Blogroll

The SNL UK cast probably dreamed of their first ever sketch being spoken about far and wide, but a share from the US president was likely the last thing they were expecting.

In the first ever cold open above, George Fouracres plays an extra nervous UK prime minister Keir Starmer, waiting with deputy prime minister David Lammy for a phone call from Donald Trump.

"Oh, golly," says Starmer/Fouracres in the sketch as the phone rings. "What if Donald shouts at me?"

Starmer is presented as both cowardly and obsessed with Trump in the sketch, which may have been what prompted the president to post the video on Truth Social on Sunday.

Samsung is adding AirDrop support to its Galaxy S26 phones, making its Quick Share file transfer feature compatible with iPhones.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on: Privacy Display is the coolest innovation by far

Rolling out from Monday, Samsung's Quick Share update will arrive on Galaxy S26 phones in South Korea first before expanding to other regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. Samsung also plans to add Airdrop compatibility to devices outside the S26 series at a later date, though exact models have yet to be announced.

Samsung's Quick Share debuted on the Galaxy S20 in 2020, seven years after Apple first introduced AirDrop to iOS. Quick Share subsequently merged with Google's Nearby Share feature in 2024, becoming available on non-Samsung Android devices, ChromeOS, and Windows PCs. Then in 2025, Quick Share gained AirDrop compatibility on Google Pixel 10 devices. Today's news sees Quick Share's iPhone support expand further, gradually making it easier to share files with friends regardless of the OS they use.

To send files to an iOS device via Quick Share, Samsung Galaxy S26 users will first have to toggle on "Share with Apple devices," found in the phone settings under "Connected devices" and "Quick Share."

Credit: Samsung

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 23, 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 March 23, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 23 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 23 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 23 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who know offensive schemes.

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. 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.

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: Tiebreaker

• Green: Offensive playbook

• Blue: Red bird teams

• Purple: SGA

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Used to Break a Tie

• Green: Offensive Formations in Football

• Blue: Cardinals

• Purple: Associated with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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 #546 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Used to Break a Tie - EXTRA END, EXTRA INNINGS, OVERTIME, SHOOTOUT

• Offensive Formations in Football - I, SHOTGUN, WILDCAT, WISHBONE

• Cardinals - ARIZONA, BALL STATE, LOUISVILLE, ST. LOUIS

• Associated with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 2, KENTUCKY, MVP, THUNDER

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.

You’re likely measuring the results of your individual AI use the wrong way. Counting prompts and hours won’t tell you if your performance is improving. You need to focus on how you are using AI—not how often. Here’s how to level up your AI skills.  Be ambitious in how you use AI. Don’t treat AI as a quick tool for simple tasks. Push for deeper interactions. Write more detailed […]

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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.

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

To enhance.

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

BOOST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Restaurants have many of these.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TABLE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Killed.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SLAIN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Sound made during sleep.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SNORE

Final Hurdle hint

Jewish text.

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

TORAH

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

If the Moon looks different tonight than it did yesterday, that’s because it’s moving through the lunar cycle. As it orbits Earth, the Sun illuminates different portions of its surface, which is why its shape appears to change from night to night.

The full cycle takes about 29.5 days and includes eight unique phases. Keep reading to find out where the Moon is in that cycle today.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, March 23, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 23% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Tonight's Moon viewing is similar to last nights, with still only a small portion of the moon illuminated. With just your naked eye, you can spot the Mare Fecunditatis and the Mare Crisium, as well as the Edymion Crater, with the addition of binoculars or a telescope.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, going through eight different phases. We always see the same side, but the Sun lights up different portions as it moves, which is why it can look full, half, or just a thin sliver. These changing shapes are called the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good heart.

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 March 23, 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: Good character

• Green: Lifesavers

• Blue: Untainted

• Purple: Aka

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Principled

• Green: Game-changing inventions

• Blue: "Virgin" things

• Purple: Ending in nickname homophones

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 #1016 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Principled: DECENT, HONEST, MORAL, STAND-UP

• Game-changing inventions: LIGHT BULB, PRINTING PRESS, SLICED BREAD, WHEEL

• "Virgin" things: MARY, MOCKTAIL, OLIVE OIL, VIRGO

• Ending in nickname homophones: BRAIN STEW, BROCCOLI RABE, JUNGLE GYM, OPEN MIC

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 March 23, 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're not put together.

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 March 23, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In pieces

The words are related to smashing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things splitting.

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 Breakdown.

NYT Strands word list for March 23

• Rupture

• Crack

• Splinter

• Breakdown

• Fracture

• Shatter

• Snap

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 use Word often.

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 March 23, 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 March 23, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Decorative font.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SERIF

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.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $12.97 (reg. $199) and upgrade your PC with better multitasking, security, and AI-powered tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $12.97
$199 Save $186.03   Get Deal

Operating system upgrades aren’t usually the most exciting purchase. Most people install them when they have to — often when their current version starts feeling outdated or loses support.

But every once in a while, an offer makes the decision a lot easier. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is available for just $12.97 (reg. $199) for a limited time. That means upgrading to Microsoft’s newest operating system costs less than your average lunch.

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Windows 11 Pro introduces a cleaner, more modern interface, designed to make everyday computing a bit smoother. The centered taskbar, redesigned menus, and improved search features help streamline navigation.

It also adds productivity tools like Snap Layouts, which make multitasking easier by letting you organize multiple windows on screen quickly. If you regularly work across several apps at once — documents, spreadsheets, browser tabs — this can be a noticeable improvement.

On the security side, Windows 11 Pro includes BitLocker encryption, biometric login options, TPM 2.0 protection, and Smart App Control, helping protect devices from modern threats. The OS also integrates Copilot, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, which can help summarize webpages, answer questions, and even assist with writing or coding tasks.

For PCs that meet the compatibility requirements, upgrading to Windows 11 Pro for $12.97 (reg. $199) is an easy way to bring your system up to date without spending much.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Upgrade your Mac with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale now for $59.97 through April 12.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $59.97
$219 Save $159.03   Get Deal

If you want the best of both worlds, you can now get all the best Microsoft tools on your Mac with this Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license. This edition comes with six powerful tools you’ll get access to forever, and now you can get them all for just $59.97 — just $10 each — until April 12.

Mac users, listen up. You can now enjoy all the perks of Microsoft’s best tools, while still enjoying the power and comforts of your Apple device. This Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license equips your Mac with six essentials, and lets you own them outright for just $10 each.

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Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 makes it easy to create documents with Word, build spreadsheets with Excel, manage your emails with Outlook, and design presentations with PowerPoint. You’ll also have access to newer staples like OneNote to help you modernize your note-taking and Teams to stay connected with friends, family, and coworkers.

You’ll receive an instant delivery and download with your purchase, so you can permanently access these tools for life with no cloud connectivity or subscription fees required. Just ensure your Mac is running macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, or macOS 26 Tahoe.

Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale now for $59.97 through April 12.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are perfect if you want some electric driving without the stress of range limits. Most have enough pure EV range to cover your everyday drives, and when the battery dips, the hybrid mode kicks in as a handy backup.

Gas prices are skyrocketing across the country. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.88 at the time of this writing. That is about a 33 percent increase from just one month ago. Last night I paid $5.09 per gallon for 94 octane. I could have gone out for a nice steak dinner for the price of filling my tank. So, in times like these, it is natural for people to try to get the most out of a gallon of gas.

Nearly three decades after helping establish the large luxury SUV segment alongside the Cadillac Escalade, the 2026 Lincoln Navigator is showing off its new exterior and a tech-focused interior that centers on wellness and relaxation. Lincoln sometimes refers to the 2026 Navigator as a “spa” or “sanctuary” on wheels, a mantra the automaker adopted after the large SUV's redesign in 2025.

Nothing seemed amiss as NASA's experimental X-59 supersonic jet touched down after its second test in the air, smoothly coasting onto the runway. 

