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AdultFriendFinder has been hooking people up for 30 years, having long established itself as the top adult dating site — and the go-to place for singles who want casual flings and hookups. AFF has stayed strong through major changes in the dating game and online culture. It's survived the emergence of dating apps, weathered the dominance of apps such as Tinder, and maintained a unique identity to stand out in the hugely crowded and competitive field of online dating. 

If you're looking to let your freak flag fly — and why not, we say, go for it — AFF offers you the best variety of ways to explore and indulge in kink-based fun. To help get you started, here's a round-up of six great features on AdultFriendFinder — features you won't find on any other dating sites.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Naked content

The first thing to notice when you register for an AFF account (and you could hardly miss it) is that the site doesn't exactly shy away from nudity. You'll find it in every corner of AFF and throughout its interface. Indeed, it's very common for users' profile photos to contain genitalia close-ups or full-frontal nudity rather than the usual headshot you get on more typical dating sites. 

You can also post videos on your profile, including explicit videos, and there are webcam feeds live at any given time with amateur and professional models in various states of undress and pleasure. 

If you find yourself distracted by all of the nudity or just want to browse the site in public without having NSFW imagery all over your screen, you can turn on the adult content filter by navigating to your profile settings in the top right of the screen, then scrolling down to Content Filter and selecting either No Nudity, Some Nudity, or Everything (the default setting, naturally). Though it's worth adding that it's probably best to avoid checking AFF while you're out in public, no matter what filters you have in place.

Live webcam feeds

We know that webcam sites are rife — there's no shortage of options for cam-based naughtiness — but it's rare to find an actual dating site that hosts live webcam feeds. Indeed, you'll find not just professional models but also regular users on AFF webcam feeds.

All you need to do is go to the Live Action menu at the top of your AFF window and click either Member Webcams or Pro Models. Once you've selected your preference, there are even more specific search filters, including gender (Men, Women, or Trans), Nude or Non-Nude, and even by proximity to your location.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

One thing to note, however: while free members can view webcam feeds (including more than one at a time), only Gold members and above can actually chat with models.

Discussion forums, blogs, and group chats

Unlike traditional dating sites, which only seek to match people in one-on-one interactions, AdultFriendFinder encourages group dynamics, especially in their Community section. Here you'll find not only personal blog posts by AFF users commenting on their experience, sharing stories, or posting queries, but also group discussion boards organized around literally hundreds of interesting topics. 

Many of these are sexual in nature (there's a polyamory group, for example, and a "women who like older men" group), but many are organized around interests and hobbies, including politics, tech, travel, movies, and music. 

Best of all, you can participate in these communal discussions without having to subscribe to AFF's Gold membership, which helps to keep these places more lively than they would otherwise be if only paying members could access these spaces. 

Erotic stories

Fun fact: erotic fiction now accounts for approximately 25 percent of all fiction sold in the United States, so it's hardly surprising that erotic writing ("literotica" for those in the know) would be a major draw. What is surprising, however, is how few online dating sites take advantage of it.

AdultFriendFinder members who wish to read or write sexy stories, real or imagined, can navigate to the Community menu and select Stories, where they'll uncover a near-unlimited array of stories, novels, fan fiction, and even erotic poetry. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best free dating apps to find your spring fling

If you're feeling adventurous, you can explore the stories at random, but AFF also deploys a clever tagging system that allows you to search by topic, with popular options including First Time, Sci-Fi, TSTV (trans and transvestite), and Voyeur. 

Popular stories achieve higher ratings and greater on-site visibility, and popular authors can actually build a large following on the site, so whether you're eager to read more erotic fiction or aspire to write some, AFF has you covered. 

Contests

One of the more fun aspects of AdultFriendFinder is that it genuinely seeks to cultivate a sense of community and actively encourages its users to spend more time on the site, especially in the public-facing sections. Their on-site contests are a fantastic example of this in action. 

About once per month, the site hosts a themed photo contest, asking members to submit photos and then allowing the rest of the site to vote on which submissions best reflect or embody the contest caption. 

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

The most recent photo contest theme was "Velvet Secrets: Valentine's Masquerade," while prior contests included "Naughty & Nice" for the holidays and "Midnight Mischief." Winners get a special badge they can display on their profile, plus tons more profile visibility, so there's a strong incentive to participate. 

To enter, scroll to the Community menu and then find Contests at the very bottom of the options list. If there's an active contest and you are logged in to your account, you'll be given the option of participating.

Kink-based profile search

Every online dating site or app has a profile section, where you can fill out pertinent personal information such as your sexual orientation, level of education, and whatever hobbies, interests, or special skills you have that might make you stand out from the crowd, but AdultFriendFinder takes things a step further by offering members the opportunity to list their kinks.

If you navigate to your profile name in the top right of your AFF screen and then select Dating Profile and Edit Profile, you'll have the opportunity to add to your My Kinks section. Popular options here include BDSM, voyeurism, and cross-dressing, but the full list is far more extensive.

