Technology

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 16, 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 January 16, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 16 Pips

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 16 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (11): Everything in this space must be less than 11. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 16 Pips

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

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

Number (24): Everything in this space must add up to 24. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horiontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (20): Everything in this space must add up to 20. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

SAVE $150: As of Jan.16, the Breville Barista Express Impress is on sale for $649.95 at Amazon. That's a 19% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express Impress $649.95 at Amazon
$799.95 Save $150   Get Deal

If you're a true coffee connoisseur, chances are you turn your nose up at most instant offerings and instead go for a perfectly ground bean, brewed in a French press, Moka pot, or coffee machine. But if you really want to get the most out of your morning jolt, why not brew your beans in the Breville Barista Express Impress. It lives up to its name and truly does impress, but even better than that, as of Jan. 16, it's on sale at Amazon.

Right now, you'll save $150 on this model with a new price of $649.95. It comes with everything you'll need to make your perfect drink, including a portafilter, milk jug, one and two cup single and dual wall filter baskets, water filter holder, razor precision trimming tool, and cleaning tablets.

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This machine makes creating great espresso a piece of cake. It has a clever dosing system that automatically calculates and adjusts the amount of fresh coffee for each shot. Assisted tamping applies a consistent 10kg of pressure with a barista-style twist for a clean, polished puck, and the integrated conical burr grinder offers 25 grind settings to fine-tune the flavor of your beans. It also comes with a built-in steam wand so you can steam milk for drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.

This coffee machine deal is available at Amazon now.

I’m an avid self-hoster. There are very few services that I use that I don’t self-host. However, there’s one service that I will happily continue to pay for and never even try to self-host, and what it is might surprise you.

SAVE OVER $400: As of Jan. 16, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $398.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $389.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $409.01   Get Deal

The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is back on sale at Amazon, and if you've been looking for a reliable power source for your next camping trip or power cut, this model is the perfect choice. Oh, and it's half off right now. As of Jan. 16, you'll save $400.01, taking the price down to $389.99 for a limited time. This price is for the power station unit only, however, there are many upgrade options that are also on sale, like the additional solar panel for $599.

It may be a compact power station, but it's powerful. It delivers a 1,500W AC output with a 3,000W surge, making it capable of running appliances like fridges, AC units, and electric pots. It's great for powering devices and mini fridges while camping too, and its 23.8 pound weight means it is nice and portable.

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It can fully recharge in as little as one hour using the emergency charging via the Jackery app, or in 1.7 hours by default to help preserve battery health. It's also supported by ChargeShield 2.0 for better charging, helping to preserve the battery which is designed to last over 10 years.

For powering devices, there are multiple power points, including AC ports, USB-C and USB-A ports, a DC car port, and integrated LED lighting. Charging modes and settings can be adjusted through the Jackery app, as well as monitoring of battery levels.

Get this portable power station deal from Amazon.

TL;DR: The Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope bundle is only $14.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off the list price for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ubisoft 'Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle' and 'Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope' $14.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

The Mario + Rabbids games have ended up being one of the best video game crossovers in recent memory; now Nintendo Switch owners can own both games at half price. 

As of Jan. 16, Amazon’s exclusive bundle containing both Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is now only $14.99 — $15 off its standard listing price of $29.99 as part of a limited-time deal. A 50% discount like this is rare for such a popular bundle of games. That $14.99 price tag is also the lowest this bundle has ever been according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

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Developed by Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Paris, both Mario + Rabbids titles are action-adventure tactical role-playing games that were praised for their ambition towards their characters, graphics, and turn-based combat gameplay. Even now, the two games still enjoy high scores on Metacritic: with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle and Sparks of Hope both sitting comfortably at 85. 

Getting two critically-acclaimed games starring Mario for only $14.99 is an absolute steal, even if they are only digital copies. 

If you’ve already made an upgrade to a Nintendo Switch 2, the tomtoc Slim (my favourite budget-friendly Switch 2 case) is also on sale at 32% off. For Pokémon lovers, the Fall 2025 edition of the Pokémon TCG Collector Chest is still over $20 off at Amazon. 

TL;DR: The One Piece Card Game’s Learn Together Deck Set is now only $36.99 at Amazon. That's 8% off its $39.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bandai One Piece: Learn Together Deck Set (LT-01) by Bandai $36.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $3 Get Deal

The One Piece Card Game has really taken off since launching about three and a half years ago. It's accessible and fun, so it's no wonder why. Now, the perfect starter kit is at its best price this year. 

As of Jan. 16, One Piece: Learn Together Deck Set is now only $36.99 on Amazon, with $3 cut off its list price. That’s the best price this set has been this year, and is the best way to jump in and see what the card game is all about. The set comes with three constructed decks, based around Zoro, Luffy, and Nami, each with 51 cards plus 10 DON!! Cards, and a unique deck case. 

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Essentially, this means you and up to two friends could open this set up, take a deck each, and learn the One Piece card game while you learn together. Alongside three included booster packs to optimize each deck, this comes with three unique guidebooks: one for each deck, so you can even master each specific theme. 

This new price is still about $4 higher than market price, but is still the best price going compared to TCGplayer — the lowest-priced listing there is at $78.98. 

For more great deals from the world of trading cards, the Fall 2025 edition of the Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest is still on sale at over $20 off. The Magic: The Gathering Tarkir Dragonstorm Play Booster Box is now below market value on Amazon, as well.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Jan. 16, 2026:

Across___ Max

• The answer is HBO.

Where Marco Polo is played

• The answer is Pool.

Overwhelming amount, metaphorically

• The answer is Flood.

Reason for success in games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders

• The answer is Luck.

"That's just the worst"

• The answer is Ugh.

DownLiquor, informally

• The answer is Hooch.

Winner of a Booker prize, fittingly

• The answer is Book.

Antiquated

• The answer is Old.

Give a short promotion for

• The answer is Plug.

Winter malady

• The answer is Flu.