But the sleek, needle-nosed airplane had completed only nine minutes in the air on Friday, March 20, before a cockpit warning light forced an early landing. That warning was separate from a caution light that occurred during an earlier takeoff attempt just before 10 a.m. P.T., said Cathy Bahm, project manager at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.

The brief flight left from Edwards Air Force Base in California at 10:54 a.m. P.T. marked only the second time the aircraft had flown. While the team originally planned for about an hour, leaders stressed that even short flights provide new data for moving the project forward. You can watch the landing in the video below. 

Bob Pearce, who heads NASA's aeronautics research, said the team made the right call to cut the flight short on Friday. The agency expects to find and fix issues at this stage of an X‑plane, an aircraft the U.S. builds to test new flight technologies and ideas.

"Sometimes it's easy to forget that building this kind of experimental aircraft means creating something that never existed before," Pearce said during a news conference. "As far as X-planes go, it's not unusual."

SEE ALSO: Mars evidence shows ancient river likely larger and faster than thought

The X-59 is part of a long-term effort to change how fast commercial airplanes fly over land. Traditional supersonic aircraft create a loud boom when they break the sound barrier, which is why the U.S. government bans routine supersonic passenger flights over populated areas. NASA and its contractor, Lockheed Martin, built the X-59 to fly faster than sound while producing only a "thump," with the goal of providing regulators and the industry with the evidence needed to reconsider the restrictions.

At the kind of supersonic speeds NASA wants to target for the X-59 — around 925 mph — a nonstop flight from New York to L.A. could take less than three hours. Today's commercial airlines typically cruise at about 550 mph on that route, so passengers tend to spend about 5 to 6 hours crossing the country.

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A sonic boom occurs when a plane flies faster than the speed of sound, compressing pressure waves into a single shock wave that hits the ground like a sudden explosion of air. NASA designed the X‑59 so its shape spreads those pressure changes out along the aircraft, turning that single sharp shock into a series of smaller pulses.

Residents below didn't hear the X-59's thump during either of the first two test flights — and they weren't supposed to. The plane never flew fast enough either time to make it. Both flights intentionally stayed at subsonic speeds. NASA is using these early tests to shake out systems and watch how the plane handles. 

During Friday's test, the aircraft was supposed to fly for roughly an hour, reaching a cruising speed of 230 mph at 12,000 feet before accelerating to 260 mph at 20,000 feet. The plane never exceeded 230 mph, officials said.

"I certainly hoped to have more to talk about than nine minutes of flight," said Less, who flew the X-59 for the first time on this mission. "Although I had not intended to have to land quite as urgently for my first landing, the plane performed beautifully."

NASA test pilot Jim 'Clue' Less sits inside the cockpit of the experimental X-59 quiet supersonic jet at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Credit: NASA / Jim Ross

He described the aircraft as handling just like its simulators. Over hundreds of hours of test runs in the simulator, Less and other test pilots had practiced with the unconventional vision system that combines images from cameras into a high-definition display. But this was his first time flying without the traditional front window. 

The long nose shape that helps soften the sonic boom doesn't leave room for a standard cockpit windscreen. But in some cases, the system offers better visibility than the naked eye, he said. If a pilot is facing into the sun, for example, image processing can reduce glare and improve contrast. 

"It really felt comfortable," he said. "Even though I wasn't seeing out the front, I could see out the sides and match that up." 

More than 100 test flights are planned. NASA intends to gradually push toward higher, faster flights before testing those muffled booms over towns.

Every time I install Ubuntu, whether it's a fresh setup or an upgrade—I follow a checklist of tweaks I immediately apply. It's a set of changes I always make to ensure the system feels comfortable, familiar, and efficient for me.

It's hard to believe that the whole real-time ray-tracing thing started all the way back in 2018, with the release of the NVIDIA GeForce 20-series of GPUs. Suddenly, the lighting method used in high-end pre-rendered Hollywood movies could be used in live video games. Well, at least that was the promise.

It's important to make your workspace comfortable. You'll likely be spending 8 hours a day there—and staring at a drab, lifeless setup isn't conducive to productive work, especially if the space isn't even designed to make working easier.