Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

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.

Solving an age-old mystery about crystal formation

University of Houston researcher Peter Vekilov discovers two-step incorporation into crystals, mediated by an intermediate state, solving a 40-year-old riddle. The new paradigm guides the search for solvents and additives to stabilize the intermediate state and slow down unwanted polymorphs.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Our direct human ancestor Homo erectus is older than we thought

A new study published in Science has found that Homo erectus ancestors are older than previously thought, with fossils dating back to 2.04-1.95 million years ago in South Africa. This challenges the long-held theory of Africa's origin as the homeland of modern humans.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

When three species of human ancestor walked the Earth

Researchers unveil 2 million-year-old Homo erectus skull, shedding light on three co-existing human ancestors in Africa. The discovery confirms African origin of Homo erectus and provides insights into childhood growth and development.

New study identifies last known occurrence of Homo erectus

A recent study has dated the last known occurrence of Homo erectus to between 117,000 and 108,000 years ago in Central Java, Indonesia. The research, led by Russell L. Ciochon from the University of Iowa, used modern dating technology to analyze fossils found in a bone bed at Ngandong.

Laziness helped lead to extinction of Homo erectus

The research found that Homo erectus used 'least-effort strategies' for tool making and resource collection. This lack of innovation led to the species' demise, as they failed to adapt to a changing climate and technological advancements.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Meet the hominin species that gave us genital herpes

A team of scientists believes they've identified Paranthropus boisei as the species that likely contracted HSV2 and transmitted it to human ancestors, including Homo erectus. The study suggests the virus jumped from ancestral chimpanzees via an intermediate hominin species.

Origins of Indonesian hobbits finally revealed

A comprehensive study on the bones of Homo floresiensis has found that they most likely evolved from an African ancestor and share a common ancestor with Homo habilis. The findings contradict the popular theory that Homo floresiensis evolved from Homo erectus.

Homo erectus walked as we do

Researchers discovered multiple assemblages of Homo erectus footprints in northern Kenya, preserving evidence of a modern human style of walking and group structure consistent with human-like social behaviours. The findings provide direct insight into the locomotor patterns and group dynamics of our fossil ancestors.

New fossils shed light on the origin of 'hobbits'

Researchers discover fossils of hominins similar in size to 'hobbits' but at least ten times older, dating back 700,000 years. The findings suggest a striking similarity between the Mata Menge hominins and Liang Bua hobbits, hinting at a possible ancestral relationship.

Ancient engravings rewrite human history

Scientists discovered ancient engravings from human ancestors on a 400,000 year old fossilised shell from Java. The discovery is the earliest known example of ancient humans deliberately creating pattern.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New Kenyan fossils shed light on early human evolution

The discovery sheds light on early human evolution, providing a clearer picture of what our direct ancestral species looked like. The new fossils reveal that two species of Homo coexisted with Homo erectus between 1.78 and 1.95 million years ago.

The disappearance of the elephant caused the rise of modern man

Researchers found that the loss of elephant bones at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site may have imposed significant nutritional stress on Homo erectus. This led to a shift towards hunting smaller prey, which is evident in the physical appearance of modern humans and suggests their emergence in the Middle East 400,000 years ago.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Climatic fluctuations drove key events in human evolution

Research suggests that periods of rapid temperature fluctuation coincided with the appearance of distant human relatives and the spread of stone tools. Genetic modelling techniques revealed a correlation between climatic variability and key events in human evolution.

Humans shaped stone axes 1.8 million years ago, study says

A new study reveals Homo erectus used advanced Acheulian tools in East Africa at 1.8 million years ago, 300,000 years earlier than previously thought. The discovery sheds light on the origins of sophisticated tool-making technology and raises questions about human migration and climate change.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Scientists uncover new species of human ancestor

The discovery of Australopithecus sediba, a 1.9 million-year-old human ancestor, has shed new light on human evolution. The fossilized remains, found in South Africa, exhibit features of both earlier bipedal apes and more recent Homo species.

'Peking Man' older than thought; somehow adapted to cold

A new dating method has found Peking Man to be around 680,000-780,000 years old, pushing back its age by 200,000 years. The site's analysis revealed evidence that Homo erectus had adapted to the cold environment of a mild glacial period.

Discovery questions intelligence of human ancestor

A recent discovery in Ethiopia's Gona region has challenged previous estimates of Homo erectus infant head size, indicating a possible increase in brain capacity. The findings, published in Science, suggest that the ancient human ancestor may have been born with brains comparable to those of modern humans.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Prehistoric pelvis offers clues to human development

The discovery of a 1.2 million-year-old female Homo erectus pelvis in Ethiopia provides new insights into the evolution of human brain size. The reconstructed pelvis suggests that early humans were better equipped to produce larger-brained babies, challenging previous theories based on male skeletons.

FSU anthropologist leads incredible journey through 'hobbit' brain

Researchers discovered a significant swelling of the frontal lobe and other features consistent with higher cognitive processes in the brain of Homo floresiensis, nicknamed the 'hobbit'. The study refutes skeptics' suppositions that the species was a pygmy or microcephalic.

Growth study of wild chimpanzees challenges assumptions about early humans

Researchers found that wild chimpanzees have a slower rate of tooth development compared to captive animals, challenging assumptions about hominid growth patterns. The study suggests that modern humans are not as different from Homo erectus as previously thought, and that a larger body size does not require a longer time to grow.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Discovery supports theory of a single species of ancestor

A new million-year-old skull found in Ethiopia contradicts recent suggestions of a split in the homolineage between Eurasiatic and African populations. The team's detailed analysis shows genetic continuity between populations, indicating movement and mobility between them, consistent with a single species Homo erectus.

Fossil teeth reveal recent origin of human growth pattern

Researchers found that a modern human-like growth period in humans is a relatively recent evolutionary acquisition, arising around 120,000 years ago. The analysis of fossil teeth suggests that the prolonged growth and development seen in humans today is not as old as previously thought.

UF Researcher Helps Establish New Views On Human Origins

A new study using electron spin resonance dating has pushed back the age of Homo erectus remains to 27,000 to 53,000 years old. This finding challenges the Multiregional theory and supports the Out of Africa model of modern human origins.