A good book can do extraordinary things. There’s an intimacy in a book that you don’t get to experience with other media. It’s escapism at its finest. Science fiction novels give readers the chance to escape reality and enter a world beyond their own. Maybe it’s a journey to space or to a dystopian future. Wherever it takes you, if they’re good, the stories stick with you.

Over the past 20 years, the sci-fi genre has been booming. Some of the greatest and most impactful novels have been released during that span, some of which have been adapted for the screen, even launching a franchise into the stratosphere. But the bibliophiles found them first. The 13 titles on this list are extraordinary. They’ve scared us about what the future could look like under the wrong hands and given us optimism about the good people who would sacrifice their lives for the betterment of humanity. What they all have in common is that they are rooted in science. How many have you read?

13

‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins

Image via Scholastic

There is no new science fiction franchise that has taken over the world quite like The Hunger Games. And it all started as a book by Suzanne Collins. The dystopian young adult novel set in Panem follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen from District 12. After her younger sister is selected for the games, Katniss bravely volunteers to take her place. Thrust into an arena alongside 23 other tributes, she must rely on her wilderness survival skills, hunting abilities, and wits to survive. Ultimately, the competition forces Katniss to navigate a deadly love triangle and make critical choices between her own survival and her morality. Blending high-tech, speculative elements with a sharp, blistering critique of authoritarianism, extreme wealth gaps, and modern media manipulation, The Hunger Games reshaped the genre while launching a franchise.

The first novel was inspired by Collins’ channel-surfing, seeing footage of the Iraq War alongside reality television. The two stark images resulted in an adrenaline-pumping survival story, with a unique commentary on war and celebrity. With relentless pacing through the lens of a relatable protagonist, The Hunger Games tackled dark themes in an accessible manner. To make them resonate, having imperfect characters allows the reader to see the perspectives more fully. Katniss is not your typical, flawless hero. She is fiercely protective, fiercely pragmatic, and occasionally flawed, making her authentic and someone like those readers. She’s a teenager forced to take on adult burdens. With a classic foundation, Collins masterfully adapted ancient mythological tropes, specifically the Greek myth of Theseus and the Roman gladiator games, into a modern, futuristic setting.

The Hunger Games is an important book, but it’s become much bigger than the story on the page. The first novel is part of a bigger franchise that has since been adapted into a massive cinematic universe. The original trilogy, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, launched them into superstardom as the blockbusters got butts to cinema seats. It’s also expanded into prequels, with the latest film dropping this fall. The Hunger Games challenged society by giving young readers and moviegoers reason to question their own society, inviting political resistance in the process. As one of the biggest pop culture events of the century, The Hunger Games remains an influential piece of literature.

12

‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir

Image viaa Ballantine Books

In the year 2026, the biggest sci-fi film is none other than Project Hail Mary. Of course, the cinematic event is an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel. The story follows Ryland Grace, a former science teacher turned reluctant astronaut. He wakes up alone on a spaceship, light-years from Earth, with amnesia, tasked with a last-chance mission to save humanity from an alien microorganism consuming the sun. A thrilling example of hard science fiction, Project Hail Mary brings a fast-paced novel that’s filled with heart, charm, and optimism through the power of perseverance. And the heart is a tale of companionship. Now that the book has a face with the Ryan Gosling-led film, it’s become an even more beloved novel.

Weir breaks down complex, real-world physics and engineering concepts into easily digestible terms, making readers feel as if they’re working alongside Grace. But Project Hail Mary is a dual narrative in which an amnesic protagonist solves complex, life-or-death physics and biology puzzles to save Earth, all while forming an incredibly heartwarming friendship with an alien. That’s the true core of the story. Because the two characters speak completely different languages and come from vastly different worlds, they miraculously bridge the communication gap through teamwork and scientific reasoning. The narrative unravels brilliantly through alternating flashbacks and real-time tension, keeping readers hooked from page one. Weir continued to cement himself as the sci-fi writer of the century. ​​​​​​​

11

‘Blindsight’ by Peter Watts

Image via Tor Publishing Group

Published in 2006, we have Peter Watts’ sci-fi novel Blindsight. The chilling thriller hooks with the horrifying premise: consciousness is not a prerequisite for intelligence, and it might actually be an evolutionary disadvantage. Blindsight tells the story of the crew of Theseus on a deep-space mission who discover that the alien species they are trying to communicate with is incredibly smart but completely devoid of self-awareness or sentience. A bleak drama that rivals Ridley Scott’s Alien, in which the monster is a profound philosophical concept, Blindsight offers a terrifying, rigorously researched deconstruction of the “hard problem” of consciousness.

