In the News: Heart Valves and Human Migration

Fig.1. Frogs around the world are going extinct (Credit: Theodore Scott via Flickr)

Frog collections, iconic trees, and heart valves take center stage in the news this week. These unique collections help to elucidate the origins of human culture, preserve genetic material, protect biodiversity, and much more:

• A special collection now at the National Museum of American History has a personal connection to the man whose company invented the most widely-used mechanical heart valve in the world: “A Man With A Lot Of Heart Valves Donates His Unusual Collection,” Smithsonian Magazine (06 October 2015) 

• This study into museum collections resulted in more questions than answers for frog extinctions: “We’re Risking A Mass Extinction Of Frogs - And They’re The ‘Canary In The Coal Mine,’” Washington Post (05 October 2015) 

• This non-profit works to collect and store genetic material from some of the world’s oldest and most iconic trees: “The Race To Save The World’s Great Trees By Cloning Them,” Smithsonian Magazine (06 October 2015) 

• Genetic analysis of an ancient skeleton reveals prehistoric human migration into Africa: “Prehistoric Eurasians Streamed Into Africa,” Science (09 October 2015)