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 […]
Did Astronomers Photograph UFOs Orbiting Earth in the 1950s?
UFOs Are Just One Explanation for Mysterious Patterns in Old Telescope Data New peer-reviewed research reporting strange lights in the pre-space-age sky is sparking curiosity and controversy By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings For generations, UFO enthusiasts have longed for claims of aliens visiting Earth to be seriously investigated by scientists. Now they are […]
Train hero who saved passengers during attack named
The 48-year-old’s actions on the Doncaster to London King’s Cross service on Saturday evening were described as “nothing short of heroic”. Mr Zitouni remains “critically unwell” but stable in hospital, British Transport Police said. Anthony Williams, 32, of no fixed abode, was charged with 10 counts of attempted murder relating to the train stabbing and…
Why Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner Didn’t Call Off Theresa Nist Wedding
Three months after Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist wed on TV, they announced their divorce. In his new memoir, he reveals why he went through with the ceremony despite having doubts. Gerry Turner admits some doubts were blooming before he married ex Theresa Nist. Still, The Golden Bachelor star says his concerns hadn’t…
H9N2 Bird Flu Virus Could Pose Human Pandemic Risk, Experts Warn
This Overlooked Bird Flu Strain Might Be the Next Pandemic Risk Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells, but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature magazine Join Our Community of Science Lovers! A bird flu virus that has often been ignored because it mostly causes minor disease…
As criticism grows, is UAE ready to walk away from Sudan’s RSF militia?
After mass killings in El Fasher and four years on from a coup, UAE now admits its Sudan policy has gone wrong The United Arab Emirates’ diplomatic machine is for the first time admitting to mistakes in its Sudan policy after suffering reputational damage over its support for the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese paramilitary…
When SNAP benefits will arrive is still in flux. Here’s what communities are doing to fill the gap
By The NPR Network The Trump administration says it will restart the national food aid program known as SNAP using money from a Department of Agriculture contingency fund but will only pay out half the amount participants would normally receive. In a court filing, officials said depleting that fund means “no funds will remain for…
Chris Mason: Could Reeves break a 50-year taboo by raising income tax?
It has been called the 50-year tax taboo. It is more than half a century since a chancellor of the exchequer chose to put up the basic rate of income tax. The chancellor in question was Labour’s Denis Healey and the Budget was delivered on 15 April 1975. Not once since have any of his…
Reeves says Budget will be ‘fair’ as tax rise speculation mounts
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she will take “fair choices” in the Budget as economists continue to predict tax rises to try to balance the books. Reeves is expected to give a speech to Downing Street later ahead of the 26 November Budget. Labour explicitly ruled out a rise in VAT, National Insurance or income tax…
Rihanna Makes Red Carpet Return With A$AP Rocky After Giving Birth
Rihanna attended the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City Nov. 3 alongside A$AP Rocky, marking her first red carpet appearance since giving birth to the pair’s daughter Rocki Irish in September. Rihanna is shining bright like a diamond for her return to the red carpet. During the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards in New…
Glowing Sperm Reveals How Female Mosquitos Control Sex
Glowing Sperm Reveals How Female Mosquitos Control Sex Female Aedes mosquitoes signal that copulation can proceed by subtly extending their genitalia By Mariana Lenharo & Nature magazine Sex between Aedes aegypti mosquitoes lasts about 14 seconds. Female mosquitoes that transmit dengue and other diseases are actually in charge during sex, according to a study that…
Los Angeles celebrates the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series championship
By Steve Futterman LOS ANGELES — Even as they were celebrating their second straight World Series championship with a parade in downtown Los Angeles and a rally at Dodger Stadium, the L.A. Dodgers on Monday were already talking about winning three in a row. “We are a mother effing dynasty, baby,” screamed Dodger outfielder Kiké…
Peru severs diplomatic relations with Mexico after former prime minister claims asylum
Peru’s government has severed diplomatic relations with Mexico over the asylum claim of former Peruvian prime minister Betssy Chávez Peru’s government has announced the country is severing diplomatic relations with Mexico over the asylum claim of former Peruvian prime minister Betssy Chávez, who is under investigation for rebellion. Peruvian foreign minister Hugo de Zela told…
Chile to end Pinochet henchmen’s pampered prison life of tennis and barbecues
