025:

AcrossOn this spot

• The answer is Here.

=

• The answer is Equal.

Organisms that sound like someone you'd enjoy hanging out with

• The answer is Fungi.

Where the North Base Camp for Mount Everest can be found

• The answer is Tibet.

Combustible funeral structure

• The answer is Pyre.

DownSerious weight

• The answer is Heft.

Furnish with supplies

• The answer is Equip.

Bring up to in order to get a quick opinion

• The answer is Run By.

Like the proverbial beaver

• The answer is Eager.

Miller ___ (beer)

• The answer is Lite.

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.

Disney has agreed to pay a $10 million settlement after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused it of unlawfully allowing children's personal data to be collected. It seems the issue came down to some boxes that were left unchecked on the company's YouTube uploads.

The FTC announced the settlement on Tuesday, alleging that Disney had violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Specifically, the FTC accused Disney of failing to inform its child-targeted content's audience that it was tracking their data, or securing parental consent for such tracking. Both of these are required under COPPA.

SEE ALSO: Disney sues Sling TV over new short-term TV passes

"Our order penalizes Disney's abuse of parents' trust, and, through a mandated video-review program, makes room for the future of protecting kids online — age assurance technology," said FTC chairman Andrew N. Ferguson.

In addition to Disney's $10 million settlement, the FTC has ordered the company to establish a new 10-year program reviewing all of its YouTube videos and appropriately designating them as either for or not for kids.

"This settlement does not involve Disney-owned and -operated digital platforms, but rather is limited to the distribution of some of our content on YouTube's platform," a Disney spokesperson told Axios. "Disney has a long tradition of embracing the highest standards of compliance with children's privacy laws, and we remain committed to investing in the tools needed to continue being a leader in this space."

Tracking children under 13 without their parents' knowledge likely sounds alarming to many such caregivers. In this case, it appears that the issue may have simply been the result of incorrectly answered questions in YouTube's upload forms.

How did Disney allegedly allow children's data to be tracked?

To help users comply with COPPA, YouTube requires uploaders to specify whether or not each video is made for kids. Users can indicate this on each individual video, as well as configure their settings so that all future and existing uploads on their channel will be considered either for or not for kids.

When a video is marked as made for kids, YouTube restricts or disables some of its functionality. This includes the comment section, notifications, and significantly, data collection and targeted advertising. If a video isn't marked as made for kids, YouTube is able to collect viewers' personal information and tailor advertisements to them. 

According to the FTC's complaint, Disney's corporate policy is to set its various YouTube channels as either for or not for children, and adhere to that default designation for any future uploads. As such, Disney allegedly failed to appropriately label a "significant number" of child-targeted videos when uploading them to YouTube channels classified as not made for kids.

Impacted YouTube channels included Disney, Pixar, Disney Plus, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Animation Studios, Disney Movies, and Disney on Ice, all of which were allegedly marked as not made for kids. Due to this designation, even clips from popular children's movies such as Frozen, Moana, Cars, and Tangled were similarly marked.

"The failure to mark child-directed videos appropriately as [made for kids] was brought to Disney's attention as early as June 2020, when YouTube informed Disney that it had changed the designations from [not made for kids to made for kids] for more than three hundred videos," read the FTC's complaint. "[Despite this], Disney did not revise its policy of designating videos based on the channel-level default rather than designating individual videos as [made for kids] when appropriate….

"Disney’s failure to accurately designate child-directed videos as [made for kids] results in YouTube collecting personal information and placing targeted advertisements on child-directed videos on Disney’s behalf."

YouTube itself fell afoul of COPPA in 2019, receiving a $170 million fine from the FTC. The company subsequently introduced its made for kids label to help bring the platform and its users in line with the act. Unfortunately for Disney, such features are only useful if they're used properly.

Even though Lady Gaga wasn't in Wednesday Season 1, she became inextricably tied to the show when TikTok users paired Wednesday's (Jenna Ortega's) now-iconic dance scene with a sped-up version of Gaga's "Bloody Mary." (In the show, the dance was set to The Cramps' "Goo Goo Muck.")

SEE ALSO: 'Wednesday' Season 2 ending, explained: What's next for Wednesday Addams?

