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 […]
A small seafood restaurant turns into a national donation hub for LA fire victims
Emma Bowman HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Lauren and Andrew Gruel, the husband-and-wife owners of a seafood restaurant in a Southern California surf town, are used to thinking local. Most of the seafood served up in their Huntington Beach restaurant Calico Fish House is sourced from fishers in the area. This week, that local ethos has…
Pressure on Nigel Farage as Reform UK councillors resign over his leadership
Exclusive: Departures will add to scrutiny of party leader after Elon Musk said he was ‘not up to the job’ A group of 10 councillors who had been elected for Reform UK have given notice of their intention to resign en masse in protest at Nigel Farage’s leadership. The resignations will add to pressure on…
Biden extends temporary protections for more than 800,000 immigrants
US president moves to shield roughly 230,000 Salvadorans and 600,000 Venezuelans against Trump administration The Biden administration on Friday extended temporary humanitarian protections for about 230,000 Salvadorans and 600,000 Venezuelans living in the US, in an effort to shield those groups from an incoming Trump administration that has promised to deport them. The decision in…
Identical Twins Marry Identical Twins—and Now Their Kids Are Siblings
Identical twins Brittany Deane Salyers and Briana Deane Salyers married identical twins Josh Salyers and Jeremy Salyers in 2017 and are now raising their 3-year-old sons as siblings, not just cousins. These folks are giving a new meaning to the term “twin flame.” Why? Well, identical twin sisters Brittany Deane Salyers and Briana Deane Salyers, both 39, married identical twin…
Venezuela’s Maduro begins new term as US increases bounty for his arrest
By Manuel Rueda BOGOTA, Colombia—Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was sworn into office for a third consecutive term on Friday, as the United States, European Union and United Kingdom announced a new round of sanctions on the increasingly authoritarian government. The US, EU and many neighboring countries have recognised the opposition candidate – Edmundo González– as…
Meta axes diversity programmes joining US corporate rollback
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is axing its diversity programmes, joining firms across corporate America that are rolling back initiatives criticised by conservatives, citing legal and political risks. The move comes just days after the tech giant, owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it was ending a fact-checking programme criticised by President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans…
Fears of ‘rogue rewilding’ in Scottish Highlands after further lynx sightings
Environmentalists condemn unauthorised releases as ‘reckless’ and ‘highly irresponsible’ For a brief moment this week, lynx have been roaming the Scottish Highlands once again. But this was not the way conservationists had hoped to end their 1,000-year absence. On Wednesday, Police Scotland received reports of two lynx in a forest in the Cairngorms national park,…
Bill Hader Surprises News Crew During Palisades Fire
Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader caught a Los Angeles news crew by surprise when he offered to take part in their coverage of the ongoing wildfires affecting Southern California. Bill Hader briefly took on a different kind of TV role. Amid the wildfires impacting the Los Angeles area, the Saturday Night Live alum surprised…
10,000 brave -3C at Bradford’s magical City of Culture launch
Thousands of people braved sub-zero temperatures to watch an open-air spectacle starring magician Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, a 10-year-old rapper and a dozen aerial dancers to launch Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture. Frayne told the audience he started his career performing street magic in City Park, where the opening ceremony was…
Is smoke in your home? Here’s how to make an air purifier from a box fan
By Bill Chappell This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. Interest in air filters and purifiers is spiking in Southern California, including questions about how to build a homemade air purifier. Getting clean air is the latest challenge for residents who evacuated to safe areas,…
Fact-checking criticism of California officials over fires
The wildfires raging in Los Angeles have led to claims that officials there have mismanaged the city’s preparation for such events. President-elect Donald Trump has pointed the finger of blame at California Governor Gavin Newsom, who he says is responsible for LA’s struggling water supply. Others have blamed LA Mayor Karen Bass for cutting the…
Almost 900 weapons seized in a year at Yorkshire young offender institution
Weapons such as sharpened objects and rocks taken from children aged 15-18 at YOI Wetherby Almost 900 weapons were seized in one year from children detained in a young offender institution in the north of England, a prisons watchdog has found. In its annual report published on Friday into HM young offender institution Wetherby in…
ISIS Says It Inspired New Orleans Attack, but Doesn’t Claim Responsibility
New Orleans Attack The attacker who killed 14 pedestrians on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the discourse and messaging of the Islamic State,” the terrorist group said in a bulletin dated Thursday. By Eve Sampson The group said the attacker who ran over pedestrians walking on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the discourse and messaging…
Former NFL WAG Shares What Her Husband’s Salary Was Really Like
Bryce Watts Hansen—who is married to retired NFL player Chad Hansen—revealed the harsh reality of sharing finances with a professional football player, saying, “These contracts aren’t guaranteed.” Bryce Watts Hansen is setting the record straight. The NFLadies podcast host—who is married to former NFL player Chad Hansen—shared that the life of a professional football player…
Cancelled flights, stranded cars, no power: Winter storm slams swath of U.S.
