A study investigated the evolution of social norms across 90 societies, finding a global trend toward more permissive norms overall, except for behaviors considered vulgar or inconsiderate, and linking these norms to underlying moral values.
Archaeologists have discovered a 7,000-year-old settlement in Dagestan, Russia, revealing insights into the spread of early farming communities and cultural connections in the Caucasus Mountains during the Eneolithic period.
Ancient DNA points to the roots of Uralic languages in Yakutia, far east of the Ural Mountains. The genetic trail traces a remarkable prehistoric migration that reshaped Eurasia’s linguistic landscape.
A new study using ancient DNA has revealed that the origins of the Uralic language family (including Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian) lie further east than previously thought – specifically in Yakutia, northeastern Siberia, around 4,500 years ago. Researchers, led by Harvard scientists, analyzed genomes from Siberia and across Eurasia, tracing a genetic signal westward. This challenges the long-held belief that the Uralic homeland was near the Ural Mountains.
The study links the spread of Uralic languages to the Seima-Turbino phenomenon – a period of advanced bronze-casting and cultural exchange – and shows interaction with the Yamnaya culture (associated with the spread of Indo-European languages). While modern Uralic-speaking populations show varying degrees of Yakutia ancestry (with Hungarians having the least), the ancient DNA confirms a Siberian origin for the language family. The research also sheds light on the origins of the Yeniseian language family and potentially supports a connection between Yeniseian and North American Na-Dene languages.
A new study using ancient DNA has revealed that the origins of the Uralic language family (including Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian) lie further east than previously thought – specifically in Yakutia, northeastern Siberia, around 4,500 years ago. Researchers, led by Harvard scientists, analyzed genomes from Siberia and across Eurasia, tracing a genetic signal westward. This challenges the long-held belief that the Uralic homeland was near the Ural Mountains.
The study links the spread of Uralic languages to the Seima-Turbino phenomenon – a period of advanced bronze-casting and cultural exchange – and shows interaction with the Yamnaya culture (associated with the spread of Indo-European languages). While modern Uralic-speaking populations show varying degrees of Yakutia ancestry (with Hungarians having the least), the ancient DNA confirms a Siberian origin for the language family. The research also sheds light on the origins of the Yeniseian language family and potentially supports a connection between Yeniseian and North American Na-Dene languages.
Discover the ancient Neolithic site of Karahan Tepe in Southeastern Turkey, a lesser-known but significant archaeological marvel that predates Göbekli Tepe and offers insights into early human civilization.
Riley Walz has installed a device high up on a pole in the Mission of San Francisco to constantly Shazam music using a crappy Android phone. This is a form of culture surveillance, capturing music being played in real-time. The device is solar-powered and has a microphone pointing down at the street.
A new study suggests that cumulative culture, the accumulation of technological knowledge over generations, began in hominin populations around 600,000 years ago, leading to rapid increases in technological complexity.
This article discusses the unique culture of innovation in the Bay Area, the world's leading center for technological advancement. The article highlights the critical factors contributing to the region's success, including infrastructure, finance, and culture.
