‘Perfectly preserved' Ice Age skull extracted from mine in the Canadian Klondike
Initially, only half an of an animal skull, including the jaw, was visibly sticking out of the ground at the Hester Creek mine, according to a June 27 Facebook post from the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre.
The team from Yukon Paleontology returned the next day with tools to safely thaw out the find, still solidly frozen in the earth.
Eager to help, the miners aimed their water hoses at the ground directly above the skull, 'which significantly sped up the excavation process,' experts said.
With the miners' assistance, the team removed a complete and 'perfectly preserved' Ice Age horse skull, according to the post.
'The presence of canines tells us this horse was likely male, and because they were only partially erupted, we know he was likely a teenager when he died,' officials said.
The depth at which the skull was found suggests the horse lived about 30,000 years ago, experts said in a Facebook comment.
'Many of the fossils coming out of this area are from the last Ice Age,' experts said.
Paleontologists have identified more than 50 different species of horses that roamed across North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Ice Age.
In the Yukon, the most common was Equus lambei, or the Yukon horse — a relatively small species that stood just under 4 feet tall at the shoulders, according to experts.
Another unique species found in the region toward the end of the Ice Age was the North American stilt-legged horse — characterized by long, thin leg bones and an overall lighter build, experts said.
Experts have not yet identified the species of the Hester Creek fossil. The mine is in Canada's Yukon territory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
7 hours ago
- New York Times
Meta Unveils Wristband for Controlling Computers With Hand Gestures
The prototype looks like a giant rectangular wristwatch. But it doesn't tell the time: It lets you control a computer from across the room simply by moving your hand. With a gentle turn of the wrist, you can push a cursor across your laptop screen. If you tap your thumb against your forefinger, you can open an app on your desktop computer. And when you write your name in the air, as if you were holding a pencil, the letters will appear on your smartphone. Designed by researchers at Meta, the tech giant that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, this experimental technology reads the electrical signals that pulse through your muscles when you move your fingers. These signals, generated by commands sent from your brain, can reveal what you are about to do even before you do it, as the company detailed in a research paper published on Wednesday in the journal Nature. With a little practice, you can even move your laptop cursor simply by producing the right thought. 'You don't have to actually move,' Thomas Reardon, the Meta vice president of research who leads the project, said in an interview. 'You just have to intend the move.' Meta's wristband is part of a sweeping effort to develop technologies that let wearers control their personal devices without touching them. The aim is to provide simpler, quicker and less awkward ways of interacting with everything from laptops to smartphones — and maybe even to develop new digital devices that replace what we all use today. Most of these technologies are years away from widespread use. They typically involve tiny devices surgically implanted in the body, which is a complicated and risky endeavor. These implants are tested solely with disabled people who cannot move their arms and hands, and need new ways of using computers or smartphones. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
'Forever Chemicals' Detected in Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Reusable menstrual products—once hailed as eco-friendly and health-conscious alternatives to disposables—may be hiding a chemical threat, according to a new study. Researchers from Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame have discovered evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," in a wide range of reusable feminine hygiene products. The study involved the testing of 59 products from North America, South America and Europe. These included period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear. A stock image of women's underwear, reusable cloth pad and menstrual cup on a violet background. A stock image of women's underwear, reusable cloth pad and menstrual cup on a violet background. Liudmila Chernetska/iStock / Getty Images Plus Last year, researchers led from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston analyzed menstrual hygiene habits using data from the Apple Women's Health Study, which tracked 11,455 U.S. participants between November 2019 and January 2024. Despite rising awareness about arsenic and toxic metals, regular tampons remained the most commonly used menstrual product, used by 48 percent of subjects. Pads were used by 47 percent and panty liners by 43 percent. Among reusable options, period underwear was chosen by 20 percent and menstrual cups by 18 percent of respondents. Recently, the researches found PFAS were detected in nearly 30 percent of the samples—at levels suggesting they were intentionally added. This marks the first official confirmation of these potentially harmful chemicals in reusable menstrual products. "Since reusable products are on the rise due to their increased sustainability compared to single-use products, it's important to ensure that these products are safe. This is crucial, especially for adolescents and young women, who are more vulnerable to potential negative health effects," said paper author and chemist professor Marta Venier of Indiana University in a statement. "Feminine hygiene products stay in contact with the skin for extended periods of time, and the risks from the dermal absorption of PFAS, especially neutral PFAS, are not well understood." What Are PFAS and Why Are They Concerning? PFAS are synthetic chemicals used for their water, stain and heat-resistant properties. However, they are known to accumulate in the human body over time and have been linked to serious health conditions, including hormone disruption, cancer and immune system dysfunction. "One of the most abundant PFAS detected in products from the North American market is 8:2 FTOH, a chemical that was voluntarily phased out in food packaging by manufacturers in accordance with the FDA due to persistence in the body after dietary exposure," explained Sydney Brady, a Ph.D. student in Venier's lab. "Notably, 8:2 FTOH can be transformed into more toxic PFOA once inside the body." Newsweek reached out to Dr. Olivia Ahn, a former NHS doctor based in the U.K., who described the idea of chemicals and microplastics entering women's bodies as "unsettling." "It's a serious concern that demands urgent attention from everyone involved – from the companies making these products to the regulators overseeing them," she said. Ahn, founder of the sustainable femcare brand FLUUS—which developed the world's first certified flushable, microplastics- and glue-free sanitary pad made from non-woven