The mystery of what killed the Neanderthals has moved a step closer to resolution after an international study led by the University of Leeds has ruled out one of the competing theories - catastrophic climate change - as the most likely cause.
The bones of more than 400 Neanderthals have been found since the first discoveries were made in the early 19th century. The finds suggest the Neanderthals, named after the Neander Valley near Düsseldorf, where they were first recognized as an extinct kind of archaic humans, inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia for more than 100,000 years.
The causes of their extinction have puzzled scientists for years - with some believing it was due to competition with modern humans, while others blamed deteriorating climatic conditions. But a new study published today in Nature has shown that the Neanderthal extinction did not coincide with any of the extreme climate events that punctuated the last glacial period.
Science & Technology
Following recent media reports that U.S. astronauts have on occasion flown drunk, NASA will consider instituting limited testing of flight crews and employees, the agency's director said.
Addressing a news conference Wednesday, Michael Griffin said that while a newly released report into the allegations revealed no concrete evidence of alcohol use prior to spaceflights, NASA would nevertheless implement a testing program whenever suspicion warranted it or in the event of a mishap.
An independent panel alleged last month that impaired astronauts had flown twice in the past, but the 45-page report released Wednesday by NASA's chief safety officer, Bryan O'Connor, concluded the incidents could not be verified.
"I was unable to verify any case in which an astronaut spaceflight crewmember was impaired on launch day," the report said.
Addressing a news conference Wednesday, Michael Griffin said that while a newly released report into the allegations revealed no concrete evidence of alcohol use prior to spaceflights, NASA would nevertheless implement a testing program whenever suspicion warranted it or in the event of a mishap.
An independent panel alleged last month that impaired astronauts had flown twice in the past, but the 45-page report released Wednesday by NASA's chief safety officer, Bryan O'Connor, concluded the incidents could not be verified.
"I was unable to verify any case in which an astronaut spaceflight crewmember was impaired on launch day," the report said.
A day on Saturn just got a few minutes shorter, if new calculations are correct.
Using data collected by NASA's Cassini, Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft, scientists have revised the ringed planet's rotation period to 10 hours, 32 minutes and 35 seconds - about 15 minutes shorter than an estimate made only last year.
Those precious minutes could have big implications for how scientists think about Saturn and other gas giants.
Using data collected by NASA's Cassini, Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft, scientists have revised the ringed planet's rotation period to 10 hours, 32 minutes and 35 seconds - about 15 minutes shorter than an estimate made only last year.
Those precious minutes could have big implications for how scientists think about Saturn and other gas giants.
More than 300 internet crimes are being committed every hour - with a victim hit every ten seconds on average, according to a report.
Three million online crimes were carried out in 2006, according to the study for online identity experts Garlik.
But 90 per cent went unreported because victims did not know the activity was criminal or thought the police would be unwilling or unable to investigate, the study said.
Three million online crimes were carried out in 2006, according to the study for online identity experts Garlik.
But 90 per cent went unreported because victims did not know the activity was criminal or thought the police would be unwilling or unable to investigate, the study said.
An Erie cancer researcher has found a way to burn salt water, a novel invention that is being touted by one chemist as the "most remarkable" water science discovery in a century.
John Kanzius happened upon the discovery accidentally when he tried to desalinate seawater with a radio-frequency generator he developed to treat cancer. He discovered that as long as the salt water was exposed to the radio frequencies, it would burn.
John Kanzius happened upon the discovery accidentally when he tried to desalinate seawater with a radio-frequency generator he developed to treat cancer. He discovered that as long as the salt water was exposed to the radio frequencies, it would burn.
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| ©AP Photo/ Peder Gjersoe / SCANPIX |
| Norwegian archaeologists exhume the body of a Viking queen. |
OSLO, Norway - Archaeologists opened a Viking burial mound on Monday, seeking to learn more about two women _ possibly a queen and a princess _ laid to rest there 1,173 years ago.
Scientists claim at least three deadly contagious bird diseases have by-passed Australia's quarantine controls and will spread to native parrots and cockatoos.
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| ©Unknown |
At first the air force administrator just thought it was strange.
"Checking the computer systems, he found a file listing user names and passwords. He deleted it and forgot it.
Until it happened again. A similar file re-appeared, within days, in the same system, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
"With a lot of help," says a US security source, "He discovered that someone had put a programme copying the first 120 characters of every transaction through that base. So it was sending everyone's login details to... someone."
"Checking the computer systems, he found a file listing user names and passwords. He deleted it and forgot it.
Until it happened again. A similar file re-appeared, within days, in the same system, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
"With a lot of help," says a US security source, "He discovered that someone had put a programme copying the first 120 characters of every transaction through that base. So it was sending everyone's login details to... someone."
The differences between liberals and conservatives may run deeper than how they feel about welfare reform or the progress of the Iraq war: Researchers reported Sunday that their brains may actually work differently.
In a study likely to raise the hackles of some conservatives, psychologist David Amodio and others found that a specific region of the brain's cortex is more sensitive in people who consider themselves liberals than in self-declared conservatives.
The brain region in question helps people shift gears when their usual response would be inappropriate, supporting the notion that liberals are more flexible in their thinking.
In a study likely to raise the hackles of some conservatives, psychologist David Amodio and others found that a specific region of the brain's cortex is more sensitive in people who consider themselves liberals than in self-declared conservatives.
The brain region in question helps people shift gears when their usual response would be inappropriate, supporting the notion that liberals are more flexible in their thinking.
Prehistoric mass graves recently discovered in Syria may hail from a period of bloody conflict that took place 5,800 years ago, archaeologists say.
The remains of more than 60 young adults were unearthed last year from two sites about 40 feet (12 meters) apart in the ancient city of Tell Brak near the modern-day Iraq border.
The remains of more than 60 young adults were unearthed last year from two sites about 40 feet (12 meters) apart in the ancient city of Tell Brak near the modern-day Iraq border.
Comment: All species on planet earth are threatened by the increase in entropy. Birds, trees, bees, people ... Balance can be attained by seeing 'objectively'. The Universe is infinately capable of arranging itself. An objective observer can, however, make the difference between chaos and creation.