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The best deals in Jackery's Labor Day sale: Best entry-level home backup Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 $1,649 (save $190) Get Deal Best for all-around home backup Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 500 X $2,459 (save $270) Get Deal Best for heavy-duty appliances Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus $3,149 (save $350) Get Deal

Power outages have a nasty habit of showing up when you least want them to — during a storm, in the middle of the night, or right when you’re working from home. If a home backup battery has been sitting on your “I should probably get one” list, Jackery’s Labor Day sale is a good excuse to finally invest.

Jackery is offering up to 50% off its home backup lineup through Sept. 8, with deals starting at $1,659 for the HomePower 2000 Plus V2. There are also bigger systems like the best-selling HomePower 3600 Plus and Solar Generator 5000 Plus, depending on how much of your home you want to keep running during an outage.

Best entry-level home backup Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 $1,659 at Jackery
$1,849 Save $190   Get Deal Why we like it

If you've been putting off buying a backup battery because the whole category feels overwhelming, this is your sign to stop waiting. The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is plug-and-play, and starts at a 2,048Wh capacity but scales up to 12kWh — you can stack on more batteries later without an electrician or a rewiring project.

The 2,400W rated output (4,800W peak surge) is enough to run a fridge for 48 hours or an AC unit for 2.5 hours on its own, and Priority Routing automatically funnels whatever charge is left to your most essential devices as the battery drains. At 34% lighter than the previous generation, it's also just easier to live with day to day, not something you dread hauling out of the garage.

More HomePower 2000 Plus v2 deals

• Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2 — $899 $999 (save $100)

• HomePower 2000 Plus v2 + 500W — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

• HomePower 2000 Plus v2 + Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2 x2 + 500W — $3,919 $4,359 (save $440)

Best for all-around home backup Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 500 X $2,459 at Jackery
$2,729 Save $270   Get Deal Why we like it

There's a reason the HomePower 3600 Plus is Jackery's top seller, and it's not just hype: 3,600W of output and a 3,584Wh capacity (expandable up to 21kWh) means it can carry your fridge, WiFi, and home office through a multi-day outage — anywhere from 15 hours to 9 days, depending on your setup. Connect two units together to run 240V appliances like a well pump or a dryer.

It's quiet enough (about 30 decibels) to run right next to you overnight without disturbing your sleep, and built-in wheels and a pull handle mean you can roll it wherever it's needed instead of wrestling it into place.

More HomePower 3600 Plus deals

• HomePower 3600 Plus (solar panel not included) — $1,709 $1,899 (save $190)

• HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 200W x 2 — $2,289 $2,549 (save $260)

• HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 200W x 2 + Manual Transfer Switch — $2,649 $2,949 (save $300)

• HomePower 3600 Plus (7.2kWh) + SolarSaga 500 X — $3,499 $4,139 (save $640)

• HomePower 3600 Plus Double Kit — $3,579 $3,979 (save $400)

Best for heavy-duty appliances Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus $3,149 at Jackery
$3,499 Save $350   Get Deal Why we like it

The 5000 Plus is for people who don't want to be the one flipping switches when the power goes out. Paired with the Jackery 60A Smart Transfer Switch, it can automatically power up to 12 circuits at 120V or 6 at 240V the moment the grid drops.

With 7,200W of rated output and surge power up to 14,400W, it's one of the few home batteries that can take on heavy hitters like a well pump, a water heater, or a 5-ton AC unit without blinking. The 5,040Wh capacity expands up to a massive 60kWh, giving you up to 13 days of backup instead of just an overnight buffer, and it recharges from both high- and low-voltage solar panels in about 2 hours with up to 4,000W of input.

More Solar Generator 5000 Plus deals

• Explorer 5000 Plus + SolarSaga 500 X x 2 — $4,639 $5,159 (save $520)

• Explorer 5000 Plus + SolarSaga 500 X x 2 + Smart Transfer Switch — $5,479 $6,089 (save $610)

• Explorer 5000 Plus (10kWh) + SolarSaga 500 X x 2 + Smart Transfer Switch — $7,909 $8,789 (save $880)

• Home Backup Kit 5000 Plus (20kWh) — $12,139 $13,489 (save $1,350)

Scientists running an underground detector in South Dakota say they have seen a mysterious tiny burst of energy that does not look like normal background noise.

The experiment, called LUX‑ZEPLIN, recorded a signal that stood out as a potential dark matter particle striking an atom in a tank, which is filled with ultra‑pure liquid xenon. Months of checking have not turned up another cause.

Scientists say this single event is their best hint of dark matter so far, but it's still just a maybe. Their math suggests a one‑in‑200 chance that known sources of interference could have produced it, so they can't call it a discovery. 

"We are not claiming to have seen dark matter," said Rick Gaitskell, a professor at Brown University and the spokesperson for the experiment. "But we have seen something interesting that we want to share with the scientific community for their input.”

Here's what you need to know about this intriguing scientific result.

SEE ALSO: Roman telescope's data deluge will change who gets to do big astronomy What is dark matter?

Dark matter is invisible stuff in space that has weight. It does not shine, glow, or block light, so telescopes can't see it directly. Scientists know it's there because of how it pulls on things. Stars in galaxies move as if much more mass surrounds them. Galaxy clusters bend light in ways that also show extra mass. All of this tells scientists that some other kind of material fills space. They call it dark matter, but they still don't know what kind of particle it is.

What is the LUX‑ZEPLIN detector?

The detector, LZ for short, is a large, quiet particle instrument buried a mile underground. Thick rock above the lab blocks most of the cosmic rays that hit Earth from space. Over 11 tons of liquid xenon sit in a sealed tank because it is a heavy, clear liquid when it is very cold. When a particle hits a xenon atom, it can give off a tiny flash of light and release a few electrons. Instruments around the tank record those signals and let scientists figure out where the hit happened and how strong it was.

