Technology

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love German food.

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 December 23, 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: Weaknesses

• Green: Philosophical ideas

• Blue: Superheroes wear them

• Purple: Meaty snacks

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Vulnerability

• Green: Freudian concepts

• Blue: Characters in capes

• Purple: Starting with slang for sausage

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 #926 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Vulnerability: ACHILLES' HEEL, DOWNFALL, KRYPTONITE, SOFT SPOT

• Freudian concepts: FIXATION, OEDIPUS COMPLEX, SUPEREGO, UNCONSCIOUS

• Characters in capes: DARTH VADER, DRACULA, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, SUPERMAN

• Starting with slang for sausage: BRATZ, DOGMA, FRANKENSTEIN, LINKLATER

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 December 23, 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 don't like the heat.

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 December 23, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 23, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: B-r-r-r-r!

The words are related to the temperature.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe lower temperatures.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Not So Hot.

NYT Strands word list for December 23

• Chilly

• Polar

• Cold

• Glacial

• Not So Hot

• Freezing

• Frigid

• Cool

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 there's a twinkle in your eye.

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 December 23, 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 December 23, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A glimmer.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

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...

GLINT

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 December 23, 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.

Aside from slamming Trump, Stephen King often uses his social media platforms to recommend TV shows, books and films.

2025 was no exception. Over the past 12 months the author has made recommendations in a number of genres, but the one he kept coming back to – unsurprisingly – was his home turf of horror.

Here are five movies he shouted out this year.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked Abraham's Boys View on Threads

"I really enjoyed ABRAHAM’S BOYS, based on the story by Joe Hill and starring Titus Welliver (BOSCH)," wrote King on Threads. "It’s a creepfest. You’ll find it soon, maybe try Shudder?"

Abraham's Boys is streaming on Shudder.

Killing Faith View on Threads

"A quasi-supernatural Western that has echoes of Cormac McCarthy," King wrote. "The first scene, involving a child and a horse, is an authentic shocker."

Killing Faith is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

The Monkey View on Threads

"You've never seen anything like THE MONKEY. It's batshit insane," King wrote on Threads. "As someone who has indulged in batshittery from time to time, I say that with admiration."

The Monkey is streaming on Hulu.

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

"Dave Franco and Alison Brie are great--and brave--in TOGETHER," King wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Horror movies work when you care about the people. This one works."

Together is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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

"WEAPONS: Confidently told, and very scary," King wrote on X. "I loved it."

Weapons is streaming on HBO Max.

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson team with director Craig Brewer for Song Sung Blue, a moving drama based on the stranger-than-fiction story of Milwaukee-based Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning and Thunder.

The film, which in my review I called a "feel-good movie and a good tearjerker," involves big dreams, heavy losses, and how music can carry people through all of it. So, when I — Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko — sat down with Jackman, Hudson, and Brewer to talk about the film, we naturally got into the power of karaoke.

Within the film, both Jackman and Hudson take on musical performances on stages big and small. But two scenes in a karaoke night hit me hard. The celebrated co-stars spoke about these scenes, then shared some stories of their own — like the time Hudson performed for Quincy Jones and the night John Travolta and Jackman did a duet of "Summer Love" from Grease, with the latter playing Sandy because he's Australian.

Brewer also shared his love of karaoke on and offscreen, getting into why this particular form of performance hits so hard, and what makes it so relatable.

Song Sung Blue opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

Ever noticed an unfamiliar icon on the taskbar—or a familiar one that suddenly looks different? Each icon—and its variation—has a specific meaning, and knowing them helps you quickly spot issues. Here’s what each familiar taskbar icon means, when it appears, and whether you should care about it.

Most people think of Google as a consumer company, best known for products like Search, Android, Gmail, and Maps. These are useful tools, but they are mostly things you interact with directly. What often gets overlooked is how much of today’s internet runs on technology Google invented long before it became a household name, not features or apps, but deep infrastructure that shapes how the modern web works every day.

Each year, the internet gives birth to a new lexicon, one that's as fast-moving and unpredictable as the online trends that fuel it. 2025 is no different, with a fresh crop of viral slang that’s quickly become shorthand for everything from viral moments to internet culture’s quirks.

More than words, these phrases are creative expressions of identity in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Whether you're on TikTok, Twitch, or the latest meme loop, these are the terms that have dominated conversations among Gen Z and Gen Alpha this year.

SEE ALSO: The cult and community of Labubu

Buckle up, because we’re about to break down the slang that has defined 2025. You're about to hear these words everywhere, whether you're ready or not.

Aura farming

Aura farming is the art of cultivating an undeniable, magnetic energy that draws people in. It’s all about crafting a vibe so strong and captivating that others can’t help but be pulled into your orbit. Whether it's exuding confidence, radiating charm, or just owning the room, aura farming is often used to elevate one’s status and influence.

While the phrase technically evolved from a 2024 meme, it truly peaked this year. A prime example? Sung Jinwoo, the protagonist of Solo Leveling, who’s become the internet’s unofficial king of aura farming. His journey is all about leveling up, both in power and presence, as he faces stronger dungeon bosses. In a sense, the entire anime is one big exercise in aura farming, a constant evolution of strength and influence, perfectly embodying the idea.

Cook, cooking, cooked

When someone says "let me cook," they’re preparing to flex their skills or impress with a creative idea or a solution. It’s the digital equivalent of saying, "Let me show you what I can do." Whether it’s a fire take or a dope outfit, you’ll know they’re about to serve something incredible.

But cooking isn’t always a win. In a different context, when someone says they’re "cooked," it means they're out of options, overworked, or done for — like they’ve been taken to their limit. In a way, it’s the inverse: where "let me cook" invites success and flair, "I'm cooked" signals that it's all over for them. Alternatively, you could also say, "I'm fried."

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

If you're not familiar with this quirky phrase, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Born from the antics of Twitch streamer and former AMP collective member Fanum, "Fanum tax" is a silly way to describe that cheeky act of snagging a bite of someone else’s food, without asking. (You gotta pay the Fanum tax!) Explaining the phrase to GQ, Fanum simply said, "Feed your friends, bro."

But beyond the simple act of food theft, this term has morphed into a bit of a phenomenon, extending its reach to describe everything from friendship dynamics to viral TikTok trends. It's become a phrase to insert, often ironically, into just about anything.

Clock it

"Clock it" is all about drawing attention to something noteworthy. It’s a call to remember, an invitation to keep something in mind for later, like a spoiler for a big twist or a prediction that’s about to come true. It's the ultimate way of saying, "I told you so," but with a more stylish flair.

Clock that tea

"Clock that tea" is a phrase used to describe the act of noticing or picking up on juicy gossip, drama, or revealing truths, often before others do. It combines the slang terms "clock," meaning to observe or catch onto something (see above), and "tea," a term used for gossip or truth. For example, if someone walks into a room and instantly picks up on the tension between two people, they've clocked that tea. It's a way of acknowledging someone's sharp perception when it comes to spotting social dynamics or hidden drama. The phrase is rooted in queer vernacular and is particularly common in drag and ballroom-adjacent spaces.

However, "clock that tea" is often incorrectly paired with finger claps, a rhythmic hand gesture from ballroom culture in which you touch your index finger and thumb together in rapid motion. Finger claps are a sign of applause and celebration, a way to support drag and ballroom performers without disrupting their performance.

Ate, chewed, nibbled

When something "eats," it means it was so good that there’s nothing left to improve upon. Eating and leaving no crumbs means absolute perfection, whether we’re talking about a performance, a look, or a viral moment. It’s a way of giving top-tier praise, acknowledging that what just went down was next level.

SEE ALSO: A parent's guide to Skibidi Toilet: What is it and why is it so popular?

Originally coined within LGBTQ+ communities, particularly Black and Latinx ballroom culture, "ate" was a term used to describe moments of excellence. Over time, it made its way into the mainstream lexicon, where it now signifies a flawless execution. But here's where things get interesting: the evolution of "ate" has introduced new internet phrases like "she chewed" and "she nibbled." These are used when something is still impressive, but maybe not quite as flawless. It’s a tiered approach to praise — "she chewed" is close, but not quite the perfect "ate," and "she nibbled" signals that it was good, but there’s room for more.

Bop

Remember when "bop" used to refer to a catchy song? Well, in recent years, the word has taken on a very different meaning. Bop can also refer to a promiscuous person with multiple sexual partners, someone who posts their body online for views, or imply a sexual act, often linked to casual or performative sexuality. While the term is often viewed as a derogatory way to shame young women — think of "bop" as Gen Z and Gen Alpha's version of "slut" — it's also used within the sex work community.

