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Sometimes a sitcom plot line comes along that's so misguided, so confounding, so utterly ill-conceived that you stop and think, "Surely I hallucinated that in its entirety, right?"

In The Paper Season 2's case, that dishonor falls to literally everything the show does to Nicole (Ramona Young).

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

Season 1 of The Office spinoff paired circulation staffer Nicole up with ad salesman Detrick (Melvin Gregg) in one of the show's main romantic storylines. Nicole consistently told him their dates and hookups were casual and that there were no feelings involved. She actively encouraged Detrick to see other women, but he didn't. Their differences led to a breakup in the Season 1 finale. (Even if Nicole would insist there was nothing to break in the first place.) However, the aftermath of their split suggested Nicole was more emotionally attached than she wanted Detrick to believe, as she went to cry on journalist Mare's (Chelsea Frei) shoulder.

The storyline was a fun play on attitudes around commitment and casual dating, with its ending set the stage for a potential slow burn to bring Detrick and Nicole back together on more official terms. That is, until The Paper's second season comes along and wrecks Nicole's character.

Throughout Season 2, Nicole is a vengeful harpy out to get Detrick. She gets a promotion, then tries to use that extra power to give him extra work. (It backfires.) She reports their now-over relationship to HR rep Lisa (Lisa Gilroy), searching for any legitimization of the connection she mourned. When Lisa begins to show interest in Detrick, Nicole dresses as her — complete with dyeing her hair blonde — and rams her car into Lisa's. She also follows Detrick to Cincinnati, leading to an unsettling sequence where Detrick genuinely seems to believe she's going to do him harm.

SEE ALSO: Here are the three best 'The Office' references in 'The Paper'

This bizarro arc robs Nicole of any nuance or interiority, trading any meaningful development around her approach to relationships for unfunny crazy ex-girlfriend stereotypes. (In a post Crazy Ex-Girlfriend world? Really?) The main joke here — that, at her own insistence, Nicole was never really Detrick's girlfriend — is nowhere near funny enough to warrant such a prolonged storyline. Nor is it in keeping with The Paper's more optimistic tone. Even though The Paper is a spin-off of The Office, it shares more thematic DNA with shows like Parks and Recreation, Abbott Elementary, or St. Denis Medical: mockumentaries with an eye for people trying to make a difference in struggling institutions. Given that angle, The Paper's treatment of Nicole feels far too malicious, not to mention out of left field.

Really, it feels like The Paper is trying to recreate the dynamic between The Office's Kelly (Mindy Kaling) and Ryan (BJ Novak), which featured its fair share of Kelly being vindictive. But crucially, Ryan wound up also being a jerk in that on-again, off-again relationship. The pair fed off one another's toxicity. In The Paper, Detrick mainly just reacts to Nicole like anyone else would: with bewilderment, then horror. His arc is primarily focused on his burgeoning reporting skills, while her arc is all about him. To borrow a phrase from Kelly herself, I have a lot of questions about these story choices. Number one, how dare you?

The horrible mishandling of Nicole speaks to The Paper Season 2's broader issue of barely knowing how to handle its ensemble. The Paper's team of amateur journalists gelled exceptionally well in Season 1, but they're as fragmented as can be in Season 2. While the show focuses the brunt of its energy on Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mare's love story — which it handles wonderfully! — the rest of its reporters are left to flounder. Adam (Alex Edelman) is a non-entity. Ken (Tim Key) disappears for episodes at a time. Oscar (Oscar Nuñez), Adelola (Gbemisola Ikumelo), and Travis (Eric Rahill) feel like a thin Greek chorus, with the latter two finally receiving the beginnings of a fulfilling story in the season's final episodes.

If you're in The Paper and your character isn't named Ned, Mare, or Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore), you appear to have two choices. Wind up with a paper-thin storyline, or get saddled with a nightmarish arc like Nicole's. Given how out of character (and out of line) the latter is, The Paper Season 2 might be the one time fading into the background is a good thing.

The Paper Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock.

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TL;DR: ChatPlayground AI gives you access to 20+ major AI tools, and it’s only $55.30 through Sept. 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $55.30
$619 Save $563.70   Get Deal

Pretty much anyone who uses AI every day tends to keep two or three chatbots open at once, because no single AI model is great at every single task. Testing the same prompt in ChatGPT, then Claude, then Gemini to find the strongest answer eats up more time than most people admit, and you’re also burning through tokens that whole time. If you want a simpler solution, ChatPlayground is a new platform that gives you lifetime access to dozens of the most popular models, and you can use them all in the same window. Right now, lifetime access is just $55.30 (reg. $619).

One platform for all your AI tools

Type a prompt once, and ChatPlayground AI runs it across every model you’ve selected, then lines up the responses so you can compare them at a glance. That roster includes GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, and Perplexity, with more added as new models come out.

Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.

The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.

If you’re already paying for multiple AI tools — or constantly switching between them — this consolidates everything into one streamlined platform.

