The best Home Depot cordless tools deals at a glance: Best Milwaukee BOGO deal Milwaukee Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $399 (free tool with purchase) Shop Now Best DeWalt BOGO deal DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60V MAX Cordless Brushless Circular Saw $299 (free tool with purchase) Shop Now Best Makita BOGO deal Makita Plunge Circular Saw Kit $719 (free tool with purchase) Shop Now Best Ryobi deal Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit $369 (save $160) Shop Now Black Friday in April? Sure, why not. This year, Home Depot is celebrating the season by offering steep discounts on everything we need for spring yard work, getting those DIY projects underway, and preparing for outdoor summer fun. It's a great time to save on plants, mulch, a new lawn mower, patio furniture, pizza ovens, barbecues, and even major home appliances like refrigerators. But of course, Home Depot is always a go-to if you're in need of fresh cordless tools. Whether you'll use them for home or on the job site, shopping the Home Depot Spring Sale for deals is a smart move. We're seeing nice BOGO offers from big hitters like DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita that'll offer a free extra bonus with purchase. In addition to the BOGO deals, we have nice offers from Ryobi and Ridgid.While the spring sale at Home Depot only started on April 9, we're already seeing some BOGO deals that have sold out way ahead of the sale's official end date of April 22. If this trend continues, it might be worth shopping soon to get the best selection. Here are some standout offers.Best Milwaukee BOGO deal Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $399 at Home Depot free Milwaukee M18 18-​Volt Lithium-​Ion High Output Battery Pack with purchase Get Deal Why we like itMilwaukee is one of the standout cordless tool brands, and they have deals abound during the Home Depot Spring Black Friday sale. One of the most attractive is snagging the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit for $399 and getting the Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion High Output Battery Pack 6.0Ah for free. That works out to a saving of $199.Home Depot mentions the compact hammer drill is the most powerful in its class with the quickest driving speed. Milwaukee also added an auto-stop feature that eliminates over-rotation. Plus, the three LED lights that surround the bit and fastener are ideal for getting a clear view.Best DeWalt BOGO deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt FlexVolt 60V MAX Cordless Brushless 7-1/4 inch Circular Saw $299 at Home Depot free DeWalt FlexVolt 20V/​60V MAX Lithium-​Ion 6.​0Ah Battery Pack with purchase Get Deal Why we like itThis BOGO deal offers a serious value. Snag the DeWalt FlexVolt 60V MAX Cordless Brushless 7-1/4 inch Circular Saw for $299 from Home Depot and get the DeWalt FlexVolt 20V/​60V MAX Lithium-​Ion 6.​0Ah Battery Pack with 6 Amp Output Charger for free, which ordinarily costs $249. That makes this one of the best BOGO values in the Home Depot spring sale. The DeWalt FlexVolt family features over 180 tools with the Circular Saw offering 2,456 unit watts out. There's an electric brake, integrated LED lights, and even rafter hooks for easy storage.Best Ryobi deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ryobi Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit $369 at Home Depot $529 Save $160   Get Deal Why we like itWhile this deal isn't part of Home Depot's BOGO offers, it's still an excellent buy. The Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit is 30% off and serves as a great DIY combo kit for all sorts of home projects. There's a driver/drill, impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, multi-tool, and more. To keep things neat and organized, the Ryobi kit comes with two tool bags.

Tesla is working on a new car, and it's going to be exactly what many are hoping for: a smaller, cheaper electric SUV. This is according to Reuters, which spoke with four people familiar with the matter. According to the report, the new car will be an entirely new model, and not a variant of the Model 3 or Model Y (Tesla recently discontinued its larger sedan and SUV, the Model S and the Model X). The new Tesla SUV would be about 14 feet long, making it considerably shorter than the Model Y, which is 15.7 feet long. It would also be "substantially" cheaper than the Model 3, which is currently the most affordable Tesla you can get, starting at $37,000 in the U.S. SEE ALSO: End of an era: Tesla discontinues Model S and Model X The new SUV, which Tesla plans to manufacture in China, might also be offered with a smaller battery and just a single motor instead of two (both the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y can come with either with one or two motors). This would make the car lighter than other Tesla models, but the smaller battery might also mean it'll have less range than existing models. There are no details on when Tesla plans to launch the new car, and the report says that the project is still in an "early development stage," meaning it might not happen at all. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The fact that Tesla is working on something isn't a secret; just a few weeks ago the company CEO Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla is working on something "way cooler than a minivan."Figuring out exactly what Tesla's exact plans are is another matter. The company is working on an autonomous vehicle called the Cybercab (or the Robovan; the name doesn't seem to be set in stone yet). And Tesla was reportedly working on a cheaper model for years before scrapping it, seemingly in favor of offering cheaper variants of existing models. Notably, when Reuters reported on Tesla giving up on launching a cheaper model in 2024, Musk tweeted that the news agency was "lying". The fact is, the company never did launch a cheaper model; we'll see if things turn out differently this time.

