Oldest known alphabet unearthed in ancient Syrian city
What appears to be evidence of the oldest alphabetic writing in human history is etched onto finger-length, clay cylinders excavated from a tomb in Syria by a team of Johns Hopkins University researchers......»»
Researchers use immersive 3D tech to document and study the human past
Archaeologists from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are revolutionizing the excavation and documentation of ancient sites with cutting-edge 3D immersive technologies......»»
Dedicated Roman gladiator superfans were the football hooligans of their day
In the amphitheater of Gladiator II, Ridley Scott trains his lens on fighters and emperors—but no account of ancient gladiators is complete without its devotees......»»
Superior photosynthesis abilities of some plants could hold key to climate-resilient crops
More than 3 billion years ago, on an Earth entirely covered with water, photosynthesis first evolved in ancient bacteria. In the following millions of years, those bacteria evolved into plants, optimizing themselves along the way for various environm.....»»
Smoke changes over time and distance, but health risks remain
A study of air quality in New York City while it was heavily affected by Canadian wildfire smoke revealed that multi-day transport to the New York region significantly transformed the smoke, but serious health risks remained. The results are publishe.....»»
Ankylosaurid dinosaur, unearthed in China in 1986, identified as a new species
A team of archaeologists and paleontologists at the Jiangxi Provincial Museum, working with colleagues from Yunnan University, all in China, has found that the unearthed skeletal remains of an ankylosaurid dinosaur uncovered in 1986 at a dig site at.....»»
Majority of clothes being donated are exported or discarded: Study calls for city fashion waste shakeup
With most donated clothes exported or thrown away, experts are calling for a shakeup of how we deal with the growing fashion waste issue. A first of its kind study, published in Nature Cities, analyzed what happens to clothes and other textiles after.....»»
Internet use in adults over age 50 linked to better mental health
A multi-country study has linked internet use to a reduction in depressive symptoms. City University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong researchers found a positive association among adults 50 years and older across 23 countries......»»
Algorithm predicts DNA methylation in ancient specimens, providing insight into human evolution
Research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution introduces a novel method for inferring DNA methylation patterns in non-skeletal tissues from ancient specimens, providing new insights into human evolution. As DNA methylation is a key marker of gene.....»»
Ancient DNA sheds light on adaptation of early Europeans at the dawn of the agricultural revolution
Leveraging a unique statistical analysis and applying it to ancient DNA extracted from human skeletal remains, a team of researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Los Angeles has revealed new insights into h.....»»
Tiny worm makes for big evolutionary discovery: Scientists describe "Uncus," the oldest ecdysozoan
Everyone has a past. That includes the millions of species of insects, arachnids, and nematode worms that make up a major animal group called the Ecdysozoa......»»
Volcanic caves research advances the search for life on Mars
Through the intricate study of lava tubes—caves formed following volcanic eruptions when lava cools down—an international team of researchers has uncovered clues about Earth's ancient environments that could be significant in the search for life.....»»
Ancient Aztec "skull whistles" found to instill fear in modern people
A team of cognitive neuroscientists at the University of Zurich, has found that ancient Aztec "skull whistles" found in gravesites are able to instill fear in modern people. In their study, published in the journal Communications Psychology, the grou.....»»
Genes of ancient animal relatives used to grow a mouse: Study reveals hidden history of stem cells
An international team of researchers has achieved an unprecedented milestone: the creation of mouse stem cells capable of generating a fully developed mouse using genetic tools from a unicellular organism, with which we share a common ancestor that p.....»»
Ancient climate study links past ocean acidification to current trends
A research team led by Prof. Li Mingsong at Peking University has provided new insights into the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and its effects on ocean chemistry......»»
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.....»»
Study finds humidity diminishes daytime cooling gains in urban green spaces
Urban green spaces provide shade for city dwellers facing rising temperatures brought on by climate change, but how much relief from the heat island effect do they provide when humidity is factored in?.....»»
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.....»»
Madrid"s fifth Apple Store opens November 28
Apple has announced the opening of Apple La Vaguada, in north Madrid, marking the city's fifth store and its first in ten years.Custom wallpaper for the new Apple La Vaguada in Madrid — image credit: AppleJust over a decade on from the opening of i.....»»