is an early Cambrian marine predator from China’s Chengjiang biota, notable for preserving the earliest evidence of chelicerae. This unique structure is a precursor to the fangs of spiders and pincers of scorpions.
Artist’s impression of Urocodia equalis, a marine predator that roamed Cambrian seas around 518 million years ago. Image credit: Xiaodong Wang.
Spiders, scorpions, and ticks belong to a significant group of invertebrates known as chelicerates, which includes over 100,000 described species.
Characterized by articulated limbs and an external skeleton, these creatures are particularly known for their specialized limbs, called chelicerae, used for capturing prey.
The earliest fossil records of chelicerae emerged not from terrestrial habitats but from marine organisms inhabiting Cambrian seas over 500 million years ago.
In a groundbreaking study, paleontologists examined Urocodia equalis from the renowned Chengjiang Fossil Site in Yunnan Province, China.
This diminutive creature measures just 2 to 3 centimeters and features large, stalked eyes, a segmented skeleton, and articulated limbs extending from its elongated body.
“The Urocodia equalis was part of an ancient ecosystem with over 200 species thriving in the ocean more than 500 million years ago,” stated Professor Mark Williams from the University of Leicester.
“These excellently preserved fossils offer invaluable insights into the early evolution of life on Earth.”
Utilizing X-ray tomography, Professor Williams and his team conducted an in-depth analysis of Urocodia equalis, uncovering much of its soft tissue still intact.
The scans revealed small, scissor-like limbs located behind the eyes, representing an early evolutionary version of the chelicerae that later developed into the fangs of spiders and pincers of scorpions.
“During our X-ray tomography analysis, we discovered soft anatomy that had remained buried for millions of years, including these fascinating scissor-like limbs,” remarked Professor Yu Liu, a paleontologist at Yunnan University and the University of Leicester.
“This fossil is particularly intriguing as it is a distant ancestor of chelicerates like scorpions and spiders.”
Urocodia equalis‘s legs also exhibit features similar to gills, a respiratory adaptation still observed in modern horseshoe crabs.
This discovery extends the fossil record of this unique trait, providing a rare glimpse into the origins of one of evolution’s most successful hunting adaptations that emerged in ancient oceans.
“Urocodia equalis has a seven-segmented head with a sclerotized lower mouth, pincer-like appendages, and bilobed body appendages equipped with overlapping exit valves,” noted the paleontologists.
“These scissor-like appendages illustrate a transitional structure between a multi-segmented appendage and a true chelicera; mega keiran represents the origin of book gills.”
Further details of these findings are published in the latest issue of Nature.
_____
Y. Liu et al., Urokodia: Shedding light on the origin of chelicerae and their book gills. Nature, published online July 1, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10713-2
Paleontologists in Brazil have discovered a previously unknown archosauroid species that thrived approximately 240 million years ago. This intriguing species may belong to a little-understood group of ancient reptiles reminiscent of the ancestors of crocodiles and dinosaurs.
Reconstruction of Silescerida acristatata. Image credit: Mateus Fernández Gadelha.
Silescerida acristatata resided in what is now Brazil during the Middle Triassic Period, a crucial time when life on Earth was diversifying following the mass extinction at the end of the Permian Period.
During this era, archosaurs—a diverse group of reptiles that eventually evolved into dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodiles—began to dominate terrestrial ecosystems.
The newly discovered species is likely linked to a rare and poorly understood group known as Euparkeriidae.
Among the most recognized species of Euparkeriidae is Eupacheria capensis, first described in South Africa in 1913 and remains the sole definitive member of this intriguing group.
“The Euparkeriidae are primarily noted for their distinctive stalked archosaurs. Eupacheria capensis existed during the Early to Middle Triassic in South Africa and is the only established member of this clade,” stated lead author Mauricio García from the Federal University of Santa Maria and his colleagues.
“Other presumed euparckerids have been found in regions across China and Europe.”
“Eupacheria capensis and Euparkeriidae rank just outside of archosaurs in all major phylogenetic analyses, highlighting their significance in understanding archosaur origins.”
“This species, along with other potential euparkerids, holds substantial implications for understanding the evolutionary trajectory of archosaurs, as it closely resembles the body plan of archosaur ancestors.”
The skeletal remains of Silescerida acristatata, including its left shoulder blade, right hip bone, and a left femur measuring around 17.3 cm in length, were discovered at a site in Doña Francisca, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Based on examinations with related species, the new find likely resembled a long-limbed, agile lizard-like predator.
The discovery of Silescerida acristatata broadens the known geographical range of the Euparkeriidae lineage, and reaffirms South America’s vital role in the early evolution of archosaurs.
“This discovery not only provides insight into the temporal and paleogeographical distribution of Euparkeriidae but also illuminates the origin and early evolution of this family. Eucrocopodan represents the first record of this archosaur in the Brazilian Triassic,” concluded the paleontologists.
“More broadly, this new species underscores the significance of South American Triassic deposits in the evolutionary history of archosaurs.”
The team’s research paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports on June 10th.
_____
García, M. S., et al. 2026. A new euparkeriid form from the mid-Triassic period of southern Brazil, a member of the family Euparkeriidae. Scientific Reports 16, 16585; doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-53740-9
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS exhibits a unique chemical signature, distinguishing it from comets in our solar system, and may have originated 10 to 12 billion years ago—predating the Sun itself—according to two studies published in the journal Nature.
Hubble captured this stunning image of 3I/ATLAS on July 21, 2025. At this time, the comet was located 446 million kilometers (277 million miles) from Earth. Image credits: NASA/ESA/David Jewitt, UCLA/Joseph DePasquale, STScI.
Discovered in July 2025, 3I/ATLAS is the third known interstellar object to enter the inner solar system.
Despite extensive observations, the precise age, origin, and trajectory of 3I/ATLAS remain uncertain.
Estimates based on its speed suggest an age ranging from 3 billion to 10 billion years old.
Analyzing isotope ratios offers insights into the physical and chemical conditions present during the formation of 3I/ATLAS.
“This presents a rare opportunity to study an ancient celestial body, possibly older than the Sun or our Solar System,” said Dr. Martin Cordiner, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“On one hand, we gain direct insight into distant epochs and locations; on the other, we learn more about the unique nature of our solar system.”
As 3I/ATLAS moved away from the Sun in December 2025, Cordiner and colleagues utilized the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to acquire detailed measurements of its chemical makeup.
Webb’s NIRSpec (Near Infrared Spectrometer) revealed exceptionally high deuterium levels—approximately 30 times greater than those found in solar system comets.
This indicates that 3I/ATLAS may have originated in the earlier phases of the Milky Way, within a very cold star system.
During its formation, the material inside the comet was likely subjected to substantial radiation exposure, but not warm enough for an extended duration to transform its heavy water ice into the type of ice familiar on Earth.
Moreover, NIRSpec detected only minute amounts of carbon-13 compared to the lighter carbon-12, reinforcing the notion of 3I/ATLAS’s ancient origin.
In contrast, planetary systems formed around the Sun, about 4.5 billion years ago, show higher levels of carbon-13.
The authors estimate that 3I/ATLAS formed approximately 10 to 12 billion years ago during the “cosmic noon” of the universe—when star formation peaked.
In its early days, the system may have been enveloped in a relatively cool, dense cloud.
The elevated levels of heavy water indicate that 3I/ATLAS spent its formative years in a state of deep freeze.
This infographic illustrates the stark differences in heavy carbon to deuterium ratios between solar system comets and the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / M. Cordiner / L. Hustak, STScI.
In a related study, astronomer Cyriel Opitum from the University of Edinburgh and colleagues conducted observations of interstellar visitors utilizing the UV-Visual Echelle Spectrometer (UVES) of ESO’s Very Large Telescope from December 6 to 26, 2025.
Their findings complement those from Webb by analyzing the chemical forms of carbon and nitrogen present in 3I/ATLAS.
“While the discovery of these rare isotopes intrigues us as scientists, the broader significance lies in exploring the potential for prebiotic chemistry elsewhere in the galaxy,” noted Dr. Stephanie Milam, also from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“Currently, we only know one location in the vast universe where chemical components have led to life: our solar system and Earth.”
“Examining these interstellar objects is a pivotal step toward understanding how common or rare conditions for life’s evolution may be across the universe.”
_____
M. Cordiner et al. Isotopic evidence for the cold and distant origin of 3I/ATLAS. Nature, published online June 22, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10771-6
C. Opitom et al. 2026. High isotopic ratios of nitrogen and carbon in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Nature, in press. arXiv: 2603.07187
The sun is gradually getting brighter and expanding as it ages, eventually cooking the Earth before consuming it entirely. However, new research indicates that complex life may endure in this extreme Earth scenario far longer than previously estimated.
Observations of other stars suggest that our Sun will transition into a red giant in about 5 billion years, raising questions about how long our planet will remain habitable. In ecological terms, the final survivors of complex life will be the trophic biosphere, including plants both aquatic and terrestrial. Their survival heavily relies on Earth’s temperature and the crucial carbon dioxide levels essential for photosynthesis.
“The greenhouse effect acts as Earth’s thermostat, balancing CO2 levels to maintain a habitable temperature,” explains Jacob Haq Misra from Blue Marble Space in Washington. As temperatures rise, CO2 is absorbed into rocks, diminishing atmospheric levels and allowing some heat to escape.
This shift implies that as the Sun expands, CO2 will become the critical limiting factor for plant life. Previous estimates indicated that a threshold of about 10 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere is necessary for plant survival; below this level, plants perish, leaving only microorganisms. This phenomenon is expected to occur roughly 1.35 billion years from now. While the exact longevity of these microbes post-plant extinction is uncertain, it is likely they will survive much longer.
Innovative simulations by Haq Misra and his colleague Eric Wolf suggest potential plant lifespans may be extended by an additional 500 million years. Their more sophisticated simulations account for specific plants, such as cacti and pineapples, that utilize a unique type of photosynthesis known as Crassulacean acid metabolism, which allows more efficient CO2 absorption. This could lower the CO2 starvation threshold to just 1 ppm, enabling the trophic biosphere to thrive for more than 1.8 billion years.
“Life on Earth is capable of much more than we might expect,” states Haq Misra. Over such extensive timescales, evolutionary adaptation could allow life to persist even longer, adjusting to the gradual warming triggered by the Sun’s expansion.
“These models suggest that we may be on the brink of understanding Earth’s complex biosphere, rather than approaching its end, as previously pessimistic scenarios suggested,” shares Edward Schwieterman from the University of California, Riverside. This insight is promising, as it implies that if we treat Earth as a representative example of a habitable world, our chances of discovering biospheres on other planets may be higher than previously anticipated. “This isn’t merely a philosophical query; it has practical implications: they are modeling a future Earth that we may be able to observe within the next 20 years.”
HPV Vaccines: A Game Changer in Cervical Cancer Prevention Since 2006
Subhash Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images
From 2020 to 2024, no women aged 20 to 24 in the UK succumbed to cervical cancer, marking the first instance of zero deaths in this age group. This milestone is attributed to the rollout of vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
“The findings are remarkable,” states Peter Sasieni from Queen Mary University of London. “It’s heartbreaking when young individuals die from cervical cancer. The rapid vaccine rollout symbolizes a triumph for vaccination, science, and public health.”
Numerous strains of HPV are sexually transmitted and can alter cells in ways that significantly increase cancer risk. Consequently, cervical cancer can arise in women as young as their 20s, and many continue to die from it worldwide.
Since the first HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006, adolescent girls in the UK have been vaccinated since 2008, with boys starting in 2019. This initiative not only protects against cervical cancer but also prevents other HPV-related cancers such as those of the mouth, throat, anus, and penis, mitigating the transmission of the virus.
This research serves as the first robust evidence indicating that the HPV vaccine not only substantially decreases HPV infections but also prevents fatalities related to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer incidence could potentially be decreasing faster than expected. Previous concerns suggested that the vaccine primarily prevented cancers detected early through screenings, but it appears to be effective for cancers that screening missed as well, according to Sasieni.
Fortunately, this is not the case. Sasieni and his colleague Milena Falcaro have been tracking cervical cancer rates in the UK, revealing zero deaths among women aged 20 to 24 from 2020 to 2024. Historical data suggested about 23 deaths were expected within this age group. “Never has there been a year with zero deaths, so five consecutive years is incredibly impressive,” Sasieni noted.
The substantial decrease in cases is likely due to the HPV vaccine, with approximately 90% of women aged 20 to 24 in the UK receiving the vaccine at 12 or 13. “This encouraging news demonstrates that the HPV vaccine is lifesaving,” stated Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination for the UK National Health Service (NHS). “We are excited to tell this generation: ‘Cervical cancer and several other cancers are no longer a risk for you.'”
While this particular study focused on cervical cancer, the vaccine offers protection against other HPV-related malignancies as well, significantly reducing the risk of warts in the skin, genitals, and anal region.
Sasieni and Falcaro also acknowledged some fatalities occurring in women aged 25 to 29, but the figures were notably lower than anticipated. They estimate that around 200 lives have already been saved, which is just the beginning. “The 200 lives estimated in the paper is merely the tip of the iceberg, as it appears to provide long-term protection,” Sasieni remarked. “In the future, nearly 18,000 deaths may be a rough estimate of those we’ve prevented so far.”
However, worldwide HPV vaccine coverage remains low, and the incidence of cervical cancer is increasing. Concerns arise as vaccination rates among teenagers in the UK have dropped post-COVID-19. “The alarming news is that vaccine uptake has declined significantly since the pandemic,” Sasieni warned.
“Together with cervical cancer screenings, HPV vaccinations are central to the NHS’s goal of eradicating cervical cancer by 2040,” says Temmink. “This is a safe and effective vaccine, and we urge all eligible individuals to take up the opportunity when invited.”
Researchers suggest that early human ancestors, specifically Homo erectus, date back approximately 1.79 million years, coinciding with the intentional use of fire in South Africa’s Wonderwerk Cave.
Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa. Image credit: Michael Chazan.
Wonderwerk Cave is situated 60 km south of Kulman in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
This significant site has revealed a fossil and archaeological record that spans nearly two million years of human habitation.
“The mastery of fire significantly impacts the evolutionary dynamics of Homo species, altering their relationship with both natural and cultural environments,” stated Dr. Liora Korska-Horwitz from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her colleagues.
“While the pace of innovation in hominin fire technology remains debated, evidence suggests that early humans could obtain fire from seasonal wildfires and transport it back to their habitats for survival,” they noted.
“The ability to generate and control fire only emerged much later in human development.”
Current research indicates that the most compelling evidence for early fire usage stems from the Acheulean artifacts found within Wonderwerk Cave.
Previous studies have suggested that fire was utilized in the cave around one million years ago.
However, Dr. Korska-Horwitz and her co-authors conducted a thorough examination of the cave’s stratigraphic layers, discovering charred animal bones that date between 1.07 and 1.79 million years old.
It appears that Homo erectus were not merely passive bystanders to natural wildfires nor advanced fire creators, but rather engaged in a more nuanced interaction with fire.
The findings suggest early humans captured fire from wilderness wildfires, brought it into their caves, and maintained it until it extinguished.
“Detecting evidence of fire from such ancient sites poses unique challenges,” explained Dr. Korska-Horwitz.
“Our research introduces innovative methodologies for uncovering ancient fire signatures, revealing consistent fire presence deep within Wonderwerk Cave.”
Central to the study is a novel analytical technique developed to identify combustion traces in fossilized bones.
“When subjected to specific light wavelengths, bones exposed to high temperatures emit a distinctive luminescence,” the researchers clarified.
“By merging this non-invasive luminescence technique with established chemical analyses, we successfully identified charred animal remains.”
The strong correlation between burnt bones and Acheulean stone tools, coupled with the absence of sediment transport that might explain their presence, underscores the likelihood of intentional human fire usage.
“Our findings reveal that early humans were not mere bystanders to natural fires,” emphasized Dr. Korska-Horwitz.
“They actively engaged with fire and integrated it into their daily lives.”
These findings were published in a 2026 study in the online journal PLoS ONE.
_____
MD Marine Monfort et al. 2026. New evidence of early Pleistocene fire use at Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa). PLoS One 21 (6): e0347480; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0347480
Is a revolutionary, error-free quantum computer on the horizon? Researchers at the renowned quantum computing firm QuEra assert that a breakthrough could be achieved as early as 2025.
Quantum computing technology is advancing rapidly, and the industry’s growth is staggering. One major barrier hindering its application in fields like chemistry, materials science, and drug development is the high error rates of quantum computers, limiting their calculation capacities. QuEra’s Yuval Boger and his team are confident they have strategies to overcome this challenge.
QuEra’s upcoming quantum computer, named Libra, is designed to be fault-tolerant, meaning it has the ability to identify and correct its own errors. Scheduled for cloud deployment in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Libra is projected to be operational by 2028. Currently, no fully functional, fault-tolerant quantum computers exist; Boger likens this milestone to “breaking the sound barrier.”
The qubits in Libra are crafted from electrically neutral atoms at subzero temperatures and managed using laser technology. The system is expected to operate with 10,000 to 15,000 qubits, arranged into 256 logical qubit clusters. Remarkably, even if the individual qubits are unreliable, they will only falter once in a million instances.
QuEra anticipates that Libra will facilitate “mega-quops,” or one million operations. In 2025, quantum expert John Preskill at the California Institute of Technology noted that this mega-quop machine could herald a new chapter in quantum computing. However, achieving this vision will require significant advancements: the largest neutral atom qubit array today contains just 6,100 qubits and hasn’t been applied to calculations, while the record for error-correction among logical qubits stands at 48. Major players like IBM predict the introduction of fault-tolerant quantum computers by 2029.
Jonathan King from Atom Computing, which develops its own neutral atom quantum computer, suggests that achieving a fully functional system will necessitate integrating various scientific and technological breakthroughs beyond laboratory prototypes. QuEra operates five experimental machines to refine Libra’s components, including the replacement of defective atoms due to increased temperatures, optimizing laser power management, and system integration.
“The balance is shifting from 90% science to 10% engineering, leaning more towards engineering,” Boger explains. The team is also improving the interaction between traditional computing systems used to monitor and control qubits, collaborating with AWS to incorporate Libra into the substantial cloud infrastructure.
“There’s still much work ahead,” reflects Thomas Wong from Creighton University, who adds, “We might reach this goal by 2028, but it could also take several more years.” Joe Fitzsimmons from Horizon Quantum Computing notes that although Libra’s ambitions are significant, QuEra has a strong history of making progress in error correction for quantum systems. While various techniques exist to develop qubits, the neutral atom method has an edge when it comes to converting between qubits and logical qubits.
Assuming everything unfolds smoothly, one major question remains: What capabilities will the MegaQuop machine offer? According to Boger, it is particularly suited for simulating intricate systems in physics and materials science that remain beyond the reach of conventional or existing quantum computers. He hopes researchers will leverage it to create new quantum computing algorithms for future fault-tolerant systems. “I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the truly impactful algorithms have yet to be discovered,” he asserts.
Wong envisions Libra as a potential “discovery machine” that could spur a multitude of innovative applications. “I believe QuEra aims to shape the future of research so the community can determine how to best utilize 256 logical qubits,” he concludes.
Recent radiocarbon dating at Sala Queimada, an elusive chamber in Cueva Palomera, located in northern Spain’s Burgos province, reveals that generations of humans frequented this sacred site from the end of the Ice Age to the Iron Age, leaving behind significant artifacts, structures, and offerings.
Sala Queimada at Cueva Palomera, Burgos, Spain. Image credit: Ortega-Martinez et al., doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105818.
According to lead author Dr. Ana Isabel Ortega Martínez, a researcher at the Instituto Fernán González, Royal Academy of History and Art of Burgos, “Cueva Palomera serves as the primary entrance to the Ojo Guareña cave system, which houses the majority of the rock art within the region.”
“Sala Queimada is situated on the third floor of the cave, approximately 290 meters from the entrance,” she added.
Accessing this chamber involves navigating a crawl space, which has dimensions of 13 meters wide and only 0.2 meters high.
The recent study involved obtaining 18 new radiocarbon dates from charcoal samples, drawings, and bone remains found throughout Sala Queimada.
The oldest artifacts date back to around 13,700 years ago, indicating the site’s use during the Upper Paleolithic.
The most recent discovery is that of a domestic piglet, whose bones, found in a rocky pool, date back to the Iron Age, approximately 2,100 years ago, suggesting it may have been a ritual offering.
Additionally, evidence indicates repeated visitations during the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Ages.
Importantly, each generation appeared to respect the artwork left by their ancestors, preserving older creations while adding new markings and paintings.
“One notable discovery is a complex structure comprised of two large limestone slabs held upright against each other and supported by smaller stones,” the scientists reported.
“The primary slab, measuring 1.5 meters in length, features a meticulously shaped upper edge that creates a pointed profile resembling animal figures facing the main artwork panel.”
“This slab and its supporting stones show carvings and charcoal marks that indicate significant human activity around the area.”
The structure bears similarities to another Paleolithic slab found in the Tito Bustillo Cave (Ribadesella, Asturias) but is larger in size.
This discovery adds Sala Queimada to an expanding list of prehistoric cave sites across the Iberian Peninsula, where ancient people returned for centuries to what they regarded as sacred locations.
“It’s significant that eight different usage stages were identified in Sala Queimada, making it one of the most challenging and secluded sanctuaries within Cueva Palomera,” noted the authors.
“This indicates that over millennia, humans not only utilized the entrance area as a habitat but also made numerous visits to this intricate underground environment.”
For further details, refer to the findings published in the May 23rd issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Report.
_____
Ana Isabel Ortega-Martinez et al. 2026. Sala Queimada: Another Paleolithic sanctuary in Cueva Palomera, Ojo Guareña (Burgos, Spain). Archaeology Journal: Report 73: 105818; doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105818
Diagram of the Chicxulub Asteroid Impact, 66 Million Years Ago
Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
The catastrophic Chicxulub asteroid impact, which occurred 66 million years ago, released immense energy and took at least 8 million years for the impact site to stabilize, fostering a warm underground ecosystem thriving with microbes.
Hitting what is now Mexico, the Chicxulub asteroid measured approximately 15 kilometers in diameter and triggered significant climatic shifts, resulting in the extinction of about 75% of Earth’s species. All non-avian dinosaurs faced extinction as a nuclear winter enveloped the planet for a minimum of 15 years.
Even the depths of the Earth felt the aftermath. “The Chicxulub impact caused deformation detectable up to 35 kilometers below the Earth’s surface,” explains Annemaire Pickersgill from the University of Glasgow.
This impact melted approximately 10,000 cubic kilometers of rock, and the interaction of molten rock with seawater resulted in hydrothermal systems rich in small pockets of heated water.
Research indicates the asteroid created a hydrothermal environment that extended several kilometers underground, as certain minerals only form in the presence of liquid water and heat. Surprisingly, the durations and extents of these hydrothermal systems appear to have been underestimated.
Previously thought to cool within 2 million years, Pickersgill’s research suggests the cooling process may have taken at least four times longer, providing more time for hydrothermal life to thrive.
“A major uncertainty regarding impact-generated hydrothermal systems like Chicxulub is how long the heat circulates water within the structure,” notes Pickersgill.
To investigate further, the research team drilled one kilometer into the crater, collecting rock cores. By analyzing the potassium decay into argon gas, they determined the age of the samples.
“Our findings showcase a range of ages from the impact event 66 million years ago to around 58 million years ago,” Pickersgill reports. “This implies hydrothermal activity persisted in at least some parts of the Chicxulub structure for 8 million years post-impact.”
Exploring sulfur isotopes in the rock cores indicates that microorganisms inhabited the hydrothermal system and exhibited rapid recovery following the cataclysm.
These findings imply that habitable hydrothermal conditions may have existed in early impact craters on young Earth and potentially on other celestial bodies for much longer than previously recognized.
“This opens up additional avenues for life to develop, evolve, and spread,” Pickersgill emphasizes. “The study bolsters the idea that early life could have established long-term habitats in impact craters, which may also extend to life on other planets characterized by large impact features.”
Chris Kirkland from Curtin University, Perth, Australia, adds that while there isn’t a definitive record of continued hydrothermal activity at Chicxulub, strong evidence suggests the site remained thermally active for millions of years.
“The significant impact doesn’t merely devastate the environment; it also creates long-lived underground systems that facilitate the circulation of hot fluids through fractured rock. These chemically rich environments could offer refuge to microorganisms and provide conducive conditions for the early steps toward life,” he concludes.
A nearly complete bovine skeleton discovered at the early Pliocene site of Camp dels Ninotz in northeastern Spain has unveiled that the ancestors of modern buffaloes and cows had reached impressive sizes long before humans inhabited the continent.
Paleo-artistic reconstruction of the early Pliocene environment around Lake Camp Dels Ninotz. Image credit: Mauricio Anton.
“Cows play a vital role in many contemporary ecosystems and human agriculture, particularly species within the Bovini tribe, such as bison, buffalo, and cattle,” stated Dr. Leonardo Solberg from the Leibniz Institute for Evolutionary and Biodiversity Sciences and his colleagues.
“However, due to the scarcity of well-preserved early fossils, their evolutionary origins and relationships with close relatives remain largely unknown.”
The study involved the examination of at least 14 human remains excavated from the Camp dels Ninotz site in Spain.
Researchers identified the specimen as Parabos tineresi, one of five buffalo-like species that thrived in Europe during the early Pliocene.
The largest of these animals is estimated to have weighed nearly 500 kg, making it smaller than most existing bovine species but larger than other similar bovid species of the period.
This indicates an early stage of body size increase in the bovine lineage, possibly as an adaptation to the changing climate and environment that characterized continental Europe during the Pliocene.
Their anatomy suggests a preference for moist, plant-rich environments, aligning with researchers’ understanding of the water-abundant ecosystem at the Camp dels Ninotz site.
Researchers argue that the early Pliocene marked the dawn of large cattle, but the exact evolutionary connection between cattle and cows remains unclear. The status of Parabos also remains ambiguous.
Comparative studies suggest that Parabos could either represent early members of the Bovini tribe or more modern relatives of the related Tragoportacini lineage, which was eventually supplanted by true water buffalo, cattle, and bison.
Future research focusing on the anatomy and ecology of Parabos will clarify their place in the bovine evolutionary narrative.
“The Camp dels Ninotz bovid is one of the most exquisite fossils from the European Pliocene,” remarked the researchers.
“The exceptional preservation of these specimens allows for a deeper understanding of their anatomy and, consequently, the ecology of the continent’s earliest large bovids.”
“Studying these fossils presented both challenges and rewards.”
“The extraordinary preservation and richness of the findings have provided us an unprecedented wealth of data for this ancient geological period, offering a new perspective on the world before humans.”
The study has been published in the journal PLoS ONE.
_____
L. Solberg et al. 2026. First or last dynasty? Parabos tineresi and the evolution of Eurasian bovidae during the early Pliocene. PLoS ONE 21 (6): e0340256; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340256
Chemical signatures embedded in ancient rocks indicate that the marine environment began deteriorating long before the catastrophic event that eliminated numerous species at the end of the Triassic period, approximately 201 million years ago.
Early Earth. Image credit: Peter Sawyer/Smithsonian Institution.
“The late Triassic period experienced one of the most severe mass extinctions in Earth’s history—the end-Triassic mass extinction, which occurred just prior to the Triassic-Jurassic boundary (201 million years ago),” stated Kayla McCabe, a geologist at Virginia Tech, along with her colleagues.
“This extinction event resulted in the loss of approximately 60% of marine invertebrates and was accompanied by various paleoenvironmental disturbances.”