Through Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $55.30 to get a ChatPlayground AI lifetime subscription.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: FastestVPN Pro is down to $29.97 from $600 for a limited time, with lifetime access, 15 simultaneous devices, 900+ servers, and a suite of privacy features.

Opens in a new window Credit: FastestVPN FastestVPN PRO: Lifetime Subscription (15 Devices) $29.97
$600 Save $570.03   Get Deal

A VPN can get expensive when you’re paying for multiple devices or renewing a subscription year after year. FastestVPN Pro is currently $29.97 (reg. $600) through Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with lifetime access for up to 15 devices simultaneously and no recurring charges.

FastestVPN Pro offers over 900 servers across 100+ countries, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited server switching, giving you plenty of options when choosing a connection. Your traffic is protected with 256-bit AES encryption, and its zero-logging policy means your browsing activity won’t be stored or tracked.

The Pro tier adds several privacy and security features beyond the basics. Double VPN can route traffic through two servers, while the kill switch cuts your connection if the VPN drops. There’s also a NAT firewall, built-in ad blocker, anti-malware protection, split tunneling, and IPv6 leak protection included without any add-ons.

The plan is great for households or people using a lot of hardware. You can connect phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and routers at the same time, with support for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, and more. Dedicated streaming servers support Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime, while P2P-optimized servers are designed for downloads.

A FastestVPN Pro purchase also includes a free one-year Passhulk Password Manager subscription for storing passwords, financial details, licenses, and secure attachments in an encrypted vault.

The FastestVPN Pro Lifetime Plan is available for $29.97 (reg. $600) for a limited time only, ending Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Tubby Nugget may be a tiny animated blob, but he's built the kind of creator empire most humans would envy.

What began as an inside joke between creators and real-life couple Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson has grown into a character brand with more than 14 million followers, plushies, music videos, live appearances, and ambitions that increasingly extend beyond the social feed. Seven years in, Tubby Nugget has become synonymous with a particular corner of the internet: wholesome, silly, and relentlessly optimistic.

For Pastores and Jackson, though, some of the most important lessons came from resisting the pressure that accompanies that kind of scale. As their audience grew, they briefly wondered whether Tubby needed to change to appeal to more people. Instead, they found that the further they strayed from the character's original spirit, the less authentic the content felt — both to them and to the audience.

SEE ALSO: How Tubby Nugget grew from a doodle into a beloved internet brand

Their advice for other creators is deceptively simple: Pay attention to the people already showing up. Reply to the five comments before worrying about getting 5,000. Don't let a number on a screen make you forget that every follower is an actual person. And when something works because it feels uniquely yours, don't abandon it just because your audience gets bigger.

For Mashable's Creator Playbook, Pastores and Jackson break down how they built Tubby Nugget's community one comment at a time, why 400 people in a room can feel way more significant than 400 likes, and why the character's future may include longer-form animation.

Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images

Mashable: Tubby Nugget started as something personal between the two of you. What is it like seeing something you created for yourselves become meaningful to so many other people?

Jenine Pastores: Honestly, I think it's because Tubby started as such a personal thing between Josh and me — to make my day better, to make his day better. Seeing that it's spread so far and so wide is really special. Something that made me happy is now making so many other families and kids happy.

Josh Jackson: We hadn't performed that song live in front of an audience, and to hear all the kids singing it — I mean, gosh, it was just amazing.

Has meeting the Tubby Nugget community in real life changed how you think about the audience you've built online?

Pastores: I think, if anything, we get desensitized to how many people are supporting us and are part of our community because, as the numbers grow, they seem smaller and smaller, which is ironic.

I would encourage other creators to meet their fans in person and see the faces of the people they're really encouraging, because it does change your perspective. A room of 400 people is crazy. We were pretty overwhelmed. I was like, "Can you imagine if all 14 million of our followers showed up in person?" I think it also makes us more and more grateful for what we do.

Jackson: If we get 400 likes on a post, that seems very small. But 400 people in person is just like, "Oh, this is crazy." It's always nice getting lots of likes and comments, but having that face-to-face interaction and seeing the positive effect Tubby's optimism has is just the best.

With an audience that large, how much are you thinking about the algorithm when you're deciding what to make?

Jackson: I'm not gonna lie, we don't really think about the algorithm that much. We did at one point.

We see what works well, and if it aligns with the heart of Tubby Nugget, then yeah, we'll make it. But I think anytime in the past when we've chased likes or views, it feels less authentic to us.

Pastores: And I think our audience feels that too. Our audience is a lot smarter than I think digital media might give them credit for. We make the best content when we are the most comfortable and most ourselves. It seems like our audience still resonates with us, so I'm very happy to hear that.

What would you tell a new creator who's trying to build that kind of community from scratch?

Jackson: Honestly, the way we grew early on is that Jenine would reply to every single comment. She really built that sense of community early on. Now, it's a little harder to do that, but I think especially for new creators, early on it's just like, all right, you have five comments? Reply to all five of them because that's how you're going to build community.

