Here’s Why the Rift Valley May Not Be the Exclusive Cradle of Humankind
The idea that the East African Rift System (EARS) is the exclusive cradle of humankind may be outdated. While much of our knowledge about early humans stems from fossils found in this region, this narrative is shaped by the fact that fossils only survive in specific conditions, such as those found in sedimentary basins like the Great Rift Valley. This narrow focus overlooks the likelihood that early humans lived in many other areas across Africa, where fossils may not have been preserved.
The Rift Valley: A Fragment of a Larger Puzzle
The Great Rift Valley, particularly sites like Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, has produced significant discoveries, such as the remains of Paranthropus boisei and Homo habilis, extinct hominid species belonging to the Early Pleistocene of East and South Africa respectively, about 2.5 to 1.15 million years ago. However, the Rift covers less than one percent of the African continent. Given that early humans likely roamed much wider areas, our understanding of human evolution is based on a fragment of the available evidence. Modern mammals, for example, occupy much larger habitats, suggesting that early humans did too.
Missing Pieces in the Evolutionary Puzzle
Research indicates that focusing solely on the Rift Valley may lead to an incomplete understanding of early human diversity. Studies of African primates show variations in size and morphology across different regions, variations that would be missed if we only looked at the Rift Valley. The same might hold true for early hominins, whose remains outside the Rift have not been found or have been lost over time. This raises questions about how representative the Rift Valley fossils are of early human evolution.
Conclusion: Expanding the Search Beyond the Rift
In conclusion, the focus on the Rift Valley has shaped our understanding of human evolution, but it’s important to recognize that early humans likely lived in a broader range of environments across Africa. This realization prompts a reevaluation of the Rift Valley’s role as the singular “Cradle of Humankind” and highlights the need to search beyond this region to fill in the gaps in the human story.
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A towering spiral of plasma has been recorded extending millions of kilometres from the Sun. The video was taken by the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter during an eight-hour period on October 12, 2022. A coronal mass ejection caused the plasma to rise from the Sun’s surface. The footage captured something which was never observed before. It showed a swirling motion in the solar wind. As per the latest report, scientists also recorded bright streaks that were moving across the frame. Researchers also revealed that these streaks appeared as pixelated lines, which might also ressemble like UFOs. Scientists later confirmed they were distant stars visible due to the imaging process.
Study Identifies Plasma Formation as a Pseudostreamer
The study published in The Astrophysical Journal revealed that the massive structure that appeared in the photos was a large pseudostreamer. It was formed near the Sun’s north pole after a solar flare erupted. The report further highlighted that the plasma reached 1.5 times the Sun’s width and remained visible for three hours. Scientists believes the twisting movement of the plasma was due to Alfvénic fluctuations. These fluctuations happen when waves of charged particles respond to magnetic disturbances. Scientists says the pseudostreamer’s location influenced its unique shape. Magnetic fields at the Sun’s poles are stronger than those near the equator.
Unusual Streaks Explained
The video also showed bright, half-dark lines crossing the screen. These lines appeared to move in a pattern similar to arcade game graphics. ESA confirmed that these were distant stars. The video’s editing technique made them appear as streaks rather than points of light. The Solar Orbiter’s movement against the background created this effect.
Solar Activity Expected to Intensify
The Sun is currently experiencing solar maximum. Flares and solar winds have increased since early 2024. The pseudostreamer in the video formed before this peak. Scientists were surprised by its early appearance. ESA’s Solar Orbiter continues to capture detailed images of solar wind. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Proba-3 mission are also studying these phenomena. More extreme solar winds are expected in the coming years.
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SpaceX has sent another batch of satellites into orbit. On April 3, a Falcon 9 rocket launched 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The rocket lifted off at 9.02 p.m. Eastern Time and was followed by a successful landing of the first-stage booster on a drone ship stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This booster had already been used on four earlier flights. The satellites are expected to be deployed nearly an hour after takeoff if mission steps proceed as planned. The launch formed part of SpaceX’s continued effort to expand its low Earth orbit network.
Details from the Launch Mission Description
According to the mission information provided by SpaceX, the launch marked the fifth use of the same Falcon 9 booster. The drone ship used for recovery was named “Of Course I Still Love You”. This reusable system has become a routine part of SpaceX operations. The booster’s return was completed around eight minutes after liftoff. The launch contributed to the growing total of Starlink satellites which is aimed at building a global broadband network.
Launch Activity in 2025
This latest mission has brought the number of Falcon 9 launches in 2025 to 38. About two-thirds of those have supported the expansion of the Starlink constellation. Earlier this week, two separate launches were also completed. One of them included the Fram2 private astronaut mission, which carried crew members into orbit over Earth’s poles. That mission marked a new milestone in human spaceflight.
Starlink Satellite Network
Over 7100 satellites are now part of the Starlink constellation. The system is already the largest of its kind. SpaceX continues to work on expanding its coverage by launching more satellites regularly. The objective remains to provide consistent internet access worldwide, especially in regions with limited connectivity options.
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