Supreme Court temporarily blocks full SNAP benefits even as they’d started to go out
Jennifer Ludden The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily granted the Trump administration’s request to block full SNAP food benefits during the government shutdown, even as residents in some states had already begun receiving them. The Trump administration is appealing a court order to fully restart the country’s largest anti-hunger program. The high court decision late Friday […]
Why Is the Milky Way Warped?
The UniverseFridays Our Milky Way’s Warped Disk Keeps Getting Weirder Observations show the disk of our galaxy is not flat but warped and waving. Astronomers are still working out the reasons why By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Observations from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission have revealed a giant wave rippling through the […]
After California’s vote to counter Trump, here’s where redistricting stands
Larry Kaplow Loading… California voters this week made the biggest Democratic move yet against President Trump’s effort to reshape voting maps in favor of Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. They overwhelmingly approved a map for congressional districts that could help Democrats win five more seats in the U.S. House. The ballot language itself referred […]
How Supermassive Black Holes Can Become Cosmic Nightmares
The UniverseFridays Do We Live in a Haunted Galaxy? Huge eruptions from the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole in the distant past may have sterilized much of the inner galaxy By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait Galaxies are spooky […]
Why an interstellar comet has scientists excited
Jaclyn Diaz An ancient comet that entered our solar system this summer is offering a rare opportunity to learn more about distant planetary systems far beyond the reach of any spacecraft, researchers say. The comet is special both because it is interstellar — meaning it came from outside our solar system — and also because […]
Police name Manchester attacker who killed two at synagogue
A man who carried out an attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday which left two Jewish people dead and three others injured has been named by police as Jihad Al-Shamie. Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British man of Syrian descent, drove a car at people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue before attacking bystanders…
Julia Roberts Shares Rare Glimpse Into Her, Danny Moder’s “Empty Nest”
After the Hunt star Julia Roberts detailed how she and her husband Danny Moder are faring now that their kids—twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 20, and son Henry, 18—have all moved out of the house. Julia Roberts knows she’s not a pretty woman when crying over her kids. That’s why she initially avoided discussing the fact…
This U.S. Government Shutdown Is Very Bad for Science
This U.S. Government Shutdown Is Different—Especially for Science President Trump’s budget office lays out guidelines for mass federal lay-offs as the U.S. government grinds to a halt By Dan Garisto & Nature magazine The U.S. government ceased many operations early on Wednesday after Congress failed to pass legislation to fund agencies’ activities. The US government…
FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Federal officials have approved another generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, a regulatory formality that quickly triggered pushback from anti-abortion groups and politicians aligned with the Trump administration. Drugmaker Evita Solutions announced on its website that the Food and Drug Administration signed off on its low-cost form of…
Jane Goodall’s Legacy of Challenging What It Means to Be a Scientist
3 Ways Jane Goodall Challenged What It Means to Be a Scientist Here are three big ways that Jane Goodall transformed science By Rachel Fieldhouse, Mohana Basu & Nature magazine Goodall is best known for her work with chimpanzees in Gombe National Park in Tanzania. She was the first to discover that chimpanzees made and…
Organisers call for sixth night of protest as Morocco death toll rises to three
Prime minister praises security response and says government is ready for talks Morocco’s prime minister, Aziz Akhannouch, has praised the security force reaction to protests over corruption and public spending and said the government was ready for talks, as organisers called for a sixth night of protests. In a statement, Akhannouch said the death toll…
What’s behind the health care fight that led to the government shutdown
Selena Simmons-Duffin A fight over health policy drove the current federal government shutdown. At issue is the cost of premiums for health care plans people buy on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, marketplaces. Earlier this week, Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term funding bill that did not include an…
Peaky Blinders Is Returning With Sequel Series: Everything to Know
Netflix confirmed Peaky Blinders will continue beyond the new movie The Immortal Man, this time in a sequel series produced by Cillian Murphy following the next generation of Shelby family members. The Shelby legacy lives on. The upcoming Netflix sequel film to the hit series Peaky Blinders will not be the final installment of the franchise after all.…
How Many People Have Ever Lived on Earth?
