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 […]
Canadian fans boo US anthem as tariffs spur ‘buy local’ pledge
A few hours after President Donald Trump announced that he would impose steep tariffs on Canada, hockey fans in the capital Ottawa booed the Star-Spangled Banner during a National Hockey League game against a visiting US team. On Sunday, during a National Basketball Association game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers, it…
Pressure grows on EU to freeze minerals deal with Rwanda over DRC fighting
The EU is under mounting pressure to suspend a controversial minerals deal with Rwanda that has been blamed for fuelling the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Calls to freeze the agreement have grown after fighters from the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group captured the city of Goma in the eastern…
Russia, Seeking to Salvage Military Bases, Goes Hat in Hand to Syria
Syria’s Civil War Syria’s Civil War Syria’s Civil War The arrival of the first top Russian diplomat in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad’s fall kicks off negotiations over the fate of Moscow’s bases in Syria. By Paul Sonne and Christina Goldbaum Paul Sonne reported from Berlin, and Christina Goldbaum from Damascus. The time had come to…
The Dark Side of Canada’s Fight Over Lobster
As Canada wrangles an epic, decades-long saga of who can fish for lobster, and when, emerging threats are heating up the conflict in Nova Scotia. As Canada wrangles an epic, decades-long saga of who can fish for lobster, and when, emerging threats are heating up the conflict in Nova Scotia. Atlantic lobster caught by Bill…
Hosting for Chiefs vs. Eagle? These Products Will Clean Your Home Fast
Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. If you’re hosting a party or expecting any guests to watch the Chiefs play the Eagles, we found some products on Amazon that will make cleaning your home a lot easier so you can focus on all…
Which Foods Are the Most Ultraprocessed? New System Ranks Them
Which Foods Are the Most Ultraprocessed? New System Ranks Them Scientists have created a ranking of grocery store items based on their degree of processing By Lori Youmshajekian edited by Tanya Lewis Most grocery stores seem to offer endless options in their aisles, which are full of cereals, pastas and baked goods available in hundreds…
Your ears can’t prick up, but your ear muscles sure try
Nell Greenfieldboyce When people are trying hard to listen to something, the body seems to do its best to “prick up its ears,” even though this ability was lost by our evolutionary ancestors millions of years ago. That’s according to a new study which found that a certain vestigial ear muscle — one that perks…
Wall Street Journal editorial calls Trump tariffs ‘dumbest trade war in history’
Some US business leaders have reacted neutrally, while JP Morgan CEO says tariff threats can be used effectively US business leaders are offering a mixed reaction to steep trade tariffs that Donald Trump’s administration has imposed on Canada, Mexico and China, as the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal called it “the dumbest trade…
What are tariffs, who pays them, and could they hurt US consumers?
Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on goods entering the US from Canada, Mexico and China. The US president signed an executive order putting a 25% tariff – or tax on imports – on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico, to get both countries to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Goods…
Trump aid spending freeze halts leading malaria vaccine programme
Global collaboration with US researchers likely to be set back by years, including on spread of drug-resistant HIV A flagship programme to create malaria vaccines has been halted by the Trump administration, in just one example of a rippling disruption to health research around the globe since the new US president took power. The USAid…
These Most Shocking Grammys Moments Will Leave You Speechless
Ahead of the 67th Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena Feb. 2, hosted by Trevor Noah, it’s time to look back at the wild moments from past shows that are still memorable today. It’s time for music’s biggest night. And while the Grammys—hosted by Trevor Noah for the fifth consecutive time—hands out its awards annually,…
How world responds to Trump’s tariffs is what matters next
It was not a bluff, the tariffs are here – and this is just the opening salvo from the Oval Office. The world trading system has not been here before. A slide towards a wider trade conflict is very much on the cards, as President Trump prepares similar tariffs firstly against Europe, and then at…
