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The New York Times studied videos of addresses posted online, including those by President Trump, Kermit the Frog and a slew of celebrity speakers. Here is a look at key themes that emerged.

Mr. Musk’s Starlink has brought the internet to some of South America’s most remote places. But Bolivia is shunning it, even as many there are desperate for better service.

Leo Goldsmith, an assistant professor of screen studies at the New School, can tell when you use AI to cheat on an assignment. There's just no good way for him to prove it.

"I know a lot of examples where educators, and I've had this experience too, where they receive an assignment from a student, they're like, 'This is gotta be AI,' and then they don't have" any simple way of proving that, Goldsmith told me. "This is true with all kinds of cheating: The process itself is quite a lot of work, and if the goal of that process is to get an undergraduate, for example, kicked out of school, very few people want to do this."

This is the underlying hum AI has created in academia: my students are using AI to cheat, and there's not much I can do about it. When I asked one professor, who asked to be anonymous, how he catches students using AI to cheat, he said, "I don't. I'm not a cop." Another replied that it's the students' choice if they want to learn in class or not.

AI is a relatively new problem in academia — and not one that educators are particularly armed to combat. Despite the rapid rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, most professors and academic institutions are still resoundingly unequipped, technically and culturally, to detect AI-assisted cheating, while students are increasingly incentivized to use it.

Patty Machelor, a journalism and writing professor at the University of Arizona, didn't expect her students to use AI to cheat on assignments. She teaches advanced reporting and writing classes in the honors college — courses intended for students who are interested in developing their writing skills. So when a student turned in a piece clearly written by AI, she didn't realize it right away; she just knew it wasn't the student's work.

"I looked at it and I thought, oh my gosh, is this plagiarism?" she told Mashable.

The work clearly wasn't written by the student, whose work she had gotten to know well. And it didn't follow the journalistic guidelines of the course, either; instead, it sounded more like a research paper. Then, she read it out loud to her husband.

"And my husband immediately said, 'That's artificial intelligence,'" she said. "I was like, 'Of course.'"

So, she told the student to try again. She gave them an extension. And then the second draft came in, still littered with AI. The student even left in some of the prompts.

"[AI] was not on my radar," Machelor said, especially for the types of advanced writing courses she teaches. Though this was a first in her experience, it rocked her. "The students who use that tool are using it for a few reasons," she guessed. "One is, I think they're just overwhelmed. Two is it's become familiar. And three is they haven't gotten on fire about their lives and their own minds and their own creativity. If you want to be a journalist, this is the heart and soul of it."

Machelor is hardly the only writing professor dealing with assignments written by AI. Irene McKisson, an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona, teaches one online class about social media and another in-person class about editing. Because of the nature of the in-person course, she hasn't had a significant issue with AI use — but her online course is rampant with it.

SEE ALSO: I'm a college writing professor. Here's what AI still can't do

"It felt like a disease," McKisson told Mashable. "Where you see a couple cases and then all of a sudden there's an outbreak. That's what it felt like."

So, what would McKisson tell students using AI to cheat?

"First of all, you signed up for the class," McKisson said. "Second of all, you're paying for the class. And third of all, this is stuff that you're actually going to need to know to be able to do a job. If you're just outsourcing the work, what is the value to you?"

It felt like a disease, where you see a couple cases and then all of a sudden there's an outbreak. That's what it felt like. - Irene Mckisson Why is it so hard for professors to catch AI cheating?

While AI detectors exist, they are unreliable, leaving professors with few tools to definitively identify AI-generated writing.

The technology is new, which means the detectors are new, too, and we don't have much research available on their efficacy. That said, one paper in the International Journal for Educational Integrity shows that "the tools exhibited inconsistencies, producing false positives and uncertain classifications." And, as with most tech, the results change depending on so many variables. For instance, a study in Computation and Language noted in the University of Kansas' Center for Teaching Excellence shows that AI detectors are more likely to flag the work of non-native English speakers than the work of native speakers. The authors argued "against the use of GPT detectors in evaluative or educational settings, particularly when assessing the work of non-native English speakers."

Like Goldsmith said, you can usually tell if something is written by AI — it's just really tough to prove it.

Of course, tech could be both the problem and the solution — tech fighting tech. After AI cheating startup Cluely went viral, other startups started racing to create a tool that could reliably catch Cluely, like Truely and Proctaroo. 