How Many People Have Ever Lived on Earth? Is it really possible that half of all people who have ever been age 65 or older are still alive today? We explore the amazing mathematics of demography to find out By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas How would you go about answering the question “How…
What we know so far
Two Jewish people have died in a car ramming and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester. The attack came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar, and is being treated by police as a terror incident. Police say they know the identity of the attacker, who was shot dead by…
Kenyan activists abducted after joining opposition rally in Uganda
Pair had crossed border to support presidential campaign of reggae singer Bobi Wine Two Kenyan activists have been abducted in Uganda after attending a presidential campaign event for Bobi Wine, the reggae musician turned politician. Heavily armed security operatives detained Bob Njagi, the chair of Free Kenya, and Nicholas Oyoo, the movement’s secretary general, at…
‘A life of captivity’: Canada refuses marine park’s request to export its whales to China
Fisheries minister says rehoming Marineland’s cetaceans in China would only ‘perpetuate the treatment’ the whales have endured Canada’s government has refused a request by the beleaguered Marineland theme park to export its remaining 30 beluga whales to China due to concerns that the whales will face further mistreatment. Marineland, an amusement park, zoo and aquarium…
Taylor Swift Songs Inspired by Travis Kelce, Harry Styles & More
Taylor Swift has previously written songs for fiancé Travis Kelce, exes Harry Styles, Matty Healy and Joe Jonas, and many more stars. Revisit them all ahead of The Life of a Showgirl Oct. 3 release. Taylor Swift may have left a lot of stars saying, “Oh my god, she’s insane, she wrote a song about…
Hackers say they have deleted children’s pictures and data after nursery attack backlash
Hackers who attempted to extort a nursery chain by posting stolen images and data about children on the darknet have removed the posts and claim to have deleted the information. The criminals began posting profiles of the children to their website last Thursday, adding another 10 children days later and vowing to continue until Kido…
DC This Week Roundup – Desperation and Duels
Ray: Janet’s fate – and her secret – have been hanging over this title for a long time, and now it’s time for it to all come out into the open. With the HR lady (who has become Ivy’s sort-of-love interest) dying of a fungal infection, Ivy risks everything to get help for her –…
First Treatment that Slows Huntington’s Disease Comes after Years of Heartbreak
How Scientists Finally Found a Treatment that Slows Huntington’s Disease After years of heartbreak, researchers have found an experimental treatment that can slow the progression of Huntington’s disease, according to early results from a small clinical trial By Allison Parshall edited by Tanya Lewis MRI of a brain with Huntington’s Disease. “I cried with every…
HSM’s Vanessa Hudgens Makes Rare Comment on Zac Efron Romance
High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens shared rare insight into her dynamic with former on- and offscreen boyfriend Zac Efron. High School Musical really was the start of something new for Vanessa Hudgens. The actress shared rare insight on her dynamic with costar Zac Efron, including how he caught her eye during their audition process…
‘A profound loss’: Conservation world mourns Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall, a titan of wildlife conservation, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the age of 91, The Associated Press reported. Her discoveries “revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” the Institute said. Her work studying chimpanzees in eastern Africa began in the early 1960s, and…
Why BBC sent undercover reporter into a busy London police station
Adjusting his uniform, Rory Bibb glanced in the mirror before setting off to start his new job. “I feel ready,” he told his video diary. This was no ordinary first day. For the next seven months, Rory was employed as a designated detention officer at London’s Charing Cross police station. He was also secretly working…
The federal shutdown puts nutrition aid for millions of new parents at risk
Jennifer Ludden The federal shutdown won’t impact benefits from major programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But one of the first things that could get hit is the nutrition assistance that many pregnant women and new parents depend on. It’s been crucial for Lucia Graves, who found out she was pregnant back in…
Canada designates Indian gang linked to high-profile killings as terrorist entity
Canadian government accuses the Lawrence Bishnoi gang of being involved in murder of prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver Canada’s federal government has announced that a powerful and ruthless Indian gang which uses “murder, shootings and arson” to extort and intimidate diaspora communities – and has alleged links to India’s ruling government –…
Pope Leo XIV says ‘inhuman treatment of immigrants’ in the U.S. isn’t ‘pro-life’
