SECTIONS

Science

The MixJuly 17

Our little cousins from island shire

I have already written on the excavations in 2003 at Liang Bua, a cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, that caused a sensation among archaeologists and the wider public.
Our little cousins from island shire
Our little cousins from island shire
The MixJuly 17

Line of serendipity

There is something odd about the photograph accompanying this week’s column.
Line of serendipity
Line of serendipity
The MixJuly 10

From Pleiades to Matariki: A journey home

I grew up knowing these stars by another name.
From Pleiades to Matariki: A journey home
From Pleiades to Matariki: A journey home
The MixJuly 10

What was going on at the Rising Star cave complex?

Thirteen years ago, the basic building blocks of human evolution seemed to be in place.
What was going on at the Rising Star cave complex?
What was going on at the Rising Star cave complex?
The MixJuly 3

Wheat fields hid goddess

Ashwell is a small village with a deep history.
Wheat fields hid goddess
Wheat fields hid goddess
The MixJuly 3

For those who look longer

These evenings, you can hardly miss the brightest planet in the sky.
For those who look longer
For those who look longer
The MixJune 26

The return on curiosity

Last Sunday was the winter solstice, the year’s longest night and one of the best times to see the bright heart of our Milky Way arching across the southern sky.
The return on curiosity
The return on curiosity
The MixJune 26

Indo-European language spread started with horses

We take so much for granted, but sometimes, it is fascinating to look back to try and find out about transitions long before writing helped our inquiries.
Indo-European language spread started with horses
Indo-European language spread started with horses
The MixJune 19

Immovable object meets unstoppable force

In September, 89 AD, three Roman legions were destroyed at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
Immovable object meets unstoppable force
Immovable object meets unstoppable force
The MixJune 19

The cloud that waits

Last Friday night I spent several hours photographing the aurora.
The cloud that waits
The cloud that waits
The MixJune 12

The roads not taken, the mounds not dug

In 1961, I spent the summer in Macedonia, excavating a Neolithic village occupied about 8000 years ago.
The roads not taken, the mounds not dug
The roads not taken, the mounds not dug
The MixJune 12

In praise of darkness

George Eliot wrote that if we could truly perceive the fullness of ordinary life, it would be like hearing the grass grow.
In praise of darkness
In praise of darkness
The MixJune 8

Bacan’s beefy bee a big, boisterous bug

I was recently asked to name the world’s largest bee. This giant is Megachile pluto.
Bacan’s beefy bee a big, boisterous bug
Bacan’s beefy bee a big, boisterous bug
The MixMay 15

Sorting which came first

The world has saluted Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday.
Sorting which came first
Sorting which came first
The MixMay 15

Off the chain

It strikes me as quietly ridiculous, sitting in Middlemarch with a telescope barely bigger than a coffee mug, peering 60 million light-years into the dark.
Off the chain
Off the chain
The MixMay 1

Pragmatic word, poetic sight

Pragmatic word, poetic sight
Pragmatic word, poetic sight
The MixMay 1

The violence is in our genes

A tendency to aggression and antisocial behaviour is encoded in certain people’s DNA, argues Kathryn Paige Harden — and it could have profound implications for crime and punishment.
The violence is in our genes
The violence is in our genes
The MixMay 1

There but for a quirk of DNA go we

The discovery of DNA has had a massive impact on our understanding of human evolution.
There but for a quirk of DNA go we
There but for a quirk of DNA go we
The MixApril 10

Teeth hold diet secrets

How do you reconstruct the diet of prehistoric people?
Teeth hold diet secrets
Teeth hold diet secrets
The MixApril 10

Astonishment still growing

Tiny telescope, big discoveries.
Astonishment still growing
Astonishment still growing
The MixMarch 20

Gypsum proves to be a remarkable preserver of Roman history

Liquid gypsum is used today to improve the quality of clay soil, but in Roman times, it had a quite different application.
Gypsum proves to be a remarkable preserver of Roman history
Gypsum proves to be a remarkable preserver of Roman history
The MixMarch 20

Two visions of the same aurora

Autumn has arrived in Middlemarch.
Two visions of the same aurora
Two visions of the same aurora
The MixMarch 13

Recognising the impact of female archaeologists

As I am writing this it is International Women’s Day, and how appropriate to look back on the many contributions that women have made to understanding our human past.
Recognising the impact of female archaeologists
Recognising the impact of female archaeologists
The MixMarch 13

Visitors among us

Every now and then an astronomer finds themselves asking a question that sounds faintly ridiculous but is, in fact, perfectly reasonable.
Visitors among us
Visitors among us
The MixMarch 8

Working together to learn more

On calm nights in Middlemarch, when the wind drops and the paddocks fall quiet, my usual practice is to step outside before bed and gaze upwards.
Working together to learn more
Working together to learn more