In 2016, University of Pittsburgh researchers Dr. Farzad Esni, Ph.D., and Jing Hu, Ph.D., did an experiment in mice where they deleted one of two copies of the gene encoding an enzyme called focal adhesion kinase (FAK). They were interested in the role of FAK in pancreatic cancer, but a surprise finding took the research … Read more
Archaeologists in Prague, Czech Republic, made an extraordinary discovery during a routine excavation. Beneath the city’s Upper Square, they unearthed 1,000-year-old ice skates made from animal bones. This relic, housed at the Comenius Museum, is believed to be from the 10th or 11th century. Experts suspect it was fashioned from a horse’s shin bone, based … Read more
A fascinating discovery has emerged from the heart of China’s Shanxi Province, where archaeologists have unearthed a Buddhist temple dating back to the illustrious Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Nestled within the Pingcheng District of Datong City, this ancient temple stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region. Positioned approximately 300 meters … Read more
A new telescope called the “Condor Array Telescope” may open up a new world of the very-low-brightness universe for astrophysicists. Four new papers, published back to back in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) this month, present the first scientific findings based on observations acquired by Condor. The project is a collaborative … Read more
In a remarkable twist of fate, a mysterious 1,800-year-old Roman statue has emerged from the depths of history, unearthed during routine car park construction work. Now proudly displayed within the grandeur of the Hell Staircase at Burghley House, this captivating discovery has captured the imagination of archaeologists and visitors alike. The marble head of a … Read more
The Capuchin Catacombs Mummies, located in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, are a unique and macabre collection of mummified bodies dating back several centuries. Situated beneath the Capuchin monastery of Palermo, these catacombs serve as a haunting reminder of mortality and the passage of time, while also providing valuable insights into the religious practices, social customs, and … Read more
The mummy of Tutankhamun, the boy king of ancient Egypt, is one of the most famous and iconic archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, ruled Egypt during the 18th dynasty, approximately from 1332 to 1323 BCE, during a period known as the New Kingdom. His tomb, discovered nearly intact … Read more
A team from the Université libre de Bruxelles’s centre for archaeological research (CReA-Patrimoine) has completed a significant excavation in Pachacamac, Peru, where they have discovered an intact mummy in especially good condition. Pachacamac’s status as a Pre-Colombian pilgrimage site under the Inca empire is confirmed by further evidence. Peter Eeckhout’s latest campaign of archaeological excavations … Read more
Although a relatively large number of late Middle Pleistocene hominins have been found in East Asia, these fossils have not been consistently included in current debates about the origin of anatomically modern humans (AMHS), and little is known about their phylogenetic place in relation to contemporary hominins from Africa and Europe as well as to … Read more
The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements, organized by their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. It provides a systematic way to categorize and understand the behavior of elements based on their shared characteristics. Dmitri Mendeleev is credited with developing the first periodic table in 1869, arranging elements by their … Read more
The recent archaeological dig in Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan, has unearthed a remarkable find: a towering clay vessel known as a ‘hum.’ Situated in the Osh province, Uzgen boasts a rich history dating back to the ancient Silk Road era. The town’s significance stems from its strategic location, serving as a hub for early contacts between settled … Read more
Ancient stone tools unearthed in western Ukraine have unveiled a fascinating narrative of early human presence in Europe, shedding light on our ancestors’ remarkable adaptability and ingenuity. Recently published in the prestigious journal Nature, the findings indicate that these chipped stones, meticulously crafted from volcanic rock, could be the oldest known evidence of human activity … Read more
Archaeologists from the Institute of Underwater Archaeology (ZAPA) have recently made a captivating discovery – the submerged remnants of a Roman harbor, lying off the coast of Portorož, Slovenia. Portorož, derived from the Italian “Port of Rose,” reflects the region’s rich historical tapestry. Controlled by the Byzantine Empire and later inhabited by Celtic tribes, Portorož … Read more
Excavations in the former working-class enclave of Vaakunakylä near Oulu, west-central Finland, have unveiled a captivating narrative of a community often overshadowed by stigma and neglect. Established by German troops during the tumultuous era of the Second World War, Vaakunakylä became a haven for displaced Finns in the war’s aftermath. Stranded without homes, these individuals … Read more
The discovery of an 8,600-year-old piece of bread at Catalhoyuk in south-central Turkey unveils fascinating insights into the ancient culinary practices and lifestyles of early urban settlers during the Neolithic period. Catalhoyuk stands as one of the earliest known urban settlements globally, offering a window into the lives of its approximately 8,000 inhabitants and their … Read more
The tomb of a prominent Coclé lord, dating back to the pre-Hispanic era (750-800 AD), has been unearthed within the archaeological park of El Caño, nestled in the district of Natá, in the province of Coclé. Linette Montenegro, the esteemed national director of Heritage at the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura), illuminated the ongoing excavation efforts … Read more
Archaeologists have recently unveiled a remarkable find at the Manaqi archaeological site situated in Rustaq, South Al Batinah Governorate, Oman—a distinctive children’s funerary structure dating back three millennia. This groundbreaking discovery, a first of its kind in the region, emerged through collaborative efforts between archaeologists from Oman’s Sultan Qaboos University and Sorbonne University. The unearthing … Read more
Archaeologists differentiate between different periods of human prehistory through a combination of chronological dating methods, material culture analysis, stratigraphy, and interdisciplinary research. Human prehistory encompasses vast spans of time, ranging from the emergence of our earliest ancestors millions of years ago to the advent of written records around 5,000 years ago. During this long and … Read more
Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a revolutionary scientific technique that has transformed the field of archaeology by providing researchers with a powerful tool for dating organic materials and determining the chronology of archaeological sites and artifacts. Since its development in the 1940s by Willard Libby and his colleagues, carbon dating has become … Read more
The discovery of Ötzi the Iceman, one of the most remarkable archaeological finds of the 20th century, has provided invaluable insights into the lives of prehistoric humans and has sparked widespread interest and intrigue among scientists and the general public alike. Ötzi, named after the Ötztal Alps where his remains were found, is a remarkably … Read more