JWST Sees Hints of an Atmosphere on a Potentially Habitable Exoplanet
Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows the volatile red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 and its four most closely orbiting planets, […]
How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion
The UniverseFridays How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion Superluminal velocities are common but illusory By Phil Plait edited by Clara Moskowitz The light echo around the star V838 Monocerotis as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 2005. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait When I […]
How Many Planets Orbit Our Nearest Neighboring Star?
New Instrument Checks on Proxima Centauri’s Planets Fresh results from near-infrared instruments foretell a bright future for finding life elsewhere in the Milky Way By Ivan Farkas edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the Proxima Centauri system, with the planets Proxima b and Proxima d—the latter confirmed by the NIRPS planet-hunting instrument. Some […]
Starship’s 10th flight breaks streak of bad luck
Nell Greenfieldboyce SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket racked up some much-needed successes on its 10th test flight, hitting key test objectives and breaking a streak of failures that bedeviled the spaceship this year. The silver and black two-stage rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, blasted off from the SpaceX facility in south Texas near Boca […]
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft After String of Mishaps
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft after String of Mishaps Overcoming three recent failed tries, Elon Musk’s rocket company successfully flew its reusable jumbo booster and upper-stage Starship spacecraft By Dan Vergano edited by Clara Moskowitz An earlier SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster are moved to the launch pad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. […]
2024 in review: Amid crisis, victories for nature emerge
Alarm bells screamed for nature in 2024. Each week seemed to bring fresh warnings of the loss of wildlife, habitat destruction and the escalating impacts of climate change. But amid the gloom, quiet victories emerged, as ordinary people made extraordinary progress for nature. This year, Conservation News highlighted unlikely partnerships bringing wildlife back from the…
South Korea in mourning after plane crash kills all but two onboard
Flight data and cockpit voice recorders recovered from wreckage of Jeju Air flight 2216 at Muan airport Distraught family members gathered at Muan international airport in South Korea on Sunday after a plane carrying 181 people from Bangkok crashed, killing all but two people onboard, in the country’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster. Officials said…
Los incendios forestales amenazan la astronomía y lo peor está por venir
Opinion Wildfires Are Threatening Astronomy, and the Worst Is Yet to Come As wildfires grow in severity and frequency, they’re not only threatening lives but also our visual connection to the cosmos By Peter McMahon edited by Lee Billings & Daniel Vergano An aerial photo shows wildfire smoke rising over Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada…
Church in Kenya for L.G.B.T.Q. Africans Thrives Despite Attacks
The congregation in Nairobi, Kenya, has been forced to move to 10 different locations over 10 years, and yet it has survived as a sanctuary in an increasingly hostile environment. Pastor Caroline Omolo.Kang-Chun Cheng for The New York Times By Sarah Hurtes Reporting from Nairobi For nearly a decade, Kenya’s only church led and attended…
Did bird strike contribute to South Korea plane crash? What we know so far
More than 170 people have died after a plane crashed as it was landing in South Korea on Sunday morning. The Jeju Air plane came off the runway before colliding with a wall at Muan International Airport in the south west of the country. The plane, which was returning from Bangkok, in Thailand, was carrying…
Carter’s single White House term still stirs controversy after more than 40 years
Ron Elving 1 of 12 Few presidents have come as far as fast in national politics as Jimmy Carter. In 1974, he was nearing the end of his single term as governor of Georgia when he told the world he wanted to be president. Two years later, he was the president-elect. Although his name recognition…
A Year Both Brutal and Bright: 13 Favorite Dispatches From 2024
The Dispatches of 2024 In a year marked by wars, extreme weather and general wickedness, many dispatches defaulted to a distinctly dark tone. But as our correspondents traversed the globe, they found pockets of light, too. By Bryant Rousseau Bryant Rousseau has been editing dispatches since the series launched in 2017. With major conflicts raging…
US sends investigators to help establish cause of South Korea plane crash
Team from NTSB, FAA and manufacturer Boeing to assist investigation of Jeju Air crash that killed 179 The US is sending air accident investigators to South Korea to help determine what went wrong with the Jeju Air plane that crash-landed at Muan airport and skidded in a barrier early on Sunday, killing 179. The team…
8 cosas fascinantes que aprendimos sobre el lenguaje en 2024
Eight, Ocho, Acht Most Fascinating Language Discoveries of 2024 By Allison Parshall edited by Andrea Thompson How do you say “ouch” in languages around the world? If you pick a random language, odds are that this pain-expressing word involves the vowel sound “ah” or sounds made by combining it with other vowels, such as “ow”…
Fog causes flight delays at Gatwick Airport for a third day
Fog is continuing to disrupt flights at Gatwick Airport with restrictions imposed to maintain safety. While the weather is improving, the UK’s main air traffic control (ATC) provider Nats said temporary air restrictions were in place for the rest of the day at affected London airports. Flights are still being delayed across some of the…
Should You Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula?
