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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.

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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

___cliff bar.

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

HEATH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

From the Netherlands.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DUTCH

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To cleanse the body.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BATHE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To grant.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ENDOW

Final Hurdle hint

To compare.

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

LIKEN

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

The New Moon is only a few nights away, so there's less and less of the Moon to see each evening. Here's what it'll look like tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 9, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Crescent phase, with 16% of its surface visible.

Without visual aids, you'll only be able to see the Aristarchus Plateau. However, if you have binoculars or a telescope, you'll also see the Grimaldi Basin.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it orbits Earth, completing one full lunar cycle approximately every 29.5 days, according to NASA. During that journey, the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are constantly shifting, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible from our perspective. That's why we see the familiar sequence of phases, from a slim crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the pattern begins again.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 7, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An onomatopoeia similar to thump.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CLUNK

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

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you like to splurge a litte bit.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Isn't that a bit much?

The words are related to spending.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe aspects of being financially kind to yourself.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is I'm Worth It.

NYT Strands word list for August 8

• Luxury

• Treat

• Extravagance

• Frills

• Indulgence

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good sense of smell.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: A different way

• Green: Childhood classics

• Blue: Genres

• Purple: Get out

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Take a Different Approach

• Green: Classic Children's Books

• Blue: Movie Subgenres

• Purple: Things People Try to Get Out Of

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 #1155 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Take a Different Approach: CHANGE TACK, COURSE-CORRECT, RECALIBRATE, SHIFT GEARS

• Classic Children's Books: CAPS FOR SALE, CORDUROY, GOODNIGHT MOON, MADELINE

• Movie Subgenres: BUDDY COP, NEO-NOIR, SPACE OPERA, SPAGHETTI WESTERN

• Things People Try to Get Out Of: BAD DREAM, ESCAPE ROOM, JURY DUTY, LABYRINTH

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7, 2026

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

TL;DR: Write a 300K-word manuscript for just $37 with this YouBooks AI lifetime subscription.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $36.75
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Writing is just one step in creating a book. Before that comes research, outlining, drafting, and editing. But for only $36.75 (reg. $540), you’ll be able to craft publish-ready 300,000-word manuscripts for life through Aug. 9 with code AUG25. Even the busiest educators, content creators, entrepreneurs, and coaches can get their words out as intended.

The platform is powered by various leading AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama, to help you generate cohesive, expertly crafted, and engaging content. With it, you can use the monthly 250K credits your lifetime subscription provides for source uploads or writing.

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One credit accounts for one word or one uploaded source word; you also have the option to store up to 100 writing style samples and 100 source documents for easy access. What’s more, YouBooks pulls full real-time web searches during the writing composition, so you can rest assured that any facts, stats, and news you use are current, up-to-date, and accurate.

The source uploads don’t have to be from the web either. You can guide the AI or even upload your own memos, transcripts, and documents to foreground your work. Plus, you can also define and curate your own writing style to ensure consistency and a cohesive end project.

As you can see, each book goes through a series of steps to move from ideation to completion. Better yet, you get to retain full ownership of your content—meaning you can look forward to publishing, distributing, or even selling it without restriction.

Whether you’re writing a memoir, educational guide, teaching resource, or simply consolidating your work, YouBooks can assist you at every stage. So, why not try it out?

Get your YouBooks AI Lifetime Subscription for just $36.75 (reg. $540) with code AUG25, only through August 9. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Flock Safety, the company behind a nationwide network of automatic license plate readers, pitched a plan to convert hundreds of thousands of Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers into a mobile extension of its surveillance system, according to a company presentation obtained by 404 Media.

404's Joseph Cox wrote that the document describes equipping driver vehicles with dashcams capable of scanning license plates along their routes, effectively expanding Flock's network beyond its usual fixed cameras mounted on poles.

SEE ALSO: Someone stole every Flock camera in this Minnesota city

The presentation centers on a proposed partnership with Nexar, a dashcam maker whose devices are already marketed to rideshare drivers and commuters. Cox reported that 404 Media had previously uncovered the planned partnership last year through separate sourcing, and that this newly obtained document shows Flock was actively marketing the arrangement to prospective customers around that same period.

The material was shared with 404 Media by a Georgia resident who obtained it through a public records request, after Flock presented it to that state's attorney general's office.

