Focaccia, with its flaky crust and rich olive oil flavor, is a beloved staple—but just how far back does the delicious bread’s history stretch?

While experts know it was made in ancient Rome, new research suggests that its origins may be even older: According to a recent study in the journal Scientific Reports, Neolithic communities were making their own focaccia-like bread between 7,000 and 5,000 B.C.E.

“Studying past dietary behaviors can provide valuable information about the social and cultural aspects of ancient populations,” first author Sergio Taranto, an archaeologist at UAB Barcelona, tells ZME Science’s Rupendra Brahambhatt. “This is particularly useful for studying prehistoric communities about which we have limited knowledge due to the lack of written records.”

A “ferromagnetic elastomer” sheet can bulge and bend under magnetic influences.

A giant anaconda, a vampire hedgehog, a dwarf squirrel, and a tiger cat were among the new species named by science in 2024. Found from the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the mountaintops of Southeast Asia, each new species shows us that even our well-known world contains unexplored chambers of life.

This year, in Peru’s Alto Mayo Landscape alone, scientists uncovered 27 new-to-science species, including four new mammals, during a two month expedition. Meanwhile, the Greater Mekong region yielded 234 new species, and scientists from the California Academy of Sciences described 138 new species globally. The ocean depths continued to surprise, with more than 100 potentially new species found on an unexplored underwater mountain off Chile’s coast. Two new mammal species were found in India this year, including the world’s smallest otter.

Scientists estimate only a small fraction of Earth’s species have been documented, perhaps 20% at best. Even among mammals, the best-known group of animals, scientists think we’ve only found 80% of species. Yet most of the hidden species are likely bats, rodents, shrews, moles and hedgehogs.

Tiny balls of mineral are opening a new window into the history of life on Earth.

These millimeter-sized objects are more than half a billion years old – the fossilized embryos of animals that lived during the early Cambrian period, some 535 million years ago.

They belong to a group called Ecdysozoa, which includes insects, spiders, crustaceans, and worms.

Did some famous people throughout history have ADHD? Researchers explain why yes, some could have been neurodivergent and why the traits may be increasing today.

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From muscles to bones, there are a few different parts of our bodies that have fallen out of favor.

Ruijie cloud flaws risk 50,000 devices; Open Sesame bypasses MQTT. Patches issued post-disclosure.

WhatsApp wins U.S. court ruling against NSO Group for Pegasus misuse; 43 intrusions revealed, damages trial ahead.

If you make a big enough toxin, it’s difficult to get it out of the cells.