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If you asked someone 10 years ago if they liked their robot vacuum, most answers would fall somewhere on the "not really" to "hell no" scale. Many old robot vacuums seemed to have no logical cleaning path and no protective instincts to keep them from getting stuck, often becoming more trouble than they were worth. But brainpower of the best robot vacuums in 2026 is in a different league. Most of that competency can be attributed to AI features.

It can feel like some home appliances are being superfluously AI'd, without any real call from consumers for that level of automation from their fridge. But automated self-sufficiency has always been at the core of the robotic vacuum cleaner. Plus, current AI robot vacuum features are still pretty utilitarian, merely focusing on making navigation more nimble, obstacle avoidance more perceptive, and cleaning performance more thorough — all fundamental parts of the robot vacuum experience. Here are the three main ways robot vacuums are using AI in 2026:

AI-powered obstacle avoidance

Probably the most heavily advertised AI robot vacuum element, AI obstacle avoidance is a make-or-break feature in homes with floors that aren't 100 percent tidy 100 percent of the time. As someone who legitimately considers vacuuming by hand a form of catharsis, I take small obstacle avoidance very seriously. Outside of my official robot vacuum testing, I'll rarely choose a robot vacuum over my Dyson stick vacuum unless the robovac is smart enough to not require babysitting.

When a robot vacuum approaches a small or flat object, AI acts as a live set of eyes to detect the obstacle and clean around it in real time. These vacuums tell the difference between common items that would've tripped any older robot vacuum up, like charging cords or a slipper or pet waste. The most vigilant robot vacuums to come out of CES 2026 can recognize between 200 and 300 different pesky obstacles.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow cleaned around a cord and a shoe. Credit: Screenshot / Roborock The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow recognized the cat tree in the corner. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

These items aren't permanent fixtures on the floor like furniture is — a random sock or pet toy could be laying somewhere that the robot vacuum has never seen it before, so these vacuums really need to be on their toes. Small obstacle avoidance cameras rely on AI to react in real time, adapting the cleaning pattern on the spot to avoid a run in.

But pet recognition has to be the most fun development in robot vacuums' AI recognition capabilities. Many premium robot vacuums nowadays have some sort of "find my pet" function — you can even have the robot vacuum snap some photos of your pet throughout the day, or follow along via live video to see what the robot vacuum sees as it's checking under furniture. As extra as it sounds on its face, the livestream camera has become such a comforting tool for checking on my cats when I'm not at home.

SEE ALSO: Dreame doesn't just want to be a top vacuum brand. It wants to be a top everything brand.

The ability to pick up obstacles in the way is the next evolution of AI obstacle avoidance. In spring 2025, Roborock was the first mainstream brand to throw a robot vacuum with a mechanical arm into the ring. But the Roborock Saros Z70's AI-powered obstacle removal tech was undercooked in one way or another — the arm's variety of grab-able items was already limited, and it took forever to pick anything up. (You know the AI is a flop when it's faster for you to just do the task yourself.) Dreame showcased its version of a robot vacuum with an arm at CES 2026. On paper, the Dreame Cyber 10 Ultra sounds much more competent than the Saros Z70. Only time will tell.

AI-powered mess detection

Older robotic vacuum cleaners weren't very thorough cleaners, and not just because they couldn't muster the suction power that we're used to today. They also just had little awareness of the type of mess they were dealing with, leaving most cleaning overgeneralized.

Some level of human-esque discernment feels necessary for a truly precise clean. AI dirt detection uses a mix of sensors and cameras to assess the mess at hand in real time and customize settings like suction power and scrubbing intensity or water flow accordingly.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow vacuums slower from multiple angles when heavy debris is detected. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

These AI cleaning features get more nitty gritty than iRobot's old, basic Dirt Detect feature that "works harder" on dirtier areas, and even an automatic suction boost feature when a robot vacuum senses carpet. Narwal's Intelligent Dirt Detection tech monitors the floor with infrared, acoustic, optical, and pressure sensors to scan the floor to distinguish between dry and liquid spills and different types of debris (down to the particle size). Dyson's newest robot vacuum, the Spot+Scrub Ai, takes before and after photos of detected spills to ensure that the stain has been sufficiently scrubbed away.

Many premium robot vacuums also use intel from past cleaning sessions to create AI-driven cleaning plans for a more efficient clean in specific rooms going forward. If one area of the home is consistently dirtier than the others (like in the kitchen or near the front door), AI modes like Roborock SmartPlan, Narwal Freo, and Dreame CleanGenius will remember that for next time.

