A new study sheds light on human responses to climate change in ancient Turkey, revealing local evidence of resilience and flourishing societies despite changes in the region. The research provides a significant new dataset that helps address questions about societal responses to proposed climate change.
A global study of ancient dog DNA found at least five different types of dogs more than 11,000 years ago in Europe, the Near East, and Siberia. The research team sequenced DNA from 27 dogs, showing that canine diversity originated when humans were still hunters and gatherers.
Researchers found previously unknown lead compounds in ancient Egyptian red and black inks, suggesting they were used as a drying agent. The discovery challenges previous understanding of ancient lead-based pigments and may indicate widespread use of similar techniques earlier than thought.
Researchers analyzed red and black inks from 100-200 AD papyri, finding lead used as a dryer rather than pigment. The discovery sheds light on complex ink recipes and potential connections to Renaissance paint practices.
Researchers detected iron-based compounds as ocher in ancient red ink, while lead, phosphorus, and sulfur were found in micrometric rings surrounding ocher particles in red ink. Lead compounds also appeared in black inks, likely used as drying agents rather than pigments.
The ancient Maya created a water filtration system nearly 2,000 years ago, using crystalline quartz and zeolite to remove harmful microbes and toxins from drinking water. This innovative system would still be effective today.
A study analyzing ancient DNA from Tibetan Plateau remains found that prehistoric bovids were genetically similar to modern Asian wild gaurs and diverged approximately 18,000 years ago. Rhinoceroses roamed the region between 8,000 to 6,000 years ago, suggesting a warm and moist environment at the time.
Researchers have discovered evidence of Byzantine and Early Islamic resource management practices through micro-geoarchaeological investigations of trash mounds in the Negev region of Israel. The findings provide insights into agricultural shifts during the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiquity.
A University of Reading mathematician is collaborating with Microsoft to study ancient mathematical problems, including Diophantine equations, to aid in the development of encryption software. The project aims to create more secure data protection against quantum computers that can solve complex mathematical problems quickly.
A new display at Swansea University's Egypt Centre will showcase artefacts from Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other ancient civilizations to educate visitors about issues like identity, racism, and xenophobia. The exhibit aims to spark meaningful discussions on these topics, drawing from the rich material available in the ancient world.
A new study characterizes the microbial diversity of ancient gut contents from medieval latrines, providing insights into pre-industrial agricultural populations' microbiomes. The research highlights the value of ancient latrines as sources of bio-molecular information, shedding light on the health of modern microbiomes.
A new study analyzed DNA from medieval latrines in Jerusalem and Riga, Latvia, providing insights into the microbiomes of pre-industrial agricultural populations. The findings highlight the value of ancient latrines as sources of bio-molecular information and may provide context for interpreting modern microbiome health.
Researchers used computer simulations to study the behavior of ancient ancestors, revealing their ability to adapt to different positions within the water. The findings suggest that these jawless vertebrates were not as limited as previously thought and had diverse lifestyles.
UTA researcher Warda Ashraf is studying long-lasting Roman structures to develop sustainable construction materials. She aims to recreate ancient concrete using alkali-activated calcined clays to produce highly durable and resilient materials.
The study found that paddy rice farming and grasses increased significantly between 2,700 and 2,000 years ago, indicating anthropogenic deforestation and expansion of rice agriculture in southern China and Southeast Asia. Over the past 3,000 years, coastal landscapes expanded coinciding with suitable land for growing rice.
A study has discovered that unglazed ceramic cookware can retain the residue of not just the last meal cooked, but potentially earlier dishes, allowing for the reconstruction of ancient recipes. The research team analyzed chemical compounds adhering to and absorbed by the earthenware in which they were prepared.
Researchers analyzed ancient texts from 600 BCE, concluding that many inhabitants of the kingdom of Judah could read and write. The study suggests that literacy was not exclusive to royal scribes, but rather a widespread skill among the population.
A study reveals that ancient Peruvian farmers used floodwater from El Niño events for agriculture, benefiting from flushed-out salts and flexible irrigation systems. This ancient farming practice allowed for runoff harvesting and river water distribution, suggesting potential agricultural advantages during El Niño events.
A year-long cooking experiment found that charred remains, inner surface residues, and lipids absorbed within the ceramic walls record cooking events across different time scales. This provides insights into ancient culinary practices, resource usage, and vessel lifespan.
Researchers discovered a new ichnospecies, Karethraichnus zaratan, living on the carapace of an extinct marine turtle during the Late Cretaceous period. The species is believed to be a bivalve that formed symbiotic relationships with its host, revealing new insights into ancient paleoecology and evolution.
