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 […]
Spencer Pratt Says Home Burning Down is “Nightmare Come True”
Spencer Pratt expressed his devastation after his and wife Heidi Montag’s house burned down during the Pacific Palisades wildfire in Southern California. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are reeling from the loss of their home. After The Hills stars confirmed their house in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles had burned in the ongoing wildfires,…
South Korean Colonel Who Accused President of Whitewash Is Acquitted
South Korea Turmoil The case, involving an inquiry into a marine’s death, had stoked political tensions long before President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment last month. By Choe Sang-Hun Reporting from Seoul A South Korean marine colonel who faced insubordination and defamation charges after accusing President Yoon Suk Yeol of whitewashing his investigation into a marine’s death…
Retailers warn of higher prices in 2025 and urge ministers to ease tax burden
Companies grappling with higher employment costs say price of food may rise by 4.2% in latter half of year UK retailers have urged ministers to ease their tax burden as they said that the cost of food and other items will rise sharply throughout the year as companies grapple with higher employment costs. Food prices…
‘I changed jobs, work nights, and we still can’t afford a home’
Ten-year-old Elliot, who is a big Pokemon fan, says he would like to put posters up and decorate his magnolia-coloured bedroom walls. It’s one of the things he and his four brothers would do if they had a permanent home. Parents Sam and Jason have been living in temporary accommodation with their five boys for…
Royal Mail to celebrate The Vicar of Dibley with 12 special stamps
‘Classic moments’ from BBC comedy series to feature on range of first- and second-class stamps The Royal Mail is issuing 12 special stamps to celebrate the 1990s BBC comedy series The Vicar of Dibley. Eight stamps depict memorable scenes from the sitcom, including a guest appearance by former ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell, while four stamps…
Fly Away With Jessica Alba & Cash Warren’s Best Moments Before Divorce
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, who met in 2004 and got married four years later, are breaking up after 16 years of marriage. Fly down memory lane and take a look at some of their best moments together. Jessica Alba and Cash Warren’s sweet as honey romance has come to an end. The pair—who tied…
Why Kailyn Lowry Regrets “Mutilating” Her Body With Plastic Surgery
Teen Mom 2 alum Kailyn Lowry shared regret about her cosmetic procedures over the Christmas holiday in an effort to be skinnier, saying, “Think once, think twice before you get plastic surgery. Kailyn Lowry is lamenting her recent plastic surgery. The Teen Mom 2 star previously shared that she underwent a breast reduction at the end of December, however, she has…
Colossal scale of building challenge revealed by BBC’s new housing tracker
Some local councils in England would need to see at least a five-fold increase in new housing to meet government targets, analysis by BBC Verify suggests. The BBC’s figures lay out the immense challenge Labour has set itself in government with its “milestone” of building 1.5 million new homes in England over five years. In…
Rachel Reeves heads to China to build bridges, but a new golden era of relations is impossible
Seeking business partners post-Brexit is sound policy, but even in these darker geopolitical times the UK will ultimately side with the US Rachel Reeves will fly with a delegation of City grandees to China this week as Labour seeks closer economic links with Beijing as part of its quest for growth. With the outlook increasingly…
Black men in England more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer, analysis shows
The diagnosis rate for black men was found to be 1.5 times higher and they were also 14% less likely to receive life-saving treatments Black men in England are more likely to be diagnosed with late-state prostate cancer than their white counterparts, while being less likely to receive life-saving treatment, analysis by the National Prostate…
Scott Disick Teases Possible Reunion With Ex After Amelia Hamlin Split
The Kardashians star Scott Disick reflected on what went wrong in his most recent relationship, three years after his romance with Amelia Hamlin ended. Flipping it back with Scott Disick. The Kardashians star—whose most recent public romance was with Amelia Hamlin—detailed his willingness to be vulnerable and what went wrong in his last relationship. “I don’t think…
Clear racism at Al Fayed’s Harrods, former staff tell BBC
