Mashable

Around the turn of the millennium, straight edge hardcore singer Bill Muir was asked by Japanese game developer Square (now known as Square Enix) to lend his vocals to a song for its upcoming RPG, Final Fantasy X. It seemed like just another recording session. Instead, it became the opening track to one of the most beloved games in the series. Twenty-five years later, "Otherworld" remains one of the most iconic video game openings ever made.

At first, Final Fantasy X lulls players into a familiar rhythm. Gentle music plays over the opening menus, evoking the orchestral soundscapes longtime fans had come to expect from the series. Then, just minutes into the game, Muir's ferocious vocals rip through the silence. As Tidus awakens and flashes back to his former life as a blitzball star in Zanarkand, "Otherworld" explodes onto the soundtrack, replacing tranquility with pounding guitars and raw aggression. It's a startling introduction that immediately announces Final Fantasy X isn't interested in playing by the series' established rules.

Muir, who was in his late twenties at the time, was living in Tokyo and performing with his band, xtillidiex (pronounced "Till I Die"), when he was asked to work on the song. A few months after the game's July 19, 2001, release in Japan, Muir got a taste of how much people loved the track.

"I remember being at a show, a later show for my band xtillidiex, as we were wrapping up and I was going to be leaving Japan, somebody having that song on as a ringtone,” Muir told Mashable over a video call from Los Angeles. "And I remember slowly turning and looking at that and being like, "Oh my goodness! Like, this [game] is a pretty big thing."

SEE ALSO: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' is everything you could want it to be

Most people who played Final Fantasy X shortly after its release were introduced to the song before social media and Shazam, which led to several rumors about its origins. Many people thought the song was by the heavy metal band Rammstein because of what Reddit users describe as an erroneous artist credit on the peer-to-peer file-sharing program Limewire — long before the days of legal music streaming, millennials turned to more illegal measures.

Others thought it was by The Black Mages, a rock band in which Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu was a member from 2002 to 2010. Either way, people were hooked, and they’re still talking about it a quarter of a century later.

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As of July 2026, "Otherworld" has close to 9 million streams on Spotify. A remastered version of the opening sequence, released in 2014, has 1.5 million views on YouTube. The song still appears on legendary video game music lists, and people continue to post on social media about it being one of the best video game openings.

In honor of the game's 25th anniversary, Square Enix is also releasing a remastered version of Final Fantasy X and its sequel X-2 for the Nintendo Switch on July 23.

The game follows Tidus after he appears to be transported 1,000 years into the future. During the "Otherworld" opening sequence, we see Tidus meeting a character named Auron (who, like his name suggests, emanates aura) and having flashbacks of Zanarkand being destroyed by a colossal, monstrous force called Sin. 

Tidus wakes up in Spira, where Sin is still wreaking havoc and destroying entire cities. He joins Yuna, a summoner who hopes to defeat Sin, and her ragtag group of guardians.

The Zanarkand ruins in Spira. Credit: Square Enix

While Final Fantasy X is often remembered for its groundbreaking graphics and cinematic cutscenes — few are as iconic as Yuna's Sending — it also stands out for its willingness to grapple with darker themes. Beneath its fantasy setting lies a story about grief, generational trauma, religious corruption, death, and the search for meaning in the face of inevitable loss. It wasn't the first Final Fantasy game to tackle those ideas, but it was the first video game I played that made the stakes feel genuinely existential.

That emotional depth resonated with millions of players. According to Square Enix, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 have sold a combined 20 million copies worldwide since their original releases in 2001 and 2003, making them among the best-selling entries in the franchise. Released on the PlayStation 2, Final Fantasy X also marked a major technical leap for the series, introducing fully voiced characters and pushing the console's graphical capabilities to create a more cinematic experience than fans had ever seen.

I was about nine or 10 years old and still riding the Kingdom Hearts high when I spotted Final Fantasy X at my local GameStop. I recognized Tidus from Kingdom Hearts, where he appears as a supporting character, and decided to give the game a chance. Up until then, my only experience with the series had been Final Fantasy III on the Nintendo DS, a relatively straightforward RPG with a whimsical fantasy world and a mellow, orchestral soundtrack. When I got home, I popped the PlayStation 2 disc into the console, my little brother settled in beside me, and hit start.

Just minutes later, we were frozen in front of the TV. As Tidus awakens in a dazzling CGI cutscene, the opening riffs of "Otherworld" crash through the speakers, replacing the serene music that had greeted us in the menus. My brother and I just stared. In an instant, Final Fantasy X announced itself as something entirely different — not just from the Final Fantasy games I'd played, but from almost every video game I'd experienced.

