Latest science news in Paleontology & Archaeology
Neanderthals, humans didn't make whoopee, study says
Primitive Homo sapiens and Neanderthals didn't produce children together despite swaths of shared DNA, scientists now say, casting doubt on a popular idea about the origin of modern humans.
Green Blog: On Our Radar: A Colossal Burmese Python
The invasive reptile, whose population is soaring in South Florida, was carrying 87 eggs.
Long-lost Egyptian Pyramids Found on Google Earth?
A self-described "satellite archaeology researcher" claims to have found ancient Egyptian pyramid sites. But experts say she's a "pyridiot."
Ancient seal mimics biblical Samson tale
An ancient seal slightly smaller than a penny apparently depicts a man fighting a lion, which archaeologists believe could be an early reference to the Biblical tale of Samson.
Old skull bone rediscovered in mammals
Although clearly discernible in the embryo, shortly afterwards it fuses with other bones beyond recognition. Consequently, researchers have often missed it. Now, however, paleontologists have rediscovered it: the “os interparietale”,...
Chilean team proposes theory on why early culture began to mummify their dead
(Phys.org) -- Researchers in Chile, led by Pablo Marqueta, an ecologist with Universidad Católica de Chile have come up with a new theory to explain why a civilization that thrived...
Land locked (w/ Video)
A world-first project led by ANU researchers is looking at whether pristine rainforest can be preserved from oil extraction, writes SARINA TALIP.
Bullies squelched when bystanders intervene
With new national anti-bullying ads urging parents to teach their kids to speak up if they witness bullying, one researcher has found that in humans' evolutionary past at least, helping...
Pictures: Death-Cult Mummies Inspired by Desert Conditions?
Surrounded by naturally preserved corpses, a South American people may have been inspired to make their own elaborate mummies, a new study says.
Observatory: Rocksnails Have Been Rediscovered in Cahaba River in Alabama
A freshwater snail has been rediscovered on the Cahaba River in Alabama, 12 years after it was declared extinct.
Exploratorium to Reopen on San Francisco Bay in 2013
The Exploratorium, which inspired science museums around the world to adopt a hands-on, learning-by-doing ethos, is on the verge of a rebirth.
Italy’s Shaky Past Hidden in Ancient Records
A 14th century eruption stopped a local war.
A Julia-worthy feast
Before “Iron Chef,” before Rachael Ray, before Emeril Lagasse, there was Julia Child. A 6-foot-2 culinary force of nature, Child used her passion for food, her wit, and her down-to-earth charm to demystify...
Generation Gaps Suggest Ancient Human-Ape Split
The ancestors of today’s humans and chimpanzees may have diverged millions of years earlier than thought
World's earliest-known 'matches' found
When small cylinders of clay and stone turned up at ancient archaeological sites, researchers described them as "phallic" and theorized the pointy-tipped cylinders had religious significance.
American Chemical Society's Highest Honor Goes to Pioneer of "Lego-Like" Molecules
Peter J. Stang, Ph.D., distinguished professor of chemistry at the University of Utah and editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, has been named winner of the 2013...
The art of the dinosaur
The importance of palaeoart for communicating ideas about the past to the publicPalaeontology has at least one aspect to it that is little seen in any other branch of science – the...
Middle Miocene Ochotonids found from Siziwang Qi, Nei Mongol
Ochotonids (commonly called pikas) are a group of small-sized lagomorphs, placed in the family Ochotonidae, and are most diversified in Asia, with only two species in North America and one...
Yeast of Eden: the future of beer
Is the idea of a professionally made beer brewed to your own personal taste and specifications the holy grail of ale or just a bit creepy?Helmets, arm-length rubber gloves and liquid nitrogen are...
Crowdsourced archaeology dig ends
The unique archaeology dig that's funded and carried out by members of the public
WikiLeaks: Our site's been hit by weeklong attack
(AP) The secret-busting organization WikiLeaks says it's been the victim of a sustained denial-of-service attack which has left its website sluggish or inaccessible for more than a week.
Volcanoes in the classroom: news and teaching resources round-up
After New Zealand's Mount Tongariro erupted earlier this week, we've been thinking about the best way to recreate a volcanic eruption in class. So, we scoured the web for the best volcano-related lessonsThis...
Let’s Recap The ‘DNA Games’: At The London Olympics, Segregation Returns, With A Vengeance (And That's Not So Bad)
Led by 100-meter world record holder Usain Bolt, Jamaican men swept the sprinting events at the London Olympics. It was a stunning feat for the small Caribbean nation. But as...
Svoboda wins Olympic gold at modern pentathlon
LONDON (AP) -- Great start, better finish....
Mysterious disease hits elk in Sweden
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Swedish scientists say they're puzzled by a mysterious illness plaguing an elk population in Sweden that has left many animals dead or dying.
16 severed hands unearthed — all rights
A team of archaeologists excavating a palace in the ancient city of Avaris, in Egypt, has made a gruesome discovery. The archaeologists have unearthed the skeletons of 16 human hands...
New Books Party: books received this week | @GrrlScientist
This week I tell you about Magical Mathematics, Honeybee Democracy and three bird books!Below the jump, I mention the books that I received recently in the mail. These are the books that...
Back to the Future: Students digitize archeological artifacts in 3-D
Whats (really) old is new again. Thanks to cutting-edge equipment and techniques, researchers and the public alike will soon have access to an ever-expanding database of virtual, 3-D archeological artifacts...