Laziness was the causes of ancient human extinction?

Homo erectus first appeared two million years ago and went extinct around 50,000 to 100,000 years ago and was the first early hominid to become a true global explorer. They are known to migrate from Africa to Eurasia, then spread to Georgia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia.

An illustration of ancient human. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ODr59N)

However, according to a recent study published in the PLOS One journal on July 27, 2018, the Homo erectus species turned out to be quite lazy and reluctant to adapt to environmental changes compared to other hominids - such as Neanderthals.

As quoted from IFLScience! on Friday, August 10, 2018, which reported that archaeologists from the Australian National University analyzed thousands of newly discovered artifacts and excavated from excavation sites in the Arabian Peninsula in modern Saffaqah region, Saudi Arabia in 2014 to find out the reason of these species extinction.

Their findings indicate that the Homo erectus species in the area actually tried as little as possible to make tools and find supplies. Though these ancient humans lived in areas that had easy access to rocks and water.

This is Dr. Ceri Shipton on site at Saffaqah in central Saudi Arabia. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Mjx5Ik)

"They don't seem to inspire themselves. I don't get proof that they are true explorers, they don't have the same curiosity as we are now," Dr. Ceri Shipton as told to Sky News.

He also added that this was evidence of how the species made stone tools they found lying around their homes. The problem is, the stones are of low quality. Most stone tools are made from stones that are worse than tools in the next civilization. In fact, there are areas of better quality rock even though it requires a trip far enough from their settlements.

"When we saw the rock there were no signs of any activity, there were no artifacts and there were no rock excavations. They knew it was there, but because they had enough resources for them, so why bother -repot? " Shipton continued.

The site at Saffaqah in central Saudi Arabia. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2nE0uy0)

This is in contrast to the makers of stone tools in later periods, including early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. They climbed the mountain to find good quality rocks and transport them in long distances.

"Sediment samples show the environment around them is changing, but they are doing the same thing with their equipment," said Dr. Shipton. Unlike the more advanced species, Homo erectus tends to use a single "generic" tool for almost all jobs.

However, Homo erectus's ability to make tools is far more advanced than early humans in other parts of the world. They can already make a hand ax. Homo erectus-type ancient humans are strong and skilled. They developed in this region for some time. But, once the river bed dries up and there is sedimentation in the river, Homo erectus actually dies because they lack initiative. "They have never been very far from sources of clean water," said Dr. Shipton.

"We also found that their technology for making stone tools is very conservative. They use the same strategies to make tools in the face of a changing environment. So, they are not only lazy but also very conservative," he said as quoted by Science Daily on August 10, 2018.

Shipton said further that the extinction of Homo erectus was caused by not having the ability to plan for the future. "They only plan for the next few hours, or maybe for the next day. While Homo sapiens and Neanderthals plan further ahead, like a seasonal migration plan," he concluded. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IFLSCIENCE! | SCIENCE DAILY]

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Scientists find the world's oldest color

Scientists have found what they say is the oldest color in the world, namely bright pink. The facts about the history of the pigment were discovered after researchers destroyed 1.1 billion years old rocks in flakes of marine deposits found in the rocky layers of the Sahara Desert, in the Taoudeni basin of Mauritania (western Africa).

Biogeochemistry lab manager Janet Hope from the ANU research school of earth sciences holds a vial of coloured porphyrins (pink coloured liquid), believed to be some of the oldest pigments in the world. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2wjcSHB)

"Of course you might say that everything (rocks) has several colors," said Prof. Jochen Brocks, senior researcher leader from the Australian National University. "What we found was the oldest biological color," he continued as quoted by The Guardian on Wednesday, June 11, 2018.

Then, Prof. Brocks compared it to the discovery of a 100 million-year-old T-Rex bone. "It (the T-Rex bone fossil) also has color, but tends to have a gray pigment base, or brown. But that won't tell you what T-Rex's skin is like," Prof Brocks continued.

The oldest color pigments in the world are found from marine animals fossils of hundreds of millions of years old. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2PtUkx4)

He explained that the newest pigment molecules found by his team did not come from large creatures, but microscopic organisms that lived in the early era of the formation of the Earth.

The oldest color, was first discovered by a doctoral student named Nur Gueneli, who destroyed fossil rocks into powder. Then, she extracts and analyzes the molecules of ancient organisms from the chemicals they contain.

