New study debunks the biggest fear about yo-yo dieting

 Repeated weight loss followed by weight regain, often called "yo-yo dieting" or weight cycling, has long been viewed as unhealthy and potentially even worse than staying overweight. However, a major new review published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology argues that this belief is not backed by strong scientific evidence.

In an invited Personal View article, Professor Faidon Magkos of the University of Copenhagen and Professor Norbert Stefan of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), University Hospital Tübingen, and Helmholtz Munich reviewed decades of research involving both humans and animals. After examining the evidence, they found no convincing proof that weight cycling itself causes long-term harm in people with obesity.

"Many people struggling with weight are discouraged from trying to lose weight because they fear 'yo-yo dieting' will lead to muscle loss and somehow damage their metabolism," says Prof. Magkos. "Our review indicates that these fears are largely unsupported. In most cases, the benefits of trying to lose weight clearly outweigh the theoretical risks of weight cycling."

Longstanding fears about yo-yo dieting

For years, weight cycling has been linked to a wide range of health concerns, including greater fat accumulation, faster muscle loss, slower metabolism, and increased risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These concerns have influenced public opinion and even medical advice, leading some people to believe repeated dieting attempts may ultimately cause more harm than benefit.

The new analysis disputes that idea.

What researchers found

The researchers reviewed observational studies, randomized clinical trials, and animal studies focused on repeated weight loss and regain. They looked at how weight cycling affects body weight, body composition, metabolism, and blood sugar control.

"Once you properly account for pre-existing health conditions, aging, and overall exposure to obesity, the supposed harmful effects of weight cycling largely disappear," explains Prof. Stefan.

The review found no consistent evidence that weight cycling leads to excessive loss of lean (muscle) mass or causes lasting metabolic slowdown. In many cases, people who regained weight returned to a body composition similar to where they started, rather than ending up in worse condition. The researchers also found no strong evidence that weight cycling is responsible for the gradual long-term weight gain commonly seen in obesity.

Weight regain versus actual harm

The authors stress an important distinction. Regaining weight can undo many of the positive effects of weight loss, including improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. But losing those benefits does not necessarily mean a person becomes less healthy than they were before losing weight.

"Regaining weight brings people back toward baseline risk -- not beyond it," says Magkos. "There's a crucial difference between losing benefits and causing harm."

Several large studies also showed that when researchers account for a person's average body weight over time, weight cycling itself is no longer linked to higher risks of diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Instead, excess body fat appears to be the main factor driving metabolic risk.

Implications for obesity drugs and treatment

The findings arrive at a time when newer obesity medications, including GLP-1 and dual incretin agonists, are becoming increasingly common. These drugs can produce significant weight loss, but many patients regain weight after stopping treatment, creating a pattern similar to weight cycling.

According to the researchers, this regain should not automatically be viewed as harmful. Even temporary periods of weight reduction can still provide important health benefits and improve quality of life, even if the weight loss is not permanent.

A reassuring message for patients

Magkos and Stefan say the evidence should encourage people with overweight or obesity not to abandon efforts to lose weight simply because maintaining weight loss can be difficult.

"The idea that 'yo-yo dieting ruins your metabolism' is not supported by robust evidence," they say. "Trying -- and even failing -- to lose weight is not harmful. But giving up altogether may be."

Source: ScienceDaily

Lost 1,200-year-old manuscript contains the first English poem

 Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have uncovered an early 9th century manuscript in Rome containing one of the oldest surviving versions of the earliest known poem written in English.

The manuscript, now housed in the National Central Library of Rome, includes Caedmon's Hymn, a short Old English poem believed to have been composed more than 1,300 years ago. Scholars date the manuscript to between 800 and 830, making it the third oldest surviving copy of the poem ever identified.

What makes the discovery especially important is the way the poem appears in the text. In the two older surviving manuscripts, preserved in Cambridge and St Petersburg, the poem is written mainly in Latin, with the Old English lines added later in the margins or at the end. In the Rome manuscript, however, the Old English version is woven directly into the main Latin text itself.

According to researchers from Trinity's School of English, this suggests that early medieval readers placed significant value on Old English poetry.

The Origins of Caedmon's Hymn

Caedmon's Hymn is a nine line poem praising God for the creation of the world. It was written in Old English, the language spoken in England during the early Middle Ages.

