How Supermassive Black Holes Can Become Cosmic Nightmares
The UniverseFridays Do We Live in a Haunted Galaxy? Huge eruptions from the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole in the distant past may have sterilized much of the inner galaxy By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait Galaxies are spooky […]
Why an interstellar comet has scientists excited
Jaclyn Diaz An ancient comet that entered our solar system this summer is offering a rare opportunity to learn more about distant planetary systems far beyond the reach of any spacecraft, researchers say. The comet is special both because it is interstellar — meaning it came from outside our solar system — and also because […]
Did Astronomers Photograph UFOs Orbiting Earth in the 1950s?
UFOs Are Just One Explanation for Mysterious Patterns in Old Telescope Data New peer-reviewed research reporting strange lights in the pre-space-age sky is sparking curiosity and controversy By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings For generations, UFO enthusiasts have longed for claims of aliens visiting Earth to be seriously investigated by scientists. Now they are […]
Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of The Borderlands
For many, Dungeons & Dragons may seem like a insurmountable entry point to the world of RPGs, and, in many ways, especially without at least one seasoned veteran in your group, it isn’t necessarily an incorrect assumption. The all new Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of The Borderlands aims to eliminate that hurdle […]
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: Time Loop Shenanigans in ‘Chronofiends!!’
The research station is stuck in an ever-shrinking time loop—use your time-manipulating powers to accomplish your objectives before time runs out! Chronofiends!! (yes, the exclamation points are part of the title) is a cooperative time-loop game for 1 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, and takes about 90 minutes to play. It’s currently seeking […]
Massive reforestation effort puts down roots in Brazilian Amazon
A new project seeks to kickstart a revival for the world’s largest rainforest by planting new trees — tens of millions of them. The project, announced Friday at the “Rock in Rio” music fest in Brazil, aims to restore 73 million trees in the Brazilian Amazon by 2023. Spanning 30,000 hectares of land (about 74,000…
Women conservation leaders ‘a tide lifting everyone’
The climate crisis affects women disproportionately: They’re 14 times more likely to die during a disaster and constitute 80 percent of all climate refugees. But a new wave of women conservation leaders is spearheading efforts around the world to prevent and adapt to the impacts wrought by climate breakdown. ELLE magazine dedicated its July issue…
Study: To make conservation go ‘viral,’ keep it simple, social
What makes a video go “viral”? What makes people stand in line for hours to buy a new smartphone or eat at a hip restaurant? And what does any of that have to do with conservation? A new study suggests that some of the same features that make a new gadget popular, such as simplicity,…
What on Earth is ‘reforestation’?
In this installment and video, we explore “reforestation,” a practice critical to stopping climate change. What’s reforestation? That’s easy: It’s helping to bring forest back to an area where it was destroyed. I have a feeling there’s more to it than that. Well, yes: Reforestation involves indigenous peoples, wildlife, breathable air — even the cocoa…
‘My Africa’ field notes: Portraits of hope for Africa’s elephants
Editor’s note: On April 20, Conservation International will release its new virtual reality film, “My Africa,” at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, with a world release on April 30. The film tells the story of a young Samburu woman in Kenya whose community is working to save elephants, reknitting an ancient coexistence between…
Voice of America staff sue Trump administration for shutting down network
David Folkenflik Six Voice of America journalists sued Kari Lake and the Trump administration on Friday, alleging their moves to shut down the U.S.-funded network were unlawful and unconstitutional. The journalists say that the government’s acts violate their First Amendment rights on free speech grounds and usurp the U.S. Congress’s control of the power of…
Flights Resume at Heathrow After Substation Fire Shut Down Airport
Heathrow Airport Closure The blaze forced Britain’s largest airport to cancel or divert more than 1,000 flights on Friday and removed a linchpin of global air travel. Counterterrorism police were investigating the cause of the fire. transcript “We have lost power equal to that of a mid-sized city, and our backup systems have been working…
The doctor is in: Indonesia’s whale sharks get annual check-up
Imagine swimming with a shark as big as a bus. Now imagine trying to measure, tag and take blood samples from this shark — giving it a physical, as in a typical doctor’s visit — but underwater and in less than 30 minutes. For nine days, I helped complete the world’s first health assessment of…
What on Earth is ‘land tenure’?
