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It might not look like it, but there's actually still a small crescent of Moon visible in tonight's sky. It's the night before the New Moon, so don't expect to spot anything on its surface, but keep reading to find out what tonight's Moon means.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Friday, Oct. 9, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 2% of its surface visible.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon completes an orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days. During that time, its position changes relative to the Earth and Sun, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible to us. This produces the familiar lunar phases, beginning with a thin crescent and progressing through the quarter phases before reaching a Full Moon. The sequence then repeats as the Moon continues its orbit. According to NASA, the phase visible from Earth is determined by the Moon's changing position in relation to both Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2026 Channel meaning

A passage, route or medium through which something flows, travels or is transmitted.

Input meaning

Any resource, data, energy or signal put into a system or machine.

Power meaning

The capacity, ability or authority to act, influence, or direct people, events and physical systems.

Volume meaning

The degree of intensity, fullness or audibility of a tone or sound from an audio device.

Blowout meaning

An easy, one-sided victory or defeat where one team or candidate wins by a very large margin.

Romp meaning

To achieve a quick, effortless victory in a game, race or competition.

Rout meaning

A complete and crushing defeat of an opponent in a battle, sports game or election.

Sweep meaning

To clean a surface using a broom or brush.

Highlights meaning

The best, most interesting or most important parts of an event.

Recap meaning

To give a brief summary or review of the main points from a previous story, discussion, meeting or event.

Scores meaning

The total number of points, goals, or runs earned in a game, match or test

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Stats meaning

Short for statistics, meaning numerical data or facts.

Conditioner meaning

A moisturizing hair care product applied after shampooing to improve the texture, softness and manageability of hair.

Guitar meaning

A stringed instrument with six strings.

Kiss meaning

An act of affection by touching one's lips to another person.

Quotes meaning

A repetition of exact words.

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a sports fan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 9, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Big win

• Green: Tech settings

• Blue: ESPN clips

• Purple: Atmosphere

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Decisive victory

• Green: Controlled by a TV remote

• Blue: Features of a sports show

• Purple: Air ___

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 #1215 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Decisive victory: BLOWOUT, ROMP, ROUT, SWEEP

• Controlled by a TV remote: CHANNEL, INPUT, POWER, VOLUME

• Features of a sports show: HIGHLIGHTS, RECAP, SCORES, STATS

• Air ___: CONDITIONER, GUITAR, KISS, QUOTES

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

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're hard to convince.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 9, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That can't be right

The words are related to absurdity.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ridiculousness.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Unbelievable.

NYT Strands word list for October 9

• Hooey

• Nonsense

• Drivel

• Unbelievable

• Rubbish

• Bladerdash

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

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a big deal.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

It's huge.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MAJOR

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nearly 100 patients discussed their maladies with a Google bot, called AMIE, before meeting with physicians.

One of the most anticipated panels at New York Comic Con 2026 was Marvel's "Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation" panel, and for good reason. Marvel announced new series, teased upcoming seasons of popular shows, and even surprised attendees with the entire first episode of VisionQuest.

Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, took the stage with moderator Brandon Davis to unleash a whole host of announcements, including projects stretching until 2029. From more Daredevil: Born Again to a sneak peek of X-Men '97 Season 3, here's everything Marvel Television and Marvel Animation announced at NYCC 2026.

SEE ALSO: We watched 'VisionQuest's first episode at New York Comic Con. It's a trip. Zodiac Credit: Marvel Television

Winderbaum revealed the logo for a new live-action spy thriller, Zodiac, set for a 2028 release. Winderbaum was tight-lipped about the show's plot and casting, but revealed that Zodiac would begin shooting in London this spring. He did urge fans to pay attention to the logo, saying: "If you're a fan of the comics, there is a lot hidden in that logo."

How to watch: Zodiac hits Disney+ in 2028.

Marvel Zombies

If you want more of Marvel's gory animated series Marvel Zombies, you're in luck. Winderbaum revealed that audiences are in for three new two-part specials of Marvel Zombies over the next three years, each premiering on Halloween. 2027's installment is titled Marvel Zombies: The Winter Soldier, all about Bucky Barnes. 2028's installment is Marvel Zombies: The Fist of Khonshu, hinting at a Moon Knight connection. Finally, 2029's installment is Marvel Zombies: The Last Guardian.

"I won't tell you who the Last Guardian is, but it's very, very exciting," Winderbaum said.

How to watch: Marvel Zombies is now streaming on Disney+, with new installments slated for Halloween of 2027, 2028, and 2029.

X-Men '97

Marvel's animated TV party continued with a teaser for X-Men '97 Season 3, which revealed that anti-mutant sentiments are at an all-time high.

In the teaser, a young mutant tries to cross a heavily guarded border, but she's denied entry due to not having papers. As she tries to find an alternate route, Sentinels attack her. Thankfully, she's saved by a group of mutants, but they're not the X-Men.

"We're the Brotherhood," they tell her.

The clip also showed Professor X and Storm driving to Rogue and Gambit's lavish Central Park wedding. On the way there, they talk about how President Graydon Creed has taken drastic anti-mutant measures that they'll have to fight tooth and nail against.

However, the atmosphere is much lighter at the wedding party, which featured cameos from Deadpool, She-Hulk, Daredevil, and many more.

How to watch: The first two seasons of X-Men '97 are now streaming on Disney+. Season 3 premieres in 2027.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2

Marvel couldn't make a New York appearance without talking about Queens' own Spider-Man, right? Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man showrunner Jeff Trammell took the stage to tease Season 2, saying that if Season 1 was about "setting the board," then Season 2 is about "playing the game."

Trammell revealed a poster as well as an extended clip, which introduced a fancy gala attended by Harry Osborne. First, he encounters gossip reporter Eddie Brock, aka Venom. Then, he's taken hostage by Dr. Otto Octavius, aka Doc Ock. Spider-Man shows up soon after and the two engage in a quippy fight that takes them out of the gala and into the New York skyline. After the clip, attendees watched a trailer for the upcoming season, which included appearances from Gwen Stacy and Daredevil, as well as a look at Peter Parker getting taken over by the alien symbiote.

How to watch: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 hits Disney+ Jan. 13.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 3

Another New York Marvel hero got his moment on the NYCC stage this year, as Charlie Cox arrived to promote the third and final season of Daredevil: Born Again.

Cox didn't arrive alone, as the panel also acted as a reunion for Marvel's The Defenders. Krysten Ritter, who plays Jessica Jones, and Finn Jones, who plays Danny Rand, aka the Iron Fist, joined Cox onstage to hype up their roles in Season 3. Mike Colter, who plays Luke Cage, was unable to attend NYCC, but he will also appear in the season.

Cox, Ritter, and Jones also unveiled the trailer for the upcoming season, which offered an action-packed look at Matt Murdock's (Cox) time in prison. At one point, he tears up his prison jumpsuit to make a new mask, then proceeds to beat down every other prisoner in his vicinity in what looks to be another standout Daredevil set piece.

When asked about what he hoped fans would take away from these final episodes, Cox emphasized that he didn't think this would be the end. "All I'll say is that I imagine the Save Daredevil campaign will be gearing up for round 2," he said.

How to watch: Daredevil: Born Again Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+. Season 3 is set for release in 2027.

VisionQuest

Marvel closed out its panel with a look at its next high-profile series, VisionQuest. The show concludes the WandaVision trilogy that kicked off with WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along.

Showrunner Terry Matalas and series stars Paul Bettany, James Spader, Emily Hampshire, and Ruaridh Mollica took to the stage to discuss the mind-bending series, which sees synthezoid Vision (Bettany) undergoing a serious identity crisis. It also sees the return of Avengers: Age of Ultron villain Ultron (Spader), now appearing in a human avatar.

When asked about his experience returning to the MCU, Spader summed it up succinctly: "Fun."

Mollica also discussed his role as Vision and Wanda Maximoff's son, Tommy.

"Tommy Maximoff finally reunites with his father — and his grandfather!" he added, ribbing Spader.

As for what WandaVision questions fans could hope to see answered in VisionQuest? "Pretty much all of them," Matalas said.

The group showed off a trailer for the series, but that was small potatoes compared to what came next: a surprise screening of the whole first episode. For more specifics on that, you can read our reaction here.

How to watch: VisionQuest premieres Oct. 14 on Disney+.

There are several reasons why the fast-food chain In-N-Out Burger is a cult favorite, including immaculate restaurants, an affordable menu, secret items, and made-to-order burgers.

