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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 Wednesday, April 15, 2026:

AcrossFabric used for casino tables

• The answer is Felt.

Pulling the ___ (outdated idiom for voting)

• The answer is Level.

Togetherness

• The answer is Unity.

Many emails with urgent, all-caps requests

• The answer is Scams.

Basic belief

• The answer is Tent.

DownWhat you might be "on" when you're undecided

• The answer is Fence.

Bottled water brand

• The answer is Evian.

"Here, I can do it"

• The answer is Let me.

Romantic rendezvous

• The answer is Tryst.

What might lead to a romantic rendezvous

• The answer is Lust.

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.

To skip down to a certain product category in this recycling guide, use the table of contents dropdown at the top of this story.

When you really think about it, life is just a constant cycle of acquiring new stuff and figuring out what to do with the old stuff. And when there's little straightforward guidance on how to properly get rid of the old stuff, it quickly turns into clutter — or trash.

Most of us have been conditioned to recycle things like aluminum cans and cardboard boxes. But past those traditional curbside recyclables, other everyday items like batteries, beauty empties, toys, and even clothes can feel impossible to get rid of sustainably. Is throwing them away the only option?

SEE ALSO: Texas resident used Apple AirTags to track her recycling. It ended up in the middle of nowhere.

All of those everyday items can actually be recycled. It just requires some research and an extra step or two. But I've already done the first part for you, and compiled everything into a straightforward "how to" recycling guide.

Why does it feel like nothing is recyclable?

Perhaps you've Googled "how to recycle insert item here" just to be given some vague instructions like "Check locally." If you did check locally, you probably learned that most municipal recycling programs max out at trash-like recyclables. This isn't because recycling everything else is impossible on a technical level — it often just costs more than most local authorities feel like covering.

But that doesn't mean the items not mentioned in your county's recycling PDF have to be thrown away or forced upon an overflowing thrift store. Straightforward recycling options do exist for famously tricky product categories, like skincare, cleaning supplies, electronics, and the other junk you've crammed under the bed or in that one drawer.

Most involve easy (and free) mail-in programs or quick drop-offs at chain stores — much more reliable methods than plopping junk in the recycling bin and hoping the recycling fairy whisks it away to the right place.

SEE ALSO: How to recycle Amazon packaging purchases (yes, all of it)

That's called wishcycling, but you're out of that phase of your life now. Because below, I'm breaking down how and where to recycle all of those famously hard-to-recycle items.

How to recycle electronics

As is the case with plastic pollution, a good chunk of e-waste (the umbrella term for improperly discarded electronic devices and the toxins they leak into the ground) comes from big tech corporations. But as a species that has treated our personal devices as extra limbs for almost two decades, it's also our individual responsibility to deal with our old gadgets in the most sustainable way possible.

To be fair, people aren't exactly given clear instructions on how or where to safely recycle old devices. A CNET survey found that over 30 percent of U.S. adults hold onto old phones, tablets, and chargers simply because they don't know what to do with them. So here's your crash course.

How to recycle cellphones, laptops, TVs, and more tech

You're probably aware of the trade-in promos that your smartphone carrier offers. Similar incentives exist for devices like iPads and tablets. But even if the device in question isn't exactly in trade-in or sell-on-Mercari condition, there are still super accessible ways to recycle the gadget without smashing it for parts.

Best Buy and Staples have robust in-store recycling programs for everyday e-waste. Both stores can recycle the following tech products and accessories for you:

• Laptops and monitors

• Keyboards and mice

• Cellphones and landline phones

• Chargers, cables, and dongles

• Headphones (wireless or wired) and speakers

• Hard drives

• Surge protectors

• Routers and modems

• Printers, plus ink and toner cartridges

• Gaming consoles and controllers

• Digital cameras and camcorders

• Car GPS devices and dash cameras

• Calculators

Stores may limit the number of items in a certain category that one household can recycle per day — don't just dump years' worth of junk drawer tech into a few cardboard boxes and drop them off.

Once received, recyclers disassemble the tech to pull out and properly get rid of ozone-depleting chemicals like PCBs, mercury, and insulation, then separate materials like plastic, glass, and metal to be repurposed when possible.

Samsung has its own e-cycling drop-off centers, often located at Best Buy and Staples, and sometimes even at your local solid waste authority. Apple offers its own recycling program for old Apple devices and chargers, and you can even get a prepaid shipping label.

Where Staples and Best Buy's lists differ

Tech products that are strictly recyclable at Staples include discs like CDs and DVDs and phone cases. Tech products that are strictly recyclable at Best Buy include TVs 50 inches or smaller, drones, and some small appliances like fans and heaters (scroll down for a deeper dive into that list). You can also pay Best Buy to come haul away larger items, like TVs over 50 inches, an old fridge, or a treadmill.

How to recycle batteries

Old batteries can be recycled for free at stores like The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Staples through a partnership with call2recycle. Head to the website and enter your zip code to find the closest drop-off location to you. Note that not all participating locations accept every type of battery, so be sure to check the box of the battery type you've been collecting (i.e., lithium vs. rechargeable).

If no collection boxes are popping up in a practical distance, call2recycle also has a mail-in battery recycling program — though at $80 for the smallest battery and cellphone recycling kit, it's not exactly the cheapest route.

How to recycle clothes and shoes

If you take one thing from this recycling guide, let it be this: Goodwill is not a bottomless pit, or a one-size-fits-all solution to get rid of clutter fast. Instead of forcing more stuff upon stores with no hangers to spare, there are more thoughtful ways to clean out your closet.

