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Scientists have discovered that a hardy microbe can endure pressures strong enough to pulverize rock, strengthening the case that life might survive the impact of an asteroid blasting it off a planet.

In a series of experiments at Johns Hopkins University, Lily Zhao fired tiny samples of a microorganism with a room-sized gas gun. The gun drove a steel plate into a thin, carefully prepared layer of bacteria at up to 2.4 gigapascals — tens of thousands of times Earth's atmosphere at sea level. The purpose was to simulate the highest pressure a microorganism might face on its space journey: The initial launch. 

Instead of total extermination, Zhao, a mechanical engineering doctoral student, found life — lots of it, in fact. After her initial test run, she cultured a regular sample, as well as the shocked sample so she could compare them side by side. 

"I really didn't know what to expect," she told Mashable. "I was like, 'Did I mislabel something or mix things up? Did I get the control and the shot sample confused?' I was quite hesitant because it was such a high survival — like 95 or 97 percent survival."

The research, funded by NASA and published in the journal PNAS Nexus, examines a key part of the long-debated lithopanspermia hypothesis — the notion that alien life might migrate between worlds sealed inside rocks knocked loose by asteroids or comets. Though no one knows whether this has happened, scientists have identified at least 400 meteorites on Earth that originated from Mars.

SEE ALSO: NASA is so dead set on an April moon launch, it won't talk backup dates

Even at the highest pressure the setup could reach before the steel hardware began to break, survival stayed around 60 percent.

Zhao's faculty supervisor, K.T. Ramesh, said his interest in the problem grew out of involvement in a National Academies study that asked whether microbes could move from Mars to one of its close potato-shaped moons, Phobos.

NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars captures an eclipse of Phobos crossing in front of the sun. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU / MSSS / SSI

"We ended up saying the probability was very low, but we also ended up saying there really wasn't any good data on what microbes could survive," Ramesh, a mechanical engineering professor, told Mashable. "So I thought, 'Well, somebody should get that data.'"

Hopkins microbiologist Jocelyne DiRuggiero chose the superbug for the experiment. She selected Deinococcus radiodurans — or, "D. rad" — for its resistance to extreme radiation, dehydration, cold, and other factors.  Those kinds of adaptations would be relevant for anything trying to persevere in space conditions. The so-called extremophile has even been found living in Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the driest and most radiated places on Earth.

Extremophiles and space

Earlier experiments by other groups had tried to test microbial survival from asteroid-like impacts, but the data were often sparse and hard to interpret, the researchers said. Some studies shot pellets containing microbes into sand or rock. But when a fraction survived, no one knew exactly what pressures those specific cells had experienced because their positions inside the target were unknown.

The Hopkins team set out to control that key variable. Zhao grew the cells in a liquid broth, then filtered them onto a thin membrane to create a uniform layer. She sandwiched that membrane between two ultra-flat steel plates, then used the gas gun to slam a third plate into the stack.

Machining and polishing the plates to the required flatness took weeks. On a firing day, Zhao spent eight to nine hours setting up the gun, then moved to a biology lab after each shot to put the shocked cells back into liquid culture and watch them regrow. A single experiment could take a few weeks of preparation for just a few microseconds of data.

DiRuggiero didn't have high hopes for what would remain.

"I'm like, 'There is no way,'" she said of the plan. "'Shooting a bullet at a microorganism? This thing is going to explode.'" 

From a physics standpoint, the pressures are extreme, even for non-living materials. Ramesh noted that water — which makes up much of any cell — begins to respond strongly around two gigapascals, changing its volume and forming ices.

Working with detailed modeling, DiRuggiero realized the worst damage didn't happen when the cells were squeezed. The real trouble came when the pressure suddenly let up.

Damage to the microbes

Among the surviving cells, some of their outer lining received damage, allowing DNA and proteins to get hurt. The cells temporarily dropped their normal routine — feeding, growing, and dividing — and switched into repair mode. Within a couple of hours, though, they had already begun to look like their old selves. The real surprise was in something basic: how the physical structure of a single cell could hold up under such violence in the first place. 

Even at the highest pressure the experiment could reach before the steel hardware began to fail, survival stayed around 60 percent. Credit: Lisa Orye / Johns Hopkins University infographic

"I should know better by now that microorganisms are absolutely amazing. They are colonizing every possible environment on Earth. We found them at the bottom of the ocean. We found them in Antarctica sea ice. We found them in acidic mud pools," DiRuggiero said. "If we find any life elsewhere in the solar system — or outside of the solar system — it most likely is going to be microorganisms."

But for lithopanspermia to cross from possible on paper to something that actually happens, life would have to survive much more than the ejection from its home turf. An inhabited rock would have to withstand the deep freeze of space, drying out, space radiation, perhaps millions of years of travel, and then the heat of reentering another world before it lands. For years, Ramesh considered that chain of events to offer incredibly remote odds.

While the new results don't prove life moves between planets and moons, it has changed how he thinks about the possibility.

"I've gone from saying, 'This is just extraordinarily unlikely, and we shouldn't worry about it,' to saying, 'Well, OK, this is possible,'" he said. 

Planetary protection and contamination Researchers have identified at least 400 Martian meteorite rocks on Earth. Credit: Tobias Roetsch / Future Publishing / Getty Images illustration

The study also touches a live nerve in planetary protection — the effort to avoid accidentally seeding other planets with Earth life. Space agencies already scrub spacecraft within reason before sending them on their missions, but a few resilient hangers-on almost always remain. 

Scientists have particularly wondered what that means for Mars. If bacteria, fungi, or other microscopic life were to survive a clean room on Earth, it doesn't guarantee those stragglers will actually grow once they get to the Red Planet. But dead microbes still leave traces of DNA, which could complicate future attempts to discern a native Martian from our own contamination.

Planetary protection policies classify some worlds as needing strict spacecraft cleanliness to prevent contamination. Results like these could influence which bodies space agencies deem vulnerable. Phobos, in Ramesh's view, probably should be added to that list.

In the meantime, the work underscores how tough even simple, tiny life can be. For Ramesh, who has studied the mechanics of asteroid cratering for more than 15 years, the results have convinced him that fresh craters might actually be good places to look for life. Craters have cracks, perhaps allowing water to flow through them. 

"Maybe they're not as good at sterilizing life as I thought," he said.

There's something sublime about a really good ghost story, and I'm pleased to say Never After Dark is a really good ghost story. 

From House of Ninjas' writer/director Dave Boyle comes a horror thriller that has the slow burn of '70s classics like The Shining and The Exorcist. Like those searing horror legends, Never After Dark also centers its story of supernatural infestation in one location. The forest-bound bed-and-breakfast of Never After Dark might seem an unremarkable space, much like the Overlook Hotel or the MacNeil home at first glance. But as the chilling story develops, its many-windowed exterior grows foreboding, and its wood-paneled interiors slyly sinister, suggesting the presence of something inhuman and dangerous. 

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

Within this familiar setting of a remote hotel rotten with dark secrets, Boyle sets loose a strange specter whose ragged breath can be heard on the phone when he's not stalking the halls, his face hanging with gore, its bottom half nothing but a bloody absence. However, in his protagonist, Boyle offers a curious twist, blending the haunted-house archetype of the eccentric medium (Poltergeist, Insidious) with the hard-nosed detective of film noir. 

Shōgun's Moeka Hoshi stars as Airi, a nomadic clairvoyant who travels Japan making a living by communing with the dead. Each new haunted home is a mystery to be solved. Once Airi knows what the ghost wants, she performs a special ritual involving a candle to pierce the veil between the living and dead, then leads the ghost to their great beyond. But from the start, something is off about this job. A shrewdly paced mystery with mounting horror and gore, Never After Dark is sensationally spooky and devilishly entertaining. 

Never After Dark is more than what it seems. 

Deep in the woods sits a long-abandoned hotel that's haunted by an unnerving specter. When Airi pulls up in her beater of a car, she's got with her everything she possesses, meaning baggage physical, emotional, and supernatural. As she is greeted by the hotel's chipper owner Teiko (Tae Kimura) and her openly skeptical son Gunji (House of Ninjas' Kento Kaku, who is also a producer on Never After Dark), neither addresses Airi's teen sister Miku (Kurumi Inagak), who sits in the backseat of Airi's car, her head swaddled in a yellow knitted cap. That's because this girl is a ghost, seen only by Airi and only in reflections. 

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Working as a ghostbusting duo, their bond brings a levity to Never After Dark. Sure, in front of clients, Airi is professional, listening patiently to the story of a jawless ghoul creeping down the halls at midnight and noon. But when it's just Airi and her sister, there's the breezy energy of a slumber party. Theirs is an easy intimacy, spiked with playfulness as the teen pulls a poltergeist prank or Airi dances to a pop song through the haunted hotel. This subplot energizes the thriller, threading a liveliness in a tale of death, making it fun while frightening.

SEE ALSO: The best horror movies of 2025, and where to watch them

However, even with such joyful moments, Airi's suffering from mounting ennui. Her life has steadily become all about the dead. She has no home. Her best friend is her ghost sister, and it's hard to meet a potential beau when you're always off to your next seance. Even her hair reveals how this vocation is eating away at her. At a glance, she's a mild-mannered young woman in denim and sneakers who stands out only because of her asymmetrical haircut. Her black hair is long and lank on the left side, a choppy bob on the right. It is nearly chic, but noticeably a bit haphazard. Once we see the ritual, we understand. Communing with the other side demands a sacrifice of hair. So with each session, Airi surrenders a chunk of herself. In this visual clue of a messy haircut, Never After Dark asks what will happen when she's got nothing left? Perhaps no one is so aware as Airi that her time may be running out. 

Never After Dark is like an enchanting nightmare. 

Boyle rejects the temptation for jump scares, even when the opportunity for them is obvious. The antagonist ghost may appear abruptly, but never in a frantic attempt to frighten. He silently strides into rooms, or stands quiet in a corner staring hard, or clawing at a wall panel as if scratching for a secret door. These scenes of shrewd practical effects are all chilling because Boyle often frames them in wide shots, creating the sense that this is the ghost in its organic habitat. Dread blooms in this deceptively simple staging, because of how matter-of-fact the ghoul is placed in these spaces. It's Airi who is the outsider, not him. There's the sense that there's no escape from his menace. 

Bolstering the suspense, Boyle brews a soundtrack of plunking piano keys, whistling flutes, and a shuffling percussion that sounds like footsteps on stairs. A cool color palette leans into the eeriness, a constant reminder of flesh paled by decay.

Boyle fills his film with eerie elements that create an electric atmosphere, rich with paranormal possibilities. In this setting, Airi is the eye of the storm, surrounded by the big energies of the cheerful hotelier, a moody teen ghost, and a malicious spirit. She is our conduit to understanding them all, exuding patience, persistence, and pain. Yet as this mystery gets gnarlier, Hoshi capably plays frightened without losing Airi's edge. She is like the gumshoe, rattled but relentless in her mission to uncover the truth and do whatever good she can from there. 

This quest leads to a winding climax full of twists and violence, because this medium is no fragile flower. She'll fight with the same passion she brings to dancing, and the result is suffocatingly tense and satisfying. 

In the end, Never After Dark is a beguiling haunted house tale with tantalizing twists, skin-crawling scares, and a tender tale of sisterhood at its core. Horror lovers should be on the lookout for this one.

Never After Dark was reviewed out the 2026 SXSW Film Festival.

If you search for the term "alpine divorce," you'll find loads of headlines calling it the latest "TikTok trend." But while it might sound like just another fleeting internet buzzword, the reality is actually a chilling form of domestic abuse.

The phrase originates from a 1890s short story by Robert Barr about a man who takes his wife on a mountain hike, intending to push her off a cliff. Recently, the term resurfaced on social media following a high-profile criminal case in Austria.

SEE ALSO: 'Use a gun': AI chatbots help people plan violence, report says

A man — who can only be identified as Thomas P due to Austrian privacy laws — was convicted of grossly negligent manslaughter after abandoning his girlfriend, Kerstin G, in a winter storm near the summit of Mount Grossglockner. Kerstin G died of hypothermia after Thomas P left her on the mountainside in Jan. 2025 in treacherous conditions — winds of 45 mph, a temperature of −8 °C (18 °F), with a windchill temperature of −20 °C (−4 °F). Thomas P pled not guilty, but prosecutors argued that Thomas neither turned back nor sought help quickly enough to save his girlfriend. During the 14-hour trial, an ex-girlfriend, Andrea B, testified that he'd left her entirely alone on the exact same mountain in 2023. Thomas P was handed a five-month suspended sentence and fined €9,600 ($10,982).

Following that tragedy, women began sharing their own survival stories on forums like Reddit. A quick read through the thread r/climbergirls reveals numerous accounts in which a male partner endangered their female companions either by literally leaving them in perilous situations or by exhibiting a profound lack of consideration for their safety and well-being.

As a r*pe survivor and as someone who’s struggled with abusive partners in the past, reading these accounts was deeply unsettling. How are we (women) supposed to trust anyone in this world?

Our fears are unfortunately backed up by staggering statistics. In 2021, an estimated 4,970 women were victims of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Thirty-four percent were killed by an intimate partner, though some experts estimate that number is actually closer to half. Globally, the reality is just as grim: the United Nations reports that a woman is murdered by her partner or a family member every 10 minutes. The threat is disproportionately high in the U.S., which accounts for 70 percent of all femicides in high-income countries.

I spoke to trauma therapists and relationship experts to break down the psychology behind an alpine divorce, and how to spot the warning signs before you ever hit the trail.

The psychology of isolation

Abuse thrives in silence and isolation. In a domestic setting, there’s still some semblance of a safety net, whether it be neighbors, a cell signal, or just the ability to walk out. But when an abusive partner takes you into a remote, survival-based environment, all of those safeguards disappear. And suddenly, the person who put you in danger is also the only person you can rely on to survive.

"Taking someone to a remote location is the ultimate form of isolation and control because they're essentially taking away all access to help, communication, or witnesses," explains Jessica Ronyak, LMHC, LPCC, a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in abuse trauma. "It changes the psychological grip the abuser has on the victim because the abuser becomes the only point of safety and way out. This makes the abuser the threat but also the person to rely on for survival."

The great outdoors is also inherently dangerous, which gives the abuser the perfect cover for “accidents.” If you get left behind in a forest or on the side of a mountain, it’s easy for them to weaponize the unpredictability of the natural world.

"Nature is morally neutral," adds Ruth Darlene, founder and executive director of WomenSV. "What some men end up doing to women out there is not." Her nonprofit is dedicated to empowering survivors of coercive control, which she defines as "a pattern of threatening, isolating, controlling, and often shaming behaviors that entrap an intimate partner in their personal life."

