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Having access to a 3D printer can, at times, cloud your judgment. You start to think in terms of printing your way out of a problem, which can mean overlooking easier and more economical options.

The biggest change on this year's Apple Watch might be the introduction of a white and/or gray ceramic case.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has outlined the changes being made for Apple's upcoming wearables: the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. In his Sunday article, he reiterated that these devices will only receive "fairly minor upgrades," having previously tempered expectations earlier this month.

He did, however, share a few new details about what some of these minor upgrades may be. According to Gurman, Apple has tested both white and gray configurations of the Apple Watch Series 12's ceramic case. Apple will also launch "many" new band colors and configurations alongside them.

• Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

Another new feature Apple is reportedly testing will have the Watch's heart-rate sensor continuously collect data, as opposed to doing so at random intervals or while you exercise. Apple's fitness and health app software might also get an update to show "more wellness-related metrics."

On the flip side, Apple is pushing for a bigger upgrade to both the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra next year.

SEE ALSO: The latest Apple price hike: Apple TV streaming service

One interesting thing about this report, which we've mostly heard before, is its timing. Apple's new Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra are likely to launch in a little over a week, on September 9. Surprises are unlikely this late in the game, so don't expect massive changes for the Apple Watch devices this year.

Valve has reportedly suffered a massive leak, with over 12 terabytes of the game developer's internal data now available online. This not only includes data from its own games such as Portal 2 and the cancelled Half-Life 2: Episode 3, but also other developers' games such as Grand Theft Auto V and Dragon Age: Origins. It could be one of the largest video game leaks ever.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Cyberleek update: Everything leaked so far, what might be coming next

The Steam2 Content Server Dump first came to light on Saturday, and quickly spread on social media. Steam2 was Valve's previous content distribution system, which was phased out after the introduction of SteamPipe in 2013. Valve used Steam2 to deliver game updates through its digital storefront Steam, which was launched in 2003. This leak purportedly contains data from a Steam2 content server, and spans the decade between 2003 to 2013.

It's unclear exactly who is responsible for the leak. However, Valve content creator Scolcer claimed that the data wasn't hacked, but found publicly available on an unprotected website (via Google Translate). This was corroborated by another Valve-focused content creator Gabe Follower.

"No hacking involved, just verified that everything in Steam2 Teraleak was obtained via a publicly accessable [sic] endpoint. It's Valve's fault…" Gabe Follower posted to X. "That's why it's only before 2013, after that they switched to the new storage system."

• Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

While fans are still combing through the massive archive of data, they've already uncovered a lot of interesting information. Valve released some of its most iconic games during the period covered by the leak, including Half-Life 2, Portal, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, and Dota 2. As such, gamers have found files related to several of these titles, and are sharing screenshots and videos of their discoveries on social media.

So far, finds include a beta build of Left 4 Dead 2, files that seem linked to cancelled game Half-Life 2: Episode Three, content cut from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, data concerning cancelled Portal prequel F-Stop, and unreleased but playable versions of Portal 2, including dialogue, plotlines, and other features that didn't make it into the final game.

Mashable has reached out to Valve for comment.

Significantly, Valve isn't the only game developer that appears to have been swept up in the Steam2 Content Server Dump. Steam hosts both Valve's own games and those made by other developers, having become one of the most popular digital distribution platforms for PC games. As such, other developers' games which launched on Steam before 2013 have reportedly been included in the leak as well. 

Fans have reportedly identified files or even early versions of games such as Grand Theft Auto V, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, Mafia II, Spec Ops: The Line, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II. Basically, if a game was on Steam in 2013 or earlier, it was likely included in the leak. According to SteamDB, Steam hosted 2122 games by 2013. 

Much more information will undoubtedly be uncovered as people continue to trawl through the data. Even so, it will likely take some time. In 2024, approximately 1 terabyte of data was leaked from Nintendo's servers in an incident dubbed the "Teraleak," followed by a second release a year later. Though the Teraleak was significantly smaller than Valve's breach, fans have continued to glean new information from it even up until last month.

NASA's new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is headed to its frigid space outpost, where it is expected to gather unprecedented data on some of the universe's biggest mysteries.  

