Mashable

TikTok is in its Regency Era with creators dancing their way to love. 

The most popular dance trend on the platform sees men appeal to a woman's father with their dance moves. Before breaking into dance, men lip sync to a sound ripped from Gilmore Girl's Kirk's (Sean Gunn) bizarre Season 2 short film. In the soundbite Kirk (and the chorus of TikTok boys) say, "I love your daughter." Kirk's love interest's father replies, "What do you have to offer her?" And he (and all the boys) say, "Nothing, only this…" At this point, the men employ their goofiest dance moves — Kirk to "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Grandmaster Melle Mel and TikTok boys to Olly Alexander's "Breathe." 

SEE ALSO: Adult creator hosts 'Corn Telethon' to raise awareness against Project 2025

The remixed Gilmore Girls scene soundtracks nearly 100,000 videos and dozens have racked up millions of views. A video posted by Austin Pepito garnered 41 million views and nearly seven million likes. 

Women leave comments on the videos like, "This is working for me I fear," "I'm going to miss you when I scroll away," and "Never skipping [the] 'I love your daughter' trend.'" One female creator posted a video captioned, "i love this trend i hope it never dies all the boys look so cute doing their little dances." 

Comedian and creator and star of English Teacher, Brian Jordan Alvarez, posted three videos to the trend and followed up with a video addressing their horny reception. In it, he jokes, "I'm getting hit on by girls and I'm like, 'Where was this energy when I was pretending to be straight?'"

Zo, a 28-year-old TikTokker who posts under the handle @pokemonmasterzo, called the trend "successful peacocking" in a call with Mashable. "It's successful because people are falling for it. Those dumb or funny dance moves actually do work," he explained. His video to the trend received nearly four million views and 550,000 likes. 

But the trend also harkens back to the time of courtship — and not just in its involvement of a woman's father and heteronormative nature. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, dancing at a ball was the path to marriage among the English middle class and elite. As depicted in Jane Austen novels and more recently in Bridgerton, much hedged upon the ritual of a gentleman asking a lady to dance and the lady refusing or accepting his hand. Balls were also one of the few places where displays of sexuality were socially permitted. 

Not unlike on TikTok where participants adhere to the rules and norms of a dance trend, ball participants followed strict choreography and rules, and adherence could've rewarded them with a husband or wife. Now TikTokkers are rewarded with a thirst comment, or a thirst follow if they're lucky. 

One TikTokker, @cheyennerose1997, made a video to the trending sound saying, "This trend is just boys doing bird-like mating dances and girls realizing bird-like mating dances totally work on them." It received over five million views and 800,000 likes. 

If the response to the "I love your daughter" trend is any indication, these videos could also be the path to love, even if it's only parasocial. It suggests that ritualized dancing hasn't lost its allure in modern dating.

Tweet may have been deleted

The "I love your daughter" trend is one of three dating-adjacent dance trends overtaking FYPs right now. 

Another trend sees men performing interpretive dances to get something from a woman, usually their partner. One popular iteration of the trend reads, "making my roommate's boyfriend perform an interpretive dance in order to spend the night" — one video received over 11 million views and nearly two million likes. A rhythmic drum track first uploaded by a modern dancer scores the trend and it's been used in over 12,000 videos. 

But some single men are getting in on the trend too. One posted a video captioned, "I don't have a girlfriend yet but if I did this would be the dance I would do for them" to the tune of over 17 million views and over two million likes. A comment with over 100,000 likes says, "Suddenly, I understand nature and birds. If a male did this dance for me, I'd simply swoon. Ugh."

The other trend focuses on women pursuing men. Soundtracked by "Birthday Sex" by Jeremih, each video reads, "when he asks you to dance for him, but…" followed by a reason the creator is doing the dance she's doing. For example, one creator wrote, "when he asks me to dance, but i grew up learning indian classical dance." It received over 15 million views and over two million likes. Another said, "when he asks you to dance for him but you were one of rihanna's marshmallows," in reference to Rihanna's Super Bowl performance. 