Many black staff members at London’s world-famous Harrods department store would leave the shop floor before Mohamed Al Fayed toured the premises, former employees have told the BBC. Staff would be given a warning before he appeared, says a former security guard, which was followed by a “beeline of certain people, certain races”, leaving the…
Justice Department accuses 6 major landlords of keeping rents high
By The Associated Press DENVER — The U.S. Justice Department is suing several large landlords for allegedly coordinating to keep Americans’ rents high by using both an algorithm to help set rents and privately sharing sensitive information with their competitors to boost profits. The lawsuit arrives as U.S. renters continue to struggle under a merciless…
Armie Hammer Lands First Movie Role Since Cannibalism Allegations
Armie Hammer, who faced allegations of rape and cannibalism rumors, has landed his first starring role in four years. Learn more about the Call Me by Your Name alum’s new gig. Armie Hammer is heading back to the big screen. More than one year after the Los Angeles Police Department ended their lengthy investigation into…
Permanent job vacancies in UK shrink at fastest pace for four years
Job market data deepens sense of gloom enveloping UK plc as analysts plan close look at effects of NICs rise on hiring Vacancies for permanent jobs in the UK declined at their fastest pace for four years last month, according to a new survey that adds to the gloomy economic mood. Amid febrile markets and…
‘Trump 2.0’ looms large over the global economy
Inflation, interest rates and tariffs mean 2025 is shaping up to be an intriguing year for the global economy. One in which growth is expected to remain at a “stable yet underwhelming” 3.2%, according to the International Monetary Fund. So what might that mean for all of us? Exactly a week before Christmas there was…
Ryan Reynolds Slams “Standards” Amid Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Rift
Amid wife Blake Lively and It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni’s legal dispute, Ryan Reynolds spoke out on standards for women during a speech at National Board of Review Awards. Ryan Reynolds is pushing back on unattainable expectations. Amid his wife Blake Lively and It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal dispute…
‘I thought I was going to die’: Jailed Venezuelan activist details brutality of prison life
“They have already tortured me and repressed me, but they will not silence me. My voice is the only thing I have left.” He was one of many hundreds of people arrested during protests after the electoral authorities – which are dominated by government loyalists – announced that the incumbent, Nicolás Maduro, had won. The…
Egypt Sees Its Refugees as a Problem and an Opportunity
Syria’s Civil War Palestinians, Sudanese and Syrians fleeing war have found a home in the country. But Cairo says newcomers are straining resources and is seeking financial help from the West. By Vivian Yee Reporting from Cairo In easier times for Egypt’s refugees, Azza Mostafa, a pro-government TV anchor, had nothing but generous words for…
Wales trails behind most European countries in arts and sports funding, report finds
Cross-party Senedd report finds Wales is third from bottom in spending on culture and sports, with Iceland biggest spender It is known as the land of song and as one of the world’s most passionate sporting nations. But a report has concluded that despite its proud heritage, Wales is languishing behind almost all other European…
How Australia’s beach cabana drama sparked a turf war
For years, a controversial invader has been gradually taking over Australia’s beloved beaches. Swallowing up the sand, blocking ocean views and turning the shore into an irksome maze, is a sea of large beach tents, called cabanas in Australia. “It’s chockers [crowded]. They’re all over the place,” Sydneysider Claire, 30, told the BBC. For her…
L.A. Fires: Mandy Moore “Numb” After Seeing Neighborhood Burn Down
This Is Us star Mandy Moore, who safely fled the Eaton Fire in East Los Angeles, detailed the heartbreak she feels after her neighborhood of Altadena, Calif., was set ablaze. Mandy Moore is reeling as the Los Angeles wildfires continue to rage across the city. The This Is Us star shared she is “devastated and…
Hiker who left muesli bars in Kosciuszko hut praises Hadi Nazari’s survival skills
Sherman left two muesli bars in national park’s most remote hut while Nazari was lost in wilderness – along with a short message ‘enjoy’ Sydney hiker Sherman left two Uncle Toby muesli bars inside a hut in dense bush on the side of a steep range in the Kosciuszko national park just after Christmas. He…
The Truth About Jessica Alba and Cash Warren’s Unexpected Love Story
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, who share three children, have split up after 16 years of marriage. But it was building their family that inspired her to start the Honest Company. Jessica Alba said that one of the secrets to her enduring marriage with Cash Warren was their mutual commitment to “being in it.” As…
