Timing of Neanderthal occupations in the southeastern margins of the Massif Central (France): A multi-method approach
The middle Rhône valley, located at the southeastern margins of the Massif Central in France, produced a large number of Middle Palaeolithic sites, most of which dated to the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Due to its position, connecting northern Europe and the Mediterranean basin, this corridor and the surrounding plateaus are of particular interest in the study of human cultural evolution, including the emergence of Middle Palaeolithic technology around 300,000 years ago and its variability over time, as well as the subsistence and mobility strategies of Neanderthals. In the last 20 years, several research projects undertaken in this region allowed to revise key Middle Palaeolithic sequences. This work aims at synthesising previous and new chronological data obtained by using uranium-series of speleothems and bones, infrared stimulated luminescence of feldspar and electron spin resonance of tooth enamel and quartz. We review previous ages obtained in the area and present 43 new ages that are discussed together to propose a reliable spatiotemporal framework for Neanderthal occupations. We focus on major sites in the region: Payre, Ranc-Pointu 2, Baume Flandin, Abri du Maras, Grotte des Barasses II, Abri des Pêcheurs, Grotte du Figuier and Grotte de Saint-Marcel. They all provided significant information related to the biological and behavioural evolution of Neanderthal populations on the right bank of the Rhône valley. We present here the updated chronology for the Middle Palaeolithic of this area, ranging from ca. 300,000 to 40,000 years ago.
(Quaternary Science Reviews. vol. 273, n° 0277-3791, pp. 107241, 02/09/2026)
LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, GEOTRAC, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, HNHP, MNHN, UPVD, CNRS, CENIEH, EDYTEM, USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry], CNRS, Fédération OSUG, SCU, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, Xjtu, CAGS, MLR, UQ [All campuses : Brisbane, Dutton Park Gatton, Herston, St Lucia and other locations]
Imprint of seasonality changes on fluvio-glacial dynamics across Heinrich Stadial 1 (NE Atlantic Ocean)
The northern Bay of Biscay has previously proven its great potential for recording the ‘Fleuve Manche’ paleoriver (i.e., the largest Pleistocene river in Europe) fluvio-glacial activity. In this study, new dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) analyses have been carried out at sub-centennial resolution in core MD13–3438 to reconstruct the deglacial history of the ‘Fleuve Manche’ paleoriver runoff coupled with European Ice Sheets (EIS) fluctuations across Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1: 18.2–14.6 ka BP), a key extreme climatic event of the last glacial period. Prior to Heinrich Event (HE) 1 (16.7–14.6 ka BP), the onset of HS1 (18.2–16.7 ka BP) appears here marked by enhanced ‘Fleuve Manche’ paleoriver runoff, materialized by laminated deposits. Our work suggests a novel sub-centennial scale subdivision of the early HS1 (laminated) interval into 5 sub-phases when episodes of substantial fluvio-glacial delivery concomitant with warm summers alternate with episodes of moderate runoff associated with extended cold winters. We argue that multidecadal seasonal changes played a key role in the hydrological regime of western Europe during this HS1 interval, with the retreat of the southern limb of the EIS, and associated influx of meltwater and fluvio-glacial delivery, which were strongly influenced by those multidecadal changes in seasonality. Interestingly, our paleoclimatic record not only evidences the crucial role of seasonality in controlling climate and hydrological variations during HS1 but also shows a remarkable echo with reconstructions from the western Mediterranean Basin, highlighting common climate forcings at regional scale during the last deglaciation.
