Articles tagged with Science History
A new review highlights the role of advanced methods in understanding megafaunal extinctions, which occurred during dramatic climatic change and human dispersal. The study emphasizes the importance of combining different approaches to gain detailed insights into climate change, extinction chronologies, and species responses.
Researchers analyzed 34 ancient genomes from the Black Death and succeeding plague epidemics in Europe to understand the genetic history of Yersinia pestis. The study found a single strain ancestral to all second pandemic strains, with lower genomic diversity during the initial outbreak.
The National Association of Science Writers awarded prizes in seven categories, including She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer, In the Land of Quakes by Michelle Donahue, Scientists think Alabama's sewage problem has caused a tropical parasite by Arielle Duhaime-Ross, and Surrendering to Rising Seas by Jen Schwartz. Winners receiv...
Research on dental calculus reveals a monotonous potato-based diet for the poor, supplemented by eggs and wheat when available. The study of 42 people's remains found evidence of corn, oats, and milk foodstuffs, shedding new light on the Great Famine's social disaster.
A new international study published in Science reveals that land use by early farmers and societies had a significant impact on global land cover by 3,000-4,000 years ago. The study uses crowdsourced archaeological data to assess long-term human impacts on the natural world.
A new study published in Climate of the Past reveals that Burgundy wine grapes have been picked 13 days earlier on average since 1988 than in the previous six centuries. This accelerated warming trend is consistent with a hotter and drier climate in recent years, which has become more common in the past 30 years.
A new collaboration between scientists and indigenous tribes in Northern California aims to develop resistance measures for sudden oak death, which poses a threat to the region's cultural heritage. The study published in Phytopathology highlights the importance of involving diverse stakeholders in disease management.
A team of scientists analyzed ancient genomes from Ashkelon, finding a European-derived ancestry introduced around the time of the Philistines' arrival. This genetic component was diluted by local Levantine gene pool over centuries, suggesting intense admixture between foreign and native populations.
A chemical residue study in ancient incense burners from high-elevation burials in western China has provided the earliest clear evidence of cannabis use for its psychoactive properties. Researchers found that people were selecting plants with higher levels of THC and burning them as part of mortuary rituals.
Archaeologists and laboratory scientists discovered psychoactive compounds in ancient incense burners from the Pamir Mountains, indicating higher levels of THC. This study provides clear evidence that ancient people in eastern Central Asia used cannabis for its psychoactive properties.
Researchers analyzed human remains from 21 archaeological sites to study the impact and evolution of Yersinia pestis during the first plague pandemic. They reconstructed 8 new genomes from Britain, Germany, France, and Spain, revealing a previously unknown level of diversity in Y. pestis strains.
Researchers argue that wetter climates may have allowed Homo sapiens to expand across deserts of Central Asia by 50-30,000 years ago. This new perspective challenges traditional views on human migration, suggesting that northern and central Asia were not impassable barriers.
Researchers found evidence of historic marine life in Alaskan permafrost, revealing that the Beaufort Sea was not completely frozen over during the late Ice Age. This discovery improves scientists' ability to reconstruct past Arctic sea-ice conditions and inform future climate strategies.
A new study uses dendrochronology and historical survey to investigate the effects of human populations on Amazonian forests. The research reveals that pre-colonial populations left lasting imprints on the region's forest structure and resources.
A new study by UChicago scientists found significant river runoff persisted on Mars later into its history than previously thought. The intense runoff, which was wider than those on Earth today, occurred at hundreds of locations and suggests a complex climate with strong greenhouse effects.
A new study from the Monterey Bay Aquarium analyzed 150 years of tortoiseshell trade records, estimating over 9 million turtles were harvested for their shells. The study suggests that historical trade patterns may have established the groundwork for modern IUU fishing networks.
Researchers analyzed sea otter use of large rocks as 'anvils' to break open shells, leaving behind recognizable damage patterns and shell middens. The study suggests that sea otters may exhibit handedness, with a consistent pattern of striking the mussels against points and ridges on the rocks.
The article discusses the importance of diversity in science, highlighting how underrepresented groups' voices are enriching scientific knowledge. Scientists from diverse backgrounds challenge existing perspectives on race, sex, and gender, promoting a more complete understanding of human and nonhuman diversity.
Recent studies indicate that women and scholars from underrepresented groups often don't receive proper authorship credit, due to biases in leadership positions and collaborations. Experts will provide guidance on navigating power dynamics and promoting responsible authorship decisions at the AAAS Annual Meeting.
