A boa constrictor named Princess has been chosen for a starring role in the Metropolitan Opera’s new adaptation of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” after a hands-on audition process that highlights just how far some productions go in the name of spectacle. The Metropolitan Opera in New York is taking its latest production in a bold […] The post Princess the boa constrictor wins role at the Metropolitan Opera after unique audition process appeared first on American Almanac .
A boa constrictor named Princess has been chosen for a starring role in the Metropolitan Opera’s new adaptation of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” after a hands-on audition process that highlights just how far some productions go in the name of spectacle. The Metropolitan Opera in New York is taking its latest production in a bold direction, casting a live boa constrictor for a prominent role. Princess, a large sun-glow boa constrictor with yellow-peach coloring, was selected to perform alongside carnival performer-turned-opera actor Zoe Ziegfeld, who will reprise the snake-charmer role for the third time at the Met. Another boa, Nala, has been named understudy. The unusual casting underscores the company’s commitment to…Open
Movie theaters across America raked in $4.61 billion in ticket sales over the summer of 2026, Hollywood’s best season in over a decade, yet the numbers show a rebound driven by fresh faces, Gen Z crowds, and high-end screens, not a simple return to business as usual. After years of pandemic-era closures and lackluster box […] The post Hollywood’s summer box office surges as audiences return, but the numbers reveal a more complicated comeback appeared first on American Almanac .
Movie theaters across America raked in $4.61 billion in ticket sales over the summer of 2026, Hollywood’s best season in over a decade, yet the numbers show a rebound driven by fresh faces, Gen Z crowds, and high-end screens, not a simple return to business as usual. After years of pandemic-era closures and lackluster box office takes, the U.S. movie industry recorded its strongest summer performance since 2013, with a 26.1% jump in domestic ticket sales compared to 2025. The surge, tracked from May 1 through August 31, was confirmed by Rentrak and cited by The Associated Press . But beneath the headline, the recovery reflects changing tastes, new industry players, and a younger audience taking the lead. Filmmakers and executives are…Open
Claims of record-shattering feats by robot “athletes” at this year’s World Humanoid Robot Games in China have circulated widely, even as key facts about the competition, the participants, and the supposed achievements remain undisclosed in the official reporting. Excitement over so-called robot athletes breaking records, some even said to rival human speedsters like Usain Bolt, […] The post Records fall at China’s World Humanoid Robot Games, but event details remain undisclosed appeared first on American Almanac .
Claims of record-shattering feats by robot “athletes” at this year’s World Humanoid Robot Games in China have circulated widely, even as key facts about the competition, the participants, and the supposed achievements remain undisclosed in the official reporting. Excitement over so-called robot athletes breaking records, some even said to rival human speedsters like Usain Bolt, has made headlines, with reports highlighting a futuristic spectacle set in China. Yet, despite the attention, basic details about the event, the names of the robots, their manufacturers, the nature of the records, and the timing and location of the games, have not been made public in the available coverage. The absence of these facts leaves a gap between…Open
DreamWorks Animation’s new film “Forgotten Island” is being hailed by its creators and cast as a heartfelt tribute to Filipino culture, sparking pride among Filipino Americans and drawing attention to Hollywood’s track record on representation. At a special screening held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on August 28, 2026, directors Joel Crawford […] The post DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ puts Filipino culture in the spotlight as cast calls film a “love letter” to heritage appeared first on American Almanac .
DreamWorks Animation’s new film “Forgotten Island” is being hailed by its creators and cast as a heartfelt tribute to Filipino culture, sparking pride among Filipino Americans and drawing attention to Hollywood’s track record on representation. At a special screening held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on August 28, 2026, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado joined a star-studded cast, including Liza Soberano, H.E.R., Manny Jacinto, and Lea Salonga, to showcase a project they describe as an original adventure rooted in Filipino folklore and mythology. The film, scheduled for theatrical release on September 25, follows two best friends who stumble through a portal to the mystical island of Nakali, encountering…Open
Researchers who studied cockroach milk and other quirky scientific subjects received the 36th annual Ig Nobel Prizes in Zurich, as the satirical awards left the United States for the first time over safety and visa worries. Ten research teams were honored at the offbeat Ig Nobel ceremony on Thursday at a convention center in Zurich, […] The post Ig Nobel Prizes for oddball science move to Europe after safety concerns in US appeared first on American Almanac .
