Society and history

Seasoned with animal fat experimentally baked in a recycled peel tray inside a dome oven. Credit: Sergio Taranto.

9,000-year-old focaccia: new discoveries reveal the secrets of ancient cooking

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Archaeological research on the Syrian-Turkish border reveals a complex Neolithic culinary tradition, including baking breads and spiced dishes in special trays, in the Fertile Crescent region
Basic concepts in liberalism. Illustration: depositphotos.com

start liberalism

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Tut Ankh Amon's tract where it was found in 1925. Griffith Institute/Howard Carter Archive

Researchers: Tut Ankh Amon's iconic death mask was originally intended for a woman

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University of York researchers uncover a hidden clue in the mask's pierced ears, suggesting the iconic piece was originally designed for a woman to rule, perhaps Nefertiti
A collection of tools from the first settlement at the Sui Habez site in Tajikistan. Photo: The Hebrew University.

New archaeological research reveals rare evidence of early human settlement in Central Asia

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Classical female dance in the ancient Greek style with women in colorful clothing. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

Ancient Jews Music 35: The Post-Biblical Period, Dance 2

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Victory dances and worship in the post-biblical period - a look at cultural and religious phenomena in the historical landscape
spinning methods. (a) Manual spinning on the thigh [64]; (b) "supported spinning" [68]; (c) "spinning in falling" [66]; (d) The experimental skills and beads, the three-dimensional scans of the perforated stones and the negatives of the holes in them. In the pictures at the bottom, we can see a crystal ion during a fiber spinning experiment with replicas of the perforated stones, using support spinning and drop spinning techniques (photo: Talia Yeshav)

Was the wheel invented on the banks of the Sea of ​​Galilee 12,000 years ago?

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Skills discovered in Ein Gav may be early evidence of wheel-like technology. The study by researchers at the Hebrew University suggests that stones found at an archaeological site in Israel were used as skills for spinning fibers into threads, and represent a phase
Prof. Erez Ben Yosef with the Midianite pottery avoids. Photo: Tel Aviv University spokesperson

About 3,000 years ago, the Midianite ceramics were intended for ritual purposes in the thriving copper industry in Timna

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The researchers: "For many years, archaeologists have been trying to decipher the meaning of the 'Medina ceramics' found at sites in the south of the country. According to our findings, these are tools that were brought by potters from the Arabian Peninsula, and were used in worship
Carl Sagan extends his palms to the universe, an attempt at creating an image using artificial intelligence.

Carl Sagan's scientific legacy goes far beyond the Cosmos series

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From the revolutionary astronomical achievements to the social activism and inspiration for generations of scientists - how Carl Sagan shaped science and our understanding of the universe.
An example of a cylinder stamp (left) and its design impressed on clay (right) Credit: Franck Raux © 2001 GrandPalaisRmn (Musée du Louvre) CREATIVE COMMON

The origin of writing in Mesopotamia is related to designs engraved on ancient scroll seals

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A group of researchers from the University of Bologna identified a series of connections between the designs engraved on these seals, which date back about 6,000 years (4000 BC), and some of the signs in the proto-cuneiform writing that appeared in the city of Uroch, located today
Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

Before the US elections: how can we identify "fake news"?

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The competition for the preeminence in science between China and the USA, in preparation for the 2024 US presidential elections. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

Is the US about to lose its scientific preeminence?

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A study published in Nature reveals that the US continues to lead in areas such as biomedical research, but China's continued investment in materials science, engineering and physical sciences poses a significant challenge to US dominance.
Women dance a traditional dance during the Second Temple period. The image was prepared by DALEE and is for illustrative purposes only, and is not a scientific image

Am Yisrael song 34, the dance parade

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Dancing in the Bible: an external expression of inner feelings and experiences, from manifestations of worship to victory in battle
Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield, two of the main researchers in the field of artificial intelligence, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

Artificial intelligence plays a major role in two categories of the 2024 Nobel Prizes. This is a sign of things to come

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It is likely that we will see more Nobel medals awarded to researchers who used AI tools. As this happens, we may find that the scientific methods honored by those Nobel Prize committees will move away from the simple categories of "physics," "chemistry," and "physiology."
© Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be awarded to a researcher at the University of Washington and two Google Deep Mind employees

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David Baker from the University of Washington and researchers Demis Hasevis and John Jumper from Google's DeepMind company won the prize for designing artificial proteins and predicting protein structure with the help of a computer
2024 Nobel Prize in Physics winners John Joseph Hadfield of Princeton University and Geoffrey Hinton of the University of Toronto. Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach

Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 for researchers on the development of artificial neural networks (extension)

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John Hadfield and Geoffrey Hinton won the prize for their pioneering research in machine learning using neural networks inspired by the structure of the brain
neural networks. Image: depositphotos.com

The developers of the deep learning technologies using neural networks won the Nobel Prize

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The two, John Hopfield from Princeton University and Prof. Geoffrey Hinton from the University of Toronto changed the way machine learning is done for artificial intelligence and promoted the technology becoming as powerful as we know it today
The mechanism of the flow of genetic information from the DNA molecule to microRNA molecules and from there to proteins. The identical genetic information is stored in the DNA of all cells in our body. This situation requires precise regulation of gene activity so that only the correct set of genes is active in each type of cell. Courtesy of the Nobel Prize Committee

