Hobbits are cretins
Comparison of Homo floresiensis fossil bones with modern ones suggests that “hobbits” from the Indonesian island of Flores were actually H. sapiens, say researchers. They think dwarf cretinism triggered by severe iodine deficiency accounts for the creatures’ small stature (Proceedings of the Royal Society B, ).
Yellow fever alert
The world’s supply of yellow fever vaccine is running out and more is urgently needed, the World Health Organization said last week. Recent outbreaks in Paraguay and Brazil have depleted the stockpile supplying the mass vaccination campaigns in African countries.
Fair’s fair
An analysis of rice…
