JWST Sees Hints of an Atmosphere on a Potentially Habitable Exoplanet
Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows the volatile red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 and its four most closely orbiting planets, […]
How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion
The UniverseFridays How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion Superluminal velocities are common but illusory By Phil Plait edited by Clara Moskowitz The light echo around the star V838 Monocerotis as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 2005. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait When I […]
How Many Planets Orbit Our Nearest Neighboring Star?
New Instrument Checks on Proxima Centauri’s Planets Fresh results from near-infrared instruments foretell a bright future for finding life elsewhere in the Milky Way By Ivan Farkas edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the Proxima Centauri system, with the planets Proxima b and Proxima d—the latter confirmed by the NIRPS planet-hunting instrument. Some […]
Starship’s 10th flight breaks streak of bad luck
Nell Greenfieldboyce SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket racked up some much-needed successes on its 10th test flight, hitting key test objectives and breaking a streak of failures that bedeviled the spaceship this year. The silver and black two-stage rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, blasted off from the SpaceX facility in south Texas near Boca […]
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft After String of Mishaps
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft after String of Mishaps Overcoming three recent failed tries, Elon Musk’s rocket company successfully flew its reusable jumbo booster and upper-stage Starship spacecraft By Dan Vergano edited by Clara Moskowitz An earlier SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster are moved to the launch pad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. […]
‘What did you do last week?’ email stokes confusion and anger among federal workers
Stephen Fowler A federal government-wide email asking employees “What did you do last week?” plunged workers and agencies into a weekend of confusion and conflicting directives. Billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk said failure to reply would be taken as resignation. But some department officials told their employees they could hold off on responding. Adding…
Trump compared to mobster Tony Soprano by former envoy to Panama
John Feeley launches stinging critique of US president’s bully-boy approach to Latin America The former US ambassador to Panama has launched a stinging critique of Donald Trump’s approach towards Latin America, comparing his conduct to that of the ruthless and egotistical fictional mob boss Tony Soprano. In the first month of his presidency, the US…
Germany Election 2025: What to Watch For
Germany’s Election What Germans decide in national elections that are likely to produce a new chancellor will be of critical importance as Europe re-evaluates relations with the Trump administration. By Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Berlin Germans are voting on Sunday in a rare snap election that has taken on outsize importance as the new…
Kylie Jenner’s Hairstylist Jesus Guerrero Dead at 34
Celebrity hairstylist Jesus Guerrero, who has worked with stars such as Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez and Demi Moore, has died at age 34. The celebrity world has lost a dear friend. Jesus Guerrero, a hairstylist whose clients have included Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Rosalía, Jessica Alba, Demi Moore and Jennifer Lopez, has died. He…
John Simpson: 2025 could be year for the history books as Trump shreds global norms
Just occasionally, there are years when the world goes through some fundamental, convulsive change. 1968, with the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, the Paris riots and the anti-Vietnam War protests in America, was one of them. 1989, the year of the Tiananmen massacre, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the implosion of the Soviet empire,…
Microsoft Claims Quantum-Computing Breakthrough—but Some Physicists Are Skeptical
Microsoft Claims Quantum-Computing Breakthrough—but Some Physicists Are Skeptical By Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine Microsoft has unveiled its Majorana 1 quantum chip. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The announcement came in a 19 February press release containing few technical details — but Microsoft says it has disclosed some of its data to selected specialists…
How one community in Chile is blessed and cursed with lithium
By John Bartlett ATACAMA DESERT, Chile — At the top of a craggy path in Socaire, a hilltop village deep in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a black flag whips in the wind above Jeanette Cruz’s house. The desert sun has bleached it to a dark gray blur, but the defiance it represents remains strong. Above each…
‘Trump and Musk are gaslighting’: anti-apartheid artist on how US president and his billionaire ally are attacking South Africa
Ahead of a career retrospective, Sue Williamson tells how the US pair are dragging her country ‘through the mud’ For more than 50 years, Sue Williamson’s art has been shining a light on South Africa’s problems – first to campaign against the apartheid state, and then to question how far the country has progressed in…
Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night following respiratory crisis
By The Associated Press ROME — Pope Francis, in critical condition with a complicated lung infection, rested well during a peaceful night following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said Sunday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni’s one-line statement didn’t mention if Francis was up or eating breakfast. “The night passed quietly, the pope rested.”…
SAG Awards: All the Eternally Fashionable Looks From the 2005 Ceremony
