Surface

NASA has laid out plans for a permanent moon base costing an estimated $20 billion, according to ABC News. The strategy would establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface, building on the Artemis program. Details of the timeline, funding and partners remain under scrutiny as observers weigh what the ambitious proposal would require.

The BBC has launched a review of 53 cases involving Gaza-based journalists after claims surfaced alleging links between some of them and Hamas. The review comes amid ongoing scrutiny of media coverage of the Gaza war and of the affiliations of local staff and freelancers reporting there. The move has drawn attention to the difficulties news organisations face verifying personnel in an active conflict zone.

A new report says global temperatures have reached record highs as the El Niño climate pattern strengthens in the Pacific. El Niño, which warms ocean surface waters and alters weather worldwide, is adding to the underlying warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn the combination could push average temperatures to new extremes in the coming months, with implications for heatwaves, droughts and storms across many regions.

A 5,000-year-old arrow has emerged from melting mountain ice in Norway, part of a growing series of archaeological discoveries being exposed as glaciers and ice patches retreat. Finds preserved in ice for millennia are now surfacing at increasing pace, with researchers noting the thaw is revealing older artifacts than previously recorded. Commenters highlight both the scientific value of the discoveries and the climate change driving them.

Microsoft has stopped using the Copilot+ branding on its newest laptops, with a Surface corporate vice president confirming the new devices meet the hardware requirements but will not carry the controversial label. The move marks a retreat from the AI-focused marketing push Microsoft introduced for its Windows PCs, though the company says the machines still meet the technical criteria.

The NFL has confirmed that the field in Brazil is fit for play ahead of Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. League officials addressed concerns about the playing surface ahead of the international matchup, saying the field is good to go. The game is one of the league's showcase international fixtures this season.

Green Party politician Jill Stein is back in public discussion as the US midterms approach. Stein, who ran for president in 2012, 2016 and 2024, has long been a polarizing figure, with critics arguing her candidacies siphoned votes from Democrats in close races. Her renewed visibility is drawing familiar debate over third-party spoiler effects and what role she may play in the upcoming election cycle.

Warren Buffett's long-standing proposal to curb the US deficit is circulating again. The idea is simple: Congress must pass any deficit-reduction law, and if the deficit is not cut below 3% of GDP, sitting members of Congress become ineligible for re-election. The plan, floated years ago, is being shared and debated as concerns over America's mounting federal debt grow louder.

Mohamed Salah has been left out of Egypt's squad for their match against South Sudan, with reports saying the decision was made over concerns about playing on artificial turf. The Liverpool forward's absence from the qualifier is a significant blow for Egypt, and fans are debating whether protecting the star from injury risk on a synthetic surface justifies him missing the fixture.

A new account of the 2010 Chilean mine rescue is revisiting the 69 days thirty-three miners spent trapped underground before their dramatic rescue at the San José mine. The retelling brings renewed attention to one of the most-watched rescue operations in modern history, reminding audiences of how the men survived deep below the surface while the world waited for their extraction.

A letter to the editor argues that the developing El Niño will increase baseline sea levels, adding to seasonal coastal flood risks. The claim aligns with scientific expectations that El Niño conditions raise Pacific ocean temperatures and temporarily lift global sea-surface heights, though no specific figures or locations are given in the letter itself.

Microsoft has removed the Copilot+ branding from its newest Surface laptops, even though a company vice president confirmed the devices still meet the Copilot+ hardware requirements. The move is seen as a retreat from a label that drew criticism over AI feature confusion, with new machines described simply as Surface devices rather than Copilot+ PCs.

NASA says it is making progress toward Artemis III, the mission intended to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon. The Artemis program aims to land the first crew near the lunar south pole, and each step of preparation draws attention as the agency works toward its target launch window. Observers continue to watch for updates on the timeline and hardware milestones.

The Guardian has published an explainer on El Niño, the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific that can drive droughts, floods and heatwaves across the globe. The piece outlines what causes the phenomenon, how it disrupts weather patterns, and what steps communities and governments can take to reduce the risks it poses.

A 2024 clip of Isaiah Stewart punching Drew Eubanks in a pre-game altercation has resurfaced, drawing a fresh wave of reactions from NBA fans. Comments range from mockery of Eubanks for taking the hit to criticism of Stewart for swinging in the first place. The incident, which originally led to league discipline discussions, is being relitigated on social media.

A spacecraft built to explore icy moons where life could exist is flying close by Earth, using the planet's gravity to adjust its course. The maneuver is part of a long journey toward the outer solar system, where scientists hope to study oceans beneath the moons' surfaces. The flyby has drawn attention as a milestone in the search for conditions suitable for life beyond our planet.

The iPhone 13 and 14 'Duo' cases and Microsoft's Surface Duo share a name despite being unrelated products: Apple's is a foldable accessory style for its phones, while Microsoft's is a dual-screen Android tablet-phone. Tech commentators are highlighting the naming overlap and comparing the two very different takes on mobile design.

US billion-dollar startups remain heavily concentrated in a handful of established hubs, and new analysis argues that other regions trying to replicate the map by copying its surface features keep failing. The piece points out that unicorns still cluster in places with dense capital, talent and networks, and that imitating the geography alone does not produce the same outcomes for emerging startup ecosystems elsewhere.

Physicists report new evidence that gravity can collapse the dimensions of space, supporting the idea that gravity is holographic — that the universe's three-dimensional structure may be encoded on a lower-dimensional surface. Researchers stress the implications are not yet understood, and what this means for the nature of reality remains an open question driving discussion among cosmologists and science commentators.

The NFL has confirmed that the field in Brazil is fit for play ahead of Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. The reassurance follows concerns about playing conditions at the international fixture, and officials say the surface is good to go. Fans are discussing whether the unusual venue could affect the matchup between the two teams.

Egypt plan to leave Mohamed Salah out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan, citing concerns over the state of the pitch. The decision reflects caution over the Liverpool forward's fitness on a surface deemed risky, with Egypt already in a strong qualifying position and eager to avoid injury to their star player.

Researchers have tested underwater solar panels at a depth of ten metres in the South China Sea, according to an industry report. The trial explores whether photovoltaic systems can generate usable power below the surface, where light is weaker but conditions are more stable. Details on efficiency results and which institution led the test have not been released, leaving the technology's practical prospects uncertain.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has responded to concerns about the playing surface, long-distance travel and quarterback injuries ahead of the league's game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Brazil. The matchup is part of the NFL's continued push to stage regular-season games internationally, and questions over grass fields and player safety have accompanied recent overseas fixtures.

The Athletic, via the New York Times, has published a listing for the 2026-27 Premier League fixtures dated December 21, 2026. No match details, dates or reaction are given beyond the listing itself, so it is unclear what specifically is being reported about next season's schedule or why it is surfacing now.

Egypt have left forward Mohamed Salah out of their match against South Sudan because of the artificial playing surface at the venue. The decision protects the Liverpool star, who has a history of muscle problems, from unnecessary injury risk on turf. The fixture remains significant for Egypt's qualifying campaign, and fans are debating whether resting the captain is the right call.

The NFL says the playing surface at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium passed all required field tests ahead of kickoff between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. The statement addresses concerns about field conditions at the iconic venue, and the game is going ahead as planned.

The NFL says there is 'no need to worry' as workers put the final touches on the field in Rio, where the league is preparing to play. The statement, reported by ESPN, is aimed at calming concerns about whether the playing surface will be ready in time.