Mashable

TL;DR: You can essentially save every document you ever create in this lifetime 20TB of cloud storage from Internxt now $399 with coupon code STORAGE20.

Video recordings of work presentations. Your college MP3 collection. Approximately 70,000 photos of your dog and brunches on vacation. All of these files add up to quickly exhaust space on free cloud storage options. Pay for enough storage for a lifetime when you get Internxt’s 20TB plan. Internxt has already dropped to deal-level pricing, but you can save an extra 20% with the coupon code STORAGE20 and get 20TB of storage for life for $399 (reg. $1,499).

Simple syncing

Using Internxt to stash your files is simple, with an intuitive user interface made for fast uploading and direct sharing. Accessible from desktop apps, web browsers, and iOS/Android apps, Internxt is a flexible option. Plus, you can sync your files and photos across all platforms, including Linux.

If you’re looking for a decentralized, privacy-oriented cloud storage system that you can access from any device, Internxt is the affordable option for that.

Cloud storage designed for privacy

Many users could benefit from cloud storage, but don’t want to risk their privacy by uploading sensitive documents. And yet, digitally storing files has quickly become a safeguard against physical dangers, such as house fires and theft. Internxt is built for privacy so that even the most reluctant users can feel more secure. Files are shared with end-to-end encryption so unintended recipients can’t open them. Open-source codes are accessible via GitHub for any curious users.

Designed with Post-Quantum Encryption, these files can remain safe from computer hacking power. Internxt is structured with zero-knowledge storage, which means no one but the user has the information to get to their files. It’s GDPR compliant and audited and verified by Securitum. Internxt was designed to keep your data safe and private, and it has taken all the steps to show that.

Save when you get 20TB — enough space to save millions of photos — from Internxt with coupon code STORAGE20 for just $399.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) $399.99
$1,499 Save $1,099.01 Get Deal

SAVE $180: As of May 12, Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale for $169.95 at Amazon. That's a saving of 51% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $169.95 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $180.04 Get Deal

We're always on the hunt for deals on headphones and earbuds here at Mashable, and this latest Amazon discount on the Beats Studio Pro is one that deserves a shout-out. As of May 12, these headphones are reduced by over 50%, saving you $180 on list price. This deal is available across all eight colorways but does not include the power adapter.

A truly well-known name when it comes to high-quality audio, these Beats headphones offer premium sound quality with noise cancellation and spatial audio support. Choose from Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode to pick how much immersion you want.

SEE ALSO: Beats Studio Buds + are down to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

And let's not forget the battery life, promising to last up to 40 hours. And if you're in a rush, a quick 10-minute 'Fast Fuel' charge will give you up to four hours of additional playback. The voice-targeting mics clearly filters out any background noise for crisp, clear call performance, perfect for on the go phone calls or long voice notes.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, May 12, 2025:

AcrossThe "D" of D.J.

• The answer is Disc.

Yet to tie the knot

• The answer is Unwed.

Clothing material that becomes 3-Down after "doubling" a letter

• The answer is Swede.

Like the motion of the ocean

• The answer is Tidal.

Actress Garr

• The answer is Teri.

Down"___ in the Wind" (Kansas classic)

• The answer is Dust.

People of the Arctic

• The answer is Inuit.

Stockholm resident

• The answer is Swede.

Traditional wood for a hope chest

• The answer is Cedar.

Where one looks for lox

• The answer is Deli.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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 today's Mini Crossword.

We thought that the glimpse of Joel (Pedro Pascal) we caught at the end of The Last of Us Season 2, episode 5, might mean we see more of him in episode 6 — and based on the trailer, that's exactly what's going to happen.

The teaser above shows Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel in Jackson, presumably filling in some of the five-year time gap that took place between Seasons 1 and 2. Things start off happily enough, but there are some shots further in that suggest we may be about to learn how Ellie found out what Joel did at the Firefly hospital.

This is going to be painful, isn't it?

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

The best VPNs aren't always the most expensive. Some leading VPNs are actually really affordable, which is great news for anyone looking to secure cheap online security, data protection, and increased streaming options.

You have come to the right place if you're looking for a premium VPN with advanced features, without the big price tag. We've lined up some great value options for absolutely everyone, and there is no need to compromise on security, connection speed, customer support, or anything else.

But first, there are a few things we need to cover.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide valuable protection for your data and identity when you're navigating the online world. How do they do this? VPNs offer online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address and makes all of your information unreadable.