Over the next few months, mission controllers will guide it out into deep space, deploy its hardware, test every system, and tune its vision before it begins major infrared observations of the cosmos.

Following a successful launch on Sunday, Aug. 30, Roman is now flying to a point about 1 million miles from Earth, similar to where the James Webb Space Telescope operates. It will spend roughly three months checking out its systems and instruments before NASA releases its first images in early 2027.

• LAST CHANCE: Guess what Apple will release in September in our Big Guessing Game: Apple edition. Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch!

SEE ALSO: NASA's Roman telescope is built to find what Hubble and Webb miss First hours after launch

Right after Roman separated from its SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, several maneuvers happened quickly:

• The spacecraft turned so its solar panels faced the sun to give it power.

• Mission teams on the ground switched on and checked basic systems, like power and communications.

• Near the end of the first day, Roman fired its engines to fine-tune its trajectory toward its final destination in space.

That location is called the second sun‑Earth Lagrange point, or L2. It's a spot in space where the gravity of the sun and Earth, plus Roman's motion, allows the telescope to maintain a steady position as it orbits the sun.

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100‑day trip to deep space

Roman's cruise to get to L2 takes about 100 days. During that time, controllers do more than just wait for the spacecraft's arrival:

• They unfold side panels and a sunshield, which help protect the telescope from heat and light.

• They deploy a large antenna that Roman will use to transmit scientific data back to Earth.

• They test the spacecraft's systems one by one — power, steering, data handling, and engines — to make sure everything works in space as it did in the lab.

"We look at it all with a fine-tooth comb," said Jeremy Perkins, Roman's integration and test scientist. "The people that built and tested and delivered Roman are the same folks that are going to make sure it's working as we expect it to on orbit."

As Roman travels farther from Earth, it passes beyond the moon's orbit and settles into a looping path around the L2 point.

Under the hood, Roman is about the size of a tour bus and as heavy as a male killer whale. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center infographic Opening the telescope and turning on the cameras

On the way out and near L2, the team starts to wake up the science gear:

• They open a protective cover so the telescope can see the sky.

• They power on the Wide Field Instrument, Roman's main camera, which takes sharp, panoramic pictures in infrared light.

• They turn on the Coronagraph Instrument, a special device that tries to block starlight inside the telescope so it can spot nearby faint planets.

At this stage, Roman takes test images. Engineers use these early pictures to check focus, sharpness, and pointing. If the team chooses, they may release some of these images publicly on NASA's mission blog.  

Three‑month checkout and tweaking

Fortunately, the team doesn't have to wait for Roman to arrive at L2 before it begins commissioning, that three‑month checkout period. That work can overlap with the journey, said Julie McEnery, Roman's senior project scientist.

"We can start our science operations before we've actually inserted into our orbit," she said. "You can expect 'first light' sometime before the beginning of next year."

The three-month commissioning phase will overlap with the spacecraft's flight to the second sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center infographic

During this time, teams will:

• Measure how sharp stars look, then adjust the telescope to bring them into the best focus possible.

• Repeat test observations to see if the telescope behaves the same way each time.

• Check how dark and stable the telescope is, which is crucial for spotting the heat of very faint galaxies and tiny changes in starlight.

• Practice sending and receiving large amounts of data, building up to about 1.4 terabytes of science data per day — far more than Hubble ever sent.

Scientists also run small "practice surveys" on limited areas of sky. These rehearsals make sure Roman and its software can handle the full‑size surveys planned for the main five-year mission.

"We're using this early time, this commissioning time, to shake out all the techniques, to find the gotchas, find the bugs, and basically do the early calibrations we need to do so that we're ready when the torrent of data starts," Perkins said. 

First images and the start of the mission

Once Roman passes its early tests and calibrations, NASA plans to release the first glamor shots in January 2027. These pictures will highlight what Roman does best, such as:

The Roman Space Telescope will orbit the sun 1 million miles away from Earth so that the planet's atmosphere doesn't obscure the view. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center infographic

• Wide views packed with distant galaxies will help map how matter is distributed across the universe.

• Dense fields of stars near the center of the Milky Way, where Roman will later search for brief brightening events that reveal hidden planets.

