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A new wave of “reasoning” systems from companies like OpenAI is producing incorrect information more often. Even the companies don’t know why.

Residents of an upscale enclave outside Austin, Texas, learned the hard way what it’s like when a multibillionaire moves into the mansion next door. Some of them have started a ruckus over it.

If you listen to the many artificial, automated voices that have become prevalent online, the answer doesn’t really matter, as long as she’s helping you.

TL;DR: Secure a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages with Babbel language Learning for just $169.99 through May 18.

Want to give your brain a little boost? Learning a new language helps your brain rewire itself, forming new neural connections and strengthening existing ones.

A Babbel Language Learning subscription can show you just how adaptable your brain can be, and you can currently secure a lifetime of learning all 14 languages for just $169.99 with StackSocial’s special pricing through May 18.

Become fluent in new languages in your free time

When was the last time you set foot in a classroom? Thanks to Babbel, you can learn right from your smartphone and give your brain a workout on your lunch break, in line at the grocery store, or even after getting cozy in bed.

Pick up Polish, study Swedish, or focus on French with their convenient 10- to 15-minute lessons. They are available in three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so you can easily get started with mastering a new language or brush up on one you learned in the past.

Babbel syncs your progress across devices, so you can work on your smartphone and pick up where you left off on your desktop later. Going somewhere without Wi-Fi? You can also download lessons to work on later.

With over 10,000 hours of online language education, you can try to tackle all 14 languages at your own pace with this lifetime subscription.

Their advanced speech recognition technology helps with your pronunciation, letting you hone your skills so you don’t sound like a tourist. And there’s an AI Conversation Partner available so you can work on your conversation skills in real time.

Get a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages on Babbel language Learning for $169.99 (reg. $599) through May 18.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $169.99
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TL;DR: Get this 9-inch wireless car display for $79.99 (reg. $179.99) and keep your kids entertained with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Spring and summer usually means you’re traveling more — do you have a family road trip planned to the West Coast or up to Cape Cod coming up? Instead of dealing with your kids’ potential tantrums and boredom, keep them (and other passengers) entertained and connected while speeding down the highway.

This 9-inch wireless car display might just become your new road trip MVP. Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it mirrors your smartphone so passengers can stream movies, play games, and access apps, all from a crisp, high-res touchscreen. For a limited time, you can grab it for $79.99 (reg. $179.99).

The large display offers plenty of screen space for kids to watch their favorite shows or follow along with a playlist, while Bluetooth support adds hands-free calling and easy music streaming to the mix. Whether you’re navigating unfamiliar roads or just trying to avoid the next “Are we there yet?” from your kids, this display helps keep the whole car ride a little more relaxed — and maybe even a little enjoyable.

Setup is wireless and refreshingly simple. There’s no need to mess with cords or adapters, and it works with both iPhones and Android devices, so everyone in the family can plug in, regardless of which smartphone camp they belong to.

From cartoons and audiobooks to turn-by-turn directions, this device brings the convenience of modern in-car entertainment to just about any vehicle. It’s a smart pick for families who want to keep passengers happy and drivers focused.

If you’ve been looking for an easy, affordable way to upgrade your car’s tech before the next family road trip, grab this $79.99 9-inch wireless car display with CarPlay and Android Auto while inventory is still available.

9″ Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 9" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring $79.99
$179.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: This Mother’s Day, surprise Mom with a fresh, ultra-sharp set of Japanese knives from Seido, now $109.97 (reg. $429) through May 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Seido Knives Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set w/ Gift Box $109.97
$429 Save $319.03 Get Deal

If the mom or mother figure in your life finds joy in the kitchen, this year’s Mother’s Day gift might already be sliced, diced, and ready to wrap. This set of Seido Japanese knives — currently on sale for $109.97 (reg. $429) — is a thoughtful upgrade to any home cook’s routine, especially when it comes in at nearly 75% off.

This 8-piece set covers the essentials with precision. Each knife is forged from high-carbon stainless steel and honed to a 15-degree edge, offering sharper, smoother cuts than typical Western-style blades. It’s the kind of set that makes everyday cooking feel just a little more special, whether Mom’s slicing perfectly cooked steak or chopping vegetables for her famous Sunday sauce.

