Archeologists recently recovered a nearly 16-meter (52-foot) long ancient Egyptian papyrus writing from a tomb in Saqqara, Egypt. The writing — which is more than 2,000 years old — was found inside a coffin and contained a portion of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Experts have already completed the work needed to preserve the papyrus, and are translating the writing into Arabic to better understand what it means and why it was placed in its specific coffin. What is the Book of the Dead? ...read more
Science and romance may seem like strange bedfellows, yet some of the most groundbreaking scientific advances have been made by couples working together. Like the rest of us, the scientists involved in these love affairs had their share of drama and tragedy — and their romances didn’t always end happily. Nevertheless, we honor their stories and discoveries today. Happy Valentine’s Day to them and to all science lovers! 1. Marie-Anne and Antoine Lavoisier If Antoine Lavoisier is considere ...read more
While taking a road trip, looking for that hot new restaurant or looking for your new office building, what tool has come in handy more than a Global Positioning System (GPS)? Maybe a car, but that's beside the point. Having a GPS on our phones makes getting around more efficient. And while we may not give our GPS a second thought once we've reached our destination, there is a fascinating story behind it. The prominent hidden figure, Dr. Gladys West, was a true pioneer who pushed past racial ba ...read more
For most humans today, the threat of encountering a wild bear in daily life is quite slim. And yet, the likelihood of experiencing a stress response as if you are evading or defending yourself from a bear remains high. In our bodies, this stress reaction can play out the moment we’re called upon at work to give a presentation, or perhaps during a nerve-racking first date: sweaty palms, bowel discomfort, the sensation of pins and needles pricking the skin. This is the reality of living as socia ...read more
Sometimes, it seems like muscles have a mind of their own. Whether it’s a twitchy eyelid, a sudden spasm in your thigh or a muscle that seems to contract without cause, involuntary muscle movements are exceedingly common. (One might even be happening to you, right now, as you read this sentence.) Most muscle twitches fall under the category of fasciculations — small, involuntary movements that can occur at random to any muscle in the body, although they’re most common in the eyelids and l ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine