Could a solar storm ever destroy Earth?

7 million years ago, our earliest relatives took their first steps on 2 feet | Broken fortress discovered under 'mega-monument' burial mound in Cyprus | Are insects edible? Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( August 25, 2022 CONNECT WITH LIVESCIENCE  [Facebook]( [Twitter](  [LIVESCIENCE]( Amazing science every day [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE](  [] Top Science News [] [7 million years ago, our earliest relatives took their first steps on 2 feet]( [7 million years ago, our earliest relatives took their first steps on 2 feet]( (© Sabine Riffaut, Guillaume Daver, Franck Guy / Palevoprim / CNRS – Université de Poitiers) The oldest known human-like species likely walked on two legs as far back as 7 million years ago, a new study finds, and the discovery sheds light on what first set humans apart from our ape relatives. Researchers analyzed a thigh bone (femur) and a pair of forearm bones (ulnae) from Sahelanthropus tchadensis, which may be the oldest known hominin — a relative of humans dating from after our ancestors split from those of modern apes — according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. First unearthed in Chad in north central Africa in 2001, the remains are about 7 million years old. Full Story: [Live Science]( (8/25) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Just the Facts, Ma'am "I stopped watching TV news a year ago, so sick of the bias everywhere. But in doing so, I was out of the loop. I decided to give 1440 a try & I've not been disappointed. Finally, Walter Cronkite style reporting! Just the facts. I also love that I can click a link to see more on many stories. Keep up the good work!" [Join for free now](. ADVERTISEMENT: [] History & Archaeology [] [Broken fortress discovered under 'mega-monument' burial mound in Cyprus]( [Broken fortress discovered under 'mega-monument' burial mound in Cyprus]( (Department of Antiquities Cyprus) Archaeologists excavating an enormous ancient burial mound in Cyprus have uncovered an even older structure hidden beneath it: a rampart, or part of a defensive wall, according to a statement from the Department of Antiquities Cyprus. The large mound, known as the tumulus of Laona, is longer than a football field, or 328 feet long by 196 feet wide (100 by 60 meters) and was likely built around the third century B.C., when the successors of Alexander the Great were fighting for control of Cyprus and large swaths of the empire. Full Story: [Live Science]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Life’s Little Mysteries [] [Are insects edible?]( [Are insects edible?]( (Getty Images) Many of us would turn up our noses at the idea of edible insects, but they are actually a valuable source of protein and are already eaten by many cultures across the world. Edible insects are generally cheap to feed and raise and take up very little space, making them a more environmentally-friendly alterative to other protein-sources such as beef, chicken, and even soy products. Full Story: [Live Science]( (8/25) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Innovation in HIV Research Sponsored Content from Gilead Sciences [Advancing Transformational Innovation in HIV Research]( Learn about Gilead Sciences' innovative approach to continuous scientific discovery as part of the company's leadership and commitment that aims to help end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere. [Find out more]( [] Space Exploration [] [Could a solar storm ever destroy Earth?]( [Could a solar storm ever destroy Earth?]( (NASA Goddard) All life on Earth owes its existence to the sun's radiant heat. But what happens when that radiation surges out of control, and billions of tons of charged solar material suddenly barrel our way at thousands of miles a second? What happens when Earth takes a direct hit from a solar flare — and could a strong enough one ever destroy life on our planet as we know it? The answers are complicated, but most scientists agree on one thing: Earth's magnetic field and insulating atmosphere keep us extremely well protected from even the most powerful solar outbursts. While solar storms can tamper with radar and radio systems or knock satellites offline, the most harmful radiation is sopped up in the sky long before it touches human skin. Full Story: [Live Science]( (8/25) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Your Health [] ['Magic mushroom' psychedelic could treat alcohol addiction, trial finds]( ['Magic mushroom' psychedelic could treat alcohol addiction, trial finds]( (gilaxia via Getty Images) Psilocybin, the hallucinogen behind the trippy effects of "magic mushrooms," may help people with alcohol use disorder cut down on or stop drinking when they take the drug in conjunction with talk therapy. "I stopped drinking right after my first psilocybin session. It worked that quickly for me," Jon Kostas, a trial participant, told reporters at a news conference Aug. 24. "This eliminated all my cravings." Full Story: [Live Science]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Curious Creatures [] [Tubby 'mermaids' vanished from Chinese waters 2 decades ago, now declared extinct]( [Tubby 'mermaids' vanished from Chinese waters 2 decades ago, now declared extinct]( (Sunphol Sorakul via Getty Images) Dugongs, the pudgy marine mammals that once inspired homesick sailors' fanciful tales of mythical mermaids, are now extinct in China, new research shows. For hundreds of years, these gentle giants, commonly known as sea cows, have swum in Chinese waters, ripping up seagrasses on the ocean bottom with a flexible upper lip. But with no sea cow sightings confirmed in the region for more than two decades, an international team of scientists recently undertook an in-depth investigation, surveying local fishing communities across four Chinese provinces and searching for evidence of the missing dugongs (Dugong dugon). Full Story: [Live Science]( (8/25) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Quiz [] POLL QUESTION: True or false: The sun frequently launches enormous blobs of charged particles at Earth, and these can actually compress the planet's magnetic field. (Learn the answer [here]() [Vote]( [True]( [Vote]( [False](   [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Cookies Policy]( | [Terms and Conditions]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:livescience@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE]( Future US LLC © 1100 13th St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005