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Having spent time both in front of and behind the camera, Kelsey Impicciche has long perfected her content creation set-up.

The gamer and YouTube creator has amassed a following that numbers in the millions, having spent the past 12 years posting videos of herself playing The Sims, Animal Crossing, and more life simulator games to her channel under the handle @kelseydangerous.

SEE ALSO: How Kelsey Impicciche turned a viral 'Sims' video into 1 million YouTube subscribers

Impicciche also worked at BuzzFeed for several years, where her breakout video on BuzzFeed's Multiplayer channel, "Single Girl Tries The 100 Baby Challenge In The Sims 4," has garnered 24 million views since it debuted in 2018. This past year, she added "author" to her resume thanks to the 2026 release of her debut novel, The Voice of the Ocean.

Impicciche's dreamy set-up includes two Alienware monitors. Credit: Kelsey Impicciche To record audio, she uses a Shure mic pluged into a Zoom H6 audio recorder. Credit: Kelsey Impicciche

While she may have her go-to filming and streaming set-up now, that wasn't always the case.

"You don't have to know it perfect at the beginning. You learn by doing," says Impicciche.

Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/Amazon/Kelsey Impicciche

We chatted with Impicciche at BookCon to get a full rundown on her filming essentials, including the tech that can handle the heft of all her gaming needs.

Cyberpower PCs and Alienware monitors Opens in a new window Credit: Cyberpower PC Cyberpower PC From $903 Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware Gaming Monitor $349.99 at Dell
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Before cameras, mics, and lights even come into the picture, Impicciche needs a PC.

"I need one that can handle The Sims, because it's a huge game," says Impicciche.

She uses two Cyberpower PC towers, which she mentions can be custom built online (her specific models are no longer available.) Also crucial to her streaming endeavors are Elgato capture cards.

For monitors, Impicciche uses two Alienware monitors, one standard and one curved.

Wired headphones Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud III Headphones $79.99 at Best Buy
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For simultaneously filming and gaming, a good pair of headphones is essential. Impicciche likes both the HyperX Cloud and Logitech G735 headphones.

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Whether she's streaming or filming, Impicciche uses the Canon C100 with a 24-70mm lens.

"This camera connects directly to my PC using another Elgato capture card and it's HDMI output," says Impicciche.

The C100 is no longer sold new, but it remains a widely beloved video camera and can be purchased used.

Zoom recorder and Shure SM7B Microphone Opens in a new window Credit: Zoom Zoom H6 Essential Handheld Recorder $329.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Shure Shure SM7B Microphone $395 at Amazon
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Impicciche's audio set-up includes a Shure SM7B microphone and a Zoom H6 audio recorder.

"My microphone is on a splitter so it feeds into the Zoom H6 for recording sound for video, but it also feeds into my audio mixer so I can use it for streaming."

Her audio mixer also connects to her streaming PC so she can adjust the sound of her game, personal audio, and music all on the same device. Currently, she uses the TC-Helicon GoXLR but wouldn't recommend it as the company is no longer supporting updates on the tech.

She also keeps a back-up microphone attached to her camera on the off chance her main microphone runs out of storage.

Elgato lights Opens in a new window Credit: Elgato Elgato Key Lights $359.98 at B&H Photo and Video
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Lighting is crucial for all content creators. While Impicciche thinks the best light for filming any type of content is a window with really good natural light, sometimes you have to fake it. For filming for YouTube or streaming, her set-up includes two key lights from Elgato.

Rode mic Opens in a new window Credit: Rode Rode VideoMic Me-C+ $79
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Not all of Impicciche's content requires the full set-up. For filming TikTok content, she gets it done with her iPhone and a Rode mic. The Rode VideoMic Me-C+ plugs directly into her phone so she doesn't have to worry about connecting wireless mics on the go.

The Milky Way's core doesn't look like the ancient stellar graveyard many astronomers once thought it was.

At the heart of a massive new survey from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are mapping one of the most crowded regions in our galaxy. Early results from the project may help address a long-running debate about the age of the Milky Way's central bulge — the tightly packed region of space surrounding the galaxy's core.

For decades, many astronomers treated the bulge as a relic from the Milky Way's earliest years. Previous studies of star brightness and color placed most of its formation around 10 billion years ago. By comparison, our solar system formed just 4.6 billion years ago.

But newer research has complicated that picture. Some studies suggest a noticeable share of stars near the galactic center may be much younger — perhaps only 5 billion to 8 billion years old. If true, that would mean the Milky Way kept developing its central region far later than some scientists had ever imagined. If astronomers can determine when the bulge's stars formed, they can reconstruct how the galaxy itself grew and changed over time.

The Hubble survey will build a catalog of 20 to 30 million objects in this dense region, said Sean Terry, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The team has published a paper on the Hubble survey in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

SEE ALSO: 5 times NASA astronauts pop up in Trump's newly released UFO files

Researchers designed the Hubble program to support the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will search the same region for planets using gravitational microlensing, a technique that detects distant objects by measuring how their gravity bends and brightens starlight. The Roman mission could launch as early as this fall. 

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"The main goal of these observations is to be able to identify objects that participate in lensing events during the Roman survey, catching them before they undergo the lensing event," said Jay Anderson, a co-author based at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, in a statement. "When, in a couple of years, an event happens during Roman's long stare at the field, we can go back and say, 'This was a red star, this was a blue star, and the event happened when the red star went in front of the blue star.'"

But the Hubble survey also stands on its own. It delivers one of the sharpest wide-area views ever captured of the Milky Way's crowded core, where dust clouds block much of the light and stars are so tightly packed that their images often overlap. By distinguishing those stars more cleanly, the survey allows astronomers to assemble a consistent catalog across 354 fields near the galactic center. 

