American citizen among those killed in Cuba boat shooting, US official says
Cuba has accused those on board of planning "an infiltration with terrorist aims” and firing first.
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Grasslands are vanishing nearly four times faster than forests, global study finds
Along with forests, grasslands and wetlands are also being converted to cropland and pasture at an increasing rate around the world—often for livestock farming and the export of agricultural products. An international team of researchers, including Martin Persson from Chalmers,
Trump’s State of the Union Address Draws 32.6 Million Viewers, Down From Last Year’s Speech
Donald Trump’s State of the Union address drew 32.6 million viewers, an 11% decrease from his 2025 address to Congress. The nearly 108-minute speech (the longest address before a joint session of Congress in at least six decades) aired across 15 broadcast and cable outlets,
The fight over Trump’s tariffs could become a battle royale in this little known US court
"It's unclear exactly what will happen," said a Washington-based lawyer who litigates trade disputes. "There are around 3,000 refund lawsuits already pending and they are assigned to the same three judges who dinged Trump originally and are not fans."
What does it mean to compute? Framework maps hidden computations running inside natural dynamic systems
Some computers are easy to spot. Artificial, human-built computers like those found in smartphones and laptops are abstract dynamic systems with observable computational elements like input, output, energy cost, and logical processes. Other computers aren't so readily recognized.
Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address Pulls 32.6 Million Viewers, Down From Last Year
Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address brought in an estimated 32.6 million viewers on Tuesday, according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel ratings. That was down from last year’s address to Congress (which took place on March 4, 2005, about a month and a half after Trump
The NY Times has added another daily crossword to the...
The NY Times has added another daily crossword to the line-up : the Midi . “The standard Times daily crossword, you see, is a 15×15 grid. The Mini is 5×5. The new Midi is 9×9, snug in between.”
Original Guitar Hero Devs Reveal New Rock Band-Like Game
Stage Tour will be playable with controllers, plastic instruments, and keyboards when it launches later this year
Ubisoft Veteran Leading Project Windless Was Shocked How Quickly Its Swole Chicken Warrior Won Over Fans
The upcoming RPG is based on Korean novelist Lee Youngdo's fantasy series The Bird That Drinks Tears
Tracking wildlife trafficking in the age of online marketplaces
Wildlife trafficking is one of the world's most widespread illegal trades, contributing to biodiversity loss, organized crime, and public health risks. Once concentrated in physical markets, much of this activity has moved online. Today, animals and animal products are
Judge sides with salmon against Trump administration in hydropower ruling
Federal judge in Oregon rejects bid to overturn Biden-era agreement to protect endangered fish populations Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts direct to your inbox A federal judge in Oregon sided with salmon against the Trump administration on
Power plant pollution rose last year, green group analysis finds
U.S. power plant pollution rose last year, according to a green group’s analysis of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. Emissions of sulfur dioxide increased by 18 percent in 2025, according to an analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental
Broadway Star and Illusionist Rob Lake Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)
Broadway star and illusionist Rob Lake has signed with WME. Lake recently starred on Broadway for the holiday special “Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests The Muppets” at the Broadhurst Theatre. He appeared on “America’s Got Talent” in 2018 and during his audition, he appeared
U.S., Iran wrap round of talks as Trump weighs diplomacy against strikes
The sides made “significant progress” and agreed to meet again next week amid one of the largest U.S. military buildups in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Smart materials and drug delivery could exploit lipid molecules that reorganize at drying interfaces
Minor changes in moisture level can promote lipid molecules to reorganize themselves in biomaterial or biomembranes. This can affect how the skin, lungs and tear film protect us from dehydration. This new discovery from Lund University in Sweden could be the inspiration for
big long sun Announce New Album love songs and spiritual recollections: Hear “call it a voice”
big long sun are a Brighton-based eight-piece — Mina-Mae Alexander, Jamie Broughton, Ocean Goucher, Zofia Szymanowska, Oliver Parkes, Tom Gregory, Malte Henning, and Robert Smyth — that make “sonic bedroom art rock pop noises … for dreaming.” That last bit is real important to
US threatens to cut off Swiss bank from financial system over alleged Iran, Russia ties
The Treasury Department on Thursday threatened to cut off MBaer Merchant Bank AG’s access to U.S. financial institutions over the Swiss bank’s alleged ties to sanctioned Iranian and Russian actors. The Treasury accused MBaer and its employees of enabling corruption linked to
Trump DOJ to Investigate Itself Over Epstein Files Release
The Department of Justice has announced that it will investigate itself for failing to disclose documents containing allegations against President Donald Trump as part of the files on Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on X Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Justice announced
Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Block, Intuit, Dell Technologies & more
These are the stocks posting the largest moves in extended trading.
How Ghislaine Maxwell brought Bill Clinton into Epstein's orbit
Documents in the Epstein files reveal how Maxwell nurtured the connection between the two men after Clinton left the White House.
Burger King rolls out AI headsets that track employee 'friendliness'
The fast-food chain is testing OpenAI-powered headsets that monitor staff interactions with customers.
Warner Bros. Discovery says Paramount’s $31 per share bid is ‘superior’ to Netflix offer — latest twist in bidding war
Netflix's current offer for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is an all-cash transaction valued at $27.75 per share.
Columbia student released from ICE custody hours after arrest
Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva was released by immigration enforcement Thursday afternoon after she was detained at a school residential building early in the morning. Aghayeva said in an Instagram post she is on her way home and in “complete shock” over the
Noem: DHS shutdown is affecting World Cup, America 250 preparations
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said the ongoing shutdown of her department is affecting preparations for the 2026 World Cup and the celebration of 250 years of the United States. In a post on the social platform X Thursday, Noem said the Federal
A cosmic explosion with the force of a billion suns went unseen—until we caught its echo
Some of the universe's most extreme explosions leave behind almost no trace. The original explosion is unseen, but our observations can capture the long-lived echo it leaves behind as the shock front plows into its surrounding environment. In new research accepted for
What’s fuelling Malaysia’s temple land disputes and does Anwar face ‘no-win scenario’?