She explains that for a covert abuser (someone who hides their controlling behavior behind a charming, respectable public persona), a hike is the ultimate way to exercise control while preserving their public image (because anything can happen). "Two go into the woods as husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend, and one comes out grieving the loss of his beloved partner, with no witnesses, only the tears of the remaining survivor."

Two go into the woods as husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend, and one comes out grieving the loss of his beloved partner, with no witnesses, only the tears of the remaining survivor. - Ruth Darlene, founder and executive director of WomenSV

Darlene calls this the "monopolization of perception," a psychological tactic where an abuser manipulates a victim into believing the world revolves entirely around them. By taking a partner into the wilderness, they completely isolate them from all outside assistance.

Ultimately, coercive control turns a romantic partner into a possession. "What is the ultimate right of property possession? Disposal," Darlene says. "The right to dispose of it when it no longer serves a useful purpose or begins to cause trouble."

A panic response or a calculated punishment?

When these stories go viral, the comment sections inevitably fill up with people playing devil's advocate or outright blaming the victim. In comments Mashable has reviewed, for example, you'll see variations of, "What was he supposed to do, stay there and freeze too?" or "Unless he did something to incapacitate her, he isn't responsible for her." Others argue that in high-risk situations, a partner might just panic and let their "flight" survival instinct take over.

According to Darlene, there's a visible difference between a trauma-triggered panic response and an act of coercive control. While a partner in an "unhealthy" relationship might run away during a conflict due to emotional immaturity or an instinctive fight-or-flight response, a covert abuser operates on a more "calculated" level.

"This kind of impulsive, reflexive 'trauma-triggered' behavior differs markedly from the calculating and premeditated tendencies of the abuser," Darlene clarifies. "Unhealthy crosses over into abusive behavior where there is a lack of accountability, self-reflection, empathy, remorse, or willingness to consider the needs of others."

Other therapists agree, noting that the true test is how the partner acts after the incident. Ronyak points out that "someone who acted in panic will show actual remorse and be sincerely apologetic," and likely try to help or attempt a rescue. Conversely, Gabrielle Wanchek, LMFT at Mindpath Health, explains that an abuser lacks true concern and will instead "get angry with the person who was in danger or shame the person before they try to reassign blame, making themselves the victim."

In short: It's one thing to storm out of a bedroom during an argument. It's an entirely different, calculated choice to drive off and leave someone in the wilderness.

Red flags and micro-abandonments

"Something as extreme as an alpine divorce doesn't usually appear out of nowhere," says Ronyak. She notes it’s almost always preceded by a pattern of behavior — like repeatedly minimizing your distress — that lets the abuser test the waters, establish dominance, and erode your self-esteem.

"Love is a slippery slope, and so is coercive control," Darlene warns. She explains that it often starts with excessive attention and lovebombing, or being overly affectionate very soon into the relationship. "What looks like checking in at first, over time can begin to look more like checking up on you." She emphasizes that the abuser's "mask" typically only begins to slip once the victim becomes vulnerable (e.g., falling in love, getting married, or moving to a new town).

Therapists refer to the stepping stones leading up to an alpine divorce as "micro-abandonments." These are everyday, seemingly mundane instances where a partner leaves you emotionally or physically stranded when you're vulnerable.

"I pay attention to patterns where one partner consistently withdraws care in moments of vulnerability, refusing help when the other is sick, stranded, overwhelmed, or frightened," says Melissa Legere, LMFT, clinical director and co-founder of California Behavioral Health. "These 'micro-abandonments' communicate a disturbing message: your safety and wellbeing are conditional and can be withdrawn as punishment."

It also shows up in how they handle conflict. Doriel Jacov, JD, LCSW, a psychotherapist and former corporate attorney, says that this type of abandonment reflects a "profound inability to tolerate and manage conflict." Instead of working through a disagreement, the abuser withdraws.

This can look like a partner who walks way ahead of you on a trail and gets annoyed when you ask them to slow down because they have a "low frustration tolerance." Or, it's the partner who stonewalls you during an argument. Complex trauma therapist Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW, explains that "stonewalling (shutting down, disappearing, and refusing to engage in any way) is a powerful form of micro abandonment that keeps the target on edge, wondering what they did wrong this time to incur this form of punishment."

In many of these survival stories, the abuser is an experienced outdoorsman, while the victim is a beginner.

There's also the insidious weaponization of expertise. In many of these survival stories, the abuser is an experienced outdoorsman, while the victim is a beginner. The abuser builds a false sense of security by acting as a guide and protector, but once you're out in the wild, you're on your own.

"Any trepidation on the target's part will be framed as paranoia and a betrayal, as they're insinuating that the abuser is not trustworthy," says Heller. They might shame you for not understanding a climbing system, withhold vital information, or intentionally set an exhausting pace just to prove how much you need them.

According to Darlene, when an abuser has superior survival skills, the victim becomes completely dependent on him, mirroring Stockholm Syndrome. "Here we see this phenomenon sped up, where suddenly, he literally has the power of life and death over her," Darlene adds.

Will the law actually protect you?

If you’re hoping the criminal justice system will protect you from this kind of abuse, the reality is incredibly bleak. In the Austrian case that started this international discourse, the offense carried a maximum sentence of just three years in prison, but the convicted climber received a far more lenient punishment, despite the guilty verdict. The court cited his "clean record" and the "loss of a person close to him" as mitigating factors, with the judge ruling that he did not "willfully" leave her behind. He didn't even serve immediate jail time for her death.

But other legal systems recognize the severity of this crime. For example, under UK Crown Court guidelines, a conviction for gross negligence manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a typical range of one to 18 years in custody. UK guidelines specifically list acting with a "blatant disregard for a very high risk of death" as a factor indicating high culpability. A history of abuse or violence, including coercive or controlling behavior, is an aggravating factor that increases the seriousness of the offense.

In the U.S., these types of "accidents" carry more weight depending on how the charges are filed. According to the United States Sentencing Commission, involuntary manslaughter carries a statutory maximum of six years, while voluntary manslaughter carries a maximum of 10 years. If the prosecution can prove intent and secure a first-degree or second-degree murder charge, the maximum penalty is life in prison.

Abusers are often aware of these loopholes. "For the covert abuser who decides that his relationship has 'run its course,' and who is now running the cost-benefit analysis... the cheapest, most efficient solution isn't a long, drawn-out, costly court battle," Darlene cautions. "It's a camping trip."

When it comes to family court or a literal divorce, judges can also view this coercive control with the severity it deserves. Mehnaz Zanil, an associate solicitor at the UK-based family law firm Rayden Solicitors, explains that courts do not treat these incidents as mere dramatic breakups.

"If a partner deliberately strands the other in a remote or unsafe location in order to frighten, punish, humiliate, or exert control, the court may consider that behavior within the wider definition of domestic abuse, which includes controlling or coercive conduct as well as psychological or emotional abuse," Zanil says.

If you're fighting for custody and trying to protect your kids from a guy who pulls this kind of stunt, don't let him gaslight you into keeping quiet about it — bring it up in family court. Leaving a partner stranded in a dangerous, isolating situation isn't just an "oops, I made a bad call" moment. Judges will look at the context and intent behind these so-called "accidents" to see them for what they really are: a calculated misuse of power and a glaring pattern of abuse.

Finding your footing again

Surviving an alpine divorce, or any relationship defined by coercive control, leaves a psychological scar. For many survivors, the hardest part is reconciling how their abuser used their best traits against them.

