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 […]
What to Know about Hurricane Season and Forecast Accuracy
How to Read Hurricane Maps and Avoid Common Mistakes Hurricane forecast maps are more complex than they appear. Understanding them could change how you prepare for the next storm. By Rachel Feltman, Andrea Thompson, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. While scientists have gotten much better…
The Local Universe May Be Misleading Cosmologists about Dark Energy and Expansion
A Cosmic Void May Be Skewing Our Understanding of the Universe By Paul M. Sutter edited by Clara Moskowitz “You can journey to the ends of the earth in search of success,” 19th-century Baptist preacher Russell Conwell is said to have proclaimed, “but if you’re lucky, you will discover happiness in your own backyard.” But…
Henry Zeffman: Rayner’s political future under threat after stamp duty admission
The housing secretary has admitted paying the wrong amount of tax on a house. That is pretty much the worst headline conceivable about any housing secretary, let alone Angela Rayner, who is also the deputy prime minister and spent years as Labour’s sleazehunter-in-chief. That’s the straightforward fact which makes this such a damaging, indeed career-threatening,…
Why Tom Brady Says NFL Players Are More “Coddled” Now
In E! News’ exclusive clip of Kevin Hart’s Cold as Balls, Tom Brady explained why he believes NFL quarterbacks are at a disadvantage compared to when he was playing football. Tom Brady is throwing a flag on the current crop of NFL athletes. The seven-time Super Bowl champ shared his views on the state of…
Democrats push Homeland Security Department on DACA recipients
Ximena Bustillo More than three dozen Democratic and independent senators are asking Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to clarify the agency’s position on beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Also known as DACA, the program was created in 2012 to protect from deportation children who arrived in the country illegally…
Trump’s aid cuts in east Africa led to unwanted abortion and babies being born with HIV – report
Doctors, nurses, patients and other experts describe the loss of decades of progress in beating the virus in 100 days after Pepfar was disrupted Aid cuts in east Africa have led to cases of babies being born with HIV because mothers could not get medication, a rise in life-threatening infections, and at least one woman…
US conducts ‘kinetic strike’ against drug boat from Venezuela, killing 11, Trump says
Trump says ‘we took it out’ referring to the operation in international waters, amid US-Caracas tensions The US military has killed 11 drug traffickers from Venezuela during a “a kinetic strike” in the Caribbean Sea, the US president, Donald Trump, has claimed amid growing tensions between Washington and Caracas. Trump trailed the announcement during an…
Drake Addresses Plastic Surgery Rumors
Drake denied rumors that he underwent an abdominal etching procedure to make his six-pack abs look more toned. Drake started from the bottom, now he’s setting the record straight. The “Hotline Bling” rapper shut down speculation that he underwent abdominal etching—a cosmetic procedure in which fat is sucked out from the midriff area to created…
Indonesia embassy official’s shooting in Lima probably a ‘contract killing’, says Peru government
Interior minister says ‘they were waiting for’ official who was shot at point-blank range outside his home in killing that has shocked Peru Peru’s government has said the fatal shooting of an Indonesian embassy official in Lima on Monday night was likely a “contract killing”. Zetro Leonardo Purba, 40, an official at the Indonesian embassy…
7 Vintage Books Science-Minded Readers Will Love Paired With A 2025 Book Recommendation
7 Science Book Reviews from Scientific American‘s Archives With Modern Recommendations A collection of seven book reviews from our archives, each paired with a recently published book we recommend By Brianne Kane edited by Andrea Gawrylewski We’re celebrating 180 years of Scientific American. Explore our legacy of discovery and look ahead to the future. Selecting…
Energy drinks to be banned for under 16s
The government is planning a new law in England to stop anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Prime from shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online. Up to a third of UK children are thought to consume these types of drinks every week, despite most supermarkets…
Trump confirms U.S. strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat
By NPR’s International Desk Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela are rising. Days after sending U.S. gunboats to South American waters, President Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. Navy struck a vessel in the southern Caribbean carrying what he described as a Venezuelan drug shipment. Trump told reporters during an Oval Office event that the…
In a major antitrust ruling, a judge lets Google keep Chrome but levies other penalties
