Mashable

TL;DR: Through Sept. 29, you can score a lifetime subscription to Sticky Password Premium for only £18.77 when you use the code TAKE5 at the Mashable Shop.

Between your email, streaming services, bills, favourite news sites, social media, and all the other websites, apps, and smart home gadgets that want you to make an account, the passwords really start to build up. Keeping track of all those passwords — use a special character, use a number, use a capital letter, solve a riddle — takes work. It's very tempting to write down all your passwords or just re-use the same one over and over, both of which are major cybersecurity mistakes.

The alternative is a lot better: investing in an affordable password manager that lets you create, save, and autofill your login data on all your accounts online. 

Sticky Password Premium gives one user a secure place to update, protect, and share their passwords across all accounts, and you can get a lifetime subscription for only £18.77 (reg. £150.20) until Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Just be sure to use the coupon code TAKE5 during checkout.

Protect your privacy online 

The average person has around 100 passwords. That’s a lot to keep track of and even more to keep secure. A good password manager helps boost your cybersecurity without compromising convenience. 

Here’s how it works. You log in to Sticky Password and input your passwords. Once they’re uploaded, those passwords are available for autofill across all connected devices. Put in your Netflix password on your MacBook and start streaming on your Android. If you choose to save your passwords locally, they’ll be stored on one selected device, but you can share them with others in moments. 

Sticky Password is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. It also supports multiple languages, and your subscription comes with minor and major updates included. You'll even get dark web monitoring for 1 year, so if your security is compromised, you'll know.

Save on a password manager that’s with you for life 

It may seem easier to reuse a couple passwords, but that puts your accounts and identity at risk. Instead, get a password manager that lets you generate new, secure passwords and stores the old ones.

Get a lifetime subscription to Sticky Password Premium on sale for £18.77 (reg. £150.20) until Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Use the code TAKE5 to take advantage of this reduced pricing at the Mashable Shop.

Prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sticky Password Sticky Password Premium: Lifetime Subscription £18.77 at the Mashable Shop
£150.20 Save £131.43 Use code 'TAKE5' Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo. Access Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Manchester City and Arsenal are meeting this weekend in the biggest Premier League fixture of the season so far. Both sides will be desperate to claim all three points and make an early statement of intent in the battle for the title. We can't wait.

If you want to watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester City vs. Arsenal?

Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League kicks off at 4:30 p.m. BST on Sept. 22. This fixture takes place at the Etihad Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal for free

Manchester City vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

Fubo offers coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season in Canada, but anyone can access this package with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo

5. Watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most leading services do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, you can save 49% on the best VPN for live sport.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers in the MLB for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

MLB fans from around the world should stop what they're doing and check out the free schedule of coverage being offered up by BBC iPlayer. This popular streaming platform has lined up an impressive list of fixtures that can be live streamed for free, and you can access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with a simple hack.

If you want to watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers in the MLB for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers?

The fourth game in the Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers series starts at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sept. 22.

How to watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers for free

The fourth game in the Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers series is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock a free live stream of Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers on BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know that the world of motorsports is dominated by conversation around F1, but there is something special happening in the 2024 MotoGP season. Only a few points separate the top riders as we approach the latter stages of the race calendar. Everything is up for grabs as Jorge Martín and Francesco Bagnaia battle it out.

If you're interested in watching the 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix?

The MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix takes place at the Misano Circuit. The 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix race starts at 7 a.m. ET / 12 p.m. BST on Sept. 22.

How to watch the 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for free

Every MotoGP 2024 race is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Connect to ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Arizona Cardinals take on the Detroit Lions in the next NFL fixture. We're expecting a real battle between two evenly-matched teams, both sporting a 1-1 record so far this season.

If you're interested in watching Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cardinals vs. Lions?

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sept. 22. This fixture takes place at the State Farm Stadium.

How to watch Cardinals vs. Lions for free

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries includingNew Zealand

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It is possible to live stream select NFL fixtures without spending anything, including the interesting clash between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.

You don't need to be a tech wiz to unlock these free live streams. You simply need to follow a few steps to bypass geo-restrictions and access free streaming platforms from around the world. Anyone can do it.

If you're interested in watching Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Rams vs. 49ers?

Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sept. 22. This fixture takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch Rams vs. 49ers for free

Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 7plus

5. Live stream Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months of coverage at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third round of NFL fixtures includes some really interesting matchups, including Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans. Both teams go into this clash with perfect records, so something has got to give this weekend.

If you're interested in watching Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Vikings vs. Texans?

Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 22. This fixture takes place at the U.S. Bank Stadium.

