Reuters Science News Summary

New research based ‌on genome data from inhabitants of the fortified Roman frontier in what is now southern Germany documents how these dramatic political changes affected ordinary people, while contradicting the popular notion of a violent "barbarian invasion" sweeping through the defunct empire's former domain. Greece's Methana shows ‌volcanoes can slumber a long time before reawakening For people living in communities in the shadow of a volcano, a long ‌silence may give the impression that the geological beast is not merely sleeping but has gone extinct.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Genome study reveals what happened ​after the Roman Empire fell

The fall of the Western ​Roman Empire in 476 AD was ‌a ​pivotal moment in human history, when Germanic chieftain Odoacer deposed teenage emperor Romulus Augustulus in Italy and set in motion the collapse of centralized authority in much of Europe. New research based ‌on genome data from inhabitants of the fortified Roman frontier in what is now southern Germany documents how these dramatic political changes affected ordinary people, while contradicting the popular notion of a violent "barbarian invasion" sweeping through the defunct empire's former domain.

Greece's Methana shows ‌volcanoes can slumber a long time before reawakening

For people living in communities in the shadow of a volcano, a long ‌silence may give the impression that the geological beast is not merely sleeping but has gone extinct. But, as research detailing the life history of one in Greece shows, a volcano can slumber for more than 100,000 years before reawakening. The new findings involving the Methana Volcano, located roughly 60 km (37 ⁠miles) southwest ​of Athens, contradict the notion ⁠that most volcanoes may be considered "extinct" if they have not erupted for 10,000 years.

Analysis-SpaceX ties Musk compensation to Mars colonization goal

SpaceX's board has approved a compensation ⁠plan for founder Elon Musk with goals as futuristic and celestial as the company's ambitions: colonizing Mars and running data centers in outer space. The ​details of Musk's sweeping pay package, which have not been widely reported, were revealed in the company's confidential registration ⁠statement filed in recent weeks with the Securities and Exchange Commission and reviewed by Reuters last week.

Inside SpaceX's IPO: Musk's most ambitious plan yet

In the days ⁠after ​the PayPal IPO in 2002, Elon Musk and company executives gathered at a Las Vegas casino to celebrate. But while others socialized by the pool, Musk was hunched over an old Soviet rocket manual and already planning his next venture: ⁠SpaceX. “He’d come off what was an unequivocally big win, he was one of the largest shareholders, and yet he was focused ⁠on this next thing,” ⁠Kevin Hartz, an early PayPal investor who was at the party, told Reuters. “Now it’s a multi-trillion-dollar business.”

Trump administration fires entire National Science Board

President Donald Trump's administration has terminated the entire National Science ‌Board of more ‌than 20 members, two fired members of the board said ​on Monday. Here are some details: