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TL;DR: Watch Croatia vs. England in the Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League has an absolutely stacked schedule this weekend, which is great news for fans missing the domestic game.

Croatia host England in Rijeka. The game will be played behind closed doors due to crowd disturbances involving Croatia fans during a Nations League match against France last year. That shouldn't impact the quality on display. Both teams have secured three points after two games, so the winner here will cement their place in the top two in the standings.

If you're interested in watching Croatia vs. England in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Croatia vs. England?

Croatia vs. England in the Nations League kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 3. This fixture takes place at the Stadion Riejka.

How to watch Croatia vs. England for free

Croatia vs. England in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream Croatia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Croatia vs. England for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Croatia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Croatia vs. England without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Croatia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A viral video from Figure AI's robotics lab shows a fleet of its decommissioned F.02 humanoid robots diving into molten steel, an homage to an iconic scene in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

The footage is absolutely wild.

A robot considers its fate. Credit: Figure AI

Figure AI is based in San Jose, California, and its F.02 robots are being replaced by the new F.03 generation. To retire the last of its F.02 fleet, the company hired Terminator star (and former California governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger, consulted with former MythBusters team members, and traveled to a steel plant in Finland with a camera crew. The robots were programmed to autonomously leap into a vat of molten steel in spectacular fashion.

Taking the leap... Credit: Figure AI

One of the robots was even lowered into the forge on a chain, recreating the famous thumbs-up gesture Schwarzenegger's character makes at the end of the film.

At its San Jose headquarters, the company trained the robots to make the leap, and even practiced with large airbags. But finding a place to perform the stunt proved more difficult.

"None of the metal foundries we contacted in the US and Mexico would let us jump a robot with lithium-ion batteries into their expensive equipment. We even reached out to former MythBusters to help with the search. In the end, the only place in the world we could find willing to take this on was a foundry in Imatra, Finland," the company wrote in a blog post detailing the stunt.

Driven to the edge... Credit: Figure AI Cannonball! Credit: Figure AI

The company isn't letting the now-melted F.02 robots go entirely to waste. The resulting metal was fashioned into limited-edition artifacts that the company is now selling online.

And for anyone wondering whether the footage is real, the company addressed that, too: "In an age of AI-generated footage, it’s worth being clear: we really trained robots to jump autonomously, shipped them to Finland, and had them leap into a vat of molten steel. We hope you enjoy the film."

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For nearly two decades, writers on the internet have been adding to the SCP Foundation, a fictional world where a secret organization keeps supernatural creatures, strange objects, and unexplained phenomena hidden from the public. Their stories fill an online wiki, often taking the form of classified files detailing what each discovery does and how to keep it contained.

Now, that world is heading to theaters. Neon has announced an SCP Foundation anthology movie for 2027, bringing multiple stories together in one film with a focus on emerging filmmakers. It joins the separately announced A24-backed V/H/S: SCP, an expansion of the V/H/S horror franchise being produced with Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Studios. Both films are targeting theatrical releases in 2027, so two different adaptations are in the works.

If "SCP Foundation" means absolutely nothing to you, don't worry. You don't need to have spent years reading fictional incident reports to catch up. Here's everything you need to know about the collaborative writing project, the universe its contributors have created, and why Hollywood's interest has sparked debate.

What is the SCP Foundation? Credit: Screenshot/SCP Foundation Wiki

The name refers to both the fictional secret organization and the real collaborative writing project built around it. Within the stories, the Foundation locates, studies, and contains "anomalies": creatures, objects, places, or phenomena that defy the rules of reality. Its mission is to keep those anomalies hidden from the public and protect humanity, while also protecting the anomalies themselves until they can be better understood.

In real life, the SCP Wiki is a website where contributors write fiction set around that premise. The wiki was founded in 2008, and readers can explore individual entries, longer stories, artwork, and different interpretations of the setting.

What does SCP stand for?

"Secure, Contain, Protect" is the Foundation's motto. The initials also refer to "Special Containment Procedures," the instructions for managing individual anomalies. That's why you'll see names such as SCP-173 or SCP-682. These are identifying numbers for entries in the fictional database, rather than installments you need to read in order.