Land disputes over “illegal” temples are resurfacing long-standing questions of identity politics, and putting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim under fire, say analysts.
Swastika Mukherjee Stars in Indo-American Co-Production ‘Chheledhora,’ Bengali Thriller Shooting in Arunachal Pradesh (EXCLUSIVE)
Principal photography is set to get underway March 1 on “Chheledhora,” a Bengali-language thriller from writer-director Shieladitya Moulik. The Indo-American co-production, starring Swastika Mukherjee, will film across locations in Itanagar and Ziro in the northeastern Indian
I Really Want To Like Marathon, But I’m Not Sure So Far
The Marathon Server Slam is happening now, and I mostly liked it, I think...maybe...
Commentary: Singapore’s best defence against Nipah virus isn’t temperature screening at the airport
Thermal scanning at ports of entry is not as effective in keeping rare deadly pathogens out as one may hope, says Hsu Li Yang from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Satellite’s Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse Photo Taken From Orbit
During the recent annular solar eclipse on February 17, the ESA’s PROBA-2 satellite captured this great shot of the Moon passing in front of the Sun. Cue up the Johnny Cash. Tags: astronomy · Moon · photography · science · Sun
Texas grand jury rejects indictments in fatal shooting of US citizen by immigration agents
A Texas grand jury on Wednesday rejected indictments regarding a fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents that left a U.S. citizen dead last year. The grand jury's decision follows the death of Joshua Orta, who was with Ruben Ray Martinez when he was shot and killed
Pakistan says two soldiers killed after attacks by Afghan Taliban
Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy losses after the Afghan Taliban launched attacks along the border.
Pentagon draws scrutiny with Anthropic threats, Defense Production Act
The Pentagon is threatening to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) against Anthropic amid a dispute over the company’s restrictions on its AI tools, in a move that many experts say is an unusual use of the measure. The Department of Defense (DOD) warned Anthropic on Tuesday
Journalists slain at record level in 2025, majority by Israel, watchdog says
An increasing number of journalists were killed by drones, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. The IDF said it “strongly rejects” the group’s findings.
Art Movements: New Curator at the Frick
Aaron Wile will be a senior curator at the institution. Plus, the Venice Biennale announces its full list, and the Bezoses are chairing the Met Gala (yay!).
‘Scream 7’ Now Has the Lowest Rotten Tomatoes Score in Franchise: “Shockingly Terrible”
Critics sound off on the latest 'Scream,' with some suggesting the franchise should get killed off.
U.S. and Iran make 'significant progress' in nuclear talks, Oman says
Oman cites 'significant progress' in Geneva, while Tehran calls them 'some of the most serious' talks ever with Washington. Technical teams will meet in Vienna within days, but disputes over enrichment, missiles and sanctions relief still threaten a breakthrough
Burger King testing AI headsets that track how friendly employees are to customers
Burger King has begun testing AI-powered headsets that can recite recipes, alert managers when inventory is low, and even track how friendly employees are to customers.
EPA firing 22 environmental justice staffers, union says
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to fire 22 more of its staffers, a union representing agency employees said Thursday. Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 238, which represents EPA staff, said that the agency
MAGA Is Furious Lauren Boebert Derailed Hillary’s Epstein Deposition
Lauren Boebert successfully pissed everybody off during Hillary Clinton’s closed-door deposition Thursday. Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee to share what she knew about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking empire (Clinton insisted she knew nothing). But
In ‘The Fall-Off Is Inevitable,’ J. Cole Circles Back to the Beginning
A funeral scene, wedding, and childhood home videos. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article In ‘The Fall-Off Is Inevitable,’ J. Cole Circles Back to the
Marty Supreme director reimagines Timothée Chalamet as modded game controller hustler
Director Josh Safdie says Marty Supreme star Timothée Chalamet has always given off big angora rabbit vibes
Single-celled organism becomes multicellular via three different pathways
Some single-celled organisms are known to transition to multicellularity during their lifetimes, usually either by cloning themselves or when many similar cells come together to form a larger multicellular organism. A new study published in Nature suggests that a combination of
Platner deletes social media post promoting far-right figure Stew Peters
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing backlash after amplifying a post made by far-right figure Stew Peters. “War with Iran is the only thing republicans and democrats have both given a standing ovation for. Let that sink in,” Peters, who has been deemed a conspiracy
Required Reading
This week: how to make art with a full-time job, portraits of Black marronage, artists vs. algorithms, US men’s hockey team acts up (again), snow sculptures in NYC, and more.
Kansas invalidates more than 1,000 transgender residents' driver's licenses, birth certificates
A Kansas law invalidating the driver’s licenses and birth certificates of transgender residents who changed their gender on the documents took effect Thursday. The legislation, Senate Bill 244, requires all Kansans to identify with the same gender as their birth sex on official
A Private Prison Falsified Death Records. ICE Gave Them More Money.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement discovered that GEO Group, the country’s largest private prison company, had falsified the death records of an inmate—but that didn’t stop the federal agency from throwing even more money at them, according to The Intercept . On December 6,
On Iran, Trump administration's messaging is mixed
US President Donald Trump appears to be leaning toward strikes on Iran, but his administration is sending contradictory signals, alternating between threats and a willingness to talk -- and muddying its justification for intervention. Opposition Democrats are meanwhile
Chloë Sevigny, a Lifelong Deadhead, Is Producing a Film About Deadheads
Summer Tour , directed by her friend Mischa Richter, will screen this summer with distribution through Utopia