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 […]
Italy releases Iranian man wanted by U.S. over drone attack that killed 3 soldiers
By Rebecca Rosman Italy on Sunday released an Iranian businessman detained last month over his alleged involvement in a drone attack that killed three American service members and wounded dozens more. Mohammad Abedini, 38, was arrested in Milan in December on a warrant and extradition request made by the U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S.…
Syria Faces Big Challenge in Seeking Justice for Assad Regime Crimes
Syria’s Civil War The rebel alliance that took power has vowed to prosecute senior figures from the ousted government, but accountability will be hard to achieve in a vulnerable, divided and battered country. By Vivian Yee Reporting from Cairo There seem to be no limits to the dark revelations laid bare by the downfall of…
Court ruling on Belgium’s conduct in colonial Africa hailed as turning point
Verdict of crimes against humanity for kidnap of mixed-race children could pave way for wider justice, activists say A historic court ruling that found Belgium guilty of crimes against humanity during its colonial rule of central Africa has been hailed as a turning point that could pave the way for compensation and other forms of…
Sister Wives’ Kody Refuses to Do This to Fix Relationship With Kids
Though Sister Wives star Kody Brown still has hope of repairing his relationships with many of his adult children, he revealed on the TLC series’ Jan. 12 episode that he has one dealbreaker. Sister Wives patriarch Kody Brown would do anything for the love of his kids. But he won’t do that. As in, he…
LA fires death toll rises to 24 as high winds expected
Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds which fuelled the infernos around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week, as fire crews on the ground race to make progress controlling three wildfires. Officials warned that after a weekend of relatively calm winds, the notoriously dry Santa Ana winds would pick up…
Landlords ripping off LA fire victims, says Selling Sunset star
Landlords have been illegally raising prices due to the Los Angeles wildfires, says Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim. The LA property mogul, who owns the luxury real estate brokerage at the centre of the Netflix reality show, said one client had been asked for thousands over the original asking price to rent a home –…
Somalia and Ethiopia agree to restore diplomatic ties after year-long rift
Somalia severed relations over sea access agreement Ethiopia signed with separatist region of Somaliland Somalia and Ethiopia have agreed to restore diplomatic representation in their respective capitals, more than a year after Somalia severed ties over a sea access agreement landlocked Ethiopia signed with the separatist northern Somali region of Somaliland. In a joint statement…
A French Cathedral Turned to Hams to Restore Its Organ
A dispute over a project to cure hams in a bell tower underscored the difficulties that churches in France face trying to pay for restorations. A dispute over a project to cure hams in a bell tower underscored the difficulties that churches in France face trying to pay for restorations. A view of the cathedral…
Off-duty officer hit by lorry and killed after stopping to help
An off-duty police officer has died after she was struck by a lorry while helping at the scene of an earlier crash. PC Rosie Prior, 45, had stopped to help Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, and was standing on the verge of the A19 at Bagby in North Yorkshire, when they were hit by a…
Spencer Pratt Defends Mandy Moore Amid LA Fire Fundraiser Criticism
After Mandy Moore faced backlash for posting a fundraiser for her relatives who lost their home in the Los Angeles wildfires, the Hills alum Spencer Pratt defended the actress from her critics. Mandy Moore is getting support from fellow Los Angeles residents, including Spencer Pratt. The This Is Us alum, whose home was impacted by…
Southern California wildfires destroy or damage many houses of worship
By Jason DeRose , Sarah Ventre A cantor at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels led the congregation in a haunting refrain during a special Mass this week for victims and first responders of the Los Angeles wildfires: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” The fires in Los Angeles County continue…
Logging in forest earmarked for koala national park increasing under NSW Labor, analysis finds
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email “We were promised a world-class national park. That’s been reiterated many times since. We just want that to be done and the degradation to stop.” Conservationists have become frustrated by the time it is taking the Minns government to fulfil its election promise, finalise an assessment of…
Italian Justice Ministry Moves to Release Iranian Man Sought by the U.S.