Many entries resemble internal documents, with an item number, an object class, containment instructions, and a description. Some add interviews, experiment logs, or incident reports that gradually reveal what has gone wrong. The format gives the horror its particular flavor: Something impossible has happened, and the people describing it have already developed a protocol. You get to discover why they needed one.

Like the Backrooms, Slender Man, and Jeff the Killer, SCP grew out of creepypasta, the internet tradition of sharing unsettling fictional stories that take on a life of their own as people circulate and expand on them. SCP's starting point was SCP-173, posted to 4chan's paranormal /x/ board in 2007. Other writers began inventing their own strange creatures and objects, gradually building a fictional organization to contain them all.

SEE ALSO: Hollywood wants the internet’s next horror hit What are some examples of SCPs?

Some SCPs are the stuff of nightmares: SCP-173 is a hostile concrete statue that cannot move while someone is looking directly at it (meaning the people handling it must warn one another before blinking). SCP-682, meanwhile, is an intelligent, reptile-like creature that hates living things and keeps regenerating despite the Foundation's efforts to destroy it. But there’s room for something a little friendlier, too: SCP-999 is a playful orange blob that enjoys interacting with people and makes them feel happy through touch. The list of SCPs goes on and on.

Keeping track of these anomalies involves more than assigning numbers. Entries use classifications such as "Safe," "Euclid," and "Keter" to describe how difficult they are to contain. (Safe means containment is relatively straightforward, Euclid means it is more complex, and Keter means it is particularly difficult.)

As for how all these stories fit together, there’s some flexibility. The newcomer guide explains that SCP has no single overarching canon, so writers can offer different versions of the Foundation’s history, resources, and behavior. Some stories share a setting or reference one another, and the Canon Hub collects works that follow common rules and maintain continuity. But you don’t have to make every entry line up to enjoy what you’re reading.

Why are the movies causing debate?

The same openness that lets creators expand SCP also shapes how a studio can adapt it. The wiki's work is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, commonly shortened to CC BY-SA 3.0. As its licensing guide explains, creators can make adaptations, including commercial ones, but must provide attribution and release their derivative work under the required license. Other people can then copy, share, and build on that adaptation under its terms.

Following the Sept. 11 announcement of the A24-backed film, the team behind the SCP Wiki raised concerns about communication and licensing. They said no one involved in the film had contacted them and emphasized that A24 could not claim exclusive rights to SCP. Their concern came down to whether the filmmakers would respect the rules that let everyone build on the project: "[A24] does not need our permission or involvement to create a work under the terms of our license," they wrote. "Our concern is whether they will follow the license."

Neon, meanwhile, addressed the licensing question in its Sept. 30 announcement, saying it would release the film and related materials under CC BY-SA. In a separate statement, the volunteers who run the SCP Wiki said they had helped Neon with licensing questions and offered basic advice, and were satisfied that the studio intended to follow the requirements. That doesn’t make it an official collaboration, though. "This is not an ‘official’ SCP Foundation film, as staff does not endorse such projects in our official capacity," they wrote.

For some fans, that approach has earned Neon goodwill before a single scene has been released. In a Reddit discussion of the wiki's statement, commenters praised the studio's communication, while others emphasized their hopes for the adaptation itself. "Hoping that whatever comes out respects the amazing work that the writers do," one wrote.

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Others are wondering how the business side will work. In another thread, commenters debated whether audiences would pay for a movie that could also be legally shared under its license.

Neon’s SCP Foundation movie is slated to reach theaters in 2027. Until then, the SCP Wiki offers plenty to explore, if you dare.

The best early October Prime Day headphones and earbuds deals: Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort headphones (2nd gen) $319 (save $40) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds $247.99 (save $52) Get Deal Best budget headphones deal Sony WH-CH720N $98 (save $81.99) Get Deal

Just like that, fall is here and so is the holiday shopping season — well, almost.

We're kicking things off with Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, otherwise known as October Prime Day. The sitewide sale runs from Oct. 6 to 7, but deals on headphones are already popping up that are more than worth picking up ahead of time, especially if you want to avoid the chaos of the sale.