By Nate Perez A winter storm has slammed into several states, leaving a blanket of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the South. One of the hardest-hit places was Atlanta, where more than 220 vehicles were stranded on the side of the road and spun out on Friday. The region’s biggest snowstorm in years has…
Biden Officials Say the Truth About Havana Syndrome Is Still Unknown
The White House contradicts a new intelligence assessment on the mysterious ailments that diplomats and spies have reported for years. By Julian E. Barnes Reporting from Washington White House officials said on Friday that the truth behind the mysterious ailments known as Havana Syndrome was still unknown, contradicting a new intelligence assessment about what had…
Gaza death toll 40% higher than official number, Lancet study finds
Analysis estimates death toll by end of June was 64,260, with 59% being women, children and people over 65 Research published in the Lancet medical journal estimates that the death toll in Gaza during the first nine months of the Israel-Hamas war was about 40% higher than numbers recorded by the Palestinian territory’s health ministry.…
Gaza war death toll could be significantly higher, researchers say
The Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza could be substantially higher than official figures reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, research published in The Lancet medical journal suggests. The UK-led study covered the first nine months of the war, which began when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. It used data…
Rachel Lindsay Slams Take She Chose Career Over Bryan Abasolo Marriage
Rachel Lindsay broke her silence on divorce from Bryan Abasolo after reaching a $500,000 settlement and slammed the notion she chose a career over a family. Rachel Lindsay is telling her side of the story. After the Bachelorette alum finalized her divorce from Bryan Abasolo—which includes her paying him $500,000 as part of the settlement…
Ukraine’s highest profile combat unit to recruit English-speaking soldiers
Ukraine’s highest profile combat unit is seeking English-speaking recruits at a time when the impending presidency of Donald Trump means that Kyiv is expected to come under intense pressure on the battlefield. Azov, a volunteer brigade whose decade-old nationalist origins have made it a target of Russian propaganda, plans to form an international battalion to…
Second pair of lynx captured in Cairngorms
A second pair of lynx have been captured after being found near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park. Two other lynx, released illegally, were caught in the same area on Thursday. The RZSS confirmed that the latest pair had been captured at about 18:30 near the Dell of Killiehuntly, where the two other lynx were…
Slender Man Case: Morgan Geyser to Be Released 11 Years After Stabbing
Morgan Geyser, who stabbed Payton Leutner in 2014 in an effort to please the fictional character Slender Man, is set to be released from a Wisconsin psychiatric hospital, a judge ruled Jan. 9. A new update has emerged in the Slender Man case, over a decade after the terrifying ordeal. Nearly 11 years ago, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured…
Dave Coulier Details “Roller Coaster” Chemotherapy Cancer Treatment
Full House’s Dave Coulier shared how he’s been adjusting to the side effects of chemotherapy treatment amid his battle with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dave Coulier is not taking anything for granted. Nearly two months after the Full House star shared his diagnosis with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer involving the…
Firefighters battling LA fires make some progress, but harsh winds threaten gains
By Juliana Kim , Ayana Archie This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. California firefighters have begun to see some progress against the wildfires that are raging for a fourth day. At the same time, those gains continue to be threatened as powerful, dry winds…
Warwick Davis to receive prestigious Bafta Fellowship
Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will receive this year’s Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honour. The Surrey-born actor is known for appearing in the Harry Potter and Star Wars film series and has presented the ITV game show Tenable since 2016. In a statement, Davis described the Fellowship as an “incredible honour” and…
Gay men can train as priests but must be celibate, say Italian bishops