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

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

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

Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to send U.S. military forces into Minnesota. The president did so in a Truth Social post on Thursday, following protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state and across the country demanding justice after the killing of 37-year-old mother Renee Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

Stephen Colbert reacted to Trump's threat during his Late Show monologue on Thursday night.

"With Minnesota under siege by masked, armed goons victimising American citizens, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act. Well, that will calm everybody down," he said. "I'm sure Minnesotans will just love that. That's why all the protesters' signs say, 'ICE go home, then come back in a tank.'"

Colbert then explained the Insurrection Act to his audience:

"Fun fact, the Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy members of the military or federalise the state National Guard to contain an insurrection in the U.S. state and hold on...hold on...I'm being given a correction: That fact was not fun. My mistake."

Jimmy Kimmel has a theory about what Donald Trump's "master plan" is, assuming there's one at all — and in the clip above the late night host paints a pretty bleak picture.

"I never believe there's some big master plan, but maybe there is," he says in the Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue above.

"Maybe it goes something like this: Step one, you call your opponents 'vermin,' and 'violent,' and 'the enemy within.' You say they're part of a group of paid protesters called Antifa. Step two, you send a bunch of poorly trained, heavily armed goons into cities that don't need or want them there. Step three, when the people inevitably protest being occupied by their own government, you accuse them of starting an insurrection and then step four, you invoke the Insurrection Act, you call out the military, you cancel the elections, and you take charge for good."

Given the deaths and injuries that have been happening recently at the hands of ICE agents, and Trump recently "joking" about canceling the midterms, his theory doesn't feel entirely speculative.

The best ways to watch 'Song Sung Blue' at a glance: Watch now Buy or rent 'Song Sung Blue' on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Watch now Buy or rent 'Song Sung Blue' at Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Watch later Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch later Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Watch later Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Best for military personnel Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Watch later Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Watch later Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal Watch later Peacock Premium free for Walmart+ subscribers Get Deal

Biopics aren't the only way to honor an artist's music, and Craig Brewer's (Hustle & Flow, Dolemite Is My Name) Song Sung Blue is living proof. It stars Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman as a married couple and Neil Diamond cover band out of Milwaukee. Mashable's entertainment editor calls it "uplifting, heart-wrenching, and wondrous all at once." And, yes, there are plenty of Diamond songs to enjoy throughout the film.

Song Sung Blue also stars Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Jayson Warner Smith, Hudson Hensley, Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi.

It's still floating around in theaters, but if you prefer to watch it from your couch, here are all the streaming details you need to know.

What is Song Sung Blue about?

Based on the incredible true story of Lightning and Thunder, a Neil Diamond cover band, Song Sung Blue follows Mike and Claire Sardina (Jackman and Hudson) as the musical married couple. "Together they craft electric chemistry, rousing song numbers, and a love story that hits with the force of a runaway car," writes Mashable's Kristy Puchko. Ultimately, it tells the story of how love and music can help us overcome tragedy and trauma. Bring tissues.

Check out the official trailer below:

Is Song Sung Blue worth watching?

If you're a lover of Neil Diamond, then of course Song Sung Blue is worth watching. If not, you'll still probably love it. It currently has a solid 77 percent critic rating and a super impressive 97 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

"All this makes for a feel-good movie that can be jarringly intense, because the bad times can come out of nowhere. (C'est la vie!) But like a great Neil Diamond song, Song Sung Blue will find its way into your heart, where it will linger," Puchko writes in her review.

We named it one of our favorite movies of 2025, crediting its thoughtful storytelling, wonderful cast, and "smartly chosen soundtrack that places the performances of Diamond's songs thematically." Hudson already earned a nod at the Golden Globes for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — could she earn an Oscar nomination as well?

Check out our full review of Song Sung Blue.

How to watch Song Sung Blue at home Credit: Focus Features

There are a couple of different ways you can watch Song Sung Blue at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $19.99, or you can stream it on Peacock at a later date. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Song Sung Blue is available as of Jan. 13, 2026, to buy or rent at digital-on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it instead, then it's yours to watch with no limits.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Stream it on Peacock (at a later date)

As a Focus Features (part of NBCUniversal) film, we know Song Sung Blue will make its streaming debut on Peacock. If it follows the timeline of other Focus Features films (Bugonia, Honey Don't!), it will likely arrive on Peacock by mid-February 2026. We'll keep you updated.

Don't have a Peacock subscription? You can sign up for $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without (after the most recent price hike). Before you get ahead of yourself, though, check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

The best Peacock deal on any given day is the annual subscription plan. You'll have to pay $109.99 (with ads) or $169.99 (ad-free) up front, but it'll ultimately end up getting you about two months for free. The Premium tier typically costs $10.99 per month, which adds up to $131.88. That means you'll save a total of $21.89 with the annual plan. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan typically costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. With the annual plan, you'll save $33.89 total.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

If you're an Xfinity customer, we highly recommend checking out the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock — you might be able to score a subscription for free.

Here's a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity (head to Xfinity.com for more details):

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for young adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Students and young adults can shave $5 a month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Just verify your student status via SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. After the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price again unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4 per month) Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying their professional status via SheerID. Unlike the student deal, however, it's not limited to a year. Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code. Rates are also subject to change year to year. If you don't see the discount by clicking the links above, type in your browser: Peacocktv.com/medical-first-responder, /military, or /teacher.

Best for Instacart users: free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. If you're new to Instacart+, you'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount — set a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ $98 per year Get Deal

Walmart offers its Walmart+ members the ability to choose Peacock Premium (or Paramount+) as a free perk. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Add in free shipping (with no order minimums), fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events, and you've got yourself a pretty sweet subscription.

The new year is officially here, and with it, a brand new batch of available Lego sets, plus a few extra for preorders.

Even though building Legos may make you feel like a kid again, they cost very real adult money to actually purchase, plus a fair bit of time to look through if you're keeping up with the latest sets.