After the checkout phase, Roman moves into its five‑year primary mission, rotating through three main tasks:

1. Mapping more than a billion galaxies to study dark matter and dark energy.

2. Watching the same patches of sky over and over to catch changing events like exploding stars.

3. Staring toward the crowded center of our galaxy to find planets, including free‑floating "rogue" worlds that don't orbit a star.

Roman carries enough fuel for at least those first five years. Engineers also built it so a future mission could refuel it in space, which could keep the telescope working well beyond its original lifetime if that technology becomes available.

When new technology emerges, pornography soon follows. From VHS tapes to VR, the adult industry has long been an early adopter of innovative ways to watch and get off.

But now, viewers are turning to a format once thought obsolete: DVDs. 

"In our retail locations in South Dakota, we went up probably 20, 22 percent this year over the last year on DVD sales," said David Eliason, owner of three adult stores in the state: Dick & Jane's Naughty Spot, which has locations in Sturgis and Rapid City, and Bonnie & Clyde's Adult Supercenter in Rapid City. "There's really no other explanation other than [that] South Dakota passed an age verification bill."

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Eliason told Mashable that other stores had previously started eliminating DVD sales altogether due to the availability of free and paid streaming content. But this might be changing with the surge of age-verification laws, which typically require personal data, be it credit card information, an ID upload, and/or a face scan, to view explicit content (or simply content deemed "harmful to minors" or otherwise restricted to adults). 

Age verification laws have taken effect in half of U.S. states and countries like the UK, France, and Italy. Similar technology is used to enforce social media bans for children, such as the one in Australia. (Other markets have announced similar social media bans, like the EU and UK.)

Many people do not comply, such as by using virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their real location. Others are going back to physical media.

Rejecting streaming, embracing DVD

"We've seen a bump in DVD orders from the states that are enforcing online AV laws," Lewis Adams, director of sales at Pulse Distribution, told Mashable over email. Pulse Distribution is a domestic and international distributor for porn films in home video, broadcast, internet, and wireless platforms. It handles 90 percent of adult studios, including the well-known Brazzers and Reality Kings, according to Adams. 

Pulse sells to wholesalers, who in turn sell to retail stores and the general public. Since Pulse doesn't sell directly to consumers, its operation hasn't changed due to laws, but Adams said he's seen how DVD sales are shifting in the industry. The biggest impact of the laws has been an increase in DVD sales where they're enforced, such as in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida. 

"We all know that everything you watch online is tracked," he told Mashable. While he doesn't think this will lead to a full-blown revival of DVDs, he believes DVD sales will continue for a long time. 

"I've been hearing consumers threaten to return to physical media since the laws first started passing, and it's interesting to hear retailers clock it in the sales data," Mike Stabile, director of public policy at adult industry trade organization, the Free Speech Coalition, told Mashable over email. 

"It's hard to express what a monumental failure these online age-verification laws have been," Stabile continued. "There has been almost no consumer compliance. People have shifted to foreign sites and pirate sites, they're trading porn on Discord and Telegram, they're using VPNs."

VPN use in the UK increased twofold after the enactment of the Online Safety Act, the UK's age-verification law. A recent report from the UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, stated that many porn sites don't have age checks a year into enforcement, and minors are able to find them via search.

Initial studies from 2025 showed that age verification doesn't work to keep minors off these sites. A June 2026 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research also found that viewers visit noncompliant sites or circumvent the laws using VPNs. The paper found that time spent on adult sites fell by around 10 percent. 

"I'm pretty excited about it, actually, because what we watch is none of the government's business."

On the resurgence of physical media, sexuality specialist Kim Airs said, "I'm pretty excited about it, actually, because what we watch is none of the government's business." Airs is a former adult store owner and has been in the adult industry for 32 years.

Adams also mentioned the importance of privacy and anonymity for a large population. "There is something to be said for the person who wants to walk into a store, pay cash for a DVD, and watch it whenever they want, and it's no business of anyone else," he said. "I support that person."

A better solution?

Airs doesn't think OnlyFans creators will suddenly start selling DVDs. (The platform requires a credit or debit card, which is a kind of age verification because you must be 18 and over to obtain one.) 