This meaning was revitalized and adapted by online sex workers on platforms like camgirl sites and OnlyFans, who use bop as part of "algospeak," or a strategy to bypass content moderation and platform restrictions. The term’s popularity surged even more with the rise of the Bop House, a viral content house made up of OnlyFans creators that helped cement bop as a coded term within digital sex work culture.

Mewing

Mewing, a technique originally linked to reshaping your jawline by positioning your tongue in a certain way, has been floating around the internet for a while now, particularly in DIY beauty and wellness circles. But in 2025, it's taken on a new form. Teenage boys, especially, have turned "mewing" into a reason for not participating in class. Essentially, they're too busy mewing to talk or contribute. It’s become a tongue-in-cheek excuse, allowing them to avoid answering questions or doing any actual work.

This unexpected use of the term shows how internet slang can evolve in unpredictable ways, morphing from a niche beauty trend into a full-blown classroom strategy.

Mogger

Mogger is the term for someone who effortlessly makes others look like background characters simply by standing next to them. It comes from the verb mogging, which means to outshine or overshadow someone in terms of looks. If you’ve ever felt like your glow-up evaporated the moment a ridiculously good-looking friend walked into the room, congratulations: you’ve been mogged.

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A mogger is a person blessed with top-tier genetics, symmetrical features, or a jawline sharp enough to slice through glass. This term floats around in online spaces obsessed with appearance, like "looksmaxxing" (the art of optimizing one’s looks) and mewing (see above).

Gooning

Simply put, "gooning" is a kink centered around extended, often non-orgasmic masturbation that brings the participant into a trance-like state of uninhibited pleasure. While it’s similar to edging in that climax is often delayed or avoided, gooning is less about control and more about losing it. And while the phrase entered internet subcultures over the 2010s and 2020s, its meaning has expanded over time.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: What is gooning?

In the queer community, "gooning" is the word du jour, used both sincerely and ironically to describe ecstatic, over-the-top obsession or emotional surrender, sexual or otherwise. What began as a niche kink term now doubles as cultural shorthand for any kind of intense, exaggerated immersion, whether someone is lost in a thirst trap, spiraling through memes, or watching their favorite show on loop. This layered usage reflects not only the term’s absurdity but also Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s tendency to remix kink language into humor, self-parody, and commentary on overstimulation. As a result, "gooning" exists in multiple registers: a sincere erotic practice, an internet in-joke, and a tongue-in-cheek way to say, I’m losing it — in every sense of the phrase.

6-7

"6-7" is a nonsense catchphrase turned IRL emote, born from the chaotic life cycle of TikTok sounds. The phrase comes from Skrilla's rap track "Doot Doot," where he says "6–7" in a distinct cadence. However, the meme isn't really about the song. TikTok grabbed the sound and immediately rerouted it into basketball edits, especially highlighting 6-foot-7 NBA player LaMelo Ball.

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert struggling to explain '6-7' is a fun watch

From there, the meme took on a life of its own. The most influential version features a kid at a basketball game using the "6-7" lyric as an emote — an up-and-down bouncing hand motion performed purely for fun, the way a video game character might dance or taunt. That motion quickly became the default "6-7" gesture offline.

What does it actually mean? In short: nothing. "6-7" is pure silliness, a filler phrase with no literal definition, divorced from its origins and repeated simply because it feels good to say. Kids use it to be goofy, to match the vibe of the sound, or because someone nearby said the number six or seven, and that’s close enough to justify doing the gesture. It’s the kind of phrase TikTok takes from music to memes to mimicry in record time, turning nonsense into shared language overnight.

W

"W" is internet shorthand for a win — literally. It's used to celebrate a moment, opinion, or action that feels like a victory, whether major or petty. Calling something a "W" or commenting "W take" signals approval and alignment, the digital equivalent of giving someone a trophy for their stance.

Its counterpart is "L," meaning loss. Though rooted in sports and gaming culture, "W" has fully crossed into meme speak and stan spaces, where it’s used both sincerely ("Huge W for her") and sarcastically ("W job, bestie," typed when someone obviously fumbled). The tone depends on context, delivery, and how chronically online the participants are.

Lock in

To "lock in" means to focus with absolute intensity — no distractions, no messing around, full commitment.

The phrase picked up momentum in gaming and sports circles, where teammates urge each other to lock in before high-stakes moments. But in 2025 internet slang, it's used more broadly to hype up friends before anything requiring energy or determination, such as meeting a deadline, shooting a thirst-trap, going to the gym, or even committing to a bit in a group chat.

