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Webb’s Observations Indicate That Asteroids Bennu and Ryug Belong to the Polana Collision Family

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New Polana Collisional Family The primary asteroid belt in our solar system is the source of insights about nearby asteroids (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu, which are the focus of NASA’s Osiris Rex missions. Currently, astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope are gathering spectroscopic data from the family progenitor, (142) Polana, and comparing it to laboratory data from both spacecraft and near-Earth asteroids, revealing near-infrared spectral similarities that lend support to the hypothesis that they originated from the same protoplanetary body.

This image of this asteroid was captured on June 26, 2018 by Jaxa’s Hayabusa-2 Spacecraft optical navigation camera – telescopic (ONC-T). Image credits: Jakusa / University of Tokyo / Kochi University / Ricchiho University / Nagoya University / Chiba University of Technology / Nishimura University / Aizu University / AIST.

“We hypothesize that in the early formation of our solar system, a significant asteroid collided and broke apart, creating the Polana and the ‘Asteroid Family,’ the largest remaining body,” stated Dr. Anisia Aredondo, a researcher at the Southwest Research Institute.

“This theory posits that the remnants of that collision led to the formation of not just Polana, but also Bennu and Ryugu.”

“To validate this theory, we began analyzing the spectra of all three entities and comparing them.”

The researchers used time on Webb to observe Polana with two different spectral instruments targeting near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths.

The data was then contrasted with spectral information from physical samples of Ryugu and Bennu collected by two distinct space missions.

“Bennu and Ryugu are categorized as near-Earth asteroids as they orbit the Sun within Mars’ orbit,” they noted.

“However, they pose no threat to our planet, with closest approaches of approximately 3 million km (1.9 million miles) and 1.6 million km (1 million miles), respectively.”

“Bennu and Ryugu are relatively small compared to Polana; Bennu measures about 500 m in diameter (0.3 miles), while Ryugu is twice as large, but both Polana and Ryugu measure about 55.3 km (34.4 miles) wide.”

“Scientists believe that Jupiter’s gravity caused Bennu and Ryugu to drift out of their orbit near Polana.”

“Given their similarities, I am confident all three asteroids share a common parent,” she added.

This mosaic image of the asteroid Bennu consists of 12 images collected on December 2, 2018 by a 15-mile (24 km) Polycam instrument at Osiris-Rex. Image credit: NASA/NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Arizona.

The authors indicate that while spectral data from the asteroids exhibit variations and discrepancies, they do not sufficiently invalidate the hypothesis that they all have a shared origin.

“Polana, Bennu, and Ryugu have been traversing their respective paths through our solar system since the collision that may have formed them,” remarks Dr. Tracy Becker from the Southwest Research Institute.

“Bennu and Ryugu are now much closer to the Sun compared to Polana, resulting in their surfaces being more influenced by solar radiation and solar particles.”

“Additionally, Polana is likely older than Bennu and Ryugu, and as such, has been subjected to impact from micrometeorites over an extended period.”

“This could potentially alter the surface areas containing their elemental compositions.”

A study detailing the survey results has been published in the Journal of Planetary Science.

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Anisia Aredondo et al. 2025. Planet. Sci. J. 6, 195; doi:10.3847/psj/ade395

Source: www.sci.news

Fossilized Teeth Might Belong to a Newly Discovered Species of Early Hominins

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Model of Australopithecus Hominin

Credit: Cro Magnon/Alamy

In Ethiopia, 13 human teeth have been found within volcanic ash layers dating between 26 to 2.8 million years ago. Researchers indicate that some of these teeth are attributed to the genus Homo, hinting that others may belong to a newly identified human lineage, suggesting a coexistence of both species.

“They shared resources and everything was fine,” says Kay Reed from Arizona State University. “I cannot be certain at this point.”

Previous finds suggested that early members of several Homo species existed in this region about 3 million years ago, including Australopithecus afarensis, the species of the well-known Lucy Fossil.

The emergence of the first representatives of the genus Homo around 2.5 million years ago showcases characteristics increasingly reminiscent of modern human traits. So, what unfolded during that period? To delve into this, Reid and her colleagues have been excavating at Ledi-Geraru, an area rich with volcanic deposits from this pivotal epoch.

In 2013, her team unearthed a chin from a 2.8 million-year-old Homo species, pushing back the timeline for the origin of this genus. Recently, her team identified 13 teeth across three distinct layers of ash.

The oldest and youngest dental specimens (dated 2.79 and 2.59 million years) also belong to the genus Homo, as per the team’s findings. Nevertheless, they postulate that the teeth from the middle layer (dated 2.63 million years) are from Australopithecus. All excavation sites are within a kilometer of one another.

“We anticipated discovering more Homo specimens, yet we also encountered Australopithecus,” Reid remarks.

Molar teeth from Ledi-Geraru, possibly from an unidentified Australopithecus species

Brian Billmore: University of Nevada Las Vegas

Moreover, Australopithecus teeth exhibit distinctive features when compared to A. afarensis and other members of the genus, leading the team to speculate that they may belong to a new species. If this hypothesis holds, it indicates a more intricate and expansive evolutionary tree leading to modern humans than previously assumed.

“This is a significant finding,” states John Hawks from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, he cautions against drawing firm conclusions based merely on a handful of teeth.