By Claire Giangrave , Daniel Burke VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country’s treatment of immigrants is “inhuman.” “Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death…
Unmasked: Secret BBC filming exposes hidden culture of misogyny and racism inside Met Police
Serving Metropolitan Police officers called for immigrants to be shot, revelled in the use of force and were dismissive of rape claims in footage captured by a Panorama undercover reporter. The evidence of misogyny and racism challenges the Met’s promise to have tackled what it calls “toxic behaviours” after the murder of Sarah Everard by…
Jane Goodall, Conservationist Who Transformed Our Understanding of Chimpanzees, Dies at 91
By Meghan Bartels edited by Kate Wong Jane Goodall speaks onstage at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 at the Plaza Hotel on September 24, 2025, in New York City. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Goodall was best known for her pioneering studies of chimpanzees in the wild. She visited Tanzania for the first…
Violence breaks out in Morocco as anti-government protests rage for fourth day
‘Gen Z’ protesters accuse government of prioritising spending on World Cup stadiums over social services Anti-government demonstrations gripped Morocco for the fourth night in a row as young people filled the streets of cities and destruction and violence broke out in several places. With billions in investment flowing toward preparations for the 2030 World Cup,…
Gamefound Quick Picks: The Table of Adventure: The Official ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Game Table
It was back in March of 2024 that I first heard about the Table of Adventure. I was out at the Dice Tower West convention to preview Game Theory Tables’ latest, the Arena Game Table. At that time, I was taken into the strictest confidence with an exciting bit of news: the company had landed…
Baroness Mone-linked company ordered to pay £122m over PPE contract
A company linked to peer Baroness Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman has been ordered to pay £122m in damages after a judge ruled it breached a government contract for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care sued PPE Medpro over claims the medical…
Engineered Microbes Pull Critical Minerals from Mining Waste
Meet the Microbes That Munch Mountains of Mining Waste Biomining uses engineered microbes to harvest critical minerals By Vanessa Bates Ramirez edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Escondida Mine, located in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The copper-bearing waste is poured into the impoundment area as a liquid (green region at image center) and dries to the lighter…
Meghan Markle’s Dad “Trapped” in Building After Philippines Earthquake
Meghan Marke’s half-sister Samantha Markle revealed that their father Thomas Markle has been stuck in an apartment in the Philippines following a deadly Sept. 30 earthquake. Meghan Markle‘s half-sister is detailing their father’s current predicament. After a 6.9-magnatude earthquake struck the Philippines Sept. 30, the Duchess of Sussex’s sister Samantha Markle alleged Thomas Markle Sr., who has been…
UN security council approves new military force to fight Haiti gangs
Unit will have up to 5,500 soldiers and police officers who will tackle the violence that has overwhelmed the country The United Nations has adopted a resolution to transform a security mission in gang-dominated Haiti into a larger, fully fledged force with military troops. The new unit can now have a maximum of 5,500 uniformed…
Supreme Court says Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can stay — for now
Scott Horsley The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked President Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, maintaining a critical firewall for now around the central bank’s ability to make decisions without political interference from the White House. That means Cook can stay in her job at least until the high court hears oral…
Rock Art Discovery Reveals Unknown Arabian Nomads from 12,000 Years Ago
Camels in ancient Arabia may have led hunter-gatherers through deserts once thought uninhabitable By Martin J. Kernan edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Camel engravings indicate paths to ancient oases at four remote sites If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the…
These Secrets About *NSYNC Ain’t No Lie
Sorry millennials, but it ain’t no lie to say *NSYNC was formed 30 years ago. As boy band legend has it, Chris Kirkpatrick was passed over when since-disgraced music manager Lou Pearlman put together that other five-guy singing group Backstreet Boys. Devastated, the then-23-year-old told Pearlman the decision was tearin’ up his heart. Pearlman agreed…
Caribbean nations launch EU-style deal to let citizens work freely across borders
Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent agree landmark pact letting citizens live and work freely across their borders A historic EU-style free movement agreement comes into force in four Caribbean countries on Wednesday, in a deal which officials hope will stem the flow of skilled professionals leaving the region for North America and Europe. The…
PM tells BBC he wants to change how international law used in asylum cases
