US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Egg prices have reached a record high in the U.S. The consumer price index released on Wednesday confirmed what consumers, bakers and food companies already knew: an ongoing bird flu outbreak that began in 2022 are making eggs terribly expensive right now. The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set in January 2023. Of course, that is only the nationwide average. A carton of eggs can cost $10 or more in some places. And specialized varieties, such as organic and cage-free eggs, are even more expensive.
A deep-sea neutrino telescope spots the most energetic ghost particle yet
NEW YORK (AP) -- A neutrino detector submerged in the Mediterranean Sea has sniffed out the most energetic ghost particle yet. The newly detected neutrino is 30 times more energetic than the previous recordholder. Neutrinos spew from stars like the sun and trillions stream through our bodies every second. But their mind-bogglingly small mass makes them difficult to spot. The detector is part of a deep-sea neutrino observatory that's still under construction. Scientists think the new neutrino came from outside our galaxy, but its exact source remains a mystery. The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Emergency declared on a second Greek island as a string of earthquakes persists
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Authorities have declared a state of emergency on a second Greek island as a series of earthquakes continued to rattle the south-eastern Aegean Sea region. Wednesday's emergency measure announced on the island of Amorgos follows a similar decision for nearby Santorini on Feb. 7 after thousands of unusual tremors were registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi - all popular tourist destinations. Scientists had expressed hope the seismic activity could be easing up, but a string of earthquakes around magnitude 5 has renewed concern.
Paul McCartney rocks the Bowery. Inside his surprise NYC concert
NEW YORK (AP) -- Paul McCartney has staged a surprise performance before a small crowd in New York. His previous show in the area took place at MetLife Stadium, capacity 82,500. Tuesday's surprise appearance at the Bowery Ballroom was in front of, at most, 575. McCartney announced the show just hours before taking the stage. The news swept through Manhattan and beyond, sending New Yorkers racing to the Bowery for a chance to snag a ticket. If the location was stripped down, the former Beatle didn't put on a minimized show. Rather, he put on a blistering tour through his entire catalog, from Beatles classics to Wings hits.
Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast and Phish get Rock Hall nominations
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast and Phish are some the 2025 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It's a list that also includes two sets of musical brothers who have had public feuds and recent reunions -- the Black Crowes and Oasis. The Hall revealed the list of 14 performer nominees Wednesday, including Bad Company, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, Soundgarden and the White Stripes. The 2025 Inductees will be revealed in late April. Nominees will be voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.
Thousands in Taiwan and China celebrate the Lantern Festival with high hopes and rice dumplings
NEW TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Thousands in Taiwan and China have celebrated the Lantern Festival, a holiday that marks the end of the Lunar New Year period and is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. At the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in northern Taiwan on Wednesday, thousands lined up in the rain to light up wish lanterns. Some visitors came from as far as Europe and Latin America to witness in person the iconic images of paper lanterns filling the night sky. People in China also celebrated the Lantern Festival, although no officially organized event there sees the release of large amounts of paper lanterns.
12 times 'Saturday Night Live' made a cultural bang over the past 50 years
NEW YORK (AP) -- "Saturday Night Live" was intended for countercultural comedy. Fifty years later, it is firmly part of the culture. Some memorable moments from 50 seasons include Eddie Murphy going undercover as a white man, the time Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-syncing and when Sinéad O'Connor ripped up a photo of the pope. Less than three weeks after 9/11, "Saturday Night Live" aired one of its most memorable openings with Rudy Giuliani. It tackled the #MeToo movement with a pitch-perfect music video called "Welcome to Hell" and the joke-rap digital short "Lazy Sunday" was the first TV show clip to have a viral second life online.
Looking for love this Valentine's Day? Don't fall for Instagram romance scams
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) -- Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms is urging users to stay vigilant about "romance scams" ahead of Valentine's Day, warning of unsolicited messages through its apps and other social media platforms, as well as general text messages. Scammers tend to pose as "attractive, single and successful individuals," Meta says. They build trust over a period of time before asking their targets for money.
Kilauea is spewing lava again. It is the Hawaii volcano's latest activity in an on-and-off eruption
HONOLULU (AP) -- Kilauea volcano is shooting lava into the air once again in Hawaii. Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the world's most active volcanoes. It has been erupting on and off for nearly two months since it burst to life on Dec. 23. The eruption has been taking place at the volcano's summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. No residential areas have been threatened by lava. The latest release of molten rock began at 10:16 a.m. with lava flowing on to the floor of Halemaumau Crater. A half-hour later, a vent shot lava about 330 feet or 100 meters high.