Category: Technology & Science
Saber teeth in predators evolved many times. Did it lead to their extinction?
By Jonathan Lambert In the history of teeth, perhaps no tooth is as famous as the saber tooth. These long, blade-like canines seem almost perfectly optimized to kill prey. They’ve evolved at least five times in mammals, most notably in the saber-tooth cat Smilodon, who sported serrated sabers that could measure nearly one foot long.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
‘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…
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…
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…
TikTok’s Most Viral Products Are on Sale at Amazon Right Now
After countless hours of doom scrolling, we’ve rounded up the best #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt Amazon finds ranging from #BeautyTok skincare, #SundayReset cleaning essentials, & so much more. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. As your trusty Gen Z/Millennial Shopping Editor…
Air traffic controllers rush to divert aircraft after Elon Musk’s rocket explodes
Geoff Brumfiel Flights across the Caribbean were hastily diverted on Thursday following the explosion of a rocket built by Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX. The chaos was revealed in flight tracking data and audio exchanges between pilots and air traffic control, as reviewed by NPR. Audio from LiveATC.net showed confusion in the moments after the giant…
Could Inflicting Pain Test AI for Sentience?
Could Pain Help Test AI for Sentience? A new study shows that large language models make trade-offs to avoid pain, with possible implications for future AI welfare By Conor Purcell edited by Ben Guarino In the quest for a reliable way to detect any stirrings of a sentient “I” in artificial intelligence systems, researchers are…
What happens to TikTok now?
TikTok is set to be banned in the US on 19 January after the Supreme Court denied a last ditch legal bid from its Chinese owner, ByteDance. It found the law banning the social media platform did not violate the first amendment rights of TikTok and its 170 million users, as the companies argued. But…
Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, threatening app’s existence in the U.S.
Bobby Allyn The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the federal government can legally shut down TikTok in the U.S., delivering a stunning blow to the viral video app used by about half of Americans. Last April, President Biden signed a bipartisan bill that said TikTok must spin off from its China-based parent company, or…
Visas for Guest Workers Can Spur High Technology and U.S. Jobs
Opinion Two Simple Reforms Can Make H-1B Visas Great Again Although warring MAGA factions seem locked in a foreign worker battle with no middle ground, two straightforward changes would provide global talent while minimizing domestic job losses By Hal Salzman edited by Dan Vergano Just in time for the holidays, an internecine fight about what…
Venn Diagrams’ History and Popularity Outside of Math Explained
Opinion The Curious History of Venn Diagrams By Jack Murtagh edited by Jeanna Bryner In his book The Mathematical Universe, mathematician William Dunham wrote of John Venn’s namesake legacy, the Venn diagram, “No one in the long history of mathematics ever became better known for less.” While Venn diagrams may not have solved any long-standing…
50,000 Scientists Urge Congress to Protect Research from Trump
50,000 Scientists Urge Congress to Protect Research from Trump Two open letters from scientists and science advocacy groups reflect a growing anxiety about the future of federal science under President-elect Trump By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News President-elect Donald Trump is greeted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on stage during a campaign event at Desert…
Special counsel in Hunter Biden case denounces president for criticism of the probe
By NPR Washington Desk The Department of Justice on Monday released special counsel David Weiss’ final report after his investigation of criminal allegations against President Biden’s son Hunter Biden. Biden last month signed a full and unconditional pardon for his son, after earlier promising not to do so, saying “raw politics has infected this process…
What an Upended Mideast Means for Trump and U.S. Gulf Allies
Middle East Crisis While major ruptures are not expected, Gulf states are urging a tougher stance on Israel and a softening toward Iran, positions that differ greatly from the president-elect’s first term. By Ismaeel Naar Reporting from Manama, Bahrain, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates When Donald J. Trump was last president of the United States,…
Weird weather isn’t always because of climate change — but sometimes it is
By Alejandra Borunda 2025 started off with a flurry of intense weather. Southern California experienced bursts of 100-mph winds that spread record-breaking destructive wildfires. Major winter storms have dumped snow and cold weather on the Mid-Atlantic and the South. And in the midst of the weather news, scientists from major meteorological associations around the world…
Zuckerberg approved Meta’s use of ‘pirated’ books to train AI models, authors claim
Sarah Silverman and others file court case claiming CEO approved use of dataset despite warnings Citing internal Meta communications, the filing claims that the social network company’s chief executive backed the use of the LibGen dataset, a vast online archive of books, despite warnings within the company’s AI executive team that it is a dataset…
