ScienceDaily (Apr. 1, 2008) — The sands of the desert are an important and forgotten storehouse of carbon dioxide taken from the world's atmosphere, scientists heard April 2, 2008 at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting.
"Desert soils are unusual because the sand grains at the surface are bound together into a crust by bacteria, reducing wind erosion and adding nutrients to the soil. Deserts cover over one third of the world's land surface and yet our understanding of their contribution to the atmospheric carbon dioxide balance is poor", says Dr Andrew Thomas of Manchester Metropolitan University.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Colorado State Anthropologist Finds Fossil Treasures In Africa
Science Blog
The vast collection of fossils is one of the few uncovered in Botswana and contains well-preserved specimens of small mammals that may have roamed the earth sometime between 100,000 and 3 million years ago. Most likely used by owls and other mammals to eat their prey, the cave is so rich with fossils it's called Bone Cave.
Waddle and the other researchers believe the find can help fill the gap in the fossil record of Botswana, an area that has not been a major focus for anthropologists or archaeologists in recent years. Although there are numerous sites containing stone tools in Botswana, the only human or primate remains from Botswana are less than 10,000 years old and are fully modern. Other fossils found in Botswana have been from the Middle Stone Age, roughly 100,000 years and earlier.
"This is a great find because of the wealth of fossils in the cave," Waddle said. "It's particularly important because Botswana has virtually no fossil sites of this kind and there really is no fossil record of primates at all. Many fossil sites may only produce a few fossils.
The vast collection of fossils is one of the few uncovered in Botswana and contains well-preserved specimens of small mammals that may have roamed the earth sometime between 100,000 and 3 million years ago. Most likely used by owls and other mammals to eat their prey, the cave is so rich with fossils it's called Bone Cave.
Waddle and the other researchers believe the find can help fill the gap in the fossil record of Botswana, an area that has not been a major focus for anthropologists or archaeologists in recent years. Although there are numerous sites containing stone tools in Botswana, the only human or primate remains from Botswana are less than 10,000 years old and are fully modern. Other fossils found in Botswana have been from the Middle Stone Age, roughly 100,000 years and earlier.
"This is a great find because of the wealth of fossils in the cave," Waddle said. "It's particularly important because Botswana has virtually no fossil sites of this kind and there really is no fossil record of primates at all. Many fossil sites may only produce a few fossils.
Monday, May 28, 2012
When natives become homeless
"Ao! they even demolish our house while we are still gathering our stuff ... bring that radio... ntela kiriba hoo (bring me a wheelbarrow)," a woman says, racing against time. She hands a small wireless set to a young woman carrying a small child. A sense of urgency permeates the atmosphere in this Mmamashia settlement. It surely is no normal Friday morning for Ikanyeng Linchwe. The unscheduled meeting with the 'yellow monster' has her hurredly packing her belongings. The sudden visit is big in a big way. It has attracted the attention of Botswana Television (Btv) cameras. As she gathers her pots, dishes and other things in the ramshackle house, camera shutters make a symphony of noise. "Banna ba mmuso, le re gakaletse (government officers, you have no mercy)," she says, directing her gaze to Kgatleng Landboard officers for emphasis.
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