SEE ALSO: Lego has dropped the Icons Stranger Things: The Creel House to celebrate the show's final season

That's why I spent my time combing through all of the best new Legos of 2026 to pick out the best of the best, from the affordable options to larger investments. A sneak peek at what January has in store: open preorders for the first-ever Lego Pokémon collaboration, sets with brand-new interactive bricks with tech never before seen from the brand, and nine sets under $100.

You can find them below, along with more of the best releases from 2025, including the Lego Game Boy and a Star Wars set that's officially the largest Star Wars Lego model of all time.

Best new Lego sets as of January 2026Lego Pokémon Lego Pikachu, we choose you. Credit: Lego

The first-ever Lego Pokémon release actually is made up of three sets, all of which are available for preorder and set to ship out on Feb. 27. Each exists in a different price tier: there's the adorable and affordable Eevee, which clocks in at $59.99 for a 587-piece set, the more involved Pikachu and Poké Ball with 2,050 pieces for $199.99, and finally the massive Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise set, which is a whopping $649.99 for 6,838 pieces.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon (3 sets) Ranging from $59.99 to $649.99, depending on the set Pre-order Here Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets Charge up your Smart Bricks before adding them to the set to add an extra element of interactivity. Credit: Lego

Lego's Smart Play system just debuted at CES 2026, and already, the first three sets from the line are available for preorder, with a ship date set for March 1.

The Smart Play system includes three elements — the Smart Brick, Smart Minifigure, and Smart Tag — which can all be found on the debut sets of Darth Vader's TIE Fighter, Luke's Red Five X-Wing, and the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing. Star Wars fans aren't just getting the debut of a new type of Lego, but they're also getting relative affordability (in Lego terms, at least): the former two sets are below $100, with the latter set costing $159.99, and coming with the greatest number of Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigs, and Smart Tags.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets Ranging from $69.99 to $159.99, depending on the set Pre-order Here Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console The gaming console can also be built into a computer or arcade machine. Credit: Lego

Can't quite swing the $60 Lego Game Boy? No problem. The 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console delivers for just $19.99, offering the form of a handheld, computer, and arcade machine with its 268 pieces. For anyone who enjoys switching it up or prefers a low-key build, this might be the better option.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console $19.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Bugs Bunny A Lego set with the potential to absolutely ruin Elmer Fudd's day. Credit: Lego

It's buying a (Lego) rabbit season, folks. Though this set is just 605 pieces, it stands at a decent seven inches high, nine inches wide, and five inches deep. Bugs's personality can shine through with the adjustable head, ears, arms, wrists, and fingers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Bugs Bunny $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Minecraft The Fox Find foxes in the taiga biome, or your living room. Credit: Lego

The days of Minecraft creatures existing solely behind a computer screen are gone, thanks to the Lego Minecraft line. The Fox set comes in at just $39.99, and is a relatively simple build with 497 pieces. Like Bugs, this set can be positioned and posed, and depending on the build, can have opened or closed eyes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Minecraft The Fox $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Spring Wreath Ring in spring with a Lego wreath. Credit: Lego

Lego's holiday wreaths aren't just limited to the colder months. The straightforwardly-named Spring Wreath comes with 747 pieces and some decor options. One build of the set lets you go all-in on Easter theming, with a bunny head and eggs to adorn the wreath, while another aims for a classic spring look, with a yellow bow and flowers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Spring Wreath $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Peace Lily Behold: a peace lily that will never droop. Credit: Lego

Cat owners, rejoice! The latest Botanicals release means you can finally own a peace lily without worry that you're putting poison within paws' reach. Non-cat owners can also appreciate that this peace lily will permanently flower and look healthy (never in my life have I encountered a plant as dramatic as a peace lily). At $49.99 and just 474 pieces, this set is a great addition for more casual and dedicated Lego fans alike.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Peace Lily $49.96 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket Houston, we have a cool Lego set. Credit: Lego

Lego Icons released an Artemis launch set that goes for $249.99 and is currently on backorder. This Technics set, by contrast, is available for purchase and will ship immediately, and is a more stomachable $59.99. Sure, it's 632 pieces to the Icons' 3,601 pieces, but there's something to be said about affordability when nerding out over space.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Art Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape Lego Art decor is the best kind of decor. Credit: Lego

The Lego Art line has produced some of the most coveted sets from the brand, from Van Gogh's Sunflowers to Hokusai's The Great Wave. These sets are a) stunning and b) hangable just like non-Lego art. On both fronts, the latest addition — the Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape — is no exception. At $139.99 for 1,892 pieces, it's one of the less expensive and mid-size framed pieces from the line, but it certainly doesn't skimp on color and detail. Popular as it is, this set is currently on backorder, but will be shipped out on Feb. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Art Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape $139.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Shopping Street Just have to pop around to the Lego shops. Credit: Lego

The Lego Modular Buildings collection just got a new addition in the form of the Lego Icons Shopping Street. This 3,456-piece set features a three-story building housing two floors of stores and a top-floor apartment, as well as a two-story music shop. You'll be able to adorn your shopping plaza with the seven included minifigures.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Shopping Street $249.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Best Lego sets coming soon

The following sets aren't available to preorder, but will be available come March 2026.

