SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Island " 1,255 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
SpaceX is planning a rocket-launching spaceport in coastal Louisiana. Here are the plans.
After months of speculation, a source close to the deal has confirmed an 18-mile stretch of coastal south Louisiana called Pecan Island will be the site for a new space port for Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Saturday Sports: Thousand Islands Hoop Fest underway at JCC
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Saturday.
No cure, no vaccine: Experts warn of rare Bourbon virus after first NY case
A Long Island patient was hospitalized after researchers confirmed the first Bourbon virus case in New York, transmitted by the common lone star tick.
Dockstock festival back at Great Cranberry
What began in 2022 as a group of musicians playing on the town dock on Great Cranberry Island has grown.
Crystal Coast Star Party connects telescopes, dark skies and NASA science
HARKERS ISLAND, N.C. — The Crystal Coast Stargazers’ annual Star Party returned in April, giving visitors a chance to look through telescopes, learn about dark
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra leak reveals massive camera and battery overhaul
A new leak points to a silicon-carbon battery and a redesigned camera island for Samsung's next Ultra model.
Politics Unusual: Staten Island Borough President Fossella, Assemblyman Simone
In this episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella about the city's new pied-à-terre tax, as well as his push for nonpartisan primary elections. Also, a conversation with State Assemblyman Tony Simone about regulations concerning ICE.
iPhone 18 Pro Models Could Be Up to $300 More Expensive, Says Analyst
This year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could be $250-$300 more expensive than existing iPhone 17 Pro models due to higher silicon and memory costs, an analyst claimed today. According to an earnings note by Jeff Pu of GF Securities, higher 2nm silicon and DRAM/NAND costs could drive the price hikes, as Apple grapples with global component shortages owing to the AI infrastructure buildout. Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively.
AI Will Make Our Politics Even More Emotional
Politics has always been about emotions as well as reason and self-interest. Great politicians such as Winston Churchill have been able to stir our most profound feelings. Great political moments such as Nelson Mandela’s walk to freedom from Robben Island have moved people to their core.
Island Packet’s former building in Bluffton to be redeveloped into entertainment venue. Here’s how
The former home of the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette will become The Press Room, an entertainment venue.
Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame to Host ‘Blotto Fest’ This November 8th
Long Island’s Blotto band member ‘Broadway Blotto’ (L) will host the upcoming Blotto Fest event. Photo credit Steve Leung. Classic Blotto Band photo (R) circa 1980's. Photo credit Martin Benjamin. Stony Brook, NY —Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) will host Blotto Fest at its Stony Brook Village location (97 Main Street) Fest on Sunday, Nov. 8th at 3pm. The event is free for members and included with general admission ticket or $10 at-the-door concert ticket. LIMEHOF is giving local bands a chance to participate in this unique tribute to the iconic New York group.
Scientists found evolution repeating itself in the Galápagos Islands
More than 150 years after Darwin’s finches helped reshape biology, Galápagos plants are exposing another evolutionary surprise. Giant daisies repeatedly developed similar heat-tolerant leaf shapes, but each lineage used a different combination of genes. Researchers also found major genetic differences among isolated populations, suggesting new species may be forming right now.
iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a two-phase rollout starting with the iPhone 18 series.
Cuba to Trump: We’re Open for Business
A top Cuban official says the island won’t negotiate its politics, but it is willing to talk investment, including from President Trump.
John Summit’s Experts Only Festival expands 2026 lineup, debuts new fan experiences ahead of Randall’s Island return
John Summit's Experts Only Festival is raising the stakes for its second year in New York City, announcing another round of artists and giving fans a closer
Johansson on Maswanhise return, Torshavn challenge & transfer latest
Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has been speaking to the media as his team get set to head to the Faroe Islands to face HB Torshavn with a 2-0 aggregate lead. Forward Tawanda Maswanhise is set to be involved in Thursday's game after suffering a jaw injury in pre-season, but will not start. Johansson has told his team to "eat barbed wire" in preparation for a battle against their hosts.
Hawaiʻi County announces Science Night at Keaʻau Armory
The free event will feature activities related to science, technology, engineering and math as well as hands-on experiments, space and astronomy exploration and more.
After World War II, a few snakes reached Guam; they now number up to 30,000 per square mile, and scientists found 19,000 hidden genetic changes
After World War II, a small number of brown tree snakes somehow made it to Guam, likely hidden in cargo, and the island has been dealing with the consequences ever since. Today, the snakes are so widespread that in some parts of the U.S.
Rhode Island Officials Will Refund Marijuana Business License Application Fees As Process Restarts Following Litigation
“We understand there may be questions about where things stand and where we are headed.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current Seventy-five prospective Rhode Island cannabis retailers will soon receive $7,500 refunds as state regulators prepare to restart the licensing process that was halted under a federal court order. The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission […]
Fun with Mad Science of Southern Massachusetts & Rhode Island
The power of science has the ability to educate, empower, and entertain which is why this morning we were thrilled to welcome back our friend Jolting Jonathan from Mad Science of Southern Massachu…
Guernsey health pilot finds 107 undiagnosed high cholesterol cases
The four-month health pilot also found 65 undiagnosed cases of islanders with high blood pressure.
