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Humor and art have been used to mock the powerful in Britain for centuries. Now Elon Musk is on the receiving end.

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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.

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 helical-shaped tool.

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

AUGER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To hold on for dear life.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CLING

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To gain new information.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

LEARN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Like the flu or a common cold.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 6 Hurdle Word 4 answer

VIRUS

Final Hurdle hint

Add fuel to.

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

STOKE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 6 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: Detached

• Green: Small bills

• Blue: Electrical terms

• Purple: The second word is the same

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: Aloof

• Green: Utilities

• Blue: What an electrometer measures

• Purple: ___ Joint

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 #665 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Aloof: COOL, DISTANT, REMOTE, RESERVED

• Utilities: CABLE, GAS, TRASH, WATER

• What an electrometer measures: CHARGE, CURRENT, RESISTANCE, VOLTAGE

• ___ Joint: DOVETAIL, HIP, PIZZA, SPIKE LEE

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 6

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.

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 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 today: Hints and answers for April 6 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's The Mini crossword answers for April 6, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A large, luxurious home.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter V.

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...

VILLA.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 6

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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

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.

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: Ways someone might be removed from a team

• Green: Fighting terms

• Blue: Names of soccer teams

• Purple: Share the same ending word

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

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

• Yellow: Part ways

• Green: MMA terms

• Blue: English soccer clubs

• Purple: _______off

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 #195 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Part ways - DISMISS, FIRE, OUST, SACK

• MMA terms - ARMBAR, CHOKE, CLINCH, SUBMISSION

• English soccer clubs - BURNLEY, LEEDS, STOKE, WATFORD

• _______off - FACE, LEAD, TIP, WALK

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.

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 6 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The feeling is mutual

The words are related to friends.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are how you might describe two people getting along.

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 GetAlong.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 6

• Agree

• Click

• Vibe

• Mesh

• Harmonize

• Connect

• Relate

• GetAlong

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.

Disney has dropped the first official trailer for Tron: Ares and it's a different world than Tron fans are used to.

SEE ALSO: 'M3GAN 2.0' trailer: Now there's two of them!

Of course, that world is the real world, as the trailer shows how rogue programs and their light cycles have broken out of the game world and entered into a high-speed chase with real police, easily slicing through a cop car with a light wall. Another scene depicts an ominous red-lit structure emerging from the sky, showing the virtual world merging with the real world.

Although it's been 15 years since the Tron: Legacy reboot, Tron: Ares picks up where it left off as a standalone sequel. But the film that started it all was the groundbreaking 1982 Tron. The franchise's third installment expands on the original concept by introducing Ares (Jared Leto) as an AI program on a mission. Is this mission good or bad? We don't know, but the red circuit color historically represents the system enforcers, although Leto's Ares also seems to be going rogue.

The film also stars Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger (yes, that Dillinger), Greta Lee as Eve Kim, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cameron Monaghan, Sarah Desjardins, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, Gillian Anderson, and, of course, Jeff Bridges returning as Kevin Flynn. We don't see Bridges' Flynn, but at the end of the trailer, we hear him say, "Ready? Cause there’s no going back."

Daft Punk isn't scoring the film (boo), but Nine Inch Nails, led by Trent Reznor, is (yay). Based on the trailer, it couldn't be a more worthy replacement.

Tron: Ares hits theaters on October 10.

President Donald Trump's plans to enable a US acquisition of TikTok have been thwarted by Trump's plans to tariff the shit out of China.

According to The Verge, the new global tariffs imposed on China and dozens of other nations "seemingly torpedoed" plans for candidates — mostly like Oracle — to take over the ByteDance-owned app. The White House was reportedly "only seriously considering an Oracle-led consortium," which proposed licensing the algorithm, controlling data collection and software updates, but allowing ByteDance and minority stake in the company. This was "set to be announced" amidst the then-looming TikTok ban deadline (which has been delayed again).

SEE ALSO: The internet reacts to Trump’s tariffs with dark humor: 'girl the tariffs'

However, "[Trump's] tariff announcement on Wednesday torched any immediate chance of the TikTok proposal being blessed by the Chinese government," said The Verge's Alex Heath. A 34 percent tariff imposed on US imports from China obliterated any good faith efforts to negotiate a deal.

The Associated Press corroborated this: "ByteDance representatives called the White House to indicate that China would no longer approve the deal until there could be negotiations about trade and tariffs."

