In ancient times, the most powerful and influential cities in the world were located primarily in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Places like Alexandria, Jericho, and Carthage once were thought to be as influential or powerful as cities like London, Tokyo, or Washington, DC, are today. By the 21st century, the majority of cities that were military, economic, and religious powers hundreds or thousands of years ago no longer have that kind of influence. Although some of the powerful ancient cities like Alexandria and Baghdad do still exist, many more of them have been forgotten or left in ruins.
A Secret Cache Of Crusader Era Coins Has Been Found Beneath An Ancient Port City In Israel
Over the past few decades, the ancient Israeli city of Caesarea has thrown up a a number of archaeological treasures. And through the results of careful excavation, experts have been able to slowly paint a picture of what life was like in the area throughout the ages. In 2018, however, a trove of rare, centuries-old coins were unearthed in one of Caesarea’s neighborhoods, and this fascinating new find appears to tell us yet more about the region’s colorful history.
When Drought Caused A Reservoir In Iraq To Dry Up, It Exposed A Palace From A Once Powerful Kingdom
When water levels in the Mosul Dam reservoir fell in , people were permitted the briefest glimpse of something long submerged. Yet it wasn’t until much later that the reservoir had dried up enough to allow archaeologists to finally explore this mysterious find. And so they rushed to do so before it disappeared under the water again.
Archaeologists In Israel’s Desert Have Discovered An Ancient Painting Of Jesus Christ’s Face
The sun is blinding, and it’s just too much for Emma Maayan-Fanar. So, the art historian steps inside an ancient church to find the coolness she craves. But as she looks up at the roof, she discovers something astonishing. It’s a painting – dirty and damaged, for sure, but there’s no mistaking what it shows. That, right there, is Christ’s face. And what Maayan-Fanar has stumbled across – purely by chance – could change what we know about art.
This is Why Gigantopithecus is 100 Times More Dangerous Than Gorilla
Do you think gorillas are the biggest and most dangerous primates? No, other monkeys, which were four meters tall (13 feet) and weighed half a ton (1,100 lbs), could compete with them... If they hadn't died out, of course. I am talking about gigantopithecuses. In this episode you will see these prehistoric monsters and find out why they were a hundred times more dangerous than gorillas and more!
Grand Canyon's Discovery Leaved Everyone In Shocked
In 1869, a small expedition led by John Wesley Powell set out to explore an area of the United States that had yet to be fully explored - the Grand Canyon. What they discovered left them and the rest of the world shocked and in awe of the natural wonder that had been hidden in plain sight for centuries. The discovery of the Grand Canyon not only changed the way we view the landscape of America but also gave us a deeper understanding of the power of nature and the importance of preservation.
The ‘walking whales’ of Egypt: Fossils in the desert are remains of 37 million years old sea mammals
The fossilized remains of marine creatures who ruled the oceans 37 million years ago are known as the “walking whales” of Egypt.
Dozens of fossilized whale bones have emerged from the Wati El Hitan in the Egyptian desert (pictured) and form the centre piece of a new museum that has been opened. Among them is an intact 37 million-year-old skeleton of a legged form of whale that measures more than 65 feet (20 metres) long
The likelihood of finding whales in Egypt's dry desert sands is low. But from the shifting sands of the Egyptian Sahara, dozens of fossilized remains of ancient relatives of the enormous sea animals have been discovered.
One of them is the 65-foot (20-meter) long, complete skeleton of a legged kind of whale that lived 37 million years ago.
The largest intact Basilosaurus isis whale fossil - an early formed of 'legged whale' - is one of the key attractions at the new Fossils and Climate Change Museum in Egypt's Valley of the Whales
Scientists are learning new things about how terrestrial mammals evolved into contemporary whales thanks to the relics.
