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May 12, 2024
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FREEWorld History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
It’s one of the most tragic tales in all of history; a massive loss of knowledge that set humanity back by decades…right? Maybe not. The burning of the Library of Alexandria is certainly a dramatic tale, but in recent years many scholars have begun to question its validity. Not only do most accounts of the library’s burning come from many years after the supposed event itself, no one can even agree on who did the actual burning.
The Library of Alexandria, built some time around 331 B.C.E. in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the most massive and comprehensive libraries of its day. Part of a research institution called the Mouseion (which later came to include another, smaller library) the Library of Alexandria was likely the brainchild of Ptolemy I Soter, pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, who began collecting papyrus scrolls for it long before a building was created to house them. His son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, is more likely to have overseen the actual construction of the library itself during his own, subsequent reign. It was an ambitious project. The idea was for a true, universal library—where all knowledge from around the world could be stored. To that end, Ptolemy II Philadelphus collected scrolls from wherever and whoever he could (scrolls, not bound books, were the way that written works were distributed, at the time.) The pharaoh might have been considered a hoarder of knowledge if not for one important detail —he made high-quality copies of almost every scroll he received and gave them back to the people who had provided the originals—usually historians or other scholars. After all, it would have caused bad blood and alienated Philadelphus from the scholarly world if he had simply taken these works for himself, without permission…and permission usually hinged on a copy being provided. This means that, though the Library of Alexandria housed an impressive collection of knowledge that made Alexandria itself famous as a city of learning, much of that knowledge also still existed outside of the library’s walls.
That’s lucky, since the library did eventually come to ruin. How, exactly, that happened is still a source of debate, despite the longstanding myth that the library was purposefully burned in a single day. At the height of its popularity, the library housed somewhere between 40,000 to 400,000 scrolls, but that popularity eventually waned. In 145 B.C.E., Ptolemy VIII Physcon, who had very different ideas about knowledge than his predecessors. His reign was a violent one, and included several massacres which saw many Alexandrian intellectuals killed or exiled. Scholars had been the lifeblood of Alexandria’s library, and without them it fell into decline. Then, there was a fire. The two most common stories about the library’s burning implicate either Julius Caesar or Caliph Umar, who led the Arab conquest of Alexandria in 642 C.E. The second story is easily dismissed, since other sources point to the library already being gone by the time of that particular invasion. As for Caesar, he may have burnt the library…but it was probably an accident. According to the ancient Greek philosopher and historian Plutarch, in 48 B.C.E., during Caesar’s civil war, Caesar set fire to a fleet of Egyptian ships in Alexandria’s harbor. Due to windy weather, the flames spread to the library, which burned with all the scrolls inside. However, many historians now believe that the library survived this accidental burning, and may have even been rebuilt afterward, since there are records of other historical figures visiting the library after Caesar’s war was over.
Ultimately, the library likely died due to a problem that still plagues libraries today: a lack of funding. During the Roman period, those in power simply stopped prioritizing the library’s upkeep, and it fell into disrepair. The Palmyrene Invasion of 270 C.E. likely destroyed the rest of the already-unkempt structure. Still, it’s unlikely that the loss of the library set humanity’s overall progress back, despite stories to the contrary. After all, much of the knowledge inside had already been copied. Then, as now, it pays to back up your work!
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration depicting the burning of the Library of Alexandria with a crowd of people rushing toward the flames.] Credit & copyright:
Ambrose Dudley (1867–1951), The Burning of the Library at Alexandria in 391 AD. Bridgeman Art Library: Object 357910, Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.It’s one of the most tragic tales in all of history; a massive loss of knowledge that set humanity back by decades…right? Maybe not. The burning of the Library of Alexandria is certainly a dramatic tale, but in recent years many scholars have begun to question its validity. Not only do most accounts of the library’s burning come from many years after the supposed event itself, no one can even agree on who did the actual burning.
