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MCU's Blade movie may be dead, but Mahershala Ali and filmmaker Bassam Tariq have created an original action movie from its ashes. 

Written and directed by Tariq, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother stars Ali as Latif, a Muslim hitman, who must protect his family from a violent cult leader (played by John Cho). 

In an interview with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, Ali and Tariq shared how the Blade movie led to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. 

SEE ALSO: 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' trailer: Mahershala Ali leaps into action

Ali said of Blade, "I’d been attached to that project — if you count to this date — like seven years. But, a couple of years ago, I knew it wasn't happening, essentially. And so, for me, it was more of, 'Alright, how do I get back to business?' Because it's just so much time and so much of my energy going toward that project. So once it was clear to me that that wasn't happening, it kind of gave me a certain freedom to begin to really take ownership of my schedule and of my life, so to speak. And so, as you are sitting back and waiting for something to come through that will resonate with you, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother came through."

Ali continued, referring to Tariq, "And I think the only reason it came through was because we didn't do Blade together."

Ali was announced as the lead of the MCU's Blade at Comic-Con in 2019. He and Tariq had known of each other, but first met because Tariq was attached to direct in July of 2021. However, in the fall of 2022, Tariq left the helm, and Lovecraft Country director Yann Demange took his place. The split with Marvel was a peaceable one, and in a statement to THR, the studio said Tariq would stay on the Blade project as an executive producer. 

Speaking to Mashable, Tariq revealed a bit about the reported creative differences he had with the Blade movie producers. He explained, "I think the frustrations for me were really about not giving me the reins to write. And I'm a writer, like that's what I do for a living. I write. So I was like, I'm gonna write, and I'm gonna write something that I've always been working on, and just bring that into the world."

Tariq also reflected on what he learned from working with Kevin Feige and his team during the development of the Blade movie. 

"I learned a lot in that process," Tariq began, "And like what's so brilliant about Kevin [Feige] and [producers] Victoria [Alonso] and Lou[is D'Esposito]  was that they really cared a lot about the audience. I came from art house, where I was all about like, 'Oh, what's the heart saying?' Which is great, which I still am all about. But I think to balance, I do like going in and seeing audiences and how they were connecting to these people and movies, characters, and all that stuff."

Tariq continued by expressing his respect for the sprawling superhero film series, saying, "I grew up on comics as well. But I think as I got older, I kind of took a step back. But to see how much audiences really cared – and how much [the MCU producers] cared about audiences — I was like, 'Oh, this is something that we need to really start thinking about more as directors, is like where's the audience? How do you really build this?' And I think ambition was something that I always saw in Kevin, like thinking, 'Well, how do we go bigger?'" 

Tariq applied that lesson to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, which will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, followed by a theatrical release across the U.S. 

For more from Mashable's interview with Mahershala Ali and Bassam Tariq, look for our full video release the week of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother's theatrical debut on Sept. 25. 

TL;DR: Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Project Professional 2024 for Windows to help you tackle projects on your PC for just $48.99 (reg. $1,129.99) with code Aug25 now through Aug. 9.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Project Professional 2024: Lifetime License for Windows $48.99
$1,129.99 Save $1,081   Get Deal

Tired of keeping track of deadlines? If you’ve ever felt like you could use an assistant, but don’t have the budget for one, you may want to check out Microsoft Project Professional 2024. This powerful software helps you plan, execute, and complete projects easily, and right now, a lifetime license for Windows is just $48.99 with code Aug25 through Aug. 9.

Whether you’re tackling multiple projects for work or you could use some help streamlining some personal tasks, Microsoft Project Professional 2024 is ready to help. It’s your very own project management assistant, helping you knock out projects from start to finish right on your PC.

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Microsoft Project Professional 2024 is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface. There are also pre-built templates available to help you stay on track.

If you’d like to see how much time is spent on a project versus non-project work, you can submit your timesheets. If you’re curious about different outcomes, you’re able to run what-if scenarios to make sure you’re making the most out of your task assignments.

Visual learners will love Microsoft Project Professional 2024’s feature that lets you see a complex schedule with built-in multiple timelines.

