When Was the First Exoplanet Discovered?
The UniverseFridays When Was the First Exoplanet Discovered? Evidence of alien worlds goes back farther than you think By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows an exoplanet and debris disk orbiting a polluted white dwarf. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait For […]
As Starlink and Other Satellites Proliferate, Astronomers Learn to Manage Interference
In a Sky Full of Satellites, Astronomers Find Creative Ways to Observe the Stars Swarms of satellites launched by SpaceX and other companies are disrupting astronomical observations. Here’s how scientists are coping By Alexandra Witze & Nature magazine Satellite streaks appear in a photograph taken above the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park, Western Australia. In […]
Venezuela says it will start accepting repatriation flights from the U.S. again
By Joe Hernandez Venezuela has announced that it will resume accepting flights of its citizens who are deported by U.S. immigration authorities. Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said on Saturday in a post on social media that the repatriation flights would begin again as early as Sunday. “Migration is not a crime,” […]
What’s the Definition of a ‘Moon’?
The UniverseFridays What Makes a Moon? Defining the word “moon” is harder than you might think By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings A quintet of Saturn’s moons come together in this image from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait Here’s a simple […]
Keir Starmer Talks Trump, Russia-Ukraine War and the Fragile Europe-US Alliance
Trump Administration The British prime minister said in a series of conversations that the tectonic shifts in America’s relationship with Europe and Russia had to be a ‘galvanizing moment.’ Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Barrow-in-Furness, England, on Thursday.Andrew Testa for The New York Times By Mark Landler Mark Landler spoke with Prime Minister Keir Starmer […]
Sen. Cory Booker on his marathon, 25-hour speech on the Senate floor
By Juana Summers , Tyler Bartlam , Patrick Jarenwattananon On Monday evening, Sen. Cory Booker stood on the Senate floor and began a speech criticizing the Trump administration. The 55-year-old Democrat from New Jersey kept talking and talking — through the night and into the next — for 25 hours and 5 minutes. He did…
Tiny, Injectable Pacemaker Runs on Light and then Dissolves
Tiny, Injectable Pacemaker Runs on Light and then Dissolves This temporary pacemaker, smaller than a grain of rice, could regulate the heart less invasively By Payal Dhar edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A pacemaker uses electricity to regulate heartbeats. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Temporary pacemakers can be used as a stopgap measure to…
Myanmar Military Fires on Chinese Red Cross Convoy in Quake Zone
Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand It remains unclear whether the cease-fire would be honored. It comes a day after soldiers fired at a Chinese Red Cross aid convoy, and amid multiple airstrikes. By Sui-Lee Wee Reporting from Bangkok Myanmar’s military on Wednesday declared a 21-day cease-fire to support relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of a…
Trump administration deports more alleged gang members to El Salvador
Move is latest in controversial method of deporting people from Guantánamo to prison abroad without US due process The 17 additional people the US shipped off to a prison in El Salvador on Sunday and accused of being tied to transnational gangs were sent there from immigration detention at Guantánamo Bay, a White House official…
Inside Mandalay: BBC finds huge devastation and little help for Myanmar quake survivors
Warning: This article contains details and images that some readers may find distressing Driving into Mandalay, the massive scale of the destruction from last Friday’s earthquake revealed itself bit by bit. In nearly every street we turned into, especially in the northern and central parts of the city, at least one building had completely collapsed,…
Israel Announces Plans to Seize ‘Large Areas’ of Gaza as It Expands Offensive Against Hamas
Middle East Tensions The announcement suggests that Israel is shifting tactics to hold on to swaths of the territory, at least temporarily. By Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem The Israeli government on Wednesday laid out plans to expand its renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip and seize large parts of the enclave, a strategy…
Trump set to announce new round of tariffs on his so-called ‘liberation day’
President’s plans have rattled global stock markets and triggered heated rows with US’s largest trading partners Donald Trump will announce his latest round of tariffs at the White House on Wednesday, threatening to unleash a global trade war on what he has dubbed “liberation day”. Trump has rattled global stock markets, alarmed corporate executives and…
Rosario Dawson Reacts to Ex Cory Booker’s 25-Hour Senate Speech