Mornington Peninsula beach box’s $910,000 to $1m listing higher than median Melbourne home
High asking price for boat shed a contrast to struggling housing market in the region, expert says A beach box on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has gone on the market with an asking price of up to $1m – higher than the median value of a home in Melbourne. The owners of Beach Box 28, on…
The Papers: ‘Apocalypse’ LA and ‘Reeves faces extra tax rises’
The i is one of several newspapers analysing the growing financial pressures facing the chancellor. A panel of experts tell the paper there is a “toxic combination” of flatlining growth, soaring debt charges and geopolitical tensions that could wreck her Budget plans. Ben Zaranko from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) calls it a “generational…
At least five dead as overwhelmed firefighters struggle to contain LA blazes
Crews from across California and other states dispatched to help battle intense fires fanned by strong winds Fast-moving wildfires tore through several neighborhoods of Los Angeles, killing at least five people, incinerating more than 1,500 buildings and leaving firefighters across the region spread thin. Winds were easing and firefighters from across the state were relieving…
Sound Of 2025: Ezra Collective are ‘keeping music real’
If you think Ezra Collective’s music is life-affirming, just wait until you meet them in person. Tumbling into the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, the band are boisterous and charming, the sort of people to greet a perfect stranger like a long-lost cousin. Bandleader and drummer Femi Koleoso has a room-filling smile and a zest for…
Aly Michalka Addresses Rumor She Dated Costar Ricky Ullman for 6 Years
Aly Michalka cleared up the rumor that she secretly dated her Phil of the Future costar Ricky Ullman for six years, saying the two were never more than friends. Did Aly Michalka find herself with a 22nd-century-man? Not quite. The former Disney Channel star and her sister AJ Michalka cleared up a few rumors about themselves, including one that Aly had…
Andrew Forrest fires back at ExxonMobil’s claims of ‘smear campaigns and lawfare’
Iron ore billionaire says he is ‘personally delighted’ at lawsuit as fossil fuel giant has ‘opened themselves up to cross-examination’ in a US court Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest is among a group accused of orchestrating “smear campaigns and lawfare” against the global oil and gas sector “for politics, publicity, and private gain” in a…
Commuters warned of icy roads as cold snap continues to freeze UK
Fresh weather warnings have been issued, with snow, ice and fog forecast across southern England, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland on Thursday. It will be mainly dry elsewhere with winter sunshine, but temperatures could fall again to as low as -16C on Thursday night. The cold snap has already brought heavy snowfall to some…
Why The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras Winners Are Taking a Break
Rachel Robinson and Jenny West bested their female competitors on MTV’s The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras, but they told E! News, that doesn’t mean they’re eager to suit up again anytime soon. Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio might be flying solo for the next few seasons of MTV’s The Challenge. Having bested the rest of…
The celebrity LA area ravaged by wildfire
The affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades typically has strangers walking around, trying to catch a glimpse of celebrities’ houses. Now, though, its streets are filled with firefighters battling a 3,000-acre wildfire that is ravaging the area. Among them, a number of famous faces have been forced to flee their homes, including Star Wars’…
Find Your Color Season & Shop the Perfect Color Palette for You
Found your best color season through color analysis? We found fashionable looks that will flatter your palette. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Chances are, you probably have a favorite color that you wear regularly. However, did you know there’s actually a way…
Food for public sector to be monitored to see how much is grown in UK
Environment secretary says Labour is aiming for half of food procured for the public sector to come from British farms Food supplied to the public sector will be monitored for the first time to see how much was grown by British farmers, the environment secretary is to announce. Steve Reed will speak at the Oxford…
Food prices ‘not going anywhere but up’, say retailers
There is “little hope” of food prices “going anywhere but up” in the second half of 2025 due to changes announced in the Budget, a retail lobby group has warned. The costs of higher wages and National Insurance tax changes coming in April will be passed on to consumers, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.…