Pastores: Enjoy your community. Enjoy the space you have to speak with and engage them. At the beginning, we thought we needed to change because we were growing so rapidly. We were like, "Maybe not everyone is going to keep loving our content." But we felt less ourselves. I think our audience felt like we were more shy.

When we make stuff that's just Tubby, I think that's when we succeed the most. So I would definitely recommend to creators: Don't stop doing what worked at the start.

When did you realize Tubby Nugget could go from a character you made for fun to your actual career?

Jackson: I think that was pretty early on. I was still working as a motion graphics artist at the time, while Jenine focused on building the business. Then it was kind of that decision where we were like, "OK, I'm gonna quit motion graphics, and we're just gonna go in." It was a little risky. I felt like, "OK, we better be selling enough plushies to live off of."

Pastores: Honestly, I think it was mainly because our audience was asking for so much more than we could give if we continued our full-time jobs. That was the big shift. We had to ask: Does the audience want this enough for us to do this for the rest of our lives? So far, it's been seven wonderful years, and it's been great.

Tubby is the face of the brand, but the two of you have increasingly become part of the story too. When did you decide to put yourselves in front of the audience?

Pastores: I think it was our first convention. That's when people started to meet us. We would sometimes put our faces on our [Instagram] Story just to say hi to people, but we didn't think people wanted to see us. We were like, "Oh, we're a cartoon. You don't have to look at us. Don't worry."

But when we started meeting fans in person, they were like, "No, I want to know who does the animations and who does the voices."

Jackson: Tubby is very much about our relationship. The whole reason we created Tubby Nugget was because it started as an inside joke between the two of us. So we were like, "OK, well, it makes sense for us to be part of the story," because when he began, he was a representation of our relationship and our humor.

Pastores: Definitely our humor. He was just all of our inside jokes, and I was kind of blown away by how many people thought we were also funny. I was like, "Oh, good, it's not just us."

At what point did Tubby stop feeling like just a character and start feeling like a brand?

Pastores: Tubby is a brand, honestly, and that's what's so surprising to the two of us. I think his brand has just become overall wholesomeness, joy, and silliness. Some people who meet Tubby don't know who he is, but they know what he resonates with. You'll see the Tubby mascot running around, and they'll just be like, "Oh, I want to hug him. I want to play with him."

That is kind of his essence and his spirit: Just have fun. Embrace your inner child. I think we all need to be goofy sometimes.

How do you decide what Tubby Nugget should become next?

Jackson: We've been asking our audience a lot. We recently put out a poll, did a huge forum, and got all the feedback. Honestly, my favorite part of getting feedback from the audience is that we added a question where they could just tell us about themselves. That informs our decisions because we know what we like, but Tubby doesn't just belong to us; he belongs to everyone.

Getting to meet fans at VidCon or hearing from them online through the forum really gets us in vibe with our community, and we love it.

Indie animation is having a huge moment online right now. Do you see Tubby Nugget eventually becoming a longer-form series?

Jackson: It's really incredible what's going on right now with indie pilots that are just taking off. We're in the process of building a team and trying to figure out the right next move. I don't think we want to dive into it right away. We still have a lot of music videos coming up, so I think that's our next small step before we jump into a full-on TV show.

Pastores: But we are doing longer-form media this year, which is going to be very exciting. It's almost like test episodes. We have so much love for the indie animation community because we're already so much of a do-it-yourself type of animation. We've made so many friends in the space, too.

Especially coming from more formal film careers, I think seeing the way creators are getting creative about this industry and how to make a living in it is really exciting. I'm excited to make a long-form show, whether it be on traditional streamers or on YouTube.

Jackson: The path is so new. This is such a new development in the state of animation. I think it's going to get bigger and bigger, and we just hope to be part of that wave.

Also, this is not on brand, but we love Obsession. This is not on brand for Tubby Nugget at all, but it's my favorite movie of the year. I freaking love that movie.

Pastores: And Hazbin Hotel is getting so much love. It's just so exciting to see all of our favorite animators getting that kind of attention.

Jackson: I picture a Tubby-Obsession crossover where someone breaks a One Wish Willow for Tubby to love them, but he's like, "I love you anyway."

I think we could do it.

Jackson: I'm just gonna put that out there. No one's saying no to us except ourselves.

Josh, if you had a One Wish Willow, what are you wishing for right now?

Jackson: Oh, One Wish Willow? That Jenine would love me forever, more than anyone.

Pastores: That's what the ring is for.

Jackson: Oh yeah. I already got that wish. I already got that. I got you.

TL;DR: Through Sept. 10, new U.S. users can get a Babbel Lifetime Language Learning Subscription covering all 14 languages for $159 (reg. $299) with StackSocial’s code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $158.98
$299 Save $140.02   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 there’s even 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 with StackSocial’s 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 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 in advance. 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 Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is on sale for $54.52 at Amazon, down from its $62.97 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection $54.52 at Amazon
$62.97 Save $8.45   Get Deal

The premium attached to buying Pokémon cards through Amazon can sometimes be substantial, but that’s becoming much less of an issue with the Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection. Right now, its latest price is only a few dollars removed from the box’s current TCGplayer value. 