Lego sets available for purchase March 2026 Coming March 1 Lego Disney Sally's Flowerpot $49.99 Learn More Coming March 1 Lego Disney Kevin & Dug $59.99 Learn More Coming March 1 Lego Technic BMW M4 GT3 EVO Race Car $64.99 Learn More Coming March 1 Lego Technic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon SUV $64.99 Learn More Best new Lego sets as of December 2025Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope A tripod telescope is one of three available builds in this one set. Credit: Lego

What's just as cool as space? The fact that this 278-piece set can be built into three different configurations, including an adjustable telescope on a tripod, an adjustable microscope, or a UFO. It's the perfect set for the space enthusiast in your life, young or old, and best of all, it's just $34.99. Preorders ship out on January 1, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope $34.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Fortune Firecracker Legos that serve as wall decor are elite. Credit: Lego

Lunar New Year isn't until February, but you can get prepared by pre-ordering this Lego Fortune Firecracker. The eight firecrackers "crackle" when they're moved, and the entire set can be mounted on the wall. The center can also be opened to reveal one of two scenes of your choice — a firework display or God of Fortune celebration scene. Preorders will ship out on January 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Fortune Firecracker $89.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Lego

In classic Lego style, this replica brings you more than meets the eye. The 2,842-piece set functions as a 14.5-inch brick version of the iconic World Cup trophy, but unlike the real deal, the top can also be opened to reveal a World Cup scene. The actual World Cup isn't until July of next year, but preorders for this set ship out on March 1, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy $199.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Ideas The Goonies The Goonies Legos 'R' Good Enough. Credit: Lego

The Goonies turned a whopping 40 years old this year — what better way to celebrate than building this nearly 3,000 piece set, featuring the iconic Inferno pirate ship housing vignettes from the film? And unlike the full-scale ship built for the movie, it won't be devastating if you want to scrap this one and build it all over again. At the time of writing, this set is on backorder, but should be ready to ship out (no pun intended) 60 days from purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas The Goonies $329.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Your living room: The Final Frontier. Credit: Lego

The crew of the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise may be used to more exciting voyages than the one to your office shelves or living room sideboard, but the Star Trek fans will probably appreciate being greeted by the display every single day.

SEE ALSO: How 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' ruled the internet

This Next Generation-themed 3,600-piece set comes with nine minifigures, a detachable command saucer, secondary hull, warp nacelles with distinctive red and blue detailing, an opening shuttlebay, 2 mini shuttlepods, and an angled display stand with a schematic and ship statistics. Also currently on backorder, it will ship out 60 days after purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D $399.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium All the aquarium essentials are in this set, including a treasure chest. Credit: Lego

This set may be a whopping 4,154 pieces, but after the initial build, it'll be way less work to maintain a real aquarium. Plus, it even comes with knobs and levers so you can "move" the sea life inside, from a striped brickfish to sea anemones and, of course, a sunken treasure chest. This backordered set will ship out 60 days after purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium $479.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Best new Lego sets as of October 2025Lego Time Machine from Back to the Future Credit: Lego

It's relatively common to see Lego sets from popular IPs, but less so to see them at an under-$50 price point. This quaint 357-piece set is the perfect coffee table addition for Back to the Future fans. It's on preorder until its ship date of Jan. 1, 2026 (not 1955). This isn't the first time Marty McFly's DeLorean has been brickified, but this more-affordable set is part of the Lego Speed Champions line.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Time Machine from 'Back to the Future' $27.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here Lego Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure Why not get into the holiday spirit before the end of October? Credit: Lego

Not to pit sets against each other, but I wasn't wowed by the $330 Christmas Tree (and neither were reviewers on Lego's site so far). This oversized Santa minifig is a much more palatable $54.99, has the positive reviews to back it up, and stands at a nice 10.5-inches tall, making it a great addition for any holiday setup.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure $54.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker Not pictured: the seasonally-appropriate snowy landscape of Hoth. Credit: Lego

Star Wars fans have another huge (literally) release lower down on this list, but for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit while honoring their love of Star Wars lucked out with this Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker. It's just a bit smaller than the now-retired 1,267-piece AT-AT Lego originally released, but at 697 pieces and 7.5-inches tall, it's still plenty to ring in the holidays with.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Super Mario Game Boy The ultimate dose of nostalgia. Credit: Lego

I don't know if there's a combination of words more nostalgic than Lego Super Mario Game Boy. This set was announced for preorder in July, and as of Oct. 1, is finally available. As a small catch, it is on backorder for up to 60 days, so if you're looking to gift it to the gamer in your life this holiday season, I'd grab it sooner rather than later. The set comes with a customizable display and game paks, but if you want to play actual games on this Lego replica, you'll have to go the same path as this modder.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario Game Boy $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Ideas Mineral Collection For any Botanicals fans looking for something a little different, one of Lego Ideas newest releases has got you covered. Credit: Lego

They're (Lego) minerals, Marie. One of the latest releases from the Ideas line is an 880-piece set that allows you to create a nice display of Lego golden pyrite, purple amethyst, reddish-pink rhodochrosite, blue fluorite, watermelon tourmaline and tangerine quartz.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas Mineral Collection $59.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Batman Logo This easy to display Batman set celebrates 20 years of Lego Batman. Credit: Lego

It may be hard to come by your own personal bat signal if you don't live in Gotham, but Lego made it easy with this Batman Logo set. The 678-piece set celebrates 20 years of Lego Batman, hence the golden Batman and anniversary coin. Also included is the display stand, supports for wall-mounting the piece, and a code to unlock a character in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight. As of now, it's only available for preorder, and will ship on March 1, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Batman' Logo $79.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Wicked Emerald City & Kiamo Ko Castle One short day, in the Lego Emerald City. Credit: Lego

We're closing in on the release to the Wicked sequel. If you're looking to kill some time before the film's release, this relatively small (but adorable) 860-piece set will do the trick.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Wicked' Emerald City & Kiamo Ko Castle $79.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory The snozzberries do in fact taste like snozzberries. Credit: Lego

Come with me, and you'll be, in a world of 2,205 plastic bricks that make up the iconic scenes from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. This set comes with nine minifigures (you'll never guess who five of them are), along with depictions of the chocolate waterfall and Wonkatania boat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory $219.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship And yes, it does come equipped with a row of cannons. Credit: Lego

The enduring power of Pirates of the Caribbean's popularity can be found in two facts about this Lego set. One, it's part of the Icons series, meaning it joins the ranks of other iconic IPs. Two, it's on backorder for the next 60 days, so if you're wanting to get an impressive display piece sooner rather than later, I recommend adding it to your cart ASAP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship $379.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars Death Star This 9,023-piece set might rival the build time of the actual Death Star. Credit: Lego

