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 […]
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: ‘Red Dog Junction’
You’ve got a ship, a crew, and a dream—but so does everyone else. Who will be able to take home the most gold? Red Dog Junction is a resource management game for to 2 to 5 players, ages 14 and up, and takes about 30 to 60 minutes to play. It’s currently seeking funding on Kickstarter,…
How did my MP vote on assisted dying?
MPs have voted to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales after their final debate on the change in the law. After months of deliberation and scrutiny, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was backed by 314 votes to 291, a majority of 23. MPs were given a free vote on the issue,…
Machine Gun Kelly’s Rare Update on Co-Parenting Baby With Megan Fox
Three months after Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox welcomed their baby daughter Saga Blade, the rapper gave a rare update on their parenting journey. Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox are beginning a new chapter of their story. Three months after the rapper (real name Colson Baker) and Transformers actress welcomed their baby girl…
What children in poverty could lose from the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
Cory Turner Low-income children and families would be among the groups hit hardest by Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While the bill would be a boon to wealthy Americans, it would scale back resources for the nation’s poorest households, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) warned in a recent letter to lawmakers. In an…
How Does a Gravitational Slingshot Work?
The UniverseFridays How Does a Gravitational Slingshot Work? Spacecraft can get a significant boost by stealing energy from planets By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows an example of a gravitational assist maneuver, used by spacecraft to travel through the solar system. In this example, the spacecraft flies close by Mars,…
Critic of Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega shot dead in Costa Rica
Retired army officer Roberto Samcam was killed in San José by gunmen, the latest of several attacks on Ortega’s critics A retired Nicaraguan army officer in exile turned fierce critic of the country’s authoritarian president Daniel Ortega has been shot dead in neighboring Costa Rica. Maj Roberto Samcam, 66, was shot at his apartment building…
Weather tracker: Mexico’s Pacific coast hit by tropical storm and hurricane
Tropical Storm Dalila brings flooding to Acapulco, while Hurricane Erick causes disruption in Oaxaca state While the western Atlantic has experienced a quiet start to the hurricane season, the eastern Pacific has recently become fairly active, producing a tropical storm and a category 4 hurricane within a few days. The first and weaker of these…
Sink Your Teeth into These Jaws Secrets
Jaws is swimming towards a major milestone: its 50th anniversary. Dive into these secrets about the Steven Spielberg-directed film, including facts about the mechanical shark, the casting and more. Even among the, uh, sharkiest film critics, Jaws is considered one of the most revered movies of all time. It was 50 years ago that the…
Ancient Roman masterpieces emerge from a London demolition pit
By Willem Marx Thousands of vibrant fragments, which once adorned a high-status Roman building, offer an unprecedented glimpse into the artistic sophistication and daily life of ancient Londinium, and their rearrangement is showcasing artworks that have remained hidden for over 1,800 years. The discovery, made at “The Liberty” development site in the city’s Southwark neighborhood,…
Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF Brize Norton
Pro-Palestinian activists have broken into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed two military planes with red paint in a security breach. The Ministry of Defence strongly condemned the “vandalism of Royal Air Force assets” and said it was working closely with the police. Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday shows two people inside the…
Review – Zatanna #5: Dance of Death
Ray: This series has been one of the best Zatanna comics in a long time, and has added a lot of new elements to Zatanna’s roster for the future. But to resolve this conflict, Zatanna’s going to have to go back to the past. In a flashback segment, we get a much darker version of…
An appeals court backs Trump’s control of the California National Guard for now
By Laura Fitzgerald , Larry Kaplow A California appeals court has ruled that President Trump can maintain control over California National Guard troops in Los Angeles — rejecting at least temporarily Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to take back control of the Guard. It was the latest in a series of court rulings since last week…
