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The unusual, unexpected, bizarre, funny, fascinating, and occasionally inexplicable stories happening around the world.
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Observations of the magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 have produced what researchers describe as the strongest evidence yet for vacuum birefringence, a predicted quantum effect in which intense magnetic fields alter how light travels. The finding remains unconfirmed and will require further observations and simulations.
Donald Trump has presented a rendering of a proposed Space Force uniform modeled on the dark, sharply tailored look of the 1997 film Starship Troopers. The design has drawn criticism because the movie intentionally used visual references associated with Nazi Germany and fascism.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified an intensely bright red object from a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Their modeling suggests it may be a roughly solar-system-sized hydrogen cocoon surrounding a black hole about 100,000 times the Sun’s mass.
Fresh From the Feed
After buying a renovated cave in Sicily as a potential investment, Shalise Barnes changed her plans following a break-up and moved in herself. She says the unusual home has brought peace and stability, though it also comes with humidity, dust and scorpions.
Australia’s secretaries board has urged the government to stop edited clips from parliamentary hearings being shared on social media, citing concerns about missing context and abuse. Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May warned that the proposal could reduce transparency around the scrutiny of public officials.
NASA’s Perseverance rover recorded Earth as a tiny point of light before Mars’ moon Phobos passed directly in front of it. The July 2 observation is described as the first recorded instance of Earth disappearing behind another object as seen from the surface of a different planet.
Astronomers say a black hole tore apart a massive star in an explosion that briefly radiated about 400 billion times the Sun’s energy. Months later, rapidly moving helium hinted that a compact stream or another structure may have survived the star’s destruction.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said a nearly completed reactor built secretly during Bashar al-Assad’s rule was technically capable of producing fissile material for potential nuclear weapons. Inspectors also found about 73 tonnes of natural uranium at another previously undeclared site.
A new set of computer simulations supports the possibility that Earth’s moon assembled within hours of a collision between the young Earth and a Mars-sized body. The result depends on the temperature and strength of the bodies involved, and does not replace unresolved questions about the Moon’s composition.
Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide and other war crimes, was buried in Belgrade after a funeral marked by military ceremony and public displays of admiration. The event drew condemnation from European Union officials, who said glorifying him conflicted with Serbia’s path toward membership.
Experienced skydiver Holly Wiffen was knocked unconscious during a group jump near Nottingham and fell without deploying her parachute. She survived after landing in a conifer tree, though she suffered a fractured spine, a broken leg and bruising.
An official White House website now hosts five simple games built around Trump administration themes, including border enforcement, tariffs on seed oils and personal finance. The games resemble familiar classics, while at least one company has denied involvement and warned of possible copyright infringement.
A woman in her 70s has become the first person in Australia to be buried in a coffin made from mycelium and hemp fibres. The biodegradable casket is designed to break down in about 45 days and enrich the surrounding soil.
A Qantas Boeing 737 flying from Queenstown to Sydney diverted to Christchurch after passengers reported a bang, flickering cabin lights and flames near the left engine. The aircraft landed safely about 52 minutes after takeoff, while engineers investigate the suspected engine problem.
Jamie and Michelle Wade ended their wedding photo session in the River Bure after losing their balance in a canoe. The accidental swim was one of several mishaps during a wedding day that also included torrential rain, a forgotten bouquet, a guest’s broken leg and a burnt toe.
