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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.

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

Smooth.

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

SLEEK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small fish.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GUPPY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A large horned mammal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RHINO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

That one.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

WHICH

Final Hurdle hint

A baby cat.

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

KITTY

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

Meta leadership knew that the company's AI companions, referred to as AI characters, could engage in inappropriate and sexual interactions and still launched them without stronger controls, according to new internal documents revealed on Monday (Jan. 28) as part of a lawsuit against the company by the New Mexico attorney general.

The communications, sent between Meta safety teams and platform leadership that didn't include CEO Mark Zuckerberg, include objections to building companion chatbots that could be used by adults and minors for explicit romantic interactions. Ravi Sinha, head of Meta’s child safety policy, and Meta global safety head Antigone Davis sent messages agreeing that chatbot companions should have safeguards against sexually explicit interactions by users under 18. Other communications allege Zuckerberg rejected recommendations to add parental controls, including the option to turn off genAI features, before the launch of AI companions shortly thereafter.

SEE ALSO: TikTok settles as Meta and Google face jury in social media addiction suit

Meta is facing multiple lawsuits pertaining to its products and their impact on minor users, including a potential landmark jury trial over the allegedly addictive design of sites like Facebook and Instagram. Meta's competitors, including YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, are under tightening legal scrutiny, as well.

The newly released communications were part of court discovery in a case against Meta brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. Torrez first filed a civil lawsuit against Meta in 2023, alleging the company allowed its platforms to become "marketplaces for predators." Internal communications between Meta executives were unsealed and released as the case heads to trial next month.

In November, a plaintiff’s brief from a major multidistrict lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California alleged a lenient policy toward users who violated safety rules, including those reported for "trafficking of humans for sex." Documents also showed that Meta execs allegedly knew of "millions" of adults contacting minors across its sites. "The full record will show that for over a decade, we have listened to parents, researched issues that matter most, and made real changes to protect teens," a Meta spokesperson told TIME.

SEE ALSO: After settling lawsuit, Snapchat adds new parental controls for teens

"This is yet another example of the New Mexico Attorney General cherry-picking documents to paint a flawed and inaccurate picture," said Meta spokesperson Andy Stone in response to the new documents.

Meta paused teen use of its chatbots in August, following a report by Reuters that found Meta's internal AI rules permitted chatbots to engage in conversations that were "sensual" or "romantic" in nature. The company later revised its safety guidelines, barring content that "enables, encourages, or endorses" child sexual abuse, romantic role play when involving minors, and other sensitive topics. Last week, Meta once again locked down AI chatbots for young users as it explored a new version with enhanced parental controls.

Torrez has led other state attorneys general in seeking to take major social media platforms to court over child safety concerns. In 2024, Torrez sued Snapchat, claiming the platform allowed sextortion and grooming of minors to proliferate while still marketing itself as safe for young users.

SAVE 25%: As of Jan. 28, the TCL 85-inch Class QM7K Series Mini LED TV is on sale for $1,497.97, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount, or $502.02 in savings.

TCL 85-inch Class QM7K Series Mini LED TV (85QM7K) $1,497.97 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $502.02   Get Deal at Amazon

With the Super Bowl just around the corner, it’s arguably the best time of year to look for deals on big screens. If you want to turn your living room into a stadium for the big game, this 85-inch TCL is the way to go.

As of Jan. 28, the TCL 85-inch Class QM7K Series Mini LED TV is on sale for $1,497.97, down from $1,999.99, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount, or $502.02 in savings.

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The biggest selling point here (aside from its size) is the Mini LED panel. It uses up to 2,500 local dimming zones to control contrast, so you get deep, inky blacks instead of that washed-out gray look common on budget big screens. It also has an anti-glare screen, which is a major plus if you're watching the game during the day and don't want to stare at a reflection of your window.

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 gaming monitor is now down to just $159.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount off its regular $249.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Saming 27-inch Odyssey G5 G53F QHD Gaming Monitor $159.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $90 Get Deal

You don’t usually see a high-refresh QHD gaming monitors from top brands drop to such a low prices, so this Samsung deal is a perfect opportunity for a gaming setup upgrade. As of Jan. 28, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 G53F QHD gaming monitor has dropped to just $159.99 at Amazon, marking its lowest price to date — with a 36% discount off its usual $249.99 list price. 

