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Imposing bears teem in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. But few dare enter its Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

In 1912, a volcano was born here. It erupted for nearly three days. Its ominous ash clouds left the town of Kodiak, 100 miles away, in profound darkness, nearly obscuring lanterns held at arms' length. The valley itself was suffocated by a gargantuan load of up to nearly 700 feet of grainy volcanic ash. That ash remains there today. The once verdant land was transformed into a desolate moonscape. For years, potent columns of steam rose from the hot rocky ash, the "smokes" that lent the region its name.

It was the biggest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.

"I'm in awe of how large that event was," Patrick Whelley, a NASA geologist, told Mashable. "What a drastic change in landscape."

This year, Whelley co-led an expedition into the valley with a team of scientists. They investigated how this land reflects similar environments on other planets, like Mars, and the harsh, seemingly unlikely, places that might harbor life on other worlds.

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

Such a journey isn't for the meek.

"Wind blows abrasive ash that irritates the eyes and lungs. Your food, no matter how carefully prepared, always seems to be gritty," Mike Fitz, a former Katmai ranger who often ventured into the valley, told Mashable. "Pumice and ash always threaten to get into your footwear where it can abrade your skin raw."

Exploration of the valley has a price. But it comes with unmatched rewards.

"The land is wild and raw and fascinating."

"On a calm day, the silence is immense," Fitz, now a naturalist for the wildlife livestreamers explore.org, said. "I've experienced natural quiet so great on calm days at Novarupta [the volcano that erupted in 1912] that the sound of a zipper on a jacket or tent seems like an intrusion."

"The land is wild and raw and fascinating," he said.

Novarupta doesn't look like a classic mountainous volcano. Since 1912, it has existed as a cooled dome of lava 1,235 feet (380 meters) wide and 211 feet (65 meters) high. Credit: National Park Service Looking for life as we don't know it

Amid the heated 1960s Space Race, NASA sent astronauts to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. They encountered wasted land, blanketed in volcanic rock, somewhat like the moon. (Indeed, upon later stepping foot on the surface of the moon, Buzz Aldrin marveled: "Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation." ) In the valley, the future moon explorers collected geologic samples, and learned how to convey their finds to scientists.

Over half a century later, in June, NASA geochemist Heather Graham entered this remote Alaskan realm to scour the environment for the types of life that may exist on worlds beyond ours — planets and moons. Except Graham isn't searching for familiar signs of life, like strands of genetic material. Rather, Graham seeks the chemical activities that could support life — particularly life elsewhere that might create energy and thrive in ways different from organisms on Earth.

"We're really thinking about life as we don't know it," Graham told Mashable.

"We're really thinking about life as we don't know it."

That's why Graham, and NASA's Goddard Instrument Field Team, or GIFT, endeavor to such places. They're remote, largely untrammeled, and are the closest environments approaching something extraterrestrial on our planet.

"Look out your window," said Graham. "There's literally life everywhere. The whole point of me going to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is it's so hard to get away from life."

Indeed, from its cataclysmic inception, the valley seemed a harsh, untamed, unearthly realm. "This Valley appeared to be on another planet that was in the process of formation," wrote Robert F. Griggs, a scientist who discovered and documented the steaming Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on a National Geographic Society expedition in 1916. (While we were not granted permission to show Griggs' historic images here, they are available to see on Katmai National Park and Preserve's website and this Park Service publication.)

"This Valley appeared to be on another planet that was in the process of formation."

When Novarupta blew in 1912, it pressed the restart button in the valley. Even water vaporized. So it's a rare place to sleuth for effects that life could have had on this new environment. Could such microbes have left clues that they harnessed energy using these fresh geologic ingredients, brewed deep inside Earth?

To find out, Graham, as shown below, inspected now-quiet fumaroles — vents where hot volcanic gasses are emitted. Graham assessed these features to see if any materials are different (and potentially altered) from the fresh rock blown out of the volcano. She looked for the presence of accumulated microorganisms, collected samples, and sent them to a microbiologist to see who it is. (We'll have to wait to find out; the results are pending.)

Ultimately, the search for these hints of life inform astrobiologists like Graham — who investigate the possible origins and existence of life beyond Earth — about how we should look for life on other worlds.

