Technology

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stylish.

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 May 12, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Quite the pair

The words are related to fashion.

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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an article of clothing.

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 Fancy Pants.

NYT Strands word list for May 12

• Gaucho

• Harem

• Palazzo

• Fancy Pants

• Toreador

• Sailor

• Tuxedo

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an avid reader.

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 May 12, 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: Large text

• Green: Religious sites

• Blue: Lengthy

• Purple: Money

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Substantial book

• Green: "Saint" cities

• Blue: "Long" things

• Purple: Currencies plus a 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 #1066 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Substantial book: OPUS, TOME, VOLUME, WORK

• "Saint" cities: MONICA, PAULO, PETERSBURG, SALVADOR

• "Long" things: DISTANCE, DIVISION, JOHNS, WEEKEND

• Currencies plus a letter: FRANCI, RANDO, REALM, WONK

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 May 12, 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 the latest Connections.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're never late.

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 May 12, 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 May 12, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Tells time.

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Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

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...

CLOCK

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.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box up for preorder at $119.45, putting it under $120 and about $15 over TCGplayer's current market price of $103.78. Walmart is also cheaper right now at $113.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box $119.45 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

The Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising expansion has seen price fluctuations matching the likes of Ascended Heroes, but you can thankfully still secure the Elite Trainer Box at leading retailers for under $120. 

As of May 12, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed from $119.45, with free delivery shown for May 27-28. That lowest preorder is sold and shipped by Kings Games. BetterShopping4You has a $119.45 listing with free delivery shown for Saturday, May 30. 

Amazon comes with a premium compared to the two other key retailers in the space, but it is still a worthwhile price if you prefer sticking with Amazon for your trading card needs.  Walmart has the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed for $113.97 with free shipping, while TCGplayer's unopened presale listings start at $103.75

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No matter where you buy from, the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box includes the following:

• Nine Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising booster packs

• One full-art foil promo card featuring Fennekin

• 65 card sleeves

• 40 Pokémon TCG Energy cards

• A player's guide

• Six damage-counter dice

• One competition-legal coin-flip die

• One plastic coin

• A collector's box with six dividers

• One Pokémon TCG Live code card

Launching May 22, Chaos Rising heads back to Lumiose City, where Mega Floette ex is turning the city into a disaster zone. Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex are among the Mega Evolution Pokémon ex featured, giving collectors another Legends: Z-A-flavored expansion to chase. 

To make sure you’re stocked up after release, you can still preorder individual Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Packs for $12.99. As for currently available ETBs in the Pokémon TCG, the Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box is still on sale for under $70. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles are available to preorder at TCGplayer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Two years ago, I replaced my laptop with an Android-based desktop, and for most of the time since, I've used Samsung DeX whenever I needed to do something the internal screen on my Galaxy Z Fold 6 couldn't handle. That worked out surprisingly well for me, but I've since decided to fall back into the familiar arms of Linux regardless, and Samsung isn't entirely to blame.

Donald Trump's newly released UFO files not only glow with distracting X-Files energy but also the power of Céline Dion, according to Stephen Colbert.

The Late Show host unpacked the U.S. government's recent drop of "new, never-before-seen files" on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), a term Colbert described as "also my pre-show warm-up."

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"So, what's in these mysterious, top secret, super cool files?" asked the host. "For example, one of the astronauts [Alan Bean] from Apollo 12 reported 'flashes of light.' And we actually have footage of the astronaut describing what they saw."

Cut to the music video for Dion's eternal power ballad "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." "Thank you, Commander Dion," says Colbert.

And the Céline reaction videos do not stop there.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Stephen Colbert's Late Show is coming to a close, and the guests appear to be getting more entertainingly chaotic every day.

Last week we had leg wrestling with John Krasinski, and on Monday we had Colbert interviewing all four other late night hosts that were in the Strike Force Five podcast — Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver — at the same time.

The result is as hilarious and ridiculous as you'd expect, with jokes and anecdotes gradually leading on to a game in which the hosts hold up paddles to vote for which one of them is most likely to do various things. Fallon and Colbert even share a brief kiss.

