Neanderthals ate vegies with their meat

The oldest known samples of Neanderthal faeces have revealed these early humans actually enjoyed some salad with their steak. The findings challenge the image of Neanderthals as unrepentant carnivores, and the theory that their high meat intake may have contributed to their extinction.

Ancient skulls trace Neanderthal evolution

An analysis of skulls found in a Spanish cave reveals the oldest-known humans to have Neanderthal-like features lived about 430,000 years ago.  The skulls however also show characteristics associated with an earlier, primitive human suggesting a more complex evolution of humans than previously thought.

'Waves' spotted on Titan's seas

Mysterious features that look like waves have been detected on the seas of Saturn's moon Titan, according to a new study.  The authors believe the features, which only appeared for a short time, are driven by seasonal winds that are generated as Titan's northern hemisphere moves into summer.

Tectonic plate movement may be speeding up

The movement of Earth's major tectonic plates is speeding up, suggests a new study.

Climate forced ancient Peruvians to migrate

DNA testing of Peruvian mummies has revealed how climate change led to the forced migrations of the ancient people of the Central Andes. The research shows these migrations led to an eventual genetic homogenisation of the highland and coastal people of southern Peru. This finding overturns a previously held view that this homogenisation was the result of the expansion by the highland empire of the Wari towards the coast.

3-D fossil eggs reveal how pterosaurs lived

The spectacular discovery of three dimensional 120-million year old pterosaur eggs provides a unique insight into the ancient flying reptiles' lifestyle. Until now, only four pterosaur eggs had ever been found, and all were flattened during the process of fossilisation. But Chinese scientists have unearthed five three-dimensional pterosaur eggs at a site in northwestern China that also includes no fewer than 40 adult individuals of a newly identified species that lived in a bustling colony near a large freshwater lake.

'Booting up' the brain after anæsthesia

The way the brain "boots up" from anæsthesia has been detailed in a new paper that shows the return to consciousness is a staged journey rather than a direct leap.