JWST Sees Hints of an Atmosphere on a Potentially Habitable Exoplanet
Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows the volatile red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 and its four most closely orbiting planets, […]
How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion
The UniverseFridays How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion Superluminal velocities are common but illusory By Phil Plait edited by Clara Moskowitz The light echo around the star V838 Monocerotis as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 2005. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait When I […]
How Many Planets Orbit Our Nearest Neighboring Star?
New Instrument Checks on Proxima Centauri’s Planets Fresh results from near-infrared instruments foretell a bright future for finding life elsewhere in the Milky Way By Ivan Farkas edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the Proxima Centauri system, with the planets Proxima b and Proxima d—the latter confirmed by the NIRPS planet-hunting instrument. Some […]
Starship’s 10th flight breaks streak of bad luck
Nell Greenfieldboyce SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket racked up some much-needed successes on its 10th test flight, hitting key test objectives and breaking a streak of failures that bedeviled the spaceship this year. The silver and black two-stage rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, blasted off from the SpaceX facility in south Texas near Boca […]
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft After String of Mishaps
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft after String of Mishaps Overcoming three recent failed tries, Elon Musk’s rocket company successfully flew its reusable jumbo booster and upper-stage Starship spacecraft By Dan Vergano edited by Clara Moskowitz An earlier SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster are moved to the launch pad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. […]
Science Isn’t about Domination. It’s about Democracy
Opinion Cross CurrentsFridays Science Isn’t about Domination. It’s about Democracy Science is key to diplomacy, unity and democracy. What the Trump administration is trying to do to it will weaken the U.S. By Megha Satyanarayana Keep in touch with Cross Current: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Megha Satyanarayana Nestled in the Heritage…
New senior staff announced as White House looks to ‘right the ship’ at the Pentagon
By Tom Bowman , Quil Lawrence Normally the names of senior staff at the Pentagon don’t make the news, but the precarious position of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth means that every move is drawing scrutiny. NPR reported this week that the White House is looking for possible replacements with Hegseth under fire for putting sensitive…
Brazil’s former president arrested and ordered to begin prison sentence
Fernando Collor, who led the country from 1990 to 1992, was sentenced in 2023 after being convicted for corruption Brazil’s former president, Fernando Collor, has been arrested early and ordered to begin serving a prison sentence stemming from his 2023 conviction for corruption. Collor was convicted of receiving 20m reais ($3.5m) to facilitate contracts between…
M&S stops online orders and issues refunds after cyber attack
Marks & Spencer (M&S) says it has stopped taking online orders as the company struggles to recover from a cyber attack. Customers began reporting problems last weekend, and on Tuesday the retailer confirmed it was facing a “cyber incident”. Now, M&S has entirely paused orders on its website and apps – including for food deliveries…
After deadly Kashmir attack, India reports exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers
Diaa Hadid MUMBAI, India — A day after the United Nations appealed for “maximum restraint” between Pakistan and India, the Indian military reported an exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers on Friday across the de-facto border of the disputed region of Kashmir. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have soared after India blamed Pakistan for…
XG Reveals How Blackpink’s Lisa Reacted to Their Coachella Performance
After performing at Coachella, XG revealed what Blackpink’s Lisa said of their performance—and how much her feedback meant to them—in an exclusive interview with E! News. XG were shooting stars on the Coachella stage. In fact, the girl group—whose name stands for Xtraordinary Girls—made such a splash during the two weekends of the festival that…
Ancient DNA Reveals Phoenicians’ Surprising Ancestry
Ancient DNA Reveals Phoenicians’ Surprising Ancestry Phoenician civilization spread its culture and alphabet across the Mediterranean but not, evidently, its DNA By Ewen Callaway & Nature magazine A death mask from the third or second century bc found in the Phoenician trading city of Carthage in what is now Tunisia. Join Our Community of Science…
Weather tracker: thunderstorms lash Italy in aftermath of Storm Hans
Authorities warn of mudslides during intense rainfall, as Kenya is hit by deadly flash flooding After Storm Hans battered northern Italy in the runup to Easter, severe weather continued to lash much of the country this week. Since Tuesday, the conditions have triggered potent showers and thunderstorms, and yellow and orange weather warnings have been…
Ukraine may have to give up land for peace, Kyiv Mayor Klitschko says
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has told the BBC that Ukraine may have to give up land as part of a peace deal with Russia, amid a growing pressure from President Donald Trump to accept territorial concessions. “One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary…
Dear Life Kit: I’m not sure about her sexuality. Should I try to kiss her anyway?