The LUX-ZEPLIN detector sits almost a mile below ground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Credit: Matthew Kapust / Sanford Underground Research Facility What exactly did scientists observe?

When the team went through 220 days of data collected between March 2023 and April 2024, they found one event in a key energy range that did not blend in with the rest. Something in the xenon left a small, sharp signal with the size and shape they expect from a dark matter hit. When they compared it with signals from known sources, such as trace radioactivity or stray particles from outside the tank, those explanations didn't fit as well. 

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What kind of dark matter are they looking for?

LZ mainly looks for a type of particle called a WIMP: a weakly interacting massive particle. A WIMP would be heavy compared to many known particles, and it would almost never touch normal matter. One could pass through a wall, a planet, or a human body without a trace. If WIMPs make up dark matter, then once in a great while one might bump into a xenon atom in the tank. That bump would create the kind of clear, tiny signal the detector is built to see.

How strong is the evidence?

The evidence isn't very strong. The team estimates there is about a 0.5 percent chance that normal noise in the detector could have created this event by accident. That chance is low, but in particle physics, it is nowhere near low enough to be considered irrefutable. For that, scientists like to see many more events that follow the same pattern and make the odds of a fluke drop to almost zilch. So this result isn't yet proof that they have found dark matter.

Why does one event matter at all?

If dark matter particles almost never hit normal matter, then even a few real hits over many years would be a big deal. Members of the research team say this is the first time they have seen a clear outlier that still looks valid after tests. That makes this single event stand out.

What would it mean if this signal were confirmed?

If dark matter caused this hit, then the particle would likely be quite heavy — over 200 times the mass of a proton — which is one of the particles in the center of atoms. That would narrow the range of possible masses for dark matter. It would also hint that dark matter interacts with normal matter in a more complex way. 

Scientists estimate that visible matter makes up only 5 percent of the universe. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center infographic What happens next?

The team will keep collecting more data over the next few years. They may see more events that look like this one, in the same part of the detector's data. If that happens, the case for dark matter will grow stronger. Or this signal may remain anomalous. In that case, scientists may lean toward an explanation that it came from some very rare background effect.

What does this mean for the rest of us?

For everyday life, nothing changes. But for our picture of the universe, this kind of result is important. Dark matter shapes how galaxies form and move. Finding out what dark matter is made of and how it behaves would answer one of the greatest mysteries of our time. 

Catfishing used to mean pretending to be someone else online, usually to pursue a romantic relationship with someone who might eventually spend several episodes of an MTV show waiting in a suspiciously empty parking lot. But the newest breed of catfish does not need to steal another person's face.

Welcome to what I call "credential catfishing," the increasingly visible practice of fabricating the education, career, wealth, and status that signal authority online. Instead of borrowing someone else's face, the credential catfish turns their own life into fiction, building the story one post at a time. And Angel Victoria Murdock may be its most viral recent example.

Angel Murdock poses beside a Duke Physician Assistant Program sign in an image posted to her (now deactivated) Instagram Story. Credit: Screenshot from Reddit: r/InfluencerLounge

The influencer and former Temptation Island participant spent nearly two years sharing what she portrayed as her journey through Duke University's Physician Assistant Program on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Followers saw her in scrubs, studying medical notes, displaying what appeared to be Duke Health identification, and filming "get ready with me" videos for supposed rotations in psychiatry, obstetrics, and gynecology. She also offered advice to aspiring physician assistants and spoke about the long hours and sacrifices of PA training.

Outside of her medical content, Murdock promoted fashion and beauty products, appeared in a Missy Empire clothing haul, and participated in TikTok Shop's affiliate program, which allows creators to earn commissions from sales.

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After "graduating," she posed in a cap and gown outside Duke Chapel, reportedly captioning her Instagram: "Today, I get to look back and realize that every late night, every sacrifice, every setback and every prayer was leading me right here."

There was just one problem: She had never attended the program. At all.

Murdock’s story began to unravel on Aug. 20, when a recent Duke PA graduate wrote in the subreddit r/InfluencerLounge that a classmate had discovered Murdock's videos the previous year and congratulated her on attending the same program. Within five minutes, the post said, Murdock blocked the classmate.

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Members of Duke's 2026 PA class then began comparing notes. None recalled seeing Murdock in class, on campus, or at program events. Plus, in the graduation image, her academic hood was the wrong color, she was missing from the official class photo, and her name was never called during the program’s graduation ceremony, which remains available on YouTube.

Other elements of Murdock’s public identity also came under scrutiny. She described herself online as a licensed real-estate agent in North Carolina and Georgia, posting listings, house tours, and photos of purported clients. Yet neither state's licensing database listed her, and her named employer said she had never worked there. Murdock also claimed to have earned a double major in biology and psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, but — you guessed it — the university told the New York Post that she attended but did not graduate. (Murdock's main social-media accounts have since been deleted or made private.)

Murdock’s story may be ridiculously elaborate, but it points to a much bigger problem online: You can easily build an audience, earn people’s trust, and make money long before anyone stops to ask whether your background is legitimate in the first place.

Lying on social media can pay

Social media makes it remarkably easy for anyone to lie about who they are. Post the same claim often enough, with enough photos and convincing details, and it can begin to look like a documented life. And Murdock is hardly the first person to build an audience around an identity that was not real.

In Australia, Dalya Karezi attracted more than 200,000 TikTok followers as "dr.dalya.s," wearing scrubs and a stethoscope while discussing reproductive and sexual health in videos that received as many as 15 million views. But Karezi was not a doctor. In 2023, she pleaded guilty to two charges of falsely representing herself as qualified to practice medicine.

Outside of medicine, Jebara Igbara, better known as "Jay Mazini," presented himself to roughly 1 million followers as a wealthy cryptocurrency investor, posting videos of himself handing out cash to strangers and workers. Federal prosecutors later said those displays were part of a manufactured persona used to attract investors. Igbara pleaded guilty to fraud charges and was sentenced in 2024 to seven years in prison after using his Instagram presence as "proof of success" to persuade victims to send him money. There's a Hulu documentary all about it.