Sage Thomas, a 22-year-old creator, posted two videos to the trend. "Sometimes the dating world is taken so seriously," Thomas told Mashable. She explained that she thinks so many people participated because struggling with dating is so relatable. "It pokes fun at how bad the dating world is right now, like I have nothing else to offer besides my amazing dance moves," she said. 

Thomas' comments imply that these trends are a response to modern dating. If we can't dance together at a ball, at least we can watch each other dance onscreen. 

As a chill begins to take hold in the air — well, kind of — folks are eagerly thumbing through their sweater collections, stirring soups, and lining up for their pumpkin spice lattes. The Fall Industrial Complex tells us it's a beautiful, cozy yet temperate time of the year. But I'm here to say fall is completely overrated.

Multiple surveys have shown fall is Americans' favorite season. A 2022 poll from Morning Consult, for instance, found 41 percent of Americans listed fall as their top season, compared with 24 percent for spring and summer, and 11 percent for winter. I'd argue 41 percent of Americans are wrong.

I don't particularly understand the love for fall. Do you all really love Halloween and pumpkin patches that much? Those are actual cited reasons in a 2023 poll.

Tweet may have been deleted

First, let's look at fall, the season, before the fall the trend — because autumn has absolutely become A Thing, especially online. The season begins around Sept. 22 every year and runs through early or mid December, depending on if you use a meteorological or astronomical definition. During the prime fall months, October and November, the average temperature in the U.S. was around 56 and 44 degrees, respectively, in 2023. That's pretty cold! And it'll be chillier in the states where the seasons change the most, aka where those pretty leaves exist. And it's also often overcast and gloomy in the parts of the country that get the weather we most associate with fall. I think, in folks' minds, they picture fall as a perfect Autumn day: 61 degrees, sun out, slight chill, orange-leafed trees, light-jacket weather. In reality, you're far more likely to get such a day in late May or early September, which is late spring or late summer. (And California, or other similar states, don't get on my case about your sweltering September heat waves. You don't count because your whole "winter" is your closest approximation of fall).

Granted, the Earth is warming and fall is getting warmer and wetter, but that isn't necessarily a good thing, either. At best, most fall days you're getting the kind of day where you can be long-sleeved at midday, but need a sweater at the ready for when the sun goes down early.

I truly, fully do not understand why summer is not everyone's favorite season. I'm not trying to be contrarian but it's a belief I've long held.

Tweet may have been deleted

The summer is when all the fun things happen! It's when you get to be outside, in the fresh air, all the time. Going to the beach, seeing a sporting event (in a t-shirt), swimming, hiking, beers on a patio, golf, riding a bike, watching TV inside in the air-conditioning — nearly any activity is possible in the summertime. Oh you can't ski? I'm so sorry you can't freeze your ass off while desperately trying to avoid a broken leg. You can do lots of fun things in the fall, but I'd argue most any of them — and much more — are available in the summer. People hold out hope for the perfect fall day you get once in a while, rather than the countless fantastic summer days. And sure, as a dude who sweats at the slightest movement, I get that the summer can be too hot — duh — but that opens the door for a nice shower, a dip in a pool, or jumping in the ocean. I'd rather recover from the heat after doing fun things than be limited from doing them altogether.

You actually like shorter days? Leaves are really that beautiful to you? I don't see it.

Why does fall have to be a trend?

I'd argue that some folks love the idea of fall more than the reality of it. Once something becomes A Thing — especially online — people feel like they have to enjoy it. Everyone absolutely loved Hamilton until everyone didn't. And you'd have to be logged off for years not to recognize fall as A Thing online. As Mashable's Elena Cavender wrote in a 2021 piece titled "Fall is still the internet's favorite season": "In the first week of fall, Twitter and TikTok became inundated with fall movies, fall outfits, fall playlists, fall recipes. It’s Christian Girl Autumn, Meg Ryan Fall, the time we can really start dressing."