The largest intact Basulosaurus isis whale fossil was discovered in the shifting sands of the Egyptian desert. The $2.17 billion (£1.5 billion) museum was built around the fossils to help protect and preserve them
A $2.17 billion (£1.5 billion) museum has been formally inaugurated in the Wadi Al-Hitan, often known as the Valley of the Whales. The region was formerly covered by a vast prehistoric ocean, but it has since disappeared as a result of falling sea levels and shifting landmasses. The museum is housed in a sand-colored dome-shaped building that has been constructed to safeguard many of the fossils.
In glass cases, fossilized remains from the fossils are displayed with stone-age artefacts, which show that people lived nearby thousands of years ago.
A visitor views the largest intact Basulosaurus isis whale fossil (pictured), which is on display at the Wati El Hitan Fossils and Climate Change Museum on the opening day. The fossils have proved invaluable to palaeontologists as they try to piece together the evolutionary history of modern-day sea mammals
The new Fossils and Climate Change Museum's architect, Gabriel Mikhail, claimed that the building was intended to blend in with its arid surroundings. “It would be a crime against nature, he argued, to construct something in such a stunning and distinctive location if it didn't mix in with the surroundings.”
The giant fossil is one of the most complete Basulosaurus isis whale fossil's to have been found. The species has earned the name 'walking whale' due to leg like limbs that are thought to have been a key evolutionary stage as whales evolved from land mammals
Researchers Discover Soft Tissue in Bones of a 75-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur
Soft tissues are among the first components to perish during the fossilization process, in contrast to bones and teeth, which can last for hundreds of millions of years. However, scientists have previously discovered undamaged soft tissue in dinosaur bones. The most well-known instance occurred in 2005 when Mary Schweitzer of North Carolina State University discovered collagen strands in a Tyrannosaurus rex's petrified leg bone.
However, such finds are uncommon and have only previously been made with fossils that were incredibly well preserved. The latest discovery, which Imperial College London researchers announced this week in the journal Nature Communications, is especially remarkable because the fossils they looked at are, to put it mildly, in rather bad shape.
“It's really challenging to convince curators to let you take pieces of their fossils”, as Susannah Maidment, an Imperial paleontologist and one of the study's principal investigators, said in an interview with the Guardian. “The specimens we analyzed are poor quality, quite fragmentary, and not the kinds of fossils you would anticipate to include soft tissue.”
The fossils to which Maidment is alluding were discovered in Canada over a century ago and eventually found their way to the Natural History Museum in London. A claw from a carnivorous theropod (perhaps a Gorgosaurus), a toe bone that resembles a Triceratops, and several limb and ankle bones from a duck-billed dinosaur are among them. Scientists chipped microscopic bits off the fractured fossils in order to locate clean, uncontaminated surfaces of the bones to analyze. Using an electron microscope, Maidment's co-lead researcher Sergio Bertazzo examined the specimens and was astounded by what he discovered. Bertazzo is a materials scientist at Imperial College London.
“It looked like blood when I turned on the microscope and increased the magnification one morning.” Bertazzo described his examination of the theropod claw in his statement to the Guardian. After discovering what appeared to be red blood cells in two of the fossils, the researchers investigated the idea that the blood may have been contaminated historically, such as if a curator or collector had a cut while handling the item.
However, they were certain the blood was not human when they cut up one of the red blood cells and discovered what appeared to be a nucleus. Human red blood cells, like those of other mammals, are unique among vertebrates in that they do not include a cell nucleus.
However, it wasn't all. The scientists discovered bands of fibers while studying a cross-section of a preserved rib bone. Collagen, which serves as the primary structural protein in skin and other soft tissues, was discovered to contain the same amino acids in the fibers after they underwent testing. The materials the Imperial scientists discovered still need to be put through more tests to determine whether they are real red blood cells and collagen fibers, but if they are, the implications of the new discoveries are profound. Similar materials could be kept on any of the innumerable dinosaur bones housed in museums throughout the world if such poor fossils could contain soft tissue.
