Technology

Jon Stewart has already made his feelings clear on Donald Trump's inauguration, but in the Daily Show video above host Ronny Chieng gives a running commentary on some of the day's more ridiculous moments.

Chieng starts with the inauguration party, going through everything from Trump's "grand entrance in front of a Windows 95 screensaver" to the cake with an airplane on it ("the coolest thing any six-year-old boy can have").

Chieng then moves on to the executive order signing, from Trump throwing pens into the crowd ("Whoever caught that pen is so lucky. That is gonna be such a cool thing for those guys to show their kids once they get their visitation rights back,") to Trump saying a gleeful "ooh" when handed the order to withdraw from the WHO ("He's withdrawing from the World Health Organisation like he's hearing the dessert options," says Chieng. "I'll have the tiramisu and the potential measles outbreak.")

For a reminder of some of the things Trump promised in his inauguration day speech, Mashable's recapped the whole thing.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for January 22 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: College classes

• Green: Dig this

• Blue: Jobs that require loose, flowy garments

• Purple: Things that involve the word "up"

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Types of Academic Courses

• Green: Results of Some Digging

• Blue: Ones Wearing Robes

• Purple: ___Up

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 #591 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Types of Academic Courses: DISCUSSION, LAB, LECTURE, SEMINAR

• Results of Some Digging: DITCH, HOLE, PIT, TRENCH

• Ones Wearing Robes: BOXER, JUDGE, MONK, WIZARD

• ___Up: BATTER, BOTTOMS, CHIN, LAWYER

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 January 22

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for January 22 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's The Mini crossword answers for January 22, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Extend or attain.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

REACH.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 22

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 January 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 22 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Pixar this

These words are cartoon films.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are all made by the production company Pixar.

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 Animation.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 22

• Brave

• Ratatouille

• Elemental

• Cars

• Onward

• Soul

• Animation

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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

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: Baseball stat for pitchers

• Green: Ways you might try to score in basketball

• Blue: Sites for winter medaling

• Purple: Teams that share a mascot

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: "WHIP" in baseball

• Green: Basketball offenses

• Blue: North American Winter Olympic hosts

• Purple: Tigers

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 #121 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• "WHIP" in baseball - HITS, INNINGS, PITCHED, WALKS

• Basketball offenses - MOTION, PICK AND ROLL, PRINCETON, TRIANGLE

• North American Winter Olympic hosts - LAKE PLACID, SALT LAKE CITY, SQUAW VALLEY, VANCOUVER

• Tigers - AUBURN, DETROIT, MEMPHIS, MISSOURI

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.

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

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

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

If you're on the fence about Apple Intelligence features on your iPhone, just know they'll be automatically installed with the next iOS update.

According to Apple's beta developer notes, Apple Intelligence will automatically be switched on when you install iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, or macOS 15.3, all expected late January.

SEE ALSO: New iOS 18 features we expect in 2025

"For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding," the notes read. "Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices." The same goes for macOS 15.3.

If you want to switch off Apple Intelligence on your device, you'll need to head to Settings, select Apple Intelligence and Siri, and hit the toggle.

Featured Video For You How 6 generations of iPhone captured 20 years of motherhood in 'Motherboard'

Though Apple's AI-generated notification summaries will be included with the latest update, Apple pulled feature for news this week, following a series of blatantly false headlines.

Want to know what you can currently do with Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or on your Mac? Mashable's got you covered.

Modern dating horror gets a Groundhog Day-style twist in the trailer for The Death Thing, Shudder's upcoming movie from writer/director Elric Kane.

In the clip above we see Alex (Blu Hunt) doomswiping on a dating app before she meets a man (Ben Smith-Petersen) she has an instant connection with. The problem? The next time she meets him, he appears to have no recollection of their first date.

Katherine Hughes and John Karna also star in what looks like a creepy and psychological take on modern dating app culture.

The Dead Thing is streaming on Shudder from Feb. 14.

The next Mars rovers may traverse the Red Planet with futuristic tires.

NASA's Glenn Research Center released imagery and footage from testing of a novel tire, called a shape memory alloy spring tire, that would be capable of incurring significant deformation on rugged terrain, before springing back to its original shape.