All of your activity is untraceable and secure, because your online traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel. Everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. VPNs are primarily designed to provide online security, but there is another reason that millions of people use these services.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for your iPhone

VPNs can also be used to stream movies and shows from around the world, and the process is actually really simple. We've already mentioned how VPNs provide anonymity by hiding your real IP address. Well, this technique can also be used to manipulate the streaming market. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick your favourite streaming sites into thinking that you are based in a different country. This provides access to all the extra content that would normally be restricted in your location.

Should you use free VPNs?

The question that everyone wants an answer to is whether you actually need to pay for a VPN. There are plenty of free VPNs out there, but do these offer the features you need to browse, shop, and stream securely? Unfortunately, there is often a catch with free versions (usually in the form of a limitation on your data usage or connection speed).

Occasional users will probably be satisfied with a free VPN, but if you're going to be streaming or downloading on a regular basis, you should look elsewhere. The only exception to this rule is a free trial. These come without limitations, but obviously don't tend to last for a long time.

The conclusion is that the best option for securing your data and streaming more content from around the world is with a paid subscription. The sad fact is that you'll have to pay to gain access to advanced security features without limitations on your usage. It's not all bad news though, because there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

The process of actually selecting a VPN can be seriously tricky, especially if you don't know what to consider. Most of the best VPNs offer many of the same features with similar packages, so it's important to know what matters.

To make your life a little bit easier, we have shortlisted a few things to consider before making any sort of decision:

• Customer support — VPNs can be difficult to understand if you're not an experienced user, and even if you are, problems can occur. Whether you're a total beginner or not, customer support is key for dealing with any potential issues that might arise. You should also consider whether customer support is offered by phone, email, or web chat.

• Jurisdiction — It's a good idea to look for VPNs based in the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Switzerland, and other privacy-friendly countries. VPNs based in countries that fall under the jurisdiction of the intelligence-sharing alliances should be avoided: the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. VPNs in these countries can be forced by authorities to collect and hand over user data.

• Network size and location — The best VPNs offer a large network of geographically diverse servers. The more servers (and server locations) offered by a VPN, the more likely you are to find a reliable and fast connection. This is also particularly important for streaming, as you should always be able to connect to a server in the country with the content you want to watch.

• Trustworthiness — We recommend finding an experienced provider with a strong track record and a clear privacy policy. It's important that your VPN of choice guarantees your data won't be logged or collected. If it isn't obvious what happens to your data, you should steer clear.

Make sure you carefully consider these features before deciding on the VPN that suits you and your lifestyle. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can begin the process of finding the best deals.

What is the best VPN?

We're sorry to burst your bubble, but there isn't one VPN that stands above all the rest. The best VPN for you really comes down to your own set of personal preferences. Once you find a few options that tick your boxes, you need to consider the best deals.

We have reached out to partners in order to provide you with market-leading prices on VPN subscriptions, with performance and security in mind. All of these VPN services have been handpicked not only because of the prices and deals on offer, but because they all offer the most important features to protect your online data and identity.

There are also plenty of services to consider on this list if your priority is unlocking streaming sites like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Online security should always be the priority, but we know that many subscribers use these services to unlock more content from around the world. We get it, and we're here to help.

These are the best deals on cheap VPNs in 2025.

Looking at your phone while in a moving vehicle is often a recipe for nausea. Yet as unpleasant as motion sickness is, passenger princesses the world over remain determined to test the limits of their upchuck reflexes daily. Fortunately, Apple's iPhone has a feature to help combat motion sickness and save car interiors: Vehicle Motion Cues. Here's how to activate it.

SEE ALSO: How to turn on dark mode on iOS

Motion sickness occurs when your senses receive conflicting information regarding your positioning. For example, while your eyes are telling your body that you're remaining still, the balance system in your inner ears is detecting movement. This can cause a plethora of unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness.

Added in iOS 18, iPhone's Vehicle Motion Cues attempt to combat such sensory confusion. Once activated, this feature displays animated dots on the sides of your screen to indicate how the vehicle is moving, offering your eyes a reference point to cling to. The Vehicle Motion Cues don't turn up in screenshots or screen recordings either, so you don't have to worry about switching them off before capturing your screen.

Here's how to turn on iPhone's Vehicle Motion Cues.

Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Open "Settings."

Credit: Mashable edit: Apple

Step 2: Tap on "Accessibility."

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Step 3: Under "Vision," tap on "Motion."

