Addiction Risk Shows up in Children’s Brain Scans before Drug Use Starts
Massive Study Flips Our Story of Addiction and the Brain Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip By Maia Szalavitz edited by Allison Parshall For decades, Americans have been told a simple story about addiction: taking drugs damages the brain—and the […]
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, […]
Math Enthusiasts Unite to Have Rover Calculate Pi on the Moon
Math Enthusiasts Unite to Have Rover Calculate Pi on the Moon Later this year a tiny rover will carry out an unusual lunar task By Emma R. Hasson edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Astrobotic’s CubeRover is slated to land on the moon in late 2025. While traversing the moon’s surface after a planned launch later…
Starmer confirms talks with Labour rebels over welfare cuts concessions
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is in talks with Labour rebels over concessions on its welfare plans. The prime minister said talks would continue in the coming days to “get it right” ahead of a scheduled vote on Tuesday next week on legislation to deliver the proposals. It comes after more than 120…
Review – Mr. Terrific: Year One #2 – Ghost Story
Ray: When we picked up with Michael Holt last issue, he was a man at his wit’s end. After losing his wife and unborn child in a freak car accident, he had spiraled – and not even his best friend Dre was able to pull him out of it. Michael didn’t agree to help when…
The Trump administration says it wants to eliminate FEMA. Here’s what we know
Rebecca Hersher President Trump says the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, should be eliminated, and that states should take on more responsibility for responding to and preparing for extreme weather and other disasters. That would mean big changes for the millions of Americans who rely on FEMA after hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other weather…
My wife and daughters left behind a legacy of love, John Hunt tells BBC
BBC racing commentator John Hunt, whose wife and two of his daughters were murdered last July, describes in an emotional first interview the legacy of love they left behind. It was this, John and his daughter Amy tell the BBC, that had helped sustain them through their trauma and grief. Carol, Louise and Hannah remained…
Costa Rican court orders government to free migrants who were deported by US
About 200 people were brought to the country in February under an agreement with the Trump administration A court in Costa Rica has ordered authorities to release foreign migrants who were locked up in a shelter after being deported by the US, according to a resolution issued on the eve of a visit by the…
A Conversation with Kickstarter and Crowdfunding Tabletop Roundup
Earlier this week I got to chat with Asher McClennahan, the head of games at Kickstarter. I was curious to hear how tariffs had affected things like the number of projects launching or being backed, and also whether some of the “tried-and-true” advice about launching projects is actually true. As far as tariffs go, McClennahan…
How to Join Amazon Prime for Free Before Prime Day 2025
Prime Day is exclusively for Prime members, but joining is easy. Learn how to sign up for Amazon Prime today and start shopping early deals right away. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Big news: Amazon Prime Day…
RFK Jr. says U.S. will stop funding global vaccine group over ‘vaccine safety’ issues
Fatma Tanis The international vaccine agency, Gavi, has strongly rejected HHS Secretary Kennedy’s accusations that it was not following scientific data on vaccines, after he said the U.S. would halt all contributions unless the body made changes to its practices. Kennedy remarks were made at a Gavi pledging summit in Brussels on Wednesday, where countries…
What Is Thimerosal? Why Most Vaccines Don’t Contain Mercury Anymore
What Is Thimerosal? Why Most Vaccines Don’t Contain Mercury Anymore Thimerosal, which contains an organic compound of mercury, has mostly been phased out as a preservative for vaccines. Here’s how we know it is safe, and why we still use it in some vaccines given to adults By Tara Haelle edited by Andrea Thompson This…
CIA director says Iran’s nuclear sites ‘severely damaged’
The head of the CIA has said US strikes “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear facilities and set them back years, diverging from a leaked intelligence report that angered President Donald Trump by downplaying the raid’s impact. John Ratcliffe, the US spy agency’s director, said key sites had been destroyed, though he stopped short of declaring that…
At least 16 people killed and 400 injured in Kenyan protests
Police clashed with people marching in Nairobi and other areas to honour those killed in protests last year At least 16 people have been killed and 400 injured in Kenya as a nationwide demonstration to honour those killed during last year’s anti-government protests turned chaotic, with police clashing with protesters in different parts of the…
Use Summer Break to Build Closer Bonds with Your Children
The Science of ParentingMondays Use Summer Break to Build Closer Bonds with Your Children The kids are out of school, and some of the pressures may be off. Here’s how you can further connect with them to make next year a little easier By Nasuh Malas edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get…
A political storm is brewing over welfare cuts – can Starmer ride it out?
