Technology

I have a lot of ESP32 boards around my home, working as Bluetooth proxies or powering soil moisture sensors. The beauty of ESP32s is that they can do more than one job at a time, so my soil moisture sensors can work as Bluetooth proxies, too. If your ESP32 board has a controllable on-board LED, you can get even more use out of it by turning the LED into a Home Assistant alert.

People usually assume that local AI requires a powerful GPU. To some degree that is true—many things do require one. However, there is a huge range of small models that are capable of doing useful things.

When the opportunity came up to test the $299 CoreXY Elegoo Centauri 2, I jumped at it. How good could a sub-$300 CoreXY printer be? Way better than I ever imagined, as it turns out.

Another solar eclipse is coming. If you're ready to look up to the sky for the special event, don't forget to protect your eyes. As Europe gears up to witness a total eclipse, parts of North America will enjoy a partial eclipse.

The solar eclipse is taking place on Wednesday, Aug. 12. According to NASA, a total solar eclipse will be seen in Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal. However, partial eclipses can be seen in the northern U.S. (from Alaska to North Carolina), most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwestern Africa.

Don't expect a dramatic show if you're watching from the US, though. The farther south you are, the less you'll see, and if you're not in the eclipse's path, or the weather doesn't cooperate, NASA will stream the eclipse live starting at 1:15 p.m. ET at nasa.gov/live.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualify

If you're planning on watching the eclipse, you'll need a pair of solar eclipse glasses. Be wary, there are plenty of solar eclipse glasses available, especially on Amazon, but you must make sure they're ISO 12312-2 Certified for the safest eye protection. The American Astronomical Society has a list of approved manufacturers you can verify too.

Since the glasses are delicate, check them before use to ensure there are no punctures or tears. To test them, wear them inside your home, and you shouldn't be able to see any light fixtures besides a small filament.

To prepare for the upcoming solar eclipse, here's a list of all the options available at Amazon. All the options on this list are CE-, ISO-, or AAS-certified to protect your eyes during the eclipse. Plus, they all arrive before Wednesday, Aug. 12.

A quick note before you buy: since the eclipse is just days away, delivery timing matters here. Amazon Prime members will generally get the fastest and most reliable delivery windows, so it's worth checking the estimated arrival date on each listing before you order — some of these options are cutting it close, arriving on Aug. 12.

Solar Eclipse Glasses in the UK

• Absolute Eclipse Solar Eclipse Glasses — £4.79

• Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses — £5.99

• Solar Optics Solar Eclipse Glasses 5-pack with Phone Filters — £14.99

• Lunt Solar Eclipse Glasses 5-pack — £15.99

• Kesseph Solar Eclipse Glasses — £17.99

Solar Eclipse Glasses in the U.S. and North America

• Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses (2 pack) — $7.99 (arriving Aug. 12)

• Medical king Solar Eclipse Glasses (10 pack) — $8.99 (arriving Aug. 12)

• Lunt Solar Eclipse Glasses (5 pack) — $9.95

• Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses (5 pack) — $9.99 (arriving Aug. 12)

• Bookishbunny Solar Eclipse Paper Glasses (10 pack) — $10.99 (arriving Aug. 12)

• Keyaluo Solar Eclipse Glasses (12 pack) — $13.99 (arriving Aug. 12)

• Galaxium Solar Eclipse Glasses for kids — $14.95

• Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses (10 pack) — $14.99 (arriving Aug. 12)

• AAA Eclipse Solar Glasses (6 pack) — $17.95

• Galaxium Solar Eclipse Glasses (6 pack) — $17.95 (arriving Aug. 12)

• Helioclipse Solar Eclipse Glasses (12 pack) — $19.95

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026:

Across"Magic" items for Jack, in a classic fairy tale

• The answer is Beans.

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

What the "A" stands for in A/V

• The answer is Audio.

Political ally who receives corrupt benefits

• The answer is Crony.

"Uh-uh"

• The answer is Nope.

Cutesy suffix with "best"

• The answer is Est.

DownPortmanteau for a skin problem under a T-shirt or bra strap

• The answer is Bacne.

Continental currency units

• The answer is Euros.

"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)

• The answer is Adopt.

Highest number in sudoku

• The answer is Nine.

Veggie burger ingredient

• The answer is Soy.

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 yesterday's Mini Crossword.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts 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 do better than someone else.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

TRUMP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To pile up.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STACK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Salty.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 11, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BRINY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

In a moment.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TRICE

Final Hurdle hint

To slumber.

