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OpenAI's 'smartest' AI model was explicitly told to shut down — and it refusedAn artificial intelligence safety firm has found that OpenAI's o3 and o4-mini models sometimes refuse to shut down, and will sabotage computer scripts in order to keep working on tasks.
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Combo of cancer therapy drugs increases mice lifespan by 30%A cocktail of FDA-approved cancer drugs, trametinib and rapamycin, boosts the lifespan of lab mice by 30% and might help humans age better, new study finds.
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Watch mesmerizing 1,000-foot-tall lava fountains: Kilauea volcano erupting in ways not seen for 40 yearsThe USGS has announced that Kilauea volcano is ejecting fountains of lava in a manner not seen since the Pu'u'ō'ō eruption in the 1980s. But while the lava is mesmerizing, officials warn that the volcano is also producing toxic gases and other hazards.
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Earth's core is 'leaking' gold, study findsOur planet's core is rich in gold that can leak out into the mantle, and in some cases, end up in volcanos on the surface, according to a new study.
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New evidence for gigantic superplume tearing Africa apartResearchers have found fresh evidence that Africa is breaking apart because of a deep mantle superplume of hot rock beneath the East African Rift System.
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Colossal chief scientist clarifies de-extinction claim, while confirming its 'dire wolves' are 'grey wolves with 20 edits'In an interview with New Scientist, Colossal Biosciences' chief scientist has clarified that its "dire wolves" are just genetically modified gray wolves following a backlash to the "de-extinction" label it put on them.
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'Strange' star pulses detected in search for extraterrestrial intelligenceA retired researcher has detected an unusual pulse in the light of nearby stars while looking for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. Aliens are one possible explanation for the strange signal, but as with every other unexplained space phenomenon, it's probably not aliens.
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140,000-year-old bones of our ancient ancestors found on sea floor, revealing secrets of extinct human speciesResearchers have recovered Homo erectus bones from the seafloor, which points to an unknown hominin population hunting on land that is now underwater in Southeast Asia.
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35 optical illusionsArtists and scientists have been creating optical illusions for centuries. Here are 35 mind-bending examples that prove you can't always trust what your eyes are telling you.
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Scientists solve mystery of how orange cats got their coats — and why so many are maleResearchers have discovered how orange cats got their coats — and why so many of them are male. The coat color comes from a genetic mutation on the X chromosome of orange, calico and tortoiseshell cats.
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Half-a-billion-year-old 3-eyed sea creature dubbed 'Mosura' breathed through big gills on its buttResearchers have discovered an ancient moth-like sea predator in a treasure trove of museum fossils in Canada. The half-a-billion-year-old creature, Mosura fentoni, reveals that Cambrian arthropods were more diverse than previously thought.
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The universe may be dying much faster than we thoughtAstrophysicists have proposed a new theoretical maximum lifespan for the universe, which suggests that dead stars are decaying much faster than previously thought. The estimate of stellar remnant decay is based on Stephen Hawking's famous black hole radiation theory.
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NASA satellites show Antarctica has gained ice despite rising global temperatures. How is that possible?An abrupt change in Antarctica has caused the continent to gain ice. But this increase, documented in NASA satellite data, is a temporary anomaly rather than an indication that global warming has reversed, scientists say.
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Satellite study reveals the fastest sinking city in the USSatellite data revealed that Houston is the fastest-sinking city in the U.S., and that all of the other biggest cities are dropping in at least some areas. Researchers say groundwater extraction is largely to blame for the sink.
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Rare genetic mutation lets some people thrive on just 4 hours of shut-eyeA newly identified mutation helps super-sleepers get by on just four to six hours of shut-eye per night, while the rest of us need around eight hours. Researchers described the SIK3-N783Y mutation in a new study after testing it on sleep-deprived inbred mice.
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Climate change made April's catastrophic floods worse, report findsA report into April's deadly flooding has found that climate change made the central Mississippi River valley's extreme weather event more likely and more intense.
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NASA Mars satellite uncovers markings 'like paint dripping down a wall' on Martian surfaceWave-like soil patterns on the Martian surface match those found in Earth's cold, mountain regions, which could help scientists better understand the Red Planet's climate history and search for signs of life.
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Pterosaur tracks reveal flying reptiles were comfortable on land, tooResearchers studying pterosaur tracks have found that ancient flying reptiles became better adapted to life on land during the middle of the Jurassic period and even shared environments with dinosaurs.
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Titanic digital reconstruction sheds light on night ship sankA new documentary explores the tragic final night of the RMS Titanic with the most detailed digital reconstruction of the ship ever created.
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Planet Nine candidate detected deep in our solar systemResearchers have found a candidate for the hypothetical Planet Nine, which could be an undiscovered giant planet way out in our solar system. However, as with all ninth planet research, the new findings were met with some skepticism.
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ChatGPT update pulled after chatbot complimented users too muchA recent update caused ChatGPT to turn into a sycophant, with the chatbot excessively complimenting and flattering its users with reassurances — even when they said they'd harmed animals or stopped taking their medication. OpenAI has now reversed the changes.
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Ancient zircon crystals shed light on 1 billion-year-old meteorite strike in ScotlandGeologists have found that an ancient meteorite hit Scotland 200 million years later than previously thought, which has massive implications for the geological history of the region and some of the U.K.'s earliest land life.
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Researchers react to T. rex 'leather' announcementCompanies claim that Tyrannosaurus rex leather could soon be entering the luxury fashion market, but dinosaur researchers say you can't make genuine T. rex skin.
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Two new crocodiles discovered in the CaribbeanA crocodile DNA study has revealed two previously unknown Crocodylus species in the Caribbean. The crocodiles live on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro, where they're threatened by human activities.
