Identifying signs of life in ancient rocks is hard. It is not enough to find organic molecules—rocks of all sorts contain them but “organic” just means the molecules contain chains of carbon atoms.

Scientists have for the first time sequenced the most complete and oldest ancient Egyptian genome ever found—unlocking new secrets from the Old Kingdom. This facial reconstruction of an ancient ...

More than 2,000 years ago, Greek artisans built a compact machine of interlocking gears that could track the heavens with a precision that still unsettles modern engineers. The corroded fragments of ...

Researchers have reconstructed ancient herpesvirus genomes from Iron Age and medieval Europeans, revealing that HHV-6 has been infecting humans for at least 2,500 years. Some people inherited the ...

Ancient scientists can be easy to dismiss. Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, often described as the West’s first scientist, believed the whole Earth was suspended on water. Roman encyclopaedist ...

Researchers have recreated the world's oldest synthetic pigment, called Egyptian blue, which was used in ancient Egypt about 5,000 years ago. A team of Washington State University-led researchers has ...

Stephen has degrees in science (Physics major) and arts (English Literature and the History and Philosophy of Science), as well as a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. Stephen has degrees in ...

A unique statue dating back to the fifth dynasty of ancient Egypt has been discovered at the necropolis of Saqqara. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.