Flame Retardants in Black Plastic Spatulas Concern Scientists The scientists behind a popular study on the health effects of flame retardants in black plastic cooking utensils and toys made a calculation error but still say their revised findings are alarming By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser Should you throw out your black plastic…
2 men were found dead from exposure after looking for Sasquatch
By Chandelis Duster Two men from Oregon who went missing after going on a search for Sasquatch have been found dead, Washington state officials announced Saturday. The men, both from Portland, were reported missing by a family member on Christmas Day and were set to return from searching for the legendary creature in eastern Skamania…
Inside a Sinaloa Cartel Fentanyl Lab in Mexico
Mexico Dispatch New York Times reporters witnessed the dangerous fentanyl production process inside a secret lab in Culiacán run by Mexico’s most powerful criminal syndicate. Mexico Dispatch New York Times reporters witnessed the dangerous fentanyl production process inside a secret lab in Culiacán run by Mexico’s most powerful criminal syndicate. A Sinaloa cartel cook working…
Two reporters and a police officer killed in shooting at Haiti hospital reopening
Gunmen target press conference at Haiti’s largest public hospital after street gangs forced its closure earlier this year Two reporters and a police officer were killed and others injured on Tuesday when armed men opened fire on a group of journalists who gathered for a government press conference scheduled to announce the reopening of Haiti’s…
Latin America’s rise in tuberculosis linked to imprisonment rates
Study warns region’s exponential rise in incarceration is fuelling the disease, with cases increasing by 19% between 2015 and 2022 High incarceration rates in Latin America – the region with the world’s fastest-growing prison population – are exacerbating tuberculosis in a region that is bucking the global trend for falling incidents of the disease, experts…
Las exenciones fiscales para las escuelas privadas son un “lujo”, dice Phillipson
Tax exemptions on private schools are a “luxury we cannot afford”, the education secretary said ahead of a new policy coming into effect. Bridget Phillipson defended the government ending the exemption from Wednesday. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said “very few families” would leave the schools as a result. Separately, she told the Sunday…
Ignoring Warnings, a Growing Band of Tourists Venture to Afghanistan
With the war now over, the Taliban are welcoming foreign travelers, even as governments advise their citizens to stay away. With the war now over, the Taliban are welcoming foreign travelers, even as governments advise their citizens to stay away. Yi-Pin Lin, a tourist from the United States, and his Afghan guide, Hijrat Ullah Sahak,…
Teen Mom’s Kailyn Lowry Undergoes Breast Reduction Surgery
Teen Mom 2 star Kailyn Lowry shared she underwent breast reduction surgery, more than a year after welcoming her twins, her sixth and seventh child. For Kailyn Lowry, the holidays marked the most wonderful time for a body transformation. The Teen Mom 2 star has announced that she has undergone breast reduction surgery. In an Instagram…
What were the biggest life lessons in 2024? Here’s what NPR listeners learned
By Brittney Melton In almost a blink of an eye, 2024 came and went. A lot of people are reflecting on the past 12 months. They may be thinking about what they accomplished – or didn’t – and what they learned along the way. Regardless of how big or small life’s lessons are, they can…
78 Books Scientific American Recommends in 2024
Opinion 78 Books Scientific American Recommends in 2024 A collection of nonfiction and fiction books Scientific American editorial staff and contributors read and recommend in 2024 By Brianne Kane edited by Daniel Vergano Every story is a science story, even the ones that sound more like science fiction. This year Scientific American introduced readers to…
Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and peace activist, dies at 100
By Kathy Lohr Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter takes questions from the media during a news conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta on Aug. 20, 2015. Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Sunday at age 100. The Carter Center announced he died in his hometown of Plains, Ga. Carter was…
New elections could take up to four years, Syria rebel leader says
Holding new elections in Syria could take up to four years, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has said in a broadcast interview. This is the first time he has given a timeline for possible elections in Syria since his group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led a rebel offensive that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad. In the…
Georgia Inaugurates Mikheil Kavelashvili as President Amid Anti-Western Drift
