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 […]
Trump announces 90-days extension of prior trade deal with Mexico
Danielle Kurtzleben President Trump says he will delay tariffs on Mexico as trade negotiations continue. The announcement comes as countries around the world scramble to negotiate and understand new tariff rates that are set to go into effect on Friday. Trump said he had a “very successful” conversation Thursday morning with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.…
France under pressure to stop $9.7m of USAID contraceptives being destroyed
US reportedly planning to destroy contraceptives, probably destined for Africa, in France after dismantling USAID The French government has said it is closely monitoring a US plan to destroy millions of dollars of contraceptives stocked in Europe after outrage from French feminists, rights groups and family planning organisations at what they called a wasteful attack…
Dozens killed seeking food in Gaza, hospital says, as US envoy arrives in Israel
More than 50 Palestinians were killed and 400 others injured while waiting for food near a crossing in northern Gaza on Wednesday, a hospital says, as US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel. Footage showed casualties from the incident near the Zikim crossing being taken on carts to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Gaza’s…
YouTube’s Lofi Girl Graduates After Studying for 7 Years
Lofi Girl—whose perpetual studying animation accompanies a long-running YouTube stream titled “lofi hip hop radio – beats to relax/study to”—has finally graduated. This calls for music to celebrate/chill to. Lofi Girl—the animated star of the popular YouTube channel of the same name, which provides users with a 24/7 livestream of lo-fi hip-hop music—has graduated from…
Russia’s Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Ranks among 10 Strongest
Russia’s 8.8 Earthquake Is One of the Strongest Ever Recorded Russia’s earthquake was estimated at magnitude 8.8, among the strongest since scientists began monitoring By Mark Fischetti Damage from a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! On July 30, 2025, a magnitude…
Christian refugees caught in crosshairs of U.S. immigration policy
By Ximena Bustillo , Juliana Kim On a Sunday in June, Pastor Ara Torosian gave a message to his congregation in Los Angeles: if detained by immigration officers, “first, call your lawyer and second, call your pastor.” It didn’t take long. By the end of the month, two families reached out to Torosian, one through…
UN holds emergency talks over sky-high accommodation costs at Cop30 in Brazil
Concerns poorer countries could be priced out of negotiations in Belém as room rates soar amid shortage The UN climate bureau has held an urgent meeting about concerns that sky-high rates for accommodation at this year’s Cop30 summit in Brazil could price poorer countries out of the negotiations. Brazil is preparing to host Cop30 this…
Why the Tsunami from Russia’s Earthquake Wasn’t as Large as Feared
Why the Russian Earthquake Didn’t Cause a Huge Tsunami By Robin George Andrews edited by Dean Visser An aerial view of the city of Severo-Kurilsk flooded due to a tsunami triggered by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025. The epicenter was located at a depth of 20.7…
What makes a tsunami — and what to do if one comes
Michal Ruprecht Tsunami alerts lit up Siri Zama’s phone on Tuesday. The 28-year-old high school teacher in Kapolei, Hawaii, fled inland. “It was raining, and the clouds got real dark. It was just a little scary. I was a little worried because everyone from here was stressing,” Zama recalled. Those stress-inducing alerts had been triggered…
Canada follows France and UK with plan to recognise Palestinian state
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September, becoming the third G7 nation to make such an announcement in recent days. Carney said the move depends on democratic reforms, including the Palestinian Authority holding elections next year without Hamas. His remarks come a day after the UK announced…
Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry spotted dining together in Montreal
Restaurant Le Violon confirms former Canadian prime minister and singer visited but saw ‘no signs of PDA’ Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry were seen dining together in Montreal this week. A communications consultant for the restaurant Le Violon confirmed that the former Canadian prime minister and the singer spent about two hours at the fine-dining…
Larissa Santos Lima Reveals New Look After Removing Breast Implants
Larissa Santos Lima is getting something off her chest. The 90 Day Fiancé alum debuted a jaw-dropping transformation after deciding to remove her gigantic breast implants on the July 30 episode of E!’s makeover series Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind—and she couldn’t get enough of her new, more natural look. “This reversal has been one of…
Flight disruption after major UK air traffic outage
Air passengers have suffered significant disruption after an air traffic control outage brought major UK airports to a standstill. Thousands of planes were grounded at airports including Heathrow, Stanstead, Manchester and Edinburgh. More than 120 flights to and from the UK were cancelled, as of 19:30 BST. Air traffic control firm NATS said the issue…
