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The earliest known cases of malaria has been discovered by scientists in two Egyptian mummies,which happen to be 3,500 years old.

Researchers in Germany conducted studies on samples of bone tissue taken from 90 mummies discovered in the ancient, Thebes in Egypt which is now Luxor.

Two of the adult mummies belonging to separate tombs contained tissues, which had ancient DNA from a malaria causing parasite.

Another team from University College, London, discovered a pair of skeletons ( a woman and a child), which happen to be 9,000 year old, off the coast of Israel. These skeletons are infected with tuberculosis and are the oldest known cases of the disease.

The examination of DNA for clues in understanding organisms that cause diseases and how they evolve can have an immense impact on modern medicine. One will be able to understand how these deadly diseases affect people.

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The use of psychoactive drug use in ancient Andes has been discovered in the hair of mummies, according to a new study. The predecessors of Inca, the Tiwanaku made use of mind-altering drugs. Drugs were made available through wide trade networks.

The details of the findings have been highlighted in the Journal of Archaeological Science, October issue.

Recently, scientists observed 32 mummified Tiwanaku bodies, which were discovered in Northern Chile’s Azapa Valley, located in the Atacama Desert.

The researchers found harmine compound in the hairs of a male adult and a year old baby, dating somewhere between A.D.800 and 1200. Harmine helps humans to absorb hallucinogens and is probably a strong antidepressant.

Harmine was probably used for medicinal and therapeutic practices, some related to childbirth and pregnancy according to study co-author, Juan Pablo Ogalde, chemical archaeologist, University of Tarapaca, Arica, Chile. It is also possible harmine may have been used in religious rituals.

Snuff kits have been found containing Vilca tree  powder. X-rays of  Tiwanaku skulls show  nasal damage, which could have been perhaps caused by frequent sniffing. Also snuffing imagery has been portrayed in Tiwanaku ceramics, stone work, wood work and textiles, which indicate snuffing rituals were part of the Tiwanaku culture.

Alexei Vranich, archaeologist, University of California, Los Angeles, who did not take part in the study said that many were attracted to the Tiwanaku religion because of the usage of these mind-Altering substances.

An engraved animal model found buried next to a prehistoric toddler at Stonehenge may stand for Britain’s first known toy, researchers opine.

The only one of its kind chalk relic is of a pig or hedgehog , considered to be around 2,000 years old; it was unearthed last September close to the famous stone monument of England’s Salisbury.

This Bronze Age carved animal model was made as a plaything or in remembrance of a stillborn baby or an infant who died very young, the archaeologist believes.

The finding was made during a project of the Stonehenge Riverside, a 7-year archaeological exploration of this Stonehenge area. The project is also backed by the National Geographic Society.

The burial was exposed during the excavation of an antique palisade.

Proofs of toys during the period of British history are exceedingly limited.

The infant’s grave, uncertainly dated between 800 B.C - 20 B.C., also  includes a ceramic vessel, which might have contained foodstuff intended meant for the child’s crossing to his afterlife according to the team.

The dig of the post also exposed the corpse of another infant along with the carcass of a goat or sheep.

A mound of pebbles placed over the head of the animal, point to a sacrificial burial.

It is possible that the 2 infants are human sacrifices, than likely to have died naturally. However, there was also a high incidence of child mortality at that time so natural death can not be ruled out completely.

At present, archeologists are fighting over what the animal is — a pig or a hedgehog.

The latest study discovered that a chemical’s emissions are 4 times more widespread in our atmosphere than formerly thought, and a lot more times more efficient at heating up than Carbon Di Oxide (CO2).

What is this unknown gas?

The answer to the question is Nitrogen trifluoride.

Nitrogen trifluoride is 1of the numerous gases used during the making up of some computers and TV screens; it is also used in the manufacture of thin-film photovoltaic cells.

So, once again we have the same old dilemma for us. The production of the very object meant to resolve the crisis, is in reality adding up to this crisis.

Many manufacturers have been using Nitrogen triflouride as a substitute for perfluorocarbons, which is another sort of strong greenhouse gas.  Then it was considered that merely 2 % of nitrogen trifluoride being used actually escapes into atmosphere.

Nitrogen trifluoride is almost 17,000 times more potent at heating up the atmosphere than CO2, carbon dioxide.  Though, this gas emission at present adds up to only 0.15 % of total effects of global warming produced by humans. It is predicted that the quantity of the gas in our atmosphere is rising by 11 % per year.

Carbon Dioxide, CO2, still remains the chief gas causal of global warming.

By means of new technology, research teams in California sponsered by Nasa, revealed that thousands additional metric tons of this chemical exists in our atmosphere than what was formerly thought.

As this gas is used very frequently, its potential harmful effects are not well known, researchers now recommend to include nitrogen trifluoride in the greenhouse gases controlled by Kyoto Protocol.

The rapid development taking place close to Abydos, an archaeological site in Egypt is damaging the sacred place of gathering for pilgrims according to experts.

Several Egyptians crossed the desert surrounding Abydos somewhere between 664 B.C. to A.D. 395 in order to pay homage to the God of Dead, Osiris. Quite a few of the earliest pharaohs are buried on this site.

Development of new farms as well as buildings has affected the site in many ways, which is also known as the Mecca of Egypt. The temples and tombs in this area were more of a home for the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

International archaeologists are also trying to protect Abydos from such deterioration. It is from this site that we come to know a lot about the origin of Egyptian pharaohs and their culture.

The site has also be nicknamed as Omm El Qaab, which in Arabic is termed as Mother of Pots. The pharaohs built the desert in order to avoid damage from the farming practices and annual floods from the Nile.

Local farmers have started reclaiming the land in the Abydos desert. Rapid growth in population has led to constructions around the monuments located on the site, thus damaging some of them.

Special importance in preserving the site has to be given as it throws light on the cultural history of the pharaohs and the richness of the Egyptian culture.

The worldwide financial crisis can cause a dent in the recent measures adopted to protect the planet. Experts at the meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) held at Barcelona are of the view that focus would be on improving the financial situation rather than on conservation preservation.

The recession in the U.S. economy will force Governments to divert funds allocated for conservation toward financial rehabilitation. The slump may also lead to economic pressures, which in turn would affect conservation. The Governments would divert the funds allocated for conservation and social programs towards rescuing the economy.

Governments would depend more on private industries, such as oil, mining and gas to extract more resources. The revenue derived from these resources would be used for economic recovery of the economy. This would lead to depletion of resources and also those benefiting from various social programs will get affected.

Greg Fishbein, director, conservation finance and planning, says that those who are hard pressed for jobs will take to overfishing or aggressive deforestation. Those who are about to lose their homes due to financial hardships may not donate money for philanthropy causes.

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