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. […]
U.S. Science Has Weathered Attacks Before and Won
Opinion U.S. Science—and Scientific American—Have Weathered Attacks Before and Won Federal officials seized 3,000 copies of Scientific American in 1950 in a “red scare” era of attacks on science. The move backfired, and offers lessons for today By Dan Vergano Albert Einstein and other scientists, including Hans Bethe standing behind him, in 1946. We’re celebrating…
SpaceX launches international crew to space station on 6-month NASA mission
By Brendan Byrne An international crew of four launched into orbit just before noon Friday from Florida on NASA’s Crew-11, a six-month mission to the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roared to life on Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A, lofting the company’s Dragon capsule and crew on a nine-minute trip from the…
Opposition leaders say ‘democracy in El Salvador has died’ after scrapping of presidential term limits
Legislation allows rightwing president Nayib Bukele to seek unlimited terms, sparking fears of dictatorship Activists and opposition leaders have that warned El Salvador is following Venezuela’s path towards dictatorship after the Central American country’s congress scrapped presidential term limits, paving the way for Nayib Bukele to seek indefinite re-election. “Democracy in El Salvador has died,”…
Wednesday Cast Reveals What Goes Down in the Show’s 18 Group Chats
Wednesday’s Emma Myers and Joy Sunday detailed the cast’s close bond in an exclusive interview with E! News—and what they talk about in their many group chats. Despite their altogether ooky demeanors onscreen, the Wednesday cast have a lot of love to give. In fact, the stars of the Netflix series, including Jenna Ortega, Emma…
Rats, mould and dangerous overcrowding – inside illegal house-shares hiding in plain sight
In the middle of the night, says Maria, groups of people can sometimes be seen moving into houses in her neighbourhood, far more than would seem to fit comfortably in the Victorian terraced homes. Each of these houses has 10 to 15 people living inside, she estimates. Maria, an architect, suspects they are being illegally…
France, U.K., others plan to recognize a Palestinian state. What does that change?
By Scott Neuman France and the United Kingdom are among the latest countries preparing to formally recognize a state of Palestine — a move by two permanent members of the U.N. Security Council that would deepen their split with Israel and the United States over the 22-month war in Gaza. Canada this week also joined…
Trump announces sweeping new levies for scores of countries – as it happened
Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday modifying the tariff rates he first announced in April ahead of a Friday deadline for the new rates on imported goods to go into effect. The order states that goods imported from every nation on Earth will be subject to a 10% tariff except for goods from…
Kylie Jenner Gives a Tour of Kris Jenner’s Extravagant Mansion
Kylie Jenner shared pictures of her and mom Kris Jenner’s “sleepover,” which included an inside look at the momager’s California mansion. Kylie Jenner is helping the world keep up with Kris Jenner’s luxe lifestyle. The 27-year-old shared a peek inside her momager’s swanky mansion near Calabasas, Calif., while showcasing what the pair got up to…
Why Do Allergens Make Us Cough and Sneeze?