On Sept. 9, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is priced at $54.52 at Amazon, versus the retailer’s $62.97 typical price. That leaves $8.45 in savings, or 13%, through third-party seller reVend. Free delivery is currently listed for Sept. 17, while the quickest shipping window runs from Sept. 11 to 15. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Along with its assorted eight Pokémon TCG booster packs: four Perfect Order, two Chaos Rising, and two Phantasmal Flames;  this Mega Greninja ex collection also gets both a titular foil promo card for play and an oversize lenticular counterpart for display, with a themed tech sticker rounding out the extras. 

At $54.52, the Amazon cost comes to about $6.82 per booster before those additional items are factored in. 

Be that as it may, you can still save even more at TCGplayer. Against the Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection’s market price of $49.82, the lowest price listing on the dedicated trading card selling platform is only $52.98 — an extra $1.54 in savings compared to Amazon. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 2 is on sale for $37.63 at Amazon, down from its $59.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection —Series 2 $37.63 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $22.36   Get Deal

If the original $60 asking price put you off picking up Pokémon’s second First Partner Illustration Collection, Amazon has made the decision quite a bit easier by slipping the Series 2 box well below $40, leaving more than $20 between its current cost and MSRP. 

As of Sept. 9, the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 2 can be bought for $37.63 at Amazon through third-party seller Collectors Expedition. Amazon handles the shipping, while Prime members currently get free delivery estimated between Sept. 28 and Oct. 9. At the $59.99 list price, that works out to $22.36 in savings, or 37% off. 

If you want yours as quickly as possible for a slightly higher price, another listing is $39.99, with delivery shown for Sept. 10 at the time of writing. 

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The centerpiece of Series 2 isn’t its pair of regular booster packs of trading cards, but the separate promo pack tucked alongside them. It contains three of nine possible illustration rare-style cards featuring starters from Johto, Unova, and Galar, covering Chikorita through to Sobble. That’s along with a themed sticker sheet, rounding out the box. 

On the other hand, if you want to save as much as possible — even going beyond Amazon — TCGplayer currently has sealed boxes for as low as $29.99 with shipping included. Going under its $29.61 market price, however, is Walmart, now selling the Pokémon TCG’s First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 2 for only $28.67.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available to preorder for $89.99 at Amazon via invite requests, down from its initial $209.97 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 at Amazon
$209.97 Save $119.98   Pre-order Here

Pokémon’s 30th anniversary set is already commanding hefty preorder prices, but Amazon has gone in the opposite direction with its Elite Trainer Box. There is one sizeable catch, though: getting the $89.99 price for this high-demand Pokémon box requires an invitation from the retailer. 

Nevertheless, as of Sept. 9, the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is still listed for $89.99 at Amazon — shipped and sold directly from the retailer itself. Beforehand, we only had listings from third-party sellers available for as low as $209.97, meaning a 57% discount compared to normal, ahead of the expansion’s release date on Sept. 16.

While this is still $40 above MSRP, the $90 price is far lower than the current $178 market price on TCGplayer. 

As mentioned, however, you can’t simply add this ETB to your basket. Amazon has designated it a high-demand product with limited quantities, meaning you first need to select “Request invite.”

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Successful requests receive an email with purchasing instructions and a limited window to complete the order. Amazon also says requests can remain in consideration as more stock arrives, so missing the first batch of invitations doesn’t necessarily end your chances of snagging the high-demand trading card bundle for yourself.

If you don’t wish to wait, preorders for the 30th Celebration ETB are also readily available elsewhere, but you’ll be paying well above the $170 mark. Specifically, TCGplayer is slightly undercutting the market price with preorders going for as low as $177.92.

Walmart is even cheaper, though, letting you pre-order your Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box for $174.75. 

Inside are nine 30th Celebration booster packs, a full-art Nidorina promo featuring 30 Nidorina, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player’s guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code. Each booster also contains one of 30 different Pikachu rare cards.

SAVE $34.19: As of Sept. 9, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is on sale for $45.80 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $45.80 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $34.19   Get Deal

If your TV looks a little dated when it comes to streaming, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a nice, easy way to add access to your favorite streaming services. It plugs directly into your TV and supports 4K HDR streaming, with a compact design that won't take up much space.

And as of Sept. 9, it's on sale at Amazon for over $30 off the list price. Normally priced at $79.99, you can now get it for $45.80.

This streaming device doesn't just make streaming easier; it lets you watch in high quality, too. It comes with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, giving you sharp detail and rich colors across everything you watch. It also has a long-range WiFi receiver that helps keep streaming smooth and buffer-free, even on TVs in rooms farther from your router. It stays hidden behind your TV without blocking neighboring HDMI ports, so you can easily switch between streaming and gaming.