Soft tissue research could open up a whole new world of knowledge on the physiology, behavior, and evolution of dinosaurs. Such recent discoveries may shed light on long-standing questions regarding the links between various dinosaur species as well as the hotly contested issue of whether dinosaurs had warm or cold blood, or whether they were a combination of the two (like their living descendants, birds).
Finally, the latest discoveries suggest an intriguing possibility: Why couldn't dinosaur DNA, even in pieces, have persisted for 75 million years if collagen and red blood cells could? Could the genetic code be used to recreate the dinosaurs in the way of “Jurassic World”? Although Bertazzo acknowledges the prospect of discovering genetic information in historical specimens, he is dubious about its likelihood. “Even if you find DNA, it won't be complete, which is the problem. You might discover pieces, but to discover more than that? No one knows.”
The Deadliest Volcano is about to Erupt Again!
The Nevado del Ruiz, the deadliest volcano in the Western Hemisphere, is about to erupt.
This volcano in Colombia has been showing signs of erupting. Part of it fractured and earthquakes are on the rise. The Colombian government issued an Orange Alert, stating eruption could be within weeks, or even days. Evacuations are taking place. Back in 1985, this same volcano caused a mud and debris flow (or lahar) that wiped out Armero, killing 23,000 people.
Today, they are desperately trying to avoid a repeat of that tragedy.
5 Unsolved Mysteries Of The Congo Jungle That Cannot Be Explained
Every single year, scientists have been finding the existence of long since believed to be extinct species all across the world, including the existence of many marine animals that were roaming the oceans back during the time of the dinosaurs.
One location that's said to house some of these creatures is that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which seems to be earth’s real life jurassic park.
The Congo Jungle, also known as the Congo Basin or the Congo Rainforest, is a vast and dense tropical rainforest that covers a large part of Central Africa.
Inside King Tut's $1Billion Dollar Tomb
There are many treasures hidden within the tomb of Egypt’s young pharaoh, King Tutankhamun. The legendary tomb was first discovered by Howard Carter in 1922 in ‘The Valley of the Kings’, and since its discovery over 5,000 items have been removed from the burial site and exhibited all around the world. These priceless pieces of history have been insured for almost a billion dollars as they travel the planet. But what did King Tut’s tomb look like before humans got to it-- when Howard Carter first discovered one of the most valuable finds in all of human history?
Let’s take a tour of the legendary tomb just as it was when Carter first stepped foot into the passageway that would lead him to King Tut’s final resting place. Inside we’ll find gold chariots, thrones, secret doors, lavish oils, priceless jewels, statues galore and even perfectly preserved organs. We’ll also explore the sarcophagus of the young boy-king, which is encased in more than $3 million worth of gold. And we definitely can’t forget about the last room in the tomb-- his treasury, overflowing with valuable goods that were meant to follow him into the afterlife. Now all of King Tut’s treasures will be on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum-- a $1 billion building. But before we go visiting exhibits, let’s enjoy all these hidden secrets and buried treasure the way they were originally placed to help the pharaoh on his journey. Let’s explore the legendary tomb of King Tut.
What Is Found After The Jordan River Dried Up Shocked Scientists
As scientists show off their latest discoveries at the Jordan River, rumors start to spread that something unbelievable is going on, something that goes against all logic and reason. People start to talk about a scary, mysterious event that makes them wonder: who or what is coming back from the depths of the river? As tensions rise and rumors spread like wildfire, the world waits with bated breath for what could be the most shocking discovery of our time.
The Jordan River travels through the Jordan Rift Valley before entering the Kinneret. After entering the Kinneret, the Jordan River continues its journey to the Dead Sea, where it terminates. It is the location of a great number of significant biblical events. However, the scene of Jesus Christ being baptized by John the Baptist is the first thing that comes to mind for the vast majority of Christians when they think of the river.