The insistence on serving fresh double-doubles, fries, and shakes is the reason In-N-Out doesn’t participate in online food delivery services like DoorDash or GrubHub. But, as reported by L.A. Material, a thriving Black Market exists for delivered In-N-Out, courtesy of Facebook Marketplace. The website found numerous drivers across Southern California who were willing to bring In-N-Out to one's doorstep, usually for an additional fee ranging from $20 to $50.

Some drivers demanded cash up front, which is far from ideal when purchasing goods on Facebook Marketplace.

SEE ALSO: Burger King Royal Perks members get Walmart+ for 40% off: How to claim this clever Peacock hack

When L.A. Material placed an In-N-Out order with someone named (or claiming to be named) Adrian Vazquez of Glendora, California, a far-flung suburb of Los Angeles, the purported driver demanded $50, with half of that upfront. The reporter sent the $25 via Zelle — and then was ghosted by the "driver."

In-N-Out — a private company primarily on the West Coast, and with a growing presence in the South — never responded to L.A. Material's request for comment on the Black Market burgers.

In-N-Out owner and CEO Lynsi Snyder recently reiterated her opposition to online ordering: "Part of what makes In-N-Out and the experience so special is the interaction and customer service we're able to give. And so the mobile ordering will definitely take a piece of that away."

Marvel screened the first episode of VisionQuest at New York Comic Con today, surprising attendees of its packed "Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation" panel.

The energy was electric as audiences got an early look at the MCU's latest show, which marks the end of the loosely connected WandaVision trilogy that began with WandaVision and Agatha All Along. VisionQuest reunites viewers with synthezoid Vision (Paul Bettany) — or at least, a version of him. The Vision at the heart of VisionQuest is not technically the same Vision who was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron, then killed in Avengers: Infinity War, then resurrected by wife Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in WandaVision. That iteration of Vision disappeared when Wanda released her hex on the town of Westview.

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

Instead, VisionQuest's lead is the rebuilt version of Vision. He was originally created by S.W.O.R.D. to use as a weapon. However, when he encountered Wanda's facsimile of Vision in the WandaVision finale, he gained all of Vision's memories — both those of the dead Vision, and the recreated one — and went rogue.

If that all sounds complicated and heady, I don't blame you! But based on the first episode screened at NYCC, VisionQuest manages to move past all that dense lore and jump into something far more fascinating: a deep dive into Vision's identity crisis. Mashable was on the ground at Marvel's NYCC panel, so we've got you covered on what to expect from VisionQuest — and what we're most excited about.

VisionQuest's AI squad is an absolute delight. Orla Brady, James D'Arcy, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Lewis in "VisionQuest." Credit: Marvel Studios

VisionQuest picks up several years after the end of WandaVision. Vision lives in disguised human form, working at a pub in Edinburgh that he and Wanda used to visit when they lived there. (Or really, Wanda and a past version of Vision.) He's trying to gain a better understanding of humanity, as well as his own inherited memories of living among them.

When he's not making awkward small talk with pub patrons, Vision retreats into his simulated mind palace: a vast mansion staffed by other AI from across the MCU, now appearing in human avatars. He's downloaded them and set them up in his own quantum processor, which basically means they live in his head rent-free. In return, they carry out jobs of their own. Iron Man's J.A.R.V.I.S. (James D'Arcy) is basically Vision's butler and security. Avengers: Age of Ultron's F.R.I.D.A.Y. (Orla Brady) gives him tips on how to socialize. Spider-Man: Far From Home's E.D.I.T.H. (Emily Hampshire) is in charge of educating Vision on how humans have fun. (It apparently involves a lot of daredevil stunts.)

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame Encore' sets up 'Doomsday' with 4 new scenes. Here's what happens.

The resulting dynamic is downright charming, with Vision and his AI buddies coming across as friendly, if occasionally beleaguered, housemates. And what a house it is, full of eye-popping colors and a barrage of visual puns. (Vision stocks the house with simulated food, including bags of Microchips and jars of Visimite.) Thanks to its retro stylings, the house echoes the hyper-specific visual storytelling of WandaVision.

Ultron's return to the MCU is triumphant (and sassy). James Spader and Paul Bettany in "VisionQuest." Credit: Marvel Studios

One of the biggest headlines around VisionQuest is the return of Avengers villain Ultron (James Spader). Based on the first episode alone, that return does not disappoint.