Gaga quickly embraced the connection, getting in on the viral dance trend herself. She even posted about the trend on X, writing, "Slay Wednesday! You're welcome at Haus of Gaga anytime (and bring Thing with you, we love paws around here)"

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

But instead of Wednesday coming to Gaga, it was Gaga who came to Wednesday. In Nov. of 2024, Entertainment Weekly broke the news that Gaga would star in Wednesday Season 2. The casting was a match made in heaven, not only because of the "Bloody Mary" connection, but also because Lady Gaga, Mother Monster herself, is basically the patron saint of outcasts like those we meet in Wednesday. She would fit right in at Nevermore!

Since the casting announcement, Gaga has been a key part of the Wednesday media machine. She performed an eight-minute medley at Netflix's TUDUM event in June of 2025, she turned looks on the Wednesday premiere red carpet, and she even released a new single, "The Dead Dance," tied to the release of Wednesday Season 2, Part 2.

Who does Lady Gaga play in Wednesday Season 2? Jenna Ortega and Lady Gaga at the "Wednesday" Season 2 premiere. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Netflix

It's a shame, then, that Gaga is barely in Wednesday. She shows up in Season 2, episode 6 as Rosaline Rotwood, a long-dead psychic Raven and Nevermore teacher who taught Wednesday's Grandmama Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley). Wednesday visits her grave in order to temporarily restore her psychic ability.

In a vision, Rosaline — floating ethereally in an all-white gown — tests Wednesday's resolve. She'll give her her power back for as long as Wednesday manages to hold her hand over a lit candle. If she removes her hand too early, she'll have to pay a terrible price. (If you've ever wondered how Lady Gaga would execute Dune's gom jabbar test, now you know.)

Of course, Wednesday's plan goes awry when Enid (Emma Myers) snaps her out of her vision. That prompts the terrible price: a body swap between the two polar opposites. From then on out, Rosaline vanishes from the episode, save for a brief moment when she basically FaceTimes Wednesday (in Enid's body) through a statue.

How long is Lady Gaga in Wednesday?

So how long is Gaga's much-hyped Wednesday appearance? Using very scientific methods (an iPhone timer) and a strict rubric (I'm only counting scenes, not the image of her portrait or the runtime of "The Dead Dance"), I discovered that Gaga was in Wednesday for a whopping one minute and 42 seconds. That's half an "Abracadbra"!

Gaga's short runtime feels borderline criminal given her acting prowess (she's an Oscar nominated actress!) and the hype in the lead-up to the appearance. But before we lock Wednesday showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar up in the "Telephone" jail for the lack of Gaga, it's important to remember that Gaga was only on Wednesday's set for one day, meaning we were never going to get anything more than a glorified cameo. Still, a girl can dream.

Plus, when it comes to cameos, Gaga floating around onscreen, channeling Wednesday's version of a Bene Gesserit, and then kicking off Freaky Friday-style body swap chaos isn't a bad way to go.

Wednesday Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

After many attempted murders, a Freaky Friday–style body swap, and way too little Lady Gaga, Wednesday Season 2 has come to a suitably spooky end.

The Addams family prevailed over the Night family, which included resurrected zombie Isaac (Owen Painter), his sister and Hyde Françoise (Frances O'Connor), and Hyde Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan). Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) also took down Principal Dort (Steve Buscemi) after learning he was the original head of the Morning Song cult. All in all, it's been one busy season for our favorite outcast!

SEE ALSO: 'Wednesday' Season 2 hides 'Addams Family' movie references for keen-eyed fans

But Wednesday's adventures are far from over, as the finale introduces several twists that are bound to play a part in Wednesday Season 3. From werewolf hunts to estranged family members, let's break it down.

Wednesday's next goal? Un-wolfing Enid. Emma Myers in "Wednesday." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

The good news: Wednesday managed to save her bestie, Enid (Emma Myers), from certain death this season. The bad news: Enid may now be permanently wolfed out.

Over the course of the season, Enid learned that she is an Alpha werewolf. That means she can transform any time, not just during the full moon. However, being an Alpha comes with a major cost. Alpha werewolves are destined to be loners. Plus, when a young Alpha wolfs out under a full moon, there's a high chance the transformation they undergo is permanent. As if that weren't enough, the transformed Alpha will be hunted by other werewolves. It's the rawest of raw deals, and Enid takes every precaution on the night of the full moon to make sure she doesn't wolf out.

SEE ALSO: 'Wednesday' Season 2 keeps the Edgar Allan Poe references alive. Here's all of them.

However, when Isaac buries Wednesday alive, Enid has no choice but to transform in order to dig her back up again. It's the ultimate sacrifice, one made all the more bittersweet by Enid and Wednesday's body swap in episode 6, which brought them closer.

