Ancient DNA reveals genetic replacement despite language continuity in the South Pacific
(Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History) The study, published in Nature Ecology& Evolution and led by a multidisciplinary research team at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, reveals that migrations of people from the Bismarck Archipelago in Oceania to the previously settled islands of the Pacific began as early as 2,500 years ago, much earlier than previously thought. Vanuatu presents an unprecedented case, where the population's genetic ancestry but not its languages were replaced. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 27, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Spaceborne detection of localized carbon dioxide sources
Spaceborne measurements by NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) at the kilometer scale reveal distinct structures of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) caused by known anthropogenic and natural point sources. OCO-2 transects across the Los Angeles megacity (USA) show that anthropogenic CO2 enhancements peak over the urban core and decrease through suburban areas to rural background values more than ~100 kilometers away, varying seasonally from ~4.4 to 6.1 parts per million. A transect passing directly downwind of the persistent isolated natural CO2 plume from Yasur volcano (Vanuatu) shows a narrow filament of e...
Source: ScienceNOW - October 12, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Schwandner, F. M., Gunson, M. R., Miller, C. E., Carn, S. A., Eldering, A., Krings, T., Verhulst, K. R., Schimel, D. S., Nguyen, H. M., Crisp, D., ODell, C. W., Osterman, G. B., Iraci, L. T., Podolske, J. R. Tags: special/r-articles Source Type: news
This Entire Island Has to Evacuate Because a Volcano Is About to Blow
(WELLINGTON, New Zealand) — Vanuatu officials on Thursday ordered the complete evacuation of an island in the Pacific archipelago where a rumbling, belching volcano is threatening to blow.
Government spokesman Hilaire Bule said ministers decided they couldn’t risk people’s lives and so ordered the compulsory evacuation of Ambae island, which is home to about 11,000 people.
Island resident Lilian Garae said she could see “smoke coming out from the hills” and hear regular booming noises from the Manaro volcano. She said she was waiting to hear when she might have to leave her home and where she ...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - September 28, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Associated Press Tags: Uncategorized onetime Vanuatu Source Type: news