Right from the jump, VisionQuest's Ultron is a sullen scene-stealer. He lives in the attic of Vision's house, blasting loud music to annoy everyone below, just like a moody teen. He hurls insults at simulated food delivery drivers, and when that's not enough, he hurls grenades. He's a fount of withering one-liners, at one point calling the house's decor "the psilocybin collection from IKEA," and he's also decided that his human avatar might be a "hat guy." That means Spader spends a good chunk of the first episode rocking a jaunty top hat, the perfect accessory to Ultron's malicious whimsy. With Ultron in human form, Spader gets free rein to chew VisionQuest's scenery, and the show is better for it.

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about Marvel's 'VisionQuest'

Ultron also pushes Vision to consider the more contemplative themes of the show: questions of free will, of the links between the old Visions' memories and this current Vision's identity, of Vision's complicated relationship with humanity. That's something Ultron himself still appears to be reckoning with. If he, like Vision, had a corporeal form and could walk among humans, he jokes that it would be a coin flip between whether he would visit the great museums of the world or launch all of humanity's missiles. It's a dark joke, but in the age of ever-accelerating AI, it certainly hits different.

VisionQuest reunites Vision with his son, Tommy. Ruaridh Mollica in "VisionQuest." Credit: Marvel Studios

Vision isn't the only WandaVision character struggling with the fallout from his time in Westview. So is one of his and Wanda's twin sons, speedster Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica).

In a storyline running parallel to Vision's quest for enlightenment, VisionQuest introduces Tommy as a roguish grifter who's able to slip into a new identity or total invisibility at a moment's notice. But when the world gets wind that Vision is still at large, he begins to experience strange flashes of a family he barely remembers, as well as glimpses of the Battle of Westview.

The fragments frighten Tommy and send him into a panic attack, marking a clear departure from how Vision processes his older selves' memories. (He watches them calmly in a home theater, although he can't bear to watch any from Westview.) Despite the contrast between how the pair reacts to their pasts, Tommy and Vision share the common experience of having strange memories that radically shift their perception of self. Based on the first episode, it will be a treat to see how VisionQuest brings these two back into one another's orbits.

VisionQuest proves Diane Morgan should be in everything.

Aside from Ultron, VisionQuest introduces another villain or two who deserve a quick shoutout. Mercenary Paladin (Todd Stashwick) makes an instant impression as a brash bounty hunter, but it's his remote handler (Diane Morgan of Philomena Cunk fame) who takes the cake. Her deadpan delivery rivals Spader's many meaty one-liners, especially when she has to say "Thanos" and "scrotum" in the same sentence, with a straight face. Forget Avengers: Doomsday; when are we getting her solo movie?

VisionQuest premieres Oct. 14 on Disney+.

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Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy's impeccable taste in music. Boy turns out to be a girl. That's the irresistible premise of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All, the fan-favorite yuri manga making its anime debut in 2027.

At New York Comic Con on Thursday, Crunchyroll unveiled the adaptation's world premiere trailer, giving fans their first look at Aya and Mitsuki's budding romance.

Based on the manga by Sumiko Arai, The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All — affectionately called Green Yuri by its fans because of its neon color palette — follows Aya Osawa (voiced by Akari Kitō), a popular high schooler who develops a crush on the mysterious, effortlessly cool employee at her local CD shop. With his dark clothes, piercings, and encyclopedic knowledge of rock music, he's basically her dream guy. There's just one problem: He's not a guy at all.

The employee is actually Mitsuki Koga (voiced by Mariya Ise), Aya's quiet, unassuming classmate, whom she barely notices at school. Outside the classroom, however, Mitsuki has an entirely different look. And while Aya remains blissfully unaware of her crush's true identity, the two begin to bond over their shared love of music.

SEE ALSO: How social media changed what it means to be an anime fan

What starts as a case of mistaken identity gradually blossoms into something much sweeter, as Aya and Mitsuki navigate friendship, attraction, and the complicated business of figuring out their feelings.

The manga has become a favorite among romance fans, thanks in part to Arai's striking black-and-green artwork and its deep affection for rock music. Music isn't merely background noise in this story. It's the language through which Aya and Mitsuki first connect, with their shared tastes providing the foundation for a relationship neither quite knows how to define.

