Latest articles by Laura Geggel
Scroll charred in Mount Vesuvius eruption partially deciphered, earning researchers $700,000 prize
Machine learning has helped decipher part of an ancient carbonized scroll found in a villa that likely once belonged to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law.
Bedbugs plagued Britain 1,900 years ago, Roman fort near Hadrian's Wall reveals
The earliest known evidence of bedbugs in Britain was found at a first-century fort near Hadrian's Wall.
Why are bananas berries but strawberries aren't?
Why is a banana a berry but a strawberry isn't? Turns out, berries can be hard to define, even for scientists.
180-foot early medieval carving of naked bald man with club is probably Hercules, new study suggests
The huge chalk carving in the English countryside was likely a meeting place for local forces rallying against the Vikings.
The most extraordinary archaeological findings of 2023
2023 was an outstanding year for finding ancient hoards, creating reconstructions and discovering burial.
10 things we learned about our human ancestors in 2023
Findings about our human ancestors continue to surprise us, especially those from 2023.
Iron oxide baked into Mesopotamian bricks confirms ancient magnetic field anomaly
About 3,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, brickmakers imprinted the names of their kings into clay bricks. Now, an analysis of the metal grains in those bricks has confirmed a mysterious anomaly in Earth's magnetic field.
Iceland volcano erupts as thousands of people evacuate
The volcano on Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland began erupting on Monday (Dec. 18).
Why are tarantulas so hairy?
Tarantulas use their "hair" for all kinds of things, including smelling and tasting.
Ancient 20-inch-long hand ax discovered in Saudi Arabia may be world's largest
What may be the world's largest prehistoric hand ax, measuring over 20 inches long, was found in Saudi Arabia.
'It's really quite remarkable': An interview with elephant expert Ross MacPhee about the giant pachyderms
In this interview, elephant expert Ross MacPhee explains how the giant animals' tusks record every week of their lives and why their noses are so remarkable.
Dwarf elephants and shedding mammoths shine at NYC's 'Secret World of Elephants'
A new show on "The Secret World of Elephants" at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City dishes on the evolution and remarkable lives of these huge (and sometimes dwarf) pachyderms.
8 times fossilized human poop dropped big knowledge on us. (Number 2 will surprise you.)
Here's the scoop on ancient human poop.
7 creatures associated with death
From bats to hornbills, here are some animals that have historically been associated with death.
AI reveals scroll's lost text after it was scorched by Mount Vesuvius eruption 2,000 years ago
Mount Vesuvius' eruption in A.D. 79 carbonized hundreds of scrolls and papyri in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum. Now, AI has decoded part of a scroll.
See gorgeous ancient Egyptian 'mummy portraits' from nearly 2 millennia ago
These ancient 'mummy portraits' provide a window into ancient Egyptian life and culture.
Catapult designed to launch World War II bomber planes unearthed in England
The WWII catapult, designed to launch bomber planes in southeastern England, was never used.
The 1st Americans were not who we thought they were
Feature For decades, we thought the first humans to arrive in the Americas came across the Bering Land Bridge 13,000 years ago. New evidence is changing that picture.
Debate settled? Oldest human footprints in North America really are 23,000 years old, study finds
Scientists have used several methods to show that human footprints found in White Sands National Park are around 23,000 years old.
'Very rare' Bronze Age arrow with quartzite tip uncovered from melting ice after 3,000 years
Glacial archaeologists in Norway have found an arrow with its quartzite tip still attached after spending up to 3,000 years in the snow and ice.
See the 'amazing' facial reconstruction of a Bronze Age woman discovered crouching in a 4,200-year-old grave
Facial reconstruction The skeletal remains of the 'Upper Largie Woman' were found in a quarry in Scotland. Now, scientists have reconstructed the Bronze Age woman's face.
Paleolithic 'art sanctuary' in Spain contains more than 110 prehistoric cave paintings
Cave paintings and engravings dating to at least 24,000 years ago were discovered near Valencia in Spain.
'Outstanding' 2,200-year-old child's shoe discovered deep underground in Austrian mine
A second century B.C. leather shoe found in an Austrian mine offers 'extremely rare insight into the life of Iron Age miners.'
