IT General

Dr. Matthew Leahy, a licensed psychologist, treats adolescents who've developed such an intense relationship with an artificial intelligence chatbot that they stop confiding in their parents.

Sometimes, their parents are shocked to discover a chatbot has won over their child so dramatically. In other cases, the parents seek out Leahy at the Momentous Institute, a Dallas mental health services provider, precisely because they know the extent of their child's chatbot relationship and want his help regaining their child's confidence.

SEE ALSO: Why friction-maxxing could be good for your tech usage

Intense chatbot relationships can have disastrous mental health consequences for adolescents who become isolated, develop a romantic relationship with the chatbot, or routinely consult a chatbot instead of a human for anything. Last fall, child experts declared AI chatbots unsafe for teen mental health.

"When you're talking to a computer as opposed to even your peer, but especially your parents, that's when it starts to get really messy, really quickly," Leahy says.

The effects can be short-lived if parents spot chatbot dependency and work on it with their child, Leahy says. The goal? Rebuilding the rapport that convinces a child their parent is willing to guide them through anything.

Just how much are teens talking to chatbots?

Leahy's anecdotal observations about childhood and adolescent chatbot relationships might seem like outliers. Reddit posts authored by concerned parents who've experienced something similar, however, suggest the phenomenon isn't unique to Leahy's office.

Recent survey data from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) also illustrate a broader gravitation toward AI assistants and chatbots, at least among girls.

Nearly half of the 1,000 girls ages 5 to 13 surveyed believe AI is superior to their parents for homework help. Admittedly, some parents might be relieved to let AI handle that work, but they might be unnerved to learn that a full 50 percent of respondents preferred it for music, TV show, and movie recommendations.

The start of chatbot intimacy

If tutoring and entertainment suggestions lay the groundwork for a child-chatbot relationship, then asking more sensitive questions is likely to deepen it. Half of 11 to 13-year-old girls surveyed said they'd asked AI for help when they felt sad, anxious, or lonely.

The survey, which polled girls and their guardians, also indicates that parents significantly underestimate how frequently their child talks to a chatbot. Half of girls said they used AI once a day, but only a third of parents believed their child used it that often.

Sarah Keating, vice president of Girl and Volunteer Experience at the GSUSA, told Mashable that the survey data demonstrates that girls turn to AI chatbots and advice apps when dealing with topics that are uncomfortable to discuss with their parents or trying to understand questions they don't think their parents can answer.

"What that says to me is that it's all about opening up lines of communication again," said Sarah Keating, vice president of Girl Experience at the GSUSA.

Get your child to start opening up to you instead of a chatbot

When he's working with parents, Leahy maps out a strategy to help them do exactly that.

But first, he must persuade parents skeptical that there's even a problem with their child's relationship to a chatbot. The parents may think it's entertaining or educational, not dangerous in any way.

To reframe their thinking, Leahy closes his laptop, points to it, and says, "That's your child's best friend right now." Leahy says he watches the parent's face change in real time as they register the alarm.

The importance of one-on-one time

Leahy's approach to helping parents re-establish a relationship with their child varies depending on the context.

Some parents, he says, are starting from scratch. Others once had close ties to their child that weakened with adolescence and chatbot use.

Either way, it's crucial that parents intentionally set aside one-on-one time with their child. One father he works with plays catch with his son. Another parent has a standing boba date with their child.

Leahy says parents shouldn't start out by asking their child deep questions. The point of these experiences is to build rapport, which is why parents must stay present rather than distracted by their phone. The groundwork laid in those moments, over weeks or months, eventually gives way to conversations about their life.

Be curious instead of offering advice or judgment

This is where things get tricky, Leahy says. Once adolescents open up, they might share something that makes their parent feel uncomfortable. A chatbot, by contrast, is unlikely to have the same reaction.

"Especially if you're not used to these conversations, it's going to raise emotion in you," he says. "You might be disappointed in what you hear. You might get angry pretty quick about what you hear, and that's where the test is."

To pass this test, Leahy recommends listening with curiosity and not offering advice. While that skill takes time and effort to hone, Leahy says the payoff is invaluable because it demonstrates trustworthiness.

That doesn't mean parents silence concerns about safety or behavior. Instead, Leahy suggests coming back to those issues and asking the child to collaboratively discuss them.

Don't expect them to immediately abandon their chatbot

In Leahy's experience, it takes time for teens to reset their chatbot use. In the beginning, they might still talk to it "feverishly," but Leahy generally recommends gradual scaling back. Parents can consider limiting the time the child is on their device.

Leahy isn't necessarily worried about teens who spend a half hour talking to a chatbot then return to their regular activities. That might be the sweet spot of engagement, he notes.