Two decades ago, chiffon, satin, ruching and bright patterns were all the craze on the red carpet and it was evident at the 2005 SAG Awards with stars like Kate Winslet dressed to impress. From chiffon and satin gowns to halter necklines and bold embellishments, the 2005 SAG Awards‘ fashion has proven to be a…
Biological Anthropology Points to Possible Reasons for Hair and Skin Tone Diversity
By Rachel Feltman & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel Feltman: Have you ever really thought about the hair that grows out of your head? I mean, I’m sure you’ve thought about your hair—in terms of which way to get it cut and how to get that one really wonky piece to behave itself—but have you ever considered…
Israel indefinitely delays Palestinian prisoner release as hostages freed
Israel says it is indefinitely delaying the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, in another potentially major setback in the ceasefire process. Benjamin Netanyahu said the release was now going to be delayed until the next handover of hostages by Hamas was guaranteed – and without what the Israeli prime minister called the degrading…
Germans to vote in high-stakes election watched closely by Europe and US
Germans go to the polls on Sunday, after an intense election campaign dominated by their country’s faltering economy and a succession of deadly attacks that have made migration and security a focal issue. Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old conservative leader, is in pole-position to become Germany’s next chancellor, in a vote closely watched in Europe and…
Elon Musk says federal employees must document work in email or be fired
By Emma Bowman , Brett Neely Federal workers across the U.S. government received an email on Saturday afternoon asking them to account for what they did in the past week — and Elon Musk says they will be fired if they don’t respond. The emails arrived several hours after Musk, who is leading the Department…
US congresswoman ‘rooting’ for Canada and Mexico against Trump’s threats
Democrat Jasmine Crockett calls it ‘really wild’ that it is foreign leaders who are speaking truth to power The congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has revealed she is “rooting” for Canada and Mexico over Donald Trump in their attempts to stand up to him, saying it is “really wild” to find herself in that position given he…
Here’s the Celeb Who Inspired Name of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s 2nd Son
More than a year after Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s welcomed their son Riot, the “Diamonds” singer shared that a fellow celebrity inspired the child’s name. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky did not come up with their youngest son’s name all on their own. Pharrell Williams had suggested they name their second child Riot Rose Mayers, now…
Pope Francis in Critical Condition After ‘Respiratory Crisis,’ Vatican Says
The announcement on Saturday evening indicated that Francis’ medical condition had become more complicated since an update from his doctors on Friday. By Elisabetta Povoledo Reporting from Vatican City Pope Francis was in critical condition on Saturday night after having a long “asthmatic respiratory crisis” earlier in the day that required “high flows of oxygen”…
What’s on the Milky Way’s Far Side?
The UniverseFridays What’s on the Milky Way’s Far Side? With radio and infrared telescopes, astronomers can pierce the dusty veil of our galaxy and map its farthest reaches By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This infrared image from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope shows the nebula nicknamed “the Dragonfish.” This turbulent region lies beyond the…
Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Suffering Health Crisis
Pope Francis, 88, in Critical Condition Pope Francis‘ health has taken a turn for the worse. The 88-year-old experienced an “asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen,” and his condition “continues to be critical,” the Vatican said Feb. 22, more than a week after the pontiff of the Roman…
The Unabashedly Provocative Youth Driving Germany’s Far Right
Young activists are forming a new core of Germany’s nationalist, anti-immigrant party. They are building on the party’s base, which has traditionally been older, blue-collar men. These young people, who often revel in being called extremists, are helping to broaden the party’s appeal ahead of the election. And they are using social media and other…
Pope Francis is in critical condition, the Vatican says
By The Associated Press ROME — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated…
Pope remains in ‘critical’ condition after ‘respiratory crisis’
Pope Francis’s condition continues to be “critical” after suffering a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” earlier on Saturday, the Vatican has said. The pontiff is “more unwell than yesterday” and had received blood transfusions, the statement said. The Vatican said the 88-year-old was alert and in his armchair, but required a “high flow” of oxygen and…
Trump fires top general in Pentagon shake-up
US President Donald Trump has fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown, the highest-ranking officer in the country, as part of a major shake-up of top military leadership. “I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country,” Trump posted on social media.…
‘You dream about such things’: Brit who discovered missing pharaoh’s tomb may have unearthed another
His team found the pharaoh Thutmose II’s tomb underneath a waterfall in the Theban mountains in Luxor, about 3km west of the Valley of the Kings. It contained almost nothing but debris, and the team believe it was flooded and emptied within six years of the pharaoh’s death in 1479BC. Now Litherland has told the…
NIH funding freeze stalls applications on $1.5 billion in medical research funds
Rob Stein The National Institutes of Health has stopped considering new grant applications, delaying decisions about how to spend millions of dollars on research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer’s and allergies. The freeze occurred because the Trump administration has blocked the NIH from posting any new notices in the Federal…
Why Is the Trump Administration Villainizing Mental Health Meds for Kids?
