We all know what we’re looking for when we head out for a day on the beach; sun, sea, sand, and strangeness. OK, so maybe not everybody goes looking for strangeness, but they end up finding it anyway! You never know what might be hiding on or underneath the sand when you take a trip to the coast, and the beach finds you’re about to see in this video might just blow your mind. Let’s get started!
A Farmer Discovered Something Strange Outside His Fields!
For many people, farms epitomize idyllic country life. Given this theme, images of many different animals and endless fields immediately come to mind. Unfortunately, this romantic notion does not always correspond to reality. On the contrary: Some farmers have already discovered things on their farms that could easily have come from a scary horror film! In today's video we show you which surprising, frightening and even disturbing discoveries have already been recorded on farms!
12 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds
If only our ancient ancestors left us a helpful instruction guide or manual buried alongside all of their artifacts. If they did, we wouldn't be so baffled by so many of the discoveries we've made about them, their civilizations, and the times that they lived in! The truth is that even the most educated experts sometimes don't know what they're looking at for sure, and so without any answers, they're forced to concede that they've uncovered a mystery. You'll find out all about many of those mysteries in this video!
Why Don't We Taxidermy Humans?
In today’s video we are analyzing why we don’t taxidermy humans. Watch the video for more and enjoy!
Filming Antarctica's Underwater Secret
Under the ice can seem like a completely alien world... Kathryn Jeffs (Series Producer) talks us through the difficult process of capturing 'The Brinicle' on film. Enjoy!
Powerful X-rays used for first time to 'see' through wrapping of 1,900-year-old mummy reveal a young girl who was buried with sacred jewels
During the Victorian era, 'mummy parties' were hosted to unwrap the outer layers in order to take a glance at what mysteries lay behind the cloth, but today's researchers are working on new methods that do not 'destroy the integrity of the object.'
A team from Northwestern University used powerful X-rays for the first time in the scientific community to see through the wrapping of a 1,900-year-old mummy.
Researchers used a combination of computed tomography (CT) and CT-guided synchrotron X-ray diffraction mapping, which is capable of identifying different materials, objects and bones.
The examinations provided a number of details about the mummy – the person was a girl about five years old and buried with a scarab amulet that was meant to spiritually protect the body as it travels to the afterlife.
The analysis also revealed that the young girl's skeleton is still well preserved and shows no sign of trauma, suggesting she likely died from disease.
This is the first time an intact mummy has been analyzed using such techniques, which the team says 'will draw a lot of excitement from the archaeological community.'
Stuart Stock, research professor of cell and molecular biology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and the first author on the papery, said: 'We knew there were objects within the mummy, and we wanted to find out which materials were present.'
'Short of opening the mummy, there's no way other than X-ray diffraction to identify those materials.'
The X-rays are designed to differentiate between different materials.
Jonathan Almer of Argonne's X-ray Science division, a co-author on the paper, said: 'Each of these materials has a unique signature.'
So for example, bone and ceramic have extremely different patterns, so that is a very easy thing to differentiate.'
'But we can even see differences between different types of bone.'
The mummy in this examination dates back to the Roman era that began in 30 BC and was discovered in Hawara, Egypt in 1911.
In 2018, the mummy became was put on display at and exhibit at exhibition at the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on Northwestern's Evanston, Illinois campus.
Prior to the event, Stock was asked to conduct research on what is behind the wrappings.
He started by imaging with a CT scan that, he says, 'provided a roadmap' for this study by allowing them to identify areas in which to aim the powerful X-ray beams generated by the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory.
'Without the CT scan to refer to, this literally would have taken two weeks,' Stock said.
Almer, who led the team, explained that the mummy is the largest object to be measured at APS, which measures more than three feet long and weighs about 50 pounds.
This proves that we can find a needle in a haystack,' Almer said.
'Often our research is looking for micron-level objects in a millimeter-sized sample.' 'This was a scaling-up of work we do every day, and it shows that we can experiment with and see within a wide range of size scales.'
Almer also noted that the beams did not damage the mummy in anyway, but was able to reveal information that would only have been possible by unwrapping the linen.
