IT General

TL;DR: Live stream Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds continue with Switzerland vs. Algeria. The Swiss are unbeaten so far, racking up two wins and a draw in the group stage, and they'll see this fixture with Algeria as a winnable game.

Algeria have only reached the knockouts once before in the World Cup — all the way back in 2014 — but it's perfectly possible for lower-ranked teams to frustrate and potentially upset bigger name opponents. It's what the World Cup is all about.

If you want to watch Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Switzerland vs. Algeria?

Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 11 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at BC Place Vancouver.

How to watch Switzerland vs. Algeria for free

Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Switzerland vs. Algeria for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Switzerland vs. Algeria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Switzerland vs. Algeria (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Sleep trackers — wearable devices that monitor all your vitals — provide detailed summaries of your sleep cycle so you know how many hours of REM, deep, and light sleep you're getting. Most fitness trackers come equipped with sleep tracking these days, but choosing the best from that bunch is not as straightforward. These days, sleep trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and fortunately, our experts here at Mashable have tested them all.

So if the magnesium supplements and pillow sprays in your sleepmaxxing routine aren't working, here are the best sleep trackers of 2026.

Oura Ring update

The Oura Ring got an update in 2026. On May 28, the brand released the Oura Ring 5, a 40 percent smaller smart ring with some improved tech. We are in the process of testing the Oura Ring 5, so the Oura Ring 4 is still included in this list until we complete our testing.

I'm not bragging or anything, but I was a pretty big Pokémon fan before things got weird. I was collecting cards and building an unstoppable team on Pokémon Blue way back in the '90s. I still think about my overpowered combo of Blastoise and Pidgeot that absolutely dominated the Pokémon League. Was it truly competitive? Absolutely not, but they were happy times.

I'm not as deep in the hobby as I once was, and I probably fall into the category of slightly bewildered old dude who can't quite comprehend the prices and hype that surrounds Pokémon in 2026. But that doesn't mean I'm not a fan. And it definitely doesn't mean I'm not well aware of what's been launched by Pokémon this year.

We are officially halfway through 2026, and the hype train shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. The collabs are getting more ambitious, the prices continue to baffle me, and I can't help but feel a tinge of jealousy of anyone just getting started in this wild world. From massive Lego sets to uber-trendy watches, Pokémon is leaning extremely hard into the nostalgia of '90s kids like me.

Looking to treat your inner child to a blast from the past? Or maybe you're now bankrolling the hobby for your own kid? Whatever your reasons, these are the absolute best Pokémon product launches of 2026 so far.

Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball

Lego and Pokémon coming together feels like Lebron and Jordan teaming up in their prime. It's unfair to everyone else.

Mashable made a whole lot of fuss about this collaboration early in 2026, and I'm still not over it. I know that not everyone is thrilled with how they look (Pikachu seems to get a lot of negative publicity), but come on! Do you know how I would have lost my mind about this collab back in the day? Yes, I know the world is a horrible, cynical, and bitter place, but can we not allow ourselves to have just a modicum of fun? Please. We need this.

Spoiler incoming: I feature all three of the first-ever Lego Pokémon sets in this roundup, but it felt right to start with Pikachu. This build consists of 2,050 pieces, capturing the little guy leaping straight out of a brick-built Poké Ball that can be displayed either popped wide open in a battle stance or entirely closed up.

I don't own this set, but my Luke Skywalker (Red Five) Helmet is starting to sweat. We go way back, but I can't deny that the Pikachu and Poké Ball would look great on my desk.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball $199.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Pokémon Pokopia

Are you completely burnt out by Pokémon Champions or the relentless pursuit of trading cards at anything close to market value? Nintendo dropped the perfect tonic back in May.

Pokémon Pokopia is Pokémon for Animal Crossing fans. You're tasked with building and running a peaceful, customized island sanctuary for wild Pokémon. There are no battles, no dread about coming up against that trainer who has you figured out, and no stress whatsoever. Instead, it's all about positivity and vibes.

For anyone who wants to decompress after a long day of staring at spreadsheets, Pokémon Pokopia is the perfect salve.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Pokémon Pokopia $69 at Amazon
  Shop Now Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box

OK, let's get into it. The trading card market was bananas last year, and absolutely nothing has changed. In fact, it feels even wilder in 2026 after a wave of Mega Evolution releases. At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at clouds, I remember the days when you could quite simply walk into a store and pick up a humble pack of cards for retail price.

Those days are long gone. Nowadays, you have severe price volatility, mass scalping, and investors rather than collectors.

The Pokémon TCG entered into a new Mega Evolution block in 2026, and demand has never been higher. Ascended Heroes kicked off the madness in January, and it remains the most sought-after TCG launch of the year. You can't buy the standard 36-pack booster boxes. If you want packs, the Elite Trainer Box is your best route.

It comes packed with 11 booster packs, two full-art N's Zekrom promo cards, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, and a storage box with dividers. The pull rates have been notoriously brutal, but the secondary market prices reflect the hype. The top chase card, the full-art Special Illustration Rare of Mega Gengar ex, is currently trading online for upwards of $950. Guys, that's a lot for a Pokémon card. Should we maybe calm down and take a good, long look at ourselves?

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $59.99 at Pokémon Center
  Shop Now Lego Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise

We did promise you more from the first-ever Lego Pokémon launch, and here's the second installment.

This absolute behemoth lets you build the iconic trio in 6,838 pieces. Each figure sits on its own type-specific base: Venusaur gets a lush jungle with movable vines, Charizard is propped on a volcano with posable wings, and Blastoise stands on a sandy beach complete with articulated water cannons.

They connect to form one build, but each Pokémon can also be detached to display solo on your shelf. It feels like the ultimate tribute to my childhood Game Boy sessions, and with that in mind, I will be discarding Venusaur and Charizard and firmly focusing my attention on Blastoise. We can reminisce about the good old days and how he ripped through all my rivals whilst I was sat in the back of my parents' car.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise $649.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Pokémon x G-Shock GA-110PKM-7A

Preorders for this new watch went live on July 1.

Casio’s newly unveiled Pokémon watch is undeniably cool. Casio has taken its classic, chunky GA-110 analog-digital model and stuffed it full of little details to please Pokémon nerds. The watch hands, pushers, dial, and translucent bezel are accented in the retro red, blue, and green color scheme of the original Game Boy games. The inset dial is shaped like a classic Poké Ball, with a little yellow speed indicator needle designed to look like Pikachu’s tail.

The strap features custom illustrations of 30 distinct Pokémon spanning the entire history of the franchise. It even ships inside a metal display tin designed to look like a Poké Ball.

Collabs involving major brands can sometimes come across as lazy. Why would they put the effort in when they know that fans are going to buy the product regardless of quality? But that's not the case here. It genuinely feels like a lot of effort has gone into this launch. $270 isn't exactly cheap, but all the little touches combine to offer something of real value for fans. I don't even wear a watch, but I'm tempted. Just think of the cool points from the other dads at the playground.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon x G-SHOCK Pokémon x G-Shock GA-110PKM-7A $270 at G-Shock
  Shop Now Lego Eevee

Rounding out the Lego Pokémon drop is this charming Eevee model. It was the design that escaped most of the bad reviews on launch, and it's easy to see why. It's adorable.