Opinion Cross CurrentsFridays Why Is the Trump Administration Villainizing Mental Health Meds for Kids? A federal commission to examine U.S. chronic disease could undercut real treatment for kids with depression, ADHD and other mental health challenges By Megha Satyanarayana edited by Dan Vergano Keep in touch with Cross Current: Get email alerts for this weekly…
How Harry & Meghan Are Raising Daughter Lili Out of the Spotlight
“To have a boy and then a girl, you know, what more can you ask for?” So Prince Harry said a few months before Meghan Markle gave birth to their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on June 4, 2021, making their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor a big brother and seeing their plan to fruition. “We’ve got our family,” Harry told Oprah Winfrey in one…
Shocked by Trump, Europe Turns Its Hopes to Germany’s Election
Russia-Ukraine War Germany’s economy is stalled and its politics fractured. But it sees an opening for a new chancellor to lead Europe’s response to a changing America. By Jim Tankersley and Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Oberhausen and Dortmund, Germany In the final days of Germany’s abbreviated election campaign, the task facing its next chancellor…
Family of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas says new returned body is hers
The family of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas says a body handed over by Hamas on Friday is hers. “Our Shiri was murdered in captivity and has now returned home,” the family said in a statement. Israel’s forensic officials who have been examining the body are yet to confirm the identification. Remains handed over by Hamas…
Inside Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s Subtly Epic Love Story
There are reasons why Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard—parents of two daughters, frequent costars and the picture of conscientious companionship—are one of Hollywood’s most enviable couples. Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard seem pretty cool, the type of famous people you would totally want to hang out with, should that opportunity somehow arise. But for more…
Emboldened Kremlin Steps Up Efforts to Seize Businesses in Russia
Russia-Ukraine War The legal onslaught on Moscow’s second-largest airport has been seen as part of the Kremlin’s wartime drive to seize control of key assets still in private hands. By Nataliya Vasilyeva Reporting from Istanbul After the fall of Communism, Russia ushered in capitalism by selling off billions of dollars in state assets. Now, 30…
China conducts second live-fire drill near New Zealand
Report from New Zealand navy personnel comes a day after similar drill forced multiple airlines to change flight paths between Australia and New Zealand China’s navy has reportedly conducted a second live-fire exercise in international waters, a day after a similar drill forced multiple airlines to change flight paths between Australia and New Zealand. New…
Feeling Overwhelmed by the News? Here’s How to Protect Your Mental Health
Why the News Feels Overwhelming—And How to Cope An explanation of the science behind news fatigue, plus expert advice to take control and protect your well-being while staying engaged By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson It’s February 2025. The world feels like complete chaos, and it’s hard to step away from the news. Maybe…
Here’s what to know about Germany’s election this Sunday
Rob Schmitz BERLIN — An economic slump, an immigration crisis and the lifting of a security blanket provided for decades by its most powerful ally are on the minds of German voters as they head to the polls for Sunday’s national parliamentary election. The general election of the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, was…
“Diversity” Documents That Weren’t about DEI Were Purged from OSHA Websites
Health and Safety Agency Purged “Diversity” Documents, But They Weren’t about DEI OSHA webpages removed for containing the word “diversity” had no relation to gender or racial diversity By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an arm of the Labor Department, Washington D.C. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! CLIMATEWIRE…
Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party says it will begin process of disbanding
Democratic party chair Lo Kin-hei would not comment on whether Beijing put pressure on members Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party, which became an influential voice of opposition before Beijing cracked down on dissent, will start preparations to shut down, its leader has said. Lo Kin-hei, the chair of Hong Kong’s Democratic party, said on Thursday:…
Hamas Says It Has Returned Another Body It Believes Is Shiri Bibas
