50 Years Ago

During two seasons of geological and palaeontological study in the lower Omo Basin, Ethiopia, a series of remains of Hominidae were recovered from deposits of Pliocene/Pleistocene age … The hominids are from a series of horizons rich in fossil vertebrates, especially mammals, and are of particular interest as they antedate those recovered from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. … Remains of Hominidae from a range of time hitherto largely unknown have now been recovered from a succession of fossiliferous horizons within this series of beds. … If these attributions are confirmed, then the hominid samples from the Omo Beds would indicate the co-existence of (at least) two australopithecine taxa through much of the range of Pliocene/Pleistocene time.

From Nature 20 September 1969

100 Years Ago

Prof. McIntosh’s expressed views are, broadly speaking, as follows :—(1) The fecundity of sea-fishes is so great … that the idea of exterminating any species of food-fish—or even of seriously diminishing its total numbers—by intensive fishing is chimerical; (2) so long as man fails to make any serious impression upon the multitudes of young fishes, there is no need for anxiety; (3) no serious inroad upon the numbers of young fishes has hitherto been made; (4) therefore all is well, the fears of the pessimists are pointless, the claims of the optimists are established.

He ignores the evidence that the rate of growth of these little fishes and their rate of emigration to the offshore grounds no longer keep pace with the rate of capture … does “vigilance” consist in ignoring the plainest evidence accumulated by other people, while we sing hymns of praise to Pan or Poseidon?

From Nature 18 September 1919