"What he has done is taken what's right with her, her very best qualities of understanding and empathy and self-reflection, and weaponized even those so that he gets used to blaming her and she gets used to blaming herself," Darlene says.

"The recovery process involves grieving the loss of the relationship, and also the fantasy of who they thought their partner was," Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD and clinical psychologist and relationship expert, tells Mashable. Legere agrees, noting that therapy often focuses on helping the survivor process the shock of the realization and stabilizing the trauma symptoms.

When you're ready to date again, Darlene insists the most important tool you have is patience. "Time is the enemy of the covert abuser," she says, noting that abusers often push for physical intimacy early on to short-circuit a victim's analytical mind. She recommends keeping a private journal to track early pink flags (like teasing, moodiness, road rage, or how he talks about his exes) to help you see the reality of his character before you're fully invested.

"Recovery looks like rebuilding nervous system safety and self-trust, helping survivors reconnect with their instincts, use self-compassion to reduce shame and self-criticism, and recognize early warning signs of coercive or controlling behavior," explains Chloë Bean, LMFT, a somatic trauma therapist.

Learning to trust your internal warning signals again is the most important step you can take. If your partner makes you feel unsafe, unsupported, or like your needs are a burden, listen to that instinct. Your safety should never be conditional.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text "START" to 88788, or access live chat support at thehotline.org/get-help

We're on a mission to bring you free food deals on special occasions. When we took on this task, we were expecting a lot of planning and careful preparation to make sure we were across the handful of events that go live every year. In reality, we're actually inundated with these free giveaways. It turns out that leading stores don't need much of an excuse to throw free food your way.

The latest event is Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π. Pi Day takes place on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three figures of π. On this special day, select pizza shops and stores across the country offer great discounts and freebies on pizza and pies.

We've checked out everything on offer from big names like Burger King, 7-Eleven, DoorDash, Papa John's, and more. We'll be updating this list with any new free food deals that drop over the weekend.

Pi Day 2026 food deals7-Eleven

7-Eleven is offering any flavor of large pizza for just $3.14. 7Now app users can also snag a whole pizza for just $3.14 at participating 7Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes locations.

Anthony’s Pizza

Visit Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings on Pi Day to score a 10-inch coal-fired cheese pizza for $3.14 with any beverage purchase. This offer is only available dine-in through 4 p.m. local time and you need to mention the offer when ordering.

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse ise offering a full-size Pizookie Dessert for just $3.14 after the purchase of a large or shareable pizza on Pi Day. This offer is available for dine-in only.

Blaze Pizza

Blaze Pizza is offering a second pizza for $3.14 when you purchase any 11-inch pizza. You're limited to one pizza per person and it's only valid for in-restaurant orders.

Burger King

On Pi Day, you can grab a free slice of Hershey’s Sundae Pie or Cinnamon Apple Pie with any purchase of $3.14 or more at Burger King.

Cici’s Pizza

Cici’s Pizza is offering a BOGO on any pizza for $3.14 with the purchase of a medium or large one-topping pizza. There's a limit of one order per customer and it's only valid for carryout and dine-in.

DoorDash

DoorDash is offering multiple deals on March 14:

• Blaze Pizza: BOGO Simple Pie 11-inch cheese pizza

• Pizza Hut: BOGO medium or large Create Your Own Pizzas

• Sbarro Pizza: $4 off orders of $20 or more or $5 off orders of $25 or more (DashPass members only)

Famous Dave’s

Famous Dave’s is offering a free slice of Bakers Square pie with a purchase, online, in-app, and in-store orders on March 14.

Goldbelly

Get 31.4% off pizzas and pies on March 14.

Grand Traverse Pie Company

Grand Traverse Pie Company is offering a free slice of Michigan ABC Crumb Pie with any purchase.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Score pizza slices for just $3.14 each.

Marco’s Pizza

Buy any regular menu-priced large or extra-large pizza, and you can get a medium one-topping pizza for $3.14 with the promo code PIDAY. This offer is available online or via the app. 

Papa John's

Papa Rewards members can buy one large one-topping pizza at regular price and get a second one for just $3.14.

Pieology

Pieology Pies & Perks Rewards members can score a free cookie or fountain drink with a purchase of a Create Your Own Pizza, Calzone, or Salad. There’s a limit of one redemption per customer.

Round Table Pizza

Members of Round Table Pizza Rewards can get a one-topping personal-pan pizza for only $3.14 with the purchase of any large or XL pizza.

The Pizza Press

Get a Signature Pizza for $3.14 when you order in-app at The Pizza Press. There's a limit of one order per customer.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

All the single ladies — and single fellas — are saying the same thing lately. Everyone’s absolutely exhausted from the rigmarole of online dating. App fatigue is very real, and it’s not making those genuine connections any easier to find. Sometimes it feels downright impossible, in fact. We understand the major issue all too well: Ultimately, you just want the dating apps that actually work. So which dating apps actually work?

There are no right answers because it’s less about finding an app that works than it is finding the right app for what you actually want. People on eharmony are probably looking for long-term commitment, while people swiping through hookup apps such as Tinder are after… well, let’s just say we know what they’re looking for.

The important thing is not to lose the faith. Sure, everyone’s suffering from dating app burnout, but it’s worth remembering they do get job the done. The best dating apps are one of the most reliable ways to meet a partner. A SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus found that 65 percent of people aged between 18 and 29 have used dating apps, while a 2023 report found that one in five young people met their partner via an app.

You just need the right app for you. Fortunately, Mashable’s dating experts have put in the hours to determine which apps are best for every kind of dater. So, to help you find your match, here’s a roundup of dating apps worth downloading in 2026.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races live. Watch the Chinese GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Australian GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

The new F1 season started in the way most fans expected. There was a lot of good, but plenty of bad.

I still don't really know where we stand this season after the introduction of regulation changes, but that uncertainty mostly feels like a good thing. Sure, the cars sound funny and there definitely seems like a lot of unnecessary complication, but there was also some genuinely thrilling racing from the first race weekend. And that's not always the case with F1, so I'll take that as a win.

And now the attention turns to China, and the first Sprint of the season. Can anyone stop Mercedes from flying to the front? I honestly have no idea at this stage, but I can't wait to see how Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren respond to Russell's dominant performance at Albert Park.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Chinese GP?

The Chinese GP is the second race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Shanghai International Circuit:

• Practice 1 — 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET on March 12

• Sprint Qualifying — 3:30-4:14 a.m. ET on March 13

• Sprint — 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET on March 13

• Qualifying — 3-4 a.m. ET on March 14

• Race — 3 a.m. ET on March 15

It's possible for fans to follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Chinese GP for free

I'm a paid-up member of Amazon Prime. You probably know by now that Amazon Prime comes with fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. That Prime Video access is crucial for this season of F1.

It's now possible to sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by gaining access to this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch the Chinese GP for free this weekend and then back out before needing to pay anything. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so is this really a free hack? That's up for debate, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can watch select races without spending anything.

If you've already used this method for the Australian GP, I suggest you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free at a glance: Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

This season of F1 could be special. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.

Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. Expect the likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen to challenge for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but Ferrari and Red Bull have shown pace at points.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 8

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 15

3. Japanese Grand Prix — March 29

4. Bahrain Grand Prix — April 12

5. Saudi Arabian Grand Prix — April 19

6. Miami Grand Prix — May 3

7. Canadian Grand Prix — May 24

8. Monaco Grand Prix — June 7

9. Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14

10. Austrian Grand Prix — June 28

11. British Grand Prix — July 5

12. Belgian Grand Prix — July 19

13. Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26

14. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23

15. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6

16. Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13

17. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26

18. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11

19. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25

20. Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1

21. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8

22. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21

23. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29

24. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. An Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year, but it's possible to gain access to Apple TV without spending anything.