Pink Penguin Guano Provides Diet Clues
The color of Adélie penguin droppings reveals what the birds are eating, offering scientists a way to track how sea ice conditions influence their diet.
Sunday Sports: Red & Black, Thousand Islands Hoop Fest, and more
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Sunday.
Matches To Make After Busy Combat Weekend
UFC Abu Dhabi went down yesterday (Sat., July 25, 2026) inside Etihad Arena (a.k.a. Fight Island) in United Arab Emirates which saw Magomed Ankalaev stop Bogdan Guskov in the fifth and final round of their Light Heavyweight main event (highlights). But UFC wasn’t the only show on during a busy sports weekend that also included […]
'The Entertainment Capital Of Iowa' Is A Bustling City With Shopping, A Casino, And Amusement Park Fun
Altoona, Iowa, packs in Adventureland, Prairie Meadows Casino, outlet shopping, and family attractions just minutes from Des Moines.
Science Night Coming To Keaʻau Armory
KEAʻAU, Hawaiʻi – Science Night is a collaboration between the County of Hawai‘i, Starbase Hawai‘i, and the Hawai‘i Science and Technology Museum.
Rhode Island energy costs are soaring. So are political tensions.
Governor Dan McKee directs $28M to offset winter electric rate hikes while taking aim at lawmakers, environmentalists who opposed his broader relief package.
Larger than life rock meets burlesque side show ‘Cherry Hellodies 7: South of Heaven’ coming to Coney Island
On Aug. 1 at 9 p.m., “Cherry Hellodies 7: South of Heaven” will make its way to the sideshow stage at Coney Island USA. This year promises to be bigger and
Foxconn Ramps Up Hiring as iPhone 18 Pro Enters Mass Production
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models have entered mass production and are now in a production ramp-up phase, according to China Securities News. In a new report citing industry chain sources (via MyDrivers), Apple's main assembly partner Foxconn is said to have entered its peak recruitment period to prepare for large-scale production and stocking ahead of the fall launch. Hourly wages, base pay, and rehire bonuses have all been raised to attract workers amid the ramp-up.
Video: Splatoon Raiders Gets New Overview Trailer Ahead Of This Week's Release
Get ready to explore the Spirhalite Islands
Public Comment Open for Topgolf Driving Range and Large ‘Entertainment District’ on Harbor Island
Public Has Until August 24 to Give Feedback to Port By City News Service / 7SanDiego / July 10-13, 2026 The comment period for a proposed redevelopment of East Harbor Island for a Topgolf and Water…
Public Comment Open for Topgolf Driving Range and Large ‘Entertainment District’ on Harbor Island
Public Has Until August 24 to Give Feedback to Port By City News Service / 7SanDiego / July 10-13, 2026 The comment period for a proposed redevelopment of East Harbor Island for a Topgolf and Water…
LI business leaders press affordability needs in D.C. visit
A team from the Long Island Association met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to mark the group's 100th anniversary,
Singers, ringers at Dolly’s Coffeehouse
The Reach Singers and the Island Bells will be the featured performers at Dolly’s Coffeehouse at the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 7-9 p.m.
Accused Puna Killer Faces Mental Health Evaluation. Here’s What That Means
Jacob Baker’s case has been suspended while examiners determine whether he is fit to stand trial for the murders of three people on the Big Island that sparked a manhunt. The process has proven to be controversial.
Hardship Case At Board Of Health Could Have Broad Implications With…
Nantucket Current is the island's leading online news source. We deliver the news, stories, and people of Nantucket, unbiased and unfiltered.
Hawai‘i comes in first — at being worst state for business
The fix for a bad business climate isn’t more bureaucracy. It’s less. Reducing taxes and regulations help revitalize the economy. If only our lawmakers would embrace those policies more often.
I live in popular New England tourist city year-round: What it's like
As a local in Newport, Rhode Island, living in a popular New England city that attracts tourists year-round comes with challenges and surprises.
iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more.
Day in the Life: Sea View Grounds Crew
For this Day in the Life photo essay, we went to NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View on Staten Island to meet the people who bring our outdoor spaces to life....
Air quality health advisory issued for Long Island due to wildfire smoke
An air quality health advisory is in effect for Nassau and Suffolk counties until midnight tonight due to elevated levels of fine particulate pollution, according to the New York State Department of…
Amazon nears deal for vertical warehouse next to Goose Island
It's a move that would bolster the online retail giant's local network of distribution centers with a big new hub close to downtown.