Jimmy Hoffa vanished 50 years ago. The unsolved mystery and his legend endure
Don Gonyea His full name is James Riddle Hoffa. But everyone knew him as Jimmy. A labor leader who thrived in the rough and tumble world of union organizing, of contracts, and picket lines… and of standing up for workers right no matter what. When he disappeared it was front page news. But how many…
Sheinbaum demands return of Mexican citizens held at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Mexican president said citizens held at controversial Florida immigration jail ‘should be repatriated immediately’ Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has said that the country is demanding the repatriation of at least 30 of its citizens currently being held in the controversial Florida immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz”. The Mexican leader said on Wednesday that…
Heatstroke and Extreme Heat Exposure Leads to Chronic Health Effects on Kidneys, Heart and Brain
Heatstroke and Extreme Heat can Hurt Health in the Long-Term, Too The immediate harms of extreme heat are well documented, but a growing body of research suggests that heatstroke may have long-term health effects throughout the body By Nora Bradford edited by Lauren J. Young Heatstroke can sneak up on anyone, especially when exercising outside.…
Brazil’s president Lula hits back as Trump tariffs threaten US trade showdown
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he won’t be cowed by Trump ahead of 50% tariffs set to hit Brazil on Friday Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has said he does not fear getting on the wrong side of Donald Trump, as South America’s largest economy braces for the introduction of 50% tariffs…
Jinger Duggar’s Husband Jeremy Vuolo Details “Deep Betrayal”
Jinger Duggar’s husband Jeremy Vuolo looked back on a “deep betrayal” they endured shortly after getting married in 2016 and how they overcame the difficult period. Married life hasn’t always been easy for Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo. The couple reflected on a difficult period they faced shortly after exchanging vows in 2016, which led to…
Freed British-Israeli hostage says Starmer ‘risks rewarding terror’ with Palestinian recognition
A British-Israeli woman held hostage by Hamas has said Sir Keir Starmer is “not standing on the right side of history” with his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state. Emily Damari, who was released in January after being held by Hamas for more than 15 months, said the UK prime minister “risks rewarding terror”. Sir…
Where Andes meet Amazon, a new ‘lifeline’ for wildlife
As global temperatures rise, wildlife around the world are on the move, and one of the planet’s most biodiverse countries is no exception. In central Ecuador, where the Andes meet the Amazon, lies a patchwork of protected areas and Indigenous territories. But climate change and persistent deforestation are widening the gaps between them — leaving…
Neurotic Cats, One-Eyed Aliens and Hypnosis for Liars Are among the Historical Gems Reported in Scientific American
Neurotic Cats, One-Eyed Aliens and Hypnosis for Liars Are among the Historical Gems Reported in Scientific American Dive into the quirkiest and most fascinating tales from Scientific American’s 180-year archive By Mark Fischetti We’re celebrating 180 years of Scientific American. Explore our legacy of discovery and look ahead to the future. Scientists are trained to…
A tsunami makes its way across the Pacific, with waves hitting the U.S. West Coast
By Rachel Treisman Much of the West Coast of the U.S. is under tsunami alerts, after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck eastern Russia and sent powerful waves into Japan, Hawaii, California and counting. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit near Russia’s sparsely populated Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday morning — tying with two other…
Trump keeps pressuring the Fed to cut rates. Here’s why its independence matters
By Scott Neuman President Trump’s tense, televised clash with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has raised concerns about the central bank’s independence ahead of this week’s meeting to consider interest-rate adjustments. While Trump isn’t the first president to pressure the Fed to cut interest rates, experts say his brash and bullying tactics are unprecedented. After…
Trump’s EPA Targets ‘Endangerment Finding’ Underlying Climate Change Policy for Reducing Carbon
Trump’s EPA Is Taking Aim at the Legal Backbone of U.S. Climate Policy The Trump administration is releasing its proposal to undo the “endangerment finding,” the long-standing rationale and legal imperative for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin testifies…
HSBC boss says Rachel Reeves putting up bank taxes would harm UK growth
Georges Elhedery’s comments come amid speculation the chancellor could make such a move in autumn budget Business live – latest updates The boss of HSBC has joined a growing chorus of bankers cautioning Rachel Reeves against increasing taxes on banks in her autumn budget, warning it risked “eroding” investment and ultimately harming UK growth. Georges…
What do we know so far about the damage?
