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Scientists may have discovered the origins of the Black DeathResearchers say DNA analysis and evidence from gravestones point to a specific geographic area The Black Death began in 1338 in what is now Kyrgyzstan, new research suggests.The bubonic plague outbreak ravaged the world between 1346 and 1353 and is the most deadly pandemic recorded in human history, causing the deaths of up to 200 million people.In 1347, it first entered the Mediterranean via ships transporting goods from the territories of the Golden Horde in the Black Sea.The deadly disease then spread across Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa claiming up to 60 per cent of the population in a large-scale outbreak which earned it the nickname the Black Death.
China says giant telescope may have picked up signs of alien lifeChinese researchers said that the country’s powerful Sky Eye telescope may have picked up signs of alien life, before a report was quickly deleted.A team of researchers from Beijing Normal University were said to be investigating the mysterious discovery further.But by Wednesday the report appeared to have been removed from the newspaper’s website.Dan Werthimer, of the University of California, Berkeley, works with the SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) researchers from the Beijing Normal University.He rubbished claims that the radio signals were from aliens.“These signals are from radio interference; they are due to radio pollution from Earthlings, not from ET,” he told Space.com.
Extinct 'fantastic giant tortoise' found alive on the Galápagos Islands Believed to be extinct for more than a century, a rare species of giant tortoise is in fact still alive.Scientists assumed that the chelonoidis phantasticus had died out more than a century ago. The species is better known as the ‘fantastic giant tortoise’ and is native to the Galápagos Fernandina island.The only known specimen was discovered in 1906.But in 2019, Princeton researchers discovered a lone female tortoise on the island that hinted that the species might live on.Last week, they finally proved that the two specimens are related.
Serious lack of workhands on strawberry farms
Apple battery row: Millions of iPhone users could get payouts in legal actionMillions of iPhone users could be eligible for payouts, following the launch of a legal claim accusing Apple of secretly slowing the performance of older phones.Justin Gutmann alleges the company misled users over an upgrade that it said would enhance performance but, in fact, slowed phones down.He is seeking damages of around £768m for up to 25 million UK iPhone users.Apple says it has "never" intentionally shortened the life of its products.
Outrage over Boris Johnson plan to abolish Downing Street ethics monitor‘Impossible and odious’: Lord Geidt quit over request to approve rule-breaking by prime minister Boris Johnson has triggered outrage in Westminster with plans to abolish the post of Downing Street ethics adviser, after Christopher Geidt quit in protest at being asked to endorse deliberate rule-breaking by the prime minister.Lord Geidt – the second adviser to resign in less than two years during Mr Johnson’s premiership – said he was put in an “impossible and odious” position when asked to advise on a plan to maintain tariffs on Chinese steel in a way which would breach UK obligations under the World Trade Organisation (WTO).But his predecessor in the role, Sir Alex Allan, said after speaking with Lord Geidt that it was clear the steel issue was “the final straw” after a series of run-ins with the prime minister over lockdown-breaching parties and the lavish refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.Meanwhile, the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) issued a stern warning to the PM not to go ahead with plans to replace the high-profile adviser with an anonymous committee of officials to oversee the ministerial code of conduct.Scrapping the adviser’s post – created by Tony Blair in 2006 in response to a recommendation from the sleaze watchdog – would be “a backwards step” which would “risk further damage to public perceptions of standards”, said CSPL chair Lord Evans.