If you want to know when the last episode of the Late Show will air and how to watch it, we've got you covered.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

SAVE $350: As of May 12, the Roborock Qrevo S5V is on sale for $549.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Qrevo S5V $549.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $350   Get Deal

The Roborock Qrevo S5V is back on sale at Amazon. As of May 11, you can save $350 on this impressive model. It vacuums, it mops, and it navigates your home all by itself. Buy now for just $549.99 (down from $899.99).

This robot vacuum has a 12,000Pa HyperForce suction powered by a brushless motor. It can pick up dirt from all floor types, even stubborn dirt and pet hair. It includes a rubberised floating main brush and an arc-shaped side brush as part of an SGS-certified zero-tangle system intended to reduce hair getting stuck. It also uses a FlexiArm design with dual spinning mop pads rotating at 200 RPM, alongside a 10 mm mop lift to help prevent your carpets from getting wet.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

It also comes with an all-in-one docking station where it empties dust into a 10-week storage bin. Here it also takes care of self-washing the mops, drying them, and automatically filling the water tank.

And you don't even need to tell it where to go. This robot vacuum uses structured light sensors to navigate around items like cables and furniture legs as well as the PreciSense LiDAR navigation which creates maps of your floorplan.

You can even choose between two colors, black and white, to better match your space. Get this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of May 12, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 165 $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal

A good fitness tracker can make your runs feel easier and recovery feel more valuable. If you've been in the market for an upgrade, there's a great deal on the Garmin Forerunner 165 live right now at Amazon. As of May 12, you'll save $50 with the new price of $199.99 on both the black and whitestone colors.

As the name suggests, the Forerunner 165 is designed for runners. It includes many helpful features, including built-in GPS for tracking pace and distance, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, and much more. The 43mm screen is AMOLED, so the display is always bright and colorful. It's also controlled both by a touchscreen and the traditional button controls.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

The battery life is great and ideal if you're wanting to hit longer distances. You'll get up to 11 days in smartwatch mode or up to 19 hours in GPS mode. And it's not just suited for running — there are more than 25 built-in sports tracking modes, including swimming, cycling, HIIT, and strength training.

This smartwatch also gives you a morning report with information such as how well you slept, your recovery time, training outlook, weather, and more.

Get this Garmin deal online at Amazon right now.

SAVE $70: As of May 12, the Roku 65-inch Smart TV is on sale for $379.99 at Amazon. That's a 16% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch smart TV $379.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $70   Get Deal

The Roku 65-inch Smart TV is back on sale at Amazon, and this time it's down to its lowest-ever price. As of May 12, it's $70 off. That drops the price down from $449.99 to $379.99.

This smart TV has a QLED display and HDR10 support for enhanced color. It benefits from smart features like the Roku Smart Picture which automatically adjusts incoming signals and picture settings. The TV also includes access to Roku’s streaming platform, with over 500 free TV channels giving you live shows, movies, news, weather, and Roku Originals.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

Not to mention, you'll also have easy access to a wide range of streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. You can even personalize the home screen through customized app placements, making everyday use much easier.

It also supports voice control through Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Just use the advanced voice remote which lets you use your voice to search through multiple apps at once and research queries online. It also has a lost remote finder function which lets you track its location in the Roku app.

You can find this TV deal at Amazon right now.

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of May 12, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is on sale for $2,299.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus $2,299.99 at Amazon
$3,699 Save $1,399.01   Get Deal

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is back on sale at Amazon, this time with more than $1,000 off the list price.

If you're looking for a seriously reliable power unit that will see you through not just days, but weeks, don't miss out. As of May 12, this portable power station is currently down to $2,299.99 from the $3,699 list price. That's a 38% discount. The unit comes with two 200W solar panels, so you'll be able to keep it charged using solar power while off-grid.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is a portable power station with a 3,600W output. It supports dual voltage output of 120V and 240V in parallel and has a 3,584Wh capacity that can be expanded up to 21kWh per unit or 43kWh by adding multiple units.

It's a big purchase, but one that will last you many years. In fact, Jackery states it is rated for 6,000 charge cycles and a lifespan of up to 10 years, thanks to its high-temperature resistant ceramic membrane battery cells. It can cope with harsh conditions too, and has even been passed to operate in temperatures as low as -4°F.

This is a limited-time deal on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus at Amazon. Act fast to save big.

Vacuum-turned-everything brand Dreame has dropped its version of a hack for living without a garbage disposal. That's how I'm framing electric countertop "composter alternatives" that are just drying and condensing food, not making actual compost. That doesn't mean these appliances are pointless — they're still a brilliant way to keep your kitchen from reeking of old food rotting in the trash. That's an especially big deal in a small space like my apartment, where I put use of my beloved Mill food recycling bin on hold to test the Dreame S25P Food Waste Disposer for two weeks.

Design and price: Smaller footprint, lower price than others

The Dreame food waste disposer is incredibly slim and delightfully chic. Not that competitors like the Lomi 3 or Food Cycler are eyesores — they're cute enough, but very much scream "I'm an appliance with a bucket inside." Dreame's machine is literally just a beige rectangle. I could see this minimalist color and shape combo alone being the deciding factor for aesthetic-minded shoppers who prefer countertop appliances to be as subtle as possible.

I played around with the Dreame disposer's placement to test its versatility in the wild. I originally set it up on the end of my kitchen credenza that sits opposite the wall of cabinets and appliances, then moved it to my last free slab of countertop.

I put a glass cutting board underneath to protect the wood. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable You need around 20 inches of clearance for the lid to fully flip open. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For being an appliance, the Dreame disposer doesn't look obnoxiously appliance-y among the rest of my decor. If you're fully maxed out on counter real estate, it certainly has the curb appeal to chill in harmony on another more styled flat surface near the kitchen.

Overall, Dreame's design has a negligibly smaller footprint in cubic inches than the Lomi 3. But the unique way that the Dreame disposer is oriented makes it better suited for a tight squeeze. It's less than eight inches wide with an oblong design that runs perpendicularly to the counter, very similar to how a Ninja Slushi sits.

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But the smartest part of the design is that the control panel is on top at the front instead of on the side like the Lomi. If your only free counter space was a sliver beside your coffee maker or blender, you'd still have front-facing access to the button that opens the lid or starts a cycle. If you have empty space in a cabinet or pantry, you could technically store the Dreame disposer away until you need to use it. It obviously wouldn't be instantly accessible, so you'd have to remember to get it out before you're ready to dump something in it.

The temperature monitor switches to a countdown timer when a cycle is running. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Sansa says, "Look how skinny this thing is! I barely fit!" Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Speaking of remembering to open the lid before your hands are full, the Dreame SF25's lid opening process is oddly impractical. It goes into standby mode after a few minutes of no interaction, so you actually have to tap twice to open the lid: once to wake the device up, and then once to open the lid. The buttons are more like a touchscreen than physical, pressable buttons, and more often than not, I don't have a free finger. I'm either waiting to push plate scrapings in with a fork or am carrying a sink strainer full of soggy food, using the other hand to keep the juice from dripping on the floor. I really miss my Mill's presser foot in times like these.

SEE ALSO: How to actually recycle electronics, beauty empties, toys, and more tricky items in 2026

I could also really do without the voice assistant narration between each step. For an appliance that claims to be "whisper quiet," which it genuinely is when running a cycle, it feels counterintuitive to loudly announce that "the device is now in standby mode," "the door is opening," and "the door is closed," every single time. I hope there's a way to disable that and I just haven't found it yet.

What can go in the Dreame food waste disposer?

Dreame's list of acceptable food waste includes fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, eggshells, nuts and grains, small bones, and fibrous foods. That's a pretty standard lineup for indoor food waste bins. I found it odd that Dreame doesn't officially green-light dairy in the list. I throw cheese in there, and it's been fine. It's probably milk or globs of yogurt that would mess with the bucket's interior mechanism.

This cycle had a mix of old fruits and veggies, stale chips, eggshells, and rice. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The end result looks like soil with some chunks sprinkled in. No, it doesn't stink. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

When thinking about who should buy one of these devices, residents of cities with mandatory food separation rules (like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City) come to mind. The Dreame disposer would make the separation of daily food scraps a much less gross process, and again, its compact build feels ideal for small apartment living. When I lived in Brooklyn years ago and was trudging to a local compost drop-off with a dripping bag of melting frozen food scraps, I could have really used this damn Dreame machine.