“It has been proposed that extensive volcanic activity from the central Atlantic magma belt instigated the environmental shifts that contributed to the end-Triassic extinction,” McCabe added.
“These shifts included climate warming, ocean acidification, and deoxygenation, among others.”
In their recent study, McCabe and her co-authors examined rock records.
They conducted field visits to Grotto Creek in Wrangell-St. Paul, Alaska, in 2017, 2019, and 2022. This remote area of Elias National Park can only be reached by small planes.
The researchers analyzed sedimentary rock layers that were deposited before, during, and after the extinction event.
These rock formations serve as a record of ancient environmental conditions, particularly within the Panthalassic Sea.
Exploring these records reveals that oxygen levels in shallow oceans began to decline approximately 8 million years prior to the end-Triassic mass extinction.
This early decline in oxygen is believed to have placed significant stress on marine ecosystems long before the mass extinction occurred.
Geochemical analyses indicate that oxygen depletion intensified during the extinction event itself and played a crucial role in the loss of species.
Bengwigwisingaskas eremicarminis on the Panthalassan Sea coast. Image credit: Jorge Gonzalez.
“There is evidence for another volcanic field that aligns with this time interval,” remarked Ben Gill, a geochemist at Virginia Tech.
“While we may not fully understand the causes, we are gaining insights into the processes that took place.”
“This provides us with a framework for predicting future outcomes, as our oceans—like Chesapeake Bay—are currently experiencing acidification and deoxygenation.”
“Earth has undergone similar experiments in the past, suggesting that rising temperatures and associated ripple effects are likely to follow.”
“This offers valuable insights into what we might expect moving forward.”
The findings are detailed in a publication in Nature Communications Earth and Environment.
_____
KE McCabe et al. 2026. Deoxygenation of the equatorial Panthalassan Ocean preceded the mass extinction at the end of the Triassic. Nature Communications Earth and Environment 7, 460; doi: 10.1038/s43247-026-03362-w
Paleontologists have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery: a new bipedal shubosaur archosaur, Rubble Jascus Expetatus, found in New Mexico. This finding enriches our understanding of the diverse prehistoric creatures that inhabited North America over 200 million years ago during the Triassic period.
Rubble Jascus Expetatus traversed its prehistoric environment on two legs, equipped with tiny arms and a beak-like structure devoid of teeth. Image credit: Jorge Gonzalez / NHMLAC Dinosaur Institute.
Rubble Jascus Expetatus belongs to the newly classified Shubosauridae family, which consists of ancient crocodilian relatives resembling bipedal theropod dinosaurs.
“Shubosauridae represents a unique group of Triassic poposauriforms found in western North America and Argentina,” explained Dr. Alan Turner of Stony Brook University and his team.
“These agile, bipedal, toothless creatures demonstrate a remarkable convergence with the ornithomimid theropod dinosaurs that thrived in the Cretaceous period.”
Currently, three recognized species of shubosaurs include Shubosaurus inexpectatus from the Cooper Canyon Formation in Texas, Ephigia ochiferae from the Coelophysis Quarry at the Chinle Formation in northern New Mexico, and Syrossuchus longiservicus found in the Lower Ischigualasto Formation of western Argentina.
Rubble Jascus Expetatus effectively bridges the fossil timeline between Shubosaurus inexpectatus and Ephigia ochiferae.
This fossil, estimated at around 212 million years old, was excavated from the Hayden Quarry in the Chinle Formation fossil forest of northern New Mexico, USA, yielding significant partial skeletons and other fossilized remains.
Paleontologists note that Rubble Jascus Expetatus exhibits minimal differences compared to its relatives, reinforcing a trend of remarkable skeletal conservatism within the Shubosauridae family.
“The anatomical similarities between the skeletal remains of these species suggest that this morphological consistency has persisted within the Shubosauridae of western North America for at least 10 million years,” the researchers stated.
“Rubble Jascus Expetatus aligns well with the hypothesis of morphological conservatism and fits within the known stratigraphic range of North American shubosaurs.”
This discovery further supports the hypothesis that shubosaurs were primarily endemic to western North America, suggesting a unique pattern distinguishing them from many other rare Triassic reptile groups.
“Our phylogenetic analysis positions this shubosaur within the same clade as two other North American shubosaurs, reinforcing the concept of an endemic group of small, bipedal, toothless forms in the southwestern United States,” the researchers concluded.
The findings are detailed in a paper published in the May 26th edition of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
_____
Alan H. Turner et al. New Shubosaurid (Archosaur, Poposauridae) unearthed from the Late Triassic (Norian) Hayden Quarry in New Mexico, USA Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Published online on May 26, 2026. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2026.2618182
Paleontologists have unveiled a colossal new species of Mosasaurus, measuring an impressive 13.2 meters (43 feet) in length, and equipped with serrated teeth, leading to its intriguing name: Tylosaurus rex.
Reconstruction of Tylosaurus rex in the Cretaceous Western North American Interior Seaway. Image credit: Alderon Games / Path of Titans.
Mosasaurs, ancient giant marine reptiles, thrived during the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 100 to 66 million years ago.
Often likened to dinosaurs, these creatures are actually more closely related to contemporary monitor lizards and snakes.
The family Mosasaurs is categorized into four main subfamilies: Mosasauridae, Plioplatecarpinidae, Tylosauridae, and Halisauridae, each showcasing unique adaptations like flippers, streamlined bodies, and significant size variations.
Among them, Tylosaurid mosasaurs are characterized by a toothless snout, elongated tail, and minimally ossified limbs, adaptations that facilitated their life in open waters.
These ancient reptiles were among the first to achieve true gigantic sizes, surpassing 8 meters (26 feet) in length.
Tylosaurid fossils have been discovered across Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Africa, and Antarctica, with a remarkable abundance along the Western Interior Seaway of North America.
“Everything seems to be bigger in Texas, including mosasaurs,” stated study lead author Dr. Amelia Zietlow, a paleontologist from the American Museum of Natural History.
Dr. Zietlow’s research journey began as a doctoral student, when she identified what seemed to be a misclassified mosasaur fossil from the museum’s collection, previously labeled as Tylosaurus proliger.
Upon comparing her specimen with the holotype Tylosaurus proliger, she and her team concluded that their find, along with over a dozen similar fossils from various institutions, belonged to an entirely different mosasaur family.
This distinction was significant; the fossils of Tylosaurus proliger displayed finely serrated teeth, a rarity among mosasaurs.
While the typical Tylosaurus proliger specimen was found in present-day Kansas and dated to around 84 million years ago, the newly discovered fossils, primarily from Texas, are roughly 4 million years younger.
“The holotype for the newly categorized Tylosaurus rex is an impressive specimen displayed at the Perot Museum, first located in 1979 near Dallas,” remarked paleontologists.
Beyond its massive size, the newly identified Tylosaurus rex showcased a range of adaptations that contributed to its formidable jaw and neck muscles, indicating it was a powerful predator.
“Being approximately twice the length of the largest great white shark, Tylosaurus rex appears to have been a much more aggressive creature compared to other mosasaurs,” explained co-author Dr. Ron Tycosky, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Perot Museum.
“Studies of well-preserved fossils gathered from across North Texas revealed unprecedented levels of internal conflict within this species, unlike any other Tylosaurus fossils previously documented.”
“Evidence of this aggressive behavior includes the “Black Knight,” a specimen housed in the Perot Museum that is missing the tip of its nose and has a fractured jaw, injuries likely caused by its own kind.”
“Other notable mosasaurus specimens previously known as Tylosaurus proliger, now reclassified as Tylosaurus rex, include the remarkable specimen ‘Bunker’ discovered in 1911 and exhibited at the University of Kansas, as well as ‘Sophie’ at Yale University’s Peabody Museum.”
The research team’s published paper appears in today’s Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.
_____
Amelia R. Zietlow et al.. 2026. A new giant species of Tylosaurus from Texas (Mosasauridae), and an updated character list for phylogenetic analysis of Mosasauridae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 482; doi: 10.1206/0003-0090.482.1.1
Exploring Gender Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms
Mascot/Alamy
New research highlights that women often exhibit stronger verbal memory compared to men, which can obscure early indications of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study raises concerns that existing memory assessments may fail to identify symptoms in women, potentially hindering timely diagnosis and treatment.
“Recognizing gender discrepancies in Alzheimer’s disease is critical,” says Ralph Martins, director at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, who was not directly involved in the study.
Researchers, including Sasha Novozilova from McGill University in Montreal, examined data from extensive, long-term studies of older adults in the U.S. and Canada. Participants, some diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, underwent regular cognitive evaluations and brain imaging.
Their cognitive skills were tested by having participants learn a list of 15 words, recalling them immediately after distractions and later on. This form of verbal memory testing is a staple in Alzheimer’s research and clinical settings.
Findings revealed that many female participants continued to achieve “normal” test scores even after severe Alzheimer’s-related brain changes occurred. On average, women maintained their cognitive function for an additional 2.7 years compared to similarly affected men.
This disparity may be linked to women having a higher baseline of verbal memory throughout their lives, providing them with a “cognitive reserve” to tap into as the disease progresses. “Women generally exhibit superior brain connectivity,” Novozilova explains. “Therefore, if one brain region deteriorates, other areas can sometimes compensate.”
However, once this cognitive reserve diminishes, mental decline can accelerate, often too late to intervene effectively, researchers warn. Lewis Collins, also at McGill University, notes that new medications like lecanemab and donanemab can moderately slow Alzheimer’s progression, but require early intervention for maximum efficacy. This timing discrepancy might explain why women’s responses to these drugs are less optimal, as they are frequently diagnosed at later stages in clinical trials.
Another recommendation includes annual blood tests for women of a certain age to detect early Alzheimer’s signs before cognitive issues arise, suggests Martins. Non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as cognitive training, physical exercise, and adherence to a mind diet, may also help mitigate disease progression.
Interestingly, while men typically excel in spatial memory, women, on average, are more proficient in verbal tasks – possibly rooted in evolutionary behaviors. Historically, while men hunted, women may have developed language skills essential for community communication and child-rearing. Today, careers in writing, nursing, teaching, and administration further enhance women’s verbal memory, Novozilova remarks.
A groundbreaking study examining various South American butterfly lineages and diurnal moths reveals that convergent evolution—where unrelated species develop similar traits—follows a consistent genetic pattern. This discovery has significant implications for understanding how species may adapt to climate change.
Ben Chehida and others. A flight study of Itomini, Isomini, and Heliconius butterflies, along with the Ketonga moth. Image credit: Ben Chehida et al., doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003742.
“Convergent or parallel evolution serves as a natural experiment where unrelated species independently evolve similar traits in response to equivalent selective pressures,” states Kanchon Dasmahapatra, a professor at the University of York.
“This indicates how reproducible—and thus predictable—evolution can be.”
“Highly divergent lineages often display significant trait convergence, such as repeated colonization of habitats like land, water, and air, or the evolution of resistance against threats like pesticides, drought, and heat stress.”
According to the researchers, “Convergence in traits across different species can stem from genetic changes occurring in different genes or in the same gene (gene reuse).”
“Gene reuse is expected to be more prevalent among closely related lineages or when developmental pathways towards optimal fitness are limited.”
“Convergence may happen when the same allele is reused (allele sharing), either through independent mutations in one gene or through ancestral variation and introgression between species.”
In this study, the authors investigated various species of distantly related South American rainforest butterflies and moths that share similar wing color patterns for predator deterrence, a phenomenon known as mimicry.
The study aims to identify the genes responsible for these similar mimic color patterns among seven distantly related species.
Remarkably, researchers found that distinct butterfly and moth species reuse the same two genes—ivory and optics—which evolve into similar color patterns, despite being very distant relatives.
Genetic alterations in several butterfly species did not occur in the genes themselves but rather in similar “switches” that control gene expression.
Interestingly, one moth species utilizes an inversion mechanism where substantial DNA sequences flip directions, mirroring a genetic strategy used by a butterfly.
“Convergent evolution, where numerous unrelated species independently develop the same trait, is a widespread phenomenon across the tree of life,” says Professor Dasmahapatra.
“However, there is limited opportunity to explore the genetic foundation of this phenomenon.”
“By studying seven butterfly lineages along with diurnal moths, we demonstrate that evolution is surprisingly predictable and that both butterflies and moths have repeatedly employed the same genetic tricks to develop similar color patterns since the time of dinosaurs.”
The findings from this study reveal that evolution may not always be random and could be more predictable than previously believed.
Professor Joanna Meyer from the Wellcome Sanger Institute remarked: “All these distantly related butterflies and moths are toxic and unpalatable to birds that attempt to consume them.”
“Their similarities are advantageous; if birds recognize a specific color pattern as indicating ‘don’t eat us, we are poisonous’, it benefits other species to exhibit the same warning colors.”
“Our research illustrates that these warning colors are remarkably optimal. With a highly conserved genetic basis over 120 million years, evolving these similar color patterns could be quite straightforward.”
The results are published in the journal PLoS Biology.
_____
Y. Ben Chehida et al. 2026. Convergent mimic coloration in lepidopterans over 120 million years of evolution is underpinned by genetic parallelism. PLoS Biol 24 (4): e3003742; doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003742
Recent research from the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology and the University of Cambridge reveals that malaria significantly impacted early humans, not just as a disease, but as a factor that influenced habitat selection, population fragmentation, and the genetic evolution of our species.
Colucci et al. investigated how Plasmodium falciparum-induced malaria influenced habitat selection among early human societies from 74,000 to 5,000 years ago.
“Malaria, a significant global health issue caused by the Plasmodium parasite, affects approximately 263 million people annually,” stated lead author Dr. Margherita Colucci and her team.
“Genetic evidence indicates that malaria posed a serious challenge during both recent prehistory and the Pleistocene epoch, with sickle cell anemia mutations linked to malaria emerging in Africa between 25,000 and 22,000 years ago.”
Archaeological findings also suggest that early humans developed tactics to minimize exposure to mosquitoes, such as using aromatic leaves with insecticidal properties in their surroundings.