Editor’s note: In this installment, we break down “land tenure,” a concept with major implications for conservation. What is land tenure? At its most basic, “land tenure” refers to the rights of people or communities to manage (own and use) the land that they reside on. Meaning, if you reside on the land, you get…
What is Climate Week? 3 things you need to know
Editor’s Note: Climate Week is taking place from September 23 to September 29. Check Conservation News for coverage of this global forum. World leaders will gather next week for the three-day UN Climate Summit, aimed at redoubling countries’ efforts to curb climate-warming carbon emissions. Joining them in New York: business leaders, climate experts, activists and…
Stunning Antarctic Sea Creatures Discovered after Iceberg Breaks Away
Stunning Antarctic Sea Creatures Discovered after Iceberg Breaks Away A calving iceberg exposed a region that never before had been seen by human eyes, revealing a vibrant, thriving ecosystem By Ashley Balzer Vigil edited by Andrea Thompson A large sponge, a cluster of anemones, and other life is seen nearly 230 meters deep at an…
OnlyFans Model Allegedly Murdered Client While Filming BDSM Content
OnlyFans creator Michaela Rylaarsdam, known professionally as Asshley SinCal, is facing a murder charge after an alleged sexual encounter led to the death of a 56-year-old man. An OnlyFans creator is facing a murder charge after an alleged sexual encounter gone wrong. Michaela Rylaarsdam was charged over the 2023 death of Michael Dale, according to…
Power struggle leads to coup in Tigray as war looms between Ethiopia and Eritrea
Tigray’s interim leader flees as rival faction seizes control, while Ethiopian tanks and troops move to border of Eritrea Aregawi was building a tour-guiding business when war struck Ethiopia’s Tigray region in 2020. He spent the next two years fighting on the frontline. Now he is among those who fear Tigray is on the brink…
How did a single fire bring down Europe’s busiest airport?
It seems astounding that a single fire at an electricity source shut down one of the world’s busiest airports. The disruption to the journeys of thousands of passengers and millions of tonnes of trade goods on Friday has prompted a series of questions over the resilience of the UK’s major infrastructure. Disaster recovery plans keep…
Germany, ‘Orphaned’ by U.S., Shakes Off the Shock and Stirs to Action
Germany’s Politics News analysis No country in Europe is as much a product of enlightened postwar American diplomacy. Now adrift, it has begun to reckon with a new world. By Steven Erlanger Reporting from Berlin The United States gave Germany its democracy and its constitution. It supported German reunification when France and Britain had their…
Homeland Security makes cuts to civil rights and immigration oversight offices
Ximena Bustillo The Department of Homeland Security is cutting jobs in the oversight divisions focused on civil rights as a part of a broader reduction in force effort across the federal government. The affected offices, confirmed by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, are the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Office of the…
New tech could transform science of wildlife ‘selfies’
A groundbreaking new effort could greatly expand our knowledge of where the wild things are. Placed by researchers in forests and natural areas around the world, motion-detector cameras — known as “camera traps” — snap thousands of photos a day of animals rarely seen by human eyes. These unwitting selfies have provided scientists an unequaled…
Off Panama’s coast, divers resurrect a ‘ghost’ of the deep
Editor’s note: Edgardo Ochoa was scouting for dive training sites in Panama Bay in 2000 when he made a troubling discovery. Nearly two decades later, as a marine safety officer for Conservation International (CI), he was able to do something about it. This is his story. Back in 2000, as a unit diving officer at…
To improve crop yields, just add trees
Editor’s note: To meet global food demand by 2050, production will have to increase by 60 percent, the FAO reports — yet agriculture is already a major source of deforestation. To meet humanity’s food needs, we must use land more sustainably and productively. One solution with potential is agroforestry, a practice that integrates trees and…
Report: Coffee companies pledge to tackle the bitter consequences of climate change
Freshly brewed, a new report on the future of sustainable coffee offers grounds for optimism. Released by the Sustainable Coffee Challenge — a Conservation International-led coalition of 160 partners — the report finds that a growing number of companies, non-governmental organizations and research institutions are dedicated to improving sustainability in the coffee industry. The report…
Protect nature or risk future pandemics, expert warns
Humanity’s continued assault on the environment could unleash another pandemic — and soon. Though every new infectious disease is unique, research shows many share a key feature: They are driven by the destruction of nature. In a recent interview with Conservation News, Vora discussed how his experience as a physician has helped him explore the…
Sudan’s Army Retakes the Presidential Palace in Khartoum
Sudan’s Civil War Two years into a civil war, troops recaptured the palace in Khartoum, routing a paramilitary foe. Civilians have been trapped in the middle in a city with an apocalyptic air. Two years into a civil war, troops recaptured the palace in Khartoum, routing a paramilitary foe. Civilians have been trapped in the…
Sudan’s army recaptures presidential palace in major battlefield gain
Compound was last bastion in the capital, Khartoum, held by rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces The Sudanese army has recaptured the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum, in a highly symbolic battlefield victory over the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the country’s catastrophic civil war. Videos posted on social media showed soldiers carrying assault rifles…
Justin Bieber Subtly Reacts to Critics “Tearing Hailey Bieber Apart”
Justin Bieber showed subtle support for his wife Hailey Bieber amid ongoing speculation over their relationship. Justin Bieber is taking a beat to support his beauty. The 31-year-old—amid heightened scrutiny over him and his relationship with Hailey Bieber—subtly reacted to the drama by liking an Instagram post discussing his wife. The post in question, shared…
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?