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Even this week, federal agents arrested the "Wide Deceiver," Daejon Labrayae Love, who prosecutors say used social media to pose as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and wealthy real-estate investor. Love allegedly photographed himself in 49ers gear, filmed workouts in a team helmet, and staged a contract-signing video while dripping in jewelry. He even appeared in a Google search listing him as a player, despite the NFL and the 49ers confirming they had never employed him.

Division II football player Uras Agee IV also allegedly posed as a Dallas Cowboys player for months and autographed footballs for Tampa's "Toys for Tots."

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According to the Justice Department, Love used the persona to find, well, love — and persuade women to place money in nonexistent investments. Prosecutors say Love and his alleged accomplice, Taylor Jamie Chan, received approximately $1.3 million from 26 identified victims. Both men have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

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There's actually a reason seeing the same story online over and over can make it feel so real. Psychologists call it the "illusory truth effect," a phenomenon in which repeated exposure to a claim increases its perceived accuracy, even when it conflicts with what we already know. Researchers believe that familiarity makes information easier for our brains to process, which can make it feel more trustworthy.

This doesn't mean you need to run a background check on everyone you follow. But if someone is giving medical advice, pitching investments, or using a supposed profession to earn your trust — and especially your money — it's worth checking. A huge following, a blue check, and years of convincing posts can make someone look legitimate. They don’t prove that the person is.

The good news is that many of these claims are easier to check than you might think. Medical and real-estate licenses are usually listed in state databases. Sports teams publish rosters, and many employers have staff directories. The key is to go straight to the organization that supposedly issued the license, awarded the degree, or hired the person, rather than to another social media post or an AI-generated Google result that may simply repeat the same claim.

Most people do not have the time (or the desire) to investigate everyone they follow. They should not have to. But when a creator's advice could affect your health, money, or future, it’s worth taking a moment to find out who is actually behind the content — and whether they're worth trusting.

Chad Powers has one of the most ridiculous concepts on TV right now: Disgraced college quarterback Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) dons prosthetics and a bad wig to become Chad Powers, unlikely walk-on star player for the South Georgia Catfish. Oh, and the whole thing is based off an Eli Manning prank video. (Eli and Peyton Manning are producers on the show.)

Naturally, the show still treats that crazy concept seriously. In Season 1, that seriousness manifested in Russ's internal struggles as he searched for redemption under an entirely different identity. That meant that when Powell was in Russ mode, the show operated more as a character drama. But when Powell donned the Chad makeup, the show functioned more as a zany comedy, complete with its fair share of cringe comedy and pratfalls.

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about

The result was silly fun. Even when Chad Powers' tone grew uneven, sometimes suffering from as much of an identity crisis as Russ, Powell's performance served as a strong unifier.

In Season 2, though, Chad Powers is taking every moment seriously. Yes, there are still jokes aplenty, and the Chad Powers prosthetics still manage to possess Powell like the Green Goblin mask (if the mask made you talk like a Southern chipmunk). But as Russ's lie begins to collapse around him and his co-conspirators, Chad Powers ups the ante and becomes a propulsive football thriller.

Chad Powers Season 2 is a killer thriller. Glen Powell and Perry Mattfeld in "Chad Powers." Credit: Disney

Chad Powers Season 2 establishes its more thriller-tinged vibe right from the jump, with a fast-paced episode taking place almost in real time throughout a stressful game. After taking some intense contact and losing his prosthetic nose, Russ flees his trainers and goes on a mad dash around the stadium in order to get his face back into shape. What follows is a slick manhunt full of more disguises (including an eerie plastic Chad mask) and close calls. It helps Russ and Danny (Frankie A. Rodriguez) that Coach Ricky (Perry Mattfeld) is now involved, albeit reluctantly.

However, as more people are roped into the Chad Powers scheme, the more dangerous it gets. Russ, Danny, and Ricky spend much of the season on the back foot, fending off probing questions about Chad's odd behavior and family. Suddenly, a show that, on paper, is just Mrs. Doubtfire with football becomes a seriously suspenseful affair. Even the silliest scenes, like a sequence where Russ tries to pass his real father (Toby Huss) off as Chad's, are claustrophobic. You can feel the walls closing in.

And as the walls close in, Chad Powers raises its stakes. Discovering Chad's true identity wouldn't just ruin his life all over again. It would ruin Danny's. It would destroy Ricky's promising career. The shock could even cause Coach Jake (Steve Zahn) to have another heart attack, something he's already risking by returning to coach the team. Faced with all these consequences, Russ has to examine whether this last shot at football glory is really worth it, before someone gets grievously hurt.

While Russ is scrambling to cover his tracks, he'll find an unlikely enemy in backup Catfish quarterback Gerry (Colton Ryan). A hopeful punching bag in Season 1, Gerry is a downright menace in Season 2. From stalking to blackmail, he emerges as a true threat, and Ryan delivers a chilling performance that's a far cry from Gerry's optimistic naiveté in Season 1. Several Gerry scenes yanked me to the edge of my seat this season, especially in its fantastic final two installments.

By leaning into thriller conventions, Chad Powers manages to carve its own niche in a TV landscape saturated with sports comedies. The laughs keep flowing and the ensemble gels better than ever, but it's the suspense that truly separates Chad Powers from the pack and gives it its, well, power.

Chad Powers Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu.

We're busy covering all the best deals that are dropping over Labor Day weekend. We've lined up the best Apple deals, the best mattress deals, the best Home Depot deals, and so much more. But what about the hungry? Won't someone think about food?

The good news for absolutely everyone is that many popular restaurant chains are launching limited-time deals over Labor Day weekend, meaning you can eat for free (or at a heavily discounted price). We've scoured the market for the best offers and lined up the best deals from the likes of Capital One Café, Firehouse Subs, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, and other popular spots.

