The twin landers, each the size of a desk and weighing 375 pounds (170 kilograms), will ramble dozens of meters a day, drilling into rocks and scooping up soil in preliminary field studies to help identify ancient oases.

CNN: Race to Mars begins a distant search for life

Most of these newly discovered species are microscopic, but genetic studies suggest they are also extremely ancient, implying life on Earth may have originated in areas formerly thought inhospitable.

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The next time someone tells you about a miraculous diet that mimics the way people ate in ancient times, here is a nice counterargument: studies of mummies say the ancients got heart disease too.

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Mr Miles has skilfully fused the works of ancient historians such as Polybius and Livy, a wide range of modern studies and recent archaeological research to create a convincing and enthralling narrative.

ECONOMIST: Myth and the making of history

The apparent fascination could stretch back into ancient folklore, says Prof Jack Zipes, a leading scholar of fairy-tale studies.

BBC: The dwarf actor dilemma

Two recent studies caught my eye, because they highlight some actual good science in trying to adapt two longstanding, ancient practices Yoga and Tai Chi into the modern era so they can be used for practical medical purposes.

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