​Two completely unknown minerals were discovered in a 15-ton meteorite ● The largest active volcano on the planet erupted again after 38 years ● Traces of an unknown human species found in a 50,000-year-old genome

Two completely unknown minerals were found in the 15-ton meteorite

A fragment of only 70 grams, cut from a 15-ton meteorite that crashed two years ago in Somalia, became a huge surprise for researchers from the University of Alberta, Canada. More precisely, we are talking about two completely unknown minerals to scientists.

The two minerals were named elalite (after the El Ali meteorite) and elquistantonite, respectively, after Linda Elkins-Tanton, coordinator of NASA’s upcoming Psyche mission, which will study asteroid 16 Psyche to learn about the formation of our Sun. system.

Versions of the minerals mentioned have already been created in the laboratory, but have never been found in the natural state. The fact that they exist and that they are found in a meteorite means that it was formed under conditions that did not exist before, and this is the most interesting thing.

Scientists are trying to find out the origin of the El-Ali meteorite and thus learn new data about the formation of our solar system and beyond. The minus in this whole equation is that the meteorite was transported to China, where they are already looking for a buyer for it, and this greatly complicates the mission of specialists.

The largest active volcano on the planet erupted again after 38 years

For the first time in almost four decades, the eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano began again. The eruption was preceded by dozens of earthquakes, and on Monday, November 28, at 7:20 a.m., the first lava flows were seen.

Although ten domestic flights have been canceled, Hawaii officials say the eruption poses no immediate threat to nearby human communities and lava is expected to be confined to the northwest slope.

However, based on data collected from previous eruptions, authorities are also taking into account the fact that the current lava flow can quickly change direction and the eruption could become much more dynamic.

Mauna Loa erupted 33 times between 1843 and 1894, the date of the last eruption. If the reactivation of the volcano threatens populated areas, Hawaiian officials have already prepared an evacuation plan.

Traces of an unknown human species found in a 50,000-year-old genome

You’ve probably heard this phrase before about the traces of a “ghost” population from the past, with extinct species still unknown, but which have left their mark on our genome today. Everything is possible, especially since profile research is only taking the first steps.

The fact is that in a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications, several geneticists from the University of Tartu, Estonia, claim that they managed to isolate parts of the genome of a little girl who lived about 50,000 years ago in southern Siberia, parts that they , seem to come from an unknown human population or even species.

Until now, it was known that the girl was a hybrid of Neanderthal and Denisovan, but the new data also points to genetic fragments of an older population. It is currently unknown whether this genetic branch originates from the Denisovan population, an ancient human species that occupied the territory of South Asia, or whether it is an entirely new species.

The problem is that the data was discovered using artificial intelligence in a statistical model. Which, between us, is not the safest way to determine gender information. They can be a clue for future research, and that’s what Estonian geneticists say. In short, put the champagne back, it takes time to confirm the hypothesis!

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