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The earthquake, which hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at about 11:25am local time (00:25am BST) on Wednesday, is believed to be one of the most powerful ever recorded. More than two million people have been ordered to evacuate…
Surprising Secrets About Runaway Bride Revealed
Runaway Bride became the long-awaited onscreen reunion for costars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, almost a decade after 1990’s Pretty Woman. But it was almost never made. It was the movie a decade in the making—in more ways than one. Nine years after Pretty Woman made Julia Roberts a superstar and turned Richard Gere into…
Taiwan president scraps Latin America trip amid reports the US opposed stopover in New York
The Taiwanese government insists Lai Ching-te’s visit was delayed due to domestic issues, including natural disasters and tariff negotiations Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te will delay an expected trip to his country’s remaining allies in Latin America, amid conflicting accounts of the reason for the postponement. Lai was expected to travel to the Americas next month,…
RHOD’s D’Andra Simmons Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Real Housewives of Dallas star D’Andra Simmons announced July 29 that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, explaining that she was undergoing three surgeries that same day. D’Andra Simmons is sharing a difficult medical update. The Real Housewives of Dallas alum said she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be treated at…
The NTSB is set to hold a hearing on the DCA midair collision. Here’s what to know
By Joe Hernandez WASHINGTON — It has been six months since an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. The crash has been under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is set to begin a…
Tsunami Warnings Issued After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake Off the Coast of Russia
Tsunami Warnings Issued after Magnitude-8.7 Earthquake Strikes off Russian Coast Tsunami warnings and advisories were issues around the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude-8.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia, the largest earthquake since the 2011 Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami By Andrea Thompson edited by Jeanna Bryner A photo from March 2022 shows an…
UK wants to ‘affect situation on ground’ in Gaza
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the UK is attempting to “affect the situation on the ground” in Gaza after the government announced it would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agreed to end the crisis in Gaza. Speaking to the BBC’s Tom Bateman at the UN in New York, Lammy said the…
Trump says his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein was over spa workers at Mar-a-Lago
By Franco Ordoñez , Claudia Grisales President Trump offered new details Tuesday over what led to his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein some two decades ago, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that the rupture had to do with employees who worked at the spa at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has repeatedly said he kicked Epstein out…
UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel meets conditions
The UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The PM said Israel must also meet other conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire, committing to a long-term sustainable peace that delivers a two-state solution, and allowing the United…
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Access to Threatened Defense Department Satellite Data
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Crucial Satellite Data Online after Threatened Cuts By Andrea Thompson edited by Jeanna Bryner Infrared satellite imagery of Hurricane Otis compared with microwave imagery of the storm in October 2023. In the later view, the center of the storm is more visible and indicates the hurricane was strengthening. Microwave satellite imagery helped…
Pamela Anderson, Liam Neeson Reveal Surprises Learned About Each Other
Amid dating rumors, The Naked Gun costars Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson gushed about their “silly” bond in an exclusive interview with E! News. As it turns out, Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson both have a particular set of skills. The Naked Gun costars shared insight into their bond, exclusively telling E! News that they…
Democrat urges hearing into ‘human rights abuses’ at El Salvador megaprison
Delia Ramirez calls for investigation into federal funds paid to El Salvador to detain migrants at secretive Cecot site Congresswoman Delia Ramirez is “urgently” requesting a congressional hearing regarding the use of federal funds to pay El Salvador to detain immigrants inside a secretive terrorism prison, according to a letter she sent to the US…
