Mashable

TL;DR: Learn how to use ChatGPT, Gemini, DALL-E, and more AI tools with this $24.97 (reg. $790) online learning bundle on sale.

You deserve a personal assistant, but unless you’re Elon Musk, you probably can’t afford one. AI might just be the next best thing. It can help you write a good resume, brainstorm ideas for your blog, or generate logos for your business, all for next to nothing or free.

Not sure how to use AI or where to start? These online courses are an excellent place to begin, and they’re on sale for $24.97 (reg. $790) for a limited time.

Transform your workflow with new tips and tricks

You might start by learning ChatGPT, one of the most widely used AI chatbots on the web. GPT-3.5 is the free version you can access online, like through your web browser. You’ll interact with it just like you would Google. Try asking it for help with your resume (though it can’t get you a coffee). 

The course shows you techniques for using the chatbot, like how to phrase your prompt to get the best responses. You’ll quickly learn that AI tools have limitations; for example, no matter how often you ask Gemini (Google’s AI) not to do something, it may do it anyway (we’re speaking from experience here). 

Generating logos with AI

Your instructor, Eduonix Learning Solutions, also covers generating AI images and logos with DALL-E. Instead of having to hire a designer or try your hand at creating your own, you could see what AI comes up with for your business. You might be surprised with how much you like its creation.

With tools for both writing and graphics, you could get assistance for creating whole articles, social media posts, or presentations. However, the key word here is assistance — everything AI-generated should go past a human editor.

Make your dream AI personal assistant come to life with this ChatGPT, Gemini, and DALL-E training bundle, only on sale for $24.97 (reg. $790) for a little while longer.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eduonix Learning Solutions The 2024 Complete ChatGPT & Gemini AI Advanced E-Degree $24.97 at The Mashable Shop
$790.00 Save $765.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: If you need high-quality scans anywhere, anytime, get SwiftScan VIP. A lifetime subscription to this iOS and Android compatible OCR scanner is only $59.99. 

The back-to-school season is coming up fast, but there's still plenty of time to prepare. If you're still cleaning the papers out of your desk, help this year go differently by getting a scanner that makes short work of digitizing your notes, documents, and even pages from books. 

SwiftScan is a simple scanner for iOS or Android devices that produces high-quality scans in seconds. Normally, a lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP would be $199, but you can get one on sale for $59.99. 

How is SwiftScan different from other scanners?

In the grand colosseum of scanners and scanner apps, SwiftScan may come out on top for a few reasons. First, if you're comparing SwiftScan to a desktop scanner, the app is a great find on price alone. Sure, it can't print your scans like a physical scanner could, but it also doesn't take any desk space and doesn't require expensive ink to access half its functions. 

When it comes to scanning capabilities, the app captures premium quality scans starting at 200 dpi, and it even automatically enhances scan quality with color filters and auto-optimization. Trembly hands? There's blur reduction. Once you've scanned your documents, you can save them as a PDF or JPEG. The app also lets you do multi-page scans. Combine that with the OCR capabilities, and you can turn a few pages of your textbook into a scan you can search. You can even annotate your documents, add signatures, redact text, or reorder pages. 

Don't worry. All those documents don't need to take up your phone's limited memory. SwiftScan integrates with cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox, so you can save or scare your scans seamlessly. Kicking it old school? This scanner can even send a fax. 

Save 70 percent

Get a scanner that doesn't take up any extra room in your office or dorm. 

Get a Lifetime Subscription to SwiftScan VIP for $59.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Maple Media SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime Subscription $59.99 at The Mashable Shop
$199.99 Save $140.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get the KeySmart® AirFlex 5-key organizer with an AirTag slot for $14.99 to keep your keys tidy and trackable.

Misplaced keys are a sometimes daily hassle, but this product offers a simple solution. With room for five keys and a dedicated slot for your Apple AirTag, this sleek organizer keeps everything neat and easily accessible. Whether you're heading to the gym or exploring the city, your keys stay secure and trackable. For a limited time, you can get the KeySmart® Air 5-Key and Apple AirTag Organizer on sale for $14.99 (reg. $19).

The KeySmart AirFlex has a minimalistic design that's crafted from durable materials and won't weigh you down. It's made of soft-touch silicone and is water-resistant (so you don't have to worry about your AirTag getting wet in the rain). You can also use it with MultiTool or SafeBlade.

Ideal for the on-the-go urbanite, this organizer brings order to your chaotic key collection. When you're running around from place to place, the KeySmart AirFlex is the perfect companion to keep you on track.

This clever organizer combines function and style to make your daily routine smoother! 

Score the KeySmart® AirFlex 5-key organizer with an AirTag slot on sale for 25% off at $14.99 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart® Air 5-Key & Apple AirTag Organizer $14.99 at The Mashable Shop
$19.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get 1TB of lifetime cloud storage with FolderFort for $69.99 and secure your family's digital memories.

Keeping track of all your photos, videos, and important documents can be a real headache, between your phone, computer, and your other devices.

That’s where FolderFort comes in with its 1TB Storage Pro Plan, offering lifetime access to a massive amount of secure cloud storage for $69.99, great for individuals and families who need a reliable place to store their growing digital collections.

With 1TB of storage, you can hold about 200,000 photos, millions of text documents, or hundreds of hours of video. This means you’ll have plenty of space to keep all your precious memories and important files in one secure location, unlike many other restrictive cloud storage subscriptions like Google Drive or Dropbox. Whether it's family photos, videos, or work documents, FolderFort makes sure they’re protected and easily accessible.

