Can Life Survive the Death of the Sun?
The UniverseFridays When the Sun Becomes a Red Giant, Will Any Planet Be Safe? The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the far-future sun, swollen to become a red giant star, as […]
Proof That Adult Brains Make New Neurons Settles Scientific Controversy
Proof That Adult Brains Make New Neurons Settles Scientific Controversy Adult brains grow new neurons, and scientists have finally pinpointed where they come from By Nora Bradford edited by Allison Parshall Neural precursor cells (green) are have been difficult to identify in human brians. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! For at least six decades, […]
Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky
Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky This planet triggers flares on its star—spelling its ultimate doom By Jacek Krywko edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier In this artist’s impression, the planet HIP 67522 b sends a wave of energy along magnetic field lines toward the surface of its host star—triggering a massive flare […]
In effort to protect children, France bans smoking at parks and beaches
Eleanor Beardsley PARIS — A restrictive outdoor smoking ban has come into force in France, a country where café culture, which often includes a glass of wine and a cigarette, is a way of life. As of Sunday, smokers are no longer allowed to light up in public parks, at swimming pools, or at beaches, […]
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: ‘Deep Regrets’
Can you keep your sanity while fishing up increasingly strange things from the ocean? Deep Regrets is a strategic, horror-themed fishing game for 1-5 players, ages 16 and up, and takes about 30-150 minutes to play. The base game, along with the new expansion, Even Deeper Regrets, is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a […]
Three Israeli hostages and dozens of Palestinian prisoners released
Three Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza were released from captivity on Saturday, in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Yarden Bibas, 34, Ofer Kalderon, 53, and Keith Siegel, 65, were handed over to the Red Cross – the latest hostages to be released as part of a ceasefire deal struck…
Why Teen Mom’s Leah Messer Is Ready to Embrace Life as a “Cat Lady”
More than two years after Leah Messer split with fiancé Jaylan Mobley, the Teen Mom star says her life is just, uh, purr-fect as is. As she told E! News, “I think everything will fall into place.” With all due respect to The Beatles and their impossibly catchy hit, Leah Messer would quibble with the…
The Science of Cynicism and the Transformative Psychological Power of Hope
Can Hopeful Skepticism Replace Harmful Cynicism? Giving in to cynicism makes us less trusting, less connected, and even less physically and mentally healthy. By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. No one wants to be a sucker. But do most of us go too far…
As Trump vows to embrace fossil fuels, U.S. climate policy won’t change quickly
Jeff Brady President Trump wants to redirect the federal government away from former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda and toward an even deeper embrace of fossil fuels. “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump said to cheers from supporters at his inauguration speech on Jan. 20. His burst of climate and energy executive orders was quickly…
Life After a Rebel Takeover
Congo-Rwanda Conflict Congo-Rwanda Conflict Congo-Rwanda Conflict Goma Dispatch For those living in Goma, which has been captured by Rwanda-backed rebels, there is little water, little food and much uncertainty. Goma Dispatch For those living in Goma, which has been captured by Rwanda-backed rebels, there is little water, little food and much uncertainty. Rwanda-backed rebels took…
‘Perfect rat storm’: urban rodent numbers soar as the climate heats, study finds
Sharp rise in population in 11 of 16 cities expected to continue as rising temperatures make it easier for the animals to breed, say researchers Rat numbers are soaring in cities as global temperatures warm, research shows. Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, New York City and Amsterdam had the greatest increase in these rodents, according…
Inside the Fabulous World of Kylie Jenner’s Kids Stormi and Aire
Life for Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi Webster and son Aire Webster—shared with ex Travis Scott—could almost be mistaken for normal, minus the designer labels, private jets and tricked-out birthdays. There’s nothing all that unusual about a celebrity alighting from a private jet, snug in a furry full-length coat. It’s a little less common when that scene-stealer is…
How Many Planets Are in the Solar System?
