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 […]
You Need These Summer Shorts in Your Wardrobe ASAP
From classic denim cutoffs to breezy linen styles, these shorts will keep you cool and stylish all summer long. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. The best summer shorts beat the heat and bring the style. If your shorts drawer is looking a…
‘We all are going to die’: Sen. Ernst offers bleak response to grilling over Medicaid
By Alana Wise Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst faced intense questioning from her constituents during a Friday town hall, eliciting shouts and boos from community members over her support for President Trump’s contentious One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The first speaker offered Ernst a softball question, telling the National Guard veteran that his sole request…
Review – Superman #26: Superman Red
Ray: After last issue’s brutal battle with the deranged clone X-El, the status quo Josh Williamson has built is in shambles. Lex Luthor is back in prison, blamed for the attack and covering for Mercy. His trust with Superman is shattered after he executed the evil clone. Mercy is free, but has lost her alliance…
Elon Musk’s SpaceX City Starbase Faces Opposition from Its Texas Neighbors
SpaceX’s Starbase Is Officially a City. Some Neighbors Aren’t Thrilled Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site turned company town in South Texas, faces local opposition from residents outside the city limits By Paola Rosa-Aquino edited by Lee Billings SpaceX rockets stand near the end of a neighborhood street in the company’s Starbase launch complex in this photograph…
Hamas makes hostage pledge but demands changes to US Gaza ceasefire plan
Hamas responded to a US ceasefire proposal by saying it is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners, while requesting some amendments to the plan. The group repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for…
Women and girls ‘not safe anywhere’ as Darfur suffers surge in sexual violence
Médecins Sans Frontières report sparks calls for Sudan’s warring parties to be held to account for rapes and attacks As Sudan’s Darfur region has been overrun by militias, women are facing the constant threat of sexual violence, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported. The medical charity said in the South Darfur region alone its workers…
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: ‘Rewild: South America’
Build biomes and populate them with flora and fauna to rewind a damaged landscape. Rewild: South America is a tile-laying, tableau-building game for 1 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, and takes about 45–60 minutes to play. It’s currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a pledge level of 60 Swiss Francs (about $73USD) for…
Meet the BFFs Behind Best-Selling Rom-Com Author Christina Lauren
Christina Lauren is, in fact, two people. Christina Hobs and Lauren Billings detailed their journey as a writer duo in an exclusive E! News interview while revealing their Sonic partnership. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. While Christina…
Lawmakers Form First Extreme Heat Caucus, Citing ‘Deadly Risk’
Lawmakers Form First Extreme Heat Caucus, Citing ‘Deadly Risk’ The House of Representatives’ first caucus to address extreme heat is being launched by a Democrat from the Southwest and a Republican from the Northeast By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News A construction worker in Folsom, Calif., during a July 2024 heatwave that brought daytime highs…
Google and Home Depot drop Pride Toronto sponsorship amid Trump’s DEI war
Organizer points to president’s anti-diversity push as companies join Adidas and Clorox in withdrawing support In another blow to one of the largest celebrations of LGTBQ+ people in North America, Pride Toronto has unexpectedly lost two more major corporate sponsors, just weeks before the festival in a setback the festival’s organizer says is direct result…
Hegseth says the U.S. will reposition military amid threat from China
Anthony Kuhn SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a stark warning Saturday about China’s threat to the status quo in Asia. He said the U.S. is refocusing its strength and policies on deterring China, and coaxed China’s neighbors and U.S. allies to help. The U.S. does not seek conflict, nor intend to “dominate or…
Hegseth warns China poses ‘imminent’ threat to Taiwan
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned of China posing an “imminent” threat to Taiwan, while urging Asian countries to boost defence spending and work with the US to deter war. While the US does not “seek to dominate or strangle China”, it would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies…
Worth playing for? An NPR producer recreates ‘Survivor’ with friends every year
Mia Venkat Whether you watch it or not, you’ve likely heard of Survivor. For 25 years now, millions of people have been tuning in to the reality TV show where players voluntarily get stranded in a remote landscape, battling for food and supplies, competing in physical and mental challenges, voting each other off … duking…
Checking in On the Love Lives of The Hills Stars
Some of the stars of The Hills nested and never looked back (such as Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag), while others have had rockier roads. And for some, it’s been a little of both. For a show in which relationship drama lurked around every corner, most of the stars of The Hills have had relatively undramatic…
Review – Absolute Wonder Woman #8: The Poisoned Tree
Ray: The previous arc by Mattia De Iiuls was a masterstroke, taking us to the underworld for a brilliant flashback tale explaining how Diana got to Man’s World. But now Hayden Sherman is back on art duties, and we’re back to the main story – and there is a lot to get into without delay.…
Supreme court allows White House to revoke temporary protected status of many migrants
Ruling reverses hold on Trump administration’s ending humanitarian parole of Venezuelan migrants and others US politics live – latest updates The US supreme court on Friday announced it would allow the Trump administration to revoke the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan, Cuban, Haitian and Nicaraguan migrants living in the United States,…
What Causes Glaciers to Collapse like the Event That Buried a Swiss Village?