(Global and Planetary Change. vol. 204, n° 0921-8181, pp. 103552, 02/09/2026)
LGO, UBS, IFREMER, UBO EPE, CNRS, ICTA, UAB, GM, IFREMER, LOCEAN-PROTEO, LOCEAN, MNHN, IRD, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, IPSL (FR_636), ENS-PSL, UVSQ, CEA, INSU - CNRS, X, CNES, SU, CNRS, UPCité, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
SNR-Based Water Height Retrieval in Rivers: Application to High Amplitude Asymmetric Tides in the Garonne River
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) time series acquired by a geodetic antenna were analyzed to retrieve water heights during asymmetric tides on a narrow river using the Interference Pattern Technique (IPT) from Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R). The dynamic SNR method was selected because the elevation rate of the reflecting surface during rising tides is high in the Garonne River with macro tidal conditions. A new process was developed to filter out the noise introduced by the environmental conditions on the reflected signal due to the narrowness of the river compared to the size of the Fresnel areas, the presence of vegetation on the river banks, and the presence of boats causing multiple reflections. This process involved the removal of multipeaks in the Lomb-Scargle Periodogram (LSP) output and an iterative least square estimation (LSE) of the output heights. Evaluation of the results was performed against pressure-derived water heights. The best results were obtained using all GNSS bands (L1, L2, and L5) simultaneously: R = 0.99, ubRMSD = 0.31 m. We showed that the quality of the retrieved heights was consistent, whatever the vertical velocity of the reflecting surface, and was highly dependent on the number of satellites visible. The sampling period of our solution was 1 min with a 5-min moving window, and no tide models or fit were used in the inversion process. This highlights the potential of the dynamic SNR method to detect and monitor extreme events with GNSS-R, including those affecting inland waters such as flash floods.
(Remote Sensing. vol. 13, n° 2072-4292, pp. 1856, 02/09/2026)
LEGOS, IRD, UT3, Comue de Toulouse, INSU - CNRS, CNES, CNRS, GET, IRD, UT3, Comue de Toulouse, INSU - CNRS, CNES, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Changes in the Intermediate Water Masses of the Mediterranean Sea During the Last Climatic Cycle—New Constraints From Neodymium Isotopes in Foraminifera
The Mediterranean Sea is a semi-enclosed basin characterized by arid conditions and connected to the North Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar (sill depth of ∼300 m). This generates a Mediterranean thermohaline circulation where the inflow of relatively fresh and cold surface Atlantic water (AW) is transformed into intermediate and deep waters in the Gulf of Lions, the Adriatic Sea, the Levantine Basin and the Aegean Sea (Robinson et al., 2001; Schroeder et al., 2012). In particular, the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) is formed in the Cyprus-Rhodes area from where it spreads westwards into the entire Mediterranean Sea at water depths of between ∼150 and 700 m (Lascaratos et al., 1993; Malanotte-Rizzoli et al., 1999). This overturning circulation is associated with an outflow of saltier and warmer intermediate water into the North Atlantic corresponding to the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) (Robinson et al., 2001; Schroeder et al., 2012). Because the MOW contains up to ∼80% of LIW, the water mass formation in the Levantine Sea plays an important role for the salty outflow to the North Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar. A link between the intensification of the MOW and the intensity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has been proposed (
(Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology. vol. 36, n° 2572-4525, pp. e2020PA004153, 02/09/2026)
GEOPS, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, GEOAZUR 7329, INSU - CNRS, UniCA, CNRS, IRD [Occitanie], IRD, UniCA, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, GEOTRAC, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, ISMAR, CNR, SZN, WHOI, CNR-ISP, CNR, LDEO
Excess protein enabled dog domestication during severe Ice Age winters
Dogs (Canis familiaris) are the first animals to be domesticated by humans and the only ones domesticated by mobile hunter-gatherers. Wolves and humans were both persistent, pack hunters of large prey. They were species competing over resources in partially overlapping ecological niches and capable of killing each other. How could humans possibly have domesticated a competitive species? Here we present a new hypothesis based on food/resource partitioning between humans and incipient domesticated wolves/dogs. Humans are not fully adapted to a carnivorous diet; human consumption of meat is limited by the liver’s capacity to metabolize protein. Contrary to humans, wolves can thrive on lean meat for months. We present here data showing that all the Pleistocene archeological sites with dog or incipient dog remains are from areas that were analogous to subarctic and arctic environments. Our calculations show that during harsh winters, when game is lean and devoid of fat, Late Pleistocene hunters-gatherers in Eurasia would have a surplus of animal derived protein that could have been shared with incipient dogs. Our partitioning theory explains how competition may have been ameliorated during the initial phase of dog domestication. Following this initial period, incipient dogs would have become docile, being utilized in a multitude of ways such as hunting companions, beasts of burden and guards as well as going through many similar evolutionary changes as humans.
