Did You Know?August 11, 3114 BBCE is the widely accepted date as the starting point of the Maya/Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar as it corresponds to the Julian Calendar
King Charles II of England spends a day hiding in an oak tree during his escape after losing the Battle of Worcester
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A team drilled offshore Nantucket and recovered cores with water near drinking quality. Studies will trace nitrogen cycling and measure the age of this subseafloor reservoir.
How did freshened water come to be trapped beneath the New England Shelf, how long has it remained there, and what volume does it represent?
Rebecca Robinson, a professor at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, is investigating these questions by analyzing material collected from three offshore sites near Nantucket.
Robinson was one of three lead scientists directing the New England Shelf Hydrogeology expedition, a collaborative effort involving 41 researchers from multiple nations and disciplines. Over the course of 74 days at sea, the team recovered water and sediment from the subseafloor, producing 718 cores with a combined length of more than 871 meters. These samples are now being studied in laboratories to uncover the history and characteristics of the offshore reservoir.
“Sampling of this offshore freshened groundwater to the extent that we can make comprehensive geochemical assessments of its history, including its age, is unprecedented in scientific ocean drilling,” said Robinson.
The salinity levels of sediments below the seafloor are typically close to those in the overlying ocean, yet offshore New England, the subseafloor contains an unusually large reservoir of freshened water.
“The sheer freshness of the water, which was close to drinking water limits, was a surprise to me,” said Robinson. “I didn’t think freshened meant to the level of oceanic salinities, but I also didn’t think it would be so close to what we get out of the taps.”
The expedition was carried out by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling under the framework of the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³). A 185-foot liftboat fitted with a compact drilling rig was used to extract 50,000 liters of water from multiple subseafloor depths.
“It was a challenge to pump significant amounts of groundwater out of the wells without destabilizing them,” said Robinson. “To prevent a column of sediment from collapsing, we had to be strategic about where we were pumping, the flow rate through the equipment, and where we placed our equipment. These were variables we learned to optimize.”
Robinson was pleased with the results of the drilling operation.
“I am thrilled with our success in sampling such difficult formations and with the astonishing amount of water we were able to recover for science,” said Robinson.
Robinson will study the origins and history of the nitrogen in the groundwater by examining the composition of the samples in her lab.
“We will study the nitrogen cycling of the water and how it is impacted by the freshened water,” said Robinson. “All organisms need nitrogen for life, so its cycling marks different types of microbial processing that occurs. Learning what happens along its flow path can tell us something about its history.”
Robinson will also measure the concentrations and the isotopic composition of nitrogen using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The age of the water will be measured by other researchers using radiogenic isotopes, such as carbon-14 and helium-4.
The other two chief scientists on the expedition were Professor Brandon Dugan of the Colorado School of Mines and Professor Karen Johannesson of the University of Massachusetts Boston. The full science team will convene at the University of Bremen’s core repository in Bremen, Germany in January and February 2026 to further examine the cores, collect more data, and write preliminary reports about the initial findings.
The cores will be archived and made accessible for further scientific research for the scientific community after a one year moratorium period. All expedition data will be open access and resulting outcomes will be published.
The expedition was co-funded by IODP³ and the National Science Foundation.
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54% of 408 faculty positions lying vacant at Rohtak varsity Tribune India
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Walking frequently is linked to reduced back pain, and it’s the total amount of walking that matters most, not how intense it is.
A large research effort examined how daily walking relates to the likelihood of developing chronic lower back problems. If people adopt the simple guidance that emerges, the approach could ease back pain for many and reduce costs for healthcare systems.
The results are clear: people who walk more tend to have fewer lower back issues, and total time on foot matters more than speed or intensity. In practical terms, walking longer is more beneficial than walking faster.
“People who walk more than 100 minutes every day have a 23 per cent lower risk of lower back problems than those who walk 78 minutes or less,” said Rayane Haddadj.
He is a PhD candidate at the Department of Public Health and Nursing at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and is part of a research group that specifically studies musculoskeletal disorders.
The findings were published in JAMA Network Open and have already drawn significant attention.
It probably comes as no surprise that physical activity is good for your back, but until now, we have not actually known whether the amount of low-intensity walking we do also helps.
“Intensity also plays a role in the risk of long-term back problems, but not as much as the daily amount of walking,” emphasized Haddadj.
A total of 11,194 people participated in the study, which is part of the Trøndelag Health Study (The HUNT Study). What makes this study unique is that the volume and intensity of daily walking were measured using two sensors that participants wore on their thighs and back for up to a week.
The results may be important in relation to preventing chronic back problems. Until now, there has been little research on the prevention of these types of musculoskeletal problems. It is well known that physical activity can prevent a wide range of illnesses and ailments. This study is important because it confirms that physical activity, and especially daily walking, can help prevent long-term lower back problems.
