Amazonian Geoglyphs, Whale Shark Secrets, and Antarctica’s Record Cold: This Week’s Science Highlights

Amazonian geoglyphs captured by lidar have reshaped our view of pre‑columbian societies.

Amazonian geoglyphs reveal lost civilization

A team of archaeologists using airborne laser scanning over Brazil’s Acre state uncovered more than ↑ 300 geometric earthworks, many aligned in precise grids.

“These patterns are unmistakably human,” said Dr. Ana Silva, lead researcher, Live Science.

The discovery arrives as scientists elsewhere decoded the secret lives of whale sharks, fitting tiny cameras to their dorsal fins to record daily migrations. Whale sharks were observed feeding at night, a behavior previously undocumented. Meanwhile, Antarctica’s Concordia station logged a blistering ↓ -119.4°F on July 18, the coldest reading since 2012, underscoring the continent’s volatile climate. Reuters reported that the extreme chill could affect future research logistics. In a separate marine event, drone footage captured a humpback whale calf’s first surfacing, a rare visual triumph for marine biologists. Along Spain’s coast, orcas capsized a cargo vessel, echoing a pattern of predatory tactics that marine ecologists are monitoring. As global shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz clear, epidemiologists warn that the reopening could trigger a pandemic-like superspreader scenario for marine pathogens. Finally, China’s Long March 3B rocket survived a mid‑air lightning strike seconds after launch, demonstrating engineering resilience. For deeper analysis, see BBC.