It's also not a sacrifice Wednesday takes lightly, as she and her Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) set out on a road trip to save a fleeing wolf-Enid. Look, if anyone can figure out how to reverse a permanent wolf out, it's Wednesday. But there's just the small problem of all the other werewolves hunting Enid down. How will Nevermore's most polar opposite roommates fare in a battle against whole packs?

What's the deal with Isadora Capri's Hyde pack? Billie Piper in "Wednesday." Credit: Bernard Walsh / Netflix

Speaking of packs, let's talk about Nevermore's music teacher, Isadora Capri (Billie Piper). As Part 2 revealed, she's one of the few people to have survived a Hyde attack: Her encounter came at the hands of her boyfriend, Alfie Penn.

However, in the Season 2 finale, she spins a different story of her Hyde connection to Tyler, telling him a Hyde was her father. Now, she wants to bring Tyler to a place where Hydes are free to be themselves, with no need for masters. He accepts her offer and drives off into the sunset with her, but the whole situation seems fishy.

SEE ALSO: 'Wednesday' fixes its love triangle problem in Season 2

In Wednesday and Capri's discussion about Hydes, Capri never once mentioned that her father was a Hyde. That seems like a pretty big detail to omit from that conversation! Instead, she focused on how Alfie attacked her at his jealous master's command, only to accidentally kill her in the process. But could Capri have been lying to Wednesday about Alfie's attack? The newspaper articles Wednesday reads about the attack provide solid evidence, but as the season has shown us from the faked obituaries of the LOIS subjects, these kinds of articles can be easily falsified. Perhaps Capri was more involved in the attack than we know. And perhaps Alfie isn't really dead, and is instead a member of Capri's Hyde Pack.

Why is Hester Frump keeping Ophelia locked up? Joanna Lumley in "Wednesday." Credit: Owen Behan / Netflix

All throughout Season 2, Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her mother, Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley), have discussed the disappearance of Morticia's sister, Ophelia. Like Wednesday, she was a troubled psychic, and she wound up institutionalized in Willow Hill before vanishing for years.

Turns out, she was right under Wednesday's characters' noses the whole time. Or really, one character's nose in particular: Hester's.

In the last moments of the Season 2 finale, Morticia gifts Wednesday Ophelia's journal. While reading it, Wednesday gets a psychic vision of her aunt, proof that her mending her bond with her mother has begun to help her regain her outcast ability. With the help of this vision, Wednesday reveals that Hester knows damn well where Ophelia's been this whole time. She's been imprisoned in Hester's basement, where she scrawls charming, bloody messages like "Wednesday must die" on her prison walls.

The Ophelia reveal raises major questions for Season 3. What is Hester up to, locking her daughter away like this? Is it a protective measure to keep Wednesday safe? Some twisted form of motherly love?

Plus, what kind of visions has Ophelia been having to believe that Wednesday must die? And how in the world will Morticia react when she finds out what her mother has done with her sister?

So much of Season 2 was spent on strengthening the mother-daughter bond between Morticia and Wednesday, but Season 3 may very well see the full destruction of another such bond: that between Morticia and Hester.

After all, when it comes to family, Addams or otherwise, things are rarely ever straightforward.

Wednesday Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

Wednesday Season 2 ended with Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) saving Enid (Emma Myers) from death and taking down the nefarious zombies, Hydes, and cult leaders who threatened Nevermore and the rest of her family. But the show also left viewers with several questions: Will Wednesday save a now permanently wolfed-out Enid? And what's the deal with her Aunt Ophelia?

With these questions comes an even bigger question: Will Wednesday fans actually get a chance to see these storylines play out in a Wednesday Season 3?

Is there going to be a Wednesday Season 3?

Thankfully, Netflix has already revealed Wednesday's fate, announcing the show's Season 3 renewal a full two weeks before Season 2 dropped. That speaks to the confidence Netflix has in the show, and they have the numbers to back it up.

In Season 1 alone, Wednesday became Netflix's most-streamed English language show of all time. It's the streamer's second most popular show of all time, only beaten out by Squid Game. While viewership numbers dropped in the second season according to What's on Netflix, Wednesday Season 2 has still managed to rack up 92.5 million views — and that's without the views of Part 2.

When is Wednesday Season 3 coming out?

Although Wednesday Season 3 is confirmed, it doesn't have a concrete release date yet. Still, it's possible to make an educated guess given the time between Season 1 and Season 2.

