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TL;DR: You can get a 3-pack of the KeySmart SmartCard wallet tracker cards on sale for $79.97 with free shipping for a limited time — that’s less than $27 apiece.
Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard (3-Pack) $79.97You swear you just had your wallet, but now it’s missing in action — again. It’s time to admit you might need a little backup. This credit card-sized tracker works with the same tracking network as Apple’s AirTag, except it fits snugly in your wallet.
There are other reasons to grab this wallet tracker card over the name brand, like the fact it’s cheaper during our spring sale. Grab a 3-pack of the KeySmart SmartCards for $79.97 with free shipping (reg. $119.97). Plus, if you wish to use them in luggage, you don’t need to purchase keychain holders since they have a lanyard slot (or just slip it in a pocket inside).
Why you should get this instead of an AirTagStill wondering why we’re obsessed with this seemingly random tracker card — beyond the savings and more convenient shape? Even though it’s not Apple brand, it works with the same Find My app on your Apple devices (just like the AirTag). This means you can:
Play a sound through the card to locate it
Get notified when you leave it behind
Just like any electronic, it’ll eventually run dead. Those with the AirTag need to go out and buy replacement batteries, but if you have the SmartCard, you can recharge it with a Qi-enabled wireless charger.
Track your wallet with the KeySmart SmartCards for $79.97 (reg. $119.97). Share 3-pack with friends and family, or use them in your wallet, luggage, and passport.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Mashable readers can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for only £14.29 (reg. £158.20) through 30 March — that’s a 90% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro £14.29 at the Mashable ShopIf you thought AI would only be a fad, take a look at Microsoft. Thanks to Windows, countless computers are now equipped with Microsoft Copilot, their latest AI technology. But something even cooler? You don’t have to get a new device to get Copilot — just upgrade to Windows 11.
And, if you’re going for it, go all the way and get the Pro version with the most features, like remote desktop access and hard drive encryption. We have a deal on Windows 11 Pro keys for only £14.29 (reg. £158.20), and each one-time purchase upgrades two compatible PCs.
AI in Windows 11We realize you can use AI chatbots, so what makes Windows Copilot special? For one, Copilot is built using a custom version of GPT-4, so it’s like getting the premium version of ChatGPT for free.
There are also many perks of having Copilot built into your PC:
Ask it to change system settings instead of finding them yourself
Summarise web pages without having to ‘copy and paste’
Have it set reminders, schedule meetings, or draft emails
Already have Windows 11 Home, but curious about what Pro delivers? Remote desktop access becomes super handy in a pinch, as does BitLocker device encryption in case of device loss or theft. You’ll also get Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for other professional testing and tasks.
Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for £14.29 (reg. £158.20) until 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT at the Mashable Shop.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Live stream Manchester United vs. Fulham in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The FA Cup is a welcome distraction for Manchester United right now. Things are exceptionally tough in the Premier League for Ruben Amorim's side, but they can forget all about that when they take on Fulham this weekend.
If you want to watch Manchester United vs. Fulham in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Manchester United vs. Fulham?Manchester United vs. Fulham in the FA Cup starts at 4:30 p.m. GMT on March 2. This fixture takes place at Old Trafford.
How to watch Manchester United vs. Fulham for freeManchester United vs. Fulham in the FA Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you can use a VPN to unlock BBC iPlayer. 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 Manchester United vs. Fulham by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Manchester United vs. Fulham for free from anywhere in the world
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 Manchester United vs. Fulham 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.
Stream Manchester United vs. Fulham in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Newcastle United vs. Brighton in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The FA Cup fifth round includes a number of tricky matchups, including Newcastle United vs. Brighton. It's difficult to pick a winner in this battle between two Premier League sides. Both teams will believe that they can progress and challenge for the trophy.
If you want to watch Newcastle United vs. Brighton in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Newcastle United vs. Brighton?Newcastle United vs. Brighton in the FA Cup starts at 1:45 p.m. GMT on March 2. This fixture takes place at St James' Park.
