Entertainment
Part Of The Battlestar Galactica Set Was Secretly Inspired By Star Trek
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
To this day, Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica reboot is remembered as a peak example of sci-fi storytelling. There are plenty of reasons for this: the cast was full of insanely talented actors, for example, and every single action scene kept fans on the edge of their seats. But the greatest strength of the show was its writing. The entire premise of the show was that humanity was trying to survive a genocidal attack by the Cylons, enemies who could potentially wipe everyone out at any given moment. It’s a very bleak story, and the tight writing of the show ensured that we felt every single heartwrenching decision.
Moore got his start by writing for Star Trek: The Next Generation. While that franchise is all about hope and optimism for humanity’s future, Moore ensured Galactica was the anti-Trek, with dark storylines about paranoia and desperation. This filtered into the design philosophy of the show, which is why Galactica feels like a submarine and the Enterprise-D felt like a flying Holiday Inn. However, what most fans don’t realize is that Moore borrowed one aspect of Star Trek’s design: in the Galactica episode “Tigh Me Up and Tigh Me Down,” he introduced an observation deck that was very clearly inspired by Ten Forward from The Next Generation!
The One Chill Spot On Battlestar Galactica
This story comes to us courtesy of the commentary track for “Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down,” just in case you needed a special incentive to bust out your Blu-rays. While this episode had plenty of the show’s signature paranoia (including Adama suspecting that Ellen Tigh is a Cylon and Roslin suspecting Adama was a Cylon), it had plenty of lighthearted moments designed to give audiences a break from the relentless drama of Season 1. It was also an episode that gave its characters a break, as it introduced the Observation Deck, an area where characters could stargaze and generally contemplate the cosmos.
On the commentary track for this episode, Ronald D. Moore said that “It did feel right that, perhaps…there was one area of the ship, which accepted a window or a port to look out and that it would be a fairly confined space for the crew on these very long, deep space missions.” This would be a place “where they can go to and just stargaze. And in this situation, it seemed like there would be a lot of people lining up to try and look out at the stars, you know, a break from the monotony of staring at metal walls.”
If this sounds a bit familiar, it’s because he’s basically describing Ten Forward from Star Trek: The Next Generation!
Make It Slow
Star Trek: The Next Generation was, to put it mildly, a more hopeful and optimistic show than Battlestar Galactica. Nonetheless, the Enterprise-D crew still experienced a fair amount of stress. Any given week, they could be tossed to the Borg by Q, get caught in a Klingon Civil War, or simply killed on an Away Team mission gone wrong. Because of this, the crew liked to relax in Ten Forward, a bar where they could look at the stars. It is located on Deck 10 in the forward section (hence, the name), offering everyone glorious, panoramic views of the cosmos around them.
Now, Ronald D. Moore didn’t explicitly name-drop Ten Forward during the commentary track. However, the idea of a ship section where beleaguered crew members can relax by gazing at the stars through big windows is very clearly inspired by everyone’s favorite spot to hang out on the Enterprise-D. That means that the showrunner never fully escaped his television roots and that his acclaimed anti-Trek show has a powerful echo of Star Trek: The Next Generation hidden deep within the Battlestar Galactica.
Entertainment
The most read Kindle books of 2026 (so far)
Table of Contents
For my fellow Kindle users, ever wonder what other people are reading on their Kindles? Well, Amazon has some answers.
Each week, Amazon puts out a list of the most read books, which ranks books by the average number of daily Kindle readers and Audible listeners. So unlike a bestseller list, it shows you what titles other Kindle users are actually reading. Because let’s be real, we’re all guilty of buying a book and letting it sit on the shelf for a little too long.
Now that we’re nearly halfway through 2026, it’s time reveal the most read books, according to Kindle readers and Audible listeners. We gathered this list using Amazon’s Most Read charts, collecting which books (both fiction and non-fiction) spent the most time in the top 10 spots. It’s a fun mix of titles, compromised of new releases and old favorites.
So without ado, here are the most read Kindle and Audible books of 2026.
25. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
You’ll find Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke on every lists naming the best books of the year. The tradwife satire was released April 7, 2026 but it’s made such a splash that it’s already spent seven weeks in the Most Read top 10.
24. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
First published in September 2020, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel is still wildly popular. A compilation of 19 short stories, exploring the way we think about money, The Psychology of Money has spent seven weeks on the Most Read list in 2026.
23. London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe
Acclaimed author Patrick Radden Keefe returned with his latest book London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth, a feat of reporting diving into London’s seedy underbelly as a family fights to find the truth behind their son’s death. Released April 7, 2026, London Falling has already spent eight weeks on the Most Read list.
22. Famesick by Lena Dunham
The moment Famesick was released on April 14, 2026, it seemed like everyone was reading it and the Amazon charts confirmed that. Spending nine weeks on the Most Read charts, Dunham’s memoir which recounts the decade of her life marked by her HBO show Girls as well as the chronic illness that weighed her down, is a must read among Kindle and Audible readers.
21. Stripped Down by Bunnie XO
Bunnie XO has 2.5 million followers on Instagram and 12 million followers on TikTok all on top of her popular podcast Dumb Blonde. So it’s no surprise that her unapologetic memoir, Stripped Down, has spent nine weeks on the Most Read chart. Released, February 17, 2026, Stripped Down details Bunnie XO’s rise from the trailer parks of Vegas to the top of the podcast charts.
20. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
Dear Debbie is just one of Frieda McFadden’s books to spend weeks on the Most Read chart. Landing on the list for nine weeks, Dear Debbie is a thrilling read about a woman taking justice into her own hands, even if there are killer consequences.
19. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Kindle and Audible users are all about self-help in 2026. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson has spent nine weeks on the Most Read chart, helping reachers develop a mindset to weather the storm of modern day living.
18. Brimstone by Callie Hart
Finally, some romantasy on the Most Read charts. Callie Hart’s second book in the Fae & Alchemy trilogy, Brimstone, spent nine weeks on the charts. The sequel to Quicksilver dives back to the vampire courts where newly crowned queen Saeris Fan must send Fisher to her homelands, a mission that could kill him.
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17. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Despite being released in 2022, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden remained one of the most read books of 2026. Interest in The Housemaid hasn’t faded thanks to the movie adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. With over 3 million Goodreads ratings, if you still haven’t read The Housemaid, it begs the question — what are you waiting for?
16. You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate
Beloved actress Christina Applegate is ready to say it all in her memoir You with the Sad Eyes, that spans her five decade long career, including her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021. You with the Sad Eyes, spent 10 weeks on the Most Read charts since its March 3, 2026 release.
15. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
There’s this little known series about a boy named Harry Potter. We joke. But it is cool to see the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on the Most Read charts 23 years after its release. What’s even cooler is that Amazon notes the average reader age of the book is nine, meaning kiddos are still diving in as this book spent 12 weeks on the charts.
14. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Dungeon Crawler Carl is just the beginning of Matt Dinniman’s epic, genre-bending series. First released in 2020, Dungeon Crawler Carl has spent fifteen weeks on the Most Read charts.
13. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
What’s fun about following the Most Read chart from the beginning of the year, is seeing how the books in the Harry Potter flunctuate position on the list as kiddos move through the series. Plenty made their way through the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which spent 15 weeks on the list.
12. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
The popularity continues with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, which spent 15 weeks on the Most Read list in 2026, even 28 years after its release.
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire must be a fan favorite in the series as it spent 16 weeks on Amazon’s Most Read chart, letting readers bask in the magic of the Triwizard Tournament.
10. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Capturing the life of Sybil Van Antwerp, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, tells the story of one’s life all through the letters she writes. Released in April of 2025, the novel has stayed on the Most Read charts for 17 weeks in 2026.
9. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Theo of Golden tells the story of a small town and the power of one stranger who slowly collects the stories of the people there. Allen Levi’s book has consistently been on bestseller lists and spent 20 weeks in the top ten most read books on Amazon.
8. Strangers by Belle Burden
Perhaps the most read memoir of 2026 is Belle Burden’s Strangers, which unpacks the end of her marriage in the early days of COVID. Already a bestseller, Burden’s memoir has spent 21 weeks on the Most Read chart.
7. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green
A classic can stand the test of time, best evidenced by Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power, which was first released in 2000, but has stayed on the Most Read chart for 22 weeks of 2026.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Of course the most read Harry Potter book is the first. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone spent 22 weeks on the Most Read chart with readers as young as eight years old enjoying the classic fantasy.
5. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary topped the box office and the Most Read chart this year. Andy Weir’s sci-fi novel was the fifth most read Kindle book of 2026, spending a staggering 23 weeks on the Most Read chart.
4. Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s posthumous memoir details her brave stance against Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The powerful, riveting read has spent 24 weeks among the top 10 Most Read non-fiction books.
3. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Also in the 24 weeks club is James Clear’s Atomic Habits, a guide and framework for changing your habits and your life. Released in 2018, Atomic Habits remains one of the most read Kindle books eight years later.
2. 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
In his bestselling book Too Big to Fail, Andrew Ross Sorkin details the history of the 2008 banking crisis. In his latest, 1929, Sorkin dives into the infamous 1929 crash that shaped our society today. 1929 has spent 24 weeks on the Most Read chart.
1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory has sold millions of copies, so it’s no surprise it remains one of the most read books, too. Spending 24 weeks on the Most Read chart, Kindle users are diving into Robbins’ bestselling book.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 20, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know collegiate sports.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Baseball nicknames
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Green: Cyclist clothing
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Blue: Geographically specific
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Purple: Same word, different meanings
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: New York Yankees, informally
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Green: Tour de France jerseys
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Blue: Locations of Big 12 Schools
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Purple: What “boot” might mean
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #635 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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New York Yankees, informally: BRONX BOMBERS, EVIL EMPIRE, PINSTRIPES, YANKS
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Tour de France jerseys: GREEN, POLKA DOT, WHITE, YELLOW
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Locations of Big 12 schools: BOULDER, FORT WORTH, MANHATTAN, WACO
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What “boot” might mean: CLEAT, EJECT, KICK, MISHANDLE
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.
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 the latest Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for June 20, 2026
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Saturday, June 20, 2026:
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Across
The “I” of TGIF
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“Psych!”
Batman villain played by Aaron Eckhart in “The Dark Knight”
Repressive governments
Folding art
Opposite direction of NNW
Streaming issue caused by slow wi-fi
Raggedy ___ (doll)
Down
Icebreakers, e.g.
“The Two ___” (second installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy)
Cigar, informally
Presidential candidate Harris
2026 #1 album for Drake
Word after “interior” or “intelligent”
Kind of tree that the Buddha is said to have meditated under
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.
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