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 […]
Vietnam ends its longstanding 2-child policy
By Nga Pham HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam has scrapped a policy that limited couples to have up to two children, as it addresses a declining birth rate and a shrinking working-age population. Vietnamese lawmakers on Tuesday passed new amendments to the Population Law, leaving it up to families to decide how many children they are…
Is NASA Ready for Death in Space?
Are We Ready for Death in Space? NASA has quietly taken steps to prepare for a death in space. We need to ask how nations will deal with this inevitability now, as more people start traveling off the planet By Peter Cummings In 2012 NASA stealthily slipped a morgue into orbit. No press release. No…
Home Office accused of ‘racist crackdown’ on Nigerians after denial of visit visa
Officials refused entry to man who runs top security firm in Nigeria and his family to spend holiday with his sister The Home Office has been accused of a “racist crackdown on Nigerians” after refusing a visa to a man who runs one of the west African country’s top security firms for a holiday to…
Black Death Plague Bacterium Became Less Fatal thanks to Just One Genetic Tweak
Black Death Plague That Killed Millions Became Less Fatal because of This Genetic Tweak Reducing the copies of one gene in the bubonic plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, made it less deadly but potentially more transmissible By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature magazine Scanning electron micrograph of Yersinia pestis, which causes bubonic plague, on proventricular spines of a Xenopsylla…
Inside Angelina Jolie’s Return to Hollywood After Taking Time to Heal
Though Angelina Jolie pressed pause on her acting career, these days she’s celebrating a milestone birthday and a return to that Hollywood life. But she hasn’t ruled out leaving L.A. one day. Angelina Jolie wasn’t exactly dying to become an actress. In fact, the Oscar winner had considered other career paths before entering Hollywood—like funeral…
Police launch probe into patient deaths at NHS hospital after heart operations
Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of patients following heart operations at an NHS hospital, the BBC has learned. Documents seen by us suggest patients suffered avoidable harm – and that in some cases their death certificates failed to disclose that the procedure contributed to their deaths. One woman’s operation at Castle Hill…
USDA says demand for sensitive food stamp data from states is on hold
By Jude Joffe-Block The Department of Agriculture’s unprecedented demand that states and payment processors turn over sensitive data about people who receive federal food assistance is on hold — for now. A USDA official said in court filings late Friday the agency has not yet begun collecting the personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…
Love Island U.K. Contestant Drops Out Following Machete Incident
Love Island U.K. contestant Kyle Ashman will not be featured on the series’ 12th season following reports he was questioned about alleged involvement in a machete attack, which he denies. Kyle Ashman won’t be entering the Love Island U.K. villa after all. Days before its scheduled season 12 premiere, the reality dating series announced that…
UK temporarily spared from Trump’s 50% metal tariffs
The UK has been temporarily spared from US President Donald Trump’s executive order doubling steel and aluminium tariffs from 25% to 50%. The order signed by Trump on Tuesday evening raises import taxes for US firms buying from other countries from Wednesday – but the levy remains at 25% for the UK. The order depends…
Kids See a Lot More Misinformation Than We Think
The Science of ParentingMondays Kids See a Lot More Misinformation Than We Think Thanks to faulty artificial intelligence, deepfakes and plain bad actors, children encounter a lot on the Internet that isn’t true. Here’s how to help them spot it By Evan Orticio edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for…
Outrage over arrest of Kenyan software developer as regional repression grows
Rose Njeri charged with breaching cybercrime law over tool for people to show opposition to proposed tax changes A Kenyan software developer and digital activist who was arrested last week after creating a tool for people to express their opposition to a proposed law has been arraigned in court and released on bail, amid public…
Bill Gates vows to give most of $200bn fortune to African health and education
Tech mogul says: “Every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity’ US tech mogul Bill Gates has pledged the majority of his $200bn fortune towards health and education services in Africa. Speaking at an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, the 69-year-old said that his pledge would focus on “unleashing the…
