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Let's get your biggest question out of the way: Does Season 2 of Lee Sung Jin's anthology series Beef surpass the highs of Season 1?

It does not, but that doesn't mean the season is a disappointment. Season 1 set an extraordinarily high bar for any follow-up to clear, and Lee does his best to clear it by going bigger than before. In Season 2, the people involved in the show's titular beef have multiplied. Instead of two people going head-to-head like Steven Yeun and Ali Wong did in Season 1, Beef Season 2 throws two couples in the arena, played by Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny. It also goes international, spinning a tale of cover-ups and corruption that will take its rage-fueled antics all the way to Seoul, South Korea.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' Season 3 review: It should be great. Instead, it's gross.

The widening in scale leads to both Beef's biggest successes and pitfalls. Everything involving the couples is divine: a dizzying whirlwind of blackmail, shifting allegiances, and astounding performances from the show's core four. It's when Beef Season 2 moves beyond them that it loses some of its focus (although it never lets up on the stress).

Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan face off against Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny in Beef Season 2. Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Carey Mulligan, and Oscar Isaac in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

In one corner of Beef Season 2, we have married couple Josh (Isaac) and Lindsay (Mulligan). He's the general manager of a swanky country club; she's an interior designer who's helped shape the club's look. (Think crushed velvet and swaths of patterned wallpaper.) From the outside, they look extremely well off. They rub shoulders with the California elite, host elaborate fundraisers, and exude an aura of love, even 15 years into their marriage. In reality, they're drowning in a money pit, and those financial troubles have festered into rank hatred.

That hatred spews forth mere minutes into Beef Season 2's first episode, with an argument that starts at a 10 and escalates to Marriage Story levels of personal attacks and beyond. Adam Driver punching a hole in drywall pales in comparison to Isaac and Mulligan tearing Josh and Lindsay's house to shreds.

Watching the fight is Beef Season 2's second pair of combatants: lower-level club workers Ashley (Spaeny) and Austin (Melton). The engaged couple stopped by Josh and Lindsay's to drop off Josh's wallet, only to stumble on a war zone. Now armed with a video of Josh accosting Lindsay, Ashley and Austin realize they have enough leverage to blackmail their way into higher-paying jobs, kicking off a simmering workplace feud that interrogates both couples' relationships.

SEE ALSO: 'The Boys' has overstayed its welcome: Season 5 review

The ensuing beef is full of jaw-dropping moments, from electrifying shouting matches to a gag-worthy scene involving a Shirley Temple. But what's really enticing about Beef Season 2 is seeing the ways in which these couples become a twisted mirror to one another. Josh and Lindsay are a couple on the last legs of their romantic relationship, while Ashley and Austin's own relationship is truly kicking off. (They've been together for one and a half years.) The former are jaded yet accustomed to fights. After their episode 1 blowup, they laugh it off and calmly rearrange the wreckage of their argument. The latter, on the other hand, are so conflict-avoidant that they can barely express their true feelings. Instead, they couch them in therapy speak about radical honesty and being each other's "safe space." But as money becomes more and more of a stressor, the anger becomes clearer, and Ashley and Austin's love, like Josh and Lindsay's, begins to decay.

As the couples interact more, Lee plays with alliances. Unexpected friendships pop up between the men and women, adding a gendered layer to the tense proceedings. The pairs also become more similar, with one couple unknowingly echoing the other's manipulative tactics or nasty revenge plots. In the end, Beef asks, is rage the great equalizer? Are these couples really the same, deep down?

Beef Season 2 is full of spectacular performances. Charles Melton, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Cailee Spaeny in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

Each of Beef Season 2's leads delivers exceptional work. Isaac is both magnetic and repulsive as Josh, who occupies a strange middle ground between managing his staff and being at the beck and call of his club's clientele, who treat him as a friend before asking for a free round of golf. Josh is always calculating how much power he has in a room, and Isaac makes sure these calculations — as well as Josh's menacing power trips and nightmarish humiliations — ring loud and clear even in Beef's most pregnant pauses.

