A “failed star” with only 24 times the mass of Jupiter is the smallest known object to spout jets of matter from its poles, a phenomenon typically associated with much larger black holes and young stars. The new finding, detailed in the current issue of Astrophysical Journal, confirms that a …

New York’s strippers may soon have a real license to thrill. State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, D-Brooklyn, proposed legislation Monday which would require the state’s exotic dancers to obtain a permit to ply their trade or face a fine. The “Dance Performer Registration Act” would create a database of the Empire …

*NYSNC-gone-solo pop star Justin Timberlake is having a hard time saying “Bye Bye Bye” to love triangles. Only a few weeks after rumors surfaced that his two-year relationship with Cameron Diaz ended last month because of a fling with Scarlett Johansson, Timberlake has been spotted seesawing between spending Super Bowl …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: In the Hot Seat A diplomatic blunder of sorts for California Republican Congressman David Dreier — who found himself in the hot seat earlier this week after a visit to Bogota, Colombia. Dreier sat casually on a lectern while addressing members of …

MIAMI – When you walk into the Chop Shop, you better know Big Ed’s rules: 1. Don’t be afraid to do it. 2. Don’t be afraid to fail. 3. If you go ahead and try and reinvent the wheel they will respect you for trying. 4. If you build it …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Dems Hope for Failure? The latest FOX News Opinion Dynamics poll indicates almost half of those surveyed believe Democrats want the president’s plan for Iraq to fail. 48 percent said they believe Democrats are hoping for failure and a U.S. troop withdrawal …

Scorsese Scores an Upset at Critics’ Awards Martin Scorsese got a big surprise Friday night and scored an upset victory at the Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. His movie, “The Departed,” won Best Film and he took home honors as Best Director. It was Scorsese’s best showing ever …

TEHRAN, Iran – The wife of a retired FBI agent missing since March will travel to Iran next week to try to find out what happened to him. Christine Levinson will go to Tehran on Monday in search of her husband, Robert, who vanished while on a business trip to …

She may not be a natural-born blonde, but “Blonde Ambition” babe Jessica Simpson swears her bountiful bust isn’t bogus. “Maybe after having kids, if my boobs dropped down to my bellybutton, I would get them lifted,” Simpson told her fashion designer friend Michael Kors for the August edition of Harper’s …

Here are some of your responses to Mike’s last column… Ryan C. in Austin, Texas, writes: A Grrr column without a single Grrr? Instead, we get ANOTHER story about an idiot (Paris Hilton) whom no one really cares about. I kept reading, waiting for the real column to begin, but …