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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 April 27, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greater than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 27 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (11): Everything in this purple space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.

Greater than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Greater than (11): Everything in this space must be greater than 11. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 27 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

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

Greater than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, 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.

One of the most common questions asked about AdultFriendFinder is also one of the most basic: is the site safe to use? Everything from the dating site interface and design to the ubiquity of adult content sets off some understandable warning bells in veteran internet users, so the question makes a lot of sense. 

To better understand the risks of using AdultFriendFinder, we consulted Anna Larkina, Web Data and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky, one of the leading cybersecurity services in the world, about the nature of the threats users might face and the ways they can mitigate the risks.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Understanding the risks of online dating

First off, understand that there is a risk inherent to using any online service, and that even the most reputable websites have experienced major hacks or exploits. “Users should remember that any service can potentially encounter various cybersecurity issues,” Larkina told us, including “data leaks, attacks on third party contractors, or issues related to the human factor.” 

But the stakes are higher for some websites than others. For example, with a typical merchant website, you’re only providing them with your credit card information, but on a dating site, you’re potentially providing your credit card details and crucial personal information, from your date of birth to your phone number, that can all be exploited by bad actors. 

SEE ALSO: Is Hinge really 'designed to be deleted'? I tested it to find out.

While this is a risk you take with any dating service, AdultFriendFinder is perhaps more vulnerable than most dating sites, so it’s important to understand the potential pitfalls.

What risks are specific to AdultFriendFinder?The “adult content” angle

While there is absolutely no obligation for AFF users to share nude photos of themselves, or get naked on a webcam feed, many, many people opt to do so, and while we have no objection from a moral perspective — let your freak flag fly — it’s important that you know you’re risking more than an awkward conversation with the odd coworker or family member who comes across your account.

Unfortunately, bad actors who wish to do you harm can use your personal information against you. “Data from services with adult content or dating services can be especially sensitive for users, because it’s more personal,” warns Larkina. “If fraudsters somehow obtain such private data, they can use it for more ‘efficient’ blackmailing or targeted phishing.” Needless to say, you should be wary of how you use the site and what information you share, especially if you have a public-facing job.

AFF security breaches

While dating sites invest heavily in cybersecurity protections, another unfortunate reality of the online world is that the threats are constant and ever-evolving, and hackers eager to discover treasure troves of personal and financial information will always be incentivized to target online dating sites.

AdultFriendFinder has had two major security breaches in its 30-year history, which actually demonstrates a very stellar record of security, but it’s still worth being aware of these events. In 2016, hackers managed to gain access to the personal information of four million AFF users before the breach was found and stopped, while a larger breach occurred in 2016, impacting 300 million AFF accounts, including 15 million accounts that had been officially deleted by the user but whose data had not been properly expunged from their servers.

Phishing scams

Another common hacking technique, and one particularly effective on dating websites is phishing, which is when a bad actor assumes a false identity to gain your trust and deceive you into revealing compromising or sensitive information.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

To combat phishing, AFF offers users the ability to verify their identities using government-issued identification, but this verification process is still an optional extra on the site rather than a mandatory step towards account creation.

Can your AFF account be found?

While the private information you offer to AFF during account creation (your real name and email address, for example) is not public-facing, that doesn’t mean no one will ever discover your account. AFF’s dating profiles are public by default, so if you include a picture of your face (as many accounts do), you can be recognized by friends, co-workers, and family members. 

Additionally, because AFF has had two major hacks before, you should assume there’s at least an outside chance that the site is hacked in the future, which may result in your email address ending up in a hacked database.

How to protect your online identity when using AdultFriendFinder

Does all of the above mean you should never use an online dating website, or never use AdultFriendFinder in particular? Absolutely not. We shared the risks to make you aware of them, and to better help you protect yourself, not to discourage you from signing up. 

To help you protect yourself, Larkina shared a list of best practices that will help you mitigate your risks while still having fun, on AFF or any other dating site:

1. Don’t use a professional email address to sign up for a dating site. If you’re especially nervous, consider creating a new email address just for the purposes of signing up.

2. To protect your accounts, use strong and unique passwords, change them regularly, and if possible, enable two factor authentication

3. Be extremely cautious with what you share with strangers, especially when it comes to sensitive information or intimate photos. “Always assess reputational and other risks before posting or sending anything,” cautions Larkina.