Allergens May Make Us Cough and Sneeze by Poking Holes in Airway Cells The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature magazine Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing elicited by some allergens are caused by proteins…
Mass rape, forced pregnancy and sexual torture in Tigray amount to crimes against humanity – report
Warning: this article contains graphic and distressing testimony and images Research documents ‘horrific and extreme’ attacks by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces and warns that impunity has meant such atrocities are expanding to new regions Hundreds of health workers across Tigray have documented mass rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy and sexual torture of women and children…
Trump’s global tariffs ‘victory’ may well come at a high price
In April Donald Trump stunned the world by announcing sweeping new import tariffs – only to put most on hold amid the resulting global financial panic. Four months later, the US president is touting what he claims are a series of victories, having unveiled a handful of deals with trading partners and unilaterally imposed tariffs…
El Salvador approves indefinite presidential reelection, extends presidential terms
By The Associated Press SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The party of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele approved constitutional changes in the country’s National Assembly on Thursday that will allow indefinite presidential reelection and extend presidential terms to six years. Lawmaker Ana Figueroa from the New Ideas party had proposed the changes to five articles…
Gazan boy first to be treated in UK for war injuries
Majd al-Shaghnobi can’t eat or speak or smile like he used to. But with his injured mouth covered by a surgical mask, his eyes were beaming as he arrived at London’s Heathrow airport on a flight from Cairo, with his mother, brother and little sister. “I’m happy to be in England and to get treatment,”…
Trump’s dream of building a ballroom at the White House is becoming a reality
Tamara Keith The renderings are complete, the architects and contractors have been hired. After at least 15 years of talking about it, President Trump is building a ballroom at the White House. According to the White House, the work will begin this September, with a price tag of $200 million. “President Trump is a builder…
4 Science Book Recommendations We Loved Reading in July
What Books Scientific American Read in July Check out Scientific American’s fiction and nonfiction book recommendations for July By Brianne Kane edited by Andrea Gawrylewski July 2025 has been a sweltering month, but we at Scientific American have still squeezed in some fun in the sun and a hot dog or two, all while choosing…
Rhino horns made radioactive to foil traffickers in South African project
Isotopes can be detected at airports and borders even in large containers and are harmless to the animals A South African university has launched an anti-poaching campaign to inject the horns of rhinoceroses with radioactive isotopes that it says are harmless for the animals but can be detected by customs agents. Under the collaborative project…
MGK Reveals Who Picked His and Megan Fox’s Baby Name
Machine Gun Kelly explained how his and Megan Fox’s daughter’s name Saga Blade Fox-Baker came to be, while revealing the name his eldest daughter Casie was almost given. What’s in a name? Well, for Machine Gun Kelly, it’s victory. Indeed, the 35-year-old rapper revealed that his suggestion for his and Megan Fox’s 4-month-old daughter Saga…
Man, 76, arrested as summer camp children fall ill
A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after children fell ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire. Police said an investigation was under way after eight children at the camp at Stathern Lodge were taken to hospital on Sunday. All have since been discharged. Officers had gone to the camp, in…
Lightning Strike Sets New Record for Longest Ever Measured
515-Mile-Long Lightning Megaflash Sets New World Record By Emma R. Hasson edited by Andrea Thompson Join Our Community of Science Lovers! When a potentially record-breaking weather event occurs, it gets passed to the committee, where a panel of scientists and other experts assesses whether the event truly represents a new record. If the panel votes…
Khloe Kardashian Details “Draining” Reunion With Ex Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian candidly spoke about the moment she reunited with her ex-husband Lamar Odom, nine years after finalizing their divorce, and if she would do it again. For Khloe Kardashian, keeping up with her past came with a cost. Indeed, the Kardashians star recalled the raw feelings that resurfaced when she reunited with her ex-husband Lamar…
Trump announces 90-days extension of prior trade deal with Mexico
Danielle Kurtzleben President Trump says he will delay tariffs on Mexico as trade negotiations continue. The announcement comes as countries around the world scramble to negotiate and understand new tariff rates that are set to go into effect on Friday. Trump said he had a “very successful” conversation Thursday morning with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.…
