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The article explores the concept of deep time in settler literary regionalism through a comparative analysis of Olive Schreiner's "The Story of an African Farm" and Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!" The authors use geological and evolutionary theories to depict Indigenous peoples as embodying deep time, reconciling settler colonial tensions. Schreiner and Cather's novels symbolically displace Indigenous identities onto the landscape, erasing Indigenous presence while affirming settler claims to the land through deep-time narratives. The authors' engagement with deep time reflects a larger pattern of settler colonial domination and Indigenous erasure, highlighting the complexities of regional fiction in negotiating temporal scales and cultural identities. [Extracted from the article]

The article from the International Journal of Primatology introduces readers to the diverse group of nocturnal bushbabies found in Africa. It highlights the historical research on these primates, their evolution, conservation status, and recent studies focusing on taxonomy, systematics, and speciation. The special issue includes contributions from scholars worldwide, presenting new data on behavior, physiology, phylogenetics, and conservation efforts. The research aims to enhance our understanding of these enigmatic primates and emphasizes the importance of continued study and conservation efforts. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives Evolutionary changes in hominin social complexity have been associated with increases in absolute brain size. The temporal lobes are nestled in the middle cranial fossae (MCF) of the skull, the dimensions of which allow estimation of temporal lobe volume (TLV) in extant and fossil taxa. Materials and Methods The main aim of this study is to determine where along the hominid phylogeny, major temporal lobe size transitions occurred. We used computed tomography (CT) scans of crania, 3D photogrammetry data, and laser surface scans of endocranial casts to measure seven MCF metrics in 11 extant anthropoid taxa using multiple regressions to estimate TLV in 5 extant hominids and 10 fossil hominins. Phylogenetic comparative methods mapped temporal lobe size, brain size, and temporal lobe proportions onto phylogenetic trees broadly for Hominidae and specifically for Hominini. Results Extant Homo sapiens were not an outlier in relative brain size, temporal lobe size, or proportions of the temporal lobes, but some proportions within the lobe were uniquely altered. The most notable changes in relative temporal lobe size and proportions saw a decrease in relative temporal lobe size and proportions in the genus Pan compared to other extant great apes and fossil hominins while there was a relative increase in the temporal lobe width and length in Australopithecus–Paranthropus clade compared to the genus Homo and other extant great apes including modern humans. Discussion We do not find support for the social brain, environmental or functional craniology hypotheses alone but think it prudent to consider the implications of cerebral reorganization between the temporal lobes and other regions of the brain within the context of these hypotheses and with future investigation is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several species of hominid primates with different types of locomotor behavior, we quantitatively studied the insertion sites of the brachialis and triceps brachii on the proximal epiphysis of the ulna. Our main objective was to evaluate the possibility of using the anatomical features of these insertion sites to infer the locomotor behavior of different species of fossil hominins. We measured the area of these muscle insertion sites using 3D bone meshes and obtained the value of each insertion site relative to the total size of the two insertion sites for each of the species studied. We also compared these relative values of the osteological samples with the relative mass of the brachialis and triceps brachii, which we obtained by dissecting these muscles in the same primate species. The relative values for the brachialis insertion were highest in orangutans, followed by bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans. Fossil Australopithecus and Paranthropus had values similar to those of bonobos, while fossil Homo had values similar to those of Homo sapiens. The observed similarity in ulnar attachment sites between Australopithecus and Paranthropus and extant bonobos suggest that these hominins used arboreal locomotion to complement their bipedalism. These adaptations to arboreal locomotion were not observed in Homo. Summary: There is a close relationship between the types of locomotion used by hominoid primates and the relative size of the brachialis and triceps brachii muscles.The relative mass of the brachialis and the triceps brachii muscles is related to the relative size of their insertion sites in the proximal epiphysis of the ulna.The morphology of the proximal epiphysis of the ulna can provide information on the locomotor behavior of fossil hominins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

David Pimentel was trained as an entomologist, but he was widely recognized for investigating and revealing uncomfortable knowledge on the state of global agriculture, covering topics of energy, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, pesticide contamination and energy use. While outspoken in his bold assessments of agriculture's environmental and energetic shortcomings, he was less forthcoming with proposals for equally bold solutions. Yet one highly transformative idea that he raised repeatedly in his career after co-authoring a seminal paper in 1986 with researchers at The Land Institute was the breeding of perennial grain crops to replace annual grains on the landscape. In this paper, we look holistically at the work of David Pimentel to interpret his views on the prospects for plant breeders to develop perennial grains and the challenges that perennial grains could help address. As society continues to grapple with profound agricultural challenges, it is relevant that one of the last century's most prominent and comprehensive scholars of agriculture honed in on perennial grains as the bold solution that would simultaneously address multiple complex environmental challenges while reducing human labor and fossil fuel dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pliocene was a period of major faunal shift in India as older primate lineages slowly went extinct, leaving the niches vacant for cercopithecoids, specifically cercopithecids (Old World monkeys), to occupy. Among them, Presbytis sivalensis, Macaca palaeindica and Procynocephalus subhimalayanus are important, as they are potential kin to many of the South Asian and Southeast Asian monkeys living today. Further in the Pleistocene, as ecology shifted to a more grassland environment, primates such as Theropithecus delsoni and the first people of Homo sp. migrated into the subcontinent and occupied central India. All of these primate fossils are known only from a handful of fragmentary fossil remains. This article aims to discuss the discovery of fossils and the nature of these fossils from the Pliocene and the Pleistocene. Information regarding the phylogenetic affinities of these fossil primates is sporadic as well. There is a need to learn more about these primates by reanalysing existing discoveries and conducting further research into the lives of these primates of a bygone era. Such research, using modern tools and methods, will surely make significant contributions to palaeoanthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphology evolves through modifications to growth and development, yet inferences about ontogeny of extinct organisms are often limited by small and fragmentary fossil samples. The remarkable circumstances and preservation of Homo naledi Berger et al., 2015 material from Rising Star Cave, South Africa allow unique insights into the prenatal period of growth and development. We focus here on what a nearly complete adult H. naledi hand skeleton can tell us about embryonic pattern formation. On the one hand, it has been proposed that the