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This Week In Science: Stonehenge Has Company, Solar Storms, and Baboon Boyfriend Benefits
Seven days; lots of science in the news. Here’s our roundup of this week’s most notable and quotable items: Stonehenge was surrounded by a complex of smaller henges and pit-like monuments that appear to have astronomical significance, according to new 3D-scanned maps of the area around the ancient stone circle. Half of all bird species in North America are facing grave threats from climate change. Two solar flares—one of which belongs to the most intense class of flares—erupted from a sunspot pointed toward Earth, sending a geomagnetic storm towards our planet. Astronomers added a new address line for our planet: Laniakea Supercluster. A spate of a few sunny days seems to boost suicide rates, particularly in women. Earth’s ozone layer is recovering, largely thanks to the elimination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals once used in aerosol sprays, refrigerators, air conditioners, and other products. A new fossil of the swimming dinosaur Spinosaurus—95 million years old, 50 feet long, and sporting a 7-foot-tall sail—was uncovered in the Sahara desert. Female baboons that socialize with males live longer—although making pals with baboons of both genders provided the biggest longevity boost. The Mars Curiosity rover reached the final destination of its mission: Mount Sharp. A 24-year-old …
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