A group of Yale researchers studying the origin of irrational decision-making found that choosing impractically isn't a behavior exhibited only by humans. Our evolutionary cousins, capuchin monkeys, exhibit the same tendency with respect to loss aversion, or the tendency to strongly prefer avoiding losses rather than acquiring gains.
The findings, published in the Journal of Political Economy, indicate these biases are innate in primates and have existed since before capuchins and humans split 40 million years ago.
Science & Technology
The human brain may have a built-in mechanism for keeping racially or politically distinct groups apart, a new Harvard study suggests.
U.S. researchers observed the brain activity of liberal college students who were asked to think about Christian conservatives. As they did so, a brain region strongly linked to the self and to empathy with others nearly shut down, while another center -- perhaps linked to stereotypic thoughts -- swung into high gear.
U.S. researchers observed the brain activity of liberal college students who were asked to think about Christian conservatives. As they did so, a brain region strongly linked to the self and to empathy with others nearly shut down, while another center -- perhaps linked to stereotypic thoughts -- swung into high gear.
Early human ancestors interbred with chimpanzees after the two species split, researchers propose.
The break from our chimpanzee cousins was messier, more recent, and occurred over a longer timescale than thought, according to a new genetic analysis.
"The genome analysis revealed big surprises, with major implications for human evolution," said study co-author Eric Lander, director of the Broad Institute of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The break from our chimpanzee cousins was messier, more recent, and occurred over a longer timescale than thought, according to a new genetic analysis.
"The genome analysis revealed big surprises, with major implications for human evolution," said study co-author Eric Lander, director of the Broad Institute of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
A tattooed mummy has been found in Peru which archaeologists say is one of the best-ever relics of a civilisation that ended more than 1,300 years ago.
The mummy, herself 1,500 years old, is of a woman in her late 20s believed to be an elite member of the Moche tribe.
The mummy, herself 1,500 years old, is of a woman in her late 20s believed to be an elite member of the Moche tribe.
The first sequences of nuclear DNA to be taken from a Neanderthal have been reported at a US science meeting.
Geneticist Svante Paabo and his team say they isolated the long segments of genetic material from a 45,000-year-old Neanderthal fossil from Croatia.
The work should reveal how closely related the Neanderthal species was to modern humans, Homo sapiens.
Geneticist Svante Paabo and his team say they isolated the long segments of genetic material from a 45,000-year-old Neanderthal fossil from Croatia.
The work should reveal how closely related the Neanderthal species was to modern humans, Homo sapiens.
When astronauts return to the Moon, they should keep their eyes peeled for extraterrestrial artefacts - pieces of technology from alien civilisations that have wound up on the lunar surface either by chance or design.
So says Ian Crawford, a researcher from University of London's Birkbeck College in the UK. He told a SETI specialist meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in London last week that although he considers such a find a long-shot, it is definitely worth bearing in mind.
"This is not a primary reason to go back to the Moon - there are very strong scientific reasons for going back. But if we go back to the Moon in the next 20 or 30 years, then amongst those things we might like to keep our eyes open for are alien artefacts," Crawford told New Scientist.
So says Ian Crawford, a researcher from University of London's Birkbeck College in the UK. He told a SETI specialist meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in London last week that although he considers such a find a long-shot, it is definitely worth bearing in mind.
"This is not a primary reason to go back to the Moon - there are very strong scientific reasons for going back. But if we go back to the Moon in the next 20 or 30 years, then amongst those things we might like to keep our eyes open for are alien artefacts," Crawford told New Scientist.
Archeologists working high in the Peruvian Andes have discovered the oldest known celestial observatory in the Americas - a 4,200-year-old structure marking the summer and winter solstices that is as old as the stone pillars of Stonehenge.
The observatory was built on the top of a 33-foot-tall pyramid with precise alignments and sightlines that provide an astronomical calendar for agriculture, archeologist Robert Benfer of the University of Missouri said.
The people who built the observatory - three millenniums before the emergence of the Incas - are a mystery, but they achieved a level of art and science that archeologists say they did not know existed in the region until at least 800 years later.
The observatory was built on the top of a 33-foot-tall pyramid with precise alignments and sightlines that provide an astronomical calendar for agriculture, archeologist Robert Benfer of the University of Missouri said.
The people who built the observatory - three millenniums before the emergence of the Incas - are a mystery, but they achieved a level of art and science that archeologists say they did not know existed in the region until at least 800 years later.
London, England - A British inventor unveils the world's most fuel-efficient vehicle, a three-wheel "TeamGreen" car capable of doing 8,000 miles to the gallon.
Scientists have discovered a beach ball-sized meteorite a half-mile below a giant crater in South Africa.
The 145-million-year-old meteorite, found in the Morokweng crater, has a chemical composition unlike any known meteorite.
It is also an unusual find because it was largely unaltered by the extreme heat from the impact.
The study is detailed in the May 11 issue of the journal Nature.
The 145-million-year-old meteorite, found in the Morokweng crater, has a chemical composition unlike any known meteorite.
It is also an unusual find because it was largely unaltered by the extreme heat from the impact.
The study is detailed in the May 11 issue of the journal Nature.
Meteorites that have fallen to Earth contain some of the most primitive stuff of life, a new study has found.
Contrary to popular belief, they are packed with ancient carbon-rich (organic) molecules that were essential for life to get started on Earth.
Until now, it was thought such matter, which was formed before our Solar System came into existence, could only be found in interstellar dust.
Contrary to popular belief, they are packed with ancient carbon-rich (organic) molecules that were essential for life to get started on Earth.
Until now, it was thought such matter, which was formed before our Solar System came into existence, could only be found in interstellar dust.
