Massive Study Flips Our Story of Addiction and the Brain Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip By Maia Szalavitz edited by Allison Parshall For decades, Americans have been told a simple story about addiction: taking drugs damages the brain—and the […]
The UniverseFridays When the Sun Becomes a Red Giant, Will Any Planet Be Safe? The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the far-future sun, swollen to become a red giant star, as […]
Proof That Adult Brains Make New Neurons Settles Scientific Controversy Adult brains grow new neurons, and scientists have finally pinpointed where they come from By Nora Bradford edited by Allison Parshall Neural precursor cells (green) are have been difficult to identify in human brians. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! For at least six decades, […]
Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky This planet triggers flares on its star—spelling its ultimate doom By Jacek Krywko edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier In this artist’s impression, the planet HIP 67522 b sends a wave of energy along magnetic field lines toward the surface of its host star—triggering a massive flare […]
Eleanor Beardsley PARIS — A restrictive outdoor smoking ban has come into force in France, a country where café culture, which often includes a glass of wine and a cigarette, is a way of life. As of Sunday, smokers are no longer allowed to light up in public parks, at swimming pools, or at beaches, […]
Anthony Kuhn BUSAN, South Korea — South Korea’s K-pop artists are on such a roll across the globe that it can be easy to forget their classical music forebearers were rocking the world’s concert halls well before they were born. And they’re still at it. One of the notable recent milestones of “K-classics,” as South…
Scottish Labour has taken Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from the SNP in a closely fought by-election. The party’s Davy Russell won with 8,559 votes, with a majority of 602 over the SNP. The vote followed the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who had represented the constituency since 2011. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said…
The UniverseFridays This Is Why the Sun Makes a Figure Eight in the Sky A curious celestial phenomenon known as the analemma is a reflection of Earth’s orbit and tilted axis By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings An illustration of the analemma—a figure-eight pattern formed by plotting the sun’s position at the same time…
TikToker Mikayla Nogueira cleared up online rumblings that she might be pregnant, saying she is “not ready” to have a baby with husband Cody Hawken yet. Being a mom isn’t on Mikayla Nogueira’s For You Page just yet. The TikTok influencer addressed fans who were speculating that she and husband Cody Hawken may be becoming…
Let’s start with the basics – victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election is a good result for Scottish Labour. Their position in the polls has slipped considerably since last year’s general election and they’ve often found themselves on the defensive when it comes to controversial UK Labour policies, such as cuts to winter…
Infant had ‘contracted the virus before birth from their mother’, while the country has recorded 2,755 measles cases A Canadian infant who was born prematurely and had measles has died, officials said on Thursday without confirming a cause of death, raising heightened concern about the virus’s resurgence. Canada has recorded 2,755 measles cases – including…
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace, even as Germany’s new chancellor appealed to him as the “key person in the world” who could halt the bloodshed by pressuring Vladimir…
Speaking at an SXSW London event, the actor outlined his desire to ignite the cinema experience for a new generation across the continent Idris Elba has spoken of his ambition to create the “African Odeon” – a chain of cinemas to ignite the cinemagoing experience across the continent. Elba was speaking at an event at…
By Caitlin Thompson The first time L.J. was sent to the juvenile detention center outside of Philadelphia, he’d been caught hanging out with friends in an abandoned building. After that, he went in and out of custody for minor offenses throughout his teenage years. Detention was a challenging place to grow up. “It’s like a…
Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chairman of Reform UK, saying working to get the party elected was no longer “a good use of my time”. In a post on social media, Yusuf did not expand further on his reasons for stepping down. However, it comes after he said it was “dumb” for the party’s…
Swimsuit season is here: Shop the Montce x Jasmine Tookes collection before it sells out! The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. There’s no better way to usher in summer than by treating yourself to a new swimsuit. If you’re looking for a stylish…
This ‘Tower of Worms’ Is a Squirming Superorganism Scientists have captured the first videos of wild roundworms forming living, wriggling towers that behave as one big superorganism By Jacek Krywko edited by Allison Parshall Roundworms tagged with glowing proteins create a tower in the lab. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! When food runs out,…
