The only thing to do is follow the instructions put out by the government and look after the safety of yourself and the family

They were atop a heap of mangoes on the Agra-bound vehicle coming from Hyderabad.

An alert loco driver of a goods train saved the lives of at least 20 migrant workers by applying the emergency brakes and halting the train just 100 metres away from them near Pune on Friday evening. The migrants were walking on the tracks between the Uruli and Loni stations. The incident happened barely 14 hrs after 16 migrants were killed on Aurangabad tracks.

A PIB press statement said that Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd (RCF) has registered a hike of 35.47 per cent in the sale of fertilisers und

Pathan's statement came during an Instagram Live session with Suresh Raina.

An analysis of the coherence properties of the fourth-generation high-energy storage rings with emittance values of 10 pm rad is performed. It is presently expected that a storage ring with these low emittance values will reach diffraction limit at hard X-rays. Simulations of coherence properties were performed with the XRT software and an analytical approach for different photon energies from 500 eV to 50 keV. It was demonstrated that a minimum photon emittance (diffraction limit) reached at such storage rings is λ/2π. Using mode decomposition it is shown that, for the parameters of the storage ring considered in this work, the diffraction limit will be reached for soft X-ray energies of 500 eV. About ten modes will contribute to the radiation field at 12 keV photon energy and even more modes give a contribution at higher photon energies. Energy spread effects of the electron beam in a low-emittance storage ring were analysed in detail. Simulations were performed at different relative energy spread values from zero to 2 × 10−3. A decrease of the degree of coherence with an increase of the relative energy spread value was observed. This analysis shows that, to reach the diffraction limit for high photon energies, electron beam emittance should go down to 1 pm rad and below.

Expert confirms true impact of earthquakes in Devon and Cornwall  Devon Live

Compasses at Greenwich Are About to Do Something Not Observed in Over 300 Years  ScienceAlert

UK sees notable reduction in seismic noise caused by human activity – experts  Aberdeen Evening Express

In the title compound, C17H18N4O2, the dihedral angle between the pyridine and benzene rings is 55.68 (11)°. In the crystal, N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into [010] chains.

The crystal structure of the benzene monosolvate of the well known organic diphosphite ligand BIPHEPHOS, C46H44O8P2·C6H6, is reported for the first time. Single crystals of BIPHEPHOS were obtained from a benzene solution after layering with n-heptane at room temperature. One specific property of this type of diphosphite structure is the twisting of the biphenyl units. In the crystal, C—H⋯π contacts and π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.8941 (15) Å] are observed.

In the title compound, C31H24Br2Cl2N2O, the dihedral angles subtended by the tert-butyl-phenyl, 4,6-di­chloro­phenol and 4-bromo­phenyl (×2) rings are 70.7 (3), 8.1 (3), 28.1 (3) and 84.2 (3)°, respectively. The orientations of the pendant rings may be related to intra­molecular O—H⋯N and C—H⋯π inter­actions. One of the tert-butyl methyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.54 (3):0.46 (3) ratio. In the crystal, a weak C—H⋯π inter­action generates inversion dimers.

The tricyclic core in the title compound, C26H34O4Si2, shows disorder of the furan ring and deviates slightly from planarity, with the largest displacement from the least-squares plane [0.166 (2) Å] for the major disordered part of the methine C atom. To this C atom the likewise disordered vinyl group is attached, lying nearly perpendicular to the tricyclic core. In the crystal, mutual C—H⋯π inter­actions between the methine group of the furan ring and the central ring of the tricyclic core of an adjacent mol­ecule lead to inversion-related dimers.

The title hepta­nuclear alkoxido(oxido)vanadium(V) oxide cluster complex, [V7(C10H19O)O17(C18H24N2)3]·CH3CN, was obtained by the reaction of [V8O20(C18H24N2)4] with 4-tert-butyl­cyclo­hexa­nol (mixture of cis and trans) in a mixed CHCl3/CH3CN solvent. The complex has a V7O18N6 core with approximately Cs symmetry, which is composed of two VO4 tetra­hedra, two VO6 octa­hedra and three VO4N2 octa­hedra. In the crystal, these complexes are linked together by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bi­pyridine ligand and the V7O18N6 core, forming a one-dimensional network along the c-axis direction. Besides the complex, the asymmetric unit contains one CH3CN solvent mol­ecule. The contribution of other disordered solvent mol­ecules to the scattering was removed using the SQUEEZE option in PLATON [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18]. The unknown solvent mol­ecules are not considered in the chemical formula and other crystal data.

