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 […]
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: Time Loop Shenanigans in ‘Chronofiends!!’
The research station is stuck in an ever-shrinking time loop—use your time-manipulating powers to accomplish your objectives before time runs out! Chronofiends!! (yes, the exclamation points are part of the title) is a cooperative time-loop game for 1 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, and takes about 90 minutes to play. It’s currently seeking […]
Brad Pitt Attended Alcoholics Anonymous Amid Angelina Jolie Breakup
Brad Pitt shared insight into his experience attending Alcoholics Anonymous at the beginning of his sobriety journey after his ex Angelina Jolie filed for divorce: “It was incredible.” Brad Pitt isn’t afraid to be vulnerable about his health. In fact, the Ocean’s Eleven alum revealed what “an amazing thing” Alcoholics Anonymous was for him as…
Home sales just posted their slowest May in 16 years
Laurel Wamsley The home sales slump in the U.S. continues: Last month was the slowest May for existing home sales since 2009. Existing home sales in May fell 0.7% compared to the same month last year. Measured monthly, sales were up slightly, 0.8%, from the month before — but that marks an increase from the…
‘Handcuffed like we’re criminals’: Ohio teen soccer star recounts deportation
Emerson Colindres reflects on ‘traumatizing’ ordeal after Ice sent him to Honduras despite having no criminal record The Ohio high school graduate and soccer standout who was recently deported from the US to Honduras despite having no arrest record has described being “handcuffed like we’re some big criminals” for the entirety of his deportation flight.…
Qatar closes airspace as UK and US tell citizens to shelter in place
Qatar has temporarily closed its airspace after the US and the UK told their citizens in the country to shelter in place “until further notice”. The US embassy in Qatar suggested in a notice online that Americans do so “out of an abundance of caution”. The UK government said it was issuing its warning in…
Lucy Hale and Ian Harding “Stand Behind” Pretty Little Liars Age Gap
Pretty Little Liars stars Lucy Hale and Ian Harding have no regrets when it comes to their characters’ teacher-student romance in the teen drama—despite their controversial age gap. Lucy Hale and Ian Harding are not apologizing for Ezria. Indeed, the Pretty Little Liars alums—who played protagonist Aria Montgomery and her high school English teacher Ezra…
US asks China to stop Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. His comments came after Iran’s state-run Press TV reported that parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait but added that the final decision lies with the…
NSW upper house president seeks advice from Bret Walker over possible political staffer arrests
High-profile barrister consulted over arrest warrants for five government staffers who did not attend inquiry into Dural ‘fake terrorism plot’ Australia news live: latest politics updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The president of the New South Wales upper house has sought advice from high-profile barrister Bret Walker SC…
Decoy flights and seven B-2 stealth bombers – how US says it hit Iran’s nuclear sites
An 18-hour flight each way, multiple mid-air refuelings, and a series of decoys – this is how the mission to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities played out, according to four-star General Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the US military. Although the full impact of what the US…
Review – Superman Unlimited #2: World of Kryptonite
Ray: It’s a brave new world for Superman, as last issue saw a massive Kryptonite meteor bear down on Earth. Superman was able to stop it, nearly dying in the process – but the result changed the world. Now, Kryptonite is omnipresent on Earth, easily winding up in the hands of a common criminal who…
First Near-Complete Denisovan Skull Reveals What This Ancient Human Cousin Looked Like
First Near-Complete Denisovan Skull Reveals What This Ancient Human Cousin Looked Like A Denisovan skull has been identified for the first time. The find was based on proteins and calcified dental plaque By Dyani Lewis & Nature magazine A reconstruction of the hominin source of the ‘Dragon Man’ cranium in his habitat. The fossil has…
Police say a man opened fire outside a church before staff fatally shot him
By The Associated Press WAYNE, Mich. — A man who opened fire outside a Michigan church filled with worshippers on Sunday was struck by a vehicle and then fatally shot by security staff who averted a potential mass shooting, police said. Churchgoers attending a morning service at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne spotted the gunman…
Bounce Back From Flat Hair With These Summer Volumizing Essentials
From a texturizing spray to hot brushes, these volume-boosting hair care picks will help your hair reach new heights. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. During the hot summer months, you’re probably tempted to pull your hair back in a slick bun or…
