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 […]
Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of The Borderlands
For many, Dungeons & Dragons may seem like a insurmountable entry point to the world of RPGs, and, in many ways, especially without at least one seasoned veteran in your group, it isn’t necessarily an incorrect assumption. The all new Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of The Borderlands aims to eliminate that hurdle […]
Sudan’s RSF accused of ‘PR stunt’ after arresting fighters behind civilian killings
Reports of indiscriminate violence and ethnic targeting in El Fasher have led to growing global outrage Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces claim to have arrested several of their fighters after outrage over the extent of killing in the city of El Fasher continues to build. But the paramilitary group’s move has been greeted with scepticism…
How One Mom Used Vibe Coding to Build an AI Tutor for Her Dyslexic Son
How One Mom Built an AI Tutor for Her Dyslexic Son Faced with her son’s struggle with dyslexia, one mom built an AI platform to help kids learn their own way By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Clara Moskowitz A dyslexia diagnosis was supposed to offer solutions for a boy named Tobey. His learning difference…
Why Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie can’t escape the taint of family scandal
The scandal that has engulfed Andrew is of his own making, but it has had a profound impact on his immediate family: his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters. Ms Ferguson, 66, has been haunted by her own links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She will now move out of Royal Lodge and…
King Charles Visits Andrew’s New Home After Stripping His Royal Titles
King Charles took a trip to Prince Andrew’s new residence on the Sandringham estate one day after it was confirmed the former Duke of York was relocating after being stripped of royal titles. King Charles III is taking a look at his younger brother’s new residence. Just one day after Buckingham Palace announced the reigning…
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…
Will the Unmaking of Prince Andrew Be the Making of King Charles?
Prince Andrew’s Downfall News Analysis The decision by King Charles III to strip the title of his brother Prince Andrew showed a level of accountability rarely applied to royals. By Mark Landler Reporting from London When Prince Charles ascended the throne in 2022, royal watchers predicted he would be a cautious reformer, edging Britain’s ancient…
UN approves resolution supporting Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara
Move is strongest endorsement yet for retained rule over disputed territory, despite fierce opposition from Algeria The UN security council has approved a US-backed resolution supporting Morocco’s claim to the disputed Western Sahara, despite fierce opposition from Algeria. Although Friday’s vote was divided, the resolution offers the strongest endorsement yet for Morocco’s plan to keep…
Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to maintain a ceasefire — for now. Here’s what to know
By Betsy Joles ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — After five days of on-and-off talks in Istanbul to resolve hostilities that flared in the first half of October, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to continue a ceasefire they arrived at earlier this month, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday. In a statement, the ministry said the next round of talks…
Andrew’s move out of Royal Lodge may not happen until new year
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will not have to leave Royal Lodge immediately and could move to Sandringham as late as the new year, the BBC understands. On Thursday, King Charles stripped his younger brother of his titles and honours, and moved to force him out of his Windsor mansion. He will be moving to a property…
Families say cost of housing means they’ll have fewer or no children
By Hanna Merzbach 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. At an indoor play center in Cheyenne, Wyo., a sea of toddlers throw around…
How Isabella Strahan Redefined Beauty After Her Cancer Battle
Isabella Strahan shared how she is embracing her appearance as her hair grows back after cancer treatment: “I learned that my beauty, it’s not about my hair.” Isabella Strahan is celebrating new growth in many ways. A year after she was declared cancer-free, the 21-year-old shared how her naturally curly, auburn hair changed since it…
Ex-sergeant major jailed for six months for sexual assault of soldier who took her own life
An ex-Army sergeant major has been jailed for six months for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who later took her own life. Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, pinned down Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and tried to kiss her in July 2021. She was found dead five months later in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire.…
About 700 killed in Tanzania election protests, opposition says
Demonstrators took to streets after president’s main challengers were excluded from ballot About 700 people have been killed during three days of election protests in Tanzania, the main opposition party has said. Protests erupted on election day on Wednesday over what demonstrators said was the stifling of the opposition after the exclusion of key candidates…
The Interplanetary Race to Study Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
The Race to Study an Interstellar Comet from Deep Space Astronomers are hustling to use interplanetary spacecraft to study the interstellar comet dubbed 3I/ATLAS while the sun is hiding it from Earth By Meghan Bartels edited by Lee Billings A deep image of interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS captured by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini…
Sudan’s brutal civil war – what has happened in El Fasher?
Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces captured the city from the army after an 18-month siege – but who are they and what do they want? Another devastating chapter in Sudan’s brutal civil war has taken place after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces captured El Fasher from the army after an 18-month siege that trapped tens of…
Trump’s Baffling Call for Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests
Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests Is Reckless and Dangerous, One Expert Says “The only countries that will really learn more if [U.S. nuclear] testing resumes are Russia and, to a much greater extent, China,” says Jeffrey Lewis, an expert on the geopolitics of nuclear weaponry By Dan Vergano edited by Lee Billings The crater-scarred landscape of…
Mascara That Won’t Run, Smudge, or Flake, According to Amazon Shoppers
These tried-and-true formulas from Benefit, Maybelline and more will keep your lashes pristine all day. Look, we’ve all been there: You leave the house with your lashes looking pristine—long! Voluminous! Downright dramatic even!—only to catch your reflection halfway through the day and realize your perfect beat has been sabotaged by mascara flakes and smudges. Since,…
Is this finally rock bottom for Mr Andrew Mountbatten Windsor?
After weeks, months, years and even decades of scandals, all the titles and privileges of the former Prince Andrew have been completely removed. There are no modern precedents for such a colossal loss of royal status. Unlike the previous statement on his future, this was from Buckingham Palace rather than Andrew himself. It’s a ripping…
Five key takeaways from Trump’s week in Asia
Deepa Shivaram President Trump is back in Washington after spending a week in Asia. He attended the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, addressed U.S. troops in Japan and met with China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Here are five takeaways from the president’s first visit to the region in his second term. On the…
Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba pick up the pieces after Melissa’s destruction
By The Associated Press SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba — The rumble of large machinery, whine of chain saws and chopping of machetes echoed through communities across the northern Caribbean on Thursday as they dug out from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa and surveyed the damage left behind. “I don’t have a house now,” said Sylvester…
Sunday Riley’s Cult-Favorite C.E.O. Glow Serum Is a Rare 30% at Amazon
Plus find more amazing deals on Laneige, Charlotte Tilbury, Elemis, and more. The beauty of Amazon is that you can pretty much find everything you could ever need on there— even luxury skincare. Even better, you can usually find it for less, especially because Amazon’s Holiday Beauty Event is happening right now. Take the cult-favorite…
Hurricane Melissa heads to Bermuda as relief efforts intensify in Jamaica
Kingston airport reopens to flights carrying aid, with some Jamaican towns underwater and power lines down as storm’s overall death toll climbs to 44 Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, was spared the worst damage and the main international airport has reopened to allow flights carrying critical aid to land. Officials said some towns were underwater and power…
Andrew stripped of ‘prince’ title and will move out of Royal Lodge
Prince Andrew is to lose his ‘prince’ title and leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, following weeks of intense scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace said the King’s brother will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Andrew gave up his other royal…
Seismometers Picked Up Hurricane Melissa’s Historic Power Like an Earthquake
Hurricane Melissa Was So Strong That It Shook the Earth Hundreds of Miles Away Seismometers picked up the ferocious winds and waves of Hurricane Melissa, showing how the tools can be used to better understand storms today and those from the past By Robin George Andrews edited by Andrea Thompson Seismograms from October 25 (left)…
UN leaders condemn ‘horrifying’ mass killings in Sudan
Emergency security council session criticises killings of civilians in El Fasher and external supply of arms to RSF Diplomats and senior UN figures speaking at the UN security council have condemned mass killings by the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher after the Sudanese city “descended into an even darker hell” following the paramilitary group’s…
Chimpanzee Metacognition Allows Humanlike Belief Revision
Chimps Can Weigh Evidence and Update Their Beliefs Like Humans Do Are we the only rational thinkers? New research on our primate cousins suggests otherwise By Cody Cottier edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Chimpanzees show the capacity to revise their beliefs when presented with new evidence. You generally have reasons, good or bad, for your…
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 we know about Andrew losing titles and Windsor mansion