SEE ALSO: How to use the internet to figure out what you’re into in bed

Best of all, these kink lists aren't merely decorative. If you have a premium account, you can actually search out other members by their chosen kinks, allowing you to find the people in your area who like exhibitionism or have a foot fetish, for example. 

There's no shortage of online dating sites, and even no shortage of hookup-first sites, but when it comes to adult dating, AFF clearly separates itself from the competition with its wide array of kink-friendly features and accommodations. 

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle is on sale for $209.95 at Amazon, down from its $299.96 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle $209.95 at Amazon
$299.96 Save $90.01 Get Deal

Building one Commander deck in the Magic: The Gathering trading card game can take plenty of time, but this Marvel Super Heroes bundle skips straight to the part where everyone chooses a side and actually starts playing. 

As of July 27, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle is available at Amazon for $209.95. That's $90.01 off and the lowest price this four-deck set has ever been, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

The listing is sold and shipped directly by Amazon, with free delivery currently scheduled for Aug. 1, or July 29 for Prime members. Amazon is also marking the bundle as a final sale with no returns, so it is worth checking that you want all four decks before ordering. 

At this price, the bundle works out to roughly $52.49 per Commander deck before tax. What’s more, this new deal is even undercutting the market price value of $218.36 on TCGplayer, with listings only going as low as $218.90. 

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The bundle includes Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, The Fantastic Four, and Doom Prevails. Each is a ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck, meaning four players can pick a Marvel team or villain lineup and get into a multiplayer game without building anything first.

Every deck also contains 30 cards that are entirely new to Magic: The Gathering, along with 10 double-sided token cards, a deck box, a strategy guide, and a reference card. Altogether, that gives you 400 playable cards and 40 tokens across the bundle.

The foil treatment differs slightly between the four decks. Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, and Doom Prevails each include one Traditional Foil Borderless commander, while The Fantastic Four comes with four — one for every member of the team.

For anyone still getting used to parts of MTG, Commander is designed as a free-for-all multiplayer format and is generally best with three to five players. That makes this bundle a particularly easy way to put together a complete Marvel-themed game night, with four distinct decks already built around their own heroes, villains, gear, and strategies.

Among other deals in MTG right now, you can still grab the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Draft Night on sale for just over $80. Plus, you can pre-order the 30-pack Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box at $10 off on Amazon. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is on sale for $48.43 at Amazon, down from its $59.99 list price. 

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle $48.43 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $11.56   Get Deal

The Chaos Rising expansion has been fluctuating around the $50-60 mark in the Pokémon TCG market lately, but Amazon’s latest third-party listing has pushed the six-pack Booster Bundle down for a limited time.

As of July 27, the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is available at Amazon for $48.43. That's $11.56 cut from the $59.99 list price.

Sold at that price by third-party sellers, delivery is set between July 30 and Aug. 17, although a slightly more expensive listing by J & M Collectibles (shipped by Amazon) for $52.49 will get to you by Aug. 1 at the time of writing. At $48.43, each of the six included Chaos Rising booster packs works out to roughly $8.07 before tax. 

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Each booster pack contains 10 trading cards and one Basic Energy. The headline valuable chase cards you can pull (or buy individually on TCGplayer) include SIR Mega Greninja ex, MHR Mega Greninja ex, SIR Cinccino ex, and SIR Mega Dragalge ex. 

For even more from this expansion, you can score the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for around $200. As for the Pokémon TCG’s new expansion, you can buy the Pitch Black Booster Bundle for just over $40 on Amazon. 

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Alternatively, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Get Deal

Samsung is the center of attention at the moment, and that makes total sense. Samsung just dropped three new foldables smartphones, two smartwatches, and smart glasses. But can we hold some space for Apple?

Apple prices are bumping in the face of RAMageddon, but you can still secure a limited-time offer on iPhones from T-Mobile. This popular mobile carrier has just dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals on the latest handsets.

You can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 for free when signing up for 24 months of an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone. For power users, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. That's mildly irritating, but that's how it often goes with this kind of deal.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." That's enough for us to consider upgrading.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for free this week with T-Mobile.

Shopping for clothes is hard enough, but it's even tougher when shopping online. Outfits that look great on TikTok and Instagram don't always translate well to real life, and screens can easily hide thin fabrics and poor construction. As such, it can be difficult to spot quality pieces, and scary to spend your hard-earned cash on clothes you can't inspect in person.

SEE ALSO: How to cut ties with fast fashion when you really, really love clothes

Fortunately, you don't have to dive into the world of online shopping completely unarmed. Here are some tips to help you separate flimsy fast fashion from quality clothes you can pass to your grandkids.

Compare a garment's purpose with its material Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable / Adobe Stock

When shopping for clothes online, one of the best and most immediate indicators of quality is its fabric composition. For Dr. Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne MA PhD, senior lecturer of Fashion Marketing and Enterprise at Torrens University Australia, her number one tip is to look at a garment's fibre content.

