Mega-Structure Built by Ice Age Hunters Found in the Baltic Sea

Daily Upsider on February 28, 2024

In 2021, a group of scientists stumbled upon an unusual discovery beneath the Baltic Sea – a peculiar arrangement of stones, approximately 1,500 in number, neatly aligned just 21 meters below the surface. What caught their attention was the precision of the arrangement, prompting them to consider a human-made origin. The researchers, hailing from various fields, now propose that Stone Age individuals might have constructed this structure around 11,000 years ago for the purpose of hunting reindeer.

This finding marks a significant milestone as the first identification of a Stone Age hunting structure in the Baltic Sea region. Originally, a team from Kiel University had set out to investigate manganese crusts on the seafloor near the Pomeranian town of Rerik. However, their focus took an unexpected turn when they stumbled upon this enigmatic row of stones, leading them to report their discovery to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Agency for Culture and Monument Preservation.

The current depth of the Baltic Sea at this location, approximately 21 meters, indicates that the stone wall predates substantial increases in sea levels that occurred around 8,500 years ago, following the last ice age. The researchers speculate that the wall likely extended to a bog or lake before the landscape submerged, evident in a basin-shaped depression underwater.

Collaborating institutions, including the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde and the German Aerospace Center, conducted a comprehensive study employing modern geophysical methods to create a detailed 3D model of the wall and reconstruct the ancient landscape. Sediment samples and underwater exploration by research divers from Rostock and Kiel universities played a crucial role in narrowing down the construction period.

Lead researcher Jacob Geersen dismisses natural or recent explanations for the stone wall’s origin, emphasizing the methodical arrangement of small stones connecting large boulders. The researchers propose that the wall served as a hunting aid, directing reindeer into a bottleneck for easier capture by Stone Age hunters.

Drawing comparisons with similar structures in Lake Huron, Michigan, suggests a global precedent for such hunting structures. The Baltic Sea discovery, dating back to around 11,000 years ago, makes it the oldest human-made structure found in the region.

Further investigations are underway, employing advanced sonar devices and diving campaigns to scrutinize the stone wall and its surroundings for archaeological evidence. Luminescence dating will aid in determining the wall’s construction date, while researchers aim to reconstruct the ancient landscape in greater detail.

The Cloning of Dolly the Sheep

Daily Upsider on February 21, 2024

On February 22, 1997, scientists at the Roslin Institute in Scotland announced the successful cloning of an adult sheep.

Dolly, the first cloned adult mammal, was created using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) from a 6-year-old ewe. The nucleus of an adult cell was inserted into an unfertilized egg cell with its nucleus removed, then stimulated to divide through electric shock and implanted into a surrogate.

Dolly was born on July 5, 1996, with three contributing mothers providing an egg, donated DNA, and carrying the cloned embryo. DNA tests confirmed her identical match to the donor and no relation to the surrogate.

The project team, including Ian Wilmut, Keith Campbell, Roslin Institute colleagues, and biotechnology company PPL Therapeutics, initially named her “6LL3” but later changed it to Dolly, as the donor cell was taken from a mammary gland, in homage to Dolly Parton.

The announcement sparked a debate on scientists interfering with the natural order, intensified when Dolly died prematurely in 2003, possibly due to premature aging. Euthanized on February 14 due to a progressive lung disease and severe arthritis, Dolly was preserved at the National Museum of Scotland.

The success of Dolly’s cloning paved the way for replicating other mammals like horses and cattle. Some scientists see potential in using cloning to preserve endangered species and produce lab animals.

In 2009, Spanish scientists cloned a wild mountain goat, declared extinct in 2000, though the clone died shortly after birth. This marked the first cloning attempt of an extinct animal.

Japan’s Moon Lander Comes Back to Life

Daily Upsider on February 8, 2024

The Japanese space program encountered a significant challenge when their lunar craft, intended to secure Japan’s position as the fifth nation to land on the Moon, experienced issues during its landing. The craft ended up in a sideways position with its solar panels facing away from the Sun, leading to a shutdown that jeopardized the entire mission.

Despite the setback, a solution was found, allowing the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) to achieve a successful landing, making Japan the fifth nation to accomplish a soft landing on the Moon, joining the ranks of the USA, Soviet Union, China, and India.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that a change in lighting conditions facilitated the recharge of the lander’s batteries, which had been intentionally shut down at the beginning of the mission on January 20th.

This development was crucial for the mission, as the spacecraft executed a pinpoint landing with unprecedented precision, reaching just 180 feet from the target. The success would have been compromised if the craft had remained in its sideways position, losing power immediately.

Moreover, the landing technology used by SLIM holds potential for safely landing spacecraft on lunar hilltops, strategically important for exploring various chemicals like oxygen and hydrogen. These substances could be valuable for future missions, supporting the production of water and air for astronauts.

2,000 Year-old Beach House Found in Naples, Italy

Daily Upsider on January 31, 2024

A three-year project to construct a children’s playground and recreation area south of Naples, Italy, led to the discovery of a 2,000-year-old clifftop beach house. Dating back to the first century, the mansion, possibly belonging to Pliny the Elder, overlooks Ischia and Procida islands, now partially submerged by the sea. The excavation in Bacoli revealed thick perimeter stone walls, 10 large rooms with floors, tiled walls, and panoramic outdoor terraces.

The villa, originally part of the Roman port at Misenum, held strategic military importance with a 360-degree view of the Gulf of Naples. Constructed with ornate diamond-shaped tufa blocks, the walls demonstrated surprising detail. The “negative bradyseism” phenomenon caused parts of the villa to be submerged as the earth’s surface gradually descended into the sea. (The phenomenon of “negative bradyseism” refers to a gradual geological process where the earth’s surface slowly sinks. This can be due to various natural factors, such as tectonic movements or the extraction of fluids from the ground.)

Ongoing digs aim to uncover more about the beach villa and Misenum’s broader structure. The discovery is significant due to limited knowledge about the port of Misenum. Besides its lookout purpose, Pliny’s beach villa likely served for leisure, hosting guests at a private dock for lavish parties. Bacoli, within the Phlegraean Fields, was a popular destination for Ancient Romans, known for vacation homes, thermal baths, and spas.

Bacoli’s location, with natural geysers and frequent earthquakes, contributed to its historical significance, often regarded as the entrance to the underworld. Pliny the Elder may have witnessed the Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD 79 from the villa, where he later died attempting rescues. While archaeologists were surprised, local speculation about an underground treasure existed. The site will now become an open-air museum, showcasing the Roman villa’s ruins. Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, anticipates the museum’s opening in the coming weeks, allowing citizens and visitors to admire the historical findings.

Grandma Graduates 60 Years Later with a Special Tribute

Daily Upsider on January 26, 2024

Angela Davidson, an English grandmother, recently completed her university degree nearly sixty years after initially enrolling in animal sciences. She had discontinued her studies due to pregnancy after meeting her partner at the same college, where only six women were studying animal sciences.

In December 2023, Angela graduated with a Bachelor’s (honors) in Animal Sciences. During the ceremony, a university representative highlighted the substantial increase in the number of veterinary students, particularly women, compared to the six students in 1960, including Angela.

Angela, surrounded by her children and grandchildren on graduation day, remarked, “It was a most wonderful morning. I’ve waited years for this.” Reflecting on the challenges faced by women in the early 1960s, she appreciated the recognition of the evolving times during her ceremony and added, “The early 1960s was a very different time for women, and that has been acknowledged today—I felt such a warm atmosphere.” Angela also expressed her satisfaction, stating, “I’ve waited many years for this, and my daughter, who I was expecting when I left the course, was here with me today to see me finally pick up my degree.”