Game Development

Ancient DNA from cave walls offers clues to prehistoric visitors’ sex and ancestry, potentially allowing scientists to investigate who used these spaces without disturbing archaeological deposits. A cave wall can hold traces of prehistoric visitors even when it has no paintings or other visible signs of human activity. Scientists have recovered ancient human DNA from […]

Ancient eruptions may have helped shape the air we breathe, with laboratory experiments revealing magma’s unexpected ability to store extra oxygen. Molten rock deep inside Earth can take up an extra supply of oxygen under pressure, according to a new study. That finding raises the possibility that rising magma could release oxygen on its way […]

A gravity model that lets dark energy change sign could help resolve a persistent disagreement over how fast the universe is expanding. In an existing theory of gravity, the same present-day matter density can fit two very different histories of the universe. Researchers had largely pursued the one that kept dark energy’s density positive. Exploring […]

A simple membrane uses crude oil’s own deposits to separate lighter components at room temperature, with simulations suggesting nearly one-third less energy use when paired with distillation. Refineries heat crude oil above 350°C (662°F) to separate a mixture that supplies transportation fuels and raw materials for plastics, packaging, textiles, and other consumer products. This century-old […]

Ancient DNA reveals medieval Sicily as a genetic melting pot, where people buried in Christian and Muslim cemeteries shared roots in North Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Sicily changed rulers repeatedly between the 5th and 15th centuries CE, passing through the hands of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Islamic dynasties, and the Normans and Swabians. […]

Stacking heavy sandbags against a doorway is a familiar response to flooding, but laboratory tests suggest sealing the gaps with ordinary duct tape could keep more water out. Could a cheap roll of duct tape help protect your home from flooding? New research suggests it could make a surprisingly big difference. In controlled tests, correctly […]

Scientists uncover a surprising paradox in how our cells age, revealing that more cellular cleanup isn’t always better and exercise may help restore a youthful balance. Every day, our cells must dispose of damaged proteins and other unwanted material to keep themselves functioning properly. They accomplish this through a natural recycling process called autophagy, which […]

A chronic back pain flare may switch on a brain network tied to identity, linking physical pain with how you see yourself. Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine found that movement-triggered flares in people with chronic low back pain activated a brain network associated with identity and inward reflection. Painful heat produced the […]

Nearly 35 years of observational data link greater lifetime cannabis use to poorer sleep in middle age, challenging its reputation as a sleep aid. More than eight hours of sleep might sound like a good night’s rest, but a new Northwestern Medicine study linked recent cannabis use to both a greater likelihood of sleeping that […]

Pottery, coins, and buried defenses point to a Roman fort in west Wales, offering a possible setting for Emperor Magnus Maximus’s camp in medieval Welsh folklore. My recent discovery of a Roman fort and its extraordinary connection with medieval folklore was the fruition of many hours of painstaking research. This all began in 2002 when […]