Working with others? You can take advantage of built-in features that let you hover over team members’ names in a project plan to see their online status, or start a chat or call via Microsoft Teams.

This lifetime license for Windows is tied to your device, not your Microsoft Account, and you’ll have access to future updates.

Score your own Microsoft Project Professional 2024 Lifetime License for Windows for only $48.99 with code Aug25 now through Aug. 9.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Make job hunting easier forever with this lifetime subscription to FirstResume AI Job Hunting Automator, now only $29.99 (reg. $899) with code Aug25 through Aug. 9.

Opens in a new window Credit: FirstResume FirstResume - AI Job Hunting Automator: Lifetime Subscription $29.99
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Job hunting is stressful enough — don’t make creating your resume a headache, too. With FirstResume AI Job Hunting Automator, applying to positions can be painless. This AI-powered tool helps you tailor resumes, whip out cover letters, and even send outreach emails.

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Gone are the days of spending hours tailoring your resume to each individual job you apply for — only to never hear anything back? FirstResume AI Job Hunting Automator makes the process a whole lot easier with job-hunting tools designed for Gen Z that can help everyone.

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Queer horror fans have a complicated relationship to the genre. Horror cinema is a place where we have seen ourselves reflected, but often as villains.

From the flamboyant mad scientists of James Whale's Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein to the sapphic vampires of Dracula's Daughter, to the trans-coded killers of Sleepaway Camp and The Silence of the Lambs, LGBTQ+ characters shimmer throughout the fabric of the horror canon. While such problematic portrayals might feel like antiques, they've nonetheless shaped the genre and generations of queer horror fans. And for these folks, American filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun has made Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.

SEE ALSO: Shudder's 'Queer for Fear' series is here to school you on LGBTQ+ horror

Written and directed by Schoenbrun, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma celebrates the slashers and, through that, explores the complicated feelings of loving a genre that doesn't reliably love you back. But that's not all. They also offer a radical tonal shift from their moody films We're All Going to the World's Fair and I Saw the TV Glow, delivering a comedy that is part horny psychosexual thriller and part campy parody. The result is a film that is rollicking in queer joy, blood spray, and irreverent humor.

Yes, it's meta, smart, and challenging genre norms. But calling Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma "elevated horror" is to miss its point.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is a story of love, sex, and perversion. Jack Haven is Little Death in "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma." Credit: MUBI

Hacks' Hannah Einbinder stars as Kris, a 29-year-old queer filmmaker whose Sundance success has earned her a shot at relaunching the long-dead Camp Miasma slasher franchise. Like with I Saw The TV Glow, Schoenbrun creates a deep wealth of lore and fandom merch to flesh out the fictional IP within this story. Where I Saw The TV Glow's central show had shades of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Camp Miasma seems a mix of Sleepaway Camp, Friday the 13th, and Twin Peaks.

The first film was a grimy, ultra-bloody slasher flick that centered on a wide-eyed Final Girl named Billy Preston, who was stalked by a harpoon-carrying killer called Little Death (I Saw the TV Glow's Jack Haven). For Kris, Billy is the key to understanding how to revive Camp Miasma, and so she travels to meet the aging scream queen (Gillian Anderson), who lives at the "haunted summer camp" where the first film was shot.

SEE ALSO: The best horror movies of 2025, and where to watch them

Red flags like this don't deter Kris, who is eager to walk in the footsteps of Little Death and his victims. But before long, Kris starts to realize that Billy isn't interested in making another movie. She's interested in Kris. Desire blooms between the two women, but inelegantly. And that's the point.

Schoenbrun recognizes how horror can be ludicrous, with kills that turn severed human necks into fountains that shoot blood 30 feet in the sky, as if we are meat sacks full of cherry soda just waiting to explode. Sex they treat as similarly silly from the moment we meet the siren that is Billy Preston.

Anderson plays the reclusive actress as Norma Desmond by way of Dolly Parton in a David Lynch movie. She slinks around the cabins with perfectly manicured, bright red nails, her hair in big, tumbling blonde curls, and her wardrobe silky robes that beg to be stroked. But then, she'll offer Kris a preposterously abundant plate of fried chicken, treating the accompanying dipping sauces as if they were oysters, ripe for vaginal allegory and campy foreplay.

