Geneticists at Oxford University have been studying 95 populations
around the world to examine the effects of historical events on
genetic makeup. The results of this study are now being visualized on a
fascinating Google Map, called
A Genetic Atlas of Human Admixture History.
The map allows you to select populations and view inferred admixing in
the population's DNA and the date that the admixing took place. For
example, the Silk Road appears to have brought Europeans to 1200 CE
China. The DNA of the Tu people in modern China suggests that at around
this time the Tu were in contact with Europeans similar to modern
Greeks.
If you select a labelled population on the Google Map you can view
details of past admixture events which have been inferred, from the
population's DNA. Colored circles or pie charts on the map depict the
inferred genetic make-up of admixing sources in the population and a
timeline indicates the period when the admixing is likely to have
happened.
The map is a fascinating insight into the effects of historical events
on distinct populations. Using the map it becomes clear how historical
events like the Arab Slave Trade or the Mongol invasions led to changes
in the genetic makeup of other populations.
It is a little late now but I love this illustrated map created for the Sochi Winter Olympics. The
Sochi 2014 Interactive Map was created using the MapBox platform by
Fiasco Design.
The map includes some great animated landmarks (check out the ski lift).
It also includes information about the venues of the Winter Olympics
games. If you mouse-over features on the map you can read about Sochi
and the different venues being used in the games. You might also find
information about Sochi's two gay bars and some hidden underwater
machine-guns.
Since the year 2000 the world has lost more than 500 million acres of forest.
Global Forest Watch
is a new Google Map from the World Resources Institute and over 40
other global partners designed to map the world's forest coverage and
loss.
Global Forest Watch is attempting to establish a global forest
monitoring network. The launch of this new map is part of an initiative
to provide the tools for anyone to explore forest loss and forest gain
across the globe. The map includes a number of layers, including forest
cover and loss since 2000, worldwide tree height data, tropical forest
carbon stocks and data about global forest use.
The map also includes links to forest-related stories. The links to the
stories are embedded on the map at specific locations and the stories
include photos, video, and explanatory text.