Looking More Like War in Iran

With the Paris 2024 Olympics in full swing, people have a number of questions about sports you only really see every four years or so. While fencing has people asking why on Earth the competitors are attached to metal cables, people have been sharing old footage of an unusual boat race. While the racers achieve impressive speed in their oar boat, people have a lot of questions about why the team includes four or five people at the front thrusting their groins at the boat.         IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.Several people on Reddit, where the footage had resurfaced over the years, had theories about what the "humpsmen" are doing. Some noted a similarity to dragon boats and Vallam kali, a traditional kind of snake boat racing from Kerala, India using a beaked boat called a chundan vallam. In Vallam kali, the front competitors are similarly out of the water, and their weight helps keep the front portion from lifting too much out of the water, helping to steady it. However, they use long oars to reach the water and generate thrust, whilst also setting the pace for the rowers behind.There are many variations of boat races around the world, and though the rowers in the clip appear to be using a snake boat it's not altogether clear what variation of boat they are using. It does appear that the "humpsmen" are providing the rhythm for the oarsmen behind to follow. Some suggested that they are there to keep the boat out of the water whilst the oarsman push it forward. However, the team in front is moving much faster with more surface contact, spreading the weight along the surface of the water more evenly. Spreading the weight along the boat is a tactic employed in rowing, and the unorthodox method employed here would help with that by keeping the boat touching the water, attempting to counterbalance the lift caused by the weight and movement of the rowers behind. Timing the thrusts to keep the boat low as the force is applied from behind would also keep the force going in the right direction; forward, instead of up. If the boat is bobbing up and down, you aren't traveling in the most efficient way, just like in your car.However, as in Vallam kali and rowing, there are other ways of weighting boats for maximum efficiency. And with a wide variety of boats available and already widespread around the world, don't expect to see the boat wigglers at the Olympics any time soon.

There are multiple ways astronomers aim to look for aliens. One of them is to look for evidence of advanced technology. This takes a lot of forms, but one proposal that has been suggested many times is to find evidence of vast solar panel arrays on planets or around a star. New research argues that that won’t actually be a good line of investigation.The idea is that as a civilization grows, its energetic needs will also grow. It might require building up vast structures to absorb as much starlight as possible. Maybe it would require covering a vast area of a planet or building a Dyson sphere or Dyson swarm of spacecraft around their stars. Or would it? The new research suggests that maybe advanced civilizations are not that power-hungry.“We found that even if our current population of about 8 billion stabilizes at 30 billion with a high standard of living, and we only use solar energy for power, we still use way less energy than that provided by all the sunlight illuminating our planet,” lead author Ravi Kopparapu of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center said in a statement.To detect solar panels on a planet within 30 light-years, even with the best angle and long observation time, you need them to cover 23 percent of an Earth-like world. That would be an enormous amount of power, which is far beyond what is needed. The argument from this paper is that civilizations wouldn’t invest in such an enormous infrastructure.“Large-scale stellar-energy harvesting structures may especially be obsolete when considering technological advances,” added Vincent Kofman, a co-author of the paper at NASA Goddard and American University, Washington, D.C. “Surely a society that can place enormous structures in space would be able to access nuclear fusion or other space-efficient methods of generating power.”It might say something about a wider search for life in the universe. If an alien culture can survive on a fraction of its star’s output, maybe we shouldn’t expect galaxy-spanning civilizations constantly looking for the next place to expand into.“The implication is that civilizations may not feel compelled to expand all over the galaxy because they may achieve sustainable population and energy-usage levels even if they choose a very high standard of living,” said Kopparapu. “They may expand within their own stellar system, or even within nearby star systems, but galaxy-spanning civilizations may not exist.”   Seeing the reflection of silicon solar cells might not be the way forward but there are other possible technosignatures. In particular, gases in the atmosphere.A paper describing the results is published in The Astrophysical Journal.

