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 […]
Leading a Meaningful Life through Storytelling Skills
Opinion Why Great Storytellers Find Life More Meaningful People who are rated as good storytellers exhibit a purpose-oriented mindset and big-picture thinking more often than others By Ron Shachar edited by Daisy Yuhas Engraving of Scheherazade in Arabian Nights 1892. King Shahryar, betrayed by his wife, decides to marry a new woman each night and…
Lawyer probing Reform UK row contradicts Rupert Lowe
A senior lawyer appointed by Reform UK to independently investigate allegations against MP Rupert Lowe and his team has denied making comments he has attributed to her. The Great Yarmouth MP was suspended by Reform and referred to the police over accusations he made threats of violence against its chairman. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed…
Read Up on These Suits Secrets While You Binge-Watch
All rise, Suits fans. With spinoff Suits LA officially on trial, E! News’ is testifying about all the legal dramedy’s behind-the-scenes secrets, including how Meghan Markle influenced her character. Well isn’t this a bunch of poppycock. Sorry, sorry, bulls–t. Asked what it was like when his star Meghan Markle first began dating Prince Harry back…
How Would Peacekeeping Work in Ukraine? These Experts Gamed It Out.
Russia-Ukraine War The publication of the detailed analysis was a sign that a cease-fire has gone from a theoretical exercise to an urgent and practical issue. By Anton Troianovski Reporting from Berlin When military and civilian experts on peacekeeping started meeting in Geneva in the spring of 2022, they insisted on discretion. Their topic was…
Violence Sweeps Coastal Syria, Sowing Chaos: ‘We Have to Get Out of Here’
Syria After Civil War Residents described shootings outside their homes and bodies in the streets in Syria’s worst unrest since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. More than 1,000 people have been killed since Thursday, a war monitor said. By Christina Goldbaum and Reham Mourshed Reporting from Tartus on the Syrian coast The gunfire began at dawn on…
This Women’s History Month, readers tell NPR about the women who changed their lives
Suzanne Nuyen In 1982, the U.S. celebrated its first Women’s History Week. Four years later, Congress passed a law designating March as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of proclamations to celebrate the achievements women have made in U.S. history. This month, NPR’s Up First newsletter celebrates the women who have…
Why Is the Trump Administration Politicizing Weather?
Opinion Cross CurrentsFridays Why Is the Trump Administration Politicizing Weather? Climate change is real. Dismantling our federal weather agency won’t change that By Megha Satyanarayana edited by Dan Vergano The Trump Administration is trying to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which houses the National Weather Service. Hundreds of employees have lost their jobs…
Under-performing civil servants could be incentivised to leave jobs
Under-performing civil servants could be incentivised to leave their jobs under new government plans, while top staff will have their pay linked to their performance. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said they will “fundamentally reshape” the service as its state is currently not “match-fit” for what the country needs. The plans are part of wider…
Internet shutdowns at record high in Africa as access ‘weaponised’
More governments seeking to keep millions of people offline amid conflicts, protests and political instability Digital blackouts reached a record high in 2024 in Africa as more governments sought to keep millions of citizens off the internet than in any other period over the last decade. A report released by the internet rights group Access…
Trump’s FEMA Disaster Aid Freeze Threatens ‘Acute Harm,’ Judge Rules
FEMA Disaster Aid Freeze Threatens ‘Acute Harm,’ Judge Rules The Federal Emergency Management Agency must show in one week whether it is complying with a judge’s ruling that blocks the Trump administration disaster aid freeze By Thomas Frank & E&E News The sun flares behind the sign marking the location of the Federal Emergency Management…
Three suspects at large after shooting at Toronto pub leaves a dozen injured
Police say suspects are male, with one in a black balaclava seen fleeing the scene at the Piper Arms in a silver car Three suspects are at large after a mass shooting at the opening night of a pub in Toronto that left a dozen people injured, Canadian police say. The shooting at the Piper…
Experts warn that recent school shootings show growth in new radicalization pattern