TikTok is heading to the Supreme Court to challenge its U.S. ban. Here’s what to know
Bobby Allyn For the past four years, TikTok has been facing an existential crisis: It’s under threat of being banned in the United States. But the video app’s fate may soon be decided. On Friday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments from TikTok’s lawyers and the Justice Department. At stake are the app’s estimated 170…
How these suburban moms in Ukraine manage grief by training to down Russian drones
Joanna Kakissis NEAR BUCHA, Ukraine — The suburban moms in army-green fatigues assemble their rifles in a cold forest outside the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Valentyna trained as a veterinarian. Inna is a teacher. Tetiana used to be a water utilities inspector. The others include a real estate agent, a nanny and a pastry chef.…
Pink Fire Retardant, a Dramatic Wildfire Weapon, Poses Its Own Dangers
Los Angeles Wildfires It’s widely used because it can slow flames in ways that water can’t. But it also contains heavy metals and other harmful compounds. By Hiroko Tabuchi From above the raging flames, these planes can unleash immense tankfuls of bright pink fire retardant in just 20 seconds. They have long been considered vital in…
TikTok to make final plea at Supreme Court against US ban
TikTok will appear before the US Supreme Court on Friday in a last-ditch effort to overturn a ban, in a case testing the limits of national security and free speech. The popular social media platform is challenging a law passed last year ordering the firm to be split from its Chinese owner or be blocked…
The Papers: ‘Lost Angeles’ and ‘Musk seeks plan to oust Starmer’
Several papers lead for a second day on the turmoil facing UK bond markets. The Daily Mail says experts are warning Rachel Reeves that she is facing a debt crisis “like the 1970s”. Daily Telegraph says the Conservatives have accused the chancellor of being “missing in action”, after she decided to go ahead with a…
Court annuls marriage after Melbourne bride thought wedding was ‘sham’ to boost groom’s Instagram
Judge finds woman ‘believed she was acting in a social media event’ rather than official ceremony A Melbourne couple’s marriage has been annulled after the bride told a court she had thought their wedding was nothing more than a social media stunt to boost his Instagram following. In an October family court judgment published on…
Elon Musk heaps praise on AfD’s Alice Weidel during live talk on X
X owner and far-right politician appear to agree on everything, as Musk faces accusations of meddling in German election Elon Musk has praised the co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, as he repeated his claim that “only the AfD can save Germany” during a controversial live talk on his social media platform X.…
The Fate of NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program May Be Decided in 2026
NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program Faces Stark Choices NASA sees two paths for saving its beleaguered plan to retrieve materials from the Red Planet but won’t choose between them until 2026 By Lee Billings edited by Dean Visser NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover appears in this selfie it snapped in January 2023 alongside several sample tubes…
Man told he can’t recover £598m of Bitcoin from tip
A judge has thrown out a man’s attempt to sue a council to recover from a rubbish tip a Bitcoin hard drive that is now worth about £598m. James Howells had argued that his former partner had mistakenly dumped the hard drive containing a Bitcoin wallet in 2013, and he wanted to access the site…
Brazil says Meta getting rid of factcheckers is ‘bad for democracy’
Brazilian officials also ask tech giant to clarify whether it intends to implement changes in country within 30 days The decision by the social media giant Meta to end factchecking in the United States is “bad for democracy”, Brazil’s newly appointed communication minister, Sidonio Palmeira, said on Wednesday. Meta’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stunned…
As Elon Musk Embraces the Far Right, Some of Its Leaders Reject Him
Mr. Musk has fallen out with prominent right-wing Americans who say they are worried that their agenda may be sidelined in favor of his own — and that he is willing to silence them on X. By Ryan Mac and Ken Bensinger Ryan Mac reports on tech accountability, and Ken Bensinger reports on media. When…
How to quickly find something you lost: 10 clever and practical techniques
Malaka Gharib When I published my episode on how to find lost objects in November, people messaged me with all kinds of useful techniques to hunt down missing items. So many of you told me to pray to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost objects — a tip that my grandma has sworn by…
British AI startup with government ties is developing tech for military drones
Exclusive: Concerns raised over role of Faculty AI, which has worked with NHS and government safety body A company that has worked closely with the UK government on artificial intelligence safety, the NHS and education is also developing AI for military drones. The consultancy Faculty AI has “experience developing and deploying AI models on to…
Rural internet deserts in England and Wales to finally get fast broadband
