Seeing the wood for the trees: How archaeologists use hazelnuts to reconstruct ancient woodlands
If we could stand in a landscape that our Mesolithic ancestors called home, what would we see around us? Scientists have devised a method of analyzing preserved hazelnut shells to tell us whether the microhabitats around archaeological sites were hea.....»»
Bennu asteroid samples unveiled
In a discreet vacuumed-packed container inside a FedEx box lies a piece of ancient history; extremely ancient history......»»
Scientists use machine learning to predict diversity of tree species in forests
A collaborative team of researchers led by Ben Weinstein of the University of Florida, Oregon, US, used machine learning to generate highly detailed maps of over 100 million individual trees from 24 sites across the U.S., and published their findings.....»»
Ancient microbes offer clues to how complex life evolved
A new study published in Science Advances reveals a surprising twist in the evolutionary history of complex life. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that a single-celled organism, a close relative of animals, harbors the r.....»»
Idiotfruit and tree kangaroos: Why the ancient rainforests of Queensland"s Wet Tropics are so distinctive
In Queensland's northern reaches lie the Wet Tropics, spanning about 450 kilometers between Townsville and Cooktown. These mountainous rainforests are a relic of the ancient continent of Gondwana, dating back million of years when Australia and parts.....»»
Did plague really decimate Neolithic farmers 5,200 years ago, as a new study suggests?
Around 5,200 years ago, plague was not just present but common in six generations of one Swedish family, according to a new study. The researchers analyzed both the ancient DNA of these people's skeletal remains and the pathogens that left traces in.....»»
Can rattlesnakes really climb trees in California? Swim? Here"s what experts say
You're enjoying the evening breeze in your California backyard when you notice something dark and scaly slithering up a tree branch......»»
Amid a sweltering summer, a new study finds street trees thrive in NYC
So far this summer, New York City—like much of the country—has clocked more than 11 90-plus degree days. In addition to the increasing frequency of extreme heat waves, if it seems hotter in the city than in other environments, it typically is......»»
“Superhuman” Go AIs still have trouble defending against these simple exploits
Plugging up "worst-case" algorithmic holes is proving more difficult than expected. Enlarge / Man vs. machine in a sea of stones. (credit: Getty Images) In the ancient Chinese game of Go, state-of-the-art artificial inte.....»»
Archaeologists discover one of the earliest Christian buildings in Bahrain
Archaeologists have uncovered one of the earliest Christian buildings in the Arabian Gulf—the first physical evidence of a long-lost community......»»
Croc"s deadly last meal in Ancient Egypt unearthed
Scientists have used state of the art 3D imaging technology to piece together the life—and probable death—of a 2.2 meter-long crocodile mummified by the ancient Egyptians......»»
Selection processes play dominant role in shaping coexisting assemblages of trees and soil fungi: Study
Community assembly is shaped by four main processes: selection—fitness differences between organisms; dispersal—organisms' movement across space; drift—unpredictable variation in abundance; and diversification—new genetic variants. However, w.....»»
"A history of contact": Geneticists are rewriting the narrative of Neanderthals and other ancient humans
Ever since the first Neanderthal bones were discovered in 1856, people have wondered about these ancient hominins. How are they different from us? How much are they like us? Did our ancestors get along with them? Fight them? Love them? The recent dis.....»»
Frozen mammoth skin retained its chromosome structure
Features as small as 50 nanometers preserved in a 50,000-year-old sample. Enlarge (credit: LEONELLO CALVETTI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) One of the challenges of working with ancient DNA samples is that damage accumulates ove.....»»
Scientists know rising seas will one day swallow Jersey Shore climate research center
The only way to visit Ken Able's office is to traverse Great Bay Boulevard, a narrow, five-mile long road in Tuckerton, New Jersey, that crosses a network of brackish tidal marshes via a series of wood bridges......»»
Photos show the mysterious ancient objects that mountaineers are finding on the Alps" melting glaciers
Photos show the mysterious ancient objects that mountaineers are finding on the Alps" melting glaciers.....»»
ARK Investment"s Cathie Wood defends strategy in letter to investors
ARK Investment"s Cathie Wood defends strategy in letter to investors.....»»
Pest predictor identifies ingredients for ecological recipe for destruction
If you've felt the familiar itch of browntail moth rash, seen the grayish-green needles of an infested hemlock or watched as woodpeckers bore into ash trees for a meal hidden beneath the surface, you've experienced the devastating effects of non-nati.....»»
Popcorn, the Ultimate Snack, May Have Truly Ancient Origins
Popcorn might be more than 6,000 years old, an anthropologist explains.....»»
DNA analyses show the plague may have caused the downfall of Stone Age farmers
Ancient DNA from bones and teeth hints at a role of the plague in Stone Age population collapse. Contrary to previous beliefs, the plague may have diminished Europe's populations long before the major plague outbreaks of the Middle Ages, new research.....»»
Australian amber has revealed "living fossils" traced back to Gondwana 42 million years ago
Amber is fossilized tree resin. Unlike traditional fossils found on land or in the sea, amber can preserve ancient life forms in incredible detail. It's often considered the "holy grail" of paleontology worldwide......»»