May 15, 20255 min readThe Wonders of Bird-Watching without TechTechnology has made it easier than ever to quickly find, identify and record birds. But to truly appreciate feathered friends, consider unpluggingBy Derek Lovitch edited by Kate WongA Boreal Owl emerges from its roost to begin its evening of hunting activities in Northern Minnesota. The Boreal Owl is a tiny but fierce gnome of the deep boreal forest—the belt of cold, wet, largely coniferous forest that encircles the North Pole. Highly sought after by birders, this owl appeals less for its plumage than for its secrecy and its rarity in most places where people tend to live. This past winter, a huge movement of this species to regions south of its usual range occurred because of food scarcity—an event called an irruption. This put Boreal Owls within striking distance of birders—including me—who were looking to add the species to their “life list,” a record of all the species a person has seen. So in March, before the visiting owls returned home, some friends and I made a last-minute weekend trip to Duluth, Minn., to look for them. Although there’s always a frenetic energy to a rarity chase such as this, to me, the experience underscored the importance of taking time to pause and observe the birds we find.Deep birding. Slow birding. Holistic birding. There are a lot of things we can call it, but I prefer, simply, “bird-watching.” I’ve spent most of my career as a biologist introducing people to birding and getting them to engage in the natural world, from the backyard and beyond. The recent surge of interest in birding, which began during the peak of the COVID pandemic, has been wonderful to see. But the vast majority of recent birders, particularly those who began birding in the past five years, have found birding to be intimately tied to technology, especially cell phones.We have phone apps that can keep lists of birds we’ve seen, apps to help identify birds, apps that allow us to contribute data to scientific projects and messaging apps to alert others to rare bird sightings. We can also use our phones to document our birding discoveries with photographs, videos and audio recordings.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.But I wonder whether, by relying on technology to this extent, we are losing out on the most important tool for birding—and perhaps life in general: the power of observation.Slow DownAt just 10 inches from head to tail, a Boreal Owl hidden in a dense conifer stand is the proverbial needle in a haystack. But on cold, sunny mornings, the owls come out to sun themselves at forest edges, using the meager winter rays rather than hard-earned calories to warm up. One famous “edge” is the length of the North Shore Scenic Drive heading north from Duluth. On our first morning of the trip, as we ventured onto this road, a text alerted us to a nearby Boreal Owl. After the longest 12-minute drive of my life, we saw the growing group of gawkers. We jumped out of the car, and there was our quarry, sitting in a sun-soaked spruce tree! We basked in the glory of a little predator that is so hard to find that people fly halfway across the country to spend a weekend shivering in hopes of seeing it. Mission accomplished!Birders were coming and going, some seeing the owl only for a moment before they hopped back into their car and raced off for the next tick mark in the never-ending collecting game of modern birding. My friends were getting cold, and they were antsy to find a Great Gray Owl that had been seen a few miles away. I couldn’t blame them—Great Grays are active during the day, so they can be seen flying, hunting or otherwise doing something. This Boreal was just sitting there. But I couldn’t leave. I handed my friends the car keys and said, “Give me a little longer.”When I was growing up as a young birder, I had a field guide, an inexpensive pair of binoculars, and a pen and notebook. I loved my time in the woods, with only the birds for company, eagerly learning the nuances of identification and watching their behavior. Without the instant gratification of an ID or listing app, I had to pay close attention to the details of birds. I learned from my many mistakes. Mentors shared their ethical practices with me, and I relished the personal connections I made in the birding community.Yet these days, I describe myself not as a birder but rather a bird-watcher. Sure, I make use of the latest tools. For example, my birding plans during migration are informed by the complex algorithms that underpin modern weather forecasting and advanced radar technology that allows me to gauge the movement of birds overnight. But once I am out in the field, all I want to do is disconnect, to absorb, to engage. I typically enter the trails with nothing more than a weatherproof notebook and my trusty binoculars. If I take a camera, it’s handy in case I need to document a rarity or capture a special moment, but it’s a distant second in my priorities.Instead I take copious notes. When traveling, I write down descriptions of unfamiliar birds, even new species pointed out to me by a local guide. Like many people, I retain information better from the simple act of writing it down. And my field notebook holds more memories than any checklist can accommodate.What fascinates me the most about birds is their behavior, which isn’t easy to understand when looking through a viewfinder or reviewing photographs at home. So when observing a bird, I also jot down what it is doing. What is it looking at? How is it interacting with its mate? How does it look when it flies (after all, flight is the most magical thing about birds)?Go DeepWhen my friends left me with the Boreal Owl, I settled in to give it my fullest attention. The bird acknowledged my presence for nearly a second as it opened one eye before turning its head and nestling its face into its fluffy back. When a Black-capped Chickadee called nearby, the owl awoke and made sure it wasn’t going to be harassed by the fearless chickadee before it went back to sleep. Later a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches decided they weren’t too happy about the predator’s presence but only gave a half-hearted attempt to drive it away. This owl was apparently boring to them.It wasn’t to me. I was transfixed on my life bird. What would it do next? How old was it—could I tell based on the wear and molt patterns of its feathers? Would it be as tolerant of the nuthatches the next time? I was in deep.Only when my friends returned did I realize I had been staring at this barely moving bird for a full two hours. No wonder I could no longer feel my feet or hands. But I had seen—truly seen—a Boreal Owl. I could finally leave now.Birding is a chance to turn off our devices and use our senses, to breathe fresh air, to connect with the natural world and immerse ourselves in the now, the moment, the bird. The next time you see a bird, whether it’s a rare Boreal Owl or a common American Robin, maybe step back, stay a while and put the watching back in bird-watching.

