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 […]
Jury selection in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sex trafficking trial begins today
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento Jury selection for the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will begin in New York City today. The media mogul, who’s been in custody since his arrest last September, faces criminal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transporting to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty on all charges. The selection […]
Mysterious Glowing Structure Discovered Near Solar System
Giant, Glowing Gas Cloud Discovered Just 300 Light-Years Away An enormous glowing cloud that contains approximately 3,400 solar masses worth of gas has been discovered near the solar system By Keith Cooper & SPACE.com A crescent-shaped gas cloud has been spotted on the edge of the so-called Local Bubble, shown here in this artist’s illustration […]
Andie MacDowell Shares Piriformis Syndrome Diagnosis
Four Weddings and a Funeral star Andie MacDowell—who is also the mom of Margaret Qualley—thought she was “literally falling apart” amid her piriformis syndrome diagnosis. Andie MacDowell is getting candid about her heath. The Four Weddings and a Funeral star opened up about her struggles with piriformis syndrome, a muscle condition that compresses the sciatic…
The U.S. is trying to unravel a hacking plot that targeted climate activists
By Michael Copley A yearslong U.S. Justice Department investigation of a global hacking campaign that targeted prominent American climate activists took a turn in a London court this week amid an allegation that the hacking was ordered by a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil. Both the lobbying firm and ExxonMobil have denied any awareness of…
Italy says Libya war crimes suspect was sent home due to ‘social dangerousness’
General Osama Najim was released on a technicality and repatriated by Italy without any prior consultation, says international criminal court Italy’s interior minister said on Thursday a Libyan man detained under an international war crimes arrest warrant and then unexpectedly released had been swiftly repatriated because of his “social dangerousness“. Osama Najim, also known as…
Remembering Margarethe Hilferding, the First Woman Admitted to Freud’s Vienna Psychoanalytic Society
Margarethe Hilferding, Sigmund Freud and the Conspiracy of Silence Margarethe Hilferding was the first woman admitted to Sigmund Freud’s Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, but her radical work on maternal instinct was dismissed and ignored By Marcy Thompson, Katie Hafner, Deborah Unger & The Lost Women of Science Initiative In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day next…
Stay at home warnings as risk-to-life storm to batter UK
Millions of people have been urged to stay at home on Friday as Storm Éowyn is set to bring potentially life-threatening winds to the north and west of the UK. Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland are set to experience the worst disruption, where the Met Office has issued red weather warnings which means there…
Everything You Need To Throw The Ultimate Galentine’s Day Party
From Galentine’s Day favors to decorations, nothing says friendship quite like a party to celebrate all your besties. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about romance. It can be a day to celebrate all kinds of love.…
One of the Jan. 6 defendants has turned down Trump’s pardon
By Alana Wise President Trump this week issued pardons to more than 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, but one 71-year-old woman turned down the president’s offer of clemency, telling NPR it would be a dishonor to the truth of what happened that day. “I broke the law that day, period. Black and white,” Pamela Hemphill told…
Rebels Backed by Rwanda Close In on Major City in Congo
Many Congolese see the rebel advance as an invasion of their country by a foreign power in an attempt to seize land and Congo’s valuable rare minerals. By Ruth Maclean and Elian Peltier Reporting from Dakar, Senegal. Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surrounded the eastern city of Goma, in one of the…
The Neuroscience of Severance: What’s Real? What’s Fake?
