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Updated: 1 hour 6 min ago

Furious finale explained by Liz Meriwether, Emmy Rossum, and Lola Petticrew

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 12:00

With episode 8, Furious closed the case on the vengeance-seeking serial killer named Catherine (Lola Petticrew). But with that final scene, FBI Agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) unlocks a new mystery that might be pursued in a second season.

Where could that lead? Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko sat down with Furious creator Elizabeth Meriwether and stars Emmy Rossum and Lola Petticrew to dig into finale burning questions and what could be ahead for Season 2.

Obviously, spoilers from "Hart Island" ahead.

Who killed Isabel on Furious? Lola Petticrew and Emmy Rossum star in "Furious." Credit: Disney / Sarah Shatz

With the trauma of being trapped and sexually assaulted in a child trafficking ring, Catherine has been fighting all season to remember what exactly happened the night Isabel died. In the final episode of the season, she goes back to where it all went down, the posh mansion of Jay Easton (Peter McRobbie).

There, an ailing Jay relies on his daughter Emma (Hope Davis) to clean up his mess. In this case — with cops, Feds, and Catherine incoming — that means destroying any evidence, including Jay's treasured collection of child porn.

While Catherine killed the pimp who trafficked her, Jay's son who was there that night, and two of the family's lawyers, she does not kill Jay. But in searching for the truth, she realizes that it was she who killed Isabel. In a tearful scene with Emma, Catherine realizes that Isabel was bleeding, possibly from postpartum complications but also because Jay beat her in the face. Crying out in pain, she asked Catherine for help. And Catherine administered a deadly dose of intravenous drugs to euthanize her first love.

So, Catherine killed Isabel, but out of love.

Furious dropped a clue to Isabel's killer in episode 1. Lola Petticrew in "Furious." Credit: Disney / Sarah Shatz

In episode 1, Catherine is swiftly shifting from different identities and using masks to hide her face. But there's one bit of costuming that singles her out, even from the crime scene of Caleb Easton's brownstone: that sequined purse.

Alice finds a dislodged sequin on Caleb's bathroom floor. Later, Catherine will collect other clothing and accessories from other victims. Like, when she meets Becky in Central Park, she appears to be wearing a men's trench coat (possibly the late Oliver's), and she takes Mira's backpack (though she leaves her alive).

Asked if these trophies were a clue that Catherine killed Isabel too, Petticrew told Mashable, "I think that it is," noting of the bag, "What I treated it like was an anchor and a reminder at every step of the way that this is what she was doing it for, and who she was doing it for. You know, Isabel, she's the love of her life. And I think that that physical girlish reminder  — even when she's sort of dressed up and and and being seen by men or the world as like sexy — there's always this sort of thing that sits upon her that reminds you that she was a child when all of this happened, and a child that was forced into this situation."

Who killed Jay on Furious? Emmy Rossum in "Furious." Credit: Disney / Sarah Shatz

At first it seems like the fates — not the furies — took Jay's life. After Alice assures that Catherine's captured without being killed, she goes upstairs to Jay's bedroom. There, it seems he dies of natural causes as he gasps for air. However, when Alice visits Catherine in prison, Catherine suspects the truth, saying she knows Alice's "secret."

Furious cuts back to that sequence, the one where Jay recognized Alice, but not as an agent on the investigation into the murder of his son. When he saw her, he said, "I know you. You're the movie star. I like your video. It was always one of my favorites."

As Danny (Scoot McNairy) discovered from the files Alden (Steve Way) got off Hal's computer, Alice was the subject of child porn in her youth. Finally, the audience might understand why Alice is so determined to not only join the sex crimes department of the FBI, but also why her eyes keep drifting to the high-security screening room where child trafficking video evidence is stored.

Rossum said of this reveal, "Alice has a lot of secrets...We don't know why she wants to get into the room. We don't know that she knows about the videotape. That is information she would have hidden when she was being interviewed by the FBI. They would ask you a question like, 'Does anybody have anything on you that could be used against you?' She certainly didn't disclose her history or what had happened to her as a young teenager. She doesn't say why — you know, Nora (Quincy Tyler Bernstine) says to her in the first episode, 'Why do you want to work in the squad?' She doesn't give the full answer."

