15/03/2012

Available for over a year

Red Deer Cave People The remains of what could be a previously unknown early human relative have been found in China. It started with a chance discovery, back in 1989, by some Chinese miners, and now it may change our current thinking on human evolution. The fossils they uncovered were of at least five individuals, who lived up to 14 and a half thousand years ago. They look very different to other early humans, but where did they come from? Dr Isabelle de Groote, a researcher in human origins at the Natural History Museum in London, gives her explanations. Venus and Jupiter If you have looked up at the night sky this week, you cannot have failed to notice two incredibly bright spots to the West. They look like oversized stars, but are actually the planets Jupiter and Venus. This month all five visible planets are in fact making an appearance in the night sky. Science in Action invited Dr Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society to tell us more. Votes and voices Voters in political elections are most likely to pick a candidate with a lower voice, according to research just published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Professor Casey Klofstad, from the University of Miami in the US, explains how they tested the hypotheses.