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  1. Math

    Theorems for Sale

    In April, an eBay auction offered math enthusiasts the rare opportunity of linking their names with one of the most famous mathematicians of the 20th century.

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  2. Humans

    From the June 2, 1934, issue

    The first chimpanzee twins born in captivity, increased speed and safety for aircraft, and a new pH indicator.

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  3. Math

    Priming Upward

    A singular effort has turned up what is now the largest known prime number.

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  4. Astronomy

    Transit of Venus

    On June 8, Venus will pass across the face of the sun (as viewed from Earth). Such a transit occurs rarely; the last one was in 1882. A variety of Web sites feature information about these transits and offer advice for observing and timing the 2004 event. Go to: http://www.venustransit.ie/ and http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/index_vthome.htm

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  5. Got Milk? Dairy protein provides bone-forming boost

    A protein in milk stimulates bone-forming cells.

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  6. Animals

    Turtle Trekkers: Atlantic leatherbacks scatter widely

    Satellite monitoring of leatherback turtles in the Atlantic show that these animals range widely instead of sticking to "turtle corridors."

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Gender Neutral: Men, women face same cancer risk from smoking

    Women who smoke are no more susceptible to lung cancer than are male smokers.

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  8. Earth

    Geyser Bashing: Distant quake alters timing of eruptions

    A powerful earthquake that struck central Alaska on Nov. 3, 2002, changed the eruption schedule of some geysers in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park, more than 3,100 kilometers away.

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  9. 19429

    Evidently, death waits for no one, except in Belgium. Around 40 years ago, Belgian doctors went on strike for 3 months. If I remember correctly, their explanation for the fact that the death rate dropped during this period was that their patients hung on until the doctors were back at work! Martin CraggCheshire, England

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  10. Death Waits for No One: Deferred demises take a couple of hits

    Two new reports challenge the idea that elderly people suffering from serious physical illnesses can prolong their lives just long enough to experience a personally meaningful event.

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  11. 19428

    The article on nanotubes as light sources was frustratingly sketchy. Any photometric laboratory with a wattmeter could compare the nanotube unit to another light source in a few minutes. It is tempting to think that the heating effect, which must be close to that from a blackbody radiator, and the “electronic effect,” which is undoubtedly […]

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  12. Tech

    Tiny Tubes Brighten Bulbs: Nanotubes beat tungsten in lightbulb test—maybe

    Experiments suggest that lightbulbs with filaments made from carbon nanotubes outshine conventional bulbs.

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