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....

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), a leader of the American civil rights movement. Celebrated every year on the third Monday of January, it is also a national day of service, encouraging Americans to give back to their communities. In 2026, the holiday will be observed on January 19....

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....

In 1916, two soldiers put handwritten notes into a glass bottle and threw it into the sea as they sailed from Adelaide, South Australia, to Europe to fight in World War I. More than a century later, the bottle has been found on a Western Australian shore, with its contents intact....

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....

Canada's WestJet Airlines is famous for its annual "Christmas Miracle." Now in its 13th year, the heartwarming tradition spreads holiday cheer to people across the country. In the past, the airline has surprised passengers with gifts. It has also reunited loved ones for the holidays. In 2025, WestJet focused on supporting families staying at Ronald McDonald House (RMHC) while their children received medical treatment....

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....

Every winter, Jewish families around the world celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. The joyful eight-day celebration fills homes with glowing menorahs, tasty foods, fun games, and other traditions that honor an ancient miracle. While the dates vary each year, Hanukkah always falls between late November and December. In 2025, the festival will begin at sundown on December 14 and end at sundown on December 22....

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....

The days after Thanksgiving — Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday — are all about shopping for the best deals. GivingTuesday has a more altruistic purpose. The "Global Day of Giving," which falls on December 2 this year, is all about helping others and making a positive impact....

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....

The next time you grumble about short winter days, think of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, the northernmost town in the United States. On November 18, 2025, its residents witnessed their final sunset of the year. They will not see the Sun again until around January 22, 2026. That is about 64 consecutive days, or 1,536 hours, of darkness!...

Thousands of elk, deer, and other large animals move across Colorado each year. They graze in the lowlands during winter and return to the mountains in summer. But their paths often cross busy highways. This can make their migrations very dangerous. One of the most hazardous spots is Interstate 25 between the towns of Larkspur and Monument. More than 100,000 vehicles pass there every day. With six lanes cutting through thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, collisions between animals and cars are all too common....

Uranus and Neptune are often called "ice giants." This is based on the theory that they were made from materials that easily freeze in space, like water and ammonia. However, this label does not come from direct observations, since no spacecraft has visited the two giants since Voyager 2 in the 1980s. Instead, it is drawn from computer models built using the planets’ sizes, masses, densities, and gravity fields. Now, a new study by scientists at the University of Zurich is challenging this idea. It suggests that the two planets may contain more rock than ice....