Cost of sending a letter in Australia to rise to $1.70 as snail mail continues to decline
Australia Post’s proposed rise in stamp price for ordinary letters, which still requires communications minister’s approval, would take effect in July Australia news live: latest politics updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The cost of sending a letter is set to rise as the consumer watchdog waves through a…
Anna Camp Defends Her and Girlfriend Jade Whipkey’s 18-Year Age Gap
Pitch Perfect’s Anna Camp defended the 18-year age gap between her and girlfriend Jade Whipkey, two days after the couple made their red carpet debut at the Los Angeles premiere of Bride Hard. Anna Camp is not letting the haters cause treble between her and Jade Whipkey. Two days after the Pitch Perfect actress debuted…
Trump administration defends Iranian strikes as some lawmakers question its legality
Stephen Fowler The Trump administration is defending a precision strike on Iranian nuclear sites Saturday that was carried out without Congressional approval or notifying top Democratic lawmakers ahead of time. “Operation Midnight Hammer” was the largest B-2 bomber strike in U.S. history, Pentagon officials said Sunday, and saw the mobilization of more than 125 aircraft…
Bali flights cancelled after Indonesian volcano spews 10km-high ash tower
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the island of Flores, east of Bali, erupted on Tuesday afternoon, leading to several airlines cancelling flights A volcano in eastern Indonesia has spewed a colossal ash tower into the sky, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from Bali. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584m twin-peaked volcano on the…
Elon Musk Launches the Robotaxi—Can Tesla’s Cybercab Share the Road with America’s Myth of the Highway?
Can Tesla’s Cybercab Share the Road with America’s Myth of the Highway? For more than a century, cars have meant freedom, escape and self-reinvention to Americans. Now Tesla’s forthcoming Cybercab makes us ask whether we can have the romance of the open road without actually driving it By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser…
An unprecedented moment – but what US and Iran do next could be even more momentous
For decades, the United States and Iran have carefully avoided crossing a dangerous red line into a direct military confrontation. One American president after another held back from deploying their military might against the Islamic Republic for fear of sinking the US into potentially the most perilous Middle East war of all. Now, the commander-in-chief,…
Review – Wonder Woman #22: Of Men and Mice
Ray: After the battle with the Sovereign, we haven’t gotten to the next big WW arc yet – but Tom King is making the most of this break from bigger storylines. First we got a two-part murder mystery with Batman joining Wonder Woman on Olympus – and now we have a breather issue set right…
Australia risks losing ‘war on nicotine’ in same way as war on drugs as illegal tobacco sales explode
Authorities should take a ‘harm reduction’ approach, removing excise for a period and making vapes more available, experts argue Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia is now waging a “de facto war on nicotine” that is doomed to fail in the same way as previous prohibition-style policies, experts say,…
Why Can Beef Be Cooked Rare but Chicken Can’t?
How to Grill Meat Safely—According to Science By Amanda Heidt edited by Lauren J. Young Juicy skewers of marinated meat are grilling alongside a large, raw ribeye steak on a charcoal barbecue. Every type of meat has its own required cooking temperature. As the days heat up in the Northern Hemisphere, so do meats at…
These 20 Secrets About The Fast and the Furious Will Rev Your Engine
The Fast and the Furious franchise has a lot of miles on it after 24 years, so we looked under the hood to find out what made the 2001 original such a classic ride. Once upon a time, The Fast and the Furious pulled into theaters. That little local film, about an undercover cop in…
Retaliate now, later or never: What Iran’s next move could be
Iran has responded furiously to the overnight US airstrikes on three of its nuclear sites, vowing what it calls “everlasting consequences”. But beyond the words, there will be feverish discussions taking place at the highest level inside Iran’s security and intelligence establishment. Should they escalate the conflict through retaliation against US interests, or, as US…
World reacts to U.S. strikes on Iran with alarm, caution — and some praise
By Rebecca Rosman As the world reacted to news of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, international officials largely responded with alarm and calls for restraint — though some expressed praise. Across the Middle East, reactions ranged from concern to condemnation. The Saudi government said it was following events “with great concern,” and called for…
The US has changed the course of the conflict – how will Iran respond?
