A new era for an ancient river
The largest river restoration project in U.S. history is underway along the Klamath River. One aging hydroelectric dam along the river's Lower Basin was decommissioned last fall, and three more are being removed this year......»»
The mythical griffin was not inspired by a horned dinosaur, study concludes
The mythological creatures are instead "chimeras of big cats and raptorial birds." Enlarge / Painting of a gryphon, or griffin, a lion-raptor chimera from ancient folklore. (credit: Mark Witton) The gryphon, or griffin,.....»»
South Sudan says its 6M antelope make up world"s largest land mammal migration, but poaching on rise
Seen from the air, they ripple across the landscape—a river of antelope racing across the vast grasslands of South Sudan in what conservationists say is the world's largest land mammal migration......»»
Sediments reveal the ancient ocean during a mass extinction event
About 183 million years ago, volcanic activity in modern South Africa unleashed an estimated 20,500 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ocean–atmosphere system over a period of 300 to 500 thousand years. Known as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic E.....»»
Egypt tomb find may shed light on ancient diseases: Ministry
A new discovery of 33 ancient tombs in Egypt's southern city of Aswan could reveal "new information on diseases" prevalent at the time, the tourism and antiquities ministry said Monday......»»
After ISIS bombs, an urgent call to preserve an ancient Syrian temple
The Temple of Bel stands in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, adjoining a desert oasis with palm trees and bountiful water. Constructed in the first two centuries of the Common Era, the temple served for nearly two thousand years as a sanctuary for.....»»
Scientists discover surprising link between ancient biology and restricted human hair growth
University of Manchester scientists have linked one of the ways that cells respond to stressful conditions with restricted healthy hair growth......»»
Nigeria"s mountain streams are a haven for special creatures—they need protection
Nigeria has many freshwater ecotourism attractions. Among them are the Ikogosi warm spring, the Osun-Osogbo river, and the Olumirin, Owu, Arinta and Ekor waterfalls......»»
New species of Callicarpa discovered in Hunan, China
Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) consists of 140 species that are trees or shrubs, and there are about 53 species in China, mainly distributed south of the Yangtze River. Some plants of Callicarpa are used as traditional medicine in China. In addition, they.....»»
Gravesite in France offers evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans
A team of geneticists and archaeologists affiliated with multiple institutions in France has uncovered skeletons in an ancient gravesite not far from Paris that show evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans. The study is p.....»»
The ornate horns of ancient marvel Lokiceratops point to evolutionary insights
What do you get when you cross Norse mythology with a 78-million-year-old ancestor to the Triceratops? Answer: Lokiceratops rangiformis, a plant-eating dinosaur with a very fancy set of horns......»»
A ship found far off Israel"s coast could shed light on the navigation skills of ancient mariners
A company drilling for natural gas off the coast of northern Israel discovered a 3,300-year-old ship and its cargo, one of the oldest known examples of a ship sailing far from land, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday......»»
The fading boundary between farmers and tigers in the Himalayas
A river in the foothills of the Himalayas separates tigers and farmers and nurtures both wildlife and agriculture. But now that the river is drying up, conflicts between the two are increasing, endangering the habitat of both. River scientist Kshitiz.....»»
Researchers find wave activity on Titan may be strong enough to erode the coastlines of lakes and seas
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is the only other planetary body in the solar system that currently hosts active rivers, lakes, and seas. These otherworldly river systems are thought to be filled with liquid methane and ethane that flows into wide lake.....»»
Respectful canoeing means acknowledging Indigenous authority over the land and water
In a satirical look at canoeing in Canada, Ojibway comedian and author Drew Hayden Taylor once joked that "every time a non-native person whitewater canoes down the Madawaska River, or goes kayaking off Tobermory, they should first take an Aboriginal.....»»
250-million-year-old fossil seen anew with modern technology
Details of an ancient cousin of modern-day mammals are being revealed for the first time. Hi-tech scanning of an ancient fossil, which was captured in sandstone around 252–254 million years ago, is giving experts valuable insight into the animal's.....»»
Ancient remedies for modern woes: Traditional Chinese medicine and the fight against African swine fever
African Swine Fever (ASF) poses a grave threat to the swine industry, with the virus causing severe economic and agricultural disruptions since its emergence in China in 2018. The disease, transmitted by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), has beco.....»»
Illegal gold mining eats into Peruvian Amazon
On the banks of the Madre de Dios river, dredges work day and night in search of gold, part of a scourge of illegal mining that is slowly devouring the Peruvian Amazon......»»
An earthquake changed the course of the Ganges: Could it happen again?
A major earthquake 2,500 years ago caused one of the largest rivers on Earth to abruptly change course, according to a new study. The previously undocumented quake rerouted the main channel of the Ganges River in what is now densely populated Banglad.....»»
Secrets of Maya child sacrifice at Chichén Itzá uncovered using ancient DNA
After analyzing the remains of 64 ancient sacrificed individuals, most of whom were children, researchers have revealed new details about human sacrifice at the ancient Maya site of Chichén Itzá......»»
Ancient Maya DNA shows male kids were sacrificed in pairs at Chichén Itzá
Twins play an auspicious role in Maya mythology, most notably in the Popol Vuh. Enlarge / Detail from the reconstructed stone tzompantli, or skull rack, at Chichén Itzá, evidence of ritual human sacrifice. (credit: Christina Wa.....»»