Study Links Long Thumbs to Bigger Brains in Primates

Study Links Long Thumbs to Bigger Brains in Primates

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 / No Comments

 

Primates with longer thumbs also tend to have larger brains, according to new research that suggests intelligence and manual dexterity may have evolved together.

Scientists at the University of Reading compared thumb proportions and estimated brain mass across 94 primate species, including humans, other hominins and lemurs. Their findings, published in Communications Biology, indicate that longer thumbs are consistently associated with greater brain size, particularly in the neocortex the region linked to planning and cognition.

“We see a pattern across all primates: species with longer thumbs relative to hand size generally have bigger brains,” said lead researcher Dr Joanna Baker. “It supports the idea that thinking ability and hand dexterity developed side by side.”

Humans and their close relatives do possess unusually long thumbs and large brains, but once the link between the two traits is accounted for, they no longer appear to be evolutionary outliers. The only exception identified in the study was Australopithecus sediba, which had a disproportionately long thumb even after brain size was considered, possibly due to its mixed arboreal and terrestrial lifestyle.

While opposable thumbs and tool use have long been seen as hallmarks of human evolution, the research suggests thumb length alone does not predict tool use. “The relationship holds whether or not a primate uses tools,” Baker noted.

Experts say the study adds to evidence that hand and brain features likely co-evolved, but also caution that other factors such as hand structure, biomechanics, and neural mechanisms are needed to fully explain human-like dexterity.

New Dinosaur Species with Striking “Sail” Unearthed on Isle of Wight

New Dinosaur Species with Striking “Sail” Unearthed on Isle of Wight

Monday, August 25, 2025 / No Comments

 

Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of dinosaur, notable for the dramatic sail-like structure running along its back, discovered on the Isle of Wight.

The species, named Istiorachis macarthurae, lived around 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. Its name combines “sail spine” with a tribute to Ellen MacArthur, the British sailor who set the world record for the fastest solo non-stop circumnavigation in 2005.

The discovery was made by Dr. Jeremy Lockwood, a retired GP turned PhD researcher at the University of Portsmouth and the Natural History Museum. Lockwood re-examined fossil material long held in collections, recognizing unique features that set the species apart from other iguanodontian dinosaurs found on the island.“No one had really taken a close look at these bones before,” Lockwood explained. “Unlike other specimens, this dinosaur had exceptionally long neural spines  suggesting a striking sail along its back. We believe it likely served as a display structure, used to attract mates or intimidate rivals.”

Scientists note that while such sails may also have played a role in thermoregulation or fat storage, the evidence here points more strongly toward visual signaling.

Prof. Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum praised the discovery, saying it highlights the importance of re-analyzing museum collections:“Jeremy’s work breathes new life into fossils that have been sitting in storage for years. It shows how much more we still have to learn about Britain’s dinosaurs.”

The Isle of Wight has long been a hotspot for dinosaur finds, with several important iguanodontian species already identified there. The addition of Istiorachis macarthurae further cements the island’s reputation as one of Europe’s richest fossil-hunting grounds.

Ancient Cow’s Tooth Could Reveal How Stonehenge Was Built

Ancient Cow’s Tooth Could Reveal How Stonehenge Was Built

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 / No Comments

 

A cow’s tooth discovered at Stonehenge may provide fresh insight into how the prehistoric monument was built and the origins of the animals and possibly people who helped transport its massive stones.

Researchers analysing a molar found in a jawbone, deliberately placed at the entrance of Stonehenge around 2995-2900 BCE, have traced the animal’s early life back to Wales. This discovery strengthens theories that cattle may have been used to haul the stones some 125 miles to Salisbury Plain.

The study, conducted by the British Geological Survey, Cardiff University, and University College London, examined lead isotopes in the tooth. These revealed that the cow grazed in areas with rocks dating back over 400 million years a geological match for Wales.

“It suggests this animal didn’t begin life in Wiltshire,” explained Prof Jane Evans of the BGS. “Its earliest grazing was on ancient Welsh terrain, pointing to a direct connection between Wales and the origins of Stonehenge.”

The jawbone’s deliberate placement raises questions of ritual significance. Archaeologists suggest it may have been linked to the earliest groups who transported the stones, marking both the journey and the monument’s creation.

While cattle were not traditionally believed to have been used as beasts of burden in Neolithic Britain, recent studies hint their physiology may have allowed them to pull heavy loads. If so, oxen could have played a role in the arduous process of moving the stones.

Carbon and strontium isotopes also revealed seasonal dietary changes, suggesting the cow may have been moved between grazing areas or supplied with imported fodder.