The poem survives today because it was copied into certain manuscripts of Ecclesiastical History of the English People, an 8th century history written in Latin by the English monk Bede.

Tradition holds that the poem was composed by Caedmon, a cowherd from Whitby in present day North Yorkshire, after a divine visitation inspired him to sing.

The newly identified manuscript was discovered by medieval manuscript experts Dr. Elisabetta Magnanti and Dr. Mark Faulkner of Trinity College Dublin. Their findings were published in the open access journal Early Medieval England and its Neighbours by Cambridge University Press.

Dr. Elisabetta Magnanti explained: "I came across conflicting references to Bede's History in Rome, some pointing to its existence and some indicating it was lost. When its existence was confirmed by the library and the manuscript was digitized for us, we were extremely excited to find that the manuscript contained the Old English version of Caedmon's Hymn and that it was embedded in the Latin text.

"The magic of digitization has allowed two researchers in Ireland to recognize the significance of a manuscript now in Rome, containing a poem miraculously composed in Northern England by a shy cowherd a millennium and a half ago. This discovery is a testament to the power of libraries to facilitate new research by digitizing their collections and making them freely available online."

Why the Discovery Matters

Researchers say the find offers rare insight into the earliest history of written English.

Dr. Mark Faulkner said: "About three million words of Old English survive in total, but the vast majority of texts come from the tenth and eleventh centuries. Caedmon's Hymn is almost unique as a survival from the seventh century -- it connects us to the earliest stages of written English. As the oldest known poem in Old English it is today celebrated as the beginning of English literature.

"Unearthing a new early medieval copy of the poem has significant implications for our understanding of Old English and how it was valued. Bede chose not include the original Old English poem in his History, but to translate it into Latin. This manuscript shows that the original Old English poem was reinserted into the Latin within 100 years of Bede finishing his History. It is a sign of how much early readers valued English poetry."

A Manuscript With a Turbulent History

The rediscovered manuscript is one of at least 160 surviving copies of Bede's History. It was produced at the Abbey of Nonantola in northern central Italy sometime between 800 and 830 before eventually making its way to Rome.

Researchers say the manuscript endured a complicated journey over the centuries. During the Napoleonic Wars in the 1810s, it was moved along with other manuscripts to the church of San Bernardo alle Terme in Rome for safekeeping. It was later stolen and passed through several private owners before ultimately being acquired by the National Central Library of Rome.

Because of this tangled ownership history, many Bede scholars had considered the manuscript lost since 1975. Its importance remained unnoticed until the library digitized the document.

Valentina Longo, Curator of Mediaeval and Modern Manuscripts at the National Central Library of Rome, said: "Today, the National Central Library of Rome holds the largest collection of early medieval codices from the benedictine abbey of Nonantola. This collection comprises 45 manuscripts dating from the sixth to the twelfth century, divided between the original Sessoriana collection and the Vittorio Emanuele collection, where the manuscripts recovered following their dispersal due to the 19th-century theft have been housed. The whole Nonantolan collection has been fully digitized and is accessible through the library's website."

Andrea Cappa, Head of Manuscripts and Rare Books Reading Room, National Central Library of Rome, added: "The Central National Library of Rome continually expands its digital collections, providing free access to its resources. The library has already made available digital copies of around 500 manuscripts, and is also completing a major project to digitize the holdings of the National Centre for the Study of the Manuscript, which includes microfilm reproductions of approximately 110,000 manuscripts from 180 Italian libraries. This initiative will give scholars and researchers access to more than 40 million images."

Source: ScienceDaily

Stunning 150-million-year-old stegosaur skull rewrites dinosaur evolution

 Paleontologists from the Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel-Dinópolis have published new findings in the scientific journal Vertebrate Zoology describing an extraordinary stegosaur skull discovered in Riodeva (Teruel, Spain). The fossil, which comes from a plated dinosaur that lived about 150 million years ago, is also helping researchers propose a new explanation for how stegosaurs evolved and spread across the world.

Stegosaurs were plant-eating dinosaurs that walked on four legs and are best known for the rows of plates and spikes running from their necks to their tails. The newly studied fossil was uncovered during excavations led by Fundación Dinópolis at the "Están de Colón" site within the Villar del Arzobispo Formation, which dates back to the Late Jurassic period.