How to watch Newcastle United vs. Brighton for freeNewcastle United vs. Brighton in the FA Cup 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.
Access a free live stream of Newcastle United vs. Brighton by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Live stream Newcastle United vs. Brighton for free from anywhere in the world
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 Newcastle United vs. Brighton 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.
Stream Newcastle United vs. Brighton in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream New Zealand vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
India have looked very impressive in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. They've won their first two games in the group stage, but can they make it three from three against New Zealand? Fans can follow all the action without spending anything.
If you want to watch New Zealand vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is New Zealand vs. India?New Zealand vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on March 2. This ODI takes place at the Dubai International Stadium.
How to watch New Zealand vs. India for freeThe 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
UK — Sky Sports
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:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Pakistan
Live stream New Zealand vs. India for free from anywhere in the world
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 New Zealand vs. India (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 New Zealand vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.
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 deletedEach 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 deletedPlayers 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 categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Hockey
Green: Types of baseball stadiums
Blue: Share a first name
Purple: Teams in the same city
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: NHL teams
Green: Words used in MLB stadium names
Blue: Tonys
Purple: Seattle _______
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 #160 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayNHL teams - AVALANCHE, FLYERS, PENGUINS, SHARKS
Words used in MLB stadium names - CENTRE, FIELD, PARK, STADIUM
Tonys - GWYNN, HAWK, REALI, ROMO
Seattle _____ - KRAKEN, REIGN, SLEW, SUPERSONICS
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 MashableBy 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 March 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 2 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Getting closureThese words might appear on clothes.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe words are ways to close things, like clothes.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Fasteners.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 2Clasp
Button
Snap
Velcro
Zipper
Buckle
Magnet
Fasteners
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 deletedEach 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 deletedPlayers 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 March 2 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Settings you can put your phone on
Green: Escaping or avoiding
Blue: "W" in different contexts
Purple: Words that can precede "string"
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Cellphone Modes
Green: Evade
Blue: What "W" Might Stand For
Purple: ___String
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 #630 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayCellphone Modes: AIRPLANE, DO NOT DISTURB, RING, VIBRATE
Evade: DODGE, ESCAPE, LOSE, SHAKE
What "W" Might Stand For: TUNGSTEN, WATT, WEST, WIN
___String: DRAW, HAM, HEART, SHOE
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 March 2Are 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 March 2 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 March 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A divine figure worshipped in mythology or religion.
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 D.
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...
DEITY.
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 March 2Reporting 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.
TL;DR: Live stream Panthers vs. Sharks in the 2025 NRL for free on 9Now. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Penrith Panthers are kicking off their NRL title defense against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, but in unfamiliar territory. Las Vegas is hosting this first-round fixture between two strong sides, with fans desperate to catch the likes of Nathan Cleary and Addin Fonua-Blake in action.
If you want to watch Panthers vs. Sharks in the 2025 NRL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Panthers vs. Sharks?Panthers vs. Sharks in the 2025 NRL starts at 3:30 p.m. AEDT on March 2. This fixture takes place at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.
How to watch Panthers vs. Sharks for freePanthers vs. Sharks in the 2025 NRL is available to live stream for free on 9Now.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you can use a VPN to unlock 9Now. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Panthers vs. Sharks by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit 9Now
Live stream Panthers vs. Sharks for free from anywhere in the world
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 Panthers vs. Sharks 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 9Now?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is 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 Panthers vs. Sharks in the 2025 NRL for free with ExpressVPN.
Save 85%: Lifetime access to 1TB of Koofr cloud storage is on sale for A$188 using coupon code KOOFR through 30 March at the Mashable Shop.
Tired of juggling multiple cloud storage subscriptions? Koofr Cloud Storage is here to simplify your digital life. With a one-time payment of A$188, you’ll gain lifetime access to 1TB of cloud storage, ideal for securely storing photos, videos, documents, and more.
