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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people knowledgeable about the NFC East.

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: Formerly known as the NFL Capitol Division

• Green: GOAT WRs

• Blue: Shining NCAA stars

• Purple: Famously went dancing

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFC East

• Green: Hall of Fame Wide Receivers

• Blue: Stars in this Year's Men's NCAA Tournament

• Purple: Notable NCAA Tournament Cinderellas

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 #542 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• NFC East - COMMANDERS, COWBOYS, EAGLES, GIANTS

• Hall of Fame Wide Receivers - BRUCE, MONK, MOSS, RICE

• Stars in this Year's Men's NCAA Tournament - ACUFF, BOOZER, DYBANTSA, PEAT

• Notable NCAA Tournament Cinderellas - PATRIOTS, PEACOCKS, RAMBLERS, RAMS

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.

In a volatile environment, many board directors feel a heightened responsibility to keep their companies on track. But when your board starts stepping into operational work, you risk slowing decisions and eroding trust. Here’s how you can reset the dynamic without creating friction.   Diagnose what’s driving the board’s behavior. Look at what problems the board is trying to solve. Next, identify […]

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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

A beginner.

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

PLEBE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To move.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 19, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BUDGE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A geek.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 19, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DWEEB

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A marine animal.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

MANTA

Final Hurdle hint

A piece of clothing.

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

SHIRT

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

It's the New Moon tonight, which means the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. The side facing Earth isn’t illuminated at all, so it’s essentially invisible in the night sky.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, March 19, the Moon phase is New Moon. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 0% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

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 love a good story.

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 19, 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: Children's stories

• Green: Lucky charms

• Blue: Ever-changing

• Purple: Music to my ears

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Folk tale characters

• Green: Good luck symbols

• Blue: Things that change color

• Purple: Ending in music genres

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 #1012 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Folk tale characters: CHICKEN LITTLE, FROG PRINCE, GINGERBREAD MAN, GOLDILOCKS

• Good luck symbols: EVIL EYE, FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, HORSEHOE

• Things that change color: CHAMELEON, MOOD RING, SUNSET, TRAFFIC LIGHT

• Ending in music genres: BABY BLUES, PET ROCK, SCRAP METAL, SODA POP

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 19, 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 good if you love a get 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 19, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Bring a plate

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe food courses.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Potluck.

NYT Strands word list for March 19

• Veggies

• Casserole

• Dessert

• Potluck

• Beverage

• Appetizers

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 in recovery.

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 19, 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 19, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An Amy Winehouse song.

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 R.

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...

REHAB

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.

If you've spent more than a day on LinkedIn in your life, you may have noticed that the networking service has developed a language all of its own. If you were a tad unkind, you might say LinkedIn users self-promote every tiny career moment in such a cliched way, it's a wonder that their words aren't written by AI.

Or, if you wanted to turn that last sentence into more, uh, proactively positive LinkedIn speak: "We’re seeing so many thought leaders lean into the hustle, celebrating every micro-win with such a growth-oriented narrative that you’d swear it was automated. It’s all about that personal branding and staying humble while scaling your impact! #GrowthMindset #PersonalBranding #HustleCulture."

SEE ALSO: Even your side hustle isn’t safe from AI

The English-to-LinkedIn translation service, in this case, was automated. Kagi, a premium search service where you pay for what is essentially an ad-free, pro-privacy Google that actually works (our sister website Lifehacker swears by it), also offers free AI-based language translation.

And in a smart marketing move worthy of a LinkedIn update, Kagi has introduced more humorous internet subculture "languages" among its translation options. LinkedIn, launched Wednesday, is only the latest: there's Reddit speak (lots of "weird-ass," "cringe" and "banana for scale"), Pirate Speak ("tis a wonder their words aren't written by some mechanical ghost"), and complete fictional languages like Klingon (you'll be glad to know Klingons hunt for work on "LinkedInDaq.")

But it's the LinkedIn lingo making waves on social media this week. I can see why, because this is more than a novelty — it's a hilarious and actually useful translation service. When it comes to human-style AI speak taking over our digital lives, the LinkedIn translator is touching the same nerve as Your AI Slop Bores Me — not to mention George Orwell's Newspeak.