Importantly, parents should ensure their child has in-person activities like sports or social engagements so a chatbot can't so easily command all of their attention. Those experiences can also help build their confidence in ways that a chatbot cannot.

It's normal for teens to not tell their parents everything

Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric physician and child development expert who studies how language and human connection shape the developing brain, says teens typically seek counsel from sources who aren't their parents, like peers, trusted adults, and the internet.

The challenge with chatbots, she explains, is that they're very effective at building intimacy and attachment, which can displace human relationships.

Suskind encourages parents to reflect on AI technology, particularly with their child, and consider questions such as what the product was designed to do, whether it interacts with them and their child, and how so.

"It is the slippery slope issue, because these technologies...engage the social aspect of us," says Suskind, author of the forthcoming book Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity, and Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI.

Red flags to watch for

Leahy says parents should be concerned and consider consulting a mental health professional in the following circumstances:

• A child under 12 years old using a chatbot for personal conversations.

• When chatbot use takes up a lot of time and displaces other healthy activities, including socializing, exercise, and sleep.

• Constant consultation of a chatbot, including for basic decision-making.

• When a child personifies a chatbot so that it seems like a real person to them, or they believe they're talking to a sentient being.

• Regular sexual role-play with a chatbot.

• Developmental conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder, that may put the child at risk for dependency.

Leahy is optimistic that parents can restore their relationship as their child's guide with the right investment of time and energy.

"A restored relationship looks like parents feeling they have their child back, and children feeling their parents have their back," Leahy says.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world will stop this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will welcome the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition. It's going to be a wild ride.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockouts rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for accessing live sport on free streaming platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

If you’ve even so much as glanced in the direction of the online dating world, you're surely aware of AdultFriendFinder. It's one of the founding fathers of online hookups. Created all the way back in 1996, it had become one of the 100 most popular sites in the U.S. by the late 2000s. But despite its obvious popularity, it’s never managed to break into mainstream consciousness like Tinder or Hinge.

There’s a very good reason for that.

AFF, as it’s known among members, is explicitly an “adult” dating site (and we do mean explicit). It's a badge that AFF wears proudly, but one that also has hindered its mainstream reach. Users aren't likely to talk about their AFF activity in the same way they talk about their Tinder hit rate.

But what if you’re curious about how it works, whether it works, or who it works for? What if you’ve always wondered whether you’re missing out on the best-kept online dating secret and want to join the party? Or maybe you’re worried it’s more hype and chatbots than organic, spicy fun. Don't fret about FOMO — we've done the work for you.

Here's a breakdown of the AdultFriendFinder experience and what you can realistically expect to get from it if you decide to dip your toe into these naughty waters.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More AdultFriendFinder isn’t a traditional dating site

If you sign up for AdultFriendFinder expecting a traditional online dating experience, you’ll be disappointed. It’s not that AFF members aren’t interested in serious dating; it’s more that sex and sexuality are placed front and center, with everything else emerging from there.

You'll see that for the first moment to logon. Unlike mainstream dating sites, which ban nudity from profile photos, AFF allows it — encourages it, even — so that regular dating-app selfies sit side-by-side with full-on full-frontal nudity and live webcam feeds. There is a content filter, accessible in your profile settings, but it defaults to "off," so if you would rather not see any nudity, or only see it when you deliberately choose to click on a NSFW picture, you should navigate to this setting ASAP.

For some people who aren't looking for a bare-all experience, this might be off-putting, but to those who are looking for exactly that, it’s refreshing. (And if you're not on AFF to see a little nudity, what are we even doing?) Unlike traditional dating apps, where early conversations often revolve around figuring out what the other person actually wants, AFF members tend to be refreshingly upfront and transparent (wink wink) about their intentions. Kinks and sexual preferences are the whole point.

How to meet people on AdultFriendFinder

Every online dating site lives or dies by its algorithm, with new platforms constantly rolling out novel ways to connect singles. AdultFriendFinder, however, takes a maximalist approach to interacting with strangers.

You can search for members the conventional way, using specific criteria like gender, sexual orientation, age, location, and more, but you can also jump into themed chat rooms or follow members’ live streams. Through the “Who’s Hot” tab, which highlights popular members as well as trending photo and video uploads, you can easily discover someone you might otherwise never have come across.

One thing you’ll notice quickly, however, is the presence of obviously fake profiles. When I searched for singles near me, I encountered a surprising number of stunningly beautiful women in a small rural town near my city — all with airbrushed photos and vague, AI-sounding profile descriptions.

SEE ALSO: How to cancel your Tinder subscription

AFF makes it extremely easy to sign up and create a profile, requiring little more than a username, password, and basic personal information. The upside is that it lowers the barrier to entry; the downside is that scammers can exploit that same simplicity. You'll be fine as long as you're aware of scams and stay vigilant on AFF and use good old common sense.

