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Archaeologists have discovered a 60,000-year-old glue-making oven in Vanguard Cave, part of the Gorham's Cave complex in Gibraltar, challenging the stereotype of Neanderthals as primitive beings. The hearth, dating between 67,000 and 60,000 years ago, features a circular structure with channels and thick walls, indicating advanced construction techniques. Chemical analysis revealed traces of resinous plant material, suggesting it was used to produce birch tar, a substance employed for hafting tools and weapons. Researchers replicated the process, successfully creating tar from local plants, which underscores Neanderthals' understanding of combustion and basic chemistry. This finding adds to the growing body of evidence that Neanderthals possessed significant intelligence, complex cultural practices, and emotional depth, contradicting outdated perceptions of them as mere brutes. The study is published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews. 
Published: Nov 21 2024, 12 ameznews.inNeanderthals, often depicted as brutish and primitive, have undergone a significant re-evaluation in recent research, revealing them to be intelligent, culturally complex, and emotionally sensitive beings. Discovered in the 19th century, Neanderthals were initially misidentified as modern humans, with their reputation suffering from misinterpretations, notably by paleontologist Marcellin Boule, who described an elderly skeleton as a "hunched-over brute." However, later studies suggest that Neanderthals exhibited altruism, caring for injured or elderly members of their community, and engaged in burial practices, indicating an understanding of mortality. Evidence of their artistic capabilities, such as cave paintings in Spain, further underscores their cognitive sophistication. As researchers continue to explore their behaviors and social structures, it becomes clear that Neanderthals shared many human-like qualities, prompting a reconsideration of their legacy and raising questions about the nature of humanity itself.
Published: Nov 21 2024, 1 pmeznews.inArchaeologists from the University of Milan have uncovered a Medieval skeleton believed to belong to a young man, aged between 17 and 20, who suffered a horrific death in the 13th century. Found near a cathedral in Milan, the skeleton exhibits symmetrical wounds on the arms and legs, suggesting he was subjected to the brutal torture method known as "the wheel," historically used for public executions. This method involved systematically breaking limbs and inflicting further injuries before the victim was displayed on the wheel. The researchers speculate that the man may have been accused of being a plague spreader, leading to his gruesome fate. Additionally, forensic analysis revealed linear fractures at the base of his skull, likely from a botched beheading. If confirmed, this discovery would represent the first archaeological evidence of wheel torture in medieval northern Italy, highlighting the extreme violence of the era.
Published: Nov 17 2024, 8 pmeznews.inRecent claims suggest that Nostradamus predicted Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine could escalate into World War III, with various interpretations of his writings circulating online. One passage, which mentions "seven months the Great War," has sparked speculation about a larger conflict stemming from current tensions. However, experts argue that Nostradamus's predictions are often vague and can be retroactively applied to numerous events, a phenomenon known as "postdiction." For instance, a passage linked to famine suggests dire consequences, but its ambiguity allows for broad interpretation. Critics emphasize that Nostradamus's prophecies lack specificity and accuracy, rendering them more a reflection of contemporary fears than genuine foresight. Ultimately, the consensus is that Nostradamus did not predict anything concrete regarding Putin or a potential world war, highlighting the tendency to ascribe meaning to ambiguous texts after events unfold.
Published: Nov 17 2024, 9 ameznews.inA new genetic study has challenged the long-held belief that Native Americans descended from the Jōmon people of Japan, who lived from around 14,000 to 300 BCE. Previously, similarities in stone tools suggested a connection, with theories positing that the First Peoples migrated to North America via the Bering Land Bridge approximately 15,000 years ago. However, research led by Professor Richard Scott from the University of Nevada-Reno, published in *PaleoAmerica*, found minimal genetic links between Native Americans and the Jōmon population, with only 7% of Jōmon teeth samples showing any relation. The findings suggest that Native Americans likely originated from Siberia instead. Additionally, recent discoveries of ancient human footprints in New Mexico, dating back 23,000 to 21,000 years, indicate that early migrations into the Americas occurred much earlier than previously thought, further undermining the Jōmon connection.
