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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, April 8, 2026:

Across___-Carlton (hotel chain)

• The answer is Ritz.

Span of the alphabet

• The answer is Atoz.

Cable channel with an out-of-this-world name

• The answer is Starz.

Takes care of, as a squeaky wheel

• The answer is Oils.

Toy on a string

• The answer is Yoyo.

DownWhen a post receives far more negative comments than likes, in social media slang

• The answer is Ratio.

World's leading wine producer

• The answer is Italy.

Middle of the human body

• The answer is Torso.

Sleeping sound

• The answer is Zzz.

Tofu base

• The answer is Soy.

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

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

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

SAVE $120: As of April 8, the Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV is on sale for $179.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV $179.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $120   Get Deal

The Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV has dropped in price at Amazon, so if you're looking for a new TV at a great price, don't skip this deal. As of April 8, this model is down to $179.99 from $299.99, saving you $120 on list price.

This is a 4K Ultra HD TV with a 2160p resolution and HDR10 support, so everything you watch is in sharper detail, with improved contrast, and more vivid colors. It can even upscale lower-resolution content to make it appear better quality. Audio is great too, thanks to support from DTS Virtual:X for a more immersive sound experience.

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On the inside, it runs on Fire TV. This means you'll have access to a wide range of streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+, as well as free ad-supported content. It's easy to use and navigate, with all your favorite apps and shows all in one place.

The TV also integrates well with smart home devices. Check in with camera feeds, control lighting, or start your robot vacuum, all from the TV.

Find this Insignia deal at Amazon right now.

SAVE $280: As of April 8, the Shark AV2501S AI robot vacuum is on sale for $269.99 at Amazon. That's a 51% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AV2501S AI Robot Vacuum $269.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $280   Get Deal

Looking for a great deal on a robot vacuum? Look no further than Amazon's latest deal on the Shark AV2501S AI. As of April 8, this vacuum is reduced by over 50%, now down to $269.99 from $549.99. That's a saving of $280 in total.

This Shark model is designed to keep your whole home clean. It uses strong suction to pick up dirt and debris across different floor types, and it benefits from Matrix Clean Navigation, which works in a grid pattern to make multiple passes over dirt.

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For navigation, it uses 360° LiDAR mapping to navigate your space more efficiently, while avoiding any obstacles it may come across. It also manages its own dust emptying for up to 30 days. When it's full, it heads back to the base where it will store the dirt with HEPA filtration to make sure fine particles and allergens are captured.

It also has a self-cleaning brushroll to manage hair (ideal if you have pets at home) and can run for up to 120 minutes before needing a recharge.

This Shark robot vacuum deal is available at Amazon now.

SAVE $400: As of April 8, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum is on sale for $599.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: eufy Eufy E25 Robot Vacuum $599.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Robot vacuum deals like this one on the Eufy E25 are seriously hard to ignore. In one handy device, you're getting a vacuum, a mop, and little to no maintenance required from you. And all for the price of $599.99. This isn't just a great price that saves you $400, this is the lowest-ever price for this model.

This is a seriously powerful robot vacuum, combining 20,000Pa suction with a HydroJet system that self-washes its roller mops, so no dirt stands a chance in its path. It also uses DuoSpiral anti-tangle brushes to pick up pet hair easily, while a CornerRover arm helps it clean along awkward edges and into hard to reach corners.

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Included with the vacuum is the all-in-one docking station. Here, it takes care of emptying dust, refilling water, and washing and drying the mops, so there's very little for you to do. In fact, the self-emptying dust bin can hold dirt for up to 75 days before it needs to be manually emptied.

For navigation, this vacuum uses laser-guided navigation with multi-floor mapping to learn the layout of your home. So you don't even need to tell it where to go.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: Walmart has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box listed for $129.99, while Amazon sellers start at $133. That puts Walmart about $3 below Amazon and $4.89 below market price.

