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TL;DR: Through June 22, new U.S. users can get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for $159 (reg. $299) with code LEARN and access all 14 languages for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$299 Save $140   Get Deal

Learning a new language isn’t easy, but it also might not be as hard as some apps make it seem. If memorizing vocab lists isn’t working for you, check out Babbel. They take a more practical approach to teaching — and it was developed by 100 pro linguists - and includes an AI conversation partner who can help you practice your pronunciation.

Normally, a Babbel lifetime subscription would cost $299, but right now it’s on sale for $159 through tomorrow, June 22, during this Deal Days sales event when you use code LEARN. Check out what that gets you.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages:

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by those expert linguists and backed by academic research. Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons ahead of time. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and jump between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort.

Use code LEARN by June 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through June 28, you can get a Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business lifetime license on sale for $89.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $89.97
$249.99 Save $160.02   Get Deal

Opening Word to write a quick document shouldn’t require a monthly subscription, but Microsoft 365 keeps the bills coming as long as you use it. Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business is a one-time alternative, a single purchase that stays yours indefinitely, and it’s on sale now for $89.97 (reg. $249.99).

This license comes with the core Microsoft productivity apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. It installs on one PC or Mac and runs as desktop software, which means it works fully offline and syncs your files once you reconnect. No more relying on an internet connection just to get some basic work done.

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One of the biggest reasons to go for this version of Office is that it comes with all the new AI features. Excel handles large datasets more efficiently, PowerPoint lets you record full presentations with audio and video, and Outlook includes enhanced accessibility tools and improved search. Word introduces Focus Mode and Smart Compose, giving you a writing space that feels distraction-free and intelligently supportive.

This is not Microsoft 365, so there’s no OneDrive cloud storage and no Copilot built into the apps. You’re buying the software outright, with feature updates included and nothing renewing.

Stop paying for the same apps every month. Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business on sale for $89.97. Offer ends June 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you're dating in your 40s, some online dating sites and apps are a better bet than others, especially if you want to date within your age range. While most dating apps like Tinder and Hinge tend to be more popular with the 30-and-under crowd, dating websites attract a slightly older demographic, one more interested in substantive connection than fleeting attraction. 

That's where eharmony comes in. The site has been around for over 25 years, and boasts somewhere between 38 and 45 million registered users (according to DatingAdvice), and unlike the fast-paced, dopamine-driven apps, eharmony encourages its users to take their time, emphasizing compatibility through a proprietary personality quiz that the site then uses to assign all of your potential matches with a "compatibility score" between 60 and 140, with a higher score indicating that you have more in common. 

Curious if the site is right for you? Here are its pros and cons for daters over 40:

Opens in a new window Credit: eharmony eharmony   Learn More eharmony benefitsFavorable user demographics

The major benefit of a site like eharmony for older daters is its age breakdown of users. Fully 40 percent of its active users are between the ages of 30 and 39, making it the largest on-site demographic, closely followed by the 40+ crowd at 35 percent of the total user base, while the under-30 crowd makes up just 25 percent of the site's users. 

But it gets even better. According to independent research by SwipeStats, the average age of an eharmony user is 34. Eharmony told Mashable that users are 51 percent women and 49 percent men.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt Compatibility-focused matchmaking

On most dating sites these days, the "matchmaking" process is little more than a game of "hot or not," where users are given a small handful of photos and a few seconds of time to make a decision. That's not how eharmony operates. All of its users, including paid subscribers and free accounts, complete a comprehensive personality questionnaire known on the site as the Compatibility Quiz. 

Based on extensive psychological research and eharmony's own matchmaking experiences, this quiz aims to classify people around four basic questions: 

• What characterizes us? 

• What is our driving force? 

• How do we organize everyday life? 

• How do we communicate?

Once it has this information, it can more accurately guess who you will likely vibe with and who you might butt heads with, all based on these fundamental differences in character. 

It might not be a perfect system, of course, but it does offer a needed counterweight to the "picture first" approach of more superficial dating sites. If you're in your 40s and eager for connection, it's nice to see, at a glance, who is likely to appreciate your communication style or life goals.

