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TL;DR: Get five years of AdGuard VPN on up to 10 devices for $34.97 (reg. $359.40) through Nov. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN: 5-Year Subscription $34.97
$359.40 Save $324.43   Get Deal

Most VPN’s require a monthly fee that only seems affordable if you don’t do the math. Even paying a few dollars every month can end up costing you hundreds over the course of your whole subscription. If you want a cheaper option, AdGuard VPN just dropped a five-year subscription on sale for $34.97 (reg. $359.40).

This subscription lets you connect up to 10 devices at the same time, enough for a whole family. A household can put phones, laptops, tablets, and a few more devices on the same account instead of buying separate plans for each person. Everyone signs in under one subscription, so there’s only one account to keep track of for all five years.

AdGuard VPN has servers in more than 70 locations around the world. Picking a location in another country lets you browse from that region, and the plan includes access to every location. Data is unlimited, so streaming and large downloads don’t run into a monthly cap. Anyone who has used a cheap VPN knows how frustrating that can be.

Connections run on AdGuard’s own VPN protocol, made for faster and more secure connections than standard setups. A zero-logging policy keeps your personal data from being collected, and no records of your traffic are stored. AdGuard also makes the AdGuard ad blocker, and the VPN comes from that same privacy-focused team.

Pay once for five years of VPN coverage on every device in the house. Through Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a five-year subscription to AdGuard VPN on sale for $34.97 (reg. $359.40).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

16. The New Stanford Prison Experiment

If you thought Netflix recreating Squid Game was a new low for reality series totally missing the point, I raise you its new unscripted series, The New Stanford Prison Experiment. The show recreates Philip Zimbardo's controversial study, in which subjects were randomly assigned inmate and guard roles in a fake prison, to examine power dynamics. The New Stanford Prison Experiment's executive producer Jane Lipsitz insists this series comes with "different safeguards," but ultimately, Netflix is still repackaging an infamous study for entertainment. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The New Stanford Prison Experiment is now streaming on Netflix.

15. By Any Means

Directed by Elegance Bratton, the drama draws on true events to expose anti-Black racism in the American South in the 1960s. In the lead role, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Special FBI Agent Wayne Strider, a Black G-man who's investigating the murder of civil rights activist Vernon Dahmer (Giancarlo Esposito). Mark Wahlberg, who also produces, co-stars as Gregory Scarpa, a mafia hitman called in to be muscle for the feds.

However, this movie takes major leaps in imagination, making By Any Means feel more like Mississippi Burning meets Green Book. As I wrote in my review, "By Any Means becomes a kind of buddy-cop movie, where Strider is the by-the-books hero, and Scarpa is the scrappy, no-rules, no-fucks-given man of action... [but offers] a muddied message about the place of violence in seeking justice." — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Wahlberg, Nicole Beharie, Josh Lucas, David Strathairn, and Giancarlo Esposito

How to watch: By Any Means is now available on digital.

14. The Terminal List, Season 2

Navy SEAL James Reece (Chris Pratt) is back and just as growly as ever in The Terminal List Season 2 — the next chapter in David DiGilio's thriller about a lieutenant commander going rogue to protect his family. The good news? The president is apparently willing to give him a full pardon for everything if he works with his old colleagues to track down the people behind a series of terror attacks. Expect a lot of action, and not much smiling in this adaptation of Jack Carr's series of novels. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Chris Pratt, Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch, Riley Keough, Arlo Mertz, and Jeanne Tripplehorn

How to watch: The Terminal List Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video.

13. The Cycle

Co-written and directed by Jordan Downey, this movie weaves a particular horror subgenre into a crime thriller narrative. True Blood's Deborah Ann Woll stars as Meg, a forensic anthropologist who studies corpses for a living. But her past comes back to haunt her when her long lost father's remains turn up at a murder scene.

The facts of the case don't fit. So, Meg teams with the local police to try to make sense of the impossible. Along the way, she'll face dark secrets and horrific truths, leading to a climax that's a real howler. — K.P.

Starring: Deborah Ann Woll, Jeffrey Donovan, Gretchen Corbett, Phillip Andre Botello, and Will Hochman

How to watch: The Cycle debuts on Shudder on Oct. 23.

12. Moana (2026)

Disney continues to make live-action movies based on their beloved animated films with Moana. And this is certainly one of Disney's cash-grabbing remakes.

In my review, I wrote, "Aside from my general grievance about the lack of innovation in Disney's menagerie of live-action remakes, Moana has a strangely false quality to it. The cast — led by 19-year-old Catherine Laga'aia — gives performances that feel straight out of a Disney Channel show. They're bouncy and broad in a way that made me expect the cheer of a pre-recorded studio audience to break in."

While director Thomas Kail and his ensemble aim to recreate the original film with care, the artifice of CGI backdrops and Dwayne Johnson's eyesore of a Maui costume is ruinous. "The result is a film that misses the point of its protagonist's journey. Rather than going somewhere new, Kail and company avoid discovery, opting instead to approximate popular IP. And in that way, it feels like AI. It does not feel like an earnest, human expression, but rather a shallow approximation that might have the general look but misses the soul of the original work."* — K.P.

Starring: Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen

How to watch: Moana (2026) is now streaming on Disney+.

