Technology

With billions of users worldwide, Instagram is arguably the most popular photo sharing platform. With the ability to share posts, reels, and 24-hour stories, Instagram allows everyone and anyone to share snippets of their lives. The top accounts on the platform, primarily belonging to celebrities, show just how much we love to see the daily goings-on in lives different from our own.

Ever wondered who holds the top spot for the most followers? Here are the 10 most-followed people on Instagram, according to Social Blade.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 672 million followers

The most followed person on Instagram is none other than Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. At the time of writing, Ronaldo has amassed a whopping 667 million followers. Unsurprisingly, his posts mostly theme around football and his current team, Al Nassr. Ronaldo also holds the record for most liked Instagram comment when he wrote on Kylian Mbappé's Real Madrid announcement post "my turn (to watch)."

2. Lionel Messi – 511 million followers

Sticking with the footballer theme, the second most followed account belongs to Inter Miami CF player, Lionel Messi. His account also features mostly football content, sharing glimpses into life on and off the pitch. His most liked post is a series of photos celebrating Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup win.

3. Selena Gomez – 415 million followers

Actress, musician, and founder of cosmetics brand Rare Beauty, Selena Gomez is up next on the list. She shares career highlights, Rare Beauty promotions, and glimpses into her daily life, making her one of the most-followed celebrities on the platform.

4. Kylie – 391 million followers

The first of the Jenner-Kardashian clan to feature is Kylie. As of March 30, she has amassed an unbelievable 393 million followers. Her posts regularly give us an insight into her life, her Kylie Cosmetics empire, and family life with her two adorable children. Kylie previously held the record for the most liked photo on Instagram, a picture of her newborn daughter Stormi. However, she later lost this position to a photo of an egg (yes, an egg...).

5. Dwayne Johnson – 390 million followers

If you need motivation, The Rock's Instagram is your go-to. Dwayne Johnson’s Instagram followers are given a regular insight into his fitness routine, movie projects, and personal life. He shares workout clips with the sets and reps listed out for you to try at home, if you're feeling brave.

6. Ariana Grande – 371 million followers

The star of recent Wicked fame is number 6 on our list. An incredible singer and actress, Ariana Grande also holds Instagram-follower fame. Recent content has, of course, been heavily influenced by the recent release of Wicked, with the Oscar-nominated actress sharing behind-the-scenes images with co-star Cynthia Erivo.

7. Kim Kardashian – 353 million followers

Kim Kardashian's Instagram account is as aesthetic as her. It's full of glimpses of her Skims brand, family life and various other collaborations. Fashion is definitely a strong theme of her posts, and you can expect some serious glam envy.

8. Beyoncé – 307 million followers

Another musician to make the list is Beyoncé. Hot off a successful awards season for her latest album, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé's Instagram account is the perfect insight for fans. Posts regularly include her latest Levi's partnership, her new fragrance release, and of course, awards season success.

9. Khloé Kardashian – 299 million followers

Number 9 on the most followed list is Khloé Kardashian. Another insight into the Kardashian-Jenner family, Khloe's posts are primarily wholesome family shots.

10. Justin Bieber - 292 million followers

Justin Bieber takes the 10th spot on the most followed people on Instagram. The musician recently surprised fans with the release of another album, entitled Swag II.

Now that the Full Moon has passed, from our point of view the Moon will appear smaller each night. This is because e have entered the waning part of the lunar cycle.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, March 4, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous . According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 99% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

With just your naked eye tonight you can see the Aristarchus Plateau, Copernicus Crater, and the Mare Serenitatis. If you have binoculars, you should also catch a glimpse of the Mare Nectaris, Archimedes Crater and Endymion Crater. A telescope will help you see all this and even more, including the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says the Moon takes around 29.5 days to circle Earth, moving through a set of eight distinct phases along the way. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the portion lit by the Sun changes as it travels, which is why it can look full, half-lit, or barely visible at different points in the cycle. These changing views are what we call the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

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.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box is down to $116.85 at Amazon, hitting its lowest-ever price and undercutting Walmart’s $118 listing. It also beats the cheapest TCGplayer listing once shipping is factored in.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $116.85 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Mega Evolution’s Ascended Heroes ETBs have been bouncing around the triple-digit mark since launch, but Amazon sellers seem determined to keep pushing down prices on ETBs to keep an edge over competitors on other storefronts. As of March 3, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box is listed for $116.85 at Amazon. That’s a small but real saving vs. Walmart’s current $118 price. 

Confirmed when checking price tracker camelcamelcamel, that’s the lowest price the Ascended Heroes ETB has been at Amazon so far — selling for $119.99 just last week ahead of Pokemon Day 2026.

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TCGplayer’s listings look tempting at first glance, with prices as low as $108.98 — putting it at the market price estimated by the dedicated trading card selling website. However, that lowest listing also comes with an added shipping fees, putting the total above Amazon’s listing.