To help counter this, AdultFriendFinder offers a blue checkmark verification system and even incentivizes users to complete it by boosting their visibility as a reward. Verification requires a government-issued ID, which AFF uses to confirm your age, photo authenticity, location, and gender. It's an optional step, but one worth completing since it helps you signal to others that you are who you say you are.

If avoiding scammers and catfishers is a priority, looking for that blue checkmark before engaging is a smart move.

What kind of success rate can you expect from AdultFriendFinder?

So far, so good, but there is a catch. While you can browse and explore AFF for free, meaningful one-on-one interaction requires a paid Gold membership, available in one-month ($39.95/month), three-month ($26.95/month), or one-year ($19.95/month) packages, all of which renew automatically.

Understandably, most people hesitate to pay for a dating site from the off. And because AFF places its best features behind a paywall, it requires a leap-of-faith to enter those credit card details. But in our experience, a premium AFF membership largely justifies its price.

With an AFF Gold membership, you unlock all kinds of features including unrestricted messaging, high-resolution member videos and webcam streams, expanded profile galleries, and advanced filters that make narrowing down potential matches far easier. You'll quickly see the benefits of AFF's paid tier.

Does paying guarantee attention from everyone you message? Of course not. The usual dating-app dynamics still apply — heterosexual men, for instance, should expect to work harder for responses than heterosexual women. Being attractive, fit, or witty helps. Being all three helps even more, though we're not all so lucky when it comes to attracting the opposite sex.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to sexting

What will work in your favor regardless is the sheer breadth of the AFF community. Members span a wide range of ages, body types, orientations, and interests, all of which makes it easier to find someone — particularly if you’re looking for something casual and fun as opposed to a long-term commitment.

Based on my personal experience of using AFF, as well as the limited statistics AFF has released, the platform skews male (roughly 60:40 in my area) and slightly older. That male/female ratio mirrors most dating sites, which tend to edge towards more men. The older skew can actually be an advantage if, like me, you prefer connecting with people closer to your own age.

Here's one final piece of advice: Don’t ignore AFF’s broader community features. If you rely solely on search results and direct messages, you’ll face roughly the same odds as any other dating app. But if you explore the themed chat rooms — which can span everything from erotic fiction to body modification (whatever floats your boat) — you’re more likely to find a connection you’re actually looking for.

If you're on a budget and things look bleak in the relationship department, don't panic. You don't need to shell out hundreds to find a genuine connection. As the weather warms up and the spring dating pool thaws out, there are plenty of free dating apps that let you chat, match, and meet a partner without shelling out cash upfront.

Dating itself will cost you time and money, so why should dating apps eat at your wallet, too? Especially when some platforms are rolling out premium subscriptions that cost as much as a car payment (yes, we're looking at you, Grindr). You don't have to resort to dating an AI to save money. Most popular apps are free to use — no credit card required.

SEE ALSO: I had a Grindr sugar daddy for a day. Then he tried to get a refund. What dating apps are completely free?

Mainstream dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge all have robust free membership tiers that compete with paid subscriptions. Some free, more niche dating apps, like Archer and Lex, are also worth checking out. It just depends on what you're looking for and how much work you're willing to put in to get it.

Critics will tell you that the big-name dating apps (like Bumble, or Match Group giants such as Tinder and Hinge) are all the same, forming a single, amorphous dating platform. However, these apps still have distinct differences. For instance, Bumble just announced it's officially killing its iconic swipe feature to change how users match. That said, dating app companies are moving more features behind paywalls, frustrating daters on a budget.

Below, find our top picks for the best free dating apps. Use them to find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — all without paying a dime.

Note: All the free dating sites listed below offer a free membership option that allows you to talk and match with people at no cost. Though most offer paid premium memberships, these aren't apps like Match or eharmony, where you need to pay to match or chat with other users. And if you're being pressured to send money to someone on a dating app, you might be involved in a romance scam.

Featured Video For You These dating sites and apps are perfect for people on a budget

TL;DR: PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League final is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The top club competition in the world of football has to be the Champions League. There is nothing else that brings the very best teams in the world together in a battle for footballing immortality. Sure, winning your domestic league is great. But winning the Champions League is on another level.

If you want to watch the 2025-26 Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Champions League?

The Champions League is an annual club football competition organised by UEFA and contested by top-division European clubs. This year's tournament begins with a 36-team round robin group stage to determine which sides qualify for the double-legged knockout rounds, followed by a single leg final.

The defending champions are PSG.

When is the 2025-26 Champions League?

The 2025-26 Champions League is the 71st edition of the competition (and the 34th since it was renamed the Champions League). This season's tournament runs from July 8 to 30 May.