The Neuroscience of Severance: What’s Real? What’s Fake? The hit show Severance can be refashioned as a teaching moment about certain brain disorders. But its famed “Innie” versus “Outie” conceit is totally bogus. By Rachael Elward, Lauren Ford & The Conversation US Adam Scott in season two of Severance. The following essay is reprinted with…
‘Evil’ Southport killer jailed for a minimum of 52 years
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for the “sadistic” murders of three young girls in an attack described as “shocking” and “pure evil”. Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died while eight other children and two adults – dance class leader…
U.S. judge temporarily blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Brian Mann U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour issued a ruling on Thursday temporarily blocking President Trump’s executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship for children born to migrants in the U.S. temporarily or without legal status. Coughenour issued the temporary restraining order after a hearing in Seattle. The judge signed the temporary restraining…
U.S. Security Contractors Going to Gaza to Oversee Truce, Officials Say
Middle East Middle East Middle East The contractors have been enlisted to do weapons checks on vehicles carrying displaced Palestinians back to their homes in the north under the terms of the new cease-fire. By Patrick KingsleyRonen Bergman and Aaron Boxerman Patrick Kingsley and Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem, and Ronen Bergman from Tel Aviv.…
‘We were betrayed’: families of apartheid victims sue South African government
High court case demands inquiry into 1985 Cradock Four killings and ‘constitutional damages’ worth £7.3m Lukhanyo Calata’s first memory of his father was the funeral. His mother sobbing, the earth beneath his feet shaking from the number of people gathered at the graveside, and the fear he felt aged three as the red box holding…
Sean “Diddy” Combs Files Defamation Lawsuit Over Alleged Sex Tapes
Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a defamation lawsuit for $50 million against an accuser who claimed to have incriminating sex tapes, as well as their attorney and the parent company of NewsNation. Sean “Diddy” Combs is denying incriminating claims. The R&B musician filed a $50 million lawsuit against an accuser who, according to court documents…
How Fernanda Torres, Karla Sofía Gascón and More Are Making History
The 2025 Academy Awards nominees include Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón and I’m Still Here’s Fernanda Torres as history-making nominees. Find out how. The 2025 Academy Awards are set to be a historic night. Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott announced the nominations across 23 categories on live stream Jan. 23, and some names are making…
Family of jailed dissident urge Lammy to prioritise case as he visits Egypt
‘Moment of truth’ for UK foreign secretary over Alaa Abd El Fattah, who is still being held in a Cairo prison The family of the jailed British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd El Fattah have urged the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, to prioritise the dissident’s release above trade deals during his visit to Egypt. Fattah remains…
Why Grapefruit Interferes with Medication, and What to Do about It
Why Grapefruit Interferes with Medication, and What to Do about It Could gene editing produce a tasty citrus fruit that doesn’t interfere with prescription drugs? By Charlotte Hu edited by Tanya Lewis Unfortunately for lovers of grapefruit, mixing the appealingly bitter citrus with certain medications can lead to dangerous side effects. According to the National…
Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. That’s easier said than done
By Rachel Treisman President Trump is trying to end birthright citizenship, the legal principle enshrined in the Constitution that automatically makes anyone born within the U.S. or its territories a citizen. It’s a move that Trump first proposed during his first term and one that most legal experts agree he cannot make unilaterally. Indeed, within…
Hamas Takes Charge in Gaza After 15 Months of War
Middle East Middle East Middle East Israel says it has killed thousands of the armed group’s members and destroyed much of its infrastructure, but since the cease-fire started Hamas has shown it still holds power in the enclave. By Adam Rasgon and Iyad Abuheweila Reporting from Jerusalem and Istanbul The morning the cease-fire in Gaza…
‘Rudakubana took our lives too’, parents of nine-year-old Alice say
Families of the girls who were murdered by Axel Rudakubana and the other victims of his knife attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport have told Liverpool Crown Court about the horrific impact on their lives. Rudakubana is being sentenced for the three murders and ten attempted murders in July 2024. In court,…
What Trump’s Executive Orders Mean for Science
What Trump’s Blitz of Executive Orders Means for Science After his second inauguration, President Donald Trump signed a host of executive orders, some with important implications for science By Dan Garisto, Max Kozlov, Jeff Tollefson & Nature magazine U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House…
Families fear for Cuban prisoners after Trump reneges on release deal
US president reinstates Cuba on terror list despite Biden deal to release prisoners jailed over demonstrations The families of Cuban protesters jailed in anti-government demonstrations are waiting anxiously to see if the government will continue with a planned prisoner release after Donald Trump reneged on a deal made last week by Joe Biden. Activists from…
How red flags over Southport killer were repeatedly missed
Axel Rudakubana did not appear out of the blue. By the time he carried out the brutal murders of three young girls, the teenager was well known to police, anti-extremism authorities and a number of other public agencies. But despite repeated concerns about Rudakubana’s taste for violence, there was only ever limited intervention. The government…