Still, she said, "I'm actually excited because DVDs aren't dead" — though not for the reason why.

"I've lived long enough to know the Meese Commission," she said, referring to a task force that investigated the porn industry during the Reagan administration, helmed by then-attorney general Edwin Meese. The nearly 2,000-page Meese Report, released by the Meese Commission in 1986, concluded that porn was a net negative for society (despite little empirical evidence) and led to a judicial crackdown on the industry throughout the rest of Reagan's presidency. 

"I won't say [it] wrecked our industry, but it impacted our industry significantly," Airs continued. "I kind of fear a lot of that coming back because of these restrictions, and [these laws are] so haphazard, and it's not only haphazard in the U.S., it's hitting globally."

And those within the adult industry have long-discussed a different solution: Device-level filters. This can look like an operating system (say, iOS or Android) requesting a birthday when onboarding a user onto a device, and that device creating an age-bracket signal. If the user is a minor, the device can block inappropriate apps or web content.

Free speech experts have long advocated for device-level filters as the least intrusive way to ensure someone is of age. And companies have begun advocating for this, as well. Pornhub has sent letters to Google, Apple, and Microsoft, as well as U.S. lawmakers, urging them to either implement these types of filters or require operating systems to do so.

"No one wants to scan their face to masturbate."

"There's no reason that those devices couldn't very easily send out a signal that says, 'Hey, this phone belongs to somebody who's of proper age,' and allow that person to continue on to whatever content they so choose," Eliason said. "And if they're underage, it would stop them from going to such content."

But as the current age-verification laws stand, people will try and be able to evade them. The return to DVD is yet another way in which consumers are evading the law, Stabile said. "No one wants to scan their face to masturbate."

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is also free with T-Mobile — claim by bringing your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

Apple is dominating the tech news cycle. What's new?

All we hear right now is news, leaks, and rumors around the iPhone 18. Will the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max drop next month? Will the iPhone 18 actually drop next year? Is everything going to arrive with price increases due to soaring component costs and global RAM shortages?

Forget all about that for now, because T-Mobile has dropped a string of impressive deals on the iPhone 17 range.

If you want the simplest entry point into the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 17e is currently free when you switch to almost any qualifying T-Mobile plan (no trade-in required). The iPhone 17 is completely free over 36 months on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan when you turn in an eligible trade-in device. And if you want the iPhone 17 Pro for free, simply bring your existing number over to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

All of these deals are live through the weekend. You know what to do.

T-Mobile requires you to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, along with a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. That's a small price to pay for the latest iPhone (for now).

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free this weekend from T-Mobile.

TL;DR: Watch Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Soccer fans all over the world are excited for the new domestic seasons. That includes a new Serie A season in Italy, which kicked off last week and has already seen fixtures from top Italian sides including Napoli and Roma. Today's fixtures include Atalanta vs. Bologna.

Atalanta began the 2026/27 season with a win against Sassuolo, while Bologna lost their opening game to Lazio.

If you're interested in watching Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Atalanta vs. Bologna?

Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. This fixture takes place at the Gewiss Stadium.

How to watch Atalanta vs. Bologna for free

Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Atalanta vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atalanta vs. Bologna for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit SportyNet

5. Watch Atalanta vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atalanta vs. Bologna without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SportyNet, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Atalanta vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Roma are off to a flying start in the new Serie A season, scoring a 4-0 win over Fiorentina in their first game of their 2026/27 campaign. Now Roma visit Lecce, who are also coming off a win in their season opener, beating Venezia 2-0.

A win for Lecce over Roma would be considered an upset — they've only beaten Roma once in 19 previous meetings — but Lecce are looking to keep up the momentum.

If you're interested in watching Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Lecce vs. Roma?

Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero.

How to watch Lecce vs. Roma for free

Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Lecce vs. Roma for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Lecce vs. Roma for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Lecce vs. Roma for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Lecce vs. Roma without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Lecce vs. Roma for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts 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 short era.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PHASE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Where a cow ejects milk.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UDDER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A military sword.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 31, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SABRE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A type of drum.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SNARE

Final Hurdle hint

A row of bushes.

