Genetic map reveals impact of interbreeding with ancient Denisovans and Neanderthals

Researchers have analysed the DNA of 257 individuals from 120 different non-African populations around the world to look for traces of ancestry from Neanderthals and Denisovans — another group of ancient humans that lived at the same time — in the modern human genome.

Previous studies have shown that almost all present-day non-African people possess some Neanderthal DNA, while some people, particularly people from Oceania, also have Denisovan DNA.

The new analysis indicated that modern humans interbred with Denisovans around 100 generations after their trysts with Neanderthals.

Map showing proportion of the genome inferred to be Denisovan in ancestry in diverse non-Africans (with red the highest proportion.

Volcanoes may have caused the Moon's poles to wander

Ice deposits that formed in craters on opposite sides of the Moon three billion years ago indicate it may have once spun on a different axis.

Pluto may have an underground ocean

Despite being so far from the sun, tiny Pluto, which is smaller than Earth's moon, has had an active geologic life from the start, one that continues to present day.

Astronomers see supernova shockwave for first time

The shockwave generated by the explosion of an ageing giant star has been observed by an international team of astronomers.

What do chimp ‘temples’ tell us about the evolution of religion?

Biologists working in the Republic of Guinea found evidence for what seemed to be a “sacred tree” used by chimps, perhaps for some sort of ritual.

Pregnant T rex discovery sheds light on evolution of egg-laying

The fossil of a pregnant teenage Tyrannosaurus rex has been found, shedding light on the evolution of egg-laying as well as on gender differences in the dinosaur.

'Fairy Circles' Explained

The chance discovery of 'fairy circles' in Western Australia's Pilbara region is providing new insight into one of nature's enduring puzzles.  The circles are regularly spaced patches of bare soil that form in uniform hexagonal patterns throughout arid grasslands.

GN-z11: the most remote galaxy ever seen

Astronomers have discovered a galaxy that formed just 400 million years after the Big Bang explosion — the most distant galaxy found to date.

Female neriid flies may seek out semen to nurture another male's offspring

A male's seminal fluid can influence the size of a female's future offspring even when he's not the father, a study of neriid flies has found.

Mercury's carbon-rich crust is surprisingly ancient

Before its planned crash into Mercury last year, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft gave scientists a parting gift. In its final orbits, MESSENGER not only confirmed Mercury's dark hue is due to carbon, but also revealed the carbon was not deposited by impacting comets. Instead, scientists now believe they are seeing remnants of the planet's primordial crust, which likely formed when a global ocean of super-heated magma cooled, allowing minerals to solidify.

The oldest-known fossil of a land-dwelling organism is a fungus

The beautifully preserved filaments from a fungus that lived 440 million years ago are the oldest-known fossils of a land-dwelling organism yet found.

Swallowtail butterfly holds record number of photoreceptors

A species of swallowtail butterfly found in Australasia holds the record for having the largest number of different photoreceptors in its eyes for any insect. The butterfly, known as the common bluebottle (Graphium sarpendon), has no less than 15 classes of photoreceptors.

Ancient volcanic upheaval on Mars

A massive volcano on Mars spewed so much lava 3.5 billion years ago that the weight displaced the Red Planet's outer layers, according to a study that reconstructed the planet's geologic history.

A new particle that dwarfs even the Higgs boson?

It looks like the LHC may have found a surprise massive particle that gives a glimpse into a better – and entirely unexpected – theory of reality.

Nervous system found preserved in 520-million-year-old crustacean-like animal

A fossil of a 520-million-year-old animal is so well preserved that its individual nerve fibres are still visible. The fossil represents the oldest and most detailed central nervous system ever found.

Astronomers trace source of massive energy explosion to distant galaxy

A rare burst of energy lasting less than a millisecond that happened around six billion years ago in a galaxy far, far away has been tracked to its source by scientists for the first time.  The event — known as a fast radio burst (FRB) — is a relatively newly discovered phenomenon with the latest discovery, FRB150418, just the 17th to be found.