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When Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, the volcanic debris of Pompeii was buried and created a city forever frozen in time.
Researchers consider the doomed city to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world.
The well-preserved expanses of Pompeii have many discoveries that continue to amaze archaeologists as they uncover more of the lost city.
Surviving items such as chariots, frescoes and even graffiti have shed light on what ancient Roman life was like in the thriving resort before the cataclysmic event — and provided evidence as to when the eruption occurred.
And now, researchers investigating artifacts from the nearby city of Herculaneum are using new technology to peer beneath Vesuvius’ blanket of ash and mud to reveal more of history’s best-kept secrets.
The surprise
Artificial intelligence has decoded the first almost complete passages from the crisp Herculaneum scrolls.
Hundreds of burnt papyrus scrolls, which survived the eruption of Vesuvius inside the house of Julius Caesar’s father-in-law, according to experts, are visible because they could crumble at any moment.
But technological advances are making it possible to unpack the scrolls for the first time almost since 79 AD, allowing papyrologists to translate the words of the philosopher Philodemus.
“(In these passages) he is convincing the people listening to him to relax, find good friendships, spend your time living in the moment and enjoy pleasure,” said Roger Macfarlane , professor of classical studies at Brigham Young University.
Secrets of the sea
It is known as the most dangerous and scary part of the ocean.
The Drake Passage, which spans 600 miles (965 kilometers) in width, is squeezed between South America and Antarctica.
Land masses help slow down storms that gather strength across the oceans. But there is nothing to stop howling winds, high waves and the world’s strongest storms that hit the deep waters of the Drake.
The sea region’s underwater mountains inform scientists, and it’s a crossing that ship captains ferrying tourists must make – and they make it with a healthy dose of fear.
Amazing creatures
A chilling image of a polar bear crawling on an iceberg off Norway’s Svalbard archipelago has won the People’s Choice Award for Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
“While climate change is the biggest challenge we face, I hope this photo also inspires hope; there’s still time to fix the mess we’ve made,” said British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani, who took the image.
The winning photo will be on display until June 30 at the Natural History Museum in London, along with final images showing a sweet moment of lion and moon jellyfish parenting under the northern lights.
Inquiries
Australian scientists have found an unlikely ally when trying to track endangered species: spiders.
Not only do the fine webs spun by the eight-legged creatures capture prey such as flies, the silken structures also capture environmental DNA.
When researchers collected spiders from Perth Zoo in Western Australia and the Karakamia woodland sanctuary, they were able to identify genetic material from 93 animals.
“Requiring only trace amounts of DNA to identify animals, this cheap and non-invasive method could revolutionize how we explore and protect our terrestrial biodiversity,” said Joshua Newton, a doctoral student at School Molecular and Curtin University. Life Sciences.
Meanwhile, a new discovery could explain why insects gather under bright artificial lights at night – and it’s not because they’re drawn to the glow like “moths to a flame”.
Other life
Mimas, one of Saturn’s smallest moons, is known for a giant crater that gives the satellite an uncanny resemblance to the Death Star from the “Star Wars” movies.
Now, astronomers think the icy chunk orbiting Saturn has a deep secret: a hidden ocean.
An international team of researchers analyzed data collected by NASA’s Cassini mission and noted that the spin and orbital motion of Mimas has changed over time likely due to the presence of a global ocean beneath its icy crust.
The study team was surprised to learn that the ocean is relatively young, astronomically speaking, only 5 million to 15 million years old. Mimas could change the way scientists understand ocean life throughout our solar system, potentially supporting life beyond Earth.
Explorations
Share these interesting reads with your friends:
— Archaeologists have discovered an ancient burial site, including a rare wooden bed used in Roman funerals, during excavations in the heart of London.
— The PACE mission was launched this week to study the “invisible universe” of Earth’s microscopic marine life and atmospheric particles from space.
— A “Super-Earth”— along with evidence of a second Earth-sized planet — has been spotted orbiting in the habitable zone of a star 137 light-years away.
— Researchers have found a new clue that sheds light on how microscopic tardigrades, also known as water bears, can survive in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
— Are you curious about what April’s total solar eclipse will look like in your city? Check out our interactive map to see how much of the sun’s surface will be blocked, based on your location.
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