How a friend’s overdose drove a leading addiction scientist to look for answers
From By Dan Gorenstein , Ryan Levi When 2024’s provisional overdose data came out earlier this year showing a 27% drop in deaths from 2023 rates, Nabarun Dasgupta felt immense relief. This story comes from Tradeoffs. Experts say several factors have likely contributed to the steep decline in drug fatalities between 2024 and 2023, including…
Five women abused as children by Rotherham grooming gangs say police also sexually abused them
Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence Five women who were exploited by grooming gangs in Rotherham as children say they were also abused by police officers in the town at the time. One says she was raped from the age of 12 by a serving South Yorkshire Police (SYP) officer in a marked…
See Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids Meteor Showers This Summer
Summer Meteor Showers, Short Summer Days and Ancient Arthropods Set your alarm on Wednesday to see some of the summer’s stunning meteor showers. By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. It’s been a while, but we’re finally back with our usual science news…
Hulk Hogan’s Ex Linda Hogan Breaks Silence on His “Shocking” Death
Five days after Hulk Hogan died July 24 at the age of 71, the WWE legend’s ex-wife Linda Hogan—who was married to him for 26 years before their split—made her first public statement about his passing. Linda Hogan is reflecting on her decades-long bond with Hulk Hogan. Four days after the retired wrestling star died…
Canada’s hockey case exposed a toxic culture – yet the accuser ended up on trial
Judge seemed to scrutinize female accuser more harshly than the five hockey players who were charged with sexual assault but ultimately walked free The stunning conclusion to a pivotal sexual assault trial has left some observers in Canada shocked but unsurprised – not only by a judge who seemed to scrutinize the female accuser more…
Chris Mason: Trump visit provides Starmer with invaluable access
Two times around, the US president and the prime minister went, looking down on Donald Trump’s new golf course north of Aberdeen. Finally, they came into land, days of diplomacy garnished with absurdity. Downing Street is reconciled to the Trumpian ways of doing international affairs. If doing a few airborne laps of the president’s new…
You Don’t Remember Being a Baby, but Your Brain Was Making Memories
You Don’t Remember Being a Baby, but Your Brain Was Making Memories Brain scans capture memory formation in babies, raising new questions about why people forget their earliest years By Nick Turk-Browne edited by Daisy Yuhas See the world through the lens of science. Sign up for our free, daily newsletter Today in Science. A…
How Gwyneth Paltrow Reacted to Brad Pitt Marrying Jennifer Aniston
Behind closed doors, Gwyneth Paltrow told friends how she really felt about ex-fiancé Brad Pitt wedding Jennifer Aniston in 2000, according to Amy Odell’s new biography about the Goop founder. Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt eventually became friends again. But that didn’t mean she was perfectly fine when he married Jennifer Aniston in July 2000,…
Gorilla habitats and pristine forest at risk as DRC opens half of country to oil and gas drilling bids
Government launches licensing round for 52 fossil fuel blocks, potentially undermining a flagship conservation initiative and affecting an estimated 39 million people The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is opening crucial gorilla habitats and pristine forests to bids for oil and gas drilling, with plans to carve up more than half the country into…
As Gaza starves, the next generation may also endure the consequences
Juliana Kim The people of Gaza are experiencing a dire hunger crisis — and the consequences could reverberate across generations. Roughly a third of the 2.1 million people in Gaza have gone multiple days in a row without food, and a quarter of the population is experiencing “famine-like conditions,” Ross Smith, the director of emergency…
Why Genetically Optimizing Embryos Is Misleading, Unethical—And Not Even Possible
Opinion The Myth of the Designer Baby—Why ‘Genetic Optimization’ Is More Hype Than Science A genomics firm saying they can help parents with “genetic optimization” of their embryos is tone-deaf Silicon Valley marketing trampling over legitimate science. Parents should be wary By Arthur Caplan & James Tabery An understandable ethics outcry greeted the June announcement…
How Worst Cooks in America Paid Tribute to Anne Burrell After Death
