First, from MSNBC, another search for pyramids, but this time--in Europe. Here's an excerpt:
VISOKO, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Archaeologists began digging Friday for what they hope is an ancient pyramid hidden beneath a mysterious Bosnian hill that has long been the subject of legend.
The Bosnian archaeologist leading the work says the 2,120-foot (650-meter) mound rising above the small town of Visoko resembles pyramid sites in Latin America that he has studied. It would be the first pyramid ever discovered in Europe.
Initial research on the hill, known as Visocica, found that it has perfectly shaped, 45-degree slopes pointing toward the cardinal points and a flat top. Under layers of dirt, workers discovered a paved entrance plateau, entrances to tunnels and large stone blocks that might be part of a pyramid's outer surface.It would be totally amazing if true, and here's the link to the full story:
Bosnian Pyramids
Another big fossil discovery was revealed this week in Nature magazine. Again, here's an excerpt from the MSNBC article:
WASHINGTON - The latest fossil unearthed from a human ancestral hot spot in Africa allows scientists to link together the most complete chain of human evolution so far.
The 4.2 million-year-old fossil discovered in northeastern Ethiopia helps scientists fill in the gaps of how human ancestors made the giant leap from one species to another. That’s because the newest fossil, the species Australopithecus anamensis, was found in the region of the Middle Awash — where seven other human-like species spanning nearly 6 million years and three major phases of human development were previously discovered.
...The species anamensis is not new, but its location is what helps explain the shift from one early phase of human-like development to the next, scientists say. All eight species were within an easy day’s walk of each other.
Until now, what scientists had were snapshots of human evolution scattered around the world. Finding everything all in one general area makes those snapshots more of a mini home movie of evolution.
Here's the link to the full story:Fossil Discovery
David Gloier sent me an excellent link to a remarkable discovery of the past. The link is to a story about the first flatscreen television--invented in 1958! Here's the link (and there's a terrific picture):
Flatscreen Television
He also mentioned separately that Dr. Donald L. Blitzer was being honored for inventing the flat plasma display panel. The surprising part is that Blitzer did this in 1964!
Finally, from Scott Moore, an excellent website that details all the useful spinoffs from NASA research and technology. This has always been one of the relatively ignored aspects of space exploration--that the technological advancements that enable the missions are often eventually used in other, extremely practical, ways.
Here's the link:
NASA spinoffs