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The remains of three Stone Age mammoths have been uncovered within a wine cellar in Austria, providing incredible new insights into how ancient humans may have hunted the extinct beasts. Describing the find as the most significant of its kind in over a century, researchers have said that the bones are probably 30,000 to 40,000 years old.The discovery was made by Andreas Pernerstorfer while renovating his wine cellar in Gobelsburg, which lies to the northwest of the capital, Vienna. After coming across what he initially thought was a piece of wood, Pernerstorfer then remembered his grandfather telling him that teeth had once been found at the site, leading him to suspect that the item may have been of prehistoric age.Researchers from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) were then called to the site in mid-May, and have since uncovered the skeletons of at least three separate mammoths. "Such a dense bone layer of mammoths is rare," said excavation leader Hannah Parow-Souchon in a statement. "It's the first time we've been able to investigate something like this in Austria using modern methods.”The bones are due to be restored at the National History Museum in Vienna. Image credit: Yannik MerklIndeed, it has been at least 100 years since anything comparable to this find has been unearthed in Austria or its neighboring countries, and the bones from those digs “are largely lost to modern research.” However, Gobelsburg does have form when it comes to Stone Age relics, as flint artifacts, jewelry, and charcoal were discovered in the cellar next to Pernerstorfer’s some 150 years ago.The researchers were able to date these items to around 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, and believe the wine cellar mammoths probably belong to the same ancient assemblage. Despite disappearing from the face of the Earth thousands of years ago, mammoths - the extinct relatives of modern elephants - continue to shape our understanding of how prehistoric humans lived. Evidence of butchered mammoth bones in Europe and the Americas, for instance, indicate that our ancient grandparents hunted and ate these colossal creatures."We know that humans hunted mammoths, but we still know very little about how they did it," says Parow-Souchon. The researchers speculate that the enormous animals may have been killed on the spot after being chased there by hunters who had laid a trap for them, and it is hoped that more details about this ancient massacre will become clear as excavations continue.The other big unanswered question, of course, is which bottle of plonk these early Austrians paired with their mammoth steaks.

Imagine for a moment you're a ham radio enthusiast, alone at night, idly working your way through the radio spectrum when you come across a broadcast on a disused shortwave channel, where usually there would be nothing but static.The broadcast is a tune, or a buzz, or sometimes cartoon character Yosemite Sam saying "Varmint, I'm a-gonna b-b-b-bloooow ya ta'smithereenies" (yes, really) followed by a series of numbers read by a human or synthesized voice, on a bed of static for extra "I may never sleep again" vibes.                If you would like to experience hearing the broadcast live for yourself, that is possible with ham radios close enough to the source, or a YouTube livestream like the one below.             They are generally thought (and sometimes confirmed) to be a way of sending coded instructions by states to agents in the field. Sometimes broadcasting on a schedule, sometimes seemingly at random, they have creeped people out all around the world, not limiting themselves to one language.                              A particularly alarming theory about one numbers station – “MDZhB”, also known as "UVB-76" and "The Buzzer" – is that it is being used as a "Dead Hand" signal. The station broadcasts a constant monotonous tone, interrupted every few seconds by a foghorn-like sound, and occasionally by a Russian voice issuing messages such as "Ya UVB-76, Ya UVB-76. 180 08 BROMAL 74 27 99 14. Boris, Roman, Olga, Mikhail, Anna, Larisa. 7 4 2 7 9 9 1 4".The "Dead Hand" theory suggests that what you really have to worry about is when the signal stops. If it's correct, the monotone is there as a sort of "everything is OK" alarm, à la The Simpsons. Should the signal cease for a certain amount of time because of a nuclear attack — according to this unverified theory — an automatic nuclear response would be triggered.But the station did stop broadcasting for a day in 2010, before resuming normal transmission the day after. That same year, it stopped a few more times, with people reporting hearing people moving around the room in the background of the transmission. During this time, the station played classical banger Swan Lake, and the numbers station appears to have moved location.               You'll notice that during this time, no dead hand system launched a nuclear strike. Instead, it continues to broadcast intermittently, suggesting that this is not the station's purpose (or that they were switching to a more reliable broadcast system, for die-hard fans of the "it's to kill everyone" hypothesis).One plausible idea is that the Russian government is simply hogging the frequency for use in the case of emergencies.“If they don’t actually use it, someone will poach it,” David Stupples, an expert in surveillance and space-based reconnaissance, told Popular Mechanics. “The band is so crowded that people will look for a small opportunity for a channel of their own… They are keeping the channel available by broadcasting and saying, ‘this is ours.’”Other stations have been confirmed to be used to broadcast messages to spies in the field, with one in Cuba being a notable example. The advantage of sending the messages this way is that, though you may figure out where the signal is coming from, it's near impossible to discover who they are meant for and who is receiving them. The downside, as Cuba would discover, is that once someone – say, the FBI – has intercepted the cipher, they can continue to unravel your messages from thereon out.Some of the messages, it would be revealed in a court case by the FBI reported by the Miami New Times, said to "prioritize and continue to strengthen friendship with Joe and Dennis" and, "Under no circumstances should [agents] German nor Castor fly with BTTR or another organization on days 24, 25, 26, and 27". Classic spy stuff, as well as, "Congratulate all the female comrades for International Day of the Woman," which is just basic manners.