With encryption and BackBlaze security features, your data is safe and sound. Plus, the user-friendly interface and cross-platform accessibility make it easy for everyone in your family to access and share files, no matter what device they’re using.

And if your storage needs grow — like when your sister has a baby or your cousin gets a new dog — FolderFort offers scalable options to upgrade your plan anytime. You’ll always have the space you need for your ever-expanding digital life.

Until September 3, get a lifetime subscription to 1TB of FolderFort Cloud Storage on sale for $69.99 (reg. $251).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $69.99 at The Mashable Shop
$251.64 Save $181.65 Get Deal

TL;DR: Beginners can fly comfortably with the 4K Dual-Camera Drone with built-in obstacle avoidance and adaptive LEDs to help you fly at night, on sale now for $64.97 (reg. $119.99). 

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 4K Dual-Camera Drone for Beginners with Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance $64.97 at The Mashable Shop
$119.99 Save $55.02 Get Deal

Whether you're getting into nature photography or just want to explore the trails from above, your first impulse when drone shopping may be to go for the biggest, fanciest model with all the bells and whistles. While that might get you an awesome machine, you might end up sharing it with a tree. 

When you're just learning how to fly quadcopters, it's a good idea to go for a simple, reliable drone that can help you learn while also giving you the opportunity for some seriously cool pictures and videos. The 4K Dual-Camera Drone is a beginner-friendly quadcopter with intelligent obstacle avoidance, and it's also on sale for $64.97 — a 45% discount. 

Save on a beginner-friendly drone

This drone goes easy on beginners while still offering a lot to experienced flyers. Look ahead to the horizon or stare straight down from 200m in the air. This 4K Dual-Camera Drone is equipped with an HD 4K front camera that supports a 90-degree remote control angle and a 120-degree wide-angle bottom camera, so you have quite a few viewing options from above. Both cameras stream directly to your phone while it's connected to the drone controller. You can even fly at night and spot your drone in the dark with the built-in LED lights that adjust according to their environment. 

Take advantage of Intelligent functions like 360-degree flip, fixed-point flight, and gravity control to take your flight beyond simple maneuvers. Inexperienced pilots, take some comfort that the three-way obstacle avoidance system helps keep you from an untimely landing. Speaking of landings, there's even a one-key start and stop feature that makes the most stressful parts of the flight a breeze. 

Prepare for takeoff

No flight school is required to enjoy your time in the sky with this beginner-friendly 4K camera drone. Get the 4K Dual-Camera Quadcopter Drone for Beginners for only $64.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

The Dan Stevens–fronted new horror-thriller, Cuckoo, has a big reveal that's proven to be quite divisive among critics. On the surface, the movie appears to be the story of a young woman being chased by a monster. But by the final act, Cuckoo has morphed into something far stranger and more complicated. 

Written and directed by Tilman Singer, the film follows 17-year-old American Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), who’s just moved to a resort in Bavaria with her father, Luis (Márton Csókás), stepmother, Beth (Jessica Henwick), and 8-year-old stepsister, Alma (Mila Lieu). While her parents are employed in helping the owner, Herr König (Stevens), expand his development, Gretchen is chased by a hooded woman who repeatedly attacks her. But no one believes her, so she's forced to investigate the mystery of the hooded woman largely on her own. What she uncovers may leave some viewers scratching their heads.  

Let’s dive into the secrets and spoilers of Cuckoo.

Cuckoo's confusing opening scene is a clue.  Dan Stevens plays Herr König in "Cuckoo." Credit: Neon

Before the film introduces Gretchen and her family, it begins in an unrelated unhappy household. A man and woman argue in German, while in a nearby bedroom, a teen girl — presumably their daughter — twitches violently on her bed. There are no subtitles, so English-speakers are left wondering what they’re arguing about. But the loud noise that follows needs no translation. A thick thud, the sound of a blunt object, implies one parent killed the other — followed by the sounds of the man crying. In a panic, the girl runs into the night. As we learn later, this is not an average girl, but an entirely different species that König is dedicated to preserving.

This frightening opening only fits into place when the man reappears as one of the cops who works with König to help preserve the mysterious species. When König says on the phone, "You lost your adolescent already? This will complicate matters. A young one is on the way, but the mother will be harder to control without a nestling around,” he is presumably talking to this man from the intro, the teen's father.

After Gretchen is attacked by the hooded woman, we see the same cop visit her in the hospital to question her. Then, later, he appears in König’s villa, confirming a conspiracy between the resort owner and the local police. This could mean that the argument at the beginning involved the cop's wife discovering the truth about her daughter's origins, and suggests the officer killed his wife to keep König’s secret. That’s the length this creepy crew will go to to maintain this species: They’re willing to kill for it.

Why is the hooded woman chasing Gretchen? Hunter Schafer stars as Gretchen in "Cuckoo." Credit: Neon

The hooded woman is the "mother" König refers to on the phone. She and the "adolescent" are part of a cuckoo-like humanoid species, which implants its "eggs" in the "nest" of a human host. And, like the birth mom was perceived as a threat by König's crony, Gretchen is perceived as a threat by the hooded woman to her offspring, the stepsister Alma. Or, as König puts it later, Gretchen is “competing for resources with her offspring.” 

