All Stories

  1. Math puzzle: The conundrum of sharing

    Solve the math puzzle from our June 2025 issue, in which friends must find ways to all enjoy hot mud beds.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Wet fingers always wrinkle in the same way

    Pruney fingertips aren't swollen sponges — the wrinkles actually come from blood vessels constricting and pulling skin inward.

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  3. Paleontology

    Sloths once came in a dizzying array of sizes. Here’s why

    A new fossil and DNA analysis traces how dozens of sloth species responded to climate shifts and humans. Just two small tree-dwelling sloths remain today.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    It’s tricky to transplant a bladder. How surgeons finally did it

    The person who received the bladder is doing well, and the successful transplant could offer hope to thousands of people with bladder dysfunction.

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  5. Climate

    Penguin poop gives Antarctic cloud formation a boost

    Penguin poop provides ammonia for cloud formation in coastal Antarctica, potentially helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the region.

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  6. Science & Society

    Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ plan has a major obstacle: Physics

    Scientists suggest the missile defense plan will face big hurdles, especially given its projected timeline and cost.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Don’t wait until menopause to strengthen your bones 

    Screening for osteoporosis is recommended at age 65, but experts say women should be proactive about bone health long before that.

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  8. Earth

    Gamma rays flared as this lightning bolt formed

    Thunderstorms are known to generate gamma rays, the highest energy radiation on Earth. But pinning the burst to a specific bolt is new.

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  9. Artificial Intelligence

    A new AI-based weather tool surpasses current forecasts

    The AI tool used machine learning to outperform current weather simulations, offering faster, cheaper, more accurate forecasts.

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  10. Physics

    Scientists used a levitating magnet to hunt for dark matter

    The quantum-based magnet technique could allow scientists to spot ultralight dark matter particles.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    FDA significantly limits access to COVID-19 vaccines

    The new framework unveiled May 20 says new COVID-19 shots should go only to those ages 65 and up or with underlying medical conditions.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    Biden’s prostate cancer is incurable, but it is treatable

    Experts explain the science behind Biden's advanced prostate cancer diagnosis, including how common it is and what treatments are available.

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