A commitment to dating transparency

One glaring truth about most online dating sites is that they lack transparency. It keep its matchmaking algorithms hidden, for example, or they remain tight-lipped about its user demographics or success rates. Well, eharmony takes the opposite approach, and it's refreshing. 

Head to its Data and Research section, for example, and you'll see it regularly releases reports about both online dating in general, always sourced from top-notch independent researchers like Pew, or about its own users in particular. Recent reports include subjects like "masculinity's impact on dating dynamics" or the topics Gen Z and millennial daters are most likely to lie about in their dating profiles. 

These reports aren't just fun facts or curiosities you might be interested in; they're valuable insights into modern dating dynamics, and a helpful tool for those eager to improve their dating game. 

eharmony drawbacksPaid membership required

One obvious drawback to eharmony is that, unlike Tinder or Hinge, for example, a paid membership is all but mandatory to actually use the website. With a free account, you can fill out your profile and take the eharmony personality quiz, but you can't view other daters' photos or send them substantive messages, so you're really required to pull out your credit card. 

Membership costs vary by location, but if you're in the United States, expect to pay between $20 and $65 per month, depending on your subscription tier and duration. On the plus side, eharmony also regularly runs promotional sales events, often up to 40 percent off its usual price, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a good deal. 

Inactive accounts

This could be construed as both a pro and a con, since it indicates a lot of eharmony users actually end up pairing off with someone, but the fact nonetheless remains that a lot of its registered accounts are inactive. 

While its own on-site statistics show close to 45 million registered accounts, there are only about 10 million active users at any given moment, and those tend to be concentrated in large urban areas. Worse still, because it locks its geo-search functions to paid members, you won't be able to know, in advance, if there are a lot of active eharmony users in your area, which definitely won't be an issue if you happen to live near a large metropolitan area, but could be a serious problem if you live somewhere a bit more rural. 

Best eharmony alternatives for daters over 40Facebook Dating

If you don't like the idea of paying for a dating site but still want the benefits of a massive dating pool, consider giving Facebook Dating a try. It boasts more than 20 million daily active users, and has become particularly popular with older Millennials suffering from dating app burnout.

Because it's separate from your regular Facebook account, Facebook Dating offers a discreet way to survey your local single scene, and if you're active on Facebook, you can even opt to find people who share your interests or with whom you have Facebook Groups in common.

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says. Hinge

If you can't bear to part with the app-based dating experience but still want a more mature, substantive option, Hinge is still a great choice. Its approach to matchmaking, through prompt responses, is similar to eharmony's personality-first ethos. Its newest feature, Signals, seeks to highlight users who have exhibited thoughtful dating behavior. , This will likely help to discourage the low-effort, ghosting culture that so many over-40 daters are running away from. 

House of the Dragon Season 3 is here, and you know what that means: It's time to take a climb into the very tangled branches of the Targaryen family tree.

Over the first two seasons of House of the Dragon, some of these branches have been pruned. (RIP to the many Targs who've perished in this bloody show.) However, Season 2 also added its fair share of new offshoots, further complicating the knotted web between Houses Targaryen, Velaryon, and Hightower. If you're looking for a refresher on that web as you head into Season 3, we've got you covered.

Below, you'll find the Targaryen family tree as it stands heading into House of the Dragon Season 3, as well as a rundown of the characters and how they connect.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Which Targaryens have died since Season 2?

There were two key deaths in the Targaryen family in Season 2: one on the Greens' side and one on the Blacks'.

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) camp lost Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best), also known as the Queen Who Never Was. Meanwhile, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Queen Helaena (Phia Saban) lost their young son Jaehaerys when gold cloak Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and rat catcher Cheese (Mark Stobbart) assassinated him on Prince Daemon's (Matt Smith) orders.

There are still plenty of Targaryens left standing, though. Here's who to watch out for in Season 3.