NASA’s Latest Asteroid Sample Hints at Life’s Extraterrestrial Origins
Asteroid Bennu Is Packed with Life’s Building Blocks, New Studies Confirm Material retrieved from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft shows that all the basic building blocks of life were astonishingly widespread in the early solar system By Mike Zeitz edited by Lee Billings A view of the OSIRIS-REx sample canister, containing material from…
The Divine, the Digital and the Political at Humanity’s Largest Gathering
Stampede at Festival in India Stampede at Festival in India Stampede at Festival in India The Maha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival in India that is drawing hundreds of millions of pilgrims, is a powerful marketing tool for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his allies. The Maha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival in India that…
Did your date give you ‘the ick’? Here’s the science behind the feeling
By Andrea Muraskin The food was top-notch, the atmosphere was cozy and my date aimed to entertain. I love a good personal story, so I invited him to relate one that he’d referenced in his profile. Good fodder for a first date, I thought. At one point in the story, as he recounted it, a…
D.C. crash investigators focus on altitude and vision quality of helicopter crew
Emma Bowman Three days after the midair collision of an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, air safety investigators said on Saturday that they are still working to fill in some key details that could point to the cause of the crash. They are looking into whether…
Trump airstrikes target ‘senior IS attack planner’ in Somalia
The US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, indicated multiple jihadists were killed and no civilians were harmed The US military has conducted airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) operatives in Somalia, the first attacks in the country during Donald Trump’s second term as president. The strikes were carried out against IS-Somalia in the Golis Mountains, in…
Trump Funding Freeze Could Set Disaster Recovery Back ‘for Years’
Trump Funding Freeze Could Set Disaster Recovery Back ‘for Years’ President Donald Trump’s sudden move to freeze federal grants is hitting states where people are struggling to recover from wildfires and hurricanes By Thomas Frank, Anne C. Mulkern, Andres Picon & E&E News A person assesses damages of his house after Hurricane Helene made landfall…
Karla Sofía Gascón Once Called Costar Selena Gomez a “Rich Rat”
Karla Sofía Gascón allegedly insulted her Emilia Pérez costar Selena Gomez while commenting on a post that debunked feud rumors between the singer and Hailey Bieber. Another past controversial social media message allegedly posted by Oscar nominee Karla Sofía Gascón has been unearthed ahead of the 2025 ceremony. According to an image of a Twitter exchange published…
Trump imposes tariffs but Canada and Mexico hit back
US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffs on all goods imported from America’s three largest trading partners, China, Mexico and Canada. Trump said the US would impose tariffs beginning on Tuesday of 25% on Canada and Mexico, and 10% on China. Canadian energy faces a lower 10% tariff. He had threatened to impose…
Latin America Gets Into Deal-Making Mode for Rubio’s Visit
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration After a barrage of threats from President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now tasked with trying to reap cooperation from Latin America. By Maria Abi-HabibAnnie CorrealEmiliano Rodríguez MegaJames Wagner and David Bolaños Maria Abi-Habib, Annie Correal, Emiliano Rodríguez Mega and James Wagner reported from Mexico City, and…
Teddy Swims Shares Parenting Advice From Thomas Rhett
Best New Artist Grammy nominee Teddy Swims exclusively told E! News what parenting advice his pal Thomas Rhett gave him ahead of the birth of his first baby. Prepare to lose control when you see Teddy Swims at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The singer, who is nominated for Best New Artist at the Feb. 2…
Third Black Hawk crew member involved in deadly crash near DC airport identified
Tom Bowman The Army released the name of the third crew member of the Black Hawk helicopter that slammed into an American Airlines-affiliated flight above the Potomac River this week, killing 67 people. Captain Rebecca Lobach was 28 years old and a native of Durham, N.C. She was a distinguished military graduate from the University…