In this tutorial, we demonstrate how to construct an automated Knowledge Graph (KG) pipeline using LangGraph and NetworkX. The pipeline simulates a sequence of intelligent agents that collaboratively perform tasks such as data gathering, entity extraction, relation identification, entity resolution, and graph validation. Starting from a user-provided topic, such as “Artificial Intelligence,” the system methodically extracts relevant entities and relationships, resolves duplicates, and integrates the information into a cohesive graphical structure. By visualizing the final knowledge graph, developers and data scientists gain clear insights into complex interrelations among concepts, making this approach highly beneficial for applications in semantic analysis, natural language processing, and knowledge management. !pip install langgraph langchain_core We install two essential Python libraries: LangGraph, which is used for creating and orchestrating agent-based computational workflows, and LangChain Core, which provides foundational classes and utilities for building language model-powered applications. These libraries enable seamless integration of agents into intelligent data pipelines. import re import networkx as nx import matplotlib.pyplot as plt from typing import TypedDict, List, Tuple, Dict, Any from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage, AIMessage from langgraph.graph import StateGraph, END We import essential libraries to build an automated knowledge graph pipeline. It includes re for regular expression-based text processing, NetworkX and matplotlib for creating and visualizing graphs, TypedDict and typing annotations for structured data handling, and LangGraph along with langchain_core for orchestrating the interaction between AI agents within the workflow. class KGState(TypedDict): topic: str raw_text: str entities: List[str] relations: List[Tuple[str, str, str]] resolved_relations: List[Tuple[str, str, str]] graph: Any validation: Dict[str, Any] messages: List[Any] current_agent: str We define a structured data type, KGState, using Python’s TypedDict. It outlines the schema for managing state across different steps of the knowledge graph pipeline. It includes details like the chosen topic, gathered text, identified entities and relationships, resolved duplicates, the constructed graph object, validation results, interaction messages, and tracking the currently active agent. def data_gatherer(state: KGState) -> KGState: topic = state["topic"] print(f"📚 Data Gatherer: Searching for information about '{topic}'") collected_text = f"{topic} is an important concept. It relates to various entities like EntityA, EntityB, and EntityC. EntityA influences EntityB. EntityC is a type of EntityB." state["messages"].append(AIMessage(content=f"Collected raw text about {topic}")) state["raw_text"] = collected_text state["current_agent"] = "entity_extractor" return state This function, data_gatherer, acts as the first step in the pipeline. It simulates gathering raw text data about a provided topic (stored in state[“topic”]). It then stores this simulated data into state[“raw_text”], adds a message indicating the data collection completion, and updates the pipeline’s state by setting the next agent (entity_extractor) as active. def entity_extractor(state: KGState) -> KGState: print("🔍 Entity Extractor: Identifying entities in the text") text = state["raw_text"] entities = re.findall(r"Entity[A-Z]", text) entities = [state["topic"]] + entities state["entities"] = list(set(entities)) state["messages"].append(AIMessage(content=f"Extracted entities: {state['entities']}")) print(f" Found entities: {state['entities']}") state["current_agent"] = "relation_extractor" return state The entity_extractor function identifies entities from the collected raw text using a simple regular expression pattern that matches terms like “EntityA”, “EntityB”, etc. It also includes the main topic as an entity and ensures uniqueness by converting the list to a set. The extracted entities are stored in the state, an AI message logs the result, and the pipeline advances to the relation_extractor agent. def relation_extractor(state: KGState) -> KGState: print("🔗 Relation Extractor: Identifying relationships between entities") text = state["raw_text"] entities = state["entities"] relations = [] relation_patterns = [ (r"([A-Za-z]+) relates to ([A-Za-z]+)", "relates_to"), (r"([A-Za-z]+) influences ([A-Za-z]+)", "influences"), (r"([A-Za-z]+) is a type of ([A-Za-z]+)", "is_type_of") ] for e1 in entities: for e2 in entities: if e1 != e2: for pattern, rel_type in relation_patterns: if re.search(f"{e1}.*{rel_type}.*{e2}", text.replace("_", " "), re.IGNORECASE) or \ re.search(f"{e1}.*{e2}", text, re.IGNORECASE): relations.append((e1, rel_type, e2)) state["relations"] = relations state["messages"].append(AIMessage(content=f"Extracted relations: {relations}")) print(f" Found relations: {relations}") state["current_agent"] = "entity_resolver" return state The relation_extractor function detects semantic relationships between entities within the raw text. It uses predefined regex patterns to identify phrases like “influences” or “is a type of” between entity pairs. When a match is found, it adds the corresponding relation as a triple (subject, predicate, object) to the relations list. These extracted relations are stored in the state, a message is logged for agent communication, and control moves to the next agent: entity_resolver. def entity_resolver(state: KGState) -> KGState: print("🔄 Entity Resolver: Resolving duplicate entities") entity_map = {} for entity in state["entities"]: canonical_name = entity.lower().replace(" ", "_") entity_map[entity] = canonical_name resolved_relations = [] for s, p, o in state["relations"]: s_resolved = entity_map.get(s, s) o_resolved = entity_map.get(o, o) resolved_relations.append((s_resolved, p, o_resolved)) state["resolved_relations"] = resolved_relations state["messages"].append(AIMessage(content=f"Resolved relations: {resolved_relations}")) state["current_agent"] = "graph_integrator" return state The entity_resolver function standardizes entity names to avoid duplication and inconsistencies. It creates a mapping (entity_map) by converting each entity to lowercase and replacing spaces with underscores. Then, this mapping is applied to all subjects and objects in the extracted relations to produce resolved relations. These normalized triples are added to the state, a confirmation message is logged, and control is passed to the graph_integrator agent. def graph_integrator(state: KGState) -> KGState: print("📊 Graph Integrator: Building the knowledge graph") G = nx.DiGraph() for s, p, o in state["resolved_relations"]: if not G.has_node(s): G.add_node(s) if not G.has_node(o): G.add_node(o) G.add_edge(s, o, relation=p) state["graph"] = G