Gretchen’s family has been summoned to Bavaria to ensure Alma’s growth and development. But Gretchen wasn't supposed to be here in Bavaria. The untimely death of her mother left her with her father and his new family. While she grapples with grief, her parents barely notice her, as they’re increasingly worried about her younger sister Alma’s health. Since they've gotten to Bavaria, Alma has suffered inexplicable seizures. 

During the family's arrival at the resort, Singer drops a hint about Alma's origins. Greeting the family, König says to her father and stepmother: “You two lovebirds stumbled into my nest almost eight years ago to the day, and I believe there were more than just architectural plans conceived.” This line explains their affection for König’s resort — it's where they honeymooned! And it's the clue that Alma is tied to this place.

This also explains why König and his conspirators at the hospital and in the police force are so dismissive of Gretchen's talk of the hooded woman. They know she's telling the truth, but they see Gretchen as a barrier to Alma’s development. As Dr. Bonomo (Proschat Madani) explains, contact between Alma and her biological mother is essential to accelerating Alma’s abilities and physical development. Gretchen stands in the way of the two uniting, as she is the only one calling out the bizarre behavior of König and his crew.

What is the creature at the center of Cuckoo? Jessica Henwick plays Gretchen's stepmother in "Cuckoo." Credit: Neon

As the title suggests, the species has a lot in common with the "common cuckoo." König is a passionate ornithologist and a big fan of this particular bird. As he drives Gretchen to his villa, she notices a picture of a cuckoo bird taped on his dashboard, as well as a cuckoo key ring. “Magnificent creature,” König says of the bird. “Common, but its behavior is not. Its nature is quite remarkable. A nature modern man destroys by disregard. Some species need our help to reproduce. I’m a preservationist, you know.” 

Turns out, König isn’t really talking about cuckoo birds. His love nest resort has been created as a breeding ground for this humanoid cuckoo creature, which has a strange ability to assault humans through sound. “These creatures can’t speak like you or I,"  König explains, "When trained, their song can be dizzyingly persuasive." That “song” is the scream that effectively paralyzes those who can hear it — and can cause manipulations of time, creating a short time-loop repeating a few seconds over, allowing the creature to get closer. König helps as well, providing wigs and clothes to the creatures that hide their more eye-catching features. They largely look human, and all present as female. However, their large eyes, pinched faces, and balding scalps might catch the attention of the visiting tourists/victims. So a wig, rain jacket, and goggles can help in hiding them in plain sight. 

What is the laying ceremony? Greta Fernández plays Trixie in "Cuckoo." Credit: Neon

When couples come to König's resort, the hooded woman comes in ahead of presumed fornication to lay her egg. The cuckoo woman sneaks into the cabin, using her hypnotizing scream to knock the human woman unconscious, and the male is paralyzed and ultimately unable to remember what’s happened. This is why Alma's parents have only fond memories of their visit to the Lover's Nest cabin. After the hooded woman left, they had sex and got pregnant with no idea they were carrying another's child. 

The ceremony itself is disgusting to watch. In a squat, the hooded woman pulls from her crotch a clump of slimy vaginal discharge. Having used her scream to paralyze the human female, she presumably inserts this cuckoo goo into the woman's uterus. When the male human’s sperm fertilizes the cuckoo woman’s egg, all inside the human woman, this turns the human mother into a surrogate, which is similar to how cuckoo birds operate. They place their eggs in the nests of other birds, allowing those birds to foster and raise their chicks. 

There were hints to Alma's big reveal. 

Alma cannot speak like her human family does, and so relies on a type-to-talk device to help her communicate. We later learn her inability to vocalize is something she shares with her biological mother and the unnamed adolescent from the first scene. 

The seizures are another clue, as the call of the hooded woman has a dramatic effect on Alma's body that's different from her victims. Are the violent seizures proof that proximity to her biological mother is causing Alma to transform? It's unclear, but these fits could explain why Alma has evolved to emit her own song by film's end. Then there's the special attention König pays to Alma, overseeing her upbringing closely, giving her gifts, and advising on her medical care. 

Why did Gretchen save Alma? Gretchen and Trixie work reception. Credit: Neon

At the beginning of the film, you’d imagine Gretchen wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice Alma for her own survival; she’s regularly frustrated with Alma demanding everyone’s attention and is quick to point out that she’s not her real sister. But after hearing a voice message Alma left on Gretchen's mother's voicemail, she discovers that Alma cares for her older sister deeply, and it changes her entire outlook. Gretchen’s going to get Alma the hell out of Bavaria, whether she’s the same species or not (and she isn’t). By the final showdown against König, Gretchen has finally accepted Alma as family, a big shift from her vehemently denying any ties to Alma when speaking to resort coworker Trixie earlier in the film. 

The film's climax brings Gretchen to the hospital where Alma is being guarded by König's conspirators. However, Gretchen manages to outwit both König, who'd keep Alma to make her a monster, and Henry (Jan Bluthardt), a past victim of the hooded woman, who wants her offspring dead. Their only path out is in the line of fire of both König and Henry, who stand on either side of them. As the men prepare to shoot, Alma takes things into her own hands, covering her sister's ears before letting out her species' paralyzing scream, leaving both men unable to act as they escape. 