Researchers identified the specimen as Dacentrurus armatus, one of Europe's most iconic stegosaurs. The fossil is considered the best-preserved stegosaur skull ever discovered in Europe, a remarkable achievement because dinosaur skulls are extremely delicate and rarely survive intact over millions of years.

Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa, researcher at Fundación Dinópolis and co-author of the study, said: "The detailed study of this exceptional fossil has allowed us to reveal previously unknown aspects of the anatomy of Dacentrurus armatus, the quintessential European stegosaur, which in 2025 marks 150 years since its first description. Dinosaurian skulls are rarely preserved due to the extreme fragility of their bones. This discovery is key to understanding how stegosaurian skulls evolved.

"Furthermore, alongside the anatomical study, we have also proposed a new hypothesis that redefines the evolutionary relationships of stegosaurs worldwide. As a result of this work, we have formalized the definition of a new group called Neostegosauria."

New Dinosaur Evolution Hypothesis

The researchers say Neostegosauria includes medium and large stegosaur species that lived across several continents during different periods of the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. According to the study, members of this group inhabited areas that are now Africa and Europe during the Middle and Late Jurassic, North America during the Late Jurassic, and Asia during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous.

The team believes this new classification could reshape how scientists understand the evolutionary history and global distribution of plated dinosaurs.

Fossil Site Still Producing Important Discoveries

Alberto Cobos, managing director of Fundación Dinópolis and co-author of the research, emphasized the broader importance of the discovery: "This dual achievement-both the study of an exceptional fossil and the proposal of a new evolutionary hypothesis-positions this research as a global reference in stegosaurian studies.

"This fossil site from Riodeva continues to be a subject of research and still holds numerous relevant fossils, including more postcranial elements from the same adult specimen and, notably, juvenile individuals, a particularly rare combination in this type of dinosaurs. These discoveries continue to exponentially increase the paleontological heritage of the province of Teruel, making it one of the iconic regions for understanding the evolution of life on Earth."

Scientists say the Riodeva fossil site continues to yield valuable material, including additional bones from the same adult dinosaur and rare juvenile remains. Discoveries like these are helping establish Teruel as one of the world's most important locations for studying prehistoric life and dinosaur evolution.

Study Published in Vertebrate Zoology

The research appears in Vertebrate Zoology under the title "New insights into the phylogeny and skull evolution of stegosaurian dinosaurs: An extraordinary cranium from the European Late Jurassic (Dinosauria: Stegosauria)." The paper was authored by paleontologists Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa and Alberto Cobos of Fundación Dinópolis.

The project was supported by Fundación Dinópolis, which is affiliated with the Dept. of Medio Ambiente y Turismo of the Gobierno de Aragón. It also forms part of the activities of Research Group E04-23R FOCONTUR, funded by the Gobierno de Aragón through the Dept. of Empleo, Ciencia y Universidades.

Additional support came from the Unidad de Paleontología de Teruel, funded by the Gobierno de España through the Ministry of Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Excavation work at the site also received backing through the project Los yacimientos paleontológicos de la provincia de Teruel como factor de desarrollo territorial (IV), funded jointly by the Gobierno de España and the Gobierno de Aragón through the Teruel Investment Fund via the Dept. of Presidencia, Economía y Justicia.

Source: ScienceDaily

Scientists reverse Alzheimer’s in mice with breakthrough nanotechnology

 An international team of researchers has reported a striking Alzheimer's breakthrough in mice using specially engineered nanoparticles that do much more than deliver medicine. These microscopic particles act as drugs themselves, helping the brain restore its own natural cleaning system and dramatically reducing toxic protein buildup linked to Alzheimer's disease.

The work was led by scientists from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and West China Hospital Sichuan University (WCHSU), together with collaborators in the United Kingdom. Their findings were published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.

Instead of focusing directly on damaged neurons, the scientists targeted the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a protective network of cells and blood vessels that controls what enters and leaves the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, this system gradually breaks down, allowing harmful proteins to accumulate and damaging brain function over time.

The researchers designed bioactive nanoparticles called "supramolecular drugs" to help restore this barrier and restart the brain's ability to remove waste.