These are our favorite Labor Day deals in 2026.

7-Eleven

7Rewards members can grab a hot sandwich with a 20-ounce Coca-Cola or Pepsi fountain soda for $6. You can also get any roller grill item, a bag of 7-Select chips, and a large Big Gulp for $3 through Labor Day weekend.

BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant

Grab the $13 Pizookie Meal Deal on Sept. 7, which includes a choice of one of eight select Brewhouse entrees alongside a signature Pizookie dessert.

Benihana

Education professionals dining through Sept. 7 can pick up one eligible five-course hibachi entree and get a second entree for free with a valid ID.

Capital One Café

Get a free handcrafted beverage on Sept. 7. Just register your mobile phone number online to load a digital pass directly into your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet (limit one pass per customer).

Cheesecake Factory

Score a $10 bonus eCard when you purchase $50 in digital gift cards online through Sept. 7. The bonus card is redeemable on future visits from Sept. 8-30.

Chipotle

Chipotle is running a "Sunday Reset" special over the holiday weekend. Families and groups can score a buy-two-get-one-free entree deal on Sept. 6, from 3 p.m. to closing, when ordering online or in the app with the code SUNDAYS.

Cracker Barrel

Dine in by Sept. 7 and order any adult entree plus a Kids Meal to score a free collectible B’loonie Petz toy.

Del Taco

Del Yeah! Rewards members ordering online or through the official app can get 20% off purchases of $10 or more all weekend long.

Eddie Merlot’s

Spend $75 or more on online orders from Sept. 4-7 and knock $25 off your bill by using promo code WEEKEND at checkout.

Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill

Inner Circle loyalty members can order a full rack of Baby Back Ribs served with fries and fresh fruit for $19.95 from Sept. 3-7.

Firehouse Subs

Buy any sub between Sept. 4-7 to unlock a second sub of your choice for just $1.

Hash Kitchen

Sweet breakfast classics are marked down to $7 each from Sept. 4-7. Guests who sign up for the Brunch Club over Labor Day weekend score a free specialty coffee or Loaded Water.

HTeaO

Score two gallons of iced tea for just $12 from Sept. 4-7.

Krispy Kreme

From Sept. 4-7, buy any dozen doughnuts or 16-count Minis at regular price and grab an additional dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for just $2 when using code BOGO2 online or in-store.

Kona Grill

Educators can celebrate early by showing a valid school ID while dining in through Sept. 7 to unlock BOGO entrees from a select menu (limit two deals per table).

Krystal

Pick up an Original Sackful for $12 or upgrade to a Cheese Sackful for $15 on Sept. 7.

Moxies

Drop in during Happy Hour (3-6 p.m. on Sept. 7) to snag $12 featured cocktails, $12 shareable appetizers, $9 select glasses of wine, and $6 local craft beers.

Polly’s Pies

Get a whole Banberry Pie for $14.99 through Labor Day.

Port of Subs

Free delivery on all online or mobile app orders placed between Sept. 4-7.

Raise the Roost

The 24-piece Nugget Party Pack is $25 from Sept. 3-7. The bundle comes loaded with 24 chicken nuggets, two large sides, four biscuits, dipping sauces, and cinnamon-sugar hand pies.

Sonny’s BBQ

Take $25 off catering orders over $200 through Sept. 7 when you enter promo code 25OFFCATER at checkout.

STK Steakhouse

Teachers and school staff receive BOGO entrees when showing a valid school ID through Sept. 7.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Apply coupon code WEEKEND at online checkout from Sept. 4-7 to take $25 off orders totaling $75 or more.

Teriyaki Madness

Rewards members earn double loyalty points along with a 20% discount on all orders placed between Sept. 5-7.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

15. Love Island USA Season 8 Reunion

Revisit the bombshells who took over your summer with the Love Island USA Season 8 reunion. Hosted by Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen, this reunion special will revisit the relationships and shocks of Season 8, all while stirring up a little extra drama that should hopefully tide viewers over until they return to the villa next summer. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Love Island USA Season 8 reunion is now streaming on Peacock.

14. Earle Meets World

Internet "it" girl Alix Earle has turned her digital stardom into brand deals, podcasts, and a second-place finish on Dancing With the Stars. Now, she moves deeper into the reality TV space with her own Netflix reality series, Earle Meets World, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at Earle's life and her family. The result is mind-numbing. — B.E.

How to watch: Earle Meets World premieres Sept. 4 on Netflix.

13. Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly

Two years ago, breakdancer Rachael "Raygun" Gunn took the Paris Olympics by storm — but not in a good way. Her kangaroo-inspired moves became an instant meme and scored zero points, turning her into an Olympic laughingstock. In Netflix's Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly, Gunn revisits her routine, the internet ridicule, and the controversy over how she wound up at the Olympics in the first place. — B.E.

How to watch: Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Scary Movie Credit: 2026 Paramount Pictures

Do you like Scary Movie? The hit parody franchise returned for its sixth installment this year, ready to lampoon all the biggest horror movies that came out between 2013's Scary Movie 5 and now. On top of skewering the "rebootquel" Scream films, Scary Movie also tackles everything from Sinners, M3GAN, Weapons, The Substance, and Ma. Fair warning, though: The scariest thing about Scary Movie may be its poor critical response, although it proved to be a commercial hit. — B.E.

Starring: Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Jon Abrahams, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Dave Sheridan, and Chris Elliott

How to watch: Scary Movie is now streaming on Paramount+.

11. The Varnell Hill Show

Did you miss him? Varnell Hill (Tommy Davidson), a fictional talk show host who appeared briefly in Season 2 of Martin, gets his own spin-off with The Varnell Hill Show. The series peers behind the curtain of Varnell's late-night talk show, which is currently in a ratings free fall. How can they update Varnell's tired show for today? Expect some showbiz shenanigans, as well as a stacked cast of guest stars that includes Martin Lawrence himself. — B.E.

