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Divers discovered a marble bust depicting an aging Julius Caesar, which dates back to 46 B.C. at the Rhone River in Southern France. The sculpture, which is almost life-like, is portrayed by wrinkles and a balding pate. It is the oldest known representation of the famous Roman leader.

The bust was unearthed near Arles town, which was found by Caesar in the year 46 B.C. Also among the objects unearthed is a 5.9 foot marble statue of Neptune, which dates back to the early third century A.D. Two other bronze statues, measuring 27.5 inches were also found. One of them, a satyr with hands tied behind the back, has origins in Hellenic Greece.

Researchers are trying to find out the reason why these statues were thrown into the river. The divers, belonging to the Department of Subacquatic Archeological Research, discovered these artifacts between September and October 2007.

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Mercury, the smallest and the innermost planet of the solar system is experiencing an iron meltdown. Though the law of physics claims that the core of this small planet (40% smaller than Earth) could have solidified and cooled years ago, a radar technique revealed that the planet had both solid and semi-liquid matter. This partial liquid core explains the poor magnetic field of the planet.

Researchers are of late masticating on a new theory that it could be raining iron flakes inside Mercury. This scenario opens more ground into speculating the magnetic field of the planet because mercury is the only other terrestrial rocky body apart from Earth.

The “messenger spacecraft” launched by NASA reveals that when it passed Mercury this January 2008, the planet’s magnetic field seemed to be dipolar which implies that Mercury like Earth has a north and south pole. Explicating further, the researchers claimed that such fields are caused by the “dynamo effect” which exists when a conductive molten core rotates.

Researchers from the University of Illinois and Case Western Reserve University, Ohio assert that it could be a combination of sulfur and iron which could be creating iron flakes in the form of snow which is appearing at the outer edge of the planet’s core.

The scientists took a sample of sulfur and iron and blend them together to determine the results of Mercury’s core. It was finally concluded that as the planet’s core cools, iron atoms condense to form tiny cubic iron flakes which travel to the center of the planet. On reaching the center, the light and sulfur-laden liquid lying deep inside the core, rises and causes convection currents that produce Mercury’s weak magnetic field.

Earlier discoveries support the view that sulfur led to the half molten state of Mercury’s core. Researchers are stating that further evidence is required by means of images of the planet’s magnetic field, chemical studies and sulfur deposits inside the planet in order to determine whether it is snowing iron flakes inside Mercury.

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On the Southeast Asian Islands of Sumatra and Borneo an entirely new cat species has been revealed. Scientists say that the clouded leopard found on the Sumatra and Borneo Islands are genetically different from its mainland cousins. The difference between island leopards and mainland leopard is similar to that between Lions and Tigers.

Stuart Chapman, Coordinator of WWF program aiming to preserve vast rainforests of a region called as Heart of Borneo says: “For over 100 years we have been looking at this animal and never realized that it was unique”. This unique cat species is named as Bornean Clouded Leopard.

Specific name of the Bornean Clouded Leopard coined by scientists is Neofelis diardi and that of mainland clouded leopard is Neofelis nebulosa. There is also some difference in pelt markings of the two species of leopard. But according to scientists the major difference between the two species lies in their genetic make-up.

Stephen O’Brien, Head, Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the US National Cancer Institute says: “Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo should be considered a separate species.” A DNA test was run on both the species by O’Brien and colleagues. They found that there are about 40 major differences between the genetic make-ups of both the species. When the DNA of common leopard and lions was compared they found out 56 major genetic differences.

According to researchers divergence of the 2 species of clouded leopards took place around 1.4 million years ago. New research study conducted by biologists of National Museums of Scotland (NMS) on the fur patterns and skin coloration support the previous conclusion.

According to Andrew Kitchener of NMS: “The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland clouded leopard with the leopard found on Borneo, it was clear we were comparing two different species.” He also said that: “It’s incredible that no one has ever noticed these differences.”

The population of Bornean Clouded Leopard ranges between 5000-11,000 on the Borneo Island and 3000-7000 on the Sumatra Island. Bornean clouded leopard has a double strip down its back and small, spotted cloud markings. When the fur of the two species is compared it is observed that the fur of Bornean clouded leopard is darker and greyer.

The distribution of mainland clouded leopard is mainly concentrated from Southern China to Nepal and throughout Southeast Asia. And on the skin of the mainland leopard has large cloud markings with less spots inside them and only partial dorsal stripe and tawny colored fur.

Bornean leopard is the main predator present on the island according to WWF. It mainly feeds on small deer, monkeys, lizards and birds. As compared to other members of the cat family the canine teeth of bornean leopard are large. Although it is spread across most forested areas but prefers to be in hillside rainforest and dense lowlands as there is abundance of natural prey.