The Targaryen family tree: Rhaenyra, Daemon, and their children Matt Smith, Phoebe Campbell, Emma D'Arcy, Harry Collett, and Bethany Antonia in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: HBO

Rhaenyra heads up the Team Black branch of the Targaryen family tree, with her husband/uncle Daemon by her side. (It was touch and go for a minute in Season 2, but after a life-changing study abroad trip to Harrenhal, complete with witches and visions, Daemon is finally ready to accept Rhaenyra as his queen.)

Their two young sons, Aegon and Viserys, are on their way to Pentos for protection after a brief pit stop in the Vale. However, Rhaenyra and Daemon's children from their prior marriages are still in Westeros and locked in on Rhaenyra's fight for the throne.

Rhaenyra's son Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and Daemon's daughter Baela (Bethany Antonia) are both dragonriders. Daemon's other daughter, Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell), doesn't have a dragon, which is why she was sent off as Aegon and Viserys' guardian. However, when they went to Pentos, she remained behind in the Vale, hoping to tame its wild dragon Sheepstealer. Could Rhaenyra be welcoming a new dragonrider to her side soon?

The Targaryen family tree: Alicent Hightower and her children Tom Glynn-Carney, Olivia Cooke, Phia Saban, and Ewan Mitchell in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: HBO

Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) remains the matriarch of Team Green, although she's growing increasingly regretful about her role in the war for succession. (So regretful, in fact, that she's offered to surrender the Iron Throne to Rhaenyra.) She had four children with the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine).

The eldest, Aegon, remains King of Westeros. His younger brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) attempted to kill him in a dragon dogfight at the Battle of Rook's Rest, and once Aegon recovered from his worst injuries, he fled King's Landing with the help of Larys Strong (Matthew Needham). Now Aemond is Prince Regent, and Alicent is trying her best to get herself and her daughter Helaena out of harm's way.

Alicent's youngest son Daeron has yet to appear in House of the Dragon, as he's been a ward of House Hightower in Oldtown for the past few years. However, Season 2 offered up a glimpse of his dragon Tessarion wheeling over the Hightower army, so expect him to enter the fray soon.

The Hightower family tree: Otto, Gwayne, and Ormund James Norton, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, and Freddie Fox in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: HBO

In addition to Alicent, the rest of House Hightower continues to be a major player in House of the Dragon. Her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), former hand of the King, has wound up in a jail cell — although we don't yet know where or why. Elsewhere, Alicent's brother Gwayne (Freddie Fox) has been traipsing around the Seven Kingdoms with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), a nightmare we wouldn't wish on even our worst enemies.

House of the Dragon Season 3 also introduces a new member of the Hightower family: Lord Ormund (James Norton), head of House Hightower. His late father Hobert (Steffan Rhodri) was Otto's oldest brother, making Ormund Alicent and Gwayne's cousin. Daeron is his ward.

The Velaryon family tree: Corlys and his sons Alyn and Addam Steve Toussaint, Abubakar Salim, and Clinton Liberty in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: HBO

Rhaenyra's Hand is Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), also known as the Sea Snake due to his naval prowess. Over the course of House of the Dragon, he's lost his wife Rhaenys, as well as their children Laena (Nanna Blondell) and Laenor (John Macmillan).

However, Season 2 revealed that Laena and Laenor weren't Corlys' only descendants. He also has two bastard sons, Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) and Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty). Their mother Marilda, unseen in the show, was a shipwright.

While Corlys didn't truly acknowledge Alyn and Addam prior to Season 2, the pair are now a much more prominent part of his life — and the show. Alyn is a notable sailor in Corlys' fleet, and Addam became a dragonrider. Thanks to his Valyrian blood, he now rides Seasmoke, Laenor's old dragon.