(Scientific Reports. vol. 11, n° 2045-2322, pp. 7, 02/09/2026)
LUOMUS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Carbon dynamics driven by seawater recirculation and groundwater discharge along a forest-dune-beach continuum of a high-energy meso-macro-tidal sandy coast
High-energy tidal beaches are exposed to strong physical forcings. The submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) that occurs in intertidal sandy sediments includes both terrestrial, fresh groundwater flow and seawater recirculation, and plays a significant role in regulating biogeochemical cycles in some coastal zones. In this transition zone between land and sea, complex biogeochemical reactions alter the chemical composition of pore waters that discharge to the coastal ocean. Recent studies highlight that SGD can be a significant source of carbon to the coastal ocean but very few have investigated SGD in high-energy environments. We have characterized the dissolved carbon dynamics in such a high-energy environment (Truc Vert Beach, SW France) through pore water sampling in key compartments of the SGD system. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH, total alkalinity (TA), and the isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (d 13 C-DIC) were measured in pore waters sampled at regular intervals between 2011 and 2014 in the intertidal zone of the beach, the mixing zone of the subterranean estuary (STE), and the freshwater aquifer upstream from the beach. Results reveal that SGD exports dissolved carbon mostly as DIC to the Aquitaine coast some of which originates from the aerobic respiration of marine organic matter within the beach aquifer. This is highlighted by the opposite spatial trend of DOC, which is consumed, and DIC, which is produced. Saline pore waters expelled from the beach through tidally-driven recirculation of seawater provide about 4400 tons of carbon per year to the coastal zone of the 240 km-long Aquitaine sandy coast. Terrestrial groundwater, characterized by high pCO2 values, is also a significant contributor to the DIC flux to the coastal ocean (16200 tons per year). This flux is abated by CO2 evasion in the upper beach, at the onset of the salinity gradient in the STE, and within the surficial freshwater aquifer along the forest-beach transect below the coastal foredune. Accordingly, the DIC:TA ratio evolves to below 1, suggesting that this SGD increases the buffer capacity of coastal seawater against acidification. This study demonstrates that high-energy beaches are active vectors of DIC from the land to the coastal ocean as well as significant sources of CO2 to the atmosphere, and must therefore be taken into consideration in SGD carbon budgets.
(Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, n° 0016-7037, 02/09/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, BOREA, UNICAEN, NU, MNHN, IRD, SU, CNRS, UA, UFF
1H-NMR metabolomics profiling of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha): A field-scale monitoring tool in ecotoxicological studies
Biomonitoring of aquatic environments requires new tools to characterize the effects of pollutants on living organisms. Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from the same site in north-eastern France were caged for two months, upstream and downstream of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the international watershed of the Meuse (Charleville-Mézières “CM” in France, Namur “Nam” and Charleroi “Cr” in Belgium). The aim was to test 1H-NMR metabolomics for the assessment of water bodies’ quality. The metabolomic approach was combined with a more “classical” one, i.e., the measurement of a range of energy biomarkers: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and amylase activities, condition index (CI), total reserves, electron transport system (ETS) activity and cellular energy allocation (CEA). Five of the eight energy biomarkers were significantly impacted (LDH, ACP, lipase, total reserves and ETS), without a clear pattern between sites (Up and Down) and stations (CM, Nam and Cr). The metabolomic approach revealed variations among the three stations, and also between the upstream and downstream of Nam and CM WWTPs. A total of 28 known metabolites was detected, among which four (lactate, glycine, maltose and glutamate) explained the observed metabolome variations between sites and stations, in accordance with chemical exposure levels. Metabolome changes suggest that zebra mussel exposure to field contamination could alter their osmoregulation and anaerobic metabolism capacities. This study reveals that lactate is a potential biomarker of interest, and 1H-NMR metabolomics can be an efficient approach to assess the health status of zebra mussels in the biomonitoring of aquatic environments.
