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More Stories from the December 16, 2023 issue

  1. Neuroscience

    Brain scans give clues to how teens handle pandemic stress

    A study that followed hundreds of teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic may explain why some people succumb to stress while others are more resilient.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Why a popular breast cancer drug may be less effective for some Africans

    A genetic variant commonly found in certain African populations appears to impair tamoxifen’s ability to tackle breast cancer.

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  3. Animals

    The first embryos from a mammal have now been grown in space

    Mouse embryos in space can develop into clusters of cells called blastocysts. The result is a step toward understanding how human embryos will fare.

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  4. Life

    Crabs left the sea not once, but several times, in their evolution

    A new study is the most comprehensive analysis yet of the evolution of “true crabs.”

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  5. Animals

    How hummingbirds fly through spaces too narrow for their wings

    Using high-speed cameras, a new study reveals Anna’s hummingbirds turn sideways to shimmy through gaps half as wide as their wingspan.

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  6. Physics

    A controversial room-temperature superconductor result has now been retracted 

    The retraction by Nature is the third for beleaguered physicist Ranga Dias, who still stands by his claim of a room-temperature superconductor.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    What should we expect from the coronavirus this fall?

    The virus may be reaching a phase of baseline circulation, says epidemiologist Aubree Gordon. But it’s unclear what will happen in the next few months.

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  8. Physics

    Light, not just heat, might spur water to evaporate

    In experiments, light shining on water as much as doubled the evaporation rate expected from heat alone, hinting at a never-before-seen effect.

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  9. Earth

    Here are some big-if-true scientific claims that made headlines in 2023

    Hominid cannibalism, “dark stars,” the secrets of Earth’s core and more tantalizing findings will require more evidence before scientists can confirm them as fact.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Here are some of the biggest medical advances in 2023

    The first CRISPR gene-editing therapy, a new Alzheimer’s drug and RSV vaccines were among the big developments in medicine this year.

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  11. Math

    Here are some astounding scientific firsts of 2023

    Notable feats include discovering a planet-eating star, extracting RNA from an extinct animal and more.

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  12. Life

    These scientific discoveries set new records in 2023

    This year’s record-breaking findings shed new light on human history and the most amazing feats in the animal kingdom.

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  13. Animals

    These are our favorite animal stories of 2023

    Spiders that make prey walk the plank, self-aware fish and a pouty T. rex are among the critters that enchanted the Science News staff.

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  14. Space

    In 2023, space missions explored the moon, asteroids and more

    This year, spacecraft landed on the moon, dropped off asteroid samples to Earth and started a journey to Jupiter's icy moons.

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