If you are using an electric food waste condenser for collected curbside or community compost, you still have to follow the organization's rules of what can and can't go in. While NYC residents are allowed to toss meat, bones, and dairy into their curbside compost bins, many smaller community compost groups don't allow meat or dairy — the fat and protein in animal products attract pests to outdoor compost piles. That still applies to food waste in dried dirt form.

You'll barely know this thing is running

When enough scraps have piled up in the Dreame bucket, running a cycle is as easy as hitting start (there's just one setting). The stirring, drying, and grinding mechanism inside is legitimately inaudible, and shouldn't take more than six hours. At the end, you're left with a pile of dirt that's significantly smaller than the stack of food you started with. You can throw it in the trash if that's your only option. It'll take up less room and keep the bag smelling much fresher.

The bucket's spiral blades spin to stir and grind food scraps. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The charcoal filter neutralizes odor from the food sitting inside. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

My household of three took a few days to completely fill the bucket up the first time. The 2.5-liter capacity is smaller than most competing countertop devices, but not by an inconvenient amount. I've been inclined to run a cycle before the bucket is full, anyway. You can't smell a thing when the lid is closed, but things can get diabolical when it's opened.

One of my only bones to pick with this product is the fact that its Amazon listing calls it an electric composter. It's not. No microbes are involved, so no, it's not creating fertilizer for your garden. (Dreame's website does refer to the SF25 as a food waste disposer with an end result that is "suitable for direct compost.") But why try to be something it's not? Marketing it as a device that downsizes your kitchen trash could strike a chord with a whole new group of people who don't care about composting. I have hope in the "buying a food waste disposer for convenience purposes" to "giving a shit about the United States' serious food waste problem" pipeline.

Dreame SF25 Food Waste Disposer $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30   Shop Now at Amazon

Having spent time both in front of and behind the camera, Kelsey Impicciche has long perfected her content creation set-up.

The gamer and YouTube creator has amassed a following that numbers in the millions, having spent the past 12 years posting videos of herself playing The Sims, Animal Crossing, and more life simulator games to her channel under the handle @kelseydangerous.

SEE ALSO: How Kelsey Impicciche turned a viral 'Sims' video into 1 million YouTube subscribers

Impicciche also worked at BuzzFeed for several years, where her breakout video on BuzzFeed's Multiplayer channel, "Single Girl Tries The 100 Baby Challenge In The Sims 4," has garnered 24 million views since it debuted in 2018. This past year, she added "author" to her resume thanks to the 2026 release of her debut novel, The Voice of the Ocean.

Impicciche's dreamy set-up includes two Alienware monitors. Credit: Kelsey Impicciche To record audio, she uses a Shure mic pluged into a Zoom H6 audio recorder. Credit: Kelsey Impicciche

While she may have her go-to filming and streaming set-up now, that wasn't always the case.

"You don't have to know it perfect at the beginning. You learn by doing," says Impicciche.

Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/Amazon/Kelsey Impicciche

We chatted with Impicciche at BookCon to get a full rundown on her filming essentials, including the tech that can handle the heft of all her gaming needs.

Cyberpower PCs and Alienware monitors Opens in a new window Credit: Cyberpower PC Cyberpower PC From $903 Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware Gaming Monitor $349.99 at Dell
  Shop Now

Before cameras, mics, and lights even come into the picture, Impicciche needs a PC.

"I need one that can handle The Sims, because it's a huge game," says Impicciche.

She uses two Cyberpower PC towers, which she mentions can be custom built online (her specific models are no longer available.) Also crucial to her streaming endeavors are Elgato capture cards.

For monitors, Impicciche uses two Alienware monitors, one standard and one curved.

Wired headphones Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud III Headphones $79.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $20   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G735 Headphones $149.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $110   Shop Now

For simultaneously filming and gaming, a good pair of headphones is essential. Impicciche likes both the HyperX Cloud and Logitech G735 headphones.

Canon C100 Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Canon C100 (Used) $698.95 at B&H Photo and Video
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Whether she's streaming or filming, Impicciche uses the Canon C100 with a 24-70mm lens.

"This camera connects directly to my PC using another Elgato capture card and it's HDMI output," says Impicciche.

The C100 is no longer sold new, but it remains a widely beloved video camera and can be purchased used.