Even so, conditions vary sharply throughout the region. In some fields, astronomers match thousands of stars to measurements from the Gaia spacecraft, a mission that tracked star positions and their motion across the sky. In others, dense dust blots out so much light that only a few hundred stars appear clearly enough for comparison.

The variation itself helps map the inner galaxy. It shows where dust obscures the view and where starlight passes through more easily. While Hubble sharpens the view of crowded stars, it cannot remove the effects of dust. That means there are still some patchy areas of the Milky Way's interior.

The Hubble Space Telescope reveals the Milky Way's crowded core in this 2018 image of the galactic bulge. Credit: NASA / ESA / Thomas Brown

Researchers expect future work from the survey to produce detailed maps of the interstellar dust in the galactic center, showing where starlight is blocked and where it shines. That will help astronomers trace how stars are distributed.

The Roman telescope will repeatedly monitor the same region and track changes in how stars move and brighten over time across millions of objects. By collecting Hubble images years earlier, astronomers effectively created a "before" snapshot of the galactic bulge.

That long time gap could help scientists measure how fast stars drift across the sky with unusual precision. It may also help them identify faint or otherwise hidden objects through their gravitational effects.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Voibe for $49.99 (reg. $199) and turn your voice into text with fast, offline AI dictation

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Typing all day can drain your momentum, especially when you’re going from emails, notes, feedback, and long-form drafts. Ever wish your ideas could hit the screen as fast as you think them? That’s where Voibe comes in.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Voibe is on sale for $49.99, down from $199, giving you a 75% discount.

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Voibe is a Mac dictation app powered by OpenAI’s latest Whisper model, transcribing speech into text with impressive speed. Unlike cloud-based tools, everything happens locally, so your recordings won’t leave your device. That means less lag and more privacy, with words appearing almost as soon as you speak them.

Optimized for Apple Silicon Macs, Voibe works in nearly any app where you can place a cursor. The workflow is refreshing and simple: hold a key, speak, and release when you’re done. It also recognizes accents, conversational language, and technical jargon, making it a welcome change for anyone who found older dictation tools stubborn or “blah.”

Voibe claims users can type up to three times faster with voice dictation, which may appeal to writers, marketers, students, remote workers, or anyone handling text-heavy tasks throughout the day. It can also make prompting tools like ChatGPT or Claude feel more natural by letting you speak detailed ideas instead of typing them manually.

Another advantage is reliability. Since Voibe doesn’t require an internet connection, it keeps working even when Wi-Fi is unreliable or unavailable — useful for travel, coffee shop work sessions, or staying focused without browser distractions.

If faster note-taking or easier voice-to-text situations sound useful to you, the Voibe lifetime subscription is currently available for $49.99 (reg. $199) while the deal lasts.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Back in July 2025, when The Late Show was unceremoniously canceled, the end of an era of television that started in 1993 with David Letterman still seemed a long way away.

But now, quite suddenly, the time has come. The Late Show ends this month. Stephen Colbert will no longer be a daily late night staple, and — aside from co-writing a new Lord of the Rings movie — we don't yet know what the host plans to do next.

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So when exactly does The Late Show finish, and how much do we know about what the final episodes have in store?

SEE ALSO: John Krasinski's interview with Stephen Colbert is a wild ride When is Stephen Colbert's last Late Show?

The final episode of The Late Show will air on Thursday, May 21, Colbert confirmed to fellow late night show host Seth Meyers earlier this year. At the time of writing, that means we have just two weeks of shows left.

It's worth noting that this isn't just a case of Colbert himself leaving and being replaced, either — the entire Late Show is coming to an end.

SEE ALSO: Here's what all the late night hosts said about Stephen Colbert and 'The Late Show' being cancelled How to watch the final Late Show episode?

The final episode will air at the usual time of 11:35 p.m. EST live on CBS. As always, for anyone who doesn't have CBS, videos from the show will be available on the official Late Show YouTube channel.

Which guests will be appearing?

We don't yet know which guests will be appearing in the final week of The Late Show (we'll update this article when we know more), but the lineup for the penultimate week has been revealed in a press release sent to Mashable. We've shared the full guest list below:

Monday, May 11

• The hosts of Strike Force Five – Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver

• A special Broadway performance featuring Annaleigh Ashford, Christopher Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Ben Platt, and Patrick Wilson

Tuesday, May 12

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus

• Pedro Pascal

Wednesday, May 13

• President Barack Obama takes “The Colbert Questionert”

• Tom Hanks

Thursday, May 14

• David Letterman

• Performance by The Strokes

Why is The Late Show being canceled again?

During an episode of The Late Show in July 2025, Stephen Colbert announced the show's cancelation, to a shocked reaction from the studio audience. Given that Colbert had just called out his own network for paying a $16 million settlement to Donald Trump, calling it a "big fat bribe", the timing seemed suspicious. But in a statement, CBS claimed the show was being axed for financial reasons.

"This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," CBS executives wrote. "It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount."

Needless to say, many — including some of Colbert's fellow late night hosts — didn't buy it, with critics pointing to the fact that CBS' parent company Paramount needed the Trump administration's approval for a proposed merger with Skydance at the time — and the U.S. president openly hates late night hosts who criticize him.

Many of us are trying to cut down on screentime. We’re Bricking our phones and re-learning how to be present, instead of mindlessly scrolling. But for most of us, streaming a classic movie, diving into a documentary, or rewatching a comfort show is not part of the digital detox. For that reason, we’re still (heavily) relying on a TV. But these days, you’re not tethered to a rectangular screen mounted to the wall. We have excellent projectors that offer awe-inducing displays. Most projectors also come with the benefit of being portable or at least easier to move with or pack along to a friend’s house. 