Heathrow Airport is closed all day Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation that supplies it with power. The UK’s busiest airport has warned of significant disruption over the coming days, with at least 1,300 flights in and out cancelled. What are your rights if your journey has been disrupted and can…
Elon Musk’s Pentagon visit sparks more questions about his access to sensitive files
Greg Myre Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday. But questions about why ignited a fresh storm of controversy surrounding his access to sensitive government information. The New York Times, citing unnamed officials, reported that Musk would receive a briefing on U.S. plans for any potential conflict with China, which involve some of the military’s…
Education Dept. cuts could hurt low-income schools. And, an entertainment rundown
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. President Trump signed an executive action yesterday to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The administration has promised that certain federal education grants, including for low-income and rural…
What we know so far about the Heathrow closure
Flights around the world have been disrupted after Heathrow Airport closed due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, said it was experiencing “significant” disruption after the blaze at North Hyde substation in Hayes, west London. More than 1,300 flights have been affected, tracking website Flightradar24 said, and passengers…
New map pinpoints where people depend on nature the most
More than two-thirds of the population of the tropics — about 2.7 billion people — directly depend on nature for at least one of their most basic needs, according to new research. The study, published today in the journal Global Environmental Change, is the first to quantify people’s dependence on nature, and underscores the extent…
Notes from the field: Forest drones, gorilla germs and more
Though news headlines about the state of the planet may seem bleak, they don’t always capture the whole story. Around the world, the work of protecting nature and the climate is happening in the field — and achieving triumphs that don’t always make the news. Here are three recent conservation success stories you should know…
New science: deep-sea hotspot, Indigenous ocean conservation and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent research published by Conservation International experts. Off the coast of Chile, the deep waters surrounding Easter Island are brimming with some of the densest populations of black corals on Earth, according to new research. Black corals create critical habitat for an abundance of deep-sea life,…
News spotlight: Humanity barreling toward ‘irreversible’ climate tipping points
Editor’s note: News about conservation and the environment is made every day, but some of it can fly under the radar. In a recurring feature, Conservation News shares a recent news story that you should know about. Our world is 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than it was at the dawn of the…
Why a new treaty to protect the high seas is a ‘game-changer’
Roughly two-thirds of the world’s oceans lie beyond national boundaries in an area known as the “high seas” — yet only about 1 percent of that vast and largely unexplored expanse has been protected. Now, after two decades of planning, intense negotiations and a final 36-hour marathon session, countries have agreed on the first-ever United…
‘Deported because of his tattoos’: has the US targeted Venezuelans for their body art?