Jaclyn Diaz In a ruling aimed at restoring competition in the search engine market, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta refrained from ordering Google to sell off Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, but ordered the tech company to end exclusive deals that make it the default search engine on phones and other devices. The company…
Fiber Optics Breakthrough Promises Faster Internet
New ‘Glass Straw’ Fibers Could Speed Up the Internet A cable design that sends light through air rather than solid glass could cut signal loss and make long-distance transmissions cheaper By Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine Typical optical fibres consist of thin, solid glass wires. Tweaking the design could allow them to carry more data…
Lawyers say men deported by US to Eswatini are being imprisoned illegally
The men, who had been released after serving criminal sentences, are from Laos, Vietnam, Cuba, Jamaica and Yemen Lawyers for five men deported by the US to Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, said they are being denied proper access to their clients, who they said are being imprisoned illegally. The men from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and…
North Korea’s Kim arrives in Beijing with daughter to attend massive military parade
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the Chinese capital Beijing along with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to attend China’s largest-ever military parade. The “Victory Day” parade on Wednesday will see him rub shoulders with China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and other world leaders. Photos showed Kim stepping off his armoured…
Jair Bolsonaro faces justice over alleged attempt to usurp Brazilian democracy
Former president in court along with seven others accused of failed power grab after losing 2022 election Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies, including four senior members of the military, have gone on trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup – the first time in Brazilian history such powerful figures…
Donald Trump Breaks Silence on Health After Death Hoax
Amid rumors that Donald Trump had died, the president shared an all-caps update on his health, stressing,“NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.” President Donald Trump is feeling fine. Amid rumors that the 79-year-old had died after several days without a public appearance, he shut down the speculation ahead of an Oval Office announcement Sept.…
New Knot Theory Discovery Overturns Long-Held Mathematical Assumption
New Knot Theory Discovery Overturns Long-Held Mathematical Assumption Mathematicians have unraveled a key conjecture about knot theory By Max Springer edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier In a recent preprint paper, mathematicians connected two knots in a way that could be undone in a surprisingly small number of moves. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Scanning…
UK borrowing costs hit 27-year high adding to pressure on Reeves
UK government long-term borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 1998, adding to the pressure on the chancellor ahead of the Budget. The interest rate on 30-year government bonds, known as the yield, jumped to 5.698%, making it more expensive for the government to borrow money. There are rising expectations that Chancellor Rachel Reeves…
As many as 1,000 killed in Sudan landslide
Emmanuel Akinwotu LAGOS, Nigeria — A massive landslide in western Sudan has destroyed the village of Tarseen in Darfur and killed as many as 1,000 people, according to local groups. Many of the victims were displaced and starving, having fled more than two years of intense fighting in Sudan’s civil war. The landslide struck Sunday…
How one Canadian’s misplaced signature caused a diplomatic incident at the end of WWII
By Henry Larson It was — quite possibly — the worst day to make a mistake. Sept. 2, 1945 was the day Japan formally surrendered to the Allies. It marked the official end of World War II. The ceremony happened on the deck of an American battleship, the U.S.S. Missouri, moored in Tokyo Bay. Hundreds…
Inside Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant’s Excellent Love Story
No simulation here: Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant started off as creative collaborators and the romance that blossomed is the real deal. We’re still not sure if those were squeals of delight or howls of mourning when it became clear that Keanu Reeves was off the market. But whichever reaction you identify with, finding out…
Beijing tightens control ahead of Xi’s big moment on world stage
The stage is set in the heart of Beijing for a grand display of power and military might that has been choreographed by President Xi Jinping. Eight huge Chinese flags flutter and flank the portrait of Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China, which sits on top of the Gate of Heavenly Peace overlooking Tiananmen…
Twenty missing in Indonesia protests, rights group says