She continued, "Alice just kind of smiles and doesn't say anything. And we see her looking at that door. We know she wants to get in that room, right? To see how many people have seen that tape. Is that tape out there? Does it exist? Can they find me? Have people looked at me and my body in that way? So there's a lot riding on Alice being found out. And she has even more secrets at the end of Season 1 than she did at the beginning."

By the end of the finale, Alice will tell Nora about the video. What she won't tell her is that Jay didn't die of natural causes.

In that flashback, a new camera angle reveals the truth hidden the first time the scene played in Furious. This time, Jay doesn't just start choking out of the blue. This time, we see Alice's foot stamp on his ventilator tube, suffocating him in a way no one detected.

But this is not where the finale ends.

Where could Furious Season 2 go? Emmy Rossum and Quincy Tyler Bernstine in "Furious." Credit: Disney / Sarah Shatz

Season 1 of Furious ends with Alice finally getting into that evidence room, and there she searches for her own name. The results don't show her the video, but rather information on how many cases have included it as evidence (312) and how many downloads of it have been made online (over 50k).

As she looks over a list of usernames, we hear Catherine's voice asking from prison, "Did you like the way it felt"? Alice smiles, presumably thinking not only of how she killed Jay, but also how there are so many more rapists and pedophiles out there, prime for a reckoning.

Meriwether told Mashable that as an "almost lifelong Law and Order SVU fan, I love the idea of a unit in the FBI that like takes on these cases....but one case over the course of a season."

She continued, "I love the Nora/Alice relationship, especially as we kept working on the first season. And I felt like there's so much there to explore and just give them a different case. I think going forward, Season 2 is them working on a different case."

But Alice won't be able to leave this case behind her. Merwether noted, "Alice has a lot of secrets, more secrets now, and things that people can hold against her, and things that she needs to unpack about what happened in this season."

When is Season 2 of Furious coming? Quincy Tyler Bernstine and Danny McCarthy in "Furious." Credit: Disney / Sarah Shatz

At the time of the interview, Meriwether said of the show's future, "Fingers crossed, but I'm hoping we get to do more."

On Aug. 27, days ahead of Season 1's finale's release, Hulu announced Furious has been renewed for Season 2. So stay tuned for more.

Furious is now on Hulu and Disney+.

Amazons Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on TVs, Apple gear, Amazon devices, and more

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 11:56
The best Amazon Labor Day deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 (save $100) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Show 11 $189.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 (save $1,102) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra $249 (save $200) Get Deal

If the Pumpkin Spite Latte's return to Starbucks didn't already alert you, Labor Day Weekend's arrival certainly will. Fall is coming, whether you're anticipating the season change or dreading it. The unofficial last hurrah of summer, Labor Day is the perfect excuse to squeeze in some last-minute beach days, backyard barbecues, and shopping sprees (obviously).

With tech prices constantly rising, major shopping holidays like Amazon's Labor Day sale are your best opportunity to score the devices you want at a discount. We've already noticed all-time low prices on some of our favorite TVs of 2026 and noise-cancelling headphones we adore. Plus, we're seeing some of the best discounts on Apple gear and Amazon devices since price hikes went into effect.

We fully expect this list to grow as the weekend nears, but here are some of the best deals we've spotted at Amazon so far.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The M4 iPad Air is hands down our top pick for an iPad for most people. While it's incredibly similar to its predecessor, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It features a thin and lightweight build, brilliant Liquid Retina display, insanely fast performance powered by the M4 chip, and Apple's N1 and C1X connectivity chips. Mashable's tech editor says its powerful enough to handle memory-intensive programs like Final Cut Pro and even goes as far as calling it "way overpowered for most users." It starts at $749 for the 128GB version after the price hike, but for Labor Day, it's $100 cheaper.

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Air 2026 (M4).