Paul Vann, the cofounder of Truely, told Mashable that "resoundingly, people are worried" about AI and cheating. "People don't know how to deal with this type of thing because it's so new, it's built to be hidden, and frankly, it does do a good job at hiding itself." Truely, he claims, catches it. 

Both Truely and Proctaroo can tell if an AI system is running in the background, but even the creators admit that these tools aren’t silver bullets. What if the AI assignment is an essay, turned in by hard copy? That's a bit tougher.

As AI gets better, detection may always be a step behind — the real answer might lie in rethinking how we produce assessments, not just the kind of surveillance we have to put on students.

Blurred boundaries: When is using AI considered cheating? Credit: Gabby Jones / Bloomberg via Getty Images

There are definitely students who want to use AI specifically to cheat. But because the use of generative AI in school is so new, it's also hard to know what counts as "cheating." Is it cheating to use spellcheck? Is it cheating to use AI to brainstorm? Where is the line?

"Professors have started to include statements about AI use in their syllabi, I have noticed in the past year," Sarina Alavi, a psychology PhD student and content creator at @psychandeducation, told Mashable. "Some are completely against it while others kind of say, 'Well, it’s fine to use, but just know the output is usually poor quality and remember plagiarism policies.'"

But institutions are behind the curve. There are often no standardized policies or training for professors. 

For instance, Harvard's guidelines on the intersection of generative AI and academic integrity say only that specific schools should develop and update their policies "as we better understand the implications of using generative AI tools."

"In the meantime, faculty should be clear with students they’re teaching and advising about their policies on permitted uses, if any, of generative AI in classes and on academic work. Students are also encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification about these policies as needed," the guideline reads.

Yale's AI guidelines and the University of Arizona's guidelines, for example, say basically the same thing, leaving teachers with the tough job of deciding what to do with AI in their own classrooms.

"It's an academic freedom thing," McKisson said. "Your professor is free to teach their class however it needs to be taught. That's baked into the culture of academia, which I think is great."

It's helpful to have guidance, she said, and the schools give some of that. But what the schools don't provide is the practical guidance for how to effectively catch and combat AI cheating. McKisson, Machelor, and Goldsmith have all added lines into their respective syllabi telling students they can't use AI to complete assignments for them, but they all had to find that language on their own. McKisson, for her part, discovered the right language on a "Reddit thread of professors from all over the country who were talking about this issue."

"There was a whole discussion about rubrics, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh! That's it. That's the way to curb some of this, is to use the rubric to give people [who use AI] zeros,'" she said. "[Students are] going to keep doing it unless there's a negative consequence."

The result of all this ambiguity has led some educators to panic over a student cheating epidemic with no clear cure. Tech is advancing faster than policy, and it's hard for schools to keep up with the AI tools students are using. It's confusing for students and professors alike. Like U of A's guidelines read, "Students may not be aware that AI policies can and will vary between courses, sections, instructors, and departments, so take time to support them in understanding and abiding by different policies."

Alavi says that she uses AI for some class readings by uploading the PDF and asking AI for summaries, key takeaways, and talking points, which saves her "a lot of time because I can quickly read articles and not have to re-read them before class to have solid points to bring to class discussions." For writing, she might use AI for inspiration or if she's stuck on a transition sentence. "Of course, if I use anything generated, I’d put it in my own words because I find the output to sound robotic and generic," she said.

For some professors, it's even more clear-cut.

"If you're using it to write a paper for you, then of course I would consider that cheating," Goldsmith said. "But cheating is a mild word. It's just pointless. It's a waste of a huge amount of money that the students are paying or incurring as debt, in some cases lifelong debt. But it also just doesn't get you anywhere. And it's been very easy to spot as an educator."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why do students use AI? Credit: JHU Sheridan Libraries/Gado/Getty Images

It's finals week, and you're staring down the barrel of despair. Over the next two days, you'll have to write three essays, take one test online, and take one multiple-choice final in person. You have a project to do. You have makeup assignments to turn in. You have to maintain your GPA or you'll go on academic probation. There aren't enough hours in the week to both succeed and sleep, but generative AI could write your three essays, take that online test, and make flashcards for your multiple-choice final faster than you could make dinner. And you know your professors can't catch you because there's no simple way to prove ChatGPT wrote your essay.

For students facing academic and financial pressure, AI can seem more like a productivity tool than cheating. And, of course, everyone else is using it.