The request to revoke the man’s arrest came only days after Iran released an Italian journalist being held in Tehran. By Emma Bubola Reporting from Rome Italy’s justice minister has requested the revocation of the arrest of an Iranian man sought by the United States for allegedly providing material used in a drone attack that…
People are rushing to install solar panels before Trump becomes President
Jeff Brady The solar power industry is growing fast, accounting for more than half of all new electricity on the grid last year. But soon President-elect Trump and fellow Republicans in Congress may try to reduce or eliminate government incentives that have driven much of that growth. Solar installers face even more uncertainty with threats…
This Part of Mozambique Was Like Paradise. Now It’s a Terrorist Hotbed.
In a region of southern Africa known for its lush forests and emerald waters … attacks by Islamic State militants have raged for years. The fighting has killed thousands, robbed young men of limbs, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee to temporary shelter, and made widows cover tears with their veils. In October,…
Yoon Suk Yeol to miss start of South Korea impeachment trial on safety grounds
Lawyer for suspended president says concerns about ‘potential incidents’ have arisen following thwarted attempt to arrest him at his residence South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, will not attend the first hearing of his impeachment trial next week because of safety concerns, his lawyer has said. Yoon has been holed up in the presidential…
‘Everything is gone’ – Agony on a tight-knit LA street razed by inferno
Professional chef Daron Anderson always tells people he was “born in the kitchen” – quite literally. The 45-year-old was delivered by homebirth at 295 West Las Flores Drive, where he lived with his mother until this week. On Thursday, he stepped over charred debris where his kitchen once stood in Altadena, a tight-knit neighbourhood of…
Sam Moore, Vocalist in American Soul Group Sam & Dave, Dead at 89
Sam Moore, who made up R&B group Sam & Dave alongside Dave Prater, died Jan. 10, his wife and manager Joyce Moore confirmed. He was 89. Fans of an iconic soul duo are mourning the loss of a R&B legend. Sam Moore, who made up one half of American soul group Sam & Dave alongside…
As winds pick up, LA firefighters desperately battle to contain monster inferno
Firefighters are making an all-out assault to prevent the largest of the deadly wildfires that is threatening Los Angeles from spreading into one of the city’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Aerial crews have been bombarding the flaming hills with water and fire retardant to hold back the Palisades fire, which has expanded an additional 1,000 acres…
Sudan’s Military Recaptures Key City From Paramilitary Accused of Genocide
Sudan’s Civil War Celebrations erupted in military-controlled areas, stoking hopes the victory might be a turning point in Sudan’s ruinous civil war. By Declan Walsh The Sudanese military recaptured a key city in Sudan’s breadbasket region on Saturday, chasing out a paramilitary group that the United States accused last week of genocide. Sudan’s information minister…
Biden awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction
Juliana Kim President Biden awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Pope Francis on Saturday. The honor specifically came “with distinction,” becoming the first person to receive the added level of honor by Biden. In a statement, the White House commended Pope Francis for his commitment to serving the poor,…
More than 100 famous works by Australian authors rescued from oblivion by literary heritage endeavour
Three-year project returns out-of-print classics – including six Miles Franklin winners – to circulation and into ebook format for the first time More than 160 books by noted Australian authors have been rescued from oblivion, including six winners of the Miles Franklin literary award. The three-year project, which culminated at the end of last year,…
PM should sack Siddiq over corruption claims, Badenoch says
Kemi Badenoch has called for the PM to sack Treasury Minister, Tulip Siddiq, after she was named in an investigation into claims her family embezzled up to £3.9bn from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh. It follows comments from Bangladesh’s new leader, Muhammad Yunus, who told the Sunday Times Siddiq should apologise after reports she had lived…
Why Tom Holland’s Dad Doesn’t Fear Spotlight Amid Zendaya Relationship
After Tom Holland’s dad Dominic Holland confirmed the Spider-Man star’s engagement to Zendaya, he detailed why he no longer worries about their relationship being a fixture in the public eye. Tom Holland and Zendaya can handle the limelight. At this point, the Spider-Man actor’s dad Dominic Holland is sure of it. After the couple’s engagement…
USDA report finds Boar’s Head listeria outbreak was due to poor sanitation practices
Clare Marie Schneider A U.S. Department of Agriculture report has found that “inadequate sanitation practices” at a Boar’s Head facility in Virginia contributed to a listeria outbreak that left 10 people dead and dozens hospitalized around the country last year. The report, released Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service…