Where to buy the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box: Best Walmart Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $129.99 at Walmart (save $20) Shop Now Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $133 at Amazon Shop Now Best TCGplayer deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $134.88 at TCGplayer Shop Now

Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box pricing has been all over the place since the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Evolution expansion landed, with ETBs quickly jumping above MSRP and hovering well above where many collectors would want to buy in. Steadily though, sellers at Walmart are attempting to undercut the competition. 

As of April 8, Walmart has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box listed for $129.99, down from $149.99. Over at Amazon, third-party sellers currently have it starting at $133. TCGplayer’s current market price is $134.88, with the most recent unopened sale matching that figure. That leaves Walmart as the cheapest of the bunch, undercutting Amazon by about $3 and landing nearly $5 below TCGplayer’s live market value.

Ascended Heroes is the priciest recent expansion in the trading card game right now, so you’re effectively paying $14.44 per booster pack before even factoring in the exclusive extras. 

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Inside the ETB, you are getting nine Ascended Heroes booster packs, a full-art foil promo card featuring N’s Zekrom, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with six dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

The Ascended Heroes pulls like Mega Gengar ex ($1,100+), Pikachu ex ($760+), and Mega Dragonite ex ($690+) mean even ETBs that are only slightly below market value will sell out quickly. With that in mind, we recommend buying at this new best price while you can. 

For more Ascended Heroes boosters, you can also buy the Pokémon TCG First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection for just over market price. As for the latest expansion, the Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Bundle is priced at around $43 at Walmart. 

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box listed for $79.99, while TCGplayer listings start at $63.34 plus shipping. Against TCGplayer’s current $71.25 market price and $80 listed median, this ETB is looking like a strong buy right now.

Where to buy the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box: Best TCGplayer deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box $73.74 at TCGplayer Shop Now Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box $79.99 at Amazon Shop Now

Perfect Order pricing has been steadily dropping off, now with ETBs available for under $80 across multiple retailers. 

As of April 8, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box listed for $79.99. Over on TCGplayer, the lowest listing is $63.34 plus shipping. Multiple other sellers are offering unopened boxes for around $73.35 to $73.43 with shipping included. That puts TCGplayer closest to its own $71.25 market price, while Amazon is now just under TCGplayer’s $80 listed median — a much better place for this ETB to land.

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That lower pricing also lines up with how the ETB has been moving more broadly. Over the past three months, as preorders went live, the unopened market price has dropped by more than 50%, which helps explain why more listings are now landing in the low-$70 range instead of the much higher prices Perfect Order ETBs were seeing closer to release.

Perfect Order Elite Trainer Boxes will include nine booster packs (each holding 10 trading cards), a full-art foil promo card featuring Tyrunt, 65 card sleeves, Energy cards, a player’s guide to the expansion, damage-counter dice, a collector’s box with dividers, and a code card for Pokémon Trading Card Game Live. Among those packs, you’ll have the chance to pull cards from the Mega Evolution Perfect Order expansion, including Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex, among a wider selection of 120 cards themed around the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game.

For even more booster packs from this latest Pokémon TCG expansion, you can still grab the Perfect Order Booster Bundle for around $43 at Walmart. Meanwhile, you can also buy the Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection for just over market price.

TL;DR: Bring home a tiny, but mighty MacBook Air for just $199.97 (reg. $999) now through April 19, while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97
$999 Save $799.03   Get Deal

The MacBook Air may be tiny, but it’s still mighty. You shouldn’t underestimate Apple’s lightest laptop — it still packs plenty of power and a whole lot of storage in its sleek and portable frame. Right now, you can bring one home for a surprisingly light price — just $199.97 (reg. $999) — now through April 19.

Don’t sleep on the MacBook Air. This Apple device may be easy to take anywhere, weighing in at just 2.96 pounds, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on power. A 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM let you tackle even the lengthiest to-do lists, and the 13.3-inch widescreen display is equipped with Intel HD Graphics 6000, allowing you to see everything in high-quality images with smooth streaming capabilities.