Starring: Tommy Davidson, Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams

How to watch: The Varnell Hill Show is now streaming on Paramount+.

10. Parasomnia

If you don't want to have a good night's sleep, check out Parasomnia, from director James Ross II. The film introduces Riley (Jasmine Mathews), who is long-haunted by night terrors and a tragic past. When her best friend goes missing, she starts to think that the culprit could be the demon from her nightmares, crossing over into the real world. — B.E.

Starring: Jasmine Mathews, Stephen Barrington, and RJ Brown

How to watch: Parasomnia premieres Sept. 4 on Shudder.

9. Turning Point: Generation 9/11

The latest installment of Netflix's Turning Point documentary series explores the impacts of 2001's 9/11 attacks, 25 years later. Featuring interviews with young adults who were just kids at the time, including the daughter of the co-pilot of Flight 93, the film unpacks how 9/11 shaped the lives of an entire generation, and how the effects of the attacks and their aftermath still impact our daily lives, from personal loss to global geopolitics. — B.E.

How to watch: Turning Point: Generation 9/11 is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars film since The Rise of Skywalker, but it's less a triumphant return to the film screen than a nostalgia-fueled whimper. The film sees Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his ward Grogu on their biggest mission yet, one that gets them embroiled with Imperial warlords and villainous Hutts alike.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' review: If this is the future of Star Wars, I don't want it

Unfortunately, the ensuing adventure is a letdown that not even a stellar, Grogu-centric swamp sequence can save. As I wrote in my review, it's "a slog: an unwieldy adventure full of illegible action and the creeping sense of dread that we've seen this all before. Not even Din and Grogu's sweet bond can Force lift it to success."* — B.E.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Martin Scorsese, and Jonny Coyne

How to watch: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is now streaming on Disney+.

7. The Gentlemen Season 2

Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen — spun off from the 2019 film of the same name — returns for Season 2, with more action, crime, and well-tailored suits. This time around, Eddie Halstead (Theo James) is ready to embrace life in the criminal underworld, with the help of associates Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) and her father, Bobby (Ray Winstone). Their quest for power will take them farther afield to Italy, where they're in for lovely lakeside views and the company of formidable crime bosses. But have Eddie and Susie's ambitions grown too big for them, and could they be in over their heads? — B.E.

Starring: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Daniel Ings, Ray Winstone, Vinnie Jones, Joely Richardson, Michael Vu, Hugh Bonneville, Michele Morrone, and Benedetta Porcaroli

How to watch: The Gentlemen Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Mayday

Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh team up for Apple's unconventional spy thriller Mayday. Reynolds plays hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly, who finds himself stranded behind enemy lines in Soviet territory at the height of the Cold War. Branagh plays Nikolai Ustinov, the gruff ex-KGB agent who discovers him. The two develop an unexpected bond in this comedy from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. Honestly, they gave us Jarnathan, so I trust them with my life.* — B.E.

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Marcin Dorocinski, Maria Bakalova, and David Morse

How to watch: Mayday premieres Sept. 4 on Apple TV.

5. The Wrong Girls

Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat team up and get dirty in ridiculous stoner comedy The Wrong Girls, the directorial debut from Dylan Meyer. The pair play Frankie and Molly, two besties who mistakenly wind up with a suitcase full of drugs that give them full-on superpowers.

SEE ALSO: 'The Wrong Girls' director Dylan Meyer on giant squids, casting cats, and Kristen Stewart's secret side

So begins an odyssey of dirtbag debauchery only rarely afforded to female characters. As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "The Wrong Girls is a sublimely stupid buddy comedy. And thank the movie gods!" — B.E.

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Seth Rogen, Geena Davis, Tony Hale, Kumail Nanjiani, and LaKeith Stanfield

How to watch: The Wrong Girls is now available to buy or rent on digital.

4. I Want Your Sex

Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman heat up the screen in Gregg Araki's buzzy erotic comedy I Want Your Sex, now on digital. Hoffman plays Elliot, assistant to Wilde's famed artist Erika Tracy. When Erika initiates a BDSM relationship with Elliot, he'll reconsider everything he thought he knew about sex and his own relationships.

On top of bringing Erika and Elliot's kinky fantasies to life, I Want Your Sex also probes generational differences when it comes to sex, sparking conversations about whether Gen Z is actually repressed. The result is, as Mashable's Kristy Pucko wrote in her review, "an exuberantly entertaining comedy, alive with sexual vigor, earnest humanity, and biting humor." — B.E.

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, and Charli XCX

How to watch: I Want Your Sex is now available to buy or rent on digital.

3. SCTV

This scrappy Canadian sketch comedy show, which launched in 1976, introduced the world to the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis, and Martin Short. Second City Television brought together a improvisational comedy sensibility with deeply quirky Canadian flare. The result was a show that felt edgier and weirder than Saturday Night Live. And it's easy to argue its been just as influential.

Whether SCTV is new to you or this would be a revisit, now's the time to get on board. Netflix also has the documentary SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of coming this fall, while the sensational doc You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) will open in New York City on Sept. 18 and nationwide on Sept. 25. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Dave Thomas, Robin Duke, Rick Moranis, Tony Rosato, and Martin Short

How to watch: All six seasons of SCTV are now streaming on Netflix.

2. Chad Powers Season 2

Celebrate the start of the college football season with the return of Glen Powell's sports comedy, Chad Powers.

By the end of Season 1, much-loathed college football player Russ Holliday (Powell) managed to return to his quarterback glory days. Not as himself, but as his bumbling alter ego, Chad Powers. Now, though, his secret is getting dangerously close to slipping out, and he and confidant Danny (Frankie A. Rodriguez) are going to have to rope a very reluctant Ricky (Perry Mattfeld) into their scheme if they want any shot at preventing a massive scandal. What follows is as thrilling as it is funny. If you love football, you'll have a blast with the on-the-field shenanigans, and if you don't, there's still so much to love with Russ' theater kid-level dedication to the role of Chad.* — B.E.

