point of origin
The first humans on the North and South American continents came from eastern Siberia, not Asia and Polynesia as is believed. Researchers at the University of Michigan, USA, examined the DNAs of 29 populations of native North, Central and South American people to arrive at this conclusion. The results of the study were published online in PLoS Genetics.

wobbly transgenic
US and Taiwanese scientists have developed eucalyptus capable of ingesting three times more CO₂ than normal varieties. These trees also produce less lignin and more cellulose. Lignin interferes with efforts to turn the tree's cellulose into biofuels. Environmentalists say it involves a risk: lignin provides the tree structural stiffness and pest resistance.