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We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Earth

    Pterodactyls may soar once more

    Paleontologists and aeronautical engineers are designing a reconnaissance drone that will mimic the flight of an ancient flying reptile.

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  2. Chemistry

    Trapping Compact Fluorescents’ Toxic Gas

    New nanomaterials may offer a solution to mopping up a toxic pollutant associated with fluorescent lighting.

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  3. Chemistry

    Oops! A Fluorescent Light Breaks

    Toxic mercury will be released whenever a fluorescent lamp breaks.

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  4. Chemistry

    Fluorescent bulbs offer mercury advantage

    Featured blog: Switching to light bulbs that contain mercury might, surprisingly, reduce overall mercury releases to the environment. Plus, what to do when you break your fluorescent bulb.

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  5. Physics

    A ‘novel’ chemistry to make fuel from sugar

    It’s not alchemy, but it might sound like it: a new way to transform sugars from plants into gasoline, diesel or even jet fuel by passing the sugars over exotic materials.

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  6. Astronomy

    McCain Is Bullish on R&D

    Featured blog: John McCain weighs in on science and technology issues with long-awaited written responses to the Science Debate 2008.

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  7. Astronomy

    Last Call

    The final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope could radically transform the observatory, but the crew faces some special challenges.

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  8. Neuroscience

    Breaking the Barrier

    A technique combining ultrasound pulses with microbubbles may help scientists move therapeutic drugs across the brain’s protective divide.

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  9. Tech

    Cops Might Get Pollution Sniffers

    One day soon, precise up-to-minute air pollution data might be available at a street-by-street level.

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  10. Agriculture

    Network Antennas — Yum!

    Sensor designers might have to consider engineering in bovine deterrence.

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  11. Astronomy

    Preserving digital data for the future of eScience

    From the August 30, 2008 issue of Science News.

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  12. Earth

    TV Take-Backs

    Here's one solution for all of the conventional TVs that will be cast off during the imminent digital-TV transition.

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