Tax Day is nearly here, and with it comes tax scams. The U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee has issued a scam alert, with less than a week to go until the tax filing deadline. The warning is, unfortunately, needed, given that nearly one in four Americans have reported being victimized by tax season scams, according to March 2026 research by McAfee.The alert, seen by Mashable, has other alarming findings: During fiscal year 2025, the IRS reported more than 600 social media impersonators of the agency. Spam blocker app Nomorobo found a 400 percent increase in fraudulent calls claiming to be from the IRS between Jan. and Feb. this year. Fake tax websites are also on the rise, with McAfee identifying 43 new ones every day between Sept. 2025 and Feb. 2026. "Criminal enterprises are exploiting tax season to target Americans, including seniors," said Joint Economic Committee Chairman and Arizona Rep. David Schweikert in a press release shared with Mashable. Adults 70 years old and older lost more money to fraud than younger adults, according to the median of data collected by the Federal Trade Commission in 2024: $1,650 for seniors 80 and older and $1,000 for 70-79 year-olds, compared to $189-691 for younger groups.Schweikert is issuing the alert, along with Ranking Member New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, Vice Chairman Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, and Senior House Democrat Virginia Rep. Don Beyer. SEE ALSO: Why you shouldn't use ChatGPT to do your taxes "As Americans file their taxes this month, scammers are deploying an onslaught of attacks — often enhanced by artificial intelligence — designed to steal people's money," Hassan stated in the release. "I encourage all taxpayers to review the tips in this bipartisan scams alert so that they can stay vigilant and protect their identities and accounts."Here are tips the Joint Economic Committee lays out to avoid common IRS impersonation scams:Be wary of phone calls, emails, or social media outreach. The IRS will never message you on social media! The agency will almost always initiate contact by mail, according to the committee.Watch out for urgent requests or threats. The IRS will never threaten to call law enforcement or request to see your driver's license. On that note, the agency will never ask for payment via nontraditional methods such as gift cards.You can verify any communications with the IRS directly on the official IRS.gov website.You can share an IRS-issued identity protection PIN instead of your Social Security Number.The committee also urges precaution when dealing with third-party tax services. Here are some tips for identifying non-IRS tax scams:Research firms by searching them on sites like the Better Business Bureau. If an offer seems too good to be true, it often is.Go to IRS.gov and verify the service's Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). If the service doesn't provide this, avoid it.Scammers may pretend to be legitimate third-party tax preparation companies or employees. Verify the provider by visiting the official website and calling the listed phone number.If you believe you're a victim of a tax scam, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

Apple's first "e" model iPhone, the iPhone 16e, wasn't just a review unit for me; I actually lived with it as my main phone for over six months. And while I still stand by what I wrote in my review last year — it was surprisingly powerful for a "cheap" phone, with excellent battery life — the one thing I couldn't stand was its camera. On paper, the camera was the same as the main camera on the iPhone 16. In reality, it was similar, but it produced way worse photos in low light. Photos of my kids dancing in the living room in the evening, or friends chatting over dinner, or a band playing in a small club? Most of those turned out pretty bad. With the iPhone 17e, which came out in March, Apple fixed most of the other annoyances that plagued the original model. The camera is a little better, but is it enough?Same look, but now with MagSafeFocusing on said previous grievances, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe, Apple's magnetic, wireless charging tech that makes it easy to slap various accessories onto the phone. MagSafe support means MagSafe cases are available for the iPhone 17e, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable Apple sent me an iPhone 17e unit for review, and I was happily able to use my Apple Wallet and magnetic chargers with it. Apple also sent me a Clear Case with MagSafe, and while it may not be my favorite case in terms of design, it was a relief to be able to charge the phone magnetically without removing the case.The ability to use MagSafe chargers and accessories is just about the only physical difference between the iPhone 17e and 16e, though. The iPhone 17e looks exactly the same as its predecessor, with the only difference being the new color, Soft Pink. The unit Apple sent me was in this color, and I can tell you that it is a very nice, but indeed a very soft pink. SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e hands-on: New chip, more storage memory, and yes, MagSafe On the front, there's still no Dynamic Island; the Face ID sensors and the selfie camera are still hidden inside a notch on the top of the display. The dimensions have remained exactly the same (your old iPhone 16e case will work), and the weight is virtually the same (169 grams for the new model, 167 grams for the old one). The display, unfortunately, still only goes up to 60Hz. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable The display is still a 6.1-inch OLED that maxes out at 60Hz, and that's very apparent if you switch from a 120Hz phone; the transitions and animations aren't nearly as smooth on the iPhone 17e.New chip, more storageThe biggest improvements on the iPhone 17e are inside the phone. It has a new chip, Apple's powerful A19, which can power the latest AI shenanigans. Apple's C1X modem has replaced the old C1 modem, though it's hard to tell what sort of improvements this has brought.Perhaps most importantly, the iPhone 17e starts at 256GB, compared to the iPhone 16e's 128GB starting storage. Given that the iPhone 17e's starting price remains unchanged at $599, this is a pretty big deal. You can also configure the iPhone 17e with 512GB of storage, but that takes the price to $799. The Soft Pink color is the softest pink imaginable. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years. In fact, this makes it extremely similar to the $799 iPhone 17, though the A19 chip on the iPhone 17e has one less GPU core, meaning it'll be slightly worse for gaming. If you don't care about having the flashiest phone, and just need something that gets the work done, the iPhone 17e is a compelling choice.When I reviewed the iPhone 16e, I was pleased with battery life and how powerful it was. But having used the phone over several months, I came away disappointed with the camera. The phone has a singular, 48-megapixel rear camera with similar specs to the iPhone 16's. But it just wasn't the same; it was alright in daytime, but night shots, or even shots taken in the relative dimness of my living room, just weren't good enough.About that cameraThe bad news is that the iPhone 17e has the same camera specs as the iPhone 16e. And yes, that means no dedicated telephoto or ultra-wide camera; just a single, 48-megapixel main camera on the back. Apple says that the new A19 chips will unlock better shots, and some new camera features are indeed here, including next-gen portraits with Focus and Depth Control. But is it better where it truly matters, which is low light shots?Here's why insist on low light camera performance. New iPhones, especially those from the Pro line, as well as top Android phones, have spoiled the heck out of me (and probably most of you, dear readers). One of the new camera features on the iPhone 17e is support for Apple's next-gen portraits. I managed to capture some beautiful shots, but the iPhone 17e's camera still seemed to struggle with focus and depth. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable It's easy to forget just how hard it was to get a decent low light shot on a smartphone just a few years ago. These days, however, I'm used to being able of taking a photo in a dim pub, or during an evening stroll, and have the phone automagically increase brightness and exposure while accommodating for the movements of my shaky hand. It's hard to go back to a phone that doesn't do that well. So yeah, the iPhone 17e takes decent photos in broad daylight. All modern phones do. Selfies are alright, too, though nothing to write home about. The selfie camera is still the old, 12-megapixel one. The other series 17 iPhones all have a better, 18-megapixel camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable If you want to zoom in with the iPhone 17e, you can do that, but it's purely digital: You'll simply get a smaller cutout of what the camera sensor has captured, and while the shot quality will remain the same, the resolution will be lower. Left: The zoomed imag is just a digital cutout, but it can yield decent results. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Indoors, and in the evening, is where the camera's weaknesses show. Sometimes, Apple's Night Mode will kick in and save the day, producing a decent shot (while still not as good as the main camera on my iPhone 17 Pro Max). But sometimes you'll just get a smudgy, blurry shot, or the tones will be overly yellow. The photo on the left was taken with the iPhone 17e, the one on the right with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Left: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable The good news is that it does seem that the iPhone 17e's camera is a little better than the one on the iPhone 16e when it comes to low-light shots. The biggest issue, perhaps, lies in expectations. Check Apple's official tech specs for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17e, and they're all listed as having a "48MP Fusion Main" camera, which might lead you to believe they cameras are the same. They're not, so just have that in mind when you're shopping for a new iPhone. A pretty good entry-level iPhone It's improved, it's affordable, but the iPhone 17 may be a better option if you need a good camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable All things considered, the iPhone 17e is a decent upgrade over its predecessor, and a good choice if you want the cheapest new iPhone you can get. It's got MagSafe, more storage, and Apple's powerful A19 cheap. But if you need a better, more versatile camera, the iPhone 17 is a better choice. This text is an expanded version of the hands-on iPhone 17e article which you can read on Mashable.

TL;DR: TCGplayer has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Display listed from $109.49 with shipping included. That puts it $1.63 below TCGplayer’s current $111.12 market price, while also undercutting Amazon’s $119.95 listing. Where to buy the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box Best TCGplayer deal Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $109.49 at TCGplayer Shop Now Best Amazon deal Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $119.95 at Amazon Shop Now Booster box prices for newer Magic: The Gathering sets can slide around after launch, and Lorwyn Eclipsed has now dipped to one of its most tempting prices since release.As of April 9, TCGplayer has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Display listed from $109.49 shipped. TCGplayer’s own current market price sits at $111.12, while its listed median is still far higher at $144.99. Amazon, meanwhile, has the same box priced at $119.95, so TCGplayer is currently the better buy by a pretty comfortable margin.  Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! This display box includes 30 Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Boosters, with each pack containing 14 Magic trading cards. Every booster includes one traditional foil card, plus 1 to 4 cards of rare or higher rarity, alongside uncommons, commons, and a land. That makes this box a strong fit whether you’re buying for Limited nights, cracking packs for collection value, or just trying to get into the set without paying inflated early pricing.Lorwyn Eclipsed is also a fairly easy sell for longtime fans. The set heads back to the split worlds of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, bringing back creature types like Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, and Elves while leaning into the contrast between eternal day and perpetual night.Among the other newer MTG expansions, the Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box is also still available for around $140. Meanwhile, you can grab the MTG Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box for under $125.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 April 9, 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 April 9, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 9 PipsEqual (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-3 placed horizontally.Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5--5, placed vertically.Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 9 PipsNumber (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.Greater Than (4): Everything in this red space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 9 PipsEqual (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.Greater Than (3): Everything in this red space must be greater than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.Greater Than (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.Greater Than (3): Everything in this green space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.Greater Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, 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.