US claims tattoos prove membership of Tren de Aragua gang but relatives describe tributes to God, family and Real Madrid Like many Venezuelans of his generation, Franco José Caraballo Tiapa is a man of many tattoos. There is one of a rose, one of a lion, and another – on the left side of the…
Kanzi the Bonobo, Who Learned Language and Made Stone Tools, Dies at Age 44
Kanzi the Bonobo, Who Learned Language and Made Stone Tools, Dies at Age 44 What we learned about ape and human cognition from Kanzi the bonobo, who died this week By Kate Wong edited by Jeanna Bryner Kanzi the bonobo died on March 18, 2025, at the age of 44. Kanzi the bonobo, who learned…
How Meryl Streep Reacted After Learning Eva Longoria Is Her Cousin
Eva Longoria revealed that Meryl Streep had the sweetest reaction to finding out they’re cousins, saying that the Oscar winner quipped, “Clearly you got the beauty.” Eva Longoria has only family members in the building. The Desperate Housewives alum shared that she recently discovered she’s related to Meryl Streep while appearing on an episode of…
Zimbabwean millennial Kirsty Coventry gets Olympic top job
By Kate Bartlett JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—Zimbabwean Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry has had an eventful career, from the pool, to parliament. The country’s former dictator, Robert Mugabe, called her “a golden girl,” while the man who deposed him in a coup — Emmerson “the Crocodile” Mnangagwa – appointed her his minister of sports. Now the 41-year-old…
Heathrow Airport closes all day over power outage
Heathrow Airport is closing all day Friday because of a large fire at a nearby electrical substation that supplies it. The airport is experiencing a “significant power outage” because of the fire, a statement from Heathrow said. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March,”…
Netanyahu Expected to Fire Shin Bet Chief Despite Protests
Middle East Tensions Israelis have been demonstrating against the action, which many see as part of an effort to reduce checks on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. By Isabel Kershner Reporting from Jerusalem Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel convened his cabinet late Thursday to approve the ouster of the head of the Shin…
Bachelor’s Katie Thurston Is “Not OK” Emotionally Amid Cancer Battle
Bachelorette alum Katie Thurston shared insight into her breast cancer treatments and how she’s “emotionally not OK” on the March 19 episode of The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast. Bachelor Nation’s Katie Thurston is getting candid on the challenges of breast cancer battle. The 34-year-old—who starred on The Bachelorette in 2021 after appearing on…
Kirsty Coventry elected first female president of IOC as Coe routed in vote
The Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry has become the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year history after a stunning first-round knockout over a seven-strong field that included Britain’s Sebastian Coe. In a contest that had been expected to go through multiple rounds of voting, the 41-year-old won 49 of the 97…
Meet a scientist: the sustainable-seafood guru
Editor’s note: A recent survey found that 81 percent of Americans could not name a living scientist. No, not a single one. At Conservation International (CI), we have lots of scientists you should know. Here’s one. Jack Kittinger is senior director of the global fisheries and aquaculture program for Conservation International’s Center for Oceans, focusing…
Update: What we’re learning about the world’s largest fish
Editor’s note: Indonesia’s Bird’s Head Seascape is home to a large population of whale sharks, the world’s largest fish and, until recently, largely a mystery to science. In 2015, Conservation International (CI) scientists made headlines by launching the world’s first successful fin-mounted satellite tagging program for whale sharks. By directly attaching a satellite tag to…
Report: One-fifth of Mekong River fish face extinction
Unsustainable development has pushed one-fifth of the fish in the Mekong River — the lifeblood of Southeast Asia — to near extinction, according to a new report. While the report paints a bleak picture, there is still time to reverse the damage to the river — if countries work together, says Conservation International freshwater scientist…
Trump Wants to go to Mars. That’s Not Happening
Opinion We’re Not Going to Mars Anytime Soon—Despite What Musk Says Elon Musk and Donald Trump have announced ambitious plans to send a mission to Mars in 2026 and 2028. It’s not going to happen By Paul M. Sutter edited by Dan Vergano Elon Musk gives a tour to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and lawmakers…
Trump Wants to Take Over Ukraine’s Nuclear Plants. What Would That Mean?
