Egypt Archives

Make Hibiscus Tea and Hibiscus Sherbet

Most hibiscus flowers are edible, but not all. If you live where the variety known as Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) grows, pick it freely, and make tea from the fresh or dried flowers. Give other hibiscus varieties a pass, unless you have an authoritative source affirming that they're safe to consume. In any case, you'll probably want to pick up the dried flowers at a health food store. They last 6 months if stored in an airtight container, away from light.

Captive vultures can rewild and join the flock

We know from watching the movie Fly Away Home with Anna Paquin that Canadian geese bred in captivity identify and imprint on the first mother they see. We also learn that Canadian geese can learn to fly with airplanes, and then evetually rewild. True story. Does the Fly Away Home theory really work for all birds?

Palm Pavilion features local Emirati traditions

Emirati architect Abdalla Almulla's (MULA) Of Palm pavilion at Dubai Design Week not only resonates with sustainable practices but also draws parallels with vernacular furniture in Egypt, where palm trees have been a traditional resource for crafting functional and aesthetically pleasing pieces.

Virginity tests carry prison sentence in Malta

Malta criminalizes virginity testing.

Arab Energy Fund commits $1 billion to energy transition and decarbonization

The Arab Energy Fund, previously known as the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), has announced a significant commitment of $1 billion to drive energy transition and decarbonization efforts.

‘Forever Is Now’ Art Show Illuminates Giza’s Night Sky in Sustainable Splendor

In Cairo, the third edition of "Forever Is Now" art exhibition unfolded against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza.

New Gourna and Hassan Fathy’s earth architecture for the people of Egypt

The history, challenges and what we can learn about New Gourna, the sustainable town invented and built by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy.

Magic and Islam

Muslims used stones for warding off the evil eye. A pile of unusual magical objects was uncovered in Israel and believed to be used by sorcerers helping pilgrims on their way to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Go to mass in a Cairo, Egypt church built out of a cave

Historically marginalized and evicted from Giza in 1970, a community of Coptic Christians took up residence at the foot of the Mokattam hills in south east Cairo.

7000 years before Fortnite, multiplayer games were etched onto city walls

Neolithic game boards from Jordan. In some places like Petra they were carved into walls of the city for leisurely play? The early mancala game we know today is likely from this, but no one really knows the rules of the ancient games. But archeologists do know that they were a way for socializing people […]

Scientists remake 5,000 year-old brew from Pharaoh’s yeast

A 5,000 year old brew is resurrected using yeast pulled from ancient Egyptian pottery. Researchers say: “Now know what Philistine and Egyptian beers tasted like.” What kind of beer did Pharaoh drink? In ancient times, beer was an important ingredient in people’s daily diet. Great powers were attributed to beer in the ancient world, particularly for […]

Egypt to begin building nuclear reactor in 2020

Construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant will begin in the next two to two-and-a-half years. A statement released by a spokesman for the Energy and Electricity Ministry declared that the 4,800 megawatt (MW) capacity plant – to built by Russia – aims to be operational by 2026.

Renewable energy will triple in the Middle East, says Siemens

A new report published by Siemens predicts that the share of renewables in the Middle East energy mix will triple over the next 17 years. That’s the good news. The bad news is that natural gas will remain the dominant power source in the region.

Middle Eastern artefacts looted by 95-year-old “Indiana Joan”

The Australian government is investigating the case of a 95-year-old Perth woman accused of looting artefacts from Middle Eastern countries including Egypt. Joan Howard – now dubbed “Indiana Joan” – lived in during the 1960s and 70s with her husband, a senior official with the United Nations.