That sense of bold experimentation extended far beyond the opening cinematic. Final Fantasy X marked the first time longtime series composer Nobuo Uematsu shared scoring duties with other composers, bringing in Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano to help shape the soundtrack. The collaboration resulted in one of the franchise's most eclectic scores, seamlessly blending orchestral pieces, piano ballads, ambient soundscapes, and hard rock to forge a musical identity unlike any other in the Final Fantasy series.

How an unexpected meeting at a Japanese restaurant led to Muir working with Square Enix

"Otherworld" was composed by Uematsu, who recruited translator and author Alexander O. Smith to write the lyrics, and vocalist Muir to sing the song. 

Muir said he first met Smith through a mutual friend in either 1999 or 2000, while he and his bandmates were putting together demo tapes at a restaurant. When Smith said he was interested in hearing some of the band’s music, Muir charged him 200 yen for a demo tape. 

"If I had really put together how important this would be in my life, I would have given him the tape. Instead, I charged him for the tape," said Muir.

Smith obliged and said that he worked for Square Enix and that they might be looking for someone to work on a song. A few months later, Smith emailed Muir, asking him if he wanted to come into the Square Enix office for an interview.

Muir said he showed up casually in a band tee with either ripped jeans or camo shorts, with his skateboard in hand, which he said was probably inappropriate for the setting. But somehow, that didn’t deter the folks at Square Enix from giving Muir a chance.

"They played me the song, which was nothing like the song as we know it now," said Muir.

He said that they initially played the song on a keyboard and had asked him if he would be willing to rap on the track, which he turned down. 

"I'm good to go for screaming, yelling, and maybe some angry muttering, and growling," Muir said he told them. "Weirdly, that didn't turn them off."

The rest was RPG history. They brought Muir to a full studio in a basement, where Muir met the band and went over the lyrics a couple of times before recording. He said that there wasn’t much direction from Uematsu and the team on how Muir could approach the song, so it was a very hands-off process.

"They knew what I could do at that point, and whatever I was going to do, I was going to do," said Muir. 

Muir added his own touch at the end of "Otherworld," and if you listen closely, the last few lyrics are a shoutout to his band, xtillidiex: "straight edge/til I die/my lost cause, lost cause, lost cause in this world."

Rebellions, and the legacy of "Otherworld" and Final Fantasy X

It was the first game in the series to feature full voice acting, a fully 3D-rendered world, and more complex, layered sounds. Since the PlayStation 2 had twice as many audio channels (48) as the PlayStation 1 (24), it could support a wider range of sounds and music, making it the perfect platform for a collaborative soundtrack by composers Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, and Junya Nakano.

"Seeing those visuals and the story and the music, it was like nothing else that was on the market at the time," said The Night Sky Prince, a digital creator who has been making content on Final Fantasy and other Japanese RPG games for over 10 years. 

The Night Sky Prince told Mashable that previous Final Fantasy games were associated with a more synth-heavy, orchestral sound, but that the new hardware enabled a more vocal, live-instrumental approach, challenging the preconceived notion of what "video game music" is.

He said that "Otherworld," in particular, is unique to the Final Fantasy series because of its proximity to metal and rock genres.

"I feel like that genre choice is very interesting, in part because it can kind of represent rebellion, which I feel kind of represents the dynamic of Tidus and Jecht's relationship quite a lot too," he said.

In a way, the soundtrack was Uematsu’s form of rebellion, or at least his way of breaking away from the previous ways he composed the Final Fantasy soundtracks. In a 2011 interview with RPGamer, Uematsu joked that Final Fantasy wasn't him, but "Otherworld" was. He said that since Final Fantasy X was released on the PlayStation 2, he finally had a way to express rock music, which is the foundation of his work.

Combined with Muir's refusal to rap the lyrics in favor of staying true to his hardcore roots, even if it meant losing the opportunity altogether, "Otherworld" became more than just an opening theme. It challenged expectations of what a video game soundtrack could sound like, especially within the Final Fantasy series. That uncompromising spirit is still part of what keeps drawing fans back to the track.

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The Night Sky Prince said it's one of the songs that he will frequently turn on when he’s at the gym because it's the "best song to listen to while doing a bench press."

