If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle. Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered. SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintUnhealthy.Hurdle Word 1 answerTOXICHurdle Word 2 hintOpposite of micro. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerMACROHurdle Word 3 hintA noisy inhalation through the nose. SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 16, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerSNORTHurdle Word 4 hintTo accommodateHurdle Word 4 answerCATERFinal Hurdle hintA type of bear, known for its white fur. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerPOLARIf you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

After nights of almost complete darkness, the Moon is finally illuminated enough to be able to spot some lunar features on its surface. Keep reading to find out what you might be able to see.What is today’s Moon phase?As of Sunday, Aug. 16, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with 15% of its surface visible. There's finally some features to spot again, both with and without visual aids. Without any, you can see the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. With binoculars or a telescope you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.What are Moon phases?The Moon doesn't look the same from Earth every night. As it travels around our planet, it moves through a lunar cycle that takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The changing positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon affect how much of the Moon's sunlit side we can see, creating the different phases. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon progresses from a narrow crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before starting the sequence over again.The eight phases are:New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 16, 2026 The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces. SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 16, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 16 PipsNumber (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 16 PipsEqual (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 16 PipsNumber (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Atlantic CoastGreen: QBs out westBlue: Blue JaysPurple: Types of defendersHere are today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:Yellow: ACC Schools, AbbreviatedGreen: First Names of AFC West QBsBlue: Toronto Blue JaysPurple: Defensive___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 #692 is...What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?ACC Schools, Abbreviated: BC, CAL, CUSE, PITTFirst Names of AFC West QBs: BO, FERNANDO, JUSTIN, PATRICKToronto Blue Jays: BIEBER, CEASE, GUERRERO, SPRINGERDefensive___: BACK, END, INDIFFERENCE, TACKLEDon't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're familiar with musical theater.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. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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 Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 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: MusicalGreen: InvolvedBlue: Family treePurple: Older humansWant more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:Yellow: Musical PerformanceGreen: ParticipantBlue: Family Relationship ModifiersPurple: Descriptors for Our Human AncestorsLooking 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 #1162 is...What is the answer to Connections todayMusical Performance: CONCERT, GIG, SET, SHOWParticipant: ACTOR, AGENT, PARTY, PLAYERFamily Relationship Modifiers: GRAND, GREAT, HALF, STEPDescriptors for Our Human Ancestors: FROM NEADER, HANDY, UPRIGHT, WISE SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 13, 2026 Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet todayIf 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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you enjoy French cuisine. 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 hints today: Clues, answers for August 16, 2026 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 Pips hints, answers for August 16, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Savory gelatin.Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter A. 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...ASPICDon'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.Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet todayIf 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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you know a bit of trivia.Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 16, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Learn by doingThe words are related to receiving guidance.Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe being guided by a leader or mentor.NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Job Training.NYT Strands word list for August 16InternDiscipleApprentinceProtegeMenteeMeet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet todayLooking 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.

