Remains of 24 Battle Victims Discovered in Mass Burial Site by Archeologists
Archeologists have discovered what appears to be a collective burial site with the remains of 24 people.
While excavating in El Curaca — a settlement in Atico River Valley, Peru, that predates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas — researchers from the University of Wroclaw in Poland found a circular tomb containing the remains of 24 men, women and children. The names of those inside were listed on a stone inscription, a translated Facebook post from the researchers read.
Related: Archeologists Discover First Pharaoh's Tomb in Egypt Since King Tut's Was Found More Than a Century Ago
Each body was wrapped in a fabric, and buried "in accordance with ritual and relatively rich equipment," the post read. Additionally, the site saw "grave gifts," such as items made from ceramic, stone and wood, as well as corn cobs.
Pottery pieces with the hallmarks of the Chuquibamba or Aruni people — a pre-Incan group that lived south of the excavation site, near the Majes basin, from roughly 1000 to 1450 A.D. — were also found near the bodies.
"The bones confirmed numerous damages that are the direct cause of death of all individuals," the post read, which led researchers to conclude that those inside the tomb sustained fatal injuries, likely from a battle. Those in the tomb were presumably part of the side that won the conflict, given the detail of the burials and the quality of the burial gifts.
Related: 'Extraordinary' Tomb of Ancient Egyptian Called 'Lady of the House' Found 4,000 Years After Her Death
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The region in which the burial site was found was relatively undisturbed. CBS News reported that previous research led archeologists to find cave sites with rock paintings and signs of Inca roads, but otherwise, not much other anthropological work has been conducted in the area.
The research team from the University of Wroclaw is expected to remain in the area through April, the outlet reported.
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National Geographic
3 hours ago
- National Geographic
Snakes
There are over 3,000 types of snakes in the world. They have wide distribution, living everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. In the United States, snakes live in almost every state, except Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine. About 600 species are venomous. Of those, only about 200 can kill or significantly wound a human. Nonvenomous snakes, which range from harmless garter snakes to the not-so-harmless python, dispatch their victims by swallowing them alive or constricting them to death. Whether they kill by striking with venom or squeezing, nearly all snakes eat their food whole, in sometimes astoundingly large portions. Almost all snakes are covered in scales. As reptiles, they're cold blooded and must regulate their body temperature externally. Scales serve several purposes: They trap moisture in arid climates and reduce friction as the snake moves. Several species of snakes are mostly scaleless, but even those have scales on their bellies. Cultural significance of snakes Throughout history, snakes have been important symbols in cultures across the globe. In ancient Egypt, people often associated snakes with royalty. The goddess Wadjet was depicted as a snake. Pharaohs wore head gear and held scepters topped with a uraeus, or the upright form of an Egyptian cobra. Many East Asian cultures see snakes as symbols of immortality and renewal because they can shed their skin. The snake is also one of 12 animals that hold a spot on the Chinese zodiac and star in many folklore. Snakes are also familiar creatures in Native American folk tales and traditions. The Hopi and Cherokee see snakes as connections to the Underworld that deserve reverence and respect. How do snakes hunt? Snakes eat all sorts of animals, from small mammals and small fish to larger prey up to three times larger than the width of their head. They're able to swallow such large animals because their lower jaws unhinge from their upper jaws. Once in a snake's mouth, the prey is held in place by teeth that face inward, trapping it there. Snakes hunt by flicking their forked tongues in different directions to smell their surroundings. That lets them know when danger—or food—is nearby. Snakes have several other ways to detect a snack. Openings called pit holes in front of their eyes sense the heat given off by warm-blooded prey. Bones in their lower jaws pick up vibrations from rodents and other scurrying animals. (Snakes gang up to hunt prey—a first) Left: A green tree python (Morelia viridis) at the Riverside Zoo. Right: Speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Photographs by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark Behavior and reproduction About once a month snakes shed their skin, a process called ecdysis that makes room for growth and gets rid of parasites. They rub against a tree branch or other object, then slither out of their skin head