If the garments are in decent enough condition, consider trying to sell your stuff online. It requires a bit of extra time than dropping off a garbage bag, but it ensures each piece is going to someone who specifically searched for it. The secondhand apparel market is going to pop off in 2026 even more than it already did in 2025, according to ThredUp's latest sale report — so now is definitely a good time to get into resale apps.

SEE ALSO: Zero Waste Daniel is drag's sustainable fashion pioneer

You don't need a ton of followers or an inventory of vintage holy grails to get eyes on your items on Depop, Mercari, or Poshmark. Just take well-lit, clear photos of items that aren't covered in pet hair, write a detailed and honest description, and add a reasonable price.

If you don't feel like reselling, a mail-in donation option could be easy. Give Back Box is a non-profit that partners with a slew of small charities from which you can choose to send your items, depending on what they need (i.e., kids' shoes or gently used women's clothes). Once you find a good fit, Give Back Box will just ask for $20 to cover the pre-addressed shipping label and the weight of the box. Pack your items in any random box you were going to recycle anyway, and send it off.

Is your pile of doom riddled with clothes that are too worn to donate? Viral sustainable clothing brand Girlfriend Collective works with SuperCircle (a growing textile recycling platform) to facilitate ReGirlfriend: an amazingly easy mail-in garment recycling program. Shipping labels are free, and you can pack multiple pieces in each bag, regardless of brand. As a "thank you" for not contributing to the pile of textiles in landfills, Girlfriend offers credits to girlfriend.com. Trashie is another clothing recycling program where you fill a Take Back Bag and mail it back — you'll get rewards to shop at partnering brands.

How to recycle vacuums and other appliances

Your local Goodwill actually is not home to a fleet of magic-working repairpeople who know how to revive every busted gadget manufactured in the past few decades. Instead of trying to donate rusty, sticky, straight-up broken appliances, see if Best Buy's in-store recycling program can take them off your hands. Fans, robot vacuums, upright and canister vacuums, personal heaters, and pod-only coffee makers are a few of the appliances that Best Buy can recycle for free. There's a limit of three per household per day.

For a $199.99 haul-away fee, Best Buy can pick up larger appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, ovens and ranges, and ice makers for recycling.

SEE ALSO: We tested the most popular Ninja appliances in our own kitchens. Here's what we found.

Black+Decker kitchen appliances and home cleaning products can be recycled for free through TerraCycle.

If you're not ditching the appliance for a functional reason, perhaps it'd be a good contender for Facebook Marketplace or resale apps. Gently used countertop appliances like air fryers and blenders are popular on Mercari. It's OK if it's old, too: Vintage collectors would be overjoyed to come across a listing for your grandma's vintage yellow hand mixer, as long as it's not dilapidated.

How to recycle cleaning supplies and more household junk or trashFood wrappers, cleaning supplies, and other packaging

The concept of disposable plastic household items seemed like the most genius idea ever in the 1950s. Guess what? Virtually all of the plastic products thrown away since then are still decomposing in landfills today.

And we're adding to the problem every single day. Swiffer pads come to mind when I think about the dire disposables situation. They're super convenient, but they're not recyclable through the standard plastic or paper system. For all of those everyday household items that we mindlessly trash, more people need to know about TerraCycle's free mail-in recycling programs.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 30+ robot vacuum and mop combos, including CES 2026 models. Here are the top 5 to buy.

These give consumers a rare, yet easy way to recycle everyday "trash" items from big household brands — items that most local recycling authorities don't accept in the regular bins.

Participating brands include Swiffer, Tide and Downy, Pop-Sockets, Arm + Hammer, and Mr. Clean. You can recycle air fresheners or scented plug-in products from any brand for free via Febreze's TerraCycle program. Some food and snack brands are also on the list: Collect wrappers and bags from Babybel, Gatorade, Kroger brands, and Takis. Plastic drink pouches from any brand can be recycled for free through Honest Kids' program, and sauce packets from any brand can be recycled for free through Taco Bell's program.

It's not cheap, but you can recycle nearly anything with TerraCycle's All-In-One Zero Waste Box. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable All of these items can be recycled for free by mailing them to TerraCycle. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The idea is to collect enough from each brand's program to fill up a box that you can then mail back to TerraCycle. (Some programs have a weight minimum, but it could be as little as three pounds.) The cost of the shipping labels is covered by the brands themselves, who also fund the tricky sorting process required to recycle their products.

Coffee pods

Nespresso has a ton of drop-off points across the country to recycle pods. You can also request free pre-labeled recycling bags on Nespresso's website to fill and eventually mail back to Nespresso. (Each mailer can hold up to 200 Original Line pods or 100 Vertuo pods.)

Keurig has a similar setup, but it's not free — and Keurig only describes the program through the lens of office use (like "use the small box in offers that brew 24 K-Cups or less in day") with no mention of keeping a box at home in a Keurig-heavy household.

Water filters

Your collection of used Brita filters and old filter pitches themselves can be mailed to TerraCycle for free recycling.

ZeroWater filters can be properly discarded with a mail-back recycling program as well, but you'll have to cover shipping up front. Fill out the recycling form ahead of sending your used filters back to the address provided. You'll then receive a $20 coupon for your next round of replacement refills. It's a more convoluted process than Brita's, but if it's the difference between drinking microplastics, I'll do it Zerowater's way.

Old writing utensils

Drop off pens, markers, and mechanical pencils at Staples to be recycled for free.