Published: Nov 21 2024, 2 ameznews.inA solitary bottlenose dolphin, nicknamed Delle, has been observed in the Baltic Sea engaging in vocalizations typically used for communication, despite being alone for four years. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark recorded Delle's sounds, discovering he produced a variety of vocalizations, including three distinct whistles, which raises questions about whether he is inventing imaginary companions or if the traditional understanding of dolphin communication needs reevaluation. The study suggests that Delle's vocal behavior may stem from an intrinsic need for social interaction, with possibilities ranging from emotional signaling to alternative communication functions. Identified as individual #1022 from a Scottish pod, Delle's unique situation offers insights into the social dynamics of dolphins, highlighting the complexities of their communication even in isolation. The findings were published in the journal *Bioacoustics*.
Published: Nov 21 2024, 11 ameznews.inThe red wolf (_Canis rufus_), one of the world's most endangered wolf species, now survives only in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. Once widespread across the eastern and south-central United States, red wolves faced severe population declines due to extensive hunting and government predator control programs, leading to their extinction in the wild by 1980. Although captive breeding programs have helped maintain a population of around 290 wolves, the wild population is critically low, estimated at just 17 to 19 individuals. These wolves, characterized by their reddish-brown fur and wolf-like appearance, face numerous threats, including poaching, vehicle strikes, and hybridization with coyotes. The US Fish and Wildlife Service continues efforts to recover the species, but the future of the red wolf remains uncertain as it is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Published: Nov 17 2024, 1 ameznews.inDespite the Sun's powerful gravitational pull, planets in the Solar System, including Earth, are gradually drifting away from it at a rate of approximately 1.5 centimeters per year. This phenomenon is not due to dark energy, which only affects unbound cosmic objects, but rather a result of the Sun losing mass through nuclear fusion and solar wind. As the Sun converts hydrogen into helium, its mass decreases, leading to a reduction in gravitational attraction and an expansion of planetary orbits. Interestingly, while planets are moving away now, they may eventually be engulfed by the Sun when it evolves into a red giant, a process expected to occur in about five billion years. This complex interplay of gravitational forces and stellar evolution highlights the dynamic nature of our Solar System.
Published: Nov 16 2024, 9 pmeznews.inThe Dyatlov Pass Incident, which resulted in the mysterious deaths of nine hikers in 1959, may have found a plausible explanation in a new study published in *Communications Earth & Environment*. The hikers, who set out from the Ural Polytechnic Institute aiming for Gora Oterten, perished on Kholat Syakhl Mountain, with their tent found cut open from the inside and footprints leading away into the snow. While numerous theories have emerged over the years—including alien encounters and secret military operations—a team of researchers now suggests that a rare type of slab avalanche could have caused the chaos. They argue that a combination of the hikers' tent placement and katabatic winds may have triggered the avalanche, despite previous investigations finding no evidence of such an event. The study aims to provide a scientific basis for understanding the tragic incident, which has captivated and puzzled the public for decades.
Published: Nov 21 2024, 9 ameznews.inLinear A, the enigmatic writing system of the Minoan civilization, remains undeciphered despite its significance as one of Europe’s earliest forms of writing. Flourishing on Crete from 3100 to 1100 BCE, the Minoans are often regarded as the continent's first literate society, leaving behind a wealth of artifacts, including the famed Palace of Knossos. Linear A consists of approximately 75 symbols representing syllables or ideograms, primarily used for religious texts and trade records. While it shares some similarities with the later Linear B script, which has been partially deciphered, Linear A is believed to have little connection to early Greek. Recent research suggests that the two scripts may be more closely related than previously thought, with ongoing studies and AI technology offering hope for future breakthroughs. However, without a "Rosetta Stone" to unlock its secrets, Linear A continues to baffle scholars.
Published: Nov 21 2024, 6 ameznews.inNASA's Curiosity rover is set to explore a new area on Mount Sharp, known as the "boxwork," which features a striking spider web-like structure formed by ancient water activity. This region, located within Gale Crater, showcases intricate patterns created as water flowed off the mountain, depositing minerals in surface fractures that later hardened. Over time, erosion from Mars' thin atmosphere revealed these hardened minerals, creating the unique formations. The boxwork spans 10 to 20 kilometers (6 to 12 miles) and presents a promising site for Curiosity to search for signs of ancient life, as the minerals may have crystallized in warmer, salty liquid water environments similar to those on early Earth. This exploration adds to the intrigue of Martian geology, complementing other features like the "spiders" observed at the planet's South Pole, which are linked to current ice processes.
Published: Nov 21 2024, 1 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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