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 […]
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…
Trump Executive Orders Create Confusion for Science and Health Agencies
Funding Freeze and Communications Hold Create Confusion for U.S. Researchers Researchers in the U.S. are grappling with Trump administration executive orders around health and science agency funding and communications. By Rachel Feltman, Max Kozlov, Lauren J. Young, Fonda Mwangi & Madison Goldberg [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman.…
U.S. importers prosecco panic
Ruth Sherlock ROME, Italy—President Donald Trump’s threats to impose new tariffs on European goods has caused Americans to suddenly stockpile their favorite Italian wines – especially the sparkling wine, prosecco. US imports of Italian wine – 90% of that Prosecco – skyrocketed by 41% in November following Trump’s election, according to the Union of Italian…
‘A crying need’: Goma hospitals plead for blood donors after M23 assault
Facilities overwhelmed by wounded people and unable to get supplies in or transport patients out Patients with gunshot and shrapnel wounds have crammed into overwhelmed hospitals in Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, many with serious injuries and in need of blood, after M23 rebels backed by Rwanda marched into the city. At…
Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ Family Reacts to Allison Holker’s Memoir
Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ mother Connie Boss Alexander and younger brother, Dre Rose shared their thoughts on Allison Holker’s memoir in first interview since his 2022 death. Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ family is looking for answers. The late Ellen DeGeneres Show alum’s mother Connie Boss Alexander and younger brother Dre Rose alleged they were blindsided by how…
Grenfell Tower to be taken down, government confirms
Grenfell Tower will be taken down, the government has confirmed nearly eight years after a fire that killed 72 people. The process is expected to take around two years and will be done “sensitively”, with no changes to the building before the eighth anniversary of the disaster in June, the government said. The plan has…
Europe’s Trump Playbook: Offer Carrots but Warn That You Have a Big Stick
Trump Administration The European Union’s so-called Trump task force spent 2024 preparing for a possible trade dispute. Specifics are secret, but guiding principles are becoming clear. By Jeanna Smialek Jeanna Smialek reported from Brussels, London and Washington. The European Union spent last year drawing up secret plans for what the bloc would do if President…
U.S. education policy is at a crossroads. This congressional hearing shows why
Cory Turner The White House wants to close the U.S. Department of Education, and has placed dozens of employees on paid leave with little explanation. Its plan, which it confirmed to NPR, is to quickly shutter programs that are not protected by law and to call on Congress to do the rest. President Donald Trump…
Authoritarian regimes around the world cheer on dismantling of USAid
Elon Musk-led razing of US foreign aid agency led strong-arm rulers in Hungary, Belarus and elsewhere to celebrate Moscow has welcomed the impending dissolution of USAid, joining a chorus of strongman leaders declaring victory over an organisation they have long portrayed as a vehicle of American political interference. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on…
To Keep Aid Coming, Ukraine Appeals to Trump Allies: Conservative Christians
Russia-Ukraine War A Ukrainian delegation to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington will make the case that Russia threatens the religious freedom of Christians who don’t follow the Russian Orthodox Church. By Andrew E. Kramer and Lara Jakes Andrew E. Kramer reported from Kyiv and Lara Jakes from Rome. Ukraine is sending its largest-ever delegation…
Frost Yourself With These How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Secrets
You’re so vain you probably didn’t realize that Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson’s iconic rom-com How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days premiered 22 years ago. Frost yourself with secrets from the director. You’re so vain, you probably think this article is for you—and if you’re a fan of How to Lose a Guy…
Who Discovered the Cause of Down Syndrome?
