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Science

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Wild Things: Life as We Know It

The whiskered auklet’s plumage, joshua trees, squid beaks and more

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Wallace Broecker Geochemist, Palisades, New York

How to stop global warming? CO2 “scrubbers,” a new book says

It may be hard to fathom, but many great white encounters with humans are investigative, not predatory. (A great white attacks a seal decoy in False Bay.) They’re just curious, Compagno says.

Forget Jaws, Now it’s … Brains!

Great white sharks are typecast, say experts. The creatures are socially sophisticated and, yes, smart

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Sense and Sensitivity

Great whites have tiny brains but powerful sensory organs

These rocks don’t lose their shape: thanks to recent advances, scientists can grow gems (from Apollo) and industrial diamonds in a matter of days.

Diamonds on Demand

Lab-grown gemstones are now practically indistinguishable from mined diamonds. Scientists and engineers see a world of possibilities

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On the Origin of a Theory

Charles Darwin’s bid for enduring fame was sparked 150 years ago by word of a rival’s research

Crown Koh-i-noor Diamond

Gem Gawking

Where to See Famous Diamonds

An American alligator

Wild Things: Life as We Know It

America’s oldest primate, ocean dead zones and alligator lungs

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Who’s Laughing Now?

Long maligned as nasty scavengers, hyenas turn out to be protective parents and accomplished hunters

Dr. Murray operates on one of the Zoo’s gorillas.

On the Job: Zoo Veterinarian

Suzan Murray talks about making house calls at the nation’s zoo

The Hoover Dam in 1933

Excessive Withholding

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