"I take offence to 'premium' products being sold with poor fabrics such as a blazer lining made of 100 percent polyester within a blazer retailed for multiple hundreds [of] dollars," Lamarche-Beauchesne told Mashable. "I would never buy this."

This doesn't mean you should only be buying high-end fabrics such as silk and cashmere. Rather, consider whether the fabric a garment is made of is suitable for its intended purpose. 

Office attire should be made of materials that are comfortable on the skin for all-day wear, such as cotton or linen. Synthetic fibres such as polyester are generally less breathable, making them uncomfortable in warm environments. However, polyester does have the advantage of being durable, easy to care for, and typically more affordable than natural fabrics. This makes them well suited to workout outfits instead of corporate clothes.

"For activewear or swimwear, bar from a few brands, it will be difficult to find alternatives to true synthetics, like nylon, polyester, and spandex, and those products will likely perform very differently than what people have come to expect from the category," said Lamarche-Beauchesne. 

You can usually find the fabric composition of clothes listed online in the product description. If you're buying second-hand, see if there are any close-up photos of the garment label. Platforms such as Depop or eBay let you message sellers, so don't be shy about asking about the fabric if the information isn't in the listing.

You should also consider exactly what part of the garment each listed material is being used for, such as whether they're in a jacket's shell or lining. Lamarche-Beauchesne states that while polyester may not be suitable for a lining, semi-synthetic material rayon (also known as viscose, Tencel, Lyocell, and a variety of other names) serves this purpose well.

"All [rayon materials] are derived from cellulose, and are very comfortable on the skin, including for linings or satin weaves closer to the body," said Lamarche-Beauchesne. "If odour is a concern, polyester lining traps odours much quicker than their cellulose counterpart."

Lamarche-Beauchesne also looks for fabrics that are completely made from one material where possible, such as 100 percent cotton knitwear. However, this isn't a hard and fast rule, as it heavily depends on what the materials are, what qualities they impart to the garment, and what percentage of it they make up.

"A pair of jeans with over two to three percent spandex to cotton ratio has a high likelihood of becoming distended, as the spandex fibre can stretch further, and are more prone to breakage," Lamarche-Beauchesne explained. "I would not buy a pair of jeans with polyester in it, but I would consider a two percent spandex to 98 percent cotton ratio."

Zoom in on the details and design Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable / Adobe Stock

Choosing appropriate fabrics will go a long way toward spotting quality pieces when shopping online. However, materials can also vary in quality — even synthetic ones. IDA+S co-founder Kinsen Siu told Mashable that not all polyester is equal, varying in quality just like natural materials. IDA+S is an Australian clothing brand that focuses on versatile, practical, and long-lasting pieces, and is named for Siu's mother: Lafayette 148 co-founder Ida Siu.

"[Polyester can have] tighter weaving that gives it a more luxury handfeel, finishing treatments that improve softness or add features such as moisture wicking, [or] anti-microbial in categories like performance wear and athleisure wear," Siu listed. "The problem is that high quality and bad quality polyester is indistinguishable as a content [listed in a garment's description]."

As such, you should also look at clothes' details and design. In addition to potentially offering more information on the fabric, such details help indicate the care and attention put into making the garment. Online stores may include close-up photos of high quality clothes, showing off buttonholes and lining, or allow you to significantly magnify product shots without loss of detail. Other times, you'll only have a handful of full-body photos that don't allow for such scrutiny, and may be hiding lacklustre finishes.

"A simple [tip] is: can you zoom in on the product photo?" said Siu, comparing the maximum zoom on a faux leather jacket to that of IDA+S' Isolde Leather Bomber Jacket. "One gives you the overall look of a garment. The other shows you the minute grain of the leather and the button detail. If you look at the pattern of the button [on the Isolde Leather Bomber Jacket], this is what's called a horn button, which is a pricier but more sustainable and stronger button option.

"In general, the more detail a brand has put into their product, the more effort and confidence they'll have in showcasing those details. Along the same lines, those details allow you to see the detail and the density of the stitching." 

While being able to magnify product photos will tell you a lot, full body shots are useful as well. Look at the model's pose, and whether they're positioned in a way that might be hiding details such as its drape. Carefully examining the garment's design, how it's cut, how the fabric falls, as well as how it sits on the model can help you determine if a purchase is worth it or a waste.

"[Look for] product design that adapts to the body in some way," said Lamarche-Beauchesne. Back waist elastics on bottoms are a non-negotiable for her, as they are comfortable and help clothes last longer. "It is very difficult to get a sense of the construction quality online, but the garment design, how it sits on the model, and considering additional design decisions, can support better decision-making when purchasing online."