Researchers who studied cockroach milk and other quirky scientific subjects received the 36th annual Ig Nobel Prizes in Zurich, as the satirical awards left the United States for the first time over safety and visa worries. Ten research teams were honored at the offbeat Ig Nobel ceremony on Thursday at a convention center in Zurich, Switzerland. The event, which pokes fun at scientific achievement with tongue-in-cheek awards, moved abroad after 35 years in the US, marking a shift that organizers say was forced by mounting concerns over safety and travel restrictions for international guests. Winners included researchers who analyzed cockroach milk, buried thousands of pairs of underwear around the world to study soil health, and…Open
Whitney Leavitt confirmed her departure from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” after season 5 during a “Good Morning America” interview, sharing that she’s closing one chapter and stepping into new Broadway and television roles. Whitney Leavitt, who first appeared on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” when it debuted in September 2024, has announced […] The post Whitney Leavitt maps out life after ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ season 5 exit appeared first on American Almanac .
Whitney Leavitt confirmed her departure from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” after season 5 during a “Good Morning America” interview, sharing that she’s closing one chapter and stepping into new Broadway and television roles. Whitney Leavitt, who first appeared on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” when it debuted in September 2024, has announced that season 5 will be her final run on the Hulu and Disney+ series. On September 4, 2026, Leavitt sat down with “Good Morning America” to discuss her decision and what comes next, making clear she’s ready for new challenges. Leavitt described her exit as a natural transition, saying, “I feel like with anything in life, you feel like you have this book of life and it…Open
The long-awaited Oasis reunion tour documentary “Don’t Look Back in Anger” premiered at the Venice Film Festival, drawing both the band’s famously fractious brothers and renewed debate over music, reconciliation, and the power of nostalgia. Noel and Liam Gallagher, whose turbulent relationship fueled both Oasis’s rise and its 2009 split, appeared side by side at […] The post Oasis reunion documentary debuts at Venice Film Festival, spotlighting Gallagher brothers’ rocky bond appeared first on American Almanac .
The long-awaited Oasis reunion tour documentary “Don’t Look Back in Anger” premiered at the Venice Film Festival, drawing both the band’s famously fractious brothers and renewed debate over music, reconciliation, and the power of nostalgia. Noel and Liam Gallagher, whose turbulent relationship fueled both Oasis’s rise and its 2009 split, appeared side by side at the festival on Saturday, waving to photographers on the Lido docks before skipping the scheduled news conference. Their rare joint appearance marked a public step in a journey that has seen as much acrimony as acclaim. The documentary, titled “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger,” had its world premiere at Venice and is set for an IMAX theatrical release on September…Open
Dozens of top U.S. military leaders faced polygraph examinations this summer as the Pentagon intensified its hunt for those behind leaks of classified information on American weapons reserves, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from some officials caught in the probe. Earlier this summer, several dozen U.S. military and civilian officials, including personnel from […] The post Senior military officials subjected to polygraph tests in Pentagon leaks investigation, sources reveal appeared first on American Almanac .
Dozens of top U.S. military leaders faced polygraph examinations this summer as the Pentagon intensified its hunt for those behind leaks of classified information on American weapons reserves, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from some officials caught in the probe. Earlier this summer, several dozen U.S. military and civilian officials, including personnel from U.S. Central Command and other combatant commands, were ordered to take polygraph tests as part of an expanding national security leak investigation. The Pentagon’s extraordinary step targeted those with access to some of the nation’s most sensitive defense secrets, as officials sought to identify the source of leaks about U.S. weapons stockpiles and other classified…Open
Alabama mother Hannah Pettey was hospitalized near death with an “astronomical” amount of lead in her body, an ordeal that launched a criminal investigation and ended with her husband’s conviction for attempted murder. Hannah Pettey’s life changed forever in January 2022, after months of unexplained pain and weakness forced her to seek help. On January […] The post Alabama woman nearly dies from lead poisoning as husband is convicted in attempted murder plot appeared first on American Almanac .
Alabama mother Hannah Pettey was hospitalized near death with an “astronomical” amount of lead in her body, an ordeal that launched a criminal investigation and ended with her husband’s conviction for attempted murder. Hannah Pettey’s life changed forever in January 2022, after months of unexplained pain and weakness forced her to seek help. On January 18, her mother, Nicole Pettey, drove her to the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital, where doctors soon made a shocking discovery: Hannah’s colon was nearly “100% lead,” and her vital organs were on the brink of failure. Medical staff at UAB told Nicole that Hannah “had hours to live” and was “starving to death.” The source of her sickness was no accident,…Open
Officials said there were “multiple patients” but their injuries were not immediately known. Thick smoke was visible from the Boeing 767-300 cargo plane at Miami International Airport, video showed.