Russian scientists have identified the components of the oldest bitumen sample to be found in an ancient vase and made an accurate estimate of its age.
In their article in the Journal of Mass Spectrometry, the researchers from the Moscow Institute…
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The art — and science — behind treasured Japanese porcelain
Porcelain connoisseurs have prized the traditional Japanese-style ceramics called akae, typically known for Kakiemon-style ware, for centuries.
Its paintings feature a vivid red color against a milky white background. Artisans have passed on their…
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Missing links brewed in primordial puddles?
The crucibles that bore out early building blocks of life may have been, in many cases, modest puddles.
Now, researchers working with that hypothesis have achieved a significant advancement toward understanding an evolutionary mystery — how…
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new tomb will make site safe for 100 years
Thirty years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, there’s still a significant threat of radiation from the crumbling remains of Reactor 4. But an innovative, €1.5 billion super-structure is being built to prevent further releases, giving an…
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Cosmic Beacons Reveal the Milky Way’s Ancient Core
An international team of astronomers led by Dr. Andrea Kunder of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) in Germany has discovered that the central 2000 light years within the Milky Way Galaxy hosts an ancient population of stars….
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Unexpected discovery leads to a better battery
An unexpected discovery has led to a rechargeable battery that’s as inexpensive as conventional car batteries, but has a much higher energy density. The new battery could become a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative for storing…
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Fast radio burst ‘afterglow’ was actually a flickering black hole
Last February a team of astronomers reported detecting an afterglow from a mysterious event called a fast radio burst, which would pinpoint the precise position of the burst’s origin, a longstanding goal in studies of these mysterious…
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Metallic ink revealed in Herculaneum papyri
An international team of scientists has discovered the presence of metal in the ink of two Herculaneum papyrus fragments proving that metals were used in ink several centuries earlier than previously believed.
X-ray fluoresence micro-imaging… Continue Reading
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Recreating alchemical recipes shows the genius of ancient scientists
From “dragon’s blood” to slippery elm root, coded and obscure ingredients of ancient recipes are getting a second look today not by Harry Potter fans, but by historians who want to experience science as it was practiced centuries ago.
An…
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Lost lithium destroyed by ancient stars
Lithium, the lightest metal, used in batteries and mood-stabilising drugs, is rarer than it should be. Models of the period after the Big Bang explain how it, hydrogen and helium were synthesised in nuclear reactions, before the universe cooled…
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