It's also a great option for travel, letting you take your entertainment with you without having to sign into someone else's device. Simply unplug the device from your own TV and plug it into the HDMI port of the TV in your accommodation.

This Roku deal is available on Amazon now.

SAVE $140: As of Sept. 9, the Eufy 11S Max is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy 11S Max $139.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $140   Get Deal

Robot vacuums have come a long way in recent years, with models now available at a range of prices and with features to suit different homes. If you've been considering getting one, you don't necessarily have to spend a lot to get a model that handles everyday vacuuming for you. In fact, as of Sept. 9, you can get a great model for just $139.99. Meet the Eufy 11S Max. Currently on sale, you'll save $140 on this Eufy robot vacuum, which is also its best price so far this year.

It's just 2.85 inches tall, so this robot vacuum has no problem getting into those awkward spaces beneath furniture that are difficult to reach with a standard vacuum or brush. Its battery lasts for up to 100 minutes on hardwood floors, while BoostIQ Technology automatically adjusts the suction power to suit the surface within 1.5 seconds.

An infrared sensor helps the robot navigate around obstacles, and drop sensors help it avoid falling from edges or down stairs. When it needs more power, it can also automatically return to its charging base.

This robot vacuum deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $150: As of Sept. 9, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale for $1,349 at Amazon. That's a 10 percent discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3000 $1,349 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $150   Get Deal

With summer winding down and colder, wetter weather on the way, power cuts can become more of a concern, particularly during periods of strong winds and storms. Having a backup power source at home can help keep essential devices running if the electricity goes out. Jackery is one of the better-known names in the power station market, with options for different power needs. And right now, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale. As of Sept. 9, this model is down to $1,349 at Amazon, saving you $150 on the list price.

With a 3,600W output and 7,200W surge capacity, alongside 3,072Wh of stored power, this portable power station is built to handle a range of household essentials. That includes running things like refrigerators, fans, routers, and lights, which it can power for up to 15 hours depending on usage. According to Jackery, it can also keep a refrigerator running for one to two days during a power outage.

There are also several ways to recharge this Jackery unit. With a combination of AC and DC inputs, it can reach a full charge in about 1.7 hours, while AC charging alone takes about 2.2 hours. If you have solar panels (sold separately), it can reach 80 percent charge in roughly nine hours, and there are also options for charging via a 12V car connection or a gas generator.

This Jackery deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $161.99: As of Sept. 9, the Garmin Venu 3S is on sale for $288 at Amazon. That's a 36 percent discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3S $288 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $161.99   Get Deal

The Garmin Venu 3S is designed to track both your workouts and everyday activity, with features that cover everything from steps and heart rate to sleep and exercise. And, as of Sept. 9, it's currently available at its lowest price to date. Normally priced at $449.99, you can buy this fitness tracker for just $288 right now, saving you over $160. Not only is that a hefty discount, but according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is also a new low price for this watch.

It's available in four color options: French gray, sage gray, ivory, and pebble gray, although the only one available at this price is the French gray. For the others, you'll need to pay $11 more.

This Garmin watch includes several health and activity features, such as Body Battery, which takes factors like sleep, naps, stress, and workouts into account when estimating your energy levels. Sleep tracking provides a daily sleep score, along with information such as HRV status and personalized coaching.

And, of course, several sports functions let you track every kind of workout, from runs and swims to Pilates and hikes. You'll also get Workout Benefit, a feature that shows how an exercise session affects your body and recovery time, which estimates how long you may need to recover before your next workout.

Head to Amazon now to get this new low price on the Garmin Venu 3S.

An AI researcher has quit Anthropic due to ethical concerns, claiming that the technology could kill countless people within the next 10 years — if not everyone. Jacob Coxon announced his resignation in a post on X on Tuesday, criticising both Anthropic and his former employer OpenAI for the ways in which they are developing AI.

"I spent the last three years doing pretraining research at both OpenAI and Anthropic," wrote Coxon. "Neither company is acting responsibly. They are racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives."

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Both Anthropic and OpenAI have been rapidly developing and releasing new AI models as they work toward creating artificial general intelligence (AGI). Long considered the holy grail of AI technology, an AGI model would theoretically have the intellectual capabilities of a human, including reasoning, common sense, and creativity. An artificial superintelligence would surpass humans.

However, even before such milestones have been reached, there have already been multiple instances of AI models going rogue. Earlier this year, researchers testing Anthropic and OpenAI's AI models observed them act outside their parameters and hack into external organisations without authorisation. In a high-profile incident this July, an OpenAI model autonomously hacked Hugging Face, an open-source library of AI tools. At around the same time, Anthropic's Claude AI model accessed the internet from within a testing environment without authorisation, then went on to hack three other companies.

Combined with the increasing use of AI across every industry, including in weapons and surveillance, such developments have prompted serious concerns.

"The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade," Coxon wrote. "This is not a marketing stunt. If anything, many executives and senior researchers will couch their phrasing in the press to sound sensible — but I hear the same people express fear privately. No other human activity poses this level of danger."

