Archaeology
Earliest Evidence of Wooden Construction Uncovered
Researchers say the discovery of the earliest known wooden construction expands their knowledge of the woodworking skills of early humans that existed before Homo sapiens
Stories by Tom Metcalfe
Archaeology
400-Year-Old ‘Vampire Child’ Was Buried with Their Foot Padlocked so They Wouldn’t Rise from the Grave
This child was buried 400 years ago in what is now Poland, face-down and with an iron padlock on their foot
Archaeology
Ruins of Emperor Nero’s Theater Discovered near Vatican
Archaeologists say the ornate ruins of Nero’s theater were found near the Vatican at a site earmarked for a luxury hotel
History
What Was the Manhattan Project?
The top-secret Manhattan Project resulted in the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
Geology
Giant ‘Gravity Hole’ in the Ocean May Be the Ghost of an Ancient Sea
A vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is a staggering 100 meters lower than the global average sea level because of a major dip in Earth’s gravity. Scientists now think they know the cause...
Archaeology
Stone Engravings of Mysterious Ancient Megastructures May Be World’s Oldest ‘Blueprints’
Stone engravings of ancient megastructures called desert kites may be the earliest “blueprints” ever discovered
Animals
Deepest Fish Discovered More Than Five Miles below the Sea Surface
A small, bizarre-looking fish found more than five miles under the sea is considered the deepest fish ever recorded
Artificial Intelligence
Mystery Portrait May Be a Raphael, Artificial Intelligence Suggests
A mysterious portrait of the Virgin Mary and Jesus may have been painted by the master Raphael, facial recognition finds. But many art historians reject the claim
Archaeology
Legendary Shipwreck of Shackleton’s Endurance Discovered in Antarctic Waters
The discovery of the wreck is “a milestone in polar history,” says the director of the search for it
Health Care
Surgeons Transplant Pig’s Heart into Dying Human Patient in a First
It was a last-ditch effort to save a Maryland man’s life
Evolution
Melting Ice Reveals a “Lost” Viking-Era Pass in Norway’s Mountains
Artifacts show people used the route for 1,000 years—then abandoned it, possibly amid a plague
Space & Physics
King Tut’s Dagger Is Out of This World
New study shows that meteorites rather than terrestrial ore were the sources of Bronze-Age iron
Climate Change
Diving Scientists Report Big Changes beneath Antarctic Ice Shelf
Climate change may be driving shifts in Antarctica’s sea life communities
Engineering
"Last Shipwreck" from WW I Battle of Jutland Found Near Norway
A marine exploration team found the wreck, one of more than 250 warships that took part in the largest naval engagement of World War I
Space & Physics
Whistling Sling Bullets Were Roman Troops' Secret Weapon
Soldiers 1,500 years ago used drilled projectiles to intimidate enemies with a shrill, buzzing sound