The new study highlights how Plasmodium falciparum malaria played a crucial role in shaping human history in sub-Saharan Africa from 74,000 to 5,000 years ago.
Researchers discovered that malaria affected where early human populations settled, pushing them away from high-risk areas and leading to increased dispersal across various landscapes.
Over thousands of years, this demographic fragmentation influenced how groups intermingled and exchanged genetic material, ultimately shaping the genetic landscape of modern humans.
These findings suggest that malaria was more than just a health threat; it was a key factor in shaping human history.
“We utilized species distribution models for major mosquito groups alongside paleoclimate data,” explained Dr. Colucci.
“By integrating these findings with epidemiological insights, we estimated malaria transmission risks throughout sub-Saharan Africa.”
The researchers then compared these risk estimates with independent reconstructions of human ecological niches in the same regions during that time frame.
The results indicated that humans actively avoided high-risk malaria areas or could not survive in them.
Professor Andrea Manica remarked, “These decisions have significantly influenced human demographics over the past 74,000 years—and possibly beyond.”
“Malaria has played a pivotal role in shaping the structure of human societies.”
“Factors like climate and geographical barriers were not the only determinants of human habitation,” he added.
Professor Eleanor Seri noted, “This study opens new avenues in the exploration of human evolution, as disease has rarely been considered a driving force in our ancestry. Without ancient DNA from this period, verification would have been challenging.”
“Our research redefines this narrative and provides a new perspective on the role of disease in early human history.”
The findings are published in today’s edition of Scientific Advances.
_____
Margherita Colucci et al. 2026. Malaria’s impact on human spatial organization over 74,000 years. Scientific Advances 12(17); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aea2316
How does Simon Singh’s classic popular science book “Fermat’s Last Theorem” resonate today?
Did you know that the number 26 is unique? It’s the sole integer nestled between the square number 25 (5) and the cube number 27 (3). This intriguing detail highlights that no other examples exist between zero and infinity.
Simon Singh’s 1997 book Fermat’s Last Theorem is an insightful exploration of mathematical proof. It delves into what proof means, how it can be achieved, and what drives mathematicians in their passionate pursuits. This book narrates a captivating quest for evidence, making it a compelling read. Given that it took 350 years for the proof to surface, it also offers an impressive historical lens on mathematics. For many, the essence of mathematics feels like abstract reasoning beyond reach. Yet, Singh’s work transports readers into this captivating realm, remaining a treasure even nearly 30 years after its publication.
Singh begins with Pythagoras, renowned for his contributions to triangle theory. Most people are familiar with the Pythagorean theorem, stating that the sum of the squares of a right triangle’s two shorter sides equals the square of the longest side (2 + y2 = z2). While others used this methodology before, Singh highlights how Pythagoras distinguished himself by proving it true for all right triangles—not through trial and error, but via inarguable logic. “The quest for mathematical proof is a pursuit for absolute knowledge,” Singh asserts.
My favorite segment involves the tale of Pythagoras, as I learned he was the founder of the Secret Brotherhood of Proofs, and was fascinated by the story of Cyclone, a man denied admission, who conspired against Pythagoras.
Next, Pierre de Fermat enters the narrative. Living in 17th-century France, this judge revealed remarkable mathematical prowess. He famously proved the uniqueness of the number 26. Fermat became renowned for his “last theorem,” an elegant extension of the Pythagorean theorem. While an infinite number of integers can satisfy the Pythagorean equation, Fermat proposed that tweaking it to n + yn = zn with any integer n results in no integer solutions. In 1637, he audaciously claimed to possess “really excellent” proof, though he never documented it.
For 350 years, mathematicians chased its secrets. Singh adeptly navigates this journey, introducing a colorful cast of characters. One standout is Sophie Germain, a pioneering French mathematician who operated under a male alias. Evariste Galois, a fervent revolutionary, made significant contributions but fell in a duel. Yutaka Taniyama, a brilliant Japanese mathematician, played a key role in the eventual proof but tragically took his life.
Yet, our narrative’s hero is mathematician Andrew Wiles, who ultimately proved Fermat’s theorem true in 1994. Singh skillfully portrays Wiles, illuminating his notable achievements, even as he shunned the limelight. Through Wiles’ work—constructing a logical bridge between elliptic curves and modular forms—readers gain insight into complex mathematical realms.
However, the journey contains a tense twist: Wiles’ original proof revealed an error—a nightmare scenario. Yet, he rose from these ashes, ultimately correcting the flaws. My only critique is that this part of the narrative could have been more concise.
Although Singh’s book dates back to the 90s, its themes remain pertinent in modern mathematics. One concept tying both the book and Wiles’ proof is the Langlands program, proposed by mathematician Robert Langlands in 1967. It suggests that various mathematical areas are interconnected, and uncovering these ties could lead to breakthroughs in previously unsolvable problems. Wiles’ research provided early confirmation of the Langlands conjecture, with recent discoveries shedding further light on this vibrant area of mathematics.
Upon finishing the book, I felt as if I was wandering through a gallery of abstract art. Mathematics proofs, like art, invite quiet observation, arousing curiosity about the minds behind them, and providing glimpses beyond everyday experience. This book deserves the highest praise for evoking such profound emotions.
Topics:
This revised content is optimized for SEO while preserving the original HTML structure.
Lyudmila Dyblenko – Chernobyl’s Guardian During the 2022 Occupation
Mykhailo Palinchak
On February 24, 2022, as Russian forces advanced into Ukraine, Lyudmila Dyblenko, head of the Chernobyl meteorological observatory, ordered her staff to evacuate. Unfortunately, she was unable to escape, as the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear plant fell under Russian occupation.
“We started gathering equipment and monitors, but it was too late,” Dyblenko recounted in the modest hut that hosts the weather station. Despite the dire circumstances, she heroically resolved to continue essential measurements—radiation, temperature, wind, and rainfall—that are crucial for scientists monitoring the situation in Chernobyl. “I chose to keep working,” she stated. “I truly love my job and my country.”
While monitoring is typically automated, power outages by March 9 left her equipment inoperable, making heating and cooking virtually impossible. The hut became the warmest refuge during her winter stay in Chernobyl, with a fire continuously lit and a comfortable desk to work at. Under occupation, conditions were increasingly challenging.
Dyblenko meticulously tracked Russian patrols, timing her exits to collect manual measurements, eventually using an older cell phone to transmit data due to its superior reception capabilities. Situated in the highlands of Chernobyl, she discovered nearby spots—a church and a truck park—where weak signals permitted data extraction.
“There is software that automatically compiles and sends data, but that was impossible during the power outage,” Dyblenko explained. “We had to do it manually.”
Unfortunately, as time passed, Russian soldiers grew bolder. At one point, someone forced their way into her house demanding cognac. She cleverly defused the situation by treating him as a mischievous child, saying, “Is this a restaurant?” Fortunately, he retreated, showing the power of her quick thinking.
Eventually, she spotted a small red light in the bushes near her scientific equipment, realizing a surveillance device had been placed there. Ignoring the threat, she persisted in her crucial work.
Thanks to her relentless efforts, there were no gaps in the data collected, allowing for uninterrupted scientific analysis of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone during the occupation. In recognition of her bravery, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded her one of the few medals given to a meteorologist during the ongoing conflict, a testament to her remarkable courage.
Astronauts captured stunning images of the moon’s crater-filled Antarctic region during the Artemis mission. NASA is planning future lunar landings focusing on this area.
The moon’s south pole features numerous craters believed to contain water ice, presenting unique challenges for navigation compared to the Apollo landing sites near the equator. Insights gathered during the Artemis II mission will help identify potential landing sites for upcoming exploration.
Towards the conclusion of the lunar flight, astronauts had the incredible opportunity to observe a solar eclipse from space. They recorded detailed observations for roughly an hour as the sun disappeared behind the moon and emerged from the opposite side.
During the initial phases of the eclipse, astronauts utilized specialized glasses akin to those worn on Earth to safely view the event as the moon obscured the sun’s rays.
This rewritten content emphasizes SEO by including keywords like “NASA,” “Artemis mission,” “lunar landings,” and “solar eclipse,” while maintaining the original HTML structure.
Changes in predator populations may have driven early humans to develop innovative tools
Raul Martin/MSF/Science Photo Library
Approximately 200,000 years ago, a decline in megafauna may have compelled early humans to transition from heavy stone tools to more lightweight hunting kits designed for smaller prey. A recent study supports the notion that this change in hunting strategy could have sparked a rise in cognitive capabilities among our ancestors.
For over a million years, various early human species relied on heavy stone tools such as axes, kitchen knives, scrapers, and stone balls. These robust tools were essential for hunting and butchering large herbivores, including extinct relatives of modern elephants, hippos, and rhinos.
Between 400,000 and 200,000 years ago, archaeological evidence shows a notable increase in smaller, sophisticated tools alongside the fading of traditional heavier tools. Our species, Homo sapiens, emerged during this timeframe.
Circa 200,000 years ago, heavy stone tools vanished from the archaeological record of the Levant, while the presence of diverse, lightweight masonry toolkits—like blades and precision scrapers—increased.
Research led by Vlad Litov, a professor at Tel Aviv University, revealed a correlation between these technological advancements and a significant decline in large herbivores, potentially due to overhunting.
The researchers analyzed archaeological findings from 47 sites across the Levant, spanning the Paleolithic period, which lasted from around 3.3 million years ago to 12,000 years ago. Their analysis of dated stone artifacts in relation to animal remains uncovered a compelling trend.
Findings indicate a drastic reduction in the biomass and specimen count of giant herbivores exceeding 1,000 kilograms correlating with the disappearance of heavy tools 200,000 years ago. Conversely, the availability of smaller prey increased alongside more sophisticated small tools.
Supporting the connection between tool technology and prey type, the researchers noted that sturdy stone tools were still in use in regions with abundant large game, such as southern China, until about 50,000 years ago.
Heavy-duty tools and their evolution to lightweight alternatives used by early humans
Vlad Litov et al., Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University
Previous theories suggested that advancements in technology stemmed from increasing intelligence and creativity due to evolutionary pressures. However, Litov and his research team propose a different perspective: reliance on smaller prey may have catalyzed the evolutionary growth of larger brains in modern humans.
“As large herbivores dwindled, humans increasingly depended on smaller prey, necessitating varied hunting strategies, advanced planning, and the implementation of lightweight, intricate toolsets,” states Litov. “This cognitive evolution was a byproduct of adapting to new prey types, rather than the initial driver of this adaptive transformation.”
“There is more to this adaptation than merely prey size,” says Seri Shipton from University College London. He notes preliminary evidence indicating mass hunting of medium-sized ungulates like horses and bison, with signs of enhanced cognitive abilities and planning emerging during the Middle Paleolithic.
Nicolas Tessandier from the French National Center for Scientific Research also maintains some reservations. “Human adaptation to new fauna underscores adaptability rather than mere intelligence,” he posits. “Producing powerful tools for hunting large herbivores was equally astute.”
Litov recognizes that prior research has shown advanced cognitive functions present early in human evolution, notably in the development of Homo erectus around two million years ago. However, he emphasizes that switching from large to smaller prey had major consequences for human society. A single ancient elephant carcass could sustain a group of about 35 hunter-gatherers for months. As these high-calorie resources vanished, reliance on smaller prey reduced the yield per animal.
“Energetically, we had to gather numerous smaller ungulates, such as fallow deer, to replace the loss of one elephant,” explains Litov. This shift likely stimulated diverse cognitive and behavioral changes, including cooperative hunting strategies, advanced techniques, and enhanced social collaboration and organization. “Such adaptations may have contributed to the evolution of larger brains in later species, including Neanderthals and Homo sapiens,” he adds.
“In my view, the decline in large prey familiar to hominins likely intensified competition among groups,” asserts Shipton. “It was probably an iterative process where the reduction of larger prey prompted cognitive shifts that facilitated access to smaller prey.”
Discovery Tour: Archaeology, Human Origins, and Paleontology
New Scientist regularly highlights captivating sites worldwide that have transformed our understanding of species and the early days of civilization. Why not explore them yourself?
Topics:
In this revision, I’ve incorporated SEO-friendly keywords and maintained the integrity of the original content while adding clarity and enhancing readability.
2026 marks a significant milestone as humanity embarks on its bold journey to colonize Mars.
Later this year, NASA’s ESCAPADE rover is set to launch towards Mars, laying the groundwork for future manned missions. For more details, read about the rover’s objectives here.
Future settlers aim to create self-sustaining cities on Mars, transforming its harsh landscape and opening new possibilities for humanity beyond Earth. This endeavor also has the potential to extend the survival of human consciousness.
Elon Musk has expressed his ambition to land on Mars within two years, as noted in 2024 on X. He has often referenced Kim Stanley Robinson’s acclaimed novel, Red Mars, published in 1992.
Set in 2026, Robinson’s narrative doesn’t rely on extraterrestrial conflicts or futuristic technologies. Instead, it delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by humans, highlighting debates surrounding the sanctity of intelligent life versus the need for solar system exploitation.
Robinson’s prophetically accurate depiction of the future includes a world dominated by powerful multinational corporations, overshadowing the United Nations. The author suggests that the UN operates as a mere tool for these corporations, predicting a future where corporate interests dictate global affairs.
His vision resonates with early predictions by Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer David Dietz, who forecasted rampant resource overexploitation and an increase in competition, leading to rising prices and a decline in luxury goods.
Robinson’s Red Mars illustrates how future generations will navigate environmental challenges. Climate change is a key factor motivating humanity to leave Earth, and the protagonist, Anne Claiborne, views Mars as a new beginning rather than a mere resource. “You can’t simply erase the surface of a planet that’s 3 billion years old,” she notes during discussions on terraforming.
The character Frank Chalmers reflects on past ecological disasters on Earth, drawing parallels to today’s ambitious “climate megaprojects,” such as glacier stabilization and large-scale re-greening efforts.