Between "friction-maxxing" and the discussions regarding "social media addiction," it's safe to say that we're ambivalent about our lives online. We'd love to "touch grass," yet the bright colors of Instagram Reels lure us into remaining on our phones.Some people, though, are making concerted efforts to decrease their screentime. But musician Leith Ross is taking it a step further: They're not looking at screens for a full year. SEE ALSO: We didn't grow up on social media. We grew up on digital nicotine. Not literally — they will go see a movie in the theater or borrow their partner's laptop for a Zoom interview, which is how Mashable spoke to Ross. But they no longer use a smartphone or a laptop themselves. They use an alarm clock, write by hand, and only play physical games.The Canadian singer-songwriter still films videos for YouTube — but they record on a camcorder, and someone else uploads them to their channel with over 46,000 subscribers. Mashable interviewed Ross about their "year without screens," why they're doing it, and how it's changing their life.Why go screen-free?"It was a long time coming," Ross said. They explained that they believe they're addicted to screens and that their compulsive behavior around screens of all kinds was impacting them negatively. Whether one can truly be addicted to screens or social media is, as of now, contested, much like sex addiction. But the World Health Organization has noted an increase in problematic social media use, such as a lack of control and experiencing negative consequences. "But it felt like everyone was dealing with the same thing," Ross said. They didn't have the motivation to try to do anything about it.One day, though, their phone was dead. Their TV wasn't working, either, or something like that kept them off screens.Then, they wrote a song they really liked, and they had an epiphany: There are probably hundreds of songs they could've written that never came to be because they were never bored. There are probably hundreds of songs they could've written that never came to be because they were never bored. "I felt a lot of grief in that moment, because writing music is what I love to do, and…and it feels like something I was supposed to do with my life," they said. "And I had just not been doing it as much as I could have."That thought spiraled into thinking about how many books they wanted to read, too, which led them to wanting to do this project. Cutting things one bit at a time wasn't going to work, as it hadn't worked for them before. So they made a plan.  It took several months to implement, but since Jan. 6, 2026, Ross has been living (by and large) screen-free."My year of no screens"In a seven-page document, Ross outlines the rules for their year with no screens as well as a mission statement. No smartphones, no TV, no laptop or desktop computer, and no gaming systems, with limited exceptions. For instance, they can use a library computer for essentials, such as booking flights. Their family also requests FaceTimes, which are done on a friend's or their partner's phone and supervised. Ross has uploaded two YouTube updates since starting their year with no screens, one at the end of Jan. (that has over 100,000 views) and another in Feb. Since then, they (or rather, their team) have also posted a song demo and vlogs from the European leg of their I Can See The Future Tour, a string of shows to support the release of their second album of the same name.Compulsive screen use and information overloadWhat problematic screen use looked like in Ross's life was a constant need to be online or looking at a screen, an extreme anxiety or bad feeling in their body when they didn't have access, and a muscle memory of always reaching for a device.Many people believe they're addicted to social media these days, and their screentime is in the double-digit daily hours. But Ross admitted that they may be a more extreme case, saying they couldn't physically stop themself from being online or scrolling or even watching TV."If I was having an anxious night, I would just be on TikTok until four in the morning or later, because as soon as I put it down, I felt that like horrible, overwhelming anxiety," they said. "It was just like my constant, constant, constant coping mechanism for everything."But they hesitate to support social media bans for children, such as the mandate enacted in Australia last Dec."Our aim should be less on making policy that affects the population and more on making policy that affects the tech companies that are f*cking us over," they said, "for lack of a better term." They brought up social media algorithms that amplify hate speech and disturbing content, and that there should be a moral standard for what is shared and pushed by algorithms. Social media gives us the illusion of being connected, they said, but we're bombarded with information in an unhelpful way that shuts us down. We don't see uplifting content like liberation work — at least, that's not what Ross was seeing during their last couple of months online.When they used social media, they also hyperfixated on how others perceived them — a common complaint. For example, last time they toured, they'd immediately go online after a show to see what they and their bandmates looked like, what they sounded like, and what people thought. But during their most recent tour, which ended weeks ago, they "couldn't lean on anybody else's experience at all." "I just had to take it at face value for what happened to me," they said, "and it sounds so funny, because isn't that just the human experience?" Not seeing the concert through other people's eyes was strange, but it made Ross happier. They weren't overanalyzing themself, how they looked on stage, or their behavior. "There was nothing that I could cling to and be hard on myself about in that way," they said."I was really forced into the moment, the present, which is a great feeling," Ross said.How relationships change post-social mediaBesides their relationship with themself, their relationships with other people have changed since they began their year of no screens — for good and bad.For the friends they see often, their relationship has improved. Since they can't keep up with friends on social media, when they see or talk with them, they're excited to hear about what's been going on. "It's not like I wasn't excited to hear about my friends before, but I felt like I already knew," they said.On the flip side, they said, "I now am not really allowed any illusion of being close to a person that I'm not actually close to." There are people Ross considered close friends before the project started, and while they still do, they