"Get me out of heeeeeeeeeere!"
Humans Did Not Kill Off Megafauna
During the Middle-Late Pleistocene, one million to 10,000 years ago, more than 50 species of animal disappeared, the last to do so 46.4 thousand years from the present. The reason for the demise of the giant creatures is hotly debated. Some scientists claim that the spread of Man across the globe was the cause. This is suspect, however, because there were so few of them. Killing the odd animal would not have made a significant impact.
Many believe that the end date for megafauna is incorrect. As stated above, the theory that humans killed them off by definition means that people and animals lived side-by-side for a considerable time. Evidence in Australia certainly points to this - 13 species of large animals were here on human arrival. Moreover, the people mainly relied on subsistence strategies for food. Their weapons were not very efficient. A boomerang is highly inaccurate and the range of a spear is limited.
Megafauna died out over a long period of time, not all at a specific date. Species lingered on in many regions. Just assuming that humans killed them is a mistake and diverts from the discovery of why the large animals became extinct. This was a time of extremes in climate. Perhaps a series of wild swings in climate gradually reduced their number to the tipping point where reproduction did not take place.
Society
High Meat Consumption Blamed for Obesity - Questionable!
In the twentieth century Australia was dominant in swimming at international events. This was largely due to the high consumption of meat in the diet of Australians. As time went by other nations noticed this and their athletes ate more meat. Today, Even small island nations have access to reasonably priced beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Consequently, Australia's dominance has waned.
Despite consuming a lot of meat, Australians did not die at a young age. Indeed, longevity was extended. New research points to an increase in heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes that do tend to shorten life. An example was given of Hawaii where these diseases are rapidly increasing. Red meat is seen as the major cause.
This research has flaws. Higher red meat consumption cannot be directly linked to more "modern" maladies. It could be coincidence. No tests were done on the rising consumption of refined carbohydrates. The call for more vegetables in the diet will improve the situation, but only if less red meat and refined carbohydrates are consumed.
There is an indirect link between red meat consumption and more disease. The feeding of antibiotics to animals to improve body weight has impacted on humans. Antibiotics are not so effective in people generally. Some countries have banned this practice, but all nations need to do so. Overall, there is no evidence of antibiotics in animal feed leading to modern diseases. Control of infections is the biggest problem.
Society
New Illicit Drugs Are Frequently Created
The world is in crisis. Illegal drugs that permanently damage users are easily purchased online. Recent research shows that when those under 16 years of age take marijuana regularly, particularly the cultivated strong variety, they are irreparably set back for the rest of their lives. Schizophrenia, is common. Furthermore, There is up to 55 per cent reduction in memory recall and decision making skills. A problem not given much importance is lung disease from smoking marijuana.
Dangerous psychoactive drugs are being developed. They are very pure and untested on humans. Some are highly toxic. Because they are new there are no laws restricting their supply, so they can be openly sold in Australia. Buying drugs online is virtually anonymous. The law has limited mechanisms for checking sales.
Several new chemicals are combined into a very dangerous brew. Some normal antidepressants are also added. The affects of drug interaction is unknown. Products are not checked for consistency. A brand bought one week can be completely different the next. Being legal in the short time does not make "home produced" drugs safe. Users believe that the new drugs are created in Australia. This in really not the case. Most are developed in China and India. These producers are untrackable. They do not use local currency. Barter is commonly practised.
Despite the wide choice of drugs, cannabis is the preferred substance of abuse. It is easily ingested by smoking, but it has a very strong smell that lingers for a long time after use. Police know when a person has smoked the illegal substance when they smell it. The chances of being caught are high.
Society
Fossil Find Shines Light on an Ancient Whale
A fossil find in Victoria, Australia, throws light on the origin of baleen whales. The artifact is 25 million years old. It is the 45 cm long skull of Mammalodon colliveri. Information about it has remained open since its discovery in 1932.
Though it had teeth it spent its time sucking mud in the search for prey on the seafloor. A short, blunt snout made this possible. This type of feeding led to the filter method of modern whales. The baleen whale was only three meters long, a far cry from the monsters that followed. Its ancestors though were also very large.
Other fossils have been found in Torquay, Victoria, notably Janjucetus hunderi which was unique to the area. This region is believed to be the cradle of tiny whales. Some form of isolation must have occurred for this to happen.
Though it had teeth it spent its time sucking mud in the search for prey on the seafloor. A short, blunt snout made this possible. This type of feeding led to the filter method of modern whales. The baleen whale was only three meters long, a far cry from the monsters that followed. Its ancestors though were also very large.
Other fossils have been found in Torquay, Victoria, notably Janjucetus hunderi which was unique to the area. This region is believed to be the cradle of tiny whales. Some form of isolation must have occurred for this to happen.
Paleontology
Albert Einstein's Genius Was Due to His Unusual Brain
Albert Einstein wasn't only a genius her was a very odd human being. His brain shows peculiar differences from the norm; it had many more folds than the average person. This gave the brain a greater surface area. It is like using a larger computer to do calculations.