Sir Keir Starmer wants to change how international law is interpreted, to stop unsuccessful asylum seekers blocking their deportation on the grounds they could be sent to worse prisons or healthcare systems. The prime minister told the BBC he did not want to “tear down” human rights laws, but is ready to look again at…
I went undercover as a cleaner at a failing care home. Here’s what I witnessed
In my seven weeks undercover in an overstretched care home I witnessed many scenes of poor care and distress but there was one incident that I suspect will remain with me for a long time. On the worst days, when staffing was at its lowest levels, the residents would sometimes shout for help as they…
The ‘Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2’ Bundle Lands on Nintendo Switch 2 This Week
As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Super Mario Bros. franchise, Nintendo is rereleasing a pair of Wii-era classics later this week on the Switch and Switch 2. Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, both arrive with enhanced resolution (1080p on Nintendo Switch, 4K on Switch 2), an improved…
Is Tylenol Safe for Children? What Research Shows About Acetaminophen
Is Tylenol Safe for Children? President Trump says Tylenol is not safe for young children. Here’s what the science says about acetaminophen By Tanya Lewis edited by Megha Satyanarayana President Trump blasted followers on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday with this dire warning: “Don’t give Tylenol to your young child for virtually…
Government shuts down after Congress fails to reach a funding agreement
By Sam Gringlas , Elena Moore , Lexie Schapitl Much of the federal government is now shut down after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate failed to agree on a pair of dueling funding bills to keep the government open. Republicans voted to block a bill proposed by Democrats that included government funding through the…
Former DRC president Joseph Kabila sentenced to death in absentia
Military court convicts Kabila of war crimes, treason and other offences in verdict that could fuel enduring tensions A military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has sentenced the country’s former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes, treason and crimes against humanity. The case stems from…
Selena Gomez Wedding Guest Calls This Taylor Swift Moment “Heaven”
Wizards of Waverly Place alum David DeLuise shared how spending time with Taylor Swift was one of his favorite memories from costar Selena Gomez’s wedding to Benny Blanco. David DeLuise was enchanted by Taylor Swift‘s appearance at Selena Gomez’s wedding. While reflecting on his onscreen daughter’s real-life nuptials with Benny Blanco, the Wizards of Waverly…
Farage doesn’t believe in Britain, Starmer tells Labour conference
Sir Keir Starmer has launched an all-out attack on Nigel Farage’s “politics of grievance”, claiming the Reform UK leader did not believe in Britain. The prime minister sought to contrast his vision of a “tolerant, decent, respectful Britain” with what he said was the Reform UK leader’s desire to stir division and talk the country…
Are We Alone? NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory Aims to Find Out
NASA’s First-Ever Alien-Hunting Space Telescope Could Enlighten Our New Dark Age The Habitable Worlds Observatory is poised to tell us whether Earth-like planets are common—if it can get off the ground By Nadia Drake & Lee Billings An animated rendering of several engineering architecture concepts for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, a next-generation flagship-class space telescope…
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Custody Plan Revealed
Nicole Kidman filed for divorce from Keith Urban on Sept. 30. The Oscar winner asked to be the “primary residential parent” for their daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14. New details have come to light regarding Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s divorce. A day after news broke that the actress and country singer…
Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown
By Shannon Bond , Jenna McLaughlin , Stephen Fowler The Trump administration is blaming Democrats for the likely government shutdown in internal federal agency communications as well as on at least one public website, in what experts say could be a violation of federal ethics laws. A bright red banner and pop-up message that appeared…
With ‘drug boat’ strikes, Trump leans into war on terror tactic against cartels
Ryan Lucas At a recent hearing on Capitol Hill, FBI Director Kash Patel celebrated the Trump administration’s labeling of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and told lawmakers the United States should go after narcotraffickers like it did al-Qaida in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “We must treat them like the al-Qaidas of…
Men in wet clothes claiming to be Camino pilgrims arrested over alleged ‘narco-sub’ plot
Three men had fled in taxi after allegedly piloting vessel carrying 3.65 tonnes of cocaine to Galicia, Spanish police say Police in Spain have arrested three men thought to have piloted a “narco-submarine” carrying more than 3.6 tonnes of cocaine from South America to the north-western region of Galicia, after the trio’s wet clothes and…