Red Mars also continues the tradition of classic speculative fiction, focusing on human conflict and societal division as the settlers grapple with how best to cultivate their new home. This central theme is further developed in Robinson’s sequels, Green Mars and Blue Mars.
Anne’s concerns about the ethical implications of creating breathable air on Mars echo a profound respect for potential undiscovered native life. “It would be unscientific and, worse, immoral,” she asserts.
The depth of Robinson’s characters and narratives makes Red Mars a treasured work, earning both the Nebula Award and the British Science Fiction Society Award, and has been subject to numerous attempts at a screen adaptation, including interest from director James Cameron before he focused on the Avatar universe.
The prequel, Green Mars, was also included in NASA’s Mars rover Phoenix lander in 2006 as part of an interplanetary library, a nod to Robinson’s influence on the genre to this day.
Outside of his Mars Trilogy, Robinson has expressed caution regarding future technological advancements and governance in his works. His novel, 2312, published in 2012, envisions a world facing extreme heat and rising sea levels while reflecting on humanity’s slow response to climate issues.
In the same year, he addressed the future of technology and society at the Humanity+ conference, emphasizing the need for inclusivity in tech advancements, stating, “[It] has to be for All People Plus,” hinting at underlying societal tensions.
The New Scientist Book Club is currently reading Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Join us for a collective reading experience here.
Recent scientific research has unveiled two previously unknown species of marsupials within the remote rainforests of New Guinea’s Vogelkop Peninsula. The Pygmy Longfinger Possum (Dactylonax Kambuyai) and Wow Glider (Thus ayamalensis) are believed to have vanished around 6,000 years ago. These discoveries indicate that New Guinea’s rich forests may still conceal remnants of an ancient animal kingdom.
Pygmy Longfinger Possum (Dactylonax Kambuyai), a female spotted in the Kralik area of the Vogelkop Peninsula. Image credit: Carlos Bocos.
Professor Tim Flannery from the Australian Museum states: “The identification of a ‘Lazarus taxon’ is a remarkable event, especially when it was thought to be recently extinct.”
“The uncovering of two species once believed to be extinct for millennia is truly exceptional.”
“This discovery underscores the crucial need to conserve these unique biological regions and highlights the significance of collaborative research in safeguarding hidden biodiversity.”
The pygmy long-tailed possum and the ring-tailed glider, known through Pleistocene fossils found in Australia and New Guinea, inhabit secluded lowland forests of the Vogelkop Peninsula.
“Vogelkop represents an ancient section of the Australian continent, now part of New Guinea,” remarked Professor Flannery.
“Its forests may still harbor even more hidden aspects of Australia’s natural history.”
The Pygmy Longfinger Possum boasts striking stripes and remarkable adaptability, featuring one finger on each hand that is twice as long as the next longest finger.
This species is thought to have vanished from Australia during the Ice Age, a period notorious for the extinction of iconic megafauna, including the diprotodon and the marsupial lion.
Wow Glider (Thus ayamalensis), a subadult from the South Solon area of the Vogelkop Peninsula. Image credit: Arman Muharmansyah.
The ring-tailed glider is closely related to the Australian Glider (Petauroides) and marks the first new genus of marsupials identified in New Guinea since 1937.
Smaller than its relatives, this species features furless ears and a strong, prehensile tail, forming lifelong pair bonds and typically raising just one pup annually.
Similar to sugar gliders, these marsupials reside in tree hollows high within the forest canopy and face threats from logging practices.
“The glider, known locally as tous among some Tamburou and Maybrat communities, is deemed sacred,” shared Lika Koline, a Maybrat community member.
“It symbolizes the spirits of our ancestors and plays a key role in educational practices such as initiation ceremonies.”
“Our meticulous collaboration with Tamburou Elders was essential, and without the involvement of Traditional Owners, this identification would not have been feasible.”
“We are immensely proud that Papuan researchers have contributed to these groundbreaking findings. Our gratitude extends to the communities in Misool, Maybrat, and Tambulo for their continued support in this research,” stated Dr. Aksamina Yohanita from the University of Papua.
A detailed study discussing these findings was published on March 6th in the Australian Museum Records.
_____
Tim F. Flannery et al. 2026. “Reemergence after 6,000 years: A modern record of the ‘extinct’ Papuan marsupial, Dactylonax Kambuyai (Marsupial: Petauridae), revised phylogeny and zoogeography of the genus Dactylonax.” Records of the Australian Museum 78 (1): 17-34; doi: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.78.2026.3003
Scanning Electron Micrograph: Escherichia coli (Yellow) Infecting Human Bladder Cells (Blue), Resulting in Thick Mucus Secretion (Orange).
Professor PM Motta et al./Science Photo Library
New research indicates that severe infections, such as cystitis, pneumonia, and dental issues, could elevate dementia risk. A comprehensive study in Finland involving hundreds of thousands of participants revealed that hospitalizations for these infections were linked to a higher probability of developing dementia, including early-onset dementia, within six years.
Current findings suggest that dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, may be preventable or delayed through brain-training activities, lifestyle changes, and even sauna use. Further evidence now supports that minimizing infections may significantly lower dementia risk. “This indicates that the risk of dementia may be partially modifiable,” says Quantin Wu from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, who was not part of the study.
To explore this further, researchers analyzed health records from 62,555 individuals aged 65 and older, all of whom were free from dementia in 2016 but diagnosed between 2017 and 2020. This cohort was compared with 312,772 dementia-free individuals matched by age, gender, education, and marital status, highlighting a two-decade span of diagnoses and hospitalization records.
The team identified 29 symptoms linked to an approximately 20% increased risk of developing dementia within the following five to six years. Notably, while most symptoms were non-infectious and concerned other health issues, cystitis and nonspecific bacterial infections specifically contributed to heightened dementia risk. Subsequent evaluations indicated that infections primarily drove this increase compared to 27 other health conditions.
While inflammation is a crucial immune response to infections, it also plays a role in certain dementia types, including Alzheimer’s disease. Infection-induced inflammation can damage the brain’s circulatory system, leading to microbleeds and the infiltration of toxins through the blood-brain barrier, according to Shipira. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that vaccines targeting infections like shingles and influenza may lower dementia risk.
In another segment of the research, a focus was placed on early-onset dementia, identified in individuals under 65. Although conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and head trauma pose significant risks, multiple infections—including gastroenteritis, colitis, pneumonia, and dental infections—were found to have associations with early-onset dementia.
The variation in which specific infections affect either early-onset or standard-onset dementia remains unclear. The researchers noted differing causes and genetic susceptibilities associated with these dementia types in their findings.
Despite the robust correlations observed, it’s uncertain if these infections are direct causative agents of dementia or if mere correlations arise from confounding variables. “To clarify, intervention trials are essential to assess whether improved infection prevention can effectively lower or delay dementia onset,” Cipila asserts.
“Gil Livingston,” a professor at University College London, expressed openness to the possibility that such studies may affirm causal links. “This high-quality research aligns with other evidence, and when considering the timeline and biological plausibility, it seems likely,” she states.
This insight could significantly enhance strategies for preventing, managing, and monitoring serious infectious diseases, according to Wu. For instance, preventing cystitis involves maintaining adequate hydration and administering appropriate incontinence care. “Timely treatment is vital as UTIs in older adults often manifest unusually, such as through confusion or delirium, which can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses,” she emphasizes. “This study is both concerning and motivating.”
Geoscientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by analyzing magnetic signals in 3.5 billion-year-old rocks in Western Australia. This research reveals the oldest direct evidence of global shifts in the Earth’s outer shell, pushing the origins of plate motion back into the planet’s early history.
Hadean Earth. Image credit: Alec Brenner.
“A wide range of ages has been proposed for tectonic activity,” said Dr. Alec Brenner, a researcher from Yale University.
“Our findings confirm that tectonic plates were actively moving on Earth’s surface 3.5 billion years ago.”
This significant study focused on the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia, known for its ancient and well-preserved rock formations dating back to the Archean era, a time when Earth sustained early microbial life and endured significant asteroid impacts.
The Pilbara region hosts some of the earliest signs of life, including stromatolites and microbial rocks formed by single-celled organisms like cyanobacteria.
The research team analyzed over 900 rock samples from more than 100 sites within the Arctic Dome region.
Using an electric drill with a hollow bit and diamond teeth, they extracted cylindrical core samples while cooling them with a hand-pumped horticultural sprayer.
An instrument equipped with a compass and goniometer was inserted into the drilled holes to accurately record the orientation of the samples.
The scientists then sliced the cores into thin sections and placed them into a magnetometer capable of detecting magnetic signals 100,000 times weaker than a typical compass needle.
These samples were measured multiple times while subjected to temperatures up to 590 degrees Celsius until the magnetite mineral lost its magnetization.
“We took a significant risk; demagnetizing thousands of cores took years. But it paid off—our results exceeded our expectations!” exclaimed Dr. Brenner.
In ferromagnetic minerals, the orientation of electrons acts like a compass needle pointing towards the magnetic poles, providing clues about the rock’s geographical position relative to these poles when they formed.
By analyzing a succession of rocks spanning 30 million years, the authors observed a shift of tectonic plates in the East Pilbara Formation, moving from 53 degrees to 77 degrees latitude and rotating clockwise by over 90 degrees at rates of tens of centimeters per year.
Because the magnetic poles can reverse, it remains uncertain whether this movement took place in the northern or southern hemisphere.
Movement slowed significantly within the following 10 million years, followed by a period of relative stability.
To compare these findings with Archean sites elsewhere, the researchers analyzed the Barberton Greenstone Belt in modern-day South Africa.
Previous paleomagnetic studies have indicated that the Barberton site is near the equator and remained nearly stationary during this period, suggesting differing drift patterns between these regions.
In contemporary times, the North American and Eurasian plates are moving apart at a rate of about 2.5 cm per year.
Many questions about the timing and nature of Earth’s current plate tectonics remain unanswered, with geophysicists referring to this as the “active lid,” as opposed to earlier theories of a stagnant, sluggish, or ephemeral lid.
This research dismisses the concept of a stagnant lid but doesn’t conclusively determine which model of plate movement is most probable.
“We’re examining tectonic plate movements, which require defined boundaries between plates, contrary to the notion of a continuous, crackless lithosphere,” Brenner explained.
“Instead, the lithosphere was segmented into various parts capable of moving relative to one another.”
Additionally, Brenner and his collaborators identified the oldest known geomagnetic reversals, where a planet’s magnetic field alternates its polarity. After such a reversal, a compass needle points south instead of north.
This phenomenon is associated with dynamo action in the Earth’s core, where molten iron’s convection creates electrical currents and magnetic fields. The last known reversal occurred about 780,000 years ago.
“New evidence suggests that geomagnetic reversals were less frequent 3.5 billion years ago compared to today,” noted Roger Hu, a professor at Harvard University.
“While not definitive, it implies that the mechanisms behind these reversals may have operated differently back then.”
The findings were published in the journal Science on March 19.
_____
Alec R. Brenner et al. 2026. Relative plate motion and paleomagnetic detection of a core dynamo with a rare reversal at 3.5 Ga. Science 391 (6791): 1278-1282; doi: 10.1126/science.adw9250
A fascinating study conducted by Northwestern University reveals mathematical evidence supporting the long-held belief that clothing trends cycle every 20 years. This concept resonates with many, as we’ve all noticed styles like miniskirts and bell-bottom jeans making their comeback.
Lead author Dr. Emma Zajdera, an applied mathematician at Princeton University, stated, “We’ve all experienced the idea that fashion is coming back…” in BBC Science Focus.
Dr. Zajdera elaborates, “As mathematicians, we aimed to validate or refute this theory. Thanks to recent advancements in computer tools and digitized records, we could achieve this.” This groundbreaking research involved a multidisciplinary team, including mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers, and art historians, who compiled an extensive database of approximately 37,000 images of women’s clothing spanning 150 years.
The dataset included historical sewing patterns from 1869 to 2015, alongside Vogue runway images from 1988 to 2023. These resources enabled researchers to track changes in women’s fashion characteristics over the decades.
Dr. Zajdera explained, “We utilized a unique computer tool created by our team to quantify aspects such as dress length, waistline, and neckline along the vertical body axis. This provided consistent measurements for comparison over time.”
Interestingly, the results demonstrated a cyclical change in style popularity approximately every 20 years. Fashion trends rise, fade, and eventually resurface.
“Our mathematical model is based on the psychological principle of ‘optics,’ which suggests that successful innovations should be distinctive yet familiar,” Zajdera noted.
Hemlines fluctuated from the 1920s to the 1980s, and continue to evolve – Credit: Emma Zajdela/Daniel Abrams
Take, for example, skirt lengths: they shortened from the early 1900s into the flapper styles of the 1920s, lengthened mid-century, shortened again with the 1960s miniskirts, and lengthened during the hippie era of the 1970s.
However, the researchers observed that since the 1980s, this distinct 20-year cycling of hemline lengths has blurred, with varying lengths emerging simultaneously.
“Since the mid-1980s, fashion trends have accelerated, causing the 20-year rule to become less pronounced. Nevertheless, it still exists,” Zajdera pointed out. “Today, we enjoy a greater diversity in styles.”
The researchers suggest that this trend may reflect broader societal changes, impacting not only fashion but also music, art, dog breeds, and baby names.
So, why does this happen? Instead of enriching your life, “harassers” tend to heighten your stress levels. Chronic stress significantly contributes to biological aging, leading to inflammation, a weakened immune system, and a higher likelihood of cardiovascular diseases, which can result in heart attacks.
The authors of the study note, “Negative social connections were associated not only with self-reported stress and mental health but also with molecular measures of biological aging,” according to Dr. Lee Byung-gyu from New York University, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
This comprehensive study analyzed biological age and survey data from 2,345 participants aged between 18 and 103 years.
Researchers discovered that each additional troublesome person in one’s life could negatively affect health outcomes. Specifically, the pace of aging could increase by 1.5 percent, or roughly nine months of biological age. For example, having three harassers in one’s life may equivalently make a person biologically 2.5 years older than someone of the same chronological age without such stressors.
