The coldest 'stars' in the galaxy might actually be alien megastructures

"Ever since physicist Freeman Dyson first proposed the concept in 1960, the 'Dyson sphere' has been the holy grail of techno-signature hunters. A highly advanced civilization could build a 'sphere' (or, in our more modern understanding, a 'swarm' of smaller components) around their host star to harvest its entire energy output. We know, in theory at least, that such a swarm could exist — but what would it actually look like if we were able to observe one? A new paper … digs into that question — and in the process discloses the types of stars that are the most likely to find them around."

Universe Today »

Ahh, spring cleaning for your… phone bill?

Spring is the season of ruthless life edits. The heavy coat goes back in the closet. The junk drawer gets audited. Your phone bill? Probably still hanging around like it pays rent — except you're the one overpaying rent to it. We can't rewrite the telecom economy, but we can lower the rent. Tello's Unlimited plan is $19 a month for the first year with unlimited talk, text, and data for all the scrolling, streaming, and group chat chaos you generate daily. Call it spring cleaning for your monthly expenses. [Ad]

Clean up your phone bill »

Court having trouble assembling jury for Elon Musk because people hate him so much

"Being one of the most despised men in America does come with a few downsides, it turns out. As Elon Musk was set to stand trial in San Francisco's federal court for allegedly manipulating Twitter's stock, his legal team discovered that it's pretty hard to find impartial jurors who don't 'hate' the billionaire's guts… The judge Charles R. Breyer had to carefully present the conundrum to the over 90 prospective jurors."

Futurism »

Chimps' love for crystals could help us understand our own ancestors' fascination with these stones

"Crystals have repeatedly been found at archaeological sites alongside Homo remains. Evidence shows that hominins have been collecting these stones for as long as 780,000 years. Yet, we know that our ancestors did not use them as weapons, tools, or even jewelry. So why did they collect them at all?"

Phys.org »

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Outsmart the IRS (legally, obviously)

It's that magical time of year when the government politely asks for your life story in PDF form. Cute. H&R Block Deluxe + State 2025 walks you through it step by step, hunts for deductions you forgot existed, and helps you keep more of your actual money. Five free federal e-files, AI Tax Assist, and no more questioning your return. Consider this your responsible villain origin story. [Ad]

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9 rare animals caught on camera in the 'Amazon of Asia'

"The results of a new camera-trap survey in Southeast Asia are revealing a bevy of hidden biodiversity tucked within the Annamites mountain range. This largely unexplored wildlife hotspot has a forest stretching 683 miles across the countries of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. … 'The Annamites mountain range — sometimes called the "Amazon of Asia" — is alive with a host of incredible creatures, each playing a critical role in maintaining the forest ecosystems that are vital to the health of our planet … This camera-trap data allows us to discover some of the Annamites' rarest species, while also understanding more about their behaviour, preferred topography, and their interactions with human settlements.' Take a look at nine of the survey's exciting finds below."

Popular Science »