Flock told 404 Media the Nexar deal was never actually put into place. Still, according to Cox's reporting, the presentation demonstrates the scale of the company's ambitions, citing plans to draw on roughly 350,000 Uber, Lyft, and other delivery devices for the network, in addition to existing coverage from businesses and homeowners' associations across Georgia. It remains unclear, Cox noted, whether Uber, Lyft, or their drivers would have known their vehicles were collecting this data.

The report situates the proposal within Flock's broader push into new data sources. Earlier, 404 Media reported on a security breach that exposed a large trove of Nexar customer footage, including footage near sensitive military sites, as well as a separate effort — later abandoned — to build a tool to link license plates to specific individuals using leaked information. Cox also cited the outlet's coverage of a similar arrangement involving BusPatrol, a company that outfits school buses with cameras and shares resulting data with police.

Uber, Lyft, and Nexar did not respond to 404 Media's requests for comment, according to Cox's reporting.

X is overhauling how it pays creators, phasing out its long-running Revenue Sharing program in favor of a new system called the Original Content Rewards Program.

The platform's Creators account announced the change in a post, saying the program is meant to "reward creators who bring original ideas, expertise, reporting, creativity, and commentary to X."

According to the announcement, X stopped accepting new Revenue Sharing enrollments immediately and will wind the program down entirely after Sept. 7. Creators currently enrolled will receive three final payouts — two on the standard schedule in mid- and late August, and a final payment around Sept. 11 covering earnings through the cutoff date. Starting Sept. 8, existing Revenue Sharing members can apply for the new program if they meet its eligibility requirements, the company said.

SEE ALSO: With the launch of X Money, Elon Musk gets one step closer to his 'everything app'

Per X's announcement, the new program ties earnings to "qualified impressions" a creator's original content receives, rather than the advertising-revenue split that defined the old system. Qualified impressions must come from unique, verified Premium subscribers viewing at least half of a post on the Home Timeline; impressions that are duplicated, paid, promoted, or fraudulent don't count.

To qualify, X says creators must be at least 18, live in an eligible country, hold a Personal or Business account in good standing, subscribe to a paid X tier, and have at least 500 verified followers, along with 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users over the prior 90 days. Those requirements must be maintained continuously to keep receiving payouts, according to the announcement.

X's guidelines lean heavily on defining what counts as "original." Per the company's post, content that is copied, reuploaded without authorship, generated through automated means, or reposted with only minor edits — such as captions, watermarks, or basic text overlays — won't qualify. Users can earn from reposting others' material only if they add substantive commentary, analysis, or creative editing. So, simply describing what's already happening in a post doesn't meet the bar.

As noted in Engadget's report on the news, X adjusted its Revenue Sharing formula in March to weight engagement more heavily toward a creator's home region. That shift, they wrote, likely followed revelations that a number of popular accounts posting pro-Trump content and US-focused commentary were not actually based in the United States.

Whether the new Original Content Rewards Program carries over a similar regional weighting is not yet clear.

The tech giant is investing in the natural-gas-burning power plant as part of a huge data center in Texas, even as it pledges to honor climate commitments.

Lenovo does something no other tech brand does — make a tablet specifically for gaming. A continuation of its Legion computers, the Lenovo Legion Tab puts gaming content into a smaller, more portable package.

Previous generations of the Lenovo Legion Tab have been impressive tablets, so my expectations were high for the recently released Gen 5 model. And here's the thing about the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 — while it's built for gaming, I think it's a great everyday tablet.

Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 at a glance The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 is one of the only tablets designed for gaming. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 is a tablet designed for gaming. With a 12-hour battery life and a Snapdragon processor that keeps it on par with MacBooks, it packs a lot of power within its 8.8-inch screen. It handles livestreams with ease, but its touchscreen is occasionally unresponsive. It costs $679.99, a big price hike between generations, but not a surprise considering the current memory crisis.

Here's a full rundown of its specs:

• Display: 8.8-inch 3K PureSight screen with 800 nits brightness

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

• Operating System: Android 16

• Memory: 12GB

• Storage: 256GB

• Battery life: 12 hours and 24 minutes

• Geekbench 6 scores: 3,655 single-core score and 10,758 multi-core score

A tablet that can compete with a MacBook thanks to a Snapdragon chip I was shocked at just how well the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 scored on the Geekbench 6. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Presumably, a gaming tablet needs super-sized power to process high-demand tasks. Luckily, it lives up to its potential, gaining a real power boost over previous generations.