Mulligan thrives in Lindsay's nastiness, even in text conversations where she doesn't have to utter a word. But between her pointed remarks and clear disdain for the other women at the club, Beef and Mulligan find ways to deepen Lindsay, highlighting insecurities about aging or her relationship with Josh. Watching Lindsay facetune herself is heart-wrenching, as are scenes when Mulligan sheds Lindsay's prissier exterior for more introspection.

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As Austin, Melton often displays the wounded-puppy melancholy that earned him acclaim for May December (for which he was eternally robbed of an Oscar nomination). However, he also proves he has serious comedy chops with Austin's daffy sweetness, which later morphs into a more steely cunning that's among the show's biggest and most compelling transformations.

Spaeny's Ashley undergoes a major transformation of her own. Early episodes see Spaeny channeling the fresh-faced ingenue energy she brought to projects like Priscilla or Civil War. But as Ashley gains more power and status, that sweetness curdles into Karen-esque expectations of servitude from those around her, including Austin. Darkly funny and a little frightening, it's delightful to see Spaeny play against type.

Another key piece on the board is Academy Award winner Youn Yuh-jung as Chairwoman Park, the new billionaire owner of the country club. The most powerful player in Beef's game, she's also its quietest, sitting back while everyone scrambles to please her. Youn is formidable as this calm titan, yet Beef Season 2 often struggles to thread the needle between Park's bigger plans and the meaty couple drama at its heart.

Beef Season 2 offers a frightening look at late-stage capitalism. Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

Beef Season 1 earned rave reviews for its examination of Asian American identity. That examination takes a backseat in Season 2, with the exception of Austin, who is half Korean and realizes he needs more "Korean presence" in his life after connecting with Park's translator Eunice (Seoyeon Jang).

The lessening of that theme is a shame given how crucial it was to Beef Season 1. Lee does keep Beef connected to South Korea in Season 2, though, using Park's involvement at the club as one of the many ways in which the season examines late-stage capitalism.

Name-dropped throughout the season, capitalism is the reason Josh, Lindsay, Austin, and Ashley are struggling. Austin and Ashley weather horrifying debts, including health insurance woes incurred in an episode that makes The Pitt look like a pleasant daydream. Josh and Lindsay are also in compounding financial struggles, all while trying to keep up appearances of their own wealth. (It doesn't help that all four are surrounded by the ludicrously wealthy club members.) These problems all eventually lead them to the same place: under Park's thumb.

Most of Park's shady dealings feel disjointed from the rest of the season. They eventually culminate in a series of wild set pieces, ranging from corporate espionage to bloody slapstick. These are big swings that don't entirely gel with what's come before. However, they do emphasize how our four leads' problems may seem big until they're dwarfed by the machinations of the ultra-rich doing their best to protect themselves at any cost necessary. That's why Beef Season 2 is littered with imagery of ants and bees, all worker insects laboring in service of their queen. In the end, that's all Josh, Lindsay, Austin, and Ashley are to Park.

Of course, it's the relationships between these four that truly make Beef Season 2 tick, so the switch-up isn't always the most satisfying. Still, Beef Season 2 is ambitious, impeccably acted, and proof that the series, while brilliant as a stand-alone, does have legs as an anthology.

Beef Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

In amongst all the double-crossing and back-stabbing, Beef Season 2 is loaded with cameos.

A lot of them are fairly brief, and most of them are impressively unexpected, so much so that you may have missed a couple. From Olympic athletes to award-winning musicians, we've broken down all the famous faces that pop up in the second season of Lee Sung Jin's show below.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best Netflix TV shows of 2025 Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps' cameo, which comes in episode 2 along with a couple more famous faces below, is actually pretty crucial to the plot, as he inadvertently starts Josh (Oscar Isaac) down the path of embezzling money from the club. In the scene in question, Josh pours whiskey for rich club member Troy (William Fichtner) and some famous friends while they play cards.

Distracted by their conversation, Josh knocks over a bottle, the penalty for which is apparently joining in on a round.

"Put your money in," growls Phelps when Josh hesitates, only for him to quickly lose what is presumably a substantial sum.

"What's your Venmo?" Josh asks the Olympic swimmer and record-breaking gold medallist.

"@MichaelPhelps," comes the response.

