Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: The Return of ‘Whale Riders’
Whale Riders travel up and down the Ice Coast to trade, and with the coming winter, there’s time for one more trip before everything freezes over. Whale Riders is a resource-management game for 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up, and takes about 45 minutes to play. It’s currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with […]
Gear Review: The RIG M2 Pro HD STREAMSTAR
One such upgrade you’ll be looking for is in your audio gear. RIG Gaming recently released the M2 Pro HD STREAMSTAR microphone, geared towards streamers, content creators, and gamers. They sent me one so I could share my thoughts with our readers. The RIG M2 Pro HD STREAMSTAR is a USB Microphone with built-in Bluetooth, […]
What Is a Galaxy?
The UniverseFridays What Is a Galaxy? Galaxies come in many shapes and sizes, and trying to define them is difficult By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings A view of the spiral galaxy NGC 3982, as seen by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Galaxies come in many different variations, but astronomers classify them into four main […]
The Strange and Surprising History of the Once-Rejected Zero
Zero Is Foundational to Modern Mathematics. But It Was Rejected for Centuries By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas I’m a zero at mental arithmetic. It’s true—I struggle with this skill—but I want to focus on the phrase itself. In our language, we often equate zero with something negative. But zero is the only real […]
Ukraine’s allies push for 30-day ceasefire starting Monday
Joanna Kakissis KYIV – Four European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv today in pressing Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire – or face more sanctions on Russia. “The ceasefire must be comprehensive: in the air, at sea and on land,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “It is quite possible to […]
Chile hit by major blackout, leaving millions without electricity
State of emergency and overnight curfew declared after blackout strands commuters and knocks out traffic lights Authorities in Chile have declared a state of emergency and overnight curfew after a sweeping blackout stranded commuters, knocked out traffic lights, paralyzed countless businesses and left millions of people in the South American country without electricity. The National…
Ex-US security officials urge funding for science research to keep up with China
Appeal from officials, including two senior figures from Trump’s first term, comes amid reports National Science Foundation’s budget will be slashed Chuck Hagel, the former US defense secretary, and other former US national security officials, including two senior figures from Donald Trump’s first term, on Tuesday warned that China was outpacing the US in critical…
Rhiannon Giddens is the latest artist to cancel Kennedy Center gig
Elizabeth Blair Folk musician Rhiannon Giddens announced on social media that she has moved her May 11 concert – originally scheduled for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – to a different venue in Washington, D.C. The show will now take place on the same date at The Anthem, another venue in…
Starmer cuts aid to fund increase in defence spending
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, as peace talks to end the war in Ukraine gather pace. The PM said he would cut the UK’s international aid budget to fund the rise in defence spending, which is currently 2.3% of GDP.…
Trump Orders U.S. Scientists to Skip Key IPCC Climate Report Meeting
Trump Orders U.S. Scientists to Skip Key Climate Meeting The U.S. is skipping a meeting for the next IPCC report, a sweeping science assessment on the current state of climate change, raising concerns about delays By Sara Schonhardt, Zack Colman, Zia Weise & E&E News CLIMATEWIRE | The Trump administration’s abrupt retreat from global climate…
BBC sorry for ‘missed opportunities’ over DJ Tim Westwood’s ‘bullying behaviour’
An independent report into what the BBC knew about Mr Westwood’s conduct was published on Tuesday, highlighting a series of incidents and allegations it said amount to a “considerable body of evidence” which it failed to investigate properly. The report added the BBC had “inadequate record keeping and communication with people who raised complaints or…
Activists call for state of emergency in Nigeria over gender-based violence
Deaths of 22 women reported this year include 240% rise in January, campaigners say, as abusers act ‘with impunity’ Almost two dozen women have died due to gender-based violence across Nigeria in 2025 alone, activists and civil society organisations have said in a call for a state of emergency. According to Femicide Observatory, run by…
How is Pope Francis doing? The Vatican says he rested well and met church officials
By Fatima Al-Kassab , Willem Marx ROME — Pope Francis “rested well throughout the night,” according to a statement from the Vatican Tuesday morning, as he appears to make a slight recovery from double pneumonia and other ailments. He has also resumed some of his duties as pontiff while in the Gemelli hospital in Italy’s…
Chris Pratt Reacts to Patrick Schwarzenegger’s NSFW White Lotus Scenes
Chris Pratt shared his honest reaction to seeing brother-in-law Patrick Schwarzenegger’s nude scenes in The White Lotus season 3 during an exclusive interview with E! News. Chris Pratt isn’t denying his wandering eyes. The Marvel actor—who is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger—shared his honest reaction to those scenes in The White Lotus which have seen his…
Facing Trump’s Hostility, Ukraine Weighs Its Options. But They Are Few.