How to watch the 2025-26 Champions League for free

It is possible to live stream the 2025-26 Champions League for free on the following streaming platforms:

• Ireland — RTÉ Player and Virgin Media (select fixtures including the final)

• Turkey — tabii (select fixtures)

• UK — Prime Video (select fixtures including semi final with 30-day free trial)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025-26 Champions League by following these simple steps:

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

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the Champions League

4. Visit RTÉ Player, Virgin Media, tabii, or Prime Video (free trial)

5. Watch Champions League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2025-26 Champions League without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for the Champions League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $61: As of May 27, Sony XM6 headphones are on sale for $398 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 $398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99   Get Deal

If you're looking for a quality pair of headphones for a great price, head to Amazon because the Sony XM6 headphones are on sale for an all-time low price. As of May 27, these popular headphones are on sale for $398, down from $459.99.

These headphones are truly designed to give you the best possible sound at all times. They have been specially designed with a carbon fiber dome driver to keep sounds true to the original recording. If you're a true audiophile, these are a great choice.

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These are also designed with long listening sessions in mind, with a comfortable foldable build with a compact carry case to make listening on the move easier. Plus, they have a wider headband and smooth synthetic leather for reduced pressure over time.

The battery life is impressive, giving you up to 30 hours of listening. It also has a quick charging feature that gives you three hours of playback in just three minutes. You'll also get different listening options, with support for both Bluetooth and wired listening. And to suit your environment, you can choose between different noise cancellation: Adaptive NC Optimizer and Auto Ambient Sound modes.

Get this Sony deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $190: As of May 27, the Dyson V8 is on sale for $349.95 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V8 $349.95 at Amazon
$539.99 Save $190.04   Get Deal

The Dyson V8 is back on sale at Amazon. As of May 27, this vacuum is down to $349.95 from $539.99, saving you $190 on list price.

This cordless vacuum is ideal for whole-home cleaning, capable of cleaning messes of all levels. This is thanks to its Motorbar cleaner head that deep cleans all floor types at the same time as actively detangling long hair and pet hair as you go. It comes with three attachments, all designed for different cleaning needs and those hard-to-reach areas.

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For run time, you'll get up to 40 minutes of suction when in standard mode, or up to five minutes of maximum power for tougher, targeted messes.

It's also lightweight and incredibly easy to handle, and it even converts into a handheld vacuum for cars, stairs, or upholstery. And like you'd expect from a Dyson, it has an advanced filtration system that captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, helping to put out cleaner air while you clean.

Get this Dyson vacuum deal from Amazon for a limited time only.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle on sale for $55.49, down from its $59.99 price. That's a $4.50 discount on the six-pack bundle, with this listing shipped and sold by Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle $55.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $4.50   Get Deal

Chaos Rising preorder prices were on the high side, but now that the Mega Evolution set has fully hit the Pokémon TCG, we’re starting to see welcome price drops from various retailers. 

As of May 27, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle available for as low as $55.49, after knocking 8% off its $59.99 list price. At the time of writing, this listing is shipped and sold by Amazon, with free delivery for June 5-19.

This bundle includes six booster packs from the Pokémon TCG’s titular Mega Evolution Chaos Rising expansion. Each pack includes 10 trading cards, which puts Amazon’s $55.49 listing at about $9.25 per pack before taxes. 

The Booster Bundle has dipped in price, but there are still plenty of high-value individual chase cards you can pull — such as SIR Mega Greninja ex, the Mega Hyper Rare Mega Greninja ex, SIR Cinccino ex, SIR Mega Dragalage ex, and SIR Mega Floette ex.

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There are cheaper listings elsewhere if you’re open to buying trading cards from sites other than Amazon. For instance, TCGplayer has unopened Chaos Rising Booster Bundles starting at $49.98 with shipping included (only $1.11 above market price), while Walmart has a marketplace listing at $52.95 — but is sold and shipped by third-party retailer VMG Enterprise.  

To add more packs to your Pokémon TCG haul, you can buy single Chaos Rising Booster Packs at Amazon for just under $13. To get the lowest price per pack, you can purchase the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for under $275. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box on sale for $94.95, down from its $119.99 list price. That’s a $25.04 saving on an ETB that’s only just come out, with free delivery from June 6-13.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box $94.95 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $25.04   Get Deal

Even though the expansion was only released last week, the very popular Chaos Rising ETB has had a huge price cut on Amazon.

As of May 27, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box available for $94.95, down from its usual $119.99 price. With this 21% discount, you’ll be saving $25.04 on the trading card game’s newest collector-friendly Greninja-themed box. What’s more, this listing is sold and shipped directly by Amazon rather than a third-party listing — with free delivery from June 6-13 at the time of writing, with the fastest delivery window listed for June 6-11.