Sure, we get viral recipes in all seasons, but none get the treatment of pumpkin spice everything or the ubiquity of people loving so-called Soup Season online. I love Soup Szn as much as the next guy, and pumpkin spice has its time and place, I suppose, but I also enjoy eating with every season. I love tomatoes sandwiches in the summer or an herbaceous spring salad. But those things aren't memes. They're just good food.

SEE ALSO: Fall is still the internet's favorite season

The PSL was invented by Starbucks in 2003, but pumpkin spice truly spiked as a food trend around 2010, spice-maker McCormick told USA Today.

"We have a global report called the 'Flavor Forecast' and then we identified pumpkin pie spice in 2010 as an emerging trend, and that was really at the beginning of where we started to see, both in restaurants and in (the) home, use start to pick up," Kevan Vetter, executive chef at McCormick, told the paper in 2022.

That is, not coincidentally, right around the time Twitter became super-popular and Instagram launched. It was an original food trend that stuck around because it's almost foundational to the social media ecosystem. Lining up for your first PSL of the season has become so rote it's a meme. The fall memes have only grown from there.

I generally skeptical of most things that become A Thing online. At some point the merits of the thing are surpassed by the terminal velocity of the internet's hunger to jump on a trend.

What if fall is just another season and not necessarily the best one? What if it has its merits — football, some beautiful days, colorful leaves — but those merits are not necessarily far and away better than other times of the year? What if the idea of a hot bowl of soup, a soft sweater, a spiced latte, are better than the actuality of lots of overcast days that are chilly outside but too hot to turn on the heat inside?

What if — hear me out — people force their love onto fall as a means of coping with the recent passage of the actual best season, summer?

We live in a golden age of planet discovery.

Astronomers are using modern telescopes, both on Earth and in space, to find or zoom in on planets well beyond our solar system, called exoplanets. Some are super-Earths. Some are Earth-sized. Some are gas giants. And beyond. All these planetary finds, of which there are now over 5,700 confirmed discoveries, help us grasp what's out there — and reveal whether our own solar system is a typical, or atypical, place in the cosmos.

Using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope, orbiting 1 million miles from Earth, scientists peered closely at the planet AF Lep b, an extremely young gas planet at just 23 million years old. (Earth is some 4.5 billion years old.) But they didn't have much time. The exoplanet's orbit is bringing it near its star, whose brightness will make it impossible to view AF Lep b for over a decade.

"AF Lep b is right at the inner edge of being detectable," Kyle Franson, an astronomer and graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, said in a statement. "Even though it is extraordinarily sensitive, JWST is smaller than our largest telescopes on the ground."

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

In a hurry, the research team applied for "Director’s Discretionary Time" from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which manages the Webb telescope. They got it.

The imagery was also made possible by Webb's coronagraph, which blocks most of the overpowering light from a nearby star, allowing for the observation of a much fainter target (like a planet). In this case, the coronagraph blocked 90 percent of the star's light.

The view below shows a zoomed-in view of AF Lep b, located 88 light-years away. It's the light blue-colored object to the left of the yellow star symbol (the actual star has been blocked by Webb's coronagraph). Yet just that tiny amount of planetary light provides astronomers a wealth of information, which was recently published in the peer-reviewed science publication The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Webb carries a host of other instruments, like a spectrograph that can detect what elements or molecules exist in a far-off world's atmosphere. The astronomers found that AF Lep b, at about three times the mass of Jupiter, has a "very active atmosphere." For instance, they detected the gas carbon monoxide. "The only way to get gas of that type into the planet’s upper atmosphere is with strong updrafts," William Balmer, a coauthor of the research at Johns Hopkins University, added.

On left: An image of exoplanet AF Lep b’s host star. On right: The Webb telescope's image of AF Lep b, captured with the help of the telescope's sun-blocking coronagraph. Credit: Space Telescope Science Institute / The University of Texas at Austin An artist's illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope observing the cosmos 1 million miles from Earth. Credit: NASA-GSFC / Adriana M. Gutierrez (CI Lab)

Astronomers expect to learn bounties more about exoplanets in the coming years.