Season 1 premiered Nov. 23, 2022, and Season 2 premiered Aug. 6, 2025, meaning there were almost three years between seasons. That's unfortunately become the norm for Netflix's tentpole titles like Bridgerton and Stranger Things. However, the Wednesday wait was also further impacted by the 2023 WGA and SAG strikes, which halted TV and film production for months. Without strikes, the turnaround time on Wednesday Season 3 could be faster, putting us in the 2027 range.

Wednesday Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

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

Defamation.

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

LIBEL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Jean material.

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

DENIM

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Transparent.

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

CLEAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

What an angry dog might do.

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

GROWL

Final Hurdle hint

By law.

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

LEGAL

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

As well as being an impressively tense mini-Alien movie, episode 5 of Alien: Earth also sheds some light on one of the show's most mysterious characters: Morrow (Babou Ceesay), the head of security (and sole survivor) of Weyland-Yutani's downed Maginot ship.

One interesting scene from this flashback episode shows Morrow in his quarters, reading letters from back home that finally provide some insight into why he is the way he is.

So what do the letters that Morrow reads say, and what do they tell us about him?

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth': What's the difference between cyborgs, synths, and hybrids? Featured Video For You 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 was its own 'Alien' movie. Here's how they made it. What do the letters that Morrow reads on the ship say?

Back in his quarters, Morrow opens a box of letters and looks at a photo of his daughter, Estelle, when she was a baby. The first two letters are clearly from her (the first when she's younger, the second when she's a teenager), while the last letter is a fax from Weyland-Yutani.

We've transcribed each of them below, in full.

First letter

DADABEAR

I had a nightmare last night. Mom tried to tell me it was just a dream but it took a real long time to go back to sleep. I dreamed that your space ship flied by the moon.

Second letter

Dadabear

I'm starting to look at schools. I didn't know this but mom says that Weyland-Yutani will pay for all of my school. That's if I go to a Wey-Yu sanctioned school. Is that really the case? Cause I want to go to one of the old world colleges. They don't have restrictions on the content that the corp schools have. I think, if I tried I could get into Harvard. But of course, we'd have to pay for it ourselves. Also, my friend Cody's dad works for Weyland-Yutani too. But she only gets a partial scholarship. How important ARE you? I wish we could talk. That's not the first or last time I've thought that, I'm sure. But sometimes it would be good to have another voice to bounce this stuff off.

Estelle

Third letter

MISSION YEAR 8 OF 65

Mr. Morrow, this is to inform you that your daughter, Estelle, 19, died in a fire that destroyed her home on the 12th April. Her effects have been placed in storage for you on your return in 53 years.

What do we learn from the letters?

If you've been wondering why Morrow is as cold and detached as he is, this personal tragedy is presumably the reason. The first two letters make it clear that he and his daughter had a strong bond, making that final brief fax even more of a gut punch. Reading the letters back is the first time we've seen Morrow show pretty much any emotion whatsoever. Clearly, what happened to his daughter has hardened him. He no longer has her waiting for him back on Earth so he's thrown himself entirely into the mission at hand, zeroing in on his employer's instruction to preserve the alien samples and carrying out orders with a near robotic detachment.

The other clue in the letters? That "How important ARE you?" question from his daughter foreshadows the end of the episode, where we learn that Morrow has a personal connection to the Weyland-Yutani boss and is as much an adopted part of the family as he is a recruit.

Alien: Earth episodes drop Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Alien: Earth episode 5 is like a miniature, contained Alien movie, taking us back aboard Weyland-Yutani's doomed Maginot spaceship and showing us exactly what went wrong in the build-up to the crash.

All of which is simple enough, but what about that slightly jarring ending with Morrow (Babou Ceesay) speaking to the Weyland-Yutani boss (Sandra Yi Sencindiver)? What exactly is said, and what does it tell us about Morrow's backstory and what he may do next? Let's unpack it.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' presents a continuity conundrum for the franchise Featured Video For You 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 was its own 'Alien' movie. Here's how they made it. How does Alien: Earth episode 5 end?

After the now familiar sequence in which Morrow seals himself in the Maginot's impact room just before the ship enters its crash course with Earth, we suddenly cut to the Weyland-Yutani headquarters where Morrow stands waiting to meet the Weyland-Yutani boss — the granddaughter of the woman who was in charge when he first departed on his mission. This is a time jump back to the present day, in which Morrow has clearly managed to sneak his way back to Weyland-Yutani territory to report in.

We've transcribed the key part of the exchange between him and Ms. Yutani below:

Ms. Yutani: My grandmother was very fond of you, you know.

