Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims.

According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago.

The new findings from Bolivia claim that plants were grown in south-west Amazonia.

Earlier data tells us that the Middle East, China, Southwest Mexico and Northwest South America served as cultivation hotpots after the last ice age.

“[Previous work] identified south-west Amazonia as a potential centre of domestication because in this area they found a lot of wild relatives of domesticated plants,” said Dr Umberto Lombardo of the University of Bern, one of the authors of the research.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec3bd585-4c20-4b59-9b9d-ded96f6e788c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-8.jpg" /> 
Handout picture released by SETEC (Science and Technology Secretary of Amapa State) showing the biggest Dinizia excelsa tree, known in Brazil as Angelim vermelho, found in the Paru State Forest which is shared by the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para in the Amazon basin, on August 20, 2019 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The authors shared their findings in the journal Nature, where they claimed to have used a variety of sources, including Google Earth to investigate over 6,600 forest islands.

Out of the 82 soil samples, 60 showed signs of human inhabitance. They found charcoal, shells, and bone fragments in the areas.

They further investigated the area and found that 4,700 forest islands were inhabited by human beings, where they got rid of their waste.

“They are places where people just threw their rubbish after eating or whatever they did,” said Lombardo.

This process must have gone on for over a thousand years.

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims. According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago.

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims. According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago. The new findings from Bolivia claim that plants were grown in south-west Amazonia. Earlier data tells us that the Middle East, China, Southwest Mexico and Northwest South America served as cultivation hotpots after the last ice age. “[Previous work] identified south-west Amazonia as a potential centre of domestication because in this area they found a lot of wild relatives of domesticated plants,” said Dr Umberto Lombardo of the University of Bern, one of the authors of the research. Handout picture released by SETEC (Science and Technology Secretary of Amapa State) showing the biggest Dinizia excelsa tree, known in Brazil as Angelim vermelho, found in the Paru State Forest which is shared by the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para in the Amazon basin, on August 20, 2019 | AFP The authors shared their findings in the journal Nature, where they claimed to have used a variety of sources, including Google Earth to investigate over 6,600 forest islands. Out of the 82 soil samples, 60 showed signs of human inhabitance. They found charcoal, shells, and bone fragments in the areas. They further investigated the area and found that 4,700 forest islands were inhabited by human beings, where they got rid of their waste. “They are places where people just threw their rubbish after eating or whatever they did,” said Lombardo. This process must have gone on for over a thousand years.

Inhabitants of the Amazon basin may have cultivated plants 10,000 years ago

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-says-senseless-to-condemn-every-immigrant-as-threat-192833">Pope Francis</a> on Wednesday pleaded for social justice and environmental respect for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deforestation-in-the-amazon-soars-to-record-numbers-in-11-years-263128">Amazon </a>basin, but failed to recommend the controversial idea of married priests.

In a highly anticipated text, Francis exhorted the faithful to "feel outrage" over exploitation of the indigenous and destruction of land devastated by illegal mining and deforestation.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deforestation-in-the-amazon-soars-to-record-numbers-in-11-years-263128">Deforestation in the Amazon soars to record numbers in 11 years</a>

Notably absent in his text, however, was mention of priestly marriage, a controversial suggestion made by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deforestation-in-the-amazon-soars-to-record-numbers-in-11-years-263128">Amazon </a>bishops during a three-week synod on the region last October as a way to increase the number of priests who could perform Mass in remote areas.&nbsp;Instead, the first Jesuit pope argued for women and missionaries to take larger, more important roles in the region and advocated for better training for priests to better interact with Amazonian cultures.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-pope-benedict-breaks-silence-on-celibacy-debate-after-synod-274001">Former Pope Benedict breaks silence on celibacy debate after synod</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-says-senseless-to-condemn-every-immigrant-as-threat-192833">Francis </a>has weighed in before on the hotly debated question of whether to allow married "men of proven virtue" to join the priesthood in remote locations, a suggestion that has aroused fierce opposition from traditionalists within the church.

In January 2019 Francis said he did not believe that optional celibacy should be allowed, while conceding "some possibilities for far flung places," a statement that opened the door to speculation that he might make an exception for the Amazon.&nbsp;

Pope Francis on Wednesday pleaded for social justice and environmental respect for the Amazon basin, but failed to recommend the controversial idea of married priests.

Pope Francis on Wednesday pleaded for social justice and environmental respect for the Amazon basin, but failed to recommend the controversial idea of married priests. In a highly anticipated text, Francis exhorted the faithful to "feel outrage" over exploitation of the indigenous and destruction of land devastated by illegal mining and deforestation. Also see: Deforestation in the Amazon soars to record numbers in 11 years Notably absent in his text, however, was mention of priestly marriage, a controversial suggestion made by Amazon bishops during a three-week synod on the region last October as a way to increase the number of priests who could perform Mass in remote areas. Instead, the first Jesuit pope argued for women and missionaries to take larger, more important roles in the region and advocated for better training for priests to better interact with Amazonian cultures. Also read: Former Pope Benedict breaks silence on celibacy debate after synod Francis has weighed in before on the hotly debated question of whether to allow married "men of proven virtue" to join the priesthood in remote locations, a suggestion that has aroused fierce opposition from traditionalists within the church. In January 2019 Francis said he did not believe that optional celibacy should be allowed, while conceding "some possibilities for far flung places," a statement that opened the door to speculation that he might make an exception for the Amazon.

Pope voices 'outrage' over Amazon basin exploitation

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt.

