Science News Today
A recent preclinical study led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine has uncovered a significant link between the hormone estrogen and binge drinking behavior in females. This study, published in Nature Communications on December 30, provides compelling evidence that estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating binge drinking, particularly the tendency of females to consume … Read more
An international team of astronomers, using the Very Large Array (VLA), recently observed a galaxy merger known as CIZA J0107.7+5408 (CIZA0107), providing new insights into the complex dynamics of merging galaxy clusters. This study, presented on December 20 on the preprint server arXiv, offers a closer look at the processes that occur when galaxy clusters … Read more
Imagine a world teetering on the edge of devastation—volcanic eruptions belching toxic gases into the atmosphere, oceans turning acidic, and up to 90% of Earth’s species vanishing in a cataclysmic wave of extinction. This horrifying scene unfolded around 252 million years ago, marking the end of the Permian Period and the onset of Earth’s most … Read more
The evolutionary adaptations that allowed ancient pterosaurs to grow to enormous sizes have been pinpointed for the first time by paleontologists in the Center for Paleobiology and Biosphere Evolution at the University of Leicester. The discovery revealed a surprising twist—the ability to walk efficiently on the ground played a crucial role in determining how large … Read more
In 2000, an extraordinary discovery was made in northern India’s Kashmir Valley: the giant fossil skull of an extinct elephant, which sheds light on a little-known chapter in elephant evolutionary history. The skull, found buried alongside 87 stone tools used by prehistoric humans, was excavated under the direction of Dr. Ghulam Bhat from the University … Read more
An analysis by Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, on the manual capabilities of early hominins reveals that certain species of Australopithecus may have exhibited hand use patterns similar to those of modern humans. This discovery challenges previously held beliefs about the timeline of human tool use and the origins of manual dexterity, suggesting that … Read more
Paleontology, the study of ancient life through fossils, often reveals remarkable insights into the distant past, allowing scientists to reconstruct ecosystems, understand evolutionary processes, and explore the origins of life on Earth. One of the most significant discoveries in this field came from Brazilian paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Muller, who, working in collaboration with colleagues from … Read more
In a significant breakthrough in the field of anthropology, a researcher from the University of Hawaiʻi has proposed the identification of a new human species, Homo juluensis. This species, believed to have lived approximately 300,000 years ago in eastern Asia, may offer insights into the complex web of human evolution, particularly the enigmatic group of … Read more
More than a million years ago, on the sun-scorched savannas of what is now northern Kenya, two species of early humans may have crossed paths along the edge of an ancient lake. These hominins, primitive members of the human lineage, might have been scavenging for food, evading predators, or simply navigating their shared habitat. Their … Read more
Human footprints are a source of fascination. They evoke curiosity, urging us to imagine the actions, destinations, and lives of those who made them. When fossilized, footprints offer more than imagination—they preserve moments frozen in time, giving us direct glimpses into the behavior and movement of extinct organisms. For paleontologists, these prints are invaluable, providing … Read more