Morrow: I'm grateful. She had no reason to take me in. A feral boy with a palsied arm begging in the street.

Ms. Yutani: She always said you were the fiercest thing she had ever seen.

Morrow: I told her I'd bring the specimens home. And I will. And then I'll kill the one called Kavalier.

Ms. Yutani: He agreed to arbitration. We meet tomorrow. Maybe the lawyers can fix this.

Morrow: Unless lawyers means soldiers, we're gonna have to do this my way.

At this point Ms. Yutani leaves the room, but not before she mutters the following comment to a guard on her way out: "Whatever he wants, he gets."

What does the ending tell us about Morrow?

The letters Morrow reads earlier in the episode tell us about his daughter and hint at his importance in the corporation, but this final scene sheds light on his origin story. Morrow, it turns out, isn't just someone that randomly applied for the job as head of security on the Maginot — the company's former boss saw something in him when he was a homeless child, took him in, and then trained him up to be the adult he is today.

Morrow's comment about having a "palsied arm" also presumably explains why he has a robotic arm in the present. Maybe Weyland-Yutani made him into a cyborg as a gift, but the price was the 65-year mission that Morrow had to leave his young family to embark on?

Either way, it's clear that Ms. Yutani, like her grandmother, respects Morrow. If his plan is to wage war against Prodigy in order to get the specimens back – which is looking more and more likely – then her final comment suggests he has her full support.

Alien: Earth episodes drop Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Alien: Earth's fifth episode may be called "In Space, No One...," but a more apt title might be "The USCSS Maginot and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."

That's because everything that can go wrong does go wrong in this episode, which reveals what happened to the crew of the Maginot before the spaceship crash landed on Earth. The answer, unsurprisingly, is nothing good, with everything from human sabotage and alien attacks playing a role in the Maginot's downfall.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

The episode plays out like its own mini Alien movie, and I reacted as such while watching it: screaming, hiding my head in my hands, and letting the overall sense of dread wash over me. If you felt the same way, you've come to the right place! Here, in chronological order, are all the most WTF moments from Alien: Earth, episode 5.

When we learned Facehuggers were loose on the Maginot. Babou Ceesay in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

The horrors begin right away, when Morrow (Babou Ceesay) learns that a fire on the USCSS Maginot has led to the release of Facehuggers. With that news, you might as well re-start that fire and burn the whole ship, because it's only a matter of time before you've got full-grown Xenomorphs running around.

When we saw the dead captain and his Facehugger.

The loose Facehuggers have already found hosts in Maginot Captain Dinsdale (Tanapol Chuksrida) and crew member Bronski (Max Rinehart). The Maginot crew took what they thought was a reasonable step in trying to cut the Facehugger off Captain Dinsdale, but they didn't account for the creature's acid blood. RIP to Captain Dinsdale, and RIP to squeamish viewers, who get an eyeful of Dinsdale's exposed, acid-burned esophagus.

SEE ALSO: How 'Alien: Earth' pulls you into the world of 'Alien' in its opening scene When we learned the fire was sabotage. Babou Ceesay in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

As if dealing with escaped aliens wasn't enough, Morrow and new captain Zaveri (Richa Moorjani) realize that the fire in containment may have been started by one of their own crew. So on top of Facehuggers, they now have to deal with a mutinous human who's sent the Maginot hurtling on a crash course with Earth. My stress levels? Already through the ceiling.

When Teng was creeping on Sullivan. Andy Yu and Babou Ceesay in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

While all of the alien chaos is going down, crew member Teng (Andy Yu) decides to creepily stare down at fellow crew member Sullivan (Victoria Masoma) while she's asleep in her cryopod. Alien: Earth already hinted at his bizarre obsession with her in its first episode, but watching his voyeurism in action is frankly just as skin-crawlingly awful as seeing a Facehugger latch onto its prey. You know the drill, Teng: Get a job, stay away from her.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' presents a continuity conundrum for the franchise When Alien: Earth hit us with a post-coital Facehugger jump scare.

While Zaveri watches over a Facehugged Bronski, she reminisces on the relationship they started while on the mission. (No one tell Weyland-Yutani!) That leads to a flashback of the two having sex, which culminates on a jump scare of the Facehugger on Bronski in the flashback. No thank you!

