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91av. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Canyars_LeatherPunchBoard

Humans

Bone fragment reveals humans wore leather clothes 39,000 years ago

A study of an ancient bone from Spain with a strange pattern of notches hints that it was used by early Homo sapiens in Europe as a punch board for making holes in leather

News

2F618EY Landing of the James Caird On South Georgia, 1916

Comment

Presence review: A lively look at why we experience ghostly presences

Culture

HHXJTH Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Humans

The archaeologists recreating the secrets of prehistoric technology

News

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Sipa/Shutterstock (143675c) MIKE DARWIN WITH CRYONICS EQUIPMENT ALCOR LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION WORKERS ACCUSED OF THE MURDER OF DORA KENT, CALIFORNIA, AMERICA - 1988

Humans

Frozen Head review: Why do some people want to be frozen after death?

Culture

Tightly-curled hair appears to maximise the shielding effect from the sun while minimising an unwanted insulating effect

Humans

Curly hair may have evolved to protect early humans from the sun

News

Paranthropus, early human relative

Humans

Early hominin Paranthropus may have used sophisticated stone tools

News

Light micrograph of a section through the spleen of a patient with Gaucher's disease. Small lymphocytes and large macrophage cells (Gaucher?s cells, pink, a type of white blood cell) are present. Gaucher's disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which a fatty substance called glucocerebroside accumulates in the spleen (in macrophages), lungs, liver and bone marrow, and sometimes the brain. This is due to an absence of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GC). The disease appears in childhood, and some forms are fatal in the first few years. Other forms cause enlargement of the affected organs, weak and painful bones and anaemia. Some forms also cause severe nervous system damage. There is no cure, but enzyme replacement therapy using GC can relieve the symptoms. Haematoxylin-eosin saffron (HES) stain. Magnification: x400 at 24x36 mm size.

Health

Genes for Gaucher disease may have protected Jewish people against TB

News

Straight-tusked elephant bones hint at routine hunting and butchering by Neanderthals

Humans

Neanderthals hunted enormous elephants that fed 100 people for a month

News

We need to accept that deepfakes are here to stay in film and TV

Technology

We need to accept that deepfakes are here to stay in film and TV

Comment

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Health

A better understanding of PCOS offers fresh hope for new treatments

New insights into polycystic ovary syndrome are revealing more about the causes of this common but misunderstood whole-body condition, and these could lead to new treatments

Features

Humans

Why it is important to explore the outer limits of knowledge

Leader

Health

We've just discovered a new part of the brain's waste disposal system

News

Life

Living in trees may have given great apes vocal skills for consonants

News

Humans

The Song of the Cell review: A love letter to life's most basic unit

Culture