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C27H37NO3, was prepared by [3 + 2] 1,3-dipolar cyclo­addition of 4-n-octyl­phenyl­nitrile oxide and 4-tert-but­oxy­styrene, the latter compound being a very useful inter­mediate to the synthesis of liquid-crystalline materials. In the mol­ecule, the benzene rings of the n-octyloxyphenyl and tert-but­oxy­phenyl groups form dihedral angles of 2.83 (7) and 85.49 (3)°, respectively, with the mean plane of the isoxazoline ring. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen inter­actions into chains running parallel to the b axis.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Fe(NCS)2(C12H9NO)4], consists of an FeII ion that is located on a centre of inversion, as well as two 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands and one thio­cyanate anion in general positions. The FeII ions are coordinated by two N-terminal-bonded thio­cyanate anions and four 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands into discrete complexes with a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. These complexes are further linked by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains running along the c-axis direction. Upon heating, this complex loses half of the 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands and transforms into a compound with the composition Fe(NCS)2(4-benzoyl­pyridine)2, that might be isotypic to the corresponding MnII compound and for which the structure is unknown.

Rb0.21(H2O)yWS2, rubidium hydrate di­thio­tungstate, is a new quasi two-dimensional sulfide. Its crystal structure consists of ordered WS2 layers, separated by disordered Rb+ ions and water mol­ecules. All atomic sites are located on mirror planes. The WS2 layers are composed of edge-sharing [WS6] octa­hedra and extend parallel to (001). The presence of structural water was revealed by thermogravimetry, but the position and exact amount could not be determined in the present study. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance indicates that Rb0.21(H2O)yWS2 is semiconducting between 80–300 K.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H22N+·CH3O3S−, consists of three (3,5-di­methyl­adamantan-1-yl)ammonium cations, C12H22N+, and three methane­sulfonate anions, CH3O3S−. In the crystal, the cations and anions associate via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into layers, parallel to the (001) plane, which include large supra­molecular hydrogen-bonded rings.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Fe(C13H18BN6)2], contains two half independent complex mol­ecules. In each complex, the FeII atom is located on an inversion center and is surrounded by two scorpionate ligand butyl­tris­(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)borate mol­ecules that coordinate to the iron(II) ion through the N atoms of the pyrazole groups. The two independent complex mol­ecules differ essentially in the conformation of the butyl substituents. In the crystal, the complex mol­ecules are linked by a series of C—H⋯π inter­actions, which generate a supra­molecular three-dimensional structure. At 120 K, the average Fe—N bond distance is 1.969 Å, indicating the low-spin state of the iron(II) atom, which does not change upon heating, as demonstrated by high-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements.

1-(2-Iodo­benzo­yl)-cyclo­pent-3-ene-1-carboxyl­ates are novel substrates to construct bi­cyclo­[3.2.1]octa­nes with anti­bacterial and anti­thrombotic activities. In this context, tert-butyl 1-(2-iodo­benzo­yl)-cyclo­pent-3-ene-1-carboxyl­ate, C17H19IO3, was synthesized and structurally characterized. The 2-iodo­benzoyl group is attached to the tertiary C atom of the cyclo­pent-3-ene ring. The dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the mean plane of the envelope-type cyclo­pent-3-ene ring is 26.0 (3)°. In the crystal, pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules to form inversion dimers.