Apple TV Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV Apple TV (7-day free trial) Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free. Shop Now Apple TV Prime Video Channel Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial) Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything. Shop Now Apple One Opens in a new window Credit: Apple One Apple One (30-day free trial) Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial. Shop Now

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

TL;DR: Stream the 2026 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Six Nations is a special competition. Want to see incredible speed and skill from supremely talented athletes? Check out the Six Nations. Want to experience intense passion from heated rivalries? The Six Nations offers that in abundance. Enjoy the sight of absolutely huge men smashing into each other at speed? Yep, the Six Nations is for you.

We've already been treated to some huge performances from the 2026 edition of this competition, and now the final round of games promises real drama. Everything is still to play for in this epic conclusion.

If you want to watch the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Six Nations?

The Six Nations Championship is an annual international men's rugby union competition between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Each team plays every other team once, with home ground advantage alternating from one year to the next.

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The current champions are France. England and Wales have won the competition most often (39 titles).

When is the 2026 Six Nations?

The 2026 Six Nations Championship is the 132nd edition of the competition. This year's competition will take place from Feb. 5 to March 14. Here's the full schedule of games:

• France vs. Ireland — 8:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 5 (ITV)

• Italy vs. Scotland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7 (BBC)

• England vs. Wales — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7 (ITV)

• Ireland vs. Italy — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14 (ITV)

• Scotland vs. England — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14 (ITV)

• Wales vs. France — 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 15 (BBC)

• England vs. Ireland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 21 (ITV)

• Wales vs. Scotland — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 21 (BBC)

• France vs. Italy — 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22 (ITV)

• Ireland vs. Wales — 8:10 p.m. GMT on March 6 (ITV)

• Scotland vs. France — 2:10 p.m. GMT on March 7 (BBC)

• Italy vs. England — 4:40 p.m. GMT on March 7 (ITV)

• Ireland vs. Scotland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on March 14 (ITV)

• Wales vs. Italy — 4:40 p.m. GMT on March 14 (BBC)

• France vs. England — 8:10 p.m. GMT on March 14 (ITV)

Fans can watch every game from the 2026 Six Nations without spending anything.

How to watch the 2026 Six Nations for free

The 2026 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

BBC iPlayer and ITVX are both geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This quick and easy action makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer and ITVX by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX

5. Stream the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer or ITVX without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to all your favorite free streaming platforms, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Six Nations?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

With the New Moon just a few days away, the Moon is shrinking into a thin crescent, with its lit surface fading more each night. For now, there's still a small bit of its surface illuminated, so keep reading to find out what you can see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, March 14, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 24% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

There's less visibility tonight, but still enough to spot some features. With just your naked eye, you can see the Aristarchus Plateau and the Kepler Crater. If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, get these out to see the Grimaldi Basin and the Gassendi Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct phases along the way. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount illuminated by the Sun shifts as it moves, which is why it can appear full, half-lit, or just a thin sliver at different times in the cycle. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Accessible.

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

HANDY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Infected.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RABID

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Goofy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SILLY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A boss.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

MOGUL

Final Hurdle hint

A blanket.

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

COVER

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a fictional mystery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 14, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Mesmerized

• Green: A pair

• Blue: Detectives

• Purple: Girls in the wild

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Hypnotic state

• Green: Starting with prefixes meaning "Two"

• Blue: Fictional inspectors

• Purple: Ending in female animals

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 #1006 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hypnotic state: DREAM, HAZE, SPELL, TRANCE

• Starting with prefixes meaning "Two": BINARY, DIOXIDE, DUOLINGO, TWILIGHT

• Fictional inspectors: CLOUSEAU, GADGET, JAVERT, MORSE

• Ending in female animals: HOOTENANNY, LICHEN, MOSCOW, NIGHTMARE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 14, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a baker.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 14, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 14, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A math teacher's favorite dessert

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a sweet treat.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Happy Pi Day.

NYT Strands word list for March 14

• Edges

• Fruit

• Glaze

• Crust

• Happy Pi Day

• Vent

• Filling

• Lattice

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're good with anatomy.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 14, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 14, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Above the foot.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ANKLE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Venezuela vs. Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free on Tele Rebelde or Venevision. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic pool stage was pretty epic, but we're expecting even more drama from the knockout rounds. The final quarter final sees Venezuela take on Japan. Venezuela qualified for this stage by coming second in Group D behind Puerto Rico. Japan have won every game so far, and topped Group C ahead of South Korea.

Japan will be favorites to advance to the semi-final stage. All eyes will be on superstar Shohei Ohtani as he looks to lead his side to another World Baseball Classic trophy.

If you want to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Venezuela vs. Japan?

Venezuela vs. Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic starts at 9 p.m. ET on March 14. This fixture will take place at LoanDepot Park.

How to watch Venezuela vs. Japan for free

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Cuba — Tele Rebelde

• Venezuela — Venevision

These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Venezuela vs. Japan in the World Baseball Classic by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit Tele Rebelde or Venevision

5. Live stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 World Baseball Classic before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Venezuela vs. Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free with ExpressVPN.

Film festivals are rich terrain for brilliant cinematic discoveries, and among the finest and funkiest finds of SXSW 2026 is Edie Arnold is a Loser. The feature directorial debut of Megan Rico and Kade Atwood, this coming-of-age comedy is as hilarious as it is chaotic and devilishly iconoclastic. 

Like Juno, this fresh and funny film centers on a high school weirdo who treads an unconventional path to finding her bliss. Now, Edie Arnold (Adi Madden Cabrera) is not getting preggo out of wedlock. Sure, the scowling nuns at her all-girls Catholic school consider Edie an underachieving delinquent, but she doesn't drink, and celibacy is practically the only extracurricular activity she's succeeding at — though not by choice. Like her classmates, she lusts after the only boy in their orbit, altar boy Walter Boyd (Lucas Van Orden), described by Edie's friends as "like Jesus's hotter younger brother, who was too hot to die." But to him, she's invisible… until she haphazardly starts a punk band called The Nundead. 

So begins a wild ride of self-discovery, friendship, fumbled flirtations, and punk rock. 

Edie Arnold is a Loser cleverly explores identity through crushes.  Credit: Courtesy of Infigo Films

Out the gate, co-director/screenwriter Megan Rico puts a strong stamp on her coming-of-age comedy, just as Diablo Cody did with Juno. It's not that Edie and her peers speak with the verbal panache and enticingly quirky slang of Juno and her peers. It's that Edie and her best friend Frances (a brilliantly broad McKenna Tuckett) are hilariously irreverent in their mercurial rebellions. When a young new nun named Sister Sheena (Luseane Pasa) tries to get the cacophony of a girls' choir into shape, Frances and Edie take the opportunity to goof off with violent miming. They imagine they're popping out their eyeballs or being tased, implying that's less torturous than playing the organ and percussion for this ungodly choir. Rico and Atwood add a little spice to this scene by papering over scribbled graphics that illustrate blood, drool, darts, and electric jolts, emphasizing the spunk of these irrepressible girls. 