How to watch Vikings vs. Texans for free

Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 7plus

5. Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months of coverage at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 22 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I've got you under my skin

These words live within you.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are all related to organs.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is InternalOrgans.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 22

• Lungs

• Brain

• Kidneys

• Stomach

• Liver

• InternalOrgans

• Heart

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.

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 September 22'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 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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 22 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To share knowledge.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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

TEACH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 22'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 deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 21 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Color theory

• Green: Document options

• Blue: Grand prize

• Purple: Bronze

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

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

• Yellow: Color Types

• Green: File Menu Options

• Blue: Chance To Win A Prize

• Purple: What "Bronze" Might Mean

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 #469 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Color Types: GRAYSCALE, NEON, NEUTRAL, PASTEL

• File Menu Options: NEW, OPEN, PRINT, SAVE

• Chance To Win A Prize: DRAWING, LOTTERY, POOL, RAFFLE

• What "Bronze" Might Mean: ALLOY, SCULPTURE, SUNTAN, THIRD

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.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Friday that could entirely reshape how kids in the state use social media. Among the potential changes: A requirement that could effectively reshape the TikTok "For You Page" as minors now know it.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI supports California's AI-watermarking bill

The bill, SB976, is set to take effect in 2027 in the state home to many of tech's biggest companies. There are two major components. One: It would bar social media platforms from providing "addictive feeds" — defined as feeds based on info given by or collected on the user — to minors with parental consent. And two: It would bar social media platforms from sending notifications to minors (sans parental approval) between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., and between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays during the school year.

In short: Minors' feeds would have to be chronological order feeds of people they followed. That would mean, effectively, no more "For You Page" on TikTok or other such algorithmic recommendation-based feeds.

"Every parent knows the harm social media addiction can inflict on their children — isolation from human contact, stress and anxiety, and endless hours wasted late into the night," Newsom said in a statement, via the Associated Press. "With this bill, California is helping protect children and teenagers from purposely designed features that feed these destructive habits."

It should be noted that the law makes the aforementioned actions towards minors illegal "unless the operator does not have actual knowledge that the user is a minor." Which seems to leave some space for minors who get around potential regulations. However, the bill's authors note that the state's attorney general will have to implement age verification and parental consent regulations by 2027, though it remains unclear what those would look like.

Now, of course, TikTok is already engulfed in a legal battle with the U.S. government, so there's a chance it's not even around in the U.S. in 2027. But no matter the social media landscape in a few years, this law would completely shift how the platforms operated.

The L.A. Times reported the bill has "an unusual collection of opponents," including the ACLU of California, Equality California, and associations representing tech giants like TikTok and Meta. While the law would have a massive effect on how kids use social media, it seems reasonable to assume there will be a legal battle between now and 2027.

The trailer for The Wild Robot has reduced me to tears every time I've seen it. What can I say? The idea of a robot finding community in the wilderness was just too much for my heart to handle, even in a three-minute package.

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

It's great news, then, that The Wild Robot delivers on its trailer's promise a thousandfold. Director Chris Sanders, known for Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, has crafted a sweet (and yes, tear-jerking) tale of motherhood and connection, all backed up with some of DreamWorks' most stunning animation to date.

What's The Wild Robot about? Credit: DreamWorks

Based on the novel by Peter Brown, The Wild Robot strands us on a deserted island alongside ROZZUM unit 7134 (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o). Unable to complete tasks for her human owners as her programming demands, ROZZUM — or "Roz" for short — looks to the island's many wild animals to try to fulfill her function.

It quickly turns out that these animals don't love a robot barreling down on them with a cheerful cry of, "Do you need assistance?" No matter that Roz can mimic their movements or understand their language; to the inhabitants of this island, she's a frightening intruder, and is treated as such. Without any understanding of the island's ecosystem, Roz winds up in dust-ups with everyone from thieving raccoons to frightening bears, leaving her dinged up and all alone.

SEE ALSO: 'Flow' review: An animated animal adventure unlike anything you've seen before

Roz's initial isolation opens the floodgates on the first of The Wild Robot many sob-worthy moments. I dare you not to hear her confused plea, "Did anyone order me?" without your heart breaking. Someone help this robot find her purpose, please!

That purpose comes to Roz in the form of an unhatched goose egg, the last survivor of its nest. Once the gosling, named Brightbill (voiced by Heartstopper's Kit Connor), hatches and imprints on Roz, it's up to her to teach him how to swim, eat, and fly in time for migration. But the parenting process proves to be more than just any old menial task, and Roz soon finds herself experiencing thoughts and feelings beyond her programming.

