ROME, Dec 23 (IPS) – Despite its grim record of multiple natural disasters and a deepening climate crisis, one could be forgiven for looking back on 2019 with a degree of nostalgia. There is no disguising the extent of the calamity wrought this year by COVID-19, yet as we approach the end of 2020 we may also draw strength from positive developments emerging.
Was the ‘American cheetah’ a cheetah at all? 
AI agents aren’t ready to replace humans in behavioral research 
A culprit for corrosion may have been operating under our noses 
New Hubble images reveal a bizarre decagon over Saturn’s south pole 
A massive study unveils the genetic underpinnings of fibromyalgia 
The universe may have been building rocky planets almost from the start 
Trump’s “Comprehensive” Gaza Peace Plan a Cover for Genocide 
Beyond the Death Penalty Debate: Human Dignity and Justice in Japan 
What 1.5°C Overshoot Means for Small Islands 
Coordinated action on clean air and climate change can net $15 for every dollar spent