Technology

Within just three days of each other, Chinese and Japanese spacecraft got up close and personal with two different asteroids. 

The China National Space Administration sent Tianwen-2 to visit Kamo'oalewa, a 300-foot-wide rock some call a quasi-moon of Earth, on July 2. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, aka JAXA, sent its Hayabusa2 spacecraft by a 1,500-foot-wide space rock dubbed Torifune on July 5. 

The missions, which each scored photos of their targets, show a thirst for knowledge about these dinosaur killers and how to potentially stop them, should one ever be on a collision course with our planet. Though neither of these so-called near-Earth asteroids is a threat, scientists and engineers hope to use these and other close encounters to prepare for potential dangerous ones in the future. 

In a post on X, the European Space Agency congratulated both space programs for their successes while promoting its own Hera mission, a robotic spacecraft on its way to visit Dimorphos, the asteroid NASA's DART mission intentionally slammed into for asteroid target practice in 2022. 

SEE ALSO: Mysterious yellow crystals on Mars may soon have an explanation

Asteroids are the ancient detritus leftover from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. They're rocky objects that orbit the sun, mostly within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. 

Unlike planets, asteroids didn't grow large enough to become worlds of their own. The upshot is that they've kept some of that early material intact, serving as time capsules from the dawn of the solar system. 

After studying Kamo'oalewa for many months, Tianwen-2 will attempt to collect a sample from the asteroid. Credit: CNSA / Xinhua

For Tianwen-2, the journey to Kamo'oalewa took more than a year — roughly 400 days, according to Xinhua, China's state-run news agency, which released the image Monday. Scientists used navigation data during the approach to refine their knowledge of the asteroid's orbit. At the time, it was about 26 million miles away from Earth.

Though Kamo'oalewa, which means "oscillating celestial object" in Hawaiian, doesn't orbit Earth, it's sometimes known as a quasi-moon because it takes roughly the same orbital path as the planet around the sun. Some astronomers think it could even be an ancient blown-off piece of Earth from a long-ago collision — a chip off the old block, as it were. 

The spacecraft has come within 12 miles of the asteroid. After studying it for several months, the mission will attempt to collect samples. If successful, China will be the third nation, following Japan and the United States, to bring home bits of asteroid rubble. 

"Besides the intense scientific interest, this is another step toward utilizing the rich resources of accessible asteroids to boost the human settlement of the Earth-Moon system and beyond," said Dale Skran, chief operating officer of the National Space Society, in a statement. "This type of exploration also helps us to plan the protection of Earth from larger rogue asteroid impacts."

The Hayabusa2 mission reached asteroid Torifune, named after a god and ship in Japanese mythology, as part of its extended mission. Launched in 2014, the spacecraft has already visited asteroid Ryugu and returned samples to Earth in 2020.

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Because the spacecraft was traveling at about 3 miles per second, the flyby required a different navigation strategy from how it approached Ryugu. The Japanese space agency said engineers used a combination of images and radio tracking to guide the spacecraft. The peanut-shaped Torifune was about 62 million miles from Earth when the spacecraft reached it.

After their encounters, both missions intend to visit other targets. JAXA is sending Hayabusa2 to 1998 KY26, a 36-foot-wide asteroid. The journey there will take about five years. China plans to eventually send Tianwen-2 to comet 311P beyond Mars. 

Meta may have finally found a way to make smart glasses look normal. That might be the problem.

On June 23, Meta announced a new line of AI-powered Meta Glasses, starting at $299. The collection includes three frame styles: Meta Adventurer, Meta Fury, and Meta Glasses by Kylie, a slim oval frame designed in collaboration with Kylie Jenner.

Like Meta's Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, the new frames are meant to make AI wearable, stylish, and a little less like something you would only see at a tech conference. They can take photos, record video, play audio, handle calls, and let users interact with Meta AI hands-free. In other words, Meta is selling them as everyday eyewear that can also document what you see. That's exactly where the issue lies.