SEE ALSO: Amazon announces dates for Prime Big Deal Days, its 48-hour 'October Prime Day' sale

Standouts include the first-ever price cut on the new Bose QuietComfort headphones (some of the best I've tested this year) and a $52 price cut on the Technics EAH-AZ100, our favorite premium earbuds for sound quality. Other deals have had some fluctuation in the lead-up — the AirPods Pro dropped to $199 only to go back to $234 — but we'll be keeping this list updated as we head into the sale next week.

Below, check out the best headphones and earbuds deals live ahead of October Prime Day, according to someone who tests them.

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones (2nd gen) $319 at Amazon
$359 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose QuietComfort headphones stand out the most (so far) in a year of many releases. With immersive audio, comfort for all-day wear, excellent active noise cancellation, and clear, robust sound quality, these headphones are very comparable to the significantly more expensive Bose QC Ultra headphones.

This $40 price drop is their first ever sale following their recent release, but I'd be surprised if it drops much more for Prime Day proper. In other words, if you're looking to get a good deal on these headphones, now is the time to buy.

Read Mashable's review of the Bose QuietComfort headphones (2nd gen).

More headphones and earbuds deals

• Soundcore Q20i — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• Marshall Major V — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $98 $179.99 (save $81.99)

• Beats Solo 4 — $149.95 $199.95 (save $50)

• Sony ULT headphones — $132.95 $249.99 (save $117.04)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $234 $249 (save $15)

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless — $244.90 $449 (save $55.09)

• Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds — $247.99 $299.99 (save $52)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $509.99 $549 (save $39.01)

If you spend time scrolling YouTube Shorts, you’ve probably seen plenty of podcast excerpts, livestream highlights, and interview clips uploaded by someone other than the original creator.

Taking moments from podcasts, interviews, livestreams, or other videos and repackaging them as short-form content is called "clipping," but now, YouTube wants those accounts to bring more to the table.

According to an Oct. 2 announcement, YouTube is updating its Shorts recommendation systems to "improve the Shorts experience for everyone." The update encourages creators to upload "original commentary, unique edits, or storytelling."

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The change will work to further prioritize original content and reduce the reach of videos reposted from other creators without meaningful additions. But it could also complicate life for the wider clipping ecosystem, which many streamers and podcasters depend on to reach audiences.

The platform also cautions against relying on "minor technical edits" or "template-based changes" simply to alter a video. The question, then, is what you’re adding. Using a podcast excerpt to develop an argument or explain a topic is different from republishing that excerpt with a few cosmetic changes.

Clipping has developed into a robust marketing business, with creators and brands paying accounts and fans to distribute short excerpts of their content. Platforms such as Whop connect clippers with campaigns and handle payouts. YouTuber Airrack even launched a clipping agency, Clipfarm, through Whop in 2025.

The incentive is straightforward: Get views, get paid. Marketers told Business Insider back in March that clippers are typically offered $1 to $4 per 1,000 views — equivalent to $1,000 to $4,000 for a million qualifying views, before campaign limits or other conditions. So, YouTube's new policy could have big impacts beyond lower view counts. For clippers paid based on performance, less reach on YouTube Shorts could also mean a smaller payout.

Does this mean clipping is dead?

That’s how internet retention strategist Mario Joos framed the news in a post on X, celebrating the change as a way to address quality issues on the platform.

"RIP clipping," he writes. "While this will piss off some people whose entire careers were built on the premise of other people’s content (mostly clippers), the change itself is amazing and will finally address the overall quality issue we’ve been seeing."

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His enthusiasm makes sense for creators who want their original work to reach viewers. The accounts most directly in YouTube’s sights are those primarily reposting other creators’ work without substantial changes. Commentary, storytelling, and creative editing remain part of the platform’s advice for people using outside footage.

For clip channels, that raises the stakes of what happens between finding a good moment and hitting upload. The moment may belong to someone else. YouTube wants a reason to recommend your version.

TL;DR: Watch France vs. Italy in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is showcasing a number of really interesting fixtures this week, but France vs. Italy might be the best.

