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Which animals can count and understand simple math?Many animals have a sense of quantity, but they don't count or do math the way humans do.
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Scientists finally work out how Tylenol works — 130 years after we started using itAccording to a new study in rats, a key byproduct of acetaminophen, called AM404, may block pain at the source before it has a chance to reach the brain.
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Iron deficiency in pregnancy can cause 'male' mice to develop female organsLow iron levels can flip the genetic switch on a mouse's sex during development, causing XY embryos to grow female features. But it's not clear whether the effect applies to humans.
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Which animal has the best sense of smell?There are multiple contenders for the title of best smeller, but no clear winner just yet.
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Does time 'go slower' when you're exercising?Studies find that people's perception of time really does warp during exercise, and the distraction of racing a rival does not fix this distorted perception.
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Shingles vaccine may directly guard against dementia, study hintsThe lower incidence of dementia seen in adults who received the shingles vaccine is likely not just a correlation, scientists say, based on new results of an observational study.
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Parasitic worm raises risk of cervical cancerA parasitic worm may raise the risk of cervical cancer through several mechanisms, scientists have found, although HPV remains the primary driver behind the disease.
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Why is yawning contagious?Scientists have identified some reasons why yawns spread from person to person.
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Study of 9,000 twins reveals genetics influences how much you enjoy musicGenes affect different aspects of music enjoyment — from the emotional reactions that compositions evoke to the social connection music can foster.
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Why do we get a 'second wind' of energy at the end of the day?That second wave of energy is a normal part of the human circadian rhythm, but lifestyle factors also play a role.
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Origins of schizophrenia linked to epigenetics of the placentaEpigenetic changes in the placenta may shape how the fetal brain develops and thus influence the risk of psychiatric disorders.
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Man gets sperm-making stem cell transplant in first-of-its-kind procedureA man in his early 20s received a transplant of his own sperm-producing stem cells, which had been frozen since his childhood, in an attempt to regain fertility. Doctors are waiting to see if the treatment works.
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Multiple species of ticks in the US can transmit red meat allergy, CDC reports revealA single bite from one of several tick species can trigger a months-long meat allergy.
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Why don't all birds fly?Why don't some birds, like penguins, ostriches and kiwis, take to the skies?
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Why do cats make a weird face after smelling something?"Stink face" seems silly to us, but for cats it's a serious way to gather social information through smell.
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100-year-old heart drug made from foxglove may help 'dissolve' clumps of spreading cancer cellsThe heart drug digoxin could potentially be combined with existing cancer therapies to prevent the spread of tumors, an early trial suggests. But questions remain.
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'Vestigial' human ear-wiggling muscle actually flexes when we're straining to hearA mechanism that activates specific muscles in our ears is a leftover from our evolutionary past, back when our ancestors depended more on their hearing for survival.
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1 in 22 COVID survivors develop debilitating chronic syndromeA study suggests that catching COVID-19 significantly raises the risk of developing ME/CFS (formerly called "chronic fatigue syndrome"), a typically lifelong condition that can be debilitating.
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How does alcohol cause cancer?Research suggests that alcohol causes cancer through at least five different mechanisms.
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What counts as 'binge drinking'? What about 'high-intensity drinking'?Episodes of "binge drinking" can have dangerous short-term effects, while repeated binge drinking can trigger longer-term problems.
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Do cats communicate with their tails?From tail up to tail down, what do different cat tail positions and movements mean?
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'Exercise juice' released by muscles helps nerves grow, study findsA new study in mouse cells hints that substances released by muscles can help nearby nerves grow.
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How does licorice interfere with medications?Eating licorice regularly, in large quantities or with certain medications can cause serious side effects. But why is that?
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Does activated charcoal interact with medication?Activated charcoal can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications. But why is that?
