An Age of Magic

Clear the Amazon and what do you find…? another ancient civilisation.

Hundreds of geometric monuments unearthed deep in the Amazon may have been left behind by a previously unknown society, say scientists. Archaeologists have found more than 200 earthworks shaped as perfect circles and squares, many connected by straight roads. They have dated one site to 1283AD but say others could be from as early as 200AD.

The earthen structures or ‘geoglyphs’ can now be spotted against the treeless, savanna-like landscape and scientists have compiled an archive using Google Earth. A team of researchers have analysed all the findings in a paper published in the journal ‘Antiquity’. They found that most earthworks were clustered on a 200m high plateau at the top of river valleys. This would have given inhabitants a defensive advantage with a clear view of people coming up river. Most were also placed near spring water sources.

Excavations at some sites have also revealed evidence of permanent habitation, including domestic ceramics, charcoal and grinding stone fragments. The findings cast serious doubt on previous studies that stated the area could only support small, impermanent villages. Instead it is likely the Amazon teemed with complex societies. These were probably wiped out by diseases brought to South America by colonists 500 years ago.

Popularity: 26% [?]

What would you rather – global warming or an ice age?

A lot of peopel scoff at the idea of the global warming issue. Well may they do because if you look at how cold it is in the UK right now you might wonder how on earth the planet is warming up anywhere!

But it is. Look at it this way: back in the 19th century the planet was on it’s way towards another ice-age cycle and this could be seen by the way in which you had incidents like the river Thames freezing over – it has not done that ever since. The reason is because of the industrial revolution and the all those factories and chimneys. This pointed the planet towards global warming and stopped the route towards the next ice-age. All your smokestacks and furnace filter factories actually did something good. If you think it is cold now – how would it have been had things gone the other way…?

Popularity: 13% [?]

Turn down those players or go deaf!

It goes without saying that cases of deafness are rising alarmingly among young people and the blame for this is being laid squarely at the feet of the constant use of those devices you plug into your ear to listen to music.

This all began when ghetto blasters came into being, then the sony walkman made it all small and mobile; now doctors are urging people to turn down those iPods and MP3 players to try and arrest the growing levels of youth deafness. Most rock stars have impaired hearing, as do many classical orchestral musicians, jazz musicians…loud music constantly played into the ear causes nerve damage and this is irreparable.

The message is clear; turn the sound down or lose it altogether some day!

Popularity: 15% [?]