Conflicting Dental Evidence On Homo Floresiensis

Ancient tiny people whose remains were discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores evolved from large-bodied Homo erectus individuals from Asia, according to the first ever comprehensive analysis of their teeth. The teeth were certainly not equivalent to those of our species, which negates the theory that hobbits were somehow deformed modern humans and not a new species. The teeth were also not equivalent to those of very early humans like Australopithecus and Homo habilis. The hobbit's teeth and skull were most similar to those of Java Man, according to the researchers.

Dr María Martinón-Torres, a University College London anthropologist, remains perplexed by the ancient humans' teeth. Their canines have an asymmetrical shape when viewed from the outside, while their molars are relatively short and only have four cusps. Those of most primitive humans had five.

Early galaxies were more efficient at making stars

Galaxies were more efficient at making stars when the universe was younger, according to a study based on the largest Hubble Space Telescope survey ever conducted.

Fossil bones from extinct cousin reveal how giraffe got its long neck

Analysis of the neck bones of an extinct member of the giraffe family reveal how today's giraffe got its exceptionally long neck.  In a paper published in Royal Society Open Science, scientists describe the neck of a "transitional" or "intermediate" species that existed about 7 million years ago.  The findings, by researchers at the New York Institute of Technology, are based on analysis of fossil vertebrae of Samotherium major, a giraffid that roamed parts of Eurasia, including Samos of Greece (where it was originally found and named), South Italy, Turkey, Moldavia, Iran, and China.

Humans have been using honeybee products for at least 9,000 years

Humans were making use of honeybee products such as beeswax as early as 7000BC, according to new research released.  Previously the use of bee products was dated to around 2400BC with ancient Egyptian murals and iconography depicting beekeeping.

Possible ice volcanoes discovered on frozen Pluto

The dark distinctive depression on the summit of the icy mountain at the centre of this image of Pluto's surface is believed to be the giant, 56 kilometre-wide caldera of a recently active cryovolcano.

'Protein compass' may explain how pigeons find their way home

A pair of proteins may hold the key as to how animals like pigeons, sharks and bees sense the Earth's magnetic field and use it to navigate.

Mystery of the Moon's missing volatile elements finally solved

A new model that solves the last remaining major questions about the birth of the Moon has been developed by astronomers.

Mars' moon Phobos slowly being pulled apart by tidal forces

Mars' moon Phobos is slowly being pulled apart by tidal forces and scientists expect it to be destroyed in 30 to 50 million years.