Brown dwarfs are actually brown dwarfs; the adaptability of humans to the Ice Age; excited archaeologists

This week, researchers discovered a near-Earth microquasar that sheds new light on the sources of relativistic flows. Doctors reported finding a triphallic man. And neuroscientists have reported modest cognitive improvements resulting from short (or “acute,” in clinical parlance) exercise sessions.

Plus, there were headlines about human survival in the Ice Age, an unexpected solution to the mystery of a brown dwarf, and an archaeological discovery at the filming site of an Indiana Jones movie that could help her -even be the plot of an Indiana Jones film:

Humans love snow

By studying historical refuges, places where species retreated to survive, an international team of researchers reports that ancient humans, like their cousins ​​and rivals, wolves and bears, had no problem coping with change climate during the last ice age, 20,000 years ago. .

The study looked at the genetic history of 23 mammals common in Europe, including rodents, red squirrels, insectivores, wild boars and bears. Refuges include areas of high genetic diversity, indicating long occupation by species, areas that were more hospitable during the Ice Age, where it was warmer and easier to find food. After the ice age, there are detectable migration patterns away from refuges.

However, some species were already widely distributed across Europe during the last ice age and did not retreat to refuges, including humans, bears and wolves. Although it is unclear why ancient humans tolerated climate change so well during the last ice age, researchers speculate that it was due to a confluence of traits including omnivorism and technological capabilities including the manufacture of shelters and clothing. The researchers believe their study could prompt a rethinking of habitability in the modern era of climate change.

A substellar object has a secret companion

Gliese 229B, the first known brown dwarf star, was first observed in 1995. Brown dwarfs, or “brown dwarfs”, if you like JRR Tolkien, are substellar objects with a higher mass than the largest giants gaseous, but which are not massive. sufficient to achieve hydrogen fission.

Regardless, for decades, Gliese 229B posed a mystery to astronomers: an object of its mass should have a higher luminosity. Researchers at Caltech, whose Palomar Observatory first observed the object, now report that Gliese 229B is actually a pair of brown dwarfs in a close mutual orbit.

For five months, astronomers carried out interferometric observations with the GRAVITY instrument at the Very Large Telescope in Chile, combined with spectral observations using the CRIRES+ instrument, also at the Very Large Telescope, a one-stop shop for urgent needs of stellar resolution. By measuring the Doppler shift of molecules in the two objects’ atmospheres, astronomers established that one object was moving toward Earth while the other was moving away as they orbited each other at during their 12-day orbital period.

Remarkable site

In 1812, a Swiss geographer traveling through Jordan discovered the ancient archaeological site called Petra, famous for its architecture carved into the sandstone cliffs. It was built by the inhabitants of the Nabataean kingdom around 1 AD. One of the most elaborate rock-cut structures, Al-Khazneh, often called “the treasure” but was probably a mausoleum, was a featured location in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, one of the most little works of Indiana Jones. movies. Look, I’m not going to fight about this. Yes, Ford and Connery had good chemistry. River Phoenix was great. But the script was terrible and none of that mattered.

Recently, while conducting a non-invasive remote sensing project aimed at improving flood control, researchers at the University of St. Andrews detected underground chambers in and around the mausoleum. After receiving permission to excavate, they found a grave containing human remains in their original location.

Professor Richard Bates from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at St. Andrews said: “This discovery is of international significance, as very few complete burials of the early Nabataeans have been found in Petra before. The burials, their belongings and human remains can all be expected to help fill the gaps in our knowledge of how Petra came to be and who the Nabataeans were.

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