Middle East Tensions Less than 24 hours after Israel found that remains delivered by Hamas did not belong to Ms. Bibas, a slain Israeli hostage, the militant group said it had returned another body. By Talya Minsberg and Adam Rasgon Hamas on Friday said it had turned over to the Red Cross the body of…
Trump fires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
By Jason Breslow President Trump has fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and announced he will nominate a retired three-star general to succeed him as the nation’s top military officer. Trump announced Brown’s dismissal in a post Friday on TruthSocial, in which he thanked Brown “for…
Denise Richards Reveals One Rule for Daughter Sami Sheen’s OnlyFans
After Denise Richards’ 20-year-old daughter Sami, who she shares with ex Charlie Sheen, started an OnlyFans account, the Denise Richards & Her Wild Things star made one boundary. Denise Richards is blocking this out. Although the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum—who shares daughters Sami, 20, and Lola, 19, with ex Charlie Sheen, as well…
19 things Trump and his team did this week
Donald Trump has been back in the White House for a month. His fifth week in office saw more dramatic moves as the president continued on his plan to remake the federal government, implement sweeping cuts and reshape American foreign policy. This week he called Ukraine’s war-time president a “dictator”, pledged to make IVF more…
Trump says Starmer and Macron ‘haven’t done anything’ to end Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump has said that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK PM Keir Starmer “haven’t done anything” to end the war in Ukraine, ahead of visits from both leaders to the White House next week. Speaking to Fox News, Trump also said that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has “no cards” in peace negotiations,…
AP sues Trump White House for denying access over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ row
David Folkenflik The Associated Press has sued the Trump administration for barring it from major presidential events over its refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. President Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office renaming the Gulfwhich directly affects usage by the federal government but holds…
Blake Lively’s Rep Asks to be Dropped From Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit
Weeks after It Ends With Us’ Justin Baldoni filed a defamation countersuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane, the rep took legal action. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds‘ publicist would very much like to be excluded from Justin Baldoni‘s narrative. Weeks after the director filed a defamation complaint against his…
Mexico will not stand US ‘invasion’ in fight against cartels, president says
Claudia Sheinbaum’s warning follows Washington designating Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations Mexico will never tolerate an “invasion” of its national sovereignty by the United States, Claudia Sheinbaum has warned after Washington designated Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations. “This cannot be an opportunity for the US to invade our sovereignty,” the Mexican president said. “With Mexico,…
The Amazon is on fire: 5 things you need to know
Editor’s Note: Analysis by Conservation International experts is revealing where the Amazon fires are and why that matters. Track the Amazon fires in real time here. Smoke from fires in the Amazon darkened the skies of Sao Paulo, Brazil, this week, as the world’s largest tropical forest found itself in the midst of an ecological…
Key to protecting the ocean? Money and manpower, study finds
Editor’s note: You can draw lines on a map to “protect” an area of ocean, but does that mean that local communities and wildlife will be better off? According to new research, the answer is “not necessarily.” A new paper published in the journal Nature offers data to back up something conservationists have argued for…
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread Low vaccination rates and undetected infections are driving the measles outbreak in West Texas By Amy Maxmen & KFF Health News Most unvaccinated people will contract measles if they’re exposed to the airborne virus, which can linger for up to two hours indoors. Those…
Fate of Bibas Family Renews Fears for Israel-Gaza Cease-Fire
Middle East Tensions News Analysis Hamas said it had returned the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons. The Israeli military announced that the boys were murdered in Gaza and that Ms. Bibas’s body was that of someone else. By Patrick Kingsley Reporting from Jerusalem For 16 months, the smiling faces of Shiri Bibas…
US flies 177 deportees from Guantánamo to Honduras en route to Venezuela