Gary Rubcon and Victor Ambrose won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of microRNA and its effect on gene regulation (extension)

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The two scientists were recognized for their contribution to the understanding of genetic regulatory mechanisms through the discovery of microRNAs - tiny RNA molecules that play an essential role in the processes of development and function in cells
mRNA. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambrose and Gary Rubcon, for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation

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Who will win the Nobel Prize in Physics this year? All predictions

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The Nobel Prizes are announced at the beginning of October every year, and about a month before that rumors, predictions and speculations are spread about the identity of the candidates and the chances of winning. In recent years, using innovative data analysis tools, forecasting experts
Missile guidance by pigeons. The image was prepared using DALEE

Research on guided missiles with the help of pigeons and the swimming abilities of dead fish are among the winners of the Ig Nobel Prizes

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The 34th annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, which took place less than a month before the actual Nobel Prizes were announced, was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was organized by the website of the Annals of Improbable Research magazine in order to
Advanced robot GPT-4 talks to a human about technology and information, debunking conspiracy theories using evidence-based science. The image was produced using DALEE artificial intelligence software

Conversations with artificial intelligence can successfully reduce belief in conspiracy theories

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A new MIT study published in SCIENCE shows that artificial intelligence can change the minds of conspiracy theorists by presenting personalized evidence, and this effect lasts a long time
Aliens abduct a human into their flying saucer. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Belief in alien visits to Earth is getting out of control - here's why it's so dangerous 

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In an article accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Tony Milligan, a researcher in the philosophy of ethics, King's College London, argues that the belief in alien visitation is no longer a whim, but a widespread social problem
Masada. Photo: Omer Zaevi, excavation expedition from Masada

Contrary to myth: the Roman siege of Masada did not last several years but only a few weeks

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The researchers: "According to the common myth, the Romans harassed the rebels in Masada for three years. An innovative survey using advanced technologies revealed that the siege by the Roman army was a focused and relatively quick operation."
[:he]A woman is running in the desert, wearing a turquoise tunic and dark pants, in a quiet and open landscape.[:]

How do sweat wicking fabrics work?

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A precise dosage of water-repellent materials, alongside spacious weaving and utilization of the power of the capillaries, have upgraded the sporting experience for many. The science behind the "drifit"
Web image showing the quasar J0148 circled in red. The upper small image shows the central black hole and the lower the stellar emission from the host galaxy.

How did black holes get so big and so fast? The answer lies in dark matter

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The coral reef in Eilat, under artificial night lighting. Photo: Shaf Ben Ezra

Contaminate the DNA - how does artificial lighting harm fish?

Israeli researchers examined the effects of light pollution on reef fish and found that sleep disturbances are not a problem reserved only for humans
Dr. Elena Kogan-Zahavi from the Antiquities Authority, who uncovered one of the graves about 30 years ago, in the graves after their preservation

Spectacularly beautiful wall paintings from the Roman period that were discovered in Ashkelon are being revealed for the first time and will be accessible to the public

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The paintings, which decorate ancient tombs of wealthy people, were discovered decades ago but few got to see them. Now, they are preserved by the conservation experts of the Antiquities Authority near the marina, funded by the municipality of Ashkelon.
cancer cell Illustration: depositphotos.com

What predicts your cancer type?

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Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which flew NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams on a manned test flight to the International Space Station, is seen docked at the front dock of the Harmony Module. The image was taken from the window of SpaceX's Dragon Endeavor spacecraft docked in the port adjacent to the Starliner. Credit: NASA A

Is the Starliner spacecraft stuck in space? NASA answers frequently asked questions about the status of the astronauts' return

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NASA is expected to make a decision by the end of August when and how to return the two astronauts stuck on the space station
Most of the wolves in Israel are found in the Golan Heights and the Arabah. Photo: Shlomo Priceblom

About wolves and other animals: how does the predator affect the mammals in the Golan Heights?

A new Israeli study examined how the presence of wolves affects the activity of large mammals. The findings reinforce the importance of the predator in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem
A long-tailed macaque with a plastic cup in Singapore. Almost everywhere there are people, there is also plastic. Photography: Amos Chua

What happens when plastic reaches the forests and what does it have to do with monkeys?

Description: Drone image of cluster 27 in northeastern Mongolia. A red circle marks the location of the excavated burial. The additional map shows the location of cluster 27 in red and two additional compound sites along the long wall (clusters 23 and 24) in black. Credit: Dan Golan.

An elite tomb from the pre-Mongolian period was discovered in Mongolia

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This discovery provides vital insights into the local communities, their networks and organization during the 12th century AD - a period characterized by post-imperial instability and intense political competition
Principal - one of the panels with ancient rock paintings in Colombia. Photo: University of Exeter

12,500 Years: Ancient Art in the Amazon Reveals Secrets of Prehistoric Ecology

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The Sun is now again approaching its 11-year "Schwab Cycle" maximum activity, here image taken by Solar Orbiter in October 2023. Credit: ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/EUI Team

A cosmic mystery solved? New evidence shows that the planets influence the Sun's magnetic cycles.

