Latest news with #LiveScience
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Archaeologists baffled as they uncover 'mystery' Pharaoh's tomb in Egypt
The tomb of an unknown pharaoh has been discovered by archaeologists in Egypt - but the king's name has been lost to the ages, with researchers now scrambling to find out who he was Archaeologists were left scratching their heads after unearthing the tomb of an unknown Egyptian pharaoh seven metres under the surface, with the identity of the mummified sovereign perplexing experts. The newfound tomb, nestled in the ancient Mount Anubis region of Abydos, is casting fresh light on regal burials within the necropolis. Amidst the continuing mysteries, faded carvings depicting the deities Isis and Nephthys were spotted alongside the entryway to the burial chamber, yet another puzzle for archaeologists. Researchers noted another extraordinary find - a set of yellow bands, which they believe would have once displayed the ruler's name in hieroglyphics. Similarities between the unearthed adornments and glyphs with those found at King Senebkay's grave have caught the attention of scholars, reports the Express. "The king's name was originally recorded in painted scenes on plastered brickwork that decorated the underground entrance to the limestone burial chamber," said Josef Wegner, an Egyptologist from the University of Pennsylvania who oversaw the dig, in his discussion with Live Science. "However, the hieroglyphic texts were damaged by ancient tomb robbers, and not enough survives to read the king's name." According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, this crypt is speculated to be over 3,600 years old and connected to a monarch from an era marked by conflict and turmoil. During this period, the Hyksos dynasty held sway over lower Egypt. The Hyksos, a name translating to "rulers of foreign lands," were a people from western Asia who introduced pivotal technologies, including the horse and chariot. The tomb itself was constructed from a limestone burial chamber overlaid with mud brick vaults, reaching an impressive height of approximately 5m. Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that the newly unearthed tomb appears significantly larger than other mausoleums from the Abydos Dynasty discovered to date. The identity of the tomb's occupant remains a mystery, but it is believed to belong to one of the kings who ruled prior to Senebkay, according to Badie. This groundbreaking discovery follows closely on the heels of another major archaeological find – the Royal burial site of Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose II. The same excavation also revealed a pottery workshop dating back to the Roman era in the village of Banawit, located north of Abydos. Abydos is one of the most ancient cities in Egypt, with its history stretching back to the Abydos Dynasty, a succession of kings who governed Upper Egypt between 1700 and 1600 BC. Anna-Latifa Mourad-Cizek, an archaeologist at the University of Chicago, underscored the potential of this find to reshape our understanding of a relatively obscure period in ancient history. She pointed out that there is currently "a very limited body of evidence" regarding this region and its rulers, rendering the discovery of the tomb "highly significant." However, much work remains to be done to fully unravel the secrets of this ancient site.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Who really were the first Americans? New study debunks earlier theory
A new study has reignited debate over the age of human footprints discovered at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. These ancient tracks, first revealed in 2021, were initially dated to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago — suggesting humans lived in North America during the peak of the last Ice Age, far earlier than previously thought. To verify these findings, researchers led by Vance Holliday of the University of Arizona conducted fresh radiocarbon dating on organic sediments from core samples at the site. Their results aligned with the earlier estimates, placing the footprints firmly within the Last Glacial Maximum. The analysis, conducted in independent labs, adds weight to the theory that humans occupied the region around 23,000 years ago. "Our data supports the original data" that dated the site to 23,000 years ago, study first author Vance Holliday, a professor emeritus of anthropology and geosciences at the University of Arizona, told Live Science. "Plus, we now have an idea of what the landscape was like when people were out there." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo The footprints, likely left by Ice Age hunter-gatherers, suggest early migration via the Bering Land Bridge from Asia to North America. If confirmed, this would challenge the long-held belief that the Clovis people — who arrived around 13,000 years ago — were the first inhabitants of the Americas. Dating the tracks has proven controversial. In 2022, skeptics argued that radiocarbon dating of ditch grass (a water plant) may have yielded misleadingly old results due to underwater carbon contamination. To address this, researchers later used optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and pollen-based radiocarbon methods, which again confirmed the original timeline. Live Events The latest study brings the total number of radiocarbon-dated samples from the footprint layer to 55, including mud, seeds, and pollen. 'It would be extreme serendipity for all these independent dates to be wrong,' Holliday said. Still, some experts remain cautious. Michael Waters of Texas A&M told Live Science that the source of the organic carbon is unclear and could still be affected by old water-derived carbon. He also pointed out the absence of associated artifacts or tools, though Holliday argues this is consistent with mobile hunter-gatherer behavior. Despite lingering doubts, the growing body of evidence points to a much earlier human presence in North America than previously accepted — a discovery that may reshape our understanding of the continent's earliest settlers.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
‘Doomsday fish' recently spotted four times in 20 days across countries including India; here's where and what happened next
