News around the world
 2.8 million-year-old human jaw discovered
Scientists have unearthed the jawbone of what they believe is one of
the very first humans. The 2.8 million-year-old fossil is 400,000 years
older than researchers originally thought humankind first emerged. The
discovery in Ethiopia gives researchers further clues as to why "humans"
moved from being tree dwellers to upright walkers down on the ground.
Ethiopian student Chalachew Seyoum, who discovered the jawbone, said he
was "stunned" when he saw the fossil.
"The moment I found it, I realised that it was important, as this is
the time period represented by few (human) fossils in Eastern Africa."
The fossil is of the left side of the lower jaw, along with five teeth
including the back molar teeth. Previously, the oldest fossil scientists
had of humans was an upper jaw also from Ethiopia, dated to 2.35m years
ago.
-Internet
 Up in smoke
A woman made a costly mistake after stashing $20,700 in her oven for
safe keeping and then turning the oven on. The money was borrowed by the
Chinese woman's husband from some friends and family to pay for some
major work projects. Believing that the oven would be a safe hiding spot
for the large sum of money(because who would check in the oven for
cash?) the woman placed the borrowed money in the oven and later forgot
about it.
The following day a lit match was tossed into the wood-burning oven,
setting the cash on fire. The women attempted to save the money but most
of the notes were burnt beyond recognition.Unfortunately the Bank of
China said they could only replace the money if more than half the note
remained which was not the case for any of the money. Perhaps try the
fridge next time?
-Internet
 Antarctica ice shelf melting fast
Researchers have discovered a new understanding of how climate change
and warming oceans are shrinking Antarctic ice shelves. The ice shelves
are disappearing faster than first thought and are melting from the
bottom, shedding icebergs more frequently. They have been monitoring the
calving, which is when ice shelves split and shed ice. The latest
research used satellite images of the entire Antarctic coastline.
Thousands of satellite images have been taken to show the actual change
of the ice front.Smaller ice shelves are thinning rapidly and are
becoming vulnerable to the warm water that's melting underneath.
The icebergs are measured in giga tonnes, 1,000 million tonnes of
ice. In terms of an ice cube, it's an ice cube that is one kilometre in
each direction. Decay of the ice shelves increases the rate at which ice
flows from Antarctica into the ocean. All of this melting will cause the
sea level to rise, which is a problem we may face in the future. It is
predicted that the melting ice sheets could raise sea levels by as much
18.5 centimetres over the next 100 years.
-Internet
A weighty issue
An Indian baby has gained a lot of attention - not just for regular
cuteness factor - because of her life threatening weight condition.Aliya
Saleem weighed a healthy 9lbs when she was born but began piling on a
scary amount of weight when she was four months old. Now at 10 months
old, Aliya weighs the same as a six year old.
The average weight of a 10 month old child in the UK is one stone,
4lbs. Aliya now ways two stone, 13lbs. The little girl eats three times
as much as other children her age and loves biscuits and curries. Aliya
needs new clothes every two weeks as the old ones become too tight.
Her parents are worried as they have already lost a child to a
similar issue. However, the family do not have enough money to get her
good medical care - they only earn $6 per day. Despite her health
issues, Aliya is the favourite baby in the village and everyone loves
her, including her five year old brother. Doctors are working to figure
out the cause of Aliya's weight gain and how best to help her.
-Internet |
