A 390-million-year-old sea scorpion fossil found in Germany shows that ancient arthropods like spiders and insects were much larger than their modern-day equivalents. The fossil claw is over a foot-and-a-half long, indicating these creatures were among the largest extinct arthropods.
A novel method for sequencing ancient DNA has been developed using the Genome Sequencer FLX system, enabling researchers to study extinct animals with unprecedented accuracy. The technique involves extracting DNA from hair shafts, which are more undamaged and uncontaminated than traditional samples.
Researchers from Penn State University and Copenhagen discovered that hair shafts can preserve ancient DNA, allowing for the sequencing of entire mitochondrial genomes from 10 individual woolly mammoths. This breakthrough enables efficient analysis of genetic material from extinct species.
The CU-Boulder team discovered the first ancient manioc field in the Americas, providing insight into how the Classic Maya supported dense populations. The field, buried under volcanic ash, was found to have been recently planted with manioc stalks, indicating a high level of agricultural productivity.
Researchers used state-of-the-art techniques to recreate an ancient human protein, tracing its evolution and discovering how it acquired a crucial new function. By analyzing the protein's atomic structure, scientists identified seven key historical mutations that recaptured the protein's present-day response to cortisol.
No-till agriculture is more sustainable than conventional plow-based methods, which increase soil erosion. By preserving crop stubble and using disking, no-till farming builds soil fertility and stores carbon, offering a win-win solution for climate change.
A new perspective on the origin of civilization is proposed in Science, suggesting many urban centers existed 5,000 years ago in an arc across Middle Asia. Archaeological findings indicate shared trade, iconography, and culture among civilizations.
Scientists analyzed DNA samples and found that ancient Alaskan gray wolves are genetically distinct from modern wolves. They lived in Alaska continuously from at least 45,000 years ago until approximately 12,000 years ago.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center studied an ancient retrovirus, PtERV1, which infected nonhuman primates 4 million years ago. They found that humans have innate immunity to this virus, but this resistance may have made them more susceptible to HIV infection.
Researchers discovered Alaska's ancient wolves were distinct from modern wolves, with robust bodies and massive canine teeth. The study suggests these specialized hunters and scavengers thrived in ancient Alaska, but their extinction portends potential demise of similar predators due to global warming.
A team of scientists at the University of Manchester found evidence that ancient Egyptian physicians practised a credible form of pharmacy and medicine over 1,000 years before Hippocrates. The researchers discovered medicinal remedies such as honey, resins, and metals with therapeutic merit, many of which remain in use today.
Researchers from Boston University used satellite topographic data to discover an ancient mega-lake in the Darfur province of northwestern Sudan. The lake, which existed for a long period when rainfall was plentiful, holds significant implications for improving knowledge of continental climate change and regional palaeohydrology.
Scientists analyzed DNA and tooth shape in modern and ancient pigs to contradict longstanding ideas about Pacific colonist origins. The research suggests that ancient humans may have traveled between islands before reaching New Guinea and eventually landing on Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Researchers have traced the earliest known evidence for chili pepper domestication to sites in Ecuador dating back 6,100 years. The analysis of starch microfossils reveals that common varieties of chili peppers were widely used in a region extending from the Bahamas to southern Peru.
A new DNA sequencing approach allows researchers to analyze ancient ecosystems in just a few hours, providing more accurate and complete information. This breakthrough helps scientists better understand past climates, species decline, and potential causes of extinction.
Researchers found that ancient Athenian rowers would have matched up well with modern-day athletes in terms of endurance. The study suggests that ancient Greeks may have had a more efficient way of rowing, or were extremely fit, to power their warships at high speeds.
Scientists have found that an ancient global warming event, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, was caused by a massive release of carbon, which heated the planet by 9°F in less than 10,000 years. The research suggests that the climate is even more sensitive to added CO2 than previously thought.
New radiocarbon dating reveals Maui's temples were built in cycles with warfare and island consolidation, shifting from open-air ancestral worship to elaborate sacrificial offerings. The findings provide insight into the economic, political, and ritual development of ancient Hawaiian civilization.
Researchers found evidence that the Sierra Nevada range has stood tall for at least 40 million years, contradicting a recent uplift scenario. The study used chemical analysis of ancient raindrops to determine the mountain's elevation, which was similar in ancient and modern times.
A new Cornell University study reveals the Santorini volcanic eruption occurred about 100 years earlier than previously thought, potentially rewriting Late Bronze Age history. The findings, based on radiocarbon analysis of tree rings and seeds, place the event in the late 17th century B.C., contradicting conventional estimates.