Upon his father's death in 1955, Thomas Einstein gave the pathologist permission to preserve the brain of Albert Einstein. It was photographed then dissected into 2,000 ultra-thin slices. The slices and slides of them were later distributed to researchers.
The brain had more neurons and glia cells, well outside of the normal range; pariental lobes were unusual in the pattern of ridges and grooves. Einstein only had a brain of average size. The area controlling the tongue and face was larger, as was the region that involves attention and planning. Overall, Einstein's brain was complex. Many people think in words. He said his thinking was like a physical activity.
If selection based on "healthy" genes had been practised Einstein would never have been born. The same could be said for other great people. Sir Winston Churchill, for example, led an odd life. He would drink whisky in the evening right into the early hours and seldom got out of bed before midday.
Science
Potentially Lethal Leishmaniasis Affects Many Travelling Abroad
Be careful when you travel abroad - you could bring something unwanted home with you. In 2002 Alfred Heliah and his wife Helene accompanied research scientists on a trip to Peru. They volunteered to assist in the study of red and green macaws. During their visit they were constantly attacked by biting insects. Though they wore protection right down to their wrists they were bitten black and blue.
On their return home the wounds slowly healed. While shaving one morning Alfred noticed what he thought were pimples on the side of his chin. They didn't hurt, but over time they grew larger. They eventually burst, becoming shallow ulcers oozing a yellow discharge. Treating them with antibiotic ointment had no affect. A new lump appeared and he thought it was time to see a doctor.
After being told by Alfred that he had recently returned from the tropics in Peru, doctors at the local hospital believed that he had leishmanisis that could devour the flesh on his face. It causes major damage to the spleen leading to death. The disease is transmitted by the humble sandfly. Leishmania parasites live in the sandfly's gut and it is vomited into open wounds.
Though the general public has hardly heard of the disease it is endemic to eighty-eight countries. During Desert Storm in Iraq twenty US soldiers came down with the parasitic infection. After returning home, eight more came down with the disease.
Getting back to Alfred. A tropical disease specialist Dr Angami examined him and asked how many were on the team in Peru, Alfred told him about thirty. The Doctor frighteningly replied that some more in the group would have the disease by now.
Biopsies showed that Alfred did indeed have Leishmaniasis. He was given Pentostam, a nitrogenic metal and a medication never approved by the FDA - the only treatment available. Patients must sign away any damages entitlement from the medication's side effects. After only three days with Pentostam being infused into his blood Alfred began to improve. Though he felt worse, doctors could see he was recovering. Alfred did recover. However, there was always the possibility of infectious bumps reappearing at any time in the future. A side effect of Pentostam is tremor in the hands. Alfred had to live with this for the rest of his life. When Alfred was offered a research trip to Africa, he turned it down. He had suffered enough.
Health
Bees Calculate Energy Expended When Getting Pollen
Bees calculate how much energy they need to get pollen. To survive, bees must run on a "profit" basis. They must not use more energy in obtaining nectar than energy the nectar provides. Bees were given the choice of travelling along two pathways to get nectar. One pathway was 10 meters long, the other 20 meters. However, the "scenery" of the 10 meter pathway was designed to trick the bees into perceiving that it was the furthest distance away.
When the bees returned to their fellows in the nest they told them with a waggle dance which pathway to use to get more pollen. Despite the 10 meter pathway appearing to the bees to be further away they told other bees to go to the feeder in the 10 meter pathway. Somehow, they had worked out that it used up less energy to go to this feeder than the one on the other pathway.
It is believed that bees have "calorimeters" built into their brains. They do not judge energy expenditure solely based on distance travelled. A partly covered pathway would be given the okay over a pathway out in the weather for example.
Bees are smart little critters and we can learn a great deal from them.
When the bees returned to their fellows in the nest they told them with a waggle dance which pathway to use to get more pollen. Despite the 10 meter pathway appearing to the bees to be further away they told other bees to go to the feeder in the 10 meter pathway. Somehow, they had worked out that it used up less energy to go to this feeder than the one on the other pathway.
It is believed that bees have "calorimeters" built into their brains. They do not judge energy expenditure solely based on distance travelled. A partly covered pathway would be given the okay over a pathway out in the weather for example.
Bees are smart little critters and we can learn a great deal from them.
Entomology
Obesity Is Out of Control
Capitalism is a good thing - or so we believe. The world is getting more obese. Large international companies that produce high-sugar, high-fat products are buying out local distribution firms in developing countries to dominate the market.
More than a Quarter of China's population is obese. Twenty years ago each Chinese person consumed only two teaspoons of sugar a day. Currently, China keeps a sugar bank, The government is terrified that a sugar shortage will lead to social unrest.
Mexico is becoming fatter than any other nation on Earth. Coca Cola practises price segmentation. In cities where income is higher, coke costs more than average. Poor rural regions get coca cola at a much cheaper price. Young children suffer from malnutrition while their parents are overweight.
