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Categories: Anthropology: General, Engineering: Robotics Research
Published Key role of ice age cycles in early human interbreeding
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Recent paleogenomic research revealed that interbreeding was common among early human species. However, little was known about when, where, and how often this hominin interbreeding took place. Using paleoanthropological evidence, genetic data, and supercomputer simulations of past climate, a team of international researchers has found that interglacial climates and corresponding shifts in vegetation created common habitats for Neanderthals and Denisovans, increasing their chances for interbreeding and gene flow in parts of Europe and central Asia.
Published China's oldest water pipes were a communal effort
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Original source 
A system of ancient ceramic water pipes, the oldest ever unearthed in China, shows that neolithic people were capable of complex engineering feats without the need for a centralized state authority, finds a new study.
Published A climate-orchestrated early human love story
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Original source 
A new study finds that past changes in atmospheric CO2 and corresponding shifts in climate and vegetation played a key role in determining when and where early human species interbred.
Published How a massive North Atlantic cooling event disrupted early human occupation in Europe
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Original source 
A new study finds that around 1.12 million years ago a massive cooling event in the North Atlantic and corresponding shifts in climate, vegetation and food resources disrupted early human occupation of Europe.
Published Ancient DNA reveals an early African origin of Cattle in the Americas
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Original source 
Using ancient DNA, researchers have determined cattle were imported from Africa to the Americas much earlier in the process of European colonization than documented. The first records of African cattle in the Americas date back to the 1800s, leading some historians to conclude that early colonists relied entirely on a small stock of European cattle initially shipped to the Caribbean Islands. DNA from archaeological specimens pushes the introduction of African cattle back by more than 100 years.
Published Self-supervised AI learns physics to reconstruct microscopic images from holograms
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Researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence-based model for computational imaging and microscopy without training with experimental objects or real data. The team introduced a self-supervised AI model nicknamed GedankenNet that learns from physics laws and thought experiments. Informed only by the laws of physics that universally govern the propagation of electromagnetic waves in space, the researchers taught their AI model to reconstruct microscopic images using only random artificial holograms -- synthesized solely from 'imagination' without relying on any real-world experiments, actual sample resemblances or real data.
Published Discovery in nanomachines within living organisms -- cytochromes P450 (CYP450s) unleashed as living soft robots
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Original source 
A new study suggests that Cytochromes P450 (CYP450s) enzymes can sense and respond to stimuli, acting like soft robots in living systems.
Published Modified virtual reality tech can measure brain activity
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The research team at The University of Texas at Austin created a noninvasive electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor that they installed in a Meta VR headset that can be worn comfortably for long periods. The EEG measures the brain's electrical activity during the immersive VR interactions.
Published Researchers discuss the ethical challenges of studying DNA from a 18th--19th century African American community
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Original source 
A population genetics team recently identified the genetic relationship between over 40,000 23andMe users and a population of enslaved and free African Americans that lived in Catoctin Furnace, Maryland between 1776--1850. Over the course of this study, the researchers considered how best to inform descendants and other genetic relatives of their genetic connection to the site.
Published New photocatalytic system converts carbon dioxide to valuable fuel more efficiently than natural photosynthesis
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A research team recently developed a stable artificial photocatalytic system that is more efficient than natural photosynthesis. The new system mimics a natural chloroplast to convert carbon dioxide in water into methane, a valuable fuel, very efficiently using light. This is a promising discovery, which could contribute to the goal of carbon neutrality.
Published Robots cause company profits to fall -- at least at first
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Researchers have found that robots can have a 'U-shaped' effect on profits: causing profit margins to fall at first, before eventually rising again. The researchers studied industry data from the UK and 24 other European countries between 1995 and 2017, and found that at low levels of adoption, robots have a negative effect on profit margins. But at higher levels of adoption, robots can help increase profits.
Published Robotic grippers offer unprecedented combo of strength and delicacy
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New robotic grippers are flexible enough to handle soft and fragile objects as well as heavier ones.
Published Thermal imaging innovation allows AI to see through pitch darkness like broad daylight
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Engineers have developed HADAR, or heat-assisted detection and ranging.
Published 3D display could soon bring touch to the digital world
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Engineers have designed a new, shape-shifting display that can fit on a card table and allows users to draw 3D designs and more.
Published Reinforcement learning allows underwater robots to locate and track objects underwater
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A team has shown that reinforcement learning -i.e., a neural network that learns the best action to perform at each moment based on a series of rewards- allows autonomous vehicles and underwater robots to locate and carefully track marine objects and animals.
Published This 3D printed gripper doesn't need electronics to function
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This soft robotic gripper is not only 3D printed in one print, it also doesn't need any electronics to work.
Published 'Time-traveling' pathogens in melting permafrost pose likely risk to environment
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Original source 
Ancient pathogens that escape from melting permafrost have real potential to damage microbial communities and might potentially threaten human health, according to a new study.
Published Researchers develop low-cost sensor to enhance robots' sense of touch
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Researchers have developed an L3 F-TOUCH sensor to enhance tactile capabilities in robots, allowing it to 'feel' objects and adjust its grip accordingly.
Published New insights into the origin of the Indo-European languages
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Original source 
An international team of linguists and geneticists has achieved a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the origins of Indo-European, a family of languages spoken by nearly half of the world's population.
Published A simpler method for learning to control a robot
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A new machine-learning technique can efficiently learn to control a robot, leading to better performance with fewer data.