Mashable

Normally, if your boss asked you to tear a body in half for work, you'd run for the hills (and also to HR). But for Steve Painter, Alien: Earth's lead prosthetics supervisor and designer, ripping fake bodies in half at a moment's notice was all part of a day's work.

In an interview with Mashable over Zoom, Painter recalled tearing apart one body in particular: that of Maginot engineer Shmuel (Michael Smiley). The corpse appears briefly in scenes where Prodigy soldiers and the Lost Boy hybrids explore the wreckage. Originally, it lay whole on the ground. However, when Alien: Earth showrunner Noah Hawley requested that Shmuel be torn apart and his halves scattered across the room, Painter and his team jumped into action.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth's game-changing ending, explained

"I just ripped his body in half," Painter told Mashable. "Then we had minutes, literally minutes as they were setting up cameras, to gore up his top half and his bottom half."

(Thankfully, Alien: Earth always had a bucket of fake guts on set.)

Shmuel's halved body is only on screen for a few seconds of Alien: Earth, but the story behind it is proof of the show's dedication to getting as gory as possible through practical effects, which Hawley committed to from the beginning. Some of the show's most gruesome background details came as day-of requests from Hawley, but the majority of Alien: Earth's showstopping body horror was carefully planned. Painter walked Mashable through three of Alien: Earth's goriest moments, from gnarly Xenomorph attacks to open chest cavities.

Alien: Earth makes a statement with an early Xenomorph attack. Alex Lawther in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

From a visual standpoint, one of Painter's favorite prosthetic moments from Alien: Earth came in episode 2, when the Xenomorph from the Maginot attacks Prodigy soldier Bergerfeld (Dean Alexandrou).

As one of the Xenomorph's first kills on Earth, Bergerfeld's death had to make a statement, and Alien: Earth delivers. The Xenomorph yanks Bergerfeld up by his face and thrashes him around before throwing him at Hermit (Alex Lawther). A bloody Bergerfeld rolls off of Hermit, revealing how the Xenomorph has rent his face to shreds.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' episode 3: Inside the big Xenomorph fight

"That was quite a cool effect to do on Dean," Painter told Mashable. "We had some green areas on his face, and a prosthetic all the way around where the Xeno had torn his face away. So his jaw's hanging off, his tongue's in there, his top teeth, stuff like that. We did that for every day for about a week, and that was quite enjoyable to do."

Alexandrou posted a video of the prosthetic application process on Instagram, so you can get an even clearer look at Bergerfeld's ruined face than you do in the brief moments it's onscreen in Alien: Earth.

Alien: Earth revisits John Hurt's Chestburster scene. David Rysdahl in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

One of the most daunting challenges for Painter came in episode 7, when Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl) dies by Chestburster. As with any scene involving a Chestburster, the sequence calls to mind Kane's (John Hurt) death in Ridley Scott's original Alien. Painter did not take the connection lightly.

"It's such a lot of pressure on my shoulders to provide what the fans want and expect," Painter said.

Painter, an Alien fan since he first saw it at age 13, watched Hurt's iconic death scene over and over to prepare, picking it apart in order to get Alien: Earth's take on the Chestburster right. In the end, Alien: Earth winds up using the same techniques from the original film to pull off Arthur's demise, albeit with updated materials like silicon.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' continues an 'Alien' tradition with its surprise synthetic reveal

Still, there are some major differences between Kane and Arthur's death. Painter wanted to expand on the scene, opting to show how the Chestburster's emergence would impact Arthur's body in its entirety. That's where the nightmarish image of Arthur's twitching legs came in.

The location of Arthur's death also sets it apart. He's on a beach in broad daylight, as opposed to the closed-off Nostromo dining hall. "From a technical point of view, that kept me up a few nights," Painter recalled.

Malachite's death in Alien: Earth is an Alien fanboy's dream. Jamie Bisping, Karen Aldridge, and Michael Smiley in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

While Xenomorphs are responsible for many of Alien: Earth's goriest moments, you can't count out any of the four new alien species introduced in the series. They all have standout moments, but a special shoutout is in order for the blood ticks. When Maginot engineering apprentice Malachite (Jamie Bisping) unknowingly drinks tick tadpoles in episode 5, they latch onto his insides and begin to drain him dry. To try to curb the damage, medical officer Rahim (Amir Boutros) cuts his chest open, giving us a full, horrifying view of his insides... and the ticks lurking within.

The effect was quite involved. Painter and his team created a full replica of Bisping's body with the open chest and silicon body parts within. (Painter estimates he currently has 16 silicon bodies from the show in storage.) Creating the body was only the beginning of the effect though, as Painter also had to find a way to create motion within the body.

"We built a little pod that goes into that body. It's quite technical, but it could breathe on bellows and syringes and stuff like that," Painter explained. "So it was a fully pumping, working, practical body that's on the table."

For a shot of Malachite convulsing as the blood ticks release poison gas, Painter and his team created a prosthetic to put directly on Bisping's chest. However, in the final cut of episode 5, Painter said, "90 percent of it is our body that they're operating on."

The Malachite sequence in particular was a dream come true for Painter, to the point that he thanked Hawley for writing it.

"I went up to Noah and I said, 'Look, thank you for writing this stuff, because this is straight up my street,'" Painter recalled. "I grew up watching horror films, and I was 13 when Alien came out, and this is a payoff to me, on a personal level. It's just fantastic. I loved every, every ounce of it."

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.

Avid Kindle readers should go check their Kindle Rewards balance right now. They might just have some free money waiting to be put toward a new book on their 2025 reading list. That money can also go toward accessories to deck out their Kindle set-up.