It's unclear whether Trump was hoping to use the steep tariff as a bargaining chip to broker a TikTok deal in exchange for lowering the tariff, but China is playing hardball. Instead, it imposed its own 34 percent tariff on US goods imported to China.

On Friday, Trump announced on Truth Social that the deadline to divest TikTok from China or ban the app in the US had been extended for 75 days. However, the legality of this extension is being questioned—one member of the Senate Intelligence Committee told The Verge that it is "against the law."

The president stated that while "tremendous progress" has been made, additional time is needed to finalize a deal.

So that's global politics right now.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, April 5, 2025:

AcrossCummerbund, e.g.

• The answer is Sash.

Cheese-covered chip

• The answer is Nacho.

Singer in a synagogue

• The answer is Cantor.

Like decision-making in a hierarchical organization

• The answer is Top down.

Where a browser might get cookies?

• The answer is Bakery.

Mixes, as a drink

• The answer is Stir.

10 in a lane

• The answer is Pins.

DownPolitician on a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour with Ocasio-Cortez

• The answer is Sanders.

The first "A" of SAG-AFTRA

• The answer is Actors

Flamboyant

• The answer is Showy.

Unicorn's defining feature

• The answer is Horn.

Lap protector

• The answer is Napkin.

Raccoon-like mammal of South America

• The answer is Coati.

1/16 of a cup: Abbr.

• The answer is TBSP.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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.

Starting Monday, fact-checking on Meta platforms will officially end in the US. Newly appointed chief of global policy Joel Kaplan announced the deadline on Friday in an X post.

"By Monday afternoon, our fact-checking program in the US will be officially over. That means no new fact checks and no fact checkers," wrote Kaplan. "In place of fact checks, the first Community Notes will start appearing gradually across Facebook, Threads & Instagram, with no penalties attached."

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In early January, two weeks before President Trump started his second term, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook, Instagram, and Threads would replace its fact-checking program with X-style Community Notes. Zuckerberg explained the content moderation pivot, saying, "Fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created."

Meta's new policy is purportedly a protection of free speech and an effort to combat political censorship. But civil rights and digital policy experts say the move will allow propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation to flourish unchecked — even more than it already does on Meta platforms. Meta's adoption of crowd-sourced community notes is similar to the approach adopted by X under Elon Musk's leadership. But misinformation and hate speech have increased on X since Musk's takeover.

Meta has already started beta testing Community Notes and inviting users to sign up to become contributors. To become contributors, users must be over 18 years old, have an account older than six months, and be "in good standing."

But Meta reportedly won't apply Community Notes to paid ads, so if you want to say something outrageous or offensive, you just have to pay for it. Around the same time, Meta announced the elimination of fact-checking, it also shut down its DEI programs and rolled back its hate speech policies.

A new snapshot of a busy star cluster from the Hubble Space Telescope proves the legendary observatory's still got it, even in the golden age of the James Webb Space Telescope. 

The image shows the most detailed view of NGC 346 yet, a stellar nursery within the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy that orbits the Milky Way some 210,000 light-years away in the constellation Tucana. Though the cluster has been observed in the past, this is the first time data from all three light wavelengths — infrared, visible, and ultraviolet  — have been combined in one picture. The result is a spectacular portrait of how stars form and influence their surroundings in space.

But this glowing cradle of newborn stars also gives astronomers clues about what our universe may have looked like when it was a young whippersnapper.

"The Small Magellanic Cloud is less rich in elements heavier than helium," according to the European Space Agency, which owns and operates Hubble with NASA. "This makes conditions in the galaxy similar to what existed in the early universe."

SEE ALSO: Hubble sees mini galaxies surrounding Andromeda are pretty wild The Hubble Space Telescope, a partnership of NASA and the European Space Agency, studies the universe in mostly visible light from low-Earth orbit. Credit: NASA

The cluster, full of more than 2,500 newborn stars that blaze blue in the Hubble image, is in a galaxy with far fewer heavy chemical substances than the Milky Way. It's mostly made of hydrogen and helium. Because of this, scientists have used it as a case study for what star formation might have looked like billions of years ago. 

The cores of stars are considered element factories: They make carbon, for instance, the same chemical on which humans and much of life on Earth are based. Then, through supernova explosions, they spread these heavier elements, like calcium found in bones and iron in blood, across interstellar space. This dispersal seeds new generations of stars and planets.

