So, Let’s delve into the new scientific research that happened in the past month or so and explore the latest technologies that are being created and breakthroughs that were achieved in this field.
In the current blog, you will read about the following science events of the month:
China’s EAST Reactor Hits Record Plasma Density
Largest ever Schrodinger’s Cat Experiment Undertaken at Vienna
Scientists Probe Dark Oxygen on the Sea-Floor
Scientists Pitch for Defossilization for the Greener World
Longevity of Life is Partially Heritable Trait
Kindergarten rapidly changes Child’s Microbiome
Researchers create Colour Changing Material Biomimicking Octopus
Drones being used to detect Viruses in Arctic Whales
Many cells in Animals found to be non-zygotic
Innovative Blood Cleaning Technique being used to fight Cancers
Bird Evolution much more Complex than thought earlier!
Study answers why some dog breeds have larger ears
Humans used Poison Laced Arrows as early as 60000 Years ago
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| Current Science Report: January 2025; Mufawad |
China’s EAST Reactor Hits Record Plasma Density
Scientists at China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) have achieved a major milestone in nuclear fusion research by pushing plasma density 65% beyond the long-standing Greenwald limit, a threshold that has historically constrained the operation of tokamak reactors. This breakthrough brings researchers closer to “burning plasma,” a state where fusion reactions become self-sustaining. Fusion power, like in the Sun, relies on hydrogen atoms colliding and fusing into helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. Achieving this on Earth requires compressing hydrogen into tiny volumes at temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius.
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In tokamaks, success is measured by the triple product, density, temperature, and confinement time, all of which must be very high to reach ignition. The Greenwald density limit has long been a barrier: beyond it, plasma collapses, which can damage the reactor. EAST has traditionally operated at 80–100% of this limit, but the latest experiments show plasma can remain stable well above it.
The team combined several techniques to reach higher density. They used electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) to heat electrons to millions of degrees before ramping up the plasma current, which forms the magnetic cage containing the plasma. They also increased the initial deuterium gas in the chamber and then added hydrogen as the plasma warmed. EAST’s tungsten surfaces were coated with lithium to reduce impurities, which can radiate heat and destabilize the plasma.
Impurity control was key. When plasma hits reactor walls, tungsten atoms can enter the plasma, causing hot spots and further instability. By keeping these impurities low, the team maintained clean plasma, allowing more hydrogen atoms to be packed densely.
The results confirmed predictions of the plasma-wall self-organisation (PWSO) theory, which describes two plasma states: a density-limit regime near the Greenwald threshold and a density-free regime where plasma exceeds it stably. The difference depends on the divertor temperature,the region where plasma meets the walls. Cooler divertor temperatures reduce collisions and impurity release, enabling higher-density plasma.
Repeated experiments with the same settings produced progressively higher densities. Multiple high-density plasma shots had conditioned the tungsten surfaces, making them less prone to sputtering and stabilizing the plasma further. Using these methods, the team reached densities of 5.6 × 10¹⁹ particles per cubic metre, about 65% higher than EAST’s standard 3.4 × 10¹⁹. Plasma temperatures near the divertor dropped by roughly a third, and contamination from heavy atoms decreased significantly.
While this does not yet produce continuous fusion energy, it demonstrates a practical way to exceed the Greenwald limit. Higher plasma density could allow reactors to maintain self-sustaining fusion at lower temperatures or shorter confinement times, directly relevant to ITER, the international fusion project in France. Future experiments could further reduce divertor temperatures, approaching full detachment, where plasma barely touches reactor walls. Detached plasmas could operate at densities several times higher than the Greenwald limit.
Experts note that challenges remain. Long-term operation at extreme densities requires careful management of turbulence, instabilities, and impurity control. Yet EAST’s results show that the Greenwald density limit is not an insurmountable barrier. By validating PWSO theory, the team has opened a promising path toward higher-performance fusion reactors. This achievement brings the scientific community one step closer to realizing clean, nearly limitless energy for the future.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Largest ever Schrodinger’s Cat Experiment Undertaken at Vienna
Scientists have achieved the largest quantum superposition ever recorded, successfully placing clusters of approximately 7,000 sodium atoms into a state where they exist in multiple positions at the same time. Each cluster, comparable in size to a small virus or protein molecule, demonstrated wave-like behavior instead of acting as a single classical particle. This behavior was confirmed when the clusters produced an interference pattern, a key indicator of quantum effects.