Government announces new contracts to install gigabit level fibre coverage for 131,000 households and businesses The last corners of England and Wales yet to be covered by a £5bn push to widen fast broadband could finally get access to rapid downloads, streaming and video calls after the government announced £289m in new taxpayer-funded contracts enabling…
‘Forever Chemicals’ Reach Tap Water via Treated Sewage, Study Finds
Wastewater, even after treatment to make it drinkable, contains high levels of PFAS, according to researchers. By Hiroko Tabuchi As the world grapples with climate change, population growth and dwindling supplies of fresh water, more people are set to rely on treated wastewater to sustain their daily lives. But wastewater, even after treatment, contains high…
Apple says it will update AI feature after BBC complaint
Apple has said it will update, rather than pause, a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that has generated inaccurate news alerts on its latest iPhones. The company, in its first acknowledgement of the concerns, on Monday said it was working on a software change to “further clarify” when the notifications are summaries that have been…
How to ‘Catch’ Prime Numbers
How to ‘Catch’ Prime Numbers A prime number study charts the limits of detection By Max Springer edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Prime numbers have captivated mathematicians for centuries with their unpredictable and seemingly random distribution. In a groundbreaking preprint study, researchers devised a novel method that bolsters our…
Is this Bitcoin’s golden moment? These are 3 key things to watch for cryptos in 2025
By Rafael Nam Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have lately been on a wild ride. Bitcoin hit above $100,000 for the first time last month after more than doubling in price last year — and analysts believe bitcoin and other cryptos could see another game-changing year in 2025. To help explain why bitcoin investors are so…
‘Don’t feed the troll’: German chancellor responds to Elon Musk comments
World’s richest man has been voicing support for Germany’s far-right AfD party while insulting its current leaders When the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was asked in an interview about the barrage of insults being directed at him and other German leaders by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, his reply was: “Don’t feed the troll.”…
Australia’s crackdown on scams could cost digital platforms and banks more than $100m
Treasury has estimated how much industries including telecommunications, social media and banks will likely need to fork out Digital platforms and banks could incur more than $100m of costs to comply with new requirements to crack down on scams, according to modelling by the Treasury. Treasury’s impact analysis found that banks – especially small and…
Vehicular attacks are not new. But preventing them has been a big challenge
By Emma Bowman , Jaclyn Diaz Intentional vehicular attacks on crowds of people, like the one that killed 14 revelers in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, are not new. They have been carried out for decades. Although in recent years, they have increasingly been used by terrorist groups and individuals. “Terrorism has changed,” said Devorah…
Venus rewards stargazers with appearance next to moon
Second rock from Sun visible with naked eye in clear skies in areas with low light pollution Stargazers have been treated to seeing the planet Venus as it made an appearance next to the moon. The second rock from the Sun could be seen on Friday night with the naked eye in areas with clear…
How Hybrid Tactics Targeted NATO Allies in 2024: Drones, Exploding Parcels, Sabotage
Germany’s Political Turmoil Russia and other hostile states have become increasingly brazen in adopting “gray zone” attacks against Europe and the United States, leaving defense officials with a dilemma: How to respond? By Lara Jakes Lara Jakes writes about global conflicts and diplomacy. When mysterious drones began appearing over oil rigs and wind farms off…
‘It is impossible to outrun them’: how drones transformed war in Ukraine
Small FPV drones, which travel at 37mph, have become ubiquitous, evolving from ‘a novelty to a weapon of choice’ Denys, a soldier with Ukraine’s Khyzhak brigade, describes a new kind of war. Standing in a barracks workshop with piles of basic Ukrainian First Person View (FPV) drones behind him, he says simply: “There are fewer…
Meta is killing off its own AI-powered Instagram and Facebook profiles
Instagram profile of ‘proud Black queer momma’, created by Meta, said her development team included no Black people Meta is deleting Facebook and Instagram profiles of AI characters the company created over a year ago after users rediscovered some of the profiles and engaged them in conversations, screenshots of which went viral. The company had…
Nigel Farage ‘very pleased’ Elon Musk backs Reform UK, calling him a ‘hero’
Speaking at party conference, its leader calls reports of tech mogul’s potential $100m donation ‘somewhat overexaggerated’ Nigel Farage has hailed Elon Musk as a “hero” and said he was “very pleased he’s backing our party”, but he called reports that the tech mogul was preparing to donate $100m (£80m) to Reform UK “somewhat overexaggerated”. Speaking…
TikToker Shares Eerie Message on “Incredible” Ex Before Murder-Suicide
Shortly before Jennifer Sheffield was found dead alongside her estranged husband Brandon Sheffield in an alleged murder-suicide, the TikToker shared an eerily positive message about their divorce. Jennifer Sheffield was hopeful about her next chapter. Shortly before she and her estranged husband Brandon Sheffield were found dead in what police told Dark Horse Press Now…