AI-supported smart mapping

The introduction of LiDAR smart mapping in the 2010s transformed the way that robot vacuums get around our homes. Instead of playing bumper cars with furniture and hoping for the best, LiDAR robot vacuums bounce laser pulses off of walls and large objects to create a precise 3D map of your home. This was the breakthrough that brought us room-by-room cleaning, zone cleaning, and no-go zones without those ugly physical barrier strips.

LiDAR is the most common smart mapping tech, and its navigational efficiency gets even better with the help of AI. During the initial mapping run, AI fills in the furniture arrangements in each room for more agile cleaning. All AI robot vacuums that I've tested know that a toilet is a toilet and that a TV stand is a TV stand. Many models have even pinpointed my cat tree and automatic litter box with their own little icons, automatically triggering more detailed cleaning in areas with high pet traffic.

SEE ALSO: The Shark vs. Roomba debate is old news. Here's how both robot vacuum brands got dethroned.

Robot vacuums with "climbing" capabilities also use AI to better determine which obstacles they can (and should) actually try to scale, and which they should stay away from. The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete and Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow both have retractable legs that can hoist the vacuum's chassis a few inches up and over various thresholds. Using AI to make a game-time decision, these smart vacs know which small barriers to smoothly drive over (thick floor type changes or door saddles, sliding door tracks into another room or closet, or chair legs that lay flat across the floor) and which small barriers to steer around (like shoes.) AI-powered robot vacuums have a better concept of where they can fit in general, making them much less likely to get stuck.

Is it dangerous for robot vacuums to use AI?

Before buying a robot vacuum, you'll want to dig into the brand's policies about AI usage, camera usage, and personal data usage.

For instance, Roborock's policy is particularly transparent and easy to understand. It directly states that none of your data is collected or uploaded without your explicit permission. (The Dreame and Roborock apps check with you before sharing obstacle images to the company as feedback for misrecognition.) You can read an extended explanation of privacy protection for specific features like obstacle photos, video calls, and Pet Snaps, all of which are encrypted and processed in data centers located in your country.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT caricature trend: What to do if OpenAI clearly knows too much

Obstacle photos can be toggled off completely, and a passcode or pattern lock is required to activate the video camera on all robot vacuums I've tested with that feature. When a robot vacuum is in live video mode, they'll loudly announce that remote viewing is activated every 30 seconds or so, ensuring anyone at home is aware that someone on the other end is using the vacuum's camera.

I can't say that I wouldn't understand being sketched out by the idea of a WiFi-connected machine with AI-powered live stream cameras freely roving around your house. (Remember when Amazon almost bought iRobot and had access to data about the insides of millions of homes?) If an AI-powered robot vacuum has a dark aura to you, I have a handful of good cordless stick vacuum recommendations for you.

SAVE $20: As of March 2, the Fire Stick 4K Plus is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K Plus $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal

Amazon has a range of discounts across its Fire Stick range right now, including the Fire Stick 4K Plus. As of March 2, this model is down to just $29.99, a saving of $20 on list price. If you're familiar with Amazon's Fire Sticks, the Plus may sound new, but it's actually just a rebrand of the 4K model. Same high quality streaming device, different name.

This Fire Stick has improved performance optimized for 4K TVs, so you can expect high-quality movie nights and gaming. You'll also get 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio, so everything looks and sounds great at all times.

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The setup is simple too (plug the Fire TV Stick into your TV's HDMI port and power it at an outlet), and it comes with an Alexa voice control remote. The remote is neat and easy to use, and it can also control your TV's volume as well as power, so this becomes the only remote you'll need.

Gamers are catered for with support for cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass. This lets you stream a wide range of titles without a console or controller. And not to mention, for streaming you'll have access to all the big platforms, from Netflix to HBO Max.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 1 is available for preorder at Target for $15.99 or Amazon for $69.99 — with a March 20, 2026 release date.

Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 Best Target Deal Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $15.99 at Target Pre-Order Here Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $69.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here

If you missed the first wave of Pokémon’s 30th-anniversary-style products, this could be your last chance to grab these special trading card collections before their market value goes up. As of March. 3, Target still has preorders of the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection available for $15.99, and for when those go out of stock, Amazon is selling units for $69.99 — still under its market price on TCGplayer.

The biggest hook of this collection is the chase for exclusive promo cards of starter Pokémon. Series 1 includes a special booster pack that gives you three of nine illustration rare-style promo cards, all centered on first partner starters from Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola. 

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That means you’re not getting a full set in one box — you’re pulling a subset, which is exactly the kind of market hype that’s seeing these sell out rather fast.