first, leaving it discarded inside-out. Most snakes lay eggs, but some species—like sea snakes—give birth to living young. Very few snakes pay any attention to their eggs, with the exception of pythons, which incubate their eggs. (These are the rules of king cobra fight club—no venom allowed.) Here's a fact to make ophidiophobes feel uneasy: Five species of snakes can fly. Sea snakes Most snakes live on land, but there are about 70 species of snakes that live mostly among the coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. These family elapidae sea snakes and their cousins, kraits, are some of the most venomous snakes that exist. The yellow bellied sea snake is one of the most venomous. Most sea snakes pose little threat to humans because they're shy, gentle, and their fangs are too short to do much damage. What to do if you see a snake in the wild Experts say it's best to leave snakes alone and give them plenty of room. A rattlesnake (Crotalus) can lunge about two-thirds of its body weight. Most nonvenomous snakes will eventually glide out of the way. If a snake doesn't move, experts say to wait it out or just turn back. Do not attempt to handle it or touch it with a stick. Rattlesnakes don't always rattle their tails in warning, so it's important to be extra careful. (The key to protecting rattlesnakes from extinction? Clearing their name and reputation.) Conservation status There are nine IUCN Red List categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct. Roughly a hundred snake species are endangered, typically due to habitat loss from development. Of those endangered snakes, 17 percent are vipers. Pythons 101 From unbelievably flexible jaws to rows of razor sharp teeth, a range of impressive features make the python one of nature's most formidable predators. Learn about ball, burmese, reticulated, and other types of pythons, what the snakes eat, where they live, and how a surprising feature might be a sign of legged ancestors. What are the top 10 biggest snakes? The 10 biggest snakes in the world are the African rock python (Python sebae), amethystine python (Simalia amethistina), black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), boa constrictor, Burmese python (Python bivittatus), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), Indian python (Python molurus), king brown (Pseudechis australis), king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), and reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus). —BBC Science Focus Magazine What are the four most poisonous snakes? India has nearly 60 highly venomous snakes, including a few known as the 'Big Four.' They are the common krait, Russell's viper, saw-scaled viper, and spectacled snake with the deadliest venom in the world is the western or inland taipan. These snakes live in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Taipan venom contains a mix of toxins that paralyze muscles, constrict breathing, and cause internal bleeding. —Wildlife S.O.S. and Britannica What will keep snakes away? There are many ways to deter snakes from entering your home or property. Discourage rodents by maintaining a tidy yard and patching any holes or cracks where animals can enter. Keep pet food stored indoors and consider fencing or concrete walls to provide a physical barrier to snakes. Most experts don't recommend chemical repellents, which can be ineffective and harmful to others. Experts also discourage inhumane deterrents such as glue traps and ceramic eggs in chicken coops. —Utah State University How dangerous are snakes? Of the 3,000 species of snakes in the world, only about 10 percent are venomous. Half of those have venom deadly enough to cause human fatalities. —Rainforest Trust This story originally published on January 25, 2019. It was updated on June 10, 2025.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Screen time is both a cause and symptom of kids' bad behavior, according to new research
Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book 'Over the Influence: Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back' was published in 2024 by Alcove Press. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky. Does your child not listen to you? Do they kick and scream when they get angry? You may need to rethink their screen time, according to an article published Monday in Psychological Bulletin, a journal of the American Psychological Association. The more time kids spent looking at a screen, the more likely their actions and feelings didn't meet expectations for their stage of development, according to a meta-analysis of 117 studies of kids younger than 10½ when the research began. These socioemotional problems included anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and aggression. The association was small but significant, especially for girls. The studies were designed in different ways but the overall picture showed that trouble occurred when kids under age 2 had any screen time (other than video chats), when kids ages 2-5 had more than an hour per day of screen time and when older kids had more than 2 hours per day of screen time. Kids who spent a lot of time on games were particularly at risk. And 6-to-10-year-olds were more likely to develop socioemotional problems than children age 5 or younger. What's more, kids who experienced these challenges tended to turn to screens even more to cope, which could exacerbate the problem. This was especially the case for boys. 