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 […]
Chris Pratt Is Unrecognizable as He Shares Shocking Transformation
Chris Pratt debuted a shocking new look on social media. Find out more about the Guardians of the Galaxy star’s hair transformation and the reason behind it. Chris Pratt‘s got himself in a hairy situation. The Guardians of the Galaxy star is unrecognizable after undergoing a shocking transformation. The 45-year-old revealed his new, bearded look on social…
‘I had 30 Lamborghinis’: Pablo Escobar’s top cocaine pilot gives first interview
A man who eventually became Pablo Escobar’s go-to cocaine pilot has revealed that he first turned down an employment offer from the notorious Colombian drug lord because he was content with the $4m a month he was earning while flying for a competitor. But, in a new podcast containing what is believed to be his…
Trump’s Cuts Threaten NASA Plans for Astronauts on Mars
Can Trump’s NASA Afford to Send Humans to Mars? The White House’s budget plan for NASA would be woefully inadequate for achieving near-term human voyages to Mars, experts say By Alexandra Witze & Nature magazine If humans set foot on Mars (as shown in this artist’s rendering), they will contend with a harsh environment. US…
Zia Yusuf returning to Reform UK two days after quitting
Zia Yusuf, who resigned as Reform UK chairman on Thursday, is to return to work for the party in a new role. Yusuf will lead what the party calls its “Doge team” – which is modelled on the Department of Government Efficiency set up by US President Donald Trump. Earlier this week, Yusuf quit the…
Kenya tells tea factories to cut ties with Rainforest Alliance due to costs
Government says ethical certification is adding financial strain on smallholders rather than being paid by customers The Kenyan government has told its tea factories to stop working with the Rainforest Alliance because it says the costs involved in securing the ethical label don’t add up for farmers. The non-profit organisation is one of the world’s…
Spending Review: Massive cheques from the chancellor for some – but what do totals hide?
The next few days are vital – “one of the last moments to weave it all together – to look politically credible to the people Labour has lost”, one senior figure reckons. There have been huge fights inside government about the looming Spending Review. As I write, the home secretary and deputy prime minister are…
Forest Preservation, Tree Planting Could Actually Worsen Climate Change
Tree Planting Efforts Could Actually Worsen Climate Change With wildfires turning forests into “massive carbon emitters,” planting trees in some places could inadvertently increase carbon emissions, a new report says By Anne C. Mulkern & E&E News Ross Moore Lake wildfire in British Columbia, Canada on July 28, 2023. CLIMATEWIRE | Carbon markets that fund…
This Treasure Map Leads to the Cast of The Goonies Then & Now
We’re checking in on the stars of one of the all-time classic summer movies, because Goonies never say die! Hey, you guyyyyys! We’re happy to report that The Goonies remains just as heartwarming and enjoyable more than three decades after the Steven Spielberg-produced, Richard Donner-directed film about a ragtag group of kids who set off to…
Israel says it has retrieved the body of a Thai hostage in Gaza
By The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel said Saturday it had retrieved the body of a Thai hostage abducted into Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, as it continued its military offensive, killing at least 95 people in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The…
‘The US was our El Dorado’: Africans on Trump’s travel bans and taxes
Already affected by US aid cuts, many Africans now face limits on travel to US and looming remittance tax When Essi Farida Geraldo, a Lomé-based architect, heard about partial restrictions on travel to the US from Togo as part of the travel bans announced by Donald Trump on Thursday, she lamented losing access to what…
Inside the Secret Meeting Where Mathematicians Struggled to Outsmart AI
At Secret Math Meeting, Researchers Struggle to Outsmart AI The world’s leading mathematicians were stunned by how adept artificial intelligence is at doing their jobs By Lyndie Chiou edited by Clara Moskowitz On a weekend in mid-May, a clandestine mathematical conclave convened. Thirty of the world’s most renowned mathematicians traveled to Berkeley, Calif., with some…
Government struggles to cut foreign aid spent on asylum hotels
The government is struggling to cut the amount of foreign aid it spends on hotel bills for asylum seekers in the UK, the BBC has learnt. New figures released quietly by ministers in recent days show the Home Office plans to spend £2.2bn of overseas development assistance (ODA) this financial year – that is only…
The Trump-Musk Fight Could Have Huge Consequences for U.S. Space Programs
The Trump-Musk Fight Could Have Huge Consequences for U.S. Space Programs A vitriolic war of words between President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could have profound repercussions for the nation’s civil and military space programs By Lee Billings edited by Dean Visser Elon Musk (left) and President Donald Trump (right) seemed to be…