Starring: Glen Powell, Perry Mattfeld, Quentin Plair, Wynn Everett, Frankie A. Rodriguez, and Steve Zahn

How to watch: Chad Powers Season 2 premieres Sept. 3 on Hulu.

Best of streaming this week: Teenage Wasteland

Audiences will finally be exposed to a Sundance doc that I can't shake. Teenage Wasteland, which premiered at Sundance in 2025, ushers viewers back to the early 1990s, when a high school teacher taught his class a series of valuable lessons through one video project.

In upstate New York’s Middletown High School, Fred Isseks used newly acquired audiovisual recording equipment to challenge his students to become investigative reporters. He taught them how to shoot, produce, and edit. When they decided to turn their focus to the rumor that a local landfill was dumping toxic waste into the water supply, he encouraged them, even when things got complicated — like, mafia pressuring them off the story complicated.

Documentarians Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss interview these former students and Isseks, asking them to look back and share what they learned, not just about their town, but also about the world and the power of coming together. — K.P.

How to watch: Teenage Wasteland premieres Sept. 4 on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

TL;DR: This Grade-A refurbished HP EliteBook combines an 11th-gen Core i7, 32GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro for $389.99 (reg. $549.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Elitebook 830 G8 2020 (Refurbished) $389.99
$549.99 Save $160   Get Deal

The HP EliteBook 830 G8 is the kind of laptop designed for actual workloads, not just looking productive on a coffee-shop table. This configuration pairs an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of DDR4 RAM, giving it enough muscle for demanding business applications, heavy multitasking, virtual meetings, and everyday productivity.

Its 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD supports quick startups and responsive app launches. Intel Iris Xe graphics handle business computing, video conferencing, and creative projects, and Windows 11 Pro is preinstalled.

The 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen folds through 360 degrees, making the EliteBook flexible enough for traditional work, presentations, or entertainment. Despite its convertible CNC-machined aluminum design, it weighs just 2.8 pounds. Battery life reaches up to 16.5 hours, and HP Fast Charge can restore up to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.

Connectivity is ready for a modern desk setup. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.0, and USB-A support monitors, docks, and peripherals, while WiFi 6 and Bluetooth handle wireless connections.

HP Wolf Security features include HP Sure Start, Sure Sense, Sure Click, and TPM 2.0, with fingerprint authentication listed as optional. Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, AI-powered noise reduction, and a multi-microphone array help make calls clearer.

This refurbished EliteBook carries a Grade-A rating and arrives in near-mint condition with minimal to no case scuffing. Don’t miss this HP EliteBook 830 G8 on sale for just $389.99 (reg. $549.99) while stock is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $42.97 once for lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams Basic, and OneNote on one Mac.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $42.97
$219 Save $176.03   Get Deal

Subscriptions have their place, but productivity software doesn’t really need to be one of them — especially when it’s something as familiar and widely used as Microsoft Office. Somewhere along the way, there must have been a glitch in the matrix, because buying software quietly turned into renting it forever.

Thankfully, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 skips that model entirely. Its lifetime license is currently on sale for $42.97 (reg. $219), whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows PC.

There’s no need to explain why an Office license still matters. Most people have been using Microsoft Office long before cloud apps and browser-based alternatives became the norm. With this deal, you can install the full Office suite on a single device for lifetime use — at home or at work — without worrying about monthly renewals, annual price hikes, or surprise charges down the line.

This license includes all the core apps most people actually rely on: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That means drafting documents, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing email, and organizing notes using the full desktop versions of each app. Unlike free alternatives or web-based tools, you get access to the complete feature sets, which makes a difference when you’re working on longer documents, detailed spreadsheets, or presentation-heavy projects.

Once you purchase, your license key and download links are delivered instantly, so there’s no waiting around to get started. Microsoft also includes lifetime customer support, which can be helpful if you ever need assistance with installation or troubleshooting.

Instead of committing to yet another recurring subscription, this one-time purchase lets you snag software you’ll likely keep using for years. You can grab Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for $$42.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best Labor Day TV deals at a glance: Best QLED TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 (save $1,102) Get Deal Best RGB TV deal Samsung 65-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV $1,499.99 (save $600) Get Deal Best OLED TV deal LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,499.99 (save $1,200) Get Deal

Labor Day isn't just the unofficial kick off of fall and football season, it's also a great time to score tech at cheaper prices. TV deals are particularly impressive this week, with some of our favorite models of 2026 down to record lows. If you've been putting off upgrading your TV, now's a great time to take the leap.

More deals will likely pop up leading into the weekend, but with some of these models at their best prices ever, there's really no need to wait. I've rounded up the best Labor Day TV deals worth adding to your cart below.

Best QLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,102.00   Get Deal Why we like it

TCL's QM8L SQD-Mini-LED TV is our favorite QLED TV for most people. Mashable's TV expert shouts out its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling" in her review. She also dubs it one of the brightest TVs you can buy, period, which is largely due to its "super quantum dot mini LEDs" (the SQD in its name). It clocks in at $2,499.99 for the 65-inch model on a normal day, but for Labor Day, it's down to a best-ever $1,397.99 at Amazon. That's 44% in savings.

Best OLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $1,200.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The LG C6 is what we'd call the "best affordable OLED TV," compared to competitors' prices, and the best OLED TV for most people. With a $1,200 discount, the 65-inch model is the same price as the 55-inch option on a normal day. It also happens to be its best price on record. The C6 features inky black levels, stark contrast, improved audio, peak brightness, and refresh rate over its predecessor, and a generally impeccable picture quality.