Angela Rayner has declared that the government will go ahead with its controversial legislation, aimed at reforming the welfare system, next week. But a well-placed source told us it could still be pulled: “It’s a live discussion.” Conversations are continuing at the heart of government on the least worst course of action in the face…
Senators question Trump plan to kill federal funds for PBS, NPR and some foreign aid
By Scott Neuman Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration’s bid to kill federal funding that Congress already has approved for public broadcasting and international aid programs. In President Trump’s request to Congress, sent last month, he justified the cuts because the targeted foreign aid programs were “antithetical…
Monica Lewinsky Calls Bill Clinton Affair an “Abuse of Power”
Over 25 years after Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton’s global scandal, the former White House intern reflected on how she truly felt during their affair. Monica Lewinsky is getting candid about her affair with Bill Clinton. Nearly three decades after the former White House intern was involved in an office romance with the then-president, she…
How Bird Flu Went from Devastating Poultry Farms to Infecting Dairy Herds
Why Dairy Farmers Were Surprised by Bird Flu Cases in Their Herds The bird flu was long known to poultry farmers. Here’s why the dairy industry was caught off guard by its jump to cattle. By Meghan Bartels, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura & Rachel Feltman Dairy cows inside the Teaching Dairy Barn at…
Israel was once deterred from striking Iran. Now Netanyahu takes a victory lap
Daniel Estrin TEL AVIV, Israel — It is a story spanning more than 30 years of rhetoric, and 20 months of war that remade the Middle East. For decades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to attack Iran, but the United States and his own security chiefs deterred him. Now, after launching 12 days of…
Man guilty of murdering schoolboy, 14, in Hainault sword attack
A man has been found guilty of murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in Hainault last year. Marcus Monzo, 37, has also been found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He gave no reaction in court as the verdicts were read out…
Can Mongolia’s oldest traditions survive a changing climate?
They were nomadic herders long before the rise of Genghis Khan. For thousands of years, Mongolian nomads have herded across the country’s vast steppe grassland. It’s a legacy they keep close today: Roughly 40 percent of Mongolians still herd livestock, following traditions their ancestors have honored for millennia. For these communities, adaptability is survival. Nothing…
Mourners left waiting as court orders halt to former Zambian president’s funeral
Halt to burial in Johannesburg is latest chapter in feud Edgar Lungu had with his successor Hakainde Hichilema The funeral of the former Zambian president Edgar Lungu has been stopped while mourners waited in a cathedral in Johannesburg, as an extraordinary feud Lungu had with his successor continues to play out after his death. A…
UK to purchase nuclear-carrying F-35A fighter jets
The UK government is to purchase 12 new fighter jets which can be equipped with nuclear bombs, and join Nato’s airborne nuclear mission. Downing Street says the move is “the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation”. The new F-35A jets can still carry conventional weapons, but have the option of being…
RFK Jr.’s picks for CDC vaccine advisers meet this week amid controversy
Pien Huang An influential committee that helps craft federal vaccine policy and recommendations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention begins a two-day meeting in Atlanta Wednesday. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, often meets in obscurity, but was thrown into the spotlight two weeks ago when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy,…
Inside Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Epic Love Story
Since hitting a game-changing bump in the road just months into their 19-year marriage, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have been enjoying a big, beautiful life together. When Keith Urban met Nicole Kidman at the G’Day LA: Australia Week gala in January 2005, he was pretty much down for the count. Yet it took him four…
How to Keep Your Home Cool in Extreme Heat
