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The sun just experienced its first 'spotless days' in 4 years - but we're not in the clear yet - By - Harry Baker - published - 27 February 26 - Earlier this week, the number of visible sunspots on our home star fell to zero for the first time in 1,335 days. This normally indicates a period of greatly reduced solar activity, but it's still too soon to relax, experts say.

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Humans and Neanderthals interbred - but it was mostly male Neanderthals and female humans who coupled up, study finds - By - Kristina Killgrove - published - 26 February 26 - A preference for pairings between male Neanderthals and female Homo sapiens may answer the question of why there are "Neanderthal deserts" in human chromosomes.

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Rubin Observatory alerts scientists to 800,000 changes in the sky in one night - By - Elizabeth Howell - published - 26 February 26 - The Vera C. Rubin Observatory sent scientists nearly 1 million astronomy alerts in one night, showing off changes in the sky. Eventually, the telescope is expected to reach 7 million alerts per night.

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Giant 'spiderwebs' on Mars contain tiny egg-like structures that scientists 'can't quite explain,' NASA rover reveals - By - Harry Baker - published - 26 February 26 - New photos captured by NASA's Curiosity rover show that Mars' giant, spiderweb-like "boxwork" features are covered in tiny, never-before-seen nodules that bear a striking resemblance to arachnid eggs. And researchers are struggling to explain them.

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Fresh look at Apollo moon rocks solves decades-old lunar mystery - By - Elizabeth Howell - published - 26 February 26 - The lunar rocks collected by Apollo astronauts suggested the moon had a strong magnetic field. A new analysis shows the opposite.

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Babies weren't supposed to be mourned in the Roman Empire. These rare liquid-gypsum burials prove otherwise. By - Kristina Killgrove - published - 25 February 26 - Despite historical records saying otherwise, Roman babies were mourned at death, research into unique plaster burials from York reveals.

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Chinese astronauts describe moment a crack was discovered on Shenzhou-20 spacecraft - By - Patrick Pester - published - 25 February 26 - Taikonauts from the ill-fated Shenzhou-20 mission have described what happened when they discovered cracks on their spacecraft as they prepared to depart China's Tiangong space station last year.

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Kazakhstan plants tens of thousands of trees in giant effort to reintroduce tigers - By - Patrick Pester - published - 25 February 26 - Kazakhstan planted 37,000 seedlings and cuttings in South Balkhash last year to prepare for the return of its tigers, which disappeared more than 70 years ago.

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We now know why shoes squeak, and it involves miniature lightning bolts - By - Kenna Hughes-Castleberry - published - 25 February 26 - Harvard engineers think they've found the reason basketball shoes squeak, and it's due to pockets of friction between the rubber and the court.

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Physics & Mathematics

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'Rare and enigmatic' structures found at the Milky Way's center in largest-ever map of its kind - By - Brandon Specktor - last updated - 25 February 26 - Scientists using the ALMA telescope have created the most-detailed-ever map of the Milky Way's chaotic center. The observations could open a window to the ancient universe as it appeared shortly after the Big Bang.

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COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy may cut risk of preeclampsia - By - Gabriela Galvin - published - 25 February 26 - A study of more than 6,500 mothers found that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy significantly lowered the risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous blood-pressure disorder.

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James Webb telescope spots giant auroras rolling through Uranus' atmosphere - By - Elizabeth Howell - published - 24 February 26 - JWST observed Uranus for nearly a full rotation, charting the planet's upper atmosphere and magnetic environment for the first time.

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Scientists find genetic 'switch' in mice that turns caring dads into violent brutes - By - Kenna Hughes-Castleberry - published - 24 February 26 - A new study suggests that the Agouti gene in the brains of male African striped mice can act as a molecular "switch," making them caring or violent toward their young.

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14,000-year-old ivory tools found in Alaska hint at how Clovis ancestors first arrived in the New World - By - Charles Q. Choi - published - 24 February 26 - Ancient artifacts unearthed in Alaska revealed migrants from Asia might have come to the Americas via an inland route, and not a coastal path.

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Far fewer people are related to Genghis Khan than previously assumed, new genomic study suggests - By - Kristina Killgrove - published - 24 February 26 - Some experts have suggested as many as 1 in 200 men in the world are related to Genghis Khan. But a new genomic study reveals the number is significantly lower.

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Obesity is linked to 1 in 10 deaths from infection worldwide - and scientists are still learning why - By - Stephanie Pappas - published - 24 February 26 - A new study finds that people with obesity are more likely to be hospitalized with or die from severe infections.

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Viruses, Infections & Disease

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'Blood moon' total lunar eclipse: How to see the March 3 celestial spectacle from anywhere on Earth - By - Jamie Carter - published - 24 February 26 - The final "blood moon" total lunar eclipse until 2029 is coming to North America this Tuesday (March 3). Here's how to watch it online.

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NASA announces sweeping overhaul of Artemis return to moon, targeting a 2028 landing and a 2027 in-orbit docking flight

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Inherited diseases don't work like we thought they did

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Just in time for the total lunar eclipse, this beginner-friendly telescope is now $100 off at Amazon

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'It doesn't lie. So who are you?': What happens when DNA tests show a woman is not the mother of the child she gave birth to?

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March 2026 night sky - what to see and what you need

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