The UniverseFridays When the Sun Becomes a Red Giant, Will Any Planet Be Safe? The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the far-future sun, swollen to become a red giant star, as […]
Proof That Adult Brains Make New Neurons Settles Scientific Controversy Adult brains grow new neurons, and scientists have finally pinpointed where they come from By Nora Bradford edited by Allison Parshall Neural precursor cells (green) are have been difficult to identify in human brians. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! For at least six decades, […]
Astronomers Found the Most Self-Destructive Planet in the Sky This planet triggers flares on its star—spelling its ultimate doom By Jacek Krywko edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier In this artist’s impression, the planet HIP 67522 b sends a wave of energy along magnetic field lines toward the surface of its host star—triggering a massive flare […]
Eleanor Beardsley PARIS — A restrictive outdoor smoking ban has come into force in France, a country where café culture, which often includes a glass of wine and a cigarette, is a way of life. As of Sunday, smokers are no longer allowed to light up in public parks, at swimming pools, or at beaches, […]
Can you keep your sanity while fishing up increasingly strange things from the ocean? Deep Regrets is a strategic, horror-themed fishing game for 1-5 players, ages 16 and up, and takes about 30-150 minutes to play. The base game, along with the new expansion, Even Deeper Regrets, is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a […]
Night skies will light up on New Year’s Eve to welcome in 2025. Here’s your guide to child-friendly shows plus what time and where to see the fireworks in Sydney, Melbourne and across the country Night skies across Australia will light up on New Year’s Eve to herald the beginning of 2025. Whether you are…
Olympic gold-medallist Dame Laura Kenny is Britain’s most successful female athlete. She has two young boys but also had a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, and has always wondered if the physical toll of elite sport had damaged her fertility. The BBC News Health team has investigated. Dame Laura, 32, gave her body to cycling…
After Geoffrey Owens shared he was having financial struggles, the Cosby Show alum raised eyebrows by revealing he donated a $25,000 “handout” that he recieved from Nicki Minaj to charity. Geoffrey Owens‘ response to a star’s generous offering is raising eyebrows. After he admitted to experiencing financial hardships back in 2018, the Cosby Show alum—who…
Jimmy Carter dies at 100. By Natasha Frost Jimmy Carter, who from 1977 to 1981 served as the 39th president of the U.S., died yesterday at his home in Plains, Ga. At 100, he was the longest-living president in American history. Here’s our obituary. Carter was a lifelong farmer who worked with his hands building…
Some of the freed Ukrainians had been held since war’s early days, while Russians were captured in Ukraine’s Kursk offensive Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, with at least 150 people from each side returning home before New Year’s Eve, in a swap partly brokered by the United Arab Emirates. “The…
Visitors’ books from Downing Street signed by some of the most famous figures in recent history have been made public for the first time. World leaders and members of the Royal Family are among the names in the three red leather, gilt-tooled volumes being released by the National Archives, spanning 1970 to 2003. The names…
From supportive sports bras to compression leggings, these cute workout clothes will actually make you want to hit the gym. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases. Like everyone else, you’ve probably made a list of all the New Year’s resolutions you want to…
The police are investigating whether President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to lead an insurrection when he declared martial law and plunged the country into crisis. By Qasim Nauman and Choe Sang-Hun Reporting from Seoul A court in South Korea cleared the way for the police to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning on Tuesday,…
The Welsh Ambulance Service has declared a critical incident because of increased demand across the 999 service and extensive hospital handover delays. It said more than 340 calls were waiting to be answered across Wales at the time the critical incident was declared on Monday evening. In addition, more than half of the trust’s ambulance…
Singer urged Tony Blair not to appoint African co-chair to commission on aid, UK government papers show The Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof urged Tony Blair not to appoint an African co-chair to the UK-led organisation working to overhaul international aid to the continent because he thought African leadership was “very weak” on the issue,…
Three weeks before Paige DeSorbo revealed her breakup with Craig Conover, the Southern Charm star shared that marriage and kids were likely in their future, saying, “We’re playing the long game.” It looks like Craig Conover‘s relationship didn’t turn out exactly how he planned. Three weeks before Paige DeSorbo revealed she and the Southern Charm…
