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A SIX-YEAR investigation into the vast Thwaites glacier in Antarctica has found that the outlook is grim. Often dubbed the 'doomsday glacier', this huge mass of ice is comparable in [...]

GENETIC analysis of a Neanderthal fossil reveals it was from a previously unknown lineage, a remnant of an ancient population that was isolated for more than 50,000 years. The finding [...]

New research on the genome of the last Neanderthals challenges previous theories about their extinction. The study reveals that Neanderthals died out around the same time that modern humans arrived in their territory, but the exact reasons for their disappearance remain debated. Archaeological findings from Grotte Mandrin, a cave in France, suggest that Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted and even shared territories and resources. The research also uncovers evidence of isolated Neanderthal populations that persisted until the end, with limited interaction and interbreeding with modern humans. The complex and gradual nature of Neanderthal extinction suggests that it was not caused by a single catastrophic event. [Extracted from the article]

Climate change and biodiversity loss may seem like insurmountable problems, but data scientist Hannah Ritchie tells Alison George why she is cautiously optimistic that we can solve them WITH constant [...]

Hand stencils made by Palaeolithic humans are more than mere doodles. What are they trying to tell us, asks Alison George DEEP inside Gargas cave in the Pyrenees mountains of [...]

This article discusses five ambitious megaprojects aimed at combating climate change and its impacts. The projects include launching a solar power station into space, building artificial "energy islands" in the North Sea, stabilizing the Thwaites glacier in Antarctica, deploying an undersea curtain near the West Antarctic ice sheet, and regreening the Sinai peninsula. While these projects have potential benefits, critics argue that they may not address the root causes of climate change and could have unintended consequences. Additionally, scaling up direct air capture technology will require advancements in technology and policy incentives. [Extracted from the article]

MEET Shanidar Z, one of the most important Neanderthal discoveries in a generation. Her remains, thought to date back 75,000 years, were fully unearthed five years ago in a re-excavation [...]

This article from New Scientist provides a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of the human brain. It debunks the misconception that we only use 10% of our brains and highlights that the brain is always active, even when we are not consciously thinking. The article also discusses the energy consumption of the brain and how thinking hard burns more energy in certain regions. It examines the question of whether male and female brains are different, suggesting that societal factors may influence any small differences observed. Furthermore, the article delves into the concept of the brain having its own microbiome, with recent research suggesting a link between an imbalance in the "brain microbiome" and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The complexity of the human brain is explored, with recent discoveries revealing unique brain cells and thousands of different cell types. The article also discusses the brain's performance, the nature of consciousness, the advantages of prolonged adolescence, the role of reward centers in the adolescent brain, creativity, and the function of forgetting. While the complexity of the human brain is difficult to measure and compare to other systems, it is not necessarily the most complex object in the universe. [Extracted from the article]

Exhibition https://fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/exhibitions/real-families-stories-of-change 6 October to 7 January 2024 Scientific progress has made all sorts of families possible. But as a new exhibition shows, it hasn't been a pain-free shift, says [...]

Book https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/454664/the-naked-neanderthal-by-slimak-ludovic/9780241617663 Ludovic Slimak(Allen Lane) How we see our closest extinct relative says as much about us as it does about them, argues an intriguing new book. Alison George explores [...]

THE myth that we use only 10 per cent of our brains has been comprehensively debunked. Perhaps it persists because it is so appealing to believe that you could become [...]

But evidence for the latter comes from experiments in mice showing that they start to gain weight and develop gut inflammation after receiving transplants of gut microbes from people with obesity and inflammatory bowel disease respectively. "Despite the growing science linking the gut microbiome and the chemicals it produces with dozens of health outcomes, what defines an optimum or "healthy" gut microbiome is still not absolutely clear", says Tim Spector at King's College London, who is a co-founder of personalised nutrition company ZOE. He and his team have also shown that, in mice susceptible to Alzheimer's-like disease, those without a gut microbiome have fewer of the disease's characteristic protein clumps and tangles in their brains than those with gut microbes. A 2018 study found that, in vaginally born babies, bacteria from the mother's vagina are found in the baby's gut for only a few days, while the mother's gut bacteria continued colonising the baby's gut for months after the birth. [Extracted from the article]

A SPECIES of ancient human with a brain the size of a chimpanzee's may have engraved symbols on cave walls and deliberately buried its dead. These new discoveries about Homo [...]

"Breaking the Ice: Antarctica, climate change and me" by David Vaughan is a captivating memoir that explores the author's experiences studying the dynamics of the Antarctic ice for nearly 40 years. Vaughan's work sheds light on the potential consequences of the melting ice, including a significant rise in sea levels. The memoir also delves into Vaughan's personal journey, including his battle with cancer. This book offers a unique perspective on the challenges of working in remote and harsh environments and provides valuable insights into the urgent issue of climate change. [Extracted from the article]