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TL;DR: Through Jan. 1, get Curiosity Stream documentaries for life for $179.97 — no coupon needed.

Instead of spending the new year scrolling through the same old collection of documentaries on Netflix and Hulu, it might be time to try a platform that actually specializes in educational content. Curiosity Stream is home to a huge selection of high-quality documentaries and docu-series on a wide variety of topics. A lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream is only $179.97 through January 1.

Watch documentaries for life

If you love documentaries, you don’t have to settle for the precious few modern ones on Netflix or other streaming services. You might enjoy a wider selection of high-quality documentaries and docu-series on Curiosity Stream.

Fascinated by true crime? Craving a deep dive into the deep ocean? Or do you want to take a look at some of the most interesting stories from history? Curiosity Stream has an enormous catalog of educational content, and it's even won an Emmy.

Plus, the user interface is easy to navigate with tools to filter content by topic or collection, or you can even search for your favorite narrator. They have some well-known names like Sir David Attenborough and celebrity narrators like Morgan Freeman. 

New content is being added all the time, so a lifetime subscription doesn't mean a lifetime to watch the same old stuff. It means you'll always have access to a growing library of fascinating shows and movies to watch on multiple devices on or offline. 

Save on a lifetime subscription

Don't miss your chance to get lifetime access to incredible educational content you or your family can enjoy. 

January 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream for $179.97. No coupon needed. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $179.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of December 30, get this AI Résumé Builder for life for only $32.97 — that's 92% off.

Whether you have your eyes on a specific gig or you're just shopping around for a new job in the new year, making a quality résumé is tough. If you've already sent out applications, you might be acutely aware of just how tough it is when companies use ATS filters to weed through résumés. However, AI may be able to help you out. 

With an AI Résumé Builder, you may be able to quickly create a résumé that gets past the filters and helps you land the interview. Plus, through January 1, a lifetime subscription to AI Résumé Builder is only $32.97. That's marked way down from $468, but you don't need a coupon. 

Use AI to get a job

This job-hunting tool uses AI and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to help you quickly craft résumés for new jobs. Once you select a theme, you can input your information or use the AI to generate text for you. And you can still edit the text, layout, and look of your document as you go. Or use the AI to generate entirely new material.

This lifetime subscription is for the basic plan, but you still get a ton to work with. That includes letting you create 10 résumés a month, download up to 50, and get unlimited access to the AI résumé writer. You can also use the AI to get improvement tips on your CV. 

Get résumé help

This price won’t be around much longer.

You have until January 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a lifetime subscription to AI Résumé Builder for $32.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: LazyApply AI Resume Builder: Lifetime Subscription $32.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of December 30, get The 2023 Complete Cyber Security Ethical Hacking Certification Bundle for just $29.97 — you'll save 76%.

You're in luck if you’re learning to unlock a new skill in the new year. If you’re looking to enter a new career field, this ethical hacking course package can help you advance your skills on your own schedule. This cybersecurity ethical hacking certification bundle gives you lifetime access to 10 informative courses for only $29.97 (reg. $130) through January 1.

These 10 courses give you the ability to learn at your own pace from the comfort of your home, a library, or a café. Begin with the title course, Learn Ethical Hacking, taught by Joseph Delgadillo, a best-selling instructor who walks you through all the beginner information you’ll need to step into the world of cybersecurity. With his help, you’ll create a safe hacking environment and gain insight into building a fruitful career in cybersecurity. 

You’ll also tackle invigorating topics like Practical Hacking using Raspberry Pi, Using Metasploit from Scratch, and Practical Wireless Network Hacking, all taught by Saad Sarraj, who founded the website iSecurityPro. 

Gain access to 148 lectures and 28 hours worth of content at any time of day. It’s only a matter of time before you’re writing your own pen-testing tools and setting up Kali Linux systems. If all of this sounds daunting, don’t worry — you have all the tools you’ll need right in this affordable bundle for life.

Kick off your New Year's Resolutions with this cybersecurity ethical hacking certification bundle on sale for only $29.97 (reg. $130) until January 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The 2023 Complete Cyber Security Ethical Hacking Certification Bundle $29.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of December 30, get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone (25 languages) for only $159.97 with code ROSETTA.

Have you started thinking about your New Year's resolutions for 2024? If self-improvement is on your list, maybe it's finally time to learn that language you've always wanted to master!  Whether you've got big travel ambitions and want to learn the native tongue or you've always wanted to pick up a certain language, Rosetta Stone has been trusted for nearly 30 years and has become a go-to language-learning tool that fits into even the busiest schedules. 