By Andee Tagle , Malaka Gharib Dear Life Kit is NPR’s advice column, where experts answer tricky questions about relationships, social etiquette, work culture and more. Send us your anonymous questions. For our next episode, we’re looking for your queries on doubt and decision-making in relationships. These questions were answered by Haley Nahman of the…
Marie Curie’s Mentorship Led to Networks of Support for Female Scientists
Marie Curie’s Mentorship Led to Networks of Support for Female Scientists Author Dava Sobel discusses how she discovered the many forgotten female scientists who were mentored by Marie Curie in early 20th-century Paris By Deborah Unger, Natalia Sánchez Loayza & The Lost Women of Science Initiative In The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow…
Tropical Vacation Essentials: What to Pack to Beat the Summer Heat
From a chic cowboy hat to aluminum-free deodorant, these warm-weather must-haves will keep you cool on your upcoming vacay. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. If you’ve got a tropical vacation coming up, first of all, I’m jealous. And second of all, it’s…
Lifesize herd of puppet animals begins climate action journey from Africa to Arctic Circle
The Herds project from the team behind Little Amal will travel 20,000km taking its message on environmental crisis across the world Hundreds of life-size animal puppets have begun a 20,000km (12,400 mile) journey from central Africa to the Arctic Circle as part of an ambitious project created by the team behind Little Amal, the giant…
Worst Coral Mass Bleaching on Record Caused By Warming Oceans
84 Percent of Corals Impacted in Mass Bleaching Event The world is experiencing the most intense global coral bleaching event on record, with 84 percent of reefs experiencing heat stress from warming oceans By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Fish swim around a bleached coral. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! All around the…
Trump is jailing immigrant families again. A mother, father and teen tell of ‘anguish on a daily basis’
Family incarceration has been revived after Biden – and Jade, Jason and Gabriela are speaking out about their distressing treatment in Texas When Jade and her family first arrived at the detention facility in Karnes county, Texas, she wasn’t really sure what to think. “I guess I was confused and scared,” said the 13-year-old. Her…
Why Selena Gomez Wasn’t at Billboard Latin Women in Music Awards
Selena Gomez was honored as Woman of the Year during the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music gala on April 24, but couldn’t attend due to filming in New York. Selena Gomez is feeling the same old love—even if she couldn’t make it to the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music awards ceremony. Though the…
Just Stop Oil was policed to extinction – now the movement has gone deeper underground
Listen to Justin read this article Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists are dusting down their placards, digging out their infamous fluorescent orange vests, and charging up their loud hailers — a routine they have gone through many a time before. They expect hundreds of activists to turn out on Saturday in Central London. However, despite…
In a reversal, the Trump administration restores funding for women’s health study
Rob Stein The Trump administration is restoring financial support for a landmark study of women’s health, an official said Thursday, reversing a defunding decision that shocked medical researchers. “These studies represent critical contributions to our better understanding of women’s health,” said a statement from Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human…
Trump says he is ‘not happy’ with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv
US President Donald Trump has said he is “not happy” with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv and that President Vladimir Putin should “stop”. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” he said in a post on Truth Social. The overnight strikes killed…
Green groups decry plan to list world’s biggest meatpacking company on NYSE
Critics fear decision to list Brazil-based firm JBS, long linked to Amazon’s deforestation, will add to the climate crisis Environmental groups are outraged that the world’s biggest meatpacking company, JBS, which has long been linked to Amazon’s deforestation, has received approval from US authorities to list on the New York Stock Exchange. The decision, announced…
Carnivorous ‘Bone Collector’ Caterpillars Wear Corpses as Camouflage
Carnivorous ‘Bone Collector’ Caterpillars Wear Corpses as Camouflage Nicknamed the “bone collector,” this newly confirmed caterpillar in Hawaii secretly scrounges off a spider landlord by covering itself with dead insect body parts By Gayoung Lee edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Caterpillars nicknamed the “bone collector” create protective shelling out of dead insect bones and body…
A developing political scandal in Florida has Gov. Ron DeSantis on the defensive
By Greg Allen MIAMI — Fla. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is on the defensive over questions about how $10 million in state money came to be used to fund a political campaign. In two terms as governor, DeSantis has enjoyed strong support from the Republican-controlled legislature. But now, Republicans in the state House of Representatives…
Mercury, Venus and Saturn to delight stargazers in a parade across the sky