Stock notes he and his team did not find conclusively prove the body belonged to a girl, but other evidence points to it and would match the portrait discovered with the mummy.
X-rays detected several small pins holding areas of the linen together, and Stock said he was able to determine they were made of modern metals, probably added 20 years ago as part of exhibiting the mummy.
However, the most exciting discovery made by the X-rays was the amulet that was determined to be made of calcite, a carbonate mineral.
While it is not unheard of for these amulets to be made of calcite, he said, it is rare, and knowing the composition will allow scientists to trace it to a time and place of origin.
Marc Walton, co-director of the Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts and research professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, said: 'Not only does this work provide historians with data on the composition of the mummy, its burial conditions, and, therefore, its biography, but the complexity of the composite object pushed the authors to innovate new methods of synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction.'
Such synergy between high technology and archaeology highlights what is possible when typical research boundaries are crossed.'
Stock said that while this method of examining the interiors of mummies may not be widely used in the future, given the logistical challenges, it may help scientists answer questions that otherwise would remain mysteries.
'It may be the only way to get out important information without disturbing the mummies,' he said.
Fantastic ‘Virgin’ Pool Never Before Seen by Humans Discovered Deep in New Mexico Cave
An extraordinary cave network, never seen by human eyes, has been discovered in the depths of a US national park.
The eerie blue pool found hidden inside has been described as a "wonderous sight" by park employees at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.
It followed an expedition into what are called "virgin" cave passages in the park, long renowned for its complex cave structures filled with wax-like stalactite rock formations.
Now explorers have discovered something uniquely remarkable – an isolated pool of milky-blue water untouched by humans, 700ft below ground.
Carlsbad Caverns announced the discovery on Facebook on June 2020, calling the site found within Lechuguilla Cave “completely pristine”.
Geoscientist Max Wisshak, who led the expedition wrote: "The edges beneath this pool appear to be ‘pool fingers’, which could be bacterial colonies that have evolved entirely without human presence."
Wisshak led the expedition in October 2019, alongside a team of specialist explorers who were given special permission to explore beyond a body of water known as the "Lake of Liquid Sky" which was discovered in 1993.
He said: "The goals of this expedition have been a long time in the making. Rest assured… The team took special precautions to ensure there were no contaminants introduced to these pools of water."
He posted a picture shows the strange alien-looking sight, comprising white frosted rock filled with a strange glowing milky-blue substance said to have been untouched for millennia.
Rodney Horrocks, Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources at Carlsbad Caverns National Park told local media: "This pool has been isolated for hundreds of thousands of years and had never seen light before that day."
Wisshak added: "Such untouched pools are scientifically important because water samples are relatively free of contaminants and the microbial organisms that may live in those pools are only those that belong there."
"Contamination can occur from the surface above the cave, but in case of Lechuguilla Cave, that’s not a big issue, since it is situated in a well-protected wilderness area. It can also occur via aerosols in the air. However, a newly discovered pool in Lechuguilla Cave is about as pristine as it gets."
The pool is estimated to be about a foot wide, 2 feet long and several inches deep and although it looks cloudy, the water is actually crystal clear and most likely formed of ancient filtered rainwater.
The Bread of Ancient Rome | Pompeii's Panis Quadratus
In 79AD, a baker in Pompeii fled for his life as Mt. Vesuvius erupted, leaving his bread to burn. Join us in recreating the Panis Quadratus and explore the history of Pompeii and this iconic loaf of bread.
‘Extinct Fossil Fish’ dating back 420 million years found alive in Madagascar
A fossil fish that predates dinosaurs and was thought to have gone extinct has been found alive in the West Indian Ocean off the coast of Madagascar.
The fish named coelacanth was accidentally rediscovered by a group of South African shark hunters, according to reports.
According to a report by Mongabay News, the rediscovery was largely possible due to the fishermen's use of gillnets in their shark-hunting expeditions.
The high-tech deep-sea nets were able to reach the area where coelacanths gather, usually about 328-492 feet below the surface of the water.
