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 […]
Chris Mason: Starmer’s irritation with Burnham shows as he seeks to tackle critics
The prime minister will address a conference of centre-left leaders from around the world on Friday and argue it is time to “look ourselves in the mirror and recognise where we’ve allowed our parties to shy away from people’s concerns.” A key theme of the Global Progressive Action Conference is about how the Labour Party…
‘History will remember who showed up’: Keir Starmer faces call to attend Cop30 summit
Response from leaders and key climate figures comes after PM’s aides advised non-attendance over concerns Reform may attack him Leading climate figures and Labour MPs have urged Keir Starmer to attend the crucial Cop30 climate summit this November, after aides advised him not to attend for fear of attracting the ire of the Reform party.…
Fired feds, Trump lovers and veterans: Meet the people applying for ICE jobs
Ximena Bustillo PROVO, Utah — On a sunny Monday morning, dozens of people trickled into the Utah Valley Convention Center in this town enveloped by mountains south of Salt Lake City. Some wore suits, others high heels, and nearly all carried small binders with resumes, certificates and diplomas. They were veterans, current law enforcement officials,…
DWTS’ Corey Feldman Addresses Jenna Johnson Feud Rumors
Corey Feldman set the record straight amid rumors that he and his Dancing With the Stars partner Jenna Johnson were feuding before their elimination from season 34. Win or lose, Corey Feldman is standing by his Dancing With the Stars partner Jenna Johnson. The Stand By Me alum expressed his gratitude for the ballroom dancer after…
Starmer says Labour shied away from illegal immigration concerns
Sir Keir Starmer has publicly acknowledged “where some on the left went wrong” on immigration, saying that his party needs to tackle “every aspect of the problem”. Writing in the Telegraph, the prime minister said that Labour was being forced to counter the “rise of the populist right”, noting the increasing popularity of Reform UK…
Taylor Swift’s Speech Pattern Changed over Time, Linguistics Study Shows
Scientists Take on Taylor Swift’s Linguistic Eras An analysis of Taylor Swift’s interviews suggests her speech pattern has changed over her career By Mohana Basu & Nature magazine Taylor Swift delivered a commencement address to New York University graduates in May 2022. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Researchers have confirmed what Taylor Swift fans…
Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted on criminal charges stemming from 2020 testimony
Carrie Johnson The Justice Department has leveled charges against former FBI Director James Comey, after President Trump demanded prosecutors speed up their pace in an investigation targeting one of his most prominent critics. Comey faces one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice in connection with his testimony to the…
Big trees in Amazon more climate-resistant than previously believed
Forest is ‘remarkably resilient to climate change’, but remains under threat from fires and deforestation The biggest trees in the Amazon are growing larger and more numerous, according to a new study that shows how an intact rainforest can help draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and sequester it in bark, trunk, branch and…
WWI-Era Shipwrecks in Mallows Bay Form Ecological Sanctuary
Life Thrives on Maryland’s ‘Ghost Fleet’ of WWI-Era Shipwrecks Nearly 100 years ago dozens of ships were abandoned in a shallow bay in the Potomac River. Today plants and animals are thriving on the skeletons of these vessels By Andrea Tamayo edited by Andrea Thompson Wrecks near the coast in Mallows Bay are becoming islands,…
Doug Ford to ban speed cameras in Ontario in populist appeal to suburban voters
Canada premier’s move prompts criticism from road safety activists and is likely to cue new showdown with Toronto Doug Ford has announced plans to ban speed cameras in Ontario, describing the devices as an out-of-control “tax grab” in his latest populist appeal to suburban voters. The move prompted criticism from road safety activists and is…
PM compares Burnham’s economic proposals to Truss ‘disaster’
The prime minister has refused to be drawn on the leadership ambitions of Andy Burnham but drew a comparison between the Manchester mayor’s economic proposals and the policies of Liz Truss. Sir Keir Starmer’s comments come after Burnham told the Daily Telegraph he had been been contacted by Labour MPs over the summer urging him…
Trump advances TikTok deal with new executive order
John Ruwitch President Trump gave his formal blessing on Thursday to a deal for a consortium of mostly U.S. investors to take over the short video app TikTok, signing an executive order green-lighting the spinoff and saying it has “good controls” in terms of security and safety. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, but a…
What Police Seized From Home Allegedly Tied to D4vd Amid Death Investi
After Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found in an abandoned Tesla registered to musician D4vd, police searched the Hollywood Hills home he had allegedly been staying at. New details have emerged during the investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Following the Sept. 8 discovery of the 15-year-old’s body in the front trunk of…
Bird Flu and Human Flu Viruses Could Mix in Cow Udders and Spark a Pandemic
Cow Udders Could Brew Up Dangerous New Bird Flu Strains Cells in cow udders could act as a site for human flu and bird flu viruses to swap genes and generate dangerous novel strains By Chris Simms edited by Tanya Lewis Cow udders may provide a hotspot for bird flu and human flu viruses to…