The Library of Alexandria, built some time around 331 B.C.E. in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the most massive and comprehensive libraries of its day. Part of a research institution called the Mouseion (which later came to include another, smaller library) the Library of Alexandria was likely the brainchild of Ptolemy I Soter, pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, who began collecting papyrus scrolls for it long before a building was created to house them. His son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, is more likely to have overseen the actual construction of the library itself during his own, subsequent reign. It was an ambitious project. The idea was for a true, universal library—where all knowledge from around the world could be stored. To that end, Ptolemy II Philadelphus collected scrolls from wherever and whoever he could (scrolls, not bound books, were the way that written works were distributed, at the time.) The pharaoh might have been considered a hoarder of knowledge if not for one important detail —he made high-quality copies of almost every scroll he received and gave them back to the people who had provided the originals—usually historians or other scholars. After all, it would have caused bad blood and alienated Philadelphus from the scholarly world if he had simply taken these works for himself, without permission…and permission usually hinged on a copy being provided. This means that, though the Library of Alexandria housed an impressive collection of knowledge that made Alexandria itself famous as a city of learning, much of that knowledge also still existed outside of the library’s walls.
That’s lucky, since the library did eventually come to ruin. How, exactly, that happened is still a source of debate, despite the longstanding myth that the library was purposefully burned in a single day. At the height of its popularity, the library housed somewhere between 40,000 to 400,000 scrolls, but that popularity eventually waned. In 145 B.C.E., Ptolemy VIII Physcon, who had very different ideas about knowledge than his predecessors. His reign was a violent one, and included several massacres which saw many Alexandrian intellectuals killed or exiled. Scholars had been the lifeblood of Alexandria’s library, and without them it fell into decline. Then, there was a fire. The two most common stories about the library’s burning implicate either Julius Caesar or Caliph Umar, who led the Arab conquest of Alexandria in 642 C.E. The second story is easily dismissed, since other sources point to the library already being gone by the time of that particular invasion. As for Caesar, he may have burnt the library…but it was probably an accident. According to the ancient Greek philosopher and historian Plutarch, in 48 B.C.E., during Caesar’s civil war, Caesar set fire to a fleet of Egyptian ships in Alexandria’s harbor. Due to windy weather, the flames spread to the library, which burned with all the scrolls inside. However, many historians now believe that the library survived this accidental burning, and may have even been rebuilt afterward, since there are records of other historical figures visiting the library after Caesar’s war was over.
Ultimately, the library likely died due to a problem that still plagues libraries today: a lack of funding. During the Roman period, those in power simply stopped prioritizing the library’s upkeep, and it fell into disrepair. The Palmyrene Invasion of 270 C.E. likely destroyed the rest of the already-unkempt structure. Still, it’s unlikely that the loss of the library set humanity’s overall progress back, despite stories to the contrary. After all, much of the knowledge inside had already been copied. Then, as now, it pays to back up your work!
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration depicting the burning of the Library of Alexandria with a crowd of people rushing toward the flames.] Credit & copyright:
Ambrose Dudley (1867–1951), The Burning of the Library at Alexandria in 391 AD. Bridgeman Art Library: Object 357910, Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.
May 11, 2024
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FREECars + Motorcycles Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Oh, the suspen…sion! The Indianapolis 500 is coming up soon to kick off this year’s season of IndyCar, but what should have been a strong start for one of the most high-profile drivers and his teammates has been stalled due to a cheating scandal. Back on March 10, Indy500’s reigning champ, Josef Newgarden, finished first with his teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finishing third and fourth, respectively. However, IndyCar officials disqualified Newgarden and McLaughlin, and docked Power 10 points for using illegal software to manipulate the push-to-pass system. Also called P2P, the software is installed on all IndyCars and regulates the engine’s horsepower output. P2P made its debut in the 2009 season, and drivers are alloted up to 200 seconds of its use per race, gaining an additional 60 horsepower for 20 seconds at a time. Officials disable P2P on starts and restarts, but the three drivers for Team Penske were found to have bypassed this limit. Team Penske’s owner Roger Penske also suspended the team’s president Tim Cindric and three others: managing director Ron Ruzewski, Newgarden engineer Luke Mason and senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson. The suspended team members, led by Cindric, are accepting responsibility for the penalties, while drivers claim that they were misinformed about the rules regarding P2P. Nevertheless, the three drivers have also been fined $25,000 each and will forfeit their prize money from the race. With Newgarden’s disqualification, Pato O’Ward of McLaren Racing has now been awarded first place after originally finishing second. Now he’s second to none.
