Ancient human tracks on South Africa"s west coast
It's been 27 years since geologist David Roberts identified some of the oldest footprints of our species ever discovered. The trackway of three footprints was found on the surface of a cemented sand dune (called an aeolianite) near Langebaan on South.....»»
Troubled waters: How to stop Australia"s freshwater fish species from going extinct
Three-quarters of Australia's freshwater fish species are found nowhere else on the planet. This makes us the sole custodians of remarkable creatures such as the ornate rainbowfish, the ancient Australian lungfish and the magnificently named longnose.....»»
Study confirms Egyptians drank hallucinogenic cocktails in ancient rituals
A University of South Florida professor found the first-ever physical evidence of hallucinogens in an Egyptian mug, validating written records and centuries-old myths of ancient Egyptian rituals and practices. Through advanced chemical analyses, Davi.....»»
Biodiversity in the city: Designing urban spaces for humans and animals
Animals and plants also live and thrive on public squares. This creates opportunities for greater biodiversity and well-being for the human population. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have studied at 103 locations in Munich ho.....»»
SpaceX knocks out another Space Coast launch
SpaceX kept the launch machine rolling with another Starlink mission from the Space Coast on Thursday morning......»»
Toxin was released into the Congaree River in South Carolina: Agencies did little to stop it, greens say
High amounts of a toxic chemical are being discharged into the Congaree and Cooper rivers from plastics factories in South Carolina, but state and federal regulators are doing little to control the pollution, a new report says......»»
Tropical Storm Sara pounds Honduras with heavy rain
Tropical Storm Sara dumped heavy rains with the potential to cause disastrous flooding Thursday as it churned inland along the northeastern coast of Honduras......»»
Decline in West African coastal fish stocks threatens food security and livelihoods
Small-scale fisheries play a vital role in providing food and livelihoods for millions of people around the world, particularly in low-income countries in Africa. However, there is limited statistical data on the composition, abundance, and distribut.....»»
Climate change: Women"s role in the economy is key to a just transition
The realities of climate change are hitting home for many people living in the Global South. Food security, water access and health have been jeopardized by increased temperatures, extreme weather events and sea level rise......»»
Shakespeare or ChatGPT? Study finds people prefer AI over real classic poetry
Readers are unable to reliably differentiate AI-generated from human-written poetry and are more likely to prefer AI poems, according to new research published in Scientific Reports. This tendency to rate AI poetry positively may be due to readers mi.....»»
Community protected by law on coast of Southeast Brazil is threatened by litter tourists leave on beach
A study conducted by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) found high levels of contamination on Perequê Beach in Guarujá, a city on the coast of São Paulo state, Brazil, with plastic litter and cigarette butts predominatin.....»»
Let African Communities Manage Their Climate Adaptation Plans
Outside groups often offer their solutions for climate adaptation in Africa. But the best people to manage the climate crisis are the people in those communities themselves. For climate adaptation to succeed in Africa, let communities and local leade.....»»
The Lucy Fossil’s Extraordinary Journey to Becoming an Icon of Human Evolution
The 3.2-million-year-old human ancestor known as Lucy rose to fame through an incredible combination of circumstances.....»»
Insects Played Pivotal Roles in the Evolution of Human Culture
Violins, the ink on the Declaration of Independence and other ways that insects shaped human history.....»»
This ‘Human Computer’ Created a System for Measuring Vast Distances in Our Universe
Visual artist Anna Von Mertens looks to astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt and her vision of the universe for inspiration.....»»
Norway"s Kon-Tiki museum returns human remains to Easter Island
Norway's Kon-Tiki Museum on Wednesday returned human remains taken from Easter Island by the explorer Thor Heyerdahl during his trans-Pacific raft expeditions in the 1950s......»»
Colorado River basins could face tipping point, drought study warns
Water from Colorado's West Slope basins plays a vital role in supporting the economy and natural environment across seven western U.S. states, but a new study finds that even under modest climate projections, the basins face a potential tipping point.....»»
A new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding
As the human population increases and protein demand doubles, modern plant breeders must further optimize soybean plant architecture and per plant yield for modern farming systems......»»
Researchers use high-resolution images to create model that predicts landslide risk in coastal areas
São Sebastião, a municipality on the coast of São Paulo state in Brazil that was partially cut off from the rest of the country in February 2023 after a period of torrential rain, had more than 1,000 landslide points, according to an inventory pro.....»»
Is South Africa one of the most politically polarized countries in the world? No, it"s not, says sociologist
A number of reports have called South Africa a politically polarized society. This may seem uncontroversial, given the country's history of dispossession and discrimination during colonialism and apartheid, and their continuing legacy after 30 years.....»»
Agrivoltaics for sustainable food, energy and water management in East Africa
Combining solar power production with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, conserve water and generate low-carbon electricity for areas particularly vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown......»»