Hisense makes some of the best TVs for those who are looking for an ideal combination of quality at an affordable price. The brand’s lineup of projectors has grown in both numbers and impressive stats in the last handful of years. I’ll admit, after testing the Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector, I don’t think I can go back to a non-laser projector, let alone a TV. The display quality, portability, gigantic 200-inch display, and brightness in daylight have me smitten. Of course, it’s not perfect, but I’ll be hosting movie nights from now on because no one I know has the tech to replicate this experience.

SEE ALSO: Ending soon: Rate your favorite audio brands for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card Highlights on the Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector

When shopping for a projector, you’ll notice two options: laser and non-laser. The non-laser versions tend to be cheaper and modern models use LED technology. But if you’re seeking the sharpest display and the best color brightness, a laser projector is the way to go. The Hisense M2 Pro has a 4K display with a triple-laser RGB (red, green, blue) light source.

It's pretty cute for its power. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I tested the Hisense M2 Pro projector for months, in conjunction with a 100-inch Elite Screens manual pull-down projector screen. And yes, I did feel like a school teacher starting a lesson every time I unfurled it. However, if you don’t have a projector screen or a white sheet, Hisense says you’re still in good shape. The projector is designed to adapt to the projection surface, make color corrections, and still be able to produce accurate color reproductions. You might even be able to simply use your living room wall instead of messing around with a screen.

For those who like deeper details, here are some noteworthy specs of the Hisense M2 Pro 4K projector:

Specs:

• Size: 7.6 in.  x 8.6 in. x 9.1 in.

• Weight: 8.6 pounds

• Rated brightness: 1,300 ANSI lumens

• Light source: R+G+B triple laser

• Laser life: 25,000 hours

• Warranty: 1 year limited warranty

A gaming-worthy projector

Have you ever raced on Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road on a 200-inch display? I hadn’t either until testing the Hisense M2 Pro. Let me tell you about how much fun it is to have a Friday night four-person Mario party at 200 inches.

Reaching a 240Hz refresh rate and a low input lag of 12 milliseconds, gaming is awesome on the Hisense M2 Pro projector. For reference, you want at least a 120Hz refresh rate for a gaming-worthy TV, so the Hisense M2 Pro’s 240Hz is well above that threshold. 

The Hisense M2 Pro is not afraid of daylight

A common disadvantage of a projector over a TV is that projectors can struggle to produce a display that’s bright enough to view in daylight. Some projectors require you to draw the shades, pull blackout curtains over the windows, and turn off the lights. The Hisense M2 Pro is not one of those models. In testing, I was easily able to watch shows at 2 p.m. when I definitely should have been doing something more productive. 

The back-lit remote with quick access to focus is clutch. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The M2 Pro has a brightness rating of 1,300 ANSI lumens, and while there are brighter models on the market, I was never let down by the M2 Pro during daytime viewing. However, since my testing took place primarily in the winter months, it might not be the best picture for bright summer days, especially if watching something fast-paced like a soccer game.

You (and your projector) can get an invite to every movie night and binge session

The Hisense M2 Pro has a major focus on versatility that makes it suitable for tons of situations. It weighs a bit under nine pounds, so it’s no problem to carry it from room to room. It also comes packed into a cute little carrying case with a handle. Even when I was moving the projector from the basement up the stairs to the living room, I packed it into the carrying case, which not only adds to convenience but also adds protection. I’ve fallen walking up those stairs enough times to not find it wise to carry an unprotected projector in my hands. The lightweight nature paired with a case makes the Hisense M2 Pro an ideal model for taking over to a friend's house, packing along for the summer cottage trip, or taking outside for a movie night.

All packed up and ready to go. Credit: Lauren Allain The power brick, remote, and projector all nestle into their respective areas for safer transportation. Credit: Lauren Allain

The projector comes with Hisense’s Smart TV system, Vidaa OS, already installed, so your apps are nicely organized. If you don’t like that option, you could connect a Google Streamer or Fire TV Stick to the HDMI port. There’s also a USB-A port, should you have movies or shows on a thumb drive.

The only small non-travel-friendly element I found when testing the Hisense M2 Pro is its power supply. Instead of using a standard USB-C cable for charging, it uses a power brick with a 19V power supply. You’ll have to pack that along for powering up the projector since there’s no built-in battery on the Hisense M2 Pro.

Oboard sound is impressive for a portable projector

Like many TVs, sound quality has been an issue with portable projectors. It often leads to a mismatched viewing experience where the display is massive in size and impressive in quality, while the onboard sound is pretty terrible. In my testing experience, I’ve almost always connected a projector to a secondary sound source, mostly my beloved Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross. But that wasn’t totally necessary with the Hisense M2 Pro. Its built-in dual 10-watt speakers have support for Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X, and the overall sound is not bad at all.

Port options include an HDMI, USB-A, and DC in. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

You can also use the M2 Pro in Music Sharing mode, which essentially turns the projector into a Bluetooth speaker, pairing with a device to pump out the tunes. It’s not the best Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever heard, but it gets the job done without complaints.

Is the Hisense M2 Pro projector worth it?

I’d recommend the Hisense M2 Pro projector for anyone looking to break it off with a standard TV and go with a projector. The 4K triple laser display is excellent, the built-in stand is convenient, and the onboard speaker is decent enough that you’re not forced to connect to an external sound system.