'High screen use isn't just a cause of problems — sometimes, it's a symptom,' said lead author Roberta Pires Vasconcellos via email , noting one of the most striking findings. 'In many cases, children who are already struggling emotionally turn to screens, especially video games, as a way to cope or escape,' said Vasconcellos , who is a n associate lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. 'While that might offer short-term relief, over time it can trap them in a cycle that reinforces those emotional difficulties.' One of the largest of its kind, the meta-analysis has limitations, however, because it couldn't account for factors such as parenting style or socioeconomic status, Vasconcellos said. And since the studies looked at screen time more broadly, they couldn't pinpoint the effects of social media use on kids' mental health. Nevertheless, this latest data on kids and screen time suggests specific actions parents or guardians can take to have a real, positive impact on their kids' mental health. Adults often give kids screens to help them calm down, especially during work time or in other situations when children need to be quiet, such as at a restaurant. 'While this may offer short-term relief, it can lead to longer-term problems,' Vasconcellos warned. That's because it may prevent kids from learning how to behave appropriately and handle their emotions. 'Instead of developing self-regulation skills, they come to rely on screens for comfort and distraction,' she said. 'This can reinforce a harmful cycle where emotional difficulties are masked rather than addressed, making it even harder for children to cope without a screen over time.' Look for signs that children are reaching for screens when they have a problem. Rather than assuming the problem is the screen itself, look at the bigger picture, Vasconcellos said. ' If you notice your child turning to screens more often when they're upset or withdrawn, it might be time to check in on how they're doing emotionally,' she advised. 'In some cases, they might be seeking the sense of connection or support they're not finding in their face-to-face relationships — at home, at school or in other social settings.' That's when they need parental support and guidance the most — 'to help them feel heard, understood and emotionally safe, both online and offline,' Vasconcellos said. School guidance counselors or therapists are also good sources of support. The amount of time kids spend gaming is also important to note, according to the study. ' Online games, in particular, pose additional risks because they often function like social media platforms,' Vasconcellos said. 'Since these games continue even when a player logs out, children may feel pressure to stay connected for longer periods, which can lead them to neglect important real-life activities like sleep, schoolwork and face-to-face interactions. 'For this reason, gaming may require extra attention and clearer boundaries — especially for older children, who are typically granted more independence in how they use their time.' It's important to set rules for kids' screen time and stick to them. 'Keeping rules consistent helps children know what to expect and makes limits easier to follow,' Vasconcellos said. Parental controls on phones and apps are also useful. 'Most devices offer built-in tools to help you manage screen time and filter content,' she said. 'Use these settings to set reasonable daily limits and ensure your child is only accessing age-appropriate material.' To help prevent kids from depending too much on devices, Vasconcellos suggests removing apps such as video streaming platforms that are particularly tempting. Instead, give kids content that is educational or that serves a good purpose. The results of this study didn't surprise me. In my research, therapists and teachers often complain that parents or guardians aren't willing to set limits and say no when their kids ask for screens. When I say no to my own kids, their reactions aren't always pleasant. I have to remind myself that, as their mom, it's my job to know what's best for them and to make decisions that will keep them healthy in the long run — even if it leads to short-term distress for us all. Limiting kids' phone use is also wise. A newly published consensus statement I coauthored with experts around the globe offers evidence that heavy use of social media and smartphones by young people is linked to problems with sleep, attention, addiction and body dissatisfaction. When I speak to parents about how to handle their kids' social media use, they often tell me they feel they need to give their younger kids a phone at the same age their older