The Euphrates River Finally Dried Up And Now This Has Emerged
The Euphrates River, a lifeline to millions, is slowly disappearing, and with it, the hopes and dreams of an entire region. But what is causing the river to dry up? Is it just a natural occurrence or something more sinister? And what do scientists mean by a "horrifying discovery" beneath its once-flowing waters? As the world watches in fear, the prophecy that foretold of the Euphrates' demise appears to be coming true, leaving us to wonder: what other secrets lie hidden beneath its dry riverbed, waiting to be uncovered?
The seven vials, or bowls, that are found in the Word of God shall be poured out by seven angels.
Hawaii's Forgotten Islands
The US State of Hawaii lies on an island chain in the tropical North Pacific, and is the newest of the US’s 50 states. But there's more to Hawaii than you probably realize - literally! We're going to take a look at the Hawaiian islands that you won't find on most maps, which extend more than a thousand miles out into the Pacific. Enjoy!
Australopithecus - A Crucial Evolutionary Link
Australopithecus, meaning “southern ape”, was an early hominin that existed in Africa during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. The genera Homo, which includes modern humans, Paranthropus, and Kenyanthropus evolved from Australopithecus. In other words, Australopithecus were primates closely related to, if not actually ancestors of, modern human beings. For this reason, it is a crucial evolutionary link between nonhuman ape-like creatures and early human species. It is perhaps one of the richest paleoanthropological finds with fossils like “Lucy” yielding significant insights into our evolutionary past.
Species are numerous, and include Australopithecus garhi, Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus sediba, Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus bahrelghazali, and Australopithecus deyiremeda.
Australopithecus is known from a series of fossils found at numerous sites in eastern, north-central, and southern Africa, also known as the cradle of humankind. For the longest time, scientists believed our early ancestors arose from Europe or Asia, yet in 1924, a fossil discovery in South Africa revolutionized the perception of early human evolution, known as the Taung Child, which we will get to later in the video.
The earliest known member of the genus, Australopithecus anamensis, existed in eastern Africa around 4.2 million years ago, possessing a smaller cranial capacity than other australopithecines. Australopithecus fossils become more widely dispersed throughout eastern and southern Africa, with the Chadian Australopithecus bahrelghazali indicating the genus was much more widespread than the fossil record suggests, before eventually becoming extinct 1.9 million years ago, or 1.2 million to 600,000 years ago if Paranthropus is included, during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. The validity of Paranthropus is contested, with paleoanthropologists currently debating about synonymy with Australopithecus. While none of the groups normally directly assigned to this group survived, including the subspecies, Australopithecus gave rise to living descendants: humans, or Homo, which emerged from an Australopithecus species some time between 3 and 2 million years ago. One of the greatest mysteries in paleoanthropology might be the exact species from which early Homo arose, whose discovery could notably change our view of early human evolution.
Places Straight Out Of Legends
In the following video we will be exploring places straight out of legends. Watch the video to find out more!
Scientists Have Noticed That Something Is Breathing on Mars Right Now. What Is It?
In today’s video we will investigate a recent discovery made by scientists on Mars. Watch the video below to find out more!
Is there an Undiscovered chamber beneath the Khafre Causeway on the Giza Plateau?
Is there a undiscovered and hidden chamber beneath the huge Khafre Causeway on the Giza Plateau? Join us as we explore several examples of subterranean features of the Giza Plateau, and investigate what could be an entirely new discovery of a hidden chamber beneath the causeway. Enjoy!
Uncovering the Hidden Symbolism in Renowned Medieval Paintings
Art is always open to interpretation. You can spend hours poring over a piece and always find something different every time you see it. Paintings, altar pieces and frescos by genius’ such as Da Vinci, Van Eyck and Bosch have always attracted the curiosity of art historians because they are thought to hide mysteries, cryptic details or hidden symbols. Here we take a closer look at the works of three of the worlds greatest painters who were alive during the Late Medieval Period. Watch the video to find out more!
Incredible Recent Discoveries Of Prehistoric Creatures
In the following video we will be talking about incredible recent discoveries of prehistoric creatures. Watch the video to find out more!