As Gretchen and Alma make it out of the room, Henry and König shoot each other. The sisters leave the hospital and find Ed (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), who'd hooked up with Gretchen earlier in the movie, by her car, and she drives them to safety. Alma’s ear continues to twitch in the car – a reminder that she’s not human. But since her cuckoo development requires her to be in close proximity to her biological mother/the hooded woman — who by this point has been killed by Gretchen — maybe, just maybe, Alma will have a chance to be more human.

Cuckoo opens in theaters Aug. 9.

The best deals for watching 'A Quiet Place: Day One' online: Best Paramount+ deal Paramount+ Essential annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $59.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal Best third-party streaming deal Free Paramount+ with Walmart+ membership free 30-day trial, then $98/year Get Deal Best ad-free Paramount+ deal Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $119.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal Best streaming deal for students Paramount+ for students $4.50/month (save 25%) Get Deal Best way to watch ASAP Rent or buy 'A Quiet Place: Day One' on Prime Video $18.49 or $23.49 with Prime (save $1.50) Get Deal

Curious how the apocalyptic world in A Quiet Place came to be? Following the success of the first two films, the hit horror franchise has expanded with a prequel dubbed A Quiet Place: Day One. John Kransinski, who directed and starred in the first two films, is no longer involved in the latest, sans a "story by" writing credit. Day One instead is written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, who brought us the unique Nic Cage culinary thriller Pig in 2021. The cast is led by Lupita Nyong'o (Us), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), Djimon Hounsou, reprising his role from A Quiet Place Part II, and a very cute cat.

A Quiet Place: Day One debuted in theaters in late June and has already made its way to digital on demand services just over a month later. We're still waiting on an official streaming date, but here's how you can watch it at home in the mean time — as well as everything else you need to know.

What is A Quiet Place: Day One about?

Day One takes place in one of the loudest places on Earth: New York City. So, what happens when noise-sensitive aliens crash land in the city that never sleeps? Chaos. That's the main premise of the apocalyptic alien prequel.

The story follows Sam (Nyong'o), a terminally ill hospice patient who reluctantly agrees to take a trip into Manhattan only to find herself stuck in the city when the horrifying extraterrestrials take over. As she navigates the alien apocalypse, Sam and her service cat Frodo attract the attention of a young law student named Eric (Quinn). The odd couple (and the cat) embark on a journey through the city swarming with aliens and their only hope for survival is to remain absolutely silent.

Check out the official trailer for a better idea of what Day One is all about:

Is A Quiet Place: Day One worth watching?

Listen, prequels are hard to get right — and they're bound to ruffle some feathers. With an 86 percent critic rating and a 73 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, A Quiet Place: Day One mostly got it right.

Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko thought parts of the film were enchanting. She appreciated the "captivating screen presence" of Nyong'o and Quinn, but felt that "the love story at its core can't shine amid the required carnage and urban devastation demanded by the prequel's promise." Thus, the film as a whole didn't quite equal the sum of its parts.

However, with the largely positive critic ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, many others felt that the prequel did hold up. That's the best thing about movies — everyone can form their own opinion. For what it's worth, horror master Stephen King gave it his stamp of approval.

Read our full review of A Quiet Place: Day One.

How to watch A Quiet Place: Day One at home

Just a little over a month after A Quiet Place: Day One made its theatrical debut, it became available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video and Apple TV+. You can now purchase the film for your own digital library or rent it for 30 days. Something to keep in mind: once you start watching a rental, you'll have just 48 hours to finish it before you lose access. If you'd rather wait and stream Day One, keep reading to learn more.

As of Aug. 2, you can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — $18.49 to rent with Prime, $23.49 to buy with Prime

• Apple TV — $19.99 to rent, $24.99 to buy

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — $19.99 to rent, $24.99 to buy

• Google Play — $19.99 to rent, $24.99 to buy

Is A Quiet Place: Day One streaming?

While there has been no official announcement regarding the streaming date of A Quiet Place: Day One, we know it will eventually make its debut on Paramount+. Paramount theatrical releases typically head straight to the streaming counterpart after they run in cinemas. Conveniently, A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II are both streaming on Paramount+ as well, so you can watch the entire franchise with a single subscription.

Stay tuned for the official announcement in the coming months. If you want to prepare, you can sign up for a Paramount+ subscription ahead of time. Monthly subscriptions start at just $5.99, but there are also some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best Paramount+ streaming deals below.

The best Paramount+ streaming dealsMost affordable: Get a free 7-day trial, then one month of Paramount+ Essential for just $5.99 Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential Free 7-day trial, then $5.99/month Get Deal

Want to spend the least amount of money possible to watch A Quiet Place: Day One and its predecessors? Your best bet is to wait until the official streaming date drops and sign up for a month of Paramount+ Essential for just $5.99. If you're new to the streamer, you'll also get a seven-day free trial. After you watch, just be sure to cancel your subscription if you want to avoid charges. You'll have to endure some ads while you watch the movie, but just think of them as built-in snack and bathroom breaks.

Best long-term deal: Save 17% on a Paramount+ Essential annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $59.99/year (save 17%) Watch Now

If you opt for the annual plan instead of the monthly plan, you can save 17% on your subscription. You'll have to pay more upfront, but it pays off in the grand scheme of your streaming lineup. An annual Paramount+ Essential plan will run you $59.99 per year, which breaks down to only $5 per month as opposed to $5.99 per month. If you want to watch more than just Day One and you don't mind ads, this is your best bet.