Leeds maternity units graded ‘inadequate’ after families tell BBC of failings
Maternity services at two Leeds hospitals have been downgraded from “good” to “inadequate” by the healthcare regulator, because their failings posed “a significant risk” to women and babies. Concerns from staff and patients around quality of care and staffing levels were substantiated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) during unannounced inspections at Leeds Teaching Hospitals…
How Miley Cyrus Feels About Being a “Cougar” in Maxx Morando Romance
Miley Cyrus shared why she doesn’t mind being considered one of the “cougars” when it comes to her relationship with her boyfriend Maxx Morando, who is five years her junior. Miley Cyrus thinks there’s something beautiful about the age difference in her romance. After her sister Brandi Cyrus joked that they are both “cougars” in their…
SpaceX’s Starship Explodes in Texas During Preflight Testing
SpaceX’s Starship Explodes in Texas During Preflight Testing The latest catastrophic explosion of a Starship upper stage is a significant setback for SpaceX By Mike Wall & SPACE.com A view of SpaceX’s Starbase launch complex in South Texas on April 17, 2025. A Starship upper stage test vehicle is visible in the background. Join Our…
Expedition to ‘real home of the pirates of the Caribbean’ hopes to unearth ships and treasure
Exploration of Bahamas seabed will be first time notorious New Providence hideout has been searched Pirates of the Caribbean is a $4.5bn swashbuckling film franchise and Blackbeard and Calico Jack Rackham are among marauding buccaneers who have captured imaginations over the centuries. But almost nothing is known about the life and times of actual pirates.…
Gaia, Europe’s Galactic Cartographer, Is Gone But Not Forgotten
Gaia’s Long Goodbye Gaia, Europe’s Milky Way–mapping spacecraft, shut down earlier this year. It was arguably the most important—and most overlooked—astronomy project of the 21st century By Lee Billings edited by Dean Visser An artist’s impression of our galaxy, the Milky Way, based on data from ESA’s Gaia space telescope. This observatory has probably been…
Ordinary Zambians lose out twice: to global looting and local corruption | Letters
Emmanuel Mwamba and Fiona Mulaisho respond to an editorial on US aid cuts to Zambia and huge sums taken out of the country by multinationals Your editorial (The Guardian view on Zambia’s Trumpian predicament: US aid cuts are dwarfed by a far bigger heist, 10 January) highlights research by Prof Andrew Fischer, and the exploitation…
Survivor’s Scot Pollard Gets Emotional After Heart Transplant
NBA alum Scot Pollard, who competed on Survivor in 2015, shared his journey of getting a heart transplant and meeting his donor’s family. Scot Pollard owes his survival to one special person. The Survivor alum—who competed on the CBS show from 2015 to 2016—shared that he received a heart transplant in February 2024 and was recently…
Is the UK about to get dragged into Iran-Israel conflict?
Is this, some will be wondering, 2003 all over again? In 2003 Britain joined the US in a highly controversial military campaign against Iraq in a quest to rid it of its supposed arsenal of “weapons of mass destruction”. These turned out to have all been destroyed years previously. As America’s closest but junior ally,…
Cardboard Crafting with ChompSaw
If you’ve got crafty kids and you’re looking for a fun activity for the summer, here’s a nifty tool to consider: the ChompSaw! Originally funded through Kickstarter back in 2023, the ChompSaw is like a kid-safe table saw for cardboard. My kids were working on some cardboard projects recently so I looked it up again,…
On Juneteenth, she celebrates the role quilts may have played in Underground Railroad
Vanessa Romo For Edith Edmunds, the art of quilt making is inextricably linked to the Black struggle for freedom. That’s why she plans to be sewing on Juneteenth. “It’s what I love to do,” she told NPR in a phone interview. Edmunds, who is 99 years old, has been making quilts since she was seven,…
Anna Camp Makes Red Carpet Debut With Girlfriend Jade Whipkey
You actress Anna Camp and girlfriend Jade Whipkey made their red carpet debut at the Los Angeles premiere of Bride Hard on June 18. Anna Camp‘s new romance is aca-official. After debuting their relationship on social media last month, the You actress and girlfriend Jade Whipkey made their red carpet debut at the Los Angeles premiere of Bride…
When Baboon Dads Stick Around, Their Daughters Live Longer
By Cody Cottier edited by Allison Parshall An adult male and infant baboon in the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The mammal world is —at least by human standards. In most mammalian species, males saddle the mother with their offspring while they continue to galavant around and sire more. That’s how…