How to recycle beauty empties and bathroom stuffMakeup and skincare

The majority of beauty brands are way too comfortable using packaging that looks recyclable, while conveniently forgetting to tell consumers that it's not. Many skincare bottles that feel like glass aren't the same easy type of glass as a beer bottle or jelly jar, and many plastic containers and plastic pumps are actually a peculiar type of mixed plastic that doesn't fall under the number system used to sort at recycling plants.

For beauty empties with a non-accepted number or no number at all, beauty-centric take-back programs are the move. Both Ulta and Sephora have partnered with Pact Collective to offer recycling bins for your empties in a ton of stores across the country. Nordstrom has a partnership with TerraCycle, offering a similar in-store drop-off option for beauty packaging.

My bag of beauty empties was so full, I had to take this Pact bin's lid off. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Project Beauty Share is one great option for giving opened skincare products a new home, as long as they're not expired. Accepted gently-used beauty items include moisturizers and serums, cleansers, body lotions, shower gels, perfumes, and sunscreens. Squeeze tubes of foundation or primer and pressed eyeshadow, blush, and highlighter are accepted if they're open but only barely used.

Hair tools

Beauty brand Mane partners with Pact Collective to take your unwanted hot hair tools, whether they work or not. Hair tools in good working condition will be properly sanitized and shipped off to be distributed to young women through Project Glimmer, an organization dedicated to helping end gender and racial inequality for women and girls. Hair tools that don't work will be taken apart and processed for proper recycling. Labels are prepaid by Mane, as long as you use your own box.

SEE ALSO: I found 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are almost as good as the real thing Toothbrushes

National Geographic clocks around one billion plastic toothbrushes ending up in landfills annually, and toothpaste tubes are a similar story. If you use Colgate, Arm & Hammer, or Tom's of Maine products, there's a free mail-in TerraCycle program for that. Old toothbrushes, electric toothbrush replacement heads, mouthwash bottles, used flossers, and toothpaste tubes from Crest, Oral-B, or Fixodent can be recycled by mail via TerraCycle or Oral-B's direct recycling program.

SEE ALSO: The Suri recyclable electric toothbrush is my favorite eco-friendly self-care swap Razors

Sure, most disposable razor handles are plastic, and razor blades are metal. Both materials are technically recyclable separately, but mixed materials like that bar disposable razors from being curbside recyclable. Luckily, TerraCycle has a free recycling program for common shaving brands like Gillette and Venus, from handles to blades to the bags the replacements come in. If people caught on to collecting their dull razors for eventual recycling, just think of the dent we'd put into the estimated two billion disposable razors thrown out each year.

SEE ALSO: Yes, there is a plastic bag at the bottom of the Mariana Trench How to recycle toys

Like everything else on this list, getting rid of toys isn't as easy as tossing them in the regular recycling bin — no matter how perfectly plastic they feel.

Hasbro, VTech and Leapfrog, and Spin Master all have free mail-in recycling programs through TerraCycle. TerraCycle's recyclers will ensure that toys and games are broken down and properly sorted for recycling of different parts and materials. If a toy's condition wouldn't be up to your gifting standards for a friend or family member's kid, it's better off being recycled than donated.

Lego bricks can be recycled for free via Lego Replay. Pack up Lego System Bricks, Duplo and Technic bricks, minifigures, baseplates, tires, rims, and axles, download a free shipping label, and send it off.

SEE ALSO: YouTube AI slop is a generational threat, child safety experts warn in new petition

Yard sales aren't the only way to make a few bucks off of gently-used toys. Toys are consistently a top-selling category on Mercari — if you're not sure if a brand or model is in demand, just do a quick search to see what listings are out there (Pokémon, Barbies, and toys from the '90s are usually safe bets.) There's a surprisingly bumpin' market for spare game pieces sold by themselves, like replacement Monopoly tokens or Sorry! pawns.

Wired earbuds used to be a staple with a new phone. Apple stopped including wired earbuds with iPhones as of 2020, citing environmental benefits. That means you have to do your own research to find the best pair of wired earbuds. Things to consider include what input your phone has: Do you have USB-C, or are you stuck in the past with a Lightning or aux cable? And, do you take calls when wearing earbuds? If so, you'll need a mic.

Plus, the best wired earbuds brands might not be the same you'll find in our guides to the best headphones or best earbuds. We're looking to old-school favorites (hello, Skullcandy!) to find affordable, comfortable, and great-sounding earbuds. Luckily, we have great models for every budget. But don't fear — the wired earbuds on this list are all $60 or under.

These are the best wired earbuds of 2026.

Other wired earbuds we tested

In testing wired earbuds, I learned there are plenty of great options out there. The four earbuds on this list are our favorites, but we also tested other options. We tested another set of Skullcandy earbuds and options from JLab and Sony, too.

The Skullcandy Set are still a great pair of earbuds, but we prefer the Skullycandy Jib earbuds. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable The Sony IER-EX15C earbuds have high quality sound but unruly cords, which tangle easily. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

JLab's JBuds Pro are a decent option, especially if you need a lightning cable. Unfortunately, the fit was off, and if the cord moved at all while in use, the sound reverberated loudly in my ears. The Sony IER-EX15C were another great pair of USB-C earbuds, but the cord is too thin and long, which is a pain to wear and makes them tangle too easily. Skullcandy's Set earbuds nearly made the list as a mid-tier option, but they couldn't beat the Jib's great fit and overall value.

