5,500-year-old site in Jordan reveals a lost civilization’s secrets

How did early civilizations respond when their worlds fell apart? Archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen believe the 5,000-year-old site of Murayghat in Jordan may reveal some clues. Their extensive excavations suggest that this Early Bronze Age community developed powerful new traditions in the aftermath of cultural collapse. Murayghat rose…

Birds, not wind, brought life to Iceland’s youngest island

When the volcanic island of Surtsey emerged from the North Atlantic Ocean in 1963, it presented scientists with a rare natural experiment: a chance to watch life begin on untouched land. For many years, ecologists assumed that plants reached remote islands mainly through special traits that allowed long-distance travel, such…

2.7-million-year-old tools reveal humanity’s first great innovation

For nearly 300,000 years, early humans shaped stone tools with precision, even as they faced constant wildfires, severe droughts, and dramatic shifts in their environment. A new study published in Nature Communications reveals astonishing evidence of this long-lived technological tradition in Kenya’s Turkana Basin. At the Namorotukunan Site, an international…

This new drug candidate might finally outsmart tuberculosis

Scientists have created a promising new compound that could mark a major step forward in the global effort to control tuberculosis, the world’s deadliest infectious disease. A new study in Nature highlights the potential of this compound, called CMX410, which targets a key enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that…

Walking may be the brain’s best defense against Alzheimer’s

Walking a few thousand steps daily may help hold off Alzheimer’s for years, a Mass General Brigham study found. Even moderate physical activity slowed both cognitive decline and the buildup of harmful tau proteins in the brain. The researchers say these results show lifestyle changes can meaningfully delay Alzheimer’s symptoms,…

Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean

Far beneath the ocean’s surface, researchers have found bacteria that can digest plastic, using specialized enzymes that evolved alongside humanity’s synthetic debris. A large-scale global study by scientists at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) revealed that these marine microbes are widespread and genetically prepared to consume polyethylene…

Sunflowers may be the future of “vegan meat”

A collaboration between Brazilian and German researchers has led to a sunflower-based meat substitute that’s high in protein and minerals. The new ingredient, made from refined sunflower flour, delivers excellent nutritional value and a mild flavor. Tests showed strong texture and healthy fat content, suggesting great potential for use in…

MIT scientists discover how the brain spins back into focus

As easily as the mind can drift off course, it also has the remarkable ability to refocus. Researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have uncovered how that process may work. In a new animal study, they found that synchronized neural activity, appearing as a rotating wave across…

Cinque italiani tra le nove vittime in Nepal – Notizie – Ansa.it

Tempeste di neve e una valanga sulle vette himalayane del Nepal hanno ucciso 9 persone, tra cui 5 alpinisti italiani. Lo riferiscono le autorità. I decessi si sono verificati in due incidenti separati avvenuti da venerdì. Lunedì, una valanga ha colpito un gruppo di 12 persone al campo base del…

Scientists reverse anxiety by rebalancing the brain

A research team at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), led by Juan Lerma, has uncovered how a distinct group of neurons in the amygdala — a region of the brain involved in processing emotions — contributes to anxiety, depression, and changes in social behavior. The discovery, published in iScience, shows…

Breakthrough brain discovery reveals a natural way to relieve pain

Scientists have discovered that the human brain has its own built-in pain map, activating different regions when easing pain in the face, arms, or legs. Placebo pain relief only works in the exact area where the brain expects it to happen. Understanding this system could lead to safer, more precise…

Morti due alpinisti italiani dispersi in Nepal – Notizie – Ansa.it

Sono morti Alessandro Caputo e Stefano Farronato, i due alpinisti italiani dispersi in Nepal: “Il loro decesso è stato confermato questa mattina dalle autorità locali”, scrive la Farnesina in una nota. Da venerdì 31 ottobre si erano persi i contatti, mentre erano impegnati nella scalata del picco Panbari” scrive ancora…

Think melatonin is safe? New research reveals a hidden heart risk

A large review of health data from more than 130,000 adults with insomnia found that people who took melatonin for a year or longer were more likely to develop heart failure, be hospitalized for the condition, or die from any cause compared to those who didn’t take the supplement. While…

Morti i due alpinisti italiani dispersi in Nepal – Notizie – Ansa.it

Sono morti Alessandro Caputo e Stefano Farronato, i due alpinisti italiani dispersi in Nepal: “Il loro decesso è stato confermato questa mattina dalle autorità locali”, scrive la Farnesina in una nota. Da venerdì 31 ottobre si erano persi i contatti, mentre erano impegnati nella scalata del picco Panbari” scrive ancora…