Prince Andrew has been stripped of his “prince” title and will leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. The King has “initiated a formal process” to remove his titles, it said, and Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Andrew, 65 – the King’s younger brother – has continued…
How Prince William & Family Reacted to Prince Andrew Giving Up Titles
King Charles III received support from the royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, for his decision to remove Prince Andrew’s titles and eject him from his residence at Royal Lodge. The Royal family is in full support of King Charles III. Amid the monarch’s Oct. 30 decision to strip his brother Andrew of…
How an Error in Cult Classic Game Doom Sparked New Appreciation for Pi
How an Error in Cult Classic Game Doom Sparked New Appreciation for Pi What would the world look like if we changed the value of pi? Whether in the real world or a game environment, the answer is complex By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas Everyone makes mistakes—and sometimes those mistakes can lead to…
Bindi Irwin Explains Absence From Dancing With the Stars Ballroom
Bindi Irwin was forced to miss supporting her brother Robert Irwin on Dancing With the Stars in-person after her entire family got sick. Bindi Irwin has been cheering her brother on from afar. The Dancing With the Stars season 21 winner—who shares daughter Grace, 4, with husband Chandler Powell—was absent from the ballroom for the second week in…
Trump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationally
Selena Simmons-Duffin Access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth will be dramatically restricted by the Trump administration under new proposals by the Department of Health and Human Services. NPR has obtained the draft text of a proposed rule that would prohibit federal Medicaid reimbursement for medical care provided to transgender patients younger than age 18.…
‘This was a slaughter, not an operation’: the favela reeling from Rio’s deadliest police raid
Residents of Vila Cruzeiro gather bodies after more than 130 were killed in pre-dawn assault Day had yet to break over Vila Cruzeiro but already dozens of corpses were splayed out along the favela’s main drag after more than 130 people were killed during the deadliest police operation in Rio’s history: grotesquely disfigured, blood-smeared bodies…
Trump hails ‘amazing’ meeting with China’s Xi but no formal trade deal agreed
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have met for the first time in six years – raising hopes for a de-escalation of tensions between the world’s two biggest economies. Trump described the talks, held in South Korea, as “amazing”, while Beijing said they had reached a consensus to resolve “major trade…
‘Poor’ insulation that left houses mouldy needs wider investigation, government told
Homeowners who say that botched insulation under government schemes left them living in mouldy conditions are calling for an investigation into the problem to be widened. One woman has told the BBC that damage from works to her home in 2013 has left her bedroom too damp to sleep in, and may be causing her…
These Addams Family Movie Secrets Deserve Double Snaps
The Addams Family and Addams Family Values have endured as Halloween classics in the wake of some truly scary production issues and casting shake-ups. “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky…” Which was fine for TV. But the members of the big-screen Addams family do what they wanna do, say what…
Spider Web Patterns May Help Arachnids Sense Vibrations from Prey
Spooky Web Patterns May Help Spiders Sense Prey Researchers simulated the effects that different web decorations had on vibrations, adding fresh insight to a decades-old debate about the function of these structures By Andrea Tamayo edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Spiders such as this Argiope bruennichi sometimes adorn webs with zigzagging stabilimenta. Join Our Community…
‘They killed civilians in their beds’: chaos and brutality reign after fall of El Fasher
Thousands have fled the Sudanese city in terror with stories of the Rapid Support Forces attacking and killing civilians Hundreds reportedly killed at Sudanese hospital as evidence of RSF atrocities mounts Nawal Khalil had been volunteering as a nurse for three years at El Fasher South hospital when the Sudanese city was captured on Sunday…
Trump rates meeting with China’s Xi ’12 out of 10′, lowers tariffs
Deepa Shivaram GYEONGJU, South Korea– President Trump said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping “agreed to almost everything” in their nearly two-hour meeting in South Korea, which Trump said was “friendly.” It was Trump’s last event after a week of summits, trade talks and other diplomatic events in the Indo-Pacific. On the flight back to…
Starmer rules out investigation as Reeves apologises for breaking housing rules
In reply, the prime minister said he was happy the “matter can be drawn to a close” after consulting his independent ethics adviser, who has decided not to launch an investigation. The Conservatives have called for an investigation and for Reeves to be sacked. The exchange of letters between the PM and Reeves revealed they…
Does Hurricane Melissa Show It’s Time for a Category 6 Designation?
