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 […]
Unease grows at the Justice Department as Trump’s threats get even more blunt
Carrie Johnson President Trump is openly directing the Justice Department to go after his political adversaries, adding to a sense of unease inside the department about job security and ethical obligations. Even in an era of nonstop social media posts, Trump’s weekend update stopped many government attorneys in their tracks. The president said he wanted…
Did Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant Get Married? Here’s the Truth
Amid chatter online that Keanu Reeves had married his girlfriend Alexandra Grant, whom he started dating in 2018, his publicist addressed the rumors. It looks like Keanu Reeves isn’t speeding down the aisle just yet. The Matrix actor cleared the air after rumors began swirling that he and longtime girlfriend Alexandra Grant recently tied the…
‘A heavy burden’: Belém residents evicted in rush for profits from Cop30 rentals
As the Brazilian city prepares to host 50,000 delegates, local people are being pushed from their homes The two-bedroom apartment in Belém became Suelen Freitas’s home in 2020, when she moved her family to the same building as her elderly mother. On the edge of the Amazon rainforest, it was where her story played out…
New rule for GPs after 27-year-old’s cancer missed
GPs in England are being urged to “think again” if they see a sick patient three times and can’t pin down a diagnosis, or find their symptoms are getting worse. The new NHS initiative, called Jess’s Rule, is named after Jessica Brady who contacted her GP on more than 20 occasions after starting to feel…
Tylenol Is Popular and Safe, Yet Nobody Knows How It Works
Nobody Knows How Tylenol Really Works The common pain reliever is safe when used as directed, research shows. But scientists remain puzzled by one aspect: how it reduces pain and fever By Josh Fischman edited by Jeanna Bryner Tylenol is used by millions for pain relief. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! You’re unlikely to…
Mass grave reveals scale of unlawful killings by Egyptian army in Sinai, say campaigners
Human rights group says hundreds of skeletons found exposed or buried just below ground during research into killings of civilians Hundreds of bodies could have been buried at a mass grave discovered in Egypt’s Sinai province by human rights campaigners. Bodies lying on the surface and others buried barely 30cm below were found at a…
Does Tylenol Use during Pregnancy Cause Autism? What the Research Shows
Does Tylenol Use during Pregnancy Cause Autism? What the Research Shows Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. plan to tie Tylenol use during pregnancy and folate deficiencies to rising autism rates—but the evidence is thin By Allison Parshall edited by Tanya Lewis The Trump administration today plans to link rising rates of autism spectrum disorder…
Jimmy Kimmel will be back on air on Tuesday, Disney says
By NPR Staff Less than a week after it was taken off the air under pressure from the Trump administration, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to late night on Tuesday, ABC parent company Disney confirmed. Disney pulled the comedian’s show last Wednesday after Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, condemned Kimmel’s comments about…
France formally recognises Palestinian state
France has formally recognised a Palestinian state, becoming the latest in a wave of countries to take the step. Speaking at the UN in New York, President Emmanuel Macron said “the time for peace has come” and that “nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza”. France and Saudi Arabia are hosting a one-day summit at…
Kyle Richards’ Daughter Admits to Peeing Herself at Sister’s Wedding
Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky’s daughter Sophia Umansky shared that she accidentally peed herself after leaving her sister Alexia Umansky’s Sept. 6 wedding. In a town full of phonies, Sophia Umansky isn’t afraid to be real—even at her own expense. The 25-year-old daughter of Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky shared how her lightweight undergarments may…
Trump speaks at Kirk memorial. And, several world leaders recognize Palestinian state
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Trump said the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA is “a martyr now for American freedom” at the memorial service, less than two weeks after he was killed. Kirk…
Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake Strikes San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Rattled by Predawn Earthquake The San Francisco Bay Area was rattled early this morning by a magnitude 4.3 earthquake along the Hayward fault line By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Sleeping residents of California’s San Francisco Bay Area were rattled awake by a magnitude 4.3 earthquake…
