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 […]
Trump declares border emergency and scraps asylum app in immigration crackdown
From behind his desk in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders and decrees aimed at cracking down on immigration. From an order tackling the definition of birthright citizenship, to an order declaring the illegal immigration at the border a national emergency, Trump swiftly made moves on his promises to…
South African police launch hunt for alleged illegal mining ‘kingpin’
Escape of James Neo Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national known as Tiger, described as an ‘embarrassment’ South African police are hunting an alleged “kingpin” of illegal mining after he escaped from custody following a rescue operation last week in which 78 bodies were brought out of an illicit goldmine. James Neo Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national known…
What Kamala Harris Is Doing First After Leaving Vice Presidency
After President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration, former Vice President Kamala Harris traveled back to California on a flight operated by an all-female U.S. Air Force crew. Kamala Harris is heading home. Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States Jan. 20—and Vice President JD Vance took his oath…
How Mexico Is Preparing for Tariffs Negotiations With Trump
President Claudia Sheinbaum is detaining more migrants, seizing more fentanyl and positioning her country as a key ally against China. But the U.S. stance has shifted, too. By Simon Romero Reporting from Mexico City For the second time in less than decade, Mexico is preparing to negotiate with President-elect Donald J. Trump, who is threatening…
Biden’s FBI director expressed ‘vehement’ opposition to Peltier commutation
Ashley Lopez This story first appeared in , where you can find more coverage and context from the day. Before former President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier on Monday, he received a warning from outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray. Peltier was convicted of killing two FBI agents in the 1970s.…
Trump Inauguration: Barack Obama, Elon Musk & More Attendees
As Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are officially sworn into office at the 2025 Inauguration Jan. 20, Barack Obama, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and more public figures are in Washington, D.C., to show support. Donald Trump‘s political opponents and business peers are putting on a united front at his 2025 Presidential Inauguration. While The Apprentice…
Australia exposed to modern slave labour imports and many businesses ‘ignoring the facts’, commissioner warns
The scale of Australia’s trade with blacklisted companies, revealed in Guardian investigation, prompts anger across the Uyghur community Australia’s new anti-slavery commissioner has called on the government to urgently address the “inadequacy” of its forced labour laws after revelations that it had allowed thousands of imports from Chinese companies blacklisted for their alleged links to…
Tech billionaires join Trump for church service
A parade of tech billionaires and key members of his orbit joined President-elect Donald Trump as he kicked off his pre-inaugural celebrations with a church service on Monday morning. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg, Apple leader Tim Cook, and Google chief Sundar Pichai were seen taking their prime seats at St John’s…
All of the Day 1 executive actions Trump has announced so far
By Lexie Schapitl , Franco Ordoñez President-elect Trump is expected to sign a flurry of executive orders, memorandums and proclamations on Monday after he is sworn in, reversing many of his predecessors’ policies and reinstating actions from his first term in office. The actions are expected to address a range of issues, including campaign priorities…
Fighting Has Halted in Gaza, but the War Is Not Over
Gaza Cease-Fire Gaza Cease-Fire Gaza Cease-Fire news analysis Sunday’s delayed start to the truce was a minor problem compared with the difficult choices and American leverage needed to get both parties to the second phase, which could end the war. By Steven Erlanger Steven Erlanger, a former Jerusalem bureau chief, has covered the Mideast wars…
The Health Risks of Alcohol, a Red Dye Ban and Commercial Space Launches
A Mixed Bag for Private Spaceflight, a New Spider Species and the Health Risks of Alcohol We discuss a big week for commercial spaceflight, a red dye ban and a scary spider species in this news roundup. By Rachel Feltman, Madison Goldberg & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: “It Doesn’t End Here (Instrumental),” by Nehemiah Pratt] Rachel…
Donald Trump looks to remake America with sweeping second act
Every new president begins a fresh chapter in American history. And when Donald Trump is inaugurated in a freezing Washington DC on Monday, he will be hoping to usher in a new era for this country. The ceremony in the rotunda of the US Capitol, moved indoors for the first time in decades due to…
A Guide to JD Vance’s Family: His Wife, Kids, Mamaw and More
President-elect Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance came to prominence as the author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. Here’s a guide to his roots and the family he built with wife Usha Vance. If you knew anything about JD Vance before Donald Trump picked him to be his running mate in the 2024 presidential election,…
How the Polar Vortex Can Bring Arctic Blasts to the U.S.