siblings got one. That's not true. Tell younger kids who make this argument that you are more experienced now and have more data showing how screen time can be harmful. Also consider attractive alternatives to a phone. One mom told me she offered her daughter $1,600 to wait until she was 16 to get a phone. Her daughter took the cash. While many people don't have that kind of disposable income, you can still be creative and propose other things that kids would like. Sleepovers with friends, or a family camping adventure are just some examples. No matter what you offer, it's important to rethink the way you let your kids use technology. Since screen time may be both a cause and a symptom of behavioral and emotional problems in children, get comfortable saying no. It may provoke kicking and screaming in the moment, but it will likely lead to better mental health in the long run. Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Woman discovers rare 'doomsday' fish on remote beach: 'It was so bizarre ... like something from the deep sea'
A rare deep-sea creature, sometimes called a "doomsday fish," made a mysterious appearance on a remote beach in Tasmania, and the eerie encounter is causing people to wonder about what's really happening beneath the surface of our oceans. The oarfish, a rarely seen species believed to dwell hundreds of feet below sea level, was spotted by a local woman, Sybil Robertson, on Ocean Beach near the town of Strahan. Measuring roughly 10 feet long and gleaming silver, the animal was so unusual in appearance that the woman who found it was in awe. "It was so bizarre," Australian marine biologist Jorja Gilmore said when talking about her own encounter with an oarfish in 2022, "like something from the deep sea." The discovery was reported by the Guardian, which notes that oarfish are "phenomenally big fish" with long, ribbon-like bodies and delicate dorsal fins. Marine ecologist Neville Barrett of the University of Tasmania explained that these animals are usually found between 500 and 1,640 feet deep and rarely come close to shore. In Japanese folklore, oarfish are known as "Ryūgū-no-tsukai," or messengers from the sea god's palace, and their appearance is sometimes interpreted as a warning of earthquakes. While there's no evidence this creature's appearance is tied to any seismic event, its presence near the surface is still highly unusual. A similar incident occurred earlier this year when a live oarfish was spotted on a beach in Baja California Sur, Mexico, as reported by People. The animal appeared injured and disoriented. These increasingly visible encounters have left people wondering whether something deeper is going on, literally. The deep sea remains one of the most under-monitored ecosystems on Earth, yet it plays a crucial role in maintaining the planet's temperature, food supply, and biodiversity. Warmer waters are shifting migration patterns for countless species, which is pushing animals like jellyfish, sharks, and even oarfish into areas where they aren't typically found. At the same time, plastic pollution is being ingested by deep-sea creatures, and larger debris can entangle or injure them. Overfishing and acidification are also disrupting the ocean's food web, leaving some animals without enough resources to survive. While the cause of this particular oarfish's appearance is unknown, marine scientists have warned that what we don't know about the deep ocean may be just as concerning as what we do. Do you think we still have a lot to learn from ancient cultures? Definitely Only on certain topics I'm not sure No — not really Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "It's just so interesting what you can find if you just keep your eyes open whilst you're looking around. It's just amazing," Robertson said. These moments can feel extraordinary but might also be signs of distress that are in need of attention. Efforts to better understand and protect the ocean are underway, but there's a long way to go. Projects like the Ocean Census, which is a global initiative to discover and document 100,000 new marine species in the next decade, are designed to fill some of the knowledge gaps. Meanwhile, countries like the U.S. have recently committed to expanding marine protected areas, which can help preserve deep-sea habitats and biodiversity. To help on an individual level, reducing plastic use, eating lower on the seafood chain, and supporting sustainable fishing practices all contribute to healthier oceans. And pushing for stronger ocean policy and funding for marine research ensures that the deep sea (and its rarely seen residents) don't stay out of sight, out of mind. Solutions like floating solar panels on reservoirs, which reduce pollution output while minimizing pressure on land and aquatic systems, and efforts to combat invasive species, can help restore balance in fragile ecosystems. Each of these steps brings us closer to a future where rare animals like the oarfish don't have to show up onshore to be considered. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.