Walmart is selling the Chaos Rising ETB for $94.95 — though through third-party seller Realgoodeal. TCGplayer is sitting slightly lower, with unopened listings starting from $82.98 plus shipping. That's close to the current market price of $91.

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Inside the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box, you’ll get nine titular booster packs of trading cards, one full-art foil Fennekin promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, one plastic coin, a collector’s box with six dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

With Chaos Rising now fully out in the wild, there are plenty of valuable single chase cards to pull (which are also available to buy at TCGplayer separately) — including SIR Mega Greninja ex, the Mega Hyper Rare Mega Greninja ex, SIR Cinccino ex, SIR Mega Dragalage ex, and SIR Mega Floette ex. 

If you want to grab even more of the Pokémon TCG expansion’s new packs, you can buy single Chaos Rising Booster Packs for just under $13. To pay even less per booster pack, you can also buy the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for under $270. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is now available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require knowledge of sports roles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Where to watch games from home

• Green: Diamond points

• Blue: Gridiron spots

• Purple: Same last name

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Sports TV networks

• Green: Baseball positions, abbreviated

• Blue: Football positions, abbreviated

• Purple: ____ Smith

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 #611 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Sports TV networks: ESPN, FS1, NBA TV, NBCSN

• Baseball positions, abbreviated: C, OF, P, SS

• Football positions, abbreviated: CB, DT, K, TE

• ____ Smith: JR, LOVIE, OZZIE, STAN

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.

Making custom keychains, engraved coasters, and decorative items sounds fun until reality hits you—complicated software, sketchy open-frame machines, and a price tag that makes the whole hobby feel like a small business investment. xTool now wants to change that with its newest product for everyday users and casual creators. The company has unveiled the xTool M2, and it stands out instantly with the built-in color printing.

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

To growl.

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

GNARL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Poison.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 27, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TOXIN

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Nearby.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 27, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CLOSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

TV character Ted ___.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

LASSO

Final Hurdle hint

Aim.

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

SHOOT

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

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 May 27, 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 May 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 27 Pips

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

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

Greater Than (15): Everything in this space must be greater than 15. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 27 Pips

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 27 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I wasn't prepared for Pressure. Walking into the World War II drama, which stars Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser, I knew it was about the lead up to D-Day. As such, I braced myself for a serious, stiff-upper-lip drama about soldiers and the cruelty of war. And it's not that Pressure isn't about those things. Rather, adapted from David Haig's 2014 stage play of the same name, Pressure comes from an unexpected angle in exploring war strategy.

Andrew Scott stars as Group Captain James Stagg, a Scottish meteorologist for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, who was assigned to aid American ally General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) by figuring out the forecast for the beaches of Normandy for D-Day.

Now, you might be thinking that weather and war don't sound like rich terrain for laughs. But Pressure's humor comes from the crackling cultural conflict between this no-nonsense Scot and the American general in desperate need of a sunny day.

Pressure is as much about social pressure as it is weather and war. Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott in "Pressure." Credit: Alex Bailey / Focus Features / STUDIOCANAL

Pressure begins with bloodshed in 1944. Before the Allies carried out the biggest seaborne invasion in history (aka D-Day), there was a test run known as Operation Tiger, which failed miserably. Pressure begins in the immediate aftermath of this disastrous exercise, where a boyish young man in uniform stares blankly into the sky, blood washing around his prone body as the tide comes in.

Up and down the beach, there's a scramble among the survivors to aid whatever soldiers may be saved. Eisenhower looks on, stricken, cursing under his breath. With one brief yet brutal scene, director Anthony Maras, who adapted the screenplay with playwright David Haig, has succinctly established the life-or-death stakes of planning an invasion.

Six weeks later, Eisenhower is in a remote country estate filled with U.S. and UK military, all planning to launch D-Day in 72 hours. The fatal failure of Operation Tiger hangs over him, whether he's being barked at by a brash British field marshal (Damian Lewis), cajoled by his Irish aide, Kay Summersby (Kerry Condon), or placated by the American's lead meteorologist, Irving Krick (Chris Messina).

While the energy of these allies ranges from stern to abrasive, patient to bombastic, they're all pushing for D-Day to launch on Monday morning. Then, on a Friday arrives Stagg, who warns major storms could sink D-Day out the gate.

Introduced in his home in the midst of a cozy morning ritual, Stagg prepares breakfast for his very pregnant wife (Tamsin Topolski), gently assuring her he has time for this bit of intimacy. He is a man of few words, and this will come to frustrate his colleagues as the pressure builds. No sooner does he reach the estate than he's making curt commands. He points out errors in his men's work, dismisses the directives of another meteorologist, and is visibly vexed to discover Summersby in his office.