Catholics now make up little more than half Brazil’s population
Census finds just 56.7% in world’s biggest Catholic country follow Roman church as evangelical numbers rise Home to the world’s largest Catholic population, Brazil has once again witnessed a decline in the faith’s following, according to new figures released by the country’s national statistics institute (IBGE). Thirty years ago, Catholics made up 82.9% of Brazil’s…
US brings man wrongly deported to El Salvador back to face charges
Kilmar Ábrego García, a 29-year-old from El Salvador mistakenly deported in March, has been returned to the US to face prosecution on two federal criminal charges. He has been accused of participating in a trafficking conspiracy over several years to move undocumented migrants from Texas to other parts of the country. El Salvador agreed to…
Suki Waterhouse Shares Thirst Traps Before Robert Pattinson Romance
Suki Waterhouse—who shares a baby girl with Robert Pattinson—unveiled topless photos she found on her old iPhones that were taken “between 2015 to 2017.” Suki Waterhouse is revisiting her old thirst traps. The Daisy Jones & the Six star took a walk down memory lane on June 6, sharing a series of scantily-clad selfies she…
Spanish Flamenco thrives in New Mexico, with its own unique flavor
By John Burnett A lot of folks know New Mexico for green chiles, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, and the birthplace of the bomb. But it’s also a global center of flamenco—the passionate dance, song and music of the Roma people of southern Spain. The epicenter is Albuquerque. New Mexico’s largest…
Why Reform was the other big winner in the Hamilton by-election
The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election is a surprise win for Labour – giving the party a much-needed boost with less than a year until a full Scottish Parliament vote. But the other big winner was Reform UK who finished third behind the SNP. They recorded their best ever parliamentary election result in Scotland –…
Canada’s PM faces backlash for inviting India’s Narendra Modi for G7 summit
Mark Carney declined to answer if he believed Indian PM had a role in murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has defended his decision to invite India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, despite the conclusion of Canada’s federal police’s that the murder of…
Resilience, a Private Japanese Spacecraft, Crash-Landed on the Moon
A Japanese Spacecraft Has Crash-Landed on the Moon—Again Investigations by the Japanese company ispace identified issues with speed and an altitude sensor that likely doomed the lander By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature magazine A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket transported the M2 lunar lander into space. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! A Japanese spacecraft has…
Kristin Cavallari Shuts Down Botox Rumors With Makeup-Free Photo
Kristin Cavallari shared a photo of herself without makeup as proof that she doesn’t get Botox: “You can see every line and pore in this picture.” Kristin Cavallari is leaving nothing unwritten. Addressing rumors that she got Botox to combat wrinkles on her face, the Hills alum shared a close-up photo of herself with “zero…
Supreme Court grants DOGE access to confidential Social Security records
By Nina Totenberg , Anuli Ononye The Supreme Court, on Friday, for now gave the DOGE team launched by Elon Musk unfettered access to information collected by the Social Security Administration, data that includes Social Security numbers, medical and mental health records, and family court information. In an unsigned order, the court, acting at the…
Group stranded with Ice in Djibouti shipping container after removal from US
Deportees and officers are ‘ill’ and face risks after flight to South Sudan was stopped by US court in late May A group of men removed from the US to Djibouti, in east Africa, are stranded in a converted shipping container together with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers sent to supervise them…
Teen Mom’s Jenelle Evans Reveals How Her 3 Kids Reacted to Her Divorce
More than a year after her breakup from David Eason, Teen Mom‘s Jenelle Evans is ready to sign divorce docs. As for her kids Jace, Kaiser and Ensley? Here’s how they feel about her finally moving on. Spring is here, the sky is blue, whoa. Birds all sing as if they knew. Today’s the day…
South Korean maestro Chung will be the first Asian to head Italy’s famed La Scala
Anthony Kuhn BUSAN, South Korea — South Korea’s K-pop artists are on such a roll across the globe that it can be easy to forget their classical music forebearers were rocking the world’s concert halls well before they were born. And they’re still at it. One of the notable recent milestones of “K-classics,” as South…
Labour wins Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election
Scottish Labour has taken Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from the SNP in a closely fought by-election. The party’s Davy Russell won with 8,559 votes, with a majority of 602 over the SNP. The vote followed the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who had represented the constituency since 2011. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said…
What Is the Analemma?