Someone who is locked in is tuned in, disciplined, and fully embracing the task. Because of its overuse in meme culture, it’s also frequently deployed ironically ("Time to clean my kitchen. I’m locked IN").

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you think outside the box a bit.

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. 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: 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: Catching your breath

• Green: Where buckets can be found

• Blue: Same first name

• Purple: Sounds similar

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A pause for recovery

• Green: Parts of a basketball hoop

• Blue: Jordans

• Purple: Homophones of NBA players

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 #456 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A pause for recovery - BREAK, BREATHER, RESPITE, REST

• Parts of a basketball hoop - BASE, GLASS, NET, RIM

• Jordans - CHILES, LOVE, POOLE, SPIETH

• Homophones of NBA players - BARNS, FLAG, HEART, QUICKLY

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

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

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

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

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

Released in August 2025, 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 December 23, 2025

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 December 23, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 23 Pips

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 23 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this red space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 23 Pips

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

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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 Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025:

AcrossS, as in shaker

• The answer is Salt.

Cawing bird

• The answer is Crow.

___ shrimp (oxymoron)

• The answer is Jumbo.

Most common instrument in New York Times crosswords, with over 800 appearances

• The answer is Oboe.

Units of corn

• The answer is Ears.

DownKind of gear for diving

• The answer is Scuba.

Knight's protection

• The answer is Armor.

Brain sections

• The answer is Lobes.

Number of teeth for Goofy

• The answer is Two.

Presidential first name of the 2020s

• The answer is Joe.

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.

In Apple TV’s Pluribus, a faint radio signal from deep space reshapes humanity, and the source, astronomers learn, is Kepler-22b, a world that exists far beyond our solar system. 

During episode 8, Carol and Zosia look for its star through a telescope. 

"I’m not sure I’m looking in the right spot," Carol says. "I mean, I see the Swan, I think."

After getting her bearings — and Zosia eliminating the light pollution by turning off all the lights — Carol announces she sees the star, Kepler-22. 

"And the planet, which you can’t see, is Kepler-22b. That’s our name for it. We have no idea what they call it," Zosia says. "Sometimes we close our eyes and try to picture it."

For fans wondering how much science sits behind the fiction, the answer is more than you might think. But what we actually know about this real exoplanet is far less than scientists would like. (We don't have a hive mind working it.)

SEE ALSO: NASA's Hubble saw fledgling planets colliding around a nearby star Is Kepler-22b a real planet?

NASA discovered Kepler-22b in 2009 using data from its namesake, the Kepler Space Telescope, a mission designed to look for planets around other stars. Other observatories were used to confirm the findings in 2011. 

But Kepler did not grab a photo of the planet. Instead, it watched for tiny dips in a star’s brightness. When a planet crosses in front of its star, it blocks a small amount of light. Catch that dimming a few times at regular intervals, and astronomers can validate the existence of a planet. This is called the "transit method" of planet detection, but you can think of it as watching for cosmic blinks.

"Fortune smiled upon us with the detection of this planet," said William Borucki, who led the team that discovered Kepler-22b, in a statement back then. "The first transit was captured just three days after we declared the spacecraft operationally ready. We witnessed the defining third transit over the 2010 holiday season."

Kepler-22b sits within its star's habitable zone, where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. Credit: NASA / Ames / JPL-Caltech infographic Does Kepler-22b have air and water?

Kepler-22b orbits a star similar to the sun, though it's slightly smaller and cooler. One full trip around that G-type star takes about 290 days — close to Earth’s year. That timing matters, because it places Kepler-22b in what many scientists call the "habitable zone." This is the region around a star where temperatures could allow water to exist on a planet's surface in liquid form, assuming the world has the right kind of atmosphere. Liquid water matters because every form of life people know about depends on it.

That detail helped fuel news headlines calling Kepler-22b a "new Earth" or "Earth's twin" more than a decade ago. But the reality is more complicated.

Kepler-22b is bigger than Earth. Its radius is roughly two times larger. For now, that puts it in a category scientists call a "super-Earth." The name sounds dramatic, but it only means "bigger than Earth, smaller than Neptune." And, no, it's not necessarily a souped-up version of home.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Is Kepler-22b a rocky world like Earth?

In fact, scientists don't know what Kepler-22b is made of. It could be rocky, like Earth. It could be covered by an ocean. Or it could resemble a mini-version of Neptune, wrapped in thick gas with no solid surface at all (although, truth be told, we might not even know Neptune's makeup, as Mashable recently reported). All of those possibilities fit the measurements astronomers can make so far.