Best RGB TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV $1,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,099.99 Save $600.00   Get Deal Why we like it

RGB TVs were easily the biggest TV trend at CES 2026 and Samsung's R95H is easily the best RGB TV of the year. However, it's pretty dang expensive, even on sale ($2,799 for the 65-inch option). On the other hand, its more affordable sibling, the R85H, is down to a much more palatable $1,499.99 for the 65-inch version. Like the R95H, it uses individual red, green, and blue LEDs to deliver better color accuracy than non-RGB TVs. It's almost too vivid. If you're curious about RGB TVs, it's a solid entry-level option that won't require emptying your wallet.

More Labor Day TV deals50 to 55-inch TV deals

• Insignia 50-inch F50 LED 4K TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $259.99 $469.99 (save $210)

• LG 55-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $699.99 $1,299.99 (save $600)

• Hisense 55-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,499.99 (save $600)

65-inch TV deals

• LG 65-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,799.99 (save $900)

• Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,002)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,298 $1,598 (save $300)

• Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,999.99 (save $602)

• LG 65-Inch B6 OLED 4K TV — $1,399.99 $1,999.99 (save $600)

• Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV — $1,597.99 $2,697.99 (save $1,100)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD QLED 4K TV — $2,498 $3,299.99 (save $801.99)

• Samsung 65-inch S95H OLED 4K TV — $2,799.99 $3,399.99 (save $600)

75-inch TV deals

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,399.99 (save $602)

• Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $1,197.99 $1,999.99 (save $802)

• Samsung 75-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,799.99 (save $800)

• Sony 75-inch Bravia 7 II RGB 4K TV — $2,299.99 $3,099.99 (save $800)

• Samsung 75-inch The Frame Pro QLED 4K TV — $2,397.99 $2,797.99 (save $400)

• Samsung 75-inch R95H RGB 4K TV — $3,799.99 $4,499.99 (save $700)

80 to 85-inch TV deals

• Insignia 85-inch Class F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Hi-QLED Mini-LED 4K TV — $1097.99 $1,999.99 (save $902)

• Samsung 85-inch M80H Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,799.99 (save $600)

• Hisense 85-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,102)

• Hisense 85-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $2,199.99 $3,499.99 (save $1,300)

Over 85-inch TV deals

• Hisense 100-inch U6 Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,000)

• TCL 98-inch QM7L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

• Hisense 100-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $3,499.99 $5,999.99 (save $2,500)

You might just have an easier way to manage your smart home without leaning on custom automations or becoming an expert. Anker has unveiled the MindBase, an AI hub that serves as a decision-making "brain" for security cameras and other smart home devices.

TL;DR: Koofr’s 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription is just $199.99 (reg. $810.00), ending on Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $199.99
$810 Save $610.01   Get Deal

Cloud storage is handy for keeping photos, videos, and important documents accessible without taking up space on your devices. If you want to avoid adding another recurring subscription to the list, Koofr’s 1TB lifetime plan is currently available for just $199.99 (reg. $810.00).

Koofr has been offering cloud storage since 2013 and has a 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot. The 1TB plan provides enough room for roughly 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million document pages. More importantly, the lifetime subscription requires a single payment instead of ongoing monthly or annual costs.

Koofr also includes tools for managing files once they’re in the cloud. Its Duplicate Finder can locate duplicate files in your account, while advanced renaming options can help keep larger collections organized. You can also connect existing Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive accounts, allowing you to access files from multiple services in one place.

Privacy is another important factor. Koofr doesn’t track user activity, and files are encrypted both during transfer and while stored. You can access your files from a smartphone, computer, or through WebDAV.

This is especially helpful if you need substantial storage for a growing collection of photos, videos, or documents, or if you’re already managing different files across several cloud services. Having those files accessible in one place can make it easier to keep track of what you have without moving content between accounts.

Get 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage for $199.99, saving $610 off the regular $810.00 price through Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Jeans.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DENIM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Transparent.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CLEAR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound an angry dog makes.

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

GROWL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Legitimate.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

LEGAL

Final Hurdle hint

Cheesy.

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

CORNY

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've watch football.

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: Before kickoff

• Green: California fields of play

• Blue: Icons from the U

• Purple: Capitals

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Events Before a Football Kickoff

• Green: California Sporting Venues

• Blue: Miami (FL) Alumni

• Purple: Starts with a State Capital

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 #710 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Events Before a Football Kickoff: COIN TOSS, NATIONAL ANTHEM, TEAM ARRIVALS, WARMUPS

• California Sporting Venues: INTUIT DOME, LEVI'S STADIUM, PEBBLE BEACH, TORREY PINES

• Miami (FL) Alumni: DEVIN HESTER, ED REED, REGGIE WAYNE, VINNY TESTAVERDE

• Starts with a State Capital: AUGUSTA NATIONAL, AUSTIN REAVES, MADISON KEYS, PIERRE GARCON

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 today's Connections.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 3, 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 September 3, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 3, 2026 Carmine meaning

A deep-red dye that comes from cochineal insects.

Cinnabar meaning

A bright red mineral made of mercury sulfide.

Maroon meaning

A deep purple-red tone.

Vermilion meaning

A bright, red-orange color.

Blink meaning

To shut and open the eyes quickly.

Flash meaning

A sudden burst of light.

Heartbeat meaning

A single muscle contraction.

Trice meaning

A quick moment.

Hot Wheels meaning

Popular toy card created by Mattel.

Matchbox meaning

A popular toy car created in the 50s.

Micro Machines meaning

A type of toy car that was popular in the 80s and 90s.

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

Tonka meaning

A black seed of the Dipteryx odorata tree.

Average meaning

The middle number in a data set.

Count meaning

A tally.

Max meaning

The peak.

Sum meaning

Total.

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

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

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

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

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

Walmart is finally getting tap-to-pay — but social media is considerably less impressed with the apparent AI-generated advertisement announcing it.