On the recent trip to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Heather Graham looks for evidence of past microbes that potentially lived around a fumarole. Credit: NASA / Caela Barry NASA astronauts in the 1960s investigating volcanic rocks in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Credit: NASA

After all, all life needs an energy source. If something dwells in the oceans of Enceladus, a Saturnian moon that shoots plumes from a subsurface ocean into space, it might exploit chemicals in ways far different than most life on Earth. Or in ways we can't yet imagine.

"The possibility space for life is much greater than our sliver of biology," Graham said.

A journey into the desolate valley

Often, NASA's Goddard Instrument Field Team can drive relatively close to field sites. But in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, there are no roads.

A lifted school bus, capable of driving through rivers, ferried them to the foot of the valley. But then the scientists were on foot. "It's an intimidating landscape," Whelley, the NASA geologist who co-led the trip, said.

A party of 12 hiked some 16 miles to get near Novarupta, which required fording wild, at times unpredictable rivers, including the River Lethe, an ash-filled waterway. "Drowning in them is statistically the most dangerous thing about the Valley," Fitz, a former Katmai ranger, noted. (Writer's note: I have forded this river multiple times; half the time, amid a vigorous and high current, we were forced to turn back; Alaska doesn't play games.) Electric fences, to discourage the rare valley bear, encircled their tents. And anyone sleeping there at night is surrounded, literally, by volcanoes, some steaming. On such an eight day trip, the scientists had survival roles to play — like water collection.

But the payoff was conducting science in a place where Earth's surface has been remade.

Members of NASA's Goddard Instrument Field Team hiking out of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The expansive layering of volcanic rock, emitted by Novarupta in 1912, is the tan and light pinkish region to the right. Credit: NASA / Caela Barry The ash-covered Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, with the Novarupta lava dome labeled at center-right. Credit: USGS California Volcano Observatory (CalVO)

The untrammeled valley can reveal what's transpired on other worlds. Places on Mars, for example, may have experienced similarly sized or larger volcanic eruptions, which blanketed mighty Martian glaciers in rocky ash, Whelley said. Scientists brought a ground-penetrating radar and other instruments to the valley to see how Novarupta's blast hid some large glaciers — and to demonstrate how similar events may have transpired on Mars. Another team investigated how clays could form following such a volcanic eruption — which could explain how such soils developed on Mars. We can't go to Mars today; but we can at least approximate desolate and extreme Martian environs.

"We need to find these places to do our work," Whelley explained. "They haven't been developed yet."

NASA's field team has explored volcanic landscapes in Iceland, lava tubes in Hawaii, remnants of an ancient supervolcano in California, and beyond.

Scientist Emileigh Shoemaker uses a ground-penetrating radar to investigate a glacier preserved beneath a thick layer of volcanic ash. Credit: NASA / Andrew Johnson Tweet may have been deleted

But time is running short in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. A new world, composed of fresh rock, minerals, and chemicals, won't stay virgin forever. The willows are creeping in. Now that the ground isn't steaming, even some bears traverse the valley's edge.

This June, flowers popped up near Graham's tent.

"We're always in a race against life and time," she said.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I've got the music in me!

These words are great places to rock out.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are all related to music venues.

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 ConcertVenue.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 21

• Stadium

• Festival

• Theater

• Arena

• ConcertVenue

• Nightclub

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.

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

The Premier League is back in the spotlight after a string of entertaining Champions League fixtures kept everyone entertained through the week. There are a number of interesting games to keep tabs on this weekend, including Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United. The Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season — could they secure three points against Erik ten Hag's side?

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

When is Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United?

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United in the Premier League kicks off at 5:30 p.m. BST on Sept. 21. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United for free

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

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

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

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

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

5. Watch Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

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

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• 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 Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

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

The Premier League is widely regarded as one of the best domestic leagues in the world, and we're not going to argue with that. There are big games every week that deliver entertaining football in abundance, which is exactly what we're expecting from Liverpool vs. Bournemouth.

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

When is Liverpool vs. Bournemouth?