don't really connect as much. Before, they felt an intimacy with people just replying to their Instagram stories."And I'm not saying that that's unimportant," they said. "But I am realizing that…I don't actually see them very much or at all, and…that we didn't have an ability to connect often and well outside of being online.""It feels a bit lonely at times," they said, "but it's also inspiring me to strengthen those relationships in real, tangible ways that I can control."They've also set up a P.O. Box and receive letters from fans and viewers. "Getting a handwritten letter is like a joy that I haven't experienced since I was very young, and it's so fun," they said. They used to be affirmed by kind DMs, now — similar to catching up with friends — receiving these positive messages now "feels like that much more rare and special and unique," especially because of the effort required to write and send a physical letter.Should I do a year with no screens?Ross recommends that anyone do this to the amount that they feel capable of — and not for the reasons you might think.Beyond getting your attention span back, wanting to read more books, and be more creative, Ross believes there's a larger existential threat that makes them want to encourage others to lessen their screentime. They believe that an emotional distance has been created between people and their community due to capitalism, individualism, and social media. We're not tangible to each other, and we have less desire to sacrifice for others and do the hard things that make the world better, they said. Living a less digital life and being a part of a physical community may help with that."I feel like we need to find a very concrete way back to each other, so that when push comes to shove, we will have real, physical communities in our lives that can take care of us and who we can take care of," they said. They won't stop at a year, but when the year is up, they'll likely be less strict, they said. One of the main things they don't anticipate, though, is ever getting a smartphone again. The number one thing that has brought them back to their body and self is not having a computer on them at all times, they said.For now, they seem to be frictionmaxxing to the extreme — not that they've seen the meme online before Mashable told them about it. "It's nice to hear from the other side of the veil [that] I'm relating to an online trend," they joked.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know basketball player nicknames.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. 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: 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: High performersGreen: Combat lingoBlue: Also known asPurple: Same first wordHere are today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:Yellow: A team's best playerGreen: MMA termsBlue: Nicknames of former NBA players, with "the"Purple: Mr. ____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 #563 is...What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?A team's best player - CENTERPIECE, HEADLINER, LEAD, STARMMA terms - ARMBAR, CHOKE, CLINCH, SUBMISSIONNicknames of former NBA players, with "the" - ANSWER, BIG DIPPER, MATRIX, TRUTHMr. ___ - 3000, HOCKEY, MET, OCTOBERDon'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 Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, April 9, 2026:AcrossSlip-on shoe ... or something you don't want in your bathtubThe answer is Clog.Ancient artifactThe answer is Relic.In a most unusual wayThe answer is Oddly.Springs in a mattressThe answer is Coils.Raven's havenThe answer is Nest.DownSlip-on shoe .. or something you really don't want in your bathtubThe answer is Croc.Strung alongThe answer is Led on.Boomer's bop, nowadaysThe answer is Oldie.Breathing organs for fishThe answer is Gills.Fluid-filled lumpThe answer is Cyst.If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Orion is in space, the Artemis II crew is returning from the moon, and you can follow their journey without leaving Earth.NASA's Artemis Real-time Orbit Website, or AROW, allows the public to track the moonship. During the roughly 10-day test flight, anyone with a phone or computer can see how far the crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — are from Earth.The tracker turns a complex deep space mission into something easier to understand at a glance. With data from sensors on the spacecraft, AROW takes information already flowing to mission control in Houston and interprets it into simple visuals for the layperson. Instead of trying to picture where the crew might be, you can actually see their path, distances, and major milestones as they happen. SEE ALSO: Artemis 2 mission timeline: An itinerary for the historic 10-day flight People can download the NASA app or go to the website to give the tracker a spin. AROW began updating about a minute after liftoff on Wednesday, April 1, and will keep feeding live information until Orion dives back into Earth's atmosphere for a splashdown at the end of the mission. Online, users can see where the spacecraft sits in space and trace its figure-eight route. NASA's Artemis Real-time Orbit Website provides the public with information about the Artemis II moon mission as it happens. Credit: NASA / AROW screenshot NASA designed the website to show more than a dot on a map. It highlights key moments in the mission and points out features on the moon, including landing sites from the Apollo program. That lets viewers connect what they’re seeing today through Artemis — named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology — with the first era of human exploration on the lunar surface.The NASA app includes similar features, plus an augmented reality tracker. After calibration, the app uses phone sensors to tell you how to move your device so on‑screen markers line up with where Orion is relative to your position on Earth.  This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. For people who love to pore through the numbers, AROW also shares precise data describing Orion's location and motion.Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.Since launch, the crew has been in a high-Earth orbit, allowing them time to check out the systems aboard the spacecraft before pushing into a moon-bound trajectory.Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission in the Artemis campaign and a major step toward landing on the moon and learning how to live there. By sending astronauts around the moon and bringing them home safely, NASA is attempting to prove the systems needed for future lunar landings — and, perhaps down the road, the first human mission to Mars.