Would you be able to avoid the pull?

Writing is a pain in the ass. Nobody likes to write. - Leo Goldsmith

Alavi can, for the most part. She likes the subjects she's studying, and she wants to actually learn, and she knows AI can't replicate that. All the while, she says she understands the impulse for "students who are introduced to AI in high school or college" to use AI or rely on it. She says, thankfully, she's gone through a decade of academic training without it.

"I also really respect the time and intention my professors are putting into creating assignments with the purpose of promoting student learning, and I think relying on AI would not honor their hard work and also take away from my learning," Alavi said. 

As Goldsmith says, "the whole purpose" of going to school "is to learn." If using AI is getting in the way of your ability to learn, there are other questions to ask.

"The hard work of writing and the hard work of reading and discussing is what the whole purpose of education is," Goldsmith said. "It's not to learn facts."

Goldsmith, who teaches screen studies, admits that his students, for the most part, hate the use of AI in art. But that doesn't stop them from using it for assignments. Why? "Because writing is hard."

"Writing is a pain in the ass," he said. "Nobody likes to write. You are a writer. I am a writer. We hate writing."

What could actually stop AI cheating?

For some college professors, a greater focus on pedagogy is the way to move forward. More in-class writing, more oral work, more iterative drafts, more pencil-and-paper tests, and maybe even promoting the use of AI for specific aspects of assignments.

Ironically, the most effective way McKisson has found to curb the use of AI is to, well, use AI.

"I actually fed every single one of my sets of discussion questions for the whole semester into ChatGPT and I asked it to help me AI proof it as much as I could," McKisson said. And it worked. Now her students have to send screenshots of social media posts and submit works cited and other work that ChatGPT can't necessarily do particularly well. After she implemented those changes, fewer students blatantly used AI, and she was left less frustrated.

Or, perhaps, we think about what the true value of education is. Goldsmith points out that if it is truly just "valued now as a piece of paper that you spend a lot of money on," perhaps we should all do a bit of reflection.

"It's inevitable that AI will be used and used productively in lots of fields," Goldsmith said. "But the push is something that may need to be resisted. Who's benefiting from it? And why?"

And, as McKisson said, the answers can't be purely to punish students who use AI and pretend it isn't going to be here for the long haul. She approaches teaching like a "partnership" between educator and student, and AI is forcing educators to "rethink how we teach and what the partnership agreements are like."

"My bigger question is how do you redesign higher education?" McKisson said. "We're not gonna solve it today… But the way we have designed a large chunk of higher education, especially the online-only stuff, is not going to work because it's so easy and cheap and rewarding to use AI tools."

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

TL;DR: Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2) in the 2025 NBA Finals for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

At what point are we going to stop underestimating the Indiana Pacers? At almost every stage of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, we have expecting them to fall short. But after another miraculous comeback in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, are fans finally starting to believe?

If you want to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2) in the 2025 NBA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2)?

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2) starts at 8 p.m. ET on June 8. This game takes place at the Paycom Center.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2) for free

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2) in the 2025 NBA Finals is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Finals before recovering your investment.

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Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 2) for free with ExpressVPN.

BookTok still runs the publishing industry.

Many of the books you might hear about most on TikTok aren't exactly recent. Readers get pulled into the community by watching re-reads of Harry Potter or first reads of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the gripping young adult fantasy series by Sarah J. Maas. But when a new novel comes out, BookTok can turn contemporary.

Here are the top 12 books published in 2025 so far, according to BookTok, organized alphabetically by author. How many have you read?

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Joe Abercrombie, the author behind The First Law and The Age of Madness trilogies, among other fantasy novels, brought something new to life with The Devils. Elves — a far cry from the kind you might remember from Lord Of The Rings — threaten to eat all of the flesh in Europe, so a special team of monsters is recruited to save the world.

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If you're on BookTok at all, you know about the Legendborn series. It's the third book in the series that combines the legend of King Arthur, secret societies, and the mythos of the American South.

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This novel is a feminist retelling of Carmilla, the 1872 Gothic novella that inspired Dracula.

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The newest novel from the queen of contemporary romantic fiction features her classic blend of depth, wit, and humor. You might see it referred to as BGGL on TikTok.

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This novel follows Grady Green, whose wife goes missing. He ends up moving to a small Scottish island, as one does following the disappearance of their wife, and sees someone who looks remarkably similar to his missing partner.

