Magnus Carlsen is considered one of the greatest chess players that ever lived. Credit: Deposit Photos / Hindustan Times Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Magnus Carlsen is an undisputed titan in the world of chess. In 2011 at the age of 19, the Swedish grandmaster became the youngest person to ever top the International Chess Federationworld rankings—a position he’s occupied ever since. Carlsen holds the record for the highest official rating level in history, and currently trails only Gary Kasparov for the longest time spent as the sport’s highest ranking player. So what would it take for the everyday chess enthusiast to give him a run for his money? Coordinating with more than 143,000 other players from around the world, apparently. On May 20, Chess.com’s “Magnus vs. The World” event finally ended in a draw between Carlsen and his competitors. Beginning on April 4, the online match enabled the public to discuss, debate, and ultimately vote on each subsequent move against the international grandmaster. It took 32 moves, but over 143,000 participants ultimately forced an end to the match on Day 46, after selecting a threefold repetition of pieces during a queen endgame. Carlsen played as white with the world representing the black side of the board, each earning a half-point as per official match rules. Participants had 24 hours to vote on the next move against Carlsen. Credit: Chess.com “Overall, the world has played very, very sound chess,” Carlsen said near the game’s conclusion. “Kind of from the start, maybe not going for the most enterprising options, but keeping it in the vein of normal chess. It’s not always the best strategy, but it seemed like it worked fine this time.” As CNN notes, “very, very sound chess” required over 508,000 votes cast and 30,000 forum posts throughout the six-week-long game. Over the course of the match, the public also received advice from a panel of five of the sport’s top players including World Grandmaster Dina Belenkaya. Even beyond the competitors, “Magnus vs. The World” wasn’t a standard game of chess. Instead, both sides played by the rules of Chess960. Developed by Bobby Fischer, Chess960 is intended as a way to introduce more variety and complexity to the ancient game. The starting positions for back row pieces are randomized while the pawns remain the same, allowing for a spontaneity that chess veterans sometimes find lacking in the classic variation. The number of participants more than doubled from last year’s similar event, “Vishy vs. The World,” which saw five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand battle around 70,000 players. In that case, however, Anand managed to secure a checkmate after 29 days of play. To the credit of his 143,000 opponents, this wasn’t the first time Carlsen played against so many people. Chess.com cites a 2002 crowdsourced online game hosted by the Norwegian website Nettavisen that also ended in a draw when Carlsen was 11 years old. In 2014, however, he managed a checkmate against his home country during a similar match. #people #teamed #tie #worlds #top

For all its macabre leanings, NeoBards’ Silent Hill f debuted a dazzling trailer last March. The setting of Ebisugaoka in 1960s Japan is a significant departure from the series, even if the series’ familiar fog. However, if you thought there was any direct connection to other titles, Konami has confirmed otherwise in a new tweet. Translated from Japanese by DeepL, it reads, “This is a completely new title, independent of the series. It can also be played by those who have never played the Silent Hill series.” While it’s inviting for newcomers to the franchise, veterans shouldn’t expect characters like Silent Hill 2’s James Sunderland or Silent Hill 3’s Heather Mason to appear. Though Silent Hill f is leveraging elements like the Otherworld, it’s also putting a new spin on them. Creative director Al Yang said creating an interesting Otherworld is “one of the big challenges,” especially when finding that “blend of new and nostalgic.” One key location is The Dark Shrine, which looks dignified yet seemingly brims with malice. Silent Hill f is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, though a release date hasn’t been announced. Learn more about its explicit content here, though be warned that it’s extremely disturbing. 『SILENT HILL f』＜シリーズ最新作登場＞本作はシリーズから独立した完全新作です。「SILENT HILL」シリーズを一度もプレイしたことのない方も遊んでいただくことができます。▼ウィッシュリストはこちら #サイレントヒルf #サイレントヒル pic.twitter.com/9rCeDSfV2S— SILENT HILLMay 20, 2025 #silent #hill #completely #new #title

