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The strange underground economy of tree poaching

Coastal Redwood Trees Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Want to hunt pythons in Florida this summer? This professional has tips

A Burmese python sits in the grass at Everglades Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2019. A yearly competition will begin in August for people to hunt and kill the invasive species. Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images

No, this 7-Eleven isn't charging $7.11 for gas, even if the internet says so

Despite what the internet may think, this 7-Eleven in Chicago is not selling gas for $7.11. Matt Beemsterboer hide caption

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Matt Beemsterboer

The tale of a distressed American town on the doorstep of a natural paradise

Orick, California, is the gateway to Redwood National and State Parks. Mark Stephenson/Flickr hide caption

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Mark Stephenson/Flickr

Treasure hunters allege the FBI made off with Civil War-era gold and covered it up

Dennis Parada, right, and his son Kem Parada stand at the site of the FBI's dig for Civil War-era gold in September 2018 in Dents Run, Penn. A scientific report commissioned by the FBI shortly before agents went digging for buried treasure suggested that a huge quantity of gold was below the surface. Michael Rubinkam/AP hide caption

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Michael Rubinkam/AP

A marble slab in storage turned out to be an ancient Greek yearbook

The marble slab that had been stored for over 130 years turns out to be a list of young men who finished the ephebate, a year-long civic and military training for young men. National Museums Scotland hide caption

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National Museums Scotland

A marble slab in storage turned out to be an ancient Greek yearbook

A man in a wig was detained after throwing a piece of cake at the Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa last year in Paris. Thibault Camus/AP hide caption

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Thibault Camus/AP

This 830-million-year-old crystal might contain life. And we're about to open it

The shapes in this salt crystal are consistent with what would be expected for microorganisms. Kathy Benison hide caption

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Kathy Benison

This 830-million-year-old crystal might contain life. And we're about to open it

Scientists discover an ancient forest inside a giant sinkhole in China

An aerial photo taken in April 2020 shows the scenery of a giant karst sinkhole in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A similar sinkhole was found earlier this month with an ancient forest at the bottom with trees towering over 100 feet tall. Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images hide caption

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Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

A delivery robot creates a poetic moment in the woods of England

A wandering delivery robot found its way into the woods of Northampton in the United Kingdom. Matthew McCormack, Twitter hide caption

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Matthew McCormack, Twitter

Airbnb is renting out the iconic Moulin Rouge for three one-night stays

Moulin Rouge dancers perform at the 130th Anniversary Le Moulin Rouge celebration on October 6, 2019 in Paris, France. Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP hide caption

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Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP

This dog broke into a Tennessee couple's house and snuggled her way into their bed

It is still partially a mystery how Nala, a lost dog, was able to get into the house of Julie and Jimmy Johnson and climb her way into their bed overnight. Julie Johnson hide caption

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Julie Johnson

An anti-abortion activist scales skyscrapers to spread his message

Maison Des Champs climbed Salesforce Tower in San Francisco last Tuesday morning. He is climbing buildings across the country to raise money for groups that work to convince women to not have abortions. Bobby Elias hide caption

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Bobby Elias

Researchers spot a rare type of dragonfish at 1,000 feet deep

This species of dragonfish can grow to just under 7 inches long and can be often found 1,000 feet or more below the ocean's surface. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute/Screenshot by NPR

She found a 2,000 year old sculpture at Goodwill. It took years to get rid of it

Antarctica's 'Penguin Post Office' is hiring

Apply now to work at the British base in Port Lockroy, Antarctica, and young Gentoo penguins like this one could be your Goudier Island neighbors. Alison Wright/Getty Images hide caption

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Alison Wright/Getty Images

Taco Bell is bringing back the Mexican pizza — and South Asians are rejoicing

Taco Bell axed the Mexican pizza from its menu to make way for new items, but popular demand brought it back. Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images hide caption

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Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images

Taco Bell is bringing back the Mexican pizza — and South Asians are rejoicing

Taylor Swift was the inspiration for the name of a new millipede species

Taylor Swift, pictured in 2021, is the inspiration for the name of the newly described Twisted-Claw Millipede, Nannaria swiftae. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Dr. Derek Hennen/Pensoft Publishers hide caption

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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Dr. Derek Hennen/Pensoft Publishers

Meet the activists who projected a giant Ukrainian flag on Russia's Embassy in D.C.

Benjamin Wittes and a group of demonstrators in Washington, D.C., teamed up to project two large Ukrainian flags against the Russian Embassy for nearly four hours Wednesday night. Benjamin Wittes hide caption

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Benjamin Wittes