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The memorial held for Irving (John Turturro) in Severance Season 2, episode 5, was memorable for a couple of reasons: 1) the deeply disturbing fruit head, and 2) the discovery made by Dylan (Zach Cherry) behind that poster.
But what exactly did the note he found say, and what does it mean?
We've dug into it all below...
SEE ALSO: You've got to hear Zach Cherry's 'Severance' Season 2 fan theory What's written on the note?After Mark (Adam Scott) and Helly (Britt Lower) leave Dylan alone at the memorial, he finds a note behind the "Hang in There" poster on the wall — an image which resembles Dylan holding the switches in Season 1's finale, and words that echo the final words Irving says to him in Woe's Hollow at the end of episode 4. On one side of the note is a drawing of the long, dark corridor that outie Irving obsessively recreates in artworks. On the other side is a written message.
Credit: Apple TV+Here's the full transcription, which basically amounts to a series of directions:
"From O&D, first turn right, all the way down the hall and turn right, turn right, turn left, down a long hall and turn left, turn left, turn right, right, left, left, right, right, left, right, left, left, right, right, left, left down long hall and turn right, then left, right, turn right one more time and all the way down a long hallway..."
So where do those directions lead, and why did Irving leave them behind in a note?
What does the note mean?To understand the meaning behind the note, we need to revisit two earlier scenes in Severance Season 2: one from episode 3, and one from the start of episode 5.
In the first one, Irving revisits the department where Burt (Christopher Walken) used to work — the O&D (Optics & Design) referred to in the note. There he meets one of Burt's colleagues, Felicia (Claudia Robinson), who accidentally sees a drawing of the dark corridor that he's sketched in the back of his notebook.
"Who do you know about the Exports Hall?" she asks him. "We send a lot of shipments there. Used to go ourselves, but now they send a guy."
Irving's response, before the scene ends, is to ask Felicia where it is.
At the start of episode 5, meanwhile, we see a man pushing a trolley. He meets Felicia and another woman, presumably at O&D, where they hand him a tray of what looks like surgical or dental tools. The man is then seen swiping a card in a door that opens on a long black corridor — the same corridor from Irving's drawing — that ends in an elevator with a red down arrow. The man steps inside and the door shuts.
When we put all these moments together, it seems pretty clear that the note Irving has left for Dylan is a set of directions to this "Exports Hall". His outie was obsessed with it and his innie became obsessed with it, too.
Ms Casey walked down the "exports hall" in Season 1. Credit: Apple TV+ Where does the exports hall lead?This isn't the first time we've seen that long, dark corridor. In Season 1, this is the corridor that Mark's wife, Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) is sent to after she loses her job — a place then-boss Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) refers to as "the Testing Floor".
In a nutshell, Irving has unknowingly just given Dylan the key to solving the puzzle that Mark and Helly are trying to get to the bottom of: Where is Ms Casey?
Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.
TL;DR: Mashable readers can learn ethical hacking, penetration testing, and cybersecurity with lifetime access to 18 online courses, on sale for £27.85 (reg. £874.33) through 23 February.
Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle £27.85 at the Mashable ShopThis ethical hacking bundle offers a lifetime of learning for those eager to master this critical and in-demand skill set. With 18 courses and 132 hours of content, this £27.85 bundle (sale ending 23 February) covers a wide variety of cybersecurity topics, from beginner-friendly basics to advanced penetration testing.
Dive into practical lessons that teach real-world techniques, like exploiting vulnerabilities, safeguarding networks, and building custom tools using Python. Courses such as "Complete Python 3 Ethical Hacking" walk you through coding your own backdoor tools and automating repetitive security tasks, while "Hacking Wireless Networks" teaches you to identify and protect against vulnerabilities in WiFi environments. These are hands-on experiences tailored for those who want to go beyond theory and practice in safe environments.
For those interested in web security, the bundle offers in-depth training in tackling vulnerabilities like SQL injections and cross-site scripting, using tools like Burp Suite to run penetration tests and secure applications. You’ll also explore Metasploit, the industry-standard framework for penetration testing, giving you the skills to identify and fix system weaknesses.
Even if you’re just starting out, courses like "Ethical Hacker Certification" make it easy to build foundational skills while setting you up for certifications. Meanwhile, "Bug Bounty: Web Hacking" shows you how to earn money by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities for major companies.
Whether you’re an IT professional, a cybersecurity enthusiast, or a beginner ready to jump into the field, this bundle gives you the tools to succeed.
With a one-time payment of £27.85 (reg. £874.33), you’ll gain lifetime access to a wealth of knowledge and resources. Sign up for this comprehensive ethical hacking course bundle before 23 February and learn to protect, analyse, and improve systems like a pro.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: A large selection of online courses from Stanford University are available to take for free on edX.