Oh, the suspen…sion! The Indianapolis 500 is coming up soon to kick off this year’s season of IndyCar, but what should have been a strong start for one of the most high-profile drivers and his teammates has been stalled due to a cheating scandal. Back on March 10, Indy500’s reigning champ, Josef Newgarden, finished first with his teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finishing third and fourth, respectively. However, IndyCar officials disqualified Newgarden and McLaughlin, and docked Power 10 points for using illegal software to manipulate the push-to-pass system. Also called P2P, the software is installed on all IndyCars and regulates the engine’s horsepower output. P2P made its debut in the 2009 season, and drivers are alloted up to 200 seconds of its use per race, gaining an additional 60 horsepower for 20 seconds at a time. Officials disable P2P on starts and restarts, but the three drivers for Team Penske were found to have bypassed this limit. Team Penske’s owner Roger Penske also suspended the team’s president Tim Cindric and three others: managing director Ron Ruzewski, Newgarden engineer Luke Mason and senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson. The suspended team members, led by Cindric, are accepting responsibility for the penalties, while drivers claim that they were misinformed about the rules regarding P2P. Nevertheless, the three drivers have also been fined $25,000 each and will forfeit their prize money from the race. With Newgarden’s disqualification, Pato O’Ward of McLaren Racing has now been awarded first place after originally finishing second. Now he’s second to none.
May 10, 2024
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Pucker up for some pie! As warm weather approaches, it’s only fitting to examine the history of what may be the world’s most refreshing pie: Key lime pie. While most pies, including most fruit pies, lean heavily into their sweetness, Key lime pie relies on a heavy dash of tartness to make it stand out from the dessert crowd. Despite a common myth, the “Key” in Key lime pie doesn’t actually refer to the Florida Keys. In fact, the pie’s origins might not lie in the Sunshine State…at least, not entirely.
Key lime pie’s famous, smooth, yellowish filling is made from a combination of egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and, of course, lime juice. The juice comes from Key limes which, though often grown in Florida today, were first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Key lime pies usually have a crumbly, graham cracker crust with a topping of either whipped cream or meringue and a lime slice or grated lime zest as a garnish. It’s sometimes served with no topping at all, though, making it quite the versatile dessert.
While legend points to Florida as the home of Key lime pie (and some Floridians even consider it the state dessert) it would be more accurate to say that the pie was invented in New York (besides, Florida already has an official state dessert: the strawberry shortcake.) Most food historians agree that today’s Key lime pie was based on a recipe for a lemon pie first published in a 1931 advertising brochure. The company that published the brochure, Borden, was based out of New York. To be fair, though, the next mention of a dessert similar to Key lime pie does come from a 1933 recipe in a Miami, Florida, newspaper—and that recipe actually used limes rather than lemons, so score one for the Sunshine State.
The truth is, regardless of where it came from, Key lime pie is one of the most unique American pies ever created. Whether you prefer it topped with meringue, garnished with lime zest, or with fresh lime juice squeezed over top, it’s sour, sweet, and scrumptious. Just mind all the crumbs from the graham cracker crust.
[Image description: A slice of key lime pie on brown paper.] Credit & copyright: Christina Nicole, PexelsPucker up for some pie! As warm weather approaches, it’s only fitting to examine the history of what may be the world’s most refreshing pie: Key lime pie. While most pies, including most fruit pies, lean heavily into their sweetness, Key lime pie relies on a heavy dash of tartness to make it stand out from the dessert crowd. Despite a common myth, the “Key” in Key lime pie doesn’t actually refer to the Florida Keys. In fact, the pie’s origins might not lie in the Sunshine State…at least, not entirely.
Key lime pie’s famous, smooth, yellowish filling is made from a combination of egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and, of course, lime juice. The juice comes from Key limes which, though often grown in Florida today, were first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Key lime pies usually have a crumbly, graham cracker crust with a topping of either whipped cream or meringue and a lime slice or grated lime zest as a garnish. It’s sometimes served with no topping at all, though, making it quite the versatile dessert.
While legend points to Florida as the home of Key lime pie (and some Floridians even consider it the state dessert) it would be more accurate to say that the pie was invented in New York (besides, Florida already has an official state dessert: the strawberry shortcake.) Most food historians agree that today’s Key lime pie was based on a recipe for a lemon pie first published in a 1931 advertising brochure. The company that published the brochure, Borden, was based out of New York. To be fair, though, the next mention of a dessert similar to Key lime pie does come from a 1933 recipe in a Miami, Florida, newspaper—and that recipe actually used limes rather than lemons, so score one for the Sunshine State.
