Nearly 2,000 years ago a gladiator helmet followed the Roman invasion of Britain to be worn in combat in the arena. At some point it was lost, perhaps even looted from Colchester by the forces of Boudica, and was found again when a Suffolk farmer’s plough struck it in 1965. “We believe it is the only certain piece of surviving gladiatorial equipment from Britain,” Dr Richard Hobbs tells History Hit’s Tristan Hughes, who heads behind the scenes at the British Museum for a special look at the exhibition ‘Gladiators of Britain’ which tours in 2025-2026. Sign up to watch The ‘Hawkedon helmet’ is an extraordinary relic of Roman Britain. It may date from the period immediately following the Roman conquest in the 1st century AD. It is similar to helmets identified in Pompeii, and was probably not made in Britain. It features a broad neck guard and brow ridge, with rivet holes that would match a visor. The brass was possibly tinned, which means it would have shone almost like gold and silver in the sun. The helmet and other objects including a gladiator figurine, oil lamp shaped like a gladiator’s helmet and a coin depicting the Colosseum feature in a History Hit film presented by Tristan Hughes. A bone figurine of a gladiator found in Colchester forms, alongside over 10 identified amphitheatres, evidence of gladiators in Britain. For a time Colchester was the capital of Roman Britain. A figurine of a gladiator carved from bone.Image Credit: History Hit “When Britain became part of the Empire, it brought with it all those things that we associate with Rome, the games being part of that,” explains curator Dr Richard Hobbs. The figurine depicts a heavily-armed murmillo type gladiator. He wields a shield which itself depicts a gladiator defeating opponents, and either a short sword (gladius) or palm frond. Another item, a bronze coin (sestertius) provides a fascinating contemporary look at the Colosseum in Rome. It is bigger and thicker than a British 2 pence, and on its face depicts the legendary’s arena’s three levels of arcades and its top level. Its detail is fine. Not only can you spot small statues on the Colosseum, but also two gladiators in combat in the arena itself. A coin depicting the Colosseum in Rome.Image Credit: History Hit “You can see where all of these little sticks are pointing out,” explains curator Dr Anna Willi. “These are wooden poles that held the awnings that could have been put on on a hot day and they were operated by soldiers from the Roman fleet.” Why is the Colosseum on a coin? A similar coin was issued when the amphitheatre was inaugurated by emperor Titus in 80 AD. But this coin was issued in 223 AD by Severus Alexander, whose portrait is on the reverse of the coin. He had completed repairs on the Colosseum after it had been struck by lightning and damaged. This coin celebrated his work. He is even inserted as a small figure standing beside the arena. Sign up to watch

A common laxative and a main ingredient of paintballs might have solved a major issue.

Although far below our feet, the blobs may impact volcanoes and earthquakes on the surface.

A new paper suggests alien civilizations could travel the cosmos feeding on stars, and how we could detect them.

The ideal arrangement of galaxies in a nearly straight line contradicts the basics of a cosmological model of the Universe called the Lambda-CDM model. Astronomers have discovered a group of five dwarf galaxies that, to the surprise of scientists, are located almost in a straight line in space, with most of them rotating in the same direction. Such features cannot be explained by the leading model of the Universe based on the existence of cold dark matter, called the Lambda-CDM model. The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The Lambda-CDM model suggests that dark matter, a mysterious invisible form of matter, helps hold large-scale structures like galaxies together using gravity. Dark matter helped these galaxies form in the early universe. According to the leading model of the universe, dark matter causes galaxy groups to appear disordered. That is, galaxies should not be arranged in nearly a straight line in space. However, astronomers have discovered five strangely connected galaxies that are located in an isolated region of space about 117 million light years away. The galaxies are arranged in a nearly vertical line from north to south on a three-dimensional map of space. Astronomers have discovered five strangely connected galaxies that reside in an isolated region of space about 117 million light years away. Credit: space.com Scientists have also found that three of the five galaxies have the same direction of rotation. Their northern parts are moving away from us, while their southern parts are moving toward us. They believe that the best explanation for the strange features of the galaxies linked together is that they were created from the same clump of gas. But this contradicts the concept of cold dark matter, which is the basis of the Lambda-CDM model, which describes the evolution of the Universe. Galaxies, and especially dwarf galaxies, cannot have such an arrangement. The exact distances to the galaxies are unknown, making it difficult to construct a complete 3D picture of their positions in space, scientists say. But if the galaxies are aligned, it is likely that this can be explained by warm dark matter rather than cold dark matter. This is a hypothetical form of dark matter whose particles are different from those of cold dark matter, especially when it comes to how they came together in the early universe. Astronomers say warm dark matter particles don’t clump together as well as cold dark matter particles, which could have helped galaxies form from the same gas cloud. As a result, the galaxies become more synchronized with each other, both in position and rotation, leading to their strange connection. But no evidence of warm dark matter has been found yet, and the Lamb-CDM model is still based on cold dark matter. If more such galaxies are found, the main model of the Universe will have to be revised, scientists believe. The post Galaxies Discovered That Challenge the Main Model of the Universe appeared first on Anomalien.com.