Posted on : May 21, 2025 By Tech World Times Real Estate  Rate this post Bentonville, Arkansas is growing fast. People are moving in. Businesses are expanding. Property values are rising. One property getting attention is 702 S Bentonville ARUS. In this article, we will explore its value and market trends in 2025. About Bentonville, Arkansas Bentonville is home to Walmart’s headquarters. This attracts businesses and job seekers. The city has good schools and public parks. It also has modern shopping and dining. All these factors make Bentonville a great place to live. Why 702 S Bentonville ARUS Is Special 702 S Bentonville ARUS is located in a prime area. It is close to downtown. It has easy access to highways. Schools and stores are nearby. Many people want to live in this area. This property sits in a family-friendly neighborhood. The area is clean and safe. It offers both comfort and convenience. Property Value in 2025 The housing market in Bentonville will be strong in 2025. Prices have gone up. Demand is still rising. The value of 702 S Bentonville ARUS has increased this year. In 2023, homes in the area sold for about In 2024, the average price rose to In 2025, the price reached nearly Experts believe values will keep going up. What Increases the Property Value Several things raise home values at 702 S Bentonville ARUS: Location It is close to work, school, and shops. Location is always key in real estate. New Developments Nearby New parks, trails, and shopping centers are being built. This adds to the area’s value. Safe Community People feel secure here. Safety matters to buyers. Good Schools Families move to places with strong school districts. Local Job Market Bentonville has low unemployment. Good jobs increase housing demand. Real Estate Trends in Bentonville Let’s look at the overall market trends: Rising Home Prices Prices have gone up by 8% in the last year. Low Inventory There are not many homes for sale. Fewer homes increase competition. Fast Sales Homes sell quickly—often within 10 to 15 days. Investor Interest Many investors are buying homes to rent out. They see good returns. High Rental Demand More people want to rent. That increases home prices and rental income. What’s Happening Around 702 S Bentonville ARUS The area around 702 S Bentonville ARUS is changing. New buildings and roads are coming. Bike paths and walking trails are expanding. A new shopping plaza is under construction. All this adds value to nearby homes. Local schools have also received higher ratings. Families are showing more interest in moving here. Is Now a Good Time to Buy? Yes. Experts say it is still a good time to buy. Even though prices are rising, Bentonville is affordable. Compared to cities like Dallas or Denver, it offers more value. Plus, the market is expected to stay strong for years. Buyers should act soon. Waiting could mean paying more later. That’s especially true for homes like 702 S Bentonville ARUS in hot areas. Is It a Good Time to Sell? Yes, it is also a good time to sell. Many people are looking for homes. Homes sell quickly and often at a high price. Sellers can make a good profit. Sellers at 702 S Bentonville ARUS can expect strong offers. Most homes in this area sell above the asking price. Rental Market in 2025 Some buyers want to rent their homes. Bentonville is great for that. The city has many renters. Rent for a 3-bedroom home is about –per month in 2025. Homes like 702 S Bentonville ARUS are popular among renters. The location and size make it a top pick. What Should Buyers Look For? If you want to buy in Bentonville, look for: Location close to downtown Homes with updated kitchens and bathrooms Energy-efficient windows and appliances Safe neighborhoods Homes near parks and schools 702 S Bentonville ARUS checks many of these boxes. What About Property Taxes? Property taxes in Bentonville are moderate. They are lower than in many other states. In 2025, taxes on homes like 702 S Bentonville ARUS are around per year. This helps make the home more affordable. Expert Opinions Real estate agents in Bentonville agree on one thing. Homes in this area will keep growing in value. New buyers and investors are entering the market every month. The trend looks strong for the next 3–5 years. Final Thoughts Bentonville is growing fast. Property values are climbing. The real estate market is strong. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, now is a great time. 702 S Bentonville ARUS stands out as a great example. It is well-located, in a strong market, and has growing value. Whether you are a buyer, seller, or investor, this property has great potential. Keep an eye on the trends. Watch the development around the area. And act quickly—homes here don’t stay on the market for long. Tech World TimesTech World Times, a global collective focusing on the latest tech news and trends in blockchain, Fintech, Development & Testing, AI and Startups. If you are looking for the guest post then contact at techworldtimes@gmail.com #bentonville #arus #property #value #market

NetEase reveals new closed beta gameplay for the upcoming mobile title Destiny: Rising. #destiny #rising #closed #beta #test