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The groundbreaking experiment was carried out by physicists at the University of Vienna and published in Nature. It significantly expands the scale at which quantum mechanics can be observed, bringing researchers closer to understanding whether there is a fundamental boundary between the quantum world and everyday classical reality. This question has fascinated scientists for decades and is often illustrated through Schrödinger’s cat, a thought experiment that highlights the strange nature of quantum states.
Maintaining such a large object in a quantum superposition is extremely challenging, as even minor environmental disturbances can cause the quantum state to collapse. To overcome this, the research team conducted the experiment in ultra-cold and ultra-high-vacuum conditions, carefully isolating the atomic clusters from external interference. Achieving this level of control required years of technical refinement and precision.
Beyond its theoretical significance, the research has important implications for the future of quantum technologies. Quantum computing, in particular, relies on preserving large and stable superposition states to process information far more efficiently than classical computers. By demonstrating that larger systems can sustain quantum behavior, the study brings scientists one step closer to building more powerful quantum machines.
Looking ahead, the team plans to test even larger particles and explore whether quantum interference can be observed in biological entities such as viruses. If successful, this could open a new frontier in understanding how quantum physics applies to living matter, potentially reshaping both physics and biology.
Courtesy: Nature
Scientists Probe Dark Oxygen on the Sea-Floor
Scientists are preparing a new deep-sea expedition to investigate the mysterious production of “dark oxygen”, oxygen that appears to be forming on the ocean floor without sunlight, far beyond the reach of photosynthesis. The unusual discovery was first reported in 2024 in Nature Geoscience, after researchers detected oxygen nearly 4,000 metres beneath the Pacific Ocean’s surface.
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To verify and better understand this unexpected phenomenon, researchers are launching a new series of experiments funded by a US$5.2 million grant from the Nippon Foundation. The team recently announced their plans at a press conference in London, revealing custom-built robotic probes designed to land on the sea floor and directly measure oxygen production under extreme deep-sea conditions, including crushing pressures of up to 400 atmospheres.
By May, scientists will travel to the Clarion–Clipperton Zone, a vast region between Hawaii and Mexico where the oxygen was first detected, aboard the research vessel Nautilus. Team leader Andrew Sweetman, a marine ecologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, explained that the probes will be equipped with advanced sensors, including pH detectors. These sensors will help determine whether water molecules are being split, a process that could generate oxygen without biological photosynthesis.
The original discovery occurred in an area rich in polymetallic nodules, ancient mineral deposits containing metals such as manganese and cobalt that form over millions of years on the sea floor. Scientists suspect these nodules might act as natural catalysts, triggering electrochemical reactions that split water molecules and release oxygen. However, another possibility is that deep-sea microbes are responsible for producing the gas through previously unknown biological processes.
To explore both explanations, researchers plan to map microbial activity, mineral composition, and chemical reactions at a microscopic level. Laboratory experiments will also test whether nodules can generate electrical charges strong enough to drive oxygen production. Additional high-tech imaging tools will analyze metal surfaces in saltwater under simulated deep-sea pressure to better understand their chemical behavior.
The discovery emerged during environmental studies conducted for a deep-sea mining company, raising important questions about how mining polymetallic nodules might affect fragile abyssal ecosystems. The findings have sparked debate in the scientific community, with some researchers questioning the original results and calling for further verification, a process currently under journal review.
Despite the controversy, Sweetman emphasizes that understanding dark oxygen is essential, particularly as interest in deep-sea mining grows. Gaining insight into how this oxygen supports marine ecosystems could help shape future mining practices in ways that minimize environmental harm.
Courtesy: Nature
Kindergarten rapidly changes Child’s Microbiome
A new study published in Nature reveals that attending day school/nursery/kindergarten rapidly reshapes a baby’s gut microbiome. Researchers found that infants begin sharing microbes with their peers within just one month of starting daycare, and after four months, children at the same nursery shared up to 20% of their microbial species.
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The study tracked 43 babies in Italy during their first year of nursery, analyzing stool samples from infants, family members, staff, and even pets. Results showed that baby-to-baby microbial transmission increased steadily over time, highlighting the major role of social contact in shaping early gut health.
Siblings contributed more to a baby’s microbiome than parents, while pets also appeared to exchange bacteria with infants. However, antibiotic use had the strongest negative impact, temporarily reducing microbial diversity before recovery through exposure to new strains.
