Latest news with #AncientEgyptians
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Everything we've learnt from first DNA of ancient Egyptian
The first complete DNA study of an Ancient Egyptian has revealed he was probably a celebrated potter who was given an oddly luxurious burial. The skeleton of a middle-aged man, who lived between 4,500 and 4,800 years ago, was found crammed into a ceramic pot in a tomb cut into the hillside at Nuwayrat, around 165 miles south of Cairo. He lived during the Fourth Dynasty, an important time when the first and greatest pyramids were constructed, under the reign of pharaohs such as Khufu and Khafre. Until now it has been difficult to sequence DNA in Ancient Egyptians because the mummification process destroys the delicate molecule. However, the man's burial took place before mummification became standard practice in Egypt and his body was instead preserved by the warm and dry conditions of the desert. This allowed British experts from the Francis Crick Institute and Liverpool John Moores University to extract DNA from a tooth root. The remains showed severe signs of arthritis and suggested he had spent many years sitting on a hard surface with his arms and legs outstretched and his head bent over. Joel Irish, professor of dental anthropology and archaeology at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) said: 'Though circumstantial, these clues point towards pottery, including use of a pottery wheel, which arrived in Egypt around the same time. 'That said, his higher-class burial is not expected for a potter, who would not normally receive such treatment. 'He was in an upper class burial. Someone went to all the work to put him in a rock cut tomb and he was in this large pottery vessel. That is at odds with the fact he had an incredibly hard physical life. 'Perhaps he was exceptionally skilled or successful enough to advance his social status.' The man's DNA showed that most of his ancestry came from North Africa, but around 20 per cent was related to ancient individuals from the Fertile Crescent – an area of West Asia encompassing modern-day countries such as Iraq, Iran and Jordan. While archaeological evidence has shown that trade and cultural connections existed between Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, this is the first evidence that populations were also interbreeding. Researchers have speculated that the man may have been one of the first to use a pottery wheel, which was invented in Mesopotamia and then brought to Egypt by the Fourth Dynasty. Before that pots were made with the coiled method, so it is possible his high status at death was linked to his ability to use the new technology. His skeleton was excavated in 1902 and donated to World Museum Liverpool, where it later survived bombings during the Blitz that destroyed most of the museum's human remains collection. Linus Girdland Flink, a lecturer in ancient biomolecules at the University of Aberdeen and visiting researcher at LJMU said: 'This individual has been on an extraordinary journey. He lived and died during a critical period of change in ancient Egypt. 'We've now been able to tell part of the individual's story, finding that some of his ancestry came from the Fertile Crescent, highlighting the mixture between groups at this time.' Adeline Morez Jacobs, visiting research fellow at LJMU, added: 'This finding was quite interesting because we know from archaeology that Egyptian and fertile crescent culture influenced each other for millennia. Farming practices and precious goods were shared and the first writing system emerged almost contemporaneously influenced by each other. 'Piecing together all the clues from this individual's DNA, bones and teeth have allowed us to build a comprehensive picture.' The research was published in the journal Nature. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mirror
'Horrifying' 5,000-year-old manuscript found in Egyptian tomb predicts future
The 5,000-year-old manuscript was discovered in an Egyptian tomb and is believed to hold knowledge about the origins of humanity and potentially serve as a prophecy A 5000 year old manuscript discovered in an Egyptian tomb is filled with enigmatic messages, leading scholars to believe the ancient civilisation was predicting catastrophic events that could end civilisation and speculating about the cosmic significance of the universe. The book, which is allegedly connected to the mythical Book of Enoch, contains supposed knowledge about the origins of humanity and information that could serve as a prophecy, according to Medium. Archaeologists found the manuscript sealed within a deep Egyptian tomb, with workers coming across the manuscript near the historic burial grounds in Saqqara during an archaeological excavation. However, experts regard it as a significant breakthrough in archaeology containing a deeply disturbing message. The artefact predates major Egyptian dynasties and features both hieratic and early hieroglyphic writing, puzzling experts in the field. The specialised symbols in this ancient document are proving difficult for modern-day scientists to decipher. However, researchers are confident the writings contain at least one terrifying