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

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 22’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

A solid beam of light.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter L.

What’s the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1038 is…

LASER.

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

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

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

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 22’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

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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.

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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.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Greeting a friend

• Green: Vibes in a basement

• Blue: 5 o’clock shadow

• Purple: Lots of money

Here are today’s Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Slang for Friend

• Green: Adjectives for a Basement

• Blue: Stubble

• Purple: Collection of Money

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 Connections #316 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

• Slang for Friend: BUD, CHUM, MATE, PAL

• Adjectives for a Basement: COLD, DANK, DARK, MUSTY

• Stubble: FUZZ, SCRUFF, SHADOW, WHISKERS

• Collection of Money: FUND, KITTY, POOL, POT

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday’s Connections.

Tesla has announced significant price reductions across several of its models, including the Model Y, Model S, and Model X, each reduced by $2,000 in the US. This pricing adjustment comes amidst a series of setbacks for the company, including workforce reductions, executive departures, legal challenges concerning CEO Elon Musk’s compensation, and paused projects, as reported by Electrek.com.

The decision to lower prices does not affect the Model 3 or the recently recalled Cybertruck. However, it aligns with a pattern observed last quarter when Tesla temporarily discounted its popular Model Y in response to disappointing delivery results and rising inventory levels. This price reduction returns the Model Y to its lowest recent price point, equivalent to the temporary discount offered earlier in February.

It also seems that Tesla is ending its referral program, starting on April 30. However, Musk has stated that the program would be relaunched in the future.

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The new starting price for the Model Y RWD is now $42,990, down from $44,990. Other trims, including the Long Range and Performance models, have seen similar $2,000 reductions, bringing them to $47,990 and $51,490, respectively.

The more upscale Model S and Model X also enjoy the $2,000 discount, with the Model S now starting at $72,990 and the Model X at $77,990. This reduction marks the lowest price point for the Model X, which also qualifies for a federal tax credit, potentially reducing its upfront cost further.

Electrek notes that Tesla has not labeled these reductions as “temporary” — suggesting a potential strategic shift in pricing. These cuts come at a time when Tesla is also promoting a new lease offer for the Model 3 at a reduced rate of $299 per month, down from $329.

This series of price adjustments appears to be a response to various internal and external pressures facing Tesla, aiming to boost sales and address stock issues amidst ongoing challenges.

A bill that could eventually ban TikTok is again on its way to the Senate for approval, having passed the House for a second time in as many months.

An earlier version of the bill, which would also require TikTok’s Chinese parent company to either sell the video app or face a ban in the U.S., passed the House in March but stalled in the Senate.

The revised version of the “TikTok ban” legislation has now been packaged with critical aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as part of an effort to draw enough bipartisan support in the Senate. It has also been updated with a key timeline shift: TikTok owner ByteDance would now need to sell the platform in nine months instead of six, before the government would enforce its “ban” on the app. And the President now has the option to grant a single 90-day extension to that nine month deadline. In all, these changes essentially double ByteDance’s runway from six to 12 months.

With these updates, the bill passed 360-58 in the House on April 20, and could pass the Senate as early as this week. Then it would go to President Biden, who has vowed to sign it into law.

The idea of “banning” the app began under President Trump, but has been taken up in earnest by Congressional lawmakers and President Biden, who claim that China could use the app to disseminate propaganda or misinformation via the app’s algorithmic feeds. Although the President has expressed unequivocal support for the idea of banning TikTok, he still uses the platform: his re-election campaign opened an account on TikTok in February.

On the House floor yesterday, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) said that TikTok is tantamount to “a spy balloon in Americans’ phones” which can “surveil and exploit America’s personal information.”

TikTok has denied these claims and underscored the app’s impact on everyday Americans, telling USA Today that, “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”

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.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Sunday, April 21, 2024:

Across

Form of exercise that originated in ancient India

• The answer is Yoga.

“Am not!” comeback

• The answer is Are so.

Music associated with this hand gesture: 🤘

• The answer is Metal.

BAM! or BOINK! or BZZT!

• The answer is Sound.

Places for body treatments

• The answer is Spas.

Down

Sweet potato lookalikes

The answer is Yams.