Researchers suggest that early social interactions may help build a more diverse and resilient microbiome, potentially influencing health well into adulthood.
Courtesy: Nature
Researchers create Colour Changing Material Biomimicking Octopus
Octopuses and cuttlefish can instantly change their skin’s color and texture to camouflage or communicate. Inspired by this ability, scientists have developed a flexible synthetic material that can rapidly alter both its color and surface texture, according to a study published in Nature.
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The new material is made from a polymer film that swells when exposed to liquids. By directing a fine electron beam onto the film, researchers can precisely control how much it expands, allowing them to create highly detailed patterns at the nanoscale. To enable color change, the film is layered between thin sheets of gold, forming an optical structure that reflects different colors depending on its thickness.
By adjusting the surrounding liquids, scientists can independently control the material’s color and texture. Using this method, the team recreated detailed miniature landscapes and produced surfaces that appear glossy or matte by manipulating how light reflects off them.
While the technology shows promise for future applications in robotics, adaptive surfaces, and advanced electronic displays, it currently relies on liquids, which could limit its use in electronic devices. Still, researchers say it represents an important step toward smart materials that mimic the remarkable abilities of living organisms.
Courtesy: Smithsonian Magazine
Scientists pitch for Defossilization for the Greener World
A growing concept in sustainability research and policy is de-fossilization , the shift away from fossil-based carbon sources without eliminating carbon itself. Even under net-zero targets, carbon-based fuels will remain necessary for sectors such as aviation and power generation. Carbon is also essential in producing everyday goods, including detergents, medicines, fertilizers, and plastics. Currently, much of this carbon comes from fossil fuels, but future demand for carbon embedded in chemicals is expected to double by 2050. Since coal, oil, and natural gas must largely stay underground to meet climate goals, alternative carbon sources are needed.
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Defossilization involves developing sustainable pathways to produce carbon-based chemicals. Potential sources include carbon from the atmosphere, plants, and biological or industrial waste such as agricultural residues and used plastics. Although some of these materials eventually release carbon dioxide through combustion or natural breakdown, the aim is to ensure this occurs within a circular system that does not increase overall greenhouse gas levels.
Interest in defossilization research is growing, even as some governments, including those in Europe and the United States, show signs of weakening their climate commitments. Researchers and policymakers face major challenges in scaling sustainable carbon solutions, and coordinated efforts are needed to make defossilization viable at an industrial level. Current discussions focus on Europe, with related developments underway in China.
Biomass from crops represents a major non-fossil carbon source that can be produced at scale. The European Union’s biofuel policies, which require renewable content in transport fuels, have driven the production of biodiesel and bioethanol from crops such as sunflower, palm, maize, and wheat. However, expanding biofuel crop cultivation can harm biodiversity, degrade soil, strain water supplies, and potentially raise food prices by diverting land away from food production.
An alternative approach involves extracting carbon from lignocellulose in plant waste, which avoids using additional farmland. Although promising, this method remains expensive and slow to scale. Municipal and industrial waste, including discarded plastics, also offers a potential carbon source. While over 40% of plastic in the EU is recycled, improving recycling rates will require advances in chemical recycling technologies that break plastics down into reusable molecular building blocks rather than simply reshaping them.
Carbon dioxide captured from industrial emissions or directly from the air could become one of the most significant contributors to future chemical production. Projections suggest that by 2050, CO₂ could supply a substantial share of the chemical industry’s carbon needs, possibly exceeding contributions from biomass. The atmosphere contains far more carbon than global vegetation, but estimates of how much CO₂ will be used in chemical manufacturing vary widely.
Converting CO₂ into useful chemical compounds requires reacting it with hydrogen, a process that demands high energy due to CO₂’s chemical stability. For this method to be sustainable, the required energy must come from renewable sources. Capturing CO₂ from the air is technically challenging and costly, which has limited government investment in this area , a situation that must change for meaningful progress.
International and national organizations are increasingly urging governments to accelerate defossilization. Recent policy reports and scientific institutions have called for greater research funding and stronger political commitment, emphasizing that innovation in sustainable chemical production aligns with broader economic and environmental goals. Joint initiatives such as the EU–China Bridge programme demonstrate international collaboration, but continued and expanded focus on defossilization will be essential for long-term impact.