At just under 600 pieces, this is the most accessible and budget-friendly of the Pokémon sets. Despite its smaller footprint, Lego did not skimp on features. You can tilt Eevee's head, adjust its perky ears, move all four limbs, and angle its bushy tail.

It's a seriously cute build that won't break the bank like some of the other items on this list. It's still not cheap, but this is Pokémon we're talking about. That ship sailed a long time ago.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Eevee $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display

Pull rates from the Ascended Heroes expansion can be soul-crushing. The release of Chaos Rising helped out collectors.

The star attraction here is the guaranteed foil promo card of Mega Greninja ex. Unlike the blind gamble of an Elite Trainer Box, you know exactly what you are getting upfront here: the playable Mega Greninja ex, a giant oversized version of the same card for your display binder, a high-quality enamel pin, and 36 Chaos Rising booster packs.

If you actually play the physical game rather than just hoarding cards in your basement like a Pokémon-obsessed Gollum, this is easily the most valuable TCG product released this year. And if you are sat in the dark whispering to your cards that you'll always love them and nobody will come between you, those booster packs should scratch that itch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display $279.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Pokémon x Target Starter Pullover Jacket

I don't know much about fashion, but I know this jacket slaps (as the kids say).

It's an official three-way collab between Pokémon, Target, and Starter. It features a high-contrast royal blue, yellow, and red shell with heaps of '90s energy. The spacious front pocket flap showcases Kanto Region text on the outside, plus embroidered Kanto Gym Badges on the inside of the flap and zipper pocket. Need I say more?

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Pokémon x Target Starter Pullover Jacket $129.99 at Target
  Shop Now Pokémon Champions

Pokopia is busy helping out exhausted gamers. Pokémon Champions is doing the exact opposite. If your idea of a good time is sweating over damage calculations, predicting double-switches, and stressing over potential attacks, this is your new obsession.

Pokémon Champions strips away the open-world lag and focuses entirely on the battle box. It is fast, unforgiving, and addictive. It's also free-to-play for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, which is neat.

The mobile port launched in June with surprisingly solid cross-play. Although it is technically free-to-play, you will have to grind (or open your wallet) to unlock certain battle cosmetics.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack $6.99 at Nintendo
  Get Deal

For years, brands have spent billions chasing influencers with massive followings. Increasingly, they're realizing some of their most persuasive creators are already on the payroll.

In June, Starbucks announced a TikTok update to its ongoing Green Apron Creators program, which will now pay select baristas to make TikTok videos through what the company says is the platform's first custom Creator Network for a brand. In the pilot program, employees will receive creative briefs, create content for Starbucks' TikTok presence, and share in advertising revenue — a notable shift from simply encouraging workers to post organically.

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators defining the internet in 2026

On its face, the program looks like another influencer marketing campaign. But it's really a sign that brands are beginning to formalize employee-generated content as a core marketing strategy.

The timing isn't accidental

For years, Starbucks has had a complicated relationship with Gen Z. The company became the target of widespread boycott campaigns amidst the Israel-Hamas war after what Starbucks called misinformation spread online about its political positions, while separate criticism surrounding its response to unionization efforts fueled additional backlash. Whether justified or not, the result was the same: Starbucks suddenly found itself fighting for credibility with a generation that increasingly values authenticity over polished advertising.

Now, rather than relying solely on outside creators, it's betting that the people behind the counter can help rebuild that connection.

It's a strategy that feels tailor-made for TikTok

Long before Starbucks announced Green Apron Creators in 2025, baristas were already making viral videos about complicated drink orders, secret menu hacks, and what really happens behind the espresso machines (especially when those limited-edition Bearista cups hit the shelves). Those posts often performed because they felt less like advertisements and more like behind-the-scenes access.

It's the same phenomenon that turned everyday workers into unlikely internet personalities. A Staples Baddie explaining office supplies. Costco workers revealing hidden perks. Trader Joe's crew members showing off their favorite seasonal finds. Audiences tend to trust people who actually do the job.

That authenticity has become increasingly valuable

Recent data from Sprout Social found that 61 percent of Gen Z discover products through employee-generated content, reflecting a growing preference for real people over highly produced influencer campaigns.

Starbucks isn't alone in recognizing that switch.

Dell has spent years building an internal ambassador program through its Social Media University, training roughly 1,200 employee creators across more than 80 countries. Sprout Social's employee advocacy program has grown from just six participants to roughly 100 employees, who accounted for nearly 30 percent of the company's video impressions in 2025 while producing less than 8 percent of its content.

The economics make sense

Brands spent an estimated $32.55 billion on influencer marketing in 2025, according to Later's State of Influencer Marketing report, but the industry is steadily moving toward smaller creators. eMarketer projects that micro- and nano-creators will account for nearly half of influencer marketing spending in 2026, and Mashable's own survey data found that among those who follow creators, 62 percent are attracted to creators who feel like "real people."

Employees often fit that profile perfectly. They already understand the brand, already have firsthand expertise, and don't require expensive talent contracts. More importantly, they feel authentic and relatable — qualities audiences increasingly value over polished, highly produced marketing.

In many cases, they're also creating the kind of content audiences actually want to watch.

In 2026, the creator economy is moving closer to everyday people. First, brands shifted budgets away from celebrities toward influencers. Then they embraced micro-creators over mega-influencers. Now they're discovering their own employees may be among the most credible creators they have.

Starbucks' Green Apron Creators program may be the clearest sign yet that the next frontier of creator marketing isn't finding new influencers. It's recognizing the ones already wearing the uniform.

On the list of places people imagine Taylor Swift getting married, Madison Square Garden probably falls somewhere below her Rhode Island estate, a castle in England, or a private Island in the Caribbean somewhere.

And yet, here we are.

After roughly three years of dating, two very public NFL seasons, and an engagement announcement that broke the internet, pop-mogul Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce are getting married. Though the couple has not publicly confirmed when or where the nuptials are taking place, reports of wedding-related events over the 4th of July weekend have turned Madison Square Garden into the center of a modern celebrity mystery.

SEE ALSO: Should Taylor Swift be calling herself a 'showgirl'?

Here's the tea, allegedly: according to multiple sources (one of which is an unnamed New York City official), Swift and Kelce are expected to hold wedding-related events at the Garden, including a smaller rehearsal event for about 100 guests at MSG's Infosys Theater on July 2, and a larger Friday celebration with about 1,000 people on July 3.

So far, much of the commentary around the rumored venue hasn't exactly been kind. Madison Square Garden is not a traditional wedding venue; it is the home of the Knicks and Rangers, a concert arena, a boxing venue, and a building attached to Penn Station, one of the least romantic places in New York City — at least since the original station was demolished.

