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This Neural Network Can (Maybe) Start a Novel Better Than You
As the end of NaNoWriMo draws near, take a look at one researcher’s effort to help find that perfect first line
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Are Alien Microbes Clinging to the International Space Station? Probably Not
A report out of Russia claims extraterrestrial bacteria has been found on the space station, but there’s plenty of room for doubt
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Three Medical Breakthroughs That Can Be Traced Back to a Tragic Nightclub Fire
Four hundred ninety-two people died as a result of the horrifying fire, an unprecedented death toll that led physicians to make unprecedented innovations
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Our Cloud Names Come From a 1700s Amateur Meteorologist
Luke Howard’s nomenclature inspired writers as well as scientists
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The Geology of Bali’s Simmering Agung Volcano
The high viscosity magma of stratovolcanoes like Agung makes them extremely explosive—and potentially deadly
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Mexico Establishes Largest Marine Protected Area in North America
The nation will fully protect 57,000 square miles around the Revillagigedo Islands from fishing and resource extraction
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Five Things to Know About Net Neutrality
The Dec. 14 vote will decide whether to reverse the landmark 2015 regulations placed on Internet service providers
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Mars’ Streaks of Flowing Water May Actually Be Sand
Scientists have debated for years if—and how much—water could exist on the Red Planet
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Male Humpback Dolphins Woo Mates By Presenting Sponges as Gifts
They also use “wingmen” and occasionally sport the sponges as hats—but researchers aren’t sure just how much game they really have
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Found: A Rare White Crocodile in Australia
Its name is Pearl
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Self-Taught Rocket Scientist Will Launch From California This Weekend
Mike Hughes built his homemade rocket in an effort to “prove” the Earth is flat. He also plans to run for governor
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Blue Whales Have a Secret Feeding Weapon: Ambidextrousness
Though they tend to favor their right side, blue whales can switch to ‘left-handedness’ while hunting
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Skeleton of a Massive Extinct Sea Cow Found on Siberian Island
Remains of the Steller’s sea cow shed light on one of the first animals that taught humans about extinction
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Your Brain Swells—Then Deflates—While You Learn
Researchers hypothesize that the brain “auditions” various cells that form, but only keeps the best of the best
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Watch This Year’s Hurricanes Swirl Across the Globe in New NASA Visualization
Scientists combined supercomputer simulations with satellite data tracking particles of sea salt, dust and smoke to create the mesmerizing graphic
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The First Interstellar Object Seen Buzzing by Earth Is Pretty Weird
Roughly the size of a football field, the object is roughly 10 times longer than it is wide
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Keystone XL Pipeline Clears Major Obstacle for Construction
The move is the latest development in the long history of the controversial pipeline
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This Rock Art May Be the Earliest Depiction of Dogs
The carvings are between 8,000 and 9,000 years old and hint that the creatures may already be heading toward domestication
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In Attempt to Contact Intelligent Life, Group Sends Musical Signal Toward Planet GJ 273b
Though the chances are slim, the team hopes this latest transmission is just the first of many
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Scientists Search for the Most Dangerous Places to Be a Shark
In a bid to stop the populations from dwindling, scientists are turning to big data
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