Latest news with #Homo
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Maverick
New research strengthens case for age of ancient New Mexico footprints
Researchers used a technique called radiocarbon dating to determine that organic matter in the remains of wetland muds and shallow lake sediments near the fossilized foot impressions is between 20,700 and 22,400 years old. That closely correlates to previous findings, based on the age of pollen and seeds at the site, that the tracks are between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. The footprints, whose discovery was announced in 2021, indicate that humans trod the landscape of North America thousands of years earlier than previously thought, during the most inhospitable conditions of the last Ice Age, a time called the last glacial maximum. The age of the footprints has been a contentious issue. Asked how the new findings align with the previous ones, University of Arizona archaeologist and geologist Vance Holliday, the study leader, replied: 'Spectacularly well.' Homo sapiens arose in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago and later spread worldwide. Scientists believe our species entered North America from Asia by trekking across a land bridge that once connected Siberia to Alaska. Previous archaeological evidence had suggested that human occupation of North America started roughly 16,000 years ago. The hunter-gatherers who left the tracks were traversing the floodplain of a river that flowed into an ancient body of water called Lake Otero. The mud through which they walked included bits of semi-aquatic plants that had grown in these wetlands. Radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of organic material based on the decay of an isotope called carbon-14, a variant of the element carbon. Living organisms absorb carbon-14 into their tissue. After an organism dies, this isotope changes into other atoms over time, providing a metric for determining age. 'Three separate carbon sources – pollen, seeds and organic muds and sediments – have now been dated by different radiocarbon labs over the course of the trackway research, and they all indicate a last glacial maximum age for the footprints,' said Jason Windingstad, a University of Arizona doctoral candidate in environmental science and co-author of the study published this week in the journal Science Advances. The original 2021 study dated the footprints using radiocarbon dating on seeds of an aquatic plant called spiral ditchgrass found alongside the tracks. A study published in 2023 used radiocarbon dating on conifer pollen grains from the same sediment layers as the ditchgrass seeds. But some scientists had viewed the seeds and pollen as unreliable markers for dating the tracks. The new study provides further corroboration of the dating while also giving a better understanding of the local landscape at the time. 'When the original paper appeared, at the time we didn't know enough about the ancient landscape because it was either buried under the White Sands dune field or was destroyed when ancient Lake Otero, which had a lot of gypsum, dried out after the last Ice Age and was eroded by the wind to create the dunes,' Holliday said. Today, the landscape situated just west of the city of Alamogordo consists of rolling beige-colored dunes of the mineral gypsum. 'The area of and around the tracks included water that came off the mountains to the east, the edge of the old lake and wetlands along the margins of the lake. Our dating shows that this environment persisted before, during and after the time that people left their tracks,' Holliday said. The area could have provided important resources for hunter-gatherers. 'We know from the abundant tracks in the area that at least mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels and dire wolves were around, and likely other large animals. Given the setting, there must have been a large variety of other animals and also plants,' Holliday added. The climate was markedly different than today, with cooler summers and the area receiving significantly more precipitation. 'It is important to note that this is a trackway site, not a habitation site,' Windingstad said. 'It provides us a narrow view of people traveling across the landscape. Where they were going and where they came from is obviously an open question and one that requires the discovery and excavation of sites that are of similar age in the region. So far, these have not been found.'