Pricing is an indicator of quality, not a guarantee Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable / Adobe Stock

Higher prices can indicate that a garment is of higher quality. Lamarche-Beauchesne stated that pricing often plays an important role in the type of materials used, and that a garment's price-to-fibre ratio is "the biggest red flag" when shopping for clothes online. It's highly unlikely that your $10 Shien dress was crafted with the care and materials needed to ensure it withstands the test of time.

However, while an expensive price tag means a garment is more likely to be well made, it isn't a surefire promise of quality.

"Fashion overwhelmingly functions on a perceived-value model, and that model means that we assign to garments the value that we assign to its brand," said Lamarche-Beauchesne. "A brand sold at a premium price is a branding decision first. It is about marketing and does not always translate to a durable fibre selection or manufacturing quality. Consumers always have to be vigilant here."

Last September, popular TikTok fashion influencer Wisdom Kaye posted a video of his new Miu Miu vest losing a button as he undid it for the first time. This was actually a replacement that the luxury brand sent Kaye after his first vest also lost a button shortly after he brought it home, with the zip on a jacket breaking as well.

The video went viral, racking up over 11 million views, and sparked conversations about perceived quality decline in luxury fashion. Few shoppers would have expected such issues from a designer like Miu Miu, which charges several thousand dollars for a single shirt. 

It's a helpful reminder that a famous brand name and hefty price tag aren't necessarily guarantees of a garment's quality. Pricing is a useful indicator to help you draw a conclusion. Even so, you still need to do your own due diligence, and inspect clothes' material, details, and design.

Examine and take advantage of return policies Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable / Adobe Stock

Unfortunately, there are limits to how much you can discern about clothes by scrutinizing photos online. The quickest and easiest way to determine quality is to actually see and feel a garment in person. As such, Siu says your best bet may simply be to buy clothes with the intent to return them if you're underwhelmed.

"There are brands that are confident in their quality but understand that their clothes can't fit everyone," said Siu, speaking on return policies. "Check that return policy, buy it, try it on, and be diligent about returning it if it doesn't work for you."

When examining a store's return policy, look at whether they accept change of mind returns, how long you have to return your items, who's responsible for return postage costs, and whether there's a restocking fee. IDA+S' Try Before You Buy service gives customers three days to try on clothes while their payment is put on hold. However, you must remember to actually return them within the time limit, or else be out of pocket for clothes you don't want.

"Treat online shopping as if you are taking clothes into a fitting room," said Siu. "Be prepared to start the return process. Yes, it's inconvenient, but it is equally inconvenient for the brand. High returns is the signal to them that something is remiss in their product quality and it forces them to investigate it."

Siu advised comparing clothes from new brands to ones from designers you already know and trust. Look at details on garments from your favourite labels, consider the quality and features you like, and compare them to garments from new brands you're interested in. 

He further suggested digging into unfamiliar brands' backgrounds to determine whether you can trust them. In Siu's view, a label with no visible face behind it may be cause for suspicion.

"My personal habit is to look at the 'about us,' find the founder's name, and google them. In particular I look them up on LinkedIn," said Siu. "This is an extraordinarily difficult business to succeed in [the] long term. Every single brand has a challenge of driving awareness of which the founder is responsible for. No details in the 'about us'? Nothing about the founder? That is a major red flag."

Buy clothes you'll actually wear Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable / Adobe Stock

Fabric, details, drape, and pricing are all significant considerations when shopping for clothes online. These factors will help you find garments that not only look and feel good to wear, but will last you for years to come. However, the most important factor when shopping for clothes is whether you'll actually wear a piece, and have the capacity to care for it as needed.

"Given a poly blend that you wear on a regular basis for years vs a 100 percent linen shirt that you can't bring yourself to wear because you can't be bothered to iron it, it's clear that one has far greater utility," said Siu.

Fast fashion-fuelled clothes hauls and fashion trends can be fun to follow online. But if you want to get the most bang for your buck, help protect the environment, and elevate your look while at it, mindfully shopping for quality clothes will go a long way toward helping you achieve those goals.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever gone fishing.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFL teams

• Green: NHL teams

• Blue: Seen in Cincy

• Purple: German soccer clubs

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFL Teams Whose Nicknames Start with B

• Green: NHL Teams Whose Nicknames Start with B

• Blue: Associated with Cincinnati

• Purple: Words in the names of Bundesliga Clubs

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 #672 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• NFL Teams Whose Nicknames Start with B: BEARS, BILLS, BRONCOS, BUCCANEERS

• NHL Teams Whose Nicknames Start with B: BLACKHAWKS, BLUE JACKETS, BLUES, BRUINS

• Associated with Cincinnati: BEARCATS, BENGALS, BIG RED MACHINE, BURROW

• Words in the names of Bundesliga Clubs: BAYER, BAYERN, BERLIN, BORUSSIA

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

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

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

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

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

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 27, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 27 Pips

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 27 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 27 Pips

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

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Red tone.