4. When using AFF in particular, limit your interactions to users who have verified their identity

Summing up her advice, Larkina urges online dating service users to treat these “platforms as public spaces, not as private ones” as far as possible, and be ever mindful that “every piece of data you provide — email, phone number, username, etc. — becomes part of your digital footprint.” If you’re careful about what you share and who you share it with, you can safely enjoy AdultFriendFinder as you would any other dating site.

SAVE $150: As of April 27, the Breville Barista Express Impress is on sale for $649.95 at Amazon. That's a 19% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express Impress $649.95 at Amazon
$799.95 Save $150   Get Deal

If you really enjoy a good cup of coffee, instant just doesn’t cut it. Fresh beans and a proper grind make all the difference.

So if you're in the market to upgrade your French press or Moka, why not check out this latest Amazon deal on the Breville Barista Express Impress. As of April 27, this impressive machine is down from $799.95 to $649.95, saving you $150. That's $150 more to put towards good beans.

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It's not an overly complicated machine to use. It combines smart technology with hands-on control, using an intelligent dosing system that calculates and adjusts the right amount of coffee for each espresso, then auto-corrects to keep your results consistent over time. It does all the hard work for you. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy your brew. It even has assisted tamping that mimics a professional barista’s technique, applying even pressure for a cleaner puck and better extraction.

It also features a built-in conical burr grinder with 25 grind settings, so you can fine-tune your beans to suit your taste. Other features include a Thermocoil heating system with PID control and a manual steam wand that lets you texture milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

This Breville deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $150: As of April 27, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. $499.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $150   Get Deal

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is currently reduced to its best price this year, so if you've been eyeing up one of the most beloved hair styling tools, now is the time to buy. And both the straight to wavy hair and the curly to coily hair models are reduced, so this discount applies to multiple hair types.

As of April 27, it is down from $649.99 to $499.99, saving you $150.

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The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is an all-in-one styling tool that really needs no introduction. It's so well known there are even many dupes on the market. But if you're looking to buy the real thing, it's easy to use, smart, and can be personalized to your routine. It even uses Bluetooth connectivity to pair with the MyDyson app to create a personalized styling profile based on your hair type and length. It can even adjust settings to help you achieve your ideal curls with little effort.

It has six styling functions in one, including drying, curling, waving, shaping, and smoothing, and all without extreme heat damage. The updated Airwrap technology allows it to dry and style simultaneously, while the tapered barrel helps create more defined curls closer to the root. You'll also get multiple attachments included, so it’s a versatile option whether you’re going for sleek, smooth styles or soft, bouncy curls.

This Dyson Airwrap deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $25: As of April 27, the Kindle Paperwhite is on sale for $134.99 at Amazon. That's a 16% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $134.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $25   Get Deal

The Kindle Paperwhite is back on sale at Amazon, and if you're comparing e-readers for the best value, it's worth noting that this is the lowest price we've seen all year. As of April 27, you can save $25 on the 16GB device, bringing the price down from $159.99 to $134.99. All color options of this Kindle are discounted, so you can choose from black, jade, or raspberry.

The Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect choice if you want a device dedicated to reading and nothing else. It isn't a tablet. It's purely an e-reader, so there's no social media downloads or streaming capabilities: just books.

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It has a 7-inch glare-free display that makes it easy on your eyes, no matter the lighting condition. The screen can be adjusted from white to a warmer amber tone. It's also slim and lightweight, making it easy to take with you on the go, whether for your commute or vacation.

The battery can last up to 12 weeks on a single charge via USB-C, and because it’s waterproof, you can enjoy reading by the pool or in the bath without a worry.

Get this Kindle deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: T-Mobile is offering the Apple iPhone 17 Pro for free when you trade in an eligible device in any condition and sign up for an Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 Pro for free   Shop Now

T-Mobile has been offering the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 for free for some time, but the popular mobile carrier has stubbornly refused to include the iPhone 17 Pro in these offers. That is until now.

T-Mobile is now giving away the iPhone 17 Pro for free (via $1,100 in 24 monthly bill credits) when you trade in an eligible device in any condition and sign up for an Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plan. There's usually a lot of fine print with this type of offer that excludes anyone with a cracked screen, but that's not the case here. By offering up to $1,100 for trade-ins in "any condition," T-Mobile are really pushing for you to make the switch.