"To this day, 'Otherworld' is the only track in all of music ever made that can get me out of a funk. ‘Go. NOW. If you want it,’ reminds me that I need to get off my ass and make things happen,” said Reddit user rogdesouza in a 2025 thread about the song. "I played this game over 20 years ago on the PS2, and it has stayed with me ever since."

Digital creator DizzieDee, who is also known for her content on Final Fantasy and JRPGs, posted about the song on X on June 8 of this year. She said that Final Fantasy X had the best opening of all time, and that “Otherworld” still feels rent-free in her head.

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More than two decades later, Final Fantasy X continues to inspire a new generation of players. Fans still post guitar, piano, and drum covers of "Otherworld" across TikTok and YouTube, while creators like Ollie Dreamer continue to argue that Final Fantasy X remains the best game in the franchise.

For YouTuber The Night Sky Prince, the game's longevity comes down to one thing: replayability.

"People really like the sort of cinematic, story-driven nature of Final Fantasy X. But Final Fantasy X also offered players a lot of customization with the sphere grid, weapon builds, and the combat system was incredibly deep," he said. "Because of that, even though the game was linear, players still felt a sense of choice, whether illusory or otherwise."

Its influence can still be felt throughout the series. Final Fantasy XIII expanded on the Sphere Grid's progression with its Crystarium system and introduced Eidolons that echo X's iconic god-like Aeons. Final Fantasy XVI, meanwhile, revisits many of the themes that made X so memorable, sending its protagonist on a deeply personal journey against seemingly godlike forces.

Perhaps the most memorable callback, though, comes near the end of Final Fantasy X. "Otherworld" returns during the climactic battle against Braska's Final Aeon, who is revealed to be Tidus' father, Jecht. By then, players also know that Jecht was Sin, the monstrous force introduced during the game's opening cinematic. The song that first welcomed players into Spira comes back one last time, transforming what began as a shocking introduction into a powerful full-circle moment about grief, sacrifice, and breaking cycles of violence.

Today, Muir is still forging his own path. Outside of music, he works as a registered nurse caring for veterans and has built an online following as "Sergeant Vegan," where he shares content on nutrition, fitness, and animal and human rights advocacy. He's also writing a memoir about his time living in Tokyo and touring with his band, and hopes to one day perform "Otherworld" for Final Fantasy fans.

Looking back, though, he's simply grateful to have played a small part in something that continues to resonate with players 25 years later.

"When that song kicked in, I remember just being like, 'Oh my God, this is amazing,'" Muir said. "Just the feeling that I've accomplished something… to be a part of something that big, it just feels really, really good."

Fans can pre-download and purchase a digital version of the remastered Final Fantasy X/X-2 on the Nintendo website.

FIFA is giving the World Cup final its first Super Bowl-style halftime show, and the lineup is almost as crowded as the pitch.

Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will headline the performance during Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium. Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay will also appear, along with characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curated the show.

What time is the World Cup halftime show?

The World Cup final kicks off Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET, and the halftime show should begin sometime around 3:45 to 3:50 p.m. ET, assuming the match starts on time and there are no major delays. FIFA and Global Citizen have not announced an exact start time for the performance because, unlike the Super Bowl, soccer does not stop at a perfectly scheduled point. The first half lasts 45 minutes, but additional stoppage time will push halftime back by several minutes.

Viewers primarily interested in the music should tune in before 3:45 or risk missing the opening of the show.

The performance itself will last 11 minutes, but the full halftime break could reportedly be considerably longer since crews will need time to build and remove the stage. Broadcasters are preparing for the usual 15-minute interval to stretch to as long as 30 minutes.

Not everyone is thrilled about that possibility, especially given the sport’s history. Soccer’s rulemaking body, the International Football Association Board, normally limits halftime to 15 minutes and even rejected a 2021 proposal to extend it to 25, citing concerns about player welfare and the risks of keeping athletes inactive for too long.

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Some fans also see the extended break as another attempt to turn the World Cup into a Super Bowl-style American television spectacle, with the entertainment (and controversial ad breaks) becoming almost as important as the game.

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The halftime show will air as part of the World Cup final broadcast. English-language coverage is available on Fox, while the game can be streamed through Fox One and the Fox Sports app. Fox’s pregame coverage begins at noon ET, three hours before kickoff.

Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and stream on Peacock. Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to all 104 World Cup matches live in Spanish, including the final and its halftime performance. You can also check out Mashable's guide to watching the 2026 World Cup online for free, which includes tips for global readers and VPN users.

The halftime show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and soccer programs for children around the world. FIFA says more than $50 million has already been raised, including $1 donated from every ticket sold during the tournament.

