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 […]
An American Teacher Went to Ukraine. Now He’s in a Russian Prison.
Russia-Ukraine War Stephen Hubbard was a wanderer. But when he moved to Ukraine, the war brought arrest, torture and imprisonment. He turns 73 this week. via Patricia Fox Hubbard By Kim Barker and Nataliya Vasilyeva Kim Barker reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, spending several weeks talking to people who knew Stephen James Hubbard to compile a…
Trump’s claim that Mexican cartels and government are allied is not reality
Corruption in Mexico is a problem, experts say, but any claim the two are linked shows a lack of comprehension Mexico breathed a sigh of relief this week when Donald Trump delayed his threatened tariffs by a month, apparently swerving away from an economic crisis at the last moment. But one aspect of the spat…
Super Bowl 2025: Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni Celebrates Eagles Win
After the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl 40-22, Philly coach Nick Sirianni celebrated on the field in an adorable moment. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has a lot to celebrate. After the Philly team handily defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl 40-22, Nick celebrated with…
Trump says he will announce raft of new trade tariffs
President Donald Trump has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, a move that will have the biggest impact in Canada. Trump also said that there would be an announcement later in the week about reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax imports from the US,…
Thai Hostages Return From Gaza
Middle East Tensions Thais were, after Israelis, the nationality most affected by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, with nearly 40 farm workers killed and almost as many captured. By Muktita Suhartono and Hannah Beech Reporting from Bangkok At Gate 10 of the arrivals hall of the Bangkok airport, Wichayada Saeyang stroked her son’s hair, as…
Freed Israeli hostage was unaware wife and daughters killed, British family says
An Israeli hostage freed from Gaza did not know his wife and daughters were killed in the 7 October attack until after his release on Saturday, his British family said. Eli Sharabi was taken by Hamas 16 months ago and released on Saturday in Deir al-Balah, in Gaza. His wife Lianne Sharabi, who was from…
Ecuador goes to the polls amid rise in drug-related gang violence
Voters who have become victims of crime wave linked to cocaine trade will determine outcome of presidential election Ecuadorians are voting in a presidential election that has shaped up to be a repeat of the 2023 race, when they chose a young, conservative millionaire over the former leftist president’s protege. Luisa González and the incumbent,…
Donald Trump Becomes First Sitting President to Attend Super Bowl
President Donald Trump was front and center to watch the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles during the Super Bowl Feb. 9. Donald Trump is trading in his seat in the oval office for a seat in a suite. The 47th president of the United States has officially made an appearance at…
How Bad Are COVID, Flu and RSV This Winter?
How Bad Are COVID, Flu and RSV This Winter? COVID levels may have peaked but flu is still high; RSV is on the way out By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser If it seems like almost everyone you know is getting sick with influenza or some other virus right now, it’s not your imagination.…
Snow and ice blanket parts of the northern U.S., and more winter weather is on the way
By Joe Hernandez A mix of snow and ice blanketed a large swath of the northern U.S. on Sunday, after a major winter storm barreled across parts of the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast over the weekend. As much as a foot of snow fell in some places while other areas…
Kelly Stafford Addresses Matthew Stafford’s Possible Retirement
Ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl, NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford’s wife Kelly Stafford exclusively told E! News about the conversations she and the Los Angeles Rams player have about retirement. Matthew Stafford hasn’t made his final throw just yet. Amid rumors the Los Angeles Rams quarterback—who led his team to victory in the 2022 Super…
Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two
Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor – a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on carts laden with mattresses and other goods began returning to northern Gaza following the pull-out – often to scenes of utter destruction. The Israeli withdrawal…
