Cool Finds

Could a Whale Accidentally Swallow You? It Is Possible

Whale sharks probably can't fit you down their esophagus, but mariners claim that sperm whales have swallowed people in the past

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Artificial Wetland Uses Bacteria to Clean Pharmaceuticals From Sewage

By harnessing bacteria to do the heavy lifting, a way to clean pharmaceuticals from waste water

An experimental 3D representation of the nebula IC 1396

Amazing Astrophotography Lets You See Nebulae in 3D

Gorgeous animated gifs give depth to stunning nebulae

In China, most electricity comes from coal power plants. A turn to natural gas could help limit carbon dioxide emissions.

Natural Gas Fracking May Be the Only Industry in China That’s Developing Slowly

It has the largest shale gas reserves in the world, but China is slow to push for fracking

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Touch a Manatee, Spend Six Months in Jail

After posting photos on Facebook of himself and his two young daughters playing with a baby manatee, a Florida man was arrested by the wildlife authorities

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The World’s Greatest Angling Authors Went by Names Like ‘Badger Hackle’ and ‘Old Log’

If you're an angler and an author, there's a good chance you're using a pen name

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The Hunt for a New, Copyright-Free Happy Birthday Song

In the United States, "Happy Birthday to You"—one of the most popular songs in the world—is still under copyright. And it will be until 2030

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Tasmanian Kelp Forests You Didn’t Know Existed Are Disappearing

Didn't know there were kelp forests off of Tasmania? Apparently there are. And apparently they might not be there for long

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What Rock-Paper-Scissors Can Tell Us About Decision Making

The knowledge that scissors cuts paper, that rock smashes scissors, and that paper covers rock, is key in childhood development. But the same logic might also be a way to think about psychology too

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What Kind of Dog Was Pavlov’s Dog?

Turns out, Pavlov wasn't picky about which pooches he trained to salivate at the sound of the bell

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These Temporary Tattoos Could Fly Drones

A new electronic tattoo with a microchip inside it could mean people using their minds to fly drones, talk on the phone, and do all sorts of other things using only their minds

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Presenting the Real Harlem Shake

More than a goofy meme, the Harlem Shake is a dance with long roots

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This Plastic-Printing Pen Lets You Draw In 3D

By melting then rapidly cooling plastic, this device lets you draw in the air

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Fossils of Four New Species of Whale Found Under a California Highway

The fossils could fill in gaps in what scientists know of the evolutionary steps between toothed to toothless baleen whales

Mississippi Officially Ratifies Amendment to Ban Slavery, 148 Years Late

The movie Lincoln helped kick Mississippi into action on finally ratifying the 13th Amendment

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The Fashion World Has No Excuse, But There’s a Good Reason Bill Cosby Wore Crazy Sweaters

The story behind Bill Cosby's sweaters has a lot more to do with television production than fashion

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Amateur Naturalists Are Discovering All Kinds of New Insect Species

More and more, amateurs are contributing to the discovery of new species, especially of insects - but can they keep ahead of the extinction curve?

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Nuclear Bombs Made It Possible to Carbon Date Human Tissue

The fallout of the nuclear bomb era is still alive today - in our muscles

In Space, Infectious Diseases Reveal Their True Nature

It turns out that microgravity might reveal a thing or two about the nasty bacteria

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New York Is Running Out of Ways to Separate Gifted Pre-Schoolers From Well-Prepared Ones

Actually figuring out which four-years-old are naturally smart and which have simply prepared, is harder than you might think

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