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For years, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has been cited as a cautionary tale of ecological collapse. Known for its giant stone heads, or moai, the island’s population was thought to have dwindled due to overuse of natural resources, leading to societal breakdown. However, a new genetic study published in Nature debunks this long-held theory.

Led by an international team of scientists from the University of Copenhagen, the study found no evidence of a dramatic population collapse before European contact in 1722. “Our analysis shows a stable population from the 13th century through the 18th century, contradicting the idea of a pre-contact collapse,” said Víctor Moreno-Mayar, assistant professor of geogenetics at Copenhagen. The researchers analyzed genomes from 15 Rapanui individuals who lived between 1670 and 1950, finding no signs of a reduced gene pool that would indicate a population crash. The collapse theory argued that the islanders depleted their resources, particularly trees, to build and transport the moai, eventually leading to famine, violence, and even cannibalism. But genetic evidence now suggests that the Rapanui adapted to environmental challenges over centuries, maintaining societal stability until disrupted by European contact. Previous studies had questioned the collapse theory based on archaeological and population dynamics data, but this is the first time genetics has been used to address the issue.

Researchers now believe that while the island’s landscape did change between the 13th and 18th centuries, the Rapanui people were resilient and resourceful. “The population stability shows they adapted to the environmental challenges they faced,” said Bárbara Sousa da Mota from the University of Lausanne, co-author of the study. Moreno-Mayar further argued that the idea of ecological suicide was part of a colonial narrative, casting the islanders as unable to manage their resources, a claim refuted by the genetic findings.

German company Paxos Solar has introduced a new glass photovoltaic roof tile that can reduce energy demand by up to 20% when connected to a heat pump. This year, the company aims to install the tiles on 200 roofs.

For homeowners looking for a cleaner energy solution without the bulky setup of traditional photovoltaic panels, these solar roof tiles offer a space-efficient alternative. They blend in seamlessly with a roof’s appearance and don’t require extra space. While many companies provide solar roof tiles, Paxos has taken an innovative approach by integrating them with heat pumps. In collaboration with TH Köln University of Applied Sciences, Paxos spent two years developing a prototype that generates both electricity and heat. The team tested various factors like temperature, optical loss, environmental conditions, and safety. Their findings showed that the heat pump’s performance improved by nearly 25%, depending on weather and heating needs.

Now, Paxos has partnered with Longi to mass-produce these tiles. Each tile measures 23.45 x 18.89 inches and delivers 44 watts of power, with five tiles generating up to 190 watts in just 10 square feet of roof space. Paxos intentionally designed these tiles larger than competitors’ models to allow faster installation and higher power output. The tiles are installed using a support rail system above a water-bearing layer. Air flows under the tiles, and when the air heats up, it is collected and funneled into the heat pump, further boosting efficiency. A study by the University of Cologne found that homes using these solar tiles required 20% less energy for heating over a year.

Paxos also claims that their solar tiles are lighter and take half the time to install compared to traditional roofing methods.

A two-foot-tall bronze statue of the Greek goddess Diana, once displayed on the Titanic’s fireplace mantle, was discovered during a recent expedition.

Described as “a needle in a haystack,” it is one of many sought-after art pieces targeted by maritime archaeologists. The Titanic, famously known as the ‘unsinkable’ luxury liner, carried England’s elite on its ill-fated maiden voyage to the U.S. The ship was also a “floating gallery of fine art,” as Art Net recently noted, showcasing everything from a 1912 Renault luxury car to this bronze statue, a replica of the Diana of Versailles. The original statue is housed in the Louvre, but on the Titanic, it was placed above a fireplace, as shown in a photograph taken onboard.

RMS Titanic Inc., a Georgia-based company that leads expeditions to document and recover the ship’s relics, recently completed an unmanned mission to the wreck in the North Sea. There, buried in the mud, they found the statue, remarkably free of corrosion.The statue shows Diana wielding a club over her right shoulder, with a stag at her left side. While RMS Titanic leaves some artifacts in place, the Diana of Versailles is likely to be retrieved during future expeditions.

Cars and planes could soon be built using the world’s strongest batteries, thanks to a breakthrough from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

Researchers have introduced a new type of structural battery that could reduce a laptop’s weight by 50%, make mobile phones as thin as a credit card, or increase an electric vehicle’s range by up to 70% on a single charge. These structural batteries not only store energy but also support structural loads, thanks to stiff, strong carbon fibers that store electrical energy chemically. When vehicles, planes, ships, or computers are built from materials that function both as batteries and structural components, weight and energy consumption are significantly reduced.

For vehicles, which require strong designs to meet safety standards, the new battery’s stiffness has increased from 25 to 70 gigapascals (GPa), allowing it to carry loads as well as aluminum but with less weight. “Investing in light, energy-efficient vehicles is a matter of course if we are to economize on energy and think about future generations. We have made calculations on electric cars that show that they could drive for up to 70 percent longer than today if they had competitive structural batteries.”

The researchers aimed to make the technology commercially viable, leading to the creation of Chalmers Venture company Sinonus. They have received significant interest from the automotive and aerospace industries. However, transitioning from lab-scale production to large-scale manufacturing will require substantial investment. “It will require large investments to meet the transport industry’s challenging energy needs, but this is also where the technology could make the most difference,” added Professor Asp.

Thirty years ago this month, botanists in Australia discovered a pine tree species near Sydney that has been around since the time of dinosaurs.

To mark this milestone, the Botanic Gardens of Sydney are auctioning off six saplings to promote interest in this ancient conifer. The auction’s outcome is hard to predict, given the rarity of such high-profile plant sales.

The original 90 trees exist in a highly protected area, with entry restricted even for scientists. Unauthorized access can result in up to two years in prison and a $330,000 fine under the Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act. This strict control helps prevent the introduction of harmful plants, parasites, and diseases that could devastate this rare species. The Wollemi pine, which evolved 91 million years ago and was thought to be extinct for 2 million years, was rediscovered in 1994 in the Blue Mountains. It has survived major global events, including the comet impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.

For the past 30 years, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been planting the Wollemi pine in other locations to help ensure its survival. John Siemon, Director of Horticulture at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, hopes the auction winners will share their passion for conserving plant species and find suitable homes for the saplings.