Three ancient Egyptian animals, a snake, bird, and cat, have been digitally unwrapped using high-resolution 3D scans. The scans revealed the animals' ages, possible causes of death, and conditions they were kept in, providing new insights into animal mummification, religion, and human-animal relationships in ancient Egypt.
Researchers analyzed facial expressions in ancient American art, finding that some emotions like elation and anger are universally conveyed. This study supports the idea that feelings can be expressed nonverbally across cultures.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that precipitation must have been between 13-520 feet to fill ancient lake beds and river valleys on Mars. This study helps scientists understand the planet's climate and provides a crucial reference for future Mars missions.
Research published in Science Advances by a University of Saskatchewan-led team reveals an explosion of ancient life on the ocean floor nearly 540 million years ago. The study found evidence of animals actively engineering their ecosystem, constructing diverse burrows that may have laid the foundation for greater diversity in marine life.
A new study from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology has reconstructed a tuberculosis genome from the calcified lungs of a 17th-century bishop, supporting the idea that TB emerged within the last 6,000 years. The discovery sheds light on the origins of TB and challenges the prevailing assumption about its global distribution.
Researchers have developed a framework to reconcile discrepancies in ancient sea surface temperature estimates and climate model results. By accounting for location-biased paleoclimate data, scientists can better reconstruct global climate conditions in the past and improve predictions of future climate scenarios.
Scientists have deciphered the ancient genome of the tuatara, a reptile native to New Zealand, revealing patterns that shed light on vertebrate evolution and genomic structure. The study's findings confirm the evolutionary position of the tuatara and provide insights into human genomes.
A new algorithm reveals evidence of interbreeding between ancient humans and their relatives, with some humans carrying DNA from an unknown archaic ancestor. The study suggests that genetic exchange occurred frequently among overlapping groups.
Researchers found that ancient Arabians used fluted projectile points not just for functionality but also to demonstrate their technical skills and social status. The study provides evidence of independent invention across continents, highlighting the unique cultural practices of these ancient civilizations.
A team of astronomers discovered a stellar stream composed of the remnants of an ancient globular cluster torn apart by the Milky Way's gravity 2 billion years ago. The Phoenix Stream is distinct from other globular clusters and suggests that there may be no minimum abundance of heavier elements required for their formation.
A new study pushes back the earliest evidence for smallpox infection by nearly 1,000 years to the 7th century in northern Europe. The discovery of a previously unknown clade of the smallpox virus suggests it may have been widespread throughout Viking Age Europe.
Ancient fox diets show a shift from natural food sources to human leftovers around 42,000 years ago. Foxes adapted to humans as they populated the region, indicating early human impact on local ecosystems.
Researchers from the University of Warwick analyze sedimentary ancient DNA from Doggerland, revealing insights into a 8150-year-old tsunami and its impact on the region. The study develops new methods for authenticating ancient DNA, including metagenomic assessment methodology.
A study using chemical analysis reveals that the Hyksos rulers of Ancient Egypt were a multi-cultural group who rose to power from within. The research found that a large percentage of the population in the ancient capital city were non-locals who immigrated from various places, contradicting the common story of a sudden invasion.
Scientists have identified similarities between ancient New Zealand penguins and Northern Hemisphere plotopterids, suggesting both groups were strong swimmers that used their wings to propel them deep underwater. The study sheds light on how birds evolved to use their wings for swimming instead of flying.
Researchers found toxic levels of mercury and blue-green algae in ancient Maya reservoirs, suggesting droughts may have contributed to the city's abandonment. The pollutants made the water toxic to drink, even if boiled, highlighting the importance of understanding environmental factors in ancient civilizations.
Genetic study reveals modern sled dog breeds share a distinct lineage that emerged at least 9,500 years ago. The analysis of ancient and modern Arctic dog genomes suggests gene flow from Siberian Pleistocene wolves, highlighting the importance of sled technology in human subsistence.
A study published in Science Advances finds that as ancient Pueblo villages grew in size, their residents' per capita production of food and goods increased. This suggests that busy streets may lead to better-off citizens. The research provides a lesson for modern cities on the benefits of social connection and urbanization.
Researchers characterized carp scales using X-ray imaging, revealing a toughening mechanism called adaptive reorientation. The study's findings may inspire the design of advanced synthetic materials.
Researchers estimate 30+ active intelligent civilizations in our galaxy using new data and simplifying assumptions about life forms. The Astrobiological Copernican Limit suggests that intelligent life may exist for billions of years, giving clues to our own civilization's long-term existence.