"We can actually deform this all the way down to the axle, and have it return to shape, which we could never even contemplate in a conventional metal system," Santo Padula, a materials research engineer at NASA Glenn, explained in a new agency video.

The space agency recently tested the tires on Martian-simulated terrain at Airbus Defence and Space in the United Kingdom. The engineers reported the tires passed testing on the rocky and slippery artificial topography — an encouraging endorsement of the technology.

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

The springy metal is composed of nickel-titanium, a material that can withstand intense stresses. (Previous NASA spring tire designs used steel, which more easily leads to irreversible deformation.) The current rovers on Mars, Perseverance and Curiosity, are built with tires made of aluminum and have grown battered and punctured as they crunch over the wild Martian desert.

The damaged right-middle wheel of NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity, as viewed on Sept. 22, 2024. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Future extraterrestrial rovers — especially if they're crewed vehicles on Mars or the moon — would certainly benefit from damage-resistant tires. It won't be easy to fix a flat or punctured tire on another world.

Such a self-repairing material might be vital for structures, too. The moon, for example, has almost no protective atmosphere, meaning its surface is often pelted with speeding micrometeorites. "We need new materials for extreme environments that can provide energy absorption for micrometeorite strikes that happen on the moon to enable things like habitat structures for large numbers of astronauts and scientists to do work on the moon and Mars," Padula said.

Who knows — perhaps future Mars rovers, moon bases, and even moon railroad cars will contain springy metal, designed for the extremes of other worlds.

SAVE $430: The Samsung 85-inch QN85D QLED TV (2024 model) is now $1,767.99 at Amazon, down from its usual $2,197.99 price. With Quantum Matrix technology, Dolby Atmos, a 120Hz refresh rate, and built-in Alexa, this premium TV is a steal at $430 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-inch QN85D QLED TV (2024) $1,767.99 at Amazon
$2,197.99 Save $430.00 Get Deal

When did you last think, "You know what my living room needs? An 85-inch TV." Probably never, but hear me out — this Samsung QN85D QLED 4K Smart TV might make you rethink that. This beast of a TV is within reach at $1,767.99, thanks to a hefty $430 discount on Amazon.

Let's start with the basics. QN85D is armed with Samsung's Quantum Matrix technology and Mini LEDs that deliver insane contrast and detail. Fancy rewatching Supernatural or catching every play during the big game? This TV pops. And with a 120Hz refresh rate and Motion Xcelerator Turbo, fast-moving scenes look buttery smooth — no stuttering, no excuses.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Audio gets just as much love here. Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite team up to create an immersive 3D sound that feels like it's following the action on screen. Whether it's a car chase or a whisper in a thriller, this TV makes sure you feel it.

Samsung's AI-powered processor isn't just a fancy add-on; it works hard to upscale your content to near-4K quality, even if you're streaming an old favorite. Add features like Real Depth Enhancer for that lifelike pop and HDR Brightness Optimizer for vibrant colors, and you're looking at a premium viewing experience.

This TV isn't just about watching — it's about doing. With Samsung's Tizen OS, you can easily access Netflix, Disney+, and all your favorite apps. Plus, Alexa and Google Assistant are built right in, so you can change channels, check the weather, or control your smart home with just your voice.

At $430 off, the Samsung QN85D is practically begging to be the centerpiece of your living room. If you're ready to upgrade your gaming or home theatre setup and flex, grab this deal before it's gone. Pro tip: Clear some wall space first — this beast is immense.

Astronomers discovered the huge planet WASP-127b nearly a decade ago. Now, they've found this world harbors winds of some 20,500 mph, or 33,000 km/h.

That's nearly 19 times faster than the strongest planetary winds in our solar system — the 1,100 mph gusts on Neptune. The robust supersonic winds whipping around this distant gas giant's equator are spinning six times faster than the planet itself, which is a little bigger than Jupiter.