So if you haven't heard yet, Amazon rewards Kindle users for doing the exact thing that made them want a Kindle in the first place: reading. The Kindle Rewards point system dishes out three Kindle points for each dollar spent on Kindle books and one Kindle point for each dollar spent on print books (excluding textbooks, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, and digital subscriptions). Every 300 points is turned into $3 in Kindle book credits.

While 300 points sounds steep, most individual Kindle book purchases are an easy 40 to 50 points. (If you go the print route, you're still looking at 20 to 30 points, plus a new coffee table decoration.) The 300-point milestone could be reached every six or seven books, which may not take long, depending on how much you read.

SEE ALSO: What is Kindle Unlimited? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month.

Kindles are overwhelmingly our favorite e-readers thanks to their superior design and processing power. While other e-readers lag when turning pages or downloading books, Kindles zip through tasks so they read as fast as you need them to. However, we also love that you can save when you spend in the Kindle store.

If you're already a loyal shopper in the Kindle Store, you're probably already racking up the points, but how do you use them? Here's everything to know about Amazon's Kindle Rewards program and how you can make the most of it.

Do I have to sign up for Kindle rewards?

Kindle Rewards doesn't require sign-up, and technically doesn't even require a Kindle. (You can read the books you buy on Amazon on your phone or tablet through the Kindle app if you want.) All Amazon users are eligible, regardless of their status as a Kindle Unlimited member, which is unrelated. Buying your first Kindle Book or eligible print book automatically kicks off the points-earning process. If you've already made purchases in the Kindle Store, you've likely started earning points.

How do I use my Kindle rewards? Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

You can find your Kindle Rewards points on the rewards page in the Kindle Store, both online and within the app. As of May 2025, Amazon now allows you to make purchases within the Kindle app, too.

To find the potential points you could earn on a book you're eyeing, simply check out the Amazon listing for that book. As long as you're logged into your Amazon account, the Kindle Rewards points should show up by the prices for each book.

Once you've hit 300 points on Kindle Rewards, your $3 reward will be ready to use. The rewards are only applicable to use on purchases in the Kindle store — not other Amazon orders. You should see a Kindle Rewards button next to the Buy Now with 1-Click button. Make sure that the box is checked to receive $3 off your order.

The fine print is that once points are earned, you have three months to redeem them. This wasn't always the case, but a June 2023 change to the Kindle Rewards program put a three-month expiration date on Kindle points.

Don't miss out on double reward days

If you want to make the most of the Kindle Rewards program, look out for double reward days. These special events typically last 48 hours, and your reward earnings double. Plus, there's even the elusive triple points day that is certainly not to be missed.

To make sure you never miss a Kindle Rewards special offer, make sure you allow push notifications from the Kindle app, and you'll be alerted as soon as the event kicks off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Rewards Learn More

TL;DR: Featured matches from the 2025 Ryder Cup are available to live stream for free on the official website and app. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There really is nothing like the Ryder Cup.

24 of the best players in the world will come together to compete for Europe and the United States in match play competition. There are few other sporting events that can compete with the Ryder Cup when it comes to drama, so you best believe we'll be watching. Our plans are cancelled. Our schedule is clear. This is going to be special.

If you want to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The Ryder Cup involves match play competitions between players selected from two teams of 12.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

The defending champions are Europe.

When is the 2025 Ryder Cup?

The 2025 Ryder Cup is the 45th edition of the event. This year's event takes place from Sept. 26–28 on the Black Course of Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York.

How to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup for free

Featured matches from the 2025 Ryder Cup are available to live stream for free on the official website and app.

If you are unable to access these free live streams in your location, you may need to use a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams on RyderCup.com from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Ryder Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit RyderCup.com

5. Live stream the 2025 Ryder Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (including money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live golf, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for only $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Ryder Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

What the Paperwhite and Signature Edition have in common: Specs and performance Both the Kindle Paperwhite (L) and the Paperwhite Signature Edition (R) have adjustable brightness and warmth. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

You won't spot any differences between the two devices just by looking at them. They're the same size, with the same resolution screen. The power button, charging port, and audio jack are in the same spot on both devices. And they both have the following specs:

• 7-inch display, up to 94 nits brightness, and 300 ppi resolution

• USB-C charging port with up to 12 weeks of battery life

• IPX8 waterproof rating — can be fully submerged in water for up to one hour

Throughout my weeks of testing, I found no difference between the devices' speed and usability. Both e-readers provide exceptional performance. The 2024 models are the fastest e-readers I've tested, quickly downloading books and flipping between pages.

While other e-readers lag when swiping between pages, the Paperwhite and Signature Edition move quickly between pages, never needing time to load. If you need to flip a few pages ahead, just a few taps get you there without delay. Not to mention, both Kindles have a 12-week battery life, so you rarely have to charge them.

Each device has adjustable brightness and warmth for reading in any environment. Turning up the warmth is one of the best features of the Paperwhite and Signature Edition, making it easier to read at night without eye strain.

Plus, Kindle has mastered Libby integration. To get library books on your Kindle, you just need to push a button in the Libby app.

Kindle Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: Color The Kindle Paperwhite is just a slightly duller version of the Signature Edition's metallic jade. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As mentioned, the build and design of the Paperwhite and Signature Edition are nearly identical, except for color — and only kind of. The Paperwhite and Signature Edition come in three shades: black, jade, and raspberry. The slight difference between the two is that the shades on the Signature Edition are metallic, while the Paperwhite is matte.

While the Signature Edition shades are nicer, the difference is so minuscule that it's not worth it to pick a model based on the colors, especially when there is a $40 price difference. Plus, if you don't love the color of your Kindle device, there's plenty of room to accessorize.