truth. This is the assertion that humans are at the mercy of hidden cosmic powers guiding them through an inevitable cycle of fate, reports the Mirror US. The text warns that dishonourable people may face a grim fate beyond death and their eternal rest could be anything but peaceful. It also claims that every human action plays a role in determining our destiny. The sensational find, complete with ancient Egyptian artefacts like the haunting skulls of mummified corpses and enigmatic energy patterns, has left modern-day scholars transfixed – especially by the "screaming mummy" with its terrifying visage. This revelation could unlock secrets of how Ancient Egyptian societies functioned and crucial human survival tactics. Full of cautionary tales about bygone calamities, the book bristles with hidden symbology and secret missives warning of impending doom should historical trends continue unchecked. As per the manuscript, we're on course to emulate dictating cycles foretold by the Ancient Egyptians, experts in cosmic understanding – a stark alert against neglecting such wisdom. These ancestral admonitions resonate through the ages, imploring us to break free from our self-destructive ways or face dire consequences. Our species seems doomed to replicate errors that could spell our undoing, all flagged within this ancient script. By turning a blind eye, history may well repeat itself to devastating effect. Meanwhile, research into this groundbreaking find forges ahead, with advanced technology like state-of-the-art imaging and AI translation unveiling fresh clues that could offer unprecedented glimpses into this enigmatic document. The discovery of new data could completely change our understanding of prehistoric human societies, including their religious and philosophical beliefs. Any discovered manuscripts related to this subject could reveal hidden knowledge, potentially leading to significant changes in our understanding of history.
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Bees Are Behind Our Food and Natural Medicines—And They're Disappearing
Bees are dying—and at an alarming rate. Between 2023 and 2024, US beekeepers lost an estimated Bees pollinate three-quarters of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat, and many of us rely on bee products for their nutrition and health-promoting gifts. If bees vanish, it's scary to think of all we stand to lose. And some say that if the bees go, we go too. Jeff Pettis, president of Apimondia—The International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations—sums up the health benefits that bees offer humans in one word: huge. Although two-thirds of our diet comes from carbohydrates—crops like rice, wheat, and corn—which are pollinated by wind rather than insects, many other important foods require bees. 'So we're not going to starve if we don't have bees. But literally, everything you can think of that's nutritious—fruits, nuts, and vegetables—all of those are, we'll call it, animal-pollinated. The vast majority of those are pollinated by honey bees or other wild bees,' he told The Epoch Times. Bees Pollinate Ryan Burris is a third-generation beekeeper and the president of the California State Beekeepers Association. He points out that many people don't realize how many fruits and vegetables we eat depend on bees for pollination. Related Stories 9/22/2023 9/15/2023 'The biggest one, obviously, for beekeepers, is almonds. And then you have things like blueberries, watermelons, and stuff you don't think about, like onions and carrots—all require pollination. There's an estimated 100 crops that require pollination,' he told the Epoch Times. Twenty thousand species of bees grace our planet, and Beyond their critical role as pollinators, bees also gift us powerful products like honey, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly—each packed with nutritional and medicinal benefits. Honey The Ancient Egyptians may have been the world's first beekeepers. They crafted clay hives and transported them on rafts along the Nile, allowing bees to pollinate whatever flowers were in season. Bees were deeply revered, and honey was considered sacred. Throughout history, honey has played many roles—it was used in religious rituals, medicine, currency, and offerings to the gods. When archaeologists uncovered King Tutankhamun's tomb, they found a sealed jar of honey more than 2,000 years old. Because honey doesn't spoil, it was still safe to eat. Jana Schmidt is a board-certified naturopathic doctor and master herbalist who keeps bees. She says not all honey is created equal, and knowing where your honey comes from is crucial, as many store-bought varieties are synthetically made or artificial. If you want the good stuff, go for raw, local honey—ideally straight from a beekeeper. 'Darker varieties have higher antioxidants than the lighter varieties,' she noted, saying bees make the darker types in the winter months when it's cold, and they need more nutrition—which is passed to us when we eat it. She says that honey added to tea before bed can help you sleep—something she did for her children when they were little. 