"This is something we haven’t seen before," Lisa Nortmann, a scientist at the University of Göttingen who led the new research, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Astronomers used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope facility — located in the remote and profoundly dry Chilean mountains at some 8,645 feet — to observe these extreme winds. Specifically, an instrument called the CRyogenic high-resolution InfraRed Echelle Spectrograph, or CRIRES+, which is used to look for super-Earths and the composition of other exoplanets, made the observation possible. The planet's nearby star illuminated the molecules in WASP-127b's atmosphere, allowing the instrument to reveal that one side of the atmosphere moved away from us at high speed, while the other side moved toward us at high speed.

"This signal shows us that there is a very fast, supersonic jet wind around the planet’s equator," Nortmann said.

Earth along with some other planets in our solar system have jet streams too. They're like rivers of high-speed atmospheric air, and have major implications for our Earthly weather as they separate cold and warm air masses.

Tweet may have been deleted A NASA visualization of the exoplanet WASP-127 b orbiting its "G-type star," which is a sun-like star. Credit: NASA

Exoplanets, which are planets beyond our solar system, are often much too small and faint for space or Earth-based telescopes to capture an actual image — though there are exceptions. We can't actually see this extreme jet stream on WASP-127b, so you'll have to live with the conceptual views above.

"This is something we haven’t seen before."

But even without a direct image, astronomers can learn a lot about a world like WASP-127b based on the starlight traveling through its atmosphere and how it impacts its parent star. From the recent observations, astronomers confirmed this gas giant harbors water vapor and carbon dioxide gases, and has cooler poles and different temperatures, suggesting a complex weather system.

In the coming years, with an ever bigger telescope dubbed the Extremely Large Telescope — which hosts a huge 128-foot (39-meter) primary mirror — astronomers will be able to detect weather on much smaller, rocky worlds, perhaps similar to Earth.

TL;DR: Transform birdwatching with the BirdHi Mag, a solar-powered bird feeder with a 2.5K camera, AI bird recognition, and a squirrel-proof design. Grab it while it's on sale at the Mashable Shop for $94.99 (reg. $149).

Opens in a new window Credit: Bilantan BirdHi Mag Metal Solar Powered Smart Bird Feeder with Camera $94.99 at the Mashable Shop
$149.00 Save $54.01 Get Deal

What if you could sit in the comfort of your home and watch vibrant cardinals, curious chickadees, and playful blue jays flutter into view as if you had your own live nature show? With the BirdHi Mag Smart Bird Feeder, your yard transforms into a captivating nature documentary, delivering up-close views of feathered friends in stunning 2.5K video clarity.

For a limited time, it's on sale for just $94.99 (reg. $149) with free shipping for Mashable readers. You can think of this as a front-row seat to the best wildlife entertainment, complete with smart tech that makes birdwatching easy and convenient.

Equipped with a 3MP AI-powered camera, it captures every flutter and chirp, day or night. Whether it’s bright sunlight or a quiet, snowy evening, the feeder’s night vision ensures you never miss a moment. And thanks to AI bird recognition, you can instantly identify species, learn fascinating facts, and deepen your appreciation for your feathered friends.

Bird lovers may notice there isn't a ton of space to dump a bulk amount of seed. This is by design. You want those feathered visitors to come often and eat fresh seed that hasn't been ruined by moisture or infested with bugs.

Stream live video directly to your phone and receive notifications when birds stop by for a snack. The squirrel-proof design ensures your birdseed is for the birds, not the neighborhood’s most determined thieves. Plus, the feeder’s solar-powered build keeps it running without interruptions.

Winter is the perfect time to discover new bird species as they search for food. While you stay warm indoors, the BirdHi Mag keeps your feathered friends fed and provides crystal-clear footage of their visits.

Give yourself a nature boost this winter and enjoy this exciting activity in spring, summer, and fall with this fun smart bird feeder camera.

The BirdHi Mag Smart Bird Feeder is just $94.99 (reg. $149) with free shipping for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Turn workouts into a stress-relieving jam session with the Smart Music Boxing Machine for just $99.99 (reg. $139.99) — it even comes with gloves.

Standard treadmills and stationary bikes definitely get the job done. But sometimes, a change from the same old routine can keep you motivated to get in shape because it's more challenging and fun.