Step aside, $850 Lego Millennium Falcon. The Lego Death Star hits a $999.99 price point, making it the most expensive Lego from the brand. While its price point has raised some eyebrows, this is one of the top ten biggest sets Lego's ever made, and the biggest Lego Star Wars set to date, clocking in at a whopping 9,023 pieces, including 36 minifigures and two droid figures.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Star Wars' Death Star $999.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Best new Lego sets as of August 2025Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck The farmer figurine nails the balance of fear and excitement known by every Halloween fan. Credit: Lego

The correct day to start celebrating Halloween season is Sept. 1, but as someone who absolutely loves Halloween, I will allow Aug. 1. This quaint Jack-O'-Lantern set (with a pumpkin you can open!) nails the vibe for adorable Halloween bookshelf decor for under $20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck $14.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Arcade Machine The perfect desk accessory. Credit: Lego

What is the point of being a gamer if not collecting adorable accessories through which to channel your passion? I guess actually playing games, but when your eyes need a break from your screen, building this mini arcade machine could do. The 468-piece set opens up to a mini gaming room for the included minifigure.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Arcade Machine $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Halloween Wreath Credit: Lego

Between the bats, spiders, pumpkins, and ghosts, the only Halloween heavy hitter missing on this wreath is a skeleton (though it does feature bones). While this wouldn't be the best outdoor option, Lego's Halloween Wreath comes with a string for easy hanging in your home, making it a great option for getting in the spooky spirit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Halloween Wreath $39.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego 'Mario Kart' Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit Switch 2 owners aren't the only ones who get to enjoy new Mario Kart content. Credit: Lego

Don't quite have the funds to get your hands on the new Mario Kart game just yet? This set requires no Switch 2 to enjoy, featuring Koopa Troopa, Toadette, the Tanooki Kart and Cat Cruiser, and of course, a piranha plant you can attach to either kart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Mario Kart Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit $49.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Look at the serenity of these tiny Lego trees! Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals fans: we did it. We finally got a set of bonsai trees that don't have any flowers or leaves actually made up of tiny pink frogs. (No shade to the frog fans, it's just a little unnerving for some of us!).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees $64.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Botanicals Hibiscus A perfect addition for a Lego Botanical garden. Credit: Lego

If there's a Lego Botanicals flower set that isn't gorgeous, I've yet to come across it, and the Hibiscus set is certainly no exception. The 660-piece life-size flower set comes with posable petals in a pretty lilac shade, making it an excellent accent piece.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Hibiscus $69.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Credit: Lego

The Arlong Park arc of One Piece is what some fans consider the real hook — no small feat considering the original anime is over 1,000 episodes long (and still ongoing). Luffy's rubber powers get a fun feature in the arm-lengthening pieces, and a tap to the top of the pagoda causes it to explode in a nod to the show's unforgettable fight scenes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'One Piece' Battle at Arlong Park $79.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Nike Dunk x Lego Who knew a Lego sneaker would look this good? Credit: Lego

There's a Lego collab for everyone, including Nike and basketball fans. This 1,180 set comes with a couple of tricks up its sleeve (or down its shoe?), in the form of a storage compartment in the sneaker (where you can drop the minifig or extra shoe lace colors to swap later) and the ability to spin the basketball. That's a slam dunk of a fun set.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Nike Dunk x Lego $99.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars Wicket the Ewok What's more stunning decor, the Botanicals Hibiscus or Wicket the Ewok? Credit: Lego

Ewoks are the most adorable creature in the Star Wars universe, argue with the wall. While I think Lego could've made real magic with a life size Ewok set, this 1,010 piece that stands around nine inches tall is pretty adorable, too. And true to canon, he comes equipped with a spear and a little treat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Star Wars' Wicket the Ewok $129.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp Display some of Spider-Man's most iconic heroes and villains in your living room. Credit: Lego

This Spider-Man set packs in the heavy hitters from the beloved series: Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, and Venom — just to name a few of the minifigures found among the 808 pieces that make up this set. The city model features Miles Morales' apartment, the Oscorp building, and Venom's apartment, giving you plenty of opportunities for staging the perfect Spider-Man scene.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp $139.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C From afar, this set almost doesn't look like Legos. Credit: Lego

Early buyers of the Shelby Cobra 427 S/C set are impressed: the attention to detail paid to the design makes the car look great from afar and up close. The working steering wheel is a nice touch, alongside Caroll Shelly's signature on the glovebox.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C $159.99 at Lego
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker A room isn't complete without a good statement piece. Credit: Lego

If you missed out on the Lego AT-AT set before it was discontinued (and fair — it was $849.99), this AT-ST set is much more reasonably priced at $199.99, and it doesn't require quite as much shelf space, making it overall a much more practical option. And it's still just as iconic to the Star Wars universe.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle From the Alps to your living room. Credit: Lego

Lego's architecture line depicts some of the most famous structures from around the globe, from Notre Dame in Paris to the Himeji Castle in Japan. For this latest release, Lego brings us to the impressive Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It requires you build through 3,455 pieces, but it looks like the view is well worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle $279.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego One Piece The Baratie Floating Restaurant Display this set on a repurposed trunk and you've got yourself a vibe. Credit: Lego

That's right — we have two iconic One Piece scenes on our list. With 3,402 pieces for building this set, you'll create the floating restaurant with detailed rooms where you can place 10 included characters and wanted posters.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'One Piece' The Baratie Floating Restaurant $329.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

In the Venn diagram of tablets and books, our favorite e-readers fall perfectly in the middle. They're thin and portable like a tablet, but without the distraction of the internet. The best Kindles and e-readers stuff thousands of books — a full library, really — into a tiny frame.