What Causes Glaciers to Collapse like the Event That Buried a Swiss Village? Climate change and thawing permafrost play a role in destabilizing glaciers By Jen Schwartz edited by Dean Visser The small village of Blatten in the Swiss Alps was largely destroyed by a landslide that occurred as a result of the partial collapse…
Travis Barker’s Daughter Alabama Barker Gets Cute New Family Member
Alabama Barker—the 19-year-old daughter of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler—revealed that she adopted a new French Bulldog puppy, writing alongside a snap of her with the dog, “I love my new baby.” Alabama Barker has a new furry BFF. The 19-year-old daughter of Travis Barker and his ex Shanna Moakler revealed that she recently adopted…
CDC recommends parents talk to a doctor about getting COVID-19 shots for kids
By Pien Huang , Rob Stein The federal government has removed the recommendation that children and pregnant women get routine COVID-19 vaccines. The change, reflected in new vaccine schedules posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 30, results from a directive announced on May 27 by Health and Human Services Secretary…
Trump to double tariffs on steel imports
President Donald Trump has announced the US will double its current tariff rate on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%, starting on Wednesday. Speaking at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trump said the move would help boost the local steel industry and national supply, while decreasing reliance on China. Trump also said that…
Sahara Dust Clouds Are Heading to Florida and Beyond
Sahara Dust Clouds Are Heading to Florida and Beyond Clouds of dust blown off the Saharan Desert into the southeastern U.S. could affect local weather and make sunrises and sunsets particularly vivid By Meghan Bartels edited by Dean Visser Each year, seasonal winds carry tens of millions of tons of Saharan dust across the Atlantic…
Ultramarathon runner breastfeeds her baby 3 times on her way to a surprise win
By Bill Chappell In the sport of ultrarunning, athletes often defy human limits. But at a recent 100-kilometer race in Wales, one runner took it to another level. As seen in photos that quickly went viral, runner — and new mom — Stephanie Case sat down at three points along the demanding race course to…
Review – Absolute Martian Manhunter #3: Into the Fire
Ray: This is by far the most offbeat of the Absolute books so far, and also one of the most intriguing. There are no signs of connections to a larger DCU, and it’s street-level in a deeply surrealist way. We’re just alone with this strange, haunted detective and the Gumby-esque psychic imprint of a Green…
Former ambassador calls on UK to advise citizens against travel to Egypt
John Casson says Cairo ‘fobbing us off’ by refusing to release British-Egyptian national Alaa Abd el-Fattah The former British ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, has urged the UK to advise its citizens against travelling to Egypt, in response to Cairo’s refusal to release dual British Egyptian national Alaa Abd el-Fattah. A UN panel found on…
In Oval Office farewell, Trump says Elon Musk is ‘not really leaving’
Elon Musk’s time in the Trump administration has come to an end with a news conference in the Oval Office in which he and the US president defended the work of Doge – and vowed it would continue, even without Musk. According to President Trump, Musk is “not really leaving” and will continue to be…
Was Scooter Braun Involved in Taylor Swift’s Masters Deal? The Truth
Taylor Swift bought the masters for her first six albums without any help from Scooter Braun, who previously held the rights before selling them to Shamrock Capital, per a source close to the deal. There’s no invisible string tying Taylor Swift to Scooter Braun. After the “Blank Space” singer bought the master recordings of her…
Review – Justice League Unlimited #7: The Omega Gambit
Ray: “We Are Yesterday” is reaching its final act, and it’s not looking good for the good guys. Inferno, better known as the Legion of Doom of yesterday, has invaded the present and used their time guns to scatter the Justice League across the timestream. With only Elongated Man left to oppose them, the stretchy…
Todd Chrisley Breaks Silence on Prison Release
