All Stories
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AnimalsBones show ancient marine reptile was a big baby
A new study of a rare baby plesiosaur reveals that these marine reptiles were huge at birth, then continued to grow speedily.
By Riley Black -
Health & MedicineHere’s why Rapunzel’s hair makes a great rope ladder
The fairy tale ‘Rapunzel’ features a princess with a lifesaving head of hair. Could someone really use their hair as a ladder? Sort of.
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PhysicsOn the lookout for micro-missiles from space
Speeding specks of space dust can damage spacecraft. But if they make it to Earth, these tiny rocks can offer lessons on how the solar system formed.
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SpaceCaught on camera: A small rock hit the moon
Photographers documented a rocky impact during January’s total lunar eclipse.
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Health & MedicineCould eating clay help manage weight?
A new study suggests that clay could help soak up fat in the gut. In rats, it works as well as a weight-loss drug.
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ChemistryBig rock candy science
Instructions for making your own rock candy say to dip your stick or string in sugar before putting it in your sugar solution. Does that matter?
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AnimalsBee parasite is more werewolf than vampire
Inventing fake bee larvae prompts scientists to rethink how a mite — ominously named Varroa destructor — does its damage.
By Susan Milius -
ClimateScientists Say: Waterspout
A whirlwind over land is just a whirlwind. But over water, a whirlwind becomes a waterspout.
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EarthEarth’s core may have hardened just in time to save planet’s magnetic field
Earth’s inner core began to solidify within the past 565 million years, a study finds. That could explain why the planet’s magnetic field did not collapse.
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ChemistryShell shocked: Emerging impacts of our acidifying seas
As Earth’s climate changes, the oceans are becoming more acidic. Here’s how oysters and reefs are responding to their acidifying bath.
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AnimalsOcean acidification may ground swimming skates
Fish might seem immune to acidic waters, but check their skeletons. They can be vulnerable and eventually alter how fish behave.
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AnimalsIs ocean acidification knocking the scents out of salmon?
In more acidic water, salmon don’t seem to recognize the smell of danger. Will their populations take a nosedive as carbon-dioxide levels rise?
By Beth Geiger