Starbucks is closing more stores and laying off 900 workers
Alina Selyukh Starbucks plans to cut another 900 corporate jobs and close some of its stores in the U.S. and Canada, as the coffee chain approaches the one-year mark of its turnaround plan. The company says the number of stores will decline by 1% and it will end the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 Starbucks…
How Ed Sheeran Found Out About Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce Engagement
A month after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, Taylor’s longtime collaborator and pal Ed Sheeran shared how he found out about the proposal. Sometimes stars really are just like us. After all, Ed Sheeran admitted he heard about pal Taylor Swift and her fiancé Travis Kelce’s engagement in the same way as…
Digital ID cards to be compulsory for all UK adults under government plans
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme in a speech on Friday. The prime minister believes it would help crack down on illegal working and modernise the state, according to senior figures in government. The practicalities of the scheme will be subject to a consultation, which will…
Nicolas Sarkozy given five-year prison sentence after Libya trial
Former French president found guilty of criminal conspiracy after being accused of pact with Gaddafi regime Europe – live updates The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he would “sleep in jail but with my head held high” after receiving a five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy – the first time a former head of…
Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve’s Awe-Inspiring Love Story
When Christopher Reeve was paralyzed after being thrown from a horse in 1995, wife Dana Reeve renewed the Superman star’s will to live. For about 10 minutes, Christopher Reeve wanted to end his life. So when wife Dana Reeve told him to wait and, if he still felt that way in two years, then they’d figure it out,…
Mary Roach’s New Book Replaceable You Explores Challenges in Replacing Body Parts
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy with Mary Roach Mary Roach unpacks the millennia-long effort to replace failing body parts—and the reasons that modern medicine still struggles to match the original designs. By Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio & Fonda Mwangi Mary Roach has a new book about body parts. Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science…
‘Film me all you want’ – teenage girls with no fear of police torment one High Street
The teenager’s sense of invincibility is clear. “The police are never ever going to help you,” she says, “you can film me all you want”. She’s refusing to leave a shop caught at the centre of a prolonged campaign of antisocial behaviour – windows smashed, items stolen, fires started, staff threatened and attacked. Muhammad Usman,…
Quebec’s police watchdog to investigate killing of 15-year-old boy by officers
Police opened fire within seconds after responding to a report of masked teens, according to a resident The head of Quebec’s police watchdog said it will investigate the death of a 15-year-old boy who was shot dead by officers, revealing that the only weapon recovered from the scene of the fatal shooting belonged to the…
America’s Got Talent Season 20 Winner Revealed
Jessica Sanchez was named the winner of America’s Got Talent season 20 during the NBC competition series’ Sept. 24 finale, walking away with both the title and the coveted $1 million prize. Warning: This story contains spoilers from the Sept. 24 episode of America’s Got Talent. America’s Got Talent has crowned a new champion. A very…
Former president Peter Mutharika defeats incumbent in Malawi presidential election
Lazarus Chakwera, who presided over a multi-year economic crisis, concedes election after 85-year-old Mutharika wins 56.8% of vote Malawians have voted in an 85-year-old former leader over an incumbent who presided over a multi-year economic crisis, high inflation, essential goods shortages, climate disasters and international aid cuts. Peter Mutharika got 56.8% of the vote compared…
Government considers financial support for Jaguar Land Rover suppliers
The government is looking at ways to financially support the companies in Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) supply chain. JLR halted car production after a cyber-attack at the end of August forced it to shut down its IT networks. Its factories remain suspended until next month at the earliest. Fears are growing that some suppliers, in…
White House threatens layoffs — not furloughs — if the government shuts down
Tamara Keith If the government shuts down on Oct. 1, the White House said it will look for ways to use the funding dispute to permanently eliminate some federal workers, rather than just temporarily send them home on unpaid leave. This proposed “reduction in force” — outlined in a memo obtained by NPR on Wednesday…
‘Nightmare Bacteria’ Infections Spiking, Leaving Key Carbapenem Antibiotics Useless, CDC Warns
Infections of Drug-Resistant ‘Nightmare Bacteria’ Are Surging in Hospitals The infection rate of one type of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bacteria has risen by more than 460 percent in recent years. Scientists say people receiving treatment in hospitals are at highest risk By Lauren J. Young edited by Tanya Lewis Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The…
What Is Leucovorin, the Unproven Autism Drug Backed by Trump Officials?