Even though a figurehead, Mikheil Kavelashvili occupies a symbolic role as the country moves further from the West and toward Russia and China. By Ivan Nechepurenko Reporting from Tbilisi, Georgia A former soccer star and conservative critic of the West was sworn in on Sunday as the new president of Georgia, a strategically important republic…
Will the World’s First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Be Built in Virginia? Here’s Why We’re Skeptical
Will the World’s First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Be Built in Virginia? Here’s Why We’re Skeptical A fusion power plant will go live in the next decade and produce 400 megawatts of electricity, Commonwealth Fusion Systems says By Ben Guarino edited by Dean Visser Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ new fusion power plant is expected to come…
La historia de amor de ocho décadas de Jimmy Carter y Rosalynn Carter
Former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on Dec. 29, and Rosalynn Carter fell in love, raised a family and spent most of their 77 years of marriage living in Plains, Ga. When Eleanor Rosalynn Smith first laid eyes on Jimmy Carter, he was a fascinating older boy. She was a few…
Trump tells 37 people on death row with commuted sentences to ‘go to hell’
On Truth Social, president-elect also lashes out at Chinese troops in Panama Canal and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Donald Trump has told 37 people on death row who had their sentences commuted by Joe Biden to “go to hell” in a lacerating Christmas Day social media post. The president-elect – long a vocal advocate of…
Por qué los gatos se obsesionan con el árbol de Navidad
Compartir ¡Especial Navidad! Suscríbete a National Geographic por solo 1€/mes Nuevos packs de libros y ediciones especiales de National Geographic a un precio especial. No es ningún secreto que los gatos sienten una fascinación malsana por los árboles de Navidad. Evitar que muerdan el árbol o sus adornos o, aún peor, que lo tiren, puede…
Israel Struggles to Halt Attacks From Houthis in Yemen, Once Off Radar
Middle East Crisis news analysis Even as battles with its enemies on its borders appear to be winding down, Israel is being challenged by intensifying attacks by the Houthi militia in Yemen, 1,000 miles away. By Isabel Kershner Reporting from Jerusalem For years, the Houthis were the enemy most Israelis didn’t know they had. Now…
Former President Jimmy Carter Dead at 100
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. Read on for details of his passing. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old. He passed away peacefully Dec. 29 at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family, his charity the Carter Center announced in a statement. Carter,…
The fall of Syria’s dictatorship ripples out to one family in Toledo, Ohio
By Ari Shapiro , Matt Ozug , John Ketchum When Syria’s dictatorship fell in early December, a celebration broke out nearly 6,000 miles away in Toledo, Ohio. At the parking lot of a Kroger supermarket, families danced and sang to Syrian music. Women ululated, and men wrapped themselves in the flag of their home country.…
U.S. Has First Case of Severe Bird Flu, CDC Confirms in H5N1 Update
U.S. Has First Case of Severe Bird Flu, CDC Confirms in H5N1 Update Louisiana reported a person hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1, and the USDA has begun bulk milk testing By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with severe H5N1 influenza after having contact with sick…
London-listed miner pauses Mozambique operation amid political unrest
Gemfields makes decision over ruby mining after groups ‘took advantage’ of situation to try to invade its site The London-listed mining company Gemfields said it had temporarily halted its ruby mining operation in Mozambique after groups “took advantage” of political unrest to set fire and attempt to invade its site, resulting in two deaths. Gemfields,…
The peanut farmer who rose to US president and Nobel prize winner
Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100, swept to power promising never to lie to the American people. In the turbulent aftermath of Watergate, the former peanut farmer from Georgia pardoned Vietnam draft evaders and became the first US leader to take climate change seriously. On the international stage, he helped to…
9 Space Images from NASA and Beyond That Stunned in 2024
Behold! 2024’s Most Stunning Space Photos See the year’s most striking images from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, NASA’s Mars rover and the best sky watching on offer By Meghan Bartels edited by Lee Billings A James Webb Space Telescope image of the star-forming region NGC 604. The end of 2024 is approaching,…
Behind the Dismantling of Hezbollah: Decades of Israeli Intelligence
