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Perfect trio of prehistoric atolls shine like tropical gems off Australian coast
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2011 astronaut photo shows the atolls of Rowley Shoals lined up in a near-perfect line off the coast of Australia. The island trio was once part of an ancient barrier reef system that stretched over 1,200 miles.

'The first author was a woman. She should be in the kitchen, not writing papers': Bias in STEM publishing still punishes women
By Athene Donald published
"What is the hard evidence, beyond anecdote and suspicion, that unconscious bias impacts on women's careers? Increasing numbers of studies show, in many different guises, just how potent such bias can be."

Penguin Vessel: 1,600-year-old Nazca depiction of a cold-water Humboldt penguin that lives in tropical Peru
By Kristina Killgrove published
A rare penguin-shaped pot reveals the Nazca's interest in depicting the wildlife around them.

What color is moonlight?
By Victoria Atkinson published
What color is moonlight typically, and what other colors can moonlight look like from our perspective on Earth?

Why do giraffes have spots?
By Clarissa Brincat published
Giraffes' distinctive spots are more than just for show. So why do these tall animals have them?

Japanese quail: The bird with weird sperm foam, a post-sex strut and a spot in space history
By Richard Pallardy published
Male Japanese quails produce a strange seminal foam that appears to enhance the chances of successfully fertilizing an egg.

What are dwarf planets — and how many are there?
By Briley Lewis published
How many dwarf planets are there in our solar system? The recent discovery of 2017 OF201 makes the tally anywhere between five and 18, plus hundreds of potentially undiscovered ones, depending on whom you ask.

Why are men taller than women, on average?
By Elana Spivack published
We don't know exactly why men are taller than women on average, but we have some genetic clues.

An 'interstellar visitor' and the oldest ancient Egyptian genome ever sequenced
By Patrick Pester published
Science news this week July 5, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Whale Valley: The whale graveyard in the Sahara desert that shows they once had feet and toes
By Sascha Pare published
Egypt's Whale Valley, or "Wadi Al-Hitan" in Arabic, holds more than 400 primitive whale skeletons that offer a snapshot of the evolution of these creatures from land-based to marine animals.
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