Check out what she’ll receive when she opens her gift:

• 8-inch chef’s knife: for daily chopping needs

• 8-inch slicing knife: designed with a long, slender blade for slicing meats and thinner veggie and fruit cuts

• 8-inch bread knife: constructed with a serrated edge to cut through baked goods without crushing them

• 7-inch cleaver: for hacking through bones and meat or crushing garlic

• 7-inch and 5-inch Santoku knives: with granton edges, so your ingredients don’t stick to them while chopping

• 6-inch boning knife: designed with a curved blade for ultra-thin and precise slices

• 3.5-inch paring knife: for peeling fruits and veggies

Presented in a black gift box, the knives are already packaged and ready to gift, saving you time making your present look, well, presentable. These Seido blades might just be the dream gift for the mom or mom figure in your life whose love language is cooking. Plus, they might just last her for years if they’re cared for properly.

This price drop ends on May 11 at 11:59 p.m PT, which is also Mother’s Day, so act quickly, so Mom receives these knives in time. Grab this 8-piece Seido Japanese knife set with a gift box for $109.97 while supplies last and make her day with the ultimate kitchen upgrade!

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR:This Mother’s Day, surprise Mom with a delivery of two-dozen fresh roses with this voucher deal from Rose Farmers, now just $19.97 (plus shipping).

Opens in a new window Credit: Rose Farmers Get 2 Dozen Farmer's Color Choice Long-Stem Roses for Only $19.99! (Shipping Not Included) $19.97
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Mother’s Day is just a few days away — are you prepared with a sweet gift for Mom or the other mother figures in your life? Sure, you could go the splashy route with your gift idea, but sometimes, something as simple as flowers can really make their day.

Flowers have been the go-to gift for Mother’s Day and almost every other holiday for a reason. Why? Because they’re truly thoughtful and can brighten practically anyone’s day. If you don’t want to deal with the mad rush that’s bound to happen at the local florist’s shop, grab this voucher deal for two dozen long-stem roses and have them delivered to Mom for only $19.97 (reg. $97) while supplies last.

Rather than fight the crowd and overpay for flowers at the florist or give her a random grocery store bouquet reaching the end of its shelf life, delight Mom without even leaving the couch. You could just save plenty of time and cash thanks to this Rose Farmers voucher, and you might win the “Best Kid” award this Mother’s Day.

Mom will receive two dozen long-stem roses in beautiful, mixed colors that Rose Farmers personally selects based on freshness so that her blooms last. Here’s how easy it is to gift these roses:

• Purchase your rose delivery voucher here.

• Head over to Rose Farmers’ website to redeem it. 

• Buy add-ons like a vase or more roses, or just add your giftee’s address. 

• Set the delivery date, so Mom receives them on her special day.

It’s important to note that your recipient isn’t based in Alaska or Hawaii, as this deal is only valid in the continental US. Also, you’ll want to redeem your voucher as soon as you can. Rose Farm recommends selecting 1-3 days before Mother’s Day or any other holiday.

Mom deserves the best, so treat her (or any other mother figure) to beautiful blooms this Mother’s Day.

Don’t wait to send her this two dozen long-stem rose delivery for just $19.97. Shipping is not included, and be sure to order ahead of the holiday.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Every year, in the first half of September, we get new iPhones.

Aside for the occasional out-of-schedule launch of a low-cost model — the iPhone 16e launched last February, for example — since 2013, Apple's been launching its flagship smartphone in the fall, and only in the fall.

This might change soon. According to a new report by The Information (via Engadget), Apple is planning to change its launch schedule for the iPhone, starting in 2026. Instead of launching all of its flagships in the fall, the company will start releasing the Pro models in the fall, while the standard iPhones launch in the spring.

SEE ALSO: Here's one good thing about Apple Intelligence: All iPhones will have more RAM because of it

Apple is reportedly doing this to accommodate for new models entering the lineup, including the rumored foldable iPhone, and the iPhone Air, which is rumored to debut this year alongside the other models in the fall.

In practice, this could mean we'll get the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone in the fall of 2026, followed by the iPhone 18, the iPhone 18 Air and (perhaps) the iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027.

The Information's report also shared a few new details about Apple's upcoming iPhones. For this year's iPhone 17 Air, it will allegedly have worse battery life than regular models (due to its thinness), which Apple plans to mitigate by releasing an optional battery case.

As for the iPhone 18 models, the report claims that the Pro and the Pro Max models will have an under-the-display Face ID tech, with only a small, circular cut-out for the front-facing camera in the upper left corner of the screen. We've heard similar reports before, though it's unclear what this would mean for Apple's Dynamic Island. Furthermore, The Information claims that in 2027, Apple plans to launch an all-screen iPhone, which wouldn't have any sort of camera or Face ID cutout on the front.

