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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Paleontology

    Trackway site shows dinosaur on the go

    Scientists say that a sediment-filled, bathtub-shape depression found at one of North America's most significant dinosaur trackway sites is the first recognized evidence of urination in dinosaurs.

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  2. Paleontology

    Curved claws hint at pterosaur habits

    A study of the claws of flying reptiles known as pterosaurs suggests that some of the creatures may have walked like present-day herons and used their wing fingers to hold prey.

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  3. Paleontology

    Mosasaurs were born at sea, not in safe harbors

    Newly discovered fossils of prehistoric aquatic reptiles known as mosasaurs suggest that the creatures gave birth in midocean rather than in near-shore sanctuaries as previously suspected.

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  4. Paleontology

    Stegosaur tails packed a punch

    A mathematical analysis of a fossil stegosaur's bones leaves little doubt that the creature's spike-studded tail was an effective defense against predators.

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  5. Plants

    Why Turn Red?

    Why leaves turn red is a stranger question than why they turn yellow.

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  6. Plants

    New gene-altering strategy tested on corn

    Scientists have created herbicide-resistant corn with a new kind of genetic engineering that involves subtly altering one of the plant's own genes rather than adding a new gene.

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  7. Paleontology

    Africa’s east coast netted ancient humans

    Excavations of an exposed reef on Africa's Red Sea coast indicate that humans lived there 125,000 years ago, pushing back the date for the earliest seaside settlement by at least 10,000 years.

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  8. Paleontology

    Dear Mummy: Rare fossil reveals common dinosaur’s soft tissue

    A mummified dinosaur unearthed in Montana a year ago is giving scientists a rare peek at what the creature's muscles and other soft tissues may have looked like.

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  9. Plants

    Drought-tolerant plant mined for survival genes

    A drought-resistant South African plant is revealing its genetic secrets.

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  10. Animals

    That special wax lasts after courtship

    Sandpipers' special wax for their wings during the breeding season may have less to do with courting a mate and more to do with sitting on eggs.

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  11. Animals

    The truth is, frogs bluff and crabs cheat

    Two research teams say they've caught wild animals bluffing, only the second and third examples (outside of primate antics) ever recorded.

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  12. Paleontology

    Telltale Dino Heart Hints at Warm Blood

    A recently discovered fossil dinosaur heart is more like the heart of birds and mammals than that of crocodiles, providing further evidence that dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded.

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