Climate change threatens societal capacity, leading to governance failures and basic necessities shortages. The authors propose three collapse scenarios: direct effects, indirect impacts on trade and international cooperation, and decreased adaptability.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers Anabel Ford and Mattanjah de Vries reveals that cacao was accessible to the general populace and used in celebrations at all levels of ancient Maya society. The analysis of 54 archaeological ceramic sherds from El Pilar, Belize, found evidence of cacao residues in all vessel types, including ...
Researchers discovered that ancient Maya cities in Mesoamerica were heavily polluted with mercury, contaminating the soil and water. The pollution was caused by the frequent use of mercury and cinnabar paints, powders, and other products, which leached into the environment and pose a potential health hazard today.
Sturt Manning's statistical analysis has narrowed the time range for the Thera volcano eruption to between 1609–1560 BCE with a 95.4% probability. This new timeline synchronizes Eastern Mediterranean civilizations and rules out ancillary theories, potentially rewriting history.
A recent study by Dr Joseph Michalski from HKU suggests that the number of ancient Martian lakes may have been significantly overestimated. The analysis of satellite data reveals evidence for smaller lakes on Mars, which could contain critical information about past climates.
The study provides a detailed genomic history of the Southern Arc from Neolithic to Ottoman periods, revealing complex migrations and population interactions. The analysis challenges previous modern population history and ancient writings, suggesting an inaccurate picture of early Indo-European cultures.
Researchers discovered the Griffin Warrior likely grew up near the seaside city he would rule and was from wealthier social status. Ancient DNA analysis showed that around 5,000 years ago, people with ancestry from Eastern Europe spread across the European continent and into Western Asia.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge's CSER highlight the need for improved surveillance and public education to mitigate the impact of volcanic eruptions. The risk of a magnitude seven explosion in the next 100 years is one-in-six, with potential consequences including abrupt climate change and collapse of civilizations.
A new study reveals key clues about the form of the most ancestral nervous system and how it first evolved. Researchers found that neurons, possibly the most complicated cell type ever to evolve, share similar structures with comb jellies and other ancient animal lineages.
Scientists uncover ancient herpes DNA, revealing the virus's prehistoric origins around 5,000 years ago. The discovery suggests a link between the emergence of facial herpes and cultural practices like romantic and sexual kissing in Europe during the Bronze Age.
A team of scholars at the University of Bologna revived and studied ancient alchemical texts, then put procedures into practice in the laboratory. The results revealed unexpected methods for mercury extraction and the use of substances like natron and iron in sublimation processes.
Researchers have uncovered thousands of artifacts along Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, shedding new light on the ancient Maya people who lived in a dynamic interplay between social and natural processes. The project has provided valuable insights into how the Maya adapted to environmental changes, such as rising sea levels, and offers a m...
Researchers found that dogs derive ancestry from at least two separate wolf populations, an eastern source and a more westerly source. The study, published in Nature, analyzed 72 ancient wolf genomes spanning the last 100,000 years and suggests that domestication occurred in multiple places.
Researchers found evidence of wild trees and plants growing near ancient Maya city Yaxnohcah, suggesting the civilization managed their environment prudently. The study suggests the ancient Maya cultivated pine trees for fuel, but also left much of the rainforest intact.
A 1,700-year-old genome study from Korea reveals greater genetic heterogeneity among ancient Gaya confederacy individuals compared to modern Koreans. The findings suggest that the Korean peninsula experienced more genetic diversity in the past, with ancient Koreans intermixing within the region.
A study of ancient DNA from a 100,000-year-old polar bear genome found that extensive hybridization between polar bears and brown bears occurred during the last warm interglacial period. As a result, all living brown bears today have some polar bear ancestry.
Asteroid Psyche's varied surface suggests a dynamic history, with metallic eruptions, asteroid-shaking impacts, and a lost rocky mantle. The new maps hint at the asteroid's ancient core, which could be composed of silicate-rich material that has since disappeared.
Researchers at UT Austin discovered a rule connecting channel belts to river patterns, finding that channels in ancient rivers lead to narrower belts. Multichannel rivers take up more space on the belt and are closer to the floodplain, influencing landscape shaping.
A study by Australian National University researchers found genetic evidence of ancient migration and intermingling between Austronesian peoples and local populations in Wallacea. The findings suggest a significant maritime migration occurred between 3,000 to 3,500 years ago.
