Addiction Risk Shows up in Children’s Brain Scans before Drug Use Starts
Massive Study Flips Our Story of Addiction and the Brain Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip By Maia Szalavitz edited by Allison Parshall For decades, Americans have been told a simple story about addiction: taking drugs damages the brain—and the […]
Can Life Survive the Death of the Sun?
The UniverseFridays When the Sun Becomes a Red Giant, Will Any Planet Be Safe? The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the far-future sun, swollen to become a red giant star, as […]
Proof That Adult Brains Make New Neurons Settles Scientific Controversy
Proof That Adult Brains Make New Neurons Settles Scientific Controversy Adult brains grow new neurons, and scientists have finally pinpointed where they come from By Nora Bradford edited by Allison Parshall Neural precursor cells (green) are have been difficult to identify in human brians. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! For at least six decades, […]
Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky
Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky This planet triggers flares on its star—spelling its ultimate doom By Jacek Krywko edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier In this artist’s impression, the planet HIP 67522 b sends a wave of energy along magnetic field lines toward the surface of its host star—triggering a massive flare […]
In effort to protect children, France bans smoking at parks and beaches
Eleanor Beardsley PARIS — A restrictive outdoor smoking ban has come into force in France, a country where café culture, which often includes a glass of wine and a cigarette, is a way of life. As of Sunday, smokers are no longer allowed to light up in public parks, at swimming pools, or at beaches, […]
Trump shrinks National Security Council in major foreign policy shakeup
By Tom Bowman , Franco Ordoñez President Trump has ordered massive cuts to the White House National Security Council, sending dozens of policy experts packing on Friday, one of the officials who was let go told NPR. The official said that the dismissals were abrupt. Staffers were notified at 4:30 p.m. and asked to leave…
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Twins Celebrate High School Graduation Amid Trial
Amid Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial, the music mogul’s twin daughters Jessie Combs and D’Lila Combs—who he shares with late ex Kim Porter—celebrated their high school graduation. Jessie Combs and D’Lila Combs are moving on up. The 18-year-old twin daughters of Sean “Diddy” Combs and his late ex Kim Porter celebrated their high…
New Infrared Contacts Let You See in the Dark
New Contacts Let You See Infrared Light—Even with Your Eyes Closed Straight out of science fiction, these contact lenses convert infrared light into visible light that humans can see By Elizabeth Gibney & Nature magazine People who tested a new type of designer contact lens could see flashing infrared signals from a light source. Humans…
Trump threatens 25% tariff on iPhones if they are not made in US
President wipes about $70bn off Apple shares as he raises pressure on company to build smartphones in US Business live – latest updates Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones if they are not made in the United States, as he stepped up the pressure on Apple to build its signature…
Ukraine and Russia begin the largest prisoner-of-war exchange since the invasion
By Joanna Kakissis , Polina Lytvynova A CITY IN NORTHERN UKRAINE — Ukraine and Russia began the exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war Friday, the largest such swap since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “We are bringing our people home,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media, after…
Cute Office Essentials to Transform Your Desk From Drab to Fab
Whether you go into the office or WFH, these office essentials will bring you joy (and make you more productive). The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. We’re going to go ahead and guess that your current office setup is pretty bleak. You’ve probably…
Trump threatens 50% tariffs on EU goods and 25% on iPhones not made in US
US President Donald Trump has said he is recommending a 50% tariff on all goods from the European Union being imported to the United States. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” he wrote in a post on social media on Friday. He said the new tariffs would kick in on 1 June. The announcement…
The Creepy Calculus of Measuring Death Risk
The Creepy Calculus of Measuring Death Risk Meet micromorts and microlives, statistical units that help mathematicians to calculate risk By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas People are generally bad at assessing probabilities. That’s why we have irrational fears and why we overestimate our odds of winning the lottery. Whenever I have to travel by…
‘Full-frontal assault’: Guyana president decries Venezuela ‘sham’ elections for disputed region
Irfaan Ali tells Guardian of ‘grave’ implications of move to elect officials in Essequibo, recognised as part of Guyana Venezuela’s decision to elect officials to administer a swathe of Guyanese territory constitutes “a full-frontal assault on Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” that “undermines regional peace”, the country’s president, Irfaan Ali, has warned. Venezuelans will head…