“When fossils span a timeframe of 200,000 years, as these teeth do, it’s challenging to assert that they coexisted,” remarks Hawks. “That’s a vast period.”

There are also concerns about the identification of distinct species from these teeth. “Many fossils exhibit characteristics that overlap with various species. It’s feasible to categorize smaller samples into distinct groups—some resembling Homo and others more akin to Australopithecus,” Hawks explains.

“The issue remains statistical; the measurements do not indicate that these teeth are substantially different. They fall within the overlapping size ranges of early Australopithecus and early Homo species.”

Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, Cave Art: France

Join New Scientist’s Kate Douglas for an enchanting journey through time, exploring significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites in southern France, spanning from Bordeaux to Montpellier.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Hybrid Skull May Belong to Child of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens

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Homo sapiens parents” data-credit=”Israel Hershkovitz”/>

A skull of a young girl believed to be a descendant of Neanderthal Homo sapiens parents

Israel Hershkovitz

Skulls uncovered in Israel, dating back 140,000 years, likely belonged to hybrid children of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Anthropological analysis indicates that the ancient remains of a 5-year-old girl were found in one of the earliest known cemeteries, reshaping our understanding of organized burial practices and the people who partook in them.

The skull was initially unearthed in 1929 from Skhul Cave on Mount Carmel. This excavation ultimately revealed seven adults and three children, totaling 16 bones attributed to early humans classified as Homo sapiens.

However, the classification of the child’s skull has been disputed for nearly a century. It was originally thought to belong to a migrating lineage known as Paleoanthropus palestinensis, but later studies have suggested it is more likely a Homo sapiens specimen.

Anne Dambricourt Marasse, from the French Institute of Human Paleontology, is undertaking CT scans of the skull to compare it with other known Neanderthal juvenile remains.

“This study likely marks the first scientific assessment of Skhul’s child remains,” mentions John Hawks from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was not part of the research. “Previous efforts linked to antiquated reconstructions in plaster failed to comprehend the biology of this child in relation to similar specimens from a broader comparative framework.”

Malasse and her team found that the lower jaw presented notable Neanderthal traits, while the remainder of the skull was structurally aligned with Homo sapiens. They conclude that this blend of features suggests the child was of mixed ancestry.

“For a long time, I’ve questioned the viability of hybridization, suspecting that most cases resulted in miscarriages,” states Malasse. “The skeletal evidence indicates that this little girl, despite her youth at just five years, represents a different story.”

The new findings significantly enhance our understanding of the significant Skhul Child Skull, yet firmly identifying the child as a hybrid without recovering DNA is challenging, a task researchers have yet to achieve. “Human populations demonstrate substantial variability in appearance and physical form without interbreeding with ancient species like Neanderthals,” adds Malasse.

From research into both ancient and modern genomes, we know Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interchanged genes multiple times over the last 200,000 years. In 2018, bone fragments identified as Neanderthal and Denisovan hybrids, another ancient hominin species, were discovered in Russia, utilizing DNA analysis.

The Levant region emerges as a particularly significant area for human species intermingling due to its geographical positioning between Africa, Asia, and Europe. Some have termed it a “central bus stop” for Pleistocene humans, clarifies Dany Coutinho Nogueria at the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

Recent studies compel us to reevaluate our understanding of early burial practices among Homo sapiens, according to Malasse. Such ritualistic behaviors may have originated from Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, or resulted from interactions between the two.

“I cannot ascertain who performed the burial of this child, or whether the chosen burial ground belonged to a single community or one from another lineage that had established connections, shared rituals, and emotions,” reflects Malasse.

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  • Neanderthals/
  • Ancient humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

Artificial Intelligence Can Identify if Fingerprints from Two Different Fingers belong to the Same Person

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Fingerprints from two fingers on the same hand may look different, but AI can find basic similarities

Andrey Kuzmin/Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence can accurately identify whether fingerprints left by different fingers belong to the same person. This helps forensic investigators determine whether one person was at separate crime scenes.

Current technology can only match fingerprints left by the same finger. However, previous research suggests that all human fingertips may have fundamental similarities.

So, Gabe Guo Researchers at Columbia University in New York trained a machine learning model to determine whether fingerprints from different fingers can be identified as belonging to the same person. More than 50,000 fingerprints from around 1,000 people were used in the training. Samples were obtained from public databases at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University at Buffalo, New York. All fingerprints either belonged to deceased individuals or were anonymized from those living.

The team then tested the trained model on another set of more than 7,000 fingerprints from about 150 people. They evaluated the model using a statistical measure that estimates accuracy on a scale of 0 to 1. The researchers found that the model's score was greater than 0.75. This suggests that the model can reliably identify whether fingerprints from different fingers belong to the same person.

This technology has the potential to improve the efficiency of forensic investigations. “It could be useful if fingerprints found at multiple crime scenes don't match anyone in the database,” he says. ralph listenbutt at Pennsylvania State University. “Is the person who left fingerprints at this particular crime scene the same person who left them?” [different] What about this other crime scene print? ”

However, “the accuracy is not sufficient at this time.” [for this model] The court will have to decide this,” Guo said.

“If this is actually used for legal purposes, it will require professional retraining. [bigger] database” Hod Lipsonalso part of the research team at Columbia University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com