On Geekbench 6, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 has single-core and multi-core scores of 3,655 and 10,758, respectively. That puts it way above the Apple iPad, which has a 6,233 multi-core score, and into the leagues of a MacBook.

The Legion Tab Gen 5's power likely comes from its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform Processor. When I conferred with my colleague and laptop expert Haley Henschel, she noted that the Windows laptops she's recently tested that have competed with MacBooks all had Snapdragon chips. It seems Qualcomm is onto something, and Lenovo is taking advantage of it with the Legion Tab Gen 5.

Plus, it has battery life to match. In our tests, it had 12 hours and 24 minutes of battery life. That's extensive considering a gaming laptop often has just a few hours of battery life.

But how does all that power work in action?

It's reliable for live streaming

I spent a lot of time streaming on the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5. It handled my everyday streaming without issue. The video loaded quickly, with clear displays, and the next episodes loaded easily — perfect for when I'm trying to catch up on Love Island.

As a bigger test, I wanted to see how it could handle a livestream of a WNBA game. Once again, there were no issues with the livestream. The tablet didn't slow down, processing high-resolution video without stuttering, so I didn't miss any crucial minutes. This bodes well for gamers, too, who stream or play live with other players.

In terms of sound quality, it wasn't the best I've ever heard and did feel a bit tinny. If you're an audiophile, headphones will solve the sound quality issue.

A perfectly designed tablet? Almost. The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 has not just one but two USB-C ports, a rarity for a tablet. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 is smaller than the standard 11-inch iPad. It has an 8.8-inch screen, which feels practical, especially for handheld gaming. Between generations its maintained my favorite design component: two USB-C ports. These days, we're getting fewer and fewer ports on devices, so two USB-C ports seem like a luxury. It's a huge boost for gamers who want to plug in a controller or headphones while simultaneously charging the tablet.

One thing I'm not a fan of? The case that comes with the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

One thing that's not so great about the tablet? Its case. I'm certainly pleased that Lenovo includes a case when that's such a rarity on devices; however, this one is just OK. It's a lightweight, unassuming black case with a fully removable screen cover. That screen cover also doubles as a stand, but it's incredibly finicky and wobbly. It doesn't adjust to sit at multiple angles either, so you're stuck at just one tilt. Plus, I found that folding it over is a pain when you're using it handheld. It can be completely removed, but that also makes it easy to lose track of.

My one worry? The touchscreen response.

I'm not the biggest gamer, but I love a mobile phone game. The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 offers access to the Lenovo Game Hub, which features an expansive selection of games, including Assassin's Creed, Skyrim, and Call of Duty. For those, you will need to connect a controller to the device.

For the more casual gamers, I tried a variety of mobile games on the device. As I was leaping across subway cars in Subway Surfer and working through puzzles, I noticed some occasional lag on the screen. Toward the center of the screen, the device was occasionally unresponsive. After closing the app and restarting, the issue seemed to resolve itself. Still, because it occurred across multiple apps, it appears to be a device issue rather than an application issue.

Price increase — not surprising considering the state of things

The last Lenovo Legion Tab I tested was the Gen 3, which had a very nice price of $549.99. Unfortunately, the Gen 5 costs more, now $679.99. The price hike isn't entirely unsurprising, considering the state of tech and the current memory crisis, which is affecting nearly every tech manufacturer. $679.99 is a pretty steep price for a tablet, but considering it's nearly as powerful as the iPad Air, which just increased to $749, it's still cheaper than other similarly powerful models.

But it is more expensive than Lenovo's Yoga Tab, which is the best Android tablet we've tested and only costs $419.99.

Is the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 worth it? Looking for a gaming tablet? The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 is worth it. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Lenovo has cornered the market on gaming tablets. The Legion Tab Gen 5, the brand's latest iteration, is the most powerful model yet with impressive processing speeds and extended battery life. If you don't need a gaming-specific tablet, I suggest going for the Lenovo Yoga Tab, which isn't nearly as powerful but comes at a more affordable price point.

Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 $679.99 at Lenovo
  Shop Now at Lenovo

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Samsung just announced a bunch of fancy new phones, but don't relax just yet. Google has a big product launch just around the corner too, and we're keeping a close eye on the latest Pixel 11 leaks, rumors, and official teasers.

The Android maker has already confirmed that it will announce the next batch of Pixel phones at a Made By Google event on Aug. 12, and it recently announced that comedian Trevor Noah will be hosting, with special guests like Stephen Curry and Alex Cooper. Google has also started dropping teasers on YouTube for the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 5. The follow-up to the Pixel 10 lineup will be unveiled in just a few days, so you'd better get prepared in the meantime.

Here is everything we know about the Google Pixel 11 lineup right now.

SEE ALSO: Samsung unpacked: New foldable phones, watches and more Google Pixel 11: Release date and price

The first part of this is easy because Google isn't keeping the Pixel 11 launch window a secret. At 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 12 in New York City, Google is holding a Made By Google event where the Pixel 11 lineup will be shown off for the first time, and Mashable will be there reporting live.

Last year's event was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, for some reason, and we expect lots of surprises and celebrity guests at this year's event. You can watch Made By Google live on YouTube, or follow the news as it happens on Mashable. The phones should be on store shelves or in your hands less than a month after that.

As with last year, we expect to see four phones: the base Pixel 11, a Pro and Pro XL model, and a Pro Fold model.

Regarding price, we live in a RAMageddon world, so it sounds like there may be some mild price increases in the works. We don't know the official figures yet, but a recent Amazon leak, as well as some reported specs and prices courtesy of Android Headlines, gave us these figures:

• Google Pixel 11: $899

• Google Pixel 11 Pro: $1,099

• Google Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,299

• Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,899

Unfortunately, all of those are increases year over year compared to the Pixel 10. The Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pro XL are all $100 more to start than they were a year ago. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, if this leak is to be believed, will cost $400 more than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Ouch.

Google Pixel 11: What's up with Pixel Glow HiLight?

Before we get into detailed (and unconfirmed) specs for each device, there's basically one noteworthy design change that we expect to see across all four devices this year. According to both leaks and the official imagery on Google's own pre-order page, Google is going all-in on something called HiLight with the Pixel 11 series, as reported by 9to5Google.

In terms of design, that means the horizontal camera bar seen on previous Pixel phones will change slightly to accommodate a new multicolored LED light module. This module will use lights of different shades to notify you of things like incoming messages, presumably while your phone is turned over and you don't feel like looking at a screen.

Google actually gave everyone an official sneak peek at HiLight a couple of weeks before the event. In a brief teaser video showing part of the Pixel 11 Pro, you can see a small, multicolored light in the camera bar. While the video is very brief and vague, it's clear from the video that we are looking at HiLight.

Google Pixel 11: Base model rumored specs This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The aforementioned Amazon leak included since-removed store pages for each device in the Pixel 11 family, with colors and specs galore. Let's start with the base Pixel 11, whose color options have been reported under different names but basically come down to black, gray, pink, and green. The Android Headlines report also seems to be the most complete set of specs we've seen yet.

Based on both of these leaks, these could be the specs for the base Pixel 11:

• 6.3-inch OLED display with 2424x1080 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 4,985mAh battery

• 48MP main camera

• 13MP selfie camera

There's a notable cut hiding in the base-model rumors, too: the telephoto lens is reportedly gone, leaving the standard Pixel 11 with only a main and a selfie camera. Battery capacity also dips slightly to 4,985mAh, which is said to bring the phone's weight down a touch, from 204 grams to 197 grams.

None of the above is horribly surprising or all that different from the Pixel 10, either, save for the telephoto lens thing. We'll see if that's actually true soon enough.

Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL: Rumored specs

Google is also reportedly planning on two Pro variants, as in previous years. The color options here are reportedly called Olive, Obsidian, Canyon, and Fog. Here is what both Android Headlines had to say about the regular Pixel 11 Pro:

• 6.3-inch OLED display with 2856x1280 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 4,850mAh battery

• 50MP wide

• 48MP ultrawide

• 48MP telephoto

• 42MP selfie camera

And here are the reported specs for Pixel 11 Pro XL. The XL is usually just a bigger, slightly improved version of the Pro:

• 6.8-inch OLED display with 2992x1344 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G6 Processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 5,115mAh battery

• 50MP wide

• 48MP ultrawide

• 48MP telephoto

• 42MP selfie camera

The main attraction here, at least as it relates to year-over-year changes, is that Google seems to be offering a new 12GB RAM variant of the Pro devices. Prior to this year, they just came with 16GB RAM. Perhaps models with less storage capacity will only come with 12GB this year as a way to save money on the manufacturing end of things.

Finally, we've heard rumors that the previous 100x digital zoom will be upgraded all the way to 120x for the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL. This would certainly be a big leap, but as AI technology progresses, it's certainly possible.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Rumored specs

Lastly, Google is making another foldable this year, if every leak is to be believed. Here are the reported specs for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which could have color variants called Obsidian and Olive:

• 6.5-inch outer display

• 8-inch inner display

• Google Tensor G6 processor

• 12/16GB RAM

• 256/512GB/1TB storage

• 4,806mAh battery

• 48MP wide

• 10.5MP ultrawide

• 10.8MP telephoto

• 10MP selfie camera

Remember: Mashable will be reporting live from the Made By Google event, so keep checking back for the latest Pixel 11 news, leaks, and rumors.

Pluto's famous heart is bleeding, according to new research, hinting that the distant world is more alive than it looks.

That bright, heart-shaped glacier has been a fan favorite ever since NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew past the cold outer world in 2015. Scientists now say the heart isn't just the dwarf planet's special cutie mark, it may be slowly leaking liquid — yes, liquid — onto the surface. 

Researchers say dark streaks along the heart's rim are actually stains left by liquid nitrogen that recently seeped through cracks, flowed, and refroze. The new evidence makes a compelling case that Pluto isn't a frozen, dead world — it may have working "plumbing" under its ice.

"Pluto never stops surprising us," said Alan Stern, principal investigator of the New Horizons mission, in a statement. "In addition to suggesting that liquids have recently expressed themselves on Pluto's surface, it also suggests a new kind of time-variable feature on Pluto."

SEE ALSO: One lucky orbiter caught the SpaceX rocket crash site on moon

"Recently" here means roughly within the last million years, not last Tuesday. Still, by geological standards, that could mean this activity is ongoing today. 

Despite the fact that the New Horizons flyby happened a decade ago, scientists are still unpacking the enormous, once-in-a-generation dataset that came from it. Early work tackled some of the big-picture questions, like what is Pluto made of. Now teams are undertaking more complicated investigations, like what's really happening at the base of the heart-shaped glacier. 

A closeup view of the northern part of the leftmost lobe of Pluto's heart glacier, Sputnik Planitia, reveals dark streaks and patches. Credit: NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / SwRI

Their surprising findings, the result of many years of study, are published in The Planetary Science Journal. 

The heart is a region called Sputnik Planitia, a deep basin filled with frozen nitrogen. Nitrogen is the same gas that makes up most of Earth's air, but on Pluto's frigid surface, it behaves like rock. The basin is larger than Texas and Oklahoma combined and sits lower than the surrounding highlands.

"Pluto has many unique terrains seen nowhere else in the solar system, and this area of Sputnik Planitia is one of them," said Kelsi Singer, one of the study's co-authors, who works with Stern at Colorado-based Southwest Research Institute. "Exploring that allows us to better understand how materials behave in environments that are difficult to produce on Earth."

New Horizons revealed that this ice plain is strangely smooth and almost crater-free, which means it must be getting resurfaced in relatively short periods of time. The surface is divided into broad, city-sized cells that look like a very slow boiling pot. Scientists think the nitrogen ice rises in the middle of each cell and sinks at the edges, constantly churning, through the convection process.

So Pluto's heart already looked young and restless. The new work suggests it also bleeds.

The thin dark streaks and more diffuse dark patches have been visible in the images for years, but their origin was unclear. Some early ideas involved ice flowing around buried bumps or patterns carved by winds and frost.

In the new study, scientists compared those Pluto markings with satellite images of glaciers on Earth. Similar dark lines appear, for example, when meltwater trickles across a glacier and leaves wet trails. That raised an obvious question: If the patterns resemble damp ice, what could be "wetting" it?