Customers urged to fix energy bills as prices fall from July
Households are being urged to shop around for cheaper energy deals as prices fall from July. A typical gas and electricity bill will fall by £11 a month from July and regulator Ofgem said switching to a fixed deal could be better value for many customers. It said shopping around could lead to a £200…
Teen Mom’s Cheyenne Floyd Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby With Zach Davis
Teen Mom: Next Chapter star Cheyenne Floyd shared that she is pregnant with her third child, her second baby with husband Zach Davis. Cheyenne Floyd is getting her miracle. The Teen Mom: Next Chapter star shared that she’s pregnant and expecting her second baby with husband Zach Davis during the May 22 episode. “Zach and…
How Much Ultraprocessed Food Do You Eat? Blood and Urine Record It
How Much Ultraprocessed Food Do You Eat? Blood and Urine Record It A new study suggests blood and urine samples could provide an objective measure of diets and help unravel their connections to disease By Smriti Mallapaty & Nature magazine Diets rich in industrially manufactured food have been associated with several health conditions. Molecules in…
Electric grills are a climate-friendly option to fossil fuel grills
Jeff Brady PHILADELPHIA – Summer grilling usually starts with filling a propane tank or buying a bag of charcoal briquettes. But some people are ditching these fossil fuels for a more climate-friendly electric grill. Just before dinner recently, Stoio Kachev wheeled his electric grill across his family’s backyard patio to an electrical outlet, plugged it…
Why Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Won’t Shield the U.S. from Nuclear Strikes
Why Some Experts Call Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Shield a Dangerous Fantasy The White House’s $175-billion plan to protect the U.S. from nuclear annihilation will probably cost much more—and deliver far less—than has been claimed, says nuclear arms expert Jeffrey Lewis By Lee Billings U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the…
How Jennifer Lopez Is Preparing for Big TV Return at AMAs 2025
Jennifer Lopez exclusively told E! News how she’s been preparing to return as the host of the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 26, nearly a decade after she first took on the TV gig. Jennifer Lopez is getting ready to dance again for her next big gig. The “On The Floor”…
In reversal, Trump administration restores classes at the National Fire Academy
Frank Langfitt The Trump administration is restoring in-person training at the National Fire Academy in tiny Emmitsburg, Md., after abruptly pausing it in March. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the academy, initially paused on-site classes, saying the government would no longer pay for travel for programs it did not deem “mission critical.” On…
Patients from Nottingham killer’s NHS trust carried out stabbings weeks before attack
Two men with paranoid schizophrenia stabbed members of the public in separate attacks weeks before Valdo Calocane’s killings in Nottingham – and all were under the care of the same NHS trust, the BBC has found. Josef Easom-Cooper and Junior Dietlin injured six men in the stabbings in Nottinghamshire in 2023. Within weeks, Calocane –…
World’s seven wealthiest countries agree to counter China’s trade practices
G7 finance ministers and central bank governors pledge to address ‘economic imbalances’, without naming China Top finance officials from the world’s seven wealthiest democracies have set aside stark differences on US tariffs and agreed to counter global “economic imbalances”, a swipe at China’s trade practices. Ahead of the meeting of G7 finance ministers and central…
UK signs £101m-a-year deal to hand over Chagos Islands
Sir Keir Starmer has signed a deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a key military base for £101m a year. The prime minister said the deal was the only way to maintain the base’s long-term future and strengthened the UK’s national security. Under the terms of the agreement Mauritius would…
Justin Baldoni Drops Taylor Swift Subpoena in Blake Lively Legal War
After Justin Baldoni’s legal team withdrew a subpoena issued to Taylor Swift amid his legal battle with Blake Lively, the Gossip Girl alum’s spokesperson reacted to the update. It turns out Taylor Swift will be excluded from this narrative after all. While Justin Baldoni’s attorneys issued a subpoena to the “Look What You Made Me…
The U.K. hands Chagos Islands over to Mauritius but says it will secure a U.S. base
By Fatima Al-Kassab LONDON — The United Kingdom has signed a deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, in an agreement Britain says will also ensure the future of a strategically important U.S. military base. The Chagos Islands are an archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Under the deal,…
A Public Health Researcher and Her Engineer Husband Found How Diseases Can Spread through Air Decades before the COVID Pandemic