As 2023 comes to a close, make sure you're taking advantage of end-of-year savings and secure a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone, including all the 25 languages this language learning service offers, for just $159.97. That's $240 off the usual price tag as long as you use coupon code ROSETTA and purchase before January 1. 

Choose between Spanish, German, Arabic, Japanese, Swedish, and 20 other languages. Lifetime access means you could even learn them all, as you tackle short lessons and take advantage of the progressive learning structure that focuses on practical topics like shopping, ordering, and important travel terminology you'd need to know, like taking a taxi. 

Rosetta Stone's immersive training method aims to simulate how you first learned your native language, having you match words with images. Then, cutting-edge speech-recognition technology works to ensure you sound like a local, offering instant feedback while listening to your actual words and coaching you on pronunciation. Once you dive in, you'll quickly see why Rosetta Stone has come to be trusted by top organizations like NASA and Calvin Klein. 

Learn something new in 2024 with a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone that includes all languages for just $159.97 (reg. $399) with coupon code ROSETTA until January 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Parenting is hard. Sometimes parenting is so challenging that, by comparison, your smartphone becomes an easy escape.

And even if you'd like to use your phone less, it's hard to make a plan amid the daily grind of parenting tasks and obligations.

After all, who wouldn't rather watch TikToks of the latest viral dance instead of listening to siblings bicker? The list of alternatives goes on and on. You could be checking sports scores, answering one last work email, shopping, finishing the grocery list, browsing itineraries for a solo vacation, texting a friend.

At some point, though, your phone can become a crutch for coping with hard feelings and situations. Too much screen time can also feel alienating for both you and your child.

If that's the case, don't feel guilty, because you're not alone. More than half of parents say they've resolved to spend less time on their phone, according to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital's national poll of 2,044 parents of children 18 and younger. Parents reported often setting this goal at milestone moments, like the new year, birthdays, or the start of school.

SEE ALSO: 4 tips for a successful digital 'detox'

Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan School of Medicine who conducts research on family screen time, says that parents really shouldn't blame themselves if they turn to their phones frequently.

"It is hard to disengage from our phones," Radesky says, noting that the devices are effectively designed to compete for our attention.

Instead of a prolonged guilt trip followed by little to no action, Radesky recommends the following strategies for parents who want to use their phone less:

1. Take stock of how you're using your phone.

Parenting with a phone in hand can feel like a blur. You might move from handling a lunchbox crisis to looking for a dinner recipe to helping a toddler get their socks on to answering a work Slack message to confirming playdate plans, all within the span of 10 minutes.

Could the dinner recipe and playdate plan confirmation (and possibly work) have waited until your kid got out the door for school? Probably. Did they offer a much-needed distraction or make you feel more efficient? Perhaps.

Or think back to a calmer time of day. Did you take an after-dinner Wordle break from parenting that was supposed to be short but only ended with your child shouting at you to put your phone down?

Neither of these scenarios is inherently wrong, but it's important to be aware of the dynamics that shape your phone use, says Radesky, who is also co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

You might look at a screen time report to determine how much time you're spending on specific apps, messaging platforms, and newsfeeds. Reflect on how these different uses make you feel. Does impulse shopping on Amazon in an effort to soothe your frayed nerves after a child's meltdown really improve your mood? Only you know the answer.

Developing an awareness of what's appealing about your phone, and how phone-related activities make you feel, is key to coming up with a plan to ultimately use it less.

2. Pick achievable goals.

Once you have an idea of how you'd like to reduce your phone-based screen time, start with achievable goals.

What's reasonable will depend on your personality, says Radesky.

A highly pragmatic parent, for example, might realize they'd like to spend one less hour on social media each day. With that equation in mind, they're able to make a shift in their daily habits.

But another parent who's feeling less motivated may struggle to immediately reduce their use by 60 minutes. It might be more effective to change the content they're consuming to something less engaging so that it's easier to put down their phone.

Radesky warns parents against pursuing a "quick silver bullet" solution, or betting on the hope that if you just reduce screen time, "everything else will just fall into place and improve."

Instead, plan on your new approach taking effort, with positive change happening over a period of weeks and months.

3. Find other fulfilling things to do.

Whether it feels valid or not, time spent on your phone is giving you something of potential value, even if it's just a temporary escape.

When you restrict use, Radesky says it's critical to find fulfilling ways of spending that time. Instead of doomscrolling for 10 minutes, take a quick walk outside, dance to your favorite song, meditate, or read with your child.

If you feel like that newfound time wasn't well spent, it's possible you'll pick up your phone in search of a reliably entertaining, distracting, or gratifying experience.

To avoid that setback becoming a daily occurrence, Radesky recommends that parents think not just about making progress on their screen time report but rather what activities make them feel they had a "good enough" day.