Justin Baldoni Was Accused of Stealing Script for Five Feet Apart Film
Bryan Freedman—Justin Baldoni’s attorney in his legal battle against Blake Lively—previously represented a writer who accused Baldoni of stealing his script to make the 2019 movie Five Feet Apart. Justin Baldoni‘s lawyer wasn’t always on his side. Bryan Freedman—who is currently representing the It Ends With Us director and actor in his legal battle against…
In a surprise, U.S. colleges saw higher enrollment last fall
Elissa Nadworny College enrollment in the U.S. rose for the first time last fall to surpass pre-pandemic levels, new figures out today show. Across undergraduate and graduate programs, total enrollment rose 4.5 percent, or 817,000 students, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The numbers provided welcome news to colleges worried about the Biden…
Libya Deports 613 Migrants Headed for Europe
Libya deported more than 600 men from Niger last month as North African countries — financed by the European Union to tackle migration — have ramped up expulsions of sub-Saharan Africans. By Elian Peltier Reporting from Dakar, Senegal. The 613 men had traveled from their native Niger to neighboring Libya, where many of them planned…
EU ‘could consider’ UK joining pan-Europe customs area
The new European Union trade chief responsible for post-Brexit negotiations has told the BBC that a “pan-European [customs] area is something we could consider” as part of “reset” discussions between the UK and EU. Maros Sefcovic was referring to the idea, backed by some UK business groups, of Britain joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM). The…
Here’s What’s in ‘Stargate,’ the $500-Billion Trump-Endorsed Plan to Power U.S. AI
Here’s What’s in ‘Stargate,’ the $500-Billion Trump-Endorsed Plan to Power U.S. AI Tech giants are backing a massive effort, announced by President Trump and dubbed the Stargate Project, to add data centers across the U.S. By Christa Marshall & E&E News A power substation near a the LC1 CloudHQ data center in Ashburn, Virginia, US,…
Labeling Mexican Cartels ‘Terrorists’ Could Expose U.S. Companies to Sanctions
Isolating U.S. companies from cartel activities could be almost impossible given that the criminal groups operate in sectors like agriculture and tourism, leaving some American businesses vulnerable to sanctions. By Maria Abi-Habib and Simon Romero Reporting from Mexico City President Trump’s executive order designating Mexican cartels and other criminal organizations as foreign terrorists could force…
Ryan Reynolds Speaks at Harvard Amid Wife Blake Lively’s Legal Battle
Amid Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni, the Deadpool star visited Harvard Business School to meet with “megawatt talent.” Ryan Reynolds continues to put out maximum effort amid his and Blake Lively‘s legal battle with Justin Baldoni. In fact, the Deadpool actor teamed up Shark Tank guest star Matt Higgins to…
RFK Jr. plans to keep a financial stake in lawsuits against the drugmaker Merck
By Sydney Lupkin Even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as the next Health and Human Services secretary, he still plans to collect fees from Wisner Baum, a law firm suing Merck over claims that the pharmaceutical company failed to properly warn consumers about risks from its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, according to new filings…
Meloni faces questions after Italy frees Libyan general accused of war crimes
Case of Osama Najim puts spotlight on controversial migration pact between Italy and Libya Giorgia Meloni’s government is under pressure to clarify why a Rome court refused to approve the arrest of a Libyan general accused of war crimes, allowing him to return home to a hero’s welcome on an Italian secret services flight in…
Trump comes out swinging in rapid start to presidency
It’s been three days since President Donald Trump took office. And he has come out swinging. On the 2024 campaign trail, he promised to bring rapid and sweeping change to American government and society if he were re-elected. Some of his policies and reforms will take time – and congressional legislation – to enact. Other…
Congress clears GOP-led immigration enforcement bill, with Democrats on board
By Ximena Bustillo , Deirdre Walsh President Donald Trump is getting his first immigration bill to sign, a measure that would make it easier for federal immigration officials to detain and deport those without legal status who are charged with crimes ranging from minor theft to assault on law enforcement. The bill, known as the…
Rare, Record Florida Snow Explained
Here’s What Caused the Rare, Record Florida Snow A perfect confluence of an Arctic air outbreak and a low-pressure system that pulled in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico brought rare, record snow to the Gulf Coast By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Car drives on snow after snowfall on January 22, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla.…
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with These Lunar New Year Gifts
Welcome the Year of the Snake with these lucky red beauty, fashion, and home decor picks. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. It’s almost time to ring in the Year of the Snake (bye, Dragon) and welcome lots…
Fighting Alongside Russia, North Koreans Wage Their Own War
Russia-Ukraine War Russia-Ukraine War Russia-Ukraine War Ukrainian forces described a different kind of enemy, fighting with unfamiliar tactics and little option to retreat. By Marc Santora and Helene Cooper Marc Santora traveled to the Russian border to meet with Ukrainians fighting North Korean troops in Kursk. Helene Cooper reported from Washington. The North Korean soldiers…
Colombia scrambles to cope as refugees flee deadly battles between rebel groups
Officials describe ‘tsunami of people’ in city of Cúcuta escaping one of worst outbreaks of violence in recent years Authorities in the Colombian border city of Cúcuta are scrambling to cope with an influx of internal refugees, as thousands of civilians flee an outbreak of fighting between rival rebel factions. Buses, trailers and dump trucks…
Why Does Snow Bring Childlike Joy?