Move apparently empties military facility on Cuban base of migrant detainees and comes in wake of ACLU lawsuit The US government has flown 177 deportees from Guantánamo Bay to Honduras, from where they are set to be transferred on to Venezuela, apparently emptying the military facility of migrant detainees. The move on Thursday came days…
RHONJ’s Rachel Fuda Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby With Husband John Fuda
Six months after announcing their pregnancy, Real Housewives of New Jersey star Rachel Fuda gave birth to her first baby boy Lorenzo with her husband of seven years John Fuda. Rachel Fuda and John Fuda are growing their dream family. Six months after announcing that she and her husband of seven years were expecting…
Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime to win the contentious 4 Nations Face-Off
By The Associated Press BOSTON — When they played “O Canada” for the second time, there were no American fans left in the arena to boo. Instead, the Canadian team stood at the blue line, arm in arm, player and coach, wearing their championship hats while the maple leaf flag was lowered behind the 4…
Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row
Apple is taking the unprecedented step of removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded access to user data. Advanced Data Protection (ADP) means only account holders can view items such as photos or documents they have stored online through a process known as end-to-end encryption. But…
Caribbean leaders vow to maintain pursuit of slavery reparations
Caribbean leaders have defended the region’s pursuit of slavery reparations, describing the compensation for centuries of enslavement and oppression as a matter of simple justice. Between the 15th and the 19th century, more than 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported to the Americas and sold into slavery. The issue of transatlantic slavery reparations dominated…
National Science Foundation Mass Firings Go Beyond Trump’s Orders, Sparking Outrage
National Science Foundation Mass Firings Go Beyond Trump’s Orders, Sparking Outrage At an emotional meeting, NSF officials announced layoffs for about 10 percent of their workforce and warned of more firings to come By Corbin Hiar & E&E News National Science Foundation headquarters shown outside Washington. CLIMATEWIRE | The National Science Foundation went beyond the…
Bucha, Site of Massacre, Feels Sting of Trump Shift on Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine War Residents of a Ukrainian suburb that was the site of notorious attacks on civilians after Russia invaded are alarmed by President Trump’s warm words for Moscow. By Kim Barker Reporting from Bucha, Ukraine Andrii Pobihai wore his army uniform to the funeral in Bucha, even though he’s retired. He was one of about…
In case you missed it: Here’s what happened with Trump this week, from Ukraine to DOGE
Domenico Montanaro We’ll be recapping what you need to know every Friday morning for the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Get more updates and analysis in the It’s now been a month since President Trump was sworn in, and the firehose of information coming from the administration continued this week, including: Trump reshaping…
Ex-Army head says UK and Europe must step up over Ukraine
The UK and Europe may need to offer security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia, regardless of US support, the former head of the British armed forces has said on a BBC One Question Time special. Retired General Sir Nick Carter said he believed it was for Ukraine to…
Trump’s picks to oversee Medicare and biomedical research will divest stock
By Sydney Lupkin , Rob Stein If Dr. Mehmet Oz is confirmed to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, he said in an ethics letter dated Feb. 16 that he will sell health care stock and leave his role as an advisor to iHerb, LLC, a nutritional supplement company that he has promoted…
Thanks to Trump, Saudi Arabia Gets a Big Week in Diplomacy
Russia-Ukraine War Riyadh is hosting U.S., Russian and Arab officials for high-stakes talks on Ukraine and Gaza, more proof of its regional clout and warm relations with President Trump. By Vivian Yee and Ismaeel Naar Vivian Yee reported from Cairo, and Ismaeel Naar from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Only a few years ago, Washington was calling…
Trump Administration’s Attacks on Science in First 30 Days
Science under Siege during Trump’s First 30 Days The Trump administration has acted fast to attack science with a range of funding and policy tactics By Jeff Tollefson, Max Kozlov, Alexandra Witze, Dan Garisto & Nature magazine U.S. President Donald Trump looks at an executive order on halting federal funds for schools and universities that…