Content warning: suicide, self-harm.By no means a light watch but an important and timely one, Mission sees a young man struggling to feel connected to society, contemplating dying by suicide but giving himself one week to convince himself to stay alive.Written and directedy with disorientating flair by Scottish director Paul Wright (Arcadia), this BBC-produced film explores the personal and social reasons behind suicidal behaviour through the experience of Dylan (a phenomenal George MacKay). It's not a sensational, generalised depiction of mental health, but instead a splintered, chaotic endeavor to visually render one person's complex perspective.  SEE ALSO: 21 reasons to keep living when you feel suicidal MacKay, who starred in Wright's For Those in Peril back in 2013, gives a mercurial performance as a man vehemently trying to find meaning in a world he feels alienated from. Dylan yearns for the reality of his younger self, free of inhibition and full of wonder, and he scorns conformity. But where is the line between uninhibited whims and total anarchy? Dylan will test both his own and societal boundaries in a week-long crusade, which sees whimsy and transgression at either end of a slippery slope.Mission is as much a film about death as it is about life. Rosy McEwen as Claire in "Mission." Credit: BBC Dylan's "mission" is to live, in every sense of the word, through experiences he's never allowed himself to have. Feeling stuck in his waiter job and overwhelmingly lonely and rudderless, he struggles to find a sense of purpose. Here, MacKay imbues Dylan's physicality with monotonous, mechanical movements and blank stares, flicking lights on and off, and internalising his rage over incessant phone vibrations and drilling outside his apartment.Through voiceover, we gain insight into Dylan's inner turmoil as if we're reading his diary: "I don't know how to live in this world the way it is," he says, longing for a way to connect. He's buoyed by two people, his friend and co-worker Becky (Bridgerton's Emma Naomi), whom he clearly has feelings for, and his sister Claire (Scarpetta's Rosy McEwen), whose connection with Dylan has deep roots. Through sweet home video flashbacks (and adorable performances from youngsters Oliver Boyd and Matilda Thomson), Wright weaves Dylan and Claire's relationship as one of childhood magic, silliness, and creative expression. Their bond, though changed in adulthood, becomes the true heart of the film.Dylan's turning point occurs during a routine check-in interview with his boss, James (Emun Elliott), that sees Dylan move from parroting corporate speak to admitting his hatred for the job as "soul-destroying." From here, he quits, slowly obsessing over James, an initially amiable but eventually contemptible representation of everything Dylan hates. Retreating to an abandoned shack on the edge of a lake, Dylan ideates ending his life. However, he gives himself one week to find a "reason to go on." He begins a quest of total ecstasy, commanding himself to "do something," whatever euphoric act comes to mind. "Embrace the random. No longer be afraid. Connect to the forgotten parts of yourself," he declares in voiceover, setting out the rules of his manifesto. But there's a difference between singing karaoke in front of strangers and more harmful acts, as Dylan's increasingly extreme choices simmer with anarchy. George MacKay is fearless in Mission. George MacKay in "Mission." Credit: BBC Fresh off miraculous performances in Rose of Nevada and The End, MacKay truly leans into physicality with Mission. The actor builds a character so erratic, interior, and determined that it's hard to know whether we're barracking for Dylan or, frankly, fearful of him. Every turn sees him plunging into bacchanalian excess and self-harm, making unbridled decisions that could cause others or himself harm. So, while we're along for this life-affirming ride, we're almost becoming complicit in something malevolent, with no ability to change anything.  Seeking solace in childhood unpredictability, Dylan yearns for a time when "everything was possible," seeing random acts as a form of resistance. He sees his alienation from society as a license to disturb, to provoke. Going from the embodiment of mechanistic drudgery to a man of sheer glee, convulsing and writhing with animalistic expression and chaotic energy, MacKay pushes himself to the absolute limit.McEwen is superb as Dylan's sister Claire, whose practicality sees her struggling to understand her brother's pain and acting as his anchor in the mayhem. "Everyone's just trying to live their life," she says, unable to see how a simple sentence could be so complicated for Dylan. However, one particular scene between the two proves one of the most quietly powerful conversations I've seen on screen, with MacKay and McEwen showing pure talent.Mission relishes in punk cinematography, editing, and sound.In order to explore Dylan's frame of mind, Wright leans into the disorientated style of his documentary Arcadia, a celebrated work of juxtaposition and montage. With meticulous, energetic editing from Jennifer Mackie and Michael Aaglund, Mission splices Limbo and Bring Them Down cinematographer Nick Cooke's stunning shots with frenetically edited footage of current events, abstract visuals, home footage, and MacKay's voice-over. Roly Porter's hypnotic score is a constant companion to Dylan, with The Unheard composer finding poignancy and care in the protagonist's darkest moments. And as a sum of its parts, Mission becomes an intense, sobering experience, one that aims to get us inside Dylan's deepest thoughts.Ultimately, Mission pulls us under with Dylan, rattled and contorted into his high-stakes "experiment" without the ability to connect with him ourselves. Through MacKay's fearless performance, Wright's discombobulating style, and a timely theme, the film wrestles with existence and connection, balancing darkness and light, despair and hope. It's a haunting watch, but one with an all-important glimmer of hope.Mission was reviewed out of its premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival. International release dates TBC.If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

