This week, the first archaeological survey in space was conducted on the ISS, we investigated whether the Egyptians really built their oldest pyramid using a hydraulic elevator, and we explained why people are so excited about Perseverance’s discovery of a “possible biosignature” on Mars. Finally, we asked why we believe in urban legends like the Russian sleep experiment.
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“World’s oldest calendar” could depict catastrophic comet impact 13,000 years ago
A cataclysmic comet impact 13,000 years ago may have sparked the rise of civilization, according to the authors of a new study. The event – which many scientists believe never happened – may even be documented at the world-famous site of Göbekli Tepe, where it is part of a series of carvings that researchers say depict the world’s oldest solar calendar. Read the full story here
First archaeological investigation in space carried out on the ISS
Outside of science fiction, archaeology and space may not seem like a good fit – but the first archaeological survey in space has been conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The research not only provides insights into how people adapt to life on the ISS, but also shows how archaeology can be used to investigate remote and extreme places. Read the full story here
Did the Egyptians really build their oldest pyramid with a hydraulic elevator?
Egyptologists have been thrown into turmoil by a controversial new study that claims a 4,500-year-old pyramid was built using incredibly sophisticated technology, including a spectacular “hydraulic elevator.” According to the authors, the stunning system allowed huge building blocks to be moved from the ground to the top of the pyramid via a central shaft, much like lava flows upward through a volcano. But archaeologists are still unconvinced. Read the full story here.
Why people are so excited about Perseverance’s “possible biosignature” discovery on Mars
Recently, the mission team of NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance announced the discovery of an exciting rock formation. The arrow-shaped rock, nicknamed Cheyava Falls, is the most promising find yet in the search for ancient life on Mars. Structures are visible in the rock that indicate that it has been modified by microorganisms – this does not mean that it is the discovery of life, but it is cause for excitement. Read the full story here
World’s first implantation of a titanium heart using magnetic levitation technology
A heart made of titanium sounds like something made for the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz – but on July 9, it was implanted in a patient for the first time. Total artificial heart (TAH) implantation is a proposed solution to help people with heart failure who require a heart transplant, and is currently considered a bridge to heart transplantation in severe cases of heart failure. Read the full story here
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Feature of the week:
The Russian sleep experiment and why we believe in urban legends
The Russian sleep experiment is often cited as an example of the cruel experiments people have performed on each other – only it never actually happened. But what makes stories like this so “believable”? Or to put it another way: Why do some stories become urban legends while others don’t, and why do we accept them? Read the full story here
Further content:
Do you already know our e-magazine CURIOUS? It just turned 2 years old! Issue 25 from August 2024 is now available. Take a look and read exclusive interviews, book excerpts, long texts and more.
PLUS: Season 4 of IFLScience’s The Big Questions podcast has begun. So far, we’ve asked: “Why are we the only surviving human species?”, “What impact does climate change have on our health?”, “Is evolutionary biology sexist?” and “Can we make dogs live longer?”
