Climate scientist Compton Tucker receives the 2014 Vega Medal for his work on remote sensing, measuring global land photosynthesis from space. His research has led to a 33-year data set invaluable for scientists studying Earth's climate.
Researchers used advanced dating techniques to analyze remains from three caves in Spain, Girona, Gipuzkoa, and Asturias. The findings suggest that Neanderthals and Cro-magnons did not coexist on the Iberian Peninsula, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers challenge traditional views on Neanderthal childhood by finding strong emotional attachments and social relationships within their group. They also discovered children played a key role in symbolic expression and were cared for until sick or injured for extended periods.
Research suggests that humans became less mobile and physically active after the transition to agriculture in Central Europe around 5300 BC. Male bones show a decline in strength and rigidity, indicating reduced mobility and heavy physical work, while female bones exhibit more inconsistent trends.
A study published in Current Biology found that lactase persistence variants were at medium frequencies among the Khoe people, but very low or absent among San hunter-gatherers. The research suggests that pastoralist practices were brought to southern Africa by a small group of migrants from eastern Africa.
Researchers discovered that Homo's teeth decreased in size as its brain size increased over 2.5 million years, defying evolutionary expectations. The study attributes this phenomenon to a shift towards a higher animal-based diet, which provided essential nutrients for brain development and social advancements.
Researchers found charred grains of barley, millet, and wheat in Kazakhstan campsites dating back nearly 5,000 years. This discovery pushes back the known East-West interaction along the Silk Road by 2,000 years, indicating nomadic pastoralists played a key role in spreading domesticated crops throughout Central Eurasia.
Researchers have discovered that many hot white dwarfs' atmospheres are contaminated by rocky material from planetary systems, suggesting a similar proportion of stars build terrestrial planets. This breakthrough has implications for the ultimate fate of the Earth billions of years in the future.
A 3,000 year-old skeleton has revealed evidence of metastatic carcinoma, making it the oldest convincing complete example of cancer in the archaeological record. Analysis suggests that environmental carcinogens or infectious diseases may have caused the cancer.
Scientists have disproven the assumption that tropical cyclone numbers are increasing due to global warming, and instead found they are shifting southward. Late-season frost is also not receding as quickly as flowering, threatening food security.
A new study utilizing archaeological reports of over half a million fish bones from Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington State found that long-ago herring populations were consistently abundant and widespread for thousands of years. This contrasts with today's dwindling and erratic herring numbers.
A large-scale investigation reveals that Early British farmers prioritized dairy products and abandoned fishing, adopting a new diet around 6,000 years ago. The study suggests that the hazardous North Atlantic waters made fish an unsuitable food source until new technologies arrived.
A Tel Aviv University study suggests that cosmic heating occurred later than previously believed, allowing astronomers to detect the earliest black holes by searching for radio waves in space. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of the universe's origins and the history of cosmic expansion.
The study found that domesticated camels arrived in the southern Levant, including Israel, around the 9th century BCE. This challenges the biblical account and highlights a significant turning point in Israel's engagement with the world.
Researchers simulated conditions 10,000 years ago to discover teosinte, a wild grass believed to be corn's ancestor, exhibited characteristics similar to corn under past conditions. This finding suggests early farmers may have played less of a role in selecting for desirable traits than previously thought.
New research reveals that humans have actively managed Southeast Asian rainforests for over 11,000 years by clearing vegetation to plant food-bearing plants. Pollen samples and archaeological findings indicate repeated disturbances to vegetation since the end of the last ice age.
Researchers have found concrete evidence for a long-lived Nordic grog tradition in northernmost Europe during the Bronze and Iron Ages. The discovery highlights innovative uses of local ingredients to create unique fermented beverages.
A study by Hebrew University researchers and international colleagues found that different cultural approaches to tasks like pottery-throwing didn't produce distinct outcomes. Instead, most hand positions were culture-specific while vessel shapes remained largely unified across cultures.
Researchers found evidence of cat domestication in ancient China, tracing it back to farmers 5,300 years ago. The study analyzed bones from excavated sites and discovered that cats were attracted to rodents and other small animals in farming villages.
Researchers found that early humans focused on sites with abundant nutritious foods, including protein, fats, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins. These nutrient-rich locations allowed hominins to colonize the Atlantic fringe of north west Europe during warm periods.
