Tag Archives: crafted

New Fossil Indicates Paranthropus Boisei May Have Crafted Tools

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Paleoanthropologists have discovered and analyzed a partial hominin skeleton consisting of limb bones that are unmistakably linked to human skull components. Paranthropus boisei, an early hominin species that existed in East Africa between 2.3 and 1.2 million years ago, exhibits characteristics of manipulation and bipedal adaptations similar to those found in the genus homo. Furthermore, the hand morphology of this species shows convergence with gorillas in a way that supports manual food processing, potentially enabling strong gripping abilities akin to those required for climbing trees.

Paranthropus boisei. Image credit: © Roman Yevseyev.

The earliest members of the genus homo were known to have manufactured and utilized stone tools.

However, stone tools dating back 3.3 million years and Oldowan artifacts from 3 million years ago were found at Lomekwi. These discoveries at two locations in Nyayanga, Kenya, have reignited discussions surrounding the potential use of tools by other species.

“When Mary Leakey uncovered the OH 5 skull, Paranthropus boisei was discovered alongside Oldowan stone tools, leading this stone tool to be labeled the ‘oldest stone tool maker yet found,'” stated Dr. Carrie Mongul from Stony Brook University and her team.

“The debate over whether Paranthropus made and used tools has continued since, largely due to the absence of definitive hand bones that can be assigned to this genus.”

In a recent study, the researchers investigated partial human skeletons uncovered between 2019 and 2021 at Koobi Fora, east of Lake Turkana in Kenya.

The specimen, designated KNM-ER 101000, is estimated to be slightly over 1.52 million years old.

The teeth and skull of this specimen align with previous records of Paranthropus boisei fossils.

“KNM-ER 101000 provides the first hand and foot bones definitively linked to human teeth and skull of Paranthropus boisei,” reported the researchers.

Characteristics of KNM-ER 101000’s hands resemble both modern humans and African apes.

For instance, the ratio of thumb to finger length indicates that Paranthropus boisei likely had grip strength and dexterity comparable to that of humans, although they probably did not possess a precise pinch grip.

In contrast, some hand bones bear similarity to those of gorillas, suggesting that Paranthropus boisei may have had a strong grip beneficial for climbing.

“The findings imply that Paranthropus boisei could create and utilize tools to some extent, while also supporting the proposed distinction in dietary adaptations between Paranthropus and homo,” noted the scientists.

“Besides shedding light on less recognized aspects of postcranial functional anatomy in Paranthropus, this discovery highlights broader trends in the evolution of human hands and tool usage.”

The results of this research were published in a new paper in the journal Nature on October 15th. Read the article here.

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CS Mongul et al. A new fossil reveals aspects of the human hand in Paranthropus boisei. Nature published online October 15, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09594-8

Source: www.sci.news

Durable and Easily Recyclable: Biodegradable Plastic Crafted from Bamboo

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Bamboo is a quickly renewable resource

James Freeman / Alamy

Bamboo-derived hard plastics exhibit similar strength and durability to conventional plastics found in household appliances and car interiors, all while being recyclable and biodegradable in soil.

While bioplastics are gaining traction, they still represent only about 0.5% of the more than 400 million tonnes of plastic manufactured annually. This limitation is largely because bioplastics often lack the mechanical strength of many petroleum-based varieties and are not easily accommodated in standard production methods.

Recently, Dr. Dawei Zhao from Shenyang University of Chemical Technology in China has pioneered a technique for creating plastics from cellulose extracted from bamboo. This innovative approach can match or even exceed the properties of many commonly used plastics.

“Bamboo grows quickly, making it an exceptionally renewable resource and a viable substitute for traditional wood, yet its current applications are mostly confined to woven products,” Zhao noted.

Zhao’s team initially treated bamboo with zinc chloride and simple acid to dismantle strong chemical bonds, resulting in a mixture of smaller cellulose molecules. These molecules are then reorganized into a robust, hardened plastic.

The resulting material’s toughness is on par with standard engineering plastics (the strong varieties used in automotive, household, and construction applications). Dr. Andrew Dove from the University of Birmingham, UK, commented on the study.

Plastic sheet made from bamboo

Dawei Zhao

However, its strength means potential applications remain underutilized. “This doesn’t compete with primary plastics used in packaging like polyethylene or polypropylene,” Dove remarked. “Nevertheless, while it primarily targets smaller engineering plastics, it could ease some concerns regarding the sourcing of existing materials in that field.”