Move marks shift in views but sexually active gay men will not be admitted to Roman Catholic seminaries Gay men will be allowed to train as priests in Roman Catholic seminaries, so long as they observe celibacy, according to new guidelines announced by the Italian Bishops Conference (CIE). The decision marks a shift from the…
The Secret to Zoe Saldaña’s Award-Winning Red Carpet Glow
When it comes to beauty secrets, Zoe Saldaña is not gatekeeping. In fact, the Golden Globe award-winning celebrity shared that her red carpet glow from last Sunday came from a bespoke facial and application of products, called The Method. According to Zoe’s celebrity facialist Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine, the actress’ treatment involved a variety of luxury…
World’s ugliest lawn winner says she leaves watering to Mother Nature
New Zealand garden takes first prize in global competition designed to promote water conservation A sun-scorched patch of lawn near Christchurch, in New Zealand, has been crowned the ugliest lawn in the world. Now in its second year, the World’s Ugliest Lawn competition rewards lawn owners for not watering their parched yellow grass and patchy…
‘My mum died after four days on an A&E trolley’
Mary Lamerton was a joyous person who always saw the funny side of life. She was the type of person who made sure her family remembered each other’s birthdays. Daughter Sue described her 86-year-old mother as the “lynchpin” of the family. She recounted how Mary spent the last four days of her life on a…
Biden Issues Sweeping Deportation Protections Before Trump Takes Office
The move allows hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela to stay in the country temporarily. By Hamed Aleaziz and Miriam Jordan Hamed Aleaziz reported from Washington and Miriam Jordan from Los Angeles. The Biden administration on Friday issued sweeping extensions of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan,…
Trump’s Erroneous Claims about the Los Angeles Fire Response, Debunked
Trump’s Erroneous Claims about the Los Angeles Fire Response, Debunked President-elect Trump has incorrectly blamed California water management for the destruction from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area By Camille von Kaenel & E&E News Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire in strong winds as many homes burn on January 7, 2025 in Pasadena,…
2024 was the hottest year on record. The reason remains a science mystery
By Alejandra Borunda The numbers vary slightly. NOAA reports 1.46 degrees C of warming, NASA, 1.47; and the EU’s Copernicus, 1.6. “The real punchline is, it was another really warm year,” says Russell Vose, a climate scientist at NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information, the group that produces the temperature estimates. The 1.5C number gained…
Starmer’s top aide made low-key Brussels trip as No 10’s EU reset efforts continue
Morgan McSweeney met EU counterparts before Christmas as Downing Street poised to hire new foreign adviser Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, made a below-the-radar trip to Brussels last month, as No 10 prepares to appoint its own foreign affairs adviser to help bolster the Downing Street policy operation. As the UK’s attempts at…
Oldham abuse survivors criticise government over inquiry decision
The BBC has changed the names of the women in this article in order to protect their identity. Three women who were left devastated by historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham have told the BBC ministers should have spoken to survivors before deciding not to conduct a government-led inquiry into grooming gangs in the town.…
There is one major gift Trump is inheriting from Biden: A good job market
Scott Horsley There is major thing that president-elect Donald Trump will be getting as President Biden prepares to hand over the reins: a strong labor market. U.S. employers added more than a quarter-million jobs in December — well above expectations — while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, according to a report from the Labor…
Trump avoids prison or fine in hush-money case sentencing
A judge has sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump to an “unconditional discharge,” bringing to an end the first criminal trial of a former US president. The sentence in the hush-money payment case means the incoming president has been spared any penalty, including jail time or a fine, but he will still take office as the…
Tom Holland’s Dad Shares Insight Into Zendaya Engagement
After Zendaya hinted at her engagement to Tom Holland at the 2025 Golden Globes with her stunning ring, the Spider-Man star’s dad Dominic Holland confirmed he popped the question. Tom Holland became the greatest showman for his proposal to Zendaya. Just days after the Spider-Man actress turned heads at the 2025 Golden Globes with a…