If you're looking for a fresh, fun, and effective way to de-stress while getting in a workout, the Smart Music Boxing Machine can help amp things up. Ideal for adults seeking a unique addition to their typical routine and kids who love active play, this device brings music, rhythm, and boxing together into one exciting package. And it's on sale at the Mashable Shop for just $99.99 (reg. $139.99).

You'll be grooving to your favorite tunes and working on your agility and coordination. And to get your workout started, it even comes with training boxing gloves.

The Smart Music Boxing Machine connects to your phone via Bluetooth, allowing you to jam out to your own playlists while you punch along to rhythm-synced LED lights. Imagine blending your workout with a dance party, and you’ll get a sense of just how much fun this workout machine can be.

It’s not just about the music, though. This device includes a smart LED control panel with nine customizable modes that let you adjust light patterns and punching speeds to match your mood or training goals. 

While the Music Boxing Machine isn’t designed for heavy-duty punching, it’s perfect for rhythm-based fitness, agility training, and stress relief. Its soft foam impact surface absorbs light punches and protects your hands, while its wall-mounted design keeps it out of the way.

Whether you’re mounting it in your living room, garage, or office, it’s ready to add some excitement to your day without requiring a full gym setup.

Get the Smart Music Boxing Machine for just $99.99 (reg. $139.99) — a 28% discount for Mashable readers.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: OurStarry Smart Music Boxing Machine with Gloves $99.99
$139.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

The 2025 movie season is about to begin as the Sundance Film Festival kicks off, bringing a fresh crop of premieres in TV and film. With an online component, you don't need to trek to the snowy mountains of Park City, Utah, to get in on the fun. But with so many titles being showcased, it can be confounding to know where to begin.

Fret not, movie buddies! Mashable has got you covered, having surveyed the cinematic landscape for the films most likely to have you shocked, awed, and entertained. Whether you relish a probing and poignant documentary, a gnarly horror story, a deeply quirky comedy, or a big, star-studded swing, there's something sure to intrigue.

Last year, Sundance debuted such gems as I Saw the TV Glow, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, Kneecap, Thelma, and Will & Harper. This year, what treasures might you find?

Pee-wee as Himself Paul Reubens in "Pee-wee as Himself" by director Matt Wolf, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: HBO

Pee-wee Herman is an icon, not only of children's television but also of movies, theater, and counterculture performance art. Love him or hate him, everyone knows Pee-wee. But behind the goofy laugh and the signature gray suit, the late Paul Reubens was himself mysterious...until now. Pee-wee as Himself, a two-part HBO docuseries from director Matt Wolf, takes audiences behind the scenes of Pee-wee's Playhouse and into Reubens' home and personal life to create the fullest portrait ever seen of this fascinating figure.  

Through extensive interviews with the man himself and his loved ones — including Debi Mazar, David Arquette, and Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) — Pee-wee as Himself charts Reuben's youth through his rise to fame as Pee-wee, including the tabloid-fodder scandals that threatened to derail his career, his Buffy the Vampire Slayer return, and beyond. While rich with intriguing personal stories and funny anecdotes, the most fascinating element of this doc is how Reubens himself interacts with Wolf, vying for control of the project and its perspective, even though he is its subject. Complex, poignant, and challenging, Pee-wee as Himself is a must-see for fans. The Secret Word is "Outstanding." 

Pee-wee as Himself premieres in the Episodic section of Sundance on Jan. 23; a release on HBO will follow.

Zodiac Killer Project A still from "Zodiac Killer Project" by Charlie Shackleton, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute

If you're addicted to true crime, you'll want to catch Zodiac Killer Project, a self-reflexive documentary that calls the genre's tropes into question even as it relishes in them. 

Curiously, this is less a movie about a criminal case, and more a doc about a movie that was not made. Director Charlie Shackleton set out to make an epic true crime documentary about a cop who spent decades trying to convince the world that he'd identified the true Zodiac Killer. But before production began on this would-be film, the late officer's family declined to sell the required rights. So Shackleton pivoted, making a doc that's essentially a salty pitch of what his film would have been. Over "evocative b-roll" of desolate landscapes and eerie interiors, Shackleton delivers his own narration on what he would have done, describing production design, graphic treatments, and shot choices. He'll note how these decisions have been influenced by the standards of true crime docs, unfurling unnerving montages that show no matter how different the stories are, their onscreen tellings are eerily similar. It's enough to send a chill of recognition down the spine of this true-crime addict. Through it all, Shackleton forces his audience to question what it is we expect — or even demand — from this genre, and how "truth" factors in.

