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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Disturbing Ancient Egyptian graves reveal brutal treatment of corpses 5,000 years ago including shock teen girl's burial
The girl's body was carefully aligned with the setting sun on the winter solstice, while her coffin also pointed towards the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered a disturbing Ancient Egyptian burial practice that saw people dismembered before being put to rest. The discovery offers a rare insight into the spiritual life of villagers more than 5,000 years ago - and may even mark the beginning of religion for the ancient pharaohs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, researchers analysed patterns among more than 900 tombs across the 74-acre Adaiima site Credit: Alcouffe, A., Duchesne, S., Tupikova, I. et al./ Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory Researchers found the remains of a teenage girl whose arm had been deliberately severed after her death and positioned to match her left arm. The girl's left arm was bent unnaturally in a more than 90degree angle and tucked in very tightly. The limb was removed near the lower part of the upper arm and forearm, possibly done using an axe. The muscles were most likely sliced with a flint blade, according to researchers. Her severed arm was carefully arranged to appear almost intact, with the hand placed beside the forearm. Buried in the Adaiima cemetery on the west bank of the Nile river, the remains date back to between 3300 to 2700 BC. The girl's body was carefully aligned with the setting sun on the winter solstice, while her coffin also pointed towards the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Celestial alignments, and other symbolic gestures, likely influenced the religious traditions later embraced by Egypt's first pharaohs who emerged between 100 and 400 years later. 3 Buried in the Adaiima cemetery on the west bank of the Nile river, the remains date back to between 3300 to 2700 BC Credit: Getty Her burial may also be the earliest sign of the Osiris and Isis myth - where the goddess Isis reassembles the dismembered body of Osiris beneath the rising Sirius. The tale is thought to symbolise death, rebirth, and cosmic order. Ancient Egyptian Tombs: Over a Thousand Mummies Unveiled The cemetery her remains were found in is one of Egypt's oldest and most thoroughly studied, and paints a detailed picture about how funerary practices changed over time. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, researchers analysed patterns among more than 900 tombs across the 74-acre Adaiima site. Another coffin that was positioned to catch the winter sun contained a woman buried with ornate jewelry and pottery. A third grave, also belonging to a woman, faced the summer sunset and contained a ceremonial staff and plant-fiber wig. The study suggests these early burials shaped the mythology later adopted by Egypt's ruling elite - from their sky-based alignments to their ritual gestures, such as dismemberment. Older graves were placed around earlier, astronomically-aligned tombs, suggesting those burials held continued to hold religious or ancestral significance over the years. Ivory boat models and fine coffins were found with remains researchers believed once belonged to individuals of higher status or spiritual importance. Similar to the dismemberment, a singular bone belonging to a child was found placed on the chest of an adult in a later tomb. In the myth of Osiris, Isis gathers the scattered body parts of her murdered husband after he is slain by his jealous brother, Set. "Sepdet, which we know as Sirius, was believed to be the appearance of Isis in the sky," the study said. "When the state emerged, it did not create religion from scratch. "It absorbed long-standing practices and reworked them into royal narratives."