Italy lost its opening game against Belgium but bounced back with a famous 4-1 victory over a struggling Turkey last time out. France has beaten Belgium and Turkey under new boss Zinedine Zidane, and they'll be confident of securing another three points at the Stade de France.

If you're interested in watching France vs. Italy in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is France vs. Italy?

France vs. Italy in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Oct. 2. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.

How to watch France vs. Italy for free

France vs. Italy in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.

TF1 is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can live stream France vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Italy for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in France

4. Visit TF1

5. Watch France vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch France vs. Italy without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including France

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream France vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Gay hookup app Grindr will acquire the telehealth provider Freddie, which provides PrEP medication to prevent HIV, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The $250 million deal, in cash and stock, is the app's first major acquisition and represents an expansion beyond dating. The plan is to offer PrEP at little to no cost through Grindr's platform, Grindr CEO George Arison told the Wall Street Journal.

SEE ALSO: The gay slang to know for your next vacation, according to Grindr

The purchase is the "logical next step," Arison continued, "where we can deeply integrate the Grindr product experience with getting a medication that is lifesaving, and that a lot more people should be on than are on today."

Freddie will be merged with Woodwork, the telehealth company Grindr launched last year, into a single Grindr Health experience, the Wall Street Journal reported. "Grindr Health is going to be an area of the business that we're going to focus a lot more on, in addition to our normal subscriptions and advertising," Arison said.

Grindr agreed to pay £26 million to settle a lawsuit over allegations that it shared users' HIV statuses.

Meta has a hit on its hands: its Muse AI assistant has proven extremely popular.

Less than a month after Meta released Muse, the AI assistant has already surpassed 5 million downloads. Meta's Muse app reached this milestone on Wednesday, according to mobile data firm Sensor Tower.

Muse hit 5 million downloads in just 3 weeks, even faster than long-established AI apps like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Elon Musk's Grok. ChatGPT took 56 days to reach 5 million downloads; Claude hit the mark at 103 days; and Grok needed 492 days to reach the milestone.

The Muse app currently sits in the #1 position, topping both Apple's App Store and Google's Play app charts.

SEE ALSO: 10 ways to use Meta's Muse AI app, from flight credits to outfit ideas

According to Sensor Tower, while Muse has record downloads for an AI app, it's not breaking any general app records. Streaming services like Disney+ and HBO Max, games like Candy Crush, Pokémon Go, and Fortnite, and even Meta's own social media platform Threads all reached more than 5 million downloads within the same amount of time.

Meta has gone all-in when it comes to promoting Muse.

While the company appears to have succeeded so far, it hasn't been without controversy. There have been questions about how Meta, a company with a well-documented history of privacy failures, will handle user data with Muse. There was also a viral story about a user who said Muse sold an item on Facebook Marketplace and sent the buyer to the user's address…all without telling the user that it was doing so.

Despite issues like this, there's no denying that Muse, and its new mascot, have proven extraordinarily popular.

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Editor's note (Oct. 2, 2026): Brooke Eby died at age 37 following her diagnosis with ALS, the ALS Network announced on Oct. 1. Eby, who posted under the name LimpBroozkit, began documenting her experience with the terminal neurodegenerative disease on TikTok in 2022, using humor and candor to educate hundreds of thousands of followers about ALS and build community among people living with the disease.

"Levity is my superpower," Eby told Today in 2023, an ethos that defined much of her content even as her condition progressed. She later founded ALStogether, a nonprofit connecting people diagnosed with ALS with resources, experts, caregivers, and one another. In a 2025 essay for People, Eby reflected on the lasting purpose of documenting her illness online: "My TikTok presence will live on after I die. I hope it serves as a visual diary for anyone who gets diagnosed and needs a guide."

Brooke Eby has built a deeply engaged following by documenting her life with ALS with humor, honesty, and a distinct point of view. Based in the Washington, DC area, Eby shares updates about her diagnosis and daily life with a tone that balances levity with reality.

Across TikTok and Instagram, she's amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, drawn to her willingness to speak openly about disability, healthcare, and identity. Her posts often mix candid reflections with humor, creating a space that feels both personal and communal.