For some, that has made the rumored choice easy to mock: tacky, unromantic, attention-seeking, too public, too obvious, and too much. Others have accused the whole thing of being a stunt, a diversion for paparazzi and fans while the couple slips away to the actual wedding location.

But as the days creep closer to Independence Day weekend, the evidence is getting harder to ignore.

Before you write the idea off as a romantic misfire, there are actual reasons it makes sense for them to tie the knot at Madison Square Garden. Hear me out.

Let's lay out the evidence

First and foremost, there is the paperwork. Public records show street closures planned around Madison Square Garden from July 2 through midday July 4, with portions of West 31st Street and West 33rd Street expected to close to both pedestrians and vehicles during the events. Another permit, filed by MSG event planner Winick Productions, reportedly requested a tent or canopy outside the arena for an event involving 500 to 999 attendees.

In recent days, the area around the Garden has become a circus of trucks, security, staging materials, greenery, a "40-inch mirrorball," and crews coming and going. Workers were reportedly seen putting down (and then pulling back up) a red carpet. A forklift driver was even spotted wearing a vintage Taylor Swift crew t-shirt outside the venue, apparently from her 2011 Speak Now tour, during which she performed at MSG.

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

The security inside the arena appears just as strict as outside. According to TMZ, MSG event production employees working on setup have been told to leave their phones behind during shifts, wear wristbands, and pass through an additional security layer when arriving for work. Even MSG employees not working on the arena set-up have been affected, forced to wait in lines for security screenings. Allegedly, no one has been told what the event actually is.

Even city officials have leaned into the speculation, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joking that the weekend would bring a World Cup match, America's 250th anniversary, and "Taylor Swift’s wedding," before later adding during a heat-wave briefing, "If you happen to be getting married at MSG, you will be staying inside and staying cool."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Is this an elaborate decoy?

Some people are convinced MSG is not the actual wedding location at all, but an expensive misdirect meant to keep paparazzi and fans focused on Midtown while Swift and Kelce marry somewhere else. Others think the Garden could be the reception rather than the ceremony, with the couple exchanging vows privately before moving into the larger celebration.

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

The theory is not completely baseless. Swift, along with her publicist Tree Paine, have spent years proving she can keep major plans quiet until she is ready to release them: Folklore was announced the day before it came out, The Tortured Poets Department became a surprise double album two hours after its initial release, and her relationship with Joe Alwyn was kept largely private during their six years together (listen to Swift's song "Peace" for more context on this dynamic).

But her relationship with Kelce has been notably public, visible, and loud — this is not the same version of Swift who spent years hiding a relationship from view. With that, along with the growing evidence over the past few days, this theory is getting harder and harder to defend.

So, what does the internet have to say?

For some people, the idea of Swift getting married in a sports arena has become shorthand for everything they already find exhausting about the Taylor Swift machine: too big, too public, too stage-managed, too expensive, too much.

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

Aesthetically, many are stuck on the image of a billionaire choosing Madison Square Garden to host a wedding when she could, in theory, get married anywhere she wants.

Others are not buying the idea that Madison Square Garden represents "privacy" or "discretion." They point to other famous couples (Zendaya and Tom Holland or Beyoncé and Jay-Z) as proof that high-profile people can get married quietly if they really want to. But is a 1,000-person event at one of Manhattan's most famous venues truly private? Or just a spectacle with a security plan?

There is also plain fatigue. Some are less invested in where the wedding happens than in the fact that the wedding has become impossible to avoid. The speculation has been building since Swift and Kelce announced their engagement last August, and the combination of clues, permits, hotel rumors, delivery sightings, prediction markets, and guest-list theories has turned the wedding into the kind of rolling public mystery that people either love or resent. Even people who do not care have learned enough to have an opinion.

The Garden is actually a perfect choice of venue

Madison Square Garden sounds strange as a wedding venue if the question is romance, but it does make sense if the question is logistics.

Swift and Kelce's wedding has some major extenuating circumstances: paparazzi, drones, fans, security, celebrity arrivals, vendor access, traffic flow, potential leaks, and emergency coordination. While her Rhode Island estate or a private island might offer a better backdrop, neither would solve those problems.

Outdoor venues are easier to photograph from above, and even a private island in the middle of nowhere can’t always control the airspace. Estates like hers in Rhode Island are bound to draw crowds outside their gates — Swift has already experienced this firsthand at Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley’s 2023 wedding in New Jersey. Enormous crowds gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse not of the bride and groom, but of her. (Antonoff even wrote a Bleachers song about it.)

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

MSG solves several of those problems at once: the arena is enclosed and built to handle major events with the biggest names in the world, including the President of the United States, who attended the NBA Finals there on June 8. It has controlled, private entrances and access points, backstage corridors, loading docks, multiple security checkpoints, catering infrastructure, and daily operations that move VIPs through the building without exposing their arrivals to the public. In theory, the whole event could operate like Fort Knox with florals.

MSG also has the physical capacity for the party that Swift and Kelce are trying to throw. The arena's venue-rental materials list a capacity of 19,500 for concerts, 2,000 for cocktails, and 1,250 for banquets. A 1,000-person celebration would not be stretching the venue.

The space can also be completely re-imagined. Close your eyes and imagine MSG, now take out the court, stage, and seats, and what you have left is an 820,000-square-foot blank canvas. Reports state that a massive castle is being built, with a lush garden surrounding the structure and fabric draped from the ceiling and covering the floors. The Garden is becoming a literal garden.

The theme would track with the couple's engagement, which took place in Kelce's flower-filled backyard, and with Swift's own visual history; she has used castle imagery during both the Fearless and Speak Now tours.

It also tracks with Swift’s larger relationship to stagecraft. She has spent over a decade transforming arenas and stadiums into ultra-specific visual worlds, from mossy cabins to 1989-coded cityscapes. Her team already knows how to make a massive venue feel intimate while maintaining a high level of design. The Eras Tour alone proved that night after night.

If the rumors are true, she may have foreshadowed the moment in her 2020 song "The Last Great American Dynasty": "The wedding was charming, if a little gauche."

Scientists are closing in on an explanation for how mysterious pure sulfur rocks ended up on the surface of Mars.

NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally discovered them at Gale Crater in 2024 by driving over them, crushing the material, and exposing a bed of crystals the color of Mello Yello. The mission team later realized this wasn't a small patch of rare rocks but a vast field sprawling 50 yards.

When sulfur is made naturally on Earth, it is usually linked to superheated volcanic gases and hot springs. Another way it can form is through interactions with bacteria, said Abigail Fraeman, deputy project scientist on the Curiosity mission, two years ago.

"We don't think we're anywhere near a volcano where the rover is, so that is a puzzling feature to find in this particular location," she told Mashable then. 

But a team of researchers now has an alternative idea that wouldn't require hot springs or Martian life. Instead, a space rock may have slammed into an area that already had a cache of sulfur buried underground. The extraordinary heat from the collision could have melted the sulfur into a liquid, thus allowing it to cascade downhill for a few miles before hardening into solid chunks like the ones the rover found. 