How the Polar Vortex Can Bring Arctic Blasts to the U.S. Vast weather patterns can carry blasts of frigid air far from the polar regions—here’s how it works By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson A woman walks on a pedestrian bridge with her face covered to protect from the cold on January 31, 2019,…
Trump promised dozens of actions on immigration on Day 1. Here’s what we know
Ximena Bustillo President-elect Donald Trump is expected to kick off a slew of executive actions related to immigration after his inauguration ceremony, beginning as soon as Monday. Since the early days of the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump has vowed to begin his second term with both new and old efforts to curb legal migration and…
TikTok says it is restoring service in US after Trump vowed to delay ban
President-elect says order would give company extra 90 days to find buyer and suggests that US take a 50% stake TikTok said on Sunday that it was restoring services in the US after Donald Trump pledged earlier in the day to give the video app a reprieve on its US ban. Trump wrote on Truth…
Italian Reporter’s Ordeal in Iranian Prison: ‘I Was Trapped in a Game’
Cecilia Sala found herself in the middle of Iran’s hostage diplomacy. Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, in Rome this month after being released from a prison in Iran.Stephanie Gengotti for The New York Times By Emma Bubola Reporting from Rome After Iran elected a more moderate president last year, Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, thought…
Trump promises blizzard of executive orders on first day of presidency
On the eve of his return to the White House, President-elect Donald Trump promised to sign a blitz of executive orders on his first day as president, telling supporters that he would move with “historic speed and strength” in the hours after taking the oath of office. Addressing a racuous crowd of thousands in a…
Sister Wives’ Meri Details Why Family Finances Didn’t Go to Her Child
Though Sister Wives‘ Meri Brown brought home the bacon for then-husband Kody Brown and his wives, she revealed on the series’s Jan. 19 episode that she didn’t necessarily get to enjoy her riches. Forget love, Sister Wives star Meri Brown has questions about how the family finances were divided. Because while the founder of Lizzie’s…
Statue of Peru’s Spanish conqueror Pizarro restored to central Lima amid controversy
Statue returns near former spot 22 years after removal in apparent attempt to rehabilitate Francisco Pizzaro’s legacy An imposing bronze statue of Francisco Pizarro, Peru’s Spanish conqueror, has been returned to a spot near its former location in Lima’s main square, 22 years after it was removed, in an apparent attempt to rehabilitate the conquistador’s…
Migrating Birds Sing to Team Up with Other Species
Migrating Birds Sing to Team Up with Other Species Songbirds may socialize across species during nighttime migrations By Gayoung Lee edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A singing American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Tiny songbirds such as grosbeaks and warblers migrate thousands of miles, flying at night and resting during the…
These Rooms Give Young Indian Lovers Rare Privacy. Cue the Complaints.