SEE ALSO: Apple may have already given us a big hint about AI Siri

For power users, it doesn't get much better than the Experience Beyond plan. It's designed for anyone who wants the best in 4K streaming, huge hotspot data (250GB), and masses of international roaming. You’re also getting Hulu, Apple TV+, Netflix, and MLB.TV. It's obviously not a cheap plan, but that bumper entertainment package offsets a large portion of that cost.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 Pro for free with this limited-time offer from T-Mobile.

TL;DR: The Prompting Systems: Lifetime Subscription is on sale for $23.99 (reg. $360) with code PROMPT20 through May 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prompting Systems Prompting Systems: Lifetime Subscription $23.99
$360 Save $336.01   Get Deal

If you’ve ever found yourself spending more time fine-tuning prompts than actually getting work done, you’re not alone. Prompting Systems is a software that aims to take your rough ideas and turn them into clear, detailed prompts so your AI tools can deliver better results right away. The Prompting Systems: Lifetime Subscription only costs you $23.99 when you use PROMPT20 at checkout and the sale ends on May 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AI works best when it gets clear instructions, but figuring out the right way to phrase things can be a bit tricky. Prompting Systems handles that for you by automatically building in context, tone, and intent. Guided workflows walk you through each step, so your results come out sounding polished and less generic.

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The platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for beginners to get started while still offering features for advanced users. Even if you’ve struggled with prompt crafting before, you’ll likely find the process much smoother and more efficient.

You’ll find prompt generators for just about everything, including blog posts, social captions, product descriptions, email campaigns, and even image or video prompts. There are also models tailored to specific needs, such as storytelling or SEO, so you can get results that fit your project. It works with all the big names, including ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, and DALL·E, so you’re not locked into one platform.

If you frequently use AI but prefer not to invest extensive time in learning prompt engineering, this tool can save you time. It is particularly useful for content creators, marketers, and anyone seeking to accelerate writing or brainstorming while maintaining quality.

A lifetime subscription is currently $23.99 (reg. $360) with code PROMPT20, available through May 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you want to lock in the savings, now’s the time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Sign up for a one-year BJ’s Club Card Membership for $15 (reg. $60) and get 15¢ off per gallon at BJ’s Gas through April 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: BJ's Wholesale Club 1-year The Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® $15
$60 Save $45   Get Deal

Gas prices have a way of creeping up, so every bit of savings at the pump counts. For a limited time, you can grab a one-year BJ’s Club Card Membership for just $15 (reg. $60), and it comes with a fuel discount that makes joining even more worth it.

Now through April 30, members get 15¢ off per gallon at BJ’s Gas.

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BJ’s membership is all about bulk savings. Stock up on groceries, household essentials, and name-brand products, and you’ll see the per-unit price decrease. Less trips to the store and more value in your cart make it easier to keep costs in check. (Side note: fewer trips to the store means less gas used too!) Further more, BJ’s often features exclusive deals and members-only coupons, so it’s easy to find additional ways to save each time you shop. Planning ahead, making lists, and buying in bulk can help you avoid impulse purchases and stretch your dollars further.

There are also a few built-in conveniences that make it easier to stick with that routine. Features like curbside pickup, same-day delivery, and ExpressPay let you skip the checkout line by scanning items as you shop and paying in the app.

If you’re driving regularly, shopping for the whole family, or just looking to cut back on everyday expenses, this deal is worth considering. Club+ members don’t get a discount on membership right now, but they can still take advantage of gas savings.

If the goal is to spend a little less on things you’re already buying anyway, this is one of those low-cost entries that’s easy to justify. Just keep an eye on the clock, because the this special one-year BJ’s Club Card Membership and the extra fuel savings both end on April 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Score the iPhone 17e or iPhone 17 for free when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Shop Now

March was massive for Apple. After months of anticipation, new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads were finally released to the public.

So what now?

Is the expectation that we all just sit around and wait for the next announcement from Apple? No, this is the time for finding the best deals on this fresh lineup. And there's a special offer available right now for anyone interested in upgrading to the new iPhone 17.

For a limited time, you can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e (no trade in required). Alternatively, you can claim the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan. It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these deals and a $35 device connection fee, but that's pretty much always the case with these "free" deals.