While many might write Billy off as odd and flee this camp of red flags, Kris is drawn in because Billy is fearless, even in her strangeness. Through her influence, Kris not only reconsiders her Camp Miasma movie, but also her understanding of herself. Where Billy is a carnal creature who licks her fingers and speaks candidly of sex to a near stranger, Kris is shy and cerebral, far more capable of talking about "elevated horror" and transphobia in film than she is her own desires.

However, through her relationship with Billy, Kris learns to understand horror not just as her personal obsession, but also as a path to self-acceptance. How does a harpoon-wielding slasher, an avalanche of candy wrappers, and a Southern-fried recluse factor into that? Well, Camp Miasma's killer's name being "Little Death" is a pretty big clue.

We're talking orgasms.

Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder are a perfect match in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson in "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma." Credit: MUBI

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is gloriously irreverent in its approach to its influences. Schoenbrun name-drops or alludes to Sunset Boulevard, Psycho, Mulholland Drive, Bound, Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, and more. But they do so with a rebellious joy that turns a transgressive backstory into a gorgeous portrait of nonbinary beauty, and an iconic final shot into a rebellious echo of pride.

The cinematography of Eric K. Yue manages to weave together tones that go from earnestly amorous to unapologetically loony. A production design that blends a realistic camp setting with forest backdrops that are clearly painted challenges the audience to consider what is real and whether or not that matters. The music offers Psycho-reminiscent stings of strings, sultry synth keyboard, and a chaotic soundtrack that ranges from Counting Crows' "A Long December" to Sade's "No Ordinary Love," and Donna Lewis' "I Love You Always Forever."

It's a bold blend of dark inspirations and cheerful pop. Anderson and Einbinder are entrusted to make it work, and they do. Einbinder steps out of the chaotic bisexual bravado of her Hacks heroine, embracing the timid sapphic who's technically poly but low-key resents her partner's (Jasmin Savoy Brown) boyfriend Thor (Aren Buchholz). Her intellectualizing and her filmmaking are where she feels comfortable, while Anderson's Billy is bored by all that blather. Billy relishes flesh and touch, and so becomes a carnal mentor.

Together, their quirks make sense, building a world that others might see as bizarre, but which the queer (like a gas station attendant with a septum ring) will clock as wondrous. Like Lynch's leading ladies in Mulholland Drive or Todd Haynes' in Carol, these two actresses tug on each other, giving the film a sexual tension and emotional pull that is exhilarating. And then on top of that, they embrace the absurdity Schoenbrun has baked in, which reminds the audience earnestly that sex need not be taken so seriously. It can be silly, messy, sweet, and bloody, and it can shine a light on the most fucked-up desires of our queer little minds. And all of that can be celebrated instead of shame, with the help of a Little Death.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma explores where queerness, self-acceptance, and horror collide. But it's also a hell of a good time. Schoenbrun and their cast embrace the ghoulish delights of slasher slaughters, the titillating fun of their teen sex and death, and the radiant joy of finding pleasure in your own body. All this makes Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma a knockout, from its first kill to its final thrill.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Aug. 6, 2026, 10:37 a.m. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma was reviewed out of its North American premiere at Newfest. The review has been republished to toast the film's theatrical release.

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Aug. 5-8. Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering free books in a variety of subgenres.

We're not in the habit of complaining about free giveaways, but if there is one thing that bothers us about Stuff Your Kindle Days, it's that they sometimes come and go in the blink of an eye. We need time to prepare. We need to properly assess our options and lovingly handpick the books that speak to us on a spiritual level. 24-hour events rob us of this opportunity.

Fortunately, the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is a much more relaxed affair.

Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering free books across a variety of subgenres until Aug.8. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, so you really can stock up ahead of the colder winter months that aren't too far away.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the 2026 Motorola Razr for free — how to qualify

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your E-Reader takes place from Aug. 5-8. This four-day giveaway provides participants with the chance to really dig into everything on offer.

Which books are free?