Additionally, the toll is even greater when the difficult individual is a family member.
According to Dr. Lee, not all harassers appear the same. “A nuisance could be a parent, sibling, friend, or someone in your inner circle who regularly causes conflict and drains your time and mental energy,” he explains.
In day-to-day life, this could manifest as a family member who frequently seeks assistance or criticizes you, a friend who generates drama, or a romantic partner who instigates persistent stress in your relationship.
Being surrounded by “haters” can be mentally draining; it might even shorten your lifespan – Credit: Getty
Does this sound familiar? You’re not alone. Research indicates that nearly 30% of individuals report having at least one harasser in their close circle.
Interestingly, the study revealed that having a troublesome spouse doesn’t exert the same detrimental effects on health. The benefits of shared routines, resources, and emotional intimacy can counteract stress responses that are often present in other relationships, as explained by Lee.
However, some individuals may be more susceptible to having difficult people in their lives. The study found higher instances among women, daily smokers, those in poor health, and individuals with challenging childhoods.
Lee commented, “One possibility is that people who already face higher stress levels and have fewer resources may struggle to avoid or disengage from difficult relationships, allowing chronic tension to permeate their daily lives.”
Utilizing an extensive catalog of Sun-like stars created by ESA’s Gaia mission, astronomers have uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that our Sun migrated outward with thousands of similar stars approximately 4 to 6 billion years ago. This finding offers significant insights into the formation of the Milky Way’s central bar.
An artist’s impression illustrating the Sun’s movement and its solar twins from the center of the Milky Way galaxy, dating back 4 to 6 billion years. Image credit: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
“While terrestrial archaeology studies human history, galactic archaeology explores the vast journeys of stars and galaxies,” stated Daisuke Taniguchi, an astronomer at Tokyo Metropolitan University, along with his colleagues.
“It is established that our Sun formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago, originally over 10,000 light-years closer to the Milky Way’s center than its present location.”
“Research into stellar compositions supports this hypothesis, yet it has historically posed challenges for scientists.”
“Observations indicate a significant bar-like structure at the Milky Way’s center, creating a corotation barrier that restricts stars from escaping far from the center.”
The study aimed to compile a comprehensive catalog of solar twin stars with stellar parameters closely resembling those of the Sun.
“Solar twins are characterized by stellar properties such as effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity that closely align with those of the Sun,” the researchers explained.
“By conducting differential analysis between stellar twins—stars with similar stellar parameters—we can achieve exceptional precision in measuring both stellar parameters and chemical abundances.”
The astronomers utilized data gathered by ESA’s Gaia satellite, which contains an extraordinary array of observations from 2 billion stars and celestial objects.
They successfully cataloged 6,594 solar twins, approximately 30 times more than previously documented studies.
This extensive catalog allowed them to construct the most accurate estimates of the ages of these stars, carefully accounting for biases related to the visibility of selected stars.
Upon examining the age distribution, they identified a peak of stars ranging from 4 to 6 billion years old, including our Sun, indicating the existence of similar-age stars situated at comparable distances from the galaxy’s core.
This discovery supports the notion that the Sun’s current location is part of a broader stellar migration pattern rather than a mere coincidence.
This revelation not only enhances our understanding of the solar system but also elucidates the evolution of the Milky Way galaxy itself.
“The corotational barrier produced by the central bar structure of the galaxy would inhibit such extensive migrations,” the researchers noted. “However, if stellar formation was still occurring at that time, the scenario might differ.”
“The age of our solar twin not only indicates when the mass migration happened but also the timeframe related to the formation of the galactic boundary.”
“Regions near the center of a galaxy are generally less conducive to life than those found farther away.”
“Our findings thus unveil critical aspects regarding how our solar system, and consequently our planet, came to occupy a life-supporting region within the galaxy.”
Results were published in the Journal on March 12, 2026, in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
_____
Daisuke Taniguchi and colleagues. 2026. Gaia DR3 GSP Specification Solar Twin. I. Creation of a Comprehensive Age-Compatible Catalog of Solar Twins. A&A 707, A260; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202658913
Discoveries of the Fossilized Jaw of an Ancient Monkey Species Stiltonia victoriae unveil insights from Colombia’s La Victoria Formation, indicating that early primates in South America adapted to leaf consumption, which enabled them to grow larger and explore new ecological niches. This remarkable find may also provide clues about the timeline of when this lineage developed the anatomical traits responsible for the powerful howls seen in today’s howler monkeys.
Howler monkey wearing a cloak (Alouatta palliata) in Panama. Image credit: Ariel Rodriguez-Vargas / CC BY 4.0.
The ancient primate Stiltonia victoriae thrived in what is now Colombia during the Miocene epoch, approximately 13 million years ago.
Dr. Siobhan Cook, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University, stated, “Prior to this discovery, there was no evidence indicating that South American primates consumed leaves.”
This research helps address crucial questions about ecological evolution in one of the Earth’s most biodiverse regions.
“What evolutionary changes occurred in the Amazon rainforest during the existence of these monkeys?”
In their recent study, Cook and colleagues investigated two fossilized mandibles of Stiltonia victoriae from Colombia’s La Victoria Formation in the Tatacoa Desert.
The findings indicate when this ancient monkey developed the ability to eat leaves, expanding its diet beyond fruit. This adaptation enabled it to grow larger and lessen food competition among howler monkeys and other primate species in ancient ecosystems.
“Millions of years ago, ancient monkeys traversed trees in what is now the Tatacoa Desert, once inhabited by wetland grasses, forests, and riverbanks,” said Dr. Cook.
These monkeys coexisted with long-extinct fauna in the Amazon basin, including giant sloths and armored armadillos.
“Before this, fossil findings were scarce. With Stiltonia victoriae, we could only glean knowledge from a few facial and cranial bone fragments,” Cook remarked.
“The latest discoveries not only shed light on their biodiversity and dietary habits but may also provide insight into when howler monkeys developed their distinctive ‘howl’, the loudest vocalization among land mammals.”
The structure of the jaws indicated a broad and deep mandibular body, which may have allowed the hyoid bone to protrude, similar to modern howler monkeys, potentially enabling their iconic calls.
“However, we are still uncertain about their exact behavior,” Dr. Cook added.
Paleontologists employed scans of the jaw fossils to create a 3D model for detailed analysis.
From the structure of the mandibular molars, researchers determined the dietary patterns, size, and distinguishing features of Stiltonia victoriae, comparing it against 3D models of other South American primate fossils, including Stiltonia tatakoensis, a known ancestor of howler monkeys.
They also closely examined the jaws of modern howler monkey ancestors and their relatives, such as spider monkeys and woolly gibbons residing in rainforests.
“Like modern howler monkeys, Stiltonia victoriae possessed relatively large molars with protrusions to act as ‘scissors’ for efficiently grinding carbohydrates, an adaptation common in leaf-eating primates,” said Dr. Cook.
Through their research, the body weight of Stiltonia victoriae was reconstructed, revealing these monkeys weighed between 17 and 22 pounds (8 to 10 kg).
Dr. Cook highlighted, “Previous South American monkeys in the fossil records were significantly smaller. This suggests that for the first time, these monkeys had access to abundant food sources, primarily leaves, enabling them to evolve into a heavier ecological niche.”
This discovery marks the emergence of a large and diverse group of primates in South America.
“We can now accurately trace the origins of various modern lineages.”
These findings will be published in the journal Paleoanthropology.
_____
Siobhan B. Cook et al. 2026. Mandibular specimen of Stiltonia victoriae from La Victoria Formation, La Venta, Colombia. Paleoanthropology 1: 148-170; doi: 10.48738/2026.iss1.3992
Two remarkable species of marsupials, long considered extinct and previously known only from fossil records, have been rediscovered alive in New Guinea. This groundbreaking finding is the result of a collaborative effort involving scientists, indigenous communities, and citizen scientists.
The confirmation of the pygmy longfinger possum and the ring-tailed glider as living specimens marks a significant moment—it’s the first time these creatures have been seen in over 7,000 years. The announcement was made by Bishop Museum, based in Honolulu.
“As both a scientist and conservationist, it’s incredibly fulfilling to confirm their existence. This opens a new chapter in our journey to learn about and protect these fascinating animals,” stated Dr. Christopher Helgen from Bishop Museum.
For the past two years, Helgen and Dr. Tim Flannery of the Australian Museum have been dedicated to verifying the existence of these elusive mammals.
These two animals are categorized as “Lazarus species,” a term for species that re-emerge after being presumed extinct. “The discovery of two Lazarus species thought to be extinct for millennia is truly unprecedented,” Flannery noted in a press release.
Helgen believes this rediscovery underscores the idea that “extinction is avoidable.”
“This discovery offers a message of hope and a testament to second chances,” he added.
These species were initially discovered through fossils by Dr. Ken Aplin, who unearthed a critical tooth during an archaeological dig in western New Guinea in the 1990s.
Helgen’s observation of a photo featuring a gliding ring-tailed possum led to the identification of it as one of Aplin’s previously “extinct” species. Indigenous communities from West Papua’s Tambulo and Maybrat regions provided invaluable assistance by sharing their extensive knowledge about the marsupial’s unique lifestyle, according to a press release.
Recently, scientists confirmed the existence of the pygmy longfinger possum after discovering two preserved specimens at the University of Papua New Guinea.
The survival of the pygmy longfinger possum has been further validated by citizen scientists. Carlos Bokos, a citizen scientist and now co-author of the study, shared a photo of the species on iNaturalist, a global platform for documenting natural science discoveries.
This rewritten content maintains the original HTML structure while enhancing SEO through targeted keywords and phrases related to the discovery of species, collaboration, and conservation efforts.
Exciting news from New Guinea! Two marsupial species, believed extinct for over 6,000 years, have been rediscovered.
The Ring-tailed Gliders and Pygmy Longfinger Possums, previously known only from fossils in Australia, were recently observed on the Vogelkop Peninsula in Papua, Indonesia, thanks to the support of local indigenous communities.
Renowned researcher Tim Flannery and his team at the Australian Museum in Sydney undertook years of investigative work, including analyzing peculiar sightings and misidentified specimens, to confirm that these remarkable animals had returned to life.
With photographic evidence and active collaboration with local communities, researchers have verified these animals’ existence. However, their habitat is under threat from logging activities. The specific ecological requirements and range of these rediscovered species are still largely unknown, complicating conservation efforts.
Scott Hucknull, a professor at Central Queensland University, remarked that this discovery is “more significant than finding a live quoll in Tasmania.”
One notable species, the Wow Glider (Thus ayamalensis), is closely related to Australian gliders in the genus Petaurodes. However, distinct features like its prehensile tail and furless ears have warranted its classification into a separate genus.
Local indigenous communities often regard gliders as sacred and protected animals, potentially contributing to their previous obscurity in scientific literature.
“This is one of the most photogenic animals and beautiful marsupials I’ve ever encountered,” Flannery stated.
The Pygmy Longfinger Possum (Dactylonax Kambuyai) is a striking striped creature characterized by an unusually long finger on each hand, which aids its survival.
As Flannery explains, “They possess unique ear adaptations that may help them detect the low-frequency sounds of larvae within wood, allowing them to extract food from decaying trees.”
The exact location of this species remains confidential to protect it from potential wildlife traders.
Flannery cautions against capturing these animals. “They are challenging to maintain in captivity due to their specialized diet—potential pet owners should be forewarned: they don’t last long in confined environments.”
Fossils trace back to approximately 3 to 4 million years ago have been uncovered in archaeological sites in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia, but significant gaps exist in the fossil record, leaving much about the genus a mystery.
Hucknull notes, “The smallest fossil species are undifferentiated from their modern counterparts. The Dactylonax Kambuyai has now been confirmed alive in West Papua.”
“Pocket-sized, peculiar, and adorable,” says Hucknull, emphasizing the ecological significance of this unique species.
Researcher David Lindenmayer from the Australian National University in Canberra commented on the significance of these discoveries while expressing concern over deforestation and habitat destruction in New Guinea. “It provokes questions about what has been lost in Australia due to similar land clearing practices.”
Explore Fossil Hunting in the Australian Outback
Join us on an extraordinary adventure through Australia’s fossil frontier! Once a shallow inland sea millions of years ago, eastern Australia is now a fossil hotspot. Over 13 unforgettable days, travel deep into the hinterland, follow in the footsteps of prehistoric giants, and uncover the secrets of Earth’s ancient history.
The lifespan benefits derived from fasting and rapamycin usage resemble a lottery rather than a guaranteed outcome. While significant lifespan increases have been observed within a year, reanalysis indicates that results can vary significantly among individuals.
Talia Fulton, a researcher at the University of Sydney, mentions, “[They] may enhance your lifespan marginally [they] could dramatically increase it.”
The 2025 study examined 167 research papers across eight non-human species, including fish, mice, rats, and rhesus macaques. Fulton and her team discovered that when these animals were treated with rapamycin, a promising anti-aging compound, alongside calorie restriction — known for fostering longevity — they exhibited a longer lifespan on average. This suggests the same potential could extend to humans.
Current research has investigated the varied responses to longevity interventions in individual animals, revealing significant variability in benefits. Fulton notes that while taking rapamycin or implementing dietary restrictions appears “likely to be advantageous, the degree remains uncertain.”
According to her, “Some may experience considerable lifespan extension, while others may see minimal impact, or not outlive their expected lifespan.” This variability creates a somewhat unpredictable environment, meaning these treatments cannot guarantee lifespan extension for all individuals.
Fulton emphasizes that the objective of longevity interventions is to balance the population size with life expectancy through a squared curve. This implies that more individuals could lead longer lives, contrasting with the current trend of fewer individuals achieving longevity. “Squaring the survival curve means a larger number will lead extended and fulfilling lives until around 100, at which point mortality becomes almost certain,” she elaborates.
