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Dark Lightning Is Just One of the Crazy Types of Lightning You’ve Never Heard Of

Dark Lightning is not the only weird form of lightning you’ve probably never heard of

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Trees Make Noises, and Some of Those Sounds Are Cries for Help

Knowing what kinds of noises trees in distress produce means researchers may be able to target those most in need of emergency waterings during droughts

The Earliest Stop Motion Animations Are Weirdly Wonderful

These animations remind us that you don’t need Pixar’s budget to make something wonderful

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You’re Lying to Yourself About How Good Your Future Will Be

In a psychology experiment, people assumed that bad things would not happen to them in the future, but that those bad things could happen to their friends

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No, You Can’t Officially Rename a Planet. But No One Can Stop You From Trying

This contest to name exoplanets isn’t official. But does that really matter?

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The Secret to Biofuels Might Be Hidden in Poop

A fungus that grows on manure and breaks down the leftover plant material could be a key clue for biofuel researchers

Kickstarter for Surgery Lets You Help Those in Need

A crowdfunding venture gives you a way to donate directly to people’s surgeries

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This Is the Coolest Way to Watch the Northern Lights (Without Going to the Arctic)

Pan and scroll your way around the northern lights

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People Search for Information About Mental Health Less Often in the Summer

As flowers start to reemerge, people seem a whole lot happier. And they might actually be happier, if Google searches are any indication

Are Animal Rules for TVs And Movies Strict Enough?

The rules are extensive, but after three horses died in the filming of the HBO show “Luck,” some are wondering if they’re strict enough

China’s Deadly New Bird Flu Is Spreading

With 64 reported cases over the past two weeks, H7N9 is spreading

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This Computer Could Soon Beat You At Super Mario Bros.

Tom Murphy, a PhD student in computer science, just built a computer program that can play Super Mario Bros

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Our Closest Ape-Like Ancestor Is Reshuffling Thinking About Human Evolution

Australopithecus sediba included a strange mix of both modern Homo and ape-like australopith features

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The Most Comprehensive Map of the Internet Yet May Give Clues for Sealing Up Vulnerabilities

Researchers are using ISP databases to connect the dots between networks in order to create a comprehensive map of the internet’s global scope

Drought in western Kentucky

Don’t Blame the Awful U.S. Drought on Climate Change

Scientists can attribute particular natural disasters to climate change—just not the 2012 Great Plains drought

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Why Do Adults Still Get Pimples?

Here’s how acne really works

Does ‘You Look Like a Sarah’ Actually Mean Anything?

Most likely, you’ve been told that your name does, or doesn’t suit you, or that you look like a “Rachel” or “Sarah” or “John,” but what does that even mean

Animals Use Medicine, Too

From chimps to caterpillars to birds and flies, all sorts of animals use medicine

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This Woman Was Born With Three Fingers, But Her Brain Knew All Along What Having Five Would Feel Like

This woman’s brain knew what having five fingers felt like, even though she herself had never in her life had five fingers

An Asiatic black bear, also known as a moon bear

Brain Surgery Performed on a Bear for the First Time

Champa the bear has made a swift recovery following surgery at her bear sanctuary in Laos

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