Remembering Ted Berger, Christopher White, and Hudson Talbott

This week, we honor a devoted patron of the arts, the director of the Ashmolean, and a beloved children’s book illustrator.

Fire-footed rope squirrels identified as a natural reservoir for monkeypox virus

Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), together with an interdisciplinary team of partners, have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel (Funisciurus pyrropus) as a likely natural reservoir of

Dwarf Fortress forensic specialists blame mysterious case of spontaneous human combustion on a historical artifact that suddenly remembered it's four times hotter than the surface of the sun

It's always right when you get back home from a road trip that you realize you've been carrying a thermonuclear hazard.

Stiff gels slow germs: Mapping the hydrogel properties that control bacterial growth

Hydrogels are soft, jelly-like materials that can absorb large amounts of water. They are widely used in medical technologies such as contact lenses and wound dressings, and are also a staple of laboratory research, where they are used to grow bacteria. But scientists have long

Casey Wasserman Remains L.A. Olympics Chairman Amid Epstein Scandal, Board Says He ‘Should Continue to Lead LA28’

Casey Wasserman will remain as the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics amid calls for his resignation due to his Jeffrey Epstein ties. The LA28 executive committee of the board — which was hand-picked by Wasserman and includes Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jeanie Buss, Kevin

Propagate Content Lands $50 Million Investment From Ares Management to Build Up Digital Influencer Content

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and “Chopped” producer Propagate Content has secured a $50 million investment from Ares Management that will allow the media company to expand its stable of digital influencer-focused content. Per the Ben Silverman and Howard Owens-founded

The jobs picture still looks muddy, even with surprisingly strong January growth

January job gains were better than anything the U.S. economy saw in 2025 but not still enough to sound an all-clear.

‘Melania’ Could Lose Tens of Millions in Theaters, but Amazon’s Goal Wasn’t to Make Money

Was “Melania” worth it? Amazon MGM’s controversial documentary about the first lady of the United States has earned $13.5 million after two weekends of release. It’s projected to end its theatrical run with $16 million to $20 million, which would place “Melania” among the

Trump says he 'insisted' to Netanyahu that US talks with Iran continue over nuclear programme

Netanyahu's office said prior to the meeting that he wanted the US-Iran talks to include limits on Tehran's ballistic missile programme and support for militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

FDA blindsides Moderna with refusal to review flu vaccine application: ‘We’re pretty confused’

The new shot was not compared to “the best-available standard of care in the United States at the time of the study,” an FDA official told Moderna.

Management practices can enhance soil microbiome functions in plant defense

The soil microbiome is critical for the ecosystem, and agricultural practices that promote microbial diversity can support plant health and help protect against pests. But it is unclear which practices are most beneficial, and what motivates farmers to choose them.

US participating in influenza vaccine meeting: WHO

The U.S. will participate in the World Health Organization's (WHO) upcoming meeting on the composition of the influenza vaccine despite officially withdrawing from the global group last month. The WHO will meet on Feb. 26 in Turkey to discuss the composition of the 2026-2027

Seeing how atoms vibrate at the Ångström scale

Probing the vibration of atoms provides detailed information on local structure and bonding that define material properties. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) offers extremely high resolution to probe such vibrations. Krystof Brezina and Mariana Rossi from the MPI for the

The ‘Scrubs’ Gang Is Back at Sacred Heart Hospital in New Trailer for Revival Series

The OG crew of Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, and John C. McGinley will be joined by several newcomers, including Vanessa Bayer

James Van Der Beek’s Career in Photos, From ‘Dawson’s Creek’ to ‘Pose’

James Van Der Beek, who grew up onscreen on the teen drama “Dawson’s Creek” and grew into an actor who was often in comedies and dramas — and never afraid to poke fun at his celebrity — has died at 48 years old.

Bondi Calls Jewish Rep. Antisemitic for Asking About Trump and Epstein

Attorney General Pam Bondi stomped and raged her way through her hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, but her refusal to answer one particularly heated line of questioning inspired Bondi to accuse a Jewish lawmaker of antisemitism in an apparent attempt to

Widespread loss of marine sponges possible if heat waves intensify by just 1°C

New research shows the effects of marine heat waves on sponges could be much more severe as temperatures rise. More intense marine heat waves as a result of climate change could lead to the mass loss of a sponge species found around Aotearoa New Zealand, a new study suggests.