Coelacanths predate dinosaurs but they resurfaced from extinction in 1938. Since then, this was the first instance that the fish was found alive. The recent re-discovery was a shock for scientists. They were able to identify it as a member of the "Latimeria chalumnae" species with its eight fins, a large body, and a specific pattern on its scales.
Now, marine scientists are calling for reinforcement of conservation measures to protect the fish.
It is believed the rediscovery of the fish has come in the wake of the ongoing increased demand for shark fins and oil. The demand has increased the use of gill nets, which can go deeper than regular fishing nets.
“When we looked into this further, we were astounded [by the numbers caught]… even though there has been no proactive process in Madagascar to monitor or conserve coelacanths,” said Andrew Cooke, lead author of a recent study published in the South African Journal of Science.
However, the journal noted that the fish might face new threats to survive with the increase in shark hunting in international waters.
"The jarifa gillnets used to catch sharks are a relatively new and more deadly innovation as they are large and can be set in deep water," the researchers wrote in the paper.
Britain’s secret treasure trove of stone age rock art
They have been found where the earth meets the sky, high up on the moorlands of northern England, a mysterious series of strange and ancient carvings hewn into the rocks and boulders.
More than 100 elaborate carvings dating back thousands of years have been discovered on rocks and boulders in the North of England.
The art, thought to be the work of Neolithic man, is open to the air but is so remote that it had lain undisturbed and undetected for thousands of years - until it was recently discovered by English Heritage.
It includes a series of intricate designs of concentric circles, interlocking rings and hollowed cups.
They are among only 2,500 examples which exist in England - having survived natural erosion, quarrying and field clearance.
Around 100 volunteers, trained by English Heritage, have been recording the location, content, context and condition of rock art for the last four years as part of pilot project.
During the Neolithic period, 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, man moved away from the roaming existence of the hunter-gatherer who traversed the country, following his prey, to a more settled existence.
New Stone Age man preferred to stay put, tending cereals and domestic animals. How all of this fitted in with the abstract curves of their rock carvings is anyone's guess.
It's not possible to date the art itself, but its age can be assessed by the context in which it is found. For example, if it is near burial sites which took the form of large cairns or long mounds in which people are buried in groups, it is more likely to date back to the New Stone Age.
The most interesting discovery includes a large carved panel found on a sandstone boulder on Barningham Moor, a 300m-high (984ft) area of Co Durham, on the edge of the Pennines.
It features abstract carvings — interlocking grooves and hollowed cups with surrounding circles. Tools of stone or bone were used to carve the symbols and the work is so well preserved that the 'peck' marks are still visible.
Kate Wilson, inspector of ancient monuments at English Heritage, said: 'There are many theories as to what rock art carvings mean. They may have played a role in fire, feastings and offering activities, or been used as signposts, or to mark territory.
'They may have a spiritual significance. In hunter-gatherer communities those places where mountains touch the sky or the sea reaches the shore are often considered the domain of supernatural ancestors. Most rock art is found in those areas.'
She said that the Neolithic Age saw the arrival of 'a fairly sophisticated culture', with the introduction of agriculture. 'They were settling and cultivating something,' she added.
'You find monuments such as stone circles and henges. Something's going on where society's changing. This is a story yet to be told.'
The results of the four year initiative - funded by English Heritage, in partnership with Northumberland and Durham County Councils - will now be published online.
Richard Stroud, a volunteer who discovered the Barningham boulder, said: 'We expected to discover one or two simple carvings. Instead we found a breathtaking panel, probably one of the most complex discovered in County Durham.'
He added: 'There is a gulf of time and civilisation between the society that carved this stone and ours, its true meaning is something we will possibly never understand.'
Edward Impey, director of research and standards at English Heritage, said: 'The online record of the Northumberland and Durham examples will serve as the starting point for a national survey, and, we hope, help us understand their meaning and lead to the discovery of others.'
Logging of 'rock art' was led for decades by retired Hexham headmaster Stan Beckensall, who went on to donate his archive to Newcastle University.
His finds over the last 50 years have now been added to the online database of 1,500 carvings.