More Apple deals

Earbuds

iPads

Accessories

Best Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 11 $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon surprised everyone with a monstrous price hike across all of its Fire TV, Kindle, and Echo devices earlier this month. This is the first big sale since the price hike, so we're happy to see many of these devices still getting the deal treatment. The Echo Show 11 is down to $189.99, which is $30 cheaper than its original price before the increase. Dubbed Amazon's "most advanced smart displays yet," the Echo Show 11 features the new in-house AZ3 Pro chips and Omnisense technology for AI-based, highly personalized experiences. There's also front-facing stereo speakers, a custom woofer for spatial audio, ambient visuals that adapt to your environment, and a built-in 13-megapixel camera that can recognize faces.

More Amazon device dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,102.00   Get Deal Why we like it

It's been out less than six months, but it's already our top pick for a QLED TV for most people. That "SQD" in the title stands for "super quantum dot mini LEDS," which is a lot of tech jargon for extremely bright quantum dots. Mashable's TV expert calls it one of the brightest TVs you can buy, period, shouting out its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling." The 65-inch model clocks in at $2,499.99 on a normal day, but it's down to a best-ever $1,397.99 at Amazon for Labor Day — a 44% discount.

More TV dealsBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra $249 at Amazon
$449 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

Since these headphones have been replaced by the 2nd generation, they won't be on shelves too much longer. We're huge fans of the latest generation, but like most modern tech, the upgrades are iterative. The original QuietComfort Ultras are "still some of the most comfortable and best-sounding headphones we've ever tested," Mashable's Sam Mangino writes. They can easily be worn all day without earaches, offer all-day battery life with noise cancellation turned on, have convenient foldable earcups, and superb sound quality. At only $249, they're a total steal (and the cheapest they've ever been)

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras.

More headphones deals

Another tri-folding phone is coming soon, with a catch

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 11:41

Huawei is gearing up to unveil its next triple-folding smartphone, the Mate XT 2, at an event in China on September 7. The company will also debut HarmonyOS 7. Huawei hasn't published a full spec sheet yet, but a video teaser has given the clearest look so far at the device, according to GSMArena.

SEE ALSO: It's official: OnePlus smartphones will no longer be sold in U.S. and Europe

The teaser confirms earlier rumors that the Mate XT 2 will switch to an inward-folding, U-shaped design, a departure from the Z-shaped fold used on the original Mate XT and the Mate XTs. Other rumored specs include a 6,000 mAh battery and either a Kirin 9050 Pro or Kirin 9030S chip, while the camera setup is expected to closely resemble that of the Mate X7.

Can I buy Huawei in the U.S.?

Huawei devices, including its foldables, have effectively been locked out of the American market for years — the result of a national security dispute between the company and the U.S. government that stretches back nearly two decades.

The roots of that dispute go back to the mid-2000s, when networking giant Cisco accused Huawei of stealing its intellectual property, an early sign of the friction that would eventually escalate into formal government action.

Things came to a head in 2019, when the Trump administration signed an executive order effectively banning Huawei from U.S. communications networks and added the company to the Commerce Department's Entity List, restricting American firms from exporting technology to Huawei without a license.

SEE ALSO: The U.S. DJI drone ban, explained

That same year, the Justice Department charged Huawei with financial fraud and sanctions violations. In 2020, prosecutors added allegations of racketeering and trade secret theft. The U.S. also tightened restrictions on Huawei's access to foreign-made semiconductors built with American technology, while Congress provided $1.9 billion to help remove and replace Huawei and ZTE equipment in domestic networks.

The fallout extended well beyond politics and into Huawei's actual device lineup. As CNET has chronicled extensively, Huawei's CFO, Meng Wanzhou, was detained in Canada for nearly three years before striking a deal with the Justice Department in 2021 that allowed her to return to China. Around the same time, Huawei lost its license to use Google's Android services on new phones, and countries including the U.K. and Sweden banned Huawei equipment from their 5G networks entirely.

The Biden administration largely kept those restrictions in place and, in some cases, tightened them further. They remain in force today. The result is a company that remains one of the world's largest telecom equipment and smartphone makers, with a presence in more than 170 countries, but without an official smartphone retail presence in the U.S.

So while the Mate XT 2 may generate plenty of buzz when it launches next week, don't expect to find it at your local carrier store. For now, seeing Huawei's latest tri-fold in person will likely require a trip to a market where it is officially sold.

