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TL;DR: Learning fits any schedule with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, and it's only £37.96 (reg. £237.28) through 2 March when you use the discount code LEVELUP20. 

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £37.96
£237.28 Save £199.32 Use code 'LEVELUP20' Get Deal

Sometimes, you can sit down with a book everyone else liked and still get absolutely nothing out of it. It doesn't matter if you're a speed-reader, that's still a lot of lost time, and life gets busy. 

If you want a faster way of getting to the meat of a good book, check out Headway. Headway is a mobile app that summarises a ton of nonfiction bestsellers into quick, actionable insights. You can use these either as a lesson in their own regard or as a way to see which books are actually worth reading in full, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for £37.96 (reg. £237.28).

Just head to the Mashable Shop and use the discount code LEVELUP20 to take advantage of this special pricing.

There's finally time to learn

Headway gives you access to a huge collection of titles, and its library is growing all the time. There are already over 1,500 books, with 30-50 more added every month. Headway even gives you an incentive to keep learning and growing by gamifying the whole process. See how many days you can keep your streak going. There are even achievements for the completionists. 

The insights you get from Headway summaries are a quick way to learn the key lessons from a book. It's not quite the same experience as reading the full text, but nothing's stopping you from going back and diving in once you know a book is worth the time. 

Headway tailors recommendations to your unique interests, so every summary aligns with your aspirations. Whether you prefer reading or listening, professionally narrated audio versions let you learn on the go. 

Join over 15 million other users and find time to learn. 

Use the discount code LEVELUP20 to get a Headway Premium Lifetime Subscription through 2 March. 

Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription - £37.96 | See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Watch 2025 F1 live streams for free anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This season of F1 is set to be a classic. There are so many interesting storylines to keep tabs on.

Can Max Verstappen defend his title? Can McLaren continue their form from the end of last season? Are Mercedes going to dominate again? Will Ferrari make the leap and compete at the top of the standings? There are so many big questions going into the 2025 season, but what fans really want to see is Lewis Hamilton driving a Ferrari. That's going to be fascinating to see.

If you are interested in watching F1 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2025 MotoGP World Championship online for free

Max Verstappen is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2024.

When is F1 in 2025?

The 2025 F1 season is the 76th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 16

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 23

3. Japanese Grand Prix — April 6

4. Bahrain Grand Prix — April 13

5. Saudi Arabian Grand Prix — April 20

6. Miami Grand Prix — May 4

7. Emilia Romagna Grand Prix — May 18

8. Monaco Grand Prix — May 25

9. Spanish Grand Prix — June 1

10. Canadian Grand Prix — June 15

11. Austrian Grand Prix — June 29

12. British Grand Prix — July 6

13. Belgian Grand Prix — July 27

14. Hungarian Grand Prix — Aug. 3

15. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 31

16. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 7

17. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 21

18. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 5

19. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 19

20. Mexico City Grand Prix — Oct. 26

21. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 9

22. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 22

23. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 30

24. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 7

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar will each host a sprint race this season.

How to watch F1 for free

The good news is that it is possible to live stream F1 for free in 2025. The following platforms are offering free coverage of this season:

• Australia — 10Play (Australian Grand Prix)

• Austria — ORF (14 races) or ServusTV (11 races)

• Belgium — RTBF (every race)

• Canada — CTV (Canadian Grand Prix)

• Italy — TV8 (Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix)

If you're abroad during a race weekend, you can consider using a VPN to unlock your favorite free streaming platform. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream F1 in 2025 from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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 a location with free coverage of F1

4. Connect to free streaming service

5. Watch F1 2025 from anywhere in the world

Please be aware that Formula 1 take the view that the use of a VPN to watch content from another territory may be a breach of the relevant broadcasters’ terms of service and may constitute copyright infringement. It is your responsibility to ensure that your use of a VPN is legal and Mashable does not encourage any illegal use of a VPN.

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select races for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the best service for live streaming F1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 F1 in 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third weekend of the 2025 Six Nations showcases some really interesting matchups, but England vs. Scotland is probably the biggest game this round. England are looking to maintain the momentum they gained from an impressive victory over France last round, whereas Scotland will be hoping to bounce back after losing to Ireland.

If you want to watch England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England vs. Scotland?

England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 4:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22. This fixture takes place at Twickenham Stadium.

