Researchers extract biochemical information from fossil bones, avoiding errors associated with morphology, to compare ancient and modern species. The study reveals the survivability of osteocalcin protein in fossil bones, paving the way for new insights into evolutionary relationships.
A new excavation at Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Moon reveals a distinctive Mayan-style burial with jade artifacts, suggesting a direct connection between Teotihuacan rulers and the Maya royal families. The discovery sheds new light on the government of Teotihuacan and its potential influence on Mayan politics.
Researchers are studying prehistoric human footpaths in Costa Rica, which were visible only through satellite images but invisible to the naked eye. The team hopes to uncover insights into ancient settlements, cultural practices, and potential connections between villages.
Scientists at UCLA have developed a new technique that enables them to analyze the molecular composition of ancient fossils, providing conclusive evidence for their biological origin. The study's findings confirm that the oldest known fossils are made of organic matter similar to living microbes.
New research suggests earthquakes destroyed fortified buildings, changed river courses and made elite rulers vulnerable to attack in ancient civilizations. Scientists at Stanford University are painting a picture of an ancient world where earthquakes played a crucial role in shaping history.
Professor Christer Bruun of the University of Toronto reveals that ancient Rome's aqueducts were technological marvels that brought clean water to over 1 million people. The Romans separated high-quality water for drinking from water used for flushing, a practice still lacking in many modern cities, including Canada.
A massive sand delta, over 325 feet thick and nearly 22 miles wide, was found in ancient shorelines of South Florida. This discovery suggests a river system significantly larger than present-day Florida once flowed through the state.
Geologists have identified the ancient harbor of Troy by correlating sedimentary facies with ancient texts, including Strabo's Geographies. The findings will be presented at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting in Boston.
Researchers at University of Illinois dispute extensive trade theory for prehistoric society Cahokia, citing new evidence that local red flint clay was used instead of catlinite. The study uses a new mineral analyzer technique to identify the stone's mineral composition and find no connection between catlinite and the culture.
Researchers analyzed ancient coral cores to study climate patterns and found that El Niño was weaker during ice ages, while warm periods saw stronger events. The findings suggest global warming may be responsible for recent intense El Niño events, but more research is needed.
A University of Michigan study finds that ancient human fossils from Australia and Europe show distinctive characteristics to an older African population, contradicting the 'Eve theory'. The research suggests that multiple groups of humans survived and thrived globally, rather than a single ancestral group replacing others.
Researchers found ancient soil in South Africa with organic carbon dating back 2.6-2.7 billion years, indicating microbial mats developed on land during rainy seasons. The findings suggest the development of terrestrial biomass more than 1.4 billion years earlier than previously reported.
A team of geologists proposes a new model for the collision and rifting of ancient continents, contradicting a previous theory. The revised model suggests that land masses were broken apart into smaller terrains that attached over time, rather than undergoing a massive collision.
The Foundation for Exploration and Research on Cultural Origins (FERCO) has funded eight research projects on ancient civilizations in Asia, North America and Europe. These projects include studies of early maritime adaptations, trade networks and the distribution of obsidian, among others.
A team of biologists led by Carl E. Bauer have determined that non-oxygen-producing bacterial species such as purple and green bacteria are the most ancient photosynthetic bacteria. This finding reverses conventional thinking on the evolution of photosynthetic bacteria, suggesting a complex evolutionary history.
Researchers analyzed ancient sediments to shed light on ancient drought cycles and their potential link to future aridity. The study found well-defined 80- to 100-year cycles of alternately arid and humid conditions in the region.
Researchers have found a previously unknown oxygen-isotope signature in sulfate minerals on Earth, altering the understanding of the anomaly's origin. The discovery provides a new window into the Earth's ancient atmosphere and its cycling processes.
A North Carolina State University professor argues that a greater understanding of ancient medicine could provide modern doctors with new ways to treat diseases and identify potential dangers. He cites examples such as St. John's wort, which was initially used as an antiseptic but later found to have abortifacient effects.
Researchers analyzed 176 species of modern-day plants to determine the sources of carbon in the atmosphere hundreds of millions of years ago. However, their results suggest that fossil plants may not provide a direct link between ancient carbon levels and climate change.
A University of Hawaii research team has discovered a new class of myoglobin-like proteins in ancient microorganisms, which may be the evolutionary ancestors of proteins involved in oxygen sensing and transport. These proteins help sense oxygen, allowing the organism to find a more favorable oxygen environment.
