Neanderthal ears were tuned to hear speech just like modern humans

Virtual reconstructions of Neanderthal ears show that our extinct cousins had the same physical capacity for hearing as modern humans, and so could probably also make the same sounds we can – although whether they actually spoke a language is still unknown Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2269577-neanderthal-ears-were-tuned-to-hear-speech-just-like-modern-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Mini brains genetically altered with CRISPR to be Neanderthal-like

Miniature brains grown in the lab are helping to reveal how modern humans survived when other hominins died out, by comparing their development when a key gene is altered Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2267610-mini-brains-genetically-altered-with-crispr-to-be-neanderthal-like/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Ancient stone ‘breadcrumbs’ reveal early human migration out of Africa

Nubian Levallois flints thought to date from 100,000 years ago have been found in Israel’s Negev Desert, the farthest north that the distinctive technology attributed to early modern humans has been found so far. Source: https://www.livescience.com/early-humans-out-of-africa-flints.html

When the sky exploded: Remembering Tunguska

On June 30, 1908, the largest asteroid impact in recorded history occurred in remote Siberia, Russia. We now celebrate Asteroid Day each year on the anniversary the Tunguska event, as it is now known. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-tunguska-explosion…

Neanderthal DNA linked to higher fertility in modern humans

Some people carry a chunk of Neanderthal DNA that appears to reduce the chance of miscarriage and increase fertility Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2244492-neanderthal-dna-linked-to-higher-fertility-in-modern-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Neanderthals may have learned jewellery-making from us

The first modern humans to settle in Europe made pendants out of bear teeth – and a few thousand years later, Neanderthals started doing it too Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2243134-neanderthals-may-have-learned-jewellery-making-from-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Fossil skull suggests human ancestors emerged 200,000 years earlier than thought

This newly discovered fossil is a hugely important find, say scientists. It means that one of our earliest ancestors possibly originated in southern Africa. Read more Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/fossil-skull-human-ancestors-emerged-200000-years-earlier…

Ancient humans in India survived Toba super-volcano eruption

The Toba super-volcano eruption 74,000 years ago was 5,000 times larger than that of Mount St. Helens. Somehow, ancient human populations in India survived it. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/humans-india-survived-toba-super-volcano…

New Neanderthal bones found at famous Shanidar Cave

The newly found bones were close to the site of the famous ‘flower burial’ in Shanidar Cave, which overturned notions of Neanderthals as brutish subhumans and suggested they buried their dead. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/new_neanderthal_bones_shanidar_cave…