"There’s a lot more to come."

"In the big picture, these data were taken in JWST’s second year of operations. There’s a lot more to come," Brendan Bowler, an astronomer at The University of Texas at Austin and also a co-author of the study, said in a statement. "It’s not just about the planets that we know about now. It’s also about the planets that we soon discover. This is foreshadowing some of the exciting work that we will see in the coming years."

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. But as shown above, it's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and likely will for decades to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable in 2021.

Already, astronomers have successfully found intriguing chemical reactions on a planet 700 light-years away, and have started looking at one of the most anticipated places in the cosmos: the rocky, Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST solar system.

TL;DR: The Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower is on sale for $678.99 (reg. $1,399). This at-home exercise machine offers 2-in-1 total body workouts and audio workouts on the included mv app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stamina Home Fitness Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower $678.99
$1,399.99 Save $721.00 Get Deal

While a stationary bike might be considered traditional home workout equipment, it has limits. Why settle for just one workout machine when you can have two? The Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower is helpful if you're trying to stay fit, build strength, and boost your cardiovascular health.

Whether you’re an early riser looking to fit in a quick workout before breakfast or someone trying to maximize their time and results, this 2-in-1 machine has a lot to offer — and it's on sale for just $678.99 (reg. $1,399). That's $721 off.

This machine combines the benefits of a recumbent bike and a rowing machine, offering a total-body workout that helps strengthen your upper body, tone your legs, and get your heart pumping. It also has eight levels of smooth magnetic resistance, allowing you to adjust the intensity and customize your workout to meet your fitness goals.

Use the Recumbent Bike mode to strengthen your legs and lower body while keeping your heart healthy. The reclined position offers a comfortable and effective way to work your muscles without straining your back.

Rowing Machine mode allows you to experience a full-body workout that targets all major muscle groups, including your arms, back, core, and legs. Rowing machines are well-known for their ability to rapidly burn calories and improve cardiovascular health, and this mode brings those benefits to your home.

The molded foam seat and seatback help you stay comfortable throughout your workout, while the pedal foot straps keep your feet securely in place. Plus, this machine is designed for quiet operation, so you can work out anytime without disturbing your household.

Don't miss this terrific offer on a workout machine that comes with free access to the mv app, which provides you with 500+ minutes of smart audio coaching per month.

Get the Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower for $678.99 (reg. $1,399) with the mv app.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This Bluetooth Remote Ring is on sale for just $25.99—perfect for TikTok, selfies, and even e-reading.

In this world, convenience is king. And just when you thought things couldn't get more convenient in the tech department, this Bluetooth Remote Ring comes along to level up.

This small but mighty gadget allows you to control your apps, scroll through TikTok, take photos, and even turn pages on your Kindle without ever touching your device’s screen. All for just $25.99 (regularly $39.99), this little ring is the ultimate multitasking tool that offers complete control—right on your finger.

Not that it's a chore, really, but creating TikToks and scrolling through funny videos has never been easier. The Bluetooth Remote Ring offers hands-free control, so you can scroll, pause, play, and even like videos—all with a simple press of the remote ring's button.

This means no more awkward arm stretches or constantly tapping your screen when you should be getting situated. Whether you're in full content creation mode or binge-scrolling through your For You page, this ring somehow makes things even simpler.

Ever struggle with trying to snap a selfie while holding your phone just right? Or maybe you’ve had to run to get into a group photo after hitting the timer button. The Bluetooth Remote Ring solves that problem by acting as a remote camera shutter. Simply position your phone, press the button on your ring, and voilà! You’ve got the perfect shot without the awkward scramble.

Winter’s coming, but that doesn’t mean you must suffer cold fingers while enjoying your Kindle by the fireplace or outdoors. The Bluetooth Remote Ring works as a remote page turner for e-readers like Kindle and Kobo, allowing you to flip pages without touching your screen. This means you can keep your hands snug and warm while enjoying your favorite books.