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Two-million-year-old teeth transform theory of prehistoric human evolution
The enamel that forms the outer layer of our teeth might seem like an unlikely place to find clues about evolution. But it tells us more than you'd think about the relationships between our fossil ancestors and relatives. In our new study, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, we highlight a different aspect of enamel. In fact, we highlight its absence. Specifically, we show that tiny, shallow pits in fossil teeth may not be signs of malnutrition or disease. Instead, they may carry surprising evolutionary significance. You might be wondering why this matters. Well, for people like me who try to figure out how humans evolved and how all our ancestors and relatives were related to each other, teeth are very important. And having a new marker to look out for on fossil teeth could give us a new tool to help fit together our family tree. Uniform, circular and shallow These pits were first identified in the South African species Paranthropus robustus, a close relative of our own genus Homo. They are highly consistent in shape and size: uniform, circular and shallow. Initially, we thought the pits might be unique to P. robustus. But our latest research shows this kind of pitting also occurs in other Paranthropus species in eastern Africa. We even found it in some Australopithecus individuals, a genus that may have given rise to both Homo and Paranthropus. The enamel pits have commonly been assumed to be defects resulting from stresses such as illness or malnutrition during childhood. However, their remarkable consistency across species, time and geography suggests these enamel pits may be something more interesting. The pitting is subtle, regularly spaced, and often clustered in specific regions of the tooth crown. It appears without any other signs of damage or abnormality. Two million years of evolution We looked at fossil teeth from hominins (humans and our closest extinct relatives) from the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, where we can see traces of more than two million years of human evolution, as well as comparisons with sites in southern Africa (Drimolen, Swartkrans and Kromdraai). The Omo collection includes teeth attributed to Paranthropus, Australopithecus and Homo, the three most recent and well-known hominin genera. This allowed us to track the telltale pitting across different branches of our evolutionary tree. What we found was unexpected. The uniform pitting appears regularly in both eastern and southern Africa Paranthropus, and also in the earliest eastern African Australopithecus teeth dating back around 3 million years. But among southern Africa Australopithecus and our own genus, Homo, the uniform pitting was notably absent. A defect … or just a trait? If the uniform pitting were caused by stress or disease, we might expect it to correlate with tooth size and enamel thickness, and to affect both front and back teeth. But it doesn't. What's more, stress-related defects typically form horizontal bands. They usually affect all teeth developing at the time of the stress, but this is not what we see with this pitting. We think this pitting probably has a developmental and genetic origin. It may have emerged as a byproduct of changes in how enamel was formed in these species. It might even have some unknown functional purpose. In any case, we suggest these uniform, circular pits should be viewed as a trait rather than a defect. A modern comparison Further support for the idea of a genetic origin comes from comparisons with a rare condition in humans today called amelogenesis imperfecta, which affects enamel formation. About one in 1,000 people today have amelogenesis imperfecta. By contrast, the uniform pitting we have seen appears in up to half of Paranthropus individuals. Although it likely has a genetic basis, we argue the even pitting is too common to be considered a harmful disorder. What's more, it persisted at similar frequencies for millions of years. A new evolutionary marker If this uniform pitting really does have a genetic origin, we may be able to use it to trace evolutionary relationships. We already use subtle tooth features such as enamel thickness, cusp shape, and wear patterns to help identify species. The uniform pitting may be an additional diagnostic tool. For example, our findings support the idea that Paranthropus is a 'monophyletic group', meaning all its species descend from a (relatively) recent common ancestor, rather than evolving seperatly from different Australopithecus taxa. And we did not find this pitting in the southern Africa species Australopithecus africanus, despite a large sample of more than 500 teeth. However, it does appear in the earliest Omo Australopithecus specimens. So perhaps the pitting could also help pinpoint from where Paranthropus branched off on its own evolutionary path. An intriguing case One especially intriguing case is Homo floresiensis, the so-called 'hobbit' species from Indonesia. Based on published images, their teeth appear to show similar pitting. If confirmed, this could suggest an evolutionary history more closely tied to earlier Australopithecus species than to Homo. However, H. floresiensis also shows potential skeletal and dental pathologies, so more research is needed before drawing such conclusions. More research is also needed to fully understand the processes behind the uniform pitting before it can be used routinely in taxonomic work. But our research shows it is likely a heritable characteristic, one not found in any living primates studied to date, nor in our own genus Homo (rare cases of amelogenesis imperfecta aside). As such, it offers an exciting new tool for exploring evolutionary relationships among fossil hominins.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Discovery of two-million-year-old teeth reveals secrets of ancient humans
