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CAN THEY BECOME ‘UNIDENTICAL’ OVER TIME?

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we dissect the science behind twins, look at the consequences of high-contact sports, discover the biggest mammal of all time ... and figure out the toll extreme temperature takes on our bodies.

Retired NASA astronauts and identical twins Mark and Scott Kelly are no longer identical after Scott's year in space changed his body.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NASA

They share nearly all their DNA, making them ideal for research. They are much more common, moving from 1 in 50 babies before 1980 to 1 in 30 babies now.

What’s happening with twins? And how did spending a year in space drastically change the genetic makeup of astronaut Scott Kelly from his formerly identical twin brother (both above), former astronaut and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly?

HOW DOES AN IDENTICAL TWIN CHANGE?

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Perucetus colossus specimen being transported from the discovery site in southern Peru to the Natural History Museum in Lima.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GIOVANNI BIANUCCI

Forget blue whales: This newly discovered ancient mammal may have been the biggest of all time—or at least the heaviest (above, reseearchers with a single vertebra)

You and everyone you know are living because of this actions of this person. Do you know him?

What does extreme heat do to the body?

This book vanished when Anne Boleyn was executed. Now found, it reveals her secrets.

You think the shenanigans about the 2020 U.S. election were freaky? Look at 1876.

Colon cancer is rising among young adults. Here are signs to watch for.

Who broke the Sphinx’s nose?

Omega-3s are more critical for your health—and in fighting inflammation—than we thought

Is that an ancient pizza? Here’s what people really ate in Pompeii

Could this pill protect us from radiation after a nuclear meltdown?

Ozempic is a serious drug with serious risks. Here’s what to know.

BRAIN SCIENCE

Jermell Charlo (gold shorts) fights Austin Trout (white shorts) in their WBC Super Welterweight Title bout at Staples Center on June 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Charlo won by decision.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA, GETTY IMAGES

Early warning signs: Multiple concussions or blows to the head can cause the neurodegenerative disorder known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Professional fighters, including boxers (pictured above) and football players, are at a higher risk of developing it later in life. Science has uncovered these signs to look for.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A young monkey clings to the hair of its host

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

What’s that in your hair? The Awã, an Indigenous community in Brazil, have strong connections to the animals in their forests. Above is a common sight: a black bearded saki monkey clinging to the hair of an Awã woman going about her daily life.

LAST GLIMPSE

The USA Women’s Soccer team poses after placing first in the 1991 CONCACAF Women’s Soccer Tournament in Haiti. The win qualified the team for the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, which they won.

PHOTOGRAPH BY FOCUS ON SPORT, GETTY

From second class to equals: U.S. women’s national soccer players once got the hand-me-downs. Until recently, they also earned much less than their male counterparts, even when they outpaced the men in winning world championships (above, the soon-to-be-world-champions in 1991). The U.S. team has narrowly advanced to the final 16 in the Women’s World Cup in its quest for a third championship in a row.

Today’s soundtrack: há-de sarar, MARO

This newsletter has been curated and edited by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and David Beard. Want to say hello? We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]. Thanks for reading!

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