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If you like to store files locally, you’ll have plenty of space thanks to 128GB of flash storage, along with room to download your favorite apps, too. You’ll enjoy easy connectivity thanks to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, letting you go online and transfer files. And you won’t be hunting for an electrical outlet mid-day — this MacBook Air has an impressive 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Wondering how you’re saving $800 on this Apple laptop? It comes with a Grade A/B refurbished rating, which means it may arrive with light scuffing on the bevel or case, or light scratches or dents on the body, but there will be no dents, cracks, or missing parts.

Regularly $999, get this quality refurbished MacBook Air for only $199.97 (reg. $999) now through April 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It's been an emotional journey as always, but Shrinking Season 3 managed to end on its usual bittersweet note — leaving us equal parts sad and tentatively hopeful for Jimmy (Jason Segel) and the gang.

So what happened, what does it mean, and what might be next? Let's unpack.

SEE ALSO: The 41 best Apple TV shows, ranked How does Shrinking Season 3 end?

The entire main cast of Shrinking goes on a big journey in Season 3, with most of the core players ending the season at the start of a new life chapter: Alice (Lukita Maxwell) is heading to college, Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek (Ted McGinley) are off to Spain, Gaby (Jessica Williams) is engaged to other Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.), Brian (Michael Urie) is going to Tennessee, Sean (Luke Tennie) is moving out, and Paul (Harrison Ford) has moved across the country to be near his daughter.

In other words, everybody is beginning an exciting new adventure — except Jimmy (Jason Segel), who suddenly finds himself facing a pretty lonely stretch without his friends and family around. To make things worse, he appears to have blown his chances with Sofi (Cobie Smulders), and his relationship with Paul is in tatters after their argument at the end of episode 10.

What happens between Jimmy and Paul?

Jimmy and Paul start the episode barely speaking to each other. They share some tense exchanges over the phone, but it's not until Paul is reprimanded by his daughter and Alice that he finally decides upon a Jimmy-style intervention.

He calls Jimmy and invites him to breakfast, but then instead of sitting down with him he pulls his colleague to one side for some real talk. We've copied their exchange, which feels like a key moment the show has been building to all season, below:

Paul: "Let me talk. OK? Life threw you a curveball. So to try and control things you picture how you want them to go in your own head. That doesn't work. If you can't let go of this shit on your own then I have to...I have to keep trying to shake it out of you. You hear what I'm saying?"

Jimmy: "Yeah I do, but can we just talk about this over waffles?"

P: "No, you're not eating with me. You're eating with her... [Paul points to Sofi, who's sitting at a table by herself.] Not how you pictured it, huh?"

J: "You fucking Jimmied me!"

P: "That's right, I fucking Jimmied you! Look kid, if you're ever gonna move forward, you've gotta let go of the past. And I know that's scary. But you...you're never gonna forget Tia. Hell, you're never gonna forget me. No one will. Letting go of the past just means you don't allow your scars to hold you back anymore."

J: "I'm covered in them, Paul."

P: "Good. What a shame to be 42 years of age and not completely covered in scars. They're the evidence of a life fully lived."

J: "I don't want this. I don't want you to have to fly all across the fucking country just to make sure that I'm OK. I don't want to be a burden to you."

P: "You're not. You're more of a son to me. I don't know why I never said that before. I think you're strong. I think you don't need me. But for as long as I'm around, if you think you need me, I will be there for you. Because I love you. OK?"

J: "OK."

P: "Now you got a choice to make. Either stay stuck, or you can go make some new scars."

After a moment's hesitation, Jimmy does exactly what we're all willing him to: He goes into the restaurant, sits down opposite Sofi, and starts talking.

Will Jimmy finally be able to move forward?