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

SLEEP

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

Almost 100 rare Nintendo cartridges have been discovered in a Wisconsin retro games store, with a handful of them to go up for auction this week. The individually wrapped Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt NES cartridges appear to have come from a previously unknown run of the games, with collectors having been unaware of their existence until now.

SEE ALSO: 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' review: Death is coming for us all

The 97 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges belong to Kevin Braun, owner of retro games store OneStopWonders in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and were identified with the help of Nintendo Wire editor Jason Ganos. Nintendo Wire reports that the cartridges were initially in the possession of a precious metal recovery service, which Nintendo appeared to have contracted to break them down.

They were left untouched for decades, until Braun purchased the box of games from the owner's grandson. He had been intending to sell the games at OneStopWonders, but forgot them in a storage unit until they came up in conversation with Ganos.

"After Kevin finished his story, I immediately could tell that the blood had drained from my face," Ganos wrote, recounting the discovery on Nintendo Wire.

Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt aren't rare games in and of themselves. Released in the U.S. alongside the NES' 1985 launch, Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt have left enduring legacies as two of the platform's most popular titles. In 1988, the games were put together in dual cartridges and sold with the NES in an Action Set bundle.

However, Braun's cartridges do not appear to be from this run. In fact, they do not appear to be from any run that was previously known. Aside from differences in their back labels and instruction manuals, their manufacturing codes indicate that they were made in 1993. As Nintendo Wire noted, this dates the uncovered cartridges after every Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt bundle that fans were aware of.

"What we had found was the very last production run, and an undiscovered variant of Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt. Arguably one of the most beloved, and one of the most documented games in Nintendo history," wrote Ganos. "Not only that, but nearly every cartridge was pristine."

Though there was some initial speculation that the cartridges could be counterfeit, authentication company PSA has since confirmed that they are real. The company also evaluated them for their condition, scoring several between PSA 9.6 to 9.8, while five were given a perfect PSA 10 — a grade that Nintendo Wire states had never been given to a NES cartridge before.

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Three games from the collection will be listed by Goldin Auctions this Wednesday, including one of the cartridges given a PSA score of 10. Though Braun and Ganos intend to keep some of the cartridges for themselves, more will be auctioned off in the future, including in charity auctions.

Exactly how much the cartridges might fetch is unclear. However, they're likely to go for significantly more than the $15 Braun had initially planned to sell them for. A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. with a PSA score of 9.6 just set a new video game auction record in June, selling for a whopping $3 million.

We're almost at the end of the Moon's current lunar cycle, with only the tiniest sliver surface still visible. That crescent will to shrink nothing over the next few nights before the Moon reaches its New Moon phase.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Aug. 11, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Crescent phase, with 3% of its surface visible.

The Moon is not illuminated enough to be able to spot anything on its surface tonight.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from Earth every night. As it travels around our planet, it moves through a lunar cycle that takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The changing positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon affect how much of the Moon's sunlit side we can see, creating the different phases. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon progresses from a narrow crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before starting the sequence over again.

The eight 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.

I learned that my iPhone 15 Pro Max and the upcoming 2026 total solar eclipse do not mix. I stumbled upon BGR's article, which warned skygazers against using their phones to take pictures of the imminent cosmic event.

If you're like me, you may be wondering "Why?" After all, who wouldn't want to snap a photo of such an awe-inspiring celestial occurrence?

Opens in a new window Credit: Lunt Lunt Solar Eclipse Glasses (Pack of 5) £26.21 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: AAA Eclipse AAA Eclipse Solar Viewing Glasses (Pack of 50) $49.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now

As it turns out, taking a photo of the 2026 solar eclipse could damage your iPhone's camera hardware.

SEE ALSO: Solar eclipse 2026 from the US: how to watch from home and online Why you shouldn't take a photo of the 2026 solar eclipse with your phone

In the same way that you shouldn't use a telescope or binoculars to gaze at the sun (you could melt your eyeballs off), you shouldn't use your phone's shooter — or any other poorly equipped camera — to take a photo of the solar eclipse.

BGR says that no smartphone is designed to handle the intense solar rays the sun emanates. "Using your camera or phone could cause the heat from the rays to become so concentrated that it could melt the lens inside," the tech outlet warned.

Days before the April 8, 2024 eclipse that swept across parts of North America, NASA provided similar advice.

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

There is a workaround in that you can purchase filters for your phone and camera.

NEEWER 67mm Clip On Filters Kit for Phone & Camera Credit: Amazon

But the best way to see the eclipse might very well be with your eyes rather than a camera lens. That is, if they are fully protected.

