‘We certainly weren’t exceptional, but now we’re the only ones left’: In new PBS series ‘Human,’ anthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi explores how humans came to dominate Earth
When Homo sapiens first emerged in Africa some 300,000 years ago, we did not roam the planet alone. Our species lived alongside at least six, and possibly more, other human species, from Homo erectus, the first hominin species to venture out of Africa; to Neanderthals and Denisovans, contenders for our closest relatives; all the way […]
The skyscraper-sized asteroid was previously predicted to hit us in 60 years.
The skyscraper-sized “potentially dangerous” asteroid is set to get close to Earth this week. You can zoom in the past yourself using a backyard telescope or via a free online live stream. The asteroid discovered earlier this year was predicted to have a slight chance of hitting our planet in 2089. However, following new observations, […]
Volcanic “squeaky eyes” stare at space from a skull-like peninsula – Earth from space
Simple facts Where is it? Chiltepe Peninsula, Lake Nicaragua, Lake Managua [12.236943676, -86.34017745] What do you see in the photo? Two volcanic lakes that look like pairs of eyes facing up Who took the photo? Nameless astronaut on the International Space Station When did you take it? January 21, 2014 This fascinating photo of the […]
People in Southeast Asia and China were mummified to death thousands of years before Egyptians did.
The world’s oldest human mummy was created by smoke-drying corpses in Southeast Asia and China 10,000 years ago. Studies of dozens of ancient tombs found in China, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia reveal that many of the skeletal structures found in the right fetal position were treated by drying smoke for a long […]
Oil lamps from 1900 years ago that provided the “light of a journey to the afterlife” found in the Rome Cemetery in the Netherlands
While excavating a large Roman cemetery in the Netherlands, archaeologists discovered an unusual oil lamp that could portray the ancient god of wine. The “filling hole” that was poured into oil appears to be a comically large, open mouth on a person’s face, but the handle above the face resembles a flashy leaf. “This highly […]
Scientists measure “Natal kick” that sent a baby black hole through space for the first time
Scientists measured the recoil velocity for the first time from a violent collision between two black holes. Gravitational waves are space-time ripples that were first proposed by Albert Einstein to exist, and first proposed to detect in 2015. The other first came in 2019 when scientists picked up gravitational wave signals caused by intense mergers […]
“Russian Nest Doll” viruses are hidden among deadly bacteria, making them even more dangerous for people
Fungi that have been flagged as “important” concern by the World Health Organization may have a secret weapon. The virus is hidden inside. Now, new research suggests that targeting the virus could provide new strategies to treat people with these dangerous fungal infections. A virus called A. fumigatus polymycovirus-1 (afupMV-1M) was known prior to new […]
Dietary changes can make brain cancer easier to treat, early research tips
Dietary changes could make lethal brain cancer glioblastoma more vulnerable to cancer therapy, new research suggests. Researchers behind the study believe that this dietary change exploits a key metabolic vulnerability in cancer, and their research shows that when used in combination with chemoradiation therapy, it expands survival in mice. The study, published in Nature on […]
Potentially habitable, earth-sized exoplanet rappist-1E may have an atmosphere, James Webb Telescope tips
A new study using a powerful JWST telescope has identified a planet 41 light years away that could have an atmosphere. The planet is located within a “household zone” and in the area around the star, liquid water can be present on the surface of a world filled with rocky temperatures. This is important because […]
New EV Battery Technology can power a 500-mile road trip with a 12-minute charge
Scientists use neat chemistry tricks to tackle the big challenges facing future batteries. Their breakthrough paves the way for next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries that can power a 500-mile (800km) journey on a single 12-minute charge. Lithium metal batteries differ from standard lithium-ion batteries in that the graphite anode is replaced by lithium metal. These […]