Beyond the promos, the collection also comes with two additional Pokémon TCG booster packs (Mega Evolution and Phantasmal Flames) and a sticker sheet featuring first partner Pokémon. At $15.99, we expect the Target preorders to sell out soon, with Amazon’s $69.99 listing looking like a consolation prize until more resellers pop up.

Amazon is still selling Pokémon TCG: Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Boxes for under $120. You can also still grab the Pokémon TCG’s new Mega Charizard Y and X Tins for under $45 at Amazon. 

"Hey, you know what would be cool," a Nothing marketing person probably said at a recent meeting. "If we just posted a photo of our upcoming Nothing 4a online."

"Great idea," Nothing's head of marketing probably answered. "That will give our fans something to chew on as they wait for the official reveal on March 5. And it totally won't spoil the surprise."

We have no proof that the conversation above actually happened, but we do imagine something of the sort did take place, as Nothing decided to post a photo of its upcoming Nothing 4a smartphone, scheduled for a March 5 launch, more than a week ahead of time. Here it is.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Built different," the company tweeted, without revealing any additional details.

The image shows the phone from the rear, displaying Nothing's trademark industrial/semi-naked design. It also reveals a new type of Glyph Bar, next to the camera bump, with nine mini-LEDs, likely offering even more customization options.

SEE ALSO: MWC 2026: What to expect at the world's largest phone show

On March 5, the company will likely reveal the rest of the phone, alongside a more powerful option, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro. Both phones will likely come with Snapdragon 7-series chips, while the Pro variant will probably pack a more powerful camera.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, March 2, 2026:

Across"Yeah, why not!"

• The answer is Sure.

Collector's ___

• The answer is Item.

Worker who frequently takes off

• The answer is Pilot.

Stressful way to run

• The answer is Late.

Crossed (out)

• The answer is Exed.

DownTiny drink

• The answer is Sip.

Useful ... or a useful draw in Scrabble when you have a "Q"

• The answer is U tile.

Chill

• The answer is Relax.

Be expressive with one's feelings

• The answer is Emote.

TV's "___ Lasso"

• The answer is Ted.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Play Booster Box has dropped to $137.99 at Amazon, undercutting its $139.70 market value and taking $65.41 off its $203.40 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Play Booster Box $137.99 at Amazon
$203.40 Save $65.41 Get Deal

We’ve seen plenty of Magic: The Gathering boxes slide down in price lately, but Bloomburrow just hit a sweet spot that’s hard to ignore: it’s 32% off and now below market value. As of March 2, the Bloomburrow Play Booster Box is available for $137.99 at Amazon, with a $65.41 cut from its original $203.40 list price — and is now the lowest we’ve seen this year, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Bloomburrow is also one of MTG’s easiest recommendations for draft nights, thanks to its cozy woodland fantasy vibe — with mice, frogs, bats, birds, squirrels, and other critters stepping up as the Valley gets rocked by elemental chaos.

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You get 36 Play Boosters (504 trading cards total). Each pack includes 14 cards with 1-4 Rares or higher, plus the usual mix of uncommons and commons, and at least one Traditional Foil. There’s also the chance of foil lands, Borderless mythics (rarely), and Play Booster-only Art cards — making this box both a solid Limited pickup and a fun rip. At roughly $3.83 per pack, it’s an incredibly strong value offering.

As for more MTG deals, you can still grab six Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy booster packs for only $49. Meanwhile, preorders on MTG Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Boxes are $20 at Amazon. 

TL;DR: Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Boxes have dropped to $88.95 at Walmart, dipping under $90 and undercutting Amazon’s price of up to $103.86.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box (Mega Gardevoir or Mega Lucario) $88.95 at Walmart
  Get Deal

If you’ve been trying to grab a Mega Evolution ETB without paying the usual $100+ markups, Walmart just helped out your trading card budget. 

As of March 2, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is listed for $88.95 at Walmart (sold by Rares Market, fulfilled by Walmart), which is only $5 shy of the TCGplayer market value and up to $14.91 cheaper than Amazon. Mega Lucario and Mega Gardevoir editions are randomized at Walmart, but it’s still a fantastic deal if you simply want a Mega Evolution booster pack with an ETB’s usual extras.

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Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Boxes include:

• 9 Mega Evolution booster packs

• 1 full-art foil promo card (Riolu with the Mega Lucario version or Alakazam with Mega Gardevoir version)

• 65 card sleeves

• 40 Energy cards

• Player’s guide

• Dice, coin-flip die, plastic coin, dividers, storage box

• Pokemon TCG Live code card

Comparatively, the Mega Gardevoir version only goes as low as $99.99 on Amazon and $199.99 on TCGplayer. Meanwhile, the Mega Lucario version at Amazon is priced even higher at $103.86, with no listings at TCGplayer currently available.