Middle East Crisis A Times investigation shows how extensively Israel penetrated the Lebanese militia, closely tracking the group’s commanders and culminating in the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. A Times investigation shows how extensively Israel penetrated the Lebanese militia, closely tracking the group’s commanders and culminating in the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.…
Under a ‘grandma moon,’ Native Americans honor their sacred pact with salmon
By Anna King On a tall bluff that overlooks the south Puget Sound in one direction and sparkling headlights on I-5 in another, members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe gathered for a Winter Moon Celebration on this soggy solstice. These lands are part of the lush home of the Nisqually tribe. In their creation story,…
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Step Out in Matching Style on Rainy Date
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had a romantic and stylish weekend in New York City over the holidays, with the pair sporting red and black outfits on their latest date night. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are wrapping up the holiday season in style. The Grammy winner and Kansas City Chiefs star tight end braved the rain…
Sudan: first aid convoy reaches besieged Khartoum area since start of civil war
Deliveries of vital food and medical supplies will help 200,000 families, say aid groups and local volunteers An aid convoy has reached a besieged area of Khartoum for the first time since Sudan’s civil war broke out in April 2023, bringing food and medicines in a country where half of the people are at risk…
Warnings of snow, wind and rain across the UK for New Year
Weather warnings for rain, snow and winds of up to 70mph have been issued for parts of the UK on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the Met Office has said. Yellow warnings are in place for Northern Ireland, northern England and parts of Scotland from Tuesday before extending across most of the UK…
South Korea plane crash kills 179 with investigation into cause under way
All passengers and most of the crew onboard a Jeju Air flight have died after the plane crash-landed at an airport in South Korea on Sunday. A total of 179 of the 181 people travelling on the Boeing 737-800 were killed, with just two survivors – both cabin staff – pulled from the burning wreckage.…
Azerbaijan’s president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally
By The Associated Press Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue for days. “We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. (…) We are not…
Genetic Testing Is a Gift. But It Shouldn’t be a Present
Opinion Genetic Testing Is a Gift. But It Shouldn’t be a Present Think twice before giving direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits to friends and loved ones By Adina Wise edited by Daniel Vergano When the results came in, she opened them eagerly and was immediately confronted, not with information about her heritage, but with an offer:…
Anger and Agony in South Korea After Jeju Air Passenger Jet Crashes, Killing 179
South Korea Plane Crash Supported by A Jeju Air passenger jet carrying 181 people from Bangkok sped off the runway and burst into flames. Two crew were rescued in what was the country’s worst air disaster in decades. By Choe Sang-HunJohn Yoon and Jin Yu Young Choe Sang-Hun and Jin Yu Young reported from Seoul,…
Kim Kardashian’s 4 Kids Are All Grown Up in Stunning Christmas Photos
Kim Kardashian shared rare pics of herself and all four of her and ex Kanye West’s children—North West, 11, Saint West, 9, Chicago West, 6, and Psalm West, 5—standing in front of a Christmas tree. Kim Kardashian and her family are sleighing the holiday season. The SKIMS founder shared rare photos of herself with all…
Almost one in five children live in conflict zones, says Unicef
UN humanitarian body warns that dramatic increase in harm to children should not become the ‘new normal’ Nearly one in five of the world’s children live in areas affected by conflicts, with more than 473 million children suffering from the worst levels of violence since the second world war, according to figures published by the…
Mysterious Constant That Makes Mathematicians Despair
Mysterious Constant That Makes Mathematicians Despair The proof that the Apéry constant is irrational remains one of the most bizarre events in the history of mathematics By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas Mathematicians attended Roger Apéry’s lecture at a French National Center for Scientific Research conference in June 1978 with a great deal of…
Earth Life Found inside Ryugu Asteroid Samples
Scientists Discover Earth Life inside an Asteroid Sample Material from asteroid Ryugu riddled with earthly microbes provides a cautionary tale for scientists seeking signs of alien life By Sharmila Kuthunur edited by Lee Billings An artist’s concept of microbes floating in deep space. In November 2022 Matthew Genge was peering through a scanning electron microscope…
Inside the Love Lives of Jeremy Allen White and More The Bear Stars