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Step 4: Tap on "Show Vehicle Motion Cues."

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Step 5: Choose "On" or "Automatic."

Choosing "On" will make the Vehicle Motion Cues appear immediately. Alternatively, choosing "Automatic" will cause the animated dots to appear whenever your iPhone detects that you are in a moving vehicle.

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

TL;DR: Upgrade your PC with Windows 11 Pro for only $14.97 (reg. $199) before codes sell out.

If you haven't heard already, Microsoft has officially announced the countdown clock on Windows 10. Are you still running your PC on this dated operating system? Now might be the perfect time to finally upgrade your device's performance, because the latest operating system, Windows 11 Pro, is now less than $15 until the end of today. However, codes are limited.

With these Windows 11 Pro keys, you can completely revamp two compatible PCs, whether they're your personal or work computers. For starters, you'll enjoy a refreshed user interface that's been designed to be intuitive and aesthetically pleasing with rounded corners.

This updated operating system provides more than just an improved navigation experience. New productivity tools like snap layouts, easy redocking, and improved voice typing can help you complete personal and professional tasks, and you'll even have a more powerful search experience to get you further.

Digital safety is paramount for anyone online, which is why Windows 11 Pro is outfitted with enhanced security measures like Smart App Control, TPM 2.0, BitLocker device encryption, and more for greater peace of mind as you browse, stream, or game. And speaking of gaming, this operating system is designed to improve PC gaming graphics with DirectX12 Ultimate.

Since this is the Pro version of Windows 11, you'll additionally get remote work-friendly features, such as remote desktop access for viewing files and running programs from your mobile device. There's also Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for extra professional usage.

Score this Windows 11 Pro discount for just $14.97. Act while the price is still at an all-time low, or before codes sell out for good.

StackSocial prices subject to change

Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $14.97
$199 Save $184.03 Get Deal

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.

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 hint

Often used to describe ponds.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

MURKY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A slow, shelled animal.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 12, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SNAIL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A classifier.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 12, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

LABEL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To have an obligation to do something.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 12 Hurdle Word 4 answer

OUGHT

Final Hurdle hint

Something's happening.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

AFOOT

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

Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann's HBO adaptation of The Last of Us has stuck pretty close to the Naughty Dog games, making changes where it makes sense for TV.

However, one major element has been missing from the series, one deliberately omitted from both seasons so far: spores. But as of Season 2, episode 5, the airborne threat has landed.

Not good. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In The Last of Us games, characters must constantly don masks to avoid inhaling infectious spores produced by the Cordyceps infestation. Spores play a major role in The Last of Us Part II, mainly for how Dina finds out Ellie is immune to infection; in the show Ellie (Bella Ramsey) gets bitten defending Dina (Isabela Merced) in the subway beneath Seattle, while in the game Ellie's gas mask gets broken in the spore-filled tunnel and she miraculously breathes it all in without harm.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

Druckmann and Mazin decided to leave spores out of the show for more realism. "If we wanted to treat it realistically, and there are spores near, characters would wear gas masks all the time," Druckmann told Polygon of Season 1. "Then we lose so much, which is maybe the most important part of the journey, is what’s going on inside behind their eyes, in their soul, in their beings. For that logistical reason, we were like, Let’s find a different vector."

I'd argue that I can envision conversations around the questionable action of encasing Pedro Pascal in yet another helmet as a main character on TV, but that's just me making shit up.

However, in Season 2, episode 5, Mazin and Druckmann change the game for the series, unlocking a basement full of Cordyceps spores in Seattle's Lakeville Hospital, right beneath the feet of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF).

We first learn of the spores through a conversation between Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach) and WLF commanding officer Elise Park (Hettienne Park). The latter recounts a mission gone wrong in the hospital basement, in which her unit — led by her son, Leon — discovered Cordyceps all over the walls as usual, but also floating in the air. Alas, a coughing Leon ordered his mother to seal himself and other obviously Infected officers in, which she did.

Elise confirms the spores are not in the vents or the unit would have been Infected weeks ago — but then Ellie chases Nora (Tati Gabrielle) into the second basement floor at the end of the episode, meaning certain doors are prised open that Elise's unit had painfully sealed.

Cordyceps has found its way into Jackson's pipes and now into Seattle's air. This is not looking good, folks. Cordy's evolving.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

We're digging further into new characters and storylines in The Last of Us Season 2, with one hell of a basement situation opening up in episode 5.