Michael Parker Pearson, a prehistory professor at UCL, called the findings “fascinating evidence for Stonehenge’s ties to south-west Wales,” while Cardiff’s Prof Richard Madgwick said the tooth provides “an unparalleled biography of a single animal that reshapes our understanding of the monument’s story.”

Archaeologists already know that Stonehenge’s iconic bluestones came from the Preseli Hills in Wales, while others were sourced locally in Wiltshire. More recently, one central megalith was identified as originating from north-east Scotland suggesting the monument was built with stones, people, and animals drawn from across Britain.

Europe’s Glaciers Vanishing at Record Pace, Scientists Warn

Europe’s Glaciers Vanishing at Record Pace, Scientists Warn

Tuesday, August 19, 2025 / No Comments

 

Morteratsch, Switzerland High in the Alps, the path to the Morteratsch Glacier grows longer every year as ice continues to retreat at alarming speed. What was once a solid wall of frozen mass is now a valley of rock, meltwater, and unstable terrain.

Leo Hösli, a researcher studying the glacier, has watched the transformation up close. Earlier this summer, he tried to measure the ice caves with markers he had placed months earlier. By August, most of those stakes had disappeared melted away or buried under collapsing ice.“It’s just too warm for the glacier to exist at this state right now,” Hösli said.

Europe’s glaciers are shrinking faster than anywhere else on Earth. A landmark study in Nature found glaciers in the Alps and Pyrenees have lost about 40% of their mass since 2000. The years 2022 and 2023 set new records for ice loss, coinciding with unprecedented global heat.

The Morteratsch Glacier has receded more than two miles in 165 years, becoming one of the world’s most closely monitored indicators of climate change. Visitors hiking the route can see signposts marking where the ice once stood  reminders of how quickly the landscape is transforming.

Glaciers aren’t just natural wonders. They sustain agriculture, tourism, and provide critical drinking water across Europe. Their disappearance is destabilizing the mountains, triggering landslides that endanger villages. In May, the Swiss town of Blatten was destroyed by a glacial slide.

In Austria, Andrea Fischer of the Academy of Sciences warns that one-third of the country’s glaciers will vanish within five years. The Stubai Glacier, one of Austria’s most popular ski destinations, is projected to disappear entirely by 2033.“The end of the Alpine glaciers is really coming very, very close,” Fischer said. “It’s not a computer model. It’s happening in front of our eyes.”

Global warming has already raised Austria’s temperatures by 3.1°C since 1900, more than twice the world average. And despite experimental efforts to slow the melt  like snowmaking or covering ice with reflective sheets  scientists now say only major cuts to greenhouse gas emissions can preserve what remains.“There is no possibility to save glaciers without saving the climate,” Fischer said.

Still, researchers stress it’s not too late. Vast amounts of ice remain, and action now could slow further loss.“It’s not a completely lost cause,” Hösli said, glancing up at Morteratsch’s shrinking mass. “There’s still something we can do. It’s too early to give up.”

Frozen Earth: How Ancient Volcanoes Triggered a Global Ice Age

Frozen Earth: How Ancient Volcanoes Triggered a Global Ice Age

Thursday, July 24, 2025 / No Comments

A dramatic global freeze that turned Earth into a giant snowball around 700 million years ago may have been triggered by massive volcanic eruptions and a lack of plant life, new research suggests.

Scientists studying the so-called “Snowball Earth” period say the event may have been set off by the Franklin eruptions, a series of massive volcanic events that occurred roughly 720 million years ago across what is now northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland.

While other volcanic episodes of similar scale have occurred in Earth’s history, this one was different: it coincided with an already cold global climate and took place before land plants had evolved. Without plant cover to slow erosion, newly formed volcanic rock was rapidly weathered, pulling large amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

“Chemical weathering acts like a thermostat for Earth’s climate,” researchers explained. “But if that thermostat removes too much CO₂ too quickly, the planet cools rapidly.”

The sharp drop in atmospheric CO₂, a key greenhouse gas, is believed to have pushed Earth over a tipping point, resulting in a planet-wide deep freeze even in equatorial regions.

The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, used climate models to test the effects of large-scale erosion caused by the eruptions. It found that similar volcanic activity during warmer periods in Earth’s history did not cause global glaciation, in part because vegetation helped stabilize the climate.

Researchers say the findings highlight how closely Earth’s climate is tied to geological and biological processes and how seemingly small changes in conditions can lead to dramatic consequences.

