The Mendip Hills limestone plateau in the UK, known today for its beauty, holds a darker past from the Early Bronze Age. Excavations at Charterhouse Warren uncovered over 3,000 bones of at least 37 individuals, revealing evidence of violence, cannibalism, and the blending of human and animal remains to dehumanize victims.
Meanwhile, scientists are intrigued by celestial discoveries, including the identification of dark comets, which may have delivered crucial elements like water to Earth. In the animal kingdom, barn owls’ white undersides, once puzzling, are now believed to mimic the moon, allowing them to approach prey undetected at night.
Many barn owls have white undersides, a trait that researchers suggest could allow the nocturnal predators to mimic the moon as a form of camouflage and approach their rodent prey undetected. Education Images/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images
In Spain, fossils of a newly identified gorgonopsian, a saber-toothed predator predating dinosaurs, provide insights into early mammalian evolution. This discovery fills gaps in the fossil record, dating back 280 million years.
Concerns grow over synthetic life research aiming to create mirror-image molecules, with scientists warning of potential ecological risks. Elsewhere, ground squirrels’ surprising taste for fresh meat and the unearthing of ancient Spanish cannons in the US highlight the vast spectrum of scientific wonders.
Stay curious with these stories, and don’t miss the Ursid meteor shower lighting up the night sky.