TL;DR: Be super productive from anywhere with this Lenovo ThinkPad, on sale now for just $299.99 (reg. $1,299.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad 14-Inch 2022 (Certified Refurbished) $299.99
$1,299.99 Save $1,000   Get Deal

Looking for a laptop that won’t weigh you down? While it sometimes feels like you have to sacrifice power for portability, the Lenovo ThinkPad 14″ marries both flawlessly. And while it would usually set you back $1,299.99, if you act fast, you can snag one for just $299.99.

When it comes to business, not all laptops are created equal. So if you’re looking for one that helps you get things done, the Lenovo ThinkPad fits the bill.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

An Intel Core i7 processor delivers fast, reliable performance, while 16GB of RAM lets you run multiple apps at once. A 512GB SSD also lets you easily store important files right on the device.

Intel Iris Xe Graphics deliver clear, smooth visuals for work tasks and for when you want to take a break and catch up on your favorite shows. There’s an integrated webcam and microphone available when you need to hop on a Zoom call or video chat with friends and family.

You can tackle a full work day with the battery’s 10-hour life on a single charge. You can also easily connect via USB-C, USB 3.0, HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0.

You’re saving $1,000 on this device thanks to its Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with minimal to zero scuffing, while you get a deep discount.

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Bring the party with you wherever you go with this ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector with Bluetooth, Speakers, and Microphone, now only $67.99 (reg. $84.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: ION Audio ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector with Bluetooth, Speakers & Microphone $67.99
$84.99 Save $17   Get Deal

The weather is warming up, and if you’re looking for a fun way to pass the time outside, look no further than the ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector with Bluetooth, Speakers, and Microphone. This device lets you bring entertainment wherever you go, and right now it’s just $67.99.

Whether you’re planning on hosting movie nights in the backyard or you want to get a gaming marathon going in the basement, the ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector is ready to help you bring the fun. Its Plug-and-Play setup makes it easy to get going anytime.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This projector provides a portable 720p HD display with 1280 x 720 resolution on demand, so you’ll enjoy entertainment anywhere with clear visuals and powerful audio. Pretend you’re at the drive-in with 100 ANSI lumens of brightness and adjustable projection that goes up to 150 inches.

You don’t need to worry about bringing speakers, too — the ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector has a built-in 70W stereo sound system with Bluetooth, HDMI, USB, and AUX input options. Dual mic inputs also make it easy to fit in some karaoke, too.

A full charge on the rechargeable battery gives you up to two hours of video playback or 100 hours of music.

Liven up your days and nights with this ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector with Bluetooth, Speakers, and Microphone, now only $67.99 (reg. $84.99).

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

YouTube is the go-to platform for vloggers, content creators, musicians, and anyone who loves to share their life through the art of video.

The most-followed channels on the platform have amassed huge subscriber counts, well into the millions, showing just how many of us enjoy sitting back and relaxing with a good YouTube video. From celebs to entertainment giants, influencers to creators, these channels dominate YouTube with viral videos and their dedicated fan bases.

SEE ALSO: YouTube channels to help keep your mind calm

But have you ever wondered who holds the acclaim of top spot for the most subscribed channel? Wonder no more, here are the 10 YouTube channels with the most subscribers, according to Social Blade.

1. Mr Beast - 477 million subscribers

MrBeast’s YouTube channel is known for its over-the-top challenges, massive cash giveaways, philanthropy, and jaw-dropping stunts, making it one of the platform’s biggest and most influential channels.

2. T-Series - 311 million subscribers

T-Series is India's largest Music Label & Movie Studio, and the YouTube channel features a vast collection of Bollywood music videos, movie trailers, and songs.

3. Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes - 200 million subscribers

Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes' YouTube channel is a favorite among parents, featuring colorful, educational animations and catchy songs for young children. Engaging colors and fun storytelling aim to help toddlers learn letters, numbers, and life lessons.

4. YouTube Movies - 197 million subscribers

The YouTube Movies channel is the go-to spot for renting and streaming new movie releases, shorts and trailers. You can choose between renting, buying, or watching select titles for free with ads.

5. SET India - 189 million subscribers

SET India’s YouTube channel offers full episodes, clips, and promos from Sony Entertainment Television’s popular Indian shows. Featuring drama series, reality shows, crime thrillers, and comedy programs.

6. Vlad and Niki - 149 million subscribers

Vlad and Niki’s YouTube channel is a popular kids’ channel full of imaginative playtime adventures, toy reviews, and family-friendly challenges. The channel tells the stories of two brothers through educational content and exciting adventures.

7. Stokes Twins - 139 million subscribers

The Stokes Twins' YouTube channel features a mix of pranks, challenges, comedic skits, and vlogs. Run by Alex and Alan Stokes, the pair have become known for their stunts and antics.

8. Kids Diana Show - 138 million subscribers

Kids Diana Show’s YouTube channel features fun, colorful videos of young Diana playing imaginative games, reviewing toys, and other family-friendly adventures. This channel focuses on storytelling, games, and learning.

9. Like Nastya - 132 million subscribers

Like Nastya's YouTube channel is another family-friendly account that follows the exciting adventures of a young girl named Nastya. Videos include fun toy reviews, imaginative games, and educational content.

10. 김프로KIMPRO - 131 million subscribers

김프로KIMPRO is run by cousins Kim Dong‑joon and Yu Baek‑hap. Their channel features both videos and shorts. The content varies from cooking and mukbang videos to challenges and everyday scenarios.

TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Get Deal

In the mobile world, the word "free" is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that's not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.

T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.

You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e for free. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren't trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal.

If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold launch might happen later than we thought (updated)

Mashable's Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years." That's an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it's free.

It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really "free" when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It's a gray area — we're doing our best, OK?

Score an iPhone 17 for free this week with T-Mobile.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on April 15-18. Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering books in a variety of genres for Kindle and Kobo.

A lot has been said about Kindle in the last week or so, and we've tried our best to make sense of the situation. We're not going to get into the weeds of why "BookTokers, Bookstagramers, and the most passionate Kindle users across the internet are fuming this week," because another Stuff Your Kindle Day is live right now.

Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering participants the chance to download books from a variety of genres without spending anything. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, and unlike a lot of these giveaways, Kindle and Kobo readers can stock up during this limited-time event.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your E-Reader takes place on April 15-18. A lot of these free giveaways only last 24 hours, so it's refreshing to have so much time to consider your options. You can relax and make a plan without stressing about missing the deadline.

Which ebooks are free?

Stuff Your E-Reader is an all-genre book blast for Kindle and Kobo readers. Stuff Your Kindle Days usually focus on a particular genre, which can exclude large portions of the reading world who might not be interested in downloading hundreds of romance titles. This event is truly for everyone.

The Indie Author Collective has launched a hub page for this event, with filters for promotions, genre, and representation. Check out everything on offer here.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5.4-Cyber, a new AI model that may be willing to accept seemingly malicious prompts in the name of cybersecurity. Fortunately, the ChatGPT developer won't let just anyone play with its less restrictive, more freewheeling AI.

SEE ALSO: Is Anthropic's Claude Mythos a big stunt, or a real security threat? What the experts say.

Announced via a blog post on Tuesday, GPT-5.4-Cyber is a variant of OpenAI's publicly available GPT-5.4 large language model. According to OpenAI, its frontier AI models such as GPT-5.4 have safeguards against clearly malicious use, making them refuse harmful user requests such as stealing credentials or finding vulnerabilities in code. In contrast, the company's new GPT-5.4-Cyber model is trained to be more lenient, and potentially accept these prompts instead. 

Describing GPT-5.4-Cyber as "cyber-permissive," OpenAI states that this change is to allow the AI to be used for defensive cybersecurity measures, such as helping researchers find vulnerabilities to be addressed.

"We want to empower defenders by giving broad access to frontier capabilities, including models which have been tailor-made for cybersecurity," wrote OpenAI. "This is a version of GPT‑5.4 which lowers the refusal boundary for legitimate cybersecurity work and enables new capabilities for advanced defensive workflows."

Given the potential danger posed by GPT-5.4-Cyber's lowered safeguards, not everyone will be able to immediately dive in to push the AI's arguably flexible ethical limits even further. OpenAI states that it is starting with "limited, iterative deployment to vetted security vendors, organizations, and researchers." As such, only members of its Trusted Access for Cyber⁠ (TAC) program will be given access to GPT-5.4-Cyber at present, and only those at its highest tiers. 

Introduced in February, TAC is a network of users who have been through OpenAI's automated identity verification process, including completing a government ID check. Once approved, users in OpenAI's TAC program are allowed access to versions of its AI models with fewer safeguards, such as GPT‑5.4‑Cyber. OpenAI states that this is intended to enable cybersecurity research, education, and programming. 

Not every TAC-approved user will immediately get their hands on GPT-5.4-Cyber, however. OpenAI states that users who aren't already part of TAC's higher tiers may request access to it, which will require going through further authentication to verify themselves as "legitimate cyber defenders." 

GPT-5.4-Cyber's reveal comes just one week after OpenAI competitor Anthropic announced Project Glasswing. Like TAC, Project Glasswing is an initiative that restricts Anthropic's cybersecurity-focused Claude Mythos Preview AI model to select approved organisations. Claiming that Claude Mythos Preview "has already found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities," Anthropic stated that Project Glasswing was an effort to ensure its AI model was used for solely defensive cybersecurity purposes.

"Given the rate of AI progress, it will not be long before such capabilities proliferate, potentially beyond actors who are committed to deploying them safely," Anthropic wrote.

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

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

Merry.

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

JOLLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Cowardly.

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

WIMPY

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Sheared.

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

SHORN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To cut off.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SEVER

Final Hurdle hint

To fasten.

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

BELAY

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

The New Moon is just around the corner, and over the next few nights the Moon will be almost invisible. For keen Moon gazers, this means less, if anything, to spot on its surface. Keep reading to see what's happening tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, April 15, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, 7% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Despite still some Moon on display, the percentage illuminated it too low to be able to spot any features on its surface.

When is the next Full Moon?

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

What are Moon phases?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will test your knowledge of multiple sports. If you love both professional and amateur competitions, then you'll have an easier time of it.

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: Keeping score

• Green: Mascots

• Blue: Ball knowledge

• Purple: A winter sport

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: MLB Teams, on Scoreboards

• Green: Tigers

• Blue: Members of the Los Angeles Lakers

• Purple: Curling Terms

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 #569 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• MLB Teams, on Scoreboards — CIN, MIL, PIT, STL

• Tigers — CLEMSON, DETROIT, LSU, MEMPHIS

• Members of the Los Angeles Lakers — DONCIC, JAMES, SMART, VANDERBILT

• Curling Terms — BONSPIEL, END, HOUSE, STONE

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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 15, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 15, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 15 Pips

Less Than (2): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this purple space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this green space must add up to be more than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this dark blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 15 Pips

Equal (5): Every domino half in this red space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 1 pip. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): The domino half in this yellow space must have 3 pips. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): The domino half in this green space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Does Not Equal: Every domino half in this purple space must have a different number of pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this red space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 15 Pips

Equal (4): Every domino half in this purple space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; and 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (23): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 23. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically; and 6-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Equal (5): Every domino half in this green space must have 5 pips. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically; and 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally; and 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.