Liverpool vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League kicks off at 3 p.m. BST on Sept. 21. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Bournemouth for free

Liverpool vs. Bournemouth is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Watch Liverpool vs. Bournemouth for free from anywhere in the world

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

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Liverpool vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

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

After a flurry of midweek Champions League fixtures, we're back to the comforting embrace of the Premier League. There are plenty of intriguing matchups this weekend, including West Ham vs. Chelsea. Both sides will be looking to secure three valuable points from this London derby.

If you want to watch West Ham vs. Chelsea in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is West Ham vs. Chelsea?

West Ham vs. Chelsea in the Premier League kicks off at 12:30 p.m. BST on Sept. 21. This fixture takes place at the London Stadium.

How to watch West Ham vs. Chelsea for free

West Ham vs. Chelsea is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Watch West Ham vs. Chelsea for free from anywhere in the world

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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 West Ham vs. Chelsea in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream West Ham vs. Chelsea in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Reims vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free on TV5Monde. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

PSG have started the season really strongly, but the likes of Marseille and Monaco are following closely behind. The pressure is on the champions to keep winning, and that's exactly what they'll be looking to do this weekend on a trip to Reims.

If you want to watch Reims vs. PSG in Ligue 1 from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Reims vs. PSG?

Reims vs. PSG in Ligue 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 21. This fixture takes place at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II.

How to watch Reims vs. PSG for free

Reims vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on TV5Monde.

TV5Monde is geo-restricted to Europe, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can unblock TV5Monde to stream Ligue 1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Reims vs. PSG 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 France

4. Sign in to TV5Monde

5. Watch Reims vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Ligue 1 action without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Reims vs. PSG (plus more Ligue 1 fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services 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 TV5Monde?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TV5Monde, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including France

• 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 Reims vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Argentina vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Rugby Championship has produced some amazing matches, as usual. Argentina have once again proved that they can beat anyone, but South Africa will be their biggest test. Argentina might be coming off an impressive 67-27 win over Australia, but South Africa have won every game so far.

Can Argentina do the impossible and beat the world champions? You can find out without spending anything.

If you want to watch Argentina vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Argentina vs. South Africa?

Argentina vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on Sept. 21. This fixture takes place at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades.

How to watch Argentina vs. South Africa for free

You can live stream the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+, including Argentina vs. South Africa.

The catch is that this free live stream is only available to fans in Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine.

If you do not live in one of these countries, you can use a VPN to change your digital location and stream for free. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Rugby Championship on NZR+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 Rugby Championship 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 one of the countries listed above

4. Visit NZR+

5. Live stream Argentina vs. South Africa for free from anywhere in the world

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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 gain access to a free live stream of Argentina vs. South Africa without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the 2024 Rugby Championship before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Rugby Championship?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live rugby on NZR+ for free, 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 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 Argentina vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 21's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 21 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A number.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SEVEN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 21's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

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

• Yellow: An Esper

• Green: Deluxe edition

• Blue: Kudos

• Purple: In the extreme

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: Clairvoyant

• Green: Special Edition Adjectives

• Blue: "Great Job!"

• Purple: Extremely

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 #467 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Clairvoyant: MEDIUM, MYSTIC, ORACLE, PSYCHIC

• Special Edition Adjectives: COLLECTIBLE, EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED. RARE

• "Great Job!": IMPRESSIVE, NICE, PROPS, WELL DONE

• Extremely: AWFUL, BLOODY, REAL, WAY

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.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin blends traditional documentary techniques with World of Warcraft recreations to paint a touching portrait of the online life of a Norwegian gamer.

SEE ALSO: 'Never Let Go' review: Halle Berry horror flick intrigues, then stalls

The film, directed by Benjamin Ree, centers on 25-year-old Mats Steen, who died in 2014 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. His parents, Robert and Trude, initially have a fairly bleak view of Mats' life. It seems to them that Mats was not social and spent most of his time gaming, so Robert and Trude worry he hadn't made any meaningful connections. However, after they announce Mats' passing on his old blog, they receive an outpouring of support that reveals Mats led a rich, love-filled life in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, where he played a character named Ibelin Redmoore.

What’s The Remarkable Life of Ibelin about?