Its temperature is also uncertain. Models suggest that if Kepler-22b had an atmosphere similar to Earth’s, its surface could be around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. But atmospheres trap heat differently. A thicker atmosphere like Venus' could make the planet much hotter, causing liquid to evaporate, while a thinner one like Mars' could leave it frigid. 

What makes Kepler-22b special?

What Kepler-22b does represent is a milestone. It was the first confirmed planet squarely inside the habitable zone of a sun-like star. Its discovery showed that planets close to Earth’s size, on Earth-like orbits, are not impossible to find. Kepler went on to identify thousands more candidates, many smaller and cooler than the early finds.

Apple TV's "Pluribus" spotlights Kepler-22b, a real habitable-zone exoplanet discovered by NASA that remains a scientific mystery. Credit: Apple TV Can a spacecraft visit Kepler-22b?

Pluribus imagines Kepler-22b as an ocean world that sends a gift to humanity through radio waves. In real life, no such signals have arrived, no RNA instructions lurk in the static, and no shared consciousness has helped engineers build a faster-than-light-speed spacecraft. 

The planet's extreme distance from Earth adds a hard limit. Kepler-22b sits about 640 light-years away. At highway speeds of 60 mph, a road trip there would take about 7 billion years. Even the Voyager 1 spacecraft, zooming through interstellar space at 38,000 mph right now, would take 11 million years to get there. 

That's at least one way the show remains loyal to the astronomical facts. Carol asks what the "people" there are like. 

"We’ll probably never learn the first thing about them," Zosia says. "They’re too far away." 

The year of slop and rage bait is coming to a close, and some singles would surely use those words to describe dating in 2025, as well. 

Mid-year, daters told Mashable they're tired of dating apps and want to meet people in person, but they didn't know how. Meanwhile, others used AI to date for them, or they chose to meet and "marry" an AI instead.

SEE ALSO: Tinder's predictions for dating in 2026

With such a whirlwind year, we've picked the five ways that dating changed in 2025 — maybe (excuse the Wicked reference) for good.

AI infiltrates dating

Dating apps began utilizing AI before this year, but in 2025, AI-driven features took off. Despite Mashable asking back in February if AI can save dating apps — and noting the cons — apps continue to invest in such features. Tinder announced in its latest earnings call that it's testing an AI matchmaker called Chemistry, while Hinge launched AI-powered conversation starters in December. The founder of Hinge even announced that he's stepping away from the app to launch an AI dating service called Overtone. 

Daters themselves are also leaning into the AI boom. Match found that 300 percent more singles use AI to date in 2025 than in 2024. And Hinge recently reported that while its daters are longing for deeper connections, some are using the tech to find a partner, too. 

SEE ALSO: AI will play an even bigger role in our love lives in 2026, experts say

Don't think that AI usage stops when you do find that special someone: Some engaged couples are now using ChatGPT to plan their weddings. 

And that's if they're marrying a human. This year, we've seen an increase in people in relationships with chatbots themselves. According to one survey (by an AI company, so take it with a grain of salt), eight in 10 people in Gen Z would marry an AI. 

We fell out of love with the apps 

You're not imagining it: dating apps have lost their sparkle this past year. Seventy-eight percent of all dating app users reported feeling burnt out by the apps, according to a 2025 Forbes Health report. Dating apps are losing users, with Ofcom figures showing a gradual decline in users across all the main apps, with a particular decrease in female usership. And is it any wonder why? As a dating app user, they feel dead. You spend so much time swiping for very few matches, none of whom seem to want to engage in any kind of conversation. It feels like a waste of time. 

This year saw the explosion of "offline dating," formerly known as just "dating" for those old enough to remember a world before swiping. As people fell out of love with the apps, they decided to take things outside (literally) and put themselves out there in the real world. People flocked to singles' events at bars, bookshops, run clubs, art schools, even sandwich shops. Bye bye dating apps, hello rom-com worthy meet-cutes and wholesome IRL encounters.

Boyfriends are officially out 

Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? It certainly seems to be, according to the viral British Vogue essay by Chanté Joseph, which interrogates whether it's now deeply uncool, nay "culturally loser-ish," to post about your boyfriend on main. Posting a pic of your boyfriend with the caption "boy did good"? Dead. Not just dead, but outright loser behaviour. 