By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Ky., on May 16, 2025, leaving 19 dead and more injured. NOAA will hire around 125 new employees at the NWS, the agency said in an announcement first reported Monday by CNN. But nearly 600 employees have departed the NWS over…
Billy Joel’s first wife Elizabeth Weber offered well-wishes to her ex, whom she was married to from 1973 to 1982, following his recent brain disorder diagnosis. Billy Joel is still rock and roll to Elizabeth Weber. More than four decades after their divorce, the “Uptown Girl” singer’s first wife offered rare insight into their nine-year…
By Greg Myre , Megan Pratz President Trump enacted a travel ban on citizens from a dozen countries Wednesday, including Afghanistan, where U.S. troops were stationed for nearly two decades. Even though the president’s travel ban applies to Afghanistan, it does include an exception. Afghans who served with the U.S. during the war can still…
What happens when the richest person and the most powerful politician have a knock-down, drag-out fight? The world may be about to find out. A disagreement between Elon Musk and Donald Trump started at a simmer last week, began bubbling on Wednesday and is now in full-on boil. And like everything these two men do,…
Cutting off the animals’ horns more effective than traditional protection methods such as rangers and costs less, say experts Cutting the horns off rhinos causes a large reduction in poaching, according to a new study, which raises questions about the effectiveness of expensive anti-poaching techniques used to protect the African mammals. Poaching for horn is…
Kristin Cavallari confirmed she and Craig Conover were romantic and revealed their dating timeline actually overlapped with the Southern Charm star’s romance with ex Paige DeSorbo. Kristin Cavallari is sharing the real timeline of her fling with Craig Conover. In fact, the Honestly Cavallari star finally confirmed she had a brief romantic relationship with the…
By Patrick Adams For close to two decades, the U.S. Agency for International Development has partnered with countries around the world to combat neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs. The term refers to a group of diseases that affect more than a billion people, causing severe pain, disfigurement, disability and in some cases death. They’re referred…
Opinion Human Intelligence Created the Climate Crisis—But It’s Also the Solution Science communicator Hank Green explains how our species’ unique intelligence got us into this climate mess—and how it will help us solve it By Hank Green I spend a lot of time on the Internet; it’s become my second home in the 20 years…
Caracas describes US government as fascist, Somalia vows to address security and Iranian Americans express regret US politics live – latest updates Venezuela has hit back over the Trump administration’s travel ban by warning that the US is a dangerous place, while Somalia immediately vowed to work with Washington on security concerns. The mixed responses…
A travel ban issued on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump is set to primarily affect countries in Africa and the Middle East. Twelve countries face full bans, which will come into force on Monday. People from a further seven nations are facing partial restrictions. Trump has depicted it as a matter of national security.…
Kristin Cavallari is kissing and telling after a chance encounter with Glen Powell. Well, sort of… The reality star’s BFF Justin Anderson spilled the beans about her latest A-list celebrity hookup on the premiere of E!’s new series Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour. During her Let’s Be Honest podcast tour show in Atlanta, Kristin took…
Five-member jury sentenced defendants, now in their 80s or 90s, to 15 years in prison on first day of trial A former defense minister of El Salvador and two retired colonels have been convicted of the 1982 killings of four Dutch journalists during the country’s civil war, a lawyer for families of the deceased said.…
AI Found a ‘Magic Potion’ That Can Bring Dead Batteries Back to Life Electric vehicles leave behind mountains of dead lithium-ion batteries. A new “injection” brings them back to life By You Xiaoying edited by Andrea Thompson A team of researchers in China has found a way to bring dead lithium-ion batteries back to life,…
Officials in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, New Hampshire and Maine issued alerts due to smoke from fires in Canada Smoke from wildfires in Canada is spreading across multiple states in the US including the eastern seaboard, prompting multiple states to issue air-quality alerts. The poor air quality stretching across the US came as a…
Kristin Cavallari‘s kids are following in her footsteps. The star’s three kids Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and Saylor, 9, made their reality TV debut during the premiere of her new E! series Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour on June 4. The young trio—who Kristin shares with ex Jay Cutler—made their first official onscreen appearance as…
Our World Is Getting More Complicated. Here’s the 19th-Century Math That Proves It Nothing in the cosmos is in equilibrium, which means entropy is on the rise By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas This is not an “everything used to be better” rant. It’s just a sober observation: the world used to be simpler. And that…