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

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 15, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Commencement accessories

• Green: A task

• Blue: Easy peasy

• Purple: Board game parts

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Graduation gear

• Green: Tedious undertaking

• Blue: Oversimplistic

• Purple: Shapes of chess pieces

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 #1039 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Graduation gear: CAP, DIPLOMA, GOWN, TASSEL

• Tedious undertaking: CHORE, GRIND, HASSLE, TRIAL

• Oversimplistic: FACILE, FLIP, SHALLOW, TRITE

• Shapes of chess pieces: CASTLE, CROWN, HORSE, MITER

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 15, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a jewelry lover.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 15, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Gift of the month

The words are related to jewels.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe monthly gems.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Birthstone.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 15

• Topaz

• Opal

• Turquoise

• Birthstone

• Diamond

• Garnet

• Perdiot

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to get ahead.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 15, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 15, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Started.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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...

BEGUN

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

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

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 Wordle.

The Dark Wizard starts with a dream about falling.

Dean Potter, once one of the most famous climbers in the world, sits talking to the camera about the same recurring dream he's had since he was a child.

"When I was a little boy my first memory was this dream of falling," Potter says. "I always wondered as I got older, you know if it was some premonition of me falling to my death. But I just feel it so strongly — needing to go towards that unknown and that fear."

SEE ALSO: 25 best documentaries on Max to learn something new

The dream is mentioned again and again throughout Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen's four-part HBO docuseries. It's both an inciting incident for Potter's obsession with pushing the envelope and part of the mystery surrounding his character.

The Dark Wizard does an engaging — and often highly stress-inducing — job of exploring this mystery, from Potter's childhood and rise in the climbing world to his persistent struggles with mental health, in unflinching detail.

What's The Dark Wizard about? Credit: HBO

Over four episodes, the docuseries focuses on the life, achievements and complex personality of Dean Potter, a rock climber who branched out into — and often devised — a number of high-risk extreme sports. Roughly working through his life in chronological order, the series combines climbing footage, animated journal entries, and interviews with Potter's friends, contemporaries, rivals, and partner Jen Rapp, offering an insight into a man who seemed equal parts driven and haunted.

Potter's life, in short, revolved around risking it. We see him breaking the speed record for 3000-foot ascents of Yosemite's El Capitan, free soloing (climbing without a rope) various never-before-conquered routes in Yosemite, freeBASEing (a method pioneered by Potter in which he climbs ropeless while wearing a backup parachute) on the Eiger, walking barefoot across ropes strung between two high ledges, and proximity flying with a wingsuit (a form of BASE jumping which uses a modified suit to enable gliding through the air).

Potter's life, in short, revolved around risking it.

The documentary is filled with extreme sports, in other words, but to call it an extreme sports documentary would be doing it a disservice. As the title suggests, The Dark Wizard is really a portrait of the man at its centre — a humanising psychological study of a near mythic figure.

The Dark Wizard almost acts as a prequel to Free Solo

Given that free soloing in Yosemite was a big focus of Potter's, it's unsurprising that Alex Honnold — the climber famous for the first ever free solo ascent of El Capitan, who recently found additional fame soloing Tapei 101 live on Netflix — makes an appearance. What's more interesting is just how much of an impact the two clearly had on one another.

The rivalry between Potter and Honnold is unpacked in the documentary through Potter's friends and Honnold himself, who speaks with his familiar blunt honesty about how he systematically ticked off Potter's achievements in Yosemite before setting his sights on beating Potter's own personal lists of goals (his 2008 free solo of Half Dome being one of the most notable).

As well as being a tense insight into competition between two athletes at the top of their game, these sections of the docuseries serve to illustrate a key aspect of Potter's personality: the struggle between doing something for the love of it and his own ego.

Featured Video For You How 6 generations of iPhone captured 20 years of motherhood in 'Motherboard' The Dark Wizard is an extremely stressful watch Credit: HBO

The Dark Wizard does an impressive job of showing Potter's internal conflicts. He wants to do things for the art and spirituality, but his competitiveness leads to him taking bigger and bigger risks; he wants to live a free life without anyone controlling him, but he's also being offered sponsorship and large financial deals.

One particularly stress-inducing episode sees Potter travelling to China to complete a highline walk — balancing on a thin rope between two peaks — live on state media TV, for a payment of $200,000. The buildup is almost as hard to watch as the act itself. Potter argues with the people involved through his translator, demands that they don't use a safety net, and then repeatedly falls from the rope in practise runs leading up to the live broadcast. He crashes out at those closest to him and withdraws into himself completely. On the big day, when he somehow manages to make it across the line while millions of people watch, he breaks down on the far side.

This pattern — a tense buildup to a high-risk act that Potter feels pressured to complete — taps into the theme at the heart of The Dark Wizard: mental health.

The documentary is a powerful exploration of mental illness

It's clear from the series that Potter suffered with serious depression.

"It was always a struggle with his mind," Potter's friend Brad Lynch, who documented some of his most famous climbs, says early on in the first episode. "Even when I first met him he would get in his head. Like, really down. And there would be times that we'd sit together and have more than a few beers or whatever...we would literally just sit there and just cry. Like fucking weep. Both of us were just like, what is it that's stirring this shit in my head?"