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As Ali Hazelwood is known to do, she wrote another of her classic romantic comedies with two leads who might be too smart for their own good.

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With Hendrix's classic mix of dark humor and supernatural chaos, this book follows a group of teens at a home for pregnant girls as witchcraft enters the fold.

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This small-town, western, enemy-to-lovers romance features two people who hate each other and get married just to take custody of a nephew.

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Amal El-Mohtar is one of the bestselling authors of This is How You Lose the Time War, which sailed to the top of bestseller lists and TikTok For You Pages. This novel, at just under 150 pages, follows two sisters who cannot be apart.

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This novel follows a disabled Nigerian American woman who writes a successful sci-fi novel, and then has to deal with the outcome of rising fame.

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For anyone who loves a book that you can binge, it should come as no surprise that BookTok is obsessed with the newest addition to The Hunger Games. This novel, a prequel to the original trilogy, follows Haymitch during the 50th Hunger Games.

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The highly anticipated third book of Yarros' adult romantic fantasy series, the Empyrean series, after Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, came out at the beginning of the year and set BookTok up for some spicy conversations. Dragons. Romance. Rebellion. It's got it all.

TL;DR: Scan anything, anywhere, with this lifetime subscription to iScanner, now £18.78 (reg. £149.56) with code SCAN.

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Raise your hand if you've ever had to rush to the library to print something. If most of us don't have the space for clunky printers, chances are we also don't keep a scanner at home. That's what iScanner is for.

This iOS app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a handy little scanner that works for basically any document type. Scan anything, anywhere, with this lifetime subscription to iScanner, now £18.78 (reg. £149.56) with code SCAN through June 1.

No more wasted desk space

Even if you're one of the few with a physical scanner still in your presence, you can now clear some counter space thanks to iScanner. And while you're at it, you can throw away that dusty old filing cabinet, too. 

iScanner is the number one US-based scanning and document management tool, letting you knock items off your to-do list from anywhere. Need to save a receipt for taxes? Do you have a contract you need to digitise? You can scan any document using just the phone on your iOS device. 

Students, entrepreneurs, educators, and stay-at-home moms alike will all find endless uses for a scanner in your pocket. The AI-powered tools ensure your documents' borders are detected and automatically adjusted while also straightening scan pages and ditching curves and skews. 

Thanks to AI, you can also use iScanner to help you solve complicated math problems.  Or put its OCR technology to the test and let it help you decipher text in up to 20 languages.

Once things are scanned, the app becomes a full PDF editor and file manager. Edit your scans, including signing them, adding text, or auto-filling them with custom templates. Then, use the file manager's folder via drag and drop to keep them safe and organised. 

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 French Open final for free on 9Now, France TV, or Servus TV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 French Open has been a tournament to remember. We've seen some huge performances from the best players in the world, and now all that's left is Alcaraz against Sinner in the men's final. It's the final that fans really wanted — it's going to be an awesome spectacle.

If you want to watch Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 French Open final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Alcaraz vs. Sinner for free

Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 French Open final is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Australia — 9now

• Austria — ServusTV

• France — France TV

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to live stream Alcaraz vs. Sinner (plus the rest of the 2025 French Open) before recovering your investment.

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TL;DR: Live stream Portugal vs. Spain in the UEFA Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League final is finally here, and we're expecting something pretty special. Portugal take on Spain for the trophy, with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal on display.

If you want to watch Portugal vs. Spain in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Portugal vs. Spain?

Portugal vs. Spain in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 8. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Portugal vs. Spain for free

Portugal vs. Spain in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on ITVX from anywhere in the world.

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• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Stream Portugal vs. Spain in the UEFA Nations League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. France in the UEFA Nations League for free on TF1+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Germany and France missed out on the UEFA Nations League final, but they'll still want to end their campaigns on a positive note. This third-place playoff promises to be pretty epic, with a number of top-quality players on display.

If you want to watch Germany vs. France in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. France?

Germany vs. France in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on June 8. This fixture takes place at the MHPArena.

How to watch Germany vs. France for free

Germany vs. France in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1+.