New Board of Health Members Drop Restrictions On Proposed Woodland…
Nantucket Current is the island's leading online news source. We deliver the news, stories, and people of Nantucket, unbiased and unfiltered.
Jesse Watters: Communists only want political prisoners
Fox News host Jesse Watters criticizes New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for watching a World Cup semifinal game with prisoners at Rikers Island on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’
Keir Starmer Calls For FIFA To Investigate Argentina Over Controversial Falklands Banner
After beating England, the Argentinian team unfurled a banner that read “Malvinas are Argentinian,” a reference to the British-administered Falkland Islands.
Julie Chen Moonves blasts Rick Devens: ‘This ain’t ‘Survivor,’ honey. This here ‘Big Brother’’
‘Big Brother’ host Julie Chen Moonves blasts Rick Devens’ gameplay: ‘This ain’t ‘Survivor,’ honey. This here ‘Big Brother.’ Go back to the island, dude.’
UK says Falkland Islands 'definitely ours' after Argentina banner
Argentina could be disciplined by Fifa for the celebrations after the World Cup win over England.
47 revelatory hours with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
To review this month’s supposed remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, I must first correct the record. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a game about pirates (and assassins) in the 18th century Caribbean. Sure, sure, that’s what the trailers would have you believe. They’ve go their clips of Edward Kenway swinging his swords and steering his pirate ship into cannon-blasting combat against British frigates. Is Resynced truly a pirate game? Of the 47 hours I spent playing Resynced over the past few weeks, I will admit I spent maybe 44 (?) of them collecting plunder with Blackbeard, drinking rum with Anne Bonny and debating the pros and cons of the lawless pirate-run settlement Nassau with Benjamin Hornigold. I may in fact have spent dozens of hours sailing to remote islands, reading treasure maps, opening messages left in bottles, sinking the odd Man o’ War with a well-timed broadside, collecting sea shanties for my crew, befriending a pet monkey, and hunting whales. I am nevertheless neither so Gullible nor so Narrow-Minded as to call the magnificent Resynced a “pirate remake.” Oh no. Forget any reviews of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced you may have read. Forget what you yourself may have played, if you’ve spent any time with the game since its launch. What Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is really about I’m here to give you the scoop (spoilers for Resynced’s Animus menu lore, which many players are probably not going to see): Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the new game whose development was led by Ubisoft Singapore, is set in the year 2096. It’s about a societal split, about revolution, about an old Assassin’s Creed adventure repurposed in the series’ distant future as propaganda or samizdat. It’s about the overheated future of 2096, essentially conquered by the series’ well-established nefarious Templar-run company Abstergo. (In this future, Abstergo is, among other things, remaking a 2013 pirate movie called Devils of the Caribbean, but this time in VR. The VR version will be backed by a marketing plan that involves AI influencers, a 10,000-avatar “metaverse premiere event” and that manufacturing of memes aimed at “50 million VR nodes.” See what I mean about Abstergo being evil?) Resynced is about a late 21st-century population mollified by the widespread use of Abstergo’s Animus devices which let people experience the lives of historical figures culled from “genetic memories.” It’s about an insurgent faction of Assassins. And it’s about a plan to wake the population into revolutionary fervor by showing them the memories of 18th century pirate Edward Kenway, who—as depicted in the original Black Flag and again in Resynced—gradually comes to an understanding about the Assassins of his day and their centuries old fight for freedom. Resynced is also about an AI developed within the late 21st-century Animus, called Ego. It has found a way to alter genetic memories, to create and show Animus users false ones. The game is about Ego’s efforts to tell the people experiencing Edward Kenway’s memories that Kenway was wrong, that fighting against order is folly, that we should crave a world where “compliance is rewarded with power.” Who are we in this game? We’re an unnamed Animus user in 2096 who experiences Kenway’s journey virtually. At four moments during Kenway’s exploits in the Caribbean our virtual jaunt can be interrupted for 10-15 minutes, as we explore Animus “rifts” where Ego explicitly tries to tell us how wrong Kenway was. None of this is what 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was about, of course. That was a different game, even if you also spent dozens of hours pirating as Kenway in that game, across missions and a map that’s been faithfully reintroduced and rebuilt for Resynced. The 2013 Black Flag was about you playing as an unnamed researcher newly hired in 2013 by Abstergo Entertainment, the video game development wing of the Templars’ evil-corp. In that game, you were assigned to use the Animus to dive into the genetic memories of Desmond Miles, a man who died in Assassin’s Creed III and who was descended from a long line of Assassins (and at least one Templar) whose adventures were featured across