The New York Times continues its popular daily word puzzle series with 'Strands' #677, released for January 9, 2026. This edition presents puzzle enthusiasts with the intriguing theme, 'For cubs fans,' guiding players to uncover hidden words related to various types of bears. The game, a unique twist on the classic word search, requires participants to identify several theme words and a special 'spangram' within a six-by-eight letter grid. The spangram for today's puzzle is 'BEARSINMIND,' which spans across the entire board and encapsulates the puzzle's central theme. Credible sources like CNET, Mashable, Lifehacker, and various puzzle-solving guides have already published hints and the full list of answers for this specific date, confirming the puzzle's details. The theme words to be found are BLACK, BROWN, GRIZZLY, PANDA, POLAR, and SPECTACLED, all representing different species of bears. Developed and published by The New York Times, Strands launched into beta in March 2024 and has since become a staple in the NYT Games library, alongside other popular titles like Wordle and Connections. Its global reach is evident through its coverage by international news outlets, including those in India, providing daily assistance to a wide audience seeking to solve the challenging word game. Players can access Strands through the New York Times website or its dedicated Games app, with new puzzles typically releasing at midnight ET.