Unlike traditional subscription-based services, Koofr offers advanced file management, centralized access across platforms, and robust privacy — all without recurring fees. Whether you’re a professional managing large projects or a casual user keeping precious memories safe, Koofr’s robust features offer a seamless experience.
Koofr combines functionality, privacy, and affordability into one powerful package. It’s the ideal solution for anyone looking for reliable cloud storage without the hassle of ongoing payments.
This platform was made to help you organize your files with tools like Duplicate Finder to remove clutter, advanced renaming options, and customizable link appearances for easy sharing. It can also integrate with other platforms. Access files from Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive, all in one place to streamline your digital life.
The ample 1TB is enough space to hold about 250,000 high-quality photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million document pages. And the cross-compatibility makes this a very convenient option. Use Koofr on your smartphone, desktop, or WebDav. Your files are always at your fingertips.
Take advantage of a terrific price on lifetime access to 1TB of Koofr cloud storage while it's on sale for A$188. Just head to the Mashable Shop and use coupon code KOOFR at checkout through 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) A$188.00 at the Mashable ShopSurrounding the Andromeda galaxy, three dozen tiny galaxies aren't behaving the way scientists expected.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has trained on Andromeda for a deep dive into how its orbiting satellite galaxies formed and changed over time. What they found revealed a population of dwarf galaxies that are quite unlike the ones circling the Milky Way.
Some 2.5 million light-years away, these space neighborhoods formed the bulk of their stars long ago. But rather than halting production, as computer simulations would suggest, they continued slowly making new stars out of a stockpile of gas.
"Star formation really continued to much later times, which is not at all what you would expect for these dwarf galaxies," said Alessandro Savino, an astronomer at UC Berkeley, in a statement. "No one knows what to make of that so far."
SEE ALSO: A tiny galaxy ceased making stars for billions of years. Then it rebooted. Hubble captured a bird's eye view of the known dwarf galaxies orbiting the large Andromeda galaxy. These 36 smaller satellites are circled in yellow. Credit: NASA / ESA / Alessandro Savino / Joseph DePasquale / Akira Fujii DSS2In the past, scientists primarily observed dwarf galaxies near the Milky Way, but they were never sure whether those were representative of others in the universe. That's why they pointed Hubble, which orbits Earth, at the closest large galaxy, which has its own bevy of satellite galaxies.
The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, is based on observations from over 1,000 telescope orbits. The sweeping science campaign allowed astronomers to build a detailed 3D map of Andromeda's 36 dwarf galaxies and reconstruct how they made new stars over the 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang. The images have provided a unique bird' s-eye view of Andromeda and its environment.
In addition to the dwarf galaxies' prolonged star-bearing years, scientists were surprised to find that half were sitting on the same plane and moving in the same direction. However, mergers and collisions usually result in objects traveling in inconsistent directions.
"That's weird," said Daniel Weisz, the principal investigator at UC Berkeley, in a statement. "It was actually a total surprise to find the satellites in that configuration, and we still don't fully understand why they appear that way."
Astronomers have learned that galaxies tend to start out small and grow larger by collecting gas and merging with other galaxies. But most dwarf galaxies that made stars before the so-called Epoch of Reionization never got back to business after. Reionization was an era of major transition that occurred more than 13 billion years ago. It was when the baby universe transformed from a neutral state to one filled with free electrons and protons.
The above animation gives a fly-around view of the Andromeda galaxy and its surrounding dwarf galaxies, based on Hubble data.
Because most of the tiny galaxies turned off their star-making activity in the first few billion years of the universe, many scientists have thought reionization was the reason. However, some researchers are calling that idea into question.
Astronomers suspect Andromeda had a major collision with another galaxy relatively recently, perhaps 2 to 5 billion years ago. The Milky Way, on the other hand, probably hasn't had a run-in with another galaxy for 8 to 10 billion years. Andromeda's collision — and its more massive scale — could explain the galaxy's exotic and diverse satellite system.