English Heritage is now hoping the pioneering work undertaken will be continued in other counties to create a nationwide record.
Sara Rushton, Northumberland county archaeologist and manager of the project, said: 'Our volunteer recorders have worked alongside experts in the field to develop new techniques and produce stunning three-dimensional computer models of rock art for display.
'These models can be manipulated to show some carvings which are now almost completely invisible to the naked eye and will be a fantastic tool for managing these ancient sites for the future.'
Made with simple tools of stone or bone, some of the patterns are as plain as a hollowed cup shape. Others feature abstract designs painstakingly carved into the local sandstone.
But despite their meticulous notes, there is only so much we will ever know about the men who laboured to leave such an indelible mark on the landscape. And perhaps that is all part of their magic.
12 Most Incredible Recent Ancient Egypt Finds That Scare Scientists
Egypt has long been a source of fascination for archaeologists, historians, scientists and the general public alike. It seems there's always something being uncovered in Egypt, and yet each time something's discovered there, it only seems to deepen the sense of mystery around the ancient Egyptians. There have been various discoveries made there over the years that have troubled the minds of scientists, and we've put some of the best of them together for you in this video!
12 Most Mysterious Places That Are Hard To Explain
We live in a world of beauty and wonder, and some of the beauties and wonders that exist within it are difficult to explain. There are places that have scenery, size, and other properties that seem to not only be improbable, but on the verge of being totally impossible. Here are some of the most stunning and yet almost completely inexplicable locations on Earth, and the fantastic stories behind them!
This Rock Violate All The Laws Of Physics
Rocks! They’re more interesting than you may think. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. And these are among the most fascinating. These are the 20 most unreal rock formations!
Archaeologists May Have Discovered Lost Tomb of Cleopatra
In the archives of world history, the stories of Cleopatra stand among the most fascinating tales ever told. Whether we've seen her in a movie or not, most of us have heard of Cleopatra. Beautiful, exotic, and an iconic look with a bunch of beads in her hair and black eyeliner that may have inspired the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Cleopatra has attained a status of immortality that very few of her contemporaries did. Much of what we know — and still don't know — about the queen of the Nile comes from a history that has been romanticized, fictionalized, and then fictionalized some more.
The story of her affair with Roman general Mark Antony and their tragic deaths has echoed through the ages. Entombed together, they are possibly in an eternal slumber somewhere in Egypt. But where? The location of the tomb has been long lost to history. Despite regular reports that archaeologists are on the verge of its discovery, it remains missing.
Today we will have a look at the chamber of secrets recently discovered by archaeologists under an Egyptian temple, that might lead to the long lost tomb of Cleopatra.
This Satellite Just Sent Out A Message Warning That Something Is Melting Out Antarctica's Ice Sheet
This satellite just sent out a message warning that something is melting out Antarctica's ice sheet. Today, we take a look at what this satellite just detected in Antarctica.
NASA have said that they've found powerful geothermal features underneath Antarctica, and said that this couple help to explain some of the strange activity that's been recorded in the region. Experts involved in the study said that measurements taken underneath Marie Byrd Land, reveal that the area is as hot as the supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park, and this is causing ice to melt beneath the surface, leading to the creation of lakes and rivers.
Man Finds Old Buried Chain on Farm, Pulls Up Something Incredible
One ordinary day, Mike Smith set out doing what he loved most: using his metal detector. Ever since he was a little boy, Smith had dreamed of finding buried treasure with his metal detector. After years of searching, it finally became his lucky day! Smith could not believe his luck when his detector loudly beeped, and he discovered what looked like an ancient, buried chain sticking out of the ground.
Adrenaline pumped through Smith’s veins as he slowly began to dig out the buried chain. While he knew he had found something, Smith had no idea the magnitude of the incredible discovery he had just made. Soon enough, the press and authorities got involved, and Smith’s life turned upside down…
"I was the first person to enter the tomb of Christ and yes, it smelled everywhere of myrrh"
“That's how I felt. And I was filled with awe, it seemed unreal. I cried when I learned that I came here because the Lord wanted me to. And I was not very faithful either.”