Temperatures pass 32C on hottest day of year as first UK area enters heatwave
The UK has recorded its hottest day of the year with temperatures passing 32C, as part of the country entered a heatwave. A temperature of 32.2C was recorded in Kew, London – higher than the previous record for 2025 of 29.4C in Suffolk on 13 June. Suffolk became the first place in the UK to…
New Rio de Janeiro law requires public hospitals to display anti-abortion signs
Opponents view the controversial act as part of a growing trend across Brazil to further restrict abortion access A new law has just come into force in Rio de Janeiro requiring all public hospitals and clinics run by the municipal government to display anti-abortion signs bearing messages such as: “Did you know that the unborn…
Let Your Reflection Show You These Secrets About Mulan
Not only did 1998’s Mulan earn millions at the box office with its tale based on ancient Chinese legend of the female warrior Hua Mulan, but the Disney flick helped launch Christina Aguilera’s career. Who is that girl I see staring straight back at me? For Christina Aguilera, that reflection was her own visage in…
When Wildfire Smoke Arrived from Canada, Federal Safety Experts Were Gone
When Wildfire Smoke Arrived from Canada, Federal Safety Experts Were Gone Health specialists were put on leave, and a report on how to protect 20 million workers from wildfire smoke has stalled By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News Buildings as smoke from Canada wildfires creates haze in Chicago, Illinois, on June 27, 2023. CLIMATEWIRE |…
Two breakthrough Alzheimer’s drugs won’t be offered on NHS due to cost
Two breakthrough Alzheimer’s drugs have been deemed far too expensive, for too little benefit, to be offered on the NHS. The medicines are the first to slow the disease, which may give people extra time living independently. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded they were a poor use of taxpayers’ money…
‘Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver:’ A Book Review
Earlier this year, I reviewed All Better Now, by Neal Shusterman. It’s a book about a deadly pandemic that leaves survivors feeling more empathy towards one another. This review is for Will Carver’s Kill Them With Kindness, a story that centers around a virus that leaves survivors feeling more empathy towards one another. Two books…
Planning to be outside on a hot day? Take these precautions
Clare Marie Schneider The first significant heat wave of the summer is expected to hit much of the United States this weekend, impacting regions from the Midwest to the East Coast. Temperatures are forecasted to be well into the 90s, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. So if you’re planning to be outside,…
Woman dies of rabies in Yorkshire after contact with dog in Morocco
Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, had contact with stray animal while on holiday, UK Health Security Agency says A woman from Yorkshire has died from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, was diagnosed in Yorkshire…
Canadian intelligence accuses India over Sikh’s killing as Carney meets Modi
Killing of Canadian national was ‘significant escalation in India’s repression efforts’ but leaders shake hands at G7 Canada’s spy agency has warned that the assassination in British Columbia of a prominent Sikh activist signaled a “significant escalation in India’s repression efforts” and reflects a broader, transnational campaign by the government in New Delhi to threaten…
Review – The New Gods #7: Unlikely Alliances
Ray: When it comes to books starring characters who are more cult fixtures of the DCU, writers can easily shake up the status quo – sometimes permanently. And that seems to be what happened in this issue of New Gods – as the conflict has led to the planet of New Genesis shattering, sending a…
The Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bomb Israel Wants to Destroy Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Facility
Why This Is the Only Bomb That Could Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Bunker—Under 300 Feet of Rock American military engineers designed the GBU-57/B bomb to devastate deeply buried bunkers without radioactive fallout. It’s the only nonnuclear weapon that can reach Iran’s hardest target By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser Maxar satellite imagery overview of…
Trump approves Iran attack plan but has not made final decision, US media says
Donald Trump has approved plans to attack Iran, but has not made a final decision on whether to strike the country, the BBC’s US partner CBS reports. The US president held off on initiating strikes in case Iran agreed to abandon its nuclear programme, a senior intelligence source told CBS. Trump is reportedly considering a…
Hulk Hogan’s Rep Addresses Rumors He’s on His Deathbed