Your sealed Elite Trainer Box will contain nine Ascended Heroes booster packs, a full-art foil promo card featuring N’s Zekrom, 65 sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, dice, coin, dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. If you want to save every dollar you can with this particularly expensive hobby, Amazon is the go-to when it comes to Ascended Heroes ETBs right now.

Looking ahead to the next Pokémon TCG expansion, you can now pre-order Perfect Order Elite Trainer Boxes for as low as $105.81 at TCGplayer. Meanwhile, Walmart has the best price on Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution ETBs — still only $88.95.

TL;DR: Live stream the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The best international T20 teams are in India and Sri Lanka to compete for the T20 World Cup. This competition always delivers incredible drama and huge performances from the best players in the world, and this edition in no different.

New Zealand, India, South Africa, and England are set to fight it out in the latter stages. Those teams were the pre-tournament favorites, but this electric form of the game is always unpredictable. We can't wait to watch the top teams come together this week to battle it out for the trophy.

If you want to watch the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the T20 World Cup?

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council. The event is generally held every two years. India are the defending champions.

In 2026, 20 teams will compete in 55 matches across five venues. The 20 qualifying teams are divided into four groups of five. In the group stage, each team will play four matches in a round-robin format, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Super 8 stage. At this point, teams will be placed into two groups of four, and will play three matches. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage.

When is the 2026 T20 World Cup?

The 2026 T20 World Cup is the 10th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from Feb. 7 to March 8.

How to watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free

The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Access free T20 Cricket World Cup live streams by following these simple steps:

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

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.

Google has announced a few new Android features on Tuesday, including custom caller ID cards and further location tracking functionality.

SEE ALSO: Android 17 Beta 1 arrives for Pixel: How to download it

Google has added custom Calling Cards that will appear on compatible Android phones when you call them, so the person on the other end knows who's trying to get in contact. Available now on Android 11+ and arriving soon on Wear OS, Calling Cards require both the caller and recipient's devices to have Phone by Google set as their primary calling app. Fortunately, you can choose to only show your Calling Card to your contacts if you prefer.

Android users can customise their Calling Card to display a chosen photo, as well choose the font and colour of their name. Unlike iPhone's similar feature, Android's Calling Cards don't appear to let you directly choose a representative avatar or emoji rather than a photo. However, you can select images from your gallery, so you may be able to save a photo to your phone for use as a workaround. Just remember to be responsible with it. 

Credit: Mashable composite: Google

Google has also rolled out new features for its location tracking network Find Hub, previously known as Find My Device. Last March, Find Hub added the ability to share both your real-time location and tracked items via its app.

Tuesday's update allows you to share your location directly in Google Messages, which will show the recipient a real-time map pinpointing where you are. Just as in Find Hub, you can set it to automatically stop sharing your location after a set period of time, or until you turn it off.

Find Hub also now enables you to share tracked items' locations with partnered airlines in its app, helping them to find you wayward luggage. Google states that it is working with over 10 major airlines, including China Airlines, Air India, and Turkish Airlines, and expects to add others such as Australian airline Qantas soon.

Credit: Mashable composite: Google

Google has announced a few new Android features on Tuesday, including custom caller ID cards and further location tracking functionality.

SEE ALSO: Android 17 Beta 1 arrives for Pixel: How to download it

Google has added custom Calling Cards that will appear on compatible Android phones when you call them, so the person on the other end knows who's trying to get in contact. Available now on Android 11+ and arriving soon on Wear OS, Calling Cards require both the caller and recipient's devices to have Phone by Google set as their primary calling app. Fortunately, you can choose to only show your Calling Card to your contacts if you prefer.

Android users can customise their Calling Card to display a chosen photo, as well choose the font and colour of their name. Unlike iPhone's similar feature, Android's Calling Cards don't appear to let you directly choose a representative avatar or emoji rather than a photo. However, you can select images from your gallery, so you may be able to save a photo to your phone for use as a workaround. Just remember to be responsible with it. 

Credit: Mashable composite: Google

Google has also rolled out new features for its location tracking network Find Hub, previously known as Find My Device. Last March, Find Hub added the ability to share both your real-time location and tracked items via its app.

Tuesday's update allows you to share your location directly in Google Messages, which will show the recipient a real-time map pinpointing where you are. Just as in Find Hub, you can set it to automatically stop sharing your location after a set period of time, or until you turn it off.

Find Hub also now enables you to share tracked items' locations with partnered airlines in its app, helping them to find you wayward luggage. Google states that it is working with over 10 major airlines, including China Airlines, Air India, and Turkish Airlines, and expects to add others such as Australian airline Qantas soon.

Credit: Mashable composite: Google

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. 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 March 4, 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 March 4, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 4 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 4 Pips

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

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 4 Pips

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. 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 March 4, 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 March 4, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 4 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 4 Pips

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

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 4 Pips

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who love Heated Rivalry.