Gueneli said the pigment was half a billion years older than the discovery of the previous fossil pigment. "Bright pink pigments are molecular fossils of chlorophyll produced by ancient photosynthetic organisms, which inhabit ancient oceans," she said in a statement. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE GUARDIAN]

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Researchers develop new naturally decompose plastic materials

The use of plastic as packaging material continues to increase along with the increasing number of world population. Environmental experts say packaging materials that can be composted and can be decomposed naturally are now increasingly needed, especially the ingredients used as food packaging.

Carson Meredith, Professor at Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, showed a new type of "plastic" that could be decomposed which he was developing with other researchers. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Lj0vkz)

Now, a thin layer like plastic that can be decomposed and made of shells and wood scraps might be able to meet that need. The "plastic" is a new type, which is not made of oil at all, and is currently being developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Research leader Carson Meredith was looking for alternatives to plastic materials made from by-products of oil refining. "About eight years ago, we began conducting research in what is known as nano technology by using forest products," he told VOA.

"This is a new field of science that seeks the use of wood or other forest products, to take parts called nano crystal materials to be made into cellulose and use them in the manufacture of very lightweight but strong packaging materials." That means, cellulose fibers found in wood used to make paper can also be used to replace plastic as food packaging. 

This is J. Carson Meredith, a professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. (Picture from: https://b.gatech.edu/2MMY9PE)

The Meredith leadership team combined wood cellulose with chitin, the basic ingredient of seashells and lobster or crayfish skeletons, and the result was a thin layer that could naturally decompose. At the molecular level, electrically charged chitin and cellulose are mutually attractive. Experts at the Georgia Technology Institute use this natural fact to make thin layers like plastic.

Meredith said the results of his research showed that chitin and cellulose could become stronger if formed in two or three thin layers. This new packaging material is very effective to prevent oxygen from entering, and therefore is very good for wrapping food.

Meredith said that he had not tested the new "plastic" as a food wrapper, but the interesting thing was that it could be a packaging material that could be used as a compost and was fully biodegradable or would be completely broken down after being dumped in the trash. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH HORIZONS]  
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This simple AlterEgo headset can read your mind

Arnav Kapur, a graduate student from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA recently created a headset device called AlterEgo that is said to be able to heard the words without saying it.

MIT's wearable headset can hear the words you say in your head. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2HikPBY)

Then, how the headset device can read mind? Yes, this easy-to-use headset can hear our speech in the brain. So, this headset works by measuring small human-made neuromuscular signals, when saying the words in the head.

These signals are not visible to the human eye. But, when electrodes are affixed at various points on the jaw, they are perfectly legible and understandable. As quoted from the Huffington Post page on Sunday, April 8, 2018, the software on the headset device captures the signals, then translates them in words, to be sent to a computer or other person.

Arnav with his professors and other experts at MIT has conducted two types of tests. First, they try to control the TV streaming device, without saying a word through the mouth, but through the instructions in their minds. The second is to move the chess pieces on the computer game.

They notify the movement through the headset on the computer, then the computer will respond, and send it back through the headset. During the test, the ability of this device to translate words is 92%.

Not satisfied just get there, then the researchers will continue to develop this device. They want to create a faster and responsive system, so two people can have a conversation without making a sound, typing, or calling.

Hmmm ... Hopefully with the existence of this device will not make this world increasingly quiet because fewer human beings who emit the voice in all their activities. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HUFFINGTON POST]

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Finally the cause of the collapse of Mayan civilization was revealed

The puzzle of causing the collapse of Mayan civilization slowly encountered a bright spot. Recent research reveals that social instability, war, and political crisis are the triggers. The findings are based on a radiocarbon dating test at one of the largest sites of the Mayan at Ceibal, Guatemala.

Mayan's ancient settlement at Ceibal, Guatemala. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2DzS05t)

Known, there are two eras of Mayan civilization era. The first destruction is known as classical destruction, occurring in the 9th century. The second or pre-classic destruction occurred in the 2nd century. During this time, because both collapse is still mysterious. Now, scientists find the cause of both the same.

"We found the same pattern in both cases of Mayan civilization destruction, and, this is not just a simple ruin, but it consists of a wave of destruction," said Takeshi Inomata, a researcher from the University of Arizona.