Duchess of York dropped from four charities over Epstein email
The Duchess of York has been removed as patron of four charities after an email from 2011 emerged in which she called sex offender Jeffrey Epstein her “supreme friend”. Julia’s House, a children’s hospice charity serving families in Dorset and Wiltshire, was the first to remove Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, saying…
The Denim Trend Your Mom Rocked in the ‘80s Is Making a Chic Comeback
The trending jean has shimmied its way back into our closets, and here’s everything you need to know. The fashion pendulum has swung once again, and this season it brings back a silhouette with timeless appeal: the cigarette jean. Defined by its slim, straight leg and ankle-grazing cut, the style first rose to prominence in…
Disabled Nigerian man living in UK for 38 years wins appeal against deportation
Anthony Olubunmi George, who arrived in 1986 and has no criminal convictions, given right to remain A disabled Nigerian man who has lived in the UK for almost 40 years has won an appeal to stay in the country despite the Home Office wanting to deport him. Anthony Olubunmi George, 63, came to the UK…
Ozone Layer Recovery Continues under Montreal Protocol
The Ozone Hole Is Steadily Shrinking because of Global Efforts After nearly 40 years of global efforts, the ozone hole over Antarctica is continuing to heal By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson A 3D rendering of the ozone hole evolution in 2025. Forty years after global policymakers began grappling with the crisis posed by…
Have Mercy & Check Out These 25 Secrets About Full House
Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there’s a reunion happening between Full House castmates. With their close bond, there’s always a hand to hold onto. And that’s just one secret we’re sharing. Have mercy, Full House fans. It’s been more than 30 years since ABC unceremoniously pulled the plug on the TGIF staple—which premiered on…
The evangelical Christian faith on display at Kirk’s memorial shaped his politics
Sarah McCammon Charlie Kirk’s evangelical faith was on display at his memorial service this weekend in Arizona. The service, held on a Sunday morning, felt much like a worship service, complete with prayers, songs and a call from Kirk’s widow to “forgive” Kirk’s alleged killer “because it was what Christ did.” The event opened with…
Gatwick £2.2bn second runway plan approved by government
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has approved plans for a second runway at London Gatwick Airport, as the government looks for economic growth opportunities. The £2.2bn privately-financed project involves in effect moving the current Northern Runway 12 metres to bring it into regular use, as well as other developments, including extending the size of terminals. Chancellor…
Protesters flood streets of Philippines over state corruption
Dozens of police officers injured as anger erupts over billions allegedly spent on bogus relief projects Tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets on Sunday to protest against government corruption after it was alleged that taxpayers have lost billions of dollars to bogus flood relief projects. Students, church groups, celebrities, and citizens from…
Brazilians protest in their thousands against granting Bolsonaro amnesty
Huge crowds pack the streets to oppose endeavours to help ex-president escape jail Tens of thousands of Brazilians have taken to the streets to demand no amnesty be granted to their country’s former president Jair Bolsonaro after he was convicted of plotting a coup. The far-right populist was sentenced to 27 years in prison earlier…
Climate Change Fuels Record Summer Heat, Killing Thousands
The Past Three Summers Were the Three Hottest on Record Climate-fueled heat has caused thousands of excess deaths over the past three summers, which were the three hottest on record By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser The Northern Hemisphere’s summers of 2023, 2024 and 2025 were the three hottest on record, climate agencies in…
Trump hails Charlie Kirk as ‘American hero’ as thousands fill memorial service
US President Donald Trump hailed the conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “great American hero” and “martyr” during a speech to tens of thousands of mourners at a memorial service in Arizona. Trump was the headline speaker at the packed event on Sunday, which saw top officials from his administration, including Vice-President JD Vance, praise…
Leaders promised to cut climate pollution, then doubled down on fossil fuels
Jeff Brady The world is producing too much coal, oil and natural gas to meet the targets set 10 years ago under the Paris Agreement, in which countries agreed to limit climate pollution and avoid the worst effects of global warming. A new report, led by the nonprofit research group Stockholm Environment Institute, shows countries…