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

ROUGE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Smelled bad.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 27, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STUNK

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Ultra speed.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 27, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TURBO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

What basketball is played on.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

COURT

Final Hurdle hint

To break.

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

SMASH

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

We're just a couple of days away from the Full Moon, so it's looking nice and bright in the sky. Keep reading to find out what you might be able to spot on its surface, with or without visual aids.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, July 27, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Gibbous phase, with 95% of its surface visible.

Using just your naked eye, tonight you should be to see the Mares Fecunditatis, Serenitatis, and Tranquillitatis. Binoculars will also help you to see the Mare Nectaris, Mare Humorum, and the Endymion Crater. If you have a telescope, this will help you see all this plus the Apollo 12, 16, and 17 landing spots.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to complete its journey around Earth, passing through eight distinct phases during each lunar cycle, according to NASA. While the Moon’s same side is always visible from our planet, the portion of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it moves along its orbit. These shifting levels of illumination are what create the different appearances we see throughout the month, from a slender crescent shape to a half-lit Moon and finally a bright Full Moon, before the cycle begins once again.

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.

Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), you tricky devil. Not only are you a witch, but you've also been hiding a clutch of dragon eggs from everyone this whole time!

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' finally includes a key book detail about Rhaenyra and the Iron Throne

In House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 6, Alys reveals to Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) that she's been guarding five dragon eggs, which now look gray, stony, and unable to hatch. Once Aemond sees them, he whispers, "Dreamfyre." That's the name of the blue dragon ridden by Queen Rhaena Targaryen, sister to King Jaehaerys, and therefore great aunt to Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Daemon (Matt Smith). Now, Dreamfyre is ridden by Helaena (Phia Saban), although the dragon has yet to make an appearance on the show.

Alys having dragon eggs at Harrenhal is a departure from George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, which doesn't dive too deep into the beginnings of Alys and Aemond's relationship. However, the presence of dragon eggs at Harrenhal is consistent with Fire and Blood's lore.

Where did Dreamfyre lay her eggs?

Dreamfyre was a particularly fertile dragon, laying at least three clutches of eggs in her lifetime. One clutch, laid at Fair Isle, became coveted by several lords and ladies, with the Lannisters even offering to buy them. Rhaena refused the offer.

Dreamfyre made her lair in Dragonstone, and then, following Rhaena's death, she lived in the Dragonpit in King's Landing. But between those two points, as Alys points out in the show, Dreamfyre did have a stint in Harrenhal. (Notice how she speaks as if from personal experience, suggesting Alys is far more older — and therefore otherworldly — than she may seem.) During that time, given Dreamfyre's fertility and her presence at Harrenhal, it's entirely possible that she could have laid eggs there within the book's lore.

However, what's more intriguing now that these eggs are in play is what House of the Dragon plans to do with them next. Could Aemond and Alys' union truly spark a new generation of dragons? If they have a child, would they bond with one of the eggs? Again, they look pretty stony, so the answer doesn't seem likely. Then again, Alys has many a trick up her sleeve, so I wouldn't put hatching a dragon egg too far out of the realm of possibility. (It would be far out of Fire and Blood's canon, though.)

Alternatively, Alys could be manipulating Aemond, luring him in with the promise of more dragons while Vhagar remains absent. Likely, the situation is some combination of both: Alys wants a return of magic and power to Harrenhal on her terms, and she sees a path towards it in the vulnerable Aemond. One thing is for certain: With the introduction of these eggs and with Alicent Hightower's (Olivia Cooke) journey to Westeros' most cursed castle, we're headed for a showdown at Harrenhal that could look quite different from the book.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) time on the Iron Throne has been an absolute nightmare.

Her treasury? Empty. The Gold Cloaks? Murdered. Tumbleton? Taken hostage by Ormund Hightower (James Norton). Now, as if things can't get any worse, her own throne has betrayed her.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': What in the world is Alicent going to do at Harrenhal?

In House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 6, Rhaenyra endures yet another rough session of listening to her subjects' petitions. The citizens of King's Landing are worried about rising costs of their basic needs, as well as the lack of protection from the Gold Cloaks. Rhaenyra is unequipped to answer their worries, and as she stews in her discomfort and rising panic, the Iron Throne cuts her finger and draws blood.

Rhaenyra hides her injury, but as she does, she looks towards one of the statues of the Targaryen kings lining the throne room. It's that of her father, Viserys (Paddy Considine), seen holding what looks like a model of Old Valyria. Viserys was no stranger to getting chopped up by the Iron Throne himself. Throughout his reign, he suffered many minor injuries from the throne's swords. They were the Iron Throne's way of saying he was unworthy, that he was losing his grip on the realm. Eventually, the wounds festered and led to his drawn-out, rotting death. From just this one cut alone, Rhaenyra sees her father's fate playing out before her. She knows her time on the Iron Throne is in peril.