“The findings highlight the importance of finding time to be physically active – to prevent both chronic back problems and a number of other diseases. Over time, this could lead to major savings for society,” said Paul Jarle Mork, a professor at NTNU’s Department of Public Health and Nursing.
Back and neck problems cost society several billion kroner every year. Musculoskeletal disorders are likely the largest expense within the Norwegian healthcare system.
Back pain is one of the most common health problems in Norway. Depending on what you include, between 60 and 80 per cent of us will experience back problems at some point in our lives. At any given time, around one in five Norwegians has back trouble.
The causes are many and complex, but the solution might be as simple as putting on your shoes and going for a walk – each and every day.
Reference: “Volume and Intensity of Walking and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain” by Rayane Haddadj, Anne Lovise Nordstoga, Tom Ivar Lund Nilsen, Eivind Schjelderup Skarpsno, Atle Kongsvold, Mats Flaaten, Jasper Schipperijn, Kerstin Bach and Paul Jarle Mork, 13 June 2025, JAMA Network Open.
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.15592
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Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have uncovered a broken sculptural vessel depicting warriors in combat at the entrance to the Solar Observatory of the Chankillo Archeoastronomic Complex, located in the Casma Valley of Peru’s Ancash region.
The broken vessel strengthens the evidence linking solar ceremonies taking place around astronomical observations at the Thirteen Towers of Chankillo. Image source
Chankillo, a solar observatory dating back 2,300 years, offers significant insights into ther region’s ancient practices. The site precedes by several centuries similar monuments by the Maya in Central America and by almost two millennia solar observatories of the Inca civilization in Peru.
The artifact – belonging to the Patazca style – seems to have been intentionally broken, possibly as part of a ritual offering or during a conflict event at the site. Its placement in an area rich in ceremonial significance underscores its symbolic importance within the religious practices associated with the Sun.
One can wonder how such objects were woven into the spiritual and cultural life of the people of their time. Imagine the vibrant civilization that flourished in the Casma Valley over 2,300 years ago, where solar ceremonies and military skills intertwined to create a powerful legacy.
The elites of this society harnessed the energy of the sun not only as a source of life but also as a symbol of their strength and unity.
Image source
Through these celestial rituals, they inspired their people and fortified their influence, demonstrating how deeply interconnected spirituality and leadership can elevate an entire civilization.
According to the researchers, the depiction of warriors is associated with the Chankillo structure referred to as the Fortified Temple. This building served as a hub for the Chankillo elites, and included political, military, and ritual functions.
The discovery supports the idea that ritual objects were not solely ceremonial; they also conveyed messages of identity and authority.
Thirteen towers outside the Incan citadel near Chankillo, Peru. Tower 1 is the leftmost tower in the image. Credits: I. Ghezzi, C. Ruggles
The broken vessel strengthens the evidence linking solar ceremonies taking place around astronomical observations at the Thirteen Towers of Chankillo and the rise of a warrior elite that made its authority stronger through ritual practices, mastery over the solar calendar, and military power.
Chankillo was not only the oldest solar observatory in America, but also served as a site for conflict and for legitimizing the power of its ruling elites.
Image source
The Ministry of Culture reaffirms its dedication to researching, conserving, and enhancing Chankillo. It will carry on excavations in different sections of the site to uncover important details about the civilization that thrived in Ancash over 2,300 years ago.
The Thirteen Towers represent the oldest solar observatory in America and stand as the only complete solar horizon calendar from the ancient world. This complex also features an impressive 300-meter-long structure, which has been reinterpreted as a Fortified Temple.
Moreover, the Chankillo towers provide evidence of early solar horizon observations and of the existence of sophisticated Sun cults, preceding the Sun pillars of Incaic Cusco by almost two millennia.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
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A new calculation shows how five atoms interact in the Efimov effect. It marks a major leap in quantum physics. Matter behaves weirdly at the quantum scale, one of the strangest examples being the Efimov effect. In this state, three or more atoms can bind together through attractive forces even when excited to higher energy […]
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JWST placed new limits on planets around Epsilon Eridani and demonstrated an improved technique for spotting faint signals.
In science, a negative finding can be just as valuable as a positive one. Even the most advanced observatories are sometimes challenged by data artifacts, and this was the case with the James Webb Space Telescope’s recent study of Epsilon Eridani.
This nearby star has long been at the center of debate over whether it hosts planets. While JWST’s NIRCam detected intriguing signals, they were positioned too close to instrumental noise to be confirmed as a true “planet.” The team’s results, published on arXiv, may seem inconclusive, but they demonstrate how scientific progress is often made through careful testing and refinement.
These observations were part of a JWST program dedicated to targeted astronomical investigations and focused on the search for two possible planets around Epsilon Eridani, located just 10.5 light years away and only about 400 million years old. The first candidate, proposed in 2000 using radial velocity measurements, was estimated to be about the size of Jupiter and orbiting 3.5 AU from the star. The second, still unconfirmed, has been suggested as the body responsible for shaping the star’s striking ring system and would be situated roughly 45 AU from its host star.