SEE ALSO: Here's where to buy legit solar eclipse glasses that'll arrive before Wednesday's eclipse

It must be emphasized that it's imperative that your eyes are protected. NASA recommends getting "ISO 12312-2" grade solar eclipse glasses that filter harmful light.

The historic 2026 total solar eclipse is set to happen Aug. 12 and, depending where you are, might only be visible as a partial solar eclipse if it's visible at all. Mashable's Elisha Sauers, our space reporter, shares exactly when and where to get the best view of the 2026 solar eclipse.

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

UPDATE: Aug. 9, 2026, 11:00 a.m. EDT This 2024 story was updated to include information related to the 2026 solar eclipse happening on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Alternatively, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Get Deal

Samsung is still the center of attention. Samsung just dropped three new foldables smartphones, two smartwatches, and smart glasses, so it deserves its moment in the spotlight. But that won't last forever. Made by Google takes place this week, and rumors around the iPhone 18 continue to swirl.

If you can't wait for new iPhones to drop, you should know that you can still secure a limited-time offer on iPhones from T-Mobile. That's great news in the face of Apple price increases due to RAMageddon.

These are the best free iPhone deals from T-Mobile this week:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required

• iPhone 17 — free when signing up for 24 months of an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee. That's a small catch, but that's how it often goes with this kind of deal.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." That's enough for us to consider upgrading.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for free this week with T-Mobile.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched football.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Staff

• Green: Halfbacks

• Blue: TV shows

• Purple: Types of penalties

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Members of a Staff

• Green: NFL Running Backs

• Blue: Sports TV Shows

• Purple: Illegal___Penalties in Football

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 #687 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Members of a Staff: COACH, SCOUT, TRAINER, VIDEO COORDINATOR

• NFL Running Backs: COOK, HALL, SWIFT, WALKER

• Sports TV Shows: COBRA KAI, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, HEATED RIVALRY, RUNNING POINT

• Illegal___Penalties in Football: BLINDSIDE BLOCK, FORMATION, FORWARD PASS, SHIFT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 11, 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 August 11, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 11 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 11 Pips

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

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 11 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-4, 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 (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 3-6, 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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you watch a lot of cable TV.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Finished

• Green: Cable TV

• Blue: At an auction

• Purple: Sounds like a body part

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Doomed

• Green: Basic Cable Channels

• Blue: Words in an Auctioneer's Chant

• Purple: Homophones of Facial Features

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 #1157 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Doomed: DONE, SUNK, THROUGH, TOAST

• Basic Cable Channels: BET, BRAVO, HISTORY, USA

• Words in an Auctioneer's Chant: GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE

• Homophones of Facial Features: AYE, HARE, KNOWS, TUNG

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7, 2026

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

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you live in a suburb.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 7, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A barrier, particularly seen around one's house.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter "E" appears twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

FENCE

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

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you like buying fresh fruits and vegetables.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fresh from the market

The words are related to buying produce.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe different fruits and vegetables.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Summer Harvest.

NYT Strands word list for August 11

• Tomato

• Corn

• Melon

• Carrot

• Pepper

• Zucchini

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

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

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

August brought with it a haul of new movies to Paramount+ that we're currently enjoying, which is good because the streamer's big draws this month so far seem to be aimed at a heavy-hitting new season of Taylor Sheridan's Lioness and another monster UFC battle happening this weekend, with UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 has one of those used-car prices that makes you stop and look twice. A luxury SUV that once cost well over $60,000 can now be found in the $30,000s, putting it in the same conversation as a new, well-equipped Toyota.

If your child loves playing the same song over and over again (like mine), you no longer have to keep an old phone handy or splash out for a dedicated device like a Toniebox or Yoto Player. Do-it-yourself enthusiast Dr-Harvey has built the BailaBox, an ESP32-based open-source music player for kids that brings back fond memories of CDs and vinyl.

Back-to-school season is here, and getting ready for another semester can get expensive fast. Tuition and books are only part of the equation. You may also need a laptop, accessories, school supplies, and software for writing papers, creating projects, designing presentations, or completing coursework. All those costs add up quickly, so saving money wherever you can matters.

If your Netflix home page is doing its job, you've likely already seen that Kevin Hart's 72 Hours is at No. 1 on the U.S. Top 10 charts at the moment, and that a Liam Neeson action movie (In the Land of Saints & Sinners) from 2024 is up there, too. While both are solid picks for a fun movie night this week, there are, of course, loads more options.