Mildred Weeks Wells’s Work on Airborne Transmission Could Have Saved Many Lives—If the Scientific Establishment Listened Mildred Weeks Wells and her husband figured out that disease-causing pathogens can spread through the air like smoke By Carol Sutton Lewis, Luca Evans & The Lost Women of Science Initiative LISTEN TO THE PODCAST If you’re enjoying this…
Brazil activists decry green rollbacks as senate passes ‘devastation bill’
Legislation would dismantle regulations in farming, mining and energy, increasing risk of widespread destruction Environmental activists in Brazil have decried a dramatic rollback of environmental safeguards after the senate approved a bill that would dismantle licensing processes and increase the risk of widespread destruction. The upper house passed the so-called “devastation bill” with 54 votes…
Jim Irsay, longtime Colts owner and music memorabilia collector, dies at 65
By Rachel Treisman Jim Irsay — the longtime owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts and a prolific rock-and-roll collector — has died at age 65. He “passed away peacefully in his sleep” on Wednesday afternoon, the Colts said in a statement, extending their sympathies to his three daughters and his entire family. “Jim’s dedication…
Teachers and doctors in England given 4% pay rise
Most doctors and teachers in England have been handed a 4% pay rise after the government accepted recommendations from pay review bodies. The awards are higher than the 2.8% it previously budgeted for, with ministers saying most of the remainder will have to come from existing budgets. Education unions have broadly welcomed the decision, while…
Trump Leaves Disaster-Struck States Waiting Weeks for Sign-Off on FEMA Aid
Disaster-Struck States Waiting for Weeks for Trump’s Sign-Off on FEMA Aid States and cities struck by deadly tornadoes and floods are begging the Trump administration for disaster aid By Thomas Frank & E&E News A man is comforted by a family friend while cleaning up the debris of his house on May 18, 2025 in…
Erin Andrews Shares Surrogate Had Miscarriage in Heartbreaking Update
Erin Andrews shared that her surrogate recently experienced a miscarriage amid pregnancy for her and husband Jarret Stoll’s second baby. Erin Andrews is giving a difficult personal update. The ESPN sportscaster, who has been open about her fertility struggles over the years, shared that she and husband Jarret Stoll received sad news amid their journey…
US deportations cast spotlight on South Sudan’s deepening political crisis
World’s youngest country is facing renewed outbreak of tensions that have plagued it for years An attempt by the US to deport South Asian migrants to South Sudan has cast a spotlight on the world’s youngest country, which is experiencing a renewed outbreak of the political tensions that have plagued it over the years. On…
What we know so far about the shooting
A couple who worked for the Israeli Embassy have been shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC. Police say the victims, who have been named as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were killed by a man who shouted “free, free Palestine”. The suspect is in custody. Here’s what you need to know…
Judge rules White House violated order by deporting migrants to South Sudan
Eight people apparently deported as their lawyers say they are at ‘risk of harm’ and that there is ‘no clarity’ A federal judge has ruled the US government’s attempt to deport migrants to South Sudan “unquestionably” violated an earlier court order. Brian E Murphy, the US district judge in Massachusetts, made the remark at an…
DC This Week Roundup – Software and Stealth
Ray: The Titans are under attack from all quarters in this issue, as Slade’s new team continues to stalk them and plot a major assault. But complicating things, the Justice League has called them out on the carpet – pointing out that they’ve been acting independently and have potentially put the entire DCU at risk…
Trump tried to shutter Radio Free Europe. The EU threw it a lifeline
David Folkenflik The European Union has stepped in to provide Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty an infusion of millions of dollars to keep functioning as the international broadcaster battles the Trump administration to release funds Congress has already designated for it. “We are grateful for the emergency funding to help keep Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty afloat,”…
Who Won Survivor? Season 48 Winner Revealed
Survivor’s season 48 finale aired May 21 and Kyle Fraser claimed the $1 million prize, beating out Joe Hunter, Eva Erickson, Kamilla Karthigesu and Mitch Guerra. Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the season 48 finale of Survivor. Kyle Fraser‘s survival instincts just earned him $1 million. Of the 18 hopeful castaways that came to…
Vitamin D May Slow Cells’ Aging by Protecting DNA
Vitamin D May Slow Cells’ Aging Vitamin D supplements may help prevent the loss of telomeres, DNA sequences that shrink with aging, a large study shows. But the health effects aren’t yet clear By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner A new study suggests vitamin D supplements might slow cellular aging by protecting telomeres. Vitamin…
Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead in Washington DC