Given that most of the chemicals in the universe are thought to have come from exploded stars, scientists have rationalized that the firstborn must have been composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, the primitive material that emerged from the Big Bang. Over time, as stars died and scattered heavier elements, subsequent generations of stars formed with more diverse and complex ingredients.

Surrounding the cluster in the Hubble image is a glowing pink cloud called a nebula, where hot, young stars give off ultraviolet light that illuminates the surrounding hydrogen gas. These bright areas are short-lived — only shining as long as the gigundo stars that power them. Astronomers say the big stars only last a few million years, a mere blip in the 13.8 billion years of the universe.

Snakelike dark clouds of thick dust are what's left of the original star-making material that hasn't been pushed away yet by growing stars. The massive stars, many times larger than the sun, are able to do this with intense radiation and powerful stellar winds — streams of charged particles — that clear empty bubbles of space. 

Scientists recently used Webb, Hubble's powerful infrared counterpart, to survey 10 stars in the same cluster. They discovered that, even at the stars' relatively old ages, they still maintained substantial disks, the clouds of gas and dust surrounding them that can eventually coalesce to form baby worlds. 

Previous thinking was that these primitive stars would have lost their lightweight disks pretty quickly, said study leader Guido De Marchi, after just two or three million years. 

"This also implies that planets have more time to form and grow around these stars," De Marchi said.

As the Trump administration pulls government websites and data offline, it is selectively stripping away the public record, letting the president declare his own version of history, archivists and historians said.

Getting proper sleep can help improve nearly every aspect of your health, but over a third of adults in the United States don't get enough of it, according to the CDC.

If a noisy environment is what's keeping you up at night, you've likely considered foam earplugs, but those are no longer the only option available on the market — reusable earplugs and sleep earbuds offer a more convenient alternative.

I spent the past month and a half trying out earplugs and earbuds ranging from $50 to $300 to find the best of what's out on the market — and to see if getting earbuds just for sleep is actually worth it.

How are sleep earbuds different than normal earbuds?

First, a confession: I used to wear AirPods nearly every night to sleep. More accurately, I used to wear a single AirPod so I could actually sleep on my side.

After testing earbuds designed for sleeping, I can tell you that everyday earbuds don't match up to the sleep earbud experience. For starters, standard earbuds aren't designed to be worn while you're lying on your side, so they often stick out of your ears and put hard plastic in contact with your ear. Not to mention, earbuds typically cap out at six to seven hours of battery life per charge, so if you're getting at least eight hours of sleep, you run the risk of interrupting it with the sound of your earbuds powering off.

Sleep earbuds, like the Soundcore A20 ones pictured in the middle, have a much thinner profile than traditional earbuds. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Sleep earbuds, on the other hand, can offer white noise options, better battery life, and significantly more comfort (that actually allows you to wear more than one earbud at a time). The pairs I tested came without microphones and with touch controls that worked but were less sensitive than traditional earbuds, so you can lie on your side without activating them. There aren't really any options for active noise cancellation, but you'd be surprised at how well passive noise cancellation and a good fit can do for most nighttime noises.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best earbuds to buy in 2025 from Bose, Sony, and more Is it safe to wear earbuds to sleep every night?

First and foremost, it's important to consider that sleep earbuds aren't the only way to approach nighttime noises that might be keeping you up.

I consulted Dr. Ashely Kita, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, to discuss any risks associated with wearing earbuds all night. While she didn't warn against using earbuds, she suggested that if what's keeping you up is a partner's snoring, you start looking for solutions there.

"If you're doing all of this to avoid a partner who is snoring, sometimes gently encouraging that person to investigate why they're snoring is kind of an important consideration," Kita said. "Because we find that obstructive sleep apnea is really underdiagnosed, and snoring, for some people, is the only sign of it."

If, however, what's keeping you up is less in your control, then you do want to be aware of three main aspects of using earbuds all night: proper hygiene, safe noise levels, and your ear comfort.

Proper hygiene

When I started testing these earbuds, I realized I was now wearing earbuds uninterrupted for longer than I typically would in the course of a day, even as someone who tests headphones for a living. When I asked Dr. Kita how that wear time might raise someone's risk for infection, she drew a comparison to the wear time of hearing aids:

"Many individuals wear hearing aids for longer hours during the day than they sleep at night," she said. And yet, folks who wear hearing aids don't often have ear infections, though long wear times may increase their risk.

