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 […]
Efforts to fight foreign influence and protect elections in question under Trump
Jenna McLaughlin The new Trump administration is moving quickly to roll back long-standing work to counter foreign influence in U.S. elections, work that began in the first Trump term after revelations about the extent and ambition of Russia’s efforts to sway the 2016 election. Staffers working on countering foreign mis- and disinformation as well as…
Schools tell BBC about ‘astronomical’ bills as 25-year repair contract heads into meltdown
Schools across a city are caught up in an increasingly bitter row over repairs, with some telling the BBC they’ve had to fight to get work done while paying “astronomical” charges over 25 years. The Stoke-on-Trent schools are all locked into a multi-million-pound Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, meaning they pay a company to keep…
Trump Spending Freeze on Rural Electric Co-ops Could Raise Energy Costs
Trump Spending Freeze on Rural Electric Co-ops Could Raise Energy Costs Billions of dollars for rural electric cooperatives are stuck in limbo as the Department of Agriculture continues the Trump administration’s funding freeze, despite federal court orders By Adam Aton & E&E News Electric co-ops have seen their funding frozen as the Trump administration halts…
Bo-Kaap: the candy-coloured corner of Cape Town facing tourism v heritage dilemma
Some locals in picturesque district of Bo-Kaap are fed up with influx of visitors, and worry about impact of gentrification After Table Mountain, the candy-coloured houses of Bo-Kaap have become one of Cape Town’s most iconic images, a key stop in any tourist’s visit to the South African city and a must-have for Instagram feeds.…
Can European ‘Boots on the Ground’ Help Protect Ukraine’s Security?
Russia-Ukraine War Deterring Russia from re-invading Ukraine, once this war ends, could require 150,000 troops and American help with air cover, intelligence and missile defense, experts say. By Steven Erlanger Steven Erlanger writes about European diplomacy. He reported this story in Washington, Paris, London and Berlin. President Trump has vowed to end the fighting in…
Israel says Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas does not free hostages by Saturday
Israel’s prime minister has warned Hamas it will end the ceasefire in Gaza and resume intense fighting if the Palestinian group “does not return our hostages by Saturday noon”. Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli forces to amass inside and around Gaza in response to Hamas’s announcement that it was postponing freeing more hostages…
Why Private Forecasting Companies Can’t Replace the National Weather Service
Why Private Forecasting Companies Can’t Replace the National Weather Service NOAA and the NWS provide public weather data that private companies cannot recreate By Christine Wiedinmyer, Kari Bowen & The Conversation US A senior hurricane specialist works at the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The following essay is reprinted with permission from…
‘Each of us is afraid’: Guinea’s junta leader tightens grip as opposition lies low
Mamady Doumbouya has led the country since a 2021 coup. Some fear he has no intention of relinquishing power Across Guinea’s capital, Conakry, billboards and posters proclaim the people’s loyalty to the vision of Mamady Doumbouya, the general who has led the west African country since a coup in September 2021. The iconography is omnipresent.…
Federal Reserve’s Jerome Powell says there’s no need to rush on interest rate cuts
Scott Horsley Don’t expect interest rates to fall any time soon. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a Senate Committee Tuesday that with a strong job market and with inflation still elevated, he and his colleagues “do not need to be in a hurry” to cut interest rates. Powell also fielded questions about President Trump’s…
Netanyahu Says Fighting in Gaza Will Resume if Hostages Are Not Freed Saturday
Middle East Tensions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said the cease-fire would end if Hamas did not release captives held in Gaza. But he did not say how many hostages had to be freed. By Lara Jakes Reporting from Jerusalem Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel warned Hamas on Tuesday that if hostages were…
Travis Kelce Skipped Chiefs’ After-Party Following Super Bowl Loss
Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce skipped his team’s after-party following his Super Bowl LIX loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Travis Kelce couldn’t do it with a broken heart. After the Kansas City Chiefs were defeated by Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Feb. 9 Super Bowl, the tight end sat out his…
Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Hangs in the Balance Ahead of Trump’s Meeting With Jordan’s King
Trump Administration Hamas and President Trump have threatened to upend the cease-fire. Analysts say those words could prove hollow, but the deal still may not last beyond early March. By Patrick Kingsley and Ronen Bergman The future of the cease-fire in Gaza, along with the territory’s long-term fate, hung in the balance on Tuesday as…
Campaigner for migrants in Libya targeted in spyware attack