How to watch England vs. Scotland for free

England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream England vs. Scotland from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream England vs. Scotland for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 England vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Things couldn't really be going worse for Wales in the 2025 Six Nations, and next they face high-flying Ireland. This could get rough for the home side, but there's always the possibility of a shock result in this competition.

If you want to watch Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wales vs. Ireland?

Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 2:15 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22. This fixture takes place at the Principality Stadium.

How to watch Wales vs. Ireland for free

Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Access a free live stream of Wales vs. Ireland by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wales vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Wales vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The likes of Pakistan and India have started their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaigns, with high expectations for these talented teams. And the same goes for Australia and England. Both of these teams will be expected to progress into the knockout stage of the tournament, but they can't both win this opening match.

If you want to watch Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. England?

Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 22. This ODI takes place at the Gaddafi Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. England for free

The following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

• Australia — Prime Video (free with 30-day trial)

• India — Disney+ Hotstar

• New Zealand — Sky TV NZ

• Pakistan — Tamasha (free) and PTV (free)

• UK — Sky Sports

• USA — Willow and Sling TV

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free 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 Pakistan

4. Visit Tamasha or PTV

5. Live stream Australia vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Australia vs. England (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Australia vs. England in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Brushes, paints pots, and easels are a thing of the past. Technology has not only digitised the art world but expanded it too. Indeed, technology has made art far more accessible, as well as becoming a go-to option for professionals.

Technology allows graphic designers and illustrators to simulate a variety of mediums by using such tools as a tablet, a stylus, a touch-sensitive pad, and creative software like Adobe Fresco. That flexibility, in addition to a quick turnaround and the end product, makes digital art appealing from a commercial perspective.

Of course, the tablets, styluses, and pads can cost quite a bit. And it's all a bit confusing if you don't know your art-based tech jargon. As far as we're concerned, the best place to start is a drawing tablet. And we can help paint a clear picture on how to choose one.

Should you use a drawing tablet?

A good tablet — plus your software and pen — will affect how well you're able to translate your drawing skills to the screen, or, if you're a total beginner, the control you have over your artistic process. Meanwhile, different software — such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop — will offer different mediums and editing options.

What kinds of drawing tablets are there?

Most drawing tablets can be placed into the below categories:

• Graphics tablet — The simplest of the bunch, essentially a touch-sensitive pad with a pen that you can plug into your computer so you have more control over your cursor (and therefore your digital pen) while drawing. The movement of your stylus on the pad will be reflected on your computer screen.

• Pen display — Probably what most people think of in terms of drawing tablets, these panels will let you see the tracks of your stylus or pen as you go. Instead of having to plug into a computer, these are standalone tablets able to produce art themselves.

• Tablet computer — iPads and their ilk are powerful minicomputers for which drawing is just one of many other functions. Often their use for art will require purchase of a pen or accessory of some sort for better control, and the creative software of your choice.

Keep these categories in mind when shopping around for a new tablet.

Can beginners use a drawing tablet?

Artists of any skill level can use a tablet. But do take your skill level into account before buying. If you're not entirely comfortable drawing without looking at your hand moving across the paper, for instance, you might find a graphics tablet a bit difficult to use, since you'll have to watch the monitor while drawing with your hand. In that case, a pen display or iPad might suit you better.

What's the best type of display for a drawing tablet?

A tablet's display is critical to performance. If you're trying to create photorealistic works of art, a high resolution is worth the price. But if you just want to practice your drawing skills on a more casual basis, a run-of-the-mill tablet with lower resolution is more cost-effective. The thickness of a display will affect parallax — the shifting of a line or object based on a person's perspective, caused by the distance (however small) between pen and interface, separated by the display. Minimising parallax will help keep perspective consistent.

How sensitive are drawing tablets?

They can be different sensitivities, but once again consider what works best for you. Some might prefer a super touch-sensitive screen that will pick up on every feather-light brush of the pen, while others will want a less responsive tablet that they can press harder on to keep a line steadier, or prevent accidental marks.

The feel of a tablet is also crucial. Obviously, it won't feel the same as drawing on paper, but the material and make of the tablet can determine how much give, friction, and glide it has. A tablet's tactile aspect is very important to consider, especially if you're someone who is very particular about your setup.

How big are drawing tablets?

Size and heft is one of the most important aspects to keep in mind — whether you want a tiny, portable thing to carry everywhere with you for sketching or a heavy-duty unit equipped with loads of extra features that will stay on your desk. The size of a tablet typically corresponds to the dimensions of its active area (i.e. the part of the tablet you can actually draw on), so in addition to portability, have a think about the size and detail of the work you intend to do. It's never fun to run out of drawing space.