The Wild Robot is a precious exploration of motherhood and community. Credit: DreamWorks

Sanders is no stranger to crafting films that meld the classic fish-out-of-water trope with unlikely friendships. Lilo & Stitch's eponymous human-alien pairing is one of the greats, along with the dragon-rider dynamic between How to Train Your Dragon's Hiccup and Toothless. With Roz and Brightbill inThe Wild Robot, Sanders hits the jackpot once again.

Brightbill and Roz may be a goose and a robot, but so many of their interactions feel true to those between human parents and children. Roz is constantly concerned about doing right by Brightbill — something a wry mother possum named Pinktail (voiced by Catherine O'Hara) tells her is par for the course of parenting. Meanwhile, Brightbill walks the line between wanting independence and worrying about what will happen if he migrates away from Roz. Sure, he and Roz fight in the way that only mothers and teenagers do, but it's clear that they know they're each other's whole world.

SEE ALSO: 'Agatha All Along' review: Kathryn Hahn conjures up pure, witchy fun

That sense of closeness is made all the stronger by the fact that both Roz and Brightbill are viewed as "defective" by members of their own kind. When Roz encounters the occasional other robot, they are confused by her ability to feel at all. For his part, Brightbill takes after his mother, developing a near-robotic voice and punctuating his every move with a whir or beep in order to mimic her, a habit that other geese find off-putting. Of course, in the end, these differences end up being Roz and Brightbill's greatest strengths, a message that, while nothing revolutionary, always bears repeating.

The Wild Robot also widens its scope beyond Roz and Brightbill, showing how Roz relates to the island's other critters. In another one of the film's most touching relationships, Roz relies on conniving fox Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal) for help with Brightbill. His philosophy, like that of many other animals on the island, is that there's one rule to life: Eat, or be eaten. Roz sees things differently, proposing that kindness can be its own survival mechanism. Over the course of the film, Fink and the other animals' outlooks shift from the former to the latter, a testament to Roz's impact on those around her. She's changing the island as much as it is changing her.

Roz is the next great movie robot. Credit: DreamWorks

Roz's ability to bring misfits and entire communities together places her in conversation with other great animated robots in film, like Wall-E and the Iron Giant. So does her individual transformation, which The Wild Robot crafts with tremendous care.

Nyong'o's voice acting is impeccable here, and vital to Roz's journey. At the start of the film, she voices Roz as relentlessly chipper, with a hard robotic edge that mirrors how Roz stands out in an otherwise all-natural environment. As The Wild Robot continues, Nyong'o adds more emotions to Roz's vocal toolbox, letting her get mad, uncertain, and exasperated. The end result is a voice that's full of feeling yet still carries traces of the robotic; it's the culmination of a breathtaking tightrope of a vocal performance.

Nyong'o's work goes hand in hand with Roz's extraordinary design and animation. Her dynamism and versatility as a character — she can be a crab! A lighthouse! A builder! — is matched only by that of the artists who brought her to life. Every scene gives you something new to notice about Roz, whether it's the ever-flickering displays in her eyes or how the light strips along her body convey emotion. Like Nyong'o's performance, Roz's design also charts her arc on the island, with each mechanical injury or occasional plant growth acting as exquisite visual storytelling.

The Wild Robot is a visual marvel. Credit: DreamWorks

Speaking of exquisite, it's impossible to talk about The Wild Robot without highlighting its gorgeous animation. DreamWorks has shifted away from the 3D CGI look somewhat in past years, with a more illustrative style on display in films like The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. For The Wild Robot, Sanders opts for a watercolor-inspired aesthetic, with the film looking like something out of a fairy-tale storybook.

Pristine forests and tidal pools bloom to life on screen, their blue and green hues a sharp contrast to Roz's metal-gray plating and blinking lights. Flocks of geese take flight in a dazzling airborne montage. Roz's bright lights slash through a driving snowstorm. Each image is a marvelous snapshot on its own. But together, they create something wholly incredible, making The Wild Robot an unforgettable viewing experience and a perfect capstone to celebrate DreamWorks' 30th anniversary.

The Wild Robot was reviewed out of its premiere at Fantastic Fest. It hits theaters Sept. 27.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, September 20, 2024:

AcrossCover, as a birthday present

• The answer is Wrap.

Laid-back

• The answer is Chill.

"Hawaii and Tennessee are the only two U.S. states whose names end in doubled letters," e.g.

• The answer is Trivia.

Quit one's job

• The answer is Resign.

"Oliver Twist" novelist

• The answer is Dickens.

"Do unto ___ …" (start of the Golden Rule)

• The answer is Others.

"Bye-bye!"

• The answer is Seeya.

DownWhat Maker's Mark made its mark in

• The answer is Whiskey

Coastal region of southeast France and northwest Italy

• The answer is Riviera.