UNESCO has added 24 new and two expanded sites to its World Heritage List, ranging from areas with some of the earliest evidence of modern human behavior to regions rich in natural beauty and biodiversity.Keep reading to find out more about some of our favorites…Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and LakesThe third-largest desert in China, Badain Jaran is home to several massive sand formations known as mega-dunes, as pictured above. This includes the world’s tallest stabilized sand mega-dune, which peaks at around 460 meters (1,509 feet) – that’s taller than the Empire State Building.Between these mega-dunes can be found 144 interdunal lakes, the highest concentration of this kind of lake in the world. Thanks to different salt levels and microbes within the waters, the lakes can come in a whole host of different colors.The Emergence of Modern Human Behavior: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South AfricaSome of the rock art found at Diepkloof Rock Shelter.Image credit: © Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and SportIt’s not just one region, but three separate archaeological sites that make up the next on our list. Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Pinnacle Point Site Complex, and Sibhudu Cave – found in different parts of South Africa – all feature some of the earliest evidence of modern human behavior and technology, the oldest dating back to 162,000 years ago.Finds made at these sites include shells used as beads for body decoration and evidence of ochre processing (potentially for use as body paint), toolmaking, and the use of symbols.Lençóis Maranhenses National ParkArt or real life?Image credit: Wilson Santos Marques/Shutterstock.comBrazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park plays host to a 90,000-hectare, dazzling array of bright white sand dunes and turquoise lagoons, some of which are permanent and others that only appear during the rainy season.This dreamy landscape is both aesthetically pleasing and presents some solid evidence as to how coastal dunes progressed during the Quaternary, a geological period that began 2.58 million years ago and continues to this day.The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves ComplexOne of the absolutely huge openings to the Niah Great Cave.Image credit: © Uni- Technologies Sdn. Bhd (UTSB)Nearly slap bang in the middle of Niah National Park on Borneo Island, there’s a series of huge, interconnected caves that house the longest known record of human interaction with a rainforest – a whopping 50,000 years, and that’s the conservative estimate.Some of the evidence for this comes in the form of prehistoric rock art and boat-shaped burials.Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas IslandsSpinner dolphins are one of the many species found off the coast of the islands.Image credit: © Michael PooleFound in the South Pacific, the Marquesas Islands are the sole “mixed” site of the new additions. That’s because they not only feature some pretty amazing artifacts from a civilization that developed relatively isolated over the course of around 850 years, but also what the World Heritage Committee described as “the wildest coastal marine province in the world.”Left essentially untouched by human exploitation, the islands’ waters are home to a diverse range of seabirds, marine mammals (including dolphins), sharks, and rays.The benefit of these sites being added to the list is an added layer of protection. “These areas are home to the world’s most impressive dunes, exceptional cave-dwelling species, peat bogs and mires, as well as important bird migratory routes, yet are all under increasing pressure,” said Tim Badman, Director of World Heritage at IUCN, in a statement responding to the announcement. “They will benefit from the international recognition that comes from the UNESCO World Heritage List.”You can check out the rest of the new additions to the list here.

Egyptian scientists have recently debunked the hypothesis that the “screaming mummy” was buried carelessly. Through the use of tomographs and spectroscopes, they discovered that the body of this ancient Egyptian woman was treated with expensive embalming compounds and was buried with full honors. These findings challenge the notion of a hasty burial, as reported in the Frontiers in Medicine. “We were able to demonstrate that the body of the deceased was embalmed using expensive imported reagents. This, coupled with the well-preserved external appearance of the mummy, casts doubt on the hypothesis that the presence of internal organs in the body of this woman indicates hasty or careless mummification,” said Sahar Salim, a professor at Cairo University, as quoted by the magazine’s press service. For several years, researchers have been studying ancient Egyptian mummies using particle accelerators and advanced scientific methods. For instance, a year ago, scientists examined the “golden boy” mummy and discovered 49 amulets made of various precious metals inside its shroud. In their latest work, Egyptian researchers conducted a thorough examination of the famous “screaming mummy.” This mummy is believed to be a relative of Senmut, the favorite architect and statesman of Queen Hatshepsut. When the body of this elderly woman was found by American archaeologists in 1935, it immediately attracted public attention due to the unusual grimace on her face, leading to the moniker “screaming mummy.” The grimace and the presence of internal organs in the mummy’s body led many Egyptologists to believe that the woman was carelessly mummified and hastily buried. However, recent studies using scanning electron microscopes, infrared, and X-ray spectrographs have provided new insights. These technologies allowed scientists to reconstruct the woman’s appearance and analyze the composition of the balms used for her mummification. Specifically, they discovered that her hair was dyed with henna, and her date palm wig was treated with a complex mixture of minerals to increase its strength. Additionally, the mummy’s body was soaked in balms that included expensive incense and juniper extract, imported from Africa or distant regions of the Eastern Mediterranean. These findings suggest that the woman from Senmut’s tomb was mummified and buried with great care and honor. The unusual appearance of her face likely resulted from muscle spasms at the time of death or due to the peculiarities of tissue changes after mummification. The post Scientists reveal new details about Egypt’s ‘Screaming Mummy’ appeared first on Anomalien.com.