Kindle Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: Storage

One of the most significant differences between the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition isn't seen. The Paperwhite has 16GB of storage, while the Paperwhite Signature Edition has twice that at 32GB.

When it comes to phones and laptops, 16 or 32GB of storage is nothing these days. But for e-readers, 16GB is plenty of storage. The average e-book takes up to 2MB of storage, meaning you can hold thousands of e-books with 16GB. That's plenty of storage for me, and 32GB is overkill. However, if you've used an e-reader with 16GB and have run out of storage, then 32GB might be totally necessary.

Kindle Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: Price

When considering price, the Paperwhite is the more affordable option. The Kindle Paperwhite starts at $159.99, while the Paperwhite Signature Edition costs $199.99. The Signature Edition's price isn't just because of its shiny metallic shade. For $40 more, you get added features like auto-adjusting brightness, 32GB of storage, and an ad-free lock screen.

Kindle Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: All the extras The Paperwhite Signature Edition even works with the Apple MagSafe charger. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Speaking of features, the Signature Edition shines. For $40 more, you'll get more storage, wireless charging, auto-adjusting brightness, and an ad-free lock screen.

The best feature of the bunch is the ad-free lock screen. On the Kindle Paperwhite, when not in use, your Kindle will push through various ads from the Kindle shop. It's not the worst, but if you're getting a Kindle for digital reading without distraction, not having ads is a massive perk. (Plus, some of the suggestions can be pretty out there.) The downside is that with no ads, the Signature Edition's lock screen has no "swipe to unlock" feature, so it tends to unlock on its own when you leave it in your bag. However, if you grab a case with a cover, it's an easy workaround.

I'm far less impressed when it comes to the auto-adjusting brightness and wireless charging. I've used the Signature Edition for months, and the auto-adjusting brightness works about 20 percent of the time, and even when it does, I still need to go in and manually adjust it. The wireless charging is also fine. Amazon makes a wireless charging pad you can purchase; however, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is also compatible with other chargers, like the Apple MagSafe charger. That said, I never found this feature necessary since USB-C chargers are plentiful these days, and the Kindle only needs to be charged every two to three months.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 MotoGP action heads east this weekend for the Grand Prix of Japan. Marc Marquez simply has to outscore brother Alex Marquez by three points to seal the title. Surely this is the weekend when it finally happens?

If you're interested in watching the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan?

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan takes place at the Mobility Resort Motegi. The 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan race starts at 1 a.m. ET on Sept. 28.

How to watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan for free

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Connect to ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan for free with ExpressVPN.

Despite being less than half illuminated by the sun, there's so much to see on the moon's surface tonight. Even without binoculars or a telescope.

Keep reading to see what you can see when you look up tonight, Sept. 27.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Sept. 27, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent, and according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 27% of its surface is illuminated tonight.

It's day six of the lunar cycle, so what can we see? With just your naked eye, look up to see the Mare Crisium. If you avert your gaze to the middle right of the moon, you'll also see the Mare Fecunditatis. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, these will be reversed: look towards the bottom left.

Got a pair of binoculars handy? Pull them out to see Posidonius Crater, too, a lava-filled crater. And with a telescope, you can also spot the Apollo 17 landing spot, the final Moon landing in the Apollo program.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 6. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

NASA tells us that moon phases are part of a 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit. This changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us; sometimes it looks full, sometimes it looks like it's disappeared entirely, but we always see the same side of the moon, it's just how much of it is lit up by the Sun that changes depending on where it is in its orbit.

This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

TL;DR: New Zealand vs. Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship is available to live stream for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Rugby Championship doesn't do ordinary games, but there's still something special about the All Blacks against the Wallabies.

This rivarly is always entertaining, and for the first time in years, it looks like an evenly-matched contest. Sure, New Zealand will be favorites. But Australia are top of the standings going into this game, and New Zealand just suffered an embarrassing defeat to the Springboks. Anything could happen.

If you want to watch New Zealand vs. Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is New Zealand vs. Australia?

New Zealand vs. Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship starts at 1:05 a.m. ET on Sept. 27. This fixture takes place at Eden Park.

How to watch New Zealand vs. Australia for free

New Zealand vs. Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Live stream New Zealand vs. Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch New Zealand vs. Australia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to New Zealand vs. Australia without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch top fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream New Zealand vs. Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

Happy Saturday and 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 September 20, 2025

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 September 19, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 27 Pips

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 27 Pips

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

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 27 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this red space must add to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this orange space must add to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (1): Everything in this light blue space must add to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (18): Everything in this space must add to 18. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you love a buttery, salty snack.

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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 September 2, 2025 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: Adoring

• Green: Bodily attachments

• Blue: Used to cook kernels

• Purple: To waste

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Loving

• Green: Appendages

• Blue: Popcorn-making methods

• Purple: Squander, with "Away"

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 #839 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Loving: KIND, SWEET, TENDER, WARM

• Appendages: ARM, FIN, FLIPPER, WING

• Popcorn-making methods: KETTLE, MICROWAVE, POPPER, STOVETOP

• Squander, with "Away": FIDDLE, FRITTER, THROW, TRIFLE

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 September 2, 2025

Are you also playing NYT 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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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.

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you're not talkative.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Mum's the word

The words are related to noise level.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to shut up.

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 Pipe Down.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 27

• Quiet

• Inaudible

• Hushed

• Pipe Down

• Muted

• Noiseless

• Silent

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're a world history enthusiast.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 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 September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A German.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FRITZ

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Slime in the throat.

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

MUCUS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Worth.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

VALUE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Found at the back of the throat.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

UVULA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Complaining.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

WHINY

Final Hurdle hint

To get up.