It takes a bit to get used to the auto-focus and keystoning process, but that’s a minor adjustment. The tradeoff of gaining the ability to have a 65-inch display in a bedroom or a 200-inch display in the backyard is well worth it. Plus, the $1,300 price tag is competitive for a laser 4K projector. However, this isn’t the right model if you don’t have space to project a display of at least 65 inches. Any smaller and you’ll end up with a blurred display.

Hisense M2 Pro 4K Triple Laser Smart Portable Projector $1,099.99 at Amazon
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OpenAI has launched Daybreak, a cyber defense suite of tools that uses the intelligence of the company's LLMs to find and remedy software vulnerabilities.

The company hasn't freely released the tools to everyone; instead, it'll be "working with (...) industry and government partners" as it prepares to deploy "increasingly more cyber-capable models" in the future.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today.

According to OpenAI, Daybreak combines the intelligence of OpenAI models (in particular, the new GPT-5.5) with the extensibility of Codex (OpenAI's coding tool). Partners can use Daybreak for "secure code review, threat modeling, patch validation, dependency risk analysis, detection, and remediation guidance."

Three models are offered at this time. The default GPT-5.5 model can be used for general purpose work. GPT-5.5 with Trusted Access For Cyber is for "most defensive security workflows," which includes secure code review, malware analysis, and patch validation. Finally, GPT-5.5-Cyber can be used for authorized red teaming, penetration testing, and controlled validation.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT 5.5 Instant as the new default model for everyone

If this sounds familiar, you're thinking of Anthropic's Project Glasswing initiative and Mythos, an AI that's so good at finding software vulnerabilities that Anthropic has only given access to selected partners.

OpenAI did not publicly disclose pricing for Daybreak; those interested can contact the company's sales team for a quote. Several companies are listed as partners, including Cloudflare, Cisco, Oracle, and Akamai.

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

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, May 12, 2026:

AcrossGerman for "Mrs."

• The answer is Frau.

Small stall at a mall

• The answer is Kiosk.

Bring to mind

• The answer is Evoke.

Surprised exclamations upon seeing mice

• The answer is Eeks.

Dramatic end to a World Cup game, for short

• The answer is PKs.

DownRace that equates to 3.1 miles ... or a hint to one letter's frequent appearance in this grid?

• The answer is Five K.

Chess "castles"

• The answer is Rooks.

Poses a question to

• The answer is Asks.

Hawaiian stringed instrument, informally

• The answer is Uke.

Not go bad

• The answer is Keep.

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 yesterday's Mini Crossword.

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 May 12, 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 May 12, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 12 Pips

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 12 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 12 Pips

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some sports and pop culture knowledge.

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: Not playing well

• Green: A racket

• Blue: OKC core

• Purple: Types of clocks

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Out of Practice

• Green: Parts of a Tennis Racket

• Blue: Members of the Oklahoma City Thunder

• Purple: ___Clock

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 #596 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Out of Practice: COLD, OFF, RUSTY, SLUGGISH

• Parts of a Tennis Racket: BUTT, GRIP, GROMMETS, STRINGS

• Members of the Oklahoma City Thunder: DORT, HOLMGREN, JOE, WALLACE

• ___Clock: GAME, PITCH, PLAY, SHOT

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 yesterday's Connections.

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

Escargot.

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

SNAIL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A stamp.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 12, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

LABEL

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Need to.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 12, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

OUGHT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Amiss.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

AFOOT

Final Hurdle hint

Proportion.

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

RATIO

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

In April, Meta quietly reversed itself after removing an Instagram post honoring older lesbian relationships in Brazil. The excised post was not sexual in nature and did not contain material harmful to minors. The post in question documented a snapshot from a moment in history where lesbians were forced to hide their relationships as "roommates" or "gal pals" and their love was scrubbed from the public record. Nevertheless, Meta removed the content. 

Meta cited its hate speech rules. The Oversight Board later acknowledged what should have been obvious from the start: The Brazil case was an instance of over‑enforcement against a marginalized community, driven by automated systems that could not read context, reclaimed language, or even the full post itself. The content was restored only after outside intervention and advocacy from the LGBTQ+ community.

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This case is now being treated as a narrow content moderation error, but policymakers need to recognize that it signals a clear warning about what happens when lawmakers push platforms to police content instead of fixing design. Across the country, states are rushing to "protect kids online" by restricting access to social media or pressuring companies to remove vaguely defined "harmful" content. But what happened in Brazil shows the human cost of that approach. 

When platforms are incentivized to remove speech quickly and at scale, they do not become better judges of nuance. Social media becomes a blunt instrument, and the first people hit are those whose stories require human context and radical empathy to be understood.

If lawmakers actually want to protect kids, they should stop asking platforms to decide which stories are acceptable and start regulating core design choices that cause harm in the first place, like endless scroll, engagement‑based recommendations, and surveillance‑driven feeds.

SEE ALSO: I had a Grindr sugar daddy for a day. Then he tried to get a refund.

Here’s why that distinction matters, especially for LGBTQ+ kids and other marginalized communities, like neurodivergent kids. LGBTQ+ young people are far more likely than their peers to rely on online spaces to find community, information, and support, often because those things are unavailable or unsafe at home or school. But they are also significantly more likely to end up in unsafe online interactions: harassment, grooming, doxxing, or being pushed into high‑risk spaces they didn’t seek out. 

In Australia, after a social media ban on anyone under 16 was enacted, disability rights advocates noted that autistic youth were cut off from some of the only support and peer networks available to them. 

Recommendation systems don’t understand vulnerability, but they understand engagement. When a queer kid searches for community, platforms often respond by aggressively amplifying whatever keeps them clicking. Usually, this means increasingly sexualized content, adult strangers, extremist rhetoric, or predatory accounts that know exactly how to exploit isolation. 