Puts in a row

• The answer is Aligns.

Social engagements

• The answer is Plans.

Nativity scene

• The answer is Creche.

Lacking originality

• The answer is Trite.

Two, in Tijuana

• The answer is Dos.

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

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

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

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

Elon Musk blinked first in a high-profile game of chicken between the tech billionaire and Brazil's government.

SEE ALSO: Bluesky adds videos to the platform to take on Elon Musk's X

Musk's X quietly complied with demands from Brazil's Supreme Court in a court filing Friday night, the New York Times reported. The hope is Brazil will soon lift its nationwide ban of the social media platform.

Musk publicly feuded with Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who ordered that X take down content that spread fake news and misinformation, saying it was a threat to the country's democracy. Musk and X balked at the Court's demands and refused to pay fines, leading to the website being barred in the entire country.

Now, all of a sudden, Musk has given in, according to the Times. The company's lawyers reportedly noted that X had taken down the accounts in question, paid the required fines, and named a formal representative for the country.

Tweet may have been deleted

The switch marked quite the turnaround from Musk calling Moraes an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge."

It wasn't yet clear why X and Musk had a change of heart — though, obviously, Brazil is a massive market — but whatever the reason, the social media site may soon be back for Brazilians. '

X did not immediately reply to Mashable's request for comment. We will update if we receive a response

Cards Against Humanity — yes, the raunchy, word-based party game — has launched a legal battle against Elon Musk and SpaceX.

CAH, known for its well-meaning publicity stunt, has sued the space company over allegedly using a plot of land in Texas belonging to the game company. In 2017 it fundraised a bunch of money to purchase a plot of land on the Texas-Mexico border, making it impossible for then-President Donald Trump to complete his long-promised border wall.

"Donald Trump is a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans. He is so afraid that he wants to build a $20 billion wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing," the company wrote at the time. "So we’ve purchased a plot of vacant land on the border and retained a law firm specializing in eminent domain to make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built."

Years later that same plot of land is at the center of the company's dispute with Musk and SpaceX. CAH alleged in a lawsuit that SpaceX, which has facilities nearby, has been using the land without permission and leaving materials strewn about.

Wrote the game company in a statement:

"We have terrible news. Seven years ago, 150,000 people paid us $15 to protect a pristine parcel of land on the US-Mexico border from racist billionaire Donald Trump's very stupid wall.

Unfortunately, an even richer, more racist billionaire—Elon Musk—snuck up on us from behind and completely fucked that land with gravel, tractors, and space garbage."

The company promised it would "equally split the lawsuit's net proceeds among all 150,000 of our original subscribers, up to $100 each." It included images of the land, allegedly showing SpaceX materials everywhere.

Wrote CAH:

"How did this happen? Elon Musk’s SpaceX was building some space thing nearby, and he figured he could just dump his shit all over our gorgeous plot of land without asking. After we caught him, SpaceX gave us a 12-hour ultimatum to accept a lowball offer for less than half our land’s value. We said, 'Go fuck yourself, Elon Musk. We’ll see you in court.'"

You can find the company's state and more info, quite funnily, at www.ElonOwesYou100Dollars.com.

The James Webb Space Telescope will soon begin a massive study of rocky worlds outside the solar system, specifically to discover if planets orbiting closely to small cool stars could have air. 

Scientists plan to start with LTT 1445 Ac and GJ 3929 b, and though those exoplanets might not be household names, they are tantalizing subjects, relatively near Earth in space. Each was discovered two years ago using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite while conducting a survey of thousands of stars.

LTT 1445 Ac is roughly the size of Earth and about 22 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. The planet orbits the star LTT 1445 A, part of a trio of red dwarf stars. GJ 3929 b is slightly larger and heavier than Earth, located about 52 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis. 

These two worlds are just the initial targets of a campaign that will take a closer look at a dozen nearby-ish planets over the next two years. The program, first reported by Mashable, will budget about 500 hours for observation with the Webb telescope, along with about 250 orbits of ultraviolet observations with the Hubble Space Telescope to help characterize the host stars' activity. 

SEE ALSO: Scientists haven't found a rocky exoplanet with air. But now they have a plan. In addition to Webb, the new survey will include about 250 orbits of ultraviolet observations by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: Adrian Mann / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images illustration

Jennifer Lotz, who oversees Webb and Hubble's operations at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, initiated the survey using the director's discretionary time, the same way revolutionary science campaigns like the Hubble deep field images came to fruition. 

Most astronomers agree that detecting atmospheres is crucial in the search for habitable worlds. NASA has playfully called Earth's own atmosphere its "security blanket": Without it, the type of life flourishing here wouldn't exist. This cocoon holds oxygen in the air and filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, all while keeping our world warm. Furthermore, it creates pressure that allows liquid water to pool on the surface.

