IT General
Lady Gaga tells women in music to fight for your ideas in Grammys speech
Casting a spell on the night, Lady Gaga won two Grammys on Sunday, using her acceptance speech to take a moment for women in the music industry.
Mother Monster was nominated for seven Grammys, taking home best pop vocal album for Mayhem and best dance pop recording for already-eternal banger "Abracadabra," During her acceptance speech, Gaga thanked her team, partner Michael Polansky, and producer Andrew Watt, before championing women in music.
"I just want to say for women in music that I know sometimes when you're in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard. So I urge you to always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas. Fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer, make sure that you are heard loudly."
The iPhone Flip might be real, you guys
Apple is getting serious about foldables. Not only will it reportedly launch its first foldable phone, the iPhone Fold (official name still pending) this fall, but it's now (also reportedly) contemplating launching another foldable device, a clamshell-style phone which might or might not be called iPhone Flip.
The news comes via Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who says the device would be pretty much what you'd expect — a square phone not entirely unlike a Motorola Razr or a Samsung Flip.
SEE ALSO: Apple to prioritize iPhone Fold over base iPhone 18 in 2026, report saysDon't get too excited yet, though. While the wider iPhone Fold sounds like a certainty, given the amount of reports we've seen about it, the iPhone Flip is merely being contemplated right now and is "far from guaranteed to reach the market."
Gurman did not offer any further details about the device. The important part, he says, is that Apple is betting that its iPhone Fold would be successful enough that people would want to buy other Apple foldables, in different shapes and sizes. A larger, book-style foldable phone (larger than the iPhone Fold) could also come at a later stage.
In other words, we could have an entire ecosystem of Apple foldable devices in a matter of years.
None of this is even close to official, and Apple is yet to launch its first foldable device of any kind. A very pocketable, clamshell iPhone does sound very nice, especially for those who are missing the iPhone mini.
Featured Video For You Samsung first look: Go up close with Galaxy Z TriFold, the futuristic foldable only available in KoreaSave $50 on the Google Pixel Watch 4 right now at Amazon
SAVE $50: As of Feb. 2, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) is on sale for $349.99 at Amazon. This is $50 off its list price of $399.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) $349.99 at Amazon$399.99 Save $50 Get Deal
When it comes to our top picks for smartwatches, we consider the Google Pixel Watch 4 to be one of the best Android smartwatches. If you've had your eye on this particular model but have been waiting for the price to come down, we have good news: Amazon's knocked $50 off its price tag for a limited time.
This discount brings the price of the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) down from $399.99 to $349.99. It's a deal that applies to a few different colors: the obsidian band with a matte black case, the porcelain band with a polished silver case, and the moonstone band with a satin moonstone case. What's more, the latter is back down to its lowest-ever price, while the former are just one cent away from their lowest prices of $349.98.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!As for why the Pixel Watch 4 secured our spot as the best Android smartwatch, Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth says it's "elegant enough to wear to the office, but comfortable and smart enough to monitor workouts." Our review also called it a "true runners' watch", which is good news for those looking for a watch to help them on their fitness journey. Mashable's Christianna Silva also said in her review that it's "faster, brighter, and more customizable than ever."
Alongside a nice design and bright display, the Google Pixel Watch 4 also features heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, 40+ exercise modes, a high-precision dual-frequency GPS, and up to 40 hours of battery life (or you can push it up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode).
If you're interested in grabbing the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm), don't miss out on $50 off at Amazon.
The One Piece TCG The Azure Sea’s Seven Booster Box is $25 off at Amazon
TL;DR: The One Piece TCG: The Azure Sea’s Seven Booster Box is now only $274.99 at Amazon. That's $25 off its usual $299.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bandai One Piece TCG: The Azure Sea's Seven Booster Box $274.99 at Amazon$299.99 Save $25 Get Deal
The One Piece Card Game has been on an absolute tear, and Bandai’s latest sets continue to fuel that momentum. If you’ve been waiting for a good chance to crack into a full booster box, The Azure Sea’s Seven has just become one of the best ways to jump in.
As of Feb. 2, the OP-14 Azure Sea’s Seven Booster Box is available to buy for $274.99, marking one of the lowest prices we’ve seen since launch. At $25 off, that’s a meaningful discount for a premium product aimed squarely at collectors and competitive players looking to expand their card pools in a big way — and is also the best third-party price as confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!This set of trading cards is themed around the Seven Warlords of the Sea, bringing together both classic fan-favorite characters and newer faces from across the One Piece world. It also shakes things up mechanically, reintroducing familiar cards in new colors to open up fresh deck-building possibilities.
Notably, OP-14 includes the first half of the EB-04 cards for the English release, giving players early access to content that won’t be fully rounded out until later sets.
Each booster box contains 24 packs, with 12 cards per pack, spanning over 150 card types, including Secret Rares, Special Cards, and even a Treasure Rare. Whether you’re chasing high-end pulls or stocking up for tournament play, this is a meaty box with real upside.
With stock currently sold out at TCGplayer, this is the cheapest way to get in on the expansion.
For more deals from the world of trading cards, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is down to a new record-low price on Amazon. As for the Pokémon TCG, the Paldean Fates Great Tusk ex & Iron Threads ex Premium Collection is still around $45 off.
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for February 2, 2026
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 gameHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, Feb. 2, 2026:
AcrossRock band with albums like "High Voltage" and "Flick of the Switch"The answer is AC DC.
The answer is In a rut.
The answer is On fire.
The answer is Suffix.
The answer is Leto.
The answer is Annul.
The answer is Caffe.
The answer is Drift.
The answer is Curio.
The answer is iOS.
The answer is Tex.
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.
This Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Box is over $30 off at Amazon
TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Box is down to $99.95 at Amazon. That's 24% off its usual $131.76 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Box $99.95 at Amazon$131.76 Save $31.81 Get Deal
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to dive into Magic: The Gathering, or to expand your collection without committing to a full-on deck-building grind, this deal is worth a serious look. As of Feb. 2. Amazon has cut the price of the Foundations Jumpstart Booster Box down to just $99.95, making it one of the most affordable entry points into Magic right now.
Plus, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it’s the lowest price that this booster box of trading cards has reached since September last year. With this $31.81 price cut, it’s also just $2 off its market price on TCGplayer — where shipping costs raise the price.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Foundations Jumpstart boxes are designed to make MTG as approachable as possible. That’s because each box includes 24 Jumpstart boosters, and every pack contains 20 cards, including all the lands you need to play. With that, you can just grab two boosters, shuffle them together, and you’ve got a ready-to-go deck. No sorting, no drafting, and no homework required whatsoever.
Each booster also guarantees at least one Rare or Mythic Rare card, plus one anime-inspired alternate-art card, adding a collectible edge to the quick-play format. With over 46 possible themes, ranging from Goblins and Dinosaurs to Ninjas and more, replay value stays high — even after cracking multiple packs.
This box is especially well-suited for two-player games, casual Magic nights, or teaching new players the ropes without overwhelming them. What’s more, while Jumpstart products often hover well above the $120 mark, this price cut brings Foundations firmly into impulse-buy territory.
Speaking of MTG box deals, you can also buy the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box for $47 off at Amazon. If you’re still curious about the Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion, the Beginner Box is still available to grab at a record price.
Will Green Day slam Trump or ICE on Super Bowl LX?
While performing in front of stadiums of their fans, Green Day hasn't shied away from sharing their thoughts on President Donald Trump or his aggressive employment of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (aka ICE). So, will this American punk band use their stage at Super Bowl LX to make a political statement?
Here's what we know so far.
Green Day is in for the Super Bowl; Trump is out.On Jan. 18, news hit that Green Day had been chosen to play the opening ceremony Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. According to ABC News, "The opening ceremony will take place ahead of the pregame entertainment, in which Charlie Puth is to perform the national anthem, Brandi Carlile will sing 'America the Beautiful,' and Coco Jones will deliver 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.'"
ABC also reported that Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of the Bay Area band, declared, "We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard! We are honored to welcome the MVPs who've shaped the game and open the night for fans all over the world. Let's have fun! Let's get loud!"
While Green Day fans celebrated online, President Trump told the New York Post in an Oval Office interview that he would not be attending Super Bowl LX, citing Green Day and Bad Bunny as a reason. "I'm anti-them," Trump said, "I think it's a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible."
SEE ALSO: Jon Stewart goes scorched earth on Trump administration over ICE killing of Alex Pretti Green Day has been denouncing Trump's "MAGA agenda" in live shows. Tré Cool, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt of Green Day perform onstage on January 17, 2026 in Inglewood, California. Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for iHeartRadioThis punk band has a history of speaking out on politics, most powerfully with American Idiot. Their critically heralded 2004 album criticized the "redneck agenda" of President George W. Bush and made clear the band's opposition to the Iraq War.
To that end, Green Day has been singing an altered version of the song "American Idiot," to show their rejection of Trump and his politics. Billboard reported that on Sept. 20, 2019, while performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Armstrong sang, "I'm not a part of a MAGA agenda," in place of the original lyric, "I'm not a part of a redneck agenda."
On their Saviors tour in 2024, Green Day played the whole of the American Idiot album to celebrate its 20th anniversary. And the "MAGA" lyric change was consistent, as seen in videos from fans across the U.S. — and witnessed by this reporter at a concert in New York City. (NYC may be Trump's hometown, but the audience in Citi Field cheered in excitement over the lyric change.)
On Jan. 17, 2025, the day before Green Day was announced as a Super Bowl performance, the band played the 2026 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. The fan account greendayinc posted a video of the end of the performance, which contained a political message in Spanish. (Could this be a nod to Bad Bunny's assurance he'll be singing in Spanish at the big game?)
Finishing out their final song for the tour, "Good Riddance," Armstrong says to the crowd, "Please look out for your neighbors. Make sure you take care of each other. Make sure you love one another. Protect each other."
Then, after finishing the song, he shouts, "Chinga la migra," which roughly translates to "Fuck ICE."
So, will Green Day say something during the opening ceremony of the Super Bowl, with the whole nation watching?
At this time, Green Day members Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool have not made a public announcement about their plans for the big game performance. However, as speaking out against political violence and Trump has been a part of their live performances for years, we predict Green Day will say something.
Will it be as bold as dropping an f-bomb on live TV? Will it be a lyric targeted at Trump and his MAGA supporters? Will it be a message to support your neighbor or to "be good," in reference to the protest pins won by celebrities at the Golden Globes, drawing attention to the killing of Minnesota resident Renee Good?
We'll all find out on Feb. 8.
Get better AI results for life with this $30 prompt-building tool
TL;DR: Work more efficiently with AI forever thanks to this lifetime subscription to Prompting Systems for just $29.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Prompting Systems Prompting Systems: Lifetime Subscription $29.99$360 Save $330.01 Get Deal
AI is as powerful as your prompt. If you could use some help in the prompting department, Prompting Systems is here for you. This handy tool takes a basic idea and turns it into an expert-level prompt that will give you the best possible AI output. And right now, a lifetime subscription is on sale for only $29.99.
If you’re working with AI often, you know how important your prompt can be. Prompting Systems takes a simple idea and turns it into a prompt that will help you get an expert-level AI output from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Midjourney, Leonardo, and more AI tools.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Whether you’re a seasoned or novice AI user, you can benefit from Prompting Systems. It’s great for creators, marketers, students, developers, business professionals, and anyone looking for human-like AI results. Its self-adaptive prompting core and guided multi-level workflow show you how to get great outcomes on your first attempt.