Searching the entire sky for the secrets to our universe
Ari Daniel As soon as the end of February, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will launch a new telescope into orbit around the Earth called SPHEREx. Its goal is to examine nothing less than the essential ingredients of life in our galaxy and the origin of the universe itself. SPHEREx will join the ranks…
How to Avoid Outrage Fatigue and Tune In without Burning Out
Avoiding Outrage Fatigue while Staying Informed Outrage fatigue can wear us down—but we can take care of ourselves in an onslaught of overwhelming news. By Rachel Feltman, Tanya Lewis, Madison Goldberg & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. No matter what you believe, I’m willing…
Israeli Troops Withdraw From Netzarim Corridor in Gaza
Middle East Tensions Israel’s military withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor under the cease-fire with Hamas. During the war, troops patrolled the zone that splits the territory, preventing evacuated Palestinians from returning north. By Lara Jakes and Natan Odenheimer Reporting from Jerusalem Israel’s military withdrew Sunday from a key corridor dividing the Gaza Strip, leaving nearly…
Why Trump blinked before imposing his ‘beautiful’ tariffs on Canada and Mexico
Trump has teased two of the US’s biggest trading partners with levies but has moved the goalpost at least three times in two weeks Donald Trump was in his element in the Oval Office this week. Surrounded by cameras, flanked by billionaire allies and confronted by a barrage of questions about whether he was really…
Tears of joy as freed Thai hostages arrive home
Five Thai farm workers released by Hamas in Gaza last month have arrived home in Bangkok, after spending nearly 500 days in captivity. Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during the attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023. There…
Super Bowl 2025: The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans
By NPR Staff Tonight the Kansas City Chiefs will meet the Philadelphia Eagles for a date with history. The Chiefs are trying to become the first NFL team ever to win three Super Bowls in a row, and the Eagles are eager to stop them and avenge their 2023 loss. NPR and our member stations…
Canada intercepts people trying to cross border in ‘incredibly cold’ conditions
Nine Venezuelans including children found by police in Alberta with a second group apprehended in Manitoba More than a dozen people have been caught making the hazardous crossing into Canada, renewing focus on the closely watched – and seasonally perilous – border with the United States. Police in Alberta this week intercepted two groups attempting…
To Find Life on Mars, Make Microbes Wiggle
To Find Life on Mars, Make Microbes Wiggle Could tiny swimming microbes help us unlock the mysteries of extraterrestrial life? By Gayoung Lee edited by Lee Billings A color-enhanced microscopic view of Bacillus subtilis bacteria, rod-shaped extremophile microbes commonly found in soil and in the guts of cows and humans. The latest advance in the…
Why Fans Believe Taylor Swift Manifested a Chiefs Super Bowl 3-Peat
As Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, Taylor Swift’s fans are sharing theories for why the singer has already manifested a win. Taylor Swift has laid the groundwork for Super Bowl LIX—at least, the Swifties think so. As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare…
How Patrick Mahomes Scored the Perfect Teammate in Wife Brittany
In high school Brittany Mahomes cheered on star QB Patrick Mahomes. A decade later, little has changed for the Kansas City duo except their empire and family, having just welcomed their third baby. Fair to say that Patrick Mahomes has always gone for the big plays. Years before the quarterback—who announced he and wife Brittany Mahomes…
Mexico authorities order factory cleanup after Guardian toxic waste investigation
Inquiry uncovered health problems in neighborhood near Monterrey-area plant that processes US hazardous waste Mexican environmental regulators say they have discovered 30,000 tons of improperly stored material with “hazardous characteristics” in the yard of a Mexican plant that is recycling toxic waste shipped from the US. The authorities ordered “urgent measures” to get the materials…
Parents suing TikTok over children’s deaths say it ‘has no compassion’
The four British families suing TikTok for the alleged wrongful deaths of their children have accused the tech giant of having “no compassion”. In an exclusive group interview for BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the parents said they were taking the company to court to try to find out the truth about what happened…
