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. […]
Volunteers Search for ISIS Kidnap Victims
They are the missing, torn from their families a decade ago by ISIS militants. Many are likely dead. Some may have been sold into sexual slavery. Others have been trapped in detention camps. The world has moved on, save for a band of searchers who refuse to give up. No international body is searching for…
A Perfectly Cooked Egg, according to Materials Science
How Do You Cook a Perfect Egg? Scientists Have Figured It Out Materials scientists have found a way to perfectly cook an egg white and egg yolk simultaneously By Arminda Downey-Mavromatis edited by Andrea Thompson Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Hard-boiling, soft-boiling or using a trendy sous vide—no matter the approach, cooking a whole…
Armed Bandits in Brazil Pursue New Loot: Ozempic
Criminals are targeting pharmacies and stealing weight-loss medication in a country with body image insecurities and where many cannot afford the drugs. Criminals are targeting pharmacies and stealing weight-loss medication in a country with body image insecurities and where many cannot afford the drugs. A video monitoring system inside a pharmacy in São Paulo. Ozempic…
European leaders set to hold emergency summit on Ukraine
European leaders are set to gather next week for an emergency summit on the war in Ukraine, in response to concerns the US is moving ahead with Russia on peace talks that will lock out the continent. Sir Keir Starmer, who is expected to attend the summit in Paris, said it was a “once-in-a-generation moment…
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas Step Out Over Valentine’s Day Weekend
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas were photographed out together on an outing in London just before the Valentine’s Day holiday. Fans’ eyes were wide open as they watched Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas out together in London. The Mission: Impossible actor and Blade Runner 2049 actress were photographed walking in the Soho neighborhood, with…
Amazon workers vote against unionizing a North Carolina warehouse
Alina Selyukh Amazon workers in North Carolina have voted against unionizing as the retail giant once again prevailed in its fight against labor organizing. Around 4,300 workers at a warehouse in Garner, N.C., a suburb of Raleigh, were eligible to cast ballots over the past week. They voted whether to join the grassroots union called…
Muhsin Hendricks, world’s ‘first openly gay imam’, shot dead in South Africa
Police say motive for killing of Hendricks, who ran a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims near Cape Town, is unknown Muhsin Hendricks, considered the world’s “first openly gay imam”, has been shot dead near the southern city of Gqeberha, South African police have said. The imam, who ran a mosque intended as a safe haven for…
Christina Haack Shows Support for Ex Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger
Without saying a word, Christina Haack has signaled how she feels about ex Ant Anstead’s relationship with Renée Zellweger. Christina Haack is down with this ex’s loving relationship too. The HGTV star liked her ex-husband Ant Anstead‘s Feb. 13 tribute to his girlfriend Renée Zellweger, which promotes her latest film, Bridget Jones: Mad About the…
Vance and Musk Attack German Consensus on Nazis and Speech
Trump Administration news analysis Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk have challenged decades-long approaches to political extremism that were designed to prevent another Hitler. By Jim Tankersley Reporting from Munich The American vice president visited a concentration camp on Thursday afternoon. He laid a wreath at the foot of a statue, made the sign…
Urgent CDC Data on Influenza and Bird Flu Go Missing as Outbreaks Escalate
Urgent CDC Data on Influenza and Bird Flu Go Missing as Outbreaks Escalate Delays in CDC analyses of infectious disease threats and agency silence will harm Americans, doctors and public health experts warn By Amy Maxmen & KFF Health News Sonya Stokes, an emergency room physician in the San Francisco Bay Area, braces herself for a daily…
Arsenal accused of snub to DRC minister over ‘bloodstained’ Visit Rwanda deal
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who was in London this week to raise concerns over Rwanda’s support for the M23 militia, said she attempted to meet Arsenal officials to discuss the club’s Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal. However, Arsenal, one of the world’s most popular Premier League clubs…
German Chancellor Rebukes Vance for Supporting Party That Downplays Nazis
Trump Administration At the Munich Security Conference, Olaf Scholz accused the U.S. vice president of unacceptable interference in Germany’s coming elections. By Jim Tankersley and Andrew E. Kramer Jim Tankersley reported from Munich, and Andrew E. Kramer from Kyiv, Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany on Saturday accused Vice President JD Vance of unacceptably interfering…
Tennis’ top-ranked Jannik Sinner gets a 3-month ban in doping case settlement