"There's a $5k limit," says Josh.

"Back to back days is fine," replies Phelps.

Oh, dear.

Benny Blanco and Baron Davis

Also appearing in the scene are record producer Benny Blanco and NBA player turned TV host Baron Davis. The pair are part of a conversation with Troy where he talks about a "buy-borrow-die" loophole that his accountant set up.

"I've got a capital gains situation," Blanco tells Troy. "Who's that tax guy you got?"

Davis, meanwhile, is the one that encourages Josh to join in the card game. "Party foul!" he calls out when Josh spills the whiskey. "I saw that, Joshie! Now you gotta play."

Hot Chip

In an entertaining sequence in episode 5, Troy whisks Josh away on a private jet to his chalet, where Hot Chip happen to be performing a few songs. "They were in town for a festival," says Troy. "Called a few favors in."

Josh, a would-be musician, gets called up on stage to perform "Over and Over" with them while he really should be back home helping Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) search for their missing dog — a decision that's the final nail in the coffin for their relationship.

Suni Lee

In episode 6, Austin (Charles Melton) is thrown into the deep end in his new role as a physical therapist at the club's wellness center by the arrival of gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee.

"Josh says that you'll work with my team to get me right for L.A.," says Lee, before arching her back into a handstand and performing the splits. "Nobody's been able to figure out why, but I feel a slight pinch in my QL and my psoas when I do this."

Austin, who isn't even a qualified physical therapist, attempts to blag his way through the interaction while growing increasingly nervous.

"You're sweating like crazy," Lee comments.

"Yes," replies Austin. "I run hot due to my high basal metabolic rate."

Finneas O'Connell

Another unexpected cameo occurs in episode 7, when Josh pops into the wellness center and finds Troy with musician Finneas O'Connell — who says it's "about time" when he finds out Josh and Lindsay are getting divorced.

"Oh man, Billie hated it when you bought Lindsay round," Finneas says, referring to his sister Billie Eilish. "Even when she said something nice, it always felt like a diss."

A nice touch is Eilish's "Bad Guy" playing in the background during the scene.

Beef Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

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.

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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

Force.

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

POWER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

1, 2, 3..

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

COUNT

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

A name.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TITLE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Smooth.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLICK

Final Hurdle hint

A curtain.

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

DRAPE

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 New Moon is fast approaching, meaning the Moon will be barely visible for the next few nights. This is to due with the lunar cycle, a roughly 29.5-day period in which the Moon orbits Earth and changes how much of its sunlit side we can see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, April 16, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, 2% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Although part of the Moon is still visible, the illuminated portion is too small to make out any surface details tonight.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA explains that the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, moving through eight distinct phases in the process. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the portion lit by the Sun changes as it travels, creating the familiar cycle of full, partial, and crescent shapes. These changing views are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight:

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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 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 April 16, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 16 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this purple space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): The domino half in this red space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): The domino half in this yellow space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 16 Pips

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

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

Greater Than (0): The domino half in this light blue space must have more than 0 pips. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 3 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): The domino half in this dark blue space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this green space must have 4 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally; and 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 16 Pips

Equal (5): Every domino half in this purple space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; and 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this red space must have 6 pips. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): The domino half in this light blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this green space must have 4 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally; and 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this red space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 0 pips. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; and 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 4-3, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be a little easier if you love basketball.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Verbs

• Green: Basic Ball Knowledge

• Blue: AA

• Purple: Women's Basketball

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Look At

• Green: Seen at an NBA Court

• Blue: Double-A Baseball Teams

• Purple: Starts with a WNBA Team

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 #570 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Look At — OBSERVE, SPECTATE, VIEW, WATCH

• Seen at an NBA Court — BENCHES, HALF-COURT LOGO, SCORER'S TABLE, SHOT CLOCK

• Double-A Baseball Teams — BISCUITS, DRILLERS, TRASH PANDAS, WIND SURGE

• Starts with a WNBA Team — DREAMY, FIREFLY, SKYPE, SUNDIAL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love comics.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 16, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: To mock

• Green: HVAC options

• Blue: Batman's lover

• Purple: Prepping

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Tease

• Green: Thermostat settings

• Blue: Features of a Catwoman costume

• Purple: Training ___

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 #1040 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Tease: NEEDLE, RIB, RIDE, ROAST

• Thermostat settings: AUTO, COOL, FAN, HEAT

• Features of a Catwoman costume: BODYSUIT, CLAWS, MASK, WHIP

• Training ___: BRA, CAMP, DAY, WHEELS

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 April 16, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have many hobbies.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: This is not working

The words are related to leisure.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe side activities.