Online, users have been debating the new glasses with the usual mix of alarm, jokes, defensiveness, and rage. Some people have argued that the backlash ignores genuinely useful features, especially for creators, travelers, parents, and blind or low-vision users.

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Others have been more blunt, saying the glasses make it too easy for strangers to record people without their knowledge and then turn those interactions into content.

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On a phone, recording usually requires a visible gesture. Someone has to pull it out, aim it, and hold it up. Smart glasses remove most of that very difficult process (sarcasm, detected). A person can be talking to you, looking at you, or sitting across from you on the subway while the camera is already built into their frames.

Meta's glasses do include a small LED indicator that lights up when photos or videos are being captured, but people also argue that the light can be easy to miss, especially in bright settings or crowded spaces.

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That concern is no longer just hypothetical. In February 2026, three women reported they were secretly recorded by men wearing smart glasses during staged pickup-style interactions, then posted online without consent. One woman said she was approached in a Washington, D.C., airport lounge and later discovered that the man had filmed her with smart glasses. Another said she was filmed in a grocery store and found the clip online, where it had already been viewed millions of times.

SEE ALSO: Pranksters and pickup artists are using Meta Ray-Ban glasses to harass strangers for content

There have also been concerns in more intimate settings. In September 2025, a woman went viral after saying she realized during a Brazilian wax at a Manhattan European Wax Center that her esthetician was wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

The employee reportedly said the glasses were not charged and were prescription, and there was no evidence that the appointment was recorded. Still, the reaction made clear that the presence of a wearable camera can be enough to make people feel exposed, especially in situations where privacy is part of the service.

Drama has had real digital ramifications. In December 2025, TikTokker Anthony Festa went viral after posting about arriving for a 6 a.m. Solidcore class on Nov. 30 and finding the studio empty, with no instructor present. He filmed himself on his Meta glasses doing a makeshift private workout, and the situation escalated after he alleged staff pressured him to take the video down.

While initially about the workout class, the situation brought up a recurring question: if wearable cameras make it easy to document everything in real time, what responsibility do public spaces have to make their rules clear before someone starts filming?

The recording light is now becoming a legal issue, too. On June 4, 2026, Pennsylvania state Rep. Joe Ciresi introduced a bill that would require smart glasses and other wearable recording devices to include a visual indicator when recording audio or video.

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This is aimed at a real loophole in the current smart-glasses setup. On TikTok, retailers sell "ghost dot" stickers to block or dim the recording light, and similar LED-blocking stickers have appeared on retail sites.

The bill is part of a wider wave of scrutiny around where smart glasses could go next. In February, the New York Times reported that Meta had been exploring facial recognition for its smart glasses through an internal feature called "Name Tag," which could allow a wearer to identify people and receive information about them through Meta AI (Meta has not launched that feature for consumers). U.S. Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in March demanding more information about these reported plans, and in May, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Meta AI Glasses over concerns.

And in June, the Verge reported that people in at least 30 states were offering to remove the recording light from Ray-Ban Meta glasses, including a New Jersey modder who said he performed the service multiple times a week. Meta has responded, saying tampering with the light violates its rules and that it removes listings for those services, but the reporting has given lawmakers a concrete example of why a tiny indicator light may not be enough on its own.

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Smart glasses have been a hard sell. Google Glass became a punchline more than a decade ago, and even Meta’s more recent Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses have had to fight the same basic problem: people do not always love the idea of a camera sitting on someone else's face. Reuters reported in November of last year that smart-glasses sales were growing, but that mainstream shoppers still had concerns about privacy, comfort, and price.

Meta seems to know that. Its newest rollout isn't just about making the glasses cheaper — it's about making them look like something people might actually want to wear, even before they think about the technology inside. By tapping Kylie as the face of this much chicer version, Meta's launch event pulled in a fashion-and-internet crowd that included stylist Law Roach, creator Nara Smith, and DJ Peggy Gou.