Mass protests first erupted last week, prompted by anger over the perks and benefits given to lawmakers, including a controversial housing allowance At least 20 people are missing following violent protests that have gripped cities across Indonesia over the past week, a human rights group has warned. Mass protests first erupted on 25 August, prompted…
Bottom Trawling Could Unleash Carbon Dioxide, Worsening Global Warming
A Controversial Fishing Method May Dredge Up a Climate Time Bomb Bottom trawling is a fishing practice that is notoriously destructive to seafloor ecosystems. Now there’s growing evidence that it might unleash planet-warming carbon By Kate McMahon edited by Andrea Thompson A trawl net, full of fish, as it is hauled to the surface within…
CDC Leadership Chaos Could Disrupt Pandemic Preparedness, National Biosecurity
CDC’s Leadership Is in Chaos—Experts Warn of Public Health Risks Public health experts warn that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s leadership crisis—sparked by the White House’s efforts to oust CDC director Susan Monarez—could jeopardize national biosecurity, pandemic preparedness and disease outbreak surveillance By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser Susan Monarez testifies…
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer on Fan Reaction to Diamond
Taylor Swift’s engagement ring designer Kindred Lubeck shared an uplifting message after the singer announced her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce. Taylor Swift’s engagement ring designer is sharing an inspiring message. Days after the “Bejeweled” singer announced that she and Travis Kelce are set to exchange vows, Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry detailed…
Starter homes are scarce, so Utah set a target to build more. Here’s how it’s going
By Jennifer Ludden , Marisa Peñaloza PLAIN CITY, Utah — Miranda and Cole Potokar, who are 23 and 24, have talked a lot with friends about their terrible timing in the housing market. “We would make jokes like, ‘What was I doing in third grade? I should have been buying a house instead of learning,…
Sudan landslide kills at least 1,000 people, rebel group says
The landslide destroyed a village in the Marra Mountains area of western Sudan and left only one survivor More than 1,000 people were killed in a landslide in western Sudan on Sunday, according to a rebel group that controls the area. The landslide destroyed a village in the Marra Mountains area of western Sudan and…
Body seen in secret mortuary could solve 50-year mystery of vanished religious leader
Warning: Contains images some may find upsetting A computer scientist at a university in the north of England is studying an image of a corpse – attempting to solve a mystery that has gripped the Middle East for nearly 50 years. “This is what he looks like now?” asks Bradford University’s Prof Hassan Ugail doubtfully.…
Guatemala says it is willing to receive hundreds of deported children from US
Announcement comes a day after a US federal judge halted the deportation of 10 unaccompanied Guatemalan minors Guatemala is ready and willing to receive about 150 unaccompanied children of all ages each week from the United States, the country’s president has said, a day after a US federal judge halted the deportation of 10 Guatemalan…
Camila Cabello Reacts to Fifth Harmony Bandmates Reuniting Without Her
Camila Cabello had the sweetest response to her former Fifth Harmony bandmates Normani, Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke and Dinah Jane reuniting without her at an Aug. 31 Jonas Brothers concert. Camila Cabello is cheering her former bandmates on. The “Señorita” singer had the most supportive reaction to Fifth Harmony members Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Lauren…
The Science behind Hurricane Katrina: What Researchers Knew before the 2005 Disaster
The Storm That Drowned a City—And the Science That Saw It Coming Two decades after Katrina, we revisit the storm and discuss the evolution of hurricane preparedness since then. By Mark Fischetti, Andrea Thompson, Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Jeffery DelViscio & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Twenty years…
‘Covered in dust and too shocked to speak’: Afghan villagers reel at scale of quake’s devastation
Just before midnight on Sunday, Matiullah Shahab woke up to find his house in Afghanistan’s remote Kunar province shaking. An earthquake measuring 6.0 magnitude had struck eastern Afghanistan, leaving at least 800 people dead, according to the UN. Even though the epicentre of the quake was 16km (10 miles) away, the whole of Shahab’s village…
Millie Bobby Brown Shares First Photo of Her and Jake Bongiovi’s Baby
Shortly after Millie Bobby Brown and her husband Jake Bongiovi announced they adopted a baby girl, the Stranger Things star provided a look at their new chapter in a photo with their little one. Millie Bobby Brown is settling into a new chapter. Less than two weeks after revealing she and her husband Jake Bongiovi…
Has Trump kept his campaign promises to American workers? Here’s what some say.
