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BEST LEGO DEAL: Lego is running free Blooming Heart make and take events from 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 13. This activity is intended for adults and is for LEGO Insiders only (it's free to sign up).

Lego regularly runs make and take events that cause quite a stir in the brick-building community. What are make and take events, we hear you ask. These free giveaways provde an opportunity for participants to head to their nearest participating store, build a money-can't-buy model, and take it home with them for free. It's that simple.

The latest make and take event is a little different from what we're used to, but that's not a bad thing.

Lego is celebrating Valentine's Day this year by running Blooming Heart make and take events at participating stores (5-7 p.m. on Feb. 13). Unlike the majority of these events, this free giveaway is recommended for adults and is exclusive to Lego Insiders. Not already a member? Don't worry, because it's free to sign up and only one Lego Insiders account per household is required. Check participating stores here.

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These beautiful Lego Blooming Heart models are available on a first come first serve basis, at participating locations, while supplies last. You're limited to one Lego Blooming Heart build per guest, so you can't turn up and stock up. This model is not available for purchase, so there's always a lot of demand for these exclusive items.

We can't think of a better way to kickstart this Valentine's Day weekend, whether you are looking for an activity to do as a couple or you want something fun to do solo.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you smoke like a chimney.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 13, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Absolute

• Green: A streamer

• Blue: Bum a smoke

• Purple: To decrease

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Downright

• Green: Pennant

• Blue: Cigarette brands

• Purple: Homophones of ways to get smaller

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 #978 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Downright: PURE, SHEER, STARK, UTTER

• Pennant: BANNER, COLORS, FLAG, STANDARD

• Cigarette brands: CAMEL, KENT, PARLIAMENT, SALEM

• Homophones of ways to get smaller: LESSON, RESEED, SYNC, WAYNE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 13, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a visual learner.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 13, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: See what I mean?

The words are related to educational help.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe information guides.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Visual Aids.

NYT Strands word list for February 13

• Diagram

• Photograph

• Infographic

• Visual Aids

• Chart

• Video

• Model

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

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

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

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

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 February 13, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 13, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To beg.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

MOOCH

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

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

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

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

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

The Pitt audience, how are you feeling after Season 2, episode 6? If you're like me, your eyes are moist (if not streaming outright) after the show's emotional send-off to "frequent flyer" patient Louie (Ernest Harden Jr.)

SEE ALSO: Why 'The Pitt' feels more real than any other medical drama

Louie crashed at the end of Season 2, episode 5, before passing away early on in episode 6. His loss hangs over the entire installment, which ends with the staff of the Pitt holding a small memorial service for him. There, they share their memories of treating him, and Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) reveals information about Louie's life outside the trauma center.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Louie was married to a woman named Ronda. She wanted kids, and even though Louie was reluctant at first, he became incredibly excited once she got pregnant. Just before her due date, Ronda and the baby died in a car crash. It's a heartbreaking revelation, one that offers a greater perspective on a sweet patient we knew little about beyond the walls of the Pitt, as well as a look at how much these patients touch caregivers' lives and vice versa.

The end of the scene is accompanied by a new song from Andrew Bird and series composer Gavin Brivik, titled "Need Someone." If you want to relive Louie's memorial scene, or just want an extra dose of emotional damage, courtesy of The Pitt, you can listen to it above.

New episodes of The Pitt Season 2 air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

TL;DR: Get eight new tools with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for only $34.97 now through Feb. 22.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $34.97
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Looking to make life a little easier? There’s a reason Microsoft Office has been around for decades — it’s packed with tools to help you tackle your to-do list, both personally and professionally. Right now, you can secure a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for just $34.97 — less than $5 an app — now through Feb. 22.

Whether you’re a busy college student, a stay-at-home mom, or an overworked entrepreneur, there’s an app that can help you within the Microsoft Office suite of tools. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license gives your PC permanent access to eight essentials, with no subscription fees and no cloud connectivity required.

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This license includes some of the classic apps you know and love from Microsoft — Word for document drafting, Excel for spreadsheet creation, PowerPoint for presentation creation, and Outlook for managing your inbox.

You’ll also receive new favorites with this license, like OneNote to upgrade the way you take notes, and Teams to keep you connected to family, friends, and coworkers. Access is there to help you manage large databases, and Publisher is available for all your professional document creation needs.

All apps have been redesigned, so you don’t need to worry about the edition year. Plus, the ribbon-based interface makes it easy to access features, tools, and customizations. Just make sure your PC is running Windows 10 or 11 before you purchase.

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There's a new iOS update, and along with the bug fixes and security enhancements, Apple has some new features for iPhone users as well.

iPhone users can now upgrade their mobile devices to iOS 26.3, though users need an iPhone 11 or later. Just go to Settings, then General, then tap Software Update on your iPhone.

So, what's new in iOS 26.3?

First up, Apple has created separate Wallpaper options for Astronomy and Weather on your iOS device. Along with that, Apple has released three pre-designed Weather wallpaper options for your lockscreen with different fonts and widget designs.

Limit Precise Location is a new feature in iOS 26.3 that focuses on user privacy. With Limit Precise Location turned on, iPhone users can reduce how precise their coordinates are when relaying that information to cellular networks. Apple says this means your iPhone would share a general neighborhood location instead of an exact street address.

Apple notes that Limit Precise Location only affects the information shared with cellular networks. Exact location data shared with Find My, with friends, or location sharing is not affected when Limit Precise Location is turned on.

While Limit Precise Location is being introduced with iOS 26.3, the feature is only available on iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and iPad Pro M5 Wi-Fi + Cellular devices. Why? As our colleagues at PC Mag note, an iOS device with an Apple C1 or C1X modem is required for Limit Precise Location to work.

Finally, iOS 26.3 is giving users an easier time jumping from the iOS ecosystem with the new Transfer to Android feature. Located within the Settings app, Transfer to Android lets users wirelessly move photos, messages, apps, and other data to Android devices. Some information, like health data and previously connected accessories, will not transfer to Android through this feature. Still, being able to easily move your photos and conversations from an iPhone to an Android device is a welcomed new feature.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages for just $159 (reg. $646.20) for a limited time with StackSocial’s code LEARN.

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The subscription unlocks access to 14 languages and more than 10,000 hours of lessons designed by expert linguists using research-backed teaching methods. Lessons are structured around everyday situations such as ordering food, navigating transportation, and conducting business conversations.

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