Archaeologists have dated the archaeological site of Denisova cave to at least 200,000 years ago, with stone tools suggesting human occupation may have begun as early as 300,000 years ago. Neanderthals visited the site between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago, interbreeding with Denisovans around 100,000 years ago.
A two to three-fold increase in heatwave activity has been identified in the UK, with frequency, duration, and severity significantly rising. This analysis of historical temperature data provides a new understanding of climate change's impact on heatwaves.
Researchers found that three Daphnia species had distinct roots for settling in Northern Eurasia, shedding light on continental freshwater fauna formation. Genetic analysis revealed differences between populations and the approximate time of their divergence, with one species spreading quickly across the region.
Research by Kazan Federal University professor Andreja Istenič Starčič reveals that book publishing in humanities is on the rise, with some countries seeing significant increases. Monographs account for varying percentages of total publications across five European nations, while book chapters dominate in others.
A new version of the International Tree Ring Data Bank has made it easier for scientists outside dendrochronology to access and interpret the data. The team corrected thousands of formatting issues, including reducing analytical bias from overrepresentation of certain tree species.
Recent studies have questioned the conventional dating of indigenous sites in Ontario, Canada, with new evidence pointing to a 50-100 year shift in dates. The findings suggest that early contact between indigenous people and Europeans may have occurred later than previously thought.
Researchers have dated Acheulean presence in Arabian Peninsula to less than 190,000 years ago, revealing early humans occupied site until arrival of Homo sapiens. The site, Saffaqah, features youngest Acheulean tools yet found in southwest Asia.
Researchers found that dogs search for additional information significantly more often when they have not seen where the reward is hidden. However, their searching flexibility was limited compared to primates and humans.
Researchers uncovered unprecedented details about the ancestry of people in Central and South America, revealing a key link between Clovis culture-associated individuals and the oldest inhabitants of Chile, Brazil, and Belize. A continent-wide population replacement began at least 9,000 years ago, reshaping how researchers view Early H...
A study of ancient DNA from Central and South America has revealed two previously unknown genetic exchanges between North and South America, including a continent-wide population turnover. The findings suggest that the Clovis culture had a major demographic impact further south than previously thought.
Researchers found evidence of sheep, cow, and goat milk consumption in late Bronze Age human remains from Mongolia. Genetic analysis revealed limited gene flow between western and eastern steppe populations, but cultural transmission led to the adoption of dairy herding in Bronze Age Mongolia.
Researchers discovered dairy pastoralism in Mongolia as early as 1300 BC through cultural transmission rather than population replacement or migration. Milk proteins were found in tooth tartar and dental calculus of ancient Mongolians, indicating the livestock were cattle, sheep, and goats introduced by Western Steppe herders.
The Cross-Linguistic Data Formats Initiative sets out proposed guidelines for a standardized format for linguistic databases, providing a software package, basic ontology, and usage examples. This initiative aims to standardize data formats to facilitate sharing and re-use of data in comparative linguistics.
A catastrophic fire at Brazil's National Museum destroyed biodiversity and cultural artifacts, highlighting the need for improved museum infrastructure. Scientists are now calling on governments to safeguard collections before suffering further losses.
A collaborative art project on Reddit revealed the dynamics of cultural change, with artworks becoming increasingly interdependent as space ran out. The study corroborates the idea that cooperation is key to success in both biological and cultural contexts.
A team of researchers identified three sources of non-independence in cultural variables: phylogenetic non-independence, spatial autocorrelation, and covariation. By controlling for these factors, they found that parasites have no more explanatory power for cultural traits than other environmental factors like biodiversity and climate.
The Lothagam North Pillar Site is the earliest and largest monumental cemetery in eastern Africa, built by an egalitarian society of mobile pastoralists around Lake Turkana. The site's construction contradicts traditional theories about the emergence of social hierarchy and its relationship to monument building.
A team of scientists found that coral-algal partnerships are older and more diverse than previously thought, with a history dating back to the 'age of dinosaurs.' This relationship has enabled corals to adapt to environmental changes over millions of years.
The study suggests that climate change, particularly volcanic activity and extreme weather events, contributed to the growth and decline of the ancient Turkic Khaganate. The researchers used tree-ring chronologies, ice core data, and Chinese dynastic chronicles to analyze the effects of climate change on the empire's development.
Human ancestors were scattered across Africa, with diverse habitats and shifting environmental boundaries leading to a staggering diversity of human forms. The mixing of these populations ultimately shaped our species.