Zodiac Killer Project premieres in the Next section of Sundance on Jan. 27.

Sally Sally Ride in "Sally" by Cristina Costantini, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by NASA

You might know that Sally Ride was the first American woman to be launched into space. But do you know who she was beyond the NASA poster girl and role model to millions? Documentarian Cristina Costantini, who previously helmed Science Fair and Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, explores the life, loves, and times of the groundbreaking astronaut in Sally.

Interviewing the late physicist's mother, sister, friends, ex-husband, former colleagues, and lesbian partner of 27 years, Costantini pieces together the path that led Ride to space, and to becoming a reluctant LGBTQ+ icon. Archival interviews of Ride clearly show the sexist approach the media took to female astronauts, asking about their beauty routines, how often they cry, and if they plan to have children — all topics Ride discouraged or insisted they ask of her male coworkers. However, the personal interviews with her loved ones reveal a side of Sally that was fiercely private, showing why that was, and how it changed. Informative, heartfelt, and occasionally funny, Sally is a compelling portrait of an American pioneer who proved the stars are for everyone.

Sally premieres in the Premiere section of Sundance on Jan. 28. NatGeo will release the film thereafter.

The Ugly Stepsister Lea Myren appears in "The Ugly Stepsister" by Emilie Blichfeldt, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Marcel Zyskind

You might think you know the story of Cinderella, her evil stepmother, and her ugly stepsisters. But we live in a post-Wicked age, and The Ugly Stepsister is here to hold space for the vilified girl who just wanted a prince of her own.

Writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt takes a hard look at this classic fairytale, re-imagining what Cinderella's story might have been like for her elder stepsister Elvira (Lea Myren), who isn't as naturally pretty, graceful, or confident as the future princess. With a mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, poor Elvira will be subjected to an array of brutal beauty treatments, from a medieval nose job to a stomach-churning diet hack. Relishing the chance to satirize a beauty industry that thrives on telling girls they're not enough (or are too much), Blichfeldt employs blistering gore to make her audience not only gag but also really feel Elvira's pain as if it were their own.

With a dizzying mix of fairy tale fantasy and body horror, it's little wonder The Ugly Stepsister has secured the coveted Opening Night spot of the Midnight section.

The Ugly Stepsister premieres in the Midnight section of Sundance on Jan. 23; Shudder will release the film thereafter.

The Legend of Ochi Helena Zengel appears in "The Legend of Ochi" by Isaiah Saxon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

A24 movies are often defined by being visually striking and shocking. But the biggest shock with The Legend of Ochi — which will premiere in Sundance's Family Matinee section — is that it's an A24 movie made for kids!

Fantasy with a tinge of horror is promised in the first trailer, where Nosferatu's Willem Dafoe is armored up and armed to the teeth to take on some mysterious monster. In a remote village, children are trained to protect their people from the Ochi, colorful primates that rule the wilderness. But when a brave young girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) crosses paths with a baby of this species, she begins to question the fearmongering of her kinfolk. Could this friendship between girl and beast change the fate their world forever?

From its first look, Isaiah Saxon's feature-length directorial debut boasts an immersive fantasy world, compelling characters, an adorable fanged monster to love, and Dafoe. What more do you need?*

Starring: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and Willem Dafoe

The Legend of Ochi premieres at Sundance on Jan. 26; The Legend of Ochi opens in theaters Feb. 28.

Bubble & Squeak Himesh Patel and Sarah Goldberg appear in "Bubble & Squeak" by Evan Twohy, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute

The cast alone was enough to get this Sundance entry on our highlights list: Matt Berry, Dave Franco, Steven Yeun, Himesh Patel, and Sarah Goldberg star in a marital drama about cabbages. Yes, cabbages.