When Mother told Zaveri the cargo took priority over crew. Richa Moorjani in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

As Zaveri assumes Dinsdale's captain duties, she confers with the Maginot's AI Mother about how to proceed. Zaveri understandably wants to prioritize the crew, asking for permission to destroy the cargo if the crew's lives are in danger. In response, Mother tells her to flip that and reverse it: The cargo is the priority, and the crew can choke on a Facehugger. It's a chilling reminder that the Maginot crew isn't just at the mercy of the aliens they've got onboard. They're also pawns of the greedy corporation that hired them, one that cares more about profit and power than any measly human lives.

When we learned Morrow's daughter is dead. Babou Ceesay in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Kurt Iswarienko/FX

Much of "In Space, No One..." relies on the very pressing fear that "oh no, aliens are loose on the ship, run for your lives!" But in addition to that classic sci-fi terror, the episode also leans into the existential dread about human mortality that makes the Alien franchise tick. Here, that manifests itself in the form of the 65 years that the Maginot's crew is spending on their mission. Yes, they're in cryosleep for much of it, but you know who isn't? Their friends and family back home, who may never see them again.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth': What's the deal with Kirsh? We asked Timothy Olyphant.

Case in point is Morrow's young daughter, who died just a few years into the mission. How in the world was Morrow able to go on with the mission, knowing she was gone on Earth? How can any of the crew members go through with something similar? Yes, they're getting paid, but as engineer Shmuel (Michael Smiley) makes clear to engineer's mate Malachite (Jamie Bisping), what they're earning is nothing compared to what Weyland-Yutani is getting: their lives.

When the Chestburster got loose.

The Maginot crew make what seems like a solid decision to place Bronski, Facehugger and all, in cryo in the hopes of preserving him and the specimen. But of course, not even cryo can stop the Xenomorph. It bursts from the pod (and Bronski's chest, naturally), leaving a bloody mess and shifting the Maginot's alien crisis into high gear. Alien fans, I think we've seen this film before.

When the blood tick laid its tadpoles in Chibuzo's water. Karen Aldridge in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

Oh, you thought Xenomorphs were the only aliens the Maginot had to worry about? How foolish! How naive! Why, there are four other alien specimens onboard, and two of them are about to make the crew's nightmares even worse.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth': All the 'Peter Pan' references so far

First up is the blood tick, which mounts a daring escape from its case and then lays a bunch of tadpoles in science officer Chibuzo's (Karen Aldridge) water canteen. The sequence is a terrifying showcase of how smart these aliens are, but it also serves as a handy lab safety PSA. Never leave open food and water containers out in your lab! You never know what creature will see your yummy snacks and drinks as a breeding ground.

When T. Ocellus made its grand escape.

Eyeball-octopus hybrid T. Ocellus doesn't want the blood ticks to have all the escape fun! So when Chibuzo doesn't securely lock its container away, it takes advantage of her error and escapes. (Side note: Chibuzo please review your lab safety protocols, I beg you.) That means the Maginot has not one, not two, but three alien species out and about. Oh, and that pesky mutineer. When it rains, it pours, right?

When Malachite drank the tick tadpoles. Jamie Bisping, Karen Aldridge, and Michael Smiley in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

Things are about to get very bad for poor Malachite, who chugs down Chibuzo's tick-infested water after eating a too-spicy meal. Everything about this scene is an automatic "hell no," especially the sight of the tadpoles swimming around in Chibuzo's canteen. Don't mind me, I'll just be obsessively checking every glass or bottle of water I drink for tadpoles from now on.

When Malachite started vomiting blood.

What happens when you drink blood tick tadpoles? You vomit up a deluge of blood, of course! Now that that knowledge is out of the way, can we please get Malachite some medical attention? (And can we get me a glass of calming, non-tadpole-infested tea?)

When we learned Boy Kavalier was behind the crash all along. Samuel Blenkin in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

While the aliens are turning the Maginot into their bloody playground, Morrow is busy playing his own personal game of Among Us to find the Maginot saboteur. Turns out, it was crew member Petrovich (Enzo Cilenti), who's been pretending to be in stasis but is really hijacking the ship. But he wasn't working alone. Video messages reveal that he was in contact with Prodigy CEO Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), who tasked him with crashing the ship in Prodigy territory so Kavalier could steal the specimens onboard. What would Petrovich get in return? A hybrid body, just like Wendy's (Sydney Chandler). There's just one problem: Only child minds can make the jump to those bodies, so there's no way Kavalier ever planned on following through on his promise. Sucks for Petrovich, but come on, even I can see that "crash your spaceship into Earth for me, then you'll maybe get a robot body" is a raw deal.