'It helps regulate your sleep, but it also protects the teeth from the bacteria that causes cavities, which seems crazy because it's sweet. You think, oh, that's going to cause cavities, but actually, it protects the teeth,' she told The Epoch Times. Studies have found that honey's antibacterial properties fight harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli. In addition, honey has been studied for its potential benefits against Raw honey is a potential Bees are prolific producers of a diverse array of products with numerous potential health benefits, according to experts. Bee Pollen Honeybees collect pollen from flowers and mix it with their saliva, which contains special enzymes. They then store it in comb cells inside their hives. Once the pollen is stored and processed in the hive, it is called Bee pollen. hanif66/Shutterstock 'To me, it's God's perfect multivitamin because it has every vitamin and mineral known for human nutrition. It has approximately 96 different Bee pollen offers a source of sustained energy throughout the day and not a spike like you might get from sugar or caffeine, she said. 'I don't drink coffee or anything like that. I just take my bee pollen in the morning, and I'm good to go,' she beamed. There is growing scientific interest in bee pollen, particularly because of its antimicrobial properties, which can fight a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. This ability is notable because some bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Bee pollen (beebread) seems able to fight microbes without creating resistance, which some scientists believe is because it contains several different natural compounds that work synergistically. Bee pollen also supports the body's good bacteria, benefiting healthy gut microbes—behaving like a prebiotic. Schmidt adds that as a natural fertility specialist, bee pollen is her number one fertility supplement. 'If you think about it, it's the fertility for the plants. Why wouldn't it be fertility for us, too? So sometimes that's all it takes. The couple start taking bee pollen, and bam, they're fertile. So that's been pretty fun to be a part of.' Benefiting metabolic syndrome disorders Preventing obesity Combating liver disorders Cardioprotective effects Lowering uric acid Detoxifying (based on animal studies) Regulating ovarian functions Alleviating allergic reactions Improving digestion and absorption Stimulating the immune system Improving cognitive dysfunction 'It takes bees working eight hours a day, two to four weeks, to gather one teaspoon of pollen, Schmidt said. They work so hard. They visit over 2 million flowers to get one teaspoon of pollen. It's pretty amazing.' Propolis Propolis, also known as 'bee glue,' is a resinous substance bees gather from different types of plants. Bees use it as a type of construction material for the hive. It seals holes and cracks, improves structural integrity, smooths the inner surface of the hive, maintains a constant internal temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and protects the hive from the elements, predators, and pathogens. Once hardened, it helps create an antiseptic internal environment. Bee propolis. Ihor Hvozdetskyi/Shutterstock Schmidt offers a long list of propolis's benefits, particularly to the brain. These include reducing inflammation in the brain and oxidative stress, helping reduce the toxic effects of methylmercury—a highly toxic form of mercury—and aluminum in the brain, increasing synaptic efficiency, and protecting against neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. She adds that it is a great prebiotic and excellent for gut health. 'Anytime there's an infection, and you're not quite sure what it is, I usually go to propolis—it just boosts your immune system like nothing else I've ever used,' she said. Studies have revealed that this amazing substance has many applications for human health and has the following medicinal properties: Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory Antiulcer Anticancer Immunomodulatory Neuroprotective Anti-allergic Cardioprotective Antidiabetic Studies in humans and animals have shown propolis to possess powerful healing properties beneficial in multiple acute and chronic diseases—from autoimmune diseases like In a 2021 The researchers found that patients who received propolis were released from the hospital five to six days sooner, and those who received 800 mg of daily propolis had less kidney damage associated with COVID-19. Thus, the study authors concluded that propolis is a safe and effective adjunct treatment for patients with COVID-19. Royal Jelly Humans have used royal jelly as a powerful medicine for millennia. It is extremely popular and highly regarded in Royal jelly. Bin Zhu/Shutterstock Rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, royal jelly is a vital food source for bees. Today, humans use it as a dietary supplement, medicine, and ingredient in cosmetic and skincare products. Antioxidant Anti-lipidemic Antiproliferative Antimicrobial Neuroprotective Anti-inflammatory Immunomodulatory Antiaging Estrogenic activities Despite its medicinal benefits, Schmidt says that she does not recommend royal jelly because of how it is harvested, as it hurts the bees and the hive only to collect a tiny amount. 