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The 7 foods that could protect you from common fat jab side effect, suggest scientists
Find out more about side effects linked to fat jabs below NO WEIGH The 7 foods that could protect you from common fat jab side effect, suggest scientists Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WOMEN and older adults who use increasingly popular weight-loss drug semaglutide could protect themselves from a common side effect by eating more protein, say scientists. It may be an important step in reducing insulin resistance and preventing frailty in people with obesity, they add. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Women and older adults using semaglutide nay be at risk of losing muscle mass, previous studies have found Credit: Getty A previous study presented at ENDO 2025 suggested women and older adults using semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, for weight loss may be at a higher risk of losing muscle mass. Muscle loss, also referred to as lean mass loss, is a frequent consequence of weight reduction in people with obesity. According to lead researcher Dr Melanie Haines of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in a new study, this type of muscle loss can negatively influence metabolism and bone health. That's because muscle helps manage blood sugar levels after eating and contributes to bone strength. According to a study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, up to 40 per cent of the total weight lost while using semaglutide may be lean mass. But Dr Haines noted it's still unclear which patients are most likely to lose muscle and how this muscle loss might impact blood sugar control. To explore this further, researchers observed 40 adults with obesity over a three-month period. Of these participants, 23 were treated with semaglutide, while the remaining 17 took part in a weight-loss programme called Healthy Habits for Life (HHL), which focuses on diet and lifestyle changes. The team then monitored shifts in the participants' muscle mass over the course of the study. They found participants who were prescribed semaglutide lost more weight than those who participated in the diet and lifestyle programme. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons But the percent of weight loss that was lean mass was similar between the two groups. After accounting for weight loss, the researchers found in the semaglutide group, being older, female, or eating less protein was linked to greater muscle loss. Losing more muscle was also linked to less improvement in blood sugar levels. 'Older adults and women may be more likely to lose muscle on semaglutide, but eating more protein may help protect against this,' Haines said. 'Losing too much muscle may reduce the benefits of semaglutide on blood sugar control. "This means preserving muscle during weight loss with semaglutide may be important to reduce insulin resistance and prevent frailty in people with obesity.' There are both animal and plant-based sources of protein. Here are seven to include in your diet: Animal sources Lean meats - chicken breast, turkey, beef, and pork are excellent sources of high-quality protein, offering a range of vitamins and minerals. Fish - salmon, tuna, and other fish are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Eggs - a complete protein source, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. Dairy - milk, yogurt (especially Greek yogurt), and cheese (especially cottage cheese) are good sources of protein and calcium. Plant-based sources Legumes - beans, lentils, and peas are excellent sources of protein, fibre, and other nutrients. Nuts and seeds - almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds offer protein, healthy fats, and vitamins. Tofu and soy products - tofu, tempeh, and edamame are good sources of protein, particularly for vegetarians and vegans. In the UK, semaglutide for weight loss is available under the brand name Wegovy, and is prescribed through specialist weight management services within the NHS. It's an injectable medication (once weekly) that is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Ozempic, another semaglutide medication, is specifically for type 2 diabetes and is available on the NHS.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning to parents taking children to farms this summer as 200 fall sick and 18 rushed to hospital
There were 17 outbreaks of nasty parasitic bug linked to farms in England and Wales in 2024 BUG BEAR Urgent warning to parents taking children to farms this summer as 200 fall sick and 18 rushed to hospital Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PARENTS planning summer trips to farms have been warned to keep their children safe, after hundreds fell ill with a parasitic infection following visits to petting farms last year. Over 200 people got sick and 18 were rushed to hospital in spring 2024 in a large outbreak of the bug cryptosporidium, linked to a farm in Wales. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Health officials have issued a warning about summer trips to lamb petting farms Credit: Getty 5 It follows outbreaks of the bug cryptosporidium linked to petting farms Credit: Getty Those sickened - many of whom were children under the age of ten - visited the Welsh farm for lamb-feeding events, where visitors were encouraged to hold and cuddle the animals. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic and highly infectious parasite that can cause an infection called cryptosporidiosis. It spreads easily between animals and humans and strikes victims with vomiting and diarrhoea, sometimes for several weeks. There were 17 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis linked to farms in England and Wales in 2024. And earlier this year, more than 80 people fell ill due to infections linked to a petting farm in Vale of Glamorgan. Now, families visiting petting farms over the summer break have been urged not to hug lambs in order to avoid further outbreaks. Public Health Wales (PHW) advised farmers in the country not to allow visitors close contact with lambs - this includes holding, cuddling or kissing the animals. The advice came after PHW conducted a report on the 2024 outbreak that saw 200 sickened. It found people who had closer levels of contact with lambs at petting events were much more likely to become ill with cryptosporidium than those who didn't touch the animals. "Discussions with the farm owner revealed that lambs often urinated or defecated on visitors when they were held for prolonged periods, and those exposed to faeces on clothes or the skin were significantly more likely to develop illness, suggesting a need to limit lamb contact at these events," report authors added. Farm Outbreak: Cryptosporidium Strikes The health watchdog wrote: 'This report recommends that lamb or calf feeding is supervised and done with the animals separated from the visitors by their pens. "This means that people can still bottle feed the animals but can have greater protection against illness." The report also recommended that farmers provide better hand-washing facilities and visible signs to encourage visitors to use them. Meanwhile, visitors were advised to wash their clothing as soon as possible after visiting petting farms. 5 Dr Christopher Williams, consultant epidemiologist for Public Health Wales and one of the authors of the report, said bugs like cryptosporidium as this one "are spread very easily" in environments such as lamb feeding events. He told farmers: 'Having adequate handwashing facilities on-site is absolutely essential – sinks need to have both hot and cold running water, along with a good supply of liquid soap and paper towels. "Signage around the event should ensure that people are encouraged to wash their own and their children's hands properly on a regular basis throughout their visit. 'We would also like to see farmers make their visitors aware of the risks involved in having close contact with young animals, so that people are educated before they attend. 'I would encourage any farmers who are considering opening their farms for these events to consider all the risks, and plan ahead early to enable them to make all the necessary provisions possible in order to keep their visitors safe from infection.' The report found that the spring 2024 cryptosporidium outbreak was making it one of the largest reported outbreaks of the bug in Wales, and "the largest to date associated with a farm setting in England and Wales". Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis and how to avoid it Symptoms of the bug include: Profuse watery diarrhoea Stomach pains Nausea Vomiting Low-grade fever Loss of appetite Dehydration Weight loss Symptoms usually last for about two weeks but can be longer, especially in people with weak immune systems. During the illness, you might think that you are getting better and have shaken off the infection but then it returns a couple of days later before you fully recover. Take the following steps to protect yourself from the illness. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water: Before preparing and eating food After handling raw food After going to the toilet or changing a baby's nappy After working with, feeding, grooming or playing with pets and other animals Help young children to wash their hands properly and always wash and/or peel fruits and vegetables before eating them. Do not drink untreated water. You should pay special attention to hygiene during farm visits, washing hands after any contact with animals, and eating only in designated areas. How do I treat the illness? There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis. Most people with a healthy immune system will recover within one month. It's important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration and you can lose important sugars and minerals from your body. Cryptosporidiosis is highly infectious, so you need to be very clean around your home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop, so don't return to work or school until that time has passed, don't share towels or bedding and don't prepare food for others. You are infectious to other people while you are ill and have symptoms. The report authors confirmed that the lambs used for petting events were the source of the outbreak and the odds of visitor becoming unwell increased with each successive week the event was open. Children under the age of 10 were the most likely to become unwell. "This may, in part, be explained by children often having poorer hand hygiene, being more likely to engage in behaviours that facilitate transmission - such as nail-biting or thumb-sucking - and being less likely to thoroughly wash their hands without appropriate supervision," the report authors said. Cryptosporidium symptoms usually start two to 10 days after infection and can last for around two weeks once they appear. Sometimes the illness may seem to improve as symptoms ease, but they can return before full recovery. Very young children and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severely ill. Eight-year-old Alba Dobbinson was one of the youngest to fall ill this spring in the cryptosporidium outbreak linked to Marlborough Grange Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan. She was hit with nausea and diarrhoea after feeding lambs at the farm with her mum, Vici, on April 17. 5 Alba Dobbinson was one of the youngest who tested positive for the diarrhoea bug this spring after visiting a petting farm 5 Several were diagnosed with the bug after spending the day at Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan Photos show the little girl cuddling the animals and close contact with infected livestock is one of the main ways the bug spreads. Vici said: 'We were stunned because we had only been around other families and couldn't pinpoint where Alba had caught it. 'It's not like a 48-hour bug, it can potentially go on for up to a month." She added: "She can't even go to school, spend time with her friends or enjoy the weather.' Meanwhile, Gareth Carpenter said he had never seen his son Michael so unwell after he was hospitalised, suspected of catching the parasite at the farm. "He's had chicken pox, he's had flu, he has had viruses, he had many, many, many things as you can imagine as kids do when they mix in with other children, but I've never, ever seen him that ill before," he told WalesOnline. "We had to put him back in nappies, just literally leaking. It was horrendous, stomach pains and cramps."