Zoom recorder and Shure SM7B Microphone Opens in a new window Credit: Zoom Zoom H6 Essential Handheld Recorder $329.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Shure Shure SM7B Microphone $395 at Amazon
$439 Save $44   Get Deal

Impicciche's audio set-up includes a Shure SM7B microphone and a Zoom H6 audio recorder.

"My microphone is on a splitter so it feeds into the Zoom H6 for recording sound for video, but it also feeds into my audio mixer so I can use it for streaming."

Her audio mixer also connects to her streaming PC so she can adjust the sound of her game, personal audio, and music all on the same device. Currently, she uses the TC-Helicon GoXLR but wouldn't recommend it as the company is no longer supporting updates on the tech.

She also keeps a back-up microphone attached to her camera on the off chance her main microphone runs out of storage.

Elgato lights Opens in a new window Credit: Elgato Elgato Key Lights $359.98 at B&H Photo and Video
  Shop Now

Lighting is crucial for all content creators. While Impicciche thinks the best light for filming any type of content is a window with really good natural light, sometimes you have to fake it. For filming for YouTube or streaming, her set-up includes two key lights from Elgato.

Rode mic Opens in a new window Credit: Rode Rode VideoMic Me-C+ $79
  Shop Now

Not all of Impicciche's content requires the full set-up. For filming TikTok content, she gets it done with her iPhone and a Rode mic. The Rode VideoMic Me-C+ plugs directly into her phone so she doesn't have to worry about connecting wireless mics on the go.

The Milky Way's core doesn't look like the ancient stellar graveyard many astronomers once thought it was.

At the heart of a massive new survey from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are mapping one of the most crowded regions in our galaxy. Early results from the project may help address a long-running debate about the age of the Milky Way's central bulge — the tightly packed region of space surrounding the galaxy's core.

For decades, many astronomers treated the bulge as a relic from the Milky Way's earliest years. Previous studies of star brightness and color placed most of its formation around 10 billion years ago. By comparison, our solar system formed just 4.6 billion years ago.

But newer research has complicated that picture. Some studies suggest a noticeable share of stars near the galactic center may be much younger — perhaps only 5 billion to 8 billion years old. If true, that would mean the Milky Way kept developing its central region far later than some scientists had ever imagined. If astronomers can determine when the bulge's stars formed, they can reconstruct how the galaxy itself grew and changed over time.

The Hubble survey will build a catalog of 20 to 30 million objects in this dense region, said Sean Terry, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The team has published a paper on the Hubble survey in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

SEE ALSO: 5 times NASA astronauts pop up in Trump's newly released UFO files

Researchers designed the Hubble program to support the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will search the same region for planets using gravitational microlensing, a technique that detects distant objects by measuring how their gravity bends and brightens starlight. The Roman mission could launch as early as this fall. 

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"The main goal of these observations is to be able to identify objects that participate in lensing events during the Roman survey, catching them before they undergo the lensing event," said Jay Anderson, a co-author based at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, in a statement. "When, in a couple of years, an event happens during Roman's long stare at the field, we can go back and say, 'This was a red star, this was a blue star, and the event happened when the red star went in front of the blue star.'"

But the Hubble survey also stands on its own. It delivers one of the sharpest wide-area views ever captured of the Milky Way's crowded core, where dust clouds block much of the light and stars are so tightly packed that their images often overlap. By distinguishing those stars more cleanly, the survey allows astronomers to assemble a consistent catalog across 354 fields near the galactic center. 

Even so, conditions vary sharply throughout the region. In some fields, astronomers match thousands of stars to measurements from the Gaia spacecraft, a mission that tracked star positions and their motion across the sky. In others, dense dust blots out so much light that only a few hundred stars appear clearly enough for comparison.

The variation itself helps map the inner galaxy. It shows where dust obscures the view and where starlight passes through more easily. While Hubble sharpens the view of crowded stars, it cannot remove the effects of dust. That means there are still some patchy areas of the Milky Way's interior.

The Hubble Space Telescope reveals the Milky Way's crowded core in this 2018 image of the galactic bulge. Credit: NASA / ESA / Thomas Brown

Researchers expect future work from the survey to produce detailed maps of the interstellar dust in the galactic center, showing where starlight is blocked and where it shines. That will help astronomers trace how stars are distributed.