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Yet despite this grave hazard, AI companies continue to forge ahead at top speed. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has said superhuman AI could be here by 2027, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes it will develop AGI before the end of the year.

"A common response is 'if they truly believe this, why are they still building it?'" said Coxon. "At OpenAI, many have not deeply internalized the civilizational stakes. At Anthropic, the stakes are well-understood, but they are locked in a race to get there first — they believe no one else will act responsibly, so they must do it themselves, despite the risk."

As such, Coxon called for AI researchers to examine the ethics and implications of their work, and to advocate for change.

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While Coxon's warnings are dire, they don't appear to be baseless. Responding to his X posts, Anthropic team lead Even Hubinger confirmed that the company believes AI poses an existential threat to all human life, but has no clear strategy in place to mitigate it. 

Hubinger does consider the current risk low — at least for the next few years. However, he cautioned that the danger lies in AI models continuing to autonomously improve themselves until they evolve into a superintelligence, which "is happening faster than we thought."

"Jacob is correct here — we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans!" Hubinger wrote. "I personally think it is >10% within the next decade. I believe Anthropic is trying its best, but we do not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence and are not clearly on track to."

Ethical concerns about AI have prompted several resignations

Coxon is far from the first person working in AI to quit due to ethical concerns. Anthropic's safety lead Mrinank Sharma previously resigned in February, stating that the world is "in peril" from AI, bioweapons, and other interconnected crises.

"We appear to be approaching a threshold where our wisdom must grow in equal measure to our capacity to affect the world, lest we face the consequences," Sharma wrote in his widely circulated resignation letter at the time. "Moreover, throughout my time here, I've repeatedly seen how hard it is to truly let our values govern our actions. I've seen this within myself, within the organization, where we constantly face pressures to set aside what matters most, and throughout broader society too."

That same month, AI researcher Zoë Hitzig quit her role at OpenAI, stating in a New York Times opinion piece that she had "deep reservations" about the company's advertising strategy.

"For several years, ChatGPT users have generated an archive of human candor that has no precedent, in part because people believed they were talking to something that had no ulterior agenda," Hitzig wrote. "Users are interacting with an adaptive, conversational voice to which they have revealed their most private thoughts... Advertising built on that archive creates a potential for manipulating users in ways we don’t have the tools to understand, let alone prevent."

Even back in 2024, Jan Leike left his position as an executive at OpenAI, claiming that it was prioritising "shiny new products" over safety. Though he swiftly joined Anthropic, it appears as though the company is also struggling to grapple with the ethical issues surrounding AI.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

In Apple TV's new thriller Last Seen, police dispatcher Ian Ridley (Patrick Brammall) still grieves the disappearance of his young daughter, Maggie. By the time the show begins, it's been 11 years since she went missing. Yet in Last Seen's two-episode premiere, a series of curious events brings her case right back into the public eye.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso's latest cameo is proof of Season 4's identity crisis

First, residents of the fictional Australian town Port McKenna discover the remains of a young girl in a nearby forest. Then, Ian receives a call from a teenage girl he believes to be Maggie, now all grown up. So, what really happened to Maggie? Was she killed and left to rot in the woods? Or has she survived right under Ian's nose for 11 years? In its first two episodes, Last Seen lays its cards fully on the table and reveals exactly where Maggie is. However, there are still several mysteries to uncover.

Here's what happened to Maggie, along with the biggest questions Last Seen still has to answer.

Where is Maggie? Chloe Jean Lourdes in "Last Seen." Credit: Apple TV

For much of Last Seen's first episode, Ian and his ex-wife, Debbie (Jessica Wren), agonize over whether the discovered remains could be Maggie's body. By the episode's end, they don't have a definite answer on whether they are or not, but the audience does. We know that Maggie is still alive, and that she's living on what appears to be a small homestead.

The reveal comes in the episode's final moments, when cleaner Henry Reid (Brendan Cowell), whom we meet briefly earlier on, arrives home to his wife, Jenna (Maxine Peake). Their daughter, Sarah (Chloe Jean Lourdes), heads out to check on the chickens. As she makes her way through the gardens surrounding the house, the show cuts between her and police sketches that show Maggie's hypothetical age progression. Their version of teen Maggie matches up almost perfectly with Maggie, meaning that she's alive and well.

If you had any doubts, episode 2 confirms this further. Quick flashbacks show that during Sarah/Maggie's early days at Henry and Jenna's farm, she carved her nickname "Mags" into a wall in the garden.

Who are Maggie's kidnappers, Henry and Jenna? Maxine Peake and Brendan Cowell in "Last Seen." Credit: Apple TV

Henry and Jenna still remain somewhat of a mystery. We know that Henry is a cleaner at the police station, and that he's the brother of Donald Reid (Daniel Henshall), Ian's friend and a key figure in his journey to stay sober. In their first scene together in episode 1, Donnie mentions that he'd love to see "Sarah," but Henry is cagey, suggesting he and Jenna keep her under a tight watch.

