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Wordle game on a smartphone

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like an even surface.

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

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

Smooth.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

WAXEN

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

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

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

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

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



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1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription

TL;DR: Streamline your AI workflow with a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan, now just $74.97 (reg. $540).


There are a lot of different AI models on the market, and they all have their own unique strengths. For those of us who don’t want to stay on top of all of that, there’s 1min.AI. This handy platform consolidates dozens of AI models in one space, so you can see all their answers at once.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan can be yours for only $74.97 (reg. $540).

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AI is supposed to make life a little easier — but if you’re spending time tab-hopping between models and researching which one is best for which request, it’s not all that helpful. That’s where 1min.AI comes in, offering a single, convenient place to view answers from popular AI models side by side.

With 1min.AI, you’ll see results from ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Mistral, and more. Just pop in your request, review the different results, and pick the one that works best for you. You can get help with coding, create images, edit video or audio, and more — just make sure to always give the results a human once-over.

A lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan means you’ll receive weekly updates, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voice options.

You’ll also get 4,000,000 credits a month, which you can use to write 1,112,500 words per month, research up to 5,933 SEO keywords per month, generate up to 1,186 images per month, or create up to 37 videos per month. If you ever need more, it’s easy to earn free credits by using the app, leaving a review, or referring your friends.

Work better with AI thanks to this lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan, now just $74.97 (reg. $540).

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Artemis 2 SLS rocket rollout to Launch Pad 39B on Jan. 17, 2026

NASA will soon run a high‑stakes fueling test on its Artemis II rocket, a practice run that must succeed before four astronauts can fly around the moon.

The U.S. space agency inched the 11 million-pound Space Launch System and mobile launcher to a Cape Canaveral, Florida, launchpad on Saturday, Jan. 17. The slow procession of the 322-foot rocket, topped with the Orion spaceship, took 12 hours on the aging crawler-transporter to complete. 

That four-mile trek could mark the first leg of Artemis II, a 10-day journey around the moon and back that will put the spaceship through its paces. The lunar mission will be NASA's first with astronauts —Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen — in 53 years since Apollo 17. 

The so-called "wet dress rehearsal" will load the mega moon rocket with 700,000 gallons of ultra‑cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants and take the countdown all the way to 29 seconds before liftoff. How this test goes will shape the flight timeline and determine whether launch opportunities in February remain in play.

"We need to get through wet dress, we need to see what lessons we learn as a result of that, and that will ultimately lay out our path toward launch," Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson said. "With a wet dress that is without significant issues, if everything goes to plan, then certainly there are opportunities within February that could be achievable." 

Artemis 2 SLS rocket emerging from the Vehicle Assembly Building on Jan. 17, 2026
NASA's mega moon rocket emerges from its massive warehouse at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026. Credit: NASA / Joel Kowsky

When is the wet dress rehearsal? 

Artemis 2 SLS rocket rolling past the firing room on its way to the launchpad 39B on Jan. 17, 2026
The 322-foot rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, rolls past the firing room on its way to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignan

During the test, teams will fill the rocket and rehearse every major step of launch‑day fueling. Controllers will run through all countdown procedures, including the final "terminal count," then stop on purpose at T‑29 seconds. NASA is targeting Feb. 2 for the crucial exercise, though that could change, depending on preparations. 

"We'll review the data,"  said Blackwell‑Thompson, "then we'll set up for our launch attempt." 

The results will determine whether NASA will hit its soonest launch window, which opens Feb. 6.

NASA's crawler-transporter carrying the 11-million-pound rocket stack and mobile launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 17, 2026
NASA's crawler-transporter carries the 11-million-pound rocket stack and mobile launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 17, 2026. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Artemis II builds on lessons from the uncrewed maiden voyage in 2022, which needed several tries to complete fueling. Engineers adjusted how they load liquid oxygen after seeing temperature issues and modified hardware after hydrogen leaks were discovered in the connection between the ground systems and the rocket. They also changed and cryogenically tested a key valve that caused trouble during the final uncrewed countdown.

Since Artemis I, the Kennedy Space Center has revised procedures and upgraded hardware as part of the Artemis II plan.

Artemis 2 SLS rocket traveling 4 miles to the launchpad for wet dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026
The mega moon rocket traverses 4 miles to get to the launchpad for a wet dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026. Credit: NASA / Ben Smegelsky
NASA administrator and Artemis 2 crew talking to reporters as SLS rocket rolls behind them on Jan. 17, 2026
From left, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover, and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman take questions from reporters as the mega moon rocket rolls behind them to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026. Credit: NASA / Kim Shiflett

When will Artemis II launch?

Artemis 2 SLS rocket reaching launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in the evening on Jan. 17, 2026
After 12 hours of crawling, the rocket reaches launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 17, 2026. Credit: NASA / Brandon Hancock

Once the wet dress rehearsal ends, engineers will pore over the performance of the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the ground systems. Only if the data looks clean will the mission managers move on to setting a specific launch date. 

NASA officials have rejected any characterization that the team has "launch fever" or that preparations have been rushed.

"I've got one job, and it's a safe return of Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. I consider that a duty and a trust," said John Honeycutt, chairperson of the mission management team. "We're going to fly when we're ready."