Don't miss the chance to control your digital world with a single tap.

Get this Bluetooth Remote Ring while it's on sale for just $25.99 (reg. $39) for a limited time. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: UGR Tech Bluetooth Remote Ring for Apps, Camera & E-Readers with Page Turner $25.99
$39.99 Save $14.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Access millions of free movies, TV shows, channels, videos, and music for just $19.99 (reg. $150) with BitMar Streaming Content Finder.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $19.99
$150.00 Save $130.01 Get Deal

Tired of endlessly scrolling through streaming platforms only to realize there’s nothing new to watch? Say goodbye to decision fatigue and let BitMar do the work for you.

With BitMar Streaming Content-Finder, you can access millions of free movies, TV shows, channels, videos, and music, all gathered into one convenient platform. At just $19.99 (reg. $150), this lifetime subscription is your ticket to unlimited entertainment without the time wasted and frustration of switching between apps and websites.

BitMar is more than just a streaming platform. Unlike other services that require subscriptions, BitMar is a streaming content finder that pulls together legal, free content from various sources on the web. 

This service uses advanced algorithms to find and filter content from across the web, bringing you a seamless streaming experience. Simply search for the type of content you want, and BitMar will deliver results tailored to your preferences. And the best part? There’s no commitment to a single platform; BitMar pulls from multiple sources, so you’re always connected to fresh, free content.

Powered by Bing’s search technology, BitMar filters content based on your preferences and presents you with a curated library of options. Whether you’re looking for blockbuster movies, international TV shows, or niche videos, BitMar has something for everyone.

No more searching for hours. BitMar aggregates free content so you can find what you want without the headache. And you can rest assured that all content is accessed legally, so you never have to worry about sketchy websites or questionable downloads.

If you enjoy watching YouTube, you can use BitMar to enjoy YouTube content without ads, saving you the cost of a YouTube Premium subscription.

Don't miss this fantastic service that can save you lots of time. Get lifetime access to the BitMar Streaming Content Finder is just $19.99 (reg. $150) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Save $20: As of Oct. 16, the Gtheos Wireless Gaming Headset is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 40% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Gtheos Gtheos 2.4GHz Wireless Gaming Headset $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

When it comes to gaming accessories, there are plenty of options in all price ranges to consider, whether you're looking for the best of the best or trying to save some money. If the latter is your priority, you'll love this Amazon deal on this Gtheos Wireless Gaming Headset.

As of Oct. 16, this headset is reduced to just $29.99, saving you 40% on list price. This is the lowest it has ever been priced at Amazon. And that's not all, because this listing comes with a 5% off voucher. Just be sure to tick the coupon box below the price, and head to the checkout to see your additional discount. This deal is only available with the Black and White models.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming headset for every platform

The headset is ideal for those looking for a great product, at a reasonable price. With its 2.4GHz wireless connection, you can game up to 49 feet away. It has a detachable, flexible microphone with noise reduction, and you can connect via a USB dongle, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm wired mode, making it compatible with PS5, Xbox, Mac, and more systems.

You can enjoy up to 40 hours of gameplay on a single charge, or 15-20 hours with the RGB lighting turned on. And it only takes three hours to fully charge.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't wait too long to secure this low price.

"Daily Show" host Desi Lydic has broken down Trump's 40-minute dancing session during a recent town hall.

SAVE $150: As of Oct. 16, the Samsung ViewFinity S5 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 43% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung ViewFinity S5 $199.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal

When staring at a screen all day, a high-quality monitor really makes all the difference. Especially if after work you relax by looking at more screens. So why not upgrade to the best?

As of Oct. 16, you can score a great deal on the Samsung ViewFinity S5 at Amazon. Reduced by 43%, the monitor is now listed for $199.99. This deal is available on the 34-inch flat screen, 21:09, HDMI-only model. For $229.99 you can upgrade to DP + HDMI.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your WFH setup with this heavily discounted curved monitor from Samsung

The monitor has a sleek design, making it perfect for both work and entertainment. It boasts a 1440p QHD resolution, which will make everything from spreadsheets to movies and games look incredibly sharp. One of our favorite features is the adjustable stand, allowing you to tilt, swivel, and even adjust the height to find the most comfortable viewing position.

