– credit, GEDEON Programmes / CEAlex 22 massive granite blocks that once formed the Great Lighthouse of the Alexandria have been hauled up from the bottom of city’s ancient harbor. The blocks weighed dozens of tons each and consisted of upright pillars, frames, and crossbeams called lintels that once formed the entrance to the structure. … Read more
A compositional analysis of cement (overlayed to right) in Pompeii – credit Archaeological Park of Pompeii A scientist who figured out the secret behind ancient Rome’s self-repairing concrete has recently confirmed his theory at a Pompeii building site where such concrete was in use. This marriage of theoretical and historical knowledge combined with hard evidence … Read more
Two original watercolors for The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling – Credit: Roseberys / SWNS Two original illustrations for Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book that were lost for over a century have been discovered. The watercolors had been hanging unrecognized on the walls of a London family home for decades. The rediscovery increases the number … Read more
The Islas Ballestas off the coast of the Chincha and Pisco valleys remain an important location for many seabird species, as well as seals and other marine animals. Birds today are less abundant than they were in the past, leading to decreased guano accumulation compared to earlier eras – credit, Jo Osborn New archaeological evidence … Read more
Portrait of a Canon Regular by Sofonisba Anguissola – credit, Robert Simon Fine Art A lost work by the most famous female artist of the Renaissance has surfaced at a North Carolina estate. The story of how Portrait of a Canon Regular was found begins in 1920 when it was photographed in black and white—before vanishing from … Read more
Visitors sniff the ‘Scent of the Afterlife’ card at the Museum August Kestner in Hannover, Germany – SWNS Scents from the past are being recreated using state of the art technology to give museum visitors a whiff of history. Bio-molecular archaeology can bring ancient odors to life and allow people to breathe in the past. … Read more
– credit, Iconic Media, via SWNS A long-lost sport once feared dead is being dusted off and played again in the villages where it was born. “Knurr-and-spell” was once played widely in pubs across England’s South Yorkshire, but had all but vanished by the 1970s. The quirky ball game which bears a similarity to golf … Read more
A Holy hermit, possibly Guglielmo of Malavalle on a wall painting in Siena, Italy (1330–1337) – Credit: Dr Krisztina Ilko A scorched cherry twig miraculously sprouting; a diseased swamp restored to ‘peak fertility’; healing the broken leg of an ox; and multiplying cabbages. These are just some of the forgotten medieval miracles of the Augustinian … Read more
The mushroom cloud from the thermonuclear explosion resulting from Operation Crossroads Baker 8 years, 4 months, and 29 days—that’s how long it’s been since the last nuclear weapon was detonated on Earth—and it’s also the longest such timespan since the nuclear age began. Since that fateful day in the sands of America’s southwest in 1945, … Read more
Remains of the walls of Kuva – credit, provided by Liu Bin A joint archaeological mission from China and Uzbekistan has uncovered the walls of an important Silk Road city. After 2 years of excavations, the team has discovered the foundations of palaces, city gates, residential buildings, the layout of streets, and craft workshops in … Read more