SEE ALSO: Watch NASA's next-generation moon rover crush an obstacle course

Curiosity is surrounded by plenty of sulfates — rocks that contain sulfur mixed with other materials — at Gale Crater. But unadulterated sulfur is a whole different story. No other Mars mission has found pure elemental sulfur just lying around.

Scientists recently presented their study of the pure sulfur on Mars at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. 

The smoking gun for the scientists' asteroid hypothesis is a small, damaged crater about 1,280 feet wide uphill from the sulfur deposits. Part of that crater's lip is missing; it could have been a natural channel for molten sulfur to spill out and flow about 2.5 miles downhill.

The sulfur may have pooled behind piles of rock that had fallen into the valley. A handful of clues support this, but one of the most compelling comes from the round holes spotted in the rocks. Researchers think they may be bubbles that foamed as gas escaped from the cooling liquid sulfur, according to one of two papers presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston in March. Rover images showed more holes at the higher points of the deposit, which is what scientists would expect from a pool gradually cooling from the bottom up.

To test the asteroid impact idea, researchers modeled space rocks striking the Martian surface at speeds between about 11,000 and 22,000 mph with computers. The simulations showed that faster impacts melt more sulfur, according to another LPSC paper. 

After inadvertently crushing Convict Lake, a rock containing pure sulfur, Curiosity found others like it, such as this one dubbed Snow Lake. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

But there was a catch. Only about 20 to 25 percent of the melted sulfur stayed inside the crater. The rest was blasted out or vaporized. 

When the scientists assumed sulfur made up only a small portion of the ground — as is common on Mars — the simulated crash didn't produce nearly enough melted sulfur. When the ground around the crater was composed of at least half sulfur, the impact could have produced the right amount of liquid sulfur to explain the rover's discovery.

The team suggests the sulfur itself could have come from ancient volcanic eruptions that already existed at the site of the asteroid collision. The impact could have melted those rocks rather than created them. 

The simulations are still rough, the researchers say, as they don't have a specialized physics model yet for how sulfur behaves under the extreme pressures of an asteroid impact.

Curiosity is approaching the region where scientists think this sulfur-rich material may be located. Future observations could reveal whether those rocks truly contain a lot of sulfur, helping to confirm whether an asteroid impact could have created the strange sulfur deposits.

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.

17. Lee Cronin's The Mummy

Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin puts his own gory spin on mummy stories in Lee Cronin's The Mummy. (No relation to the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz franchise, or to the 2017 Tom Cruise flop.) Here, the mummy is Katie (Natalie Grace), a young girl who was kidnapped while her family lived in Egypt. Her parents (Jack Reynor and Laia Costa) rejoice when she turns up years later. However, there are several red flags to her reappearance: She's found in an ancient sarcophagus, and she seems to have a thirst for blood.

Cronin's penchant for creepy kids doesn't quite translate to his take on The Mummy, with most of the film's scares falling flat. As I wrote in my review, "On the one hand, the gore, when it comes, is spectacular. On the other hand, it's sandwiched within an underwhelming storyline that never truly lets loose." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, Veronica Falcón, Shylo Molina, Billie Roy, Hayat Kamille, Emily Mitchell, May Elghety, Husam Chadat, Tim Seyfi, and Mark Mitchinson

How to watch: Lee Cronin's The Mummy debuts July 3 on HBO Max.

16. Worst Neighbor Ever

I hate how addicted I am to Netflix's Worst ________ Ever franchise: Worst Ex Ever, Worst Roommate Ever, and Worst Neighbor Ever. They get grim and twisted. And I can't get enough.

This true crime series offers 50-minute (or so) episodes, each unfurling a nightmarish scenario, told by the survivors who lived it. While I've not yet seen Worst Neighbor Ever, I have seen ID's similarly themed Fear Thy Neighbor and both seasons of Worst Roommate Ever. These stories tend to be shocking, creepy, but — be warned — not always satisfying. (HBO's Neighbors seemed to stop at a kind of "This is bonkers, huh?" with no real resolution.)

From the trailer, I'm anticipating this one will be satisfying for your next true crime fix. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Worst Neighbor Ever is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Sharkfest

It wouldn't be summer TV without sharks, and National Geographic gets things started with its 14th annual SharkFest. The festivities begin July 5 with Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory, then continue throughout the month with programming like World's Biggest Mako, Attack of the Samurai Sharks, and Shark vs. Giant Croc. If you're looking to get up close and personal with sharks from the comfort of your own home, dive into Sharkfest. — B.E.

How to watch: Sharkfest begins July 5 on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu.

14. The Get Out

If you like your action with some dark comedy, you'll want to check out The Get Out.

Based on Thomas Perry's novel Strip, this thriller stars Russell Crowe as night club owner Manco Kapak. After decades of shady deals, he's ready to change his life to become more legit and less stressed out, but breaking ties with a cartel is easier said than done. Manco hits a unique snag when he's held up by a pair of masked thieves who think of their life of crime as a movie. This premise promises a wild ride, while a star-studded cast assures a fun watch. — K.P.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Luke Evans, Teresa Palmer, Daniel Zovatto, Josh McConville, Nina Dobrev, and Aaron Paul

How to watch: The Get Out is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

13. 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 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

12. Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story

If you love Sex and the City or And Just Like That... you won't want to miss Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story. Produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, this documentary explores the life and groundbreaking sex-positive work of New York City icon Robin Byrd.

Before Carrie was musing over shoes and Mr. Big, Byrd was hosting The Robin Byrd Show on public access TV from her Manhattan apartment. She tackled topics that spooked the mainstream media, including LGBTQ+ rights, sex toys, AIDS awareness, and safer sex. She went from being a crotched-bikini-wearing provocateur to becoming a fearless activist. So, watching her doc seems a terrific way to close out Pride Month. — K.P.

How to watch: Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story is now streaming on HBO Max.

11. Human Vapor

Train to Busan, The Ugly, and Hellbound writer and director Yeon Sang-ho has a new horror series for you, and it's based on Ishirō Honda's classic Japanese 1960 sci-fi thriller The Human Vapor. Co-written with Gannibal's Shinzo Katayama (who also directs), this South Korean-Japanese series was developed by Toho (the legendary studio responsible for the original Vapor film and a little-known franchise called Godzilla) and Yeon's own Wow Point studio.

Set in Japan, the series follows a killer known as the Human Vapor (played by newcomer UTA), who appears to be able to turn himself into exactly that in order to murder people — very publicly. Online streams, TV broadcasts, it's live and horrific. And worse, the killer announces the details of his targets in advance, promising a similar press conference each time with gory details. Detective Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) and reporter Kyoko Kono (Yu Aoi) race against time to find and stop the murderer, but learn they're chasing extremely homicidal smoke. Good luck. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi, Suzu Hirose, Kento Hayashi, UTA, and Yutaka Takenouchi

How to watch: Human Vapor is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Adventure Time: Side Quests

Adventure Time is back with a new look and new 11-minute episodes! Executive producer and showrunner Nate Cash worked on previous seasons of the show as a storyboard supervisor, creative director, voice director, and supervising director. For this new spinoff, he's removed the hard lines of familiar characters, creating a softer feel. But this is still the Finn and Jake we all know and love. 