TF1+ is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can access free live streams on TF1+ from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. France by following these simple steps:

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

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Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Germany vs. France in the UEFA Nations League without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1+, for a number of reasons:

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

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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's The Mini crossword answers for June 8 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: To keep going

• Green: Heard on Wall Street

• Blue: Celeb facts

• Purple: Used to describe finances

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Persist

• Green: Animal metaphors in economics

• Blue: Sidebar info on a person's Wikipedia page

• Purple: Homophones of slang for money

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 #728 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Persist: HOLD, LAST, STAND, STAY

• Animal metaphors in economics: BEAR, BULL, DOVE, HAWK

• Sidebar info on a person's Wikipedia page: BORN, EDUCATION, OCCUPATION, SPOUSE

• Homophones of slang for money: BRED, CACHE, DOE, LUTE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 8

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

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 8 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On Broadway

The words are theater-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are parts of a musical.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Its Showtime

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for June 8

• Singing

• Cast

• Score

• Its Showtime

• Costumes

• Dancing

• Lights

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

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

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

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for June 8 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's The Mini crossword answers for June 8, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A signed renter's document.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LEASE.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 8

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

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

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

If you 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

To respond.

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

REACT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A section of a film or play.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 8, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SCENE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Spacious.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 8, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ROOMY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Muscle.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 8 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BRAWN

Final Hurdle hint

Related to computers.

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

CYBER

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

A designer for Apple, he created software that made it possible to display shapes, images and text on the screen and present a simulated “desktop.”

NASA’s longest-running Mars mission has sent back an unprecedented side view of a massive volcano rising above the Red Planet, just before dawn.

On May 2, as sunlight crept over the Martian horizon, the Odyssey spacecraft captured Arsia Mons, a towering, long-extinct volcano, puncturing a glowing band of greenish haze in the planet’s upper atmosphere. 

The 12-mile-high volcano — nearly twice the height of Mauna Loa in Hawaii — punctures a veil of fog, emerging like a monument to the planet's ancient past. The space snapshot is both visually arresting and scientifically enlightening.

"We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds," said Jonathon Hill, who leads Odyssey's camera operations at Arizona State University, in a statement, "and it didn't disappoint."  

SEE ALSO: An enormous Martian cloud returns every spring. Scientists found out why. Arsia Mons sits at the southern end of a towering trio of volcanoes called the Tharsis Montes. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

To get this view, Odyssey had to do something it wasn’t originally built for. The orbiter, which has been flying around Mars since 2001, usually points its camera straight down to map the planet’s surface. But over the past two years, scientists have begun rotating the spacecraft 90 degrees to look toward the horizon. That adjustment allows NASA to study how dust and ice clouds change over the seasons.

Though the image is still an aerial view, the vantage point is of the horizon, similar to how astronauts can see Earth's horizon 250 miles above the planet on the International Space Station. From that altitude, Earth doesn’t fill their entire view — there’s enough distance and perspective for them to see the planet's curved edge meeting the blackness of space. Odyssey flies above Mars at about the same altitude. 

Arsia Mons sits at the southern end of a towering trio of volcanoes called the Tharsis Montes. The Tharsis region is home to the largest volcanoes in the solar system. The lack of plate tectonics on the Red Planet allowed them to grow many times larger than those anywhere on Earth.

Together, they dominate the Martian landscape and are sometimes covered in clouds, especially in the early hours. But not just any clouds — these are made of water ice, a different breed than the planet’s more common carbon dioxide clouds. Arsia Mons is the cloudiest of the three. 

Scientists have recently studied a particular, localized cloud formation that occurs over the mountain, dubbed the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud. The transient feature, streaking 1,100 miles over southern Mars, lasts only about three hours in the morning during spring before vanishing in the warm sunlight. It's formed by strong winds being forced up the mountainside.  

The cloudy canopy on display in Odyssey's new image, according to NASA, is called the aphelion cloud belt. This widespread seasonal system drapes across the planet's equator when Mars is farthest from the sun. 

This is Odyssey's fourth side image since 2023, and it is the first to show a volcano breaking through the clouds.

"We're seeing some really significant seasonal differences in these horizon images," said Michael D. Smith, a NASA planetary scientist, in a statement. "It’s giving us new clues to how Mars' atmosphere evolves over time."

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, June 7, 2025:

AcrossYoga class need

• The answer is Mat.

Umlaut, rotated 90°

• The answer is Colon.

"That is shocking!"

• The answer is Oh my god.

"___ You the One?" (reality TV show)

• The answer is Are.

Egg cells

• The answer is Ova.