Blood of the American alligator can destroy 23 bacteria strains, some of which are resistant to antibiotics. They often engage in fights over mates, but their wounds get rarely infected. The secret lies in their blood. The blood is also able to deplete and destroy large amounts of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

These findings have been highlighted in a study co- authored by Lancia Darville at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge and Mark Merchant, a biochemist at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Darville believes that peptides, which are protein fragments found in the alligator’s blood, prevent fatal infections.

The skin of toads and frogs also contain these peptides as well as that of Kamodo dragons and crocodiles. Darville claims that efforts are on to identify and separate specific peptides in the blood of the alligator.

The findings were presented by Darville at the 235th national meeting of the
American Chemical Society in New Orleans.

The researchers observed that although the alligators resided in swampy environments, where bacteria existed, yet many of these alligators, which suffered from bruises and scratches did not develop infections.

Merchant developed alligator and human serum. These consisted of protein-rich blood plasma with the clotting agents removed. The serums were exposed to 23 bacteria strains. These human serums destroyed eight of the bacterial strains. On the other hand, the alligator serum destroyed all the 23 bacteria, including the drug-resistant bacteria, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

The study observed that creams and pills containing alligator peptides is likely to be available at local pharmacies within a span of seven to ten years. These would be of great help in preventing infections as in the case of a diabetic patient suffering from foot ulcers. Burn victims also will find it useful as well as those suffering from auto-immune diseases.

There are of course many hurdles to overcome before this alligator blood based medicine is available in the market. Darville claims that the initial tests indicate that large concentrations of this alligator serum can prove to be toxic to human cells.

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According to recent research studies conducted in Russia and America, world’s largest lake that is the Lake Baikal, situated in freezing Siberia is getting the harmful impact of global warming. In spite of its large size as well as unique water circulation this lake is increasingly being a subject of concern of environmentalists.

Basically, this is the reason for what the temperature of the entire region is increasing with the every passing day.

See What Scientists Say

”Warming of this isolated but enormous lake is a clear signal that climate change has affected even the most remote corners of our planet,” said Stephanie Hampton, a leading member of the research team, in their study report published Thursday on the online edition of Global Change Biology journal.

”Our research relies on a 60-year data set, collected in Lake Baikal by three generations of a single family of Siberian scientists,” said another leading author Marianne Moore. The data on Lake Baikal reveals ‘’significant warming of surface waters and long-term changes in the food web of the world’s largest, most ancient lake,” write the researchers in their paper.

This climate change has become very important to monitor since it is the home to 2500animal species and plants. Most importantly the lake contains 20% of the world’s fresh water and it can accommodate all the water. This lake is the deepest and oldest lake in the world.  It is believed that this lake is approximately 25 million years old.

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Several Asian vultures will be extinct within a span of a decade. These carrion-eating birds have been decreasing in number on account of being exposed to common livestock drug. This fact has been highlighted by a research conducted by Todd Katzner, Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The study has appeared in the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society.

Asian vultures, initially, began to die mysteriously during 1990s. Expert felt that veterinary diclofenac, which is an inexpensive and popular anti-inflammatory drug was given to the livestock.

In 2004, a study indicated that vultures feeding on the carcasses of diclofenac-treated cows were dying of kidney failure. The drug was, of course, banned in 2006, but yet left- over stocks of the drug could be found in the bodies of the cattle. A single exposure could prove to be lethal.

Researchers counted live vultures along roadways in central and northern India between March 2007 and June 2007 covering 11,700 miles. Based on this study it was observed that oriental white backed vultures have reduced in number quite drastically. Now, there are only 11,000 as compared to tens and millions earlier two decades ago. Slender-billed and long billed have each reduced in number by 97%- 1,000 and 45,000 respectively remain in India. The disappearance of these vultures will directly affect social customs and public health.

In 2001, in an article that appeared in the British Medical Journal, a link was established between the two outbreaks of anthrax in humans to the absence of vultures, which scavenge on anthrax infected cattle. Also the absence of vultures has proved to be a setback to the Parsi tradition of leaving the dead in “Silence of Towers’ to be eaten by vultures. Now, they have to resort to giant solar reflectors to quicken the decomposition process. They do not bury or burn their bodies by tradition.

The main challenge faced is that huge stocks of the diclofenac drug are lying with the distributors. Conservationists feel that vultures should be forced into captive breeding programs for a decade or more. Other factors responsible for vulture extinction are nesting grounds being lost to urbanization and the loss off habitat.

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