proportional lengths of phalanges within a digit are established by a reaction-diffusion mechanism that can be described mathematically by the "inhibitory cascade" model. On the other hand, the proportional lengths of the second and fourth digits are mediated by prenatal exposure to sex hormones, and may serve as a biomarker for social behavior. Viewed through the lens of development, the H. naledi hand suggests that a simple developmental shift could have facilitated the evolution of manual dexterity in early hominins. In addition, H. naledi presents the highest ratio of second to fourth digit of all known fossil hominins, which may reflect reduced aggression compared to other fossil Homo Linnaeus, 1758. The remarkable preservation of the H. naledi hand skeleton provides a unique view of life before birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For much of the Pliocene and Pleistocene, multiple hominin species coexisted in the same regions of eastern and southern Africa. Due to the limitations of the skeletal fossil record, questions regarding their interspecific interactions remain unanswered. We report the discovery of footprints (~1.5 million years old) from Koobi Fora, Kenya, that provide the first evidence of two different patterns of Pleistocene hominin bipedalism appearing on the same footprint surface. New analyses show that this is observed repeatedly across multiple contemporaneous sites in the eastern Turkana Basin. These data indicate a sympatric relationship between Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, suggesting that lake margin habitats were important to both species and highlighting the possible influence of varying levels of coexistence, competition, and niche partitioning in human evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species is the basic unit of analysis in systematic paleontology. Yet, for most of its history the subfield of paleoanthropology has lacked any coherent concept of what fossil species are, using the species epithet variously at different times -- most recently, with the conspicuous effect of minimizing apparent diversity among the hominins. The application of molecular systematic techniques to the analysis of high-latitude early Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 and its contemporaries thus offers a welcome opportunity to reappraise our approaches to species recognition in the rapidly expanding hominin fossil record. But it must be cautioned that evidence for hybridization among documented or hypothesized lineages cannot necessarily be taken as evidence for recoalescence among them, and that "braided stream" models of hominin evolution (which militate against speciation) cannot account for the diversity of historically and morphologically differentiated entities we see in that record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many early fossil hominins are associated with savanna‐mosaic paleohabitats, and high sexual dimorphism that may reflect differences in positional behavior between sexes. However, reconstructions of hominin behavior and the selective pressures they faced in an open habitat are limited by a lack of studies of extant apes living in contemporary, analogous habitats. Here, we describe adult chimpanzee positional behavior in the savanna‐mosaic habitat of the Issa Valley, Tanzania, to test whether Issa chimpanzees show larger sex‐differences in positional behavior than their forest‐dwelling counterparts. Materials and Methods: We quantified and compared adult locomotor and postural behavior across sexes (6 females, 7 males) in the riparian forest (closed) and miombo woodland (open) vegetation types at Issa Valley (13,743 focal observations). We then compared our results to published data of chimpanzee communities living in more forested habitats. Results: Issa females and males both spent less time arboreally in open vegetation and showed similar locomotor and postural behavior on the same substrates, notably using a high level of suspensory locomotion when arboreal. Females were, however, more arboreal than males during locomotor behavior, as well as compared with females from other communities. Issa males behaved similarly to males from other communities. Conclusion: Results suggest that open habitats do not elicit less arboreal behaviors in either sex, and may even select for suspensory locomotion to effectively navigate an open canopy. An open habitat may, however, increase sex differences in positional behavior by driving female arboreality. We suggest this is because of higher energetic demands and predator pressures associated with open vegetation, which are likely exaggerated for reproducing females. These results have implications for the interpretation of how sexual dimorphism may influence reconstructions of hominin positional behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grotta Polesini is one of the most famous paleontological and archaeological sites of central Italy, which testifies to its human occupation during the Lateglacial. The site comprises a cave system where systematic excavation campaigns have been carried out since the 1950s. In 1974, 656 mammal remains were collected but never studied. This fossil collection is here described for the first time through taxonomic and stable isotope analyses of the enamel of selected mammal teeth. The aim is to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental and climatic conditions of the site and to offer new information on terrestrial ecosystems during the Lateglacial in central Italy. The faunal assemblage studied herein, in addition to other species reported in previous works, suggests cold climate conditions. We also describe a right radius of an adult individual of Homo sapiens, increasing the human fossil record of the site. Carbon isotope data point to a scenario dominated by C3 plants in open and dry habitats, such as grasslands and steppes, in accordance with the pollen data from central Italy. The oxygen isotope data suggest the use of water resources with a local origin, i.e. local precipitation and surface waters with a provenance from the nearby Apennine chain. The ecology of the taxa influenced the oxygen isotope values, especially in the case of semi‐obligate to non‐obligate drinker species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying evidence of human modification of extinct animal remains, such as Pleistocene megafauna, is challenging due to the similarity of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic taphonomic features observed under optical microscopy. Here, we re-investigate a Late Pleistocene ground sloth tooth from northeast Brazil, previously suggested as human-modified based only on optical observation. To characterize the macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of the marks preserved in this tooth and evaluate potential human modification, we used stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supplemented by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), UV photoluminescence (UV/PL), synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF), and synchrotron micro-computed tomography (SR-µCT). These methods allowed us to discriminate non-anthropogenic taphonomic features (root and sedimentary damage), anthropogenic marks, and histological features. The latter shows the infiltration of exogenous elements into the dentine from the sediments. Our evidence demonstrates the sequence of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic taphonomic modification of this tooth and supports its initial intentional modification by humans. We highlight the benefits of emerging imaging and spectral imaging techniques to investigate and diagnose human modification in fossil and archaeological records and propose that human modification of tooth tissues should be further considered when studying possibly anthropogenically altered fossil remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial interactions among anatomical elements help to identify topological factors behind morphological variation and can be investigated through network analysis. Here, a whole‐brain network model of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes, Blumenbach 1776) is presented, based on macroanatomical divisions, and