A similar sequence plays out in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, although it takes place far earlier in Rhaenyra's reign. When she first sits on the Iron Throne in the book, Rhaenyra picks up cuts on her leg and palm and leaves the throne room with blood running down her body for everyone to see. It's visual proof for the realm that the Iron Throne is straight up rejecting her.

When House of the Dragon initially omitted that detail, I thought it was the show's way of legitimizing Rhaenyra's rule and silencing the "historical" sources in Fire and Blood, who may have embellished her downfall. Now, though, it's clear that the show was just taking a longer approach to Rhaenyra's decline as a ruler. Instead of immediately shunning her, the show's version of the Iron Throne must have thought, "You know what? I'm gonna give her some time to prove herself." When that didn't work out, it decided it was time to give her a very painful wake-up call by turning her hand into mincemeat.

The cut is still small enough that Rhaenyra is able to keep it private, unlike in Fire and Blood, where it's a public affair. Still, as Rhaenyra keeps unravelling, could the Iron Throne keep doing more visible damage until, like Viserys, Rhaenyra's unworthiness is visible to everyone?

More importantly, what are the Iron Throne's criteria for a good ruler? Because it certainly wasn't slicing and dicing Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) while he sat — unworthily! — on the Iron Throne. Nor did it chop up the tyrannical Joffrey Baratheon when he was king. Did the Iron Throne get lazy, or is a non-sentient chair of swords just maybe not the best judge of a monarch?

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Another House of the Dragon episode, another possible death for Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint).

The Lord of the Tides had a brush with fate in Season 3, episode 1, during the Battle of the Gullet, but even going overboard in full armour wasn't enough to stop him from washing up on the beach relatively unharmed.

The question is, has his luck finally ran out?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 family tree: How the Targaryens, Hightowers, and Velaryons connect What happens at the end of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 6?

After absolutely laying into Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) when she refuses to legitimise his sons, Corlys goes a bit AWOL. He's found by his son Alyn (Abubakar Salim) out in the woods, casually butchering members of the Triarchy who have apparently been carrying out raids on Driftmark.

Alyn tells Corlys that he's needed back in King's Landing, but he initially seems reluctant — at least until the episode's end. In the final scene of episode 6, we hear him giving a speech to his men, telling them they're needed back in the city. As he stares at the hanged bodies, though, Lord Ormund's righthand man, Bold Jon Roxton (Joplin Sibtain) appears behind him with men of his own.

"Who are you?" says Corlys. "What's your errand?"

Realising Ser Jon doesn't mean well, Corlys draws his blade — but it's too late. A man jumps on him from behind and wraps something around his neck.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments Is Lord Corlys actually dead this time?

Surely Lord Corlys can't come back from the dead twice, can he? Well, even though we don't see exactly what happens to him, we do have a few clues to work from. First, after the man jumps on him, there's another distant shot of him struggling. We see a second man approach, but the camera cuts away before we can tell exactly what Corlys' attackers are up to. Crucially, though, Corlys is still moving when we last see him. He's not dead yet.

Second, we have to think about Ormund's motivation here. Obviously, he's sent Bold Jon to attack Corlys, but would the Velaryon lord be worth more to him dead or alive? Killing Corlys would certainly weaken Rhaenyra's position further, but taking him hostage could be even more powerful — not only does it deprive Rhaenyra of her re-enforcements, but it also gives Team Green a pretty big bargaining chip.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has made several huge deviations from George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood. It cooked up Ormund Hightower's (James Norton) entire plan to crown Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) from scratch, and it gave Nettles' book storyline to Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell).

Now, though, it unleashes what could be its biggest change yet: sending Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) to Harrenhal.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 family tree: How the Targaryens, Hightowers, and Velaryons connect

Alicent spends the majority of her time onscreen within the confines of the Red Keep. In fact, starting in Season 2, every time she has left the Red Keep has marked a major shift from House of the Dragon's source material. She met with Rhaenyra in the Grand Sept to discuss peace efforts, took a cleansing swim in the Kingswood, and snuck onto Dragonstone to offer Rhaenyra a game-changing deal. None of these excursions are in Fire and Blood. Then again, House of the Dragon has often played fast and loose with Alicent and Rhaenyra's book dynamic, complicating it nicely by making them childhood friends.

The show's latest installment in its "Let Alicent Hightower Go Outside" initiative doubles as an assassination attempt. Rhaenyra knows that she needs to take Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) out. She also knows that he's holed up in Harrenhal and separated from his dragon Vhagar, offering her the perfect chance to strike.

However, just because Aemond is vulnerable doesn't mean he's unstoppable. Rhaenyra realizes that if she sends many soldiers to take him out, he can just flee again and become more untraceable. Instead, she decides to send just one sword, accompanied by someone he trusts: Alicent. She'll lure him into a false sense of security, and then the assassin will dispatch of him.