By Alana Wise Alongside a crescent moon, Mercury, Venus and Saturn will become visible to stargazers just before dawn on Friday morning. According to NASA, the planetary phenomenon will be clearest about 45 minutes before sunrise, low in the eastern sky and appearing near the moon. Venus and Saturn will be the easiest to spot…
Tanzania opposition officials arrested as Tundu Lissu refuses to appear in court
Chadema spokesperson says party’s vice-chair John Heche and secretary general John Mnyika held on way to protest over treason charges Tanzania’s main opposition party said on Thursday at least two of its officials had been arrested on their way to a rally to support the leading government opponent Tundu Lissu, who refused to appear at…
Crimea is key to Trump’s peace plan – here’s why Zelensky can’t give it up
Vladimir Putin initially denied having anything to do with Russia’s capture of Crimea in February 2014, when mysterious masked commandos in unidentified green uniforms seized the local parliament and fanned out across the peninsula. Those “little green men” marked the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, which culminated in the 2022 full-scale invasion. The future…
Clinton Kelly and Stacy London Detail Friendship 8 Years After Feud
Years after What Not To Wear’s Clinton Kelly and Stacy London went public with their feud in the late 2010s, they detailed how their show Wear Whatever the F You Want parallels their friendship. Clinton Kelly and Stacy London are done power clashing. In addition to the outdated rules for mixing fabrics, the former What…
Slashing NASA’s Programs Will Squander America’s Place in Space
Opinion Slashing NASA’s Programs Will Squander America’s Place in Space The Trump administration’s plans to cut NASA’s science missions will destroy the U.S. space legacy By Louis Friedman Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean during the second moonwalk EVA. For more than half a century planetary exploration and space science have been a hallmark of American…
How You Ended for Penn Badgley’s Joe Goldberg After 5 Seasons
Netflix released season five of You April 24, revealing the fate of Penn Badgley’s serial killer character Joe Goldberg. Find out what happened in the series finale. Warning: This story contains spoilers from the You season five finale. In the end, only a Brontë could take down the literary lover that is Joe Goldberg. Season…
Musk Funded the Carbon-Removal XPrize but Is Now Slashing Climate Research
Musk Funded the Carbon-Removal XPrize but Is Now Slashing Climate Research Elon Musk funded an XPrize for carbon removal, but his actions in the Trump administration have cut funding for climate research By Corbin Hiar & E&E News Tesla CEO Elon Musk went from an environmental hero to a MAGA hardliner. CLIMATEWIRE | Time magazine…
‘Our daughters will be with us,’ say dads of Southport victims running London Marathon
David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar are raising money for projects established in their daughters’ memory. Alice Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, died last July while they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop. Mr Aguiar tells BBC Breakfast he talks to Alice when he’s running alone. “I tell her to keep…
DRC government and M23 make surprise truce to end fighting in east of country
The two sides agree to work towards permanent peace after Qatar-mediated talks and are expected to return to Doha in coming weeks The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the Rwandan-backed M23 group have issued a landmark joint statement saying they have agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work…
Decades later, the Microsoft antitrust case casts a shadow over the Google trial
Jaclyn Diaz A legendary legal case looms large over the ongoing, landmark antitrust case involving Google and the U.S. government. A federal judge has ruled that the tech giant operated as a monopoly because it illegally stifled competition in the search engine market. For the next few weeks, the judge is hearing arguments from the…
Taiwan president will not attend Pope Francis’s funeral
Taiwan to send former vice-president despite Vatican being one of country’s few diplomatic allies Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis, despite his foreign ministry saying earlier it was their “most important aim” in negotiations with the Vatican that he be there in person. The ministry announced on Wednesday that…
Flintoff ‘thought he had died’ in Top Gear crash
Andrew Flintoff has given his first account of the car crash he was in while filming Top Gear, saying he thought he “was dead” in the immediate aftermath. The England cricketer-turned-TV presenter sustained serious facial and rib injuries when the three-wheeler car he was driving for the BBC motoring programme rolled over in 2022. Speaking…
Trump signs executive actions on education, including efforts to rein in DEI
Elissa Nadworny President Trump on Wednesday signed a list of executive actions aimed at both higher education and K-12 schools. Another promises new discipline guidance for K-12 schools, with the goal of “ensuring school discipline policies are based on objective behavior, not DEI,” the White House said in a statement. The collection of orders aim…
Roman Gladiator Remains Show First Proof of Human-Animal Combat
Lion Bite to the Butt May Be First Proof of Human-Animal Gladiatorial Combat The first physical evidence of Roman gladiators fighting animals has been found in skeletal remains from England By Gayoung Lee edited by Allison Parshall 1st century AD Roman relief portraying gladiators and lions fighting. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! If you’re…
Top Chef Host Kristen Kish’s ‘Favorite’ Kitchen Tool Is Only $22!