Eby's platform has continued to grow as conversations around chronic illness and accessibility have gained more visibility online. Her content resonates not just with those directly affected by similar diagnoses, but with a broader audience seeking more honest depictions of life with illness.

That openness has turned her account into more than a personal diary. In the comments, followers share their own experiences, transforming her page into a space for connection and support.

Eby’s presence reflects a broader shift in how people use social media — not just for entertainment, but for understanding.

This article was originally published on June 2, 2026, and has been updated to reflect the news of Brooke Eby's death.

The conglomerate resulting from the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger will be called Skydance, chairman and CEO David Ellison announced today. The name comes from Ellison's own film production company, Skydance Media, that was founded in 2006.

The merger faced lawsuits from U.S. states, which have since been settled, as well as criticism from members of the entertainment industry. It is now expected to close on Oct. 6, finalizing the union of two of America's most storied movie studios, along with their fair share of subsidiaries and IP, from HBO Max and Paramount+ to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises.

SEE ALSO: John Oliver mocks 'soon-to-be business daddy' David Ellison

Ellison shared a video on X showcasing the many assets Skydance would own, including film and production companies, well-known TV channels, and IP.

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Here is the extensive list of what Skydance will own once the merger is complete, including international assets:

• Adult Swim

• Alloy Entertainment

• American Heroes Channel

• Ananey

• Animal Planet

• Asian Food Network

• BET

• Bleacher Report

• Boomerang

• Cartoonito

• Cartoon Network

• CBS

• Channel 5

• CMT

• CNN

• CNN All Access

• CNN Español

• Comedy Central

• Cooking Channel

• DC Studios

• Discovery

• Discovery+

• Discovery Family Channel

• Discovery Home and Health

• Discovery Turbo

• DMAX

• Eurosport

• Food Network

• HBO/HBO Max

• HGTV

• HLN

• Hogar HGTV

• Miramax

• MTV

• Nickelodeon

• Nick Jr.

• Network 10

• New Line Cinema

• Paramount+

• Paramount Animation

• Paramount Sports Entertainment

• Paramount Television Studios

• Pluto TV

• Pop TV

• Showtime

• Skydance Animation

• SkyShowtime

• Smithsonian Channel

• TCM

• TLC

• TNT

• TV Land

• Warner Bros. Clockwork

Plus, here is the IP Skydance will own the film rights and much of the TV rights to:

• Avatar: The Last Airbender

• Beetlejuice

• Citizen Kane

• The Conjuring

• DC Comics

• Dora The Explorer

• Dune: Part Three (distribution rights)

• Harry Potter

• Game of Thrones

• Gremlins

• Looney Tunes

• The Lord of the Rings

• Minecraft (distribution rights)

• Mission: Impossible

• MonsterVerse (distribution rights)

• Mortal Kombat

• A Quiet Place

• SpongeBob SquarePants

• Star Trek

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• Tom & Jerry

• Transformers

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Pope Leo XIV went on X this morning to call out AI slop, urging people to support human artists instead. The American Pope wrote, "Algorithms lack the spark of humanity."

Religion and artificial intelligence have also been a major topic of discussion this week, after the New York Times reported that Anthropic recently tried, and failed, to convince religious leaders that Claude could be a conscious being with moral status.

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As AI slop spreads, the Pope wrote that it's more urgent than ever to embrace human artists.

"In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgent to distinguish human art from what machines produce. There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms lack the spark of humanity. For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity."

SEE ALSO: AI slop is killing the internet

The Pope hasn't shied away from discussing the spiritual implications of artificial intelligence. In fact, from the moment he ascended to the papacy, AI has been central to his philosophy. The pontiff said he chose the name Leo in honor of the pope of the same name who shepherded the church through the upheaval of the Industrial Revolution.

And in his 42,300-word papal encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas ("Magnificent Humanity"), Pope Leo directly called out Big Tech and the artificial intelligence industry.

"In some regions of the world, children and adolescents work in dangerous conditions, crushing the materials from which rare earth elements are extracted," he wrote. "The bodies of these people are scarred, injured, and worn down so that computational flow may continue uninterruptedly...This reality ​deeply challenges the moral conscience of our time."