Punta Peuco – where military human rights offenders enjoy privileged conditions – set to join public prison network Inmates at an infamous high-security military prison in Chile, which houses the perpetrators of dictatorship-era human rights crimes, are set to lose their privileged conditions under plans to incorporate the prison into the public prison network. President…
A gun violence ‘action plan’ calls for a new emphasis on prevention
By Rhitu Chatterjee In the past 25 years, the U.S. has seen more than 800,000 deaths from gun violence, and another 2 million or more injuries. A new report offers a roadmap to reduce the human toll of this crisis by 2040. “For too long, I think we’ve treated this as inevitable,” says Dr. Joseph…
Halsey Hospitalized for “Minor Medical Emergency” After Concert
Halsey announced that a “medical emergency” landed her in the hospital after performing her first of two concerts in Boston as part of her Back to Badlands international tour. Halsey is ready to rock, but maybe not as hard. Amid her two-night stop in Boston for her international Back to Badlands tour, the “Without Me”…
The Taurid Meteor Shower May Hide an Impact Threat to Earth
Catch the Taurid Meteor Shower—And Learn Why Scientists Are Watching It Closely Debris from Comet Encke creates two annual meteor showers, but it might also pose a small risk to Earth. Scientists are investigating By Meghan Bartels edited by Dan Vergano A meteor from the Southern Taurid meteor shower streaks towards the aurora borealis in…
Police investigating whether train attack suspect linked to stabbing of 14-year-old on Friday
Police are investigating whether a man accused of stabbing 10 people on a train is linked to an attack on a 14-year-old boy and to two reports of a knifeman at a barbers’ shop. Cambridgeshire Police said it was reviewing the incidents following the knife attack on the London-bound LNER train after it passed through…
Reba McEntire & Fiancé Rex Linn Reveal “Nontraditional” Wedding Plans
Happy’s Place stars Reba McEntire and Rex Linn, who announced their engagement in September, detailed wedding planning ahead of the NBC series’ season two premiere in an exclusive E! News interview. Reba McEntire and Rex Linn have hearts of fighters. But the Happy’s Place stars, who announced their engagement in September, are far from just…
At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled since fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
International Organization for Migration says refugees are heading to Tawila, which is already sheltering 652,000 displaced people More than 36,000 people have fled Sudan’s Kordofan region since Saturday amid a surge in fighting, the UN’s migration agency has said, following the capture last week of the city of El Fasher in neighbouring Darfur by the…
Why Hurricane Melissa Was One of the Most Powerful Atlantic Storms in History
Hurricane Melissa Was One of the Strongest Atlantic Storms Ever. Here’s Why Hurricane Melissa’s rare intensity and lasting impact reveal how storms are evolving in a warming world. By Rachel Feltman, Andrea Thompson, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Today we’re mainly going…
Famine is spreading in Sudan, a global hunger authority says
By The Associated Press CAIRO — Famine has spread to two regions of war-torn Sudan, including a major city in Darfur where paramilitary fighters have been rampaging, a global hunger monitoring group said Monday, as the war has created the world’s largest humanitarian disaster. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the leading international authority on…
Scunthorpe player and Forest fan among train attack victims
A Scunthorpe United player and a Nottingham Forest fan are among the victims stabbed in a knife attack on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening. They are among 10 people injured on the train during the mass stabbing. Footballer Jonathan Gjoshe, 22, and Forest fan Stephen Crean were travelling on a LNER train from…
Orcas Repeatedly Attack Young Great White Sharks, Drone Footage Reveals
First-Ever Footage Shows Killer Whales Attacking Great White Shark Nursery An orca pod has been spotted for the first time repeatedly targeting and flipping young great white sharks onto their backs to paralyze and dismember them By Ashley Balzer Vigil edited by Andrea Thompson An orca swims next to a shark with a visible wound.…
Kendall Jenner’s Style Evolution: A Runway of Her Looks Over the Years
Kendall Jenner celebrates her 30th birthday Nov. 3. Mark the major milestone by keeping up with The Kardashians star’s fashion from over the years. Kendall Jenner is no longer, as her sister Kylie Jenner put it, just “basically 30.” The model officially celebrates the milestone birthday Nov. 3. If you’ve been keeping up, then you…
Gender inequality accelerates Japan’s rural depopulation
Anthony Kuhn Families in the U.S. and around the world are having fewer children as people make profoundly different decisions about their lives. NPR’s series Population Shift: How Smaller Families Are Changing the World explores the causes and implications of this trend. Part ritual, part festival and part competition, kanto is a centuries-old display of strength, skill…
