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Chinese research in space to make human blood cells
Ancient prehistoric graves discovered in South Africa
In a development that could shake up the scientific traditions of human evolution, world-renowned paleontologist Lee Berger announced the discovery of the oldest prehistoric burials in South Africa, increasing the age of the first traces of burial by at least a hundred thousand years. , according to Agence France-Presse.
Fossils of these human ancestors were found inside the burial mounds during archaeological excavations that began in 2018, squatting in burial pits at the end of a network of narrow galleries.
The researchers noted that the graves were filled with earth that was initially drawn to create holes, indicating that these human bodies were buried voluntarily.
“These are the oldest human burials on record for Homo sapiens, dating back at least 100,000 years,” the researchers asserted in a series of papers that still need to be reviewed before being published in the scientific journal eLife.
The excavations took place at an archaeological site known as the “Cradle of Mankind”, which is included in the UNESCO heritage list and is located northwest of Johannesburg.
The oldest tombs discovered earlier, mainly in the Middle East and Kenya, date back to about 100,000 years before our era, and contain the remains of Homo sapiens.
Burial sites in South Africa are between 200,000 and 300,000 years old. It contains the bones of a man belonging to the genus “Homo naledi” (a star in the local language), a short man about 1.5 meters long and with a brain the size of an orange.
The species, discovered in 2013 by American paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, has cast doubt on linear scales of human evolution and remains a mystery to scientists.
Combining features from millions of years ago, such as primitive teeth and legs capable of climbing, Homo naledi possessed two feet similar to the legs of modern humans and arms capable of using tools.
Small brain
The scientists say, “These results show that cremation is not unique to Homo sapiens or other large-brained humans.”
This theory, which runs counter to the generally accepted notion that awareness of death and related practices are characteristic of humans, was pointed out by Lee Berger when he introduced Homo naledi to the world in 2015.
The hypothesis sparked outrage at the time, amid questions from many experts about the scientific accuracy recognized by the authority that published these results, backed by the National Geographic Network.
“It was beyond the tolerance of scientists at the time,” Berger told AFP in an interview. “They’re still convinced that this has to do with our big brains and that it happened very recently, a hundred thousand years ago,” he explains.
“We’re going to tell the world that it’s not true,” adds the 57-year-old researcher.
Geometric symbols, carefully traced using a sharp cutting tool, have been found on the walls of tombs. According to Berger, the squares, triangles and crosses were deliberately left on the smooth surface, perhaps to make them more legible.
“This means that humans not only developed identity practices, but they may not have invented such behaviors,” adds Lee Berger.
And Carol Ward, an anthropologist at the University of Missouri, believes “these results, if confirmed, would be of great significance.”
“I look forward to learning how the disposal of the remains rules out possible explanations other than deliberate burial, and to seeing the results once they are peer-reviewed,” he told AFP.
Further analyzes are still needed. But Berger’s group has already declared that “a whole range of hypotheses about humans and human evolution must be reconsidered.”
Researchers have long associated the ability to control fire, engraving, or painting with mental strength in modern humans, as in Cro-Magnons.
“Subjectivity, understanding meanings, and even art may have a more complex non-human origin than we thought,” said study co-author Agustin Fuentes, an anthropologist at Princeton University.
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Scientists are tracking a tree in Brazil that was thought to have died out 185 years ago
I retired at 100… A centenarian talks about the importance of “being busy at work” to live a long life.
Madeleine Balto recently retired at the age of 100, having worked for more than 80 years – from the age of 18 to 99. According to a CNBC report, Balto believes work has contributed to his longevity.
Balto says of his previous job: “It kept me busy, and I enjoyed the work… As for retirement, I don’t really like it.”
The Balto family started an electric sign manufacturing business in Chicago, with Madeline responsible for office work. She often interacted with customers and it was her favorite job.
She said: “I loved interacting with people… and I was the only one in the office doing all the office work, so it was fun.” “I loved going to work.”
An 85-year-old Harvard University study found that positive relationships make people happier and help them live longer. For this reason, it is not surprising that Balto places a strong emphasis on the importance of family and friends.
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Genetics and Director of Human Lifespan Studies at the Albert Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Dr. Sophia Melman says. College of Medicine.
At 100, Balto maintains his sense of community by going out to dinner with his sons and attending family events. Finally attended a wedding earlier this month.
She also likes going to the Dunkin’ Donuts branch every Sunday with her son to meet friends. “I look forward to it every week,” he says.
Balto affirms that she is lucky; Because she has some friends of the same age who often come to her house for lunch.
She added: “They always invite me over and come over for lunch on Wednesdays at 12pm… we have fun together… without your friends, where are you, right?”
While maintaining healthy relationships is an important factor in living longer, there are other factors that contributed to Balto’s longevity.
First, Mellman says, “In general, women’s life expectancy is longer than men’s…and we believe that genetics also has a significant relationship with longevity.”
In fact, Balto’s older sister lived to be 103 years old. “But she and I are the only ones who lived over 100 years,” she says, referring to her parents, who died at 84, and her sisters, who didn’t live very long.
I grew up on a vegetarian diet
Aiming to stay active, Balto says, “I’m still getting around better. I can walk up the stairs. I have energy; “so I’m in pretty good shape.”
