Balaena: Stories about whales

As a child, Brittany Munson dreams of growing up to be a whale trainer, and as a marine scientist focused on living creatures, Maya Santangelo is convinced that diving to explore an old whaling shipwreck in the Antarctic will be boring.

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Impending Doom: Stories about facing the scary unknown

After three generations of women in her family develop Alzheimer’s disease, Mary Jo Pollack enrolls in a study that could reveal whether she’s next, and when Sabrina Samuel is diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and told to wait a year before surgery, she must choose between living in fear or embracing the time she has.

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Outer Layer: Stories about literal and metaphorical shields

As a lonely teenager searching for connection, Christopher Moncayo-Torres turns to an unlikely disguise—a giant Clifford costume—in hopes of bridging the gap between himself and the world around him, and JP Flores has always been the family’s “smart kid,” a role that becomes his armor in college—until the pressure of living up to that identity begins to crack.

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Best of Story Collider: Women in Science

Alison Williams' blossoming passion for chemistry is sidetracked by a professor's thoughtless comment, and climate scientist Sarah Myhre becomes embroiled in conflict after speaking out against a senior scientist's problematic statements about climate change.

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Chorea: Stories about science and dance

Learning a modern version of her childhood Indian dances puts Sumitra Mattai’s brain and body to the test, and when people doubt that dance can empower girls to pursue STEM careers, Yamilée Toussaint sets out to prove them wrong.

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