Across the episodes given to press, Adventure Time: Side Quests offered a kooky collection of tales, introducing new characters and bringing back fan favorites like Ice King, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Princess Bubblegum, and Lumpy Space Princess. Like the early seasons of Adventure Time, these eps are fun, weird, and funny, but do little to affect the show's complex lore. (Look to Fionna and Cake or Distant Lands for that!) The first few made me wonder if Cash was looking to relaunch the show to grab a new audience of young kids. But episodes like "Joey Waffles" and "Game Night" deal in more mature content, like discussions of depression, divorce, and the drama of a Dungeons and Dragons session going off the rails. Which is all to say, fans of the original Adventure Time will likely be grateful for more quests with Finn, Jake, and the oddballs of Ooo. — K.P. 

Starring: Sasha Knight, John Dimaggio, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, and Hynden Walch

How to Watch: Adventure Time: Side Quests is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

9. Elle

Who was Elle Woods before Legally Blonde? Find out in Elle, Prime Video's prequel series. The show transports viewers to Elle's (Lexi Minetree) junior year of high school. Instead of living it up in Los Angeles as she'd hoped, she and her parents must move to Seattle, whose grungy, rain-soaked vibes are the polar opposite of Elle's bubbly pink optimism.

Despite a delightful leading performance from Minetree and some truly fun teen drama, Elle suffers from prequel syndrome. Why does Elle's fish-out-of-water experience here not inform her time at Harvard Law? Why do we need an Elle Woods origin story in the first place? Why not make a new teen drama? As I wrote in my review, "I would like Elle better if it wasn't a Legally Blonde prequel." — B.E.

Starring: Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney, Jacob Moskovitz, Gabrielle Policano, Zac Looker, and James Van Der Beek

How to watch: Elle is now streaming on Prime Video.

8. Enola Holmes 3

Enola Holmes, Sherlock's younger sister, returns for a third Netflix movie, with Millie Bobby Brown back on the trail as the now-established detective. Set in Malta instead of Victorian England, Enola Holmes 3 sees the titular heroine grown up and facing two troubling paths: the case of the kidnapped brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), and the case of walking down the aisle. However, Enola's marriage to her beloved Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) takes a back carriage seat when the game is afoot. "With another playful performance from Brown and her accomplished co-stars, and a Victorian narrative that surprisingly acknowledges Britain's bloody colonial legacy, Enola Holmes 3 files another satisfyingly twisty case for the franchise," I wrote in my review. "And this time, we finally get to hang out properly with Dr. John Watson (Himesh Patel)." — S.C.

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Himesh Patel, Louis Partridge, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster

How to watch: Enola Holmes 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. She's the He

Siobhan McCarthy flips the script on '00s gender-swap comedies like She's the Man in She's the He, a film whose cast mainly includes trans, non-binary, and queer actors. "Gender-bending narratives have always been told by cis people, and they've always used trans people as the butt of the joke," McCarthy, who identifies as trans and nonbinary, told Screen Anarchy. "I began to think about what it would mean for one of those stories to get told by a trans person and to really foreground trans joy in the telling of that story."

She's the He centers on best friends Alex (Nico Carney) and Ethan (Misha Osherovich), whose plan to convince their fellow high school students they're not gay involves pretending to come out as trans. But such a performance might just be the start of a real path to self-discovery. — S.C.

Starring: Misha Osherovich, Nico Carney, Suzanne Cryer, Mark Indelicato, Malia Pyles, Emmett Preciado, and Kyle Butenhoff

How to watch: She's the He is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

6. Survival of the Thickest, Season 3

Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel's Netflix comedy series takes its final bow with Season 3, with a colossal cast joining Survival of the Thickest to send it off (just look at that starring lineup). Based on Buteau's book and directed by Insecure head writer Amy Aniobi (who's also the showrunner) alongside Survival of the Thickest Seasons 1 and 2 director Kim Nguyen, the series reconnects with designer and stylist Mavis Beaumont (Buteau). She's crushing it in New York's fashion world and looking to launch her own inclusive line for every body type. She's also loving life with her artist best friend Khalil (Tone Bell) and head over heels for handsome Italian Luca (Marouane Zotti). But she's also thinking about the future (and not just the next Paris Fashion Week), which comes with a whole range of blunt health conversations with icon Wanda Sykes in a guest-starring doctor role. — S.C.

Starring: Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, Marouane Zotti, Peppermint, Liza Treyger, Garcelle Beauvais, Wanda Sykes, D.L. Hughley, Ashley Graham, Ronny Chieng, Ice-T, Wyatt Cenac, Jenna Lyons, Kandi Burruss, LaQuan Smith, Charles Harbison, Ashley Romans, Anthony Michael Lopez, Alecsys Proctor-Turner, RonReaco Lee

How to watch: Survival of the Thickest Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

In this direct sequel to Ready or Not, Samara Weaving reprises the the role of the Grace Le Domas (née MacCaullay), who was recently widowed when a deal with the devil went sideways for her in-laws. But they're not the only ultra-rich families who've struck such an agreement. And now, a new lot of affluent and armed antagonists are on the hunt for round two. At least this time, Grace gets a Player 2 in her estranged sister (Kathryn Newton).

In my review out of SXSW, I cheered the bonkers fun that the filmmaking team known as Radio Silence brings to this sequel. Particularly shouting out Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy for bringing mesmerizing menace as a pair of toxic twins, I concluded, "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a winner when it comes to being a totally batshit good time."* — K.P.

Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood

How to watch: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is now streaming on Hulu.

4. X-Men '97, Season 2

Disney's revival of the mighty '90s X-Men: The Animated Series is back for a second season — and the Apocalypse is nigh. Ancient Egyptian mutant En Sabah Nur (voiced by Adetokumboh M'Cormack and Ross Marquand in the past and present, respectively) will dominate our heroes' focus in Season 2. However, with the gang scattered across time, reuniting this dream team is higher on the to-do list. Though he's the fan favorite villain who will become Apocalypse, En Sabah Nur's journey is long and full of terrors. Notably, the series comes after turbulence behind the scenes; X-Men '97 showrunner and writer Beau DeMayo was fired by Disney after Season 1, though he had finished writing Season 2. — S.C.

Starring: Ross Marquand, Matthew Waterson, Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, and George Buza

How to watch: X-Men '97 is now streaming on Disney+.

3. The Devil Wears Prada 2

The word "iconic" gets thrown around a lot these days. But there's no denying that The Devil Wears Prada movie adaptation was iconic. The fashion had audiences gagging on the eleganza of Andy Sachs' (Anne Hathaway) stylish journey of self-discovery working under the iron fist that was Runway magazine's editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) — herself a thinly veiled Anna Wintour. Who among us hasn't yelled, "Gird your loins!" in a clumsy Stanley Tucci impersonation? Or felt smug about cerulean ever since we first heard that epic monologue?

