Trump’s Funding Freeze Raises a New Question: Is the Government’s Word Good?

As the Trump administration continues to withhold billions of dollars for climate and clean energy spending — despite two federal judges ordering the money released — concerns are growing that the United States government could skip out on its legal commitments. Typically, when the federal government spends money through a grant or a loan program … Read more

Pope Francis Is Hospitalized for Bronchitis

Pope Francis was hospitalized on Friday for diagnostic tests and to treat an ongoing case of bronchitis, the Vatican said, reviving concerns about the 88-year old pontiff’s health. In a brief statement, the Vatican said that Francis had held his audiences as usual on Friday morning and was then taken to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, … Read more

These Podcasters Want to Teach You How to Date

At the tail end of her 30s, Elizabeth Day found herself divorced and single after a string of long-term relationships. Ms. Day, a British writer and podcaster, entered a world of dating she had never encountered, not having been single since the advent of dating apps. “It was such a jungle out there,” Ms. Day, … Read more

Russian Drone Hits Chernobyl Nuclear Radiation Shield, Ukraine Says

Russia’s military used a drone with a high-explosive warhead to hit the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine overnight, damaging the protective shelter that prevents radiation leaks, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said on Friday. In a post on social media, Mr. Zelensky called the damage “significant” but said that there were no signs … Read more

Remnants of a Roman Basilica Are Found Under a London Office Building

Archaeologists have unearthed the foundations of London’s first public building. Excavating under the basement of a commercial building in the city’s financial district, they encountered what they believe are the roughly 2,000-year-old remains of a basilica from Roman London. The basilica was part of London’s Roman forum, or public square, and was “effectively the first … Read more

What’s Best, According to the Italian Mathematician Alessio Figalli

The words “optimal” and “optimize” derive from the Latin “optimus,” or “best,” as in “make the best of things.” Alessio Figalli, a mathematician at the university ETH Zurich, studies optimal transport: the most efficient allocation of starting points to end points. The scope of investigation is wide, including clouds, crystals, bubbles and chatbots. Dr. Figalli, … Read more