Researchers in South Africa's Karoo region are redefining the relationship between Indigenous knowledge and modern science, as they study the ethnoastronomical knowledge of local communities. The project, which involves elders and knowledge holders, highlights the dynamic and adaptive nature of traditional knowledge, which continues to...
The Herbularyo card game combines Filipino folk healing traditions with organic chemistry, teaching students about medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties. The game has been shown to be an effective learning tool, increasing student engagement and understanding of the subject.
Researchers used medieval literary works to study vegetation in ancient Indian savannas, finding that they existed for at least 750 years. The study challenges the view that these areas are remnants of former forests and suggests that tree planting efforts may need to focus on different locations.
The book, 'The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus,' examines the public perception of the Italian explorer's life and legacy. Restall separates fact from fiction to understand why Columbus continues to mean different things to different people.
Benjamin Gatling is digitizing the archive of the Folklore Fund at the Rudaki Institute in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The collection uniquely preserves Tajikistan's cultural patrimony and provides a key resource for researchers studying historical practices.
A study led by Andrea Migliano from the University of Zurich has discovered previously unknown links between culture, language, and genes among different hunter-gatherer populations in Central Africa. The team found that musical instruments were exchanged long before agricultural populations arrived in the region, suggesting extensive ...
Lisa Gilman will receive funding to complete a book manuscript and produce public writings, transforming her work into policy. Funding begins in September 2024, with a focus on arts initiatives by refugees for refugees.
Research finds climate conditions restrict animal distribution in folklore, and native species are necessary for trickster animals to occur. The study uses biogeographical methods to analyze the interactions between ecology and culture.
Researchers found a unique resonance phenomenon in the crevice cave that amplifies and lengthens sound at a specific frequency, which may have impacted beliefs associated with it. The study suggests that this resonance could be an exceptional sound phenomenon for the people living in the region centuries ago.
Historian Dr Philippa Carter argues that jobs like food preparation, childcare, and dairy production left women exposed to witchcraft accusations. These occupations, often performed by women, were perceived as a threat to social order, increasing the likelihood of suspicion and accusation.
A new generation of young Kurdish collectors are saving stories and songs from oblivion, with the goal of revitalizing endangered languages like Kurmanji, Sorani, and Zazaki. Their efforts aim to protect indigenous language heritage and knowledge production, which are threatened by assimilation and Western influence.
Researchers at Nagoya University analyzed three historical writings to identify past solar eclipses in Hokkaido, using modern scientific techniques. They found that these accounts matched computer simulations of the Sun and Moon positions, revealing valuable clues about the extremity of the solar-terrestrial environment.
A new study of coastal geography and a medieval map proposes that two islands in Cardigan Bay, Wales, which are no longer exist, could have come into existence and disappeared due to erosion. The research, published in Atlantic Geosciences, suggests the islands may be remnants of a low-lying landscape underlain by soft glacial deposits.
Benjamin Gatling plans to conduct a survey and inventory of the materials, train in best practices, and purchase equipment. The project aims to preserve and digitize the complete collection, offering a unique window into Soviet Central Asia's cultural patrimony.
A team of scientists from Germany, Spain, Australia and Japan discovered a new species of branching marine worm, Ramisyllis kingghidorahi, in Japan. The worm has a unique body shape with one head and multiple posterior ends, living inside the internal canals of sea sponges.
A new study by UCLA professors combines AI and folklore analysis to examine the storytelling elements of debunked conspiracy theories and actual news stories. The researchers found that conspiracy theories tend to form around specific elements that act as an adhesive, holding facts and characters together.
A new statistical analysis published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America has found no correlation between deep-sea fish appearances and earthquakes in Japan. Despite long-held folklore suggesting otherwise, researchers have only identified one potentially correlated event out of 336 sightings and 221 earthquakes.
Linguistic anthropologist Piers Kelly argues that the Philippines' 'golden age' war treasure myth is rooted in local folklore, not WWII-era plunder. The tale of hidden riches thrives during times of crisis to boost morale and challenge economic inequality.
A new study by University of Notre Dame anthropologists found that aging U.S. men with emotionally supportive relationships have lower testosterone levels compared to their less supportive counterparts. This connection may help explain the link between social support and improved overall health.
A new study from the University of Exeter challenges traditional views on magpie behavior, finding that these birds are not attracted to shiny objects. Instead, they exhibit neophobia, or fear of new things, when encountering novel and unfamiliar items.
Researchers from the US Department of Agriculture have found moderate antimicrobial activity and significant antiplatelet-clumping activity in chamomile tea. Peppermint tea has been shown to have strong antioxidant and antiviral actions, while hibiscus tea has lowered blood pressure in pre-hypertensive adults.
Researcher Patricia Turner finds parallels between Barack Obama's false rumors and those surrounding Snapple in the 1990s. These factors contribute to the spread of unsubstantiated hearsay and popular backlash.