Latest science news in Paleontology & Archaeology
Synchrotron reveals human children outpaced Neanderthals by slowing down
Human childhood is considerably longer than chimpanzees, our closest-living ape relatives. A multinational team of specialists, led by researchers from Harvard University, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) and the...
Cholera confirmed for resident of Haiti's capital
(AP) -- The cholera epidemic has spread into Haiti's capital, imperiling nearly 3 million people living in Port-au-Prince, nearly half of them in unsanitary tent camps for the homeless...
Were our tetrapod ancestors deaf?
Researchers have shown that the closest living relatives of the tetrapods -- the lungfish -- are insensitive to sound pressure but sensitive to vibrations.
Human evolution put back 3 million years
CHICAGO, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Humans split off the evolutionary tree from chimpanzees 8 million years ago, 3 million years earlier than most scientists have believed, U.S. researchers say.
In pictures: art that the Nazis derided as 'degenerate'
Art dug up during recent archaeological excavations in Berlin was initially thought to be of ancient origin – until research revealed that the pieces were part of an exhibition intended...
Scientist at Work: A Series of Small Booms
The apparent disappearance of a large fish in northern Peru is consistent with an economy that focuses on one resource at a time until it disappears or loses its value.
Beer may have lubricated the rise of civilization
May beer have helped lead to the rise of civilization? It's a possibility, some archaeologists say.
Natural History Museum expedition 'poses genocide threat' to Paraguay tribes
Field trip to find new plant and insect species in the Chaco will endanger remote Indian tribes, anthropologists and indigenous leaders warn• Chaco deforestation puts Paraguayan land under threatAnthropologists and indigenous leaders have...
Ancient Pharaonic inscriptions found in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has discovered its first hieroglyphic inscriptions mentioning an Egyptian pharaoh dating back more than 3,000 years on a rock near the northern city of Tabuk, state media reported.
The Ancient World | Rome
Rome had an undeniable talent for warfare and a taste for excess, but that shouldn't obscure its cultural achievements, argues Tom HollandEver since her fall, Rome has served the west as the very archetype...
Phineas Gage and the effect of an iron bar through the head on personality
The extraordinary case of Phineas Gage has been used and abused by neurologists and even the occasional creationist. Mo Costandi summarises what we know, and what we don'tThe photograph above, which was uncovered...
Vacuum arcs spark new interest
Whenever two pieces of metal at different voltages are brought near each other, as when an appliance is plugged into a live socket, there is a chance there will be...
South Korea discovers rare earths deposit
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea has found an undetermined amount of rare earth minerals in a deposit in the eastern Gangwon province, state-run Korea Resources Corp (KORES) said on Monday.
Move to rescue obscure words
Hundred of words such as 'suffarcinate', 'jobler' and 'welmish' have fallen out of everyday use. But they're not dead yet . . .If you've ever adopted something for charity then you know...
Birdbooker Report 143
Compiled by an ardent bibliophile, this is a weekly report about nature, science and history books that have been newly published in North America and the UK.Books to the ceiling, Books to...
Mystery bird: great blue heron, Ardea herodias
This lovely North American mystery bird is closely related to a common Old World speciesGreat blue heron, Ardea herodias, photographed California, USA. Image: Steve Duncan [velociraptorize].Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4 & TC17E. Question:...
Ant Oases Found on NYC Street Medians
In the most urban of urban environments – medians on three major Manhattan streets – scientists found 13 species of ants, both native and invasive.
Animation—from an ancient art form to high science. Cryptic images from Paleolithic cave drawings to Shrek, the movie.
I thought to tackle a much lighter topic than aging, cancer, toxic spills and malaria for a change of pace, especially since Christmas is getting closer and need some...
The Ancient World | Greece
It had paid-up intellectuals and progressive politics, yet ancient Greece was less civil than we are inclined to remember, says Paul CartledgeE pluribus unum: "out of many – one". The one-time motto of...
Researcher IDs Ice Age sloth bone in Colorado
(AP) -- Scientists excavating an Ice Age ecosystem in the resort town of Snowmass Village say they have found the first Jefferson's ground sloth ever discovered in Colorado.
Mystery Bird: golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Despite the deleterious effects of habitat destruction and persecution by humans, this species is still fairly ubiquitous, being present in Eurasia, North America, and parts of Africa.Immature golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, photographed at Smith...
Should our biggest climate change fear be fear itself?
From apocalyptic forecasting to estimates of mass extinctions, climate change is a topic which is filled with fearful predictions for the future. In his latest research, published in WIREs Climate...
This column will change your life: What's the worst that could happen?
Failure is an inevitable consequence of the human condition. It's how we deal with it that's more importantYou were as relieved as me, I'm sure, to learn that the terrifying Mayan prophecy...
The New Old Age: Financial Strategies for Every Age
In a special section, The Times examines money management strategies for the so-called sandwich generation.
Research: Imported grape varieties may excel on the South plains
(PhysOrg.com) -- Wine grapes that flourish in certain parts of Europe just might excel in West Texas.
Headless gladiators had exotic origins
Britain's enigmatic "headless Romans" lost their heads far away from home, according to a multi-isotopic analysis of the 1,800-year-old skeletal remains.
Egypt: A life before the afterlife
Gloomy tombs and morbid mummies? Everyday Egypt was much more than that, argues Richard Parkinson in a first glimpse of a new series focusing on the ancient world, free with tomorrow's GuardianAncient Egypt...
Selected hens give new genetic insights
Studies of heavy, fast-growing hens and small, slow-growing hens provide important new knowledge on the origin of the genetic variation that has enabled them to adapt rapidly to new extreme...