Before there was Donald Duck or Goofy or even Mickey Mouse, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.And now Oswald is finally getting his very own TV miniseries.At this year's D23 fan event, Disney announced that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will star in a live-action animated three-part TV miniseries on Disney+.The "Oswald" miniseries is written, directed, and executive-produced by Jon Favreau. The cast includes an all-star comedy lineup, including Albert Brooks, Amy Sedaris, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Martin, Al Madrigal, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and Ryder Allen. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The road to his own Disney series was a long one for Oswald.Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was first created in 1927 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal Pictures. Oswald starred in more than two dozen theatrical short films in the late 1920s, animated by Walt Disney Studios. However, in 1928, Universal took control of the Oswald character from Disney, prompting the latter to create a replacement known to audiences as Mickey Mouse.The rest is history. Mickey soon became more popular than Oswald, who faded into obscurity after a few final appearances in the 1950s.In 2006, Disney gained the rights to Oswald in a bizarre trade with NBCUniversal. Disney received the Oswald trademark and rights to the Disney-era animated films, and in exchange, NBCUniversal was able to have play-by-play announcer Al Michaels' services for NBC Sunday Night Football. Since then, Oswald has made cameo appearances in animated shows, Disney theme parks, and video games like Epic Mickey.Now, Oswald is finally set to receive his very own Disney miniseries, which will mix hand-drawn 2D animation with live-action.The miniseries comes to Disney+ in Feb. 2027.

Marvel Studios debuted the first trailer for its Disney+ series VisionQuest at D23 in Anaheim, California, offering the clearest look yet at Paul Bettany's return as the sentient AI hero Vision. SEE ALSO: Marvel unveils X-Men cast: Adam Driver, Inde Navarrette, and more set for May 2028 film The trailer finds Vision living in hiding and grappling with an existential crisis after essentially being resurrected in WandaVision. As part of his search for answers, Vision converses with several other artificial intelligences drawn from his own programming, including FRIDAY (Orla Bradley), DUM-E (Henry Lewis), JARVIS (James D'Arcy), and Ultron (James Spader). Much of Ultron is shown in human form in the footage, and the other Tony Stark-created AIs appear less than thrilled to have him around. An understandable reaction, given that Ultron nearly wiped out humanity in Avengers: Age of Ultron.According to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, VisionQuest will serve as the final installment in what he's calling the "Wanda trilogy," following WandaVision and Agatha All Along. It's also expected to be Marvel's last live-action Disney+ series for the foreseeable future, part of a broader pullback from television that multiple outlets have reported in recent months. That shift already led to the cancellation of Wonder Man, which drew backlash from fans after the show was scrapped just months after being renewed for a second season.VisionQuest premieres on Disney+ on Oct. 14.

One of the few hit Pixar films without a sequel is finally getting one.At its D23 fan event in Anaheim, Disney unveiled that the company is currently working on a sequel to Coco, tentatively titled Coco 2. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Disney announced that the original Coco director, Lee Unkrich, will be returning to direct alongside co-director Adrian Molina. In addition, Benjamin Bratt will return to reprise the role of Ernesto de la Cruz, which means that Ernesto de la Cruz will be returning in the Coco sequel, too. In fact, it appears that Ernesto de la Cruz will play a major role in the upcoming film. SEE ALSO: Kingdom Hearts' first-ever anime TV series coming to Disney+ "To some, Miguel is a little menace who ruined a career and destroyed a legacy," Bratt said onstage at the event. "Ernesto de la Cruz is back for revenge, sending Miguel on an adventure back to the Land of the Dead. Proving fate has a sense of humor, Miguel must team up with a handsome superstar: me." This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Based on what Bratt had to say, it seems Coco 2 will take Miguel back to the land of the dead, where he'll have to join forces with Ernesto de la Cruz, the music superstar who was revealed as a fraud that killed Miguel's great-great-grandfather Hector in the first film.Speaking of Miguel, Disney provided a first look at the upcoming Coco 2, which seemingly will star Miguel as a teenager.Coco was a big success for the company when it was released in 2017. The film grossed more than $800 million worldwide and won two Academy Awards, one for best animated feature and another for best original song, "Remember Me."Disney CEO Bob Iger previously shared that a Coco sequel was in the works in March of last year.Coco 2 is currently scheduled to hit theaters in Nov. 2029.