There's a game-like aspect to the translations, and the game is: is there any human activity that couldn't be made to sound doubleplusgood in a LinkedIn post? If there is, I haven't found it yet.

Wasted the afternoon in bed? No, you "decided to prioritize a strategic recharge to optimize cognitive performance and long-term productivity." Started injecting heroin? Call it "a high-intensity, daily commitment to a specialized chemical routine" that taught you about "supply chain consistency" and "a relentless focus on personal objectives, no matter the cost." Murdered a co-worker? Nonsense, my friend, you "successfully offboarded a team member ... to optimize long-term headcount."

The translation works the other way around, too: LinkedIn speak into plain English. That's right — the next time your boss writes a 10,000-word LinkedIn epic that could have been a three-line email, there's no need to Google all the obscure marketing or management jargon. Just Kagi the whole thing.

And if you need to write a comment in response, know that "I hated this and I am dumber for reading it" can also be rendered as "’While I’m always looking for ways to challenge my current mindset, this particular content reminded me of the importance of being intentional with the information we consume. Grateful for the learning opportunity!"

Hey, maybe AI will save white collar workers' jobs after all.

A quick look at the best deals on self-emptying robot vacuums at Amazon Best budget robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $299.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal Best roller mop robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $549.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal Best premium robot vacuum deal Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,499.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal

The question isn't whether it's worthwhile to get a self-emptying robot vacuum. It's simply which self-emptying robot vacuum you should get. And the list of potential options in your budget is much longer around Amazon's Big Spring Sale, which will run between March 25 and 31. A ton are already severely discounted in the week before the sale, including a few of my favorites that I've tested so far this year.

SEE ALSO: The Shark vs. Roomba debate is stale in 2026, but at least Shark is trying to revive its robot vacuum line

Automatic emptying isn't at all reserved for the best of the best robot vacuums as was the case five years ago — I'd argue that it's the most normalized feature outside of the vacuuming itself, even in the realm of cheap robot vacuums under $300. The unspoken agreement is that if you're buying a robot vacuum to avoid vacuuming by hand, you're not going to feel like manually dumping a dust bin every day, either.

Below, I'm tracking the best self-emptying robot vacuums on sale ahead of Amazon's 2026 spring sale. More good deals are likely to drop in the coming days, and I'll be updating this post accordingly.

Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale Eufy C28 $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Eufy Why we like it

I tested and loved the Eufy C28 when it came out in February 2026. And I have a feeling it'll remain one of my most recommended robot vacuum and mop combos for the next year or so.

On sale for less than $600, the Eufy C28 is probably the most affordable roller mop robot vacuum you'll find. The fluffy roller spans the entire bottom of the vacuum and rinses itself with fresh water as it's mopping, making it a far more reliable choice for soaking up large liquid spills (without smearing them around) than other cheap mopping robot vacuums. Its self-emptying dock also washes and dries the mop after each cleaning, so it's easier to forgive how painfully loud it is.

Its small obstacle avoidance was surprisingly accurate during my testing — it avoided slippers and hand towels, cat toys, and (most) phone chargers as well as many premium vacuums.

Robot vacuum mop combos with self-washing mopping pads

• Roborock Qrevo QV35A — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250)

• Dreame L40 Ultra (Gen 2) — $479.99 $649.99 (save $170)

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni — $599 $1,099.99 (save $500.99)

• Eufy C28 — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)

• Eufy E25 — $649.99 $999.99 (save $350)

• Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600)

• Roborock Saros 10R — $1,099.99 $1,599.99 (save $500)

• Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete — $1,299.99 $1,499.99 (save $200)

SEE ALSO: I tried the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow: It's cracked the code to roller mopping along edges Robot vacuum and mop combos

• Dreame D20 Plus — $259.99 $359.99 (save $100)

• Roborock Q7 M5+ — $249.99 $329.99 (save $80)

• Narwal Freo S — $279.99 $349.99 (save $70)

