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Thousands of years ago, ancient farmers gained the ability to consume milk as adults without getting an upset stomach. A remarkable mutation let some of them digest lactose sugar. But scientists still puzzle over why that mutation persisted and became prevalent in modern humans.

Coffee is social stimulant, solitary pleasure, intellectual catalyst. It also connects us to far corners of the globe. From small specialty farms in Guatemala to large, industrial operations in Brazil and unexpected corners of the world, like Vietnam, the world's morning cup of joe makes quite a journey.

The president of the United States has a lot on his plate. Is it too much? As we pause to celebrate our exceptional leaders on Presidents Day, perhaps it's time we start contemplating a new kind of presidency — a presidency that befits these fitful times.

Are you one of the last humans who will ever live? Commentator Adam Frank takes us through the famous Doomsday Argument and what it means.

Young voters overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama in each of the past two presidential elections. Making sure they don't vote Democratic again is a top priority for national Republicans. Some young conservatives offer their ideas about what the GOP needs to do to win over their generation.

Last fall, Heather Liljengren was collecting the seeds of New York's native dune grasses. Within days, Hurricane Sandy wiped out the Rockaways' dunes and all their flora. Now, those seeds are growing plants likely to be used to restore the dunes and other natural environments around New York City.

One of the great dinosaur puzzles, the dinosaur mystery, is why did they suddenly die off? Scientists have been debating this question for almost a hundred years and one of the most beautiful notions came from an insect scholar who thought maybe caterpillars did it. I'm not making this up.

Several of the nation's largest cities, including New York, Boston and Detroit, elected new mayors on Tuesday. The new leaders will spend much of their time dealing with pension and health care costs.

From gun control and immigration overhaul to changes to taxes and entitlements, 2013 seemed like a year when big things could be accomplished in Congress. Whatever the cause of the logjam, big-ticket items that once seemed possible at the beginning of the year fell by the wayside.

Not enough people know how a bill becomes a law and other aspects of civic life. More than half the states are trying to fix that. See how your state is doing and take our quiz.