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chemistry

DNA emerging on early earth

Life

Life may have begun with simple genes made out of urine

Urea, a chemical found in urine, can be used to make simple genetic molecules similar to DNA – which could have been the basis of the first life on Earth

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Sir William Ramsay

Humans

Sir William Ramsay added a whole new group to the periodic table

Regulars

Helicopter putting out a fire

Environment

Sticky fluid can be sprayed on grassy verges to prevent wildfires

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Glider in the sky

Physics

Stealth glider made out of special polymer self-destructs in sunlight

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Plastic in the ocean

Environment

Tiny magnets could help rid the ocean of harmful microplastics

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Lee Cronin

Chemistry

Chemist Lee Cronin is building an alien to work out why life exists

Regulars

Military jet

Physics

Military-grade jet fuel made cheaply from plant waste instead of coal

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Earth's magnetic poles probably won't flip within our lifetime

Earth

Earth's magnetic poles probably won't flip within our lifetime

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desert

Technology

How to suck water from desert air and quench the planet's thirst

Features

Pentacene

Physics

Molecules pictured changing shape as they gain and lose electrons

When molecules gain even a small electric charge, their shapes and chemical properties shift. Now we’ve watched those changes in action for the first time

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Earth

Earth's helium is running out and it has dire consequences for science

Comment

Question

What is alchemy?

People in Science

Marie Curie

Earth

The north pole is moving and if it flips, life on Earth is in trouble

Features

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