Technology

The northern lights wowed sky gazers across much of the U.S. last night when they made an exciting appearance in states as far south as Florida. But if you missed out last night, don't worry, the skies are set to be glowing again tonight as another blast of geomagnetic energy is coming, according to a prediction from the Space Weather Prediction Center.

Wrap up warm, pick a dark, secluded spot, and keep on reading to see when and how you can spot the northern lights tonight.

When are the northern lights?

Tonight, Nov. 12, the northern lights are returning to North American skies. The Space Weather Prediction Center is predicting a "severe" geomagnetic storm, meaning the chances of there being northern lights are pretty high.

The geomagnetic activity is measured by the planetary K index, or Kp. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher numbers indicating stronger activity and a greater chance of seeing the aurora across the United States. Tonight’s activity is forecast to reach a Kp of 8, meaning the northern lights could move far from the poles and appear bright and active, even across northern parts of the U.S. According to these stats, the northern lights should peak at 10 p.m. ET.

Where will the northern lights be visible?

According to maps from the Space Weather Prediction Center, the northern states are more likely to see the northern lights tonight. However, social media posts from last night have revealed people as far south as Florida managed to catch a glimpse of them.

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These maps display the view line cutting roughly through Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, and up to Maine. Anywhere above this line has a very high chance of spotting the northern lights, but this is approximate, not a strict boundary. And don't count yourself out if you live a little further south, with a Kp of 8, you might just get lucky...

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What causes the northern lights?

The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, is a natural light phenomenon visible in the night sky, most often near the polar regions. NASA explains that the display happens when charged solar particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere, producing glowing streaks of green, pink, and purple that ripple and move overhead.

Viewing tips for the northern lights

Catching a glimpse of the northern lights can be a stroke of luck. There are so many elements at play, including your local forecast and cloud coverage, but there are some things you can do to help. As ever with these events, travel away from light pollution as much as you can, and don't forget to give your eyes time to adjust. The Space Weather Prediction Center also suggests the best time to see the aurora is usually between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, when displays are at their most active.

There are ways to use the Python programming language on a typical Android device, iPhone, or iPad, but with fewer features available than Python on most desktop computers. Thankfully, you can still get the full Python experience on those devices—you just need a Raspberry Pi or other low-power server on the same network.

People are traveling more and more. According to UN Tourism (World Tourism Barometer), in 2024, more than 1.4 billion people traveled abroad, almost as many as before the pandemic. Those who are vacationing to relax and freelancers are among them. However, with the revival of tourism, the risks of falling prey to fraudsters while traveling have made a comeback, too.

Nintendo held a Nintendo Direct livestream...of sorts on Wednesday.

No, there weren't any trailers for new Switch 2 games or anything like that. It was only a few minutes long and was dedicated solely to the upcoming film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The sequel to 2023's blockbuster hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie is taking Mario and friends to space, just as the game Super Mario Galaxy did in 2007. The trailer is just a quick peek at the movie, but it looks a lot like the game it's inspired by.

SEE ALSO: Yoshi's design in 'Super Mario Galaxy' may have leaked thanks to a box of cookies

That's not all, though. Nintendo also revealed two key new cast members for the movie. Playing the role of galactic protector, Princess Rosalina is Academy Award winner Brie Larson, who, perhaps not coincidentally, is also a noted fan of Nintendo games. (She also has quite a bit of experience playing a galactic protector in the form of Captain Marvel.) That one makes sense.

On the funnier end is Uncut Gems co-director Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., the movie's primary villain. Safdie has also worked as an actor, sure, but the idea of anyone at Nintendo watching and enjoying Uncut Gems is bringing me a lot of joy this morning. Safdie most recently appeared in Oppenheimer, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret., and Happy Gilmore 2.

Behold, the itty bitty baby Bowser in all his glory. Credit: Universal and Illumination Pictures

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie comes out in theaters on April 3.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade takes the brand’s largest SUV to the next level with a hybrid setup that boosts both performance and efficiency. It’s not just about horsepower or fuel numbers, but about a ride that feels smoother, quieter, and more responsive in everyday driving.

If the title for Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die didn't give you an idea of the bonkers energy Gore Verbinski's upcoming film is channelling, the trailer will lock it in.

In the video above, the Pirates of the Caribbean director sends you into a Los Angeles diner on a rainy night, where Sam Rockwell turns up in a strange (and leaking?) get-up claiming to be from the future. His warning? Technology and AI are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our impending doom. As weird things begin happening and birthday parties are ruined, we're in for a mission to save the world with an all-star cast including Zazie Beetz, Michael Peña, Juno Temple, Haley Lu Richardson, Asim Chandhry, and Tom Taylor.

Written by Matthew Robinson (The Invention of Lying), Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die kind of looks like a film for people currently obsessing over apocalypses and possibly Apple TV+'s Pluribus (that's us, we're people).

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die hits cinemas Feb. 13.

Although Android still receives major updates every year, they’re nowhere near as transformative as those from the early days of the OS. One of the biggest milestones was Android Lollipop, which began rolling out via OTA updates on November 12, 2014. Let’s take a look at everything that made this update so special.

