Two billion-year-old riddle of life is solved as 'nature's big bang' is mapped for first time

A two billion-year-old riddle of how the basic building blocks of life were formed has been solved by scientists.

'Nature's big bang' - when two single cells fused into one living organism - has been mapped for the first time by researchers led by a team from Ireland.

Dr James McInerney, senior biologist at the National University of Ireland (NUI) in Maynooth, said the discovery in effect traced humans' oldest ancestor.

'This was a remarkable event, which appears to have happened only once,' Mr McInerney said.

'These two primitive single cell life forms came together in an event that essentially allowed nature to grow big.'

Dr McInerney said the research would help explain what gave rise to all multi-cell organisms we know today - insects, plants, animals and humans.

Remarkable: Scientists have now mapped nature's 'big bang', which is when two organisms fuse together

Scientists discover 'missing link between man and apes'

Scientists believe they have discovered the missing link between humans and the ape-like creatures we evolved from.

The homonid, the evolutionary branch of primates that led to humans, will be revealed when a two million-year-old skeleton of a child is unveiled this week.

The skeleton was discovered in the Sterkfontein region of South Africa - an area knows as 'the Cradle of Humanity' - by Professor Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand.

Prof. Berger and his colleagues have remained silent about the significance of their find, but anticipation is high among the scientific community ahead of an official announcement on Thursday.

It's hoped the story of human evolution might be re-written should the discovery fill in crucial gaps in the chain of evolution.

Remnants of the species have been discovered previously, but previous finds were seldom more than a few bone fragments.

Experts who have seen the skeleton have reported that it shares features with Homo habilis, and revealed that it could shed light on when our ancestors began walking on two legs.

Prof. Phillip Tobias, a human anatomist and anthropologist who was one of the first to identify Homo habilis as a human species in 1964, has celebrated the 'wonderful' and 'exciting' discovery.

'To find a skeleton as opposed to a couple of teeth or an arm bone is a rarity,' he told The Telegraph. 'It is one thing to find a lower jaw with a couple of teeth, but it is another thing to find the jaw joined onto the skull, and those in turn uniting further down with the spinal column, pelvis and the limb bones.
It is not a single find, but several specimens representing several individuals.'

The skeltons were discovered in a limestone cave, which is believed to have shielded them from the elements and allowed them to remain intact.

They are said to link Australopithecus - from 3.9million years ago - with Homo habilis, which began appearing 2.5million years ago.



Link: Homo habilis lived about 2.5million years ago

Evolution: The latest discover could fill in a missing piece of the puzzle explaining how apes changed over millions of years to become humans

No, it's not an opening scene from CSI, it's a JakPak: the coat that turns into a tent

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A mosquito net folds out, and now time for some shut-eye.After unzipping it he clambers in and then fastens it. Behind the coat's hood is another hood which when supported by metal rods provides protection for the head

Ahh, this looks like a good spot to rest my head. The model unfolds the sleeping bag from the back of the coat.More than just a coat ... The waterproof can be turned into a one-man 'tent'

Die-hard fans of the increasingly popular 'glamping' - staying in luxury tents - should probably look away now.

Billed as the 'world’s first all-in-one waterproof jacket, sleeping bag and tent' the JakPak looks more like a bodybag found in an opening scene of the CSI TV series.

While the jacket that opens out into a tent may win a few awards for ingenuity it is unlikely to be heralded for its style.

Particularly as it comes in two-tone green or black unless you opt for a custom-made colour.

But the £163 jacket, which goes on sale this spring, does have its fans, and on the firm's Twitter page one wrote: 'A clever all-in-one jacket, sleeping bag and tent. Great for those likely to get lost?'

The way it works is that the sleeping bag folds down from the back of the jacket. You then step in and zip it up at the side.

The hood of the sleeping bag is pulled out from a pocket on the back of the jacket and that, in turn, is supported by metal tent rods.

There are 'storm flaps' to keep out water and an insect net. The sleeping bag also has room for extra clothing to keep out the cold.

JakPak's website says: 'JakPak is the only portable personal sleeping system on the market designed for outdoors and sports enthusiasts, as well as emergency preparedness.'

The makers say their latest design 'creates an instant dry habitat that is ideal for outdoor sports enthusiasts, people living in areas prone to natural disaster, sports fans who will not be held back by a little rain, and anyone else in need of shelter.'