Ever heard of edX? This popular online learning platform offers up a wide range of online courses covering useful topics like Python, AI, communication, and much more. And some of these online courses are delivered by famous schools like Stanford University.
We have checked out everything on offer and got you started with a standout selection of online courses from Stanford University. And the best thing is that all of these online courses are available to take for free. The only catch is that these free courses do not include certificates of completion or graded assignments/exams.
These are the best Stanford University courses you can take for free this month.
Comparative Democratic Development Part I: Conditions of Democracy
Comparative Democratic Development Part II: Structuring Democracy
Your Body Inside and Out: Using Exercise Physiology to Slow Aging
For unlimited access to all course material, you'll need to upgrade for a small fee. But you can still learn at your own pace without paying anything, so there's nothing stopping you from enrolling.
Find the best free online courses from Stanford University at edX.
Opens in a new window Credit: Stanford University Stanford University Courses Free at edX Learn MoreFREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 14. Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day offers monster romances featuring vampires, aliens, demons, and much more.
There were a number of Stuff Your Kindle Day events last year, but things are getting out of hand in 2025. Seriously, we're struggling to keep up with the frequency of Stuff Your Kindle Days right now. It seems like a new event drops every week.
We shouldn't complain, because this is great news for bookworms everywhere. Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an awesome opportunity to stock up on hundreds of books without spending anything. And the books that you download are yours to keep.
SEE ALSO: The best Kindles in 2025The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on monster romance books. Yep, you read that right. Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day offers romances that feature vampires, aliens, demons, trolls, orcs, and so much more. If that sounds like your thing (no judgement here), this is your chance to stock up.
Want to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.
When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule is incredibly busy in 2025. We had a couple of events in January, but February is on another level. The most recent event started on Feb. 10, with the Indie Only Book Club offering indie romance books for $0.99 or free until Feb. 14.
And now on Feb. 14, Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day is showcasing free romances that feature everything from aliens to cryptids
Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?The beautiful thing about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate. You don't even need to own a Kindle to get involved.
Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone, as you can also find these free titles on the Google Play and Apple Books apps.
Which e-books are free?Sourcing all of these free monster romance books is straightforward. There's a helpful hub page with everything on offer listed out by category:
Take your pick and stock up. All of the listed titles could be yours for absolutely nothing.
Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books per month that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow, so don't hold back.
Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at AmazonThese super popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. They start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited absolutely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.
Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.
FREE SLURPEE: On Feb. 14, get a free small Slurpee at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores. Check participating locations here.
Opens in a new window Credit: 7-Eleven 7-Eleven: Free Slurpee on Valentine's Day Learn MoreForget the flowers. Cancel your dinner plans. Postpone the engagement. There is only one way you should be celebrating Valentine's Day this year, and it won't cost you anything at all.
Every Friday in February, customers can pop in to participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores to get their hands on a small Slurpee for free. Just make sure you check participating locations before you cancel all your romantic plans and set off in search of this beloved beverage.
SEE ALSO: Domino’s is releasing a pepperoni perfume for Valentine’s Day. Here's how to get yours for free.The catch is that each customer can get only one free small Slurpee, and only while supplies last. But it's Valentine's Day, so maybe bring a friend and share the love. You can both sip on your free Slurpee whilst gazing into each other's eyes. What a love story!
Feeling a weird mixture of thirsty and romantic this year? Grab your free Slurpee on Valentine's Day.
MAX BUNDLES: Max is offering a few different bundle deals so you can stream from its massive library without making a massive dent in your wallet.
The best Max deals and bundles in February 2025: Best Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle $16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Student Discount Max Student Discount Students save 50% on Max Basic With Ads plan Get Deal Best Bundle with Hulu Hulu with Max Add Max to your Hulu base plan from $9.99 per month Get DealSome of the most prestigious TV shows and films live on Max's streaming service. From Game of Thrones to Dune: Part Two and so much more, Max is worth the investment for those looking to dive into the most talked about pieces of entertainment. And with highly-anticipated upcoming shows like the second season of The Last of Us on the horizon, there's no better time than now to start looking at plans and bundles.
SEE ALSO: The best Hulu deals and bundles in February 2025The good news is that Max has a few different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including the big bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. With streaming prices on the rise, a bundle like this can be a great way to save some cash while getting access to your favorite services.
Alongside that deal and a couple more, we've also broken down Max's standard plans in case you're just interested in its service on its own.