A Louisiana trespasser last week physically attacked a homeowner who confronted him, then charged at a second homeowner who retrieved a gun — and that second homeowner shot the the trespasser, investigators told WVUE-TV.The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said the shooting occurred around 9 a.m. July 29 in the 1200 block of Dove Park Road in Mandeville, the station said. Mandeville is about 40 minutes north of New Orleans.Both homeowners called 911, and investigators believe the shooting was in self-defense, WVUE added.Investigators said the suspect was trespassing in the garage on the property, WVUE reported, adding that the homeowners don't know the suspect.The station said one of the homeowners confronted the suspect, after which the suspect allegedly physically attacked the homeowner.The homeowner yelled for a second homeowner, who came outside to help, WVUE said.The station said the suspect continued the physical attack despite pleas to stop — and the second homeowner grabbed a gun.Officials told WVUE that second homeowner reportedly tried to de-escalate things; in fact, WSDU-TV — citing the sheriff's office — said the person begged the suspect to stop — apparently to no avail.Authorities told WVUE the suspect charged at the second homeowner, who shot the suspect in the abdomen.Deputies found Careyunius Smith of Slidell with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, WVUE said, adding that Smith was taken to a hospital for surgery and was in stable condition.Both homeowners called 911, and investigators believe the shooting was in self-defense, WVUE added.Smith was booked for criminal trespassing, attempted simple kidnapping, simple battery, and simple assault, WVUE said, adding that he was to be taken to jail after his release from the hospital.How are observers reacting?Commenters on WVUE's Facebook page about the incident seem very much in the homeowners' corner:"Try that in a small town," one commenter wrote."So maybe don't step foot on a property that doesn't belong to you," another user suggested."Haha," another commenter reacted. "This needs to happen more.""Good job homeowner," another user said.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Lenovo's Legion Go gaming handheld impressed us in many ways when it first landed, but one aspect that ultimately held it back as a truly portable gaming device was its size. That could be about to change if Lenovo's own website is anything to go by, however, as a mention of a 7-inch screen version of the handheld hints that there's a smaller Lenovo Legion Go Lite in the works. This isn't the first we've heard about Lenovo working on a more affordable alternative to the current Legion Go. Back in May, there were rumors of a cheaper Legion Go that would use the less powerful Ryzen Z1 processor, rather than the Z1 Extreme of the current version. However, that was the last we heard of a new Lenovo contender for our best handheld gaming PC guide, until now. Continue reading Lenovo’s website hints at new smaller 7-inch Legion Go gaming handheld MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 might be gradually winning over the hearts and minds of PC gamers, but there’s one GPU that sticks out like a particularly sore thumb in the latest Steam Survey. It’s not from the current Nvidia GPU generation, the one before it, or even the one before that. It’s the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. This GPU has no ray tracing or AI hardware, and it came out in 2016, but it’s still the eighth most popular gaming GPU among Steam users. It not only has more users than the RTX 4070, but it’s also a great deal more popular than any AMD GPU, even now. Even now, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 can still be sighted all over the place, despite being eight years old. It hasn’t been one of the best graphics card options for years, but you still see it regularly listed in the minimum system requirements for the latest games, simply because so many people use it. Continue reading More gamers are still using this 2016 Nvidia GPU than any AMD model MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4070 Super review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards

How do you lose your Star Wars Outlaws wanted level? If you go against powerful regimes, you’re more than likely going to get some unwanted attention from time to time. In Star Wars Outlaws, you gain a wanted level whenever you stick it to the Empire, which can make existing… difficult. The Star Wars Outlaws release date is nearly upon us, and scoundrels everywhere are gearing up to pull the biggest heist the galaxy has ever seen. The adventure game promises a true Star Wars experience, complete with speeders, blasters, and the return of a few fan-favorite Star Wars characters. Here’s how to lose unwanted attention and reduce your wanted level in Star Wars Outlaws. Continue reading How to lose your Star Wars Outlaws wanted level MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws release date, Best open world games

Rainbow Six Siege has its place. It’s an energetic, imaginative multiplayer FPS with some smart mechanics and a good mix of arcade pace and simulation-style gravitas. It’s a solid online shooter - but it’s not Rainbow Six, not in the real, classic sense. Rainbow Six is slow, tense, and your life is balanced on a knife edge. It almost feels like a survival horror game, something close to tank-control legends like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Rainbow Six Vegas was maybe the last R6 game in that original mold. But the best one, for me, remains Rainbow Six 3, and now 21 years later, it’s all yours for less than $3. Continue reading The best Rainbow Six game of all time now costs less than $3 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best old games, Best co-op games