Cookies with a Space Dunk variety launched in 2024

• The answer is Oreos.

“Out of bed! You’ll be late!”

• The answer is Get up.

Cat pose or downward dog, in 1-Across

• The answer is Asana.

Teen’s slangy term for their parents, with “the”

• The answer is Olds.

The German word “schadenfreude” basically means “deriving pleasure from someone else’s pain,” and that has to be part of the magic behind First We Feast’s uber popular YouTube show Hot Ones. Since 2015, host Sean Evans has put celebs in the literal hot seat, challenging them to eat increasingly spicy wings and answer probing questions meticulously crafted by his research team.

After more than 300 episodes, 21 seasons, and 1 billion views, guests ranging from Olivia Rodrigo and Matt Damon to Malcolm Gladwell and Joel Embiid have taken on the hot wing gauntlet. And while many have failed (DJ Khaled only made it to three wings, proving that all he does is quit), others have triumphed like champs.

We gathered some of the most memorable episodes to watch back-to-back, notable for their animated reactions, memorable conversations, or legendary performances.

In no particular order, here are the greatest Hot Ones episodes to binge.

1. Shaq

Shaq brings his own milk, apologizes to the entire state of Kansas, and desperately asks for “ice cube chapstick” to soothe his burning lips. But can he finish all 10 wings without tapping out?

2. Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence is not just a lovely guest, but an iconic one. Her horrified expression and nonsensical blabbering (“What do you mean? What do you mean?”) as Evans picks up and shakes the final bottle of hot sauce became one of the most popular memes of 2023.

3. Conan O’Brien

O’Brien brings a doctor along to the Hot Ones studio, declares “I don’t think there’s a wing on this table that I cannot devour like it’s cool whip cream on an August afternoon,” and inevitably succumbs to spice-induced delusion.

4. Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd opts for vegan cauliflower wings and utters the words that launched a thousand memes: “Hey, look at us.” In an incredible display of mental and physical fortitude, he also completes the 10-wing gauntlet without a single sip of water or milk.

5. Lorde

Watch as Lorde waxes poetic about the virtues of the perfect onion ring and wipes the floor with every single Hot Ones celeb who preceded her by eating all 10 wings without so much as breaking a sweat.

6. Idris Elba

Idris Elba shows up a bit cocky (“I’m pretty confident, I fear no one,” he assures Evans), but the wings soon put him in his place. It’s all smooth sailing until he tries Da’ Bomb and is overcome by a dry cough and confusion.

7. Tom Holland

Bubbly Brit Holland muscles his way through a difficult meal to conquer the wings of death, all while charming Evans with stories from the set and his failed audition for Star Wars.

8. Millie Bobby Brown

Millie saunters through seven wings like a champ, but everything breaks down in the 14th minute when she flips Da’ Bomb the bird and starts talking a mile a minute.

9. Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish gets so heated she shoves handfuls of ice cubes into her mouth.

10. Desus and Mero

This comedy duo wipes literal nose sweat away as they stare down the wings of death.

11. Lil Yachty

In his first-ever experience with hot wings, the rapper delivers some of the best reactions the show has ever seen. 🔥

12. Gordon Ramsay

Karma is spicy for Chef Gordon Ramsay, who pops open a bottle of Pepto-Bismol mid-challenge.

13. Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie truly struggles to take on the wings of death (“I think I might die,” she says at one point) but makes it through thanks to special cameos from her Birds of Prey costars.

14. Pete Davidson

Davidson fights his way to an impressive finish while asking Evans through tears, “Am I the worst!?” No worries, Pete, DJ Khaled was definitely the worst.

15. Post Malone

Posty returns to the show and provides cartoon-level reactions, from a Wile E. Coyote scream to a respectable repertoire of dance moves.

Bless Pluto’s heart. 

When NASA‘s New Horizons spacecraft first snapped photos of an unusual heart-shaped scar on Pluto in 2015, the new view bolstered theories that the frigid world harbored an underground ocean. 

Scientists thought the left side of the bright white heart, or Tombaugh Regio, formed after another planetary body crashed into it. The space collision may have allowed a deep reservoir of water to rise up into the chasm, intermixing with nitrogen gas from Pluto’s atmosphere, where it condensed and froze there. 