There are nine hyper-trained models you can use, including storytelling, image generation, video, SEO, email, social, product copy, vision-to-text, text-to-image, and more. They each help you become a master of AI, with industry-specific detailing and results that don’t require trial and error.
This lifetime subscription gives you access to the Bronze Plan, which provides 500 AI credits a month. Each prompt equals one action or one dynamic prompt generation.
Start working smarter with AI thanks to this lifetime subscription to Prompting Systems for just $29.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Secrets from 7 tech and career experts on how to get hired in 2026
Over 1,000 Meta employees started off 2026 on a bleak note — they were laid off in mid-January from Reality Labs, the company's Virtual Reality (VR)-focused division.
The public's unenthusiastic response to the Metaverse may have ultimately doomed these positions, but the threat of job loss feels acute to many in the tech industry due to U.S.-imposed tariffs and the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence.
AI was responsible for nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025, according to CNBC, citing consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Last year marked the highest number of layoffs since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Last year, the tech industry saw over 140,000 layoffs, more than any other industry except the government sector.
SEE ALSO: Pinterest to lay off staff and shift resources to AI, company saysNow that we have that out of the way, the good news is that the tech job market isn't all hopeless. AI is currently a net positive for jobs, generating more positions than it eliminates, according to investment company Vanguard.
Mashable spoke to seven professionals in the tech and employment sectors, and they all saw reasons for optimism, offering their own advice for getting hired or moving up. Some of their biggest takeaways:
• Explore courses and training, especially on utilizing AI.
• AI is changing every day. Learning and experience culled from a few months ago may already be outdated.
• Tech jobs don't just happen at tech companies; all organizations need people fluent in AI, data security, and machine learning.
• Companies are looking for people who can help their peers integrate AI into daily workflows and use the technology more effectively.
• If you're currently employed, ask your supervisor how AI might change your role and what you can do to be proactive about that change.
• Old-fashioned networking is still valued, as are communication skills like writing and speaking.
Read more about getting hired or promoted in the testimonials below.
Cristina Mancini, Chief Executive Officer of Black Girls CodeWhat would you say to someone looking for work in the tech industry?If I had to choose a word for 2026 it's 'adaptive'; that’s the critical skill. One of my favorite titles for jobs I’ve seen is the human in the loop jobs; that’s making sure there’s a human in the loop before products ship or before you make strategy decisions; [a person] still using their discernment and lived experience.
There's a big shift in the C-suite of some tech companies, with many leaving or shifting roles. How could that filter down to those in entry- and mid-level jobs?I think it’s interesting because Apple doesn’t usually go through these swings; they’re one of the stable ones. I think it’s interesting; they’re saying they’re all in on AI and, 'We’re going to win on AI.' What does winning on AI mean? Eventually, as happened with Klarna and other organizations, people are going to understand that AI cannot run your company for you. You still need people; they’re going to hire back people who understand how to use the tools. So, making sure you acquire these tools now is critical. That means you’re starting to experiment with the tools.
One of the things we’re proud of that we do [at Black Girls Code] is live training; our virtual training always has teachers. As of last year, you have a 5 percent chance of completing an online course by yourself, but it ratchets up to 95 percent if you’re part of a cohort. Trying to tell people, "just learn it," doesn’t help when people don’t understand the technology. We’re at this interesting juncture where there’s an opportunity to leapfrog some of these legacy systems and programs by learning a new skill that you don’t necessarily have to get a four-year degree for. People should take advantage of it.
SEE ALSO: How Black Girls Code is preparing underrepresented kids for the AI revolutionGetting a major in some of these technologies is also challenging in a four-year college because the technologies are shifting. By the time you publish [a thesis], it’ll probably be dated.
Also, senior-level executives often don’t have to understand that they’re making everyone else use. We need to be aware of these tools. When you don’t, you could inadvertently be leading an organization that’s shipping harmful products.
I was talking to a friend of mine, he’s a career pivoter, switching out of sports and wants to get into tech. He was confused because everyone was sending him links to online courses, and he was wondering, Where do all these pathways lead? Which are the ones I should take? One of his friends took a cybersecurity course and dropped off because it was too hard. [These new skills] can feel like a foreign language.
I speak a couple of different languages. Once you start learning a new language, other languages become less complicated because you start understanding a different way of thinking. People have been talking about being a lifelong learner forever, but now that’s not a nice-to-have. Sitting on your degree from 20 years ago is not going to help you today.
Every industry is becoming a technology industry. People look at the mass layoffs happening across the tech industry, but there are other industries using technology to drive their business, and they need people who understand how to use it.
What are those opportunities that people aren’t seeing? If you’re a small business owner, suddenly becoming the CTO of your organization is not as complicated as it used to be. You don’t need 12 engineers to think about how to build certain CRMs or your marketing stacks. But you can hire someone who can use the AI tools to build them.
Is this really a pivotal moment in the industry?I think we’re definitely in an incredible [AI] hype cycle, and all hype cycles burst eventually. But this technology is not going anywhere; some version of it will remain. So, when the companies have to hire back people, they’re going to hire people who understand the technology. A lot of startups, ourselves included, are moving into more place-based opportunities. There are jobs for real-life growth developers; people want to connect in person in the tech industry. People are understanding that people matter and help drive business forward.
Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Adobe Stock Hetu Kamichetty, Chief Technology Officer of Xaira, a company utilizing AI to advance drug discoveryWhat tech positions are going to be in demand in 2026?Let me quickly introduce myself and Xaira a little bit. I'm a computer scientist by training. My PhD was in AI. I spent a decade in tech. I was at Facebook. I was at Amazon. I was part of the agentic AI efforts at Facebook before I quit, and now I'm a cofounder and CTO of this company called Xaira. We are using AI to change how drugs and medicines are made, and ultimately how health is managed using AI.
