Artificial intelligence is increasingly developing problem-solving strategies that differ from typical human search patterns and ways of thinking. An international study led by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development has shown, for the first time, the conditions under which such strategies discovered by machines can be adopted by humans and become part of their lasting knowledge and cultural evolution.

Ancient Egyptians routinely reopened, reused, and transformed burial spaces. But how does this show in tombs? Researchers have examined how repeated use of a chamber in a Theban tomb is reflected by the mummies in it. They found a switch from individualized burial units inside coffins to collective interment, alongside changes in the positioning of limbs and funerary objects. During later phases of the chamber’s use, mummies were stacked one above another – but this doesn’t mean chaos reigned or that certain burial practices were discontinued. Instead, it shows a process of reuse that could help develop a better understanding of the social behaviors behind funerary practices.

Kyoto, Japan -- Massive storms like the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, that cause over $100 billion in damage, were once considered once-in-a-lifetime events. Increasingly, however, they are becoming the norm: a direct result of climate change, which has made large storms more frequent, intense, and slower-moving, deepening their impact.

Hurricanes can damage homes through flooding and strong winds, and insurance claims target both. After the 2022 Hurricane Ian, for example, 44 percent of insurance claims were for flooding and 56 percent were for wind damage. Yet most economic research focuses on flooding because elevation data and hydrological models can predict flood extent, whereas identifying the location and severity of wind damage across a wide area has posed a particular challenge.

Unlike flooding, there is nothing like a dam or levee that can shield an entire community from wind, so the responsibility falls almost entirely on individual homeowners. To mitigate wind damage, Florida enacted the 2001 Florida Building Code -- 2001 FBC -- which required new and re-roofed homes to use stronger roof-to-wall connections, thicker roof decking, and even impact-resistant windows and doors in some areas. Many homeowners had to spend thousands of dollars to reinforce a roof or install impact-resistant features, yet whether these preventative measures proved to be worth the average cost of about $4,930 had remained unclear.