The next time Kingdom Hearts is on your television screen, you might not be playing it as a video game but watching it as an anime TV series.A slew of Disney-related movies and TV shows have been announced over the past 24 hours as part of D23, the company's annual fan event, which is currently taking place in Anaheim, California. Disney announced that an anime TV series based on the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise will debut soon on Disney+'s streaming platform and the Disney Channel. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Kingdom Hearts is a massively popular video game series by Square Enix, the gaming developer behind hit franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The series follows a young boy named Sora as he goes on adventures alongside Donald Duck and Goofy. Numerous Disney characters have recurring roles and make appearances throughout the game series, including Mickey Mouse and various Disney Villains. SEE ALSO: Marvel unveils X-Men cast: Adam Driver, Inde Navarrette, and more set for May 2028 film According to Disney, the anime series "reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts while celebrating the characters that have captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world."The show will be developed by Disney in partnership with video game creator Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix.“Kingdom Hearts has captivated gamers everywhere with its unique blend of adventure and imagination,” said President of Disney Kids & Family Ayo Davis. “There’s something really exciting about taking a world fans have spent years exploring through the games and bringing it to life in a completely new way. And with a creative team that is working closely with the legendary Tetsuya Nomura, our new series will be unmistakably Kingdom Hearts, while giving fans a whole new way to experience the world they love.”There was some Kingdom Hearts video game news at D23 as well, with the next installment in the series, Kingdom Hearts 4, receiving a "late 2027" release date. In an article posted on Disney's investor website right before the announcement, Disney unveiled that Kingdom Hearts is now a billion-dollar franchise.Disney has not yet announced a timeline for the Kingdom Hearts anime TV series.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 15, 2026 The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces. SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 15, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 15 PipsNumber (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 15 PipsGreater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 15 PipsGreater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.Greater Than (16): Everything in this space must be greater than 16. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: No chipsGreen: Working at the country clubBlue: Seen in KCPurple: Spelled like a W teamHere are today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:Yellow: Teams to Never Win a World SeriesGreen: Jobs at a Golf CourseBlue: Kansas City TeamsPurple: Anagrams of WNBA TeamsLooking 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 #691 is...What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Teams to Never Win a World Series: BREWERS, MARINERS, PADRES, ROCKIESJobs at a Golf Course: CADDIE, GREENSKEEPER, STARTER, SUPERINTENDENTKansas City Teams: CHIEFS, CURRENT, ROYALS, SPORTING KCAnagrams of WNBA Teams: CASE, MADRE, RIFE, SWINGDon't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.

Marvel surprised the crowd at its D23 panel Friday night with new footage from Avengers: Doomsday, offering fans an exclusive look at the upcoming film.In the clip, Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four tells the assembled Avengers that Victor Von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) wasn't always the villain they're facing now, hinting that the character's turn followed the loss of everything he held dear, presumably including his wife and child. The footage cuts between close-ups of the ensemble cast as the moment lands.The footage arrived just as Marvel unveiled the cast of its X-Men reboot, and the ensemble glimpsed in the Doomsday clip includes several of the franchise's Fox-era mutants, including Cyclops, Professor X, and Magneto.The footage also delivers a jolt of action, showing RDJ's Doom shrug off a direct hit from Thor before summoning what appears to be a full army of Sentinels — the towering, mutant-hunting robots known for their flight capabilities and energy-blast attacks. Bad news for the good guys.Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters Dec. 18, 2026.

SPOILER WARNING: This piece references plot details from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, including Sadie Sink's role in the film.Marvel unveiled the cast of its long-awaited X-Men reboot at D23 on Friday night, assembling a notably younger ensemble than the mutant team audiences have known from two decades of Fox films.Disney and Marvel revealed that the new lineup includes Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, The Whale) as Jean Grey, Kit Connor (Heart Stopper Forever, Elden Ring, Warfare) as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott (Wolfman, Girls, Sanctuary) as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Over Your Dead Body) as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette (Obsession) as Rogue, and Broadway performer Maya Boyd as Storm, with Adam Driver (Marriage Story, Girls, House of Gucci) joining as the villain Mr. Sinister. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The cast appeared onstage alongside Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, with Driver joining via video. Feige said the actors had only just met backstage for the first time, and cautioned that the roster revealed Friday isn't the complete lineup. Driver, for his part, said he and Feige had discussed him joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years before they "found something perfect with characters I feel very deeply about." SEE ALSO: Ryan Gosling to star in MCU's 'Ghost Rider' film The younger cast marks a deliberate departure from the X-Men most audiences already know. A number of actors from the 2000s Fox films — including Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler — are set to return this December in Avengers: Doomsday. Channing Tatum's variant of Gambit is also set to appear, with the character formally appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine after a decade of the purported film being stuck in developmental hell.Notably absent from Friday's announcement was any casting for Wolverine, but Hugh Jackman did tease that he and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool could appear in Avengers: Doomsday.Some of the cast announcements have been known for a few weeks. Connor's role as Cyclops and Weaving's as Emma Frost had previously been reported, and the Hollywood Reporter had exclusively reported the prior week that Abbott was a strong contender for Professor X. Navarrette recently broke out in the summer hit Obsession, while Boyd is best known for leading the Broadway production of & Juliet.The film is set for release on May 5, 2028.

