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 […]
Farmers strongly back Trump. A new trade war could test their loyalty
By Scott Neuman Travis Zook grows corn, raises cattle and owns a seed dealership and farm service business in northeast Indiana. He exemplifies some of the mixed emotions that many farmers have when it comes to President Trump. Like more than 75% of voters in rural, farm-dependent counties, the 44-year-old farmer says he cast his…
Just Stop Oil co-founder’s sentence reduced in Court of Appeal
Six climate change activists, including the founder of Just Stop Oil (JSO), have had their sentences reduced, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Roger Hallam and 15 other protesters were jailed last year for their roles in four demonstrations held by JSO, including climbing on gantries over the M25 and throwing soup over Vincent van…
Dolce Glow Made a Lip Butter—and It’s Really Good
I’m avoiding chapped lips with this dreamy lip butter that deeply hydrates my pout and smells like a cinnamon roll. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Winter is here, and so are the dry, cracked lips that come with it. If you…
World Food Programme halves food rations for Rohingya in Bangladesh
Decision made after attempts to raise more funds had been unsuccessful, agency tells authorities Food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have been slashed in half by the World Food Programme, days after refugees in Kenya protested against a reduction to their rations. The WFP, which is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and provides assistance…
‘Little agency that could’ cheered for act of resistance against Trump and Musk
Workers at US African Development Foundation refused to let Doge operatives enter, though they later gained access Members of Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) unit were barred from entering a small, independent federal agency promoting economic development in Africa on Wednesday after a tense standoff with federal staff they had been sent…
Stranded NASA Astronaut’s Teen Daughter Breaks Silence on Debacle
NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore’s teenage daughter Daryn Wilmore said it’s “mentally exhausting” to have her dad be stuck in space since June 2024. Barry “Butch” Wilmore‘s family is definitely feeling the space between. Butch and his fellow NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams have been stranded on the International Space Station since June due to equipment…
Athena Makes It to the Moon, but Uncertainties Remain
Intuitive Machines’ Athena Lander Reaches the Moon Lopsided—Just like Its Predecessor Despite some connection delays postlanding, the lunar lander Athena is officially set to study what lies beneath the moon’s surface over the next 10 days By Gayoung Lee edited by Lee Billings Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission lunar lander, Athena, entering lunar orbit on Monday,…
SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion
By The Associated Press Nearly two months after an explosion sent flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another mammoth Starship rocket on Thursday, but lost contact minutes into the test flight as the spacecraft came tumbling down and broke apart. This time, wreckage from the latest explosion was seen streaming…
Taiwan President Defends TSMC’s $100 Billion U.S. Chip Investment
Trump Administration The Taiwanese chip giant TSMC’s plan to invest $100 billion in the United States has been met with anxiety and criticism in its home country. By Chris BuckleyMeaghan Tobin and Amy Chang Chien Reporting from Taipei, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan on Thursday sought to reassure his citizens that a plan by…
Trump expands exemptions from Canada and Mexico tariffs
US President Donald Trump has signed orders significantly expanding the goods exempted from his new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. It is the second time in two days that Trump has rolled back his taxes on imports from America’s two biggest trade partners, measures that have raised uncertainty for businesses and worried financial markets. On…
Blake Lively Seeks to Protect Texts Amid Justin Baldoni Legal Battle
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold’s attorney requested an extra layer of protection on sensitive information during a March 6 hearing amid their legal battle with Justin Baldoni. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are requesting to keep some things private. Amid the couple’s sprawling legal battle with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni, their attorney…
Zelensky hopes US-Ukraine talks next week will be ‘meaningful’