U.S. Hits Chinese Cybersecurity Company With Sanctions After Breach
The agency imposed penalties on a company it blamed for supporting the Chinese hacking group Flax Typhoon in a 2022-23 infiltration. By Zach Montague Reporting from Washington The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a Beijing-based cybersecurity company on Friday, blaming it for helping Chinese hackers infiltrate U.S. communications systems and conduct surveillance across four continents.…
Trolling the UK: the issues enraging Elon Musk, world’s richest ‘pub bore’
Unprompted outbursts on X suggest the Tesla boss is hellbent on making life awkward for Keir Starmer While Keir Starmer was trying to enjoy a family holiday in Madeira over the new year, Elon Musk was trying to spoil it. The world’s richest man has been using X to lob insults and slurs in the…
Musk accused of ‘politicising’ rape of young girls in UK to attack Starmer
Ex-health worker who exposed paedophile ring says billionaire’s triggering of row ignores plight of survivors Elon Musk has “politicised” the rape of young girls in the UK in an attempt to attack Keir Starmer, a former health worker who exposed a major paedophile ring has told the Guardian. Sara Rowbotham, who gathered evidence that led…
Smuggled Starlink devices allegedly used to defy India’s internet shutdowns
Civilian and armed groups in conflict-ridden state of Manipur using SpaceX’s satellite internet, sources say Elon Musk’s satellite-based Starlink – currently unlicensed for use in India – is being used by militant groups in the conflict-ridden state of Manipur to circumvent government internet shutdowns, fighters and security sources have said. The satellite internet service provider,…
Apple to pay $95m to settle Siri ‘listening’ lawsuit
Apple has agreed to pay $95m (£77m) to settle a court case alleging some of its devices were listening to people without their permission. The tech giant was accused of eavesdropping on its customers through its virtual assistant Siri. The claimants also allege voice recordings were shared with advertisers. Apple, which has not admitted any…
Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping
By The Associated Press Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the privacy-minded company of deploying its virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on people using its iPhone and other trendy devices. The proposed settlement filed Tuesday in an Oakland, California, federal court would resolve a 5-year-old lawsuit revolving around allegations…
Ukrainian soldiers and shopkeepers hold on as Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk tightens
Brian Mann POKROVSK, Ukraine — In the final hours of 2024, the embattled Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk suddenly went dark. Its electric grid, long battered by Russian drones and artillery, failed on Monday for what the city’s military administration said would be the last time. “The past year has been extremely difficult,” local officials said…
UK electricity cleanest ever in 2024, with record 58% from low-carbon sources
UK has more than halved amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels but gas still had largest share at 28% The UK’s electricity was the cleanest it has ever been in 2024, with wind and solar generation hitting all-time highs, according to a report. The analysis by Carbon Brief found that in the past decade…
Elon Musk’s calls for Tommy Robinson release anger Labour MPs
Billionaire ally of Donald Trump also accuses Keir Starmer on X of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham Elon Musk has caused anger by calling for the release of Tommy Robinson and accusing Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham in Greater Manchester. The billionaire ally of Donald Trump pinned a…
Nanotech Scientists Build on an Insect’s Odd Soccer Ball-Like Excretions to Design Ingenious Camouflage
Nanotech Scientists Build on an Insect’s Odd Soccer Ball-Like Excretions to Design Ingenious Camouflage Artificial versions of nanoscale soccer-ball-like structures called brochosomes might be used to make new forms of military camouflage, self-cleaning surfaces or hydrogen fuel By Ivan Amato edited by Gary Stix Brochosomes “Our group first became intrigued by brochosomes around 2015, drawn…
UK’s biggest ever dinosaur footprint site unearthed
The UK’s biggest ever dinosaur trackway site has been discovered in a quarry in Oxfordshire. About 200 huge footprints, which were made 166 million years ago, criss-cross the limestone floor. They reveal the comings and goings of two different types of dinosaurs that are thought to be a long-necked sauropod called Cetiosaurus and the smaller…
UK needs to ban full hybrid cars by 2030 or face net zero ‘catastrophe’
Motoring body says hybrids without a plug should be banned or else confidence in electric cars will be damaged Britain needs to press ahead with a ban on the sale of new hybrid cars with no plug from 2030 or risk taking “a catastrophic misstep” on the road to net zero, ministers have been warned.…
Spectacular aurora australis thrills sky gazers across south-east Australia
The green and purple southern lights show was so strong it appeared over Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and NSW South-eastern Australia was treated to a dazzling natural light show to begin 2025. A vibrant aurora australis was visible to the naked eye on New Year’s Day in Tasmania and parts of Victoria, South…
