Science / Science & Exploration
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Mega-canyon discovered beneath Greenland ice sheet
The formation has been hidden under ice for more than four million years.
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The Milky Way’s black hole, like Cookie Monster, loses more than it eats
X-ray observations show why Sagittarius A* is fainter than many galactic nuclei
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Ocean acidification could affect rising temperatures
New research shows the two aren’t entirely separate.
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NASA test-fires 3D printed rocket parts: low cost, high power innovation
Propulsion engineers focus on R&D and pushing new tech into private industry.
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Stem cells used to create mini-brains in the lab
"Organoids" undergo some of the steps involved in producing a mature brain.
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Recent slowdown in atmospheric warming thanks to La Niña
Models match global temps by letting Pacific run the show.
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The “US effect” biases behavioral research
In other fields, the US does well, but its behavioral work appears biased.
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Ars does Soylent, day 1: Embrace the chalky weird sweetness
A tall glass of lukewarm Soylent can make for a queasy breakfast on day one.
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Infants remember speech heard in the womb
Simple syllables trigger a strong reaction when played back later.
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PBS documentary on concussions leaves ESPN black and blue
A partnership ends with hints of pressure from the NFL.
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Memories of positive associations get written onto DNA
Epigenetic changes in nerve cells keep memories in place.
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Weird Science always seeks ethical approval before tying someone up
Especially if it's going to involve threatening them.
Paul Sutter walks us through the future of climate change—and things aren’t great
This episode of Edge of Knowledge focuses on our rapidly transforming world.
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The mental health diagnosis and the damage done
Paying too much attention to the contents of the DSM fails people in need.
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China aiming to be newest—and largest—space superpower
Experts say a Chinese moon landing "very much in the cards."
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Hoist the sails! Ars readers react to pre-Viking settlers
We also talked about Ubuntu's failed Edge fundraiser this week.
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Launch pads, runways, facilities: NASA’s grand shuttle sell-off continues
US agency sheds historic assets, hopes to adapt facilities for a commercial future.
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NASA will use space-based telescope to hunt near-Earth asteroids
Also releases video of what returning one to a nearby orbit might look like.
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Massive Himalayan gorge partly carved by Lake Erie-sized floods
When glacial dams upriver from the gorge failed, massive floods tore through it.
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Kepler finds stars’ flickers reveal the gravity at their surface
Provides a new way of measuring a star's properties and evolution.
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Someone beat the Vikings into the North Atlantic by 500 years
We're not sure who colonized the Faroe Islands, but they got there pretty early.
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People don’t recycle things that look like trash
A tendency to categorize gets in the way of reducing waste.
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Finding the limits of speciation
A new model suggests that in some cases, small organisms don't speciate.
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The sound of music… is irrelevant
Both experts and novices pick winners of music competitions based on visuals.
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Storage tank for radioactive water at Fukushima springs a leak
Radiation levels bad enough to give workers five-year radiation dose in an hour.
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Fungus and bacteria play game theory to make biofuels
Cooperator/cheater dynamic sets the condition for efficient butanol production.
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Draft IPCC report has increased confidence in human influence on climate
Leaked to major news organizations, the draft contains few surprises.
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Online media and science make for awkward partners
Search engines, user-generated content influence how science is understood.
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Almost orbital, solar-powered drone offered as “atmospheric satellite”
Titan's Solara, first commercial solar drone, can fly five years without landing.
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Growing shoes and furniture: A design-led biomaterial revolution
Plants are magnetic, a vase built by 60,000 bees, and shoes made from cellulose.
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Weird science finds rainbows are a way to keep from blacking out
And it sends all of its important messages by fungus.
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Considering a pick-and-mix model of dark matter
What if there are more than WIMPs on the Universe's dark side?
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Latest test of SpaceX Grasshopper adds a twist
The prototype flies laterally before coming back down.
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Scientists are arguing about whether Voyager has left the Solar System
A new model suggests that it's feeling the interstellar magnetic field.
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Surprise! There are no quick solutions to our climate problems
A focus on reducing short-lived greenhouse gas emissions only takes you so far.
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Russian meteor left a dusty mess in the stratosphere
Belt of dust wrapped around the Earth, drifting slowly downward.
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New species is first carnivore found in the Americas in 35 years
Raccoon relative was mistaken for an olingo for a century.