The White House unveils the new official portrait of President Trump
By Alana Wise The White House unveiled a new portrait of President Trump this week, replacing the image taken in January that had drawn comparisons to a mugshot. In the new photograph, announced by the White House on Monday via X, Trump stares directly into the camera. His right eye is slightly squinted and his…
Alec Baldwin’s Ideal Father’s Day Plans Are Incredibly Relatable
Alec Baldwin—who shares a daughter with ex Kim Basinger and seven kids with wife Hilaria Baldwin—joked about what his ideal Father’s Day would entail in an exclusive interview with E! News. Alec Baldwin wants to be the boss, baby. That’s why the 30 Rock alum—who is dad to 29-year-old daughter Ireland Baldwin with ex Kim…
Heat Safety Experts behind OSHA Rules Were Laid Off, which Could Make It Easier to Scrap Regulations
Government Layoffs Could Make It Easier to Scrap Heat Safety Rules Government layoffs threaten to make it easier for the Trump administration to ditch draft heat safety regulations By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News Farm workers weed a bell pepper field in the sun as southern California is facing a heatwave, in Camarillo, on July…
IDF says roads to Gaza aid centres are ‘combat zones’ as sites close for day
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial US and Israel-backed aid network which began operating last week, said it was closing its sites for “update, organization and efficiency improvements works”. Overnight on Tuesday, at least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire close to a distribution centre, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency. The…
Kickstarter Review: The Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition
I (not so) fondly remember summer school typing classes, where I had to labor to learn touch typing on an old-fashioned typewriter. No word processor for me; if I made a mistake, it would be Liquid Paper brushed on and waiting for it to dry before I could continue my keystrokes. Despite my irritation at…
At least 27 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near aid centre, Gaza authorities say
At least 27 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire as they attempted to collect aid near a distribution site in Gaza, local officials say. Civilians were fired upon by tanks, quadcopter drones, and helicopters near the al-Alam roundabout, about 1km (0.6 miles) from the aid site, a spokesman for Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency,…
Bizarre Quantum Universe
Bizarre Quantum Universe Even how matter exists in the first place is a mystery to physicists By Andrea Gawrylewski Join Our Community of Science Lovers! In 2022 three scientists won the Nobel Prize in Physics for proving something astonishing: the universe is not locally real. In other words, particles don’t have fixed properties until they…
‘Multiple casualties’ reported after attack on UN aid convoy in Darfur
Trucks carrying food for 2m people in famine-threatened El Fasher targeted in RSF-controlled Al Koma, western Sudan A UN aid convoy carrying critical food supplies to a famine-threatened city in western Sudan has been targeted in an attack that killed five people and injured several others. Trucks belonging to the UN’s food and children’s agencies…
Harvey Weinstein’s new trial is almost over. It could be a litmus test for #MeToo
By Ilya Marritz Editor’s note: This story includes descriptions of allegations about sexual assault and rape. Closing arguments in Harvey Weinstein’s second sex crimes trial in New York are underway today. In 2020, a New York jury convicted Weinstein of rape and sexual assault, completing the fall from grace of the legendary film mogul. But…
Hailee Steinfeld & Josh Allen’s Star-Studded Wedding Guests Revealed
While Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen tied the knot May 31, Buffalo Bills stars and Larry David were in attendance at the California ceremony. Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen’s nuptials had a pitch-perfect roster. Indeed, as the Sinners actress and Buffalo Bills quarterback said, “I do” at their dreamy California ceremony May 31, Larry David and several…
Engineered Viruses Are Transforming Neuroscience and Treating Brain Disease
Engineered Viruses Make Neurons Glow and Treat Brain Disease Neuroscientists can now make precise genetic tweaks to the neurons that are most affected by brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and ALS By Allison Parshall edited by Jeanna Bryner Different populations of cells in the mouse brain, each one targeted with high specificity by one…
Ellen Pompeo Detained by TSA, Bomb Squad for This Surprising Reason
Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo said she had the bomb squad called on her by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) because she brought sunflower seeds on a flight. Ellen Pompeo may need to get her blood pressure checked after this recent airport experience. The Grey’s Anatomy star revealed that she was recently detained by the Transportation…
Researchers say the true cost of prisons and jails is higher than many realize
Meg Anderson Dorothy Gaines knows firsthand the burdens prison can put on a family. She was in federal prison for seven years with three children at home. “My oldest daughter was 18,” she says. “She had to come out of college, and try to take care of them. So it was a lot of stress…
‘The Malevolent Eight:’ A Book Review
The follow-up to The Malevolent Seven is, perhaps inevitably, called The Malevolent Eight. I wanted to make a joke about people asking in shops for the first 6 books in the series, but author Sebastien de Castell does that in his acknowledgments, so whilst I can mention it, I can’t claim to have thought of…
The World Isn’t Ready for the Mental Health Toll of Extreme Heat
The World Isn’t Ready for the Mental Health Toll of Extreme Heat Temperatures are rising, and so are mental health risks By Madhusree Mukerjee edited by Dean Visser A man walks with an umbrella to protect himself from the heat as a yellow alert is issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) due to…
Why Miley Cyrus Says She Was the “Misfit” at Met Gala 2025
Miley Cyrus described herself as the “misfit” of the 2025 Met Gala after she said she was seated at a table of “strangers” for the invite-only event. The 2025 Met Gala may not go down as Miley Cyrus’ favorite party in the U.S.A. The “Flowers” singer described herself as a fish out of water at…
Trump is pushing Senate GOP to get his megabill across the finish line
Tamara Keith Congressional Republicans face a high-stakes fight this month to get a massive tax bill containing the bulk of their legislative agenda across the finish line. So President Trump is gearing up for what a senior White House official said will be an “all-out advocacy effort” to push Republican senators to agree to the…
Al-Qaida affiliate attacks Mali army bases as junta struggles to contain jihadist threat
Attack in Timbuktu comes as Islamist group JNIM claims separate assault near border with Burkina Faso An al-Qaida-linked group has launched an assault on a Malian army base in Timbuktu, according to military sources and local officials, a day after it claimed responsibility for another attack near the border with Burkina Faso. “The terrorists arrived…
Britain’s defence review has grand ambition. Now it needs the money
The British defence review was asked to make its recommendations within the budgetary constraints of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. But it is already clear that to meet its goals of transforming Britain’s armed forces, to make them ready for war, there’ll have to be more money. The review welcomes the government’s “ambition” to…
A runway under construction at Newark’s beleaguered airport reopens early
By Joe Hernandez A runway at Newark Liberty International Airport that had been undergoing renovations for weeks and whose closure contributed to a recent wave of flight delays and cancellations has reopened nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. Officials said the resumption of regular runway operations is expected to ease congestion at the airport, which…
Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says
The government will invest billions of pounds to move the UK to “war-fighting readiness” in the face of a new era of threats from nuclear powers like Russia and China, the defence secretary has said. The government has accepted all 62 recommendations set out in a long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR), including building 12 new…
Emilie Kiser’s Brother Breaks Silence After Death of 3-Year-Old Nephew
Emilie Kiser’s brother Nick Espinosa appeared to speak out about the death of his 3-year-old nephew Trigg Kiser as he reflected on “how fragile this life is.” Emilie Kiser’s family continues to mourn the death of her son Trigg. The influencer’s brother Nick Espinosa appeared to address his nephew’s passing while reflecting on the fleeting…
Stack Overflow: Here We Go Again
Today’s stack is about time travel. Wait, didn’t that just happen last week? Maybe you’re stuck in a time loop. In this book, time traveling is an ability that some people just develop, usually when they enter adulthood, and they find they’re able to walk through the mists of time—though it wreaks havoc on regular…
Garrett Hedlund Shares Sweet Father’s Day Plans With Son Rhodes