Life in Goma After a Rebel Takeover
Congo-Rwanda Conflict Goma Dispatch For those living in Goma, which has been captured by Rwanda-backed rebels, there is little water, little food and much uncertainty. Goma Dispatch For those living in Goma, which has been captured by Rwanda-backed rebels, there is little water, little food and much uncertainty. Rwanda-backed rebels took control of Goma, a…
AI-generated child sex abuse images targeted with new laws
Four new laws will tackle the threat of child sexual abuse images generated by artificial intelligence (AI), the government has announced. The Home Office says that, to better protect children, the UK will be the first country in the world to make it illegal to possess, create or distribute AI tools designed to create child…
At least 770 killed in Goma, east DRC in fighting with Rwanda-backed M23
Rebels had captured the city in January in major escalation of 10-year-old conflict At least 773 people were killed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s largest city of Goma and its vicinity this week amid fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels who captured the city in a major escalation of a decade-long conflict, Congolese authorities have…
Watch a Frog Walk on Water with High-Speed Belly Flops
Watch a Frog Walk on Water with High-Speed Belly Flops Tiny frogs seem to skim the water’s surface, but high-speed video reveals their secret By Rohini Subrahmanyam edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Graduate researcher Talia Weiss observes a cricket frog, whose unusual locomotion lets it appear to skip across the water’s surface. Join Our Community…
Three Israeli hostages and dozens of Palestinian prisoners released
Three Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza were released from captivity on Saturday, in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Yarden Bibas, 34, Ofer Kalderon, 53, and Keith Siegel, 65, were handed over to the Red Cross – the latest hostages to be released as part of a ceasefire deal struck…
Why Teen Mom’s Leah Messer Is Ready to Embrace Life as a “Cat Lady”
More than two years after Leah Messer split with fiancé Jaylan Mobley, the Teen Mom star says her life is just, uh, purr-fect as is. As she told E! News, “I think everything will fall into place.” With all due respect to The Beatles and their impossibly catchy hit, Leah Messer would quibble with the…
The Science of Cynicism and the Transformative Psychological Power of Hope
Can Hopeful Skepticism Replace Harmful Cynicism? Giving in to cynicism makes us less trusting, less connected, and even less physically and mentally healthy. By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. No one wants to be a sucker. But do most of us go too far…
As Trump vows to embrace fossil fuels, U.S. climate policy won’t change quickly
Jeff Brady President Trump wants to redirect the federal government away from former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda and toward an even deeper embrace of fossil fuels. “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump said to cheers from supporters at his inauguration speech on Jan. 20. His burst of climate and energy executive orders was quickly…
Life After a Rebel Takeover
Congo-Rwanda Conflict Congo-Rwanda Conflict Congo-Rwanda Conflict Goma Dispatch For those living in Goma, which has been captured by Rwanda-backed rebels, there is little water, little food and much uncertainty. Goma Dispatch For those living in Goma, which has been captured by Rwanda-backed rebels, there is little water, little food and much uncertainty. Rwanda-backed rebels took…
‘Perfect rat storm’: urban rodent numbers soar as the climate heats, study finds
Sharp rise in population in 11 of 16 cities expected to continue as rising temperatures make it easier for the animals to breed, say researchers Rat numbers are soaring in cities as global temperatures warm, research shows. Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, New York City and Amsterdam had the greatest increase in these rodents, according…
Inside the Fabulous World of Kylie Jenner’s Kids Stormi and Aire
Life for Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi Webster and son Aire Webster—shared with ex Travis Scott—could almost be mistaken for normal, minus the designer labels, private jets and tricked-out birthdays. There’s nothing all that unusual about a celebrity alighting from a private jet, snug in a furry full-length coat. It’s a little less common when that scene-stealer is…
How Many Planets Are in the Solar System?