And that relates to the question that you asked, because if you think about the space we're operating, five years ago, I was building AI models to improve search or improve chatbots, and now I'm using AI models to improve how we make medicine.
I just came back from [a conference and] a big theme across the board was AI is changing how tech is done, how we code — but that's so 2025. AI is changing how science might be done, how health might be managed, how drug discovery is done, and a bunch of other fields. AI through robotics is changing manufacturing. So, a big theme [of 2026] is how AI could play a role in other disciplines outside of what we might have considered tech, right?
I mean, tech is, I don't know, 10, 20 percent of the GDP. Health is 20 percent of the GDP, so tech is a smaller fraction of the GDP than everything else [that makes up the GDP], and through AI, we might be able to change and improve not just what we might consider traditional tech.
What would you say to someone trying to get into tech or trying to advance in their career? How can they prepare themselves for a world shifting so quickly?I think AI is going to improve and change how other disciplines and other industries are done. So if you're a tech person and you're trying to learn AI, very good news, it's fairly easy to learn that these days. I have 20 years of experience in AI, but unfortunately, only the last six months count. Because the field is moving so rapidly, anybody wanting to learn more about AI just needs to learn about what happened this year, and they're kind of caught up on everything.
So for the tech folk trying to learn more AI, there's plenty of online resources, there's plenty of communities; it's fairly easy to write AI code because of coding agents, so you just need to formulate your question.
For the larger sector, there's plenty of people who are tech-adjacent, and I think that's the big push I see; there's going to be a lot more desire and need for people who are bilingual or at least can speak AI, who can understand how AI might change things, understand how to use AI, understand scenarios where AI would be great, scenarios where AI would need some help.
Let's say you're a product designer, a product designer who speaks AI, a data scientist, a data scientist who understands how AI models are used to how AI models are evaluated — all of these things have a way for you to build on your experience and add that AI layer on top of it.
There's a huge need for people able to keep up with what's changing, especially as a startup. We want people to think big, we want them to be bold, we want them to be willing to pivot when things evolve, when things change under the ground.
If you only said, well, 'I'm a tech person and I do [Quality Assurance].' Because of AI, quality assurance of software is very, very different than what it was three years ago, what it was five years ago, what it was maybe even at the beginning of 2025. There's still a huge value for QA skills. But those QA skills need to be bought in with [knowledge of] how agents work. What are the kinds of failure modes that agents currently face that you should be increasing your emphasis on? Folks who are willing to learn and look at this as an opportunity are going to succeed.
Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety, a resume template builderWhat tech positions are emerging?AI is really just taking over the career space. AI and machine learning engineers, data scientists who use AI, prompt engineers, AI product managers; all are for sure going to be hot. Any kind of position that’s unique in integrating AI in everyday living.
Everyone is thinking of their jobs and their longevity. The use of AI in organizations opens up the possibility for AI to almost become an organizational team sport. What I mean is, people building AI from a technical perspective are going to be really important, but also the people who can help integrate it into the organization and its everyday workflows are going to be very important. We’re seeing the emergence of AI operations specialists, people who look at day-to-day operations and try to optimize them using AI workflow management. We’re seeing people like AI governance and AI compliance professionals; these kinds of positions are also coming up. We’re seeing AI used in HR more, so we’re looking at individuals who know how to use AI in the HR space from an ethical standpoint, and those in HR who can [use AI to help] with up-skilling.
We think about these technical roles in AI, but there’s a big open space for positions where a specific skillset can be transferred. If you’re in operations management, for example, you can get complementary AI skills that will help you stay in operations management, but also help you assist an organization in building workflows that can support AI optimization.
SEE ALSO: Which jobs are AI-proof? How can candidates make themselves more viable in this economy?I read OpenAI is starting its own courses on how to use ChatGPT better and how to prompt it better. Google was starting courses. Many of these companies are saying, 'We want to get X number of people trained in AI utilization to balance what may happen in the workforce.'
Go to conferences, tap in with people in your field, ask leaders in your organization, ‘How do you see AI being implemented across the organization, but also within my team and role? And what are some of the things I can do to keep myself viable?’
You can also ask if, for instance, you're an HR manager or representative, 'What are some of the things I can do to learn how to better integrate AI to support my company?' Even if you have a specific role, there could be an AI twist to it and then could make you incredibly valuable.
We know AI is going to shift a lot of positions, but we’re focusing so much on what positions AI is going to take away. But what’s going to thrive? What unique things could come out of this?
Asking how AI is going to change your role...is the number one strategy for you now. Is networking still important?It’s always been really important to establish a network, but if you are in the position now of asking how AI is going to change your role, then this is the number one strategy for you now. You have to become inquisitive and curious, not shut down. Sometimes when fear comes up — hey, this is people’s livelihoods — we can shut down. This is the time to be proactive and inquisitive. Talking to people is so incredibly important.
Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images AJ Balance, Chief Product Officer of GrindrWhat trends for tech jobs do you see in 2026?We really believe AI, similar to Grindr’s founding, is one of these paradigm-shifting technologies, like the smartphone was in 2009, that really allows us to build amazing product experiences that make those different types of connections happen. Our approach to AI is really about helping users make more, better, deeper connections more easily.
Earlier this year, we had a vision of AI at Grindr — which we call GAYI — to build Grindr into an AI-native company, incorporating that intelligence that AI brings at all layers of the product and technical architecture, either in operations or internally. So, we think of [AI] as this paradigm shift, both in product and the way we work. It is impacting how we’re building out our team and how we work in the future.