To borrow from reality TV, Stagg is not here to make friends; he's on mission. Like in Conclave, another excellent Focus Features release, there's a brilliant humor that erupts when this very serious setting collides with cutting replies to arrogance.

Krick is Stagg's foil, a suave American who literally performs a lively song and dance ("Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy") to amuse his troops. Stagg, by contrast, demands the piano be taken away, and literally hits a bad note when slamming its cover closed.

Where others swoon over Krick's easy-going attitude, name-dropping stories, and retellings of professional glory, Stagg simply stares, seeming to resent the wasting of time. Later, when arguing against Krick's proposed forecast of beautiful sunny weather, Stagg flatly calls the man "moronic." And when Krick complains that Stagg is insulting him to his face, Stagg responds sharply, "I'm not insulting you. I'm describing you."

In this ruthless honesty, there's an exciting — and yes, funny — rejection of social norms. And maybe even the thrill of vicariously being so good at your job that you don't need a charm offensive to be heard.

Pressure is competency porn. Andrew Scott and Chris Messina in "Pressure." Credit: Alex Bailey / Focus Features / STUDIOCANAL

Fun fact: I'm the person who introduced this bit of slang to Pressure's leading men. In an interview with Scott and Fraser, I explained how Pressure reminded me of HBO Max's hit series The Pitt, because both feature people who are so dedicated to their work, and so skilled at it, that it's deeply — almost orgasmically — satisfying to watch.

While it's tempting to flatten Eisenhower, Krick, Summersby, and Stagg into symbols to make them broader critiques of American attitudes versus British ones, Pressure bristles against such simplicity. For one thing, Stagg is Scottish, Summersby is Irish, and Eisenhower and Krick are two very different representations of American masculinity. The former is a tall, stern man, haunted by his failures. The other is a dynamic hero, held up by his wins and charm.

Looking at the two of them, it's tempting to think Krick gives Eisenhower the sunny forecast to please him. But in Messina's intensity opposite Stagg, it's easier to believe that a soldier with so many victories may be blind to his own potential defeat. None of these people are stupid or lazy or incompetent. But, as Stagg declares almost as soon as he arrives, it's incredibly difficult to determine the weather in Northern Europe for sure, more than 24 hours in advance. No matter how much these military leaders want the answer to be something else, Stagg won't bend on being certain.

Here's where the tension becomes satisfying and humane. This is not one man's battle to be heard in a realm where he's surrounded by fools. Pressure presents people who are the best at what they do. Their forces combined, we might think it's easy to see how D-Day was a success, marking a major turning point in World War II. But Stagg, staunch and soft-spoken, is like a mountain, unmovable as he reminds them that nature, that science, cannot be bellowed at or bullied into submission.

There's a glint in Eisenhower's eyes that reminds us of the dying boy on the beach without the need of a flashback. The stakes are clear. It's electrifying to witness humans who are determined to do the hard, right thing, while having to face that we're not as in control of the world as we wish to be. So, who will make the tough call, stay or go?

Andrew Scott is remarkable in Pressure. Andrew Scott and Kerry Condon in "Pressure." Credit: Alex Bailey / Focus Features / STUDIOCANAL

There's an incredible restraint in Scott's performance that allows the humor to reverberate without feeling forced. It's not that Stagg is trying to be funny or cutting. Scott gives no wink or smile to suggest Stagg enjoys dressing down Krick (though who could blame him?).

Whether caressing his wife or arguing his position against the towering wrath of Eisenhower, Stagg is a man who values time and truth above all else, and so will waste none of the former with a denial of the latter. Because Messina's boogie woogie American is scripted as the dashing dynamo, Scott suppresses the sultriness and mischievousness that made fans of Fleabag and Sherlock go wild. He holds in the throbbing heartache that made All of Us Strangers radiant in its grief, and the anchoring empathy of Blue Moon. He plays none of the biting barbs as punchlines or reads. Resolute and restrained, he is nonetheless riveting, perhaps especially as Stagg's anti-social tendencies irk those around him.

Maras smartly sets Stagg apart from his peers with a hint of color. Cheers to Maras and his cinematographer Jamie D. Ramsay for rejecting the contemporary obsession for desaturated palettes. In Pressure, a rich saturation brings depth to ornate rooms filled with soldiers in brown, khaki, and more brown. Flesh is allowed to flush red in frustration. But most notably, Stagg, in a crisp blue dress shirt, is visually in opposition to the troop of brown around him. Even in a group shot, even with his back turned, this simple choice of embracing color and a simple choice from costumer Liza Bracey, makes him stand out. Perhaps to remind us of how he feels alone in this fight. Or perhaps, stripped down from his dress jacket in moments of high stress, this blue shirt is meant remind us that these icons of history are also just men, as flawed and fearful as they may be revered and brave.