compared with a previous equivalent model of the human brain. The goal was to contrast which regions are essential in the geometric balance of the brains of the two species, to compare underlying phenotypic patterns of spatial variation, and to understand how these patterns might have influenced the evolution of human brain morphology. The human and chimpanzee brains share morphologically complex inferior‐medial regions and a topological organization that matches the spatial constraints exerted by the surrounding braincase. These shared topological features are interesting because they can be traced back to the Chimpanzee‐Human Last Common Ancestor, 7–10 million years ago. Nevertheless, some key differences are found in the human and chimpanzee brains. In humans, the temporal lobe, particularly its deep and medial limbic aspect (the parahippocampal gyrus), is a crucial node for topological complexity. Meanwhile, in chimpanzees, the cerebellum is, in this sense, more embedded in an intricate spatial position. This information helps to interpret brain macroanatomical change in fossil hominids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strontium (Sr) isotopes measured in fossil remains have been a useful tool to assess the geographical origin and even migrations of humans and other animals. In particular, dental enamel generally represents the ideal material, as it is dense and less prone to diagenetic replacement of Sr post-burial. However, fossil teeth can often be precious artefacts and difficult to access for destructive analysis. Here, we assess whether measuring Sr isotopes in fossil dental calculus could be used at least as a rangefinder to determine the geographical origin of an individual. We measured trace element concentrations in modern calculus (from a local dental practice), and trace element concentrations and 87Sr/86Sr ratios in human fossil calculus, dentine, and enamel from specimens collected in York, UK. Comparing trace element concentrations between modern and fossil calculus show that metals present in fossil calculus are mostly acquired post-burial, including Sr. The relationship between 87Sr/86Sr and Rb/Sr ratios in fossil calculus, dentine, and enamel suggests that the diagenetic end member would have a 87Sr/86Sr ratio consistent with the one modelled for the York region, but a low Rb/Sr. Without calculus data, dentine and enamel data would have probably suggested a lower 87Sr/86Sr ratio for a diagenetic end member, expecting high Rb/Sr values. Thus, while Sr isotopes in fossil calculus may not be useful to identify the geographical origin of an individual, they may be useful in constraining the composition of the diagenetic end member. Combining Sr isotopes in fossil dental calculus and enamel could be a more robust approach to identify geographical origin than using enamel alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rigorous examination of empirical data confirms the fact that there is no threat from CO2 to People. Fossil Fuels (i.e., Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal) are the underpinning of modern living in the 21st century and that CO2 is essential for the thriving of both People and Plants. The geologic record shows that the Earth's climate has always been changing naturally during the past 600 million years in terms CO2 and temperature, without CO2 emissions from Fossil Fuels by humans. A plot of CO2 vs. Temperature for the last 600 million years shows basically no correlation for most of this time (Berner, 2004; Scotese et al., 2021). If the Net-Zero CO2 policy were to be implemented in 2050, large numbers of people would die and the modern human civilization would come to a sudden halt, and humans left alive would have to revert back to the lifestyles of the Neanderthals. A climate-change model for 200 years (1900-2100) is proposed based on four basic parameters, namely, CO2, Temperature, Population, and GDP (gross domestic product) per capita. In this model, calculations based on the Max Planck's Curve by Van Wijngaarden and Happer (2020), an increase in Temperature by 2100 would be trivial even if CO2 is nearly doubled in value to 800 ppm. The CO2 in the atmosphere helps not only to modulate the Earth's Temperature suitable for human survival, but also to enhance Global Greening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we describe an adult left first pollical (thumb) proximal phalanx (I2-104) from the Baume de Moula-Guercy (Ardèche, France) and we evaluate its taxonomic status. We first describe this bone in detail, taking into account its pathology, before comparing it, through multivariate analyses, with a diverse sample of recent and fossil humans. Based on metric and morphological comparisons, we show that this phalanx belongs to a Neandertal individual who suffered from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can have different origins, including overuse, degeneration, trauma and infection. Each of these possible etiologies is explored in our study. Although the cause is difficult to identify, the pathology in this individual may represent an inflammatory reaction caused by repeated and intense vibrations provoked by the high-frequency knapping of the left hand over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Late Oligocene–Miocene evolution of deep-water circulation in the abyssal South China Sea, using Nd isotopes from fossil fish teeth to trace historical changes in oceanic currents. It details the geological and oceanographic background of the region, the methods for sampling and analyzing Nd isotopic compositions, and the implications of these findings for understanding ancient deep-water circulation patterns.

A greater degree of Late Quaternary hominin morphological variability is present in eastern Asia than previously assumed. Indeed, a number of distinct populations are present, some that now have new specific names: Homo floresiensis; H. luzonensis; H. longi; H. juluensis. With this piece, we describe the various groupings based on the current hominin fossil record of eastern Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The site of LuneryRosieres la-Terre-des-Sablons (Lunery, Cher, France) comprises early evidence of human occupation in mid-latitudes in Western Europe. It demonstrates hominin presence in the Loire River Basin during the Early Pleistocene at the transition between an interglacial stage and the beginning of the following glacial stage. Three archaeological levels sandwiched and associated with two diamicton levels deposited on the downcutting river floor indicate repeated temporary occupations. Lithic material yields evidence of simple and more complex core technologies on local Jurassic siliceous rocks and Oligocene millstone. Hominins availed of natural stone morphologies to produce flakes with limited preparation. Some cores show centripetal management and a partially prepared striking platform. The mean ESR age of 1175 ka ± 98 ka obtained on fluvial sediments overlying the archaeological levels could correspond to the transition between marine isotopic stages (MIS) 37 and 36, during the normal Cobb Mountain subchron, and in particular at the beginning of MIS 36. The Lunery site shows that hominins were capable of adapting to early glacial environmental conditions and adopting appropriate strategies for settling in mid-latitude zones. These areas cannot be considered as inhospitable at that time as Lunery lies at some distance from the forming ice cap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Interpretations of the primate and human fossil record often rely on the estimation of somatic dimensions from bony measures. Both somatic and skeletal variation have been used to assess how primates respond to environmental change. However, it is unclear how well skeletal variation matches and predicts soft tissue. Here, we empirically test the relationship between tissues by comparing somatic and skeletal measures using paired measures of pre‐ and post‐mortem rhesus macaques from Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. Materials and Methods: Somatic measurements were matched with skeletal dimensions from 105 rhesus macaque individuals to investigate paired signals of variation (i.e., coefficients of