The glasses have since popped up on everyone from F1 WAGs to influencers — perhaps for fashion, perhaps as a gift from Meta — though not without the inevitable internet backlash that accompanies every such sighting.

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As lawmakers rush to catch up, Meta is simultaneously making its smart glasses cheaper, more fashionable, and more ordinary. But the more "ordinary" this tech looks, the more concerns it brings.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $42.97
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Unlike Microsoft 365, this version doesn’t require an ongoing subscription. A single purchase installs the software on one compatible Mac, giving you lifetime access to the classic desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (Basic), and OneNote.

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For many users, those are the apps that utilized most. Whether you’re writing up documents in Word, organizing budgets and data in Excel, forming presentations in PowerPoint, or managing email through Outlook, the suite covers the everyday tasks students, families, freelancers, and small business owners rely on.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 3 (2022) 15.6" 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Win11Pro (Refurbished) $439.99
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Looking for a laptop with plenty of memory and high RAM capacity? That can be an expensive feat these days, but this Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 3 delivers all that in a sleek, portable — and, most importantly, affordable — package.

Right now, you can snag a Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 3 for just $439.99 while supplies last.

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If you’re in the market for a laptop that can actually keep up with your workload, the Lenovo ThinkPad is up for the challenge. This laptop comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 5675U processor and an impressive 16GB of RAM that can handle your entire to-do list — and all without costing upwards of $1,000 (we’re looking at you, MacBooks).

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Christian Brantley is better known online as CircleToonsHD. With a distinctive animation style that focuses on strategically simple character designs, he's created a workflow that allows him not only to create cartoons regularly but also to comment on emerging news and trends in gaming, tech, and other areas of pop culture.

With an irreverent sensibility and energetic attitude, the graphic designer turned indie animator earned over a million views on videos like "How AI Killed the Internet" and "How One Item Fractured Elden Ring's Fanbase." Posting videos regularly, he's earned over 500,000 followers on TikTok and 4 million subscribers on YouTube. Plus, he's launched his own video game, a virtual card game called Fool's Blade.

But how did Circle grow from a side project to an indie animation success story? While Brantley was at VidCon 2026, he sat down with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko to dig into the secrets of success, including how he discovered his "superpower" and when he knew it was time to bet on himself.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable / Adobe Stock What is it you love about content creation?

CircleToonsHD: I think what really brings me to content creation is when it finally becomes like a physical manifestation — where you can see the fans, like VidCon. Because it's really easy to fall into the numbers, likes, and subscriptions. And that's kind of nebulous. But when you can finally make actual tangible impacts, either with my game [Fool's Blade] or my content? People go, "You inspired my work," or "I'm going to college because of the stuff that you put out," you know?

I had someone in my meet-and-greet say that they are going to college for animation, partially because of stuff they watch from me. That's the same feeling I [had] watching animators back in the day, in early YouTube, that inspired me to make my stuff. So, if you can kind of make those impacts and those connections, that's like everything for me.

It makes it tangible, you know? We had a huge meet-and-greet yesterday. We met so many amazing people, and they showed me on their iPads the art they're making. They showed me their channels and stuff, telling me, "I have 300 subscribers — it's so small." And I'm like, "Have you ever seen a room with 300 people? Like, that's huge. That's super cool."

What were some of the animators that inspired you?

Ooh, the early Newgrounds days, early YouTube days, the Egoraptors of the world — he's still around making some amazing stuff with Glitch Productions. Really, those precursor early YouTube days were, like, so pivotal and formative for everything that I make.

Was there a moment when you were like, "I've made it!"?

There's kind of like two modes of "made it."

I had a few videos kind of explode in, like, 2016 or 2017, and they were getting millions of views. And I was like, "Oh my gosh." That was the first time I made it. But I didn't have enough subs or consistency to make it my full-time job. The money wasn't coming in. So it was really mind-blowing that millions of people were watching the content. But I was like, "This can't kind of be a full-time job. It could just like a quick flash in the pan thing." Because it's really easy to have, like, one thing explode and then never again.