I’m the luckiest man alive, but also suffering, says Air India crash sole survivor
The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash, which killed 241 people on board, has said he feels like the “luckiest man” alive, but is also suffering physically and mentally. Viswashkumar Ramesh walked away from the wreckage of the London-bound flight in Ahmedabad in extraordinary scenes that amazed the world. He said it was…
Weather tracker: Hurricane Melissa leaves trail of destruction across Caribbean
Category 5 storm is most powerful to strike Jamaica and has caused death and destruction in Cuba and Haiti Hurricane Melissa has wreaked havoc across parts of the Caribbean in recent days, after first making landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday night as a category 5 storm – the highest strength. This was the most powerful…
Sister Wives’ Kody Brown Reveals Women Reach Out to Join His Family
These days Sister Wives‘ Kody Brown is head-over-heels for monogamy. But should he and sole wife Robyn Brown consider expanding their fam, he’s got options, as he shared in the series’ Nov. 2 episode. Should Kody Brown still be interested in having his love multiplied, there’s no shortage of options. As he revealed to wife Robyn…
Firms ordered to reduce forever chemicals in drinking water for 6m people
Water companies have been ordered to tackle potentially harmful levels of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water sources for more than six million people, the BBC can reveal. Forever chemicals, or PFAS, are a group of thousands of substances used in everyday products. They are persistent pollutants which build up in the environment, and a…
Era of free trade and investment is over, Canada’s PM tells Apec summit
Mark Carney warns Asia-Pacific leaders global economy undergoing profound change, as China’s president mounts defence of free trade The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has warned that the era of free trade and investment that formed the foundations of the postwar global economy has ended. In a stark message to Asia-Pacific leaders at the Apec…
Israel says it received remains of 3 hostages from Gaza as fragile ceasefire holds
By The Associated Press JERUSALEM — Israel on Sunday announced that the remains of three hostages had been handed over from Gaza and would be examined by forensic experts, as a fragile month-old ceasefire held. A Hamas statement earlier said the remains were found Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Since the ceasefire took…
FDA Is Investigating the Abortion Pill Mifepristone despite Decades of Studies Showing It’s Safe
The Abortion Pill Is Safe. Scientists Fear an FDA Investigation Will Ignore Science Some scientists are concerned that the Trump administration will use “junk science” when reviewing mifepristone’s safety record By Liz Szabo Hundreds of studies in recent decades have found mifepristone to be safe and effective at ending a pregnancy. Secretary of Health and…
Mexican mayor killed during Day of the Dead celebrations
Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, who was under police protection, was shot dead in front of dozens of people A mayor in Mexico’s western state of Michoacán was shot dead in a plaza in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities have said. The mayor of the Uruapan…
Nanotyrannus Isn’t a Juvenile T-Rex—It’s a Separate Dinosaur
‘Dueling Dinosaurs’ Fossil Solves the Mystery of a ‘Mini T. rex’ An analysis suggests Nanotyrannus is a separate, smaller dinosaur that lived alongside T. rex, settling a 30-year debate By Anirban Mukhopadhyay edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Nanotyrannus appears to be a separate, smaller relative of Tyrannosaurus rex that shared its habitat. This illustration visualizes…
Kenyan runners win men’s and women’s races in New York City Marathon
By Chandelis Duster Benson Kipruto, 34, and Hellen Obiri, 35, both from Kenya, secured victory in the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday. Kipruto, an Olympic bronze medalist, narrowly beat fellow Kenyan Alexander Mutiso by .03 seconds in the Pro Men’s race, as both men finished with a time of 2:08:09. Albert Korir, also…
Man, 32, only suspect in train stabbing as staff member in life-threatening condition, police say
A 32-year-old man is now the only suspect after multiple people were stabbed on a train, police have confirmed. A railway staff member remains in a life-threatening condition following the attack on a train from Doncaster to London King’s Cross, which stopped in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, shortly before 20:00 GMT on Saturday. A 35-year-old man, who…
Stop Everything: Le Creuset Dutch Oven Is $100 Off & It’s Selling Out
If you’ve been eyeing Le Creuset cookware, now’s your chance to snag it for less during QVC’s Nonstop Holiday Party (free shipping included). Calling all home chefs: your Le Creuset dreams just came true. QVC’s Nonstop Holiday Party is offering a $100 discount on the Le Creuset 2.75-qt cast-iron Dutch oven, and trust us—it won’t…