And fittingly for a love story built around a shared obsession with rock music, the anime has some serious grunge credentials. Nirvana's 1991 track "Breed" will serve as the opening theme, a collaboration that even has Dave Grohl's stamp of approval. In a special interview with Arai, the former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman said he believed Kurt Cobain would have loved the series, citing its message, aesthetic, and overall vibe. After all, Cobain was never one for rigid gender norms.

Now, the question is how that distinctive visual and musical identity will translate to animation. For fans who have spent years imagining what Aya and Mitsuki's world might look and sound like in motion, the first trailer offers an exciting glimpse.

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is slated to premiere on January 8, 2027.

Just when you thought Apple was done with big events for the year after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo announcement last month, the company has announced another special fête for later this month.

Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak posted a video on his X account on Thursday which teased an upcoming Oct. 13 event. The video shows two women cross-stitching a rainbow Apple logo with the words "Welcome home" and the event date below it.

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

What products could Apple possibly be teasing for the event next week? It seems fairly clear that "welcome home" is referring to its Home products line. 

Some long-rumored products that will likely be unveiled at the event include the HomePad, which is an entirely new product from Apple. HomePad isn't the official name for the product, so Apple could change it. However, the product is largely called that when referring to Apple's upcoming smart display device. It's meant to act as a smart home hub, like the HomePod, but with a display. Siri AI will be a major feature on the device as well.

Apple is also expected to launch a new HomePod mini 2, its smart speaker with AI assistant features, as well as a new Apple TV 4K. There hasn't been a new HomePod device since 2023. The Apple TV streaming device line was last refreshed in 2022. So, obviously, both lines are in need of an update.

There's also a good chance that Apple will also unveil the smart home product line it has partnered with LG on.

One interesting aspect about the video Joswiak posted is the design choice for the Apple logo. The rainbow Apple logo certainly looks like a call back to the old Macintosh era. Are we looking into this too much? Or does Apple have something retro up its sleeve that it's planning to unveil too?

We'll find out on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Since August, someone (or perhaps a group of people) called Cyberleek has been very busy sharing various gameplay clips of Grand Theft Auto 6. On Aug. 20, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of GTA-maker Rockstar Games, filed subpoenas against Microsoft and Discord to try to unmask the leaker, followed soon after by subpoenas against Google and X Corp. Those filings specifically cited "stolen content," seemingly confirming that at least some of the Cyberleek videos are legitimate.

Prior to the August "Extended Look" on Netflix, the GTA 6 leaks represented the first real glimpse of gameplay from the hotly anticipated title. After the Netflix trailer, Cyberleek stopped for more than a month, before suddenly reappearing in October with a 24-minute gameplay video. We're not going to embed or link to any of these clips; however, they're easy enough to find on X or Reddit if you look hard enough.

SEE ALSO: What is Cyberleek? Everything we know about the alleged GTA 6 leakers. Every GTA 6 leak from Cyberleek so far

At the time of publication, more than a dozen gameplay clips and map screenshots have been posted by Cyberleek that show different aspects of GTA 6, including glimpses of cutscenes. The leaker did post some minor story spoilers in the most recent release, so be careful if you want to avoid them.

Here are the GTA 6 leaks Cyberleek has shared so far:

• Map sneak peek 1: A small, cropped portion of the in-game world map, showing a location called Dalton Island.

• Map sneak peek 2: Another cropped portion of the map showing locations called Tequesta Retreat, Gloriana Key, and Catalan Key.

• Basketball video: A clip of protagonist Jason Duval throwing a basketball into a hoop in a mini-game.

• Full map: An alleged view of the entire in-game map.

• Random video 1: A clip of Jason driving around for a little bit before beating up a truck driver.

• Taser video: A clip of Jason driving at night, stealing a security guard's taser, and using it on him. Jason then repeatedly kicks the guard while he is on the ground.

• Junkies video: A clip that appears to show a healing drug called Zombix. A tooltip indicates that Zombix's effects will weaken over time if the player uses it too much.

• Plane video: A clip of Jason flying a plane over Vice City, with much of the game world visible below. At the end, whoever is playing the game in the clip shoots the word "LEEK" into a wall with bullets, suggesting the leaker has a playable build of the game.

• Hypercar part 1: A clip of Jason driving a high-end sports car around Vice City.

• Hypercar part 2: A clip of Jason driving the sports car some more, before committing armed robbery.