In the title compound, C27H29BrN2, the carbazole ring system is essentially planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0781 (16) Å. An intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond forms an S(6) ring motif. One of the tert-butyl substituents shows rotational disorder over two sites with occupancies of 0.592 (3) and 0.408 (3). In the crystal, two mol­ecules are associated into an inversion dimer through a pair of C—H⋯π inter­actions. The dimers are further linked by another pair of C—H⋯π inter­actions, forming a ribbon along the c-axis direction. A C—H⋯π inter­action involving the minor disordered component and the carbazole ring system links the ribbons, generating a network sheet parallel to (100).

In the title compound, C24H31N3O2, the mean plane of the central pyrazole ring [r.m.s. deviation = 0.095 Å] makes dihedral angles of 11.93 (9) and 84.53 (8)°, respectively, with the phenyl and benzene rings. There is a short intra­molecular N—H⋯N contact, which generates an S(5) ring motif. In the crystal, pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link inversion-related mol­ecules into dimers, generating an R22(8) ring motif. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most significant contribution involves H⋯H contacts of 68.6%

The bicyclic imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine core of the title compound, C19H19N3, is relatively planar with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.040 Å. The phenyl ring is inclined to the mean plane of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine unit by 18.2 (1)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯H hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the c-axis direction. The chains are linked by C—H⋯π inter­actions, forming slabs parallel to the ac plane. The Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots reveal that the crystal structure is dominated by H⋯H (54%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (35.6%) contacts. The crystal studied was refined as an inversion twin

In the title com­pound, C29H22N4O3, the carbazole system forms a dihedral angle of 68.45 (3)° with the mean plane of the bi­pyridine ring system. The bi­pyridine ring system, with two meth­oxy substituents, is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0670 Å), with a dihedral angle of 7.91 (13)° between the planes of the two pyridine rings. Intra­molecular C—H⋯O/N hydrogen bonds may promote the planarity of the bipyridyl ring system. In the pyridyl-substituted carbazole fragment, the pyridine ring is tilted by 56.65 (4)° with respect to the mean plane of the carbazole system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0191 Å). In the crystal, adjacent mol­ecules are connected via C—H⋯O/N hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions, resulting in the formation of a three-dimensional (3D) supra­molecular network. In addition, the 3D structure contains inter­molecular π–π stacking inter­actions, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.5634 (12) Å between pyridine rings. The title com­pound exhibits a high energy gap (3.48 eV) and triplet energy (2.64 eV), indicating that it could be a suitable host material in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) applications.

In the crystal structure of the title com­pound, [Ni(NCS)2(CH3CN)2(C12H9NO)2] or Ni(NCS)2(4-benzoyl­pyridine)2(aceto­nitrile)2, the NiII ions are octa­hedrally coordinated by the N atoms of two thio­cyanate anions, two 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands and two aceto­nitrile mol­ecules into discrete com­plexes that are located on centres of inversion. In the crystal, the discrete com­plexes are linked by centrosymmetric pairs of weak C—H⋯S hydrogen bonds into chains. Thermogravimetric measurements prove that, upon heating, the title com­plex loses the two aceto­nitrile ligands and transforms into a new crystalline modification of the chain com­pound [Ni(NCS)2(4-benzoyl­pyridine)2], which is different from that of the corresponding CoII, NiII and CdII coordination polymers reported in the literature. IR spectroscopic investigations indicate the presence of bridging thio­cyanate anions but the powder pattern cannot be indexed and, therefore, this structure is unknown.

The new title one-dimensional CdII coordination polymer, [Cd(C10H10N2)2(μ1,3-N3)2]n, has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The asymmetric unit consists of a CdII ion, one azide and one 1-benzyl­imidazole (bzi) ligand. The CdII ion is located on an inversion centre and is surrounded in a distorted octa­hedral coordination sphere by six N atoms from four symmetry-related azide ligands and two symmetry-related bzi ligands. The CdII ions are linked by double azide bridging ligands within a μ1,3-N3 end-to-end (EE) coordination mode, leading to a one-dimensional linear structure extending parallel to [100]. The supra­molecular framework is stabilized by the presence of weak C—H⋯N inter­actions, π–π stacking [centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.832 (2) Å] and C—H⋯π inter­actions between neighbouring chains.