As Benjamin Netanyahu stood at the podium in the Israeli prime minister’s office this morning, he did not at first address the Israeli people in Hebrew, to update them on the latest, dramatic development in this, his latest war. Instead he spoke in English, speaking directly to, and lavishing praise upon, US President Donald Trump…
Cambodia bans fruit imports and soap operas from Thailand as border dispute sours
The border dispute has led to a surge in nationalist sentiment and tit-for-tat actions by both governments Cambodia has banned imports of fruit and vegetables from Thailand, the latest escalation in a series of retaliatory actions sparked by a long-running border dispute between the South-east Asian neighbours. Tensions flared in May when troops briefly exchanged…
This abortion method doesn’t involve doctors — and many of them consider it safe
By Abby Wendle , Liana Simstrom This story is an accompaniment to a three-part podcast series released by NPR’s Embedded and Futuro Media. You can listen to the full series here or wherever you listen to podcasts. For nearly four years, Dr. Maya Bass’s commute included a monthly plane ride from Philadelphia to Oklahoma to provide abortions at…
Mysterious Link between Earth’s Magnetism and Oxygen Baffles Scientists
Mysterious Link between Earth’s Magnetism and Oxygen Baffles Scientists The strength of Earth’s magnetic field and the amount of oxygen in its atmosphere seem to be correlated—and scientists want to know why By Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine A group of Dimetrodon’s hunting in a Permian era environment. Explaining the link could help to reveal…
Kids’ Choice Awards 2025: Every Celeb on the Red Carpet (Live Updates)
The 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, hosted by Tyla at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica June 21, featured Machine Gun Kelly, Brie Garcia and more in their best looks for the slime-filled night. Grab your ponchos—because the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards are officially here. For this year’s annual award show on June 21,…
Review – Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #40 – Fight Night in Metropolis
Ray: One of the fun things about doing an ongoing flashback series is that you can do stories that wouldn’t make their way into a continuity-dense ongoing series. Supergirl and Robin’s date from hell is a prime example – and this issue is another oddball team-up that has some great twists. It’s set in the…
Action on Iran is loaded with risks for Trump
Donald Trump, the president who returned to the White House in January promising to be a “peacemaker”, has taken a dramatic step to insert the US into the fraught conflict between Iran and Israel. Far from bringing peace to the Middle East since taking office, Trump is now presiding over a region on the precipice…
How The View’s Sunny Hostin “Almost Died” While Filming
The View cohost Sunny Hostin detailed a frightening health scare she experienced live on air during a segment on the daytime talk show. Sunny Hostin is taking a little extra time to enjoy the view following a frightening mishap. During the June 20 episode of The View, the daytime TV host said she “almost died”…
New Zealand halts millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over deals struck with China
Wellington says it has paused payment of some funding until Pacific island nation takes steps to ‘repair the relationship and restore trust’ New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from the New Zealand foreign…
Trump says U.S. ‘completely and totally obliterated’ nuclear facilities in Iran
By Elena Moore , Megan Pratz The U.S. military has joined with Israel to launch military strikes against Iran, a dramatic escalation in the years-long effort by both nations to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and…
The Weather Expert Who Answered the $64,000 Question
The Weather Expert Who Answered the $64,000 Question By Carol Sutton Lewis, Christie Taylor, Laura Isensee & The Lost Women of Science Initiative In the mid-1940s then teenager June Bacon-Bercey saw the image of a nuclear explosion on the cover of Time magazine and immediately had questions. How would the particles in the mushroom cloud…
At least three people dead from a tornado in North Dakota
Clare Marie Schneider At least three North Dakota residents were killed Friday night by a tornado that swept through the state overnight. Storm chasers found two people killed as a result of the storm in rural Enderlin on Friday night, some 60 miles southwest of Fargo, N.D. That same night, The Enderlin Sheldon Fire Department…
