Natural History

Baboons in Ancient Egypt were raised in captivity before being mummified

In a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers examined a collection of baboon mummies from the ancient Egyptian site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, the so-called Valley of the Monkeys on the west bank of Luxor.

Head lice evolution mirrors human migration and colonisation in the Americas

A recent analysis of lice's genetic diversity suggests that these parasites arrived in the Americas on two distinct occasions: first during the initial human migration across the Bering Strait, and later with the advent of European colonisation.

New insights into mummified mice on Andean volcanoes

A study of mummified mice found at Inca ritual sites on Andean volcanoes has revealed new insights into how the mice reached the summits.

Seaweed has been a superfood since prehistoric times

Seaweed is often regarded as a superfood, celebrated for its health advantages and sustainability. There are approximately 10,000 different species of seaweeds in the world, however only 145 species are eaten today.

The distant ancestors of modern horses had hooved toes

According to researchers, the ancient ancestors of contemporary horses possessed multiple hooved toes instead of a single hoof, which gradually disappeared over time.

First evidence of sabertoothed cat inhabiting the state of Iowa

The discovery of a sabertoothed cat skull in southwest Iowa, United States, is the first evidence of the prehistoric predator roaming the state at the end of the Ice Age between 13,605 and 13,460 years ago.

Hidden history of horses in the American West

In a recent study published in the journal Science, a team of international researchers, including scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder, have conducted a comprehensive investigation into the history of early horses in North America.

Study at Chernobyl gives new insights into surviving in contaminated environments

A new study of dogs living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has revealed new insights into living in contaminated environments.

50,000-year-old stone tools were made by monkeys

50,000-year-old stone tools found in Pedra Furada, located in the state of Piauí in north-eastern Brazil were made by monkeys.

New research project studies ancient feline migration into Europe

A new international project studying the origin and history of cats is investigating evidence of an ancient feline migration into Europe.

1 million-year-old marine DNA found in Antarctic sediment

An International study led by the University of Tasmania has discovered the oldest marine DNA in deep-sea sediments of the Scotia Sea north of the Antarctic continent.

Antarctica – The lost world

Antarctica is situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and covers an area of 14.2 million km2.

Loss of genes has implications in resurrecting mammoths

A new study shows that 87 genes have been affected by deletions or short insertions during the course of the mammoth’s evolution.

Ice Age wolf DNA reveals dogs trace ancestry to two separate wolf populations

An international group of geneticists and archaeologists have found that the ancestry of dogs can be traced to at least two populations of ancient wolves.

Frog mystery uncovered near Iron Age roundhouse

Archaeologists from MOLA Headland Infrastructure have discovered more than 8,000 amphibian bones near an Iron Age roundhouse at Bar Hill in Cambridgeshire, England.

Researchers discover world’s largest plant measuring 180 km’s in length

Biologists from the University of Western Australia and Flinders University have identified the worlds largest known plant, an ancient seagrass thought to be 4,500 years old.

Researchers reveal landscape of prehistoric forest

Scientists from the Pennsylvania State University have identified that the dipterocarps tree-group has dominated the forests on the island of Borneo for at least four million years.

New study reveals landscape 4,000 years before Stonehenge construction

A new study by the University of Southampton has revealed the landscape around Stonehenge, 4,000 years before the monument’s construction.

Ancient art and genetics reveals saffron crocus was first domesticated in Bronze Age Greece

Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, is extracted from the flowers of the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus.

Orangutans instinctively use hammers to strike and sharp stones to cut

PLOS ONE study by the University of Tübingen suggests that untrained, captive orangutans can complete two major steps in the sequence of stone tool use: striking rocks together and cutting using a sharp stone.

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