Ancient

Why do mummies smell so sweet?

Researchers are investigating whether the smell of an Egyptian mummy could enable them to discover what materials were used to preserve the body without disturbing it. They extracted air from the sarcophagi of nine mummies and asked expert smellers to rate the scents for contemporary odour qualities such as woodiness and sweetness.

Cooking in Clay Pots: Sustainable, Traditional, and Cool

If you appreciate traditional foods cooked low and slow, you’ll enjoy the deep flavors and textures that clay pots grant. Slow, even heat ensures that the ingredients’ flavors bloom and blend, and that foods requiring long cooking, like beans and tough cuts of meat, emerge from the pot tender and juicy.

What Is the Closest Black Hole to Earth & Should We Fear the Neighbour?

In 2019, the existence of black holes was confirmed, and astronomers have discovered quite a few of those dangerous objects. But what’s the closest black hole to Earth, and how dangerous is this neighbour? Discover that and more below.

The Shah’s Harem and the Subtle Grace of the Persian Mustache

Iran's Anis El Doleh was the favorite of the Shah - and wore a mustache considered a sign of beauty, strength and grace

Is this the world’s first church? Evidence from ancient cave points to communal worship

Among its notable discoveries is a 55,000-year-old modern human skull, the oldest modern human fossil found outside Africa.

Lasers detect ancient Mayan city hidden in the jungle

An ancient Maya city has been found hidden in plain sight”beneath the jungle in the Mexican state of Campeche. Archaeologists used a laser technique called LiDAR to scan the area, “accidentally” discovering the forgotten complex, which contains pyramids, amphitheatres and sports fields.

Ancient potters in Syria were child laborers

In ancient times in Syria kids were the potters

Groundbreaking drug for schizophrenia has roots in ancient Egyptian medicine

The approval of this new drug for schizophrenia an example of what molecular pharmacologist Andrew Tobin calls “an emerging golden age of muscarinic drug development”.

The Masada siege lasted weeks, not the legendary years say archeologists

The Dead Sea fortress of Masada may have been seized by the Romans in weeks rather than years.

Is eating honeycomb good for you?

This review of existing studies on eating beeswax or honeycomb showed an antimicrobic effect of beeswax against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger: "these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil."

Did Vikings have dentists?

A new study on ancient Viking teeth showed that they modified their teeth for status and possibly beauty. There are signs of advanced dentistry, after scientists study X-rays of Viking teeth

Balanced rain for foraging walks in Israel

Israel Is Both Sick and Healthy -  In the midst of a tragic war, this winter's rains are remarkably balanced.

David Popa’s art at Hegra disappears into the sand

Take a moment to behold a marvel destined to vanish from sight—an ephemeral masterpiece unveiled amidst the boundless expanse of the Saudi desert, nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra in AlUla. A paid of hands that fade back into the sand. 

Essay on pleasure revealed in ancient scroll

AI deciphers the text of 2,000-year-old charred papyrus scripts, unveiling musings on music and capers.

A Return to Zion period coin found with a rare shekel weight in the Judean Hills

An extremely rare 2,550 tear old coin discovered in the Judean Hills from a Return to Zion period when 50,000 exiled Jews returned to Israel from Persian empire. 

Hot this week

Bricks and Minifigs, and the Future of Circular Play

A second-hand LEGO marketplace keeps plastic bricks circulating for years instead of ending up forgotten in basements or discarded in landfills. It gives children access to building materials at lower prices. It extends the lifespan of a product that was originally designed to last generations.

HelloFresh’s pride prepping ad raises a bigger question: we are we still outsourcing dinner?

The backlash against HelloFresh's Pride Month marketing campaign has sparked a wider conversation about food, labor, sustainability, and whether consumers should reconnect with local farmers, butchers, and home gardens instead of relying on subscription meal kits.

Regenerative Wool or Greenwashing? Zentera Responds to Critics

Zentera responds to questions about ZQ wool, animal welfare, regenerative farming, ethical fashion and the fallout from PETA's New Zealand investigation.

The Ocean’s Hidden ‘Dark Web’ Is Being Fished Before Scientists Understand It

Deep below the ocean's surface, in a dimly lit region known as the twilight zone, millions of fish are being caught every year. Scientists say the consequences are largely unknown.

Barnacle glue could fix coral reefs, inspire new advances in building and medicine

Aalto University researchers create a protein-based adhesive inspired by barnacles and mussels that works underwater and could aid coral reef restoration.

Topics

Bricks and Minifigs, and the Future of Circular Play

A second-hand LEGO marketplace keeps plastic bricks circulating for years instead of ending up forgotten in basements or discarded in landfills. It gives children access to building materials at lower prices. It extends the lifespan of a product that was originally designed to last generations.

HelloFresh’s pride prepping ad raises a bigger question: we are we still outsourcing dinner?

The backlash against HelloFresh's Pride Month marketing campaign has sparked a wider conversation about food, labor, sustainability, and whether consumers should reconnect with local farmers, butchers, and home gardens instead of relying on subscription meal kits.

Regenerative Wool or Greenwashing? Zentera Responds to Critics

Zentera responds to questions about ZQ wool, animal welfare, regenerative farming, ethical fashion and the fallout from PETA's New Zealand investigation.

The Ocean’s Hidden ‘Dark Web’ Is Being Fished Before Scientists Understand It

Deep below the ocean's surface, in a dimly lit region known as the twilight zone, millions of fish are being caught every year. Scientists say the consequences are largely unknown.

Barnacle glue could fix coral reefs, inspire new advances in building and medicine

Aalto University researchers create a protein-based adhesive inspired by barnacles and mussels that works underwater and could aid coral reef restoration.

Jaakko Torvinen finds that the next green building revolution is misfit trees

Crooked, forked and curved trees are often treated as second-class timber. They are considered less valuable, and not suitable for load bearing walls or support systems in building. If a tree trunk is not straight enough to become a saw log, it is frequently diverted into pulp production or burned for energy. Now, new research from Aalto University could help change that.

Black fathers live longer than non-fathers, new study

Researchers found that fatherhood was associated with lower rates of early death among Black men, while early fatherhood was linked to poorer long-term health outcomes.

Dan Zaslavsky’s energy tower dream is rising again in Iran and China

The Energy Tower idea never made the leap from drawings and engineering studies to full-scale construction. But nearly two decades after most people stopped talking about it, the concept is quietly evolving in two unexpected places: China and Iran. The concept let dreamers dream and doers do - figuring out more pleasing designs and engineering.
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