Stephen Fowler ATLANTA — Funeral services for former president Jimmy Carter have been released, spanning six days, three cities and multiple stops at places that held significance during his life. Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. In a release from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, the group tasked with coordinating state funerals,…
Fourth seed Luke Littler is highest-seeded player left in his side of the draw Teenager Luke Littler survived a massive scare but beat Ryan Joyce 4-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship. The 17-year-old was again, as has been the case throughout the tournament, far from his best, particularly on doubles,…
Kate Beckinsale detailed some of the alleged mistreatment she faced in Hollywood, including a demand to pose for a photo shoot the day after a miscarriage. Kate Beckinsale is getting candid on some of her harder moments in Hollywood. In the wake of Blake Lively‘s legal complaint against her It Ends With Us costar Justin…
Newly released files show proposals to divert £2m – earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa – to fund scheme Tony Blair’s government discussed diverting £2m earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa in order to fund a controversial pilot scheme to process and house asylum-seekers in Tanzania, newly released government files show. Under the scheme, Britain…
By Ana Swanson Reporting from Washington The announcement comes after revelations in recent months that China had penetrated deep into U.S. telecommunications systems, gaining access to the phone conversations and text messages of U.S. officials and others. In a letter informing lawmakers of the episode, the Treasury Department said that it had been notified on…
Auroras May Light Up New Year’s Sky after Solar Outbursts Will still more auroras ring out 2024, a year marked by the celestial displays? By Meghan Bartels edited by Lee Billings The northern lights seen over Lindisfarne Castle in England on October 10, 2024. The sun is bidding farewell to 2024 with a bang—or rather…
By Grant Blankenship PLAINS, Ga. — By late Monday morning, flags were at half-staff in this small downtown and the decorations were coming down—early. “This next week was gonna be our packing up Christmas,” said Jillian Williams, a fixture of the business community in this strip of shops by the railroad tracks where holly boughs…
Kristin Cavallari clarified whether she has beef with the Kardashian-Jenners after calling out Scott Disick for allegedly ending her friendship with Kourtney Kardashian. Kristin Cavallari is sharing her side of the story. After blaming Scott Disick for her alleged falling out with Kourtney Kardashian, Kristin set the record straight on their dynamic, saying she doesn’t “really…
To curb gang killings and a rise in homicides, the measure empowers the military to make arrests and allows the authorities to enter suspects’ homes without warrants and deny them bail. By Frances Robles and Prior Beharry Prior Beharry reported from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The government of Trinidad and Tobago, facing an…
The breach occurred in early December and was made public in a letter penned by the Treasury Department to lawmakers notifying them of the incident. The US agency characterised the breach as a “major incident”, and said it had been working with the FBI and other agencies to investigate the impact. A spokesman for the…
Former England football manager Gareth Southgate and actor Stephen Fry have both been knighted in a New Year Honours list that also recognises the stars of the Olympic Games. 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, who receives an MBE, is one of several medallists to be honoured following the summer games in Paris. Mayor of London Sadiq…
Kristin Cavallari shared she’s dating a new man—a retired athlete in his 40s—after her breakup with Mark Estes. Kristin Cavallari has a very big update. The Very Cavallari star—who split with TikToker Mark Estes in September after seven months of dating—shared that she’s dating a new man. As Kristin admitted on the Dec. 30 episode…
Terry Gross The 39th president spoke with Terry Gross in 1993, ’95, ’96 and ’98 about growing up on a Georgia farm, entering politics and his advocacy for human rights and peace. Carter died Dec. 29 at age 100. TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. I’m Terry Gross. Today we remember Jimmy Carter and…
Middle East Crisis As the renewed clashes in the north of the enclave neared the three-month mark, there was no sign of them abating. By Ephrat Livni After nearly three months of an intensified Israeli military campaign in northern Gaza to quell what Israel has said is a Hamas resurgence, fighting raged unabated on Monday,…
Electricity cable link to Estonia was damaged on Christmas Day in suspected Russian act of sabotage Finnish investigators say they have found a seabed trail stretching almost 100km (about 60 miles) around the site of an underwater electricity cable that was damaged on Christmas Day in a suspected act of Russian sabotage. The ship under…