To protect your eyes from strain, the S5 has a number of features including an ambient light sensor to detect lighting in your workstation and automatically adjust brightness, eye saver mode that minimizes excessive blue light, and a flicker-free design to relieve eye strain by creating a more stable display.

This is a limited-time deal on Amazon, so act quickly so you don't miss out.

Save $20: As of Oct. 16, the Bitvae C5 Water Dental Flosser is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 50% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bitvae Water Floss $19.99
$39.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Of all the products that trend on social media, one that encourages good dental hygiene can't be a bad thing. Yes, water flossers have been going viral lately, and we doubt you've been able to scroll more than a few videos on TikTok before being shown a water flosser at work.

A water dental flosser is a great aid in removing plaque and debris from hard-to-reach areas between teeth and along the gum line, and as of Oct. 16 you can score a great deal at Amazon. The Bitvae C5 Water Dental Flosser is reduced 50%, from $39.99 to just $19.99.

SEE ALSO: The best water flossers for cleaning up your oral hygiene

There are plenty of options on the market for water flossers, but we like the Bitvae C5 because it comes with different pressure settings, so you can adjust based on your comfort and needs. This model also comes with five replacement tips, so if one (or more) breaks, you don't need to replace the whole product.

It’s also cordless and rechargeable, making it handy for traveling, and the water tank is decently sized, giving you enough time to floss thoroughly without constantly refilling. And, with this discounted price, the Bitvae C5 is an affordable option for anyone looking to add water flossing to their routine.

This is marked as a limited-time deal at Amazon, so head there now to grab this bargain.

The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.

But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.

And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.

Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 16 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Wednesday, October 16, 2024:

AcrossDuke ______, machismo video game hero

• The answer is Nukem.

European eSports team that rebranded to Astralis

• The answer is Origen.

Base hit

• The answer is Single.

Possess

• The answer is Own.

Little bit

• The answer is Tad.

Justification

• The answer is Reason.

1960s style go-go dance from the Batman television series

• The answer is Batusi.

High-strung

• The answer is tense.

DownPiece of cake!

• The answer is NoSweat.

Go #1

• The answer is Urinate.

Family

• The answer is Kin.

Potentially messy field day event

• The answer is EggToss.

"Cry Baby" singer ____ Martinez

• The answer is Melanie.

Homer's TV neighbor

• The answer is Ned.

Crystal ball, e.g.

• The answer is Orb.

Sol

• The answer is Sun.

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.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

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

20 percent.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 16 Hurdle Word 1 answer

FIFTH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A fancy word for fist fight.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 16 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MELEE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Need a lot of this in sports.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 16 Hurdle Word 3 answer

HEART

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Chicago's type of city.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 16 Hurdle Word 4 answer

WINDY

Final Hurdle hint

This person is a peer in search of a verdict.

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

JUROR

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

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for October 14'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 16 What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been 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 October 16 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Getting some air

• Green: Michael Jordan played for one of these

• Blue: Sideline pets

• Purple: Nothing gets past them

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

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

• Yellow - Jump

• Green - Chicago Sports Teams

• Blue - Live College Football Mascots

• Purple - Nicknames of MLB catchers

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #21 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Jump: BOUND, HOP, LEAP, SPRING

• Chicago Sports Teams: BEARS, BULLS, CUBS, SKY

• Live College Football Mascots: BEVO, REVEILLE, SMOKEY, UGA

• Nicknames of MLB catches: PUDGE, SALVY, YADI, YOGI

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.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 16

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.

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 Wednesday, October 16, 2024:

AcrosswHaT cHaNgEs OfTeN iN tHiS cLuE

• The answer is Case.

Natural boundary between France and Italy

• The answer is Alps.

Total displayed on a running app

• The answer is Miles.