The truth is, regardless of where it came from, Key lime pie is one of the most unique American pies ever created. Whether you prefer it topped with meringue, garnished with lime zest, or with fresh lime juice squeezed over top, it’s sour, sweet, and scrumptious. Just mind all the crumbs from the graham cracker crust.
[Image description: A slice of key lime pie on brown paper.] Credit & copyright: Christina Nicole, Pexels
May 9, 2024
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FREEPhysics Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Time to shed a little light on a new discovery. Scientists at MIT have found that light alone (that is, without heat) can cause water to evaporate, according to a paper published in PNAS. While a watched pot supposedly never boils, the fact is that as long as enough heat is applied to water, it will eventually turn it into vapor. Heat excites the water molecules, causing them to separate from each other. Now, we know that light can do the same thing in a phenomenon called the photomolecular effect. The discovery was partially made by accident, when researchers noticed that hydrogel was losing its water molecules at a faster rate than anticipated when accounting for thermal energy, seemingly violating the law of conservation of energy. Hydrogel is a material that resembles gelatin and contains water molecules held in a lattice of thin membranes that form a matrix. Researchers found that when light hits the material, it causes the water on its surface to evaporate—notably, the rate of evaporation can be several times faster than with thermal energy. In their experiments, the scientists exposed water-laden hydrogel to various wavelengths of light—which is independent of thermal energy—and found that green light was most efficient at evaporation. The researchers hope that their discovery can lead to innovations in solar desalination and possibly lead to solar-based evaporative cooling. It’s a green light to the future.
[Image description: Water droplets on a green leaf.] Credit & copyright: Min An, Pexels
Time to shed a little light on a new discovery. Scientists at MIT have found that light alone (that is, without heat) can cause water to evaporate, according to a paper published in PNAS. While a watched pot supposedly never boils, the fact is that as long as enough heat is applied to water, it will eventually turn it into vapor. Heat excites the water molecules, causing them to separate from each other. Now, we know that light can do the same thing in a phenomenon called the photomolecular effect. The discovery was partially made by accident, when researchers noticed that hydrogel was losing its water molecules at a faster rate than anticipated when accounting for thermal energy, seemingly violating the law of conservation of energy. Hydrogel is a material that resembles gelatin and contains water molecules held in a lattice of thin membranes that form a matrix. Researchers found that when light hits the material, it causes the water on its surface to evaporate—notably, the rate of evaporation can be several times faster than with thermal energy. In their experiments, the scientists exposed water-laden hydrogel to various wavelengths of light—which is independent of thermal energy—and found that green light was most efficient at evaporation. The researchers hope that their discovery can lead to innovations in solar desalination and possibly lead to solar-based evaporative cooling. It’s a green light to the future.
[Image description: Water droplets on a green leaf.] Credit & copyright: Min An, Pexels
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2870Free1 CQ
Who would have thought that Camelot was in Spain all along? Archaeologists have been studying a 1,000-year-old sword found in Valencia, an ancient weapon that seems to bear striking similarities to the “Sword in the Stone” of Arthurian legend. Originally discovered in 1994 under Chabàs Street, archaeologists were unable to identify, at the time, what culture the sword belonged to. Valencia has been occupied by a variety of different groups throughout its long history, and there wasn’t enough left of the sword to clearly indicate its provenance. What they did know was that the sword had bronze components and that the blade was made of iron and curved slightly.