Risking his life, the documentary suggests, is a kind of coping mechanism for Potter.

As Lynch is talking, we see Potter's journal entries come to life. "I need to quiet my mind," reads one. "Find clarity through emptiness."

Later, in one of the most important lines in the documentary, Lynch sums up what he believes Potter is doing whenever he takes extreme risks: "I started to realise his only therapy was the death consequence."

Risking his life, the documentary suggests, is a kind of coping mechanism for Potter.

"When I'm leashless, out on the line or on the rock, free solo, I need total concentration or I'll die," we hear him say in an old interview. "Somehow, when my life's on the line, it brings my senses to a heightened state of calmness and clarity. It's the most powerful feeling I've ever experienced."

This level of depth is what makes The Dark Wizard such a powerful series. Yes, there's breath-taking footage of the many awe-inspiring acts that made Potter famous. But rather than purely mythologising him, the filmmakers have gone to great lengths to give insight into his personal struggles and motivations. The end result is nerve-wracking, enthralling, and — in the documentary's final moments — almost unbearably sad.

The Dark Wizard premieres on HBO on April 14 at 9 p.m. ET, with new episodes airing weekly.

Anthropic put the entire tech world on notice last week with an unprecedented announcement: it made an AI model so advanced that it was too dangerous to release to the public. Anthropic said the new frontier language model, Claude Mythos Preview, would "reshape cybersecurity."

Anthropic also announced the formation of Project Glasswing, an invite-only group of organizations — including some of Anthropic's biggest competitors — to test Claude Mythos Preview and secure their infrastructure.

Anthropic said that Claude Mythos Preview "found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities, including some in every major operating system and web browser." (Emphasis in original.) The company said Project Glasswing was necessary "to help secure the world’s most critical software."

By Friday, CNBC reported that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had summoned the high priests of finance (aka banking CEOs) for an emergency meeting about the new model. New York Times writer Thomas Friedman fretted over a "terrifying" future in which any teenager armed with Claude could hack the local power grid.

The reaction to Claude Mythos Preview quickly split along predictable lines. AI boosters hailed the new model as proof that artificial general intelligence (AGI) was nigh, praising Anthropic for rolling it out so responsibly.

Critics and AI skeptics called Project Glasswing a big publicity stunt.

So, which is it?

To find out, Mashable has been reviewing Anthropic's claims and talking to AI and cybersecurity experts.

What is Claude Mythos Preview?

Claude Mythos is a new large-language model that Anthropic says performs significantly better than Claude Opus 4.6 — widely considered one of the best AI models in the world — especially in cybersecurity.

"In our testing, Claude Mythos Preview demonstrated a striking leap in cyber capabilities relative to prior models, including the ability to autonomously discover and exploit zero-day vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers," reads the Claude Mythos system card.

Is Claude Mythos a sign of AGI?

Artificial general intelligence refers to superintelligent AI that can perform better than humans across a wide range of tasks. It's not an exaggeration to say that our entire economy has been organized around the quest for AGI, as Anthropic, Google, Meta, xAI, and OpenAI pour hundreds of billions of dollars into a new arms race.

If Claude Mythos is as capable as Anthropic says, would it be an example of AGI? The model card addresses this question, and Anthropic does seem to think it's close to AGI.

Any major platform rollout in this era is going to look different to different audiences depending on their fluency and their fear tolerance. What I care about is whether the intent is real, and the evidence I've seen from Anthropic suggests it mostly is. - Howie Xu, Gen, Chief AI & Innovation Officer

In a section about Claude Mythos safety risks, Antropic writes: "Current risks remain low. But we see warning signs that keeping them low could be a major challenge if capabilities continue advancing rapidly (e.g., to the point of strongly superhuman AI systems)." Of course, Anthropic has a strong financial incentive to promote this belief.

This chart shows how Mythos compares to previous Anthropic models on the Epoch Capabilities Index (ECI), which combines multiple benchmark scores into one. Credit: Anthropic

Ultimately, the model card for Claude Mythos is more conservative than the reaction online would suggest.

For example, while the Claude Mythos model card does show that this model performs above the trend line for previous Anthropic models, Anthropic says it does not show evidence of self-improvement or recursive growth. ("Importantly, though we’re observing a slope change with Claude Mythos Preview, we do not know if this trend will continue with future models...The gains we can identify are confidently attributable to human research, not AI assistance.")

Reasons to think Project Glasswing is a publicity stunt

Don't make me tap my sign: "[When] an AI salesman tells you that AI is an unstoppable world-changing technology on the order of the agricultural revolution...you should take this prediction for what it is: a sales pitch."

I wrote those words of caution in response to an essay by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, which warned about the potentially cataclysmic dangers of AI. Anthropic also has a history of issuing dire warnings about its AI models.

You may remember the story of the Anthropic model that tried to "blackmail" a company CEO to prevent it from being turned off. In reality, Anthropic designed a test environment where blackmail was a potential outcome. This may be more akin to digital entrapment than genuine model misbehavior.

So, is Claude Mythos the latest example of the industry's Chicken Little problem?

On X, AI safety engineer Heidy Khlaaf listed a number of open questions that cast doubt on Anthropic's claims.

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Anthropic said the Claude Mythos preview found thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities. But Khlaaf says Anthropic left out key facts needed to assess this claim — the rate of false positives, how Claude Mythos compares to existing cybersecurity tools, and exactly how much manual human review was required.