Blindsight pushes the boundaries by causing the reader to ponder whether true, hyper-advanced intelligence might not actually require sentience or self-awareness to exist. The alien species, the Scramblers, encountered by humanity are brilliant, rapidly adapting, and technologically superior. By presenting them as emotionless, it presents the theory that human consciousness might be an evolutionary flaw. To help this theory, the crew is not presented as heroic explorers but as a modified, transhuman crew specifically engineered to be efficient rather than empathetic. Sometimes cerebral thrillers are equally gripping as epic space operas. It’s a subversive novel whose strict adherence to hard science sets it apart in the genre.​​​​​​​

10

‘Leviathan Wakes’ by James S.A. Corey

Image via Orbit Books

Under the pen name James S.A. Corey, American writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck wrote Leviathan Wakes, the first book in the Expanse series. The epic space opera follows idealistic ship officer Jim Holden and cynical detective Joe Miller as they uncover a vast, solar-system-wide conspiracy. As political tensions between Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt threaten to spark a catastrophic war, the two must navigate corporate greed and alien technology. Revitalizing the subgenre, Leviathan Wakes rooted futuristic space travel in realistic physics while seamlessly blending a noir detective mystery with an existential alien thriller and a sociopolitical thriller.

Leviathan Wakes is the pinnacle of 21st-century sci-fi thrillers. The story is grounded in our solar system, which allows the political discourse to center around how gravity and environmental scarcity actually shape human biology and culture. Evolving from a tabletop RPG campaign, Leviathan Wakes’ narrative inherently featured dynamic, character-driven energy and strong writing that was incredibly engaging and easy to consume. Leviathan Wakes launched a nine-part series on a cinematic scale. Of course, it was ripe for adaptation. Leviathan Wakes served as the blueprint for the first season and a half of the hit Syfy and Prime Video series The Expanse, which ran for six triumphant seasons. Leviathan Wakes and The Expanse series remain the most thrilling new space opera.

9

‘Dark Matter’ by Blake Crouch

Image via Crown Publishing Group

Locking in on the parallel universe narrative is the sci-fi thriller Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. First published in 2016, the novel tells the tale of Jason Dessen, a Chicago physics professor leading a quiet family life, who is abducted by an alternate version of himself. Thrown into a multiverse, Jason must navigate infinite alternate realities using a quantum “box” to find his way home and defeat the alternate version of himself threatening his family. Through a brilliant blend of accessible quantum physics and relentless, fast-paced action, Crouch grounds the multiverse concept in a way that feels plausible to everyday readers without bogging the narrative down with complicated chaos.

At its core, Dark Matter is a very relatable human story. The story asks, “Are you happy with your life?” A narrative about the paths not taken gives the multiverse device credibility. Crouch uses them to literally manifest the protagonist’s regrets, forcing him to navigate realities based on the different choices he could have made. Dark Matter operates as a universal character study and meditation on love. This is a man who will go to the end of the timelines to get back to his wife and family. With a mirror-image antagonist, Dark Matter brings compelling psychological conflict. Dark Matter is such a fascinating novel; it was ripe for a series. Joel Edgerton plays Jason in the Apple TV+ adaptation, which returns this August. ​​​​​​​

8

‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St. John Mandel

Image via HarperCollins

Upon the release of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, post-apocalyptic stories were reimagined once again. Gone was a bleak world of endless violence. Station Eleven provided a melancholic look at human resilience. Set in the Great Lakes region before and after a pandemic, Station Eleven follows a nomadic group of actors and musicians, the Traveling Symphony, as they navigate the remnants of civilization 20 years after a devastating swine flu pandemic wipes out 99% of the human population. Jumping between the early days of the collapse and two decades into the future, Station Eleven explores themes of community, longing, and the idea that art and humor are just as vital to human survival as food and shelter.

A beautifully written book, Station Eleven serves as a reminder that it’s human connection that sustains us during catastrophic events. It resonates because of the characters Mandel crafts. They are deeply complex, flawed, and sympathetic. From the tough, fiercely protective Kirsten Raymonde to Miranda Carroll, the brilliant artist who created the Station Eleven graphic novels, each character brings a special color that, when woven together, makes a beautiful tapestry. Station Eleven provided an exquisite canvas perfect for a series. HBO adapted the novel into a ten-part drama starring Mackenzie Davis as Kristen and Himesh Patel as Jeevan Chaudhary. ​​​​​​​

7

‘All Systems Red’ by Martha Wells

Image by Tor.com

Now, it’s time for a groundbreaking cyborg. In All Systems Red, the first novel in Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries series, a self-aware, artificial security android who calls itself MurderBot hacks its own control module so it can secretly ignore its duties and binge-watch soap operas. Its quiet life is interrupted when its assigned team of scientists faces deadly sabotage from a rival corporation. Now, the android must protect its human clients to uncover the truth. The highly acclaimed first installment successfully blends action and social commentary with sharp, witty humor through a unique approach to artificial intelligence. Pioneering the novella as an equally important entry in the publishing world, All Systems Red launched a franchise that may be widely underappreciated, yet firmly among the best.