Russia-Ukraine War There is a broad reckoning in Ukraine: Washington can no longer be relied upon as a supporter. But Kyiv still has agency on the battlefield and can seek increased support from Europe. By Constant Méheut Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine The antagonistic messaging President Trump has delivered to Ukraine since taking office has presented…
Why Widening Highways Doesn’t Fix Traffic—But Congestion Pricing Can
Widening Highways Doesn’t Fix Traffic. Here’s What Can Highway widening projects usually don’t solve congestion, but less expensive toll programs known as congestion pricing can. Here’s why By Allison Parshall edited by Dean Visser Interstate 45 is getting a $13-billion makeover in Houston. The project aims to reduce congestion by adding new lanes—a common story…
Europe Prepares to Face Russia as Trump’s America Steps Back
Russia-Ukraine War European leaders visited Kyiv to mark the war’s third anniversary. The show of solidarity in Ukraine on Monday comes at a head-spinning moment for the continent. By Kim BarkerJeanna Smialek and Steven Erlanger Kim Barker reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, while Jeanna Smialek reported from Brussels and Steven Erlanger reported from Berlin. President Trump…
Health care workers are rushing to learn about immigration law in case of ICE raids
From By Jackie Fortiér The lobby at the St. John’s Community Health clinic in South Los Angeles bustles with patients. But community health worker Ana Ruth Varela is worried that it’s about to get a lot quieter. Many patients, she said, are afraid to leave their homes. “The other day I spoke with one of…
Woman charged in dating app druggings and one death of older men in Las Vegas
FBI says Aurora Phelps met men online for dating then drugged them and stole cars and money A woman used online dating apps to lure at least four older men to meet her in person, drugged them with sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in a “sinister” romance scheme, FBI officials in Las…
Energy bills to rise by more than expected in April
Energy bills for a typical household will rise by more than £100 a year in April under regulator Ofgem’s new cap – a higher-than-expected increase adding pressure on people’s finances. The 6.4% increase means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will see their annual bill rise by £111 a year to…
US sides with Russia in UN resolutions on Ukraine
The US has twice sided with Russia in votes at the UN to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the Trump administration’s change of stance on the war. First the two countries opposed a European-drafted resolution condemning Moscow’s actions and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which was passed by the UN…
What Trump’s Deportation Plans Mean for Central America
Trump Administration News Analysis Deporting migrants to Central American countries removes many political and legal hurdles for the Trump administration. How far can the practice go before these nations reach a breaking point? By Annie Correal Reporting from Mexico City Central American countries have long taken back their own citizens deported from the United States.…
Derecho Wind Storm Damaged Houston Tall Buildings More Than Hurricane Beryl
A Derecho Damaged Skyscrapers More Than A Hurricane Did A powerful derecho last year caused more damage to Houston’s tallest buildings than Hurricane Beryl. Scientists wanted to know why By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News Shattered and boarded up windows are seen on the side of the Wells Fargo Plaza building in Houston, Texas, on…
M23 militia’s advance in eastern DRC has killed 7,000 since January, UN told
DRC prime minister tells human rights council fighting has left about 450,000 without shelter after camps destroyed About 7,000 people have died in fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels started renewed advances in January, the DRC’s prime minister has said. At a high-level meeting of the…
Kylie Jenner Paying Funeral Costs of Hairstylist Jesus Guerrero
Kylie Jenner will pay for funeral costs and other expenses for her late friend and hairstylist Jesus Guerrero after his unexpected death at 34, according to multiple outlets. Kylie Jenner is stepping in to support the family of her late hairstylist. After Jesus Guerrero died unexpectedly at the age of 34, the Kardashians star plans…
Federal agencies still can’t agree on ‘What did you do last week?’ email
By Shannon Bond , Stephen Fowler , Andrea Hsu , Pien Huang Federal agencies were split on whether employees should comply with Elon Musk’s directive to list five accomplishments in the past week, sowing more confusion as the midnight deadline for responding loomed, according to emails seen by NPR, and as the agency overseeing the request appeared to…
How Friedrich Merz Will Try to Lead Europe Despite a Weakened Hand
news analysis The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump. By Jim Tankersley and Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Berlin Germany’s presumptive next chancellor could be weak from the start, for all sorts of reasons. He…
Trump Denied Knowledge of Project 2025—Now His Health Care Plans Follow It Closely
