Humans blamed for megafauna extinctions in Australia and Americas
New Science studies dating 27 sites across Australia and West Papua New Guinea and tracing large mammals, birds, and reptiles show extinctions closely follow human arrival within 10,000 to 46,000 years. Researchers led by John Alroy and Linda Ayliffe argue population growth and hunting caused rapid losses, including mammoths, camels, mastodons, and the giant flightless birds and marsupials in Australia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Australia
Americas
Science
John Alroy
University of California, Santa Barbara
Alroy
Linda Ayliffe
University of Utah
Salt Lake City
West Papua New Guinea
Ayliffe
Fire as a Weapon in Large-Animal Extinctions
Ayliffe cautions hunting alone could not explain disappearances of large Ice Age animals. She cites 55 000 year old evidence of humans using fire to hunt across Australia, altering habitats and reducing forage. Alroy’s computer model shows, with humans present, most scenarios threaten big American fauna. Manin credits the papers with strengthening the case for human involvement in extinctions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ayliffe
Australia
Alroy
America
Americas
Paul Manin
University of Anzona
Tucson
Telescope hints at Saturns rings and solar events
Pasadena space news notes Hubble images revealing Saturns rings in new color as solstice and a total solar eclipse capture sky events. It profiles ring origin theories, Cassini plans for 2004, and map guidance for stargazers. Joe Rao provides expert input from Hayden Planetarium.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
South Atlantic
Africa
Indian Ocean
Earth
Uruguay
Angola
Lobito
Sumbe
Mars
Pasadena
Calif
Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble
Jeff Cuzzi
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
American Astronomical Society
Saturn
Solar System
Rings of
Cassini
Joe Rao
Hayden Planetarium
Secrets of a Survivor: H pylori urease structure revealed
Researchers in South Korea report in Nature Structural Biology that Helicobacter pylori uses a unique spherical urease with a central cavity and 12 active sites to endure stomach acidity. The enzyme converts gastric urea to ammonia, neutralizing local acid and protecting the bacteria, suggesting new treatment approaches for pylori induced ulcers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
South Korea
Nature
Catfish track guppy wakes across distance in study
German and U S researchers show the wels catfish can follow guppy wakes in darkness using chemical clues and wake turbulence. Using infrared imaging, the fish tracked guppy paths in three dimensions, attacking mostly from behind when prey lay up to ten seconds old and fifty guppy lengths away.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Germany
Boston University
Brooklyn College
National Academy of Sciences
Also Mentioned on This Page
Carnivore
Bernard Buigues
Khatanga
Russia
Sky
Nytimes
Ows
New York Times News Service
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