If you are in any online Star Wars circles right now, odds are, completely unprompted, you’ve probably seen people commenting about getting a third Battlefront game. It’s been the best part of a decade since Battlefront II released, and there’s no signs of life in the franchise it seems, as far as EA is concerned. But that’s not going to stop fans from trying to get the company’s attention any way they can. The sudden surge in interest for Battlefront 3 has come from a mix of things. Right now, it’s arguably a pretty good time to be a Star Wars fan, between the the climax of Andor, the post-May-4th-glow, and Revenge of the Sith‘s 20th anniversary. Perhaps particularly pointed to Battlefront fans too is the fact that the galaxy far, far away’s already being lovingly platformedby one of the biggest shooters around, Fortnite, for its ongoing Star Wars special season. It’s led some to go back to Battlefront II, EA and DICE’s 2017 shooter that launched to mixed acclaim but managed to carve its way to a respectable Star Wars shooting experience by the time post-launch support trailed off after the launch of Rise of Skywalker a couple years later. In the past few weeks, Steam DB reports that the player counts for the game on PC have surged from an average of just 1-2,000 people to highs of nearly 8,000 this past weekend, a height not seen since 2021. The mandatory change.org petitions calling for a sequel have risen up, and, of course, Star Wars online fandoms, from the Battlefront Reddit to TikTok and X comments, have been filled with memes, yearning, and a shared demand on everyone’s lips: Battlefront III when? The answer is, unfortunately, probably not for a very long while. Even with the current upsurge in interest in Battlefront II, EA’s management of the Star Wars video game brand has proven a bit murky in recent years, even with brilliant titles like Respawn’s Jedi games or the intriguing, upcoming tactics title Zero Company, beset by behind-the-scenes turmoil at the publisher and the cancellation of several potential Star Wars titles. Battlefront II itself, despite selling millions of copies, was never quite seen as the oversized success EA wanted, especially when at launch it was beset with controversy. It took years of continual support and updates to flesh out the game’s celebration of the sequel, original, and prequel trilogy eras before public opinion on the game turned around, but by then, it was too late for hopes of a third game to really get off the ground. Grimly, this is somewhat fitting for the franchise, both in terms of Star Wars—which loves itself a cycle of thematically repeated storytelling—and Battlefront itself, because the series has found itself in this exact instance already. EA and Dice rebooted Battlefront back in 2015, a decade after Battlefront II released and several years after that version of the series’ own third entry had been scrapped. The original hypothetical Battlefront III has infamously leaked over and over for years now, from story campaign cutscenes to gameplay from recovered builds of the title, as fans hoped and prayed that somehow, some day, Battlefront III would happen. While we have no evidence at all that a Battlefront sequel to the 2017 game is currently in the works, as was the case with the cancelled sequel to the 2005 game, in this time of Star Wars anniversary reflectiveness, there’s a bit of dark humor in finding Battlefront fans in the exact same place today as they were in the late aughts. Hoping in spite of unlikely outcomes, however, is a deeply Star Wars sentiment. If rebellions can be built on it, why not video games? Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #children #yearn #battlefront

Congress may stop California from implementing its first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas powered cars by 2035.A Senate vote expected as soon as this week could end the nation’s most aggressive effort to transition toward electric vehicles as President Donald Trump’s administration doubles down on fossil fuels.California makes up roughly 11% of the U.S. car market, giving it significant power to shape purchasing trends. Vehicles are one of the largest sources of planet-warming emissions.The Republican-controlled Congress is targeting three California waivers that set stricter emissions rules than the federal government. The House voted to block them first blocked them several weeks ago, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said his chamber would take up a similar effort this week, even though the Senate Parliamentarian and the U.S. Government Accountability Office say California’s policies are not subject to the review mechanism used by the House.Thune said California’s “are an improper expansion of a limited Clean Air Act authority and would endanger consumers, our economy, and our nation’s energy supply.”California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state air regulators say what lawmakers are doing is illegal and they will likely sue if the measure advances.Here’s what to know: Why can California set its own standards? The Environmental Protection Agency has let the state adopt stricter emissions for decades, and other states can sign on to those rules.California has some of the nation’s worst air pollution, and the waivers date back to efforts in the 1960s and 1970s to fight smog in Los Angeles.President Donald Trump rescinded California’s ability to enforce its standards