In the New York Times report about Anthropic's religious lobbying efforts, the publication of Magnifica Humanitas is a major plot point. Anthropic leaders were invited to the Vatican as part of the encyclical's publication, according to the Times.

Christopher Olah, whom the paper describes as "one of Anthropic’s billionaire co-founders," was reportedly disturbed that the Pope's encyclical did not take the idea of AI consciousness seriously.

And now that the topic of AI and religion is back in the news, the Pope is once again calling out the AI industry, this time for AI slop.

AI slop is everywhere if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, but the AI slop-mongers now have a powerful enemy: The head of the Roman Catholic Church and the spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Amazon loves to keep us on our toes. We've been covering Prime Day for years, and even though the dates vary slightly, we expect Prime Day to fall in July. But this year, the retailer held its flagship sale in June, much to our surprise. This fall, however, things are back on schedule.

Amazon's biggest sale of the year may be over, but there's another one upon us. We're here to lay out all the details you need to know because, surprise — the early deals have started.

When is the next Prime Day?

While it may seem like Amazon holds sales every other month, Prime Day technically only happens once a year, in the summer. However, Amazon hosts a fall Prime event called Prime Big Deal Days, and it's coming up quickly. For all intents and purposes, it's colloquially known as October Prime Day. The official sale runs for 48 hours on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 in 2026, but you can expect deals in the days leading up to and following those dates.

Amazon has also held a week-long shopping event in the spring, dubbed Amazon's Big Spring Sale, for the past three years. The deals aren't quite at the level of Prime Day, but it is considered Amazon's first major savings event of the year. After the October sale, it's the next time you'll hear the term "Prime Day" floating around.

Are Prime Day deals worth it?

Prime Day is notoriously full of great deals. Besides Black Friday, it's probably the best time of year to buy Amazon devices, Apple products, robot vacuums, everyday essentials, smartwatches, headphones, and more. If you're in the market for tech, it's certainly worth perusing. Mashable already has a running list of the best October Prime Day deals that can give you more in-depth analysis on what products are worth grabbing and which ones are worth passing on.

You should always update your smartphone to take advantage of the latest security patches…or maybe sometimes you should wait just a little bit?

According to user reports on forums such as Reddit, some Pixel owners are claiming that they are locked out of their devices after installing the September 2026 Pixel update.

Users with Pixel devices ranging from the Pixel 10 Pro XL to the Pixel 9a to the Pixel 8 Pro have reported a lockout issue on Reddit after downloading the September OS update.

"I updated my Pixel 10 Pro XL to the latest September 2026 update, and since then I've been completely locked out of my phone due to a really strange issue with the pattern unlock," shared one user on Reddit with a Pixel 10 Pro XL. "Whenever I try to draw my unlock pattern, the line disappears immediately after connecting the second dot. All nine dots reset as if I've lifted my finger, regardless of which dot I start from. It's literally impossible to complete the pattern."

Some other Pixel users claim that their phone immediately displays "PIN is wrong" after they enter just the first digit of their PIN. 

According to other users, the lock screen issue eventually triggers an emergency countdown timer after inputting the PIN number incorrectly too many times. However, one user on Reddit claims that the issue seemed to resolve itself after waiting out the timer, and that their Pixel phone finally accepted their PIN number.

Unfortunately, this hasn't worked for all Pixel owners. Some users have been forced to factory reset their devices just so they can keep using their smartphone, according to the user complaints shared online.

Google is apparently aware of the issue. Android Authority reports that the company has been reaching out to users who claim to be experiencing the problem on Reddit. However, the company has yet to address the issue publicly and has yet to release an update that fixes whatever the issue may be.

It should be noted that unless a fix is released that addresses whatever issue is causing the problem, Google cannot unlock your Pixel phone remotely, as the device is encrypted. So, unfortunately, those forced to factory reset their Pixel have lost photos and other files that weren't backed up or stored elsewhere. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to wait until Google provides an answer to this specific problem before resetting the device.