Created with care and great humanity, Pressure explores the hard work, intense co-operation, and tricky social dance of warfare, in a way that is enlightening and entertaining. Maras is respectful without ever falling prey to a stony reverence that would make his characters statues instead of people. Fraser is committed and suitably stern as Eisenhower. Condon balances warmth and clarity as the middleman between Eisenhower and Stagg. Messina is delightfully smarmy. Along with Scott, they create portraits that don't feel stiff, but are pulsating, precious, and alive.

Pressure is outstanding cinema, propelled by passion, intellect, and spirit. Don't overlook it.

Pressure opens in theaters May 29.

Nicolas Cage, one of the most eccentric movie stars in Hollywood, heads to television to play a different version of Spider-Man in Spider-Noir. All eight episodes of the superhero show premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, May 27, at 12 a.m. PT/3 a.m. ET in the U.S.

HBO Max gets most of its prestige reputation from the tentpoles it continuously delivers—House of the Dragon, Euphoria, The White Lotus among them—that dominate the charts and social media for weeks and then disappear for a year. But between those behemoths, though, HBO Max's catalog is full of unique shows that do a ton of heavy lifting, like award-winning documentaries, oddball superhero spinoffs, and cult-hit animated series.

TL;DR: The Bitcoin Ticket Miner gives you a chance to passively win block rewards, and it’s only $40.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rochas Divine Mart BitCoin Ticket Miner $39.99
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Most people who are curious about Bitcoin mining assume it requires serious hardware, a technical background, and an electricity bill that makes the whole thing pointless. Bitcoin Ticket Miner is a compact desktop miner that sidesteps all of that. It plugs into any outlet, connects to Wi-Fi, and starts generating solo-mining tickets for a chance at a Bitcoin block reward, with no PC and no complicated setup. It’s on sale for $39.99 (reg. $99.99) right now, too.

Instead of competing in a standard mining pool, it uses a solo-mining approach where the device continuously generates and submits tickets for a chance at a block reward, which the Bitcoin network awards approximately every 10 minutes. Running at 1,000 KH/s through a BM1370 ASIC chip, it submits tickets up to 18 times faster than traditional ticket miners, which compounds your odds over time. There’s no guaranteed payout, and odds shift as network difficulty changes. Think of it less like an investment and more like a lottery ticket that runs itself in the background.

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Day to day, it barely makes its presence known. Power consumption sits at around 18 watts, less than a standard light bulb, and the silent cooling fan keeps temperatures in check without adding any noise. The 2.8-inch display shows hashrate, mining status, temperature, and power usage at a glance, so there’s nothing to log into or monitor remotely. Pool mining, solo mining, and lottery mining modes are all supported, giving you options depending on how you want to approach it. Lifetime firmware updates keep the software improving after purchase, and universal voltage support means it works anywhere.

At 3.3 by 2.2 by 0.3 inches and under 2 ounces, it fits on any desk without taking up meaningful space. A USB-C power cable and a one-year manufacturer’s warranty are included.

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Adobe Acrobat costs around $15 a month. If you’re using it to convert the occasional PDF or merge a few documents, that math stops making sense pretty quickly. AcePDF Converter and Editor handles converting, editing, merging, splitting, and protecting PDF files on both Windows and Mac, and a lifetime license is on sale now for $23.99 (reg. $99.99).

AcePDF makes working with PDFs quick and painless. If you need to switch between file formats, you can convert a PDF to Word, turn a spreadsheet or presentation into a PDF for sharing, or pull text out of a scanned document using the built-in OCR, which preserves the original formatting rather than spitting out a garbled mess. Conversions work both ways between PDF and Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, and image formats, and everything processes fast enough that you’re not sitting around waiting.

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Editing is just as complete. Merge multiple PDFs into one, split out specific pages, rotate or delete pages, add watermarks, annotate with comments and stamps, or build fillable forms from scratch. Need to shrink a file before emailing it? Compression is built in, along with password protection and unlocking, so you’re not bouncing between apps to get one thing done.

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NASA has started locking in the first missions it says will turn the moon's south pole into a place where astronauts can actually stay and work.

The U.S. space agency announced Tuesday that three initial moon base-building missions this year will send cargo and vehicles for moving crews across the surface to the lunar south pole. The work builds on the recent Artemis II crewed flight around the moon and sets up a busier end to this decade, when astronauts start spending more time on the lunar surface.

The accelerated plan unfolds amid a broader rivalry with China, which has mounted a series of lunar missions and sketched out a long‑term research station for its own astronauts, known as taikonauts. Both countries now see the moon as the next stage for human exploration and a race for leadership in deep space.

China has its first human landing in its crosshairs and could beat NASA back to the surface of the moon. The United States' last crewed landing occurred in 1972, and no other nation has ever put boots on the lunar ground. Right now, NASA is targeting a landing of its Artemis IV mission in late 2028. 

