Humans news stories

Cannabidiol shows promise for treating Alzheimer’s in mice by targeting brain hyperactivity
27th May 2025 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry provides preliminary evidence that cannabidiol, a compound derived from cannabis, may reduce cognitive decline and brain pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.

Knowledge transfer vs. possessiveness: How the ‘Gollum effect’ hinders research and careers
27th May 2025 phys.org | Humans, Misc.

Data and findings are not always shared openly in science. Sometimes, researchers hoard those data and provide little to no access to colleagues from their field…The so-called “Gollum effect” hampers collaborations and harms the careers of less established researchers, claims the team.Their results are published in the journal One Earth.

Mysterious Syrian artifacts reidentified as ancient baby rattles
27th May 2025 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

A recent study by Dr. Georges Mouamar and his colleagues investigated the largest assemblage of securely identified rattles in the Near East. The findings are published in the journal Childhood in the Past.

Underwater Fossils Surface to Reveal a Lost World of Archaic Humans
27th May 2025 | sciencealert.com | Ancient, Earth, Humans

An artificial island of sand dredged from Indonesia’s seafloor has accidentally revealed evidence of a long-lost sunken world, inhabited by early humans. The research was published in four installments in Quaternary Environments and Humans here, here, here, and here.

Earliest use of psychoactive and medicinal plant ‘harmal’ identified in Iron Age Arabia
26th May 2025 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

New research published in Communications Biology has uncovered the earliest known use of the medicinal and psychoactive plant Peganum harmala, commonly known as Syrian rue or harmal, in fumigation practices and inhaled as smoke.

Were these ancient humans rock climbers?
22nd May 2025 cosmosmagazine.com | Ancient, Humans

New research into the hand structures of different ancient human relatives found in modern South Africa reveals varying levels of dexterity and climbing ability, offering new clues into the evolution of humans.

‘It was probably some kind of an ambush’: 17,000 years ago, a man died in a projectile weapon attack in what is now Italy
22nd May 2025 | livescience.com | Ancient, Humans

Around 17,000 years ago, a man fell victim to a bloody ambush in what is now Italy, with an enemy launching sharp, flint-tipped projectiles that left gashes on his thigh and shin bones, a new study finds.

Archaeologist sailing like a Viking makes unexpected discoveries
22nd May 2025 phys.org | Ancient, Earth, Humans

The Vikings did not navigate by map, compass or sextant. Instead, they used “mental maps” where memories and experiences played a crucial role. They also used myths linked to various coastal landmarks. The findings are published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory.

Who were the ancient Denisovans? Fossils reveal secrets about the mysterious humans
20th May 2025 | nature.com | Ancient, Humans

Clues are emerging about the ghostly clan that settled eastern Asia and left a genetic legacy in people today.

The rise of psychedelic capitalism: Work harder and be happy about it?
20th May 2025 theconversation.com | Humans, Misc.

Once stigmatized and outlawed, psychedelics are moving from the counterculture to the mainstream…Psychedelics are becoming big business. Just as private capital flooded the cannabis sector years ago, a psychedelic gold rush is underway.

The most extreme solar storm hit Earth in 12,350 BC, scientists identify
20th May 2025 | oulu.fi | Ancient, Humans, Space

New research uncovers the strongest solar event ever detected — rewriting our understanding of space weather and radiocarbon dating.

Homo erectus from the seabed—new archaeological discoveries in Indonesia
19th May 2025 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

Archaeological finds off the coast of Java, Indonesia, provide insight into the world of Homo erectus, 140,000 years ago. Skull fragments and other fossil remains provide a unique picture of how and where these early humans lived, says Leiden archaeologist Harold Berghuis. The first of the articles was published this week in the journal Quaternary Environments and Humans.

Genomics study shows early Asians traveled over 20,000 km from North Asia to South America
16th May 2025 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

An international genomics study… has shown that early Asians made humanity’s longest prehistoric migration. The study was published in Science.

World’s oldest star chart may be 2,300 years old and from China — but not everyone agrees
16th May 2025 | livescience.com | Ancient, Humans

The oldest star chart in the world was made in China more than 2,300 years ago, a hotly debated preprint study finds.

Venus May Be More Earth-Like Than We Thought – And It’s Still Moving
16th May 2025 | sciencealert.com | Humans, Space, Weird

A new study of Venus suggests that the deeply inhospitable world may be more like Earth than we thought. The research has been published in Science Advances.

Scientists reveal how DMT alters brain activity and consciousness by lowering control energy
14th May 2025 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A new study published in Communications Biology sheds light on how the psychedelic compound DMT changes the brain’s dynamic behavior. Researchers found that DMT reduces the amount of energy the brain needs to switch between different activity states.

News stories covering humans, psychology and health.