A team of scholars found that the Deer Stone-Khirigsuur Culture used veterinary dental procedures to remove baby teeth causing young horses pain or difficulty feeding. This discovery reveals that equine veterinary care was developed in eastern Eurasia over 3,000 years ago.
Researchers have recovered ancient syphilis genomes from skeletal remains in Mexico, distinguishing between the subspecies that cause syphilis and yaws. The findings shed new light on the evolutionary history of syphilis, suggesting a complex history that challenges previous hypotheses.
A team of researchers analyzed two 3,800-year-old genomes, identifying the oldest sequenced strain with virulence factors characteristic of bubonic plague. The study suggests a Bronze Age origin for the disease, dating it back around 4,000 years.
Chemical analysis of rat remains from Polynesian islands shows changes humans made to local ecosystems, including native species extinctions and alterations to food webs. The study advances a new method for detecting human transformations of local ecosystems in the past.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History launched the Color Game, an app designed to study language evolution by having players communicate specific colors using a series of black and white symbols. The game allows large numbers of participants to interact freely and build shared visual languages.
A 78,000-year-old cave site in coastal Kenya reveals a sequence of human occupation and cultural complexity, with technological innovations starting at 67,000 years ago. The discovery challenges previous hypotheses about human migration out of Africa and provides new insights into the adaptability of early humans.
Researchers used stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to show that some individuals subsisted primarily on forest resources, while others relied on agriculture through trade. The study's findings are significant for the Wanniyalaeto people's battles to remain on their traditional hunting grounds.
Researchers analyzed 40,000 speeches from the National Constituent Assembly to track word-use patterns and find that the revolution's principles emerged and evolved over time. Committees played a significant role in proposing and disposing legislation, reducing the effectiveness of charisma in direct debate.
The discovery of a 90,000-year-old Homo sapiens fossil in Saudi Arabia reveals early dispersals into Eurasia were more expansive than previously thought. The finding suggests that early humans colonized a broader region of southwest Asia than previously believed.
Six scientists who served on the National Commission on Forensic Science are advocating for increased research and financial support of forensic science, as well as empirical testing requirements. They aim to reduce reliance on historical precedent and ensure the validity of forensic evidence to deliver justice.
Historical Hawaiian-language newspapers have been digitized, revealing new information about the 1871 hurricane's impact on Hawaii. The translations uncovered a timeline of the storm's progression and descriptions of widespread destruction.
A new linguistic analysis by an international team has estimated that the Dravidian language family, spoken by 220 million people in South Asia, originated around 4,500 years ago. This estimate matches well with earlier studies and is supported by advanced statistical methods and hand-collected data from native speakers.
A study of 155 Austronesian societies found that intensive agriculture and social hierarchies were not causally linked, but rather part of a feedback loop. The results challenge the widely held view that material changes drive social evolution.
A Princeton University historian team analyzed four case studies to understand how societies coped with natural stresses, revealing socioeconomic factors often played a more significant role than environmental changes. Historians' nuanced interpretation adds context to past events, helping policymakers prepare for global climate change.
Scientists discovered genomic ancestry of Stone Age North Africans from Morocco, revealing a mix of Near Eastern and sub-Saharan African influences. The study, published in Science, sheds new light on human migration patterns and the history of our species.
The series discusses historical context, spin in scientific publications, and media narratives about science, highlighting the need for accurate reflection of the scientific process. Proposed remedies include improving data sharing, open materials, and reducing bias in research reporting.
A study published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology found that dogs create a mental representation of target objects while tracking scent trails. Dogs show hesitation when finding an unexpected toy and later retrieve it equally quickly regardless of initial expectation.
Researchers challenge the notion that the sugar industry shifted blame to fat by examining historical archives and oral history. Despite alleged 'smoking gun' evidence, the authors found no conclusive proof of a sugar conspiracy, highlighting the complexity of scientific funding and policy-making in the 1960s.
An international team analyzed ancient DNA from 38 northern Europeans, uncovering that Scandinavia was settled via southern and northern routes. Agriculture arrived in northern Europe through migrating farmers and pastoralists. The study provides new insights into population dynamics of prehistoric northern Europe.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Harvard University use ancient DNA analysis to uncover the possible cause of a devastating epidemic in Oaxaca, Mexico. The study found evidence of Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C, a pathogen that causes enteric fever, in skeletons of victims of the cocoliztli epidemic.
Researchers at the Missouri Botanical Garden used phylogenetic analysis to confirm the existence of Dracaena umbraculifera, a species thought to be extinct. The study found that the species is more closely related to Dracaena reflexa from Madagascar than to Mauritian Dracaena.