Trump Team Backs Unproven Autism Drug, Sparking Scientific Concern The Trump administration is backing leucovorin as a treatment for autism, despite limited evidence. Some doctors and researchers are concerned By Heidi Ledford & Nature magazine Globes of folinic acid, also called leucovorin, which Trump team officials have promoted as an intervention for autism. According to…
Inside Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s Beautiful Love Story
After being friends for years, A$AP Rocky made Rihanna feel like the only girl in the world—and now they’re parents of three children together. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky found love in what’s usually a pretty hopeless place. “People don’t get out of the friend zone very easily with me,” the singer born Robin Fenty told Vogue…
A statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands in D.C. is removed as fast as it appeared
By Rachel Treisman A statue of President Trump holding hands with Jeffrey Epstein appeared briefly on D.C.’s National Mall this week, only to be removed after less than a day. The bronze-painted installation, titled Best Friends Forever, depicts the two men smiling at each other, each with an arm and leg raised as if in…
China makes landmark pledge to cut its climate emissions
China, the world’s biggest source of planet-warming gases, has for the first time committed to an absolute target to cut its emissions. In a video statement to the UN in New York, President Xi Jinping said that China would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 7-10% by 2035, while “striving to do…
Brazil’s president says in UN speech that democracy can prevail over ‘would-be autocrats’
South American leftist Lula takes indirect swipes at Trump in speech and warns that global threat of ‘anti-democratic forces’ persists Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, has launched an impassioned defence of his country’s democracy, claiming the recent conviction of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had shown the world how “would-be autocrats” could be…
Huntington’s disease successfully treated for first time
One of the cruellest and most devastating diseases – Huntington’s – has been successfully treated for the first time, say doctors. The disease runs through families, relentlessly kills brain cells and resembles a combination of dementia, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease. An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease…
Earthquakes Release Energy Mostly Through Heat, Not Ground Shaking
Most of an Earthquake’s Energy Is Released as Heat, Not Shaking Up to 98 percent of the energy of an earthquake goes into flash heating rocks, not shaking the ground, new research shows. The finding could help yield better earthquake forecasts By Stephanie Pappas edited by Andrea Thompson Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The…
Dancing With the Stars Has First Double Elimination of Season 34
Dancing With the Stars said goodbye to not one, but two couples in the first double elimination of season 34. See who went home during week two. Sadly, it was time for two couples to boogie off the dance floor. Dancing With the Stars had its first double eliminations during the Sept. 23 episode with hosts Julianne Hough and…
Ukraine issues a stark warning about a global arms race and AI war
Alex Leff Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned world leaders about the dangers of an artificial intelligence-driven war in a stark address to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. “It’s only a matter of time, not much, before drones are fighting drones, attacking critical infrastructure and targeting people all by themselves, fully autonomous and no human…
Renowned ‘sponge city’ architect Kongjian Yu dies in Brazil plane crash
The 62-year-old Chinese landscape architect was killed with three others while filming in the Pantanal wetlands Kongjian Yu, one of the world’s most famous landscape architects, has reportedly been killed in a plane crash in Brazil’sPantanal wetlands while making a film about his work. Yu, 62, was flying to a ranch in Mato Grosso do…
We Can Stop Teen Suicide
The Science of ParentingMondays We Can Stop Teen Suicide By understanding warning signs and talking to your child, parents can help reduce the risk of teen suicide By Nasuh Malas edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for The Science of Parenting I have a patient named “Alex.” He is 15.…