And having tested a lot of e-readers and tablets for Mashable, I can tell you the Amazon Kindle lineup comes closest to perfecting the devices. All over the internet, you'll find TikTok users enthusiastically singing the praises of the Kindle and how to make the most of it. For parents, Kindles are a screen you don't have to feel guilty about. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day and Libby let you cross every last item off your annual reading list. You can even buy Kindle accessories like remote page-turners and gooseneck stands so you don't have to hold your Kindle while reading.

So, if you're ready to invest in an e-reader, I can help you find the best Kindle for your reading list.

Meet the newest generation of Kindle e-readers Can't decide between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite? We put them head-to-head.. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable SEE ALSO: I read over 50 books a year. Here are my favorite e-readers.

A lot has changed since the Kindle first debuted in 2007. While it was released just a few months after the first iPhone, the Amazon Kindle has received fewer updates. Kindle's first color e-reader arrived in late 2024, and as of September 2025, the Colorsoft lineup includes four models. The Colorsoft Kindles are the most expensive options among Amazon's e-readers, and after finally getting our hands on a model, we've added it to this guide.

As of Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon also announced a revamped Kindle Scribe. The new model is exceptionally thin and has a front light for a brighter display. Plus, the new Colorsoft edition of the Scribe lets you annotate, journal, or sketch in color. However, as of January 2026, we've yet to test either the new Kindle Scribe or Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. We'll update this guide once we've fully tested the devices.

No matter which model you choose, all of the latest Kindles are lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with Libby, so you can support your local library (and get free books, of course). Basically, it's hard to make a bad decision in this product category.

So, what's the best Kindle for you? Let me help you decide.

Which Kindle is right for you?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue. There are six updated Kindle models for sale, as well as older editions still in stock.

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition settings screen. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, you may need to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your best bet will be the Kobo Libra Colour.

How to get free e-books on Kindle With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you need is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the "read with Kindle" option, which allows you to send these e-books to your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books, often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

How to make the most of your Kindle

Through our testing and daily use, we've spent a lot of time with Kindles, learning how to make the most of them. We've written extensively on all the ways to maximize your Kindle, so be sure to browse through our guides and explainers:

• How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use

• The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

• What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books

• I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with Libby. Here's how.

• What is Kindle Rewards? Earn free credits when shopping the Kindle store

• What is Kindle Unlimited? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month

• Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime

• Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads

• How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

• 8 Kindle features you should be using

• How to delete books from Kindle
  

On the 18th day of the Artemis I mission, NASA unexpectedly lost contact with its moonship, with the silence lasting for over four hours. 

The outage began when the Goldstone station near Barstow, Calif., abruptly went dark, severing a critical link in the agency's deep space network. Controllers missed thousands of minutes of data from the Orion spacecraft and 16 other missions. 

The problem was rather mundane but troubling: failed aging hard drives, outdated software, and warning lights that never blinked on. 

Goldstone eventually came back online, but the 2022 episode exposed the fragility of the space communication infrastructure. Now, as the agency prepares to launch astronauts on Artemis II — the first crewed flight to the moon in a half-century — NASA says the system is ready to go, despite Goldstone's 230-foot-wide antenna remaining out of service for the past four months. 

But as mission leaders gear up for a potential February launch, NASA insists the broken DSS-14 dish, sometimes called the Mars Antenna, shouldn't be a concern, according to a statement for Mashable. 

"There are no impacts on Artemis II communications because DSS-14 wasn't part of the mission planning, even before its unplanned outage," said Ian O'Neill, a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory spokesperson.

SEE ALSO: Webb telescope zooms in on a black hole's messy feeding zone

The agency's latest assurance may be true, but the memory of that 4.5-hour blackout four years ago makes the situation feel more precarious, especially with four people scheduled to fly in Orion this time. 

The damaged Mars Antenna at the Goldstone Complex is the largest dish on site — as large as a Boeing 747 jet — capable of tracking spacecraft traveling tens of billions of miles from Earth. It broke on Sept. 16, 2025, when it over-rotated during operations, straining cables and pipes at its center. Damaged hoses from the fire suppression system caused flooding, though NASA says the water damage was quickly addressed.

The now broken 230-foot-wide antenna at NASA Deep Space Network complex near Barstow, Calif., tracks a spacecraft on Nov. 17, 2009. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

After returning from a long federal government shutdown, NASA established a formal mishap investigation board to determine what caused the damage and plan repairs, officials said in November. Mashable was among the first outlets to report the accident. 

More than two months later, there's still no update on the radio dish's return to service. 

Founded in 1963, NASA’s Deep Space Network is the world’s largest and most powerful system for communicating with spacecraft. It commands and monitors more than 40 missions through three complexes in California, Spain, and Australia, working around the clock so at least one site can always reach spacecraft as Earth rotates.

Setbacks of this scale have happened before. In 2014, a welder accidentally dropped a handrail during maintenance, puncturing a hole in the DSS-14 dish. In 1992, an earthquake wrecked the antenna, requiring repairs.

Beyond the aging hardware, the network is also overburdened. Data flowing through it has risen sharply over the past 30 years, exceeding its original capacity by 40 percent. The NASA inspector general, who acts as the federal watchdog over the agency, has repeatedly pushed for upgrades. Under the Deep Space Network Aperture Enhancement Program, the agency is adding six dishes, including a new 112-foot-wide antenna in California expected to come online this year.

The Office of Inspector General has not examined the specific impacts of the offline Goldstone antenna on Artemis II or other missions, said Raleigh McElvery, a spokesperson. Still, it issued a 2024 audit on NASA’s Artemis II readiness, noting that the agency had begun corrective actions to guard against similar outages. Since the 2022 blackout, NASA signed new agreements with international partners, such as Japan’s JAXA, to provide backup coverage should another loss of contact occur.

Having that reinforcement is crucial, according to the report, because communication disruptions during the mission are "increasingly likely."