An artist imagines LTT 1445 Ac, an exoplanet about 22 light-years from Earth in a triple red dwarf star system. Credit: NASA / ESA / Leah Hustak illustration

Red dwarf stars, sometimes referred to as M-type stars, are the most common stars within the Milky Way, yet nobody knows whether planets orbiting them can hold onto atmospheres, said Néstor Espinoza, an astronomer heading the program's implementation.

There's a key difference between the first two survey targets and Earth: Both are so close to their stars, their years are only about three Earth-days long. That may not be a problem, given that their host stars aren't as hot as the sun, but could an atmosphere survive the constant barrage of this stellar radiation?

"This is one of those high-risk, high-reward programs," Espinoza told Mashable. "Imagine that for all of the targets, we detect atmospheres. Then you answer the question, 'Yes, atmospheres are very common around these stars. That means maybe life can emerge.' On the other hand, if you found out that none of them have atmospheres, that would be pretty sad, but also pretty interesting. It would mean that our planetary system is actually really, really special."

Apple Watch Series 10 come with new speakers that support music and podcasts for the first time. To dispel any confusion, its predecessor had speakers, too, but only for beeps, tones, and taking calls from loved ones and friends.

The new-generation Apple Watch Series 10, however, can actually play music. The recently dropped smartwatch comes with new sleep apnea monitoring, larger sizes, a thinner chassis, faster charging, brighter, more visible viewing angles, a new titanium casing that echoes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro lines, and stunning new colors — but it's the new music-playing speakers that piqued my interest the most.

Why?

Because when I heard "music-playing Apple Watch," I immediately thought, "OMG, I can take it into the shower with me and blast my favorite tunes!"

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Yes, I'm one of "those people" who brings their phone into the bathroom — and jams out to their favorite Apple Music playlists while standing under the cascading waters of their shower. Sue me! And I know I'm not the only one who does it.

The best solution for music-loving shower takers is waterproof bluetooth speakers — like these JBL speakers from Amazon. But the question is, could the Apple Watch Series 10 serve as an alternative? I put it to the test.

Apple Watch Series 10: How does it fare in the shower?

I set up the Apple Watch Series 10 and eagerly tapped on the Apple Music app.

Apple Watch Series 10 Credit: Rentalhunters/Shutterstock.com

I played a radio station curated just for me and it launched a classical music tune called "Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major" by Yeol Eum Son. Since the Apple Watch Series 10 is so small and compact, I expected a tinny, metallic sound.

To my surprise, the song sounded richer, smoother, and more lush than I thought it'd be. I don't know how I could expect any different. If there's anything Apple gets right, it's nailing warm, full-bodied, balanced audio, whether it's on a MacBook, a pair of AirPods, the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Keep in mind, however, that I tested this in a quiet room, so my expectations were still high going into this quick experiment.

Before hopping the shower, I decided to switch gears and play some Frank Ocean. (Before using your Apple Watch Series 10, I suggest curating a shower playlist so that you can easily play your favorite song right from your wrist.)

I played "Thinking Bout You," swayed to the chill tune, and turned on the faucet to start the shower. I stepped in, but noticed one tiny little problem: the water droplets hitting the shower floor were overpowering Frank Ocean's crooning.

Even when I tried to turn the digital crown to increase the volume to the max, I could barely hear the song while showering. Bummer!

The Watch Series 10's speakers aren't tinny, but they are definitely quiet. So if you had plans of purchasing the Apple Watch Series 10 for shower parties (and yes, you can wet it because it's swimproof), you need to temper your expectations.

It can handle a wide variety of environments, but one that involves loud splashes of water simply isn't one of them.

Apple Watch Series 10: What can I use the music-playing speakers for?

We already established that the Apple Watch Series 10 isn't ideal for dance sessions in the shower, but the question is, what can you use it for? I've compiled a list here:

• A quiet, relaxing bath

• Walking on a treadmill

• Dancing in front of a mirror

• Listening to podcasts in a quiet room

• Sleeping with music that lulls you into a slumber

• Doing chores in a low-noise home

• Floor exercises

You get the picture here.

As long as there isn't any loud noise in your environment, the Watch Series 10 music-playing speakers are pretty good.

For anything else, jogging alongside a clamorous street, for example, or a boisterous room with kids, the smartwatch's quiet tunes won't stand a chance.

The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 and it hit store shelves on Sept. 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rentalhunters/Shutterstock.com Apple Watch Series 10 $399.99 at Amazon
Get Deal

We're small.