A new study finds that polar bears and brown bears have a complicated evolutionary history due to interbreeding. The analysis of modern bear genomes and ancient DNA from a 115,000-year-old tooth reveals gene flow from brown bears into polar bears, challenging previous hypotheses.
A joint research team has discovered ancient continental rocks at the Southwest Indian Ridge, dating back 2.7 billion years. The rocks' composition suggests they were recycled from the neighboring African continent through the asthenosphere, challenging current understanding of oceanic crust formation.
Research by University of Texas Institute for Geophysics reveals how ancient global warming affected the Gulf of Mexico's marine life and chemistry. The study found that radiolarians thrived in the Gulf due to nutrient-rich river sediments, providing valuable lessons about current climate change.
A global dataset of river avulsions confirms the existence of three distinct regimes: fan avulsions that occur when a river transitions to flatter topography, backwater-scaled delta avulsions found in low-sloping deltas along major waterways, and extreme sediment load delta avulsions triggered by intense flooding and sediment transport.
New research from a stalagmite reveals that the Pueblo cultural development coincided with drier climatic conditions in the southwestern US. The study suggests that climate change played a significant role in shaping the region's cultural history, challenging previous assumptions about the impact of megadroughts on civilizations.
Researchers found that ancient Maltese humans had limited genetic changes due to island isolation. The study suggests that seascapes played a central role in shaping the genetic structure of European populations.
Whole genome sequences of ancient Uruguayan Indigenous people provide a genetic snapshot of populations before European military campaigns decimated them. The results support the theory of separate migrations into South America, contradicting the idea of a single Native American race across North and South America.
Fossil analysis reveals mollusk communities were resilient to major climatic shifts but struggled under human-induced changes, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Historians note a shift in Eurocentric conceptualizations of science, leading to the emergence of civilization-specific alternatives. John Augustus Abayomi Cole's work on astrological geomancy sought to elevate African knowledge practices and critique European imperialism.
A recent study confirms that tuberculosis strains associated with marine mammals were also present in inland populations in pre-colonial South America. The researchers found three new ancient TB genomes from human remains in the highlands of Colombia, which resemble a TB variant found in seals and sea lions.
Ancient artworks from Minoan civilization of ancient Greece depict domesticated saffron, suggesting cultivation around 1600 BCE. Genetic studies support this origin, placing the modern saffron crocus with its three genomes as a result of natural selection in Bronze Age Greece.
Researchers have developed a new method to study ancient grains of sand, revealing details of the Earth's distant geological past. The 'age distribution fingerprint' of zircon minerals sheds light on the evolution of continents and the accumulation of mineral resources.
Researchers found that Indian Summer Monsoon rainfall was less intense during the Last Interglacial period than in the current warm period, contradicting paleoclimate model simulations. The study suggests that sea surface temperature plays a dominant role in shaping monsoon variability in South Asia.
Researchers created largest human genealogy by combining thousands of modern and ancient genomes across various datasets. This unified genealogy offers insight into key events in human history, including the timing and geographical locations of migration events like the out-of-Africa migration.
A new analysis of human remains provides the earliest DNA from sub-Saharan Africa, outlining major demographic shifts between 80,000 and 20,000 years ago. The study reveals people moved and settled in other areas, developed alliances and networks to trade and share information.
Using ancient and historical DNA can assess population genetic patterns and inform conservation actions. The study reveals that a/hDNA can be compared with contemporary data to set baselines for intra-species genetic diversity and estimate changes in effective population size.
The Inka empire's khipu system, a tactile fiber medium, recorded quantitative and qualitative data through encoding systems that still need to be fully grasped. This technology allowed for the expansion of the empire and implies a broad understanding of the language of khipus.
Researchers found that societies without written languages could still be large and complex, but those with elaborate writing systems tended to have less shared power. Writing was often used to convey messages between high-status individuals rather than facilitating communication across vast distances.
A recent study in Current Biology reveals that ancient migrations significantly influenced the physiology and appearance of contemporary Europeans. The research found that specific ancestries contributed to traits such as height, skin pigmentation, and body mass index, while others were linked to cholesterol levels and sleep patterns.
Researchers have identified locations of ancient Maya sacred groves containing cacao trees, which played a crucial role in rituals and trade routes. The discovery sheds light on the economic, political, and spiritual significance of cacao in Mesoamerican culture.
New research reveals ancient trees' vital role in maintaining forest adaptive capacity. These 'life history lottery winners' harbor essential genetic diversity passed on through generations.
