Archaeologists from Lomonosov Moscow State University analyzed 171 bone and ivory objects from the Sungir site, revealing that modern humans 30,000 years ago had developed complex techniques for processing hard materials. The findings, published by the Hugo Obermaier Society, offer insights into the daily life and cultural ties of early modern humans in Russia and Europe.

A study published in The Lancet has highlighted the significant disparities in healthcare and education access for indigenous communities worldwide. The research, led by Ian Anderson of the University of Melbourne, assessed the conditions of indigenous groups in 23 countries and found that they consistently have lower life expectancy, educational attainment, and higher rates of child malnutrition and maternal deaths compared to non-indigenous populations. The study points out that these issues persist in both wealthy and poor nations and contribute to a cycle of poverty and ill health. Leonor Pocaterra from the Central University of Venezuela emphasizes the need for services that cater specifically to indigenous peoples' needs, including language and cultural considerations. The study calls for targeted health and education initiatives to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The article discusses the origin of the modern peanut, Arachis hypogaea, which has been traced back to South America, specifically Bolivia. Researchers from The University of Georgia and the International Peanut Genome Initiative discovered that the modern peanut is a hybrid of two ancient Andean species, Arachis duranensis and Arachis ipaensis. The latter was thought to be extinct but was found in the Bolivian Andes. The study, led by David Bertioli and published in Nature Genetics, used molecular clock techniques to determine the hybridization event occurred around 10,000 years ago. The research also highlights the potential for using the peanut genome to develop more disease-resistant and nutritious peanut varieties, which could be particularly beneficial for regions suffering from malnutrition. The article also touches on the nutritional benefits of peanuts, comparing them to other nuts and noting their cost-effectiveness, as highlighted by Meir Stampfer's study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

A recent study published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances suggests that songbirds accumulate extra fat reserves during spring migration to support the energy demands of breeding. Mark Deutschlander, a biologist at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and co-author of the study, along with lead graduate student Jennalee Holzschuh, analyzed data from 12 warbler species collected at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory in New York. The findings indicate that female warblers, especially Blackpoll Warblers, carry more fat than males, likely due to the higher energy cost of producing eggs. The study also found that birds arriving later in the breeding season had more energy reserves, challenging the idea that fat is stored as a contingency for early arrival when food might be scarce. The research highlights the importance of fat reserves for breeding activities such as territory defense and egg production.

The article discusses the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials for HIV treatments, despite the virus affecting both genders almost equally. A systematic review in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, which analyzed 544 studies from PubMed, found that women constituted only a small percentage of participants in various HIV-related clinical trials. Mirjam Curno, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, highlights the importance of including women in adequate numbers to ensure the generalizability of research findings and to avoid potential harm. The article also notes that public trials have fewer women than private ones and emphasizes the need for enforcing gender parity mandates. Veronica Miller from the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research adds that greater inclusion of women in research can bring clinical and social benefits. The article is a version of a piece produced by SciDev.Net's Latin America & Caribbean desk.