Dozens of measures addressed data centers. Only one passed ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
November 5, 2026—Archaeologists discover a trove of ancient rock art in Spain, data centers crash on the ballot, and we introduce the scientists and doctors elected to office this week.
—Andrea Gawrylewski,
Chief Newsletter Editor
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Adam Constanza Media/Shutterstock
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An engraving depicting a horse. “Filling Gaps: The Palaeolithic Rock Art of the Cova de la Font Major on the North-east Iberian Peninsula,” by Josep Maria Vergès Bosch and Míriam Salas-Altès, in Antiquity. Published online November 5, 2026.
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Ice Age Art
Archaeologists discovered 280 Paleolithic engravings at the large, underground cave in Espluga de Francolí, Spain. Some potentially date back tens of thousands of years. The cave was first excavated in 1957—since then thousands of people have likely been in it, and some even graffitied the walls without realizing they were disturbing ice age art, the researchers say. It’s unclear how the engravings went hidden for so long. In a dark cave, it may have been harder to spot the etchings than other forms of rock art such as paintings, says Míriam Salas-Altès, a co-author of the paper.
What they found: The find is among the largest collections of cave art on the Iberian Peninsula. The engravings include 55 animal figures such as horses, deer and at least one bear, as well as less recognizable forms, such as parallel lines and an unusual group of loops.
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Bear engraving.“Filling Gaps: The Palaeolithic Rock Art of the Cova de la Font Major on the North-east Iberian Peninsula,” by Josep Maria Vergès Bosch and Míriam Salas-Altès, in Antiquity. Published online November 5, 2026
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Why this is interesting: This type of cave art is also rare for this part of Spain. Before now, most Paleolithic cave art in the area has been found in the Franco-Cantabrian region, which spans the border of Spain and France. It will take researchers more time to decipher the 280 engravings and to determine what ancient humans were using the cave for.
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Amanda Montañez; Source: Ballotpedia (data)
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Data centers were on ballots 41 times across 10 states in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Only one passed.
The measures, many of them in Ohio, spanned moratoriums, attempted rezonings and advisory votes for local officials. Another six preceded them this year; a further three are yet to come. In many cases, the margins were staggering. In Wells, Me., more than 80 percent of voters approved a retroactive 180-day moratorium on data center development.
Join the discussion: Did data centers appear on your ballot this week? How do you think these facilities should be powered and what regulations and restrictions would you like to see enacted by local and federal governments? Share your thoughts here.
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These latest discoveries of ancient rock art got me thinking. If the digital record of my legacy couldn't be preserved into the future (though some lucky future civilization may discover a trove of Today in Science newsletters), what would I choose to engrave onto a rock wall? My first thoughts were of the things most important to me: my loved ones, my home, beloved pets and maybe even a line or two of words saying "I was here." Even tens of thousands of years ago, ancient human ancestors perhaps felt the same way—hoping to create a small imprint in stone, a record of their existence.
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What would you engrave on a rock for all time? Let me know and send any other thoughts to: newsletters@sciam.com.
—Andrea Gawrylewski,
Chief Newsletter Editor
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