SEE ALSO: I love that 'Alien: Earth' trillionaire Boy Kavalier takes calls with his feet

The reveal re-contextualizes the entirety of Alien: Earth up to this point: The crash was no accident, and Kavalier's been in control the entire time. But how long has he been plotting this, and how did he find out about the specimens?

When we saw the ticks in Malachite's body.

When Wendy and the Lost Boys investigated the crashed Maginot, they saw the corpses of the crew, including Malachite's innards. "In Space, No One..." revisits that grisly scene and reveals how it came to be. Not only do we see the ticks chowing down on Malachite's organs (ultra-gross!), we also learn they release a poisoned gas when threatened, which spells the end for Chibuzo and medical officer Rahim (Amir Boutros). Look, we knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch.

When Petrovich delivered the hardest line of the series.

Sometimes, I pause Alien: Earth to freak out about all the alien nastiness going down onscreen. Other times, I pause and rewind to take in a damn good line. In this episode, that honor goes to Petrovich's dying words: "They want their monsters. Here they come."

Hearing that as the aliens rain down terror upon the Maginot? Chills. Chills, I say! Now back to our regularly scheduled panic about aliens.

When the Xenomorph attacked Zaveri. Richa Moorjani in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

"In Space, No One..." has been a collection of the Xenomorph's greatest hits, from Facehugger attacks to the full-grown Xenomorph hiding in air ducts and drooling on its next victims. It's frightening, but it's stuff we've seen before in the Alien franchise, which is why T. Ocellus and the blood ticks' antics bring a fresh layer of horror to the show.

Still, I'm human. I tensed way the hell up when Zaveri finally came face to face with the Xenomorph. Between losing her lover and all her crew mates, she's already gone through the worst day of her life. Couldn't we at least end the episode with her getting a spa trip or something? No, she has to get mauled? Bummer.

When T. Ocellus zombified Shmuel.

Throughout Alien: Earth, we've watched T. Ocellus invade a cat body and a sheep body. Here, it levels up again, taking over a human host. The results are predictably terrifying, conjuring up a primal fear over bodily control as T. Ocellus puppets Shmuel's body. I'll be thinking of his herky-jerky movements (and the sight of a tentacle slithering out of his nose) for a long, long time.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth's eyeball scares me way more than the Xenomorph When T. Ocellus fought the Xenomorph.

"In Space, No One..." closes out with an alien beatdown for the ages. In one corner, we've got the Xenomorph. You know it, you love it, you don't want to come within 100 feet of it.

In the other corner, we've got T. Ocellus in Shmuel's body. It's far smaller and a newcomer to the Alien franchise, but it's already making a gloppy splash.

Wouldn't you know it, T. Ocellus gives the Xenomorph a run for its money. First, it charges the Xenomorph as Shmuel. Then, once Xenomorph makes quick work of Shmuel's pesky human body, T. Ocellus attacks the Xenomorph with nothing but its bare tentacles. And wouldn't you know it, this teeny tiny eyeball actually manages to scare the tank that is the Xenomorph! I didn't know that was possible, but now, I can't get the idea out of my head: Will T. Ocellus end up in a Xenomorph body at some point? If so, I fear Earth is done for. As if I needed another nightmare after this episode!

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Xenomorphs, I love you. However, after watching you in action in seven Alien films (plus two Alien vs. Predator films), I'm not terrified of you anymore.

Don't worry, I'll never get tired of your facehugging and chestbursting and all-around murder sprees. Whenever you're onscreen, I always marvel at your creature design and think, "That's rad as hell!" But abject terror at the sight of you is no longer on the table.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

Noah Hawley's Alien prequel series, Alien: Earth, understands that its audience's familiarity with Xenomorphs will dim the aliens' fear factor a little bit. That's why it introduces the Xenomorph in all its glory just halfway through its first episode. After all, why bother shrouding in total secrecy an alien we already know and love?

Instead, Hawley brings four new parasitic aliens into the fray, including nasty blood ticks and the mysterious, plant-like D. Plumbicare. But there's one clear standout among the new crop of aliens, and it's none other than T. Ocellus, or as I like to call it, "the eyeball monster of my nightmares."

I love it and I hate it. Credit: Screenshot: FX

Looking like what you'd get if you gave an eyeball octopus tentacles, T. Ocellus is nothing short of an alien menace. In episode 2, a screen in the USCSS Maginot's lab describes its parasitic capabilities. Its tentacles dislodge other organisms' eyeballs and then take over neural pathways to the brain, turning its victims into puppets. In a neat twist, it can also change the appearance of its pupil and iris to match that of its host.