How to Keep Your Home Cool in Extreme Heat When extreme heat arrives, here are science-based tips to keep your home cool, from the most efficient way to use air conditioning to strategic uses of fans By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser This summer’s first extreme heat wave in North America—the result of a…
Man wrongfully deported to El Salvador must be returned to US, court rules
White House must return Jordin Melgar-Salmeron, who was deported less than 30 minutes after his removal was barred An appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to return a man wrongfully deported to El Salvador to the US and to explain how it is complying in a ruling apparently designed to break a pattern of…
Fears of unrest as Kenyans mark first anniversary of storming of parliament
Rights activists plan to march countrywide in honour of those killed during anti-government protests Kenyans plan to march countrywide on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the historic storming of parliament by protesters, to honour those killed during last year’s anti-government protests, but there are fears that the march could escalate into unrest. Rights activists, family…
How Perfectionism Hurts Parents and Their Kids
How Perfectionism Hurts Parents and Their Kids New research highlights the risks and occasional rewards of parental perfectionism By Francine Russo edited by Allison Parshall You want your kids to feel loved—and to be happy, healthy and reasonably well-behaved. Nothing is more important. Advice about how to achieve this comes at you from every corner:…
The good news (154 million deaths avoided) and bad news about childhood vaccines
By Gabrielle Emanuel How do you save the lives of over 150 million children? The answer: Childhood vaccinations. Just over 50 years ago, the World Health Organization launched its Essential Programme on Immunization. Since then, vaccination rates have improved dramatically and researchers estimate that 4.4 billion people have been reached and 154 million childhood deaths…
How a volatile 24 hours edged Iran and Israel to a ceasefire
Since 13 June, Israel has inflicted widespread damage on Iran’s military infrastructure, Iranian missiles have pierced Israel’s defence systems and the US has conducted strikes against Tehran’s nuclear programme. Then, over the course of a dizzying 24 hours beginning on Monday, events moved even faster: a US air base came under attack, the White House…
50-Year-Old’s Before-and-After Facelift Pics Have TikTok in Disbelief
Michelle Wood, a 50-year-old TikToker, is being likened to a “young Amanda Bynes” after getting a facelift, a forehead lift, a lip lift, a neck lift and a chin implant in a $15,000 surgery procedure. A 50-year-old TikToker’s plastic surgery procedure is raising eyebrows—and not just hers. Michelle Wood started documenting her journey under the…
‘Paved With Good Intentions:’ A Book Review
It’s always sad when a favorite series finishes. Peter McLean closed his War of the Rose Throne series in 2022, and I thought that was that. It was a great ending to one of fantasy’s most consistently thrilling series. Imagine my excitement when, earlier this year, I learned that McLean was revisiting the world of…
WHO says attack on Sudanese hospital killed more than 40 civilians
Five health workers reportedly among the dead in West Kordofan as paramilitary RSF blames Sudanese military The head of the World Health Organization has condemned an attack on a hospital in Sudan that he said had killed more than 40 civilians, as the country’s civil war, which has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, rages…
Whitney Decker Breaks Silence After Murder of Her 3 Daughters
After her three daughters were killed—Travis Decker has been charged with kidnapping and killing Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia—their mom Whitney Decker spoke out on the tragedy. Whitney Decker is honoring her girls. The mom of late daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, shared a glimpse into their deep bond during an emotional tribute…
What we know about the ceasefire
Donald Trump has warned Israel against launching further attacks on Iran, hours after he said a ceasefire between the two sides had taken effect. The US president used an expletive as he criticised both sides, after each accused the other of breaking the US and Qatar-brokered truce. It came after Israel said Iran had violated…
The Hidden Game Theory of Sherlock Holmes
The Game Theory Hidden in the Mind of Sherlock Holmes In the early 20th century, a mathematician and economist sought the optimal strategy for Holmes to escape Moriarty’s pursuit By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas Looking at my bookshelf, I’m stricken with guilt: the collected Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle have been…
