This week in the history of science: the extinction of the quagga — One of the oldest zoos in Europe is the Natura Artis Magistra in Amsterdam. The zoo rests in the heart of the city, and the entrance includes three gates with the words Natura, Artis, and Magistra written above it. Founded in 1838, it was originally only available to members. It…

The latest news, discoveries, and stories from archaeology around the world. — Many digs are announcing discoveries as the most intense summer season is coming to an end. The newest discoveries are gold in Kazakhstan, tons of indigenous artifacts found in Canada, a Roman library, and new evidence in the transition to agriculture. Outside Montreal, archaeologists have unearthed a set of native…

Sameera Moussa 1917–1952 was an influential figure in the history of nuclear science and physics. — On August 5, 1952, the car came to pick up Sameera Moussa in Berkeley, California. An Egyptian native, she had come to the University of California to study with some of the “luminaries” as Oppenheimer called them at Berkeley to learn about their latest atomic research. During the war, the…

Born on July 31, Richard Dixon Oldham was an influential geologist and seismologist who identified seismic waves. — On June 12, 1897, a little past five in the afternoon, the earth suddenly rumbled. The correspondent of the Pioneer described the shakes, “to be distinctly horizontal and undulating, the surface of the earth presenting the aspect of a storm-tossed sea, with this difference that the undulations were infinitely more…

The global news of archaeology and the most important discoveries, stories, exhibitions, and more. — The summer has proven to be a rich time of archaeological discovery. The past week revealed Mayan paintings in Mexico, the possible remains of Jesus’ disciples, and a Han dynasty village in China. …

Stories of conflict over the Temple Mount, discoveries from around the globe, including some of the earliest bread, and a Swedish ship. — Archaeologists have discovered 2,000 year old bowl from Scotland. It’s the oldest wooden bowl found in Orkney so far, and will provide insight into the Iron Age daily life. The bowl would have been used for food and drink. They found several other items from the site as well. …

The Getty Museum has purchased the Rothschild Pentateuch, an illuminated Torah from the 13th century, and will present the new purchase as a part of an exhibition about sacred writings in three traditions. — From the painted caves of Lausanne to the Lindisfarne Gospels, humans have always used art as expression. But the new purchase from the Getty Museum is sure to stun. Acquired by the support of Jo Carole and Ronald S. …

This fifth edition of the Digging Up Newsletter shares discoveries from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas — ritual sacrifice, history of dogs, game boards, and more. — For this edition, I focused just on the discoveries for the week of July 1 to July 7. Some of these stories were more mainstream, but others were less reported. Read the short summaries, and check out the links for more full information. …

Economists argue that redistributing money from the wealthy to the poor would support consumption for all. — Who spends more: the rich or the poor? A new study published by Jonathan Fisher, Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, and David Johnson, University of Michigan, tries to answer that question. …