Source: Live Science In recent months, an enigmatic deep-sea fish, the oarfish, also known as the "doomsday fish," has been seen around the world due to a series of unusual appearances on multiple continents. Once rooted in Japanese legend as a harbinger of impending natural disasters, the oarfish is rarely encountered close to the surface. But since May 2025, it has surfaced four times on the surface once in India and three times in Australia, New Zealand and California, both raising scientific curiosity as well as public alarm. Recent strings of oarfish sightings have again raised global interest in this enigmatic species. Whether a warning from nature or a strange coincidence, the appearance of these ocean giants offers both a mystery and potential for scientific discovery. As scientists continue to look at the environmental impetus for such occurrences, the doomsday fish is an ever-lasting symbol of nature's inexplicable occurrences and how much there is yet to learn about the bottom of the ocean. Deep-sea 'doomsday fish' recent sightings Tamil Nadu, India – May 2025 The very first year sighting was recorded toward the end of May along the coast of southern India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Fishermen in Tamil Nadu caught a gigantic oarfish measuring almost 30 feet (9 meters) long. It took seven men to hold it upright to take a picture. The picture became a sensation on social media, and it marked the beginning of a string of global sightings. Tasmania, Australia – June 2, 2025 A few days later, there was another oarfish that washed up on the rugged west coast of Tasmania. The approximately 3-meter-long specimen was seen by resident Sybil Robertson, who shared photos online. Her post generated huge speculation, with users comparing the spotting of the oarfish to seismic activity possibilities. Source: New York Post South Island, New Zealand – Early June 2025 Two separate sightings of oarfish were made in New Zealand in the same week. One was on a beach close to Dunedin and the other, headless, on a beach close to Birdlings Flat, near Christchurch. Both caused interest and alarm among marine biologists and the general public, continuing to fuel the superstition surrounding these mysterious fish. Source: Washington Post Historical sightings in context: California and Northern Australia (2024) Before the recent increased sightings, notable oarfish sightings were those in 2024. During August, a 12-foot oarfish was seen off California's San Diego coast just two days before a 4.4 earthquake struck Los Angeles. The coincidence revived speculation of the oarfish's potential ability to detect geological movement. A month afterward, yet another oarfish surfaced in the waters off the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory of Australia. This one, shared in a social media post by Curtis Peterson of Tiwi Islands Adventures, was widely compared to sea serpents due to its record size and form. Source: Facebook Oarfish sightings raising concerns: Warning sign or coincidence While the surge of oarfish is perceived in folklore as an omen of disaster, more logical explanations are provided by marine scientists. Scientists theorise that unusual oceanic events such as offshore seismic activity, temperature shifts, toxicity, or illness may disorient these deep-sea fish, encouraging them to ride up to the surface or strand themselves. Yet, the repetitive proximity of oarfish sightings to earthquakes cannot be entirely discounted and is worthy of consideration. Their highly specialised habitat might very well make them sensitive to antecedent alterations to earthquakes, but empirical evidence remains inconclusive. What is an oarfish Oarfish are elongated, ribbon-like fish that inhabit the temperate and tropical oceans at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters. They grow up to over 30 feet (9 meters) in length and are the longest bony fish. They are not harmful to humans and feed primarily on small ocean animals such as plankton and crustaceans. In accordance with Japanese lore, the sight of oarfish has been claimed to predict seismic activity, such as earthquakes or tsunamis, which has earned them their dark reputation. There is no immediate scientific evidence to link oarfish sightings with calamity, but some scientists postulate that oarfish are perhaps more sensitive to seismic activity and therefore have surfaced due to disturbance in their deep-sea habitat. Also Read | Jaguar vs panther: How these majestic big cats differ on the basis of weight, hunting strategy and more
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope uncovers mysterious ‘climate system' on Pluto regulated by strange blue haze
Source: Live Science NASA 's James Webb Space Telescope is again on its way to expand the understanding of the outer solar system. And this time, the explanation on its dwarf planet Pluto that keeps defying expectations. Nearly a decade earlier, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft shattered the notion of the upended assumptions about Pluto's lifelessness, where new data revealed by JWST confirms something extraordinary. One of the biggest surprises which floated above all is Pluto's blueish haze, which isn't just a visual marvel but actively regulates the planet's climate. With James Webb Space Telescope data-gathering in full swing, astronomers hope to study other hazy bodies in the solar system and beyond. The success of this Pluto study may lead to new models of climate formation on exoplanets with thick, layered atmospheres. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope uncovers Pluto's mysterious climate system When NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto in 2015, it shattered the image of Pluto as a dull, frozen rock. Instead, it unveiled a dynamic world marked by vast icy plains, mountain ranges made of water ice, and most intriguingly, a bluish, multi-layered haze that enveloped the planet. This haze extended more than 185 miles (300 km) above Pluto's surface, surprising scientists with its complexity and reach. The discovery hinted that Pluto might have a more active atmosphere than previously believed — but at the time, its true impact remained uncertain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Pluto's haze role in climate regulation revealed Astronomers have now confirmed that Pluto's haze does more than decorate the sky, dedicatedly thanks to the infrared capabilities of JWST. This significantly cools the atmosphere. According to a study published in Nature Astronomy on June 2, this haze absorbs sunlight during the day and releases it as infrared radiation at night, effectively regulating the dwarf planet's temperature. 