What is tracking speed?

This means the lag time between stroke of your pen and the corresponding line showing up on screen. The higher the tracking speed (measured in PPS — points per second), the less the lag, and the more instant the result. And while lag is annoying at the best of times — even just in things like loading our email inboxes — it can make finer work like drawing simply impossible.

How do you choose a stylus?

A tablet sometimes comes with a stylus. If not you'll need to buy one separately. Either way, be sure to choose a stylus with a grip you like and features you need. Plus, styluses have their own distinct types: Battery-powered (thicker, needs extra batteries), rechargeable (slimmer, less reliable), and the newest EMR (wireless charging from tablet itself).

What is the best tablet for drawing?

It's always a good idea to try before you buy with a product like this. The feel of it is extremely important. We can't help with that, of course, but we can offer some options to at least get you started and help you figure out the best drawing tablet for you.

These are the best drawing tablets in 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been 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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Newbie

• Green: Ways to keep a player from reaching base

• Blue: Basketball stars in Beantown

• Purple: Schools whose location shares a theme

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: Inexperienced

• Green: Types of outs in baseball

• Blue: Boston Celtics stars

• Purple: Colleges in state capitals

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 #152 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Inexperienced - FRESH, GREEN, RAW, WISCONSIN

• Types of outs in baseball - FLY, FORCE, STRIKE, TAG

• Boston Celtics stars - BROWN, HOLIDAY, TATUM, WHITE

• Colleges in state capitals - NAVY, TEXAS, VANDERBILT, WISCONSIN

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on 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 February 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 22 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Here we (don't) go again

These words are stuck in bumper-to-bumper.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are ways to describe a driving situation you don't want to be in for too long.

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 Traffic Jam.

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

• Congestion

• Gridlock

• Blockage

• Overcrowding

• Traffic Jam

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been 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 February 22 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Historically successful sports franchises

• Green: Hair styling techniques

• Blue: Common crafting materials

• Purple: "Golden" phrases

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: Member of a Team with the Most Championships

• Green: Create Some Volume/Texture in Hair

• Blue: Supplies for Macaroni Art

• Purple: Words After "Golden"

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 #621 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Member of a Team with the Most Championships: CANADIEN, CELTIC, PACKER, YANKEE

• Create Some Volume/Texture in Hair: CRIMP, CURL, FEATHER, TEASE

• Supplies for Macaroni Art: GLITTER, GLUE, MACARONI, PAPER

• Words After "Golden": DOODLE, GOOSE, PARACHUTE, ROD

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 22

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 22 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 22, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A dairy product or skincare product.

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 C.

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

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CREAM.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 22

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.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, architecture studio Balbek Bureau has been creating a series of social initiatives under the flagship RE:Ukraine.Their different installments focus on the building of a temporary housing system, the creation of a social support and rehabilitation centre, and a series of cultural heritage preservation projects. One of them is RE:Ukraine Villages – an initiative that uses a digital constructor to preserve Ukraine's rural architecture. To gather data about the specifics of each region, volunteers have been travelling around, and using online tools such a Google Maps, to research this unique material culture. As there was no prior written knowledge on village houses in Ukraine, their destruction by shelling could mean that they are lost forever.

To fill the gaps in academic interest on the subject, RE:Ukraine Villages are bringing their findings to higher education. They have partnered with Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA), giving students the opportunity to design 3D models of rural houses (khatas) and settlements.

All photographs featured in this video, unless credited otherwise, are curtesy of old khata project – a documentary project about Ukrainian rural architecture.

Law enforcement in the country was pressuring the company to create a tool that would act like a back door into customers’ data.

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Perplexity also has a Deep Research tool now, and it's powered by a version of DeepSeek R1.

According to the announcement, the AI search engine's new tool does "in-depth research and analysis on your behalf," by crawling the web and compiles a comprehensive report of its findings. If Deep Research sounds familiar, that's because Google and OpenAI both have their own versions of the research tool for Gemini and ChatGPT respectively — yes, they're both also called Deep Research. XAI's new Grok 3 took some creative liberties and called its research tool Deepsearch.

But while Google, OpenAI and xAI's research tools rely on their own proprietary models, Perplexity uses a customized version of the open-source DeepSeek R1. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas confirmed this in a follow-up to a Feb. 3 post on X saying, "can easily enable something like Deep Research at 10-100x lower pricing, using a custom version of R1." About a week later Srinivas indicated that this is what Perplexity did by reposting replying, "done" with a checkmark emoji.