These details couldn’t be linked to any culture in particular, but there was something unusual about this sword—it was embedded in the ground in an upright position when it was discovered, earning it the nickname “Excalibur.” Excalibur, of course, is the sword wielded by King Arthur of legend. In some versions of the legend, Excalibur was a sword that had been stuck in a stone, and a prophecy stated that whoever pulled it from its resting place would be crowned king of England. When a young Arthur lifted the sword from the stone, he was declared the new king. But in other versions of the story, the sword in the stone and Excalibur are not one and the same. While the former grants him the crown, King Arthur doesn’t acquire Excalibur until much later, when it’s given to him by the Lady of the Lake. The sword in Valencia, however, was likely never wielded by an Englishman at all. Instead, recent analysis shows that the sword likely belonged to an ancient Muslim warrior. Spain was once a part of Roman territory, but between 500 and 1000 C.E., control over the Iberian peninsula passed between the Byzantine, Visigoth, and Arab forces. By 1000 C.E., control of the peninsula was secured by an Arab caliphate, who called the region Al-Andalus. Centuries later, control of the peninsula returned to Iberian Christians who expelled the Muslim population. With so many people passing through, the area’s like a lost and found of bygone civilizations.Who would have thought that Camelot was in Spain all along? Archaeologists have been studying a 1,000-year-old sword found in Valencia, an ancient weapon that seems to bear striking similarities to the “Sword in the Stone” of Arthurian legend. Originally discovered in 1994 under Chabàs Street, archaeologists were unable to identify, at the time, what culture the sword belonged to. Valencia has been occupied by a variety of different groups throughout its long history, and there wasn’t enough left of the sword to clearly indicate its provenance. What they did know was that the sword had bronze components and that the blade was made of iron and curved slightly.
These details couldn’t be linked to any culture in particular, but there was something unusual about this sword—it was embedded in the ground in an upright position when it was discovered, earning it the nickname “Excalibur.” Excalibur, of course, is the sword wielded by King Arthur of legend. In some versions of the legend, Excalibur was a sword that had been stuck in a stone, and a prophecy stated that whoever pulled it from its resting place would be crowned king of England. When a young Arthur lifted the sword from the stone, he was declared the new king. But in other versions of the story, the sword in the stone and Excalibur are not one and the same. While the former grants him the crown, King Arthur doesn’t acquire Excalibur until much later, when it’s given to him by the Lady of the Lake. The sword in Valencia, however, was likely never wielded by an Englishman at all. Instead, recent analysis shows that the sword likely belonged to an ancient Muslim warrior. Spain was once a part of Roman territory, but between 500 and 1000 C.E., control over the Iberian peninsula passed between the Byzantine, Visigoth, and Arab forces. By 1000 C.E., control of the peninsula was secured by an Arab caliphate, who called the region Al-Andalus. Centuries later, control of the peninsula returned to Iberian Christians who expelled the Muslim population. With so many people passing through, the area’s like a lost and found of bygone civilizations.
May 8, 2024
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FREEFinance Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
It’s one of the biggest companies in the world, and it’s headed by none other than famed businessman Warren Buffett, but what does it actually do? Berkshire Hathaway is a massive, American-based, multinational conglomerate, meaning that it owns controlling stakes in many smaller companies. Yet, it had humble beginnings—at least compared to what it is today. The company that would become Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by American businessman Oliver Chace. It was a textile manufacturing company in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, appropriately called the Valley Falls Company. In 1929, the company underwent the first of many, many mergers when it combined with the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing company to become Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates. The company gained the “Hathaway” portion of its eventual name in 1955, when it merged with another textiles business, the Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett came onto the scene in 1962, when he began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway. Eventually, he came to control the entire company, but there was just one problem—the U.S. textiles industry was puttering out. Soon, with Buffett at the helm, Berkshire Hathaway began buying up other companies unrelated to the textiles industry, the first of which was National Indemnity Company. By 1985, Berkshire Hathaway had ceased its textiles operations altogether. Today, Berkshire Hathway owns large stakes in enormous companies like Coca-Cola, as well as entire businesses in the transportation, insurance, and retail industries, among others. So, as for what the company does, the answer really is “a bit of everything!”
[Image description: An illustration of the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company in Adams, Massachusetts, featuring several buildings and two large smokestacks.] Credit & copyright: Mason Machine Works, Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1899 catalog, Wikimedia Commons. This image is in the public domain.It’s one of the biggest companies in the world, and it’s headed by none other than famed businessman Warren Buffett, but what does it actually do? Berkshire Hathaway is a massive, American-based, multinational conglomerate, meaning that it owns controlling stakes in many smaller companies. Yet, it had humble beginnings—at least compared to what it is today. The company that would become Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by American businessman Oliver Chace. It was a textile manufacturing company in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, appropriately called the Valley Falls Company. In 1929, the company underwent the first of many, many mergers when it combined with the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing company to become Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates. The company gained the “Hathaway” portion of its eventual name in 1955, when it merged with another textiles business, the Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett came onto the scene in 1962, when he began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway. Eventually, he came to control the entire company, but there was just one problem—the U.S. textiles industry was puttering out. Soon, with Buffett at the helm, Berkshire Hathaway began buying up other companies unrelated to the textiles industry, the first of which was National Indemnity Company. By 1985, Berkshire Hathaway had ceased its textiles operations altogether. Today, Berkshire Hathway owns large stakes in enormous companies like Coca-Cola, as well as entire businesses in the transportation, insurance, and retail industries, among others. So, as for what the company does, the answer really is “a bit of everything!”