Trump Denied Knowledge of Project 2025—Now His Health Care Plans Follow It Closely During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump distanced himself from the conservative governing plan Project 2025. But it’s increasingly viewed as a blueprint for his administration’s plans for federal health programs By Stephanie Armour & KFF Health News Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of…
Missing British businessman’s body found in Kenyan forest
Campbell Scott, a senior director at Fico, was reported missing while in Nairobi for a three-day conference Police searching for a British businessman missing in Kenya have recovered a body, found in a sack in scrubland about 60 miles from Nairobi, reports said. Campbell Scott, 58, a senior director at the data analytics company Fico,…
Jana Kramer Confesses Her Biggest Plastic Surgery Regret
One Tree Hill alum Jana Kramer discussed her past cosmetic work, including getting breast implants, and shared that she regrets having the procedure to appease anyone other than herself. Jana Kramer has to get something off her chest. The One Tree Hill alum recently shared insight into her past cosmetic procedures, including Botox and getting…
Zelensky says he hopes to end Ukraine war ‘this year’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said “we hope that we can finish this war this year” on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. But he warned that Ukraine needs security guarantees to prevent Moscow returning, suggesting EU and Nato membership will help. Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato. Earlier, Zelensky…
Southport attack yoga teacher: ‘If I didn’t get out, everyone was going to die’
A yoga teacher who almost died in the Southport attack has described for the first time the desperate moments when she helped several children run to safety, despite having been stabbed five times. Leanne Lucas told BBC Panorama how she called 999 as the attacker chased after them. “I just knew that if I didn’t…
Dwyane Wade’s Daughter Zaya Wade Shares Insight Into Their Sweet Bond
Zaya Wade gave an inside look at her relationship with dad Dwyane Wade and how they bond while binge-watching Heartstopper together. Zaya Wade has a full-court bond with her father Dwyane Wade. And the father-daughter duo has put their teamwork on display with the launch of Translatable—a online community of support, information, and resources for…
Is Zelensky’s Approach to Trump Hurting Ukraine?
Russia-Ukraine War news analysis Through three years of wartime leadership, Ukraine’s president has mostly played weak hands wisely. But his approach has fallen flat with the Trump administration. By Andrew E. Kramer Reporting from Kyiv. Andrew E. Kramer has reported on war between Russia and Ukraine for three years. When the secretary of the treasury,…
Why It’s Important to Talk about Race with Children
Opinion The Science of ParentingMondays Why It’s Important to Talk about Race with Children Children start learning about race and racism as early as preschool. Talking about race early, however difficult, will help them become more antiracist By Sylvia Perry edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for this weekly column…
Thousands of children in England accused of witchcraft in past decade
Figures emerge as Kindoki Witch Boy film tells true story of Mardoche Yembi who underwent an exorcism as a child Thousands of children in England have been accused of witchcraft over the past decade, according to new figures that come alongside a film released on Monday. Faith-based abuse is a worldwide phenomenon but experts found…
Pope rests in his 10th day of hospitalization but remains in critical condition
By Ruth Sherlock , Willem Marx , Joe Hernandez ROME — The Vatican announced Monday morning that Pope Francis had a “restful” night in the Italian hospital where he’s been receiving treatment for a complex respiratory infection that includes double pneumonia and bronchitis. “The night went well; the Pope slept and is resting,” according to…
More than 150,000 Canadians sign petition to revoke Musk’s citizenship
Parliamentary petition launched due to billionaire’s link to Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to conquer Canada More than 150,000 people from Canada have signed a parliamentary petition calling for their country to strip Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship because of the tech billionaire’s alliance with Donald Trump, who has spent his second US presidency repeatedly threatening…
3 years on, here’s what to keep an eye on in the Ukraine war — and efforts to end it
By Charles Maynes , Joanna Kakissis , Eleanor Beardsley KYIV, TBILISI AND PARIS — Nearly every day for the last three years, Russian drones and missiles have hit Ukraine, striking power plants, hospitals, schools and homes. “This is part of our life,” says Volodymyr Silvanovskyi, a 63-year-old customs official from the northeastern city of Sumy.…
Carl Zimmer on His New Book Air-Borne and What Public Health Experts Learned from the COVID Pandemic
The Air around Us Is Full of Life By Rachel Feltman, Naeem Amarsy, Jeffery DelViscio & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. You probably don’t spend too much time thinking about the air you breathe—at least relative to the amount of time you spend actually breathing…
