‘Ghost tracks’ suggest people came to the Americas earlier than once thought

Footprints left behind by prehistoric people may be some of the strongest evidence yet that humans arrived in the Americas earlier than previously thought.   Over 60 “ghost tracks” —…

50 years ago, X-rays revealed what ancient Egyptians kept under wraps

Probing pharaohs with X-rays — Science News, October 9, 1971 The 29 mummies of pharaohs and queens were examined without disturbing their present positions.… [Researchers using portable X-ray equipment] found…

Fossils and ancient DNA paint a vibrant picture of human origins

In The Descent of Man, published in 1871, Charles Darwin hypothesized that our ancestors came from Africa. He pointed out that among all animals, the African apes — gorillas and…

Brain implants turn imagined handwriting into text on a screen

Electrodes in a paralyzed man’s brain turned his imagined handwriting into words typed on a screen. The translation from brain to text may ultimately point to ways to help people…

Surprisingly, humans recognize joyful screams faster than fearful screams

Screams of joy appear to be easier for our brains to comprehend than screams of fear, a new study suggests. The results add a surprising new layer to  scientists’ long-held…

Professor Peter Saville on Tools and Knowledge in the Post-Pandemic Era

Life has changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. For more than a year, people were locked in their homes, causing significant changes in their daily lives, psychological state and work…