Sugar and fat consumed regularly is a killer. Diabetes is increasing at a rapid rate. In developing countries medical care is poor, so diabetes goes untreated and people die. There can only be one result from this: countries will legislate to stop the sale of the "wrong" food. Having a coke as a treat is okay, but having coke every time one eats leads to disaster. Getting the younger generation to go back to eating nourishing vegetables is going to be a major problem. You can change a person's behavior temporarily. To change what people feel they have a right to is impossible.
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Health
There Are Side Affects From Allergy Medications
Allergic reactions are increasing in epidemic proportions across the world and the real cause is still unknown. Sinusitis from hay fever affects twice as many people as it did ten years ago. Medications no longer seem effective as those with sore eyes and runny noses dose themselves up on corticosteroids and anthistamines.
This is not only costing millions in lost man-hours as the afflicted stay at home, but the cost of medications is skyrocketing. Sufferers cannot cope with the seemingly never ending symptoms. They cannot live normal lives. For example, if students are affected during school leaving exams their grades can be lower. They are stuck with the low grades for ever. Antihistamines cause drowsiness. This leads to more accidents at work and road accidents.
The cause could lie in our diet of processed food. Children with ADHD improve when they are treated with antihistamines. Drowsiness for them is not a problem. Autistic children also get better when their intake of processed food is reduced and they are given probiotics.
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Health
Cockatoo Makes and Uses Tools
It was believed that Man was the only toolmaking animal. In recent times many animals have been seen using tools like wood and rocks mainly to access food.
A cockatoo named Figaro kept in captivity in Austria has been using tools to get food. Birds are extremely intelligent creatures. It is known that they mimic sounds such as the human voice. Some can even understand the meaning of basic sentences. Figaro creates tools, modifying tools specifically to get small pieces of food placed outside his cage.
Other bird species observed using tools are crows, ravens, woodpecker finches and Herons. A captive New Caledonian crow used wire rather than wood to reach into crevices for grubs. Northern blue jays have used shredded paper to gather up food pellets. In the wild they do not use tools at all.
Tool use is not a specific function developed at a particular point in time by a species. It a a general function of high intelligence. To access food, many smart animals can make and use tools. Man the toolmaker is not unique.
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Ornithology
Fossilised Eggshells Are Ideal for Extracting DNA
Jurassic Park is getting closer to reality. Australian scientists have managed to get DNA from fossilised eggshells of extinct birds. The Team warns though that bringing ancient creatures back to life is a long way off. Particles of fossilised eggshells from Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar were used in the research.
A target species was the Moa bird which lived in New Zealand into the 18th century. Another was the Elephant Bird which went extinct in Madagascar during the 17th century. Older birds were also worked on: the New Zealand Duck, Australian Owl and an Emu which was 19,000 years old. Work on older fossils did not come up with usable DNA, but the relatively recent ones did give promising results.
Techniques used were the usual reduction of samples and polymerase amplification. These were very short pieces of DNA obtained from minute samples. Eggshells were found to be even better than bones and hair for storing DNA.
A target species was the Moa bird which lived in New Zealand into the 18th century. Another was the Elephant Bird which went extinct in Madagascar during the 17th century. Older birds were also worked on: the New Zealand Duck, Australian Owl and an Emu which was 19,000 years old. Work on older fossils did not come up with usable DNA, but the relatively recent ones did give promising results.
Techniques used were the usual reduction of samples and polymerase amplification. These were very short pieces of DNA obtained from minute samples. Eggshells were found to be even better than bones and hair for storing DNA.
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Science
New Lizard Found Near Perth
Despite the idea that everything is known about everything, the area of discovery is still wide open. Just outside of Perth in the sand dunes a new species of lizard has been found. It has been given the name Ctenotus ora.
There are concerns that it will not be around for much longer. New housing is encroaching upon the coastal plains skink's land. The lizard was identified during an Australian National University study into biological diversity in the Perth region.
Just how many of the lizards are out there is not yet known, so their prospects of survival is still an open question. The area of sand dunes where they live is getting smaller. Unless the state government steps in to stop it, urbanization will see most of the dunes concreted over.
The southwest of the state has not been explored in great depth. Other new species are probably waiting to be brought to light. Though people have been there a long time, concerns about work and shelter have been the priority not biological research.
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Biology
New Classification System for Bird Species
Birds are the most diverse creatures on Earth. Not only have they changed into different species on large continents, they have also adapted specifically to environments on islands.
A new classification system is in the form of a circle with increasing diversity as one moves out in time from the center. different types of birds are correctly located on the figure covering a period of 50 million years.
There is not one specific ancestor. "Base" species take the form of a circle of time moving out from the center and new kinds of birds branch off directly to the outer edge. Fast evolving birds are in red; slower ones are drawn in blue.
Significantly birds such as woodpeckers often split into new species, while hornbills, for example, did not. There was more diversification in the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, species did not proliferate in the tropics because the climate remained stable there over a long period.
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Biology
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