The Mary Rose, the flagship of King Henry VIII’s fleet, has become a treasure trove for archaeologists exploring Tudor England’s maritime life. Built in 1512 and tragically lost in 1545 during a battle with the French fleet, the Mary Rose was preserved beneath the silt of the English Channel until its discovery and recovery in 1982. The unique preservation allowed historians to uncover items and remains from the shipwreck, offering rare insights into the lives of its crew.
Researchers have turned to examining the collarbones of 12 crew members, analyzing the bones for clues about their age, physical development, and even handedness. Findings revealed that these sailors predominantly relied on their right hands, likely due to social pressures, as left-handedness was linked to witchcraft in the Tudor period. Beyond historical insights, the study of these bones is also advancing modern medical research, especially in understanding how human bones change with age.
RELATED DISCOVERIES:
- Ancient Fossil in New York: A 450-million-year-old arthropod fossil resembling a shrimp was uncovered in New York state, preserved in iron pyrite, or “fool’s gold.” CT scans revealed unique adaptations in its head and appendages, likened to a “biological Swiss army knife,” aiding survival.
- Zombie Star Filaments: Astronomers have mapped the 3D structure of strange filaments radiating from a “zombie star” in Cassiopeia, left by a star explosion witnessed in 1181. The filaments, resembling dandelion wisps, could offer clues on the origins of cosmic structures.
- 1627 Tombstone Analysis: The oldest tombstone in the United States, located in Jamestown, Virginia, has been linked to Belgium by analyzing microfossils. This costly black limestone slab was likely a high-status marker brought over for a prominent individual.
- African Giant Rats Combat Wildlife Trafficking: Tanzania’s APOPO organization is training African giant pouched rats to detect ivory and rhino horns, often disguised by traffickers. Equipped with vests that trigger a beeping alert, the rats achieved an impressive 83% success rate in locating illegal wildlife products.
ADDITIONAL INTRIGUING DISCOVERIES:
- Two Louisiana students proved a novel approach to the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry.
- NASA reestablished contact with Voyager 1 after a brief communication blackout.
- LiDAR technology has helped locate thousands of previously unknown Maya structures, including the city of Valeriana.
- Perseverance rover captured video of Phobos casting a “googly eye” shadow during a solar eclipse on Mars.