Millie Bobby Brown Celebrates Her & Jake Bongiovi’s First Anniversary
Millie Bobby Brown celebrated her and husband Jake Bongiovi’s first wedding anniversary with a sweet throwback photo from their big day: “I love being your wife.” A lot can happen in a year for Millie Bobby Brown. The Stranger Things actress celebrated her first wedding anniversary with husband Jake Bongiovi—son of Jo Bon Jovi and…
Oldest Known Pachycephalosaur Fossil Discovered in Mongolia
Meet the Oldest Dome-Headed Dinosaur Ever Found A newly discovered dinosaur species has been identified from a fossil unearthed in Mongolia that represents the most complete pachycephalosaur specimen yet found By Jack Tamisiea edited by Andrea Thompson Artist’s reconstruction of the newly discovered pachycephalosaur. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Anyone who has ever flipped…
U.K., Canada and Australia recognize a Palestinian state, despite U.S. opposition
By Chandelis Duster Canada, the U.K., Australia and other countries on Sunday announced they will formally recognize Palestine as a state — a move that has long been opposed by the U.S. and Israel. “We recognized the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join…
UK rewarding Hamas, says mother of freed British-Israeli hostage
The mother of a freed British-Israeli hostage has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “rewarding” Hamas after the UK government said it would formally recognise a Palestinian state. Mandy Damari, whose kidnapped daughter Emily was held for 15 months, criticised the decision being taken when “the hostages are still not back, the war is not over…
Kenya’s arrest warrant is milestone in Agnes Wanjiru case but lengthy UK process awaits
After 13 years, warrant has been issued for UK suspect, but Robert James Purkiss would need to be extradited to face charges British soldier accused of murdering Agnes Wanjiru named In the spring of 2012, David Cameron was prime minister and British troops were still fighting in Afghanistan under the stewardship of the then defence…
Elon Musk’s Daughter Vivian Wilson Says She’s Financially Independent
Vivian Wilson, the daughter of Elon Musk and Justine Wilson, set the record straight around her finances during a panel at the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit: “People have a lot of assumptions.” Vivian Wilson is paving her own path. Indeed, the estranged daughter of Elon Musk cleared up any misconceptions around how much of her…
Trump nominates White House aide to be top US prosecutor for office probing Letitia James
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would be nominating senior White House aide Lindsey Halligan to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the Virginia office that was thrown into turmoil when its U.S. attorney was pushed out Friday. In a social media post just after he departed…
Recognising Palestinian statehood opens another question – who would lead it?
Earlier this month, a Palestinian diplomat called Husam Zomlot was invited to a discussion at the Chatham House think tank in London. Belgium had just joined the UK, France and other countries in promising to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations in New York. And Dr Zomlot was clear that this was a…
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Step Out After King Charles Reunion
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a joint appearance at the One805LIVE! concert in California, marking the Duke of Sussex’s first public outing since reuniting with his father King Charles III. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping out for a cause. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance at the One805LIVE!…
Vaccines Are at Risk, Fired CDC Director Warns Senators
U.S. Vaccine Guidance Is in Chaos, Fired CDC Director Tells Senators Former CDC chief Susan Monarez testified that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., had demanded she rubber-stamp recommendations from his remade vaccine panel By Dan Vergano edited by Lauren J. Young Susan Monarez. At a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday,…
Trump says Xi Jinping has agreed to approve TikTok deal, but details unclear
Trump’s statement suggests preliminary agreement between leaders in the first direct contact between them since June Donald Trump said on Friday that he and Xi Jinping had agreed to approve a deal over TikTok. “He approved the TikTok deal,” Trump said about Xi to reporters in the Oval Office, suggesting the leaders signed off on…
How a Contentious CDC Vaccine Meeting Will Affect Public Health
Here’s What Happened at RFK, Jr.’s Overhauled Vaccine Panel Meeting Three vaccines were on the agenda for this week’s meeting of ACIP, the CDC’s key advisory panel on immunization: the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine and COVID vaccines By Meghan Bartels & Andrea Tamayo edited by Lauren J. Young…