What's going on? Well, women are decentering relationships from their lives. We're romanticising our friendships, centering joy, celebrating girlhood, healing our inner child, attempting to unlearn the male gaze, and becoming more self-actualised. Being single is a symbol of strength, independence, self-fulfilment. Relationships no longer hold the social capital they once did. There's simply more interesting stuff going on! 

SEE ALSO: I haven't had a boyfriend for a decade. Here's what I've learned. More surveillance by governments — and each other

2025 brought more age-verification laws around the globe. These laws typically require inputting personal data, such as a government-issued ID or a facial scan, into a website containing material that governments deem to be intended for adults. 

Dating apps are no exception. Earlier this year, several major apps like Hinge and Tinder told Mashable they'd require age checks due to the UK's age-verification law, the Online Safety Act. Tinder has taken it a step further by requiring a facial scan for all new users in the United States, following a trial in California. 

As dating apps grapple with security issues — such as bad actors and spam accounts — they're tightening restrictions on who can join, and the information required to swipe.

Surveillance is also increasingly occurring amongst daters themselves. Private Facebook groups like "Are We Dating the Same Guy?" continue to grow (and even face legal action, though a lawsuit about these groups was dismissed earlier this year), while a major controversy among singles this year was the leak of the Tea app. On Tea, women posted their experiences with certain men (similar to Are We Dating the Same Guy), and a major cyberattack exposed people's photos and IDs. 

As Tom Stroud wrote for Mashable, these spaces have "ushered in a new era of dating with receipts."

Cost of living hits our love lives more than ever

The cost of living has risen globally in the past few years. In the U.S., tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have also instilled a fear of rising prices, and that fear is coming to pass in some cases.

Wages aren't keeping up, and we're entering a grueling job market where recent graduates may be being replaced by AI. The result is that people, especially young adults, have less discretionary income.

No doubt this impacts dating. Mashable has been covering this phenomenon of cost of living impacting relationships for years now, but in 2025, it became starker than ever. In September, 28 percent of men said they'd rather date an AI than be single due to the cost of dating. 

TL;DR: Treat yourself to the gift of relief — get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $49.97 (reg. $219) and say goodbye to subscriptions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $49.97
$219 Save $169.03   Get Deal

Between streaming, fitness, and every productivity app under the sun, monthly fees add up fast. That’s why Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac stands out: pay $49.97 just once, and you’ll own a lifetime license with the full suite of everyday Office tools.

Here’s what’s included: Word for polished documents, Excel for number-crunching, PowerPoint for presentations that don’t put your audience to sleep, Outlook for wrangling email and calendars, Teams (basic) for collaboration, and OneNote for all the scribbles and ideas you’d otherwise lose on sticky notes. It’s everything most Mac users need day-to-day, and it’s the Home & Business edition — meaning it works just as well for freelancers and small teams as it does for students or families.

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Setup is painless, too. The code ties directly to your Microsoft account (not your device), so you’re good to go once redeemed. Download links and license keys hit your inbox instantly, and you’re up and running without any confusing hoops. Plus, you’ll stay compatible with macOS 13, 14, and 15 with updates included.

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of ending a never-ending payment cycle — get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Mac for a one-time payment of $49.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This exclusive StackSocial deal gets you lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for $159 with promo code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
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If picking up a new language — or a whole collection of them — has been on your mind, now’s the moment to dive in. For a limited time, StackSocial is offering Babbel Language Learning (all languages) as a lifetime deal, letting you unlock every course for far less than usual. A single $159 payment (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN gives you access forever, no renewals required.

Unlike no-name apps that promise fluency without substance, Babbel was developed by over 100 expert linguists and backed by researchers from Yale University. It’s designed to help you actually speak a new language with confidence — whether you’re prepping for a trip abroad, connecting with family, or hoping to boost your career.

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You’ll get access to 14 languages and 10,000+ hours of high-quality content. Lessons are short and made to fit into even packed schedules — just 10 to 15 minutes — and available on desktop or mobile, with progress synced across devices. You can even download lessons to practice offline, whether that’s on a flight or in a Wi-Fi dead zone on the subway.

Here’s part of what makes Babbel a standout:

• Real conversations: Lessons focus on practical topics like dining, shopping, transportation, and more.

• Speech recognition: Built-in tools help you perfect pronunciation and avoid awkward slip-ups.

• Personalized learning: Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, you’ll find lessons that match your level.

• Expert design: A proven method that emphasizes conversational skills over rote memorization.