The study has only deepened the team's speculation that dwarf galaxies aren't all like the ones close to home. They can have a wide range of fates, the researchers posit, and it'll take more observations to ascertain why.
"Everything scattered in the Andromeda system is very asymmetric and perturbed. It does appear that something significant happened not too long ago," Weisz said. "Our work has shown that low-mass galaxies in other ecosystems have followed different evolutionary paths than what we know from the Milky Way satellite galaxies."
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 MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, March 1, 2025:
AcrossChocolate/marshmallow sandwichThe answer is Smore.
The answer is Laden.
The answer is Candles.
The answer is Alabama.
The answer is Not a bit.
The answer is Melee.
The answer is Ash.
The answer is Slaloms.
The answer is Manatee.
The answer is Oddball.
The answer is Relabel.
The answer is Enemies.
The answer is Can.
The answer is Sat.
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 GamesAre 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.
I have something to admit upfront before we get into this. And don't come for me in the comments, please.
I've only seen the first Twilight film, so I can't really say that I'm a true fan. For what it's worth, I really enjoyed that movie. Especially that scene where Bella struggles to use a ketchup bottle.
"Well, then, why'd you spend $220 on the Twilight Cullen House Lego set, Dylan?" you're probably saying to yourself. It's simple: My wife is a Twilight superfan, and I thought it'd be a lot of fun for the both of us to undertake the massive, 2,000-plus-piece replica of the Cullen's modern forest mansion that Lego released in mid-February. Now, that's quite the chunk of change for a box of plastic bricks, but as we constructed the three-story behemoth, we quickly realized that we were getting way more out of the experience than just our money's worth.
SEE ALSO: Why Pharrell Williams made his biopic ‘Piece by Piece’ a Lego movieAfter almost a month of waiting since we placed our preorder, our long-awaited shipment arrived at our door. I shook the box just to be sure, and from the sound of it, there were definitely Lego pieces in there. We cut open the package and marveled at the set in all its glory, albeit feeling somewhat nervous. Were we ready to take on a project like this? How long would it take? Would Jacob's minifigure come with a pair of ripped denim shorts? We were going to find out. We waited until the following weekend so we'd have as much time as we needed, and then began our pre-build preparations.
The box that the set came in was, not surprisingly, quite large. For scale, here's a photo of my dog sitting next to it:
Unfortunately, Stevie couldn't help us build the set. Credit: Dylan Haas / MashableAs you can see, the box itself is almost exactly one Stevie tall, which is pretty damn big. Upon opening the box, we were greeted with a whole lot of Lego pieces (also not surprising). Thankfully, the over-2,000-piece set was neatly portioned out into 18 separate bags, all numbered to coincide with the included booklet's step-by-step instructions. That was a huge relief to the two of us — we'd never tackled a Lego set of this size before, so we didn't know what to expect when it came to the actual process of putting everything together. But, it seemed like our hands were going to be held all the way to the finish line. Splitting each section up into manageable and understandable chunks kept us from feeling overwhelmed by the sea of colored plastic that was strewn across our kitchen table.
The workspace. Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable A few hours later... Credit: Dylan Haas / MashableWe carefully opened the first bag that Lego kindly meal-prepped for us, which included a brick removal tool in case we made any mistakes and a sheet of stickers that would be used on specific pieces throughout the process. We emptied out the pieces from the first group and started making our way through the instructions, which kicked things off with Charlie Swan's truck. It was a breeze to put together, thanks to the easy-to-follow instructions, and looked great when it was done. It even has working wheels!
Then, it was time to move on to the house, which got a bit more complicated. The instructions were still just as simple, but our method of dumping all the bricks from each bag onto the table wasn't working anymore. Too many of them looked alike, and it would take us minutes just to find the one part we needed. The small moments of panic that would set in whenever it seemed like we were missing a piece weren't fun, either. We never were, and each bag had some extras in it just in case something did vanish into the void.