US-Ukraine talks will be held in Saudi Arabia next week, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, expressing hopes that it will be “a meaningful meeting”. The Ukrainian leader, who will be in the Gulf kingdom but not take part in the talks, said Kyiv was working to reach a “fast and lasting” peace. US President Donald…
A Pentagon press secretary has history of pushing antisemitic, extremist theories
Tom Dreisbach Members of Congress and Jewish civil rights organizations are criticizing the new deputy press secretary at the Department of Defense, Kingsley Wilson, for a series of online posts and past political commentary she made before joining the Trump administration. Over the last several years, Wilson posted and commented prolifically on podcasts in her…
US suspends aid to South Africa after Trump order
President’s decree claims white South Africans being unjustly discriminated against and orders end to foreign aid The state department has ordered an immediate pause on most US foreign assistance to South Africa, according to a cable seen by the Guardian, officially implementing a contentious executive order by Donald Trump. The directive, issued on Thursday, implements…
NASA’s Voyager Probes Lose One Instrument Each as Power Wanes
NASA’s Voyager Probes Lose One Instrument Each as Power Wanes NASA’s twin Voyager probes, which launched in 1977, are the longest-running missions to send data home. But as their power supplies wane, scientists are saying goodbye to one instrument on each spacecraft By Meghan Bartels edited by Clara Moskowitz NASA’s most distant observers are losing…
A Threat to Britain’s Conservatives as Donors Fund Reform U.K., a Populist Rival
A New York Times analysis of campaign finance data shows an influx of funding to Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform U.K. party from fossil fuel investors, climate skeptics and multimillionaires. By Jane BradleyJosh Holder and Jeremy Singer-Vine Jane Bradley and Josh Holder reported from London, and Jeremy Singer-Vine from New York. Nigel Farage’s insurgent Reform U.K.…
‘We are not the 51st anything’: viral Canada ad gets Trump-inspired update
Remake of 2000 Molson beer ad has the same message as Trump threatens tariffs: Canada will not cower to the US For the second time in 25 years, a lone figure takes to the stage, an oversized maple leaf flag rippling on a screen behind him as he approaches the microphone. His hair is perhaps…
During the War in Ukraine, a Military Orchestra Has a Key Task
Russia-Ukraine War As Ukrainian casualties spiral after years of war, a military band has the melancholy but key task of bidding farewell to troops and raising morale. As Ukrainian casualties spiral after years of war, a military band has the melancholy but key task of bidding farewell to troops and raising morale. A Ukrainian military…
Aid worker describes lucky escape from deadly Russian strike
A UK-based aid worker said he, his friends and colleagues were “so lucky to be alive” after they narrowly escaped a Russian missile attack on a hotel in central Ukraine on Wednesday night that left at least four dead. Karol Swiacki, a Polish national and founder of the Bournemouth-based charity Ukraine Relief, was at the…
Untangling Those Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner Reconciliation Rumors
After rumors that Ben Affleck and ex-wife Jennifer Garner reconciled their relationship following their son Samuel’s birthday party, multiple outlets confirmed they’re just friends. Ben Affleck isn’t interested in seeing about this girl. After the Justice League star was seen holding ex-wife Jennifer Garner close while at their son Samuel’s 13th birthday party, there were…
Killing a Nuclear Watchdog’s Independence Threatens Disaster
Opinion Killing a Nuclear Watchdog’s Independence Threatens Disaster A Trump administration plan would end the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where similar oversight muzzling has led to nuclear disasters overseas By Katy Huff, Paul Wilson & Michael Corradini edited by Dan Vergano Prypiat classroom with books lying on the floor, Chernobyl exclusion zone, Ukraine.…
Fighter jets accidentally drop bombs during exercises, injuring 8 South Koreans
By The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — Two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during a joint live-fire exercise with the U.S. military on Thursday, injuring eight people, officials said. The air force said the fighter jets were taking part in the one-day firing drill with the U.S.…
True Thompson Thinks Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson Are Married
Khloe Kardashian shared that her and Tristan Thompson’s daughter True Thompson, 6, thinks the two are really a married couple. Khloe Kardashian is sharing daughter True Thompson’s perspective. As the Good American cofounder—also parent to son Tatum Thompson, 2, with ex Tristan Thompson—explained, their 6-year-old is under the assumption her mom and dad are actually…
America the Evil Mastermind? Not So Fast, Russians Are Told.