The enamel that forms the outer layer of our teeth might seem like an unlikely place to find clues about evolution. But it tells us more than you'd think about the relationships between our fossil ancestors and relatives. In our new study, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, we highlight a different aspect of enamel. In fact, we highlight its absence. Specifically, we show that tiny, shallow pits in fossil teeth may not be signs of malnutrition or disease. Instead, they may carry surprising evolutionary significance. You might be wondering why this matters. Well, for people like me who try to figure out how humans evolved and how all our ancestors and relatives were related to each other, teeth are very important. And having a new marker to look out for on fossil teeth could give us a new tool to help fit together our family tree. Uniform, circular and shallow These pits were first identified in the South African species Paranthropus robustus, a close relative of our own genus Homo. They are highly consistent in shape and size: uniform, circular and shallow. Initially, we thought the pits might be unique to P. robustus. But our latest research shows this kind of pitting also occurs in other Paranthropus species in eastern Africa. We even found it in some Australopithecus individuals, a genus that may have given rise to both Homo and Paranthropus. The enamel pits have commonly been assumed to be defects resulting from stresses such as illness or malnutrition during childhood. However, their remarkable consistency across species, time and geography suggests these enamel pits may be something more interesting. The pitting is subtle, regularly spaced, and often clustered in specific regions of the tooth crown. It appears without any other signs of damage or abnormality. Two million years of evolution We looked at fossil teeth from hominins (humans and our closest extinct relatives) from the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, where we can see traces of more than two million years of human evolution, as well as comparisons with sites in southern Africa (Drimolen, Swartkrans and Kromdraai). The Omo collection includes teeth attributed to Paranthropus, Australopithecus and Homo, the three most recent and well-known hominin genera. This allowed us to track the telltale pitting across different branches of our evolutionary tree. What we found was unexpected. The uniform pitting appears regularly in both eastern and southern Africa Paranthropus, and also in the earliest eastern African Australopithecus teeth dating back around 3 million years. But among southern Africa Australopithecus and our own genus, Homo, the uniform pitting was notably absent. A defect … or just a trait? If the uniform pitting were caused by stress or disease, we might expect it to correlate with tooth size and enamel thickness, and to affect both front and back teeth. But it doesn't. What's more, stress-related defects typically form horizontal bands. They usually affect all teeth developing at the time of the stress, but this is not what we see with this pitting. We think this pitting probably has a developmental and genetic origin. It may have emerged as a byproduct of changes in how enamel was formed in these species. It might even have some unknown functional purpose. In any case, we suggest these uniform, circular pits should be viewed as a trait rather than a defect. A modern comparison Further support for the idea of a genetic origin comes from comparisons with a rare condition in humans today called amelogenesis imperfecta, which affects enamel formation. About one in 1,000 people today have amelogenesis imperfecta. By contrast, the uniform pitting we have seen appears in up to half of Paranthropus individuals. Although it likely has a genetic basis, we argue the even pitting is too common to be considered a harmful disorder. What's more, it persisted at similar frequencies for millions of years. A new evolutionary marker If this uniform pitting really does have a genetic origin, we may be able to use it to trace evolutionary relationships. We already use subtle tooth features such as enamel thickness, cusp shape, and wear patterns to help identify species. The uniform pitting may be an additional diagnostic tool. For example, our findings support the idea that Paranthropus is a 'monophyletic group', meaning all its species descend from a (relatively) recent common ancestor, rather than evolving seperatly from different Australopithecus taxa. And we did not find this pitting in the southern Africa species Australopithecus africanus, despite a large sample of more than 500 teeth. However, it does appear in the earliest Omo Australopithecus specimens. So perhaps the pitting could also help pinpoint from where Paranthropus branched off on its own evolutionary path. An intriguing case One especially intriguing case is Homo floresiensis, the so-called 'hobbit' species from Indonesia. Based on published images, their teeth appear to show similar pitting. If confirmed, this could suggest an evolutionary history more closely tied to earlier Australopithecus species than to Homo. However, H. floresiensis also shows potential skeletal and dental pathologies, so more research is needed before drawing such conclusions. More research is also needed to fully understand the processes behind the uniform pitting before it can be used routinely in taxonomic work. But our research shows it is likely a heritable characteristic, one not found in any living primates studied to date, nor in our own genus Homo (rare cases of amelogenesis imperfecta aside). As such, it offers an exciting new tool for exploring evolutionary relationships among fossil hominins.