Repairing the Brain's Cleanup System

The human brain uses enormous amounts of energy. In adults, it consumes around 20% of the body's total energy supply, and in children the figure can reach 60%. To meet those demands, the brain depends on an extremely dense network of blood vessels. Scientists estimate the brain contains roughly one billion capillaries, with nearly every neuron connected to its own blood supply.

Growing evidence suggests these blood vessels play a far larger role in dementia than previously thought. Many researchers now believe vascular damage is not simply a side effect of Alzheimer's disease but may actively drive its progression. Recent studies have also linked blood-brain barrier breakdown to early cognitive decline and increased buildup of toxic proteins.

Under healthy conditions, the blood-brain barrier helps clear waste products from the brain while blocking harmful substances such as toxins and pathogens. One of the most important waste proteins is amyloid-β (Aβ), the sticky material that forms plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's patients, the brain's waste disposal system begins to fail. As amyloid-β accumulates, neurons become damaged and memory problems worsen.

Alzheimer's Plaques Dropped Within Hours

To test the new therapy, researchers used genetically engineered mice that develop high levels of amyloid-β and progressive cognitive decline similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans.

The animals received only 3 doses of the nanoparticles. The effects appeared quickly.

"Only 1h after the injection we observed a reduction of 50-60% in Aβ amount inside the brain," explains Junyang Chen, first co-author of the study, researcher at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University and PhD student at the University College London (UCL).

The long-term results were even more dramatic. Scientists tracked the animals for months using behavioral and memory tests covering different stages of disease progression.

In one experiment, researchers treated a 12-month-old mouse (equivalent to a 60-year-old human) and evaluated it six months later. By that point, the animal was roughly comparable to a 90-year-old human. Despite its age, the mouse behaved similarly to a healthy animal with no signs of Alzheimer's-related decline.

"The long-term effect comes from restoring the brain's vasculature. We think it works like a cascade: when toxic species such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulate, disease progresses. But once the vasculature is able to function again, it starts clearing Aβ and other harmful molecules, allowing the whole system to recover its balance. What's remarkable is that our nanoparticles act as a drug and seem to activate a feedback mechanism that brings this clearance pathway back to normal levels," said Giuseppe Battaglia, ICREA Research Professor at IBEC, Principal Investigator of the Molecular Bionics Group and leader of the study.

How the Nanoparticles Work

A major focus of the study was a protein called LRP1, which acts like a molecular transport system at the blood-brain barrier. Normally, LRP1 recognizes amyloid-β, binds to it, and moves it out of the brain and into the bloodstream for disposal.

But the process is delicate. If LRP1 binds amyloid-β too strongly, the transport machinery becomes overloaded and breaks down. If the interaction is too weak, waste removal does not occur efficiently enough. Either way, amyloid-β starts piling up in the brain.

The supramolecular nanoparticles were engineered to mimic the natural molecules that interact with LRP1. By doing this, the particles appear to "reset" the transport system, allowing amyloid-β to move out of the brain again.

Source: ScienceDaily

Scientists reveal how seven days of fasting transforms the human body

 Going without food for several days does far more than force the body to burn fat. Research published in Nature Metabolism revealed that extended fasting sets off widespread biological changes throughout the body, including shifts linked to the brain, metabolism, and immune system.

Scientists found that many of the most significant effects did not appear right away. Instead, the body seemed to enter a very different biological state after about three days without food.

The findings offer one of the clearest pictures yet of what prolonged fasting does inside the human body at a molecular level. Researchers say the work could eventually help scientists develop treatments that mimic some of fasting's effects without requiring people to stop eating for days.

What Happens to the Body During Prolonged Fasting?

Humans evolved to survive periods of food scarcity. When food is unavailable, the body switches from using glucose from meals to relying on stored fat for energy.

Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years for religious, cultural, and medical reasons. It has also attracted growing attention in recent years because of studies linking fasting and intermittent fasting to weight loss, improved metabolic health, and cellular repair processes.

Still, scientists have had only a limited understanding of exactly how the body responds during longer fasts.

To investigate, researchers from Queen Mary University of London's Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (PHURI) and the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences monitored 12 healthy volunteers during a seven day water-only fast. Blood samples were collected daily before, during, and after fasting.