Reeves’ drive for growth seeks China lifeline after UK market turmoil
Chancellor’s mission to Beijing weighted with greater expectations Rachel Reeves hailed a new era of “respectful and consistent future relations with China” as pressure grew on the embattled chancellor to deliver on her government’s central promise to fire up UK economic growth. After meeting China’s vice-premier, He Lifeng, in Beijing, Reeves said Britain’s relationship with…
Syrian man died trying to cross Channel to UK on leaky dinghy, say French authorities
Man in his 20s, first such migrant fatality of 2025, suffered cardiac arrest reportedly as result of being crushed A young Syrian man died while trying to cross the Channel to Britain, the French authorities said. It is the first reported death at sea of a migrant seeking to travel to Britain from France so…
‘I don’t like this Musk chap’: Reform members say they’re unbothered by spat
Even by the standards of the Reform UK party, it has been an interesting few weeks. In December, its leader Nigel Farage flew to Florida to meet Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire, where they discussed a possible donation. On Boxing Day, it announced its membership figures had surpassed those of the Conservatives. There was then a…
As fires in Los Angeles rage, an already-hurting Hollywood presses pause
Mandalit del Barco This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. The wildfires that have devastated huge swaths of Southern California have also disrupted the industry that makes the region famous: Hollywood. Many well-known performers have reported that the wind-whipped flames destroyed their homes. And just…
Sudan’s army recaptures Wad Madani from rebel Rapid Support Forces
Strategic city fell into control of RSF, which has been accused of genocide by the US, in December 2023 Sudan’s military and its allies have taken back a strategic city from the rebel Rapid Support Forces, officials said. The recapture of the city of Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira province, took place more than…
In a bitter fight for the Minnesota Legislature, Democrats have threatened a walkout
By Dana Ferguson St. PAUL — The Minnesota Legislature is preparing for a turbulent opening on Tuesday with House Democrats threatening to walk out and the Senate set to come in with a temporary tie and no tiebreaker. A boycott would deprive the GOP of votes needed to take control of the House ahead of…
Search for missing Aberdeen sisters widens to coast
The search for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen has been extended to the coast, police said. Eliza and Henrietta Huszti – who are part of a set of triplets – were last seen in Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 02:12 on Tuesday. A land search will also be carried out on Saturday…
Reading Aloud
Reading alone is a deeply enjoyable activity. But being read to has its own irreplaceable allure. By Melissa Kirsch The Harvard Sentences are hundreds of sentences that have been used for many decades to test technologies in which understanding speech is essential, like telephone systems and hearing aids. I came across the list recently and…
Simple Favor Director Addresses Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick Feud Rumor
A Simple Favor 2 director Paul Feig slammed rumors that tensions between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick had forced Amazon to indefinitely shelve the movie. Paul Feig asks you do yourself a simple favor and don’t believe everything you see on the Internet. The director slammed speculation that A Simple Favor 2 starring Blake Lively…
Inside Kristin Cavallari’s Eventful Dating History
Kristin Cavallari, who shares three kids with ex-husband Jay Cutler, said she’s dating again after breaking up with Mark Estes. Brush up on her robust romantic history leading up to her latest suitor. Kristin Cavallari knows that, if you’re looking for the right fit, you’ve got to try it on first. And, if it’s uncomfortable,…
Ukraine says it captured two injured North Korean soldiers in Russia
Two wounded North Korean soldiers have been captured as prisoners of war by Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday. The two men are receiving “necessary medical assistance” and are in the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kyiv, according to Zelensky. The president said he was…
Far From the Fires, the Deadly Risks of Smoke Are Intensifying
Researchers see a growing health danger from the vast plumes of pollution spawned by wildfires like the ones devastating Los Angeles. By Hiroko Tabuchi It kills more people each year than car crashes, war or drugs do. This invisible killer is the air pollution from sources like cars and trucks or factory smokestacks. But as…
White House working on hostage release deal in Gaza before Trump’s inauguration, says CIA director
William Burns said talks between Hamas and Israel are serious and could lead to deal in next couple of weeks The White House is working to reach a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas before president-elect Trump’s inauguration, William Burns, the director of the CIA, has suggested. “Negotiations going on right now are quite serious…
Why are so many indigenous Panamanians contracting HIV — and dying of AIDS?