For more decent Pokémon TCG prices, you can still get the Ascended Heroes Elite Booster Boxes for under $120 at Amazon. Also, the 30th Anniversary Pokémon Day 2026 Collection is still available at Amazon for just under $40.

SAVE $20: As of March 2, the Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max is on sale for $29.99 with the code MAX4KFTV at Amazon. That's $30 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 use code MAX4KFTV Get Deal

If you want a high quality streaming device with plenty of storage, you need the Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max. It offers incredible 4K streaming and 16GB of storage for plenty of apps and games, and as of March 2 it's on sale at Amazon. Right now you can save $30 with the code MAX4KFTV. Get the Fire Stick 4K Max for $29.99 right now at Amazon.

Let's break down exactly what you're getting with this Fire Stick. Quality-wise, it's seriously impressive, with support for 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos for detailed picture quality and great sound. You'll also get cloud gaming, letting you stream titles through Xbox Game Pass or play via Amazon Luna without needing a console.

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As you'd expect, it has Alexa built-in, so you can do things like search for content using voice commands, speak to other smart home devices, or ask Amazon to search something online.

This model also features the Fire TV Ambient Experience, a feature that lets you display a wide range of artwork and photography on your screen when not in use. And when you are using it, you'll get access to over 1.8 million movies and TV episodes from streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more.

Pick up this streaming deal from Amazon while it's still live.

OpenAI has entered a deal with the U.S. Department of War (DOW), providing its AI tools for military use in "classified environments." Announcing the partnership on Saturday, the ChatGPT developer claims it includes guardrails prohibiting the use of its technology for mass domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons. However, contract excerpts shared by OpenAI appear to leave significant loopholes.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic's Claude overtakes ChatGPT in App Store

News of OpenAI's deal with the DOW came just one day after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government will no longer use tech from OpenAI rival Anthropic, including its AI model Claude. Posting about the split on Truth Social, Trump had objected to Anthropic's insistence that the DOW abide by the company's terms of service. 

Exactly which terms of services Trump took issue with were revealed in a statement from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Thursday. In it, he claimed that the DOW demanded Anthropic remove safeguards against use of its tech for mass surveillance in the U.S. and fully AI-controlled weapons. Amodei stated that such use may technically be lawful, however "this is only because the law has not yet caught up with the rapidly growing capabilities of AI."

"[I]n a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values," wrote Amodei. "Some uses are also simply outside the bounds of what today’s technology can safely and reliably do."

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OpenAI's terms are apparently more to the Trump administration's liking, with the company stepping in to supply the U.S. military with AI technology in Anthropic's place. Yet despite this, OpenAI claims that its agreement with DOW not only has similar guardrails which prohibit use of its technology for mass domestic surveillance or directing autonomous weapons, but even adds a third: "No use of OpenAI technology for high-stakes automated decisions (e.g. systems such as 'social credit')." 

"We retain full discretion over our safety stack, we deploy via cloud, cleared OpenAI personnel are in the loop, and we have strong contractual protections," read OpenAI's announcement. "This is all in addition to the strong existing protections in U.S. law."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to OpenAI, the limitations it has imposed are more enforceable than Anthropic's because it will only provide the DOW with its technology via the cloud, rather than installing it directly on hardware. OpenAI personnel will also be kept involved so that they can see how the DOW is using its technology. This will allegedly allow the company more oversight and control of its AI systems. 

"We don’t know why Anthropic could not reach this deal, and we hope that they and more labs will consider it," wrote OpenAI.

However, an excerpt of the contract shared by OpenAI indicated that its technology will only be barred from use in autonomous weapons or to surveil U.S. citizens where such use is illegal. In fact, the agreement appears to lay out circumstances where OpenAI's tech would be allowed for these purposes, such as where human control over weapons isn't required by DOW policy or law.

"The Department of War may use the AI System for all lawful purposes, consistent with applicable law, operational requirements, and well-established safety and oversight protocols," the contract reads, per OpenAI. "[A]ny use of AI in autonomous and semi-autonomous systems must undergo rigorous verification, validation, and testing to ensure they perform as intended in realistic environments before deployment."

Featured Video For You Is U.S. TikTok censoring its users?

Responding to concerns in a post on LinkedIn, OpenAI head of national security partnerships Katrina Mulligan merely reiterated that its usage policies aren't the only safeguards in place, re-emphasising its cloud deployment and involvement of its personnel. 

"[The DOW's] position was, build the model however you want, refuse whatever requests you want, just don't try to govern our operational decisions through usage policies," wrote Mulligan. 

