Certain ancient stone tools were heated to over 200 °C to make them easier to shape – suggesting their makers had control over fire Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2256199-ancient-humans-harnessed-fire-to-make-stone-tools-300000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Tag: stone
What’s the birthstone for October?
If you were born in October, your birth month has 2 birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/october-birthstone-opal-tourmaline…
Stone Age dog may have been buried with its master
After the dog’s burial, rising sea levels flooded the region. Source: https://www.livescience.com/stone-age-dog-burial.html
European Spacecraft Flying Past Venus Will Now Look for Signs of Life
“Earlier this week, scientists announced the discovery of phosphine on Venus, a potential signature of life. Now, in an amazing coincidence, a European and Japanese spacecraft is about to fly past the planet — and could confirm the discovery,” writes Forbes. Slashdot reader Iwastheone shares their report: BepiColombo, launched in 2018, is on its way to enter orbit around Mercury, the…
Search for ETs among 10 million stars comes up empty
Astronomers used a radio telescope in Australia to search for artificial radio signals among 10 million stars. The search came up empty. But, they say, that’s not bad news for those hoping to find intelligent extraterrestrials. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/search-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence-10-million-stars…
‘Candyland’ stone forests form using deceptively simply physics
Stark “stone forest” formations found in China, Madagascar and other places can form in surprisingly simple conditions. Source: https://www.livescience.com/physics-stone-forests-form.html
Researchers Baffled as Warrior Skeletons Reveal Bronze Age Europeans Couldn’t Drink Milk
sciencehabit quotes Science magazine: About 3000 years ago, thousands of warriors fought on the banks of the Tollense river in northern Germany. They wielded weapons of wood, stone, and bronze to deadly effect: Over the past decade, archaeologists have unearthed the skeletal remains of hundreds of people buried in marshy soil. It’s one of the largest prehistoric conflicts ever discovered. Now,…
Industrial Waste Can Turn Planet-Warming Carbon Dioxide Into Stone
sciencehabit writes: Every year, mining and industrial activity generates billions of tons of slurries, gravel, and other wastes that have a high pH. These alkaline wastes, which sit either behind fragile dams or heaped in massive piles, present a threat to people and ecosystems. But alkaline wastes could also help the world avert climate disaster. Reacting these wastes with carbon dioxide…
Using AI and Photoshop to Fake ‘Photos’ of Ancient Roman Emperors
Machine learning “can even bring ancient statues to life, transforming the chipped stone busts of long-dead Roman emperors into photorealistic faces you could imagine walking past on the street,” reports the Verge, citing a new project by a film-industry VR specialist. Slashdot reader shirappu summarizes their report:
Daniel Voshart’s work on creating life-life images of Roman emperors from their statues started as…
Massive stone structures in Saudi Arabia may be some of oldest monuments in the world
Mysterious stone structures that dot lava fields and deserts across Saudi Arabia may be some of the oldest monuments in the world, scientists say. Source: https://www.livescience.com/mysterious-stone-structures-saudi-arabia-oldest.html