"Firstly, there was a wave of minor destruction that preceded, associated with war and some political instability, and then a major destruction in which many centers of Mayan civilization were abandoned," Inomata said.

Recovery ever had occurred, but again destroyed.

This finding is an important milestone after a decade of research. The results of this research provide a clearer picture of the process of the occurrence of destruction.

"We have reached a point when we can see the social patterns of Mayan civilization with the exact radiocarbon dating," Inomata said. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TRIBUNNEWS]

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A Mysterious ancient city found in the middle of the sea

Historians and archaeologists are overwhelmed with the discovery of an ancient and mysterious city found in a remote place. The reason, the city was built in the middle of the ocean. Scientists themselves are surprised at this finding. As quoted from the Independent page on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, the settlement was finally found after nearly 100 years since the first search.

One of ancient structures at Nan Madol, located just off the main island of Pohnpei in Micronesia. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2B2dC4P)

Interest in this mysterious island was initially triggered by a satellite image. Those satellite imagery has revealed the area of ​​the location. And now, this mysterious discovery becomes the subject of further research. Nan Madol's virtual image almost uninhabitable, located just off the main island of Pohnpei in Micronesia.

A surprising fact about this mysterious place, a settlement estimated to be built there in the 1st or 2nd century. Nan Madol itself has the meaning of 'intermediate space'. As quoted of the Independent again, this place is mentioned as 8 Wonders of the World by a number of European explorers. There are 97 geometric shaped blocks, separated by water channels that are not too wide.

The location sketch of the ancient building structures in Nan Madol. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2B2dC4P)

Until this news is published, there is no comprehensive record to explain the basis or structure. But this mysterious place has also been discussed in 'What on Earth?' What on Earth? itself is a documentary series that tells the exploration of a number of researchers on various phenomena on our Earth.

This mysterious island was initially triggered by a satellite image. (Picture from: https://ind.pn/2ze4AB5)

These findings leave serious questions. In the documentary series, Patrick Hunt is an archaeologist wondering. "Why would someone build a city in the middle of the ocean ?, Why here, so far from another known civilization?" he said.

Mark McCoy of Southern Methodist University-who is leader of the research team on the mysterious island, later replied by commenting. McCoy said that the mysterious site is likely to be a burial place for elders. This site may also be a place for religious ceremonies and political power. This is because there is a stone wall that is about 7.6 meters high with a thickness of 5.2 meters in place.

Nan Madol is surrounded by a giant wall that is estimated to be composed of 250 million stones. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2B2dC4P)

These findings sparked much speculation. Again, some compare this place with the island of Atlantis which is thought to have been lost under the sea. It was reported that locals near the mysterious place would not approach the empty 'haunted town'.

The first beginnings of this place began in the early part of the 20th century. When further explored, it was found a variety of surprising facts about Nan Madol. As quoted from the University of Oregon Anthropology Department, the city was formerly the capital of the Saudeleur dynasty until about 1628. The Saudeleur dynasty, the period of King Deleur was the first ruler to unite the inhabitants of Pohnpei Island.

The structure of the building in this place is built from a number of monolithic rocks weighing 5 to 50 tons. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2B2dC4P)

Now, Nan Madol is located in Madelenihmw district, Micronesia Federation. Nan Madol is thought to have been the center of ceremonies and politics of the Saudeleur Dynasty. There is a unique story behind this city. Predicted, residents in this city number more than a thousand people. But it could be less than that.

Its population consists of a number of leaders and ordinary people. But what is surprising is the unfolding function of Nan Madol itself. Rulers have a way of organizing and controlling the number of people who are potentially their competitors. Strategy, the person is required to live in the city, not in their respective areas that are difficult to control.

"How do they arranged the giant rocks in the middle of an artificial land located in the middle of the sea?" It remains a mystery to this day. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2B2dC4P)

Nan Madol is surrounded by a giant wall that is estimated to be composed of 250 million stones. The structure of the building in this place is built from a number of monolithic rocks weighing 5 to 50 tons. There is a possibility, the stones are imported from various islands that are around. Then the question is, "How do they arranged the giant rocks in the middle of an artificial land located in the middle of the sea?"

Archaeologists then try to reconstruct the construction of these stone buildings with various methods of transportation. However, no method works. Each method tried only to move a stone weighing not more than a few tons. Until now, can not be explained more details about the mysterious building structure in place. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | INDEPENDENT]

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