Expanding West Bank Campaign, Israel Sends Tanks for First Time in Decades
Middle East Tensions Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said that 40,000 Palestinian residents displaced from militant hotbeds would not be allowed to return to their homes. By Isabel Kershner Reporting from Jerusalem Israel announced on Sunday that it was expanding its weekslong military operation against armed Palestinian groups in the occupied West Bank and had…
3 More Bird Flu Infections in People as Chicken Deaths Affect Egg Industry
The Latest on Bird Flu in Humans, Chickens, and More Bird flu headlines include three new human cases, millions of dead birds in poultry flocks and new personnel moves from the Trump administration By Meghan Bartels edited by Lauren J. Young We’re regularly rounding up the latest news on avian influenza. Here’s what happened recently.…
SAG Awards: Why Demi Moore Took a Long Pause in Her Acceptance Speech
At the SAG Awards 2025 ceremony Feb. 23, Demi Moore took home the trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance in The Substance. Demi Moore‘s award season has been full throttle. The Substance star took home the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role…
Colombian city faces worst violence in decades as armed groups wreak havoc
Cúcuta imposes curfew as National Liberation Army (ELN) clashes with army in province bordering Venezuela Residents of a violence-torn province in northern Colombia are bracing for further bloodshed as a conflict between rival armed groups spread to a regional capital in scenes residents said they had not witnessed since the cartel unrest of the 1990s.…
Germany’s conservatives celebrate, but far right enjoy record result
Friedrich Merz’s conservatives have won Germany’s election, well ahead of rival parties but short of the 30% vote-share they had expected. “Let’s celebrate tonight and in the morning we’ll get to work,” he told cheering supporters. He said he was “aware of the responsibility that now lies ahead” of him. The other winner was the…
Trump officials will put 4,700 USAID employees on leave and eliminate 1,600 jobs
By Fatma Tanis , Melody Schreiber The Trump administration is putting nearly all of USAID’s 4,700 full-time employees on paid administrative leave at midnight Sunday and will subsequently terminate 1,600 of those positions as part of a “reduction in force,” according to a memo that was widely distributed to agency staff Sunday afternoon and later…
Pope Francis Suffering From Kidney Failure in Addition to Pneumonia
The kidney ailment appears to be in an early stage, the Vatican said, adding that the pontiff is still receiving high flows of oxygen for his respiratory illness. By Elisabetta Povoledo Reporting from Rome Pope Francis is suffering from “initial, mild kidney failure” in addition to the serious respiratory illness that has left the 88-year-old…
‘City Killer’ Asteroid’s Earth Impact Risk Rises to Highest Ever Recorded
‘City Killer’ Asteroid’s Earth Impact Risk Rises and Falls Again Asteroid 2024 YR4’s risk of hitting Earth is shifting with new data, astronomers say By Lee Billings edited by Dean Visser The asteroid 2024 YR4 probably won’t come nearly as close to Earth anytime soon as the space rock in this artist’s illustration. But astronomers…
Zelensky Pushes Back Against U.S. Mineral Deal and Announces European Summit
Russia-Ukraine War The Ukrainian leader also said he would step down if Ukraine was allowed to join NATO, though it was unclear if he was serious or not. By Constant Méheut and Andrew E. Kramer Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back on Sunday against demands from the Trump administration for billions in…
SAG Awards 2025 Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look (Live Updates)
For the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards held on Feb. 23, some of your favorite celebs showed up and showed out on the red carpet. Lights, camera, action. The 2025 Screen Guild Actors Awards ceremony is almost finally here—and in honor of the occasion, many of Hollywood’s biggest stars have stepped out to celebrate at the Shrine Auditorium and…
‘What did you do last week?’ email stokes confusion and anger among federal workers
Stephen Fowler A federal government-wide email asking employees “What did you do last week?” plunged workers and agencies into a weekend of confusion and conflicting directives. Billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk said failure to reply would be taken as resignation. But some department officials told their employees they could hold off on responding. Adding…
Trump compared to mobster Tony Soprano by former envoy to Panama
John Feeley launches stinging critique of US president’s bully-boy approach to Latin America The former US ambassador to Panama has launched a stinging critique of Donald Trump’s approach towards Latin America, comparing his conduct to that of the ruthless and egotistical fictional mob boss Tony Soprano. In the first month of his presidency, the US…
Germany Election 2025: What to Watch For
Germany’s Election What Germans decide in national elections that are likely to produce a new chancellor will be of critical importance as Europe re-evaluates relations with the Trump administration. By Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Berlin Germans are voting on Sunday in a rare snap election that has taken on outsize importance as the new…