A photo posted to X shows an in-store display promoting the rollout with a cheery "Fast! Easy!" message, alongside images of a smartphone and payment terminal. Look a little closer, however, and the terminal’s keypad dissolves into the familiar visual gibberish associated with generative AI. The buttons feature mangled symbols, illegible characters, and, apparently, two 7s. Yes, two.

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"AI is so scary it’s like the words you read in your dreams where it doesn’t actually say anything," one user wrote. Others were frustrated that one of the world’s largest retailers appeared to have used generative AI for such a basic piece of marketing. "I despise AI generated advertisements for businesses," one person wrote. "Billion dollar corporation," another user posted, criticizing Walmart for seemingly declining to hire a graphic designer.

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Another user pointed out that "Walmart has been using AI" for some time now.

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The wonky keypad is precisely the kind of tell that has become synonymous with "AI slop": a polished-looking image that falls apart as soon as you inspect the details.

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It’s the same phenomenon showing up in restaurant menus filled with AI-generated nightmare food, where impossible ingredients and plastic-looking meals replace photographs of the products customers might actually receive.

As I wrote last week: Please stop putting AI-generated food on the menu. While we’re at it, perhaps stop putting AI-generated payment terminals next to the register, too.

SEE ALSO: Please stop putting AI-generated food on the menu

The mangled keypad isn’t the only part of the sign making people do a double take. Walmart is promoting tap-to-pay like a futuristic convenience in 2026, even though tapping a card or phone has been routine at other retailers for years. Until now, contactless-minded Walmart shoppers generally had to open the company’s app and scan a QR code using Walmart Pay.

That part of the story baffled plenty of international onlookers more than the malformed keypad did. "Why is the USA’s payment system still stuck in the last century," one person asked. "I’m sorry wdym you don’t have tap to pay in 2026," another wrote.

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So, yes: Walmart customers are finally getting the convenience they’ve been asking for. They may just want to avoid pressing the second 7.

Many football fans are not choosing between watching the game and scrolling TikTok, but are doing both. Now TikTok wants to make that habit official.

Days before the 2026 NFL season begins, TikTok and the NFL announced a new multiyear partnership that will bring more highlights, archival footage, player-focused videos, and other official content to the platform. The agreement will also introduce NFL hubs where fans can find scores and schedules, then follow links to tune into game broadcasts.

There is already a sizable audience waiting for all of it. According to TikTok, posts using #NFL increased by more than 32 percent between August 2025 and August 2026. The league’s main @NFL account has more than 20 million followers, while eight international accounts serve fans in markets including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, Australia, and the UK and Ireland.

At first glance, this might sound like another agreement to put sports highlights on social media. But TikTok and the NFL have been building toward something much bigger for years.

Credit: TikTok

TikTok and the NFL first teamed up in 2019, when the league launched its official account with highlights, sideline footage, behind-the-scenes videos, and hashtag challenges. Its first campaign, #WeReady, invited fans and creators to celebrate their teams ahead of the NFL’s 100th season.

The partnership did not stay confined to the For You page for long. Beginning in 2021, the companies staged the annual NFL TikTok Tailgate, a livestreamed Super Bowl pregame event that combined musical performances with appearances from players and creators. By its fourth edition in 2024, headlined by Gwen Stefani, TikTok said the event attracted 2.2 million live viewers.

Later that year, TikTok and the NFL renewed the partnership and promised to add more long-form football content. At the time, TikTok said videos from the league and its 32 teams had generated more than 5 billion views during the 2023 season.

Of course, TikTok is not the only platform chasing football fans. Its longtime rival YouTube has been moving directly onto the field. YouTube replaced TikTok as the official sponsor of the Super Bowl Tailgate in 2025, after becoming the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket in 2023.

That gives YouTube something TikTok largely lacks: the games themselves. So instead of trying to become another traditional broadcaster, TikTok appears to be going after everything surrounding the action.

As part of the renewed partnership, the NFL will use TikTok GamePlan, which connects videos to hubs featuring scores, schedules, standings, official accounts, and broadcast links. In other words, TikTok wants every spectacular catch or sideline moment on your For You page to bring you closer to the live game.

SEE ALSO: Disney and the NFL just paired every team with a character — here's your team's match

TikTok has good reason to believe this pipeline could work. According to the company, 85 percent of sports fans on TikTok use the platform as a second screen during live events, while 42 percent are more likely to watch a live match after encountering related sports content on the app.

TikTok is also bringing the NFL to Pro Events, the standalone app it piloted during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The app rewarded fans for exploring tournament content and completing tasks with stars redeemable for merchandise, TikTok Shop discounts, or charitable donations. A dedicated NFL hub will reportedly launch in the coming weeks.

And where there are more ways for fans to engage, there are naturally more places for brands to advertise. TikTok is expanding its Pulse Premiere program so advertisers can place ads directly after videos from participating NFL teams.

The partnership could be especially useful as the NFL looks beyond its home turf. The league is staging a record nine international games across seven countries in 2026 and has made attracting millions of additional fans outside the United States a major part of its long-term strategy. TikTok’s regional NFL accounts give the league a way to keep reaching those audiences long after the teams leave town.

"The NFL isn’t just a sport, it’s a year-round way of life where fandom thrives through game-day highlights, daily trends, and player personalities," TikTok Global Head of Sport Rollo Goldstaub added in the announcement.

One of the biggest problems with switching from Windows to Linux has always been software compatibility. Linux has thousands of applications, but there are still Windows programs that people depend on for work, school, creative projects, and everyday computing.

After trying endless note-taking apps over the years, Google Keep became my go-to. Whether I needed to capture a fleeting idea, create a grocery list, or jot down notes from my editor, Keep always had my back.

Most people don't think about their car's A/C until it stops working, and by then the repair bill is already uncomfortable. This is something you either crank up in July or forget about entirely until next summer. The problem is that neglect is exactly what kills it. A lot of the failures that send people to the shop are easily preventable if you start adding in a few habits.