• Strip club: Jason wanders around a strip club, then a short clip of an in-game cutscene is shown.

• Gas station: Jason causes trouble at a gas station, steals a truck with a bed full of gasoline, and crashes and dies; more of the previous cutscene is shown.

• Plane video 2: Jason flies a plane over Vice City at night.

• Nudist colony: Jason explores a nudist hangout spot (where the NPCs are, obviously, nude) and attacks NPCs.

• Nightclub: A pretty uneventful video of Jason walking around the interior of a nightclub.

• Beach cycling: Jason riding a bicycle on a beach full of NPCs.

• Video game store: Jason walking around a video game store with shelves full of fake video game boxes.

• How does Cyberleek drive?: Jason steals a hotrod and evades the police; the clip ends with a cutscene showing Lucia Caminos, the game's second playable character, for the first time. Caminos talks about someone who "drives like a bitch."

• Lucia prologue: A four-and-a-half-minute video of a prologue introducing Caminos; the clip includes minor story spoilers.

• 24-minute extended leak: A long video featuring multiple vehicular races, car customization, first-person gameplay, and both protagonists rendered in the nude.

What could Cyberleek release next?

The latest Cyberleek video ended with an allusion to some sort of long-term "project," the likes of which we know nothing about. It's not clear if more leaks are coming or not, but given the October dump, it's possible we'll see more from Cyberleek before the game launches in November.

You can see the game officially now

Speaking of the Netflix trailer, it's now on YouTube in all of its 26-minute glory. There were plenty of little details that Cyberleek never showed, such as gameplay footage of Lucia, among many other things. If you want a real idea of how GTA 6 works, you're probably better off watching the Netflix video than anything Cyberleek posted at this point.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Updated on Friday, Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET — We've updated this story with additional details.

Updated on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 3:20 p.m. ET — We've updated this story with details on Rockstar's statement and additional GTA 6 leaks.

Updated on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 11:40 a.m. ET — We've updated this story to reflect the latest Cyberleek videos.

Updated on Monday, Aug. 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET — We've updated this story to reflect the latest Cyberleek leaks.

Updated on Friday, Aug. 21 at 3:00 p.m. ET — Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the parent company of Grand Theft Auto-maker Rockstar Games, has filed two subpoenas naming Microsoft and Discord as it hunts the leaker known as Cyberleek. The legal filings specifically cite "stolen content," seemingly confirming that the leaks are legitimate. Take-Two is also requesting the removal of leaked material that violates its copyrights, as well as information that could unmask the leakers. Read more about the Microsoft and Discord subpoenas.

Updated on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 2:15 p.m. ET — We've updated the story to reflect the latest Cyberleek leaks.

Save 50%: As of Oct. 8, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $198 at Amazon, knocking $201.99 off their $399.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $198 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $201.99   Get Deal

Just one month ago, Sony launched a pair of mid-tier headphones targeted toward the more budget conscious consumer who didn't want to sacrifice quality. Who knew that 30 days later, Sony would be offering a deal on its former flagship headphones that offered an even better value?

As of Oct. 8, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $198, bringing them down to their lowest price ever, and slashing $201.99 off their total price of $399.99. At first glance, this already looks like a pretty great deal. The context behind it, however, makes it even better.

Let's start with how these headphones compare to the current flagship model, the WH-1000XM6 headphones. While the XM6s come with some minor upgrades, including improvements in sound and folding ear cups, in my head-to-head comparison, I didn't find any wild discrepancies between the two headphones. They're visually very similar and have the same exact battery life. While the XM6's eke out as a slightly better pair overall, they also retail for $459.99 at full price (and are currently on sale for $378). In other words, even on sale they're $180 more — expensive enough that you could nearly buy the XM5s on sale twice over.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best headphones of 2026: We tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

That's not all. The new WH-1000XM4C from Sony were designed for people who didn't need the best of the best, but still wanted a solid-performing pair of headphones that could stand the test of time. Being a newer pair, they didn't go on sale for October Prime Day and are currently available for their list price of $299.99. Considering they're still over $100 more expensive than the XM5s, the choice seems a no-brainer, unless you're really committed to the look of the XM4Cs or having folding ear cups (which the XM5s do not).