My Fall 2: Deadpoint interview with the cast featured a ropes course

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 09:10

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko was sent on a ropes course ahead of interviewing Fall 2: Deadpoint's cast Tom Brittney, Arsema Thomas, and Harriet Slater. Her training time was apparently almost as long as the actors' for the Fall sequel.

"We didn't have that much time," said Tom Brittney. "From casting to filming, it was pretty short. It was, like, a week or two."

Slater added, "In the first week, we were just practicing some stunts," "But other than that I feel like we mostly just winged it!"

Arseme Thomas jumped in, "Yeah, they threw us on there and they were like, 'Exactly how you're reacting, we'll get that!'"

Fall 2: Deadpoint is in theaters September 2.

The surprises we expect and want from Apple’s surprise and shine event

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 09:02

Apple’s September iPhone Event will be led by a new CEO, loaded with hardware, and full of surprises. We could finally get a foldable iPhone, new smart speakers, powerful smartwatches and more. Here’s what to expect and what we really want to see once Apple pulls back the curtain on September 9th.

Watch NASA and SpaceX launch the Roman Space Telescope

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 08:30

NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orbiting Observatory was named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman, and can produce images from deep space 100 times larger than NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

Highlights From Chinas Humanoid Robot Olympics

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 08:14

The second World Humanoid Robot Games brought more than 2,000 humanoid robots to Beijing for a series of Olympic-style competitions. Check out some of the biggest highlights from this year's event.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra might look like an Apple iPhone

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 07:59

New renders claim to show the Galaxy S27 Ultra's redesigned camera bump, and it looks a lot like Apple's iPhone Pro Camera Plateau. That's a big old camera bump. We break down the leaked design, expected pricing and a self-healing screen feature, which could be groundbreaking! 

Apple Watch will reportedly get a big redesign, but not this year

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 05:34

The biggest change on this year's Apple Watch might be the introduction of a white and/or gray ceramic case.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has outlined the changes being made for Apple's upcoming wearables: the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. In his Sunday article, he reiterated that these devices will only receive "fairly minor upgrades," having previously tempered expectations earlier this month.

He did, however, share a few new details about what some of these minor upgrades may be. According to Gurman, Apple has tested both white and gray configurations of the Apple Watch Series 12's ceramic case. Apple will also launch "many" new band colors and configurations alongside them.

Another new feature Apple is reportedly testing will have the Watch's heart-rate sensor continuously collect data, as opposed to doing so at random intervals or while you exercise. Apple's fitness and health app software might also get an update to show "more wellness-related metrics."

On the flip side, Apple is pushing for a bigger upgrade to both the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra next year.

SEE ALSO: The latest Apple price hike: Apple TV streaming service

One interesting thing about this report, which we've mostly heard before, is its timing. Apple's new Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra are likely to launch in a little over a week, on September 9. Surprises are unlikely this late in the game, so don't expect massive changes for the Apple Watch devices this year.

Valve suffers massive 12TB leak, revealing a decade of Steam game files

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 05:30

Valve has reportedly suffered a massive leak, with over 12 terabytes of the game developer's internal data now available online. This not only includes data from its own games such as Portal 2 and the cancelled Half-Life 2: Episode 3, but also other developers' games such as Grand Theft Auto V and Dragon Age: Origins. It could be one of the largest video game leaks ever.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Cyberleek update: Everything leaked so far, what might be coming next

The Steam2 Content Server Dump first came to light on Saturday, and quickly spread on social media. Steam2 was Valve's previous content distribution system, which was phased out after the introduction of SteamPipe in 2013. Valve used Steam2 to deliver game updates through its digital storefront Steam, which was launched in 2003. This leak purportedly contains data from a Steam2 content server, and spans the decade between 2003 to 2013.

It's unclear exactly who is responsible for the leak. However, Valve content creator Scolcer claimed that the data wasn't hacked, but found publicly available on an unprotected website (via Google Translate). This was corroborated by another Valve-focused content creator Gabe Follower.

"No hacking involved, just verified that everything in Steam2 Teraleak was obtained via a publicly accessable [sic] endpoint. It's Valve's fault…" Gabe Follower posted to X. "That's why it's only before 2013, after that they switched to the new storage system."

