News
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Astronomy
A middleweight black hole has been spotted for the first time in our galaxy
The rare find, discovered in the star cluster Omega Centauri, could offer clues to how black holes and galaxies evolve.
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Animals
Tiny saunas help frogs fight off chytrid fungus
Balmy shelters could bolster resistance to the deadly fungus in amphibian populations, but experts caution they won’t work for all susceptible species.
By Skyler Ware -
Health & Medicine
How doctors can help demystify birth control amid online confusion
There’s a larger takeaway from some social media content about hormonal birth control side effects: People aren’t getting the information they need.
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Health & Medicine
Bird flu viruses may infect mammary glands more commonly than thought
H5N1 turning up in cow milk was a big hint. The virus circulating in U.S. cows can infect the mammary glands of mice and ferrets, too.
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Environment
Federally unprotected streams contribute most of the water to U.S. rivers
A 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ephemeral streams aren’t protected by the Clean Water Act could have sizable ripple effects, a study suggests.
By Claire Yuan -
Cosmology
Strange observations of galaxies challenge ideas about dark matter
A new look at how light bends as it travels through the universe could point to an alternative theory of gravity.
By Adam Mann -
Health & Medicine
Some people have never gotten COVID-19. An obscure gene may be why
A trial that purposely exposed volunteers to COVID-19 revealed key immunological differences that may explain why some people can dodge SARS-CoV-2.
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Physics
Advanced nuclear reactors need a different type of uranium. Here’s 4 things to know
The nuclear fuel of the future may be HALEU, high-assay low-enriched uranium. But questions about the material remain.
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Climate
Why this year’s climate conditions helped Hurricane Beryl smash records
Scientists predicted an active hurricane season, but a July Category 5 storm is still stunning.
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Health & Medicine
A bizarre video of eyeballs illustrates our pupils shrink with age
Pupil size can decrease up to 0.4 millimeters per decade, hinting at why it can be increasingly harder for people to see in dim light as they age.
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Tech
This 3-D printer can fit in the palm of your hand
Researchers developed a chip-based device for 3-D printing objects on the go.
By Claire Yuan -
Astronomy
A stellar explosion may add a temporary ‘new star’ to the night sky this summer
A nova occurs in the constellation Corona Borealis once every 80 years. Its bright light will be visible to the naked eye for up to a week.
By Jay Bennett