The New York Times Strands puzzle for October 3, 2026 featured the theme “A figment of your imagination,” with the spangram WILLOTHEWISP and five ghost‑like theme words.
News Raise
A hardware defect in a limited batch of iPhone 18 Pro Max phones is causing loss of cellular service for AT&T customers, prompting Apple to offer replacements and an iOS 27.0.1 carrier update.
A German Valorant player was blocked from the game after the anti‑cheat system flagged a used Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU that had been blacklisted for a previous owner's cheating.
NASA is considering additional Starliner launches and a $359 million bailout as SpaceX signals a shift away from Crew Dragon, raising questions about the agency’s future access to low‑Earth orbit.
Great white sharks are being spotted more often off Canada’s Atlantic provinces as warming waters and rising seal numbers draw the predators north.
SpaceX’s Crew‑13 mission reached the International Space Station in eight hours, the fastest U.S. launch to the orbiting lab, carrying four astronauts including commander Jessica Watkins.
A Lancet Oncology analysis estimates infections caused about 2.3 million new cancers in 2024, highlighting the preventive potential of vaccines and other measures.
Researchers at Cedars‑Sinai identified the enzyme UBE2N as a natural defender against worsening fatty liver disease, offering a potential new target to prevent progression to MASH.
A new study shows colorectal cancer rates have surged among people under 21, with aggressive disease and common symptoms often missed, underscoring the need for earlier diagnosis.
Shivon Zilis, a former Tesla executive and current Neuralink employee, posted on X that her long‑term relationship with Elon Musk has ended.