With these shocking words, 49-year-old restorer Petros Haloftis from Megara, the first person in modern history to enter the Tomb of Jesus Christ, speaks about the unique experience he had in Jerusalem when the tomb was opened in the Church of the Resurrection.
The words come out of his mouth with difficulty. Sometimes he breathes heavily, sometimes he sighs, sometimes he weeps and cries. "The human mind cannot grasp the feelings I experienced there," are his first words.
"The Tomb was not supposed to be opened. They only opened it because there would be grouting in the masonry and they were afraid that something might cause damage", he says, beginning his long story. He is very frugal and tries to keep a low profile but his emotions are evident. "Yes, I was the first to go in after the top slab shifted. The Tomb had been opened since 1810, when the sacred canopy was made. Since then it has not been opened again," he explains.
The restored Edicule is seen during a ceremony marking the end of restoration work on the site of Jesus's tomb at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. rnCNS PHOTO/SEBASTIAN SCHEINER
It exuded myrrh
A few weeks ago, news went around the world that when the Tomb was opened, a unique smell was emitted, the likes of which had never been seen before.
"One way or another, it smelled like myrrh from what the monks spread all over the Church of the Resurrection. But that smell was something else. Something unique that I have never smelled before.
But there is another detail that may seem strange to you, but I must mention it: A long time ago, in the place of the Tomb in the masonry behind it, inside the wall and at a height of about 2 meters, I found a wooden wedge of about 20 cm, and as soon as I took it out, it had a very pleasant smell and smelled like that for about three days. It had been there for 200 years. Normally it should smell like rot. And yet it smelled wonderful," he explains in shock, even now that the Tomb's maintenance is complete.
How could the Parthenon remain standing for 2,500 years without a foundation?
The mystery is revealed after studies showed that the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis is triple seismically shielded despite the fact that it has no foundation.
According to civil engineer Niki Timotheu, studies of the temple's architectural and structural form have shown that the ancient world had already discovered what we now call "seismic isolation". According to Niki Timotheu, the temple successfully contradicts the theory of modern construction because, without having a foundation at all, it is triple seismically insulated.
This triple insulation is located, as she explained, in different parts of the building. The first point is in the layers of huge horizontal and extremely smooth marble stones on which the Parthenon stands.
The second point is found in the elastic metal joints that connect the slabs of each layer, made up of small iron piles in the middle, around which lead has been poured (lead has the property of protecting iron from rust and weakening the elasticity of each wave, since part of its kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy).
And the third point is found in the columns of the building, which were not set in one piece, because the ancient Greeks knew that in order to withstand the vibrations of the earth, they had to be set in slices that were perfectly superimposed.
The result of this triple insulating formula, as Mrs Timotheu noted, was that the seismic waves on the surface moved one layer of the marble slabs over the other, while the joints dissipated the kinetic energy developed by the earthquake! The columns, as they were arranged, made the whole building sway, but not collapse.
Earliest evidence of mutilation discovered 31,000 years ago in Borneo
New findings by Australian and Indonesian archaeologists are changing our knowledge of human history. The earliest case of surgery to date was that of a Neolithic farmer 7,000 years ago.
[Credit: Tim Maloney (Guardian)]
A human skeleton found on the Indonesian island of Borneo, dating to a hunter-gatherer society at least 31,000 years ago, bears the world's oldest record of a surgical amputation on the left leg. The discovery challenges the previously prevailing view that such medical practices emerged more recently, roughly parallel to the advent of agriculture about 10,000 years ago.
By measuring the age of a tooth and burial sediments, scientists estimated the age of the remains at about 31,000 years. Analysis of the remains revealed healing marks on the lower left leg, indicating that the leg had been surgically amputated several years before burial.
[Credit: Tim Maloney (Guardian)]
The researchers from Australia, Indonesia and South Africa, led by Tim Maloney of Australia's Griffith University, who made the corresponding publication in the journal "Nature", reported that the lower leg had apparently been amputated intentionally and the patient had recovered. This suggests that sophisticated surgical procedures took place in tropical Asia thousands of years earlier than previously known.