By The Associated Press Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency and said Saturday the agreement ends a case that was “hanging over me” since his two positive doping tests nearly a year ago. WADA, which was seeking to ban the three-time Grand Slam champion…
White Lotus Season 3 Premiere: Where You’ve Seen the Cast Before
With HBO premiering The White Lotus season three on Feb. 16, stars including Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Aimee Lou Wood and Natasha Rothwell may look familiar. Get ready to do a double take. Because yes, that really is Lucius Malfoy leaving the Wizarding World behind for a stay at The White Lotus. Jason Isaacs—who played…
British couple held in Iran named as family urge safe return
The family of a British couple in custody in Iran say they are united in their determination to secure their safe return. Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested in January, but news of their detention emerged on Thursday when state-run Iranian media reported they were being held on unspecified security charges. The couple, in their…
Why Jillian Michaels Says Much of the Diet Industry Is “Bulls–t”
There’s no need to sweat over finding the right diet for you, Jillian Michaels insisted in an exclusive interview with E! News. Instead, detailed the wellness expert, follow these no-nonsense tips. Keto and plant-based and intermitten fasting, oh my! Selecting the perfect diet for your body can require some pretty heavy lifting. Which is why Jillian…
A Quick, Quiet Trip to Belarus Signals a Turn in U.S. Policy
Trump Administration After years of the U.S. trying to isolate Russia’s closest ally, a meeting with Belarus’s president points to better relations, raising hopes of loosening his repression and his embrace of Moscow. By Andrew Higgins and Tomas Dapkus The senior American diplomat slipped quietly into Belarus, a police state run by a strongman reviled…
Tumors Hijack the Nervous System to Fuel Their Own Growth
Tumors Hijack the Nervous System to Fuel Their Own Growth Interrupting signals exchanged between tumors and the nervous system could become a critical pillar of cancer care By Ingrid Wickelgren edited by Gary Stix Brain tumor. Cancer arises as an enemy from within. One of the body’s own cells becomes damaged or corrupted and then…
Are immigrants still welcome in Mayor Eric Adams’ New York City? We asked New Yorkers.
Jasmine Garsd It’s part of the lore of New York City: a place where immigrants from around the world come to try their luck. Their influence is everywhere: from a slice of pizza to the immigrant-owned bodegas blasting bachata music. But in recent months, as the national sentiment continues to be divided on immigation, the…
‘I closed my eyes to brace for impact’: the man who escaped a whale’s mouth
Adrián Simancas encountered a humpback off Chile’s coast – but scientists say he was never at risk of being swallowed Adrián Simancas had been paddling for two hours in the calm but icy seas of the Strait of Magellan, off the coast of Chilean Patagonia, when something massive emerged from the water and dragged him…
Vance Tells Europeans to Stop Shunning Parties Deemed Extreme
Trump Administration His comments shocked attendees at the Munich Security Conference and seemed to target efforts to sideline the hard-right party the Alternative for Germany. transcript While the Trump administration is very concerned with European security and believes that we can come to a reasonable settlement between Russia and Ukraine. And we also believe that…
See Emma Watson’s Rare Public Outing at NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Harry Potter star Emma Watson stepped out for the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Feb. 14 amid her ongoing literature studies at Oxford University. Emma Watson is trading quidditch for basketball. The Harry Potter star, who is currently completing her masters degree in literature at Oxford University in England, made a rare public appearance when…
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels enter Bukavu in eastern DRC
Rebels make rapid advance into capital of South Kivu province, less than a month after taking Goma Rebels from the Rwandan-backed M23 group have entered Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after a rapid advance south in recent days. M23 fighters entered the city’s Kazingu and Bagira…
‘Trapped in our home’ – Doorbell camera captures neighbour’s abuse and threats
It’s the early hours of the morning in March 2024 and Ben is woken by shouting and swearing. It’s aimed at him, and he says it feels threatening. It’s the woman who lives in the flat below. An hour before, Ben could see and hear threats on the screen of his doorbell camera. It’s been…
Trump Administration Starts Firing Energy Department, Forest Service and Other Employees
Trump Administration Starts Firing Energy Department and Other Employees The Department of Energy, Forest Service and Office of Personnel Management are among agencies that have begun firing staffers By Brian Dabbs, Marc Heller, Kevin Bogardus, Heather Richards & E&E News Demonstrators hold signs during a rally for federal workers at the U.S. Capitol in Washington,…
A Valentine’s Day aurora may be visible in the skies of the northern U.S.
