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The Bullpen

Dana Liebelson

CHART: 40 years later, Roe v. Wade is still under siege

Dana Liebelson

CHART: 40 years later, Roe v. Wade is still under siege

Edward Morrissey

Can the 113th Congress get anything done?

Matt K. Lewis

In four years, we'll be inaugurating President Marco Rubio

Paul Brandus

Why the GOP should embrace Obama

Normally chicks are born from eggs that have passed out of a hen's body, but one Sri Lankan newborn defied all of mother nature's rules.

The 'miracle chick' born without an egg

April 20, 2012, at 12:33 PM

A happy baby bird emerges directly out of its mother — without incubating in an egg outside her body. Can we finally put an age-old riddle to rest?

The Karakoram mountain range: Some glaciers in this patch of the Himalayas are reportedly getting bigger, even as nearby glaciers melt.

Global warming mystery: Why are some glaciers growing?

April 17, 2012, at 2:20 PM

Around the world, ice caps are melting due to climate change, scientists say. But a few icy masses in the Himalayas are, weirdly enough, getting bigger

Crushed rhino-horn powder can sell for as much as $25,000 per pound on the black market.

The unsettling resurgence of rhino poaching: By the numbers

April 10, 2012, at 7:20 AM

Poachers are illegally killing rhinos for their horns to acquire a supposedly medicinal substance that's in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam

Tulips in D.C. were in full bloom by mid-March this year: Since last April, the nation has experienced the hottest 12-month stretch on record.

The warmest March in history: By the numbers

April 9, 2012, at 3:44 PM

While most Americans basked in curiously toasty temperatures last month, climate scientists sounded the alarm over global warming

In the Caribbean Sea alone, the number of coral reefs has plummeted by 80 percent since the 1970s.

Do the world's coral reefs have herpes?

April 5, 2012, at 7:15 AM

New research suggests that the pesky virus might be causing the diverse and vital ecosystems to slowly die

Dolphins form gang-like alliances to protect their females, according to new research.

Are dolphins the gangsters of the sea?

March 29, 2012, at 2:07 PM

The playful mammals can actually be quite conniving, forming Mafia-like gangs to protect their own

Residents of a small Wisconsin town have had trouble sleeping this week, their dreams interrupted by loud inexplicable noises they've compared to thunderclaps.

Wisconsin's 'baffling' booms: A concise guide

March 23, 2012, at 3:31 PM

Scientists believe tiny earthquakes are the likeliest explanation for the state's new noise-pollution phenomenon, but competing theories abound

The eyes of a giant Humboldt squid: Surprisingly advanced, they help compensate for the creature's deafness in its struggle to avoid becoming whale food.

Why giant squids have enormous eyes

March 19, 2012, at 3:32 PM

The tentacled invertebrate boasts the largest eyes of any known animal — a trait scientists are crediting to an age-old, deep-sea foe

A newly developed laser "unprinter" would be able to wipe clean the dried ink on paper so it can be re-used.

The green laser that can erase printer ink

March 19, 2012, at 7:00 AM

Scientists have a bold new plan to slash CO2 emissions from recycling in half — with a laser "unprinter" that wipes documents clean

A fruit fly hovering near your rotting papaya may be looking to drown his sorrows in its alcoholic content.

Do fruit flies use alcohol to cope with sexual rejection?

March 16, 2012, at 4:02 PM

New research finds that dejected male flies seek booze when rejected by the ladies. The findings could help humans fight addiction more successfully

An octopus silently descends onto its prey: The octopus is also an attractive target for predators, and often constructs a protective den in the rocks with a small peephole it can look out through.

What we can learn from the octopus

March 16, 2012, at 10:28 AM

The wisdom of these eight-legged cephalopods, says Rafe Sagarin, can help us fight terrorism, natural disasters, and disease

A wild brown bear uses a barnacle-covered stone to scratch off excess fur and skin.

Do bears exfoliate?

March 9, 2012, at 6:30 AM

A furry predator takes a bath in Alaska's Glacier Bay, using a barnacle-covered rock to remove molting fur

Thanks to the warm winter, bears are waking up from their months-long hibernation earlier than usual... and they're hungry.

The 'freakishly warm' winter: 4 unwelcome side effects

March 8, 2012, at 3:00 PM

You better enjoy these last, unusually balmy days of winter, because come spring, nature has a few surprises for us — like ravenous bears

Young bonobos embrace: The female primates are social climbers, according to new research, who will use sex with high-ranking alpha females to gain status for themselves.

Why female bonobos are such 'promiscuous primates'

March 5, 2012, at 6:15 AM

The "lovemaking cousin of the warrior chimp" is happy to kiss and tell if it helps her reach the top of the social ladder

A western Australia vineyard: Down under, grapes are ripening ever earlier, creating increasingly sweet wines.

How global warming is changing winemaking

February 27, 2012, at 6:04 PM

Australian vintners are worried that climate change is affecting the flavors of their wines. But some oenophiles may actually toast the change

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