So I was really excited about that. I worked a full-time job, where I was a graphic designer and large-format pressman. I was doing YouTube at the same time for about three years. Then one day, the money just ticked slightly above. And I was like, "I'm gonna bet on myself, I'm gonna do this." And I left to do YouTube full time, and it's the best bet I ever made.

I made that bet on myself. It was nerve-racking at first, but when it came through, and now I could pour those kinds of hours into it full time, it really started flowing in. So I hunkered down and built out the style. I built out the production so I could make animations every week, because that wasn't common in the YouTube space, and it still isn't.

I honed in on a different style that was efficient and fun, and that allowed me to get in front of jokes and current pop culture. So I really had this leg up when something crazy happened in the gaming space, or the movie space, or the internet space. I could have something out in three minutes, and all my other animator buddies are like, "Oh my gosh, like, that's a superpower." And so that really is when I knew that could do it full time and bet on it. I had that timing.

What is it you love about working on the internet?

Oh man, the connections you can make over long distances. I have a lot of buddies that — tangible, in-person [relationships] now — but that initially would come from just shooting over a message on Twitter, on Instagram, on Discord, being like, "Hey, I love your stuff, like, do you want to like make something?" And that just can't happen anywhere else.

A lot of times, when I was growing initially, I would be super nervous reaching out to these bigger creators. And now it's the other way around, and so I have, like, a window into how it felt to help out, I guess.

So a buddy of mine that came here, YouTube's GarrettTheCarrot, I've been around him to see him grow from like 70,000 to now something like 6 million subs. He was talking about he was so nervous to reach out to me and I was like, "Dude, your work is awesome; I don't care if you have one follower if you're creative." Meeting other creatives is infectious, and it makes your creative work better, and it makes it easy to work online.

When was the moment where you knew you wanted to be an animator?

I've always had an interest in art. I paint. I do graphic design. I was always sketching in a book. But I think when I realized that indie animation and people putting themselves out there was getting just as successful and fun, and later on lucrative as TV and movie, and it was real, you know? I was like, "I want to give it a whirl," because it became a real thing.

How long did it take before you saw significant growth in followers, and what do you think instigated that?

I tell people that I made over 2000 things before I made a penny. A lot of people post a 10th video, and [if it doesn't go viral are] like, "It's not for me." And I'm like, "You're not even in the flames! You've got to get in there."

My YouTube channel was created in 2012, and there's some fun animations there. But about 2016 or 2017 [I developed the style I use now], so [there were about] five, six years until it started doing something recognizable under the brand. But I was constantly posting stuff on YouTube, and Instagram, and Twitter, and grinding it out.

So I always tell people that don't blow up in their first six months, "You're not even 10% into it yet. You gotta bet on yourself over and over again." And it's important that you enjoy what you're doing. If you're doing it for the only explicit purpose of blowing up or making it big, you're not doing it for the right reasons.

Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.

The interview above was edited for length and clarity.

Several single women recently told Mashable the truth about dating in 2026: it's bleak. But that doesn't mean there's no hope. While singles are increasingly frustrated with dating apps, one coach said the apps aren't keeping people single; it's how they're using them. If you're swiping into the void and avoiding talking to people, yes, it may be hard to find a date! But it is absolutely possible to find your person online. In fact, Mashable recently interviewed several married couples who met on dating apps.

According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you're a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you're more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.

SEE ALSO: My favorite dating app just got even cooler with a new feed redesign

The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that's you, you're certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok. 

But with so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in. And the discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. In 2025, singles told Mashable they'd rather meet a potential partner in person, but they're begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent years, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. A Kinsey scientist recently told Mashable where daters are going wrong: use dating apps as a tool, not to let them run the show — and stop self-optimizing, already.

Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it's undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they're the way to do it. If you're, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app can still be useful.

What is the #1 best dating app?

Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it's difficult to quantify which ones are the "best." Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups. 

That being said, if you're looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you're looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one's ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more "serious" connections.

Depending on the type of relationship you're seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you're in a space meant just for you.

Which dating site is best for serious relationships?

Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won't determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We've also included some "niche" options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.

Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:

Summer slumber isn't a thing at Mountain View: Google's new Pixel smartphones will be unveiled on August 12.

The company recently sent out invites for the event, which will be held in New York City, at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 12. The invite shows a detail of (presumably) the upcoming phone (in a dazzling gold/copper color) and its camera.

"Come celebrate with us in NYC on August 12. It's the night the next generation of Pixel arrives," the invite says.

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The company is expected to launch a massive addition to its phone lineup, with rumors pointing to four new devices: Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

At the event, Google is also expected to launch a new wearable, the Pixel Watch 5.

SEE ALSO: Google launches Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash. How to try them now

The event timing is notable as it's about a month ahead of Apple's September event, where the company is likely to unveil new iPhones, including its first-ever foldable phone, the iPhone Ultra.

To make this summer even more interesting, Samsung is also about to launch new foldable phones, including a super-wide version of the Galaxy Z Fold, at an Unpacked event on July 22.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch baseball.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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: 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: Baserunner

• Green: Trench work

• Blue: Florida postseason games

• Purple: Rangers in baseball

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Baserunning Outcomes

• Green: Can Precede "Block" In Football

• Blue: CFB Bowl Games in Florida

• Purple: Members of the Texas Rangers

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 #653 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Baserunning Outcomes: PICKLE, PICKOFF, STEAL, TAG

• Can Precede "Block" In Football: CHOP, CRACKBACK, PANCAKE, PASS

• CFB Bowl Games in Florida: CITRUS, GASPARILLA, ORANGE, POP-TARTS

• Members of the Texas Rangers: BURGER, DEGROM, GORE, ROCKER

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.

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 July 8, 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 July 8, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 8 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 8 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 8 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

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

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from West Virginia with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced age verification laws for online adult content, including West Virginia. Pornhub has responded to these new laws by restricting access to potential users from those locations. It's a complicated situation with a quick and easy workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from West Virginia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in West Virginia

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

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3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

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Unblock Pornhub for free in West Virginia with ExpressVPN.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

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

Greenery.

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

PLANT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Bright.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

LIGHT

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Small change.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TWEAK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Grim.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BLEAK

Final Hurdle hint

Just a bit.

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

OUNCE

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a musician.

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 July 8, 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: Shreds

• Green: Idea

• Blue: Rock on!

• Purple: Dwelling

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cut into thin pieces

• Green: Motif

• Blue: Guitar-playing techniques

• Purple: House ___

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 #1123 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Cut into thin pieces: GRATE, PLANE, SHAVE, SLIVER

• Motif: DRIFT, PLOT, THEME, THREAD

• Guitar-playing techniques: PICK, PLUCK, STRUM, TAP

• House ___: CARDS, LORDS, WAX, WORSHIP

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 8, 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 a troublemaker.

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 July 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Here comes trouble

The words are related to being mischievous.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe troublemaking.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Little Devil.

NYT Strands word list for July 8

• Whippersnapper

• Hellion

• Little Devil

• Rapscallion

• Scamp

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 believe in evil.

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 July 8, 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 July 8, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Devil.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DEMON

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.

One of the worst-kept secrets in tech isn't a secret anymore.

After months of rumors and leaks, Samsung on Tuesday finally confirmed what we already knew: There will be a Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 in London, starting at 9am ET. You'll be able to watch the event live on Samsung's website or its YouTube channel.

In the brief announcement sent to media outlets, Samsung said it will "introduce its latest Galaxy innovations that build on its leadership in foldables."