Rosario Dawson reacted to ex Cory Booker’s historically long Senate speech, which ran for just over 25 hours. The two dated from late 2019 to 2022. Rosario Dawson has no bad blood with Cory Booker. In fact, the Kids actress recently shared her excitement after her ex-boyfriend made history with his 25-hour and five-minute filibuster…
Federal judge drops corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams
By Ryan Lucas , Carrie Johnson A federal judge on Wednesday formally dismissed the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, granting the controversial request from the Justice Department that generated a public outcry and spurred the largest mass resignation of senior federal prosecutors in decades. The order from U.S. Judge Dale Ho…
Psychology’s Groupthink Helps Explain the Signal Chat Fiasco
Opinion ArgonautWednesdays By Dan Vergano U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on March 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Waltz, Vance, and Hegseth have faced criticism for communicating their plans and rationale for bombing Yemen via the encrypted messaging app Signal. Keep…
‘He is not a gang member’: outrage as US deports makeup artist to El Salvador prison for crown tattoos
Andry José Hernández Romero sent to an El Salvador prison after claim ‘crown’ tattoos proved he was a gang member For as long as anyone can remember Andry José Hernández Romero was enthralled by the annual Three Kings Day celebrations for which his Venezuelan home town is famed, joining thousands of fellow Christians on the…
SpaceX’s Fram2 Mission Sends Four Private Astronauts into Polar Orbit
SpaceX Hits New Milestone with Fram2, the First-Ever Crewed Polar Mission The privately funded Fram2 mission is the first ever to take astronauts into polar orbit—and the latest sign of a “new normal” for human spaceflight By Lee Billings edited by Dean Visser A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Fram2 mission astronauts aboard soars…
A Prison Death Highlights Russia’s LGBTQ Crackdown
Russia-Ukraine War The Russian government has unleashed a wave of repression against L.G.B.T.Q. people, with the police raiding gay night clubs and investigators targeting people they suspect of being gay. By Nataliya Vasilyeva and Alina Lobzina The travel agency offered tours aimed solely at men, and that was enough to attract the attention of the…
Val Kilmer, Top Gun and Batman Forever Actor, Dead at 65
Val Kilmer—best known for his roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever—died of pneumonia April 1, according to his family. He was 65. Hollywood has lost a beloved actor. Val Kilmer, who starred as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in 1986’s Top Gun and the titular superhero in 1995’s Batman Forever—died of pneumonia April 1, his daughter…
Heathrow warned by airlines about power supply before shutdown
Heathrow Airport was warned about the “resilience” of its power supply days before a fire which shut down the airport for over a day last month. Nigel Wicking, chief executive of the Heathrow Airline Operators’ Committee, told a group of MPs on Wednesday that he spoke to the Team Heathrow director on 15 March about…
Today is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day.’ What does that mean for tariffs?
Danielle Kurtzleben On Wednesday, President Trump is set to unveil what he has been calling “reciprocal tariffs” — taxes on imported goods from a broad range of countries aimed at penalizing them for their trade barriers. It’s a push he is branding as “Liberation Day,” promising it will bring in foreign tariff revenues to be…
How Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce Name Their Baby Girls
Kylie Kelce and Jason Kelce announced the birth of their fourth daughter Finnley Anne Kelce—but how do they choose their baby girls’ names? She explains. Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce are now coaches to four little ones. The former Philadelphia Eagles football player and Not Gonna Lie podcast host—who share daughters Wyatt, 5, Elliotte, 4,…
Drug-rape student – 23 more women make allegations
Twenty-three more women have come forward to the police with allegations against serial rapist Zhenhao Zou – a Chinese PhD student found guilty in London last month of drugging and raping 10 women across two continents. Police said at the conclusion of his trial they had video evidence, filmed by Zou himself, of potentially 50…
Netanyahu Drops Nominee for Spy Chief After Backlash
Middle East Tensions Eli Sharvit was a controversial choice after Israel’s prime minister fired his predecessor. Revelations that he wrote a column criticizing President Trump may have helped sink his chances. By Aaron Boxerman Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel backed away from his nominee to lead Israel’s domestic intelligence service on Tuesday, after conservative…
Chester zoo unveils £28m ‘Africa’ facility – complete with chilly giraffes
Nine-hectare site home to 57 species including rhino, zebras and ostriches in UK’s biggest such development “Although we are trying to replicate Uganda and Kenya we are actually in Cheshire so the weather is slightly different,” admits Chester zoo boss, Jamie Christon, on a fresh and very grey Monday morning. But ignore the chilliness and…
NIH Director Removes Four Main Scientists amid Massive Staff Purge
NIH Director Removes Four Main Scientists amid Massive Staff Purge The Trump Administration has fired four leaders and thousands of employees at the National Institutes of Health in “one of the darkest days” By Max Kozlov & Nature magazine Jay Bhattacharya took office as director of the US National Institutes of Health on April 1,…
Trump and Musk’s backing wasn’t enough to flip Wisconsin Supreme Court
From By Anya van Wagtendonk MADISON, Wisc. – County judge Susan Crawford has won election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Crawford defeated Brad Schimel, who received financial support from Elon Musk and an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Her victory means that the nonpartisan court’s 4-3…
U.N. Accuses Israel of Killing 15 Rescue Workers in Gaza
Middle East Tensions The United Nations said Israeli forces killed the people as they were trying to aid injured civilians, then buried them in a mass grave. Israel said nine of the 15 dead were Palestinian militants. By Vivian Yee and Farnaz Fassihi Vivian Yee reported from Cairo, and Farnaz Fassihi from the United Nations.…
Hotel Where Brett Gardner’s Son Died Denies Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The Costa Rica hotel where Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son Miller Gardner died alleged officials made “an error,” saying the level of carbon monoxide found in the family’s room was “non-lethal.” Miller Gardner‘s new possible cause of death is being disputed. After Costa Rican officials said they discovered “high levels of carbon monoxide contamination” within the…
BBC finds fear, loss and hope in Sudan’s ruined capital after army victory
The battered heart of Khartoum lies eerily quiet now, after weeks of intense urban combat in the Sudanese capital. We entered the city just days after Sudan’s army recaptured it from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the culmination of a six-month offensive through the central part of the country. Once the commercial heart and…
Donald Trump signs off UK’s handover of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
No 10 says deal to cede UK’s last African colony now being finalised after months of doubt Donald Trump has signed off the UK’s handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Downing Street has indicated, paving the way for the UK to cede sovereignty over its last African colony after a six-month standoff. Under the…
Druse Militia Refuse to Join Syria’s New Army
Syria After Civil War The militias that control the Druse religious minority’s heartland in southwestern Syria have resisted the new government’s attempts to bring all armed groups under its control. Military training for Druse men by the Mountain Brigade near Sweida, Syria, in January. By Christina Goldbaum and Reham Mourshed Photographs and Video by David…
What kind of support is the U.S. offering in the wake of the Myanmar quake?
By Melody Schreiber Current and former USAID staff are raising questions about the immediacy and impact of the U.S. response to the earthquake that rocked Myanmar and surrounding countries on Friday, particularly after massive budget cuts and the termination of nearly all staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development. The magnitude 7.7 quake hit…
OnlyFans’ Michael Duvall Apologizes for Creating Content at a Daycare
Content creator Michael Duvall addressed backlash for filming his OnlyFans content at a daycare where he worked: “It would have happened at that time at any job I worked at.” Michael Duvall is sharing his side of the story. The OnlyFans influencer addressed backlash after taking NSFW content while working at a daycare. “I posted…
People displaced by Uganda oil pipeline ‘received inadequate compensation’
Many of the people displaced by Eacop project were inadequately rehoused or compensated, report says People displaced from their homes alongside the site of an oil pipeline under construction in Uganda have complained of being inadequately rehoused or compensated. When completed, the East African crude oil pipeline (Eacop) will transport oil from the Tilenga and…
As Happened in Texas, Ignoring EPA Science Will Allow Pollution and Cancer to Fester
Opinion As Happened in Texas, Ignoring EPA Science Will Allow Pollution and Cancer to Fester Trump administration plans to destroy EPA science will leave the air we breathe and the water we drink more polluted By Jennifer Sass Cows graze near the Oak Grove Power Plant in Robertson County, Texas, subject to EPA (Environmental Protection…
Prince Harry charity engulfed by cash fears, insiders claim
Financial worries and disagreements about fundraising helped inflame the row that has engulfed the charity founded by Prince Harry, insiders close to former trustees told BBC News. An acrimonious boardroom battle has seen Prince Harry, his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and trustees resign from their roles at the charity and insiders claimed personality clashes…
