Reuters Science News Summary

The 895 paintings were found by Argentine and Chilean archaeologists in the Huenul 1 cave, a 630 square meter rock shelter located in the province of Neuquen, some 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) southwest of the capital Buenos Aires. Hey, chocolate lovers: new study traces complex origins of cacao Scientists are getting a better taste of the early history of the domestication and use of cacao - the source of chocolate - thanks to residues detected on a batch of ancient ceramics from South and Central America.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Spanish startup Sateliot joins race for cheap space connections

Spanish space startup Sateliot is raising cash to send 100 microwave oven-sized satellites to the orbit, entering a crowded race for a slice of a market potentially worth $100 billion to offer cheap data connections via space. The company, which already has two test satellites in orbit, seeks 100 million euros ($109 million) in equity and debt from private equity investors, funds and banks, CEO Jaume Sanpera said in remarks cleared for publication on Thursday.

Patagonia cave paintings are earliest found in South America

Archaeologists have discovered the earliest dated cave paintings in South America in Argentine Patagonia, dating back 8,200 years. The 895 paintings were found by Argentine and Chilean archaeologists in the Huenul 1 cave, a 630 square meter rock shelter located in the province of Neuquen, some 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) southwest of the capital Buenos Aires.

Hey, chocolate lovers: new study traces complex origins of cacao

Scientists are getting a better taste of the early history of the domestication and use of cacao - the source of chocolate - thanks to residues detected on a batch of ancient ceramics from South and Central America. Using evidence from these artifacts, the researchers traced the rapid spread of cacao through trade routes after its initial domestication more than five millennia ago in Ecuador. They showed cacao's dispersal to South America's northwestern Pacific coast and later into Central America until it eventually reached Mexico 1,500 years later.

Pentagon UFO report says most sightings 'ordinary objects' and phenomena

A Pentagon report on unidentified flying objects said U.S. government investigations since the end of World War Two have found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology and had concluded that most sightings were misidentified ordinary objects and phenomena. The report released on Friday follows on from a 2022 Pentagon announcement that its then newly formed All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) had not found any evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth or crash-landed here.

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