All Systems Red was the recipient of both the Nebula Award for Best Novella and the Alex Award. A reason why could be the remarkable protagonist. MurderBot is highly relatable. Who doesn’t want to binge their favorite stories? Rather than depicting a machine trying to conquer humanity, this character serves as a vessel to explore the complexities of sentience, trauma, and the search for identity under oppressive corporate systems. All Systems Red strips away heavy exposition in exchange for a fast-paced adventure. At a swift 144 pages, All Systems Red begins your addiction to The Murderbot Diaries, which you’ll binge-read. Then, you can dive right into the Apple TV series starring Alexander Skarsgård as the titular character. There truly isn’t a better actor for the part. ​​​​​​​

6

‘Children of Time’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Image via Tor UK

Revitalizing the subgenre of speculative evolution came the 2016 Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction novel, British author Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time. The first of four in the series, with the latest arriving this year, Children of Time tells the story of two civilizations on a collision course: the last remnants of humanity fleeing a dying Earth, and a rapidly evolving society of giant, highly intelligent spiders on a terraformed exoplanet. A novel of two parallel strands, Children of Time is a wonderfully original take on non-human intelligence and evolutionary biology. Through its intelligent exploration of a civilization built on arachnid physiology and social structures rather than what human ones might look like, Children of Time masterfully reinvents first contact.

Children of Time has widely been seen as a defining novel of the last two decades because of its unparalleled, truly alien world-building. Tchaikovsky explores every facet of their biology, multi-generational memory, and vibration-based communication. Through its epic scale and generational narratives, Children of Time stands out for the way it tackles the accelerated biological and societal evolution of non-human intelligence. While the human chapters can occasionally feel a bit dry comparatively, Tchaikovsky makes these spiders broadly compelling. Though no new news has been revealed, a Children of Time film is said to be in the works. ​​​​​​​

5

‘Wool Omnibus’ by Hugh Howey

Image via Booktrack

If you have an Apple TV subscription, the title of Hugh Howey‘s novel may not sound familiar, but if I tell you it’s part of the Silo series, it’ll immediately click. A cornerstone of modern dystopian sci-fi, Wool Omnibus is a post-apocalyptic tale where the last 10,000 humans live in a massive 144-floor underground silo. The outside world is toxic, and anyone who expresses a desire to go outside is sent to their death to “clean” the external camera sensors. The story focuses on the silo’s leadership as they deal with the heavy consequences of residents asking “to go outside.” Meanwhile, Juliette, a gritty, lower-level mechanic who is promoted to sheriff, begins investigating the suspicious death of her predecessor. She soon uncovers a massive dark conspiracy about who built the silo, why it was constructed, and the deadly truth about the world above.

An utterly gripping, intricate drama, it doles out the mysteries of the silo through a fascinating exploration of class struggle, authoritarian control, and the lengths to which power will go to maintain the status quo. Howey revolutionized modern sci-fi publishing by proving the immense potential of online self-publishing. Originally published as a serialized series of short novellas, Wool Omnibus provided an instant hook that led to an addictive read. Howey’s claustrophobic immersive world-building is unmatched. The pacing and emotional depth are so strong that it’s no wonder it translated so effortlessly into series form. Now in its third hit series, the Apple TV series starring Rebecca Ferguson brilliantly captures Howey’s world in a visceral manner. ​​​​​​​

4

‘Annihilation’ by Jeff VanderMeer

Image via Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Revitalizing the “New Weird” subgenre of science fiction comes Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation. The first book in the Southern Reach Series, the thriller follows an unnamed biologist and three other women — an anthropologist, surveyor, and psychologist — on the 12th expedition into “Area X”. This mysterious, abandoned coastal region has caused past expeditions to end in mass suicides, violent betrayals, or fatal cancers. Framed as the biologist’s field journal, it’s revealed that she joined the mission to uncover what happened to her husband, who was part of the doomed 11th expedition. The team encounters bizarre phenomena, including biological texts written in spores on the walls by a mysterious creature she names “the Crawler.” As the expedition progresses, the team unravels due to paranoia, the psychologist’s mind-control hypnosis, and unsettling ecological transformations. Blending psychological horror and weird fiction, Annihilation explores the limits of human comprehension.

Annihilation challenged traditional narrative tools by demonstrating how empirical science and reason fail when trying to understand phenomena. Rather than tackle alien tropes, VanderMeer presents the threat as an unknowable, mutating biome. By keeping it biological and environmental, the ecological dread thrives on its own ambiguities. Told entirely from a first-person perspective, the narrative engulfs readers in the biologist’s emotional detachment and intense obsession with the landscape. It’s through her narration that the sprawling atmosphere is devised. A provocative concept with page-turning suspense, the mystery is the plot. In 2018, a film adaptation starring Natalie Portman came to fruition and was as good as, if not better than,the novel. ​​​​​​​

Rosie O’Donnell claimed Michelle Trachtenberg was in “pretty bad shape” months before her tragic death.

“In the last few years, when she was in pretty bad shape, she would call me and we would talk. I also called her mother to find out what was going on, and her mother told me what was happening, and how long it had been happening,” O’Donnell, 64, shared in a new interview with Variety published on Thursday, July 16. “We were supposed to see each other three or four times, and she just never showed up — sometimes at restaurants, other times at my house where we’d had someone prepare the whole meal.”

According to O’Donnell — who shared the screen with Trachtenberg in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy — her former costar and friend was “not in good shape” but “didn’t think that she would die.”

“With most people suffering from addiction, their loved ones think that they’ll survive it, but you can die from your addiction to drugs or alcohol, and it happens too often that it must be taken seriously,” she argued. “I wish I could have done more. I tried to help her as much as I could, but she was inaccessible toward the end, and it was tragic.”