4. Use screen time tools.

If you need additional structure and support as you attempt to reduce phone use, take advantage of screen time tools like the iPhone's Do Not Disturb and notification summary settings, which let you control and adjust how frequently you'll be interrupted by text messages, notifications, and phone calls. Android phones have similar controls.

Radesky also recommends timers, whether in your own home or via an app, like Instagram's daily time limit tool.

At the same time, those measures aren't surefire, which Radesky understands. Some people may approve exceeding a time limit, or forget they set a timer in the first place, which is why it's important to have other strategies at the ready.

5. Put a barrier between you and your phone.

One reason phones can be so appealing to parents is because, by design, they encounter little friction when using the device.

By contrast, says Radesky, "parenting kids is full of lots of friction."

To reduce the chance of instinctively grabbing your phone, introduce some friction: Put a barrier between you and it. This could mean placing it in a zippered pouch, putting it in another room, or turning it off. If you've got the stomach for it, try leaving it at home.

Radesky says it may also be helpful to think of how badly technology, social media companies, and advertisers want that phone in your hand so they can market products to you and generate more revenue. They have designed an online ecosystem with the goal of enticing you to stay there as long as possible. Don't give them the satisfaction.

6. Make a game out of less screen time; come up with a natural reward.

Changing behavior is hard. Inviting friends and family to join you in a low-stakes challenge can make it easier.

You might pair up with a mom friend who also wants to spend less time on her phone. Working together can provide helpful accountability. You can also choose to dedicate some of the time you would've spent on your phone to a coffee date with each other as a reward for your collective effort.

If you want to try a family challenge, set reasonable screen time goals for each member and settle on a shared, natural reward upon achieving them. That could be a family movie night or other fun activity, but don't reward the effort with something disproportionate and high stakes, like a trip to Disneyland. The point is to enjoy the time together that you've reclaimed from your collective screens.

7. Be present for your child in the right moments.

If you want to feel like you're winning as a parent, do your best to be present for your child in the moments they need you most.

That doesn't mean immediately putting down your phone to answer a question they have when you're texting with your own parent, for example.

Radesky says that in that scenario you can be transparent about what you're doing, noting that you'll respond momentarily. Such clarity is important because watching someone on a phone is somewhat of a "black box," says Radesky. You don't know what they're doing, or why they're not paying attention to you.

If you really do need 10 more minutes on your phone to take care of urgent tasks, let your child know. You can even invite them to use a timer to hold you accountable.

What you really want to avoid, however, is being absorbed in your phone, and unresponsive, when they need you to listen, comfort, or engage them in other timely ways.

If they've stomped off to their room to cool down after an outburst, for example, don't get lost in your phone. You could instead let them know that you're open to talking (or hugging) when they're ready, even if you're texting your spouse or partner in the meantime as a way to decompress. But once they open that door, the phone disappears, not you.

"Parents are often surprised how much their calm attention matters to kids," says Radesky. "That is the number one of thing we can do for our kids' mental health, is to just be like, 'I'm here and I'm listening. I want to understand.'"

TL;DR: Through Jan. 1, get the Nix Mini 2 color-matching sensor for only $59.97 (reg. $99) — you'll save 39%.

Is 2024 the year you do some serious remodeling? If interior decorating or painting is in your future, you're going to want to get familiar with your colors. Grab the Nix Mini 2 color-matching sensor while it's on sale.

With the Nix Mini 2, you can find inspiration for renovation projects anywhere. Just scan any surface and match it to brand-name paint colors to bring that same shade into your home. And right now during this end-of-year sale, it's available for just $59.97 (reg. $99) — the best price available online — with no coupon code needed, through January 1. 

Imagine bringing the gorgeous shade of green from your olive tree inside to your bedroom after discovering its exact brand-name paint match. That's what the Nix Mini 2 can bring, offering you a way to color match out in the wild with its high-resolution sensor and find out either brand-name paint colors or sRGB HEX, CMYK, and LAB colors. This tiny color wizard is lightweight, so it can tag along anywhere, and it works via Bluetooth to send matches to its companion app, which you'll get lifetime access to with your purchase. 

Bring it along and find inspiration anywhere, then save and organize shades you love right in the app for future reference. Curious how it is able to provide such great matches? A highly calibrated LED means the Nix Mini 2 has its own light source to ensure accurate scans no matter where you are, so you can rest assured you're getting a precise color match regardless of the lighting or location. 

Tackle any 2024 renovations with help from the Nix Mini 2 color-matching sensor on sale for $59.97 (reg. $99) until January 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT — no coupon needed.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Nix Sensor Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor $59.97 in the Mashable Shop Get Deal

What do these events have in common?