Best Bundle Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Max Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle $16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like itThe Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $16.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for them on their own. If you've already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you're interested, there are two plan options to choose from:
Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (with ads) — $16.99 per month (save 43%)
Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (no ads) — $29.99 per month (save 42%)
It's always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and Max's offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the Max Basic With Ads plan for just $4.99 per month. That's a 50% discount off its usual price of $9.99 per month. After verifying your status, you'll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on Max.
Max Student Discount — $4.99 per month (save 50%)
If you're not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $9.99 per month. Max (With Ads) can be added onto your plan for $9.99 per month, or you can splash out on the Max (No Ads) plan for $16.99 per month.
Hulu with Max add-on — from $9.99 per month
Maxoffers a few different subscription plans. If you don't mind having to sit through ads, Max's Basic With Ads plan starts at $9.99 per month or you can get the annual plan for $99.99 per year, which ultimately saves you $19. If you can't stand ads and don't mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year, which saves you $33. If you really want to go big on a Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year.
Below we've broken down what comes with each of these plans, per Max's website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.
Basic With Ads — $9.99 per month, $99.99 per year (save $19)
Stream on two devices at once
Full HD 1080p resolution
Standard (Ad-free) — $16.99 per month, $169.99 per year (save $33)
Stream on two devices at once
Full HD 1080p resolution
30 downloads to watch on the go
Premium (Ad-free) — $20.99 per month, $209.99 per year (save $41)
Stream on four devices at once
4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)
Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)
100 downloads to watch on the go
If you're wondering where to start once you've set yourself up with a Max subscription, we've got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.
FREE LEGO MAGAZINE: Sign up now to recieve four free issues of the Lego Magazine per year. The next issue will arrive in July 2025.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Magazine for Kids Learn MoreWe love a good deal, but do you know what we love even more than that? Something for nothing.
There's obviously a lot of satisfaction that comes with securing a big discount on a popular item, but you're still parting with some cash in this situation. Getting something for free is on another level of satisfaction, especially when that something is the Lego Magazine for Kids.
SEE ALSO: 'Piece By Piece' review: Pharrell Williams finds his happy place in Legoland biopicThis popular magazine is great for kids aged 5 to 9. The printed copy is sent to your home four times a year, completely free of charge. Sign up now to receive the next issue in July 2025. Each issue is stuffed with cool activities, fun comics, creative builds, posters, and so much more.
Follow these simple steps to get your hands on the next copy:
Log in to your Lego account (or create one by clicking 'sign up now')
Enter your details
Check the confirmation email to see when their first issue arrives
Sign up and your child will receive their own magazine four times a year. There's no catch, so what's stopping you?
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.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers 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 categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: 0
Green: To be really good at a particular thing
Blue: Team leaders in the same NFL conference
Purple: Share the same position in a top soccer league
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: None
Green: Special ability
Blue: NFC quarterbacks
Purple: Premier League forwards
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 #144 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayNone - LOVE, NIL, ZERO, ZIP
Special ability - FLAIR, GIFT, SKILL, TALENT
NFC quarterbacks - DANIELS, GOFF, MAYFIELD, STAFFORD
Premier League forwards - HAALAND, SALAH, SON, VARDY
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 MashableBy 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 February 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 14 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Will you be my Valentine?These words are cute pet names.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWords are terms you might refer to your Valentine by.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Endearment.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 14Lovebug
Angel
Honey
Darling
Pookie
Snookums
Endearment
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.
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.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers 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 February 14 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Overly caring or spoiling
Green: Actions of a certain reptile
Blue: Surprise exclamations
Purple: Sound-alike words for water features
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Mollycoddle
Green: Things a Rattlesnake Does
Blue: Words Said to an Unsuspecting Person
Purple: Homophones of Bodies of Water
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 #612 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayMollycoddle: BABY, HUMOR, INDULGE, PAMPER
Things a Rattlesnake Does: HISS, RATTLE, SHED, SLITHER
Words Said to an Unsuspecting Person: BOO, GOTCHA, GUESS WHO, SURPRISE
Homophones of Bodies of Water: BAE, CREAK, SEE, STRAIGHT
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 February 14Are 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: 8NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 14 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 February 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A short, simple tune or song.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter T appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
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...
DITTY.
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 February 14Reporting 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.
Captain America: Brave New World breaks tradition with most of the recent MCU movies, delivering one end-credits sequence and skipping a mid-credits sequence entirely.
However, the end-credits scene does uphold a different recent MCU tradition: teasing more multiversal battles.
SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World' review: Can Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie save the MCU from itself? What happens in the Captain America: Brave New World post-credits scene?In Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits scene, Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie) visits the villainous Samuel Sterns/the Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) in the high-security prison known as the Raft. There, Sterns warns Sam of a major new calamity.
SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World' brings adamantium into the MCU. Here's what that means."It's coming. I've seen it in the probabilities, seen it plain as day," Sterns tells him. "All you heroes, protecting this world — do you think you're the only ones? Do you think this is the only world? We'll see what happens when you have to protect this place from the others."
Who are "the others" Samuel Sterns mentions in the Brave New World post-credits scene?As far as MCU end-credits scenes go, Brave New World's is fairly lackluster. Another vague multiverse tease? Groundbreaking.
But the mention of "the others" is a fascinating detail to latch onto, even though it's — once again — vague as can be. Who could Sterns be talking about?
Perhaps, since Brave New World spotlights the forming of a new Avengers team, "the others" will function as a counterpoint to that. Could it be a team of supervillains assembled by Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), confirmed to be the villain of Avengers: Doomsday? Or could the Avengers have to contend with evil variants of themselves once the multiverse threatens Earth? I say let them fight!
Vibranium may not be the top fictional metal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe much longer.
SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World' review: Can Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie save the MCU from itself?That's because Captain America: Brave New World brings adamantium into the fold. The substance shows up in the body of the Celestial that emerged from the Indian Ocean in Eternals. Now, it's the cause of international conflict, as major world powers try to control the world's only known adamantium supply.
But adamantium is more than just a MacGuffin for Brave New World. It's part of the MCU's groundwork for introducing the X-Men in their upcoming projects — especially one in particular.
What role will adamantium play in the MCU?Adamantium is the metal that reinforces Wolverine's skeleton. In the Marvel comics, it's a man-made substance, while in the MCU, it's naturally occurring within the Celestial.
Now that adamantium is in play, the MCU's own take on one of the most famous X-Men can start to take shape. (And no, for timey-wimey, multiversal reasons, Hugh Jackman's appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine doesn't count as the prime MCU universe's Logan.)
In Brave New World, U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) highlights adamantium's potential for technological and medical advancements, so perhaps Wolverine's origin story is already underway in some secret lab. Elsewhere, adamantium could provide upgrades to MCU characters' armor, or to iconic props like Captain America's shield.
The adamantium mention is far from the first time the MCU has teased the X-Men following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. WandaVision reintroduced Evan Peters' Quicksilver (kind of). The Marvels' mid-credit scene showcased Kelsey Grammer as X-Men mainstay Hank McCoy/Beast, reprising his role from 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand and 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. And of course, Deadpool & Wolverine was one long celebration of the Fox-era X-Men, complete with crazy cameos and an end-credits crawl paired with behind-the-scenes footage from the original X-Men films. But while that movie felt like a farewell to the X-Men we've come to know over the last few decades, Brave New World's adamantium mention feels like we're one step closer to meeting the MCU's iteration of the X-Men. After several years and quite a few projects' worth of teasing, I'd say we're ready.
Over a year ago, Apple removed its ads from X after Elon Musk backed a series of antisemitic posts from far-right users on the social media platform. Around the same time, a new report found that ads from companies such as Apple were being served on pro-Nazi content on X.
However, since November 2023, when Apple stopped advertising on Musk's X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, a lot has happened. Namely, Donald Trump was elected president once again, and this time, Musk is essentially operating as his right-hand man.
Now, roughly 15 months after Apple halted its ad spend on X, Apple has returned to advertising on the platform.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk says he'll stop trying to buy OpenAI if it stays a nonprofitMacRumors first noticed that Apple is currently running at least two different ad campaigns on X. One ad, from the official @Apple X account, promotes the company's Safari web browser. The other ad is being run on Apple's @AppleTV account for the Apple TV series Severance.
The ads currently do not appear on either of the accounts' X profiles. But that's not unusual for Apple. X allows advertisers to promote regular posts as ads, which would show up on their profile page, or run a post specifically as an advertisement, which does not appear on the advertiser's profile page. When running ads on X, Apple has always utilized the latter mechanism. However, for a user to observe these posts, X must serve the ads to them.
As MacRumors points out, although Apple paused its ads campaigns, Apple CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives continued to maintain a presence on Musk's platform.
While Apple has resumed ads on X, it's unclear how big their current ad campaigns are. The Safari ad, for example, has just over 600,000 impressions as of publishing on Feb. 13. It was originally posted on Feb. 10. Other advertisers who previously left have returned at various points but with a significantly reduced marketing budget for ad spend on X.
Google Family Link is getting a design upgrade.
The control panel, which is available as an app, offers parents a way to supervise their children's activity on Android devices.
But keeping track of screen time, settings, and permissions could be confusing, especially for parents whose children have multiple devices, like a phone, tablet, and laptop.
