Technology

The Moon is nearing its full phase, which means most of its surface is being illuminated by the sun. It works through eight phases, gradually moving from completely dark to fully lit before starting the cycle again. Keep reading to find out how much is lit tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, March 30, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 92% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Tonight, without visual aids, you can spot the Tycho and Kepler Craters, as well as the Mare Serenitatis. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Mare Frigoris, Archimedes Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. With a telescope, enjoy a glimpse of the Descartes Highlands, Schiller Crater, and the Linne Crater.

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?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days, cycling through eight distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, sunlight illuminates varying portions as it travels, making it appear full, half, or a narrow crescent. These shifting appearances are known as 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.

The Lisa Kudrow multiverse opened wide during The Comeback Season 3, episode 2, as Kudrow's fictional sitcom star Valerie Cherish made a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Friends.

The reference comes during a production meeting for How's That?!, Valerie's new, AI-written multi-cam sitcom. She wants to bring legendary TV director Jimmy Burrows (playing a fictionalized version of himself) on for How's That?!, having worked with him on Room and Bored back in Season 1.

SEE ALSO: 'The Comeback' Season 3 review: Lisa Kudrow warns us of the AI apocalypse

According to How's That?! showrunners Mary and Josh (Abbi Jacobson and John Early), they heard from Jimmy's agent that he passed on the project.

"Agents say 'no' to everything," Valerie says. "If it were up to his agent, Jimmy wouldn't have done Cheers. Or Will & Grace. Or Frasier. Or Fri—"

Mary cuts Valerie off before she can say Friends, resulting in a fun wink to the audience about other sitcoms of Kudrow's past.

This quick moment is the first time The Comeback has ever made any kind of Friends reference, but it's not just some throwaway fan service. Series co-creators Kudrow and Michael Patrick King decided that this season had to include at least some nods to Friends because How's That?! is shooting on Stage 24 on the Warner Bros. lot: the very same stage where Friends was shot.

"Couldn't help it," Kudrow said of the references at a Los Angeles press conference. "We were shooting on the Friends stage."

Of the brief episode 2 reference, King added: "We were mostly interested in how close we could get to Valerie actually saying the word Friends... That was the third rail we were touching."

So now that we know Valerie Cherish is aware of Friends' existence, is it too much to ask for a Lisa Kudrow and Valerie Cherish Actors on Actors parody?

New episodes of The Comeback Season 3 premiere Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a tasty treat.

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 30, 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: A copy

• Green: To fool around

• Blue: Automobile replacements

• Purple: Late night treats

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Imitation

• Green: Play around (with)

• Blue: Car rental companies

• Purple: Snack brands plus starting letter

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 #1022 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Imitation: DUMMY, ERSATZ, FAUX, MOCK

• Play around (with): FUTZ, MESS, TINKER, TOY

• Car rental companies: AVIS, BUDGET, DOLLAR, HERTZ

• Snack brands plus starting letter: FRITZ, PLAYS, TRUFFLES, YUTZ

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 30, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always prepared for a rainy day.

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 30, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: For a rainy day?

The words are related to coverage.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe rain coverage.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Umbrella Term.

NYT Strands word list for March 30

• Shaft

• Canopy

• Vent

• Panel

• Button

• Umbrella Term

• Handle

• Ribs

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 love astronomy.

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 30, 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 30, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An astronomical phenomenon.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

COMET

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

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

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

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

I've used a lot of smart home devices in my time, and I thought I'd seen them all. However, there's one device I bought recently that's been a real game-changer. It's not something I ever thought I needed, but it's had a big impact on my family and me.

TL;DR: Get the AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) and block ads, limit trackers, and protect multiple devices with a one-time purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

Navigating today’s internet comes with ads, trackers, and the occasional page that struggles to load under all of it. AdGuard is designed to cut through that digital clutter, and its family plan is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) for a limited time.

There was a time when browsing the web felt peaceful. There were no pop-ups competing for your attention, no autoplay videos jumping in uninvited, and definitely fewer ads that seem suspiciously tailored to something you just talked about five minutes ago. These days, it’s unfortunately part of the experience.  If you’d rather not deal with it, AdGuard works in the background to block ads, limit tracking, and clean up what you actually see on screen.

