Our ancestors left Africa both with and without modern brains
The genus Homo originated with a brain that still had ape-like features. Enlarge / One of the remarkably intact Dmanisi skulls at the time of its discovery. (credit: Guy Bar-Oz) We have an extensive collection of fossils from the lineages that.....»»
Repurposing pencil lead as an optical material using plasma
Optical materials are essential in many modern applications, but controlling the way a material reflects light on its surface is costly and difficult. Now, in a recent study, researchers from Japan found a simple and low-cost way of tuning the reflec.....»»
15 years ago, this modern masterpiece changed the war movie genre forever
15 years ago, a celebrated director released his masterpiece -- and changed the war movie genre forever......»»
"Internet of fish" empowering Lake Victoria women
Along the shores of East Africa's Lake Victoria, in Kenya, women fisherfolk including those known for being victims of sexual exploitation, are harnessing the Internet of Things (IoT) to help them counter their abusers while enhancing their incomes,.....»»
Self-driving industry could soon flourish, but roadblocks still remain
Fifteen years into the modern-day push to develop self-driving vehicles, standards and best practices are still under development, regulations are fuzzy and incomplete, and safety benchmarks don't exist......»»
Ancient microbes linked to evolution of human immune proteins
When you become infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it are those passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years ago. According to new research from The University of Texas at Austin, two key e.....»»
LLMs are unsuited for meeting the standards of Platonic epistemology in education, researchers find
Researchers from the University of Adelaide advise that more caution should be exercised for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in educational contexts. This comes after a new study highlights key differences between modern technology.....»»
Study calls for locally inclusive public health adaptation strategies to climate change
Modern disaster risk reduction strategies must incorporate Indigenous knowledge and local cultural practices to be adoptable and sustainable, according to a descriptive phenomenological study carried out in Kenya by researchers from the University of.....»»
Paleontologists discover new predatory dinosaur with a distinctive "eyebrow"
Theropod dinosaurs are one of the most important large groups of dinosaurs, including well-known predators, such as Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus, as well as modern birds. A variety of theropods are known from the Mesozoic Era, the age of the dinosaur.....»»
OpenCTI: Open-source cyber threat intelligence platform
OpenCTI is an open-source platform designed to help organizations manage their cyber threat intelligence (CTI) data and observables. The platform structures its data using a knowledge schema built on the STIX2 standards. It features a modern web appl.....»»
Mosquitoes use gut bacteria to fight the malaria they transmit—scientists are exploring how to use this
The months of September to May are an unfortunate season in South Africa: malaria season. The mosquito-borne disease is found in the north-eastern districts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces......»»
Fossil hotspots in Africa obscure a more complete picture of human evolution, study says
Much of the early human fossil record originates from just a few places in Africa, where favorable geological conditions have preserved a trove of fossils used by scientists to reconstruct the story of human evolution......»»
Small molecule organic eutectics show potential for replacing plastics
Plastics have long been a mainstay in modern manufacturing, but their environmental impact has increased demand for eco-friendly alternatives. Researchers at The University of Warwick have made significant progress in the search for sustainable alter.....»»
The application of Sapindus mukurossi extract in sebum-control shampoos
Sapindus mukurossi, a fruit from a deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae family, is widely cultivated in Southern China. Before the advent of modern synthetic detergents, its peel was commonly used to make soap due to its high saponin content......»»
How a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in a dry part of South Africa
New research into rural small-scale farms in South Africa's North West province has found that climate-smart farming techniques lead to a better maize yield, a more regular supply of food for the farmers, and a wider variety of crops......»»
The Uncertain Path Forward for Psychedelic Medicine
After the FDA rejected its proposed MDMA treatment, Lykos Therapeutics is laying off 75 percent of its staff and its founder has left the company......»»
Red colobus are Africa"s most endangered monkeys—protecting them will also safeguard forests
Many people have never heard of a red colobus, yet they are Africa's most imperiled group of monkeys......»»
Activision shuts down Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer mod one day before launch
A mod set to recreate Call of Duty's Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer was canceled the day before launch......»»
Why the Fiat 500e could be your ideal second EV
The phenomenally efficient Fiat 500e is enjoyable to drive. Enlarge / The Fiat 500e Inspired by Beauty. (credit: BradleyWarren Photography) Over two decades of parenting has left me with a healthy appreciation for SUVs a.....»»
How researchers reconstructed the ancestor of all life on Earth
Understanding how life began and evolved on Earth is a question that has fascinated humans for a long time, and modern scientists have made great advances when it comes to finding some answers. Now, our recent study hopes to offer new insights into t.....»»
Researchers propose method to manage the invasive weed congress grass
The invasive North American plant species Parthenium hysterophorus, commonly known as Santa Maria feverfew and famine weed, is now present in Africa, Australia, and India, where it is locally known in English as congress grass......»»