True ice cream is a labor-intensive process that requires double boilers to make custard, on top of all the churning time. But innovation has brought convenience to the kitchen. Instant ice cream machines like the TikTok-famous Ninja Creami make ice cream easy for anyone to make at home

These appliances take a hint from blenders and spin a blade through a frozen mix, which breaks it up and mixes it up into a creamy, fluffy ice cream texture. These ice cream makers are even back on trend in 2026 as proteinmaxxing has people focused on their macros and sneaking protein in wherever they can, which means even in dessert. Right now, TikTok is full of Ninja Creami recipes that involve protein powders.

I've been using the Ninja Creami and Ninja Slushi for years, and I also tested the buzzy new Ninja Creami Scoop & Swirl. But in honor of National Ice Cream Day, I wanted to find the best ice cream maker for your countertop, too. So, I tested three buzzy models to find out if they're really worth it, and if the Ninja Creami is still king of the kitchen.

SEE ALSO: National Ice Cream Day 2026 deals: Score free food from Dairy Queen, Ben & Jerry's, Target, and more

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch soccer.

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: Goalie

• Green: World Cup arenas

• Blue: World Cup scorers

• Purple: The best of the best

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Prevent a Goal

• Green: Stadiums to Host World Cup Final

• Blue: World Cup Golden Ball Winners

• Purple: Golden___

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 #664 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Prevent a Goal: BLOCK, PARRY, SAVE, STOP

• Stadiums to Host World Cup Final: AZTECA, MARACANA, ROSE BOWL, SOCCER CITY

• World Cup Golden Ball Winners: FORLAN, MARADONA, MODRIC, ZIDANE

• Golden___: BALL, BOOT, GLOVE, GOAL

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

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

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

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

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

Released in August 2025, 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 July 19, 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 July 19, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 19 Pips

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 19 Pips

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 19 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Millennials, the first computer generation, recall many a classroom lecture about the unreliability of Wikipedia. We were told to be wary of unverified forum posts. We were advised to seek out primary sources on the World Wide Web, and the place to start was Google. 

Now, as Gen Alpha enters AI-powered classrooms, can Google Search no longer be trusted?

A new report by child safety watchdog Common Sense Media concluded that Google's modernized, AI-powered Search poses an "unacceptable risk" to young Googlers. In fact, the report authors say, the generative AI search engine is so risky that students should stop using it completely until Google educators can turn the AI off.

SEE ALSO: Teens talking to Meta AI about suicide will trigger alert Google's AI Search as classroom threat 

Child safety advocates have been urging schools to ditch classroom technology for years. As generative AI embeds itself in educational products, those cries have gotten louder. But while it's easy to see the potential harm in introducing something like ChatGPT to young students, it may not be as obvious that a simple Google search exposes young learners to AI.

Google launched AI Mode for Search last year. Unlike AI Overviews' rollout, AI Mode was available to everyone, immediately, including education accounts. Both Common Sense Media and other experts Mashable spoke to said this was alarming, primarily because Google's AI Mode is powered by Gemini models — models that are age-gated in other Google experiences, including on Google's educational technology suite. 

Google Search is a tentpole product for the tech giant and an essential tool for both educators and students, Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs at Common Sense Media, explained. "Google is an outsized player in both the search space and the education space."

The company helmed a 1:1 device movement that saw the introduction of personal devices, like Chromebooks, in schools across the country. Google Workspace for Education now powers administrative suites and classroom resources. The company later became a major evangelist for AI implementation, introducing, and then ultimately rescaling, Gemini for Education. Google now boasts millions of Workspace for Education, Chromebook, and other Google educational product users ranging from Kindergartners to post-grads.

By making generative AI fundamental to Google's products — to the point where many users don't even realize they're using it — Google has eroded years of trust, sources told Mashable.

Googling isn't so simple anymore

For one, researchers have found Google's AI Overviews are prone to repeating misinformation, an early product sticking point that has not yet been resolved by the tech giant. Much like existing problems with chatbots, sources told Mashable, the product's design suggests an air of authority that can easily confuse adults, let alone children.

In addition, Common Sense Media found that Google's AI tools readily completed homework assignments for minor users. Experts suggest that this combination of misleading design, varying responses, and the agreeable nature of chatbots (including AI Mode) may lead students to unknowingly cheat. At the bare minimum, they say, searching on Google may be making learning harder.