Two Israeli embassy staff were killed outside a Jewish museum in downtown Washington DC, officials say. The victims, a man and woman, were shot while exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, sources told the BBC’s news partner CBS, adding that the incident appears targeted. The shooting happened at 21:05 local time around 3rd…
Trump’s ‘white genocide’ claims ignore the reality of life and crime in South Africa
US president intoned ‘death, death, death’ as he waved articles purporting to show violence against white minority It was an ambush crafted straight from a reality-TV playbook. The Oval Office meeting with South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, started with exchanges of pleasantries, before Donald Trump said “turn the lights down” and a video was played…
Getting Enough Sleep is Critical for Weight Loss and Maintenance
Sleep Plays an Important Role in Sustainable Weight Loss A sleep medicine specialist explains how restless nights lead to consuming more calories and how you can use sleep as a tool for weight loss By Tammy Worth This Nature Outlook is editorially independent, produced with financial support from Avadel. A healthy diet and regular exercise…
Proof Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Are in “Vacation Mode”
Caitlin Clark detailed what Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been up to since the Super Bowl while detailing her hopes that they attend one of her WNBA games this season. Caitlin Clark sees a slam dunk date night in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s future. While the duo have largely stayed out of the spotlight…
Trump ambushes S African leader with claim of Afrikaners being ‘persecuted’
US President Donald Trump seemed to ambush his South African counterpart at the White House on Wednesday, confronting him with a video that Trump said supported his claim that white farmers were being “persecuted” in the country. The footage, shown during a news conference with Cyril Ramaphosa, purported to show the gravesites of murdered farmers.…
Southwest Airlines will require passengers to keep chargers visible due to fire risk
By Joe Hernandez Passengers flying on Southwest Airlines will soon be required to keep battery packs and other portable charging devices visible if they’re using them during a flight. The airline announced in an emailed statement on Wednesday that this “first-in-industry” policy will take effect on May 28. It is intended as a safety measure…
Highway to Halloween: The Lowe’s Haunted Haunted Sea Diver Animatronic
We just passed the “Halfway to Halloween” date, which landed midway between April 30th and May 1st. And so it’s about time to start sharing with our readers some of the great ways you’ll be able to decorate for spooky season! You may recall that I reviewed a couple of Lowe’s 12-foot animatronics in 2024:…
EU’s ‘chocolate crisis’ worsened by climate breakdown, researchers warn
Cocoa one of six commodities vulnerable to environmental threats in ‘extremely worrying picture’ for food resilience Climate breakdown and wildlife loss are deepening the EU’s “chocolate crisis”, a report has argued, with cocoa one of six key commodities to come mostly from countries vulnerable to environmental threats. More than two-thirds of the cocoa, coffee, soy,…
News spotlight: Can atolls survive sea-level rise?
Across the Indian and Pacific oceans, tiny atolls — islands formed atop ancient coral reefs — are facing an existential crisis. Unchecked sea-level rise could all but wipe them out in the coming century. Rising seas have already made their mark on these islands, having forced the relocation of some South Pacific villages, and even…
Starmer announces U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts
Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ease cuts to winter fuel payments, in a U-turn following mounting political pressure in recent weeks. More than nine million pensioners lost out on the payments, worth up to £300, when eligibility for the pension top-up was tightened last year. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said…
Sleep Aids Can Be Uneven and Expensive, Leaving Anxious Patients Lacking
One Woman’s Pharmaceutical Journey to a Good Night’s Sleep When insomnia took hold of this journalist, she relied on her science reporting to find a medication that (mostly) worked By Rachel Nuwer This Nature Outlook is editorially independent, produced with financial support from Avadel. I never had issues with sleep until the COVID-19 pandemic. A…
The ‘tush push’ lives on. NFL teams vote to keep the controversial play
By Joe Hernandez The “tush push” is here to stay. An effort to ban the controversial football play failed to get enough votes among the NFL teams gathered in Minneapolis Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Eagles among the first to announce the news with a two-word post to X: “Push On.” pic.twitter.com/bQh1wDWhTN A proposal by the…
Why Kourtney Kardashian Doesn’t Give Her Kids Tylenol, Ibuprofen
Kourtney Kardashian recently revealed some of the ways she goes against what might be considered parenting norms when it comes to her and Travis Barker’s blended family. Kourtney Kardashian isn’t keeping up with the norm. The Kardashians star recently shed light on how she reacts when her children are under the weather. (ICYMI, she is…
