Ancient human relative cannibalized toddlers, 850,000-year-old neck bone reveals - Live Science

Human understanding of geometry may stretch deep into our evolutionary past. Only a handful of species apart from humans are known to understand geometry. It’s considered so rare among other animals that most scientists have long assumed even our closest non-human primate relatives struggle to grasp the concept of shapes and space. But according to a new study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, some monkeys may not only have a solid handle on geometrical ideas—they cognitively process them in the same way as humans.

One of Earth's most powerful supervolcanoes is slowly refilling its enormous underground magma reservoir, thousands of years after producing one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recent geological history. Scientists at Kobe University have discovered evidence that fresh magma is accumulating beneath Japan's Kikai caldera, which unleashed a catastrophic eruption about 7,300 years ago. The discovery offers a rare look at how giant volcanic systems rebuild their magma supplies after massive eruptions. It could also provide important clues about the behavior of other supervolcanoes, including Yellowstone in the United States and Toba in Indonesia, potentially helping scientists improve their ability to recognize warning signs of future eruptions.

For tens of millions of people, dental implants have provided a way to replace missing teeth with a full set of fixed, functional teeth rather than removable dentures. However, an estimated 10% to 20% of implant patients eventually develop peri-implantitis, a serious infection that damages the surrounding jawbone. Antibiotics frequently fail to control this condition, and scientists have struggled to understand why. Now, researchers believe they have uncovered the mechanism responsible.

Despite decades of telescopic observation and orbital reconnaissance, Mars' inner moon Phobos remains one of the least understood bodies in the inner Solar System. A new Phobos sample-return mission represents a significant advance in planetary science.