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

Their tight grip on Maggie becomes even clearer in episode 2, which reveals that Henry and Jenna have an comprehensive alarm system in place and don't let outsiders — not even neighbors! — through their gate. Nor do they let Maggie outside their compound.

Apparently, Maggie's been raised to believe that, as "people of faith," she and her (fake!) family are under fire from the outside world. If she were to leave, the government would take her away and force her to attend school. These outlandish claims suggest that Henry and Jenna are religious fundamentalists, perhaps verging on cultists, who use their belief as a means of controlling Maggie and covering up their crime.

Why did Henry and Jenna kidnap Maggie?

So now we have the "who" of who kidnapped Maggie, along with the "where" of her current location. However, we still don't know the "why." Perhaps it all ties back to their religious fervor. Maybe they they believed they "saved" Maggie from a family of "non-believers."

Who is the Jane Doe in the woods?

By the end of episode 2, Last Seen confirms through DNA evidence that the body in the woods is not Maggie, but rather a Jane Doe. While that closes the case on Maggie, it still raises a ton of questions: Who was this child, and why was she discovered in Maggie's pajamas?

Maybe she was another kidnapping victim of Henry and Jenna's who passed away, and they dressed her in Maggie's clothes to convince others Maggie was dead. Or, on an even more upsetting level, perhaps she was Henry and Jenna's own child, and they've raised Maggie as a replacement. Whatever the answer, it's bound to be bleak, and Last Seen definitely has more twists up its sleeve.

New episodes of Last Seen premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV.

"Did you miss me?"

So speaks Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), Ted Lasso's lovably arrogant striker. In the show's fourth season, he's no longer a Richmond Greyhound. Instead, his stardom has reached new heights in Barcelona, leading him to launch an apple vodka brand. (The branding is Adam and Eve-themed, naturally.)

Jamie's vodka launch is one of the centerpieces of Ted Lasso Season 4, episode 6, which is also the show's take on a New Year's special. However, while New Year's would be the perfect time for the Apple TV series to look to the future, it remains frustratingly stuck in the past.

SEE ALSO: 'The Paper' needs to pay for what it does to Nicole

When Season 4 first launched, a common concern among critics was that a fourth season of Ted Lasso — which had ostensibly ended with Season 3 — had no purpose. From my perspective, the purpose seemed clear: to examine women's sports in tandem with their meteoric rise around the world. But as the season rolls on, it's become increasingly evident that Ted Lasso only views its women's sports angle as window dressing to bring the old gang together and rehash tired old storylines.

Why, three years after Ted Lasso first packed up its cleats, are we still spending time on the unfunny, unsettling relationship between Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) and Jane (Phoebe Walsh)? Why has the show trapped Roy (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley (Juno Temple) in a labyrinth of hackneyed rom-com plotlines? Even Jamie's appearance, likely a one-episode event before he returns to Barcelona, screams that the show has little idea of what to do this season other than ruminate on what came before. (Credit where credit is due: This self-reflection can occasionally work, as evidenced by the sweet discussion between Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and Michelle (Andrea Anders) in episode 6.)

SEE ALSO: When is 'Silo' Season 4 coming out?

Still, there is one very clear, very obvious place Ted Lasso can be focusing all the energy it's spending on dredging up the past, and that is Richmond's Lady Greyhounds. The show has invested a lot of time in Coach Alice (Tanya Reynolds), and thank goodness for that, because Reynolds is giving a dynamite deadpan performance that's the perfect foil for Ted Lasso's trademark optimism. If the show gets too saccharine, you can always count on her to cut through the sweetness.

Annelise Heywood, Rex Hayes, Jude Mack, Abbie Hern, and Tanya Reynolds in "Ted Lasso." Credit: Apple TV

The same can't be said for the rest of the team, though. Most players have one or two identifying characteristics. Gemma (Abbie Hern) is a law student by day, elite striker by night. Lizzie (Faye Marsay) is a single mother. Boots (Jude Mack) never wears her goalie gloves. Siobhan (Rex Hayes) and Niamh (Aisling Sharkey) are twins whose favorite activity is bickering. But Ted Lasso needs to go deeper with these characters to truly make them stick.

Think of all the chances Ted Lasso has missed to help us get to know the Lady Greyhounds better. On a broader level, the show highlights the sexism female athletes face, but it never acknowledges very real issues like the pay gap between men's and women's soccer players. How does this impact the relationship between the Lady Greyhounds and their male counterparts?

Think of all the chances 'Ted Lasso' has missed to help us get to know the Lady Greyhounds better.

There are several missed opportunities for more granular character work too. During her tryout, Lizzie talks about being unable to find childcare for her son, and at the New Year's party, she mentions paying for a babysitter. Other than that, Ted Lasso doesn't spend much time examining how her newfound pro footballer status has impacted her relationship with her son. Elsewhere, both Gemma and Niamh have extra reason to be heartbroken after Richmond's close to Chelsea: Gemma because of a missed goal, Niamh because she scored an own goal while trying to deflect a shot. Yet Ted doesn't sit either of his players down for a one-on-one "be a goldfish"-style pep talk the way he did with Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) during a Season 1 scrimmage. Instead, he gives a pep talk to the entire team.