Stuff Your E-Reader is an all-genre book blast, so there really is something for everyone. There's a helpful hub page with everything neatly organized. You can filter by price (free or 99 cents), platform (Kindle or Kobo), representation, and genre. There are 30+ genres to pick from, including fantasy, thriller, romance, gothic, and erotica. Something for everyone, basically.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

TL;DR: The Motorola Razr is available for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this offer, simply activate a new line on an Experience More plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola Razr Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan. Shop Now

Samsung and Apple dominate the smartphone news cycle, but Motorola has quietly built one of the most practical foldables on the market. And better yet, you can pick up this popular phone for free right now.

T-Mobile is giving away the new Motorola Razr for free, with no trade-in required, when you activate a new line on its Experience More plan. The total cost is covered via 24 monthly bill credits. If you cancel or switch carriers before the two-year mark, you’ll owe the remaining balance on the phone’s full retail price.

If you’re already planning to add a line, getting a high-end foldable without trading in your current device is easily one of the best mobile carrier deals live right now.

The Motorola Razr offers a 3.6-inch external display that's big enough to reply to Slack messages, check Google Maps, and sort through emails without flipping the phone open. Under the hood, the 4,800mAh battery outlasts most compact foldables on the market, and the 50MP main camera sensor handles quick WFH video calls and casual shots with ease.

Score the new Motorola Razr for free with T-Mobile.

Stuff Your Kindle Day is a favorite among e-reader users. Hundreds of e-books are majorly discounted, with many reads going for absolutely nothing. The e-book event began in 2014 on the Romance Bookworms platform, but has since spun out into dozens of events held throughout the year. That means even if you missed the last Stuff Your Kindle Day, there's probably not long to wait until the next one goes live.

And while Kindle is in the name, it's not just for Kindle users. So here's everything you need to know about the next Stuff Your Kindle Day.

What is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your Kindle Day was started in 2014 by author Zoe York. It was run through York's platform Romance Bookworms, which still runs an annual event in July. However, plenty of other groups have started their own Stuff Your Kindle-style events. These events are typically author-driven and feature independent, genre titles like romantasy, sci-fi, and cozy mystery.

SEE ALSO: Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Colour: Which e-reader is better for journaling?

During these events, books are majorly discounted and often, totally free.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

So when is the next Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've spotted events at least once a month through 2026:

• Aug. 5-8, 2026: Stuff Your E-reader by Indie Author Collective, an all-genre book blast.

• Aug. 14, 2026: Anthology August by Romance Book Blast, $0.99 romance event.

• Aug 15-16, 2026: Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worlds by Book Below, a fantasy and speculative fiction event.

• Sept. 1-2, 2026: Thrill, Suspense & Dark Tales by BookBelow, a thrilling book blast on dark stories.

• Sept. 10-12, 2026: Freebie Frenzy by Indie Visible, a free book blast across genres.

• Sept. 12, 2026: Queer Your e-Reader by Divination Hollow, an LGBTQ+ focused book blast.

• Sept 15-16, 2026: Historical and Period Dramas by Book Below, a historical book blast.

• Sept. 23-26, 2026: Gotta Get 'Em All by Indie Author Collective, a series book blast.

• Oct. 1-2, 2026: Romance Spotlight by Book Below, a cozy romance book blast.

• Oct. 26-30, 2026: Get Spooked by Indie Author Collective, a thriller, horror, paranormal, and mystery book blast.

• Nov. 25-28, 2026: Short & Sweet by Indie Author Collective, a novella and short story blast.

• Dec. 20-23, 2026: New Beginnings by Indie Author Collective, a debut book blast.

Do you need a Kindle or e-reader to participate?

Like Band-Aid, Kleenex, or Roomba, the name Kindle has become synonymous with e-readers. So while Kindle is in the name of Stuff Your Kindle Day, you can shop these events regardless of which e-reader you own. And actually, you don't need to own an e-reader at all, and with the Kindle app, Apple Books, and Google Play platforms, you can read books on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

That being said, if you are looking for an e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite is our favorite Kindle and overall e-reader.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $159.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

E-reader users have a particularly kind of freedom when it comes to buying books. Since your whole library can fit within the confines of a 7-inch Kindle or Kobo e-reader, there's no need to worry about bookshelf space. However, reading quickly turns into an expensive habit if you let it, so that's why you need to know about Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Stuff Your Kindle Day is an author-driven event, where hundreds of indie books are discounted or free. Don't let the name of the event fool you, because you don't need to own a Kindle to participate.