This Celeb-Loved Self-Tanning Brand Is Your New Glow-up Secret
The Miley Cyrus-loved self-tanning brand is your answer to creating a flawless tan year-round. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Thanks to self-tan, you can enjoy a radiant, sun-kissed glow even in the dead of winter. Not only do self-tanning products allow you…
6 tales of mystery and mishap — all hitting book stores on April Fools’ Day
Colin Dwyer Don’t worry, you’ve come to a safe space. To be clear, the same can’t be said for the rest of the internet, which every April Fools’ Day lards its usual mystery blend of fact, rumor and misinformation with, well, still more misinformation — this time in the service of what some allege to…
Le Pen’s Embezzlement Charges and What They Mean for France’s Democracy
Trump Administration News Analysis A court’s conviction of the far-right leader for embezzlement and its ban on her running for office have set off a new crisis for France. By Roger Cohen Last year, Marine Le Pen spoke menacingly of the possible fallout from her trial on embezzlement charges. “Tomorrow, potentially, millions and millions of…
Niger’s junta withdraws from Lake Chad anti-Islamist force
Coalition of former allies Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria fought armed insurgents including Boko Haram Niger’s ruling junta has quit a regional force fighting armed Islamist groups in west Africa’s Lake Chad area, cementing an acrimonious split from former allies in the region. The decision to exit the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was announced…
What you need to know about the bills going up this week
The start of April means several household bills will go up. The exact amount you pay will depend on your individual circumstances and where you live. Although minimum wages are also increasing, and wages on average have been outpacing inflation, household finances could still come under extra pressure. Here are seven ways in which you…
Big Banks Quietly Prepare for Catastrophic Climate Change
Big Banks Quietly Prepare for Catastrophic Warming Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and an international banking group have quietly concluded that climate change will likely exceed the Paris Agreement’s 2 degree goal and are examining how to maintain profits By Corbin Hiar & E&E News CLIMATEWIRE | Top Wall Street institutions are preparing for a severe future…
Tina Knowles Shares Rare Insight Into Daughter Beyoncé’s Life
Beyoncé’s mom Tina Knowles exclusively told E! News’ The Rundown her favorite part of seeing the Cowboy Carter singer being a mom to her kids. Tina Knowles knows that Beyoncé was born to be a protector for her kids. In fact, one of the 71-year-old’s favorite things about her daughter—who shares daughter Blue Ivy, 13,…
Myanmar earthquake death toll tops 2,000, as health system ‘overwhelmed’
WHO warns there is urgent need for care capacity, while US agency says number of dead could eventually exceed 10,000 The fallout from Myanmar’s earthquake has overwhelmed parts of the healthcare system, the World Health Organization has said, as the official death toll rose to more than 2,000, with many more missing. “The earthquake’s devastation…
Watch SpaceX Launch Historic Fram2 Crewed Mission over Earth’s Poles Tonight
Watch SpaceX Launch Historic Fram2 Crewed Mission over Earth’s Poles Tonight Fram2, a first-of-its-kind private mission to send four astronauts into polar orbit around Earth, is about to launch By Mike Wall & SPACE.com A close-up view of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a Crew Dragon spacecraft before a launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space…
A NATO Plane Tracks and Dodges Russia in the Baltic Sea
Russia-Ukraine War The assignment was part of a new program aimed at suspected Russian sabotage. None has occurred since NATO began patrols. The assignment was part of a new program aimed at suspected Russian sabotage. None has occurred since NATO began patrols. Crew members on board an Atlantique 2 monitor an array of computer screens…
Single parents hit hardest by ‘awful April’ bill rises
A series of essential household bills are rising at the start of April, with warnings that single parents are among the hardest hit. Water bills, energy prices and council tax are all going up in what has been dubbed “awful April”, although the minimum wage is also increasing. The charity Citizens Advice said the finances…
Judge pauses Trump administration plans to end deportation protection for Venezuelans
By The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Monday paused plans by the Trump administration to end temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, a week before they were scheduled to expire. The order by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco is a relief for 350,000 Venezuelans…
A midwife says of the aid cuts in Afghanistan: ‘No one prioritizes women’s lives.’
