This week, we explored the first-ever space archaeology expedition aboard the ISS to find out if Egyptians really built the earliest pyramids with hydraulic lifts, explained why people are so excited about Perseverance's discovery of “signatures of possible life” on Mars, and finally asked why people believe urban legends like the Russian sleep experiment.
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'World's oldest calendar' may depict devastating comet impact 13,000 years ago
A comet impact 13,000 years ago may have sparked the rise of civilization, according to the authors of a new study. This event, which many scientists believe never happened, may also be recorded at the world-famous archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe, where it is part of a series of carvings that researchers say represent the world's oldest solar calendar. Read the full article here
First-ever space archaeological survey conducted on the ISS
Archaeology and space might not seem like an obvious pairing outside of science fiction, but the International Space Station (ISS) has conducted the first archaeological expedition in space. Not only does the study shed light on how people have adapted to life on the ISS, it also shows how archaeology can be used to study remote and extreme places. You can read the full story here.
Did the Egyptians really use hydraulic lifts to build their earliest pyramids?
The Egyptian academic community is reeling from a controversial new study that claims the 4,500-year-old pyramids were built using astonishingly advanced technology, including an incredible “hydraulic elevator.” The incredible system, the authors say, allowed giant building blocks to be floated up a central shaft from the floor to the top of the pyramid, like lava flowing upward from a volcano, but archaeologists are still not convinced. Read the full story here
Why people are excited about Perseverance's 'potential biosignature' Mars rover discovery
Recently, the mission team for NASA's Mars rover Perseverance announced the discovery of an interesting rock formation. Nicknamed Cheyaba Falls, this arrowhead-shaped rock is the most promising find yet in the search for ancient life on Mars. The rock exhibits structures that appear to have been modified by microorganisms. While this doesn't mean we've found life, there's plenty to be excited about. Read the full story here.
World's first titanium heart transplant using magnetic levitation technology
The titanium heart, which looks like something made for the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, was implanted in a patient for the first time on July 9th. The implantation of a total artificial heart (TAH) is a proposed solution to help patients with heart failure who need a heart transplant, and is currently seen as a bridge to heart transplant in severe cases of heart failure. Read the full story here
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Featured this week:
The Russian Sleep Experiment and why we believe urban legends
The Russian Sleep Experiment is often held up as an example of some of the most horrifying experiments humans have performed on each other, but it never actually happened. But why are these stories “believable”? In other words, why do some stories become urban legends and others not? And why do we accept them? Read the full story here.
Other Content:
Have you seen our digital magazine “CURIOUS”? We just celebrated our second anniversary! Issue #25, August 2024, is now available. Check it out for exclusive interviews, book excerpts, long-form articles and more.
Plus, season 4 of IFLScience's The Big Questions Podcast has just launched. So far, we've asked questions like “Why are humans the only surviving species?”, “How is climate change affecting our health?”, “Is evolutionary biology sexist?”, and “Can we extend the lifespan of dogs?”