China issues warning to Papua New Guinea over defence deal with Australia
Beijing’s comments come as leading military figures in PNG express concern over a potential defence treaty with Australia China has urged Papua New Guinea not to sign a treaty that could restrict or prevent it from cooperating with another country, days after Australia failed to secure a defence pact with the Pacific nation. In a…
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Wedding Game Plan: All the Details
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding will be meticulously planned and laden with symbolism, obviously. Here’s everything else to know so far about their big day. One day we’re going to look back on this time and realize all the clues were right there. But while we’re still in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s engagement era, only…
Israel will occupy more West Bank land, but recognition matters, mayor tells BBC
States are there to protect. But so are fathers. Abdel Aziz Majarmeh was standing next to his 13-year-old son, Islam, as he was shot dead by Israeli forces this month at the entrance to Jenin refugee camp, in the occupied West Bank. “My son fell to the ground, and then I heard the sound of…
UK set to recognize Palestinian state despite opposition from the US
By The Associated Press LONDON — The U.K. is expected to recognize a Palestinian state later Sunday despite opposition from the U.S., after judging that Israel has not met conditions it set over the war in Gaza. Though the anticipated move is largely symbolic, the U.K. hopes that it could increase diplomatic pressure for an…
Dogs with Large Vocabularies Can Understand Category Words, Not Just Names
Some Dogs Can Learn Categories like Human Toddlers Do These dogs can extend words to new objects based on function the way children do in early language learning By Anirban Mukhopadhyay edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Researchers found that some dogs can learn terms for functional categories, such as ‘pull’ and ‘throw’ toys. Join Our…
Chinese executive jailed for 25 years in US for trafficking fentanyl chemicals
Qingzhou Wang of Amarvel Biotech accused by prosecutors of turning chemical company into ‘pipeline of poison’ A Chinese company executive has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for trafficking in chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, the US justice department has said. Qingzhou Wang, 37, principal executive of Amarvel Biotech, a company based in Wuhan,…
Olivia Rodrigo’s Boyfriend Louis Partridge Details Private Romance
Olivia Rodrigo’s boyfriend Louis Partridge shared insight into why he and the Grammy winner choose to keep their romance out of the spotlight: “There’s a sanctity to being private.” Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge’s love is anything but embarrassing. Nearly three months after he and the “Traitor” singer made headlines with their joint outing at…
Why Starmer decided the time was right to recognise a Palestinian state
Successive UK governments have said recognition of a Palestinian state should be part of a peace process at a time when it can have maximum impact. In July, amid the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and under growing pressure from his own MPs, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer decided that time was now. He announced…
Man arrested after drive-by shooting at ABC TV station in Sacramento
By Chandelis Duster A man has been arrested after a drive-by shooting into an ABC affiliate TV station in Sacramento, according to police. Anibal Hernandezsantana, 64 years old, was arrested early Saturday and charged with felonies that include shooting into an occupied building, assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm, the…
Aftershock of July’s 8.8 Earthquake Strikes Kamchatka. Tsunami Risk Waning
Strong Earthquake Hits Kamchatka. Tsunami Risk Waning A powerful magnitude 7.8 aftershock off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula that arose from July’s magnitude 8.8 earthquake is raising concerns about possible tsunami impacts, although risk appears to be waning By Meghan Bartels edited by Lee Billings A seismic map shows the epicenter and intensity of a major earthquake…
Taylor Swift upcoming ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ to hit movie theatres
By Ava Pukatch The showgirl is headed back to the big screen. Global music icon Taylor Swift is bringing her upcoming 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl to theaters, coinciding with the album’s Oct. 3 release date. “I hereby invite you to a *dazzling* soirée, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl: Oct…
Starmer set to announce UK recognition of Palestinian state on Sunday
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement on Sunday afternoon. The move comes after the prime minister said in July the UK would shift its position in September unless Israel met conditions including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term sustainable…