The reaction of t-Bu2Si(OH)2 with two equivalents of Cp2Zr(CH3)2 produces the title t-Bu2SiO2-siloxide bridged dimer, [Zr2(CH3)2(C5H5)4(C8H18O2Si)] or [Cp2Zr(CH3)]2[μ-t-Bu2SiO2] (1), where one methyl group is retained per zirconium atom. The same product is obtained at room temperature even when equimolar ratios of the silanediol and Cp2Zr(CH3)2 are used. Attempts to thermally eliminate methane and produce a bridging methyl­ene complex resulted in decomposition. The crystal structure of 1 displays typical Zr—CH3 and Zr—O distances but the Si—O distance [1.628 (2) Å] and O—Si—O angle [110.86 (15)°] are among the largest observed in this family of compounds suggesting steric crowding between the t-Bu substituents of the silicon atom and the cyclo­penta­dienyl groups. The silicon atom lies on a crystallographic twofold axis and both Cp rings are disordered over two orientations of equal occupancy.

Authors of a paper that includes a new crystal-structure determination are expected to not only report the structural results of inter­est and their inter­pretation, but are also expected to archive in computer-readable CIF format the experimental data on which the crystal-structure analysis is based. Additionally, an IUCr/checkCIF validation report will be required for the review of a submitted paper. Such a validation report, automatically created from the deposited CIF file, lists as ALERTS not only potential errors or unusual findings, but also suggestions for improvement along with inter­esting information on the structure at hand. Major ALERTS for issues are expected to have been acted on already before the submission for publication or discussed in the associated paper and/or commented on in the CIF file. In addition, referees, readers and users of the data should be able to make their own judgment and inter­pretation of the underlying experimental data or perform their own calculations with the archived data. All the above is consistent with the FAIR (findable, accessible, inter­operable, and reusable) initiative [Helliwell (2019). Struct. Dyn. 6, 05430]. Validation can also be helpful for less experienced authors in pointing to and avoiding of crystal-structure determination and inter­pretation pitfalls. The IUCr web-based checkCIF server provides such a validation report, based on data uploaded in CIF format. Alternatively, a locally installable checkCIF version is available to be used iteratively during the structure-determination process. ALERTS come mostly as short single-line messages. There is also a short explanation of the ALERTS available through the IUCr web server or with the locally installed PLATON/checkCIF version. This paper provides additional background information on the checkCIF procedure and additional details for a number of ALERTS along with options for how to act on them.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Fe(NCS)2(C12H9NO)2(CH4O)2], the FeII cations are octa­hedrally coordinated by two N atoms of 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands, two N atoms of two terminal iso­thio­cyanate anions and two methanol mol­ecules into discrete complexes that are located on centres of inversion. These complexes are linked via inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the methanol O—H H atoms and the carbonyl O atoms of the 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands, forming layers parallel to (101). Powder X-ray diffraction proved that a pure sample was obtained but that this compound is unstable and transforms into an unknown crystalline phase within several weeks. However, the solvent mol­ecules can be removed by heating in a thermobalance, which for the aged sample as well as the title compound leads to the formation of a compound with the composition Fe(NCS)2(4-benzoyl­pyridine)2, which exhibits a powder pattern that is similar to that of Mn(NCS)2(4-benzoyl­pyridine)2.

A coordination polymer formulated as [Sr(H2BTEC)(H2O)]n (H4BTEC = benzene-1,2,4,5-tetra­carb­oxy­lic acid, C10H6O8), was synthesized hydro­thermally and characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal analysis. Its crystal structure is made up of a zigzag inorganic chain formed by edge-sharing of [SrO8] polyhedra running along [001]. Adjacent chains are connected to each other via the carboxyl­ate groups of the ligand, resulting in a double-layered network extending parallel to (100). O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds of medium-to-weak strength between the layers consolidate the three-dimensional structure. One of the carb­oxy­lic OH functions was found to be disordered over two sets of sites with half-occupancy.