Over 30 straight days of temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix. 126 F measured in China. 120 F at 1 a.m. in Death Valley. 109 F in Rome.

They're all new temperature records set in 2023. Yes, heat waves on Earth are normal. But continuously breaking, nearly breaking, or obliterating heat records isn't normal. Such historic and sustained heat is expected to increase in the coming years as added global warming exacerbates heat waves, and overall temperatures will continue to rise until emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses drop to zero.

So, you might ask yourself: How hot will it get??

SEE ALSO: The devious fossil fuel propaganda we all use

The answer is dependent on the most unpredictable part of the climate change equation: Us. More specifically, the amount of fossil fuel emissions, largely from carbon dioxide and methane, humanity loads into the atmosphere. So while a single, neat answer isn't possible, scientists have created different heating scenarios – which are like highways to considerably different destinations – based ultimately on the choices made by prodigious carbon emitters, world governments, and beyond.

"These scenarios are so dependent on what humans are going to do – and we are not great at predicting what humans are going to do," Flavio Lehner, a climate scientist at Cornell University who researches future warming and how it will impact Earth, told Mashable.

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The good news is it's exceedingly unlikely that we're on the worst pathway, wherein Earth would warm by some 9 or 10 F (around 5 C) above the pre-Industrial Revolution levels of the late 19th century. But, crucially, it will also be challenging to end up with the best, most optimistic outcome, which would mean limiting warming to some 2.7 F (or 1.5 C) above pre-Industrial Revolution levels by this century's end. Such an ambitious climate goal would avoid the worst consequences of Earth's warming.

Already, Earth has warmed by 2 F (1.2 C) since the late 19th century.

Update: In December 2023, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service announced that 2023 was the warmest year on record. This is little surprise: In 2023, a whopping six different months were the warmest ever recorded.

Tweet may have been deleted How hot will Earth get?

About 10 years ago, things looked dire.

Fossil fuel use and carbon emissions were continually rising each year. It looked like Earth could be headed towards a truly catastrophic amount of warming, the worst-case scenario shown by the top maroon line in the graph below. (The graph was created by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – the global agency tasked with providing objective analyses of the societal impacts of climate change.) This warming scenario is called "SSP5-8.5" which essentially means extremely high greenhouse gas emissions (SSP is short for "Shared Socioeconomic Pathways"). It's a world where, by 2100, global coal burning increases by a whopping 6.5 times. But coal use, while not declining, has largely stopped its yearly growth.

What's more, renewable energy – the likes of wind and solar – has vastly expanded, now providing some 13 percent of energy in the U.S. (though renewables are still currently outpaced by fossil fuels both in the U.S. and globally).

"We have entered an energy transition that wasn't apparent a decade ago," climate scientist Zeke Hausfather told Mashable. This energy change has considerably decreased the likelihood of a worst-case climate scenario.

"What we're doing is making the darker futures increasingly unlikely," Hausfather said.

"What we're doing is making the darker futures increasingly unlikely."

On the other end of extreme scenarios is SSP1-1.9, which would limit warming to just some 2.7 F (1.5 C) above pre-Industrial Revolution levels by the century's end. It's the bottom, light blue line below. That's the warming target global leaders hoped to hit when they signed the historic Paris Agreement in 2016. But it's likely humanity will blow through this ambitious warming goal, as soon as the 2030s.

This probably leaves us in the middle ground, which still means significant warming.

"It's not good news. But it's also not the worst news," Lehner, the climate scientist at Cornell University, said.

The different future warming scenarios, largely based on carbon emissions. It's more likely we're headed towards a middle-ground scenario, similar to the orange line, "SSP2-4.5." Credit: IPCC

Crucially, high warming amounts, up to perhaps some 7 F (around 4 C), are still possible and can't be completely ruled out, Lehner said. But such warming is at the extreme edge of what's likely, he emphasized.

So how much warming is currently realistic? Something close to the SSP2-4.5 trajectory, which is the middle orange line above, explained Hausfather. That's in the 4.8 F (2.6 to 2.7 C) range above pre-Industrial levels.

"It's roughly our best estimate from policies today," Hausfather said, referencing the current climate policies enacted by nations. Roughly is an important caveat here, because other factors — such as how exactly Earth will respond to future CO2 levels in the atmosphere — are uncertain.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted How bad will global warming be?

Some 4.8 F (2.6 C) of warming this century is still a lot. That's a future any reasonable person would want to avoid.

"We can do a lot better," Hausfather emphasized. "Current policies will hopefully not be the best we can do for the rest of the century." 