Exclusive: Italy-based David Yambio, a critic of Meloni government, was told of attempt to compromise his phone An Italy-based human rights activist whose work supports the international criminal court in providing evidence about cases of abuse suffered by migrants and refugees held in Libyan detention camps and prisons has revealed that Apple informed him his…
tWich’s Mom Details Estrangement From Grandkids After His Death
Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ mother Connie Boss Alexander and his brother Dre Rose shared the events that led to their estrangement from his and Allison Holker’s children Maddox, Zaia and Wesley. Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ mother wants to repair her relationship with her grandchildren. More than two years after the Ellen DeGeneres Show producer’s death by suicide…
Policing in ‘hopeless position’ after court ruling on vetting, Met chief says
Policing has been left in a “hopeless position”, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said, after the High Court ruled the force could not dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance. The ruling came after Sgt Lino Di Maria mounted a legal challenge after having his vetting removed following sexual assault allegations, which he denied and…
Firearm Forensics is Still Troubled by Systemic Failure
Opinion Firearm Forensics Is Still Troubled by Systemic Failure Three forensic examiners at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory last year mistakenly concluded that cartridge cases from a crime scene matched a specific firearm. The error exposes systemic flaws that risk wrongful convictions By Nicholas Scurich edited by Megha Satyanarayana & Dan Vergano Forensics training…
John Bolton on expanding into Greenland
By Ashley Brown , Juana Summers , Matt Ozug There seems to be little that President Trump and one of his first-term national security advisers, John Bolton, agree on publicly these days — but one issue may be whether the U.S. should acquire Greenland from Denmark. Making Greenland an American territory or commonwealth, in Bolton’s…
Vance to attend international AI and security summits as Ukraine war and tariffs loom
By Willem Marx U.S. Vice President JD Vance has arrived in France as part of a European trip that will focus the new Trump administration’s attention on the regulation of artificial intelligence and the war in Ukraine, as Vance plans meetings with world leaders ranging from French President Emmanuel Macron to Indian Prime Minister Narendra…
Why Kid Rock Stormed Offstage at Jon Bon Jovi’s Nashville Bar
Kid Rock abruptly cut off a performance alongside Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan in Nashville after scolding the crowd for not clapping along to the music. Kid Rock isn’t afraid to clap back. The “All Summer Long” singer joined Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan onstage as the keyboardist celebrated his 63rd birthday Feb.…
Trump administration targets Education Department research arm in latest cuts
By Jonaki Mehta , Cory Turner An independent research arm within the U.S. Department of Education is being all but shut down, employees of the department say. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is responsible for gathering and disseminating data on a wide range of topics, including research-backed teaching practices and the state of U.S.…
Monday briefing: Why the brutal fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo could spiral into wider war
Good morning. Over the weekend, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda – Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame – were among those who took part in a regional summit aimed at ending the resurgent violence in eastern DRC. The summit ended with a call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.…
Hamas blames Israel as it postpones hostage release
A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas says the group is postponing the next scheduled release of Israeli hostages, blaming what he says are Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal. Three hostages held in Gaza are due to be freed on Saturday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Israel’s Defence Minister…
NIH Funding Cuts Would Hobble U.S. Medical Research, Insider Says
NIH Funding Cuts Would Hobble U.S. Medical Research, Insider Says “Laboratories would literally go dark,” says a medical research insider, if Trump administration cuts to NIH funding go through. Patients will suffer from lost medical advances, he tells Scientific American By Dan Vergano edited by Jeanna Bryner National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus, Bethesda, Maryland.…
Trump Issues Cease-Fire Ultimatum After Hamas Postpones Release of Israeli Hostages
Middle East Tensions Stalling the next release of hostages from the Gaza Strip, scheduled for the coming weekend, raises new challenges for the already tenuous six-week truce and chances for a lasting end to the war. By Lara JakesRonen BergmanAdam Rasgon and Johnatan Reiss Lara Jakes reported from Jerusalem, and Johnatan Reiss from Tel Aviv.…
Mötley Crüe Singer Vince Neil’s Plane Crashes Without Him on Board
A jet owned by Mötley Crüe rocker Vince Neil collided with a parked plane in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 10, leaving one person dead. The singer was not on board. One person has died in an Arizona plane crash. A jet owned by musician Vince Neil collided with a parked plane while trying to land…
Trump Team Looks to Drastically Cut NOAA Staff and Budget
Trump Team Looks to Drastically Cut Weather and Climate Agency Mass layoffs at the U.S. climate and weather agency would have a ripple effect across the economy, say former NOAA officials By Scott Waldman & E&E News The NOAA Okeanos Explorer arriving in San Francisco, Calif. The ship is outfitted with tools needed to access…
What DeepSeek’s Success Tells Us About China’s Ability to Nurture Talent
China produces a vast number of STEM graduates, but it hasn’t been known for innovation. Cultural and political factors may help explain why. By Vivian Wang Reporting from Beijing To many Chinese, DeepSeek’s success is a victory for China’s education system, proof that it equals that of the United States or has even surpassed it.…
The 11 Best Candles to Get Your Home Smelling Like Fresh Laundry
Get that fresh and clean linen scent with these top-rated candles. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. When it comes to chores, laundry is usually last on my list. However, when it comes to my favorite fragrance, fresh…
Trump’s ban on gender-affirming care for young people puts hospitals in a bind
Selena Simmons-Duffin Kristen Chapman had already moved her family from Tennessee to Virginia to try to find a state that would be more welcoming to her transgender daughter, Willow. After months waiting for an appointment at the gender-affirming care clinic at VCU Health in Richmond, Willow had one on the calendar on Jan. 29. President…
MP behind assisted dying bill suggests scrapping High Court approval
Assisted dying cases would no longer have to be signed off by the High Court under changes suggested by the bill’s supporters. The proposed law currently says a High Court judge must check each person is eligible and has not been coerced into making the decision to die. But BBC News has been told Kim…
Lebanon’s Emigrants Return to a Battered Homeland After Israel-Hezbollah War
Middle East Tensions Some who left the country in successive waves of emigration have felt drawn back to aid recovery efforts after the bloody and destructive war between Israel and Hezbollah. Some who left the country in successive waves of emigration have felt drawn back to aid recovery efforts after the bloody and destructive war…
Men Are More Prepared for Fatherhood Than We Think
Opinion The Science of ParentingMondays Men Are More Prepared for Fatherhood Than We Think By James K. Rilling edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for this weekly column I like to tell my undergraduates that hormones predispose organisms, including people, to shift their energy among different life goals. When we…
Ozzy Osbourne Shares He Can No Longer Walk Amid Parkinson’s Battle
Ozzy Osbourne gave an update on his physical condition amid his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease as he prepares for his final performance with Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne is sharing an emotional update on his battle with Parkinson’s disease. Five years after sharing his diagnosis, the Black Sabbath rocker—who underwent a “major operation” two years…
Father jailed for murdering daughter he claimed died in a play-fight
A father has been jailed for at least 15 years for murdering his daughter after the jury rejected his claim he had killed her in a play-fight. Scarlett Vickers, 14, bled to death at her home in Darlington after being stabbed deep in the chest with a kitchen knife by her father Simon Vickers, 50,…
Fears grow for health of social media influencer arrested on live TV in Sierra Leone
Hawa Hunt’s detention a month ago was politically motivated, say daughter and rights groups, who also raise concerns about her treatment in jail Fears are mounting over the mental and physical health of a social media influencer who has been in prison in Sierra Leone for more than a month after she was arrested on…
Trump says he will impose a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel imports
Scott Horsley President Trump says he plans to announce a 25% tax on all imported steel and aluminum, extending a trade battle he launched during his first term in the White House. The move has the potential to give a helping hand to domestic steel and aluminum makers, while also raising costs for businesses and…
Second Labour MP apologises over WhatsApp comments
Burnley MP Oliver Ryan said in a statement that comments he made in the group “were completely unacceptable” and he regretted “not speaking out at the time”. Fellow MP Gwynne was sacked as health minister on Saturday after the Mail on Sunday reported he sent a string of offensive and abusive messages in the WhatsApp…
Chinese counter-tariffs to kick in as Trump threatens more to come
John Ruwitch BEIJING — Retaliatory Chinese tariffs on a range of U.S. products are due to take effect on Monday, as trade friction between the two rivals heated up with no end in sight. The tariffs from China range from 10% to 15% and are applied to crude oil, liquefied natural gas, farm machinery and…
‘Dad, I Came Back Alive!’ Israeli Hostages Start to Give Glimpses of Ordeal.