• Roborock Q5 S10+ — $299.99 $549.99 (save $250)

• Mova P10 Pro Ultra — $399 $499 (save $100)

SAVE UP TO $9.01: The new Apple MacBook Neo is on sale on Amazon as of March 18. Save $4 on the 256GB base model (now $595) and about $9 on the 512GB version with Touch ID (now $689.99). Hey, it's something.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $595 at Amazon
$599 Save $4   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $9.01   Get Deal

It ain't much, but it's honest work: Amazon just put the brand-new Apple MacBook Neo on sale for the first time since its March 11 launch. The 256GB base configuration is marked down to $595, and the upgraded 512GB version with Touch ID is sitting at $689.99 in — a savings of $4 and $9.01, respectively.

Amazon will probably dish out much better discounts on the MacBook Neo this summer during its Prime Day sale. (I can't see it getting dramatically cheaper than this between now and next week's Big Spring Sale.) But to date, this is the best deal on new models with no strings attached.

Best Buy has some Neos that are around $20 off, but they're open-box, i.e. returned. The Apple Store will give you $100 off, but only if you're a college student, a parent of one, or school faculty.

We tested an indigo MacBook Neo. We loved it. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The MacBook Neo is powered by a capable A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM. It's not as good for multitasking as a MacBook Air with more memory, but its perfect for folks who only have a couple tabs open at any given time. It can churn through basic tasks as fast as last year's M4 MacBook Air — think web browsing and sending emails.

In heavier workloads like video editing, it's just as zippy as an M1 MacBook Air from 2020. It offers around 15 hours of battery life per charge.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo review: I think Apple's going to sell millions of these

Features-wise, the Neo comes with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, a 1080p webcam, a clicky mechanical touchpad, and Dolby Atmos speakers. Its all-aluminum chassis comes in four colors: indigo, silver, blush, and a punchy "citrus" yellow-green. (Amazon's deal only applied to the silver one at the time of writing, but that might change by the time you read this.)

"For students, young people, and casual users, there's nothing else like [the Neo] at this price," writes Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth, who rated it a 4.8/5. (Check out his full review.)

If you're not sure whether the Neo is right for you, read our analysis of how it stacks up against the new M5 MacBook Air and older M-series models.

With desktop 3D printers becoming so common, what used to be a really specialized manufacturing tech is now available for everyone. However, don't think this easy access means that modern 3D printing is just a simple, plug-and-play device. Getting reliable, high-quality results isn't about how much your printer costs; it's more about what you put into it.

Damian McCarthy is the new king of horror. The Irish filmmaker has previously thrilled audiences with the mind-bending Caveat in 2020. Then, came Oddity, a smash-up of Irish folklore and horror that centered around a creepy wooden man. Now, he's returned with the Adam Scott-fronted Hokum, which is his best and most terrifying film yet. 

SEE ALSO: 17 SXSW movies you need to know about right now

Look, I don't say that lightly. I watch a lot of horror movies. Even outside of my job, I seek out the weird, the wonky, the scary-as-hell. And even though I loved Caveat for all its surreal spookiness and Oddity for its chilling imagery and gnarly twists, I was not prepared for Hokum. Sure, I called it one of my most anticipated films of 2026. But I could not predict from Hokum's curious first image of Scott, crouching in a wooden box, or even its trailer what was in store. As I teased in my headline, this movie scared me so intensely, so consistently, that I screamed myself hoarse by the end. 

And I can't wait to see it again. 

What's Hokum about? 

Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, Hokum centers on Ohm Bauman (Scott), an American author haunted by his past. Struggling to complete his popular book series, The Conquistador Trilogy, he takes a trip to Ireland, where his parents honeymooned long, long ago. There, he will sprinkle their ashes. But before he can find peace or leave the towering hotel with a dark history, he gets roped into the mystery of a missing woman and the lore of the witch said to haunt the honeymoon suite. 

Adam Scott is a real rat bastard in Hokum, and thank God. 