Similar to other big leaps in technology, we’re seeing a lot of jobs augmented by AI to different degrees of functionality and scope, rather than being fully replaced by AI. We see it as a big opportunity in our product to accelerate the ability for users to make connections more easily, to help us be incredibly productive and augment the types of jobs folks are doing, and perform even more impactful work.
What are you looking for from someone who wants to be part of Grindr’s further adoption of AI?As AI continues to evolve, I think there’s a lot of demand for folks proficient in leveraging these new tools, like generative AI, across the product and software development lifecycle. So, [we're looking for] folks already using these tools for product management and software engineering work, those who have experience trying them out and applying them in those roles, as well as folks working in design, data, security, and platform teams.
One of the things we see coming is increased demand for applied AI engineers, designers, [and] data scientists who are proficient in building products using these [AI] tools and incorporating them into their day-to-day work, whether it’s in their primary job at the company they're at or even side projects they build. Those are particularly exciting skills and valuable for building products and technology at Grindr.
There are certain degrees or disciplines folks study — like computer science to become a software engineer, designers having gone through a design curriculum — some of those skills are very relevant for roles like product design, engineering, data science. Real experience working in those fields and using AI tools in that work is what really sets [candidates] apart.
Alberto Silveira, Chief Technology Officer at HireVue, an AI and HR management company The most in-demand tech jobs won’t just build AI; they’ll secure it, govern it, and make it usable at scale. On the most in-demand tech jobs in 2026:It almost goes without saying that roles like data scientists and machine learning engineers will remain in high demand in 2026. What’s accelerating, though, is hiring for cybersecurity and AI governance roles as organizations grapple with new AI-driven security threats, data privacy risks, and regulatory requirements. We’re also seeing growing demand for cloud engineers, AI product managers, and applied AI specialists who can translate advanced technology into real business outcomes. In short, the most in-demand tech jobs won’t just build AI; they’ll secure it, govern it, and make it usable at scale.
It’s also worth remembering that in the era of AI, it’s not just about particular hard skills like coding languages or platform experience — people with critical thinking skills will be more in demand than ever before.
Where job seekers should be looking for work:Who gets the job should always be about who is the most qualified, but the fact is that a referral goes a long way in a crowded field. One of the best ways to streamline a job search is to start by reaching out to your network for referrals and focus on applying to those roles. It’s important to not just network from behind a screen — attend local meetups and events when you can.
When tapping into your network, don’t just think about the people you’re closest to; research shows that connections with "weak ties" can yield the most significant results. Set a personal goal to reach out to five people daily and ask them for referrals.
SEE ALSO: LinkedIn and Adobe announce partnership to help creators protect their work against AI Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Adobe Stock Kathleen Kramer, 2026 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Past President.On the top trends jobseekers should be aware of in 2026:My general advice is to be zigging instead of zagging. Since it's AI everywhere, you want to be looking for contributing the non-AI expertise to where AI is going, which is not the general hop-on-the-bandwagon approach.
The second [trend] would be [that] semiconductors are back big and software-only is very sad, which is also the opposite of what's happened, say, in the last four years. So coding is an and...it's not the pathway to success. In fact, the opposite of a coding-only approach is robotics. I see much more opportunity [in robotics] for a career-interested person.
On the value of being able to write and ideate without AI:You think about the most brilliant, most admired people in tech. How many of them have no communication skills? How many of them are asking ChatGPT to write their speech? It's just not happening.
I always value those skills that make you the complete technologist. There's job function, but there's also just personal value, personal enrichment, personal power to advance yourself, and to be able to rely on yourself. But if I was hiring someone who can't get any work done without consulting an outside AI, it's just not really a significant added value.
— As told to Rebecca Ruiz
Marcie Foy, Director of Career Consultants, Carnegie Mellon UniversityOn the current state of the tech job market:I think one thing that we're seeing with the tech job market, broadly speaking, is that there's a lot of changes going on, especially with...AI coming more to the forefront within the tech industry. What companies are looking for, the skill sets they need, [and] the experiences that they need are kind of in this state of flux and change.
So it's really, really important for all potential candidates, whether they be undergraduate students through PhDs or experienced individuals, to be able to demonstrate that they are at the top of their game as well with these new changes. They [need to] come to the table with the skill sets that the companies are looking for, and clearly communicate that in their application materials and throughout the interview process, especially in those technical interviews.
Being able to really demonstrate what you can do, how you can do it, and showcase those skills throughout that process is even more important. [That's] not to say it wasn't important before, but it's even more important now with the change of technical skill set that's needed, with the emphasis of AI continuing to grow.
On the skills tech employers are looking for right now:For a lot of the fields that I support, more specifically in the engineering and computer science spaces, [employers are looking for] the individuals that are able to actually kind of create in the AI space. They're skilled with machine learning and working with language models and natural language processing and areas related to where the work is happening within AI.
That's where we're starting to see things pick up within the tech industry. Moving beyond [programming] to be able to develop the AI agents and things that can do some of that baseline work, as well as more data analysis and machine learning side of things [is important].
On the importance of clear communication:The emphasis is changing on what we commonly referred to as soft or transferable skills, [such as] the ability to communicate really effectively in the workplace environment, both written and verbally, the ability to explain your thought process, to problem solve and to use all of the information that's at your disposal, including AI, to be able to generate new ideas, [and] to be able to solve the more challenging problems at hand.
The ability to communicate those softer, transferable skills in an interview and on your resume is even more important, regardless of how technical the goal is.
Something that I'm also hearing and seeing is in the interview process — really being able to articulate how you did something, not just what you did, but actually how you did it, the choices that you made, why you made those choices, to show that you have command over your subject matter. That's a way for both candidates to stand out, but also for employers to validate the level of individual that they're considering, given that those individuals also have access to AI to help them prepare for those interviews. — As told to Rebecca Ruiz
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Rebecca Ruiz contributed to this story.
Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal livestream: Watch the rocket test live
NASA has postponed the pivotal fueling test for Artemis II because of a near-freezing chill in Florida, making a February space launch far less likely.
The so-called "wet dress rehearsal" will load the Space Launch System with 700,000 gallons of ultra‑cold propellants at the rocket's Kennedy Space Center launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The trial run, now targeted for Monday, Feb. 2, takes the countdown all the way to 29 seconds before liftoff, then stops.
How the test goes will determine when NASA actually lights those engines.
"We need to get through wet dress, we need to see what lessons we learn as a result of that, and that will ultimately lay out our path toward launch," Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson said. "With a wet dress that is without significant issues, if everything goes to plan, then certainly there are opportunities within February that could be achievable."
SEE ALSO: No guarantees: Inside the biggest risks facing NASA's Artemis 2 crewArtemis II will be the agency's first flight to the moon with a crew in over 50 years. Three U.S. astronauts, Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and one Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, will ride in the Orion spacecraft, which they named Integrity. The 10-day journey, which could launch as early as Feb. 8, is a necessary flight test before NASA attempts to land astronauts on the lunar surface.
Here's how to watch NASA fill up the 322-foot mega moon rocket in this crucial test.
Artemis II launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson watches the mega moon rocket roll by the windows of the firing room. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani When is the wet dress rehearsal?NASA has announced the wet dress rehearsal is now scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. ET, two days later than officials had said earlier in the week, though the date and time could continue to change as the agency monitors weather and temperature conditions.
During the test, teams will fill the rocket with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen and rehearse every major step of launch‑day fueling. Controllers will run through all countdown procedures, including the final "terminal count," stopping at T‑29 seconds.
Will NASA broadcast the test?Yes, although the agency has not released the link to the specific feed, NASA plans to stream the wet dress rehearsal live on its YouTube channel.
The individual stream links will be available on that page, "closer to activities," according to NASA. It's unclear how much forewarning the agency will provide. It's also likely NASA will broadcast the event on NASA+, its own free on-demand streaming service, though a placeholder link for it was not available as of midday Friday on the service's "scheduled events" page. Check NASA's Facebook page and X channel for coverage as well.
Since SLS rolled out to the pad on Jan. 17, NASA has maintained a steady 24-7 view of the rocket. But that feed won't be the one capturing the fueling test with commentary, according to officials.
From left, the Artemis II crew: Christina Hammock Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman. Credit: NASA / James Blair What's the likelihood of success?It's hard to predict the outcome of NASA's wet dress rehearsal, but how smoothly it goes will drive the launch timeline.
During Artemis I, NASA needed four fueling rehearsals because teams had trouble keeping the liquid oxygen cold enough, found hydrogen leaks where the ground pipes connect to the rocket, and ran into a problem with a valve that lets hydrogen flow back into the tank. From SLS's rollout in March 2022, it was an eight-month campaign before the rocket left Earth.
Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.
But mission leaders say this time will be different. For Artemis II, they have changed how they pump the fuel, upgraded the connections between the rocket and the ground equipment, and redesigned and tested that troublesome valve with real super‑cold fuel.
"Why do we think that we'll be successful in Artemis II?" Blackwell-Thompson said. "It's the lessons that we learned."
When will Artemis 2 launch?A launch window is the span of time when a rocket can lift off and still reach its planned destination in space. NASA has released the launch windows for February, March, and April. Mashable has provided an extensive explainer on launch opportunities for the upcoming crewed mission.
Because of the latest delays, that leaves only Feb. 8, 10, and 11 for this month before NASA starts looking into March. Despite having only publicized the launch dates through April, mission leaders said they actually have a handful of days available "in just about every month," Blackwell-Thompson said.
The Beats Solo 4 headphones are $70 off at Amazon — buy now for under $130
SAVE $70: As of Feb. 2, Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $129.95 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 $129.95 at Amazon$199.95 Save $70 Get Deal
If you're looking for great quality headphones, you can never go wrong with Beats. From earbuds to speakers, the brand is synonymous with punchy bass and quality sound.
As of Feb. 2, Beats Solo 4 are on sale at Amazon, down from $199.95 to $129.95. All colors are discounted too, so you can choose from matte black, black and gold, cloud pink, metallic pink, and slate blue.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!There are so many great things about with these headphones, including support for Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. These give you a far more immersive listening experience. The design is also incredibly lightweight and comfortable, and have been designed for all-day wear. They also have a flex-grip headband and adjustable, angled ear cups for a secure fit.
The battery life is built to support all day use, lasting up to 50 hours. And when you do run out, don't worry. The Fast Fuel charging function will give you five hours of listening with just a 10-minute charge.
This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.
Billie Eilish says f*** ICE during Grammys speech
Billie Eilish picked up the award for Song of the Year alongside her brother Finneas at the 2026 Grammy Awards, and she used the opportunity to send a clear message to ICE.
"No one is illegal on stolen land," says Eilish in the clip above. "It's just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting, and speaking up, and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter, and f*** ICE is all I want to say, sorry."
ICE has come under increasing criticism in recent weeks following the deadly shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents.
The Apple Watch Series 11 is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $100 right now
SAVE $100: As of Feb. 2, the Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 $299 at Amazon$399 Save $100 Get Deal
Having only been released late last year, we're very excited about Amazon's new discount on the Apple Watch Series 11. This latest in the lineup of Apple Watches is a stellar option for just about anything, whether it's lifestyle support or fitness tracking you need. And as of Feb. 2, it's on sale for its best-ever price. Get the Apple Watch Series 11 on sale for $299 at Amazon.