With Bubble & Squeak, writer-director Evan Twohy makes his feature directorial debut adapting his acclaimed comedic play. Patel and Goldberg star as bickering newlyweds whose blissful honeymoon abroad is derailed when they're accused of smuggling cabbages into a foreign nation in which they are strictly forbidden. If that's not enough to entice you, what if we reveal that the dogged customs officer on their trail is played by What We Do in the Shadows' very own Matt Berry? Yeah. We thought so.

Bubble & Squeak premiers in the U.S. Dramatic Competition of Sundance on Jan 24.

Opus

Celebrity cults are about to get the A24 treatment in Mark Anthony Green's directorial Opus. Playing in the Midnight section of Sundance, this curious thriller stars The Bear's Ayo Edebiri as a young and ambitious journalist who's given the rare opportunity to interview a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who disappeared from the public eye 30 years before. But this isn't some fluffy "where are they now" piece.

As teased in the recently unveiled trailer, Opus plunges its heroine into a sycophantic cult, involving a notorious TV star (Juliette Lewis), blue wardrobes, and the requirement of a shaved "lady garden." What's going on in this chic and shady compound? What secrets will be unveiled? What's the deal with the dolls and the puppets and the promise of this new musical opus? It's A24, baby. It's gonna get wild. Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means co-star.

Opus premieres in the Midnight section of Sundance on Jan. 27; the film opens in theaters March 14.

LUZ Xiao Dong Guo and Sandrine Pinna appear in "LUZ" by Flora Lau, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Virtual reality is the neon-lit world that binds two stories of parent-child estrangement in LUZ. Written and directed by Flora Lau, this intriguing drama travels from the streets of Chongqing to the art galleries of Paris, chasing the heartache of two very different people.

Wei (Xiao Dong Guo) is a formerly incarcerated family man, looking to get his life back together — including reconnecting with his lost daughter (Enxi Deng), who works as a cam girl. Ren (Sandrine Pinna) is the mournful daughter of a renowned but deceased painter, who pines for him and her far-flung stepmother (Isabelle Huppert). Dealing with regret, grief, and resentment, these families find face-to-face conversation too real. So could the virtual world, where an iridescent deer is endlessly hunted, be their salvation? Pensive and poetic, this family drama is sure to find devotees enchanted by Lau's unique vision.

LUZ premieres in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of Sundance on Jan 23.

Touch Me  Olivia Taylor Dudley appears in "Touch Me" by Addison Heimann, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Dustin Supencheck

If you miss the chaotic and caustic comedy of Difficult People, you'll cherish Touch Me.
Playing in the Midnight section, this sci-fi comedy involves an invading alien who's all about hooking up with human hotties — in ways that veer swiftly into tentacle porn territory. And yes, because his sexual touch is basically a drug for his Earthling lovers, the visuals get all trippy in the erotica of it all. But at its core, Touch Me is about two codependent friends who bring out the best and worst in each other.

Joey (Olivia Taylor Dudley) and Craig (Lou Taylor Pucci) are roommates and besties; they are deeply devoted to each other but also live for cheap thrills and drama. So, on one hand, they are totally committed to breaking ties with Joey's man-bunned and muscular ex, who besides being a literal shape-shifting extraterrestrial is also cringingly into self-care spiritualism. But they also want to take advantage of his lush pad, its amenities, and that sensual touch that is basically "heroin." Gloppy, gory, and goofy as hell, Touch Me is a sublime Midnight Movie, made to be cackled over with friends and give way too-vivid nightmares (or sex dreams?).

Touch Me premieres in the Midnight section of Sundance on Jan 28.

Kiss of the Spider-Woman Tonatiuh and Diego Luna appear in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" by Bill Condon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute

One of the most intriguing titles of Sundance 2025 is undoubtedly Bill Condon's return to cinema. The director behind such heralded dramas as Gods and Monsters, Kinsey, and Dreamgirls, as well as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 & 2, offers a fascinating adaptation of Kiss of the Spider-Woman, a Tony-sweeping Broadway musical based on Manuel Puig's 1967 novel.

Set in Argentina’s Dirty War of the 1980s, this musical centers on a pair of prisoners, one held on political grounds, the other arrested for indecent exposure. They bond as the latter recounts the plot of his favorite musical, painting a world beyond their grim walls. Featuring a star-studded cast of Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, and Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman is a tale of art and politics that could hit hard in 2025.