state["messages"].append(AIMessage(content=f"Built graph with {len(G.nodes)} nodes and {len(G.edges)} edges")) state["current_agent"] = "graph_validator" return state The graph_integrator function constructs the actual knowledge graph using networkx.DiGraph() supports directed relationships. It iterates over the resolved triples (subject, predicate, object), ensures both nodes exist, and then adds a directed edge with the relation as metadata. The resulting graph is saved in the state, a summary message is appended, and the pipeline transitions to the graph_validator agent for final validation. def graph_validator(state: KGState) -> KGState: print("✅ Graph Validator: Validating knowledge graph") G = state["graph"] validation_report = { "num_nodes": len(G.nodes), "num_edges": len(G.edges), "is_connected": nx.is_weakly_connected(G) if G.nodes else False, "has_cycles": not nx.is_directed_acyclic_graph(G) if G.nodes else False } state["validation"] = validation_report state["messages"].append(AIMessage(content=f"Validation report: {validation_report}")) print(f" Validation report: {validation_report}") state["current_agent"] = END return state The graph_validator function performs a basic health check on the constructed knowledge graph. It compiles a validation report containing the number of nodes and edges, whether the graph is weakly connected (i.e., every node is reachable if direction is ignored), and whether the graph contains cycles. This report is added to the state and logged as an AI message. Once validation is complete, the pipeline is marked as finished by setting the current_agent to END. def router(state: KGState) -> str: return state["current_agent"] def visualize_graph(graph): plt.figure(figsize=(10, 6)) pos = nx.spring_layout(graph) nx.draw(graph, pos, with_labels=True, node_color='skyblue', node_size=1500, font_size=10) edge_labels = nx.get_edge_attributes(graph, 'relation') nx.draw_networkx_edge_labels(graph, pos, edge_labels=edge_labels) plt.title("Knowledge Graph") plt.tight_layout() plt.show() The router function directs the pipeline to the next agent based on the current_agent field in the state. Meanwhile, the visualize_graph function uses matplotlib and networkx to display the final knowledge graph, showing nodes, edges, and labeled relationships for intuitive visual understanding. def build_kg_graph(): workflow = StateGraph(KGState) workflow.add_node("data_gatherer", data_gatherer) workflow.add_node("entity_extractor", entity_extractor) workflow.add_node("relation_extractor", relation_extractor) workflow.add_node("entity_resolver", entity_resolver) workflow.add_node("graph_integrator", graph_integrator) workflow.add_node("graph_validator", graph_validator) workflow.add_conditional_edges("data_gatherer", router, {"entity_extractor": "entity_extractor"}) workflow.add_conditional_edges("entity_extractor", router, {"relation_extractor": "relation_extractor"}) workflow.add_conditional_edges("relation_extractor", router, {"entity_resolver": "entity_resolver"}) workflow.add_conditional_edges("entity_resolver", router, {"graph_integrator": "graph_integrator"}) workflow.add_conditional_edges("graph_integrator", router, {"graph_validator": "graph_validator"}) workflow.add_conditional_edges("graph_validator", router, {END: END}) workflow.set_entry_point("data_gatherer") return workflow.compile() The build_kg_graph function defines the complete knowledge graph workflow using LangGraph. It sequentially adds each agent as a node, from data collection to graph validation, and connects them through conditional transitions based on the current agent. The entry point is set to data_gatherer, and the graph is compiled into an executable workflow that guides the automated pipeline from start to finish. def run_knowledge_graph_pipeline(topic): print(f"🚀 Starting knowledge graph pipeline for: {topic}") initial_state = { "topic": topic, "raw_text": "", "entities": [], "relations": [], "resolved_relations": [], "graph": None, "validation": {}, "messages": [HumanMessage(content=f"Build a knowledge graph about {topic}")], "current_agent": "data_gatherer" } kg_app = build_kg_graph() final_state = kg_app.invoke(initial_state) print(f"✨ Knowledge graph construction complete for: {topic}") return final_state The run_knowledge_graph_pipeline function initializes the pipeline by setting up an empty state dictionary with the provided topic. It builds the workflow using build_kg_graph(), then runs it by invoking the compiled graph with the initial state. As each agent processes the data, the state evolves, and the final result contains the complete knowledge graph, validated and ready for use. if __name__ == "__main__": topic = "Artificial Intelligence" result = run_knowledge_graph_pipeline(topic) visualize_graph(result["graph"]) Finally, this block serves as the script’s entry point. When executed directly, it triggers the knowledge graph pipeline for the topic “Artificial Intelligence,” runs through all agent stages, and finally visualizes the resulting graph using the visualize_graph() function. It provides an end-to-end demonstration of automated knowledge graph generation. Output Generated from Knowledge Graph Execution In conclusion, we have learned how to seamlessly integrate multiple specialized agents into a cohesive knowledge graph pipeline through this structured approach, leveraging LangGraph and NetworkX. This workflow automates entity and relation extraction processes and visualizes intricate relationships, offering a clear and actionable representation of gathered information. By adjusting and enhancing individual agents, such as employing more sophisticated entity recognition methods or integrating real-time data sources, this foundational framework can be scaled and customized for advanced knowledge graph construction tasks across various domains. Check out the Colab Notebook. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to join our 90k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite |  + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Google DeepMind Introduces AlphaEvolve: A Gemini-Powered Coding AI Agent for Algorithm Discovery and Scientific OptimizationAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Rime Introduces Arcana and Rimecaster (Open Source): Practical Voice AI Tools Built on Real-World SpeechAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Step-by-Step Guide to Build a Fast Semantic Search and RAG QA Engine on Web-Scraped Data Using Together AI Embeddings, FAISS Retrieval, and LangChainAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Agent-Based Debugging Gets a Cost-Effective Alternative: Salesforce AI Presents SWERank for Accurate and Scalable Software Issue Localization

Can't get enough of Wordle? Try Mashable's free version now 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 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. SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 15, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:To be excited. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter E appears twice.Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.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...EAGER.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. Topics Wordle

Well, we’ve reached the end of the road. Andor’s second and final season brought us 12 episodes of (mostly) exceptional Star Wars drama released in three-episode chunks, a format which served the structure of the show brilliantly, with each chunk representing one year in the four years leading up to Rogue One, but also meant that we didn’t get to savor the show for nearly as long.Suggested ReadingFallout Season 2 Teaser Confirms Lucy and Ghoul are Heading to New Vegas Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingFallout Season 2 Teaser Confirms Lucy and Ghoul are Heading to New Vegas Share SubtitlesOffEnglishEach week, we’ve gathered to discuss our reactions to the show’s latest episodes (you can find last week’s conversation here), and now, we do so for the last time. Join us as we say goodbye to this extraordinary series. Ethan Gach: I’m in camp Kleya, who called her arrival on Yavin in the final stretch of Andor “a bitter ending,” but perhaps somewhat more consoled than she was by Cassian reassurance that “nothing’s ending.”The final three episodes of season 2 were always going to be somewhat disappointing and bittersweet since we knew the show was ending and in some cases we knew where it would need to funnel people to set up Rogue One, but the final chapter still managed a surprising amount of high-stakes tension and unexpected backstory. How would you both rate the final episodes and what are you feeling now that the journey’s over?Carolyn Petit: I thought episode 10, with its look at how Luthen and Kleya formed their bond and her undertaking the terrible task of doing what needed to be done, was outstanding. (It also gave us an alien who instantly became one of my favorite Star Wars creatures ever!) Episodes 11 and 12 weren’t peak Andor, but I have to admit that the final slow-motion montage sequence really worked for me, and they had a political dimension I found somewhat surprising that I’ll discuss a bit more later.Zack Zwiezen: I was worried that the final episode would run out of steam as Tony Gilroy and co literally ran out of space for storytelling and had to slam the brakes to set up Rogue One. And while I enjoyed the montage slow-walk, I wonder if that works if you haven’t seen Rogue One. But overall, the final three episodes are really good. And I think the Kleya-Luthen focused episode is one of my favorite Andor episodes ever. I’m so happy she got a big spotlight before the end.CP: Me, too. That episode also helped cement, I think, that the show recognizes how necessary all of Luthen’s efforts were, even if those fussy ineffectual bureaucrats on Yavin don’t. This is an issue I’ve long had with how Star Wars has at times sanded away its own political dimensions in my view, something that Andor not only seeks to undo but takes farther than ever before. In truth, the act of blowing up the Death Star in the first film, that act which people cheered for in theaters in 1977 and that Star Wars fans for decades since have loved and admired, would, in universe, be considered an act of terrorism. That’s what the Empire would call it. That’s what governments do: they present their own violence as “legitimate” or “necessary” and the violence of those rebelling against them as “terrorism.” But there were times in Star Wars history where I felt like the people at the reins of the franchise wanted to send a message that you shouldn’t be “too extreme” in your resistance, don’t be a Saw Gerrera, do it through “proper channels.” And so I loved that Andor gave us that scene with Bail and some other politicians all kind of hemming and hawing over Luthen while the show, I think, was emphatically telling all of us, “Luthen was right. Maybe not every single little decision he made was right, but his ethos was fundamentally right and without someone like him, none of this would have been here.” And I loved it for that.ZZ: I think, and they talk about this in the behind the scenes, it’s very important that Luthen’s fight against the empire was really because Kleya wanted revenge.CP: Right. She’s the humanity that he’s fighting for. She’s what radicalizes him.ZZ: If he hadn’t found her and saved her, Luthen likely doesn’t become the rebel we know in Andor. And it also adds a new layer of complexity to their relationship. He was part of the army that brutalized her people. So she still has some lingering hatred for him. And yet she does care about him. And in that moment when she sneaks into the hospital to finish the job, you can feel that.EG: I think that scene with the Rebel Alliance leaders also helps show the Senate mentality creeping back in as the insurgency professionalizes itself.It’s easy to see why even after defeating the Empire in key battles it might struggle to rebuild or retain power, issues explored in Ahsoka and The Mandalorian. These last few episodes help situate Cassian between the uncompromising logic of Luthen’s spycraft and the “no one left behind” mentality of the Rebellion. Luthen’s final sacrifice is to die, and Cassian’s is to go back and risk everything just to save someone.ZZ: We should rewind a bit and talk about that moment between Luthen and Dedra. Or even further actually, and pour one out for Lonni, who I knew was dead the moment he sat down at that bench.CP: Yeah. When he mentioned his wife and kid, for a moment I thought mayyyyyyyybe Luthen would be like “You know what? I owe this guy.” But alas, no.ZZ: I also loved that line Luthen gave Klaya before the meeting: “I think we used up all the perfect.” CP: So good.LucasfilmZZ: And then we get Dedra Meero walking into Luthen’s shop as he’s destroying evidence. My wife literally gasped “OH SHIT!” at seeing Dedra at the door.EG: Only two artifacts may not be what they seem!CP: In a show that so often demands that characters put on a performance to blend into their surroundings, it was great seeing those two feel each other out and Luthen pretend for a bit that she was maybe not there to arrest him. But then, of course, he tries to kill himself, and you see that he was thinking a few steps ahead when he picked up the knife, though he made it seem like it was just part of their friendly dealings.ZZ: When he picked up the knife I was so distracted by him mentioning it being a Nautolan artifact (Kit Fisto’s species) that I didn’t realize why he picked a knife.CP: Hahaha, the perils of having a database of Star Wars knowledge in your brain!ZZ: And then after he’s taken to the hospital, we get that