Why Does Snow Bring Childlike Joy? Snow’s appeal is more than just a fond nostalgia for childhood days away from school By Meghan Bartels edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Just a few degrees’ difference can turn a dreary rainy day into a nigh on magical scene straight out of a snow globe. “It’s more glorious…
Michael Kors V-Day Sale: Score Pink Handbags up to 80% off & More
Think pink with Michael Kors’ rose-colored handbags & more luxury finds on mega sale this Valentine’s Day. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. If you think about V-Day, it’s hearts, romance, and yes—pink handbags! Michael Kors is here…
Peeing is contagious in chimpanzees, study suggests
By Jonathan Lambert While watching a group of captive chimpanzees for her graduate research, Ena Onishi noticed something odd about the primates. “They seemed to have a tendency to urinate around the same time,” said Onishi, a wildlife researcher at Kyoto University. “It reminded me of some human behaviors of going to the bathroom together,…
Families’ relief as memorial unveiled to first world war black South African dead
Commonwealth War Graves Commission begins project to honour those who, unlike white counterparts, were never commemorated Elliot Malunga Delihlazo’s grandmother would say that her brother Bhesengile went to war and never came back. The family knew he had died in the first world war, but they never had a body to bury, only a memorial…
Has Prince Harry really won his tabloid battle?
The settlement between Prince Harry and News Group Newspapers is a dramatic, high stakes, turnaround. But it’s courtroom drama without the court. They say he’s been vindicated – but will there also, deep down, be some mixed feelings. Will Harry be unsettled by the legal settlement which means he won’t have his day in court?…
One Family in Gaza Returned Home. But Home Was Gone.
Middle East “It took us a few minutes to accept that this pile of rubble was our home,” said Islam Dahliz, whose family was ordered by Israeli forces to evacuate Rafah in May. By Vivian Yee and Bilal Shbair Vivian Yee reported from Cairo, and Bilal Shbair from Rafah, Gaza. Minutes after the fighting stopped…
Lloyd’s Register apologises for its role in trafficking enslaved people from Africa
Founded in 1760 as the Society for the Registry of Shipping by merchants and underwriters who met at Edward Lloyd’s coffee house in Lombard Street in London, the company provided classification for ships. The Wilberforce Institute at the University of Hull published the findings from its research focusing on records from 1764 to 1834. “Some…
Fire risk and strong winds continue in Southern California with rain on the horizon
By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some badly needed rain this weekend, dampening the prospects of another round of killer wildfires though even a small amount of precipitation could create new challenges like toxic ash runoff. Los Angeles officials…
Tougher checks on knife sales fast-tracked after Southport attack
People trying to buy knives online will face tougher measures to prove their age under new restrictions being brought forward in the wake of the Southport knife attack. Axel Rudakubana, who has admitted murdering three young girls last July, bought a knife from Amazon when he was just 17, despite existing laws which prohibit the…
How Trump’s Tariffs Could Affect the U.S., Canada and Mexico
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration While much about the threatened tariffs is still unclear, experts predict they would be bad news for all three economies, with few winners. By Matina Stevis-GridneffAna Swanson and Simon Romero Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Toronto, Ana Swanson from Washington and Simon Romero from Mexico City. Decades of trade integration…
Trump Declares Energy Emergency to Push Excess Fossil Fuel Production
Trump Declares Energy ‘Emergency’ to Justify More Oil and Gas Drilling Though largely symbolic, President Trump’s declaration of an “energy emergency” could throw a wrench in renewable energy development and will cut into the Endangered Species Act By Scott Waldman & E&E News U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders during the inaugural parade inside…
Upgrade Shower & Bath Time With These Spa-Worthy Accessories