Best deal for no ads: Save 17% on a Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ with Showtime Paramount+ with Showtime Free 7-day trial, then $11.99/month or $119.99/year Watch Now

If ads are a deal breaker for you, you'll have to sign up for Paramount+ with Showtime. This ad-free tier will run you either $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year (which breaks down to just $10 per month). The good news is that beyond just giving you access to ad-free Paramount+ content, the extra cost unlocks access to Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse), live TV with CBS, and college football. Although you'll have to pay more, it's definitely a whole lot of bang for your buck.

Best deal for students: Save 25% on Paramount+ Essential Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential for students $4.50/month (save 25%) Watch Now

College students can score a Paramount+ Essential monthly subscription for just $4.50 per month, so long as they can verify their student status using SheerID. Once verified, student discounts are valid for four years, even if you graduate prior to the four-year period. After four years, you'll be charged the standard rate for an Essential monthly subscription.

Best third-party deal: Get Paramount+ for free with a Walmart+ membership Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart / Paramount Walmart+ membership Free 30-day trial, then $98/year Watch Now

It may not be the simplest way to watch A Quiet Place: Day One, but a Walmart+ membership gives you free access to Paramount+ and plenty of other sweet benefits. Better yet, you can kick things off with a free 30-day trial, so you can enjoy an entire month of streaming without paying a cent. Just sign up once the official streaming date is announced and be sure to cancel before your trial ends if you want to avoid charges. If you want to keep your Walmart+ membership going, it'll cost you either $12.95 per month or $98 per year ($8.17/month).

Mercury is a little-known, still mysterious world.

But one thing is certain. Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, can't actually travel backward in retrograde, and doesn't impact us on Earth. The notion of Mercury retrograde, a common reference in astrology wherein communication and travel are temporarily impaired, can, of course, be a fun musing. The event occurs when Mercury appears to start traveling the opposite direction in the sky.

But this is perceptive trickery. Mercury retrograde is apparent motion, such as when you pass a speeding car on the highway and it appears that car is moving backward. It's not an exceptional, or momentous, event.

"There's nothing unusual about it," Tansu Daylan, a physicist at Washington University in St. Louis who leads NASA telescope observations, told Mashable.

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

It happens so regularly — three or four times a year — that some people easily associate events (misunderstandings or travel woes) with the event. "People are actively searching for connections," Daylan said.

What causes Mercury retrograde

From our perspective, the planets, including Mercury, move west to east across the night sky, relative to the stars. Greek and Roman astronomers, in fact, referred to planets as "wandering stars."

If you, hypothetically, could look down on the sun from above, you would see the planets orbiting counterclockwise. This creates the easterly movement, from our perch on Earth. But this changes when two planets become aligned as they orbit the sun, Daylan emphasized. Then, an inner planet (Mercury) moves faster than an outer planet (like Earth), resulting in "apparent retrograde motion" — apparent because Mercury, speeding around our star at over 100,000 mph, does not suddenly start traveling backwards.

The NASA graphic below illustrates apparent retrograde motion, using Mars and Earth. A planet's appearance in the sky can change when planets align or one "overtakes" another, but the actual orbits don't change.

A depiction of apparent retrograde motion. Credit: NASA Mercury's southern hemisphere, as captured by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft. Credit: NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington

Mercury retrograde lasts for a few weeks at a time, so don't be surprised to hear how it's connected to a multitude of events. Tellingly, it most recently started again on Aug. 5, 2024 — after the global Crowdstrike disruption.

Though we know Mercury's orbit isn't doing anything strange in our solar system throughout the year, it will remain a world of mysteries. It's a planet that's difficult to observe from Earth, because of its proximity to the sun. "That means it can be spotted only briefly shortly before sunrise and just after sunset, and always appears close to the horizon," the European Space Agency explains. What's more, it's extremely challenging to reach — any spacecraft endeavoring there must contend with the sun's overpowering gravity. That's why Mercury is the least visited of the other inner planets. And, it's precarious to get too close to Mercury because the searing planet's surface, hot enough to melt lead, radiates heat into space. The ongoing BepiColombo mission is designed to resist these extremes as it makes unprecedented observations.

Planetary scientists hope to soon answer many questions about Mercury: Is there water? Is it geologically active? How did it get so close to the sun?

But, at least, its strange apparent motion is well understood.

"There's nothing fancy about it," Daylan said.

Would it surprise you to learn that Pornhub is the seventh most-visited website in the world?

That's according to SEMRush, a popular web analytics company. In total, Pornhub saw more than 5.2 billion visits in May 2024, including over 1 billion visits from U.S. viewers. Pornhub is also a really sticky website, with 80 percent of visitors staying on the site to view multiple pages.

People in the United States aren't the only ones watching a lot of porn, either. Users in Indonesia, Brazil, and France (of course) also love visiting the hub.

So, if you like porn, you’re definitely not alone. But if you’re interested in going beyond the world of pornography and trying out some of your fantasies IRL, then Pornhub alternatives like NSFW dating sites can help you find a like-minded playmate.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock and watch Pornhub for free

Whether you’re looking to explore your kinky fantasies, make a lasting romantic connection, or just want to hook up, there's a little something for everyone on this list. These sites aren't perfect, and some of them get pretty raunchy. But if you're tired of getting off all by your lonesome (goon caves can get pretty lonely), then you try some of our favorite X-rated dating sites as an alternative to Pornhub. Here's the scoop on what you're getting yourself into.