'I just don't like the practice overall ... I feel like it takes it a step beyond what we should be doing to live well with the bees,' she said. A 2023 Why Bees Are Dying We have all heard about the alarming decline in bee numbers in recent years. Pettis says the reasons that bees are dying is such huge numbers are multifaceted and complex. The first, he says, is that bees are losing their natural habitat. A significant reason for this is the rise of monoculture—when farmers plant only one kind of crop in their fields. This lack of diversity limits the flowers available for bees, making it harder for them to get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and thrive. 'Roundup Ready crops, like corn, soybeans, all these—they create very sterile fields so there are no weeds—and a lot of those weeds are really good for bees,' he said. Pettis says the second reason is pesticide exposure and the third is pests and diseases affecting bees. He says they all combine in different ways to affect bees and reduce their numbers, making beekeeping more challenging. 'We've had a number of exotic things come into the U.S.—two parasitic mites, and then the beetle from Africa, and now we have some invasive hornets coming in from Asia. It's just one thing after another,' he said. 'It's really hard to survive when you have all these stressors lining up, one right behind the other.' Some readers may be wondering about colony collapse disorder. 'I was actually very involved in Mites, particularly the varroa mite—which is aptly named Varroa destructor—have become an enormous challenge for beekeepers. 'The varroa mite—Varroa destructor—is the main killer of honey bees because they feed on the bee as it's growing,' Burris said. These tiny parasitic mites feed on bee fat and blood, which bees need for energy and a healthy immune system. They also spread viruses, particularly the deformed wing virus, which causes bees to be born with shriveled wings that will never fly. Burris adds that federal and state regulators do not want honeybees on public lands as they fear they may hurt native pollinators, though he notes they don't have evidence to support those concerns. He says they're arguing about food supply and demand problems without considering that native pollinators and honey bees have different feeding habits. 'They're not taking into account the size of the honeybee, the size of a native pollinator, the size of their tongues, and how they extract nectar—how they obtain pollen,' he said. Pesticides, which include insecticides and herbicides, are also detrimental to bees. 'Roundup and other weed killers that contain glyphosate are incredibly harmful to our bodies, but also the bees,' Schmidt said. A relatively recent class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, or neonics, are the world's most widely used insecticides and possibly one of the most deadly. They work by making every part of the treated plant toxic while poisoning the soil, surrounding water, and wildlife. They affect the bees' nervous system, interfering with their ability to learn, remember, and navigate, meaning many exposed bees can't find their way back to the hive and eventually die. Since their introduction in the last two decades, neonicotinoids' widespread use has made U.S. agriculture increasingly destructive to insect life. Neonicotinoids are responsible for 92 percent of this increase in danger to insects. These deadly insecticides don't just kill bees. Neonics are linked to losses of birds and fish and birth defects in white-tailed deer. Increasing evidence has also shown that neonics affect human health, especially children. One How We Can Help Bees Thankfully, there are things we can all do to help bees and support these essential pollinators. Plant native flowers and trees, especially ones that bloom through summer, as bees need food from spring through fall. Buy local honey, and honey made 100 percent in the United States to support U.S. beekeepers. Avoid using insecticides or pesticides around your yard and use natural methods instead. Schmidt says using vinegar and water with a bit of salt kills weeds without harming anything else. Allow an area of your yard or garden to be overgrown or less cut back to provide food and nesting habitats for bees. Plant a bee garden with native flowers to attract bees and other pollinators. Create a bee watering station with filtered water using a deep plate with pebbles or marbles near flowering plants to give bees a safe place to drink. Create a bee house you can hang in your yard to give bees a place to live. Keep hives away from sources of wifi radiation and EMFs, which adversely affect bees. If you notice a swarm of bees on your property, contact a local beekeeping association, university agriculture department, or local beekeeper to collect them, not an exterminator. Encourage state legislators to support laws that support and protect bees. Spread awareness about bees and how we can support them. Schmidt reveres the tiny pollinators that provide us with so much. 'You know, we use the term beekeeping, but I really feel like they keep us—like they know what to do, we just need to provide a nice habitat for them, and they do all the work—they just give and give.'