Hamas Makes Gaunt Israeli Hostages Thank Captors Before Release
Middle East Tensions The scenes at the latest hostage release in Gaza angered Israelis and created even more uncertainty surrounding the next steps in a phased cease-fire deal. By Aaron Boxerman and Fatima AbdulKarim Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem, and Fatima AbdulKarim from Ramallah, West Bank. Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange…
It’s not all fur and games. Here’s how the Puppy Bowl works
Emma Bowman Once a year, on a Sunday in winter, millions tune in to watch two teams roam the field as they bark, tumble and pant. At any moment, a new scent could tempt a player away from the end zone. We’re talking about the Puppy Bowl, of course. For two decades, the popular alternative…
Trump’s DEI Purge Comes at a Cost to Indigenous Communities
Trump’s DEI Purge Comes at a Cost to Indigenous Communities President Donald Trump’s purge of diversity initiatives has affected both federal agencies and the institutions they fund, including those that work with Indigenous communities By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the…
Post Malone Shares Insight Into Life with 2-Year-Old Daughter
Ahead of his Super Bowl 2025 tailgate performance, Post Malone gave E! News a rare look into his life as a dad to his 2-year-old daughter. With updates like this, we’re happy to be stuck in an endless February. Though Post Malone has kept his private life, well, private, the “Circles” rapper recently gave rare…
How Trump’s Tariff Threats Tore the U.S.-Canada Bond
Trump Administration Patriotic sentiment is bursting in Canada after President Trump’s threat to apply hefty tariffs and even annex the country. The damage to the two nations’ relationship could be lasting. By Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Ian Austen Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Toronto, and Ian Austen from Windsor, Ontario. Booing during “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sports…
Rwandan and Congolese leaders join summit on eastern DRC conflict
Leaders from across Africa call for immediate ceasefire at cross-party summit in Tanzania A summit of regional leaders has called for an immediate unconditional ceasefire within five days in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, and the president of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, joined a summit in Tanzania on Saturday,…
How Can We Know If an Asteroid Will Hit Earth?
The UniverseFridays How Can We Know If an Asteroid Will Hit Earth? “Keep your eye on the ball” is a motto for many athletes—and for astronomers trying to find Earth-threatening space rocks By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings A not-to-scale illustration of an asteroid’s orbital path crossing the orbit of Earth around the sun.…
Buffy Sainte-Marie stripped of prestigious Canadian honor
Chloe Veltman The Canadian government has stripped Buffy Sainte-Marie of one of the country’s highest honors, after a 2023 news report found she had fabricated claims of Indigenous ancestry. The Oscar-winning singer’s Order of Canada termination was publicly shared on Saturday in the Canadian government’s official online publication, the Canada Gazette. Canada’s governor general, Mary…
4 things you didn’t know elephants do for you
Editor’s note: On April 18, 2018, Conservation International released its virtual reality film, “My Africa.” The film tells the story of a young Samburu woman in Kenya whose community is working to save elephants, reknitting an ancient coexistence between people and wildlife. In honor of this film, Conservation News is telling stories about the people,…
How one ocean voyager uses tradition to connect to the future
Voyagers in Samoa tap into their cultures’ traditions to connect with the ocean. The preferred means of travel? The Va’a (pronounce “vaka”), a canoe traditionally used by the Polynesians to travel across the Pacific Ocean. The Va’a is not just a means of transportation — it’s a way to connect with other cultures while learning to…
River near Buenos Aires turns bright red after suspected industrial dye leak
Residents living near the Sarandí have long complained about pollution in the area A small river in greater Buenos Aires was dyed a deep and worrying shade of red on Thursday after what is thought to have been a leak of dye from a nearby factory. The violent hue of the Sarandí, which runs through…
Trump and Musk Bring Vast Aid Machinery to a Halt in Africa
Trump Administration The collapse of U.S.A.I.D. at the hands of President Trump and Elon Musk is already leaving gaping holes in vital health care and other services that millions of Africans rely on for their survival. By Declan Walsh Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya For decades, sub-Saharan Africa was a singular focus of American foreign aid.…