By Chandelis Duster Some Americans may get a special treat during the Valentine’s Day weekend if the northern lights illuminate the night sky with a hint of romance. While it’s possible this could happen, space weather scientists warn the chances are slim. The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, may be visible across parts of North…
JD Vance attacks Europe over free speech and migration
US Vice-President JD Vance has launched a scalding attack on European democracies, saying the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia and China, but “from within”. It had been expected that Vance would use his speech at the Munich Security Conference to address possible talks to end the war in Ukraine. Instead, he…
Access to Ukraine’s rare earths may help keep U.S. aid flowing
Joanna Kakissis KYIV — As the Trump administration publicly hammers out its plans on ending Russia’s war on Ukraine, it’s also pressing Ukraine for deals in exchange for more aid. One deal in the works would hand the U.S. the right to mine critical minerals including rare earth metals, which are used in a variety…
The Psychology of ‘Shared Silence’ in Couples
The right kind of silence can be golden, revitalizing and strengthening a relationship By Francine Russo & Knowable Magazine Partners enjoy a companionable moment of separate activities. A couple sits together on a sunny park bench. He appears to be studying the passing clouds; she’s absorbed in a novel. Some passersby might think, How sweet.…
How Stars Really Feel About Being Impersonated on Saturday Night Live
Reactions to being impersonated on Saturday Night Live have run the gamut. Find out what Martha Stewart, Miley Cyrus and more have said ahead of SNL 50: The Anniversary Special airing Feb. 16. Flattered, honored, blown away, pleasantly tickled, a little annoyed, mildly disappointed, decidedly unamused: Usually one of those is to some degree how…
The Hidden Costs of Men’s Social Isolation
Opinion The Hidden Costs of Men’s Social Isolation When men suffer social isolation, women may pay the price, too By Angelica Puzio Ferrara & Dylan Vergara edited by Daisy Yuhas Men are struggling—at least, that’s what many headlines suggest. Compared with women, they report having fewer and less supportive friendships. Men lag behind dramatically in…
Revealed: fugitive Dutch drug lord has been in Sierra Leone for at least two years
Sources place Johannes Leijdekkers in west African country since at least December 2022 One of Europe’s most-wanted drug lords has been living in Sierra Leone for at least two years, spending time at nightclubs and house parties, sources have told the Guardian. Johannes Leijdekkers, a Dutch national, has been sentenced in absentia to decades in…
The next Israeli hostages Hamas will release include U.S. and Russian nationals
By Daniel Estrin , Kat Lonsdorf TEL AVIV, Israel — An American and a Russian are among three hostages Hamas says it will release Saturday, resolving a dispute with Israel that had threatened to derail the ceasefire deal. Hamas had previously said it would delay the release, alleging ceasefire violations by Israel, which Israel denied.…
Hamas releases names of hostages due for release on Saturday
Hamas has released the names of three hostages due to be freed on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, after days of fears over the future of the ceasefire. They are Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, and US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen. Israel has said it will resume bombing if the three are not…
Just Say Yes to Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce’s Love Story
After swiping right on Tinder a decade ago, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce marched right toward the proverbial endzone, becoming one of the NFL’s most beloved couples. While Jason Kelce may claim he’s not romantic, he’s definitely got a few plays up his sleeve, making his relationship with wife Kylie Kelce a…
Indonesian province leaps ahead in conservation
One of Indonesia’s easternmost regions is taking an unprecedented step toward sustainability. Last week, the government of the province of West Papua, on the island of New Guinea, announced legislation establishing it as Indonesia’s first “conservation province.” What this means is that the government will ensure that all future economic activity and development will be…
In a long-lost city, scientists find an ‘exuberance’ of life
A team of researchers has begun to answer that question and will publish their full findings in the coming months. Meanwhile, in a story published this week by The New Yorker, Douglas Preston tells the story of the team’s mission to understand the rainforest that swallowed up the White City and kept it hidden for…
Indigenous leaders: To tackle climate change, ‘we must first address racial inequality’
For centuries, social injustices against Indigenous peoples have hindered their ability to conserve the nature they depend on. For insight into how Indigenous peoples are fighting for their lands during lockdown — while simultaneously addressing deep-rooted racial inequality — Conservation News tapped two Indigenous leaders at Conservation International: Minnie Degawan, a member of the Kankanaey-Igorot…
Indonesia protects ‘walking sharks.’ Are other sharks next?