Using advanced proteomics technology, the team tracked roughly 3,000 proteins circulating in the bloodstream. These proteins can provide clues about what is happening across organs and tissues throughout the body.

The Biggest Changes Started After Day Three

As expected, the body quickly shifted from burning glucose to burning fat within the first two to three days of fasting.

Participants lost an average of 5.7 kilograms (about 12.5 pounds), including both fat and lean tissue. After participants resumed eating for three days, most of the lean tissue loss returned while much of the fat loss remained.

But researchers discovered something more surprising.

Large scale changes in protein activity throughout the body did not begin immediately. Instead, major molecular changes became much more noticeable after around three days without calories.

More than one third of the proteins measured changed significantly during fasting. Some of the strongest shifts involved proteins linked to the extracellular matrix, which helps provide structural support for tissues and organs, including neurons in the brain.

The protein changes were remarkably consistent among volunteers, suggesting the body may follow a highly coordinated response to prolonged fasting.

"For the first time, we're able to see what's happening on a molecular level across the body when we fast," said Claudia Langenberg, Director of Queen Mary's Precision Health University Research Institute (PHURI).

"Fasting, when done safely, is an effective weight loss intervention. Popular diets that incorporate fasting, such as intermittent fasting, claim to have health benefits beyond weight loss. Our results provide evidence for the health benefits of fasting beyond weight loss, but these were only visible after three days of total caloric restriction -- later than we previously thought."

Potential Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

Researchers used genetic data from large human studies to examine how the protein changes observed during fasting might influence long term health.

The results suggested possible links to improvements in several biological pathways associated with disease risk and inflammation. Scientists also identified changes connected to proteins involved in brain support structures.

The findings have fueled interest in whether fasting could someday help researchers develop therapies for conditions involving metabolism, aging, inflammation, or neurological health.

Interest in fasting research has continued growing since the 2024 study was published. More recent reviews have linked intermittent fasting to improved insulin sensitivity, healthier lipid levels, and possible benefits for brain function and cardiovascular health.

Other recent studies on prolonged fasting have also found that the body enters a deep ketogenic state during multi day fasts, dramatically changing how cells use fuel.

Source: ScienceDaily

Scientists uncover surprising health benefits of watermelon

 Watermelon has long been a summer favorite, but research suggests this refreshing fruit may offer benefits far beyond hydration. Studies published in Nutrients found that people who regularly eat watermelon tend to have healthier overall diets and may also support better heart and blood vessel function.

Researchers say watermelon provides an impressive mix of nutrients, antioxidants, and naturally occurring compounds linked to cardiovascular and metabolic health. Its high water content and low calorie count also make it an easy way to add more fruit to your diet.

Watermelon Linked to Better Diet Quality

One study examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to compare the diets of watermelon eaters and non-consumers across the United States. The analysis found that both children and adults who consumed watermelon generally had higher-quality diets overall.

According to the findings, watermelon consumers took in more dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, lycopene, and other carotenoids. At the same time, they consumed lower amounts of added sugars and saturated fat. The study was originally published in Nutrients in 2022.

That combination is notable because many Americans still struggle to meet recommended fruit intake goals. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend between 1.5 and 2.5 cups of fruit daily, yet most adults and children consume only about half that amount.

Compounds in Watermelon May Support Heart Health

A separate clinical trial from Louisiana State University explored whether watermelon juice could help protect blood vessel function during periods of elevated blood sugar. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study involved 18 healthy young adults who consumed watermelon juice daily for two weeks.

Researchers focused on two naturally occurring watermelon compounds, L-citrulline and L-arginine, which are involved in nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax and expand, an important part of healthy circulation and cardiovascular function.

The study found evidence that watermelon juice supplementation helped maintain vascular function during hyperglycemia and influenced heart rate variability.

"We acknowledge that while the sample size was small (18 healthy young men and women) and more research is needed, this study adds to the current body of evidence supporting regular intake of watermelon for cardio-metabolic health. In addition to L-citrulline and L-arginine, watermelon is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamin C and lycopene -- all of which can help reduce oxidative stress and play a role in heart disease prevention," said Dr. Jack Losso, Ph.D., professor at Louisiana State University's School of Nutrition and Food Sciences.

