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 […]
Novelist Sally Rooney says she will support Palestine Action despite ban
Author Sally Rooney says she will continue to support Palestine Action, despite the group being proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The award-winning Irish novelist said she intends to use the earnings of her work and her public platform to “go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide”. Writing in the…
One neurosurgeon, 8 million patients
By Sophia Li Morie Abibu, a 56-year-old father of three, lies on a hospital bed in the humid Sierra Leonean heat. He is paralyzed from the neck down. After months of immobility, his soft muscles sag and pool on the bed, barely hanging onto bone. A mass is growing at the base of his skull,…
Jesse Metcalfe Addresses Rumored Desperate Housewives Cast Drama
Jesse Metcalfe admitted that he was completely “oblivious” to any behind-the-scenes drama between his Desperate Housewives costars—including Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman and creator Marc Cherry. Jesse Metcalfe was desperately unaware of any on-set drama. Indeed, the Desperate Housewives alum insisted he was “oblivious” to the rumored tension between his costars—including Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Nicollette…
A Male Birth Control Pill Moves to the Next Clinical Trial Stage
This Hormone-Free Pill Could Finally Expand Birth Control Options for Men A new hormone-free birth control pill that reversibly stops sperm production has passed its first safety trial in humans, offering hope for more reversible contraceptive options. By Rachel Feltman, Hannah Seo, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m…
Air Canada flight attendants to defy back-to-work order and remain on strike
Union to challenge order issued less than 12 hours after start of action that has left more than 100,000 travellers stranded Air Canada’s flight attendants plan to remain on strike, their union has said, defying government efforts to force them back to work and into binding arbitration over a dispute that has left more than…
Palestinians flee IDF attacks on Gaza City as Israelis protest against occupation plan
Thousands of residents have fled Gaza City’s southern Zeitoun neighbourhood, where days of continuous Israeli bombardment have created a “catastrophic” situation, the city’s Hamas-run municipality has told the BBC. At least 40 people were killed by Israeli attacks across the territory on Saturday, Gaza’s civil defence agency said. The Israeli military said it would begin…
A Guide to Robert De Niro’s Big Family: His 7 Kids, Exes & More
Robert De Niro is a father of seven kids, ranging in age from 57 to 2 years old, from several relationships. Here’s a guide to how the actor ended up with such a big family. Sure, last year Robert De Niro received his ninth Oscar nomination. This year, however, he met The Wiggles. And, as you…
Three Republican-led states to send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Three Republican-led states said Saturday that they were deploying hundreds of National Guard members to the nation’s capital to bolster the Trump administration’s effort to overhaul policing in Washington through a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness. West Virginia said it was deploying 300 to 400 Guard troops, while…
Bolivians go to polls in election that could end 20 years of socialism
Rightwing candidates lead polling ahead of fragmented left amid country’s worst economic crisis in four decades Bolivians are going to the polls in an election that could mark a shift to the right – and the end of nearly 20 years of rule by the leftist Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas). The party, which came to…
New Human Ancestor Identified from Fossil Teeth
Entirely New Species of Human Ancestor Discovered Ancient teeth found in Ethiopia belong to a never-before-seen species in the Australopithecus genus of human ancestors By Kate Wong edited by Jeanna Bryner Thirteen fossilized teeth were collected in the Ledi-Geraru Research Area from 2015 to 2018. The collections at LD 750 and LD 760 localities represent…
Hundreds march to White House to protest Trump’s D.C. crackdown
By Brian Mann , Chandelis Duster WASHINGTON — Hundreds gathered peacefully in the nation’s capital on Saturday afternoon to protest President Trump’s attempted takeover of the city’s police department and deployment of National Guard units alongside federal agents. Starting with a rally in the northwest neighborhood of DuPont Circle, protesters chanted, “Shame” and “Trump must…
Cheryl Burke Slams Plastic Surgery Speculation—Again
Cheryl Burke denied online rumors that she used plastic surgery to change her appearance—and the Dancing With the Stars alum revealed all the procedures she has gotten in the process. Cheryl Burke is getting tired of repeating herself. Amid online rumors that she used plastic surgery to change her appearance, the Dancing With the Stars…
Trump’s ceasefire pivot will cause dismay in Kyiv and Europe
No deal in Alaska. It was always the most likely and, in the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, perhaps the most desirable outcome. But US President Donald Trump’s pivot away from the need for an immediate ceasefire, which he said beforehand he wanted, will have caused profound dismay in Kyiv and around Europe. Russia’s…
Ice deported boy with cancer and two other US citizen children to Honduras, suit alleges
