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NASA released new photos of a 100-million-year-old globular cluster that is approximately 160,000 light-years away in the Dorado constellation. This birthplace for billions of stars isn’t just pretty to look at — which it very much is — but these images are another piece of a puzzle space researchers are trying to put together. Can you explain what we see in these photos like we’re 5 years old? What you are looking at here is a cosmic object called NGC 1850....

On the surface, the case seems straightforward. Wetlands and watersheds are protected under 1962’s Clean Water Act (CWA) — a bill passed to protect U.S. waters from pollution and contamination. The Sacketts claim their wetland shouldn’t be considered protected by the CWA under federal law because it isn’t a navigable waterway, and isn’t in contact with a larger body of water. The waters of the case become muddy, though, when the definition of “waters of the United States” — or WOTUS — is considered....

This tracks with Biden’s timeline on extending the student loan payment pause until the end of June 2023 — or, per the administration’s own words, at least 60 days until the student loan case is resolved in the courts. The Supreme Court did not agree to the administration’s request that debt relief be allowed to commence this month but did agree to fast-track the hearing. The case the Supreme Court will hear in February is one of two currently clogging the works of Biden’s plan to forgive up to $10,000 in student loan debt per qualified borrower and up $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients who make below a certain income threshold....

The survey polled almost 4,000 US adults younger than 50, in a mix of both parents and non-parents. They asked both parents of existing kids and non-parents what their plans were regarding children, why that was, and compared results to a similar survey done in 2018. For people with kids already, 54% said they were “not at all likely” to have more kids, and a further 20% said they were “not too likely” to have more kids....

But knowing when and how to get your kids into swimming lessons isn’t as straightforward as teaching them to walk. Is it worth starting when they’re 9-months old? How often should they take lessons? And when have they taken enough lessons? It’s not uncommon for parents to be overwhelmed by the many options available when it comes to kids’ swimming lessons and to have a lot of questions. And as a college swimming coach and youth instructor, I’ve heard them all....

The law makes most abortions illegal, outlawing the procedure at six weeks, which functionally bans 85 to 90 percent of abortions in the state. There are few exceptions to the rule. The law has avoided scrutiny so far because it doesn’t make the State of Texas or any other government responsible for enforcement. Instead, it allows anybody — a random citizen, a neighbor, an activist — to sue anybody else who they suspect of performing an abortion or helping someone get an abortion after the six-week mark....

In a sense, if this were true, it would make Tumbe Leaf a slightly more palatable version of Peter Pan, but paradoxically, make Tumble Leaf also slightly darker than it appears. The first thing that brought Neverland to mind was the ship Fig lives on. It’s a giant, double-decked ship with a big wooden steering wheel and beautiful red finishes throughout. You can tell it was really something back in its prime, but it’s clearly been shipwrecked on the beach where Fig lives for a while; there are giant holes in its body, its sides are weather-worn, and you can’t miss the enormous tree growing out of its center where a mast used to be....

Here’s what researchers, scientists, and experts recommend for comforting kids. Comfort Rule #1: Bad Weather is Harmless Turn off the news. Keep the footage turned off until kids are sound asleep. Or, at least keep it relegated to discreet phone checks when kids are around. Let them know there are safety contingencies that will help keep them safe, like emergency kits and plans on where to seek shelter in the home....

On our own, my brother and I would play with our G.I. Joes, Transformers, He-Man, and Star Wars action figures. We got dirty. We dug holes to China (we only got 3 feet deep). We played soldiers. We wrestled, did “karate,” and essentially physically tortured each other. When I got married, I knew that when I had a son, we would do the same thing. There would be practice hitting baseballs, learning how to shoot hoops, mountain bike riding, and playing street hockey, but most of all, there would be that physical contact that my brother and I had with our dad....

1. Traeger Bronson 20 Pellet Grill Most smokers are big, hulking things that don’t really fit in the back of your average SUV. Outfitted with wheels and able to be transported in an average car for camping or just to a different patch of the backyard, the Bronson is a portable barbecue that still does justice to your pork shoulders. The pellet-fed smoker maintains precise temperature and its electric igniter also means it’ll fire up quickly....

The Meet the Breeds event — which attracted some 25,000 attendees this year — attracts Girl Scout troops looking to earn patches, families looking to expose their toddlers to dogs, and families looking for a standout pet. Yes, many gravitate toward the retrievers, but there are other surprise favorites, breeds that stand out because they offer the ideal combination of traits for families. Breeds that love and snuggle and protect and heal if you ask nicely....

Bogus deal: Lawn Sprinkly by TCBWFY. $3 off a $15 yard sprinkler? Not exactly a Prime Day deal, folks. You can see the “deal” here (but, really, keep shopping). Buy this instead: Bogus deal: First of all, a $30 investment in your home bar should get you, oh, a bottle of Campari, not “all you need.” Saving $6 on a $30 mixology kit, therefore, is not just a weak 20% deal, it’s misplaced money....

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Twitter’s brief, social nature has made it the go-to place for busy parents to share these moments, the place where they can commiserate and laugh at each other as kids come up with crazier and crazier nonsense. At their best, honest tweets about the challenges and triumphs of parenting can make parents feel less alone in their Herculean task. But even if they aren’t quite that profound, it’s still nice to get a kick out of the nonsense other parents tweet....

Few Easter gifts and toys are more prized by kids than a big old floppy-eared stuffed animal. That’s because they’re not toys — they’re soft, huggable companions, plush partners-in-crime who understand, accompany, and comfort them. These stuffed bunnies and other Easter-themed toys will bring on the smiles. The Best Bunny Stuffed Animals Every product on Fatherly is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission....

I should have let them play with the rocks. The world was telling me that babies need stuff in order to become fully-functioning humans. That idea was inculcated by baby registries and Facebook ads for developmental toys that told me how my kid wasn’t going to grow without perfectly engineered toys. To learn to kick, roll over, and coordinate their limbs, they required a play mat connected to a dome hung with dangling monkeys....

The best men’s dress boots have a lot going for them. They can be styled with jeans or subbed in for loafers. They’re strike the ideal balance between streamlined and bulky. And they have more in common with lace-up dress shoes. Think fine leather, rich, burnished colors, and details like wingtip perforations or ornate stitching. If you’re looking to up your dress boot game this season, here are our favorite new pairs — all of which are surprisingly affordable....

Do you know who Baby Yoda is? You know he’s not literally Yoda, right? If your answer to that question was “um…” or if your kids are having a hard time unpacking the complicated Star Wars timeline, we’ve got you. From your fuzzy memory of Star Wars cartoons in the ’80s to the newer cartoons and live-action shows, here’s your brief guide to watching Star Wars shows in “the right order,” plus, why you can totally skip around....

Reading to kids comes with so many benefits, and personalized books can help kids transition to independent reading. Personalized children’s books keep young readers engaged and captivated, as they follow themselves through mysteries, adventures, and everyday stories about starting school or making friends. Who can say no to a story that’s about them? The best personalized books are also great stories in their own right — the personalization is an added bonus....

The American Pregnancy Association advises pregnant women to sleep on their sides. They even have a handy acronym: SOS (sleep on side). The left side is the ideal side to sleep on, as it increases the blood flow (and therefore nutrients) to the placenta. Pregnancy pillows can make that adjustment go smoothly and more comfortably. But sleep is an elusive bedfellow, so these are a few handy tips: She should keep her legs and knees bent, and put a pillow between the legs....