Courtesy: Nature
Longevity of Life is Partially Heritable Trait
While some credit lifestyle choices for a long life, new research suggests genetics may play a larger role than previously thought. A recently published study shows that earlier estimates of the genetic contribution to lifespan underestimated its impact because they didn’t account for deaths caused by accidents, diseases, or other external factors.
Prof. Uri Alon and colleagues at the Weizmann Institute in Israel analyzed twin datasets from Denmark and Sweden, using a model that separates the effect of external mortality from biological ageing. They found that roughly 50% of the variation in human lifespan is due to genetics, similar to what is observed in laboratory mice. The other 50% is influenced by environment, lifestyle, and random biological factors.
Validation using siblings of centenarians in the US and additional Swedish records supported the findings. The researchers also noted that as public health improved over the 20th century, the genetic contribution to lifespan became more evident. Heritability varies by cause of death and age, and some centenarians reach 100 without serious illness, suggesting protective genes at work.
Prof. Richard Faragher from the University of Brighton says the study confirms humans are not outliers in lifespan heritability, meaning insights from animal studies on ageing could apply to humans. The findings may guide future therapies to slow ageing and prevent age-related diseases.
Courtesy: Guardian
Drones being used to detect Viruses in Arctic Whales
Scientists in northern Norway have used drones to detect a deadly virus in humpback whales, marking the first time cetacean morbillivirus has been identified in Arctic waters. The virus, which is highly contagious among whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine mammals, has previously caused major outbreaks and mass die-offs in regions such as the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
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By flying drones over whales and collecting samples from the air exhaled through their blowholes, researchers tested for four pathogens. The results, published in BMC Veterinary Research, confirmed that cetacean morbillivirus is now circulating in northern marine ecosystems. Lead researcher Helena Costa of Nord University noted that the virus likely arrived via migratory species, even though it had never been officially recorded in the Arctic before.
Cetacean morbillivirus spreads through close contact and respiratory droplets and can affect both the respiratory and nervous systems. While it can be fatal, some infected animals show no visible symptoms. The study suggests that the virus may have gone undetected in the Arctic in the past due to limited monitoring rather than true absence.
Between 2016 and 2025, scientists collected more than 50 “whale blow” samples from humpback, sperm, and fin whales across northern Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde. Drones equipped with petri dishes were positioned above and behind whales to gather exhaled particles, offering a noninvasive alternative to traditional skin biopsies that can cause minor injury.
In addition to morbillivirus, researchers screened for bird flu (H5N1), herpesvirus, and brucella , two of which can infect humans. None of these additional pathogens were detected, easing concerns for people who swim near whales in the region.
Costa emphasized that long-term monitoring will be essential to understanding how diseases spread among whale populations over time. Experts say whales remain understudied in Arctic ecosystems, making this research especially valuable. Marine biologist Patricia Arranz Alonso called the project a major step toward global monitoring of diseases in wild cetaceans, highlighting drone sampling as a critical innovation.
Researchers believe that noninvasive techniques like this could transform whale health studies and open new possibilities for tracking emerging marine diseases in the future.
Courtesy: New York Times
Many cells in Animals found to be non-zygotic
In Greek mythology, a chimera is a creature made of parts from different animals. According to journalist Lise Barneoud in Hidden Guests, humans are also chimeras in a biological sense, because our bodies can contain cells that did not originate from us.
During pregnancy, cells can pass between mother and child through the placenta. As a result, mothers may carry cells from their children for decades, and children may carry cells from their mothers, or even from older siblings or maternal grandmothers. These shared cells are called microchimeric cells.
Scientists have discovered microchimeric cells in every human organ examined so far. Although they are extremely rare, roughly one for every 10,000 to one million of a person’s own cells, their impact may be surprisingly large. Barneoud’s book traces the scientists who uncovered these cells and explores their implications for health, immunity, and even our understanding of selfhood.
The discovery of microchimerism happened largely by accident. In the late 1800s, pathologist Georg Schmorl noticed placenta-like cells in the lungs of women who had died from pregnancy-related complications, suggesting fetal cells could enter a mother’s bloodstream. Later, in 1969, researchers detected Y-chromosome-containing cells in pregnant people carrying male fetuses, though these cells were initially believed to disappear after birth.