Urgent review ordered into asylum seeker taxi costs after BBC investigation
The home secretary has ordered an urgent review into the use and cost of taxis to transfer asylum seekers from their hotels to appointments. The move by Shabana Mahmood follows a BBC investigation that found some migrants having to travel long distances on journeys costing hundreds of pounds. One asylum seeker told the BBC he…
New York City may move its mayoral elections to even years. It’d be part of a trend
Ashley Lopez One of the most closely watched elections this fall is New York City’s mayoral race. But New York voters will also weigh in on a lesser-known proposal that could move future city elections to even-numbered years. It’s part of a growing trend to consolidate election dates — adding local races to the ballot…
Teen Mom’s Farrah Abraham Shares Why She Cut Contact With Her Parents
Among the truths Teen Mom alum Farrah Abraham shared in A&E’s Secrets of Celebrity Sex Tapes: She no longer speaks to her parents. The mom to Sophia, 16, told E! News why she chose to cut them off. Though Farrah Abraham still has 17 months until daughter Sophia officially becomes an adult, she’s got her…
Colombia’s Petro urges ‘criminal process’ against Trump for Venezuelan strikes
At UN, Gustavo Petro says ‘poor young people’ died in US strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats off Caribbean coast Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro addressed the UN general assembly Tuesday to call for a “criminal process” to be opened against counterpart Donald Trump for US strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean. Petro…
West Africans deported by the US were denied their rights, says lawyer
Men were sent on from Ghana despite ‘risk of torture, persecution or inhumane treatment’ A lawyer for 11 west Africans deported by the US to Ghana said they had been returned to their home countries despite many fearing for their safety. Under Donald Trump’s drive to ramp up expulsions, the US has sent migrants to…
Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Silence on Show Suspension
Less than a week after Jimmy Kimmel was suspended from his late-night show over comments made about Charlie Kirk’s murder, he returned to TV and reflected on the controversy. Jimmy Kimmel is getting the last word. Less than a week after Jimmy Kimmel Live!Charlie Kirk’s murder, Kimmel returned to the air and got emotional while…
Camp Mystic plans to reopen in Texas next summer, a year after floods killed 27
By The Associated Press Camp Mystic plans to reopen next summer near the site where 27 girls and counselors died in a July flood. The campers and counselors were swept to their deaths when fast-rising floodwaters of the Guadalupe River roared through the girls’ summer camp in a low-lying area known as flash flood alley.…
More young people say rising bills now stopping them moving out
Leoni Clancey and her boyfriend had saved for years to be able to move out of their parents’ homes and into their first rental property together. But nine months later all their savings had disappeared on living costs and they both moved back home. The 21-year-old is now sharing a bedroom with her 10-year-old sister.…
The Moon Is Rusting—Thanks to ‘Wind’ Blown from Earth
The Moon Is Rusting—Thanks to ‘Wind’ Blown from Earth Lunar minerals can rust when bombarded with high-energy oxygen particles, experiments show By Alexandra Witze & Nature magazine A stream of charged particles that blows from Earth (foreground) to the Moon could account for the rust compounds found in lunar soils. Join Our Community of Science…
Dylan O’Brien Reacts to Rumor He’s “Villain” in Sabrina Carpenter Song
Twinless star Dylan O’Brien shared his thoughts on the rumors that Sabrina Carpenter references him in her new song “Go Go Juice,” as the person who “rhymes with villain.” Dylan O’Brien was ready to go go when it came to discussing Sabrina Carpenter’s new song. The Teen Wolf alum responded to speculation that the Grammy…
Six years ago Trump’s UN audience laughed, this year they were silent
To his supporters, it will be seen as Trumpism unplugged; to his critics, Trumpism unhinged. Over almost an hour, he took aim at his opponents and their ideas, picking them off one by one as he toured the world. He began at home, praising the United States and himself. He said the US was living…
What on Earth is ‘coral bleaching’?
