Columbus ain't S#*t!
Scientists estimate that several hundred years before Columbus' transoceanic voyage, a significant and mysterious journey took place across the Indian Ocean. Research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society found that approximately 30 percent of Madagascar's Malagasy people shared the same maternal mitochondria traced back to one of only 30 women of Polynesian heritage. A diverse population of humans would normally share only two percent, by comparison. The large percentage of Malagasy from Polynesian descent is evident in the same linguistic and cultural characteristics also found in a small region of southern Borneo, over 4,300 miles away.
The research team ran 40 million different simulations of settlement events to see which was the most likely to have given rise to the current genetic patterns of the island. The most likely result was that a one-off settlement of 30 women (mitochondrial DNA passed down through the mother) and some men landed on the island after a long ocean journey from Borneo/Indonesia. The landing on Madagascar perhaps resulted from a shipwreck or early exploration in vessels not built for long distant transport. The exact circumstances of how they arrived is a mystery with some researchers suggesting perhaps a refugee ship, rather than a merchant vessel, which would be less likely to carry women. Madagascar was then also settled by Bantu peoples of the East African kingdoms as well as other migrant groups all contributing to the biological and cultural make up of modern Madagascar.
Good News/Organization
Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) is a growing network of over 800 health career bound undocumented students across the country. The organization investigates and shares information on career pathways for pre-health undocumented students as well as advocates for more progressive institutional and governmental policies for undocumented students.
Recently heard about one of the founders, Jirayut "New" Latthivongskorn on a podcast speaking about the organization and the current issues. He is the first undocumented immigrant to attent UC San Francisco School of medicine and was named as a Forbes "30 Under 30" for the work with Pre-Health Dreamers. Jirayut was brought to the U.S from Thailand when he was nine and is now a fourth year medical student. His DACA work authorization expires in January 2019 with his medical residency not yet to being until a few months after that, and could be impossible if loses his authorization to work legally.
"I have all these big ideas about how I want to change the world and change systems around health care. The fact that I might not be able to get there is troubling and frustrating" - Jirayut
He has since joined six other DACA recipients in suing the Trump Administration.
Music
Exhuming McCarthy - R.E.M
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