The lowdown on NSFW dating sites

Keep in mind that “dating” on NSFW sites like Grindr, Sniffies, and AdultFriendFinder is about as subtle as the platforms’ names: The vast majority of users are there to find a one-night stand, a threesome, or an ongoing sex buddy situation — not a long-term partner. Of course, if you're searching for X-rated and NSFW dating sites, we're guessing that's not a problem.

Take note: NSFW dating sites don't operate without mutual consent, boundary-setting, and respect. When building out your profile, be specific and honest about your intentions and what you’re looking for so you can find people who genuinely match up with you and your interests or fetishes.

SEE ALSO: The top 10 porn sites to visit when you want to get off

And if you like the instant gratification and virtual aspect of internet porn, you can also try cam sites and sexting apps that let you meet and chat with adult performers right away.

What else is important to know when using an NSFW dating site?

Besides not giving away any personal information, especially for things like anonymous encounters on cam or sexting sites, know the risks when it comes to sending nude or partially nude photos containing identifying details like your face or tattoos. While it’s against the law in many places to circulate private sexual images, that doesn’t stop people from doing it.

SEE ALSO: Best sex toys for couples looking to switch things up between the sheets

Like Pornhub, most of these sites are free to access, with some offering various levels of paid membership fees to unlock bonus features. Others, like Tinder and Grindr, are largely free to use. So, if you're tired of seeing the same content over and over again at the hub, check out these Pornhub alternatives for NSFW encounters.

Before clicking through, consider yourself warned: NSFW content awaits.

Dating can be a challenge no matter your age, but the truth is that the older we get, the more in tune we become with our wants and needs.

While the over-50 dating pool might seem smaller, it's actually getting bigger all the time. Thanks to online dating, you now have new opportunities to connect with people who share your interests and values. If you’re still hesitant, consider this: A 2023 survey conducted by Pew Research Center found that 26 percent of singles ages 50 and up now use dating sites and apps to find love, casual fun, and friendship.

SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to know What is the most successful dating site for seniors?

While niche sites like SeniorMatch, Singles50, and Just Senior Singles might come to mind, we've found that these platforms can be expensive and sometimes even predatory, offering a poor user experience and limited matches. They've also been known to attract scammers.

Instead, we recommend looking to larger, more established platforms like eharmony, SilverSingles, and Match. These popular apps aren't just for the younger crowd — they're filled with singles of all ages, including a significant number of mature users. In fact, that Pew Research Center survey found that adults ages 30 to 49 and 50 to 64 are twice as likely to use Match compared to other age groups.

Whether you're looking for something casual or a committed relationship, we've got you covered. We've tested the best dating sites for seniors, considering both age-specific options and mainstream apps with a large pool of singles over 50 and 60.

SEE ALSO: What are romance scams and how can you avoid them?

Below, you’ll find our top picks for the best dating sites and apps for seniors based on our own experiences, hands-on reviews, and comparative research on the experiences of other online daters. We’ve also answered some FAQs to help you get the most out of your online dating experience, from setting up your profile to avoiding romance scams.

Note that prices for dating apps and sites are constantly changing. We update this guide regularly, but there might be minor price differences.

Deciding to get back into the dating game can be nerve-wracking at any age. But the stakes may feel a little higher if you're in your 40s.

You may assume that people in your demographic either aren't interested in dating or are already settled into long-term relationships. However, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data, as of 2021, nearly 25 percent of 40-somethings in the U.S. have never been married. Additionally, only 22 percent of unmarried adults ages 40 to 44 were cohabiting couples.

SEE ALSO: Dating predictions for the rest of 2024

So, have people in their 40s given up on finding love? Not at all. In fact, according to the Pew Research analysis, approximately one in four 40-year-olds who weren't married in 2001 tied the knot by age 60. But unlike people in their 20s and 30s, single people over 40 know what they want and aren't afraid to wait a little longer to find the right person.

How to start dating again at 40

Now, after that speech and spew of statistics, you're probably wondering what our grand plan is to get you out on the dance floor. The answer? Online dating. Before you scoff, hear us out.

Online dating is a great way to meet new people in a low-pressure environment. The best dating sites for people over 40 make it so easy to connect with potential partners. You can filter through profiles and find matches who share your interests and values. Imagine if you could do that when scanning the room at a party — it would save a lot of time and effort.

But before you download a bunch of apps, Kiana Reeves, Somatic Sex Educator, Intimacy Coach, and Chief Education Officer at Foria, recommends taking a moment for self-reflection: "We join dating sites because we’re looking for connection, whether in the form of a serious relationship, a casual fling, or something in between. With that in mind, it’s important to identify the kind of connection you’re looking for before you join any dating sites, apps, etc."

SEE ALSO: Tired of casual dates? Try the best dating apps for serious relationships

Next, consider your approach to online dating, Reeves says. "Are you looking for a casual swipe-through site to meet people in a new city? Are you someone who likes to make the first move? Are you looking for someone who is only interested in a serious relationship? Are you looking for someone who shares your same faith? How much time are you planning to devote to making a connection?"

Once you've clarified your dating goals, Reeves recommends "joining a couple [apps] to start out with, so you can feel out what kind of user experience makes the most sense for you." She adds, "Of course, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s totally fine to just join one to start."