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Perplexity is offering Deep Research free of charge for its users — with limitations. Non-paying Perplexity users get free access to "limited number of answers per day," and paying subscribers get unlimited access as part of the $20 a month Pro plan. This is different from Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Grok 3 which only offer their research tools to paying users.

While Perplexity based its Deep Research off of DeepSeek's R1 model, because R1 is open-source, it means that programmers can tweak and customize it for their own purposes. Last week, Perplexity introduced its own open-source version of R1, called R1 1776, "that has been post-trained to provide uncensored, unbiased, and factual information." This is a direct response to claims that the original R1 censors responses criticizing the Chinese government.

Tweet may have been deleted

But Perplexity Deep Research is not without flaws. Decoder discovered that the tool inaccurately attributed the term "stochastic parrots" to AI researcher Gary Marcus, when in fact it was coined by Emily M. Bender in a research paper. Users have also noted that Perplexity Deep Research gives outdated and inaccurate data, which is a problem since the company has touted it as tool for investment and market analysis. Srinivas said in an X post that they're addressing the issues, adding "for finance specifically, data accuracy is a must and high stakes."

But it just goes to show that hallucination for all LLMs is a persistent problem that might not ever go away, so use with caution.

Younger readers may not remember this, but Google Maps wasn't always the default way to look up how to get places.

Way back in the day, people would use paper maps, but there was an interim period for a while where a lot of people used a website called MapQuest. Well, MapQuest is not only still around, but we've actually got a reason to use it in 2025. Sort of. If you go to a special Gulf of Mexico-themed part of MapQuest, you can type in anything you want, and it'll generate a map that renames the Gulf of Mexico after whatever you typed in. For example:

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is adding weather incident reporting I had to, sorry. Credit: Screenshot: MapQuest

There's not really a lot more to say about this. You can name it whatever you want, which is also official U.S. government policy these days. All of this was brought on by the fact that some people have apparently decided the Gulf of Mexico is called something else now, and Google Maps actually complied and changed the name in that app. Apple did the same thing, too.

Have fun, folks.

Meta's top executives may see huge bonuses in the coming years, despite the company's forceful trimming of its workforce amid what CEO Mark Zuckerberg expects to be a more challenging year for the company.

According to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Meta is proposing a new target bonus percentage that could see certain corporate executives receiving a bonus of 200 percent of their base salary. The number is more than double the 75 percent figure under the company's previous plan. Zuckerberg, for what its worth, isn't included in the new bonus structure.

SEE ALSO: Smooth, silent, strange: What it's really like to hail a robotaxi

Meta recently recently reduced its employee stock options by 10 percent, Business Insider reported, as its market value has gone up.

On Feb. 10, Meta released an internal memo to its workforce announcing the company would begin notifying "low-performing" employees that they were being laid off, part of a sweeping 5 percent cut to teams across the U.S., Europe, and Asia that would see up to 4,000 Meta workers lose their jobs. A previously leaked memo from Zuckerberg explained the cuts were an efficiency effort ahead of what would be an "intense year" for the tech giant. Meanwhile, the company has increased the number of employees working on generative AI.

Shortly after the layoffs, affected employees took to business social networking platform LinkedIn to share their experiences at Meta and push back against the corporation's "low-performing" characterization, harnessing the platform's #OpenToWork tag in their own defense. Last year, amid even larger workforce cuts, Meta employees took to platforms like TikTok to fight the company's "efficiency" moves.

Do you have a computer or smartphone that's easy to repair? Or, when your laptop or phone needs service, will you be forced to buy a whole new device?

A new report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund takes a look at just how repairable laptops and smartphones are from some of the biggest computer companies in the world and graded them with a repairability score.

One notable stat from the report is that while most smartphones have become easier to repair compared to last year's report, laptops have moved in the opposite direction. HP laptops, for example, are harder to repair than they were in previous years.

Asus tops the laptop repairability list

Only one computer company received a grade in the A's for laptop repairability and that's Asus with an A- score. 

Acer was close behind with a B+, followed by Dell, Microsoft, and Samsung, with each receiving a grade of B-. HP received a C, followed by Apple with a C-.

SEE ALSO: Take $300 off the Asus ProArt PZ13 laptop at Best Buy and unleash your creativity

While this is an improvement for Apple when compared to previous reports, the company still falls into last place when it comes to laptop repairability.