Current findings indicate that dietary restrictions and rapamycin do not effectively square this longevity curve. In this context, Fulton advises holding off on high expectations until further research clarifies who stands to benefit most from these approaches. “We aspire to decode individual genetic variables and life histories, ultimately determining ‘This is precisely what you need to achieve maximum longevity,'” she states.
Researchers like Matt Kaeberlein from the University of Washington stress that squaring the curve does not inherently mean enhanced health profiles. A more compelling consideration, he argues, is whether longevity initiatives, such as exercise, influence “healthspan inequality.”
Originally developed as an immunosuppressant for organ transplant patients, rapamycin inhibits the mTOR protein, essential for cell growth and division. At lower doses, it has demonstrated the potential to extend lifespan in species like flies and mice, potentially by safeguarding against DNA damage.
New Study Reassesses the Age of the Jordan Valley Ubaydiya Layer: Dating Back Approximately 2 Million Years, Comparable to Georgia’s Dmanisi Ruins. This Research May Mark a Critical Moment in Human Evolution, Indicating That Early Humans with Advanced Tool-Making Skills Expanded into New Environments Much Earlier Than Previously Believed.
Artist’s reconstruction of Homo erectus. Image credit: Yale University.
The Ubaydiya ruins are situated in Israel’s Jordan Valley, nestled between Menahemia village and Beit Zerah kibbutz.
Discovered in 1959, this site has yielded a distinctive Ature hatchet but only a few human remains.
“The Ubaydiya Formation has been a focus of research for years, offering early evidence of the Acheulean culture, recognized by its large, double-sided stone tools, often found alongside a diverse array of fauna, including species from Africa and Asia,” remarked Ali Matmon, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
“Yet, determining the precise age of this site has posed a considerable challenge over the decades.”
“Historically, researchers estimated Ubaydiya’s age to be between 1.2 and 1.6 million years, based on relative chronology.”
To ascertain the site’s true age, researchers employed three independent dating techniques: magnetic stratigraphy, uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating of mollusc shells, and cosmogenic isotope burial dating.
“Cosmogenic isotope burial dating measures rare isotopes generated when cosmic rays strike rocks on Earth’s surface,” explained the research team.
“Once buried, these isotopes decay at a known rate, effectively beginning a geological clock that indicates how long they have been underground.”
“We also analyzed remnants of Earth’s ancient magnetic field preserved in lake sediments at the site,” they added.
“As sediment settles, it locks in the orientation of the planet’s magnetic field at that time.”
“By correlating these magnetic signatures with known historical reversals in Earth’s magnetic field, we established that this formation emerged during the Matsuyama period, over 2 million years ago.”
“We also examined the fossils of melanopsis, utilizing U-Pb dating to determine the age of shells and freshwater snails within the sediment, which helped us establish the minimum age of the layer where the stone tools were discovered.”
“Overall, our findings indicate an age much earlier than previously anticipated.”
Double-sided stone tool excavated from the Ubaydiya site in Israel. Image credit: Omri Barzilai.
The team’s results indicate that the Ubaydiya site is at least 1.9 million years old, significantly older than prior estimates.
“This new chronology suggests that Ubaydiya is roughly contemporaneous with the renowned Dmanisi site in Georgia, implying that our ancestors migrated to different regions simultaneously,” the scientists noted.
“Additionally, this suggests that both simpler Oldowan and more advanced Acheulean stone tool-making techniques began their migration from Africa as various hominin groups explored new terrains.”
This groundbreaking study is published in the Quaternary Science Review.
_____
A. Matmon et al. 2026. The Complex History of Radiation Exposure Burials in the Dead Sea Rift Valley and the Recycling of Pleistocene Sediments Affecting the Age of the Acheulian Site Ubaydiya. Quaternary Science Review 378: 109871; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2026.109871
A significant, long-term study indicates that engaging in brain-training video games may provide protection against dementia for decades. Experts deem this the most compelling evidence to date that cognitive training can yield enduring alterations in brain function.
“This is quite unexpected,” remarked Marilyn Albert, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s not at all what I anticipated.”
This groundbreaking study, published Monday in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, follows the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Older Adults (ACTIVE) trial.
The researchers discovered that participants who engaged in up to 23 hours of a specialized cognitive training known as speed training over a three-year span exhibited a striking 25% decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia during a follow-up period of 20 years.
The ACTIVE study was a comprehensive randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), involving around 3,000 participants aged 65 and older, hailing from six geographic regions and showing no prior major cognitive impairment. About 25% of participants were minorities, and the majority were women.
Women are especially vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, developing dementia at nearly double the rate of men.
Initially, study participants were assigned to train bi-weekly for 60 to 75 minutes per session for a maximum of 10 sessions over five weeks. Approximately half of each training group received an additional 23 hours of booster training over three years.
Researchers monitored medical records through Medicare to track dementia diagnoses in participants throughout the 20-year follow-up. Various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, were aggregated into one category.
Participants who underwent speed training along with booster sessions exhibited a 25% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia compared to the control group, while those who did not receive additional training showed no benefits.
“The findings suggest that a relatively small input of effort can yield substantial benefits over the long term,” stated Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist at the Neurodegenerative Disease Institute in Boca Raton, Florida, who was not involved in this study.
Dr. Thomas Wisniewski, chair of the Department of Cognitive Neurology at New York University Langone Health, praised the study results as “remarkable,” asserting this is the strongest evidence to support cognitive training’s efficacy.
“This is the first conclusive documentation in a randomized controlled trial indicating that some forms of cognitive training can diminish dementia risk,” added Wisniewski, who was also not involved in the study.
Participants were assigned to one of three cognitive training programs: speed training, memory training, and reasoning training, with a control group that received no training.
Dr. Sanjla Singh, a physician-scientist and lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School, explained that speed training focuses on enhancing the brain’s ability to process visual information quickly and effectively. This involves quickly identifying items on a screen and making corresponding decisions.
Albert compares this thought process to the situational awareness required when driving. “When we’re driving and must pay attention to multiple things happening around us, we need to discern what’s relevant and what’s not,” she elaborated.
In memory training, participants learned to memorize a series of words and strategies for retaining story details, such as creating mental images and associations.
Reasoning training involved exercises aimed at enhancing problem-solving skills based on identifiable patterns, such as recognizing sequences in letters or numbers.
However, no significant protective effect against dementia was observed in those who participated in memory and reasoning training alone.
Researchers remain uncertain about why speed training proved beneficial while the other forms did not; one theory relates to the distinction between implicit and explicit learning.
Implicit learning refers to acquiring unconscious habits and skills, like riding a bike. In contrast, explicit learning entails consciously memorizing facts, such as vocabulary from flashcards.
Albert noted that implicit and explicit learning processes engage different regions of the brain.
“Once the brain adapts to these skills, the changes can persist even without ongoing practice,” Singh remarked. “For example, a child can learn to ride a bike in around 10 hours, and that skill lasts a lifetime.”
Screenshot from the Double Decision game.Brain Head Office
Speed training is similarly thought to foster long-term alterations in the brain, a phenomenon defined by neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to adapt and reconfigure itself in response to lifelong learning.
Dr. Kellyanne Niotis, a preventive neurologist and clinical assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, stated that speed training can significantly impact cognitive reserve—the brain’s ability to withstand dementia’s effects, which builds over time through various factors, including education, mentally engaging activities, and social engagement.
“We believe this visual processing speed training engages broader neural networks, thereby enhancing the brain’s resilience and cognitive reserve,” she explained.
Another hypothesis for the efficacy of speed training is its adaptive nature, meaning the difficulty escalates according to an individual’s performance. Those who initially excelled quickly progressed to more challenging tasks, a feature not seen in other forms of training.
Should I start speed training?
The speed training used in this study was devised by psychologists Carlene Ball and Daniel Loncar, with support from an NIH grant. This program has since been refined and is now available as a tool named “Double Decision” via BrainHQ, an online subscription platform.
BrainHQ’s Double Decision game (available in various difficulty levels).Brain Head Office
Based on the study results, Albert recommends this training for individuals aged 65 and older, akin to the study’s demographic.
However, early signs of Alzheimer’s disease can reportedly emerge decades before onset, indicating that those in their 40s or 50s could also experience protective benefits. She cautioned against making early conclusions regarding the advantages for younger individuals.
While these trial results are promising, experts emphasize that Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are multifaceted, and no singular solution exists.
“Every individual possesses a brain that can be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s crucial to prioritize brain health,” Isaacson urged.
Fortunately, various factors correlated with a decreased risk of developing dementia exist. In fact, one report suggests that nearly half of all dementia cases could be deferred or mitigated by addressing specific risk factors, according to the Lancet Commission Report 2024.
Niotis advises individuals to take the following steps:
Ensure regular hearing assessments.
Manage metabolic risk factors such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Correct vision issues, as vision loss is a known risk factor for dementia.
Regular exercise enhances blood circulation and nourishes the brain. Isaacson may also suggest combining cognitive-stimulating activities with exercise, such as walking during meetings or engaging in cognitive training while using a stationary bike.
Emerging research also indicates that the shingles vaccine might protect the brain against cognitive decline.
A comprehensive study from 2025 published in Nature revealed that individuals vaccinated against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia over a seven-year follow-up period than those who were unvaccinated.
Ancient Inuit Circular Tents Found on Isbjørne Island
Credit: Matthew Walls, Marie Christ, Pauline Knudsen
4,500 years ago, early humans embarked on a historic journey to a remote island off Greenland’s northwest coast. This daring expedition entailed crossing over 50 kilometers of open sea, marking one of the longest maritime voyages by Arctic indigenous peoples.
Archaeologists assert that these intrepid sailors were the first to reach these isolated islands. Notably, John Derwent from the University of California, Davis, contributed insights but was not involved in this study.
In 2019, Matthew Walls and a team from the University of Calgary, Canada, explored the Kittisut Islands, also known as the Carey Islands, located northwest of Greenland. These islands lie within the Pikiarasorsuaq polynya—an open ocean region surrounded by sea ice, which has been present for approximately 4,500 years.
The research focused on three main islands: Isbjörne, Mellem, and Nordvest, revealing five sites with a total of 297 archaeological features. The most significant findings were at Isbjörne beach terraces, where they uncovered the remnants of 15 circular tents, each with a central hearth and divided by stones. These distinctive “bilobed” structures are emblematic of the Paleo-Inuit—the first settlers of northern Canada and Greenland.
Radiocarbon dating of a long-billed murre’s wing bones found within one of the tent rings indicated they are between 4,400 and 3,938 years old. This confirms that humans occupied the Kittisut Islands shortly after the formation of the polynya.
“We have nesting colonies of long-billed murres,” Walls noted. The early settlers likely harvested their eggs and hunted them for food, and they likely pursued seals as well.
The Old Inuit had already reached Greenland at this time and likely journeyed to Kittisut from the west, covering a minimum distance of about 52.7 kilometers. However, due to prevailing winds and currents, they most likely set sail from a more northerly location, resulting in a longer, safer journey. To the west of Kittisut lies Ellesmere Island, which is further but presents challenging navigational conditions.
The only comparable journey known in Arctic prehistory was the 82-kilometer crossing of the Bering Strait from Siberia to Alaska, likely first accomplished over 20,000 years ago, with the Diomede Islands serving as a midway stopping point.
“Crossing that expanse required advanced watercraft,” Derwent emphasizes. The population on Kittisut likely necessitated larger vessels rather than single-person kayaks. “You can’t transport children and the elderly safely in a kayak,” he explained. The Old Inuit likely used larger boats capable of carrying nine or ten individuals.
Despite extensive studies, no boat wrecks have yet been uncovered on Kittisut Island, and few such finds exist in the Arctic region. “Their vessels would have been skin-on-frame designs similar to those utilized by later Inuit communities,” noted Walls.
The initial Paleo-Inuit settlers likely played a vital role in shaping the Kittisut ecosystem. By transporting marine nutrients onto land, they fertilized the barren soil, fostering plant growth on the islands. “There’s initially a diverse plant life there, reliant on human involvement in nutrient cycling between marine and terrestrial systems.”
Arctic Cruise with Dr. Russell Arnott: Svalbard, Norway
Join marine biologist Russell Arnott for an unforgettable ocean expedition to the North Pole.
Close-up of glass with Microsoft Flight Simulator Map Data
Microsoft Research
Innovative automated systems for storing vast amounts of data on glass could revolutionize the future of data centers.
In our data-driven world, everything relies on information—from the internet and industrial sensors to scientific data from particle colliders, all of which require secure and efficient storage solutions.
While their technique was impractical for industrial applications, Richard Black and his colleagues at Microsoft’s Project Silica have successfully demonstrated a similar glass-based technology. This innovation could pave the way for long-lasting glass data libraries in the near future.
“Glass can endure extreme temperatures, humidity, particulates, and electromagnetic fields,” explains Black. “Moreover, glass boasts a long lifespan and doesn’t need frequent replacement, making it a more sustainable medium. It requires significantly less energy to produce and is easy to recycle once it has served its purpose.”
The research team’s pioneering process starts with a femtosecond laser, which emits light pulses lasting just 100 billionths of a second. This technology etches tiny structures into a thin layer of glass to encode data. To minimize read and write errors, the researchers also incorporate additional bits into the data.
The data is read using a combination of microscope and camera systems, with images processed by a neural network algorithm that converts them back into bits. This entire process is easily reproducible and automated, making it a perfect example of a robotic data facility.
Remarkably, researchers successfully stored 4.8 terabytes of data on a square glass piece measuring 120 millimeters wide and 2 millimeters thick. This is roughly one-third the volume of an iPhone, equivalent to about 37 iPhones’ storage capacity.
Project Silica Glass Writing Instruments
Microsoft Research
Accelerated aging experiments, including heating the glass in a furnace, suggest that the data may remain stable and readable for over 10,000 years at 290°C, even longer at room temperature. Additionally, the researchers tested borosilicate glass, which, while cheaper, only effectively stored less complex data.