Shrinking has been renewed for a fourth season, which means it won't be long before we find out how Jimmy and Sofi's breakfast went.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

But while Season 3 ended on a note of tentative hope for all the characters, we know Shrinking is never plain sailing. The new season is bound to come with a fresh set of challenges for all the characters, and we can't imagine Jimmy's foray into dating will be any exception.

The main issue we can see? With all of his close friends and Alice gone, it feels like there might be a lot of pressure placed on Jimmy's budding connection to Sofi. And with Paul across the country, despite what he says about being there for Jimmy, the distance might still prove a strain on their friendship.

Shrinking Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators 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

Composure.

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

POISE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A park seat.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BENCH

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To unnotice.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

UNSEE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A small island.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ISLET

Final Hurdle hint

A cat breed.

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

TABBY

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

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 April 8, 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 April 7, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 8 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 8 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 8 Pips

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

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 is for people who like to work out.

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. 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.

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: Gym exercises

• Green: Mask up

• Blue: Edge rushers

• Purple: Types of jumps

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Exercises, in Singular Form

• Green: Sporting Roles That Require Masks

• Blue: Hall of Fame Defensive Ends

• Purple: ____Jump

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 #562 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Exercises, in Singular Form - CRUNCH, PLANK, SITUP, SQUAT

• Sporting Roles That Require Masks - CATHCER, FENCER, FOOTBALL PLAYER, GOALTENDER

• Hall of Fame Defensive Ends - DENT, PEPPERS, STRAHAN, YOUNGBLOOD

• ____Jump - BROAD, HIGH, LONG, TRIPLE

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you wear glasses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 8, 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: Work buddy

• Green: Pleasing to the eye

• Blue: Barriers

• Purple: Found at LensCrafters

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cohort member

• Green: Aesthetic

• Blue: Kinds of bar apparatuses

• Purple: Eyewear in the singular

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 #1032 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Cohort member: ASSOCIATE, COLLEAGUE, FELLOW, PEER

• Aesthetic: DESIGN, LOOK, SCHEME, STYLE

• Kinds of bar apparatuses: MONKEY, PARALLEL, PULL-UP, UNEVER

• Eyewear in the singular: CONTACT, GOGGLE, SHADE, SPECTACLE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 8, 2026

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

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 are easy if you love to stay in bed.

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 April 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We're going under cover

The words are related to comfort.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe bed toppings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Bed Clothes.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 8

• Afghan

• Throw

• Blanket

• Bed Clothes

• Spread

• Comforter

• Quilt

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 love being by the water.

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 April 8, 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 8, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A bay.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter I.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

INLET

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.

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.

TL;DR: Conquer PDFs forever with this AcePDF Converter and Editor lifetime license, now only $29.99 (reg. $99.99).

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The news around PlayStation hasn't been great lately, and Sony has just the thing to fix that. Maybe.

On the PlayStation Blog, Sony announced a new initiative called The Playerbase. Through The Playerbase, fans of PlayStation games can apply to have their faces scanned and their likenesses used in PS5 games. The first game to do this will be Gran Turismo 7, in which one lucky fan who makes it through the application process will appear as a time-limited character within the game.

SEE ALSO: PS5, PS5 Pro price hikes announced as Sony blames economic pressures The Playerbase is here. Credit: PlayStation

This initiative will be available to players in "select markets" in most parts of the world, per PlayStation. There's an application webpage you can visit if you'd like to put your face in GT7 or whichever future games Sony wants to do this with. The application process itself seems interesting, as you'll have to "answer a few questions about your experiences on PlayStation," log in to your PlayStation Network account, and undergo a video interview before making it into any games. It seems like Sony wants to prioritize people with a long history of playing PlayStation games, so this might be the first time in history that having a high Trophy count can come in handy.

For PlayStation, this is a lightweight and frivolous headline in a sea of bad ones recently. Sony recently increased the prices of PS5 consoles nearly six years into the console's lifespan due to economic pressures, for example. A report also came out indicating the PlayStation 6, which may also have its planned 2027 launch delayed, might not include a built-in disc drive at all.