SEE ALSO: Spotify's iPhone app now lets you choose how you want to pay

None of this is official, so take the report — especially the parts that talk about distant future — with a big grain of salt.

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Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Baseball nicknames

• Green: Heard at the gym

• Blue: Popular in women's sports

• Purple: The first half of these words is the same

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

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

• Yellow: MLB teams, familiarly

• Green: Weightlifting terms

• Blue: U.S. women's soccer players

• Purple: Score___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #224 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• MLB teams, familiarly - D-BACKS, JAYS, SOX, YANKS

• Weightlifting terms - BARBELL, CLEAN, JERK, SNATCH

• U.S. women's soccer players - COFFEY, FOX, RODMAN, SONNETT

• Score___ - BOARD, BUG, CARD, KEEPER

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.

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.

The Last of Us Season 2 is moving from Jackson to Seattle, and with that move come several new characters.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 4: Who is Isaac?

We've already met Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her crew, but Season 2, episode 4 introduces other major players in Seattle, including Washington Liberation Front (WLF) leader Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright, reprising his role from The Last of Us Part II).

Gamers already know Isaac, but episode 4 also introduces a character who will be new to gamers and show-only fans alike: Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach).

Who does Alanna Ubach play in The Last of Us Season 2? Jeffrey Wright, Ben Ahlers, and Alanna Ubach in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

Hanrahan is a character created solely for The Last of Us show, meaning we don't have any in-game lore to guide us on her role. However, based on her brief appearance in episode 4, we have enough context clues to piece together key aspects of her character.

Episode 4 opens with a flashback to Seattle in 2018. Back then, the city was still under FEDRA rule, and the WLF were an underground resistance group, as opposed to the militia they are in The Last of Us' present-day.

The flashback (which features an appearance from Josh Peck as a FEDRA soldier) primarily serves as an introduction to Isaac, then a FEDRA Sergeant. The truck he and his soldiers are riding in stops in front of a school bus blocking the road, at which point a group of WLF members begins walking to the bus. Dressed in civilian clothes and without a weapon in sight, they're a far cry from the military force we see by the end of episode 4.

Leading the pack is Ubach's Hanrahan. When Isaac gets out of the truck to speak to her, all she says is: "You Isaac?"

He nods and replies, "You Hanrahan?"

When she nods back, Isaac throws a grenade into his truck, killing all his men and officially defecting to the WLF.

"Welcome to the fight," Hanrahan tells him.

That's the extent of Hanrahan we get in this episode, but even that small interaction gives us a lot of insight into her relationship with Isaac. Clearly, Hanrahan was a leader of the WLF in its early days, and while Isaac occupies that role now, she may still hold a position of power in the current WLF.

Hanrahan also likely served as one of Isaac's point people within the WLF as he was planning to leave FEDRA. They may not have seen each other's faces, but the fact that they know each other's names suggests prior communication. Perhaps the two of them collaborated on the plan for Isaac to kill his men, or maybe Hanrahan arranged it as one last test for Isaac to prove his loyalty to the WLF.

Either way, The Last of Us presents both Hanrahan and Isaac as faces of the WLF, so you can bet we haven't seen the last of them this season.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

As a TV adaptation of Naughty Dog's games, The Last of Us includes more than a few hidden references and overt re-creations of the gameplay and cutscenes from The Last of Us Parts I and II.

Music references, in particular, are threaded through both seasons, from the Hank Williams connection to Season 1, episode 4; Crooked Still playing at the dance in Season 2, episode 1; to Ashley Johnson's cover of "Through the Valley" to end that brutal second episode.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

In the fourth episode of Season 2, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) plays a tune right out of the game, in what's sure to be a moving moment for fans familiar with the TV show's source material. But what song does she play, and how is it connected to the game?

Which song does Ellie play in The Last of Us? Suffice to say, Dina (Isabela Merced) loves the song. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 4, Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) are en route to Seattle when they need shelter. They find the one place they can fit their horse Shimmer through the door, Valiant Music Shop, an abandoned record store that's still fully stocked with Bob Marley and Tears for Fears vinyl and requisite Pearl Jam posters.

Ellie heads upstairs and finds the guitar section, where many an instrument has been eroded by the elements. But fortune smiles on an unopened case, and Ellie finds a pristine acoustic guitar within. She picks it up, takes a seat, and plays a truly beautiful, quietly romantic version of A-ha's 1985 track "Take On Me."