"In fact, since the Artemis I mission, two similar failures have occurred at Canberra and Goldstone, requiring the replacement of three additional hard drives," according to the audit. "Looking forward, it is critical that the Agency continues to focus on improving DSN's maintenance, operations, and reliability to better ensure the network does not encounter outages that could put the Artemis II crew and spacecraft at risk." 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the first Game of Thrones show to feature absolutely no dragons. In fact, the only dragons you'll see onscreen this season are in puppet form.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' review: 'Game of Thrones' prequel is a surprising comfort watch

This isn't for any VFX budget reasons, in the vein of why we rarely saw Jon Snow's dire wolf Ghost in Game of Thrones. Instead, it's for a historical reason: By this point in the Westeros timeline, all the dragons in the world are dead. The next time we'll see any of these mythical beasts is the Game of Thrones Season 1 finale, when Daenerys Targaryen hatches them.

What's happened to all the dragons in the Seven Kingdoms? It all comes back to House of the Dragon. Get ready for a Westerosi history crash course, but don't worry: We're only including minor spoilers for what's to come in House of the Dragon, without any specifics on who wins the Dance of the Dragons, or which dragons die when.

Most of the world's dragons die during the Dance of the Dragons. Emma D'Arcy in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

House of the Dragon tells the story of the Targaryen civil war that came to be known as the Dance of the Dragons. But as Archmaester Gyldayn writes in George R.R. Martin's Targaryen history Fire and Blood, calling the war the Dying of the Dragons would be more accurate.

That's because in Fire and Blood, while there were 20 dragons alive by the time King Viserys passed away in 129 AC (After Aegon's Conquest), there were only four alive at the end of the Dance of the Dragons in 131 AC. While their deaths are unrecorded, their disappearance from Westerosi history implies their loss.

House of the Dragon has already shown some of the dragons' deaths: Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax perished in the Season 1 finale, while Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys went out swinging in Season 2's Battle of Rook's Rest. However, there are many, many dragon deaths to go before the Dance is over.

No more dragons means no more eggs, and even the eggs left over after the Dance didn't hatch. According to The Hedge Night, the novella upon which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was based, the last Targaryen dragon was "small and stunted, her wings withered." Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall's (Peter Claffey) late master Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb) saw her in King's Landing when he was a young boy, one year before the last dragon's death in 153 AC.

By the time A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms kicks off in 209 AC, it's been over 50 years since the last dragon perished. Since then, the Targaryens have continued to rule, but they've lost the near-mythic status that comes with being dragonriders. Because of this, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers up a new perspective on House Targaryen and how they manage to rule the realm without any dragons.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

TL;DR: If you want dependable Microsoft Office apps without subscriptions or constant updates, Office 2019 Pro Plus gets the job done for $19.97 (reg. $229).

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While it’s not the newest Office release, this version isn’t outdated. Office 2019 introduced useful enhancements like improved inking tools across apps, stronger data analysis features in Excel, upgraded presentation tools in PowerPoint, and better email organization in Outlook. For everyday professional and personal use, that’s more than enough power.

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How to choose the best headphones

We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.

All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds, while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.

To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut). Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2026 for noise cancellation, music, price, and wired connections.

What about wired headphones?

We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While wired headphones have their fans, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us. If we had to pick, we'd recommend the Marshall Mode earbuds as our top wired pick. Some of us are also fans of Apple's EarPods.

Other headphones we've tested

Most recently, we tested the JBL Tour One M3 headphones and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and we may add them to this guide in a future update. We also tested the Marshall Major V headphones and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones, both of which had excellent sound profiles and easy-to-navigate custom equalizers on their companion apps. Ultimately, they didn't make the cut on our final list for a couple of reasons. With the Major V headphones, we love that their claim of 100+ hours of battery life held up under our testing, but we found them to get uncomfortable after a couple of hours. We also would have appreciated ANC at their $149 price point.

For the B&W headphones, we loved their design and premium feel in addition to their truly impressive sound, but we found that their ANC was only so-so. If you're willing to spend $399, you can find a better balance of sound and ANC in the Sony XM5 headphones.

We've also tested the Sonos Ace headphones and Dyson OnTrac headphones. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points.

In the testing pipeline

For our future updates, we're testing out more budget noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones.

Recent updates to this guide

• December 2025: We replaced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds, which are no longer available, with the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.

• December 2025: We removed the Marshall Mode wired earbuds, as they're frequently out of stock.

• December 2025: We added the Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Canceling Headphones as the best headphones under $100.

• December 2025: We added the Sony XM5 headphones, originally released in 2022, as our new honorable mention pick.

Star Wars studio Lucasfilm has announced that president Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down, ending 14 years at its helm.

Appointed president upon Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, Kennedy oversaw the release of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, standalone films such as Rogue One, and new Disney+ series such as The Mandalorian and Andor. Prior to this, she produced iconic fantasy and sci-fi films such as E.T., Hook, Jurassic Park, and The Sixth Sense, and co-founded production company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall.

SEE ALSO: 'Andor' creator on Lucasfilm censoring f-bomb: 'They were right.'

"When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead," said Kennedy. "It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm."

The company has not offered the reason behind Kennedy's decision to step down. However, while she is vacating the pilot seat, she certainly isn't retiring — or even leaving the Star Wars universe. Instead, Kennedy will continue her lengthy career by returning to producing full-time, working on upcoming films The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter.

Kathleen Kennedy (right) next to Dave Filoni, one of her successors as head of Lucasfilm. Credit: Christopher Jue / Getty Images for Disney

Meanwhile, Kennedy's former role will be split. Lucasfilm's chief creative officer Dave Filoni will take on a dual role as president, while executive vice president and general manager Lynwen Brennan will step up to serve as co-president.

Having previously served as a director on Avatar: The Last Airbender, Filoni joined Lucasfilm in 2005 and initially worked on its animated offerings such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. He has since expanded to live-action projects, creating Ahsoka and working as an executive producer on The Mandalorian, and was appointed chief creative officer in 2023.

