Astronomers have made a surprising discovery in the Kuiper Belt, a frigid region of space beyond Neptune. A small icy rock named 2002 XV93 has been found to have its own atmosphere. This is unexpected because the object is only about 310 miles (500 km) wide. That is about seven times smaller than our Moon. Usually, an object that small does not have enough gravity to hold onto gases. They simply drift away into space....
Read news articleA 58-year-old software engineer in Paris, France, turned a $117 (€100) ticket into a Pablo Picasso painting. Ari Hodara learned about the "1 Picasso for 100 Euros" charity raffle during a dinner at a local restaurant. He bought one ticket and promptly forgot about it....
Read news articleAn autonomous robot made history on April 19, 2026, when it beat 12,000 human runners and 300 fellow robots in a half marathon at China’s Beijing E-Town. The aptly-named Lightning pulled away early and never slowed down. It finished the 13.1-mile (21.1 km) race in just 50 minutes and 26 seconds. The top human finisher, Zhao Haijie, crossed the line about 10 minutes later....
Read news articleTwo massive wildfires in Southern Georgia have destroyed at least 125 structures, forced hundreds of evacuations, and sent smoke across much of the southeastern United States. The fires began in mid-to-late April and have burned more than 55,000 acres combined. That is an area larger than Washington, DC....
Read news articleFarmers in Gabon, West Africa, often wake up to find their farms raided by elephants. In some cases, the animals feed on the leaves and stems of plants, but leave the fruit behind. Steeve Ngama, a local conservation scientist, was curious about this unusual behavior. He decided to investigate....
Read news articleMother’s Day is observed each year in the United States on the second Sunday in May. In 2026, it falls on May 10. On this day, Americans celebrate the important women in their lives with lavish gifts and treats....
Read news articleRenowned conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) died in San Francisco, California, on April 22, 2026. He was 81. Over his career, MTT won 12 Grammy Awards and received several of the country's highest arts honors....
Read news articleThe Pokémon Fossil Museum will make its North American debut at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History in May 2026. This traveling exhibition combines real fossils with Pokémon displays. It makes learning about fossils fun and engaging. The exhibit first opened in Japan in 2021 and has been showcased at several museums there. This will mark its first appearance outside the country....
Read news articleThe emperor penguin, the largest of all penguin species, was officially added to the Endangered Species list by the IUCN on April 9, 2026. These iconic birds, found only in Antarctica, are under threat due to shrinking sea ice linked to climate change....
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