She also tries to eat as healthy as possible, something that started in her childhood, she explains: “When I was a child, there were seven children in the family, and my father was building a big garden, so we lived mostly. On vegetables. “There wasn’t a lot of meat, we couldn’t afford meat.”
“I think that’s probably why I eat healthier,” she adds. Don’t eat fast food now.
Millman says centenarians are generally more confident, and Balto fits that description. He says it’s unclear whether centenarians are always positive, or whether they develop their positive outlook as they age.
Balto says she doesn’t feel too nervous; Because “everything can be solved.” She continues: “I’m very lucky; As I am 100 years old, I am in good health… I cannot complain about my health. “I’m walking, talking, no pain.”
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Jordanian woman with cancer during pregnancy gives birth in Abu Dhabi
Despite being diagnosed with colon cancer in the sixth month of pregnancy, a 36-year-old Jordanian woman overcame the difficulties and pains and gave birth to a healthy baby at Abu Dhabi – Burjeel Hospital. Rania Fuad Al-Sheikh suffered from severe abdominal pain throughout her pregnancy and as the weeks went by, her condition worsened and she became bedridden. Rania said: “When I found out I was going to be a mother for the second time, I felt it. Was very happy, but as my pregnancy progressed, I started suffering from severe pain and heaviness. “In my stomach and liver, in the sixth month of pregnancy, I was tired and had no appetite for food. I was transferred to the emergency room at Barjeel Hospital” Rania added: “I thanked God Almighty because we finally knew the cause of the pain and I was not sad because everything that comes from God is good. I wanted my baby to be healthy.”
Dr Muhannat Diab, an oncologist at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said: When Rania first arrived in April, she was unable to move or speak because biopsies revealed an aggressive form of colon cancer called mucinous adenocarcinoma. While the patient was in critical condition, further tests showed that the child’s condition was unstable, and realizing the seriousness of the situation, the hospital’s multidisciplinary team came up with a comprehensive chemotherapy plan. When the patient was 26 weeks pregnant, after three days of chemotherapy, the patient was able to move and was discharged from the hospital a week after the first chemotherapy session. She continued to have weekly medical appointments during which the team monitored her. Until the baby is born. In the 35th week of her pregnancy, Rania completed five rounds of chemotherapy, underwent a caesarean section, and delivered her little boy weighing 2.32 kilograms.
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The social consequences of the Al Hauz earthquake go beyond the economic damage
We read some newspaper articles on Friday and the weekend, starting with “Al-Ilm”, which confirms that the earthquake that hit the Kingdom on September 8 may have social consequences, Ali Al-Shabani, a professor of sociology research. Going beyond economic and material damage, family structures are damaged when a family member dies, especially a parent, whose loss affects children and the family, contributing to the disintegration of the social fabric.
With the same media platform, the Regional Directorate of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water in Chichawa has taken several measures that made it possible to record the smooth flow of traffic on the classified and unclassified roads connecting the regional communities. Many areas were damaged by the Al Hauz earthquake.
According to the same newspaper, Tawfiq Al-Qurashi, head of the basic equipment department of the Regional Directorate of Equipment and Water in Chichaoua, noted that the ministry has provided about 23 vehicles, including six from the private sector, in the region. Opened 14 classified and unclassified roads and recorded smooth passage of relief convoys.Rescue teams to affected areas.
“Al-Alm” and several Moroccan economists reported that the cost of reconstruction did not exceed 5 percent of GDP. The Al Houze earthquake, although it was a humanitarian disaster, left scars in the region. And throughout Morocco, it may be an economic opportunity to start a new phase in dealing with the situation. With the rural world, it has been outside the orbits of development for decades.
The same newspaper wrote that Moroccan and foreign engineers and experts call for the preservation of historical and cultural elements in the reconstruction. Aziz Al Hilali, Chairman of the Association of Independent Engineers, said that the most difficult thing in this situation is the successful reconstruction and return to normal life. In the same context, the architects cautioned about the locations of some tents that serve as temporary shelters for residents and that they should not be installed in areas exposed to waterways or landslides.
Also, to “Bayan al-Youm” published that the primary court in Marrakesh decided to postpone the consideration of the file in which the head of the Harbil Tamansoort group and an employee of the same group were arrested for fraud, participation in it, and forging a document issued by the public administration and using it for bribery until September 25. buying Preparation of defense and review of file documents is ongoing.
The court ruled to deny the defendants provisional release, after the session was concluded, after their side submitted a motion on the matter.
The same newspaper reported that the regional governor of cultural heritage of Beni Mellal-Kenifra region, Mohamed Choukry, said that the historical monuments in Ajilal province were not seriously damaged by the earthquake in Morocco on September 8. Shukri pointed out that the Al Hauz earthquake affected ancient local buildings, stressing that these buildings are known for their architectural characteristics that reflect the identity and history of the Middle High Atlas.
As for the “Socialist Union”, the National Union of Mothers and Fathers of Moroccan Students in Ukraine has written to the government and requested intervention to help the students. The association hopes to intervene through the Moroccan embassy in Ukraine to overcome difficulties and provide the students with the necessary support in their daily affairs, expressing confidence in the good understanding of the relevant ministers and their interest in its issues. sons and daughters.
In the material of the same newspaper, the news of the postponement of the 13th session of the Rachidia Film Festival, the session of director Hisham Al-Azri, which was scheduled to be organized from October 17 to 21, 2023. , as an expression of sympathy and solidarity with the victims and their families.
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