And with lifetime access, you’re free to hone in on one language or explore all fourteen — on your schedule, forever.

Pick up a lifetime Babbel Language Learning access for $159 (reg. $646.20) with this limited-time exclusive offer from StackSocial using code LEARN for a limited time.

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Anyone hunting for a last-minute holiday gift for the tech-savvy person on your list — or if you’re simply ready to level up your own digital life — Internxt’s 100TB Lifetime Cloud Storage Plan for $974.97 (reg. $9,900) is one of those rare, practical splurges that keeps paying off for years.

Internxt takes a different approach to cloud storage: everything is private by design, open-source, and end-to-end encrypted. Your files aren’t just stored — they’re split into encrypted fragments so no unintended party can ever read them.

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With zero-knowledge architecture, even Internxt can’t view your data. That’s a reassuring upgrade in a world where your digital footprint keeps getting bigger.

Across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and any browser, you can store, sync, and share files instantly. Photos, videos, work archives, creative projects, multi-gig backups — it all fits comfortably inside 100TB. And because Internxt now uses post-quantum encryption, your storage is designed to withstand tomorrow’s computing power, not just today’s.

This plan shines especially for photographers managing giant RAW libraries, remote workers juggling massive project folders, families backing up years of memories, and anyone who’s tired of juggling subscriptions and running out of space.

The interface is clean and intuitive, sharing is simple, and performance stays lightning-fast thanks to Internxt’s optimized infrastructure.

Whether you’re gifting peace of mind to someone else — or finally giving it to yourself — 100TB of lifetime, fully private cloud storage is a seriously thoughtful upgrade for the new year and beyond. Get Internxt’s 100TB of cloud storage for life with a single $974.97 payment (reg. $9,900) for the holidays.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you felt like you needed more Seth Meyers and Sabrina Carpenter after watching that Day Drinking episode, there's good news.

On Monday, Late Night released seven minutes of bonus footage, which includes an innuendo-based game, some song-themed cocktails, and plenty more alcohol-fuelled giggling.

Get these two their own podcast already.

ChatGPT is giving your chatbot conversations the Spotify Wrapped treatment, launching personalised end-of-year recap Your Year with ChatGPT. In the spirit of the holidays, perhaps this is a good opportunity to reflect on your AI use.

What is Your Year with ChatGPT?

Launched today, Your Year with ChatGPT is a personalised summary of how you've used the generative AI chatbot throughout the past year. This includes statistics such as the number of messages sent, chats you've had, images generated, and "em-dashes exchanged."

Similarly to Spotify Wrapped's clubs, Your Year with ChatGPT also gives out "awards" determined by your behaviour. These vary depending upon what you primarily used ChatGPT for, whether it was to brainstorm business ideas, generate images, or for any other purpose. Some users are already sharing their superlatives such as "Most Likely to Automate His Entire Personality" and "Most Likely to Automate His Own Thought Process." There's a lot to unpack there.

Your Year with ChatGPT's wrap up also features an AI-generated poem and comes illustrated by AI-generated images, including a pixel graphic based on your interests. Just as with other end-of-year wrap ups, these graphics are intended to be saved and shared, helping you tell everyone exactly how much you relied on AI in 2025.

How to get Your Year with ChatGPT This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

To see Your Year with ChatGPT, either access ChatGPT in your web browser, or open the ChatGPT app on Android or iOS (first ensuring that it's up to date). From there, you should see Your Year with ChatGPT prominently promoted on the home page, which you can select to see your summary. OpenAI states that you can also just ask ChatGPT to "show me my year with ChatGPT" in the same way you would make any other request of the AI chatbot. 

Of course, Year with ChatGPT does require you to have used the chatbot enough that there is actually data to collate. Users must also have "reference saved memory" and "reference chat history" turned on in their ChatGPT settings.

Your Year with ChatGPT is available to free users as well as those with a Plus or Pro subscription, though not everywhere. The feature is only being rolled out to users in the US, U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

OpenAI states that it will be rolling out Your Year with ChatGPT throughout the day, so if you don't see yours yet you may simply need to check back later.

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

It's been six months since I reviewed the Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE), an LCD computer screen that convinced me to give up my search for an OLED upgrade.

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

To express oneself.

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

EMOTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An EMT.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MEDIC

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pastry chef.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BAKER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Liquified.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 23 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PUREE

Final Hurdle hint

To switch.

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

PIVOT

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