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The idea that the East African Rift System (EARS) is the exclusive cradle of humankind may be outdated.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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NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than June 19 for the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The Axiom Mission 4 launch was postponed from June 12 as the agency continued evaluating repairs made to a recent leak on the ISS. The small leaks, located in the Zvezda service module’s aft section, had been under observation for years. Now, following a recent repair, the pressure in the module’s transfer tunnel has remained stable, indicating either successful sealing of leaks or compensatory airflow from other station compartments.
NASA Targets June 19 for Axiom-4 Launch as ISS Pressure Holds and Falcon 9 Passes Final Tests
As per a NASA update, while the stable pressure offers promise, teams are still evaluating whether it reflects a successful seal or airflow leakage across the hatch from the main station. Monitoring pressure changes over time is expected to provide clearer insights. Adjustments in launch schedules are considered routine by NASA and its international partners, particularly when onboard station operations require urgent prioritisation.
Progress on the evaluation front has allowed the review of new launch windows. The earlier hold was further compounded by a liquid oxygen leak discovered during post-static fire inspections of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX successfully performed a wet dress rehearsal after repairs, validating that the rocket is good to go for launch from the Kennedy Space Centre‘s Launch Complex 39A.
The mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, an experienced NASA astronaut who is Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight. India’s Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO will pilot the mission. The mission specialists include Polish ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. The mission represents an extension of Axiom’s increasingly prominent position in commercial human spaceflight.
The new launch date for the Axiom-4 mission is currently targeted for June 19, 2025. SpaceX has verified that all of the technical issues that caused the first delay have been resolved. Further updates will be released as NASA and its partners finalise operational assessments, as shared by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in an official statement.
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The oceans of Earth are in worse condition than it was, thought, said the scientists. This is because of the increased acidity levels that led the sea to enter the danger zone five years ago. As per the new study, oceans are more acidic by releasing carbon dioxide from industrial activities such as fossil fuel burning. This acidification of the oceans damages marine life and the ecosystem, in turn threatening the coastal human communities that are dependent on healthy waters for their life.
Oceans May Have Crossed the Danger Zone in 2020
In the study published on Monday, June 9, 2025, in the journal Global Change Biology, researchers have found that acidification is highly advanced tha it was considered in the previous years. Our oceans might have entered the danger zone in the year 2020. Previous research suggested that the oceans of Earth were approaching a danger zone for ocean acidification.
How Ocean Acidification Happens
Ocean acidification is driven by the absorption of ocean of excess CO2 into the ocean, which is rapidly contributing to the global crisis. CO2 dissolves in seawater, forming carbonic acid, lowering pH levels and invading the vital carbonate ions. This threatens the species in the water, such as corals and shellfish, which depend on calcium carbonate to build their skeletons and shells.
The Planetary Boundary May Be Breached
Recent research depicts that the ocean acidification levels may now be breached, crossing the previous estimate of a 19% aragonite decline from the previous industrial levels. Scientists are alarmed that this change could destabilise the ecosystems of marine and, in turn, the coastal economies. This is a ticking bomb with socioeconomic and environmental consequences.
Global Consequences of Acidification
The recent findings suggest that scientists have feared in the past. Ocean acidification has reached dangerous levels, exceeding the limit that is needed to maintain a healthy and stable environment. As critical habitats degrade, the rippling effects are expected to cause harm to biodiversity, impact food security for many of the people who depend on the oceans for their livelihood.
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