Ancient Battlefield Reveals New Insights #

A serene valley in northeast Germany, once the site of Europe’s oldest known battlefield, continues to yield archaeological discoveries. Ongoing excavations since 2008 have uncovered thousands of bones and hundreds of weapons preserved in the undisturbed environment, dating back to a large-scale battle 3,250 years ago.

Researchers are now closer to answering key questions about why the battle occurred and who fought in it.

Bronze Age Arrowheads Provide Clues #

Analysis of dozens of bronze and flint arrowheads recovered from the site, some still embedded in human remains, is shedding light on the warriors involved in the Bronze Age conflict. While many weapons were locally produced, some arrowheads with different shapes originated from regions that now include modern Bavaria and Moravia.

This suggests a southern army clashed with local tribes in the valley, likely beginning at a key landmark along the river.

AI Assists in Archaeological Discoveries #

Desert Exploration #

Artificial intelligence is being used to detect hidden archaeological sites in the vast Rub’ al-Khali desert on the Arabian Peninsula. Researchers are combining machine learning with satellite imagery techniques to spot objects concealed beneath the sand.

The technology will be tested in October during excavations at the Saruq Al Hadid complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Nazca Desert Geoglyphs #

In a separate project, AI-assisted analysis has uncovered numerous ancient symbols in Peru’s Nazca Desert, nearly doubling the number of known geoglyphs. These stone and gravel arrangements depict animals, humans, and geometric designs.

Massive Black Hole Jets Observed #

Astronomers have observed the largest black hole jets ever seen, spanning 23 million light-years in length. The jets originate from a black hole in a distant galaxy 7.5 billion light-years from Earth. Nicknamed “Porphyrion” after a giant from Greek mythology, these colossal structures are causing scientists to reconsider how such features can shape the universe.

Ancient Cheese Found on Mummies #

Researchers discovered 3,600-year-old cheese remnants on mummies of the Xiaohe people, who lived in what is now the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China. DNA analysis of the well-preserved cheese revealed it was made from goats and cattle, providing insights into the food production techniques of this ancient civilization.

Sea Robin’s Unique Adaptations #

Scientists studying sea robins, fish with unusual leglike appendages, have discovered that some species use these limbs not only for walking but also for digging and sensing prey on the seafloor. The specialized appendages are covered in sensitive taste buds, similar to those on a human tongue.

Additional Discoveries #

• New footage shows a matriarch orca hunting a dolphin and sharing the meal with her pod off coastal Chile.
• A well-preserved 32,000-year-old woolly rhino was unearthed from Siberia’s permafrost, with intact skin and fur.
• A new species of ghost shark, named the Australasian narrow-nosed spookfish, was discovered in deep ocean waters near Australia and New Zealand.
• Evidence of a 30 million-year-old leafy forest was found trapped in peat on the Falkland Islands near Antarctica, where trees haven’t grown for tens of thousands of years.