A name that comes up during the opening scene is Leon. But who is he, how does he relate to the storyline, and does he appear in Naughty Dog's game? Let's go through the details.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show? When is Leon mentioned in The Last of Us Season 2?

In the opening scene of episode 5, Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach) interrogates Washington Liberation Front (WLF) commanding officer Elise Park (Hettienne Park) about a mission that went terribly wrong in Seattle's Lakehill Hospital. During their conversation, Elise says she sent her team into the hospital basement to secure it after clearing the floors above it of Infected — orders Hanrahan gave her.

Elise mentions that a soldier called Leon was put in charge of the unit for the mission "because he's my best," and we also learn in this scene that Leon was her son.

What happened to Leon in The Last of Us?

It was always a risky mission, as Elise mentions the hospital basement is where doctors brought the first Cordyceps patients to be treated in 2003. After finding the first floor of the basement strangely empty, Elise sent her unit to the second, with Leon up front.

"Few minutes in, he radios back, 'There's Cordyceps on the walls, the floor.' Chances are they'll find Infected next, but that's what they were down there for, so I told them to proceed," Elise says. "Five minutes later, he radios again — this time he was struggling to breathe."

Featured Video For You 'The Last of Us' stars Bella Ramsey and Kaitlyn Dever break down Ellie and Abby's quests for revenge

It's here Leon reveals his team discovered not only that villainous fungi, Cordyceps, growing on the walls as usual, but also spores from it floating through the air. And in a tragic moment of heroism, he tells his own mother to seal the unit in the basement's second floor.

"We did what Leon said. We sealed them in," she says.

Later in the episode, when Ellie (Bella Ramsey) chases Nora (Tati Gabrielle) into the hospital basement, she discovers the area overrun with Cordyceps — and spores are not only floating through the air, they're being emitted by a couple of humans infested with the mushrooms and sealed on the walls.

One of these poor souls is wearing a name patch, L. Park, which confirms him as the ill-fated Leon (Cheonguk Park), doomed to spew spores in a half-alive state.

Is Leon in The Last of Us games?

The name Leon is mentioned only in environmental storytelling in The Last of Us Part II, and it references another character. But there's some ironic overlap.

Ellie and Dina find a note in the abandoned Westlake Bank in Seattle beside a gym bag of cash, describing a bank robbery gone wrong at the outbreak of the Cordyceps pandemic. In the letter, written by a very pissed off person involved in the heist, you learn that he was attacked by Infected then sealed in the bank by his accomplices, including his friend Leon Travis.

It could be a coincidence here, but if this is a deliberate use of Leon's name, The Last of Us creator Druckmann is almost giving cruel poetic justice to Leon's imprisoned bank robber friend — both of them sealed in thanks to the threat of Infected.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

Did you hear that? It's the sound of a song we've been waiting for in The Last of Us, fluttering out the window.

In Season 2, episode 5, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) takes to the stage of Seattle's crumbling Pinnacle Theater, where instruments remain set for a performance never given. In a similarly moving moment to Ellie's rendition of "Take On Me" in the previous episode, she hesitantly picks up an acoustic guitar — an ever-painful reminder of her music-teaching, late father Joel (Pedro Pascal) — and takes a seat.

Then, Ellie sings one unmistakable line: "If I ever were to lose you." It's the first line of Pearl Jam's 2013 song "Future Days" and an incredibly important element of The Last of Us games.

Reader, I screamed.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 4: Why Ellie sings 'Take on Me'

But suddenly, Ellie reconsiders playing the song and stops completely, overcome with suppressed emotion. It's way too much, too soon. But surely that can't be it?

Why is Pearl Jam's "Future Days" important to The Last of Us?

Music remains a crucial, human element of The Last of Us. The song Ellie begins to play in Season 2, episode 5 is deeply meaningful to her and Joel, and subsequently, to fans. But we don't know this from the show; we know it from Naughty Dog's game The Last of Us Part II.

In the sequel to The Last of Us, there's a scene right at the beginning of the game in which Joel plays Pearl Jam's "Future Days" for Ellie on a butterfly-necked guitar he found for her during a patrol, not long after they've returned to Jackson from Salt Lake City. Joel is a man of few words, never really expressing love aloud, and Ellie and Joel are in a tense state in their relationship, with Joel having done what he did.