Debra Wimpfheimer Named Executive Director of Queens Museum

The Queens native, who succeeds Sally Tallant, has held senior roles at the institution for over two decades.

79th Tony Awards Name Raj Kapoor, Sarah Levine Hall and Jack Sussman as Executive Producers

The producers behind Broadway’s biggest night are getting a shake-up. Tony Award Productions announced that Raj Kapoor, Sarah Levine Hall and Jack Sussman will serve as executive producers of the upcoming 79th Tony Awards, set to return to Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June

James Van Der Beek Remembered by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chad Michael Murray and More: ‘This Is a Huge Loss… F— Cancer’

Hollywood is mourning the loss of James Van Der Beek, the “Dawson’s Creek” star who died on Wednesday at the age of 48. Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and made his diagnosis public the following year. The actor’s family announced the news of his death

Zoning Out Is Good For You

Sleeping cleans your brain . Research suggests that zoning out, daydreaming, and being bored can perform a similar function without the need for deep sleep. So put down that phone occasionally and let your brain chill for a bit. Tags: neuroscience · science · sleep · video

Bondi dodges questions about Lutnick’s connections with Epstein

The Major Milk Controversy That Quickly Dried Up

A synthetic hormone once sparked a supermarket showdown, but today it has all but disappeared from dairy farms The post The Major Milk Controversy That Quickly Dried Up appeared first on Nautilus .

Pentagon, Agriculture Department increasing information sharing on farm vulnerabilities

The Pentagon and Department of Agriculture signed a Wednesday memorandum of understanding to partner on securing American farmland vulnerabilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins both signed the MOU allowing the department to expand its

Ancient DNA suggests hunter-gatherers in Europe's lowlands endured until 2500 BCE

Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have used ancient DNA to reveal that hunter-gatherers in one part of Europe survived for thousands of years longer than anywhere else on the continent—and have uncovered the pivotal role of women in the process. The research was

Bondi says DOJ is investigating possible Epstein conspirators

Gene Simmons Is Still Complaining About Rap In The Rock Hall: “I Don’t Come From The Ghetto”

For years now — and probably since the genre's inception — Gene Simmons has been happily going on the record to proclaim his dislike of hip-hop and his frustration over the fact that rappers are allowed in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The KISS member, who was inducted into

Outraged Salesforce employees demand CEO Benioff end ICE business — after he jokes agents monitor workers: reports

Over 1,400 Salesforce employees are demanding CEO Marc Benioff denounce recent actions by ICE agents and cut off business deals with the agency, according to reports.

Poking around Hytale’s unfinished sandbox is the first time I’ve felt hope for a voxel RPG since Cube World broke my heart (twice)

This is the third time I've fallen for a voxel game's lofty promises, but I think it might work out for me this time.

Puppy Bowl 2026 Draws 15.3 Million Viewers on Super Bowl Sunday, Best Performance Since 2018

The 22nd annual Puppy Bowl put up impressive numbers on Super Bowl Sunday. The program pulled in 15.3 million viewers across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and Discovery+ on Feb. 8, airing at 2 p.m. ET/11amPT. That is the show’s best performance since 2018 and a

Animal Collective Score First Gold Record

"My Girls" has always felt like Animal Collective's biggest hit. Critics loved it; it was Pitchfork's pick for the #1 song of 2009 and finished at #3 on that year's Pazz & Jop critics poll, among other accolades. It was the most accessible song on AnCo's most accessible album,

Andy Ogles accuses Bad Bunny of broadcasting 'gay pornography'?

The government is flirting with shutdown drama, immigration policy is in chaos, and Congress is struggling to pass basic, functional legislation. But sure — let’s launch a federal inquiry into Bad Bunny’s half-time show.