Ancient Irrigation Systems Offer Clues for Modern Water Scarcity in Peru

Ancient Irrigation Systems Offer Clues for Modern Water Scarcity in Peru

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 / No Comments

 

In northern Peru, one of the driest deserts in the world, the landscape is unexpectedly lush, thanks to a centuries-old network of irrigation canals. These canals, dating back over 1,400 years, have been vital in turning the region into the nation’s agro-industrial hub, supporting crops like sugarcane, asparagus, and blueberries. However, the delicate balance these systems rely on is under threat as climate change and modern agricultural practices exacerbate water shortages and intensify floods.

The government’s recent multibillion-dollar investments aim to bolster the region’s water supply by drawing from glaciers in the Andes, located more than 100 miles away. But as global temperatures rise, these glaciers are rapidly shrinking, and the water they provide is becoming increasingly unreliable. Adding to the challenge, floods, often triggered by El Niño events, are damaging vital infrastructure.

Looking back at Peru’s pre-Hispanic canal systems offers a potential blueprint for tackling these modern challenges. Unlike the rigid, permanent designs of today’s infrastructure, the ancient systems were flexible and multifunctional, designed to adapt to both dry spells and flash floods. Aqueducts acted as sediment traps, and check-dams helped manage floodwaters, all part of an intricate network that made the most of the desert’s extreme conditions.

The Spanish colonialists who arrived in the 16th century tried to replicate these systems but failed to understand the cultural knowledge that underpinned them. The results were disastrous, with records from the time describing the collapse of irrigation networks and the desert reclaiming the once-fertile valleys.

Today’s challenge is not just about building new infrastructure but understanding how these ancient systems worked in harmony with the environment. The Peruvian government’s current project to bring water from melting glaciers may offer temporary relief, but as these glaciers continue to disappear, long-term solutions must consider the lessons of the past, particularly the cultural and adaptive practices that helped sustain ancient societies for centuries.

Preserving these ancient practices and understanding the cultural logic behind them could be key to developing sustainable solutions for modern-day water scarcity and climate adaptation.

Discovery of Stone Tools in China Suggests Possible Neanderthal Presence

Discovery of Stone Tools in China Suggests Possible Neanderthal Presence

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 / No Comments

 

Archaeologists in China have uncovered a collection of ancient stone tools that may reshape our understanding of early human history in East Asia. The tools, found at the Longtan site in Yunnan province, bear a striking resemblance to those crafted by Neanderthals in Europe, raising questions about whether the species may have once inhabited the region.

The discovery, detailed in a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, marks the first time Quina-style stone tools previously associated with Neanderthals have been found in East Asia. Researchers say the find suggests two possible scenarios: Neanderthals may have migrated much farther east than previously thought, or another ancient human species, such as Denisovans, developed similar tool-making techniques independently.

The tools, which include scrapers and points that may have been used for hunting, were dated to between 60,000 and 50,000 years ago. Analysis of ancient pollen from the site indicates that the environment in southwestern China at the time was similar to that of Europe, where Neanderthals used Quina tools to survive harsh conditions.

However, no Neanderthal fossils have been found in China, and experts caution against drawing definitive conclusions. "Stone tools are not ID cards," said John Shea, an anthropologist at Stony Brook University. More evidence, such as DNA or fossils, will be needed to confirm whether Neanderthals once lived in the region.

The findings contribute to growing research highlighting East Asia as a key region in the study of human origins, challenging previous assumptions that early human innovation was concentrated in Europe and Africa.

Climate Change Intensifies Water Cycle, Leading to More Extreme Weather

Climate Change Intensifies Water Cycle, Leading to More Extreme Weather

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 / No Comments

 

Climate change is accelerating the hydrological cycle, leading to both severe droughts and intense storms, experts warn. As global temperatures rise due to fossil fuel emissions, the atmosphere absorbs more moisture, causing extended dry spells followed by extreme rainfall.

Key impacts include:

• Drought & Wildfires: Hotter air evaporates moisture faster, leading to prolonged droughts and fueling wildfires, as seen in Los Angeles' January 2025 blazes.

• Extreme Rain & Flooding: When moisture-laden air releases water, it results in torrential downpours. Storms like Mediterranean Storm Daniel (2023) devastated Libya, overwhelming dams and destroying communities.

• Oceans & Storms: Warmer oceans fuel stronger hurricanes and cyclones, increasing the frequency of massive flooding.

• Shrinking Snowpack: Less snowfall reduces water reserves, impacting drinking supplies and agriculture. Warmer winters also extend growing seasons, reducing available water.

Climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck likened the warming atmosphere to a sponge absorbing more water, then releasing it in sudden, destructive bursts. He emphasized that the crisis is human-driven but can be mitigated with the right actions.