Already, just some 2 F (1.2 C) of warming has stoked momentous changes. The heating has:

• made intense wildfires more frequent, because a warmer atmosphere dries out vegetation and trees, which more easily burn. ("It takes just a little bit of warming to lead to a lot more burning.")

• melted some of Earth's largest ice sheets, like on Greenland. This raises sea levels — and will continue to do so for centuries (or longer).

• amped the odds for record-breaking heat waves.

• made marine heat waves — which cause major coral die-offs — more frequent and extreme. Marine biologists expect marine heat waves this century to have "significant" and "widespread" ecological impacts, like on the fish that depend on coral ecosystems.

• made droughts more severe, like the prolonged Southwestern megadrought. Historically, droughts have significantly decreased crop yields.

• increased the odds for more extreme downpours and floods, because a warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor.

• created warmer ocean temperatures which are jet fuel for hurricanes. Though hurricane development hinges on a number of complex weather factors, and the science of hurricane intensification is still unfolding, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects cyclone intensities to increase in a world warmed by 3.6 F (2 C).

Clearly, a world at some 2 F (1.2 C) is problematic, and for some, catastrophic.

"Already, we're seeing unprecedented events," Lehner explained. "It's not the same climate anymore. That's all happening at 1.2 [C]."

"Already, we're seeing unprecedented events."

So what happens at 3.6 F (2 C), which is around a doubling of today's heat? "A lot of these impacts will double in frequency or severity," Lehner said. "In a 2 degree [C] world it's likely things are twice as bad or worse," he added, noting that not all changes will be linear (meaning changed by the same proportion to increases in heating).

An IPCC graph showing the estimated annual carbon emissions for each warming pathway. (1 gigaton of carbon, or GTCO2, is 1 billion tons.) Credit: IPCC

That's why limiting the warming, as much as possible, is critical — not just for ourselves, but for the future residents of Earth. They will experience serious sea level rise. But, it doesn't have to be devastating.

"Every 10th of a degree matters," Lehner said.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone (all languages) is on sale for £149.76, saving you 52% on list price.

The ability to communicate in multiple languages is more than just a skill; it's a valuable asset with far-reaching benefits. And this deal on all-language access to Rosetta Stone for life gives you access to all 25 languages for just £149.76.

Learning a new language comes with benefits like allowing you to communicate with others while travelling and much more. According to Cambridge University Press & Assessment, learning a new language later in life is "a powerful way to exercise your brain," partly because you are "forming new connections in the brain and strengthening nervous system links." 

Rosetta Stone has been a leader in language learning for nearly 30 years and has been used by names like NASA and Calvin Klein. Rosetta helps you develop your understanding of each language through reading, writing, and speaking. It does this through interactive software and TruAccent, its speech-recognition technology, that analyses the words you say to perfect your pronunciation.

You'll start out matching words with images and basic conversational skills about things like shopping, ordering at a restaurant, and more. You can then level up to more complex topics like sharing opinions and discussing pop culture, which could come in handy while travelling abroad.

This software works on various types of devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile devices. However, customers can only access one language at a time, but can switch between them at any time. 

This beloved language-learning software can help you build fluency and confidence in your choice of 25 languages. If you've been wanting to learn a new language, this could be a great time to start.

Get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone's 25 languages for £149.76.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone (Lifetime Subscription) £149.76 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Dec. 30's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Dec. 29.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

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

A number between 1 and 5.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #924 is...

THREE.

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.

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 December 30's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Colorless animals

• Green: Order of things

• Blue: Same spelling, different meaning

• Purple: Types of traps

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

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

• Yellow: Black-and-White Animals

• Green: Sequence

• Blue: Heteronyms

• Purple: ___Trap

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 30

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 Connections #202 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Black-and-White Animals: ORCA, PANDA, SKUNK, ZEBRA

• Sequence: CHAIN, SERIES, STRING, TRAIN

• Heteronyms: BASS, DOVE, DESERT, WIND

• ___Trap: BEAR, SAND, SPEED, TOURIST

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon & TurboTax TurboTax Premier 2023 $64.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon & TurboTax TurboTax Deluxe 2023 $44.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon & TurboTax TurboTax Home & Business 2023 $75.99 at Amazon (save $44) Get Deal

With the new year just days away, there's no better time to get a head start on your 2023 taxes. If you need reliable tax software, Amazon currently has deals on three TurboTax 2023 products that are worth considering.

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So whether you're an independent contractor or like to dabble in the stock market, you can get started on your 2023 taxes with these TurboTax deals at Amazon. Grab TurboTax Premier 2023, TurboTax Deluxe 2023, or TurboTax Home & Business 2023 at a discount as of Dec. 29.