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

HEDGE

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

Fancy doing a bit of Moon spotting tonight? You might be surprised by how much detail you can pick out from Earth, especially if you have binoculars or a telescope handy.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 31, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 89% of its surface visible.

Tonight with just your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mares Serenitatis and Tranquillitatis, and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, you'll also see the Mare Nectaris, the Clavius Crater, and the Grimaldi Basin. If you have access to a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it moves through its different phases. It takes roughly 29.5 days for the Moon to complete one full cycle as it orbits Earth, according to NASA. The phase we see depends on the Moon's position relative to the Sun and Earth, which determines how much of its sunlit side is visible to us. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon changes from a slim crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before beginning the process 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.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 31, 2026 Caliph meaning

A religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

Khan meaning

An ancient Eurasian ruler.

Pharoah meaning

An ancient Egyptian ruler.

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

Shogun meaning

An ancient Japanese ruler.

Fragile meaning

Easily breakable.

Heavy meaning

Having a large weight or density.

Perishable meaning

A food item that can spoil quickly.

This side up meaning

A common shipping box label.

Dust meaning

Small dry particles of matter.

Poke meaning

A traditional Hawaiian dish containing raw fish.

Salad meaning

A mixed leafy dish.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Super meaning

Of excellent quality.

Lipstick meaning

A tubed makeup product that adds color to the lips.

Poster meaning

A large printed display paper.

Tennis balls meaning

Round bouncy objects hit by rackets in tennis.

Toothpaste meaning

A thick liquid used for cleaning teeth.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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 Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch basketball.

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: Rookie

• Green: Basketball coach

• Blue: He's on fire

• Purple: Mr. and Ms. Thompson

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Inexperienced

• Green: NBA Head Coaches

• Blue: Can Come After "Hot"

• Purple: ___Thompson

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 #707 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Inexperienced: GREEN, NEW, RAW, YOUNG

• NBA Head Coaches: BICKERSTAFF, FINCH, KERR, REDICK

• Can Come After "Hot": CORNER, HAND, SEAT, STOVE

• ___Thompson: ALYSSA, AMEN, KLAY, TAGE

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 catalog.

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 31, 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 31, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

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

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, 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're always waiting on a package.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 31, 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: They come in the same container

• Green: Pack it up

• Blue: Leaders

• Purple: A dish

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things that come in tubes

• Green: Warnings on a shipping box

• Blue: Historical sovereign titles

• Purple: ___ Bowl

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

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 #1176 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that come in tubes: LIPSTICK, POSTER, TENNIS BALLS, TOOTHPASTE

• Warnings on a shipping box: FRAGILE, HEAVY, PERISHABLE, THIS SIDE UP

• Historical sovereign titles: CALIPH, KHAN, PHAROAH, SHOGUN

• ___ Bowl: DUST, POKE, SALAD, SUPER

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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're a clean freak.

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 31, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: With a little elbow grease

The words are feelings related to cleaning.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe cleaning.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Power Wash.

NYT Strands word list for August 31

• Solvent

• Cleanser

• Soap

• Power wash

• Detergent

• Scrub

• Scrub

• Bleach

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a nature lover.

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 August 31, 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 August 31, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A hill.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

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...

MOUND

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.

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 Wordle.

During the early days of Android, even flagship phones were fully plastic. But then manufacturers started introducing metal backs and frames, with HTC leading the pack. I remember that even my budget-focused HTC One V had a body mostly made of metal, while HTC's premium offerings, like the legendary HTC One, had premium aluminum unibodies, with metal being the preferred material for Apple as well back then.

There are two things that get a homelabber's pulse going. The first is a pile of thrown-out server gear that still works, but no one wants it because it's obsolete for data centers and professional server rooms.

It's the end of the month, meaning many movies will be leaving Netflix U.S. Thankfully, these three thrillers will remain on the service throughout September. Our first movie is one of David Fincher's most controversial films of the last 20 years. I happen to think it's one of his best.

When your day is packed, getting from one place to another can become a task in itself. Whether I'm heading out for a day of leisure or working my way through a long to-do list, Google Maps often ends up doing more than just giving me directions.