As far as Samsung monitors go, this model's specs tell us that the 27-inch Odyssey G5 is built for players who want smoother gameplay without stepping up to ultra-premium prices. For instance, the QHD resolution (2560 x 1440) offers noticeably sharper detail than standard 1080p, while the IPS panel aims to provide consistent colors and clarity across wide viewing angles. Whether you’re gaming on Arc Raiders, streaming, or juggling multiple apps, it's a clear upgrade from entry-level displays.

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Performance is where this monitor really earns its stripes. A blazing-fast 200Hz refresh rate paired with a 1ms response time means motion will be kept smooth and responsive, even during fast-paced competitive play. Added AMD FreeSync Premium support helps reduce screen tearing and stutter, while HDR10 adds extra depth with brighter highlights and deeper shadows.

Samsung also includes gamer-focused extras like Black Equalizer for better visibility in dark scenes and Auto Source Switch+, which should make jumping between devices effortless. At under $160, it’s one of the most affordable ways to step into high-refresh 1440p gaming right now.

If you’re open to spending a bit more and would like a curved model, the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 is $300 off. Plus, the LG UltraGear 34-inch OLED gaming monitor is almost half price at Amazon. 

TL;DR: Invest wisely and confidently with a lifetime subscription to this OpenAI-powered app, Sterling Stock Picker, now just $55.19 (reg. $486) through Feb. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81   Get Deal

Too cautious to invest in the stock market? Being risk-aware shouldn’t bar you from investing — you just need the right tools. Sterling Stock Picker is an app with a personal finance coach, powered by OpenAI, ready to help you invest in stocks that align with your personal goals and risk preferences.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for only $55.19 (reg. $486) through Feb. 15.

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Sterling Stock Picker is an AI-powered app that helps you invest confidently thanks to its North Star Rating System. This patent-pending technology shows you whether to buy, sell, hold, or avoid certain stocks, with AI-powered insights you can trust. The highest North Star rankings are stock rockets, companies with over 50% quarterly revenue growth, making them easy to identify.

Though it’s powered by the makers of ChatGPT, this app keeps things personal. A five-minute questionnaire will provide Sterling Stock Picker with information about your values, investment goals, and risk preferences, helping you find the best stocks for your portfolio. And if you’d prefer not to weigh in, there’s a Done-for-You Portfolio option.

If you’d like to be more hands-on, learn more about the stock market with your own personal finance coach, Finley. This OpenAI-powered tool can answer questions about your portfolio, an individual stock, or the market as a whole. There’s also a community chat forum where you can discuss investment strategies and ask questions to fellow investors.

Secure your lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $55.19 (reg. $486) now through Feb. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Scan documents right from your smartphone or tablet with a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now just $27.99 with code SCAN through Feb. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $27.99
$199.90 Save $171.91   Get Deal

Thanks to our laptops, many of us can work from anywhere. That means our office tools need to travel, too. Since you can’t pack up a clunky scanning machine, there’s now iScanner App. This helpful tool turns your smartphone or tablet into a portable scanner, and right now, a lifetime subscription is all yours for just $27.99 with code SCAN through Feb. 15.

Since we almost always have a smartphone nearby, the iScanner App lets you also carry around a scanning device at all times. Over 55 million people are already using it to transform their iPhone or iPad into a digitizing machine, taking physical documents and scanning them in just a few taps.

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Whether you have to submit a form with your signature or you’re trying to save something sentimental, like a handwritten note, iScanner makes it easy to scan. All you have to do is point your camera at the page, and the app’s AI-powered features detect and adjust the borders to deliver a top-quality scan.

Once you scan, you can edit within the app with color-correction and noise-removal tools. You can save your scans as different file types — choose from PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT.

Speaking of PDFs, the iScanner App lets you edit them if needed. It has tools for signing, adding text, and auto-filling PDFs. It also has scanning modes for text translation, object counting, measurements, and more.

If it wasn’t multitasking enough, you can also use the iScanner App as a document manager. It organizes your scans into folders, and you can use the drag-and-drop feature to sort them, or lock folders and files with a PIN for privacy.

Get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now just $27.99 with code SCAN through Feb. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.