Related: Michelle Trachtenberg Was ‘Thrown’ Health ‘Curveballs’ Before Death

On the morning of February 26, Michelle Trachtenberg was found unconscious and unresponsive at her midtown NYC apartment by her mom, Lana. She was just 39 years old. “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” the beloved star’s rep told Us Weekly. As news of her untimely death spread, […]

In February 2025, Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her Midtown West Side apartment in New York City.

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that her sudden death at the age of 39 was a result of complications of diabetes mellitus. According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes mellitus refers to a “group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar” a.k.a. glucose.

A source previously told Us that Trachtenberg’s health had been deteriorating for some time.

According to O’Donnell, Trachtenberg’s situation reminded her of Whitney Houston, who died in February 2012 at the age of 48 after being found unresponsive in her hotel room.

“Everyone knew what was going on, but no one was willing to say something, and often because the people that are closest to you are employed by you when you’re that big of an entity, and they don’t want to lose their job or their money,” O’Donnell claimed. “With Whitney, I did say that to her people when she didn’t show up [to The Rosie O’Donnell Show] for Cinderella. It was supposed to be a whole hour with her and Brandy, and she didn’t show up just a few minutes before the show went live. I said to them after the show, ‘This is her legacy, and if she dies it’s on your watch.’”

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Related: Michelle Trachtenberg‘s Boyfriend Shares 1st Comment After Her Death

Jay Cohen is reflecting on the support he’s received from his inner circle after the death of girlfriend Michelle Trachtenberg. Cohen shared his first comments about the late actress via Instagram on Wednesday, July 9, after marking a milestone anniversary for his health. When asked if he could “talk” about Trachtenberg, Cohen replied, “One day […]

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In her candid interview with Variety, O’Donnell acknowledged that she too has a daughter struggling with addiction. It’s an illness that many families around the world are affected by.

“It’s very serious and there are millions of families in America going through the same thing,” she added.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Anyone who is a Nordstrom fan knows how steep discounts can get during its Anniversary Sale. During the event, you’ll find fashion markdowns on summer clothes from the biggest brands in the industry, and our sights are currently set on these early dress deals.

Although Nordstrom card members get first pick with exclusive deals from now until July 17, you don’t have to wait with the masses to shop the sale. Read: we found so many chic, flattering dress deals ahead of the official sale launch on July 18, up to 70% off. We’re actually shocked by how stylish and elevated these pieces are, and how well they pair with everything from classic sandals to trendy kitten heels. Plus, our top picks are perfect for every occasion under the sun, including beach getaways, wedding ceremonies and more. See our favorites from Free People, Steve Madden, Lulus, Astr the Label and more.

13 Flattering Summer Dress Deals on Nordstrom

1. Our Favorite: The versatility featured here is what gives this ruffle mini dress its staying power. You can wear it with slip-on sandals and a cardigan for a low-key dinner or elevate it with statement jewelry and a chunky heel for a more formal date night — was $80, now $30!

2. Everyday Ease: Designed with an easy-going silhouette, sweet flutter sleeves and an adjustable tie-waist belt, this Caslon midi dress is one you’ll reach for constantly. Oh, and the cotton eyelet fabric makes it super breathable — was $129, now $65!

3. Game Changer: Whoever said you can’t wear denim in the summer has never seen this puffed-sleeve mini dress. The lightweight denim cotton fabric feels comfortable on hot days. We also can’t get over the smocked A-line silhouette that really shows off curves — was $109, now $49!

4. Sporty-Chic: Athletic dresses are a summer must-have, and this sleek little number is impressively cheap (for now). Yep, it’s 70% off. The moisture-wicking fabric and adjustable halter straps will ensure all-day comfort — was $110, now $33!

5. Coastal Cutie: We guarantee that every Nantucket rich mom has a shirtdress like this pinstripe midi in her closet. You can steal the look with this classy button-up pick that looks like it costs five times as much — was $129, now $65!

6. Cottagecore Style: The peasant-inspired bodice, loose skirt and puffed sleeves make Bp.’s midi dress feel like something you’d wear in the French countryside. And because the airy find is made with 100% cotton, you won’t mind frolicking outside, either — was $70, now $35!

7. Expensive-Looking: Clothing pieces made with linen are usually out of our price range, but not this Nordstrom number. The linen-blend makeup is more affordable and gives you a bit of stretch, which we love — was $129, now $65!

8. Wedding Guest Attire: Black tie dress codes call for something a little more formal, and this strapless gown from Lulus hits the mark. The tiered, ruffle skirt cascades down to the floor, giving you that statement look. Psst, it also hides lumps and bumps effortlessly — was $138, now $55!

9. Red Hot: If you want all eyes on you, we recommend grabbing this bright red midi dress STAT. It’s bold in color but also has a way of boosting confidence, thanks to the loose skirt and sweetheart neckline — was $99, now $60!

10. Going Viral: We’ve been seeing all the cool girls wear basque-waist dresses, and it’s easy to see why. The design naturally elongates the frame and creates an hourglass silhouette that looks mega flattering. Tie that in with the sweet bow and color-blocking accents, and we’re swooning — was $119, now $48!