Is It Time to Classify Hurricanes as Category 6? Hurricane Melissa’s powerful winds and drenching rains devastated Jamaica. But is its wrath a sign that we need a new designation for monster storms? By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson Hurricane Melissa became one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean on…
Kourtney Kardashian Breaks Down Khloe and Rob’s “Incestual” Bond
Kourtney Kardashian detailed the varying bonds her sisters have with Rob Kardashian, quipping that Khloe Kardashian has an “incestual” one with their brother. Kourtney Kardashian is pooshing back the curtains on her family’s dynamic. As her notoriously private brother Rob Kardashian made a rare appearance on The Kardashians, the Poosh founder detailed how she, Khloe…
Nigerian Nobel winner Wole Soyinka says U.S. revoked his visa after Trump criticism
By The Associated Press Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday that his non-resident visa to enter the United States had been rejected, adding that he believes it may be because he recently criticized President Donald Trump. The Nigerian author, 91, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to…
Hurricane Melissa hits Cuba after turning Jamaica into ‘disaster area’
Most intense tropical cyclone to hit Jamaica in nearly two centuries leaves trail of devastation in its wake Hurricane Melissa – live updates Hurricane Melissa has torn through the Caribbean, slamming into Cuba while leaving parts of neighbouring Jamaica broken and reeling from ferocious winds and extreme rainfall. The effects of the colossal hurricane were…
Review – Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 – Bare-Knuckle Bats
Ray: For the first Absolute annual, Scott Snyder is doing something unusual – letting other people play in his new sandbox. Three elite cartoonists from the indie world are on board to celebrate a year of the beefiest Batman ever. He’s rescued by a priest as the Nazis go on to their violent purposes, and…
Russia’s Burevestnik Nuclear-Powered Missile Is a Very Bad Idea
Here’s How a Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile Works Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed his nation conducted a successful flight of a nuclear-powered cruise missile. Here’s how that missile might work By Dan Vergano edited by Lee Billings Russian president Vladimir Putin (left) speaks with Valery Gerasimov of the Russian Armed Forces on October 26, 2025. Mysteries…
What Wikipedia and Grokipedia are saying about each other
By Bill Chappell Elon Musk’s Grokipedia encyclopedia is now online, challenging volunteer-edited Wikipedia with a new tool that incorporates Grok, the large language model chatbot developed by Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI. Musk is positioning Grokipedia as an alternative to Wikipedia, which he called “Wokepedia” in an X post last December. Musk has lofty ambitions…
Afghan man charged after dog walker killed in London triple stabbing
A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder following a triple stabbing in Uxbridge. Afghan national Safi Dawood, of Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, was charged with murdering Wayne Broadhurst, a 49-year-old man who was walking his dog on the street. Police were called to reports that three people had been stabbed on Monday…
Andy Cohen Details Getting “So Physical” With Pal John Mayer
Andy Cohen shared that while he and John Mayer do not have a romantic relationship, he did recently find himself getting very physical with the Grammy winner while the two had dinner. Andy Cohen has to watch what happens when he’s out with John Mayer. The Watch What Happens Live host revealed that while he…
Hundreds reportedly killed at Sudanese hospital as evidence of RSF atrocities mounts
Rapid Support Forces, which claimed control of El Fasher on Sunday, reportedly killed at least 460 people ‘in cold blood’ Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces killed hundreds of patients and staff inside a hospital in El Fasher, according to the World Health Organization and the Sudan Doctors Network, after the paramilitary group claimed control of the…