The Roman telescope will repeatedly monitor the same region and track changes in how stars move and brighten over time across millions of objects. By collecting Hubble images years earlier, astronomers effectively created a "before" snapshot of the galactic bulge.

That long time gap could help scientists measure how fast stars drift across the sky with unusual precision. It may also help them identify faint or otherwise hidden objects through their gravitational effects.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Voibe for $49.99 (reg. $199) and turn your voice into text with fast, offline AI dictation

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Typing all day can drain your momentum, especially when you’re going from emails, notes, feedback, and long-form drafts. Ever wish your ideas could hit the screen as fast as you think them? That’s where Voibe comes in.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Voibe is on sale for $49.99, down from $199, giving you a 75% discount.

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Voibe is a Mac dictation app powered by OpenAI’s latest Whisper model, transcribing speech into text with impressive speed. Unlike cloud-based tools, everything happens locally, so your recordings won’t leave your device. That means less lag and more privacy, with words appearing almost as soon as you speak them.

Optimized for Apple Silicon Macs, Voibe works in nearly any app where you can place a cursor. The workflow is refreshing and simple: hold a key, speak, and release when you’re done. It also recognizes accents, conversational language, and technical jargon, making it a welcome change for anyone who found older dictation tools stubborn or “blah.”

Voibe claims users can type up to three times faster with voice dictation, which may appeal to writers, marketers, students, remote workers, or anyone handling text-heavy tasks throughout the day. It can also make prompting tools like ChatGPT or Claude feel more natural by letting you speak detailed ideas instead of typing them manually.

Another advantage is reliability. Since Voibe doesn’t require an internet connection, it keeps working even when Wi-Fi is unreliable or unavailable — useful for travel, coffee shop work sessions, or staying focused without browser distractions.

If faster note-taking or easier voice-to-text situations sound useful to you, the Voibe lifetime subscription is currently available for $49.99 (reg. $199) while the deal lasts.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Back in July 2025, when The Late Show was unceremoniously canceled, the end of an era of television that started in 1993 with David Letterman still seemed a long way away.

But now, quite suddenly, the time has come. The Late Show ends this month. Stephen Colbert will no longer be a daily late night staple, and — aside from co-writing a new Lord of the Rings movie — we don't yet know what the host plans to do next.

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So when exactly does The Late Show finish, and how much do we know about what the final episodes have in store?

SEE ALSO: John Krasinski's interview with Stephen Colbert is a wild ride When is Stephen Colbert's last Late Show?

The final episode of The Late Show will air on Thursday, May 21, Colbert confirmed to fellow late night show host Seth Meyers earlier this year. At the time of writing, that means we have just two weeks of shows left.

It's worth noting that this isn't just a case of Colbert himself leaving and being replaced, either — the entire Late Show is coming to an end.

SEE ALSO: Here's what all the late night hosts said about Stephen Colbert and 'The Late Show' being cancelled How to watch the final Late Show episode?

The final episode will air at the usual time of 11:35 p.m. EST live on CBS. As always, for anyone who doesn't have CBS, videos from the show will be available on the official Late Show YouTube channel.

Which guests will be appearing?

We don't yet know which guests will be appearing in the final week of The Late Show (we'll update this article when we know more), but the lineup for the penultimate week has been revealed in a press release sent to Mashable. We've shared the full guest list below:

Monday, May 11

• The hosts of Strike Force Five – Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver

• A special Broadway performance featuring Annaleigh Ashford, Christopher Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Ben Platt, and Patrick Wilson

Tuesday, May 12

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus

• Pedro Pascal

Wednesday, May 13

• President Barack Obama takes “The Colbert Questionert”

• Tom Hanks

Thursday, May 14

• David Letterman

• Performance by The Strokes

Why is The Late Show being canceled again?

During an episode of The Late Show in July 2025, Stephen Colbert announced the show's cancelation, to a shocked reaction from the studio audience. Given that Colbert had just called out his own network for paying a $16 million settlement to Donald Trump, calling it a "big fat bribe", the timing seemed suspicious. But in a statement, CBS claimed the show was being axed for financial reasons.

"This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," CBS executives wrote. "It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount."