"Releasing a marketing post with purposely vague language that clearly obscures evidence needed to substantiate Anthropic's claims brings into question if they are trying to garner further investment," Khlaaf told Mashable. "It also serves their 'safety first' image as they're able to frame the lack of public release, even a limited one for independent evaluation, as a public service when it simply obscures even experts' abilities to validate their claims."

We reached out to Anthropic repeatedly about these concerns, but the company did not respond. We will update this article if they do. In the Claude Mythos system card, Anthropic wrote that more data will be released in the coming weeks as the bugs Mythos found are patched and fixed.

Gary Marcus, an AI expert, scientist, author, and noted critic of the LLM hype machine, initially told Mashable that it was too soon to know whether Claude Mythos represented a new type of threat.

But Marcus has grown more skeptical since we spoke to him, and he recently wrote on X that Mythos was "nowhere near as scary" as it first seemed. "Folks, you can relax. Mythos is not some off-trend exponential gain," he wrote.

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Cybersecurity experts told Mashable it's also very unlikely Claude Mythos could be used to "turn off the lights" or bring down critical infrastructure.

"Claims about catastrophic uses of Mythos also significantly misunderstand threat models, cybersecurity risks, and the ability to propagate said risks in a way that could actually lead to safety-critical incidents," Khlaaf told us. "It's not as simple as asking a model 'hack this system,' with Anthropic's own technical blog post demonstrating a requisite of expertise that Anthropic downplays in their marketing posts."

Other experts expressed skepticism, while also acknowledging that Mythos does represent a genuine risk, which Marcus has also said.

"You could argue it didn’t need a public announcement," said Div Garg, a Stanford AI researcher and founder of AGI, Inc. "However, ultimately, the decision to limit access to only those who develop and maintain critical software is precisely what you want a business to do in such a scenario…It’s easy to criticize the limited access, but worse outcomes would arise if they released it unchecked."

Tal Kollender, Founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Remedio, told Mashable that tools like Claude Mythos are dangerous because they can automate exploit discovery.

"It's brilliant corporate theater," Kolender said. "Labeling a model 'too dangerous to release to the public' is certainly a marketing flex because it immediately creates mystique and signals immense power to investors. But beneath the PR stunt, there is a very real, very mundane truth...The cybersecurity industry doesn't actually have a 'finding' problem. We are already drowning in tools that detect vulnerabilities. What Mythos does is automate that discovery process at an unprecedented scale."

TL;DR: A week after revealing Claude Mythos Preview, some of Anthropic's biggest claims about the model look a lot sketchier, experts say. However, they also acknowledge that Claude Mythos poses a real risk.

Still, there are plenty of very valid reasons to be nervous about the new frontier model.

Reasons to think Claude Mythos Preview is a genuine threat to global cybersecurity

In the New York Times, author Thomas Friedman conjures a scenario straight out of War Games, where a teenager hacks the local power grid after school.

That scenario seems even more far-fetched a week later. But here's a much more likely scenario: A sophisticated group of hackers uses a tool like Claude Mythos to find zero-day vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure, launching attacks faster than organizations can respond.

And that scenario should worry you.

If Claude Mythos isn't the tool that can do it, most experts agree such a tool isn't far off.

And some of the world's leading cybersecurity experts certainly seem worried.

"I've found more bugs in the last couple of weeks [with Claude Mythos] than in the rest of my entire life combined," said Nicholas Carlini, a research scientist affiliated with Anthropic and Google DeepMind, in a video on the Project Glasswing website.

"On Linux, we found a number of vulnerabilities where, as a user with no permissions, I can elevate myself to the administrator by just running some binary on my machine," Carlini said.

This week, the AI Security Institute published its findings on Claude Mythos's capabilities, and it provides some independent verification that it does represent a genuine leap forward.

The AISI is research organization within the UK government's science and technology department. Credit: AISI

Claude Mythos passed AISI cybersecurity tests that no other model had ever completed, scoring higher than any other frontier model on virtually every test.

"Our testing shows that Mythos Preview can exploit systems with weak security posture, and it is likely that more models with these capabilities will be developed," AISI concluded.

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AISI also identified some limitations with Claude Mythos, which would impair its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

So, was Anthropic’s rollout of Mythos responsible AI stewardship or self-serving marketing? Experts I talked to said these options aren’t mutually exclusive.

"I'd say it's both, and that's not a criticism," said Howie Xu, Gen's Chief AI & Innovation Officer. "Any major platform rollout in this era is going to look different to different audiences depending on their fluency and their fear tolerance. What I care about is whether the intent is real, and the evidence I've seen from Anthropic suggests it mostly is."

As is often the case with fear-inducing AI headlines, the reality turned out to be more complicated.

"Personally, I don't go to bed worrying about a kid with Mythos hacking the power grid, but that doesn't mean the concern is fictional," said Xu. "We're at an inflection point where the creative and collaborative upside of these tools is massive, and the security infrastructure hasn't caught up. That gap is exactly what keeps me busy. Even a fractional probability of a serious incident is too much, which is why building a trust and security layer into the agentic era is my extreme focus."

Finally, as Anthropic stresses in the Claude Mythos model card, tools like this will likely benefit cybersecurity defenders more than hackers in the long-term. And in the short-term, a more cautious approach — like the approach being modeled with Project Glasswing — may be warranted.

TL;DR: Claude Mythos has formidable cybersecurity coding abilities, and it does represent a genuine threat. However, if hackers have access to AI tools like Claude Mythos, so will the organizations defending against such attacks.

UPDATE: Apr. 14, 2026, 9:40 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with additional information about some of the cited experts.

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