The findings are evidence, researchers say, of the incredible diversity in the Amazon rainforest -- much of it still unknown to science -- and illustrate why it is so important to protect habitat at risk from deforestation, logging and fires.

"In spite of all human impact on the Amazon rainforest in the last 50 years, we can still discover giant fishes like the two new species of electric eels," said lead researcher C. David de Santana, a zoologist working with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

The research "indicates that an enormous amount of species are waiting to be discovered in the Amazon rainforest, many of which may harbour cures for diseases or inspire technological innovations," he told AFP.

The electric eel, in fact a kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of the first electric battery.

For centuries, it was believed that a single species existed throughout the region known as Greater Amazonia, encompassing parts of countries including Brazil, Suriname and Guyana.

But as part of a project to better understand electric eels and map wildlife in remote parts of South America, de Santana and his team decided to test that conventional wisdom.

At first glance, they found little visible difference between creatures collected from different parts of the Amazon basin, suggesting the fish were indeed part of a single species.

But further analysis, including of DNA from 107 samples they collected, upended centuries of assumptions and revealed three different species: the previously known Electrophorus electricus, along with Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii.

And their research also uncovered another stunning result: E. voltai is capable of delivering a jolt of 860 volts -- much more than the 650 volts previously recorded from electric eels -- "making it the strongest bioelectricity generator known."

'Hidden' functions

The findings, published Tuesday in the Nature Communications journal, theorise that the three species evolved from a shared ancestor millions of years ago.

The researchers found each of the three species has a clearly defined habitat, with E. electricus living in the Guiana Shield region, E. voltai in the Brazilian Shield, a highland further south, and E. varii inhabiting slow-flowing lowland Amazon basin waters.

And they suggest that the particularly strong electric shock that E. voltai can produce could be an adaptation to life in highland waters, where conductivity is less effective.

Electric eels use their shock tactics for a variety of reasons, including hunting prey, self-defence, and navigation.

They generate electricity from three specialised electric organs that can emit charges of varying strengths for different purposes.

But the discovery of the new species raises the possibility that different types of eels may have evolved different ways of generating electricity, perhaps better suited to their diverse environments.

De Santana hopes to compare the genomes of the three species, searching for clues that could offer insights useful to a variety of fields.

"Electric eel physiology inspired the design of Volta's first electric battery, provided a basis... for treating neurodegenerative diseases and recently promoted the advance of hydrogel batteries that could be used to power medical implants," he said.

The newly discovered species may reveal a "hidden variety" of functions "of interest to the broader scientific community."

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt.

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt. The findings are evidence, researchers say, of the incredible diversity in the Amazon rainforest -- much of it still unknown to science -- and illustrate why it is so important to protect habitat at risk from deforestation, logging and fires. "In spite of all human impact on the Amazon rainforest in the last 50 years, we can still discover giant fishes like the two new species of electric eels," said lead researcher C. David de Santana, a zoologist working with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The research "indicates that an enormous amount of species are waiting to be discovered in the Amazon rainforest, many of which may harbour cures for diseases or inspire technological innovations," he told AFP. The electric eel, in fact a kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of the first electric battery. For centuries, it was believed that a single species existed throughout the region known as Greater Amazonia, encompassing parts of countries including Brazil, Suriname and Guyana. But as part of a project to better understand electric eels and map wildlife in remote parts of South America, de Santana and his team decided to test that conventional wisdom. At first glance, they found little visible difference between creatures collected from different parts of the Amazon basin, suggesting the fish were indeed part of a single species. But further analysis, including of DNA from 107 samples they collected, upended centuries of assumptions and revealed three different species: the previously known Electrophorus electricus, along with Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii. And their research also uncovered another stunning result: E. voltai is capable of delivering a jolt of 860 volts -- much more than the 650 volts previously recorded from electric eels -- "making it the strongest bioelectricity generator known." 'Hidden' functions The findings, published Tuesday in the Nature Communications journal, theorise that the three species evolved from a shared ancestor millions of years ago. The researchers found each of the three species has a clearly defined habitat, with E. electricus living in the Guiana Shield region, E. voltai in the Brazilian Shield, a highland further south, and E. varii inhabiting slow-flowing lowland Amazon basin waters. And they suggest that the particularly strong electric shock that E. voltai can produce could be an adaptation to life in highland waters, where conductivity is less effective. Electric eels use their shock tactics for a variety of reasons, including hunting prey, self-defence, and navigation. They generate electricity from three specialised electric organs that can emit charges of varying strengths for different purposes. But the discovery of the new species raises the possibility that different types of eels may have evolved different ways of generating electricity, perhaps better suited to their diverse environments. De Santana hopes to compare the genomes of the three species, searching for clues that could offer insights useful to a variety of fields. "Electric eel physiology inspired the design of Volta's first electric battery, provided a basis... for treating neurodegenerative diseases and recently promoted the advance of hydrogel batteries that could be used to power medical implants," he said. The newly discovered species may reveal a "hidden variety" of functions "of interest to the broader scientific community."

DNA research reveals two new species of eel that delivers strongest electric jolt

Amazon Rainforest Continues To Burn As Life In Amazon Basin Comes Under Threat

Gravitas: Amazon Rainforest: Fires continue to burn unabated

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Inhabitants of the Amazon basin may have cultivated plants 10,000 years ago

Pope voices 'outrage' over Amazon basin exploitation

DNA research reveals two new species of eel that delivers strongest electric jolt

Gravitas: Amazon Rainforest: Fires continue to burn unabated