Although it is not as economical as the most common plastics, Zhao and his group found that the bamboo-based plastic can be fully recycled while retaining 90% of its original strength, offering a more appealing economic proposition. It’s also noteworthy that while it doesn’t quite match the scrutiny that other biodegradable plastics endure, it decomposes within 50 days.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Artist Crafted Massive Camel Sculpture in the Arabian Desert

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Life-sized camel engraving at Jebel Misma, Saudi Arabia

Sahout Rock Art and Archeology Project

The ancient people of the Arabian Desert left behind impressive rock art, including a large depiction of a camel, likely marking a water source.

Michael Petraglia, from Griffith University in Brisbane, along with his team, uncovered 176 sculptures across 62 panels in the Nehod Desert of Saudi Arabia in 2023. This collection includes not only life-size camel images but also 15 smaller camel sculptures and two camel footprints.

One particular rock art site featured a 3-meter-high dromedary located over 40 meters high on a cliff, making it impossible for the research team to safely access it without using a drone.

“Creating these sculptures must have been perilous,” Petraglia remarked. “Reaching that height was unfeasible.”

Besides camels, the rock art also illustrates other large animals such as ibex, horses, gazelles, and aurochs, highlighting what must have been a once mild climate. The team also uncovered carved human figures and masks.

“This isn’t merely about inscribing or altering the landscape,” Petraglia emphasizes. “These sculptures hold significant cultural value.”

Researchers propose that these images may have served as warnings to outsiders about the land’s occupation or indicated temporary water sources. Such findings contribute to the understanding of the extensive prehistoric habitation of Saudi Arabia.

Natural varnishes forming over the sculpture suggest it has aged for about 8,000 years. However, since the artwork itself couldn’t be dated directly, the team excavated sediments beneath the rock art panel.

Excavation site and discovery of sculpture tools beneath Jebel Arnaan’s rock art panel

Sahout Rock Art and Archaeology Project

There, the team found stone points, beads, and objects linking back to the late Neolithic people of the Levant, as well as tools that were likely used for sculpting. These artifacts date back around 12,800 to 11,400 years.

Excavations also took place near a small temporary lake called Playa, which ancient people would have depended on. Evidence from sediment and pollen confirms that this area was once far more verdant and hospitable.

Nonetheless, Petraglia believes the environment remains harsh, making it unlikely that people could establish permanent settlements in the area.

“These were likely transient communities, showcasing innovation,” he notes. “These were adept hunter-gatherers, far from mere survivalists.”

Cairo and Alexandria: Scientific Innovators of the Ancient World

Prepare for an unforgettable adventure in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt’s two most legendary cities where ancient history intertwines with modern allure.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Humans Crafted Tools from Animal Bones 1.5 Million Years Ago

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Washington – Early Man utilized animal bones to create cutting tools 1.5 million years ago on a regular basis.

A recent discovery of 27 sculptures and sharp bones from elephants and hippos in Tanzania’s All-Bai Valley site has extended the timeline for the use of ancient bones by around a million years. Researchers already knew that early individuals crafted simple tools from stones as long ago as 3.3 million years.

New discoveries of ancient humans published in Nature on Wednesday have shown that they had a more sophisticated toolkit, incorporating various materials, according to William Harcourt Smith, a paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History. He was not involved in the study.

A well-preserved bone tool measuring up to 16 inches (40 cm) may have been created by fracturing the bulky ends of leg bones and chipping off the flakes from the remaining bone shaft using stones. Research co-author Ignacio de la Torre, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, explained that this technique was used to produce one sharp edge and one tip.

The bone tools were likely used as hand axes, handheld blades not attached to a handle, for the purpose of butchering animal carcasses.

These blades were ideal for removing flesh from elephant and hippo carcasses but were not utilized as spears or projectiles. “I don’t believe they were hunting these animals. They were likely scavenging,” he stated.

Numerous artifacts exhibit signs of being struck in order to remove more than dozens of flakes, indicating a sustained level of craftsmanship.

The consistent choice of bones – specifically large, heavy leg bones from a particular animal – and a pattern of uniform modifications suggest that early humans deliberately selected and crafted these bones, as noted by paleobiologist Milia Pacheco from the Federal University of San Carlos in Brazil, who was not part of the study.