SEE ALSO: Google Messages could get upgraded 911 emergency texting soonGoogle announced Tuesday in a blog post that Family Link will now provide streamlined access to settings in a single "screen time" tab.
The tab brings together Family Link's screen-time management options and tools, including time limits. Parents can now also use the tab to control the "downtime" and "school time" settings, which curtail usage during certain time periods.
The existing Control tab has been updated so that parents can access, in one place, account data management, approval of app downloads, and blocking of websites.
Google is also launching the "school time" setting on Android phones and tablets next week, after introducing it on the Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids and Fitbit ACE LTE last year.
This year, according to the blog post, parents will be able to use Family Link to approve contacts for the Galaxy Watch for Kids.
A damning investigation from nonprofit news organization The Markup and Pulitzer Center's AI Accountability Network reports that Match Group (which owns major dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid) keeps records of users who are reported for sexual assault but doesn't take measures to properly ban them from the app network nor alert law enforcement or the public.
The case of Stephen Matthews is used as an example throughout the report. Matthews, a cardiologist, was reported for rape multiple times on Hinge, according to The Markup. Yet, his account remained up — and he was even made a "Standout" (a profile spotlighted for getting a lot of attention). Last October, Matthews was sentenced to 158 years to life in prison; a jury convicted him on 35 counts related to drugging and/or sexual assaulting 11 women between 2019 and 2023. Additional women accused Matthews of drugging and/or raping them that were not included in the court complaint, according to the report published today.
SEE ALSO: Meta-funded program teaches tweens about online exploitationDespite women reporting Matthews on the app, his profile remained up. Why?
The Dating Apps Reporting Project, which published the investigation, said, "Match Group has known for years which users have been reported for drugging, assaulting, or raping their dates since at least 2016, according to internal company documents." While Match Group said in 2020 it was "committing to releasing our industry first Transparency Report for the United States for 2022," the company has still not yet published it.
In addition to this lack of transparency, the Project also found that Match Group doesn't have a robust enough system to ban bad actors, nor does it prevent users from re-signing up for the same app if it already banned them or signing up for another Match Group app. The researchers said they used various methods found online to see how easy it is for banned accounts to get back on the platforms.
"During multiple tests, we successfully created new accounts without needing to change the user's name, birthday, or profile photos," statistical journalist Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett said in the report. "The Markup did not test any methods that required significant technical knowledge and only utilized information that would be easily accessible to someone who did a cursory search of how to get around a ban."
Meanwhile, over the last few years, as Match Group's stock price declined, the conglomerate reportedly faced pressure to cut costs — and the Project said trust-and-safety operations were impacted as a result. The report said that the company resisted efforts to increase investigative measures and safety protocols as this could stall corporate growth, according to internal documents viewed by the researchers. Just one example is Tinder partnering with nonprofit Garbo on background checks in 2022, only for the partnership to end the following year.
"We recognize our role in fostering safer communities and promoting authentic and respectful connections worldwide," a Match Group statement to the Project read. "We will always work to invest in and improve our systems, and search for ways to help our users stay safe, both online and when they connect in real life."
It continued, "We take every report of misconduct seriously, and vigilantly remove and block accounts that have violated our rules regarding this behavior."
Mashable has reached out to Match Group. Read the rest of the investigation into Match Group.
SAVE $11.60: As of Feb. 13, get the 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for just $38.39 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $49.99. That's a discount of 23% and its lowest price yet.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller $38.39 at AmazonIf you play a lot of Switch games, using Joy-Con controllers works well, and is even required for some titles. And most agree that the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is the Cadillac of peripherals, no matter what you're playing. But if you don't want to part with $70, there are still great options out there that feel just as good in the hands – and you can use them on other platforms.
As of Feb. 13, the 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for Nintendo Switch is just $38.39 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $49.99. That's $11.60 off and a discount of 23%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.
This controller is a versatile alternative to the Pro Controller from Nintendo, and it can be used with your PC, Android, Apple, and portable gaming devices. It has two back buttons, improved joysticks, and features custom profile switching so you can change up the button layout and then swap between users. With an enhanced grip, 4-way mode-swiching buttons, and rumble effects, it's everything you get with Nintendo's own version, but at a great discount.
The controller charges via USB-C and gives you up to 20 hours of playtime, so you don't have to keep swapping it out to charge while you're trying to cue up a game of Smash Bros. And it's appropriate to give your Player 2, because it's actually a good controller and not the one you save for company so you have an advantage. That means if you need a late Valentine's Day gift, this just might do the trick. Plus, having a second controller is always a good idea.
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