Editor’s note: From “blue carbon” to “ecosystem services,” environmental jargon is everywhere. Conservation International looks to make sense of it in an explainer series we’re calling “What on Earth?” In this installment, we explore coral bleaching, a crisis impacting the world’s reefs. I keep seeing headlines about coral reefs dying. What’s happening? Climate change is…
Reese Witherspoon Unveils Star-Studded Guest List for Shine Away Event
Reese Witherspoon exclusively revealed to E! News the celeb-filled speaker list for her company Hello Sunshine’s annual Shine Away event, set for October in Los Angeles. The guest list for Reese Witherspoon’s next event is shining bright with talent. The Oscar winner exclusively unveiled to E! News that her company Hello Sunshine’s third annual Shine…
The Fight to End Childhood RSV in Indian Country
For Indigenous Infants, This Devastating Virus Finally Meets a Formidable Foe American Indian and Alaska Native infants experience the highest rates of RSV-related hospitalization in the U.S., but a breakthrough immunization is helping to close the gap By Suzette Brewer edited by Emily Bazar Ethel Branch, a citizen of the Navajo Nation (whose people are…
Ice targeted me for organizing, says farm worker who left US for Mexico
Alfredo Juarez Zeferino spent a harrowing few months in Ice jail – and, under threat of deportation, chose to leave Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez Zeferino spends much of his days outdoors, harvesting bananas and hiking vast, bramble-laden trails. But for more than a quarter of 2025, he barely saw the sun. After being arrested by Immigration…
After fireworks caused her dog to panic, a stranger offered them a ride home
By Autumn Barnes This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. In late 2020, Lara Friedman and her partner adopted a 9-week-old Rottweiler puppy. They affectionately named him The Dude. “[It became] immediately clear…
We’ll stop Farage turning UK into Trump’s America, says Davey
Sir Ed Davey has vowed to lead the fight against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, as he accused him of wanting to turn the UK into “Trump’s America” in a speech to the Liberal Democrat conference. Painting a nightmarish vision of what he claimed life would be like under a Farage government, he sought to portray…
Behind the doors of asylum hotels – what I found when I went inside
All names have been changed to protect the identities of hotel residents and staff As I eat a meal cooked on the floor of a shower, I realise nothing has prepared me for what life is like for the residents of an asylum hotel. I have been invited to join Kadir and his family for…
Announcing the #SciAmInTheWild Photography Contest Short List
Announcing the #SciAmInTheWild Photography Contest Short List To celebrate Scientific American’s 180th anniversary, we invited readers to place our magazine covers in the wild. See our staff’s favorite submissions By Sunya Bhutta, Isabella Bruni & Brianne Kane edited by Jeanna Bryner We’re celebrating 180 years of Scientific American. Explore our legacy of discovery and look…
Did Amazon trick people into paying for Prime? Federal case goes to trial
By Alina Selyukh , Monica Nickelsburg , Joshua McNichols Amazon and the U.S. government are facing off in a Seattle courtroom over Prime, the company’s lucrative subscription service. The government alleges that the company “tricked” people into paying for Prime memberships that were purposefully hard to cancel. The lawsuit marks one of the biggest federal…
Unification Church leader arrested in South Korea over bribery allegations linked to former first lady
Han Hak-ja, aged 82, is detained after Seoul court hearing over claims she told church officials to bribe wife of then president Yoon Suk Yeol The 82-year-old leader of the Unification Church was arrested in South Korea early Tuesday as investigators probe allegations that the church bribed the wife of jailed former president Yoon Suk…
Check In on Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet, Frances Anderson & More
Modern Family debuted 16 years ago. Let this be your family reunion and check in on Sarah Hyland, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sofía Vergara, Ariel Winter and more stars. Listen up, fam! Sixteen years ago, on Sept. 23, 2009, Modern Family premiered on ABC. And after watching the Dunphy-Pritchett-Tucker crew go through life’s ups and downs…