Recent scientific research has provided new evidence about a potential reason for the extinction of Neanderthals around 40,000 years ago, which may relate to differences in child-rearing approaches between Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens. The results of the study, conducted by scientists from the University of Tübingen in Germany, are based on an analysis of the enamel of 423 Neanderthal teeth and 444 Upper Paleolithic human teeth. The researchers noticed horizontal grooves in the enamel, which are signs of stress in early life. These stressors included disease, infection, malnutrition, and injury, reports dailymail.co.uk. Although the total number of such grooves was similar in both species, a significant difference was seen in the age at which these signs of stress appeared. In Paleolithic human children, enamel damage was more common between the ages of one and three years, coinciding with the period of weaning from breastfeeding. At the same time, in Neanderthals, similar defects appeared after this period, indicating possible malnutrition at a later age. This finding suggests that early humans’ childcare strategies may have included longer periods of feeding and perhaps better provision of food after weaning. This approach could help reduce children’s stress levels, increasing their chances of survival. In contrast, Neanderthals may have experienced earlier cessation of feeding and poor nutrition after weaning, which may have contributed to higher levels of stress in their children and resulting in lower long-term population survival. These findings add an important chapter to understanding the complex history of relationships and competition between Neanderthals and early humans, highlighting how significant parental care may have been in matters of species survival and adaptation. The post Poor parenting may cause Neanderthals to become extinct appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Luis Elizondo for Medium: Like most other biological systems on this planet, humans are largely motivated by self-preservation and conflict avoidance. As a species, we tend to avoid associating ourselves with anything that will isolate us from the larger group or make us sound strange, or that might draw negative attention from our peers. In essence, stigma results in a paralysis of communication. And when left unaddressed, it exerts a chilling influence over society and across generations. This is true whether we are trying to find the cause for diseases, reasons for environmental change, or primers for global conflict. Throughout history, there are times when we, as a society, found it more convenient and socially acceptable to ignore uncomfortable topics. The results were often catastrophic both to our moral fiber and the health of our species. Stigma regarding certain psychological conditions once led to a life sentence in an asylum and forced lobotomies simply because stigma prevented families having a conversation about mental illness. There has been similar social stigma in recent decades around the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), or UFOs — a topic that has been relegated to conspiracy theorists, B-Movie villains, and the weird uncle no one wants to talk to anymore. As was the case with other topics that hold stigma, many people would rather look the other way than be associated with what’s been labeled “crazy,” or “fringe.” When I was assigned Director of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), my colleagues and I experienced enough to know with absolute certainty that UAPs exist. Furthermore, they don’t seem to care if whether or not we believe in them and they are here with or without our permission. How can we have an honest conversation about National Security and humanity if we can’t even address the topic of a potential threat or opportunity? Consider this example from pop culture. In the famous Harry Potter series, the evil wizard Voldemort is so vile that other wizards are afraid to even utter his very name. The idea is if you don’t mention his name, it minimizes the threat and makes him less real. But ironically, the stigma of his name only makes him more powerful. Refusing to acknowledge UAPs in our airspace is no different. If we don’t overcome the social stigma about UAPs and address them, we may end up on the wrong side of history — only in this case, we’re not talking about fantasy and wizards, we are talking about reality and national security. Here’s why we can’t afford to allow stigma to drive our fears and bury our heads in the sand: Social stigma hinders government processes. Social stigma is often the product of fear concerning topics that have no answers and are poorly understood. Project Blue Book provides a useful example. From 1952–1969, the U.S. Air Force conducted a series of studies on UAPs. The goals of Project Blue Book were to determine whether UAPs were a national security threat and to scientifically analyze UFO-related data. For 17 years, Project Blue Book compiled reports of tens of thousands of UFO sightings, classifying 700 of these incidents as “unidentified.” In 1966, the Air Force requested another committee, headed by Dr. Edward Condon, to look into these sightings. Two years later, they released the “Condon Report,” which concluded that the sightings they examined showed no signs of unusual activity. This prompted the Air Force to shut down Project Blue Book the following year. Upon its dismantling, the project announced that despite nearly one thousand unidentified sightings, there was no evidence of extraordinary phenomena in our airspace. These dismissive conclusions in the public versions of both Project Blue Book and the Condon Report simply weren’t supported by the facts. There were hundreds of credible eyewitness reports by trained observers, many with high-level security clearances, who witnessed these objects. Our country has put people in the electric chair based on the testimony of just two corroborating witnesses who aren’t particularly trained in the art of observation. As is the case with other controversial topics, this verifiable evidence was suppressed and diluted due to stigma surrounding the topic of UAPs. But there are always two sides to an argument. During the time of the inquiries, the U.S. Government was in the middle of a cold war and, in all fairness, could not afford to be distracted on a wild goose chase for which they had no answers. As long as Americans weren’t under attack from these unusual phenomena, attention was rightfully placed towards more tangible matters. I don’t necessarily agree with that mindset, but I understand it. Self-imposed stigma often makes a problem worse. Tabloids and social media have certainly not helped the issue of stigma. These outlets frequently provide their consumers with sensationalized stories that only reinforce the stigma of certain topics. The rise of social media means that now, everyone has a voice. But many of those voices are less motivated by truth and instead seek to spread their own agendas. A simple search on Google about the program I once helped run, AATIP, results in hundreds of hits, many of these from purportedly reputable sites with “Deep-State” sources. These sites are run by the same individuals who claim to have inside knowledge of UAPs but have never provided one shred of evidence or proof that they have access to Government insiders. But not all social media sites or Youtube channels have it wrong. Those sites which emphasize data collection, facts, and objectivity are usually on the right track. Surprisingly, some sites appear to have a strong understanding of the bizarre nature of the phenomena and a few well-placed sources of information. One specific example I have found is “UFOJesus,” a humorous YouTube channel that seems to have some credible inside information and insight. No matter the medium, frank and honest conversation is crucial to moving forward as a society. Overcoming stigma is key to our survival as a species. If there is one thing that nature has shown us time and time again, it’s that we either adapt, or we die out. As a species, it’s crucial to understand the things we can’t explain, in order to survive. And that means being open to new ideas, possibilities, and data. It’s always been this way, dating back to when mankind lived in caves. If you heard something roaming outside, you had to investigate. If you didn’t, you and your family would be unaware of a potential predator. At the same time, an animal wandering around outside your cave could also mean food, which would keep your family alive so they could then flourish. If you stayed in the cave and never ventured outside, you might survive the night but probably not in the long run. When it comes to UFOs, ignoring the unknown is similarly harmful because it might mean failing to seize upon opportunities and new understandings. As a society, we have to recognize that stigma serves only to keep our heads in the sand. Our future depends on transparency and truth. Author: Luis Elizondo, former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, source Medium The post Why social stigma about UAP holds humanity back appeared first on Anomalien.com.

