United News of Bangladesh

Researchers say two artifacts discovered along a lakeshore in Greece are the oldest known wooden tools yet uncovered, dating back about 430,000 years. One artifact is a slender stick measuring roughly 2½ feet (80 centimeters) in length that may have been used to dig into muddy ground. The second is a smaller, more enigmatic handheld piece made from willow or poplar wood that researchers believe could have been used in shaping stone tools. The findings were published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists believe early humans relied on a wide range of tools crafted from stone, bone and wood. However, evidence of wooden tools is rare because the material decomposes rapidly over time. Preservation typically occurs only in specific conditions, such as icy environments, caves or underwater settings. The newly discovered wooden tools were found in Greece’s Megalopolis basin, where researchers believe they were rapidly buried by sediment and preserved over time by wet conditions. Scientists have previously uncovered other remains at the site, including stone tools and elephant bones bearing cut marks. Although the wooden tools were not directly dated, the site itself is estimated to be about 430,000 years old, offering clues to their age. Read More: Science and local sleuthing uncover 250-year-old Shipwreck on Scottish Island “I’ve always just been thrilled to be able to touch these objects,” said study author Annemieke Milks of the University of Reading. No human remains have yet been identified at the location, leaving uncertainty over who used the tools. Possible users include Neanderthals, early human ancestors or other hominins. Archaeologist Jarod Hutson of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History said the site may contain additional discoveries, though the plain appearance of the tools makes interpretation difficult. The find adds to rare examples of ancient wooden tools and sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of early human technology.

Jupiter’s icy moon Europa may be sending chemicals that could support life to its hidden subsurface ocean, according to a new study by Washington State University researchers. Europa’s ocean lies beneath a 30-kilometre-thick ice layer and may contain twice as much water as all Earth’s oceans. Unlike Earth, the ocean lacks sunlight and oxygen, so any life there would depend on chemical energy. Scientists have long wondered how oxidants on the moon’s surface could reach the ocean below. The study finds that salt-rich ice near the surface may be denser and weaker than surrounding ice. Over time, this ice could break and slowly sink through the thicker layer to the ocean. This process, called lithospheric foundering, is similar to Earth’s crust sinking into the mantle. Using computer models, researchers estimated that the top 300 meters of surface ice could reach the ocean in 5 to 10 million years. In weaker ice, the process could start in as little as 30,000 years. The findings suggest that Europa’s ocean may be gradually supplied with life-supporting chemicals from the surface. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, launched in 2024, will arrive at Jupiter in April 2030 and study the moon through about 50 flybys over four years. The mission will help scientists measure ocean depths and evaluate the moon’s potential habitability. The study was published on January 20 in The Planetary Science Journal.   With inputs from NDTV

Scientists have developed a new method to track falling space debris in real time using data from existing earthquake sensors, offering greater safety and faster response to potential hazards. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London demonstrated that seismic sensors, already installed worldwide, can detect the sonic booms of debris entering the atmosphere. The technique was successfully applied to a 1.5-ton module from China’s Shenzhou 17 spacecraft, which landed hundreds of kilometers off previous predictions. Benjamin Fernando, lead author of the study, said radar and optical tracking work in orbit but atmospheric entry makes debris paths unpredictable. “Ground radars are limited and cannot track debris breakups effectively. Our method provides real-time data for authorities to act faster,” he added. The system analysed signals from 127 earthquake sensors across California to trace the module’s fall, showing it deviated about 40 kilometers from U.S. Space Command estimates. Experts say this innovation could improve monitoring of returning satellites, spent rockets, and other orbital debris, reducing risks to populated areas and infrastructure. This breakthrough highlights the growing importance of using existing global monitoring networks for space safety and disaster preparedness.   With inputs from NDTV