Kylie Jenner’s Hairstylist Jesus Guerrero Dead at 34
Celebrity hairstylist Jesus Guerrero, who has worked with stars such as Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez and Demi Moore, has died at age 34. The celebrity world has lost a dear friend. Jesus Guerrero, a hairstylist whose clients have included Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Rosalía, Jessica Alba, Demi Moore and Jennifer Lopez, has died. He…
John Simpson: 2025 could be year for the history books as Trump shreds global norms
Just occasionally, there are years when the world goes through some fundamental, convulsive change. 1968, with the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, the Paris riots and the anti-Vietnam War protests in America, was one of them. 1989, the year of the Tiananmen massacre, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the implosion of the Soviet empire,…
Microsoft Claims Quantum-Computing Breakthrough—but Some Physicists Are Skeptical
Microsoft Claims Quantum-Computing Breakthrough—but Some Physicists Are Skeptical By Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine Microsoft has unveiled its Majorana 1 quantum chip. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The announcement came in a 19 February press release containing few technical details — but Microsoft says it has disclosed some of its data to selected specialists…
How one community in Chile is blessed and cursed with lithium
By John Bartlett ATACAMA DESERT, Chile — At the top of a craggy path in Socaire, a hilltop village deep in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a black flag whips in the wind above Jeanette Cruz’s house. The desert sun has bleached it to a dark gray blur, but the defiance it represents remains strong. Above each…
‘Trump and Musk are gaslighting’: anti-apartheid artist on how US president and his billionaire ally are attacking South Africa
Ahead of a career retrospective, Sue Williamson tells how the US pair are dragging her country ‘through the mud’ For more than 50 years, Sue Williamson’s art has been shining a light on South Africa’s problems – first to campaign against the apartheid state, and then to question how far the country has progressed in…
Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night following respiratory crisis
By The Associated Press ROME — Pope Francis, in critical condition with a complicated lung infection, rested well during a peaceful night following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said Sunday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni’s one-line statement didn’t mention if Francis was up or eating breakfast. “The night passed quietly, the pope rested.”…
SAG Awards: All the Eternally Fashionable Looks From the 2005 Ceremony
Two decades ago, chiffon, satin, ruching and bright patterns were all the craze on the red carpet and it was evident at the 2005 SAG Awards with stars like Kate Winslet dressed to impress. From chiffon and satin gowns to halter necklines and bold embellishments, the 2005 SAG Awards‘ fashion has proven to be a…
Biological Anthropology Points to Possible Reasons for Hair and Skin Tone Diversity
By Rachel Feltman & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel Feltman: Have you ever really thought about the hair that grows out of your head? I mean, I’m sure you’ve thought about your hair—in terms of which way to get it cut and how to get that one really wonky piece to behave itself—but have you ever considered…
Israel indefinitely delays Palestinian prisoner release as hostages freed
Israel says it is indefinitely delaying the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, in another potentially major setback in the ceasefire process. Benjamin Netanyahu said the release was now going to be delayed until the next handover of hostages by Hamas was guaranteed – and without what the Israeli prime minister called the degrading…
Germans to vote in high-stakes election watched closely by Europe and US
Germans go to the polls on Sunday, after an intense election campaign dominated by their country’s faltering economy and a succession of deadly attacks that have made migration and security a focal issue. Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old conservative leader, is in pole-position to become Germany’s next chancellor, in a vote closely watched in Europe and…
Elon Musk says federal employees must document work in email or be fired
By Emma Bowman , Brett Neely Federal workers across the U.S. government received an email on Saturday afternoon asking them to account for what they did in the past week — and Elon Musk says they will be fired if they don’t respond. The emails arrived several hours after Musk, who is leading the Department…
US congresswoman ‘rooting’ for Canada and Mexico against Trump’s threats
Democrat Jasmine Crockett calls it ‘really wild’ that it is foreign leaders who are speaking truth to power The congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has revealed she is “rooting” for Canada and Mexico over Donald Trump in their attempts to stand up to him, saying it is “really wild” to find herself in that position given he…