One month after Anne Burrell died by suicide at age 55, the Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America honored its late host with a special tribute during the July 28 premiere of its 29th season. Content warning: This story discusses suicide. Worst Cooks in America is honoring its host. One month after Anne Burrell died by…
London to celebrate victorious Lionesses with open-top bus parade
The England women’s football team will take part in an open-top bus parade in central London on Tuesday after their Euro 2025 victory over Spain. A procession along The Mall will begin at 12:10 before a ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Fans will be able to attend the event…
Immigrants in the US illegally fight the Trump administration’s new no-bail policy
By Tovia Smith A class action lawsuit has been filed challenging the Trump administration’s new policy requiring immigrants illegally in the U.S. who are arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remain in detention while fighting their deportation. It’s an abrupt reversal of long-standing practice of allowing individuals who are deemed not a flight risk…
Colombia’s former president Álvaro Uribe found guilty of witness tampering
Ex-leader convicted over efforts to sway testimony in case tied to country’s armed conflict A Colombian court has found the country’s former president Álvaro Uribe guilty of witness tampering. The 73-year-old, who served as president from 2002 to 2010, was convicted on Monday of trying to persuade witnesses to lie for him in a separate…
Trying to keep your brain young? A big new study finds these lifestyle changes help
Jon Hamilton Scientists have unveiled the strongest evidence yet that a combination of diet, exercise and brain training can improve thinking and memory in older Americans. A study of more than 2,100 sedentary people in their 60s and 70s found that those who spent two years on the intensive regimen not only improved their mental…
Lionesses welcomed home by jubilant fans after Euro 2025 win
The England women’s football team were greeted by cheering crowds as they returned home on Monday after their Euro 2025 victory over Spain. Hundreds of fans holding flags and dressed in England kits waited outside Southend Airport to catch a glimpse of the triumphant squad. The Lionesses then travelled by coach to attend a reception…
Scientists Create First Antimatter Qubit
First-Ever Antimatter Qubit Could Help Crack Cosmic Mysteries The first antimatter qubit will help search for differences between matter and antimatter By Clara Moskowitz edited by Jeanna Bryner Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Physicists have created a quantum bit, or qubit, the fundamental storage unit of a quantum computer, out of antimatter for the…
U.S. Swim Team Battling Acute Gastroenteritis at World Championships
The U.S. swim team confirmed that several athletes contracted acute gastroenteritis ahead of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. The U.S. swim team is dealing with some uncomfortable delays. Indeed, several athletes did not compete at the start of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore after contracting acute gastroenteritis, a spokesperson for the team…
Christopher Nolan criticised for filming in occupied Western Sahara city
Organisers of local film festival warn production of The Odyssey in Dakhla could normalise repression by Morocco The organisers of the Western Sahara international film festival (FiSahara) have criticised Christopher Nolan for shooting part of his adaptation of the Odyssey in a Western Saharan city that has been under Moroccan occupation for 50 years, warning…
Rashawn Slater’s Ex-Wife Reacts to His New $114 Million NFL Contract
After Rashawn Slater, a lineman for the Los Angeles Chargers, signed a lucrative contract extension with the NFL team, one commentator called the timing of his divorce from Stassney Brown “legendary.” One former WAG is tackling some smack talk. Hours after Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Rashawn Slater signed a new contract with the NFL…
Tampa Breaks Heat Record as Heat Dome Bakes Eastern U.S.
Tampa Breaks 100 Degrees F for First Time on Record as Heat Wave Bakes Eastern U.S. Records are starting to fall to the continuing heat dome that is covering much of the eastern U.S. By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson HeatRisk forecast for July 29, 2025. The NWS HeatRisk is an experimental color-numeric-based index…
Trump sees ‘real starvation’ in Gaza, despite Israeli claims, and vows to step up aid
By NPR’s International Desk President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed doing more to feed the starving population in the Gaza Strip on Monday, as an international outcry mounted over the rising number of people dying of hunger in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Trump’s comments during a visit to Scotland were at odds…