"They are infusing AI in developmentally inappropriate ways through Search," explained Amanda Bickerstaff, deputy director of AI for Education. The organization works with educational institutions to build out AI literacy programs and reduce the potentially negative impact of generative AI tools on children's learning. 

There is no reason why a 10-year-old, 13-year-old, or even 15-year-old should see an AI Overview or have AI Mode. - Amanda Bickerstaff, AI for Education

Bickerstaff called AI Mode a backdoor for students to access unsafe generative AI experiences. It's also complicating educators' ability to enshrine literacy skills in the next generation, Bickerstaff explained, replicating some of the worst parts of chatbot design right in a previously reliable information environment. 

"There is no reason why a 10-year-old, 13-year-old, or even 15-year-old should see an AI Overview or have AI Mode," said Bickerstaff. "When teaching AI literacy, the first step is to be intentional. These modes are the opposite. You don't go to a search engine to get a chatbot answer, you go to search for real things."

According to Common Sense Media's report, AI Overviews and Google's new Search chatbot AI Mode could also pose mental health and safety risks to children.

Google does not offer the option to disable only AI features while keeping Search accessible. That means children can still be exposed to generative AI while at school even when guardrails are in place, simply by doing their schoolwork. Parents can turn off Search entirely or block Google.com for the child accounts they manage, Google explains. School administrators could theoretically do the same for Workspace for Education accounts, bricking the Google Search domain for all users. Bickerstaff sees this as putting educators between a rock and a hard place. "What are you going to say? That kids can't search the web?"

In a statement to Mashable following the report's release, Google said Common Sense Media's stress testing was narrow and ambiguous, and not an "effective way to measure product safety and helpfulness." Common Sense Media did not test Workspace for Education accounts, only consumer accounts. However, Google expressed that the AI-powered Search experience is the same for all users, said Torney.

SEE ALSO: The fierce battle over AI in schools Could AI Search be a legal nightmare for schools?

Because of this, sources Mashable spoke to said that it may be time to cut ties with Google.

"Google’s AI Overview and AI Mode are undermining kids’ education, supplying them with dangerous disinformation, and putting their very lives at risk," said David Monahan, campaign director for child safety nonprofit Fairplay for Kids. "If Google is not even willing to disable AI features for students, schools should stop using Google products altogether."

Common Sense Media's report could be a startling wake-up call for school districts, said Anya Meksin, deputy director of Schools Beyond Screens, a national coalition pushing for school policies that limit tech use in classrooms. Schools Beyond Screens recently spearheaded new tech use policies at Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a screen time ban for kindergarten and first grade classes. 

Both Fairplay and Schools Beyond Screens are leading calls for years-long moratoriums on Gen AI use in schools. Meksin explained that advocates have already sounded the alarm about AI Search and other integrated Google products, not just chatbots.

"We are shocked by the way Big Tech has colonized public education with their products," Meksin said. "We have to treat this as an emergency. Education is the foundation of our democracy, and they are knowingly disabling our children from being able to fight back against these companies in the future."

School districts, including LAUSD, have struggled to address the problems posed by the reliance on classroom tech, often in violation of their own burgeoning AI policies, she explained. 

"School districts are instantly in violation of any policies put in place because of the speed of the technology and the way AI is embedded," said Meksin. For example, LAUSD's new policy bans students under 13 years of age from using generative AI in school. But through products like Chromebooks and Google Search on school computers, students can still interact with AI Mode. 

We have to treat this as an emergency. - Anya Meksin, Schools Beyond Screens

Over the last 20 years, K-12 schools have spent billions to outfit their classrooms with educational technology. Meksin said she was told by several districts that it would be impossible to fully disable such expansive services, including Google products like Chromebooks.  

"We find this position to be completely laughable," Meksin said. "School districts are liable for exposing children to products known to cause severe and lasting harm." She believes educational institutions could enter the same legal hot water as social media and AI companies. 

Google and its parent company Alphabet recently faced its first wrongful death lawsuit after a user died by suicide following conversations with Gemini. YouTube, also owned by Alphabet, was found guilty of negligent platform design and subsequent mental health harm to minor users. Torney likened the rollout of Google's AI features to the introduction of YouTube to classrooms, which has also come under fire from child safety advocates.

Instead of opening themselves up to greater liability, Meksin believes school districts should push for change from Big Tech — starting with stronger controls for embedded generative AI features now available on school devices. "As the largest purchasers of these products, districts have power. If Google refuses to comply, districts must cease using these products and void these contracts." 