during his first term, but President Joe Biden’s administration restored it in 2022. What do the standards do? Newsom, a Democrat, announced plans in 2020 to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. State air regulators formalized the rules in 2022, and the federal government allowed them to move forward last year.The rule requires automakers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission cars, pickup trucks and SUVs over the next decade. Electric vehicles would have to make up 43% of new sales by 2027, 68% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. People would still be able to buy used gas-powered cars, plug-in hybrids or hydrogen-powered vehicles.California passed another rule in 2020 to phase out the sale of medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles, including box trucks, semitrailers and large pickups. Depending on class, zero-emission trucks will have to make up 40% to 75% of sales by 2035. The Biden administration approved that policy in 2023.The third regulation targeted by Congress would reduce smog-forming emissions from trucks. The rule revamped a testing program to ensure heavy-duty vehicles comply with emissions standards and set stricter standards to limit pollution from nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which pose public health risks.New York, Colorado and New Mexico are among the states that announced plans to follow all three of the policies. What do the auto and trucking industries say? Several automakers, including Honda, Ford and Volkswagen, signed deals with California to follow some of the state’s tailpipe emission standards. But the companies have not committed to complying with the 2035 mandate on gas-powered cars and did not respond to requests for comment on the Senate’s upcoming vote.The National Automobile Dealers Association urged the Senate to pass the measure.“Banning gas and hybrid cars is a national issue that should be decided by Congress, not an unelected state agency,” Mike Stanton, the group’s president and CEO, wrote in a letter.The Safe Roads Coalition, which represents towing and truck companies, said the medium- and heavy-duty truck rule is unfeasible and should be blocked.“While transitioning combustion engines to electric is well-intended, unworkable regulations threaten roadside services for millions of American motorists,” said Josh Lovelace, the group’s national director. Can the grid handle more electric vehicless? Thune, the Senate majority leader, said the nation’s grid can’t handle California’s plans. It is a concern shared by other critics, who point to California’s struggle several summers ago to maintain consistent power during a heat wave.“Our already shaky electric grid would quickly face huge new burdens from a surge in electric vehicles,” he said in a statement announcing the vote.Newsom’s administration argues the state is on its way to building out an electric grid and charging infrastructure that can support many more electric vehicles. Broadly, California has a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 2045.But the state remains far short of what is eventually needed. California has about 84,000 public electric vehicle chargers in the state but needs 1.2 million by 2030 to support the EV transition, according to the California Energy Commission. The Trump administration directed states earlier this year to stop spending money approved under Biden to help build electric vehicle charges across the U.S. More than a dozen states are suing the federal government over the effort.Newsom has also recently touted the state’s growing battery storage capacity. Neither the commission nor the California Air Resources Board responded to questions about how much the state’s electric grid must grow to support the power demand expected from the state’s transition. But the state has said it needs at least four times more wind and solar power to meet 2045 energy demands and that the grid must grow at an “unprecedented rate.”Timothy Johnson, a professor of energy and the environment at Duke University, said most regions of the U.S. can generate enough power or add enough to meet EV charging demand, but local power lines and transformers could be overloaded. How are other states responding? Eleven other states, plus Washington, D.C., have adopted California’s plan to phase out new gas-powered cars, according to the air board. Several more have adopted the state’s previous zero-emission vehicle standards.But some of those states are already backing away.Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott last week paused enforcement of electric vehicle sales targets that follow California’s, saying the pace wasn’t realistic. In Delaware, Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer has said he wants to rescind the state’s EV mandate. Other states still appear to be moving ahead. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Matthew Daly and Alexa St. John in Washington contributed. Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna —Sophie Austin, Associated Press/Report for America #congress #could #soon #block #californias