Infinite scroll makes disengagement much harder for adolescents, according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, even more so for those in vulnerable communities. Algorithmic "friend" or "account" suggestions collapse liminal boundaries between teens and adults. Weak defaults make it difficult to block, mute, or disappear.

Young people, not just LGBTQ+ young people, are exposed to harm online because platforms are built to extract attention, not protect users. Parents are right to be worried and to advocate for change. But a content-based framing misses the real problem. 

The greatest risks kids face online don’t come from a single bad post slipping through moderation, but from automated systems that push content at kids they didn’t ask for, connect them to people they don’t know, and keep them scrolling long after warning signs appear.

Policymakers at both the state and federal levels need to design regulations that address those risks directly. Age‑appropriate design codes don’t tell platforms what speech to allow, but they can tell platforms how to behave. Design codes require safer defaults, like limits on behavioral profiling, stronger blocking tools, reduced amplification of unsolicited recommendations, and guardrails that slow down virality and compulsive use. 

The public should advocate for product refinement, rather than infringement of First and Fourth Amendment rights. Design codes reduce the chance that a curious or lonely kid is algorithmically funneled into danger, like I was, searching for community and nudged toward risk by systems that did not care who I was.

Age‑appropriate design codes offer a way out of this mess. By regulating how platforms are built rather than what people are allowed to say, design code laws reduce harm without turning companies into cultural censors. They don’t require platforms to interpret reclaimed slurs, queer history, or political speech. Companies should instead be required to stop engineering addiction and risk. 

We don’t need more content or platform bans. We need fewer harmful systems. If we’re serious about protecting kids online, especially the ones already most at risk, this case reminds us exactly where to start.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

Lennon Torres is the Movement Director at the Heat Initiative and Founding Partner of The Attention Studio. 

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for $99.97 (reg. $299.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $99.97
$299.99 Save $200.02   Get Deal

Learning to play the piano can seem daunting, especially with traditional lessons not in your budget, scheduling conflicts, and the limitations of free online tutorials. Yet, for aspiring musicians eager to take the first step, a new deal on Skoove Premium Piano Lessons could open the door to a more accessible, rewarding learning experience.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium is on sale for $99.97 (reg. $299.99). That’s a 67% discount through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Skoove is an online learning platform crafted for both beginners and intermediate players, earning recognition from notable outlets such as Apple, Forbes, Wired, and The Guardian. Unlike platforms that depend exclusively on pre-recorded lessons, Skoove integrates AI-driven feedback, actively listening to your playing and offering real-time responses. This feature helps students identify mistakes on the spot, fostering better habits and more effective practice sessions.

The platform includes more than 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos, with new songs and exercises added regularly. You’ll find a mix of genres too, from pop songs by artists like Adele and The Beatles to classical music from composers such as Bach and Beethoven. There are also special courses and access to one-on-one support from Skoove instructors if you need extra guidance.

Flexibility is another hallmark of Skoove’s approach. The platform is compatible with acoustic pianos and USB or MIDI keyboards, and it operates seamlessly across iOS, Android, and desktop devices. Whether you have just 15 minutes to practice after work or prefer to dedicate weekends to developing your skills, Skoove adapts to your lifestyle.

If you’ve been thinking about learning piano but didn’t want to commit to recurring lesson fees, this lifetime subscription could save you money in the long run. You can get Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for $99.97 while the deal lasts through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Aivolut AI Book Creator is on sale for $48.99 (reg. $456) and helps entrepreneurs, coaches, and aspiring authors create KDP-ready books faster.

Opens in a new window Credit: Aivolut Books Aivolut AI Book Creator: Lifetime Subscription $48.99
$456 Save $407.01   Get Deal

Writing a book sounds exciting until you’re staring at a blank page and watching the cursor blink until your eyes glaze over. If you’ve had an idea sitting in your head — or scrawled in a notebook — Aivolut AI Book Creator is designed to help move the book-writing process along much faster.

The lifetime subscription to Aivolut AI Book Creator is currently on sale for $48.99, and it’s a one-time purchase so you don’t have to pay recurring subscription fees.

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The platform is built specifically for people who want to create and publish books without having to utilize multiple writing and formatting tools. Aivolut combines AI-assisted writing with publishing support to help turn rough concepts into structured, coherent manuscripts. Users can start with a topic, outline, or even use the voice dictation feature, then customize the tone, structure, and style while the software helps generate long-form content.

One exceptional feature is its built-in Kindle Direct Publishing support. In addition to producing manuscripts, Aivolut can automatically create Amazon-ready metadata such as descriptions, keywords, and categories, which may save hours of manual setup for self-publishing authors. According to the platform, books can be prepared for Amazon KDP upload in under five minutes.

The software is ideal for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, freelancers, and other professionals looking to write books. It may also appeal to first-time nonfiction authors who want help organizing ideas without outsourcing ghostwriters or editors early in the process.

Another selling point is the program’s flexibility. Instead of locking users into fixed templates, Aivolut lets writers edit tone, blend in their own material, and adjust the structure as they go. You won’ be replacing your voice, the goal is to speed up the outlining, drafting, and formatting process.

If you’ve been putting off writing a book because the process felt too time-consuming, Aivolut AI Book Creator is currently available for $48.99 (reg. $456) for lifetime access.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The latest update for iPhone users, iOS 26.5, is officially here.

The beta version of the update has been available for developers for about a month now, giving iPhone users a pretty good idea of what new features to expect. However, as we've seen with previous iOS updates, features frequently get added or removed by the time the public version launches — so now we know exactly what's news in iOS 26.5.