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

STAND

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

In one sense, Meta AI's Vibes — an endless scroll of AI-generated videos, submitted by creators and launched on the Meta AI app and website Friday — is the purest expression of what Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wanted to build when he was designing Facebook in the first place.

Still tinkering in his Harvard dorm room, Zuckerberg explained to a potential partner why he wanted to design his social network not for job hunting, but for endless, mindless scrolling. "I kind of want to be the new MTV," he said (according to a 2010 report on Facebook's murky origin story).

One of my first thoughts, when I decided to spend the better part of a day locked in Vibes' endless scroll, was this: so many Vibes look like a 10-second clip from a music video. (As with Instagram Reels, you can choose from a selection of music to accompany your Vibe.) Some are the cheesy '80s kind of music video, others wacky '90s-style Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry joints. The AI-generated pet videos — of which there are many, often with cats snuggled up in cozy settings or dogs running through fields — look like clips from some dystopian alternate universe where MTV and the Hallmark Channel merged.

This isn't an insult, by the way; I've loved watching music videos since childhood, and they're still my favorite way to get hyped up while working out on my rowing machine. But the best ones, often made by hungry directors heading for Hollywood, do what the best movies do: They tell a compelling story. You can have all the cool disassociated images in the world, and your brain will get bored quickly if there's no story connecting them.

And that's the trouble with Vibes: all of these shorts are great eye candy, none of them tell a story. Scrolling for a day, it was easy to see why social media users were settling on the same description of Meta's new service: an "infinite slop machine."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Is Vibes the future of AI video?

To be fair, there's plenty of interesting AI art out there, stuff that does tell a story and does stick with you. Recently we've highlighted cool stuff like this clever food-based body horror that went viral on Reddit. The question of how much AI infringes on the copyright of other artists is still a hot button topic; one major case is working its way through the system after a judge refused to throw it out.

But as things stand, AI-generated video is the horse that has bolted from the barn. YouTube now lets you add AI video to your shorts; many other services like Imagine and Midjourney are competing to provide you with clips. We're in the AI-generated-video-for-everyone era, like it or not (which is why it's always a good idea to brush up on telltale signs of fakery).

But if Vibes itself is the future of AI video art, I think artists can rest easy. Most artists understand the importance of display and context; a work of art often needs plenty of negative space around it. Vibes jams canvases together like it's a 19th-century gallery with a premium on wall space. (That kind of gallery went out of style for a reason).

The endless series of shorts washed over me after a while, rarely clinging to the inside of my head. There were a few exceptions to this rule, most notably a video of what appeared to be Tom Hanks and Donald Trump running through a cornfield (the same kind that I'd already seen a dozen dogs romp happily through). Hanks looked terrified. Trump, behind him, had long hair flowing in the breeze; it wasn't clear if Trump thought he was chasing or racing. Either way, thanks for the nightmare fuel, Vibes!

A still from a Vibes short, and also how my brain felt after watching them for hours. Credit: @WeirdMusicVideos on Meta AI

Again, to be fair, Vibes also shows how far AI video has come in a few short years. There were few instances, at least in this curated creator feed, of hands with too many fingers, torsos with too many limbs, and other features we associate with AI slop. There was often something in a video that looked a little wrong if you looked too closely — for example, why are those people vacationing at the beach looking out to sea, rather than at the dinosaurs charging past them a few feet away on the boardwalk?

But in general, the problem here is not the Uncanny Valley. The problem here is empty calories.

Younger kids may enjoy the weird eye candy aspect for hours on end (Vibes could well be the new Baby Einstein). But the more mature a brain gets, the less it thrives on mere novelty. Brains are storytelling machines, which is why Facebook's infinite scroll was once so compelling. We shared stories, and created our own community stories by arguing with each other about them. Vibes is the video version of the AI slop that has already arguably made Zuckerberg's social network less compelling than ever.

So yes, in one sense, Zuckerberg couldn't be closer to his MTV dream. And in another, the storytelling sense that keeps us coming back to find out what happened next, Meta's infinite slop machine couldn't be any further away.

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SEE ALSO: Open AI, Google, and Anthropic all offer AI tutors for students. Do they work?

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Mega Evolution Pokémon are back in a brand new era for Pokémon TCG post-Scarlet and Violet. To make everyone's lives easier, it's called "Mega Evolution" and is kicking things off with a bang thanks to Mega Lucario, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Venusaur, Mega Absol, and more.

This era means a lot to me, as the X and Y era back in 2014 marked my return to Pokémon TCG from the Wizards of the Coast days, and I've never looked back.

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

It's great to see the best gimmick in the franchise's history make a triumphant return. And if any of Legends Z-A and its Mega Dimension DLC hype and speculation is to be believed, we're going to be seeing some very cool Mega EX cards from new and returning Mega Evolutions from Pokémon X and Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Saphire and Legends Z-A.

What's new in Mega Evolutions? Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

The mechanics of Mega Evolution has changed significantly since we last played. To mega evolve your Pokémon, you have to follow its Evolution line just like standard EX cards. Whilst some Mega ex Pokémon are basics like Mega Absol, the majority of these cards follow the standard evolution process.

I really like this as it doesn't write off anything that isn't an ex unlike the X and Y era. However, if your Mega ex Pokémon is knocked out, your opponent takes three prize cards, so the stakes have never been higher. There's also trainer item cards like Rare Candy that allow trainers to evolve into Mega Venusaur ex from a basic Bulbasaur, for example.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Whilst some could argue Mega Evolutions have made games shorter with less strategy, I completely disagree. Mega Evolutions has come out of the gate streamlining gameplay and opening up new strategies.

