Daily briefing: Ice-age art hints at how humans flourished

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02400-zTiny bird figurines hint at the sophistication of Europe’s earliest Homo sapiens. Plus, open peer-review reports are less likely to be retracted and a mission to fly…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02400-z

Tiny bird figurines hint at the sophistication of Europe’s earliest Homo sapiens. Plus, open peer-review reports are less likely to be retracted and a mission to fly over dangerous ‘fire clouds’.

40,000-year-old bird carvings provide clues to how ice age humans flourished

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02312-yNewly discovered figurines point to skills that might have helped shape early humans’ expansion across Europe.

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02312-y

Newly discovered figurines point to skills that might have helped shape early humans’ expansion across Europe.

Papers with open peer-review reports are less likely to be retracted

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02282-1Researchers say that transparent publishing practices could be associated with research quality, but more evidence is needed.

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02282-1

Researchers say that transparent publishing practices could be associated with research quality, but more evidence is needed.