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Folklore sheds light on ancient Indian savannas

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.

New book explores ‘nine lives’ of Christopher Columbus

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.

Gatling conducting digitization project

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.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

How conspiracy theories emerge -- and how their storylines fall apart

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.

Appearance of deep-sea fish does not signal upcoming earthquake in Japan

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.

In search of a golden age

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.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Emotionally supportive relationships linked to lower testosterone

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.

New study takes the shine off magpie folklore

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.

Don't underestimate the power of herbal teas

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.

What do Obama and Snapple have in common?

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.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.