Two worms, same brains – but one eats the other

IF TWO animals have identical brain cells, how different can they really be? Extremely. Two worm species have exactly the same set of neurons, but extensive rewiring allows them to lead completely different lives. Ralf Sommer of the Max Planck Institute...

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Three injured as plane veers off Rome runway

ROME: A Romanian plane carrying 50 passengers veered off the runway while landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport on Saturday, injuring three people who were rushed to hospital, authorities said.The ATR 72 turboprop plane of the Romanian airline Carpatair arriving from Pisa finished up at an angle on grass with its landing gear damaged, emergency services and airport officials said.One of...

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Captor is caring for boy, Alabama sheriff says

STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: "Ethan's innocent ... let him go home," a Midland City resident says about the childThe suspect has been identified as 65-year-old Jimmy Lee DykesDykes is accused of killing a school bus driver and abducting a 5-year-oldAuthorities have said there is no connection between Dykes and the boyMidland City, Alabama (CNN) -- As an armed standoff dragged into its fifth day Saturday,...

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Bus hits overpass in Boston, injuring passengers

In this photo released by the Boston Fire Department via Twitter, firemen work to remove injured passengers from a bus that hit an bridge as it traveled along Soldiers Field Road in the Allston neighborhood of Boston Saturday night, Feb. 2, 2013. / AP Photo/Boston Fire Department Updated 9:33 PM ET BOSTON A charter bus full of passengers struck a bridge in Boston on Saturday night, injuring...

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Body of Missing Mom Reportedly Found in Turkey

The body of an American woman who went missing while on a solo trip to Turkey has been pulled from a bay in Istanbul, and nine people have been held for questioning, according to local media.Sarai Sierra, 33, was last heard from on Jan. 21, the day she was due to board a flight home to New York City.The state-run Andolu Agency reported that residents found a woman's body today...

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Astrophile: A scorched world with snow black and smoky

Astrophile is our weekly column on curious cosmic objects, from the solar system to the far reaches of the multiverse Object: Titanium oxide snowLocation: The hot-Jupiter planet HD 209458b There is something magical about waking...

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Mystery persists in Mexico oil firm blast after 33 die

MEXICO CITY: The cause of a deadly explosion at the headquarters of Mexico's state-owned oil firm remained shrouded in mystery Friday, with authorities investigating if it was an accident or an attack 24 hours later.As the toll jumped to 33 dead and 121 injured, government and Pemex company officials had yet to pinpoint what was behind the blast that ripped through the annex of the firm's...

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Parole board: Release member of 'Manson family'

By Michael Martinez and Kyung Lah, CNNupdated 8:33 PM EST, Fri February 1, 2013Bruce Davis was sent to prison on April 21, 1972, for the 1969 first-degree murders of two men.STORY HIGHLIGHTS"He earned it," defense attorney says of recommendationCalifornia parole board formally recommends parole for Bruce Davis, 70Governor must modify, affirm or reverse the recommendation in 30 daysDavis is serving...

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Egypt protesters, police clash at presidential palace

CAIRO Protesters denouncing Egypt's Islamist president hurled stones and firebombs through the gates of his palace gates on Friday, clashing with security forces who fired tear gas and water cannons, as more than a week of political violence came to Mohammed Morsi's symbolic doorstep for the first time. The streets outside the presidential palace were a scene of mayhem for hours into the night....

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Gov's Handling of Sandusky Case Under Investigation

The newly-elected attorney general of Pennsylvania is going after the state's governor, Tom Corbett, who was attorney general when child sex allegations against Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky were first brought forward.Kathleen Kane, a Democrat who was sworn in as attorney general on Jan. 15, said that she will name a special prosecutor in the coming days to investigate Corbett's...

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Swarm-mongering: Brainless blobs flock together

Birds of a feather flock together and now so do brainless, inanimate blobs. Made of microscopic particles, the artificial swarms could shed light on the mysterious mechanisms behind the natural swarming seen in fish and birds. They might also lead to materials with novel properties like self-healing. ...

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Sony invites press to mystery New York event

SAN FRANCISCO: Sony sent out invitations Thursday to a mystery event in New York City on February 20, sparking rumors that the world would get its first look at a new-generation PlayStation videogame console.Both Sony and Microsoft are expected this year to show off successors to their competing consoles, which have been evolving into home entertainment hubs for films, television, music,...

