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The moon is emitting carbon, raising questions about how it was formed

The leading hypothesis for how the moon formed involves a collision between a Mars-sized object and Earth that would have boiled away elements like carbon, making its discovery on the moon a mystery




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Universal basic income seems to improve employment and well-being

Finland’s two-year test of universal basic income has concluded that it doesn't seem to disincentivise working, and improves recipients’ mental and financial well-being




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Can nudge theory really stop covid-19 by changing our behaviour?

Human behaviour is key to the spread of coronavirus, so government scientists are trying to control our decisions. Does it work, and what happens when they get it wrong?




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Egyptian pyramids really were aligned with the compass points

Many ancient monuments are claimed to be aligned to celestial phenomena, but we now have the first statistical evidence this is the case for the Egyptian pyramids




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A large chunk of Mercury may have been blown away by the sun

Mercury is much denser than the other rocky planets in the solar system, and that may be because a collision vaporised its surface and the debris was blown away by the sun




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Homemade cultured butter is more buttery than normal butter

Making butter at home the traditional way is easy and the result is far more flavourful than the shop-bought version, says Sam Wong




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It's time to retreat from the tyranny of lockdown tech

People in lockdown are no longer trying to use technology to get their old lives back and that's a good thing, says Annalee Newitz




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Brain cells reach out to each other through miniature cages

Mouse neurons trapped inside cages grow long appendages to connect to each other. Trapping the cells allows us to precisely control their growth




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Black people in England and Wales twice as likely to die with covid-19

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic




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New Zealand is close to wiping out covid-19 - can it return to normal?

New Zealand is on track to eliminate covid-19 altogether, but keeping the virus out for good will be a challenge, and the economic impacts are likely to hurt




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MIDI 2.0: The code that will define the future of sound has arrived

Four decades ago, we introduced a standard way of encoding digital sound. Its first ever upgrade could lead to new genres of music and ways of experiencing sound




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Climate change has already made parts of the world too hot for humans

Global warming has already made parts of the world – including cities in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates – hotter than the human body can withstand




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Facebook names first members of content oversight board

Facebook's new content oversight board will include a former prime minister, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and several constitutional law experts and rights advocates in its first 20 members.




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Avoid small caps but bet on REITs: advisor

Wealth Enhancement Group's Nicole Webb says small cap stocks make good bets emerging from a recession but not amid the current market volatility.




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Trade worries drive Dow, S&P down

The S&P 500 and the Dow fell on Wednesday but the Nasdaq ended higher. The indexes pulled back late in the session after U.S. President Donald Trump said China may or may not keep a trade deal between the two countries. Fred Katayama reports.




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Africa Now: Senegal’s startup scene

Senegal is quickly becoming a tech hub leader in Francophone West Africa, having raised $22 million in investments for tech and digital companies in 2018, according to Partech, a global investment platform. However, the business ecosystem in the region remains beset by a critical funding gap.




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Fine dining in glass booths

A Dutch restaurant has come up with an idea on how to offer classy outdoor dining in the age of social distancing: small glass cabins built for two or three people, creating intimate cocoons on a public patio. Emma Jehle has more.




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'Animal Crossing' helps Nintendo smash Switch sales forecast

Japan's Nintendo said Thursday it sold 21 million Switch units in the year ended March, smashing its forecast of 19.5 million units, with hit title Animal Crossing: New Horizons shifting 13.4 million units in its first six weeks. Ciara Lee reports




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Bank of England predicts worst slump in 300 years

The Bank of England says the UK faces its worst slump in 300 years, but on Thursday held off from any moves on rates or bond buying. Julian Satterthwaite reports.




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Air France-KLM and Rolls-Royce eye job cuts

Air France-KLM and jet engine maker Rolls-Royce are considering job cuts as lockdowns take a toll on first-quarter earnings. Francis Maguire reports.




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Pfizer, BioNTech race to test vaccines

Pfizer's chief scientific officer tells Reuters his company got a head start on vaccine development for the coronavirus because it had already been working for two years on the flu with its German partner, BioNTech. Fred Katayama reports.




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3.2 million more Americans seek jobless benefits

Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.




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Top brewer AB InBev sees worse ahead, but hope in China

The world's biggest brewer, AB InBev, says it sees signs of a rebound in China, but warns the next quarter will still be worse overall. Julian Satterthwaite reports.




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Breakingviews TV: Cord cutting

U.S. cable firms are in for pain even after the pandemic starts to fade. Sports rights to air football games and other matchups are expected to soar and so will monthly bills. Jennifer Saba explains why non-sports lovers will choose Netflix and Disney+ and ditch their cable.




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Pessimism might signal upswing for stocks: advisor

Payne Capital Management's Courtney Dominguez says the high level of investor pessimism indicates the markets may have bottomed. She says savings could make their way into stocks.




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H&M's sales tumble as stockpiles grow

H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, said local currency sales have tumbled 57% since the start of March compared with a year ago. Ciara Lee reports




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Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus files for bankruptcy

Neiman Marcus Group filed for bankruptcy protection on Thursday, marking one of the highest-profile collapses yet among retailers forced to temporarily close stores in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Freddie Joyner has more.




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'I'm just trying to survive this': Laid-off employees struggle

While U.S. government guidelines say jobless workers who qualify for assistance should get payments within three weeks of applying, many - like Florida resident Claudia Alejandra - have been waiting twice that long. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.




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Pandemic slams healthcare jobs

The steep plunge in U.S. payrolls caused by the pandemic also slammed the healthcare sector, as many workers in dentists' and doctors' offices lost their jobs. Fred Katayama reports.




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Look for stocks to get range-bound: analyst

Piper Sandler senior technical analyst Craig Johnson says the S&P 500 may trade in a narrow range through the summer before breaking north.




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Wall Street jumps despite historic job losses

Stocks on Wall Street jumped Friday despite historic job losses suffered by the economy. Fred Katayama reports.




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Facebook names first members of content oversight board

Facebook's new content oversight board will include a former prime minister, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and several constitutional law experts and rights advocates in its first 20 members.




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Trump's re-election pitch: Blame China. Remake economy

Aides to U.S. President Trump say their 2020 campaign will now be focus on two themes: Trump is the only candidate who can resurrect the economy and that Democrats will not be as tough on China, a country Trump is blaming for the pandemic.




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3.2 million more Americans seek jobless benefits

Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.




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No right to praise healthcare workers and then ignore them: Pelosi takes aim at Trump

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday made an indirect dig at President Donald Trump's Navy Blue Angels flyover this weekend, saying that political leaders have 'no right to praise them and then ignore their needs.'




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One sick family, many test results

After a week or so sick in bed in their New York City apartment in March, members of the Johnson-Baruch family were convinced they had been stricken by the novel coronavirus. Subsequent test results left them with more questions than answers. Lisa Bernhard has more.




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Schumer: Reopening states without more tests is 'dangerous'

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday said it was 'dangerous' for the Trump administration to pressure states and businesses to 'reopen without a plan for a dramatic increase in testing'.




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Trump 'very happy for' Flynn on news DOJ dropping charges

U.S. President Donald Trump described his former national security adviser Michael Flynn as an 'innocent man' after learning that the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday abruptly sought to drop the criminal charges against Flynn.




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Trump had 'little' contact with valet who tested positive

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday described a valet of his reportedly testing positive for the coronavirus as "one of those things" and said that he and Vice President Mike Pence have since been tested and they are both negative.




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DOJ to drop case against Trump ex-advisor Flynn

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday abruptly asked a judge to drop criminal charges against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn following mounting pressure from Trump and his political allies on the right. This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.




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'I'm just trying to survive this': Laid-off employees struggle

While U.S. government guidelines say jobless workers who qualify for assistance should get payments within three weeks of applying, many - like Florida resident Claudia Alejandra - have been waiting twice that long. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.




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Trump tests negative after valet contracts virus

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said it's "one of those things" after he learned that a White House valet tested positive for the coronavirus, noting contact with that person was limited. Gavino Garay has more.




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Free milk and potatoes in the U.S. to avoid waste

In Washington State and Boston, two initiatives are helping prevent potatoes from being thrown out and milk from being poured down the drain. Gavino Garay has more.




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As U.S. states reopen, White House keeps CDC guidance on the shelf

The White House shelved a step-by-step guide prepared by U.S. health officials to help states safely reopen mass transit and businesses closed by the coronavirus pandemic, an administration official said on Thursday. This report produced by Chris Dignam.




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Georgia father, son arrested in shooting of unarmed black man

A white former police officer and his son were arrested in Georgia on Thursday and charged with murder in the death of an unarmed black man, an incident that has sparked furor in the community and among civil rights activists across the United States. Gloria Tso reports.




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'Sufficient probable cause' for murder charges in GA jogger death: official

VIc Reynolds, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, told reporters on Friday that there is "sufficient probable cause" to charge Gregory and Travis McMichaels with felony murder and aggravated assault in February's shooting death of an unarmed black man.




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U.S. job losses in April worst since Great Depression

The latest figures from the Labor Department released on Friday showed the U.S. economy losing 20.5 million jobs in April, the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression. Colette Luke has more.




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We had to put a 'stop' to the economy to save lives: WH

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany on Friday was asked about the U.S. economy that lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April, the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression, and she responded saying it was 'decided' by the president to 'stop the economy' to save lives.




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Protesters decry late arrests in GA jogger death

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of a Georgia courthouse on Friday to decry the killing of an unarmed black man in February and the delay in charging two white men in a shooting captured on video that was released earlier this week. This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.




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Key Pence aide diagnosed with coronavirus

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, the wife of one of President Donald Trump's senior advisors, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the second White House staffer to be diagnosed with the illness. This report produced by Chris Dignam.