Who is Shalla-Bal, the female Silver Surfer in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps''?

Laura Birn and Lee Pace, stars of Apple TV’s Foundation, open up about the emotional weight of their roles in Season 3—and Pace even jokes about playing an "intergalactic stoner." The duo reflects on the challenges of bringing depth to a sprawling sci-fi epic while keeping things fun behind the scenes.

Editor’s Note: Foundation is one of those big, ambitious sci-fi shows that fans either obsess over or find intimidating. Hearing the cast talk candidly about balancing heavy themes with lighter moments makes the show feel more relatable—and reminds us that even in a galaxy-spanning drama, there’s room for humor and humanity. Plus, who doesn’t want to hear Lee Pace riff on space-stoner vibes?

Turns out, cleaning up air pollution might have an unexpected downside. A new study shows that certain types of air pollution in East Asia—think industrial haze—actually acted like a giant sunshade, reflecting some of the sun’s energy away from Earth. Now that those pollutants are being reduced (which is great for public health), more sunlight is reaching the surface, likely speeding up global warming. It’s a classic "good news, bad news" scenario.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t an argument against cutting air pollution—cleaner air saves lives. But it highlights how interconnected Earth’s systems are. Fixing one problem can sometimes reveal another. It’s a reminder that climate action needs to be multifaceted; reducing greenhouse gases and understanding these tricky side effects are both crucial.

Astronomers have spotted the biggest cosmic collision ever recorded—two black holes smashing together to form a colossal new one roughly 225 times heavier than our sun. The discovery, made using gravitational wave detectors, might hint at the existence of an elusive class of black holes that scientists have been hunting for.

Editor’s Note: Black holes merging isn’t new, but this one’s a record-breaker—and it could shake up what we know about how these cosmic giants form. Finding a black hole this massive challenges some long-held theories, so it’s not just a cool space event; it might rewrite a few textbooks. Plus, it’s a win for the tech behind gravitational wave detection, proving we’re getting better at eavesdropping on the universe’s wildest moments.

Scientists got a little messy in the name of crime-solving—they shot pig’s blood at different fabrics to study how bloodstains form on clothing. Turns out, the physics behind splatters isn’t as straightforward as you’d think, and this research could help forensic teams better interpret blood evidence at crime scenes.

Editor’s Note: Bloodstain patterns can tell investigators a lot about what happened during a violent crime, but fabrics complicate things—they absorb, spread, or distort blood in unpredictable ways. This study dives into the nitty-gritty of how blood behaves when it hits clothing, which could make forensic analysis more accurate. It’s not glamorous work (hello, pig blood experiments), but it might help ensure justice gets served.

Arizona's governor is calling for a closer look at how federal agencies managed a recent wildfire near the Grand Canyon, suggesting there may have been missteps in containment or response efforts. The move signals growing scrutiny over wildfire protocols in sensitive ecological areas.

Editor’s Note: Wildfires in iconic landscapes like the Grand Canyon aren’t just environmental disasters—they’re political flashpoints. If the feds mishandled this, it could fuel broader debates about accountability in wildfire response, especially as climate change makes these blazes more frequent and intense. For Arizonans, it’s about protecting a natural treasure while demanding better preparedness.