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Study Suggests Volcanic Eruption May Have Triggered the Black Death in Europe

Study Suggests Volcanic Eruption May Have Triggered the Black Death in Europe

A recent study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment posits that a previously unknown volcanic eruption in the tropics may have played a significant role in the spread of the Black Death across Europe in the mid-14th century. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe analyzed ice cores, tree rings, and historical accounts to support their hypothesis. The study suggests that the eruption caused global temperatures to cool, leading to food insecurity and increased trade between Europe and Central Asia. This trade likely facilitated the movement of fleas carrying the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which caused the plague. The Black Death, which occurred between 1347 and 1353, resulted in the deaths of millions across Europe, with some regions experiencing mortality rates as high as 60%.

Scientists Discover Unusual Rock Layer Beneath Bermuda, Raising Questions About Volcanic History

Scientists Discover Unusual Rock Layer Beneath Bermuda, Raising Questions About Volcanic History

Researchers have identified a unique 12.4-mile-thick rock layer beneath Bermuda's oceanic crust, a discovery that challenges existing geological understanding. This layer, unlike any other found globally, lies beneath the crust within the tectonic plate on which Bermuda sits. The island, known for its mysterious Bermuda Triangle, has not experienced volcanic activity for 31 million years, yet this thick layer suggests past volcanic events may have injected mantle rock into the crust, creating a buoyant 'raft' that elevates the ocean floor. The study, led by William Frazer from Carnegie Science, utilized seismic data to reveal this anomaly, which may explain the persistent oceanic swell around Bermuda despite the absence of recent volcanic activity.

Discovery of Unusual Rock Layer Beneath Bermuda Sheds Light on Volcanic History

Discovery of Unusual Rock Layer Beneath Bermuda Sheds Light on Volcanic History

Scientists have discovered a unique 12.4-mile-thick rock layer beneath the oceanic crust under Bermuda, which is unlike any other similar layer worldwide. This layer, found within the tectonic plate on which Bermuda sits, may be linked to volcanic activity that ceased around 31 million years ago. The study suggests that the last volcanic eruption injected mantle rock into the crust, creating a 'raft' that raises the ocean floor. This discovery provides new insights into the geological history of Bermuda and its oceanic swell, which has remained elevated despite the absence of recent volcanic activity.

Ancient Undersea Wall Discovered Off French Coast Sheds Light on Prehistoric Societies

Ancient Undersea Wall Discovered Off French Coast Sheds Light on Prehistoric Societies

An ancient undersea wall dating back to 5,800 BC has been discovered off the coast of Brittany, France. The 120-meter-long structure, along with a dozen smaller manmade structures, was found near the Ile de Sein. The discovery was made by divers who explored the site between 2022 and 2024, confirming the presence of granite structures initially spotted by retired geologist Yves Fouquet in 2017. These structures, lying nine meters underwater, were built when sea levels were much lower. Researchers suggest they may have served as fish traps or protective walls against rising seas, reflecting advanced technical skills and social organization of coastal societies at the time.

Researchers Identify Prehistoric Shark as Ancient Apex Predator in Australian Seas

Researchers Identify Prehistoric Shark as Ancient Apex Predator in Australian Seas

Researchers have identified vertebrae from a massive prehistoric shark that once dominated the waters off northern Australia. This discovery dates the shark back to the Cretaceous period, making it the earliest known mega-predator of the modern shark lineage. The vertebrae, found near Darwin, Australia, were initially unearthed in the late 1980s and 1990s but had been overlooked until now. The shark, an ancestor of today's great white, was estimated to be about 8 meters long, significantly larger than previously known sharks from that era. This finding pushes back the timeline for when these mega-predatory sharks existed, suggesting they lived 15 million years earlier than previously thought.

Scientists Discover Superionic State in Earth's Inner Core

Scientists Discover Superionic State in Earth's Inner Core

Researchers have discovered a new state of matter in Earth's inner core, known as a superionic state, where light elements move through a stable iron framework as if they were liquid. This finding, published in the National Science Review, challenges previous understandings of the inner core's behavior. The study, led by Prof. Youjun Zhang and Dr. Yuqian Huang, demonstrates that under extreme conditions, iron-carbon alloys in the inner core shift into this superionic phase. This discovery helps explain the inner core's unusual seismic properties, such as its ability to slow seismic shear waves and its low rigidity.