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 Just for Fun.

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NYT Strands word list for April 16

• Pastime

• Interest

• Sideline

• Just for Fun

• Recreation

• Hobby

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're good with measurements.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 16, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Elbow to finger.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CUBIT

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

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

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

SAVE $220: The DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $499, down from the standard price of $719. That's a 31% discount and a record-low price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $499 at Amazon
$719 Save $220   Get Deal

Now that the weather has improved, we're back to outdoor adventures. If you're looking for a new outdoor hobby, becoming a pro drone pilot could be a great endeavor. It gets you outside, offers incredible vantage points, and you can share your footage with the rest of the world. If you could use a new or upgraded drone, check out this Amazon deal.

As of April 15, the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $499, down from the standard price of $719. That's a 31% discount that takes $220 off the price. It's also a record-low price at Amazon by $100.

While the brand has branched out in offerings over the last decade, DJI drones still remain some of the best on offer. DJI faced an FCC ban last year, but that hasn't stopped third-party sellers from getting DJI drones out to U.S consumers. Just be a bit cautious about which third-party seller you're buying from.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 is on sale at Amazon for over $500 off — one of the best portable power stations for creators

Today's deal on the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo with the DJI RC is from Smart Fly Gear which has a 100% positive rating over the last 12 months at Amazon, so this is a good option.

The DJI Mini 3 is a beginner friendly model and comes with plenty of accessories for making learning a breeze. It's a lightweight model that folds down into a compact size and DJI threw extra batteries into this bundle. The three batteries will spell approximately 114 minutes of flight time. It also has level 5 wind resistance which means it can safely capture stable footage and return home in winds up to about 23 miles per hour.

There's also one-tap takeoff and landing functions as well as several beginner tutorials available. Video transmission is possible within 32,800 feet and you can record in 4K HDR video.

While it's at a never-before-seen low price, snatch up the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo for under $500. Your spring and summer adventures will get a major level-up with your new hobby.

Today, Lego unveiled the new flagship Star Wars-themed building set it's releasing on May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day. The Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter (75442) will be the latest entry in the company's Ultimate Collector Series of rare and elaborate builds for adult fans, the most popular being its 7,541-piece Millennium Falcon.

The N-1 Starfighter set is priced at $249.99. Members of the free-to-join Lego Insiders loyalty program will be able to purchase it starting Friday, May 1, three days before it's available to the public on Monday, May 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter (75442) $249.99 at the Lego Store
Available May 1 for Lego Insiders and May 4 for everyone else. Learn More

Those who buy it between May 1 to 6 will receive three freebies while supplies last, including a 278-piece Darksaber building set, a Razor Crest Mini-Build, and a collectible trinket.

Lego's N-1 Starfighter is a brickified version of the ship helmed by the titular bounty hunter in the third season of Disney+'s The Mandalorian, as well as its spin-off series, The Book of Boba Fett. That saga continues on the big screen in next month's The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Credit: Lego

The N-1 Starfighter set contains 1,809 pieces, making it the second-smallest Ultimate Collector Series build (after last year's 1,513-piece AT-ST Walker). In a press release, Lego said it "uses advanced Lego building techniques and special silver Drum Lacquered elements to capture the ship’s distinctive Naboo-inspired silhouette and intricate detailing."

The set comes with a Mandalorian minifigure, a Grogu figure, and a stand with an information plaque. It can be displayed in two different orientations.

Credit: Lego Credit: Lego What is Star Wars Day?

Star Wars Day is an unofficial holiday commemorating the Star Wars franchise. It's always celebrated on May 4 or "May the 4th," a play on the phrase "May the Force be with you."

