Humans news stories

China’s ancient water pipe networks show they were a communal effort with no evidence of a centralized state authority
16th August 2023 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

In a study published in Nature Water, the archaeological team describe a network of ceramic water pipes and drainage ditches at the Chinese walled site of Pingliangtai dating back 4,000 years to a time known as the Longshan period.

Big freeze drove early humans out of Europe
14th August 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Ancient, Humans

A big freeze previously unknown to science drove early humans from Europe for 200,000 years, but they adapted and returned, new research shows.

Scientists may be on brink of discovering fifth force of nature
14th August 2023 | theguardian.com | Humans, Misc.

The tantalising theory that a fifth force of nature could exist has been given a boost thanks to unexpected wobbling by a subatomic particle, physicists have revealed.

Researchers seek to determine climate drivers of early human interbreeding
14th August 2023 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

A new study published in the journal Science by an international team finds that past changes in atmospheric CO2 and corresponding shifts in climate and vegetation played a key role in determining when and where early human species interbred.

Mysterious Village on Stilts Found Submerged Under Ancient Lake
14th August 2023 | sciencealert.com | Ancient, Humans

A stretch of the Albanian shore of the lake once hosted a settlement of stilt houses some 8,000 years ago, archaeologists believe, making it the oldest lakeside village in Europe discovered to date.

Early trial results show reduced frequency and intensity of migraine attacks after single dose of psilocybin
10th August 2023 medicalxpress.com | Humans, Misc.

In the first and only clinical trial of a psychedelic for migraine, Dr. Schindler and colleagues found a roughly 50% reduction in weekly migraine days, as well as significantly reduced attack intensity, for two weeks following administration of a single, low (non-psychedelic) dose of psilocybin. No serious or adverse events were reported. See research here.

Winchcombe meteorite is helping scientists to understand more about asteroids
10th August 2023 phys.org | Ancient, Humans, Space, Tech

In a new paper published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, researchers take a closer look at the minerals contained within the meteorite, its bulk elemental composition and water content.

Underworld discovery casts doubt on our understanding of human evolution
10th August 2023 | independent.co.uk | Ancient, Humans

Did an extinct ‘small-brained ape-man’ species develop a sophisticated culture millennia before we did?

Hip bone found in cave in France may represent a previously unknown lineage of Homo sapiens
10th August 2023 phys.org | Ancient, Humans

A bone found in a cave by an international team of anthropologists in France may represent a previously unknown lineage of Homo sapiens. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Missing ‘body’ of ice age animal carving finally found — but nobody knows what the animal is
8th August 2023 | livescience.com | Ancient, Animal Life, Humans

Archaeologists in Germany have discovered the missing piece of an ice age carving deep in a cave. But the new addition of the ivory carving, originally thought to depict a horse, has actually complicated matters: Now, researchers aren’t sure if it portrays a cave lion or a cave bear.

Ancient Skull Found in China Is Unlike Any Human Seen Before
8th August 2023 | sciencealert.com | Ancient, Humans

It resembles neither the lineage that split to form Neanderthals, nor Denisovans, nor us, suggesting our current version of the human family tree needs another branch. The study was published in the Journal of Human Evolution.

A child’s ornate necklace highlights ancient farmers’ social complexity
4th August 2023 | sciencenews.org | Ancient, Humans

A Middle Eastern child interred in a stone-lined grave around 9,000 years ago wore an elaborate necklace that illustrates the complexity of social life in an early farming community, researchers say. See study here.

Man finds 8,000-year-old dolphin bones in back garden
4th August 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Ancient, Animal Life, Earth, Humans

The bottlenose dolphin is thought to have washed up on an ancient shoreline after the last Ice Age. Archaeologists have described the prehistoric discovery in Causewayhead, Stirling, as “the find of a lifetime”.

Cannabis-based medicines show promising results in treating generalized anxiety disorder
4th August 2023 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

Cannabis-based medicinal products might help to improve symptom severity, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life in those with anxiety, according to new research published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Database with 2,400 prehistoric sites, a tool for human evolutionary studies
4th August 2023 phys.org | Ancient, Humans, Tech

Human history in one click: For the first time, numerous sites relating to the early history of mankind from 3 million to 20,000 years ago can be accessed in a large-scale database. See research here.

This Ancient Weapon Was Made From an Object That Fell Out of The Sky
31st July 2023 | sciencealert.com | Ancient, Humans

The tiny artifact is made from iron retrieved from an object that fell from the sky. But there’s a twist… See the research here.

News stories covering humans, psychology and health.