New Delhi: Humans may have been creating fire as far back as 400,000 years ago—when Neanderthals still walked the Earth—according to a groundbreaking discovery that could rewrite our history and understanding of innovation.
The finding, by archaeologists from the UK, pre-dates the crucial discovery of creating fires by 350,000 years. Until now, the earliest evidence of humans lighting up fires through deliberate methods such as rubbing two stones came from France only 50,000 years ago.
In UK’s Suffolk, archaeologists uncovered burnt land, fire-cracked tools and pieces of iron pyrite—one of the oldest minerals used to ignite flames, according to a paper published in Nature on 10 December. Geochemical dating placed the artefacts at roughly 400,000 years old, a period that predates homo sapiens.
The discovery of fire marked a pivotal moment in human history, enabling cooked food, smelted weapons and protection from predators. The Suffolk findings suggest this technological knowledge was transmitted across generations and even between different human species over hundreds of thousands of years.
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Dark chocolate’s link to ageing
A compound found naturally in dark chocolate may slow biological ageing, though researchers caution against using the findings as justification for increased consumption.
Scientists at King’s College London analysed blood samples from more than 1,600 people across Europe and found that those with higher levels of theobromine—a cocoa alkaloid—had biological ages younger than their chronological ages, according to a study published in Aging journal on 10 December.
Biological age, determined through DNA markers, reflects how efficiently the body functions. Theobromine, already recognised for cardiovascular benefits, may influence ageing by affecting gene activation patterns.
However, researchers emphasised that dark chocolate also contains sugar and fat, making moderation essential. The study highlights potential connections between everyday dietary choices and their molecular effects on the body, though more research is needed to establish definitive causation.
A device that communicates with brain though light signals
Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a coin-sized wireless implant that communicates directly with the brain using LED light signals, opening possibilities for restoring lost senses and controlling prosthetic limbs.
The device, detailed in a paper published in Nature Neuroscience on 8 December, attaches to the scalp and transmits red light signals that activate genetically engineered neurons, bypassing the body’s conventional neural pathways.
In tests on mice, the animals learnt to interpret the light-based commands and complete behavioural tasks, such as navigating to specific locations within an experimental chamber.
The technology could eventually restore sensory functions, provide feedback for prosthetic limbs, modulate pain without pharmaceutical intervention or enable direct brain control of robotic devices. At less than the thickness of a credit card, the device’s compact, non-intrusive design makes it suitable for potential human applications.
A first—‘ghost particle’ reaction
Physicists have observed solar neutrinos interacting with carbon atoms for the first time, capturing a phenomenon that could deepen understanding of particle physics and solar behaviour.
Oxford University researchers documented neutrinos—often called “ghost particles” due to their elusive nature—converting carbon-13 atoms into radioactive nitrogen-13 in an underground laboratory 2km beneath Canada’s surface, according to a study published in Physical Review Letters.
The SNOLAB facility’s depth shields experiments from background radiation and cosmic rays that would otherwise obscure the faint neutrino signals. Neutrinos, produced during nuclear reactions in the Sun, rarely interact with matter, making direct observation exceptionally difficult.
The carbon-13 isotopes used in the experiment are themselves rare, adding to the significance of documenting their transformation. The breakthrough provides unprecedented insight into neutrino behaviour in stellar environments and could pave the way for additional studies examining how these mysterious particles interact with matter.
(Edited by Prerna Madan)
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