This whole storyline is a show-only invention, as Alicent remains in Red Keep mode from the moment Rhaenyra takes the Iron Throne in Fire and Blood. So, there really is no way of knowing what fate awaits Alicent at Harrenhal. On the one hand, she knows how unpredictable Aemond is, and she's willing to do anything to protect Helaena. Will that be enough to make her stand by as one of her sons — granted, the creepy son who did kiss her — is murdered? Or will she try to warn him?

I'm leaning towards the former (again, the Aemond kiss clearly shook Alicent), but there's a big wild card in play: Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin). The witchy guardian of Harrenhal has ensnared Aemond by weaponizing his mommy issues and showing off her clutch of dragon eggs. She's also proven that she has some sense of the goings-on around Westeros, based on her knowledge of the Battle of the Gullet in episode 1. She'll likely be able to sniff out Alicent's true purpose at Harrenhal from miles away. And if Alicent makes an enemy of Alys, she'll definitely wish she'd have stayed cooped up back in the Red Keep.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a shopaholic.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 27, 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: Simone Biles

• Green: Pointy

• Blue: Segments

• Purple: Found online

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Gymnastics apparatus

• Green: Long tapered things

• Blue: Kinds of shifts

• Purple: Icons on a shopping site

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 #1142 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Gymnastics apparatus: BEAM, HORSE, RINGS, VAULT

• Long tapered things: CARROT, ICICLE, KNITTING NEEDLE, STALACTITE

• Kinds of shifts: DOPPLER, GRAVEYARD, PARADIGM, STICK

• Icons on a shopping site: BELL, CART, HEART, MAGNIFYING GLASS

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 27, 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 ride public transport.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Let the journey begin

The words are related to travel.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe public transport.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Train Station.

NYT Strands word list for July 27

• Platform

• Kiosk

• Ticket

• Counter

• Bench

• Track

• Train Station

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 good at pretending.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 27, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 27, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Pretender.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

POSER

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.

TL;DR: Starting July 26, get 15% off two or more items during Casetify's Back-To-School Sale using promo code BTS26.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Back-To-School Sale Get 15% off two or more items using promo code BTS26 Shop Now

I live life on the edge, which is to say I don't even have insurance on my phone. Instead, I put all my faith (and my device's safety) into a good case and a glass screen protector. If you're sending kids back to school, you probably want that same level of protection for their devices, especially since buying a reliable case is a whole lot cheaper than replacing a shattered screen or buying them a brand-new phone.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases: Where to get fun ones right now

To help stretch the life of the devices you already own, Casetify is launching a back-to-school promotion. Starting July 26 and running through August 9, you can get 15% off two or more items by using the promo code BTS26 at checkout. (The only catch is that your cart has to include at least one phone case to get the discount.) If you want to save a little extra, checking out through the Casetify app will get you an additional 5% off.

If you prefer to buy things in person, Casetify is available in 343 Target stores nationwide right now, so you can just grab a case while you check off the rest of your school supply list. Just keep in mind that the BTS26 promo code is strictly for online and app orders.

TL;DR: PDNob Pro PDF Editor combines AI-powered editing, OCR, document summaries, file conversion, and e-signatures in one app. Get a lifetime subscription for $34.99 (reg. $349.95) with code SAVE15.

Opens in a new window Credit: PDNob PDNob Pro PDF Editor: Lifetime Subscription $34.99
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If you only open a PDF editor a few times per month, paying for a PDF app subscription can feel like overkill. PDNob Pro PDF Editor bundles editing, AI tools, OCR, and file conversions into a one-time purchase for just $34.99 (reg. $349.95) with code SAVE15.

At its core, PDNob handles the PDF basics you’d expect. You can edit text and images without wrecking the formatting, merge and split files, convert PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents, annotate drafts, fill and sign forms, and redact sensitive information before sharing. Equipped with OCR technology, it can also turn scanned contracts, receipts, books, and other image-based documents into editable, searchable files.

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It’s more than just a standard PDF editor, though. Instead of reading an entire manual or report, you can use its AI tools to ask questions about a document, generate summaries, translate passages, or pull out key information in seconds. The lifetime license includes 6,000 AI credits, making those features useful long after your first project.

It also works across Windows, Mac, and iPhone, so you’re not locked into a single operating system if you switch devices throughout the day. One license supports two users with simultaneous use on two devices, includes 20GB of cloud storage, and comes with lifetime updates.

Normally $349.95, you can get a lifetime subscription to PDNob Pro PDF Editor for just $34.99 with code SAVE15.

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An independent group that monitors potential manipulation of sports competitions has announced the results of a yet-to-be-released report examining irregularities related to betting and gambling on FIFA World Cup matches.

The organization called Group of Copenhagen monitored all 104 matches and determined that 15 games rose to the level of requiring enhanced monitoring. The group also assessed 12 major controversies from an "integrity risk perspective."