That assumption changed in 1993, when geneticist Diana Bianchi found Y-chromosome cells in women who had given birth to sons decades earlier. This revealed that fetal cells can persist long-term, even reversing the traditional notion that genetic material only flows from parents to children. Further research showed these cells may help with tissue repair, contributing to wound healing by transforming into skin or blood vessel cells.
Microchimerism also challenges traditional ideas in immunology. The immune system is thought to distinguish strictly between “self” and “non-self,” which should cause foreign cells to be attacked. Yet microchimeric cells often remain without triggering rejection. Barneoud suggests that instead of forcing these findings into old immune models, scientists may need to rethink how immune tolerance works.
Around the same time as Bianchi’s work, rheumatologist Lee Nelson found similar fetal cells in women with autoimmune diseases. She proposed that microchimeric cells might play a role in triggering or influencing autoimmune disorders such as lupus, diabetes, and scleroderma, a condition that resembles graft-versus-host disease. Elevated levels of these cells have since been linked to several autoimmune conditions.
Microchimerism may also help explain why some organ transplants succeed. Transplant researcher William Burlingham observed a case where a teenager did not reject a kidney donated by his mother, even after stopping immune-suppressing drugs. Later studies revealed maternal microchimeric cells helped suppress rejection. This raises the possibility that increasing donor-derived microchimeric cells could improve transplant survival.
Despite their small numbers, these cells appear to influence immunity, disease resistance, and even immune memory. For example, maternal T cells may pass immune knowledge to infants, potentially helping protect babies from infections after birth.
Beyond biology, Barneoud argues that microchimerism forces us to reconsider what it means to be an individual. If fragments of other people live inside us, and persist across generations, where do the boundaries of identity, life, and death truly lie?
Hidden Guests brings together scientific discovery and philosophical reflection, transforming scattered research into a compelling narrative about human connection at the cellular level. It invites readers not only to rethink biology, but also to imagine a more interconnected vision of what it means to be human.
Courtesy: Nature
Innovative Blood Cleaning Technique being used to fight Cancers
Researchers are testing a novel cancer vaccine that repurposes a blood-cleansing technique originally designed to neutralize viruses and bacteria in donated blood. The method, known as the Mirasol process, uses ultraviolet light and riboflavin (vitamin B2) to damage the genetic material of harmful organisms. Now, scientists hope to use the same approach to inactivate tumor cells and reintroduce them into patients to stimulate an immune attack on cancer.
The strategy has already shown promise in animal studies involving mice and dogs, and a phase 1 clinical trial is set to begin this month in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer. Chemist Ray Goodrich, who helped develop the original blood-disinfection technology and co-founded Photon Pharma, believes the approach could help slow or prevent cancer recurrence when combined with existing treatments.
Supporters argue that using whole cancer cells could give the immune system access to the full range of tumor-specific neoantigens, unique proteins that distinguish cancer cells from healthy tissue. This could overcome a key limitation of other cancer vaccines, which must predict which neoantigens will generate the strongest immune response.
However, some experts remain cautious. Past attempts to create vaccines from whole cancer cells have largely failed to produce strong or lasting immune responses. Critics note that earlier trials over several decades have not led to approved human treatments, and some doubt that this new method will perform better.
Goodrich explains that previous techniques used harsh methods like radiation to disable cancer cells, which often destroyed important neoantigens. In contrast, the UV-based method is thought to preserve these immune-triggering markers while preventing the cells from dividing, potentially making the vaccine more effective and safer.
In the upcoming trial at City of Hope in California, eight ovarian cancer patients will have their tumors surgically removed. Their cancer cells will then be treated with riboflavin and UV light and combined with an immune-boosting substance to create a personalized vaccine. Participants will receive three doses, and researchers will monitor safety and immune activity.
Skeptics caution that even if the vaccine activates immune cells, tumors often suppress immune responses, which could limit its effectiveness. Still, the idea of using whole tumor cells continues to attract scientific interest. Other companies are pursuing similar approaches, including off-the-shelf “ghost cell” vaccines made from standardized tumor cell lines rather than individual patients.
While it remains uncertain whether this approach will succeed, some researchers believe the field is entering a new phase and that whole-cell cancer vaccines may yet prove viable.
Courtesy: Science.org
Bird Evolution much more Complex than thought earlier!
