Raiders of the lost tombs

Article Abstract:

Robbers are plundering the tombs of ancient Tuyuhuns in the Tibetan Autonomous County in Qinghai province, China. They have discovered that ancient pieces of embroidered cloth in the tombs are worth tens of thousands of dollars on the Western market and are opening up the burial mounds with hand tools or dynamite. The ancient silk embroideries, which date from around the seventh century, display a high technical quality. Their multicultural motifs reveal the cosmopolitan interests of rulers who commanded ancient trading routes between China and Constantinople.

Noncommercial research organizations, Archeology, Archaeology, Historic sites, Tombs, Embroidery, Qinghai, China, Grave robbery, 6th-10th century AD

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The cutting edge

Article Abstract:

Jakarta-based PT Monfori Nusantra is a joint venture between agrichemical giant Monsanto and Australian biotechnology company ForBio. Monfori uses ForBio's sophisticated robotics technology to produce thousands of tiny pest-resistant clones of eucalyptus and teak trees. Propagation by tissue-culture is traditionally done manually, but three of ForBio's Vitron robots can produce more than 9 million seedlings a year. The large size of the Indonesian tree-planting market encouraged ForBio and Monsanto to base their first facility in the country.

Biochemistry, Plant Genetics, Management, Usage, Biotechnology industry, Biotechnology industries, Joint ventures, Monsanto Co., MTC, Cloning, Trees, Trees (Plants), Plant biotechnology, Seedlings, PT Monfori Nusantra, ForBio

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Plundered treasure

Article Abstract:

Local people in Liaoning province, China, have sold large quantities of extremely well preserved fossils to international collectors over recent years. This illegal trade has created great concern among palaeontologists, who fear that extremely valuable material has now been lost. There are reports that local people have become fossil experts in their own right, and are even improving upon finds to make them more attractive to collectors.

Paleontology, Natural history, Fossils, Liaoning, China

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