News for Neanderthals

Date: September 25, 2024, 9:48 AM GMT

Executive summary: This week’s news is dominated by new discoveries about Neanderthals, including a cave in France that may hold clues to their disappearance, the sequencing of the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal’, and the first case of Down syndrome among Neanderthals. These discoveries are shedding new light on the lives and evolution of our ancient cousins.

Neanderthal Discoveries

Cave discovery in France may explain why Neanderthals disappeared, scientists say

The fossilized remains of a Neanderthal discovered in a cave in southern France have shed fresh light on why these ancient humans may have disappeared 40,000 years ago. The discovery, reported in the journal Nature, suggests that Neanderthals may have been more susceptible to climate change than previously thought. The cave, located in the Ardèche region, contains evidence of a sudden shift in the environment, from a warm and temperate climate to a much colder and drier one. The Neanderthal remains, which date back to around 40,000 years ago, show signs of malnutrition and disease, suggesting that the population was struggling to survive in the harsh new conditions. This discovery is significant because it provides strong evidence to support the theory that climate change played a major role in the extinction of Neanderthals.
AOL.com (1 day ago)

Scientists Sequenced the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal’—and It Alters Human History

Remains of a Neanderthal who may have roamed the Earth 42,000 years ago offer insight into an isolated people. Scientists were able to sequence the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal’ from a fossil found in a cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. The genetic analysis revealed that this Neanderthal belonged to a small, isolated population that had been living in this region for thousands of years. The study, published in the journal Nature, also found that this Neanderthal’s DNA was more similar to the DNA of Neanderthals who lived in Europe than to those who lived in other parts of Asia. This suggests that there was significant gene flow between Neanderthals in different regions, even though they were geographically separated.
Yahoo News UK (22 hours ago)

First case of Down syndrome among Neanderthals is discovered

Scientists have discovered the first case of Down syndrome among Neanderthals after analyzing a fossil found in Spain. The fossil, which belonged to a six-year-old Neanderthal child, was found in the El Sidrón cave in Asturias, Spain. The analysis of the fossil’s teeth and bones revealed that the child had an extra copy of chromosome 21, the genetic marker for Down syndrome. This discovery is significant because it shows that Neanderthals, like humans, were susceptible to genetic disorders.
MSN (2 days ago)

Puzzling fossil discovery could reveal why Neanderthals disappeared

This week, scientists are examining a puzzling new fossil discovery that could reveal why Neanderthals disappeared. The fossil, found in a cave in the Caucasus Mountains, is a partial skeleton of a Neanderthal child. The child’s bones show signs of severe malnutrition and disease. The researchers believe that the child’s death may have been caused by a combination of factors, including climate change, disease, and competition with early humans. This discovery is significant because it provides further evidence that Neanderthals were struggling to survive in the harsh conditions of the Late Pleistocene.
AOL.com (1 week ago)

Study reveals why humans outlived Neanderthals

A new study of teeth indicates that humans provided prolonged childcare to their offspring, while young Neanderthals may have gained earlier independence. The study, published in the journal Nature, looked at the teeth of both Neanderthals and early humans. The researchers found that the teeth of early humans showed signs of prolonged childhood, with the enamel on their teeth being more worn than the enamel on the teeth of Neanderthals. This suggests that early humans were able to rely on their parents for longer, which allowed them to develop more complex skills and knowledge. The researchers believe that this difference in child-rearing practices may have contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals.
MSN (2 days ago)

Neanderthal Ancestors

Archaeologists uncover remains of allegedly new human species

In an archaeological site between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel, an international group of researchers has discovered fragments of a peculiar skull that might belong to a previously unknown species of human. The skull, estimated to be around 140,000 years old, exhibits features distinct from both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The researchers are cautiously optimistic about the possibility of a new human species, but further analysis is required to confirm their findings.
MSN (1 day ago)

Neanderthal Genetics

The first known Neanderthal family has been found by researchers, with their prehistoric DNA providing fresh insight into the archaic species’ social structure.

The first known Neanderthal family has been found by researchers, with their prehistoric DNA providing fresh insight into the archaic species’ social structure. The family was discovered in a cave in Siberia, and their DNA suggests that they were closely related and lived together. The discovery is significant because it provides new information about the social structure of Neanderthals.
The Daily Beast (23 months ago)

As much as 4 percent of their DNA is found in people living today, mostly in genes that make keratin, found in skin, hair, and nails. One Neanderthal gene is linked to a higher risk of depression.

Researchers have discovered that Neanderthals may have contributed more to the modern human gene pool than previously thought. A new study published in the journal Nature found that as much as 4 percent of the DNA of people living today is derived from Neanderthals. This is a significant increase from previous estimates, which placed the figure at around 2 percent. The study also found that Neanderthal DNA is more prevalent in people living in certain regions, such as Europe and Asia. This suggests that Neanderthals interbred with early humans in these regions, and that these interbreeding events were more common than previously thought.
The Daily Beast (67 months ago)

Neanderthal Culture

Unearthing the Neanderthal, digitally

Some 30,000 years ago, people of the species known as Neanderthal inexplicably vanished from their habitat in Europe. Now, thanks to advanced digital imaging techniques, scientists are able to create detailed 3D models of Neanderthal skeletons, providing new insights into their anatomy, behaviour and lifestyle. This new technology is allowing scientists to study Neanderthal remains in unprecedented detail, revealing more about their complex lives.
Photonics Spectra (73 months ago)

Face of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman revealed by scientists

The skull of an ancient Neanderthal woman has been rebuilt centuries after it was smashed into pieces in a cave in Kurdistan in northern Iraq. Scientists were able to use advanced 3D imaging techniques to reconstruct the skull, revealing the face of this ancient woman who lived 75,000 years ago. The reconstruction reveals that Neanderthals had a more robust and muscular build than modern humans, with prominent brow ridges and a receding chin. However, the reconstruction also reveals that Neanderthals were capable of complex social interactions, as evidenced by the presence of intricate burial rituals.
MSN (1 day ago)

Neanderthal Warfare

War at the comfort of a buzzer

Neanderthals and even Scots Clansmen fought bloody battles face to face and eye to eye. Modern technology enables armies to fight the enemy at the push of a button. Today’s wars are fought with sophisticated weapons and technology, but the underlying human desire for conflict remains the same.
Modern Ghana (22 hours ago)

Neanderthal Religion

Why Michael Knowles Reverted to Catholicism, The American Boniface, Neanderthals in Genesis, and More Great Links!

This week, we have a range of fascinating articles, including the story of Michael Knowles’ conversion to Catholicism, the impact of the American Boniface, and the intriguing link between Neanderthals and the Book of Genesis.
National Catholic Register (14 hours ago)

Neanderthal Extinction

Why Michael Knowles Reverted to Catholicism, The American Boniface, Neanderthals in Genesis, and More Great Links!

While there are many theories, the exact reason why Neanderthals disappeared remains a mystery. Some experts believe that climate change played a significant role, while others suggest that competition with early humans led to their extinction.
National Catholic Register (14 hours ago)