11. Lupin, Season 4

French mystery thriller Lupin returns for Season 4, meaning gentleman thief Assane Diop (Omar Sy) is back to steal our hearts (and our diamonds). There's just one problem: Assane is still in prison following the events of Season 3, and he wants nothing more than to serve out his sentence, then reunite with his family in Senegal. However, when a Lupin copycat begins pulling off museum heists and pinning the blame on the still-imprisoned Assane, he'll have to engineer a daring escape of his own in order to clear his name. — B.E.

Starring: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Antoine Gouy, Soufiane Guerrab, Shirine Boutella, and Etan Simon

How to watch: Lupin Season 4 debuts on Netflix on Oct. 23.

10. Junk

An impressive cast combines with an intriguing premise in Junk, which follows two different storylines in the same city: a bitter TV writer (David Schwimmer) trying to get his career back on track, and two teenagers (Dominic Fike and Talia Ryder) on the hunt for a stolen backpack. Music video director Jack Begert's feature-length debut looks like a dark and comedic mishmash of sex, drugs and violence — but the reviews leave something to be desired. — S.H.

Starring: Dominic Fike, David Schwimmer, Talia Ryder, and Gaby Hoffmann 

How to watch: Junk debuts on Mubi on Oct. 23.

9. Swipe Right on the Devil

There's plenty of documentaries about online dating gone wrong. Swipe Right on the Devil is alarmingly more twisted than most. It begins with 24-year-old Sydney Loofe, a Nebraska woman looking for her match on Tinder. What she found was a catfisher who lured her into a deadly game of sex, deception, and self-proclaimed witches.

In this three-part documentary, Loofe's friends and family remember her alongside their quest to find her. Then, as the missing persons investigation moves into a murder trial, director Brian Biegel speaks with investigators, the press, attorneys, and other victims who share their stories of trauma and terror. Be warned, this one is disturbing. — K.P.

How to watch: Swipe Right on the Devil is now streaming on Hulu.

8. The Invite

As the follow-up to Don't Worry Darling, actor/director Olivia Wilde offers an English-language remake of the Spanish comedy The People Upstairs.

Written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, The Invite stars Wilde and Seth Rogen as a married couple with a kid, a great apartment, and no patience left for each other. So, when the hot couple from upstairs (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) come down for an adults-only dinner, sparks fly, as does a spicy invite.

In my review, I cheered, "I was enchanted by The Invite. McCormack and Jones' screenplay is smartly written, bringing emotional depth to all four lovers, while solidly establishing the relatable frustrations of long-term relationships. Wilde's direction is deceptively simple in its aesthetic, favoring cinematography that allows us to spy without the discomfort of voyeurism. This keeps the tone light even as the talk turns dirty. And with an ensemble that's totally game to embrace the silly, sexy, and subversive, The Invite is ruthlessly entertaining."* — K.P.

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton

How to watch: The Invite debuts on HBO Max on Oct. 23.

7. I Want Your Sex

Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman heat up the screen in Gregg Araki's buzzy erotic comedy I Want Your Sex, now on digital. Hoffman plays Elliot, an assistant to Wilde's famed artist Erika Tracy. When Erika initiates a BDSM relationship with Elliot, he'll reconsider everything he thought he knew about sex and his own relationships.

On top of bringing Erika and Elliot's kinky fantasies to life, I Want Your Sex also probes generational differences when it comes to sex, sparking conversations about whether Gen Z is actually repressed. The result is, as Mashable's Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "an exuberantly entertaining comedy, alive with sexual vigor, earnest humanity, and biting humor."* — B.E.

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, and Charli XCX

How to watch: I Want Your Sex is now available on digital.

6. Nobody Wants This, Season 3

Netflix's Emmy–nominated rom-com Nobody Wants This returns with its third season this week, which sees its central pairing of Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) taking a big next step in their relationship. They're moving in together! With that move comes further stability and commitment for both of them, so expect an October binge full of butterflies. — B.E.

Starring: Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, and Jackie Tohn

How to watch: Nobody Wants This Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2

Return to Night City in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, the next installment in CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger's award-winning anime. This season boosts a new art style and a whole new crew of characters, but for Mashable's Digital Culture Editor Crystal Bell, all that novelty works in the show's favor. As she wrote in her review, "Edgerunners 2 doesn't just live up to its predecessor. In some ways, I think it surpasses it." — B.E.

SEE ALSO: 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2' review: A beautiful reminder of what makes us human

Starring: Valeria Rodriguez, Kimoy Lee, Cesili Williams, Daniel Wu, Brittany Lauda, and E.G. Daily

How to watch: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Adam Conover: Big Divorce Energy

Comedian Adam Conover spent three seasons educating audiences with Adam Ruins Everything. Now, he's back, dropping the cheeky wise-guy act and getting personal with his new comedy special Big Divorce Energy.

Far from a bitter look at the end of his long-term relationship, Conover explores how this big change has affected his sex life, his identity, and his politics. The special is one that is jolting, funny, and still educational. For more from Conover, look for Mashable's upcoming episode of Say More. — K.P.

Starring: Adam Conover

How to watch: Adam Conover: Big Divorce Energy debuts on YouTube on Oct. 23.

3. Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story

If you don't know the name Maria Bamford, chances are good you've heard her work. Outside of being a stellar stand-up comedian who uses funny voices and powerful punchlines to bring light to dark topics, she's a prolific voice actor who's worked on Futurama, Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, Harley Quinn, and many, many more.

SEE ALSO: Dropout's 'Game Changer' finale: Sam Reich reveals the secrets of 'Last Talent Standing'

This documentary, however, is more in line with her stand-up, which has long dealt with her mental health journey with brilliant humor and insight. Directed by Judd Apatow and Neil Berkeley, Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story charts the course of Bamford's childhood in Duluth, Minnesota, to her discovery of stand-up in college, chasing her dream of comedy to Los Angeles, and beyond.*

For more from Bamford, look for Mashable's new episode of Say More. — K.P.

Starring: Maria Bamford

How to watch: Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story debuts on Netflix on Oct. 23.

2. Yaga

Heated Rivalry's Hudson Williams returns to our TVs this week in Canadian series Yaga, based on the play of the same name by Kat Sandler. The series follows private investigator Rapp (Noah Reid) and small-town detective Carson (Clark Backo) as they look into the disappearance of Henry Park (Williams), a billionaire heir. Along the way, they'll cross paths with an enigmatic professor (Carrie-Anne Moss) and a series of eerie visions and rituals that suggest that Henry's disappearance may have something to do with the occult.

Presented as a dark feminist fable rooted in Slavic folklore, Yaga should be a slam dunk. I mean, look at that cast! Yet the show's witchy mystery falls disappointingly flat. As I wrote in my review, "As an examination of witchcraft as a conduit for female rage, it's not angry enough. As an erotic thriller, it's not titillating enough. As a mystery, its twists and turns are intriguing, but never quite captivating. The ingredients for success are there, but they never quite come together to cast the right spell." — B.E.

Starring: Noah Reid, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hudson Williams, Clark Backo, Sheila McCarthy, Megan Follows, Ezra Franky, Patrick Gilmore, Katharine Isabelle, Hiro Kanagawa, Emilija Baranac, Georgia Acken, Anisa Harris, and Sam Krochmal

How to watch: Yaga's first two episodes premiere Oct. 23 on AMC+, with new episodes weekly.

Best of streaming this week: Phony

What would you do if your mom got replaced by a doppelgänger, but only you could tell? That's the dilemma facing high schooler Sonny (Sam Nivola) in Hulu's new series Phony. After Sonny gets in a car crash, he wakes up in the hospital to find that his mother Ellen (Connie Britton) has been swapped with an impostor (Britton in subtly transformative prosthetics).

As Sonny tries to find out what, exactly, happened to his mother, Phony constructs an engaging mystery that ranges from unsettling to downright creepy. Through all that, it manages to keep a funny streak thanks to its delightful ensemble of high school characters who feel authentic and lived-in. With its first two episodes out today, Phony has all the makings of your next fall mystery obsession. — B.E.

Starring: Connie Britton, Sam Nivola, Meera Syal, Grace Brennan, Mahaela Park, Maliq Johnson, and Colter Lee

How to watch: The first two episodes of Phony is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes every Tuesday.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

SAVE $250: As of Oct. 22, the Dyson V15 Detect Origin Cordless Vacuum is on sale for $589.99 at Amazon. That's a 30% discount and the best-ever price on one of Dyson's highest-performing vacuums.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V15 Detect Origin $589.99 at Amazon
$839.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon

If you think vacuuming is an endless chore, wait until you get your hands on a high-powered Dyson.

The Dyson V15 Detect Origin just dropped from its regular $839.99 list price down to $589.99 at Amazon. That 30% discount slashes $250 off this cordless vacuum, bringing it down to its absolute best price ever.

In her guide to the best Dyson vacuums for 2026, Mashable's Leah Stodart named the V15 Detect the best mid-size Dyson vacuum, noting that while it changed the game when it dropped in 2021 as the first model with a dust-detecting laser, "it's still one of the best Dyson vacuums for balancing power and price." Leah points out that its suction power (topping 200 air watts) comes surprisingly close to the $1,149.99 Gen5outsize — which tops it by just 10 AW — while costing hundreds less.

SEE ALSO: The best early Black Friday Dyson deals to shop right now

She also notes it's "much tougher on pet hair than the V12 Detect Slim" and features a slightly larger dustbin that keeps up with heavy shedding without being "too bulky to clean ceilings or blinds with one hand." You also get two advanced cleaner heads: the Fluffy Optic head uses a precise green light to make invisible dust on hardwood floors look like an absolute horror movie, while the Digital Motorbar head deep-cleans area rugs and actively detangles hair off the roller as you sweep.

Plus, an internal sensor intelligently adapts suction based on debris levels and floor type, while an onboard LCD screen breaks down picked-up particles in real-time and displays remaining runtime right down to the second. Leah even shared that her mom has owned the V15 Detect for five years of near-daily use and "it's still kicking" — proving it's a true workhorse.

Grab the Dyson V15 Detect Origin on Amazon at its record-low price before stock sells out.

