Archaeologists and anthropologists agree that the Neanderthals were accomplished hunters, but what was the source of their skill? How did they seize and slaughter their prey, and with what tools and techniques? The answers, these specialists say, are imbedded in the archaeological record. Containing an assortment of hints into Neanderthal hunting habits — including their remains, tools and trash — this record reveals that the Neanderthals thrust or threw their spears into their prey simultan ...read more

The dinosaurs knew a smaller, dimmer sun than we do today. And we’re in the last legs of the viability of life on Earth. In about 500 million years, our sun will brighten to the point that it will trigger a runaway greenhouse effect on the Earth. The oceans will evaporate, locking in more heat in the atmosphere, which will cause even more evaporation, which will heat up the planet more, leading to an out-of-control feedback loop. While today, we know our parent star as the source of light and ...read more

This story was originally published in our Mar/Apr 2023 issue. Click here to subscribe to read more stories like this one. While paging through the book Space Physiology and Medicine in 1995, Senator John Glenn spotted a chart that captured his imagination. Listed were 52 kinds of physical changes routinely experienced in space by orbiting astronauts, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular difficulties and alterations in the distribution of body fluids. Th e 73-year-old Glenn, who had spent ye ...read more

If the mom and pup Galápagos sea lions in the photo above seem content, it could be that we’re simply projecting human emotions onto them. Or it may just be that that their bellies are full with fish. In fact, barring close encounters with rapacious sharks, they’ve probably had it pretty good lately — thanks to La Niña. Now in its third year, the climate phenomenon typically brings a bounty of food for marine animals foraging in the waters of the Galápagos Islands. But now, according t ...read more

More than 86 million Americans used a weight loss app in 2022. With an enormous variety of choices, there's an app for every type of consumer. Among the most common features found on these apps are diet plans, water consumption tracking, goal setting, fitness tracking, food diaries, recipes and a supportive environment.  Not all apps offer every option, which is why potential users should seek out the app best suited for them. With emerging evidence that these apps can be helpful, let's ...read more

Today, humans are the only members of our genus — the Homo from Homo sapiens — left alive. Remnants of our closest relatives, including Neanderthals and Denisovans, range from teeth and bones to tools and artwork, not to mention a genetic legacy in many modern humans thanks to interbreeding. Neanderthal DNA With a new study published in iScience, a group of researchers announced that ancient DNA has helped illuminate another aspect of our fellow humans’ lives: their sense of smell. This re ...read more

For many of us, hair loss is a fact of life.  Around 95 percent of the time, hair loss is due to a condition called androgenetic alopecia — also called male or female pattern baldness. And if you’re part of the 80 percent of men or 50 percent of women who experience such hair loss over the course of their lifetimes, chances are you’re not super stoked about it. The U.S. hair loss treatment industry is booming, after all. Whether you’re talking oils, serums, shampoos or conditioners, acc ...read more

No, we’re not talking about Marvel’s Venom. But when you think about venom, you might think about snakes and stinging insects. But there are plenty of venomous animals you wouldn’t have ever thought of — even mammals, or worms. Some animals are more toxic than others, and most of them have completely different ways of producing their killer chemical cocktails or using them on their attackers, or prey. Many of the molecular concoctions that have evolved in the animal kingdom are so uniqu ...read more

This story was originally published in our Mar/Apr 2023 issue. Click here to subscribe to read more stories like this one. Whoever studies the history of medicine finds L’Orvietan,” says Lamberto Bernardini. In his laboratory in Orvieto, Italy, a medieval hill town famous for its soaring duomo, that history is all around. Bernardini’s vaulted, frescoed space dates to the 1200s. One of the rooms in his lab is a museum-like space filled with historic books and framed antique letters, adver ...read more

This story was originally published in our Mar/Apr 2023 issue. Click here to subscribe to read more stories like this one. Across Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, pools of azure water punch through the landscape like Swiss cheese. In many of these sinkholes, called cenotes (pronounced “seh-NOtays”), braided root systems and spiraling foliage descend multiple stories down limestone walls to soak in the oases. Increasingly, however, the flora is sharing these cool waters with throngs of human ...read more