Scott is one of those American actors who do it all. On Parks and Recreation, he was a crush-worthy sweetheart. On Party Down, he was a comically cynical anti-hero. Step Brothers and The Good Place gave him hilariously malicious bros to play, while Krampus and The Monkey had him playing doomed dads. In the woefully underseen The Vicious Kind, he was a troubled and sexy lover. In the sci-fi series Severance, he thrills audiences as a tormented Lumon employee whose split consciousness leaves him torn between impossible choices. But in Hokum, he's a total jerk to just about all who come across his path. And it's thrilling to behold. 

The staff at the hotel is generally eager to please. Some even fawn over him when they realize he's the Ohm Bauman. The preening manager (Peter Coonan) gets a sneer for asking for an autograph. The kind bartender (Florence Ordesh) gets snark for daring to small-talk. The bellhop (Oddity fans, IYKYK) named Alby (Will O'Connell), who dreams of being a writer himself, is scorched by his idol's cruel attention. Ohm even has sharp words for the hotel's owner (Brendan Conroy), who — to be fair — is terrorizing young children with the tale of the local witch who snatches up tourists. 

The only person Ohm has any patience for is a weirdo in the woods called Jerry (David Wilmot), who looks after the wild goats, drinks their milk with magic mushrooms, and is on the run for a worrisome reason. Their connection is confounding but compelling, especially as Jerry presses Ohm into a series of deeply dangerous decisions in search of an impossible truth.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

It's a twisted pleasure to watch Scott snarl and jeer, in part because it's darkly funny to see this protagonist flaunt social niceties so blatantly. But moreover, his bad behavior gives horror fans a warning: Ohm will pay for being the ugly American, snorting at the locals and their lore, because as we all know from folk horror movies like The Wicker Man, such an attitude typically leads to disaster. Beyond that, however, Hokum carves out an unnerving story of healing, exploring not only why Ohm is such a prick, but also the terrifying path that will force him to reevaluate his vicious ways. Scott is uniquely perfect for such a role. For one thing, his ability to slide from one genre to another means that he just fits wherever he's set. So, whether he's facing down a furious brother, a spree-killing toy, or even a soul-splitting corporation, it just feels like of course, this thing would befall this guy. Scott is so skilled at locking into a tone from jump that he grounds whatever reality he's pitched into. Speaking of jumping….

The scares in Hokum had me howling, jumping, and desperate to cover my eyes.  Credit: NEON

Jump scares often get a bad wrap because they can be considered a cheap thrill. McCarthy, however, is a master of building tension and expectation, twisting his audience into a knot of fear, until we explode with a bellow or jump. Within the first five minutes of Hokum, he sets up a spirit that seems to be stalking Ohm. And its first jump scare had me screaming at the SXSW premiere of Hokum so hard that I could feel my ribcage vibrate. 

McCarthy offers this quick scare not just as a thrill to get audiences on board with his ghost-infested tale, but also as a misdirect about what's to come. After this point, Hokum veers away from the standard "surprise! There's something behind you" scare that releases tension, and more into the looming dread that you know something is there, you just can't see it… yet. 

McCarthy sets up the framework of a witch in a haunted honeymoon suite, then lets us linger at the bolted gate that should keep snoops out. But there's a crackling cackle in the darkness beyond the gate. So, naturally, someone will reach in an arm with a lighter, trying to make sense of what lurks in the shadows. Rather than a quick scare, McCarthy waits. The arm probes the dark, the hand so human and so exposed to whatever cannot be seen. The flame flickers, toying with our expectations of what it might reveal. And McCarthy waits. 

I could feel the scream tickling in my chest. My fingers pulled my notebook up to my nose. I grit my teeth and refused to cover my eyes, even though I desperately wanted to. And then comes the reveal. Brief, simple, and yet absolutely horrifying. The scream again escaped me, this time ripping through the fingers clutched around my mouth. 

Again and again, McCarthy builds on this tension with a production design of cryptic decay. The colors of the hotel are of wood, rot, and beaten flesh. Those who loved Caveat and Oddity will squeal in anticipation over familiar iconography, like a small service bell or a recurring rabbit motif. These three films, all chiefly set in a single spooky location, share a folk-horror framework, where a logical man is lost to a world of superstition and dark faith he can't comprehend, much less control. Yet McCarthy isn't building some concrete horror universe. Instead, these talismans suggest a slippery sisterhood of horror and lore. And it's deviously entertaining in its wild twists, gnarly monsters, and masterfully paced scares. 