My favorite deck strategies

Mega Evolutions puts a major focus on using standard Pokémon to buff up Mega ex-focused decks and I'm here for it. I usually sleeve, binder, and display my illustration Rares, ex cards and up, but I might have to break that rule for some killer deck builds this time around. Here are some of my favorite deck ideas so far:

Mega Venusaur ex build

Mega Venusaur ex chews grass type energy, with Jungle Dump needing four grass energy to deal 240 damage and heal 30 damage. Its Solar Transfer Ability opens things up to move a single grass energy from one Pokémon to another, meaning two grass energy can be places on Mega Venusaur ex per turn.

But throwing Meganium into the mix allows trainers to treat a single grass energy and two. So if you have Maganium on your bench and use a rare candy to evolve Bulbasaur straight into Mega Venusaur ex, you can place a grass energy down, then use its ability to move another energy from another benched Pokémon the use Jungle Dump for 240 damage all in one turn.

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

I'd also recommend Shuckle for its Fermented Juice Ability, it allows trainers to heal any Pokémon in play by 30 damage providing a grass energy is attached. Also Celebi due to its Traverse Time attack that costs one grass energy. This attack allows trainers to search for any three grass type Pokémon or Stadium Cards, and will come in handy when building up to Mega Venusaur EX and Meganium.

You can also pack the deck full of the following trainer cards as fail safes. Energy Switch will come in handy when Meganium isn't available to double up energy, Mega signal will let you search your deck for a Mega ex Venusaur straight away, and Wally's Compassion completely heals ex cards, with energy being returned to your hand only. I'd also recommend stacking up on Forest of Vitality stadium card to evolve Bulbasaur on its first turn (but this can't be used on the first turn of the battle).

Here's where to buy all of these cards:

• Mega Venusaur ex 003/132 — Double Rare / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

• Ivysaur 002/132 — Common / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare

• Bulbasaur 002/132 — Common / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare / Illustration Rare (Stamped)

• Meganium 010/132 — Holo / Reverse Holo

• Bayleef 009/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Chikorita 008/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Shuckle 011/132 — Common / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare

• Celebi 012/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Forest of Vitality 117/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Wally's Compassion 132/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

• Mega Signal 121/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare

• Energy Switch 115/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Boss's Orders 114/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Acerola's Mischief 113/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

Mega Lucario ex build

It's so great to have Mega Lucario ex back, and it's a quick stage one evolution card that deals 130 damage for one fighting energy with Aura Jab, that also lets you recycle three basic fighting energy cards from your discard pile. This combo comes in handy when using Lunatone's Lunar Cycle ability, which allows trainers to discard a basic fighting energy card to draw three cards from your deck once a turn. Solrock also has to be in play for this ability to activate though, so we'll be needing that too.

This results in a near infinite energy cycle to attach and discard throughout the game. Rather than using Mega Lucario ex's Mega Brave for 270 damage every other turn (unless it's going to win you the game), there's other buffs available that trainers can stack.

Garganacl's Powerfull a-Salt ability allows you to deal 30 damage with Mega Lucario and other fighting types. That means if you can get four of these stage two Pokémon on your bench. Mega Lucario can deal an extra 120 damage per turn, crazy right?

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

Premium Power Pro can also give a temporary 30 damage for fighting types for one turn too, which means you can add another 120 damage in one turn if you have four of them ready to play as it's an item card. Fighting Gong is a very good card for fighting themed decks, too. It lets you pull a basic fighting energy or Pokémon to put into your hand, which should speed up setups when you're pulling stage one and two Pokémon instead of basics.

Speaking of basic Pokémon, Stonjourner is a cracking card to get at the beginning of a battle, only requiring one fighting energy to hit with Stony Kick, which does 20 damage to your opponent's active Pokémon and 20 to a benched Pokémon. That damage spread could be the difference between winning or losing.

Here's where to buy all of these cards:

• Mega Lucario ex 077/132 — Double Rare / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare / Holo Gold Rare

• Riolu 076/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Stonjourner 081/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Lunatone 074/132 — Holofoil / Reverse Holo / Promo (Stamped)

• Solrock 075/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Garganacl 084/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare

• Naclstack 083/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Nacli 082/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Fighting Gong 116/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare

• Premium Power Pro 124/132 — Uncommon

• Wally's Compassion 132/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

• Mega Signal 121/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare

• Energy Switch 115/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Boss's Orders 114/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Acerola's Mischief 113/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

My favorite pulls and pull rates from Mega Evolution Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

I've opened a combined 55 booster packs for Mega Evolution across its Booster Box, Booster Bundle, Elite Trainer Box, and Build and Battle kit, so I have half an idea when it comes to pull rates for this set. My haul was 12 Mega ex, six illustration rares, and six ultra rares. Sadly, I didn't catch any Special Illustration Rares or Holo Rares, but overall I'm quite happy with what I got. Based on my own experience with opening this set, here's the pull rates for Mega Evolution:

• Double Rares (ex): 21.8% or 1 in 4.6 packs

• Ultra Rares: 10.9% or 1 in 9.2 packs

• Illustration Rares: 10.9% or 1 in 9.2 packs

• Special Illustration Rares and Holo Rares: At least 1 in over 55 packs

With that being said, here's some of the best cards I've pulled from Mega Evolution and where you can get them right now:

• Mega Lucario ex 160/132

• Mega Absol ex 161/132

• Mega Manectric ex 158/132

• Bulbasaur 133/132 (Stamped)

• Shedninja 144/132

• Ninjask 137/132

• Gumshoos 153/132

• Steelix 150/132

Should you get Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution?