When searching for the first candidate planet, Epsilon Eridani b, NIRCam detected a “blob” of light in exactly the position where a planet was predicted. However, the signal appeared close to a “hexpeckle,” an artifact created by the coronagraph that introduced significant noise in that region. Because of this interference, the researchers could not confirm the detection with statistical confidence, even though the feature resembled a planetary signal.
The second potential candidate was much more convincingly ruled out. While the statistics weren’t enough to definitively rule out all planets, they were conclusive enough to say there are no Saturn-sized planets any further out the 16 AU from the star. In other words, there doesn’t appear to be a ring shepherd around Epsilon Eridani.
Peering at the dust disk itself, NIRCam found a faint signal on the “eastern” side of the star. That appears to be the side facing us directly, and therefore, the signal is most likely just the dust from the disc scattering the light from the star rather than a planet, similar to how gas and dust can shroud stars themselves in some parts of space.
All of this work was done using a new technique for JWST called a “three-roll” observing strategy. So far during its observations, the telescope had “rolled” to two different angles to make sure it captured light coming from its observational target in slightly different ways. For these observations, it tried doing so a third time, and had a pretty significant gain in observational capacity as well. The authors suggest that the technique could improve JWST’s ability to see faint objects by between 20-30% than the traditional two-roll method.
While some might consider the lack of a definitive planet detection a bust, science still moves forward on constraints, and this observational effort by JWST did put some constraints both on the potential of a planet in the outreaches of Epsilon Eridani’s system as well as the size and location of the inner Jupiter-like planet candidate. But perhaps most importantly, it also opened up a new methodology to allow for increased observational capacity of faint objects in the future. Given JWST’s long operational life ahead, that is definitely worth celebrating.
Reference: “Searching for Planets Orbiting ε~Eridani with JWST/NIRCam” by Jorge Llop-Sayson, Charles Beichman, Geoffrey Bryden, Marie Ygouf, Andras Gaspar, William Thompson, Aniket Sanghi, Dimitri Mawet, Alexandra Z. Greenbaum, Jarron Leisenring, Schuyler Wolff, Marcia Rieke and George Rieke, 11 August 2025, arXiv.
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2508.08463
Adapted from an article originally published on Universe Today.
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A Roman-era tomb with a rare bilingual funerary inscription has been discovered in Strikçan, northern Albania. It dates to the 3rd or 4th century A.D. Measuring 9 by 6 meters (30 by 20 feet) with a burial chamber 2.4 meters (8 feet) high, it is the first monumental tomb from the Roman period discovered in Albania.
The tomb consists of three parts: a monumental staircase leading down to an entrance hallway with the burial chamber at the end. The staircase walls are decorated with geometric decorations on stucco. It is constructed of large stone blocks quarried from a distance and transported to the location. Evidence of wall structures on top of the tomb suggest it may have been a mausoleum design, not just a underground chamber tomb.
The size and architecture of the tomb are not the only archaeologically significant elements. The tomb was looted in antiquity, but the remains of funerary furnishings were found on the bed in the burial chamber, including glass vessels, bone combs, knives and a large section of textile woven with gold thread.
It also contains an inscription in Greek and Latin dedicated to ΓΕΛΛΙΑΝΟΣ (Gellianos), the tomb’s occupant. The deceased was connected to the Gellius family, perhaps as a relation or as a freedman who chose to take their name. The gens Gellia was a well-known plebian family of Samnite origin whose most well-known member today is Aulus Gellius, grammarian, magistrate and author of the Attic Nights, a popular compendium of stories and essays from other ancient sources that has come down to us nearly intact, missing only one chapter.
Because of its great significance, the tomb will be granted protected status while archaeologists document and analyze its contents, including the human osteological remains.
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Ottoman Sultan and the longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1530-1566), dies at 71 [or Sep 6]
Oglala Sioux chief (Battle of the Little Bighorn), dies at 37
Albanian-born Indian nun and founder of Missionaries of Charity (Nobel Peace Prize, 1979), dies of cardiac arrest at 87
American right-wing crusader, Eagle Forum President, dies at 92
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King of France (1643-1715), known as “The Sun King”, had longest reign of any European monarch, born in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Duke of Teschen, Austrian field marshal during the Napoleonic wars, born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy)
American outlaw and son of a clergyman, born in Kearney, Missouri
American composer (Water Walk; Imaginary Landscape No 1/O’O; 4’33”), born in Los Angeles, California
American economist and Chairman of the US Federal Reserve (1979-87), born in Cape May, New Jersey
American stage and screen (Myra Breckenridge; One Million Years B.C.; 100 Rifles), and nightclub singer, born in Chicago, Illinois [1]
British singer–songwriter (Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”), born in Stone Town, Sultanate of Zanzibar
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