Garrett Hedlund, dad to son Rhodes, revealed how he plans to celebrate with his 4-year-old on the special day, which comes amid the release of his movie Barron’s Cove and filming for Tulsa King. Garrett Hedlund is preparing for an extra special Father’s Day. While the actor is currently filming a new season of Tulsa…
South Korean Haenyeo Divers’ Extreme Lifestyle Is Shaping Their Genetics
These ‘Real-Life Mermaid’ Divers Have Remarkable Underwater Abilities—and Genetics The Haenyeo, an all-female group of divers on South Korea’s Jeju Island, spend much of their lives underwater without equipment—a “superpower” that may be written into their DNA By Gayoung Lee edited by Lauren J. Young Haenyeo women, famous for diving into their eighties and holding…
These researchers think the sludge in your home may help save the planet
Ari Daniel There are places where the Earth’s inner rumblings burble to the surface — like Iron Spring, located just outside the bustling town of Manitou Springs in central Colorado. Every few seconds, a burst of water surges out of a narrow pipe, splashing into a concrete basin that’s partly dyed a bright orange. Henriksen…
Mount Etna erupts as large plumes rise from volcano
Italy’s Mount Etna has erupted, with large plumes of ash and smoke seen rising from the volcano. Images and video from the island of Sicily showed volcanic material spilling out of the volcano on Monday morning. The full scale of the eruption is currently unclear and disruption appears to be minimal, with flights departing and…
Inquest into notorious apartheid-era killings opens in South Africa
‘We want to correct the historic record’ – families of the Cradock Four, beaten and killed in 1985, seek justice 40 years on An inquest has opened into one of the most notorious killings of South Africa’s apartheid era, with a former general denying he ordered the deaths of four men who became known as…
How YouTube Star Derek Muller of Veritasium Is Challenging Scientific Misconceptions and Exposing PFAS Contamination
YouTube Science Star Derek Muller Confronts PFAS “Forever Chemicals”—In His Own Blood By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser Derek Muller attends the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at NASA Ames Research Center on November 3, 2019 in Mountain View, California. If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing…
Seize These Dead Poets Society Secrets With No Regrets
No need to stand on a desk, Captain, but you may feel inspired to salute the memory of the 1989 classic Dead Poets Society. It’s not quite midsummer yet, but a Dead Poets Society rewatch is still a dreamy option for spring. The 1959-set tear-jerker—starring a coterie of up-and-coming heartthrobs as students at the elite, all-boys Welton…
How a Los Angeles camp made space to let kids be kids after the wildfires
Emma Bowman Not long after the Eaton fire displaced her family from their Los Angeles home, 10-year-old Emory Stumme broke down. The tears came during a family dinner, and she struggled to catch her breath. “You just were like, ‘I can’t pick up this fork, it’s too heavy,’ ” Emory’s mother, Becca, told her, recounting…
Brazil: outcry after funk singer arrested for allegedly inciting crime in lyrics
Artists and legal experts are outraged over MC Poze do Rodo’s detention over supposed non-violent offences The arrest of a well-known Brazilian funk singer on charges of allegedly inciting crime in his lyrics and an alleged connection to a major criminal gang has sparked outrage among artists, intellectuals and legal experts. MC Poze do Rodo,…
Eight hurt in Colorado fire attack after suspect shouts ‘free Palestine’
Multiple people have been injured after a man shouting “free Palestine” tossed Molotov cocktails at a gathering in support of Israeli hostages in Colorado, authorities say. Police said eight people – aged 52 to 88 – were injured in the attack at the Pearl Street Mall, a popular outdoor space in Boulder, about 30 miles…
Ranking Phase Five of The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Although I’ve never read many comics outside of a few Spider-man issues back in the 1980s, The Marvel Cinematic Universe has turned me into a huge Marvel nerd. With The Thunderbolts* having made it to theaters this month, Marvel has closed out Phase 5 of their films, and only one of the eight Phase 5…
Why Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown Doesn’t Like Kody Brown & Robyn Brown
After Sister Wives‘ Janelle Brown split from ex-husband Kody Brown, she explained why she chooses not to be friends with him and wife Robyn Brown during the latest episode of the TLC show. Janelle Brown is prioritizing her loved ones. The Sister Wives star admitted that she’s not interested in keeping a bond with her…
Oil Industry Asks Trump Administration to Kill Heat Safety Rule