the prior AC games. In 2013’s Black Flag, your mission was to plumb the Edward Kenway experience for material that Abstergo could use in productions such as the motion picture Devils of the Caribbean, though the Templars had some ulterior motives for the assignment. Resynced is therefore not a remake of 2013’s Black Flag. It’s a sequel. It is a new game about a new exploration of Edward Kenway’s pirate/assassin journey, set 83 years after the framing sequences of the original game. Resynced provides a new narrative framework that, thanks to the concept of an AI that wants to alter historical memories, arrives with creative justification to tweak a now-classic 13-year old game. That makes Resynced, already a hot seller, a tantalizing hint of where Ubisoft could go with a line of Assassin’s Creed remakes. They could remake the first game, the Ezio games, even the recent ones set in ancient Egypt and Greece. And for each, they could not just modernize the graphics and controls but expand and alter their sequences of events to use them as reference points for a conflict set in the late 21st century, as rival factions try to weaponize historical memories. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, even when that work consists of ravings about Assassin’s Creed’s modern day plot, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe A story most players will probably miss If you didn’t know any of this, I’m not surprised. If you played the game and still didn’t catch it, I’m not a bit shocked. If Ubisoft has no plans to do more of this, I won’t fall down. Almost all of what I’ve described is optional and missable in Black Flag Resynced. I nearly missed it myself, as I planned for a breezy playthrough of an old Assassin’s Creed favorite. Instead, I found myself in a 40+ hour hunt for the “real” story, buried deeper in Resynced than any gold-filled chest. The story of 2096 is Resynced’s meta-story, told in two remote pockets of the game: 1) four optional playable “rifts” that players may find as they proceed through Resynced’s pirate fantasy , 2) in dozens of text files tucked three menus deep in the game’s barely-interactive Animus hub. Assassin’s Creed games have almost always had a meta-story about people in the 21st century (usually matching the game’s release year) and their connections to the main history portions you play. Those meta-stories have always been squeezed into the margins, though seldom as severely and as, uh, graphiaclly simple, as in recent games. Back in 2013, the modern-day exploits of you as an Abstergo Entertainment employee were prominent. They were portrayed via first-person portions that occasionally interrupted the third-person Kenway experience and could be explored for hours, complete with their own missions, side quests and puzzles. Resynced’s 2096 story—of Assassin “Watchers” vs. Abstergo/Tempar goons, of rogue AIs, of panicking scientists, of a woman wondering why her Animus-addicted husband is muttering about Mary Read (“What does he mean by Assassins?”), of a fight for the population’s hearts and minds via varying interpretations of Edward Kenway’s life choices—is mostly told through unlockable text files. The files are interesting. Offered via diary entries, intercepted chats and news reports, they present varied perspectives of a world in crisis. One set works as a narrative puzzle as it reveals the Rashomonic interpretations of a massacre, or was that a successful Assassin hit? Another favorite reveals the rising bitterness of a person who, through Edward Kenway’s journey, now shakes at the ignored evil around him. One surmises that Ubisoft is averse to putting the Assassin’s Creed’s meta-story in the way of more marketable pirate playgrounds and ninja/samurai epics. Instead, we get a better-than-nothing text-in-menus approach introduced in 2025’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In Shadows, players unlocked the meta-story text files largely via time-gated missions that called on the user to kill X number of enemy type Y, clear three enemy castles, re-win a three-phase fighting tournament, and other grinds. Time restrictions on accessing these missions and unlocking the files meant it could take players months to access the full story in-game. But even in the most hardcore Assassin’s Creed hangouts, the fanbase instead seemed to throw up their hands rather than grind to keep up. In Resynced, Ubisoft has shown some mercy, diminishing the amount of new text files that are tied to timed grinds. Now, most of the text-based 2096 lore are associated with “data file” collectibles that players can find in the world. That includes a batch of written entries that explain a historical link between the feudal Japan era in Shadows and the piracy adventures in Black Flag. Players who explore a lot will find dozens of data files, though the game does not appear to offer any in-game tracker for finding each one. You just need to keep looking for them. As of this writing, I have most of them, but not all. I can’t find any full guide for them online. And even Ubisoft’s optional $5 microtransaction that reveals lots of items in-game does not appear to reveal the locations of the text files (at least the official description omits them from its collectibles list). That’s not a huge bother, because tracking the data files down compelled me to re-explore the waves and islands of Black Flag. That was a thoroughly pleasant task to do for the first time in a dozen years. I expect many players, though, will