Kiss of the Spider Woman premieres in the Premieres section of Sundance on Jan. 26.

TL;DR: Get a Tinder Gold 1-year subscription for $39.97 (reg. $108) through Feb. 2 at the Mashable Shop and save $68.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tinder Tinder Gold: 1-Year Subscription $39.97
$108.00 Save $68.03 Get Deal

Who has time to meet someone ‘the old-fashioned way’ anymore? Between work, errands, and making time for friends and family, more and more people are turning to online dating. You might be a little skeptical at first, especially with a name like Tinder being thrown around, but many people have met their spouses online.

No matter your dating goals, at least give Tinder a shot. The app is free to use, and if you like what you see, you can improve the experience with Tinder Gold — see who likes you first, get unlimited likes, match with people around the world, and more. Save 62% on your first year here. Chances are, that’s all you’ll need.

How Tinder works

You’ve probably heard of Tinder’s famous ‘swipe’ feature. In your feed, you’ll see photos of men and/or women (depending on your set preferences), and it’s your job to look at their profiles and decide if you’d like to chat. Swipe right if yes; swipe left if no. If they also swiped right on you, it’s a match, and you can strike up a conversation and start flirting.

Tinder Gold perks

The free version of Tinder will limit how many people you can like each day, but Tinder Gold gives you unlimited likes — go wild. You also get five Super Likes per week, which help you stand out on someone’s feed.

Tinder Gold also lets you see who likes you before scrolling through your feed. Talk about a confidence boost. Check out a list of your admirers in one place, then swipe right and left, knowing any right swipes will be an instant match.

You’ll have to try the app yourself to see the full benefits of Tinder Gold.

Don’t miss your chance to find true love this year with a discounted Tinder Gold 1-year subscription: $39.97 until Feb. 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $108).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, January 22, 2025:

AcrossMaterial made by melting sand

• The answer is Glass.

It's to your left when facing the sunrise

• The answer is North.

One in a cast

• The answer is Actor.

Say "This isn't fair!," say

• The answer is Whine.

Look for

• The answer is Seek.

DownChew like a beaver

• The answer is Gnaw.

Scottish bodies of water

• The answer is Lochs.

"The Sopranos" restauranteur

• The answer is Artie.

Object slid across a curling rink

• The answer is Stone.

He tells Donkey "Ogres are like onions"

• The answer is Shrek.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE $200: The Narwal Freo Z Ultra robot vacuum and mop combo is down to $1,299.99 (was $1,499.99) on Amazon. With dual HD cameras, AI obstacle avoidance, and self-emptying and self-washing capabilities, it's a cleaning powerhouse that handles pet hair, spills, and baseboards with ease.

Opens in a new window Credit: Narwal Narwal Freo Z Ultra $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

When was the last time you vacuumed your baseboards? If the answer involves a lot of squirming, here's the Narwal Freo Z Ultra, a robot vacuum and mop combo that's so smart it could ace a cleaning SAT. This bad boy is $200 off on Amazon right now, bringing the price down to $1,299.99.

This isn't your run-of-the-mill robo-vac. The Narwal Freo Z Ultra combines 12,000Pa suction power, streak-free mopping, and enough AI tech to make it the Terminator of household messes. It doesn't just clean; it decides how to clean, adjusting between vacuuming and mopping based on what it detects. Dust on the floor? Suck it up. Spilled juice? Mop it down. It even deploys a matrix cleaning pattern to make sure every spot is covered.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Thanks to dual HD cameras and onboard AI, this thing doesn't just avoid obstacles — it practically sees into the future. Whether it's dodging a rogue dog toy or carefully cleaning around furniture legs, it gets the job done without smacking into everything like a bumper car. It'll dodge pet accidents because nothing kills a cleaning vibe like spreading that mess around.

The Freo Z Ultra also handles its own maintenance like a pro. It self-empties into a dustbin that can hold up to 120 days of dirt, washes its mops with hot water (yes, hot water), and even dries itself to avoid funky odors. It's the hygienic, hands-off solution you didn't know you needed.