Lenovo received a failing grade of F. However, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund noted that it failed Lenovo because it was only able to test one device due to the fact that the company did not provide the "full French repairability index for 12 of the 13 models available in both the U.S. and France."

France requires companies to make repairability scores and information available to the general public. A survey found that 86 percent of French consumers utilize the repair score when making purchasing decisions. The report could not properly grade Lenovo without this information. For what its worth, Lenovo received a C grade in the 2024 repairability report

A tie on the smartphone repairability list

When it comes to the smartphone repairability rankings, Apple and Google are both tied at the top of the field with a B- grade.

Motorola comes in with a C+. Samsung is in last with a C-.

Right to Repair

On the smartphone end of things, it appears that the Right to Repair movement has had an effect. Longtime iPhone users might recall just how difficult it used to be to repair Apple's smartphone device. 

Right to Repair is a legal right for consumers to be able to modify and repair products that they purchase and requires tech companies to provide access to service information and affordable replacement parts.

However, while the Right to Repair has been successful in changing how smartphone manufacturers operate, it appears the movement needs to shift focus towards laptops where repairability appears to be lagging if not outright regressing.

Academy Award–winning director Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War) turns his eye toward cult leader Charles Manson in the upcoming true crime Netflix documentary CHAOS: The Manson Murders.

SEE ALSO: The 30 best true crime documentaries on Max right now

Based on the nonfiction book by journalist Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, CHAOS reexamines the Manson family's 1969 killing spree with input from O'Neill himself. O'Neill began researching the case in 1999 for an assignment, uncovering over the ensuing decades a sprawling conspiracy that includes CIA mind control experiments like MK-Ultra, LSD, and even Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi. With these findings in mind, CHAOS looks to answer whether the official story of the Manson murders is actually the whole truth.

"It was managed and manipulated," O'Neill says of the Manson story. "I know that what we were told isn't what happened."

Later in the trailer, O'Neill claims, "Manson became exactly what the CIA was trying to create."

To dive deeper into the story, watch the full trailer above.

CHAOS: The Manson Murders hits Netflix March 7.

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Buying new accessories is the quickest (and easiest) way to transform your gaming setup. I had a friend in college who did this so often that she ended up going viral on social media. She now designs her own controllers and works as a Senior Internal Communications and Experience Specialist at Electronic Arts.

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SEE ALSO: The best keyboard for upgrading your PC gaming experience

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In recent days, the anglerfish has become a symbol of hope and light for the extremely online — which is very nice but not exactly based on truth.

Last week, scientists spotted an anglerfish near the surface of the water off the coast of Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands, far from the depths of its usual home. Anglerfish typically live in the deep sea and are famous for using a bright little orb at the end of its lure to attract prey and eat them with razor-like teeth. You might remember this guy from Finding Nemo.

The fish aren't as big as you might think, and the specific fish that was spotted off the Islands was only about six inches long. A little baby, one might say. The internet saw this little baby leaving the depths of its home and floating toward the sun and gave it a bit of its own story — albeit one that's likely pretty far from the truth. One post on X said, "She finally saw a light she didn’t create." (Anglerfish don't really create their own light, another user pointed out; it's produced by tiny glowing bacteria called photobacterium on its lure).

People created fan art, poems, and TikTok videos and even got tattoos depicting the anglerfish's "search for the sun." One of the most-liked images shows a painting of an anglerfish rising to the surface with the words, "And for my last day, I will go see the sun."

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

It's all a very sweet message. But, as many scientists and anglerfish aficionados online have pointed out, the likely reasons this little fish went to the surface are far less romantic than a final, life-long dream to see the sun.

"It’s possible that the anglerfish ate a fish with a swim bladder or gas gland, and as that gas kept expanding, it drew the predator upward in the water column," Bruce Robison, a senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, told National Geographic. "It’s the sort of thing that, once you get started, it’s hard to control it."

Ben Frable, the senior collection manager of marine vertebrates at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in Southern California, told the New York Times that the anglerfish in the video seemed to be sick, stressed, or injured.

"A lot of things could be going on," Frable told the Times. "The animal could have been in distress, or worked its way into shallow water accidentally, or was being pursued by a predator."

There's no reason to believe this animal was moving toward the surface because it wanted to see the sun or because it spent its life with some unbelievable drive for warmth. But, hey, the art is good.