Something tells me that a lot of people will be happy with the inclusion of Bella's dad. Credit: Dylan Haas / MashableSo, we changed our plan of attack. Going forward, every time we opened a new bag, we'd carefully sift and sort through each plastic piece, grouping them with their identical cohorts. This way, we'd know exactly where everything was and how many of each piece we had at all times. Once we got the hang of our new game plan, we started zooming through the rest of the set. (Well, relatively zooming. It still took us about eight hours to complete from start to finish.)
We were a well-oiled machine, quickly glancing back and forth between the instruction booklet and the miniature Cullen household, adding to it each time. We worked on different sections simultaneously and with finesse as if we'd been doing it our whole lives. We were officially in The Flow State™. Is this what Lego hobbyists felt like all the time?
Brick by brick, floor by floor. Credit: Dylan Haas / MashableWe constructed the compound literally from the ground up, starting from the foundation all the way to the third floor. As we built, we were constantly impressed by the sheer detail that went into the items on each floor of the house — stuff you wouldn't see unless you opened the whole thing up and inspected it closely, like the Cullen's wall of graduation caps or their grand piano. Those items require you to be a bit more surgical while building due to their small pieces, but the result is super rewarding.
A part of the building experience that I personally loved was the tension of not always knowing what you were building right away. The instructions are careful not to spoil the end product before you get there yourself, so a lot of times, you're staring at a strange grouping of bricks, wondering if it is, in fact, anything at all. It's a great exercise in relinquishing control and trusting the process, which can get especially challenging when it seems like whatever you're building just isn't coming together. It always came together, though. I feel like there's a life lesson somewhere in that.
“You better hold on tight, spider monkey.” Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable Another one of my favorite details is the Cullen's grand piano. Credit: Dylan Haas / MashableWe kept progressing through the set, eventually hitting autopilot. Now, we were well-versed enough to multitask — 50 percent building, and the other 50 percent just yapping. My wife would talk me through all the Twilight movie references I didn't understand, and perk up with excitement whenever I was able to call one out myself. It was a joy to connect with her over what Lego detractors would refer to as a children's toy. It felt nostalgic, like we were in a simpler time. For those next few hours, I wasn't thinking cynically, which feels wild to say in 2025. I wasn't thinking about planes falling out of the sky or about the dire condition of our political landscape. I was only thinking about how each of these tiny plastic pieces would snap together, how I was enjoying quality time with my favorite person, and how, at least at this moment in time, everything felt like it was OK.
Look, I’m not saying that you should bury your head and ignore what’s going on in the world — actually, I advise heavily against that. But if the state of it all is getting to be overwhelming, maybe I am saying that you should pick up a Lego set and just see what happens. You might be surprised by how therapeutic it can be.
SEE ALSO: 33 years to read 'Twilight'? This TikTok account isn't in a hurry.Before we knew it, we were putting the finishing touches on the set, which involved making a wolf version of Jacob and the verdant surrounding area of the Cullen abode. We also put together all of the character Minifigures, including Carlisle, Alice, Rosalie, Charlie, human-form Jacob, and, of course, Bella and Edward. The latter two even came with an extra piece that lets you attach Bella to Edward's back so you can perfectly reenact the iconic tree-climbing scene.
The final product. Credit: Dylan Haas / MashableFinally, our job was done. We carefully lifted the replica and placed it on our bookshelf where we could appreciate its beauty. We stepped back to enjoy the view, proud of the work we'd put into it and feeling unexpectedly reinvigorated. I'm not trying to sound dramatic — it's not like this Lego set fundamentally changed us as people. But, it was a moment of respite during a time filled with uncertainty, and that was enough.
If you haven't already gleaned that I think Lego's Twilight collaboration is absolutely worth the money, consider this my confirmation. I'm most certainly a Lego and a Twilight guy now. So, I guess it's time for me to watch the rest of those movies.
And in case you were still wondering: No, Jacob's minifigure did not come with a pair of ripped denim shorts.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego 'Twilight' Cullen House Lego set $219.99 at LegoThere's a lot to enjoy with an Amazon Prime membership: a plentiful streaming service full of acclaimed originals, same-day shipping, and Grubhub+. But that's just a sampling of the extensive benefits for members. Prime members who also happen to be bookworms can maximize their monthly reading with the Amazon First Reads program.