A policy change by a popular hotel platform shows the tension between traditional values and modern ideals in India. By Anupreeta Das Reporting from New Delhi Privacy can be hard to come by in India. Life is a communal swirl of relatives, neighbors and friends. Cities are crowded, and prying eyes are everywhere. Enter Oyo,…
Trump rallies at Capital One Arena in preview of inauguration
Danielle Kurtzleben The day before Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president, he and his followers celebrated with an hours-long rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. “Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand new day of…
Chrystia Freeland warns of Trump’s ‘existential risk’ to Canada in campaign launch
Freeland casts herself as ‘battle tested leader’ and most capable of negotiating with an unpredictable White House Chrystia Freeland has warned of the “existential risk” to Canada posed by Donald Trump, casting herself as a “battle tested leader with the scars to prove it” during the formal launch of her bid to be the country’s…
Dramatic day ushers in a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire after 15 months of war
After 15 months of war that began with a brutal attack on Israel by Hamas and ended with much of the Gaza Strip levelled by Israel, a ceasefire came into effect on Sunday that saw three women hostages released from Gaza and 90 Palestinians expected to be freed from Israeli jails in return. For two…
Wildfires Started by Human Activities Are Often More Destructive
Wildfires Started by Daily Human Activities Are Often More Destructive Fast-moving fires, such as the recent ones in the Los Angeles area, and those started by humans, whether accidentally or not, are often some of the most destructive By Virginia Iglesias & The Conversation US Fire engines drive through flames ripping across Highway 36 as…
Why Fans Think Timothée Chalamet’s Latest Accessory is a Nod to Stormi
Timothée Chalamet stepped out with a small accessory that has made several fans joke about whether it actually belongs to his girlfriend Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi Webster. Did Timothée Chalamet raise Stormi Webster‘s closet? Some fans are joking about the idea after seeing the actor, who is dating the 6-year-old’s mom Kylie Jenner, carrying around a…
Heavy snow and frigid temps put 70 million in the U.S. under winter storm warnings
By The Associated Press BOSTON — Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will take hold in much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service…
Ukraine Braces for Trump’s Return
Russia-Ukraine War Russia-Ukraine War Russia-Ukraine War Soldiers and civilians alike say that after so much loss, the new U.S. president must push for a just settlement, not peace at any cost. By Marc Santora Marc Santora reported from frontline towns and villages in Ukraine, as well as from the capital, Kyiv. Could this be the…
Data Centers Run on Clean Energy Now Welcome on Publicly Owned Land
Biden Opens Publicly Owned Land to Data Centers Run on Clean Energy President Biden issued an executive order to permit data centers on federal lands in a move aimed at bolstering clean energy and protecting national security during a boom in artificial intelligence By Christa Marshall & E&E News The IAD71 Amazon Web Services data…
From GDP to trade, how well equipped is China’s economy for Trump 2.0? | Amy Hawkins
Beijing has prepared for increased tariffs but its actions will not be enough to offset falling demand from the US When Donald Trump enters the White House for the second time on 20 January, the view from the Oval Office will look very different to the one he encountered in 2017. A pandemic, the war…
If a Sports Bra & Tank Top Had a Baby It’d Be This Cami- Get 3 for $19
Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Some brands featured in this article are partners of Amazon’s Creator Connections program, which means E! may make an increased commission on your purchase if you buy something through our links. Learn more. Once you…
Fearing Deportation, Uyghurs Held in Thailand Go on Hunger Strike
Dozens of men from the ethnic minority sought escape from repression in China a decade ago, but have been detained in Thailand ever since. By Sui-Lee Wee and Nyrola Elimä Sui-Lee Wee reported from Bangkok, and Nyrola Elimä from Helsingborg, Sweden. Dozens of Uyghur men who fled persecution in their native China only to find…
Who are the three Israeli hostages being released by Hamas?