The oldest internationally known complex surgery discovered to date involved a Neolithic farmer in France about 7,000 years ago who had his left arm amputated.
Professor Tim Maloney of Australia's Griffith University, who led the excavation, called the discovery "an archaeologist's absolute dream".
[Credit: Tim Maloney (Guardian)]
Amputations require extensive knowledge of human anatomy and surgical hygiene, as well as a high degree of technical skill. Before modern clinical advances such as antisepsis, most amputees eventually died from hemorrhage and septic shock or subsequent infection.
The researchers explained that in Borneo's case, surgical amputation of the lower leg was likely performed in infancy. The young man survived the surgery (which scientists believe is surprising for such a young age), was estimated to be able to walk with the aid of some support, and continued to live for another six to nine years before finally dying and being buried in the Liang Tembo limestone cave in the East Kalimantan region at the age of about 20.
The scientists believe that whoever performed the amputation had intimate knowledge of the structure, muscles and blood vessels of the leg, so he was able to prevent fatal blood loss and infection. They believe it is unlikely that the lower limb was severed by animal attack or accident, as this usually results in crush fractures. Nor does the mutilation appear to have been done as a punishment, since the young man was well cared for after the operation and at his subsequent burial.
[Credit: Jose Garcia (GARCIARTIST) & Griffith University]
Griffiths suggests that some of our ancestors in the tropical rainforests of Asia had developed advanced medical knowledge and skills. The rapid deterioration of infections in such a hot and humid environment probably motivated the acquisition of useful knowledge such as antiseptics using the rich variety of herbs and other plants found in Borneo. More recently, other important finds have been made on the island, such as unexpectedly ancient rock paintings dating back to about 40,000 years ago.
Haloa: The "obscene" feast of ancient Greece
Haloa was one of the festivals that the ancient Greeks systematically celebrated every year in honor of the goddess Demeter, known as Haloea (goddess of the fruits of the earth), Dionysus (god of the vine and wine) and Poseidon Fytalmios (god of coastal vegetation).
Haloa was a three-shaped peasant feast of antiquity, and the customs of worshiping the gods in this context cause us to call this celebration "obscene". A second opinion is that they were also celebrated in honor of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter.
The Haloa were held around Attica and extended to Eleusis, where they ended, then followed the Poseidonian procession and finally the initiation into the mysteries of Demeter and Persephone.
There are two versions about the period of this celebration: the first one says that Haloa was celebrated in the month of June (Ekatombeonas) with the harvest of the Spartans and the second one in the month of December (Poseidon) with the harvest and the opening of the new wine. In Haloa, no hierophant participated, but a priestess who initiated the women, and all exchanged free speeches and conversations, and at the end there was a common dinner. The dinner included all foods except those forbidden in the ceremonies (eggs, pomegranates, etc.). But why was it called "obscene"?
In this celebration, the women had with them figurines in the shape of sexual organs and food in the corresponding shapes of phallus and vulva. At the end of the meal, they buried the phalluses in the ground, believing that in this way vegetation and fertility would be strengthened.
In Haloa, among other things, obscenities were exchanged between all the women, even the priestess urged the married women to commit adultery and they danced orgiastically with each other. From the 4th century BC, hetairas participated and women flocked to the streets and danced to provocative songs.
Hetairai at Haloa festival dancing around a giant phallus (Oedipus Painter, 480 BC) By Wikipedia
In general, Haloa was a festival of women in ancient times and was celebrated at night, although the preserved information is insufficient compared to other customs of the ancient Greeks. Moreover, there are two versions of the conceptual origin: the first states that Haloa means the threshing floor according to Philochorus, the second that it means the vines according to the commentator Lucian.
The Haloa festival lasted several days, at the end of which athletic competitions like the Olympics took place, in which not all citizens of ancient Athens were allowed to participate, as was customary in other celebrations. However, in this celebration the young people had the right to speak publicly.
From the above it is clear why Haloa is characterized as an obscene celebration of antiquity, because in modern times the use of strange effigies and provocative dances with obscene vocabulary is not common, although in antiquity it was a habit and considered normal.