Two new co-crystals, tetra­iodo­ethyl­ene–phenanthridine (1/2), 0.5C2I4·C13H9N (1) and tetra­iodo­ethyl­ene–benzo[f]quinoline (1/2), 0.5C2I4·C13H9N (2), were obtained from tetra­iodo­ethyl­ene and aza­phenanthrenes, and characterized by IR and fluorescence spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. In the crystal structures, C—I⋯π and C—I⋯N halogen bonds link the independent mol­ecules into one-dimensional chains and two-dimensional networks with subloops. In addition, the planar aza­phenanthrenes lend themselves to π–π stacking and C—H⋯π inter­actions, leading to a diversity of supra­molecular three-dimensional structural motifs being formed by these inter­actions. Luminescence studies show that co-crystals 1 and 2 exhibit distinctly different luminescence properties in the solid state at room temperature.

In the title hydrated complex, [Co(C15H10ClN3)2]Cl2·4H2O, the complete dication is generated by overline{4} symmetry. The CoN6 moiety shows distortion from regular octa­hedral geometry with the trans bond angles of two N—Co—N units being 160.62 (9)°. In the crystal, O—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯O inter­actions link the components into (001) sheets. The title compound exhibits blue-light emission, as indicated by photoluminescence data, and a HOMO–LUMO energy separation of 2.23 eV was obtained from its diffuse reflectance spectrum.

The title compound, C23H28F3NO, is an ortho-hy­droxy Schiff base compound, which adopts the enol–imine tautomeric form in the solid state. The mol­ecular structure is not planar and the dihedral angle between the planes of the aromatic rings is 85.52 (10)°. The tri­fluoro­methyl group shows rotational disorder over two sites, with occupancies of 0.798 (6) and 0.202 (6). An intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonding generates an S(6) ring motif. The crystal structure is consolidated by C—H⋯π inter­actions. The mol­ecular structure was optimized via density functional theory (DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and LanL2DZ basis set. The theoretical structure is in good agreement with the experimental data. The frontier orbitals and mol­ecular electrostatic potential map were also examined by DFT computations.

Functional materials are of critical importance to electronic and smart devices. A deep understanding of the structure–property relationship is essential for designing new materials. In this work, instead of utilizing conventional atomic coordinates, a symmetry-mode approach is successfully used to conduct structure refinement of the neutron powder diffraction data of (1−x)AgNbO3–xLiTaO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.09) ceramics. This provides rich structural information that not only clarifies the controversial symmetry assigned to pure AgNbO3 but also explains well the detailed structural evolution of (1−x)AgNbO3–xLiTaO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.09) ceramics, and builds a comprehensive and straightforward relationship between structural distortion and electrical properties. It is concluded that there are four relatively large-amplitude major modes that dominate the distorted Pmc21 structure of pure AgNbO3, namely a Λ3 antiferroelectric mode, a T4+ a−a−c0 octahedral tilting mode, an H2 a0a0c+/a0a0c− octahedral tilting mode and a Γ4− ferroelectric mode. The H2 and Λ3 modes become progressively inactive with increasing x and their destabilization is the driving force behind the composition-driven phase transition between the Pmc21 and R3c phases. This structural variation is consistent with the trend observed in the measured temperature-dependent dielectric properties and polarization–electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops. The mode crystallography applied in this study provides a strategy for optimizing related properties by tuning the amplitudes of the corresponding modes in these novel AgNbO3-based (anti)ferroelectric materials.

A series of Co2−xRuxMnSi (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) Heusler compounds were successfully synthesized. The heat-treatment conditions were crucial to make the materials form a single phase with a Heusler structure. With increasing Ru content, the half-metallic gap, lattice parameters and magnetization are continuously adjustable in a wide range. The Co2−xRuxMnSi (x = 0, 0.25) compounds are rigorous half-metals and show a T3 dependence of resistance at low temperature. The Co2−xRuxMnSi (x = 0.5, 0.75, 1) Heusler compounds are the nearly half-metallic materials and show a semiconductive dependence of resistance at low temperature. The experimental magnetization is consistent with that in theory and follows the Slater–Pauling rule. The Curie temperature is higher than 750 K for all Co2−xRuxMnSi Heusler compounds.