Russia-Ukraine War As President Trump begins to side with Russia, the Kremlin propaganda machine has changed its tune. By Anton Troianovski Reporting from Berlin Five weeks ago, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, delivered a routine speech blasting the “hegemonic, egoistic” United States at the helm of the “collective West.” The worldview of the 74-year-old…
Nearly half of women in Africa will be obese or overweight by 2030 – study
Stigma, lack of treatment and disproportionate rise of the disease in women draws comparisons with HIV epidemic An alarming rise in obesity in Africa has been compared with the HIV epidemic, with stigma and lack of treatment having a disproportionate impact on women. Almost half of women in Africa will be obese or overweight by…
Europe’s leaders to hold emergency talks ‘at turning point in history’
EU leaders gather in Brussels on Thursday for a special council on defence, as France’s President Emmanuel Macron warned that the continent was at a “turning point of history”. As well as rearmament, leaders are expected to discuss how the body can further support Kyiv in the face of US President Donald Trump’s announcement on…
Trump’s Plan to Lower Egg Prices and a Threat to Bird Flu Vaccines Explained
The Latest on Egg Prices and a Bird Flu Vaccine in Jeopardy The CDC has sequenced bird flu viruses from people in Nevada and Wyoming, and the Trump Administration has released a strategy for reducing egg prices By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Join Our Community of Science Lovers! We’re regularly rounding up the…
As Canadians cancel trips due to Trump, the U.S. tourism industry could lose billions
By Joe Hernandez Leena Yousefi and her family typically visit Hawaii four or five times a year. The Vancouver attorney used to live in Maui and had booked another trip for this year. But that was before President Trump, shortly after taking office in January, said he would impose 25% tariffs on many Canadian goods…
The NHS is spending a fortune giving people a death they don’t want
The UK was once ranked the best country in the world for end-of-life care – but that’s not the case any longer. And according to experts, the problem runs far deeper than money The people closest to Terry Leader remember him as a man who was always laughing. He emigrated to the UK from the…
As U.S. Tariffs Become Reality, Canadians Prepare for Economic Pain
Tariffs An expert in the automotive industry says factories may shut down in days as costs skyrocket and President Trump disrupts decades of economic integration with steep tariffs. By Ian Austen and Vjosa Isai Ian Austen reported from Windsor, Ontario, and Vjosa Isai reported from Toronto The trucks that carry about $300 million worth of…
How Early Could Life Have Emerged in the Universe?
Life May Have Emerged a Cosmic Eyeblink after the Big Bang New simulations suggest that habitable worlds could have begun forming only 200 million years after the big bang By Conor Feehly edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of some of the universe’s first stars, thought to have formed about 100 million years after…
Canada goose fights off bald eagle in rare, symbolism-laden battle on ice
Photographer captures 20-minute clash between birds emblematic of Canada and US amid high trade tensions For the second time in weeks, a Canadian icon has emerged as the unlikely victor in an existential battle on the ice. Mervyn Sequeira, an Ontario photographer, was out with his family on a recent morning when they spotted a…
Trump administration can remove head of federal watchdog agency, appeals court rules
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — An appeals court in Washington on Wednesday removed the head of a federal watchdog agency in the latest twist in a legal fight over Republican President Donald Trump’s authority to fire the special counsel. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the Trump administration…
Prince William & Prince Harry Used This Last Name Before Marriage
Before Prince William and Prince Harry got married to Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, respectively, the brothers used a surname that honored their father King Charles III’s former royal title. The royal family has a history of adopting different surnames. In fact, even before they were bestowed new titles during their wedding celebrations, Prince William…
Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas as US confirms direct hostage talks
US President Donald Trump has issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release the hostages being held in Gaza. “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” Trump said in a lengthy post on…
What to know about Lesotho, the country Trump said ‘nobody has ever heard of’
By Kate Bartlett Loading… JOHANNESBURG — In his Tuesday night address to Congress, President Trump defended his administration’s humanitarian aid cuts to countries around the globe, including one nation he joked “nobody has ever heard of.” It is the southern African nation of Lesotho. The country’s foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, told NPR it was “quite…
In State of the Union Speech, Trump Touts Fossil Fuels and Critical Minerals Plan
Trump Pushes His Fossil Fuel-Focused Energy Agenda in State of the Union Speech In his State of the Union Speech, President Trump pushed fossil fuel extraction, a plan for developing critical minerals and an Alaska natural gas pipeline By Garrett Downs & E&E News U.S. President Donald Trump during a joint session of Congress in…
Refugees in Kenya’s Kakuma camp clash with police after food supplies cut
Teargas fired during protest at reduced rations after US aid freeze wipes out half of World Food Programme budget Thousands of refugees clashed with police in a Kenyan refugee camp this week after receiving news that their food allocations would be cut because of funding problems. The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, confirmed that four refugees…
Meet the Syrians behind the music that inspired a revolution
By Emily Feng , Jawad Rizkallah HOMS, Syria — His face is everywhere in Syria. It’s plastered on the country’s new flags, on sweaters and on the side of buses. His voice, untrained and unfiltered, is ubiquitous, too: used in cellphone ringtones and blared from loudspeakers. His name is Abdel Basset al-Sarout. Once the goalkeeper…
How Ants May Save You from Future Traffic Jams
How Ants May Save You from Future Traffic Jams Ants’ tactics to avoid traffic jams could be applied to future self-driving cars By Allison Parshall edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Join Our Community of Science Lovers! From an airplane, cars crawling down the highway look like ants. But actual ants—unlike cars—somehow manage to avoid the…
How Soon Could Ukraine’s Forces ‘Start to Buckle’ Without U.S. Weapons?