If you were thinking rain, Pluto is far too cold and thin‑aired for any sort of precipitation, even nitrogen. So if something is wetting the surface, it's not falling from the sky — it's coming from beneath.

At close range, Sputnik Planitia is covered with city-size 'cells' that turn over nitrogen ice through convection. Credit: NASA / JHUAPL / SwRI

To explore that idea, the team modeled what happens at the bottom of Pluto's heart. Computer simulations suggest the nitrogen ice at the base of the thick glacier can slowly melt into liquid nitrogen, a bit like how ice melts at the base of some glaciers on Earth. That liquid can rise through cracks like slow-motion lava, pushing its way up through cracks and tubes.

In that way, Pluto's heart is a-pumpin'.

Researchers say the new work has implications beyond Pluto. Similar processes could help explain geysers seen on Neptune's moon Triton and features on distant dwarf planets like Eris, which also shows signs of nitrogen ice.

For a world many people still root for to be reinstated as a "real" planet, the research is another point for Pluto: a far more scientifically interesting place than once thought.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Power users can get the Apple iPhone 17 Pro for free when they switch to T-Mobile and bring their number to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

Fresh from Samsung's impressive Unpacked event, where they announced three new foldable smartphones, two smartwatches, and smart glasses, it's almost Google's time to shine. We're expecting news on the latest Pixel phones in next week's Made by Google, but until then, we've got something for the Apple devotees out there.

We all know that Apple prices are rising due to RAMageddon, but somebody needs to tell T-Mobile. This mobile carrier continues to drop free deals on the latest iPhones:

• iPhone 17 — free when signing up for 24 months of an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

You will be charged taxes and a one-time connection fee with these free deals, but that's a small price to pay for the latest iPhone.

Is this a good time to pick up the iPhone 17? Anytime you can get the latest handset for free is a good time to sign up, but the iPhone 18 is not too far away. We're expecting the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to arrive in fall 2026. However, the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and the next-gen iPhone Air are rumored to be coming in March 2027. That's a long wait and might provide another push toward the highly capable iPhone 17.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

The AI industry, not content with alienating top creators, seems to be intent on alienating book lovers too.

That much is clear in the wake of a 404 Media report on ISBNdb, a company that tracks book data and briefly offered "AI training data" in the form of "the world's largest book database."

So far so normal; AI companies looking to build better AI models are hungry for fresh data from any source that isn't the internet. Books — generally better edited and more cogent than your average Reddit thread — make AI sound smart. (There's a premium on books published before 2022, ironically because we can't be sure if books were written by AI after that date.)

But on a now-deleted page, ISBNdb also advertised a "legally-binding nondisclosure agreement" that would hide an AI company client's "identity and strategy." Why? ISBNdb explained: "Destroying millions of books evokes images of burning libraries ... the optics problem is real. 'AI company destroys two million books' is not a headline that generates sympathy."

Indeed. Turns out ISBNdb was offering destructive book scanning, an industrial process that claims to turn pages into data faster than the "move a page, take a picture" alternative — by slicing the spines off books and feeding the pages into a scanning machine, photocopier style, then recycliny them. (ISBNdb's now-deleted advice: "lead with the recycling story, not the destruction story."

But if you just recoiled with horror at the destruction story, you're not alone. It wasn't a headline so much as an impassioned pro-book post from a financial newsletter that caught the internet's attention last week.

Among the post's 2,000 outraged replies was one from Elon Musk, pledging that Grok's book training would be done the "hard way" in the case of rare books.

Though as commenters quickly pointed out, Musk offered no definition of what was a "rare book" — nor any promise that his AI company would avoid destroying books in other cases.

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As for ISBNdb, the company has belatedly walked back its destructive book offerings. "We've chosen to pivot away from that direction," the company's news site now says. The service was a "test of market interest." ISBNdb assured users it hadn't so much as scanned a single book.

But ISBNdb isn't alone. AI-feeding book destruction has happened before, and if the rare books sales spikes also noted in the 404 are to be believed, it may be happening again, right now, with other vendors under other nondisclosure agreements.

All while other less-destructive book scanning options — with less risk of messing up the scanned text — are widely available.

Which AI companies are destroying books?