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. 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: 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: Lone Star sports

• Green: Streetwear

• Blue: Gamechangers

• Purple: Associated with the word "long"

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Texas Teams

• Green: Sportswear Brands

• Blue: Associated with "Heated Rivalry"

• Purple: Long___

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 #527 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Texas Teams - ASTROS, MAVERICKS, STARS, TEXANS

• Sportswear Brands - ADIDAS, CHAMPION, FILA, STARTER

• Associated with "Heated Rivalry" - HOLLANDER, METROS, RAIDERS, ROZANOV

• Long___ - BEACH STATE, JUMP, RELIEF, SNAPPER

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who love Heated Rivalry.

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. 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: 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: Lone Star sports

• Green: Streetwear

• Blue: Gamechangers

• Purple: Associated with the word "long"

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Texas Teams

• Green: Sportswear Brands

• Blue: Associated with "Heated Rivalry"

• Purple: Long___

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 #527 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Texas Teams - ASTROS, MAVERICKS, STARS, TEXANS

• Sportswear Brands - ADIDAS, CHAMPION, FILA, STARTER

• Associated with "Heated Rivalry" - HOLLANDER, METROS, RAIDERS, ROZANOV

• Long___ - BEACH STATE, JUMP, RELIEF, SNAPPER

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

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

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

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A popular dating app.

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

HINGE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Before.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 4, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PRIOR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Game points.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 4, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SCORE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A mystical creature.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FAIRY

Final Hurdle hint

A plant.

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

FICUS

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

A popular dating app.

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

HINGE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Before.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 4, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PRIOR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Game points.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 4, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SCORE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A mystical creature.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FAIRY

Final Hurdle hint

A plant.

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

FICUS

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 to solve if you're persistent.

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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 4, 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: To chase

• Green: A good sport

• Blue: Children enjoyments

• Purple: Classic films

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Pursue

• Green: Sportsmanlike

• Blue: Classic kid gifts

• Purple: "___Girl" titles

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 #997 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Pursue: HOUND, SHADOW, TAIL, TRACK

• Sportsmanlike: FAIR, HONEST, SPORTING, SQUARE

• Classic kid gifts: BIKE, BOOK, TOY, VIDEO GAME

• "___Girl" titles: GONE, GOSSIP, NEW, WORKING

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 4, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to bake.

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 March 4, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 4, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Piece of cake

The words are related to pastries.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe pastry ingredients.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Spruced Up.

NYT Strands word list for March 4

• Candles

• Vanilla

• Flour

• Frosting

• Baking Aisle

• Cocoa

• Sugar

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a kleptomaniac.

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 March 4, 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 March 4, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Robbery.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

THEFT

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

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

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

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

Guy Ritchie is back with a new adventure involving one of the world's most famous detectives. Young Sherlock, an origin story for Sherlock Holmes, premieres March 4, 2026, on Prime Video. Instead of a weekly rollout, all eight episodes will be released at once for Prime Video subscribers.

The highest court in the land has decided not to hear a case on whether AI-generated art can be copyrighted under U.S. law, as the battle over digital creation continues.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal involving an artist refused copyright for digital art created by a personal AI software. Plaintiff Stephen Thaler filed for copyright of a piece of moving digital art in 2018. The application was rejected by the U.S. Copyright Office in 2022. The office argued that the Missouri computer scientist's art was not eligible for copyright protection because it was not created by a human.

SEE ALSO: AI has made us all surveillance targets. This tool helps you fight back.

The decision preceded a 2025 report by the U.S. Copyright Office that offered further interpretation of the law and eligibility for copyright shelter, writing that "unedited outputs of generative AI tools" wouldn't qualify for protection. The report added that art facilitated by AI but "retained the centrality of human creativity" could be eligible, but not expressive elements solely determined by a machine.

The copyright of AI-generated and AI-assisted works of art remains an ongoing battle. The office has previously rejected copyright claims by artists who argue certain forms of art created with the assistance of AI tools — rather than art generated independently by AI software — should fall under the 2025 interpretation of U.S. copyright law.

Thaler has also appealed to the Supreme Court over rejected U.S. Patent and Trademark Office applications, urging the court to decide whether or not AI-generated inventions are eligible for U.S. patent protection. The Trump administration had been placing pressure on the court to deny hearing Thaler's copyright case, CNBC reports.

Thaler's lawyers expressed disappointment in the court's decision not to take the case. "Even if it later overturns the Copyright Office's test in another case, it will be too late. The Copyright Office ​will have irreversibly and negatively impacted AI development and use in the creative ​industry during ⁠critically important years."

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Streaming services such as Netflix have made watching shows and movies more convenient. In some cases, however, the versions that are available on streaming services may secretly be significantly worse.

Sometimes, you just need an extra GPU. I'm not going to ask questions. Even though SLI and CrossFire are dead and buried, there are still plenty of legitimate uses for a second GPU, and in fact those use cases are growing. Unfortunately, peering through the window of your computer case you notice that your motherboard only has one PCIe slot long enough for a GPU.