It's hard to exactly nail down a clear comparison of what Moonstone Island is. The indie title clearly draws massive inspiration from Stardew Valley in its farming mechanics and visual design, but Moonstone introduces so many varied gameplay mechanics that it's almost developing a blended genre all on its own. Now might be the best time to dip your toes in island water because the game is on sale for just a limited time. Continue reading Hit Stardew Valley-like deck builder on 30% Steam sale MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best farming games, Best indie games, Games like Stardew Valley

The story of the 3dfx Voodoo 3D is a classic case of being the right company with the right tech at the right time. 3dfx launched its revolutionary Voodoo Graphics chipset just as fully polygonal 3D graphics hit the mainstream and PC gamers wanted an easy and accessible way to get them. In late 1996, Quake and Tomb Raider had just been released, the Nintendo 64 was out in Japan and North America, and the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn were still in their first year. Reliant purely on CPU horsepower, and with little in the way of dedicated 3D hardware on even the best graphics cards to back it up, the PC was beginning to lose its place as the king of gaming platforms. Continue reading 3dfx Voodoo - the graphics card that revolutionized PC gaming MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

How do you play Killer Klowns from Outer Space? Illfonic’s asymmetrical multiplayer game is a gaudy and camp blast back to the ‘80s. Think big hair, neon colors, and cheesy voice lines. What could be better? We’ve spent hours with the horror game, getting to grips with the KKfOS exits, maps, and items, and we have a few tips we wish we’d known when we first started playing Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Despite our glowing KKfOS review, we do acknowledge that some things aren’t explained too well in-game, so hopefully these KKfOS tips can help you win, whichever team you’re on. Continue reading How to play Killer Klowns from Outer Space - tips for each team MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Horror games, Killer Klowns from Outer Space release date, Multiplayer games

How does KKfOS proximity chat work? Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a unique asymmetrical multiplayer game in that there are a total of ten players per match: three Killer Klowns and seven Humans. These huge lobby sizes make co-operation all the more important. In any multiplayer game, the key to success is working with other players. At first, it can be quite hard to understand how to do this in Killer Klowns from Outer Space, as you might see the names of other team players popping up on your screen. If you’re wondering why, and how this affects your ability to make it out of KKfOS exits alive, or take down Humans with the element of surprise, here’s how KKfOS voice chat works. Continue reading How Killer Klowns from Outer Space voice chat works MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Horror games, Killer Klowns from Outer Space release date, Multiplayer games