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft, barreling through our solar system, recently used Earth's gravity to slingshot to Venus. The spacecraft, now millions of miles away, has looked back home. We're floating in an unconscionably vast black ether.

"These two little marbles we call our cosmic home were photographed by Juice from over 5 million km [3.1 million miles], as the spacecraft waved us goodbye while heading towards Venus," the European Space Agency recently posted online.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

That's Earth on the right, and the moon, about four times smaller, on the left. Even from such a distance, you can make out our planet's dominant clouds.

Earth (on right) and the moon as seen from over 3.1 million miles (over 5 million kilometers) away. Credit: ESA Tweet may have been deleted

Mission planners recently sent the craft by Earth and the moon to exploit our gravity as it zips through space. It will fly by Venus and then Earth twice more, picking up speed as it escapes to the distant, icy solar system. Juice's destination is the Jupiter region, where it will make 35 flybys of three of the gas giant's icy moons.

"This ambitious mission will characterize these moons with a powerful suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments to discover more about these compelling destinations as potential habitats for past or present life," ESA said.

One of the spacecraft's targets, Ganymede, is the largest moon in our solar system — it's even bigger than the planet Mercury. Crucially, Ganymede is stretched and compressed by the nearby massive Jupiter, a process that generates heat (This happens on the ocean moon Europa, too.) "This heat could drive some tectonic activity and provide one of the necessary conditions for life to emerge: a source of energy," ESA explained.

Juice will continue to slingshot by planets in its endeavor to reach deep space. It'll arrive at Jupiter in 2031, but expect more planetary views on the journey there.

This summer NASA's two car-sized labs exploring Mars each discovered rocks that neither mission had seen before, revealing a more diverse history for the planet than previously thought. 

Three major findings happened within the span of seven weeks. The Curiosity rover, which has been climbing a mountain of layered rock, literally stumbled upon pure sulfur, its wheels crushing the material to expose a bed of yellow crystals. It turns out there was a whole beach-like field of these rocks about 55 yards wide. 

In an entirely different region — a dried river channel — its twin, Perseverance, found a rock that scientists say has the most promising signs of ancient Martian life yet, though the sample would need to be shipped back to Earth for confirmation. This groundbreaking detection came shortly after Perseverance spotted a rare anorthosite boulder, which scientists believe could be a chunk of Mars' original crust.  

Despite the two rovers being more than 2,000 miles apart on the Red Planet, their human stewards work within the same building in California. The teams are now sharing a renewed frenzy, scientists told Mashable: After two decades of traversing Mars with various robots, this pair of rovers — controlled from millions of miles away in space — is still uncovering new things to blow their socks off. 

"We'd be running around the hallways all excited about the rocks we found, but then their operations team would say, 'Oh, but we found really cool rocks, too,'" Abigail Fraeman, deputy project scientist on the Curiosity mission, said. "It was just a really joyous summer for us all to be able to celebrate the successes of these missions and to continue to think forward to what we're going to see."

SEE ALSO: NASA's plan to return Martian rocks is in trouble. Could these 7 companies help?

The exceptional summer discoveries have only mounted pressure on the U.S. space agency to solve the problems facing its proposed Mars Sample Return mission, an expensive and technologically complex plan to fly bits of rock, dust, and even air collected by Perseverance back to Earth. 

The mission has been in limbo since a review found it would cost upward of $11 billion and take nearly two decades to achieve. NASA has since engaged the greater aerospace industry for input on how to wrangle in spending and development. Seven companies have suggested a variety of ideas, which Mashable has reported, including repurposing Artemis moon landers and rethinking the last leg of the journey. NASA hasn't yet announced its path forward. 

Casey Dreier, senior space policy adviser for The Planetary Society, said he hopes the recent accomplishments on Mars will galvanize the political support to bring samples home. 

"It's kind of a reminder that no one is going to care if it costs $6 billion or $11 billion if we discover evidence of life beyond Earth for the first time in human history," he told Mashable.

Curiosity and Perseverance, NASA's twin rovers on Mars, found rocks this summer that are revealing the Red Planet as more geologically complex than once thought. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

In almost any imaginable case, a rock sample would have to be brought back to Earth to conclude whether they had evidence of ancient Martians, said Katie Stack Morgan, a deputy project scientist for Perseverance. Based on what scientists know about the planet's history, it's unlikely that life, if there were any, evolved into multicellular organisms. Therefore, the rovers probably won't ever see something as obvious as a fossilized body part. 

But life at the microbial scale does have the ability to leave a mark, albeit something more like a chemical residue than a literal footprint.

"If microbes were present on Mars, their signature left behind in the rock is probably more subtle," Stack Morgan said. 