Still, doubts remain regarding the effectiveness of these ostensible safeguards, particularly considering OpenAI's reluctance to take an ethical stand.

Sam Altman speaks on OpenAI's deal with Department of War This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman conducted a Q&A on X in an attempt to assuage users' concerns about the DOW deal, to little apparent success. Conceding that the deal "was definitely rushed, and the optics don't look good," Altman claimed that they'd hoped it would de-escalate tensions between the DOW and the AI industry.

"I think a good relationship between the government and the companies developing this technology is critical over the next couple of years," wrote Altman. 

The deal might have brought OpenAI and the U.S. government closer together, but it seems to have simultaneously alienated ChatGPT's civilian users.

Responding to a question about whether permitting all lawful use allows mass surveillance, Altman shared a post by U.S. Under Secretary of War Emil Michael in which he claimed that "The DoW does not spy on domestic communication of U.S. people (including via commercial collection) and to do so would be unlawful and profoundly un-American."

Unsurprisingly, few seem inclined to take the DOW's word for it. In 2013, whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed mass surveillance of U.S. citizens conducted by the DOW's (then called the Department of Defense) National Security Agency (NSA). This program was found to be illegal, and included people's telephone records. Human Rights Watch also accused the then-Department of Defense of surveilling U.S. citizens without warrants in 2017. 

"The government already has broken the law and illegally surveiled [sic] US citizens," replied X user @bolts6629. "A milquetoast statement from an undersecretary in an administration famous for lying is good enough for you?"

Altman did state that he would refuse to use OpenAI's technology for mass domestic surveillance "because it violates the Constitution," and expressed discomfort with the idea of an amendment that would allow such use. However, some social media users cast doubt on this claim, noting that he has gone back on other promises before.

"Other things you've said you wouldn't do: overrule the OpenAI board, remove the nonprofit structure, put ads in ChatGPT," noted @Laneless_.

Further, OpenAI's CEO also indicated that the company is reluctant to draw ethical lines, preferring to abdicate responsibility and follow the government's directions rather than take any sort of stand itself.

"[W]e are not elected," wrote Altman. "We have a democratic process where we do elect our leaders. We have expertise with the technology and understand its limitations, but I think you should be terrified of a private company deciding on what is and isn't ethical in the most important areas."

"Following orders is not an excuse for unethical behavior," responded @MagisterLudiX. "Either you have strong red lines or you see it as purely transactional, depending on political context."

"AI is a tool. A hard limit on it, is a limit like any other tool has," wrote @genericrohan. "It's not deciding what the military can do, it is about setting a limit that the military can plan for."

In response to the news of OpenAI and the DOW's partnership, many ChatGPT users are reportedly cancelling their subscriptions to the AI chatbot. Several are instead turning to Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude, which has since dethroned ChatGPT as the most downloaded free app in the U.S. Apple App Store.

"OpenAI just made a deal with a devil and lost this customer of 2 years," Reddit user r/boomroom11 posted on subreddit r/ChatGPT. The post has over 26,000 upvotes at time of writing. "The company (originally non profit) that told us they existed to build AI safely for humanity is now taking Pentagon contracts. Sam Altman decided defense money was more important than every principle the company was founded on."

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

The Full Moon is just a day away, so there's no surprise that it's big and bright in the sky tonight. There's a lot to see, without or without visual aids, so keep reading to find out what exactly you can spot.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, March 2, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 98% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

With just your naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Mares Vaporum and Crisium, as well as the Aristarchus Plateau. If you have binoculars, you should also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater, Grimaldi Basin, and the Archimedes Crater. For those with a telescope, including the Apollo 16 landing spot, the Rima Hyginus, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this period, it moves through eight recognisable phases, what we call the lunar cycle. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it continues along its path. The shifts in sunlight create the different appearances we see from Earth, ranging from a fully illuminated Moon to a thin sliver or near darkness. 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.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 March 2, 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 March 2, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 2 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 2 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 2 Pips

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who love March.

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. 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: 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: AFC teams

• Green: College basketball tournament

• Blue: The sound of sports

• Purple: Types of doubles

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: AN AFC West Player

• Green: March Madness Lingo

• Blue: Sports Onomatopoeias

• Purple: Double____

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 #525 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• AN AFC West Player - BRONCO, CHARGER, CHIEF, RAIDER

• March Madness Lingo - BRACKET, BUBBLE, CINDERELLA, SEED

• Sports Onomatopoeias - CLANK, CRUNCH, PING, VROOM

• Double____ - A, BOGEY, DOUBLE, FAULT

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.