Shop must-have bath and shower accessories that will make you feel like you’re at a five-star spa. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Your bathroom isn’t just the place where you shower—it’s where you escape. That’s why you should equip it with accessories…
Trump pardons dark web marketplace creator Ross Ulbricht
Jenna McLaughlin President Trump fulfilled a campaign promise to Libertarian supporters on his second day back in office by pardoning the former creator and owner of an underground e-commerce website known for drug trafficking. Ross Ulbricht, also known as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” operated the anonymous digital marketplace known as Silk Road between 2011 and 2013,…
Libyan general released after arrest in Turin on ICC warrant for alleged war crimes
Osama Najim was arrested amid claims he used detained migrants in ‘a form of slavery’, but then freed after after a mistake by prosecutors A Libyan general wanted for alleged war crimes and violence against inmates at a prison near Tripoli has been arrested in the northern Italian city of Turin – and then released…
Why the Paris Climate Treaty Matters in 5 Graphics
Why the Paris Climate Agreement Matters in 5 Graphics One of President Trump’s first executive orders withdraws the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement. These graphics show why the pact is crucial to curbing the worst effects of global warming By Andrea Thompson Hours after he was sworn into office, President Donald Trump signed an…
Europe Braces for a New Trump Era, Uncertain About What It Means
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration President Trump appears willing to shake up almost every policy area, and a behind-the-scenes E.U. task force has been trying to prepare. But is Europe ready? By Jeanna Smialek Jeanna Smialek covers the European Union and reported this story from the World Economic Forum’s annual conference in Davos, Switzerland.…
Trump pardons Silk Road dark web market creator Ross Ulbricht
US President Donald Trump says he has signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht, who operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold. Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 in New York in a narcotics and money laundering conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison. Trump posted on his Truth…
Trump Closes Border, Leaving Migrants in Mexico With Few Options
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration On Monday, President Trump took action to close the nation’s southern border and terminate a widely used app. Many migrants expressed despair, and some moved to cross the border anyway. After President Trump canceled all asylum appointments, a group of migrants climbed over a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.…
Southport killer admitted carrying a knife more than 10 times
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana admitted carrying a knife more than 10 times but was still able to buy a blade on Amazon, the home secretary has said. Yvette Cooper said public bodies “completely failed to identify the terrible danger that he posed” as his obsession with extreme violence developed in the years before the attack.…
At least 66 dead as fire engulfs Turkish ski hotel
At least 66 people have been killed in a fire that engulfed a popular Turkish ski resort hotel, leaving some to jump out of windows. The fire broke out at the wooden-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday period when 234 people were staying there. An initial…
How Trump Will Roll Back Climate and Energy Policy on Day One
How Trump Will Roll Back Climate and Energy Policy on Day One There are 50 to 100 expected executive orders on Trump’s first day in office. Many will focus on boosting fossil fuels and reversing climate policy By Scott Waldman & E&E News President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a campaign town hall on Oct. 14,…
Justin Bieber Addresses Unfollowing Wife Hailey Bieber on Instagram
After Justin Bieber raised eyebrows for unfollowing wife Hailey Bieber—with whom he shares 5-month-old son Jack Blues—on Instagram, the singer explained what really happened. Justin Bieber is gonna tell you one time—he was hacked. After the “Baby” singer unfollowed wife Hailey Bieber—with whom he shares 5-month-old son Jack Blues—and subsequently stirred drama online for the…