(Environmental Pollution, n° 0269-7491, pp. 116048, 02/09/2026)
SEBIO, INERIS, URCA, ULH, NU, URCA, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LIEC, INSU - CNRS, UL, CNRS, ICMR, URCA, INC-CNRS, URCA, CNRS, URCA, CNRS, SWDE
Prospective en sciences de la planète et de l’univers
Lancer une prospective scientifique transverse à tout l’Institut national des sciences de l’Univers faisait partie des actions que je m’étais engagées à mener lorsque j’ai présenté ma candidature à la direction au printemps 2018. Ma conviction était, et est toujours, qu’un tel exercice de réflexion collective est primordial en interne à l’INSU pour développer la transversalité et éviter le cloisonnement des disciplines, au sein du CNRS pour renforcer interdisciplinarité et les liens avec les autres instituts, et vis-à-vis de nos partenaires pour partager les grands défis scientifiques et renforcer la stratégie nationale en sciences de l’Univers et de la planète. Si l’idée semble simple, la mise en oeuvre d’une telle prospective nationale pour la premièrefois s’est avérée complexe et je remercie Cyril Moulin d’avoir accepté de la coordonner avec constance et ténacité pendant 2 années : depuis son lancement, à l’occasion d’une réunion des directeurs et directrices d’OSU en octobre 2018, jusqu’au colloque de restitution en novembre 2020, et enfin en finalisant ce document. Comme vous l’imaginez, la crise sanitaire qui a frappé le monde début 2020 et les confinements successifs n’ont pas facilité ce travail basé sur des échanges et des ateliers dont quelques-uns n’ont pas pu se tenir en présentiel. Malgré l’ambition du projet et la complexité du contexte, force est de reconnaître que cette première prospective a été un succès, au-delà même de nos espérances initiales. Elle le doit en premier lieu à l’implication remarquable de vous toutes et tous, chercheurs, ingénieurs et techniciens de l’INSU et de nos partenaires, qui avez répondu présent pourorganiser et participer aux discussions et aux ateliers de chacun des défis identifiés. Je vous en remercie chaleureusement. Je tiens aussi à remercier tout particulièrement les directeurs et directrices des OSU qui ont depuis le début accompagné avec enthousiasme ce projet en animant les discussionsen interne pour faire remonter des défis, puis en organisant et en accueillant les ateliers nationaux de 2-3 jours au sein de leur structure. Ce furent des journées d’échanges denses et excitantes. Je remercie aussi chaleureusement les animateurs scientifiques qui ont construit avec ténacité et conviction le programme des ateliers, coordonné les discussions et synthétisé les échanges pour en tirer les questions prioritaires et proposer des actions à mettreen oeuvre pour renforcer la transversalité au sein de l’INSU et aborder les grands défis scientifiques à venir. Le présent document reprend, nous l’espérons, l’essentiel de foisonnante matière de ces échanges. Un grand merci aussi à l’équipe de direction de l’INSU au sein de laquelle l’enthousiasme et la motivation permanente ont été un grand soutien pour porter cette prospective. Chaque DAS a contribué à cette réussite, c’est ce qui fait aussi la force de notre institut. Mes remerciements vont aussi à la cellule de communication de l’INSU qui nous a permis de tenir un colloque final de grande qualité en virtuel. Je conclurai ces remerciements en saluant le soutien et l’implication des organismes partenaires de l’INSU qui ont accompagné cette prospective pendant les deux ans au sein du comité inter-organismes (CIO). Cet exercice dépassait le cadre de l’INSU et je leur suis infiniment reconnaissant d’y avoir pleinement participé. Cette prospective ouvre des perspectives communes qui, j’en suis persuadé, vont nous donner un cadre de collaboration renouvelé pour relever ensemble les défis qui nous attendent en sciences de la planète et de l’Univers.