But hey, maybe The Playerbase will get people excited about PlayStation again.

TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Liverpool in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is showcasing some huge quarter-final matchups this week, and it doesn't get much bigger than the defending champions hosting Liverpool. PSG will be expected to advance to the next round, but Liverpool possess the talent to upset the odds. They've not been at their best this season, but they could turn things around at the Parc des Princes.

If you want to watch PSG vs. Liverpool in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Liverpool?

PSG vs. Liverpool in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 8. This fixture takes place at the Parc des Princes.

How to watch PSG vs. Liverpool for free

PSG vs. Liverpool is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream PSG vs. Liverpool for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch PSG vs. Liverpool for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Liverpool (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream PSG vs. Liverpool in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next round of Champions League fixtures continues with Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid. This is arguably the toughest contest to predict from the quarter-final stage, but you can be sure of big performances from the likes of Lamine Yamal and Julián Alvarez as these rivals battle it out at the Camp Nou.

If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid?

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 8. This fixture takes place at the Camp Nou.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid for free

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

If you've been using OpenClaw, the wildly popular AI agentic tool that took the developer community by storm, you should probably update it if you haven't done so already.

OpenClaw, as we've reported in the past, has widely known security problems. From the beginning, OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger has warned potential users on GitHub that "There is no 'perfectly secure' setup."

Users can grant OpenClaw control over their devices and access to specific apps, local files, and logged-in accounts, allowing it to act on their behalf with full user permissions. That's the whole point of this agentic AI assistant. That's also why, as security researchers have been warning for months, it's a significant risk if something goes wrong.

Now, predictably, something went wrong.

According to Ars Technica, developers at OpenClaw patched three high-severity vulnerabilities early last week, the most serious of which — CVE-2026-33579 — scored 9.8 out of 10 on the severity scale. Researchers at AI app-builder Blink found that the flaw allowed anyone with the lowest possible level of access to silently upgrade themselves to full administrator.

The mechanics, as Blink described them, are straightforward. OpenClaw's device pairing system failed to verify whether the person approving an access request actually had the authority to grant the request. So, an attacker with basic pairing privileges could simply ask for admin access and approve their own request. The door was, functionally, unlocked from the inside.

Just how many users' Claw setups were vulnerable to takeover? Blink researchers reported that about 63 percent of internet-connected OpenClaw instances were running without any authentication. On those deployments, an attacker didn't even need a low-level account to get started — they could walk in off the street and work their way up to admin.

Ars Technica notes that the patch was released on Sunday, April 5, but the official CVE listing didn't appear until Tuesday. That two-day gap gave attackers who were paying attention a head start before most users would have known to update.

Blink noted that CVE-2026-33579 is the sixth pairing-related vulnerability disclosed in OpenClaw in six weeks — all variations on the same underlying design flaw in how the tool handles permissions. Each patch has addressed a specific exploit in isolation rather than rearchitecting the authorization system responsible for all of them.

If you're running OpenClaw, update to version 2026.3.28 immediately. If you were running an older version in the past week, Ars Technica and Blink both recommend treating your instance as potentially compromised and auditing your activity logs for suspicious device approvals.

Beyond that, it may be worth asking whether the productivity gains from a tool this powerful are worth the security risks that come with it.

Artemis II astronauts spent Monday rounding the moon's edge, digital cameras in hand, snapping views of craters, an eclipse, and a blue marble rising and setting in deep space.

Inside NASA's Orion spacecraft, Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen took turns at the windows like kids on their first plane ride.

They spent about seven hours rotating through observation shifts on the sixth day of the mission, swapping lenses, calling out features, and firing off photos as the spacecraft arced around the far side of the moon.

At closest approach, they skimmed within about 4,000 miles of the lunar surface — close enough for every ridge, crater, and shadow to snap into sharp relief. The astronauts surprised mission control with descriptions of the surface appearing more brown than gray, with even some splotches of green and snowy white.