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked preview: Everything we expect from the July event

That's right in line with what we expect to see at this Galaxy Unpacked event. Reporting suggests Samsung will launch three foldables instead of just two this year: A Z Flip 8, a Z Fold 8, and a Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Z Fold 8 will be a new model with a shorter, wider form factor, while the Z Fold 8 Ultra will be a successor to the excellent Z Fold 7.

We're also expecting to see at least two new Galaxy Watch models, as well as Samsung's first foray into smart glasses, which may be called Galaxy Glasses.

And if there are any surprises beyond those announcements? We'll know in a couple of weeks.

On tenterhooks waiting for Insta360's new 360-degree camera to come out? You won't have to wait much longer.

Insta360's latest filing with FCC reveals the company's X6 360-degree camera, model code CINSABXA, received FCC certification on July 3.

What does this mean? It means that nothing stands in the way of the X6's launch, likely early in the fall.

Insta360 has not yet confirmed a launch date, but the usual timeframe for product launches following FCC certification suggests the X6 will be announced in August or September.

SEE ALSO: DJI and Insta360 go to war in the U.S. over action gimbal cameras

Detailed specs are not confirmed in the filing, but other reports suggest the Insta360 X6 adds intriguing new features to the popular 360 degree camera. The X6 will reportedly be able to shoot video in 8K at 60fps, which is an upgrade from the maximum 30fps in 8K from its predecessor, the X5.

The X6 is also reportedly able to shoot in 10-bit color, with larger sensors meaning better recordings in low-light conditions.

Pricing has also not been confirmed, but reports suggest that the X6 will launch somewhere between $549 and $599.

Insta360 is quickly becoming a powerhouse in the camera market. The company most recently released the Insta360 Luna Ultra, a gimbal camera that rivals DJI's Osmo Pocket line.

Still, Insta360 is still best known for its flagship line of 360 degree cameras — most frequently launched in April. The Insta360 X5 was launched in April 2025, and the X4 came out in the April before that.

But April 2026 came and went without the release of its next generation 360 degree camera, leaving eager customers concerned.

So thanks to the the FCC filing, Insta360 fans can look forward to the release of the company's newest 360 degree camera in a matter of weeks.

TL;DR: Learn all 14 Babbel languages for life for just $159 with code LEARN and build real conversation skills through expert-created lessons.

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AI can translate a sentence in seconds, but actually holding a conversation with another person is a different skill. That’s where Babbel takes a different approach. Instead of relying primarily on AI-generated lessons, Babbel’s courses are created by 100+ linguists and language educators who focus on helping people communicate naturally in real-life situations.

For a limited time, you can get lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages for a one-time $159 (reg. $299) when you use the StackSocial code LEARN.

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Rather than asking you to memorize endless vocabulary lists, Babbel builds lessons around conversations you’ll actually have — ordering food, asking for directions, introducing yourself, navigating travel, or chatting with coworkers. The goal isn’t simply knowing another language; it’s feeling comfortable using it.

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If you’re looking for a language-learning platform built around authentic conversations instead of automated content, this offers a refreshingly human approach.

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If you drive a Ford Mustang or Mustang Mach-E, you may need to take your vehicle to the dealership in the near future. Ford has issued two separate recall campaigns covering 110,626 vehicles due to a windshield wiper defect and a rear differential issue that can result in a sudden loss of power.

I used to think I didn't spend a lot of time on my phone—then I saw the harsh reality. I wanted to fix this, so I did some research and found a tool that helped me decrease my phone use when it's at its worst: late at night. The solution I found is surprisingly easy and requires no third-party apps.

Google announced an event to introduce the Pixel 11 in New York City on August 12th. The invitation says little, but includes a teaser image of the phone that appears to confirm a rumored all-black camera bar. The design will otherwise be familiar to Pixel 10 (and Pixel 9) fans, but there are more interesting details to look forward to.