be content to wait for the files to be reproduced in an online AC wiki somewhere, the easier to read on a web page. It may not seem enticing to play a video game in order to gradually unlock pages of text to read. Why not, you may ask, just read a book, where they put the pages in order? For one, they’ve not tucked this latest installment of Assassin’s Creed’s meta saga in a book. I also enjoy the unordered delivery, the dawning comprehension of a story about 2096’s desperate people and questionable tech, which I glimpsed first at its middle, then the end, then the front, then other moments in between1. I am also enamored with the idea of the Assassin’s Creed games I’ve previously played, including Black Flag, being repurposed for an information war. The ideas in Resynced’s meta-story, which builds off characters and ideas in Shadows’ chunks of text, are strong. The potential of where they could go with it is exciting. As for the pirate stuff? Looks great, controls pretty well, is fun to play and oh so speedy in terms of how much of a good time you can have with each sit-down. It never gets old to chase a new shanty page across a rooftop, bombard a fort with upgraded mortars or use a diving bell to explore sunken wrecks (hats off to the team at Ubisoft Barcelona that worked on the underwater portions in Resynced; that team is now facing layoffs, such is the misery of modern gaming and oft-troubled Ubisoft). New pirate missions in Resynced involving new ally characters are brief, dramatic and add more to Edward’s story, even if the gameplay perks they provide barely enhance the gameplay. A new denouement for high-class pirate Stede Bonnet is affecting; a new hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure is a welcome extra moment. A new epilogue to hunt down a pirate killer, on the other hand, over-complicates Kenway’s character. The ending credits remain my favorite of any game I’ve ever played. Black Flag provides great source material. The revisit is well-made and a great sign of what could be. It is offered in a different wrapper that hints at an opportunity for more interesting remakes to come, should Ubisoft choose to pursue such treasures—and as we brace to resist or comply with an Abstergo future. 1 The messages that Edward Kenway finds in bottles tell another out-of-order story, one about a man reckoning with the strange memories and voices he’s heard in his head since he was a boy. That tale was also in the 2013 game and develops into one of Black Flag’s most compelling character arcs. In Resynced, it has lost its climax, because the bottle story previously paid off in the halls of the first-person Abstergo Entertainment, which is exclusive to the older game. An altered resolution, written by the 2013 game’s lead writer is fine, doesn’t invalidate the 2013 version, but makes for an inferior final note.
Treasure Island Las Vegas and KnokX Pro Entertainment Present MANA: A Polynesian Revue & Luau
LAS VEGAS, NV — Treasure Island Las Vegas, in partnership with KnokX Pro Entertainment, a Samoan-owned entertainment company led by High Chief Fonoti Reno Anoa'i, proudly presents MANA: A Polynesian Revue & Luau on July
URI chemistry professor receives $1.5 million National Science Foundation grant
KINGSTON, R.I. – July 14, 2026 – Justin Pratt, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Rhode Island, recently received a $1,488,349 award from the National Science Foundation. The funded research seeks to advance the national goal of training future scientists by supporting faculty in accessing and implementing evidence-based laboratory teaching practices. This Level […]
Fans of the Arctic
Sediment eroded from ice-capped mountains splays out across a broad river valley on Russia’s Severny Island.
Island business owners 'forced to plan around' unreliable postal service
Islanders face high postal costs and inconsistent services, according to the watchdog Consumer Scotland.
'Love Island USA' 2026 finale reveals Season 8 winners
Another couple has joined the ranks of "Love Island USA" winners.
Business Monday: Hawaiʻi Island resident creates a new app to streamline hiring process nationwide
Jessica Cockrell of Hilo has launched ShiftPass, an innovative app that aims to ease the hiring process in the short-term and improve career possibilities for Hawaiʻi residents in the long-term.
$11-billion ‘wellness island’ is being built in Abu Dhabi
Fahid Island in Abu Dhabi is a development of homes that promises future residents a coastal neighborhood that will enhance their physical and mental wellbeing.
TSMC to add 2 advanced chip packaging plants in Chiayi, Taiwan minister says
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) will add two advanced chip packaging plants in the Chiayi Science Park, the island's science and technology minister said on Sunday.
“Love Island USA” crowns winners in season 8 finale
The final four couples included Aniya and Carl, Kayda and Zach, and Melanie and Sincere.
Ohio's Charming Cincinnati Suburb Is A Vibrant City Bursting With Unique Foodie Finds And Entertainment
This unassuming city just beyond Cincinnati's borders is home to a "theme park of food," as well as top-notch restaurants and buzz-worthy events.
'Love Island USA' Season 8 finale: How to watch tonight, who's in the final four, and more
It's time for a trip to Love Island! The Season 8 finale of the steamy reality show drops this week — here's what you need to know.
At Family Science Night, Wonder Comes Before Answers.