What happens when we die? Does consciousness simply flicker out, like a candle extinguished, or does it continue in some other form? Could the experiences of people who claim to glimpse the afterlife during near-death experiences hold answers, or is there a scientific explanation for what they see and feel? The question of life after death has been the domain of religion and philosophy. But what if science, armed with cutting-edge research and revolutionary theories, is beginning to uncover evidence that points to something beyond the grave? Could emerging discoveries in quantum mechanics, neuroscience, and information theory offer proof—or at least a glimpse—of life after death? 1. Near-Death Experiences (NDEs): A Window into the Beyond? One of the most widely studied phenomena related to life after death is the near-death experience (NDE). Defined as vivid, often life-altering experiences reported by individuals who have been clinically dead or close to dying, NDEs include sensations like seeing bright light, feelings of euphoria, and out-of-body experiences. A 2001 study published in The Lancet analyzed 344 patients who had suffered cardiac arrest. Of these, 18% reported having some form of NDE. Dr. Sam Parnia, a leading researcher in this field, emphasizes that these experiences occur in moments when brain activity should have ceased. “The brain typically shuts down within seconds of cardiac arrest,” Parnia notes, “and yet people report vivid consciousness during this time.” Critics argue that NDEs may be hallucinatory, resulting from oxygen deprivation or the release of neurochemicals like endorphins. However, studies challenge this view. For example, a 2023 study conducted as part of the AWARE project (Awareness during Resuscitation) found cases where individuals accurately described events occurring in the room while clinically unconscious. 2. Quantum Physics and the Nonlocal Mind Hypothesis Quantum mechanics has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, challenging the materialist view of reality. Some physicists propose that consciousness may not be confined to the brain but rather exist as a “nonlocal” phenomenon. Dr. Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, and Sir Roger Penrose, a renowned physicist, developed the controversial Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) theory. According to their hypothesis, consciousness arises from quantum processes within microtubules in brain cells. Hameroff has speculated that upon death, this quantum information could persist in the universe. “If the heart stops, the quantum information isn’t destroyed,” he asserts. “It disperses into the cosmos, potentially allowing for some form of continuation.” Critics label this theory as speculative and lacking empirical evidence. However, the growing interest in quantum biology—an emerging field exploring quantum phenomena in living organisms—suggests that further research might reveal unexpected insights into consciousness. Robert Lanza, M.D. believes that life and biology are central to being, reality, and the cosmos—consciousness creates the universe rather than the other way around. 3. The Role of Information Theory: Is Consciousness Fundamental? Another compelling argument stems from information theory, which posits that information is a fundamental building block of reality. This concept aligns with theories proposed by physicist John Wheeler, who suggested that the universe is essentially “information-based.” Dr. Robert Lanza, a proponent of biocentrism, argues that consciousness creates the reality we perceive rather than being a mere byproduct of brain activity. “Death is not the end of life but a transition of consciousness,” Lanza explains in his book Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness Are the Keys to Understanding the Universe. While mainstream scientists remain skeptical, information theory raises provocative questions about the nature of reality and whether consciousness might exist independently of the body. 4. Medical Studies on Consciousness Beyond Death Recent advancements in resuscitation science have allowed researchers to push the boundaries of clinical death. Pioneering work by Dr. Sam Parnia and others has demonstrated that the brain can retain residual activity for several minutes to hours after the cessation of a heartbeat. In 2023, researchers at the University of Michigan published a groundbreaking study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, observing surges of gamma brain waves—associated with conscious thought—in dying rats. Similar patterns have been recorded in human patients. Lead researcher Jimo Borjigin remarked, “This discovery provides a possible physiological correlate for the heightened consciousness reported in NDEs.” Though skeptics argue that such brain activity is merely a byproduct of dying neural circuits, others see it as a potential bridge to understanding how consciousness might transcend death. Dr. Stevenson is the greatest authority in the study of cases suggestive of reincarnation through spontaneous memories in children. 5. The Mystery of Past-Life Memories in Children One of the most debated topics in the realm of life after death is the phenomenon of past-life memories, particularly in children. Dr. Ian Stevenson, a psychiatrist at the University of Virginia, spent decades documenting over 2,500 cases of children who claimed to recall previous lives. One striking case involves a young boy in India named Shanti Devi, who provided detailed, verifiable accounts of a past life in a different city. Another recent study by Dr. Jim Tucker, Stevenson’s successor, focuses on American children and includes similar findings. While critics suggest these accounts could result from suggestion or false memory implantation, Tucker argues that many cases defy conventional explanations. “We’re left with data that challenges the materialist view,” he notes. Contrasting Mainstream and Fringe Perspectives Mainstream biology adheres to the principle that consciousness arises solely from brain activity. From this perspective, the end of brain function equates to the end of subjective experience. However, the phenomena discussed challenge this paradigm. Fringe theories, such as the concept of a “soul” in metaphysics or consciousness as a quantum phenomenon, attempt to fill the gaps. While these ideas lack definitive proof, they align with ancient spiritual beliefs and provide a framework for interpreting unexplained experiences like NDEs and past-life memories. Dr. Caroline Watt, a psychologist specializing in parapsychology, urges caution: “The scientific method requires rigor and skepticism, but it doesn’t preclude exploring phenomena that lie outside conventional frameworks.” Projects like the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) offer substantial funding for research into the survival of consciousness after death. Additionally, advancements in neuroimaging, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing could revolutionize our understanding of the mind. As Dr. Sam Parnia puts it, “This is not about proving an afterlife but understanding the nature of consciousness itself—a question that lies at the heart of human experience.” The post Five Scientific Proofs for the Reality of Life After Death in Some Form appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Democrat attorneys waged legal war on Donald Trump on every level of government: federal, state, county, and city. Now that he’s been re-elected, all that legal wrangling is going to be curtailed. Biden-appointed special counsel Jack Smith had to fold his tent, and on November 25, the networks offered live “breaking news” that just sounded like they were the broken ones. Start with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, whose third anti-Trump book was aggressively titled Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party. That’s a little embarrassing for Karl and his publishers, now that the GOP controls the White House, Congress, and 55 percent of state legislative seats. Karl decried the death of accountability for Trump: “He ultimately will not be held to account in the criminal court system for his actions to overturn the presidential election of 2020.” Karl is upset that the Orange Man isn’t in an orange jumpsuit. No jail, no justice! CBS reporter Scott MacFarlane, whose primary beat for four years now has been treating January 6 as worse than 9/11, was also upset: “The historic case against Donald Trump for allegations he tried to conspire to overturn an election and the ties to that horrific attack on the Capitol on January 6, that case is dying with a whimper today.” This pro-prosecutor tone was not the MacFarlane spin when the Bidens were the ones being investigated. He overused the adverb “allegedly” to describe pictures of Hunter Biden’s rampant drug use when he was on trial. He lamented special counsel Robert Hur “controversially” stated Joe Biden would appear too doddering to be convicted in his classified-documents case. Who was whimpering instead of holding politicians accountable then? NBC’s Ken Dilanian, notorious for pushing the fake-news Steele dossier and associated Russian-collusion conspiracies against Trump, lamented “if the lesson of Watergate was that no one was above the law, the lesson of the Trump era is that a majority of Americans have decided that this principle no longer applies.” One “lesson of Watergate” that TV “news” people teach is that Republicans will eternally be slammed as the corrupt sleazeballs who need to resign, while the Clintons and the Kennedys can rape women or leave them to drown, and they’re still hailed by the Old Media as America’s royal families and the conscience of the country. Then there was the wailing on The View on ABC. Joy Behar tried to joke about Jack Smith closing up shop. “It shows you there's no such thing as karma, doesn’t it? It's like the Easter Bunny and affordable housing. It doesn't exist!” It’s all very sad after they treated Jack Smith like he was Eliot Ness (and Trump was Al Capone). In July of 2023, CNN made a big deal out of Smith walking into Subway for lunch. Anchorman John King found deep meaning: “Donald Trump tries to intimidate people, he bullies people, he tries to scare you away. That was Jack Smith with no words and a simple $5 sub in his hand saying ‘I'm not going anywhere.’” Now Smith is taking his lunch bag home, and all CNN anchor Paula Reid could do is express grave concern that Trump Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi “will try to weaponize the Justice Department.” After all this lawfare, that’s a sick joke.  Ever since Watergate, the media’s coverage of scandals has underlined the most egregious double standards in political coverage. One side is presumed guilty until proven innocent, and the other side is eternally Not Guilty. There are no consistent media ethics when the topic is ethics.