Researchers used ancient and modern DNA to study the decline of Ctenomys sociabilis, a colonial tuco-tuco species. The analysis suggests that population bottlenecks and environmental changes led to the loss of genetic diversity, but also hints at the evolution of social behavior.
The University of Cincinnati and CERHAS have recreated 39 ancient earthworks using virtual reconstructions, offering a new way to explore the Adena, Hopewell, and Fort Ancient cultures. The traveling exhibit will include interactive displays, 3D models, and virtual tours.
Researchers discovered ancient ship timbers at Wadi Gawasis site, dating back approximately 4,000 years, indicating a 2,000-mile round-trip voyage to Punt, a southern Red Sea trading center. The findings confirm the Egyptians had the naval technology to travel long distances by sea.
Margaret Turnbull has shortlisted five stars for radio signal detection and five for direct imaging of Earth-like planets. Her criteria include age, metallicity, and residency on the main sequence, favoring Sun-like stars with stable orbits.
Researchers use confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to analyze ancient microorganisms in Martian rocks, revealing insights into biochemistry and degradation over millions of years. The techniques allow scientists to view fossils in three dimensions, providing new evidence for the search for life on Mars.
A study of ancient Egyptian remains and art reveals that dwarfs were highly respected and integrated into society. Elite dwarfs held important positions, while ordinary ones specialized in various occupations, suggesting a positive image of short people in ancient Egypt.
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered 'light echoes' of ancient supernovae, providing a unique opportunity to study the original light from these events. This finding sheds new light on our understanding of the universe and its elements.
A team of researchers assembled ancient gourd remnants across the Americas and found they matched modern gourds in Asia, suggesting a pre-pottery Asian origin. The findings indicate that people arrived in the New World with domesticated plants and tools, changing our understanding of the founding of the Americas.
A 425-million-year-old clam-like creature, known as an articulate brachiopod, has been found with its soft parts still intact. The fossil provides a unique insight into the workings of ancient shellfish and challenges existing assumptions about their anatomy.
Researchers used XRF imaging to analyze ancient stone inscriptions, detecting minute amounts of iron, zinc, and lead. The technique restored thousands of stones, including the law code of Draco, providing valuable information for historians and archaeologists.
A new study suggests that the Olmec civilization imported pottery from other cultures, contradicting previous claims that it was the sole source. The findings use petrography to identify minerals in pottery fragments and reveal reciprocal trade between highland and lowland centers.
DOE JGI scientists have overcome major challenges to sequence DNA from ancient cave bear specimens, yielding 40,000-year-old genomic data. The breakthrough enables comparison with modern brown bears and polar bears, shedding light on human predecessors.
A new computer model reveals that ancient Palaeozoic seas were almost tideless, preventing oxygen circulation and creating an environment inhospitable to life. This finding has significant implications for understanding the evolution of early marine life and ancient climates.
Researchers found well-preserved cedar timbers, curved steering oars, and limestone block-anchors from ancient Egyptian ships. The discoveries shed new light on Egypt's sea-faring past and provide insight into trade expeditions to the Red Sea region known as Punt.
A study found that an ancient enzyme, GCN2 kinase, plays a crucial role in guiding healthy eating behavior in mammals. The enzyme detects changes in blood amino acid levels and triggers a behavioral response to limit consumption of imbalanced food.
Research shows that contemporary irrigation projects have diverted river basins, introducing excess fresh water that disrupts mangrove tree species composition and ethnobiological relationships. Early detection of such changes is essential for preventing further mangrove degradation and protecting vital ecosystems.
Astronomer Dr. Schaefer has discovered a long-lost star catalog of Hipparchus, an ancient Greek astronomer, on the Roman statue Farnese Atlas. The catalog, which dates back to 129 B.C., was previously thought to be lost and its accuracy questioned.
Researchers at Queen's University have discovered the mineral ikaite in ancient marine sedimentary rocks, suggesting that the ocean was colder than previously thought. The study challenges the 'Snowball Earth' hypothesis and proposes an alternative explanation for the formation of this mineral.
A newly discovered civilization in Peru's Norte Chico region thrived 5000 years ago, featuring monumental architecture and a complex economy. The finding sheds new light on the development of complex societies, challenging previous assumptions about early civilizations.
Researchers analyzed ancient liquids in bronze vessels from China, dating back to the Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties, and found evidence of fermented rice and millet wines. The discovery confirms a 9,000-year history of Chinese fermented beverages and sheds light on their role in ancient culture.