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bradley Walsh thought he was ‘going to prove the pyramids were built by aliens'
Bradley Walsh says he thought he was 'going to prove' that the pyramids in Egypt were built by aliens before investigating the conspiracy theory as part of a new show. The presenter, 64, known for The Chase and Gladiators, has always been interested in the tomb structures at Giza since he was child as his teacher was the great-niece of Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamun's tomb. As part of the Sky History programme Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code, he travelled to the country after hearing 'this rumour that the pyramids weren't built by Ancient Egyptians at all', and 'they were built by a race that had either died out prior to 4,500 years ago, or they were built by someone or something else'. Walsh added: 'Prior to arriving in Egypt, I'm thinking: this is going be great, I'm going to prove this is the aliens. ' People say I'm a conspiracy theorist. I'm not. All I did was say: 'It could be this,' and I needed to find out what is the truth.' Walsh said that, being there, 'you then realise it's very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than 'the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids''. 'The great thing about the Great Pyramid is they started building the pyramids about 150 years prior to that one,' he said. 'My expert guides, Meredith and Arto, showed me where the beginnings of the pyramids were about 150 years prior to the Grand Pyramid. 'If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids – one's wonky, one's drooping on one side, it's all trial and error.' Walsh also appeared to suggest that being inside the Great Pyramid made him stop believing that it could generate electricity. He said: 'Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. I've maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right.' Walsh also said that it was 'mind-blowing being there', and finding out that the final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, died closer to the modern era than the beginning of the Ancient Egypt. He said: 'You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there, they've got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation. 'Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind – it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.' The Great Pyramid of Giza was built more than 4,600 years ago to house Khufu, a king from Egypt's 4th dynasty. The Egyptian Government has previously invited people who do not believe their ancestors built the pyramids to the north-east African country to learn the story of the impressive structures. In 2020, the then-minister of international co-operation Rania al-Mashat told South African businessman Elon Musk that she is 'waiting for' him to visit the pyramids after he wrote on X: 'Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).' Ms al-Mashat also said: 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. 'Mr Musk, we are waiting for you.' Tech billionaire Mr Musk, who bought Twitter/X in 2022, later pointed to a 'sensible summary for how' the structures were built, which explained that archaeological evidence shows that there were villages made to house workers constructing the pyramids, and went into detail about the human evidence. Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code airs on March 18 at 9pm on Sky History.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bradley Walsh thought he was ‘going to prove the pyramids were built by aliens'
Bradley Walsh says he thought he was 'going to prove' that the pyramids in Egypt were built by aliens before investigating the conspiracy theory as part of a new show. The presenter, 64, known for The Chase and Gladiators, has always been interested in the tomb structures at Giza since he was child as his teacher was the great-niece of Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamun's tomb. As part of the Sky History programme Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code, he travelled to the country after hearing 'this rumour that the pyramids weren't built by Ancient Egyptians at all', and 'they were built by a race that had either died out prior to 4,500 years ago, or they were built by someone or something else'. Walsh added: 'Prior to arriving in Egypt, I'm thinking: this is going be great, I'm going to prove this is the aliens. 'People say I'm a conspiracy theorist. I'm not. All I did was say: 'It could be this,' and I needed to find out what is the truth.' Walsh said that, being there, 'you then realise it's very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than 'the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids''. 'The great thing about the Great Pyramid is they started building the pyramids about 150 years prior to that one,' he said. 'My expert guides, Meredith and Arto, showed me where the beginnings of the pyramids were about 150 years prior to the Grand Pyramid. 'If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids – one's wonky, one's drooping on one side, it's all trial and error.' Walsh also appeared to suggest that being inside the Great Pyramid made him stop believing that it could generate electricity. He said: 'Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. I've maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right.' Walsh also said that it was 'mind-blowing being there', and finding out that the final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, died closer to the modern era than the beginning of the Ancient Egypt. He said: 'You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there, they've got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation. 'Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind – it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.' The Great Pyramid of Giza was built more than 4,600 years ago to house Khufu, a king from Egypt's 4th dynasty. The Egyptian Government has previously invited people who do not believe their ancestors built the pyramids to the north-east African country to learn the story of the impressive structures. In 2020, the then-minister of international co-operation Rania al-Mashat told South African businessman Elon Musk that she is 'waiting for' him to visit the pyramids after he wrote on X: 'Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).' Ms al-Mashat also said: 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. 'Mr Musk, we are waiting for you.' Tech billionaire Mr Musk, who bought Twitter/X in 2022, later pointed to a 'sensible summary for how' the structures were built, which explained that archaeological evidence shows that there were villages made to house workers constructing the pyramids, and went into detail about the human evidence. Bradley Walsh: Egypt's Cosmic Code airs on March 18 at 9pm on Sky History.