The UniverseFridays This Is Why the Sun Makes a Figure Eight in the Sky A curious celestial phenomenon known as the analemma is a reflection of Earth’s orbit and tilted axis By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings An illustration of the analemma—a figure-eight pattern formed by plotting the sun’s position at the same time…
Mikayla Nogueira Addresses Pregnancy & Divorce Rumors
TikToker Mikayla Nogueira cleared up online rumblings that she might be pregnant, saying she is “not ready” to have a baby with husband Cody Hawken yet. Being a mom isn’t on Mikayla Nogueira’s For You Page just yet. The TikTok influencer addressed fans who were speculating that she and husband Cody Hawken may be becoming…
A good result for Labour – but the party squeaked through on a thin margin
Let’s start with the basics – victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election is a good result for Scottish Labour. Their position in the polls has slipped considerably since last year’s general election and they’ve often found themselves on the defensive when it comes to controversial UK Labour policies, such as cuts to winter…
Canada: premature baby with measles dies amid outbreak in Ontario
Infant had ‘contracted the virus before birth from their mother’, while the country has recorded 2,755 measles cases A Canadian infant who was born prematurely and had measles has died, officials said on Thursday without confirming a cause of death, raising heightened concern about the virus’s resurgence. Canada has recorded 2,755 measles cases – including…
Trump says it may be better to let Ukraine, Russia ‘fight for a while’
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace, even as Germany’s new chancellor appealed to him as the “key person in the world” who could halt the bloodshed by pressuring Vladimir…
Idris Elba: ‘I want to build the African Odeon’
Speaking at an SXSW London event, the actor outlined his desire to ignite the cinema experience for a new generation across the continent Idris Elba has spoken of his ambition to create the “African Odeon” – a chain of cinemas to ignite the cinemagoing experience across the continent. Elba was speaking at an event at…
Young offenders are often denied credit for “dead time” behind bars
By Caitlin Thompson The first time L.J. was sent to the juvenile detention center outside of Philadelphia, he’d been caught hanging out with friends in an abandoned building. After that, he went in and out of custody for minor offenses throughout his teenage years. Detention was a challenging place to grow up. “It’s like a…
Zia Yusuf resigns as Reform UK chairman
Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chairman of Reform UK, saying working to get the party elected was no longer “a good use of my time”. In a post on social media, Yusuf did not expand further on his reasons for stepping down. However, it comes after he said it was “dumb” for the party’s…
The Jasmine Tookes X Montce Swim Collab Will Make You Feel Hot
Swimsuit season is here: Shop the Montce x Jasmine Tookes collection before it sells out! The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. There’s no better way to usher in summer than by treating yourself to a new swimsuit. If you’re looking for a stylish…
This ‘Tower of Worms’ Is a Squirming Superorganism
This ‘Tower of Worms’ Is a Squirming Superorganism Scientists have captured the first videos of wild roundworms forming living, wriggling towers that behave as one big superorganism By Jacek Krywko edited by Allison Parshall Roundworms tagged with glowing proteins create a tower in the lab. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! When food runs out,…