[Image description: An illustration of the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company in Adams, Massachusetts, featuring several buildings and two large smokestacks.] Credit & copyright: Mason Machine Works, Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1899 catalog, Wikimedia Commons. This image is in the public domain. -
FREEBiology Daily Curio #2869Free1 CQ
It’s not easy finding healthcare in the middle of a jungle, unless you’re an orangutan. Great apes like chimpanzees and orangutans have been known for decades to use tools, but scientists have just observed the first recorded case of an orangutan using plants to treat a wound. Rakus is a male orangutan who lives at the Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, and like other males of his species, his flanges are his pride and joy. Flanges are the flaps filled with fatty tissue on the sides of male orangutan’s faces. But misfortune struck Rakus when, during a fight with another male, he sustained an injury that left a gaping wound on his cheek. In most animals, even a flesh wound has the potential to be deadly because it can easily become infected, but Rakus had a trick up his hairy sleeve. Researchers at the park noticed that days after receiving the injury, Rakus was chewing on liana leaves. Lianas are a type of vine abundant in the area where Rakus lives, but the leaves are seldom consumed as food. Rakus was first observed chewing some of the leaves in a deliberate fashion, avoiding other plants while picking liana leaves from the vine. Then, he spit the leaves back out and pressed them against his wound. Rakus also took the time to convalesce, keeping physical activity to a minimum while regularly chewing and even swallowing more liana leaves. Upon analysis, researchers found that the leaves contained anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral compounds as well as antioxidants and cancer-fighting compounds. By eating the leaves, Rakus was essentially taking antibiotics while also applying them topically as a poultice. As to how he learned such medicinal skills, it’s likely that its benefits were discovered by orangutans long ago, and that knowledge of its use spread through the population via social learning, something that apes have shown themselves capable of time and time again in regard to tools and other skills. Orangutan medical school would certainly be a hoot and a holler.
[Image description: An orangutan with its arms crossed, staring downward.] Credit & copyright: Miguel Cuenca, PexelsIt’s not easy finding healthcare in the middle of a jungle, unless you’re an orangutan. Great apes like chimpanzees and orangutans have been known for decades to use tools, but scientists have just observed the first recorded case of an orangutan using plants to treat a wound. Rakus is a male orangutan who lives at the Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, and like other males of his species, his flanges are his pride and joy. Flanges are the flaps filled with fatty tissue on the sides of male orangutan’s faces. But misfortune struck Rakus when, during a fight with another male, he sustained an injury that left a gaping wound on his cheek. In most animals, even a flesh wound has the potential to be deadly because it can easily become infected, but Rakus had a trick up his hairy sleeve. Researchers at the park noticed that days after receiving the injury, Rakus was chewing on liana leaves. Lianas are a type of vine abundant in the area where Rakus lives, but the leaves are seldom consumed as food. Rakus was first observed chewing some of the leaves in a deliberate fashion, avoiding other plants while picking liana leaves from the vine. Then, he spit the leaves back out and pressed them against his wound. Rakus also took the time to convalesce, keeping physical activity to a minimum while regularly chewing and even swallowing more liana leaves. Upon analysis, researchers found that the leaves contained anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral compounds as well as antioxidants and cancer-fighting compounds. By eating the leaves, Rakus was essentially taking antibiotics while also applying them topically as a poultice. As to how he learned such medicinal skills, it’s likely that its benefits were discovered by orangutans long ago, and that knowledge of its use spread through the population via social learning, something that apes have shown themselves capable of time and time again in regard to tools and other skills. Orangutan medical school would certainly be a hoot and a holler.
