DNA of 'Thorin,' one of the last Neanderthals, finally sequenced, revealing inbreeding and 50,000 years of genetic isolation

Easter Island's population never collapsed, but it did have contact with Native Americans, DNA study suggests | 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis could still hit Earth in 2029, study hints — but we won't know for 3 more years | Watch 'spaghetti monster' with dozens of pink-tipped sausage legs swimming near Nazca Ridge Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( September 12, 2024 CONNECT WITH LIVESCIENCE  [Facebook]( [X](  [LIVESCIENCE]( Amazing science every day [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE](   Top Science News [] [DNA of 'Thorin,' one of the last Neanderthals, finally sequenced, revealing inbreeding and 50,000 years of genetic isolation]( (Ludovik Slimak) [DNA of 'Thorin,' one of the last Neanderthals, finally sequenced, revealing inbreeding and 50,000 years of genetic isolation]( Thorin — nicknamed after a dwarf in J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" — is also called the "last Neanderthal" because he may have lived as recently as 42,000 years ago. [Read More]( [Tackle your credit card debt with 0% interest until nearly 2026]( Pay no interest until nearly 2026 with some of the best hand-picked credit cards this year, all with no annual fee. Experts identified these top credit card of 2024 offering 0% intro APR until nearly 2026. [Find out more]( ADVERTISEMENT [] History & Archaeology [] [Easter Island's population never collapsed, but it did have contact with Native Americans, DNA study suggests]( (Anton Petrus via Getty Images) [Easter Island's population never collapsed, but it did have contact with Native Americans, DNA study suggests]( A DNA analysis of 15 Rapa Nui individuals revealed that there was never a population collapse on Easter Island and that the inhabitants commingled with Native Americans. [Read More]( [] Space [] ['God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis could still hit Earth in 2029, study hints — but we won't know for 3 more years]( (Shutterstock) ['God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis could still hit Earth in 2029, study hints — but we won't know for 3 more years]( New simulations reveal that there is an extremely small chance that the "city-killer" asteroid Apophis could be nudged onto a collision course with Earth by another asteroid before it flies past our planet in 2029. [Read More]( [] Animals [] [Watch 'spaghetti monster' with dozens of pink-tipped sausage legs swimming near Nazca Ridge]( (Schmidt Ocean Institute) [Watch 'spaghetti monster' with dozens of pink-tipped sausage legs swimming near Nazca Ridge]( Researchers exploring the seafloor off the coast of Chile recently captured mesmerizing footage of a flying spaghetti monster — a carnivorous, colonial creature with countless milky-white arms. [Read More]( [] Technology [] [Amazingly simple discovery extends Li-ion battery lifespan by 50% — meaning you don't have to replace your gadgets as often]( (Getty Images/Malorny) [Amazingly simple discovery extends Li-ion battery lifespan by 50% — meaning you don't have to replace your gadgets as often]( Batteries used in smartphones or in EVs normally charge for 10 hours on their first cycle, but turbo-charging them to 100% capacity in 20 minutes may lead to a 50% longer lifespan. [Read More]( [] Daily Quiz [] The ancient 'smiley face' spotted by scientists on Mars is actually made out of what? Learn the answer [here](. [Vote]( [Iron dust]( [Vote]( [A series of craters]( [Vote]( [Liquid water]( [Vote]( [Salt deposits](   [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Cookies Policy]( | [Terms and Conditions]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:livescience@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE]( [Future]( Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036