Trump says U.S. military fatally struck another alleged drug-smuggling boat
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel this month. Trump in a social media posting said the strike killed three and was carried out against a vessel “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking…
Landmark high seas treaty crosses finish line
After decades of negotiation, the high seas treaty is finally reality. First adopted by the United Nations in 2023, the treaty was officially ratified by the required 60 countries on Friday. This historic agreement will pave the way to protect international waters — Earth’s least-governed ecosystems — which face numerous threats from overfishing, deep sea…
Reese Witherspoon Reflects on Leaving an Abusive Relationship
Reese Witherspoon reflected on gaining back her confidence and self-esteem after leaving an abusive relationship early on in her career: “I had to rewire my brain.” Reese Witherspoon has lived and she’s learned. Indeed, the Morning Show star detailed the aftermath of leaving an abusive relationship when she was “really young,” including the insecurity and…
‘Etymology Nerd’ Adam Aleksic on How Internet Culture Is Transforming the Way We Talk
The Linguistic Science behind Viral Social Media Slang Linguist Adam Aleksic explains how viral slang and algorithm-driven speech aren’t destroying language––they’re accelerating its natural evolution. By Rachel Feltman, Allison Parshall & Jeffery DelViscio This episode was made possible by the support of Yakult and produced independently by Scientific American‘s board of editors. Rachel Feltman: For…
Cyber-attack causes delays at Heathrow and other European airports
Heathrow is among several European airports hit by a cyber-attack affecting an electronic check-in and baggage system. The airport said a number of flights were delayed on Saturday as a “technical issue” impacted software provided to several airlines. Brussels Airport said a cyber-attack on Friday night meant passengers were being checked in and boarded manually,…
Eritrean man is second to be deported to France under UK’s ‘one in, one out’ deal
Home Office says man left Heathrow for Paris early on Friday after losing high court attempt to block move An Eritrean man has been deported to France under the UK government’s “one in, one out” deal with the neighbouring country. The man – the second to be deported under the agreement – was on a…
How to Weigh a Black Hole
The UniverseFridays How Do You Weigh a Black Hole? Gauging the mass of a black hole is tricky, but astronomers have devised multiple methods to measure the heft of these galactic gluttons By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This jagged jumble of pixels may look like a rainbow-colored thunderbolt, but it’s actually a spectrum…
Son of British couple held by Taliban ‘ecstatic’ as they return to UK
The son of an British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months has said he is “overwhelmed” by their release. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, are due to fly to the UK on Saturday after being reunited with their daughter…
Facts About New Girl That Will Leave You Wistful For the Loft
The economy stinks, bees are dying and movies are pretty much all sequels now, but as New Girl marks its 14th anniversary, you can still enjoy these fun facts from the cast and creator. Chicks & Dicks sounds alarmingly like something that would have Schmidt contributing to the Douchebag Jar. And yet that was the…
Social media is shattering America’s understanding of Charlie Kirk’s death
Geoff Brumfiel When Vice President Vance hosted an episode of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s podcast on Monday, he blamed an “incredibly destructive movement of left-wing extremism” for Kirk’s assasination. That same night, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel said the “MAGA gang” was desperately trying to characterize the killer as “anything other than one of them.”…
Trump again asks supreme court to end protections for Venezuelans in US
Justice department urges court to overturn ruling that Kristi Noem lacked authority to end TPS program The Trump administration asked the US supreme court on Friday to intervene for the second time in a case involving its bid to end deportation protections the former president, Joe Biden, granted to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in…
Go Ahead, Write in the Margins—It’s Good for Your Brain
Writing in Your Books Is Good for Your Brain—Here’s Why Annotating the margins of books is an important part of deep reading and has a long legacy of merit in both science and literature By Brianne Kane edited by Jeanna Bryner Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Readers on TikTok and Instagram are making the aesthetics…