Study: Hobbit Species vanished Thousands of Years Earlier Than Previously Believed

Extinct species Homo floresiensis discovered in Indonesia more than a decade ago vanished much earlier than previously estimated, suggests a new study. The study also stated that modern humans could be behind the extinction of this mysterious and diminutive species.

In 2003, researchers first discovered the signs of the primate in a cave in Flores, an island in Indonesia. After examining the species’ bones, they found that the species, dubbed ‘The Hobbit’ by the researchers, became extinct about 12,000 years ago. But now, the study stated that the Homo floresiensis had gone 50,000 years ago.

New Alarming Study predicts Antarctic Ice will Melt Faster than Previous Predictions

World seas might see drastic rise in near future if we fail to curb global warming at its present rate. Many climate scientists have already predicted the sea-level rise by 2100, but a new study has suggested that the rise could be at double the rate of previous estimates.

The study by two climate scientists- Robert DeConto of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and David Pollard from the Pennsylvania State University- stated that previous ice-sheet-climate models have not understood the Antarctic ice sheet’s melting completely. These models have ‘under-appreciated’ the melting and its impact on sea level, added the study.

The research has been published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Unisex restroom at a store in Athens goes viral on Internet

Since Saturday when Tonya Owens posted a sign on Facebook page with a caption which reads simply “Nice job Kroger. This is from a Kroger in Athens, Ga”, the post has gone viral receiving more than 2,800 comments, 67,600 likes and 100,000 shares. The sign was on the door of a unisex restroom at an Athens Kroger store.

The sign had on it written a note that says, “We have a UNISEX bathroom because sometimes gender specific toilets put others into uncomfortable situations. And since we have a lot of our friends coming to see us, we want to provide a place for our friends”.

Lawmakers target makers of pricey prostate cancer drug Xtandi

On Tuesday, Medivation Incorporated shares fell after a group of lawmakers began a campaign to cut the price of an advanced prostate cancer drug, Xtandi, which as per them has been developed at UCLA via taxpayer-backed research grants.

In the United States, the drug is marketed jointly by San Francisco-based Medivation and its partner, Astellas Pharma Inc., which is a Japanese drug-maker. Xtandi is sold outside the US by Astellas.

About 16,000 babies arrive early each year in US partially due to air pollution

A latest analysis has estimated that the US premature births associated with air pollution cost over $4 billion annually in medical care and lost economic opportunity. Researchers examined air quality data and birth records and found that nearly 16,000 babies take premature birth partially because of air pollution.

The researchers calculated that yearly costs linked to these preemies include roughly $3.6 billion in lost wages and productivity because of physical and mental deficits linked to early arrivals and $760 million for extensive hospitalizations and use of medications for a long time.

WHO: Ebola no longer an International Public Health Emergency

In an announcement on Tuesday, the World Health Organization said that the Ebola epidemic that took thousands of lives in West Africa is not an international public health emergency any more.

In a news briefing, Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director general, said that she has accepted the recommendation of an emergency committee, which has reached at a conclusion that West African countries could contain the tiny number of new cases that kept on arising, and that the chances of an international spread are less.

Dr. Chan has told the countries that had prohibited interaction with the three nations to remove any ban on travel and trade with immediate effect.

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