Researchers have discovered the world’s oldest cave painting on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The painting shows a red hand with claw-like fingers and is at least 67,800 years old. The stencilled hand was found in Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, southeast of Sulawesi. Scientists say the artist pressed a hand against the wall and sprayed pigment around it, then altered the fingers to create a claw-like effect. The discovery predates the previous oldest hand stencil in Spain by about 1,100 years. Experts say it shows early symbolic thinking and creativity in humans far earlier than previously believed. Professor Adam Brumm of Griffith University, Australia, said the finding challenges the idea that human creativity began in Europe. He noted that such symbolic art existed across Indonesia tens of thousands of years ago. Archaeologists say the painting also supports the theory that humans reached the Australia–New Guinea landmass, Sahul, much earlier than thought. The artists in Sulawesi likely belonged to populations that later spread across the region. Previous discoveries on Sulawesi included hand stencils and animal figures dating back 40,000 to 51,000 years. The new find shows that cave art was widespread and a long-standing cultural practice in the region. Professor Maxime Aubert, co-lead of the study, said humans had the capacity for abstract and symbolic thought long before reaching Europe, suggesting creativity was an innate trait of the species.   With in puts from BBC

Nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 2017 has affected everyone on Earth and is linked to at least four million premature deaths from cancer and other diseases, according to a new report by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA). The report said more than 2,400 nuclear devices were detonated in tests worldwide over the period, and the health and environmental impacts are still being felt in many communities today. Of the nine nuclear-armed states, only North Korea has conducted nuclear tests since the 1990s, the report noted. The 304-page report said a long-running culture of secrecy, limited international engagement and lack of data have left many affected people seeking answers and support. NPA chief Raymond Johansen said past nuclear testing “continues to kill today” and urged stronger resolve to prevent future testing or use of nuclear weapons. The issue has drawn renewed attention after US President Donald Trump suggested last November that Washington could resume nuclear testing, while accusing Russia and China of already doing so, a claim they rejected, according to the report. The report said people living near test sites have faced higher illness rates, congenital anomalies and long-term trauma. It also said radioactive fallout from atmospheric testing spread widely, leaving radioactive isotopes in people’s bodies across generations. It alleged that some governments continue to withhold key information, including studies and locations of radioactive waste, and said compensation schemes have often fallen short of victims’ needs.   With inputs from NDTV

Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) has been ranked first among all public universities in Bangladesh in the Life Sciences category of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026. According to THE’s official website, GAU also achieved the highest national score in research quality (69.5), making it the country’s top institution across both public and private sectors. Globally, the university falls within the 601–800 ranking band. The ranking evaluated 1,211 universities from 98 countries in four major fields—Veterinary Science, Life Sciences, Agriculture & Forestry, and Sports Science—based on research quality, international outlook, research environment, and teaching. Read More:  WHO launches framework to safely unlock benefits of life sciences GAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. JK Mostafizur Rahman congratulated faculty, students, and staff, describing the achievement as a testament to the university’s global research standards and its commitment to sustainable development. Previously, GAU topped the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 among Bangladesh’s agricultural universities and ranked 77th globally in the Development and Application category in the URAP 2025 rankings. In this year’s subject rankings, nine public and one private university from Bangladesh were included.

Scientists studying Brazil’s oldest citizens say they may be closer to understanding why some people live far longer than average, with new research pointing to unique genetic and biological factors behind extreme longevity. A new viewpoint published in the journal Genomic Psychiatry highlights findings from an ongoing Brazilian study focusing on centenarians and supercentenarians. While most people live around 70 years, a small number reach 100, and an even rarer group live beyond 110. Researchers say Brazil offers a unique advantage because of its highly diverse population, shaped by Indigenous roots, European colonisation, African ancestry and immigration from many parts of the world. The study includes more than 160 centenarians from across the country, including about 20 supercentenarians. Some participants remained mentally sharp and physically independent even after turning 100. In a few rare cases, long life appeared to run in families, including one family with four women aged between 100 and 110. Scientists believe this diversity may help reveal genetic traits linked to long life that are not visible in studies of more uniform populations. Many of the participants also came from poorer regions with limited access to health care, suggesting that strong biological protection, rather than modern medicine alone, played a major role in their longevity. Researchers also noted that some Brazilian supercentenarians survived Covid-19 before vaccines were available, pointing to particularly strong immune systems. Experts say expanding longevity research to include diverse populations like Brazil’s is essential to better understand ageing and improve health outcomes worldwide.   With inputs from BBC