Mashable highly recommends that users back up their devices before installing any update, even minor ones. Personally, I have automated updates turned off on my device specifically to avoid issues like this and to make sure there's always a recent backup before manually updating.

TL;DR: Amazon has launched a $100 Kindle Sling Bag with SCAD students, complete with a Kindle-inspired keychain and wristlet stand.

Kindle Sling Bag, SCAD Designer Collection $99.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, retailers (and Amazon itself) are trying to grab everyone's attention with new product drops.

This week, Amazon opened preorders for a $99.99 version of its Kindle Sling Bag, designed in collaboration with students at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). It comes in dune and cinder (which are basically just cream and black) and is set to ship Oct. 28.

SEE ALSO: I tested all of Amazon's e-readers, and this is the best Kindle to buy

It's made from GRS-certified recycled leather with 59 percent recycled content — if that helps you feel a little better about paying top dollar for what's essentially just a crossbody purse. The biggest difference between this and the original sling bag Amazon released last November is functionality: the new one includes a wristlet stand that props your Kindle up on any flat surface, plus a small Kindle-shaped charm.

It fits standard Kindles, the Kindle Aluminum, Paperwhite, and Colorsoft. (Note: It's not compatible with the Kindle Scribe or Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.)

TL;DR: Ninja is launching the Ninja PREPi Precision-Powered Prep and Store System — a compact 5-in-1 device built to chop, purée, slice, shred, and cut french fries directly into a serve-and-store container.

Ninja PREPi $229.99 at SharkNinja
  Shop Now at SharkNinja

If you are tired of spending half your paycheck on mediocre takeaway salads, Ninja wants a word. The appliance brand known for cluttering up your counter in the best way possible is officially dropping its next kitchen fix — the Ninja PREPi Precision-Powered Prep + Store System, retailing for $229.99.

Designed specifically for cramped apartments, tiny counters, and tight cabinet space, the PREPi packs full-size food processing muscle into a footprint that won't swallow your entire kitchen. Instead of dragging out three different chopping boards and dirtying half a dozen plastic containers, this compact unit lets you process, serve, and snap a lid on to store your food in the same container.

SEE ALSO: The best early October Prime Day kitchen deals: We found live deals Ninja and Keurig deals worth grabbing

Powering the device is a 500-watt motor capable of handling heavy-duty food preparation without stalling. The system relies on a versatile set of attachments, starting with a single Chop & Purée blade that handles everything from coarse salsa prep to smooth dips without making you swap parts midway through. A reversible disc handles uniform slicing on one side and flips over for shredding cheese or veggies on the other.

For fry lovers, the PREPi includes a dedicated French fry disc that lets you drop a whole potato down its three-part feed chute and spit out perfectly even, air-fryer-ready cuts in a few seconds flat. If you pick up the PN351 model, you also get a built-in dicing kit for fast, uniform salad prep.

Filmmaker Erin Lee Carr has made her mark with such mesmerizing documentaries as Mommy Dead & Dearest, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth V. Michelle Carter, Britney v. Spears, and Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara. Now, she's tackling one of the most shocking reality TV series of the 2000s with The Swan: Behind The Mirror.

Sitting down with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko in the Say More studio, Carr shared how she created a space for the swans to speak out, rewriting their narratives along the way. When she signed on to helm the project, it was important to her that empowerment be part of the story. Not only did she include every contestant who wanted to participate, but she also gathered the flock of swans for a reunion to celebrate their resilience and beauty (inside and out).

Together, they also dig into some of the doc's most WTF reveals, including the nude photos that plastic surgeon Dr. Randal Haworth still has of the Season 2 contestants. Plus, Carr reflects on how she's grown a deep well of empathy that has been central to her work in documentary, whether talking to coerced reality TV stars or convicted killers.

The Swan: Behind the Mirror is now streaming on Hulu.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a lender.

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 October 2 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

High interest.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter U appears twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter U.

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...

USURY

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.

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

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.

If you're heading outside tonight, don't forget to look up. The Moon is still very much visible in its current position in the lunar cycle, so, if the sky is clear, try and spot some craters or mares.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Oct. 2, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, with 64% of its surface visible.