Similar to Book of the Month, every month, Amazon First Reads drops a new collection of discounted titles. However, unlike Book of the Month, these books are totally free for Prime Members. Here's everything you need to know about Amazon First Reads.
What is Amazon First Reads?Amazon First Reads is a monthly program in which eight editor-selected books are offered free to Prime members. Members are allowed to choose one book per month, which is then added to their library. Non-Prime members can still join in on the fun, but they have to pay $1.99 per book.
Featured Amazon First Reads books are totally free at checkout for Prime members. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon / Mashable compositeSome months, like Prime Day's July and Black Friday's November, offer two free books. And in others, you can select a free short story with your one free e-book.
To select your book, visit the Amazon First Reads home page to browse the options. As a Prime Member, you'll see the option to "read now for free " when you go to purchase the titles. Once you make your selection, it'll automatically be added to your Kindle library.
Which books are featured in Amazon First Reads?Among the eight books selected each month, the book editors at Amazon provide a variety of genres for every reader. The books are typically new or soon-to-be-released books — many of the books are published under one of Amazon's publishing imprints, so they're exclusive to Amazon's shelves.
In addition to the eight full-length books offered each month, there's typically a short story available, too, exclusive to read through the Kindle Store. You'll find familiar names in the First Reads collections. Past authors include Abby Jimenez, Rebecca Yarros, Lee Child, Fredrik Backman, Alice Hoffman, and Dean Koontz.
Kindle Unlimited members are able to read most of the previous First Reads picks for free, so if there are multiple each month that you want to add to your digital bookshelf, consider a Kindle Unlimited membership.
Do you need a Kindle for Amazon First Reads?All of the books selected are technically purchased through the Kindle Store. But does that mean you need a Kindle to read them?
Nope! No Kindle e-reader is necessary to read books collected through First Reads. All books purchased through the Kindle Store are available in the Kindle app, which can be read on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
However, if you're asking if you should get a Kindle, that's a different question. While a Kindle is not required to enjoy the bounty of the Kindle store, it is our favorite e-reader brand if you're in the market.
Kindle Paperwhite $159.99 at AmazonWhile social platforms like Instagram and TikTok seem to rule the internet, some prefer quieter sites.
"I get very burnt out from social media a lot," 19-year-old Lauren told Mashable. Lauren prefers to chat with her long-distance boyfriend, Charlie, on Discord, but they met on another non-major social site: Quotev.
SEE ALSO: They met on Tumblr, and their relationship outlasted their accountsQuotev, formerly Quizazz, is a quiz-making and fan fiction website aimed at teens. Lauren and Charlie met there nearly five years ago, when they were both 15, and they've been together ever since.
Bonding over a passion for writingLauren and Charlie's relationship started when she noticed his writing on Quotev.
"This was before I even knew I wanted to go into journalism," said Lauren, who's since published work in publications like The Nation and Teen Vogue. "I was still very impressed with his writing. I was like, 'I need to keep in touch with this person. Like, this person is really cool. I want to be this person's friend,'" and that's how it started.
They chatted on Quotev for a while (the site used to have more social functions that no longer exist), but eventually moved to Discord and texting as they built more trust. Now, they talk every day for hours about school, their lives, and their fandoms — even though their interests don't always align.
"We do both love writing, and we both focus on that," she said. She discovered she wanted to go into journalism when she was 16. "We obviously have that to kind of bond us together."
"We talk every day for hours so we share a certain type of mundaneness," she said, "which is really nice. And I kind of prefer that over the interests part of it."
Lauren didn't tell her parents about Charlie due to the nature of how they met.
"We met really young, and when you're really young, you can't exactly come up to your parents and be like, 'Hey, I found this guy online that I'm dating now,' because there's a lot of safety concerns in that," she said. The concerns are valid and should be considered, Lauren said, but when she was 15, she wasn't thinking about that.