SEE ALSO: How to set up Hearing Aid mode on your AirPods

With the long wear times, Kita said the main concern she could anticipate was wax buildup since the natural path for wax to exit the ear canal would be blocked. However, she said it's not necessarily a cause for concern, as wax can typically exit the ear canal at other points during the day when you're not wearing earbuds (or blocking your ear canal in any other way).

As for any heightened infection risk, Kita shared that it can increase when there's greater wax buildup that can then trap bacteria. She recommended cleaning the buds with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton pad after each use, if possible. (The brand behind one of our picks below, Ozlo, recommends a weekly cleaning). With all that said, someone's risk for infection really comes down to personal susceptibility — some people are more prone to ear infections than others. If you fall into that category, being more proactive about cleaning your earbuds is a good practice.

Noise levels

Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss (behind age-related hearing loss), so it's important to be aware of the level of noise you expose yourself to. Kita pointed me in the direction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) chart for how long people can be exposed to certain decibel levels safely.

In its FAQ, Ozlo also cites OSHA's recommendation, as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's recommendations, which top out at 90 decibels and 85 decibels for eight hours, respectively. With that in mind, Ozlo designed its earbuds so that their masking white noise tops out at 75 dB. We reached out to a rep from Soundcore to see if its earbuds have specific upper decibel limits, and will update this guide when we hear back. In general though, Kita said the less noise, the better, recommending that you always try to use the lowest volume possible.

SEE ALSO: Video game industry makes it easier to find accessible games for disabled players

"While I don't necessarily love the idea of extra noise when you're not even conscious to appreciate it, if it's the thing that's keeping you asleep or letting you sleep, it just comes in this category of risks and benefits," Kita said. "Just make sure that it's quiet enough, then it really isn't that much different than using a white noise machine on your nightstand."

Comfort

Earbuds fitting comfortably is important for you to be able to fall asleep, but also for your ear health.

"Everyone's ear canal is shaped differently," Kita said. "And so something that might be really comfortable for your ears might really cause my ears to ache."

In other words, giving yourself earbuds-induced earaches every night can actually impact your ear health. If one of the below recommendations really isn't sitting right, even with adjustments to the ear tip sizes, don't be afraid to return them.

The best earbuds for sleeping

Below, I pulled three of the best sleep earbuds on the market. Between the overall, upgrade, and earplug picks, there's a wide range of price points, but as with any product, the most expensive of the bunch isn't necessarily the best overall. With that in mind, I highlighted where each earbud excelled, whether that be in comfort, noise cancellation, or ease of use, to help you pick the best sleep earbud possible.

TL;DR: Add the new OS and Office programs your PC needs with discounted $54.97 bundle of Office 2021 and Windows 11.

Buying a new computer is expensive, even if inflation has slowed. Just add Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and upgrade your Windows 11 Pro license to speed things up and get the most out of your current hardware. You can bundle Office 2021 and Windows 11 to get a PC makeover for just $54.97 (reg. $418).

Microsoft Office Professional 2021: What's included

When you add a lifetime license for Office 2021, you'll get access to eight popular programs, including:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• Teams

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

More recent versions of Office do not contain all eight programs, so if your professional workflow relies on Publisher or Access, this Office and OS bundle is an affordable way to keep them while upgrading.

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro: What's included

The Windows 11 user interface upgrade is so seamless you may not even realize you're on a Windows PC. It was redesigned with a focus on both good looks and better function. 

Professionals benefit from increased productivity tools like snap layouts, multiple virtual desktops, improved voice typing, and pumped up search capabilities. 

You also get a virtual assistant with AI-bot Copilot. Built directly into the system, you can ask Copilot research questions, summarize web pages, create images, support writing, and even generate code. 

If your workflow requires advanced features, Windows 11 is ready to accommodate with Azure AD, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and BitLocker device encryption.

Please note: Verify compatibility before purchase. This is for PCs that need a new license and will not work for those currently unable to use Windows Update to access Windows 11.

Instantly update your PC when you get this Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 bundle for just $54.97.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $54.97
$418 Save $363.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: You can create high-quality, editable scans with your phone when you nab this $41.99 lifetime subscription for SwiftScan with code TAKE30.

Opens in a new window Credit: SwiftScan SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime Subscription $41.99
$199.99 Save $158 with code TAKE30 Get Deal

It's not hard for the papers to pile up on your work desk. Contracts are signed by one party at a time, and different draft versions of the same piece are printed over and over.

Save some trees and some cash when you start working on documents inside SwiftScan, a virtual scanner app now on sale for $41.99 with code TAKE30 (reg. $199.99).

