A powerful winter storm has left a trail of destruction across North America — from the Mexican border through much of the United States (US) and into Eastern Canada. The massive system, nicknamed Fern, began its cross-continent trek on January 22, 2026 and lasted several days. It brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain to more than 220 million people....

American rock climber Alex Honnold made history on January 25, 2026, by completing the first rope-free climb of Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The 1,667-foot (508 m) skyscraper is located in downtown Taipei. It was the world’s tallest until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010....

Flying cars have long captured the imagination of engineers and dreamers alike. In 1894, American-British inventor Hiram Maxim brought the idea closer to reality with sketches for a four-wheeled, bird-like vehicle capable of flight. His vision later inspired an amusement park ride. But it was not what he had hoped for. Now, Maxim's dream is finally becoming a reality thanks to California-based startup Alef Aeronautics....

Researchers in Canada confirmed a rare and remarkable event on January 1, 2026. A wild female polar bear had adopted an unrelated cub. The five-year-old mother was identified as bear X33991. She belongs to the Western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation in northern Manitoba. The scientists say this is only the 13th known adoption since they began tracking the group 45 years ago....

On December 20, 2025, Michaela "Michi" Benthaus became the first person in a wheelchair to travel to space. The 33-year-old German aerospace engineer launched from West Texas aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-37 spacecraft. Her flight marked an important step toward making space travel more accessible to people with physical disabilities....

As winter storms sweep across the United States, many Americans are feeling the season’s chill. These temperatures may seem frigid, but they are mild compared to those in Yakutsk, one of the coldest cities in the world....

Three brothers were clearing out their late mother's home in San Francisco in December 2024 when they stumbled upon a stash of old comic books. Among them was a copy of Superman No. 1, the first issue in which the superhero starred in his own series....

Archeologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences have uncovered an ancient city submerged in Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia. Revealed on November 18, 2025, the site matches the location of an ancient settlement called Toru-Aygyr. The city flourished from around the 10th to the 15th century. Experts believe it was an important stop on the Silk Road. This was a network of trade routes connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean....

Each winter, Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, hosts more than just airplanes. Snowy owls also make a surprising stop here. This rare phenomenon has long delighted travelers and birdwatchers alike....

For the first time in the 25-year history of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has ordered a crew to return early. The Crew-11 astronauts — Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov — will leave aboard the SpaceX Dragon on January 14, 2026. If all goes according to plan, they will splash down off the California coast at about 3:40 am pst on January 15. The mission had been initially planned to last until around February 20....

In the summer of 2019, ecologist Patrick Sullivan traveled to northern Alaska to study forests near the Salmon River. Known for its pristine water, the river supports a thriving population of wildlife, including fish and bears. Instead of the crystal-clear water he had expected, large sections farther down the river appeared bright orange. The riverbanks were also stained with rust-colored sediment....

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, reached a historic milestone on October 30, 2025. With the placement of the first part of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, it became the world’s tallest church. Rising 534 feet (162.91 m), it now surpasses Germany’s Ulm Minster, which had held the record since 1890. Despite this achievement, the structure, under construction for over 140 years, is far from complete....

As the clock struck midnight, cities across the globe welcomed 2026 with colorful fireworks. These displays lit up landmarks and brought communities together in a shared moment of celebration. Here is a look at some of the most spectacular shows from around the world....

In the United States, Christmas often means baking cookies, decorating the tree, and waiting for Santa. Around the world, though, Christmas traditions can look very different. Here are some fun and unique ways people celebrate the season....

Christmas is all about beloved traditions. For some, this means attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve. For others, it is baking cookies and decorating the house. And then there are those whose holiday would feel incomplete without an episode of The Yule Log — a show featuring a warm, crackling fire....

As days grow shorter and temperatures drop, it may feel like winter has already arrived. However, the astronomical start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is not until December 21, 2025. Called the winter solstice, it marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. At the same time, people in the Southern Hemisphere will celebrate the summer solstice. They will enjoy the longest day and shortest night of 2025....

San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved residents. Claude, an alligator with striking white skin and red eyes, died on December 2, 2025, from liver cancer....

A tiny traveler has joined Earth in its journey around the Sun. The object, named 2025 PN7, is a quasi-moon, an asteroid whose orbit closely matches Earth’s. This makes it look like it follows our planet. The quasi-moon's discovery, revealed on October 22, 2025, offers scientists a rare chance to study near-Earth asteroids....

On the morning of November 23, 2025, the residents of Ethiopia's remote Afar region were jolted awake by an unexpected event. The nearby Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in recorded history!...

On November 12, 2025, the United States (US) Mint made its final penny at the Philadelphia facility, ending more than 230 years of production. This landmark moment closed an era that began with the first cent in 1793 and continued through the Lincoln cent in use today. The decision to halt production was driven primarily by cost. By 2024, each penny cost nearly four cents to make. This resulted in substantial annual losses for the Mint....

Researchers have found the largest spider web ever recorded inside a sulfur-rich cave along the Greece–Albania border. The "spider megacity" covers an astounding 1,140 sq ft (105 sq m). This is about the size of a small apartment. This remarkable discovery was revealed by biologist István Urák and his team on October 17, 2025....

The Radio City Rockettes are one of the world's most popular dance groups. Every year, their high-energy routines thrill audiences of all ages at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. The 2025 season promises to be even more spectacular. It marks the all-female group's 100th anniversary!...

A hoard of 15th and 16th-century coins found in a Southern England backyard sold for over $440,000 to multiple bidders at a Swiss auction on November 5, 2025. The final price far exceeded the auctioneer’s estimate of about $300,000....

On November 27, 2025, more than 46 million turkeys will end up on Thanksgiving dinner tables across the US. However, Gobble and Waddle will not be among them. President Trump pardoned the two lucky turkeys in an elaborate ceremony held at the White House Rose Garden on November 25, 2025....