One of two "royal" sleeping options

• The answer is King bed.

Bar seating

• The answer is Stool.

Favorite team of the "Chicago Pope," for short

• The answer is Sox.

DownSlices of life

• The answer is Moments.

Olympic gymnast Raisman

• The answer is Aly.

Request at the end of a restaurant meal

• The answer is To go box.

Hayes of MSNBC

• The answer is Chris.

Medium for Melville or McCarthy

• The answer is Novel.

Wood used for wine barrels

• The answer is Oak.

June honoree

• The answer is Dad.

Sticky stuff

• The answer is Goo.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch day has come and gone, and those lucky enough to get a console are already happily playing Mario Kart World and other launch titles.

Starting on June 5, gamers could finally purchase the Switch 2 console for $449.99 and the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle for $499.99 — if you could find it in stock. Costco had inventory available on June 5, and Target started selling its inventory online on June 6, but as of this writing, it's unavailable at all retailers. GameStop and Staples at least have tools that let you check available stock at nearby stores.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Buy the Switch 2 console at Target $449.99
Release date: June 6 Shop Now

So, where can you buy the Switch 2 online? Check for Switch 2 stock at the My Nintendo Store and official Nintendo retailers and smash that refresh button like it's your first time playing Super Smash Bros.

• Buy the Switch 2 at Nintendo

• Buy the Switch 2 at Walmart - Unavailable

• Buy the Switch 2 at GameStop - Unavailable

• Buy the Switch 2 at Best Buy - Unavailable

• But the Switch 2 at Costco - Unavailable

• Buy the Switch 2 at Target - Unavailable

Every way to buy the Switch 2 online Credit: Nintendo

To avoid hoarding and reselling, Nintendo and retailers are limiting orders per person. That means you'll need to make an account to successfully place an order. We also recommend reviewing our tips for tracking restocks, and in the meantime, try all the links below.

Place an order with Nintendo

You can't simply go to the My Nintendo Store and buy the Switch 2. To order the Switch 2, you need to log in with an active, paid Nintendo Switch Online account. Once you do that, you can choose either a Switch 2 standalone console or the Mario Kart World bundle and then hit the confirm button to "register your interest" in ordering a Switch 2.

Now for the weird stuff. Only Switch Online members who have paid for at least 12 months of service and registered at least 50 hours of gameplay on their Switch consoles can purchase through Nintendo. In other words, you better be a true Switch gamer if you want to buy the Switch 2 this way. If you're eligible and follow these steps, watch your email for an invitation link.

Buy the Switch 2 at Nintendo: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Learn More Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499 Learn More How to order Switch 2 at Walmart

Unlike Nintendo, purchasing the Switch 2 online at Walmart is pretty simple. Technically, Walmart shoppers have been able to preorder Switch 2 consoles on Walmart's website since midnight ET on April 24. In reality, the console has been sold out consistently. Our advice? Go to the Walmart Switch 2 listing a few times a day and smash that refresh button.

We'll update this article as soon as we find Switch 2 consoles in stock at Walmart (or anywhere). Walmart also sells a lot of Switch 2 launch titles and accessories.

Buy the Switch 2 at Walmart: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now How to buy Switch 2 at Target

Target stores opened as usual on launch day, and according to a press release, Switch 2 hopefuls were directed to a "designated queuing location" near the entrance. Target workers reportedly gave out reservation tickets to a lucky few. Buyers were whisked off to the electronics department, where they could finally purchase either the Switch 2 or a Switch 2 bundle.

Buy the Switch 2 at Target: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now How to buy Switch 2 at GameStop

GameStop is the one retailer of the four listed here that's doing things a little bit differently. If you were lucky enough to get a GameStop preorder, you could pick up your console at midnight on June 5. GameStop stores also hosted midnight launch events (though supplies were limited), and gamers can go to GameStop locations to participate in a "Transfer and Trade," where they trade in their original Switch and transfer data to the new console.

You can also try your luck online or sign up to get updates when new inventory becomes available. You can also buy Switch 2 games and accessories at GameStop, including those all-important MicroSD Express cards.

Buy the Switch 2 at GameStop: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now How to buy Switch 2 consoles at Best Buy

Best Buy joined GameStop in hosting Switch 2 midnight launch parties, but the tents and lawn chairs have been packed away by now. If you weren't one of the chosen ones who got a console at these events, you'll have to rely on the Best Buy website. So far, we haven't seen any inventory available, unfortunately.