variation, sexual dimorphism) and bivariate codependence (reduced major axis regression) in measures of: (1) limb length; (2) joint breadth; and (3) limb circumference. Predictive models for the estimation of soft tissue dimensions from skeletons were built from Ordinary Least Squares regressions. Results: Somatic and skeletal measurements showed statistically equivalent coefficients of variation and sexual dimorphism as well as high epiphyses‐present ordinary least square (OLS) correlations in limb lengths (R2 >0.78, 0.82), joint breadths (R2 >0.74, 0.83) and, to a lesser extent, limb circumference (R2 >0.53, 0.68). Conclusion: Skeletal measurements are good substitutions for somatic values based on population signals of variation. OLS regressions indicate that skeletal correlates are highly predictive of somatic dimensions. The protocols and regression equations established here provide a basis for reliable reconstruction of somatic dimension from catarrhine fossils and validate our ability to compare or combine results of studies based on population data of either hard or soft tissue proxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant great apes are characterized by a wide range of locomotor, postural and manipulative behaviours that each require the limbs to be used in different ways. In addition to external bone morphology, comparative investigation of trabecular bone, which (re‐)models to reflect loads incurred during life, can provide novel insights into bone functional adaptation. Here, we use canonical holistic morphometric analysis (cHMA) to analyse the trabecular morphology in the distal femoral epiphysis of Homo sapiens (n = 26), Gorilla gorilla (n = 14), Pan troglodytes (n = 15) and Pongo sp. (n = 9). We test two predictions: (1) that differing locomotor behaviours will be reflected in differing trabecular architecture of the distal femur across Homo, Pan, Gorilla and Pongo; (2) that trabecular architecture will significantly differ between male and female Gorilla due to their different levels of arboreality but not between male and female Pan or Homo based on previous studies of locomotor behaviours. Results indicate that trabecular architecture differs among extant great apes based on their locomotor repertoires. The relative bone volume and degree of anisotropy patterns found reflect habitual use of extended knee postures during bipedalism in Homo, and habitual use of flexed knee posture during terrestrial and arboreal locomotion in Pan and Gorilla. Trabecular architecture in Pongo is consistent with a highly mobile knee joint that may vary in posture from extension to full flexion. Within Gorilla, trabecular architecture suggests a different loading of knee in extension/flexion between females and males, but no sex differences were found in Pan or Homo, supporting our predictions. Inter‐ and intra‐specific variation in trabecular architecture of distal femur provides a comparative context to interpret knee postures and, in turn, locomotor behaviours in fossil hominins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Reconstruction of fossil hominin manual behaviors often relies on comparative analyses of extant hominid hands to understand the relationship between hand use and skeletal morphology. In this context, the intermediate phalanges remain understudied. Thus, here we investigate cortical bone morphology of the intermediate phalanges of extant hominids and compare it to the cortical structure of the proximal phalanges, to investigate the relationship between cortical bone structure and inferred loading during manual behaviors. Materials and Methods: Using micro‐CT data, we analyze cortical bone structure of the intermediate phalangeal shaft of digits 2–5 in Pongo pygmaeus (n = 6 individuals), Gorilla gorilla (n = 22), Pan spp. (n = 23), and Homo sapiens (n = 23). The R package morphomap is used to study cortical bone distribution, cortical thickness and cross‐sectional properties within and across taxa. Results: Non‐human great apes generally have thick cortical bone on the palmar shaft, with Pongo only having thick cortex on the peaks of the flexor sheath ridges, while African apes have thick cortex along the entire flexor sheath ridge and proximal to the trochlea. Humans are distinct in having thicker dorsal shaft cortex as well as thick cortex at the disto‐palmar region of the shaft. Discussion: Variation in cortical bone distribution and properties of the intermediate phalanges is consistent with differences in locomotor and manipulative behaviors in extant great apes. Comparisons between the intermediate and proximal phalanges reveals similar patterns of cortical bone distribution within each taxon but with potentially greater load experienced by the proximal phalanges, even in knuckle‐walking African apes. This study provides a comparative context for the reconstruction of habitual hand use in fossil hominins and hominids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A modern pattern (rate and duration) of dental development occurs relatively recently during human evolution. Given the temporal overlap of Homonaledi with the first appearance of fossil Homo sapiens in Africa, this small‐bodied and small‐brained hominin presents an opportunity to elucidate the evolution of enamel growth in the hominin clade. Here we conduct the first histological study of two permanent mandibular canines and one permanent maxillary first molar, representing three individuals attributed to H. naledi. We reconstruct the rate and duration of enamel growth and compare these findings to those reported for other fossil hominins and recent humans. Materials and Methods: Thin sections of each tooth were produced using standard histological methods. Daily and longer period incremental markings were measured to reconstruct enamel secretion and extension rates, Retzius periodicity, canine crown and molar cusp formation time. Results: Daily enamel secretion rates overlapped with those from recent hominins. Canine crown formation time is similar to that observed in recent Europeans but is longer than canine formation times reported for most other hominins including Australopithecus and H. neanderthalensis. The extended period of canine formation appears to be due to a relatively tall enamel crown and a sustained slow rate of enamel extension in the cervical portion of the crown. A Retzius periodicity of 11 days for the canines, and nine days for the molar, in H. naledi parallel results found in recent humans. An 11‐day periodicity has not been reported for Late Pleistocene Homo (H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis) and is rarely found in Australopithecus and Paranthropus species. Discussion: Enamel growth of H. naledi is most similar to recent humans though comparative data are limited for most fossil hominin species. The high Retzius periodicity values do not follow expectations for a small‐brained hominin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article narrates the success story of the investigations of S Pääbo and his team. It centres around the analysis of paleogenomes of extinct hominins, our immediate ancestors, namely Denisovans and Neanderthals. These studies have uncovered genetic and genomic basis of a few characters that we have inherited from our ancestors and more on human evolution. The Nobel Committee recognized this unique contribution and the Nobel Prize of 2022 was awarded to S Pääbo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The youngest fossil record is a crucial source of data documenting the recent history of marine ecosystems and their long-term alteration by humans. However, human activities that reshape communities and habitats also alter sedimentary and biological processes that control the formation of the sedimentary archives recording those impacts. These diverse physical, geochemical, and biological disturbances include changes in sediment fluxes due to the alteration of alluvial and coastal landscapes, seabed disturbance by bottom trawling and ship traffic, ocean acidification and deoxygenation, removal of native species, and introduction of invasive ecosystem engineers. These novel processes modify sedimentation rates, the depth and intensity of sediment mixing, the pore-water saturation