Can SwiftScan compare to a traditional scanner?

SwiftScan beats traditional scanners across the board, especially with lifetime metrics. A traditional scanner will probably last you five to ten years. This lifetime license to SwiftScan creates an account that can follow you across devices and includes access to future updates.

Download the app onto mobile devices to capture high-quality scans with the device camera. Just like you would snap a photo, hold a phone or tablet over a doc, and let the app Auto-Capture a premium scan of at least 200 dpi.

It's faster than old-school scanners and automatically enhances results with color filters, auto-optimization, and blur reduction. It even detects the edges of whatever you're scanning and crops the final product down to the original's edges.

Once the files are scanned into the SwiftScan app, easily edit and annotate. Sign contracts or redact private information. Reorder, add, or delete pages. Scan several pages in a row into a single final file. Use the scanning program's OCR to make scanned text searchable. Directly fax, print, share, or store in a cloud service like iCloud right from the SwiftScan app.

How to go paperless with your scanning routine

Going paperless won't just solve your desk disorganization — it can also help you meet sustainability goals. Begin to eliminate the clutter of paper in your workspace by:

1. Exclusively adding notes and annotations to files within the SwiftScan document — no more printing to edit.

2. Have all parties digitally sign documents within the program and optionally print a final copy if desired.

3. Scan anything you find, such as barcodes, handwritten notes, business cards, and more, into SwiftScan to create a searchable, editable version. Recycle the original paper copy.

A purged filing cabinet and neat desk cost just $41.99 when you go paperless with SwiftScan's lifetime subscription and use code TAKE30.

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TL;DR: Replace your Microsoft 365 subscription with a Microsoft Office 2024 Lifetime License on sale for $159.97 (reg. $249) through April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

A few years ago, Microsoft switched a lot of their most popular apps to a subscription model. It seems cheaper at first, but the value kept disappearing. The price for a Microsoft 365 subscription just went up to (at minimum) $99.99 per year. 

If you want an alternative to the subscription, there's finally a lifetime license you can switch to. Microsoft Office Home and Business works for Mac or PC, and it's only $159.97 (reg. $249) for a lifetime license with no recurring payments. 

What's included?

This license comes with 

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• OneNote 

This version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you're switching to a lifetime license doesn't mean you'll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations. 

Once you've redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they're yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about. 

Why rent when you can own? 

Get a Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business Lifetime License on sale for $159.97. 

Sale ends April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $159.97
$249.99 Save $90.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card looks like a credit card, works like an AirTag, and is only $23.97 (reg. $42) through April 27.

Bluetooth trackers can be lifesavers, until they’re not. A lot of Bluetooth trackers are bulky, easy to knock loose, and obvious enough for thieves to toss. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card is a sleek, discreet alternative to AirTags, and it's cheaper, too. This razor-thin tracker syncs with Apple’s Find My network just like an AirTag but slips unnoticed into wallets, luggage, passport holders, and even ID badges. It's also on sale for $23.97 (reg. $42). 

A tracker that actually stays hidden

Designed like a credit card and only 1.5 mm thick, the MagTag is a slim, subtle tracker that blends seamlessly wherever you put it. A built-in keyring hole lets you attach it to lanyards and keychains or even slip it into a child’s backpack for extra peace of mind.

Worried about walking off without your wallet? "Left Behind" alerts send notifications to your phone if it gets too far from the tracker. You can also use the Apple Find My App to pinpoint its real-time GPS location. Can’t find your wallet at home? Trigger the MagTag’s beeping sound right from your phone.

You’ll only need to recharge this Tracker Card about once every five months, and its waterproof, dustproof design means it can handle everything from outdoor adventures to daily commutes. 

You only have until April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a MagTag Tracker Card on sale for $23.97. 

No coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card - Works with Apple Find My App $23.97
$42.99 Save $19.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: This MacBook Air has all the bells and whistles, is grade A/B refurbished, and has a sub-$200 price tag.

Scratch that new laptop itch with a new-to-you MacBook Air under $200. With this price drop, you can get a quality refurbished MacBook for just $199.97 and take advantage of the classic design and tools without the classic $999 price.

The 13.3 inch MacBook Air with Intel Core i5

The MacBook Air 13.3-inch (2017) is still popular for a reason. It boasts an excellent up-to 12-hour battery life and a superlight design. With a 13.3-inch display. 2.96 lb. weight, and just 0.68 inches at the thickest, this laptop slips easily into backpacks and purses for on-the-go connectivity. Plenty fits in that slim package, with 128GB SSD storage and 8GB RAM.