Olfactomedins are a family of modular proteins found in multicellular organisms that all contain five-bladed β-propeller olfactomedin (OLF) domains. In support of differential functions for the OLF propeller, the available crystal structures reveal that only some OLF domains harbor an internal calcium-binding site with ligands derived from a triad of residues. For the myocilin OLF domain (myoc-OLF), ablation of the ion-binding site (triad Asp, Asn, Asp) by altering the coordinating residues affects the stability and overall structure, in one case leading to misfolding and glaucoma. Bioinformatics analysis reveals a variety of triads with possible ion-binding characteristics lurking in OLF domains in invertebrate chordates such as Arthropoda (Asp–Glu–Ser), Nematoda (Asp–Asp–His) and Echinodermata (Asp–Glu–Lys). To test ion binding and to extend the observed connection between ion binding and distal structural rearrangements, consensus triads from these phyla were installed in the myoc-OLF. All three protein variants exhibit wild-type-like or better stability, but their calcium-binding properties differ, concomitant with new structural deviations from wild-type myoc-OLF. Taken together, the results indicate that calcium binding is not intrinsically destabilizing to myoc-OLF or required to observe a well ordered side helix, and that ion binding is a differential feature that may underlie the largely elusive biological function of OLF propellers.

The Y128F single mutant of p-hydroxymandelate oxidase (Hmo) is capable of oxidizing mandelate to benzoate via a four-electron oxidative decarboxylation reaction. When benzoylformate (the product of the first two-electron oxidation) and hydrogen peroxide (an oxidant) were used as substrates the reaction did not proceed, suggesting that free hydrogen peroxide is not the committed oxidant in the second two-electron oxidation. How the flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent four-electron oxidation reaction takes place remains elusive. Structural and biochemical explorations have shed new light on this issue. 15 high-resolution crystal structures of Hmo and its mutants liganded with or without a substrate reveal that oxidized FMN (FMNox) possesses a previously unknown electrophilic/nucleophilic duality. In the Y128F mutant the active-site perturbation ensemble facilitates the polarization of FMNox to a nucleophilic ylide, which is in a position to act on an α-ketoacid, forming an N5-acyl-FMNred dead-end adduct. In four-electron oxidation, an intramolecular disproportion­ation reaction via an N5-alkanol-FMNred C'α carbanion intermediate may account for the ThDP/PLP/NADPH-independent oxidative decarboxylation reaction. A synthetic 5-deaza-FMNox cofactor in combination with an α-hydroxyamide or α-ketoamide biochemically and structurally supports the proposed mechanism.

The electron linear accelerators driving modern X-ray free-electron lasers can emit intense, tunable, quasi-monochromatic terahertz (THz) transients with peak electric fields of V Å−1 and peak magnetic fields in excess of 10 T when a purpose-built, compact, superconducting THz undulator is implemented. New research avenues such as X-ray movies of THz-driven mode-selective chemistry come into reach by making dual use of the ultra-short GeV electron bunches, possible by a rather minor extension of the infrastructure.

Crystal structure and microscopic optical properties of anthracene derivative compounds have been investigated by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction, laser confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.

Birds do it. Bees do it. And in a laboratory in northern California, scientists using bumblebees recently figured out the best way to measure it--vertical lift!

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To celebrate a cool Halloween creature--bats--we teamed up with the Smithsonian’s Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the National Museum of Natural History. Here, he answers three commonly asked questions about these winged mammals.

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The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has been selected by the National Science Foundation as the recipient of a 12-meter (39-foot) radio antenna designed for submillimeter-wavelength astronomy. The ALMA Vertex Prototype Antenna was one of three antennas built as prototypes for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, a 66-dish radio observatory currently being constructed in Chile.

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A new study shows that the desert tortoise, thought to be a single species for the last 150 years, is in fact two separate and distinct species, based on DNA evidence and biological and geographical distinctions.

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Two studies appearing in the Aug. 25 issue of the journal Nature provide new insights into a cosmic accident that has been streaming X-rays toward Earth since late March. NASA's Swift satellite first alerted astronomers to intense and unusual high-energy flares from the new source in the constellation Draco.

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