The UniverseFridays How Many Planets Are in the Solar System? The number of planets that orbit the sun depends on what you mean by “planet,” and that’s not so easy to define By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings All eight of the solar system’s “major” planets appear in this illustration, but the actual number…
Canada will bring ‘forceful but reasonable’ retaliation to Trump tariffs, Trudeau says
White House has claimed goods shipped from Canada and Mexico to the US would face a 25% levy starting Saturday Justin Trudeau says Canada will bring a “forceful but reasonable” retaliation to any tariffs imposed by the US as his country braces for the economic fallout of a trade war. “I won’t sugarcoat it –…
Medical jet with six on board crashes into Philadelphia neighbourhood
A small medical transport plane crashed into several buildings in north-east Philadelphia on Friday evening, setting homes and vehicles ablaze and injuring people on the ground. The plane had been on a medical transport mission, carrying a child patient and her mother, and four crew members. “We know that there will be loss,” Pennsylvania Gov…
Moo Deng, the Toddler Hippopotamus, Still Has Star Power
Thailand Dispatch The pygmy hippopotamus, now 6 months old, is Thailand’s biggest celebrity, and the crowds keep flocking. What explains her charm? Thailand Dispatch The pygmy hippopotamus, now 6 months old, is Thailand’s biggest celebrity, and the crowds keep flocking. What explains her charm? Moo Deng walking around her enclosure with her mother, Jona, in…
Former German President Horst Köhler dies at 81
By The Associated Press BERLIN — Horst Köhler, a onetime head of the International Monetary Fund who became a popular German president before stunning the country by resigning abruptly in a flap over comments about the country’s military, has died. He was 81. Köhler, who was head of state from 2004 to 2010, died Saturday…
Plane Crashes in Pennsylvania 2 Days After American Airlines Collision
Two days after an American Airlines flight crashed in Washington, D.C., an air ambulance carrying six passengers—including a pediatric patient—crashed down in Northeast Philadelphia. Another plane crash has tragically occurred on U.S. soil. An air ambulance crashed down in Philadelphia around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 soon after departing to head to the Springfield-Branson National…
Belgium Forms a Government After 7 Months of Squabbling
The country’s tense negotiations hinged on taxing and social spending — and they highlight issues facing Europe, and Western democracies, as a whole. By Koba Ryckewaert and Jeanna Smialek Reporting from Brussels Belgium reached an agreement to form a coalition government on Friday, the nation’s monarchy announced, ending seven months of partisan squabbling over deeply…
Rubio to visit Central America with migration and Panama canal on agenda
US secretary of state to visit region amid concern over Trump threat to ‘take back’ canal and tensions over China Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, will travel to Central America this week on a five-country tour that will focus on limiting migration to the United States, curbing Chinese influence in the region and…
A 2nd U.S. judge says Trump administration must pause its federal spending freeze
By NPR Washington Desk A judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs. The Friday ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this week by Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and…
Who Is Trump’s Acting FAA Chief, Chris Rocheleau?
Who Is Trump’s Pick for Acting FAA Chief, Chris Rocheleau? Chris Rocheleau, Trump’s pick for acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, has been a longtime agency official and has acknowledged the need to address global warming By Mike Lee & E&E News President Donald Trump on Thursday named Chris Rocheleau (right) as acting head…
Helicopter black box recovered from Washington DC plane crash site
Officials have recovered the cockpit voice recorder – also known as the black box – from the helicopter involved in the plane crash that killed 67 people at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday. Emergency responders are planning to ramp up operations over the weekend to recover the debris from the site. There were…
Trump administration purges websites across federal health agencies
By Will Stone , Selena Simmons-Duffin At the direction of the Trump administration, the federal Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies are purging its websites of information and data on a broad array of topics — from adolescent health to LGBTQ+ rights to HIV. Several webpages from Centers for Disease Control and…
Will Asteroid 2024 YR24 Strike Earth in 2032?
