Rocks on the coast of Iceland couldn’t possibly tell us anything about the Roman Empire. Or could they? According to a study in Geology, a collection of rocks on Iceland’s coast reveals the severity of the Late Antique Little Ice Age — a period of climate change that may have contributed to the Roman Empire’s collapse. “When it comes to the fall of the Roman Empire, this climate shift may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Tom Gernon, a study author and a profes ...read more
A golden opportunity in the Caribbean has led to the discovery of an extinct “dirt ant” that has been confined within a piece of amber for 16 million years. Dirt ants (Basiceros) are true experts of camouflage that can blend in with the ground, and now, a fossilized member of the group is shedding light on their complex evolutionary history. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B describes the species as Basiceros enana and its link to modern dirt ants. Although ...read more
Excavation involving the transformation of an English department store site into a Gloucestershire University facility unearthed artifacts from three eras — Roman, medieval, and post-medieval — including more than 300 skeletons that were likely buried in or near two separate churches that previously stood on the site.Roman era artifacts include cobblestones — potentially from a 2nd century road — as well as pottery and the footings of a townhouse. About half the skeletons were found in w ...read more
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has reported “evidence of a carbon cycle on ancient Mars,” according to a recent press release. These new findings could help researchers better understand if and how Mars ever supported life.As Curiosity continues to traverse the Gale Crater, researchers are working to better understand the Red Planet’s habitability and climate transitions that lead to the environment it has today. The findings have been published in the journal Science. Curiosity’s Latest ...read more
We’ve long known that the gut microbiome plays a huge role in digestion — but current research keeps revealing just how deeply these microbes are tied to our overall health. From supporting brain function to fine-tuning our immune response and even lowering the risk of chronic diseases, the list of their benefits keeps growing.Now, a new study published in Cell by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York suggests that the microbiome may go even further — by turning bile acids into ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine