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What Chocolate-Drinking Jars Tell Indigenous Potters Now
The Chaco Canyon chocolate-drinking jars have a distinct shape, with connections to similarly shaped Mayan vessels. After testing distinguishable jar fragments from an excavated trash pile in in the canyon, archaeologists determined all of the drinking jars were used to consume cacao. (A336494, …
New formula beats “multiply by 7” method for calculating dog age
Scientists have developed a new formula for calculating the physical age of dogs. pitrs10/Depositphotos – By Nick Lavars 2020 Jul 05 – For a rough idea of a dog’s physiological age, a popular approach is to simply multiply its actual age by seven, but …
Cats May Recognize Their Own Names—but It Doesn’t Mean They Care
In a study of 78 kitties, researchers concluded our feline friends can differentiate their names out of a series of random words. Skippy, the author’s cat, is generally an attentive listener. (Courtesy of Linda Burakoff) – By Maddie Burakoff 2019 Apr 05 – …
Can Gobekli Tepe Reveal Prehistoric Masonic Secrets?
Gobekli Tepe or the “Pot-Bellied Hill”: The site where paradigms were shifted, dogma was broken and our understanding of human history changed forever. Source: mehmet / Adobe Stock – By Freddie Levy, 2020 Jul 11 – Our journey begins with the Freemasons. This …
The Disturbing True Story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin
An illustration of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Credit: Monlster – By Ḏḥwty When, lo! as they reached the mountain-side, A wondrous portal opened wide, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; And the Piper advanced and the children followed, And when all …
Hummingbirds Learn to Count to Find Their Favorite Flowers
Researchers found that wild rufous hummingbirds could remember which flower in a sequence held nectar. A Rufous Hummingbird sips on the nectar from an Orange Justicia plant in California (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image) – By Theresa Machemer, SmithsonianMag.Com …
What a New Supreme Court Decision Means for Native American Sovereignty
The landmark ruling upholds the sanctity of treaties between the United States and American Indians—to a certain point. The Supreme Court building in Washington, DC (Xinhua / Liu Jie via Getty Images) – By Nora McGreevy, SmithsonianMag.Com 2020 Jul 10 – On Thursday, …
The 100-km/h eSkootr Championship race series looks absolutely bonkers
Highway-speed electric kick scoots going flat knacker around a racetrack? You’re damned right we’d like to see that! eSkootr Championship – By Loz Blain 2020 Jul 09 – Leather-clad riders eyeing each other off at the starting line. Fifteen-inch weeny tires chirping as …
Radiation appears to help some metal alloys self-heal
New research shows that some metal alloys actually corrode slower after being irradiated. Maxal_Tamor/Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2020 Jul 09 – Radiation is famously damaging, both to living tissue and materials. But now, engineers at MIT have been surprised to discover that radiation …
Non-Americans Describe The Weirdest Things About America
By Rosa Pasquarella Updated 2018 Oct 13 – Ah, America: the land of the free and the home of the brave… and a bunch of other weird stuff. We searched the internet to find out what things non-Americans were most confused by during …
Evidence found of epic prehistoric Pacific voyages
Discussions of contacts between the Americas and Polynesia have often focused on Easter Island. Image copyright Reuters – BBC Staff, 2020 Jul 08 – New evidence has been found for epic prehistoric voyages between the Americas and eastern Polynesia. DNA analysis suggests there …
Light-activated nanoparticles rob cancer cells of essential proteins
A newly developed nanoparticle offers a new way to target cancer cells. chagpg/Depositphotos – By Nick Lavars 2020 Jul 07 – Loading up tiny particles with cancer-killing agents and sending them into the human body has emerged as a highly-targeted form of potential treatment …
Warning of serious brain disorders in people with mild coronavirus symptoms
UK neurologists publish details of mildly affected or recovering Covid-19 patients with serious or potentially fatal brain conditions. Artificially colored MRI scan of a human brain. Photograph: Daisy-Daisy/Alamy Stock Photo Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage – By Ian Sample, …
Nitrous oxide being trialed to treat depression, PTSD and alcoholism
Early clinical trials are only just beginning after a growing body of research has suggested the gas could be effective in treating PTSD, depression and alcoholism. oneblink/Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy July 02, 2020 – A newly published pilot study has demonstrated nitrous oxide, …
Scientists present case for airborne spread of COVID-19
A group of scientists recommend three measures to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus in enclosed public spaces. erika8213/Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2020 Jul 06 – A new commentary published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, and …
Russia cracks down on marmot hunting after suspected bubonic plague cases
Possible outbreaks in China and Mongolia have brought bans on hunting and eating the rodents, which can carry the disease. Marmots in western China. Authorities in Mongolia have warned the animals may be carrying bubonic plague. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters – Reuters, last modified …
Alert but not alarmed: what to make of new H1N1 swine flu with ‘pandemic potential’ found in China
