One Time, Two Early Humans Coexisted

In a groundbreaking discovery in early human evolution, scientists revealed that, using the "Burtele Foot" and the "Lucy fossil," they identified two hominin species that coexisted at the same place and time.

Back in 1974, scientists discovered 40 percent of a single hominin skeleton known as Lucy at the Hadar site in Ethiopia, which rose to prominence as the most complete early human ancestor ever found. Many years later, in 2009, another "enigmatic" hominin foot, Burtele, was discovered nearby at the Afar Rift.

Though researchers understood that the two human remains did not belong to the same species, Burtele Foot remained unclassified until recently, when researchers unearthed more fossils that helped solve the mystery. Lucy had already been categorized as a separate hominin, A. afarensis.

In 2015, a team at Arizona State University announced yet another human ancestor, Australopithecus deyiremeda, to which it would turn out Burtele’s Foot also belonged. The evidence added up.

Researchers could then conclude that 3.5 million years ago, at a "poorly understood time in human evolution," according to Reuters, two different hominins lived alongside one another, though they did not walk alike.

A team from ASU recently unearthed a new set of fossils: 25 teeth and a jawbone. Based on what they gleaned from the new evidence, Burtele, composed of eight-foot bones once attached to a very early hominin species, A. deyiremeda, which possessed both ape-like and human-like traits, according to Reuters.

Now that researchers know that Burtele and Lucy were distinct species, the Woranso-Mille site has become significant as the only location in the world where scientists have identified the coexistence of two hominin species with distinct characteristics.

The Burtele Foot retained an opposable big toe, according to a press release by Arizona State University News, which would have assisted this early human in climbing, with longer, more flexible toes. When it walked on two legs, it most likely pushed off its second digit rather than the big toe as we modern humans do today. Lucy’s species, A. afarensis, was fully bipedal with an abducted big toe. Researchers gleaned that early humans walked differently.

"So what that means is that bipedality — walking on two legs — in these early human ancestors came in various forms. The whole idea of finding specimens like the Burtele Foot tells you that there were many ways of walking on two legs when on the ground; there was not just one way until later."

Isotope analysis, furthermore, if not surprisingly, showed that the two species did not dine alike either. "I think the biggest surprise was despite ... how diverse these early australopith (early hominin) species were — in their size, in their diet, in their locomotor repertoires and in their anatomy — [they] seem to be remarkably similar in the manner in which they grew up," said Haile-Selassie, director of the Institute of Human Origins and professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at ASU.

Studying how these ancient ancestors moved and what they ate gives scientists insight into how different species lived together without one driving the other to extinction.

"If we don’t understand our past, we can’t fully understand the present or our future. What happened in the past, we see it happening today," he said.

"In a lot of ways, the climate change that we see today has happened so many times during the times of Lucy and A. deyiremeda. What we learn from that time could actually help us mitigate some of the worst outcomes of climate change today."

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Radiation Waste Converted Into Cancer-Fighting Isotope

Scientists recently found a way to convert high-energy radiation waste from particle accelerators into a critically scarce medical isotope used in cancer therapy.

The intense beams of particles inside accelerators, typically focused on unlocking the deepest secrets of the universe, eventually collide with a component called a "beam dump." This is where the leftover energy — massive amounts of radiation — is absorbed and usually dissipated as waste heat.

The photons in a particle accelerator’s beam dump are intense, high-energy radiation byproducts of the main physics experiment.

A team of researchers at the University of York states that this powerful radiation, specifically the photons, can be captured and repurposed. It can be utilized to create materials necessary for cancer treatment.

The target isotope, copper-67, is a highly valuable asset in oncology. The method shows potential for generating this rare isotope, which is used for both diagnosing and treating cancer.

"We have shown the potential to generate copper-67, a rare isotope used in both diagnosing and treating cancers, by demonstrating that what we might view as waste from a particle accelerator experiment can be turned into something that can save lives," said Dr. Mamad Eslami, a nuclear physicist from the University of York’s School of Physics, Engineering and Technology.

In nuclear medicine, medical isotopes are the key tools—they emit radiation used to both diagnose and treat diseases. Because they aren’t abundant in nature, these isotopes have to be produced synthetically.

Copper-67 is a highly valuable medical isotope because it functions as a theranostic agent, meaning it can both treat and track disease simultaneously.

Specifically, it emits radiation that is effective at destroying cancer cells, while also releasing radiation that allows doctors to monitor the treatment’s progress and assess its location using diagnostic imaging. This dual capability makes it exceptionally useful in personalized cancer care.

Clinical trials are currently investigating its use against aggressive diseases like neuroblastoma and prostate cancer.

However, the global supplies of Copper-67 are severely restricted because current production methods rely on expensive, dedicated accelerator time and often use aging infrastructure.

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The Tragic Life Of Princess Gowramma

On 24 April 1834 CE, Chikavira Rajendra was deposed after losing the Coorg War against the British East India Company. Under Army officer James Stuart Fraser’s orders, the kingdom was annexed to British India, and the king was taken as a political prisoner in Benaras.

King Chikka Virarajendra spent around 14 years there, and in 1852, travelled to London with his 11-year-old daughter Gouramma to demand the British government return his ancestral wealth, and that his daughter be provided care and a secure future under Christianity.

The two became the first Indians to arrive on Britain’s turf. He was accompanied by his good friend Dr. Willian Jeafersson, who advised the king to first bring up matters surrounding Gouramma’s future and then fight his case for his rightful property.