BAR HARBOR—Family Science Night isn’t really about science. It’s about wonder. It’s about watching a five-year-old realize that the tiny creature under a microscope is a real living thing. It’s about a teenager discovering that the scientist explaining genetics or regeneration isn’t much older than they are. It’s about parents seeing curiosity spread across a child’s face the way excitement spreads across a crowd at a Fourth of July parade. For one evening, families realize that the laboratory isn’t some secretive place where knowledge is hidden behind white coats and closed doors. They learn that the lab is a place their neighbors work, their friends’ parents work, and it becomes a place where questions matter more than answers. It’s a place where wonder is the origin for knowledge. At the lab, children learn that it’s okay not to know. Adults remember that they once asked “Why?” about everything. Scientists are reminded why they fell in love with discovery in the first place. There are experiments, games, obstacle courses, and demonstrations, of course. But those are really just invitations—to touch, to explore, to laugh, to make mistakes, and to ask one more question. In a world that often rewards certainty, Family Science Night celebrates curiosity. And perhaps that’s its greatest gift. Long after the microscopes are packed away and the experiments are over, what families take home isn’t just a few new facts about biology. They take home the feeling that discovery belongs to everyone—that science isn’t something happening somewhere else by someone else. It’s simply what happens when people are given permission to wonder. A Family Science Night at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory is one of those rare community events where children and adults can experience science as something they do, not just something they read about. Hands on discovery allows hands-on learning and joy. Real scientists, some local, some scientist-interns (but still scientists) just in college make science real, approachable, and exciting. And there, complex ideas like forever chemical-filtration, DNA and so much more become not complex. Instead, they become fun. Summer fellows are challenged to explain cutting-edge biomedical research in ways a first-grader—and their grandparent—can understand. Past activities have explored gene expression, kidney function, axolotl regeneration, worms, microplastics, and phytoplankton through games and creative demonstrations. Though it’s called family night, you can also see adults going from station to station, exploring, learning together across ages. Family Science Night reflects the laboratory’s broader mission of breaking down barriers between researchers and the public, helping people understand how scientific discoveries relate to everyday life and the health of Maine’s environment. Family Science Night transforms a world-class research laboratory into a giant interactive classroom, where curiosity is encouraged, questions are celebrated, and families discover that science isn’t just something that happens in a lab—it’s an adventure anyone can join. About MDI Biological Laboratory For more than 125 years, MDI Bio Lab has been a center for training and research in comparative biology. In the last two decades its biomedical research has focused on aging, regeneration, and environmental toxins. The Laboratory houses 11 research groups staffed by an international team of world-class scientists and graduate students. It also leads a statewide network of colleges, universities and research institutions that collaborate to provide training, research experiences and financial support to help young Mainers play a bigger role in today’s biomedical revolution. Located on Maine’s rugged coast, the Laboratory’s 100+ acre campus houses research facilities, cottages and dorms that house visiting scientists and students. It is also home to MDI Bioscience, a subsidiary working to design innovative techniques to speed the drug discovery process. LINKS TO LEARN MORE NIH INBRE MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY Photos: Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
Sen. Whitehouse announces whistleblower allegations of construction problems at Kennedy Center
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said in a release on Saturday that he had received a whistleblower disclosure from the Government Accountability Project.
The First Test of Bar Harbor's New Entertainment Rules.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Bar Harbor Historical Society. BAR HARBOR—The Finback Alehouse was the first real test of the town’s new special amusement permit process, July 7 while eight other permits sailed through the process last week. The permit allows music in places where liquor is served. The town’s ordinance which was recently tweaked for a new process allows for the regulation of noise and hours of activity. The only discussion at the July Town Council meeting was about the Finback Alehouse on Cottage Street, in the heart of Bar Harbor’s downtown district. The Finback’s distinctive design—a front wall that is like a garage door that can be opened and closed—was a key to that discussion. The restaurant, which often hosts live bands, singers, and karaoke, at night, has had one substantiated noise complaint this season, which is documented on its application. According to Bar Harbor Police Chief David Kerns, most complaints about noise happen after 10 p.m., and if the Finback had two more violations within a year, they’d have to stop having music. One town councilor said that he’d have no problem reissuing the permit if the door was down. The permit passed through the process with no conditions. Vice Chair Earl Brechlin moved the motion with two time changes for two holiday weekend dates. It passed unanimously. The council asked the Finback why they’d chosen an indoor license with a wall that can be opened to the street. Dale Stockburger, representing the Finback, said he’d applied for an indoor permit rather than an outdoor structure or partial structure (which is usually applied to tents or pavilions). The restaurant has traditionally had an indoor license. Stockburger said that whether the door is open or closed is immaterial because he now stands outside with a decibel reader to make sure that the music isn’t too loud. OTHER SPECIAL AMUSEMENT PERMITS New Councilor Deborah Vickers worried that she had potential conflicts of interests on two other renewals due to the location of her employee housing. Vickers co-owns the Black Friar Inn. They have employee housing