Researchers Discover Massive CO2 Storage in Ocean Floor Lava Rubble

Researchers Discover Massive CO2 Storage in Ocean Floor Lava Rubble

Researchers from the University of Southampton have discovered that eroded lava rubble beneath the South Atlantic Ocean can trap significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) for millions of years. This finding was made by examining rock samples formed about 60 million years ago, which revealed that CO2 becomes trapped within layers of lava rubble on the seafloor. These porous breccia deposits, created as underwater mountains erode, act as natural reservoirs for CO2. The study marks the first time these structures have been recognized for their extensive carbon-holding capacity, offering new insights into the long-term carbon cycle. The research highlights how these deposits store CO2 as they are cemented by calcium carbonate minerals formed from seawater interactions.

Scientists Discover Oldest Evidence of Human-Made Fire in 400,000-Year-Old Hearth

Scientists Discover Oldest Evidence of Human-Made Fire in 400,000-Year-Old Hearth

Scientists have uncovered the oldest evidence of human-made fire, dating back 400,000 years, in a clay pit in southern England. This discovery, published in the journal Nature, suggests that ancient humans were capable of igniting fires much earlier than previously thought. The site, located in Barnham, revealed a reddish patch of sediment, indicating the presence of an open-air hearth. This finding pushes back the timeline of fire-making by approximately 350,000 years. The ability to control fire is considered a pivotal development in human evolution, as it allowed for cooking, which in turn supported larger brain development and social behaviors. The study's authors believe that Neanderthals, close relatives of modern humans, were responsible for these fires, although no bones have been found at the site to confirm this. The research involved analyzing the magnetism and chemistry of the sediment, as well as the presence of heat-shattered flint and pyrite, which could have been used to create sparks.

Scientists Discover Oldest Evidence of Deliberate Fire Use by Neanderthals in England

Scientists Discover Oldest Evidence of Deliberate Fire Use by Neanderthals in England

Researchers have uncovered the oldest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by prehistoric humans in Suffolk, Britain, dating back approximately 415,000 years. This discovery, made at a former clay pit near Barnham, suggests that Neanderthals were capable of making fire much earlier than previously believed. The site contains a hearth with evidence of repeated use, including heated clay and flint tools shattered by intense heat. This finding pushes back the timeline of fire-making by about 350,000 years, as the previous earliest evidence was from a site in northern France dating to around 50,000 years ago. The study highlights the advanced capabilities of Neanderthals and their use of fire to transform social life, providing warmth, cooking food, and possibly encouraging storytelling and cultural development.

Study Reveals Early Neanderthals Mastered Fire 400,000 Years Ago, Transforming Human Evolution

Study Reveals Early Neanderthals Mastered Fire 400,000 Years Ago, Transforming Human Evolution

A recent study conducted by researchers from several U.K.-based institutions, including University College London and the Natural History Museum in London, has uncovered evidence that early humans were capable of making fire approximately 400,000 years ago. This discovery, made at a Paleolithic site in Barnham, Suffolk, suggests that early Neanderthals were using fire much earlier than previously believed. The findings, published in the journal Nature, indicate that these early humans utilized a rudimentary hearth, as evidenced by heated clay, flint hand axes, and iron pyrite found at the site. This predates the oldest known evidence of fire use by about 350,000 years, which was previously identified at a site in northern France. The ability to create fire independently was a significant milestone in human evolution, allowing early humans to survive in colder climates, cook food, and develop larger brains.

Study Highlights Rapid Escalation of Coal Mine Fires Without Early Intervention

Study Highlights Rapid Escalation of Coal Mine Fires Without Early Intervention

A recent study published in the journal Fire introduces a comprehensive analytical framework called INK-FBSD to better understand and manage coal mine fire risks. This framework integrates several advanced modeling techniques, including Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), the NK model, fuzzy Bayesian network analysis, and System Dynamics (SD) simulation. The study addresses the complexity of coal mine fires, which are influenced by a combination of geological, equipment, environmental, and management factors. The research identifies a gap in previous studies that relied on static models, which often failed to capture the dynamic interactions and feedback loops that contribute to fire risks. The INK-FBSD framework aims to provide a more holistic approach by combining qualitative and quantitative analyses to anticipate and control fire hazards in mining operations.

Study finds humans were making fire 400,000 years ago, far earlier than once thought

Study finds humans were making fire 400,000 years ago, far earlier than once thought

Archaeologists in Britain say they have found the earliest known evidence of deliberate fire-making, dating to around 400,000 years ago