state, and the preservation potential of skeletal remains – the parameters controlling the completeness and spatiotemporal resolution of the fossil record. We argue that humans have become a major force transforming the nature of the marine fossil record in ways that can both impede and improve our ability to reconstruct past ecological and climate dynamics. A better understanding of the feedback between human impacts on ecosystem processes and their preservation in the marine fossil record offers new research opportunities and novel tools for interpreting geohistorical archives of the ongoing anthropogenic transformation of the coastal ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy and the environment are one of the most important global issues in the 21st century. In order to avoid the excessive destruction of the environment and human settlements by fossil fuels, and achieve sustainable development of the Earth, clean energy carrier hydrogen shows its application value. Facing the challenges in preparing transition metal phosphides, in this study, transition metal salts and urea were used as raw materials to react under hydrothermal conditions. The transition metal basic carbonate NiCo2(CO3)1.5OH3 was grown in situ on nickel-foam (NF) substrates. After low-temperature phosphating treatment, NiCoP alloy phosphide electrocatalysts (NiCoP/NF) grown on nickel-foam substrates were obtained. The electrochemical hydrogen evolution performance was tested in 1 mol/L KOH alkaline electrolyte solution. Experiments show, NiCoP/NF heterostructure catalyst has excellent hydrogen evolution performance. In an alkaline medium, the overpotential required to obtain the catalytic current density of 10 mA/cm² is only 93 mV, and the Tafel slope is 118 mV/dec. This is largely due to: 1) the good dispersion of NiCoP/NF nano-catalyst on the Nickel Foam substrate increased the number of active sites exposed; 2) the heterostructure promotes the electron interaction between NiCoP and NF; 3) theoretical calculations show that the construction of NiCoP/NF heterostructure can effectively reduce the dissociation barrier of water, promote the dissociation of water, the kinetic reaction process of electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution is accelerated. Therefore, the construction of NiCoP/NF nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts enriches the application of non-noble metal nanomaterials in the field of hydrogen production from water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen isotopes are vital due to their significant applications in scientific research, biomedicine and potential application in fusion energy. D-T fusion, in particular, holds the promise solving human fossil energy reliance and the resulting environmental pollution. Methods including cryogenic distillation and Girdler Sulfide process etc. have been developed to satisfy the demand towards pure D 2 and T 2 but generally suffer high energy consumption and low separation efficiency. Furthermore, emerging methods such as laser catalysis and quantum sieving have been demonstrated but suffers harsh separation conditions, low separation volumes and material life etc. Thermal cycling absorption process (TCAP) delivers seductive aspects regarding hydrogen isotope separation for efficiency and throughput, small footprint and high automation level. Herein, firstly, the advantages and disadvantages of various separation methods are briefly elucidated and provides the necessities for developing new separation methods. Then the preferred TCAP strategy is outlined in detail, containing working mechanisms and optimization process. Finally, the history and outlook of TCAP are listed. We hope this paper would spark some inspirations for further TCAP development towards hydrogen isotope separation. [Display omitted] • The necessity of hydrogen isotope separation was explained. • The pros and cons of the current separation methods were summarized. • The principles, working modes, and optimization of TCAP were summarized. • The future prospects of TCAP were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue 90 of the Cuicuilco magazine contains a variety of articles on anthropological and social topics, as well as critical reviews and a new section called Anthropological Arts. Highlights include analyses on the aspirations of anthropology students in Mexico, the evolution of hearing and language in hominid fossils, and a reinterpretation of Tláloc. Other topics addressed include the importance of fire in ceramic creation, ritual gastronomy in Pinotepa Nacional, and resistance in Santa María del Tule, Oaxaca. Additionally, there are critical reviews of books on migration, territory in the Oaxacan cañada, and a critique of anthropology. [Extracted from the article]

As part of a long-term research project aiming at generating a biomechanical model of a fossil human tongue from a carefully designed 3D Finite Element mesh of a living human tongue, we present a computer-based method that optimally registers 3D CT images of the head and neck of the living human into similar images of another primate. We quantitatively evaluate the method on a baboon. The method generates a geometric deformation field which is used to build up a 3D Finite Element mesh of the baboon tongue. In order to assess the method's ability to generate a realistic tongue from bony structure information alone, as would be the case for fossil humans, its performance is evaluated and compared under two conditions in which different anatomical information is available: (1) combined information from soft-tissue and bony structures; (2) information from bony structures alone. An Uncertainty Quantification method is used to evaluate the sensitivity of the transformation to two crucial parameters, namely the resolution of the transformation grid and the weight of a smoothness constraint applied to the transformation, and to determine the best possible meshes. In both conditions the baboon tongue morphology is realistically predicted, evidencing that bony structures alone provide enough relevant information to generate soft tissues. Author summary: The issue of the phylogenetic emergence of speech in humans is the focus of lively and strong debates. It questions both cognitive and physical capacities of fossil hominins to articulate speech. The ultimate goal of our research project "Origins of Speech" is the quantitative investigation of the physical aspects of the debate. We rely for that on the design biomechanical models of fossil hominins' vocal tracts and on the assessment of their capacity to articulate distinctive sounds as is required for the emergence of spoken language. Since fossil remains do not preserve soft tissue, the technical challenge is to be able to predict them, and in particular the tongue, from bony structures alone. In this paper we present our method to reach this goal, which uses medical images of the head and neck to register a reference biomechanical tongue model of a living human into a tongue model of any other primate. We evaluate it quantitatively on the prediction of a Baboon tongue, for whom we have accurate X-Ray scans of the skull and the vocal tract, by comparing the tongue model predicted from bony structures alone with the model predicted from bony and soft tissue structures and with the tongue segmented on the baboon X-Ray data. The evaluation includes a mathematical evaluation, based on uncertainty quantification methods of the sensitivity of the predictions to the variations of crucial parameters used in the optimal geometrical registration. The results are very encouraging for future application to fossil hominins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worsening of climate conditions is closely related to the large amount of carbon dioxide produced by human use of fossil fuels. Under the guidance of the goal of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals", with the deepening of the structural reform of the energy supply side, the hybrid energy system coupled with renewable energy has become an important means to solve the energy problem. This paper focuses on the comprehensive evaluation of hybrid energy systems. A complete decision support system is constructed in this