Untangling Harrison Butker’s Graduation Speech Controversy
Before Harrison Butker’s Kansas City Chiefs secured a spot in the Super Bowl, the NFL kicker faced backlash for his graduation speech at Benedictine College. Here were his most polarizing comments. Not all of Harrison Butker‘s moves have been total winners. Before his Kansas City Chiefs team secured their spot in the 2025 Super Bowl,…
The US Is Not Ready for Bird Flu in Humans
Opinion Cross CurrentsFridays The U.S. Is Not Ready for Bird Flu in Humans Bird flu is infecting more people than we think. We need to stop it now before a new pandemic begins By Megha Satyanarayana edited by Dan Vergano Keep in touch with Cross Current: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Megha…
Russell Vought takes the helm at CFPB as Musk’s DOGE accesses key systems
Laurel Wamsley Russell Vought, an architect of Project 2025 and the new director at the Office of Management and Budget, is now also the acting leader of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, according to a source familiar with the situation. The source requested anonymity out of fear of retribution. Senior executives at CFPB, the federal…
Hostage’s British family express joy at his release but concern over gaunt appearance
The British family of an Israeli hostage freed from Gaza on Saturday have described a “pendulum of emotions” as he was released 16 months after his capture. Eli Sharabi’s brother-in-law Steve Brisley, who lives in Bridgend, Wales, expressed joy at his release, but voiced concerns over Mr Sharabi’s gaunt appearance and whether he knew his…
Expert: Rollbacks of environmental protections imperil nature — and human health
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, countries around the world have been shrinking or eliminating areas set aside to protect nature — some to drill for fossil fuels, others for urban development. Yet the environmental rollbacks that some governments claim could help humanity recover economically from the coronavirus could put humanity more at risk of future…
How to talk to kids about climate change
Editor’s note: Conservation International climate expert Shyla Raghav recently joined a group of children on an episode of the National Children Museum’s podcast, “STEAM Daydream,” to explore climate science. In a new post, Raghav shares advice to help parents educate their children about climate change. As climate breakdown accelerates, it is crucial for children to…
5 experts share how hope fuels their work
Yes, it’s easy to feel despondent. The planet is overheating and nature is declining at unprecedented rates. But environmental chaos is not inevitable. And doom and gloom never did any good. Increasingly, thought leaders are urging optimism — and a clear-eyed focus on solutions that are well within reach. Around the world, people are working to confront climate…
News spotlight: Fossil fuels behind extreme ocean temperatures, study says
For 450 straight days in 2023 and 2024, ocean temperatures hit record highs. According to a new study, the world’s oceans are warming four times faster than they were in the late 1980s, and the burning of fossil fuels is behind the dramatic acceleration, Danielle Bochove reported for Bloomberg. “With climate change, it’s the oceans…
For this scientist, the ‘real work’ is in listening
When presented with a choice, she always chose the adventure. But as an intern just out of graduate school, she found herself on a Caribbean island, facing down a group of angry fishermen who called her “the devil.” Speaking to Conservation News, Wear talked about the highs and lows of her career working to protect…
Now reading: Harrison Ford Is Still Full of Surprises
Harrison Ford is, by all accounts, busier than ever. “I’m acting my ass off!” the Hollywood veteran told John Jurgenson of the Wall Street Journal, in a profile published Wednesday. In two recent hit shows and a new Marvel movie, the 82-year-old actor has embraced parts that have surprised fans and critics. But there’s one…
US-Panama relationship was ‘very strong’. Then Trump upended the diplomatic playing board
When Panama’s then president Juan Carlos Varela was invited to the White House in June 2017, Donald Trump said the Panama canal was doing “pretty well” and described the bilateral relationship as “very strong”. Just days earlier, Varela had broken ties with Taiwan to establish diplomatic relations with China, but there was no indication that…
Trump’s executive actions are getting challenged as ‘arbitrary.’ What does that mean?