The UniverseFridays How Many Planets Are in the Solar System? The number of planets that orbit the sun depends on what you mean by “planet,” and that’s not so easy to define By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings All eight of the solar system’s “major” planets appear in this illustration, but the actual number…
Canada will bring ‘forceful but reasonable’ retaliation to Trump tariffs, Trudeau says
White House has claimed goods shipped from Canada and Mexico to the US would face a 25% levy starting Saturday Justin Trudeau says Canada will bring a “forceful but reasonable” retaliation to any tariffs imposed by the US as his country braces for the economic fallout of a trade war. “I won’t sugarcoat it –…
Medical jet with six on board crashes into Philadelphia neighbourhood
A small medical transport plane crashed into several buildings in north-east Philadelphia on Friday evening, setting homes and vehicles ablaze and injuring people on the ground. The plane had been on a medical transport mission, carrying a child patient and her mother, and four crew members. “We know that there will be loss,” Pennsylvania Gov…
Moo Deng, the Toddler Hippopotamus, Still Has Star Power
Thailand Dispatch The pygmy hippopotamus, now 6 months old, is Thailand’s biggest celebrity, and the crowds keep flocking. What explains her charm? Thailand Dispatch The pygmy hippopotamus, now 6 months old, is Thailand’s biggest celebrity, and the crowds keep flocking. What explains her charm? Moo Deng walking around her enclosure with her mother, Jona, in…
Former German President Horst Köhler dies at 81
By The Associated Press BERLIN — Horst Köhler, a onetime head of the International Monetary Fund who became a popular German president before stunning the country by resigning abruptly in a flap over comments about the country’s military, has died. He was 81. Köhler, who was head of state from 2004 to 2010, died Saturday…
Plane Crashes in Pennsylvania 2 Days After American Airlines Collision
Two days after an American Airlines flight crashed in Washington, D.C., an air ambulance carrying six passengers—including a pediatric patient—crashed down in Northeast Philadelphia. Another plane crash has tragically occurred on U.S. soil. An air ambulance crashed down in Philadelphia around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 soon after departing to head to the Springfield-Branson National…
Belgium Forms a Government After 7 Months of Squabbling
The country’s tense negotiations hinged on taxing and social spending — and they highlight issues facing Europe, and Western democracies, as a whole. By Koba Ryckewaert and Jeanna Smialek Reporting from Brussels Belgium reached an agreement to form a coalition government on Friday, the nation’s monarchy announced, ending seven months of partisan squabbling over deeply…
Rubio to visit Central America with migration and Panama canal on agenda
US secretary of state to visit region amid concern over Trump threat to ‘take back’ canal and tensions over China Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, will travel to Central America this week on a five-country tour that will focus on limiting migration to the United States, curbing Chinese influence in the region and…
A 2nd U.S. judge says Trump administration must pause its federal spending freeze
By NPR Washington Desk A judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs. The Friday ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this week by Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and…
Who Is Trump’s Acting FAA Chief, Chris Rocheleau?
Who Is Trump’s Pick for Acting FAA Chief, Chris Rocheleau? Chris Rocheleau, Trump’s pick for acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, has been a longtime agency official and has acknowledged the need to address global warming By Mike Lee & E&E News President Donald Trump on Thursday named Chris Rocheleau (right) as acting head…
Helicopter black box recovered from Washington DC plane crash site
Officials have recovered the cockpit voice recorder – also known as the black box – from the helicopter involved in the plane crash that killed 67 people at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday. Emergency responders are planning to ramp up operations over the weekend to recover the debris from the site. There were…
Trump administration purges websites across federal health agencies
By Will Stone , Selena Simmons-Duffin At the direction of the Trump administration, the federal Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies are purging its websites of information and data on a broad array of topics — from adolescent health to LGBTQ+ rights to HIV. Several webpages from Centers for Disease Control and…
Will Asteroid 2024 YR24 Strike Earth in 2032?