Halo is ostensibly a series about using guns to shoot aliens and defeat organized religion. But the coolest weapon in the series isn’t a gun. It’s a sword — specifically, it’s the energy sword. You may have encountered an energy sword for the first time in 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved. Certain classes of Elites would wield what looked, at the time, like a cyan lightsaber drawn in Microsoft Paint. You’d quickly discover that these iridescent color splotches in fact killed you in one hit, tearing through the Master Chief’s super future space armor like paper. Those feelings of frustration were likely followed by feelings of “Gimme that,” but sadly, developer Bungie did not allow players to use the energy sword in Halo: Combat Evolved. Bungie came to its senses in 2004’s Halo 2, allowing you to actually use the thing — at which point the energy sword instantly became the coolest weapon in Halo, an honor it’s held onto for more than 20 years. Since then, while many Halo weapons have undergone notable cosmetic and functional changes, the energy sword has largely remained the same.It has a horizontal hilt; two streams of blueish plasma pour out of each end, forming mirror scythe shapes that coalesce into a sharp pointy end. When you attack an enemy, you lunge toward them, and will usually kill them in one hit. To balance this out, you can use the energy sword about ten times before it runs out of battery — enough to give you an edge but not so much to make you invincible. In the multiplayer mode for Halo Infinite, the most recent Halo game, the energy sword is known as a “power weapon,” or one that respawns on long intervals and is considered the type of weapon that can turn the tide of a match. There are plenty of uses for the energy sword in Infinite’s multiplayer — none of which are inherently evil, by the way, no matter what people might tell you. They are as follows: You can camp around a corner and kill an unsuspecting opponent as they walk by you You can camp behind a box and kill an unsuspecting opponent as they walk by you You can camp next to a doorframe and kill an unsuspecting opponent as they walk by you You can camp near a ramp or stairwell and kill an unsuspecting opponent as they walk by you Of course, the best players have found even more creative ways to use the energy sword. Top Halo pro Tommy “Lucid” Wilson notably pairs the energy sword with a long-range rifle to bait opponents into headshots. In the original multiplayer trailer for Halo Infinite, you can see one player using the explosion from a plasma grenade to launch an energy sword off an isolated platform before grabbing it midair and killing an opponent.The energy sword became so overbearing in Halo Infinite that, in December 2022, a year after the game’s release, developer 343 Industries nerfed it. But that hasn’t done anything to suppress its cool factor, as the energy sword is now no longer relegated to the Halo games. Etsy is rife with hundreds of energy sword trinkets. Check out your local renaissance faire; you’ll likely see a wall of wood-carved energy swords at the “blacksmith.” Anecdotally, a solid half of all Halo tattoos feature the energy sword. It has fully broken containment. Can the battle rifle say that? Can the gravity hammer? Screw the gravity hammer. #halos #coolest #weapon #isnt #gun

Movie & Games Trailers Zootopia 2 By Vincent Frei - 21/05/2025 The wait is over! Judy and Nick are back — and the city’s never been wilder. A mystery. A new villain. And a partnership put to the test. Watch the teaser for Zootopia 2! The Animation and VFX are made by:Walt Disney Animation Studios Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard Release Date: Nomveber 26, 2025 USA) © Vincent Frei – The Art of VFX – 2025 #zootopia

The Hulu anthology series Nine Perfect Strangers is back for another season, leaving sunny California behind for the snowy Austrian Alps. So far, Nicole Kidman’s wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko is the only character from season 1 set to return. The rest of the cast is made up of new characters that Masha has invited to this new iteration of her Tranquillum retreat. While there’s still a lot yet to be revealed about who these people are, we at least know which actors we can expect to see potentially tripping out on Masha’s psilocybin protocol this season. The trailer alludes to some unexpected connections between these characters, which isn’t a surprise given how Masha likes to hand-pick her groups. There’s bound to be some twists and turns in store, but for now, here’s what we know about the cast this season. Nicole Kidman as Masha Dmitrichenko Nicole Kidman returns as the mysterious Russian wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko, who we last saw leaving her Tranquillum House spa in Cabrillo, California after finding a way to reunite with her deceased daughter via the hallucinogenic psilocybin she and everyone else were taking. Now that she has seemingly “perfected” her formula, it’s time to try and heal a new group of people, even though Masha still seems to be struggling herself. Nicole Kidman has had a long career thus far appearing in projects like Moulin Rouge!, Eyes Wide Shut, Practical Magic, and more recently Babygirl, Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and The Perfect Couple. Murray Bartlett as Brian Murray Bartlett joins the cast this season as Brian, one of Masha’s nine new guests. Based on clips from the trailer, it seems like Brian was once a Mr. Rogers-like figure and the host of a children’s TV show, but some kind of on-set outburst may have seen him ousted from his role. That kind of tarnished legacy seems like the kind of thing that would appeal to Masha, as we saw with Tonylast season. It seems like he might also have a connection to Tina, but we’ll have to wait and see how that plays out. You’ll likely recognize Bartlett from his roles in The White Lotus and The Last of Us. Christine Baranski as Victoria Christine Baranski joins the cast as Victoria, yet another of Masha’s guests. Victoria appears to be wealthy and seems like she’s sought Masha out. She greets one of the attendants, Martin, with a familiarity that indicates they’ve likely spoken before, and she seems to know more than the other guests about Masha’s unorthodox practices. Victoria and Matteo seem to have come to this retreat together, though the exact nature of their relationship is unclear. You’ll likely recognize Baranski from one of her many projects such as Mamma Mia!, The Good Wife, The Gilded Age, and Chicago. Annie Murphy as Imogen Annie Murphy plays Imogen this season, another guest of Masha’s and Victoria’s estranged daughter. We don’t know much else about her, other than she seems a little awkward, but Annie Murphy has proven time and time again that she can play layered characters, so it’s only a matter of time before we see what’s under Imogen’s surface. Murphy has previously starred in Black Mirror, Russian Doll, Kevin Can F**ck Himself, and what most people will likely recognize her from, Schitt’s Creek. Aras Aydın as Matteo Aras Aydın plays Matteo, Victoria’s younger lover. Aydın is a Turkish actor who has previously appeared in projects such as Cherry Season, Runaway, and Siyah Kalp. Dolly de Leon as Agnes Dolly de Leon plays Agnes, a guest at the retreat who appears to have once been a nun, though seems to have gone through a crisis of faith. She also seems to have crossed paths with Tina at some point in her journey. De Leon has previously appeared in Triangle of Sadness, Jackpot!, and Ghostlight. Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Wolfie Maisie Richardson-Sellers plays Wolfie, Tina’s partner and a guest of Masha’s. It seems like Wolfie knows a little more about what this experience is about than Tina does, and really wants them to keep an open mind. Richardson-Sellers has previously appeared in projects such as The Originals, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and The Kissing Booth 2 and 3. King Princess as Tina Musician King Princess makes her on-screen acting debut as Tina, a depressed piano virtuoso in desperate need of a relaxing spa vacation. What she doesn’t realize is that her partner Wolfie seems to have other plans for their time off together. Tina also seems to have a connection to Agnes and appears to have been under her care at some point in their lives. Lucas Englander as Martin Lucas Englander plays Martin, Masha’s assistant this time around. He’s there to make sure things don’t get too out of hand as the guests take their various trips throughout their experience. Englander is an Austrian actor who has previously appeared in Catherine the Great, The Witcher, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Henry Golding as Peter Henry Golding plays Peter, the son of David and a guest of Masha’s. Peter wants to reconnect with his aloof father, and this retreat is certainly a way to do that. You’ll likely recognize Golding from movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Snake Eyes, The Gentlemen, and Last Christmas. Mark Strong as David Mark Strong plays David, a billionaire who is skeptical of Masha’s methods, but still attends the retreat with the others. Mark Strong has appeared in a number of other projects, such as Shazam!, Dune Prophecy, The Penguin, and Kingsman: The Secret Service. Lena Olin as Helena Lena Olin plays Helena, an assistant of sorts to Masha this season, though she appears to have a much different role than Martin does. She seems to have helped Masha herself overcome something, and appears to be there to help her stay sane as well. Helena is also very adamant against bringing David into the fold, though her reasons for that are still unclear. Olin has previously appeared in Alias, Hunters, and The Darkness. The first two episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 are available to stream on Hulu now. New episodes premiere on Wednesdays, culminating with the finale on July 2. #nine #perfect #strangers #season #cast