Russia-Ukraine War It could be as little as four months, say analysts, as Europe scrambles to plug the hole in support left by President Trump’s suspension of military aid. The United States has sent $67 billion of military aid to Ukraine. Europe has sent $65 billion to Ukraine. Other countries have sent $4 billion. Canada…
Student guilty of raping 10 women among UK’s most prolific predators, police say
A PhD student who has been convicted of drugging and raping 10 women “may turn out to be one of the most prolific sexual predators that we’ve ever seen in this country”, according to the lead detective on the case. Chinese national Zhenhao Zou, 28, attacked two women who have been identified and another eight…
Jennifer Hudson Hit in The Face by Ball During Date Night with Common
During Jennifer Hudson and Common’s date night at the New York Knicks game, where they played the Golden State Warriors, the Dreamgirls alum was struck in the face by a flying basketball. Jennifer Hudson’s basketball outing was certainly not a slam dunk. After all, the talk show host was hit by a flying basketball while attending…
Trump could water down tariffs on Canada and Mexico
President could strike deal to provide ‘relief’, US commerce secretary says, amid warnings of price increases for US consumers Donald Trump is weighing plans to water down sweeping US tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, according to a senior official, one day after an economic strike on the US’s two biggest trading partners sparked…
Denise Richards & Tori Spelling Reveal ’90s Love Triangle With TV Star
Longtime BFFs Denise Richards and Tori Spelling reminisced about once getting competitive over dating ’90s heartthrob and Melrose Place star Patrick Muldoon early in their careers. Denise Richards and Tori Spelling are taking a stroll down memory lane. The longtime BFFs reminisced about dating the same ’90s television heartthrob during the March 4 episode of…
Consumers can buy Zepbound direct from the drugmaker if they’ll pay out of pocket
By Sydney Lupkin Every month, roughly 100,000 people buy Zepbound directly from Eli Lilly through its website. “It’s about the size of a small city,” says David Ricks, Eli Lilly’s CEO. That’s about 10% of the 1 million people who use the blockbuster obesity drug every month, though the numbers can vary, he says. The…
Neuroscientists Should Set a High Bar for Evidence against Free Will
Opinion Neuroscientists Should Set a High Bar for Evidence against Free Will Neuroscience research claiming to question the existence of free will may have been misinterpreted By Aaron Schurger, Adina Roskies & Uri Maoz edited by Dan Vergano Do you believe in free will? Some scholars do not—and they rely on evidence from the brain…
Arab States Propose Alternative to Trump’s Gaza Plan
Middle East Tensions Trying to counter President Trump’s call to “clean out” Gaza, Arab leaders have begun to outline their own vision for Palestinians in the territory. By Vivian Yee and Ismaeel Naar Vivian Yee reported from Cairo and Ismaeel Naar from Dubai. Arab countries countered President Trump’s proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza and…
Hong Kong firm to sell stake in Panama ports amid Trump pressure
Deal with US finance giant BlackRock, valued at almost $23bn, comes amid push to curb perceived China influence CK Hutchison Holdings, the Hong Kong-based logistics giant, announced plans to sell a majority stake in a business that controls ports in Panama to investors including the US financial giant BlackRock in a deal worth almost $23bn.…
Treasury earmarks billions in spending cuts
The Treasury has earmarked several billion pounds in draft spending cuts to welfare and other government departments amid expectations the chancellor’s room for manoeuvre has all but been wiped out. The department will put the proposed cuts to the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), the official forecaster, on Wednesday ahead of the Spring Statement later…
Starting with Rep. Al Green, Democrats protest against Trump’s speech to Congress
