Latest science news in Paleontology & Archaeology
Preakness Stakes to be held Oct. 3, four weeks after Kentucky Derby
The Triple Crown picture got clearer when it was announced that the Preakness will be held Oct. 3. All that's still unknown is the date of the Belmont Stakes.
Metagenomics reveals distinct microbiotypes of giant clams
New research highlights the impacts of benthic species assemblages on the giant clams Tridacna maxima.
How a mint became catnip
Catmint -- or catnip -- is well-known for its intoxicating effect on cats. The odor responsible for the cats' strange behavior is nepetalactone, a volatile iridoid. Researchers have now found...
Newsom urges California tribal casinos to reconsider opening, citing coronavirus
Gov. Gavin Newsom appealed to a group of Native American tribes to reconsider plans to reopen their casinos in the coming days, warning that the coronavirus poses a continuing threat.
USC's first-ever online graduation: Surreal pomp, unprecedented circumstances
USC is famous for its colorful graduation ceremonies, but in the year of coronavirus, the university conferred almost 20,000 degrees over Zoom.
Global cooling event 4,200 years ago spurred rice's evolution, spread across Asia
A major global cooling event that occurred 4,200 years ago may have led to the evolution of new rice varieties and the spread of rice into both northern and southern...
Early humans thrived in this drowned South African landscape
Scientists have reconstructed the paleoecology the Paleo-Agulhas Plain, a now-drowned landscape on the southern tip of Africa that was high and dry during glacial phases of the last 2 million...
Early humans thrived in this drowned South African landscape
Early humans lived in South African river valleys with deep, fertile soils filled with grasslands, floodplains, woodlands, and wetlands that abounded with hippos, zebras, antelopes, and many other animals, some...
Global cooling event 4,200 years ago spurred rice's evolution, spread across Asia
A major global cooling event that occurred 4,200 years ago may have led to the evolution of new rice varieties and the spread of rice into both northern and southern...
Moisture, not light, explains why Munch’s ‘The Scream’ is deteriorating
New insight into paint preservation could help “The Scream” show its face in public again. Edvard Munch’s 1910 version of this iconic artwork has rarely been displayed since 2006 because the painting’s cadmium...
Researchers find the key to preserving 'The Scream'
"The Scream" is among the most famous paintings of the modern era. The familiar image is interpreted as the ultimate representation of anxiety and mental anguish. There are a number...
NCT 127 cancels North American tour due to pandemic
K-pop group NCT 127 canceled the North American leg of its "Neo City: The Awards" tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bizarre new species discovered... on Twitter
While many of us use social media to be tickled silly by cat videos or wowed by delectable cakes, others use them to discover new species. Included in the latter...
Maroon 5 postpones North American tour to 2021
Maroon 5 rescheduled its tour, originally slated to begin May 30, to summer 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's where you can see today's Thunderbirds flyover in Southern California
The Thunderbirds will fly over parts of Southern California today to honor workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. faced ‘tricky choices’ following South Korea coup, documents show
Newly declassified U.S. documents released to the South Korean government are shedding light on U.S.-South Korea exchanges following the Dec. 12 Military Insurrection of 1979.
New research examining dinosaur tooth fossils provides crucial insight into vertebrate evolution
In the age of giant reptiles, sauropods were the biggest of all. Long-tailed, long-necked species like Diplodocus and Apatosaurus were the largest dinosaurs. From tip to tail, some sauropods were...
A study highlights the African affinities of the southwestern European Acheulean
The Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) is the co-leader of a study published this week in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology that presents a synthesis of...
50 years ago, explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s Atlantic crossing hit a snag
Once again for Ra, Science News, May 16, 1970 – Last year … a seven-man international crew was abandoning a disabled boat made of papyrus that in two months had taken them...
Online graduations still bring stars to the virtual lectern
This year's college graduates won't get to take their triumphant walk across the stage. They won't get to toss their caps amid a sea of classmates. Instead, they have to...
Sportsbooks thrive on odd events during pandemic curtailments
Major sports have been suspended in the United States, but bettors still clamor for action on online sportsbooks, with many wagering on competitions that normally don't attract as much attention.
Police identify bodies found under Georgia bridge, rule deaths as homicides
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the deaths of two women whose bodies were found Wednesday under a north Georgia bridge has been ruled a homicide.
Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer dies at 41
Former U.S. Army medic and Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer II died Thursday, the U.S. Secret Service said. He was 41.
A lost world and extinct ecosystem
Archaeological sites on the far southern shores of South Africa hold the world's richest records for the behavioral and cultural origins of our species. At this location, scientists have discovered...
Just talking could spread COVID-19, study suggests
Small respiratory droplets produced while talking can hang in the air for at least eight minutes and perhaps even longer, researchers report.
“Lean lab” approach enables quick research ramp down
When MIT announced in March that most research labs on campus would need to ramp down to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, Canan Dagdeviren’s lab was ready. For the past two...
Should museums and other arts groups draw on endowments to prevent layoffs?
The coronavirus crisis prompted some museums and the L.A. Phil to dip into their endowments. But what does that really mean, and how does that work?
What's the buzz? Happy locked-down Roman bees to tell all
While most Romans found Italy's coronavirus quarantine a real buzz kill, the city's bees had a field day.