Newfound Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032, Scientists Say The possibility of the asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting our planet might not be ruled out until 2028, raising the prospect we’ll need to prepare for the worst By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings An illustration of an asteroid approaching Earth. In late December astronomers using…
Alix Earle Has a Winning Recipe for Your Post-Super Bowl Hangover
Ahead of Super Bowl 2025, Alix Earle teamed up with Carl’s Jr. for Hangover Burger Monday to help football fans fight off those post-party blues. Dreading that post-Super Bowl hangover? Allow Alix Earle to assist. To help football fans recover from the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, the TikToker…
Fact-checking Trump’s claims about diversity schemes and the Washington plane crash
In a news conference on Thursday, Trump said that under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden candidates with “severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities” could be hired as air traffic controllers (ATCs). He suggested, without offering any evidence, that this could be to blame for the crash. When challenged by reporters about why he thought this,…
Hamas Names 3 Hostages It Says Will Be Freed This Weekend
Middle East Tensions Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli, will be released along with Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon in exchange for about 90 Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons, the group said. By Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem Hamas on Friday announced the names of three hostages — including an American citizen — whom it said…
Trump to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China
US neighbors hit with 25% tariff and China with 10% as Trudeau pledges ‘forceful but reasonable’ response Donald Trump has vowed to impose sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China starting this weekend, potentially setting the stage for a damaging trade war between the US and three of its biggest trading partners. Trump also threatened…
‘I curse this war’: hunger and fear in Goma after rebel takeover
M23 rebel group swept into Congolese city after a rapid advance in recent weeks People living in Goma on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern border with Rwanda have spoken of their fear and acute hunger after the M23 rebel group swept into the city earlier this week. “We are very afraid. This situation…
AI’s Energy Demands Threaten a Nuclear Waste Nightmare
Opinion AI’s Energy Demands Threaten a Nuclear Waste Nightmare Reviving nuclear power plants to power AI threatens an avalanche of nuclear waste By Michael Riordan edited by Dan Vergano Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania was shutdown following the partial meltdown of its Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2) on March…
Emilia Pérez’s Karla Sofía Gascón Apologizes for Past Offensive Tweets
Emilia Pérez Karla Sofía Gascón is expressing her remorse. The Emilia PérezGeorge Floyd and diversity at the Oscars that recently resurfaced. “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt,” Gasón shared in a statement to NBC News via a Netflix spokesperson Jan. 30. “As someone in a…
How the World Is Reeling From Trump’s Aid Freeze
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration President Trump’s order to halt most foreign aid has intensified humanitarian crises and raised questions about the United States’ reliability as a global leader. President Trump’s order to halt most foreign aid has intensified humanitarian crises and raised questions about the United States’ reliability as a global leader. Delivering…
Investigation into the fatal plane-helicopter crash. And, future of nuclear testing
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Federal investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice and flight data recorders from the American Airlines jet that collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night. The…
Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview was ‘ill advised’, aide told alleged spy
A senior aide to Prince Andrew privately admitted to an alleged Chinese spy that the duke’s BBC Newsnight interview had been “ill advised”, court documents show. Files disclosed to the BBC and other media outlets reveal how the prince’s aide Dominic Hampshire thanked Yang Tengbo for standing by the embattled duke in the months after…
Here’s How Quickly Could Polio Return to the U.S. without Vaccines
Polio Vaccines Saved America from the Disease. What Happens if We Lose Them? Polio, a disease that can cause lifelong paralysis, has been eliminated from the U.S. Experts fear a resurgence if lifesaving vaccines are revoked under the new administration By Tara Haelle edited by Lauren J. Young A healthcare worker gives an oral vaccine…
Family Guy Secrets That Are Anything but Shallow and Pedantic
Twenty-six years ago, Seth MacFarlane‘s Family Guy debuted on FOX and viewers met the Griffin family. Learn about the show’s history and how Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein and Seth Green got their roles. Citizens of Quahog, raise a glass of Pawtucket Patriot Ale. Because Family Guy is celebrating its 26th anniversary. On Jan. 31, 1999—after…
Editor’s note: Reporting the midair collision will focus on facts and people’s stories
Russell Lewis It’s been nearly 60 hours since an American Airlines regional jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in mid-air as the jet attempted to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All 67 people on both aircraft are believed to have died. In the past day we’ve learned information that helps our…
Sara Sharif family court judges named after appeal
Three judges who oversaw Family Court hearings involving Sara Sharif in the years before she was murdered can be named for the first time following a legal appeal. Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, have been jailed for life for her murder in Woking, Surrey in 2023. Following their convictions, the…