The dragonseeds: Addam, Ulf the White, and Hugh Hammer Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, and Clinton Liberty in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: HBO

Addam isn't the only new dragonrider to join Rhaenyra's ranks in Season 2. Smallfolk Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) also claimed dragons. Ulf rides Silverwing, the dragon of Rhaenyra's grandmother Alysanne, while Hugh rides Vermithor, the dragon of Rhaenyra's grandfather Jaehaerys. The pair, like Addam, are bastards of Valyrian blood, earning them the nickname of "dragonseeds." While they haven't been legitimized as Targaryens, they will certainly have a large role to play in the battles to come.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is down to just $12.97, giving users an easy OS upgrade with advanced security, productivity tools, gaming features, and Copilot AI.

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

Some upgrades just feel right. This is one of them.

If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $12.97 (reg. $199) — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.

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This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.

Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.

For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.

And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.

But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $12.97 (reg. $199).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Let's face it: Season 2 of House of the Dragon promised fire and blood, but its baffling finale felt more like a puff of smoke.

The season fizzled to an ending with zero catharsis, forced Game of Thrones references, and a highlight reel of what was to come. In some ways, that structure mirrored the season's core conflict. For all of Season 2, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) tried everything they could to prevent all-out war. But while their stalling to prevent the inevitable was rooted deeply in the story, the show's own reluctance to leap into the next phase of George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood felt more like it was spinning its wheels until Season 3.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 teaser is one Targaryen battle after another

Now, the third season of House of the Dragon is finally here, and its first four episodes manage to make up for Season 2's finale and then some, delivering jaw-dropping spectacle and somber truths about the cost of war.

House of the Dragon's Battle of the Gullet is spectacular. Steve Toussaint in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Remember how barely an episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 went by without a mention of Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) naval blockade in the Gullet? We finally get the payoff for that blockade at the top of Season 3, as the Triarchy's fleet bears down on the Sea Snake's forces. The ensuing clash, known as the Battle of the Gullet, is one of the defining fights of the Dance of the Dragons — the royal succession civil war between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Given that so much of Season 2 was building to this point — hence the fan frustration that it wasn't included — the pressure on House of the Dragon to pull off this battle is immense. Thankfully, the series more than delivers, with a sequence that had me yelling and pacing around my living room while also thinking, "We're so back."

SEE ALSO: Watch 'House of the Dragon' stars recap Season 2

A dazzling set piece involving ships, human soldiers, and multiple dragons, the Battle of the Gullet sets a new bar for Westerosi action. Every element is honed for maximum impact, from long takes of sailors boarding enemy ships to sweeping shots of dragons dive bombing the fleet. The battle, directed by Loni Peristere, wrings epic terror and awe from those big moments, but it also strikes gold in quieter moments, like a suspenseful boat chase that quickly becomes a stealth highlight of the episode.

Oh, and did I mention that this all takes place during the day, so you can make out every ounce of action taking place onscreen? For a franchise whose biggest battles have often been marred by darkness (looking at you, Battle of Winterfell), the Battle of the Gullet is a welcome adjustment. And, based on the first four episodes sent to critics for review, it's only the beginning for House of the Dragon Season 3's big action sequences.

House of the Dragon Season 3 pushes Rhaenyra to the brink. Emma D'Arcy in "House of the Dragon." Credit: HBO

The Battle of the Gullet isn't just an emphatic statement to open Season 3. It's also a major turning point for the Dance of the Dragons, and for Rhaenyra in particular. All throughout House of the Dragon, she has balked at violence, worried at the havoc dragon warfare would wreak on the wider realm. By Season 3, though, Rhaenyra has lost so much to this conflict that she needs to do whatever she can to see it through. Only by taking the Iron Throne can she justify the pain she's experienced. That means making impossible choices and committing to violence she once would have shunned, sometimes carrying it out with her own hands. As she does, House of the Dragon asks, even after all this, will victory be worth it?

It's a haunting question, one that House of the Dragon teases out with tinges of psychological horror in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet. D'Arcy has always been magnificent as Rhaenyra, but here, they reach new heights with their raw portrayal of the queen's grief and rage. Their trembling hands and wracking sobs were just as wrenching as some of the Battle of the Gullet's most devastating moments, proving that House of the Dragon can match its biggest set pieces with pure human drama.