GMA Network
05-06-2025
- Science
- GMA Network
PH islands had advanced maritime culture up to 35,000 years ago — study
A map of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) and Sunda Region as it appeared roughly 25,000 years ago at the height of the last Ice Age, with locations of archeological sites surveyed by the Mindoro Archaeology Project. The sites yielded artifacts with remarkably similar characteristics despite separation by thousands of kilometers and deep waters that are almost impossible to cross without sufficiently advance seafaring knowledge and technology. Base map 2014 Some islands in Occidental Mindoro had a technologically advanced maritime culture 35,000 years ago, according to a study by the Ateneo de Manila University. Published on June 1, 2025, the 'Chronology and Ecology of Early Islanders in the Philippines: The Mindoro Archeology Project' presented some of the oldest evidence of the presence of Homo sapiens in the country, particularly on Ilin Island, San Jose, and Sta. Teresa in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. According to the study, Mindoro's early inhabitants used both terrestrial and marine resources, as shown in the human remains, animal bones, shells, and tools made from stone, bone, and shell found in archeological sites. Samples of ancient technology discovered in and around Mindoro. The study noted that Mindoro's early inhabitants possessed seafaring capabilities and specific fishing skills that allowed them to catch predatory open-sea fish species, such as bonito and shark. These skills also allow them to establish connections with distant islands and populations in the vast maritime region of Wallacea, a group of islands primarily in Indonesia. Mindoro's early inhabitants used shells as raw materials to make tools more than 30,000 years ago. An example is the manufacture of adzes from giant clam shells (Tridacna species), dating back 7,000 to 9,000 years ago. The study indicated that Mindoro's tools have a 'striking similarity' to shell adzes found across the regions of Island Southeast Asia and as far as Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Researchers also found that on Ilin Island in Mindoro, a human grave dating around 5,000 years ago has a body laid in a fetal position and bedded and covered with limestone slabs. This burial resembles other burials found in Southeast Asia, suggesting shared ideological and social influences. The study also showed that Mindoro's early inhabitants were 'culturally sophisticated' people who were 'behaviorally and technologically adapted' to coastal and marine environments. This evidence suggests that Mindoro and nearby Philippine islands were part of the extensive maritime network that existed since the Stone Age and engaged in cultural and technological exchange with the early human populations across Island Southeast Asia. The Mindoro Archeology Project is a 15-year international research initiative co-undertaken by the Ateneo de Manila University. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Time of India
Nexus author Yuval Noah Harari warns of AI's deeper emotional threat beyond job loss: ‘The danger is enormous...'
The Perils of 'Fake' Connection Beyond Job Loss: A Radical Shift in Human Experience Who is Yuval Noah Harari? You Might Also Like: 'Don't be that person who ignores this technology': Nvidia CEO warns AI will rewrite the rules of employment A Wake-Up Call for the AI Era As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, fears around job automation dominate headlines. Yet acclaimed author Yuval Noah Harari , known for his bestselling books Sapiens and Nexus, offers a far more unsettling warning: AI's ability to replicate intimacy could fundamentally alter human relationships—and not necessarily for the a recent panel discussion co-hosted by the Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien, Tokyo College, and Kawade Shobo in March 2025, Harari shared a revealing video clip on his Instagram. He explained how AI, having already mastered language and attention, is now advancing toward mimicking intimacy—arguably the most potent human connection.'Intimacy is much more powerful than attention,' Harari said. 'A good friend can change your views in a way no article or book ever could.' Until now, genuine intimacy was something that could not be faked or mass-produced. But AI has broken that cautions that a new generation might grow up forming intimate bonds with AI rather than with other humans. Unlike humans, AI has no feelings of its own. It never gets upset, angry, or tired and can focus entirely on an individual, creating a 'fake sense of intimacy.'This, Harari warns, poses an 'enormous potential danger': people might become emotionally attached to artificial entities and, in the process, lose the ability to engage in real, complicated human relationships . Genuine intimacy is messy and requires navigating emotions and conflicts—something AI simply job displacement remains a valid concern with AI's rise, Harari's perspective highlights a deeper cultural and psychological challenge. The risk isn't only economic; it's existential. If humans turn to AI for emotional support and connection, the very fabric of human relationships could insights resonate strongly given his broader work on humanity's future. As a historian and philosopher, he has long explored how technological revolutions reshape societies—from the cognitive revolution that made Homo sapiens dominant to the looming biotechnological era where humans might engineer new life Noah Harari is an Israeli historian and public intellectual renowned for making complex ideas accessible to the public. His landmark book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind traces the arc of human evolution and culture, while Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI delves into the digital transformations shaping today's work explores themes such as consciousness, free will, and the future of intelligence. He famously predicts that Homo sapiens as we know them may disappear within a century, replaced by technologically enhanced or AI-driven warning is a timely reminder that the AI revolution is not only about economic disruption but about how humans relate to one another at their core. As AI becomes ever more capable of mimicking human emotions and intimacy, society faces profound questions: Can artificial relationships satisfy human needs? And at what cost to genuine human connection?This emerging reality invites urgent reflection—not only on what AI can do but on what it should do. For now, the risks seem to outweigh the benefits, and Harari's voice urges caution and awareness before the next frontier in AI irrevocably changes what it means to be human.