SEE ALSO: How the iPhone Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 differ, according to leaks

The Experience Beyond plan is as good as its gets. It is designed for power users who want 4K streaming, huge hotspot data, and international roaming that can keep up with even the most frequent flyers. You're therefore faced with a higher monthly bill than more limited plans. The Experience Beyond plan does include perks like Hulu, Apple TV+, Netflix, and MLB.TV, which helps to offset some of that cost.

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." Content creators should note that the camera is "almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max."

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free with T-Mobile.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, April 27, 2026:

AcrossWord for "dad" in Spanish, Italian, Russian and Hindi

• The answer is Papa.

Go crazy, as a crowd

• The answer is Erupt.

Drink with a red, white and blue logo

• The answer is Pepsi.

Philadelphia M.L.S. team

• The answer is Union.

Buddy

• The answer is Pal.

DownMake more exciting

• The answer is Pepup.

Madison Square Garden, e.g.

• The answer is Arena.

Center of the eye

• The answer is Pupil.

Lhasa ___ (dog breed)

• The answer is Apso.

Element #50

• The answer is Tin.

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

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

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

Five weeks after crashing Tina Fey's monologue on the opening night of SNL UK, Nicola Coughlan is back hosting herself — and now she has a gate-crasher of her own.

In the clip above, the Bridgerton star is joined on stage by SNL alumni and Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, who makes it clear that because the show is live they can do whatever they want.

In this case, whatever they want involves a chaotic tour of the studio featuring more cameos from the various other cast members and musical guest Dave Grohl.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

You don’t always have the luxury of time or complete information when making leadership decisions. In uncertain moments, a clear set of values gives you a faster, more reliable way to act with confidence.  Start by reflecting. Look back on meaningful moments at work. Start with a negative experience and ask what was missing. Then revisit a positive […]

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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

Shallow water.

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

BAYOU

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Found on emergency vehicles.

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

SIREN

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To collide.

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

CLASH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Eye movement.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BLINK

Final Hurdle hint

Treasure.

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

TROVE

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

We're approaching the Full Moon, which means the Moon is shining big and bright in the sky. It's day 10 of the lunar cycle, and with so much of its surface illuminated, there's lots for us to see. Keep reading to see exactly what you can spot.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, April 27, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. Tonight, 82% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mares Vaproum, Tranquillitatis, and Fecunditatis. If you have binoculars, the Mares Frigoris and Nectaris, and Apennine Mountains should also come into view. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 15 landing spot, Rima Hyginus, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it passes through eight stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward us, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its path, producing the familiar cycle of full, half, and crescent shapes. These variations are referred to as lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

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.

You can never accuse an HBO wedding of being boring.

In Game of Thrones, wedding episodes almost always come with a body count. Succession's weddings end in everything from vehicular manslaughter to hostile buyouts to game-changing deaths. Now, Euphoria takes its wedding episode as an opportunity to stir up maximum mess by putting Cassie's (Sydney Sweeney) humiliation front and center again.

SEE ALSO: HBO's 'Euphoria' video takes you behind-the-scenes of *that* wedding What happens at Nate and Cassie's wedding? Zendaya and Hunter Schafer in "Euphoria." Credit: Patrick Wymore / HBO

While no one dies like they do in the Red Wedding or Purple Wedding, the episode is still a stressful reunion for Euphoria's leads, not to mention further proof that Nate (Jacob Elordi) and Cassie's marriage is doomed to fail.

Euphoria Season 3, episode 3 marks the first time that the show's principal cast has been together since Lexi's (Maude Apatow) play, making it a de facto high school reunion. Even fan favorite BB (Sophia Rose Wilson) is back.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' made sex work go viral. Real sex workers are still getting censored.

Like at any high school reunion, most people are trying to prove that they're doing better than their peers, hence the revenge dresses from Jules (Hunter Schafer) and Maddy (Alexa Demie). Don't get me wrong, they look great, but in no world but Euphoria would you think of wearing these looks to a wedding. I wouldn't have been surprised if Cassie had gone full bridezilla and kicked them out.

Euphoria loves nothing more than a Cassie crash out. Sydney Sweeney and Alanna Ubach in "Euphoria." Credit: Patrick Wymore / HBO

Speaking of Cassie, she's trying the hardest out of everyone to impress. From the $50,000 flower arrangements to an ice sculpture of her and Nate, she's on a mission to construct the ultimate romantic fantasy. Remember how Maddy read her for her lack of "good taste" in the previous episode? This entire wedding is a monument to that.

However, Cassie's fantasy crumbles when Nate's business associate Naz (Jack Topalian) crashes the party, reminding Nate he needs to pay his debts. Once Cassie realizes the truth about Nate's finances — and that their friends know the truth as well — she enters the spiral to end all spirals.

Suddenly, Cassie's a wreck, shambling through her and Nate's bizarrely raunchy first dance and popping a champagne cork right into his eye. Given that Euphoria's audience is primed for mayhem at this wedding, the explosive cork moment reads as a cheeky gunshot fake-out to those who expected bloodshed.

Cassie's wedding crash out continues the humiliation she's endured all through Season 3, although unlike with her controversy-stirring OnlyFans content, this isn't by choice. It's also not entirely effective.

Euphoria has already made a spectacle of Cassie's embarrassment with Lexi's play, shining a literal spotlight on her worst moments and causing her to have a breakdown onstage. With the wedding, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson tries to one-up that moment, but it rings hollow. Cassie becomes a whining caricature, while Naz's involvement continues Euphoria's backslide into crime drama. (This episode also features Rue's (Zendaya) forays into arms dealing.) Plus, the episode's attempts at comedy, like Suze (Alanna Ubach) jamming out to the wedding band's uncensored rendition of "Get Low," are far too broad.

The hollowness continues even after the wedding. When the newlyweds finally make it home (in a hideous stretch Hummer no less, proving the bad taste allegations yet again), they're greeted by Naz, who gives Nate a serious beating and chops off his toe. The scene, like much of Season 3 so far, feels like Levinson trying to prove how sick and twisted Euphoria can get now that the teens we got to know are full-grown adults with adult problems. (Like being in debt to funeral parlor owners at the ripe old age of 23.)

Cassie's whining continues throughout, as she makes Nate's physical torment all about her. "What is happening right now?" she blubbers while he struggles to crawl up the staircase behind her.

The mash-up of comedy and gritty gangster drama still doesn't quite land. Cassie's meltdown here lacks the dimension and buildup of Season 2's, but at least it has more depth than Nate's half-baked debt plot, which plays second fiddle to Rue's own debt plot.

And while Sweeney goes all out, the scene ultimately feels reverse engineered to reach meme status akin to Cassie's sobbing "I have never, ever been happier" speech in Season 2. It's proof that when Euphoria wants a talked-about moment, it turns to Cassie's downfall.

The rest of the episode features some juicy character morsels, especially when it comes to Jules. The episode begins with a flashback to how she became a sugar baby, before giving us her reunions (and reconciliations) with both Nate and his father, Cal (Eric Dane). But these, like Rue's run-in with DEA agents, are overshadowed by the absolute disaster of Nate and Cassie's wedding. Given the show's outsize focus on Cassie in the lead-up to this episode, it's clear Euphoria wouldn't have it any other way.

New episodes of Euphoria Season 3 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 27, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Healthy mix

• Green: Iconic movies

• Blue: Iconic animated roles

• Purple: Basketballers

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Salad ingredients

• Green: Classic films

• Blue: "The Simpsons" characters

• Purple: Ending in NBA players

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 #1051 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Salad ingredients: RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, ROASTED CHICKEN, ROMAINE LETTUCE

• Classic films: RAIN MAN, REAR WINDOW, RESERVOIR DOGS, ROMAN HOLIDAY

• "The Simpsons" characters: RADIOACTIVE MAN, RALPH WIGGUM, REVEREND LOVEJOY, ROD FLANDERS

• Ending in NBA players: RAGING BULL, REGINA KING, ROE BUCK, ROTARY CLIPPER

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 April 27, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you sleep with one eye open.

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 April 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The ayes have it!

The words are related to letters.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe the same-letter openings.

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 Eye Openers.

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NYT Strands word list for April 27

• Iota

• Idolize

• Icon

• Eye Openers

• Ivory

• Icicle

• Island

• Ironic

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you believe in the supernatural.

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

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

Spooky.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears three times.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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...

EERIE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

Luxury cars used to be all about showing you’d made it. Big chrome grilles, soft suspensions, and a badge everyone recognized were the whole point.

We live in a world where video game adaptations are having a renaissance. Sure, there are certainly some that are terribly made and have no substance whatsoever (looking at you, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), but most modern-day adaptations have really taken the cake for how well-done they are.