At its core, AdGuard combines ad blocking, privacy protection, and parental controls into one tool. The ad-blocking side handles everything from banners to pre-roll videos, while its privacy features help reduce tracking from websites and data collectors. It also adds a layer of protection against malicious or phishing sites, which is useful considering how easy it is to click something you didn’t mean to.

What AdGuard helps with

• Ad blocking: Removes banners, pop-ups, and video ads so pages load cleaner (and often faster)

• Privacy protection: Limits trackers and helps keep your browsing habits from being logged

• Safer browsing: Helps block access to known malicious or phishing sites

• Parental controls: Lets you filter content and manage what your little ones can access

• Multi-device support: Works across smartphones and other supported devices

Because this is a family plan, you can use it across multiple devices, which makes it practical if more than one person in your household is dealing with the same ad-heavy experience. It’s also a one-time purchase, which means no recurring subscription fees. The best part is you still get ongoing updates and access to new features as they roll out.

If your current browsing setup feels more cluttered than it should, this is one of the simpler ways to clean it up without adding another monthly bill.

Formerly $169.99, you can grab a lifetime subscription to its family plan for $15.97.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give your PC a spring refresh with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license, on sale for just $12.97 (reg. $199) until April 12.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $12.97
$199 Save $186.03   Get Deal

If you’re cleaning out your closet or getting a fresh haircut for spring, why not do something nice for your computer, too? A new operating system can breathe new life into an old device, and right now, you can secure a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for only $12.97 (reg. $199) until April 12.

If you’ve got a PC that could use a little TLC, this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license can give it a total refresh for less than the cost of lunch. This new operating system gives your computer a fresh set of tools, a brand new interface, improved cybersecurity, and much more.

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Made with the modern professional in mind, Windows 11 Pro is ready to upgrade your workflow. From the seamless, easy-to-use interface to new features like a more powerful search experience, easy redocking, and snap layouts, this operating system supports a busy workday and beyond. It even includes Microsoft Teams to keep you connected with coworkers, friends, and family.

Aside from new features, you’ll also get access to Microsoft Copilot right on your desktop. This AI assistant can answer questions, help you with tasks, change settings, summarize web pages, and even open apps for you.

You’ll enjoy tighter cybersecurity with Windows 11 Pro. Stay safer with biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection to help keep your data safe.

Get this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for just $12.97 (reg. $199) now through April 12.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

When we talk about keeping a high-mileage vehicle on the road, oil changes usually get the spotlight. We’re trained to watch the sticker on the windshield or wait for the oil life monitor to light up, but another fluid works just as hard to keep your engine running: your coolant.

Toyota has built a serious reputation for SUVs that deliver. The RAV4 set new standards for compact crossovers, the Land Cruiser dominates off-road adventures, the 4Runner tackles just about anything, and even the Corolla Cross is making a name for itself in everyday driving.

With a new month comes exciting new titles to stream, and Netflix has its April slate locked and loaded. As the weather starts to warm up, you can refresh your spring watch list with returning and new shows, documentaries, stand-up specials, and films.

Luxury cars keep inching further out of reach for most buyers, and it’s not hard to see why. Rising development and distribution costs have pushed new-car prices higher across the board, while luxury brands chase bigger margins with even steeper MSRPs.

I bet you never thought you'd still be buying spinning hard drives in the latter half of the '20s, but mechanical drives are still at the core of our mass storage. These devices are in your NAS, they're in your home media server, and they're plugged into your USB ports to store media and backups.

Oftentimes, what makes a good TV show popular isn’t about how long it runs. It’s about the depth of its impact and its ability to embed itself in our brains… and that leads right to cult classic status. Over the years, there have been too many shows canceled way too soon, much to the dismay of loyal fanbases. Here, we’re looking at six short-lived TV shows that achieved cult classic status and that demand a reboot.

Your phone is tracking you. There is no doubt about that. But if you have an Android device, I can at least tell you how it's doing that and what kind of information it's gathering. With this information, you can determine if you want to allow this data gathering to continue.

President Donald Trump's new White House app is a privacy nightmare for some users.

On Friday, the Trump administration released a new White House mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The official White House account on X shared links to the apps and said that the app would live-stream and provide real-time updates "straight from the source."

One thing they didn't share, however, is that when downloading the app, users are handing over quite a bit of information to the Trump administration.

The White House app requests user permission to access precise locations, network connections, fingerprint and biometric data, the ability to prevent the device from sleeping, and even modify or delete contents of shared storage.