'This is unique in the solar system,' said Tanguy Bertrand, the study's lead author and an astronomer at the Paris Observatory. 'It's a new kind of climate.' Pluto's haze composition Pluto's haze is composed of complex organic molecules known as tholins, which form when ultraviolet sunlight breaks down methane and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. These particles then clump together into tiny haze layers that can trap and release heat. Back in 2017, planetary scientists proposed that this haze might be behind Pluto's unusually cold upper atmosphere measured at about -333°F (-203°C), or roughly 30 degrees cooler than models based on gas-only atmospheres had predicted. The idea was compelling, but proving it was another matter entirely. James Webb Space Telescope confirms Pluto's climate theory by separating signals from its Moon One major challenge in confirming the theory was Charon, Pluto's large moon, which orbits so closely that its thermal signal overlaps with Pluto's in most telescope data. This made it nearly impossible to isolate the haze's specific thermal impact. That changed with James Webb Space Telescope. In 2022, its superior infrared resolution allowed researchers to separate the emissions from Pluto and Charon. What they found confirmed the 2017 hypothesis: Pluto's mid-infrared brightness which is caused by its haze and perfectly matched earlier predictions. 'In planetary science, it's not common to have a hypothesis confirmed so quickly,' said Xi Zhang, who led the 2017 study. 'We feel pretty lucky and very excited.' What Pluto's skies reveal about the origins of life on Earth The discovery isn't just a milestone for understanding Pluto but it also opens up new possibilities for studying other hazy celestial bodies. Moons like Titan (Saturn) and Triton (Neptune) are shrouded in their own thick hazes and may exhibit similar atmospheric behaviors. Researchers even suggest that early Earth might have once resembled Pluto. Before oxygen filled our skies, Earth may have had a tholin-rich haze that acted like an insulating blanket, helping stabilize the climate and create conditions that allowed life to evolve. 'By studying Pluto's haze and chemistry,' Zhang said, 'we might get new insights into the conditions that made early Earth habitable.' Also Read | Why the US leads in UFO sightings; here's the surprising truth behind the numbers revealed
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
How do birds find their way during migration: A look at their navigation system
Source: Wikipedia Billions of birds migrate in and out of the US annually. Birds embark on incredible journeys globally, flying thousands of miles to reach their destination. Some birds rely on a remarkable array of senses to navigate, such as the 'the arctic tern', logging an astonishing distance in its lifetime- equivalent to flying to the moon and back. Birds utilize a range of senses to orient themselves, including some that are familiar to humans, and others remain a mystery to us. Birds have an impressive navigation system, they utilize various cues to navigate during migration, including sight and smell. Seasonal migrants often rely on familiar landmarks like rivers and mountain ranges, while those flying over vast bodies of water rely on their sense of smell. How birds use the sky to find their way Mostly birds migrate at night, as they cant rely on the sun for direction during that time, they use the stars to navigate. Specifically, the position and rotation of the stars around the celestial pole, which is marked by Polaris (the North Star). By learning the position and patterns of stars around this point, birds can determine their direction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo According to LiveScience, research on the passageways of seabirds called Scopoli's shearwaters found that blocking their nasal passages- sense of smell didn't affect their flight over land, but they got lost over water. Birds also navigate using sun and stars, with a 'sun compass' that combines the sun's position with their integral clock. This innate GPS-like system allows them to determine their direction, and studies confirm that disrupting their internal rhythm with artificial lights throws off their navigation. Thus, highlighting the importance of this sun compass mechanism. Multifaceted navigation system that allows birds to find their way When the sky is cloudy and birds can't see the sun, the stars, or other landmarks, they rely on other extraordinary senses to navigate. One such sense is magnetoreception, which allows birds to detect the Earth's magnetic fields generated by the rippling molten metals in our planet's core. Study shows that altering magnetic fields around pigeons disrupted their homing abilities. While the exact mechanism is not clear, Professor Peter Hore suggests that birds use some sort of chemical reaction whose outcome depends on the strength and direction of Earth's magnetic field. Researchers have confirmed that there's a molecule called cryptochrome, present in birds' retinas. Cryptochrome responds to magnetic fields in lab settings, requiring blue light, but the details of its sensitivity remain unknown. Additionally, some research points to magnetoreception mechanisms in birds' beaks, involving magnetite-interacting receptors connected to the brain. Birds also detect polarized light, using retinal cells to sense the patterns that reveal the sun's position, even on cloudy days. Bird navigation can aid conservation Researchers are understanding the complex navigation systems of birds. Since birds inherit their migratory routes and distances primarily through genetics, identifying the responsible genes and their mechanisms could significantly improve conservation strategies. Also read | Astronomers discover high-altitude clouds darkening skies in YSES-1 system
