Did the Local Void shoot a monster extreme-energy cosmic ray our way?

Earth has been blasted by the second strongest ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray ever observed. While its origins remain unknown, astrophysicists are pointing the finger at the Local Void, a fundamentally empty area of the cosmos next to the Milky Way.

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Personalized medicine: The pros, cons and concerns

The term ‘personalized medicine’ is being used more and more frequently. But what does it mean? This explainer outlines what personalized medicine is, its advantages and some concerns that have been raised in relation to it.

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Arizona solar canal project aims to save water while making power

With most of Arizona in a state of moderate to extreme drought, the Gila River Indian Community and the US Army Corps of Engineers have signed a deal to begin a solar-over-canal project designed to cut down evaporation and boost solar efficiency.

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Food taste found to rein in eating within seconds, before gut stretch

Research has found that signals linked to how food tastes are sent to our brains almost immediately to slow our eating pace, with the well-known stretch signals from the gut coming later, providing greater insights into how the body controls appetite.

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Bat uses huge heart-shaped penis to maneuver female in unusual mating act

Male serotine bats living in a Dutch church attic have been captured on camera engaging in marathon sessions of non-penetrative sex, while armed with a heart-shaped penis that's seven times longer than the female's vagina. Yes, this is a true story.

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Feeding dogs raw meat may spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans

A new study has found that feeding dogs uncooked meat increases their risk of excreting E. coli that is resistant to a widely-used antibiotic, thereby increasing the potential that the bacteria will be passed on to owners and cause illness.

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Younger people may be more vulnerable to arterial plaque risk factors

A study has found that moderate increases in blood pressure and cholesterol make 40-year-olds more vulnerable to developing arterial plaques, or atherosclerosis, than people over 48, suggesting earlier intervention is needed to slow the disease.

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Astonishing energy of BOAT gamma rays revealed

Earlier this year, it was reported that Earth was hit by the brightest gamma-ray bursts seen since the dawn of civilization. Now, a team of astronomers has assigned a value to the energy contained in those blasts and it's staggering to say the least.

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Mostly armless: A starfish is one big “head crawling along the seafloor”

They've lived on earth for 280 million years at least, but starfish – or sea stars – remain a huge mystery in biology. Now, long-held beliefs regarding their unique design have been upended, as genetics reveal they're not all arms but nearly all head.

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