natural materials—explained how these substances are absorbed through sensitive tissues. She said: "The vaginal tissue isn't like the skin on your arm—it's incredibly delicate and acts like a fast track directly to your bloodstream. It's highly absorbent, meaning chemicals can quickly get into your system without being filtered by your liver or digestive system in the usual way. "This pathway is so efficient that it's even used in medicine for quick drug delivery. This unique sensitivity is precisely why we must be extra vigilant about the chemical makeup of products designed for intimate use. What you put there really matters for your overall health." Environmental Implications of Reusables While reusable menstrual products are seen as a sustainable alternative to disposables, they still end up in landfills. Once there, PFAS can leach into the soil and water, posing a wider environmental hazard. These findings underline the need for greater transparency in product manufacturing and labeling. "Consumers should know that not everything that is in a product is listed on the package," Venier added. "Increased transparency from manufacturers would help consumers make informed decisions about what they're purchasing for themselves and their families." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about PFAS? Let us know via health@ References Wang, Z., Peebles, E., Baird, D. D., Jukic, A. M. Z., Wilcox, A. J., Curry, C. L., Fischer-Colbrie, T., Onnela, J.-P., Williams, M. A., Hauser, R., Coull, B. A., & Mahalingaiah, S. (2025). Menstrual product use patterns in a large digital cohort in the United States: Variations by sociodemographic, health, and menstrual characteristics. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Wicks, A., Brady, S., Whitehead, H. D., Hedman, T., Zachritz, A., Venier, M., & Peaslee, G. F. (2025). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products. Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
Scientists warn of toxic ‘forever chemicals' in reusable period products
Many reusable menstrual products that have gained increasing popularity among teens are packed with toxic 'forever chemicals,' a new study has found. Among the biggest repeat offenders are washable pads and underwear, according to the study, published on Tuesday in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. And as more consumers opt for multi-use products over their disposable counterparts, the study authors expressed cause for concern. 'Since reusable products are on the rise due to their increased sustainability compared to single-use products, it's important to ensure that these products are safe,' co-author Marta Venier, an associated professor at the University of Notre Dame, said in a statement. 'This is crucial, especially for adolescents and young women, who are more vulnerable to potential negative health effects,' Venier added. The compounds in question are known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and are prevalent in numerous household items, such as waterproof apparel, nonstick pans and various personal care products. There are an estimated 15,000 types of PFAS, all of which are manmade, and some of which have been linked to cancers and other severe illnesses. These so-called 'forever chemicals' linger nearly interminably in the environment and up to several years in the human body. Previous research in China sounded the alarm on the prevalence of PFAS in that country's personal hygiene products, including in sanitary pads, panty liners, tampons, paper diapers, menstrual cups and bactericidal liquids. In addition, a 2020 Sierra Magazine article — which included the participation of Graham Peaslee, senior author of the current study — identified 'intentional fluorine use' in one type of period underwear, which led to a lawsuit and $5 million settlement with the brand. To identify PFAS presence in products, scientists typically begin by deploying a broad-stroke screening tool: the assessment of total fluorine in a sample. They generally deem fluorine usage as 'intentional' — or deliberate in a product's formulation, as opposed to accidental contamination — when levels surpass a specific safety threshold. In the current study, the researchers narrowed their focus on 59 reusable hygiene products — such as period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear and pads — from North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The products, they explained, first underwent total fluorine screenings using a technology called particle-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy. These preliminary screenings showed that period underwear and reusable pads likely had the highest rates of intentional PFAS use: 33 percent and 25 percent of items in each of these product categories, respectively. The findings applied to markets across the globe, with intentional fluorination spotted in seven pairs of South American underwear, four North American pairs and two European pairs, according to the study. Following the initial fluorine scans, the scientists then chose 19 products for targeted analyses of 31 'ionic' and 11 'neutral' types of PFAS. Ionic PFAS are those molecules that can 'dissociate' in the environment, becoming highly mobile and capable of widespread contamination. Among the most notorious types of ionic PFAS are legacy compounds like PFOA and PFOS, which have largely been phased out of production but remain in the environment due to their persistence. Neutral PFAS, on the other hand, do not dissociate and were previously thought to be less toxic. But scientists have been challenging that assumption, as these compounds are highly volatile and can serve as precursors for ionic PFAS. In the more precise PFAS tests for the 19 period products, the researchers detected the compounds in 100 percent of the products, with two types of neutral PFAS — 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) — boasting the most abundant presence. Co-author Sydney Brady, a PhD candidate in Venier's group, stressed in a statement that 8:2 FTOH was one of the most common types of PFAS in the North American items, despite its elimination from food packing by manufacturers. That phase-out, Brady explained, occurred due to Food and Drug Administration concerns about the chemical's 'persistence in the body after dietary exposure.' 'Notably, 8:2 FTOH can be transformed into more toxic PFOA once inside the body,' Brady warned. While recognizing that far less research exists on PFAS exposure via skin versus food or water, the authors cited initial studies on dermal absorption as a potentially 'significant exposure pathway for PFAS when present in feminine hygiene products.' 'Feminine hygiene products stay in contact with the skin for extended periods of time,' Venier said. 'The risks from the dermal absorption of PFAS, especially neutral PFAS, are not well understood.' As such, the researchers called for further studies to define the risk of PFAS exposure via human skin. In addition, after identifying at least one sample per product category that contained zero intentionally added PFAS, they stressed that safer and healthier alternatives can likely be manufactured without them.
