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Newly sequenced pumpkin genome reveals genes for tastiness and unique evolutionary history

Happy Halloween!

Earliest recorded solar eclipse in 1207 BC helps researchers date Egyptian pharaohs

The event is mentioned in the Bible and can date the reign of some Egyptian pharaohs to within a year.

Men with slightly longer legs than average might be more attractive to the opposite sex

Maybe it's time to try some high heels.

The bacteria in your saliva is due to your household and not your genetics

You share a lot with your family.

Adding irradiated plastic makes for stronger concrete, cuts CO2 emissions

A creative solution could ease concrete's strain on the environment.

Rare trees safeguard biodiveristy, new research finds

Nature meets computer models.

Canada geese flock to cities to escape hunters

This is good for the geese, but can be nasty for the locals.

Boiling water shapes Mars' landscape, experiment reveals

It's not heat, but low pressure that drives this boiling.

A surprising number of people develop food allergies in adulthood

Overall, more Americans are developing food allergies than ever.

It's time for another Fake Apocalypse -- the Nibiru version

Nibiru just won't go away. At least in the minds of some people.

Feathered dinosaur sported bandit mask and striped raccoon-like tail 130 million years ago

It was quite the rascal.

For the first time ever, our solar system is getting an outside visitor

Put the kettle on, we have a visitor.

Yellowstone supervolcano erupted twice 630,000 years ago

The more we know the better we can prepare for the next eruption. It could happen within decades or thousands of years.

We now have proof that conservation funding works

We have no reason not to invest in saving the other species in the world.

What Einstein thought about God, the Universe, science and religion

Einstein is also often misinterpreted and even misquoted. So what did the brilliant man think of the Universe?

Unless coal is phased out by 2050, Antarctica's melting ice sheet could drive a massive surge in sea level rise

Some countries are already planning to phase out coal by 2030 but it's not enough.

New CRISPR tools target RNA rather than DNA. They could fix 'typos' responsible for half of all genetic diseases

Scientists have sharpened CRISPR's scalpel.

Google Earth reveals hundreds of ancient structures in Saudi Arabia

Ironically, the archaeologist hasn't even visited Saudi Arabia.

The proton and antiproton are incredibly similar -- indicating that perhaps, our universe shouldn't exist

Why does the universe still exist? That's an intriguing question if I've ever heard one.

Massive 2.3-gigapixel image of Fornax Galaxy Cluster documents galactic 'serial killer'

You'll feel very, very small after reading seeing this image.

Scars left by glaciers show Antarctic ice retreat

Something similar might happen again soon.

How to wash your apples to eliminate pesticides -- according to science

Or you could just buy organic.

Scientists use laser scans to study one of the earliest navigation tools

"It's a great privilege to find something so rare, something so historically important," researchers commented.

Despite oral hygiene, chewing still leaves nanowear on teeth

This fundamental understanding could lead to better oral health but also new insights in evolutionary biology.

Three science-proven techniques for lucid dreaming

One technique had a success rate of 46 percent.

Einstein tipped a Japanese bellboy with notes on living a happy life. They've now sold for $1.8 million

It's rather ironic and one can only wonder what Einstein would say about all of this.

Dolphins can also get Alzheimer's, surprising new study finds

We really do have a lot in common with dolphins.

Graphology is a pseudoscience

Sometimes there's a fine line between what's scientific and what's just fantasy.

NASA wants Curiosity Rover to resume drilling on Mars

It took a bit of creative tinkering, but significant progress has been reported.

Cassini is no more, but it left us one of the most memorable photos of Saturn

The spacecraft's legacy lives on.

Reinventing rice: New saltwater rice developed in China could feed over 200 million people

It could make a big difference in many parts of the world.

Transparent solar technology could provide 40% of US power if deployed across all glass surfaces

There's a huge untapped potential for solar energy across America's shining skyscrapers.

Wild chimpanzees have remarkably stable personality traits

Researchers revisited some chimps in Tanzania after more than 40 years and found their personality stayed remarkably consistent.

Who really discovered America? (Spoiler: it's not Columbus)

Everything you learned in the history books is wrong. Christopher Columbus did not "discover" the Americas.

In Medieval times, people would pay Sin Eaters to carry their sins

Eating sins for a living is a rough job.

Surprise! Albatrosses eat quite a lot of jellyfish

Not many animals eat jellyfish because they are mostly made of water, but they are starting to take over the oceans.

How Spanish scientists described a solar flare in 1886

He was one of the pioneers of studying solar activity.

Shrews literally shrink their heads with the seasons

The animals do it to survive the harsh winter, likely sacrificing cognitive abilities in the process.

E.P.A. removes climate science sections from its website

The EPA could be called a captive agency.

New simulation can predict where refugees will flee after a conflict

It has the potential to help aid efforts and save lives.

Mysterious 9.7-million-year-old fossilized teeth likely belong to unknown ancient European primate

Some speculate the teeth may belong to a hominid species but evidence backs no such sensationalist claim.

Scientists figure out how many mutations it takes for healthy cells to turn cancerous

This could be a revolution in cancer prevention and therapy.

Great tits are evolving, new study shows

I know what you were thinking about. Birds, they're birds.

Pictures of snakes and spiders stress out babies: fear of these critters is deeply rooted

It's not a (completely) irrational fear.

Ancient Greek theater unearthed near Kalamata in 'excellent condition'

Ancient but elegant.

Global pollution linked to one in six premature deaths. It's worse than wars, AIDS and road accidents combined

The real scope of pollution and how it affects livelihoods is often misrepresented.

NASA discovers Mars has a magnetic tail twisted by solar wind

Mars has an invisible magnetic tail and it might contribute to Martian atmospheric loss.

Not so harmless: common herbal remedy might cause liver cancer

"Natural healthy medicine, no side effects" ... yeah.

Need to improve your foreign language skills? A bit of alcohol will do the trick, researchers find

Booze to the rescue! Just don't overindulge.

The AI buster-buster: new machine dominates AI that dominated humans at Go

It seems our AI overlords have overlords of themselves.