wonderful sequence with Klaya sneaking in and taking him off life support. Anybody else want a Hitman-like Star Wars game now?CP: If that alien Kleya pushes around as she’s pretending to be hospital personnel is in it, absolutely! But yes, that was a great infiltration sequence, both thrilling and kind of excruciating because we knew what she was going there to do.EG: It included some of the best Coruscant backdrops we’ve ever gotten, I think.CP: One other moment from that episode that I can’t stop thinking about was the flashback scene in which we see Imperial officers drag some civilians through town, put them up against a wall, and kill them. It was another gut-wrenching reminder of the Empire’s evil and another moment that felt weirdly resonant as more and more people are being arrested by agents who often won’t even show warrants or identification in the streets of our towns.ZZ: On the flipside of that horrible moment that made me feel a pit in my stomach, we have Dedra getting arrested for being reckless and not following orders by chasing after Luthen long after she was supposed to be off the Axis investigation. I have to admit I smiled when I realized it was all over for her.CP: Man, I don’t know. I mean I absolutely hate her, don’t get me wrong, and yet that final shot of her, where we see that she’s in a prison very much like the one Cassian was in last season (if not the same one) was complicated for me. Like, I think that kind of incarceration is just wrong in and of itself and so it elicited this weird moment of something like sympathy for her, which in no way means I forgive her for what she’s done. It’s just one of those reminders that it’s ultimately a systemic evil that will sometimes grind up the people operating inside of it and supporting it as much as those being actively persecuted.The leopards ate her face, in other words.ZZ: Space leopards.But I agree, yes, that the Empire is evil and the way it operates (like many real-world countries) is to crush people up to fuel the fires of growth and war. And I think it was very arrogant of her to believe she would be spared. Or maybe she truly bought into the lies that the Empire was good and doing the right thing? Surely, she won’t end up in some horrible place and left to rot forever.CP: Yep.ZZ: Meanwhile, her boss, after all of these failures and letting the info on the Death Star slip out, realizes what’s coming for him and knows he doesn’t want to be ripped apart by the machine he helped create. And takes an easier way out. CP: That was the first and only indication we ever got that Nemik’s manifesto is actually spreading around, right, that people are listening to it? That was a cool moment, I thought, where at first we think it’s non-diegetic, just the writers and filmmakers reminding us one last time of Nemik’s stirring words, but then we see, oh, no, Partagaz was actually listening to it, the fire is spreading. It’s out there.EG: I loved the scene right outside when the gun shot goes off.CP: Yeah, so clear that the guy knew Partagaz wasn’t just taking a moment to “collect his thoughts,” he knew exactly what was coming.ZZ: The slight “stand down” gesture to the troopers.EG: I appreciate the minor moments of humanity Andor evokes even between the worst people.CP: Yeah, they’re essential IMO.ZZ: It makes them more evil. They are human beings. People with feelings and thoughts. And yet they still do this shit.EG: Something also given to Krennic when he and Partagaz wish each other luck at facing Palpatine’s wrath. Unlike the more buffoonish bad guy energy he gives off in Rogue One.ZZ: Also, very fun to see a character call out the Death Star name. Partagaz thinks its dumb. It’s just one of those reminders that [the Empire is] ultimately a systemic evil that will sometimes grind up the people operating inside of it and supporting it as much as those being actively persecuted.ZZ: I’m so happy to see K-2SO back!CP: Yes. Not unlike C-3P0 he can be so exasperating at times (in an endearing and funny way), but when he goes full Terminator on Empire goons, man it feels good.For me, the whole tone of the scene with Andor and Melshi in the safehouse with Kleya and the communications jammed changed from “Oh shit, oh shit, get outta there!” to “LMAO y’all are about to get owned” as soon as K-2SO left the ship to go in for them, and it was glorious.ZZ: Yeah. The moment K-2SO shows up, it’s basically over for those imperial assholes and I loved it so much. I also like that the show uses its limited time with K-2SO to really develop a relationship between him and Cassian. They seem like buds!The part where they are playing space poker or whatever was great. Gilroy mentioned that after Bix leaves the place becomes a frat house, with Melshi moving in and them all drinking and partying between missions.CP: Ah, that totally makes sense!ZZ: I wonder if Andor is trying to drink away some pain and fill his life with friends to deal with losing Bix? That’s my read. He needs some buds and suds.CP: Definitely. There’s a part of me that still feels like Andor, the title character, could have maybe used a little bit more character development in this show, that with all of its moving pieces his own journey, both ideologically and as a person, maybe got a smidge sidelined. But I do like that we see him dreaming about his sister, since finding her was the big obsession driving him in the early episodes of season one. Now, I feel like he’s accepted that she’s gone but still the idea of her, his depth of feeling for her and the pain of losing her is part of what drives him to create a better world, not entirely unlike Luthen being driven by his love for Kleya. And speaking of love and the things that drive us, how did y’all feel about that final-final image of the show?ZZ: I loved it! To me it worked perfectly with a theme in Andor: hope.EG: “There is another.” lmao.CP: Right, to me it did in part feel like a nod to Star Wars’ obsession with dynasties and legacies, like we have to believe that, though Andor himself dies, what he stands for will live on not just as an idea but because he literally has a child. And yet, I still kinda liked it. We didn’t get a lightsaber but we did get a continued bloodline!ZZ: I think the show needed some hope at the end.EG: I think it was very thematically appropriate, even if I’m torn on the merits of mixing insurgency and family. It’s a division that feels a bit too tidy.ZZ: I think it did provide more reason for Bix leaving like she did. She was pregnant. She wanted to give her child a peaceful life and knew Andor would follow her if he knew. And in her mind, she’s thinking that they’ll get back together one day after the Empire has fallen. It’s both a very tragic final scene and also this reminder that there is more. This isn’t an ending.Screenshot: Lucasfilm / KotakuCP: Vel even tells