When The Bear stars aren’t busy cooking up stellar performances on the show, the actors are saying “yes, chef” to love. Read on for more about Will Poulter, Jeremy Allen White and more’s love lives. These chefs are cooking up a whole lotta love. The cast of The Bear know how to put together a…
Most Expensive Dinosaur Fossil Ever Could Reveal Stegosaurus Secrets
Most Expensive Dinosaur Fossil Ever Could Reveal Stegosaurus Secrets The huge Stegosaurus fossil Apex, bought at auction for $44.6 million, has debuted on loan at the American Museum of Natural History By Zane Wolf edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A new stegosaurus fossil named Apex which was bought by billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin is unveiled…
Lululemon End of Year Scores: $49 Align Leggings & $24 Best-Sellers
Don’t miss the lululemon End of Year Scores event with $59 Align leggings, belt bags, hoodies, and shorts. Best-sellers start at $24, making this the perfect chance to refresh your activewear for 2025 Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn…
Trump’s Pick for NIH Director Could Harm Science and People’s Health
Opinion Trump’s Pick for NIH Director Could Harm Science and People’s Health With a possible bird flu outbreak looming, Donald Trump’s choice of Jay Bhattacharya, a scientist critical of COVID policies, for the NIH is the wrong move for science and public health By Steven M. Albert edited by Tanya Lewis Jay Bhattacharya speaks during…
The Most Harrowing Details From Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Criminal Case
Sean “Diddy” Combs is due to go to trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges in May 2025. He has pleaded not guilty on all counts amid a pile-up of shocking allegations. Federal prosecutors maintain there’s no way out for Sean “Diddy” Combs. Apart from the accusations detailed against him in numerous lawsuits, the Bad…
Biden Pledges Huge Climate Emissions Cuts He Can’t Enforce. Here’s Why It Still Matters
Biden Pledges Huge Climate Emissions Cuts He Can’t Enforce. Here’s Why It Still Matters President Biden strengthened the U.S.’s commitment to slash climate pollution under the Paris Agreement knowing that President-elect Donald Trump could abandon it, but states and cities could still use it as a guide By Sara Schonhardt, Zack Colman & E&E News President Joe Biden…
Pottery Barn End of Season Sale: $1.99 Mugs, $8.99 Vases & More
Don’t miss Pottery Barn’s End of Season Sale with up to 75% off holiday decor, tableware, and more. Shop major deals on the Lilly Pulitzer and Monique Lhuillier collections while supplies last! Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more.…
The UnitedHealthcare Tragedy Is Why Insurance Needs to Change Now
Opinion The UnitedHealthcare Tragedy Is Why Insurance Needs to Change Now I am a trauma surgeon and gunshot survivor who has experienced byzantine health insurance coverage firsthand. I understand why people are furious By Joseph V. Sakran edited by Megha Satyanarayana When I was 17 I was nearly killed when a fight broke out after…
This Year’s Nobel Prizes Are a Warning about AI
Opinion This Year’s Nobel Prizes Are a Warning about AI Unless we pursue AI carefully, the Nobel committee will one day give a Peace Prize to the people cleaning up its terrible consequences, just as it did with nuclear physics By Y Cooper A man wheels his bicycle thorough Hiroshima, Japan, days after the city…
RHOSLC Star Bronwyn Newport’s Mom Diagnosed With Brain Tumor
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Bronwyn Newport spent Christmas in the hospital with her mom, who underwent emergency surgery for a tumor in the back of her skull. Bronwyn Newport is keeping family close after a heartbreaking diagnosis. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star spent Christmas in the hospital after doctors…
Los esfuerzos de conservación salvan a pandas, lobos y panteras de la extinción
Conservation Efforts Are Bringing Pandas, Wolves and Panthers Back from the Brink There are so many species facing extinction—but today we’re telling stories about the animals making a comeback and the conservationists working hard to help. By Ashleigh Papp, Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio & Madison Goldberg Rachel Feltman: If I asked you to guess how…
Kylie Jenner’s Custom Christmas Gift for Mom Kris Jenner Revealed
In keeping with Kardashian standards, Kylie Jenner spared no expense in picking out mom Kris Jenner’s Christmas present this year and got a rave review from Khloe Kardashian. Why carry photos of your kids in your wallet when you can tote them on the outside of your bag? Such was the question that apparently occurred…
How Do We Name the Stars?
The UniverseFridays What’s in a (Star’s) Name? With billions of stars in the Milky Way, some nomenclature standardization is necessary By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings A close-up photograph of the star Betelgeuse as it appears in an antique German sky atlas. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column…