Image from Shutterstock – By Ian M. Mackay, Adjunct assistant professor, The University of Queensland 2020 Jul 01– Researchers have found a new strain of flu virus with “pandemic potential” in China that can jump from pigs to humans, triggering a suite of …
Eating black raspberries may reduce incidences of itchy, red skin
Scientists have yet to determine which compounds within the berries are responsible. sergioz/Depositphotos – By Ben Coxworth 2020 Jul 03 – There may be new hope for people prone to allergic reactions of the skin. According to a new study, one serving of black …
Triumph and tragedy in the World Sports Photography Awards
Gold, View. World Champion Trials bike rider Jack Field performs the highest backflip on a motorcycle ever recorded as he flips his motorbike upside down on the roof of Melbourne’s Eureka Tower on May 22, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. Scott Barbour/Getty Images – …
When France Extorted Haiti – the Greatest Heist in History
Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer receiving Charles X’s decree recognizing Haitian independence on July 11, 1825. Bibliotheque Nationale de France – by Marlene Daut, The Conversation, 2020 Jun 30 (Marlene Daut is Professor of African Diaspora Studies at the University of Virginia.) – In the wake of …
Cinera Edge personal cinema straps a 5K OLED display to your face
The Cinera Edge is a personal cinema headset with a 5K OLED display. Cinera – By Michael Irving 2020 Jul 03 – A device with a screen that measures less than an inch sounds ridiculous in the modern world, but the Cinera Edge …
In Search of King David’s Lost Empire
The Biblical ruler’s story has been told for millennia. Archeologists are still fighting over whether it’s true. The evidence of David’s life is sparse. Was he an emperor? A local king? Or, as Israel Finkelstein claims, a Bedouin sheikh? Illustration by Matteo Berton – …
Ultrafast-acting form of insulin developed by Stanford researchers
A new insulin formulation could be four times faster-acting than current rapid insulin formulations. itsmejust/Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2020 Jul 01 – A team from Stanford University has developed an ultrafast-acting form of insulin that promises to work up to four times faster …
Elevate yourself with Agora’s best aerial photography of 2020
‘Exploration trip’. Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates. @Abdullrahman9797 – By Rich Haridy 2020 Jun 13 – A gorgeous shot of an iconic Dutch village has won the popular vote in Agora’s latest photo contest celebrating the breathtaking perspectives of aerial photography. The winning …
Ancient Settlement Network Found Mapped in Stone in México
An ancient stone map dating back to 200 BC to 200 AD has been discovered in Colima, México. Source: INAH – By Ashley Cowie, 2020 Jun 16 – Archaeologists from El Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) have confirmed the discovery of …
Hubble spies cosmic “Bat Shadow” flapping its wings
The Bat Shadow, visible towards the upper right, now appears to be flapping its wings. NASA, ESA, and STScI – By Michael Irving 2020 Jun 26 – A few years ago, the Hubble Space Telescope captured a striking sight in the Serpens Nebula – …
Transparent LEAF Mask provides peace of mind with N99+ standard protection
The LEAF Mask filters 99.9997% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size from the air you breathe. – 2020 Jun 30 – The current global pandemic has made face masks a must-have item, but not all masks are created equal or provide …
Vacuum cooler keeps food chilled (or frozen) without power or ice
Qool’s system is designed to keep contents at a given temperature range no matter the ambient temp, whether tropical heat or polar cold. Qool – By C.C. Weiss 2020 Jun 30 – Unlike the typical cooler – even those expensive, heavy-duty rotomolded blocks – …
Common food additive found to disrupt gut bacteria, cause inflammation
Titanium dioxide, aka E171, was found to be most damaging to the gut microbiome in nanoparticle form. Subonych/Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2020 Jun 28 – New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is adding weight to a growing body of evidence suggesting …
How Famous Monuments Got Ruined
The Parthenon Blew Up While Being Used For Gunpowder Storage By The Ottoman Military. By Gordon Cameron, 2020 Jun 18 – When we look at old ruins, we may be tempted to think that time steadily wears down structures in an implacable, vague …
Offbeat micro-camper cycles on land, floats on water
The Z-Triton is currently in the prototype stage and Zeltini hopes to bring it to market by mid-2021. Gatis Priednieks-Melnacis – By Adam Williams 2020 Jun 25 – What do you get when you cross a camping trailer, a tricycle, and a boat? Well, …
Rare Zebra Foal With Polka Dots Spotted In Kenya
White polka-dotted black zebra foal spotted in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This portrait… Frank Liu – By GrrlScientist, Senior Contributor Science Rare Zebra Foal — With Polka-Dots!! — Spotted In Kenya | @GrrlScientist – A newborn zebra foal with bizarre …
Huge prehistoric circle of structures discovered near Stonehenge
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a huge ancient structure near Stonehenge. Albo73/Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2020 Jun 24 – Looming large over the British countryside, Stonehenge cuts an imposing figure – but it’s just a fraction of the structures that once stood …
Milky Way photography competition contrasts cosmic and Earthly beauty