First things first, iPhone users need to update their device to iOS 26.5. Besides the new features, updating to the latest OS ensures your device is protected with the latest security updates. To upgrade to iOS 26.5, simply go to Settings, then tap General, followed by Software Update. 

Users must have an iPhone 11 or newer in order to download and install iOS 26.5 to their device.

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RCS end-to-end encryption After updating to iOS 26.5, users will see a lock icon appear in RCS chats. Credit: Apple

It's official. After being tested in previous beta versions of iOS but failing to make the final release, encrypted RCS messaging is here.

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is basically the messaging protocol that provides an Apple Messages-like experience when iPhone users and Android users text one another. It enables iPhone and Android devices the ability to send and receive high-quality media as well as view read receipts and typing indicators. 

However, before this update, these messages between iPhone and Android devices were unencrypted, meaning that they could potentially be intercepted and read by unauthorized third parties.

iOS 26.5 finally brings encryption to RCS messaging. It should be noted, though, that even though the feature has made it to the public release of iOS 26.5, encrypted RCS messages are still labeled as a beta feature by Apple. The availability of the feature is also dependent on your mobile carrier as well.

Yes, the green chat bubbles remain.

Apple Maps ads and Suggested Places

Nearly 13 and a half years after Apple launched its very own Maps application, advertisements have made their way to Apple Maps. (As of this writing, the feature is still labeled as "Coming Soon" on the Apple Ads website.)

Businesses will now be able to pay to advertise in the Apple Maps app, much like how app developers can run ads in Apple's App Store. Users will see local ads in the Maps app based on their location.

Ads will also appear in another brand-new Apple Maps feature called Suggested Places.

Apple has been recruiting advertisers for Apple Maps ads. Credit: Apple

While Suggested Places in Apple Maps will provide users with recommendations based on paid ads, it will also produce organic recommendations as well. Suggested Places will show users nearby trending locations, such as restaurants, shops, or tourist destinations, based on their recent search results.

USB-C accessory pairing

Want to use a Magic Mouse or Magic Keyboard with your iPhone? It's easier than ever before with iOS 26.5.

Simply connect the peripheral device to an iPhone via USB-C, and the device will automatically pair with the iPhone.

This means that after the initial pairing, users can simply unplug the USB-C cable and use the Magic Mouse or Magic Keyboard with their iPhone over Bluetooth without an additional required setup.

iPhone to Android transfer options

This is a small new update, but one that will surely be welcomed by an iPhone user making the switch to Android.

With iOS 26.5, users can now choose which message attachments they want to transfer to their Android device when moving data from their iPhone.

'Pride Luminance' wallpaper The new Pride Luminance background for iPads and iPhones. Credit: Apple

iOS 26.5 rolls out with a brand new iPhone wallpaper celebrating Pride Month.

Apple has released Pride Month wallpaper before. However, this marks the first time Apple has released one as a motion wallpaper. This isn't a static background. The "Pride Luminance" wallpaper is animated and customizable, meaning users can create their own version of the wallpaper using the 12 available colors.

The new Pride Luminance wallpaper that matches the new Pride Luminance watch face for Apple Watch in watchOS 26.5.

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You'll find Apple Watches and Whoop fitness trackers on a number of Mashable writers and editors' wrists. Fitbit may have popularized fitness trackers and the entire concept of "counting steps," but the brand has been eclipsed in recent years by feature-rich rivals.

When one of our reporters ran the New York City marathon wearing seven fitness trackers, Fitbit didn't impress.

But a new Fitbit could change that. The screen-free Google Fitbit Air hits store shelves May 19, and the $99.99 price tag is very tempting compared to an Apple Watch, which can cost $249 to $799. The Fitbit Air even has some unique features that could tempt dedicated Whoop fans.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Fitbit Air $99.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

We haven't had the chance to test the Google Fitbit Air yet (Steph Curry is not on our staff, unfortunately), but here are the top Fitbit Air features we're eyeing ahead of May 19.

Google Health Coach The new Google Health Coach launches alongside the Fitbit Air Credit: Google

When the Fitbit Air launches on May 19, Google will also debut the new Google Health Coach, which will be part of the Google Health Premium subscription ($9.99 a month or $99 a year).

Google Health Coach is an AI personal trainer that can make personalized workout and health recommendations tailored to you. Using the health, sleep, and fitness data collected by the Fitbit Air, you'll be able to get insights that go way beyond counting steps. The level of personalization is impressive, as the AI coach can take your sleep cycle, local weather, and medical history into account when designing workouts.

We don't love it when products require a paid subscription to unlock crucial features, but the amount of data available to your AI coach could set this tool apart from similar offerings. If you have a Pixel 4 smartwatch, you'll also be able to use this new feature.

A super lightweight design The Fitbit Air is lighter and thinner than the Whoop. Credit: Google

For the Fitbit Air, Google seems to be prioritizing lighter weight over battery life. While the Whoop 5.0 and MG have a longer battery life, the Fitbit Air will be significantly lighter and smaller.

The new Fitbit weighs a mere 12 grams, less than half the weight of the Whoop 5.0, which weighs in at 26.5 grams (the Whoop MG is 27.3 grams). The sensor area, which Google describes as a "pebble," is also slimmer in height and narrower in width than Whoop.

When compared to smartwatches, it has a significant size and weight advantage. That's crucial for people who want to use their fitness tracker as a sleep tracker.

