The stone-eaters that threaten Iran"s ancient Persepolis
Conservationists at Persepolis, Iran's most iconic ancient site, are waging a delicate battle against an unlikely adversary: tiny but persistent lichens eroding the millennia-old monuments......»»
Egalitarian oddity found in the Neolithic
Men, women, and immigrants all seemed to have similar dietary inputs. Enlarge / A skeleton found during 1950's excavations at the Barman site. (credit: Université de Genève) Did ancient people practice equality? While.....»»
Pongamia trees grow where citrus once flourished, offering renewable energy and plant-based protein
An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy......»»
Evidence shows ancient Saudi Arabia had complex and thriving communities, not struggling people in a barren land
To date, little has been known about people living in north-western Saudi Arabia during the Neolithic—the period traditionally defined by the shift to humans controlling food production and settling into communities with agriculture and domesticate.....»»
Ancient volcanic eruption not a catalyst for early Homo sapiens cultural innovations, researchers say
An international team of researchers from the Universities of Tübingen (Dr. Armando Falcucci), Siena, and Bologna analyzed the cultural remains left by groups of early Homo sapiens at Grotta di Castelcivita in southern Italy, dating back to before t.....»»
Two asteroids whipped past Earth last week, and researchers snapped images
The last week saw not one but two asteroids whip by Earth at close distances - not so close as to threaten the planet, but close enough to get a good view......»»
Some birds win and some lose with sea level rise, expert says
Global sea level rise is accelerating every year due to climate change, and it could threaten the very existence of some coastal bird species......»»
Bone remains indicate extinct humans survived on the Tibetan plateau for 160,000 years
Bone remains found in a Tibetan cave 3,280 m above sea level indicate an ancient group of humans survived here for many millennia, according to a new study published in Nature......»»
Study reveals ancient Nile floods were highly variable during wetter climates
Global warming as well as recent droughts and floods threaten large populations along the Nile Valley. Understanding how such a large river will respond to an invigorated hydrological cycle is therefore a pressing issue. Insights can be gained by stu.....»»
Greener, more effective termite control: Natural compound attracts wood eaters
UC Riverside scientists have discovered a highly effective, nontoxic, and less expensive way to lure hungry termites to their doom......»»
Clues to mysterious disappearance of North America"s large mammals 50,000 years ago found within ancient bone collagen
50,000 years ago, North America was ruled by megafauna. Lumbering mammoths roamed the tundra, while forests were home to towering mastodons, fierce saber-toothed tigers and enormous wolves. Bison and extraordinarily tall camels moved in herds across.....»»
Russia and China are using OpenAI tools to spread disinformation
Iran and Israel have been getting in on the action as well. Enlarge / OpenAI said it was committed to uncovering disinformation campaigns and was building its own AI-powered tools to make detection and analysis "more effective.".....»»
Was Seahenge created for a ritual to extend the summer during climate change battle?
New research into an ancient timber circle discovered on a Norfolk beach and dubbed "Seahenge" suggests it was created in response to a period of extreme climatic deterioration at the close of the third millennium BC......»»
Study suggests faster decomposition rates in waterways could exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions, threaten biodiversity
Humans may be accelerating the rate at which organic matter decomposes in rivers and streams on a global scale, according to a new study from the University of Georgia, Oakland University and Kent State University......»»
Ancient medicine blends with modern-day research in new tissue regeneration method
For centuries, civilizations have used naturally occurring, inorganic materials for their perceived healing properties. Egyptians thought green copper ore helped eye inflammation, the Chinese used cinnabar for heartburn, and Native Americans used cla.....»»
The rush to return humans to the moon and build lunar bases could threaten opportunities for astronomy
The 2020s have already seen many lunar landing attempts, although several of them have crashed or toppled over. With all the excitement surrounding the prospect of humans returning to the moon, both commercial interests and scientists stand to gain......»»
Researcher uses satellite imagery to investigate ancient urbanism in eastern Africa
At the U of A's Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, Wolfgang Alders, a National Science Foundation SBE Postdoctoral Fellow, is using satellite imagery and archaeological methods to better understand the origins of urban life on the eastern Afri.....»»
New sensing techniques can detect drought tolerance in ancient crops, may inform new breeding programs
Drought is the most devastating environmental stress that farmers face worldwide. With the added pressures of climate change, drought years have become less predictable, more frequent and more severe......»»
"Extraordinary" 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull may show signs of attempts to treat cancer
From ancient texts we know that—for their times—the ancient Egyptians were exceptionally skilled at medicine. For example, they could identify, describe, and treat diseases and traumatic injuries, build protheses, and put in dental fillings. Othe.....»»
New insights into juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish behaviors that threaten reefs
A new study by researchers from the University of Sydney provides new insights into the behavior of juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), a significant contributor to coral reef devastation in the Indo-Pacific region. The research, published in P.....»»
Vast concessions threaten Malaysia"s forest: Report
Vast concessions in Malaysia's forests threaten millions of hectares of rich natural habitats and risk the country's commitment to 50 percent forest cover, a report warned Tuesday......»»