Donald Trump has signed a ban on travel to the US from 12 countries citing national security risks, according to the White House. The US president said the list could be revised if “material improvements” were made and additional countries could also be added as “threats emerge around the world”. This is the second time…
By NPR Washington Desk , Asma Khalid President Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation banning travelers from 12 countries and partially restricting travelers from seven others, starting on Monday, June 9. The White House said the action was needed to protect the United States from terrorist attacks and other national security threats, and said the…
White House Budget Plan Would Devastate U.S. Space Science Scientists are rallying to reverse ruinous proposed cuts to both NASA and the National Science Foundation By Nadia Drake edited by Lee Billings Fog shrouds the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in this photograph from February 25, 2025. Late last…
Hugo Aguilar, who has links to governing party, topped unprecedented and controversial popular vote An Indigenous lawyer from the state of Oaxaca is set to become the president of Mexico’s supreme court following the country’s unprecedented elections to appoint its entire judicial system by popular vote. Activists hailed the election of Hugo Aguilar, a member…
By The Associated Press BOULDER, Colo. — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the government to immediately halt deportation proceedings against the wife and five children of a man charged in the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, responding to what the judge called an urgent situation to ensure the protection of the family’s constitutional rights.…
Anthony Reyes of Texas was arrested after attempting to break into Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Resort with the goal of marrying the president’s 18-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump. Donald Trump had an unexpected visitor at his Mar-a-Lago resort. During the early hours of June 3, Anthony Reyes, a 23-year-old man from Texas, attempted to break into the…
Changes to the winter fuel payment to allow more people to receive it will be in place this year, the chancellor has said. Rachel Reeves said more people would qualify for the allowance “this winter”, however details of the changes and who will be eligible remain unclear. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he…
Morocco’s commercial centre has brought investment to the continent – but critics say it masks domestic inequality For centuries, Casablanca was a significant trading hub for merchants from across the breadth of the Atlantic coast, given its geographical position between Africa, the Middle East and Europe. These days, Morocco’s economic capital is merging those historical…
By Nga Pham HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam has scrapped a policy that limited couples to have up to two children, as it addresses a declining birth rate and a shrinking working-age population. Vietnamese lawmakers on Tuesday passed new amendments to the Population Law, leaving it up to families to decide how many children they are…
Are We Ready for Death in Space? NASA has quietly taken steps to prepare for a death in space. We need to ask how nations will deal with this inevitability now, as more people start traveling off the planet By Peter Cummings In 2012 NASA stealthily slipped a morgue into orbit. No press release. No…
Officials refused entry to man who runs top security firm in Nigeria and his family to spend holiday with his sister The Home Office has been accused of a “racist crackdown on Nigerians” after refusing a visa to a man who runs one of the west African country’s top security firms for a holiday to…
Black Death Plague That Killed Millions Became Less Fatal because of This Genetic Tweak Reducing the copies of one gene in the bubonic plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, made it less deadly but potentially more transmissible By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature magazine Scanning electron micrograph of Yersinia pestis, which causes bubonic plague, on proventricular spines of a Xenopsylla…
Though Angelina Jolie pressed pause on her acting career, these days she’s celebrating a milestone birthday and a return to that Hollywood life. But she hasn’t ruled out leaving L.A. one day. Angelina Jolie wasn’t exactly dying to become an actress. In fact, the Oscar winner had considered other career paths before entering Hollywood—like funeral…
Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of patients following heart operations at an NHS hospital, the BBC has learned. Documents seen by us suggest patients suffered avoidable harm – and that in some cases their death certificates failed to disclose that the procedure contributed to their deaths. One woman’s operation at Castle Hill…
By Jude Joffe-Block The Department of Agriculture’s unprecedented demand that states and payment processors turn over sensitive data about people who receive federal food assistance is on hold — for now. A USDA official said in court filings late Friday the agency has not yet begun collecting the personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…