France under pressure to stop $9.7m of USAID contraceptives being destroyed
US reportedly planning to destroy contraceptives, probably destined for Africa, in France after dismantling USAID The French government has said it is closely monitoring a US plan to destroy millions of dollars of contraceptives stocked in Europe after outrage from French feminists, rights groups and family planning organisations at what they called a wasteful attack…
Dozens killed seeking food in Gaza, hospital says, as US envoy arrives in Israel
More than 50 Palestinians were killed and 400 others injured while waiting for food near a crossing in northern Gaza on Wednesday, a hospital says, as US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel. Footage showed casualties from the incident near the Zikim crossing being taken on carts to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Gaza’s…
YouTube’s Lofi Girl Graduates After Studying for 7 Years
Lofi Girl—whose perpetual studying animation accompanies a long-running YouTube stream titled “lofi hip hop radio – beats to relax/study to”—has finally graduated. This calls for music to celebrate/chill to. Lofi Girl—the animated star of the popular YouTube channel of the same name, which provides users with a 24/7 livestream of lo-fi hip-hop music—has graduated from…
Russia’s Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Ranks among 10 Strongest
Russia’s 8.8 Earthquake Is One of the Strongest Ever Recorded Russia’s earthquake was estimated at magnitude 8.8, among the strongest since scientists began monitoring By Mark Fischetti Damage from a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! On July 30, 2025, a magnitude…
Christian refugees caught in crosshairs of U.S. immigration policy
By Ximena Bustillo , Juliana Kim On a Sunday in June, Pastor Ara Torosian gave a message to his congregation in Los Angeles: if detained by immigration officers, “first, call your lawyer and second, call your pastor.” It didn’t take long. By the end of the month, two families reached out to Torosian, one through…
UN holds emergency talks over sky-high accommodation costs at Cop30 in Brazil
Concerns poorer countries could be priced out of negotiations in Belém as room rates soar amid shortage The UN climate bureau has held an urgent meeting about concerns that sky-high rates for accommodation at this year’s Cop30 summit in Brazil could price poorer countries out of the negotiations. Brazil is preparing to host Cop30 this…
Why the Tsunami from Russia’s Earthquake Wasn’t as Large as Feared
Why the Russian Earthquake Didn’t Cause a Huge Tsunami By Robin George Andrews edited by Dean Visser An aerial view of the city of Severo-Kurilsk flooded due to a tsunami triggered by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025. The epicenter was located at a depth of 20.7…
What makes a tsunami — and what to do if one comes
Michal Ruprecht Tsunami alerts lit up Siri Zama’s phone on Tuesday. The 28-year-old high school teacher in Kapolei, Hawaii, fled inland. “It was raining, and the clouds got real dark. It was just a little scary. I was a little worried because everyone from here was stressing,” Zama recalled. Those stress-inducing alerts had been triggered…
Canada follows France and UK with plan to recognise Palestinian state
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September, becoming the third G7 nation to make such an announcement in recent days. Carney said the move depends on democratic reforms, including the Palestinian Authority holding elections next year without Hamas. His remarks come a day after the UK announced…
Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry spotted dining together in Montreal
Restaurant Le Violon confirms former Canadian prime minister and singer visited but saw ‘no signs of PDA’ Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry were seen dining together in Montreal this week. A communications consultant for the restaurant Le Violon confirmed that the former Canadian prime minister and the singer spent about two hours at the fine-dining…
Larissa Santos Lima Reveals New Look After Removing Breast Implants
Larissa Santos Lima is getting something off her chest. The 90 Day Fiancé alum debuted a jaw-dropping transformation after deciding to remove her gigantic breast implants on the July 30 episode of E!’s makeover series Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind—and she couldn’t get enough of her new, more natural look. “This reversal has been one of…
Flight disruption after major UK air traffic outage
Air passengers have suffered significant disruption after an air traffic control outage brought major UK airports to a standstill. Thousands of planes were grounded at airports including Heathrow, Stanstead, Manchester and Edinburgh. More than 120 flights to and from the UK were cancelled, as of 19:30 BST. Air traffic control firm NATS said the issue…
Jimmy Hoffa vanished 50 years ago. The unsolved mystery and his legend endure