Lego typically commemorates Star Wars Day by releasing one new Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series set in addition to several smaller Star Wars-themed builds, by giving away free items with select purchases, and by hosting in-store "Make & Take" events. This year, participating Lego Store locations will let fans build free miniature N-1 Starfighter sets from May 2 to 4.

SEE ALSO: Mid-April's free Legos include a Lego taco stand or mini TIE fighter

Lego Stores in London and Munich will also be hosting signing events with César Soares, the designer behind the new flagship N-1 Starfighter build, on May 1 and 2, respectively.

Lego will be dropping seven other new Star Wars sets on April 26, about a week before Star Wars Day. Three of them currently available for preorder — though if you wait until May 1 to buy them, you'll get the aforementioned Razor Crest Mini-Build for free. (It's a bonus with any purchase over $40, not just with the big N-1 Starfighter.)

To learn more about Lego's Star Wars Day festivities, visit its website.

Preorder Lego's other Star Wars Day 2026 sets: Lego Star Wars Anzellan Starship (75445) $74.99 Pre-Order Here Lego Star Wars Grogu (Mandalorian Apprentice) (75446) $129.99 Pre-Order Here Lego Star Wars The Razor Crest (75447) $149.99 Pre-Order Here

TL;DR: Learn piano on your own time with this three-year subscription to flowkey Piano Learning App Classic Plan for just $69.99 through April 17.

Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (3-Year Subscription) $69.99
$579 Save $509.01   Get Deal

Learning piano doesn’t have to be dull or something you dread week after week. The flowkey Piano Learning App brings the lessons to you, so you can master the instrument from the comfort of your own space, whenever you have some free time.

Right now, you can score a three-year subscription to the flowkey Classic Plan for just $69.99 (reg. $579) through April 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Whether you’ve always wanted to master the piano or you’d just like to be able to play a few tunes to impress your friends, flowkey is ready to school you on the keys. Just grab your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, then sit down at a keyboard or piano to start learning.

With flowkey, you’ll enjoy interactive learning that listens as you play and gives instant feedback as you go. This AI-powered technique helps you learn faster, and includes features like wait mode that only lets you move on after you hit the right notes.

You can watch expert pianists play while you follow along to synced sheet music on the same screen, or choose slow motion to help reduce playback speed so you can better learn the tough parts. There’s also a loop function that helps you repeat hard sections until you get them, and hand selection lets you practice the right and left hands separately.

This flowkey Classic Plan gives you access to 1000 classical and public-domain songs, so you can play Bach, Debussy, Chopin, Beethoven, and more. It’s also available in 11 different languages. There are also lessons on everything from mastering chords and how to read sheet music to music theory, so you’ll get a well-rounded education.

Lock in a three-year subscription to flowkey Piano Learning App Classic Plan for just $69.99 today.

Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through 4/19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is on sale for $99.97 (reg. $249.99), offering a lifetime license for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote without a subscription.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $99.97
$249.99 Save $150.02   Get Deal

For a lot of people, Microsoft Office is one of those tools you end up using regularly — whether it’s for work, school, or just staying organized. The catch is that these days, it usually comes with a recurring subscription. This deal on Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC offers a one-time alternative, and for a limited time, you can get a lifetime license for $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

With this license, you still get the familiar apps — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote — along with a few practical updates. Outlook includes improved search and added protection against certain file-based threats, while Excel handles larger datasets and multiple workbooks more smoothly.

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PowerPoint also makes it easier to record presentations with voice narration and video (yes, including your camera), which helps when slides alone aren’t enough. Outlook’s updated accessibility checker can flag unclear wording or formatting issues before your email goes out. Expect to never send a bad email again.

Like most productivity tools now, Office 2024 also uses AI to speed things up and make your workflow more efficient. It can suggest edits, help with formatting, summarize content, and translate text. In Excel, those features extend to spotting trends and building charts with less manual effort.

If Office is already part of your routine, this just removes the monthly fee from the equation.

Score Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC for $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through 4/19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Internxt’s 100TB cloud storage plan is on sale for a one-time payment of $974.47, offering long-term storage without monthly subscription fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97
$9,900 Save $8,925.03   Get Deal

Storing memories these days tends to come with a monthly bill. Over time, those costs add up, especially if you need a lot of space. Internxt offers a different approach with a one-time payment for long-term storage. For a limited time, you can score a lifetime subscription to 100TB of cloud storage for just $974.47.

