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Planetary Science

Earth sweeps up 5,200 tons of extraterrestrial dust each year

Thousands of micrometeorites collected from Antarctica come from both comets and asteroids, a new study suggests.

Life

Only 3 percent of Earth’s land hasn’t been marred by humans

A sweeping survey of terrestrial ecosystems finds that vanishingly little land houses all the animals it used to. Species reintroductions could help.

Health & Medicine

The P.1 coronavirus variant is twice as transmissible as earlier strains

The variant first found in Brazil can evade some immunity from previous COVID-19 infections, making reinfections a possibility.

Paleontology

‘Monkeydactyl’ may be the oldest known creature with opposable thumbs

A newly discovered pterosaur that lived during the Jurassic Period could have used its flexible digits to climb trees like a monkey.

Anthropology

A coronavirus epidemic may have hit East Asia about 25,000 years ago

An ancient viral outbreak may have left a genetic mark in East Asians that possibly influences their responses to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Anthropology

‘First Steps’ shows how bipedalism led humans down a strange evolutionary path

In a new book, a paleoanthropologist argues that walking upright has had profound effects on human anatomy and behavior.

Science & Society

STEM’s racial, ethnic and gender gaps are still strikingly large

Black and Hispanic professionals remain underrepresented in STEM, while women’s representation varies widely by STEM field, according to a new report.

Health & Medicine

U.S. pauses J&J vaccine rollout after 6 people of 6.8 million get rare blood clots

The COVID-19 vaccine’s pause is out of abundance of caution, experts say. The potentially deadly clots appear to be “extremely rare.”

Neuroscience

Surprisingly, humans recognize joyful screams faster than fearful screams

Scientists believed we evolved to respond to alarming screams faster than non-alarming ones, but experiments show our brains may be wired differently.

Ecosystems

Wildfires launch microbes into the air. How big of a health risk is that?

How does wildfire smoke move bacteria and fungi — and what harm might they do to people when they get there?

Animals

Discarded COVID-19 PPE such as masks can be deadly to wildlife

From entanglements to ingestion, two biologists are documenting the impact of single-use masks and gloves on animals around the world.

Oceans

Corals’ hidden genetic diversity corresponds to distinct lifestyles

Observation and DNA analysis expose identical reef corals as distinct species with unique ecologies, suggesting much greater coral biodiversity.