In a Truth Social post and an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump has introduced the idea of a 50-year mortgage in the U.S, suggesting it might make home ownership more affordable for Americans. But Daily Show host Josh Johnson isn't convinced.

In the clip above from Tuesday's show, the host pulls up a graphic calculating that a six percent mortgage on a $400,000 home would mean roughly $300 a month less in repayments versus a 30-year mortgage, but over $800,000 in interest over the lifetime of the loan.

"So you're saying that after interest, a $400,000 mortgage is going to cost me $1.3 million?" says Johnson. "That is the opposite of affordability. This man is creating generational debt. They're going to be fighting to get out of grandma's Will. Grandkids will be like, 'I barely knew her, alright? I wouldn't even hug her at Christmas because her skin was too loose."

With so many menus to dig through, getting a document to look decent in Microsoft Word can feel like a chore. I used to find formatting tedious, but after learning a few features and shortcuts, it became effortless. If formatting feels like a struggle, here’s how to do it faster and with less effort.

I am mainly a Linux user, but sometimes I have to return to Windows for work or gaming. Whenever I do, I notice that Windows hasn’t evolved in any meaningful way since I first used it. Compared to Linux, it feels like it’s stuck in time. Let me explain what I mean.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 12, the Dyson HushJet is on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. That's a 14% discount on the list price.

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$349.99 Save $50   Get Deal

If you're someone who suffers from allergies, has a pet, or just really hates the thought of lingering dust, an air purifier will become your best friend. They're handy devices that keep the area around you feeling clean and clear, as well as eliminating any unwanted odors. And as of Nov. 12, you can get one of the most popular models on sale at Amazon.

Right now you can get the Dyson HushJet on sale for its lowest-ever price. At Amazon you'll find the HushJet reduced to $299.99, a saving of $50 on list price.

SEE ALSO: The best vacuums we've tested at home, from robots to Dyson stick vacs

The Dyson HushJet is a compact but powerful air purifier that's perfect if you don't want a big, clunky device taking up space. And despite its size, it can purify up to 203 square feet. It has a fully sealed system which means any pollutants or allergens it collects won't escape. It also has a 360° Electrostatic filter that captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

One of the best qualities of this device is its noise level. Operating at just 24dB in Sleep mode, it will deliver purified air quietly through a star-shaped nozzle that minimizes turbulence. If you can't focus or sleep with background noise, this purifier won't bother you.

Everything is controlled through the MyDyson app, so it's easy to monitor and control air quality from anywhere. You can even set schedules, adjust modes, and view personalized air quality reports.

This is a limited-time deal according to Amazon, so act fast so you don't miss out.

On Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel took to Instagram to announce that Cleto Escobedo III, the leader of his show's band and his childhood best friend, had passed away at the age of 59. In the monologue above, Kimmel pays an incredibly moving tribute to the man he's known since his family moved to Las Vegas when he was nine years old, and who he ended up working with on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for 22 years.

Over the course of the 22-minute monologue above, Kimmel describes his childhood friendship with Escobedo, explaining that Escobedo and his father both worked as professional saxophone players before they formed the shows's band when it launched back in 2003.

"I'm heartbroken to lose him. I'm going to take yet another lesson from him and acknowledge how lucky I was to have him literally at my side for so many years," says a tearful Kimmel. "Cherish your friends. We're not here forever."

FREE GIFT CARD: Sign up for the Prime Visa card to get a free $250 Amazon Gift Card to spend over Black Friday.

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Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has been dropping some stellar early deals for shoppers. If you're keen on taking advantage of some of the deals already available at the retailer and need a new way to save cash, Amazon is offering a limited-time deal that gets you a $250 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for the Prime Visa.

This deal can be accessed from the Prime Visa application page, which also gives you the chance to check to see if you're pre-qualified. The good news is you don't have to wait long after approval for the gift card — you'll get it instantly upon approval. It's worth noting that this card is only available to those who don't already have an Amazon Visa or Prime Visa credit card.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

Once your application has been approved, you'll find the gift card loaded into your Amazon account. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the gift card cannot be used for other gift card purchases, but there's still a lot to shop at the retailer right now.

With this extra gift card cash, you can put it towards a wide variety of items at Amazon that have already dropped in price. To see some of the items that are already on sale ahead of Black Friday, check out our roundup of the 40+ best early Black Friday deals.

Treat yourself to something nice over Black Friday. Don't miss out on Amazon's limited-time offer of a $250 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for the Prime Visa. And if you're curious when the official sale event begins this year at Amazon, we've also gathered up everything you need to know about the retailer's plans in our breakdown.

I’m not the only person concerned about my data being exploited in the hands of data-broker sites. Incogni seeks to give users an easy way to remove said data from over 420 public and private data brokers. I found the service useful, but not without its weak points.

