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Cool Finds

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What Was the First Book Ever Ordered on Amazon.com?

Amazon wasn’t always a multi-billion dollar company. Their first non-internal order came in 1995, and it was a science book

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With New Ban, No More Lions and Tigers and Bears at Circuses

Any animal not normally domesticated in the UK will no longer appear on stage

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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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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?

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

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

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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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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

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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

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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

Can Architects Prevent Gun Deaths?

Architects wonder if they can design gunman-proof buildings

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Thousands of Roman Artifacts Have Just Been Sitting Under London’s Financial District

A trove of Roman artifacts, dug up from a London construction site

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There’s a Reason This Classic New Orleans Hangover Cure Works

According to Big Easy folklore, soldiers stationed in Korea in the 50s discovered the hangover cure and brought the recipe back with them to New Orleans

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This New App Lets You Hide Secret Messages in Your Facebook Photos

Tweet-length password-protected messages, hidden within seemingly innocuous Facebook photos

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The Definitive Guide to Bedbug Sex

The last thing you want in your bed is bedbugs. But here is an even grosser thought to handle: bedbugs have sex in your bed.

Genius.box Is Like a Fruit-of-the-Month Club for Awesome Science Experiments

This start up wants to deliver a new science experiment each month

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