Each week we uncover the most interesting and informative articles from around the world, here are some of the coolest stories in science this week. Bats to Humans A new study provides more clues to the virus' origins. [Read more about the connection.] Life to the Stars An illustration shows a comet passing in front of a star. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) A pair of researchers presented a wild new theory in a new paper. [Read more about the journey.] History Speaks Several skulls were found in the burial ground. These would likely be from mummies that have not survived intact. (Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism) A massive burial ground holding the remains of several high priests of ancient Egypt, along with their assistants, has been discovered in the northern part of the site of Tuna el-Gebel. [Read more about the mummies.] Swirling and Swirling Artist’s illustration of Lense-Thirring frame-dragging resulting from a rotating white dwarf in the PSR J1141-6545 binary star system. (Image credit: Mark Myers, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav)) The way the fabric of space and time swirls in a cosmic whirlpool around a dead star has confirmed yet another prediction from Einstein's theory of general relativity, a new study finds. [Read more about the theory.] New Old Details A photo shows the cliffside in Japan's Chiba prefecture that's part of a line of sidement that recorded the geologic history of the planet between 770,000 and 126,000 years ago. (Image credit: Kyodo/Newscom) The Chibanian age marks a period when sediment was laid down on a cliff in Japan, recording details of the most recent reversal of Earth's magnetic poles. [Read more about the find.] Hints at Lineage Original position of the skeletal remains inside the submerged cave of Muknal. These remains date back to about 10,000 years ago and belonged to an adult male. (Image credit: Jerónimo Avilés) But genetic data tells a very different story. [Read more about the waves.] Was Hawking Right? Black holes are infinitely dense objects surrounded by smooth event horizons. (Image credit: Shutterstock) When two neutron stars slammed together far off in space, they created a powerful shaking in the universe — and their echoes could violate Einstein's theory of relativity. [Read more about echo.] Philippines Floor A scientist collects gas samples at the newly discovered Soda Springs in the Philippines. (Image credit: University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences) Scientists came across a bubbling hotspot of carbon dioxide by chance. [Read more about the find.] Predicting Human Behavior Some scientists think quantum mechanics can help explain human decision-making. [Read more about the idea.] Melting Away In some birds, like this cassowary, the resemblance to extinct theropod dinosaurs is easy to see. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) The hottest known exoplanet in the universe constantly has half of its atmosphere melted, a new study suggests. [Read more about the event.] Source
