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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
Scientific evidence on whether Adam and Eve really did exist
Scientists believe they may have finally discovered whether or not Adam and Eve truly existed. According to the Bible, Adam and Eve were the first two humans, created by God. The Old Testament states that they lived in the Garden of Eden and are central to the belief that all humans descended from a single pair of original ancestors. Despite scepticism surrounding the biblical tale, there is an increasing amount of evidence suggesting that some elements of the story could be accurate. Remarkably, archaeologists have uncovered surprising signs that Eden was not only a real location but could also have been the cradle of civilisation as we know it, as reported by The Daily Mail. Biologists have demonstrated that all living humans do indeed share a single common ancestor, but reconciling the Bible's historical accounts with modern science does necessitate discarding much of the narrative. In the sacred text, Adam and Eve reside in a place named the Garden of Eden, depicted as a land of abundance and plenty. Surprisingly, the Bible provides a fairly precise indication of where this mythical garden is situated, reports the Mirror US. In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, it is stated that a river flows through Eden and splits into four tributaries: The Pishon, the Gihon, the Tigris, and the Euphrates. The age-old tale of Adam and Eve's origins might need a rethink, with experts suggesting our biblical forebears might not have been Homo Sapiens after all. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, still flowing through Iraq today, are familiar names from the story, but the exact whereabouts of the other two rivers, Gihon and Pishon, remain a mystery, casting doubt on their existence. Scholars believe the Garden of Eden could have been in various places, yet the most convincing location is thought to be Mesopotamia. This area, whose name translates to 'between rivers' from Ancient Greek, is cradled by the Tigris and Euphrates and sprawls across parts of what are now eastern Syria, northwestern Turkey, and much of Iraq. Professor Eric Cline, an expert in classical and biblical archaeology at George Washington University, penned 'From Eden to Exile', where he supports this theory as aligning with both scriptural texts and archaeological findings. In his book, Professor Cline explains: "This makes some sense from a textual point of view, because not only does the biblical account say that the garden lay 'in the east', meaning to the east of Israel, but it also mentions the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in connection with the Garden of Eden." Mesopotamia is widely regarded as the cradle of agriculture, where both plants and animals were first tamed over 10,000 to 20,000 years ago during what's known as the Neolithic revolution. This shift led humans away from their hunter-gatherer roots, giving rise to our earliest permanent settlements. Prof Cline said: "This area may have also become somewhat of an agricultural paradise for the local residents following the invention of irrigation during the fourth millennium BC." To bolster the Biblical narrative, scientists indeed think all present-day humans hail from a single woman. Dubbed 'Mitochondrial Eve,' she represents the universal matrilineal ancestor, traceable through DNA. This singular ancestor concept stems from the understanding that regardless of a population's size, most female lineages are destined to extinguish at some point. Thus Mitochondrial Eve wasn't the inaugural human, yet after all alternative female lines ceased, leaving no trace in mitochondrial DNA—inheritance that flows exclusively from mothers to offspring. Applying the same reasoning, scientists inferred the existence of a 'Y-chromosome Adam' as the root of every living human's Y-chromosome. Despite this, the theory has its critics, with some arguing that although everyone on the planet shares DNA with common ancestors, this does not necessarily mean that they came from a single "first couple." It is possible that the man and woman lived in different eras and may not have had children together, with their existences potentially being centuries apart. However, Dr Joshua Swamidass, a biologist from Washington University, counters that there is no reason to rule out the possibility that humanity descended from a single couple. The cases of Mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosome Adam demonstrate that there is no scientific barrier to humans having a common ancestor, even if the population never dwindled to just two individuals. In an article published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, Dr Swamidass wrote: "Many individuals are each individually ancestors of 'all the living'." He explained that all humans alive today descend from each of these universal ancestors, and the same can be said for all individuals alive in AD 1 or when recorded history began. Dr Swamidass suggested that two of these universal ancestors could be a specific couple, referred to as Adam and Eve in scripture, from whom all humans descend. While Dr Swamidass is not presenting this as a definitive explanation, he is highlighting that our current understanding of evolutionary biology does not preclude the existence of Adam and Eve as a couple. Nevertheless, as Dr Swamidass noted, there remains the issue that Homo Sapiens were not the first humans to inhabit Earth. Professor William Lane Craig, a philosopher from Houston Christian University, has confidently claimed that Adam and Eve were the original humans, predating Homo sapiens. Using criteria such as the ability for abstract thought, technological progress, and symbolism, he suggests that true humanity began much earlier. In an article for First Things, Professor Craig argues: "Adam and Eve may plausibly be identified as belonging to the last common ancestor of Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals - usually designated as Homo Heidelbergensis." He also said: "Adam plausibly lived sometime between around 1 million years ago to 750,000 years ago - a conclusion consistent with the evidence of population genetics."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Traces of Mysterious Ancient Human Population Discovered in Colombia