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AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription

TL;DR: Enjoy the web in peace with this lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan, now $39.99 (reg. $169.99).


Ads don’t just slow you down — they can be dangerous too, as trackers and activity analyzers try to steal your data. If you want to browse the web safely and freely, AdGuard can help. This handy tool lets you avoid pop-ups, videos, and banner ads.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for nine devices for $39.99 (reg. $169.99).

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If you’re looking to ditch distractions, cutting back on ads can make a huge difference. AdGuard isn’t your basic ad blocker — it eliminates them all, saving you time and providing a peaceful internet experience.

Ads aren’t just annoying — they can put your personal information at risk. AdGuard protects you by blocking trackers, hiding your data, and stopping malware, phishing sites, and cyberattacks.

Parents know the pain of having to police their children online. AdGuard takes that into consideration, offering parental control features that shield them from inappropriate content and serving as an extra set of watchful eyes when you’re not around.

AdGuard is designed to work on both Android and iOS, making it very versatile. This family plan lets you protect up to nine devices, so you can share the wealth with loved ones and use it on smartphones, computers, tablets, and more. The lifetime subscription also includes continuous updates and new features.

Secure this lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for only $39.99 (reg. $169.99).

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Jackery HomePower 3000 portable power station

SAVE $1401: As of Jan. 17, Amazon has Jackery's HomePower 3000 portable power station on sale for 56% off at $1,098, which $1,401 off its list price of $2,499.


Credit: Jackery
$1,098 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $1,401
 

This weekend, Amazon is running a massive discount on Jackery's HomePower 3000 portable power station. The power station is a battery-and-solar-generator combo (though the compatible, separately sold solar panels are totally optional).

This portable power station deal from Jackery packs quite the punch in terms of versatility and features. The power station has a 3600W output (7200W surge) and a 3072W capacity. This means that the Jackery HomePower 3000 can power a household's essentials for about 15 hours. It can also keep a fridge running for 1 to 2 days if you need it. When it comes to the essentials, it can power: lights, the fridge, the fan, your beloved WiFi router, and more.

The station also comes with AC, USB-C, USB-A, and DC ports to keep all your devices juiced up and ready to go. The ports are 100W PD, which means they can deliver extra-fast charging for phones, tablets, and any other devices you want to keep charged up.

This beast of a power station fully recharges in 1.7 hours with AC and DC power. With Jackery's compatible solar panels, the station can charge up to 80% in 9 hours. It can also be charged with a 12V car charger or a gas generator for extra versatility and preparedness. Weighing in at 59.5 pounds, the station has two easy-to-grip handlebars on either side.



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TikTok logo

The pressure is mounting on social media companies to enforce their rules and protect children on the platforms. Australia recently instituted a ban on children under the age of 16 from social media platforms. Gaming platforms like Roblox are now using facial recognition technology to prevent kids from interacting with adults in chats.

And now TikTok, the social media platform well known for its popularity with young people, will be rolling out its own age verification system in Europe to detect underage users on its site, according to a Reuters report.

TikTok's age-detection system analyzes a user's profile information, published videos, and behavioral signs to estimate if a user is under the age of 13. Per TikTok policy, users must be at least 13 to sign up for the platform. Once the age detect system flags an account, the user will be reviewed by specialist moderators. User accounts will not be banned automatically.

TikTok told Reuters the age-detection system will be rolled out across Europe in the coming weeks after testing the program in Britain for the past year. The system was specifically designed to comply with European regulatory requirements.

EU regulators have been pushing for social media platforms to act on child safety issues, including ensuring users are of the minimum age required for a platform. The European Parliament is looking into potentially instituting a social media ban similar to the one in Australia for children under the age of 15.

As Mashable covered earlier this week, some online platforms are discovering the difficulties with online age verification. Roblox users, for example, have been uncovering simple workarounds to the platform's age verification, which involved simply uploading animated avatars or even drawing facial hair on their image with a Sharpie.

TikTok's method is bound to pick up some false positives on users who are over 13 but mistakenly get flagged or even removed for being underage. We'll have to see just how accurate it is, and how many disgruntled users it leaves in its path once it rolls out more broadly.



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Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor on pink and orange abstract background

SAVE $199.01: As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.


$499.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $199.01
 

Now that we're at the start of a new year, we're facing down plenty of new games coming down the pipelines in 2026. Why not be ready with a monitor that can handle all the action with ease? You can do just that with this deal on one of our favorite gaming monitors right now, as it's available for its lowest price yet.

As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

This 34-inch curved OLED monitor is all about making you feel like you're right in the middle of your favorite games. It offers a gorgeous, crisp picure with sharp details, deep hues and contrasts, and two HDR modes to offer the best possible performance: HDR 400 True Black and HDR Peak 1000.

It boasts 1,000 nits of brightness with a 0.1ms respnse time as well as AMD FreeSync and VESA AdaptiveSync. It's perfect for twitchier games where you need to make sure you're as precise as possible, so if you need a bit of help improving your game, this very well may do it for you.

You can customize the look and feel of the monitor thanks to its RGB lighting, and adjust and tilt it to your liking when placed on a desk. All of these features come together to give you one of the most comprehensive suites possible in terms of gaming monitors, which almost certainly means you'll be seeing some true improvement with your games. Just be sure you grab it now before it's no longer on sale.



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