The bones show minimal signs of erosion, trampling, or gnawing by other animals, ruling out the possibility of natural factors shaping the tools.

These bone tools date back over a million years, predating the emergence of our species, Homo Sapiens, by approximately 300,000 years.

According to Brianna Poviner, a paleontologist with the Smithsonian Human Origins program, when the tools were created, three types of human ancestors coexisted in the same East African region.

This tool could have been created and used by Homo Erectus, Homo Habilis, or Paranthropus Boisei. “It could have been any of these three, but it’s nearly impossible to determine which one,” Poviner mentioned.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Robotic grin crafted from living human skin cells

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This robot's face can laugh

Takeuchi et al. (CC-BY-ND)

Researchers say smiles made from living human skin could one day be attached to humanoid robots, allowing the machines to emote and communicate in a more lifelike way – and the wrinkles could even be useful for the cosmetics industry.

The living tissue is a mixture of human skin cells grown on a collagen scaffold, then placed on a 3D-printed resin base. Unlike previous similar experiments, this skin also contains the equivalent of ligaments, which are embedded in the layers of tissue beneath the skin of humans and other animals and hold the skin in place, giving it incredible strength and flexibility.

Michio Kawai The Harvard researchers call their ligament equivalents “perforated anchors” because they were made by drilling holes in the robot's plastic base and filling the tiny V-shaped cavities with tissue, which helps the robot's skin stay in place.

The team attached the skin to a smiling robotic face a few centimeters wide, which could be moved by rods attached to a base, and to a similarly sized 3D shape in the shape of a human head (see below), which could not be moved.

“As the roles required of robots expand due to developments in AI technology and other factors, the functions required of robot skin are also starting to change,” Kawai said, adding that having human-like skin could make communication between robots and humans smoother.

3D head shape covered with living skin

Takeuchi et al. (CC-BY-ND)

The research could also have unexpected benefits for the cosmetics industry: In tests, the researchers made the tiny robot's face laugh for a month and found that they could replicate the formation of expression wrinkles on the skin, Kawai says.

“If we can reproduce wrinkle formation on a palm-sized research chip, it could also be used to test new cosmetics and skincare products aimed at preventing, delaying or improving wrinkle formation,” said Kawai, who conducted the research while at the University of Tokyo.

Of course, this skin still lacks some of the functionality and durability of real skin, Kawai says.

“They have no sensing capabilities and no blood vessels to provide them with nutrients and water, so they cannot survive long in air,” he says. “To address these issues, our current challenge is to incorporate neural mechanisms and perfusion pathways into the skin tissue.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Indie Underground Adventure: Animal Well – A stunningly crafted indie game

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TThe dark mouth of a well has always been a fascinating focal point of human fascination. It is seen as both the source of life-sustaining water and the entrance to dangerous secrets. Our fables are replete with scenes in which curiosity gets the better of crying children, who gaze up into a halo of light that is forever damp and out of reach. Animal Well is an indie game seven years in the making that throws you into one of Twilight’s labyrinths, a complex of caverns constantly dripping and darting with furry, luminescent creatures. The goal is unstated but clear: explore, map, emerge. It’s an instantly engrossing quest.

You play as a shapeless blob, not the most ambitious cipher ever, but what it lacks in limbs and such it makes up for in courage and ingenuity. At first, all you can do is bravely leap between rocks and scaffolding, but over time you’ll gain new tools, gadgets and abilities, gaining access to previously inaccessible passages and tunnels. Bit by bit, the map will fill up as you explore deeper into the cave system.

Dangling lightbulbs swaying in the underground breeze illuminate the surrounding scenery, but you have to look closely at each scene to notice the half-submerged gears, pulleys, and levers that open up the world. Animal Well It’s a game about exploration, with puzzles and secrets, where your ingenuity matches that of the game designers. And when you find the solution, everything falls into place, the world opens up a little, you can dive a little deeper, and that’s when you feel the thrill of it all. Animal Well Excellent.

In an era when major video game companies are focused on developing video games with leisure-time, sport-like features — seasons, passes, endless matches — what a treat to see a game this complex and restrained come along. This is a perfectly crafted contraption with a beginning, middle and end, designed to inspire joy and build culture — thankfully not shareholder value.

Source: www.theguardian.com