Following their presidential pardons from Donald Trump, Chrisley Knows Best star Todd Chrisley spoke out after he and Julie Chrisley were released from prison. Todd Chrisley has spoken out after spending years in prison. After being incarcerated on fraud charges for over two years, the Chrisley Knows Best star and his wife Julie Chrisley walked…
Liverpool crash suspect Paul Doyle accused of using car as weapon, court told
A former Royal Marine who is accused of “deliberately” driving his car into a crowd after Liverpool FC’s trophy parade leaving 79 people injured has appeared in court. Paul Doyle, 53, appeared at both Liverpool Magistrates’ Court and Liverpool Crown Court on Friday where he faced seven charges including wounding with intent, causing grievous bodily…
With a Busy 2025 Hurricane Season Forecast, Staffing Cuts and Warm Oceans Worry Experts
Why This Hurricane Season Has Experts on Edge By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Category 4 Hurricane Florence as seen from the International Space Station in 2018. June 1 marks the official start of the hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean—and once again, the season looks like it will be busy. Though it is…
Mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist hospitalised after 242 days on hunger strike
Laila Soueif continues protest against detention of Alaa Abd el-Fattah in Cairo The mother of the imprisoned British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been admitted to hospital after spending more than 240 days on hunger strike. Laila Soueif’s family said she had been admitted to St Thomas’ hospital in London on Thursday night…
Supreme Court allows Trump administration to end humanitarian status for some migrants
Nina Totenberg The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily pause a humanitarian program that has allowed nearly half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. and remain here legally for two years. The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans,…
Secrets From Finding Nemo You Won’t Want to Forget
Just keep swimming as we dive deep into Finding Nemo—Disney’s animated 2003 flick about the titular clownfish and his overprotective father—and catch some sweet secrets about the Oscar-winning film. Sometimes it can be hard to catch a film’s prevailing message. But anyone who dove deep into the premise of 2003’s Finding Nemo—Disney’s animated comedy-drama about…
Oil companies face a wrongful death suit tied to climate change
By Michael Copley A lawsuit filed in a Washington state court claims oil companies are responsible for the death of a woman in Seattle during a record-breaking heat wave several years ago. The case marks the first time oil companies have been sued over the death of a person in a “climate disaster,” according to…
SpaceX’s Ninth Starship Test Flight Delivers Mixed Results
SpaceX’s Ninth Starship Test Flight Delivers Mixed Results The largest, most powerful launch vehicle ever built is meant to be a key part of SpaceX’s plans to send humans to Mars—and NASA’s plans to return astronauts to the moon, too By Gayoung Lee edited by Lee Billings The SpaceX Starship rocket launches from Starbase, Texas,…
Review – The Flash #21: Army of the Flash
Ray: “Dark Moon Rising”, the current Flash crossover, definitely continues the strange and surreal tone of this series under Simon Spurrier – but it also escalates that to a cosmic level, with Eclipso having taken over the moon and launched a massive war on reality. The only thing standing in his way – the Flash,…
RFK Jr offers to save Canadian ostriches with suspected bird flu and move them to US
Trump officials offer to move 300 birds to Mehmet Oz’s Florida ranch after Canada’s kill order over avian flu fears What is bird flu, and should you be worried about it? Senior officials in the Trump administration have intervened in attempt to save more than 300 ostriches on a farm in British Columbia which the…
See First Photo of Todd Chrisley Out in Public After Prison Release
Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley were seen out in public for the first time since being released from prison after President Donald Trump pardoned them over their 2022 tax fraud convictions. Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley are out and about in Nashville. The couple was each seen in public for the first time since being…
NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies Faces Eviction under Trump Plan