Who Discovered the Cause of Down Syndrome? It took more than 50 years for Marthe Gautier to set the record straight about her discovery of the genetic cause of Down syndrome By Lorena Galliot, Sophie McNulty & The Lost Women of Science Initiative In the mid-1950s Marthe Gautier, a young French doctor and cytogenetics researcher,…
‘His hands were everywhere’ – women accuse surviving Fayed brother of sexual assault
Three former Harrods employees have accused Mohamed Al Fayed’s only surviving brother of sexually assaulting them while they were working for the department store. Speaking publicly for the first time, the women say Ali Fayed, 82, assaulted them in the 1990s when he and his brothers, Mohamed and Salah, owned and ran Harrods. A spokesperson…
Senate Democrats call for answers on health communications freeze and funding delays
Carmel Wroth In a letter sent Wednesday night to Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink, a group of 34 Democratic senators called for the federal health agency to end its freeze on “external communications and funding.” “We write to express our deep concern over the Administration’s recent decision to freeze external communications…
US should support World Bank and IMF – Bank of England boss
The Governor of the Bank of England has urged continued US support for two major global economic institutions. Andrew Bailey told the BBC he was “following extremely closely” whether the Trump administration will change its support for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Sources in Washington said the two institutions were caught…
Teen Mom’s Amber Portwood Says She’s “F–ked Up” From Gary Wayt Split
Months after Amber Portwood’s then-fiancé Gary Wayt disappeared, then ended their engagement, the Teen Mom star is still reeling, sharing in the series’ Feb. 6 episode, “I’m more than heartbroken.” Love hurts, love scars. And, as Teen Mom‘s Amber Portwood discovered, love wounds and marks. Months after her then-fiancé Gary Wayt went missing following her…
Trump’s Gaza Plan Has Many Pitfalls, Hamas Among the Biggest
Trump Administration News Analysis President Trump’s proposal to “own” Gaza and transfer its population elsewhere has stirred condemnation and sarcasm, but it is an opening bid and could disrupt a tired diplomatic paradigm. By Steven Erlanger Steven Erlanger has written about the Middle East and diplomacy for many years. President Trump took the world aback…
Whale Songs Follow Basic Human Language Rules
Whale Songs Obey Basic Rules of Human Languages Humpback whales learn their haunting melodies in much the same way humans learn words By Cody Cottier edited by Andrea Thompson John Natoli/Getty Images For all the world’s linguistic diversity, human languages still obey some universal patterns. These run even deeper than grammar and syntax; they’re rooted…
‘Worst nightmare’: Egypt and Jordan put in impossible bind by Trump Gaza plan
Though heavily dependent on US aid, Amman and Cairo face political calamity at home should they comply International outrage in recent days has focused on Donald Trump’s proposal that the US take “ownership” of Gaza, and that more than two million Palestinians be displaced to allow the territory to be transformed from “a demolition site”…
USAID officials direct staff on ‘stunning and irresponsible’ cuts to jobs and offices
By Jenna McLaughlin , Fatma Tanis , Shannon Bond Amid global fallout over the blockage in funding and staffing for the United States Agency for International Development, senior staff submitted a list to State Department leadership of around 600 people whose work around the world they deemed essential and could not be disrupted. But Secretary…
Trump sanctions International Criminal Court, calls it ‘illegitimate’
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court, accusing it of “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”. The measure places financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies. In January, the US House of…
ATTN: Coach’s V-Day Deals Has Heart Shaped Bags up to 70% off RN
PSA: These V-Day steals are giving us heart-eyes! Shop heart-shaped bags and accessories, starting at just $17. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Cupid’s arrow has officially hit Coach Outlet with the cutest Valentine’s Day deals! Whether you’re…
Trump’s anti-trans effort is an agenda cornerstone with echoes in history
Odette Yousef Hours after an army helicopter and an American Airlines jet collided near Reagan National Airport last week, killing all on board both craft, social media erupted with the claim that the pilot manning the Black Hawk was a transgender service member. But it wasn’t true. Jo Ellis, a transgender, Black Hawk pilot with…
Elon Musk’s ‘Fork in the Road’ Is Really a Dead End
Opinion Why Elon Musk’s ‘Fork in the Road’ Is Really a Dead End Elon Musk’s Fork in the Road isn’t just a sculpture—it’s a monument to the tech world’s obsession with civilizational survival, which has its roots in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence By Rebecca Charbonneau edited by Dan Vergano Unlike the Sistine Chapel-esque utensils…
For Europe’s Right, Trump Stirs Caution Alongside Celebration
Trump Tariffs The American president’s threat of tariffs is not in the interest of Europe’s nationalist parties, who are just as eager to put their own countries first. By Emma Bubola and Catherine Porter Reporting from Rome and Paris. Standing in the rotunda, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy was a privileged guest at President…
Teen Mom’s Catelynn, Tyler React to Carly’s Parents Blocking Them
Fifteen years after Teen Mom’s Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra put their daughter Carly up for adoption, they learned her adoptive parents blocked them in an exclusive look at the Feb. 6 episode. Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra have come to a harsh realization. Fifteen years after the Teen Mom OG star placed her daughter…
Rubio accuses South Africa of ‘anti-Americanism’ and snubs G20 meeting
