This week in science: Archaeology fakes, hurricanes and lizards, and heat health effects

The proliferation of counterfeit archaeological artifacts presents mounting challenges for museums and collectors worldwide. Sophisticated forgery rings produce increasingly convincing replicas that evade traditional authentication methods. Researchers are deploying advanced spectroscopic imaging and radiocarbon dating techniques to expose these deceptions. These analytical approaches can identify microscopic inconsistencies in materials and manufacturing traces invisible to conventional inspection. Institutions are now integrating scientific validation protocols to safeguard collection integrity against sophisticated fraud.