Middle East Tensions Hostages freed before Saturday’s exchange have expressed relief and joy, while descriptions of the torment they endured are trickling out. By Isabel Kershner Reporting from Jerusalem Doron Steinbrecher vowed that she would never wear pink again when she made her first public comments in a video after being freed from more than…
Super Bowl 2025: Travis Kelce Reacts to Kansas City Chiefs’ Loss
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce shared an emotional moment with reporters after losing against the Philadelphia Eagles at the 2025 Super Bowl Feb. 9. Travis Kelce couldn’t fight the alchemy the Philadelphia Eagles brought to the Super Bowl. After the Kansas City Chiefs were bested by the Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New…
The best (and worst) Super Bowl commercials this year
Eric Deggans In an unsettled time, the most effective commercial messages are all about reassurance, togetherness and entertainment. Your 2025 Super Bowl guide: How to watch, who’s performing at halftime and what’s at stake Nostalgia. Comedy. Celebrities. Patriotism. And poignant humanism. With ad space topping out at $8 million per 30 seconds for time in a…
What Is Journavx, the New Opioid-Free Painkiller from Vertex?
What Is Journavx, the New Opioid-Free Painkiller from Vertex? The nonaddictive painkiller suzetrigine (Journavx) is as effective for acute pain as a common opioid treatment By Allison Parshall edited by Dean Visser Join Our Community of Science Lovers! For the first time in 25 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new…
An American Teacher Went to Ukraine. Now He’s in a Russian Prison.
Russia-Ukraine War Stephen Hubbard was a wanderer. But when he moved to Ukraine, the war brought arrest, torture and imprisonment. He turns 73 this week. via Patricia Fox Hubbard By Kim Barker and Nataliya Vasilyeva Kim Barker reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, spending several weeks talking to people who knew Stephen James Hubbard to compile a…
Trump’s claim that Mexican cartels and government are allied is not reality
Corruption in Mexico is a problem, experts say, but any claim the two are linked shows a lack of comprehension Mexico breathed a sigh of relief this week when Donald Trump delayed his threatened tariffs by a month, apparently swerving away from an economic crisis at the last moment. But one aspect of the spat…
Super Bowl 2025: Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni Celebrates Eagles Win
After the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl 40-22, Philly coach Nick Sirianni celebrated on the field in an adorable moment. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has a lot to celebrate. After the Philly team handily defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl 40-22, Nick celebrated with…
Trump says he will announce raft of new trade tariffs
President Donald Trump has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, a move that will have the biggest impact in Canada. Trump also said that there would be an announcement later in the week about reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax imports from the US,…
Thai Hostages Return From Gaza
Middle East Tensions Thais were, after Israelis, the nationality most affected by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, with nearly 40 farm workers killed and almost as many captured. By Muktita Suhartono and Hannah Beech Reporting from Bangkok At Gate 10 of the arrivals hall of the Bangkok airport, Wichayada Saeyang stroked her son’s hair, as…
Freed Israeli hostage was unaware wife and daughters killed, British family says
An Israeli hostage freed from Gaza did not know his wife and daughters were killed in the 7 October attack until after his release on Saturday, his British family said. Eli Sharabi was taken by Hamas 16 months ago and released on Saturday in Deir al-Balah, in Gaza. His wife Lianne Sharabi, who was from…
Ecuador goes to the polls amid rise in drug-related gang violence
Voters who have become victims of crime wave linked to cocaine trade will determine outcome of presidential election Ecuadorians are voting in a presidential election that has shaped up to be a repeat of the 2023 race, when they chose a young, conservative millionaire over the former leftist president’s protege. Luisa González and the incumbent,…
Donald Trump Becomes First Sitting President to Attend Super Bowl
President Donald Trump was front and center to watch the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles during the Super Bowl Feb. 9. Donald Trump is trading in his seat in the oval office for a seat in a suite. The 47th president of the United States has officially made an appearance at…
How Bad Are COVID, Flu and RSV This Winter?