By Adam Williams Joti’s family refuses to touch him. They don’t hug him or shake his hand, and when he visits relatives to eat, he brings his own plate, spoon and cup. His family won’t share utensils with him, as they fear being infected with the virus he carries, HIV. NPR agreed to only identify…
Protesters in Calais condemn UK policies to stop Channel crossings
Alliance of groups from across France call for measures to make crossings safer after 77 deaths recorded in 2024 More than 70 organisations from across France willcome together on Saturday to protest in Calais about UK policies to try to stop people crossing the Channel. At least 77 people died trying to cross the Channel…
Former Child Star Killed In L.A. Fires After Mom Tried to Save Him
Amid the Los Angeles wildfires, Rory Callum Sykes—a child actor born blind and with cerebral palsy—died at age 32 after mom Shelley Sykes was unable to contact 911 and put out the fire herself. The Los Angeles wildfires continue to cause devastation across California. Former child actor Rory Callum Sykes is among the growing list…
Molly Russell’s dad warns UK ‘going backwards’ on online safety and urges PM to act
The father of Molly Russell, the teenager who took her own life after seeing harmful content online, has personally appealed to the prime minister to tighten rules that protect children and has warned the UK is “going backwards” on internet safety. Ian Russell, who backed the previous government bringing in new requirements for tech firms…
Ukraine Says It Captured 2 North Korean Soldiers Fighting for Russia
Russia-Ukraine War President Volodymyr Zelensky said the soldiers were captured in the western Kursk region, where Ukraine has been fighting to hold on to territory it seized last summer. By Cassandra Vinograd Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine The Ukrainian authorities on Saturday announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia, saying they were the…
‘He brought us back alive’: A former hostage remembers Jimmy Carter
By Ari Shapiro , Elena Burnett , Courtney Dorning Former President Jimmy Carter left Washington for the final time Thursday afternoon. The nation’s capital was never a comfortable place for the man from Plains, Georgia, and it’s generally believed that Carter was a better former president than president. One reason for that perception is the…
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Meets With Syrian Leader
Middle East Crisis The visit by Prime Minister Najib Mikati was the first official trip by the Lebanese leader to meet with the new government of Syria. By Aaron Boxerman The Lebanese prime minister on Saturday headed to the Syrian capital, Damascus, for the first official visit to meet with the new government there, after…
Venezuelan opposition candidate accuses Nicolás Maduro of coup
Edmundo González, widely believed to have won July election, gives address after autocrat sworn in for third term The man widely believed to be the real victor of last year’s presidential election in Venezuela has accused Nicolás Maduro of staging a coup and “crowning himself dictator” after the South American autocrat claimed another six years…
Opinion: When Jimmy Carter and I spoke about UFOs
Scott Simon I have a story I can tell now about an off-the-record conversation I once had with the late Jimmy Carter, about one of the great human controversies: UFOs. Back in what my daughters now call the “late 1900s” we did a story on a support group at a New York hospital, for people…
Inside Aubrey Plaza’s Love Story With Late Husband Jeff Baena
Aubrey Plaza called the sudden death of her husband Jeff Baena an “unimaginable tragedy.” Look back at the actress and filmmaker’s love story. Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were collaborators—both in their onscreen work and in their life together off-camera. But on Jan. 3, the actress’s filmmaker husband died by suicide at the age 47,…
Katie Piper gets ‘artificial eye’ after acid attack
Katie Piper has decided to get an “artificial eye” more than 16 years after an acid attack which left her with serious injuries and permanent scarring. The TV presenter shared the news on Instagram, saying it follows “many years of battling” with her health. “I’ve reached the end of [the] road somewhat, and the decision…
Lynx dies after being captured in Cairngorms