US secretary of state repeats remarks by Donald Trump about ‘expropriation of private property’ in African nation The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has accused South Africa of “anti-Americanism” and refused to attend a G20 meeting in Johannesburg later this month, as diplomatic ties sour between the two countries under Donald Trump’s administration. Rubio…
Bank cuts interest rates and slashes growth forecast
The Bank of England has halved its growth forecast for this year as it cut interest rates to the lowest level for more than 18 months. The economy is now expected to grow by 0.75% in 2025, the Bank said, down from its previous estimate of 1.5%. The government has made growing the economy one…
Refugee shot in eye during deadly 2014 crossing into Spain files complaint to UN
Survivor of Ceuta incident that ended with 14 deaths asks why use of anti-riot equipment was never investigated A refugee who was almost blinded in one eye during a police operation that ended with the deaths of at least 14 people off the coast of Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta 11 years ago has…
Books We’re Loving This Month: What To Read in February
With picks from authors including Dolly Alderton and Mona Awad, you’ll definitely want to add these books to your TBR list. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Few things are better than curling up on the couch with a good book. These days,…
You have more control over your emotions than you think
By Marielle Segarra , Malaka Gharib Let’s say you’ve gone through a breakup. You’re heartbroken, confused and angry. What do you do with all those feelings? The ability to regulate your feelings is important. “Emotions are valuable in helping us navigate the world,” Kross says. “They become less useful when they’re experienced too intensely or…
U.S. Military Plane Deports Migrants to India
Trump Administration The flight appeared to be the first use of an American military aircraft to deport people to India, which is one of the top sources of illegal immigration to the United States. By Suhasini Raj Reporting from New Delhi A U.S. military plane with at least 100 migrants aboard landed in India on…
Families concerned as Grenfell to be dismantled
The government has decided to dismantle Grenfell Tower, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told a meeting with bereaved relatives and survivors. Seventy two people died when the tower block in west London caught fire in June 2017. The decision follows several years of debate over the future of the 24-storey tower, with some hoping it…
As Elon Musk Dismantles USAID, Foreign Leaders Rejoice
Leaders in Russia, Hungary and El Salvador welcomed the Trump administration’s assault on U.S.A.I.D., which many authoritarians have seen as a threat. By Paul Sonne Reporting from Berlin When Elon Musk set about “feeding U.S.A.I.D. into the wood chipper,” as he put it, it wasn’t only supporters of President Trump’s “America First” agenda who were…
First Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic H5N9 Reported in U.S. Ducks
A Second Type of Bird Flu is Circulating in U.S. Ducks—What to Know Nearly 119,000 birds have been culled at a farm in California after a bird flu called H5N9 was detected among the poultry By Emily Cooke & LiveScience A highly pathogenic new strain of H5N9 has been detected in ducks at a farm…
A new type of bird flu has been found in dairy cows in Nevada
By Will Stone A variant of H5N1 bird flu that has circulated widely in wild birds — and in several instances led to severe illness in several humans — has turned up in dairy cattle for the first time. The findings were relayed in a short update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which traced…
Skin Pros on How To Solve Winter Dryness and Irritation
We’ve found 10 must-have products with skincare expert-approved ingredients that will deeply hydrate your skin and reduce redness. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. If your skin is feeling red, dry, and irritated right now, you’re not alone. Winter weather can be brutal…
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels launch new offensive in DRC
Clashes break ceasefire days before Rwandan and Congolese presidents attend crisis summit Rebels of the M23 armed group and allied Rwandan forces have launched a new offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), days before the Rwandan and Congolese presidents are due to attend a crisis summit. The UN said the battle for…
Maryland federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán A federal judge in Maryland on Wednesday blocked President Trump’s executive order to end citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to parents in the country without legal status. Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are…
Trump Administration Closes Climate Health Office
Trump Administration Shutters Climate Health Office A climate office at the Department of Health and Human Services has been shuttered, and its staff was placed on administrative leave By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News An elderly man faints in front of the Supreme Court in June 2024 as temperatures in Washington, D.C., rose into the…
Allison Holker Memoir Bombshells: tWitch Boss, Ellen DeGeneres & More
In Allison Holker’s book This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light, the dancer wrote about her career, relationship with husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss and journey after his 2022 death. So you think you know Allison Holker‘s journey? In her new memoir This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light…
Jeremy Bowen: Trump’s Gaza plan won’t happen, but it will have consequences
Donald Trump’s plan for the US to “take over” and “own” Gaza, resettling its population in the process, is not going to happen. It requires the co-operation of Arab states that have rejected it. They include Jordan and Egypt – countries that Trump wants to take in Gaza’s Palestinians – and Saudi Arabia, which might…