Suit filed in Louisiana says agency didn’t give parents choice as to whether children should be deported with them A lawsuit filed in Louisiana on behalf of two mothers and their four minor children, including one with cancer, claims the two families were unlawfully denied due process and deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
Trump shifts ceasefire stance and urges Ukraine to agree Russia peace deal
Donald Trump has said he wants to bypass a ceasefire in Ukraine to move directly to a permanent peace agreement after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a major shift of position, the US president said on Truth Social following Friday’s summit that this would be “the best way to end the horrific…
FBI returns stolen document signed by conquistador Hernán Cortés to Mexico
US officials did not say who had the 16th-century page that was missing from Mexico’s archives for decades Nearly five centuries after Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés signed it and decades after someone swiped it from national archives, a priceless manuscript page has been returned by the FBI to Mexico. “This is an original manuscript page…
‘The world is behaving irrationally’ – Putin’s warm welcome gets cold reaction in Ukraine
Ukrainians went to bed on Friday night with the frightening possibility that Donald Trump could be seduced by Vladimir Putin into offering significant concessions on the war. They woke up on Saturday morning to find that the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska instead had fizzled out without any strategic or political agreements. It was a rare…
Blackwater founder Erik Prince to send hundreds of fighters to strife-torn Haiti
Critics say Vectus Global’s presence – including snipers – will undermine Haiti’s police and UN security force Hundreds of combatants from the US, Europe and El Salvador will reportedly be deployed to Haiti in the coming weeks to battle the country’s gangs as part of a mission led by the controversial Blackwater founder and Donald…
Kate Middleton & Prince William Are Moving From Adelaide Cottage
Kate Middleton, Prince William and their three children are moving to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom home in Windsor, after spending three years in four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage. Kate Middleton and Prince William are getting a fresh start. After three years of living in their four-bedroom residence, Adelaide Cottage, Kensington Palace confirmed to People that the couple…
What Is Experimental Archaeology? Sam Kean Explores Ancient Tools, Surgeries and Feasts in Dinner with King Tut
Sam Kean’s New Book Dinner with King Tut Explores the Wild World of Experimental Archaeology In his new book, Sam Kean reveals how re-creating ancient tools, techniques and traditions can unlock secrets about how our ancestors lived—and what they felt. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly,…
Immigration arrests dip in July, and activists hope they’re partly responsible
Martin Kaste Immigration arrests dropped nationwide in July, slowing the pace of President Donald Trump’s promised “mass deportation” just weeks after a sharp increase in June. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, its total “initial book-ins” went from 31,597 in June to 27,483 in July, a 13% drop. ICE did not respond to NPR…
Climate crisis harming world heritage painted houses in Burkina Faso, say residents
Tiébélé’s wavy-walled houses covered in geometric lines showing signs of disintegration amid erratic weather A world heritage site that was once a famous tourist destination is suffering from signs of disintegration, as climate change affects weather patterns. The wavy-walled houses covered with singular geometric lines of the Royal Court of Tiébélé in Burkina Faso, established…
Scientific American Is Older Than the Discovery of Neptune
The UniverseFridays One Year after Scientific American’s First Issue, the Solar System Grew by a Planet Neptune’s discovery was a race that ended not long after this magazine came to be By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings The planet Neptune, as seen by NASA’s Voyager 2 probe during a flyby in August of 1989.…
Private equity and crypto could be heading for your 401(k). Here’s what to know
Laurel Wamsley The funds in most retirement accounts are pretty basic: stocks and bonds. Now, an executive order signed by President Trump aims to lay the groundwork for an array of “alternative assets,” including cryptocurrency, real estate and private equity, to be included in 401(k) and similar accounts. These accounts are retirement plans offered by…
What Ne-Yo & More Stars Have Shared About Non-Monogamous Relationships
In March, Ne-Yo introduced the internet to his four girlfriends. However, the singer isn’t the only celebrity involved in non-monogamy. Read what more stars have shared about their experiences. Some stars aren’t looking for a one-and-only connection. Take Ne-Yo, for instance. Back in March, the Grammy winner introduced the internet to his four girlfriends—and he…
Five key takeaways after the Alaska summit
The high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin was billed as a vital step towards peace in the Ukraine war. But with no ceasefire and an invitation to Moscow, the almost three-hour meeting between the two leaders has yielded more questions than answers. Here are five key takeaways…
California Democrats unveil their new congressional map to counter Republicans