Odette Yousef Two recent school shootings are highlighting what extremism researchers see as a growing — and poorly understood — trend among young people who embrace mass violence. The attacks, at high schools in Madison, Wis., and Nashville, Tenn., defy categories that law enforcement and researchers have long used to understand radicalization pathways, such as…
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Debuts Hair Transformation After Becoming a Mom
Gypsy Rose Blanchard showcased her most drastic hair transformation yet two months after welcoming her first baby with fiancé Ken Urker, daughter Aurora. Gypsy Rose Blanchard‘s baby girl is less likely to pull on Mom’s hair now. The 33-year-old debuted a short bob haircut March 8, more than two months after giving birth to her…
Trump’s Embrace of Russia Leaves Europe in Emotional Shock
Russia-Ukraine War news analysis It remains to be seen how far President Trump’s embrace of Russia and abandonment of traditional allies will go. But “the West” may be gone. By Roger Cohen Reporting from Paris For decades a core objective of the Soviet Union was to “decouple” the United States from Europe. Decoupling, as it…
Russian strikes kill at least 25, Ukraine says
At least 25 people have died in Ukraine in the latest wave of Russian strikes, Ukrainian officials say, as the conflict shows no sign of easing. One attack on Donetsk Region killed at least 11 people and wounded 40, including six children, local officials said on Saturday. Homes and infrastructure were hit in other regions,…
Stand Up for Science Rallies Draw Crowds Protesting Trump Cuts
Stand Up for Science Rallies Draw Crowds Protesting Trump Cuts Scientists and supporters rallied in cities across the U.S. and Europe to protest dramatic funding cuts and other attacks from the Trump administration By Julian Nowogrodzki, Humberto Basilio, Heidi Ledford, Brendan Maher, Alexandra Witze & Nature magazine Activists participate in the Stand Up for Science…
Celebrations and protests in the US and around the world mark International Women’s Day
From Istanbul and Warsaw to New York and Los Angeles, activists demand equality and the end of gender-based violence Women took to the streets of cities across Europe, Africa and elsewhere to mark International Women’s Day with demands for ending inequality and gender-based violence. On the Asian side of Turkey’s biggest city, Istanbul, a rally…
See Prince Harry and Princess Lilibet’s Sweet Father-Daughter Moment
Meghan Markle shared a rare pic of husband Prince Harry sharing an adorable moment with their daughter Princess Lilibet in honor of International Women’s Day 2025. Prince Harry shows he’s a hands-on deck dad in a never-before-seen photo with his little girl. His wife Meghan Markle has shared a rare pic of him sitting in…
Earth’s Oldest Impact Crater Discovered in Australia
Earth’s Oldest Impact Crater Discovered in Australia Scientists with a new theory about how Earth’s early continents formed predicted where a superold impact crater should be—then found it By Tim Johnson, Chris Kirkland, Jonas Kaempf & The Conversation US Shatter cones in ancient rocks of the Pilbara, Western Australia. The following essay is reprinted with…
South Sudan general among dozens killed in attack on UN helicopter
President Salva Kiir appeals for calm while analysts say escalating tensions could lead to full-blown conflict A South Sudanese general and dozens of soldiers have been killed after a United Nations helicopter trying to evacuate them from the northern town of Nasir came under attack, the government has said. The UN said Friday’s incident, which…
Opinion: Thailand’s deportation of Uyghurs to China has echoes of 10 years ago
By Jeffrey Wasserstrom Jeffrey Wasserstrom is chancellor’s professor of history at University of California, Irvine and the author of The Milk Tea Alliance: Inside Asia’s Struggle Against Autocracy and Beijing, a short book about activists in and exiles from Thailand, Hong Kong and Myanmar that will be published in June by Columbia Global Reports. Given…
Russia Pushes Back Ukraine’s Offensive With Drones and North Korean Troops
Russia-Ukraine War Russia has retaken about two-thirds of the territory Ukraine seized last summer in the Kursk region of Russia, but at a fearful cost in lives. By Marc Santora Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Working together, a new influx of North Korean soldiers and well-trained Russian drone units, advancing under the cover of ferocious artillery…
Untangling Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards’ Family Tree
Denise Richards and Charlie’s Sheen’s famous family connections aren’t that complicated. Here’s everything to know about the exes’ kids together, Sami and Lola Sheen, plus their other children. Hollywood is about to be rocked by a new generation of Sheens. That’s because Sami Sheen and Lola Sheen—the daughters of famous exes Charlie Sheen and Denise…