Elon Musk Can Find His $2-Trillion Federal Spending Cut in Nuclear Weapons
Opinion ArgonautWednesdays Elon Musk Can Find His $2-Trillion Federal Spending Cut in Nuclear Weapons DOGE’s Elon Musk should turn his $2-trillion hatchet to wasteful and perilous U.S. nuclear weapons modernization plans By Dan Vergano edited by Jeanna Bryner Keep in touch with the Argonaut: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Dan Vergano Famously…
Southport killer’s referral to counter-terror scheme closed too early, review finds
The Prevent counter-terrorism scheme “prematurely” closed its case on Axel Rudakubana three years before he went on to murder three children in Southport, a government review has found. Security minister Dan Jarvis MP told the House of Commons Rudakubana had already discussed the Manchester Arena bombing and stabbing people when Prevent decided to end its…
National Women’s Soccer League reaches $5 million settlement over 2021 abuse scandal
Becky Sullivan Three years after revelations about sexual coercion, racism and other abuse roiled the National Women’s Soccer League, prosecutors on Wednesday announced a settlement with the league to establish a $5 million victims’ fund and implement other reforms. In 2021, allegations began to burst into the public about years of abuse suffered by players…
Ben Stiller Says He Didn’t Expect to Reconcile with Christine Taylor
Ben Stiller revealed the impact that his 2017 separation from Christine Taylor had on him and why he didn’t actually think they would end up back together. There’s something about getting back together. And Ben Stiller knows that firsthand. More than three years after his breakup with wife Christine Taylor, the Zoolander costars reconciled during…
Hundreds of women raped and burned to death after Goma prison set on fire
Atrocity follows escape of thousands of male inmates amid chaos as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seize eastern DRC city Hundreds of women were raped and burned alive during the chaos after a Rwandan-backed rebel group entered the Congolese city of Goma last week. The female inmates were attacked in their wing inside Goma’s Munzenze prison during…
Trump Proposes U.S. Takeover of Gaza and Says Palestinians Should Move
Trump Administration The president met with the Israeli prime minister at the White House, meeting in person with another world leader for the first time since returning to power. By Michael D. ShearPeter Baker and Isabel Kershner Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear reported from Washington, and Isabel Kershner from Jerusalem. Follow reactions to President…
Trump picks Neil Jacobs to head NOAA, a scientist with ‘Sharpiegate’ ties
By Alejandra Borunda , Julia Simon Who: Neil Jacobs Nominated for: Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) You might know them from: Jacobs led the agency on an acting basis during part of the previous Trump administration. What does this role do: President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Neil Jacobs to be the…
Trump EPA Spending Freeze Continues despite Court Orders
Trump EPA Spending Freeze Continues despite Court Orders Two judges have ordered the Trump administration to lift a freeze on spending, including at the Environmental Protection Agency. But nonprofits and states still can’t get money for contracts that are backed by the Inflation Reduction Act By Jean Chemnick & E&E News Grid Alternatives employees hoist…
Everything to Know About Cristiano Ronaldo’s Big Family
Soccer’s Cristiano Ronaldo is known for being a steely competitor, but off the pitch the Portuguese athlete shares five kids—who are also fond of winning—with Georgina Rodríguez. Cristiano Ronaldo is in no rush to retire, but when he finally does one day, he won’t be hanging up his drive to win along with his cleats.…
How Canada and Mexico’s Leaders Took Different Routes to a Tariff Deal With Trump
Trump Tariffs News analysis The Canadian and Mexican leaders negotiated with President Trump in diverging ways. In the end, they both secured an outcome they could present as a victory back home. By Matina Stevis-Gridneff and James Wagner Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Toronto, and James Wagner from Mexico City Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada…
Flies in hospital wards may be spreading drug-resistant bacteria to patients
Scientists in Nigeria found the insects carry infections resistant to last-resort antibiotics, adding to fears about superbugs Flies buzzing between beds may be spreading drug-resistant bugs among patients in hospitals, according to new research. Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) found that houseflies in Nigerian hospitals carry bacteria resistant to some…
Trump’s Gaza plan will be seen as flying in face of international law
When US President Donald Trump began speaking 10 days ago of Gaza as a demolition site, calling to “clean out that whole thing”, it wasn’t clear how far these were off-the-cuff remarks. But in the lead up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, in his Oval Office comments before the meeting, and in the…
Inside the NSF’s Effort to Scour Research Grants for Violations of Trump’s Orders
Inside the NSF’s Effort to Scour Research Grants for Violations of Trump’s Orders The U.S. National Science Foundation has unfrozen grant funding, but it continues to scrutinize research projects, sowing turmoil By Dan Garisto, Max Kozlov & Nature magazine The National Science Foundation, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, funds about 25 percent of basic US academic…
Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general
By Ayana Archie The Senate has voted to confirm Pam Bondi to serve as attorney general, elevating a longtime defender of President Trump to lead the Justice Department and oversee the more than 100,000 who work for it and its component agencies — including the FBI. Bondi was confirmed Tuesday by a vote of 54…