study. The system primarily consists of four components: 1) Twelve evaluation criteria from economic, environmental, technological, and socio-political perspectives; 2) A decision information collecting and processing method in uncertain environment combining triangular fuzzy numbers and hesitation fuzzy language term sets; 3) A comprehensive weighting method based on Lagrange optimization theory; 4) Solution ranking based on the fuzzy VIKOR method that considers the risk preferences of decision-makers. Through a case study, it was found that the four most important criteria are investment cost, comprehensive energy efficiency, dynamic payback period and energy supply reliability with weights of 7.21%, 7.17%, 7.17%, and 7.15% respectively. A1 is the scheme with the best comprehensive benefit. The selection of solutions may vary depending on the decision-maker's risk preference. Through the aforementioned research, the decision framework enables the evaluation of the overall performance of the system and provides decision-making references for decision-makers in selecting solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In past populations, some individuals used their front teeth as tools for purposes other than eating, such as making tools or preparing food. These activities have an impact on both the visible part of the tooth (crown) through wear, as well as the part anchored deep in the gum (tooth root) by causing excessive production of a mineralized tissue called 'cementum'. Cementum surrounds the tooth root and forms throughout an individual's life. It records information about the individual's oral health, physiology, and chewing activities. Under certain conditions (e.g., significant mechanical stress or infection), cementum production becomes excessive and exceeds normal physiological limits, resulting in 'hypercementosis'. The present study aims to identify different patterns of cementum apposition and to propose probable causes. We examined a sample of 35 teeth (Sains-en-Gohelle, France, 7th–17th century) and identified four groups of cementum apposition: (i) impacted teeth that never erupted in the mouth, (ii) infected teeth, with caries or gum disease, (iii) hyperfunctional teeth subjected to high mechanical stress, and (iv) hypofunctional teeth that were not used in chewing due to the loss of opposing teeth. We conclude that hypercementosis could provide information on the life history of archeological specimens, even based on isolated teeth. The "teeth-as-tools" hypothesis posits that Neanderthals used their anterior teeth as a tool or a third hand for non-dietary purposes. These non- or para-masticatory activities (e.g., tool-making or food preparation prior to ingestion) have also been described in other past and extant human populations, and other Primates. Cementum is the mineralized tissue that covers the tooth root surface and anchors it to the alveolar bone. Under certain conditions (e.g., mechanical stress, infection), its production becomes excessive (i.e., beyond the physiological state) and is called 'hypercementosis'. Several studies in dental anthropology have established a correlation between the teeth-as-tools and hypercementosis. The present work aims to characterize the different patterns of cementum apposition on archeological teeth and discuss their supposed etiology. Using microtomography and confocal microscopy, the patterns of cementum apposition (i.e., thickness, location, and surface characteristics) were analyzed in 35 hypercementotic teeth (Sains-en-Gohelle, France; 7th–17th c. A.D.). Four groups were identified with distinct hypercementosis patterns: (1) impacted, (2) infected, (3) hypofunctional, and (4) hyperfunctional teeth. Characterizing hypercementosis can contribute to documenting the oral health status (paleopathology) and/or masticatory activity of individuals, even from isolated teeth. This has implications for the study of fossil hominins, particularly Neanderthals, known for their use of anterior teeth as tools and frequent and substantial occurrence of hypercementosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa's paleo-climate change represents an "ecological black-box" along the evolutionary timeline of spoken language; a vocal hominid went in and, millions of years later, out came a verbal human. It is unknown whether or how a shift from forested, dense habitats towards drier, open ones affected hominid vocal communication, potentially setting stage for speech evolution. To recreate how arboreal proto-vowels and proto-consonants would have interacted with a new ecology at ground level, we assessed how a series of orangutan voiceless consonant-like and voiced vowel-like calls travelled across the savannah. Vowel-like calls performed poorly in comparison to their counterparts. Only consonant-like calls afforded effective perceptibility beyond 100 m distance without requiring repetition, as is characteristic of loud calling behaviour in nonhuman primates, typically composed by vowel-like calls. Results show that proto-consonants in human ancestors may have enhanced reliability of distance vocal communication across a canopy-to-ground ecotone. The ecological settings and soundscapes experienced by human ancestors may have had a more profound impact on the emergence and shape of spoken language than previously recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anatomy of the auditory region of fossil hominins may shed light on the emergence of human spoken language. Humans differ from other great apes in several features of the external, middle and inner ear (e.g., short external ear canal, small tympanic membrane, large oval window). However, the functional implications of these differences remain poorly understood as comparative audiometric data from great apes are scarce and conflicting. Here, we measure the sound transfer function of the external and middle ears of humans, chimpanzees and bonobos, using laser-Doppler vibrometry and finite element analysis. This sound transfer function affects auditory thresholds, which relate to speech reception thresholds in humans. Unexpectedly we find that external and middle ears of chimpanzees and bonobos transfer sound better than human ones in the frequency range of spoken language. Our results suggest that auditory thresholds of the last common ancestor of Homo and Pan were already compatible with speech reception as observed in humans. Therefore, it seems unlikely that the morphological evolution observed in the bony auditory region of fossil hominins was driven by the emergence of spoken language. Instead, the peculiar human configuration may be a by-product of morpho-functional constraints linked to brain expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide extinction of megafauna during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene is evident from the fossil record, with dominant theories suggesting a climate, human or combined impact cause. Consequently, two disparate scenarios are possible for the surviving megafauna during this time period - they could have declined due to similar pressures, or increased in population size due to reductions in competition or other biotic pressures. We therefore infer population histories of 139 extant megafauna species using genomic data which reveal population declines in 91% of species throughout the Quaternary period, with larger species experiencing the strongest decreases. Declines become ubiquitous 32–76 kya across all landmasses, a pattern better explained by worldwide Homo sapiens expansion than by changes in climate. We estimate that, in consequence, total megafauna abundance, biomass, and energy turnover decreased by 92–95% over the past 50,000 years, implying major human-driven ecosystem restructuring at a global scale. Extinction of megafauna is a defining trend of the last 50,000 years. Here, the authors use genomic data to infer population histories of 139 extant megafauna, suggesting that their population decline is better explained by Homo sapiens expansion than by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 42,000 years ago, anatomically modern humans appeared in Western Europe to the detriment of indigenous Neanderthal groups. It is during this period that new techno-cultural