Paris Hilton Watches Malibu Beach House Burn Down in Palisades Fire
Paris Hilton shared that her home in Malibu burned down as a result of the wildfires currently raging through Los Angeles County, saying she was “heartbroken beyond words.” Paris Hilton is devastated over the loss of her home. The reality star shared that her house in Malibu burned down as a result of the devastating wildfires currently…
Rottnest Island seaplane crash investigators to scour electronic devices for clues from flight’s final seconds
The crash, which killed three people, including pilot James Wong, occurred off the Western Australian coast Investigators estimate it will take months to understand the cause of a seaplane crash off the Western Australian coast that killed three people and injured three others. The aircraft carrying seven people is believed to have struck a small…
Grooming still happening in Oxford, ex-investigator says
A former police officer who led a grooming investigation in Oxford has said a similar type of sexual abuse is still happening, warning that the “guys we couldn’t catch are still out there”. Simon Morton, former senior investigating officer for Thames Valley Police, told the BBC that perpetrators in the area are operating in plain…
Travis Kelce Teases Ideal Wedding Timeline
Travis Kelce said he’s not a fan of fall weddings since that is prime time for football: “Don’t make my friends choose.” For Travis Kelce, the idea of a fall wedding is a little gauche. After all, ’tis the damn season for football. And the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who is dating Taylor Swift,…
Half of English county councils could ask to delay elections
More than half of the county councils in England with elections scheduled for this year could seek to have the votes postponed, the BBC can reveal. At least 12 out of 21 county councils due to hold elections in May are poised to ask ministers to delay the ballots to explore options set out in…
The NHL postpones a game and the Lakers coach evacuates his family amid LA fires
Becky Sullivan The National Hockey League postponed a game in Los Angeles, and Pasadena’s iconic Rose Bowl Stadium came under evacuation warning as the wildfires burning across Southern California grew Wednesday. The NHL announced it would indefinitely delay a game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames that had been set to take place…
Palisades and Eaton Fires Show Rising Dangers of Fast-Moving Fires
Palisades and Eaton Fires Show Rising Dangers of Fast-Moving Blazes In California and elsewhere, fast-moving fires are particularly damaging and expensive because they take people by surprise, making evacuations difficult By Stephanie Pappas edited by Andrea Thompson Strong winds blow embers as the Palisades Fire burns homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful…
Japanese yakuza leader pleads guilty to trafficking nuclear materials from Myanmar
US authorities charged Takeshi Ebisawa with conspiring to traffic nuclear materials from Myanmar for expected use by Iran in nuclear weapons A member of the Japanese criminal underworld has pleaded guilty to handling nuclear material sourced from Myanmar and seeking to sell it to fund an illicit arms deal, US authorities have said. Yakuza leader…
Israeli military says body of Bedouin hostage found in Gaza
The Israeli military says its troops have found the body of a Bedouin Arab hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as evidence that suggests another may also be dead. The body of Yousef Zyadna, 53, was recovered from an underground tunnel in the southern Rafah area on Tuesday. The troops also made what…
IDF restricts media coverage of soldiers to protect them from risk of legal action
Israeli military’s new rules intended to protect reservists travelling overseas from facing allegations of war crimes The Israeli military has placed new restrictions on media coverage of soldiers on active combat duty because of growing concern about the risk of legal action against reservists travelling abroad over allegations of involvement in war crimes in Gaza.…
Joe Biden’s Granddaughter Naomi Biden Gives Birth to First Baby
Joe Biden’s eldest Granddaughter Naomi Biden has given birth to her first baby with husband Peter Neal, the United States President confirmed. There’s a new addition to the Biden Family tree. Two months after sharing her pregnancy, Naomi Biden—the eldest granddaughter of current United States President Joe Biden—gave birth to her and husband Peter Neal’s first baby, a…
Hiker Found Alive After 13 Days Lost in Australian Mountains
The 23-year-old hiker, Hadi Nazari, survived for almost two weeks on two granola bars he found in a hut and on water from rivers and creeks, the authorities said. By Sara Ruberg A 23-year-old man who became lost in the Australian wilderness while hiking was found alive by other hikers on Wednesday after living for…