Why does Ellie play "Take On Me"?

Music is a crucial link between Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) in The Last of Us, in life and after his death. Joel gave Ellie the butterfly-necked guitar and was restringing it for her before he died, despite their rocky relationship.

Featured Video For You Bella Ramsey and 'The Last of Us' team talks Season 2's new characters and Joel in therapy

The song Ellie picks to play is the same one as in The Last of Us Part II, when you play the chords yourself (this feature of the second game is a polarising one). Ramsey performs the song in the show in much the same style as Johnson does in the game, with both scenes showing Dina listening with shining eyes to Ellie's rendition.

In the game scene, Ellie actually starts to play Pearl Jam's "Future Days", a song Joel plays to Ellie at the beginning of The Last of Us Part II when he gives her a guitar, and a song that's become synonymous with the franchise for fans. But then Ellie stops when Dina enters, then moving into A-ha's "Take On Me."

Ellie plays the song for Dina in "The Last of Us Part II." Credit: Naughty Dog

The thing is, you could completely miss this cutscene in the game if you don't investigate the guitar room. It's not part of the main storyline, but instead it's more of a private side moment for Ellie, who is still grieving the loss of her guitar-teaching father Joel, and for Dina, who is becoming more aware of her feelings for Ellie — you try watching someone you might like playing music live and not falling head over heels.

But it's particularly poignant because of A-ha's lyrics, which match The Last of Us' glimmer of hope for our protagonist, with Ellie singing, "Needless to say / I'm odds and ends / But I'll be stumblin' away / Slowly learnin' that life is OK."

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

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

Brand new.

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

FRESH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

16 ounces.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POUND

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A young girl.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MISSY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A weird trait.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 5 Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUIRK

Final Hurdle hint

A belief.

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

TENET

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

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 May 5 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 move smoothly

• Green: Related to a popular vampire

• Blue: To even out

• Purple: They have the same shape

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: Glide

• Green: Associated with Count Dracula

• Blue: Stop changing

• Purple: Things that are long and cylindrical

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 #694 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Glide: COAST, CRUISE, DRIFT, FLOAT

• Associated with Count Dracula: BAT, CAPE, CASTLE, FANG

• Stop changing: FLATTEN, LEVEL, PLATEAU, SETTLE

• Things that are long and cylindrical: BATON, CIGAR, HOAGIE, TORPEDO

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 May 5

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.

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 May 5 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 May 5, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To quiet someone.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letters S and H appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SHUSH.

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 May 5

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'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 May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the side

The words are types of potato dishes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words styles of fried potatoes.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is U-shaped.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is French Fries

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 5

• Shoestring

• Steak

• Curly

• Home

• French Fries

• Waffle

• Crinkle

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Joel may have left us, but new faces are arriving in The Last of Us universe to take his place.

Episode 4 saw yet more new arrivals, one of which marks the first onscreen appearance for a character who is briefly mentioned right at the beginning of the season.

So who is Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), and what part is he going to play in the action going forward? Let's unpack it.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show? Who is Isaac in The Last of Us Season 2?

If the name sounds familiar, it's because Isaac first gets a mention in the opening scene of Season 2.

When Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her gang are standing at what remains of the Firefly base and trying to decide what to do next, Isaac's name is dropped by Owen (Spencer Lord).

"Ed has a brother who runs an outfit in Seattle," Owen says. "A guy named Isaac. Supposedly, he'd take us all in."

As we learn five years on, when Abby and her crew appear outside Jackson to kill Joel, they are part of a military outfit known as the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) — but we don't see Isaac, one of the outfit's leaders, until episode 4.

As the start of the episode reveals via a flashback to 2018, Isaac is a former FEDRA sergeant who joins the WLF because he's become disillusioned with how FEDRA is treating people in Seattle (so disillusioned that he casually murders his entire platoon, in fact).

The next time we see him is in present-day 2029, still in Seattle — and now clearly one of the WLF higher-ups, locked in an endless war with the forest-dwelling Seraphites.

Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO Isaac's character reenforces a depressing Last of Us message.

The cycle of violence is a theme that crops up a lot in The Last of Us, and is perfectly encapsulated in Isaac's character. When we first see him, he's marked out as different from his FEDRA colleagues by his apparent disgust at the way they think of people who aren't FEDRA.