complexes appear, such as the Châtelperronian that extends from northern Spain to the Paris Basin. The Grotte du Renne (Arcy-sur-Cure) is a key site for discussing the biological identity of its makers. This deposit has yielded several Neanderthal human remains in its Châtelperronian levels. However, the last inventory of the paleoanthropological collection attributed to this techno-complex allowed the identification of an ilium belonging to a neonate (AR-63) whose morphology required a thorough analysis to assess its taxonomic attribution. Using geometric morphometrics, we quantified its morphology and compared it to that of 2 Neanderthals and 32 recent individuals deceased during the perinatal period to explore their morphological variation. Our results indicate a morphological distinction between the ilia of Neanderthals and anatomically modern neonates. Although AR-63 is slightly outside recent variability, it clearly differs from the Neanderthals. We propose that this is due to its belonging to an early modern human lineage whose morphology differs slightly from present-day humans. We also explore different hypotheses about the presence of this anatomically modern neonate ilium among Neanderthal remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archeological evidence from loess sediments from Shangchen on the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau indicates a suspension of hominin occupation around the time of the early mid‐Pleistocene climate transition, prompting a re‐assessment of climate‐vegetation‐hominin interactions. Loess deposits with in situ lithic records cover the period of hominin occupation and reveal four distinct climate‐vegetation periods (2.1–1.8, 1.8–1.26, 1.26–0.9, and 0.9–0.6 Ma). Major oscillations in climate superimposed upon an aridification trend and an expansion of C4 herbaceous vegetation from about 1.26 Ma may have driven early humans to move to more hospitable locations in the region. Comparison with the record at Nihewan indicates that large‐scale climate oscillations induced disparate hominin responses due to distinctive local environmental conditions. Plain Language Summary: A combination of several lines of evidence suggests that changes in climate and their impacts on the availability of food and shelter from around 1.26 million years ago may have driven the dispersal of early humans from the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau to more hospitable environments elsewhere in the region. Key Points: Pleistocene temperature, rainfall, and C4 plants ratios are quantitatively reconstructed from the Shangchen loess deposits with artifactsHigh climate variability, C4 plants expansion and aridification suspended hominin occupation at Shangchen during the early mid‐Pleistocene climate transitionHominins responded differently to large‐scale climate oscillations depending on distinctive local environmental conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The diploic venous system has been hypothesized to be related to human brain evolution, though its evolutionary trajectory and physiological functions remain largely unclear. This study examines the characteristics of the diploic venous channels (DCs) in a selection of well‐preserved Homo neanderthalensis and Upper Paleolithic Homo sapiens crania, searching for the differences between the two taxa and exploring the associations between brain anatomy and DCs. Materials and Methods: Five H. neanderthalensis and four H. sapiens fossil specimens from Western Europe were analyzed. Based on Micro‐CT scanning and 3D reconstruction, the distribution pattern and draining orifices of the DCs were inspected qualitatively. The size of the DCs was quantified by volume calculation, and the degree of complexity was quantified by fractal analyses. Results: High‐resolution data show the details of the DC structures not documented in previous studies. H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens specimens share substantial similarities in the DCs. The noticeable differences between the two samples manifest in the connecting points surrounding the frontal sinuses, parietal foramina, and asterional area. Discussion: This study provides a better understanding of the anatomy of the DCs in H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens. The connection patterns of the DCs have potential utility in distinguishing between the two taxa and in the phylogenetic and taxonomic discussion of the Neandertal‐like specimens with controversial taxonomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A powerful earthquake recently struck Morocco, resulting in significant loss of life and damage to historic sites. The earthquake was caused by tectonic plate collision and occurred at a shallow depth, making it particularly dangerous. In other news, NASA successfully returned a large asteroid sample to Earth, providing valuable insights into the formation of our solar system. However, India's Moon lander and rover have not responded after being put into hibernation, raising concerns about further lunar exploration. Additionally, the oldest fossil human footprints in North America have been confirmed, sparking scientific debate about their accuracy. Finally, several articles discuss topics such as determining the origin of limestone sculptures in France, differences in aeolian sedimentary records, establishing a biostratigraphical framework using rodent fossils in Spain, and the discovery of a hydrocarbon-seep deposit in Washington State. [Extracted from the article]

Primate fingers are typically in direct contact with the environment during both locomotion and manipulation, and aspects of external phalangeal morphology are known to reflect differences in hand use. Since bone is a living tissue that can adapt in response to loading through life, the internal bone architecture of the manual phalanges should also reflect differences in manual behaviours. Here, we use the R package Morphomap to analyse high‐resolution microCT scans of hominid proximal phalanges of digits 2–5 to determine whether cortical bone structure reflects variation in manual behaviours between bipedal (Homo), knuckle‐walking (Gorilla, Pan) and suspensory (Pongo) taxa. We test the hypothesis that relative cortical bone distribution patterns and cross‐sectional geometric properties will differ both among extant great apes and across the four digits due to locomotor and postural differences. Results indicate that cortical bone structure reflects the varied hand postures employed by each taxon. The phalangeal cortices of Pongo are significantly thinner and have weaker cross‐sectional properties relative to the African apes, yet thick cortical bone under their flexor sheath ridges corresponds with predicted loading during flexed finger grips. Knuckle‐walking African apes have even thicker cortical bone under the flexor sheath ridges, as well as in the region proximal to the trochlea, but Pan also has thicker diaphyseal cortices than Gorilla. Humans display a distinct pattern of distodorsal thickening, as well as relatively thin cortices, which may reflect the lack of phalangeal curvature combined with frequent use of flexed fingered hand grips during manipulation. Within each taxon, digits 2–5 have a similar cortical distribution in Pongo, Gorilla and, unexpectedly, Homo, which suggest similar loading of all fingers during habitual locomotion or hand use. In Pan, however, cortical thickness differs between the fingers, potentially reflecting differential loading during knuckle‐walking. Inter‐ and intra‐generic variation in phalangeal cortical bone structure reflects differences in manual behaviours, offering a comparative framework for reconstructing hand use in fossil hominins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study by K. G. Hatala and colleagues, published in the issue, which described 1.5-Ma footprints from two hominin species at the site of Koobi Fora, Kenya, that suggest different types of bipedalism at the same time and place. Topics include significance of the discovery of Lucy skeleton in Ethiopia, analysis made by Hatala and colleagues on the shape and patterning of the new prints, and implication of the study on the behavioral ecology of contemporary hominin species.