The Apple Watch Series 11 has advanced tracking tools designed for everyday life. The health features are clever enough that they can detect potential signs of chronic high blood pressure and send you hypertension notifications. The stats also include advanced sleep tracking. With this, you'll get a nightly sleep score to help monitor how well you slept and how often you woke up.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Additional features include ECG readings, heart rate alerts, blood oxygen monitoring, and overnight health metrics through the Vitals app. And it doesn't end there. This Apple Watch offers features like advanced workout metrics, heart rate zones, training load tracking, and Apple Fitness+ integration.
The battery life is a real selling point, promising to last up to 24 hours with normal use. Fast charging gives you up to eight hours of use in 15 minutes.
Get this great deal on the Apple Watch Series 11 now.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is at a record-low price at Amazon — save $500 right now
SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that matches the record-low price at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon$1,599 Save $500 Get Deal
Despite the FCC ban on foreign drones, you can still get yourself a DJI drone. The fine print of the ban explains that any drone already in the country are excluded from the new legislation, which means they're fair game for ownership and operation. However, that means stock is dwindling, so if you're searching for a DJI drone, check out this latest deal.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that takes a hefty $500 off the price. It also matches the record-low price at Amazon.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a premium drone and the Fly More Combo makes it just that much more appealing. The bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone itself, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. Boiled down, this is everything you'd want for an epic drone set-up.
In terms of performance, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a stellar model. It has a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can also go with 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming. DJI also made this model especially appealing for night flying thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. DJI's ActiveTrack 360° technology is a must-have feature if you'll be filming moving subjects like a cyclist, skier, or surfer.
While it's still in stock and on sale for a record-low price, snag the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. The bundle is packed with advanced accessories while still being a perfect model for beginners.
The Roku Streaming Stick HD is under $16 at Amazon — save $14 right now
SAVE $14: As of Feb. 2, the Roku Streaming Stick HD is on sale for $15.99 at Amazon. That's a 47% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick HD $15.99 at Amazon$29.99 Save $14.00 Get Deal
If you want to make your streaming setup seamless, a streaming stick is the answer. And if you want a seamless streaming setup that won't break the bank, the Roku Streaming Stick HD is exactly what you need.
As of Feb. 2, this handy little device is on sale for $15.99 at Amazon. Yes, for $15.99 you can upgrade your TV to Roku, giving you easy access to platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, with a home screen that puts all your favorite TV shows in one place.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!It couldn't be easier to set up either. Just plug the streaming stick into your TV and you're good to go. This model doesn't even need to be plugged into an outlet, it can be powered by your TV, making it a great option if you want to reduce cable clutter. You can also take it on vacation, so there's no need to log in to every platform on a new TV (and no issue with remembering to log out, either).
You'll also be able to control everything with a single remote that comes with the device. This includes powering the TV and adjusting the volume. It also has a voice control function.
Nice and easy, right? Get this Roku streaming deal from Amazon now.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer teases an hilariously dismissive reunion
The gang is back together again, but it seems as though Miranda (Meryl Streep) barely remembers who anybody is.
The trailer above for The Devil Wears Prada 2 teases Andy (Anne Hathaway) entering the office of her former boss, only to be met with confusion and plenty of trademark dismissiveness. Fortunately when Andy's former rival Emily (Emily Blunt) pops up later, she gets exactly the same treatment.
Coming out two decades after the original adaption of Lauren Weisberger's, the sequel reunites the core original casts while adding in the likes of Sydney Sweeney and Simone Ashley.
The complete list of winners at the 2026 Grammy Awards main ceremony
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were on this Sunday night, celebrating some of the tunes and bangers that helped get us through the past year.
Returning to Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena and hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for the sixth year in a row, the 2026 Grammy Awards' main ceremony featured performances by nominees such as Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Rosé, and Bruno Mars.
As usual, the vast majority of the Grammy Awards' 95 categories were presented during the Premiere Ceremony prior to the main telecast. However, the biggest awards are announced during the main broadcast ceremony, which always includes Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. The Dr. Dre Global Impact Award was also awarded during this year's main ceremony, going to Pharrell Williams.
The Grammy Awards main ceremony was broadcast from 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBS, as well as for Paramount+ Premium subscribers.
Here is the full list of nominees and winners at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards' main ceremony. This article is being updated live, with winners bolded as they are announced.
Best Rap AlbumLet God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
GLORIOUS by GloRilla
God Does Like Ugly by JID
GNX by Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, the Creator
Olivia Dean (WINNER)
KATSEYE
The Marias
Addison Rae
sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny (WINNER)
Mixteip by J Balvin
FERXXO VOL X: Sagrado by Feid
NAIKI by Nicki Nicole
EUB DELUXE by Trueno
SINFÓNICO (En Vivo) by Yandel
Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini
Snipe Hunter by Tyler Childers
Evangeline Vs. The Machine by Eric Church
Beautifully Broken by Jelly Roll (WINNER)
Postcards From Texas by Miranda Lambert
SWAG by Justin Bieber
Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus
MAYHEM by Lady Gaga (WINNER)
I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) by Teddy Swims
"DAISIES" by Justin Bieber
"Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter
"Disease" by Lady Gaga
"The Subway" by Chappell Roan
"Messy" by Lola Young (WINNER)
"Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga
"Anxiety" by Doechii
"APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars
"DtMF" by Bad Bunny
"Golden" by HUNTR/X
"luther" by Kendrick Lamar with SZA
"Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter
"WILDFLOWER" by Billie Eilish (WINNER)
"DtMF" by Bad Bunny
"Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter
"Anxiety" by Doechii
"WILDFLOWER" by Billie Eilish
"Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga
"luther" by Kendrick Lamar with SZA (WINNER)
"The Subway" by Chappell Roan
"APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny (WINNER)
SWAG by Justin Bieber
Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
MAYHEM by Lady Gaga
GNX by Kendrick Lamar
MUTT by Leon Thomas
CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, the Creator
Hurdle hints and answers for February 2, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintHuge.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerJUMBO
Hurdle Word 2 hintConsumption.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 2, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerUSAGE
Hurdle Word 3 hintA fairy.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 2, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerDRYAD
Hurdle Word 4 hintA fragrant resin.