Brennan joined Lucasfilm six years earlier in 1999, becoming president of Industrial Light & Magic in 2009 before climbing to the role of Lucasfilm's general manager and executive vice president by 2024.

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

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

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

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

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

Quick.

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

HASTY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A large artery.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

AORTA

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pond birds.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GEESE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A judge's tool.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GAVEL

Final Hurdle hint

Vacant.

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

EMPTY

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 moon is almost completely out of view as we near the end of the current lunar cycle. The lunar cycle is a recurring series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility, and different phases occur as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. Keep reading to find out what tonight's phase is.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Jan. 16, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 5% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Unfortunately, visibility is too low to spot anything on the moon tonight.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

Moon phases make up the lunar cycle, which NASA says lasts about 29.5 days, the time it takes the Moon to complete one full orbit around Earth. As the Moon travels around our planet, it passes through eight distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes depending on its position in orbit. This is why the Moon can appear full, partially lit, or completely dark at different points in the cycle. The eight phases of the lunar cycle are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

People keep telling me to watch The Pitt, and now that the show is tackling generative AI in healthcare, I must. As Mashable's tech editor, I field a lot of questions about generative AI, and I also spend a lot of time talking to people who are extremely enthusiastic about artificial intelligence, and people who are extremely hostile to AI.

So, what does the latest episode of The Pitt Season 2 get right about AI in medicine, and what does it get wrong? 

SEE ALSO: How to watch 'The Pitt' without HBO Max How AI factors into The Pitt episode "8:00 AM." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

AI wasn't the entire focus of Season 2, episode two, "8:00 AM." We also get to see a nun with gonorrhea in her eye, an unhoused man with a colony of maggots inside his moldy arm cast, and a clear view of an erection, which, of course, has lasted more than four hours.

However, one of the plotlines focuses on newcomer Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi's (Sepideh Moafi) attempt to modernize the ER and integrate AI into patient care. She introduces an AI app that automatically listens to patient visits and summarizes the pertinent details in their charts.

When an excited student says, "Oh my god, do you know how much time this will save?", Dr. Al-Hashimi has an answer: With the new AI app, the ER doctors will spend 80 percent less time charting. Later in the episode, the good doctor tells Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) that it will also allow physicians to spend 20 percent more time with patients.

So far, so good, but the app immediately makes a mistake. It documents the wrong medication in the patient's chart, substituting a similar-sounding medication instead.

SEE ALSO: 'The Pitt' Season 2: Everything you need to remember from Season 1

This doesn't diminish Dr. Al-Hashimi's enthusiasm at all. "Generative AI is 98 percent accurate at present," she says. "You must always carefully proofread and correct minor errors. It's excellent but not perfect."

AI transcription is really good (and it still makes mistakes).

Dr. Al-Hashimi states that generative AI is 98 percent accurate. But is this really true?

Fact-checking Dr. Al-Hashimi's claim is actually tricky, because it's not entirely clear what she means. If she's referring purely to AI transcription, she's closer to the truth. That's a task that generative AI excels at.

Last year, a group of researchers conducted a systematic review of 29 studies that measured AI transcription accuracy specifically in healthcare settings. (You can check out the entire review, published in the BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making journal.)

Some of those studies did find accuracy rates of 98 percent or higher, and some found significant time savings for doctors. However, those studies involved controlled, quiet environments. In multi-speaker environments with a lot of crosstalk and medical jargon, like you’d find in a crowded emergency room, accuracy rates were much lower, sometimes as low as 50 percent.

Still, rapid advancements in large-language models are improving AI transcriptions all the time. So, we could be generous and say Dr. Al-Hashimi's claim is close to the truth, for the latest LLM models, in certain settings.

Generative AI is definitely not 98 percent accurate.

Let’s take the latest version of ChatGPT as an example. When the GPT-5.2 model was released a few months ago, OpenAI published documentation on the model's tendency to hallucinate and provide false information.

According to OpenAI, its GPT-5.2 Thinking model has an average hallucination rate of 10.9 percent. That’s really high, especially considering that OpenAI wants ChatGPT to help you with medical questions. (The company recently launched ChatGPT Health, a "dedicated experience in ChatGPT designed for health and wellness.") 

Now, when GPT-5.2 Thinking is given access to the internet, its hallucination rate drops to 5.8 percent. But would you trust a doctor who's wrong 5.8 percent of the time — and only when they can use the internet to check their work? And would you want your AI healthcare app to be connected to the internet at all?

Generative AI may one day be 98 percent accurate. But we're not there yet.

Generative AI can't replace doctors. Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

Dr. Robby and other characters have a conversation about "gut" instincts in this episode. That's something that generative AI can't replicate, and one reason that many people don't want to see AI tools replacing human workers entirely, whether in the arts or medicine. 

The episode also spends a lot of time showing examples of empathy. The best doctors don't just have an encyclopedic knowledge of their specialty. They don't just have good gut instincts. They're true healers, who know that holding a patient's hand at the right moment can be just as important as the right diagnosis.

To be fair, most AI healthcare tools I've seen aren't trying to replace doctors. Instead, they want to give healthcare workers more diagnostic tools and save them time. As Dr. Al-Hashimi says repeatedly in the episode, she wants to give doctors more time at their patients' bedside.

AI can help save doctors time.

Radiology, or medical imaging, is one of the most promising applications for generative AI in healthcare settings. When radiologists at Northwestern University implemented a custom generative AI tool to help analyze X-rays and CT scans, their productivity increased by 40 percent — and without compromising accuracy.

I think even a lot of AI skeptics would agree that's a positive result, for patients and doctors.

The Pitt does seem to be setting up Dr. Al-Hashimi as something of a villain — or, at least, a foil for Dr. Robby — but good medicine and generative AI aren't necessarily in conflict. As with any tool, it can be extraordinarily helpful — or extraordinarily dangerous.

The Pitt Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes being released every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.