While fans are still combing through the massive archive of data, they've already uncovered a lot of interesting information. Valve released some of its most iconic games during the period covered by the leak, including Half-Life 2, Portal, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, and Dota 2. As such, gamers have found files related to several of these titles, and are sharing screenshots and videos of their discoveries on social media.

So far, finds include a beta build of Left 4 Dead 2, files that seem linked to cancelled game Half-Life 2: Episode Three, content cut from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, data concerning cancelled Portal prequel F-Stop, and unreleased but playable versions of Portal 2, including dialogue, plotlines, and other features that didn't make it into the final game.

Mashable has reached out to Valve for comment.

Significantly, Valve isn't the only game developer that appears to have been swept up in the Steam2 Content Server Dump. Steam hosts both Valve's own games and those made by other developers, having become one of the most popular digital distribution platforms for PC games. As such, other developers' games which launched on Steam before 2013 have reportedly been included in the leak as well. 

Fans have reportedly identified files or even early versions of games such as Grand Theft Auto V, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, Mafia II, Spec Ops: The Line, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II. Basically, if a game was on Steam in 2013 or earlier, it was likely included in the leak. According to SteamDB, Steam hosted 2122 games by 2013. 

Much more information will undoubtedly be uncovered as people continue to trawl through the data. Even so, it will likely take some time. In 2024, approximately 1 terabyte of data was leaked from Nintendo's servers in an incident dubbed the "Teraleak," followed by a second release a year later. Though the Teraleak was significantly smaller than Valve's breach, fans have continued to glean new information from it even up until last month.

NASAs Roman telescope is cruising. Heres a look at the next 100 days.

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 05:00

NASA's new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is headed to its frigid space outpost, where it is expected to gather unprecedented data on some of the universe's biggest mysteries.  

Over the next few months, mission controllers will guide it out into deep space, deploy its hardware, test every system, and tune its vision before it begins major infrared observations of the cosmos.

Following a successful launch on Sunday, Aug. 30, Roman is now flying to a point about 1 million miles from Earth, similar to where the James Webb Space Telescope operates. It will spend roughly three months checking out its systems and instruments before NASA releases its first images in early 2027.

SEE ALSO: NASA's Roman telescope is built to find what Hubble and Webb miss First hours after launch

Right after Roman separated from its SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, several maneuvers happened quickly:

  • The spacecraft turned so its solar panels faced the sun to give it power.

  • Mission teams on the ground switched on and checked basic systems, like power and communications.

  • Near the end of the first day, Roman fired its engines to fine-tune its trajectory toward its final destination in space.

That location is called the second sun‑Earth Lagrange point, or L2. It's a spot in space where the gravity of the sun and Earth, plus Roman's motion, allows the telescope to maintain a steady position as it orbits the sun.

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100‑day trip to deep space

Roman's cruise to get to L2 takes about 100 days. During that time, controllers do more than just wait for the spacecraft's arrival:

  • They unfold side panels and a sunshield, which help protect the telescope from heat and light.

  • They deploy a large antenna that Roman will use to transmit scientific data back to Earth.

  • They test the spacecraft's systems one by one — power, steering, data handling, and engines — to make sure everything works in space as it did in the lab.

"We look at it all with a fine-tooth comb," said Jeremy Perkins, Roman's integration and test scientist. "The people that built and tested and delivered Roman are the same folks that are going to make sure it's working as we expect it to on orbit."

As Roman travels farther from Earth, it passes beyond the moon's orbit and settles into a looping path around the L2 point.

Under the hood, Roman is about the size of a tour bus and as heavy as a male killer whale. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center infographic Opening the telescope and turning on the cameras

On the way out and near L2, the team starts to wake up the science gear:

  • They open a protective cover so the telescope can see the sky.

  • They power on the Wide Field Instrument, Roman's main camera, which takes sharp, panoramic pictures in infrared light.

  • They turn on the Coronagraph Instrument, a special device that tries to block starlight inside the telescope so it can spot nearby faint planets.

At this stage, Roman takes test images. Engineers use these early pictures to check focus, sharpness, and pointing. If the team chooses, they may release some of these images publicly on NASA's mission blog.  