11. Giddy-Up: The country concert aesthetic is trending right now, but you don’t need to go full ‘cowboy’ for the look. This Steve Madden dress feels on point when styled with a cowboy hat, boots and a denim jacket. Plus, you can wear it as a classic sundress after the event — was $129, now $58!

12. Anything But Basic: Whether you wear this Free People dress to a picnic, beach or brunch, you’ll look like the coolest girl in the room. The one-shoulder design shows a bit of skin, and the smocked waist stretches for a comfortable fit — was $68, now $44!

13. No Brainer: Wayf’s maxi cocktail dress may look like a simple style, but just one look at the back, and you’ll be mesmerized. It has a low cowl back design that’s subtly sexy without showing too much — was $118, now $53!

Related: 13 Rich-Looking Sandals Secretly on Sale at Nordstrom

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale hasn’t even kicked off yet; however, with a little digging, we uncovered several rich-looking sandals on sale right this second. Nordstrom cardholders can preview the long-awaited sale now through July 17 before it officially launches to the masses on July 18, but why wait when you can score these sandal deals now! […]

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Craig Melvin is breaking his silence after an intruder allegedly came onto the Today show set.

“Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow,” Melvin, 47, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, July 16.

News broke earlier that day that an unidentified stranger walked onto the set in New York City and asked for meteorologist Al Roker. When the stranger wasn’t able to find Roker, 71, they confronted Melvin. The intruder allegedly lunged at Melvin and yelled a racial slur.

The incident allegedly occurred around 9 a.m. on Thursday after Melvin cohosted the first and third hours of the Today show with Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Dylan Dreyer. The suspect was reportedly detained backstage and arrested.

“There was a security incident this morning at the TODAY show studio. An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A,” a statement from the NBC morning show shared with Us Weekly read. “The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured.”

The statement continued, “TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter. NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”

Melvin has been in the Today show family since 2018. Six years later, he was announced as Guthrie’s coanchor after Hoda Kotb departed from the series. At the time, Melvin gushed that he is “beyond excited and grateful” to be following in Kotb’s footsteps.

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“I want to, obviously, thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy,” he said in 2024. “I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”

Related: Today’s Craig Melvin and Wife Lindsay Czarniak’s Relationship Timeline

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Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Today coanchor Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak turned their office romance into the real deal. “We met on set at our TV station, WRC in Washington D.C., and I had just gotten back from Beijing and he was hired,” Czarniak explained during an episode of Today in November 2021. “I didn’t know […]

“You know what this job is, it’s a lot of long days and short nights, and [Lindsay Czarniak’s] been there for me from the beginning,” he continued, referring to his wife. (The pair, who tied the knot in 2011, are the parents of son Delano, 12 and daughter Sybil, 9.)

Melvin officially had his first day in his new seat in 2025.

Melissa Gilbert announced her exit from When Calls the Heart ahead of season 14 amid her husband Timothy Busfield’s child sex abuse scandal.

“Many people have asked if I will be returning to When Calls the Heart this coming season,” the actress, 62, wrote in a statement shared via Instagram on Thursday, July 16. “The answer to that is no, I am not.”

Gilbert claimed that the reason for her departure was due to “budget issues” but she wishes her former costars nothing but the best.

“I wish all my sweet friends in Hope Valley a wonderful and successful season 14,” she added.

Related: Melissa Gilbert Defends Timothy Busfield After ‘Traumatizing’ Arrest

Melissa Gilbert is standing by her decision to defend husband Timothy Busfield after he was arrested on allegations of child sexual abuse. In a clip from her upcoming interview with Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos, Gilbert, 61, called Busfield’s arrest “the most traumatizing experience of our lives.” “Our life as we knew it is done,” […]

She also noted that she was “eternally grateful” to “bring Georgie McGill to life” for the past two seasons.

“It was a lovely couple of seasons but it’s time to say farewell,” she wrote in the caption. “When one door closes, another one opens. Looking forward to whatever comes next. #thatsshowbiz #onwardandupward.”

Gilbert joined the Hallmark series for season 12, which aired in 2025. She played Georgie who was a former Mountie forensic investigator who had a romantic past with Jack Wagner’s character, Bill Avery.

Fans took to the comments section to express their disappointment that Gilbert will not be back next season.

“Hopefully they will bring you back!!! You were the perfect addition to the cast,” one user wrote while another replied, “Oh no! Poor Bill won’t get his happily ever after! 😢.”

Gilbert’s departure from When Calls the Heart comes amid Busfield’s ongoing child sex abuse case. Earlier this year, Busfield, 69, was indicted on child sex abuse charges by a grand jury in New Mexico. The actor was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office said in a press release obtained by Us Weekly in February.

Busfield has pleaded not guilty to the charges and recently filed a motion to quash the grand jury indictment.

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“Timothy Busfield is innocent. This motion describes egregious prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings, thereby preventing the jurors from hearing testimony, witnesses and evidence even after repeated requests by the grand jury itself,” Busfield’s civil attorney Stanton “Larry” Stein claimed in a statement to Us in June. “The government repressed and suppressed exculpatory evidence, misstated the law and failed in the most basic due process afforded any person under either Constitutional or State laws designed to protect actual innocence from abuse of government power.”

