Entertainment
Star Trek Fan Theory Explains The Biggest Borg Inconsistencies
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
In the world of Star Trek: The Next Generation and its spinoff, the Borg have always been something of a paradox. We’ve seen how a single one of their Cube ships is a threat to the entire Federation, but most of the galaxy remains unconquered by the Borg despite how easy that would be for these bionic bad boys. However, one Star Trek Borg theory offers an explanation: namely, that the Borg have been kept in check by failsafes installed by their unknown creators.
The Star Trek Borg Theory
As for why Star Trek fans would create a special Borg theory in the first place, it mostly comes down to answering a burning question. Namely, if the Borg are powerful enough to conquer entire planets and star empires, why the heck do they barely make an effort to do so, and why is it so easy to defeat them? According to this theory, the Borg may be powerful, but they are held back by limitations imposed on them by their creators.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation two-parter “The Best of Both Worlds” gave us our most complete look at the Borg and serves as the main impetus for this fan theory. In this episode, a single Cube quickly becomes an existential threat to Earth, and it destroys dozens of ships before Riker and the Enterprise crew manage to stop it. Part of their efforts include beaming over to the alien vessel, where they discover the Borg mostly leave them alone until they start blowing things up.
If you’re a longtime Star Trek fan, you’ve probably pondered the bizarre Borg weaknesses that led to the creation of this theory. Like, why can our heroes simply beam over to this intimidating vessel, something that could be prevented by the aliens raising their shields around hostile ships? Why do the Borg not clock the presence of hostile visitors until those visitors get a chance to access and destroy key systems?
Once you start asking those questions, you’ll ask follow-ups. Like, why do these aliens not systematically assimilate or destroy everyone in the galaxy? Why do they never send more than one Cube to attack the Federation, and why do they avoid assimilating less advanced life forms even though this would help innovate their species? According to this Star Trek Borg theory, it’s because they were created by an advanced race like the Iconians who placed failsafes in the system in case their creation went rogue.
There are still many unknown variables in this theory…for example, it’s not clear why a race like the Iconians would design aliens as dangerous as the Borg in the first place, nor is it clear how or why these bionic bad guys went rogue. However, the theory maintains that the advanced race was aware of both the possibility and danger of the Borg going rogue and installed various failsafe devices to keep their creation from conquering or destroying the galaxy. These failsafes were only partially effective, though, because the Borg are still the single greatest threat to life around the galaxy.
Star Trek has had more than one Borg theory over the years. For example, we’re fond of author Peter David’s theory that the Planet Killer from The Original Series was originally designed by aliens to destroy the Borg. However, most theories never address the convenient weaknesses of an enemy that can simultaneously threaten the entire galaxy but also be shut down by Data inputting a “sleep” command. This new theory attempts to square that circle, and while it’s not perfect, it did accomplish one thing: we’ll never look at the Borg or the Iconians the same way again.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
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.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
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…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
