A severe drought around 61,000 years ago may have driven the decline and eventual extinction of Homo floresiensis, also known as Hobbits. The species abandoned their cave in Liang Bua due to prolonged drought and competition for resources.
A new 400-year temperature record reveals extreme recent ocean heat that has led to mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. The research highlights the devastating impact of human-caused climate change on the reef's unparalleled ecology and biodiversity.
Researchers at University of Wollongong have discovered physical evidence of fire use by modern humans at Liang Bua site on Flores Island, narrowing the time gap between hobbit species and modern human arrival. The findings suggest that modern humans likely arrived in Southeast Asia and Australia around 50,000 years ago.