Don Gonyea His full name is James Riddle Hoffa. But everyone knew him as Jimmy. A labor leader who thrived in the rough and tumble world of union organizing, of contracts, and picket lines… and of standing up for workers right no matter what. When he disappeared it was front page news. But how many…
Sheinbaum demands return of Mexican citizens held at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Mexican president said citizens held at controversial Florida immigration jail ‘should be repatriated immediately’ Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has said that the country is demanding the repatriation of at least 30 of its citizens currently being held in the controversial Florida immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz”. The Mexican leader said on Wednesday that…
Heatstroke and Extreme Heat Exposure Leads to Chronic Health Effects on Kidneys, Heart and Brain
Heatstroke and Extreme Heat can Hurt Health in the Long-Term, Too The immediate harms of extreme heat are well documented, but a growing body of research suggests that heatstroke may have long-term health effects throughout the body By Nora Bradford edited by Lauren J. Young Heatstroke can sneak up on anyone, especially when exercising outside.…
Brazil’s president Lula hits back as Trump tariffs threaten US trade showdown
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he won’t be cowed by Trump ahead of 50% tariffs set to hit Brazil on Friday Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has said he does not fear getting on the wrong side of Donald Trump, as South America’s largest economy braces for the introduction of 50% tariffs…
Jinger Duggar’s Husband Jeremy Vuolo Details “Deep Betrayal”
Jinger Duggar’s husband Jeremy Vuolo looked back on a “deep betrayal” they endured shortly after getting married in 2016 and how they overcame the difficult period. Married life hasn’t always been easy for Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo. The couple reflected on a difficult period they faced shortly after exchanging vows in 2016, which led to…
Freed British-Israeli hostage says Starmer ‘risks rewarding terror’ with Palestinian recognition
A British-Israeli woman held hostage by Hamas has said Sir Keir Starmer is “not standing on the right side of history” with his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state. Emily Damari, who was released in January after being held by Hamas for more than 15 months, said the UK prime minister “risks rewarding terror”. Sir…
Where Andes meet Amazon, a new ‘lifeline’ for wildlife
As global temperatures rise, wildlife around the world are on the move, and one of the planet’s most biodiverse countries is no exception. In central Ecuador, where the Andes meet the Amazon, lies a patchwork of protected areas and Indigenous territories. But climate change and persistent deforestation are widening the gaps between them — leaving…
Neurotic Cats, One-Eyed Aliens and Hypnosis for Liars Are among the Historical Gems Reported in Scientific American
Neurotic Cats, One-Eyed Aliens and Hypnosis for Liars Are among the Historical Gems Reported in Scientific American Dive into the quirkiest and most fascinating tales from Scientific American’s 180-year archive By Mark Fischetti We’re celebrating 180 years of Scientific American. Explore our legacy of discovery and look ahead to the future. Scientists are trained to…
A tsunami makes its way across the Pacific, with waves hitting the U.S. West Coast
By Rachel Treisman Much of the West Coast of the U.S. is under tsunami alerts, after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck eastern Russia and sent powerful waves into Japan, Hawaii, California and counting. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit near Russia’s sparsely populated Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday morning — tying with two other…
Trump keeps pressuring the Fed to cut rates. Here’s why its independence matters
By Scott Neuman President Trump’s tense, televised clash with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has raised concerns about the central bank’s independence ahead of this week’s meeting to consider interest-rate adjustments. While Trump isn’t the first president to pressure the Fed to cut interest rates, experts say his brash and bullying tactics are unprecedented. After…
Trump’s EPA Targets ‘Endangerment Finding’ Underlying Climate Change Policy for Reducing Carbon
Trump’s EPA Is Taking Aim at the Legal Backbone of U.S. Climate Policy The Trump administration is releasing its proposal to undo the “endangerment finding,” the long-standing rationale and legal imperative for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin testifies…
HSBC boss says Rachel Reeves putting up bank taxes would harm UK growth
Georges Elhedery’s comments come amid speculation the chancellor could make such a move in autumn budget Business live – latest updates The boss of HSBC has joined a growing chorus of bankers cautioning Rachel Reeves against increasing taxes on banks in her autumn budget, warning it risked “eroding” investment and ultimately harming UK growth. Georges…
What do we know so far about the damage?