Police rule out terrorism in stabbing attack on UK train after 2 men are arrested
By The Associated Press LONDON — British police dismissed speculation on Sunday that a mass stabbing attack on a London-bound train the previous evening was terrorism-related and said two people who were wounded remain in a life-threatening condition. Police also said that two men, born in the United Kingdom, remain in custody at separate police…
Train stabbing witnesses describe bloodied seats and people arming themselves with bottle
Passengers have described blood-covered seats and attempting to protect themselves with a bottle after a mass stabbing on a LNER train left 11 people injured and needing hospital treatment. Two remain in a life-threatening condition. Police met the Doncaster-London King’s Cross train as it made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire shortly before 20:00…
He told the world what was happening in El Fasher. Then they sought him out. How Sudan lost ‘a true hero of the war’
For months, Mohamed Khamis Douda shared accounts of what life was like under siege. He was killed when RSF fighters finally took the Darfur city, raising fears activists and civil society figures are being hunted down For months, militiamen on the perimeters of El Fasher have asked those few who managed to escape the besieged…
Can AI Music Ever Feel Human? The Answer Goes beyond the Sound
Can AI Music Ever Feel Human? It’s Not Just about the Sound A personal experiment with the artificial intelligence music platform Suno’s latest model echoes a new preprint study. Most listeners can’t tell AI music from the real thing, but emotional resonance still demands a human story By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Clara Moskowitz…
How Composers Make Horror Movie Music Sound Terrifying
How Composers Make Horror Movie Music Sound Terrifying Horror movie composers use musical tricks to hijack your nervous system and put you on edge By Allison Parshall edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier The iconic shower scene in Psycho was originally supposed to play out without music. Instead composer Bernard Herrmann created “The Murder”: as the…
What we know about stabbings on Doncaster to London train
Passengers travelling from Doncaster to London were attacked in a mass stabbing on a train on Saturday night. Ten people were injured and taken to hospital, nine of whom are believed to have life-threatening injuries. Witnesses reported that police used a Taser on one man who was holding a knife. Two people were arrested and…
Harry Styles, Cynthia Erivo and More Stars Who’ve Run Marathons
Warm up your celebrations for the 2025 New York City Marathon on Nov. 2 by looking back at stars who’ve run the big race and others over the years, including Kevin Hart, Alicia Keys and Ryan Reynolds. You’ll need to jog your memory to remember all the stars running in the 2025 TCS New York…
‘How do you rebuild all this?’ Black River residents assess damage after Hurricane Melissa
People of Jamaican coastal town described as storm’s ground zero are traumatised and desperate for help It is a treacherous journey to Black River, a coastal town in Jamaica’s southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, which this week bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. Uprooted trees and lamp-posts,…
Mamdani’s youth support goes beyond New York. For many, he’s now a national leader
Elena Moore It’s been years since Democratic voter Lea Ash felt hopeful about a politician, but that changed recently. “He’s been really the only bright spot for me this year,” she said. “[He] wants to listen to the people he’s seeking to govern.” The 26-year-old is referring to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor…
Spain expresses regret over ‘injustice’ suffered by Mexico’s Indigenous people during conquest
Acknowledgment shows shift in tone after six years of diplomatic spats over colonial-era abuses Spain has acknowledged and expressed regret over the “pain and injustice” suffered by the Indigenous people of Mexico during its conquest of the Americas, heralding a shift in tone after six years of diplomatic spats over the abuses of the colonial…
300 million tourists just visited this breathtaking corner of China. There’s a side they didn’t see
When Anna was planning her first visit to Xinjiang in 2015, her friends were perplexed. “They couldn’t understand why I’d visit a place that back then was considered one of China’s most dangerous areas.” One of her friends pulled out of the trip and started “ghosting” her on WeChat, said the 35-year-old Chinese national, who…
Cardi B Jokes Her Hair Has “Roach Eggs” After Not Washing In 3 Months
Cardi B revealed she was gearing up to wash her hair for the first time in three months, joking that she didn’t know what she might find in her natural locks. Cardi B is sharing a surprising detail about her haircare routine. The pregnant rapper—who is expecting her fourth baby and first with boyfriend Stefon…