A partial skeleton of Paranthropus boisei, a human ancestor characterized by its 'robust' jaw and skull bones, has been found in Tanzania. The find suggests that the species was more ruggedly built than previously thought and had strong forearms and powerful upper body.
Researchers found that Neanderthals divided their shelters into different areas for various activities, including a hunting stand, base camp, and residential area. This discovery highlights the sophistication of Neanderthal spatial organization, challenging previous assumptions about their behavior and cognitive abilities.
Archaeological excavations at Lumbini, Nepal have uncovered a previously unknown sixth-century B.C. timber structure dating back to the birthplace of the Buddha. The discovery confirms an earlier date for the life of the Buddha than previously thought and sheds light on the early development of Buddhism.
Researchers are using past natural disasters to develop models of potential future events, highlighting the importance of local community resilience. By analyzing geological and social parameters, scientists aim to create a more robust framework for disaster preparedness.
A recent genetic study published in Scientific Reports reveals that Israel's wild boars descended from European pigs brought by the Philistines approximately 3,000 years ago. The research analyzed DNA samples from over 25 modern-day wild boars and found a dominant European genetic signature.
A new €2.49m research study, led by Queen's University Belfast, aims to uncover Malta's prehistoric past and develop strategies for conserving vulnerable heritage sites. The project will analyze ancient pollens, snails, insects, and other environmental materials to reconstruct the changing ecology of Malta during prehistory.
A team led by Professor Simon Keay will study 31 Roman ports across nine countries using geophysical surveys, satellite imagery, and ancient texts. The project aims to gather knowledge about how these ports integrated into vast trading networks across the Roman Empire.
Researchers have uncovered a record of Neanderthal archaeology that was thought to be lost, revealing a key archaeological site with preserved geological deposits dating back 250,000 years. The discovery provides significant insights into the last Ice Age and Neanderthal behaviour.
Dr. Ellery Frahm's study challenges a widely held theory, suggesting ancient Syrians produced their own obsidian tools locally rather than importing from Turkey. This finding has implications for understanding how early cities developed and the geographic origins of raw materials.
A Dartmouth study sheds new light on the Wari civilization's expansion, suggesting they focused on colonization practices rather than centralized control. The researchers found that Wari power was limited to specific regions and did not emanate continuously outward from a key administrative center.
A new study reveals that lightning strikes significantly control the evolution of mountain landscapes, especially summit areas, by blasting rocks and creating angular debris. This finding has vast implications for food security and water supply, particularly in southern Africa.
A 14-year study in the Parc National des Écrins reveals human occupation and activity from Mesolithic to Post-Medieval periods, with complex Bronze Age structures and evidence of pastoralism. The research highlights the role of climate and human activity in shaping Alpine landscapes.
Four new species of 'legless lizards' have been discovered in California, including the silver-bellied A. alexanderae and purple-bellied A. grinnelli, with the first species added to the state's list from one to five. The discoveries highlight the importance of preserving biodiversity and the need for further surveys.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new method for sourcing obsidian artefacts that takes only 10 seconds, dozens of times faster than current methods. The handheld instrument uses portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and enables archaeologists to identify origins in the field.
A team of scientists has announced a new juvenile fossil cranium of the ancient ape species Lufengpithecus from Shuitangba, China. The discovery provides significant insights into the evolution and extinction of apes during the Miocene epoch.
A team of researchers has designed a high-tech microplasma source that can efficiently analyze carbon isotopes in organic samples. This breakthrough device may transform field archaeology by providing new information during excavation decision-making processes.
A team of researchers found multiple roundworm eggs in soil samples taken from Richard III's pelvis, indicating a genuine infection. The presence of no eggs in skull soil and few in surrounding grave soil suggests the infection was internal, not from external contamination.
Researchers found that brain patterns for both tasks correlated, suggesting they use the same area of the brain. This study provides evidence for the co-evolution of language and tool-making skills, a theory proposed by Darwin.
Archaeological evidence suggests human colonization of the Faroe Islands took place between the 4th to 6th centuries AD, contradicting the traditional Viking narrative. This finding has implications for understanding the colonization of similar island groups worldwide.
A study by Dr. Karen Ruebens reveals two separate Neanderthal cultures in Europe, with distinct handaxe designs and social learning mechanisms. The research provides new insights into Neanderthal regionality and cultural complexity.
Researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian iron beads were hammered from pieces of meteorites, not iron ore. The findings indicate that metalworkers mastered the smithing of meteoritic iron over 5,000 years ago, enabling the development of iron smelting and replacing copper and bronze as primary metals.
Researchers found a significant correlation between climate conditions and human conflict, with even moderate changes in temperature and rainfall increasing the risk of personal violence and social unrest. A 1 standard-deviation shift in heat or rainfall boosts the risk of riot, civil war, or ethnic conflict by an average of 14%.
A new study by UC Berkeley and Princeton researchers found that climate strongly affects human conflict and violence globally. Climate-related factors such as temperature and drought are consistently linked to increased personal and intergroup violence.
Archaeologists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem uncovered a Sphinx fragment belonging to pharaoh Mycerinus, who ruled over 4,000 years ago. The find is significant as it is the only known Sphinx of this king discovered worldwide.
Researchers found that earthworms retain a memory of temperature in calcite granules, offering a new method to reconstruct past climates. This discovery has the potential to enhance and benchmark climate change models.
A £3.5 million project aims to reconstruct primitive musical instruments and reach conclusions about the type of music played on them using archaeological evidence and specialist performers.
Researchers found a massive cone-shaped structure made of basalt stones weighing an estimated 60,000 tons, dating back to the early Bronze Age. The site is believed to be connected to ancient city of Beit Yerah and may provide insights into geological history.
Researchers have found that a small portion of the human brain involved in memory makes new neurons well into adulthood, according to data from nuclear weapons testing of the 1950s and '60s. The study supports the importance of investigating the therapeutic potential of adult neurogenesis for age-related cognitive disorders.
Researchers have discovered biomolecular archaeological evidence of grape wine and winemaking in southern France, dating back to the 6th-5th century BCE. The findings confirm that ancient Etruscan amphoras introduced wine to the region, leading to the establishment of a native Celtic or Gallic vinicultural industry.
A new study challenges traditional hypotheses on human evolution by suggesting that bipedalism emerged as a response to the terrain, rather than climate-driven vegetation changes. The research proposes that the development of upright gait was driven by the need for security and food in rocky outcrops and gorges.
Researchers found King Richard III in a hastily dug, lozenge-shaped grave under a Leicester car park, suggesting gravediggers were in a hurry to bury him. The grave was too short for the king's body, and his torso was crammed in, with evidence of hands being tied during burial.
A new method of sourcing artefacts in high definition improves our understanding of past human behaviour. By matching artefacts to specific quarries at volcanoes, researchers can reconstruct spatial resolution and gain a deeper insight into cultural significance.
Researchers identify two gemstones linked to plate tectonics, including ruby and jadeite. Ocean island coral reefs are shaped by sea-level history and carbonate accumulation rates.
Researchers have discovered evidence of ancient agriculture in southern China, predating the arrival of domesticated rice. The use of a new analysis technique on grinding stones revealed starch from tropical palms, indicating that people may have cultivated these plants around 5,000 years ago.
A detailed analysis of the archaeological remains of Dunwich, dubbed 'Britain's Atlantis', has produced an accurate map of the town's streets and buildings. The study used advanced underwater imaging techniques to examine the ruins on the seabed, shedding new light on the town's layout and structures.
A Canadian lynx, a carnivorous predator twice the size of a domestic cat, was found to have prowled the British countryside at the turn of the last century. The discovery provides evidence against a popular hypothesis that wild cats entered the country following the 1976 Wild Animals Act.
Researchers have empirically calibrated the Maya Long Count calendar to the modern European calendar using carbon-14 dating, offering a more accurate understanding of Maya dates relative to historic events. The study's findings suggest that climate change played an important role in the development and demise of the complex civilization.
A pioneering study reveals that prehistoric hunter-gatherers in Japan used ceramic vessels to cook freshwater and marine organisms, including high-trophic level aquatic foods. The discovery sheds light on the emergence and widespread adoption of ceramic technology in hunter-gatherer societies.
A team of specialists analyzed a 2,000-year-old bronze battering ram to shed light on how such an object was made in ancient times. The study found that the bronze alloy was composed of 87% copper, 6% tin, and 7% lead, with varying concentrations throughout the casting.
A new dating method has accurately determined the age of Neanderthal remains found in the El Sidrón cave in Asturias, Spain. The results, published in Archaeometry, confirm that the remains are between 45,200 and 51,600 years old.