With just your naked eye, tonight you can see the Mare Vaporum, the Oceanus Procellarum, and the Kepler Crater. If you have binoculars, you can also spot the Alps Mountains and the Alphonsus and Gassendi Craters. Finally, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 12 and 15 landing spots, plus the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, and as it moves through this cycle, we see different amounts of its sunlit side from here. That's what creates the Moon's different phases, from a thin crescent through to a half Moon and, eventually, the Full Moon. Once it reaches the Full Moon, the cycle starts over again. NASA explains that the phase we see depends on the Moon's position in relation to Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

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.

SAVE OVER $80: As of Oct. 2, the Bluetti Elite 10 Mini portable power station is down to $112.99 on Amazon. That's $86.01 off its full price of $199.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 10 Mini Portable Power Station $112.99 at Amazon
$199 Save $86.01   Get Deal

Power stations have been among the many early deals we've spotted at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. If you've been hoping to find a portable pick for battery backup, there's no need to wait for the sale to start. The tiny but mighty Bluetti Elite 10 Mini is already 43% off at the retailer.

As of Oct. 2, this discount has dropped the Elite 10 Mini's price from $199 to $112.99, saving you just over $80. It may not be at its lowest-ever price on Amazon (that was $107), but it's certainly very close. If you've been looking for a very compact power station to keep everyday items charged up, this deal is well worth jumping on.

SEE ALSO: 35+ early October Prime Day deals: We found live deals on Echo Dot, Bose, Lego, and Fire TV

The Elite 10 Mini is a very compact portable power station. It weighs just 4lbs and can easily fit in a backpack, making it perfect for traveling. And speaking of travel, it's also flight-approved. Since it has a 128Wh capacity, it falls within the 100–160Wh range and can be brought on most major airlines, so long as you have prior approval.

Alongside the 128Wh capacity, this power station also features a 200W AC outlet, 100W USB-C fast charging, two 15W USB-A ports, one 15W USB-C port, and a 12V DC output. It can power up a variety of everyday items — such as laptops, drones, or cameras — so you don't have to worry about them running out of juice while you're on the go.

The power station has three charging methods, so you can give it a boost through 150W AC charging, 100W solar charging, or 100W car charging via the cigarette lighter.

This offer on the Bluetti Elite 10 Mini may not be available for long, so be quick to save at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,797.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,202)

SAVE $400: As of Oct. 2, the LG 55-Inch Gallery TV with Frame is on sale for $899.99 at Amazon. That's $400 off its full price of $1,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-Inch Gallery TV with Frame QNED AI LX7B Series Mini LED Smart TV $899.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $400   Get Deal

Amazon's second Prime Day event of the year, Prime Big Deal Days, is coming up fast on Oct. 6. That's just next Tuesday, if you're counting down the days.

If you're hoping to buy a new TV from the sale, you're in luck, as the retailer already has a promising selection on sale ahead of time. The LG 55-Inch Gallery TV with Frame is one of them: For a limited time, it has been discounted to $899.99.

Overall, this offer saves you $400 compared to paying its full price of $1,299.99, which is a pretty exciting deal if you've been eyeing up this art TV for your home. Plus, it comes with a snow-white attachable frame to surround it, so you can complete its artsy display for your home.

SEE ALSO: 35+ early October Prime Day deals: We found live deals on Echo Dot, Bose, Lego, and Fire TV

With that sleek frame around it, this LG TV is transformed from a standard screen into wall art. When you're not watching something on it, you can choose from over 5,000 pieces of art to show off. Its matte display helps prevent annoying glare caused by windows and lights, which is a benefit to the art as much as it is to the regular display when you're watching a movie or show.

4K resolution, QNED Color, and Mini LEDs come together to create a sharp, vibrant picture with deep contrast. It even comes with an auto-brightness control feature that senses the room's lighting and adjusts the screen brightness so you can see everything clearly. On top of that, it's a smart TV powered by Google Gemini, so it's quick and easy to access your favorite streaming services.

If an art TV has been on your radar, this is an excellent opportunity to save on the LG 55-Inch Gallery TV with Frame at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,797.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,202)