Quadrantids: How to watch the first meteor shower of 2025
Stargazers are in for a New Year treat as the first meteor shower of 2025 graces our night sky in early January. If you have already found yourself looking upwards over the past few nights you might have been lucky enough to have spotted some of the Quadrantid meteors shoot across the sky. This shower…
Early cancer diagnosis in England at record level, NHS figures show
The proportion of patients diagnosed with cancer at an early stage has risen to its highest level on record, NHS figures in England show. Data for the 13 most common cancers show 58.7% of those diagnosed between September 2023 and August 2024 were identified at stages one and two, which increases the chances of survival.…
Prisons in England and Wales record rapid rise in drones delivering drugs
Prisons will need more money to combat the rapid rise in drones delivering drugs, the head of an influential Commons committee has said, as figures showed the number of aerial incursions predicted to have tripled in two years. A freedom of information request by the Guardian found there were 1,296 drone incidents at prisons in…
MrBeast Engaged to Influencer Thea Booysen
YouTuber MrBeast celebrated New Year’s Day by revealing that he and longtime girlfriend Thea Booysen are engaged after he proposed to her on Christmas Day surrounded by her family. Beast mode has quite literally been engaged for MrBeast’s love life. The YouTuber rang in the New Year by announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that he…
New bone test could rewrite British history, say scientists
From the end of the Roman occupation through the Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions – a new way of testing DNA in ancient bones could force a rethink of key moments in Britain’s early history, say researchers. Scientists could already track big alterations in DNA that occur over thousands or millions of years, helping us learn,…
Nearly Forgotten ‘Phage Therapy’ Fights Antibiotic Resistance
Nearly Forgotten ‘Phage Therapy’ Fights Antibiotic Resistance In a new book, a science journalist recounts the story of a lifesaving treatment for infection that scientists broadly dismissed until recently By Saima S. Iqbal edited by Tanya Lewis Bacteriophages infecting bacterial cells. Imagine that the next time you catch a stomach bug and antibiotics fail to…
Jeff Koons on why he has drawn a red line on AI in art: ‘I don’t want to be lazy’
His hands-off approach to the production of his famous balloon dogs and stainless steel rabbits has been criticised in the past but Jeff Koons, the world’s most expensive artist, has drawn a red-line: “I wouldn’t – for my own base work – be looking at AI to be developing my work.” The potential and the…
Do We Live in a Special Part of the Universe?
Do We Live in a Special Part of the Universe? By Sarah Scoles edited by Lee Billings & Jeanna Bryner An illustration of the cosmic web, the universe’s large-scale structure of composed of galaxy-rich clumps and filaments alongside giant intergalactic voids mostly bereft of matter. At even larger scales, cosmic structure seems to smooth out…
Norovirus outbreaks are on the rise around the country and on cruise ships
Yuki Noguchi Nearly 900 people aboard cruise ships were sickened from gastrointestinal disease in December amid an escalation in both the frequency and severity of outbreaks, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far this year, there have been 16 outbreaks on cruise ships, from norovirus, salmonella, e. coli or…
Look up! Here’s what’s to watch for in space in 2025
By Chandelis Duster After a spectacular 2024, which featured a year of wonder in the skies, including a total solar eclipse and rare sightings of the northern lights, 2025 is set to bring even more astronomical events. The year is expected to kick off with a meteor shower and forecast for the potential aurora in…
A total eclipse of the Moon, Saturn’s rings ‘disappear’, meteors and more: your guide to the southern sky in 2025
These nocturnal events are more spectacular from dark country sky, but they can still be seen from a light-polluted city – and for many, no telescope is needed Total eclipses of the moon are more common than those of the Sun. They can be seen from all the regions on Earth where it is night.…
‘Heck of a light show’: spectacular bloom of bioluminescence returns to Tasmania’s coastline
Phenomenon known as ‘sea sparkles’ or ‘red tide’ is caused by masses of noctiluca scintillans, a pink-coloured algae Masses of glittering algae have returned to Tasmania’s coastline in a spectacular bloom of bioluminescence that experts say is the largest seen in years. The phenomenon, known as “sea sparkles” or “red tide”, was caused by masses…
Ohio police solve 43-year-old murder of woman with help of DNA technology
Debra Lee Miller, 26, was killed in her apartment in 1981 by James Vanest, who was shot dead by police last month The murder of an 18-year-old woman in Ohio 43 years ago has been solved with the help of DNA technology, authorities announced on Monday. Jason Bammann, the Mansfield police chief, said the cold…
Thousands to count down to 2025 in online worlds
How’s this for a New Year’s Eve party? Fireworks, unlimited free drinks, and it’s open all night long. But first, you’ll need to grab some key items on a quest through the fantasy world of Azeroth. Thousands around the world will spend their New Year’s Eve inside World of Warcraft, just one of the hugely…
Northern lights may brighten some New Year’s skies over the U.S.