With a new memoir and her own line of soju, Kristen Kish is bringing her signature flavor to Bravo and beyond. Shop kitchen essentials inspired by her expert advice. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. When Kristen Kish won Top Chef Season 10,…
The Major NJ Wildfire Shows Unexpected Urban Areas Are at Risk
Why New Jersey Is Actually a Place with Major Wildfire Risk A forest fire that erupted in New Jersey and spread overnight highlights the major wildfire risk faced by the state and other urban areas By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner Firefighters try to extinguish a fast-moving brush fire along on November 19, 2024…
Air pollution still plagues nearly half of Americans. That does a number on our health
By Alejandra Borunda Air in the U.S. has gotten cleaner for decades, adding years to people’s lives and preventing millions of asthma attacks, but nearly half of Americans still live with unhealthy air pollution, a new report finds. The report comes as the Trump administration is considering rolling back some key air quality regulations. Air…
Colombian ex-minister accuses the country’s president of drug abuse
Gustavo Petro hits back after Álvaro Leyva accused him of going awol during official visit to France A prominent Colombian politician and former minister has accused the country’s president, Gustavo Petro, of being a drug addict who allegedly went awol during an official visit to France. In a damning letter to the South American leader,…
Can You Beat the Odds and “Flip 7”?
On the front of the card box for Flip 7 is the bold statement: “The Greatest Card Game of All Time!” Naturally, that’s going to make any gamer want to put the game to the test. So let’s see how Flip 7 lives up to the promise! Flip 7 is a push your luck card game…
What to know as the government begins collections on defaulted student debt
By Rachel Treisman The Trump administration says it will soon resume collections on defaulted student loans for the first time in five years, raising questions and anxieties for millions of borrowers across the country. The Department of Education announced Monday that its office of Federal Student Aid will resume collections on May 5, meaning it…
US will walk away unless Ukraine and Russia agree to proposals, says JD Vance
US Vice-President JD Vance said his country would “walk away” unless Ukraine and Russia agree on a deal, echoing recent comments from US officials. His warning came after London talks between officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US aimed at securing a ceasefire were downgraded after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio…
Slither, by Stephen S. Hall, Explores Our Fear and Fascination around Snakes
Misunderstood and Maligned Snakes Are Worthy Of Our Sympathy In a new book called Slither, Stephen S. Hall takes a deep dive into the biology and history of one of the most reviled animals. By Rachel Feltman, Stephen S. Hall, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura & Naeem Amarsy Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m…
What on Earth is ‘eDNA’?