Hong Kong teachers allegedly told to avoid US Independence Day events
Messages advise staff to also warn students off celebrations to avoid violating national security law Teachers in Hong Kong have been warned to keep themselves and students away from any US Independence Day celebrations as they may breach national security laws, educators have alleged. A text message purportedly sent by the principal of a Hong…
At least eight dead in hot air balloon accident in Brazil
At least eight people have died in a hot air balloon accident in Brazil, a state governor has said. There were 21 people on board the balloon in the city of Praia Grande on Saturday morning, Governor of Santa Catarina Jorginho Mello said in a post on X. Thirteen people, including the pilot, survived and…
Why Mark Cuban Declined Kamala Harris’ VP Offer Ahead of 2024 Election
Shark Tank alum Mark Cuban revealed he was courted as a possible running mate by Kamala Harris’ team during the 2024 presidential election, though he ultimately turned down the offer. Don’t expect Mark Cuban to enter the political arena. The Shark Tank alum revealed that he was considered as a potential running mate for former…
Humpback Whales Are Blowing ‘Bubble Rings’ at Boats. Are They Trying to Communicate?
Humpback Whales Are Blowing ‘Bubble Rings’ at Boats. Are They Trying to Communicate? Researchers bring a SETI approach to the question of what—if anything—humpbacks’ underwater smoke rings might be trying to “say” By Melissa Hobson edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A humpback whale known as Kараул (Watchtower) produced this bubble ring in Hawaii in 2020.…
Here’s How Plastic Bag Bans Are Keeping Trash off Shorelines
Here’s How Plastic Bag Bans Are Working Data from beach cleanups show that banning or taxing single-use plastic bags makes a difference in ecosystems By Meghan Bartels edited by Allison Parshall For one in three U.S. residents, single-use plastic bags are no longer a cheap and easy ubiquity—and beaches, riverbanks and lakeshores are benefitting. That’s…
Pilot who died in N.C. plane crash tried to avoid a turtle on airport runway
By The Associated Press MOCKSVILLE, N.C. — The pilot of a small plane that crashed near a North Carolina airport this month had raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report. The pilot of the Universal Stinson 108 and a passenger…
Huge dilemmas lie ahead for UK over Iran
“If this is true, all our troubles are over.” A British businessman fast running out of cash, William Knox D’Arcy, is said to have uttered those words when he received a telegram from Persia, 113 years ago. Oil had been discovered, after years of failed explorations under Knox D’Arcy, who had been granted the rights…
A GeekDad Game Guide for the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup has generated a lot of conversation in online gaming circles. There are younger fans who, rightly, expect a robust and expansive assortment of hot new titles to accompany a fresh console. Then there are those of us who lived through the Nintendo 64 release and its /checks notes/ two…
See Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s NYC Date Night
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce stepped out for a dinner date night in New York City on June 20, days after the “Karma” singer set the record straight on their relationship status. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s sweet romance is more than just a short time. The “Cruel Summer” singer and the Kansas City Chiefs…
Brazil hot-air balloon crash kills at least eight people amid ‘desperate’ scenes
Witnesses say some of those onboard hurled themselves out to escape flames as reports say fire started from torch in balloon’s basket At least eight people have died after a hot-air balloon carrying more than 20 people caught fire and plunged through the sky in Brazil’s deep south. The picturesque, canyon-filled region where the crash…
Inside Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor’s Private Romance
Yes, actresses Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor are aware they have a 32-year age gap, but that’s hardly the most interesting part of the duo’s decade-long relationship. “My life choices are, um, unconventional.” That’s what Sarah Paulson told The Edit in 2017, and the 50-year-old wasn’t referring to the various roles she’s has taken on for FX’s American…
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy, and Is It Safe?