A new fossil discovery in Edmonton provides crucial insights into the evolution of brown bears in North America. The ancient fossil, dated to around 26,000 years ago, reveals that brown bears migrated south of Beringia much earlier than previously believed, with some populations reaching as far as southern Canada and the northern US.
Scientists at Ohio State University discovered ancient fossils of arthropods composed of tiny bacteria fossils, providing evidence of exceptional preservation. The bacteria self-fossilized, replicating the body of the animal and preserving its shape and texture.
Researchers find that ancient corals built skeletons mostly of calcite, contrary to the long-held belief that this mineral is fixed over time. The study also reveals that corals in ancient seawater grew more slowly than those in modern water.
Fossil discovery reveals ancient sea spiders are related to land spiders and scorpions, with the new species Haliestes dasos dating back 35 million years. The preserved specimens provide valuable insights into their unique body form and behavior.
Researchers found a large body of water, comparable to the Baltic Sea or all Great Lakes combined, near the NASA Opportunity rover's landing site on Mars. The study suggests that the ancient sea was present for an extended period and must have been deep enough to build up sediments roughly one-third of a mile deep.
Physicist Rose suggests that inscribing information on a physical medium can be more energy-efficient than sending messages through radio waves. He proposes this method as a solution for communicating with extraterrestrial civilizations, potentially leading to millions of messages being discovered on Earth or other celestial bodies.
Textile researchers are uncovering secrets about ancient lives through chemical and physical analysis. Fragments of prehistoric fabric provide clues about the status, wealth, and cultural practices of individuals buried in North American archaeological sites. By studying these textiles, experts can gain a deeper understanding of the te...
Spanish scientists have developed a technique to determine the color of ancient wine, revealing that King Tut's wine was made with red grapes. The analysis is the first extensive chemical analysis done on a jar from King Tut's tomb and provides evidence of the color of wine in an archaeological sample.
A team of astronomers has discovered 13 distant quasars, providing valuable insights into the early universe. The most ancient quasars are thought to have formed right along with supermassive black holes, suggesting a rapid transition from the cosmic dark ages to the cosmic renaissance.
A magnificent Maya altar stone carved in 796 AD has been recovered from a looters' hideout, providing crucial clues about the wealthiest Maya kingdoms. The altar's recovery illustrates the importance of working with indigenous peoples to restore ancient ruins.
Researchers hope that ice cores and ancient plants retrieved from glaciers in the Peruvian Andes may contain clues about a mysterious global climate change that occurred over 5,000 years ago. The cores are expected to provide a critical piece of the puzzle needed to understand climate variability in the region.
A study by ecologist Jeff Dukes calculates that 98 tons of plants per gallon are needed to produce modern fossil fuels. The research found that the amount of carbon in ancient plant matter required to form coal, oil, and gas is equivalent to all the plant growth on Earth over 13,300 years.
A UBC-led research team has confirmed the existence of the universe's oldest and farthest planet, a gas giant formed 13 billion years ago. The ancient world takes a century to complete each orbit and is unlikely to support life due to its metal-poor composition.
Researchers at Columbia University suggest that ancient faults in the Wabash Valley Fault System may be re-activated, causing recent earthquakes. The study analyzed seismic data from a June 2002 earthquake and found evidence of strike-slip faulting on a near-vertical fault plane at 18 km depth.
Ancient societies successfully transformed their environments through slow, incremental changes to living, labor, agricultural, and water collection/distribution practices. In Bali, Indonesia, centuries-old environmental/cultural/religious practices remain functional, highlighting the complexity of human ecology in ancient landscapes.
The EarthWorks project uses architectural software and high-resolution computer modeling to virtually rebuild ancient Native American monuments. The team has successfully recreated the location and appearance of many region's earthworks constructed by the Adena, Hopewell and Fort Ancient cultures from as early as 600 BC.
Kirk Johnson's latest discovery of the rainforest in Denver provides answers to key questions about ancient landscaping and will aid scientists in predicting groundwater availability. The rainforest, one of the oldest-known on earth, is now on display at the DMNS, accompanied by a Web site and book.
A Purdue research report suggests that ancient lake sediments and computer simulations indicate El Niño might react differently to global warming than current theory claims. The tropical Pacific Ocean maintains its ability to remove heat periodically, even when the climate warms.
Professor William Johnson seeks to understand ancient reading habits, focusing on the social context rather than individual acts of reading. His research aims to shed light on why the ancients preferred reading aloud and its cultural significance.
Scientists uncover a unique ecosystem in Lake Vida, with ancient organic material and sediment, and a liquid zone beneath the ice. The discovery provides insights into the evolution of life on Earth and potentially offers clues to finding signs of ancient Martian microbial life.