TL;DR: The Xbox Halo Special Edition Console Hallmark Keepsake Ornament is available for $27.99 at Amazon. It features light-up effects and plays the iconic Xbox startup sound and Halo 2 guitar riff.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hallmark / Xbox Halo Special Edition Console Hallmark Ornament $27.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Trading boring glittery snowflakes for a translucent green homage to Microsoft's peak gaming era is easily the best holiday upgrade you can give your tree.

The Xbox Halo Special Edition Console Hallmark Keepsake Ornament brings Microsoft’s iconic limited-edition hardware straight to your Christmas tree for $27.99, letting you relive all those endless hours spent parked in front of the TV battling the Covenant on original hardware.

This Amazon-exclusive miniature looks like it was shrunk down straight from the classic 2004 bundle. Styled in translucent green plastic, it measures roughly 3.5 inches wide and features the "Halo Special Edition" text on the front face. It comes complete with a tiny wired "Duke" controller resting on top of the console, giving your tree an instant dose of retro LAN party vibes without pulling down heavy branches.

SEE ALSO: GameSir drops officially licensed Fortnite controllers for iPhone, Android, and Xbox — where to buy

It’s not your ordinary ornament, so it does way more than just sit there looking fancy. Hitting the tiny power button on the front illuminates the console and triggers the original Xbox boot-up chime alongside the roaring guitar riffs from the Halo 2 "Mjolnir Mix" theme. It instantly transports you back to screen-cheating during split-screen multiplayer matches or grinding through legendary campaign runs.

Hallmark also includes the gift box and all three replaceable LR44 button batteries, so you can test the startup sounds before hanging it on a branch. Whether you're building out a full gaming tree alongside Hallmark's classic black original Xbox, PS1, and Zelda ornaments, or just snagging a piece of gaming history, this translucent green keepsake hits every single nostalgia node.

Grab an Xbox Halo Ornament at Amazon to add a touch of your personal favorite gaming nostalgia to the tree this year.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. Due to high demand, shoppers need to request an invite to buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box preorders first dropped for $89.99 at Amazon. We've then been stuck at $159.99 for some time, but now Amazon has dropped a stunning discount.

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is currently listed for just $59.99 on Amazon, with shipping and sales handled directly by Amazon. Demand for the product remains high, so Amazon is still routing orders through its "request invite" system.

At $59.99, Amazon’s price is way under TCGplayer’s $120 market price. We expect the deal to sell like wild, so we suggest that anyone interested should request an invite to buy immediately. Seriously, do not delay. This deal could disappear at any time.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box offers nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Shop the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB for just $59.99 at Amazon.

TL;DR: Get ChatPlayground AI Lifetime Unlimited Plan for $59.97 (reg. $619) through Oct. 25 and compare multiple models for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $59.97
$619 Save $559.03   Get Deal

We all know the modern AI drill. ChatGPT has an answer. Claude has another. Gemini might approach the same question differently.

Instead of bouncing between tabs to compare them, ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan puts 20+ AI models in one dashboard for $59.97 (reg. $619) through Oct. 25.

Enter one prompt, compare responses from multiple AI models side by side, and choose the answer that works best for your project.

ChatPlayground brings together popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, and Perplexity. Whether you’re drafting content, researching ideas, troubleshooting code, or experimenting with prompts, you can see how different models tackle the same request. That’s particularly useful when you want a second opinion without having to restart the entire conversation in another app.

Beyond chatting, ChatPlayground includes prompt engineering tools to help refine your questions and improve results. You can also upload PDFs and images to ask questions about their contents, generate AI images, and save conversations for future reference.

For writers, developers, marketers, and small teams, those features can make it easier to organize ongoing projects and explore different approaches.

The Unlimited Plan includes unlimited monthly messages, subject to a fair use policy, along with priority customer support and priority access to new features and future models.

Keep in mind that the available AI models and features can change as the technology evolves. Get a lifetime of the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan for just $59.97 (reg. $619) through Oct. 25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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.

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.

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

Overgrown.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

MOSSY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Burger.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PATTY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Stale.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 22, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TRITE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Capable.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ABLED

Final Hurdle hint

Suppress.

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

QUELL

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who are fans of the New York Giants

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Stadium crew

• Green: Football QBs

• Blue: Actions during a pass play

• Purple: Sounds like an NBA player

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Workers at a Stadium

• Green: Giants QBs, Past and Present

• Blue: Pass___

• Purple: Ends in an NBA MVP

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 #759 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Workers at a Stadium: GROUNDSKEEPER, MASCOT, SECURITY GUARD, USHER

• Giants QBs, Past and Present: DART, MANNING, SIMMS, TITTLE

• Pass___: BREAKUP, INTERFERENCE, PROTECTION, RUSH

• Ends in an NBA MVP: BOOBIRD, DESERVING, GNASH, SCURRY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 22, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 22, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 22 Pips

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 22 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 22 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer 4-0, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this purple space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 22, 2026 Grip meaning

To hold, seize or grasp something tightly.

Handle meaning

A piece designed to be grasped, lifted or pulled with the hand.

Hilt meaning

The handle of a sword, dagger, knife or bayonet

Knob meaning

A small, rounded grip used to open doors, drawers or cabinets.

Bust meaning

The physical measurement around the upper torso at the fullest point.

