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Phys.org / Early settlement dynamics in the Pacific revealed through ancient DNA

New genetic analyses of ancient human skeletons from western Remote Oceania are shedding light on the complex history of settlement in this vast Pacific region over the past 3,000 years. With island nations such as Vanuatu, ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Human blood may have helped preserve ancient Chinese rock art for 2,000 years

The Huashan rock art landscape in southern China, close to the border with Vietnam, is a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site. Thousands of images are painted on river cliffs across more than 80 locations stretching 260 ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Constipation is common in astronauts—blood tests provide new answers

For astronauts in space, constipation is a well-known problem. But why this happens has long been unclear. Now, a new study from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with NASA provides an idea of what happens in ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Airborne observatory improves views of solar corona during cloud-covered eclipse

Using unique equipment installed on NASA's WB-57 aircraft flying above heavy clouds off the coast of Iceland, a Southwest Research Institute-led team successfully observed a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. The high-altitude ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Wildfires have destroyed an area of protected tropical forest twice the size of Wales since 2001, study reveals

Over 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of protected tropical forest—an area double the size of Wales—have been lost to wildfires since 2001.

5 hours ago
Medical Xpress / Baby conversations begin before words, with adults' immediate replies shaping speech

Before babies learn to speak, they're having actual conversations with their parents, whether the parents realize it or not. A coo. A babble. A squeal. Inevitably, an adult will make noises back or respond with baby talk: ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Rings forged from meteorites may have been fashionable among ancient Greek elites

Meteorites provided a rare but ready source of iron for ancient Bronze Age cultures before smelting became common. A new study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, sheds light on how the ancient Minoan and ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / A new way to beat jet lag? Engineered cells speed circadian adjustment

Adjusting to a new time zone or work schedule can leave the body's internal clock out of sync for days, contributing to sleep disruption, metabolic changes and other health consequences. Researchers at Rice University and ...

6 hours ago
Medical Xpress / Too hot to think? Why extreme heat can affect how well our brain works

Ever feel that the arrival of summer sun makes you feel a bit dopey? You wouldn't be the only one. Soaring temperatures are known for their ability to slow our thought processes, making even everyday tasks seem like a baffling ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Green roofs can help cool cities in the summer heat, but building them is only the first step. Many don't survive

As summer temperatures soar across the United States and Europe, cities are being forced to confront the difficult reality that they're getting dangerously hot.

1 hour ago
Phys.org / New findings overturn 100-year-old assumption about common bacteria in the lungs

The human body is teeming with more than 35 trillion bacteria, coexisting in microbiomes inside the gut, mouth, lungs, skin and urogenital tract. While it's now clear these microbes are associated with health and disease, ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Controlling the rotation direction of light without complex new materials

A new pathway has opened for controlling the rotation direction of light simply by changing how molecules are arranged, without having to synthesize complex new materials. Circularly polarized light is a special form of light ...

6 hours ago