SAVE $549: As of Aug. 15, the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station is down to $649.99 from $1,199 at Amazon — a 46% discount and one of its best prices yet. Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix S2000 $649.99 at Amazon $1,199 Save $549.01   Get Deal Anker's Solix S2000 portable power station just dropped to one of its best prices yet. It's on sale for $649.99 at Amazon — down from $1,199. A big selling point here is fridge backup — Anker says it'll keep your fridge running for 35 hours on a full charge. That's because the unit barely draws power while idle, so more of the battery goes toward keeping your food cold rather than being wasted.The battery itself is an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery, which means it's built to last longer than a typical lithium-ion battery. Anker rates it for 10,000 charge cycles, which works out to about 15 years of regular use before you'd need to think about replacing it. SEE ALSO: I tried the Jackery FridgeGuard portable power station: It's both functional and pretty Despite holding almost 2,000Wh of power, it's smaller and lighter than most power stations in this category, weighing under 36 pounds. It puts out 1,500W continuously (3,000W at peak), enough to run about 99% of typical home appliances, though that'll depend on exactly what you're plugging in.You've got six ways to recharge it, including solar, a wall outlet, your car, or a generator, so you're not locked into one option. It's got eight outlets split between the front and back, keeping things easy to reach instead of crammed together, and if the power cuts out while you're working, it switches over in under 10 milliseconds, fast enough that you probably won't even notice.Blackout-proof your kitchen while it's actually affordable. Grab the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station on Amazon before it returns to full price.

The best Disney+ deals and bundles in August 2026: Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get 6 months for $11.99/month Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal Whether you're looking to jump into the latest superhero saga or journey to a galaxy far, far away, Disney+ is the streaming service for you.Home to Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more, Disney+ offers a library stuffed with shows and films to keep both adults and kids entertained. With Disney+, you can watch Pixar's latest movie Hoppers, season two of X-Men '97, the upcoming third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and much more. If you've had this streaming service on your radar but you're unsure which plan is the best fit for you, we've got you covered with a selection of Disney+ streaming deals. Right now, the streamer is offering six months of its ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle for only $11.99 per month (which renews at $12.99 per month after six months), or six months of its ad-free plan at $17.99 per month (which will return to $19.99 per month after the six-month promotional period). SEE ALSO: Tom Holland and the 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' cast reveal what they'd forget with Doctor Strange's memory spell There's also the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package, which is a great investment for those who already use the other two streaming services but want to cut costs. We've detailed all available bundle deals below, along with basic information on Disney+ plans if you just want the House of Mouse's service on its own.Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get 6 months of Disney+ and Hulu (With Ads) for $11.99/month, then $12.99/month Get Deal Why we like itFor those interested in the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, the streamer is offering deals on both its ad-supported and ad-free plans. For the plan with ads, new and eligible returning subscribers can lock in for six months at $11.99 per month before it returns to $12.99 per month. And if you're interested in going ad-free, the Premium plan is down to $17.99 per month for six months, then returns to $19.99 per month.Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $11.99 per month for six months, then $12.99 per monthDisney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $17.99 per month for six months, then $19.99 per monthBest HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like itThe Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is one of the best available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, you can have three excellent streaming services right in the palm of your hand. The $19.99 per month option is for the With Ads plan, but if you'd prefer to watch your favorite content without ads, the No Ads plan costs $32.99 per month. Compared to what you'd pay for each of these on their own, you're saving 42% with the ad-supported plan and 41% with the ad-free plan.Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)Best ESPN bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal If you're a sports fan looking to add ESPN to your bundles, you're in luck: Disney offers bundles with both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per monthBest Disney+ monthly plansDisney+ offers two standard plans if you just want the service on its own. The Disney+ ad-supported plan comes to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free Disney+ Premium plan will set you back $18.99 per month or $189.99 per year if you'd rather pay annually.Disney+ (With Ads) — $11.99 per monthDisney+ Premium (No Ads) — $18.99 per month, $189.99 per yearDisney+ has also created an "extra member" plan for people using your account who live outside of your household, as they crack down on password sharing. If you're looking to add another person to your account, you're only allowed one extra profile and can choose from the following add-on plans:Disney+ (With Ads) — $6.99 per monthDisney+ Premium — $9.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu Bundle — $7.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu Bundle Premium — $10.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $11.99 per monthDisney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $14.99 per monthThere's a wealth of shows and films to check out on Disney+ after you sign up. If you want some help finding something to watch, check out our roundups of the 12 best TV shows for adults on Disney+ and the 20 best movies on Disney+ to start building out your watchlist.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle. Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered. SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintA mistake.Hurdle Word 1 answerSNAFUHurdle Word 2 hintWays information is relayed. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerMEDIAHurdle Word 3 hintTo destroy. SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 15, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerBREAKHurdle Word 4 hintLike an apartment.Hurdle Word 4 answerCONDOFinal Hurdle hintAn area without light SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerUNLITIf you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