Amid rumors Hulk Hogan is on his deathbed, the wrestling legend’s rep shared an update on his health. Hulk Hogan is still standing. The WWE Hall of Famer was recently hospitalized amid ongoing neck and back issues, though despite speculation, a rep for Hulk—real name Terry Gene Bollea—confirmed to E! News June 18, “no reasons to…
Supreme Court Skrmetti Decision Permits Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Children
How Supreme Court Trans Health Care Ruling Will Affect Kids The Supreme Court has decided to uphold a state ban on gender-affirming care for minors in U.S. v. Skrmetti By Allison Parshall edited by Dean Visser Hundreds of trans people, activists and supporters rally outside of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington,…
British woman dies from rabies after stray dog contact in Morocco
A British woman has died from rabies after she was “scratched” by a puppy in Morocco, her family said. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had light contact with the stray dog while on holiday in February in the North African country. In a social media post, reported by the Press Association, Mrs Ford’s…
Screen addiction and suicidal behaviors are linked for teens, a study shows
By Rhitu Chatterjee If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline via call, text or chat. A new study finds that addiction to social media, mobile phones and video games is linked to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The study, published in JAMA on…
Caitlin Clark Gets Into Altercation With Connecticut Suns Players
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever June 17 game with the Connecticut Sun got heated, with the player finding herself in the middle of on court tensions. The Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun are on the rebound after an intense game. During the June 17 face-off between the two teams, tensions mounted after a series of…
Trump’s Iran dilemma exposes bitter split in president’s circle
The dilemma of whether the US should join Israel in attacking Iran, or stay out of the offensive altogether, has exposed divisions among US President Donald Trump’s supporters. The Republican president reportedly is considering helping target the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities, following a meeting with his national security advisers in the White House Situation Room…
Social Security benefits face big cuts in 2033, unless Congress acts
Scott Horsley The Social Security trust fund is expected to run out of cash in eight years, according to a report released Wednesday by the program’s trustees. Unless Congress acts before then, benefits for more than 60 million retirees and family members will automatically be cut by 23%. The deadline is about nine months earlier…
New charges accuse Bolsonaro of running spy ring from Brazil’s presidential palace
Former president has denied wrongdoing as federal police accuse him of overseeing a spy network targeting rivals Federal police have formally accused Brazil’s former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, of presiding over an illegal spying network which allegedly snooped on political rivals, journalists and environmentalists during his administration. Bolsonaro is already facing the prospect of jail…
Country Singer Conner Smith Cancels Shows After Fatal Car Accident
Country singer Conner Smith, who was set to perform alongside Jelly Roll and Megan Maroney June 21, has opted out of multiple scheduled shows after police said he fatally hit a woman with his car. Conner Smith is putting his guitar down for the time being. One week after the “I Hate Alabama” singer fatally…
‘My baby died after I was ignored’: More families call for NHS maternity inquiry
When Tassie Weaver went into labour at full term, she thought she was hours away from holding her first child. But, by the time she was giving birth, she knew her son had died. Doctors had previously told Tassie to call her local maternity unit immediately when she went into labour, she says, because her…
Discarded clothes from UK brands dumped in protected Ghana wetlands
Garments thrown out by consumers from Next, George, M&S and others found in or near conservation areas Clothes discarded by UK consumers and shipped to Ghana have been found in a huge rubbish dump in protected wetlands, an investigation has found. Reporters for Unearthed working with Greenpeace Africa found garments from Next in the dump…
Cloudy with a chance of showers? Fed’s economic forecast coming today
Scott Horsley The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady Wednesday, as policymakers wait to see how President Trump’s tariffs and fighting in the Middle East will affect the U.S. economy. The Fed has been in a holding pattern since December, after cutting rates by a full percentage point last year. Investors who…
Anne Burrell, TV chef who coached the ‘Worst Cooks in America,’ dies at 55
By The Associated Press NEW YORK — TV chef Anne Burrell, who coached culinary fumblers through hundreds of episodes of “Worst Cooks in America,” died Tuesday at her New York home. She was 55. The Food Network, where Burrell began her two-decade television career on “Iron Chef America” and went on to other shows, confirmed…
Steve Rosenberg: Russia fears another loss in Middle East from Iran’s conflict with Israel
When Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, officials in Russia described the current escalation in the Middle East as “alarming” and “dangerous.” Still, Russian media were quick to stress the potential positives for Moscow. Among them: However, the longer Israel’s military operation goes on, the greater the realisation that Russia has much to lose from current…
Female baboons with strong relationship to fathers found to live longer
Study suggests role of male parents may be under-appreciated in some primate species But a study suggests that even their little effort might go a long way, with female baboons who experience a stronger relationship with their fathers when young tending to live longer as adults. In the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B,…
Boston Rob’s Daughter Hospitalized for “Severe” Reaction to Plant
“Boston Rob” Mariano’s 14-year-old daughter Carina—who he shares with fellow Survivor alum Amber Mariano—was hospitalized after getting poked by a plant during a family vacation in Mexico. “Boston Rob” Mariano‘s family vacation in Mexico has hit a snag. The Survivor alum shared on June 16 that his and wife Amber Mariano’s 14-year-old daughter Carina “got poked…
‘The Betrayal of Thomas True:’ A Book Review
I originally overlooked The Betrayal of Thomas True because I don’t tend to enjoy gothic novels. Later, I kept seeing it gain excellent reviews and started to feel that I’d missed an opportunity. I was very excited, therefore, when I was contacted out of the blue and asked if I’d like to review Thomas True…
Wind and Solar Energy Are Cheaper Than Electricity from Fossil-Fuel Plants
Wind and Solar Energy Are Cheaper Than Electricity from Fossil-Fuel Plants Even without subsidies, renewable energy is staying competitive with power from gas and coal By Benjamin Storrow & E&E News Join Our Community of Science Lovers! CLIMATEWIRE | Renewable energy doesn’t need subsidies to compete with fossil fuels when it comes to building new…
Scientists Find Universe’s Missing Matter in Intergalactic ‘Cosmic Fog’
Scientists Find Universe’s Missing Matter in Intergalactic ‘Cosmic Fog’ Researchers have used cosmic explosions called fast radio bursts to illuminate the intergalactic medium By Robert Lea & SPACE.com Astronomers have long struggled to see and study the dilute, dark gas and dust between galaxies, depicted in this artist’s concept as blue and purple filaments in…
New protected area a win for Amazonian wildlife, people
In Peru’s far north, rivers converge and shape parallel worlds. Here, along the Colombian border, a rush from the Andes merges with the Algodón, a meandering trickle the color of well-steeped tea. These waters feed floodplains, swamps and forests that support species found nowhere else on Earth. Now, after more than a decade of work led…
As Israel turns its focus to Iran, the death toll mounts in Gaza — and hunger deepens
By Aya Batrawy , Anas Baba , Abu Bakr Bashir GAZA CITY and DUBAI — Israel’s primary focus is now its war with Iran, but Israeli troops are still holding territory deep inside Gaza, and Tuesday marked the deadliest day in recent weeks for Palestinians there trying to reach food distribution sites and trucks. Health…
Miley Cyrus Brings Back Bleached Eyebrows Look
Miley Cyrus switched up her look once again with barely-there bleached brows during her latest outing in Paris as she celebrated the release of her new album and film Something Beautiful. Miley Cyrus‘ lightened brows are something beautiful. While the singer may have left her iconic character Hannah Montana in the past, she’s bringing back…
Former Argentinian president Cristina Fernández allowed to serve corruption sentence at home
Judge rules Cristina Fernández de Kirchner can serve six-year sentence in apartment, citing age and security reasons A federal court in Argentina has granted former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s request to serve a six-year prison sentence for corruption at her home in Buenos Aires. Judges ruled that Fernández, 72, can serve time in the…
MPs vote to decriminalise abortion for women in England and Wales
MPs have voted to change abortion legislation to stop women in England and Wales being prosecuted for ending their pregnancy. The landslide vote to decriminalise the procedure is the biggest change to abortion laws in England and Wales for nearly 60 years. Women who terminate their pregnancy outside the rules, for example after 24 weeks,…