The nuns who run the school demand that these girls be poised, polite, and obedient. Edie's earnest mom (Cherish Rodriguez), who is always desperate to impress, badgers her endlessly to be more feminine and gentle. Then there's the vicious queen bee Kati Vidal (Alana Mei Kern), who relishes every opportunity to embarrass Edie, like when Kati ties tampons into Edie's hair without her knowledge. ("I got tamped!" Edie groans at lunch with her four loser friends, who are destined to be Nundead.) But whatever fresh hell comes her way, Frances — whose aggressive headgear matches her pugnacious energy — has got her back. Together, they sneak out to a local punk show, where Edie makes a big impression, leading the girls to form a band and bring a cute young punk named Iggy (Gabe Root) into their orbit. 

While Frances is devoted to raising hell and having fun, Edie faces the question of who she will choose to be. Two distinct paths are presented through two very different boys. One is Walter Boyd, who seems religious and respectable, but secretly swigs communion wine and has less holier-than-thou ideas about sex. The other is Iggy, who has a punk aesthetic that might spook Edie's mom, but a punk soul that reflects her own. And yet, Edie Arnold is a Loser isn't really about the boys. It's about the girls, who write wild songs with lyrics like, "Cannibalize your lord and savior. Eat me! Eat me! EAT ME!"

Edie Arnold is a Loser is a sensational buddy comedy.  Credit: Courtesy of Infigo Films

Having been a loser in a Catholic high school myself, it was easy to see myself in Edie (even if I was never cool enough to start a band or learn the drums). Cabrera perfectly grounds Edie's teen angst, petty rebellions, and the awkward yearning of such an existence. But she's at her best when she and Tuckett are being gleefully combative.

Too often overlooked in movies about sisterhood are the cutting inside jokes that you can only pull on the girls who know you better than your own blood. So whether Edie and Frances are joking or fighting, it's radiantly clear what they mean to each other. And yes, even when a furious Frances improvises a diss track about Edie, the love is clear, the loyalty unquestionable.

Cabrera shoulders this chaotic coming-of-age tale with aplomb. Her supporting cast shines with an array of fools, bitches, and bozos (save for the truly splendid Sister Sheena). But newcomer McKenna Tuckett is the standout. As Frances, she exudes a mischievously wild energy, reminiscent of Beanie Feldstein's passionate theater kid in Lady Bird or the cocky Jack Black in High Fidelity. Frances has no fucks to give about being cool; she brandishes her headgear like a bull's horns, a threat for those who don't realize she's not to be messed with. She's the wild card who pushes Edie when she needs a good push (be it on stage or standing up to her mom). And together, they have a Romy and Michelle day, in that their movie might have a subplot boys and crushes, but in the end, it's really about their bond. And how it's weird, beautiful, and divine. 

Simply put, this indie coming-of-age comedy is sensational. Edie Arnold is a Loser is unapologetically outrageous, touching, and really goddamn funny. Look for it, and embrace your inner loser. 

Edie Arnold is a Loser was reviewed at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival.

At SXSW, the AI audio company ElevenLabs partnered with Rebecca Gayheart Dane, the wife of the late actor Eric Dane, to promote a new initiative that will provide free AI voice restoration to 1 million people with permanent voice loss.

Appearing alongside Gayheart Dane at a SXSW panel on Friday, ElevenLabs co-founder Mati Staniszewski said the company is actively looking for people around the world to participate in the 1 Million Voices Initiative.

Staniszewski encouraged audience members to share contact information for people suffering from voice loss due to cancer and other medical issues; potential participants can fill out an interest form online.

Eric Dane, known for his work in Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy, died in February after a struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Prior to his death, he worked with ElevenLabs to clone and restore his voice. Now Gayheart Dane wants to champion this technology for others.

“Our voices are such an important part of who we are, and something most of us take for granted,” she said. “As Eric's speech became gradually more impaired, I watched how that loss dimmed so much of his joy and sense of self. When he received his ElevenLabs voice, it made him emotional to have that part of himself back, and to know our daughters would always be able to hear his voice.”

Rebecca Gayheart Dane, Mati Staniszewski, and Yvonne Johnson appeared on the "Restoring Voices" panel at SXSW. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

AI is a controversial and divisive technology, of course. Deepfakes, misinformation, and copyright infringement have been regular themes in the AI discussions at SXSW technology panels in 2026. But just like any tool, it can be used in a positive way too.

“You know, people are very careful and concerned about AI technology in general, but this is the best example of using it for good,” Gayheart Dane said. “And I think that message means to be spread greatly, large and loud.

"Because [AI] can be used for good, and maybe this will inspire others, other AI companies, to do something good with their capabilities instead of something nefarious.”

SEE ALSO: It's time to add AI protections to your will How the 11 Million Voices Initiative works

To find people with voice loss and restore their voices, ElevenLabs is working with accessibility nonprofits and disability foundations like the Scott-Morgan Foundation.

Using a voicemail or a short video, ElevenLabs AI tools can faithfully recreate a person’s voice, allowing them to communicate in real-time using their own lost voice.

To promote the initiative, ElevenLabs also premiered the 11 Voices docuseries at SXSW. The series profiles 11 people with voice loss, all of whom are working with the 1 Million Voices initiative. 

Yvonne Johnson, a British woman with ALS who appears in 11 Voices, also participated in the panel, sharing her journey with voice loss and AI voice cloning. Using AI, ElevenLabs was able to recreate her voice, right down to the North London accent.

The docuseries shows Johnson renewing her vows with her husband. Speaking at the panel with her restored voice, Johnson said that the technology has been a huge gift for her family.

"So I simply type what I want to say, the same as you would with a text message, and then I just press a speech button, and my beautiful voice comes through," Johnson said at the panel.

"You can also tell someone off. I mean, really tell someone off,” she said — looking at her husband and son in the audience with a smile.

TL;DR: Live stream Puerto Rico vs. Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free on Tele Rebelde or Venevision. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic has already produced a number of interesting storylines, but Italy's victory over USA was probably the biggest moment of the competition so far. How far can Italy go in this tournament? Next they face Puerto Rico in the third quarter final on the schedule. This contest is tough to call — it could go either way.

If you want to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Puerto Rico vs. Italy?

Puerto Rico vs. Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic starts at 3 p.m. ET on March 14. This fixture will take place at Daikin Park.

How to watch Puerto Rico vs. Italy for free

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Cuba — Tele Rebelde

• Venezuela — Venevision

These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Puerto Rico vs. Italy in the World Baseball Classic by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit Tele Rebelde or Venevision

5. Live stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 World Baseball Classic before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

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

Watch Puerto Rico vs. Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Keep your devices powered up with the tiny GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $21.99
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Gone are the days of carrying around a super-heavy power bank to keep your devices charged. The GoCable not only fits on your keyring and tags along anywhere easily, but it also handles eight different tasks in the process.

Right now, you can secure the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

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How many cords do you need to take with you on vacation? How about on a usual work day? If the answer is more than one, you know all too well how frustrating it can be to untangle a web of cords in your bag. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable sets out to change all that — providing multiple ways to power up in one convenient package.

The GoCable 8-in-1 combines eight essential features into a sleek, keychain-attachable design. It features 100W ultra-fast charging, so you can power up your devices — from smartphones to laptops — quickly with Type-C, Type-C+, and Apple Lightning connectors. All you need to add is a power bank or wall adapter.

Need to transfer something? The GoCable also features high-speed file transfer capabilities. An LED power display shows real-time charging status, and the GoCable also includes a magnetic cable to prevent annoying tangling. Just toss it in your bag and forget about it, resting easy knowing your devices can easily be charged back up on the go.