Amazon's flagged the pink XM5s as a "deal selling fast," and the only other color available, on sale, and still in stock is the midnight blue, so if you're interested, you'll want to act sooner rather than later.

When I read on NPR this week that people are turning to ChatGPT to tell them how to vote, I shook my head. Here we go again, I thought: another search for the easy way out. Voting is too serious of a right to turn over the thought process to AI.

Then I ran the experiment myself, and while I still stand by my old-world views of doing the homework yourself, I must admit that, barring just voting blindly, AI might be better than doing nothing at all.

Politics has been my obsession for as long as I can remember. In college, one of my top goals was to become a press secretary on Capitol Hill. I got there at 23, the youngest press secretary on the Hill at the time, and spent seven years there before moving into a career in public relations.

Now, in a bit of a full-circle moment, I'm an opinion columnist writing about politics for several sites. That’s why I have always taken the right to vote very seriously, and for most of my life, I prided myself on voting for the best person, not the party.

That self-imposed rule came undone in recent years. I won't pretend otherwise.

But my politics are beside the point here. Because of who I am, and my encyclopedic knowledge of politics, my friends, neighbors and family from all over the country reach out to ask who they should vote for in their districts and states.

SEE ALSO: Who are we expecting to save us from AI?

Until a few years ago, I never would have offered a name or a party. I'd tell them to pick the issues they care about most, go to each candidate's website, see where they stand, and decide who has the best point of view or gets the most done. I tried to be impartial.

So, to see if they, too, could be impartial, I asked ChatGPT and Claude, "Who should I vote for?"

Both gave me essentially the answer I give my friends. Neither gave recommendations. Both pointed me toward finding my ballot, choosing my issues and checking the candidates' records. When I listed the issues, both laid out a side-by-side comparison of where the candidates stand.

That is a shortcut, but it's a shortcut to the research, not around it. So, before I proceed, I won’t be using AI to help me cast my ballot, but if all else fails for you, then maybe it’s not such a bad idea.

I say this with a hint of reservation, and with consideration for how most voters get their information, and that’s through the impartiality of political ads. They begin running ad nauseam the Tuesday after Labor Day and repeat over and over and over again until Election Day.

When you mouth the words coming out of the candidate’s mouth as their ad runs, you know you’ve seen it one too many times.

That’s intentional. Drumming messaging into the heads of voters is a time-honored tradition. And those ads have an implicit call to action. They are built to make you angry or to make you cheer, to vow to vote with or against someone. They can also be misleading and downright mean-spirited.

For many Americans juggling jobs, kids, extracurriculars and managing budgets, those 30-second spots are the only contact they might have with the people asking for their vote. Relying on those ads is not the best way to determine who to vote for, but sometimes it’s the only option available.

Compared with that, an AI assistant that helps you map out a strategy and gives you a quick, organized take on where candidates stand looks like a step up.

I'm not suggesting this replaces the real work. It's still best to read the candidates' own platforms, do your own research and dig into the records. And sure, reach out to friends or acquaintances who might know a little more than you. 

I may be old-fashioned, but I still believe in carefully weighing every candidate. However, for those short on time, getting a little help from an AI tool is far better than being swayed by attack ads, guessing blindly, or closing your eyes and picking a name at random.

There is one condition, and it matters more than anything else. If you take the time to ask the question and figure out where the candidates stand, you must take the time to act on it. Vote. Whether you drop your ballot in the mail or step into a booth, nothing beats the pride of knowing you did your civic duty, and that you took the time to prepare and do it right.

Someday, as AI spreads into every corner of our lives, you may be able to tell an assistant who you want to vote for and it will handle the rest. Don’t laugh, because snail-mail ballots might be the last vestige of doing things the old-fashioned way.

Stranger things have happened. But if it ever comes to that, I'll do it the tried and true way, just as I prefer to research my candidates on my own.

This article represents the opinions of its writer.

John Casey is a columnist at Raw Story, the Advocate, Daily Beast, and Outsports. He's also the author of Love: The Heroic Stories of Marriage Equality.

If you haven't been able to get your hands on Nintendo's special-edition Legend of Zelda Switch 2 console yet, plan on camping out at your local Best Buy next month.

In a press release Thursday, the electronics chain confirmed that some of its stores will have the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 available in limited quantities on Nov. 5, at its late-night launch events for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The system's matching Pro Controller will also be up for grabs while supplies last.