The best vacuum cleaner setup is subjective, heavily hinging on how badly you want to do the vacuuming yourself or if you'd rather have a reliable robot vacuum cleaner vacuum for you.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

If your vacuum is a pain to clean with, you won't feel like using it at all — whether it's an upright vacuum that's too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not. Regardless of the type of vacuum you choose, there's still a ton of nuance between brands and models in both of those categories. Your best bet is to get some recommendations from someone who uses both every day (like me).

Black Friday vacuum deals are going to pop off

You're lucky to be doing your vacuum shopping in November — vacuum cleaner deals are a pillar of Black Friday. If you were previously ruling out a more premium Dyson vacuum or a robot vacuum and mop combo with self-washing mopping pads, this might be your chance to grab one at a less scary price. In fact, every single robot and cordless vacuum in this guide has already been on sale at some point in 2025. They're bound to beat their own sale prices this month.

After several years of pitting the top robot and stick vacuums against each other in my own home, I've pulled a few of each to create Mashable's ultimate mashup of all of the best vacuum cleaners of 2025.

Should I get an upright or robot vacuum?

I could argue for both sides. Ideally, I'd recommend shopping strategically and splitting your budget between one of each type of vacuum. But if you're only choosing one, consider what your main priority for this new vacuum is. Is your ideal vacuum cleaner one that automates the most steps to give you as little work as possible, or is it one that does the absolute most meticulous job, even if you still have to do the work?

Trusting a robot vacuum to do this chore comes with the fine print that the robot vacuum is probably going to piss you off sometimes. Autonomy-related features like smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance, automatic floor type recognition, and debris level sensors have gotten quite perceptive over the past few years. But even the smartest robot vacuums I've tested are still inanimate objects, not humans with real brains.

The obvious downside of an upright vacuum is that you have to have enough free time to use it, and be OK with spending some of that free time off the couch. Granted, the better the cordless vacuum is at cleaning, the less you'll have to get it out, and the less of a pain it'll be to whip around. But at the end of the day, if you detest getting your vacuum out, you probably won't vacuum too often — and that defeats the purpose of spending your money on a nice, new vacuum in the first place.

Vacuums I'm testing soon

The next vacuums slated for at-home testing are the Shark Stratos 2-in-1 NeverTouch, the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra, and eventually, the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for pet owners accordingly.

We don't mind admitting that our focus has been on Black Friday this week. We've been deluged by deals on AirPods, Macbooks, Pokémon, Lego, and just about everything else you can imagine. It's a great time to shop, but we need a break already.

So the latest Nintendo Direct has come at the perfect moment. Nintendo has confirmed that there will be a Nintendo Direct livestream on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET. This Nintendo Direct will feature the world premiere of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie official trailer. That's wonderful news, but gamers should note that "no game information will be included in this presentation." That's a shame, but the official trailer should make up for that disappointment.

How to watch Nintendo Direct 2025

You can find the latest Nintendo Direct livestream on Nintendo's YouTube channel. Or alternatively, you could just keep this page bookmarked and check it out right above.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're bilingual.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 12, 2025 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: Games

• Green: An idiot

• Blue: They stand for something

• Purple: Foreign language

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Sports

• Green: Doofus

• Blue: Acronyms

• Purple: Spanish Words

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 #885 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sports: GOLF, JUDO, POLO, SUMO

• Doofus: BOZO, DODO, DOPE, YO-YO

• Acronyms: BOGO, FOMO, GOAT, YOLO

• Spanish Words: COMO, LOCO, POCO, ROJO

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 November 12, 2025

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 love brain exercises.

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 November 12, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 12, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Aesop's animals

The words are related to this puzzle.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe word and number games.

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 Crossword.

NYT Strands word list for November 12

• Numbers

• Grid

• Answers

• Crossword

• Down

• Clues

• Byline

• Across

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 a dice player.

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 November 12, 2025 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 November 12, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Two.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

DEUCE

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 12, 2025

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

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

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

SAVE $300: As of Nov. 12, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey QD-OLED G8 is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

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Black Friday is a great excuse to upgrade your gaming setup, and this year, the deals are coming early.

Amazon's official Black Friday sale kicks off on Nov. 20, but the standard Daily Deals have been more than impressive lately, including the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey QD-OLED G8 reduced to its lowest-ever price. As of Nov. 12, this impressive screen is reduced by $300, bringing the price down to $999.99. This is for the 32-inch model, however the 27-inch is also on sale for $879.99.

SEE ALSO: The 34-inch LG UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor is half price at Amazon

This QD-OLED gaming monitor has 4K clarity with sharp details and deep contrasts, so every game you play is super high quality. It benefits from Glare Free technology which makes the screen 54% less glossy than standard anti-reflective coatings, so you can play no matter what the lighting, and even with harsh sunlight.

One of the most important things with any gaming device is performance, and this monitor delivers. Thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, this monitor says goodbye to laggy, slow gameplay. The G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro also helps to keep visuals seamless by minimizing lag and screen tearing. For managing heat and protecting the screen, this monitor also has a Pulsating Heat Pipe that cools five times faster than graphite.

Pick up this gaming monitor deal from Amazon while it's still on sale.