By Chandelis Duster Fireworks may not be the only thing lighting up the skies as the clock strikes midnight ringing in the new year. The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are forecast to be visible across parts of North America starting Tuesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather…
What was ‘Disease X’ and what can we learn from it?
By Gabrielle Emanuel In early December, international alarm bells went off because of a mysterious disease circulating in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dubbed it “Disease X.” Once the medical experts arrived, they quickly gathered samples from the sick to take back to…
NEW TECHNOLOGY GIVES HOPE TO SAVE ENDANGERED RIGHT WHALE
From By Emily Jones Most winter days off Georgia’s coast, scientists criss-cross the waves looking for North Atlantic right whales. Those in a boat stay in constant contact with colleagues in a small plane – all scanning the water for whales and, hopefully, newborn calves. But the surveys in the sky and on the water…
Meet Pearl Young, Who ‘Raised Hell’ at NASA’s Predecessor
Meet Pearl Young, Who ‘Raised Hell’ at NASA’s Predecessor Pearl Young joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1922, working across departments before becoming a technical editor By Caitlin Milera & The Conversation US Pearl I. Young. The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.…
Beijing denies involvement in US treasury cyber-attack
The breach was orchestrated via a third-party cybersecurity service provider. Hackers were able to gain access to a key used by the vendor to override certain parts of the system, according to a letter the treasury department sent to lawmakers on Monday that was reviewed by the Guardian. According to the treasury, the incident happened…
Treasury says Chinese hackers remotely accessed documents in ‘major’ cyber incident
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Chinese hackers remotely accessed several U.S. Treasury Department workstations and unclassified documents after compromising a third-party software service provider, the agency said Monday. The department did not provide details on how many workstations had been accessed or what sort of documents the hackers may have obtained, but it said…
Could AI robots replace human astronauts in space?
On Christmas Eve, an autonomous spacecraft flew past the Sun, closer than any human-made object before it. Swooping through the atmosphere, Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe was on a mission to discover more about the Sun, including how it affects space weather at Earth. This was a landmark moment for humanity – but one without any…
Israel orders remaining residents of Beit Hanoun to leave
Order triggers new wave of displacement and there are reports of damage to two more Gaza hospitals Israel has issued new evacuation orders for all remaining civilians to leave Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza as part of a blistering three-month-old campaign that Israel denies is aimed at depopulating a third of the Palestinian territory, amid…
UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs
Early in 2025, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been invited to an informal summit of EU leaders. It’s the first such invitation for the UK since the bitter days of the Brexit negotiations. The focus of the February meeting is future security and defence co-operation. The backdrop: the volatile state of the world from…
Ocean gives up hundreds of rare Lego treasures
Hundreds of pieces of Lego lost at sea off a cargo ship 27 years ago have been found this year, including the first ever shark. A freak wave swept 62 shipping containers of Lego off the Tokio Express cargo ship 20 miles (32km) off Land’s End on 13 February 1997, one of which held 4,756,940…
At least 15 men in Gisèle Pelicot rape and assault trial appeal against convictions
Court found 51 men guilty including Dominique Pelicot, who was given a 20-year prison sentence At least 15 of the men found guilty of raping or sexually abusing Gisèle Pelicot have appealed against their convictions and will be given a second trial. All 51 men, including her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, were convicted and given prison…
Elon Musk pens German newspaper opinion piece supporting far-right AfD party
Billionaire Trump adviser said his ‘significant investments’ in the country justify his wading into German politics The tech entrepreneur and close adviser to Donald Trump Elon Musk has taken a stunning new public step in his support for the far-right German political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), publishing a supportive guest opinion piece for the…
Playing to Win: How a First Nation Turned Around Its Fortunes
Newsletter Steered by an entrepreneurial chief, Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia led the largest investment by Indigenous people in Canada’s seafood industry. By Vjosa Isai The trip through Cape Breton Island, on the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia, promised scenic driving views. The island regularly appears in travel guides for the world’s best road…