In the film's climax, where Ohm must face not only his fears but also a ruthlessly wicked foe, I wrote only one note in my book: "I'm gonna hurl." Thankfully, I managed to keep the tension gurgling in my guts to myself. But this experience brought back a similar SXSW premiere, when I saw Ari Aster's Hereditary for the first time. I screamed, gasped, and even dry-heaved as the suspense of his cult tale grabbed me by the throat. I didn't sleep that night until the sun came up. For Hokum, I did manage to fall asleep, or at least collapse from the exhaustion of the rigors of the festival. But I did so with the haunting knowledge that if something came for me in the dark, I no longer had a voice — much less a scream — to call for help. And that is a new one, even for a horror fan who can't get enough of being scared out of my wits. 

Hokum is a seriously scary masterpiece. Like Caveat and Oddity, Hokum is twisted, horrifying, and darkly amusing. McCarthy has built on his skill for weaving together freaky folklore and compellingly quirky characters in a claustrophobic setting to deliver a supremely frightening thriller that swells in ambition as it does star power. It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater. Don't miss it. 

Hokum was reviewed out of the SXSW film festival. Hokum opens in theaters on May 1.

TL;DR: Improve your memory with an app thanks to this lifetime subscription to the memoryOS Student Plan, now just $79.99 (reg. $198).

Opens in a new window Credit: memoryOS memoryOS Student Plan: Lifetime Subscription $79.99
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You can get a personal trainer for your body, but what about your brain? Fortunately, there’s now an app for that — memoryOS. It gives users an average 70% increase in memory recall, and right now you can secure a lifetime subscription to the memoryOS Student Plan for just $79.99 (MSRP $198).

While there are many apps on the market promising they can give your memory a boost, memoryOS actually uses scientifically proven methods that truly work. With some help from memoryOS’s gamified microlessons, you can train your brain to remember important things.

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As the number one most-funded app on Kickstarter, memoryOS already has 500,000 users training their brains. It was co-founded by Jonas von Essen, a two-time World Memory Champion who won Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, and uses proprietary virtual Mind Palace technology to help teach effective memorization.

memoryOS employs Mind Palace technology to serve as your mind’s storage space, and mnemonics and spaced repetition, both time-tested, scientifically proven ways to boost your memory.

The memoryOS Student Plan isn’t only available to students — it’s for anyone looking to boost their memory. You’ll get 140 Loci, which are structured mind storage spaces for organized recall, 52 interactive micro-lessons, 11 lifelong memory skills, and 40 unlockable Loci Rewards to expand your mental capacity.

This lifetime subscription also gives you exclusive access to the Early Adopters private group, zero ads, and unlimited practice attempts to work on your skills.

Get this lifetime subscription to the memoryOS Student Plan for only $79.99 (reg. $198).

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.

Google, along with two cybersecurity firms, are warning iPhone users of a new exploit that can steal data — all from just visiting a website on a user's iOS device.

DarkSword is a new hacking toolkit being deployed by bad actors on a global scale. The reports by Google Threat Intelligence Group and cybersecurity companies Lookout and iVerify detailed multiple vulnerabilities used to carry out attacks against iOS devices running versions 18.4 through 18.7.

According to Apple's own developer website, nearly 25 percent of all iPhones are still on some version of iOS 18. Wired points out that this means there are potentially hundreds of millions of iOS devices susceptible to DarkSword.

What makes DarkSword so concerning? Unlike most malware, DarkSword doesn't need to be installed on a target's device. A victim simply needs to visit an infected website. From there, DarkSword steals personal or financial data. And unlike most spyware, DarkSword isn't being used for long-term espionage. 

