Travel

Plans to move SS United States from Philly to Gulf of Mexico are back on hold – again

Feb. 06, 2025

After a series of delays, everything finally seemed set. The SS United States looked like it was ready to make its last voyage – from Philadelphia to the Gulf of Mexico. But wouldn’t you know it: Yet another postponement for the majestic ship. And a new date for departure has not been set yet. The first leg of the ship’s journey to her new underwater home off the coast of Florida was to be a quite short one — from Pier 82 to Pier 80 in Philadelphia. That was supposed to happen Thursday morning, but the move got delayed to Thursday evening.

Automotive

Honda prepares to start ‘flexible’ vehicle production at Ohio EV hub

Feb. 06, 2025

A fully electric Acura RSX SUV will be the first model produced at American Honda Motor Co.’s retooled flexible vehicle manufacturing assembly lines in Ohio later this year, the automaker announced on Feb. 3. Honda is investing over $1 billion in three Ohio plants to serve as its U.S. “EV hub,” which will also continue producing internal combustion engine vehicles and fully electric models for the North America market. The move gives the automaker flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions, the company said.

Automotive

Trump's China tariff increase affects Ford and GM vehicles, billions of dollars in auto parts

Feb. 06, 2025

DETROIT — President Donald Trump’s move to impose 10% additional tariffs on imports from China this week affects a small number of U.S. vehicles. But those tariffs are also hitting auto parts, which could increase already heightened vehicle prices for consumers. The U.S. in recent years has imported roughly $15.4 billion to more than $17.5 billion worth of transportation goods from China, including $9 billion to $10 billion in auto parts and accessories for vehicles and tractors, among other special purpose vehicles, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Science & Tech

Kangaroo embryo produced through IVF for the first time

Feb. 06, 2025

It's a major scientific leap — or at least a hop. Researchers in Australia said Thursday that they have for the first time successfully produced the first kangaroo embryos through in-vitro fertilization, in a breakthrough that may help save endangered species from extinction.

International News

U.S. lawmakers move to ban China's DeepSeek from government devices

Feb. 06, 2025

A bipartisan congressional bill is being introduced to ban China's DeepSeek artificial intelligence software from government devices. U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., are introducing the legislation on national security grounds, saying the company's technology presents an espionage risk.

Science & Tech

A test that aims to rule out autism using a strand of hair is now available to the public

Feb. 06, 2025

A test designed to identify biomarkers associated with autism in infants and young children is now available to the public in most states. LinusBio, a New Jersey-based startup, on Thursday launched the test, called Clearstrand-ASD, which it says can help physicians rule out autism in children 1 to 36 months old. The test requires just a single strand of hair.

International News

Year of the Snake comes with a bite for Chinese consumers facing an economic slowdown

Feb. 06, 2025

For people in China facing an economic slowdown, every yuan counts these days. During the last Lunar New Year holiday, construction worker Huang Peng took a high-speed train to his hometown in Heilongjiang Province, traveling more than 500 miles in about six hours. This year he took a slow train instead, paying 160 yuan ($22) to sit upright for 18 hours. For Huang, that was a far more affordable option than the high-speed train ($92) or even a bed on the slow train ($40).

Science & Tech

How weather driven by climate change helped fuel the Southern California fires

Feb. 06, 2025

The wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area last month were driven by monthslong, climate change-fueled weather patterns, according to scientists studying the meteorological factors behind them. Research released last week by World Weather Attribution, a collaboration of scientists studying the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, found that human-caused global warming made the conditions that drove the Los Angeles-area wildfires about 35% more likely.

Science & Tech

Seafood samples contain high levels of microplastics in US state, say researchers

Feb. 06, 2025

Microplastics were detected in almost every seafood sample found off the coast of the western U.S. in a recent study, researchers claim. The study, led by Portland State University (PSU), identified "anthropogenic particles" — which are materials produced or modified by humans — in the edible tissue of six different species of fish. Those included black rockfish, lingcod, Chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific lamprey, and pink shrimp, according to a PSU press release.

Sports

The Super Bowl's biggest loser? New York Giants fans

Feb. 06, 2025

It’s safe to say John Lopez hasn’t had a fun football season. A die-hard Giants fan since he can remember, the 31-year-old New Yorker watched each week as his beloved team stumbled to a 3-14 record with dysfunction both on and off the field. But the person causing him the most pain wasn’t even on the roster. “Every time I see Saquon Barkley running for a touchdown, it’s just like a total gut punch,” he told NBC News this week.