Your Best Advice of 2024
Newsletter As we start to look ahead, here’s the best advice that readers of The Morning received this year. By Melissa Kirsch The piece of wisdom I repeated the most this year came from a reader of The Morning who answered my call for advice last December: “We are all juggling so many balls. Differentiate…
Three migrants die attempting to cross Channel
Three people have died attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat on Sunday morning, the French coastguard says. People ended up in the water after trying to board a boat off the coast of Sangatte, near Calais, at about 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT). The three people later declared dead were recovered…
Three people die and 48 rescued near Calais attempting to cross Channel
The deaths make 2024 the deadliest year on record for small boat Channel crossings Three people have died after falling from an overcrowded small boat trying to cross from France to the UK, as 2024 became the deadliest year on record for perilous sea crossings. The boat ran into trouble at about 6am on Sunday…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Have Prostate Removal Surgery
Middle East Crisis The prime minister was diagnosed with an infection from a “benign enlargement of his prostate.” By Eve Sampson Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will undergo surgery to have his prostate removed Sunday after he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection earlier in the week, his office said in a statement…
Youth pastor identified as man who died after shark bite off Queensland coast
The 40-year-old school chaplain was bitten by the shark while fishing with family in waters off Keppel Islands on Saturday A youth pastor and school chaplain described as an inspirational leader has been identified as the man who died after being bitten by a shark while on holiday with his family in Queensland. Emergency services…
South Korea’s Acting President Has Only Been in Office Since Friday
South Korea Plane Crash After two impeachments of leaders in two weeks, the country is deep into a political crisis. By Choe Sang-Hun The plane crash is the first major test for South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, who was appointed the interim leader only on Friday, as the country grapples with a political crisis…
Notes from the field: Protecting forests to benefit people
It’s easy to feel discouraged about the state of the planet. Though the headlines seem bleak, the fight to protect nature and the climate is being won in the field — through small triumphs that don’t make the news. Here are three conservation successes you should know about. In the Indonesian province of West Java,…
Concerning Bird Flu Virus Mutations Found in Severely Ill Patient
Concerning Bird Flu Virus Mutations Found in Severely Ill Patient Samples from a hospitalized patient in Louisiana show changes that could make the H5N1 virus spread more easily between humans By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Viral samples from a patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe…
Renewed bushfire warnings for NSW, Victoria and WA as heat forecast to return for new year
BoM says light winds are expected to temper the fire danger despite high temperatures, especially inland Scorching temperatures and elevated fire dangers are forecast for the coming week as Australia rings in the new year – but light winds could protect towns from blazes becoming too severe. Perth was the first hit by the heatwave,…
Jimmy Carter, Who Died at Age 100, Spared Millions of People from Guinea Worm, a Debilitating Parasite
Jimmy Carter, Who Has Died at Age 100, Spared Millions of People from Guinea Worm Former president Jimmy Carter’s charity has helped transform Guinea worm from a disease that used to infect millions to one that infects fewer than a dozen By Charles Schmidt edited by Tanya Lewis Former president Jimmy Carter was touring villages…
Matthew Gaudreau’s Wife Welcomes Their First Baby After His Death
The wife of late hockey player Matthew Gaudreau, brother of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, has given birth to her and her husband’s first baby four months after the siblings died in a road accident. The wife of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau‘s brother Matthew Gaudreau has given birth to their first baby, four months after the siblings…
Maggie Smith, Liam Payne and the other famous people who died in 2024
The producer of the world’s bestselling LP, an Oscar-winning British actress who conquered screen and stage, a fearless Russian opposition politician and one of Ireland’s greatest novelists – here are some of the well-known faces no longer with us. Among those we remember are acting legend Dame Maggie Smith, former teen star Shannen Doherty, and…