"We took away their right to vote, and somebody started calling them 'voters' to mock them," mutters a younger Isaac in response to a story told by one of his soldiers about civilians being murdered by FEDRA.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Sarge," the soldier replies.

"'Course you didn't," comes Isaac's response. "You're thoughtless."

We don't know what exactly has happened to Isaac in the 11 years since that flashback and the present day, but it's clear that his experiences have hardened him. When we first meet modern-day Isaac, he's torturing a naked Seraphite in a kitchen by burning him repeatedly. When the man doesn't give him the answers he wants, he shoots him dead.

As a leading figure of the WLF, it seems likely that Isaac will play a larger role in the story ahead. But for now, his character is the embodiment of a depressing message: People in The Last of Us may start out with a certain set of ideals, but they ultimately turn into the monsters they're trying to leave behind.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

For over a year, Josh Peck has had to keep a major secret: He is in The Last of Us Season 2.

The Drake & Josh and Oppenheimer actor joins the ranks of notable Last of Us guest stars, which include Melanie Lynskey, Nick Offerman, and Murray Bartlett, as well as actors from the original Last of Us game like Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Jeffrey Pierce.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: Who is Hanrahan?

Before auditioning for The Last of Us, Peck had little familiarity with the show or its source material. "I knew how beloved the show was and how well done it was, but I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to intense shows like this," Peck told Mashable in a phone interview. "Honestly, my audition for the show made me give it a look so I could make sure I was honoring the tone and energy of it. Then of course, I watched the first episode and binged all of it in two days. I was like, 'Oh my God, this is excellent.'"

A particular stand-out for Peck? Season 1, episode 3, "Long Long Time," which focuses on the love story of Bill (Offerman) and Frank (Bartlett).

"That's a game-changing episode," Peck said. "I don't think I've seen a love story — a straight love story, a gay love story — that was that prolific and real and just honest in my life."

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' changed Bill and Frank's story, here's why

Peck's part in The Last of Us — which he described as a "pinch-me role" in the vein of Oppenheimer — looks very different from Bill and Frank's tender love story, though. Introduced in Season 2, episode 4, Peck plays a FEDRA soldier stationed in the Seattle Quarantine Zone in 2018. In the episode's opening moments, his character (who goes unnamed in the episode) spins a tale of FEDRA's oppressive brutality. But from his point of view, it's just another funny story — a chilling reminder of FEDRA's dehumanization of the QZ civilians.

For Peck, the key to getting in the soldier's mindset was thinking back to times when he and his friends shared stories of their own.

"Obviously, the subject matter is incredible intense and dark. I try not to judge the fact that this guy is getting a rise out of something pretty despicable. That doesn't serve me," Peck explained. "But what I can mine from my own life is telling a great story for me and my boys growing up, like something that tickles me still or a funny trip I can look back on. That's real, and the fact that this character is having that real moment about an experience that is totally unacceptable is not of my interest. I just need to make it personalized and connected to something that I genuinely get a kick out of."

Peck filmed the soldier's monologue for his audition tape. "It was a really great scene, and to [showrunner] Craig [Mazin's] credit, great writing," he said of the experience. "I had a great time making the tape, which is rare, because it's usually an agonizing time making an audition tape."

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

Peck also recalled worrying about how little the script changed from the audition to the shoot in Vancouver.

"I'll never forget, a day before filming my stomach dropped because I hadn't gotten any updates," Peck said. "In TV, over a month you can get six revisions, and on the day when you get there, they might say, 'We wrote all of this last night.'"

Not so for Peck's scene in The Last of Us. After double-checking with the assistant director that he hadn't missed any updates the night before shooting, Peck remembered meeting showrunner Craig Mazin on set. "He looked at me and was like, 'What if I had changed everything on you last night?'" Peck laughed.

Peck was in Vancouver for five days for the shoot, but learned nothing about the season beyond his own scene. Even the death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) came as a surprise to him when watching the show as it aired.

Another surprise for Peck? That he would be sharing the screen with Jeffrey Wright, who plays Washington Liberation Front (WLF) leader Isaac Dixon, something he learned when he saw Wright's headshot on set during a costume fitting.

"I was like, 'Oh damn,'" Peck recalled. "Jeffrey Wright is by far one of my favorite actors, from Broken Flowers to Basquiat, which is a movie that means so much to me. He's just one of our finest actors, and he couldn't have been a lovelier guy. Remember, we're spending like 10 hours doing this monologue over and over again, so eventually we would just start laughing about it, because it's an intense scene."