Russia-Ukraine War The White House said taking ownership of Ukrainian plants would give them the “best protection.” The idea faces legal hurdles and operational challenges, and it’s unclear if Ukraine would agree to it. By Constant Méheut Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine During a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine this week, President Trump floated…
Patrick Schwarzenegger & Abby Champion Star in SKIMS Wedding Campaign
Kim Kardashian enlists White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger and Abby Champion to star in SKIMS’ Wedding Shop campaign. These styles are all about luxe comfort, romance, and unforgettable moments. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Get ready for…
Pentagon restores webpages of Black veterans, Navajo Code Talkers and others after outcry
Tom Bowman The Pentagon has restored some of its webpages that highlighted Black veterans such as Jackie Robinson, the Tuskegee Airmen and Vietnam-era Medal of Honor recipient Major Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers as well as the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II and the Japanese-American 442nd Combat Regiment. Two Defense Department officials not authorized…
Reassurance, not peacekeeping: What Ukraine coalition force will and won’t do
The potential Western troop deployment to Ukraine being discussed in London should be described as a “reassurance force” rather than a “peacekeeping force”, defence and diplomatic sources say. Currently dubbed the Multinational Force Ukraine or MFU, it would be sent to the country to cement any ceasefire and encourage long-term confidence in the country. The…
M23 rebels capture strategic mining hub of Walikale in eastern DRC
Town in North Kivu province is the farthest west the group has reached since the start of its advance in January M23 rebels have captured a strategic mining hub in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, defying calls from the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC for an immediate ceasefire. A Congolese army spokesperson said…
Amazon Movers & Shakers: Trending Kitchen Products, Starting at $3
These are the coffee makers, milk frothers, veggie choppers, and more, that everyone on Amazon is buying RN. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. My Amazon cart is almost always 75% of what I need and then 25% of…
Women in business held back by mobile data’s cost in developing world – report
Nearly half of female entrepreneurs surveyed by Cherie Blair Foundation for Women do not have regular internet access The cost of a mobile data package is all that is holding back many female entrepreneurs in developing countries, according to recent research. While social media marketing is reported to be crucial by female business owners who…
Tesla’s challenges run deeper than ‘toxic’ controversy around Elon Musk
“This has been our family car for three years, and it has been an absolute dream,” says Ben Kilbey as he shows me his gleaming pearl-white Tesla Model Y. Ben is a staunch electric car advocate. He runs a communications firm that promotes sustainable businesses in the UK. Yet now, he says, the Model Y…
Frozen Cosmic Sound Bubbles Suggest Dark Energy Is Shockingly Changeable
Shocking Dark Energy Findings Challenge the Standard Model of the Universe A new map of cosmic expansion suggests that dark energy evolves over time, hinting that the universe doesn’t work the way we thought it did By Zack Savitsky edited by Clara Moskowitz DESI’s 3D map of the universe can show how dark energy may…
In Syria, Being Wanted Went From Something to Fear to a Badge of Honor
Syria After Civil War The ousted Assad dictatorship kept lists of millions of wanted people. Now, Syrians are openly asking whether they “have a name” on any of those lists and are sharing the news proudly. By Raja Abdulrahim Reporting from Aleppo and Damascus, Syria When he returned to Syria recently for the first time…
New ‘baby pictures’ of the cosmos show the universe in its infancy
By Joe Hernandez Sure, they’re not your typical baby pictures. But a global team of researchers says new images published this week show some of the clearest visualizations yet of the universe in its infancy. If our roughly 13 billion-year-old cosmos could be considered middle-aged, the researchers note, these new images captured around its 380,000th…
The oceans are on the brink. Here are 3 ways to save them
Last year, a major United Nations climate report underscored a grim reality: Humanity is pushing the world’s oceans to the brink. By the end of the century, the report’s authors wrote, more of the world’s seas could be hot, acidic and lifeless — with catastrophic implications for marine life, the climate and for the food…
Study: Protecting tropics could save half of species on brink
In 2019, a landmark UN report revealed that nearly 1 million species face extinction due to human activities and climate change. A groundbreaking new study offers a solution to save more than half of these doomed species, while slowing climate breakdown: Conserve just 30 percent of tropical lands. The study, published today in the journal…
To stop climate catastrophe, look to soil: study
In 2019, a UN report laid out a bitter truth: The current food system is fueling the destruction of Earth’s forests — and humanity must overhaul how we grow and ship food to stop climate breakdown. But countries are struggling to keep farming sustainable while meeting the mounting demand for production — which must increase…
What does COVID-19 have to do with nature? These 5 articles explain
This post was updated May 19, 2020. Editor’s note: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread around the world at lightning speed, infecting more than 4.8 million people and killing more than 319,000 people to date. Protecting nature will be critical to preventing future pandemics, some scientists say. With that in mind, here are five articles that…