The Indonesian government has granted six species of threatened “walking sharks” the highest level of protection across all national waters — a move experts hope will lead to the conservation of other sharks, whose numbers have plummeted due largely to the shark fin trade. “Walking sharks are small, charismatic and absolutely harmless to humans. Our…
A federal worker tried to take Trump’s ‘Fork’ resignation offer. Here’s what happened
Andrea Hsu The “Fork in the Road” email arrived in Liz Goggin’s inbox around 11 p.m. on Jan. 28th. The email blast from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) went to nearly all federal employees — some 2.3 million people across the U.S. The memo presented federal workers with a choice: Offer your resignation…
‘Where’s my apology from MI5?’ says victim of abusive neo-Nazi agent
Beth was attacked with a machete by her former partner, a neo-Nazi misogynist who used his MI5 role to coercively control her. We revealed on Wednesday that MI5 gave false evidence to three courts over its handling of the man – a paid informant known only as agent X. She believes she only matters to…
Where Bachelor Nation’s Kelsey A. & Joey Stand With Wedding Planning
Nearly a year after fans watched Kelsey Anderson get engaged to Joey Graziadei on The Bachelor, she told E! where they stand with the wedding planning process and discussed her Hallmark partnership. Kelsey Anderson and Joey Graziadei are ready to start focusing less on date cards and more on wedding invitations. “It’s so funny. Literally this…
Measles Outbreak in Children Grows in One of Texas’ Least Vaccinated Counties
Measles Outbreak in Children Grows in One of Texas’ Least Vaccinated Counties With hospitalizations and at least nine confirmed cases, health officials race to contain a growing outbreak in a community with low vaccination By Amy Maxmen & KFF Health News A dose of measles vaccine. Gaines County, Texas, has a growing measles outbreak and low vaccination…
Just a fluke: whale spits out kayaker in incident captured on camera
‘I thought I was dead,’ said the kayaker, who was let go by humpback off the Chilean coast after a few seconds A humpback whale briefly scooped a kayaker into its mouth off the Chilean Patagonia before quickly releasing him unharmed in an incident caught on camera. Last Saturday, Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his…
Bowen: Zelensky forced to face tough new reality after Trump-Putin phone call
America is under new management. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is joining a growing list of US allies who are finding that the world according to Donald Trump is a colder, more uncertain and potentially more dangerous place for them. It must have been bad enough for Zelensky to hear Trump’s abrupt announcement that he had…
Unpacking Dakota Johnson & Jamie Dornan’s Fifty Shades Feud Rumors
It’s been 10 years since Fifty Shades of Grey graced the silver screen. From Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan’s offscreen dynamic to the stars that were almost cast, these secrets will shock you. In the decade since the phrase “fifty shades of f–ked up” entered the public lexicon, rumors surrounding Fifty Shades of Grey’s behind-the-scenes…
Pig-to-Human Organ Transplants Will Finally Begin Clinical Trials This Year
Animal-to-Human Organ Transplants Hit Long-Awaited Testing Milestone Up to 50 transplant patients will receive a genetically modified pig kidney in a clinical trial that will launch this summer By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Towana Looney, 53, received a gene-edited pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health in November, 2024. The FDA just approved the…
Unease grows at the CDC as Trump administration keeps grip on research, messaging
By Pien Huang , Will Stone The situation is far from normal at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, current and former CDC officials tell NPR, even as a clampdown on external communications is starting to ease. New layers of review from political appointees installed by the new Trump Administration remain in place amid…
Mexican president blasts US for harboring drug cartels
Claudia Sheinbaum gives riposte to Trump’s accusation of ‘intolerable alliance’ between Mexican government and gangs Mexico’s president has accused the US of harboring drug cartels and American citizens of working with organized crime groups in Mexico, in a riposte to Donald Trump’s allegation of an “intolerable alliance” between traffickers and her government. “There is also…