SAVE OVER $200: As of April 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's $220 off its list price of $499.99. Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop $279.99 at Amazon $499.99 Save $220   Get Deal For those days when you just don't want to vacuum, a robot vacuum is nice to have on hand. If you've been thinking about investing, there are thankfully some great deals still available post-Spring sales. Among them is the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop, which is discounted right now at Amazon.As of April 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ is marked down to $279.99. Normally it's listed for $499.99, so this is a great opportunity to save $220. It's a model that earned a spot on our list of the best robot vacuums as the quietest pick. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! The Roborock Q10 S5+ can tackle a variety of messes, as it boasts features for both vacuuming and mopping. It has 10,000 Pa suction for clearing up carpets. It even comes with a JawScrapers Comb main brush and an anti-tangle side brush that help keep hair from getting caught up inside the rollers. And as for mopping, it scrubs up to 3,000 times per minute to get out annoying stains on harder surfaces.It also works quietly, which is what landed it on our list of the best robot vacuums. Mashable's Leah Stodart said it, "has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning."On top of that, its base comes with a 2.7 liter dust bag that can hold up to 70 days worth of dirt, dust, hair, and more. If it sounds like the kind of robot vacuum you've been looking for, don't miss out on this chance to save on the Roborock Q10 S5+ at Amazon.

Following days of threats, including a Truth Social post declaring that "a whole civilization will die tonight," Donald Trump has announced a "double-sided ceasefire" with Iran, a two-week period in which the contested Strait of Hormuz will allow shipping traffic.On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert questioned the president's Wednesday social media post and his use of the term "double-sided.""But aren't all peace deals double-sided? I believe there's a word for a single-sided ceasefire, and it's murder," the host said.Trump also said on Truth Social that he agreed to the ceasefire because "we have already met and exceeded all military objectives" in the U.S/Israel war with Iran."It's true, this war reached all of its objectives," reacted Colbert. "It's been weeks since anyone mentioned the Epstein files." Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

The Moon is nearing a new lunar phase, the Third Quarter. This occurs half of the Moon’s surface appears illuminated, with the visible portion continuing to shrink each night as we move towards the New Moon. What is today’s Moon phase?As of Thursday, April 9, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 59% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.There's plenty for you to see on the surface of the Moon tonight, even if you don't have any visual aids. Just looking up with your eyes, you should be able to see the Mare Imbrium, Tycho Crater, and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Gassendi Crater, Alps Mountains, and the Apennine Mountains. Finally, if you have a telescope, expect to see features like the Apollo 12 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Rima Ariadaeus.When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.What are Moon phases?According to NASA, it takes the Moon roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct stages during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves, which is why it can look full, partly lit, or just a slim crescent. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight in total: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.

SAVE $600: As of April 9, the Mova Z60 robot vacuum is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Mova Mova Z60 Robot Vacuum $899 at Amazon $1,499 Save $600   Get Deal Robot vacuums are arguably one of the best smart home devices money can buy. They keep your floors clean, perhaps one of life's most arduous tasks, so you don't have to. Amazon regularly has great deals on top models, but as of April 9, this new deal on the Mova Z60 robot vacuum caught our eye. Not only is it reduced by $600, but it's dropped down to its lowest-ever price of $899 (from $1,499).This vacuum is designed for powerful yet low-maintenance cleaning. It combines 28,000Pa suction with a HydroForce mopping system that sprays clean water while removing dirty water at the same time, so your floors are dust free and sparkly clean at all times. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! It has a TroboWave DuoBrush that helps prevent hair tangles, and AutoShield technology that detects carpets and lifts the mop to prevent it from getting damp. The all-in-one docking station also takes care of tasks like dust emptying, hot water mop washing, refilling, and hot air drying, so there's next to no manual upkeep. There's even specific pet hair-focused features such as targeted cleaning around high-traffic areas and dual solution tanks for both cleaning and odor control.You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $620: As of April 9, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is on sale for $679 at Amazon. That's a 48% discount on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni $679 at Amazon $1,299.99 Save $620.99   Get Deal If you've been waiting for the right time to purchase a new robot vacuum, now might be that time. As of April 9, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni has dropped down to its lowest-ever price. With over $600 off the list price, you can take it home now for $679.This vacuum is built for a serious clean. It combines BLAST technology with a 16,600Pa suction and enhanced airflow to pick up fine dust and pet hair. Its Triple Lift System automatically raises the mop, side brush, and main brush when moving between different surfaces, helping you keep carpets dry while still keeping your hard floors sparkly clean. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! This unit is almost completely self maintained, too. The OZMO Roller continuously self-washes during use to keep the mop fresh, and the ZeroTangle 2.0 helps to prevent hair from wrapping around the brush. The OMNI Station handles the rest of the maintenance by washing and drying the mop with hot water, refilling water, and emptying dust. It can even store dirt for up to 150 days before you need to empty manually. And you don't even need to direct it around your home. This vacuum uses AIVI 3D 3.0 with LiDAR to recognise objects and map out your rooms, so it can navigate on its own.This robot vacuum deal is available at Amazon now.