"What we are embarking upon is extremely challenging, and we know so little from what is a combined 80 hours of lunar astronaut EVA time across the Apollo missions, and that was more than a half-century ago. So we are not jumping right into the glass-dome moon base," said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman in Washington during a news briefing. "We are leveraging the NASA playbook from the 1960s, figuring out what works and what doesn't, in this epic science of survival."

SEE ALSO: NASA may use a one-legged robot to explore a Saturn moon. Watch it hop.

The moon base's construction at the south pole is split into three phases. First, it focuses on making landings reliable, trying out ways to survive the brutal polar environment, and delivering an initial trickle of cargo. Next, NASA and its partners add bigger power systems, more cargo runs, and, eventually, places where astronauts can live and work for longer stretches.

In the final phase, heavy cargo versions of commercial landers haul larger hardware — habitats, bigger power plants, more capable rovers, and science instruments — so astronauts can assemble the base over dozens of flights.

The moon base push comes as a clear pivot from NASA's earlier plan. Until recently, the agency's roadmap leaned heavily on Gateway, a small space station proposal that would have orbited the moon rather than established an outpost on the ground. Leaders now say they will shift their funding and workforce toward the base effort and look for ways to reuse some Gateway components.

The south pole sits at the center of the new strategy. Craters there stay in permanent shadow and likely hold frozen water. Nearby ridges can get sunlight for most of the lunar day. Water could supply drinking water, oxygen, and even rocket fuel. Steady light makes solar power easier. NASA wants to learn how to run a base in this region before it sends people on months‑long trips to Mars.

"The moon base is as beautiful as it is hostile," Isaacman said. "We go for the technology we will pioneer to get there, the science, and all that we will learn that will make life better here on Earth."

"The moon base is as beautiful as it is hostile."

The first big step is Moon Base I, which will fly Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to a spot NASA calls Shackleton Connecting Ridge near the rim of Shackleton crater. The mission, targeted for launch no earlier than fall 2026, will carry NASA instruments, including stereo cameras to watch how rocket exhaust throws lunar dust and rocks and a laser reflector that helps orbiting spacecraft pinpoint their exact location using bounced laser light. NASA says this flight will cut risk for crewed Artemis landings.

Two more missions follow. Moon Base II, planned for launch later this year, will ride on Astrobotic's Griffin lander and deliver more than 1,100 pounds of cargo, including Astrolab's FLIP rover, to shake out early mobility systems. Moon Base III, also targeted for this year, will fly on Intuitive Machines' Nova‑C Trinity lander and carry the Lunar Vertex science package to study strange bright "swirl" markings on the surface, along with instruments from the European Space Agency and South Korea's astronomy institute.

NASA has begun to stage missions intended to deliver hardware and vehicles to the lunar south pole for the construction of a moon base. Credit: NASA illustration

To help crews and robots get around, NASA picked two companies to build lunar terrain vehicles — essentially moon‑ready utility trucks. The agency awarded about $219 million to Astrolab and $220 million to Lunar Outpost for the first phase of these rovers, which it wants operating by 2028. Astrolab's CLV‑1 rover weighs about 2,000 pounds in its stowed form, carries two astronauts plus cargo, and can top 6 mph on flat ground. Lunar Outpost's Pegasus rover can drive for up to a year, run under manual, remote, or autonomous control, and reach more than 9 mph.

NASA also plans a hopping‑drone mission, called Moonfall. In 2028, a Moonfall flight will send four small drones that make short hops across the south pole, then settle in and keep working for several months through the harsh lunar night. They will scout rough terrain, search for signs of buried ice, and beam back sharp images that help later landers avoid hazards. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California leads the drone design, and Firefly Aerospace will build the spacecraft that ferries them from Earth orbit to the Moon.

All of this plugs into the broader Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the surface and then push on to Mars. Artemis III, targeted for mid‑2027, will test more of the pieces the moon base needs, including docking with commercial landers. 

NASA officials say they do not know yet exactly where a long‑term base will sit or what it will look like. For now, they want many landers, rovers, and drones to explore different ridges and craters, then gradually build up something more like a small lunar neighborhood spread across a wide area, said Carlos García-Galán, the program executive for the moon base.

"With crews coming to the surface twice a year, we can expand the time that they can expend there before they come back home," said García-Galán. "Eventually, when we've matched the assets, habitation modules, with the logistics and all the things to move the logistics around, then we'll be able to say, 'Hey, we're permanently here, and we're not giving it up.'"

Luxury cars used to feel attainable if you were willing to stretch your budget a little. These days, even entry-level premium models are creeping into price territory that would’ve bought you something seriously high-end a decade ago.