The 2026 World Cup final is here at last. We've had weeks of epic contests between the best sides in the world, and it all comes down to this. It's the defending champions against the Euro 2024 winners for a shot at immortality. The likes of Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi will battle it out for the trophy.

Here's all the information you need to watch the final.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 19

• World Cup Final: Spain vs. Argentina (New York New Jersey Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games todayWatch Spain vs. Argentina

Argentina are the defending champions, but they've largely relied on late goals to make the final. Spain didn't hit their best form in the group stage, but they've built momentum with some big wins in the knockout rounds, including an impressive victory over favorites France. Neither side is coming into this clash as real favorites, and we expect the final to be decided by a moment of brilliance or a mistake.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

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We own our laptops, our smartphones, and our tablets… so why isn’t there an option to own our cloud storage? Drime Secure Cloud Storage makes that possible, and this deal lets you pay once to secure 6TB of space for life.

Drime Secure Cloud Storage isn’t just more affordable than the competitors; it’s also safer. Your data is protected with end-to-end encryption. Drime is also a Europe-based, GDPR-compliant company, which means your data is hosted in Europe and never routed through the United States.

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If you’ve ever copied the same prompt into three different AI tools just to see which one gives the best answer, you’re not alone. Different models excel at different things — but juggling tabs and subscriptions gets old fast. 

ChatPlayground AI puts the top AI models in one place, so you can compare responses side by side without the back-and-forth. Until 11:59 p.m. PT tonight, a lifetime subscription is on sale for $59.97.

GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more — all in one clean interface. It’s built for people who iterate fast, test variations, and actually care about optimizing results.

Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.

The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.

If you’re already paying for multiple AI tools — or constantly switching between them — this consolidates everything into one streamlined platform.

Grab lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited for $59.97 through tonight — July 19 — at 11:50 p.m. PT and stop juggling models for good.

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TL;DR: A lifetime Windows 11 Pro license is just $7.97 instead of $199 through today only.

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If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $7.97 (MSRP $199) through 11:59 p.m. PT tonight — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.

This really isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.

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But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $7.97 (MSRP $199) through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Rode over.

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

DROVE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Salt water.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 19, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRINE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Bombardment.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 19, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BLITZ

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Fabric.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CLOTH

Final Hurdle hint

Tunes.

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

MUSIC

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

Wondering what you're looking at on the Moon's surface? Wonder no more, with the help of NASA's Daily Moon Guide, we've broken down all the features you might be looking at when you look up tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, July 19, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with 29% of its surface visible.

You won't need any visual aids to be able to spot the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. However, if you do have binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon completes one full cycle around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight different phases along the way, NASA explains. Although the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes as it travels around Earth. This changing angle of illumination is what makes the Moon appear to transform throughout the month, from a thin crescent to a half-lit Moon and eventually a fully illuminated Full Moon, before starting the cycle again.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're good at reading people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 19, 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: Electrical

• Green: To match

• Blue: Using the john

• Purple: Body language

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Circuit components

• Green: Digital coupling verbs

• Blue: Things toilets do

• Purple: ___ face expressions

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 #1134 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Circuit components: BREAKER, FUSE, RELAY, SWITCH

• Digital coupling verbs: CONNECT, JOIN, PAIR, SYNC

• Things toilets do: DRAIN, FLUSH, REFILL, SWIRL

• ___ face expressions: GAME, LONG, POKER, STRAIGHT

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 19, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you like things large.

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 July 19, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Big talk

The words are related to size.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe large things.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Supersize it.

NYT Strands word list for July 19

• Giant

• Behemoth

• Leviathan

• Mammoth

• Colossum

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to make food from scratch.

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 July 19, 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 July 19, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A way to make butter.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CHURN

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 today's Wordle.

Netflix paid over half a billion dollars for Ben Affleck's AI startup InterPositive, which he founded in 2022.

According to Variety, Netflix's Form 10-Q report with the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed that it paid $587 million in cash for an acquisition in March. While the company they acquired goes unnamed in the report, the InterPositive acquisition was announced on March 5, and a Bloomberg report estimated that Netflix could have paid up to $600 million.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Wonka' reality show will use AI-generated voice of Gene Wilder

According to the March 5 deal announcement, Netflix viewed its acquisition of InterPositive as "investing in creator-led innovation that keeps filmmakers at the center of the process."

In that same announcement, Affleck wrote: "In 2022, I spent a lot of time observing the early rise of AI in production. As a filmmaker, I could see how these models came up short. For artists to apply these tools towards telling the stories we dedicate our lives to, they need to be purpose-built to represent and protect all the qualities that make a great story."

