The Note Stack: 6.30.26

This month on The Note Stack we talk about some new research on Homo naledi burials, a Japanese Hell Ship, a mystery cave painting, and the reconstruction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Instead of Listener Comments Chris tells us the tale of the WWII Devil Duck (yes, she was a real duck) and then we share our Substack picks and what we are reading and watching.

News Roundup

Homo Naledi Burial

Scientists have successfully extracted ancient proteins from the tooth enamel of Homo naledi fossils for the first time, leading to a surprising discovery. None of the 20 individuals studied showed evidence of protein from the Y chromosome, suggesting they may all have been biologically female. Because this new technique works even when ancient DNA has long since broken down, researchers now think the South African cave could have been an intentional female-only burial site more than 300,000 years ago-possibly the oldest known example of sex-specific burial practices. Scientists caution that there are other possible explanations, including a rare genetic mutation, but the discovery gives researchers an exciting new way to study our ancient relatives. It also adds another intriguing chapter to the ongoing debate over whether Homo naledi, despite its relatively small brain, deliberately buried its dead and displayed other surprisingly complex social behaviors.

Original article here and here

Japanese Hell Ship

More than 80 years after one of World War II's lesser-known maritime tragedies, researchers have finally located the wreck of the Japanese "hell ship" Hōfuku Maru off the coast of the Philippines. On September 21, 1944, the unmarked cargo ship was carrying more than 1,200 British and Dutch prisoners of war-many of them survivors of the brutal Burma-Thailand Death Railway-when it was mistakenly attacked by U.S. aircraft that had no way of knowing POWs were on board. The ship split in two and sank in less than three minutes, killing more than 1,000 prisoners. By combining newly discovered Japanese wartime records with Allied reports and underwater surveys, researchers were finally able to confirm the wreck's identity. Now protected as a war grave, the site stands as a sobering reminder of the terrible conditions endured aboard Japan's infamous "hell ships" and the heartbreaking tragedies that can occur in the fog of war.

Original article here

Mysterious Tusked Monster

A new study suggests that a mysterious 200-year-old rock painting created by the San people of South Africa may actually depict a dicynodont, a tusked, mammal-like animal that went extinct more than 200 million years ago. The creature in the "Horned Serpent" panel has downward-pointing tusks and other features that closely resemble dicynodont fossils found throughout the nearby Karoo Basin. Researchers believe the San may have discovered these fossils and incorporated them into their art and spiritual traditions, an idea the authors call Indigenous paleontology. The study adds to growing evidence that Indigenous peoples recognized fossils and wove them into their stories and beliefs long before Western scientists began studying and naming these ancient animals.

Read the article here and the journal article here

Reconstructing the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Archaeologists have recovered 22 massive stone blocks from the submerged ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Some of these enormous blocks weigh up to 88 tons and include pieces of the lighthouse's entrance, foundation, and tower. By combining these newly recovered stones with underwater surveys, historical records, and advanced 3D scanning technology, researchers with the PHAROS Project hope to create the most accurate virtual reconstruction of the lighthouse ever attempted. More than 700 years after earthquakes brought it crashing into the Mediterranean Sea, one of history's greatest engineering marvels is finally beginning to reveal what it really looked like.

Read the article here

Also, the new Sultana Disaster Museum is opening November 14, 2026!

Instead of Listener Comments…

Instead of listener comments this week, Chris tells us about the infamous Devil Duck of WWII.

Featured Substacks

Tina’s Pick: Dennis Bodzash

Chris’ Pick: Lauren Ciccomascolo

Watching/Reading List

Mostly, we are watching World Cup games and of course, Europeans visiting Buc-ees and trying Ranch dressing. Check out Side Quest Dad for some fun soccer/Kansas City content

Tina is reading:

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Do Aliens Speak Physics by Daniel Whiteson and Andy Warner

When the Heavens Went on Sale by Ashlee Vance

Chris is watching:

Alex Hormozi