It has long made sense to train Large Language Models on books. At first, that meant books legally online or in the public domain, such as the contents of Project Gutenberg. But rivalry between OpenAI, Anthropic, and other LLM builders led to a growing temptation to use online collections of pirated books.

We may never know whether OpenAI gave in to that temptation. In 2024, a class-action lawsuit from the Authors Guild found that the company had deleted the database of books it used to train its GPT models, and no one who worked on the database still worked at OpenAI.

But Anthropic was caught, and has admitted to using millions of pirated books to train Claude. That class action lawsuit, in which a record $1.5 billion copyright settlement was just approved, also revealed the scale of Anthropic's physical book-destruction operation.

Anthropic "became convinced that using books was the most cost-effective means to achieve a world-class LLM," wrote U.S. District Judge William Alsup in a lengthy legal order dated June 2025.

The company was "not so gung-ho" about using pirated material from 2024 onwards, to quote a memorable internal email in evidence, but still wanted to train Claude on "all the books in the world."

The result was called Project Panama. Alsup explains: "Anthropic spent many millions of dollars to purchase millions of print books, often in used condition. Its service providers stripped the books from their bindings, cut their pages to size, and scanned the books into digital form — discarding the paper originals."

As a matter of law, Alsup found this book mutilation was "transformative" and fell under the definition of fair use — because of the IRL book destruction, they were effectively exchanging one real-world copy for one digital copy. If Anthropic had ignored pirated databases, bought physical books from the start, then torn them apart in this manner, the authors wouldn't have a case.

But as a PR matter, Alsup's order was a disaster for Anthropic — generating exactly the sort of "AI company destroys millions of books" headlines that ISBNdb was offering to reframe. In court documents, one vendor boasted of its "hydraulic powered cutting machine" and how a recycling company would pick up the remnants.

Is there a better way to scan books? This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The scale and speed of Project Panama, by all accounts, were astonishing. Other court documents say Anthropic sought a vendor to "convert from 500,000 to two million books over a six-month period."

To put that in perspective, around 2 million new books were published each year (again, before the 2022 AI slop book cutoff point). Scanning a year's worth of books via six months of slicing and dicing is a pace at which nondestructive book-scanning methods might struggle to keep up.

Nevertheless, in a world where we're still haunted by Nazi book burnings, as well as by classic dystopian novels of book destruction (Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four), it is the more sensitive nondestructive scanners that maintain the moral high ground.

Take the Internet Archive, a nonprofit that preserves the internet (including those deleted ISBNdb pages) via the Wayback Machine. The archive has been scanning books for years, and in 2021, a tweet about its nondestructive Scribe scanner, above, went viral — in a good way.

The Archive has experimented with scanners where robots turn pages, but found it didn't work for rare books. Instead, every page is turned by hand. The operator in the viral tweet, one of 70 Scribe workers, said she had scanned roughly 18,000 books in 10 years.

As the Scribe was going viral, the Archive celebrated uploading its 2 millionth book — but it had taken 20 years to get there (and would soon face a copyright lawsuit of its own). Sadly, there's no way it can keep pace with a book-slicing automated document feeder.

Instead, it's possible the only thing that might keep AI companies from chopping up books at a rate that would make Bradbury and Orwell spin in their graves is the same thing that made IBSNdb back down: the spotlight of public attention.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 European Athletics Championships for free on BBC iPlayer. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're still a couple of years away from the next quest for Olympic medals, but that doesn't mean the best athletes are just sitting back and relaxing. No, there are PBs to chase, rivals to beat, and world records to set. And some elite athletes will be targeting all of that and more in the 2026 European Athletics Championships.

The Alexander Stadium is welcoming some of track and field's biggest stars this month. The likes of Keely Hodgkinson, Mondo Duplantis, and Femke Bol will be battling it out for places on the podium. And Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen will make his long-awaited return to the track in the 5,000 meters.

If you want to watch the 2026 European Athletics Championships for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What are the European Athletics Championships?

The European Athletics Championships are a biennial track and field event organized by the European Athletics Association. The championships bring together the continent’s best athletes to compete across sprint, distance, field, road, and combined events for medals.

When are the 2026 European Athletics Championships?

The 2026 European Athletics Championships take place from Aug. 10-16 at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, UK.