Mobile meaning

Capable of moving, being moved easily or operating without a fixed location

Relief meaning

The lessening or removal of physical pain, pressure or a heavy burden

Statue meaning

A three-dimensional work of art that represents a person, animal or mythical being

End meaning

The final part, limit or conclusion of something in time, space or action

Guard meaning

To protect, watch over, or keep someone or something safe from harm.

Safety meaning

The state of being free from harm, danger, injury or loss.

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Tackle meaning

To make a serious effort to deal with a difficult task, issue or crisis.

Blank meaning

Lacking writing, marks, expression or contents.

Comfort meaning

A state of physical relaxation, freedom from pain, emotional relief or financial sufficiency.

Pill meaning

A small, solid mass of medicine, vitamins, or supplements intended to be swallowed whole.

She meaning

A third-person singular feminine personal pronoun.

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 an artist.

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 22, 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: Hold it

• Green: Artworks

• Blue: Sports players

• Purple: Linens

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Parts to be grasped

• Green: Kinds of sculptures

• Blue: American football positions

• Purple: Starts of bedding

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 #1228 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts to be grasped: GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB

• Kinds of sculptures: BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE

• American football positions: END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE

• Starts of bedding: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL SHE

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 have a large family.

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 22, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Any relation?

The words are related to relatives.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being related to someone.

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 Family Ties.

NYT Strands word list for October 22

• Blood

• Ancestors

• Family Ties

• Kinfolk

• Brethren

• Offspring

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 give second chances.

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 22, 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:

Restart.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

RESET

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.

Robert Downey Jr. spent years playing a tech billionaire who could summon digital displays with a wave of his hand. Now, his latest role brings a little of Tony Stark's world to life.

The actor has joined Specs, Snap's augmented reality glasses business, as its honorary chief customer experience officer. Announced Oct. 20, the partnership will involve original content, custom AR experiences, hardware collaborations, and in-person experiences.

SEE ALSO: I wore snap specs at last: here’s what these massive glasses can do

Downey is well aware of the casting here. In the announcement, he said the glasses deliver on the promise of AR technology associated with "a certain techno optimist superhero I portrayed."

"Life imitates art-imitates life!" he added.

According to a release shared with Mashable, the collaboration will explore how AR could be used across entertainment and education, as well as medicine, engineering, and manufacturing.

Downey's first project is an original content series, which debuted during Game 1 of the World Series, showcasing the glasses in action, "from work and entertainment to golf and creativity." The series launched on Oct. 20, and the 30-second clip was broadcast during the Knicks vs. 76ers game. More episodes are set to drop on the Specs website or YouTube.

Downey says the product won him over quickly.

"Trying is believing. Having tested practically every wearable tech that’s come to market in the last 20 years, and been largely unimpressed, I was absolutely sold on SPECS within 40 seconds," he said in the announcement.

"The applications are endless. Families can share experiences instead of hunching over devices, skills can be honed, big business can streamline development," Downey continued.

The Oscar-award winning actor also made the role LinkedIn official, updating his profile and posting, "Day 1. New Gig," alongside a short video of him entering the SPECS headquarters in Santa Monica, California.

Snap Inc. co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel welcomed him in the replies ("Excited to collaborate together."), while other commenters supplied the inevitable Marvel references. "Be careful to not work with Obadiah Stane," one advised.

Credit: Screenshot: LinkedIn What are Specs?

Snap introduced the augmented reality (AR) glasses in June 2026, announcing a $2,195 preorder price, with a refundable $200 deposit and shipping planned for the fall in the U.S., UK, and France.

As Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth explained at launch, Specs function as a standalone computer. See-through displays layer digital content over the wearer's surroundings, while hand tracking and voice controls let people interact with it.

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In his latest analysis, Werth wrote that Specs reminded him more of Apple's Vision Pro than other smart glasses he'd tested. Both offer virtual screens and digital experiences positioned in the space around the wearer, though Specs use transparent lenses rather than a headset's camera-fed view of the world.

"For a computer, they’re impressively light, compact, and wireless. But for glasses, they’re undeniably chunky," Werth wrote.

Like VR glasses, Snap isn't necessarily expecting people to wear Specs through every waking hour. Spiegel previously told Mashable the company would start with developers: "And then we’ll extend beyond that, with the early adopters and folks who see a lot of value in specific use cases — whether they’re trying to improve their golf swing or whether they just want to work on the road and still bring the benefits of that large display or monitor."

SEE ALSO: People are missing the point of Snap's $2,195 Specs AR glasses

In more ways than one, the team is clearly trying to distance itself from the phrase "AI glasses." In the promo video, Downey even dumps an "AI glasses" box into the garbage. Of course, Specs have AI features, too, but Snap clearly wants to sell a bigger idea than another pair of glasses with an assistant built in.

Downey has drawn his own lines around AI

Downry's enthusiasm for Specs adds another chapter to a public conversation he's already been having about advancements in technology, specifically around AI.

As Mashable reported in 2018, Downey hosted and executive produced an eight-episode YouTube series, "The Age of AI," exploring the technology, featuring experts discussing how it could change the way people interact with each other and the world.