From By Laura Fitzgerald SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Democrats in California’s state legislature have released a proposal for a new congressional map that could give their party up to five new seats. It’s a major step forward for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plans and the escalating race between the two major parties as they seek to…
Human Embryo Implantation Revealed in First-Ever 3D Images
First 3D Images of Human Embryo Implantation Reveal New Details of the Process Analyzing embryo movements in uteruslike environments could offer clues to improving the success rate of in vitro fertilization By Humberto Basilio edited by Lauren J. Young Confocal microscopy image of a nine-day-old human embryo. Specific proteins and cellular structures have been coloured…
No ceasefire, no deal. What summit means for Trump, Putin and Ukraine
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have left Alaska without reaching an agreement for a ceasefire in Ukraine. After an almost three-hour meeting, the leaders delivered a joint statement to the media before leaving without taking questions. Three BBC correspondents who are in Anchorage for the summit assess what it means…
Patrick Mahomes’ First Reaction to Travis Kelce Dating Taylor Swift
When Travis Kelce told his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes he was dating Taylor Swift, the quarterback admitted he didn’t think it was true. Patrick Mahomes needed a video review before making the final call. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback revealed he was hesitant to believe his teammate Travis Kelce was dating Taylor Swift…
Mali’s junta arrests generals and French national over alleged coup plot
Development comes as the military continues to crack down on dissent after a pro-democracy rally in May Mali’s military rulers say they have arrested a group of military personnel and civilians, including two Malian generals and a suspected French agent, accusing them of attempting to destabilise the country. The security minister, Gen Daouda Aly Mohammedine,…
How Social Media Algorithms Are Changing the Way People Talk
The Internet Is Making Us Fluent in Algospeak By Allison Parshall edited by Jeanna Bryner Every time a new slang word gets coined on the Internet, linguist Adam Aleksic is thrilled. “It’s definitely good for me in that I stay in business,” says Aleksic, who studies the origins of words and the changes they undergo…
Vanessa Bryant Gets Lipstick All Over Her Dog in Sweet Kissing Photos
Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa Bryant shared adorable photos cuddling with her small furry friend, posting photos before and after she made her mark. Vanessa Bryant is sharing her puppy love. Kobe Bryant’s wife posted sweet snaps cuddling up with her small dog, holding the furry friend up and smothering the pup with kisses. In another photo, the fluffball sported a red…
Why Alaska? Why now? What to expect from the summit
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are meeting in Anchorage to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine. The venue for the high-profile meeting is Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson – a US military installation on the northern edge of Alaska’s most populated city. The two leaders shook hands on the red…
With new discovery, island nation turns page on a painful legacy
Nathan Conaboy’s day had taken an unexpected turn, and he now found himself in a distant cavern, searching for geckos. He and a band of scientists had set out one morning in August to survey wildlife. When monsoon rains washed out the road they were traveling on, the team decided to make the most of…
The Scientific Debate over Colossal’s ‘De-extinct’ Dire Wolves
This Company Claimed to ‘De-extinct’ Dire Wolves. Then the Fighting Started Colossal Biosciences bold announcements about its project to replicate dire wolf traits have drawn criticism from many scientists, but the billion-dollar firm is not backing down By Ewen Callaway & Nature magazine Two of the animals created by Texas firm Colossal Biosciences as part…
Did Kim Cattrall Return for And Just Like That’s Finale? The Truth
Fans speculated ahead of And Just Like That‘s series finale Aug. 14 about whether or not Kim Cattrall would make one final cameo as Samantha Jones. Warning: This story contains major spoilers from the Aug. 14 episode of And Just Like That. And just like that… it’s over. Sex and the City revival And Just Like That aired…
What to know ahead of Trump-Putin summit. And, Texas Democrats could end boycott
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. President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are expected to meet today in Alaska for a high-stakes summit in an effort to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. The meeting…
Sidelined Ukrainians look on with deep scepticism as Trump and Putin meet
Five thousand miles from Alaska, and feeling left out, Ukrainians were bracing themselves on Friday for the outcome of negotiations to which they were not invited. The talks, between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, will begin later in the day with no seat for the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump…
African Union joins calls to end use of Mercator map that shrinks continent’s size
Member states back Correct the Map campaign that urges governments and organisations to use more accurate map The African Union has backed a campaign to end the use by governments and international organisations of the 16th-century Mercator map of the world in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa’s size. Created by the cartographer…
What do Alaskans make of the geopolitical circus arriving in their city?
