​The next earthquake in Turkey: we know how, where, but not when it will happen ● A simple fossilized plant could rewrite the evolutionary history of tomatoes ● The current extinction of life forms is much worse than we imagined

The next earthquake in Turkey: we know how, where, but not when it will happen

An international group of specialists from research centers in the USA, China, Israel, Italy and Turkey is paying attention to a scenario that is about to repeat itself. About a devastating earthquake. In their study, published in the journal Seismica, the researchers say they can predict almost anything that will happen. Less often.

According to the data received at the moment, the authors of the study claim, tectonic plates in the region of Anatolia and Kahramanmarash province, where the epicenter of an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale was registered on February 6 of this year. , did not release all the tension.

Essentially, there is an area along the fault that separates the tectonic plates where they have not yet slipped after a series of recent earthquakes. This means the inevitability of a new earthquake with a magnitude of at least 6.8 on the Richter scale. However, when this happens, it is impossible to give an answer.

Experts warn the population and the authorities of Turkey to be ready for another large-scale earthquake. Moreover, the data on how the latter manifested are still being clarified, given that some buildings did not collapse like a house of cards, but simply crumbled concrete. And this means that the way the earthquake occurred was much stronger than previously predicted.

A simple plant fossil can rewrite the evolutionary history of tomatoes

If you were interested in the history of tomatoes and were convinced that they appeared 15 million years ago, as written until now, you have come to the right place, because a new discovery by paleontologists from the University of Colorado changes everything you knew.

From the research published in the journal New Phytologist by the previously mentioned researchers, it follows that fossilized traces of a plant from the group of hot peppers (Capsiceae), which, in turn, are part of the tomato family (Solanaceae), were discovered. in a sedimentary layer in which it simply should not have existed.

More precisely, one from the Eocene (approximately 34 – 56 million years ago). And the age of fossils will be about 50 million years, which is more than three times higher than the acceptable age of origin of these plants. This discovery is echoed by a similar discovery in Colombia of a similar age, but which has so far been disputed due to its unconventional age.

Since the discovery was made in the Green River Formation in Colorado, the new data also changes the place of origin of tomatoes. Until now, the oldest evidence of their existence was found in South America, they were no more than 15 million years old.

Like I said, if you’re into the history of tomatoes, you have reason to celebrate. The history of your favorite plants has just been significantly rewritten.

The current extinction of life forms is much more serious than we imagined

Last December, during a high-level conference organized under the auspices of the United Nations in Montreal, Canada, officials from almost all over the world met to define a series of measures to protect the environment, biodiversity, create protected areas for wildlife, and more.

The problem is, says a group of scientists from the Zoological Society of London, that these people mostly met for nothing. Why? Because the data on the disappearance of the world’s flora and fauna are about 40 years old. In fact, the rate at which plant and animal species are disappearing is, in some cases, several thousand times greater than that reported at the aforementioned conference.

The authors of the study say that how species respond to change was not taken into account. Yes, some reactions are instantaneous. But some last for years, even decades. And this means that even if we imagine that everything that officials put on paper will suddenly become reality, plants and animals will still respond to current changes even after the middle of this century.

More Romanian, and if we take radical measures to restore forests, this is an example, these efforts will not stop the decline of wild species by 2030, as claimed during the conference in Canada.

The only positive point is that if the measures agreed in Montreal are implemented, theoretically something can be saved. as? This is unknown, as the long-term consequences of our actions on biodiversity are not fully understood even today.

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