Discoveries gleaned from ancient human DNA
Four research articles published in Nature follow the genetic traces and geographical origins of human diseases far back in time. The analyses provide detailed pictures of prehistoric human diversity and migration, while proposing an explanation for.....»»
How DNA could help save California"s historic pheasants
Startled, large flocks of pheasants burst into flight, exploding with colorful fuss and flutter from thickets of wild grass and fallen leaves......»»
Using DNA to identify seabird bycatch
Australian Antarctic Program scientists have used DNA technology to help identify threatened albatross, petrel and shearwater species caught unintentionally (as 'bycatch') during longline fishing operations in Australian waters......»»
Data scientists create tool to spot fake images
Pixelator v2 is a tool to spot fake images. It uses a new combination of image veracity techniques with capability beyond what can be seen by the human eye. It can identify subtle differences in images with greater accuracy than traditional methods a.....»»
How AI is transforming human risk management
While human error has always posed a cybersecurity risk, AI and emerging tech are playing an evolving role in Human Risk Management – uncovering new needs, challenges, and pain points. In this Help Net Security video, Bret Fund, SVP and General Man.....»»
Muddy footprints suggest 2 species of early humans were neighbors in Kenya 1.5 million years ago
Muddy footprints left on a Kenyan lakeside suggest two of our early human ancestors were nearby neighbors some 1.5 million years ago......»»
Water treatment: Catching steroid hormones with nanotubes
Steroid hormones are among the most widespread aquatic micropollutants. They are harmful to human health, and they cause ecological imbalances in aquatic environments......»»
Fishy fossil find points to possible polar bear ancestry for Scottish bears
New analysis of ancient bones and fossils found in a Highland cave has revealed them to be "fishier than the average bear" and could even suggest polar bears once roamed Scotland......»»
New research reveals insights into gender equality in hunter-gatherer societies
A study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour has uncovered fascinating insights into gender roles and cooperation in hunter-gatherer societies. The study, entitled "Bargaining between the sexes: outside options and leisure time in h.....»»
Case study suggests expanded opportunities drew people to mega settlements and spurred innovation 6,000 years ago
The U.N.'s Human Development Index provides new explanations for the success of Europe's first mega settlements......»»
3D fossil scans investigate the origins of bipedal locomotion in human evolution
One of the most fascinating periods in the evolution of the human lineage is the appearance of the first ancestors capable of bipedalism. Knowing the type of locomotion used by many fossil species—walking upright on the ground or climbing from bran.....»»
The Whole Story of How Humans Evolved From Great Apes
The picture of human evolution has changed repeatedly and dramatically over the past half century, shaped by waves of new fossil discovery, technology, and scientific techniques......»»
Archaeologists reveal musical instruments depicted in Zimbabwe"s ancient rock art
A study published in Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa by archaeologists Dr. Joshua Kumbani and Prof. Margarita Díaz-Andreu explores the intriguing relationship between Zimbabwean rock art and musical instruments......»»
Fossilized footprints reveal two extinct hominin species living side by side 1.5 million years ago
Human footprints stir the imagination. They invite you to follow, to guess what someone was doing and where they were going. Fossilized footprints preserved in rock do the same—they record instances in the lives of many different extinct organisms,.....»»
Researchers use eDNA metabarcoding to identify pollinators, aiming to boost crop production
A Curtin University study has revealed that a new method of capturing DNA could provide farmers with a valuable tool for boosting crop production—while also benefiting the environment......»»
Plastic in the ocean and on our plates: What are the risks to human health?
It's no secret: when we savor a delicious piece of fish or a platter of seafood, we're not just consuming valuable omega-3s and vitamin D. Alongside these benefits come less appetizing elements—countless micro- and nano-plastics......»»
A fossil first: Scientists find 1.5-million-year-old footprints of two different species of human ancestors at same spot
More than a million years ago, on a hot savanna teeming with wildlife near the shore of what would someday become Lake Turkana in Kenya, two completely different species of hominins may have passed each other as they scavenged for food......»»
Scientists reveal structural link for initiation of protein synthesis in bacteria
Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins. To build proteins, the cell makes a copy of DNA, called mRNA. Then, another molecule called a ribosome reads the mRNA, translating it into protein. But this step has been a visual mys.....»»
Bio-inspired droplet-based systems herald a new era in biocompatible devices
Oxford University researchers have made a significant step toward realizing a form of "biological electricity" that could be used in a variety of bioengineering and biomedical applications, including communication with living human cells. The work wa.....»»
Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya
Long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America's Yucatan peninsula......»»
Scientists discover shared genetic foundations between musical rhythm and human language
In a study published Nov. 21 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers have uncovered significant genetic connections between human language abilities and musical rhythm skills, providing new insights into the biological underpinnings of the.....»»