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X user @Thereallo1026 went so far as decompiling the White House app and found that it's sharing the exact location data of its users every 4.5 minutes and sending that information to a third-party server.

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The third-party, OneSignal, is a company that provides push notification services. Location data is typically used by OneSignal to push notifications to users for location-based campaigns. While many companies use OneSignal's services, it is particularly concerning for the U.S. government to collect this data through an app that encourages users to report people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

However, the most concerning part of @Thereallo1026's findings is that the White House app is apparently loading YouTube video embeds via a random GitHub user's personal page. According to the report, if this GitHub user's account is ever compromised, an attacker could "serve arbitrary HTML and JavaScript to every user of this app."

In addition to this major security issue, the in-app web browser on the White House app injects CSS and JavaScript that removes cookie consent prompts, GDPR banners, logins, and paywalls from third-party websites.

So, if for some reason you were compelled to download the new official White House app, be aware of these security and privacy issues.

The Toyota RAV4 has been topping U.S. sales charts for years, dominating the compact SUV segment. For most buyers, it’s not just a choice—it’s the choice.

With SSDs as expensive as they currently are, every last megabyte should count. You might be spending quite a bit of time cleaning up your folders, organizing backups, and micromanaging the space on your main SSD.

Soundcore deals during Amazon's Big Spring Sale at a glance Best headphones deal Soundcore Space One $69.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best mini speaker deal Soundcore Boom Go 3i $49.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds deal Soundcore Sleep A20 $119.99 (save $60) Get Deal

If you're not looking to spend $200+ on new headphones or earbuds, Soundcore makes some of your best options. The same is true for portable speakers, sleep earbuds, and even portable projectors. If it has to do with audio, it's likely that Soundcore makes a model that's significantly more affordable than many brands.

The lower price says nothing of the quality. Plenty of our favorite sound-centric tech comes from Soundcore. We also love that Soundcore consistently shows up with epic deals during major sales, and that's exactly the case during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Here are some excellent Soundcore options to shop before the sale wraps up on March 31.

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Space One $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you plan on wearing headphones for hours at a time, comfort is gonna be a main priority. Mashable's favorite comfortable headphones that stick to a budget are the Soundcore Space One. "If you want a similar vibe to the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, but don't want to spend over $400, the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are a great budget alternative. These cans offer comparable features like ANC, an intuitive companion app, a long battery life, and of course, a comfortable form factor that you can wear for long listening sessions," according to our reviewer.

The Amazon Big Spring Sale price of $69.99 matches the lowest we've ever seen on the Soundcore Space One at Amazon, so now is a great time to buy.

Best sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A20 $119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Not many headphone and earbuds brands make a model specifically designed for sleep, but Soundcore has several models that Mashable has loved in testing. The most affordable option is the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds. They typically cost $179.99, but during the Amazon sale, they're down to only $119.99.

Mashable Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern has found them to be excellent when traveling for masking noise on the plane and for sleeping in Airbnbs across from nightclubs. Her review of the Sleep A20 earbuds praised their comfort and compact size, in addition to excellent performance. She wrote, "They have a 14-hour battery life, so they last through the night — or on a long flight — and the Soundcore app comes loaded with soundscapes and white noise options. The biggest draw for me is how comfortable they are."

Plus, the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds also work as standard earbuds, so you can use them for jamming out while commuting to work or for listening to podcasts on a leisurely dog walk.

More Soundcore deals

• Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth Shower Speaker — $22.99 $34.99 (save $12)

• Soundcore P31i Earbuds — $36.99 $59.99 (save $23)

• Soundcore Sport X20 Earbuds — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Soundcore AeroFit 2 Open-Ear Headphones — $79.98 $129.99 (save $50.01)

• Soundcore Work Voice Recorder — $99.94 $159 (save $59.06)

• Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones — $149 $199.99 (save $50.99)

• Soundcore Sleep A30 Special Earbuds — $179.99 $199.99 (save $20)

• Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro Triple Laser 4K Home & Outdoor Cinema Projector — $3,999 $4,999 (save $1,000)

Search “keyboard” in the Google Play Store, and you’ll find a nearly endless list of apps to choose from. But are any of them better than the one that came pre-installed on your phone? There’s a keyboard app for every Android user—here are 5 excellent options.