Oil Industry Opposes a Planned Rule to Limit Heat Deaths among Workers Oil industry opposition to a planned OSHA rule to limit heat deaths comes as oil and gas workers face increasingly dangerous conditions By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News CLIMATEWIRE | The oil and gas industry is pushing the Trump administration to kill a…
UK swings behind Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara
On visit to Morocco, David Lammy commends Rabat’s plan for limited self-rule in disputed territory The UK has thrown its weight behind Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, marking a shift in Britain’s position on one of Africa’s longest-running territorial disputes. Speaking during a visit to Rabat on Sunday, the foreign secretary, David Lammy, said…
Shooting leaves 1 dead, 11 hurt on a North Carolina street during a house party
By The Associated Press HICKORY, N.C. — Gunfire erupted around a house party in western North Carolina early Sunday and one person was killed and 11 others were hurt, some with gunshot wounds and others with injuries from fleeing the shooting in a usually quiet residential neighborhood, sheriff’s deputies said. Authorities said at least 80…
UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines
The UK will build up to 12 new attack submarines, the prime minister will announce as the government unveils its major defence review on Monday. The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to “warfighting readiness” to deter growing threats faced by the UK. Sir Keir Starmer will say up to 12 conventionally-armed…
Ukraine drones strike 40 bombers during major attack in Russia
Ukraine says it completed its biggest long-range attack of the war with Russia on Sunday, after using smuggled drones to launch a series of major strikes on 40 Russian warplanes at four military bases. President Volodymyr Zelensky said 117 drones were used in the so-called “Spider’s Web” operation by the SBU security service, striking “34%…
What the First Results from the Global Flourishing Study Tell Us about Age, Employment and Partnership
Global Flourishing Study Reflects Youth Struggles and Ripple Effects of Childhood Challenges Young people are struggling; retirees are happier than employees; people in partnerships are flourishing more than those who are single. Hear the first takeaways from the Global Flourishing Study. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science…
Devin Harjes, Boardwalk Empire Alum, Dead at 41 After Cancer Battle
Boardwalk Empire alum Devin Harjes has died after battling cancer. He was 41. Find out more about the actor’s life and career. The acting community is in mourning. Devin Harjes, who starred on shows such as Boardwalk Empire and Manifest, has died. He was 41. The actor passed away in a New York City hospital…
Hurricane season has started. Here’s what to know
Shannon Bond June 1 marks the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters are warning this year could once again bring an above-average number of storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting 13 to 19 named storms between June 1 and Nov. 30, compared with an average of 14 storms per…
Thousands evacuated in three Canadian provinces as wildfires continue
Most evacuated residents are from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remain active and affect air quality in parts of Canada and the US, according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a…
Two dead and hundreds arrested in France after PSG Champions League win
Two people have died and hundreds have been arrested across France after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans celebrated the club’s victory in the Champions League final, according to the French interior ministry. In the south-west town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest late on Saturday evening, local media reported. A…
Iranian FM stresses cooperation after watchdog report on rising uranium stockpile
By The Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Iranian Foreign Minister spoke by phone with the director of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency early Sunday morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Writing on Telegram, Abbas Araghchi said he…
Why Do We Launch Space Telescopes?
The UniverseFridays Why Do We Launch Space Telescopes? Telescopes in space give us a view we literally cannot get from the ground By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Astronauts Steven Smith and John Grunsfeld, appear as small figures in this wide-angle photograph from December 1999, taken during a spacewalk to service the Hubble Space…
Review – Batman #160: The Temptation of Jason Todd
Ray: One of the most defining scenes of the original Hush, of course, was the return of Jason Todd – or so it seemed. The Jason in that story turned out to be Clayface, tasked with screwing with Batman’s mind, but the excitement over that moment led to the real return only a short time…