Cold weather health alert extended for England with -20C possible
Officials say impact of freezing temperatures likely to be felt across health service and amber alert to stay until Tuesday An England-wide amber health alert has been extended to Tuesday as temperatures are expected to continue to fall over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency extended the alert, which was previously in place until…
Paris Hilton Shares Heartbreak After Home Was Destroyed by L.A. Fires
Paris Hilton detailed the emotional return to her Malibu home after it was burned to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles fires. Paris Hilton is sharing insight into the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires. The heiress—who shares kids Phoenix, 2, and London, 14 months, with husband Carter Reum—reflected on the loss of…
Mauro Morandi, Italy’s Robinson Crusoe, Dies at 85
He was the sole resident of Budelli, an undeveloped sliver of paradise off the northern coast of Sardinia. He embraced the solitude, until he was evicted. By Elisabetta Povoledo reporting from Rome Mauro Morandi, whose 32-year sojourn on an uninhabited Mediterranean island led to his being known as Italy’s Robinson Crusoe, died on Jan. 3…
Fears over UK borrowing costs as US jobs figures prompt stock market volatility
Pound falls against the dollar and bond yields rise amid concerns over high UK inflation and interest rates Concerns over the UK government’s borrowing costs were revived on Friday after stronger-than expected US jobs figures triggered volatile conditions in global financial markets. In an accelerating global bond market sell-off, investors warned that the UK was…
Faisal Islam: Mortgage rates are not rising yet but Reeves has to act
It has not been a good week for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Government borrowing costs have hit their highest level in 16 years and the pound has fallen to a 14-month low against the dollar. She has gone on a planned trip to China amid accusations from opposition parties that she is leaving at a moment…
‘I have nothing to go back to’ – BBC reporter tells of LA fires heartbreak
It’s been four days since Los Angeles became an inferno – and my home became a pile of smouldering embers. I’m now staying at a friend’s house in La Crescenta, north of the city, after evacuating my condo in the Palisades, 30 miles (48km) away from where the fires first started on Tuesday morning. I…
What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires?
By Bill Chappell This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR’s breaking news alerts. Air tankers are dropping thousands of gallons of red flame retardant in the hills around Los Angeles as firefighters attempt to limit the devastation from multiple wildfires. Images of vivid red clouds enveloping…
Venezuela’s Maduro sworn in amid outrage over alleged election theft
President, who has led country in an increasingly repressive direction since 2013, has failed to provide proof he won vote Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in for a third term despite domestic outrage and a chorus of international condemnation at his alleged theft of last year’s election. “This is a great victory…
Mandy Moore Slams Critics After Sharing Fundraiser for Relatives
While sharing a fundraiser to support her relatives that have lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires, Mandy Moore responded to critics questioning whether she was giving them support herself. Mandy Moore is doing whatever she can for her family—including clapping back at the haters. After her relatives lost their home in the devastating…
Biden Raises Bounty For Nicolás Maduro to $25 Million
The move is a retaliatory measure meant to punish the Venezuelan autocrat for refusing to give up power By Julie Turkewitz Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia The Biden Administration said on Friday that it was offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela. The announcement is Washington’s retaliatory…
US announces $25m reward for arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro
The US has announced an increased $25m (£20.4m) reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term in office. The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by recrimination from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders. Rewards have also been offered for…