Internxt offers a privacy-first model using end-to-end encryption. In practical terms, your files are encrypted, and only you can access them. It’s also open-source, so its security setup isn’t just taken at face value.

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With 100TB of storage, this isn’t the kind of plan you outgrow quickly. It’s more than enough room for large photo libraries, video files, work archives, and everything else you’ve been meaning to back up “eventually.” Consider it a place for both your important files and the ones you’re not quite ready to delete just yet.

Files sync across devices, with access available through desktop apps, web browsers, and mobile apps on iOS and Android. It also supports Linux, which is still a nice bonus in a world where not everything does.

The interface is straightforward, so you’re not spending time figuring out how to use your storage. Uploading, organizing, and sharing files all feel familiar, but you have way more space to work with.

On the security side, files are encrypted and split into smaller pieces before being stored, adding another layer of protection. The zero-knowledge model means Internxt can’t access your data, even if it wanted to.

If you’ve been paying for cloud storage month after month, a lifetime plan like this is at least worth a look—especially if your storage needs aren’t getting any smaller.

Get lifetime access to 100TB of Internxt cloud storage for $974.47.

Grabbing this deal? Score a Microsoft Office 2021 license for free when you apply a code at checkout through 4/19: GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I can't quite figure out what year we are living in.

Let me more clear. I can't pin down what year the chronically online are living in. We are in an unprecedented time of tech advancement, what with artificial intelligence taking over our lives and astronauts literally going back to the moon. But everywhere I turn, I see remnants of the past: People are yearning for 2010s hipster aesthetics. Avatar: The Last Airbender fan cams are all over my FYP. Celebrities are skeletally thin again, and thinspo pages and eating disorder content are taking over TikTok.

But most confusing: Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff are once again the talk of the town.

SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber's Coachella set was deeply online in the best way

Dunham (actor, writer, and director) and Antonoff (Bleachers frontman and pop-girl collaborator) dated from 2012 to 2016. Their relationship was quintessentially of the era. It was a bit messy. Then came "The PowerPoint."

Responding to swirling rumors after the release of Lorde's 2017 hit Melodrama, a former Twitter user by the name @buzzkillary put together a thesis. In her account and the accompanying 29-slide PowerPoint, Buzzkillary claims that Lorde and Antonoff were lovers and that the singer's breakout hit "Green Light," among others, was about him.

The conspiracy acted as all online conspiracies do, lying in wait in the dark corners of niche fandoms until a relevant Hollywood news item — like Lorde's 2025 album Virgin, Antonoff's marriage to actor Margaret Qualley, or Dunham's latest show about a young woman who was cheated on — wrenched it out from the shadows. But then Dunham's new memoir, Famesick, dropped, and everything got a little more real.

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In Famesick, Dunham describes the full fallout of her relationship with Antonoff for the first time, regaling the intimate details of an emotionally complicated relationship he had with a certain "teen pop star"(the internet, and PowerPoint, have long surmised it's Lorde).

Dunham says this artist and her partner spent hours "ensconsed together" and that she called her "Aunt Lena" during a period of time Dunham was using a walker due to chronic illness. One quote was particularly damning in the eyes of the internet. She describes the star in question "sprawled across our sectional couch, weeping into Jack's lap as he told her that ‘your teens are for experimenting’ in a tone so comforting, it almost brought tears to my eyes." She goes on to say, "It had been so long since he'd spoken to me with that kind of expansive generosity."

Then, Dunham admits to her own faux pas: She cheated on Antonoff once it all became too much. The internet, of course, had many thoughts. Which cheating scandal was worse, Antonoff's or Dunham's? Who was the victim here?

Even Tumblr chimed in.

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There are those who have taken Dunham's as full-fledged confirmation of a torrid affair, reinforcing the knotted web outlined in the PowerPoint. Many felt sympathy for Dunham, who has been at the center of several controversies since the 2010s.