Embattled mayor Adams

• The answer is Eric.

Knowledgeable person hidden backward in "knowledge"

• The answer is Wonk.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 16 DownCapital city on the Nile River

• The answer is Cairo.

Aggressive poker bet

• The answer is AllIn.

Tiny dot

• The answer is Speck.

Suffix with steward or host

• The answer is Ess.

Kitten's cry

• The answer is Mew.

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.

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: Answer, hints for October 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: How Poe-tic

These words are from a particular poem.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words from Poe's most famous poem.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is TheRaven.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 16

• Weak

• Weary

• TheRaven

• Midnight

• Dreary

• Nevermore

• Pondered

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 16 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 16

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.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to BitMar, a Bing-powered streaming content finder, for only £15.28 (reg. £114.66) — no ads, just endless content.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription £15.25
£114.66 Save £99.41 Get Deal

Endlessly scrolling through apps trying to find something to watch can be exhausting. That’s where BitMar steps in — think of it as your personal content concierge.

With lifetime access to BitMar on sale for only £15.28 (reg. £114.66), you can search across multiple streaming platforms without jumping between apps.

Powered by Bing search and BitMar’s own filtering algorithms, it narrows down exactly what you want to watch, instantly. Whether it’s a new show, a niche documentary, or a hidden gem, BitMar makes it easy to find.

But here’s the best part: BitMar brings all this together without annoying ads. If you’re someone who streams YouTube, you’ll know how rare that is unless you’re paying a pretty penny for a premium subscription. With BitMar, you can watch content from YouTube, free of ads, saving you the monthly cost.

BitMar’s design isn’t just functional; it’s a breeze to use. The intuitive interface makes finding and streaming content smooth, even if you’re not super tech-savvy. And for all you cord-cutters and streamers, it’s a cost-effective solution with lifetime access. No subscriptions, no recurring charges — just an endless supply of free content at your fingertips.

Ready to ditch the endless scroll and simplify your streaming life? BitMar’s got your back, offering a huge library of content and zero ads.

Get a lifetime subscription to the BitMar Streaming Content-Finder on sale for only £15.28 (reg. £114.66)

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

This season of MotoGP has kept fans guessing, and we're still not sure which rider will come out on top of the standings when everything is said and done. Jorge Martín and Francesco Bagnaia continue to battle it out at the top of the standings, and Bastianini and Márquez aren't too far behind.

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

When is the 2024 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix?

The MotoGP Australian Grand Prix takes place at Phillip Island. The 2024 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix race starts at 11 p.m. ET on Oct. 19.

How to watch the 2024 MotoGP Australian 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 Australian 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 Australian Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

Elon Musk has been called out for a spate of strange fibs lately (and if anything, he should have been called out for many more). Here's the latest: At Tesla's We, Robot event this week, the Optimus robot that served attendees drinks were not as autonomous as Musk was claiming. According to multiple reports, the Tesla robots were operated by humans using remote controls.

But if it seems like Musk is plumbing new depths in his bid to make Tesla look like it has its finger on the future's pulse (rather than having a Cybertruck-shaped millstone around its neck), think again. Fake product demos — and in particular, fake autonomous machines — date back to at least the Napoleonic age.

Musk is simply repeating a trick so old, Benjamin Franklin fell for it.

Here are a few of the more well-known examples, starting with the not-so-remote-controlled:

Mechanical Turk, the Optimus of its day 19th century vaporware: From a book called 'Cabinet of Curiosities' (1836). Credit: Florilegius/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

This mechanical chess player with arms and a cabinet — with an actual chess master hidden inside — was the hit product launch of the brass and wood era.

The Turk's fakery was kept hidden for more than 80 years, and even then it inspired knock-off models. One of them, Mephisto, had a chess master operating it by (you guessed it) remote control.

The original Turk's creator, Wolfgang von Kempelen, was a genuine inventor, a steampunk type who labored 20 years to successfully create a speech synthesizer. But he wasn't above expending brain power on this straight-up hoax, with elaborate shifting cabinets of fake machinery hiding the human.

