Discovery at ‘flower burial’ site could unravel mystery of Neanderthal death rites

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The first articulated Neanderthal skeleton to come out of the ground for over 20 years has been unearthed at one of the most important sites of mid-20th century archaeology: Shanidar Cave, in the foothills of Iraqi Kurdistan. Researchers say the new find offers an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the “mortuary practices” of this lost species … Read more Discovery at ‘flower burial’ site could unravel mystery of Neanderthal death rites

Hurricane Harvey tops league of most extreme US weather this decade

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A top ten of record-breaking US weather events of the last decade reveals Hurricane Harvey is the most extreme of the decade, and similar others were among the costliest and deadliest on record, according to magazine Weatherwise. Hurricane Harvey, the 2017 storm that devastated Texas and Louisiana, is ranked first followed by the 2012 ‘Frankenstorm’ … Read more Hurricane Harvey tops league of most extreme US weather this decade

The dinosaur in the cupboard under the stairs

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The mystery surrounding dinosaur footprints on a cave ceiling in Central Queensland has been solved after more than a half a century. University of Queensland palaeontologist Dr Anthony Romilio discovered pieces to a decades-old puzzle in an unusual place – a cupboard under the stairs of a suburban Sydney home. The research has been published in … Read more The dinosaur in the cupboard under the stairs

LOFAR pioneers new way to study exoplanet environments

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Using the Dutch-led Low Frequency Array (LOFAR)​ ​radio telescope, astronomers have discovered unusual radio waves coming from the nearby red dwarf star GJ1151. The radio waves bear the tell-tale signature of aurorae caused by an interaction between a star and its planet. The radio emission from a star-planet interaction has been predicted for over thirty-years … Read more LOFAR pioneers new way to study exoplanet environments

Biodiversity scientists pull together to document how life works before it’s too late

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Time is running out to predict how potential climate futures will impact biodiversity and the functioning of our biosphere. To save and predict the future of biodiversity we need to rapidly accelerate our understanding of the planet’s diverse forms of life. A new, global network of international researchers is using the power of open source … Read more Biodiversity scientists pull together to document how life works before it’s too late

Reconstructing the diet of fossil vertebrates

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Information on what our ancestors ate is based mainly on carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of the structural protein collagen in bones and dentin. Nitrogen isotope analysis, in particular, helps scientists determine whether animal or plant food was consumed. Since collagen, like proteins in general, is not easily conservable, this method cannot be used to … Read more Reconstructing the diet of fossil vertebrates

Binaural beats synchronize brain activity, don’t affect mood

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An auditory illusion thought to synchronize brain waves and alter mood is no more effective than other sounds, according to research in adults recently published in eNeuro. The effect reported in other studies might be a placebo but could still have helpful effects for some people. Binaural beats are an auditory illusion caused by listening to … Read more Binaural beats synchronize brain activity, don’t affect mood

Fast-charging, long-running, bendy energy storage breakthrough

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While at the proof-of-concept stage, it shows enormous potential as a portable power supply in several practical applications including electric vehicles, phones and wearable technology. The discovery, published today in Nature Energy, overcomes the issue faced by high-powered, fast-charging supercapacitors – that they usually cannot hold a large amount of energy in a small space. First … Read more Fast-charging, long-running, bendy energy storage breakthrough

New green technology from UMass Amherst generates electricity ‘out of thin air’

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Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a device that uses a natural protein to create electricity from moisture in the air, a new technology they say could have significant implications for the future of renewable energy, climate change and in the future of medicine. As reported today in Nature, the laboratories of electrical … Read more New green technology from UMass Amherst generates electricity ‘out of thin air’

This is not a climate emergency. It’s much more serious

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The ferocity, reach and duration of fires that have devastated Australian communities, bush and rural landscapes this summer should not just sound the alarm for a climate emergency, because the situation is much more serious. And Australia is “ground zero” for what is in reality a “climate crisis”. That’s the stark warning Professor Mark Howden … Read more This is not a climate emergency. It’s much more serious