In a video released alongside the acquisition announcement, Affleck emphasized that InterPositive was "not about text prompting or generating something from nothing."

Instead, he explained, InterPositive's tools build a model specific to the film being made, which then gets employed during post-production for processes like mixing and coloring. According to Affleck, this would allow filmmakers to focus on performances in the moment.

As reported by Deadline in April, a 2024 patent application filed by Affleck stated that InterPositive's technology would yield "substantial" savings. It could potentially "replace" costs tied to everything from background artists to splinter film units to reshoots, leading to a "20% reduction in schedule and physical production," as well as a 50% reduction in VFX cost.

A new Disney princess might be getting the live-action treatment soon: Princess Tiana, from 2009's The Princess and the Frog.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' sails towards a record-breaking opening weekend

On Friday, Deadline reported that Emmy and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (Euphoria, Sing Sing) and Tony-nominated director Robert O'Hara (Slave Play) are in talks to co-write a live-action film centered on Tiana.

Originally voiced by Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is a determined waitress from New Orleans who hopes to one day open her own restaurant. Her grand plan gets derailed when she's turned into a frog alongside Maldonia's cursed Prince Naveen (voiced by Bruce Campos). So begins an adventure through the Louisiana bayou, with the two eventually falling in love. By the end of the film, the pair return to their human forms and get married. That's not all: Tiana's dreams finally come true with the grand opening of her restaurant, Tiana's Palace.

However, Domingo and O'Hara's film, still in extremely early days, reportedly won't just be a live-action retread of The Princess and the Frog, the way most of Disney's live-action projects are. Instead, it is set to be an original spin-off story, similar to Beauty and the Beast spin-off Gaston, also in development.

The original take on a beloved character could be just what Disney needs as it continues with its live-action projects. 2026's Moana and 2025's Snow White both floundered at the box office, suggesting audiences are growing tired with the constant remakes of classics. However, 2025's Lilo & Stitch did earn over $1 billion, so the appetite for live-action versions of certain properties remains.

True to its source material, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is headed for an epic opening weekend at the box office.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' review: Christopher Nolan turns an epic myth into a movie masterpiece

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Odyssey raked in $17.6 million from domestic Thursday night previews and is on track for a $117 million opening weekend. That would make it the best domestic opening for a live-action film this year, surpassing Michael, which took in $97 million and went on to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide in July. The two best domestic openings of the year belong to animated films: Toy Story 5 ($160 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131.7 million).

A $117 million opening would also be the best opening for an R-rated film in 2026, overtaking Backrooms ($81.4 million). It would also be the best opening for an R-rated movie from Universal Pictures, a record formerly held by Fifty Shades of Grey ($85.1 million).

The Odyssey's opening weekend box office is also set to surpass that of Nolan's prior film, Oppenheimer ($82.4 million), making it his biggest since The Dark Knight Rises, which still holds a commanding lead with $160 million.

Based on The Odyssey's reported production cost of $250 million and reported marketing cost of $125 million, Forbes estimates that after theaters take their cuts, it will take between $625 to $750 million for The Odyssey to break even. However, given Nolan's track record, The Odyssey is sure to have massive legs, especially in premium, if exclusive, formats like IMAX 70mm. Screenings for that format in particular are sold out for weeks into the future, and have been since tickets for The Odyssey went on sale last year.

Clearly, the demand for The Odyssey is there. Could it be Nolan's third film to break $1 billion, following in the footsteps of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises?

The Odyssey is now in theaters.

True to its source material, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is headed for an epic opening weekend at the box office.

SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' review: Christopher Nolan turns an epic myth into a movie masterpiece

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Odyssey raked in $17.6 million from domestic Thursday night previews and is on track for a $117 million opening weekend. That would make it the best domestic opening for a live-action film this year, surpassing Michael, which took in $97 million and went on to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide in July. The two best domestic openings of the year belong to animated films: Toy Story 5 ($160 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131.7 million).

A $117 million opening would also be the best opening for an R-rated film in 2026, overtaking Backrooms ($81.4 million). It would also be the best opening for an R-rated movie from Universal Pictures, a record formerly held by Fifty Shades of Grey ($85.1 million).

The Odyssey's opening weekend box office is also set to surpass that of Nolan's prior film, Oppenheimer ($82.4 million), making it his biggest since The Dark Knight Rises, which still holds a commanding lead with $160 million.

