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.
Before horses, ass hybrids were bred for warfare
The 4,500-year-old iconography and texts from Mesopotamia show that the elite used equids for travel and warfare; however, the nature of these animals remained mysterious.
Medieval warhorses were surprisingly small in stature
Medieval warhorses are often depicted as massive and powerful beasts, but in reality many were no more than pony-sized by modern standards, a new study shows.
Lost world gives glimpse of planet before last Ice Age
A lost world in Mexico has offered scientists a glimpse of the planet before the last Ice Age.
Prehistoric people were farming “the world’s most dangerous bird” as early as 18,000 years ago
Researchers studying two prehistoric sites in Papua New Guinea suggest that ancient people were 'farming' cassowaries as early as 18,000 years ago.
Ancient humans traded dogs for their usefulness
Humans’ oldest companion, the dog, was first domesticated at least 20,000 years ago. The ancient dogs were an essential part of life, and they were used for hunting, herding and sledding among other activities.