Eric Dane Vows to Fight “Until the Last Breath” Amid ALS Battle
Eric Dane shared his vision for the future amid his ALS battle, and that sees him reaching millstones with his and Rebecca Gayheart’s teenage daughters Billie and Georgia. Eric Dane is not going down without a fight. The Grey’s Anatomy star, who revealed his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) diagnosis in April, shared his hopes for the future…
How China’s New Emissions Pledge Could Radically Alter Climate Change
Can China’s Emissions Plan Change the World’s Climate Future? China’s plan to reduce greenhouse gases will largely determine the world’s emissions trajectory, researchers say By You Xiaoying & Nature magazine A new agricultural 40 MW photovoltaic power plant in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, Shandong province, China, on June 21, 2024. China has…
Five takeaways from Starmer’s conference speech
Sir Keir Starmer sought to rally his party and set out his vision for the country in his keynote speech at Labour’s conference in Liverpool. So, what were the standout moments? Let’s look at five of them. The central theme of the Labour conference is taking the fight to Reform UK, which is leading in…
Trump’s Gaza plan is a significant step – but faces fundamental obstacles
US President Donald Trump said his plan for ending the war in Gaza was potentially one of the greatest days in the history of civilisation, and one that could bring “eternal peace in the Middle East”. The hyperbole was characteristic. However, his 20-point proposal, announced at the White House on Monday as Trump met the…
This Guide to Robert Irwin’s Family Will Make You Say Crikey
As Robert Irwin, son of Terri Irwin and the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, competes on Dancing With the Stars season 34, get to know his family—including Mirrorball champ sister Bindi Irwin. For Robert Irwin, competing on Dancing With the Stars has been one wild experience. After two weeks at the top of the leaderboard, the…
5 takeaways from the U.S. ceasefire proposal for Israel and Hamas
By Daniel Estrin , Emily Feng TEL AVIV — The leaders of the U.S. and Israel say they have agreed to a broad plan that could end Israel’s war in Gaza. But substantial uncertainties remain about when Israeli military forces would withdraw from most of the Gaza Strip, exactly how a transitional body would govern…
How Indigenous Storytelling Is Transforming RSV Care in Native Communities
The Power of Storytelling in Medicine Abigail Echo-Hawk, a preeminent Native American public health expert, discusses RSV, “data genocide” and positive change driven by Indigenous storytelling By Suzette Brewer edited by Emily Bazar This article is part of “Innovations In: RSV,” an editorially independent special report that was produced with financial support from MSD, Sanofi…
West Africans deported from US to Ghana ‘dumped without documents in Togo’
Men removed from US by Ice say they were held near Accra then taken over border and left without passports or ID West Africans deported by the US to Ghana are now fending for themselves in Togo after being dumped in the country without documents, according to lawyers and deportees. The latest chapter in Donald…
Wildfire in Namibia is contained, says PM, after criticism of response
A third of Etosha national park has been burned despite efforts of volunteers, who say troops were sent in too late Wildfires that raged through one of Africa’s largest national parks have been brought under control, Namibia’s government has said, amid criticisms over the response mechanism and limited resources. The fire broke out in Etosha…
Michelle Pfeiffer Shares She’s a Grandmother
Michelle Pfeiffer—who shares kids Claudia, 32, and John, 31, with David E. Kelley—shared that one of her children welcomed a baby in 2024, making the Hairspray actress a first-time grandmother. Michelle Pfeiffer was a smooth rider into the newest phase of her life. The Grease 2 actress, 67, revealed that she recently became a first-time…
Endangered Sharks Caught in Rare Mating Ritual beneath the Waves
Trump’s Tylenol Claim Sparks FDA Action—But What Does the Research Say? The Food and Drug Administration plans to update the safety label for acetaminophen products, and the strongest storm on Earth this year struck several countries in East and Southeast Asia. By Rachel Feltman, Allison Parshall, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday,…
YouTube agrees to pay Trump $24 million to settle lawsuit over Jan. 6 suspension
Bobby Allyn YouTube will pay $24.5 million to President Trump to resolve a 2021 lawsuit that claimed he was the victim of censorship when the site suspended his account following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump’s supporters, according to federal court papers filed on Monday. YouTube parent company Google will…
Trump and Netanyahu agree new Gaza peace plan
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say they have agreed a new peace plan for Gaza, warning Hamas to accept it. The plan proposes an immediate end to military operations, with Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to…