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Glyptodonts giant, armadillo-like, shelled mammals that went extinct about 10,000 years ago. A new study reveals that cut marks on one glyptodont fossil could have been made by humans

Glyptodonts giant, armadillo-like, shelled mammals that went extinct about 10,000 years ago. A new study reveals that cut marks on a glyptodont fossil in South America could have been made by humans a little over 20,000 years ago.
Daniel Eskridge/Stocktrek Images / Science Source hide caption

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Daniel Eskridge/Stocktrek Images / Science Source

Research News

When did humans get to South America? This giant shelled mammal fossil may hold clues

A fossil of an armadillo-like mammal appears to bear cut marks from butchering by humans, suggesting people were living in South America at least 20,000 years ago, even earlier than once thought.

Ancient Armadillos

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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the mission released 25 views of cosmic objects ranging from supernova remnants to galaxy clusters and more.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the mission released 25 views of cosmic objects ranging from supernova remnants to galaxy clusters and more. NASA/SAO/CXC hide caption

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NASA/SAO/CXC

Space

Astronomers are scrambling to save the world's most powerful X-ray space telescope

NASA is facing a tight budget and wants to wrap up the Chandra X-ray Observatory, but astronomers don't want to see the 25-year-old X-ray space telescope mission go.

ME astronomers scamble to save Chandra X-ray telescope

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Julien Baker: Tiny Desk Concert

Julien Baker's been at the Tiny Desk four times: twice on her own, once with boygenius and another backing Hayley Williams. Revisit her first from 2016.
A district court judge filed a motion to dissolve the temporary injunction on the Iowa abortion law, allowing the six-week abortion ban to go into effect next week.

A district court judge filed a motion to dissolve the temporary injunction on the Iowa abortion law, allowing the six-week abortion ban to go into effect next week. Madeleine King


/Iowa Public Radio hide caption

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Madeleine King


/Iowa Public Radio

Iowa's ban on abortions as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy goes into effect next week

 Iowa Public Radio News

A judge has ruled the law will go into effect on July 29. The law bans abortions after cardiac activity is detected, or as early as six weeks, when many women don't know they are pregnant.
Fighter jets are parked on the deck of the U.S.S. aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, also known as the 'Ike', on the south Red Sea, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.

Fighter jets are parked on the deck of the U.S.S. aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, also known as the 'Ike', on the south Red Sea, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Bernat Armangue/AP hide caption

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Bernat Armangue/AP

National

A Navy pilot becomes the first woman aviator to kill an air-to-air contact in combat

The military branch said last week that the unnamed aviator recently notched the achievement against an attack drone deployed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2023.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2023. Sergei Guneyev/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sergei Guneyev/AFP via Getty Images

World

An expert on dictators warns not to lose hope — that's what they want

Autocracy, Inc. author Anne Applebaum says that today’s dictators — including Putin and Xi — are working together in a global fight to dismantle democracy, and Trump is borrowing from their playbook.

Autocracy, Inc

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A nurse takes care of a dengue fever patient at the Sergio Bernales National Hospital in the outskirts of Lima on April 17, 2024. Peru recorded 147 deaths from dengue fever and more than 155,000 reported cases as of April 17, according to the Ministry of Health. These figures far exceed the 39 deaths and 34,000 cases recorded in the same period in 2023.

A nurse takes care of a dengue fever patient at the Sergio Bernales National Hospital in the outskirts of Lima on April 17, 2024. Peru recorded 147 deaths from dengue fever and more than 155,000 reported cases as of April 17, according to the Ministry of Health. These figures far exceed the 39 deaths and 34,000 cases recorded in the same period in 2023.  Juan Carlos Cisneros/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Juan Carlos Cisneros/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Dengue fever is — unfortunately — having a banner year. Can it be quelled?

Case counts are skyrocketing in countries like Brazil and Peru and the virus is popping up in new turf, from Florida to Iran. What's the cause? And what's the solution?
Law enforcement personnel stand outside of Schemengees Bar in Lewiston, Maine, where one of two mass shootings took place in October 2023. Robert Card, who allegedly killed 18 people in a mass shooting at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston was found dead in nearby Lisbon.