Russell Lewis A federal appeals court has rejected an appeal by Donald Trump after a jury decision that he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll. After a nine-day civil trial in 2023, a jury determined that the plaintiff, E. Jean Carroll, was sexually abused by Donald Trump at a Manhattan department store in 1996.…
How Frazzled Parents Can Be More Present with Kids during the Holidays Future-oriented thinking, rather than careening from moment to moment, can help parents have more meaningful moments with their children By Julia Felton, Crystal Cederna & The Conversation US The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the…
Plus, the best of 2024. By Gaya Gupta Jimmy Carter, who rose from a peanut farm to become the 39th U.S. president, died on Sunday at his home in Georgia. He was 100. While his presidency is remembered more for its failures than for its successes, his tenure nevertheless included notable achievements, particularly in foreign…
Letter allegedly written by US official shows contradictions in how government handled mysterious health incidents A leaked letter purportedly written by a senior US military official and published on social media on Monday highlights stark contradictions in the government’s approach to victims of Havana syndrome – a mysterious series of health incidents affecting personnel at…
Iranian authorities have confirmed for the first time that Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested in the country on the grounds of “violation of the Islamic Republic’s laws”. It comes as a US state department spokesperson told Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica that Ms Sala’s case could be linked to the recent arrest of an…
Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) In his decades as a former president, he and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, helped bring lifesaving treatments and sanitation to poor people around the world. By Stephanie Nolen Stephanie Nolen, who covers global health, has observed the Carter Center’s health and aid projects in more than a dozen countries. Jimmy Carter’s five…
By The Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine judge confirmed charges against five people in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction, and ordered preventive prison for two of them for having supplied him with drugs. A judicial officer confirmed Monday the judge’s decision…
Zac Efron had a winning response to Minnesota Vikings players dancing to High School Musical‘s “We’re All in This Together” while celebrating during their game against the Green Bay Packers. Here and now, it’s time for celebration. Once again, the Minnesota Vikings’ defense didn’t stick to the status quo and delivered yet another viral on-the-field…
The World Health Organization has urged China to share data on the origins of the Covid pandemic, five years on from its start in the city of Wuhan. “This is a moral and scientific imperative,” the WHO said in a statement to mark what it called the “milestone” anniversary. “Without transparency, sharing, and co-operation among…
Police allege 31-year-old victim was shot in his car outside family home in western Sydney in ‘targeted attack’ Police have charged an alleged getaway driver after the shooting death of a man outside a family home in western Sydney in what they have labelled a “targeted attack”. Emergency services found a 31-year-old man in Canley…
Competition named after champion surfer Eddie Aikau is held only when waves in Waimea Bay top 30ft A rare surfing event, the Eddie, took place in Hawaii last week, thanks to some giant waves. Formed about a week ago in the north Pacific Ocean, the waves emerged as a low-pressure system produced an exceptionally large…
Why Countries Are Color-Coding Healthy Foods at Grocery Stores European Union countries and Australia have rolled out front-of-package nutrient profiling. Color-coding or star rankings let shoppers make quick choices about healthy foods By Christopher Damman & The Conversation US Nutri-Score rates the nutritional value of foods from A to E. The system was first voluntarily…
Russia-Ukraine War The Treasury Department also released an additional $3.4 billion in budget aid as the Biden administration rushes assistance to Kyiv in its final weeks in office. By Helene Cooper Reporting from Washington The United States is sending nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, as the Biden administration continues to rush military…
Renée Zellweger and Ant Anstead were spotted taking their elderly dog for a walk and getting some grocery shopping done in Los Angeles on Dec. 28. See the couple’s casual day out. Renée Zellweger‘s diary is going to include quality time with Ant Anstead. After all, the two-time Oscar winner recently enjoyed a casual day…