directly behind the Finback, which is also 300 yards from the Bar Harbor Inn, she explained. The Bar Harbor Inn also had a permit up for renewal. The councilors unanimously voted she did not have a conflict of interest. The councilors approved permits at The Bluenose Inn, 90 Eden St, Class A; Acadia Hotel Downtown, 20 Mount Desert St, Class A and C; the Bar Harbor Inn, 8 Newport Dr, Class A, B, C and D; C-Ray Lobster, 882 State Hwy 3, Class D; Holiday Inn Bar Harbor Regency, 123 Eden Street, Class B; Finback Alehouse, 30 Cottage St, Class B; Project Social, 278 Main St, Class C and D; Bar Harbor Beer Works, 119 Main St, Class B and D; and Mainely Meat BBQ Dreamwood Hill, 369 State Hwy 3, Class D. That process is laid out in the Special Amusement Ordinance of the Bar Harbor Town Code which is Chapter 14 of the town code. Special amusement permits have class codes. These are the meanings: Number - how many musicians are allowed by the permit. Class A - Indoor non-amplified entertainment. Class B - Indoor amplified entertainment or dancing. Class C - Outdoor non-amplified entertainment. Class D - Outdoor amplified entertainment. RESIDENCE LICENSES RENEWED AND A TAXI LICENSE The councilors also renewed the licenses for three specific sorts of residences that require that yearly renewal per the town code. The employee living quarters at Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, 119 Eden St and another at 278 Main Street were renewed. The shared accommodations license renewal at 39 Kebo Street also occurred. These are annual renewals. Bernard Taxi Services’ license was also renewed. This license had been added to the agenda at the meeting. Bar Harbor Update on Leaf and Grass Clipping Disposal BAR HARBOR — Bar Harbor residents will still have a place to throw away their leaf and grass clippings this summer. The town’s agreement with EMR in Southwest Harbor for disposing of those items will continue through November 30. The agreement, according to a town press release, will continue “while the Town continues evaluating long term composting solutions and the required state permitting process.” As of July 1, residents bringing their grass and leaves across the island to the facility in Southwest Harbor will have to fill out a property registration card. Each property can throw out up to 85 pounds of the grass and leaves. “Any disposal exceeding the 85 pound allowance during this period will be the responsibility of the property owner at the applicable disposal rate,” the press release explains. LINKS TO LEARN MORE Watch the meeting Meeting agenda QUICK NOTE: We’d released the Bar Harbor Leaf information as a brief, but wanted to make sure that people saw it, so we’ve included it here, too. HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
In R.I., incumbent governor faces rocky road to reelection
Polls show Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee 20 percentage points behind in a Democratic primary rematch amid political fallout from the Washington Bridge closure.
Men found ‘Love Island.’ Then they started betting on it.
Prediction market apps are turning America's hottest dating show into a different obsession — and bringing a new audience into the villa.
Trouble in paradise: 3 Hilton Head business owners respond to Coligny Beach shooting
Local business owners want Hilton Head visitors to feel safe on vacation. Here's what they had to say about the shooting.
The Week in Business: By Fighting Data Centers, Is Minnesota Passing Opportunities?
This week’s top stories from Twin Cities Business.
Pine Island data center supporters make case to Rochester area business leaders
The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce hosted an information session Wednesday for several dozen business leaders from across the region.
RI falls to 48th in CNBC’s annual business friendliness rankings; Mass. is 15th
Rhode Island’s poor infrastructure was a key reason it dropped even lower on the TV network’s yearly list.
Go inside the Tybee Island Marine Science Center’s new summer exhibits
New stations blend art, education, and hands-on experiences across the center's 10,000-square-foot campus.
48. Rhode Island
Rhode Island is ranked #48 in America's Top States for Business for 2026.
Super Typhoon Bavi
The third category 5 tropical cyclone of 2026 crossed the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands and Guam before continuing toward Asia.
In nearly seventy years of deep-sea exploration, researchers compiled 43,681 submersible dive records — and found that humans have visually observed less than 0.001% of the deep seafloor, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, according to a Science Advances study published in May 2025.
In almost seven decades of deep-sea exploration, the direct human view of the deep ocean floor is still smaller than many people would guess. A Science
Ubisoft bringing The Crew Motorfest to Nintendo Switch 2
The Crew Motorfest is receiving a new version for Nintendo Switch 2, according to retailer listings. The game will be out on October 8, 2026. The Crew Motorfest originally released in 2023, but is still going strong today with new seasons. The open world driving game lets players explore the island of O’ahu in Hawaii and participate in Motorfest, an...
Long Island Fidelis policy holders facing loss of in-network Northwell Health care
A deadline looms for an agreement on a new contract between Fidelis and Northwell Health.
Trump administration denies disaster declaration for record R.I. blizzard
The state’s Democratic congressional delegation criticizes President Trump for politicizing disaster aid, telling him, “You chose to leave Rhode Islanders out in the cold.”
State reminds Hawaiʻi businesses that third quarter annual reports are due
Businesses registered in the third quarter — July through September — can now file their annual reports, which must be filed by midnight Sept. 30 to avoid a late filing penalty fee.
Grand Island Police investigating burglary in parking lot of business
Grand Island Police are investigating a burglary in the parking lot of a business.According to GIPD, on Friday, officers responded to a report of a burglary at
Business Monday: Big Island companies continue to recover from Kona low storms and earthquake
With the completion of property damage assessments from South Kona’s magnitude 6 earthquake that struck on May 22, Hawai‘i County officials now are waiting for Gov. Josh Green’s decision about whether he will file for a presidential disaster declaration that will help individuals and business owners secure funding for repairs.