What was a once-a-year event has spun off into dozens of iterations and puts free books in your lap while still supporting indie authors. So if you've maxed out your Libby holds and need another way to read for free, here is everything to know about Stuff Your Kindle Day.

What is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

If you're worried that these free e-book events don't support authors, don't fear: Stuff Your Kindle Days is a promotional event run by authors where their books are temporarily free.

Stuff Your Kindle Day began in 2014, launched by author Zoe York. On the Romance Bookworms platform, authors discounted their books to just a few dollars, but most are totally free. Not only does this provide more exposure to indie authors by getting their books into readers' hands, but even free downloads give authors a boost of visibility on retailer algorithms.

While Stuff Your Kindle Day was first hosted by Zoe York, other groups have spawned off to celebrate other genres beyond romance. You can now find events organized by genre, specializing in cozy mysteries, thrillers, LGBTQ, YA books, fantasy, and historical fiction. Even Amazon has its own storefront for Stuff Your Kindle books.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable photo composite; Julia Connors, Roger Stelljes, Lauren Biel Amazon: Stuff Your Kindle Books   Shop Now What books are offered during Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your Kindle Day is not necessarily the best time to find new releases or bestsellers. If that's what you've got your eye on, we recommend borrowing through Libby or hunting for Kindle deals.

What Stuff Your Kindle Day events are particularly good for are genre readers. The event started as a celebration of indie romance authors, and you'll find that most events still center on variations or tropes of the genre, like romantasy or "cinnamon roll boyfriends." Other genre writers have joined in, though, so if romance isn't up your alley, then there will be another Stuff Your Kindle event to join in on.

But regardless of genre, the main focus across all Stuff Your Kindle events is indie books and indie authors, letting you discover and support lesser-known names.

Do you need a Kindle or e-reader to participate?

While Kindle is in the name of the event, it's far more expansive than that. Most books are available across platforms, including Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble Nook, so no matter which e-reader you have, there's a way to stuff your device full of cheap or free books. Technically, you don't need to have an e-reader at all, and with the Kindle app, Apple Books, and Google Play platforms, you can read books on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

However, if you are looking to join the e-reader club, it's totally worth it. We've rounded up our favorite e-readers and Kindles to help you find the right device. And if you're ready to join the Kindle ecosystem, we've tested nearly every model, including the basic Kindle, Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, and Scribe. If you're not down to go with Amazon's e-readers, we like the Kobo e-readers, including the Libra Colour or Clara Colour — in fact, we like the Clara more than the Kindle Paperwhite.

Shop e-readers Amazon Kindle $109.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Paperwhite $159.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Colorsoft $249.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kobo Clara Colour $179.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kobo Libra Colour $199.99 at Amazon Shop Now When is the next Stuff Your Kindle Day?

With so many events to keep track of, you could miss when the next Stuff Your Kindle day will take place. The best way to monitor the event is to browse through all of the events on the Stuff Your Kindle website. Each event typically has an email list that will send out a blast leading up to the next event. We're also on top of all the latest events as deal hunters here at Mashable, so check back for our coverage during the next Stuff Your Kindle event.

But in between events, Amazon's Stuff Your Kindle storefront is the hub for free and discounted books you can get anytime.

OpenAI's screenless smart speaker will reportedly be shaped "like a doughnut" and carry a price tag in the ballpark of $300. Bloomberg revealed new details about OpenAI's upcoming hardware device on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's smart speaker sounds like a cross between a HomePod and a Furby

According to Bloomberg's report, OpenAI's AI-powered smart speaker will have a doughnut-like form factor and be comparable in size to a hockey puck, a design apparently intended to make it easily portable in one hand. This is in line with a previous report from The Wall Street Journal that users would be able to carry the device in their pocket.