By Diaa Hadid , Khwaga Ghani An Afghan midwife describes how a woman died in childbirth, along with her baby. She was snowed into her village and couldn’t reach a hospital. Just weeks before, the health clinic in her village had closed. If it was open, a midwife could have helped her. Other midwives, based…
NYU canceled talk on USAID cuts for being ‘anti-governmental’, doctor says
University called Dr Joanne Liu, ex-head of Doctors Without Borders, after planning to speak on Gaza and federal cuts The former international head of Doctors Without Borders says she was left “stunned” after New York University canceled her presentation because some of her slides discussing cuts at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)…
As Measles Continues to Rise, CDC Muffles Vaccine Messaging
As Measles Continues to Rise, CDC Muffles Vaccine Messaging By burying an assessment with updates and recommendations about the U.S.’s current measles outbreaks, the CDC has signaled an alarming shift in its public messaging By Jen Schwartz edited by Jeanna Bryner A health worker prepares a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center…
Birmingham declares major incident over bin strike
A major incident has been declared by Birmingham City Council over the ongoing bin strike, which has left 17,000 tonnes of waste on the streets. Leader John Cotton said it was in response to concerns for public health as the authority struggles to clear the rubbish, which has led to the issue being raised in…
How Trump Supercharged Distrust, Driving U.S. Allies Away
Tariffs News Analysis Trust is very hard to build and easy to destroy. America and its partners are caught in a spiral of distrust. By Damien Cave Damien Cave covers global affairs and is The Times’s Vietnam bureau chief. The F-35, a fifth-generation fighter, was developed in partnership with eight countries, making it a model…
News spotlight: Report warns of growing human toll as planet warms
Last year was the hottest on record — sparking major climate disasters across the globe. More than 150 “unprecedented” heatwaves, floods and storms left a trail of destruction that included lost lives, destroyed infrastructure and decimated crops, Damian Carrington reported for The Guardian. A record 800,000 people were displaced and left without a home as…
Is There a Plus Side to Mental Labor?
Opinion The Science of ParentingMondays Is There a Plus Side to Mental Labor? Women shoulder most of the work in managing a family and tell us it’s exhausting, but some also say it has benefits By Julie Holliday Wayne Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for this weekly column It’s Monday, and my alarm…
Charity-seekers from all over Pakistan flock to Karachi at Ramadan to collect alms
By Betsy Joles KARACHI, Pakistan — On a recent Monday afternoon, 61-year-old Sayani Soomar, a widow, sits on a curb in a busy Karachi commercial area with a paper sign asking for help. She holds in her lap packages with pills for high blood pressure, her husband’s death certificate and an electricity bill — evidence…
David Beckham’s Ex-Assistant Rebecca Loos Stands By Affair Claim
Rebecca Loos doubled down on her claims that she slept with David Beckham “just a few times” when she was his personal assistant back in the early aughts. David Beckham‘s former assistant is standing by her story. While the former Manchester United player has repeatedly denied ever cheating on his wife Victoria Beckham with Rebecca…
UK expects to be hit by Trump tariffs, No 10 says
The UK is expecting to be hit by new US tariffs on Wednesday, with Downing Street indicating a deal to exempt British goods will not be reached in time. US President Donald Trump has said new 25% tariffs – or import taxes – on cars and car parts will come into effect on 2 April.…
New images reveal extent of looting at Sudan’s national museum as rooms stripped of treasures
Only a few statues remain, with thousands of priceless artefacts from Nubian and Kushite kingdoms missing Videos of Sudan’s national museum showing empty rooms, piles of rubble and broken artefacts posted on social media after the Sudanese army recaptured the area from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in recent days show the extent of…
Kourtney Kardashian’s Son Rocky Adorably Bundles Up for a Family Road
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s son Rocky Thirteen Barker makes a rare appearance in family photos the Lemme founder shared from her family’s recent “spring break road trip.” Rocky Thirteen Barker is living his best life on spring break. Kourtney Kardashian shared rare new pics of her and Travis Barker‘s son on a family road…
French court finds far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty in embezzlement case
By The Associated Press PARIS — A French court found Marine Le Pen guilty on Monday in an embezzlement case but didn’t immediately say what her sentence might be and how it might impact the far-right leader’s political future. Le Pen, sitting in the front row in the Paris court, showed no immediate reaction as…
Trump’s U.S.A.I.D. Cuts Hobble Earthquake Response in Myanmar
U.S.A.I.D. While China, Russia and other nations have rushed emergency response teams to the devastated country, the U.S., once a leader in foreign aid, has been slow to act. By Hannah Beech and Edward Wong China, Russia and India have dispatched emergency teams and supplies to earthquake-ravaged Myanmar. So have Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. The…
Myanmar earthquake: at least 144 killed as rescues also continue in Bangkok
Junta makes rare call for aid as hundreds injured by 7.7-magnitude quake, which also brought down high-rise in Thai capital At least 144 people have died and 732 have been injured after a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar, killing at least nine more in neighbouring Thailand where a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok collapsed. The…
When Was the First Exoplanet Discovered?
The UniverseFridays When Was the First Exoplanet Discovered? Evidence of alien worlds goes back farther than you think By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows an exoplanet and debris disk orbiting a polluted white dwarf. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait For…