SEE ALSO: Pornhub traffic tanked in Spain and Argentina during World Cup final

While the Group of Copenhagen has yet to release its full detailed report, the New York Times has reported that a few of these flagged events involve the online prediction market Polymarket.

The report singles out how $4.8 million was placed on Polymarket for Spain not to defeat Cape Verde in their group stage game, which was the first game either team played in this year's tournament. The game's result, a goalless draw, was considered to be one of the biggest shocks of the entire World Cup. Spain was a tournament favorite and went on to win the championship. Cape Verde was playing its first-ever World Cup game.

However, much more notable than a surprising game outcome is the market that was opened on Polymarket based on the red card issued to the U.S. Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun.

According to the report, a Polymarket market was opened on July 2, which asked: “Will Folarin Balogun play against Belgium?” That was the same day that Balogun was issued a red card in U.S.'s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The red card meant Balogun would not be able to play in the match against Belgium.

However, on July 5, before the U.S. vs. Belgium match, FIFA announced that Balogun would be allowed to play and that his ban would be suspended. President Donald Trump would take credit for FIFA's decision shortly after, saying he had a phone call with FIFA head Gianni Infantino. Reporting later confirmed that U.S. officials went to work immediately following the red card being issued to have it overturned.

Did Trump officials who were privy to this information partake in insider trading to make a profit on Polymarket? It's a legitimate question to ask, especially in light of recent news that Trump's teleprompter operator profited from their position by placing trades on Kalshi.

Prediction markets have blown up in popularity in recent years. Kalshi, a prediction market that partnered with the World Cup's official prediction market sponsor, ADI Predictstreet, has said that a record $1.2 billion in trades was placed on its platform to predict the World Cup winner. The company said it also gained 3 million new users directly from the World Cup.

According to experts interviewed by the New York Times, the irregularities don't necessarily mean that any manipulation occurred. While the Group of Copenhagen's research was coordinated with FIFA’s own Integrity Task Force, FIFA has released its own findings claiming that “no suspicious betting activity or indications of match manipulation in connection with any fixture” had been identified. 

Comic-Con International: San Diego has always been a barometer for where the entertainment industry is placing its biggest bets, and this year's lineup made that clearer than ever. Over the course of a single weekend, Marvel Studios, Prime Video, Apple TV, and AMC all used the convention floor to unveil casting reveals and first-look footage for some of their most closely watched projects, spanning superhero blockbusters, prestige sci-fi, and small-screen horror alike.

Long-simmering rumors finally became official announcements, decades-old franchises got new leads and new timelines, and fans packed into panels for a glimpse of what's coming to theaters and streaming over the next two years.

Here's a rundown of the biggest reveals to come out of Comic-Con 2026.

MCU's Ghost Rider Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Ryan Gosling was confirmed as Johnny Blaze in a new Ghost Rider film directed by Shawn Levy, ending years of speculation about the actor joining the MCU. This film is set to release in 2028.

Black Panther 3 release date reveal Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

The same Marvel panel brought news of another long-rumored casting: David Jonsson was announced as the new Black Panther, playing the son of Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, in a film directed by Ryan Coogler and set for release on December 15, 2028.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Season 3's trailer teased Sauron's completion of the One Ring and the outbreak of full-scale war across Middle-earth. New cast additions include Simon Pegg voicing the Balrog, Eddie Marsan as Dwarven royal Thrain, and Andrew Richardson as the future King of Gondor, Anárion. Season 3 premieres November 11.

Blade Runner 2099

Prime Video debuted the first trailer for its Blade Runner series, set decades after Blade Runner 2049. Michelle Yeoh stars as Olwen, a replicant confronting the end of her life, opposite Hunter Schafer as a human fugitive on the run from Blade Runners. Ridley Scott executive produces, with Silka Luisa serving as showrunner. The series arrives November 25.

Carrie

Mike Flanagan's Carrie series got its first trailer, dragging Stephen King's telekinetic teen into the smartphone era ahead of an October 7 premiere on Prime Video. The eight-episode miniseries follows Carrie White as she endures bullying at school and abuse at home from her fanatically religious mother, Margaret — all while discovering she has telekinetic powers.

Summer H. Howell leads the new cast as Carrie White, alongside Samantha Sloyan as Margaret, Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, and Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle, with Alison Thornton, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, and Joel Oulette rounding out the ensemble.

Yaga

AMC+ and Crave released a teaser for this Canadian supernatural mystery series, starring Noah Reid as a detective investigating the disappearance of Henry Park, an heir to a commercial fishery, in a small coastal town. Park is played by Hudson Williams, known to fans of the queer romance series Heated Rivalry.

The cast also includes Carrie-Anne Moss and Clark Backo, with the series created by Kat Sandler based on her own 2019 stage play of the same name.

Neuromancer

Apple TV entered the fray outside Marvel and Prime's orbit, releasing its first trailer for an adaptation of William Gibson's cyberpunk classic, starring Callum Turner as hacker Case.

This article will continue to be updated....