Despite the small size, the Air can still measure heart rate, heart rhythm, SpO2 (blood oxygen levels), sleep stages, and more. It also contains an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

Gemini voice and text chat You can talk to the Google Health Coach by voice or text. Credit: Google

Within the Google Health app, you'll be able to talk to your AI coach by voice or text, with the conversations powered by Google's AI chatbot Gemini. You'll need your phone to do this, but for athletes who like to talk to their AI chatbot, you'll be able to talk in real-time. You'll be able to ask questions and make requests as you workout.

Perks for Gemini power users Credit: Google

Google offers several paid AI subscriptions for users who want to access the latest Gemini models and features — Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra. With the debut of Google Health Coach, users on either of these plans will now get free access to Google Health Premium.

So, if you're already a Gemini power user, you can unlock extra features on the Fitbit Air at no extra cost.

Fitbit Air can use Gemini to "see" your workout and meal plans

As the maker of Gemini, one of the most advanced AI chatbots, Google has some big advantages over Apple, Whoop, Garmin, Nothing, and other smartwatch and fitness tracker brands.

Case in point: You can take pictures and upload them to Google Health Coach for analysis. A Google blog post states that users can "upload photos of gym whiteboards or snap photos of meals for nutritional analysis." You can also upload PDFs with health information.

Again, you'll need to use your phone to use this feature.

3-month free trial Credit: Google

Finally, Google has one more advantage over Whoop: a longer free trial. When you buy a Fitbit Air, you get three months of access to Google Health Premium, whereas Whoop only offers a 1-month free trial

For all these reasons, we expect the new Google Fitbit Air to be a serious competitor in the fitness tracker world and may even tempt some people to ditch their smartwatch. We're seeing growing interest in screen-free technology lately, which is one reason Whoop is so popular.

However, once again, Google is going all-in on artificial intelligence features. For athletes who are not interested in having an AI personal trainer or using Gemini as a workout buddy, the Fitbit Air may be a tougher sell.

Google touts its privacy features, but not everyone wants to provide such detailed health information to Big Tech.

The Google Fitbit Air is available for pre-order now for $99.99 at Amazon and the Google Store.

The hacking collective ShinyHunters says it disrupted a major education platform not once but twice over the past few weeks. And the data breach could not have come at a worse time for students and teachers. These events unfurled during school finals at many of the affected institutions.

On April 30, Instructure, the edtech company behind Canvas, the popular Learning Management System (LMS) utilized by educational institutions around the world, temporarily went offline. A day later, Instructure confirmed that a "criminal threat actor" was behind a data breach into the company's systems.

According to ShinyHunters, the group stole data from 275 million Canvas users at nearly 9,000 schools worldwide. The affected users include students, teachers, and staff, and while no passwords or other sensitive data were taken, the data stolen was significant. The hackers claimed usernames, email addresses, student IDs, and private messages exchanged on the platform were part of the stolen data. Some of the impacted users are underage students.

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Shortly after the hack, Instructure confirmed that it had revoked access from the bad actors, took measures to fix the issues and prevent another breach from occurring, and brought Canvas back online.

However, just one week later, ShinyHunters says it hit Canvas again. This time, the hackers compromised school-specific login pages for the platform and defaced the pages with messages threatening to publicly release the stolen data from the previous breach unless Instructure agreed to "negotiate a settlement."

A monetary demand from ShinyHunters was not surprising. The ransomware group is known for extorting victims following a data breach. A second breach at Instructure, however, was a surprise. Canvas once again went offline, and when it came back, the company had removed the source of the second incident: Free-For-Teacher accounts.

According to a newly updated incident page on Instructure's website, the company says it "identified a vulnerability regarding support tickets in our Free for Teacher environment that was exploited." 

"We temporarily disabled Free for Teacher while we complete a full security review," the company said. "We know that's disruptive, and we didn't make that call lightly. But keeping the entire Canvas platform secure has to come first."

While the second breach did not result in any stolen data, the timing of the security incident could not have been worse for students, as many schools are currently holding finals and other scheduled deadlines for end-of-year coursework.

As PCMag reports, "students and professors struggled to access the online platform used to submit assignments and tests." (Disclosure: PCMag and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

According to data provided to Mashable from Alliance Risk Trends, Google searches for "canvas hacked" and "canvas down" spiked roughly 1,000 percent just this past Friday. There was a combined search volume of more than 1 million for searches involving the Canvas security incidents and subsequent downtime.

Some readers reached out to Mashable to share their experience. One parent of a student at Seton Hall University forwarded Mashable an email that the school sent out while Canvas was down.

"We know the timing of this is hard," the school's email to students read. "Finals are underway, coursework is due, and Canvas being offline right now is genuinely disruptive."

Some schools, such as Bayton University in Texas, postponed final exams on Friday specifically due to issues accessing Canvas.

"With Canvas down at the national level, Baylor University will delay final exams tomorrow (Friday, May 8, 2026)," the school said in a statement.

Canvas is now back online. However, ShinyHunters' "settlement" deadline to release the data on May 12 still looms.

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Counterfeit DDR5 RAM is circulating across online storefronts and gray-market retailers, and some fake modules are convincing enough to pass visual inspection — until you cut them open. According to Digital Trends, the chips installed on the fraudulent sticks aren't memory at all, but merely fiberglass boards shaped to resemble legitimate DRAM.

SEE ALSO: The RAM shortage driving up tech prices won’t end any time soon, Micron says

The issue was reported by a Japanese X user who purchased what appeared to be a genuine SK Hynix SO-DIMM laptop module and physically dissected it after becoming suspicious. Inside, they found non-functional fiberglass pieces where the memory chips should have been.

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"At first glance, they look like regular memory sticks, but the chips actually installed on them are just bare circuit boards—plastic boards. I removed them and cut them open to check," reads a translation of the X post.