How Bad Are COVID, Flu and RSV This Winter? COVID levels may have peaked but flu is still high; RSV is on the way out By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser If it seems like almost everyone you know is getting sick with influenza or some other virus right now, it’s not your imagination.…
Snow and ice blanket parts of the northern U.S., and more winter weather is on the way
By Joe Hernandez A mix of snow and ice blanketed a large swath of the northern U.S. on Sunday, after a major winter storm barreled across parts of the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast over the weekend. As much as a foot of snow fell in some places while other areas…
Kelly Stafford Addresses Matthew Stafford’s Possible Retirement
Ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl, NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford’s wife Kelly Stafford exclusively told E! News about the conversations she and the Los Angeles Rams player have about retirement. Matthew Stafford hasn’t made his final throw just yet. Amid rumors the Los Angeles Rams quarterback—who led his team to victory in the 2022 Super…
Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two
Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor – a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on carts laden with mattresses and other goods began returning to northern Gaza following the pull-out – often to scenes of utter destruction. The Israeli withdrawal…
Searching the entire sky for the secrets to our universe
Ari Daniel As soon as the end of February, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will launch a new telescope into orbit around the Earth called SPHEREx. Its goal is to examine nothing less than the essential ingredients of life in our galaxy and the origin of the universe itself. SPHEREx will join the ranks…
How to Avoid Outrage Fatigue and Tune In without Burning Out
Avoiding Outrage Fatigue while Staying Informed Outrage fatigue can wear us down—but we can take care of ourselves in an onslaught of overwhelming news. By Rachel Feltman, Tanya Lewis, Madison Goldberg & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. No matter what you believe, I’m willing…
Israeli Troops Withdraw From Netzarim Corridor in Gaza
Middle East Tensions Israel’s military withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor under the cease-fire with Hamas. During the war, troops patrolled the zone that splits the territory, preventing evacuated Palestinians from returning north. By Lara Jakes and Natan Odenheimer Reporting from Jerusalem Israel’s military withdrew Sunday from a key corridor dividing the Gaza Strip, leaving nearly…
Why Trump blinked before imposing his ‘beautiful’ tariffs on Canada and Mexico
Trump has teased two of the US’s biggest trading partners with levies but has moved the goalpost at least three times in two weeks Donald Trump was in his element in the Oval Office this week. Surrounded by cameras, flanked by billionaire allies and confronted by a barrage of questions about whether he was really…
Tears of joy as freed Thai hostages arrive home
Five Thai farm workers released by Hamas in Gaza last month have arrived home in Bangkok, after spending nearly 500 days in captivity. Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during the attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023. There…
Super Bowl 2025: The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans
By NPR Staff Tonight the Kansas City Chiefs will meet the Philadelphia Eagles for a date with history. The Chiefs are trying to become the first NFL team ever to win three Super Bowls in a row, and the Eagles are eager to stop them and avenge their 2023 loss. NPR and our member stations…