him not to wait too long to reconnect, and we already know he never gets the chance! Really loved that those two, Cassian and Vel, got a moment here, too, and got to acknowledge all those they’ve lost along the way. But yes, you’re right, it was a lovely mix of deeply sad and hopeful, that final image. Luthen, Cassian, Saw, and so many others know they’re fighting for a world they themselves will likely not live to see. But that kid might.ZZ: And before we leave, I did like that we got one more tiny moment with Mon’s husbasndHe seems to be with the mother of the boy his daughter married? It was very fast. Couldn’t tell. But him just getting drunk in a limo on Coruscant, presumably throwing his wife under the bus and pledging loyalty to the Empire, seemed like all we needed to know about what happened to him.CP: Exactly. He is who we knew he was and his sad empty privileged life is his reward for it.I’d be curious to know how that final montage plays for folks who haven’t seen Rogue One. It really worked for me, seeing Cassian all dressed up for his fateful mission, the cuts to Dedra and other characters, and all around him, the Rebel base on Yavin, active and buzzing, about to change the galaxy, and now we know it’s all because of the efforts of so many people but among them, one Luthen Rael, an unsung hero of Star Wars. Are either of you planning on rewatching Rogue One any time soon?ZZ: I wanted to hold off until after this VG chat so I came into this without the weight of Rogue One on my mind. I plan on watching it this weekend! EG: I will say, as a parting thought, I don’t know that I needed the show to try and line up so neatly with Rogue One, perhaps the worst part of which is that silly blueprint handoff that directly leads into A New Hope. I do think some of the broader thrust of Andor and the unease and disquiet within its characters ended up being subsumed a little to neatly by the end of episode 12.CP: Oh, I agree. At a certain point in the final episode you really feel the show shift into “Okay, let’s get all the pieces in place for Rogue One” mode.ZZ: Yeah. It reminds me of the ending of Star Wars Episode III, where George Lucas sets up all the pieces for A New Hope and it feels less like an actual ending and more like a checkpoint.CP: And I think heading right from Andor into Rogue One will be quite jarring because—sorry Rogue One!—your dialogue is just not on the same level!ZZ: Nope! And what happened to Bail Organa! Did he get a haircut?CP: Hahaha.ZZ: But really, if that’s my biggest complaint about Andor—that its ending isn’t as strong as it could have been because of Rogue One—I’m still really happy.I’m not sure we’ll ever get a show like this again, or at least not for a long time. Real sets. Lots of actors. Incredible writing. Big budgets. Set in a large franchise. All this freedom. Even Gilroy has stated he’s not sure if this kind of thing will ever happen again.CP: It was glorious, and while I really hope we see more like it, I’ll try to just be grateful for the miracle that we ever got it at all. Now I just need Disney to put it on Blu-ray so I have it on physical media and it’s not trapped on a streaming service forever!ZZ: Rebellions and physical libraries of movies we love are built on hope. .

Australia and South America weren’t always so separate. At one time, many millions of years ago, these two continents were connected, along with others, in the southern supercontinent of Gondwana. Gondwana was a warm, forested place — a perfect home for tree frogs. In fact, the supercontinent fostered the common ancestor of the Australian pelodryadid frogs and the South American phyllomedusid frogs that are still seen, stuck to leaves and branches, today. But when did this common tree frog ancestor appear, and when did it diverge into these two separate frog families?A new study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology provides some answers. Identifying a new species of Australian tree frog from the Early Eocene around 55 million years ago, the study suggests that the Australian and South American tree frog lineages split apart at around that time, too, or even earlier than that. All in all, the study rethinks the timeline of tree frog evolution and suggests that these lineages are a lot older than traditionally thought.The Australian-South American Frog SeparationTo be sure, the new study isn’t the first to investigate the divergence of the Australian and South American tree frogs. By following the genetic transformations of these two families over time, prior molecular studies have shown, for instance, that the pelodryadids and the phyllomedusids split apart approximately 33 million years ago.The fossil record has supported that timing in the past, with the earliest Australian tree frog fossils previously appearing in Australia after 33 million years ago, in the Late Oligocene and the Early Miocene epochs about 26 and 23 million years ago. But the new species undermines this timeline, suggesting that the separation of Australian and South American tree frogs actually occurred around 55 million years ago at a minimum, or at least around 22 million years earlier than previously thought. The new species, named Litoria tylerantiqua, is now the earliest identified species of Australian tree frog there is. Represented by fossilized pelvic bones from the Murgon fossil site in Queensland, Australia, the pelodryadid species is approximately 55 million years old, or about 30 million years older than any other Australian tree frog found in the fossil record. “While molecular studies are important for understanding the evolutionary relationships of different groups of animals, these studies should be calibrated using knowledge from the fossil record,” said Roy Farman, the lead study author and a lecturer at the University of New South Wales, according to a press release. “In this case, the fossil record provides a more accurate time for separation of the southern world’s tree frogs.”Tree Frogs, Fossilized and PickledThree fossilized ilia (pelvic bones) represent a new species of Australian tree frog, Litoria tylerantiqua. (Image Credit: UNSW Sydney/Roy Farman) To confirm the species’ identification as a pelodryadid, the study authors compared the pelvises of the new species with the pelvises of pickled frogs, including Australian and South American tree frogs, from museums in Australia. “We were able to determine from the shape of the fossil ilia — one of three bones that make up each side of the pelvis — that this new Murgon species of frog is more closely related to the Australian tree frogs (pelodryadids) than the South American tree frogs (phyllomedusids),” Farman said in the release. Though the structure of the pelvic bones from the new species was relatively simple to study, the structure of the bones from the pickled species was not. “We had a real problem at the start of this study,” Farman added in the release, because the bones of the pickled specimens were “invisible,” being obscured by the specimens’ soft tissues. “Museums understandably want to ensure these often unique or rare pickled specimens remain intact for molecular studies because DNA can be obtained from their soft tissues,” Farman said in the release. “This meant that instead of [skeletonizing] these specimens, we needed instead to make CT scans of them, enabling us to create 3D models of their otherwise invisible skeletons.”The new species is named after the Australian herpetologist Michael Tyler, who was famous for studying the fossil record of Australian frogs and toads. “It is only fitting to name Australia’s earliest tree frog in [honor] of a man who was a giant in Australian frog research,” Farman said in the release. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Sam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Apple users—specifically those who use Siri through products such as Macbooks, iPhones, and Apple TVs—may be entitled to make a claim after Apple’s class action lawsuit settlement, worth $95 million dollars, regarding the voice-activated assistant.The settlement comes from a lawsuit filed in 2021 by Californian Fumiko Lopez, who claimed that Apple, via Siri, conducted “unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals’ confidential communications without their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications.”“Apple intentionally, willfully, and knowingly violated consumers’ privacy rights, including within the sanctity of consumers’ own homes where they have the greatest expectation of privacy,” the lawsuit stated. “Plaintiffs and Class Members would not have bought their Siri Devices, or would have paid less for them, if they had known Apple was intercepting, recording, disclosing, and otherwise misusing their conversations without consent or authorization.”In 2019, Apple published a statement titled "Improving Siri’s privacy protections," in which they said they hadn't "been fully living up" to their "high ideals" and vowed to issue improvements.Apple agreed to the settlement on Dec. 31, 2024. According to the settlement website: "Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that [they] did anything improper or unlawful."The website also provides information about who is eligible to file a claim and the deadlines they need to adhere to. Here’s what you need to know about how you can file a claim:Who is eligible to file a claim?People eligible to make a claim include those who owned or purchased a Siri device—which includes the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, Apple TV—between Sept. 17, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024. They must have “purchased or owned a Siri Device in the United States or its territories and enabled Siri on that device.”According to the settlement agreement, eligible parties also should have “experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication.”Those not eligible include Apple employees, legal representatives, and judicial officers assigned to the case.How can you make a claim and when is the deadline?Claimants can submit a claim form via the settlement website, and can submit claims for up to five Siri devices. The deadline to make a claim is July 2, 2025. This is also the deadline to opt out of the payment, which would allow the customer to keep their right to bring any other claim against Apple arising out of, or related to, the claims in the case. Some of those eligible to make a claim may have received a postcard or an email—with the subject line “Lopez Voice Assistant Class Action Settlement”—notifying them about the settlement. This correspondence would likely include a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code. Per the settlement website, people can use these codes when making a claim, but eligible Apple customers who haven’t received any correspondence can still file a claim.When can you expect to receive payment?On August 1, 2025, the courts are due to host a final approval hearing, but there could still be appeals. Payments will only be issued after any appeals are resolved. The settlement website is set to keep customers updated on timings and payment schedules, as and when that information is available.

Can't get enough of Wordle? Try Mashable's free version now 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 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. SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A type of drum. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter O appears twice.Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.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...BONGO.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. Topics Wordle

Recently found accordion worm Pararosa vigarae, a new genus and species of ribbon worms and a comparatively less-known group of invertebrates, has amazed the researchers because of its unique ability to squash up like an accordion to a staggering one-fifth of its normal body length. It was discovered from Ría de Arosa in the Northwest coast of Spain, where it lurks under rocks in the subtidal zone at a depth of 30 metres (98 feet). Combining morphological data with DNA analysis techniques, researchers were able to overcome the taxonomical challenge of identifying this worm.Classification challengesAccording to the study published in Royal Society Open Science, accordion worms belong to the phylum Nemertea, a group of predatory worms that use venom to immobilize their prey. They pose serious challenges for taxonomical studies due to the scarcity of external morphological features.Taxonomy is the study of the classification and identification of the living world. Traditionally, external morphological features are considered the criteria of this study. However, Nemerteans have very few distinctive visible features to rely on. To overcome this, scientists tried to consider the internal anatomy as a potential marker, but this process turned out to be very complex and inconvenient. Eventually, this process became obsolete, resulting in Nemerteans remaining a lesser-known phylum with currently described 1,350 species.Genetic AnalysisThe study describes that molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and histone H3 gene markers that indicated the newly identified specimens represent a new genus and species of heteronemertean in the family Lineidae.Imaging experiments revealed that the accordion worm contracts its body to form regular rings that are annular epidermal constrictions that remain visible even when the animal is fully stretched. The number of rings varies with the size of the worm—for instance, the largest specimen collected had 60 rings when fully stretched.