Breaking another presidential norm, Trump drops the f-bomb on camera
Tamara Keith President Trump on Tuesday emphatically dropped an f-bomb, on camera, expressing frustration that Israel and Iran appeared to be violating the ceasefire that he just celebrated going into effect. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing,” Trump…
The Trump administration is making an unprecedented reach for data held by states
By Jude Joffe-Block The Trump administration’s push to rapidly amass sensitive personal information about hundreds of millions of people living in the U.S. is extending to a rich new vein of information: troves of databases run by states. In some instances, the data could be leveraged to enhance the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts —…
Orcas’ Social Skin-Care Routine Uses Kelp as a Tool
Orcas’ Killer Skin-Care Routine Relies on Kelp—And Help Massaging one another with kelp could help orcas keep their skin healthy By Elizabeth Anne Brown edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier The southern resident killer whale J41 holds kelp in her mouth. New research suggests orcas nuzzle each other with kelp, possibly for its exfoliation effect. Step…
Hottest Early Amazon Prime Day 2025 Shoe Deals: UGG Tazz Dupes & More
Ready, set, save! Get a head start and score up to 50% off the hottest shoe brands during Amazon’s early Prime Day deals. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Once upon a time, I squeezed my feet into…
Aukus vital to ‘deter Chinese aggression’, say US lawmakers, as Trump urged to recommit to submarine deal
Alliance in best interests of Australia, UK and US, say lawmakers, after Trump administration announced 30-day review of pact Australia news live: latest politics updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Aukus pact is vital to “deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region”, Republican and Democrat lawmakers in the…
Review – Krypto: Last Dog of Krypton #1 – Good Boy
Ray: Superman is riding a hot streak like no character has at DC in a long time. Every book in the line has been good to fantastic, and that means spin-offs aplenty. Including one for comics’ ultimate Good Boy! Ryan North, making his DC writing debut, is the perfect choice for this – so many…
Jessie J Shares Update After Undergoing Surgery for Cancer Treatment
After announcing her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this month, Jessie J underwent surgery and shared photos with son Sky Safir and boyfriend Channan Safir Colman following the procedure. Jessie J is shining a flashlight on her cancer journey. The “Price Tag” singer shared that she underwent surgery nearly three weeks after revealing she had been…
NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft, Exploring Solar System Origins, Is Back on Track after Thrusters Lost Power
NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft, Exploring Solar System Origins, Is Back on Track after Thrusters Lost Power This explorer spacecraft is heading to a rare asteroid with a naked metal core. It could hold clues to how Earth began By Josh Fischman edited by Dean Visser Artist rendering of the Psyche spacecraft in orbit around its namesake…
Barbados poet laureate on mission to share stories of enslavement
Esther Phillips says her poetry’s ‘ultimate goal’ is to achieve justice for those who suffered at hands of European colonisers Esther Phillips, the Barbados poet laureate, grew up next to Drax Hall Estate, once one of the Caribbean’s notoriously violent slave plantations, where tens of thousands of Africans are said to have died in terrible…
Does Congress or the president hold war powers? Here’s what to know
By Scott Neuman The framers of the U.S. Constitution lived in an age of muskets and messengers, when war moved slowly and left time for Congress and the president to confer. But by giving Congress the power to declare war and the president command of the military, they set the stage for lasting struggle over…
Talk of regime change resonates with Iranians fleeing across border
“People want regime change,” said Mariam, a pensioner, as she collapsed into the back of a taxi with her husband. The couple had just dragged their heavy suitcases across a bridge over the fast-flowing Aras River that marks Iran’s remote northern border with the small nation of Armenia, in the southern Caucasus region. “I’ve walked…
Guess That Pokémon – Unova Edition!