New NWS Hires Won’t Make Up for Trump Cuts, Meteorologists Say
By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Ky., on May 16, 2025, leaving 19 dead and more injured. NOAA will hire around 125 new employees at the NWS, the agency said in an announcement first reported Monday by CNN. But nearly 600 employees have departed the NWS over…
Billy Joel’s First Wife Addresses His Brain Disorder Diagnosis
Billy Joel’s first wife Elizabeth Weber offered well-wishes to her ex, whom she was married to from 1973 to 1982, following his recent brain disorder diagnosis. Billy Joel is still rock and roll to Elizabeth Weber. More than four decades after their divorce, the “Uptown Girl” singer’s first wife offered rare insight into their nine-year…
Trump’s travel ban includes Afghanistan, where thousands await U.S. resettlement
By Greg Myre , Megan Pratz President Trump enacted a travel ban on citizens from a dozen countries Wednesday, including Afghanistan, where U.S. troops were stationed for nearly two decades. Even though the president’s travel ban applies to Afghanistan, it does include an exception. Afghans who served with the U.S. during the war can still…
Trump and Musk enter bitter feud – and Washington buckles up
What happens when the richest person and the most powerful politician have a knock-down, drag-out fight? The world may be about to find out. A disagreement between Elon Musk and Donald Trump started at a simmer last week, began bubbling on Wednesday and is now in full-on boil. And like everything these two men do,…
Dehorning rhinos reduces poaching by 80%, study finds
Cutting off the animals’ horns more effective than traditional protection methods such as rangers and costs less, say experts Cutting the horns off rhinos causes a large reduction in poaching, according to a new study, which raises questions about the effectiveness of expensive anti-poaching techniques used to protect the African mammals. Poaching for horn is…
Kristin Cavallari Reveals Craig Conover, Paige DeSorbo “Love Triangle”
Kristin Cavallari confirmed she and Craig Conover were romantic and revealed their dating timeline actually overlapped with the Southern Charm star’s romance with ex Paige DeSorbo. Kristin Cavallari is sharing the real timeline of her fling with Craig Conover. In fact, the Honestly Cavallari star finally confirmed she had a brief romantic relationship with the…
‘Neglected tropical diseases’ now face even more neglect
By Patrick Adams For close to two decades, the U.S. Agency for International Development has partnered with countries around the world to combat neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs. The term refers to a group of diseases that affect more than a billion people, causing severe pain, disfigurement, disability and in some cases death. They’re referred…
How We Solve the Climate Crisis
Opinion Human Intelligence Created the Climate Crisis—But It’s Also the Solution Science communicator Hank Green explains how our species’ unique intelligence got us into this climate mess—and how it will help us solve it By Hank Green I spend a lot of time on the Internet; it’s become my second home in the 20 years…
Venezuela says being in US is ‘great risk’ as countries respond to Trump travel ban
Caracas describes US government as fascist, Somalia vows to address security and Iranian Americans express regret US politics live – latest updates Venezuela has hit back over the Trump administration’s travel ban by warning that the US is a dangerous place, while Somalia immediately vowed to work with Washington on security concerns. The mixed responses…
Which countries are on Trump’s list, and why?