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Researchers identify eddy currents in the Sun, called Rossby waves, as mediating the tidal effects of Venus, Earth and Jupiter on the Sun's magnetic activity
The drainage canal from the days of the Second Temple. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

Jerusalem - from prosperity to destruction.

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New findings from the ancient drainage canal that operated in Jerusalem 2000 years ago tell the story of the city in the days of the Second Temple - from prosperity to destruction
Live near open spaces. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How much will we agree to compromise on real estate prices linked to agriculture? | Angle

Living near agricultural land was previously considered an undesirable situation, but it seems that this assumption is no longer necessarily true. A new Israeli study shines a spotlight on the changing preferences of Israelis with the help of market analysis
The engravings in Gobkali Tepa are considered to be the oldest calendar in the world. Credit: Dr. Martin Sweatman

A 12,000-year-old lunar-solar calendar - the oldest in the world, was discovered on a column at an archaeological site in Turkey

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Research at the 12,000-year-old site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey suggests that the engravings on ancient pillars probably represent the world's oldest solar calendar, possibly created to commemorate a comet strike
The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus illustration: depositphotos.com

The Asian tiger mosquito - are you to blame for West Nile fever in Israel?

Asian tiger mosquitoes are also responsible for West Nile fever but also for other serious diseases, and the proliferation of these mosquitoes and mosquitoes in general is closely related to the climate crisis
Testing one of the engine components of the Starliner spacecraft on the International Space Station. Photo: NASA

Is the task possible? NASA and Boeing are moving forward with assessments for the Starliner flight test back to Earth

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recognition. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Is consciousness continuous or composed of "eureka moments"?

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A new research method proposes to analyze changes in behavior and leaps in learning to study consciousness, using sudden increases in learning - "eureka moments" - to identify conscious thought processes and study the mechanisms
A reconstruction of what might have looked like the structure of a hunter-gatherer community Credit York University Center Year

Household management 11,000 years ago: New study reveals hunter-gatherer homes were surprisingly organized

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Archaeological findings at the famous Mesolithic site 'Star Ker' in North Yorkshire suggest that hunter-gatherers maintained an orderly living space by allocating specific areas for different domestic activities
The amphitheater in Caesarea. From Wikipedia

Distribution of prizes for second and third place in the Olympics - Herod's idea

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Over the course of hundreds of years, a wreath of olive leaves was given only to the winners of the Olympic sports, who also received considerable funding from the cities that represented, until about a decade before the end of the first century BC King Herod held games
Astronaut on Mars round trip will last more than three years A Hrefhttps Depositphotoscom Illustration Depositphotoscom A

Will expired drugs harm future missions to Mars?

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"Those responsible for the health of spaceflight crews will have to find ways to extend the validity of drugs to complete a three-year mission to Mars, choose drugs with a longer shelf life or
A ring with an engraving of the goddess Athena that was discovered in Carmel Photo by Emil Algam Israel Antiquities Authority

An approximately 1,800-year-old ring, with the goddess of war engraved on it, was discovered by a boy in Carmel

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The boy Yair Whitson from Haifa discovered during a trip a bronze ring with the goddess Athena engraved on it * The impressive ring was handed over to the State Treasures * Yair and his family came on a tour of the new National Archaeological Museum of
Petroglyphs of animals in the Negev. Credit: Laura Ravachin, INTK, Academy of Art, Vienna

World-renowned ancient rock art in the Negev faces immediate destruction

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The ancient rock paintings in Mount Mahia are in danger from lichens that cause rapid erosion of the rocks. Prof. Irit Nir and Prof. Ariel Kushmaro from Ben Gurion University also participated in the study
Fires on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The war on the hive: how do the fires affect the bee population in Israel?

Following the severe fires in the north, the beehives were also damaged - what might be the cost of the damage and is there anything that can be done to restore them?
The flat earth, one of the weirdest conspiracy theories. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How I Fooled the World - Then I Created Conspiracytron: The Conspiracy Slayer

Please meet the Conspiratron: The Conspiracy Slayer. An artificial intelligence tool that will help you deal with many different arguments of conspirators.
The Gulf Stream - the hot parts in red and the cold in blue. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Will the climate crisis turn off the strong Gulf Stream?

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New research from University College London reveals that the Gulf Stream was stronger during the last ice age due to stronger winds. Could future climate change weaken the current and affect the
Comet attack on young earth. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mysterious Travelers: Are We Drinking Water Brought by Dark Comets?

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Could asteroids, which are remnants of comets, be one of the main sources of water on Earth?
Seeds from the Garden Bank collection. Photo - Hanita Zemach, Director of Agricultural Research - Volcani Institute

Seeds of hope: how will the plant species damaged in the fighting areas in the Negev and the north be restored?

The Israeli Garden Bank focuses on collecting seeds of as many plants as possible that grew in the Western Negev territories and waits for the day when they can return and plant them