By Brittney Melton and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. by Andrea Hsu, NPR labor and workplace correspondent At this time last year, President Trump was courting America’s workers, promising them a renaissance if they helped send him back to the White House. Now seven…
‘We’re winning a battle’: Mexico’s jaguar numbers up 30% in conservation drive
Conservationists hope that in 15 years species will no longer be at risk of extinction in Mexico – but challenges remain In 2010, Gerardo Ceballos and a group of other researchers set out to answer a burning question: how many jaguars were there in Mexico? They knew there weren’t many. Hunting, loss of habitat, conflict…
Starmer shakes up No 10 team – but what is he hoping to achieve?
Many of the names involved in Sir Keir Starmer’s Downing Street shake-up are not even household names in Westminster. But the latest moves, announced on Monday as MPs return to Parliament, are a big deal for several reasons. First, in terms of organisational innovation. If you’re struggling to recall who was Chief Secretary to the…
Chimps, Humans and Macaques All Have a Drive to ‘People Watch’
The Primal Pull of People Watching Our social voyeurism may have deep evolutionary roots By Clarissa Brincat edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Macaques. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The human fascination with watching others—whether through reality TV, Instagram stories or overheard drama—is often dismissed as nosiness. But new research suggests this impulse may be…
20 Years after Hurricane Katrina, Major Forecasting Advances Could Erode
20 Years after Katrina, Major Hurricane Forecasting Advances Could Erode Hurricane forecasts have made huge leaps since Katrina hit 20 years ago, but that progress is threatened by Trump administration cuts to research By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser In this satellite image from NOAA, a close up of the center of Hurricane Katrina’s…
More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones
Sequoia Carrillo As students across the country head back to class, one thing won’t be coming with many of them: their cell phones. This year more states than ever are banning students’ devices during school hours. In Texas, every public and charter school student will be without their phones during the school day this fall.…
More parents to get childcare funding as nurseries struggle with demand
The final phase of the largest-ever expansion of publicly funded childcare support has begun in England, as thousands of working parents receive more help with their nursery costs. Those eligible are now able to access 30 hours of childcare per week during term-time, paid for by the government, for their children aged nine months to…
Snoop Dogg Slams LGBTQ+ Representation in Kids Movies
Snoop Dogg admitted that he’s “scared to go to the movies” after seeing a same-sex couple represented onscreen while taking his grandson to see Disney’s Lightyear: “I didn’t come here for this s–t.” Snoop Dogg’s latest comments are raising eyebrows. After taking one of his seven grandchildren to see Disney’s Lightyear, the “Gin and Juice”…
Xi Jinping criticises ‘bullying behaviour’ and Putin blames west for Ukraine war at Shanghai summit
China’s leader urges attendees to oppose ‘cold war mentality’ while Russian president claims Ukraine war was ‘provoked by the west’ Xi Jinping has criticised the “bullying behaviour” of other countries while Vladimir Putin has blamed the west for his war on Ukraine, on the second day of a major summit in China which seeks to…
Guatemala says it suggested that U.S. send its unaccompanied migrant children home
Chiara Eisner After planes with Guatemalan children were loaded in the U.S., then prevented from taking off by a federal judge’s decision to temporarily halt the children’s removal, the Guatemalan government said on Aug. 31 that it was responsible for recently proposing to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the unaccompanied Guatemalan minors…
Taylor Swift Celebrates Brittany Mahomes’ 30th Birthday in Nashville
Taylor Swift was seen celebrating Brittany Mahomes’ 30th birthday at a restaurant in Nashville, just days after she announced her engagement to Travis Kelce. Taylor Swift is celebrating another year of friendship with Brittany Mahomes. Days after she announced her engagement to Travis Kelce, the pop superstar was seen celebrating Brittany’s 30th birthday while sitting outside…
5 Books Scientific American Recommends for August
Turn the Page on Summer: August’s Essential Book Picks Check out this collection of nonfiction and fiction books recommended by Scientific American By Brianne Kane edited by Andrea Gawrylewski The dog days of summer have been nipping at our heels this August: the humidity has been oppressive, the vacations not quite long enough, and the…
Indonesia protests: president scraps lawmakers’ perks in bid to calm tensions