Police search for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen crossing a bridge in the city centre on Tuesday morning Police are searching for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen, who were last seen three days ago. Police Scotland has asked for the public’s help to trace Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, who were last…
President-Elect Donald Trump Sentenced, Officially a Convicted Felon
President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced on Jan. 10 to an unconditional discharge in his hush money case in New York, making him the first president to be sentenced on criminal charges. President Donald Trump’s legal journey has come to an end. The 78-year-old’s hush money case in the state of New York—the only one of…
‘The worst way of dying’: scientists urge coordinated effort to stop whales getting tangled
Experts recorded 45 entanglements off Australia’s east coast in 2024 – but believe that’s ‘the tip of the iceberg’ At least 45 whales were entangled by fishing ropes and line on the east coast in 2024, and experts are calling for better management of fishing gear in Australia to prevent marine suffering. Dr Olaf Meynecke,…
Amorim can’t guarantee Mainoo’s Man Utd future
Kobbie Mainoo has made 52 appearances for Manchester United and won 10 England caps Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he wants to keep Kobbie Mainoo at the club – but offered no guarantees it will actually happen. The England midfielder, 19, was linked with Chelsea earlier this week amid a continuing stand-off over…
Israel Strikes Ports and a Power Plant in Houthi-Controlled Parts of Yemen
Middle East Crisis Israel and its allies have escalated strikes against the Houthis to try to force them to stop firing on Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes, but it was not clear whether they would deter the Iran-backed militia. By Aaron Boxerman and Ismaeel Naar Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem and Ismaeel Naar from…
Interstate travellers take to the train as air fares between Melbourne and Sydney soar
Exclusive: Seats on 11-hour Sydney-Melbourne service regularly sold out over holiday period, as one-way flights to Tullamarine average almost $500 The 11-hour Sydney-Melbourne train has become so popular services are selling out – even with extra carriages added – as travellers seek alternatives to an aviation duopoly that is stronger than ever, with carriers charging…
Bride’s fury after Instagram stunt wedding turns out to be real
A woman in Australia has annulled her marriage after realising that a fake wedding ceremony she took part in for a social media stunt was in fact real. The unknowing bride said her partner was a social media influencer who convinced her to take part in the ceremony as a “prank” for his Instagram account.…
Hunters Disagree on the Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer
Hunters Disagree on the Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer The prion disease that causes deer, elk and other cervids to waste away could someday jump to humans, but many hunters are not convinced they should worry By Sophie Hartley Aaron Skarlupka, a hunter in northeast Wisconsin, was recently thrilled when he got his…
Mel Gibson’s Home Burned Down During His Joe Rogan Interview
Mel Gibson revealed that he lost his Malibu home in the Los Angeles fires while in Austin filming an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Mel Gibson is mourning the loss of his home. The What Women Want actor revealed that the Malibu home that he’d lived in for nearly 15 years burned…
Met inspector’s WhatsApp chat ‘breached standards’
The head of the Met’s Black Police Association (MBPA) has been found to have committed gross misconduct over a group chat where racist, sexist and inappropriate messages were sent and received. Insp Charles Ehikioya was in a WhatsApp chat with former officer Carlo Francisco where offensive messages were shared. The officer had denied the allegations…
Today’s Hoda Kotb Reveals Plans for Her First Day Off
Today‘s Hoda Kotb revealed what she plans to do on her first Monday off from the show, as Craig Melvin takes her place alongside Savannah Guthrie, and her answer is guaranteed to make you smile. Come Monday morning, Hoda Kotb won’t be tuning into Today. During the beloved co-anchor’s final day after 17 years with…
Bird Flu, Salmonella and Other Health Risks from Raw Eggs, Explained
Can You Get Bird Flu from Eggs? Your Egg Safety Questions Answered Eggs can carry nasty viruses and bacteria. Here’s how to store and eat them safely By Tanya Lewis edited by Jeanna Bryner Eggs can be eaten in many different forms: scrambled, poached, fried, boiled or in omelets, soufflés, custards or meringues. But one…