By Scott Neuman Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is at the World Blitz Championship — a competition he has won seven times previously — after going head-to-head with organizers over his refusal to change out of jeans in apparent violation of a strict dress code. Carlsen, from Norway, is the world’s top chess player. He quit…
Former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral will take place on 9 January at the Washington National Cathedral, part of a national day of mourning for the longest-lived US president. Other details are emerging on how the country will pay tribute to the world-renowned humanitarian, who died on Sunday, aged 100, at his home in Plains,…
Russia-Ukraine War Exchanges have taken place before, but this deal, involving big numbers on both sides, comes as Trump prepares to take over in Washington, potentially endangering American aid to Kyiv. By Nataliya Vasilyeva Reporting from Istanbul Russia and Ukraine announced on Monday that they had exchanged more than 300 prisoners of war in a…
Bigger Austudy and carer allowance payments, higher Medicare safety net thresholds and mandatory corporate reporting on climate also ahead With the new year comes new policies, laws, taxes and reforms. Here’s everything to know about changes on 1 January, 2025 that could affect you. Centrelink payments, including youth allowance, Austudy and carer allowance, will increase…
Elf star Will Ferrell donned his Buddy the Elf costume once more at a hockey game in Los Angeles after Christmas. Oh, it’s not a costume. He’s an elf. Well, technically, he’s a human, but he was raised by elves. Over two decades after the release of the comedy Elf, Will Ferrell spread Christmas cheer…
Aviation experts have raised questions about an “unusual” concrete wall near the runway and its role in the South Korea plane crash that killed 179 people. Footage shows the Jeju Air plane coming off the runway before colliding with the wall and bursting into flames at Muan International Airport. Authorities investigating the cause of South…
By Steve Inskeep , Destinee Adams President Jimmy Carter was an outlier in more ways than one. Born and raised on the humble farmlands of southern Georgia, Carter grew up without running water and used an outhouse. He played with the Black children in his community during a time of intense racial segregation in the…
By Gabrielle Emanuel What does it take to wipe out a human disease? That’s only happened once in the history of the world: smallpox, which had killed hundreds of millions, was officially eradicated in 1980. But it happens on a smaller scale every year. In 2024, nine countries eliminated a disease. “These are great accomplishments…
Particles recorded by scientists at the Chilean research station, the Profesor Julio Escudero Base, as recently as Sunday Smoke from bushfires in south-eastern Australia has been detected over Antarctica for the first time since the 2019-20 black summer fires. Scientists detected the smoke particles at the Profesor Julio Escudero Base, a Chilean research station on…
Gisele Bündchen, who is expecting a baby with boyfriend Joaquim Valente, flaunted her growing baby bump on the beach in Costa Rica Dec. 24. Gisele Bündchen is enjoying a sun-kissed holiday. The pregnant supermodel made a splash on the beach in Costa Rica Dec. 24 alongside boyfriend Joaquim Valente as they await the birth of…
Dominique Pelicot, the 72-year-old man who drugged and raped his wife Gisèle and recruited dozens of men to rape her over a decade, will not appeal against his 20-year jail sentence, his lawyer Béatrice Zavarro said. However, 17 of the 49 men who were convicted of raping or sexually assaulting Ms Pelicot at Dominique’s behest…
France Rape Trial Seventeen of the other 50 men convicted in the case — most for participating in rapes of Gisèle Pelicot, then Mr. Pelicot’s wife — have filed appeals, according to a lawyer. By Ségolène Le Stradic and Richard Fausset Reporting from Paris Dominique Pelicot, the 72-year-old who admitted to drugging his wife for…
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Russian defence ministry said it had swapped 150 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy said 189 Ukrainians had returned home. He added that those released…
By Will Stone Avian influenza has a grip on dairy herds in California, a few people have fallen seriously ill in North America and researchers have found that a single mutation could give the virus a better foothold in a person’s upper airways. At the same time, those who’re tracking avian influenza’s footsteps say most…
Mizo Games wants players to have a chance to ‘experience war on the tabletop before it reaches us’ As families in Taiwan prepare to gather for lunar new year celebrations in January, a game that will be released that month promises to offer some war-themed fun over the festive period. The board game 2045, developed…
By Jude Joffe-Block After a mob of pro-Trump protesters breached the U.S. Capitol through a broken window on Jan. 6, 2021, a lone Capitol Police officer, Eugene Goodman, diverted the group away from the Senate chamber. The pack of protesters then chased Goodman up a staircase. The man leading the mob was wearing a black…