Birds evolved from small, meat-eating dinosaurs, but new fossil discoveries suggest their origin was far more complex than once believed. Around 150 million years ago, early birds such as Archaeopteryx lived on island chains in what is now Germany. These creatures had feathers and could glide or fly short distances, yet still retained dinosaur traits like teeth, long tails, and clawed wings, making them a key evolutionary link between dinosaurs and modern birds.
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For over a century, Archaeopteryx was the only known bird from the Jurassic period, leaving a large gap in the fossil record. That gap began to close with the discovery of Baminornis in China in 2025, a second Jurassic bird with a modern bird-like tail structure. Its anatomy suggests that birds had already diversified earlier than scientists expected, possibly pushing the origin of birds deeper into the Jurassic period.
Fossil evidence shows that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, but their delicate bones make them rare in the fossil record, complicating efforts to trace their evolution. By the Cretaceous period, birds had spread across the globe and diversified into many now-extinct groups, while some lineages eventually led to modern birds.
Scientists are also debating whether powered flight evolved once or multiple times. Fossils such as Microraptor, which had four wings, and Yi, which appears to have flown using a membrane like a bat, suggest that different dinosaurs experimented with flight in distinct ways. Some researchers argue this indicates multiple independent origins of flight, while others believe there was a single evolutionary pathway with various experimental offshoots.
Recent analysis of a newly studied Archaeopteryx fossil has revealed advanced flight-related features, including specialized feathers and skull structures linked to feeding and mobility. These findings indicate that many traits needed for efficient flight were already developing in early birds.
Together, these discoveries paint a picture of bird evolution as dynamic, experimental, and faster than previously thought, with multiple forms, flight strategies, and adaptations emerging as dinosaurs gave rise to the first true birds.
Courtesy: Nature
Study answers why some dog breeds have larger ears
A genetic study suggests that a gene linked to human hearing may influence whether dogs have long, floppy ears or short, upright ones. Researchers analyzed the DNA of more than 3,000 dogs, wolves, and coyotes and found that variations near the gene MSRB3 are strongly associated with ear length in dogs.
The research was inspired by a student curious about her cocker spaniel’s unusually long ears. While previous studies explored whether dog ears stand up or droop, this is among the first to focus specifically on ear length.
Dog ear shapes vary due to both natural adaptation and selective breeding. Upright ears may help conserve heat in colder climates, while longer ears can aid scent tracking in hunting breeds. The identified gene likely affects how quickly ear cells grow, influencing final ear size.
Although the study examined small DNA changes, researchers note that larger genetic variations may also play a role. Future work may focus on single breeds, such as golden retrievers, which show wide variation in ear length.
Courtesy: Nature
Humans used Poison Laced Arrows as early as 60000 Years ago
Scientists have discovered chemical traces of plant toxins on Stone Age arrowheads used by hunter-gatherers in South Africa around 60,000 years ago, making them the oldest known poison-tipped weapons. The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that advanced hunting techniques and chemical knowledge existed far earlier than previously believed.
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Researchers identified toxic alkaloids from the gifbol plant (Boophone disticha), a species still used in traditional hunting today. These toxins were detected on quartz arrowheads excavated from the Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal. The evidence indicates that ancient hunters deliberately coated their weapons with poison to weaken animals over time, reducing the effort required to track and kill prey.
Unlike weapons designed for instant kills, poisoned arrows allowed hunters to exhaust wounded animals gradually. This strategy required an understanding of delayed cause and effect, demonstrating advanced cognitive skills, planning ability, and ecological knowledge among early humans. Scientists believe prehistoric communities knew how to extract, concentrate, and apply plant toxins, possibly using heat or sunlight to enhance their potency.
Chemical analysis revealed two specific alkaloids , buphandrine and epibuphanisine , on half of the recovered arrowheads. These compounds are known to cause severe neurological and respiratory effects and can be lethal even in small doses. Their chemical stability explains how the residues survived tens of thousands of years underground.
To confirm long-term cultural use, researchers compared the ancient arrowheads with 250-year-old examples from the same region and found identical toxic compounds. This strengthens the argument that poison-based hunting was a sustained and sophisticated tradition.
Experts say the discovery provides rare direct evidence of early humans exploiting plant chemistry for survival, reinforcing the view that prehistoric Homo sapiens possessed complex reasoning, strategic planning, and technological skill. The findings also support the idea that bow-and-arrow technology originated much earlier than once assumed and played a key role in human expansion across continents.
Courtesy: CNN