Kremlin Chokes YouTube Service, but Russians Find Ways Around It
The Kremlin is trying to cripple YouTube in Russia, internet experts say, pushing some people to state-controlled domestic alternatives. But many Russians have found workarounds. By Paul Sonne Reporting from Berlin He blocked Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He signed a censorship law that led TikTok to disable its functions. President Vladimir V. Putin has clamped…
Weather tracker: Elvis shakes Madagascar after Europe’s triple threat
Low pressure strengthens to tropical cyclone status in Indian Ocean, while European windstorm season rages on A compact and stationary area of low pressure brought a sustained period of heavy rain to southern parts of Madagascar this week, with weather stations at Taolagnaro and Toliara recording five-day rainfall totals of 178mm and 196mm respectively, with…
Black boxes found as officials examine staffing shortage in DC plane crash
The black boxes for a commercial flight that crashed into a military helicopter in Washington DC have been located, as questions mount about staffing and other close calls at the airport where the plane was landing. Normally two people manage air traffic control for helicopters and airplanes flying in the area – one of the…
Senator calls RFK Jr.’s position on race and vaccines dangerous
By Will Stone It was one of the more tense exchanges in an already heated confirmation hearing as senators put Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s record on vaccines — and his shifting stances on their safety and efficacy — under the microscope. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat from Maryland, pointed to past comments made by Kennedy…
Kyiv’s Mayor Feuds With President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine War Russia-Ukraine War Russia-Ukraine War The mayor, Vitali Klitschko, who has had a tense relationship with President Volodymyr Zelensky, accused him of trying to usurp the powers of elected officials in the capital. By Maria Varenikova Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Internal political tensions in Ukraine have been rising in anticipation of a cease-fire that…
Reese Witherspoon Says Actress Ended Friendship Over This Faux Pas
Reese Witherspoon said she’s “not friends” with a certain “serious, proper actress” after mistakenly roasting her at an award show: “She doesn’t talk to me anymore.” Reese Witherspoon has committed a big little blunder. The Oscar winner shared she’s no longer friends with an unnamed actress after mistakenly roasting her at an award show, saying…
How Plane Accidents, like the DC Crash, Are Investigated
How Plane Accidents, like the DC Crash, Are Investigated The accident that resulted in a commercial airplane crashing into the Potomac yesterday will require air safety investigators to dig deep By Gary Stix edited by Dean Visser Emergency response units inspect airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. A video camera…
Biggest US trading allies brace for a ‘game of chicken’ with Trump’s tariffs
Canada and Mexico draw plans to mitigate effect of duties Trump has threatened, possibly sparking a trade war America’s biggest trading partners are bracing for Donald Trump to impose sweeping tariffs on their exports after the US president repeated his threat to hit Canada and Mexico with new duties. Officials in Ottawa and Mexico City…
What You Need to Know About Venomous Caterpillars
Venomous Caterpillars Are Expanding Their Range because of Warming These caterpillars carry a toxic chemical cocktail and Inquisition-like delivery implements—and their geographic range is expanding By Ivan Amato edited by Gary Stix The puss caterpillar is the venomous larval form of the southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis). Its “hairs” conceal highly venomous spines. Assasinations in…
British-Egyptian dissident mulls giving up citizenship over failure to be released
Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s family reveal letters showing his despair after initial hopes David Lammy could get him freed from Cairo jail Alaa Abd el-Fattah, the British-Egyptian political dissident held in a Cairo jail for more than five years, has reached such a state of despair over the UK’s inability to secure his release that he…
Antidepressants harder to quit than heroin? Fact-checking RFK Jr.
By Brian Mann , Katia Riddle During his Senate confirmation hearing to serve as Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suggested antidepressant drugs may be as addictive as heroin — a claim contradicted by research. Kennedy’s comment at Wednesday’s hearing was one of a number of controversial claims he has made about…
Syria’s New President Pledges Unity in First Address
Syria’s Civil War Syria’s Civil War Syria’s Civil War President Ahmed al-Shara vowed to be inclusive, but the way crucial decisions have been made has left some Syrians wary. By Christina Goldbaum Reporting from Damascus, Syria The newly appointed president of Syria, Ahmed al-Shara, pledged in a speech on Thursday to create an inclusive transitional…
Judy Blume’s Forever… TV Series Will Pull at Your Heart Strings
Netflix reimagined Judy Blume’s popular 1975 novel Forever… for its upcoming drama of the same name. See the show’s first trailer. A Judy Blume classic has found a forever home on Netflix. Two years after Netflix announced they’re reimagining the author’s 1975 novel, Forever… into a new romance drama series, the streaming platform released its first…
Eight Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza
Eight more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been released amid chaotic scenes as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel. Three Israelis and five Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas before being transferred to Israeli forces and taken to Israel. A total of 110 Palestinians were later released…
What we know about the midair crash near Washington, D.C.
