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A Web-based experiment in which an idea was planted found greater penetration and more rapid spread of the idea in a dense network of participants with overlaps compared with in a loose network. Cynthia Graber reports Technology - Psychology - Experiment - YouTube - Social Sciences

Acacia trees harboring ants escaped elephant appetites, apparently because elephants don't like ants up their trunks. Karen Hopkin reports Acacia - Tree - Ant - Biology - Flora and Fauna

Drug-resistant mutant bacteria produce compounds called indoles that can protect large numbers of nonresistant colony mates. New treatment strategies should follow. Steve Mirsky reports Bacteria - Drug resistance - Health - United States - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The remains of what may be the earliest known group feast have been identified in northern Israel. Cynthia Graber reports Israel - Middle East - United States - Warfare and Conflict - Israel-Palestine

Artificial lighting, despite huge efficiency improvements, has cost a constant percentage of GDP for three centuries. Christopher Intagliata reports. Gross domestic product - Light - Business - Electrical - Materials and Supplies

Recent hearing tests on teens show an increase in hearing loss over the last generation, possibly as a result of increased earbud use Hearing impairment - United States - Health - Hearing - Journal of the American Medical Association

A study concludes that including actual statin drugs with high-fat restaurant meals is a justifiable public health effort. Karen Hopkin reports. Health - Public Health and Safety - Public health - Restaurant - Education

Mice were trained to identify feces from bird-flu-infected ducks by smell. Cynthia Graber reports Feces - Bird - Infectious disease - Health - Influenza

Drinking 16 ounces of water before meals helped a group of dieters lose more weight than other dieters who didn't consume water first. Water - Drinking water - Weight loss - Water Resources - Health

Solar panels that can shake off their dust off via a self-generated electric pulse keep soaking in maximal rays. Cynthia Graber reports. Energy - Solar - Renewable - Business - Electric