To some, this was an opportunity to visit other connections, including Taylor Swift. Could her songs have actually been about the Antonoff/ Dunham debacle this whole time, an observer and one of their closest friends?

Then there were others who, in a real throwback to the old internet, only had cruel words for the women involved in the emotional love triangle. Dunham and Lorde — both of whom have been targets of vitriolic comments related to their appearance and art — were transgressors, or were pitiful, or just simply ugly. Antonoff was...there.

Lorde, who would have been in her late teens and early twenties during the peak of her collaboration with then 32-year-old Antonoff, is just one of many young pop women who have collaborated with the producer. And Antonoff wasn't the only older Hollywood man with whom she was associated. As users tried to spot the Antonoff/ Dunham parallels in Lorde's discography, others rightfully pointed out the more probable muse, a Universal Music promotions director named Justin Warren who Lorde was linked in 2015. He was 17 years older than her.

Dunham's quote, taken in its full context in Famesick, acknowledges a larger problem: That Antonoff was extremely close to a lot of his collaborators and that they had a bond she wasn't invited to join.

These are layers that not even the internet's most infamous PowerPoint can sum up.

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Amid all the internet discourse, I ask: What outcome would soothe the masses the most? Do they need to see a mass cancellation of Lorde? Or Antonoff or Dunham, both of whom have been villains of the internet for years? Or is this just a big "I told you so!" moment for the PowerPoint truthers? What, ultimately, do we gain from theorizing about any of it online?

Dunham herself has acknowledged the conspiracy during the press cycle for Famesick, an honesty about her checkered past that the internet has come to respect about her as she's aged and embraced her cultural legacy — that's certainly not a vestige of the Old Internet. Dunham says she saw the presentation years ago and that it was "so convincing they had me rethinking events that I myself had been present for." She even admitted that she reached out to the PowerPoint's creator during a "low moment."

Dunham, through Famesick, is still processing what happened during the nascent years of internet rumor and cancellation, just like every other social media denizen who was online at the time. And we still don't know what to take from it.

If 2016 really was "the last good year," as many TikTok videos suggest, 2026 is trying really hard to reheat its nachos — right down to linking to Buzzfeed articles about Lena Dunham PowerPoint theories.

You might not have to worry that a shady Android app will steal contacts or constantly share your whereabouts for much longer. Google is introducing features and policies that will limit how apps request contact and location information.

Live Nation, parent company of infamous live event ticket platform Ticketmaster, has violated federal and state antitrust laws in its dominance of the market, a federal jury ruled Wednesday.

A judge will choose what remedy fits the crime, which could include forcing a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the New York Times reported. Live Nation will be ordered to pay monetary damages, as well.

SEE ALSO: Parents are turning their teens' texts into AI emo songs

The industry has been waiting for this decision for years, following the federal government's 2024 filing alleging the company uses "unlawful, anticompetitive conduct," including long-term exclusive contracts with venues and threats of financial retribution against venues and artists, to retain a "monopolistic control" over the live entertainment market.

"The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster," the initial filing read.

The move was partially inspired by extremely high ticket prices for popular, international tours and an outcry from the artists themselves, including Taylor Swift and her army of legally adept fans. Music industry giants, including Pearl Jam, have for decades attempted to break up Ticketmaster's control over live entertainment.

Live Nation has faced several legal battles related to its alleged market monopoly, including a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in September, which alleged that the company made billions off of deceptive ticket resale practices.

The Justice Department settled with Live Nation last month, a move that has been scrutinized by congressional leaders. But 34 states remained on the case, and their recent win may profoundly shift the industry.

Remember TeraCopy? This utility software was quite famous back in the Windows 7 era and offered a better way to move files between locations than Windows Explorer. You might be surprised to know that the tool still exists; in fact, I still prefer it over what we have in Windows 11.

Desktop PCs are super upgradeable—that's one of their biggest perks. But if there's one upgrade that feels like a chore and actually is a chore, it's the processor.

Streaming binges come in different forms. Sometimes, you want a show that you can finish in one sitting or over the weekend. It's usually a limited series or single-season show with eight or fewer episodes. I enjoy watching those shows when I can't commit to something with multiple seasons.