Gilbert has remained by Busfield’s side amid the allegations.

“Our life as we knew it is done,” the Little House on the Prairie alum said during an April appearance on Good Morning America. “We are grieving what we had — all of our plans, all of our dreams, all of our ideas, all of our projects. For Tim, it’s done. He’s canceled. Even if he’s exonerated, he will always be that guy. [He’s] the last person in the world who would hurt a child.”

Kai Cenat’s Streamer University just kicked off, and things are getting spicy already! The internet started buzzing after folks peeped Clarence making a lil’ cameo on DreamDoll’s stream. Once the word started spreading across the internet streets, fans slid into Queen Naija’s comments to put her onto her man’s moves, and she wasted no time checking him about it.

RELATED: Internet Users React To Queen Naija & Clarence’s “Ring” Photos As Her Mom Appears To Confirm Their Engagement (PHOTOS + VIDEOS) 

Queen Naija Checks in With Clarence After He Pops Up On DreamDoll’s Livestream

Videos circulating online show Queen Naija checking in with Clarence after fans flooded her stream to let her know he pulled up to DreamDoll and Jordyn Lucas’ dorm. Queen initially thought folks were just trying to start mess when they dropped the news in her chat, but she quickly realized they were telling the truth. Clarence later admitted that he was kicking it in there with Dream and Pitbully, but he made it clear nothing serious went down — he just went to grab himself a beverage. “Babe, first of all chill out. You got nothing to worry about. You bugging out.” Clarence said. Meanwhile, Queen admitted that she was mainly upset because the chat kept telling her about his whereabouts, but she kept insisting that they were lying.

The Internet Says Queen & Clarence Passed On Streamer University

Clarence’s response and the clip of him posted up in Dream’s room had fans feeling a way. Plenty of folks flooded The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions, saying Streamer University wasn’t the best move for them since they’re engaged. Meanwhile, some ladies said Clarence knew better than kicking it in Dream’s dorm. Peep some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @b.arbielai wrote, “he in there treating it like love island 💀💀” 

Instagram user @blissfulkayyy wrote, “He was on there “For a lil while” 🤔 but was getting liquor? BOY PLZ!” 

While Instagram user @crooklyn_j wrote, “Girl don’t marry him…” 

Then Instagram user @jaynillz wrote, “Imagine if she said “she and her friend was in another guys room getting liquor”, then proceeded to ask him “ why you pressing me “ oh how things would be looked at differently 🙄” 

Another Instagram user @s.nashay wrote, “‘they tried to lie on you’ soon as you give a man the benefit here come the doubt 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣” 

Instagram user @immaaashhhole wrote, “I just feel like they should be doing family channel things and leave this to the single ready to mingle folks 😅” 

Then another instagram user @alisharenaa wrote, “as a couple y’all best bet was staying home 😭” 

While another Instagram user @daciaac wrote, “Clarence ain’t have no business being in they room 😂😂” 

Finally, Instagram user @blonde___bombshell___ wrote, “Why couldn’t she go on here by herself and leave him with the kids ? 😂😂” 

Queen Naija Tells Fans To Stop Updating Her On Clarence’s Moves

Despite checking Clarence, Queen made it clear that she wasn’t feeling fans constantly coming to her with updates about what he was doing. During her own stream, she told them to stop bringing him up and said although they’re at Streamer University together, she still wants to enjoy the moment and have her own experience.

“Stop coming to me about him please.” She continued, “Y’all not letting me enjoy it. Like, I’m here as Queen Naija, I’m not here as Queen and Clarence. Please allow for me to have this experience to myself. I’m an individual […] y’all are pissing me off.”

RELATED: Queen Naija Previews A New Love Song After Trying On Wedding Dresses On Stream (LISTEN + VIDEO) 

Kate Middleton built her signature style around elegant dresses but her latest outfit made Us do a double take. Instead of another polished midi, she stepped out in a colorful tailored suit set style that looked every bit as sophisticated. It goes to show that the right two-piece can be as timeless as a dress.

On Day 4 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, the Princess of Wales styled an oversized cobalt blue blazer with matching wide-leg trousers, a simple white top and brown pumps. The modern yet refined outfit felt like a fresh take on her signature style, but recreating it doesn’t have to come with a royal price tag. Luckily, we found a remarkably similar Amazon suit set that captures the same polished look for $70.

Get the Kirundo Two-Piece Oversized Suit Set for $70 (was $80) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, July 16, 2026, but are subject to change.

The Kirundo Two-Piece Oversized Suit Set features a slightly relaxed blazer with structured shoulders, a notched lapel, a two-button closure and functional side pockets. It’s also fully lined, helping it drape more like a tailored designer set than a budget-friendly find. The coordinating high-waisted wide-leg pants also create a long, streamlined silhouette that looks effortlessly elevated.

Related: Kate Middleton’s White Midi Dress Has Me Rethinking Bold Prints

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I’ve spent most of the summer reaching for bright florals and colorful prints, but Kate Middleton just made a strong case for going back to basics. Her latest white midi dress feels timeless and elegant, and the look is surprisingly easy to recreate. Now I’m seriously considering swapping my bold summer patterns for crisp white […]

Shoppers seem impressed with the quality of the affordable find. One Amazon reviewer wrote, “The fitting, stitching, fabric and materials are all comparable to a $300 suit.” Another buyer called it “a great go-to suit” that’s perfect for throwing on without worry.