Yes. It's a strong start to the new Mega Evolution era of Pokémon TCG and arguably some of the best standard ex artwork and layouts in years. The set has multiple deckbuilding paths, I've picked up on two just by writing this review. It also seems that pulling Secret Art Rares and Holo Gold Rares is tougher to pull off with this set, which is exactly how it should be. If you can find sealed product or single cards for the right price, this is something you need to get on the hype train early for.

Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group announced Friday that they are ending their preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their ABC affiliate stations. The late night show will return to all ABC stations Friday night.

The decision comes three days after Kimmel's return to air on ABC, following a nearly week-long suspension by ABC and Disney. The suspension was a result of Republican criticism over Kimmel's comments about far-right commentator Charlie Kirk's killer, which prompted Sinclair and Nexstar to preempt his show on their ABC affiliates. Kimmel addressed the comments in his return monologue.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel's return monologue smashes a huge YouTube record

Disney reversed its decision following backlash over Kimmel's suspension, including calls to boycott streaming services Disney+ and Hulu. However, when Kimmel returned to air on Sept. 23, Sinclair and Nexstar were still preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, meaning that ABC affiliates they own — which make up over 25 percent of the nation's ABC affiliates, according to Reuters — would not be showing the broadcast.

Now, following Sinclair and Nexstar's announcements, all these ABC affiliate stations will be showing Jimmy Kimmel Live! again.

Sinclair was the first of the two companies to announce Kimmel's return. In a statement released on Friday about their decision, Sinclair said, "Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives. We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important."

Sinclair's statement went on to address the company's discussions with ABC, saying that it had "proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman."

The statement also touched on criticisms of Kimmel's preemption constituting a politically motivated violation of free speech. According to Sinclair, "Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence. Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations. While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content."

Hours later, Nexstar announced that it had also reversed its preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

"We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns," Nexstar said in a statement. "As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment while producing and airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve. We stand apart from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment — and obligation — to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities. To be clear, our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals."

UPDATE: Sep. 26, 2025, 5:18 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect Nexstar's announcement about the return of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Matriculating college students are beginning their higher education journeys with an AI-assisted bump — or so tech companies want you to think.

According to a 2024 global survey of students by the Digital Education Council, more than half used AI tools on a weekly basis. The most common was ChatGPT, as well as tools like Grammarly and Microsoft CoPilot. Educators report students leaning on chatbots to complete assignments, streamline research, and even write college admissions essays.

But nearly the same percentage of students reported that they didn't feel equipped with the skills necessary to use and understand AI. A vast majority said they were discouraged by their university's integration of the modern tech. A recent Gallup poll of students around the country revealed nearly half were unsure of their school's stance on AI.

As universities contend with the potential consequences of generative AI use, students themselves are feeling the pressure, and even excitement, to use it more and more.

SEE ALSO: I tried learning from AI tutors. The test better be graded on a curve. AI partnerships vs. AI policies 

Behind the mass adoption of generative AI in university systems is a push from AI companies to pen official deals with educational leaders. To this end, most major AI developers have launched educational products, including tutor modes for their chatbots and broad licensing options for universities.

Part of ChatGPT for Education, OpenAI has announced educational partnerships with Harvard Business School, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton College, Duke, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), UC San Diego, UC Davis, Indiana University, Arizona State University, Mount Sinai's Ichan School of Medicine, and the entire California State University (CSU) System — OpenAI's collaboration with CSU schools is the largest ChatGPT deployment yet. But there are dozens more, an OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable, that haven't made their ChatGPT partnerships public.

Ed Clark, chief information officer for CSU, told Mashable that the decision to partner with OpenAI came from a survey of students that showed many were already signing up for AI accounts using their student emails — faculty and staff were too. "One of the concerns, as an access institution, was there are folks in our system that can afford the $30 per month and there are many folks that can't," he explained. "It was about access and equity, and addressing this digital divide that was already occurring, not only within our system, but across the country and beyond."

The system's AI advisory committee urged administrators to ensure equitable AI access, and while the partnership is still in its infancy, Clark said that students have been eager. Of more than 140,000 CSU community members who have enabled their accounts, Clark said, around 80 percent are students. The other 20 percent are comprised of faculty and staff. "The adoption is clearly growing the quickest with our student population."

Google offers its Google AI Pro plan and Gemini chatbot to college students for free, and is in over 1,000 U.S. higher education institutions, according to a recent blog post. These numbers are due in part to its AI for Education Accelerator, which offers schools free access to AI products and training certificates. 

The company also announced a partnership with California Community Colleges, offering "2 million students and faculty across the state’s 116 community colleges with free access to AI training, Google Career Certificates, and some of Google's cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini for Education and NotebookLM." It's considered the largest highest education system in the country. 

Anthropic, maker of chatbot Claude and its accompanying Claude for Education program, has taken a slower approach to educational partnerships. So far only, Northeastern University, London School of Economics (LSE), the University of San Francisco Law School, Northumbria University, Champlain College, and Breda University of Applied Sciences have announced Claude for Education investments. "Many universities prefer to manage their own communications about AI adoption, and we respect their preferences around timing and messaging," an Anthropic spokesperson told Mashable, explaining that more schools are using Claude than are publicly shared. 

Microsoft offers AI tools, including CoPilot for Web and CoPilot in 365, for schools through its 365 office suite. Students can now get Microsoft CoPilot for free, as well. 

An official partnership with an AI company, which Clark explains usually comes with a high initial cost and an array of enterprise features, differs from a university's policies on the use of generative AI, though. 

Most guidelines governing the use of AI are grouped under academic integrity or honesty policies (students, definitely read them). The specifics can vary by school, department, and individual professors within a larger university — an onus that many educators say is too much for them to handle, as the already over-burdened workforce battles new methods for cheating. 