Three‑month checkout and tweaking

Fortunately, the team doesn't have to wait for Roman to arrive at L2 before it begins commissioning, that three‑month checkout period. That work can overlap with the journey, said Julie McEnery, Roman's senior project scientist.

"We can start our science operations before we've actually inserted into our orbit," she said. "You can expect 'first light' sometime before the beginning of next year."

The three-month commissioning phase will overlap with the spacecraft's flight to the second sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center infographic

During this time, teams will:

  • Measure how sharp stars look, then adjust the telescope to bring them into the best focus possible.

  • Repeat test observations to see if the telescope behaves the same way each time.

  • Check how dark and stable the telescope is, which is crucial for spotting the heat of very faint galaxies and tiny changes in starlight.

  • Practice sending and receiving large amounts of data, building up to about 1.4 terabytes of science data per day — far more than Hubble ever sent.

Scientists also run small "practice surveys" on limited areas of sky. These rehearsals make sure Roman and its software can handle the full‑size surveys planned for the main five-year mission.

"We're using this early time, this commissioning time, to shake out all the techniques, to find the gotchas, find the bugs, and basically do the early calibrations we need to do so that we're ready when the torrent of data starts," Perkins said. 

First images and the start of the mission

Once Roman passes its early tests and calibrations, NASA plans to release the first glamor shots in January 2027. These pictures will highlight what Roman does best, such as:

The Roman Space Telescope will orbit the sun 1 million miles away from Earth so that the planet's atmosphere doesn't obscure the view. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center infographic

  • Wide views packed with distant galaxies will help map how matter is distributed across the universe.

  • Dense fields of stars near the center of the Milky Way, where Roman will later search for brief brightening events that reveal hidden planets.

After the checkout phase, Roman moves into its five‑year primary mission, rotating through three main tasks:

  1. Mapping more than a billion galaxies to study dark matter and dark energy.

  2. Watching the same patches of sky over and over to catch changing events like exploding stars.

  3. Staring toward the crowded center of our galaxy to find planets, including free‑floating "rogue" worlds that don't orbit a star.

Roman carries enough fuel for at least those first five years. Engineers also built it so a future mission could refuel it in space, which could keep the telescope working well beyond its original lifetime if that technology becomes available.

Adult DVDs are back thanks to age-verification laws

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 05:00

When new technology emerges, pornography soon follows. From VHS tapes to VR, the adult industry has long been an early adopter of innovative ways to watch and get off.

But now, viewers are turning to a format once thought obsolete: DVDs. 

"In our retail locations in South Dakota, we went up probably 20, 22 percent this year over the last year on DVD sales," said David Eliason, owner of three adult stores in the state: Dick & Jane's Naughty Spot, which has locations in Sturgis and Rapid City, and Bonnie & Clyde's Adult Supercenter in Rapid City. "There's really no other explanation other than [that] South Dakota passed an age verification bill."

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Eliason told Mashable that other stores had previously started eliminating DVD sales altogether due to the availability of free and paid streaming content. But this might be changing with the surge of age-verification laws, which typically require personal data, be it credit card information, an ID upload, and/or a face scan, to view explicit content (or simply content deemed harmful to minors or otherwise restricted to adults). 

Age verification laws have taken effect in half of U.S. states and countries like the UK, France, and Italy. Similar technology is used to enforce social media bans for children, such as the one in Australia. (Other markets have announced similar social media bans, like the EU and UK.)

Many people do not comply, such as by using virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their real location. Others are going back to physical media.

Rejecting streaming, embracing DVD

"We've seen a bump in DVD orders from the states that are enforcing online AV laws," Lewis Adams, director of sales at Pulse Distribution, told Mashable over email. Pulse Distribution is a domestic and international distributor for porn films in home video, broadcast, internet, and wireless platforms. It handles 90 percent of adult studios, including the well-known Brazzers and Reality Kings, according to Adams. 

Pulse sells to wholesalers, who in turn sell to retail stores and the general public. Since Pulse doesn't sell directly to consumers, its operation hasn't changed due to laws, but Adams said he's seen how DVD sales are shifting in the industry. The biggest impact of the laws has been an increase in DVD sales where they're enforced, such as in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida. 

