New research reveals that ochre, long thought to be used mainly for symbolic purposes, also played a practical role in stone toolmaking during the Middle Stone Age. The discovery began when researcher Elizabeth Velliky observed unusual wear patterns on a piece of ochre in the SapienCE lab in Cape Town. This initial find led to the identification of multiple ochre pieces showing signs of deliberate shaping and use in precision techniques like pressure flaking and percussion—methods associated with crafting Still Bay points.

The standardized forms of these ochre tools suggest they were personal instruments used by skilled toolmakers, potentially reflecting individual identity or social status. This study underscores ochre’s integral role in early human technological systems and hints at its contribution to the development of personal or group identity."We now have evidence that ochre was not only a medium for symbolic expression but also a key material in specialized tool production, reflecting a level of technological sophistication previously associated with much later periods”, says Christopher Henshilwood, archaeologist and director of Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE).

Almost half of all Australian Rules Football (AFL) umpires have experienced verbal abuse such as ridiculing, humiliation or aggressive remarks, threats or gestures, at least every couple of games, according to new research by the University of South Australia.

As global temperatures rise, a new study from the University of California San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy reveals that even mild heat exposure can significantly hinder team performance, while leaving individual productivity largely unaffected. Productivity losses from heat exposure have been extensively studied at the individual level; however, these findings explore the role of interpersonal dynamics in high-temperature settings which have profound implications for workplaces worldwide, especially in regions with limited access to climate control.

Public attitudes around solar geoengineering become less politically partisan with more familiarity, suggesting that increasing public awareness of the technology could foster bipartisan engagement.