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The earthquake, which hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at about 11:25am local time (00:25am BST) on Wednesday, is believed to be one of the most powerful ever recorded. More than two million people have been ordered to evacuate…
Surprising Secrets About Runaway Bride Revealed
Runaway Bride became the long-awaited onscreen reunion for costars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, almost a decade after 1990’s Pretty Woman. But it was almost never made. It was the movie a decade in the making—in more ways than one. Nine years after Pretty Woman made Julia Roberts a superstar and turned Richard Gere into…
Taiwan president scraps Latin America trip amid reports the US opposed stopover in New York
The Taiwanese government insists Lai Ching-te’s visit was delayed due to domestic issues, including natural disasters and tariff negotiations Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te will delay an expected trip to his country’s remaining allies in Latin America, amid conflicting accounts of the reason for the postponement. Lai was expected to travel to the Americas next month,…
RHOD’s D’Andra Simmons Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Real Housewives of Dallas star D’Andra Simmons announced July 29 that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, explaining that she was undergoing three surgeries that same day. D’Andra Simmons is sharing a difficult medical update. The Real Housewives of Dallas alum said she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be treated at…
The NTSB is set to hold a hearing on the DCA midair collision. Here’s what to know
By Joe Hernandez WASHINGTON — It has been six months since an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. The crash has been under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is set to begin a…
Tsunami Warnings Issued After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake Off the Coast of Russia
Tsunami Warnings Issued after Magnitude-8.7 Earthquake Strikes off Russian Coast Tsunami warnings and advisories were issues around the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude-8.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia, the largest earthquake since the 2011 Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami By Andrea Thompson edited by Jeanna Bryner A photo from March 2022 shows an…
UK wants to ‘affect situation on ground’ in Gaza
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the UK is attempting to “affect the situation on the ground” in Gaza after the government announced it would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agreed to end the crisis in Gaza. Speaking to the BBC’s Tom Bateman at the UN in New York, Lammy said the…
Trump says his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein was over spa workers at Mar-a-Lago
By Franco Ordoñez , Claudia Grisales President Trump offered new details Tuesday over what led to his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein some two decades ago, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that the rupture had to do with employees who worked at the spa at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has repeatedly said he kicked Epstein out…
UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel meets conditions
The UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The PM said Israel must also meet other conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire, committing to a long-term sustainable peace that delivers a two-state solution, and allowing the United…
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Access to Threatened Defense Department Satellite Data
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Crucial Satellite Data Online after Threatened Cuts By Andrea Thompson edited by Jeanna Bryner Infrared satellite imagery of Hurricane Otis compared with microwave imagery of the storm in October 2023. In the later view, the center of the storm is more visible and indicates the hurricane was strengthening. Microwave satellite imagery helped…
Pamela Anderson, Liam Neeson Reveal Surprises Learned About Each Other
Amid dating rumors, The Naked Gun costars Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson gushed about their “silly” bond in an exclusive interview with E! News. As it turns out, Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson both have a particular set of skills. The Naked Gun costars shared insight into their bond, exclusively telling E! News that they…
Democrat urges hearing into ‘human rights abuses’ at El Salvador megaprison
Delia Ramirez calls for investigation into federal funds paid to El Salvador to detain migrants at secretive Cecot site Congresswoman Delia Ramirez is “urgently” requesting a congressional hearing regarding the use of federal funds to pay El Salvador to detain immigrants inside a secretive terrorism prison, according to a letter she sent to the US…
How a friend’s overdose drove a leading addiction scientist to look for answers
From By Dan Gorenstein , Ryan Levi When 2024’s provisional overdose data came out earlier this year showing a 27% drop in deaths from 2023 rates, Nabarun Dasgupta felt immense relief. This story comes from Tradeoffs. Experts say several factors have likely contributed to the steep decline in drug fatalities between 2024 and 2023, including…
Five women abused as children by Rotherham grooming gangs say police also sexually abused them
Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence Five women who were exploited by grooming gangs in Rotherham as children say they were also abused by police officers in the town at the time. One says she was raped from the age of 12 by a serving South Yorkshire Police (SYP) officer in a marked…
See Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids Meteor Showers This Summer
Summer Meteor Showers, Short Summer Days and Ancient Arthropods Set your alarm on Wednesday to see some of the summer’s stunning meteor showers. By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. It’s been a while, but we’re finally back with our usual science news…