A young woman described as “at her happiest when she dances” is thought to be among the three Israeli women released after 471 days held hostage by Hamas. Romi Gonen, 24, was captured as she tried to escape the Nova music festival when it was targeted by the militant group as part of the 7…
Why Trump’s tariff promises will be hard to keep
Danielle Kurtzleben Donald Trump made a new, big promise last week about tariffs — the latest in a string of outsized pledges to use tariffs to benefit the United States. On his social media platform, he declared that he wants to create what he’s calling the “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and other revenues…
‘Has the world gone mad? It has’: foreign reporters share a view of Trump from abroad
Journalists from countries that have seen challenges to democracy give their view on the second Trump presidency What is the view of US democracy from abroad, and what can Americans learn from other nations with a history of political tumult? During his first term Donald Trump tested democratic norms by undermining trust in fair elections,…
33 hostages are expected to be released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire with Israel
By NPR Staff After more than 15 months of fighting, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal, raising hopes for families that their loved ones could soon return home. In the first phase of the deal, Hamas is expected to free 33 hostages over six weeks — starting with three on…
Linguists Point to Expressions of Pain as a Possible Universal Language
The Ways We Express Pain Point to Universality in Language By Rachel Feltman, Allison Parshall & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: If you stubbed your toe right now, what sound would you make? According to linguists, the chances are pretty good that your answer would be surprisingly similar to the one given by someone on the…
‘I just want to hug her’: Family of British-Israeli hostage on news she will be released
It has been 471 days since Emily Damari was shot in the hand and dragged into Gaza from her home in southern Israel. The British-Israeli national was also injured by shrapnel and saw her dog Choocha shot and killed on 7 October. She has now been named by Hamas as being among the first hostages…
World Economic Forum: Will Trump and Davos Herald a New World Disorder
Trump Transition Trump Transition Trump Transition Among the issues likely to be explored at the World Economic Forum this week is the future of Ukraine and its impact on Europe. By Steven Erlanger Steven Erlanger has been covering European diplomacy, NATO and the Ukraine conflict for years. He reported from Berlin. Davos is coming just…
Shutdown at Mexico toxic waste plant after Guardian investigation revealed pollution in nearby homes
Mexican officials ordered facility to shut down after report on very high levels of pollutants in surrounding neighborhood Authorities ordered the shutdown of a Mexican recycling plant that processes hazardous waste exported from the US, after an investigation by the Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab that revealed heavy metals contamination in nearby homes and schools.…
The Best TikTok Gifts for Teens They’ll Actually Want
Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. In the world of TikTok, there isn’t a product recommendation you can’t find that’s already been reviewed or suggested by someone on the addictive social media app. We’re talking fashion, beauty, home…
Israel and Palestinians Prepare for Long-Sought Truce in Gaza
Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Qatar, which mediated the agreement, said the cease-fire deal was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday. By Aaron BoxermanRawan Sheikh Ahmad and Alan Yuhas Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad from Haifa, Israel and Alan Yuhas from New York The…
How NASA Used the Hubble Space Telescope to Look at the Sun
The UniverseFridays NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Was Never Meant to Look at the Sun. Astronomers Tried It Anyway A little-known chapter of the Hubble Space Telescope’s history is a reminder of the risks of looking at the sun By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings A composite illustration of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope with the…
Secret UK ‘mini cabinet’ tries to plan for unpredictable Trump
“Everybody’s nervous – because they simply don’t know what he is going to do.” That is the basic truth about Trump for governments, business bosses, military chiefs, and maybe you feel it too as he gets ready to make his incredible political comeback official. He will take the Oath of Office for the second time…
TikTok is offline in the U.S. after Supreme Court upholds ban
Bobby Allyn TikTok is no longer accessible to users in the U.S., the result of a controversial law forcing the popular platform offline unless it splits away from its China-based owner, ByteDance. When users tried to open the app around 10:35 p.m. ET, a message appeared: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” it read. “A…
Trump says he’ll likely give TikTok a 90-day extension