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin first introduces us to Mats through Robert and Trude's home videos. Pivotal life moments play out at an accelerated pace: Mats as a newborn, Mats on his first day of school. As his dystrophy manifests and worsens, we also see footage of him falling and trying to get back up, followed by videos of him using a wheelchair, and even a time lapse of him gaming for hours at a time. Throughout it all, Robert and Trude lament what they see as his distance from those around him, wishing that they could have done more.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Sundance movies (and shows) you need to know about

But when Robert and Trude begin to receive e-mails from Mats' WoW friends, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin kicks into a whole new gear. It hits rewind — literally — and shows us everything we just saw from Mats' perspective, complete with posts from his blog, "Musings of Life," which are read aloud by an actor. Often, these voiceovers play over home video footage we've already seen, allowing Mats to lend his voice to the story in a crucial way.

The biggest change here is the inclusion of recreated scenes from Mats' WoW gameplay, pulled from over 42,000 pages of gaming logs. As these animated scenes play out, taking over from more tried-and-true documentary tools like talking heads and home videos, Ree immerses us fully in Mats' point of view. It's an effective shift in form: Whenever we enter WoW sequences, we know we're getting the closest we can to Mats' true story.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin proves the power of online spaces.

In the animated WoW scenes, we see Mats as Ibelin interacting with his online community, a role-playing guild known as Starlight. These interactions go beyond completing quests and slaying dragons, though. At one point, Mats forges an in-game romance that spills into the real world. At another, he helps a mother reconnect with her autistic son. Between animated WoW scenes and interviews with members of Starlight, we get a picture of Mats as kind, empathetic, and actively engaging in the kind of relationships Robert and Trude wanted for him — just online.

That virtual spaces can have a real-world impact is undeniable at this point, so The Remarkable Life of Ibelin's exploration of that fact rings true, if not particularly revelatory. However, as someone with an admittedly narrow view of WoW — one that skews towards stereotypes of toxicity — Ree's look at Mats' niche community is a moving case study. Like with Robert and Trude, the revelation of Mats' inner life challenged my own assumptions about gaming as a tool for connection.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin keeps Mats' family life and WoW life mostly separate, mirroring his own experience and the experiences of those who knew him. Just as his parents didn't know much about his gaming life, his friends in the Starlight guild didn't initially know much about his personal life, as Mats kept fairly quiet about it.

However, both groups come together in the film's astonishing final moments, involving a memorial that will tug at your heartstrings and cue many, many tears. It's a remarkable closer, and along with the rest of The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, it serves as a touching tribute to what Mats meant to so many people, as well as the power of the virtual ties that bind us.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin was reviewed out of Fantastic Fest. It hits Netflix Oct. 25.

While Intel has struggled in recent years, other chipmakers are thriving because of a boom in demand.

A lot is unknown about the characters' lives prior to the start of the film. Halle Berry gives some revealing details to give context to her character in 'Never Let Go'.

Waymo, the driverless car company run by Google parent company Alphabet, already operates autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, and will soon be available in Atlanta and Austin. 

The Georgia and Texas Waymo experiences, set to launch early next year, will be a bit different than what California and Arizona riders encounter. Thanks to a partnership between former enemies Waymo and Uber, riders in Atlanta and Austin will be required to use the Uber app to hail a robo-car (rides in Phoenix can use the Uber or Waymo One app, while service in L.A. and San Francisco has no Uber component). Even though they may request a Waymo via the Uber app, Austin and Atlanta users will not be guaranteed one, Forbes reports. Riders can decline a Waymo in those cities or update their settings so they never receive a self-driving vehicle.

SEE ALSO: Watch passengers react to a truly driverless Waymo ride

Uber will “manage and dispatch a fleet of Waymo’s fully autonomous, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles that will grow to hundreds over time,” according to a statement from Waymo. “Riders who request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Waymo for qualifying trips.”

Uber will be responsible for the Waymo depots in Atlanta and Austin, as well as cleaning and vehicle repair. Waymo will remain in charge of the car’s testing and operation, including roadside assistance and rider support functions, which includes a “Support” button available on a passenger screen.

Waymo isn’t the only autonomous car company linking up with Uber, as General Motors’ Cruise vehicles will soon be deployed via the Uber app. The Waymo partnerships could have something to do with the company being a loss leader for Alphabet, likely costing the parent company billions in losses, according to the Associated Press.