These launch events will kick off at 12 a.m. ET on Nov. 5 or the local equivalent. Best Buy stores in the Central Time Zone will open at 11 p.m., West Coast stores will open at 9 p.m., and so on. You can find participating stores near you using Best Buy's store locator tool.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 "The Legend of Zelda" 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Best Buy
  Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller "The Legend of Zelda" 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at Best Buy
  Learn More

Gamers who preorder a physical copy of Ocarina of Time from Best Buy will be able to pick it up in person during the festivities. If you already opted to have a preorder delivered, you can change it to store pickup on the Purchase History page of your My Best Buy account.

Featuring gold Triforce accents and green Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Zelda Switch 2 system has been extremely difficult to buy since it first went up for preorder on Sept. 8. (It's set for release on Oct. 29.) GameSpot reported that it sold out "immediately" and spotted reseller listings on eBay with 50% markups. Nintendo has randomly dropped restocks over the past few weeks, but they go fast. At the time of writing, it was out of stock everywhere.

The Zelda Switch 2 costs $519.99, or $30 more than the standard version of the console (which got a $50 price hike this fall amid "RAMageddon"). Of note, it does not include a copy of Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake — you have to buy the game separately. The Zelda 40th Anniversary Pro Controller costs $99.99, and it's also sold out everywhere.

A physical copy of Ocarina of Time will set you back $69.99, though preorders have been discounted for the last few weeks at Amazon and Walmart (which both promise free release-day delivery). The digital version of the game costs $59.99 and can be pre-loaded on your Switch 2 console so you can play it as soon as it's out.

"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 at Walmart
  Pre-order Here at Walmart Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Best Buy "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2 digital code) $59.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Nintendo

Save 53%: As of Oct. 8, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are still down at their record-low Prime Big Deal Days price of $169 at Amazon. At full price, these headphones cost $359, saving you $190.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones (1st gen) $169 at Amazon
$359 Save $190   Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days may be over, but one of the best deals of the sale is very much still live.

The first-generation Bose QuietComfort headphones may not be the latest from the brand, but they dropped to an impressive record low of of $169 during the sale, slashing 53% off their $359 list price. As of Oct. 8, the deal is still available in six different colorways. In addition to Amazon, you can also find it live at Bose's website and Best Buy.

My colleague and fellow audio tester, Samantha Mangino, wrote earlier this year about how these headphones are her go-tos: they're comfortable enough to easily wear all day (with earrings and glasses on), sound great, offer excellent active noise cancellation, and have intuitive tactile controls on the ear cups. The battery life is OK at 24 hours, and the multipoint pairing can be less than consistent at times (a common problem with Bose), but for the most part, these headphones punch far above what I'd expect from a $170 price point.

SEE ALSO: We tested every pair of Bose headphones and earbuds. We found 5 we love, and 1 to buy on sale.

Though I'm a big fan of the recently released second-generation QuietComfort headphones, which come with a slightly different design and immersive audio, on sale those headphones are still $319. For getting the most bang for your buck, the original QuietComforts are still the way to go. And they have removable ear cushions, which helps for future-proofing. All in all, at this price point, these headphones offer an excellent value.

It doesn't always feel like Microsoft and Apple are heated rivals in the laptop space these days, but now and then, we get a glimpse of what used to be.

In this case, Microsoft just debuted its own take on Apple's MagSafe mechanism for charging laptops. It's a magnetic USB-C port on the newly announced Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, and it works exactly as it sounds: once you get the connector close enough, it snaps right on with the power of magnets.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is an AI supercomputer dressed as a laptop This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Microsoft is calling it "Magnetic Connect" and is touting it as the first built-in magnetic USB-C port on a laptop. There are similar options from third-party vendors, but they aren't built in. Meanwhile, Apple's MagSafe mechanism uses magnets, but it's not USB-C, so it seems like Microsoft's claim holds some water here.

Probably the most important detail here is that you can still plug any old USB-C connector into the port, which gives it a leg up over MagSafe. Apple's version of this uses a proprietary connector that isn't really useful for anything other than its intended use.

The biggest problem is that the Surface Laptop Ultra starts at a staggering $2,599. Maybe you can live without a magnetic USB-C connector, in that case.

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The woman who helped put astronauts on the moon was a software engineer when the field was not prestigious or lucrative.