‘Hobbits’ may have become extinct due to drought forcing them into competition with modern humans, new research suggests
Homo floresiensis, a small ancient hominin species known as hobbits, may have become extinct around 50,000 years ago as reduced rainfall reduced the amount of prey available for hunting. This may have forced them to migrate to areas where they competed with modern humans, a new study suggests. The research team pointed out that lack […]
Jamestown Settler John Smith’s Lost Native American Homeland Finally Found
More than 400 years ago, British settler and explorer John Smith wrote in his diary that there was a Native American village along a large river in what is now Virginia. However, the location of the reported village was later forgotten and its existence was debated. Archaeologists currently excavating along the Rappahannock River have uncovered […]
Strangely bleached rocks on Mars suggest the planet was once a tropical oasis
A new study of unusually bleached rocks suggests Mars once had humid regions with heavy rainfall, similar to Earth’s tropical regions. Researchers were intrigued by a unique, brightly colored rock that NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered on the surface of Mars. Upon closer examination, the rock was found to be kaolinite, a type of clay rich […]
A 2,400-year-old ‘sacrificial complex’ discovered in Russia is the richest site of its kind ever discovered
A unique “sacrificial complex” discovered between two ancient tombs in Russia has revealed new information about nomadic funeral rituals in the southern Ural Mountains some 2,400 years ago. This summer, researchers from the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences excavated the spaces between the burial mounds of the Vysokaya Mogila site. Vysokaya […]
“Heavenly Rain”: an etheric structure in the sky comparable to the famous “Pillars of Creation” — Space Photo of the Week
simple facts What is it: Emission Nebula NGC 6820 and Open Cluster NGC 6823 Location: 6,000 light years away in the constellation Little Fox Share date: November 19, 2025 This spectacular image of the Emission Nebula, a cloud of gas and dust illuminated by nearby stars, and a nearby star cluster was released by the […]
What is the loudest sound ever recorded?
Live concerts, fireworks, and the din of stadium crowds can reach dangerously loud volumes, loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss. But what is the loudest sound ever recorded on Earth? The answer depends on what you mean by “sound” and whether you include old historical reports or trust only measurements made with modern scientific […]
3I/ATLAS Photo: NASA and ESA release new images of interstellar comet ahead of approach to Earth
The famous comet 3I/ATLAS is permanently emerging from our solar system, but not before Earth’s space agency’s space paparazzi captured the clearest photo ever. Discovered in late June and confirmed as the third known interstellar object in July, 3I/ATLAS has been zooming through the inner solar system at an estimated speed of 130,000 miles per […]
Rare 1,400-year-old cubic human skull unearthed in Mexico
Archaeologists excavating Mesoamerican ruins in Mexico discovered an unusual cube-shaped human skull. This is the first evidence that people in this region practiced a unique form of head surgery, scientifically known as cranial modification, some 1,400 years ago. The skull was unearthed near the ruins of Balcón de Montezuma (Balcony of Montezuma) in the state […]
1,800-year-old ‘piggy bank’ filled with Roman coins unearthed in French village
French archaeologists have discovered three ancient storage jars filled with tens of thousands of Roman coins. These containers were buried in holes in the floors of houses in ancient settlements 1,700 years ago, probably as a type of safe or piggy bank. These three jugs, known as amphorae, were discovered during excavations carried out by […]
What would have happened if Antony and Cleopatra had killed Octavian?
In 30 BC, Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII died by suicide after being defeated by Octavian’s forces in a civil war. But what would have happened if Antony and Cleopatra had defeated Octavian, who became Rome’s first emperor? Would they have become rulers of Rome? How would history have been different? We asked some experts […]