By Christina Gatti President Trump has signed a number of executive actions since taking office, taking aim at everything from immigration and the size of the federal workforce to gender politics and the economy. Before the ink had dried, challengers took legal action to block many of these actions from taking effect. Less than three…
Lourdes Leon and More Stars Who Freed the Nipple at Fashion Week 2025
Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon and the Clermont twins were among the stars at Fashion Week 2025 who went braless for the stylish occasion. Winter fashion week can certainly get a bit nippy. While some stars bundled up in chic tights, scarves and coats, other celebrities opted to bare it all out, going braless for some…
Mathematical Symbols’ Wild History Explained
The Wild and Contentious History of Mathematical Symbols A mathematician has uncovered the stories behind the symbols used in math By Max Springer edited by Clara Moskowitz War in Europe is a staple topic in the study of history, but there’s one major conflict most history books won’t teach you—the battle of the equals sign,…
Hamas names next hostages to be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
Hamas has released the names of the next hostages to be freed on Saturday in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. They are male civilians Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy. So far, 18 hostages have been freed since the ceasefire began on 19 January with Israel in…
Trump plans to name himself chair of Kennedy Center, fire board members
Mandalit del Barco President Trump says he is taking over leadership of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. He declared himself chairman of Washington D.C.’s long-celebrated cultural institution on Friday. In doing so, he’ll replace billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, an ally of former President Joe Biden who was set to chair until 2026.…
Hailee Steinfeld Has Game-Winning Reaction to Josh Allen’s MVP Award
Hailee Steinfeld shouted out fiancé Josh Allen after the Buffalo Bills quarterback was named AP NFL Most Valuable Player at the NFL Honors ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl. Hailee Steinfeld is shining a flashlight on Josh Allen‘s wins. The Pitch Perfect actress couldn’t contain her glee after her fiancé was named AP NFL Most Valuable Player…
Trump Orders Halt to Aid to South Africa, Claiming Mistreatment of White Landowners
Trump Administration The president ordered that all foreign assistance to South Africa be halted and said his administration would prioritize the resettling of white “Afrikaner refugees” into the United States. By Michael D. Shear and John Eligon Michael D. Shear reported from Washington, and John Eligon from Johannesburg. President Trump on Friday ordered that all…
Why This AI Gazes into Goat Faces
Why This AI Gazes into Goat Faces AI-based systems can help identify livestock’s early signs of distress By Lucy Tu edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The patient grumbled and grimaced, but he refused to speak to his doctor. The patient was a goat. Recognizing animal pain is notoriously difficult.…
Trudeau says Trump is serious about wanting to annex Canada
Prime minister says US president covets northern neighbour’s vast resources as Canadians rally against threat Donald Trump’s recent fixation on absorbing Canada is “a real thing”, Justin Trudeau has told business leaders, warning that the US president wants access to his northern neighbour’s vast supply of critical minerals. The outgoing prime minister was in Toronto…
Trump’s Gaza Plan Complicates Hoped-for Saudi-Israeli Deal
Trump Administration President Trump wants to broker normal ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but his proposal to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza just made that a lot harder. By Ismaeel NaarVivian Yee and Toqa Ezzedin Reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates President Trump touted the 2020 Abraham Accords that established formal ties between Israel…
Judge pauses Trump plan to put thousands of USAID staff on leave
A federal court has issued a “very limited” temporary order halting President Donald Trump’s plan to gut the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The judge issued a restraining order that would block 2,200 employees from being put on administrative leave as was scheduled by midnight Friday. USAID employs about 10,000 people – two-thirds…
Trump Halts Funding to Build More Electric Vehicle Chargers Nationwide
Trump Halts Funding to Build More Electric Vehicle Chargers Nationwide The Trump administration has halted funding for a $5-billion program that Congress created to help states build out their electric vehicle charging network By Mike Lee & E&E News An electric vehicle at an Electrify America charging station in Atlanta, Ga. CLIMATEWIRE | The Trump…
Sudanese military reports sweeping gains in battle for capital
Army making rapid advances across the country and closing in on RSF-held Republican Palace in Khartoum Sudan’s brutal civil war appears to be approaching a decisive phase as the country’s military reported sweeping gains in the symbolic battle for the capital. As a ruinous conflict, often characterised by bloody stalemate, nears its two-year anniversary, the…