The latest Artemis II images don't just revisit Apollo — they mark a leap beyond it. Apollo crews captured their own iconic shots of the Earth and moon, but Artemis II delivered longer looks, sharper detail, and a front-row seat to the experience. Their extended total solar eclipse, for example, was a moment that earlier NASA missions could only catch in passing, if at all. That's the difference between spaceflight half a century ago and the 10-day Artemis journey that launched April 1.

"At one point towards the end of the images of my time in Window 3, I just had an overwhelming sense of being moved by looking at the moon," Koch said. "It lasted just a second or two, and I actually couldn't even make it happen again, but something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape, and it became real." 

SEE ALSO: The day Earth slipped behind the moon: the Artemis II crew's eclipse Up close, moon craters look like rain drops deforming sand on a beach. Credit: NASA

The moon didn't exactly sit still for its portrait. Sunlight slid low across the surface, throwing long, dramatic shadows along the terminator — that line between light and shadow across the lunar face — turning familiar terrain into something theatrical. When it was Glover's turn at the window, he couldn't stop studying the ominous boundary.

"There's just so much magic in the terminator," he said, "the islands of light, the valleys that would look like black holes [that] you'd fall straight to the center of the moon if you stepped in."

The massive Mare Orientale basin unfurled in rings of mountains, its dark, hardened lava floor a testament to ancient eruptions. The crew suggested names — Carroll and Integrity — for smaller "fresh" craters, to honor Wiseman's late wife and their spacecraft.

The Artemis II crew observed an Earthset before a total solar eclipse on its lunar flyby April 6, 2026. Credit: NASA

"Something that's truly awesome up here is we now have the moon and the Earth in Window 3  simultaneously, and the moon is a gibbous, and the Earth is a crescent," Wiseman said. "I'm guessing in about 45 minutes, we'll have two identical crescents as we change our position in the universe." 

That made Kelsey Young, head of Artemis's science flight operations, literally giggle from mission control in Houston. 

Artemis II captured an Earthrise view as the Orion spacecraft reemerged from the far side of the moon. Credit: NASA

"That is pretty darn cool, thank you," she said.

Then came the stark perspective shift.

The moon looms large as the Earth sets in the distance. Credit: NASA

As Orion slipped behind the moon, Earth began to sink. In one frame, it hangs as a thin crescent, clouds swirling over the Pacific, the rest of the planet swallowed by night. Minutes later, the crew lost contact with Earth entirely, cut off for about 50 minutes as the moon itself blocked radio signals. 

And, perhaps just to raise the stakes, the sky went dark.

For nearly an hour, the astronauts got to experience a total solar eclipse from space, with the moon blocking the sun. Credit: NASA

From their vantage point, the astronauts watched the moon swallow the sun in a total solar eclipse that stretched almost an hour. The sun's corona glowed, stars pricked through the darkness, and even Venus made a cameo. But the backlit moon stole the show. 

Not long after, Earth came back — this time rising. A pale blue crescent emerged from beyond the bumpy lunar surface in a historic Earthrise.

As the moon blocks the sun, creating a solar eclipse for the astronauts, Venus, left, glints brightly from beyond. Credit: NASA

NASA says the images will help scientists better understand how giant asteroid impacts shape worlds, and how the moon built its battered surface over billions of years. Those craters, ever etched in its surface, log the history of the solar system. 

But they also do something more profound: make us cherish home.

The Artemis II crew sees the sun peak out from behind the moon as the Orion spacecraft reemerges from the far side. Credit: NASA

"The truth is the moon really is its own body in the universe. It's not just a poster in the sky that goes by," Koch said. "When we have that perspective, and we compare it to our home of the Earth, it just reminds us how much we have in common, everything we need, the Earth provides, and that, in and of itself, is somewhat of a miracle."

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UPDATE: Apr. 7, 2026, 2:04 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with an additional quote from pilot Victor Glover.