"As opposed to many other previously reported cases of sophisticated attacks on mobile devices, DarkSword is not designed for ongoing surveillance," writes Lookout in its report. "Once it finishes collecting and exfiltrating the targeted data, it deletes the files it created on the filesystem of the device and exits. Its dwell time on the device is likely in the range of minutes, depending on the amount of data it discovers and exfiltrates."

Hackers utilizing DarkSword take what they want from the victim within a short period. Once an infected device is restarted, the spyware is nearly undetectable on the device.

SEE ALSO: Iran-linked hackers launch cyberattack against U.S. medtech company Stryker

DarkSword can be used to siphon all sorts of personal data from an iOS device to a nefarious actor. Call logs, contacts, calendars, notes, photos, screenshots, location history, web browser history, signed in account identities, device keychains, SIM card info, Find My Phone settings, WiFi passwords, iCloud content, and more can be sent to the threat actor through this attack. iMessage data, email, WhatsApp data, Telegram data, and even cryptocurrency wallet credentials can also be stolenl.

Another concerning aspect of DarkSword is the cleanup of the cybercrime scene afterward. There is none. Hackers who have utilized DarkSword have left the code behind for anyone to access and deploy. In addition, it appears these hackers aren't concerned with its discovery, resulting in the closure of the exploit, meaning they are likely confident new and similar attacks can be replicated with new tools.

Google's report details some specific attacks carried out by DarkSword. For example, one early incident in November targeted Saudi Arabian users through a Snapchat-themed website called Snapshare. The website forwarded visitors to a legitimate Snapchat site while it infected the device in order to hide the nefarious activity.

In more recent attacks carried out just this month, a hacker group with suspected ties to the Russian government, known as UNC6353, deployed DarkSword in order to target iPhone users in Ukraine. The group was somehow able to compromise legitimate Ukrainian news sites and official government websites to target its victims.

It is believed this threat actor is also behind a previously uncovered yet similar exploit known as Coruna earlier this year. That hacking toolkit targeted even older iOS devices that were still using iOS versions 13 through 17.

Prepare for liftoff. March marks the arrival of Project Hail Mary, one of the first event movies of 2026. Ryan Gosling headlines the space odyssey as Dr. Ryland Grace, a science teacher sent into space to save the world. Along the way, Grace meets Rocky, an alien who becomes his friend and a partner in the mission.

Yahoo recently announced new tools within Yahoo Scout, the company’s AI search engine, now in beta, that will support publishers and the open web.

It offers a stark contrast to the more closed ecosystem approach of Google and other AI search products.

Why does this matter? Artificial intelligence has had a devastating impact on publisher traffic as AI companies scrape, train, and repurpose publishers’ stories, typically without permission or payment. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

New research from Chartbeat published this week shows that small publishers lost 60 percent of their search traffic between Dec. 2024 to Dec. 2025. Medium publishers lost 47 percent, and large publishers 22 percent.

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Yahoo has been promoting Yahoo Scout at SXSW 2026, which comes to a close on Wednesday in Austin, Texas. When I first tried Yahoo Scout at SXSW, the first thing I noticed was how many links were included to publishers and other sources. And Yahoo says that’s intentional.

“The open web is essential for building quality AI experiences and we are committed to building Scout in a way that's trusted by users and sustainable for publishers,” said Eric Feng, SVP and GM of Yahoo Research Group. 

SEE ALSO: Pornhub traffic dipped during Bad Bunny's halftime show

Feng added, “Every answer in Yahoo Scout includes clear attribution and referral back to content publishers so we can be transparent with our users and provide them with additional context and coverage where needed.”

So, apparently, you can create AI search tools that support the writers, editors, publishers, bloggers, and creators actually generating the information.

Meanwhile, Google has found many creative ways to keep searchers within its ecosystem of products as long as possible.

Once upon a time, Google measured success by how quickly users left Google. The idea was that if a searcher left the search engine quickly, that meant they had found the information they needed. This was the philosophy of the old “Don’t be evil” Google of old. 

It even used to be part of the company’s “Ten things we know to be true” mission statement: “We may be the only people in the world who can say our goal is to have people leave our website as quickly as possible.”

But Google has changed, and that mission statement has become something of a time capsule.