Lauren still hasn't told her parents about the relationship, however, because they're both queer and trans. Lauren uses both she and they pronouns.
"I'm very open about it anywhere else," like the internet, "but, yeah, it's still a bridge that I have to cross, that I will have to," Lauren said.
That's also part of the reason Lauren and Charlie haven't met in person yet. They both live in the American South, but because of circumstances, they haven't taken their relationship offline.
That's going to change this year, however.
Meeting in person for the first time"We do have plans to meet this year," Lauren said. She's graduating from community college in May, and Charlie plans to attend the ceremony. Once Lauren transfers to a four-year college, they will look into moving in together as she'll be living off-campus.
"Hopefully, exciting things will be happening," she said.
While she's excited to finally meet Charlie in person, she's also nervous because he's a secret from her parents.
"I will need to figure out some sort of solution," Lauren said. She said she could lie and say Charlie is just a friend, but lying all this time has been exhausting.
"I've always hidden this anyway, so it's not just the five years," she said. "Hiding my queerness has been a lifelong thing for me that I'm getting very frustrated and tired of doing, but at the same time, that fear is just still so high."
This is, unfortunately, not entirely uncommon. According to research gathered by The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth advocacy organization, one-third of LGBTQ young people face parental rejection, while another one-third don't come out until they're adults.
"The truth will come out eventually, but I don't know how I feel about that," Lauren said.
Lauren also calls the prospect of meeting Charlie surreal, as they've been together but apart for so long. "We are so used to being online and so we both always wanted to be together in person, but it's just like we're so close now, after talking about this since forever," she said.
While some might gawk at an online-only relationship, Lauren feels very lucky to have met her boyfriend.
"Being almost 20 years old, people will see a relationship like mine, almost five years entirely online, high school sweethearts, something like that, and they'll kind of be like, 'Um, how did you do this?'" she said.
But she doesn't regret meeting Charlie on Quotev. "Even though we haven't met in person, it's very hard, if anything happened to us, would I try to find someone else online? No, I wouldn't. But that doesn't mean that I regret how things are now. I just hope for a future where we're together in person, and we're still comfortable."
TL;DR: Get a refurbished 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) on sale for just $229.97. Act fast, because we have fewer than 50 available.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) $229.97MacBooks rarely come cheap, so this is a deal you don’t want to miss.
Get a refurbished 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) that was originally $999 laptop for just $230, plus free shipping.
This MacBook received a grade “A” rating — the highest possible. Plus, on the off chance you run into any issues, your purchase is backed by a 90-day warranty.
Let’s talk about your new-to-you laptopYou arrived just in time to grab this MacBook Air deal, but you don’t have much time to grab it before they’re gone. So here’s what you need to know before you check out:
An Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM are enough for everyday tasks and multitasking, but not for running intense programs
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Enjoy a 13.3-inch display with Intel HD Graphics 6000
Get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge
Hurry — get your MacBook at a steep discount of $230 with free shipping before they’re all gone (reg. $999).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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All-in-one ad-blocking and privacy protectionAdGuard handily eliminates ads from your devices, so it's no surprise that it boasts 1,400+ five-star ratings. It's designed to remove distracting banners, intrusive pop-ups, or irritating YouTube ads for pet food, but you can also create filters to customize your experience on different platforms and manually block any missed ads.
In addition to streamlining your browsing, streaming, and gaming, AdGuard acts as a digital bodyguard, shielding your digital activity from trackers and analyzers. It even protects your devices from harmful malware and phishing scams, keeping your digital world safe and secure.
Since this AdGuard plan works on up to nine Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices simultaneously, it's perfect for anyone with an entire Apple or PC ecosystem—and families. Those with children will appreciate this ad-blocker's parental controls. You'll be able to restrict content that is inappropriate for your kids, ensuring they can only watch Peppa Pig and Bluey or access other child-friendly content.
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Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard Software AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
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