Italian archaeologists have discovered Etruscan and Roman statues in Tuscany, which will go on display at Rome’s Quirinale Palace from June 22. The discovery of about two dozen bronze statues from the third century BC to the first century AD, extracted from the ruins of an ancient spa, was due in part to the intuition of a retired garbage man. Meanwhile, US Poet Laureate Ada Limon has written a poem for inscription on a NASA spacecraft headed to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Finally, a genomic study of primates has revealed pivotal genetic traits that are uniquely human, while refining the timeline for our evolutionary lineage’s split from our closest cousins, the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Based on a recent Reuters science news summary, a retired garbage man played a crucial role in unearthing ancient bronze statues in Tuscany. This discovery is considered one of Italy’s most remarkable archaeological finds in decades. The Etruscan and Roman statues were pulled from the mud in Tuscany and will go on display in Rome’s Quirinale Palace from June 22 after months of restoration.
Ada Limon, the U.S. Poet Laureate, was recently asked to write a poem for inscription on a NASA spacecraft headed to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Despite feeling overwhelmed by the task, Limon felt honored by the request. She ultimately wrote an ode to Europa, which will be included on the spacecraft.
A recent primate genome study has offered some clues as to what makes humans unique. The study, which included nearly half of all primate species, revealed pivotal genetic traits that are uniquely human. It also refined the timeline for our evolutionary lineage’s split from our closest cousins, the chimpanzees and bonobos. Surprisingly, researchers found that most primate species boast greater genetic diversity than humans.
These recent developments in science and archaeology shed light on the complexities of our world and the evolution of our species. From the invaluable contributions of a retired garbage man to the insights gained from genomic studies, we continue to learn more about our past and present. As we look toward the future, it is crucial to continue supporting scientific research and exploration.