Needless to say, many — including some of Colbert's fellow late night hosts — didn't buy it, with critics pointing to the fact that CBS' parent company Paramount needed the Trump administration's approval for a proposed merger with Skydance at the time — and the U.S. president openly hates late night hosts who criticize him.

Many of us are trying to cut down on screentime. We’re Bricking our phones and re-learning how to be present, instead of mindlessly scrolling. But for most of us, streaming a classic movie, diving into a documentary, or rewatching a comfort show is not part of the digital detox. For that reason, we’re still (heavily) relying on a TV. But these days, you’re not tethered to a rectangular screen mounted to the wall. We have excellent projectors that offer awe-inducing displays. Most projectors also come with the benefit of being portable or at least easier to move with or pack along to a friend’s house. 

Hisense makes some of the best TVs for those who are looking for an ideal combination of quality at an affordable price. The brand’s lineup of projectors has grown in both numbers and impressive stats in the last handful of years. I’ll admit, after testing the Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector, I don’t think I can go back to a non-laser projector, let alone a TV. The display quality, portability, gigantic 200-inch display, and brightness in daylight have me smitten. Of course, it’s not perfect, but I’ll be hosting movie nights from now on because no one I know has the tech to replicate this experience.

SEE ALSO: Ending soon: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card Highlights on the Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector

When shopping for a projector, you’ll notice two options: laser and non-laser. The non-laser versions tend to be cheaper and modern models use LED technology. But if you’re seeking the sharpest display and the best color brightness, a laser projector is the way to go. The Hisense M2 Pro has a 4K display with a triple-laser RGB (red, green, blue) light source.

It's pretty cute for its power. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I tested the Hisense M2 Pro projector for months, in conjunction with a 100-inch Elite Screens manual pull-down projector screen. And yes, I did feel like a school teacher starting a lesson every time I unfurled it. However, if you don’t have a projector screen or a white sheet, Hisense says you’re still in good shape. The projector is designed to adapt to the projection surface, make color corrections, and still be able to produce accurate color reproductions. You might even be able to simply use your living room wall instead of messing around with a screen.

For those who like deeper details, here are some noteworthy specs of the Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector:

Specs:

• Size: 7.6 in.  x 8.6 in. x 9.1 in.

• Weight: 8.6 pounds

• Rated brightness: 1,300 ANSI lumens

• Light source: R+G+B triple laser

• Laser life: 25,000 hours

• Warranty: 1 year limited warranty

A gaming-worthy projector

Have you ever raced on Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road on a 200-inch display? I hadn’t either until testing the Hisense M2 Pro. Let me tell you about how much fun it is to have a Friday night four-person Mario party at 200 inches.

Reaching a 240Hz refresh rate and a low input lag of 12 milliseconds, gaming is awesome on the Hisense M2 Pro projector. For reference, you want at least a 120Hz refresh rate for a gaming-worthy TV, so the Hisense M2 Pro’s 240Hz is well above that threshold. 

The Hisense M2 Pro is not afraid of daylight

A common disadvantage of a projector over a TV is that projectors can struggle to produce a display that’s bright enough to view in daylight. Some projectors require you to draw the shades, pull blackout curtains over the windows, and turn off the lights. The Hisense M2 Pro is not one of those models. In testing, I was easily able to watch shows at 2 p.m. when I definitely should have been doing something more productive. 

The back-lit remote with quick access to focus is clutch. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The M2 Pro has a brightness rating of 1,300 ANSI lumens, and while there are brighter models on the market, I was never let down by the M2 Pro during daytime viewing. However, since my testing took place primarily in the winter months, it might not be the best picture for bright summer days, especially if watching something fast-paced like a soccer game.

You (and your projector) can get an invite to every movie night and binge session

The Hisense M2 Pro has a major focus on versatility that makes it suitable for tons of situations. It weighs a bit under nine pounds, so it’s no problem to carry it from room to room. It also comes packed into a cute little carrying case with a handle. Even when I was moving the projector from the basement up the stairs to the living room, I packed it into the carrying case, which not only adds to convenience but also adds protection. I’ve fallen walking up those stairs enough times to not find it wise to carry an unprotected projector in my hands. The lightweight nature paired with a case makes the Hisense M2 Pro an ideal model for taking over to a friend's house, packing along for the summer cottage trip, or taking outside for a movie night.