A travel ban issued on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump is set to primarily affect countries in Africa and the Middle East. Twelve countries face full bans, which will come into force on Monday. People from a further seven nations are facing partial restrictions. Trump has depicted it as a matter of national security.…
Kristin Cavallari, Glen Powell’s Past Hookup Revealed
Kristin Cavallari is kissing and telling after a chance encounter with Glen Powell. Well, sort of… The reality star’s BFF Justin Anderson spilled the beans about her latest A-list celebrity hookup on the premiere of E!’s new series Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour. During her Let’s Be Honest podcast tour show in Atlanta, Kristin took…
Three Salvadorian ex-military convicted of 1982 killings of Dutch reporters
Five-member jury sentenced defendants, now in their 80s or 90s, to 15 years in prison on first day of trial A former defense minister of El Salvador and two retired colonels have been convicted of the 1982 killings of four Dutch journalists during the country’s civil war, a lawyer for families of the deceased said.…
Reviving Dead Lithium-Ion Batteries with an AI-Derived Electrolyte Solution
AI Found a ‘Magic Potion’ That Can Bring Dead Batteries Back to Life Electric vehicles leave behind mountains of dead lithium-ion batteries. A new “injection” brings them back to life By You Xiaoying edited by Andrea Thompson A team of researchers in China has found a way to bring dead lithium-ion batteries back to life,…
Canadian wildfires prompt air-quality alerts across five US states
Officials in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, New Hampshire and Maine issued alerts due to smoke from fires in Canada Smoke from wildfires in Canada is spreading across multiple states in the US including the eastern seaboard, prompting multiple states to issue air-quality alerts. The poor air quality stretching across the US came as a…
Kristin Cavallari’s 3 Kids Make Their Adorable Reality TV Debut
Kristin Cavallari‘s kids are following in her footsteps. The star’s three kids Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and Saylor, 9, made their reality TV debut during the premiere of her new E! series Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour on June 4. The young trio—who Kristin shares with ex Jay Cutler—made their first official onscreen appearance as…
Math Proves That Everything Really Is Becoming More Complicated over Time
Our World Is Getting More Complicated. Here’s the 19th-Century Math That Proves It Nothing in the cosmos is in equilibrium, which means entropy is on the rise By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas This is not an “everything used to be better” rant. It’s just a sober observation: the world used to be simpler. And that…
What we know about Trump’s latest travel ban
Donald Trump has signed a ban on travel to the US from 12 countries citing national security risks, according to the White House. The US president said the list could be revised if “material improvements” were made and additional countries could also be added as “threats emerge around the world”. This is the second time…
Trump issues new travel ban covering a dozen countries
By NPR Washington Desk , Asma Khalid President Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation banning travelers from 12 countries and partially restricting travelers from seven others, starting on Monday, June 9. The White House said the action was needed to protect the United States from terrorist attacks and other national security threats, and said the…
Proposed Federal Budget Would Devastate U.S. Space Science
White House Budget Plan Would Devastate U.S. Space Science Scientists are rallying to reverse ruinous proposed cuts to both NASA and the National Science Foundation By Nadia Drake edited by Lee Billings Fog shrouds the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in this photograph from February 25, 2025. Late last…
Indigenous lawyer to head Mexico’s supreme court after direct election
Hugo Aguilar, who has links to governing party, topped unprecedented and controversial popular vote An Indigenous lawyer from the state of Oaxaca is set to become the president of Mexico’s supreme court following the country’s unprecedented elections to appoint its entire judicial system by popular vote. Activists hailed the election of Hugo Aguilar, a member…
Judge blocks deportation of Boulder attacker’s family
By The Associated Press BOULDER, Colo. — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the government to immediately halt deportation proceedings against the wife and five children of a man charged in the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, responding to what the judge called an urgent situation to ensure the protection of the family’s constitutional rights.…
Intruder Arrested at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Resort
Anthony Reyes of Texas was arrested after attempting to break into Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Resort with the goal of marrying the president’s 18-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump. Donald Trump had an unexpected visitor at his Mar-a-Lago resort. During the early hours of June 3, Anthony Reyes, a 23-year-old man from Texas, attempted to break into the…
Winter fuel payments to be reinstated this year as PM challenged over U-turn
Changes to the winter fuel payment to allow more people to receive it will be in place this year, the chancellor has said. Rachel Reeves said more people would qualify for the allowance “this winter”, however details of the changes and who will be eligible remain unclear. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he…
High-rise, high expectations: is Casablanca’s finance hub a model for African development?
Morocco’s commercial centre has brought investment to the continent – but critics say it masks domestic inequality For centuries, Casablanca was a significant trading hub for merchants from across the breadth of the Atlantic coast, given its geographical position between Africa, the Middle East and Europe. These days, Morocco’s economic capital is merging those historical…