Hurdle Word 4 answerMYRRH
Final Hurdle hintFaithful.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerLOYAL
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on February 2
The Full Moon has passed, so now the Moon will be getting smaller each night as we move towards the New Moon.
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Monday, Feb. 2, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 99% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
It's a day after the Full Moon, and there's still a whole lot of moon in the sky tonight. This means there's lots to see, eithout or without visual aids. Without, the Mare Imbrium, Aristarchus Plateau, and the Mare Serenitatis all come into view. With binoculars, you'll also see the Posidonius Crater, Clavius Crater, and Apennine Mountains too. Finally, with a telescope, you'll see all this and the Caucasus Mountains, Rima Ariadaeus, and the Rupes Altai.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will be on March 3.
What are Moon phases?According to NASA, the lunar cycle lasts around 29.5 days. This is how long the Moon takes to travel once around Earth. Over that period, it passes through eight recognised phases. The same side of the Moon always faces our planet, however the portion that appears lit changes as the Moon moves along its orbit. The amount of sunlight reaching the Moon is what makes it appear full, partially illuminated, or almost invisible at different points in the cycle. The eight lunar phases are:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3: What does Eggs song mean?
From "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" to "The Rains of Castamere," the world of Westeros is no stranger to catchy, in-universe songs. In its third episode, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gets in on the musical action itself, incorporating two songs into its storyline, including one sung by Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).
SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Targaryen family tree: How everyone connectsAt first glance, the song is a bawdy, jokey number, one that consistently builds up to curse words only to substitute them with words that sound alike. (Think "ass" and "grass," or "whore" and "horses.") It also doubles as a Westerosi history lesson about a key recent event: the Battle of the Redgrass Field, which is the conclusion of the Blackfyre Rebellion. Let's break it down, starting with the song's lyrics:
Prince Baelor was the firstborn. Prince Maekar sprang out last.
Daemon was the bastard, so they kicked his bastard —
Grass is green in summer, green grass I adore.
But grass is red all over when you kill a rebel —
Horses die in battle, this battle was the front,
Blackfyre's not a trueborn, he came from the wrong —
Country was in peril, the anvil was a rock,
The hammer smashed the bastard with his giant veiny
Host of Dornish spearmen.
To understand the meaning of the song, you first have to understand the Blackfyre Rebellion. That rebellion has roots in the relationship between the Seven Kingdoms' current ruler, King Daeron II Targaryen, and his late father, King Aegon IV Targaryen.
Aegon IV and Daeron II had a rough relationship, especially when it came to the subject of Dorne. By Aegon IV's reign, Dorne had yet to become a part of the Seven Kingdoms. However, the Seven Kingdoms and Dorne still shared a peaceful relationship, with Daeron II even marrying Dornish Princess Myriah Martell. However, that wasn't enough for Aegon IV, who planned to attack Dorne unprovoked, despite Daeron II's protests. Because of Daeron II's opposition, Aegon IV often threatened that he would make one of his many bastards his new heir. He also spread rumors that Daeron II was a bastard, opting for maximum messiness.
SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' doesn't have an elaborate title sequence. Here's why.Aegon IV never did name a new heir, but on his deathbed, he chose chaos and legitimized all of his bastards. One of them, Daemon Waters, took the name of Daemon Blackfyre, after the sword of Aegon the Conqueror. Daemon had actually received the sword from his father after winning a tournament at age 12, stoking the idea that he was Aegon IV's rightful heir instead of Daeron II.
Two camps emerged during the first years of Daeron II's reign: those who supported him, and those who supported Daemon Blackfyre's claim to the Iron Throne. Strikes against Daeron included his alliance with and supposed deference to Dorne, which he managed to bring into the Seven Kingdoms without any bloodshed, as well as Aegon IV's rumors about his legitimacy.
In 196 AC (after Aegon's conquest), official rebellion broke out as Daemon tried to take the Iron Throne for himself. The resulting conflict, lasting less than a year, was a bloody affair that culminated in the Battle of Redgrass Field. Redgrass Field isn't the actual name of a place in Westeros: The field just became known by that name due to all of the blood spilled during battle.
These are the events summarized in Egg's song, which calls out Daemon's parentage ("Daemon was the bastard") and Redgrass Field ("grass is red all over when you kill a rebel").
The song also highlights the hammer and the anvil, a tactic used by Daeron II's sons, Prince Baelor (Bertie Carvel) and Prince Maekar (Sam Spruell). Baelor and a host of Dornish spearmen slammed into Daemon's forces and smashed them up against Maekar and his men's shield wall. That makes Baelor the hammer and Maekar the anvil. (And it made Daemon and his supporters very, very dead.)
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has already hinted at the Battle of Redgrass field, when Dunk mentions how Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb) fought in it in episode 2. Egg's song simply provides further context.
Egg's song may also canonically exist in George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas. In The Sworn Sword, the second of the novellas, Dunk speaks to Ser Eustace Osgrey, whose sons died in the Battle of Redgrass Field. He says that "the singers can go on about their hammer and their anvil," but also reveals that there's a lot that's missing from the actual songs.
What's missing is a story for another season, but you can imagine the singers Eustace is talking about performing the same number Egg does. It's a fun case of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms extrapolating from a minor detail in a later book.
The song is also an intriguing look at how historical events would be memorialized for Westeros's smallfolk, who are A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' primary focus. Given a likely lack of literacy and education access, the smallfolk wouldn't remember Redgrass Field through lessons or history tomes. Instead, these tales would be passed down through song.
New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.