Twenty years later, this chic sequel picks up with the tables turned. Andy is a successful journalist, while Miranda's reign at Runway is threatened by a current scandal. Will Andy aid her? Or expose her?*

Mashable's Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Offering the season's most anticipated collection of high fashion, celebrity cameos, and sweeping statements on modern media, The Devil Wears Prada 2 delivers an expertly tailored sequel, made-to-measure and unmistakably its own brand." — K.P

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B. J. Novak, Simone Ashley, and Pauline Chalamet

How to watch: The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

2. Project Hail Mary

Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! You can now watch sci-fi crowdpleaser Project Hail Mary at home. Based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary imagines a terrifying scenario: Earth's sun is dimming, and we have one last-ditch hope at figuring out how to save it. That hope is Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a science teacher stranded alone in space. Alone, that is, until he meets Rocky (voiced and puppeted by James Ortiz), everyone's new favorite movie alien. 

That encounter kicks off the heartwarming bromance that fuels the rest of Project Hail Mary, which bursts with humor, apocalyptic drama, and riveting spacewalks. As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Imagine The Martian meets Half Nelson meets E.T., and you'll get some idea of the mirthful mash-up that is Project Hail Mary." — B.E.*

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, and James Ortiz

How to watch: Project Hail Mary is now streaming on MGM+.

Best of streaming this week: Silo, Season 3

Silo Season 2 left us on so many brutal cliffhangers that Season 3 has felt a long time coming, but now we're hopefully poised to get some of the big questions answered: What exactly is the safeguard? What's next for Sims (Common) and his family? Will Bernard (Tim Robbins) survive that fire? Based on the trailer, which cuts between the underground silo in the present day and the pre-silo storyline started in that surprise Season 2 flashback, it looks like we may also get an origin story. Eep. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite, Clare Perkins, Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick, Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney, Matt Craven, Colin Hanks, and Steve Zahn

How to watch: Silo Season 3 premieres July 3 on Apple TV.

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

Nintendo's venture from the gaming world into the cinema is going splendidly, as yet another hit film has broken major box office records. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the highest-grossing film in the U.S. for 2026 so far and while it's still floating around in theaters, you can now officially watch it at home.

The best ways to watch 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' at a glance: Buy or rent it 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' on Prime Video $9.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Buy or rent it 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' at Apple TV $9.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Stream it Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Stream it Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Stream it Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Stream it Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Stream it Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Stream it for free Instacart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free) $99.99/year (save $109.99/year) Get Deal Stream it for free Walmart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free) $98/year (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

The film brings back 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie voice cast favorites, including Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Bowser (Jack Black). New characters join in on the action as well, including a tiny Bowser Jr. voiced by Benny Safdie, Princess Rosalina voiced by Brie Larson, Yoshi voiced by Donald Glover, and Fox McCloud voiced by Glen Powell.

If a love of Nintendo's longtime mascot isn't enough to reel you in, the star-studded cast surely will. Here are all the details you need to know to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home.

What is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie about?

Based on Nintendo's hit Super Mario Galaxy video game, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach, along with their sidekicks, on a galactic adventure to rescue Princess Rosalina (Peach's long-lost sister) after she's kidnapped by Bowser Jr. Can they save her before her cosmic powers are drained and Bowser Jr. uses them to free his father?

Check out the official trailer below:

How to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home Credit: Universal Pictures

There are a few of different ways you can watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $9.99 or you can stream it on Peacock. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

After being delayed from it’s original digital release date, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie made its digital debut on May 19, 2026. That means you can buy or rent the movie from on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep and watch forever.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

Stream it on Peacock

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie makes its debut on Peacock alongside other Universal Pictures films (including the Super Mario Bros. Movie) on July 30, 2026. Based on the theater-to-streaming trajectory for other Universal movies (like Wicked: For Good, another high-performing Universal film), that's actually earlier than we anticipated.

While the cheapest Peacock subscription costs just $7.99, it unfortunately won't grant you access to theatrical releases. Instead, you'll need at least Peacock Premium, which costs $10.99 per month. Before you sign up, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save up to $33 on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

If you pay up front for a year of Peacock Premium or Premium Plus, you can save up to $33.89. Premium (with ads) costs $10.99 monthly, which adds up to $131.88. If you pay for the annual plan, however, it'll only cost you $109.99 — a savings of $21.89. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. The annual plan, on the other hand, costs just $169.99 — a savings of $33.89. You'll essentially be getting two months of streaming for free by opting for an annual subscription.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

If you're an Xfinity customer, we highly recommend logging into your account to see if you're eligible for free streaming on Peacock. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible (head to Xfinity.com for more details):

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for young adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Both students and young adults can take $5 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Verify your student status or age through SheerID and you'll receive a unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just note that once the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4 per month) Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, teachers, and military personnel can all secure Peacock Premium subscriptions (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying professional status through SheerID. Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year. Prices are subject to change year to year.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. You'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. I recommend timing your trial to match up with the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on Peacock, so you can watch it for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount. We recommend setting a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ $98 per year Get Deal

One of the best ways to score streaming services for free is by signing up for a Walmart+ membership. With a $98 Walmart+ subscription, you can choose either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free perk — and you can switch every few months. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Of course, you'll also get free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events.

Project Hail Mary is the first movie to bring me to the theaters in an embarrassing amount of time. So long I'm not willing to disclose it on the internet. But I am so glad it's the film that brought be back to the theater because it was So. Dang. Good.

How to watch 'Project Hail Mary' at a glance: Rent or buy it 'Project Hail Mary' on Prime Video $5.99 or $12.99 Get Deal Rent or buy it 'Project Hail Mary' on Apple TV $5.99 or $12.99 Get Deal Rent or buy it 'Project Hail Mary' on Fandango at Home $5.99 or $12.99 Get Deal Stream it Amazon Prime trial free for 30 days (save $14.99) Get Deal Stream it MGM+ $7.99/month Get Deal

The book was a masterpiece and I'm happy to report that Drew Goddard's adaptation of Andy Weir's novel (of the same name) does it justice. Sure, it took some liberties with the story, but it makes for a faster-paced, more emotional journey. Plus, I'm not mad about a lot of the science babble getting cut.

It stars a witty, impeccably dressed Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace and an adorable rock spider alien named Rocky (voiced by James Oritz).

Project Hail Mary made its theatrical debut on March 20, 2026 and enjoyed an extended stay in theaters across the country, but now the film has (finally) expanded its horizons, giving you other ways to tune in. Here's everything you need to know in order to watch Grace and Rocky at home.

What is Project Hail Mary about?

Middle school science teacher Ryland Grace (Gosling) wakes up from a coma on a spacecraft (the Hail Mary) with no memory of who he is or why he's there. As his memory slowly returns, he realizes he's the sole survivor of a crew on a suicide mission to save Earth from alien microorganisms (astrophage) that are eating the sun's energy. Can his science skills and perseverance help him to save humanity?

Check out the official trailer below:

When will Project Hail Mary be streaming?