By Jaclyn Diaz , Rachel Treisman , Scott Neuman , Russell Lewis Follow the latest coverage of the crash . Authorities believe there will likely be no survivors in the midair crash involving an American Airlines regional jet and a Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night in the skies above the nation’s capital. As of Thursday…
Europe’s Extremely Large Telescope Faces a New Dire Threat
World’s Largest Telescope Faces a New Dire Threat: Light Pollution from Renewable Energy Observatories in Chile’s Atacama Desert, including the world’s largest optical telescope, could be blinded by light pollution and other unwanted side effects from the proposed construction of a renewable energy megaproject By Katherine Helen Laliotis Europe’s Extremely Large Telescope, as seen at…
DRC leader calls for military recruits as Rwandan-backed rebels advance
President Tshisekedi vows ‘a vigorous and coordinated response’ to the M23 group Rwandan-backed rebels have pushed south and consolidated gains in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as international calls for restraint appeared to have little impact on the ground. Local sources told Agence France-Presse that fighters from the M23 group had seized two districts…
Rachael Kirkconnell Confronted Matt James Over Girl During First Split
The Bachelor alum Rachael Kirkconnell revealed the difficult details of her first breakup from Matt James in 2021, which came after racially insensitive photos of her resurfaced online. Rachael Kirkconnell is remembering the red flags during her relationship with Matt James. Nearly two weeks after the couple—who found love on season 25 of The Bachelor…
US and Russian figure skaters were on board crashed plane
A number of figure skaters – including six people associated with the Figure Skating Club of Boston – were among the passengers on board an aeroplane that hit a helicopter above Washington DC on Wednesday evening. The group from Boston include two former Russian world champions who are now coaches – Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim…
Pause on U.S. Funding Spreads Fear of H.I.V. Spike Across Africa
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration Patients and health care advocates said the abrupt decision to halt U.S. funding for a lifesaving H.I.V. program led to widespread confusion. The backtracking didn’t help. By John Eligon Reporting from Johannesburg As he does every three months, Sibusiso traveled on Wednesday morning to a clinic in the capital…
What Trump’s First Days Say about Science in the New Administration
Opinion What Trump’s First Days Say about Science in the New Administration By Michael S. Lubell & Philip Rubin edited by Daniel Vergano US President Donald Trump holds an executive order announcing the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, he just signed during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena, in Washington, DC, on January…
Syria’s Ahmed al-Shara Named as President During Transitional Period
Syria’s Civil War Syria’s Civil War Syria’s Civil War The new leadership of the country said the rebel coalition leader, Ahmed al-Shara, would serve as president during a transitional period. By Christina Goldbaum Reporting from Damascus, Syria The rebel coalition that seized control of Syria last month appointed its leader, Ahmed al-Shara, as president of…
After fires, LA students yearn to get back to school, and a normal life
Jonaki Mehta Augusta Robbins and her family have been hopping between temporary housing for the last three weeks or so. When the smell of smoke crept into their family home on January 7th, the second grader was playing laser tag. Now, not only has Augusta lost her home, but most of her school is gone,…
Romantic Jewelry Gifts for Valentine’s Day
Celebrate romantic love with the perfect jewelry gift. Shop pieces from our favorite jewelry brands, including Sterling Forever, Joey Baby, Eklexic, and more. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Jewelry is a classic Valentine’s Day gift. If your special person wears it at…
Trump’s US aid freeze will drive migration from Latin America, experts warn
Abrupt decision to pause all foreign aid could exacerbate violence in region already struggling with organized crime The Trump administration’s abrupt decision to immediately pause all US foreign aid programmes could exacerbate violence in Latin America, driving more migration from a region already struggling with the rise of organised crime, experts have warned. The world’s…
How quickly could Rachel Reeves’ new plans boost growth?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday that “economic growth is the number one mission of this government” as she unveiled a series of proposals to boost the UK’s economy. But how quickly could the government get growth from the plans she announced? Critics have argued some of the projects – such as expanding Heathrow –…