Exposure to lead from mining probably lowered I.Q. levels in the empire, research has found. It might be the world’s first case of widespread industrial pollution.
Author: Katherine Kornei
Sharks Nearly Went Extinct 19 Million Years Ago From Mystery Event
Analysis of the fossil record shows a mysterious mass extinction that decimated the diversity of sharks in the world’s oceans, and they’ve never fully recovered.
Million-Year-Old DNA Rewrites the Mammoth Family Tree
Genomic data — the oldest ever recovered from a fossil — reveals the origin and evolution of the Columbian mammoth.
The Hidden History Baked Into a Cooking Pot
An experiment with unglazed clay pots hinted at how much archaeologists can learn about ancient cultures from cooking vessels.
Did Something Burp? It Was an Earthquake
Years of observations in central Italy show that more carbon dioxide percolates through Earth’s crust during periods of strong seismic activity.
They’re Stealthy at Sea, but They Can’t Hide From the Albatross
Researchers outfitted 169 seabirds with radar detectors to pinpoint vessels that had turned off their transponders.
The Most Powerful Lightning Strikes in Unexpected Places
Superbolts are extremely rare, and thousands of times more powerful than the tendrils in the typical electrical storm.