"We all know that everything you watch online is tracked," he told Mashable. While he doesn't think this will lead to a full-blown revival of DVDs, he believes DVD sales will continue for a long time. 

"I've been hearing consumers threaten to return to physical media since the laws first started passing, and it's interesting to hear retailers clock it in the sales data," Mike Stabile, director of public policy at adult industry trade organization, the Free Speech Coalition, told Mashable over email. 

"It's hard to express what a monumental failure these online age-verification laws have been," Stabile continued. "There has been almost no consumer compliance. People have shifted to foreign sites and pirate sites, they're trading porn on Discord and Telegram, they're using VPNs."

VPN use in the UK increased twofold after the enactment of the Online Safety Act, the UK's age-verification law. A recent report from the UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, stated that many porn sites don't have age checks a year into enforcement, and minors are able to find them via search.

Initial studies from 2025 showed that age verification doesn't work to keep minors off these sites. A June 2026 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research also found that viewers visit noncompliant sites or circumvent the laws using VPNs. The paper found that time spent on adult sites fell by around 10 percent. 

"I'm pretty excited about it, actually, because what we watch is none of the government's business."

On the resurgence of physical media, sexuality specialist Kim Airs said, "I'm pretty excited about it, actually, because what we watch is none of the government's business." Airs is a former adult store owner and has been in the adult industry for 32 years.

Adams also mentioned the importance of privacy and anonymity for a large population. "There is something to be said for the person who wants to walk into a store, pay cash for a DVD, and watch it whenever they want, and it's no business of anyone else," he said. "I support that person."

A better solution?

Airs doesn't think OnlyFans creators will suddenly start selling DVDs. (The platform requires a credit or debit card, which is a kind of age verification because you must be 18 and over to obtain one.) 

Still, she said, "I'm actually excited because DVDs aren't dead" — though not for the reason why.

"I've lived long enough to know the Meese Commission," she said, referring to a task force that investigated the porn industry during the Reagan administration, helmed by then-attorney general Edwin Meese. The nearly 2,000-page Meese Report, released by the Meese Commission in 1986, concluded that porn was a net negative for society (despite little empirical evidence) and led to a judicial crackdown on the industry throughout the rest of Reagan's time as president. 

"I won't say [it] wrecked our industry, but it impacted our industry significantly," Airs continued. "I kind of fear a lot of that coming back because of these restrictions, and [these laws are] so haphazard, and it's not only haphazard in the U.S., it's hitting globally."

And those within the adult industry have long-discussed a different solution: Device-level filters. This can look like an operating system (say, iOS or Android) requesting a birthday when onboarding a user onto a device, and that device creating an age-bracket signal. If the user is a minor, the device can block inappropriate apps or web content.

Free speech experts have long advocated for device-level filters as the least intrusive way to ensure someone is of age. And companies have begun advocating for this, as well. Pornhub has sent letters to Google, Apple, and Microsoft, as well as U.S. lawmakers, urging them to either implement these types of filters or require operating systems to do so.

"No one wants to scan their face to masturbate."

"There's no reason that those devices you know couldn't very easily send out a signal that says, 'Hey, this phone belongs to somebody who's of proper age,' and allow that person to continue on to whatever content they so choose," Eliason said. "And if they're underage, it would stop them from going to such content."

But as the current age-verification laws stand, people will try and be able to evade them. The return to DVD is yet another way in which consumers are evading the law, Stabile said. "No one wants to scan their face to masturbate."

How to watch Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano online for free

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Watch Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

La Liga offers up another big game today, with last year's champions Barcelona in action against Rayo Vallecano.

Rayo Vallecano are yet to win a game this season. And though it's very early days, the talk around Barcelona is whether they can make this another winning campaign, which would make it three league titles in three years. A win against Rayo Vallecano would certainly remind Barcelona's biggest rivals, Real Madrid, that they're in fine early-season form.

If you're interested in watching Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano?

Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano in La Liga kicks off at 3.30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. This fixture takes place at the Camp Nou.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano for free

Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano in La Liga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit CazéTV

  5. Watch Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Atalanta vs. Bologna online for free

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 04:00

TL;DR: Watch Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Soccer fans all over the world are excited for the new domestic seasons. That includes a new Serie A season in Italy, which kicked off last week and has already seen fixtures from top Italian sides including Napoli and Roma. Today's fixtures include Atalanta vs. Bologna.