Kempelen tried to avoid doing many product demos, but relented when it became a moneyspinner. After he died, a musician bought the Turk and made the hiding part even more elaborate.

The second owner even had the brass appendages to pit his creation against Napoleon Bonaparte — and have it correct the European tyrant's illegal chess moves. Later robot "inventors" took note: The more brazen the fake, the more people seemed to believe it.

Tweet may have been deleted Steve Jobs's iPhone fakery Steve Jobs and one of the demo iPhones. Credit: David Paul Morris/Getty Images

Speaking of tyrants, the Apple co-founder and guru was famously said to have created a "reality distortion field" around products. And on what became the most important demo day of his life, the iPhone unveiling in January 2007, Jobs wasn't above faking a detail or two.

This was six months before the launch of what some fans were already calling the Jesus phone, and the prototype models were not ready for primetime. To avoid crashes and freezes during his demo, Jobs used multiple prototypes and a little sleight of hand.

Each of those iPhones was designed to follow what his engineers called a "golden path," a very specific sequence of actions, while giving the impression that Jobs was freestyling his way around the device. They also had what you might call a cellular distortion field: the bars at the top of their screens claimed full service no matter what.

Google's voice assistant calling ... who?

These days, the Silicon Valley search giant likes to point out it was deeply involved in AI before AI became cool. That's true — but Google also appears to have been doing fake AI demos before they were cool.

At Google I/O 2018, CEO Sundar Pichai demonstrated an AI-powered voice assistant that allegedly called a local hair salon and a local restaurant, live, to make reservations. Both businesses apparently picked up the phone and said, "How can I help you?"

Axios quickly ascertained that none of the salons and restaurants in the Mountain View area answered the phone that way. No subsequent questions about this to Google spokespeople were ever answered.

Gemini AI ain't that fast Tweet may have been deleted

What is a fake product demo, anyway? If deceptive video editing is included in the description, then a Google demonstration of its AI, Gemini, from December 2023 certainly counts.

Many viewers did not realize that the video in question was sped up and had voice prompts dubbed in. Google claimed that this still made the demo "real," but as one user noted: "real but shortened isn't a thing."

Tesla's self-driving deception

Also not a thing: Fully Self-Driving (FSD) Teslas. At least, not as seen in a 2016 video that a Tesla engineer later testified was staged. The video claimed that the driver in it was only there for legal reasons.

But the Model X in question followed a predetermined route, the Tesla engineer said when questioned in a lawsuit over an Apple engineer's death in a crash last year. The video showed capabilities that the car's software did not then have, he added, such as stopping at a red light or accelerating at a green. There were multiple takes edited together, and the human driver often intervened.

That was far from the only outlandish claim Musk made about self-driving technology. At time of writing, there are more than a dozen lawsuits pending that claim customers were duped into believing their Teslas could drive themselves, leading to injuries and deaths. Three will go to trial in 2025, including the case of the Apple engineer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Justice Department have launched their own autopilot investigations.

Given all that, Musk can count himself lucky that the worst Tesla's remote-controlled Optimus did was dance and pour drinks.

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 October 16's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 16 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 16 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 16 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Agree to give or allow.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 16 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...

GRANT.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 16

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 October 16'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 16 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 October 16 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: After a bit

• Green: Steps in a competition

• Blue: Cereal

• Purple: Hand signs

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 - At Some Future Point

• Green - Parts of a Tournament Setup

• Blue - Bit of Breakfast Cereal

• Purple - What The Outstretched Index and Middle Fingers Can Represent

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 #493 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• At Some Future Point: EVENTUALLY, LATER, NEXT, SOON

• Parts of a Tournament Setup: BRACKET, BYE, ROUND, SEED

• Bit of Breakfast Cereal: CHEERIO, FLAKE, PEBBLE, PUFF

• What The Outstretched Index and Middle Fingers Can Represent: PEACE, SCISSORS, TWO, VICTORY

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 16

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

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 16

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.