But new research on the heart suggests there might not be an ocean lurking within Pluto after all. If so, this discovery would arguably add to Pluto’s list of 21st century embarrassments. Its demotion in 2006 from 9th planet in the solar system to dwarf planet lives in infamy, though Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs apparently just signed a law making Pluto the official state planet — facts and consensus, be darned.

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Astrophysicists used advanced computer simulations to try to recreate the cataclysmic event. The team was able to demonstrate that an enormous-yet-slow strike from another planetary body could have caused the heart if it were a glancing blow rather than head-on. The findings, led by the University of Bern in Switzerland, were published this month in Nature Astronomy. 

Through computer models, the team learned that a collision in Pluto’s ancient history, before it was fully formed, could have caused the left side of the heart, a feature known as Sputnik Planitia. This side is roughly one-quarter the size of Europe, according to the study. The impactor would have been about as wide as Tennessee.

The researchers attribute the heart’s bright appearance to white nitrogen ice that moves heat like a convection oven and smooths out the surface. The team thinks the nitrogen would have collected in the chasm quickly after the crash because of its lower altitude. 

The researchers attribute the heart’s bright appearance to white nitrogen ice that moves heat like a convection oven and constantly smooths out the surface.
Credit: NASA / APL / SwRIV

The other side of the heart is covered by a similar layer of nitrogen ice, albeit much thinner. Though its origin is not well understood, scientists believe it’s linked to Sputnik Planitia, too. 

“Pluto’s core is so cold that the rocks remained very hard and did not melt despite the heat of the impact,” said Harry Ballantyne, the lead author, in a statement, “and thanks to the angle of impact and the low velocity, the core of the impactor did not sink into Pluto’s core, but remained intact as a splat on it.”

The core of the assailant that hit Pluto is probably lying beneath Sputnik Planitia, in a “never quite digested” form, added Erik Asphaug, a co-author from the University of Arizona.  

The new study offers a different explanation for why the heart-shaped feature hasn’t drifted toward the nearest pole.
Credit: NASA / APL / SWRI

The new simulation presents an intriguing conundrum on the inner workings of Pluto. Physics should cause that depression to slowly move toward the nearest pole, but Sputnik Planitia sits near Pluto’s equator. Previous theories supposed that Pluto’s icy shell would be thinner at the impact site, causing a liquid underground ocean to bulge and drift toward the equator. 

But the new study offers a different explanation that doesn’t require a subsurface ocean. In the simulations, the impact digs up all of Pluto’s primitive mantle. When the impactor’s core spattered onto Pluto’s core, it created an excess mass of material at the site that could have caused the depression to move toward the equator, according to the paper.

Since New Horizon’s close encounter with Pluto nine years ago, experts have come to think of the dwarf planet as much more scientifically valuable. Rather than a cold, featureless ball in the outer reaches of the solar system, the spacecraft images showed a geologically diverse world, with mountains, ice sheets, pits, cliffs, fissures, and valleys. But if it isn’t an ocean world, there’s still much more to learn about its past.

“The formation of Sputnik Planitia provides a critical window into the earliest periods of Pluto’s history,” said Adeene Denton, a co-author from the University of Arizona, in a statement. “By expanding our investigation to include more unusual formation scenarios, we’ve learned some totally new possibilities for Pluto’s evolution, which could apply to other Kuiper Belt objects as well.”

TL;DR: Through April 21, if you want to enjoy some passive activity that could promote circulation, try the Vitality Swing Chi Machine while it’s $249.97 (reg. $350).

Sore muscles are no fun for anyone, but not everyone can access the same ways to deal with the pain. Stretching and exercising could help, but not everyone is up for a vigorous trip to the gym when they’re already in pain. And some passive treatments like massages may help, but you might have to budget if you want to foot the bill for regular leg massages. 

The Vitality Swing is a chi swing machine that could help stimulate muscles for improved circulation and metabolism, and it’s completely passive. You just lay down, put your feet up, and enjoy the motion of the machine. Normally, the Vitality Swing would cost $350, but there’s still time left to get it on sale marked down to $249.97. 