The wild cat was one of four, released illegally, which were caught near Kingussie in the Highlands in recent days. The animals were humanely captured in pairs in the Dell of Killiehuntly area and taken to the Highland Wildlife Park. The RZSS said they would have been under great stress after being abandoned in a…
Jeju Air Flight Recorder Stopped Working 4 Minutes Before Plane Crash
South Korea Plane Crash The missing data deepens the puzzle of what caused the deadly air disaster in Muan, South Korea, late last month. By Choe Sang-Hun Reporting from Seoul The flight recorder of the Jeju Air passenger jet that crashed last month, killing 179 people, stopped recording for its last four minutes, South Korean…
A Timeline of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Legal Battle
With It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni locked in a legal battle, we broke down what to know about her lawsuit against him and Wayfarer Studios and his against The New York Times. Perhaps ironically, it doesn’t appear as if the legal battle between It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni will be…
When the power goes out, health risks rise
Maria Godoy Tens of thousands of people are currently without power in California, Texas and Arkansas, as wildfires ravage the West and a winter storm hits the South. Research shows when the power fails, it also raises the risk of a host of health concerns — from gastrointestinal illness to heart attacks and even burns.…
Is Trump’s rhetoric on Greenland, Canada and Panama Canal a ‘Madman Strategy’?
By Scott Neuman President-elect Donald Trump, who is days away from taking office, has wasted no time in returning to center stage in U.S. foreign policy, reprising his hallmark blend of bombastic rhetoric and threats that keep both friend and foe guessing. His undiplomatic talk in recent days of reclaiming the Panama Canal — and…
8 Best Winter Fashion Trends on Amazon Our Editors Are Wearing in 2025
From denim on denim to chunky loafers, this trendy lineup is making winter dressing anything but boring (trust). E! may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Learn more. After sifting through Amazon’s latest and greatest for hours every week, I’ve seen it all—and these eight winter trends are undeniably the ones to…
Tiny French town left €10m fortune by a man who had never been there
Thiberville in Normandy receives windfall worth five times annual budget from a Paris resident who was named after it Throughout Roger Thiberville’s long life, he never once visited the Normandy town that gave him his last name. Descended from a family of vineyard owners, he inherited property in Paris from his parents and worked as…
Everton appoint Moyes as manager for second time
David Moyes was appointed an OBE in the New Year Honours for services to football David Moyes said it is “great to be back” after being appointed Everton manager for a second time. The 61-year-old Scot has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park following the sacking of Sean Dyche on Thursday. Everton are 16th…
Israel’s Campaign in Syrian Border Area Prompts Fears It Plans to Stay
Syria’s Civil War Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for Israeli troops to “take over” a buffer zone with Syria upended decades of relative calm along the de facto border between the two countries. By Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem Israeli soldiers have raided Syrian border villages, prompting nervous residents to huddle in their homes. They…
Photograph Revives Ukraine-Russia Culture War
Russia-Ukraine War An image depicting a famous 19th-century painting of Cossacks, with current Ukrainian soldiers standing in for the warriors, has struck a chord as Kyiv battles to assert its identity. By Constant Méheut Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine It looks like a serene snapshot from Ukraine’s battlefield: A group of armor-clad soldiers huddled around a…
Amid the fires, LA is warning some residents the tap water isn’t safe. Here’s why
Pien Huang The warning is stark: “Do not drink or cook with the tap water … Do not treat the tap water yourself,” typed in all caps and boldface. The alert, issued January 10 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, also advises people not to take hot baths or long showers. It’s…