Scientists have, for the first time, developed a technology that allows humans to watch plants “breathe” in real time, a breakthrough that could help create stronger and more drought-resistant crops. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have built a device called “Stomata In-Sight” that makes it possible to directly observe how tiny pores on plant leaves, known as stomata, open and close to regulate the exchange of carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapour. For centuries, scientists have known that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and water vapour through these microscopic pores. However, the process had never before been observed live and in such fine detail. The new system combines a high-resolution confocal microscope, a precise gas-exchange measurement setup and machine-learning software to analyse images. During experiments, small sections of leaves are placed inside a palm-sized chamber where temperature, humidity, light, carbon dioxide levels and water supply can be carefully controlled. Using the device, researchers recorded videos showing how gases move as plants absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen and water vapour. The system also tracks subtle cellular changes as stomata respond to light, heat and humidity. Scientists say the breakthrough could transform crop research by helping identify genetic traits linked to better water-use efficiency. This is seen as crucial at a time when water scarcity and rising temperatures pose major threats to global food production. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has patented the technology and hopes it will soon be manufactured for wider scientific use. The findings have been published in the journal Plant Physiology.   With inputs from NDTV

Archaeologists in Bulgaria have uncovered the 6,000-year-old skeleton of a young man who survived a violent attack by a large carnivore, believed to have been a lion, offering rare evidence of prehistoric encounters between humans and big predators. The discovery was made at a Late Eneolithic burial site in the Thracian region of eastern Bulgaria and has been detailed in the February 2026 issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, according to international media. Researchers said the man, who lived between 4600 and 4200 BC, was aged between 18 and 30 at the time of his death and stood more than 5 feet 7 inches tall. His remains were found near Kozareva Mogila, also known as Goat Mound, close to the Black Sea coast. Examinations of the skeleton revealed severe injuries to the skull and limbs, including puncture wounds consistent with an attack by a large carnivore. The wounds had healed, indicating that the man survived the attack, which is believed to have occurred during his adolescence. Paleontologist Nadezhda Karastoyanova of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said lions were present in eastern Bulgaria during the Late Eneolithic period. She led the zooarchaeological analysis alongside researchers Veselin Danov, Petya Petrova and Victoria Ruseva. Karastoyanova said more than 15 sets of lion remains have been found at prehistoric sites across Bulgaria, some bearing cut marks that suggest hunting and butchering by humans. Researchers noted that direct skeletal evidence of animal attacks from prehistoric times is extremely rare, making the find particularly significant.   With inputs from NDTV

Scientists have discovered the mummified remains of cheetahs in caves near Arar in northern Saudi Arabia, shedding light on populations that disappeared from the region centuries ago. The remains, dating from 130 to over 1,800 years old, include seven complete mummies and the bones of 54 additional cheetahs. Unlike typical decay, mummification preserves the body, and in this case, the caves’ dry conditions and stable temperatures likely contributed to the preservation. The cats’ shriveled limbs and cloudy eyes give them a “dried-out husk” appearance. Researchers are uncertain why so many cheetahs were found in the caves. It may have been a denning site, where mothers gave birth and raised their young. “These are large cat remains preserved in a way that is entirely without precedent,” said Ahmed Boug of the National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Scientists note that for such preservation, carcasses must avoid scavengers like birds and hyenas, as well as the right environmental conditions. Cheetahs once roamed across most of Africa and parts of Asia, including the Arabian Peninsula, but now occupy just 9% of their former range due to habitat loss, unregulated hunting, and declining prey. For the first time with naturally mummified large cats, researchers could study DNA, showing that these cheetahs were genetically closest to modern Asian and northwest African cheetahs. This insight could guide efforts to reintroduce cheetahs to areas where they have long vanished. The study was published Thursday in Communications Earth and Environment.