Law enforcement personnel stand outside of Schemengees Bar in Lewiston, Maine, where one of two mass shootings took place in October 2023. Robert Card, who allegedly killed 18 people in a mass shooting at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston was found dead in nearby Lisbon. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

An Army report finds failures that let a gunman evade treatment before a Maine mass shooting

 Maine Public

Investigators were unable to solve an enduring mystery about Robert Card, the gunman and Army reservist who was discharged from a psychiatric hospital less than three months before killing 18 people.
Palestinian detainees are viewed after they have been released by Israeli army, in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on June 20.

Palestinian detainees are viewed after they have been released by Israeli army, in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on June 20. Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

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Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Palestinian detainees from Gaza say they are facing abuse in Israeli prisons

Most Palestinians who've been rounded up since Oct. 7 are incarcerated without due process or contact with the outside world, Israeli human rights organizations say. Israel denies abusing detainees.

Gazans held in Israeli jails allege abuse

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Duke Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2009. Fakir, the last of the original Four Tops, died Monday of heart failure at age 88.

Duke Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2009. Fakir, the last of the original Four Tops, died Monday of heart failure at age 88. Matt Sayles/AP hide caption

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Matt Sayles/AP

Obituaries

Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, last of the original Four Tops, dies at 88

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops that was known for such hits as “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” has died at age 88.
US President Joe Biden during a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan, US, on Friday, July 12, 2024.

US President Joe Biden during a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan, US, on Friday, July 12, 2024. Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Politics

Biden's brand was overcoming obstacles. But this one, he couldn't beat

President Biden had made a career of digging in and proving the doubters wrong — until he finally met a political crisis he couldn’t ride out.

President Biden's brand was overcoming obstacles. But this one, he couldn't beat

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(From left) Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova all feature in new documentary series, Gods of Tennis.

(From left) Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova all feature in new documentary series, Gods of Tennis. Mindhouse Production Team hide caption

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Mindhouse Production Team

Sports

'Gods of Tennis' explores trailblazing legends of the sport and why we remember them

John McEnroe, Billie Jean King and other tennis legends discuss their legacies in a new PBS documentary series.

GODS OF TENNIS - Simon Draper

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Some airline issues continued Monday after a faulty software update caused technological havoc worldwide and resulted in several carriers grounding flights, but the number of flights impacted is declining. Here, a Delta Air Lines jet leaves the gate on Friday at Logan International Airport in Boston.

Some airline issues continued Monday after a faulty software update caused technological havoc worldwide and resulted in several carriers grounding flights, but the number of flights impacted is declining. Here, a Delta Air Lines jet leaves the gate on Friday at Logan International Airport in Boston. Michael Dwyer/AP hide caption

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Michael Dwyer/AP

Business

Delta canceled hundreds of flights Monday as it recovers from CrowdStrike failures

As of Monday afternoon, the Atlanta-based airline has canceled more than 800 flights and delayed roughly 1,400 flights, according to FlightAware.
FILE - Christopher Dunn, right, listens to his attorney Justin Bonus from New York City during the first day of his hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in St. Louis. A Missouri judge on Monday, July 24, 2024, overturned the conviction of Dunn, who has spent more than 30 years in prison for a killing he has long contended he didn’t commit.

FILE - Christopher Dunn, right, listens to his attorney Justin Bonus from New York City during the first day of his hearing to decide whether to vacate his murder conviction, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Carnahan Courthouse in St. Louis. A Missouri judge on Monday, July 24, 2024, overturned the conviction of Dunn, who has spent more than 30 years in prison for a killing he has long contended he didn’t commit. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, Pool, File) Laurie Skrivan/Pool St. Louis Post-Dispatch hide caption

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Laurie Skrivan/Pool St. Louis Post-Dispatch

National

Missouri judge overturns murder conviction of man imprisoned for over 30 years

The ruling means Christopher Dunn is likely to be freed from prison, but no date has been set.
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, takes the stage with his wife Usha Vance during a rally at Middletown High School in his home town of Middletown, Ohio, Monday, July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, takes the stage with his wife Usha Vance during a rally at Middletown High School in his home town of Middletown, Ohio, Monday. Paul Vernon/AP hide caption

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Paul Vernon/AP

News

JD Vance vows to fight for ‘forgotten communities’ in hometown rally

Ohio Sen. JD Vance used an address at his hometown high school to share his plans for America if elected vice president alongside Donald Trump.

J.D. Vance vows to fight for ‘forgotten communities’ in hometown rally

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