Kazansky highlighted Project Silica’s main breakthrough: delivering an end-to-end system scalable to data center size. Although the principles of glass-based data storage have existed for over a decade, this study confirms its feasibility as a technology.
Microsoft isn’t alone in exploring this groundbreaking technology. Kazansky also co-founded S Photonics, focused on preserving the human genome in glass. The Austrian startup Serabite proposes similar storage techniques using ultrathin layers of ceramic and glass.
Nonetheless, challenges persist, such as the cost of integrating the glass library into existing data centers and whether the Project Silica team can enhance glass capacity, potentially up to 360 terabytes as per Kazansky’s findings.
For now, Black identifies the primary potential applications for Project Silica’s technology in national libraries, scientific repositories, cultural records, and anywhere data needs to survive for centuries. Collaborations with companies like Warner Bros. and Global Music Vault are underway to safeguard data currently stored in the cloud for the long term.
Kazansky adds that this technology has even inspired cinematic portrayals. In Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, a protagonist discovers the capacity and security necessary to trap an advanced artificial intelligence. “It’s a rare moment when Hollywood science fiction aligns with peer-reviewed reality,” he remarks.
Edward Jenner Administering the First Smallpox Vaccination in 1796
Ernest Board/Wellcome Collection/De Agostini via Getty Images
Recent insights into one of history’s most effective vaccination campaigns highlight critical lessons for expediting vaccine adoption today. This successful effort eradicated smallpox in Copenhagen during the early 1800s.
Smallpox, a devastating infectious disease, resulted in a mortality rate of 30% and left survivors with disfigurement and blindness, leading to an estimated 500 million deaths before its global eradication in 1980 through vaccination.
Copenhagen saw one of the earliest local triumphs over smallpox, achieving eradication in 1808 after claiming over 12,000 lives over fifty years.
The world’s first vaccine, developed by British physician Edward Jenner in 1796, quickly gained traction among Denmark’s medical and social elite, sparking “excited attention and anticipation,” as documented by leading physician Henrik Kalissen.
Doctors in Copenhagen swiftly sought smallpox vaccine supplies from Jenner in England. The inaugural recipient was a Danish judge’s child, followed by a bishop’s child. The vaccine proved remarkably effective, preventing transmission even among close contacts of infected individuals, including breastfeeding mothers, according to Calisen’s observations.
In response, the King of Denmark founded a Vaccine Commission in 1801, tasked with broadening the vaccine’s reach and meticulously tracking vaccination rates and smallpox outbreaks.
Researchers from Roskilde University analyzed these records, revealing that by 1810, 90% of Copenhagen’s children had been vaccinated, leading Denmark to rank as the highest in Europe for vaccination rates per capita.
Due to the rapid dissemination of the smallpox vaccine, the disease was eliminated from Copenhagen just seven years after the campaign’s initiation. “We will be free from one of the most destructive diseases known to us,” Calisen expressed in 1809.
Eilersen and his team identified key factors behind the high vaccination rates. Vaccines were offered free of charge to families in need, and many church leaders and school teachers actively promoted and administered the vaccines. The Vaccine Commission commended clergy who traversed the nation to disseminate knowledge about vaccinations, with one priest vaccinating nearly 2,000 children in just one year.
As smallpox cases dwindled, concerns arose about public apathy towards vaccination. To sustain high rates, the committee mandated that vaccination be a prerequisite for a child’s enrollment in church activities as of 1810.
While some resisted vaccinating their children, citing “ignorance and prejudice,” the broader public largely supported vaccination, Calisen noted. He acknowledged initial fears about vaccines but ultimately recognized their tremendous impact on public health and population growth.
Eilersen believes that the collaboration among Danish leaders fostered public trust and encouraged widespread vaccine acceptance. “Unified authorities, including government, medical institutions, and religious leaders, contributed to convincing a diverse population to embrace vaccination,” he stated.
Denmark continues to enjoy robust confidence in its governmental and health institutions, currently ranked first in public trust by Transparency International. In turn, this commitment has contributed to high childhood vaccination rates, with approximately 96% of Danish children vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, contrasting with only 80% in the United States, which ranks 28th in public trust levels.
Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery, unearthing the “oldest known hand-held wooden tool” at a Middle Pleistocene site in Marathusa 1, Greece.
Impression of a Marathusa 1 female artist crafting a digging stick using small stone tools from an alder trunk. Image credit: G. Prieto / K. Harvati.
According to Professor Katerina Herberty from the University of Tübingen, “The Middle Pleistocene was crucial for human evolution, marking a period when complex behaviors emerged.”
“This era also showcases the earliest reliable evidence of the targeted use of plants for technological purposes.”
The 430,000-year-old wooden tools discovered at the Marathusa 1 site, led by Professor Harbati and his team, consist of worked alder trunks and small willow/poplar artifacts.
The primary tool is made from alder wood (Alnus sp.) and features engraving marks along with associated stop and chop marks, indicating intentional shaping.
This approximately 81 cm long artifact displays signs of usage consistent with a multifunctional rod likely employed for paleolakeshore excavation.
The second tool, a small piece of willow/poplar (Salix sp./Populus sp.), measures 5.7 cm and exhibits signs of rounding.
This object shows two signs of potential processing, suggesting that growth rings have been removed from one end.
Researchers hypothesize that this small wooden tool’s function remains uncertain but may have been utilized for modifying stone tools.
Alongside these wooden tools, scientists uncovered butchered remains of an elephant with straight tusks (Paleoloxodon Antique), as well as stone artifacts and processed bones.
Dr. Annemieke Milks, a researcher at the University of Reading, states, “Unlike stone artifacts, wooden objects need special conditions to survive over long durations.”
“We meticulously examined all tree remains, analyzing the surfaces under a microscope.”
“Our findings revealed clear evidence of cutting and carving on these two objects, strongly indicating that early humans intentionally shaped them.”
A multifunctional digging stick (top) and small wooden tools (bottom) from the Marathusa 1 site in Greece. Image credit: D. Michailidis / N. Thompson / K. Harvati.
Additionally, researchers found a large fragment of an alder trunk exhibiting deep carved stripes, interpreted as fossilized claw marks from a large carnivore. This suggests potential competition between early humans and carnivores at this site.
Evidence of cuts and damage on the elephant remains indicate that early hominins had access to the carcass, while gnawing marks reveal subsequent carnivorous activity.
Dr. Milks added, “Previous discoveries of ancient wooden tools have occurred in countries such as Britain, Zambia, Germany, and China, comprising weapons, digging sticks, and tool handles.” However, she noted that these finds date newer than the Marathusa 1 artifacts.
“The only evidence of ancient wood used by humans, dating to around 476,000 years ago, comes from the Kalambo Falls site in Zambia, where the wood served as structural material rather than tools.”
“We have now identified the oldest known wooden tools and the first of their kind from southeastern Europe,” emphasized Professor Herberty.
“This discovery highlights the exceptional conservation conditions at the Marathusa 1 site.”
“The concurrent evidence of human activity and large carnivores in the vicinity of the butchered elephant indicates a competitive dynamic between them.”
Details of these findings are published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
_____
A. Chemilux et al. 2026. The earliest evidence of human use of wooden hand tools, discovered at Marathusa 1 (Greece). PNAS 123 (6): e2515479123; doi: 10.1073/pnas.25154791
Recent findings reveal that these stencils are over 15,000 years older than cave paintings in another Sulawesi cave, which were dated in 2024. The painting features three anthropomorphic figures interacting with pigs, believed to be approximately 51,200 years old.
“I thought my previous work was impressive, but this photo completely eclipsed it,” Blum remarked.
“This underscores the long-standing tradition of rock art creation in this region. It spans an incredible timeline,” he emphasized.
Researchers are optimistic about uncovering even older art forms, including narrative art, in Indonesia, a largely unexplored archaeological treasure trove.
Liang Methanduno, a prominent cave art location, attracts tourists. However, most artworks discovered so far, depicting domestic animals like chickens, are relatively recent, estimated to be around 4,000 years old.
In 2015, Indonesian rock art expert and lead author, Adi Octaviana, spotted a faint drawing behind a modern painting, speculating it might be an ancient hand-painted stencil.
“These had never been documented before; their existence was unknown until Addy discovered them,” Blum stated.
Previous generations of researchers exploring Ice Age cave art, dating back 30,000 to 40,000 years in regions like France and Spain, believed it marked the dawn of modern artistic culture.
However, recent discoveries in Indonesia indicate that humans outside Europe were crafting “extraordinarily sophisticated” cave art tens of thousands of years ago, even before our species arrived in that area.
Ancient cave paintings in Sulawesi. Maxime Aubert/AFP – Getty Images
Blum noted that this discovery could also shed light on the timeline of when the first humans settled in Australia.
It is widely accepted that Aboriginal populations have inhabited Australia for at least 50,000 years, though evidence suggests one of the country’s archaeological sites is around 65,000 years old.
“The finding of 67,000 to 68,000-year-old rock art on Sulawesi, nearly adjacent to Australia, supports the theory that modern humans may have arrived in Australia at least 65,000 years ago,” Blum explained.
A revealing new study challenges traditional beliefs by showing that mid-ocean ridges and continental rifts, rather than volcanic eruptions, significantly influence atmospheric carbon fluctuations and long-term climate change in Earth’s geological history.
Cryogenic Earth. Image credit: NASA.
Over the past 540 million years, Earth’s climate has gone through dramatic shifts, alternating between icy icehouse conditions and warm greenhouse phases.
Icehouse conditions prevailed during key geological periods, including the Late Ordovician, Late Paleozoic, and Cenozoic eras.
Notably, warmer periods were associated with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, while declines in greenhouse gases led to global cooling and extensive glaciation.
Research conducted by Ben Mather and a team at the University of Melbourne reconstructed carbon movements between volcanoes, oceans, and the deep Earth over the past 540 million years.
“Our findings challenge the long-accepted view that volcanic chains formed by tectonic plate collisions are the primary natural source of Earth’s atmospheric carbon,” Dr. Mather stated.
“Instead, it appears that carbon emissions from deep-sea crevices and mid-ocean ridges, driven by tectonic movements, have been crucial in shaping the transitions between icehouse and greenhouse climates throughout most of Earth’s history.”
“For example, we discovered that carbon released from volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire only emerged as a significant carbon source in the last 100 million years, prompting us to reevaluate current scientific understanding.”
This study presents the first robust long-term evidence indicating that Earth’s climate change is primarily driven by carbon released at divergent plate boundaries rather than convergent ones.
“This insight not only reshapes our understanding of past climates but will also enhance future climate models,” Dr. Mather noted.
By integrating global plate tectonics reconstructions with carbon cycle models, the research team traced the storage, release, and recycling of carbon as continents shift.
Professor Dietmar Müller from the University of Sydney remarked, “Our findings illustrate how variations in carbon release from plate spreading influenced long-term climate shifts, clarifying historical climate changes, such as the late Paleozoic ice ages, the warm Mesozoic greenhouse world, and the rise of present-day Cenozoic icehouses.”
This research holds vital implications for understanding the ongoing climate crisis.
“This study contributes to the growing body of evidence that atmospheric carbon levels are a significant factor driving major climate shifts,” Dr. Mather emphasized.
“Comprehending how Earth managed its climate historically underscores the extraordinary pace of current climate change.”
“Human activities are releasing carbon at a staggering rate, far surpassing any natural geological processes previously recorded.”
“The climate balance is tipping alarmingly fast.”
For more on this groundbreaking research, you can view the findings published in the journal Communication Earth and Environment.
_____
B.R. Mather et al. 2026. Carbon emissions along divergent plate boundaries influence climate shifts between icehouses and greenhouses. Communication Earth and Environment 7, 48; doi: 10.1038/s43247-025-03097-0
A detailed analysis of 17 fossil specimens of tyrannosaurus rex indicates that this iconic dinosaur grew much more slowly than previously believed, reaching an adult weight of approximately 8 tons by around age 40. This challenges earlier assumptions about its life history.
tyrannosaurus rex holotype specimen at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, USA. Image credit: Scott Robert Anselmo / CC BY-SA 3.0.
tyrannosaurus rex is renowned as one of the most iconic non-avian dinosaurs, continually captivating paleontologists and the public alike.
Previous growth studies proposed that this ancient predator could exceed 8 tons within just 20 years and live for nearly 30 years.
Utilizing advanced statistical algorithms, the new research examined bone slices under specialized lighting, uncovering hidden growth rings that previous studies had overlooked.
This analysis not only extended the growing season for tyrannosaurus rex but also suggested that by age 15, some specimens might not be complete individuals of tyrannosaurus rex, but instead could belong to other species or unique variants.
“This is the largest dataset ever collected regarding tyrannosaurus rex,” stated Holly Woodward, a professor at Oklahoma State University.
“Through studying the tree rings preserved in fossilized bones, we reconstructed the growth history of these magnificent creatures year by year.”
Unlike the annual rings found in tree stumps, the cross-sections of tyrannosaurus rex bones only record the final 10 to 20 years of an individual’s life.
“Our innovative statistical approach allowed us to estimate growth trajectories by synthesizing growth records from various samples. We examined every growth stage in greater detail than any prior studies,” explained Dr. Nathan Myhrvold, a mathematician and paleontologist at Intellectual Ventures.
“The resulting compound growth curves provide a more accurate representation of how tyrannosaurus rex matured and evolved in size.”
Rather than competing for dominance into adulthood, tyrannosaurus rex demonstrated a gradual and steadier growth pattern than previously assumed.
“The prolonged growth phase over 40 years likely enabled young tyrannosaurs to occupy various ecological roles within their environment,” said Dr. Jack Horner of Chapman University.
“This may explain how they maintained their status as apex carnivores at the end of the Cretaceous period.”
The team’s findings were published in the online journal Peer J.
_____
HN Woodward et al. 2026. Long-term growth and the extension of subadult development of the tyrannosaurus rex species complex revealed through expanded histological sampling and statistical modeling. Peer J 14: e20469; doi: 10.7717/peerj.20469
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
