5 Most Incredible Discoveries of the Week

Including an in-depth look at what people really do in the bathroom at work
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2014 5:32 AM CST
5 Most Incredible Discoveries of the Week
This undated composite handout image provided by NASA shows the planet Jupiter and the Great Red Spot in 2014, left; in 1995, top right; 2009, center right; and 2014, bottom right.   (AP Photo/NASA)

A pair of ancient Ice Age babies and people who (unrelatedly) crave ice make the list:

  • Somebody Great Is Buried in This Ancient Greek Tomb: Archaeologists in Greece have found bones inside an ancient tomb. The body had been placed in a wooden coffin that has long since rotted away, and it's clear that looters have plundered the tomb. Also clear: The remains are of somebody important—maybe even Alexander the Great?
  • People Admit Using Work Bathrooms for Somewhat Unusual Activities: A survey of 13,000 folks from 13 countries (including the US) reveals interesting bathroom habits in the workplace. Some answers aren't surprising (sneaking a smoke, going for a good cry). Other responses ... well, how often do you exercise or eat in there?

  • Jupiter's Red Spot Isn't What We Thought It Was: NASA researchers are disputing the widely held idea that the Great Red Spot on Jupiter is the result of chemicals underneath the planet's clouds. After re-creating conditions on Jupiter in a lab, they've come up with an entirely different possibility.
  • Two Ice-Age Babies Discovered in Alaska Indicate Tough Life: The remains of two baby girls buried in an Ice Age village in central Alaska are considered the oldest remains in the North American arctic—and the way they're buried offers insight into ancient burial practices and the "deep sense of loss and sorrow" likely felt at the loss of these children. It also suggests life wasn't very easy back then.
  • Chewing on Ice Better Than Sex for Some: You're not (necessarily) a weirdo if you need a cup of ice as a morning pick-me-up. You may just be suffering from pagophagia, a compulsive craving for ice that could be caused by an iron deficiency. The good news: That chilly chaw could give you a cognitive boost.
Click to read about more discoveries. (More discoveries stories.)

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