[Image description: An orangutan with its arms crossed, staring downward.] Credit & copyright: Miguel Cuenca, Pexels
May 7, 2024
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FREESTEM Daily Curio #2868Free1 CQ
What’s that droning noise? Only the sound of a flying minesweeper. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the latter country dealing with deadly landmines laid throughout their territory. Removing such mines is a dangerous, time-consuming process, but drones and AI are now making it safer and easier. The use of landmines is forbidden by the UN per a treaty signed by 167 nations, but they continue to be used anyway. Part of the reason for the ban is that landmines are, by their very design, difficult to detect. The danger they pose during wartime is devastating enough, but in many cases, landmines continue to do harm years after whatever conflict elicited their use has ended. Even today, it’s not uncommon to hear about mines from long-concluded wars taking the lives of unsuspecting civilians. And it’s not just mines but undetonated bombs and shells lurking underground. There are a number of ways to find these dangerous weapons, but everything from metal detectors to people scanning aerial photographs to spot mines are excruciatingly slow. With conventional methods like these, it could take Ukraine as long as 750 years to be totally clear of landmines in the 67,000-square-mile area that is thought to be affected. That’s why they’re now turning to a method that’s currently considered unconventional, but might soon be the norm—a combination of drones and AI. A company called Safe Pro AI has developed an algorithm that can scan thousands of aerial photographs taken by drones and identify 70 types of landmines and other explosives with an accuracy rate of 90 percent. Currently, the technology is limited to land mines that are close to the surface and not obscured by vegetation, but the company hopes to improve on this by adding thermal imaging and radars to find more well-hidden mines. The technology isn’t meant to completely replace conventional methods of mine detection; instead, it’s meant to drastically ease the burden of locating the majority of them. This is one job that we’re glad to see AI take over.
What’s that droning noise? Only the sound of a flying minesweeper. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the latter country dealing with deadly landmines laid throughout their territory. Removing such mines is a dangerous, time-consuming process, but drones and AI are now making it safer and easier. The use of landmines is forbidden by the UN per a treaty signed by 167 nations, but they continue to be used anyway. Part of the reason for the ban is that landmines are, by their very design, difficult to detect. The danger they pose during wartime is devastating enough, but in many cases, landmines continue to do harm years after whatever conflict elicited their use has ended. Even today, it’s not uncommon to hear about mines from long-concluded wars taking the lives of unsuspecting civilians. And it’s not just mines but undetonated bombs and shells lurking underground. There are a number of ways to find these dangerous weapons, but everything from metal detectors to people scanning aerial photographs to spot mines are excruciatingly slow. With conventional methods like these, it could take Ukraine as long as 750 years to be totally clear of landmines in the 67,000-square-mile area that is thought to be affected. That’s why they’re now turning to a method that’s currently considered unconventional, but might soon be the norm—a combination of drones and AI. A company called Safe Pro AI has developed an algorithm that can scan thousands of aerial photographs taken by drones and identify 70 types of landmines and other explosives with an accuracy rate of 90 percent. Currently, the technology is limited to land mines that are close to the surface and not obscured by vegetation, but the company hopes to improve on this by adding thermal imaging and radars to find more well-hidden mines. The technology isn’t meant to completely replace conventional methods of mine detection; instead, it’s meant to drastically ease the burden of locating the majority of them. This is one job that we’re glad to see AI take over.
May 6, 2024
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
No need to beg for mercy from this deity; mercy is kind of their whole thing. Guanyin is a deity of Chinese mythology and Buddhism who helps people in the afterlife. The ancient sculpture above, Seated Guanyin, depicts the deity sitting with one leg raised and one arm resting atop it. The figure is wearing a crown and jewelry, and there are faint traces of red and gold paint. Guanyin was the Chinese name for the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva is someone who is on their way to attaining Buddhahood, and they are often revered as deities in their own right. In the case of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva vowed to delay his own Buddhahood until every sentient being escaped Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. In China, Guanyin is mostly depicted in their female form, and English translations of her title refer to her as the Goddess of Mercy. When someone manages to leave Samsara and is on their way to the Pure Land, the eternal afterlife, Guanyin is said to send them on their way in the heart of a lotus. It seems a fitting way to get around in a blissful afterlife.