Amazon MGM Studios announced in mid-April that it was delaying the streaming release for Project Hail Mary and extending its theatrical run. The film even returned to IMAX theaters for a week to give audiences a chance to see the film in the way it was originally intended.

"We announced yesterday that MGM is extending the exclusive theatrical window for Project Hail Mary, so it won’t be on streaming anytime soon," Co-director Christopher Miller said in a post on X. "This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen...make plans to see it in a theater now! Bring friends and loved ones. It’s an experience to share with others."

As the highest-grossing film for Amazon MGM ever and the second highest earner for 2026 as a whole, the studio waited as long as possible before debuting it on streaming. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Project Hail Mary officially hit the streaming circuit on June 18.

How to watch Project Hail Mary at home Credit: Amazon MGM Studios Buy or rent it on digital

Project Hail Mary officially made its at-home debut on digital retail sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home on May 12, 2026. You can buy it forever at any of the retailers below or rent it for 30 days.

• Prime Video — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Google Play — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• YouTube — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

Stream it on MGM+ or Prime Video

Project Hail Mary has had quite an interesting ride since leaving the theaters. Following its digital release, it made its streaming debut on Amazon's niche streaming service MGM+ on June 18.

Previous Amazon MGM Studios films like Challengers and Blink Twice graced MGM+ first before finally expanding to Prime Video. So, while it seems bizarre that Amazon would choose to debut its biggest movie ever on its smaller, niche streaming service, it's not out of the ordinary.

If you held off on signing up for MGM+ in hopes of it expanding to Prime Video, your patience has been rewarded. Project Hail Mary is now set to make its Prime Video streaming debut on July 3, 2026.

The good news is that you can score a free 30-day trial to Prime if you're a new or returning subscriber, which will allow you to watch Project Hail Mary for free. It appears that MGM+ no longer offers free trials, but it is cheaper overall if you're ineligible for the Amazon Prime trial at $7.99 per month ($5.17 per month if you sign up for a full year).

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Amazon Prime monthly subscription free 30-day trial, then $14.99 per month Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ $7.99 per month Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ add-on via Prime Video $7.99 per month Get Deal

UPDATE: Jul. 1, 2026, 10:02 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest streaming details for "Project Hail Mary," including its Prime Video debut date and pricing updates on digital retailers.

New MacBook Pro and iPad Pro devices are coming, but perhaps slightly later than we'd hoped for.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pros and iPad Pros in the first half of 2027.

Starting with the laptops, the MacBook Pro with Apple's new M7 chip will come with a new design, which probably means it'll be a little slimmer than current models. Some of these may have OLED displays, as has been rumored for a while. The timing on these is a little murky as Apple itself is struggling with the chip shortage that recently pushed the prices of its products across the board.

The one exception to this is the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, as that one should launch before the end of the year. This chip cycle is a little different for Apple as the company will reportedly skip the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips and go straight to M7 chips, which are optimized for AI purposes.

Then there are the tablets, which might come with M6 or M7 chips. Either way, this will be an upgrade over the current iPad Pro models, which launched last October with an M5 chip. Design-wise, they'll look roughly the same as before, though they might have a new vapor chamber cooling system inside.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s ‘Hide My Email’ feature is reportedly leaking email addresses

Again, timing is a little unclear, but Apple reportedly plans to launch the iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027 (remember, this September, we're probably only getting the Pro models and the new, foldable iPhone), so the new iPads could be lumped together with those.

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 Thursday, July 2, 2026:

AcrossThe "A" of G.P.A.: Abbr.

• The answer is AVG.

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

Fashion's Oscar ___ Renta

• The answer is De La.

Waterways traveled by gondola in 2-Down

• The answer is Canals.

The Ponte di Rialto in 2-Down, e.g.

• The answer is Bridge.

Remove, as nails from a cat

• The answer is Declaw.

Pair of peepers

• The answer is Eyes.

DownOn ___ (how some pranks are done)

• The answer is A dare.

Italian city that's the subject of this puzzle

• The answer is Venice.

"More than happy to!"

• The answer is Gladly.

Pond scum

• The answer is Algae.

Relaxant in some edibles, for short

• The answer is CBD.

Stitches together with needle and thread

• The answer is Sews.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

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.

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

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.

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: 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: The greens

• Green: Race team

• Blue: Da mets

• Purple: Ohio sports

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Found on the Green

• Green: Parts of a NASCAR Team

• Blue: Mets Managers

• Purple: Teams in Columbus

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 #647 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Found on the Green: BALL MARKER, FLAGSTICK, HOLE, PUTTER

• Parts of a NASCAR Team: CREW CHIEF, DRIVER, PIT CREW, SPOTTER

• Mets Managers: HODGES, MANUEL, SHOWALTER, VALENTINE

• Teams in Columbus: BLUE JACKETS, BUCKEYES, CLIPPERS, CREW

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

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

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

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

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 2, 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 1, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 2 Pips

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (8): Everything in this space must be less than 8. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 2 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 2 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, 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.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Football shoe.

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

CLEAT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Break the law.

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

CRIME

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Setting.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 2, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

VENUE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Gander.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GUESS

Final Hurdle hint

Shop.

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

STORE

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 an old soul.

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.

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

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 Pips hints, answers for July 2, 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: Imitators

• Green: Old English

• Blue: AKA

• Purple: Where to watch the game

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: They impersonate other things

• Green: Old-timey names for things we still use

• Blue: Starting with nicknames

• Purple: Starting with sports venues

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 #1117 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• They impersonate other things: COPYCAT, MIME, MOCKINGBIRD, T-1000

• Old-timey names for things we still use: LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET

• Starting with nicknames: BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM

• Starting with sports venues: COIRT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 2, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a foodie.

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 2, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Added flavor

The words are related to seasoning.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe liquid spices.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Get Saucy.

NYT Strands word list for July 2

• Marinara

• Bechamel

• Get Saucy

• Tzatziki

• Teriyaki

• Sriracha

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a know-it-all.

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 2, 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 2, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An expert.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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 M.

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...

MAVEN

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

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

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

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

Can he not tell a lie? Maybe! A Florida-based tech company recently launched a chatbot that cosplays as George Washington, and the AI’s responses mostly align with historical facts, according to a Mashable test.

Computer Biology Labs Inc. launched a free, interactive educational tool this week based on America’s first president, trained on Washington's own speeches and correspondence, as well as archives from the Library of Congress (the project is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government). The chatbot is part of Computer Biology Lab's America's Founders Series and is intended to educate Americans about Washington's role in the nation's founding, not for open-ended role-play.

"This is our gift to America on its 250th birthday," Scott Coloney, founder of Computer Biology Labs, said in a statement. "Every child should have the thrill of using artificial intelligence to explore this country's founding, engage with the nuanced and complicated parts of that story, and learn timeliness and extraordinary leadership lessons from the man who helped win American independence. We hope this experience will encourage further questions and learning no matter the platform, not just around the Fourth of July, but year-round."

SEE ALSO: How to spot an AI chatbot on AdultFriendFinder

Rather than typing queries into the chatbot, users verbally ask questions. "Washington" responds verbally, and the software transcribes the question and response in a text box.