Love Island U.K. contestant Kyle Ashman will not be featured on the series’ 12th season following reports he was questioned about alleged involvement in a machete attack, which he denies. Kyle Ashman won’t be entering the Love Island U.K. villa after all. Days before its scheduled season 12 premiere, the reality dating series announced that…
The Science of ParentingMondays Kids See a Lot More Misinformation Than We Think Thanks to faulty artificial intelligence, deepfakes and plain bad actors, children encounter a lot on the Internet that isn’t true. Here’s how to help them spot it By Evan Orticio edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for…
Rose Njeri charged with breaching cybercrime law over tool for people to show opposition to proposed tax changes A Kenyan software developer and digital activist who was arrested last week after creating a tool for people to express their opposition to a proposed law has been arraigned in court and released on bail, amid public…
Tech mogul says: “Every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity’ US tech mogul Bill Gates has pledged the majority of his $200bn fortune towards health and education services in Africa. Speaking at an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, the 69-year-old said that his pledge would focus on “unleashing the…
By Alana Wise The White House unveiled a new portrait of President Trump this week, replacing the image taken in January that had drawn comparisons to a mugshot. In the new photograph, announced by the White House on Monday via X, Trump stares directly into the camera. His right eye is slightly squinted and his…
Alec Baldwin—who shares a daughter with ex Kim Basinger and seven kids with wife Hilaria Baldwin—joked about what his ideal Father’s Day would entail in an exclusive interview with E! News. Alec Baldwin wants to be the boss, baby. That’s why the 30 Rock alum—who is dad to 29-year-old daughter Ireland Baldwin with ex Kim…
Government Layoffs Could Make It Easier to Scrap Heat Safety Rules Government layoffs threaten to make it easier for the Trump administration to ditch draft heat safety regulations By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News Farm workers weed a bell pepper field in the sun as southern California is facing a heatwave, in Camarillo, on July…
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial US and Israel-backed aid network which began operating last week, said it was closing its sites for “update, organization and efficiency improvements works”. Overnight on Tuesday, at least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire close to a distribution centre, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency. The…
I (not so) fondly remember summer school typing classes, where I had to labor to learn touch typing on an old-fashioned typewriter. No word processor for me; if I made a mistake, it would be Liquid Paper brushed on and waiting for it to dry before I could continue my keystrokes. Despite my irritation at…
Bizarre Quantum Universe Even how matter exists in the first place is a mystery to physicists By Andrea Gawrylewski Join Our Community of Science Lovers! In 2022 three scientists won the Nobel Prize in Physics for proving something astonishing: the universe is not locally real. In other words, particles don’t have fixed properties until they…
Trucks carrying food for 2m people in famine-threatened El Fasher targeted in RSF-controlled Al Koma, western Sudan A UN aid convoy carrying critical food supplies to a famine-threatened city in western Sudan has been targeted in an attack that killed five people and injured several others. Trucks belonging to the UN’s food and children’s agencies…
By Ilya Marritz Editor’s note: This story includes descriptions of allegations about sexual assault and rape. Closing arguments in Harvey Weinstein’s second sex crimes trial in New York are underway today. In 2020, a New York jury convicted Weinstein of rape and sexual assault, completing the fall from grace of the legendary film mogul. But…
While Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen tied the knot May 31, Buffalo Bills stars and Larry David were in attendance at the California ceremony. Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen’s nuptials had a pitch-perfect roster. Indeed, as the Sinners actress and Buffalo Bills quarterback said, “I do” at their dreamy California ceremony May 31, Larry David and several…
Engineered Viruses Make Neurons Glow and Treat Brain Disease Neuroscientists can now make precise genetic tweaks to the neurons that are most affected by brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and ALS By Allison Parshall edited by Jeanna Bryner Different populations of cells in the mouse brain, each one targeted with high specificity by one…
Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo said she had the bomb squad called on her by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) because she brought sunflower seeds on a flight. Ellen Pompeo may need to get her blood pressure checked after this recent airport experience. The Grey’s Anatomy star revealed that she was recently detained by the Transportation…