The Curiosity rover stumbled upon pure sulfur, its wheels crushing the material to expose a bed of yellow crystals. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS Curiosity's discovery of elemental sulfur 

From the get-go, Curiosity has more limitations than Perseverance for finding evidence of life because it wasn't designed for that purpose. Instead, its instruments are tailored to detecting ingredients that life on Earth requires. 

But it's still capable of making significant discoveries on the Red Planet. Finding pure sulfur on May 30, for instance, was a surprise that could have exciting implications. In Gale Crater, where the rover has been exploring, Curiosity is surrounded by plenty of sulfates — that is, rocks that contain sulfur combined with other materials. 

"It's kind of a reminder that no one is going to care if it costs $6 billion or $11 billion if we discover evidence of life beyond Earth for the first time in human history." After inadvertently crushing Convict Lake, a rock containing pure sulfur, Curiosity found others like it, such as this one dubbed Snow Lake. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

But unadulterated sulfur is special. When it is made naturally on Earth, the element is usually associated with superheated volcanic gasses and hot springs. Another way it can form is through interactions with bacteria, though Fraeman emphasizes that what Curiosity found could have formed through a non-biological process.

Still, Fraeman, who got the honor of naming the crushed yellow crystals Convict Lake after a landmark in the Sierra Nevada mountains, said the discovery is a brainteaser for scientists because those rocks don't seem like they should be there.

"We don't think we're anywhere near a volcano where the rover is, so that is a puzzling feature to find in this particular location," she said. 

The Perseverance rover found an exceptional boulder on Mars, thought to be an anorthosite. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU Perseverance's discovery of an anorthosite boulder

Just three days earlier on May 27, Perseverance found a light speckled boulder about 18 inches wide and 14 inches tall in Jezero Crater. The rover team named it Atoko Point after a landmark in the Grand Canyon. 

Though such anorthosite rocks are on the moon and in mountain ranges on Earth, they're generally considered rare in the solar system. True Martian examples have eluded researchers up until now, including within our inventory of Red Planet meteorites. 

Anorthosites are primarily made of feldspar, a mineral linked to lava flows. Some scientists think the rock may have formed in magma below ground and was later blasted to the surface by a giant impact. Others think it could have formed somewhere else on the planet and was carried to its location by a gushing ancient river. 

This discovery could bolster the idea that Mars' early crust was more complex than once thought — and perhaps similar to Earth's original crust. Understanding the ancient Martian surface also could help unlock secrets about the evolution of Earth and how life emerged here. 

NASA provides an annotated close-up look at the Cheyava Falls rock, which scientists say is the most compelling case study so far that ancient microbial life may have emerged on Mars. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech Perseverance's discovery of a potential biosignature

Regardless of the rovers' extraordinary finds in the early part of the summer, they were vastly eclipsed by a veiny, leopard-spotted rock found in mid-July. Though NASA stopped short of claiming Perseverance had found evidence of past Martian life, the rover's instruments detected organics within the rock that are, at the least, building blocks for life in this world. 

Dubbed Cheyava Falls, the arrowhead-shaped rock, measuring about three feet by two feet, also bears signs of water having run through it and a potential source of nutrients: The rock's spots were caused by a type of chemical reaction that can yield different minerals. On Earth, microbes can feed off those chemical reactions and sometimes even cause them to occur. 

Though Cheyava Falls' splotches could have formed in non-biological ways, they are usually linked to subsurface microbes from long ago when they are found on Earth. 

Perseverance scientists say they've exhausted what they can learn about the rock with the instruments on the rover. Back home, researchers could use advanced tools to search for complex organic molecules, DNA, cell structures, and beyond to determine whether it indeed contains evidence of past Martian life. 

But without a sample return mission, scientists say it's unlikely they'll get beyond where they are today in their understanding of the Red Planet's past habitability: At one point, it had conditions for life to emerge. So did it?

"It's like we know all the ingredients to make the cookies are out on the table," Fraeman said, "And the question is do we actually have the cookies baked?"

A NASA probe, the length of a basketball court, is headed to the tantalizing world Europa.

Planetary scientists are confident this moon of Jupiter harbors a deep ocean. A looming question is whether it hosts the ingredients and conditions to support life. With around 50 close flybys of the planet, the sizable craft — the largest probe NASA has ever built for a planetary science mission — intends to find Europa's answer.

"It's perhaps one of the best places beyond Earth to look for life in our solar system," Cynthia Phillips, a NASA planetary geologist and project staff scientist for the space agency's Europa Clipper mission, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

The mission's launch opportunity window opens soon, on Oct. 10, where it will blast off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If NASA finds that Europa is a habitable world, a second Europa mission will return, this time landing there to see if it's inhabited.

