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 […]
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…
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…