Police set up checkpoints across Jakarta on Monday after deadly protests that have forced Prabowo Subianto to remove perks include a housing allowance worth 10 times the minimum wage Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to revoke lawmakers’ perks and privileges, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, in a bid to ease public fury after…
Family reunion rules to be tightened in asylum cases
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is to announce details of a tightening of rules for migrants who have been granted asylum bringing their families to the UK. As MPs return to Westminster, Cooper will also set out reforms to the asylum appeals system. When a person is granted asylum in the UK, they can apply to…
Giant ‘Gullies’ in the Earth Threaten Cities in Africa amid Rapid Urbanization
Huge Cracks in the Earth Are Slicing through Cities, Swallowing Houses and Displacing Thousands of People Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of losing homes, businesses—and lives—as giant “gullies” expand into cities across Africa By Miryam Naddaf & Nature magazine A view of a deep urban gully in Kamonia in the Democratic Republic…
Putin, Modi and Erdoğan among leaders in China for talks with Xi
Chinese president hosts bilateral meetings on sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have met on the sidelines of a showpiece summit in China that seeks to challenge US-led, western-dominated blocs and is being attended by the leaders of more than two dozen nations. The Chinese and Russian leaders,…
Rudy Giuliani hospitalized with broken vertebrae after car accident, spokesperson says
By Chandelis Duster Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized with a broken vertebrae after a car accident, his spokesperson said on Sunday. Giuliani, 81, was traveling on a highway in New Hampshire when his car was “struck from behind at high speed,” said Michael Ragusa, who is also his head of…
Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized After “High Speed” Car Accident
Former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani was hospitalized after he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in New Hampshire, during which he was allegedly hit from behind on the highway. Rudy Guiliani is recovering from a terrifying car crash. The former New York City mayor was hospitalized after being involved in a motor…
Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida killed in Gaza, Israel says
Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, has been killed in an aerial attack in Gaza City, Israel has said. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz congratulated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s security agency, Shin Bet, for the “flawless execution” in a post on X. Hamas has not confirmed his death. The Palestinian…
AI Spots Hidden Signs of Consciousness in Comatose Patients before Doctors Do
AI Spots Hidden Signs of Consciousness in Comatose Patients before Doctors Do A machine-learning algorithm spotted signs of “covert consciousness” in coma patients—in some cases, days before doctors could do so By Andrew Chapman edited by Allison Parshall Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Imagine lying in a hospital bed, awake but unable to move…
UK secures £10bn deal to supply Norway with warships
The UK has secured a £10bn deal to supply the Norwegian navy with at least five new warships. The agreement to provide Type 26 frigates will be the UK’s “biggest ever warship export deal by value”, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, while Norway said it would be its largest “defence capability investment” to date.…
Kaitlyn Bristowe Shares Stepdad Was Diagnosed With Stage 4 Cancer
The Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe shared the heartbreaking news that her stepdad Rob has been diagnosed with an “incurable” stage 4 cancer. Kaitlyn Bristowe is asking for prayers. The Bachelorette alum shared the heartbreaking news that her stepdad Rob has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. “About 8 months ago, I asked everyone to pray…
How 3 Hawaiian teen princes brought surfing to the mainland
Chloe Veltman The mouth of the San Lorenzo river in Santa Cruz, Calif., isn’t a great place to surf. Rocks, pollution and swift currents make it precarious almost year-round. But before the construction of a harbor in the mid-1960s altered the surroundings, the spot was a surfer’s paradise, with easy, consistent swells. “They looked very…
‘I’m holding his political wake’: the trumpeter waiting to mark Bolsonaro’s judgment day
Brazil’s ex-president is expected to be convicted over failed coup – and Fabiano Leitão, who has provoked him for years, is ready When Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil’s far-right president, the guerrilla trumpeter Fabiano Leitão would stalk him around the capital, Brasília, to taunt him with renditions of the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao. In March, when…