A new study using ancient DNA found evidence of at least three population dispersals that brought people to the Caribbean, with genetic differences between early settlers and newcomers from South America. The research suggests that the islands were settled and resettled several times from different parts of the American mainland.
A new study using ancient DNA found at least three population dispersals that brought people to the Caribbean, challenging traditional views of the region's early settlement. The researchers also discovered biological and cultural diversity among the early settlers.
A new study reveals that most cultural changes in the Near East had no lasting effect on the genetics of local people in Beirut. Only three periods - Iron Age, Alexander the Great's arrival, and Ottoman Empire domination - left a lasting genetic impact.
Researchers analyzed 73 ancient genomes and found that the Canaanites descended from a mixture of local Neolithic populations and Iranian/Caucasus-related ancestry. This study sheds light on the cultural and genetic similarity among city-states, and how migration from the northeast may have influenced the region's culture.
Researchers found that ancient civilizations underwent three phases of sociopolitical development, with population growth being the first driver, followed by innovations in information processing and storage. The study suggests that these advances enabled societies to continue growing beyond a certain scale threshold.
The analysis of ancient genomes has revealed how demographic events such as migrations have spurred major cultural shifts in France. The study found that Magdalenian-associated ancestry survived beyond the Iberian Peninsula, and that Neolithic people who migrated to France descended from Anatolian farmers.
Researchers from Germany and Vietnam discover two new species and one subspecies of crocodile newts in northern Vietnam, bringing the total of crocodile newt taxa known from the country to seven. The discovery highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts due to habitat loss and overcollection.
A global cooling event 4,200 years ago may have led to the evolution of new rice varieties and the spread of rice into northern and southern Asia. The study used genomics, archeology, and climate data to reconstruct the history of rice.
A new study uncovers genetic relationships of ancient humans in northern and southern China, showing a closer connection between present-day East Asians and Neolithic populations. The research highlights the impact of population movement on human history, revealing continuity back 9,500 years.
A new study analyzed ancient genomes from across China to fill gaps in East Asia's genetic history. Analysis revealed a complex history of human movements and one major episode of admixture during the Neolithic period.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that three Göbekli Tepe structures were initially planned as a single project, showcasing early use of geometric patterns and architectural planning. The site's complexity contradicts previous assumptions about hunter-gatherer capabilities.
Researchers analyzed DNA of 89 ancient humans in the central Andes, finding early genetic differences between regions and surprising continuity. Genetic analysis revealed a north-south substructure of the Highlands developing by 5,800 BP, with minimal changes to the genetic structure of the central Andean region between 2,000 and 500 BP.
An international team analyzed genome-wide data from 89 ancient individuals in the central Andes, revealing early genetic distinctions between groups, population mixing, and surprising genetic continuity. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of pre-Columbian Andean civilizations.
A new study by University of Arkansas astrophysicist Daniel Whitmire contradicts a previous theory that giant elliptical galaxies are more likely to host technological civilizations. The study suggests that galaxies like the Milky Way, where most stars and planets reside, are more likely to harbor intelligent life.
Researchers Vera Tiesler and Guilhem Olivier examine the techniques and devices used in human heart extractions, shedding light on the relationship between ritual violence and cosmological interpretations. Their study reveals three distinct extraction methods and provides a framework for analyzing sacrificial rituals in other ancient s...
Researchers developed CoproID, a reliable method to distinguish between human and dog feces based on ancient host DNA and microbiome composition. This technique enables the investigation of changes in the human gut microbiome throughout time, shedding light on food intolerances and other health issues.
A new study suggests that climate change is driving a megadrought in the western United States, with warming temperatures playing a key role. The study, which analyzed modern weather observations and tree-ring data, finds that the current drought is already outdoing the worst past 19-year increments within previous episodes.
China's wine culture dates back over 9,000 years, with archaeological evidence showing the oldest known alcoholic drink. Viticulture emerged around 8,000 years ago in Georgia, but China played a significant role in Eurasian wine history.
Researchers analyzed ancient potsherds to find clues about the diet and subsistence practices of ancient East African pastoralists. They discovered that ruminant meat, bones, and marrow were a staple, while milk residues were present at low frequencies.
Researchers confirm early plant cultivation in southwestern Amazonia, dating back to 10,350 years ago, with evidence of manioc and squash. The discovery suggests that the earliest inhabitants were not just hunter-gatherers but also engaged in plant cultivation.