The oldest and largest known monument built by the Mayan civilisation has been found in Mexico. Called Aguada Fénix, it is a huge raised platform 1.4 kilometres long. Aguada Fénix was built around 1000 BC, centuries before the Maya began constructing their famous stepped pyramids. Its design suggests that early Mayan societies were fairly egalitarian […] More
Fresh evidence from DNA analysis is helping to piece together the Dead Sea Scrolls – 25,000 fragments of parchment discovered in the Qumran caves and surrounding areas in the West Bank over the past 70 years, which contain the oldest known copies of biblical texts. Oded Rechavi and Noam Mizrahi at Tel Aviv University in […] More
In her latest book, Superior: The Return of Race Science, Angela Saini examines what she calls the “subtle” return of race within mainstream science. She tells New Scientist that part of the reason she wrote the book was to understand our beliefs on race, and whether scientific beliefs have really moved on since the era […] More
Religious ceremonies that took place thousands of years ago in what is now Israel involved the burning of cannabis, according to a study of an ancient shrine. The finding suggests psychoactive substances played a key role in rituals performed in the biblical Kingdom of Judah. “In many places in the world, psychoactive materials were used […] More
New Scientist’s weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn’t miss Technology 27 May 2020 Robert Bauernhansl/Arc Electronica Visit online Ars Electronica Home Delivery is a weekly programme of exhibition tours, lab visits, concerts and talks with artists and scientists, bringing the magic of Europe’s biggest art-meets-technology festival […] More
Forget the naysayers: what we must do to combat climate change is far less drastic than coronavirus measures, says World Meteorological Organization head Petteri Taalas Humans 27 May 2020 YOU might say the body Petteri Taalas heads determines the weather on world climate action. At the very least, it takes its temperature. The World Meteorological […] More
When everything is recorded by an implant in the brain, people become paragons of moderation – but this societal bliss isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, finds Sally Adee Technology 27 May 2020 No Signal Jem Tugwell Serpentine Books A BUREAUCRAT navigating the pandemic would chew their right arm off for an iMe. No […] More
An image taken by astronomer Juan Carlos Munoz of the night sky above Santiago, Chile, uses optical techniques to reveal the extent of light pollution in major cities even while under lockdown Technology 27 May 2020 THIS kaleidoscopic shot of the night sky above Santiago, Chile, was taken during the city’s lockdown and shows the […] More