UK troops may need to protect peace in Ukraine for ‘many years’
A former national security adviser has warned the potential deployment of UK troops to protect peace in Ukraine could last for “many years”. Lord Sedwill told the BBC’s The Week in Westminster that the UK would need to be “willing to display strategic patience to give the Ukrainians the [security] assurances they need” in the…
DOGE’s effort to slash government is now coming for buildings and people who run them
By Stephen Fowler , Jenna McLaughlin , Shannon Bond , Chris Arnold Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is on a mission to slash the federal government — and it eagerly touts its moves on social media. A recent entry cited more than $100 million in savings from terminating hundreds of federal building leases. Yet…
Badass Advice From Taylor Swift & More on International Women’s Day
Not that golden nuggets of wisdom from inspiring stars are ever unwelcome, but International Women’s Day is an especially good time for spilling trade secrets. Be it hard-won perspective from someone who knows, a tip for how to maintain your inner glow or a simple reassurance that it’s all going to be OK, who doesn’t…
Trump says Ukraine ‘more difficult’ to deal with than Russia
US President Donald Trump has said he is finding it “more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine” than Russia in attempts to broker peace between the two nations. The US is “doing very well with Russia”, and “it may be easier dealing with” Moscow than Kyiv, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.…
Around the world in 60 hours: Nigerian aims to set travel record with ‘low-mobility’ passport
Alma Asinobi wants to break Guinness world record for shortest time to visit seven continents In 2019, Alma Asinobi, a Nigerian postgraduate architecture student, gave herself an ambitious goal after obtaining her first passport: to visit up to 16 countries every year. Then Covid-19 triggered a global lockdown, curtailing her dreams. Since restrictions were lifted,…
Trump Administration Likely to Drop Chloroprene Lawsuit. Here’s What That Means
What Is Chloroprene, the Cancer-Causing Chemical at the Center of a Federal Lawsuit? Trump could drop a federal lawsuit against a petrochemical plant that emits chloroprene. Here’s a look at the cancer-causing chemical By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner Yoga mats can be made out of the synthetic rubber neoprene, natural rubber and other…
A Europe in Emotional Shock Grapples With a New Era
Russia-Ukraine War news analysis It remains to be seen how far President Trump’s embrace of Russia and abandonment of traditional allies will go. But “the West” may be gone. By Roger Cohen Reporting from Paris For decades a core objective of the Soviet Union was to “decouple” the United States from Europe. Decoupling, as it…
Trump signs executive action targeting public service loan program
Jonaki Mehta President Donald Trump has signed an executive action that directs the U.S. Education Department to exclude certain federal student loan borrowers from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The action says “individuals employed by organizations whose activities have a substantial illegal purpose” will no longer be eligible for the program, known as PSLF.…
Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of natural causes one week apart
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman died of natural causes about a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa, who died after contracting a rare virus, a New Mexico medical investigator has said. Hackman, 95, died at his Santa Fe home from coronary artery disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease a contributing factor. Ms Arakawa, 65, died in the…
More Than 140 Killed in Clashes Between Syrian Forces and Assad Loyalists
Syria After Civil War Two days of fighting along the Mediterranean coast were among the bloodiest battles since rebels ousted the dictator Bashar al-Assad. By Christina Goldbaum Reporting from Damascus, Syria Clashes between Syria’s new authorities and gunmen loyal to the ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad have killed at least 147 people over the past two…
Why MGK Says Birth of Baby With Megan Fox Will Be “Bittersweet”
Machine Gun Kelly reflected on the death of his close friend Luke “The Dingo” Trembath ahead of the birth of his baby with ex Megan Fox. Machine Gun Kelly is experiencing dueling emotions. As he eagerly awaits the birth of his baby with ex Megan Fox, the “Lonely Road” singer shared a heartbreaking tribute to…
Evidence of torture found as detention centre and mass grave discovered outside Khartoum
