Science Daily

1. Ancient giant kangaroos could hop after all

   Giant kangaroos that lived during the Ice Age may not have been as slow and grounded as once believed. A new study finds their leg bones and tendons were likely strong enough to support hopping, despite their massive size. Rather than traveling this way all the time, these animals may have relied on short bursts of hopping. This ability could have played a key role in escaping predators.

2. Scientists ranked monogamy across mammals and humans stand out

   A new study suggests humans belong in an elite “league of monogamy,” ranking closer to beavers and meerkats than to chimpanzees. By comparing full and half siblings across species and human cultures, researchers found that long-term pair bonding is unusually common in our species. Even societies that permit polygamy show far more monogamy than most mammals. This rare evolutionary shift may have played a key role in human social success.

3. Rare rocks beneath Australia reveal the origins of a critical metal

   Rare rocks buried deep in central Australia have revealed how a valuable niobium deposit formed during the breakup of an ancient supercontinent. More than 800 million years ago, tectonic rifting opened pathways that allowed metal-rich magma to rise from the mantle. These unusual rocks contain niobium, a key ingredient in high-strength steel, electric vehicles, and emerging energy technologies. The discovery offers fresh insight into how some of Earth’s most important mineral resources reach the surface.

4. This 2.6-million-year-old jawbone changes the human story

   A rare fossil discovery in Ethiopia has pushed the known range of Paranthropus hundreds of miles farther north than ever before. The 2.6-million-year-old jaw suggests this ancient relative of humans was surprisingly adaptable, not a narrow specialist as once believed. Instead of being outmatched by early humans, Paranthropus appears to have been just as widespread and resilient. The find forces scientists to rethink how early human relatives lived—and competed.

5. Europa’s ice may be feeding a hidden ocean that could support life

   Europa’s subsurface ocean might be getting fed after all. Scientists found that salty, nutrient-rich surface ice can become heavy enough to break free and sink through Europa’s icy shell, delivering essential ingredients to the ocean below. The process is fast, repeatable, and works under many conditions. It offers a promising new explanation for how Europa could support life.