Significance: Uploading unreviewed manuscripts to a preprint server promotes accessibility and facilitates rapid breakthroughs. We, however, question the motivation of Berger and colleagues who used the new eLife publishing model to launch what appeared to be a carefully curated media campaign around an unreviewed narrative, thereby manipulating accepted norms in scientific publishing. This team has engaged in ostentatious public displays under the guise of promoting science, including launching precious fossil remains into space. Given these ethical concerns, we call on the public, heritage and scientific practitioners to reflect on the current state, and future, of human evolution research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pierolapithecus catalaunicus (~12 million years ago, northeastern Spain) is key to understanding the mosaic nature of hominid (great ape and human) evolution. Notably, its skeleton indicates that an orthograde (upright) body plan preceded suspensory adaptations in hominid evolution. However, there is ongoing debate about this species, partly because the sole known cranium, preserving a nearly complete face, suffers from taphonomic damage. We 1) carried out a micro computerized tomography (CT) based virtual reconstruction of the Pierolapithecus cranium, 2) assessed its morphological affinities using a series of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) morphometric analyses, and 3) modeled the evolution of key aspects of ape face form. The reconstruction clarifies many aspects of the facial morphology of Pierolapithecus. Our results indicate that it is most similar to great apes (fossil and extant) in overall face shape and size and is morphologically distinct from other Middle Miocene apes. Crown great apes can be distinguished from other taxa in several facial metrics (e.g., low midfacial prognathism, relatively tall faces) and only some of these features are found in Pierolapithecus, which is most consistent with a stem (basal) hominid position. The inferred morphology at all ancestral nodes within the hominoid (ape and human) tree is closer to great apes than to hylobatids (gibbons and siamangs), which are convergent with other smaller anthropoids. Our analyses support a hominid ancestor that was distinct from all extant and fossil hominids in overall facial shape and shared many features with Pierolapithecus. This reconstructed ancestral morphotype represents a testable hypothesis that can be reevaluated as new fossils are discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) is one of the most impactful adaptations in the hominin foot that emerged with bipedalism. When and how it evolved in the human lineage is still unresolved. Complicating the issue, clinical definitions of flatfoot in living Homo sapiens have not reached a consensus. Here we digitally investigate the navicular morphology of H. sapiens (living, archaeological, and fossil), great apes, and fossil hominins and its correlation with the MLA. A distinctive navicular shape characterises living H. sapiens with adult acquired flexible flatfoot, while the congenital flexible flatfoot exhibits a 'normal' navicular shape. All H. sapiens groups differentiate from great apes independently from variations in the MLA, likely because of bipedalism. Most australopith, H. naledi, and H. floresiensis navicular shapes are closer to those of great apes, which is inconsistent with a human-like MLA and instead might suggest a certain degree of arboreality. Navicular shape of OH 8 and fossil H. sapiens falls within the normal living H. sapiens spectrum of variation of the MLA (including congenital flexible flatfoot and individuals with a well-developed MLA). At the same time, H. neanderthalensis seem to be characterised by a different expression of the MLA. A GM study diachronically examined evolution of the medial longitudinal arch and variation as expressed by the navicular bone, identifying navicular traits associated with particular locomotor behaviors, subsistence strategies, and foot types [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of a remarkable new palm bug species on Norfolk Island brings into question its systematic position within the family Thaumastocoridae, and the validity and biogeography of the three extant subfamilies. Latebracoris norfolcensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from remote Norfolk Island in the Southwest Pacific. The species was found on the native Norfolk Island palm Rhopalostylis baueri. The formal description of the species includes fine details of external non-genitalic and genitalic characters, supported with images from light and scanning electron microscopy. Details of the egg are described, including the shape and micropylar configuration. All nymphal stages are diagnosed morphologically and morphometrically, with the segregation of the five instars using the Brooks–Dyar Rule. The natural history of the Norfolk Island Palm Bug is documented, including the oviposition site of eggs, and microhabitat of nymphs and adults on palm infructescences, with hypotheses about development in relation to reproductive succession of the palm host. The systematic position of the Norfolk Island Palm Bug is assessed through a phylogenetic analysis of a selection of taxa of the superfamily Miroidea, using the parsimony criterion. The phylogenetic analyses were partitioned into Recent and fossil taxa, revealing monophyly of the Thaumastocoridae, and the subfamilies Thaumastocorinae and Xylastodorinae, with synapomorphy and significant resampling support. The Thaicorinae are verified as synonymous with the Xylastodorinae. The monotypic fossil subfamily Thaumastotinginae is removed from the Thaumastocoridae and treated as incertae familiae. Suprageneric relationships were corroborated in the two taxon partition analyses. An overview of host associations is given verifying palm specialism for the Xylastodorinae. The natural history, palm specialism, biogeography, morphology and systematics of the Xylastodorinae and allies are discussed in light of the discovery of Latebracoris norfolcensis. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:40A20DE4-6489-4B67-BF2E-0B7256BA1CD1 This work reports on the discovery of a remarkable new palm bug of the true bug family Thaumastocoridae on Norfolk Island. This new genus and new species, Latebracoris norfolcensis , is described, along with an analysis of the phylogenetic position and biology, including association with the native Norfolk Island palm, Rhopalostylis baueri. This species has biogeographic significance due to being the first record of the subfamily Xylastodorinae in Australia, and possible connections to New Caledonia, South America and South-east Asia, and isolation on one of the most remote islands in the Pacific. (Photograph by Anthony Postle.) IS23040_TOC.jpg [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil apes from the eastern Mediterranean are central to the debate on African ape and human (hominine) origins. Current research places them either as hominines, as hominins (humans and our fossil relatives) or as stem hominids, no more closely related to hominines than to pongines (orangutans and their fossil relatives). Here we show, based on our analysis of a newly identified genus, Anadoluvius, from the 8.7 Ma site of Çorakyerler in central Anatolia, that Mediterranean fossil apes are diverse, and are part of the first known radiation of early members of the hominines. The members of this radiation are currently only identified in Europe and Anatolia; generally accepted hominins are only found in Africa from the late Miocene until the Pleistocene. Hominines may have originated in Eurasia during the late Miocene, or they may have dispersed into Eurasia from an unknown African ancestor. The diversity of hominines in Eurasia suggests an in situ origin but does not exclude a dispersal hypothesis. An 8.7 million year old ape from Türkiye shows that Mediterranean fossil apes are diverse and part of the first known radiation of hominines (African apes and humans). Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that hominines originate in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]