SAVE OVER $400: As of April 9, the Sony Bravia 5 65-inch TV is on sale for $1,098 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Bravia 5 65-inch TV $1,098 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $401.99   Get Deal The Sony Bravia 5 65-inch TV is back on sale at Amazon, and if you've been looking for a new TV for movie night, this is a deal you won't want to skip. As of April 9, the price has dropped from $1,499.99 to $1,098. That's a discount of over $400 ($401.99, to be exact).There's so much going for this TV. It's powered by the XR Processor with AI, so it can enhance scenes in real time by improving things like the clarity, contrast, and colour. It also upscales lower-resolution content to give you a sharper picture. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! For streaming, it runs on Google TV, so you'll have access to streaming apps in one place, along with voice control via Google Assistant and support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. And to make movie nights even more impressive, it supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, and DTS:X, with studio-calibrated modes designed for services like Netflix and Prime Video. It's also a great choice for gamers. Certain features are tailored for the PS5, such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. It also has motion handling designed to keep fast-moving scenes smooth and clear.This Sony TV deal is available at Amazon now (but only for a limited time).

SAVE $800: As of April 9, score the Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100 at T-Mobile without a trade-in by adding a new line on the Experience More plan. Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung T-Mobile: Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100   Get Deal If you're in the market for a new smartphone, check out this latest deal at T-Mobile: You could get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100.As of April 9, you can qualify for this low price without a trade-in by adding a new line on the Experience More plan (or three lines on the Better Value plan). The discount of up to $800 is applied as monthly bill credits over 24 months. The 256GB phone is usually priced at $899.99, so this $800 discount would bring the price down to just $99.99.You’ll still need to pay taxes and a $35 connection fee, but that's always the case with these mobile carrier offers. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! The Samsung Galaxy S26 range is still fresh, so this T-Mobile deal is a steal. The Samsung Galaxy S26 a great choice for Android fans, with its Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 casing boosting durability. It's also packed with Samsung’s Galaxy AI tools, including Photo Assist.It runs fast and smooth thanks to its customized processor. This is also supported by an upgraded cooling system that helps keep the temperature down during demanding usage.Head to T-Mobile to grab this latest Samsung deal while it's still live.

After a grueling descent through Earth's atmosphere, NASA will strap the Artemis II astronauts into bulky spacesuits for an obstacle course.Within mere hours of the Orion spacecraft's splashdown on Friday, April 10, the crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen — won't be afforded much time to rest and relax. Instead, the four will be bounced around from one research group to the next before they've fully acclimated to Earth gravity. One of those studies will include putting their "right stuff" to the test. The gauntlet, far less flashy than an episode of American Gladiators, will unfold back at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, a giant robotic crane and a heavy test suit will help a small team answer a crucial question: After 10 days of weightlessness in space, how soon can humans safely get back to work in another world?The experiment grows out of a longer‑running study with astronauts returning from six‑month missions on the International Space Station. Those crews spend about as long in orbit as a trip to Mars might take — and they come home pallid and wobbly. Scientists worry that in a weakened state, astronauts might not be ready for moonwalks or Marswalks, which require strength and agility."We don't want to put the astronauts in a position where they’re going to be stranded in a spacesuit, asking them to do tasks that are probably above what their physiologic capabilities are going to be in," said Jason Norcross, a senior scientist leading the effort. "This helps us really with planning, more than anything else." SEE ALSO: These 'avatars' will fly around the moon with NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts Without gravity, muscles atrophy and aerobic fitness fades. The brain and inner ear systems that tell us which way is up and help us stay balanced also need time to readjust. To investigate that, Norcross' team has used the Active Response Gravity Offload System, or ARGOS, at Johnson. Picture a crane that holds part of a person's weight. By lifting just the right amount, ARGOS lets a suited astronaut feel as if he or she is in a different gravity environment. For space station astronauts, ARGOS is tuned to Martian gravity, and the obstacle course is framed with that in mind: Can someone who has spent six months in orbit step into a 400‑pound suit and, within about a day of landing, safely make their way through a mock Mars spacewalk? Faking lunar gravityFor Artemis II, the team will reuse the same basic setup but dial ARGOS to lunar gravity instead — one‑sixth Earth's pull — and tweak the tasks to echo the type of work astronauts will need to do on the moon.Within one to four hours of landing, the Artemis II astronauts will first tackle a capsule escape drill using a mock spacecraft. Lying on their backs, they'll have to sit up, deploy a ladder, climb up and over it, shoulder a pack, and walk a set distance. This exercise seeks to understand whether a crew can open a hatch if a landing goes awry. That's a question shared by many space physiologists, said Marie Mortreux, an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island. She studies how muscles and bones cope with different levels of gravity."When they come back home from space, you're familiar with those images," said Mortreux, who isn't involved in the Artemis II EVA simulations. "They can't walk … and I'm like, 'What's going to happen if they can't make it out?'" NASA astronaut Kayla Barron gets assistance out of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6, 2022. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani Mortreux's research in rodents suggests that lower-body, weight‑bearing muscles take the biggest hit in space. Arm muscles — the ones people need for latches and handles — hold up better because astronauts use them constantly to pull themselves around in weightlessness. That's reassuring, she told Mashable, but it's not a reason to be complacent, underscoring the need for more research like this. Despite being tired and uncomfortable, all space station astronauts who have been subjected to the experiments so far have managed to complete them. Inside the spacesuit challengeThe test will continue with a simulated lunar EVA in moonlike gravity the next day. Each of the four crewmates will change into liquid cooling garments, close‑fitting layers threaded with thin water tubes to keep them from overheating. Then, they'll climb into heavy-duty EVA spacesuits that require entering through a back hatch. Just getting into them is physically taxing. Once the astronauts stand up, the team will connect their suits to ARGOS. From that point forward, the test compresses the most challenging parts of a moonwalk into a 30 to 40‑minute obstacle course: down a ladder on a mock lander platform, across unstable ground, through geology drills, and onto a steep treadmill hike. The ladder is deceptively difficult: Any task that forces crew to turn their heads, look down, or rely on their inner sense of orientation, could trigger vertigo."You'll often see [returning astronauts] keep their head in line with their body," Norcross said, "which is why, when we've designed a lot of our tasks, we've designed them with a lot of turning, a lot of head movement up and down." Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover dodges rocks and carries a loaded bag during a moonwalk simulation while attached to the ARGOS system to get baseline data ahead of his post-landing obstacle course. Credit: NASA / Robert Markowitz Next, the astronauts will have to bend and squat through tasks meant to rehearse making electrical and fluid connections. In a real mission, that kind of work might power up a lander or connect life‑support lines — unglamorous but essential chores.From there, the experiment will shift to the most punishing part. In a trailer filled with sand and rocks, the astronauts will carry several 30‑pound bags back and forth over uneven footing. The ground tends to shift, visibility is limited by the helmet, and the suit resists every stride.  "Most treadmills don't even go up to 20 percent." Then, for the science activity: The astronauts will have to hold a tool steady for about a minute to mimic using an instrument, swing a hammer to chip off a rock fragment, and dig a trench with a scoop. Those moves echo what future crews might need to do to collect samples on the lunar surface.The test will finish on a treadmill. Still attached to the crane, the astronauts will walk roughly half a mile over slopes, including a steep uphill climb. "Most treadmills don't even go up to 20 percent," Norcross said, explaining how high they'll set the inclination, "and sometimes it requires them to slow down pretty significantly. But they still put one foot in front of the other." Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch climbs down the ladder of a mockup lander while attached to the ARGOS system to get baseline data ahead of her post-landing obstacle course. Credit: NASA / Helen Arase Vargas A safety check for future moonwalksEach Artemis II astronaut will endure the obstacle course, which will take about 1.5 hours to complete, one at a time. Norcross' team will track how long each task takes, how much energy the astronauts use, and how their heart rates respond. The whole experiment repeats three days later to measure how their performance changes over time.From the space station study, Norcross already sees a pattern: Astronauts look and feel far better by the fourth day after landing, and close to normal within a week, even after half a year in orbit. Because Artemis II was short, these tests give NASA a cautious baseline. The data should help mission planners decide how aggressive to make the first lunar excursions, how far to let astronauts roam, and which jobs to push to later days after their bodies have had time to adapt. So even though the Wiseman, Koch, Glover, and Hansen didn't set foot on the moon, they're going to at least feel like they did."For this Artemis II crew, it'll be, 'Congratulations, you've done your lunar EVA,'" Norcross said.

TL;DR: Travel lighter with the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, currently $21.99 (reg. $49.99). Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $21.99 $49.99 Save $28.00   Get Deal If you’re looking for little ways to make your life easier, the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable is a perfect example. This tiny device can power up multiple devices while fitting on your keyring, ending the mess of tangled cables in your bag. And now it’s on sale for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).Keeping up with multiple chargers can be a pain. Whether you’re packing for vacation or simply trying to bring the right cords to the office every day, the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable simplifies this pain point. Just pop this tiny device on your keyring and be prepared to power up anywhere. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! The GoCable allows you to keep a Type-C, Type-C+, and Apple Lightning connector on hand at all times — you just need to supply the power bank or wall adapter. Its 100W ultra-fast charging ensures you’re not wasting time powering up your devices, while also enabling high-speed file transfer.There’s an LED power display that provides the real-time charging status, and you’ll never have to worry about untangling cords because the magnetic cable always stays neat.The GoCable 8-in-1 doesn’t just charge things — it’s also got a bottle opener and safe-proofed hidden cutter that makes opening packages easy. A carabiner clip also allows you to attach this cable to anything, so you can always have it on hand.Be prepared to charge and open anything with this GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).StackSocial prices subject to change.