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14 killed in blast at offices of Mexican state oil company

By CNN Staffupdated 9:46 PM EST, Thu January 31, 2013STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Mexico's president tours the scene of the explosion14 people were killed and at least 100 are injured, interior minister saysRescuers are searching for people trapped in the buildingWitness: "People were screaming. ... You could see pieces of the wall falling"Lea este artículo en español/Read this article in SpanishMexico City...

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Investigators eye slain prosecutor's cases after his murder outside courthouse

(CBS) KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas -- Authorities in Kaufman County, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, are looking into past criminal cases and those that were on the calendar of Chief Prosecutor Mark Hasse, who was shot dead Thursday morning in a parking lot across from the county courthouse, CBS DFW reported.Kaufman Police Chief Chris Aulbaugh told the station that Hasse's shooting appears to have been...

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Officials: Sen. Menendez Friend Raided in Medicare Fraud Investigation

Federal agents raided the West Palm Beach eye clinic of a longtime friend and political supporter of Sen. Robert Menendez earlier this week after a document shredding truck was observed at the building, following attempts by FBI agents to question Dr. Salomon Melgen about his relationship with the New Jersey Democrat, according to federal officials familiar with the investigation.The...

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Today on New Scientist: 30 January 2013

Timbuktu's precious scientific texts must be saved Islamist militants in Mali have burned documents that attest to science in Africa before European colonisation - what remains must be protectedThink that massage feels good? Try adding drugs Nerve bundles that respond to stroking have been identified and chemically activated in miceHow Obama will deliver his climate promise The US is set to...

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Japan PM says to change post-war constitution

TOKYO: Japan's hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament Thursday that he intends to change the country's post-World War II constitution, lowering the bar for further amendments."I will start with amending Article 96 of the constitution, a move that many factions (inside his Liberal Democratic Party) support," Abe told upper house lawmakers, referring to the clause stipulating...

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Teen who performed at inaugural events shot dead

By Catherine E. Shoichet and Ted Rowlands, CNNupdated 9:33 PM EST, Wed January 30, 2013STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Chicago mayor: "We have a responsibility to see a stop to this"Hadiya Pendleton, 15, was shot dead in Chicago on TuesdayLast week she performed in events surrounding President Obama's inauguration"Just a matter of days after the happiest day of her life, she's gone," Sen. Dick Durbin saysChicago...

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Obama: "No doubt" Congress will pass immigration, gun bills

Play VideoObama: "No doubt" gun, immigration bills will pass in coming monthsThere's more bipartisan support in Congress for comprehensive immigration reform than gun control legislation, President Obama said tonight during an interview with Univision, but qualified that even under his proposal, illegal immigrants shouldn't be harboring expectations that they'll be granted citizenship "manana." ...

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Former Police Captain Cleared of Ex-Wife's Murder

A former Ohio police captain has been cleared in the murder of his ex-wife and released from prison, where he had been for 15 years -- but prosecutors say they plan to appeal the ruling."I'm just a jumble of emotions and I just can't wait to hug all of my family," Douglas Prade told reporters outside the prison when he was released Tuesday afternoon, according to ABC News' Cleveland...

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Today on New Scientist: 29 January 2013

Creatures of the air caught in the mist Photographer Todd Forsgren uses mist nets to briefly ensnare a variety of tropical South American birds before releasing them, unharmedDrug reduces enlarged prostate with few side effects Shrinking enlarged prostates by blocking a potent growth factor could avoid problems - such as erectile dysfunction - that accompany current treatmentsClimate change blamed...

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Asian markets rise as Dow nears record high

HONG KONG: Asian markets climbed on Wednesday, with continuing weakness in the yen further fuelling a rally in Japan's Nikkei, while the Dow also provided some lift after ending at a near record high.Traders are keeping an eye on the United States, where the Federal Reserve is due to end a two-day policy meeting, with analysts expecting it to carry on with its loose monetary policy.Tokyo...

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Tearful Newtown dad: No new gun laws

By David Ariosto, CNNupdated 8:09 PM EST, Tue January 29, 2013STORY HIGHLIGHTSMark Mattioli, a parent of a Sandy Hook victim, says there are more than enough gun laws "The time is now" to strengthen gun laws, says Veronique Pozner, another parentCrowd interrupts the statement of a parent of a slain childConnecticut has some of the nation's strictest gun laws(CNN) -- His voice wavering, Mark Mattioli...

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