What we love most about this look is how versatile it is. Wear the full set with pumps for weddings, work events or dressier dinners, then style the blazer with jeans or the trousers with a simple knit for an entirely different outfit. It’s the kind of wardrobe staple that keeps earning its place in your closet.

If Middleton’s vibrant blue isn’t your color, the suit also comes in olive, dark gray, beige, navy and several other shades. It’s available in sizes S through XXL, making it easy to find a version that fits both your style and your wardrobe. Forget dresses — it’s clear this polished suit set deserves a spot in the spotlight.

Want Middleton’s sophisticated blue look in a different fit? Start scrolling!

Shop more blue two-piece suit sets that we love:

Not your style? Explore more suit sets here, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Related: Jennifer Lopez’s $750 Designer Blouse Has a $32 Lookalike

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Jennifer Lopez has a knack for making romantic, bohemian pieces feel effortlessly chic. Her latest designer pick is no exception, proving that soft ruffles, breezy sleeves and feminine details are just as stylish this summer as ever. The only downside? Her Zimmermann blouse comes with a $750 price tag. While strolling through Paris on July […]

For more than three decades, a group of Catholic sisters quietly reshaped what scientists understand about aging, memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. The Nun Study, a National Institute on Aging project that began in 1990 with 678 School Sisters of Notre Dame, produced findings that continue to guide dementia research today, even though every sister who took part has now died.

Their contribution matters now because researchers are still publishing on the data they left behind. In 2025, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association published a scientific review summarizing decades of findings, calling the project “an iconic longitudinal study of aging and dementia.” With more than 600 brain autopsies completed and a rare archive of early-life records, the study’s influence stretches well beyond the convent walls where it began.

How the Nun Study Began and Why Researchers Chose Catholic Sisters

David Snowdon, Ph.D., launched a pilot in 1986 with the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) to look at the relationship between education and aging-related disorders. He expanded that work into the full Nun Study in 1990, enrolling 678 sisters from SSND communities across the United States. Most participants were between 75 and 102 years old at enrollment. Of the 1,027 eligible sisters, 678, about 66 percent, agreed to take part and committed to annual assessments of memory, language, reasoning, physical health and daily functioning.

The sisters were an unusually valuable research population because their adult lives looked so similar. About 85 percent had earned at least a bachelor’s degree, and 89 percent had worked as teachers. They shared comparable housing, nutrition, health care, income and social networks, variables that normally muddy epidemiological research.

“Normally, it’s hard to pinpoint what causes some people to develop dementia while others remain healthy because people can have very different lifestyles, environments and biology, some smoke, some don’t, some have better access to health care than others, some may be more genetically disposed to disease,” Kyra Clarke, a doctorate student at UT Health San Antonio and one of the review’s authors, said, per EWTN News.

“But Catholic sisters from the same order share the same environment for most of their adult lives, with similar marital histories and daily routines,” she said. “It is difficult to find a community of people with such consistent and comparable lifestyles. This makes it easier to figure out what factors truly increase or decrease the risk of dementia.”

What the Brain Donations Revealed About Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Brain donation was a prerequisite for joining the study. By the end, 98 percent of participants had undergone a brain autopsy, and more than 600 autopsies were completed, one of the largest collections of brain tissue ever assembled for Alzheimer’s research. Neuropathologists conducting the exams were blinded to participants’ cognitive test results, allowing direct comparison between brain changes and thinking and memory abilities recorded during life.

Researchers also drew on medical records, educational transcripts, autobiographies the sisters had written in early adulthood and genetic information from blood or tissue samples. The findings reshaped the field in two ways. Some sisters carried extensive Alzheimer’s-related changes in their brains, including amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, yet never developed dementia in life. And early-life cognitive ability, as measured through those autobiographies and school records, was associated with better cognitive outcomes decades later.

Together, those results helped establish the concept of cognitive reserve, the idea that lifelong intellectual engagement may help some people maintain memory and thinking even when their brains show substantial disease. The work also demonstrated that multiple brain diseases frequently coexist in older adults and that those overlapping pathologies raise the likelihood of dementia.

What the Nun Study Found About Nutrition, Folate and Brain Health

The research team also examined how diet and nutrient levels connected to brain aging. Sisters with lower blood folate, known as vitamin B9, tended to show greater brain shrinkage and poorer cognitive performance than those with higher levels. Lower folate concentrations, especially alongside elevated homocysteine, were associated with a higher likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.

The findings did not prove that folic acid prevents dementia. But they suggested that maintaining adequate folate status may be one component of healthy brain aging, a piece of a larger picture that includes education, cognitive stimulation and coexisting health conditions.

“The Nun Study really emphasized that maintaining cognitive health is a lifelong task and emphasized the importance of education and cognitive stimulation in reducing the risk of dementia,” Clarke said.

