A discovery in Kenya has revealed that Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, two distinct hominin species, coexisted 1.5 million years ago, according to reports. According to a study published in the journal Science on Thursday, the footprints were uncovered at Koobi Fora near Lake Turkana in 2021. These findings suggest that these two species not only shared the same environment but may also have interacted. The team, led by Kevin Hatala, a paleoanthropologist from Chatham University, analysed a 26-foot-long trail of fossilised footprints.

Using advanced 3D imaging techniques, researchers identified tracks belonging to individuals with distinct foot shapes and walking patterns. As per source, it was concluded that the footprints with high arches and heel-to-toe strides were left by Homo erectus, whose body structure closely resembles that of modern humans. In contrast, the flatter footprints, marked by deeper forefoot impressions, were attributed to Paranthropus boisei, known for its robust build and divergent big toe.

According to the study, the footprints offered detailed insights into the anatomical differences between the species. A single trackway contained a dozen prints from a P. boisei individual, whose foot size was equivalent to a modern US men’s size 8.5.

Meanwhile, the H. erectus footprints were smaller, correlating to shoe sizes between a women’s 4 and men’s 6. Jeremy DeSilva, a paleoanthropologist from Dartmouth College, told Live Science that this discovery provides a rare glimpse into their locomotion and potential behavioural dynamics.

Implications for Hominin Interaction

Hatala told the publication that these species likely recognised each other as distinct, drawing comparisons to the interactions observed between chimpanzees and gorillas today. Zach Throckmorton, a Colorado State University paleoanthropologist, reportedly highlighted that the stability of the big toe, evident in H. erectus, is a crucial adaptation for walking and running.

The overlapping tracks, made within hours of each other, suggest that these species shared a landscape in closer proximity than previously thought. While their precise interactions remain speculative, the discovery opens new avenues for understanding early human evolution.

A research paper published in the Scientific Reports journal has detailed the discovery of embalming practices by an aristocratic French family between the 16th and 17th centuries. A team from the Austrian Archaeological Institute, Université de Bordeaux, and Aix-Marseille Université uncovered remains of the dead in a shared crypt at Château des Milandes in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne as per reports. The skeletal remains of 12 individuals, comprising seven adults and five children, were analysed, revealing the systematic use of embalming methods.

Embalming Techniques and Processes

As per the research paper, it was found that embalming focused on temporary preservation for burial ceremonies. Internal organs, including the brain, were removed with precision, and the skulls were carefully reopened and replaced. Bodies were treated with a mixture of balsam and aromatic substances. In the paper, the research team also highlighted that the embalming methodology was identical to the one mentioned in a 1708 autopsy instruction manual by French surgeon Pierre Dionis.

A Rare Familial Practice

The study highlighted the uniqueness of the find, noting that long-term familial embalming practices are exceedingly rare. The process was consistently applied across generations, including both children and adults, suggesting its cultural importance within the Caumont family. Their wealth and social status were likely factors in sustaining the practice.

Significance of the Findings

The crypt, dating back to the late 16th century, has provided an unprecedented look into post-mortem rituals of Early Modern France. The research provides a unique perspective on post-mortem practices in Early Modern France, shedding light on the cultural and social significance of embalming within aristocratic circles.

As reported in Scientific Reports, the findings mark an unprecedented insight into mortuary traditions of the period.

Astronomers have been perplexed by the existence of supermassive black holes detected during the universe’s earliest phases, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Recent findings, as detailed in a study submitted to the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, suggest these cosmic giants may have originated as primordial “seeds” during the Big Bang itself. This hypothesis could provide insights into how such enormous black holes emerged in the universe’s infancy.

Early Observations Challenge Current Theories

As per the study, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified supermassive black holes in galaxies formed shortly after the Big Bang. These black holes, which range from hundreds of thousands to billions of times the mass of the Sun, appear to have developed faster than current astrophysical models predict.

Conventionally, black holes form from the remnants of massive stars. However, the timeline observed with JWST poses challenges, as this process would require stars to form, die, and merge at an extraordinarily accelerated rate.

Primordial Black Hole Hypothesis

In the 1970s, Stephen Hawking theorised that black holes might have emerged directly from the extreme density fluctuations present during the Big Bang, rather than from stellar collapse. These “primordial” black holes, initially small, could have grown over time by accreting surrounding matter. Researchers propose that even a fraction of these primordial black holes could have reached supermassive sizes within 100 million years, aligning with JWST’s observations.

Next Steps in Research

As per a Live Space.com report, the study’s authors have recommended integrating this model into simulations of early galaxy formation. This approach could test the feasibility of primordial black holes growing alongside the first stars and galaxies. If confirmed, it would reshape our understanding of black hole development and cosmic evolution. Further observational and computational studies will be required to validate this hypothesis.