Editor’s note: From “blue carbon” to “ecosystem services,” environmental jargon is everywhere. Conservation International looks to make sense of it in an occasional explainer series we’re calling “What on Earth?“ In this installment, we explore eDNA, a wildlife monitoring tool that is changing the way we study the natural world. I keep seeing this thing…
Actress Sophie Nyweide’s Mother Speaks Out After Her Death
Sophie Nyweide’s mother Shelly Gibson spoke out about the former child star’s tragic death at age 21, just over a week after her daughter’s body was found on a riverbank in Vermont. Shelly Gibson is mourning the death of her daughter. Hours after news broke that former actress Sophie Nyweide died April 14 at 24,…
Families of detainees in El Salvador and Venezuela decry Bukele’s prisoner swap offer
Salvadorian president denounced as ‘tyrannical’ as he floats trading 252 prisoners with fellow authoritarian regime The families of prisoners being held by the authoritarian governments of El Salvador and Venezuela have condemned President Nayib Bukele’s offer to swap 252 Venezuelan detainees sent to his jails by the Trump administration for the same number of political…
Pressure builds on UK finances as Reeves pushes for US trade deal
The government borrowed more than expected last year, placing more pressure on the public finances ahead of the full impact of US tariffs being felt on the UK economy. Borrowing, the difference between spending and income from taxes, was £151.9bn in the year to March, up £20.7bn from the year before. The official figures come…
Magic: The Gathering Fans Harness Prime Number Puzzle as a Game Strategy
Prime Number Mystery Is Key to Magic: The Gathering Card Game Strategy The popular fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering has a new card related to prime numbers. Now fans are trying to use it to tackle one of the biggest problems in mathematics By Manon Bischoff edited by Jeanna Bryner Participants play a Magic:…
Word of the Week: The papal ‘conclave’ is secretive. The word’s origin explains why
By Joe Hernandez The death of Pope Francis on Monday means the Roman Catholic Church will soon begin the process of selecting a new pontiff. That ancient and mysterious undertaking known as the “conclave” invariably draws speculation over who will be chosen to lead the church and its 1.4 billion adherents worldwide. But the hushed…
‘He listened to everyone’: Buenos Aires remembers pope as voice for the poor
Locals hail pontiff’s work in city’s poorest neighbourhoods – but express sadness that he never came back as pope Before he left Argentina and moved to Italy to become pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio would visit the country’s villas miserias, not in a car flanked by security guards, but by bus – and this is what…
What We Know about Artificial Food Dyes and Health as RFK, Jr., Declares a U.S. Ban
What We Know about Artificial Food Dyes and Health as RFK, Jr., Declares a U.S. Ban This week the secretary of health and human services announced plans to remove eight more food dyes from the U.S.’s food system By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser On Tuesday Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced plans to…
Musk to reduce Doge role after Tesla profits plunge
Tesla boss Elon Musk says he will cut back his role in Donald Trump’s administration after the company’s profits and revenues plunged during the first three months of the year. Sales slumped and the electric carmaker faced a backlash as Musk became a political fixture in the White House. On Tuesday, the firm reported a…
Carlos Santana Hospitalized Ahead of Texas Concert
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carlos Santana postponed his San Antonio, Texas, concert scheduled for April 22 after he was hospitalized for dehydration, according to his rep. Carlos Santana is on the mend. The guitarist has postponed his April 22 concert in San Antonio, Texas, after being hospitalized hours ahead of the show, his…
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: ‘Earth: Animal Kingdom’
Expand your options for Earth by introducing animals that will interact with the flora and terrain. Earth: Animal Kingdom is an expansion to Earth, a tableau-building game for 1 to 6 players, ages 14 and up, and takes about 45–90 minutes to play. It’s currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a pledge of $39CAD (about $29USD) for…
RFK’s plan to phase out synthetic food dyes could face industry pushback
By Carmel Wroth , Yuki Noguchi The Trump administration announced its intention to phase out synthetic dyes used to enhance color in common foods like candy and cereals. At a press conference Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his agency is making the move as a first step to improve…
Brazilian judges accept coup plot charges against more Bolsonaro allies
Panel unanimously accepts charges against six more key allies of ex-president over alleged plan to keep him in office A panel of Brazil’s supreme court justices has unanimously accepted criminal charges against six more key allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged coup plot to keep him in office after his 2022 election…
Supreme Court leans toward parents who object to LGBTQ books in public schools
Nina Totenberg The conservative Supreme Court majority seemed more than ready Tuesday to tell public school districts that they must allow parents to pull their kids out of certain classes because the course material conflicts with the parents’ religious views. At the center of the case is the school system in Montgomery County, Md., the…
Kylie Kelce Reacts to Jason Kelce Considering Vasectomy After New Baby
Kylie Kelce shared that she’s “glad” her husband Jason Kelce has been openly discussing the idea of getting a vasectomy after welcoming their fourth baby, a daughter named Finnley, in March. Kylie Kelce might be done drafting players to her team. One month after she and her husband Jason Kelce welcomed their fourth baby girl,…
Three more UK interest rate cuts this year, predicts IMF
The Bank of England could cut interest rates three more times this year despite the UK grappling with higher-than-expected inflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. The organisation predicted UK inflation would be the highest in the world’s advanced economies this year at 3.1%, largely due to higher bills, including for energy and water.…