Researchers use data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter to test hypotheses of oceans on Mars, finding four types of quantitative evidence supporting an ancient ocean. The discovery has implications for understanding long-term climate change and its relevance to Earth's future.
A recent University of Georgia study suggests that retroviruses, including HIV, may have an ancient origin. Researchers analyzed the genome of a worm called Caenorhabditis elegans and found evidence of retroviral-like elements in its DNA. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the evolution of complex retroviruses.
A team of researchers is using seismic equipment to map the Earth's structure beneath the Rocky Mountains, aiming to understand how ancient land masses collided to form the continent. By analyzing density and material properties of rocks, they hope to visualize the structure of what lies far under the Earth's surface.
Researchers have discovered a prehistoric virus in Arctic ice that could potentially re-emerge as the climate warms. The ancient tomato mosaic tobamovirus was found in ice cores dating back 500 to 140,000 years, raising concerns about the possibility of new epidemics.
German scientists used a climate model to conclude that the Sahara's desertification began abruptly 5,440 years ago due to subtle changes in Earth's orbit. The resulting desertification had significant impacts on ancient civilizations, with some of the most severe changes occurring between 4,000 and 3,600 years ago.
Scientists have used seismic reflection profiling to reveal an ancient river valley one mile wide and 250 feet deep beneath Portland, Ore. The study suggests that earthquakes ruptured the surface in the past 15,000 years and that two suspected fault zones are active.
Paleontologist Bruce MacFadden analyzed fossilized horse teeth to determine their diet, revealing a combination of foods in an ancient Florida savannah-like environment. The study challenges traditional views on the relationship between tooth structure and diet.
Researchers can now forecast long-term climate cycles, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation. By understanding these cycles, policymakers can develop strategies to lessen climate-related effects, potentially ensuring cultural survival.
Researchers successfully revived bacteria extracted from ancient bees preserved in amber, opening up new possibilities for pharmaceuticals and industrial applications. Ancient plant specimens are also being studied to understand genetic evolution and identify potential biocontrol uses.
Researchers have discovered ancient reptile nests in Arizona's Petrified Forest, dating back 220 million years. The finds push the fossil record of reptile nesting behavior back by 110 million years.
Researchers have uncovered 38 additional fossils that provide a more complete picture of Australopithecus anamensis, confirming its status as the most ancient known upright-walking human ancestor. The new discoveries reveal primitive features such as large canine teeth and sexual dimorphism.
Researchers use high-tech Ground Penetrating Radar to uncover ancient shell middens, revealing Native American cooking practices and sea-level changes in the area. The technique allows for non-invasive exploration of saltwater marshes, providing new insights into the region's history.
African climate has abruptly turned from wet to dry in short time spans, every 1,500 years, according to Columbia University paleoclimatologist Peter deMenocal. This cycle matches a pattern of abrupt changes in the North Atlantic region and points to a persistent, naturally occurring cycle of climate change.
A University of Cincinnati geologist presents evidence from ancient volcanic ash beds indicating a narrow Iapetus Ocean existed during the Ordovician period. The discovery contradicts previous theories that the ocean disappeared due to landmasses being locked together.
Researchers found the ancient Sahara was much wetter 12,000 to 5,000 years ago, with stronger summer monsoons producing more vegetation and increased water content in the soil. The vegetation and soil changes enhanced the effects of orbital shifts, leading to a 10% increase in annual precipitation.
A team of scientists has assembled evidence on rocks and rock formations deep beneath the surface to locate an ancient strike-slip fault. If successful, this will provide opportunities to study geological processes in the lower crust during strike-slip faulting.
Six American institutions are putting ancient manuscript collections online through the Advanced Papyrological Information System (APIS), making fragile materials accessible to scholars worldwide. The effort aims to digitize and link images, texts, and bibliography for easier research.
The ancient port of Berenike continued to operate for centuries longer than previously thought, with entrepreneurs keeping costs low to maximize profits. Traders brought in luxury goods like elephants, gold, and red coral, while also exporting essential items like frankincense and Indian pepper.
Artificial societies, like Sugarscape, allow researchers to grow certain social structures systematically, uncovering fundamental mechanisms that generate macroscopic social structures. These 'laboratories' enable the study of entire civilizations as they grow, prosper, compete and fail, fundamentally changing social science research.
A team of researchers at Cornell University has identified the exact year logs were cut from ancient tombs in Turkey, dating back to 718 B.C. This finding pushes back the Aegean Late Bronze Age by as much as a century, providing new insights into ancient civilizations such as the Minoans and Mycenaeans.