Ready to find love after 40? Or maybe you're looking for a no-pressure friend with benefits? We've got you. As data nerds, we've done the research, sourced expert advice, and did a lot of hands-on testing to find the best options for forty-something singles. Our comprehensive guide to the best dating apps for over-40 singles is here to help.

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

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 10 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 10

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Not just for poking

The hint for the theme is the relative shape of the objects are relevant.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are related to different kinds of sticks.

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 Sticks.

NYT Strands word list for August 10

• Control

• Hockey

• Licorice

• Sticks

• Swizzle

• Cinnamon

• Memory

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After two thrilling semi-finals, it's France and the USA who will be going head-to-head for a gold medal at Paris 2024.

The semi-finals were incredibly close, with both teams winning by just four points. However, strong performances from both France and the USA meant Germany and Serbia will compete in the bronze medal match.

The final is set to be a great game, with the French team including names like Andrew Albicy and Frank Ntilikina, and on the US side LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

To watch France vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is France vs. USA at Paris 2024?

France vs. USA at Paris 2024 takes place at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 10.

How to watch France vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free

You can live stream France vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer.

Unfortunately, BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but basketball fans from across the world can still access this by using a VPN. VPNs are helpful tools that hide your real IP address (i.e., your digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. With this, you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world, and watch the basketball final at Paris 2024.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this easy process:

1. Sign up for 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. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream France vs. USA 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 usually not free, but most do tend to offer free trial periods or money-back guarantees. If you take advantage of these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without having to spend any cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream the basketball final before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream France vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Through Sept. 3, if you want to prep a computer for work or school, you can get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for only £43.10. Once they're set up on your device, your license will never expire.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle £43.10 at the Mashable Shop
£343.39 Save £300.29 Get Deal

If you're shopping for a computer or upgrading an old one, you might also want to update it with a new operating system and the apps you're going to use every day. 

Whether you're getting a computer for school, work, or just to use at home, Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office could be welcome additions to any machine, and you only have to pay for them once with this lifetime deal. With this bundle, you can get a shiny new OS, the latest Windows 11 security features, and a full suite of productivity apps — all for the mad price of £43.10 (reg. £343.39) until Sept. 3. 

Update your computer for less

Microsoft Office Pro 2021 is different from Microsoft 365. Though, this version comes with many of the same apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. However, these are slightly older versions and can only be installed on one device. The tradeoff is that you aren't paying for them every month, and you can use them as long as you have the computer they're installed on. 

Windows 11 Pro isn't compatible with every computer, so double-check your device's specs before purchasing. Once it's installed, you might notice some exciting changes that are immediately apparent. Changes like rounded window edges and snap layouts, and that's not even touching on all the security upgrades. 

If you're installing on a school or work computer, tools like bitlocker encryption, wake and lock, and support for biometrics login could be welcome upgrades, too. If this is a home computer, then check out what the DirectX 12 Ultimate does for gaming compatibility. 

Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office for life

Don't miss your chance to give your computer a serious productivity overhaul. 

Until Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT, take advantage of this sale on a Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro for £43.10. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open on 9Now and TVNZ+. Unblock these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Novak Djokovic is yet to win a Grand Slam this year, which feels weird. The Serbian star is obviously used to winning, so he probably feels pretty weird about the whole thing as well.

The last Grand Slam that Djokovic won was the US Open, and he's back to defend his crown. Standing in his way are the next generation of stars, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner.

If you want to watch the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the US Open?

The US Open is a hardcourt tennis tournament held annually at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center within Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, after the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

The current singles champions are Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff.

When is the 2024 US Open?

The 2024 US Open takes place from Aug. 26 to Sept. 8.

How to watch the 2024 US Open for free in the UK

These free streaming services are offering coverage of the 2024 US Open:

• Australia — 9Now

• New Zealand — TVNZ+

9Now and TVNZ+ are geo-restricted to Australia and New Zealand respectively, but fans in the UK can access these free streaming services with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia and New Zealand, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ without hassle.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open 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 or New Zealand

4. Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

5. Watch the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.12 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 taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the US Open without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free in the UK, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New 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 £82.12 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 the 2024 US Open for free in the UK with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Take a wide range of free online courses from Stanford University with edX.

Anyone can become a student of Stanford University with a little help from edX. This popular online course provider hosts absolutely loads of online courses from this famous school. It's worth taking some time to look around at all the options, because there really is a lot on offer.

edX offers online courses on topics like Python, mathematics, computer science, and much more. These are the best Stanford University courses you can take for free this month.

• Algorithms: Design and Analysis

• Communicating with Presence

• Compilers

• Computer Science 101

• Databases: Advanced Topics in SQL

• Databases: Modeling and Theory

• Databases: OLAP and Recursion

• Databases: Relational Databases and SQL

• Designing Your Career

• How to Learn Math: For Students

• How You Say It Matters: A Toolkit for Improving Communications About Academic Standing

• Introduction to Food and Health

• Introduction to the Natural Capital Project Approach

• Language, Proof, and Logic

• Living at the Nuclear Brink

• Nano at Stanford

• Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers 1

• Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers 2

• R Programming Fundamentals

• Semantics of First-Order Logic

• Statistical Learning with Python

• Statistical Learning with R

• The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism

• Your Body in the World: Adapting to Your Next Big Adventure

These free courses do not include certificates of completion, but that's the only catch. You can still learn at your own pace with unlimited access to all the resources on offer, so what exactly is stopping you from enrolling in something you're passionate about?