Review – Batman and Robin: Year One #12 – The Guardians of Gotham
Ray: It’s the first of two issues concluding epic miniseries telling tales of Batman and Robin’s early years this month, and this one has the edge of one artist through the entire run – the brilliant Chris Samnee. Over the run, we’ve seen Bruce struggle to adjust to being a father, Dick battling with his…
‘A colony of the US’: Argentinians contemplate future after Trump-backed Milei coasts to victory
Big win leaves many wondering if result reflects genuine support for president or corrosive US influence Opposition posters scattered across Buenos Aires before Sunday’s midterms showed president Javier Milei’s name plastered over a US flag, in a bid to tap into anti-American sentiment over Donald Trump’s alleged interference in Argentina’s election. Days before the vote,…
White House fires entire commission that reviews designs for federal buildings
Elizabeth Blair The White House has fired six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the independent federal agency that advises the president and Congress on design plans for monuments, memorials, coins and federal buildings. The seven member commission is made up of experts in architecture, art, urban and landscape design. Since its creation…
You Won’t Believe Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year—But Your Kids Will
Dictionary.com announced the 2025 Word of the Year as “67” the popular phrase that has send parents and teachers alike into a spiral. Dictionary.com’s word of the year will leave you feeling, well…67. Indeed, the online dictionary announced Oct. 29 that 2025’s Word of the Year title has been claimed by “67”—pronounced six-seven as opposed to sixty-seven—the…
Migrant sex offender given £500 after threat to disrupt deportation
A migrant sex offender mistakenly released from prison was given a £500 payment after threatening to disrupt his deportation from the UK to Ethiopia. Hadush Kebatu was jailed after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman while living in an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, but was mistakenly freed by prison staff on Friday.…
The Neuroscience behind the ‘Parenting Paradox’ of Happiness
The Neuroscience behind the ‘Parenting Paradox’ of Happiness Separate brain processes cope with moment-to-moment versus big-picture experiences, which helps explain how parenting both increases and decreases aspects of well-being By Anthony Vaccaro edited by Daisy Yuhas Deciding whether to have kids can be one of the most momentous decisions a person makes. Countless factors can…
These Stars’ Supernatural Experiences Will Give You the Chills
Do you believe in ghosts? With Halloween right around the corner, read what Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer, Vanessa Hudgens and more have shared about their spiritual encounters. Telling ghost stories is one thing. But starring in your own? That’s another. Over the years, several celebrities have shared their supernatural experiences. Take Jessica Chastain,…
Review – Superman: Red and Blue 2025 Special #1 – Colors of a Hero
“Priceless” by Dini and Andolfo finds Superman on a complex mission in deep space. Kara and Krypto have been arrested on a foreign planet for…antics, and the fine is a crystal only found on one planet and attached to peaceful but dangerous aliens. Superman needs to painlessly get the mineral without disrupting the aliens –…
Wole Soyinka, Nigerian Nobel laureate and Trump critic, says US visa revoked
Soyinka, 91, who recently compared US president to Idi Amin, says ‘I have no visa – I am banned’ The Trump administration has revoked the visa for Wole Soyinka, the acclaimed Nigerian Nobel prize-winning writer who has been critical of Trump since his first presidency, Soyinka revealed on Tuesday. “I want to assure the consulate…
Did Dark Matter Help Supersize the Universe?
Physicists Propose a Simpler, Hotter Origin for the Cosmos Theorists have found that a “warm” version of cosmic inflation is consistent with known physics, linking it to the hunt for dark matter By Stephanie Pappas edited by Lee Billings For a fraction of a second after the big bang occurred 13.8 billion years ago, most…