Texas oil tycoon buys $28M Mercer Island residential property
Rodney R. Lewis, the fourth-biggest gas producer in Texas, purchased a $28 million Mercer Island residential property with two homes last week.
How Pacific islands beat the China-Australia power struggle
The Pacific is a strategic location for big powers, but Pacific Island countries are using power competition to their advantage. They strike smart deals and join forces – all while facing an existential threat.
Kentucky, Rhode Island towns highlight July 4 celebrations without ‘political conversations’
Millions of Americans celebrated the country’s 250th birthday on Saturday, with cities large and small coming together to mark the occasion in their own ways. That includes Somerset, Ky., and Brist…
Kansas' Once-Thriving Railroad Bridge Is Now A Vibrant Entertainment District With River Views And Local Eats
Rock Island Bridge in Kansas City was an abandoned relic of the meatpacking and railway days but now is a buzzy riverfront spot for locals and tourists alike.
25 Steam Deck Games That Are 90% Off Or More In The Steam Summer Sale 2026
Here are 25 awesome games that are perfect for the Steam Deck that are 90% off or more during the Steam Summer Sale.
5,000-year-old wolves found on remote island rewrite what we know about domestication
Scientists discovered ancient wolves on a tiny Baltic island where they could only have been brought by humans, suggesting an unexpectedly close relationship between people and wolves thousands of years ago. Evidence indicates the wolves were fed, possibly cared for, and may even have been managed or selectively bred long before modern ideas of domestication.
Scientists have now made the most comprehensive tally yet of deep-sea exploration — 43,681 dive records dating back to 1958 — and found that humans have directly seen less than 0.001% of the deep ocean floor, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, leaving the vast seafloor across 66% of Earth’s surface essentially unobserved.
Humanity has sent cameras to the Moon, Mars, Venus and the outer planets, but on Earth itself there is still a larger frontier that has barely been looked at directly. A 2025 study in Science Advances has now put a number on that gap: since 1958, researchers have compiled 43,681 records of dives deep enough […]
Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people, preserve Indigenous culture
HOPKINTON, R.I. — At Ashawaug Farm in southwest Rhode Island, Dawn and Cassius Spears preserve their Indigenous knowledge of agriculture through the cultivation and keeping of three Narragansett heritage crops:
Saturday Sports: Previewing the Thousand Islands Challenge
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Saturday.
Meet Miss Washington USA Carisa Erickson, mom of 3 and mental health advocate
KOMO 4 TV provides news, sports, weather and local event coverage in the Seattle, Washington area including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bremerton, SeaTac, Auburn, Mercer Island, Bothell, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Mill Creek and Everett.
One year after federal funding cuts, Mississippi's Vietnamese health navigators face an uncertain future
More than a year ago, federal cuts to health-related grants threw into uncertainty Mississippi’s only advocacy group devoted to serving the needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders statewide, and they are still working to figure out how to recover.
Mission To Boost NASA’s Swift Launches From Marshall Islands
A mission to raise the orbit of NASA’s Swift observatory has reached orbit.
Amendment 61: A.4 Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science Final Close Date Deferred
A.4 Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science (RRNES) solicits proposals that advance the goals and objectives of NASA's Earth Science Division by
Rhode Island Marijuana Officials Ask Judge To Remove Block On Business Licenses Now That Rules Targeted By Lawsuit Have Changed
“We’re hopeful that once we get the go-ahead with the appropriate people that we can get the process moving again.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current Now that Rhode Island has eliminated the residency requirement for recreational pot shop owners, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission is asking a federal judge to undo the court order […]
Free Play Days – Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Diablo IV, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure, and More
Free Play Days – XBOX players can jump into Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Diablo IV, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure, and more, this weekend and beyond!
CVS Health Foundation Invests $1 Million in Rhode Island Nonprofits Tackling Community Health Needs
Local organizations receive Hometown Fund support to expand access to health care, food, housing and essential services WOONSOCKET, RI / ACCESS Newswire / July 2, 2026 /Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom The CVS Health Foundation ...
iPhone Photography Awards Highlight Best Images of 2026
For the last 19 years, the iPhone Photography Awards (IPPA) has selected the best photographs captured with an iPhone, and the 2026 award winners were announced today. The IPPA 2026 Grand Prize image features a volcano dramatically erupting in the Cayman Islands, with the photo shot by Robyn Jensen on an iPhone 15 Pro. The Gold Prize image by Gellért Gombai features two children napping on grass in the shadow of a badminton racket, with the photo shot in black and white using an iPhone X.
Longtime Clinton aide walks back claim former president visited Epstein island, sources say
A longtime aide to Bill Clinton walked back a prior claim that the former president visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island, according to two sources familiar with closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill.