Window Opens Into Moon's Past Volcanism

Lava tubes, underground cave-like channels through which lava once flowed, are commonly found on Earth. Scientists have debated whether these tubes could form on the Moon as well, but no studies have yet conclusively identified features that indicate the presence of lunar lava tubes.

Using images from the SELENE (also known as Kaguya) spacecraft's high-resolution cameras, Haruyama et al. have identified a vertical hole that they believe is a skylight in an intact lava tube. The hole is located in the Marius Hills region, a volcanic area on the Moon's nearside.

The authors find that the nearly circular hole is about 65 meters (213 feet) in diameter and about 80-88 m (262-289 ft) deep. They consider possible formation mechanisms and conclude that the skylight most likely formed when part of the lava tube roof collapsed. The authors believe that the discovery could have implications for studies of lunar volcanism.

In addition, because lava tubes are sheltered from the harsh environment on the Moon's surface, such tubes could one day be useful for lunar bases.

The research is published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Source: Science Daily

Exploring the Stone Age pantry

Julio Mercader at work in the Ngalue cave site, Mozambique

University of Calgary archaeologist unearths earliest evidence of modern humans using wild grains and tubers for food

The consumption of wild cereals among prehistoric hunters and gatherers appears to be far more ancient than previously thought, according to a University of Calgary archaeologist who has found the oldest example of extensive reliance on cereal and root staples in the diet of early Homo sapiens more than 100,000 years ago.

Julio Mercader, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Tropical Archaeology in the U of C's Department of Archaeology, recovered dozens of stone tools from a deep cave in Mozambique showing that wild sorghum, the ancestor of the chief cereal consumed today in sub-Saharan Africa for flours, breads, porridges and alcoholic beverages, was in Homo sapiens' pantry along with the African wine palm, the false banana, pigeon peas, wild oranges and the African "potato." This is the earliest direct evidence of humans using pre-domesticated cereals anywhere in the world. Mercader's findings are published in the December 18 issue of the prestigious research journal Science.

Hells Bells Cenote

Located in the Yucatan Peninsula is a Cenote nicknamed Hells Bells.

The unique "bell shaped" stalactites make the dive unforgettable!

 Join Natalie Gibb from Diablo Divers along with Jeff Lindsay and Terry Irvine as they explore and video
"Hells Bells"

 

Rock paintings reveal species that once roamed India

Sivatherium, a giraffe-like creature with two pairs of horns and extinct for 8,000 years, once roamed central and western India. So did the aardvark, an ant-eating creature now found only in Africa. The stunning finds have emerged from ancient rock paintings found along the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border.

They have been hidden away for centuries in 18 rock shelter paintings near Amravati in Maharashtra and have been discovered by a group of amateur explorers in the past three years - the latest find was in June. And research into them is now proving eye-opening.

A six-member group headed by V.T. Ingole, who is otherwise the principal of an engineering college in Amravati, chanced upon the paintings after seven years of digging in the Morshi tehsil of Amravati district.

'This is only the second of its kind in the country and dates back to 15,000 years or the Upper Palaeolithic era,' an excited Ingole told IANS here.