The GoCable doesn’t just charge your devices; it also includes hidden features to make life a little easier. There’s a bottle opener and a safe-proofed hidden cutter that helps you open packages safely. An included carabiner clip can also attach to bags or belts, making it easy to keep on hand.

Don’t go anywhere without the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I can't count the number of times I stood outside my neighborhood church and lied to myself about my smartphone usage.

Over the past decade, my daughters have often stopped to play on the church's thick grass lawn. That's when I engage in the ritual of pulling the device from my pocket to pass the time, under the guise of efficiency. The lie arrives swiftly: You need to catch up on the online grocery order. You need to respond to that unanswered text message. Don't you need to know the weekend weather forecast? 

If I did see what I was doing, justifications would follow. Hey, your parents didn't watch you every second of the day. You're not doomscrolling, you're being productive!  It was only when I cut my phone out of my life for 24 hours that I saw those justifications were deceptions as well.

SEE ALSO: Yes, you can unplug for 24 hours

After writing a story about the annual Global Day of Unplugging, I decided to try it for myself. I emerged a changed person. When I returned to the church lawn just a few days later, I couldn't recognize my former self — the one who was convinced that her smartphone served her best interests.  

Now the constant connectivity seems like torture. When I don't have my phone at my side, I no longer have the fear that something is undone or amiss. The sensation of my phone in my back or coat pocket no longer registers as convenience but as a burden.

Instead, I feel a deep and abiding sense of ease. I have successfully reset my nervous system, shifting out of constant high-alert and into the sought-after "rest and digest" state. I'm much more patient with my children. And I sleep easier than I have in years.

I've read stories like this before, always with a skeptical eye. I thought 24-hour breaks were for people who used their smartphone mindlessly. I thought I had strong tech boundaries. After all, I report on the science of digital technology and well-being. My family has a no-phone rule at dinnertime. I didn't scroll social media in bed. I turn off notifications for most apps, and use the focus mode regularly.

Nonetheless, I'd built an illusion of freedom, underneath which my mind and attention remained yoked to my smartphone. I spent my days optimizing for productivity and efficiency. I toggled between email, texts, weather, maps, shopping, and other apps. My mind generated a never-ending list of tasks to complete on a screen. 

The scene at the church lawn wasn't unique. I did this nearly everywhere, even as I occasionally challenged myself to leave the phone untouched for short bursts. 

But a day without my phone was what it took to teach me that true liberation means living in the ambiguous and imperfect present, without a device as your dictator — or your crutch. 

"Not everything needs to be known" 

The idea of a digital sabbath has been around for years. I had long discounted the impact it might have on me personally. Still, the interviews I conducted for my story on the Global Day of Unplugging awakened something. 

When I decided to participate, I set low expectations. At first I committed to a 12-hour fast, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. My husband agreed to join me. To my surprise, a few family members did as well, when I informed our group chat that I would be unavailable via text for the evening. 

And that meant, for the first time that I can recall since I became a smartphone owner in 2009, I slept with my device in a different room.

This should have been low-hanging fruit. I knew the research that suggests a smartphone in the bedroom can worsen sleep. But without a landline, I feared I'd miss an emergency call in the middle of the night from a family member. I'd grown accustomed to listening to a 10-minute meditation on my phone at bedtime. Secretly, I didn't want to lose my meditation app streak. 

For this experiment, I decided to move my phone to the kitchen overnight. I took logistical advice from Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life, who recommended putting my phone on do-not-disturb while also leaving the ringer on in case a "favorite" contact needed to reach me.

I thought I'd struggle to fall asleep, but the opposite happened: I drifted off peacefully, no meditation needed. 

SEE ALSO: Can a $250 alarm clock break my doomscrolling habit? I slept next to the Dreamie for a month to find out.

There were moments of restlessness, but I awoke in the morning feeling lighter and more refreshed. I could've looked at my phone then; I'd hit the 12-hour mark. Whether it was the curious journalist or competitive athlete in me — or a combination of both — I decided I wanted to go further. Maybe I could make it 24 hours. A family caregiver would be spending the day with our kids, as my husband and I ventured out into the world without phones.

The preplanned date made sticking to a 24-hour fast trickier than it might have otherwise been. Our phones came with us, but they traveled in a zippered pouch in a backpack instead of our pockets.

First, we ran an errand that had been on our calendar for weeks. We discovered upon arriving that we were a half hour early, a product of not checking our phones habitually to confirm the details in advance. We decided to walk to a pizzeria for a quick slice. I knew from experience that it was a five to seven-minute walk.

Any other day I would've pulled up the location in my maps app to confirm the distance and walking time. Not this time. As we strolled, a phrase came to mind: not everything needs to be known. 

Freedom from the impulse to check

The impulse to check my phone arose multiple times early on that day, just as Price had warned. 

"The moment you put your phone down your brain is going to protest by coming up with all of these things you need to check or look up or buy or do," she told me. "It really is kind of fascinating how panicked your brain will get." 

Price recommended carrying a notebook to guard against the checking reflex, which I did. Yet a curious pattern emerged each time my brain wanted to consult the phone: None of the tasks were really that urgent or necessary. 

I didn't need to know the exact temperature; it was as unseasonably warm as our digital home thermometer said it would be. Still, my mind continued to search for things to do. Wouldn't it be nice to visit Lake Tahoe this summer? Maybe I should check the going rental rates. 

I heard the refrain again: Not everything needs to be known. 

After the errand, my husband and I decided to spend the summer-like spring day at the beach. Without checking a maps app, we concluded that traffic jams and packed parking lots would make the trip unpleasant. We opted for public transit instead, taking our chances on a ferry without checking the schedule. 

Once in the car, we realized neither of us knew how to get to the closest freeway entrance. We could've stopped and asked a stranger for directions, but for the video game-like maze of freeway entrances and the lack of places to park. Instead I summoned my phone's voice assistant — from the trunk — for brief directions, via the car's console. Once on the freeway, I exited the maps app on the console because I knew my way. 

This, I realized, is what it actually feels like to use your phone as a tool. 

No selfies, no problems

More than a hundred people stood in line at the ferry terminal, trying to shield themselves from the sun. Our phones remained stashed in the pouch. We didn't want them to rescue us from the uncertainty of the next boat's arrival.

The ferry came into view quickly, and we managed to shuffle slowly on board before the boat reached capacity. I contemplated a selfie with my husband, the wind whipping our hair as the ferry sped across the bay, faster than I've ever experienced. Normally I would've documented the moment and texted the image to a family thread as evidence of our adventure, awaiting their digital-heart responses.

But I didn't need the selfie or those affirmations today. The phone stayed stowed away.

Once in the city, I remembered which train would take us the eight-plus miles to the beach. On the train we counted each stop — more than two dozen of them between us and the Pacific Ocean, which crashed onto the beach before us an hour later.

The sound of waves usually calms my nervous system. This time, though, I arrived feeling relaxed. I hadn't battled traffic to this gorgeous destination, that was part of it. But I could also feel the equanimity of a peaceful existence start to override the impulse to check something — anything! — on my phone.

"I feel free," I told my husband, as we looked towards the thin blue horizon line. 

An adventure from before smartphones

Dinnertime approached. We walked to a restaurant we'd seen from the train. The fusion taco menu was a nice surprise; we hadn't checked what the restaurant served, or its reviews. The food took a while. We people-watched and bantered about the restaurant's early 2000s SoCal surf soundtrack instead of disappearing into devices. 