While a Cruise vehicle seriously injured a San Francisco pedestrian last year, Waymo’s cars have a better, but not perfect, safety record and are performing about 100,000 rides per week in L.A., San Francisco, and Phoenix, the AP reports. 

As the government wraps up its case, it has built a picture of how Google has become dominant among companies that buy and sell ads online.

It's a big week for Apple. The new iPhone 16 line hits store shelves today alongside the new AirPods 4. Just a few days earlier, Apple released the new iOS 18 and macOS 15, also known as macOS Sequoia, too.

However, Mac users are reporting some issues as it pertains to the latter release and the cybersecurity tools that they use.

As noticed by TechCrunch, Mac users who upgraded to macOS Sequoia are experiencing issues with their cybersecurity software and its compatibility with Apple's new operating system.

SEE ALSO: macOS Sequoia public beta: 5 new features that may convince Windows users to switch Cybersecurity tools reportedly clash with macOS Sequoia

The issue with macOS Sequoia not playing nice with cybersecurity tools was first discovered after some Mac users who upgraded reported that they were experiencing network connection issues on social media.

The errors were solved when users turned off cybersecurity tools from companies like Microsoft, CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and ESET.

In addition, BleepingComputer also discovered reports of Mac users having issues with utilizing VPNs on macOS Sequoia as well. The cybersecurity news outlet noted a change in macOS Sequoia's release notes that could point to the potential problem. 

It appears that Apple removed a feature in macOS's firewall, which may have broken these applications. The firewall issue appears to be affecting some users' Firefox web browser too.

Obviously, turning off antivirus software or firewalls is not an ideal solution. Companies like CrowdStrike and SentinelOne are recommending that users not upgrade to macOS Sequoia until the issues are resolved.

While many Apple Mac consumers may not be affected by these specific issues as they don't use these products, it's important to note how any new software launch can result in issues on day one.

Be cautious and check with the developers of your essential everyday use applications regarding any compatibility issues before upgrading.

We reached out to Apple for comment. If we get a response, we'll update this article.

Meta Connect 2024 is so close, you can almost taste it.

Launching during the week of Sept. 23, the social media giant is expected to rollout hardware and software goodies that will intrigue VR gamer enthusiasts, AI aficionados, and smart glasses devotees. But what, specifically, does Meta have up its sleeves?

We have a few guesses based on credible reports.

What to expect at Meta Connect 2024

Last year, the Meta Quest 3 was announced in early June, but it got its full reveal at Meta Connect 2023.

The headset boasted a sleeker, more comfortable design, as well as new AR capabilities, that made it more appealing than its predecessor. Once again, for Meta Connect 2024, the social media giant is expected to drop a new VR headset, but it's not necessarily an upgrade over the Quest 3.

Meta Quest 3S

Rumor has it that Meta is planning on revealing a cheaper, more budget-friendly version of the Quest 3 called "Quest 3S."

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Whether it was intentional or accidental, as discovered by a Reddit poster, Meta leaked Quest 3S in its own Meta Quest Link PC app for Windows. For the uninitiated, this software lets users connect their Meta-branded VR headsets to a PC, allowing them to access more demanding PCVR games with just the Quest Link cable (which helps users siphon graphics power from their PC's GPU).

The image appears to have the body of the Quest 2 (in that it isn't as sleek as the Quest 3), but it has different cameras on the front.

According to a leaker on X, Quest 3S will have the following:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip

• 1,832 x 1,920-pixel resolution per eye

• Up to 120Hz refresh rate

• Quest Touch Plus controllers

• 4 IR tracking cameras

• 2 IR illuminators for depth sensing

• 2 4MP cameras for passthrough

Regarding price, Meta Quest 3S will reportedly have a starting price of $299. For reference, the starting price of the Quest 3 was $499 when it launched last year, so if the reported price is accurate, you'll be saving $200 with Quest 3S.

AR smart glasses

Last year, Meta unveiled the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which is packed with Meta AI.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

This time around, according to a report from Business Insider, Meta is planning on releasing a new pair of spectacles that are totally unrelated to Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Called "Orion" internally, these glasses will focus on augmented reality (AR).