As a “high-demand item,” Best Buy customers have to follow specific steps to buy a Switch 2 online:

• Create a My Best Buy account and sign in

• Confirm your location

• Add the item to your cart

• Follow the on-screen prompts and check for available inventory

• If you get a Switch 2 console in your cart, you’ll have 10 minutes to complete the purchase

Buy the Switch 2 at Best Buy: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now Can you buy the Switch 2 at Amazon?

You'll notice there's one major retailer conspicuously missing so far — Amazon. That's because Amazon is not an official Nintendo retailer, so any Switch 2 consoles you find there are likely listed by resellers of dubious legitimacy. However, Amazon shoppers can preorder some Switch 2 titles ahead of the launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion Limited Edition $99.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma Standard Edition $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now How to buy the Switch 2 at Staples

As we noted in our Switch 2 preorder guide, select Staples stores will sell the Switch 2 on a first-come, first-served basis starting June 5. Most Staples locations open at 8 a.m., but we recommend showing up bright and early. Staples will also be selling an unnamed Switch 2 game bundle, and we know it's not the standard Mario Kart World bundle. As with other retailers, Switch 2 consoles are currently listed as "Out of stock" at the Staples online store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 at Staples
Learn More How to buy the Switch 2 at Costco

Are you a Costco member? Then you may be able to secure your Switch 2 at the mega-retailer, which has been one of the few retailers with actual inventory available on June 5. Costco members can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle online starting June 5, though there's a limit of one console per membership (every seven days). As of this writing, the console and Mario Kart bundle are both sold out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 at Costco
Learn More Why is the Switch 2 so hard to find in stock?

Simply put, it's a matter of demand far outpacing supply, though tariffs definitely didn't help.

Since opening for preorder on April 24, the Switch 2 has been sold out pretty much everywhere, like the PS5 before it. In fact, so many gamers tried to place preorders on April 24 that they immediately crashed the GameStop, Target, and Walmart websites. That's left many Switch fans wondering how to buy the Switch 2 online. So, if you aren't buying a Switch 2 in person, keep checking this page for the latest stock updates on Switch 2 launch day and beyond.

Popular Switch 2 accessories

If you want to console yourself by stocking up on Switch 2 accessories, chargers, and cameras, these products are much easier to "Add to cart."

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Hori Piranha Plant Camera $59 at Walmart
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller $84.99 at Target
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 (256GB) $59.99 at Target
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip $39.99 at Nintendo
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo GameCube Controller $64.99 at Nintendo
Shop Now Still want more information? Our first impressions of the Switch 2 Mashable reporter Alex Perry plays the Switch 2 at a Nintendo event. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Mashable reporter Alex Perry was lucky enough to play the Switch 2 at two Nintendo pre-launch events, and as of this writing, he's hard at work testing his Switch 2 review unit. We've published his day one review, and check back for a full review next week. To sum up his thoughts, while there are a couple of annoying setup quirks, the new console is a big step forward and just as much fun as you'd hoped. You can also read all about the Switch 2 launch titles we're most excited to play.

"I think it’s awesome," Perry wrote in his Switch 2 early review. "Most of the games I’ve played have been impressive in one way or another, and the hardware is a clear improvement over the first Switch. It’s not perfect, but nothing is."

And if you still haven't secured an order, keep checking this page for updates — and good luck!

UPDATE: Jun. 7, 2025, 8:15 a.m. EDT We've updated this page with the latest stock updates from Target, Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, Costco, and Staples.

An asteroid discovered late last year is expected to be in our neck of space in 2032.

The good news? It's not coming for Earth. 

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer visible, but NASA squeezed in one last glimpse of it with the James Webb Space Telescope in May before it slipped out of sight. The new set of observations has helped sharpen predictions about where the space rock is headed. 

Most of the rocky rubble left over from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago is too far away to pose a threat to Earth. But the slim chance of existential crisis motivates many to join the planetary neighborhood watch, keeping an eye on the ancient asteroids and comets zooming through space. After all, no one wants to end up like the dinosaurs. 

The updated math has now bumped up the odds the asteroid will smack the moon on Dec. 22, 2032. That means the probability of a lunar collision has slightly increased from 3.8 percent to 4.3 percent.