Featured Video For You 'The Last of Us' stars Bella Ramsey and Kaitlyn Dever break down Ellie and Abby's quests for revenge

The song is a moment in which he tries to show his found daughter, Ellie, how he feels about her. And despite their tension and her complicated feelings about his actions, Ellie's face is pure love and appreciation in this moment — and importantly, this is the first time she would have ever heard this song.

The lyrics speak directly to Ellie and Joel's relationship — "If I ever were to lose you / I'd surely lose myself / Everything I have found dear / I've not found by myself" — and considering the tragic fate awaiting Joel, they're devastating in their doomed hope for "future days" together.

"I believe 'cause I can see / Our future days / Days of you and me."

Surely, The Last of Us HBO series will let the entire Pearl Jam song have its moment. Lead singer Eddie Vedder even played the song live at The Game Awards 2020 with the game's release, knowing its impact and connection with Part II. Ellie playing one line cannot be the whole thing.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

We're still a long way from being over what happened to Joel (Pedro Pascal) back in The Last of Us Season 2, episode 2, so suddenly seeing him again at the end of episode 5 is a bittersweet surprise.

But it's also a slightly confusing one, given how brief the moment is and what's come before it. So what exactly is the deal with the episode's ending, and what might it mean for what's to come next? Let's break it down.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 4: Why Ellie sings 'Take on Me' What happens at the end of The Last of Us Season 2, episode 5?

After narrowly escaping both Seraphites and Wolves, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) finally locates Nora (Tati Gabrielle), one of Abby's (Kaitlyn Dever's) party who was present for Joel's murder. Ellie chases Nora down to a spore-infested hospital basement, where Nora finally vocalises the terrible truth about what happened at the Firefly hospital in Season 1 — and why Abby did what she did to Joel.

"He killed everyone in that hospital, including the only fucking person alive that could make a cure from you," hisses Nora. "That was Abby's father, and Joel...Joel shot him in the head. That's what he did."

At this point we're expecting some kind of reaction from Ellie, but her face remains unchanged. There isn't even a hint of shock, and a second later we find out why. "I know," says Ellie. Then she takes a length of pipe and proceeds to beat Nora with it while asking her where Abby is, over and over again.

It's a violent and somewhat confusing scene, given that we've spent Season 2 thinking Ellie was still in the dark about Joel's secret. The scene that comes after, though, it is even more jarring.

Cutting from the dark of the hospital basement we suddenly see Ellie waking up in her bedroom back in Jackson, with sunlight filtering in through the window. The door creaks open behind her and suddenly there's Joel, very much alive and smiling in at her.

"Hey, kiddo," he says, and Ellie smiles back at him.

"Hi."

Featured Video For You 'The Last of Us' stars Bella Ramsey and Kaitlyn Dever break down Ellie and Abby's quests for revenge What's the deal with the Joel flashback?

Coming right at the end of the episode just before the credits, the final scene with Joel doesn't make much sense at first. It's clearly a flashback, but what's it got to do with what we've just witnessed in the hospital? Isn't it a little out of place?

Well, maybe not. In the scene in the hospital, Ellie doesn't appear to be lying when she says she knows what Joel did. Her expression is that of someone who really does know, and at this point, really doesn't care (or doesn't want Nora to think so). The thing is, though, we don't know how she knows. When, and why, did Joel's closely guarded secret get out?

When you follow that through, it seems pretty clear that the flashback at the end of episode 5 is building up to something. The Last of Us is well known for breaking the mould with its standout episodes, some of which — think episodes 3 and episodes 7 in Season 1 — take us on journeys into the past.

Is it possible that the flashback with Joel will lead to a longer flashback in episode 6? Maybe one that explains how Ellie knows what she knows?

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

The Last of Us Season 2 dropped a major bombshell in its fifth episode. The Cordyceps fungus is no longer just transmitted through bites. You can also become infected through airborne spores.

This revelation won't come as news to The Last of Us game fans, as spores have been a mechanic since the very first game. However, the scene that introduces spores to the show also hints at a major Infected enemy from The Last of Us Part II: the Rat King.

What is the Rat King in The Last of Us Part II?

The Rat King is a boss from the second half of The Last of Us Part II, and it's without a doubt the most disgusting creature in both games. It's based on the real (but rare) phenomenon of rat kings, which occur when a group of rats gets their tails irreversibly tangled.

When it comes to the Rat King in The Last of Us Part II, replace rats with the bodies of the Infected, and the tangled tails with the Cordyceps fungus, and you have a pretty good idea of how this unholy amalgamation was formed. Seriously, you thought a Bloater was bad? Well, a Rat King is Clickers on top of Stalkers on top of a Bloater, so it's just bad news all around.

How does The Last of Us Season 2 hint at the Rat King?

In The Last of Us Part II, the Rat King lurks in the basement of the WLF-controlled hospital the series introduces in episode 5. Even though we don't meet it in this episode — and with two episodes left, it's unlikely we'll meet it in Season 2 — The Last of Us still finds a way to hint at its existence.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What is the Washington Liberation Front?

In the episode's opening sequence, Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach) talks to WLF soldier Elise (Hettienne Park) about why she made the decision to block off all entry points to the hospital basement, dooming several of her men to die.

The reason Elise gives is the spores, but she adds that even though the hospital basement was where the first Cordyceps patients were brought when the outbreak started, it was oddly devoid of Infected.

"Nothing, the whole floor was empty," Elise tells Hanrahan of what's in the basement. "Not even rats."

The specific mention of rats feels like a pretty clear hint to The Last of Us gamers that the show writers are thinking about the Rat King. But even the basement's emptiness is a chilling reference to what's coming. It's been 25 years since the Cordyceps outbreak — enough time for the basement to get horribly overgrown with fungus. And if those first Infected bodies were left down there, undisturbed, for 25 years, that's also enough time for them to become fused together into the mass that is the Rat King.

That means the basement floor isn't actually empty. All the bodies just grew into one giant enemy that no one knows is down there. Maybe the missing rats even fused with the Infected Rat King. (Or maybe they were an early food source.) Either way, we're in for a nightmare whenever the Rat King finally shows up.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is currently serving 11 years in prison for defrauding investors with her scam-laden blood testing start-up. Her partner, with whom she shares two children, is currently trying to raise $50 million for a blood testing start-up.

Despite the internet's initial response that it must be satire or fake...nope. This story is very real and reported in the Tony pages of the New York Times. Billy Evans' company is called Haemanthus — a flower also known as the blood lily — and bills itself as “the future of diagnostics” with “a radically new approach to health testing,” the Times reported. That sounds, well, pretty much exactly like Theranos.

You might wonder why Evans, described by the Times as an heir to a hotel fortune, wants to get into blood-testing of all businesses. And frankly, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe because technically it's the family business?

Citing unnamed sources, NPR reported Evans has "raised millions" so far, but mostly "among friends, family and other supporters." The company reportedly plans to begin testing pets for diseases before moving on to people.

The internet simply couldn't believe this whole story was real. One user on Bluesky poking fun at the headline had to clarify that no, the story was neither AI nor a joke.

The absolute fucking cackle I let out at this headline

[image or embed]

— Mrs. Detective Pikajew, Esq. (@clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social) May 10, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Stop asking me if this is fake or AI 😭😭😭 www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/b...

[image or embed]

— Mrs. Detective Pikajew, Esq. (@clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social) May 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM

The internet, naturally, also had lots of jokes about Evans' start-up.

So ... I guess Elizabeth Holmes wasn't available for Surgeon General then?

— Stonekettle (@stonekettle.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM

It's so romantic that Elizabeth Holmes' boyfriend is starting his own fraudulent blood testing company while she's in prison for fraud

— Ian Boudreau (@ianboudreau.com) May 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM

This is a call from Camp Bryan Federal Prison from *deep voice* Elizabeth Press one to accept the charges. *BEEP* ELIZABETH HOLMES: I have another blood idea.

— Sen. Lemon Gogurt (@ugarles.bsky.social) May 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe Elizabeth Holmes is just a very dainty vampire.

— Tim Carvell (@timcarvell.bsky.social) May 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM

In a time full of weird, unbelievable headlines, it's really remarkable that the news can still be surprising.

If you don't want AI to scrape your music to learn, then it might be time to leave Soundcloud.

The music streaming platform quietly updated its terms of service sometime last year to allow AI to train on audio uploaded to Soundcloud, TechCrunch reported this week.

“You explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services,” the terms read, via TechCrunch.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Not long after the TechCrunch report was published, Soundcloud clarified that it does not currently use audio uploaded by users to train AI. However, the company did not rule out doing so in the future.

"SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes," Marni Greenberg, SVP and head of communications at SoundCloud, told The Verge. "In fact, we implemented technical safeguards, including a 'no AI tag' on our site to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use."

Greenberg further noted that music from major labels would be exempt from any AI training and confirmed that other users would have the opportunity to opt out of any such usage.

Greenberg told The Verge:

"The [terms of service] explicitly prohibits the use of licensed content, such as music from major labels, for training any AI models, including generative AI. For other types of content uploaded to SoundCloud, the TOS allows for the possibility of AI-related use.

Importantly, no such use has taken place to date, and SoundCloud will introduce robust internal permissioning controls to govern any potential future use. Should we ever consider using user content to train generative AI models, we would introduce clear opt-out mechanisms in advance—at a minimum—and remain committed to transparency with our creator community."

So as of right now, if you're uploading music, podcasts, or other audio to Soundcloud, it is not using it to train AI. But it seems Soundcloud is preparing for the day it will.

Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle a pair of lawsuits alleging that the company violated people's privacy rights.

The lawsuit alleged that Google collected users' biometrics without express consent and tracked their locations even if the feature was disable.

SEE ALSO: Google's stock falls as Apple actively considers AI search for Safari

“In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law. For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement this week. “This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust. I will always protect Texans by stopping Big Tech’s attempts to make a profit by selling away our rights and freedoms.”

The suit involved allegations that Google misused location history in Maps and data in Photos. Texas alleged, for instance, that Google used features in Photos to scan faces. The company told Engadget that Photos scanned faces for organizing purposes only. Google denied wrongdoing as it agreed to the settlement.

“This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda told CNBC. “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services.”

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, May 10, 2025:

AcrossCommon inclusion in a tourist's brochure

• The answer is Map.

Olympic honor

• The answer is Medal.

Any of a set of green plastic toys in "Toy Story"

• The answer is Soldier.

Still on the loose

• The answer is At large.

Driver's license or passport

• The answer is Photo ID.

Star of the Eras Tour

• The answer is Swift.

30, 45 or 50, on a beach bottle: Abbr.

• The answer is SPF.

DownChills (out)

• The answer is Mellows.

Prompt after swiping one's card at an iPad cash register

• The answer is Add a tip.

Form groups of two

• The answer is Pair off.

Flittering fliers around a flame

• The answer is Moths.

Totally authentic

• The answer is Legit.

Sticky stuff

• The answer is Sap.

"No turn on ___" (road sign)

• The answer is Red.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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.

Living in Boston, I've adjusted to the sweltering summers. The best way to survive is a good AC unit and some well-timed trips out of town. So imagine my horror when, three years ago, I moved into an apartment that would make installing an AC unit impossible. With horizontally sliding windows, there was no way to make either a window or a portable AC unit work.

As someone who would probably get the most restful sleep of my life in a walk-in refrigerator, I was worried about being comfortable at night in the Northeast humidity without an AC. However, after some research, a former coworker recommended the Vornado 660 to get me through. And oh man, is it the best $100 I've ever spent.

Vornado 660 Fan $94.85 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $5.14 Shop Now

This table fan doesn't look like much. It doesn't oscillate and comes with just four speed settings, but don't judge a fan by its features. The Vornado 660 fan is the most powerful fan I've ever used. At max or even just medium-high speed, it circulates air vigorously, allowing me to sleep comfortably even when temperatures hit the 90s. That summer without AC, I slept easily and restfully thanks to the Vornado 660.

An air conditioner pulls warm air from a room and recycles it through a refrigerant system to push out cool air, while a fan works by circulating air that evaporates heat on your body. So, while an AC unit tackles the whole room, a fan works best when positioned directly at you. That's the case with the Vornado 660, too, which, when pointed directly at you, keeps your temperature crisp even when it's sweaty outside. But the Vornado also focuses on air circulation, creating a vortex in a room that bounces air flow off walls. While I can't see those air paths to testify to its efficacy, I can attest that using this fan always leaves my room feeling refreshed rather than dense with stale air.

The Vornado 660 only has four settings but oh man are they powerful. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If I had any beef with the Vornado 660, it's that it is a dust magnet, frequently collecting dust in its grates. Luckily, it can be taken apart for a thorough clean; otherwise, I recommend just developing a regular dusting schedule. But otherwise, it's a fantastic AC alternative, especially since it uses a fraction of the electricity. Even if you could install an AC, if you want to save money on your electric bill, go for a fan instead.

Since procuring the Vornado 660 three years ago, I've bought a second one for our home office. I use the Vornado 660 year-round while sleeping, both as gentle white noise and extra cooling. Even though we now have an AC unit in our bedroom, the fan helps the air stay fresh. Our household is so passionate about the Vornado 660 that my partner and I bring it on vacation when we don't trust our accommodation's cooling options.

If you can't install an AC in your home this summer or want to save on your electric bill, the Vornado 660 fan is my favorite option for staying cool.

A black hole skulking in the shadows 600 million light-years away in space gave itself away with a dazzling flash, the light of a star it had just gnashed and eaten. 

Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories, astronomers found the cosmic object in an unexpected place. Rather than sitting dead center in its galaxy like most supermassive black holes, this one was thousands of light-years away from the core — 2,600, in fact. 

What's more, there is another enormous black hole that is the actual nucleus. While the catawampus black hole has the mass of 1 million suns, the one that defines the galactic center is 100 million times the mass of the sun. 

The burst of radiation detected, known as a tidal disruption event or TDE, began when a star wandered too close to the black hole. If not for that stellar snack, the black hole would have escaped astronomers' notice. 

"It opens up the entire possibility of uncovering this elusive population of wandering black holes with future sky surveys," said study author Yuhan Yao of UC Berkeley in a statement. "I think this discovery will motivate scientists to look for more examples of this type of event."

SEE ALSO: Soviets were headed to Venus in 1972. The spacecraft is about to return. The Hubble Space Telescope, a partnership of NASA and the European Space Agency, confirms the presence of a wandering supermassive black hole, 600 million light-years from Earth. Credit: NASA

Out of about 100 TDE events discovered through surveys so far, this one, dubbed AT2024tvd, is the first scientists have seen emerging from a supermassive black hole that is not a galactic nucleus. The research team's findings, announced by NASA, will be published in an upcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Black holes are some of the most inscrutable phenomena in outer space. About 50 years ago, they were little more than a theory — a kooky mathematical answer to a physics problem. Even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed. Today, not only are black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth. 

Unlike a planet or star, black holes don't have surfaces. Instead, they have a boundary called an "event horizon," or a point of no return. If anything swoops too close, like the doomed aforementioned star, it will fall in, never to escape the hole's gravitational clutch.

The most common kind, called a stellar black hole, is thought to be the result of an enormous star dying in a supernova explosion. The star's material then collapses onto itself, condensing into a relatively tiny area. 

How supermassive black holes form is even more elusive. Astrophysicists believe these invisible giants lurk in the heart of virtually all galaxies. Recent Hubble observations have bolstered the theory that they begin in the dusty cores of starburst galaxies, where new stars are rapidly assembled, but scientists are still teasing that out. 

A supermassive black hole is off-center in a galaxy 600 million light-years from Earth. Credit: NASA / ESA / STScI / Ralf Crawford illustration

As the star was stretched and torn asunder in the TDE, some of its gas formed a glowing ring around the black hole. The resulting flare flashed brightly in ultraviolet and visible light.

Telescopes on the ground, such as the Zwicky Transient Facility in California, first detected it. But it was Hubble that confirmed the flare's off-center location. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in space and the Very Large Array in New Mexico provided supporting data.

The two supermassive black holes both reside in the same galaxy, yet they are not a binary pair, meaning they're not bound to each other through gravity. Scientists don't know how the wandering black hole got there. 

A star's remnants form a disk around a hidden supermassive black hole. Credit: NASA / ESA / STScI / Ralf Crawford illustration

One possibility is that the smaller black hole came from a smaller galaxy that at some point merged with the larger one, bringing its central black hole along for the ride. Eventually, the smaller black hole may spiral into the larger one. For now, it's doing its own thing. 

Another possibility is that it was ganged up on by a couple of bully black holes. In so-called three-body interactions, the lowest-mass object can be evicted from the center of a galaxy, with the two others remaining in the galaxy's core. 

"Theorists have predicted that a population of massive black holes located away from the centers of galaxies must exist," said Ryan Chornock, a member of the ZTF team, in a statement, "but now we can use TDEs to find them.”

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's The Mini crossword answers for May 10 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: How you might end an email

• Green: Lacking

• Blue: Drive

• Purple: They share a second word

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Letter sign-offs

• Green: Without

• Blue: Vigor

• Purple: ___ Strip

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 #699 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Letter sign-offs: BEST, CHEERS, LOVE, SINCERELY

• Without: ABSENT, MINUS, SANS, WANTING

• Vigor: BEANS, ENERGY, PEP, ZIP

• ___ Strip: BACON, COMIC, LANDING, SUNSET

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 10

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.