Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Trond Larsen, head of Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program, told that new 48 species are found by investigators in Amazon. Some of the peculiar findings are amphibious mouse, squirrel, eight types of fish, three amphibians and 10 types of butterflies. A total of 2,046 species were recorded during the 38-day expedition using camera traps, bioacoustic sensors and DNA sampling. Among them, 49 were classified as threatened, including the yellow-tailed woolly monkey and the tree monkey. "Unless steps are taken now to safeguard these sites and help restore parts of the landscape ... there's a strong chance they won't persist in the long term," Larsen said.
Credit - NASA
NASA-supported scientists have showcased the role of ferns in environmental recovery from disaster. Instead of competing with other organisms, ferns may act as facilitators that ease the way for other plants and animals to re-establish themselves in a damaged landscape. Ferns are a common type of vascular plant found in woodlands, gardens, and many a plant pot on apartment shelves. Unlike many other vascular plants, ferns do not flower or seed. Ferns are often one of the first plants to re-establish in areas affected by large-scale upheaval events, and it has been suggested that this is because ferns produce spores in great amounts that are widely distributed on the wind.
Researchers have discovered new evidence that supports a theory that the Stonehenge was built as a monument to unite Britain's early farmers nearly 5,000 years ago pic.twitter.com/L8gdZNgowk
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 20, 2024
Credit - X/@SkyNews
Situated in Wiltshire on the southern edge of Salisbury Plain in southern England, Stonehenge seems to have been built during 3100 and 1600 BC, with the rocky slabs transported far and wide from southwest Wales and northeast Scotland. However, the reason of building these structures was a mystery for centuries. Evidence suggests the iconic stones were erected in Salisbury Plains in Wiltshire to unify ancient Britain, according to new research. Lead author UCL Professor Mike Parker Pearson, explained: The fact that all of its stones originated from distant regions, making it unique among over 900 stone circles in Britain, suggests that the stone circle may have had a political as well as a religious purpose.”
New research has found that older people specific regions of the world enjoy better health than ever. The findings revealed that the decline in age has slowed notably, giving hope for a healthier ageing process. It further shows that today's elderly population faces more intense levels of physical and mental balance than the previous generations did at the same age. The health improvements are a result of education, good nutrition, better sanitation, and advancement in medical treatments like for high blood pressure and joint replacement. However, the researchers have warned that factors like increasing obesity could even reverse these trends.