When Nobel Laureate John C. Mather used to give talks about the James Webb Space Telescope, he would often use an impressive analogy — that the observatory was so sensitive, it could detect the heat of a bumblebee as far away as the moon.That's because Webb, a collaboration of NASA and the European and Canadian space agencies, was built to detect the faintest, most ancient light in the universe — galaxies and stars that formed just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.But there's an irony to having the world's most powerful infrared telescope in space: While Webb is exceptional at seeing unfathomably distant things, it struggles to take pictures of objects in our own cosmic backyard, like Mars and Saturn.Because the planets in our solar system are so bright, they flood the telescope's sensors with more light than they can handle. To get these shots, astronomers have had to use dark filters — akin to wearing solar eclipse glasses — to avoid blinding the camera.Now, telescope operators have a workaround, and it doesn't require astronauts visiting the spacecraft a million miles away for maintenance. Instead, engineers are sending a software update from the ground that will let Webb photograph bright planets without throwing away useful data. SEE ALSO: New space object masquerades as a star the size of our solar system The new readout method, called "superstripe," should allow Webb to safely photograph targets that are 100 or more times brighter than it could handle before, said Bryan Holler, a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.Even Holler, who took Jupiter photos with Webb in 2022, admits those first images were a blurry mess. That's because the camera took several seconds to read the whole image while the planet's fast‑moving clouds shifted. Those test images were intended to assess how much unwanted stray light Webb would see as Jupiter moved onto the camera detector. Left: Early images of Jupiter and its moon Europa were blurry and overexposed, highlighting the James Webb Space Telescope's challenges taking images of bright solar system objects. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / B. Holler / J. Stansberry Right: Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / B. Holler / J. Stansberry Webb later produced more photogenic Jupiter images by using shorter exposures and more selective settings. "The nicer Jupiter images that are out there from people who really know how to do image processing, they were able to actually deblur some of those images using the data," Holler told Mashable.But sharpening software can't rescue light that was never recorded in the first place. Until now, scientists have tried to solve the problem by cropping the camera's view down to a tiny box to limit the incoming light. The new superstripe technique is an upgrade: Instead of taking one picture, the camera scans the planet in thin slices, stealing many rapid glances.Because the camera captures each individual slice in a fraction of a second, it doesn't get dazzled by the glare. Plus, the quick snaps mean there's little time for changes in extraterrestrial storms or auroras to blur the shot. Afterward, the software stitches the slices together into a single crisp picture.Although Webb wasn't built to look at our solar system, many astronomers are eager to use it to study nearby worlds anyway. Webb's biggest advantage is its location: It can look out into the cosmos without Earth's air getting in the way. Advanced sharpening software can vastly improve Webb's bright and blurry solar-system pictures, but image processing can't recuperate light that was never recorded. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Ricardo Hueso / Imke de Pater / Thierry Fouchet / Leigh Fletcher / Michael Wong / Joseph DePasquale "A lot of that tends to come back to this pesky atmosphere," Holler said. "It's fine for breathing and everything, but when you really want to study surfaces or atmospheres, you have to leave [our] atmosphere."Even giant telescopes on the ground have trouble seeing through Earth’s blanket of air, which absorbs certain types of light before they can reach the telescopes’ lenses.Researchers say this new software could open the door to new discoveries. The stripe-style camera trick could catch rare moments, like when a giant planet, one of its moons, or even its rings briefly block a background star, giving scientists cleaner measurements of their sizes and atmospheres.It will also allow astronomers to observe exoplanets orbiting ultra-bright stars outside our solar system, such as 55 Cancri e, a scorching-hot lava world 41 light-years away.The superstripe readout capability is scheduled to roll out with Webb's next observing cycle, which begins next July. For the rest of us, just sit back and relax: Sharper views of our own cosmic neighbors are on the way.