As Isaac, Wright ends up killing Peck's soldier — and the rest of his FEDRA squad — when he joins forces with the WLF. It's a brutal introduction not just to Isaac but to the world of Seattle, which Ellie (Bella Ramsey) enters in episode 4. And while the death of Peck's character means he won't be returning, he's very aware of the audience's love of the show.

"I want to stay away from the internet; I'm sure people are going to have opinions!" Peck laughed. "When you're entering into such a beloved thing, people are very protective of it, understandably. But I imagine it'll be a nice welcome."

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

In some huge gaming news, rumors suggest that Valve Software’s long-dormant Half-Life 3 not only exists — it’s playable from start to finish. And if the leaks are to be believed, the company could be gearing up to announce it later this year.

SEE ALSO: 'Half-Life: Alyx' trailer reveals a VR story before the events of 'Half-Life 2'

As always with Half-Life 3 rumors, skepticism is warranted. The latest report comes via Valve insider and longtime leaker Tyler McVicker, who teased a series of pointed hints during a recent livestream. According to McVicker, the information surfaced because the game is now in such wide playtesting that some testers have started talking.

The claims track with previous speculation from last summer, including McVicker’s own datamining of recent Valve code drops. Additionally, in February, datamining sleuths uncovered code references to “HLX” buried in update files for Valve’s upcoming MOBA-style game Deadlock, adding further speculation that something Half-Life-related is in active development.

"This is the furthest [HLX] has ever been. Period," McVicker said during the stream. "The game is playable—end to end. Period. Other HL3 or Episode 3 projects never got that far. They’re optimizing, polishing. It’s probably content-locked, or at the very least mechanic-locked."

Still, until Valve breaks its silence, treat this like every other Half-Life 3 whisper over the past 15 years: with cautious optimism. Based on the details provided by McVicker on stream, this Half-Life 3 is not to be confused with Half-Life 2: Episode Three, an announced sequel to Episode Two way back in 2007.

Development on Half-Life 3 reportedly began around 2013 or 2014, with a 2020 leak suggesting the game would have featured procedurally generated level design — an approach McVicker reaffirmed during his recent Q&A session.

Either way, something’s moving inside Valve. If it does launch, it would mark the first mainline Half-Life entry since Episode Two dropped in 2007, and the first release in the franchise since the 2020 VR-exclusive Half-Life: Alyx.

Ever gotten a random text that starts with a name that’s not yours, in a scenario you’ve never been in? Maybe someone thinks you’re "Emily from the gym" or "Daniel from the yacht club." You reply with the classic "wrong number," but instead of backing off, the stranger suddenly wants to chat. Friendly. Curious. Weirdly persistent.

Congratulations: you’ve just been targeted by a scam — and no, you’re not the only one. According to cybersecurity firm McAfee, as cited by CNBC, a staggering 25 percent of Americans have received these mystery messages. The scam isn’t new. In fact, it first started gaining traction back in 2022. What is new is how it’s evolving.

SEE ALSO: E-ZPass toll scams are back. What to do if you're targeted.

These are called pig-butchering scams — a grotesque name with grotesque intent. Borrowed from the farming world, the term describes how scammers "fatten up" victims emotionally and psychologically before the financial slaughter. They operate like long-con romance scams: someone pretending to be rich and important, who just so happens to find you fascinating. Over time, they build trust, often steering the conversation toward crypto investments or too-good-to-be-true opportunities.

Experts told CNBC that the rise of generative AI is supercharging these operations. It's letting scammers craft messages that feel more personal and making it easier to change up the script to sound more like a real person. And the numbers show it's working.

In 2024 alone, text message scams cost Americans $470 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s five times what it was in 2020.

The bleaker reality behind these scams is that many are fueled by forced labor. Large-scale operations based in Southeast Asia are often behind the messages, with workers trafficked from across the region under false promises of legitimate employment. Once there, they’re coerced into running scams under constant surveillance and threats — essentially trapped in digital sweatshops.

Not all participants are victims, though. Some of these operations are run by shady online gambling groups, staffed by people who know exactly what they’re doing.

The simplest and most effective way to protect yourself? Don’t respond. If a text pops up from "Emily from the gym" or "Daniel from the yacht club" and you have no idea who that is, ignore it. If the number’s from an unfamiliar area code or a region you’ve never set foot in — ignore it. That’s it. No need to engage, correct them, or play along. Just block the number and move on.