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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Agriculture

    The Good Earth

    The Smithsonian is out to share the "secrets" of soil.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    X-ray vision

    A new imaging technique could give scientists unprecedented views into cells and other objects at the nanoscale.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Against the grains

    People on either a low-carbohydrate or Mediterranean diet fared better over two years than those on a low-fat diet.

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  4. Life

    HIV after DARC

    A gene variant prevalent in people of African descent increases the risk of HIV infection but also helps slow disease progression.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Asthma oddity

    Helicobacter pylori, a common microbe that colonizes the stomach, might protect against asthma.

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  6. Chemistry

    The Goop in Our Air

    Emerging data indicate that tiny and toxic particles polluting urban air chemically morph from hour by hour, depending on what other pollutants these particles encounter during journeys that can run hundreds of miles.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    The two faces of prion proteins

    Scientists are learning more about the protein behind mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, including how to interfere with the protein’s production in the brains of mice.

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  8. Climate

    Another climate ailment

    Global warming may turn out to be more than just a pain in the neck: Rising average temperatures could trigger an increased prevalence of kidney stones.

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  9. Chemistry

    CO2: Only One Flavor

    Federal climate policymakers should have a grounding in basic chemistry.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    One Downside to Sushi

    Uncooked fish can host detectable concentrations of potentially toxic chemicals — pollutants that cooking can make disappear,

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  11. Humans

    Toxic yes: Toxins? No

    Yet another news story baits us with the promise of reading about noxious toxins – and doesn't deliver.

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  12. Humans

    Cars Are Learning to Drive

    Hands-free driving, truth be told, sounds very appealing.

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