In the rugged landscapes of Papua New Guinea—where more than 800 languages echo across valleys and coasts—a remarkable discovery has brought new clarity to one of humanity’s greatest migrations. In a new study, researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig have recovered the first ancient genomes (aDNA) from Papua New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago—unlocking genetic insights from a region as culturally rich as it is historically pivotal.

Published in Robot Learning, this study reviews recent advances in heterogeneous aquatic robot systems, which integrate underwater, surface, and aerial robots to perform coordinated tasks in complex marine environments. It highlights key developments in communication, sensing, navigation, control, decision-making, and energy management. Real-world applications—from ocean monitoring to underwater archaeology—are discussed, along with technical challenges and future directions. This work offers a roadmap for building intelligent, collaborative robotic systems to support sustainable marine exploration.

What happens when artificial intelligence meets one of humanity’s oldest and most revered texts? 

A team led by Duke mathematician Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin is transforming biblical scholarship by using AI-driven statistical modeling to identify the likely authors behind the Bible’s earliest books — and explain how those conclusions were reached. This interdisciplinary collaboration, involving archaeologists, physicists, and linguists, pushes the boundaries of both the humanities and data science. 

From analyzing pottery fragments to the priestly texts of the Torah, the project showcases the power of cross-disciplinary research to uncover new insights from ancient evidence. 

Did prehistoric humans know that smoking meat could preserve it and extend its shelf life? Researchers from the Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Culturesat Tel Aviv University believe they did. Their new study presents a fresh perspective on a question that has long preoccupied prehistory scholars: What prompted early humans to begin using fire? According to the researchers, early humans, who primarily consumed large game, required fire not for cooking, but in order to smoke and dry meat so that it would not rot, thereby preserving it for extended periods and keeping it safe from predators and scavengers.

The Fanthorp Inn is a historic stagecoach stop dating back to the 1800s, located in Anderson, Texas. Students and faculty from Texas A&M University are quite literally digging into the past at this historic site to uncover details about life in early Texas. Students are using tools like ground-penetrating radar and careful excavation techniques to explore areas around the inn.

New archaeological findings along a little-known medieval wall in eastern Mongolia reveal that frontier life was more complex than previously believed. Excavations show evidence of permanent habitation, agriculture, and cultural exchange, suggesting that these walls were not solely defensive structures but part of a broader system of regional control and interaction during the Jin dynasty.