24
August 11-17, 2018
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology
New study on the collapse of Mayan civilization should be climate wake-up call A NEW study finds that it was a severe and long-lasting megadrought that destroyed the great Mayan civilization a thousand years ago. But the research has ominous relevance for us today since America’s top scientists have warned us that President Trump’s climate policies will make such civilisation destroying megadroughts commonplace in the coming decades. The Mayans had one of the world’s first written languages, used advanced mathematics, measured timed with an accurate calendar, produced durable rubber three millennia ago, and figured out “how to grow corn, beans, squash and cassava in sometimes-inhospitable places.” Yet after reaching its height in its “Classic” period (250 AD – 800 AD), the Mayan empire collapsed over the next two hundred years. While many theories have been offered — including environmental degradation, war, and drought — researchers from Cambridge’s Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research have shown that the collapse “correlated with an extended period of extreme drought.” In a recent study published in the journal Science, “Quantification of drought during the collapse of the classic Maya civilization,” the researchers calculated for the first time just how bad the drought was. From 800 to 1000 AD, they found, “Annual rainfall must have fallen by around 50% on average and by up to 70% during peak drought conditions.” In addition, “relative humidity dropped by 2% to 7%” compared to today. “The role of climate change in the collapse of Classic Maya civilization is somewhat controversial, partly because previous records are limited to qualitative reconstructions, for
Researchers found that persons who slept for 10 hours were 30 percent more likely to die prematurely, compared to those who slept for eight hours.
The Mayans reached amazing heights from about 250 AD to 800 AD before it collapsed over the next two hundred years due mostly to climate change.
example whether conditions were wetter or drier,” explained lead author Nick Evans. “Our study represents a substantial advance as it provides statistically robust estimates of rainfall and humidity levels during the Maya downfall.” This study is especially relevant today for two reasons. First, America has already started experiencing warming-worsened droughts that are as bad as any drought seen in the past 1200 years. Second, climate scientists have shown that under current climate policies we face even worse multidecade megadroughts. We could see a severe megadrought lasting decades hitting both the California breadbasket and the Midwest breadbasket at the same time. Also, tens of millions of people in Mexico and Central America? — (Mexico alone is projected to have a population of 150 million in 2050)? — will be desperately trying to find a
place to live that isn’t so hot and dry, and that has enough fresh water and food to go around. They aren’t going to be looking south (and, of course, their coastal cities will be inundated by accelerating sea level rise). A couple million Syrian refugees has turned global politics upsidedown in recent years. What happens when that is multiplied 10-fold? Or 50-fold? “Human adaptation to prolonged, extreme drought is difficult or impossible,” as ThinkProgress has pointed out in a 2011 review article in the journal Nature on prolonged drought driven by climate change. “Historically, the primary adaptation to dust-bowlification has been abandonment; the very word ‘desert’ comes from the Latin desertum for ‘an abandoned place’.” To get to the more manageable “lower emissions” scenario, America and the world must far exceed the emissions reduction goals agreed to in Paris in December 2015. (Thinkprogress.org)
SOUTH CAICOS Is seeking to employ a
Turtle Cove Marina Is seeking to employ a
DOMESTIC WORKER
DIVE PROFESSIONAL
Sweeping the house, mopping the floor, clean bathrooms, toilets, kitchen, living room, laundering sheets, towels and personal clothing and other house work. Salary: $6.50 per hour
• Follow Captains instructions with regard to daily boat maintenance / administration/ paper work/ safety drills • Living and working on board the vessel for 24/7 up to eight weeks, including weekends and holidays before vacation is allowed • Starting salary $400 • Experience in Hospitality industry Belongers need only apply
Contact: 343-2691. Email: cladaggressor@gmail.com
CONTACT: 242-2061
13248
• Valid PADI/SSI.TDI membership and liability insurance • Certified open water Scuba Instructor or Dive Master • Working Knowledge of underwater camera/ video and editing • Computer Literate • STCW95 Compiant
RESEARCH shows adults need seven to nine hours of sleep. However, some people stay in bed a little longer, which could come at a cost, according to a new report. Researchers from the American Heart Association recently conducted a study, published in the organisation’s journal, to evaluate the association between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease. To do so, they reviewed 74 studies, which observed the quality and length of sleep of more than 3.3 million participants. After analysing the results, they found those who slept for 10 hours were 30 percent more likely to die prematurely, compared to those who slept for eight hours. Longer sleepers were also about 50 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Those who slept less than seven hours did not have a heighten risk of early mortality or heart disease. “We found a significant association between deviations in sleep duration and both mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes,” the authors wrote. “The greater the divergence from the recommended
JOCELYNE JOSEPH - LOCKHART
TURKS AND CAICOS AGGRESSOR
DUTIES:
Too much sleep could increase risk of early death, heart disease, study says
Belongers are encouraged to send a copy of their resume to the Labour Board. This position is currently held by a work permit holder 13294
durations of sleep, the greater the association for cardiovascular harm and mortality.” The scientists do not know why longer sleepers are more at risk, but they noted sleeping too long and sleeping too little can both have effects on the body. “Short sleep duration has been shown to increase levels of leptin and ghrelin, which leads to increased appetite ... and facilitates the development of obesity,” they said. “Depressive symptoms, low socioeconomic status, unemployment, and low physical activity are also associated with long sleep duration.” Although this study advises people not to snooze excessively, others have suggested sleeping in may actually be good for your health. A May study from Stockholm University’s Stress Research Institutefound that compensating for missed sleep on the weekends works and can lengthen your life. They said short weekday sleep was not a risk factor for mortality when combine with longer medium sleep. (AJC. com)
ESCAPE TO TCI LTD.
Regent House West, Regent Village, Grace Bay, PO Box 260 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Is seeking to employ a
NANNY/ DOMESTIC WORKER
Seeking full-time, 40 hours’/ week nanny for extensive homes cleaning, child care, laundry, dog walking and running errands as needed. Requires working 6 days a week and should be available weekends and evenings when needed Applicant must speak English, have child care/ cleaning experience and be on time and professional Pay is $6.50 per hour.
CONTACT: 649-345-9949
Email: garybelk@gmail.com to apply Belongers are encouraged to send a copy of their Resume to the Labour Board. First time work permit holder 13267