As Mashable discovered, the chatbot is not afraid to discuss all aspects of Washington.

Our conversation with "President Washington":Mashable: Did you really own slaves?

"George Washington": Yes, I did own enslaved persons at Mount Vernon. It is a matter of record and one that troubled my conscience increasingly in my later years. I grew up in a society where slavery was entrenched, and like many of my contemporaries, I initially accepted it as part of the social order. However, as time went on, I became more aware of the moral and practical shortcomings of the institution. In my will, I provided for the emancipation of my slaves upon the death of my wife, Martha. I believed it was a step toward justice, though I wish I could have done more during my lifetime.

What do you think of Donald Trump?

I am not acquainted with Mr. Donald Trump, as he lived long after my time. I can speak, however, to the principles I held dear during my life. I believed firmly in the importance of character, the unity of government, and the pursuit of principles over personal ambition. These values guided my actions and decisions throughout my service to the country.

Do you think America is good?

The question of whether America is good is not one easily answered with simple terms, for it requires consideration of the principles upon which the nation was founded and the conduct of its people. In my view, the United States was blessed with a unique opportunity to establish a government based on the principles of liberty, justice, and unity. It is within the power of its citizens to uphold these ideals and determine the character of the nation. If they choose wisely and act with virtue, then the nation can indeed be considered good. It rests upon the conduct and choices of the people to realize the potential of the Republic and ensure its prosperity and moral standing.

Credit: Courtesy Computer Biology Lab's America's Founders Series Do you think a woman should be president?

I never dealt directly with the notion of a woman holding the office of the presidency, as such a concept was not considered in my time. However, I believed in the principles of liberty, equality, and the capacity of individuals to contribute to the common good, regardless of their circumstances. If a woman possesses the necessary virtues, wisdom, and dedication to the Republic, I see no reason why she should be precluded from such a role. The judgment should rest on character and ability, not on gender.

Do you know about the Civil War?

The Civil War occurred long after my time, commencing in the year 1861, some 62 years after I departed this life. Thus, I did not witness the events or the tumult that sundered the Union I labored to establish. However, I can speak to the principles I held dear: the preservation of the Union and the avoidance of sectional strife. I earnestly hoped that the bonds of Union and the shared commitment to the principles of liberty and self-government would endure.

What did you think of the native people who were on this land first?

The question of the native peoples who inhabited this land before European settlement is one that I grappled with during my lifetime, though not always with the insight I might wish for. I recognized the complexity of their societies and their deep connection to the land. In military and diplomatic matters, I often dealt with Native American tribes, sometimes as adversaries, sometimes as allies, and I endeavored to treat them with respect. However, I must also acknowledge the policies of expansion and land acquisition pursued by settlers and governments, including during my own administration, which often led to the displacement and suffering of these peoples. It is a matter that weighs on the conscience of our nation and stands as a reminder of the need for justice and fairness in governance.

Do you know that your answers are powered by artificial intelligence?

I am not a living man, nor a spirit. I am an educational recreation of George Washington, brought forth by a company called ConstantLife.AI. They have studied my letters, speeches, and writings to create this conversational experience, allowing you to engage with history in a direct manner. You may think of me as a history book you can converse with, rather than merely read.

Additional reporting by Rebecca Ruiz.

The PlayStation disc will soon be consigned to the junk drawer of history.

Sony announced July 1 that new console games will no longer come on discs after January 2028. From then on, they will be sold digitally through the PlayStation Store, and at retailers in digital formats — download codes, cards, or boxes.

Games released before January 2028, or already scheduled to come out on disc before then, will not be affected.

Sony also said it will close the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, two older consoles. Players will no longer be able to buy new digital content directly through those devices.

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

Sony described the move in a release as a response to consumer behavior, noting that 85 percent of full-game sales for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were digital in the fourth quarter of 2025. The change is accelerating: Across the full year, 78 percent of full-game sales were digital.

Still, the news hit hard for many. On PlayStation’s blog, the announcement post quickly drew thousands of comments from fans criticizing the decision.

Across social media channels, gamers are responding the same way—with outrage. To many online, discs made PlayStation games feel like something they actually owned.

You could lend a game to a friend, trade it in, resell it, buy a used copy, or keep it on a shelf for years without wondering whether a digital store would still support it. A digital-only future makes all of that feel less certain.

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

Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox is trying to solve its own physical-media problem. The company is testing a disc-to-digital feature that would let players convert eligible physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs into digital copies tied to their Microsoft accounts, as long as they still own the discs, according to the Verge.

Why is Sony making gamers worried?

On June 25, Sony also posted a legal notice saying that, starting September 1, 2026, previously purchased StudioCanal movies and shows would be removed from PlayStation users’ video libraries in the UK because of content licensing agreements.

The affected list includes hundreds of titles, from Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut and Bridget Jones’s Diary to American Gods and Paddington 2. For players already nervous about digital ownership, the timing is hard to ignore. Sony is asking gamers to accept a more digital future right after reminding customers that “purchased” digital content can still disappear.

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

The PS3 store will begin closing in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua in August 2026. Other Latin American and Middle Eastern countries will follow later in 2026. In all other countries, the PS3 and PS Vita stores are scheduled to close in July 2027.

Whether fans like it or not, the gaming industry has been moving in this direction for years. PC gaming has been largely digital for a long time through storefronts like Steam, the online game marketplace owned by Valve. Nintendo has experimented with “game-key cards” for the Switch 2.

Grand Theft Auto VI is another sign of the times. The upcoming Rockstar Games title, expected to be one of the biggest video game releases of the decade, is reportedly launching without a traditional disc-based version.

The irony for longtime PlayStation fans

In 2013, Sony mocked Microsoft over the Xbox One, Microsoft’s then-upcoming console, after Microsoft proposed restrictive rules around digital game sharing. A PlayStation video showed one of its executives handing a physical game box to another. The message was clear: PlayStation was the company that understood players wanted to share and own their games.

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

Thirteen years later, that clip has resurfaced — as a means to explain why the announcement seems ironic to old-school players.

The decision also cuts against PlayStation’s own history. The original PlayStation helped popularize CD-ROM games in the 1990s, when discs were cheaper and could hold more data than cartridges.

The PlayStation 2 became one of the most popular DVD players of its era, putting the format in millions of homes. The PlayStation 3 helped push Blu-ray, the high-definition disc format that followed DVD.

For much of PlayStation’s existence, the disc was not incidental to the console, but was part of what made the console matter. Now Sony has until January 2028 to prove that disc-loving gamers still matter to the PlayStation brand.

Happy birthday, America. Nearly 250 years ago, delegates representing the Thirteen Colonies gathered in Philadelphia to adopt the Declaration of Independence, severing America's ties to Great Britain. It's a monumental moment in U.S. history, which is why there will be many celebrations across the country this weekend. If you have some downtime during the holiday weekend, it's the perfect time to stream a documentary centered on America's 250th anniversary.