Mysterious Fossil Found in Museum Storage Turned Out to Be a New, Extinct Lizard Species Today, tegus are considered invasive creatures in Florida, but a new paper suggests they’ve lived in the southeastern United States at least once before—millions of years ago Argentine black and white tegus (Salvator merianae) were brought to the United States in the 1990s by exotic pet traders. They've since proliferated in the wild and been deemed an invasive species. Bernard Dupont via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 2.0 Years ago, Jason Bourque was digging through storage at the Florida Museum of Natural History when he came across a mysterious vertebra from an unknown animal. He returned to the fossil again and again, trying to figure out which creature it had once belonged to, but he kept coming up empty. Now, Bourque finally has an answer. The half-inch-wide bone likely came from a previously unknown, extinct species of lizard known as a tegu, according to a statement from the museum. Today, tegus in Florida are invasive, having been introduced from South America. But the discovery suggests a similar reptile had prehistoric roots in the region. Bourque, a fossil preparator in the Florida Museum’s vertebrate paleontology division, and his colleague Edward Stanley, who directs the museum’s digital imaging laboratory, described the new species in a paper published last month in the Journal of Paleontology.They named the creature Wautaugategu formidusi. “Wautauga” comes from the name of a forest located near where the fossil was initially unearthed in the early 2000s, according to the statement. It was discovered by workers at the Gragg Mine, a fuller’s earth clay mine located just north of the Florida border in southwest Georgia, right before the mine closed. “Formidus,” meanwhile, is the Latin word for “warm.” This part of the name is a nod to the particularly warm period in which the lizard lived, called the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum. At that time, between roughly 15 million and 17 million years ago, sea levels were higher than they are now, and most of Florida was underwater. The historic coastline, for example, could have been in north Florida, not far from where the fossil was discovered. Because modern tegus are strong swimmers, the researchers suspect W. formidusi may have swum from its native South America to the present-day southeastern United States, per the statement. But after that warm period ended and temperatures began to plummet, the cold-blooded W. formidusi likely struggled to reproduce. Eventually, the species died out completely. “We don’t have any record of these lizards before that event, and we don’t have any records of them after that event,” Bourque says in the statement. “It seems they were here just for a blip, during that really warm period.” Based on the lack of fossils, it appears W. formidusi only enjoyed a brief stay in North America. But Bourque hopes to visit the Florida-Georgia border to search for more W. formidusi fossils, which might offer further insights into the creature’s sojourn. Tegus are terrestrial lizards that hail from South America. But roughly three decades ago, exotic pet traders began bringing Argentine black and white tegus (Salvator merianae) to the United States. Eventually, though, the pet lizards either escaped or were released into the wild, where they established breeding populations and quickly multiplied. Argentine black and white tegus can grow to nearly five feet long and weigh up to ten pounds. They’re problematic because they feast on the eggs and hatchlings of many different native creatures, including some that are threatened or endangered, like gopher tortoises. In Florida, they’re now considered an invasive species and, as of 2021, it’s illegal to own, breed or sell them (though existing pet tegus are allowed to live out the rest of their lives in captivity, with a permit). A reptile rescuer holds an Argentine black and white tegu at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Brighton, England, in 2015. The animals are kept as exotic pets and became invasive in Florida after being introduced to its environment. Carl Court / Getty Images The newly identified fossil adds an earlier chapter to this story. The findings suggest tegus have lived in Florida at least once before, millions of years ago, though any relation between the two species isn’t clear. Moving forward, the researchers hope to continue perfecting the novel technique they used to identify the fossil. First, they took a computed tomography (CT) scan of the vertebra to create a detailed, 3D image. Then, they carefully measured and noted the location of any “landmarks” on the image—things like holes, bumps, ridges and grooves. Finally, they used artificial intelligence to compare the 3D image with more than 100 other 3D images of lizard vertebrae in an online database. The machine learning technique helped them identify the creature as a tegu and even located the vertebra’s original position in the middle of the lizard’s spine. This method, the researchers say, speeds up the identification of fossils, a process that typically relies on the time and specialized knowledge of experienced paleontologists. “There are boxes full, shelves full, of fossils that are unsorted, because it requires a huge amount of expertise to identify these things, and nobody has time to look through them comprehensively,” Stanley says in the statement. “This is a first step towards some of that automation, and it’s very exciting [to] see where it goes from here.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Scammers can make good money by selling you something you can actually get for free—like government services. The Federal Trade Commission is alerting consumers to fraudulent websites that are claiming to be associated with the IRS and charging up to $300 to file paperwork for obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN application is available for free on the real IRS website and requires just a few minutes to complete. An EIN, which is a corporate identifier for filing taxes, is required for anyone opening a business, estate, or nonprofit as well as those with household employees (such as a family hiring a nanny). How the EIN scam worksThe services identified by the FTC are impersonating the IRS or misrepresenting their affiliation in one or more of the following ways: Using IRS seals, logos, formatting, colors, fonts, layouts, and imagery on their websites and adsUsing "IRS" in their domain names or on their websitesUsing the term "EIN Assistant" Failing to disclose that they are not affiliated with the IRSFailing to disclose that payments are 100% service fees, as EINs are freeThis also isn't the only way scammers are profiting off of "helping" consumers apply for government services. The Better Business Bureau has tracked online services that charge people to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security's Trusted Traveler Programs, such as TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. These programs do cost money, but you don't have to pay for the application itself. (Note that TSA PreCheck contracts with several third-party enrollment providers, with total fees varying slightly from $67 to $78.)How to apply for an EIN—for freeIf you do need an EIN, you can complete the application using the IRS' EIN Assistant tool. You'll need to provide information about the legal structure of your business as well as personal information like your name, address, contact information, and tax ID. Your EIN is generated immediately upon completion and verification, and the whole process takes fewer than 15 minutes if you have all of your information ready.