Based on The Odyssey's reported production cost of $250 million and reported marketing cost of $125 million, Forbes estimates that after theaters take their cuts, it will take between $625 to $750 million for The Odyssey to break even. However, given Nolan's track record, The Odyssey is sure to have massive legs, especially in premium, if exclusive, formats like IMAX 70mm. Screenings for that format in particular are sold out for weeks into the future, and have been since tickets for The Odyssey went on sale last year.

Clearly, the demand for The Odyssey is there. Could it be Nolan's third film to break $1 billion, following in the footsteps of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises?

The Odyssey is now in theaters.

Can wildfire smoke get into your house?

Yes. It won't be visibly hazy like it is outside, but particulate matter like wildfire smoke — 20 to 30 times smaller than a human hair — can seep into your home in several different ways. Many air purifiers have sensors that provide live air quality metrics from the room they're in, including PM2.5 (particulate matter).

Indoor air still isn't innately clean when there's not a major air quality event happening. Indoor air pollution can be caused by cleaning products, cooking smoke, or microplastics embedded into dust or pet dander. It's all the more reason to keep an air purifier running 24/7 at home, regardless of whether you have allergies or not.

Just how bad is wildfire smoke for our health?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wildfire smoke can cause breathing issues, headaches, lethargy, coughing, and wheezing, to name a few ill effects. This applies to everyone after repeated exposure, not just "sensitive groups."

Even if you feel fine, smoke particles are small enough to get into our bloodstream. According to Yale Medicine, that means they also have access to other organs like the heart and the liver. Over time, exposure to PM 2.5 might lead to an increased risk of cancers, heart attack, and cognitive issues. Particulate matter like smoke can also mess with your skin barrier and trigger oxidative stress, actively working against your skincare routine.

Those who have asthma, heart disease, or diabetes are at an increased risk of getting sick. Kids and pregnant people are also considered high-risk when it comes to getting sick from wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke also affects the health of our pets. It can irritate their eyes, make it hard for them to breathe, or damage their tiny respiratory systems. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that if we can see or feel the effects from smoke, our pets can as well. That's especially true for pets with cardiovascular or respiratory issues.

The benefits of an air purifier

If your neighborhood gets socked in with wildfire smoke, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you keep windows and doors closed. Even still, it’s possible smoke can seep in under doors, through cracks, or from vents in the kitchen and bathroom. Running a portable air purifier can help cut down on harmful particles that might enter your home. 

Air purifiers work by sucking in the room’s air and sending it through a filtration system.

Most high-quality air purifiers do so with a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air) in addition to a few other filters. A pre-filter is a great addition, and it looks similar to a screen with a fine weave. These help capture dust and hair, which leaves the more-important HEPA filter cleaner and less clogged up from larger debris that can float around in the air. A HEPA filter is capable of removing 99.97% of tiny particulate matter in the air that we can’t see, but can cause us discomfort, according to the EPA. That includes wildfire smoke, cigarette smoke, pollution from nearby traffic, pollen, and dust.

A briefing on particulate matter: PM 10 and PM 2.5

When shopping for an air purifier, you’ll see many models explain that they capture particulate matter, or PM. For the most part, that’s stuff in the air that you don’t really want to inhale. We measure PM by its diameter. Either with an on-unit display or in the app, most air purifiers will track the level of PM 10 and PM 2.5 in the air. To help get a baseline of understanding, a single strand of human hair measures between 50 and 70 microns in diameter, according to measurements from the EPA.

• PM 10: Particulate matter that measures 10 microns in diameter includes dust, pollen, mold, and some wildfire smoke particles.

• PM 2.5: These tiny particles measure 2.5 microns in diameter, which is true of the majority of particles emitted from wildfire smoke. 

Since PM is so small, it can enter our bloodstream and nestle itself deep in the lungs, according to Yale Medicine.

Do air purifiers help with allergies and viruses?

Since HEPA filters are designed to scrub the air of potentially harmful particles, they can also help cut down on pollen, dust, and even viruses. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says using a HEPA filter can reduce airborne allergens that wind up indoors. That can be from an open window, your clothes you wore to the park, or even when the dog comes home from a walk.

An air purifier with a HEPA filter can also be helpful during cold and flu season. Not all virus particles are large enough to get captured by HEPA filters. However, many are launched into the air via a cough or sneeze so those virus particles are traveling within a larger particle (what the CDC calls a respiratory droplet) which can get filtered out by a HEPA. By no means does using an air purifier mean you won’t get ill if you hang out in a room with a sick person all day, but it might reduce the likelihood.