Toast, Trees and a Wassailing Queen: An Ancient English Ritual Is Back
England Dispatch The centuries-old tradition of wassailing is making a comeback in rural England, with rituals and revelry meant to chase away evil spirits and the winter blues. England Dispatch The centuries-old tradition of wassailing is making a comeback in rural England, with rituals and revelry meant to chase away evil spirits and the winter…
Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes’ Post-Super Bowl Conversation Revealed
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes exchanged touching words after their devastating loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. Ruling on the field stands: this exchange is very sweet. After the Kansas City Chiefs were defeated by Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in the…
Scientists React to RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary
Scientists React to RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has expressed support for some fields of science but has also declared he’d like a “break” in infectious-disease research. Here’s what he might do as the U.S.’s newly confirmed secretary of health and human services By Amanda Heidt, Heidi Ledford & Nature…
Climate crisis contributing to chocolate market meltdown, research finds
Scientists say more-frequent hotter temperatures in west African region are part of reason for reduced harvests and price rises The climate crisis drove weeks of high temperatures in the west African region responsible for about 70% of global cacao production, hitting harvests and probably causing further record chocolate prices, researchers have said. Farmers in the…
Zelensky says no peace deal without Ukraine involvement
Ukraine will not accept any peace deal agreed by the US and Russia without its involvement, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin pledged to begin negotiations to end the war. Trump said there was a “good possibility” of ending the conflict after he and the Russian president held a “lengthy”…
Sweeping cuts hit recent federal hires as Trump administration slashes workforce
By Shannon Bond , Geoff Brumfiel , Andrea Hsu , Cory Turner Federal workers have begun receiving layoff notices as the Trump administration moves ahead with plans to drastically downsize the government. While the full scale of layoffs isn’t yet clear, the first round of cuts appeared to target employees who were recently hired and…
Sen. Ted Cruz’s list of ‘woke’ science includes self-driving cars and solar eclipses
By Jonathan Lambert There is nothing like being in the path of totality during a total solar eclipse. “For just a few minutes, it feels like the whole world stands still and yet everything changes,” says Corinne Brevik, a physicist at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. The sky darkens, stars come out as the blaze…
Warming Trend in U.S.-Russia Relations Leaves Ukraine in a Tough Spot
Trump Administration Trump’s recent moves, including a conversation with Putin and a demand for Ukrainian mineral rights, are worrisome signs for Zelensky. By Andrew E. Kramer Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was already facing a daunting week as foreign officials gathered in Europe for talks about his country’s future. The Trump…
Beyoncé Shares Rare Destiny’s Child Reunion Pics
Beyoncé gave the Beyhive a look at her reunion with Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland. Beyoncé reunited with her girls. Queen Bey treated her fans to a look at a rare Destiny’s Child reunion featuring her best friends Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland. The “Say My Name” trio got together in honor of…
The Chancellor and her expenses before she became an MP
Rachel Reeves has had a difficult start to her ministerial career. As well as Labour’s new chancellor taking on the challenges of the UK economy, she has faced tricky questions about her past. They began with scrutiny of her online CV late last year. On the professional networking site LinkedIn, the Chancellor of the Exchequer…
Look for ‘Slow Flower’ Bouquets, Plants Grown without Health-Harming Chemicals Used in Overseas Operations
The Beauty of ‘Slow Flowers’ versus the Pretty Poison of Plants Grown with Dangerous Chemicals New “slow flower” farms grow beautiful blooms—without health-harming chemicals used by overseas operations that dominate the U.S. flower market By Maryn McKenna edited by Josh Fischman Dahlias bloom at the Maine Flower Collective, a group of local growers. On a…