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How about this disease-infested rat weather we're having?

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It's a beautiful day for bacteria.

Rats are more likely to pick up disease-causing bacteria like C. difficile during some kinds of weather than others.

This car doesn’t need a steering wheel or pedals

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When the GM Cruise AV says “self-driving,” it really means it.

The 2019 GM Cruise AV is ready to drive you around.

Now’s your chance to discover a new planet (with Google’s help)

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The company's open source AI software is an armchair explorer's dream.

What unknown worlds might be hiding behind nearby stars? We’ll never know until we take a look. Now Google is giving you a chance to take a peek.

Humans flourished through a supervolcano eruption 74,000 years ago (so you can make it through Tuesday)

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volcano erupting

At least, some of them did...

About 74,000 years ago, a large chunk of a Pacific island exploded. It sent ash and other debris around the world, including to the southern tip of Africa.

10 apps and gadgets to keep you warm during the finger-freezing days of winter

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Winter weather

Fight the cold.

Spring is tantalizingly close...but winter isn't over yet. Beat the weather with these apps and gadgets to help you get through cold conditions.

This 'acoustic lighthouse' could keep birds from killing themselves on wind turbines

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Wind turbines.

Clean energy doesn't have to be deadly.

Wind farms are good for the environment, but they pose a real risk for bird brains. An alarm system could stop birds from crashing into man-made structures.

The people of Cape Town are running out of water—and they’re not alone

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Satellite image of the Sundarban mangrove forest in Bangladesh.

The whole world is drying up.

Cape Town could be the first major city to run out of water, and it might not be the only one.

Memory cards are loaded with jargon—here's how to choose the right one

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SanDisk MicroSD card

Figuring out what kind of storage you need for your phone, drone, or camera can be tricky.

Decode the jumble of letters and numbers on the face of all those memory cards.

Weird winter weather has scientists looking to the north pole

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Temperatures in the Arctic could help drive extreme weather in the United States.

New research connects variable temperatures at the north pole to extreme weather in the United States. But the idea isn't without controversy.

The Fitbit Versa is a $200 smart watch that does more than count steps

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Its 5-day battery life and lightweight design makes it easy to see as an everyday life tracker.

Fitbit released a new product that might finally get at what people really need: A (relatively) low-cost, wear-it-forever smartwatch that does more than count steps.

How to build your own spy kit

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Worried about secret cameras or roommates stealing your food? Go full James Bond.

Find secret recording devices, listen from afar, and see through walls!

National data says substance abuse is on the decline. These charts tell a different story.

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smoke night alone

National averages hide the counties that desperately need our help.

Deaths from alcohol use disorders have dropped nationally by 8.1 percent since 1980. But in some counties, deaths have doubled in that same timeframe.

Five tips for blocking spam from your inbox

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Spam letters

It shall not pass!

Free yourself from junk emails! This five-point plan will banish spam to help you declutter your inbox.

Stephen Hawking, a man synonymous with the mysteries of the cosmos, is dead at 76

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stephen hawking floats in zero gravity

The famous physicist died at home early on Wednesday.

Even if you weren’t a physicist, you knew him. His computerized voice enthralled us for decades, guiding us toward answers to some of the biggest questions.

Cow poop could help us make clean(er) energy

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Wisconsin dairy farm.

Extracting methane from biogas could create fuel without fracking.

Turning cow manure into natural gas would would turn animal waste into useful fuel without the damaging effects of fracking.

What Stephen Hawking gave to us

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stephen hawking sits in front of a sign that says "Welcome Time Travelers"

I had a lunch with him I'll never forget.

I do not regret passing up the chance to take a selfie with Stephen Hawking. I got something way better.

Green buildings will have to go beyond conserving energy

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The Svart Hotel will meet the stringent Powerhouse standard. Is that enough?

Svart Hotel will produce more energy than it consumes. Is meeting the Powerhouse Standard enough?

It’s not your imagination, we really are getting more blizzards

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winter landscape trees

And we might be in for another one.

We’ve all spent the last several weeks reading nonstop nor’easter news, as three major winter storms bombarded the East with wet snow and power outages.

Eight things your phone's camera can do—other than snapping selfies

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iphone camera

With apps, it can translate text, identify stars, and more.

The camera in your phone is incredibly versatile. In addition to creating Instagram-worthy selfies, here are some extra feats it can perform.

What does brain size have to do with intelligence?

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Very little—even if it's very big.

Scientists used to think brain-to-body ratio revealed intelligence. Plot twist: it doesn't. Otherwise, tree shrews and ants would rule the world.
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