How to watch the 2026 European Athletics Championships for free

The 2026 European Athletics Championships is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the European Athletics Championships from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 European Athletics Championships by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch the 2026 European Athletics Championships for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the European Athletics Championships without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the entire event before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 European Athletics Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: ChatPlayground gives you lifetime access to dozens of major AI models, and it’s only $59.25 (reg. $619) for life with code AUG25.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $59.25
$619 Save $559.75   Get Deal

AI has so much potential to work quickly, but there are tons of little time-wasters and expensive frustrations. Using multiple models is a good way to produce a lot of work, but it requires you to copy pro pts between tabs and pay separate subscriptions for each model you use. If you want a smarter way to work, ChatPlayground is a new platform that consolidates many of the most popular AI tools, so you can send one prompt to all of them. It’s also only $59.25 (reg. $619) on sale.

ChatPlayground gives you access to GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more, all in one clean interface. It works well for people who iterate fast, test variations, and actually care about optimizing results.

Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.

The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.

Stop paying a separate subscription for AI tools that waste your time.

Use code AUG25 to get lifetime access to ChatPlayground on sale for $59.25. Offer expires Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Lock in a safer internet forever with this lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO, on sale now for only $29.99 (reg. $600) with code Aug25 until Aug. 9.

Opens in a new window Credit: FastestVPN FastestVPN PRO: Lifetime Subscription (15 Devices) $29.99
$600 Save $570.01   Get Deal

You lock your front door, your smartphone, and your laptop — but what are you doing to protect your internet? A VPN is a super easy way to upgrade your cybersecurity with just a few taps.

Right now, you can even snag a lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO for just $29.99 for 15 devices — only $2 each — with code Aug25 until Aug. 9.

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How much is your internet safety worth? We’d venture to bet more than $2, but that’s all it takes with this lifetime FastestVPN PRO subscription. It works on 15 devices and currently costs only $29.99.

FastestVPN PRO lets you enjoy speedier and safer internet without borders. Your real IP address will be hidden from would-be hackers and cybercriminals, while military-grade AES 256-bit encryption protects your info. There’s also an internet kill switch that automatically cuts your connection if your VPN drops.

Choose from over 900 high-speed servers worldwide, allowing you to watch geographically restricted content no matter where you are. You’ll also enjoy 99% uptime and minimal interruptions. FastestVPN PRO’s WireGuard protocol also delivers secure, unhindered speeds over 10 Gbps servers, so you won’t experience buffering.

You don’t just get internet protection with your FastestVPN PRO lifetime subscription; you’ll also get a NAT firewall, an ad blocker, anti-malware software, and a strict no-logging policy so you can rest easy knowing your online activities stay private.

Get this lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO for 15 devices for only $29.99 (reg. $600) with code Aug25 through Aug. 9.

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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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To brag.

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

BOAST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Signaling.

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

CUING

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fine and ___.

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

DANDY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Sibling's daughter.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

NIECE

Final Hurdle hint

A pastime.

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

HOBBY

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

We're getting closer to the New Moon, so the Moon's visibility will drop significantly over the coming nights. Keep reading to find out what, if anything, you can spot tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Aug. 8, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Crescent phase, with 26% of its surface visible.

Without visual aids, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Aristarchus Plateau and the Kepler Crater. Plus, binoculars or a telescope will help you to see the Grimaldi Basin, the Gassendi Crater, and the Mare Humorum.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it orbits Earth, completing one full lunar cycle approximately every 29.5 days, according to NASA. During that journey, the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are constantly shifting, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible from our perspective. That's why we see the familiar sequence of phases, from a slim crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the pattern begins again.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good sense of smell.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Happy sounds

• Green: Communication

• Blue: Eye rhymes

• Purple: Same first words

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Quaint expressions of excitement

• Green: Convey

• Blue: Words abbreviated with letters as homophones

• Purple: Safety ____

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 #1154 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Quaint expressions of excitement: HOT DOG, HURRAH, WHOOPEE, YAHOO

• Convey: COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME, PHRASE

• Words abbreviated with letters as homophones: CUTIE, EASY, EFFECTS, I OWE YOU

• Safety ____: BELT, GOGGLES, PIN, RAZOR

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7, 2026

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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