By Elena Moore , Deirdre Walsh NPR is bringing you the latest from President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. For more updates, get our or listen to The NPR Politics Podcast. Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green was removed from the House chamber after heckling President Trump during his first address to a joint session of…
The AI Future Is Here
The AI Future Is Here AI’s integration into everything—untangling traffic snarls, dictating drug prescriptions, rewriting the rules of scientific discovery—is accelerating quickly By Andrea Gawrylewski Join Our Community of Science Lovers! In January, Chinese artificial-intelligence start-up DeepSeek blew up the dam. The company released a chatbot that rivals industry leaders such as OpenAI’s Chat-GPT o1…
Campaigners celebrate court ruling to ‘decolonise’ Kampala
After a five-year campaign, landmarks and streets honouring British colonialists will be renamed to reflect Ugandan culture Campaigners have welcomed a court ruling to remove British colonial monuments from Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and to rename streets that honour “crooks and historical figureheads”. In last week’s high court ruling, Justice Musa Ssekaana directed the city authorities…
At Ukraine’s Trump-Themed Cafe, Patrons Demand a Name Change
Russia-Ukraine War At a pizza and coffee joint in Kyiv named for the U.S. president, patrons are having second thoughts about its moniker after President Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine. transcript You got to be more thankful. Because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But…
Congressman Al Green Removed During Trump’s Speech to “Goodbye” Chants
Congressman Al Green—a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives—was removed from the Capitol chamber by the sergeant at arms after interrupting President Donald Trump’s speech. President Donald Trump‘s latest address in the U.S. Capitol has experienced a slight hiccup. Rep. Al Green—an 11-term Democrat from Texas—was ejected from the chamber floor for verbally interrupting…
Get Younger Skin in Minutes With This French Beauty Brand’s New Serum
All it takes is a few drops of Guerlain’s new Youth Watery Oil Serum to get visibly plumper, younger-looking skin. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. You’re just an hour away from plumper, more youthful skin. Want to…
Zelensky vows to ‘make things right’ with Trump and negotiate peace
Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to work under Donald Trump’s “strong leadership” to achieve a lasting peace days after their explosive Oval Office meeting. The Ukrainian president described the White House showdown as “regrettable” in a lengthy social media post in the wake of the US announcing a pause in military aid to Kyiv.…
Company Seeking to Resurrect the Woolly Mammoth Creates a ‘Woolly Mouse’
Company Seeking to Resurrect the Woolly Mammoth Creates a ‘Woolly Mouse’ On their quest to bring back the extinct woolly mammoth, Colossal Biosciences has developed the woolly mouse By Adam Popescu edited by Andrea Thompson The “woolly mouse” was developed by Colossal Biosciences by editing genes to give the mouse a bushier, thicker coat, akin…
Conservatives Hobble Iran’s Moderate President, Stoking a Political Crisis
Trump Administration With Iran already wounded economically and diplomatically, hard-liners forced out two top officials and blocked talks with the United States, freezing President Masoud Pezeshkian’s agenda. By Farnaz Fassihi Iran’s conservatives have ousted two high-profile officials, throwing President Masoud Pezeshkian’s new, moderate government into turmoil and raising questions about its survival. The showdown comes…
Does Stopping Ozempic Cause Rebound Weight Gain and Health Problems?
Most People Stop Ozempic after Two Years. What Happens to Weight and Health? Ozempic and similar GLP-1 weight-loss medications are designed to be a lifelong treatment. But a new study finds the majority of people who use these drugs quit after just two years By Lori Youmshajekian edited by Lauren J. Young The class of…