Take New York University's policy, for example: "Because of [AI's] novelty and flexibility, there are few standard approaches to its use beyond an institution-wide restriction on taking credit for AI output without acknowledging its use. Most policies will be set by the schools or by individual faculty members. Check with your school or department to see if there are local policies."

Universities more closely regulate the use of AI by faculty and researchers — for reasons like data privacy and academic ethics — in many cases. But that may not be where it is most needed. According to a meta analysis of faculty and student surveys, AI adoption among educators lags steeply behind student use. Some surveys report that over 85 percent of students have used generative AI for coursework. 

A web of stances and policies on AI  

A lot of that student use could be on personal accounts, but many students have been encouraged by university administrations to take advantage of their generative AI services. Others have granted only limited access to students, or mandated clearer processes for acknowledging AI use in coursework, like a new AI Disclosure Form currently being used by students at American University's business school. Some seem to be pushing it to the back burner. 

Ivy Leagues 

America's Ivy League system — which includes Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale — doesn't have a blanket policy for generative AI use. 

Yale, for example, built the AI Clarity platform and chatbot to help staff and students access AI tools like ChatGPT, as well as CoPilot and Gemini services. The university offers many resources on AI, and even encourages students not to use it as a replacement for learning. But "each course at Yale sets its own policies for using AI. Using AI when it’s not authorized in a course constitutes academic dishonesty," the university writes. 

For now, Princeton students can only access Microsoft CoPilot chat and Adobe's AI image generation tools. Use of other generative AI falls under the school's Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities, which prohibit using non-Princeton AI tools to fulfill academic requirements: "If generative AI is permitted by the instructor (for brainstorming, outlining, etc.), students must disclose its use rather than cite or acknowledge the use, since it is an algorithm rather than a source."

Columbia has also licensed ChatGPT for student use, and has issued an overarching generative AI policy for staff and students. But it's more clear on student use than others: "Absent a clear statement from a course instructor granting permission, the use of Generative AI tools to complete an assignment or exam is prohibited. The unauthorized use of AI shall be treated similarly to unauthorized assistance and/or plagiarism." 

Keep in mind, much of the liability falls on users: You can't put confidential or personal information into generative AI programs, its use must be disclosed, and any output of an AI is your sole responsibility. 

Public and private systems 

Duke University, one of a few private schools that recently announced a ChatGPT Edu partnership, gives students unlimited access to the ChatGPT default model and even lets students migrate their personal accounts to student accounts. As for policies on using gen AI, Duke's Community Standard says any unauthorized use of generative AI is treated as cheating. But teachers are encouraged to write their own policies on how, if, and when generative AI may be used. 

California's many colleges vary quite a bit. The California community college system's public partnership with Google, for example, shouldn't be confused with the California State University system's massive collaboration with OpenAI. And every school within those systems will have varying AI policies. 

CSU schools, Clark explained, got to choose if and how they deployed the ChatGPT Education platform, according to their own AI stances. Students at large can access general AI resources from faculty, experts, and all of their AI partners on the system's AI Commons website. 

The University of California system schools are entirely different, too. UC San Diego, a ChatGPT Edu partner, also licenses and has built its own in-house AI assistant known as TritonGPT, which uses Meta's Llama model. UC Irvine has taken a similar approach, building its own ZotGPT AI, but also contracting with CoPilot and Gemini. 

Tech and research institutions 

Many research institutions are directly investing in AI research and are figuring out ways to responsibly make gen AI tools and LLMs available to students and staff.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), for example, has approved licenses for Adobe's generative AI tools, Google Gemini and Notebook LM, and Microsoft CoPilot — that means all student accounts can access them. ChatGPT (the advanced version) is only available for faculty use. According to MIT's policies, the use of generative AI tools must be disclosed for all academic, educational, and research-related uses. 

While the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) offers CoPilot to students and has been reviewing ChatGPT for faculty and staff, it warns users that the use of unlicensed AI tools carries risks. Like many other research-focused schools, AI use is permitted, but at the discretion of faculty and with definitive disclosure and privacy requirements. 

Georgia Tech has approved the use of the full suite of Microsoft AI tools and says it is exploring ChatGPT Edu, but the OpenAI tool is not approved for student use yet. DeepSeek is entirely prohibited on the campus. The use of other gen AI tools is the responsibility of professors and specific course guidelines.

AI is bolstered by student demand 

OpenAI recently announced the ChatGPT Lab for Students program, a pilot that connects AI student enthusiasts with OpenAI's developers, gaining early access to features and providing feedback. Students "will leave the program with a broader understanding of how to use AI in their own lives, new relationships with a special group of passionate peers, and insights into how OpenAI builds products and shapes its storytelling," OpenAI explained in a call for applicants. 

OpenAI's spokesperson also explained that they've seen a rise in student community groups and AI-focused clubs across U.S. campuses, where students learn the science behind AI and encourage its use among their peers. Students at UPenn's Wharton College, for example, run both the AI & Analytics Club for MBA students and the Wharton Artificial General Intelligence Collective (WAGIC) under the campuses' AI and Analytics Initiative. Columbia University Business School students operate the Artificial Intelligence Club. 

Clark said students across the CSU system have already taken advantage of ChatGPT Edu's platform by building their own bots — students at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo designed a scheduling bot for picking courses and extracurricular activities, for example. 

Anthropic runs student ambassador programs and Claude builder clubs, too.  

It's not just at the college level. If you were to Google "AI student clubs," you'll probably come across SAILea, an initiative to build out a network of AI clubs across high schools run by students from Duke, Georgia Tech, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Students in the U.S. and Canada have become spokespersons for companies like OpenAI. They're demoing new tools — like ChatGPT Study Mode — for the public, peers, and press, and they're increasingly getting a seat at the table.