AR incorporates virtual elements into your real-world environment. Meta's Quest 3 is capable of AR. For example, it has a "passthrough mode" that lets you see your true surroundings, but at the same time, you'll have the option to see or interact with virtual objects in your space.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, on the other hand, have zero AR capabilities. It can play music, take pictures, capture videos, take calls — and even lets you chat with Meta AI. However, it doesn't offer another augmented dimension — but Orion, reportedly, will.

Meta AI

Meta AI can be found across a myriad of Meta products, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and even the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Credit: Meta

Last year, Meta introduced Instagram-based "Meta AI Personas," which were celebrity-look-a-like chatbots that didn't quite resonate with many people, including Mashable's own AI reporter Cecily Mauran.

Based on Meta AI, these chatbots featured the likeness of popular, high-profile people (i.e., Padma Laksmi and Snoop Dogg) while taking on roles like "Creative Writing Partner," "Travel Expert," and more.

However, this year, they got the boot.

This doesn't mean that Meta AI won't continue to be spotlighted during Connect 2024. We're expecting lots of AI updates during the livestream.

Meta Connect 2024 will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. ET.

Best early Apple deals ahead of October Prime Day Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $929 at Amazon (save $170) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Pro (256GB, WiFi + Cellular) $1,119 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Max $449 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) $689 at Amazon (save $110) Get Deal

Amazon's next big event — Prime Big Deal Days — is just around the corner. Prime Day Part Two will kick off on Oct. 8 and run for 48 hours, with big discounts going live throughout. Be there, or be square. And as usual, lots of early deals are already ripe for the picking, especially when it comes to Apple (the company, not the fruit).

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day is closer than you think: 4 tips for finding the best deals

Check out our top early Apple deals ahead of October Prime Day so far, including discounts on MacBooks, iPads, AirPods, and plenty more.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $929.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

It doesn't really get much better than Apple's recent M3 line of MacBooks. The M3 Air is one of our favorites, and ahead of Prime Big Deal Days you can score one for just $929, which $170 off the usual price. This MacBook Air in particular comes with a 13-inch screen (great for traveling), and features the speedy M3 chip. It also has support for Apple Intelligence and can handle up to 18 hours of usage on one charge.

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $999 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,449 $1,699 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,896.51 $2,699 (save $803.49)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M3, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,999 $2,499 (save $500)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro (256GB, WiFi + Cellular) $1,119.00 at Amazon
$1,199.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're more of a tablet person than a laptop person, then the iPad Pro is where it's at. The Pro is packed with the lightning-fast M4 chip, Ultra Retina XDR display, and supports use of the Apple Pencil (which is unfortunately sold separately). It's on sale for $80 off ahead of October Prime Day, just $1,119 for one of the best tablets on the market.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad 9th Generation (64GB, WiFi) — $199 $329 (save $130)

• Apple iPad 10th Generation (64GB, WiFi) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Mini 6th Generation (64GB, WiFi) — $379 $499 (save $120)

• Apple iPad Air (128GB, WiFi) — $559 $599 (save $40)

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $449.00 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Max are a great pair of over-ear headphones for those who prefer that style to that of earbuds. The Max provide super high-quality audio, active noise cancellation, a transparency mode so you can enjoy your tunes and the world around you, and personalized spatial audio. It's also got a 20-hour battery life, which is pretty sweet. Snag a pair before Prime Big Deal Days and save $100.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) — $89 $129 (save $40)

• Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) — $129 $169 (save $40)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $189.99 $249 (save $59.01)

Best Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) $689.00 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a smartwatch made for active people. Apple's most durable piece of wristwear has advanced features for hikers, runners, and swimmers like offline maps, advanced metric tracking, and up to 100m of water resistance. The Always-On Retina display is bright and easily readable, and the watch also allows for up to 36 hours of use on a charge (and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode). Get one on sale ahead of October Prime for $689, which is $110 in savings.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation (40mm, GPS) — $189 $249 (save $60)

• Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + Cellular) — $449 $559 (save $110)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS + Cellular) — $599 $749 (save $150)

More Apple deals

• Apple MagSafe Charger — $29 $39 (save $10)

• Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $79 $99 (save $20)

• Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad — $108.47 $129 (save $20.53)

• Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad — $278.99 $349 (save $70.01)

The best smart home deals at Target at a glance: BEST SMART SECURITY DEAL Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro 6-in-1 (WiFi) $144.49 at Target (save $35.50 with Target Circle) Get Deal BEST SMART SPEAKER DEAL Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) $34.99 at Target (save $15) Get Deal BEST SMART AIR PURIFIER DEAL Blueair Pure 211i Max 100 $297.99 at Target (save $52) Get Deal

We're only a few weeks away from Target Circle Week, but the bullseye retailer is already dishing out plenty of deals. If you're looking to finally automate your home in 2024, you can start ASAP with some solid deals from brands like Ultraloq and Echo. We've rounded up a few we think are worth adding to your cart as of Sept. 20.

Best smart security deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ultraloq Our pick: Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro 6-in-1 (WiFi) $144.49 at Target
$179.99 Save $35.50 with Target Circle Get Deal Why we like it

One of our favorite smart locks for families with kids, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro offers six different ways to unlock your door. Each person in your home can create a user profile and add up to two fingerprints per profile. In other words, your fingerprint is your key, so you don't have to worry about forgetting it. There are also options to unlock by a passcode, voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant, a button on the Ultraloq app, location-based auto locking and unlocking, and of course, a regular old key. Plus, all you need is a screwdriver for its DIY installation. As of Sept. 20, Target Circle members (signing up is free) can get the WiFi-enabled U-Bolt Pro for just $144.49. And although the original price listed on Target's website says $169.99, the MSRP is actually $179.99, making this a savings of 20%.

Best smart speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) $34.99 at Target
$49.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Like the Echo, but in smaller form, the Echo Dot is meant to seamlessly add smart benefits into your daily life. Its smaller design makes it ideal for a bedside table, shelf, countertop, or desk, and it can be used for everything. Ask it to set a timer, save a recipe, schedule a task, play white noise, call your mom, turn on your lights, set a reminder, or just play your favorite tunes. The 5th generation Dot features more vibrant sound, clearer vocals for phone calls, and deeper bass. While it doesn't include Dolby audio like its bigger cousin, the Echo, it does feature new motion sensors and a front-firing speaker. As of Sept. 20, it's on sale for just $34.99 a Target. That's a savings of 30%.

Best smart air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Our pick: Blueair Pure 211i Max 100 $297.99 at Target
$349.99 Save $52.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While an air purifier might not be on your radar as a smart home deal, voice-assistant support and the ability to control it with your phone make the Blueair Pure 211i Max 100 a solid smart home addition. See the quality of air in your home via quick readings on the LED screen or through the app at any time. A convenient Welcome Home mode puts your purifier in standby when you leave the home and turns it back on when you're getting close. Plus, the RealTrack algorithm will inform you when it's time to replace your filter. Slash 15% off this purifier built for extra large rooms as of Sept. 20.

More smart home deals

• Amazon Echo Pop — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Kids Echo Dot (5th Gen 2022) — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• Black+Decker smart home starter kit — $64.99 $105.99 (save $41)

• ULTRALOQ U-Bolt 5-in-1 smart deadbolt door lock — $93.49 $109.99 (save $16.50 with Target Circle)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) — $104.99 $149.99 (save $45)

Owners of three particular Anker products need to stop using them right away.

The portable battery maker issued a recall notice this week due to potential battery fire hazards in a few of its products. While Anker's recall notice noted that this problem should only affect a relatively small batch of batteries (i.e., those that were manufactured between Jan. 3 and Sept. 17 of this year), it's still recalling every unit it has sold.

The three Anker products that are being recalled are as follows:

• Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K)

• Anker Power Bank

• Anker MagGo Power Bank

SEE ALSO: Anker 535 PowerHouse review: Is this power station the workhorse its name suggests?

If you own any of those three products, immediately cease use of it and store it on a safe place. Anker has a form on its recall notice page where you can fill in the serial number on the product to get the recall process going. After that, Anker recommends disposing of the device somewhere that accepts lithium ion batteries.

This marks the second time in 2024 that Anker has had to issue a recall for the same issue. If you regularly use an Anker portable power bank, maybe just make sure it doesn't get too hot.