Find the best free online courses from Stanford University at edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stanford University Stanford University Courses Free at edX Get Deal

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 10's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

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 August 10 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 10 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Healer.

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 M.

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...

MEDIC.

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

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 10's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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 August 7 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: Red

• Green: Available to work

• Blue: Microsoft tools

• Purple: Movies based on real people

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: Things that are Red

• Green: Be in Commission

• Blue: Microsoft Products

• Purple: Biopics

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 #426 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that are Red: DEVIL, MARS, ROSE, STRAWBERRY

• Be in Commission: FUNCTION, OPERATE, RUN, WORK

• Microsoft Products: EDGE, OFFICE, TEAMS, WINDOWS

• Biopics: BLONDE, JOBS, MILK, VICE

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

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

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

Thanks to a new feature, "blue checks" may no longer dominate reply threads on X.

There has been a lot of criticism over the past few years regarding how Elon Musk changed the blue check. The blue checkmark was previously used to verify the authenticity of notable users when the platform was known as Twitter. Under Musk, X now doles out blue checks to anyone who pays $8 per month for X Premium. On top of that, blue check subscribers were given priority in the mentions of posts.

SEE ALSO: How Elon Musk and X's decision to sue advertisers may have just backfired

As a result, X users would often find blue checkmark accounts' posts sitting at the top of the replies to their own post, even if these replies were completely irrelevant to the conversation.

\And here's how it looks on X for web:

Sort replies on X for web Credit: X screenshot

The latter two reply sorting options are pretty straightforward. "Most recent" shows replies in chronological order from newest to oldest. "Most liked" shows the replies with most likes first. Blue check accounts appear to have completely lost any advantage that the paid subscription provided them when selecting either of these two menu options.

It's unclear exactly how X is determining how to sort posts via the "most relevant" option. However, it appears to be the same sorting method as the previous default. Blue checks do still appear to be prioritized in this view.

Any user can change the reply sorting options on any post that they view, not just their own posts.

It'll be interesting to see if these new options prove to be popular with X's user base. If many X users prefer to view replies via most liked or most recent, it seems like X Premium subscriber rates could potentially take a hit as one of blue check users' paid subscription benefits loses some of its power.

Nearly 3 billion people are affected by a recent data breach at a background check company. A large database compilation filled with billions of users' credentials was published just last month. Customers with AT&T, ADT, and countless other firms have had their sensitive data stolen by cyber criminals recently.

Data breaches are seemingly on the rise. Many times, there's little to nothing that the average consumer can do about it. Sometimes, affected individuals aren't even aware that their data was part of a breach.

If you do find out that you're the victim of a data breach, that means a company that has your data was compromised. Hackers, scammers, thieves, and other nefarious individuals now have access to data about you.

SEE ALSO: [Update: Meta responds] Scammers are using Meta's copyright takedown tool against influencers

Here's what you can do to protect yourself:

Change your passwords

First things first, change the password of the account affected by the data breach. Oftentimes, there's so much data stolen that most users will have a chance to stop any unauthorized use of their account.

Yes, you've been told time and time again to not use the same password for multiple accounts, but we know that you have. Cybercriminals can easily make the connection to those other accounts so go and change the passwords for any secondary accounts tied to your name or username that are the same or similar to the one that has been stolen. 

Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication will stop any unauthorized access to your account, even if someone else has your password. If the service or platform in question offers two-factor authentication, it's highly recommended that you turn it on.

There are two basic types of two-factor authentication: one that texts users a code, and one that requires the use of an authentication app — usually (but not always) on a mobile phone. Since phone numbers can be stolen and SMS messages can be intercepted, it's highly recommended that users go with an authentication app. When signing into a platform once an authentication app has been enabled, a user will be required to open the mobile app, temporarily memorize the constantly changing code that appears on their screen, and input it into the platform that they are trying to access.

Monitor your accounts

It's important to know exactly what accounts on what platforms were affected to discern exactly what type of information could have been stolen. Services like haveibeenpwned.com help users monitor whether their account credentials have been stolen in a data breach.

Even if you know which account was affected in a breach, you should still check to see if there were any cascading effects that made its way to your other accounts.

After finding which accounts were affected, check with the company who experienced the data breach to see if they have any additional information or recommendations as to what their users should do to protect themselves.

Check your credit reports

Be on the lookout for the worst case scenario: Your identity being stolen as a result of a data breach.

It's certainly horrible to find a social media account compromised and going through a platform's process to regain access is never fun. But that ordeal pales in comparison to the headaches you'll have in store if someone used your data to access your bank account or commit fraud.

It's important to monitor your credit report if there's a breach at a company that stored relevant financial-related data. You can get a completely free credit report at annualcreditreport.com. In addition, services like Credit Karma provide a free daily summary of your credit score and report information.

If you are a victim of identify theft, it's important to immediately contact your bank and the credit institutions. You'll need to freeze your credit, apply for a new credit card number, and even potentially close accounts. Victims of identity theft can report a crime as well at identitytheft.gov.

Again, most users will likely find that they just need to change passwords and sign up for two-factor authentication. But, if you're one of the more unlucky victims of a data breach whose victimizer crossed over from from stealing data to stealing money, you need to be proactive and take action to protect your finances as soon as you can.