Exclusive: What appears to be a vast burial site found at former Rapid Support Forces base in Sudan, while rescued detainees speak of torture, starvation and deaths of fellow inmates More than 500 people may have been tortured or starved to death and then buried in a secret mass grave north of Khartoum, according to…
Daylight Saving Time and Early School Start Times Cost The Economy Billions
Daylight Saving Time and Early School Start Times Cost The Economy Billions The current system of daylight saving time and early school start times wastes billions while causing more car accidents, workplace injuries and health issues By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse & The Conversation US Daylight saving time kicks in on March 9, 2025. Along with the…
Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal dollars for Columbia University
Elena Moore The Trump administration says it has canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University over what it described as the school’s failure to police antisemitism on campus. The cancellation was announced Friday in a joint statement from the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education…
Gene Hackman Likely Didn’t Know Wife Betsy Arakawa Died a Week Prior
Before his death, Gene Hackman likely did not know wife Betsy Arakawa—whose cause of death was ruled as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—died due to his “advanced state of Alzheimer’s,” per authorities. Gene Hackman appeared to be living alone at his New Mexico home for a week after wife Betsy Arakawa died. Authorities determined that Arakawa, 65, died…
Hilaria Baldwin Says How Alec Baldwin’s Age Affects His Mental Health
Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin discussed his hesitance to seek help for his mental health in an exclusive preview clip of their TLC reality series, The Baldwins. Alec Baldwin is getting candid about his mental health. In E! News’ exclusive preview clip of TLC’s The Baldwins, the actor told wife Hilaria Baldwin how he’s…
Trump Wants Europe to Defend Itself. Here’s What It Would Take.
Russia-Ukraine War Replacing what the Americans do for the NATO alliance would take money, personnel, time and cooperation. None of those is easy. By Steven Erlanger Reporting from Berlin. Steven Erlanger has written about Europe, Russia and NATO for many years. President Trump has never had much love for the NATO alliance, which he thinks…
How to Watch the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 13
The UniverseFridays How to Watch the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 13 The March 13–14 lunar eclipse will be an all-night affair you won’t want to miss By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings A time lapse image of a total lunar eclipse’s progression. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly…
Nigerian king faces Shell in London high court over decades of oil spills
King Okpabi, ruler of Ogale, says Shell has caused chronic pollution, while oil firm argues it is not responsible His Royal Highness King Godwin Bebe Okpabi has carried bottles of water drawn from the wells of his homeland in the Niger delta to the high court in London. It stinks. “This is the water that…
She got her dream job at CDC back. But she’s already moving on
Yuki Noguchi Cancer outreach worker Bri McNulty, 23, was one of 750 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was terminated abruptly over email in mid-February, amid a slew of federal workforce dismissals. On Tuesday, McNulty got an equally surprising email hiring her back. She was one of an unknown number of…
Three Bulgarians guilty of spying for Russia in the UK
Three Bulgarian nationals have been found guilty of spying for Russia, in what police have described as “one of the largest” foreign intelligence operations in the UK. Vanya Gaberova, 30, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, all living in London, were part of a group who carried out surveillance on people and places between…
Trump’s CDC Firings Will Gut Public Health at the State and Local Level
Trump’s CDC Firings Will Gut Public Health at the State and Local Level The Trump administration’s sudden dismissals have stripped training programs across the nation that bolstered state and local public health departments By Rachana Pradhan & KFF Health News A sign outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The Trump administration’s sudden firing…
With Trump’s Tariff Reprieve, Mexico and Canada, Still Wary, Breathe Easier
Tariffs President Trump suspended tariffs for both countries after Mexico’s leader presented her security successes, and after U.S. markets fell and business leaders urged the White House to change course. By Natalie Kitroeff and Annie Correal Reporting from Mexico City When President Trump got on a phone call with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico on…
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…