Base Camp, shot in the Dolomites, Italy. The warm glow of the tents contrasts the cool tones of the galaxy overhead. Giulio Cobianchi – By Michael Irving 2020 Jun 27 – The night sky is a beautiful canvas for photography, and the Milky Way …
The Most Significant Historical Events That Our History Teachers Didn’t Tell Us About
Some of the ruins from the Tulsa Race Massacre in June 1921, when white vigilantes set the Oklahoma city’s African-American district ablaze. Credit…Bettmann Archive/Getty Images. By Alby Thompson Updated 2020 Jun 23 Some historical events you wish you’d learned about in school. History …
Soap bubbles used to pollinate pear flowers
Each bubble carries about 2,000 pollen grains. Eijiro Miyako – By Ben Coxworth 2020 Jun 18 – Due to the ongoing worldwide decline in bee populations, farmers are increasingly looking to alternative methods of pollinating fruit-bearing plants. As it turns out, the use of …
Pirates once swashbuckled across the ancient Mediterranean
Thousands of years before Blackbeard, these buccaneers raided ships, stole booty—and even kidnapped a young Julius Caesar. Merchant ships, such as that on the left of this sixth-century B.C. Greek bowl, were targets of pirates in antiquity. Naval warships, such as the one …
There’s A Hidden History Of Freed Slaves Becoming Cowboys You Haven’t Seen In Hollywood Films
By Melissa Sartore – Despite what Hollywood portrays on the big screen, not all cowboys were white. As a matter of fact, about one quarter of cowboys in the American West were African American. As the United States emerged from the Civil …
Virgin Galactic ramps up glide testing at Spaceport America
Virgin Galactic’s spaceplane glides over New Mexico. Virgin Galactic By Nick Lavars 2020 Jun 25 – Virgin Galactic continues to make itself at home in New Mexico, today completing the second successful glide test of its VSS Unity spaceplane since relocating there earlier in …
China Has ‘First-Strike’ Capability To Melt U.S. Power Grid With Electromagnetic Pulse Weapon [EMP]
China’s Jin class or Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) capable of … Navy Office of Legislative Affairs – By James Conca, Contributor 2020 Jun 25 – Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a scary report on China’s ability …
What Chocolate-Drinking Jars Tell Indigenous Potters Now
The Chaco Canyon chocolate-drinking jars have a distinct shape, with connections to similarly shaped Mayan vessels. After testing distinguishable jar fragments from an excavated trash pile in in the canyon, archaeologists determined all of the drinking jars were used to consume cacao. (A336494, …
New formula beats “multiply by 7” method for calculating dog age
Scientists have developed a new formula for calculating the physical age of dogs. pitrs10/Depositphotos – By Nick Lavars 2020 Jul 05 – For a rough idea of a dog’s physiological age, a popular approach is to simply multiply its actual age by seven, but …
Cats May Recognize Their Own Names—but It Doesn’t Mean They Care
In a study of 78 kitties, researchers concluded our feline friends can differentiate their names out of a series of random words. Skippy, the author’s cat, is generally an attentive listener. (Courtesy of Linda Burakoff) – By Maddie Burakoff 2019 Apr 05 – …
Can Gobekli Tepe Reveal Prehistoric Masonic Secrets?
Gobekli Tepe or the “Pot-Bellied Hill”: The site where paradigms were shifted, dogma was broken and our understanding of human history changed forever. Source: mehmet / Adobe Stock – By Freddie Levy, 2020 Jul 11 – Our journey begins with the Freemasons. This …
The Disturbing True Story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin
An illustration of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Credit: Monlster – By Ḏḥwty When, lo! as they reached the mountain-side, A wondrous portal opened wide, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; And the Piper advanced and the children followed, And when all …
Hummingbirds Learn to Count to Find Their Favorite Flowers
Researchers found that wild rufous hummingbirds could remember which flower in a sequence held nectar. A Rufous Hummingbird sips on the nectar from an Orange Justicia plant in California (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image) – By Theresa Machemer, SmithsonianMag.Com …
What a New Supreme Court Decision Means for Native American Sovereignty
The landmark ruling upholds the sanctity of treaties between the United States and American Indians—to a certain point. The Supreme Court building in Washington, DC (Xinhua / Liu Jie via Getty Images) – By Nora McGreevy, SmithsonianMag.Com 2020 Jul 10 – On Thursday, …
The 100-km/h eSkootr Championship race series looks absolutely bonkers
Highway-speed electric kick scoots going flat knacker around a racetrack? You’re damned right we’d like to see that! eSkootr Championship – By Loz Blain 2020 Jul 09 – Leather-clad riders eyeing each other off at the starting line. Fifteen-inch weeny tires chirping as …
Radiation appears to help some metal alloys self-heal
New research shows that some metal alloys actually corrode slower after being irradiated. Maxal_Tamor/Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2020 Jul 09 – Radiation is famously damaging, both to living tissue and materials. But now, engineers at MIT have been surprised to discover that radiation …
Non-Americans Describe The Weirdest Things About America
By Rosa Pasquarella Updated 2018 Oct 13 – Ah, America: the land of the free and the home of the brave… and a bunch of other weird stuff. We searched the internet to find out what things non-Americans were most confused by during …