While the first half of House of the Dragon Season 3 manages to atone for Season 2's ending, it still commits its share of familiar sins. Threats of sexual violence towards women abound unnecessarily in these episodes, a trend that harkens back to Game of Thrones' worst moments. (Although thankfully nothing here is nearly as graphic.) Elsewhere, several plot threads feel stagnant, with once major players like Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) getting so little to do they may as well be set dressing. Their decreased roles may wind up paying off down the road, though, just like the many, many changes the show makes from Fire and Blood. While the latter reportedly strained the relationship between Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal, these changes do muddy the Targaryens' already very complicated relationships in intriguing ways, to the point that I'm more fascinated at how the writers came to these new arcs than mad at not getting a precise adaptation.

Despite the occasional low point and my misgivings following Season 2, House of the Dragon Season 3 flies high. Instead of spinning its wheels, it roars into the Targaryens' bloody future with action and creeping dread to spare, and that assurance and forward momentum turns out to be exactly what the show needs.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

Another Amazon sale is upon us. ICYMI: the annual Prime Day event returns in a new time slot for 2026, running from June 23 through 26.

With deals dropping constantly throughout the event, shopping can get pretty overwhelming. We know all too well that it's easy to get caught up in the sales, indulge in some impulse purchasing, and experience a little buyer's remorse. No judgment.

As with every major Amazon sale, deals started popping off ahead of the official event kickoff, and there are lots more to come. If you run into some questions or concerns during your shopping journey — from classic cases of buyer's remorse to damaged packages to Prime membership questions — just know that you can always reach out to customer service.

SEE ALSO: How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership

Since contacting Amazon can be tricky at times, here are all the ways you can get in touch with customer service for a smoother online shopping experience before, during, and after Prime Day. And yes, you can actually talk to a real person.

Amazon customer service help page

This is probably the most common and easiest way to look for answers to common queries, such as those about Amazon’s return policies or information about international shipping. The page contains a whole library of questions that users can get answers to, including how to track packages, cancel orders, or start a return. Your most recent purchases will pop up at the top of the page for easy navigation.

To access Amazon’s Customer Service Help Page, go to the website landing page and click on "Customer Service" in the top left of the screen. 

Amazon customer service email

Sometimes customer queries need to be worked through on a case-by-case basis, and the answers on the official website need to be more specific to offer any help to shoppers. In these cases, users can email cs-reply@amazon.com and explain their issues. Remember that contacting Amazon’s customer service via email might not be the best solution if you have an urgent question regarding your purchases, since customers are unlikely to get a prompt response.

Amazon customer service phone number

Need a quicker reply? Call Amazon at 1-888-280-4331. When customers call this number, a bot picks up the phone and eventually connects them to Amazon staff, depending on the type of query that needs to be answered. It’s important to note that customers should have a cell phone number connected to their Amazon account. Customers must enter verification codes that will be messaged to their linked contact information before using this service. In other words, things can get a bit tricky if you're sharing an account with someone else.

Amazon online chat service

Real-time chatting with Amazon representatives is the most convenient way to get all your questions answered. To use the live chat feature, return to the Customer Service help page and click on "Help with something else." When the list pops up underneath, choose "something else" once again. Another page opens with a list of more help options. Select "I need help with something else."

Now you've officially entered the chat. Type "Talk to associate" in the chat box. Amazon's messaging assistant might prompt you to give more info on your issue, which you can, but if you'd rather get to a real person ASAP, you can select "I need more help" from the pre-written responses.

From there, you can choose if you’d prefer to talk via chat or call. If you're looking for immediate help with a Prime Day purchase — be it due to buyer's remorse, a damaged package, an address change, etc. — this is your best bet to get your needs met.

For simple questions, Amazon's AI chat feature (launched in 2024) called "Rufus" can help customers solve some problems and make more informed purchase decisions.

Contact Amazon via social media

If your questions aren’t that urgent, you can contact Amazon Customer Service at @amazonhelp on X, @amazon on Instagram, and www.facebook.com/Amazon on Facebook.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you a binge watcher.