The report of Illustrated London News on their arrival in 1852 stated highlighted how the "Hindoo faith" was being "abandoned for the truths of the Christian religion" and that Princess Gouramma was described as a "pigeon among crows" and the "fairest of the clock".

This might provide insight into why the young princess was readily accepted by Queen Victoria, who declared herself Gouramma’s godmother, and had her baptized. The baptism was a highly publicised affair. The Queen gave Gouramma her own name, and she was thus known as Princess Victoria Gouramma of Coorg.

The young princess was taken under the care of Major and Mrs. Drummond, an army couple who educated her and familiarized her with western ideologies. Princess Gouramma was a natural socialite and was often reported as being elegant, jovial, and lived a highly publicized life. She was also reportedly doted upon by the Queen. However, Dr. Atwal said this scrutiny, both public and within palace grounds, did not always suit her well, and she often wished for a life of more privacy and independence.

Queen Victoria, in the hopes of furthering Christianity in India, decided to don the role of matchmaker, says C P Belliappa in his book, "Victoria Gouramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg". Here, she was introduced to Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, and another casualty among Queen Victoria’s 'adopted godchildren'. He was exiled to Britain at the age of 15, and in 1853, was converted to Christianity, though it is said this was a decision filled with regret and remorse (he would eventually revert to Sikhism in 1886).

The Palace attempted to bring Princess Gouramma and Maharaja Duleep Singh together in marriage. While both were never attracted to one another, what developed instead was a strong camaraderie, and the Maharaja would often call the Princess as his 'honourary sister'. From here began Princess Gouramma’s disillusionment with the Royal Family, and she instead fell for 50-year-old army colonel John Campbell.

While Princess Gouramma had been keeping up pretences on the outside, her deteriorating health had been largely ignored by those around her. She was known to often cough up blood and remain weak.

Meanwhile, the illusion of a happy marriage was shattered when she became privy to Campbell’s gambling habits, and that he was only interested in her wealth. Tragically, Gouramma died of tuberculosis aged 23, just a few months short of her 23rd birthday. She died when her beloved daughter Edith was just three years old.

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"Golden Dome" Defense System Has Kicked Off

The US Space Force has begun issuing prototype contracts for space-based missile interceptors, marking one of the first major steps toward the Pentagon’s proposed "Golden Dome" defense network, the service confirmed last 25 November.

A Space Force spokesperson said the awards were made through competitive Other Transaction Agreements, or OTAs, a contracting tool the Defense Department uses to speed the development of emerging technologies.

The number of companies selected was not disclosed, and their names were withheld for security reasons.

"The selection process was robust and thorough," the spokesperson said in a statement to SpaceNews.

"The Space Force will lead a fast-paced effort in partnership with industry to develop, demonstrate, and deliver prototype interceptors."

The service also did not release contract values. OTA awards fall outside the traditional Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation system and, therefore, do not require public disclosure.

The Pentagon often uses OTAs to attract companies that do not typically work on defense contracts because the rules are more flexible regarding costs, schedules, and intellectual property rights.

The prototype contracts stem from a Space Force solicitation issued in September seeking designs for boost-phase interceptors, systems intended to destroy an enemy missile within the first few minutes of launch.

Destroying a missile in this early "boost" stage is considered ideal because the rocket is still bright and hot, making it easier to track. But firing an interceptor in that short window requires quick reaction times and a large number of satellites in low Earth orbit.

The early awards support the Pentagon’s ambitious Golden Dome initiative, led by Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, who reports directly to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg.

Golden Dome is envisioned as a multi-layered homeland missile defense system that combines new space-based sensors, faster command-and-control systems, and a mix of ground and orbital interceptors.

Under the concept, space-based interceptors would maneuver in orbit and physically strike hostile missiles during flight.

How they are used and how many satellites are required will depend on the architecture the Pentagon ultimately selects.

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Scientists Earn Nobel Prize For Clean-Water-From-Air Invention

When Omar Yaghi picked up the phone at Frankfurt Airport to learn he had just won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, he called the feeling "indescribable."

The recognition honors Yaghi — a Palestinian-American scientist at UC Berkeley — along with Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University and Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne for developing a breakthrough material that can pull clean water from the air.

The invention, known as metal-organic frameworks, represents a major leap forward in sustainable technology.

According to TRTWorld, porous, sponge-like structures are designed at the molecular level to capture and store gases, remove pollutants, and, most strikingly, extract water vapor from dry desert air.

The Nobel committee described MOFs as "molecular sponges" capable of holding immense volumes of material in tiny spaces.

For Yaghi, the discovery is deeply personal. Born to Palestinian refugee parents outside Amman, Jordan, he grew up in a home that often went days without running water. Those early experiences with scarcity inspired a lifelong mission to make clean water accessible to all — no matter where they live.

The potential of Yaghi's work is enormous. More than 4 billion people worldwide face severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, according to UNICEF.

By drawing moisture directly from the atmosphere, MOF-based water harvesters could provide a decentralized source of clean drinking water in regions where traditional wells and pipelines can't reach.

Beyond humanitarian relief, the environmental implications are transformative. Extracting water from air using solar energy could reduce dependence on groundwater and desalination, which are energy-intensive and often harmful to ecosystems. It could also stabilize weather patterns in drought-prone areas and support biodiversity by rejuvenating dry landscapes.

At a time when excessive water use and pollution threaten both people and the planet, Yaghi's invention represents a hopeful turn — one that aligns with broader efforts to conserve and responsibly manage Earth's most vital resource.

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