(02/09/2026)
INSU - CNRS, LAM, AMU, INSU - CNRS, CNES, CNRS, IPAG, INSU - CNRS, CNES, CNRS, Fédération OSUG, UGA, IRAP, UT3, Comue de Toulouse, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, GEOAZUR 7329, INSU - CNRS, UniCA, CNRS, IRD [Occitanie], IRD, UniCA, LMV, IRD, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UCA, LOCEAN-NEMO R&D, LOCEAN, MNHN, IRD, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, IPSL (FR_636), ENS-PSL, UVSQ, CEA, INSU - CNRS, X, CNES, SU, CNRS, UPCité, iSTeP, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, ICOS-RAMCES, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, LOPS, IRD, IFREMER, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS, IGE, IRD, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, Fédération OSUG, UGA, Grenoble INP, UGA, LCE, CNRS, UMLP, UBFC, LGGE, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, OSUG, Grenoble INP, INSU - CNRS, IRSTEA, USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry], CNRS, UGA [2016-2019], IPEV, M.E.N.E.S.R., ULaval, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, AMURE, IRD, IFREMER, UBO EPE, CNRS, UBO EPE, IUEM, IRD, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS, UR ETBX, INRAE, IPREM, UPPA, INC-CNRS, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, M2C, UNICAEN, NU, INSU - CNRS, UNIROUEN, NU, CNRS, OCEANIS, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, ObAS, UNISTRA, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, EOST, UNISTRA, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, ITES, ENGEES, UNISTRA, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UNISTRA, ISTerre, IRD, INSU - CNRS, USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry], CNRS, Fédération OSUG, UGA
Spatial distribution of trace elements in the soils of south-western France and identification of natural and anthropogenic sources
The contamination of soils by trace elements is a major concern for soil quality. This study is based on the analysis of 356 samples from the RMQS soil monitoring network to establish the spatial distribution and origin of six trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb) in soils of south-western region of France (area of 90,293 km2). An exploratory and multivariate statistical analysis, and geostatistics combined with a geographic information system (GIS) were used to identify and characterize any concentration anomalies in trace elements. For all the trace elements studied, the exploratory analysis shows that there are more anomalies in this region than in the rest of the country. Analysis of the semivariograms shows that the six elements are spatially auto correlated. The spatial structure of As highlights anisotropic behaviour with a direction that corresponds to the gold deposit and mining activities of the region. This indicates a dual origin anthropogenic and geogenic for As. The correlation between Cd and inherent features of calcareous soil (pH, CaCO3 and cation exchange capacity) suggest a mainly geogenic origin for this element; Cd origin is confirmed by its spatial distribution associated with the Jurassic limestone bedrock. The correlations between Cr, Ni and clays highlight a geogenic origin for these elements, as weathered parent material rich in clays is also rich in Cr and Ni. The high Cu concentrations are of anthropogenic origin, linked to viticulture and the spreading of Bordeaux mixture as a fungicide. Locally high Pb concentrations are associated with mining activities and automobile emissions in large cities in the region.
(CATENA. vol. 205, n° 0341-8162, pp. 105446, 02/09/2026)
Bordeaux Sciences Agro, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IPREM, UPPA, INC-CNRS, CNRS
Holocene polynya dynamics and their interaction with oceanic heat transport in northernmost Baffin Bay
Baffin Bay hosts the largest and most productive of the Arctic polynyas: the North Water (NOW). Despite its significance and active role in water mass formation, the history of the NOW beyond the observational era remains poorly known. We reconcile the previously unassessed relationship between long-term NOW dynamics and ocean conditions by applying a multiproxy approach to two marine sediment cores from the region that, together, span the Holocene. Declining influence of Atlantic Water in the NOW is coeval with regional records that indicate the inception of a strong and recurrent polynya from ~ 4400 yrs BP, in line with Neoglacial cooling. During warmer Holocene intervals such as the Roman Warm Period, a weaker NOW is evident, and its reduced capacity to influence bottom ocean conditions facilitated northward penetration of Atlantic Water. Future warming in the Arctic may have negative consequences for this vital biological oasis, with the potential knock-on effect of warm water penetration further north and intensified melt of the marine-terminating glaciers that flank the coast of northwest Greenland.
(Scientific Reports. vol. 11, n° 2045-2322, pp. 10095, 02/09/2026)
GEUS, UNB, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DMI, IGN, UCPH, DGD.REVE, MNHN, LOCEAN-VOG, LOCEAN, MNHN, IRD, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, IPSL (FR_636), ENS-PSL, UVSQ, CEA, INSU - CNRS, X, CNES, SU, CNRS, UPCité, ULaval, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, ETH Zürich