By Bobby Allyn , Juliana Kim President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a looming ban once he assumes office on Monday. “I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at,” Trump said in an interview on NBC News’ Meet The Press with…
These Prime Numbers Are So Memorable That People Hunt for Them
These Prime Numbers Are So Memorable That People Hunt for Them Math enthusiasts challenge one another to find special prime numbers, including those that are palindromes and Smarandache numbers By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas One of my favorite anecdotes about prime numbers concerns Alexander Grothendieck, who was among the most brilliant mathematicians of…
Inside South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Life in Jail
South Korea Turmoil South Korea Turmoil South Korea Turmoil President Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor, used to put people in jail. Now, after his formal arrest, he himself is in a cell, alone. By Choe Sang-Hun Reporting from Seoul As president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol lived in a luxurious hilltop mansion, threw parties and had…
‘All hands on deck’: Bird flu in US poultry puts state cooperation to the test
Unusually late migration season means poultry operations may continue to see H5N1 outbreaks, officials say Maryland has detected bird flu among three different commercial poultry flocks in the past week, marking the state’s first outbreak in more than a year. The discoveries come shortly after the establishment of a joint command with Delaware following the…
Henry Cavill Welcomes First Baby With Girlfriend Natalie Viscuso
Man of Steel star Henry Cavill and girlfriend Natalie Viscuso welcomed their first baby together. Henry Cavill has traded in the Superman alter ego for a new one: Superdad. The Man of Steel star and girlfriend Natalie Viscuso, who have been dating since 2021, welcomed their first baby together, People reported, citing a source. Indeed,…
Netanyahu issues warning ahead of Gaza ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is ready to resume the war against Hamas should talks for a second phase of the ceasefire fail. In a televised speech just hours before it was due to start on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that the ceasefire was “temporary” and Israel reserved the right to resume strikes…
TikTok creators mourn app where ‘overnight’ success is possible
For online sensation Erika Thompson, TikTok is the most powerful social media platform to educate her 11 million followers about her life’s passion: bees. The loss of the platform in the US – made more likely after the Supreme Court upheld a ban that is set to be enacted next week – will be “substantive”…
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Jump on this limited-time deal and save $250 on the lightweight, cordless vacuum of your dreams. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Start your spring cleaning early with this slim and lightweight Dyson cordless vacuum. It weighs just…
Uncharted territory for the WHO if Trump withdraws US membership
WHO is ‘critical in protecting US business interests’, says CEO of firm that may see lean years if Trump carries out vow The World Health Organization (WHO) could see lean years ahead if the US withdraws membership under the new Trump administration. Such a withdrawal, promised on the first day of Donald Trump’s new administration,…
Opinion: Great writers on Los Angeles
Scott Simon Los Angeles has long been a kind of dreamscape, the city of the silver screen, on the edge of a great ocean, that draws in people from all over the world, despite the looming threats of being shaken by earthquakes or scorched by wildfires. Many great writers have been drawn to Los Angeles.…
This Supermassive Black Hole May Harbor a Bizarre Undead Star
This Supermassive Black Hole May Harbor a Bizarre Star That Refuses to Die Strange x-ray pulses hint at a surprisingly long-lived white dwarf orbiting precariously close to a supermassive black hole By Gayoung Lee edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of a tidal disruption event, in which a star passes too close to a…
What Border Crisis? Mexican Migrant Shelters Are Quiet Ahead of Trump
Trump Transition Trump Transition Trump Transition Ahead of the inauguration, migrant shelters south of the Rio Grande are far from full, a reflection of the tougher measures imposed on both sides of the border. Ahead of the inauguration, migrant shelters south of the Rio Grande are far from full, a reflection of the tougher measures…
Wild, Weird and Controversial Moments in OnlyFans History
When it comes to OnlyFans, the controversy was baked in upon arrival—if only because adult entertainment automatically invites scrutiny, no matter who’s making it or where. And the idea of people signing up, creating their own content (plenty of it sexually explicit but some not) and charging other users to watch that content, thereby setting…
SpaceX Starship Explosion Likely Caused by Propellant Leak, Elon Musk Says
SpaceX Starship Explosion Likely Caused by Propellant Leak, Elon Musk Says The seventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship ended with a successful landing of the rocket’s first stage but also the loss of the Starship vehicle By Mike Wall & SPACE.com The two stages of SpaceX’s Starship megarocket separate during the vehicle’s seventh test flight…