The speaker will reportedly have a metal design as well, giving it a "premium look." Last May, OpenAI announced that it had acquired iPhone designer Jony Ive's startup io, signalling that the AI company was moving into hardware. Now Bloomberg reports that OpenAI's smart speaker will "use upscale materials like high-quality metal," likely hoping to emulate the success of Apple's distinct product design.

OpenAI has not officially announced its smart speaker yet, much less revealed a price tag. However, Bloomberg's sources state that the company is looking at placing it around the $300 to $400 mark.

A previous Bloomberg report last month revealed that OpenAI's smart speaker will have moving mechanical parts which respond to users, aimed at making the device seem more lifelike and personable. It will also actively monitor users and learn about them, using microphones, a camera system, and other sensors, as well as through methods such as accessing their emails. A light will indicate when the device is listening to its environment.

Data gathered by the speaker will then be fed to its AI algorithm, ostensibly so that it can give users more personalised service and offer assistance without prompting. Bloomberg reports that the smart speaker will essentially operate as a more advanced version of voice mode in OpenAI's ChatGPT app.

Last year, the Journal reported that OpenAI hopes to ship 100 million of these devices, with the aim of making them as ubiquitous as smartphones.

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

Who, or what, is the algorithm?

It's been one of Silo's core mysteries since Lukas Kyle (Avi Nash) first heard the mysterious voice in Season 2, and now we're halfway through Season 3 and we still don't have any answers. But we do have a new clue, that comes courtesy of another exchange between Head of IT Camille (Alexandria Riley) and the mysterious voice in the vault.

So what was said, and what might it mean?

SEE ALSO: 'Silo' Season 3, episode 1: That weird cloud and goo, explained What happens with the algorithm and Camille in episode 6?

Camille, feeling the pressure of her leadership role, storms into the vault and yells "I think it's a mistake!" at the algorithm, in reference to them granting Juliette's (Rebecca Ferguson's) request to go back to Silo 17. Typically the robotic voice responds to Camille almost immediately, but on this occasion she's met with silence. It lasts 10 seconds before she asks "You there?", and the algorithm finally speaks.

"What is a mistake?" it responds, and for the briefest of moments the voice actually sounds exasperated — so much so that a slightly expression of confusion passes over Camille's face.

It doesn't last long, and after a few minutes the algorithm slips back into its familiar cold logic. But was that a tiny slip we witnessed?

Featured Video For You Girlbossification of AI What does it mean for the voice behind the algorithm?

The question of whether the algorithm is AI or human has been bugging us for a while now. 90 percent of the time the voice feels like AI, from its robotic sound to the way it quickly utilises statistics.

But could there actually be a person on the other side of that screen? Maybe someone with access to technology that provides them with all the data they need in real time?

The exchange outlined above leads us to think the answer might be yes. AI wouldn't show irritation, and it wouldn't ever be slow in responding — but a human being hurrying to get to a computer might.

Silo Season 3 is streaming now on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

A treat.

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

SNACK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Over-the-top.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 7, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRAND

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Female.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 7, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WOMAN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Attempted.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TRIED

Final Hurdle hint

Polar.

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

IONIC

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

The lunar cycle is now in its final phase before the New Moon, when the illuminated side of the Moon faces away from Earth, making it virtually invisible in the night sky.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Aug. 7, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Crescent phase, with 37% of its surface visible.

We're down to the last few nights of being able to spot lunar features. Without visual aids, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Aristarchus Plateau and the Copernicus Crater. Binoculars will bring more into view, including the Grimaldi Basin, the Gassendi Crater, and the Mare Humorum. If you have access to a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Schiller Crater and the Apollo 12 landing spot.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it orbits Earth, completing one full lunar cycle approximately every 29.5 days, according to NASA. During that journey, the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are constantly shifting, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible from our perspective. That's why we see the familiar sequence of phases, from a slim crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the pattern begins 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.

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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.

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.

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

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.

