The DNA of ancient humans has been found preserved in cave art that鈥檚 more than 40,000 years old. This discovery could open an entirely new avenue for finding out about the lives of our ancient ancestors.

Researchers from the First Art project found these unexpected samples while examining 11 different caves decorated with rock art. Although it鈥檚 unclear if the DNA belongs to the original artist, it may soon be possible for researchers to identify the exact person who did the painting – and even uncover traits like their hair and eye colour.

Now this has been done once, the potential for more discoveries is massive. We may even be able to figure out if Neanderthals were also making art like this.

Rowan Hooper is joined by features editor Alison George and Genevieve von Petzinger at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

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With the help of 鈥済odfather of microplastics鈥� Professor Richard Thompson, they explore what decades of animal studies really show about development, fertility, behaviour and brain health and why it鈥檚 so hard to get definitive answers in humans.

Are microplastics really building up in our brains, and if so, what might that mean for memory, mood or dementia risk? Should you be worried about your non-stick pans, plastic water bottles or synthetic clothes?听

Produced by Emily Bird

We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to听鈦犫仩鈦�changeyourmind@newscientist.com鈦�

Find out more about the microplastics at New 杏吧原创:

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El Ni帽o has officially arrived 鈥� a natural climate event that raises global temperatures. The difference this time is it looks very likely to become a 鈥淪uper鈥� El Ni帽o. This is a more extreme warming phase which could lead to record high temperatures.

Coupled with the ongoing impacts of climate change, weather agencies are predicting an increase in extreme weather events around the world. From droughts to floods and devastating coral bleaching, what will this year鈥檚 warming bring?

We find out how a 鈥淪uper鈥� El Ni帽o differs from a normal one, the extent of the damage it could cause and whether it鈥檚 responsible for the strange weather we鈥檝e already had this year in the UK.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Emily Black, Climate Professor at the University of Reading and New 杏吧原创 climate journalist Alec Luhn.

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A prototype Stonehenge has been discovered – an even older structure that may have been a first attempt at building the famous megalithic calendar.听

A team led by archaeologist Phil Harding, best-known for the TV series 鈥楾ime Team鈥�, discovered a range of artefacts at a site near Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.听

Excavations at Bulford uncovered pottery, animal bones, flints – and something even more telling. Signs of a structure of wooden poles were found, that line up directly with the summer solstice sun.

Phil Harding joins Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet to discuss what he found and why it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

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Image Credits:

Wessex Archaeology – 听

Marijane Porter

Dr Fabio Silva

garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Andrew Dunn, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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Cat speaks to听Professor Marilyn Albert, director of the Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins, about her study that recently linked a specific kind of speed鈥憄rocessing training to a听25% lower risk of dementia.听 But is this finding too good to be true? Or should we all be signing up to give this brain training game a go?听

Produced by Emily Bird

We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to听鈦犫仩鈦�changeyourmind@newscientist.com鈦�

Find out more about Brain Training and dementia at New 杏吧原创

Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer鈥檚 Society

Considered too dangerous and unreliable a few years ago, the technology for gene editing babies is advancing fast. Improved methods of using CRISPR gene editing are making the technique safer and more targeted. But does that mean we should be creating designer babies?

A new, more powerful version of CRISPR has already saved lives by correcting cells in children linked to leukaemia. But editing human embryos is a different story – and less safe. Despite this, researchers have been studying whether it鈥檚 possible.

To discuss the obstacles that still need to be overcome and the ethical challenges, Rowan Hooper is joined by reporter Michael Le Page.
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