How Childhood Relationships Affect Your Adult Attachment Style, according to Large New Study
How Childhood Relationships Affect Your Adult Attachment Style, according to Large New Study A large new study reveals how early relationships with parents and friends influence how we relate to those closest to us in adulthood By Rachel Nuwer edited by Allison Parshall We come into the world screaming and vulnerable—entirely dependent on adult caregivers…
Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Here’s what to know
By Chandelis Duster It’s that time of year again: Many Americans will have to reset their clocks and circadian rhythms when daylight saving time ends on Sunday. That means, in most states, lighter mornings and darker evenings. At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, the time for millions across the country will jump back one hour –…
Tanzania’s Hassan declared landslide winner in election that triggered violent protests
The result hands Hassan, who took power in 2021, a five-year term following opposition repression Tanzania’s president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been declared the winner of the country’s disputed election with more than 97% of the vote following violent protests across the country earlier in the week. The landslide result announced by Tanzania’s electoral commission…
The End of the International Space Station Will Begin a New Era of Commercial Outposts
It’s Nearly Time to Say Goodbye to the International Space Station. What Happens Next? Humans have been in space onboard the ISS continuously for 25 years. As the station nears its end, new commercial habitats are lining up to take its place By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings The International Space Station, as seen…
Israel says the latest remains returned from Gaza are not bodies of hostages
By The Associated Press JERUSALEM — The remains of three people handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross this week do not belong to any of the hostages, Israel said Saturday, the latest setback that could undermine a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The handover followed Israel’s return on Friday of the bodies…
How al-Qaida-linked jihadist group JNIM is bringing Mali to its knees
Political instability and fuel shortages caused by rebel group is driving Mali to brink of becoming Islamist republic Armed groups of JNIM fighters have blocked key routes used by fuel tankers, disrupting supply lines to the capital Bamako and other regions across Mali. The al-Qaida-linked jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) is gradually…
COVID During Pregnancy May Raise Autism Risk, Study Suggests
COVID During Pregnancy May Raise Autism Risk, Study Suggests A new study adds to the evidence that viral infections during pregnancy might contribute to a child’s likelihood of having autism By Tanya Lewis edited by Jeanna Bryner Join Our Community of Science Lovers! People who catch COVID while pregnant might have a higher likelihood of…
Politicians rarely comment on the royals. That could all change after the Andrew saga
“You might think this is about Andrew,” a senior Whitehall figure wonders out loud. “But put this in your diary as a pivot point in the relationship between Palace and Parliament.” Will this royal mess usher in a new era? And despite their conventional refusal to comment, could politicians become quicker to point out the…
Martha Stewart Shares Her 3 Biggest Holiday Hosting Tips
Martha Stewart revealed what her three most important tips are for anyone getting ready to host a celebration this holiday season during an exclusive E! News interview. Martha Stewart is serving up exactly what every host needs. As the holiday season quickly approaches, the Martha Stewart Living founder shared her essential tips for anyone preparing…
Tanzanian president wins disputed election with more than 97% of the vote
By The Associated Press KAMPALA, Uganda — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the country’s disputed election with more than 97% of the vote, according to official results announced early Saturday, in a rare landslide victory in the region. Hassan appeared at an event in the administrative capital, Dodoma, to receive the winner’s certificate from…
Andrew should answer Epstein questions in US, Democrats say
Members of a US congressional committee investigating the Jeffrey Epstein case have intensified their calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to answer questions about his links to the late sex offender. King Charles stripped his brother of his “prince” title on Thursday, following months of pressure over Andrew’s ties to Epstein. Andrew has always denied wrongdoing.…
Why Some Treats Are Trickier for Your Gut Microbiome
Gut Reactions to Your Favorite Halloween Candy This Halloween discover how your candy choices can trick—or treat—the microbes in your gut. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel Feltman: Happy Halloween, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Halloween is pretty much my favorite holiday. That’s mostly because of…