Newer isn't always better. The 2017 MacBook Air was one of the last models with replaceable storage. It also has a 1.8GHz Intel core i5 chip that allows for more flexible booting options, unlike newer MacBooks with M-series chips. Users with particular storage and booting needs will be better off with older Mac models like this one.

Quality refurbished MacBooks

Refurbished tech products are more than just used items. To be marked grade A/B refurbished, they've been evaluated for quality and meet specific standards, including:

• Minimum 70% battery health

• No scratches on the screen

• No cracks, dents, or missing pieces

• Clean and operational keyboard

There may be some wear to the body and keys or light screen burn, but the look and function of the machine remain. 

Enjoy classic Mac performance at just a fraction of the price when you snap up this quality refurbished MacBook Air price drop for just $199.97.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver $199.97
$999 Save $799.03 Get Deal

Something about this time of year on Mars is reminiscent of 1939's The Wizard of Oz. 

Maybe it's the ruddiness of the planet that gives off its own natural sepia tone like we see in Victor Fleming's film adaptation. Maybe it's the tornadoes, sometimes so tall they seem like they could lift more than a few farmhouses. 

But one thing's for sure about these freakish alien dust devils: You're definitely not in Kansas if you see them. More like 140 million miles over the rainbow in space. 

Though scientists have long known the hazards of the wind phenomenons churning up Martian dirt, NASA's Perseverance rover, a Mini Cooper-sized lab on six wheels, just caught a rare sight: one mega dust devil devouring another. Despite how often these whirlwinds occur, interactions between them are seldom observed.

"Convective vortices — aka dust devils — can be rather fiendish," said Mark Lemmon, a Perseverance scientist at the Space Science Institute in Colorado, in a statement. "These mini twisters wander the surface of Mars, picking up dust as they go and lowering the visibility in their immediate area. If two dust devils happen upon each other, they can either obliterate one another or merge, with the stronger one consuming the weaker."

SEE ALSO: NASA's rovers just found similar gnarly rocks on opposite sides of Mars This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The video featured in the X post above, recorded on Jan. 25 at the Jezero Crater rim, shows a large dust devil — about 210 feet wide — overtaking a much smaller one, at just 16 feet across. As they collide, the weaker dust devil vanishes into the stronger one. Two other dust devils spin in the background. At the time, the rover was watching from about a half-mile away.

Dust devils on Mars form similarly to those on Earth, despite the fact that Mars' atmosphere is much thinner. They tend to happen on dry days when the ground gets hotter than the surrounding area. Typically smaller than tornadoes, dust devils are whirlwinds that make a funnel-like chimney, channeling hot air up and around. The rotating wind then accelerates similar to the way spinning ice skaters move faster as they bring their arms closer to their bodies.

This Martian phenomenon leaves tracks — straight lines, curves, and curlicues — wherever it has traveled. Their color is a result of picking up the light dust that coats virtually all of the Red Planet and exposing layers of dark volcanic rocks.

About 13 years ago, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter caught sight of an extraordinary dust devil with a plume stretching 12 miles into the sky. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UA

The latest footage provides new insight into how these swirling columns of wind and dust interact with each other and the Martian atmosphere. Roughly half of the planet’s airborne dust is thought to come from them.

"Dust devils play a significant role in Martian weather patterns," said Katie Stack Morgan, a Perseverance project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a statement. "Dust devil study is important because these phenomena indicate atmospheric conditions, such as prevailing wind directions and speed."

Taking a picture of a dust devil isn’t easy. Unlike hurricanes or thunderstorms on Earth, this kind of foul weather shows up without warning. Perseverance regularly scans the landscape for them on the off-chance it might catch one in action. Scientists study the rover's images for trends, such as what time of day dust devils tend to be more active and where they come from.

NASA’s Viking orbiters were the first spacecraft to photograph the dust devils in the 1970s. Two decades later, the Pathfinder lander captured one from the ground and even detected a dust devil passing over it. Since then, a handful of other robots have observed the phenomena, with Perseverance recording the first audio of a whirlwind in 2021.

In the rover's latest video, the life of the slighter dust devil is abruptly cut short by a superior twister. But one probably didn't outlive the other by much, Lemmon said. Martian dust devils only last about 10 minutes.