New Caledonia Congress elects pro-France president after political crisis
New leader Alcide Ponga says people want a ‘signal of hope’ after turmoil in the French Pacific territory Weeks after its first ever pro-independence government collapsed, New Caledonia has named a French loyalist as its new president as the territory seeks to rebuild from deadly riots and destruction that battered the economy. Alcide Ponga, from…
Warning after two lynx released in Highlands
Police are investigating the illegal release of two lynx in the Highlands and have urged the public not to approach the wild cats. The alarm was raised at about 16:20 when they were spotted in the Drumguish area, near to Kingussie. Specially trained staff from the Highland Wildlife Park are assisting officers to trace the…
Labour sees off Tory ‘bandwagon’ call for new inquiry into sexual abuse gangs
Ministers condemn Conservative attempt to block child wellbeing and schools bill with ‘shameful’ amendment Cabinet ministers have ramped up attacks on Conservative “bandwagon jumping” over child rape gangs during furious exchanges in the Commons as the government saw off a Tory attempt to force a new inquiry. Amid continued pressure, No 10 appeared to slightly…
Steve Guttenberg Joins First Responders to Battle Palisades Fires
While Los Angeles wildfires ravaged over 10,000 acres of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Police Academy actor Steve Guttenberg jumped into action to help people evacuate. Steve Guttenberg interrupted a news station’s regularly scheduled programming with an “important announcement” amid Los Angeles wildfires. As massive brush fires, exacerbated by winds up to nearly 100 mph, raged…
Wicked leads acting awards race but Jolie snubbed
The origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West has five nominations in total, including individual nods for Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey. Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown scored four nominations, including one for its lead actor Timothée Chalamet. There were three nominations each for Anora, which follows a New York…
‘Raining ash’: Residents share how they fled the Southern California wildfires
By Alana Wise This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes amid the three raging and uncontained wildfires in Southern California. NPR member station LAist has been covering the destruction the fires have wrought, and on day…
Brooke Shields Says Doctor Did “Bonus” Labia Surgery Without Consent
Brooke Shields detailed how a male plastic surgeon “threw in a little bonus” procedure without her consent when she underwent labia reduction surgery after spending years struggling with discomfort. Brooke Shields will no longer beat around the bush when it comes to women’s health. The Suddenly Susan actress shared in her new memoir that she…
People smugglers to have finances targeted by UK
New sanctions targeting the finances of people smuggling networks will make it harder for gangs to profit from the deadly trade, the Home Office has said. The government has said the proposed measures aimed at curbing illegal migration into the UK are expected to come into force this year. The sanctions, designed to disrupt the…
Pluto May Have Won Its Moon Charon with a ‘Kiss’
Pluto May Have Won Its Moon Charon with a ‘Kiss’ Pluto and its largest moon Charon could have come together via a 10-hour “kiss-and-capture” encounter after a grazing collision By Robert Lea & SPACE.com A composite enhanced-color image of Pluto (right) and Charon (left) as seen by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft as it passed by…
Parents in Welsh county told to come to school to change nappies if their child is not toilet trained
Policy change by Blaenau Gwent council means teachers will no longer change nappies or pull-ups unless there is a ‘medically recognised need’ Parents in Blaenau Gwent, Wales have been told they have to come to school to change nappies if their children are not toilet trained. The local authority told parents that it was their…
Flooding’s Hidden Killers Include Heart Attacks and Infections
Flooding’s Hidden Killers Include Heart Attacks and Infections A new study found that flood deaths can rise by 25 percent three months after a disaster By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News People inspect the flood damage in the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane…
Now a key playmaker – how the role of a goalkeeper changed
How the role of a goalkeeper changed For many years the role of the goalkeeper was to keep the ball out of their net and then get it as far up the pitch as possible. But over the past decade their duties have steadily evolved. They are now heavily involved in a team’s tactical play…