That's one of Ted Lasso's biggest problems with the Lady Greyhounds so far: treating them solely as a collective, instead of a group of individuals with rich potential. Yes, not all of the male Greyhounds were too deeply defined, but the grand majority had personalities beyond just yelling at one another. Perhaps Ted Lasso is just playing the long game with its Lady Greyhounds and will further develop them this season, but with only four episodes left, that possibility seems unlikely.

The lack of depth to the Lady Greyhounds is just one part of Ted Lasso Season 4's biggest problems. In an effort to tell a story about the future of women's sports and reunite fans with beloved characters from the first three seasons, Ted Lasso has spread itself far too thin. Now, it's in the middle of an identity crisis, caught between what the show once was and what it could be. If it could just return to basics by focusing on its core team and ditching the supersized episodes, maybe it could rekindle some of that Season 1 magic. Until then, it's been one own goal after another.

New episodes of Ted Lasso premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV.

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TL;DR: Get AdGuard’s Family Plan lifetime license for $14.97 (reg. $169.99) through Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with parental controls and malware protection built in for up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $14.97
$169.99 Save $155.02   Get Deal

School’s back in session, and so are the tablets, laptops, and phones every kid in the house suddenly needs for homework. More devices online means more exposure to malicious ads, sketchy pop-ups, and content parents would rather filter out. AdGuard’s Family Plan covers it under a single license for $14.97, paid once.

Instead of setting up filtering and protection on each kid’s device separately, one AdGuard license applies the same rules everywhere it’s installed. It’s the kind of thing that’s easy to set up once and forget about for the rest of the school year.

What the lifetime ad blocker covers:

• Filters inappropriate content with built-in parental controls

• Checks sites against known phishing and malware lists in real time

• Removes ads, pop-ups, and autoplay video

• Strips tracking scripts that build a profile of browsing activity

• Covers up to 9 devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android

• One-time purchase, lifetime access

For parents who’d rather manage one dashboard than juggle separate settings on every kid’s device, this is for you.

Activate a lifetime AdGuard Family Plan license for $14.97 before Sept. 10, and get every device in the house covered without configuring each one on its own.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Can you see anything in the sky tonight? The Moon is approaching the New Moon phase, so only a small sliver of light should be visible.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Sept. 9, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in Waning Crescent phase, with 4% of its surface visible.

Tonight's only real feature is the Grimaldi Basin, which should be visible with a telescope or binoculars.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance gradually changes as it travels around Earth, completing a full lunar cycle in approximately 29.5 days, NASA tells us. What we see from Earth depends on the Moon's position in relation to the Sun, which affects how much of its illuminated side is visible. As the cycle progresses, the Moon passes through a series of phases, from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon, before starting over.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you like to eat and drink before a football game.

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: BBQ equipment

• Green: Iconic Super Bowl athletes

• Blue: Seahawks stadium history

• Purple: Rearranged NFL teams

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Tailgating Needs

• Green: Super Bowl MVPs

• Blue: Names of Seahawks Stadiums

• Purple: Anagrams of NFL Teams

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 #716 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Tailgating Needs: CHAIRS, COOLER, GRILL, TENT

• Super Bowl MVPs: BRADY, BRANCH, EDELMAN, WALKER

• Names of Seahawks Stadiums: CENTURYLINK, KINGDOME, LUMEN, QWEST

• Anagrams of NFL Teams: BANGLES, SABRE, TAR PITS, TREELESS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 9, 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 9, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 9 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 9 Pips

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 9 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (13): Everything in this space must add up to 13. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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 9, 2026 Bewildering meaning

Extremely confusing.

Esoteric meaning

Super niche, only understood by those in the know.

Incomprehensible meaning

Impossible to comprehend.

Opaue meaning

The blocking of radiant or something that's hard to explain.

Microbrewery meaning

Boutique brewery that makes craft beer.

Minivan meaning

Small passenger van.

Nanotechnology meaning

Materials that can be assembled at an atomic or molecular level.

Picosecond meaning

One trillionth of a second.

Arachnophobia meaning

Fear of spiders.

Halloween meaning

October 31. Also, the title of a famous slasher movie franchise.

IT meaning

A pronoun used to refer to a lifeless thing or a person of unknown sex. Also, the name of a famous Stephen King novel.

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.

Saw meaning

A power tool with toothed blades. Also, the name of a famous horror franchise created by James Wan.

Brute meaning

An adjective used to describe one's physical strength.

Electromagnetic meaning

Magnetism developed by a current of electricity.

G meaning

Symbol for gravitational, not to be confused with "g" for grams.

Task meaning

Work or an assignment that needs to be completed. Can assemble a group of people to complete.

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

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

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

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

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