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 June 21, 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: Weather patterns

• Green: Shocks

• Blue: Hit shows

• Purple: Offenses

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Precipitation

• Green: Bowls over

• Blue: NBC sitcoms

• Purple: Starting with kinds of insults

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 #1106 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Precipitation: DRIZZLE, RAIN, SHOWERS, SPRINKLES

• Bowls over: FLOORS, ROCKS, STUNS, SURPRISES

• NBC sitcoms: COMMUNITY, FRIENDS, SCRUBS, WINGS

• Starting with kinds of insults: BARBADOS, DIGGITY, DISSECT, SLAPDASH

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 June 21, 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 a traveler.

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 June 21, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That's included!

The words are related to vacations.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe vacation lodging.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Hotel Amenities.

NYT Strands word list for June 21

• Safe

• Internet

• Laundry

• Breakfast

• Hotel Amenities

• Fridge

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 true crime fan.

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 June 21, 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 June 21, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An excuse.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

ALIBI

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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 21, 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 June 21, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 21 Pips

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 21 Pips

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 21 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 1.0 The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, June 21, 2026:

Across"Black" or "Yellow" dog, familiarly

• The answer is Lab.

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No-no for the lactose intolerant

• The answer is Dairy.

On the ocean

• The answer is At sea.

Subway commuter's annoyance

• The answer is Delay.

Like the logos of Marvel and Netflix

• The answer is Red

Down"See ya!"

• The answer is Later.

Pathway for an airplane beverage cart

• The answer is Aisle.

No-no for the gluten-free

• The answer is Bread.

Apt palindrome for Father's Day

• The answer is Dad.

Apt palindrome for Father's Day

• The answer is Yay.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know golf history.

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.

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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.

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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: 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: Top athletes

• Green: Football terms of affection

• Blue: Geographically specific

• Purple: Classic sports words

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A team's best players

• Green: Informal nicknames for NFL teams

• Blue: Brazilian soccer greats

• Purple: Old terms for golf clubs

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 #636 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A team's best players: A-TEAM, FIRST STRING, REGULARS, STARTERS

• Informal nicknames for NFL teams: BOLTS, G-MEN, PACK, VIKES

• Brazilian soccer greats: KAKÁ, MARTA, PELÉ, RONALDINHO

• Old terms for golf clubs: BRASSIE, CLEEK, MASHIE, NIBLICK

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.

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.

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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

Satire.

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

IRONY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Nemesis.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RIVAL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Type of snake.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COBRA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Banishment.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

EXILE

Final Hurdle hint

Particular.

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

PICKY

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 now the First Quarter, which means the Moon is half full, and there's plenty surface area illuminated to spot features.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, June 21, the Moon phase is First Quarter. Tonight, 54% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

With just your naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Mares Fecunditatis, Serenitatis and Crisium. With binoculars, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope, this will help you see all this plus the Linne Crater, the Descartes Highlands, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it travels around Earth. As a result, we see the Moon appear in different shapes over the course of a month, from slender crescents and half moons to a bright Full Moon. This repeating sequence of phases is known as the lunar cycle.

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.

Excel is packed with productivity features, but some of its most useful tools are hidden or disabled by default. Whether you want faster data entry, better dashboards, or more powerful analysis tools, enabling a few overlooked settings can transform the way you work.

One of the biggest selling points of Google Pixel phones has always been the software. Google's approach has always been refreshingly simple: clean visuals, a handful of genuinely useful features, and very little unnecessary clutter.

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I've had a knack for repurposing Android phones for most of my life. But I never considered doing the same for old, junk computer hardware, at least until I started self-hosting and building a tiny homelab last year. Ever since I fell down this rabbit hole, my perspective on old tech in general has shifted completely. Where the old me saw "e-waste," I now see gold.

Netflix's recommendation algorithm has evolved and can be good at predicting what you'll want to watch next. The problem is that it often ends up showing the same titles, making it harder to actually discover what aligns with your unique tastes.