South Africa’s Ramaphosa expected to take golf stars to Trump meeting
Ernie Els and Retief Goosen reportedly part of delegation as president seeks to reset ties after white ‘genocide’ claims The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is expected to take the golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen with him to meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as the government attempts to reset relations…
These students protested the Gaza war. Trump’s deportation threat didn’t silence them
Adrian Florido When, in early March, one of Mahmoud Khalil’s classmates at Columbia University heard that immigration agents had come for him, she triple-locked her door, terrified she might be next. “I just absolutely broke down, because he has a green card,” she said. As a student with only a temporary visa, she reasoned they’d…
Bills push inflation to highest in more than a year
A rise in the cost of household bills has pushed UK inflation to its highest rate in more than a year, according to official data. Inflation was 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and higher than economists had expected. Water, gas and electricity prices all went up on 1 April along with a…
‘Then There Was One:’ A Book Review
Who wouldn’t want to read a mash-up of The Hunger Games and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None? As the title suggests, Then There Was One leans heavily on one while borrowing a little from the other. The result? An entertaining mystery and a compulsive Young Adult thriller. The book is set in the…
The Voice Season 27 Winner Revealed
Find out if Team Adam Levine, Team John Legend, Team Kelsea Ballerini or Team Michael Bublé won during The Voice‘s season 27 finale on May 20. If The Voice is your everything, we have news for you. Adam David was announced the winner of season 27 during the NBC singing competition series’ May 20 finale,…
Police investigation into UK retail hacks focuses on English-speaking youths
Detectives investigating cyber attacks on UK retailers are focussing on a notorious cluster of cyber criminals known to be young English-speakers, some of them teenagers, police have revealed. For weeks speculation has mounted that disruptive attacks on M&S, Co-op, Harrods and some US retailers could be the work of a hacking community called Scattered Spider.…
12,000 chicks found abandoned in postal truck raise concerns about animal shipping
By Lydia Calitri A Delaware animal shelter is working to find new homes for thousands of chicks that were left abandoned in a U.S. Postal Service truck for three days. Delaware’s Department of Agriculture said it received a call earlier this month from USPS saying the Postal Service had an “undeliverable box of baby birds.”…
Apple Settles Claim for Siri Eavesdropping
Is Your Tech Listening? Apple Settles Claim for Siri Eavesdropping By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser The lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, dates back to July 2019, when the Guardian published the allegations of an anonymous whistleblower—an Apple subcontractor whose job was to listen to Siri recordings to determine if the voice-activated assistant was…
Fires drove record loss of world’s forests last year, ‘frightening’ data shows
The destruction of the world’s forests reached the highest level ever recorded in 2024, driven by a surge in fires caused by global heating, according to “frightening” new data. In tropical regions, home to the most biodiverse and carbon-dense forests on the planet, fire became the leading driver of loss for the first time since…
‘A Gentle Rain’: A Relaxing Puzzle Game
Calm your brain at this quiet lake. A Gentle Rain is a tile-laying puzzle game for 1 or more players, ages 8 and up, and takes about 15 minutes to play. It retails for $22.99 and is available directly from Incredible Dream or at your local game store. There is also a Bloom Edition that…
‘Heart Lamp’ wins International Booker, with stories of India’s Muslim women and girls
Andrew Limbong The writer and advocate Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi have won this year’s International Booker Prize for their book Heart Lamp. The book is the first short story collection to win the prize, which awards the best fiction translated into English. “Heart Lamp is something genuinely new for English readers,” wrote Max…
UK steps up action against Israel over Gaza offensive
The UK has suspended talks on a trade deal with Israel, summoned the country’s ambassador and imposed fresh sanctions on West Bank settlers, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the military escalation in Gaza as “morally unjustifiable”. The move follows warnings of starvation in Gaza after Israel launched a new military operation over the weekend.…
Mexican navy says ship’s pilot in deadly bridge crash was from New York
Officials say ship must be operated by specialized harbor pilot as investigation into crash that killed two continues The Mexican navy has said that the pilot navigating the training ship Cuauhtémoc during its Saturday night crash into the Brooklyn Bridge was New York-based. “The ship must be controlled by a specialized harbor pilot from the…