Seated Guanyin, late 1100s–1200s, Wood with polychromy and gilding, 54.31 in. (138 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1984.70, Public Domain Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.]No need to beg for mercy from this deity; mercy is kind of their whole thing. Guanyin is a deity of Chinese mythology and Buddhism who helps people in the afterlife. The ancient sculpture above, Seated Guanyin, depicts the deity sitting with one leg raised and one arm resting atop it. The figure is wearing a crown and jewelry, and there are faint traces of red and gold paint. Guanyin was the Chinese name for the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva is someone who is on their way to attaining Buddhahood, and they are often revered as deities in their own right. In the case of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva vowed to delay his own Buddhahood until every sentient being escaped Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. In China, Guanyin is mostly depicted in their female form, and English translations of her title refer to her as the Goddess of Mercy. When someone manages to leave Samsara and is on their way to the Pure Land, the eternal afterlife, Guanyin is said to send them on their way in the heart of a lotus. It seems a fitting way to get around in a blissful afterlife.
Seated Guanyin, late 1100s–1200s, Wood with polychromy and gilding, 54.31 in. (138 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1984.70, Public Domain Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.] -
FREEOutdoors Daily Curio #2867Free1 CQ
Bon appétit! The French are renowned for their culinary fare, but they’ll be adding a new twist on May 26, when Parisians will be holding a truly giant picnic. The event will take place at Champs-Élysées, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and will accommodate 4,000 diners and even more bystanders. Unlike most picnics, baskets needn’t be brought, as one will be provided to each participant for free with a variety of culinary contributions from nine area restaurants. The oversized picnic is the brainchild of the Champs-Élysées Committee and LG Electronics France, and is intended to encourage tourism. Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the pandemic dealt a massive blow to the travel industry. Over the last two years, visitors have been returning to the City of Light en masse, and in 2023, the city saw 44 million visitors throughout the year. That’s still 13 percent lower than it was before the pandemic in 2019, so organizers of the picnic hope that their event will encourage more tourism in the near future. While the picnic will be open to anyone—residents and tourists alike—tickets will only be available in a raffle, with winners chosen at random for two time slots—one at noon and another at 2 p.m. Despite its expected size, this actually won’t be the biggest picnic ever held. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest picnic took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and saw 22,232 diners. That, too, was the result of local officials trying to boost tourism, and the picnic successfully drew in people from all around the country. However, the picnic in Paris will still set another world record. For the event, organizers will roll out the world’s largest giant picnic blanket, which will be over 700 feet long. Each square of the red-and-white checkered blanket will be large enough to seat six people. If you’re at the picnic and happen to spill some red wine, just try to do it on one of the red squares.
[Image description: Croissants and other food on a blue picnic blanket outdoors.] Credit & copyright: Maksim Goncharenok, PexelsBon appétit! The French are renowned for their culinary fare, but they’ll be adding a new twist on May 26, when Parisians will be holding a truly giant picnic. The event will take place at Champs-Élysées, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and will accommodate 4,000 diners and even more bystanders. Unlike most picnics, baskets needn’t be brought, as one will be provided to each participant for free with a variety of culinary contributions from nine area restaurants. The oversized picnic is the brainchild of the Champs-Élysées Committee and LG Electronics France, and is intended to encourage tourism. Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the pandemic dealt a massive blow to the travel industry. Over the last two years, visitors have been returning to the City of Light en masse, and in 2023, the city saw 44 million visitors throughout the year. That’s still 13 percent lower than it was before the pandemic in 2019, so organizers of the picnic hope that their event will encourage more tourism in the near future. While the picnic will be open to anyone—residents and tourists alike—tickets will only be available in a raffle, with winners chosen at random for two time slots—one at noon and another at 2 p.m. Despite its expected size, this actually won’t be the biggest picnic ever held. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest picnic took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and saw 22,232 diners. That, too, was the result of local officials trying to boost tourism, and the picnic successfully drew in people from all around the country. However, the picnic in Paris will still set another world record. For the event, organizers will roll out the world’s largest giant picnic blanket, which will be over 700 feet long. Each square of the red-and-white checkered blanket will be large enough to seat six people. If you’re at the picnic and happen to spill some red wine, just try to do it on one of the red squares.
[Image description: Croissants and other food on a blue picnic blanket outdoors.] Credit & copyright: Maksim Goncharenok, Pexels