Neutron stars in the universe, ultracold atomic gases in the laboratory, and the quark–gluon plasma created in collisions of atomic nuclei at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC): they may seem totally unrelated but, surprisingly enough, they have something in common. They are all a fluid-like state of matter made up of strongly interacting particles. Insights … Read more
A groundbreaking archaeological study, led by Asier García-Escárzaga, a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and the Department of Prehistory of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), sheds new light on the lives of the first Neolithic farmers and shepherds in Andalusia. Their findings reveal that these pioneering settlers established permanent … Read more
An international team of scientists has unveiled the ancient secrets hidden within the caves of Patagonia, reshaping our understanding of early human culture in South America. Published in the prestigious journal Science Advances, their study unveils cave art that surpasses any previously known in the region, dating back a staggering 8,200 years. Nestled within the … Read more
A collaborative team comprising philologists, chemists, environmental physicists, and engineers from various European institutions has unveiled a compelling revelation regarding the ancient wooden tablets of Easter Island. Published in the esteemed journal Scientific Reports, their groundbreaking study sheds new light on the enigmatic Rongorongo script, a previously undeciphered writing system believed to be indigenous to … Read more
In the ancient community of what is now northern Italy, a fascinating discovery emerged from the depths of time: burial practices intertwining humans and animals, shedding light on enigmatic rituals and beliefs. Within the hallowed grounds of Seminario Vescovile, an archaeological site in Verona, lay the remains of 161 individuals from the third to first … Read more
Two professors at the University of Wyoming, renowned for their expertise in anthropology, have unearthed a remarkable archaeological discovery in the heart of Andean South America. Nestled within the picturesque Cajamarca Basin of northern Peru lies the Callacpuma archaeological site, where Associate Professor Jason Toohey and Professor Melissa Murphy have unveiled one of the earliest … Read more
New revelations from the depths of space have shaken the foundations of our understanding of galaxy formation and dark matter, thanks to groundbreaking observations of a colossal stellar population dating back more than 11 billion years—a phenomenon that defies existing models. Today’s publication in Nature unveils startling findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), … Read more
Following the arrival of the first farmers in Scandinavia 5,900 years ago, the hunter-gatherer population was wiped out within a few generations, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, among others. The results, which are contrary to prevailing opinion, are based on DNA analysis of skeletons and teeth found in what is … Read more
Scientists have combined laser 3D printing technology and an alternate soaking process to construct complex 3D structures that mimic bone microstructure. This is the first demonstration of this fabrication method, and it will lead to the development of 3D cell culture systems that can support bone grafts or create artificial bone marrow. Their research is … Read more
In autumn 2021, geologists discovered an unusual row of stones, almost 1 km long, at the bottom of Mecklenburg Bight. The site is located around 10 kilometers off Rerik at a 21-meter water depth. The approximately 1,500 stones are aligned so regularly that a natural origin seems unlikely. A team of researchers from different disciplines … Read more
University of Wyoming archaeology Professor Todd Surovell and his team of collaborators have discovered a tube-shaped bead made of bone that is about 12,940 years old. The bead, found at the La Prele Mammoth site in Converse County, is the oldest known bead in the Americas. Surovell’s research is published in Scientific Reports; the paper … Read more
When spectacular cosmic events such as galaxy collisions occur, it sets off a reaction to form new stars, and possibly new planets that otherwise would not have formed. The gravitational pull that forces the collisions between these galaxies creates tidal tails—the long thin region of stars and interstellar gas. The Hubble Space Telescope’s vision is … Read more
A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Maaike Groot from Freie Universität Berlin has provided the first firm evidence that the Romans deliberately collected and used the poisonous seeds of the black henbane plant. The team analyzed seeds found in a hollowed bone discovered at the Roman-period settlement of Houten-Castellum in the Netherlands and compared … Read more
Paleontology enthusiasts have unearthed one of the world’s richest and most diverse fossil sites from the Lower Ordovician period (around 470 million years ago). Located in Montagne Noire, in the Hérault department of France, this deposit of over 400 fossils is distinguished by an exceptionally well-preserved fauna. In addition to shelly components, it contains extremely … Read more
The search for habitable exoplanets involves looking for planets with similar conditions to the Earth, such as liquid water, a suitable temperature range and atmospheric conditions. One crucial factor is the planet’s position in the habitable zone, the region around a star where liquid water could potentially exist on the planet’s surface. NASA’s Kepler telescope, … Read more
By better taming the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of an alternative to the semiconductor—one that transitions from electricity-resisting insulator to current-conducting metal—Nebraska’s Xia Hong and colleagues may have unlocked a new path to smaller, more efficient digital devices. The team reports its findings in the journal Nature Communications. The semiconductor’s ability to conduct electricity in the Goldilocks … Read more
About 10 years ago, Peter Hews stumbled across some bones sticking out of a cliff along the Oldman River in southeastern Alberta, Canada. Now, scientists describe in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on June 4 that those bones belonged to a nearly intact skull of a very unusual horned dinosaur—a close relative of the … Read more
The discovery of a nearly complete dromaeosaurid Saurornitholestes langstoni specimen is providing critical information for the evolution of theropod dinosaurs, according to new research by a University of Alberta paleontologist. The 76-million-year-old species was long thought to be so closely related to Velociraptor from Mongolia that some researchers even called it Velociraptor langstoni—until now. The … Read more
A recent paleontological discovery by a team at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC has unveiled a new chapter in the ancient history of felines. Their findings, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, shed light on a previously unknown species of felid based on the analysis of a jawbone fossil found near present-day Madrid. Previous … Read more
A new study published in Nature Communications gives insights into the underlying mechanisms of the formation of protein clumps in Alzheimer’s disease. The study, led by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, could pave the way for new treatments for this devastating neurodegenerative disorder. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, causing memory loss, confusion, and cognitive … Read more