T. Ocellus' brain-hijacking ability alone has already led to its fair share of showstopping moments throughout Alien: Earth's first few episodes. In episode 2, it crawled its way out a cat's skull, traumatizing animal lovers everywhere in the process. It then shot itself at hybrid Nibs (Lily Newmark), attempting to take her on as a new host. Then, in episode 4, it burrowed into a poor sheep's head. Someone, please, stop its trail of carnage!

SEE ALSO: Human consciousness implanted into robots? 'Alien: Earth' suggests we're heading there.

However, in episode 5, T. Ocellus truly breaks out — literally and figuratively. Literally because it stages a daring prison break, and figuratively because it cements its dominance over Alien: Earth's other new extraterrestrial baddies.

Episode 5 of Alien: Earth, titled, "In Space, No One...," is basically a mini Alien movie. It turns back the clock to reveal how everyone on the USCSS Maginot died before the spaceship crashed on Earth. Culprits include sabotage from crew member Petrovich (Enzo Cilenti), those pesky blood ticks, the Xenomorph, and of course, T. Ocellus.

T. Ocellus begins the episode in a specimen container. However, when it realizes its container hasn't been properly secured to the wall, it manages to use its own body as a slingshot to force the container away from the wall and onto the ground, where it shatters. The lab screen in episode 2 states that "the Ocellus has shown remarkable problem solving abilities at a near-human measure," and this is proof of that problem solving. Not only did T. Ocellus have to figure out how to leverage its own body to escape, it also had to recognize that the locking mechanism hadn't operated properly. On top of that, it helped distract Chibuzo (Karen Aldridge) earlier in the episode so the blood ticks could stage an escape of their own. Collaborative, tech-savvy, and resourceful — that's one seriously smart eyeball! I want it nowhere near me!

SEE ALSO: I love that 'Alien: Earth' trillionaire Boy Kavalier takes calls with his feet

Once it's free in the Maginot, T. Ocellus finds its next target. We've seen it take on a cat and a sheep, gradually leveling up in host size. Episode 5 brings the horror of T. Ocellus to the next level by putting it in a human body, that of the Maginot's engineer Shmuel (Michael Smiley). The visual of T. Ocellus' too-big eyeball in Shmuel's head would be nightmare enough, but wouldn't you believe it, it gets worse! A tentacle slithers out of his nose. He lets out a droning scream that sounds like it could never come from a human's vocal cords. Then, he charges the remaining Maginot crew members with an unnatural, herky-jerky motion, a reflection of T. Ocellus puppeteering his body.

That sense of being an alien's puppet ties into the Alien franchise's larger themes of the horror of losing bodily autonomy. Weyland-Yutani robs its workers of decades of their lives on Earth, then deems then expendable in the face of collecting specimens. And of course, Xenomorphs force hosts to carry and "birth" their embryos, drawing a clear connection to pregnancy and childbirth. T. Ocellus follows in this tradition, although its targeting of the brain in particular conjures up fears around loss of cognition and bodily function as opposed to reproductive anxieties.

You'd think T. Ocellus taking over a human's body would be the end of its terrifying run in "In Space, No One...," but it doesn't stop there. As Shmuel, it attacks the Xenomorph, as if it's trying to make the alien of all aliens its next host. (It feels almost Predator-like in how it keeps trying to find a bigger, stronger body to conquer.) While it doesn't actually take over the Xenomorph's body (although in the future, I would like to see it), it still manages to give the Xenomorph a big scare.

Their skirmish points to two very different kinds of monstrous physicality. The Xenomorph is a tank, massive and almost unwieldy when compared to T. Ocellus. (Notably, all of the new aliens in Alien: Earth are smaller than the Xenomorph.) T. Ocellus, on the other hand, is far smaller and more slippery, adept at squeezing through cracks in your defenses. While I wouldn't want to face either of them, there's something viscerally terrifying about having a small tentacled creature launching itself at my eyeball, knowing that if it gets there, it's game over.

T. Ocellus has been growing more and more prominent over the course of Alien: Earth, but it's episode 5 where it truly shines as the star it was meant to be. You know how there are multiple blood ticks and Xenomorph eggs onboard the Maginot? It seems like there was only ever one T. Ocellus specimen onboard the ship. That's right: It's one of one, a true alien superstar. And while I will always consider the Xenomorphs to be the greatest movie monsters of all time, I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to pure scares in Alien: Earth, that demon eyeball's got them beat.

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

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