Palauans are using lasers and lost stories to uncover the secrets of their ancient terraces
The history of these terraces, who built them and what they were used for, has been lost from oral storytelling, but now scientists and traditional knowledge custodians are working together to uncover their secrets.
Talent:
Leilani Reklai, Editor and Publisher of Island Times, former Governor of Aimeliik State
Dr. Jolie Liston, U.S. archaeologist with over 30 years researching Palau's terraces
Meked Besebes, Palauan anthropologist and cultural preservation specialist
Reporter: Sophie Ly
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ABC News
5 days ago
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Why the Pacific tsunami was smaller than expected — a geologist explains
The earthquake near the east coast of the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia on July 30 2025 generated tsunami waves that have reached Hawaii and coastal areas of the US mainland. The earthquake's magnitude of 8.8 is significant, potentially making it one of the largest quakes ever recorded. Countries around much of the Pacific, including in east Asia, North and South America, issued alerts and in some cases evacuation orders in anticipation of potentially devastating waves. Waves of up to four metres hit coastal towns in Kamchatka near where the earthquake struck, apparently causing severe damage in some areas. But in other places waves have been smaller than expected, including in Japan, which is much closer to Kamchatka than most of the Pacific rim. Many warnings have now been downgraded or lifted with relatively little damage. It seems that for the size of the earthquake, the tsunami has been rather smaller than might have been the case. To understand why, we can look to geology. The earthquake was associated with the Pacific tectonic plate, one of several major pieces of the Earth's crust. This pushes north-west against the part of the North American plate that extends west into Russia, and is forced downwards beneath the Kamchatka peninsula in a process called subduction. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says the average rate of convergence — a measure of plate movement — is around 80mm per year. This is one of the highest rates of relative movement at a plate boundary. But this movement tends to take place as an occasional sudden movement of several metres. In any earthquake of this type and size, the displacement may occur over a contact area between the two tectonic plates of slightly less than 400km by 150km, according to the USGS. The Earth's crust is made of rock that is very hard and brittle at the small scale and near the surface. But over very large areas and depths, it can deform with slightly elastic behaviour. As the subducting slab — the Pacific plate — pushes forward and descends, the depth of the ocean floor may suddenly change. A map of tsunami warnings on Wednesday stretching from the west to east of the Pacific Ocean. Nearer to the coastline, the crust of the overlying plate may be pushed upward as the other pushed underneath, or — as was the case off Sumatra in 2004 — the outer edge of the overlying plate may be dragged down somewhat before springing back a few metres. It is these near-instantaneous movements of the seabed that generate tsunami waves by displacing huge volumes of ocean water. For example, if the seabed rose just one metre across an area of 200 by 100km where the water is 1km deep, then the volume of water displaced would fill Wembley stadium to the roof 17.5 million times. A one-metre rise like this will then propagate away from the area of the uplift in all directions, interacting with normal wind-generated ocean waves, tides and the shape of the sea floor to produce a series of tsunami waves. In the open ocean, the tsunami wave would not be noticed by boats and ships, which is why a cruise ship in Hawaii was quickly moved out to sea. Waves sculpted by the seabed The tsunami waves travel across the deep ocean at up to 440 miles per hour, so they may be expected to reach any Pacific Ocean coastline within 24 hours. However, some of their energy will dissipate as they cross the ocean, so they will usually be less hazardous at the furthest coastlines away from the earthquake. The hazard arises from how the waves are modified as the seabed rises towards a shoreline. They will slow and, as a result, grow in height, creating a surge of water towards and then beyond the normal coastline. The Kamchatka earthquake was slightly deeper in the Earth's crust (20.7km) than the Sumatran earthquake of 2004 and the Japanese earthquake of 2011. This will have resulted in somewhat less vertical displacement of the seabed, with the movement of that seabed being slightly less instantaneous. This is why we've seen tsunami warnings lifted some time before any tsunami waves would have arrived there. Alan Dykes, Associate Professor in Engineering Geology, Kingston University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
ABC News
7 days ago
- ABC News
Palauans are using lasers and lost stories to uncover the secrets of their ancient terraces
Buried beneath the lush jungles of Palau are vast and ancient monuments that look like giant stairways cut into hills. The history of these terraces, who built them and what they were used for, has been lost from oral storytelling, but now scientists and traditional knowledge custodians are working together to uncover their secrets. Talent: Leilani Reklai, Editor and Publisher of Island Times, former Governor of Aimeliik State Dr. Jolie Liston, U.S. archaeologist with over 30 years researching Palau's terraces Meked Besebes, Palauan anthropologist and cultural preservation specialist Reporter: Sophie Ly
News.com.au
28-07-2025
- News.com.au
New technology uncovers hidden details of Egypt's 2,300-year-old 'untouchable' mummy
Modern technology has helped shed further light on an Ancient Egyptian mystery after spending millennia under wraps. The Bashiri Mummy, also known as the 'untouchable one', has long remained unravelled – as researchers have feared causing damage to the intricately wrapped fabric. It is believed by some sources that Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered this mummy in the Valley of the Kings, The Sun reports. This is the same area he would famously go on to uncover King Tutankhamun's tomb. But according to Discover magazine, the most that is known for sure is that the 'untouchable one' was found, but that no researchers have dared attempt to unfurl its cloth. Prior to the invention of X-ray and CT scanners, people would unwrap these ancient mummies to study them – causing severe damage. New technology has lessened the need for such methods of study, allowing researchers to learn more about ancient artefacts while inflicting less harm on them. It brings them one step closer to understanding the mysteries of the Bashiri Mummy. The untouchable one's face wrappings are said to be unique, featuring a pattern resembling the base of a pyramid. According to the American Museum of Natural History, 'In the past, the only way to learn about a mummy was to unwrap it. 'But this widespread practice destroyed the mummy, often detaching body parts." Scans have now revealed fresh details about the mummy. Researchers have established that the Bashiri Mummy would have been an adult man who stood about 5.5 feet (1.7 metres) tall. He would have lived in the Ptolemaic Era – which spanned from 305BC to 30BC. This makes the mummy around a staggering 2,300 years old. The X-ray scan also showed an inscription of the man's name, according to the Egypt Museum. However, it is not fully clear if Pacheri or Nenu are written, leaving some mysteries around the mummy still unresolved. The museum added that the mummy's encasement was decorated with 'various scenes arranged in registers, notably the mummy lying on a bed, surrounded by the goddesses Isis and Nephtys, and the four sons of Horus.' 'Finally, the casing around the feet has two images of the funerary god Anubis,' it adds. It is not the only incredible discovery of the Ancient World unveiled in recent weeks. A network of dimly lit tunnels under Rome's Capitoline Hill could soon become the city's latest tourist hot spot. The secret underground city covers some 42,000 square feet (3,902 square metres) under the Ancient Roman Forum – and reaches depths of 985 feet (300 metres) below the surface. It is expected to be open for visitors from late 2026 or early 2027, CNN has reported.