Democrat Begs Pam Bondi to Use Her Canned Burn Book Insults on Him

Attorney General Pam Bondi got called out Wednesday for using a cheat sheet of personal attacks against Democratic lawmakers in order to dodge tough questions and—ironically—offered a pathetic comeback. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Florida Representative Jared

Key FEMA official says it's too easy to get major disaster funding

A key official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicated Wednesday that he believes the nation’s threshold for the declaration of major disasters is too low as various changes loom for the agency under the Trump administration. During a congressional hearing,

Pentagon plans to test anti-drone laser led to El Paso airspace closure: Report

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) brief restriction of airspace above El Paso, Texas, and southern New Mexico resulted from the Pentagon planning to test anti-drone technology despite the FAA’s reservations, according to multiple reports. Earlier Wednesday, a Trump

Oscars: The Case For and Against Every Acting Nominee

The Oscar race is on. The acting races at this year’s 98th ceremony are anything but straightforward. Across lead and supporting categories, the field is defined by generational clashes, overdue narratives, potential history-makers and a few spoilers who could upend what

IBF TRUST and Kairat Bermukanov: Reviews, operating model and results

The investment industry has long ceased to be a place of calm and silence: the more visible a project becomes, the more often it faces criticism and, at times, black PR. This is especially true for projects operating on an international scale. That is why today it is

Watch live: Trump to tout 'clean, beautiful coal' at White House event

President Trump on Wednesday afternoon will hold an event at the White House to tout his administration's support for coal mining. Trump in his second term has made moves to nix climate change rules and restrictions on power plants that use coal and other fossil fuels, despite

James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ Star, Dead at 48

The actor, who impressed in a wide range of comedic and dramatic roles, revealed colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2024

TPUSA halftime success! Channel gains 1M subscribers after Kid Rock show

Turning Point USA’s YouTube channel added 1 million subscribers after its alternative half-time show Sunday. It’s a big win, regardless of whether you personally liked Kid Rock’s performance.

7 states back in CDC's worst tier for flu as influenza B spreads

As one variant of the flu virus starts to decline, another is rising to take its place.

Bijou Phillips Hospitalized for Second Kidney Transplant, Urgently Seeks Donor

Actor-singer Bijou Phillips has been hospitalized for a second kidney transplant and is urgently seeking a donor, a rep tells Variety. A previous transplant, in 2017, was unsuccessful; the rep says she is in stable but fragile condition, and a donor is needed soon. “I’m asking

Discord users look for alternatives as the company tries to do damage control

Discord recently announced it will restrict features for users without age verification, and the news (unsurprisingly) hasn't gone over well.

El Paso Airport Closed After Military Shot Down Random Party Balloon

The FAA briefly closed the airspace over El Paso, Texas, after the military used a high-powered laser to shoot down what appeared to be a drone but was actually just a party balloon. CBS reports that the Pentagon wanted to use the technology to practice shooting down drones

New lithium-based green phosphors rival today's commercial LED standard

Research results from Innsbruck, Schwabmünchen, and Düsseldorf demonstrate how the most widely used green phosphors in commercial LEDs can be replaced by representatives of an entirely new class of compounds. Green luminescence, as required for ubiquitous white-light LEDs,

CBO projects worsening federal deficits, debt

The federal deficit and national debt are expected to grow by trillions of dollars over the next decade, according to 10-year projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO projected that the U.S. budget deficit will reach $1.9 trillion in fiscal

Exclusive-US firm in Gaza aid program, criticized by UN, in talks for new role

By Pesha Magid and Rami Ayyub JERUSALEM, Feb 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. security firm that deployed armed veterans to guard Gaza aid sites is in talks with the Trump administration’s Board of Peace about its next role in the enclave, the company said on Wednesday, after previously

Ukraine will only hold elections after security guarantees and ceasefire in place, Zelenskyy says

Under Ukraine’s constitution, holding national elections while the country is under martial law is illegal. That was declared on 24 February 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star, Dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, the actor known for playing Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek” and for numerous other TV and film roles, died on Wednesday. He was 48. Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and made his diagnosis public in 2024. Van Der Beek’s family

Who decides who belongs in Europe? The migration debate returns

In this week’s episode of The Ring, MEPs Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D) and Tomas Tobé (EPP) engage in a deep debate over how Europe should manage migration - from applying the “safe third country” concept to Spain’s large-scale regularisation plan.