Newfound Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032, Scientists Say The possibility of the asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting our planet might not be ruled out until 2028, raising the prospect we’ll need to prepare for the worst By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings An illustration of an asteroid approaching Earth. In late December astronomers using…
Alix Earle Has a Winning Recipe for Your Post-Super Bowl Hangover
Ahead of Super Bowl 2025, Alix Earle teamed up with Carl’s Jr. for Hangover Burger Monday to help football fans fight off those post-party blues. Dreading that post-Super Bowl hangover? Allow Alix Earle to assist. To help football fans recover from the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, the TikToker…
Fact-checking Trump’s claims about diversity schemes and the Washington plane crash
In a news conference on Thursday, Trump said that under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden candidates with “severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities” could be hired as air traffic controllers (ATCs). He suggested, without offering any evidence, that this could be to blame for the crash. When challenged by reporters about why he thought this,…
Hamas Names 3 Hostages It Says Will Be Freed This Weekend
Middle East Tensions Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli, will be released along with Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon in exchange for about 90 Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons, the group said. By Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem Hamas on Friday announced the names of three hostages — including an American citizen — whom it said…
Trump to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China
US neighbors hit with 25% tariff and China with 10% as Trudeau pledges ‘forceful but reasonable’ response Donald Trump has vowed to impose sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China starting this weekend, potentially setting the stage for a damaging trade war between the US and three of its biggest trading partners. Trump also threatened…
‘I curse this war’: hunger and fear in Goma after rebel takeover
M23 rebel group swept into Congolese city after a rapid advance in recent weeks People living in Goma on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern border with Rwanda have spoken of their fear and acute hunger after the M23 rebel group swept into the city earlier this week. “We are very afraid. This situation…
AI’s Energy Demands Threaten a Nuclear Waste Nightmare
Opinion AI’s Energy Demands Threaten a Nuclear Waste Nightmare Reviving nuclear power plants to power AI threatens an avalanche of nuclear waste By Michael Riordan edited by Dan Vergano Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania was shutdown following the partial meltdown of its Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2) on March…
Emilia Pérez’s Karla Sofía Gascón Apologizes for Past Offensive Tweets
Emilia Pérez Karla Sofía Gascón is expressing her remorse. The Emilia PérezGeorge Floyd and diversity at the Oscars that recently resurfaced. “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt,” Gasón shared in a statement to NBC News via a Netflix spokesperson Jan. 30. “As someone in a…
How the World Is Reeling From Trump’s Aid Freeze
Trump Administration Trump Administration Trump Administration President Trump’s order to halt most foreign aid has intensified humanitarian crises and raised questions about the United States’ reliability as a global leader. President Trump’s order to halt most foreign aid has intensified humanitarian crises and raised questions about the United States’ reliability as a global leader. Delivering…
Investigation into the fatal plane-helicopter crash. And, future of nuclear testing
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. Federal investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice and flight data recorders from the American Airlines jet that collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night. The…
Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview was ‘ill advised’, aide told alleged spy
A senior aide to Prince Andrew privately admitted to an alleged Chinese spy that the duke’s BBC Newsnight interview had been “ill advised”, court documents show. Files disclosed to the BBC and other media outlets reveal how the prince’s aide Dominic Hampshire thanked Yang Tengbo for standing by the embattled duke in the months after…
Here’s How Quickly Could Polio Return to the U.S. without Vaccines
Polio Vaccines Saved America from the Disease. What Happens if We Lose Them? Polio, a disease that can cause lifelong paralysis, has been eliminated from the U.S. Experts fear a resurgence if lifesaving vaccines are revoked under the new administration By Tara Haelle edited by Lauren J. Young A healthcare worker gives an oral vaccine…
Family Guy Secrets That Are Anything but Shallow and Pedantic
Twenty-six years ago, Seth MacFarlane‘s Family Guy debuted on FOX and viewers met the Griffin family. Learn about the show’s history and how Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein and Seth Green got their roles. Citizens of Quahog, raise a glass of Pawtucket Patriot Ale. Because Family Guy is celebrating its 26th anniversary. On Jan. 31, 1999—after…
Editor’s note: Reporting the midair collision will focus on facts and people’s stories
Russell Lewis It’s been nearly 60 hours since an American Airlines regional jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in mid-air as the jet attempted to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All 67 people on both aircraft are believed to have died. In the past day we’ve learned information that helps our…