His later comments made clear that enthusiasm came with boundaries. During an Oct. 2024 appearance on On With Kara Swisher, Downey said he intended to sue future executives who authorized an AI replica of his likeness. When Swisher pointed out that he might be dead by then, he replied with the viral comment, "But my law firm will still be very active."

That same year, his Broadway debut, McNeal, explored questions about AI and artistic ownership. The production itself also used AI: "We used a ton of AI to make this show, but we're also mimicking how people feel about AI and how it expresses itself to us," said the show's projectionist and designer Jake Barton.

SEE ALSO: Behind the scenes: How AI powered Robert Downey Jr.'s Broadway debut 'McNeal'

Downey’s interest in AI also extends to investing. In Dec. 2021, he joined investors including Gwyneth Paltrow in Forethought’s $65 million Series C funding round. The startup develops AI tools to automate customer service. When software company Zendesk announced plans to acquire Forethought in March 2026, Downey said he'd "been a huge believer of this team and their tech since [the] jump."

He's also been an investor, board member, and public face of Aura, and supported how the company uses AI to help protect customers against scams and other online threats. A 2025 campaign even used AI-assisted visual effects to show him aging from childhood into his senior years.

For Snap, the partnership is part of a decade-long effort to turn smart glasses into a viable business — with some expensive setbacks along the way.

After launching its original camera-equipped Spectacles in 2016, the company recorded $39.9 million in inventory-related charges in 2017, primarily because of excess inventory.

This time around, there is still a good amount of doubt over who is going to buy $2,195 glasses. During its August earnings call, Spiegel didn't disclose preorder numbers when asked about demand, instead emphasizing the need for people to try Specs themselves. "It’s obviously a high consideration purchase at $2,195," he said. He also cautioned that mass-market consumer adoption likely wouldn’t arrive until "towards the end of the decade."

SEE ALSO: Snap CEO addresses Specs preorder interest during Q2 earnings call

Meanwhile, Meta's partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica sold more than 7 million AI glasses across its Ray-Ban and Oakley lines in 2025 alone. Its eyewear also accounted for 81.3 percent of global AI-glasses shipments in the first half of 2026.

That doesn't mean people necessarily like Meta glasses, or smart glasses in general. The discreet cameras that make the glasses convenient for recording have also raised legitimate concerns about filming people without their knowledge. On Oct. 13, The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), made up of national privacy regulators across Europe, issued a statement about smart glasses, calling for stronger safeguards, while Meta will now brick your glasses' camera if you tamper with it.

Snap has to ultimately convince people that its more expensive AR computer deserves a place in their lives, all while smart glasses face growing scrutiny. But if anyone can get people excited about futuristic eyewear, it's Iron Man.

SAVE $299.02: As of Oct. 21, the DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station is on sale for $399.98 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount and marks its best-ever price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station $399.98 at Amazon
$699 Save $299.02   Get Deal at Amazon

Finding reliable emergency backup power under $400 usually forces you to pick between slow charging, low wattage, or noisy operation. The upgraded DJI Power 1000 V2 bridges that gap, dropping to a record-low $399.98 at Amazon, cutting 43% off its regular list price.

Equipped with a 1,024Wh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery and a massive 2,600W continuous power output, this unit reliably runs 99% of everyday household appliances. That means keeping a full-sized home refrigerator cool for up to 20 hours during a blackout, powering a CPAP machine through multiple nights, or running high-draw gear like electric cookers, coffee makers, and power tools at a campsite without tripping the safety breakers.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's Holiday Gift Guide is live: See our top 10 picks ahead of Black Friday 2026

Plugged into a standard wall outlet, the V2 recharges from dead to 80% in just 37 minutes. Out on the trail or on the job site, you get dual 140W USB-C ports (delivering 280W total combined output) to fast-charge high-end laptops like a MacBook Pro without extra brick adapters, plus two of DJI’s proprietary SDC ports (one standard SDC and one SDC Lite) to top off drone batteries directly in the field.

Despite the heavy power output, it runs at an ultra-quiet 26 decibels, quieter than a soft whisper, making it ideal for nightstand use inside an RV or bedroom. Its safe LFP battery cells are rated to hold 80% capacity even after 4,000 full charge cycles (roughly a 10-year lifespan), and its built-in 10-millisecond UPS function instantly takes over during a grid failure so your connected home electronics won't crash.

Grab the DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station at Amazon for $399.98 before this record-low price disappears.

Astronauts should return to the Apollo 15 landing site on the moon and haul home some of its half-century-old poop and hardware, a panel told NASA on Wednesday.

A crew would land just north of the site at Mons Hadley — far enough away to avoid damaging it. From there, the astronauts would walk over to inspect the rover, lander base, instruments, and power systems the prior crew left behind in 1971.

That equipment has endured decades of space radiation and repeated heating and cooling as lunar days give way to nights. Scientists on Earth could study how the lunar environment impacts the hardware over time. A close look at the urine and feces in a lab could reveal how biological material changes and whether it affects the area around it. 

That "would be foundational information [for] how we need to engineer the systems for lunar bases," said Dan Dumbacher, co-chairperson of the committee, "for anything humans take to the surface of the moon." 

The mission proposal came from a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee, whom NASA asked to recommend future moon-landing sites away from the lunar south pole, where the agency already intends to build a long-term moon base. In a new report, members of the committee selected four non-polar sites — Bhabha Crater, Mons Hadley, Orientale Basin, and Aristarchus Plateau — where they believe Artemis astronauts should collect samples, make observations, and conduct experiments. They prioritized locations they believed would benefit from human explorers over uncrewed robots.

SEE ALSO: A telescope's survey got interrupted by a comet nobody knew existed

These so-called "sorties," the term NASA used when tasking the committee, would be short, one-time visits. Because the poles lack the volcanic terrain found elsewhere on the moon, as well as radioactive metals like uranium and thorium, the brief trips would complement the base, not replace it, according to the report.

Each mission would send a pair of astronauts to make one to four moonwalks within 2 kilometers — or 1.2 miles — of their lander. That distance is a previously established "walkback" limit NASA decided long ago that the committee thinks the agency should try to extend. The panel also chose landing sites that offered the most opportunities for geology, biology, human health, and physics research. 

The top pick, Bhabha Crater, sits inside what may be the solar system's largest and oldest crater, and its rocks could pin down when that massive impact happened. Situated on the far side of the moon, the crew would have to land farther from home than any humans before, letting NASA test how astronauts cope with isolation.

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The site is also prime for a telescope, said James Day, the other chairperson of the committee. 

"It's an almost unmatched location for doing radio astronomy, and the reason for this is because it's in the quiet zone on the far side of the moon. It is shielded from the noise that we produce here on Earth," Day said. "This will give us information on the very early universe before the first stars or galaxies had formed."

Bhabha crater is the National Academies committee's top pick among four recommended moon landing sites. Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State University

At Orientale, the moon's youngest large basin at roughly 3.8 billion years old, astronauts would collect boulders from deep in the crust that could show whether the moon was once entirely molten. They would also set up a detector for gravitational waves — ripples in spacetime. The instrument could alert astronomers months before distant neutron stars collide, the committee leaders said.

Finally, the Aristarchus Plateau, an Apollo destination that NASA never reached, holds volcanic deposits that may yield water. It spans about 60 miles, so crews there would gain the most from the simple open rover the committee thinks NASA should build.

Among its recommendations, the panel said NASA should keep mapping the moon in detail from orbit, build instruments that can run through the lunar night, and set up a communications system that keeps crews in constant contact with Earth, even on the far side.

NASA will decide when and in what order to fly the missions. 

"All four of these sites will give us profound knowledge," Day said, "not just of our moon, but of our solar system, and frankly of ourselves." 

SAVE $30: As of Oct. 21, the DJI Neo 4K Drone is on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on this palm-sized camera drone.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Neo $169 at Amazon
$199 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon

Holding out for a camera drone that doesn't require a pilot's license, an FAA registration form marathon, or a giant suitcase full of gear is officially over. The ultra-portable DJI Neo is down to just $169, knocking 15% off its regular price tag and bringing top-tier aerial footage well under the $200 mark.

Tipping the scales at a featherlight 135 grams, this mini drone is lighter than most smartphones. Because it comes in way below the federal weight limit, casual flyers can bypass FAA registration and Remote ID entirely. You simply unbox it, charge the battery, and take off — no paperwork, no test taking, and no bureaucracy standing between you and incredible 4K video clips.

What makes the Neo an absolute blast for beginners and solo creators is its dead-simple controls. You don't even need to use a remote or hook up your phone if you don't want to. Just place it in the palm of your hand, press a quick button, and watch it lift off automatically. Built-in smart tracking features lock onto you to keep you centered in the frame while you walk, run, or hike, making it feel like traveling with your own personal robotic camera crew.

Despite its tiny footprint, it shoots crisp, stabilized 4K footage and comes built with full-coverage propeller guards so you won't chew up the blades if you bump into a tree branch or bedroom doorframe. Whether you fly it completely hands-free using palm gestures, use voice controls, or pair it with your phone, this deal is easily the best entry point into drone photography right now.

Get this DJI Neo 4K drone while it's still discounted.

TL;DR: Keep your important info secure with this lifetime subscription to LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault, which is on sale now for just $49 (reg. $99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mind2Matter LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault: Lifetime Subscription $49
$99 Save $50   Get Deal

When someone needs access to your important documents one day, you don’t want them to dig through your emails and scramble through scraps of paper to find everything. The LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault gives you a single encrypted space to organize all the information your family might need.

Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault for only $49.

You don’t realize how many important documents you have floating around until you try to consolidate them and find yourself digging through drawers, folders, and inboxes. LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault lets you sort them in one convenient place — with folders for financial accounts, insurance, legal records, crypto, and key contacts so you don’t have to scramble to find them all.

With LegacyLocked, your vault lives right on your device, not a cloud account. Every item is encrypted on your device before it’s saved in the vault.

Besides ensuring their security, keeping your files on the device rather than in the cloud also means they’re always accessible, even offline. You’ll also have a global search feature that lets you find items easily, as well as local action history to keep tabs on any changes.

With LegacyLocked, your usual lists and account info give a boost of security with encryption. There are folders for everything you need to store, and dedicated item types that save each kind of record in a format tailored to that type of information.