Follow Up Research Continues to Explore Benefits

Since those studies were published, additional reviews and meta-analyses have continued investigating watermelon's role in vascular and metabolic health. Researchers have reported that watermelon consumption and L-citrulline supplementation may improve measures tied to blood vessel flexibility and circulation, including pulse wave velocity and endothelial function.

Scientists are especially interested in watermelon because it is one of the richest natural food sources of L-citrulline. Recent reviews have highlighted the fruit's potential role in supporting nitric oxide production, healthy blood flow, and cardiovascular function, although experts stress that larger long-term studies are still needed.

Watermelon is also packed with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with reduced oxidative stress and potential heart health benefits. Red watermelon varieties tend to contain especially high levels of lycopene.

A Hydrating, Low Calorie Fruit

Beyond the research buzz, watermelon remains a nutrient-dense fruit that is easy to enjoy year-round. A 2-cup serving contains only 80 calories and provides 25% of the daily value for vitamin C along with 8% of the daily value for vitamin B6. The fruit is also made up of about 92% water, making it a hydrating option during hot weather or after exercise.

Whether served at a summer barbecue, blended into smoothies, or added to salads, watermelon offers a simple way to increase fruit intake while adding vitamins, antioxidants, and hydration to your diet.

Source: ScienceDaily

Ancient lost ocean may have built Central Asia’s dinosaur-era mountains

 A new study from Adelaide University suggests that the ancient Tethys Ocean played a major role in shaping Central Asia's landscape during the Cretaceous period, long before the rise of the Himalayas.

The research team reached this conclusion through a large-scale data analysis that combined hundreds of thermal history models collected from more than 30 years of geological studies across Central Asia.

Scientists have often linked the region's landscape to a combination of tectonic activity, climate changes, and processes deep within Earth's mantle over the past 250 million years. However, the new findings point to a different dominant force.

"We found that climate change and mantle processes had only little influence on the Central Asian landscape, which persisted in an arid climate for much of the last 250 million years," said Dr. Sam Boone, who was a post-doctoral researcher at Adelaide University when the research was conducted.

"Instead, the dynamics of the distant Tethys Ocean can directly be correlated with short-lived periods of mountain building in Central Asia."

How a Lost Ocean Influenced Mountain Building

The Tethys Ocean once stretched across a vast area of the planet before gradually disappearing during the Meso-Cenozoic period, which covers the last 250 million years. Today, the Mediterranean Sea is considered the final remnant of that ancient ocean.

"The present-day relief of Central Asia was largely built by the India-Eurasia collision and ongoing convergence," said co-author Associate Professor Stijn Glorie, from Adelaide University's School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences.

"However, during the Cretaceous periods, dinosaurs would have seen a mountainous landscape as well, similar to the present-day Basin-and-Range Province in the western USA.

"It is thought that the extension in the Tethys, due to roll-back of subducting slabs of ocean crust, reactivated old suture zones into a series of roughly parallel ridges in Central Asia, up to thousands of kilometers away from the Himalaya collision zone."

According to the researchers, geological activity connected to the ancient ocean may have triggered mountain formation far from the actual plate boundaries.

Thermal History Models Reveal Earth's Past

The study relied on thermal history models, which help scientists trace how rocks cooled as they moved closer to Earth's surface during periods of mountain uplift and erosion.

"These models were constructed using thermochronology methods and reveal how rocks cooled down when they are brought towards the surface during mountain uplift and subsequent erosion," Associate Professor Glorie said.

"We analyzed a compilation of thermal history models in function of plate-tectonic models for the Tethys Ocean evolution, as well as deep-time precipitation and mantle-convection models."

By combining these datasets, the team was able to reconstruct previously hidden chapters of Earth's geological history.

Applying the Research Beyond Central Asia

Associate Professor Glorie said the same research method could help scientists investigate other geological mysteries around the world. The study was published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment.

"There are many parts on the planet where the drivers and timing for mountain building and/or rifting are poorly understood. For example, closer to home, the break-up history of Australia from Antarctica is somewhat enigmatic," he said.

"Australia drifted away about 80 million years ago, but there is no obvious imprint of this in the thermal history record of either the Antarctic or Australian plate margins. Instead, they record much older cooling histories.

"We are applying the same approach as used in Central Asia to advance understanding of Australia-Antarctica break-up."

Source: ScienceDaily