“Google has had a long history of making moves that keep searchers in their own ecosystem,” said Lily Ray, VP of SEO Strategy at Amsive, in an email to Mashable.

For instance, “on AI Overviews, clicking ‘Show More’ now leads the user to AI Mode,” Ray said. “I would argue this is Google's most aggressive move yet to encourage users to switch to AI Mode. It appears that Google is trying to strike a balance between encouraging more usage of its AI products, while keeping users clicking on Google Ads, which generally still appear prominently in the traditional search results.”

A Google representative declined to comment for this story. However, Robby Stein, VP of Product for Search at Google, has previously said that Google is taking steps to encourage users to click on outside sources. However, the data on declining search traffic paints a very different picture.

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"I see Google's new AI products as an extension of this ‘Zero Click’ trend — it's in their best interest to keep users on Google as long as possible (like any other online platform)," Ray said.

Yahoo introduces MyScout and publisher pages The new MyScout personalized homepage for Yahoo users. Credit: Yahoo

In addition to Yahoo Scout, the company has launched MyScout, a personalized AI homepage for users. MyScout uses content from Yahoo Mail, News, Finance, and Sports to create a custom daily briefing for users, similar to Samsung’s Now Brief.

In addition, Yahoo has launched publisher brand pages within Yahoo News to support publishers that syndicate content on Yahoo.

“Yahoo Scout is built on our 30-year-history as a trusted guide to the internet. We have a proprietary knowledge graph of over 1 billion entities, unique insights from the trillions of consumer events that occur across the Yahoo ecosystem, and personalization signals from hundreds of millions of logged-in user profiles,” Feng told Mashable.

This article reflects the opinion of the author.

Subcompact SUVs have become one of the most popular choices on the road, with buyers swapping small sedans and hatchbacks for something taller and more versatile. Automakers rushed in to meet the demand, packing the segment with compact crossovers aimed at commuters, young families, and city shoppers.

Visual Studio Code has switched to weekly updates, so new features and bug fixes are now arriving at a rapid pace. The new version 1.112 update is now available, with a significant upgrade for web development and a few more AI coding features.

When Facebook changed its name to Meta a few years ago, the idea was that the VR metaverse would become a huge pillar for the company. I think we can safely say that's not going to happen.

On its community forums, Meta confirmed that Horizon Worlds, the flagship "hanging out and doing work meetings in VR" app for Quest headsets, will no longer be available in VR after June 15. It's not going away entirely, as Meta recently reoriented its metaverse efforts toward a Horizon Worlds mobile app. But Mark Zuckerberg's COVID-era dream of people spending huge portions of their days wearing VR headsets and messing around in Horizon Worlds seems to be dead.

SEE ALSO: Meta, Snap, and YouTube insiders reveal common mistakes new creators make

In fairness to Meta, the multi-platform approach to Horizon Worlds isn't new. It's been available on mobile and desktop since 2023, and it must be successful enough in the mobile format for Meta to keep supporting and building upon that version of the Horizon Worlds metaverse. But when it was supposed to be a VR system seller, Horizon Worlds was often the subject of mockery online for its underwhelming visual quality, initial lack of legs for avatars, and its reputation as a virtual ghost town.

Of course, as of right now, that doesn't mean Meta is giving up on VR. When it announced that Horizon was going mobile earlier this year, Meta reaffirmed its commitment to VR as a format.

"We have a robust roadmap of future VR headsets that will be tailored to different audience segments as the market grows and matures," Meta said in a press release. "And Meta remains the single biggest investor in the VR industry. Why? Because we believe in VR as a critical technology on the path to the next computing platform."

The enduring popularity of things like VRChat signals that there is a market for these sorts of virtual hangout spaces, but Zuckerberg's specific vision of the metaverse just never really took off as intended. At least we got a few memes out of it.

The Nissan Versa is gone, and just like that, the Hyundai Venue takes the crown as America’s cheapest new car at $22,150. It’s not exactly fresh—this thing’s been around for a while—but it still nails the basics with a boxy design, a simple infotainment setup, and just enough punch for everyday driving.