All packed up and ready to go. Credit: Lauren Allain The power brick, remote, and projector all nestle into their respective areas for safer transportation. Credit: Lauren Allain

The projector comes with Hisense’s Smart TV system, Vidaa OS, already installed, so your apps are nicely organized. If you don’t like that option, you could connect a Google Streamer or Fire TV Stick to the HDMI port. There’s also a USB-A port, should you have movies or shows on a thumb drive.

The only small non-travel-friendly element I found when testing the Hisense M2 Pro is its power supply. Instead of using a standard USB-C cable for charging, it uses a power brick with a 19V power supply. You’ll have to pack that along for powering up the projector since there’s no built-in battery on the Hisense M2 Pro.

Oboard sound is impressive for a portable projector

Like many TVs, sound quality has been an issue with portable projectors. It often leads to a mismatched viewing experience where the display is massive in size and impressive in quality, while the onboard sound is pretty terrible. In my testing experience, I’ve almost always connected a projector to a secondary sound source, mostly my beloved Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross. But that wasn’t totally necessary with the Hisense M2 Pro. Its built-in dual 10-watt speakers have support for Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X, and the overall sound is not bad at all.

Port options include an HDMI, USB-A, and DC in. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

You can also use the M2 Pro in Music Sharing mode, which essentially turns the projector into a Bluetooth speaker, pairing with a device to pump out the tunes. It’s not the best Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever heard, but it gets the job done without complaints.

Is the Hisense M2 Pro projector worth it?

I’d recommend the Hisense M2 Pro projector for anyone looking to break it off with a standard TV and go with a projector. The 4K triple laser display is excellent, the built-in stand is convenient, and the onboard speaker is decent enough that you’re not forced to connect to an external sound system.

It takes a bit to get used to the auto-focus and keystoning process, but that’s a minor adjustment. The tradeoff of gaining the ability to have a 65-inch display in a bedroom or a 200-inch display in the backyard is well worth it. Plus, the $1,300 price tag is competitive for a laser 4K projector. However, this isn’t the right model if you don’t have space to project a display of at least 65 inches. Any smaller and you’ll end up with a blurred display.

Hisense M2 Pro 4K Triple Laser Smart Portable Projector $1,099.99 at Amazon
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OpenAI has launched Daybreak, a cyber defense suite of tools that uses the intelligence of the company's LLMs to find and remedy software vulnerabilities.

The company hasn't freely released the tools to everyone; instead, it'll be "working with (...) industry and government partners" as it prepares to deploy "increasingly more cyber-capable models" in the future.

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According to OpenAI, Daybreak combines the intelligence of OpenAI models (in particular, the new GPT-5.5) with the extensibility of Codex (OpenAI's coding tool). Partners can use Daybreak for "secure code review, threat modeling, patch validation, dependency risk analysis, detection, and remediation guidance."

Three models are offered at this time. The default GPT-5.5 model can be used for general purpose work. GPT-5.5 with Trusted Access For Cyber is for "most defensive security workflows," which includes secure code review, malware analysis, and patch validation. Finally, GPT-5.5-Cyber can be used for authorized red teaming, penetration testing, and controlled validation.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT 5.5 Instant as the new default model for everyone

If this sounds familiar, you're thinking of Anthropic's Project Glasswing initiative and Mythos, an AI that's so good at finding software vulnerabilities that Anthropic has only given access to selected partners.

OpenAI did not publicly disclose pricing for Daybreak; those interested can contact the company's sales team for a quote. Several companies are listed as partners, including Cloudflare, Cisco, Oracle, and Akamai.

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

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, May 12, 2026:

AcrossGerman for "Mrs."

• The answer is Frau.

Small stall at a mall

• The answer is Kiosk.

Bring to mind

• The answer is Evoke.

Surprised exclamations upon seeing mice

• The answer is Eeks.

Dramatic end to a World Cup game, for short

• The answer is PKs.

DownRace that equates to 3.1 miles ... or a hint to one letter's frequent appearance in this grid?

• The answer is Five K.

Chess "castles"

• The answer is Rooks.

Poses a question to

• The answer is Asks.

Hawaiian stringed instrument, informally

• The answer is Uke.

Not go bad

• The answer is Keep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 12, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 12, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 12 Pips

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 12 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 12 Pips

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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