“Putin is supposed to be in jail, and he just comes to Alaska like that.” Hanna Correa is amongst a sea of Alaskans waving Ukrainian flags on the road leading into Anchorage. “When I entered through that parking lot, and I see a lot of Americans, they’re supporting, it made me cry,” she says. Ms…
Trump and Putin meet today in Anchorage. Here’s what to know
By Tamara Keith , Danielle Kurtzleben , Franco Ordoñez ANCHORAGE, Alaska — President Trump is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska today, a momentous summit on American soil with a leader isolated by the West over the invasion of Ukraine. Trump, who pledged a quick end to the war in Ukraine during his…
Inside Jennifer Lawrence’s Mom Life With Son Cy, Husband Cooke Maroney
After an acting break, Jennifer Lawrence returned to the spotlight with a new lease on Hollywood but the same approach to privacy as she and husband Cooke Maroney welcomed their second baby. Art doesn’t necessarily reflect life for Jennifer Lawrence, but playing a new mother going through a raw postpartum experience wasn’t entirely off her…
New Brain Device Is First to Read Out Inner Speech
New Brain Device Is First to Read Out Inner Speech A new brain prosthesis can read out inner thoughts in real time, helping people with ALS and brain stem stroke communicate fast and comfortably By Emma R. Hasson edited by Allison Parshall After a brain stem stroke left him almost entirely paralyzed in the 1990s,…
Weather tracker: Typhoon Podul pounds southern Taiwan
One person dies after storm whips up waves, while temperatures approach 50C as heatwave grips Middle East Typhoon Podul crossed southern Taiwan on Wednesday with wind speeds of up to 110mph (177km/h), equivalent to a category 2 hurricane. Podul had developed a week earlier, near the Northern Mariana Islands, and tracked west across the Philippine…
Crunch time in Alaska: Trump set to meet Putin in push for Ukraine peace
US and Russian officials will converge on the state of Alaska ahead of a highly anticipated Friday meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The pair will meet for the first time in six years, as Trump tries to enact a key campaign pledge to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The US president, who…
Sudan cholera outbreak kills 40 in a week as health centres overwhelmed
MSF charity calls situation ‘beyond urgent’ as thousands seeking refuge from war rely on contaminated water The “worst cholera outbreak in years” has killed at least 40 people in the last week in Sudan, according to the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières. Overwhelmed medical centres are resorting to treating patients on mattresses on the floor,…
Why Are Rabbits Sprouting Tentacles?