This lifetime subscription gives you permanent access without recurring fees. Windows and Mac desktop apps are available, and you’ll receive access to all future software updates. Since your vault is local to your device, you also get to choose how your trusted individuals can access it when they need to.

Get this lifetime subscription to LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault for only $49 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Nothing says "relaxing vacation" like a list of chores to finish before checkout. It’s a common issue for travelers staying in Airbnbs to find themselves forced to strip beds, wash dishes, and take out the trash before catching a flight — all while still paying a cleaning fee.

But now, Airbnb is putting limits on that routine. For reservations booked on or after Nov. 20, hosts generally won’t be allowed to ask guests to do the housework any longer.

SEE ALSO: Airbnb adds a bunch of new features for travellers What can Airbnb hosts still ask guests to do?

The update, announced by Airbnb on Oct. 20, draws a distinction between light tidying and cleaning the rental for its next occupants.

Here's how the company breaks it down:

• Dishes: Hosts can ask you to leave used dishes in the sink, but shouldn't ask you to wash and put them away.

• Laundry: Gathering used towels is allowed. Stripping beds or starting a load of laundry generally isn't.

• Trash: Hosts can ask you to separate garbage and recycling into designated indoor bins, but shouldn't ask you to haul it off-site.

• Air conditioning: Hosts shouldn't tell you to avoid an amenity advertised in the listing, though they can ask you to turn it off when you leave.

Airbnb may make exceptions based on the property, the stay, and local conditions. Some examples include putting trash in an animal-proof container in bear country and limiting shower time during local drought restrictions.

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There is an interesting financial wrinkle: Airbnb takes a cut of cleaning fees. Its single service fee, which is 15.5 percent for most hosts, applies to the nightly price and additional host charges, including cleaning. At that rate, $15.50 of a $100 cleaning fee goes to Airbnb. That means, if hosts raise those charges to cover more work, Airbnb could collect more, too.

No surprise rules after you book

The changes also address another familiar frustration: finding out about the rules only after the reservation is already paid for. Under the new policy, all house rules and requests must appear in the designated listing section when you book. That means no additional requirements slipped into a message, posted on the fridge, or delivered in person after arrival.

And hosts generally can’t attach their own fines or penalties, either. Hosts who persistently violate the policy could face a warning on their listing, reduced visibility in search, or other action from Airbnb.

To make those expectations harder to miss, Airbnb is displaying rules more prominently on listings, in guests' Trips tabs, and in reservation reminders. Listings with unresolved cleaning requests may also carry an alert reading "includes cleaning requests" — useful information before committing to a weekend away.

If this all sounds familiar, Airbnb has been working on the checkout chore problem for years. Back in Nov. 2022, the company said guests shouldn’t have to strip beds, do laundry, or vacuum before leaving. Its 2023 summer update made checkout instructions visible before booking and let guests flag excessive requests in reviews. Airbnb also said it would remove listings that repeatedly received low ratings over unreasonable chores.

Airbnb guests have entered the chat

The announcement has prompted plenty of travelers to celebrate and share their own horror stories.

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One user recalled a stay that required stripping beds, washing every dish, cleaning the kitchen, and hauling trash to the road — despite a $100 cleaning fee.

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Another said a host in Florida had tried to charge an additional $250 after their stay because they hadn’t washed and replaced the bedsheets and towels, taken out the trash, or swept the floor. According to the post, Airbnb customer service intervened and told the host they couldn’t charge extra for those tasks.

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On Reddit, where a discussion in r/technology has drawn roughly 18,000 upvotes and 1,400 comments in 4 hours, users commiserate over similar experiences.

"We once had a host call us screaming because we piled the dirty towels in the bathtub instead of washing and drying them," one commenter wrote. Another described being asked to take garbage to an off-site dump that charged for disposal and closed on Sundays. The host told them, "You have to take it out on Saturday then bring your Sunday trash home."

"If you have to put your existing paying guests to work preparing your property for your future paying guests, while also charging everyone a cleaning fee, maybe hosting just isn't for you?" said one X user.

But the conversation also includes other frustrations with Airbnb. One X user argued that the combination of prices rivaling luxury hotels and an "extensive chore chart" had eroded the service's appeal. "There’s almost zero reason not to stay in a hotel at this point," he wrote. "Too late. So many of us have moved on back to hotels. Less hassle and cheaper," a Reddit user wrote in response to Airbnb's latest update.

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Not all guests could agree on where basic courtesy ends and an unreasonable chore list begins, though. "I never minded dishes, but laundry was asking a bit much," one Reddit user wrote. Another said washing dishes and taking out trash seemed reasonable, particularly when food waste could start to smell.

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Still, the online frustration hasn’t translated into an overall decline in Airbnb's business quite yet. In its second-quarter 2026 results, the company reported revenue of $3.6 billion, up 17 percent from a year earlier. Its combined "Nights and Seats Booked" metric, covering stays and experiences, rose 10 percent. So though some travelers may have sworn off the platform, bookings are still growing.

Nevertheless, Airbnb has drawn its line in a longstanding debate over what it means to be a good guest. Whether hosts and travelers can agree on it is another matter.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription) $79.99
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