Testosterone Therapy Is Booming. But Is It Actually Safe? As more men turn to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for energy, mood and muscle, experts warn the risks are still not fully understood. By Rachel Feltman, Stephanie Pappas, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura This episode was made possible by the support of Yakult and produced independently…
Thai PM apologises over leaked call with Hun Sen as crisis threatens to topple government
In phone call, Paetongtarn Shinawatra discusses border dispute with former Cambodian leader and calls him ‘uncle’ Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, apologised after a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen prompted public anger and threatened the collapse of her government. In the leaked call, Paetongtarn – daughter of the populist former leader…
Reporters for Voice of America and other U.S. networks fear what’s next
David Folkenflik On Friday, the Trump administration issued mass layoff notices gutting the agency that owns the Voice of America and funds its sister news outlets. That same day, a correspondent arrested in Azerbaijan while working for one of those sister networks — Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — was sentenced to nine years in prison…
Esther Rantzen urges Lords not to block assisted dying
Dame Esther Rantzen has appealed to the House of Lords not to block a bill giving terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to an assisted death, after it was backed by MPs on Friday. The Terminally Ill Adults Bill was passed by 314 votes to 291 in the House of Commons –…
Review – Absolute Flash #4: Safe Haven
Ray: This series has done some incredible things with Wally’s character so far, but it’s also had the smallest scope of any of the Absolute books. We’ve been following Wally as he’s pursued by the Rogues, trying to get control of his speed powers and grieving the loss of his mentor. But this issue takes…
Hurricane Hunter Flights Improve Hurricane Forecasts, But Trump Budget Cuts Could Threaten Them
Daring Hurricane Hunter Flights Make Forecasts More Accurate. But They Could Face Cuts NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter airplane missions significantly increase the accuracy of hurricane forecasts, but President Trump’s proposed budget cuts jeopardize the data-gathering efforts and other forecasting tools By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News Stickers of previous hurricane missions adorn the side as a…
Federal judge declines to order Trump officials to recover deleted Signal messages
Elena Moore A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a preliminary injunction ordering top national security officials who discussed military operations on the encrypted messaging service Signal to notify the acting archivist of the United States of any messages they have that may be at risk of being deleted. But in calling for those…
Canada poised to pass infrastructure bill despite pushback from Indigenous people
Bill prioritizes ‘nation-building’ pipelines and mines, causing concern that sped-up approvals will override constitutional rights Canada’s Liberal government is poised to pass controversial legislation on Friday that aims to kick-start “nation building” infrastructure projects but has received widespread pushback from Indigenous communities over fears it tramples on their constitutional rights. On its final day of…
What happens next with the bill?
The draft law that would legalise assisted dying in some circumstances in England and Wales has cleared all of its initial stages in the House of Commons. MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in principle back in November by a majority of 55. Now, after many hours of…
Inside Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Most Relatable Chapter Yet
As she underwent cancer treatment, Kate Middleton and Prince William soldiered through what was an unprecedented time for the royal family but also the most relatable chapter of their love story yet. Kate Middleton deciding to skip the 2025 Royal Ascot was a reminder that not everything is back to normal for the royal family.…
How Ginny & Georgia Will Address Diesel La Torraca’s Age in Season 4
Ginny & Georgia creator Sarah Lampert shared how the writers plan to address the five-year age difference between actor Diesel La Torraca and his character Austin Miller in the upcoming season four. Diesel La Torraca and his black-rimmed glasses aren’t leaving Wellsbury anytime soon. After the 14-year-old faced criticism for playing 9-year-old character Austin Miller…
Nigerian communities to take Shell to high court over oil pollution
Residents of Bille and Ogale in Niger delta are suing Shell and subsidiary, but company denies liability Residents of two Nigerian communities who are taking legal action against Shell over oil pollution are set to take their cases to trial at the high court in 2027. Members of the Bille and Ogale communities in the…
MPs back assisted dying bill in historic Commons vote
In an historic vote, MPs have approved a bill which would pave the way for huge social change by giving terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to end their own lives. The Terminally Ill Adults Bill, which was backed by 314 votes to 291, will now go to the House of Lords…