In the United States and other developed countries, fluoride is often added to drinking water and toothpaste to help strengthen teeth. But too much naturally occurring fluoride can have exactly the opposite effect.
Over many generations the Amhara people of the Ethiopian Highlands have adapted to living at high-altitude. Now researchers are determining how their genes convey a survival advantage from one generation to the next.
In July, 2011 a meteor broke-up during its descent through Earth’s atmosphere, dropping debris on the Moroccan desert. Fragments of the meteorite were recovered and NASA has confirmed that they are fragments of Mars.
“Gabon is an established oil producing country in West Africa and has enjoyed decades of economic growth and political stability in comparison to other countries in the region. Oil production undergirds Gabon’s economy, accounting for 45 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 60 percent of government revenue, according to the World Bank.” Quoted from the EIA report.
This image from Earth Observatory shows the heat of an active lava flow near Nyamuragira Volcano and a lava lake within the summit crater of Nyiragongo.
“An eruption occurred in the Red Sea in December 2011. According to news reports, fishermen witnessed lava fountains reaching up to 30 meters tall on December 19.
By December 23, 2011, what looked like a new island appeared in the region.” Quote from the NASA image release.
Alex Guth of Michigan Technological University assisted National Geographic with a story about “why the rift exists and its impact on the local people — a people in crisis — and the delicate ecosystem that coexists”.
The Eruptions blog has interesting photos and commentary on the continuing subsea volcanic activity near the Canary Islands in a post titled: “Mixing Magmas at the Ongoing El Hierro Eruption“.
Anadarko Petroleum estimates that their newly-discovered natural gas field off the coast of Mozambique could be the largest discovery in company history.
Researchers have used Krypton 81 to study the flow of water through the Nubian Aquifer of North Africa. Krypton isotopes can be used to determine how long water has been underground and how fast it has moved.
TheAge.com.au has a video featuring the current eruption of Nyamuragira Volcano, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has lava fountains shooting hundreds of meters into the air.
A 110-carat vivid yellow, pear-shaped diamond that was mined in South Africa will be auctioned next week in Geneva. It is expected to bring up to $15 million. YouTube Video.
Nyamuragira is a shield volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and located on the western branch of the East African Rift. It is the most active volcano in Africa. This video reports on an eruption that began on Sunday and is threatening people who live nearby.
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