SEE ALSO: A rocket will crash into the moon. It'll leave way more than a scar. This diagram illustrates the range of possible locations of Asteroid 2024 YR4 in yellow on Dec. 22, 2032. Credit: NASA / JPL Center for Near-Earth Object Studies

Asteroid 2024 YR4 captured a lot of headlines shortly after its discovery because it had a slim chance of hitting Earth. The object is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet wide, large enough to be considered a "city killer." Studies of the so-called Meteor Crater outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, suggest it was created by an asteroid about 100 to 170 feet wide 50,000 years ago. 

"A similar-size impact event today could destroy a city the size of Kansas City," said David Kring, an impact cratering expert at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, in a NASA blog.

After months of tracking and refining Asteroid 2024 YR4's orbit, NASA scientists were able to rule out an Earth strike. There's no real risk to the planet in seven years or afterward, according to the agency. Now the space rock’s only potential target is the moon.

Before you lose your head, relax. It's not as scary as it sounds. The new statistics, crunched by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, still suggest the asteroid is much more likely to miss it. Even if it were to make contact, it wouldn't cause a problem for Earth.

"In the small chance that the asteroid was to impact, it would not alter the moon's orbit," the agency said.   

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In fact, if it did smack the moon, it would probably thrill some astronomers with the chance to observe and collect data on the impact. An asteroid impact would mean a fresh lunar crater — something the battered moon is used to and could provide new insights for scientists into such collisions. 

Nations are developing warning systems and defense strategies in case an asteroid or comet should ever meander into an orbit that could jeopardize Earth. As a test, NASA launched the DART mission in 2022 to intentionally crash into a harmless asteroid. The mission succeeded in nudging Dimorphos slightly off its orbital path, proving the agency is capable of moving a hazardous space rock in the future if necessary. Researchers continue to study the asteroid to learn more about the aftermath.

Early asteroid tracking always comes with a cloud of uncertainty, but the accuracy improves with each observation. Asteroid 2024 YR4's location forecast is now about 20 percent more precise than it was before, according to NASA.

Scientists will have to wait three years — when the asteroid loops back around toward Earth — for another look. NASA plans to observe it again in 2028 to keep tracking its whereabouts. 

Despite the enthusiasm of actors in Swiffer commercials, few people are smiling at the workout that is manually mopping their hardwood and tile floors. So if you're already considering a robot vacuum because it'll take one major chore off your list, you can probably envision why a robot that vacuums and mops would be doubly worth it.

I'm not saying you can expect a hybrid robot vacuum to scrub your kitchen grout with the same tenacity you would get with a toothbrush. But mopping robots have gotten much better at mopping over the past few years. But arguably, the most pivotal shift that mopping robot vacuum cleaners have seen recently is actually related to their self-emptying docks. Past automatically emptying the dust bin, the best robot mop combos now also automatically wash and dry their mopping pads, then refill themselves with clean water from the dock. Some high-end hybrids can even dispense cleaning liquid on their own. That has been crucial in upping my own personal confidence in walking around barefoot.

SEE ALSO: Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don't

In theory, mopping pad maintenance should be nearly as automated as the cleaning itself. If it's too involved, you may subconsciously save yourself the hassle by avoiding mop mode — and then what was the point of getting a robot vacuum that mops in the first place?

It's now been half a decade since most top robot vacuum brands started furiously innovating their robotic mopping skills, so there are a ton of robot vacuums that mop to choose from. I've personally tested more than 20 robot vacuum and mop combos in my own apartment — halfway through 2025, I've narrowed it down to these top four robot vacuums that also wash your floors.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I've tested several other robot vacuum hybrids that didn't make the cut. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra were top picks in this list at one point, but were merely upstaged in power and price tag value by newer models.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but weren't contenders for this list. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). The Roborock Saros 10 and 10R were able to hoist over the few thick doorway thresholds in my apartment just as well as the X50 Ultra. Its mopping and vacuuming capabilities are better than most mid-range robot vacuums, of course, but they weren't impressive enough for me to suggest the X50 Ultra in this list over either Saros model.

I'm also in the process of testing the new fleet of 2025 Roombas. The Roomba Combo 205 DustCompactor wouldn't be a bad pick if you absolutely can't spare floor space for a self-empty dock. But for being one of iRobot's newest vacuums, I expected it to be a much smoother, smarter navigator.

Already suffering from steep declines in sales and profit, the carmaker could now face the president’s wrath.