Colombia sits on the land through which Homo sapiens first spread from Central America to South America more than 14,500 years ago, making it a crucial population gateway. Researchers have now found evidence of a previously unknown people who once lived there. Specifically, an international team has traced back 6,000 years of history, based on DNA analysis of 21 sets of carefully chosen human remains. The remains were collected from five sites across the Altiplano plateau, in central Colombia. These DNA records reveal a fascinating timeline, including the existence of an ancient population with genetics unrelated to any modern descendants – a group of people who may have been some of the earliest settlers in South America, but who subsequently disappeared completely. "We couldn't find descendants of these early hunter-gatherers of the Colombian high plains – the genes were not passed on," says anthropologist Kim-Louise Krettek, from the University of Tübingen, in Germany. "That means in the area around Bogotá there was a complete exchange of the population." DNA contains the genetic instructions we need to grow into the people we are, with contributions from parents, grandparents, and generations before them. By studying it, scientists can work out links between generations – and see how these generations moved and evolved over time. While one group was settled in the Colombian region around 6,000 years ago, a different community, with completely separate genetics, called the area home starting about 2,000 years ago. These people, who would've most likely spoken Chibchan languages, do have known genetic links to modern groups from the lower part of Central America. This later group also represents a cultural shift, from the hunter-gatherers of the original population, to people who were skilled in pottery-making and more sophisticated types of agriculture. It seems that these people stayed in place until settlers from Europe started arriving in the 16th century. "That genetic traces of the original population disappear completely is unusual, especially in South America," says geneticist Andrea Casas-Vargas, from the National University of Colombia. What happened to this newly discovered group, established 6,000 years ago, is something the researchers don't speculate on – though the usual causes of conflict or disease may be responsible. It's something future studies could look into. Even with many questions remaining unanswered though, the research offers some valuable insight into the history of South America and some of the earliest people to venture down from the north. Earlier studies have suggested that the story of indigenous people in the region may be more complex than previously thought, and genetic links to South America have connected its people to places as far away as Australia. With Colombia sitting right on the land bridge between South America and the continent to the north of it, however, it's a particularly important place to study – and it likely has more secrets to give up yet. "These are the first ancient human genomes from Colombia ever to be published," says anthropologist Cosimo Posth, from the University of Tübingen. The research has been published in Science Advances. Here's How to Detect a Fake Smile, According to Science What Makes Someone a Narcissist? Scientists Just Found a Big Clue Remains of 3,000-Year-Old Maya City Discovered in Guatemala
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
There's no need for Donald Trump's Hollywood protectionism
Opinion There's no need for Donald Trump's Hollywood protectionism | Opinion The Hollywood sign is a symbol of the role Los Angeles plays in the film and television industry. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News) TNS On a typical day, Donald Trump's word is about as good as Golum's claim he wouldn't try to steal back his 'precious' in Lord of the Rings. Monday was not even as good as a typical day since the trial balloon of 100% tariffs on foreign films had about the same lifespan as a goblin assaulting the walls of Helm's Deep. Before Press Secretary Saruman reversed course, I was going to point out that it was not Frodo's fault that Mount Doom happens to be a volcano in New Zealand. Sauron's, I mean, Trump's planned tariffs would have hit that series of movies like Smaug after Bilbo pilfered his Lonely Mountain lair (also in New Zealand). What's worse is there is no need for them. America sits atop the global culture like a colossus. Indeed, mighty Hollywood's movie studios are not weak competitors in need of protection, they're the aggressors that the rest of the world fears. America, a cultural superpower as much as a military and economic one, has a mutant ability no other nation can match. America can launch a product like Lord of the Rings with British intellectual property, a studio as iconic as Warner Bros. and a partner as far flung as kiwi-owned WingNut Films to deliver butts into movie theaters on six continents. We are the modern-day deadly sin of cultural appropriation brought to life. To make Cinderella, America's Disney brought together fairytale elements from France, China and Greece to produce a classic beloved across the globe. Now, there's a princess for every shade of Homo Sapiens launched with movies stolen from the lore of what seems like every country on earth. Hollywood can turn domestic American Schlock like Fast and Furious into a multi-film seven billion dollar global bonanza. That's not to say Trump's tariff idea might not be justified by the bad behavior of our trading partners. America's creative industries have an economic impact of $504 billion, equivalent to the GDP of Sweden or Austria. The rest of the world is so overwhelmed with a diet of American entertainment that country after country has imposed domestic content requirements for movie theaters, radio stations and streamers alike. But even then they can't force their citizens to watch or listen to their native content. Trump's movie tariff idea isn't the first foray of the glamour industries into socialism for the rich and powerful. Somehow, Hollywood has conned state after state into subsidizing movie-making within their borders. Republicans sell it as a source of parochial pride while Democrats deem it innovative pro-growth policy. If you can believe it, California subsidizes Hollywood to make movies in Hollywood. If there need to be tariffs, Trump should slap them on Georgia, which has made big inroads onto California turf. Back in the lands of Middle Earth, Trump's tariff idea wouldn't have many backers. As much as they fuss and quarrel the lands of men, elves, dwarves and hobbits need each other. Rohan should ride to the rescue of Gondor. Rather than impose tariffs on global upstarts that occasionally get heard over the American loudspeaker, we should celebrate the popularity of Bollywood (India), K-Pop (Korea), Harry Potter (United Kingdom) and Godzilla (Japan) because it won't be long before we are selling their culture back to them. Even now Brits have to come to America to ride a Harry Potter roller coaster just like they had to wait for Hollywood to make their hairy-footed hobbits into global heroes. For the latest riff on the national security threat of Mordor, fans have to pay American Amazon. David Mastio Opinion Contributor, The Kansas City Star Go to X Go to Facebook Email this person David Mastio has worked for newspaper opinion sections since starting as letters editor of USA Today in 1995. Since then he has been the most conservative member of the liberal editorial board at both USA Today and The Virginian-Pilot, the most liberal member of the conservative editorial board at the Washington Times and founding editorial page editor at the conservative Washington Examiner. As an editorial writer, he has covered the environment, tech, science, local business and national economic policy and politics. Outside of the opinion pages, he has been a Washington correspondent for The Detroit News where he covered the intersection of the environment, regulatory policy and the car industry, California editor of the Center Square and a speech writer on trade and economics for the George W. Bush administration. He also founded his own web company called BlogNetNews, which aggregated and reported on the blog conversations across the political aisle focused on local news and politics in all 50 states.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Ancient jawbone could have come our Denisovan ancestors
An ancient jaw bone discovered by fisherman in Taiwan, could help us understand more about our ancestors. The bone is thought to be at least 10,000 years old and could belong to the Denisovans, early humans who are related to us, but who experts don't know a lot tests are needed before it can be confirmed to be Denisovan - but if it is from this group, it's hoped it could help us understand more about how and where they being found by the fishermen, it was sold to an antique shop where a collector spotted it and bought it 2008. It was only later that it was donated to Taiwan's National Museum of Natural Science and further research began to try and unearth who it belonged to. Who did this jawbone belong to? While the fossil been linked to a variety of different groups over time, the new research published in the journal Science, hopes to finally put this debate to rest. Although the condition of the fossil has made it impossible to study the ancient DNA, some scientists in Taiwan, Japan and Denmark have been able to extract some protein comparing these to other remains, the researchers believe that it represents the lower jaw of a Denisovan remaining bone fragments show a strong jaw and very large, powerful fossil has been dated to the Pleistocene era, a period that spanned from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. Who are Denisovans and how much do we know about them? At one time, at least three human ancestor groups — Denisovans, Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens — lived side by side and sometimes mixed. Denisovans are the least understood group, as so far the only fossils of them found have been fragmented have included jawbones, teeth, and finger bones found in caves in Siberia and Tibet, but some researchers also think that fossils discovered in a cave in Laos could be attributed to Tsutaya of the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Japan has said that if the jawbone from Taiwan is Denisovan, it expands the region where scientists know these ancient people once genetic signs of Denisovans have been found across large parts of Asia, and it's thought that they passed on genes that help with life at high altitudes to the people living in the mountain country of Tibet.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Find Continent's Oldest Human Face
Archaeologists have discovered fossilized facial bones of an ancient human race which lived roughly 1.4 million years ago, according to a study published in Nature. The remains were first discovered in 2022 in the Sima del Elefante cave in Burgos, Spain. The person, nicknamed 'Pink,' whose facial bones were found by scientists, is thought to have lived in ancient Iberia roughly one million years before Homo Sapiens inhabited the European continent. Researchers reached that conclusion after running copious tests on Pink's remains and others found in the cave believed to belong to animals who lived around the same time, somewhere between 1.1 million to 1.4 million years ago. It was initially thought that Pink was a part of a group represented by fossils previously found in the region, but after analyzing the sample, scientists now believe Pink to be a completely new species which has never been detected. The remains, which are the oldest facial bones ever discovered in Western Europe, include several fragments of broken bone along with parts of two teeth."Homo antecessor shares with Homo sapiens a more modern-looking face and a prominent nasal bone structure, whereas Pink's facial features are more primitive, resembling Homo erectus, particularly in its flat and underdeveloped nasal structure," explained María Martinón, director of the National Center for Research on Human Evolution and the study's co-author. Martinón and her colleagues hypothesize that Pink may belong to one of the earliest human species to reach Western Europe. Pink's species may have even preceded Homo erectus, which was the first human species to walk upright. Further evidence obtained from the fossils would suggest Pink and his people inhabited the land as early as 1.8 million years ago. While the discovery could illuminate a previously unknown chapter of human evolutionary history, scientists say that more information surrounding Pink and his people is fleeting. While it appears they inhabited the land almost two million years ago, it seems as if the culture disappeared as suddenly as it materialized. According to separate studies, Pink's culture may have been eradicated about 1.1 million years ago due to a significant shift in the climate. Still, researchers are hopeful that further exploration of the territory will yield previously unknown facts about hominin people. "Evidence for different hominin populations in Western Europe during the Early Pleistocene suggests that this region was a key point in the evolutionary history of the genus Homo,' paleontologist and study co-director Eudald Carbonell said.