A representative from graphics card manufacturer Inno3D appears to have accidentally let slip when the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is coming out, and it looks as though we won't have long to wait. With CES 2025 around the corner, what's expected to be the best graphics card in the new Nvidia lineup, is expected to launch in January. However, while being interviewed on a Brazillian livestream, an Inno3D staffer might have just let the cat out of the bag and revealed the RTX 5090 launch date. Continue reading Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 will debut at CES 2025, says graphics card maker MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4070 Super review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards

The FF14 RWF (Race to World First) for the newly released Futures Rewritten Ultimate is over, and we have a winner - and a fresh dose of plugin drama. The race is one of the most highly anticipated parts of the Final Fantasy 14 calendar, as the launch of its hardest fight tier pits the very best players against one another to see who can overcome the challenge first. As with the previous race, however, it’s raised further questions around the use of external plugins, as eventual victor GRIND confirms one member was making use of third-party tools. Continue reading FF14 Ultimate Race to World First winner admits using plugins MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail release date, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide

After a few weeks of leaks, the new Intel Arc GPU lineup now appears to be incredibly close to launch. Codenamed Battlemage, this Xe2-powered gaming GPU lineup will represent Intel’s second stab at dedicated graphics hardware. While the first Intel Arc lineup, Alchemist, wasn’t the most powerful on the market - or the best graphics card by any stretch - Intel proved it could make a decent GPU for a reasonable price, as we found in our Intel Arc A770 review. Compared to the prices of Nvidia and AMD cards, Intel’s often sub-$300 price points have offered a decent change of pace. Continue reading New Intel Arc Battlemage gaming GPU range coming in just a few days, says report MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review