A symmetrical, 2x3 km buried formation in Qatar suggests evidence of a sedentary civilization with advanced engineering skills. The site's unique soil composition and landscaping point to irrigation systems and crop cultivation.
The Curiosity rover has detected large amounts of carbon 12 in Martian rocks, which could be indicative of biological processes. The discovery is intriguing, but scientists caution that more data is needed to rule out non-biological explanations.
Researchers at Rutgers University have discovered broomcorn millet in ancient Iraq, pushing the timeline of agriculture in the region. This finding highlights the interconnected nature of Eurasia and challenges previous assumptions about the capacity and resilience of ancient agricultural systems.
Scientists successfully extracted DNA from sediment blocks stored up to 40 years ago, providing access to a vast untapped repository of genetic information. The study reveals that specific sediment features are more conducive to ancient DNA preservation than others.
Two studies highlight significant migration to Great Britain that replaced 50% of the island's ancestry during the Late Bronze Age. The analysis also reveals a dramatic increase in milk tolerance around 1200 B.C., providing new insights into dairy consumption in Britain.
The study of 66 individuals from Kulubnarti, Sudan, reveals that people lived during a period of cultural and social change without strong relationships between social status and biological relatedness. Genetic analysis also shows that some second-degree relatives were buried across the cemetery divide, indicating fluidity among groups.
Scientists have discovered a way to extract monthly and weekly ocean temperature records from the shells of tiny surf clams, revealing clues to Earth's past climate. The study uses a species of short-lived clam that has not been used before, allowing researchers to reconstruct sea surface temperatures and past climates with precision.
A team of international researchers has developed a globally-applicable ethical code for ancient human DNA research, aiming to address social and cultural implications. The code proposes cooperation with stakeholders, minimal damage to human remains, and respect for indigenous communities' perspectives.
The study provides insights into the genetic evolution and migration of chickpeas, offering a roadmap for improving the crop's nutritional value and climate resilience. Chickpeas are a main protein source for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly in South Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world.
New research from the University of Arizona suggests that a slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will intensify extreme cold weather in the US. The study found that without the AMOC, extremely cold winter weather would become more frequent and severe.
The Perseverance rover's images of the Martian river delta reveal a steady flow of water into an ancient lake about 3.7 billion years ago. The analysis also identifies promising rock layers that could preserve traces of life, if it ever existed on Mars.
A recent discovery at Tikal reveals a previously unknown neighborhood designed to replicate Teotihuacan's citadel, sparking new insights into the interaction between the two civilizations. Excavations found evidence of occupation and surveillance, as well as artifacts linking Tikal to Teotihuacan's imperial power.
An international team of scientists has resolved a half-century-old mystery by discovering that ancient burrow traces in Australian quartzite were made by crustaceans around 40 million years ago. The discovery was made possible by analyzing unusual radioactive minerals in the sand, which revealed that the burrows were more than a billi...
A study of ancient civilizations and climate change found that investing in resilient landscapes can help both urban and rural communities survive climatic stress. Long-term investment in soil fertility, water storage, and biodiversity can enable tolerance to periods of climate variability.
Ancient DNA research has revealed multiple waves of introgression between archaic humans and modern humans, as well as genetic continuity with present-day populations. Genetic data support an origin of early modern humans in Africa, while Eurasian populations show several early human lineages.
Researchers found that ancient Siberian human populations interacted with outside dog populations at least 2,000 years ago, suggesting dogs were traded as goods. The study reveals that modern dog breeds like Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies maintain significant ancestry from a lineage established prior to 9,500 years ago.
A recent study using genome-wide data from 82 ancient individuals in central and southern Italy has clarified the origins of the enigmatic Etruscans. The results show that despite their unique cultural expressions, the Etruscans were closely related to their Italic neighbors, with genetic transformations associated with historical events.
Researchers analyzed 1,785 ancient human genomes to determine parental relatedness, revealing that cousin marriages occurred only 3% of the time. The new method allowed for more efficient screening of ancient DNA, also providing insights into population dynamics and demographic impact of agriculture.
Researchers created a massive virtual universe, Uchuu, consisting of 2.1 trillion particles in a computational cube spanning 9.63 billion light-years. The simulation allows for the study of dark matter and large-scale structure on an unprecedented scale.
Researchers sequenced the genomes of an ancient date palm leaf and found evidence of hybridization with wild relatives. The study sheds light on the evolution of date palms in North Africa, showing that genetic material from another species was present 2,200 years ago.