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

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: Field fixers

• Green: Mile High Sports

• Blue: Sneakers

• Purple: Defunct basketball teams

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Grounds Crew Equipment

• Green: Denver Teams

• Blue: Famous Classic Basketball Sneakers

• Purple: Former NBA Team Names, Minus the S

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 #683 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Grounds Crew Equipment: DRAG MAT, MOWER, RAKE, TARP

• Denver Teams: AVALANCHE, BRONCOS, NUGGETS, SUMMIT

• Famous Classic Basketball Sneakers: AIR JORDAN, PUMP, QUESTION, WEAPON

• Former NBA Team Names, Minus the S: BOBCAT, CHAPARRAL, ROYAL, SUPERSONIC

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 yesterday'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 August 7, 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 August 7, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 7 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 7 Pips

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 7 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 5-2, 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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good sense of smell.

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.

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

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.

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

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 August 7, 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: Let it burn

• Green: Brrrr

• Blue: Get a lift

• Purple: Papa bear

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Components of a candle

• Green: Cold things

• Blue: Parts of an elevator

• Purple: Starting with male animals

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 #1153 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Components of a candle: FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX, WICK

• Cold things: LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW, SUNDAE

• Parts of an elevator: BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR, SHAFT

• Starting with male animals: BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO, TOMATILLO

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7, 2026

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

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

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you easily lose your train of thought.

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 August 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Struggling to find the words

The words are related to brain fog.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe brain farts.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Whatchamacallit.

NYT Strands word list for August 7

• Thingymajiggy

• Gizmo

• Whatchamacallit

• Dingus

• Doohickey

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

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 yesterday's Strands.

A South Korean lunar orbiter got the shot that virtually every telescope and spacecraft attempted to snap on Wednesday when a wayward SpaceX rocket accidentally smashed into the moon. 

The Danuri lunar orbiter recorded the site before and after the collision. It started watching the zone about 30 minutes before the crash, then adjusted its orbit to pass over the site several times, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, or KARI. Officials said the Falcon 9 rocket made moonfall at 2:34 a.m. ET Aug. 5. The spacecraft completed eight photoshoots. 

"Through this observation, changes in the terrain around the impact site and traces of ejecta spread were confirmed," the space agency said in a translated X post, referring to the debris thrown from the high-speed impact. 

The observations give researchers an unusual chance to look at changes caused by the collision. The new images will be combined with follow-up observations from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is expected to photograph the new crater from orbit, to support international research into how impacts reshape the moon. 

SEE ALSO: When AI hallucinates aliens: Some think NASA should be nervous This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The roughly 4-ton Falcon 9 upper stage struck the moon after spending more than a year drifting through space. The crash was unintentional, caused by a combination of solar activity and gravity gradually pushing the stray rocket onto a collision course.

"We actively work to be as responsible as possible with hardware left in space to ensure space safety, including for more complex missions," SpaceX said in a statement. "Impacts like this are rare, but they can happen with objects in these types of orbits, and we worked with NASA on the optimal disposal solution."

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Ground-based observers could not directly see the impact. But astronomers reported using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile to detect a plume of material that likely came from the crash. Independent space trackers also concluded the rocket reached the predicted impact site near Einstein Crater, close to the boundary between the moon's near and far sides.

The rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Jan. 2025, carrying Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience lunar landers. After releasing both spacecraft, the spent stage remained in space as planned instead of returning to Earth. Blue Ghost later became the first privately built spacecraft to achieve a successful lunar landing, while Resilience crashed during its landing attempt.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches two moon landers into space on Jan. 15, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Credit: SpaceX

Coincidentally, the South Korean orbiter took the same type of ride to get to the moon. It launched on the same class of rocket — another SpaceX Falcon 9 — almost exactly four years ago, on Aug. 4, 2022. Its core mission is to map the lunar surface, measure magnetic and gamma-ray data, and identify future landing sites.

The SpaceX incident has renewed concerns about space debris around the moon as lunar missions increase. 

NASA has planned a steady stream of robotic missions in support of its Artemis program in coordination with private spacecraft operators, while both SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing lunar landers for future astronaut missions. Scientists have warned that accidental impacts could become more problematic as traffic around the moon increases.

The streaming services are coming out strong to start the month with new and returning shows. Prime Video has a new teen drama, and no, it's not The Summer I Turned Pretty. Instead, it's a refreshing entry into a crowded teen drama field, and it happens to be my top show to watch this weekend.

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