Here’s Why Rabbits Are Sprouting Tentacle Horns Rabbits spotted with hornlike growths on their face in northern Colorado are doing better than they look By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner This eastern cottontail rabbit has growths protruding from its head because it is infected with a papilloma virus. Join Our Community of Science Lovers!…
Trump administration claims powers of D.C. police chief
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Trump administration, stepping up its crackdown on policing in the nation’s capital, on Thursday named the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration to be Washington’s “emergency police commissioner” with all the powers of the police chief — a significant move that increases national control over the city as…
NFL’s Jared Goff Reacts to Taylor Swift’s Name-Drop on New Heights
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a heartwarming response to Taylor Swift giving him a shoutout during her appearance on boyfriend and fellow NFL player Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast. Jared Goff‘s inner circle can’t calm down about his latest shoutout. The Detroit Lions quarterback had the sweetest response to Taylor Swift name-dropping him during…
Ancient manuscripts return to Timbuktu 13 years after jihadist takeover
Malian city welcomes return of hundreds of crates of treasures after more than a decade stored in capital Bamako Political and religious figures in Malian city of Timbuktu have welcomed the return of ancient manuscripts that were removed to the capital, Bamako, more than a decade ago to prevent them from falling into the hands…
Trump Cuts Could End U.S. Exploration of the Outer Solar System
NASA Budget Cuts Could End U.S. Exploration of the Outer Solar System By Hannah Richter edited by Lee Billings A pellet of plutonium 238, illuminated by the glow of its own radioactivity. NASA and other space agencies use this material in radioisotope power sources for interplanetary missions to the solar system’s darkest, most distant destinations.…
Brandon Blackstock’s Seizures Were “Contributing” Factor in Death
One week after Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock’s death at 48, his death certificate shared he experienced seizures amid his cancer battle. New information about Brandon Blackstock’s tragic passing has come to light. More than one week after Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband died on Aug. 7 at age 48, his death certificate is sharing more insight…
Trump is tightening the screws on corporate America — and CEOs are staying mum
By Maria Aspan Corporate America doesn’t want to fight with President Trump in public. But as a result, it’s ceding him an unprecedented amount of control over the shape — and future — of U.S. business. In the past week, the president has turned up the heat on big companies and their CEOs to an…
Thursday briefing: How the colonial legacy has created a toxic beauty industry
These movements urged pride in what had been denigrated for centuries, and their message was not limited to people of African or Caribbean heritage. Calls to embrace natural beauty resonated across Asia and much of the global south, directly challenging the colonial belief that lighter skin conferred greater worth. Yet decades later, that belief seems…
In maps: The war-ravaged Ukrainian territories at the heart of the Trump-Putin summit
Speculation has swirled over whether the Trump-Putin summit will result in the map of Ukraine being forcibly – and fundamentally – altered. Russia has laid claim to vast parts of Ukraine since 2014, when President Vladimir Putin made his first move. At the time, in the space of a short few months, Moscow carried out…
What Is a Glacial Outburst Flood? Alaska’s Suicide Basin Explained
Why Glacial Lake Outbursts like the One in Alaska May Happen More Often Meltwater from a glacial lake outburst is flooding Juneau, Alaska. Such events are likely to happen more often as climate change destabilizes ice and glacial lakes fill with more meltwater By Stephanie Pappas edited by Andrea Thompson Mendenhall Glacier in the Tongass…
Stranger Things’ Dacre Montgomery Reveals Why He Quit Hollywood
Stranger Things alum Dacre Montgomery explained why he went “off the map” for years after starring as Billy Hargrove in the Netflix series. Dacre Montgomery is getting back to saner things. The Stranger Things star explained the reason he took an extended hiatus from Hollywood after playing Billy Hargrove on the Netflix series, reflecting on…
Why AI ‘Therapy’ Can Be So Dangerous
Why ChatGPT Shouldn’t Be Your Therapist Using AI chatbots for “therapy” is dangerous, mental health experts say. Here’s why By Allison Parshall edited by Dean Visser Artificial intelligence chatbots don’t judge. Tell them the most private, vulnerable details of your life, and most of them will validate you and may even provide advice. This has…
Taylor Swift Details Moving in With Her Dad After His Heart Surgery
Taylor Swift described caring for her dad Scott Swift after his quintuple bypass surgery earlier this year, describing him as “the loveliest patient ever” amid his recovery. Taylor Swift is sharing how she helped her father through a delicate procedure. The “Shake It Off” singer shared that she moved in with her dad Scott Swift earlier this…