Less than 24 hours after receiving attention and going viral, the Neon Mobile app has already exposed users' phone numbers, call recordings, and transcripts.

Just yesterday, Mashable covered a viral new app that was rising up the App Store charts called Neon. The app paid users to record their phone calls, which Neon then provided to AI companies for training. Mashable warned users at the time to be cautious if using the app as there was too much unknown about the company, its founder, and their claims about keeping data safe and anonymous.

Now, 24 hours later, Neon has gone offline after TechCrunch uncovered a security flaw that exposed users' phone numbers, call recordings, and call transcripts.

"Your data privacy is our number one priority, and we want to make sure it is fully secure even during this period of rapid growth," reads an email sent to users by Neon founder Alex Kiam. "Because of this, we are temporarily taking the app down to add extra layers of security."

As TechCrunch notes, while Kiam took down the app's servers and let users know about the downtime, the email failed to warn users about the specific security issue that exposed their phone numbers, call recordings, and transcripts.

Also, it should be noted that it appears only the app's servers have been taken down, rendering the app itself, which remains in the App Store, available but useless.

According to TechCrunch, they discovered the security flaw using a network analysis tool that showed data both being pushed into and sent out of the app. While users logged into the app itself could not access private user data, the data was exposed to anyone utilizing such a tool. This data included a URL to the recorded call's audio files, which was accessible to anyone with the link, and a text transcript of the call. 

However, it wasn't just call files and transcripts that were accessible. TechCrunch discovered that Neon's servers also exposed data concerning the most recent calls made by other users of the app. TechCrunch was able to access audio links and transcripts to those recorded calls as well. Furthermore, the metadata connected to those calls were also exposed. This metadata included the user's phone number, the phone number they called, how long the call was and what time it was made, as well as how much was earned from the call.

It's not everyday that a chart-topping app in the App Store is outright pulled from distribution. TechCrunch reports that app platform Appfigures tracked that Neon was downloaded 75,000 times just yesterday. If and when Neon makes a comeback, it will certainly receive increased scrutiny to be sure it addressed the issues.

At Snapdragon Summit this year, Qualcomm introduced a new generation of its flagship computer processor — the Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. This is a monster powerhouse that can stand up to the likes of even the mighty Apple M4 processor. At the event, Qualcomm brought some reference devices to show what these chips could actually do, and one mini PC immediately caught my attention.

Affectionately called "the UFO," it's a circular mini PC roughly five inches in diameter, and it captured my heart the instant I saw it. I've never seen anything quite like it before.

What's the purpose of reference devices like this? They allowed Qualcomm to show what its new chipsets can do.

A chip, like the engine of a car, only goes so far on its own. Without the rest of the vehicle — the wheels, doors, and seats — you're not going to get very far. But while the new flagship chips were supposed to be the main event, I was drawn to the UFO's unique design.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable SEE ALSO: The new flagship Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has a rear display and massive battery

The Snapdragon logo on the top even acts as a power button, which is a lovely little touch. Aside from the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor inside, the reference design also has 16 or 32GB RAM, three USB-C ports around the periphery, a power port for a barrel plug (boo for not charging with USB-C), and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There's no word on storage, but 256GB would be a safe assumption.

Mini PCs are great for keeping things minimal on your desk and staying out of the way. And this mini PC definitely qualifies. You could pick this PC up and slip it into a backpack, or even a moderately-sized fanny pack, but that's not really what it's for. Its design lets you keep your desktop almost completely free.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The round plate, for lack of a better word, is very thin. It's shaped like a large coaster or wireless charging puck. Including the feet that keep it from lying flush on the table, it's about 14mm tall, or about the height of eight U.S. quarters, which is fun. You could also say it's about as thick as a folded Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Either way, it's tiny, and I love the form factor.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Of course, this is a reference device that will never see store shelves, but it shows you what's possible with the latest generation of processors. I can only hope that a computer maker will pick up this design concept and run with it.

What I think is even more exciting is the idea of running Snapdragon chips on wired hardware. Up until now, Snapdragon-powered PCs have been exclusively laptops and portables, which have been great. But working with a hard-wired concept like a mini PC will allow Qualcomm and computer makers to push the hardware even further, without having to worry about battery life.

But in the meantime, this "UFO" is the mini PC of my dreams, and I would love to see a company turn it into reality.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best Windows laptops of 2025 will make Apple fans jealous

If you've never been to a major live sporting event, they're usually broadcast using big, bulky TV cameras. That won't entirely be the case in Friday night's matchup between the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox.

The game, which will be broadcast nationally starting at 7:10 p.m. ET for Apple TV+ subscribers, will be the first professional live sporting event to be (partially) broadcast using iPhones, per MLB.com. Specifically, there will be four iPhone 17 Pro cameras set up throughout Fenway Park in Boston that will occasionally be used when appropriate. According to MLB, there will be a "special overlay" on-screen to let viewers know when they're looking at something that was shot on an iPhone.

SEE ALSO: Forget the iPhone 17, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has an extra screen and a huge battery

Apple did a test run of this last week during a Los Angeles Dodgers game, but tonight's game will be the first live fire drill for public consumption. It couldn't come at a better time, either. If you aren't typically a baseball person, you should know that this Red Sox-Tigers game has massive implications for the upcoming MLB playoffs. Both of these teams are scratching and clawing to stay in the race, especially the Tigers, who have been in the middle of a historic late-season collapse after holding the best record in baseball earlier in the year.

In other words, both teams are good and full of star players to go along with the minor technological innovation happening behind the scenes. Should be a good one!