Thanks to a tangle-free brush, it's fantastic with pet hair. It scrubs baseboards, gets into crevices, and leaves your floors looking brand-new. Plus, it's eerily quiet — so quiet that you might forget it's working.

At $1,299.99, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra isn't cheap, but it's one of the most capable robot cleaners available today.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 22, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for a fitness tracker to kickstart the new year, don't go anywhere because we've found a deal you'll love. An advanced tracker full of lifestyle and fitness stats, Garmin's vívoactive 5 is one of the best.

This tracker was released in late 2023, bringing a stark upgrade from the previous model. Unlike the vívoactive 4, the 5 benefits from a bright AMOLED display, making colors incredibly vibrant and much more noticeable. It also has a much-improved battery life, boasting 11 days when in smartwatch mode.

SEE ALSO: The best Garmin watch for every activity

As of Jan. 22, the Garmin's vívoactive 5 is reduced to $249.99 at Amazon. This price is specific to the orchid color, but there are discounts across all styles.

Stats-wise, it is packed with advanced health-tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress tracking, and in-depth sleep insights. The sleep insights have also had an upgrade, now featuring sleep coaching. Sports tracking includes running, cycling, swimming, and more.

It is worth noting that unlike some of the higher-end watches in Garmin's lineup, the vívoactive 5 is missing more advanced features such as training status and training readiness. For statistics like these, you'll want to look at the Forerunner range. But if these aren't important to you, this is a fantastic option full of useful stats and tracking abilities.

Run to Amazon to grab this deal.

SAVE OVER $70: As of Jan. 22, this refurbished Kindle Scribe is on sale for $233.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 25% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (Refurbished) $233.99 at Amazon
$309.99 Save $76.00 Get Deal

Kindle lovers have fallen head over heels for the latest edition to the line up, the Kindle Scribe. Released late in 2024, this new model combines reading and note-taking in one handy device. And if you're one of many who has been eyeing up this product, Amazon has a great deal on a refurbished model you won't want to miss.

As of Jan. 22, you can grab a deal on an Amazon-certified refurbished model for just $233.99, a saving of 25% on the list price. According to Amazon, these devices are refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and come with the same limited warranty as a new device, so you have complete peace of mind.

SEE ALSO: Fill up your Kindle with these $2 ebook deals

This Kindle Scribe deal also comes with the Premium Pen so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. This is a big upgrade on the basic pen, as this model comes with an eraser at the top so you can quickly remove mistakes just by flipping the pen. It is also battery-free and works through a special power source embedded in the Kindle Scribe, so you don't need to charge it.

Besides its note-taking abilities, the Scribe has a 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display, glare and ink-free. Like the original Kindle model, it's perfect for sitting outside in the sun or in hard-to-read lighting.

This deal is only available for a limited time, so if you're interested, move fast.

SAVE $10: As of Jan. 22, the Waterpik Cordless Pulse is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Waterpik Waterpik Cordless Pulse $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

A water dental flosser is a great way to remove plaque and debris from hard-to-reach areas between teeth and along the gum line, so if you want to impress your dentist with a 10/10 flossing routine, why not treat yourself to the handy device?

As of Jan. 22, you can get a great deal on the Waterpik Cordless Pulse Flosser at Amazon for just $39.99. This deal is available in all three colors: gray, white, and blue.

SEE ALSO: The best water flosser for cleaning up your oral hygiene

This is a great all-rounder water flosser, featuring two tips and two settings (low and high) to adjust to your personal dental needs. The battery is rechargeable, and it has a portable design, so it's handy for travel and use on the go. It's even safe to be used in the shower, for those mornings when you're really running late.

Waterpik is also the first water flosser brand to earn the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance for safety and effectiveness.

This flosser works by using PrecisionPulse technology to deliver a combination of water pressure and pulsations, removing plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gums. This helps reduce the risk of issues such as gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath.

This is only a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't delay.

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter finals are here, and Sinner vs. de Minaur is sure to capture the attention of fans around the world. It's the defending champion against the home favorite.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. de Minaur for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sinner vs. de Minaur.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.