A graphic comparing the size of the Europa Clipper spacecraft to a basketball court. Credit: NASA Why the Europa Clipper spacecraft is so big

Europa Clipper, over 100 feet (30.5 meters) long, is big because it needs to generate solar power in deep space. And the Jupiter region only receives three to four percent of the sunlight that Earth receives. Hence the long wings, or arrays.

"You just need these giant solar arrays in order to power all your instruments," Phillips explained. "We're talking about a huge expanse of solar arrays."

Capturing loads of the distant sunlight will create some 700 watts of electricity, which is "about what a small microwave oven or a coffee maker needs to operate," NASA explains. But the craft also carries batteries to help power a host of moon-sleuthing instruments.

"I'm really excited about this payload that we're bringing to Europa," Phillips said.

"I'm really excited about this payload that we're bringing to Europa."

An ice-penetrating radar will look beneath the moon's icy, cracked crust. It will see how this icy subsurface is composed, and possibly, possibly, detect where the ice meets the ocean. (Europa's ice shell is likely some 10 to 15 miles, or 15 to 25 kilometers, thick.) This radar could detect about half a mile deep, or it could be much more — that depends on how fractured the ice is and the purity of the ice (a fractured subsurface, for example, means the radar signal will bounce around more, as opposed to penetrating down). There's potential, however, that the radar will infiltrate a whopping 19 miles (30 kilometers) down.

One of Europa Clipper's wings extended at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA The Europa Clipper's SUrface Dust Analyzer, or SUDA, which will scoop up particles blasted into space around the moon. Credit: NASA / CU Boulder / Glenn Asakawa

In addition to a suite of specialized cameras, Europa Clipper also carries an instrument called the SUrface Dust Analyzer, or SUDA, that will literally sample particles of Europa that have been ejected into space by tiny meteorites. "Micrometeorites constantly blast fragments of Europa’s surface into space," NASA explains. "The ejecta are individually small, but scientists estimate that half a ton (about 500 kilograms) of Europa’s surface material floats above the moon at all times."

One of the most exciting opportunities of the mission — though far from guaranteed — is the craft potentially flying through a water-ice plume blasted out from Europa's surface. This would allow the instruments exquisite insight into Europa's interior.

"We would love to fly through a plume," Curt Niebur, Europa Clipper's program scientist, said at a press conference leading up to the mission's launch.

"We would love to fly through a plume."

Plumes or not, mission scientists believe that some 50 close flybys of the surface will provide ample observations to prove whether or not Europa could harbor life. Sure, it almost certainly has water. But all life needs energy: Does this ocean world provide an energy source? And does it harbor the basic chemical ingredients, like carbon, to form the building blocks of life as we know it?

And, if all those conditions are satisfied, is there evidence the ocean has been around for billions of years, providing a stable environment for life to evolve and sustain itself in Europa's dark sea?

Why scientists think Europa has an ocean

The Europa Clipper mission is an expensive science endeavor, costing some $5 billion. But NASA is confident this Jovian moon harbors an intriguing sea perhaps twice the volume of all Earth's seas.

Why?

"It's a great detective story," Phillips said.

"It's a great detective story."

In 1979, the Voyager 2 spacecraft captured the first detailed views of Europa, showing a surface dominated by crisscrossing cracks. And many of these lines were reddish, suggesting that something below the surface welled up to fill them. Planetary scientists also knew that as Europa swings by the gravitationally powerful gas giant Jupiter, its interior gets stretched and pulled, a process that produces heat on a world. This tugging could have provided heat on Europa for billions of years.

"This made Europa really, really interesting," Phillips noted.

An artist's conception of the ocean, and geothermal energy sources, that could exist beneath Europa's thick ice crust. Credit: NASA Europa's surface as captured by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. Credit: NASA

Then, in the 1990s, NASA's Galileo mission captured legendary views of Europa's chaotic, ridged surface — suggesting there was water near the top. What's more, the spacecraft detected a strong magnetic signal from the moon. Saltwater, a really good magnetic conductor, could have provided this signal.

"Galileo showed Europa was even more interesting than suspected," Phillip said.

"It's a great detective story."

The evidence only mounted. On multiple occasions, the Hubble Space Telescope spotted evidence that plumes of water erupted 125 miles (200 kilometers) above Europa's surface. It all added up. "There is very likely a subsurface ocean on Europa," Phillips said.

And if it's remained somewhat stable for many eons, it could harbor conditions suitable for life to develop. We won't know, until we get there in 2030.

"This is a voyage into the unknown," said Nicola Fox, who heads NASA's Science Mission Directorate.