Reading

Prehistoric crayons provide clues to how Neanderthals created art

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501950-prehistoric-crayons-provide-clues-to-how-neanderthals-created-art/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Ochre artefacts found in Crimea show signs of having been used for drawing, adding to evidence that Neanderthals used pigments in symbolic ways

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501950-prehistoric-crayons-provide-clues-to-how-neanderthals-created-art/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

'Most of it is good': Tim Berners-Lee on the state of the web now

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500499-most-of-it-is-good-tim-berners-lee-on-the-state-of-the-web-now/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

The man who invented the web is aware of the many issues it faces, from problematic social media use to the rise of unfettered AI. He also has a plan to remedy the situation

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500499-most-of-it-is-good-tim-berners-lee-on-the-state-of-the-web-now/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Escaped monkeys in Mississippi 'aren't infectious,' Tulane University says

Posted by Laerke Christensen

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tulane-university-monkeys/

The driver of the crashed truck reportedly told local law enforcement the monkeys were dangerous and "posed a threat to humans."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tulane-university-monkeys/

Analogue computers could train AI 1000 times faster and cut energy use

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500442-analogue-computers-could-train-ai-1000-times-faster-and-cut-energy-use/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Computers built with analogue circuits promise huge speed and efficiency gains over ordinary computers, but normally at the cost of accuracy. Now, an analogue computer designed to carry out calculations that are key to AI training could fix that

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500442-analogue-computers-could-train-ai-1000-times-faster-and-cut-energy-use/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

US House didn't pass bill automatically registering men aged 18-26 for draft

Posted by Jack Izzo

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bill-automatic-draft-registration/

There was such a draft provision in the proposed bill; however, it was removed from the final version that was signed into law on Dec. 23, 2024.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bill-automatic-draft-registration/

New study showed mRNA COVID-19 vaccines help extend cancer survival?

Posted by Anna Rascouët-Paz

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cancer-mrna-covid-19-vaccine/

The study, published in the journal Nature, showed the jabs provided an immunity boost that helped extend survival for certain skin and lung cancers.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cancer-mrna-covid-19-vaccine/

Can't focus after a bad's night sleep? Your dirty brain is to blame

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501927-cant-focus-after-a-bads-night-sleep-your-dirty-brain-is-to-blame/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

During sleep, your brain cleans itself by flushing through cerebrospinal fluid to prevent damage to brain cells. If you're lacking in sleep, this happens when you are awake – and seems to cause momentary lapses in attention

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501927-cant-focus-after-a-bads-night-sleep-your-dirty-brain-is-to-blame/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Is Trump selling pieces of demolished White House East Wing? Breaking down claim

Posted by Jack Izzo

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-east-wing-ad/

The claim spread on social media, but nobody in Trump's circle had announced he would sell pieces from the demolition.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-east-wing-ad/

Unexpected Bestseller

Posted by Doug

https://www.savagechickens.com/2025/10/unexpected-bestseller.html

https://www.savagechickens.com/?p=32688

Unexpected Bestseller

My Halloween Week continues! And there’s still lots of time to enter my Halloween Contest!

https://www.savagechickens.com/2025/10/unexpected-bestseller.html

https://www.savagechickens.com/?p=32688

Australian government reviewing petition that would ban Trump from entering country

Posted by Laerke Christensen

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-australia-petition-travel/

Australia has not hosted a visit from a U.S. President since Barack Obama attended the G20 Leader's Summit in Brisbane in 2014.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-australia-petition-travel/

Quantum-inspired algorithm could help reveal hidden cosmic objects

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501892-quantum-inspired-algorithm-could-help-reveal-hidden-cosmic-objects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Combining a quantum-inspired algorithm and quantum information processing technologies could enable researchers to measure masses of cosmic objects that bend light almost imperceptibly

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501892-quantum-inspired-algorithm-could-help-reveal-hidden-cosmic-objects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Who really broke the Israel-Hamas ceasefire? Here's what we know

Posted by Taija PerryCook

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/10/28/hamas-ceasefire-violation-claim/

Israel has launched three waves of airstrikes on Gaza since the Trump-brokered ceasefire went into effect.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/10/28/hamas-ceasefire-violation-claim/

Examining rumor Barron Trump had boyfriend named Carlos

Posted by Jordan Liles

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/10/28/barron-trump-boyfriend-carlos/

Online users claimed in October 2025 that U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son was dating an Argentine ballroom dancer.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/10/28/barron-trump-boyfriend-carlos/

Did Mike Johnson say Republicans aren't 'in charge' of the government?

Posted by Megan Loe

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mike-johnson-republicans-in-charge/

In a video shared on social media, Johnson is heard saying, "[Democrats] keep saying Republicans are in charge of the government. We aren't."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mike-johnson-republicans-in-charge/

Tiger Woods severing business ties with Amazon over Bezos' relationship with Trump?

Posted by Jack Izzo

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tiger-woods-spat-amazon-jeff-bezos-donald-trump/

There's no evidence Woods, who hadn't competed in over a year following two back surgeries, even had any endorsements or business ties to Amazon.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tiger-woods-spat-amazon-jeff-bezos-donald-trump/

Video from above clouds shaped like a 'wormhole' isn't real footage of Hurricane Melissa

Posted by Emery Winter

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/wormhole-eye-hurricane-melissa-ai/

Hurricane Melissa became the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in Jamaica when it hit the island on Oct. 28, 2025.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/wormhole-eye-hurricane-melissa-ai/

US public health system is flying blind after major cuts

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501714-us-public-health-system-is-flying-blind-after-major-cuts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

The Trump administration has laid off government workers integral to major public health surveys, meaning the country will lack crucial information on births, deaths and illnesses nationwide

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501714-us-public-health-system-is-flying-blind-after-major-cuts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Why Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501770-why-hurricane-melissa-is-one-of-the-strongest-atlantic-storms-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

The monster hurricane pummelling Jamaica is powered by abnormal sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean, which were made at least 500 times more likely by global warming

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501770-why-hurricane-melissa-is-one-of-the-strongest-atlantic-storms-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Rumor has it Mike Johnson's wife's hidden LLC was exposed by Rachel Maddow. Here's the truth

Posted by Rae Deng

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mike-johnson-wife-llc-maddow/

This exact story, with Maddow swapped out for Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, has spread on Facebook before.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mike-johnson-wife-llc-maddow/

How a surge in ancient plagues 5000 years ago shaped humanity

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500060-how-a-surge-in-ancient-plagues-5000-years-ago-shaped-humanity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

Plague, leprosy, smallpox and other diseases didn't jump from animals to humans when we thought. Ancient DNA is revealing where they come from and how they changed history

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500060-how-a-surge-in-ancient-plagues-5000-years-ago-shaped-humanity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home