Why the Nun Study Still Shapes Dementia Research Today

Although no living sisters remain in the study for cognitive assessments, neuropathology work continues. The School Sisters of Notre Dame note on their website that “the sisters involved continue to impact Alzheimer’s research through the gift of their brain donations.” Margaret Flanagan, who directs the ongoing research at UT Health, has personal ties to the congregation, as several family members attended Chicago’s Academy of Our Lady, an SSND-operated school. Researchers still meet regularly with SSND representatives to share updates.

The influence on the wider scientific community has been significant from the start. “The Nun Study has certainly been pioneering,” said Dr. Richard Suzman, chief of demography and population epidemiology at the National Institute on Aging, per The New York Times. “It’s helped change the paradigm about how people think about aging and Alzheimer’s disease.”

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Dr. Robert P. Friedland, professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University, pointed to what made the design so unusual. “I think the Nun Study is very important because it uses information obtained about people before the period of illness,” he said. “So we know from the Nun Study and others that Alzheimer’s disease takes several decades to develop, and the disease has many important effects on all aspects of a person’s life.”

For Clarke and her colleagues, the sisters’ willingness to open their lives, and ultimately their brains, to science remains the heart of the project.

“Their kindness and generosity made the Nun Study an iconic and groundbreaking contribution to dementia research and continuously inspires us to keep pushing towards understanding and treating this debilitating disease,” she said.

Pop singer Kesha has been open about many of the struggles she’s faced in her career. This is especially true regarding the previous recording contract with Dr. Luke, which she was bound to until 2023. Now, the “Praying” singer is discussing her “Gag Order” album and how it ultimately led to her freedom.

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Kesha appeared on the “Las Culturistas” podcast in July 2026, speaking with hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang for over an hour in an episode titled “The Gospel of the Goose.” During the conversation, she brought up her fifth studio album, “Gag Order.”

According to her, “And that performed so badly, that album, performed on the charts so poorly, that it led to my freedom.” After that, she mused on the idea of failure and how it can often lead to what a person ultimately needs.

She added, “You really don’t know what your story is doing for you.”

The Singer Noted That All Her Previous Albums Had Been Successes

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Kesha continued discussing her failed fifth studio album by comparing it to her past chart success. She said, “Like at the time I was like, ‘That’s so interesting.’ Like every album I’d put out before that had been like a top 10 or something, and then this came out, and I was like, ‘Oh, d-mn.’”

From there, she admitted that she didn’t initially think fans would love the music from “Gag Order” as they did some of her earlier hits like “TikTok,” but the failure still came as a surprise, one she later welcomed. Kesha went on to say, “But I always loved the album, and I loved the process of making it.”

In revealing her attitude toward the album at the time, she joked, “I was like, ‘If people don’t get it, it’s because they’re not that cool.’ Like it’s so good.”

Kesha Left Her Record Label Following The Album

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Kesha signed with Kemosabe Records, Dr. Luke’s record label, which is distributed by RCA, in 2005. However, things took a dark turn with their professional relationship, and the singer accused him of sexual assault, battery, and emotional abuse in October 2014. This came after, according to Vulture, she filed a lawsuit, claiming her druged and sexually assaulted her in 2005.

However, despite the accusation, Kesha remained legally bound to the contract, releasing multiple albums signed to the record label owned by her alleged abuser. Regarding her exit from the company, “Gag Order” served as her final obligation, and she was released from the contract in December 2023.

A representative for the singer released a statement to Variety confirming that she also parted ways with her longtime manager, Jack Rovner: “Jack Rovner confirms, after 16 years, Kesha and Vector Management have agreed amicably to part ways, with much love and respect.”

Kesha also released a statement, saying, “My manager has been an unwavering supporter of helping me get through the lengthy legal battle I have been embroiled in for almost a decade.”

She continued, “We have achieved many great successes and have shared a magnificent part of my life with me. I am so grateful to them and always will be.  In need of a fresh start in my life, we have parted ways, but I will remain forever grateful for the run we had.”

The Singer Released Her Latest Album In 2025

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Nearly two years after parting ways with both her label and management company, Kesha released her sixth studio album, “. [Period]” in July 2025. Notably, this marked her first independent project under her own Kesha Records. The album consisted of 11 tracks and, according to Pitchfork, marked a return to her high-energy roots while embracing new musical trends.

The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard Top 200 and number 1 on the Top Album Sales, Vinyl Sales, and Top Dance/Electronic album charts. The new LP was preceded by the lead single, “The One,” which shot to number 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart.

Kesha Is On Tour… Again

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Kesha announced the “Freedom Tour” in March 2026, with dates beginning in May and going until August 30. The tour includes special guests such as Chromeo, Meek, Erika Jayne, and Sizzy Rocket.

Per LiveNation, she said in a press release, “This summer we are reclaiming our bodies, our voices, and our joy. We have survived. Now we get to be free. Let’s be free together. I want to know what freedom feels like, with all of you.”

It continued, “I’ve lived through the fire. This tour is about what comes after. Freedom isn’t just leaving something behind—it’s discovering that what you have lived through has made you magnificently who you are.”

Before the “Freedom Tour,” Kesha embarked on the “T-ts Out” tour from mid 2025 until March 2026.