Sit back, relax, and swing

Lay your legs in the padded cradles and get comfortable. This chi swing machine has a 40W motor that you can adjust for comfort. Once you’re in the cradle, activate the rhythmic rocking motion to help boost your circulation, relax your muscles, or even help relieve chronic pain.

The Vitality Swing is remote-operated, but don’t worry about losing the remote. It’s attached and simple to operate. No need to sit up to find the controls on this accessible little relaxation machine. Whether you suffer from chronic pain or are looking for simple ways to help your older relatives passively work out their muscles, this chi swing could come in handy. 

Help stimulate your circulation

Lay back and let the machine do the work this time. 

Until April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Vitality Swing Chi Machine on sale for $249.97. No coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Through April 21, you can get this 12-course guitar lessons training bundle on sale for $15.97 — that’s just $1.33 per course.

There are two things beginner guitarists don’t want to hear: One, an off-tune string, and, two, ‘Hey, can we hear a song?’. It’s intimidating to play in front of people, especially when you’re just learning, and we think you should honor that feeling when it comes to guitar lessons as well.

Instead of going to uncomfortable, and expensive, in-person lessons, why not try this online training bundle? It comes with 12 courses covering guitar technique, jamming, and even specific music genres, and it’s on sale for $15.97 (reg. $480) through April 21.

Strum-thing wonderful awaits your musical journey

It doesn’t matter if you’re a year into your learning journey or you don’t even own a guitar yet — this online learning bundle has courses for just about every skill level. Let’s unpack what’s inside: 

• Beginner Guitar Lessons Crash Course: Study notes, memorize chords, and play along to backing tracks.

• Guitar Technique: Practice picking, sliding, bending, and fret-tapping.

• Guitar Lessons for the Curious Guitarist: Learn scales, understand music theory, practice soloing, and read tablature. 

• Fingerstyle for the Curious Guitarist: Learn open-handed strumming, improvise and be creative with fingerpicking, and do scale runs.

• Songwriting for the Curious Guitarist: Write and arrange your own songs.

• Ear Training for the Curious Guitarist: Identify and process songs, then be able to play them back on your instrument.

Find your rhythm with self-paced learning

Meet the expert instructor of these courses, Dan Dresnok, with more than 30 years of guitar teaching experience. He’s worked as a performer and recording guitarist and he has experience in jazz, blues, and rock, which is why you’ll find specialized courses in those genres.

Fret not, learn guitar at your own pace with this 12-course online training bundle. Hurry, it’s on sale for $15.97 (reg. $480) until April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT — no coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: As of April 21, level up the way you listen with these new, open-box Sony LinkBuds S Truly wireless noise-canceling earbuds for $99.99 (reg. $199) or 50% off.

Are you tired of your headphone cords constantly getting in the way? The Sony LinkBuds S Truly headphones can make it easy to go on a run, take calls, or listen to music both hands- and wire-free.

For a limited time, these open-box Sony earbuds are on sale for $99.99.

The Sony LinkBuds use an AI-based noise reduction technology to suppress ambient noise and extract your voice clearly. The adaptive sound control adjusts accordingly to each sound setting to offer an elevated listening experience. Reduce the noise around you without compromising the quality of what you’re listening to.

Easily pair your device via Bluetooth and connect instantly. Check out the quick access feature to configure your headphones to Amazon, Spotify, Endel, etc. without having to connect to a phone or computer. When you finish a call, these smart buds will automatically reconnect to your podcast or playlist so you never miss a beat. 

These pocket-sized headphones are a must-have for anyone always on the go. Go about your day worry-free, and get up to 6 hours of charge with an additional 14 from the case. Outdoor enthusiasts will especially appreciate these durable wireless buds being both waterproof and sweatproof.

Open-box items are excess inventory from store shelves or items returned from retail stores back to the warehouse. These may have had customer contact or been repackaged, but this gives you the advantage of getting a verified new item at a discount.

Get new, open-box Sony LinkBuds S Truly wireless noise-canceling earbuds for only $99.99 (reg. $199) or 50% off.

StackSocial prices subject to change.