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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

More Stories in Gif

  1. Genetics

    This snail may hold a secret to human eye regeneration

    Golden apple snails can regrow full, functional eyes. Studying their genes may reveal how to repair human eye injuries.

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  2. Astronomy

    Seven superclouds sit just beyond the solar system

    The superclouds probably produce star-forming clouds of gas, since most nearby stellar nurseries are located within the giants.

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  3. Paleontology

    A new species of ‘penis worm’ was discovered in the Grand Canyon

    A trove of fossils, including a penis worm with a spiked, invertible throat, suggests this spot may have been a cradle of Cambrian evolution.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    A molecule produced by gut microbes may help spur heart disease

    A leftover from microbes’ meals is linked to early heart disease in people. In mice, it contributed to plaque buildup in the arteries.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    AI is designing proteins that could help treat cancer

    A team used generative AI to enhance T cells’ ability to fight melanoma. The immunotherapy approach needs more testing before use in cancer patients.

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  6. Climate

    What to know about the extreme U.S. flooding — and ways to stay safe

    An oceanographer explains how climate change, warming oceans and a souped-up atmosphere are creating conditions for deadly floods.

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  7. Tech

    A new ‘eye’ may radically change how robots see

    The system contains a sensor, chip and tiny AI model inspired by biological eyes and brains and uses a tenth of the energy of a camera-based system.

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  8. Physics

    No player can return this killer shot. Physics explains how it works

    Squash’s killer “nick shot” has a formula. It’s all about height and timing, a new study shows.

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  9. Physics

    How to get the biggest splash at the pool using science

    Move over belly flops and cannonballs. Manu jumps, pioneered by New Zealand’s Māori and Pasifika communities, reign supreme.

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