Why Is NASA Shuttering This Iconic Institute in New York City? Since 1966 NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies has been at the forefront of Earth and planetary science from its location in upper Manhattan. Now a Trump administration directive is ejecting its scientists to parts unknown By Christopher Cokinos edited by Lee Billings Photo…
White House acknowledges problems in RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ report
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The White House will fix errors in a much-anticipated federal government report spearheaded by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which decried America’s food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs. Kennedy’s wide-ranging “Make America Healthy Again” report, released last week, cited hundreds of studies, but a…
Trump tariffs can stay in place for now, appeals court rules
US President Donald Trump can keep collecting import taxes for now, an appeals court has said, a day after a trade ruling found the bulk of his global tariffs to be illegal. A federal appeals court granted a bid from the White House to temporarily suspend the lower court’s order, which ruled that Trump had…
Did Inhaling Xenon Gas Really Help Mount Everest Climbers Reach the Summit in Record Time?
These Climbers Summited Mount Everest in Record Time. Did Inhaling Xenon Help? British climbers recently reached the top of Mount Everest in record time. They inhaled xenon gas before the trip. But was that the decisive factor? By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner Part of the Himalayan mountains, Mount Everest is considered the highest…
Father-of-three charged over Liverpool parade crash
A father-of-three and former Royal Marine has been charged following the Liverpool parade crash in which 79 people were injured. Paul Doyle, 53, from Burghill Road in West Derby, was arrested on Monday, when a car ploughed into fans attending Liverpool’s Premier League victory celebration, Merseyside Police confirmed. A nine-year-old was among those injured when…
Mark Consuelos Wants to Date a College Student If He, Kelly Ripa Split
Mark Consuelos playfully told wife Kelly Ripa on Live With Kelly and Mark that, if the pair ended their 30-year marriage, he would date a college student. Will Mark Consuelos be getting a newer, younger cohost? Well, he doesn’t currently have plans to, but during a conversation with wife Kelly Ripa, the Live With Kelly…
The White House is sued over lack of sign language interpreters at press briefings
Kristin Wright The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has filed a federal lawsuit against the White House over a lack of American Sign Language interpreters at media briefings. The NAD says the White House abruptly stopped providing ASL interpreters during press briefings and other public events when President Trump returned to office for a…
Eight Mexican soldiers killed by improvised explosive device
The use of IEDs in a war between criminal groups in the Michoacán-Jalisco border region has increased drastically Eight Mexican soldiers have died after triggering an improvised explosive device (IED) in the state of Michoacán, underlining the rising use of mines by organised crime factions. The soldiers were on patrol in an armoured vehicle in…
Flat-Top Cooking With the Slate 28″ Rust-Resistant Griddle From Weber
We just passed Memorial Day, which means that grilling season has truly begun. But grills aren’t the only great way to do some outdoor cooking! In recent years, the outdoor griddle has become a fun addition to the backyard appliances. Weber recently added a 28″ model to their Slate line of griddles. You can choose…
Faisal Islam: Tariff ruling completely changes the global trade war
“Watch the courts” was the whispered message a well-connected diplomat told me in Washington DC last month, amid the previous episode of US tariff chaos. Most eyes were on the high-profile case in California from the Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom – that President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs were illegal. In the event, it was a…
Astronomers Discover Mysterious Object Bursting with X-Rays
Astronomers Discover Mysterious Object Bursting with X-Rays A celestial object some 15,000 light-years away is emitting bright flashes of radio and X-rays that scientists are struggling to explain By Robert Lea & SPACE.com An X-ray, infrared and radio view of the sky surrounding ASKAP J1832−0911 (circled) using combined light from multiple telescopes. Join Our Community of…
Kylie Jenner Details Timothée Chalamet Red Carpet Debut
Kylie Jenner reflected on her awards season style, that saw her stepping out alongside boyfriend Timothée Chalamet and gushed about the look she wore for their red carpet debut. Kylie Jenner is making sure these fashion details are completely known. The Kylie Cosmetics founder—who appeared alongside boyfriend Timothée Chalamet during the 2025 award season—recently detailed…
American doctors look to relocate to Canada to avoid the Trump administration
By Brett Kelman Earlier this year, as President Donald Trump was beginning to reshape the American government, Michael, an emergency room doctor who was born, raised, and trained in the United States, packed up his family and left the country. Michael now works in a small-town hospital in Canada. KFF Health News and NPR granted…
South African woman sentenced to life for selling six-year-old daughter
Racquel Smith and two others convicted over disappearance of Joshlin Smith, who court heard was sold to traditional healer for ‘eyes and skin’ A South African woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment alongside two accomplices for trafficking her then six-year-old daughter, in a case that gripped South Africa and gained international attention after the…
What happens now after Trump suffers major blow to economic policy?
A US federal court has blocked President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, in a major blow to a key component of his economic policies. The Court of International Trade ruled that an emergency law invoked by the White House did not give the president unilateral authority to impose tariffs on nearly every country. The Manhattan-based court…
The $18 Blush That Gives Me the Perfect Summer Flush
This long-lasting liquid blush from Sacheu Beauty survived a full day of summer sweat and still looked flawless. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. The second it hits 80 degrees, I become a sweaty girl, and my makeup simply will not stay on…
The Last of Us Science Adviser Says COVID Changed How We View Zombie Stories
Behind the Scenes on the Science of The Last of Us By Nisha Gaind & Nature magazine A scene from The Last of Us showing Cordyceps fungus growing out of the body of a human it has infected. The year was 2013, and the release of a hotly anticipated zombie-apocalypse video game was on the…
Canada wildfires: thousands in Manitoba ordered to evacuate as state of emergency declared
There are more than 130 active wildfires across the country, half of which are considered out of control More than 17,000 people in Canada’s western Manitoba province were being evacuated on Wednesday as the region experienced its worst start to the wildfire season in years. “The Manitoba government has declared a province-wide state of emergency…
Hungary inspires U.S. conservatives. Its leader is seen as running a ‘dictatorship’
By Leila Fadel , Arezou Rezvani , Taylor Haney , Claire Harbage BUDAPEST, Hungary — This capital city doesn’t have the trappings of an autocracy. There are no tanks on the streets or intelligence agents stamping out whispers of dissent. While strolling through the streets it’s easy to be captivated by the blend of architectural…
Diagnosing Male Infertility with Adhesion Test That Captures Sperm Motility
This Male Fertility Test Makes Assessing Sperm Health a More Accurate At-Home Affair A new study suggests a way to more accurately test sperm health from home. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. The World Health Organization estimates that infertility impacts one in…
Elon Musk leaves White House but says Doge will continue
Elon Musk has said he is leaving the Trump administration after helping lead a tumultuous drive to shrink the size of US government that saw thousands of federal jobs axed. In a post on his social media platform X, the world’s richest man thanked Trump for the opportunity to help run the Department of Government…
Namibia pushes for German reparations on first genocide remembrance day
Event commemorates estimated 75,000 Herero and Nama people killed under German colonial rule Namibia has observed its first genocide remembrance day, honouring the estimated 75,000 victims who were massacred by soldiers or forced into concentration camps during German colonial rule. Between 1904 and 1908, an estimated 65,000 Herero people and 10,000 Nama people were killed…