The food delay made our trip home more complicated than we expected. As the minutes ticked away, so did our ability to make the right ferry back home (I'd written down the schedule in my notebook). So we decided to take a ride-share car to a commuter train, which would deposit us as close to the ferry terminal where we parked as possible.

Once it helped in hailing the car, the phone stayed in its pouch. Again, it played the part of a useful tool instead of a distraction to mask our stress about getting back to our kids. 

SEE ALSO: Why I meditate while driving

Arriving at the train stop close to the ferry terminal, we looked for buses to take us the rest of the way. None were expected to come soon. So we opted to walk through the city without the aid of the maps app. We trusted our knowledge of the neighborhood's layout from years of driving through it.

I still don't know how long we walked. I never checked. We marveled during the stroll about how the day's adventure felt like something we would've done ages ago, before smartphones. 

'So you were like a kid?'

I later recounted the story to my older tween daughter, who does not have a smartphone but is surrounded by peers who do. I told her we'd spent the day navigating without directions or any clear timeline.

"So you were like a kid, then?" she asked me. I couldn't think of a more bittersweet response.

A few days later, thinking back on it, I felt a surge of anger. My 24-hour fast had reframed so much of my tech use as a waste of time, when I believed it to be productive and useful. This angry feeling is apparently common amongst those who unplug, according to the experts I've interviewed. Now I understand why everyone who has the phone-free epiphany proselytizes about it. 

As I write this, I'm three days out from my 24-hour fast. I'm learning to navigate the workweek without making my phone central to it. The transition isn't easy. I missed an important call and feel the urge to be available to friends and family via text. I've certainly thought twice about texting someone who's turned on do-not-disturb; I don't want to suddenly feel unreachable.

But I also don't want my attention split into meaningless fragments. And it took coming back to that church lawn to remind me.

That evening I was walking the dog with my younger daughter. She just lost her first tooth, often joyously hop-skips, and likes to collect tiny flower bouquets for me. Choral practice was underway inside the church; she was intrigued by the voices singing in harmony. She peered through the window, on tip toes, to take in the scene. I encouraged her to walk through the open front door and peek inside. She reported back: "They're singing!"

I grew up attending Catholic mass and have always been moved by hymnal singing. This time, tears gathered as I stood still and listened, while watching my daughter dart between blooming bushes, gathering scattered fallen flowers for me.

My phone was in my pocket. I had no urge to reach for it. I could not have cared less about my shopping list, unanswered texts, or the weather forecast. I was content in the moment, as the sky slowly darkened around us and voices in unison gave praise to God. 

YouTube still hasn't solved its AI problem. Digitally faked content is still seeping through the cracks, as users are inundated with AI-generated brainrot and AI-powered misinformation.

But Google, YouTube's parent company, believes it can at least assuage the worries of concerned parents — with even more AI.

SEE ALSO: Viral hit 'Your AI Slop Bores Me' is more than a joke YouTube bets on AI-powered kids media

On March 4, the tech giant announced it was investing $1 million into the AI-powered children's entertainment company Animaj, the first kids media business backed by Google’s AI Future Funds accelerator, Bloomberg reported. Under the deal, Animaj will also get exclusive access to its generative AI tools, like Veo and Imagine.

Behind the scenes, AI slop — particularly AI slop created for babies — has become one of the easiest ways to make a killing online. And YouTube is particularly rife ground, as the video viewing platform attracts the youngest demographic of child viewers.

Google has acknowledged its AI slop problem before, and even made efforts to demonetize accounts that post "low quality clutter." But studies show that children are still regularly recommended AI slop by YouTube's algorithms. A New York Times analysis published in February found thousands of examples of AI slop targeting young viewers, including ones that violate YouTube's child safety policies. In addition, YouTube does not require AI labelling on animated videos, the Times reported.

"It's not unlike Google to try to deflect attention from the real issue: AI slop is rampant on YouTube and YouTube kids, which puts developing children at risk of harm," said Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay for Kids' Young Children Thrive Offline program. Fairplay is a child safety nonprofit that researches the impact of screen time and commercial advertising on early childhood. "If 'managing AI slop' was really YouTube's top priority this year," said Franz, "they would have already taken down the millions of AI-generated 'Made for Kids' videos that are designed to entrance young children, leading to more screen time and displacing the activities they need to thrive offline."

View this post on Instagram What is Animaj?

Animaj is an AI content studio geared toward children's media. A 2026 show reel highlighting the company's flagship brands shows Animaji's particular emphasis on popular kids' IP, including Pocoyo and Ubisoft's Rabbids. "Animaj is a next-generation media company building the future of kids’ entertainment," the video description reads. "We acquire and grow iconic children’s IPs such as Pocoyo and Maya the Bee into global franchises through a digital-first, multi-platform strategy powered by AI-driven creativity."

Animaj scales existing IP using its proprietary AI tools, with the goal of bringing content "wherever kids are, whenever they want it." The company's co-founder Sixte de Vauplane has said he sees Animaj as proof of concept for high-quality, feature-length films powered by AI.

The company is affiliated with several kid-centric YouTube channels too, including the infant channel Hey Kids, a brand with more than 4 million subscribers. Bloomberg reported that the company's affiliated channels accumulated more than 22 billion views in 2025.

The problem isn't just AI

"These videos are pretty typical AI-generated videos that attract families because they are nursery rhymes and feature kid-friendly characters. But the videos are more about mesmerizing than anything else," said Franz.

Child safety advocates and education experts warn against content aimed at "mesmerizing" children with stimulating visuals and music, instead steering families toward evidence-based educational content with a slower pace and frequent interaction, like call-and-response queues. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents against AI-generated content and encourages them to choose longer-form videos over short-form content.

They need to fix their platform. Until that happens, no child is truly going to benefit.

Content that mesmerizes children — of which there is plenty on the platform — "displaces the time they need to spend playing, socializing, and using all their senses" during a period in which infants are still "wiring" their brains, said Franz. While this is a particular problem with AI-generated video, it also goes for human-created content, like the popular CocoMelon YouTube channel and even well-intentioned children's social media entertainers. "Now we have this layer of AI that has the potential to have unprecedented effects on our kids," she explains.

Replacing "low quality" slop with "high quality" kids content isn't a solution either, Franz argues, pointing at a body of research showing any screen time has adverse affects on children under the age of two. "Yet, Animaj's YouTube Channels are rife with videos for babies," said Franz. "If Google invests in [channels like] Hey Kids via Animaj, it means that it is investing in harming babies."

And even if you solve for content and age, there still a looming problem: The platform itself. Experts like Franz warn that the YouTube's very design is developmentally inappropriate for most children. Franz notes features like endless scrolling on reels, algorithm-based suggested videos, and the inability to turn off automatic playing as adverse to healthy development recommendations.

With it's focus on existing IP, Animaj may not be in the business of generating the kind of surreal, often obscene, brain rot peddled by hundreds of other YouTube creators. Nonetheless, Franz worries that the normalization of AI and its generative tools may supercharge an industry that is doing the opposite of what early childhood researchers recommend.

In a LinkedIn post last week, AI Futures Fund director Jon Silber said that Animaj is presenting a "blueprint for the future." He wrote that "getting this right for the next generation is a huge priority" for Google.

"If YouTube wants to try to make good content, fine. But they need to fix their platform. Until that happens, no child is truly going to benefit," said Franz.