Atalanta began the 2026/27 season with a win against Sassuolo, while Bologna lost their opening game to Lazio.

If you're interested in watching Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Atalanta vs. Bologna?

Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. This fixture takes place at the Gewiss Stadium.

How to watch Atalanta vs. Bologna for free

Atalanta vs. Bologna in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Atalanta vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atalanta vs. Bologna for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit SportyNet

  5. Watch Atalanta vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atalanta vs. Bologna without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Atalanta vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Lecce vs. Roma online for free

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 02:00

TL;DR: Watch Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Roma are off to a flying start in the new Serie A season, scoring a 4-0 win over Fiorentina in their first game of their 2026/27 campaign. Now Roma visit Lecce, who are also coming off a win in their season opener, beating Venezia 2-0.

A win for Lecce over Roma would be considered an upset — they've only beaten Roma once in 19 previous meetings — but Lecce are looking to keep up the momentum.

If you're interested in watching Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Lecce vs. Roma?

Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero.

How to watch Lecce vs. Roma for free

Lecce vs. Roma in Serie A is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Lecce vs. Roma for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Lecce vs. Roma for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit CazéTV

  5. Watch Lecce vs. Roma for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Lecce vs. Roma without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Lecce vs. Roma for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 31, 2026

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 00:00

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

A short era.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PHASE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Where a cow ejects milk.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UDDER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A military sword.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 31, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SABRE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A type of drum.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SNARE

Final Hurdle hint

A row of bushes.

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

HEDGE

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

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on August 31

Mon, 08/31/2026 - 00:00

Fancy doing a bit of Moon spotting tonight? You might be surprised by how much detail you can pick out from Earth, especially if you have binoculars or a telescope handy.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 31, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 89% of its surface visible.

Tonight with just your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mares Serenitatis and Tranquillitatis, and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, you'll also see the Mare Nectaris, the Clavius Crater, and the Grimaldi Basin. If you have access to a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it moves through its different phases. It takes roughly 29.5 days for the Moon to complete one full cycle as it orbits Earth, according to NASA. The phase we see depends on the Moon's position relative to the Sun and Earth, which determines how much of its sunlit side is visible to us. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon changes from a slim crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before beginning the process again.

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.

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 31, 2026

Sun, 08/30/2026 - 22:15

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 August 31, 2026 Caliph meaning

A religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

Khan meaning

An ancient Eurasian ruler.

Pharoah meaning

An ancient Egyptian ruler.

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

Shogun meaning

An ancient Japanese ruler.

Fragile meaning

Easily breakable.

Heavy meaning

Having a large weight or density.

Perishable meaning

A food item that can spoil quickly.

This side up meaning

A common shipping box label.

Dust meaning

Small dry particles of matter.

Poke meaning

A traditional Hawaiian dish containing raw fish.

Salad meaning

A mixed leafy dish.

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.

Super meaning

Of excellent quality.

Lipstick meaning

A tubed makeup product that adds color to the lips.

Poster meaning

A large printed display paper.

Tennis balls meaning

Round bouncy objects hit by rackets in tennis.

Toothpaste meaning

A thick liquid used for cleaning teeth.

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.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 31, 2026

Sun, 08/30/2026 - 22:00

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch basketball.

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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: 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: Rookie

  • Green: Basketball coach

  • Blue: He's on fire

  • Purple: Mr. and Ms. Thompson

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Inexperienced

  • Green: NBA Head Coaches

  • Blue: Can Come After "Hot"

  • Purple: ___Thompson

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 #707 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Inexperienced: GREEN, NEW, RAW, YOUNG

  • NBA Head Coaches: BICKERSTAFF, FINCH, KERR, REDICK

  • Can Come After "Hot": CORNER, HAND, SEAT, STOVE

  • ___Thompson: ALYSSA, AMEN, KLAY, TAGE

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.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 31, 2026

Sun, 08/30/2026 - 22:00

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 August 31, 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 August 31, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, 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.

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