Some of these counterfeits are reportedly being sold openly on auction platforms like Yahoo Japan under listings marked "untested" or "junk," with sellers explicitly refusing returns.

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The problem is compounded with desktop DDR5 kits, where large heatspreaders cover the memory chips entirely. Without visible chips to inspect, Digital Trends notes, buyers often have no way to confirm what they've purchased until a system fails to boot or crashes repeatedly.

The conditions for this kind of fraud are straightforward. DDR5 prices have been rising sharply for over a year, driven by AI-related demand that has sparked a global memory crisis. And as memory manufacturers prioritize enterprise and server production over consumer supply, there's no end in sight for shoppers.

Mashable previously reported that Framework, the modular PC maker, raised its DDR5 prices multiple times through late 2025, with a 48GB module jumping from $240 to $620 over the course of months. Samsung warned manufacturing partners of further price hikes to come, with major laptop makers including Lenovo, Dell, and HP warning of price increases.

Euphoria's Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) has worn many hats. Figure skater. OnlyFans model. Kaiju.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' made sex work go viral. Real sex workers are still getting censored.

The latter hat comes into play in Season 3, episode 5, when Cassie's OnlyFans fame goes to her head in a supersized fantasy sequence. As she watches her OnlyFans notifications pour in, Cassie imagines herself growing into a giantess and stomping through downtown Los Angeles, ready to take Hollywood by storm.

It's a technically impressive sequence that draws inspiration from 1958's Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and the Godzilla franchise. In a behind-the-scenes video released by HBO, the Euphoria team takes viewers through how they brought it all to life by building painstaking miniatures

"It was a lot of fun. It took about a year to build all the miniatures," Euphoria creator Sam Levinson said in the above behind-the-scenes video.

Cassie's dream of Hollywood glory is Euphoria Season 3's first major departure from reality, something which used to be a staple in earlier Euphoria seasons. Think Rue's (Zendaya) views of herself as a private detective, or her relapse at the end of Season 1, which turns into a memorable musical number.

It's a shame, then, that the inventive Cassie-zilla sequence is tied to a hyper-sexualized montage of her OnlyFans work. Euphoria's portrayal of sex work has already earned criticism from sex workers, and it continues to fall into the same trap in episode 5: highlighting fantasies of sex work without actually fleshing out the sex workers themselves. After all, Cassie is little more than a fame-hungry caricature by this point, and as fun as it is to see Euphoria embrace practical monster effects, it's not enough to mask the emptiness and shock value of her narrative.

New episodes of Euphoria Season 3 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Save $20: The Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro are on sale for $159.99 at Amazon, Soundcore, Walmart, and Best Buy as of May 11. All told, this is an 11% discount on the usually $179.99 dual-form earbuds.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro $159.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Soundcore

The awareness of open earbuds is basically an unmatched experience, but in most cases, it requires the trade off of giving up active noise cancellation.

In the case of the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro, however, you don't have to choose between tuning in to the world around you and tuning it out when necessary, and as of May 11, you don't have to pay full price for this option either. The Soundcore buds are down to $159.99, knocking $20 off their $179.99 list price at Amazon, Soundcore, Walmart, and Best Buy.

When I tested out these earbuds a couple of months ago, I was skeptical that they could deliver on both fronts. After all, the closest open earbuds had gotten was noise reduction. Still, I knew Soundcore was capable of making a great pair of open earbuds, and a great pair of noise cancelling earbuds. And while the combination isn't absolute perfection, these earbuds are one of the better values if you're looking for decent noise cancellation and and open earbud experience in one convenient package.

They're also IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, meaning you're good to take them to the gym or for a run without any concern about it seriously impacting their performance. At $179.99, they're already competitively priced for such a versatile pair of buds — at $159.99, their value is even better. Grab all four colorways — including the newer gloss blue shade — on sale.

Ninja finally made a Slushi machine that can make two different flavors at once. (Consider it a modern twist on the Margaritaville Tahiti.) Announced May 11, the Ninja Slushi Twist kind of looks like two regular Slushi machines fused together. You can see where this is going.

Neo no longer has to choose between red and blue. Credit: Ninja

Each vessel still has its own individual spout and handle, so flavors can be dispensed independently of each other. The fun part? Hit the button in the middle to swirl them together for a perfectly-layered striped drink.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi Twist $399.99 at SharkNinja
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Though small Slushi upgrades have been released here and there, this is easily the biggest news since the initial Slushi launched in July 2024. It's not surprising that it's already out of stock on the day of its release. The Slushi Twist costs $399.99, though, and you can sign up to have SharkNinja notify you when it's back.

SEE ALSO: From F1 sets to new Botanicals plants, these are the best new Lego sets of May

The Slushi Twist is the ultimate frozen drink maker for families with kids or anyone who likes to host. The kids get their fruit punch slushie, the adults get their frosé. Can't decide between a strawberry or jalapeño margarita for an upcoming happy hour hangout? The Slushi Twist won't make you choose between your sweet and spicy friends.

The Slushi Twist can make 10+ 9-ounce servings per batch. Credit: Ninja

Compared to the original Slushi machine that I tested and loved, the Slushi Twist apparently slushes faster. Since my Slushi takes about an hour at most, I'm guessing the Twist can have drinks ready in 45 minutes max. Remember that the Slushi doesn't require ice like a regular blender or prepared frozen mixtures like the Ninja Creami.

New Dual SlushAssist mode auto-senses the ingredients on each side and auto-adjusts the temperature to keep them at the right chilly consistency. Choosing the right level of cold for my Slushi has been quite the trial and error, especially when sugar or alcohol content math is involved — so SlushAssist sounds pretty nice.