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  1. Life

    Just warm enough

    Mammals may have evolved a characteristic body temperature to avoid fungal infections without burning too hot.

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  2. Life

    Wealth and ambition

    A week in fancier digs inspires rats to seek richer rewards.

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  3. Space

    Newfound planet stirs old debate

    The discoverers of a fourth body orbiting a nearby star say its origins pose a challenge to existing theory, but some disagree.

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  4. Black Holes in the Bathtub

    Scientists observe Hawking radiation in unexpected materials.

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  5. Continental Hearts

    Ancient expanses called cratons pose a geological puzzle

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  6. Genetic Dark Matter

    Searching for new sources to explain human variation.

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  7. Science Future for December 18, 2010

    December 26 Schenectady Museum in New York explores why bikes stand up. See www.schenectadymuseum.org December 27 Author John Monahan signs copies of They Called Me Mad at the National Air and Space Museum. See www.nasm.si.edu January 10 Deadline to submit original wake-up music for NASA’s final space shuttle mission. Go to https://songcontest.nasa.gov

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  8. Science Past from the issue of December 17, 1960

    HEAVY SHIELD UNNECESSARY — Heavy shielding as protection for an astronaut against space radiations may not be necessary, at least for trips of less than 50 hours and at distances not greater than 618 miles from earth…. [B]iological specimens were encased in different types of metal to test their effectiveness as shielding materials. Some specimens […]

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  9. Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals by Hal Herzog

    Review by Susan Milius.

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  10. The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of Science to the Dark Ages by Nancy Marie Brown

    The story of Pope Sylvester II, who introduced Islamic math and science to the West. THE ABACUS AND THE CROSS: THE STORY OF THE POPE WHO BROUGHT THE LIGHT OF SCIENCE TO THE DARK AGES BY NANCY MARIE BROWN Basic Books, 2010, 328 p., $27.95.

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  11. Cooking for Geeks by Jeff Potter

    Learn the science behind sautéing and other cooking techniques in this combination recipe book and introduction to food chemistry. COOKING FOR GEEKS BY JEFF POTTER O’Reilly Media, 2010, 432 p., $34.99.

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  12. Pluto by Barrie W. Jones

    An astronomer explores the demoted planet and shows how it has contributed to scientists’ knowledge of the solar system. PLUTO BY BARRIE W. JONES Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010, 231 p., $35.99.

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