Ultra PRO has released their latest Pokémon Electronic Guessing Game – the Unova Edition! The Electronic Guessing Game is designed for players 6-years-old and up. By now, everyone is likely very familiar with websites, apps, and games that focus on a specific fandom or theme and ask the player to “think” of a specific thing,…
U.S. Supreme Court allows — for now — third-country deportations
By NPR Washington Desk The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a lower court order that required people set to be deported to countries other than their own to be allowed to challenge their deportation orders. The order focused on a flight carrying several men from various countries — including Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba and Mexico…
What we know about Iran’s attack on US base in Qatar
Iran has launched missiles at a US military base in Qatar, in what it said was retaliation for American strikes against its nuclear sites over the weekend. Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs in the sky above the capital, Doha, while videos showed bright flashes in the sky as air defence systems attempted to intercept missiles.…
AI and Data Centers Could Cut More Climate-Change-Causing Emissions Than They Create
AI Could Be Harnessed to Cut More Emissions Than It Creates Power-hungry AI and associated data centers could make the grid cleaner, eventually cutting more climate-change-causing emissions than they produce By Sara Schonhardt & E&E News CLIMATEWIRE | Artificial intelligence could cut global climate pollution by up to 5.4 billion metric tons a year over…
Joe Burrow & Olivia Ponton Seemingly Confirm Romance During Night Out
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and rumored girlfriend Olivia Ponton appeared to make their romance official with a night out in New York City June 20. Olivia Ponton had home field advantage when Joe Burrow was in town. Months after dating rumors between the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model emerged, they…
Canada and EU sign defense pact amid strained US relations and global instability
Amid Trump’s disrespect of old allies, EU and Canada vow more support for Ukraine and joint work on climate crisis Canada has signed a wide-ranging defence pact with the EU, as Donald Trump and global instability prompt traditional US allies to deepen their alliances. Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, on Monday joined European Commission president,…
How H5N1 Went from an Illness in Wild Birds to a Global Pandemic Threat
How Bird Flu Became a Human Pandemic Threat The first hints that a new strain of avian illness is emerging could be found on this beach on Delaware Bay, where migrating birds flock. Here’s what virus detectives who return there every year know right now. By Lauren J. Young, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura…
Stack Overflow: Reading Grab-Bag
School is finally out for us and we’ve moved into our summer schedule, though you wouldn’t know it from the weather—we had a grey, rainy summer solstice this weekend. Today’s stack doesn’t have a specific theme; it’s primarily comic books, but I’ve also got a couple of joke books in there for good measure—just a…
Brad Pitt Attended Alcoholics Anonymous Amid Angelina Jolie Breakup
Brad Pitt shared insight into his experience attending Alcoholics Anonymous at the beginning of his sobriety journey after his ex Angelina Jolie filed for divorce: “It was incredible.” Brad Pitt isn’t afraid to be vulnerable about his health. In fact, the Ocean’s Eleven alum revealed what “an amazing thing” Alcoholics Anonymous was for him as…
Home sales just posted their slowest May in 16 years
Laurel Wamsley The home sales slump in the U.S. continues: Last month was the slowest May for existing home sales since 2009. Existing home sales in May fell 0.7% compared to the same month last year. Measured monthly, sales were up slightly, 0.8%, from the month before — but that marks an increase from the…
‘Handcuffed like we’re criminals’: Ohio teen soccer star recounts deportation
Emerson Colindres reflects on ‘traumatizing’ ordeal after Ice sent him to Honduras despite having no criminal record The Ohio high school graduate and soccer standout who was recently deported from the US to Honduras despite having no arrest record has described being “handcuffed like we’re some big criminals” for the entirety of his deportation flight.…
Qatar closes airspace as UK and US tell citizens to shelter in place
Qatar has temporarily closed its airspace after the US and the UK told their citizens in the country to shelter in place “until further notice”. The US embassy in Qatar suggested in a notice online that Americans do so “out of an abundance of caution”. The UK government said it was issuing its warning in…
Lucy Hale and Ian Harding “Stand Behind” Pretty Little Liars Age Gap
Pretty Little Liars stars Lucy Hale and Ian Harding have no regrets when it comes to their characters’ teacher-student romance in the teen drama—despite their controversial age gap. Lucy Hale and Ian Harding are not apologizing for Ezria. Indeed, the Pretty Little Liars alums—who played protagonist Aria Montgomery and her high school English teacher Ezra…