Hinterland Green

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Study: Modern Humans May Have Originated from Southern Africa, Challenges View Humans Originated in Eastern Africa

New study finds modern humans may have originated from southern Africa, challenging the view we originated in eastern Africa. This is fascinating news and I have long held Africa was the cradle of civilization.
From BBC News:

Data showed that hunter-gatherer populations in the region had the greatest degree of genetic diversity, which is an indicator of longevity.

It says that the region was probably the best location for the origin of modern humans, challenging the view that we came from eastern Africa.

The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Africa is inferred to be the continent of origin for all modern human populations," the international team of researchers wrote. "But the details of human prehistory and evolution in Africa remain largely obscure owing to the complex histories of hundreds of distinct populations."
CLICK HERE to read entire article.

Monday, March 7, 2011

SHOCK: Increased Export of Brazilian Beef Indirectly Leads to Deforestation in Amazon

From Science Daily: Increased export of Brazilian beef indirectly leads to deforestation in the Amazon. New research from Chalmers and SIK in Sweden that was recently published in Environmental Science & Technology shows that impact on the climate is much greater than current estimates indicate. The researchers are now demanding that indirect effect on land be included when determining a product's carbon footprint.

CLICK HERE to read entire article.

NASA Technology 1st Developed for Plant Growth Experiments, Successfully Reduces Painful Side Effects from Chemo & Radiation

From Science Daily:
A NASA technology originally developed for plant growth experiments on space shuttle missions has successfully reduced the painful side effects resulting from chemotherapy and radiation treatment in bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients.

In a two-year clinical trial, cancer patients undergoing bone marrow or stem cell transplants were given a far red/near infrared Light Emitting Diode treatment called High Emissivity Aluminiferous Luminescent Substrate, or HEALS, to treat oral mucositis -- a common and extremely painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The trial concluded that there is a 96 percent chance that the improvement in pain of those in the high-risk patient group was the result of the HEALS treatment.
CLICK HERE to read the entire article. This is fascinating information that could go a long way in reducing the painful side effects patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation experience!